thage on the first of the ensuing February, restore them to their benefices, provided for the purpose of disputing with the Arian they would swear to the truth of what that prelates; the king's stratagem was discov-paper contained. The prelates, surprised ered by Eugenius, and several other bishops, at this proposal, declared that they could not particularly Victor, bishop of Vita, the learn- in conscience swear to the truth of that ed author of the account of this persecution; to which they were total strangers; but if and they determined, after deliberation, to they were suffered to read the writing, and send a petition to the king; it was accord-approved of the contents, they would take ingly written by Eugenius, and presented by the oath. a person who had great interest at court. It The officer answered, that he would tell stated, that the African prelates did not de- them the contents, which were of a political cline the proposed conference from the weak- nature, and only required them to swear that ness of their cause, or a distrust of their own they were willing prince Hilderic should abilities to maintain their mode of faith; but succeed his father in the throne. Several as the whole church was concerned in the of the prelates, innocently thinking that there dispute, they were of opinion that they could could be no harm in swearing they were not engage in it without the bishops of Eu- willing a son should succeed his father, ofrope and Asia. Huneric answered, that what fered to comply; but the rest, with greater they desired was impossible, unless the whole precaution, refused to take the oath, as they world was in his hands. Upon which Eu- justly judged so simple a proposal would genius desired his majesty would be pleased never have been made them, unless some to write to Odoacer, king of Italy, and other artifice was in contemplation. princes in his interest; and allow him to send While they were disputing upon this head, to the bishops, that the common faith might the officer took advantage of their discord, be thus authentically published. But the and committed them to separate prisons; king, disregarding this remonstrance, in- those who were willing to swear to one, and sisted upon being obeyed; and then, previ- those who were unwilling to another; but ous to the time appointed, banished several they had not been long in confinement before of the most learned orthodox prelates, on va- the artifice was explained by an order from rious pretences, that the Arians might have the king for the banishment of both parties. the advantage. Those who had been willing to swear were At the appointed time for the conference, banished, under the pretence of offering to the orthodox clergy chose ten of their num- break an established precept of the Scripber to act in the name of the rest. Cyrilla, ture, viz. "Swear not at all," Matt. v. 34. an Arian, took the title of patriarch upon the And those who had refused to swear, were occasion, and was seated on a magnificent banished as enemies to the legal succession. throne. The Arian prelates were allowed to The former were obliged to work as slaves sit near him, but the orthodox bishops were in distant colonies, and the latter were sent obliged to stand. They complained of this to the island of Corsica to cut timber. Eupartial mode of behavior, as an infringement genius was banished to Tripoli; where Anof their liberty; and Eugenius, perceiving thony, a violent Arian bishop, threw him that they did not intend to come to a candid into a dungeon, and made him suffer every decision, proposed to adjourn; but instead of hardship, in order to destroy him by a lingercomplying with this, each orthodox prelate, ing death. The dampness of the place gave by the king's order, as Cyrilla asserted, re- Eugenius the palsy, which Anthony hearing ceived a hundred blows with a stick. Eu- of, went to the gaol, and finding him very genius protested against such violence, but weak and lying on the floor, he poured some in vain; the prelates were driven from the strong vinegar down his throat, with a design place, their churches were shut up, and the to choke him. It had, however, a contrary revenues of their bishoprics were confiscated. effect; for instead of suffocating, it promoted Then they were compelled to quit Carthage, a copious perspiration, which cured his palsy, and were exposed without the walls of that and restored him to health. city, to all the inclemencies of the weather. When Huneric died, his successor recalled The king, passing out of one of the gates, Eugenius, and the rest of the orthodox clerthe orthodox clergy presented themselves gy: the Arians taking the alarm, persuaded before him, and modestly complained of the him to banish them again, which he comtreatment they had met with: but instead of plied with; when Eugenius, being exiled to redressing their grievances, Huneric order- Languedoc in France, died there of the harded his guards to chastise them. The soldiers, ships he had undergone, on the 6th of Sepin consequence, treated them unmercifully; tember, in the year 505. and the king ordered them to appear on a A widow lady of fortune, named Dionysia, certain day at a place which he then stated. being apprehended as an orthodox Christian, At the time appointed, they assembled, was stripped naked, exposed in a most indewhen one of the king's officers showed them cent manner, and severely scourged. Her a paper, and informed them that the king son, a lad, being seized at the same time. was inclined to forget what was past, and to seemed afraid of the torture, and looked pit fully at his mother, who ordered him. not to that we should suffer a few temporary pains, fear any torments, but to be constant to the than endure everlasting misery." The king, faith in which she had brought him up. When being greatly exasperated by this, sent them he was upon the rack, she again comforted to prison. The keeper, however, suffered him with her pious speeches. Whereupon their friends to have access to them; by the youth patiently persevered, and resigned which they were more confirmed in their his soul to his Creator. The mother saw resolution of dying for the sake of their Rethe death of her son, and soon after, herself