CHAPTER. I. The horrible cruelty of the Vandals, vpon their first arriuall in Africke.

THE sixtith yeare (as isAn Chris [...] 427. 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 ali. [...]. [...] & Agat. Trizeric Gensericke the Captaine, it was forthwith (for greater terrour of their name) orde­red, [Page 12] 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 Basilicis Sanctorum 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 [Page 13] the gates of Gods honourable Palace shutte, with strokes of their Dext [...] um, [...] may als [...] Gauntl [...] Psal. 73 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 Nobi [...] sacerd [...] 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, Rem [...] entib [...] uis. vntill they twan­ged with stretching. To very many (as if they had beene pitched or rozend ves­sels) [Page 14] 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 [...]udith. 16. 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 [Page 15] 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, B. deso­labantur. P. S. P. F. desolantur. are eftsoones laid wast & desolate: as they vt­terly haue in Carthage ruinated the Thea­tres, the Temple Memory, with the passage surnamed An Idoll of the Afri­cans, of vvhich mention, Tert. Prosp. Am. 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, Suae reli­gioni licentia tyranni­ca manci­pauerunt. 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. [Page 18] [...](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 S. Augu­stine wrote his booke de haer [...]sibus, vnto his Disciple Quoduult­deus, per­haps this man. And his Epistle 19. vnto Deo-gra­tias, see­meth vnto him, who was this mans suc­cessor. 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 [Page 19] 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 Clero ve­nerabili. 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 Mapalia. 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 Exilio ali. Exitio, exile. While these thinges vvere doing, the Magni Sacerdote [...] principall Priestes and notable persons of those Prouinces, which [Page 22] [...]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 Mola ca­tholicae matris. 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, [Page 23] 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 Immo­landi. sacrifising, be any where obtayned by our complaints, so that the prophefie was then manifestly fulfilled. Nowe is there neyther Prince, Prophet, nor Dan. 3. 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. [Page 24] 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 B. Nice­num. 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 Melleis fidei claui­culis. Exod. 1. 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 [Page 28] [...]litle dying, seeme nowe to be onely three; if at least-wise there be so many: Vincent the ⸬ Vigitane Bishop, Paul the P. F. P. S. haue Gigi­tanus and Sinnaritan. 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 Millena­ [...]ios. Coronels of thousands, had to his slaues P. F. Mar­tinian. 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 [Page 29] towardes him. Maturian (as worldly yong men are vvont) affected the marriage: Maxima already Deo sa­crata. 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 Christo membra corporis mei dicaui nec possum humanum sortiri con­iugium. 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 Spiritua­lis secreti commer­cia. 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 [Page 30] Conuer­sus. At this day such as entring Monaste­ries became not Eccle­siasticall, are called Conuersi (conuerts) 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 Puella­rum. Virgins. This could not be hidden from the Barbarian, who by dili­gent search and many rewardes, made en­quiry after them. Finding out therefore, Non iam sua, [...]ed Christi mancipia. 