The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 1 · History of century 5
CENTVRIE V.
Arcadius, and Honorius.
THE good Emperour Theodosius left behinde him two sonnes,Socrat. l. 6. c. 23 Arcadius to governe the East parts, and Honorius the West. Arcadius raigned 14 yeeres: He was a meeke and godly Emperour, but not couragious, as his father had beene. His simplicity was abused by Eudoxia his wife, Ruffinus his chiefe counseller, and Gania his chiefe Captaine. Eudoxia was offended at the freedome that Chrysostome vsed, in reproving of sinne: And by the meanes of Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria procured his deposition. Theophilus had gathered a Synode at the Oke of Calcedon: and because Chrysostome being warned, refused to appeare, they convict him of contumacy, and deposed him: after deposition followed banishment, from which the affectioned mindes of the people toward their Pastor, constrained the Emperour to reduce him againe: yet Eudoxia continued in her malice, and procured by the meanes of Theophilus, his second deposition & banishment, with commandement to iourney his weake bodie with excessiue travels from place to place,Sozom. l. 8. c. 28 vntill hee concluded his life.
Ruffiinus stirred vp Alaricus King of the Gothes, to fight against Arcadius, secretly presuming to the kingdome, but his treasonable enterprises being espyed, hee was slaine, and his head and right hand were hung vp vponupon the port of Constantinople.
Gaina of a simple souldier was made generall Commander of Arcadius his army: hee waxed insolent and proud, affected the kingdome, being in blood a stranger, of the Nation of the Goths, in religion an Arrian. Hee craved a petition of the Emperour, that hee might hauehave one of the Churches of Constantinople,Theod. l. 5.32. wherein hee might serue God according to his owne forme: but this petition by the prudent advice of Chrysostome given to the Emperour was reiected, and the pride of Gaina for a time was something abated.
Honorius raigned in the West, all the dayes of his brother Arcadius and 15. yeeres after his death. The whole time of his government was very troublesome.Hist. Magd. cent. 5. cap. 3. Gildo, his Lieutenant in Africke, vsurped the dominion of Africke; and Mascelzer his brother, who at the first detested treasonable enterprises in his brother, yet afterward followed his brothers footsteps, and received the iust deserved reward of his inconstancy, for hee was slaine by his owne souldiers. In like manner Stilico, the Emperours father in law (for Honorius married his daughter) and the Emperors chiefe Counseller, presumed to drawe the kingdome to Eucherius his sonne, and stirred vp the Vandales, Burgundians, Almans, and diverse others to invade the kingdome of France, to the end that Honorius being overcharged with the multitude of vnsupportable businesse, might permit Stilico to set forward to the designes of his owne heart. About this time, Rhadagisus a Sythian,Func. chron. accompanied with an army of two hundred thousand Gothes, came to Italy. And the helpe of Vldinus and Sarus, Captaines of the Hunnes and Gothes, being obtained, Rhadagisus was suddenly surprised, himself was taken and strangled, many were slaine, the most part were sold, whereupon followed incredible cheapnesse of servants, so that flocks of servants were sold for one peece of gold, in Italy.
The next great trouble came by Alaricus, King of the Westerne Gothes, who invaded Italy, and camped about Ravenna, with whom Honorius entred into a capitulation, and promised to him and his retinue, a dwelling place in France. The Gothes marched toward their appointed dwelling place:Compend. Theod. catalog. Casarū. But Stilico the Emperours father in law followed after them, and set vponupon them at vnawares, when they suspected none evill, and slew a great number of them. By this the Emperour cleerly perceived the treason of Stilico, and caused him and his sonne to bee slaine, but to his owne great hurt, hee appointed no generall Commander of the army in his place. Alaricus and his army were enraged, partly by their losse, and partly by remembrance of the covenant made with them, and incontinent violated: Therefore they turned backe againe, and invaded Italy with all their might, and besieged Rome two yeeres, and tooke it in the yeere of our Lord,Platin. in vita Zosimi 1. 410. or as some reckon 412. In the midst of burning, slaying, robbing, and military outrage, some fauour was showne by the expresse commandement of Alaricus, Sozom. l. 9. c. 9.to such as fled to Christian Churches for safetie of their liues. Alaricus led his army from Rome, and was purposed to sayle to Africke, there to settle his abode, but being driven backe with tempestuous windes, hee wintred in Consentia, where hee ended his life. Alaricus in his life-time had given in marriage Placidia the sister of Honorius, Func. chron.to Ataulphus his neerest kinsman, and Ataulphus after the death of Alaricus, raigned over the Gothes. The Gothes vnderunder the conduct of Ataulphus, returned backe againe to Rome. Placidia through her intercession purchased great good to the towne of Rome: the Gothes abstained from burning, and shedding of blood, and addressed themselues toward France and Spaine.