deemer.. received the crown of martyrdom. A SHIP-LOAD OF MARTYRS BURNT. Cyrilla, the Arian bishop of Carthage, was a furious heretic, and a very great enemy to When the king heard of the indulgence those Christians who professed the faith in they received, he was exceedingly angry, its purity. He persuaded the king that he and sent orders that they should be closely could never prosper in his undertakings, or confined, and loaded with fetters. He then enjoy his kingdom in peace, while he toler- began to consider by what means he should ated the orthodox Christians; and this mon- put them to death, and at length determined arch, believing what Cyrilla told him, sent to imitate the barbarity of the emperor Va for several of those who were obnoxious to lens, who, as we have already stated, caused that prelate. He, at first, attempted to draw four-score clergymen to be burnt in a ship. them from their faith by flattery, and to bribe He therefore ordered these Christians to be them by the promise of immediate worldly put on board a ship filled with combustible rewards; but they were firm and constant, materials, and the vessel being set on fire, declaring resolutely against Arianism, and they received martyrdom. The names of saying, "We acknowledge but one Lord, and the principal of these Christians were, Rusone faith; you may therefore do whatever ticus, Severus, Liberatus, Rogatus, Servus, you please with our bodies, for it is better Septimus, and Boniface. BOOK III VISTORY OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, BETWEEN THE FIFTH AND THE TENTH CENTURIES. SECTION I. Persecutions from the Fifth to the Seventh Century. PROTERIUS was made a priest by Cyril, the head of all the designs that had been bishop of Alexandria. On the death of Cyril, formed against Proterius, employed every the see of Alexandria was filled by Diosco- art to ruin his credit, drawing the people rus, an inveterate enemy both to the memory from his communion, and raising himself to and family of his predecessor. Dioscorus, that see. At last, taking advantage of the however, knowing the reputation of Prote- absence of Dionysius, who commanded the rius, and his great interest, did the utmost in forces of that province, and was then in Uphis power to gain his confidence and favor, per Egypt, he seized on the great church, as he thought he might be of great service and was uncanonically consecrated by two to him in carrying on his evil intentions; bishops of his faction, who had been debut Proterius was not to be corrupted, and posed for heresy. He then continued the no prospect of worldly preferment could bribe exercise of all the episcopal functions, till him to forego his duty. At length Dioscorus the commander's return, who, upon hearing being condemned by the council of Chalcedon the disorders that had been committed, and for having embraced the errors of Eutyches, that Timothy was the chief author of them, was deposed, and Proterius chosen to fill the expelled him. see, and approved by the emperor. On this. This affair so enraged the Eutychians, an insurrection broke out, for the city of that they determined to wreak their venAlexandria was divided into two factions; geance on Proterius, who fled to the church the one to espouse the cause of the old, and for sanctuary: but on Good-Friday, A. D. the other of the new prelate. Proterius was 457, a large body of them rushed into the imminent danger, from a set of schis church, and murdered the prelate, after matics, who would neither obey the decisions which they dragged the body through the of a council, nor the emperor's commands. streets, cut it to pieces, burnt it, and dis persed the ashes. On this INSURRECTION AT ALEXANDRIA, When the Vandals sacked Carthage, a These disorders becoming serious, the lady, named Julia, was taken prisoner, and governor of Thebais marched with a body after being sold and resold as a slave, she beof troops, in order to quell them. The peo-came the property of a Syrian Pagan, named pie, however, were in a kind of frenzy; Eusebius, Her master frequently took her when they heard of the approach of the gov- with him upon his voyages: in one of these emor, they armed themselves, and marched they touched upon the island of Corsica, at of Alexandria, gave him battle, and de- where Eusebius joined in an idolatrous fesfeated him. The intelligence of this affair tival; but Julia kept from it. The heathens exasperated the emperor, that he sent a complained of this conduct as disrespectful detachment of two thousand men against to their gods, and informed the governor them; the appearance of whom, and the pru- Felix of it, who sent for Eusebius, and dedence of the governor of Alexandria, whose manded' what young woman it was who had mne was Florus, soon restored peace to the refused to join in worship to the gods. city; nevertheless, the discontented party Eusebius replied, that the young woman beheld Proterius with resentment; so that was a Christian, and that all his authority he was obliged to have a guard to secure his over her could not induce her to renounce personal safety, and at length, though natu- her religion; but she was a very diligent ally of a mild temper, was compelled to ex- and faithful servant. anunicate some of them, and obtain their Felix pressed him to exert himself; either nishment from Alexandria. But when the to oblige her to assist at the Pagan worship peror Marcian's death, which happened or to part with her; and offered to give himn two years after, gave a new turn to affairs, his own price, or four of his best female exiles returned to Alexandria, renewed slaves in exchange for her, which Eusebius eir cabals against Proterius, and seemed refused. When Felix found him inflexible, Polved to be revenged on him for what they he determined to get her into his power by sfered. Timothy, a priest, who was at artifice, and invited Eusebius to an entert in fully at his mother, who ordered him. not to that we should suffer a few temporary pains, fear any torments, but to be constant to the than endure everlasting misery." The king, faith in which she had brought him up. When being greatly exasperated by this, sent them he was upon the rack, she again comforted to prison. The keeper, however, suffered