A General Martyrology, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. The Persecution of the Church in Africk, by the Arrian Vandals, which began Anno Christi, 427.
THE cruel Vandals, passing out of Spain into Africk, under Genserick their Captain, finding the Province peaceable and quiet, set upon the flourishingest part of the land, wasting and destroying all before them with fire and sword, not sparing so much as the shrubs and bushes which bare fruit, lest they should minister relief to those poor Christians which hid themselves in dens, in mountains, and steep cliffs:Profane Hereticks. But especially they raged against the Churches and Temples of the Saints, burning all them to the ground, and where they found any of them shut they brake them open with their Maces.Cruelty of Hereticks. The Bishops and Ministers they destroyed especially, with many kinds of torments, seeking by tortures to force them to deliver up whatsoever gold and silver they had of their own, or belonging to the Church; and where they gat any, they still tormented them afresh, to inforce them to confess more.
The mouths of some they wrested open with iron, thrusting into them stinking mire and dirt:Prodigious Some they tormented by wresting their fore-heads and legs with bow-strings, till they crackt again; Into the mouths of others they poured sea-water, vinegar, with the dreg… of oyl and grease; and neither weakness of sex, nor respect of nobility, nor reverence of their Ministry, mitigated their cruel minds; yea, their fury most abounded where there appeared any dignity or worthiness.
Many of the Ministers and Nobles they loaded with mighty burthens, as if they had been Camels or Horses,Ministers loaden with burthens. and made them carry them after them; and if they went slowly, they hasted them with iron pricks and goads, so that some of them under their burthens, gave up the ghost. Reverend gray hairs found no priviledge of Mercy; guiltless Infants felt their barbarous rage, whom they dashed against the ground,Cruelty to Infants. violently pulling little ones from their mothers breasts to brain them; of others, by wide stretching of their tender legs, they tore them in pieces, from the fundament; the stately buildings they burnt down, and levelled with the earth: The chief Churches in Carthage they imployed to their own heretical worship. Where any strong Castles were held against them, they brought multitudes of Christians, slew them, and left their bodies lying about the Castles, that by the stench thereof they might force them to surrender.
Who can express the number of Ministers that were by them tortured!Pampinian. Pampinian the Bishop of Mansuetus was tortured with burning plates of iron all over his body. The Bishop of Urice was burnt to death.
Then did they also besiege the City of Hippo, where St. Augustine was,Hippo besieged. who before that time had compiled two hundred thirty two Books, Epistles innumerable besides his Expositions on the Psalms and Gospels, and his Homilies to the people. See more of this in my first part of lives in the life of St. Austine.
When they had taken the Regal City of Carthage, they enslaved the Citizens and Senators, publishing a decree that they should presently bring forth whatsoever gold, silver, precious stones, or rich apparel they possessed, and thereby dispoiled them of all in one day; Then did they take the Bishop and all the Ministers of that City, and thrust them naked into weather broken-ships, and so banished them, whom yet the Lord of his great Mercy directed, and brought in safety to the City of Naples. A special providence.The Senators and Nobles they first banished from the City▪ and then drave them beyond-sea. The dead bodies of the Christians they would not suffer to be buried but in the night, and without any solemnity.
The Bishops and Ministers through all the Province, being dispoiled of all their substance, and turned out of their Churches, assembled together, and presented a petition to Genserick, that they might, at least in private,Pride. be suffered to instruct their people to whom he proudly answered, I have decreed that none of your profession shall remain in the countrey, how then dare you prefer such a request? and withal, he would at that instant have drowned them all in the sea, but that the importunity of some about him, stopt him.
There was also a noble Earl, called Sebastian, a man of great wisdom and courage, whom Genserick much feared, and therefore sought occasion to put him to death: which that he might the better effect, he moved him to be re-baptized by one of his Priests, and to turn Arrian: the Earl therefore requested him to call for a fine manchet, which being done, he said, This loaf, that it might be fine and white, hath been boulted from the bran, A noble Earl martyred.moistened with liquor, and baked: but if you now cause it to be broken in pieces, steeped in water, kneaded and baked again, if it come out better, I will do as you would have me. Genserick understanding his meaning, could not tell what to answer for the present, yet afterwards he caused him to be put to death.
If any Minister in his Sermon occasionally did but mention Pharaoh, Nebuchadrezzer, An evil conscience.Herod, &c, presently it was laid to his charge that he meant it by the King, and thereupon he was banished.
Yet notwithstanding all this cruelty, the people of God stood fast in their holy profession,Constancy. and rather increased then otherwise.