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 of reba­ptisation they should defile the beauty of their faith. King Gensericke, to whose eares this matter at last came, gaue charge that they should be so long tortured, vntil they consented & yealded to his will. He com­māds strong trunchiōs knotted like a saw, and Palmatos as bigge as one could gripe, to be ad­dressed with their clubbed ends: which not only brake their bones, dashing a­gainst their backes, but pearced inward also with their sharpe prickes, and fetching streames of bloud, by renting the flesh dis­couered the bowels. Neuerthelesse in the day following were they alwayes made [Page 31] whole, in so much that often (& for a long space) no signes of their hurts appeared, which by Gods holy goodnes were euer­more cured. This passed, and Maxima re­mayning vnder fore imprisonment, was streatched out vpon an vnmerciful Compe­de crudeli P F. Cus­pide. payre of stocks, whome as the seruants of God visited with great resort, before them all the strong timbred engine & huge peeces of wood, became rotten, and fell asunder. This miracle both is famous by the report of them all, & the party to whome the pri­son appertayned, affirmed to me with an oath that it was true. But when the Vandal neglected to acknowledge her vertue, Gods anger beganne to worke reuenge in his house. He himselfe with his children dyed, and the best also of his cattle perish­ed. The Lady remayning a widowe, de­stitute of Sonnes and substance, offered as a present the seruants of Christ to P. F. S [...] ­saon. Sersaon the Kings cosen; Who hauing receiued them very thankfully, an euill spirit began presently by occasion of the Saints, in sondry wise to vexe his children and fami­ly. What happened the King had word by his Kinsman, and decreed thereupon that they should be sent into banishment to B. Capsus Capsur a Heathen King of the Moores. [Page 32] As for Christs handmaide Maxima, he of his owne motion, as one confounded and ouercome, dismissed her: who yet liueth Mother to a multitude of Virgi­num Dei. Gods Virgins; and is one whome I knowe well. They were conuayed & deliuered vp to the said King of the Moores, inhabiting in the de­sert called Caprapict, where the Disciples of Christ, beholding amongst the Gentils diuers prophane sortes of sacrifices, be­ganne by admonition and example also, to inuite the Barbarous nation vnto know­ledge of our God. By which meanes they gayned to Christ a huge multitude of the rude Gentils, amongst whome the name & fame of Christian religion had neuer be­fore beene blazed, nor spred by any man. Then bethought they howe best the vn­manured & barren soile, might by preach­ing be cultured, and prepared to receiue the seede of the Gospell, and subsequently be watered with holy Baptisme. Sent are messengers through the wide journies of the wildernesse, and ariuing at length at * Rome, make petition that some Priest & with him Ministros Deacons, might be sent vnto a people imbracing the faith. Which suite Pontifex Dei. Gods high Bishop with no small joy [Page 33] accomplished. Erected is a Church; bap­tized are wonderfull great numbers of the Barbarians, and of those which vvere Wolues, encreaseth a plentifull flocke of Lambes. Relation whereof when Capsur had made to Gensericke; swelling with en­uie, he willed the seruants of God to be drawne by the feet at Chariots tailes in ful course, so to end their liues amongst thic­kets and thornes, and that the bodies of those innocents haled forwardes & back­wardes, should be torne with sharpe pric­kles of the bushes and brambles: being in such wise boūd, that they might view each others end. Who as they thus tyed beheld one another, the wild horses being in race, and the Moores lamēting at the sight, euery of them at the point of the swift flight thus tooke his farewell. O brother pray for me, God hath fulfilled our desire: O this is the way to the kingdome of heauen. In such wise praysing and singing, and the Angels rejoycing at the sight, their soules departed; where euen vntill this day our Lord Iesus Christ leaueth not to worke great * miracles. B. Faustin Bishop of Buroni­tanus. P. F. Burtinita protested to me once, that in his presence a blinde woman there receiued her sight. [Page 36] [...]they entered at the very houre, when themaritha, Galibus, Ammonis, Ptol. diuine Sacrament was in distributing to the people, and with extreame fury Corpus Christi & sanguinem pauimento [...]rserunt▪ &c. scattered on the pauement the body and bloud of Christ, prophaning the same vnder their beastly * feete.

