preamble to so important an Author but that litle said sooner findeth pardon then doth prolixity * ⎠* THE FIRST BOOKE CHAPTER I. The horrible cruelty of the Vandals vpon their first arriuall in Africke THE sixtith yeare as is apparant hath nowe his course since the cruel and sauage Nation of Vandals set foote into the boundes of Africke crossing ouer with easie passage at the strait where betweene Spayne and Africke this great and large Sea presseth it selfe into the narrowe distance of twelue miles Their whole power then passing ouer by policie of Gensericke the Captaine it was forthwith for greater terrour of their name ordered that the whole multitude should be nūbred as many as their mothers wombe had vntill then brought forth amounting old and young seruants and masters to fourescore thousand Which number being doubtfully published is euen at this day thought to be so great of men of armes whereas the number of such is now but small and weake Finding therefore a peaceable and quiet Prouince their wicked troupes did on all coasts set vpon the flourishingst part of the land who wasted destroyed and with fire and sword consumed euery thing not sparing so much as the shrubbes and bushes which bare any fruit least those whome peraduenture dennes in the mountaines steepe cliffes of the earth or other bard places did hide in secret might being fled away sustaine themselues with such forrage Thus while with cruelty they raged no place remayned free from their vexation In Churches especially and Temples of the Saints in Church-yardes and Monasteries more villanous was their furie with greater flames they burnt downe houses of prayer then they did Cities and Townes Where by happe they founde the gates of Gods honourable Palace shutte with strokes of their Maces they forciblie made entrie so that it might rightly at that time be said As if they had beene in a woode of trees so hewed they downe with axes the gates thereof in the axe and hatchet they threwe it downe Thy Sanctuary in earth they burned with fire they contaminated the Tabernacle of thy name Howe many excellent Bishoppes and noble Priests were by diuers kindes of paines made away being tortured to deliuer vp what gold or siluer soeuer they had either of their owne or appertayning to the Church And that all which was extant might through constraint of paine be vttered they vrged the offerers afresh with torments pretending part only not the whole to haue beene deliuered The more also that any man rendred more they thought he reserued Mouthes of some they opened with poles and barres thrusting in stinking mire and dirt to extort confession of mony Some they tormented with wresting their foreheads legges with sinewes vntill they twanged with stretching To very many as if they had beene pitched or rozend vessels they vnmercifully powred in at their mouthes sea-water vinegre dregges of oyle grease with many other matters of torment Neyther weakenesse of sex nor respect of gentrie nor reuerence of Priesthood mitigated their fierce mindes Nay there did their fury most abounde where appeared any dignity or worthinesse Howe many Priests and how many notable personages they charged with mighty loades as if they had beene Cammelles or other beasts of burden able I am not to declare nor yet those whome with gaddes of iron they hastened forward some of which pittifully vnder burdens yealded their ghost Aged grauity and reuerend gray haires adorning the head like woole found no priuiledge of mercy guiltlesse infancie felt their barbarous rage which dashed them against the ground violently pulling the little ones from their mothers brests others wide stretching their tender legges tore them a-sunder from the fundament Captiue Sion might then sing in her gates The enemy hath resolued to fire my territories to slay my infants and that he will dash my babes against the ground In some edifices of the greater buildings and houses where fire could lesse serue their malice demolishing the roofes walles they left their beauty equal to the earth So that now the auncient statelines of the Cities which was in time past no more is to be seene then if it had neuer beene yea most Townes haue few or no inhabitants For euen at this day what so may be found remayning are eftsoones laid wast desolate as they vtterly haue in Carthage ruinated the Theatres the Temple Memory with the passage surnamed Celestis And to speake of those thinges which touch vs nearest the chiefe Church where lie entombed the bodies of the holy Martirs Perpetua and Felicitas that other of Celerina of the Scillitans the rest of the Churches vnsubuerted they by licentious tiranny enslaued vnto the seruice of their owne religiō But where any munitions were whereunto their laberous furie could not by assault attayne innumerable multitudes being brought togither round about such Castles with deadly weapons they slue them to the intent that by stench of putrifying carcasses they might extinguish whome kept off by walles they could not approch afterwardes King of Italy who out of it paid him alwayes tribute as to the Lord thereof retayning neuerthelesse a portion vnto himselfe Besides this he speedely charged his Vandals that they should vtterly chase away naked the Bishops and the Laytie also of the better sort from their Churches and mansions Which was accordingly in most of them performed Many aswell Bishops as Lay-men of marke and honourable persons to be slaues vnto Vandals we our selues haue knowne CHAP. IIII. Howe the Bishop and Clergie were handled at Carthage AFTER this commaunded he Quoduult-deus Bishop of the said City Carthage a man well knowne to God and the world and with him a very great company of the Clergie naked and spoyled to be thrust into wether-broken ships and so banished whome God of his mercyfull goodnesse vouchsafed by prosperous nauigation to bring to the City of Naples in Campane Senators and men of worship he first quayled by cruell confining from their mansion places and afterward expelled them beyond the Sea Nowe then the Bishop being as hath beene declared thrust out with his reuerend Clergie forth-vvith deliuered he vp to his owne Religion the Church called Restituta at vvhich the Bishops customably made their abode the rest also vvhich vvere vvithin the vvalles he tooke away together vvith the goodes vnto them belonging and of those without the walles he seazed as many as he would especially vpon two very fayre and large of the holy Martyr Cyprian the one where he shedde his bloud the other where his body vvas buried vvhich place is called Sheepe-cotes But vvho is he that can vvithout teares call to minde howe he gaue commaundement that the bodies of our dead should not but in silence and without solemnity of hymnes be brought to the graue Whereunto he also added that the Clergie remayning should be punished with exile While these