Afterwards at the request of Valentinian the Emperour, Genserick suffered the Orthodox in Carthage to choose them a Bishop, which they did; and not long after Genserick with his Vandals took the famous City of Rome, Rome sacked.carrying away with him, not only all the treasure that of a long time had been stored up there, but many of the people also; who, when they were brought into Africk, were shared between the Vandals and the Moors, so that husbands were separated from their wives, parents from their children; which this godly Bishop hearing of, he caused all the gold and silver vessels belonging to the Church, to be sold for their Redemption,Charity. that so married persons, and parents, and children might enjoy the comfort of their relations: Then also did he provide food and lodging for them, and night and day went amongst them himself, to see how they did, to minister to their wants, and comfort them; But this procured him such hatred amongst the Arrians, that they sought to slay him; but the Lord about this time took him to himself, whereby he escaped their malice.
Gods providence.One of the Gensericks Colonels, having some Christian slaves, and a beautifull and a godly Virgin amongst them, he took occasion to vex them with fetters and torments, thereby to force them to re-baptization, which they constantly refusing, he caused them to be stripped, and beaten with ragged cudgels till their flesh was torn in pieces, &c. At last they were banished to Capsur, an heathen Kingdom of the Moors, where it pleased God so to bless their labours,A special Providence. that many of them were converted, and sending for an Orthodox Minister,Moors converted. were baptized.
This coming to Gensericks ears, he commanded these servants of God to be drawn at a Chariots tail thorow thickets of thorns,Cruelty of Hereticks. till they were torn in pieces, and these newly converted Moors, he caused their naked bodies to be haled backwards and forwards, thorow bushes and brambles, and others of them to be tied to wild beasts, and so to be rent in sunder; the poor Christians saying thus each to other, O brother pray for me, God hath fulfilled our desire, O this is the way to the kingdom of heaven.
Genserick further raging against the Orthodox, sent one Proculus into the Zeugian Province, to dispoil all the Churches of their Ornaments, and the Ministers of their books, that thereby they might be disabled to holy services; which command was executed with all rigour: and whereas the Bishop of Habensa refused to deliver them up, he was expelled the City,The Bishop of Habensa. and all men at great penalty were forbidden to harbour him, so that, being above eighty years old, he lay naked for a long time, under the open skie.
About Easter, when the Christians were met together in a Church, to celebrate the remembrance of Christs Resurrection, the Arrians with a great power of armed men, set upon this innocent company, who with their naked swords slew many: The Minister that was preaching, they shot through the throat with an arrow:Christians murthered at a Sermon. and such of them as escaped death, were by the command of the King, executed by sundry kinds of torments.
In other places, when the Christians were administring the Sacrament, the Hereticks rushed in amongst them, taking the bread and wine, and trampling them under their profane feet.Horrible profaness.
Then did Genserick command, that none but Arrians should bear any office, either about himself or his children: And a Bishop called Armogastes, they took, and first nipped his fore-head and legs with bowstrings; then did they hang him up by one foot,Armogastes tormented. with his head downward, yet did he seem to all men as if he slept in a feather-bed, which so enraged Theoderick the Kings son, that he commanded him to be beheaded, but some about him disswaded him from it,A special providence. because said they, he will be accounted a Martyr. Then was he banished to dig in Mynes; yet afterwards he was sent for again, and made a Cow-heard near to Carthage, that he might be a continual object of scorn.
There was also one Saturus, a noble man, eminent for holiness, whom the Tyrant much laboured to draw to the Arrian profession, but he refusing, the King told him, that if he presently consented not,Saturu's noble courage. he should forfeit his house and goods, that his Children and slaves should be sould, and his wife should be given to the Camel-driver: Yet no menaces could shake his faith. His wife hearing of her doom, went to her husband as he was praying, with her garments rent, her hair disheveled, her Children at her heels, and a sucking infant in her hands, whom she cast at her husbands feet, and took him about the knees,Tentation. saying, Have compassion (O my sweetest) of me thy poor wife; and of these thy Children; look upon them, let them not be made slaves; let not me be yoaked to a base Marriage, &c. that which thou art required to do, thou dost it not willingly, but by constraint, and therefore it will not be laid to thy charge: He gave her an answer in the words of Job, Thou speakest like a foolish woman:Resisted. thou actest the devils part; if thou lovest thy husband, thou wouldst never seek to draw him to sin, which will procure the second death. I am resolved therefore as my Lord commands me, to forsake wife, children, lands, house, &c. that I may be his Disciple; and accordingly he was dispoiled of all, and turned out a begging, yet all were forbidden to harbour him.
