The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 1 · History of century 6
CENTVRIE VI.
Anastatius.
AFter Zeno succeeded Anastatius, and gouerned 27. yeeres. He was a patrone of the heresie of Eutyches. He banished Euphemius Bishop of Constantinople, because hee would not redeliuer vntounto him that letter which he had subscribed before his Coronation, wherein he was bound to attempt nothing against the true faith, and namely against the councel of Chal…edon. In like manner hee banished Macedonius the successour of Euphemius for the same cause (for he had the custodie of the hand-writing of Anastatius) and the Emperour gaue secret Commandement to make him out of the way at Gangra the place of his banishment.Evagr. lib. 3. cap. 3. Xenoeas Bishop of Hierapolis, a firebrand of Sathan stirred vp the Emperours minde to great rage, partly by gathering a Councell at Sidon, wherein they damned the actes of the councel of Chalcedon and partly by stirring vp the Emperor to wrath against good men, such as were principall defenders of the true faith: namely Flauianus Bishop of Antiochia and Helias Bishop of Ierusalem. The people of Antiochia were very friendly to their Pastor, and finding that a great number of Monkes sauouring Eutyches errour, had assembled in the towne of Antiochia to compell Flauianus their Bishop to accurse and abiure the councell of Chalcedon:Note. they set vponupon the Monkes, and slewe a number of them, others leaped into the riuer of Orontes, where they found a meet buriall for seditious Monkes. On the other part a great number of Syria Caua,Evagr. lib. 3. cap. 32. came to support the troubled estate of Flauianus. For these things, as if he had beene a contentious man, he was banished, and Senerus a notable Eutychian heretique was placed in his roome: this is he, of whom I hauehave mentioned diuers times that Alamundarus prince of Saraceus deluded his messengers, and sent them backe ashamed and confounded. The next attempt was against Helias Bishop of Ierusalem, against whom this quarrell was forged, that hee would not subscribe the Synodicke letter of Seuerus, and damne the councel of Chalcedon, and by the Emperours commandement. Olympius the captaine came to Ierusalem, expelled Helias, and placed Iohn a familiar friend of Seuerus in his roome. This Iohn by the perswasion of Sabas a Monke of Palestina forsooke the fellowship of Seuerus, and was cast into prison by Anastatius the Emperours captaine: but when he was brought foorth out of prison againe, he disappointed the expectation of Anastatius the captaine: for he openly auouched the foure generall councels, and anathematifed the followers of Arrius, Macedonius, Nestorius and Eutyches. In doing whereof he was mightily assisted both by the people, and the Monks: so that Anastatius the Emperours captaine fearing popular commotion, fled and returned againe to the Emperour,Hist. Magd. cen. 6. cap. 3. but Seuerus Bishop of Antiochia moued with wrath against the Monks of Syria, set vponupon them, and slew 300. of them, and gaue their carcases to the foules of the heauen, and the beastes of the earth, such merciemercy was, and is to bee found in headstrong heretiques. In all this desolation the courage of Cosmas Bishop of Epiphania, and Severianus bishop of Arethusa is to be admired, who wrote a booke conteining a sentence of deposition of Severus Bishop of Antiochia,Evagr. lib. 3. cap. 34. which booke Aurelianus a deacon of Epiphania clad in a womans apparrell deliuered vntounto him in Antiochia, and afterward conueyed himselfe away secretly. The Emperour was highly offended against Cosmas, and Severianus, and he wrote to Asiaticus gouernour of Phoenicia, that hee should eiect them out of their places: but when answere was returned to the Emperour, that it could not be done without blood, the Emperour left off further pursuing of them. Many counted Anastatius a peaceable Emperour, because he would hauehave setled controuersies in the Church, as eiuil controversies at sometimes are settled, namely, by a law of oblivion, but there is no capitulation betwixt darknesse and light, but darknesse must yeeld vntounto the light of God. In Africke moe then 900.Note. were crowned with martyrdome vnderunder the raigne of Anastatius, as Magd history recordeth out of the first booke of Regino, Platin. de vi… Hormisda.de Anastatio. Platina writeth that he was slaine with thunder.