thinges vvere doing the principall Priestes and notable persons of those Prouinces which with to be brought which Sebastian taking in his hand spake thus This loafe that it might come to this finenesse and whitenesse as to be counted fitte for the Kinges boorde was first boulted from the base gurgeons and branne then of a heape of flower was moystened with liquor and so passed water and fire comming thereby to be both faire to sight and pleasant to taste Euen so haue I also already beene grownd in the mill of our Catholike Mother purged as cleane flower and tryed with the siue sprinckled with the water of Baptisme and baked vvith the fire of the holy Ghost and as this bread out of the Ouen so haue I by the diuine Sacraments God being the workeman issued pure and cleane out of the celestiall Font. But may it please you to performe that which I nowe propose let this loafe bee broken in peeces steeped in vvater moulded againe and then put into the ouen thence if it come out better then it already is I vvill doe as you exhorte Which proposition when Gensericke with all them in presence had heard he was so intangled that he could finde no solution and therefore afterwardes slewe that warlicke personage by another sort of argument CHAP. VI. The Church sore oppressed Bishops banished TO returne from whence I digressed sauage commaundements raysed vp daylie terrour so that compassed in midst of the Vandals we had not any leasure to take breath neyther might place of prayer or sacrifising be any where obtayned by our complaints so that the prophefie was then manifestly fulfilled Nowe is there neyther Prince Prophet nor Captaine nor place to sacrifice vnto thy name Euery day wanted not injuries euen to those Priestes who were in such regions as payde contribution to the Pallace If any man in his exhortations to the people named by chaunce as the manner is Pharao Nabuchodonosor Holofernes or any such like it vvas layde to his charge that this he had mentioned in derogation of the Kinges person and banishment was his immediate rewarde Neuerthelesse as this persecution was in some place openly practised so in an other quarter was it more couertly put in vre that by such deceipt sooner might the name of the Godly be extinguished Many Priests we knewe at that season for this cause exiled as Vrban Bishop of Girben Crescens metrapolitan of the Aquitan City vvho had vnder him six-score Bishops suffragans Habet-deum of Theudeles Eustrace of Suffecta and two more of Tripoly one of Vicissibrata and Cresconius of Een Foelix also Bishop of Adrument for that he had receiued one Iohn a Monke from the other side the Sea with diuers others also whome it were ouer long to recite during whose exile neuerthelesse it was not permitted to enstall others in their Cities Amidst those troubles stood the people of God fast in their beliefe and like bees labouring their hiues and combes encreased and grewe strong by the sweet tentrels of faith In so much that the Scripture was accomplished The more they were afflicted the more they multiplyed and preuailed exceeding much CHAP. VII Of Deo-gratias and Thomas Bishops of Carthage IT came to passe in processe of time that to the city Carthage after so long discontinuance desolation was at request of Valentinian the Emperor ordayned a Bishop who had to name Deo-gratias The actions of whome what God wrought by him who so should endeauour particularly to set downe the day would faile him before he had deliuered any just part thereof Being created Bishop it fell out our sinnes so deseruing that Gensericke in the fiftenth yeare of his raigne tooke the most noble and famous City Rome carrying away with him the treasure of many Princes together with the people After the arriuall of which captiue multitude at the African shore the Vandals and Moores sharing them as the fashion of the Barbarians is husbandes were separated from their wiues children from their parents Forth-vvith this notable Prelate full of Gods spirit caused all the golden and siluer vessels belonging to diuine seruice to be sold for their redemption from barbarous litle dying seeme nowe to be onely three if at least-wise there be so many Vincent the ⸬ Vigitane Bishop Paul the Sitmaritane a Paul indeede no lesse in desert then name and one Quintian who flying the persecution liueth nowe a forraigner in Adessa a City of Macedon CHAP. VIII The notable constancy of Maturian and Maxima as well in vowed chastity as in profession of faith and what followed thereof WEE find in that season many martyrdomes but of Confessors a great multitude some of whome I vvill endeauour to recite One of those Vandals whome they cal Coronels of thousands had to his slaues Maturian and Saturian and two of their brethren and with them was fellowe seruant a notable handmaide of Christ named Maxima both in body and force beautiful Maturian being an Armourer and doing seruice very agreable to his Lord and Maxima gouerning the houshold it entred into the Vandals imagination to joyne them in marriage thinking by wedlocke to establish their loyalty towardes him Maturian as worldly yong men are vvont affected the marriage Maxima already consecrated to God rejected the spousals of men When the time came that they should goe to the solitary chamber of their secrets and that Maturian ignorant vvhat God had decreed of him was desirous to be bold with her as with his wife the seruant of Christ with quicke voyce answered him To Christ O brother Maturian I haue dedicated my body neither can I be partaker of humane marriage seing I haue already a heauenly and true spouse but this counsaile I giue thee It is in thee if thou wilt so bring the matter to passe that thou thy selfe maist also delight to become his seruant whose spouse thou seest I haue chosen to be So well framed this motion through our Lord Gods appointment that giuing eare to the Virgin he aduāced the gaine of his soule in his yong yeares To the Vandals eares came not the contract of this spirituall secret vntill Maturian nowe mortified changed perswaded his brethren likewise that as his true brothers they would partake of the treasure which he had found He thus conuerted with his three brethren they altogether with the Mayde in their company issuing priuily forth were associated into the Tabracene Monastery which the noble Pastor Andrewe then gouerned And she not farre from thence liued in a Monastery of Virgins This could not be hidden from the Barbarian who by diligent search and many rewardes made enquiry after them Finding out therefore no more his slaues but Christs with fetters torments he vexed the seruants of God dealing with them not onely that they should vse carnall knowledge but which is worse that with filth