Theodosius 2. and Valentinian 3.
AFter Arcadius, raigned his sonne Theodosius the second 42. yeeres. His vncle Honorius governed in the West: After whose death the whole government pertained to Theodosius, who associated vntounto himselfe Valentinian the third, the sonne of Placidia, his fathers sister. Theodosius in godlinesse was like vntounto his grandfather, in collecting a great librarie of good bookes, nothing inferiour to Ptolemaus Philadelphus. In collecting in one short sum the Iawes of kings and princes: he tread a path whereinto Iustinian walked, following Theodosius example, and benefited all men desirous of learning.Socrat. l. 7. c. 22 Iaem. lib 7. cap 42. Hist. Magd. cent. 5. cap. 3. His house was like vntounto a sanctuarie for exercises of reading of holy Scripture, and deuote prayers. He was of a meeke & tractable nature almost beyond measure: his facilitie in subscribing vnread letters was corrected by the prudēt aduice of his sister Pulcheria. In these two Emp. time the estate was mightily crossed & troubled by strangers. By the procurement of Bonifacius deputie of Africke, the Vandales vnderunder the conduct of Gensericus their king came into Africk, tooke the towne of Carthage, & other principall townes and settled their abode in that countrie. Valentinian 3. Emp. of the West was compelled to make a couenant with the Vandales, & to assigne vntounto them limited bounds in Africke for their dwelling place.
The Vandales were partly Pagans and partly Arrians whereby it came to passe that the true Church in Africke was persecuted with no lesse inhumanitie; and barbarous crueltie by Gensericus King of the Vandales, then it was in the dayes of the Emp. Dioclesian. Attila, King of the Hunnes encombred the Romane Empire with greater troubles. Theodosius Emperour of the East bought peace with payment of a yearly tribute of gold to Attila. Valentinian the third by the meanes of Aetius his chiefe Counseller allured Theodoricus King of the Westerne Gothes to take his part. The parties fought in the fieldes called Catalaunici a great fight, wherein a hundreth and fourescore thousand men were slaine. And Theodoricus King of the Gothes in this battell lost his life. Attila was compelled to flee. Thrasimundus the sonne of Theodoricus was very willing to pursue Attila, for desire he had to reuenge his fathers slaughter, but hee was stayed by Aetius. This counsell seemes to be the occasion of his death: Valentinian commanded to cut off Aetius. Attila finding that the Romane armie was destitute of the conduct of so wise a gouernour, as Aetius was, he tooke courage againe, and in great rage set himselfe against Italie, tooke the townes of Aquileia, Ticinum and Millane, sacked and ruined them, and set himselfe directly against Rome, with intention to hauehave vsed the like crueltie also against it. But Leo Bishop of Rome went foorth, and with gentle words so mitigated his mind, that he left besieging of the towne of Rome. Soone after this Attila died, the terrour of the world, and the whip wherewith God scourged many nations.