Iustinus the elder.
AFter Anastatius, succeeded Iustinus a godly Emperour, and governed nine yeeres and three dayes. Hee restored the Bshops whom Anastatius had banished. Hee banished also Arrian Bishops, who were found within his Dominions. Severus Bishop of Antiochia, a vile Eutychian Heretique, and a bloody Foxe, hee displaced, and caused him to be punished by cutting out of his tongue, as some affirme. Theodoricus King of the Gothes obtaining domion in Italy,Evag. l. 4. c. 4. persecuted true Christians with great hostility, and sent Ambassadors to the Emperour Iustinus, to restore the Arrian Bishops whom hee had banished: else he would pursue the Bishops who were in Italy, with all kinde of rigour. And because the Ambassadors returned not backe againe with such expedition as he expected, hee put hand to worke, and slew two noble Senators, Symmachus, and Boetius. Likewise when the Ambassadors were returned, hee cast in prison Iohannes Tuscus, Hist. Magd. cent. 6. cap. 3.Bishoppe of Rome, and his companions, whom hee had before imployed to goe on message to the Emperour Iustinus. The Bishop of Rome died in prison for lacke of sustentation, but the Lord suffered not this barbarous cruelty of Theodoricus to be long vnpunished: for the Lord strake him with madnesse of minde, so when he was sitting at table,Note. and the head of a great fish was set before him, hee imagined it was the head of Symmachus, whom he had slaine, and was so stupified with feare, that anon after hee died. In the dayes of this Emperour Iustinus, was a terrible earthquake,Evag. l. 4. c. 5. the like whereof hath not beene heard at any time before, wherewith the towne of Antiochia was shaken and vtterly ruined. With the earthquake, fire was mixed, consuming and resolving into ashes the remnant of the towne, which the earthquake had not cast down. In this calamity Euphrasius Bishop of Antiochia, perished. The good Emperour mourned for the desolation of Antiochia, and put on sackcloth on his body, and was in great heavinesse,Chron. Fu…e. whereof it is supposed, that hee contracted that disease whereof hee dyed. When he found his disease daily encreasing, he made choyce of Iustinian his sisters sonne to be his colleague, who governed foure moneths in equall authority with his vncle, and then Iustinus ended his course.
Iustinianus.
A After the death of Iustinus, Iustinianus his sisters sonne, governed 38. yeares. Hee would suffer no faith to be openly professed,Evag. l. 4 c. 10. except the faith allowed in the foure generall Councells. Notwithstanding the Empresse Theodora his wife, was a favourer of Eutyches heresie. This Emperour was bent to recover all that was lost by his predecessors, in Asia, Africke, and Europe, and hee had good successe through the vertue and valour of his Captaines, especially Belisarius, and Narses. Belisarius first fought against the Persians, who had overcome not onelyonly Mesopotamia, but also many parts of Syria, Antrochena, and Cava. Hee overcame them in battell, and compelled them to goe back beyond Euphrates. Next, he was employed to fight against the Vandales in Africke, who possessed great bounds of the Romane dominions, ever since the dayes of Gensericus, King of the Vandales. And it is to be marked, that the time was now come, wherein the Lord wil declare, that the blood of his Saints is precious in his eyes. For since the dayes of Dioclesian, that bloody persecuting Emperour, no race of people persecuted Gods Saints with so barbarous cruelty, as the Vandales did, for zeale they had to the Arrian heresie, wherewith they were infected. After Gensericus, Hunericus, and Amalaricus, and Trasimundus, who closed the doores of the Temples of Christians, and banished their Bishoppes to Sardinia. Childericus would hauehave shewed some favour to Christians, and reduced their Bishoppes from banishment: for this cause the Vandales did slay him, and gaue his kingdome to Gillimer.