him with her pious speeches. Whereupon their friends to have access to them; by the youth patiently persevered, and resigned which they were more confirmed in their his soul to his Creator. The mother saw resolution of dying for the sake of their Rethe death of her son, and soon after, herself deemer.. received the crown of martyrdom. A SHIP-LOAD OF MARTYRS BURNT. Cyrilla, the Arian bishop of Carthage, was a furious heretic, and a very great enemy to When the king heard of the indulgence those Christians who professed the faith in they received, he was exceedingly angry, its purity. He persuaded the king that he and sent orders that they should be closely could never prosper in his undertakings, or confined, and loaded with fetters. He then enjoy his kingdom in peace, while he toler- began to consider by what means he should ated the orthodox Christians; and this mon- put them to death, and at length determined arch, believing what Cyrilla told him, sent to imitate the barbarity of the emperor Vafor several of those who were obnoxious to lens, who, as we have already stated, caused that prelate. He, at first, attempted to draw four-score clergymen to be burnt in a ship. them from their faith by flattery, and to bribe He therefore ordered these Christians to be them by the promise of immediate worldly put on board a ship filled with combustible rewards; but they were firm and constant, materials, and the vessel being set on fire, declaring resolutely against Arianism, and they received martyrdom. The names of saying, "We acknowledge but one Lord, and the principal of these Christians were, Rusone faith; you may therefore do whatever ticus, Severus, Liberatus, Rogatus, Servus, you please with our bodies, for it is better Septimus, and Boniface. BOOK III, HISTORY OF THE PERSECUTIONS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, BETWEEN THE FIFTH AND THE TENTH CENTURIES. SECTION I. Persecutions from the Fifth to the Seventh Century. PROTERIUS was made a priest by Cyril, the head of all the designs that had been bishop of Alexandria. On the death of Cyril, formed against Proterius, employed every the see of Alexandria was filled by Diosco- art to ruin his credit, drawing the people rus, an inveterate enemy both to the memory from his communion, and raising himself to and family of his predecessor: Dioscorus, that see. At last, taking advantage of the however, knowing the reputation of Prote- absence of Dionysius, who commanded the rius, and his great interest, did the utmost in forces of that province, and was then in Uphis power to gain his confidence and favor, per Egypt, he seized on the great church, as he thought he might be of great service and was uncanonically consecrated by two to him in carrying on his evil intentions; bishops of his faction, who had been debut Proterius was not to be corrupted, and posed for heresy. He then continued the no prospect of worldly preferment could bribe exercise of all the episcopal functions, till aim to forego his duty. At length Dioscorus the commander's return, who, upon hearing being condemned by the council of Chalcedon the disorders that had been committed, and for having embraced the errors of Eutyches, that Timothy was the chief author of them, was deposed, and Proterius chosen to fill the expelled him. see, and approved by the emperor. On this This affair so enraged the Eutychians, an insurrection broke out, for the city of that they determined to wreak their venAlexandria was divided into two factions; geance on Proterius, who fled to the church the one to espouse the cause of the old, and for sanctuary: but on Good-Friday, A. D. the other of the new prelate. Proterius was 457, a large body of them rushed into the in imminent danger, from a set of schis matics, who would neither obey the decisions of a council, nor the emperor's commands. INSURRECTION AT ALEXANDRIA, church, and murdered the prelate; after which they dragged the body through the streets, cut it to pieces, burnt it, and dis persed the ashes. When the Vandals sacked Carthage, a These disorders becoming serious, the lady, named Julia, was taken prisoner, and governor of Thebais marched with a body after being sold and resold as a slave, she beof troops, in order to quell them. The peo- came the property of a Syrian Pagan, named ple, however, were in a kind of frenzy; Eusebius, Her master frequently took her when they heard of the approach of the gov- with him upon his voyages: in one of these ernor, they armed themselves, and marched they touched upon the island of Corsica, out of Alexandria, gave him battle, and de- where Eusebius joined in an idolatrous fesfeated him. The intelligence of this affair tival; but Julia kept from it. The heathens so exasperated the emperor, that he sent a complained of this conduct as disrespectful detachment of two thousand men against to their gods, and informed the governor them; the appearance of whom, and the pru- Felix of it, who sent for Eusebius, and dedence of the governor of Alexandria, whose manded what young woman it was who had name was Florus, soon restored peace to the refused to join in worship to the gods. eity; nevertheless, the discontented party Eusebius replied, that the young woman beheld Proterius with resentment; so that was a Christian, and that all his authority he was obliged to have a guard to secure his over her could not induce her to renounce personal safety, and at length, though natu- her religion; but she was a very diligent rally of a mild temper, was compelled to ex- and faithful servant. communicate some of them, and obtain their Felix pressed him to exert himself, either banishment from Alexandria. But when the to oblige her to assist at the Pagan worship emperor Marcian's death, which happened or to part with her; and offered to give himn two years after, gave a new turn to affairs, his own price, or four of his best female the exiles returned to Alexandria, renewed slaves in exchange for her, which Eusebius their cabals against Proterius, and seemed refused. When Felix found him inflexible, resolved to be revenged on him for what they he determined to get her into his power by had suffered. Timothy, a priest, who was at artifice, and invited Eusebius to an entert in |