Valentinian the thirde, after hee had raigned in whole 30. yeeres, was cut off for the slaughter of Aetius. Maximus vsurped the Kingdome, and violently tooke vntounto himselfe Eudoxia the relict of Valentinian: but shee was relieued againe by Gensericus King of Vandales, who led an armie to Rome, and spoyled the towne, and relieued Eudoxia, and carried her and her daughters to Africke, and gaue Honoricus his sonne in marriage vntounto her eldest daughter. Maximus was cut in pieces by the people, & his body was cast into Tyber. From this time foorth the Empire vtterly decayed in the West, vntill the dayes of Carolus Magnus, so that Anitus, Evigr. lib. 2. cap. 16.Richimex, Maioranus, Severus, Anthemius, Olybrius, Glycerius, Nepos, Orestes and his sonne Augustulus, they continued so short time, and gouerned so vnprosperously, that their names may bee left out of the rolle of the Emperours.
Now to returne againe to Theodosius Emperour in the East, a King beloued of God, in so much that by praier hee obtained of God a wonderfull deliuerance to Ardaburius captaine of his armie.Note. When his vncle had ended his life, Ardaburius was sent against a tyrant Iohn, who did vsurpe the Kingdome in the West.Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 23. The ship whereinto Ardaburius failed by tempest of weather was driuen to Rauenna, where the tyrant Iohn tooke him prisoner. Aspar the captaines sonne, beeing conducted by an Angell of God (as Socrates writeth) entred in Rauenna, by the passage of the loch, which was neuer found dried vp before that time: the portes of the towne were patent, so that Aspar and his armie entred into the towne, slew the tyrant Iohn, and relieued Ardaburius his father. This miraculous deliuerance is thought to be the fruite of the effectuall prayers of the godly Emperour. His death was procured by a fall from his horse, after which hee was diseased, and died: an Emperour worthy of euerlasting remembrance.
Martianus.
MArtianus by the meanes of Pulcheria the sister of Theodosius was aduanced to the Kingdome with whom Valentinian the thirde, of whom I hauehave already spoken, raigned 4.Catalog. Casarum. yeeres. Martianus, albeit hee obtained the gouernment in a time most troublesome, when the Gothes, Vandales, Hunnes, and Herules had disquieted the estate of the Roman Empire out of measure, yet by the prouidence of God the short time of his gouernment was peaceable,Evagr. lib. 2. cap. 8. for he raigned not fully 7 yeere, and he left behind him great griefe in the hearts of the people, because a gouernement so good and godly endured so short time. Concerning the councell of Chalcedon assembled by him, it is to be referred vntounto the owne place.
Leo.
AFter Martianus succeeded Leo, and gouerned 17. yeeres. He was godly & peaceable, not vnlike Martianus his predecessor. He interposed his authoritie to suppresse those who proudly despised the councell of Chalcedon, and obstinatly maintained the heresie of Eutyches. Notwithstanding the madnes and rage of Eutychian heretiques began in his time,Evagr. lib. 2. cap. 8. immediately after the report of the death of Martianus. Procerius Bishop of Alexandria was cruelly slaine by them in the Church, haled through the streets, and with beastly cruelty they chewed the intrals of his body, hauing before ordained Timotheus to bee their Bishop.Idem cap. 12. & 13. The Emperour banished Timotheus beeing first foreseene, that not only Leo bishop of Rome, but also all other bishops, of chiefe account, damned the ordination of Timotheus. The terrible earthquake which destroyed a part of Antiochia, & the more terrible fire which wasted a great part of Constantinople, were fore running tokens of the great desolation that should ensue by the detestable heresie of Eutyches.
Zeno.