farther respite of certayne dayes As soone as they shewed themselues ready for the conflict it was the first day propounded vnto them by our reuerēd Bishops that they should directly proue consubstantiality by the diuine Scriptures or at leastwise condemne that which was decided and cut off by more then a thousand Bishops from all partes of the world at the Councels of Arimini and Seleucia which thing they would not doe but drawing the matter to a sedition incensed also the people The second day likewise when we commaunded them to make answere concerning the same faith as it had beene proposed vnto them they enterprised their former rashnesse and misdemeanour perturbing all thinges with sedition and clamour that they might not at al come to the conflict Whereunto we them prouoking haue ordayned that their Churches shall be shut vp with this prouiso so long to remayne closed vntill they assent to proceede vnto disputation Which they waxing obstinate in their wicked deuises haue refused to accomplish So that it is in this case necessary and most iust with all to retourne vpon those men what in the corps of those lawes is expressed which the Emperors by them induced into errour did at seuerall times promulgate The substance of which lawes seemeth to contayne that no Church should be open to any other then to the Bishops of their owne institution that it should be lawful for none other to liue collegially to make assemblies or to haue or build any Churches at all either in the City or yet in the simplest places but that also attempted escheat to the Prince And moreouer that inheritances annexed to any Church of their faith should not any more be paide to their Prelates Nor that such persons should haue licence to passe vp and downe whither them pleased but should be banished from all Townes and Cities neyther haue authority either to baptize or to dispute of religion That also they should haue no leaue to giue orders either to Bishops or Priests or others appertayning to the Clergie a rigorous penalty being set downe that aswell they which should suffer themselues to receiue such honours as those also that were giuers of such orders should euery of them be fined in tenne pound of gold with their farther extension that they should not be permitted to make supplication about it Yea if so be they had by speciall seruice deserued respect yet should they not preuaile But in case that notwithstanding this detriment they persisted then should they by conuenient prosecution be exiled out of their Country Toward the comminalty extended likewise those Emperors their seuerity so that they might neyther bequeath nor giue or take euen that which was cast off and forsaken not as made ouer vpon trust not by legacy not by grantes not by executorship not by any bil or other manner of writinges They also made such as were pensioners in the pallace liable to penalty of an excessiue forfeiture after the rates of their degree and dignity that spoyled of all honourable priuilege they should incurre infamy and finde themselues noted for publike offendors To the offices also of seueral tribunals was prescribed the penalty of thirty pound of siluer which if they who persisted in their errour had fiue times paid then should such persons be conuicted whipped and so banished Next had they giuen in commaundement that the bookes of all those Priests whome they persecuted should be cast into the fire and all other such bookes which in like manner we also nowe commaund to be done with those bookes by meanes of which iniquity hath induced it selfe into errour of that name For as touching the seuerall persons of whome was spoken these ordinances they made that persons of excellency should euery of them forfeit fifty pound of gold the ⸬ honourable fourty pound Senators thirty common Gentlemen twenty Priests thirty decurions fiue marchants fiue common people fiue wandring ruffians tenne and who might happen to continue after this damage their goodes confiscated they should by banishment be punished vpon corporations in Cities procurators also and takers of leases this penalty they inflicted that if they concealed and did not disclose or atach such persons presenting them to iudgement they themselues shall make good the forfeiture Moreouer to those who tooke the landes of the Crowne to farme this mulct was set downe that as much as was their yearely rent to the Kinges houshold so much should they semblably pay into his Exchequor for a fine as in generall the like to be obserued in all either hyrers or possessors of lande which shall be minded to endure in the same superstition I here doe appoint Of Iudges farthermore that who so were found not to be most instant in prosecuting this affaire should be punished by outlawry and losse of life Also of the chiefe officers that three should be punished the rest be amerced and caste in twenty poundes of gold Of necessity therefore must all the Homousians be bound by the very like constitution whome it is euident indeede to haue held and still to hold the substance of ae wicked beliefe vnto whome we nowe by this our decree denounce that they abstayne from all the a fore-said matters which shall be prosecuted throughout all estates in the Cities as likewise vpon Iustices who neglecting the former ordinances can be proued not to haue grieuously punished such as withstand the same To all persons therefore intangled with the errours of the fore-mentioned faith of the Homousians which hath wholy beene heretofore so condemned by a Councell of such a great number of Priests we enioyne and giue commaundement that they abstayne from all the fore-said affaires and contracts Let them knowe that nothing is permitted vnto them but that semblable punishment attendes to inuolue them euery one vnlesse before the Calendes of Iune in the eight yeare of our Raigne they conuert vnto the true Religion which we reuerence and honour Which prefixed day for no other purpose hath our piety afforded then to the end that vnto such as before hand renounce their errour pardon be not denyed and the obstinate be by due punishmentes chastised But whosoeuer shall perseuer in that errour whither they enioy Knight-hood of our house or happely haue charge vnder seuerall Titles and imployments let them be compellable to infliction of those mulcts aboue prescribed according to the qualities of their degrees nothing in the meane season being of any validity which any of them may happen by surreption to obtayne against priuate persons of what calling and place soeuer they be This our proclamation willeth that to be obserued which in the former lawes was concerning such expressed that they may vndergoe congruent punishment Iudges prouinciall slackly putting our ordinances in execution we will that they be sentenced by their superior
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
