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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14395	The memorable and tragical history, of the persecution in Africke: vnder Gensericke and Hunricke, Arrian kinges of the Vandals. Written in Latin by the blessed Bishop Victor of Vtica, who personallie (as also S. Augustine the famous doctor) endured his part thereof. With a briefe accomplishment of the same history, out of best authors: togither vvith the life and acts of the holy Bishop Fulgentius, and his conflicts vvith the same nation; Historia persecutionum, quas in Aphrica olim circa D. Augustini tempora, Christiani perpessi sub Censerycho et Hunerycho Vandalorum regibus. English	Victor, Saint, Bishop of Vita, d. ca. 505.; Buckland, Ralph, 1564-1611.	1605 (1605)	STC 24714; ESTC S119124	68,537	182

Iudge But to true worshippers of the Maiesty diuine that is to say vnto our Priests we by this our constitution doe decree and prouide all manner of Churches belonging to the whole Clergie of the name aboue mentioned in what places or Countries soeuer they stand within these Dominions which by the grace of God are vnder our imperiall gouernment togither with all such thinges as to the same appertayne not doubting but to reliefe of the poore it shall proue more beneficiall which to our thrise-holy Bishops is so iustly giuen We notifie then vnto all men this lawe of ours issuing from the very fountayne of iustice that none may pretend ignorance of our commaundement Fare yee well 6. Cal. of March Carthage CHAP. II. Extreame proceedinges of Hunricke against the Bishops AFTER these lamentable edicts farced with intoxicate poyson he willeth al the Bishops which were assembled at Carthage whose Churches houses and substance he had already seazed to be despoyled in their lodgings and so driuen out of the Towne gates Neyther seruant nor beast nor garment to change was left them It was farther more forbidden that any man should harbour any one of them or giue them susteynance And who so should attempt for pity to doe the contrary he with all his family should be brent by fire Prudently did the Bishops who were then cast forth in that though begging yet they departed not from thence For had they gone their wayes not only should they neuer haue beene recalled but they vvould haue belyed them as they did that they shunned disputation especially because when they should haue retourned their churches had no goodes left all being rifled While therefore the Bishops lay round about the walles in the open ayre it fell out so that the wicked Tyrant went forth towardes the fish-pondes vvhome they thought good to meete in the way saying Why are we so afflicted For what euils committed suffer we this If called to dispute why are we spoyled why are we slaundred why are we deferred and driuen to remayne amongst the dunghils here without in the Country afflicted with hunger and nakednesse farre from our Churches and houses Whome he beholding with a fell regarde before he heard their complaint willed the horse-mē with ful course to ride ouer them that by such violence they might not only be trampled vpon but be slaine outright Many of them were then sore crushed especially aged men Then to the men of God was it commaunded to present themselues and meete him at the Temple of Memory vnwitting what treachery was there prepared CHAP. III. A fraudulent oath is proposed to the Bishops THITHER when they came in a writing deliuered vnto them was this serpentine subtlety inclosed Our Lord King Hunricke although lamenting your obstinacy refusing as yet promptly to obey his will and to become of the same religion where of he himselfe is being now in purpose to deale gratiously with you will if you sweare vnto the contents of this paper send you to your Churches and houses Hereunto answered the Bishops with one voyce We say still as we haue already said and will euer say Christians we are Bishops we are we hold the Apostolicall and only true faith A litle silence hauing ensued after confession of their faith the Kinges commissioners proceeded hastely to extort an oath from the Bishops whereupon the blessed men Bishop Hortulane and Bishop Florentian joyntlie replyed Depute you vs brute beasts that we should easely vnaduisedly sweare ignorant what the writing contayneth The Kings messengers vvithout more stay disclosed to them the purport thereof which with colourable wordes was glosed for thus the entrapping tenour thereof comprized Sweare ye if ye desire that after the death of our Lord the King his Sonne Hildericke succeede in the Kingdome and if none of you will send any letter beyond the Sea This oath if ye refuse not to take he will restore you to your Churches The mercyfull playne meaning of many minded to haue sworne whereas God indeede prohibiteth swearing least Gods people might afterwardes say that the Priests by not swearing gaue cause that their Churches were not restored Others of the Bishops more circumspect smelling out the guilfull treachery denyed to sweare alleaging that it was forbidden by the authority of the Gospell our Lord himselfe denouncing Yea and shall not sweare at all Then inferred the Commissioners Who purpose to sweare let them goe a-part Which vvhen they did by notary was straight enrolled what each said in