Gensericks death.Genserick having reigned thirty seven years and three moneths, died.
Genserick being dead, his son Hunrick succeeded him, who at first was more moderate to the Christians, insomuch as they began to hold their meetings as before time. The Manichaean Hereticks he sought out, and though most of them were of his own Religion, yet he burnt some,Manichaeans punished. and banished others.
At the request of the Emperour Zeno and Placidia his wife, he suffered the Church of Carthage to chuse their own Bishop, having been destitute of one for twenty four years. Then they chose Eugenius, an humble,Eugenius chosen Bishop. holy and charitable man, whose fame increasing, the Arrian Bishops much envied him, and put into the Kings head to forbid him to preach, and not to suffer any to enter into the Church, that were attired after the manner of the Vandals;Envy. To which command Eugenius thus answered, The house of God is free for all: those which enter, no man may drive forth. The King being incensed with this answer, placed tortures at the Church door, who when they espied any man or woman in a Vandals habit, about to go into the Church, clapping flesh-hooks on their heads, and twisting them in their hair, with a strong twitch they pulled off hair,Cruelty of Hereticks. scalp and all, whereby some lost their eies, and some their lives.
The women, besides these torments, they carried thorow the streets, to be made a publick laughing-stock, yet could they not force them to altar their Religion.Constancy.
Then did Hunrick ordain, that none of his Countries which dissented from his Religion, should receive their ordinary pensions and salaries. Then did he send many of them who had been delicately brought up, to Utica, in the parching heat of the sun, to dig the land for corn; yet they went cheerfully, and comforted themselves in the Lord.
Then did he command that no man should be a Knight, or bear any publick office except he turned Arrian: whereupon very many with invincible courage,Constancy. forsook their honours and offices, rather then their faith.
Barbarous cruelty.Many Virgins he caused to be proved by the Midwives in a most shamefull manner; hanging them up from the ground with mighty weights at their feet, and putting to their sides; breasts, back and bellies, red hot plates of iron, to compell them to confess that their Bishops and Ministers lay with them, that so he might from thence have an occasion to persecute them. Many of these died under the pain, and others remained lame and crooked all their lives after, yet would they not confess any such thing.
Then did he banish into the wilderness, of Bishops, Ministers, Deacons, and other Members of Christ, four thousand nine hundred seventy six; some of them being lame with the gout, others blind with age:Multitudes banished. Amongst whom also was Foelix Bishop of Abiris, possessed with a dead palsie, and therefore unable, either to go or ride;Foelix. which the cruel King being informed of, and requested that he might be suffered to stay; he answered, if he be not able to ride, let wild bulls be coupled to drag him to the place appointed: So that they were fain to carry him on a Mules back across, as if he had been a sack.
Then were all these holy Confessors, brought to the City of Sicca, where the Moors were to receive them, and transport them thence to the wilderness. Thither came two Arrian Earls,Tentation. and with great subtilty sought to withdraw them from their stedfastness, saying, What mean you to be so obstinate, as not to obey the Kings Laws, whereas by complying with him, you may be preferred to honour? Then did they all cry out, We be Christians, we be Catholicks, we believe, and confess the Trinity in Unity. Hereupon were they shut up in a grievous prison.
Many mothers also voluntarily followed their little children, much rejoycing that they had born Martyrs: Others sought to draw them to rebaptization by the Hereticks but, through Gods grace, they could not prevail.Constancy.
As they passed on the way travelling more by night then by day, because of the excessive heat, a woman hasted after them,An excellent story. leading in her hand a little child, encouraging him, saying, Run Sirra, seest thou all the Saints how merrily they go forwards, and hasten to their Crown? One of the company rebuked her, and asked her whether she went? To whom she answered, Pray for me, I go with this little boy, my nephew, to the place of banishment▪ least the enemies finding him alone, should seduce him from the way of truth into the way of Error.
The enemies being more enraged because of their constancy, when they came to their lodgings, penned them up in narrow places. Then was denied to them all the comfort of access of their friends, for permitting whereof formerly, their Keepers had been beaten with staves. These blessed Saints were tumbled one upon another, as grains of corn,Cruelty of Hereticks. neither could they have means of stepping aside to ease nature, so that the stink of their excrements exceeded their other pain.