blinde man receiued sight whome hee there retayned by him as long as the baptising endured least by reason of this so great a miracle the people should oppresse the man with great concourse about him Then was it manifested to the whole Church and the blinde man went with Eugenius to the Altar as the manner is to make an offering to our Lord for his health receiued which the Bishop tooke and laide vpon the Altar and the people through extreame joy gaue an vnappeasable shout Straight way went one with hasty report hereof to the King Foelix is featch away examined what had passed and how he receiued his sight He vttered the whole in order the Arrian Bishops said that Eugenius had wrought by sorcery And because oppressed with the clearnesse of the thing so that they could not shadowe it they were greatly confounded for Foelix was a man wel knowne to the whole City if it had beene lawfull they would therefore haue slayne him as the Iewes sought to put Lazarus to death after he was raised to life CHAP. X. The impudent and vnreasonable proceeding of the Arrians about their chalenge of disputation NOWE drewe neare that quarrelling day appointed the Calends of February there assembled Bishops not only of Africke but of many Islandes also wearyed with affliction and sorrowe Many dayes togither there was no mention of disputing vntill in the meane-space he had singled out the skilfullest and learnedst persons to the intent that by sondry calumniations he make them away For one of that learned crewe named Laetus a stout most learned man after long imprisonment he consumed by fire thinking by so doing to strike a feare into the rest bleamish the cause At last yet beganne the conflict of disputation at the place which the aduersaries had chosen Our Diuines therefore eschewing all tumultuous clamour least the Arrians should after say that they had by some of ours beene ouer-ruled chose certayne amongst their owne company to answere for all Cyrill placed aloft for himself and his attendants a most stately throne we standing on our feete whervpon our Bishops beganne to say Conference is there alway to be taken in hand where not proud superiority of power beareth swaye but where an assembly is by common consent made that the disputers debating the controuersie and each part doing their endeauour the truth may come to light But nowe who shall be the disputer who the defender which with vpright ballance may eyther confirme that which is rightly auouched or refell vnreasonable assertions When they vsed these and such like words the Kings secretary answered The Patriarke Cyril saith that some of you arrogantly and vnlawfullie vsurpe to themselues the name of Catholiks Our company then with protestation of the same sayd let it be read vnto vs by whose authority Cyril taketh vpon him this title Thereat our aduersaries making a great stirre beganne to cauill And forasmuch as our side requested that if the wiser people might not examine the matter at least they might be lookers on all the sonnes of the Catholike Church there present were cōmanded to haue a hundred stroks with a cudgell Then beganne Blessed Eugenius to say aloude God behold the violence which we suffer and consider the tribulation which we sustayne of our persecutors With this our men turning to Cyril said propound that which you intend Cyril excused himselfe that he vnderstood not Latin Our Bishoppes replyed that they alwayes knewe him to haue spoken Latin that therefore he ought not nowe to drawe backe especially seing he was the kindler of those coales But he perceiuing the Catholike Bishops to be ready for to joyne with him would needs by diuers illusions and shifts auoyde audience which our part fore-seing had composed a Pamphlet concerning faith very seemely and sufficiently compiled this they nowe exhibited with protestation If yee be desirous to knowe our beliefe the faith which we holde is herein comprised The exhibited booke here mentioned is omitted For though P. S. erroneously entitle it Victors yet Victor himselfe hath already testified the contrary and Gennadius noteth the Author thereof to haue beene Eugenius THE THIRD BOOKE CHAPTRR I. The Churches are closed the Catholike Bishops by Proclamation depriued of their Seas and their goods giuen to Arrian Ministers OVR booke being put vp and perused yet could not they with their bleare eyes behold the light of truth but wood for anger and storming vvith outragious language they tooke it very ill that we called our selues by our name of Catholikes And forthwith they falsly suggest to the King that with clamorous noyse we auoyded audience of the matter who giuing credit to their lyes kindled at that present with choler hastened to fulfill that which he had in his hart And during the abode of the Bishops at Carthage he sent his messengers secretly with an edict through the Prouinces by force whereof in one day he closed all the Churches of Africke and gaue vnto his Bishops for a gift all the substance of the Bishops and of the Churches And more then this not knowing himself what he said or of what he spake the lawe which our Christian Emperors had long before decreed against them and other Heretikes for the honourable maintenāce of the catholike Church the same they blushed not to set forth against vs. Adding much of their owne heades as seemed best to their tyrannicall power For this is the forme of the proclaymed lawe A PROCLAMATION HVNRICKE King of the Vandals and Alanes to all subiectes of our Realme It is the part of triumphant vertue and a thing worthy our royall maiesty to recoile euill deuises astainst their Authors For whosoeuer inuenteth any wickednesse let him impute it to his owne follie if he fall into mischiefe In which thing our Grace following the ayme of Gods iudgement hath assigned vnto all persons as their desertes good or badde require Prouoked therefore by such as haue thought meete to resist the commandement of our Father of famous memory or of our owne clemency we doe nowe take vpon vs at length the censure of seuerity For whereas by our authority we haue proclaymed amongst all our people that in the shieres of the Vandals the Priests of the Consubstantials should not haue their assemblies nor take vpon them any of their mysteries which indeede doe rather contaminate then other wise This when we sawe to be neglected and that very many were found which affirmed they kept and retayned the vncorrupted rule of faith it is well enough knowne that they were all cited vnder nine moneths warning that they should with out any feare assemble togither for disputation sake if at least they had any thing to say for their purpose at the Calends of Febr. the 8th yeare of our Raigne To whome after their meeting at the City of Carthage when delay of the time prescribed was expired we are knowne to haue granted