what City he was entitled The like was done to them that would not sweare Then were both parties committed to warde and not long after the deceiptfull drift of the oath which before lay hid plainely appeared To those which would sweare it was said for as much as contrary to the commandement of the Gospell you vvould haue sworne the Kings will is that you shall neuer see your Churches but being banished you shall lawfully receiue wast and vnhabited places there to husbandry the ground yet with this clause that you shall neyther say Psalmes nor pray or hold any booke to reade in your hand nor baptize nor giue orders nor presume to reconcile any man In like manner to those which refused the oath they said Because you wish not the raigne of our Lordes Sonne therefore you would not sweare for which consideration it is commaunded that you shall be sent away into Corse the Island there to hewe timber for ships CHAP. IIII. The horrible cruelty of the Heretikes the constancy of Dionisia and her Sonne with others THE Beast thirsting after innocents bloud proceeded during that the Bishops vvere not as yet exiled and sent through all the Prouinces of Africke at once his cruell tormentors so that no place no house remayned free from lamentation screeching outcryes They spared not any age or sex but such only as yealded to their will Some they cudgeled with staues some they hunge vp others they burned Women and especially Gentle-women they tortured openly naked against the lawe of naturall honesty One of whome our Country-woman Dionisia I will succinctly intreate of When they sawe that she was not only bolder but more beautiful also then other Matrones they willed her first to be vnrayed and made ready for cudgels Who in her payne cryed boldly vnto them I am assured of my God vexe me how you list only my woman-hood diclose yee not But they with greater rage set her naked vpon an higher place for a publike spectacle Amidst the stripes of the woundes while streames of bloud flowed ouer all her body with a free voyce she spake thus vnto them Ye Ministers of Satan that which you doe reckoning it my reproch is to me an honour Moreouer in so great extreamities and already nowe a Martyr being her selfe vvell seene in the Scriptures she animated others to Martyrdome By this her holy example she saued almost all her Country And beholding her

sustayne his banished ones in so desolate a place CHAP. VIII Hunricke summoneth the Catholikes to disputation with the Arrians SHARPER proceedinges were yet farther continued against the Church of God he vvhich euermore destroyed the members thereof being desirous to teare in peeces the vvhole body For vpon the day of our Lordes ascention an Ambassador of the Emperor Zeno not the King himselfe being present came this precept directed to Bishoppe Eugenius to safed to aduertise my meanenesse by his secretary Witared who because it concerned religion and faith did in the Church rehearse his charge vnto vs both Clergie and people being present By the contents whereof we vnderstand the Kinges Writ to haue in like sort gone forth to all our brethren Bishops appointing vs to meete at a determinat day to dispute of our faith This ordinance vve signified howe reuerently we embraced to the said secretary my meanenes gaue information that all of the parties beyond the Sea agreeing vvith vs in one Religion and communion ought to haue notice hereof for those of the Kingdome are all ready to obey especially for that it is the common cause of the whole world and not only of the Africane Prouinces For as much then as I promised to exhibite by a second bill a further answere I humbly beseech your Honour to present vnto our Lord and mercyfull Kinges eares the information before mentioned that his clemency may in good sort know that wee God-willing by no meanes shunne the order taken for disputation but that vvithout assent of the vvhole we must not take vpon vs to determine matters of faith For this cause require we that he vouchsafe of his great bounty justice and vvisdome to condescend thereunto Dated by Eugenius Bishop of the Catholike Church of Carthage VVhen this information vvas put vp by blessed Eugenius he vvho had nowe conceiued mischiefe vvas pricked forward to vtter forth his impiety with worse vexation and by Cubadus Prouost of the Realme sent to Eugenius this word Subdue to me all the earth that the vvhole world may be brought vnder my power and then Eugenius vvill I fulfill thy demaund Whereunto blessed Eugenius replyed as he well might That which hath no reason ought not to haue beene spoken This is as one should bidde a man soare vp in the ayre and flie which is contrary to the fashion of humane nature For I said if the Kinges mightinesse desired to vnderstand our faith which is the only true beliefe let him sende to his friendes and I vvill likewise vvrite to my brethren that our Bishops may come who togither vvith vs may demonstrate our common faith especially to the Church of Rome which is the head of all Churches To this answered Cubadus Then of like you and my Lord the King are haile fellowes Eugenius answered Not so but as I said If he desire to knowe the true faith let him write to his friends that they send directions for our Catholike Bishoppes and then will I write to the Bishops of