Then were they brought forth, their garments, heads and faces besmeared with dirt in a pitifull manner, and by the clamorous Moors they were hastened forward in their journey; yet they went singing with great joy unto the Lord, Loe, This honour have all his Saints. Then came to them the blessed Bishop Cyprian, Cyprians sympathy.who to their singular consolation, comforted every one of them with fatherly affection, and with streams of tears was ready to lay down his life for the brethren, and would fain have accompanied them, if he might have been suffered:Charity. He bestowed all that he had amongst them, for which he afterwards suffered imprisonment and much hard-ship, and at last had his hearts desire in being banished.
There came great multitudes from sundry Countries and Cities, to behold these servants of God, and many casting their Children at their feet; cryed thus, To whom will you leave us wretches whilest you go forward to your Crown? Who shall baptize our infants? instruct and administer the Sacraments to us? our hearts serve us well to go with you if we might. But now none were suffered any more to go with them for their comfort, but they were pressed forwards, and made to run.
When any of the aged, or tender Children fainted, they were first punched forwards with staves:Barbarous cruelty. Then were the Moors commanded to tie ropes to the feet of such as were unable to go, and to hail them thorow the rough places, so that first their garments were rent, then their flesh, and their heads were dashed against the sharp edges of rocks, whereby very many of them died.
The rest that were stronger came at last to the wilderness, where, like beasts, they had barly given them for their food; there were also abundance of venemous serpents and scorpions in that place, whose sting was deadly, yet, thorow Gods great Providence, none of these servants of Christ gat any hurt thereby.A special providence.
Hunrick in the seventh year of his reign, directed his Mandate to Eugenius Bishop of Carthage, and told all other Bishops in Africk, that they should by such a day meet at Carthage to defend by disputation their faith against the Arrian Bishops;Subtilty of Hereticks. but withal, by the tenour of the decree, they perceived that he would not suffer any of them to live within his dominions, which caused great heaviness amongst them. Eugenius returned answer, that since it was the common cause of all the Christian Churches, it was but equal that Bishops out of other Countries should be requested to be there present also; and this he did, not because they suspected their own abilities to defend the truth, but because he knew that strangers might use more liberty of speech then they could, and that other Bishops might be witnesses of their sufferings, but this request did but more enrage this unreasonable Tyrant.
The appointed day approaching, many Bishops resorted to Carthage, worn out with afflictions and sorrows, yet for many days after their coming, there was no mention of disputing, till in the mean time the King had singled out the learnedest and skilfullest of them, that by sundry Calumniations he might make them away: Amongst whom was Laetus, a stout and learned man, whom he first imprisoned, and then burnt him in the fire, that so he might strike a fear into the rest.
At last the Disputation began, and the Orthodox, to avoid tumult, chose out some to answer for all the rest. The Arrians placed themselves upon lofty Thrones,Pride of Hereticks. whilest the Orthodox stood below upon their feet; Whereupon they said, Conference is to be taken in hand, not where proud superiority of power bears sway, but where, by common consent, the Disputants upon equal tearms debate the controversies, that truth may come to light, &c. Then were all the Catholicks commanded to have an hundred stroaks a piece with a cudgel, given them for this speech:Unjust cruelty. Whereupon Eugenius said, The Lord from heaven behold the violence which we suffer, and consider the tribulation which we sustain from our persecutors. Then did the Orthodox Bishops desire the Arrians to propound what they intended; But the Arrian Bishops seeing them ready to dispute with them, sought out tergiversations, and declined the dispute. Hereupon the Orthodox drew forth a declaration of their faith, excellently well penned, and exhibited it with this Protestation, If you be desirous to know our belief, A confession of …aith.the faith which we hold is herein comprised. The Arrians stormed exceedingly at this, giving them outragious language, and presently by false Calumnies they accused them to the King, and so incensed him, that by an Edict in one day he caused all the Christians Churches through Africk to be shut up,A wicked Edict. giving to the Arrians all the goods and Churches of the Orthodox.
Then did he command that all those godly Bishops that were met together at Carthage, Cru…lty of Hereticks.should be spoiled of all that they had in their lodgings, and so driven out of the City-gates; having neither servant, nor beast, nor garment to s…ift them in, left unto them; and all men were forbidden either to harbour them, or give them any sustenance, the King threatning to burn him and all his family that should relieve them.