Now the Lord remembred the grones of his owne prisoners,Note. and would not suffer the rod of the wicked perpetually to lie vponupon the lot of the righteous. Belisarius fought against the Vandales, prosperously recovered Carthage, and all the boūds pertaining to the Roman Empire possessed by the Vandales. Also he tooke Gillimer their King, and carried him captiue to Constantinople. It is worthy of remembrance, that Iustinian would not receiue into his treasure the vessels of gold, which the Emperour Titus (when hee burnt the Temple of Ierusalem) transported to Rome. These same vessels Gensericus King of Vandales when he spoyled Rome transported to Carthage,Evag. l. 4. c. 17. and Belisarius after hee had conquered Carthage, hee brought them to Constantinople, againe but Iustinian sent them to Ierusalem, to bee disposed vponupon according to the wisdome of the Christian Bishops in those bounds.
The third warfare against the Goths, for recovering Italy out of their hands, was the greatest of all the rest, and endured longest time, to wit, eighteene yeeres, wherein Belisarius and Mundus, Idem l. 4. c. 19.and after them Narses, all valiant Captaines, were imployed. It was brought on vponupon this occasion,Platin. de vita Ioan. 1. as Evagrius following Procopius (in whose time this warfare was intended) doth record. A…alasunta, the daughter of Theodoricus, had the government of Italy. Astalarichus her sonne, before hee came to perfect age died. Theodatus, a kinsman of Theodoricus had the government by the mariage of A…alasunta, Fun…. chron.but he rendered vntounto her evill for good, and thrust her into prison, and slew her. In Theodatus time came Belisarius to Italy, to fight against the Gothes, but seeing Theodatus was more meet for Philosophy then for warfare, he gaue place to Vitiges to hauehave the governmēt. Belisarius recovered the Isle of Sicile,Evag. l. 4. c. 21. he came to Rome, and the ports were opened to him, and hee was gladly received: he tooke Vitiges King of the Gothes, and carried him captive to Constantinople. Mundus another Captain, overcame the Goths in Dalmatia, recovered the Countrey to the Romanes: but in the mids of this victory hee was slaine through too hasty and furious pursuing of his enemies, who had slaine his sonne. In the absence of Belisarius (for the Emperour had sent for him to fight against the Persians) the Gothes chose Theudebaldus, and after him Attaricus, who continued but short time. Finally, Totilas was chosen to bee their King, who recovered againe the towne of Rome, and the most part of all the principall townes of Italy. Belisarius, albeit hee was sent backe againe to Italy, and recovered Rome the second time, yet the Persian warre continually was the cause of reducing him backe againe from Italy. In the end, Narses, a valiant man was sent to Italy, who overcame the Gothes, draue them out of Italy, and brought it againe vnderunder the soveraignty of the Romans. What good recompence for so great service was rendered to Belisarius and Narses, many writers hauehave recorded, I passe it over with silence. Narses mooved with indignation against the Empresse Sophia, the wife of Iustinus the younger, the successor of Iustinian, he sent for the Longobards, who came out of Pannonia, and possessed themselues in that part of Italy, which is vntounto this day called Lombardy.
It is one of Iustinians chief praises, that he caused the great Ocean Sea of the Romane lawes to bee abriged into short compend, and to be comprised within the compasse of fifty bookes,… 2. Concel. vulgarly called Pandectis, or Digestis, having short titles prefixed vntounto them, rather then prolix and tedious cōmentaries subioyned vntounto them. Also he gathered a generall Councell in Constantinople, about the 14. yeere of his raigne, to pacifie if it were possible, the contentious disputations that were mooved about the writings of Origen, Theodorus, and Ibas, but this I referre to its owne place.
Iustinus the younger.
