The Ben. note illustrates these modes of martyrdom from the letter of the Gothic Church, supposed to have been written by Ascholius, sent to Cæsarea with the body of Saint Sabas, who suffered under Athanaricus, king of the Goths, in the end of the fourth century.  “They bring him down to the water, giving thanks and glorifying God; then they flung him down, and put a block about his neck, and plunged him into the depth.  So slain by wood and water, he kept the symbol of salvation undefiled, being 38 years old.”  cf. Ruinart., Act. Sinc. p. 670.