The Bishops being thus turned out, lay in the open fields round about the Wals: and when the Tyrant went forth to the fish-ponds, they met him, saying, Why are we so afflicted? what evil have we done? If we be called to dispute, Why are we spoiled of all we have? Why are we slandred? Why are we forced to remain here amongst the dung-hills, afflicted with hunger and nakedness, far from our Churches and houses? Herewith the Tyrant was so enraged, that he commanded his horsemen to ride over them, whereby many of them were sore bruised and wounded, especially the aged and weak men: Then did he command them to meet him at the Temple of Memory: and when they came thither, they had this writing delivered to them; Our Lord King Hunrick, lamenting your obstinacy in refusing to obey his will, and to embrace his Religion, yet intends to deal graciously with you, and if you will take this oath, he will send you back to your Churches and houses: Then they all said with one consent, We are all Christians, and Bishops, and hold the Apostolical and only true faith; and thereupon they made a brief confession of their faith;Devillish subtilty. But the Kings Commissioners urged them without any further delay to take the oath contained in that paper; Whereupon they answered, Do you think us bruit beasts, that we should so easily swear to a writing, wherein we know not what is contained? Then was the Oath read unto them, which was this, You shall swear that after the death of the Lord our King, his son Hilderick shall succeed him in the Kingdom, and that none of you shall send letters beyond the seas. If you take this oath, he will restore you to your Churches.
They that were plain-meaning men amongst them, were willing to take it; but others that saw further into the subtilty of it, refused it. Then were those which would take it, commanded to separate themselves from the other, which being done, a Notary presently took their names, and of what Cities they were: he did the like also by the Refusers; and so both parties were committed to ward, and shortly after the King sent them word; first to those that would have taken the oath: Because that you, contrary to the rule of the Gospel, which saith,A wicked sentence. Thou shalt not swear at all, would have sworn: The Kings Will is, that you shall never see your Churches more, but shall be banished into the wilderness, and never perform any Ministerial office again; and there you shall till the ground: But to the Refusers of the oath, he said, because you desire not the reign of our Lords son, you shall therefore be immediately sent away to the Isle of Corse, there to hew timber for the ships.
He also sent abroad through all Africk, his cruel tormentors: So that no place, no house remained free from lamentation, screeching and out-cryes. They spared neither age nor sex, but only such as yielded to their will. Some they cudgelled with staves; some they hung up, others they burned. Women, and especially gentlewomen, they openly tortured stark naked without all shame: Amongst whom was Dionysia, whom when they saw bolder, and more beautifull then the rest,Dionysia. they first commanded her to be stript naked, and made ready for the cudgels, who spake boldly to them, saying, I am assured of the love of my God, Impudence of Hereticks.v…x me how you will, only my woman-hood disclose you not; But they, with greater rage, set her naked upon an high place for a publick spectacle: Then did they whip her till the streams of blood flowed all over her body: Whereupon she boldly said, Ye Ministers of Satan, that which you do for my reproach, is to me an honour. And beholding her only son,Courage. that was young and tender, and seemed fearfull of torments, checking him with a motherly Authority, she so encouraged him, that he became much more constant then before. To whom in the midst of his terrible torments, she said, Remember, O my child, She encourageth her son.that we were baptized in the name of the holy Trinity: Let us not lose the garment of our salvation, least it be said, Cast them into outer darkness, where is weeping▪ and wailing and gnashing of teeth: For that pain is to be dreaded, that never endeth; and that life to be desired, that alwayes lasteth: The youth was so encouraged hereby, that he persevered patient in all his sufferings, till, in the midst of his torments, he gave up the Ghost. Many by her exhortations and example were gained to God, and animated in their sufferings.The benefit of good examples.
Not long after, Cyrillas the Arrian Bishop at Carthage, stirred up the Tyrant against the Christians,Slanders. telling him, that he could never expect to enjoy his Kingdom in peace, so long as he suffered any of them to live, Hereupon he sent for seven eminent Christians from Capsa to Carthage, Tentation.whom he first assaulted with flattery and large promises of honour, riches, &c. if so be they would imbrace his faith: But these servants of Christ rejected all those profers▪ crying out, One Lord, one faith, one Baptism; saying also,Courage and constancy. Do with our bodies what you please, torment them at your will, its better for us to suffer these momentary pains, then to endure everlasting torments.
Hereupon they were sent to prison, loaded with great iron chains, and thrust into a stinking Dungeon: But God stirred up the hearts of many godly persons (by great bribes to the Jayler) to procure daily access to them, and by their exhortations,Gods Mercy. they were so corroborated in the faith, that they much desired to suffer the like things for Christ with these men, and would willingly have laid down their necks to the Persecutors swords.