IVstinus was nephew to Iustinian. Evag. l. 5. c. 23.Hee governed sixteene yeeres. Hee governed alone twelue yeeres, and with Tiberius, whom hee associated, three yeeres and eleven months. All things succeeded vnprosperously in his time. Alboinus King of the Longobards, possessed himselfe and his people in Italy.Evag. l. 5. c. 10. Cosroes King of Persia, with his Captaine Adaarmanes, tooke the towne of Apamia, and burnt it with fire, and the towne of Circesium, and put garrisons into it, and miserably wasted the bounds of the Romane dominions. When these things were reported to Iustinus, who would credite no true information before, now is stricken with madnes and astonishment of minde, being grieved for this, that the state of the Romane Empire should hauehave decayed in his time,Idem l. 5. c. 11.12. and through his default. For remedy whereof, Tiberius a wise and valiant man, by the advice of Sophia, was associate to Iustinus, to governe the affaires of the kingdome. Evagrius describeth at length the Oration of Iustinus to Tiberius, when he clothed him with all Emperiall ornaments, and how hee exhorted him not to be bewitched with the splendor of those garments, as he had beene, but with vigilancy and wisedome, to governe the estate of the kingdome. This he spake after he was recovered of his disease;Evag. l. 5 c. 13. and in presence of all the noblemen of his Court, so that they were compelled to shead abundance of teares, when they heard at one time so cleere a confession of his owne miscariage, and so prudent counsell given to his associate.
Tiberius.
TIberius raigned three yeeres and eleven months, in coniunct authority with Iustinus, and after his death, hee raigned foure yeeres himselfe alone: so all the time of his government was seven yeeres and eleven moneths. In his time Cosroes King of Persia, was puft vp with such insolencie, in regard of his former victories, that hee would not admit the Ambassadours of Tiberius to his presence, but commanded them to follow him to Caesarea of Cappadocia, there to receiue their answer, for hee had taken Daras a towne of Mesopotamia, in the borders of the Romane Empire, builded by the Emperour Anastatius, and called Daras, because about this place Darius had his last overthrow by Alexander of Macedonia.Evag. l. 3. c. 37. After the taking of Daras, hee marched toward Armenia, in the Summer time, and from thence entended to addresse toward Caesarea Cappadocia, expecting none encounter or resistance of the Roman army. But Tiberius had prepared a well appointed army, consisting of mo then an 100.Evag. l. 5. c. 14. and fifty thousand men, to resist Cosroes, whose forces when Cosroes could not match, he fled: and for very heart-griefe hee died, and gaue advice to the Persians, not to make warre against the Roman Empire, in any time to come. The estate of the Church was the more peaceable vnderunder his raigne, because the Vandales in Africke, and the Gothes in Italy were already vtterly subdued. The Longobards, whom Narses brought out of Pannonia to Italy, were the more insolent to afflict Christians, because Tiberius was occupied in the Persian warfare against Cosroes. The Nation of the Gothes had as yet full sway in Spaine,Hist. Magd. cent. 6. cap. 3. and they were miserably addicted to the Arrian heresie, insomuch that Lemugildus King of the Gothes, caused his owne naturall son Elmingildus to be slaine,Pla…in. de vit. Gregor. 1. because he forsook the Arrian faith. Also their number was augmented by returning of many Vandales to Spaine, who had escaped the hands of Belisarius.
Mauritius.
MAuritius was Captaine of the Army of Tiberius, to whom Tiberius gaue his daughter in marriage, with his kingdome:Evag. l. 5. c. 22. for he found himselfe sicke vntounto the death. He raigned 20. yeeres, hee fought against the Persians, and prospered in that warfare: and after that, peace was bound vp amongst them. Chaianus King of Avares, Hunnes, and Slavonians, fought against him, and carryed away many captiues and prisoners. In redeeming of the captives, Mauritius was too niggardly, whereby it came to passe, that Chaianus slew 12. thousand prisoners, which might hauehave beene ransomed for a small summe of money. This oversight of the Emperour, not onelyonly stayned other his noble vertues, but also purchased the hatred of the souldiers against him, wherby it came to passe, that they set vp Phocas to bee Emperour in his stead.Commen… Funct. lib. 8. Of this calamity it is thought that Mauritius was foreseene in his dreame, and that hee chose rather to bee punished in this world for his faults, then in the world to come. Afterward he was brought in bands to Phocas, his wife, and fiue children were cruelly slaine in his owne presence, and finally, bloody Phocas slew himselfe, of whom it is reported, that when he saw his wife and children put to death,Note. he gaue glory to God in his greatest calamity, and said; Iust art thou, O Lord, and righteous in all thy Iudgements.