our side for the case is one and the same of all the whole Catholike faith This did Eugenius not for that there wanted in Africke that could refell the aduersaries objections but to the intent that they might come who being farre from their Dominion might haue more confident liberty and withall open vnto all nations our injurious oppression But he that contriued nothing but deceipt would heare no reason compassing by sondry presumptions to molest grieue whome soeuer of the Bishops he heard say to be learned Already had he the second time banished Donatian Bishop of Vibia with an hundred and fifty bastinadoes and the Subfetulan Bishop Praesidius a sharp witted man After them serued he in like sort Mansuetus German Fuscle and diuers others While this was doing he commaunded that none of our religion should haue any of theirs to sojourne at our boord nor that they should at all eate at meales with Catholikes Which thing was to them nothing beneficiall but turned to our great aduantage for if their speach as the Apostle teacheth vs is wont to creepe like a canker howe much more could their familiarity at table infect seing the same Apostle commaundeth not so much as to communicate with the wicked at their meate But nowe where the fire of persecution was once kindled and that the fury of the malitious King did euery where flame our Lorde shewed a miracle by his faithfull seruant which I may not passe ouer CHAP. IX Eugenius Bishop of Carthage restoreth by miracle sight to a blinde man THERE was in this city Carthage a certaine blinde man well knowne to all the City by name Foelix this man was visited of God and at night by a vision receiued he this commaundement Get thee hence and goe to my seruant Eugenius say that I haue sent thee to him and at the houre when he halloweth the Font where by those which come to the faith may be Christned he shall touch thy eyes and they shall be opened and thou shalt see the light Warned by such apparition yet reputed he himselfe as it often falleth out beguiled by a dreame neyther would he arise but drowned againe vvith sleepe was in like manner againe called vpon to goe to Eugenius He neglected neuerthelesse as before and the third time being hastily and sharply rebuked raysed vp the boy which was wont to reach him his hand and gets in all haste to Faustus Church after prayer made he signifieth to Peregrine a Deacon neither without streames of teares that he had to speake with the Bishop and to declare a secret vnto him vvhich the Bishop vnderstanding willed the man to be brought in For already in solemnity of the feast resounded the Nocturne Hymnes throughout the Church and the people were singing with loude voyces The blinde man told in order his vision and plainely said I will not leaue you vntill according to our Lords hests you yeald vnto me my sight Depart from me said the holy Eugenius a sinner I am and of all other sinners most vnworthy as one who therefore am reserued vnto such times as these But the other clasping about his knees said nothing else then as before Render me my sight Eugenius then esteeming it a certayne kind of shamefull rigour if he should stifly refuse and because withall the time did call him away accompaned with the Clergie he went along with the man to the Font. Where kneeling downe not vvithout great groanes hee pearced the heauens with sighes and blessed the whiuering waters As soone as he had risen from his prayer he said to the blinde I haue told thee already brother Foelix that I am a sinfull man but he which vouchsafed to visit thee performe to thee according to thy faith open thy eyes At these words he signed his eyes with the standard of the Crosse and through the grace of God the

secret repositories The rest of the Christians also when they heard of the good successe at Decimum hastning to the same church lightned all the tapers and lamps assisting the Priests to whom the function of all such things appertained In somuch that the Vandals themselues held so manifest a fulfilling of this prophecy in great admiration CHAP. XIIII GILIMER ignorant how to repaire his state sollicited the vplandish of the Africans to intercept Roman soldiers if they stragled promising for euery head brought him a peece of golde Many indeed of the seruants were in that sort slaine whom Gilimer performing his couenant supposed to be so many men of armes Neither fownd he presenter confaile then to send for his brother Zazon who in this meane season had receiued Sardinia from Godas and concerning his hasty returne he sent him a letter wherin he thus complayned It was not Godas that called thee into Sardinia but the bitter fate of the Vandals bereft mee at this exigent both of thee the Moores most wretched and miserable they euer after the cōquest of Africa kept a most bountifull went attired in silkes veluets gaue themselues to playes and sports to musike hunting to banqueting recreations Moores contrariwise leade their liues in cotages where they scant stand vpright or can stirre wanting neither Sunne nor snow nor any other misery of their climat sleepe on the bare ground the best among them laide but somwhat betweene forbidden by law of their country to chaunge attyre after the seasons but a boystrous course ragged weede they at all times wore alike Ignorant they are