CHAP. X. The glorious profession of Armogas, his mi­raculous tombe. The happie constan­cie of Masculas.

AT this time Gensericke by the setting on of his Bishops, gaue commande­ment that none but Arrians should beare office in his, or his childrens Court. They came amongst others, to our B. Armo­gaster. Armogas, whose legges when they had often and long strayned vvith bigge stringes, and with nipping and twanging sinewes had as yet rather wrinkled only, then furrow­ed his forehead, wherein * Christ had fix­ed the standard of his Crosse: the Saint looking vp to heauen, the strings and si­newes brast in sunder like spiders twist. When the Torturers sawe the sinewie⸬ B. Cabal­lini [...]. thongs burst, they brought againe and a­gaine stronger cordes, yea P. S. P F. Canabiuis. horse-ropes; [Page 37] all which came to nothing at his only calling vpon the name of God. Hanging also by one foote with his head downe­ward, he seemed to all men as if he slept vpon a feather-bed. When Theodoricke his Lord, and sonne to the King (torments not preuayling) would haue commaunded him to be beheaded, he was stayed by his Priest Iocundus, telling him: you were bet­ter make him away by sondry vexations. For if you kil him with the sword, the Ro­mans will beginne to publish him a Mar­tyr. Theodoricke hereupon condemned him into the Prouince of Bizagena, there to digge pittes: afterward (as it were to grea­ter despite) he willed that he should be a Cow-heard hard by Carthage, where hee might be seene of all men. At which time hauing reuelation from our Lord, that his houre of rest approched, he called vnto him one Foelix a worshippefull Christian, Steward of the Kings Sonnes house, and which reuerenced Armogastes as an Apo­stle, and said vnto him: the time of my dissoluing is at hand, I desire you by the faith which both of vs embrace, that you will bury me vnder this Elme tree, which if you doe not, you shall render account [Page 38] thereof to God: not that he cared where or howe his body should be buried, but that it might be manifest what Christ had reueiled to his seruant. Foelix answered: farre be that from me, venerable Con­fessor: nay, I will bury you in a Church with that triumph and honour that you deserue. Blessed Armogastes replyed, not so; but you shall doe as I haue said. He loath to contristrate the man of God, promised indeede to fulfill that which he requested. VVithin very fewe dayes, the performer of so good a confession of faith, dyed. Foelix hastened to pre­pare the designed graue vnder the tree; and because the knotty rootes intangled vvith the drie earth, bredde delay; least the Holy body should be buried vvith the latest, cutting the rootes quite away, and digging much more deepe, they be­held a ready coffin of very glistring mar­ble, such as perhaps fewe or no Kinges haue enjoyed.

But neither am I to pretermitte one B. Mascu­linum. Masculas Archi­mimum. Master of the reuels; whome diuersly shot at, to depriue him of the Catholike faith, the King himselfe at last with glosing wordes inuited, promising [Page 39] to heape vpon him riches, if to his will he lent an easie eare. When for all this he remayned constant and vnconquered in faith, the King vvilled that he should vnder-goe the sentence of death; yet craftely gaue secreat instructions, that if at the exigent he dreaded the stroke of the brandishing glaiue, so much the ra­ther he should dye, not thereby being rendred a glorious Martyr: if contrary­wise he vvere found constant in his con­fession, the sworde should be stayed. But he (Christ giuing him solid founda­tion) became an vnmoueable pillar, and retourned a glorious Confessor. Though the enuious enemy vvould not make him Martyr: yet could he not violate the di­gnity of a Confessor.

CHAP. XI. The magnanimious resolution of Saturus.