The Tyrant hearing of it, was exceedingly enraged, caused them to be kept closer, loaden with more chains, and to be put to great torments. Then did he cause a ship to be filled with combustible matter, commanding that these holy Martyrs should be put into it,Many burned in a ship. and fast bound in the same, and fire to be set to the ship in the sea, that they might be burned to death.
When they were brought out of the prison, the multitude of Gods people accompanied them to the ship, who as innocent Lambs were led to be sacrificed, looking upon their weighty irons, as rare Jewels and Ornaments. With chearfulness and alacrity they went towards the place of execution, as if they had gone to a banket,Admirable courage and comfort. singing with one voice unto the Lord, as they went along the street, saying, This is our desired day, more festival then any fe…ivity: Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation! when for the faith of our Lord God, we endure death, that we may not loose the garment of obtained faith. The people also with one voice cried; Fear not, O servants of God, neither dread the threats of your enemies: Die for Christ, who died for us, that he might redeem us with the price of his saving blood.
Amongst these was a pretty boy, to whom a subtil Seducer said, Why hastest thou, my pretty boy, unto death: let them go,Tentation. they are mad; Take my counsel, and thou shalt not only have life, but great advancement in the Kings Court: To whom the lad answered, You shall not get me from the fellowship of these holy men, Constancy of a boy.who bred me up, with whom I lived in the fear of God, and with whom I desire to die; and with whom I trust, I shall obtain the glory to come. And so being all put into the ship, they were burned together.
After the death of Hunrick, Gundabund succeeded in the Kingdom, who continuing in the steps of his cruel predecessors, afflicted the Christians grievously by sundry kinds of persecution, during the space of twelve years, at the end whereof he died, and Thrasamund succeeded him, a man that excelled all his Predecessors in magnanimity and courage.
His manner was by perswasions, flatteries, promises and rewards, to seek to draw the Christians to his Arrian Heresie; but they which would not be prevailed with hereby, he no way punished or molested them.
In his time there were great Wars between the Moors and Vandals, the Moors had one Cabaon for their General, who commanded all his souldiers to use abstinence in their diet,An excellent example of an Heathen. and to abstain from women, and from all Injury and wrong-doing. The women he enclosed within trenches by themselves, commanding that under pain of death no man should have access to them. Then did he send forth a certain company of Moors, commanding them privately to follow the Camp o… the Vandals, and that wheresoever the Vandals profaned any Church of the Christians, presently after their departure, they should follow and purge the same; For (saith he) if the Christians God be a good God, then will he assist them that are devoted to him, and punish the Blasphemers. These men in counterfeit base attire, followed the Vandals Camp; and whereas the Vandals where ever they came, took up the Christians Churches for their Horses and Beasts of burthen,Profaness of Hereticks. carrying themselves very insolently against God and his House: beating and abusing the Ministers and Church-Officers, making them to attend upon them as their slaves. After their departure the Moors on the contrary, cleansed the Churches, carried out the dung▪ kneeled down to, and reverenced the Ministers, and distributed money to the poor, and thus they did continually.
Then did Cabaon prepare to give his enemies battel; and whereas the Vandals were all Horse-men, and very well mounted, their Horses were so afrighted at the sight of the Moors Camels, that they were presently put into disorder, and the Moors with darts and arrows did so pelt them, that they put them to flight, and slew many of them, whereupon Thrasamund shortly after died of grief.
Then did Ilderick the son of Hunrick succeed in the Kingdom, who was equally mild and gentle, both to the Vandals and Christians, and one that kept very fair correspondence with the Emperour Justinian. But Gilimer, a cunning and ambitious man, deposed him, and usurped the Kingdom to himself. Whereupon Justinian sent against him that brave and gallant General Billisarius, The destruction of the persecuting Vandals.who overcame him in several battels, took him prisoner, freed the Christians from persecution, and subverted the Empire of the Vandals in Africk, after they had reigned there for the space of ninety years, wherein for the most part they had been cruel persecutors of the true Church of God.
Sin the forerunner of persecution.Salvian, who was Bishop of Masilia, and lived at the same season, complaineth, that before these brutish Vandals came into Africk, the Church of God there was much degenerated from its ancient purity, and the power of Godliness was much decaid; insomuch as they which lived exactly according to the Rule of Gods Word, were hissed at as they went in the streets, as if they had been monsters: Whereupon, saith he, the passage of the Vandals into Africk, was not to be imputed to Gods rigour, but to the Africans wickedness, &c.
Collected out of a Book written by Victor Bishop of Utica, who lived at the same time, and was himself a Sufferer under this persecution.
Here place the fifth Figure.