Of Polycarp's life little is known, but that little is highly interesting. Irenaeus was his disciple, and tells us that " Polycarp was instructed by the apostles, and was brought into contact with many who had seen Christ" {Adv. Hcer., iii. 3 ; Euseb. Hist. EccL, iv. 14). There is also a very graphic account given of Polycarp by Ireneeus in his Epistle to Florinus, to which the reader is referred. It has been preserved by Eusebius {Hist. EccL, v. 20).