WE knew an other at the same time by name Saturus, vvho being a bright member of the Church of Christ, many times Catholica libertate. with catholike liberty repro­ued the impiety of the Arrians: & Steward [Page 40] he was of Hunricks house. Conspired it was through the instigation of P F P. S. Ma [...]inado. Mauridan a Deacon, whome vngratious Hunricke sin­gularly respected, that Saturus should be made an Arrian. Honoures with much riches are proffered in case he cōsent, dire torments are prepared if he refuse, this op­tion being set before him, that vnlesse he obeyed the Kinges commaundement at the first discussion, presently forfeyting house and substance, his slaues and chil­dren should be sold, and his wife before his eyes, be deliuered vp in wedlocke to a camel-driuer. He on the other side full of Gods spirit, preuenting in a sort their wic­kednesse, doubted not to exasperate their fury so farre. Whereupon his Often af­ter is men­tion, like­vvise of lay­mens vvi­ues, but ne­uer of Priests vvi­ues (not­vvithstan­the chiefe rage vvas against them) vvise with­out her husbandes priuity, secretly be­sought respite, and obtayned it at their handes, who had in charge the putting of this rigorous sentence in execution. Then went she a second Eue vnto her husband, being before hand Consilio magistrata. taught her lesson, and aduertised what to say: yet found she not him an Adam, that would dare to touch the illecebrous aples of the forbidden tree. For Non In­digens sed Saturus. not Indigent, but Satured was he cal­led, saturate with the plenty of the house [Page 41] of God, and one that had drunke at his delicious streame. To the place where her husband al solitary was at his prayers, came this woman; her garments rent, her hayre about her eares, accompanied with her children, and a litle sucking infant in her handes; whome casting at her hus­bands feete, and with all her armes about his knees, she hissed forth this serpentine voyce. Haue compassion (O my sweetest) of me thy poore wife, and no lesse of thy owne selfe; haue compassion of these children common to vs both. Here be­hold them before thine eyes. Let them not be subject to seruile condition, whome descent of our stocke hath made noble. Let not me be yoked to a base and shame­full marriage, yea and my husband yet a­liue: me (I say) who so often at feasts ap­plauded to my selfe in my Saturus. God knoweth full sore against thy will shalt thou but doe that, which voluntarily per­haps many haue yealded vnto. He gaue her for answere those vvordes of Iob. Iob [...]. Thou hast spoken like a foolish woman. Well should I be afraide, if there were no other joy, then the bitter sweets of this life. Thou seruest nowe the Diuels turne, O [Page 42] wife: who, if thou didst loue thy hus­band, wouldst neuer drawe him to a se­cond death. Let them take away my children, seperate my vvife, spoyle me of my goodes, I secure of my Lordes promise, will sticke fast to his vvordes. If any man shall not forsake wife, children, Luc. 14. landes, or house, he can not be my Disciple. The end was this: the woman refused by aduised reasons, went her way: Saturus couragious i. to Mar­dome. for a Crowne, is examined, spoyled, punished, and sent away a beg­ger, forbidden by going abroade to haue any vvhither to resort. All tooke they from him, only of Baptismes stole could they not bereaue him. Thus passed this, and Gensericke commaunded the Church of Carthage, the Priests and their Dea­cons being dispersed into sondry places for want of a Bishop; which was hardly opened at meditation of Zeno the Empe­ror by Seuerus a noble man of Rome, where vpon they al retourned from banishment. What i. Gense­ricke. he did in Spayne, Italy, Slauome, Champayne, Calabre, Poole, Sicil, Sardinia, Abruzo, Venice, Lucania, Epire, Greece, they can best declare which endured it. Here let the end be of our no lesse arrogant [Page 43] then cruell persecution, sustayned vnder Gensericke. He raigned Proco­pius. 39. thirty­seauen yeares and moneths three.

CHAPTER. I. The dissimuled demeanour of King. Hunricke.

GENSERICKE being dead,⸬ B. Hone­richus. Nundrius. Procop. Honori­chus. his eldest Sonne Hunricke succeeded, who in the be­ginning of his raigne, was somewhat tractable and moderate (after the accu­stomed subtilety of the Barbarians) espe­cially concerning our affaires in religion. So that whereas heretofore vnder King Gensericke it had beene proclaymed, that there should be no spirituall assemblies: now people made their meetinges afresh. And to giue remonstrance of a religious [Page 45] Prince, he caused the Manichaean heretikes diligently to bee searched out; many of whome he burnt, most hee sent away to forraigne shippes. All which The A­nabaptists burnt vn­der Q. Elie vvere all of them Pro­testants. Manichees in a manner he found to be of his owne religion, principally such as were Priests or Deacons of the Arrian heresie: which set him more on fire, because of the shame thereby redounding. One amongst them was found called Clementian a Monk, who had this their poesie charactred on his thigh: A Manichaean Disciple of Christ Iesus. For this cause did the said tyrant the more endeauour to please; because in this one thing he much displeased, that with insati­able desire euermore eagrely gaping after his pray, he burdened the prouinces of his Kingdome with sundry vexations & im­positions; so that of him precisely it might besaid A King needing reuenewe is a great B. Cala­mitas. P. F. P. S. Calumnia­tor. calamity.