what bread or wine is but whether it be wheat rye or barly which they can gette they neither grinde it to meale nor bake it but eate it iust as beasts doe This harsh conuersation custome made the Vandals to thinke death not vnpleasant nor seruage shamefull Which not being hidden from Pharas he by letters inuited Gilimer to render himselfe which hee not without abundant teares perused and returning answere that hee had rather suffer what he did then what his enemies would do vnto him he concluded with request of a citharne a lofe of bread and a sponge Which last clause was not vnderstood vntill the messenger explicated that he desired a lofe because since his comming to the mountaine hee neuer had so much as seene any baked bread a sponge to wipe away his teares the citharne to solace his calamities with some wonderfull dittie being expert in musike Pharas pittying his case in him the vncertainty of humane condition satisfied his petition but more strictly obserued his custody and charge Three monthes continued this siege Gilimer no lesse afflicted in his health thē in his hart constantly yet persisted obdurat vntill a poore Moor-womā in his sight had set certaine brused corne to drie ouer a hyrdle neere therunto sate two children the one Gilimers brothers sonne the other the womans who grieuously pining with hunger the Vandal first caught the lumpe raw and scalding hotte and thrust in his mouth which the other tugging him by the haire of the head forced him halfe bittē as it was to deliuer out of his throte Which Gilimer seeing presētly conceiued it ominous to his owne fortunes vpon conditions pacted rendring himselfe was sent to Carthage CHAP. XVII OPtion after this came to Belisarius from Iustinian the Emperour that either hee should come to Constantinople together with Gilimer and the captiue Vandals either els stay behind them at his discretion But he finding that enuie had begun to thrust out his sting against him resolued vpon going in person to excuse him selfe vnto the Emperour And there according to his worthy deserts receiued he those honors which neuer had any priuat man since the time of Titus Vespasian but only Emperours themselues if fortunately they subdued some whole nation For at his entrance before him went the trophees and spoiles with the captiues and he himselfe triumphing yet on foot followed after through the citie The spoiles were no meane matters goldē thrones of estate rich chariots pretious furniture plate of massiue gold pretious stones siluer many thousāds of talēts Much of that which had in times past beene taken out of the palace at Rome Among which were also sondry noble and excellent peeres of the Iewes which of old were by Vespasian and Titus translated from Hierusalem out of the Temple These a certaine Iewe beholding forbore not to say aloud that those things ought not be but where King Salomon first placed them that for profaning them had Rome by Genseric beene sakt and for the same respect Gilimer by Belisarius ouercome Which speech comming to the Emperours eares he greatly dreaded willed all those things to be caried vnto Hierusalem for the Christians churches Last of all followed Gilimer with the principall of the Vandals comming vnto the Emperours presence lamented not but only vtred those words of the Scripture Vanitie of vanitie and all vanitie To him to his kindred assigned the Emperour certaine honorable enterteinement in France but into the number of the Patricians or Nobility he might not be admitted bycause he would by no means renounce the Arian sect Shortly after was to Belisarius decreed a triumphe after the fashion of the antient Captaines Caried in a siluer chaire of honour vpō the sholderes and Arians reuolting from their Christian Emperour Rodulph of Austria haue voluntarily submitted to the heathen Tur●k● and made a league with Hell God of his holy mercie auert the dredfull consequēces which I haue horrour to think vpon how imminent they are vpon our neighbours neckes Beginning with pitifull ruines of the faith and the detested propagation of infidelity in former age I am constrained by similitude of causes to dread like lamentable effects in this of ours and therby with regret obtestation of publick moane through expectation of publique miseries to conclude the Vandal persecutions Which otherewise seeing the Almighty restored to the African church golden times ought to haue ended in a golden period TVVO TABLES BY THE FIRST NVMBER is designed one of Victors three Books by M. The Passion of the seauen Martyrs by F. The life of Saint Fulgentius by C. The continuation to the Historie The last number importeth the Chapter A SVMMARIE OF THE Catholickes faith and practise ABb●ss●s or Mothers of Nonries 1. 8. 2. 6. Abbot 3. 12 M. 3. F. 3. Alliluya song solemnely at Easter 1. 9. Altar 1. 9. Altar-cloathes 1. 9. Angels inuocated 3. 19. Archdeacon 3. 10. Benedicite 2. 7. Benediction of Bishops craued of the people 2. 7. Blessing of the ships by a Bishop at their setting forth C. 9. Bishops The excellent vertue charity and a●mes of the Catholike Bishops 1. 7. 2. 2. M. 2. F. 5. F. 8. 9. They refuse to deliuer vp church-ornaments to the officers 1. 9. refuse an oath vniustly tēdred 3. 3. refuse to exclude from Catholike seruice such as returned to the Catholik faith