THe Emperour Leo left his Kingdome to his nephew the sonne of Zeno called Leo, but hee fell sicke and died, when he had scarce reigned 1. yeere. So his father Zeno had the Emperiall soueraigntie 17. yeeres: hee was of a bad religion, dissolute in manners, intemperate, effeminate, and hated of all men.Evagr. lib. 3. cap. 3. Therefore Basiliscus conspired against him and Zeno fled. Basiliscus was a persecuter of the true faith, damned by his encyclicke letters the Councell of Chalcedon: restored Euthychian bishops to their places againe: such as Timotheus Arideus to Alexandria, Petrus Cnapheus to Antiochia, Idem lib. 3. cap. 5.Paulus to Ephesus: fiue hundreth preachers were found, who subscribed Basiliscus letters, and cursed the councell of Chalcedon. So great a plague it is, either to hauehave ignorant Pastors, who know not the trueth of God,Note. or cowardly teachers, who will suffer no rebuke for the knowne truth of God. Zeno returned to his Kingdome againe within 2. yeeres:Idem cap. 8. & 11. hee banished Basiliscus to Cappadocia, where he was slaine with his wife and children. Hee abolished the encyclicke letters of Basiliscus and eicted Petrus Cnapheus out of Antiochia, and Paulus out of Ephesus. Timotheus of Alexandria was old, infirme, and neere to the last period of his life, els also he had bin eiected out of Alexandria: for Zeno, not for louelove of the true faith, but for hatred of the name of Basiliscus endeuoured to doe all that he had done.
VnderUnder the raigne of Zeno came Odoacer assisted with people of Pannonia called Rugi, Turcilingi and Heruli, and inuaded Italie, and slew Orestes at Pagia, and compelled his sonne Augustulus, Hist. Magd. cent. 5. cap. 3.to denude himselfe of emperiall honours so that the Romane empire, as it began in the person of Augustus Caesar, so likewise it ended in the person of Augustulus the sonne of Orestes. Odoacer would not vsurpe the glorious title of an Emperour, but called himselfe King of Italie, and raigned 14. yeeres. Zeno on the other part stirred vp Theodoricus King of Gothes to expell Odoacer out of Italie. Theodoricus encountred with him diuerse times, and preuailed. In the end he besieged him in Ravenna, vntill a couenant of peace was bound vp betwixt them, but it lasted a short time: for Theodoricus vnderunder pretence of friendship,Note. called Odoacer and his sonnes to a banket and caused them cruelly to bee slaine. Afterward he raigned himselfe alone in Italie 33. yeeres: hee reedified the townes in Italie which by violence of warres had beene wasted & made desolate, and was well beloued of the people: and albeit in religion he was an Arrian, yet he abstained from persecution of those who professed the true faith.
The Eutychian persecution is already begun,Hist. Magd. ibid. but the Arrian persecution is not yet ended. Hunnericus sonne of Gensericus king of Vandales, was an Arrian persecuter so vnmercifull, that in Africke where his dominion was, he had neither compassion on sexe or age: he banished at one time fiue thousand professors of the true faith. And such as were infirme and weake; and could neither trauell by foote nor horse, he commanded cords to be knit to their legges, and to traile them through the rough places of the wildernes, and by such merciles dealing, the death of many innocent people was procured: but the Lord suffered not this crueltie to be vnpunished: for the Lord plagued the Vandales with famine, and pest, and Hunnericus was so long tormented with venemous biles, that in the end he was consumed with vermine, and in great miserie ended his most wretched life.
In this Centurie studying for brevitie, I hauehave ouerpassed some remarkable thinges, such as the deceitfull practises of the wise men of Persia,Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 8. to diuert the affection of their King Isdigerdes from the louelove he had caried to Maruthas Bishop in Mesopotamia, and Embassadour of Theodosius. 2. This historie is set downe at length by Socrates. In like maner the calamitie of the Iewes who dwelt in the Isle of Candie, and were piteously abused by a deceiuing fellow, who called himselfe Moses, and promised to lead them through the Mediterran sea, to their owne lande, as Moses led the people of Israel through the read sea: this calamitie read in the 7. booke of the ecclesiastical historie of Socrates chap. 38. The Iewes were commanded to cast themselues into the sea,Func. chron. and to swim vntounto a rocke: but they were drowned in the sea, and dashed vponupon the hard rocke, and by the meanes of Christian fishers some few escaped. This historie is referred vntounto the 434. yeere of our Lord: so that it fell foorth vnderunder the raigne of Theodosius 2. The miraculous conuersion of the Burgundians to the faith of Christ about the same time, I hauehave of purpose ouerpassed, willing to be short, and to giuegive a viewe of the historie to those who are desirous to read.