tortured the thing it selfe declareth in that the executioners themselues did cast them out of their sight saying These fellowes will make all the people followe so that no man at all will be conuerted to our religion This they said the rather for that no blewish wannes no token of their torments any thing appeared CHAP. VIII The Courage of the Tipasenses and of them which spake their tongues being cut out LET vs nowe hasten to speake to the honour of God of that which was done in Tipas a City of the great Mauritania As soone as the Towns-men sawe an Arrian from a secretary of the Court made their Bishop sent to destroy their soules almost all the City fled into Spayne the passage being very short so that very fewe remayned behinde such as found no meanes of shipping whome the Bishop of the Arrians first by faire meanes afterwards by threats assayed to compell to Arrianisme But they constant in faith not only derided his madnesse while he perswaded them but also boldly celebrated the diuine mysteries assembling togither in one house Intelligence receiued he secretly sent information thereof vnto Carthage whereupon the King in a great rage directed thither a certayne Earle with charge that in midst of the market-place all the Prouince being there assembled their tongues right handes should be cut off at the very roote and stumpe yet through the assistance of the holy Ghost they so spake and speake still as they did neuer before If any man be incredulous let him goe now to Constantinople and there shal he find Reparatus a Sub-deacon one of that company speaking that eloquently without any impediment For which cause he is greatly reuerenced in the palace of the Emperor Zeno the Queene especially honouring him with singular respect CHAP. IX The incredible tyranny of Hunricke towardes his one Vandals Catholikes WHo may nowe in fit tearmes discourse reckon vp togither the diuersities of paynes which by their kings commaundement the Vandals practised against their owne people If a writer attempted particularly to recount the things that haue passed in Carthage only though simply without all flourishing speech yet would it trouble him to recite the very names of the torments which to be true is to euery body manifest is easely proued For you may daylie see some without hands others wanting their eyes some depriued of their feete many that haue lost both nose and eares diuers whose shoulder-blades are falne out of their place by long hanging or whose heads were sunke downe betweene their shoulders by reason they were daylie tortured and by ropes had bin much wafted vp and downe in the ayre There were which by racking of the ropes insunder fell head-long from the height where they hunge and vvith mighty pitch very many lost the state of their braine togither with their eyes and some their bones being crushed insunder yealded forth with their liues others liued not loÌ„g after He that thinketh this a fable let him aske of Vranius the Ambassador of Zeno in whose presence such thinges were most of all put in execution because comming to Carthage he had cast abroade that his comming was for the defence of the Catholike Churches Wherfore the Tyrant to giue him to vnderstand that hee stood in awe of no man in those places streets to be racked Epidophorus sitting by and raging before his torments tooke out the Chrisome clothes wherewith he once vested this fellowe at the Font when he vndertoke for him vvhich priuily he brought about him to this purpose and wauing them in the ayre and lifting them vp that all might behold it he is said with such wordes as these to haue moued the vvhole City to lamentation and teares These are the linnen O Epidophorus thou abused minister of errour which shall accuse thee when the Majesty of the great Iudge shall come they shall be diligently by me kept in witnesse of thy perdition and condemne thee headlong to the bottomelesse depth of the pit which burneth with brimstone These did cladde thee arising without spot out of the Font these shall vehemently persecute thee vvhen thou shalt with the rest inherit the flames of hell because thou hast put on cursednesse as a garment renting and forsaking the true and holy robe of Baptisme and faith What wilt thou doe O wreatch vvhen the seruants of the house-holder shall beginne to call togither those that were inuited Then the King beholding thee who wert once called and seing thee to want thy wedding rayment shall with terrible indignation say vnto thee Friende howe enterst thou in not hauing a nuptiall garment I see not that which I gaue thee I acknowledge not this to be that which I bestowed vpon thee Thou â—aâ—t lost the habite of thy Knight-hood which in defence of thy Virginall body thou waredst Tenne moneths I couered thee I drewe the signe of my Crosse vpon thee I washed thee cleane with water and adorned thee with the purple of my bloud I perceiue not my seale in thy face I see no character of the Trinity no such can be at my banquet Binde you him hand and foote with ropes who would voluntarily seperate him selfe in such sort from his Catholike brethren He hath enlarged and pitched his lines a snare wherewith he hath both entangled him selfe and stopped others from my feast He hath laid for diuers a stumbling-blocke in their way therefore with eternall shame and euerlasting ignominy I caste him out from my table While Muritta spake Epidophorus being put to silence was seared in conscience before the day of the fire euerlasting CHAP. XI Banishment of the Clergie of Carthage the notable constancy of twelue Quyristers AL of them therefore preparing their backes for strokes cheerefully went forwards to banishment who being yet in their long journey outragious vnmerciful men came by setting on of the Arrian Bishops to take from them that which peraduenture Christian piety had giuen them for susteynance when as each of theÌ„ so much more gladly sung Naked I came sorth of my mothers wombe and naked now I goe to exile sor God is not to seeke howe to feede his hungry nor howe to clothe vs in the desert Two Vandals moreouer who had often vnder Gensericke beene Confessors contemning their riches went with these of the Clergie into banishment and their mother in their company Out of this multitude of Confessors that is to say of the Clergie of Carthage as they were in their journey twelue children by the suggestioÌ„ of Theucorius who of a Lector was become a runnegate vvere to be seperated such as he knewe to haue cleare strong voyces and fit for musicke had beene his Schollers while he was Catholike Quickly vpon his information were men sent and with barbarous fury boyes to the number of twelue are recalled from their journey all seperated in body not in minde from the flocke of the Saints dreading yet their ruine
