Re: The Early Christians - The State, Society and Martyrs

I have received a letter addressed to me by your most esteemed predecessor,

Serenius Granianus. It does not seem right to me now to let this matter 
pass by without examination, lest the people should be perturbed and the 
informers find op****tunities for mean actions. If, therefore, the people
of 
the province are able to base their petition against the Christians on 
clear grounds, so that they can be answerable even before a court of law, 
then let them use these legal channels only; let them not just resort to 
petitions and outcries. It is far more fitting that you should begin a 
detailed investigation if anyone brings up an accusation. Therefore if 
anyone acts as an accuser and shows proof that the people concerned are 
acting against the law in some way, then you should pass your sentence in 
accordance with the extent of the offense. But, by Hercules! If anyone 
should bring forward his accusation with slanderous intention, you should 
take such a shameful thing properly into account and see that it is 
punished.

Emperor Hadrian (A.D. 117–138) to Minucius Fundanus, 
Proconsul of Asia, quoted in Justin, First Apology 68.