with sighs and teares they clasped their fellowes knees that they might not be drawne away whome neuerthelesse the rude Heretikes parting with their menacing swordes carryed backe to Carthage But though they were dealt with all not by faire meanes as their age seemed rather to require they were found more resolute then for their yeares and least they should sleepe to death they lighted to themselues the lampes of the Gospels light At this the Arrians conceiued grieuous indignation blushing for shame to see themselues ouercome by boyes and enflamed thereby vvill them to be beaten afresh vvith wandes whome fewe dayes before they had cut with many lashes Sores are made vpon sores and the hurts renewed waxe rawe afresh yet came it to passe through our Lordes assistance that their small age tainted not for payne and their courage increased so that they waxed strong in faith whome nowe Carthage honoureth with great affection regarding this Quyre of twelue boyes as of twelue Apostles They dwell togither they table togither they sing togither they rejoyce in our Lord togither CHAP. XII The Martyrdomes of certayne and the euill entreaty of Bishop Eugenius IN those dayes two Marchants of the same City who both had to name Frumentius vvere crowned vvith a notable Martyrdome Seauen brethren also not by nature but by grace as which liued togither in one Monastery accomplishing the agony of their confession came to the garland vvhose flourish neuer vadeth Liberatus the Abbot Bonifacius a Deacon Seruus a Sub deacon Rusticus a Sub-deacon Rogatus a Monke Septimus a Monke and Maximus a Monke For as then more cruelly did the Bishops Priests and Clergie of the Arrians rage then the King and his Vandals For euery where those Bishops vvith their Clergie ranne vp and downe persecuting vs with their swordes by their sides as namely one Antony a Superintendent of theirs somewhat crueller then the rest whose practises against vs vvere so abhominable and incredible that they can not be vttered His residence vvas in a City neare to the wildernesse which joyneth vpon the Prouince of Tripoly As an vnsatiable beast thirsting after Catholikes bloud he ranne here there roaring after his pray and impious Hunricke acquainted vvith his fierce disposition vvould needes banish Eugenius into the coasts of that wildernesse But Antony to whose custody he was committed kept him so close and straight that no man could haue accesse and besides by sondry afflictions guiles and paynes thought to make him away The holy man while he bewayled the sore persecution and wore out his aged limmes by rough haire-cloth and lying on the bare ground watred his couch vvith deuout showers of teares fell at last into the troublesome disease of the palsey At newes whereof the Arrian conceiuing great joy ranne in hast to the Cell of Gods exiled seruant and when he perceiued the true Bishoppe through stopping of his disease to maffle in speech he cast in minde to destroy him out-right as to whome he wished not long life Willing therefore the sharpest vinegre to be brought that could be found he powred the same into the reuerēd old mans jawes notwithstanding that hee abhorred and loathed it For if the Lord of vs all which came to that end to drinke it when he had tasted it refused to drinke howe much rather should this faithfull seruant and Confessor of his reject it when hereticall fury pressed it vpon him By this vinegre encreased that noysome disease of vvhich yet afterwardes Christ of his pity mercyfully assisting he became hole CHAP. XIII The barbarous and vaine outrage of an Arrian Superintendent against a Catholike Bishop BY the like banishment and vsage of Habet-deum and other of our Bishops is easely manifest how grieuously the City of Tamallum wherein Antony made his abode might be vexed For whereas he had vvith sondry afflictions giuen him vexation neyther could make him an Arrian but found the Champion of Christ alwaies constant in his profession neuerthelesse had promised his confederats to ouercome him saying If I make him not of our religion I am not Antony now perceauing that he failed of his boast he inuented thus to doe Tying the Bishop hand and foote with bigge bandes and gagging his mouth that hee might not crie out he cast vpon him water of rebaptization as he counted it as though he could aswell binde his conscience as his body or that he were not present by his grace who heareth the groanes of the fettered and searcheth the secretes of harts or as though the false water could take away such a perfect resolution as the man of God had already sent to heauen teares being the messengers of his hart He then loosed the man of his bandes and with semblance of great ioy merily saide Behould brother Habet-deum you are now made a Christian of ours what can you now doe but consent to the Kinges pleasure to whom Habet-deum answered Nay wicked Antony there is mortall sinne and damnation where consent of will is obtained I stood fast in faith confessing it with often speech maintained with open protestatiō that which I beleeue now alwaies did After that thou hadst bound me with chaines stopping the entrance of my mouth in the tribunall of my hart sent I vp to the view of the heauenly Emperours the actes of this my sufferance the Angels subscribing thereunto CHAP. XIIII More of the Arrians tyr any and how they rebaptized people by plaine violence LIKE violence was generally vsed by the Tyrāts For the Vandals were to this purpose sent about euery where that they might bring al passingers to be destroyed by their Priestes who when they had slaine their soules with that erronious water gaue them a bill or ticket that they might no more haue violence offered For it was not lawefull either to priuate men or to marchants and men of affaires to passe any where except they shewed a testimoniall discouering the death of their owne soules Reuelation whereof Christ long since opened to his seruant Iohn where hee saith It shall be to no man permitted to buy or sell but to him that hath the marke of the beast in his forehead and in his hand Their Bishops also Priests march about townes villages in the night season with a band of weaponed men and theeues of soules as they were breaking open doores entred in with water and sword and whom they found at home some of them peraduenture sleeping in their bedds they sprinkled with their thunder and fierie showre and all at once with Simoniacall crie called them their Christians so that they seemed rather to make a May-game of their hereticall water then a matter of religion Those of least capacity and dul spirit reputed that by this meanes the sacrilegious abhomination was accomplished in them but the wiser sort comforted thēselues in that it could not hurte them which had beene done to them repugning or sleeping Many did presently cast ashes
in their returne found luckily the money which Abbot Foelix had throwne aside Rumor of this detestable facte gaue vnto sundry no smal offence and namely to the Arrian Bishop of the dioces who had helde Fulgentius deare and much fauoured him while hee was yet a lay-man and was now ready to prosecute reuenge of his profered violence in case he would seeke it Whereunto when many perswaded him Fulgentius gaue them this humble deniall Lawfull it is not for a Christian to meditate reuenge well knoweth our Lord how to repay the iniuries inflicted on his seruants If my case bee venged then loose I reward of my patience Especially seeing it might scandalize many litle ones if I a Catholike and a Monke should require iudgement at an Arrians hand Fulgentius reading the wonderful liues of the Egyptian Monkes sayled thitherwards accompanied with only one brother aswell to liue vnder a more stricte rule as also to leaue the title of Abbot to liue againe vnder obedience Driuen was the shippe by force of weather and winde to the hauen of Syracuse chiefe Citie of Sicilia Bishoppe there at that time was holy Eusalius who had a proper monastery whereunto he frequently resorted when he was somewhat voide from Episcopall cares In very charitable sort were they by this Bishop entertained he perceiuing the sufficiency of Fulgentius enquired the cause of his voyage who pretended search after his parents as loath of pure humility to lay open his intended purpose and spirituall parents he indeed sought Eusalius easily found the feigned answere and by further questions receiuing the true motiue diswaded such iorney assuring him that Egypt was in schisme and seperated from the communion of Blessed Peter and added Without faith impossible is it to please God and what profiteth it to afflict the body with fasting when the soule shall want spirituall comfort Neither put thou thy faith in hazard vpon conceiued regard of a more perfect life At Syracuse liued Fulgentius one winter and though not but at the good Bishops charity yet ceassed hee not of that litle studiously to relieue the necessities of others and winter being past he visited Ruffinianus a Bishop likewise but heretically liuing in an obscure smal islet of the Sicilian shore beseeching his aduice also concerning the purposed iorney Of whom in semblable sort disswaded hee was about to returne to his monastery but better aduised would not omit the memory of the Apostbes but sayling to Rome venerably visited the places of holy Martyrs and there beholding the order of the Roman Nobility triumphant pomp of King Theoderic vniuersall gladnes of the cittie he yet respected not such worldly toies with delight but by sight thereof stirred vp his minde to desire of heauenly ioyes giuing this lesson of admonition vnto his company Howe beautifull may the celestiall Hierusalem be when terrestriall Rome so glittereth If such honor be giuen to louers of vanity what glorie shall be imparted to the Saints louers and followers of truth Returning into Africa to the incredible ioy of his Monkes being desirous of rest for loue of contemplation but finding distractions in his monastery by necessity of charitable charge to auoid the burden and care of ruling others hee priuily stole vnto another monastery farre of amidst the shelly rockes of the sea destitute in a manner of all humane solace necessaries Where being receiued as much as he passed all others in excellencie of learning and spirituall eloquence so farre subiected he himselfe to al in humilitie and obedience many bookes hee there copied out very faire with his owne hands and not seldome made necessarie implements of Palme leaues The rather in such secret sort had he sequestred himselfe into other quarters for that his estimation was growne to be such as that the noble-men and gentry imployed themselues in a kind of contention who might most gratifie him of whom Siluester the principal man of the Bizacene prouince bestowed vpon him a seate singulerly fertill and most commodious for erection of a monastery which he gratefully accepting edisied indeede such a place but more glorious by the brightnes of the vertues there resident then of curious or magnificent building neither endured he there to stay His old Monks recouering notice of his abode letted not instantly to require him and great grew the dissension these seeking to regaine him those other to detaine him his owne choice was to remaine with the later in subiection but the former complaining to B. Faustus he laide chalenge to Fulgentius as to his Monke threatning excommunication to the others if they obstinatly resisted In fine to his old monastery was he constrained to returne where that he should no more attempt to slippe away for loue of spirituall vacance they caused him to be consecrated Priest Sundry Citties wanting Pastors for the Kings auctority had prohibited Bishops to be any more ordained many of them sought and laboured to haue Fulgentius for theirs elected him outright Secure neuerthelesse held he himselfe by reason of the prohibition vntil such time that the Bishops which yet suruiued decreed that contrary to the Kings commandement and order Bishops should be ordained in all places vacant for then hid he himselfe nor would be found According as the Bishops had defined were there out of hand in all hast least aduertisement should ouer soone arriue at the Kings eares worthy Priests and Deacons euery where taken blessed and consecrated Only Fulgentius who was most of all sought for no where appeared All solemnities of cōsecratiō being past returned he discouered himself wel hoping now to bee safe But otherwise disposed God For by great happe the city Ruspae remaining as yet vnfurnished the citizēs getting incling of his discouery came vnto him inuade him hould him cary him with them and not request but constraine him to be their Bishop In which prelacy and dignity he nothing forgot the integrity of his former state neither gaue ouer to be a monk Meane and simple attyre he vsed often went barefoot wholly abstayned from flesh oyle and wyne in no place would he be without company and presence of some monks of his Shortly after ensued that which was before well enough forseen to be a lykely consequent but contemned in respect of the churches necessity and destitution that is that the King exiled threescore Bishops and more into Sardinia among them this holy Saint who gladly mounted the commanded vessell reioycing that he had a part in such a glorious confession Diuers of his monks and clergy followed him and arriuing into Sardinia at Calaris began he a kind of monastery For the Clearks and Monks liued togither at the same table in the same house only the Monks more strictly possessed nothing in propriety And hereby his sermons conuerted hee many to monasticall life Among the craftie fetches and persecutory driftes of King Trasamund whereby he endeuoured to allure Catholikes vnto the Arrian inuentions hee feigned desire
iniury and wrong then made he a double munition or fortification within the one shutt the women prohibiting vnder to Iustinian the Emperour was this Hilderich euen before hee was Emperour and sundry presents had passed betweene theÌ„ There was in the stocke of Gizerich one Gilimer sonne to Genzon of whome is before mentioned and nexte in age vnto Hilderich a skilful warriour of a sore wit well furnished with meanes and euery way apte to inuade the state and who otherwise by proximity and age was expected to succeede But impatient of stay he letted not to thrust farre into the interest royall to vsurpe auctority proceeded to traduce the King vnto the Vandals as a dull and not daring Prince charging him also calumniously that hee entended to resigne and deliuer vp to the Emperor the whole dominion togither with the Vandals To which surmises credite ouerlightly giuen Ilderich after seauen yeares gouernment is togither with Amer and his brother Euagenes committed to ward Gilimer created King Newes wherof being brought to Iustinian the Emperour he by curteous aduertisement wished Gilimer not so to violate Gizerichs will and testament nor persist in so open wrong VpoÌ„ which message Gilimer forth with put out Amers eyes and helde the other two in streighter custody and to second Embassadors which IustiniaÌ„ shortly sent againe he finally answered that the Emperours curiosity was ouer great to ingest himselfe into the actions of other Princes pretended that Ilderich had attempted somewhat against those of the blood-royall neither ought to be King for that his cares and employments were not vpon his kingdome CHAP. VIII GREAT indignation conceaued the Emperour at his tyrannicall obstinacy Wherefore the Persian warre as God would haue it being with good successe freshly ended Belisarius the great Captaine then present in Constantinople hee resolued enterprise for the liberty of Africke Some repugnance yet therein he found for the common people repiningly murmured obiected the Emperour â—â—os fleete that was in like attempt vtterly defeated and the dreadfull ouerthrow giueÌ„ to Basiliscus wherby perished an entire army the common wealth became extreamely impouerished they refused therefore to contribute vnto this warre Furthermore not the stoutest of the Captaines in whom lay the hope of wel carrying so great a charge but were discouraged and sore dreaded the greatnesse of the danger seeing first they had to ouercome the Seas then out of ships to assault a strong and potent kingdome The soldiers also so lately returned from the Persian brunts grudged that they shoulde now sodainely bee destined to other vnknowne people and sea-combates ere they had once beene so much as warme in theie owne country None yet was found who had the heart or would presume to disswade the Emperour excepte only Iohn the maister of the Pallace who with a graue and vehement oration dehorted that enterprise which vpon human reasons he held to be abhorred telling him plainly that by this iourney he should abuse to liberally both the blood of his best soldiers and the publike treasurie and abilities of his subiects vpbraiding that Carthage which hee would impugne was distant by land 140. daies iorneies and by sea so farre that scarce in a yeare should report returne of what was done that if he subdued the Vandals yet should he not be Lord of Africa both Sicilie and Italy being vnder those strange nations dominion happily also by this prouocation might hee drawe warres to his owne gates and to the walles of Constantinople He besought him therefore to desist from vndertaking so doubtfull and dangerous businesse and adding labours vnto labours Much moued the words of Iohn the Emperors minde much remitted he of his former feruor towards poore Afric There came not long after a certaine Bishop out of the parties of the East obtaining to relate vnto the Emperor that which he came for told him that he had receiued from God a vision wherein appeared the Emperor himselfe and was sharply by the Almightie repreheÌ„ded accused of great impiety that hauing coÌ„ceiued the good purpose of deliuering the Christians in Afric from the hands of the barbarous he had afterwards vpoÌ„ no cause forsaken the enterprise and that God promised the Emperor to assiste him and to bring Africke into his subiection as it had beene vnto the former antient Emperors No longer differred Iustinian annimated by this oracle but furnished ships ordained Belisarius generall CHAP. IX THe first beginning of good lucke to this actioÌ„ was that Pudentius an African reuolting from the Vandals sent hasty word to Iustinian that if the army came to Tripolie he should easily obtaine that teritory for that few soldiers were there to resiste Which Belisarius accordingly by the aide of Pudentius brought to good effect Presently vpon which Godas in likemaner one of Gilimers captains gouuernour of the great Island Sardinia and by nation a Goth sent submission to the Emperour saying he chose rather to serue a iust King then a Tyrant whose coÌ„mandments were vniust Towards Carthage were then directed 1000. footmen and foure thousand horsemeÌ„ with them 400. Eruls and 600. Hunns all vsing their bowes The nauy was in all 500. vessels mariners 3000. and of voluntary aduenturers from Constantinople 2000. In the seauenth yeare of Iustinians empire was this expedition addressed and Epiphanius Bishop of the citie blessing as the maner is the fleet in the Emperours presence led one by one into a ship such soldiers as had lately beene baptized In this fleet passed with the rest Procopius author of this history consailor for the warres vnto the Generall Belisarius and passing by Syracuse he got intelligeÌ„ce that the Vandals were attempting against Goda but that there was of the Roman forces no dreade at all in somuch that Gilimer as most secure had abandoned the sea costes was resident at Hermione foure daies iorney vp into the contrey Approching to sight of the African shore great consultation was had how to proceed Archelaus contrary to the affection of the soldiers who weary of the sea would presently haue sett to shore perswaded to deferre landing for that all that shore was both subiect to teÌ„pests and destitute of hauens adding that all the townes of Africke except only Carthage were by Gizerich in time past dismaÌ„tled of their walles for which respects he preferred directly to assaile Carthage neere whereunto was a goodly hauen vngarded from whence their could be no more distance to hold on the lefte hand on the right hand kept he the sea commanding the nauy as well as they could to obserue the proceeding of the army and to keepe neere vnto it In this order marched the army forwards no faster then after 80. furlongs to a daies iorney with such moderation also discipline that the husband men round about hid not themselues for feare but securelie brought all necessaries to the campe and freely sold them CHAP. XI GILIMER vpon first newes of his foes approach wrote vnto his