CHAP. II. Eugenius created Bishop of Carthage, and of his vertue.

ZENO the Emperor and Lady Placi­dia making intercession, Per edi­cta libri. by their letters, authorized that the Church of Car­thage [Page 46] might to themselues elect for Bishop whome they thought good, hauing beene destitute of such an ornament now full 24 yeares, it was condescended vnto by Hun­ricke, and licence graunted. He sent there­fore to the Church Alexander a noble man, who brought this message; that the Ca­tholikes should in his presence, postulate for themselues a worthy Priest. He sent also by his Secretary B. Iutarit Vuitared a Procla­mation to be publikely read, contayning this tenour.

Our Lord the King hath willed vs to shewe you, that the Emperor Zeno, and most renowmed Placida, haue written by Alexander a noble man, requesting by their letter, that the Church of Carthage may haue a peculiar Bishoppe of your religion. This he hath giuen commaun­dement should be performed, and hath written backe vnto them, or prescribed their Ambassadors to make report, that according to their desire, yee may or­dayne Bishoppe whome you will, vn­der this condition, that in like sort the Bishoppes of our religion that are at Constantinople, or in any other Prouinces of the East, may by his commaundement [Page 47] haue free liberty to Populo tractare▪ preach to the peo­ple, and exercise Christian religion, in what * language they will in their owne Churches, in such sort as you here, or in other Churches of Africke, haue free ar­bitrement to Missas a­gere. say Masse, or preach in your Churches. For if this be not obserued to­wards them, not only the Bishop that shal be created and his Clarkes, but all other Bishops also with their Clergy ouer the African Prouinces, shal be commanded to the Moores. As soone as this edict was in my owne hearing read before the whole congregation, the 14. Calendes of P. F. Iuly: Iune; wee beganne sorrowfully to murmur a­mongst our selues: for that by this poli­tike pretext, a persecution vvas like to followe; and it is well knowne that to the Ambassador we made this answere. If the matter goe thus, and stand vpon such per­nitious conditions, the Church delightes not to haue a Bishop: let Christ gouerne it who at all times hath vouchsafed to guide it. Which information the Ambassador neglected to admitte, and with all the people burned with desire to haue pre­sent dispatch, vvhose crie vvas intol­lerable, and could by no means bee [Page 48] appeased. Of this holy man much wri­teth Greg. Tur. de gl. Confess. l. 2 Eugenius therefore a holy man and one acceptable to God, was chosen Bishop, of vvhose election the Church of God was greatly recomforted, people Catholike liuing vnder a barbarous go­uernement, triumphed to see the auncient creation of their chiefe Bishop, againe re­nued. The greatest number of young men and women by their vniuersall joy well witnessing, that they had neuer seene a Bishoppe sitting in his Pontificall Throno. Throne.

This man of God, that blessed Priest Eugenius, beganne by vertuous conuersa­tion to be reuerently esteemed, euen of Hiis qui foris sunt, he alludeth to the Apostles phrase 1. Tim. 3. intending such are not vnited vnto the Church of Christ. those without, and to be so louing to al, that he would gladly haue left his life (if it might be) for euery of them. Such great almes also our Lord did by his meanes exhibit, that it seemed incredible how so much could be bestowed, where the Bar­barous possessed all, the Church hauing not the value of on penny. His humility, charity, and piety wherewith he was en­dued from heauen, who so would attempt to expresse, he should faile of his purpose. It is for certaine, that mony neuer stayed with him, except perhaps it had beene [Page 49] offered when the Sunne hauing ended his course, gaue place to darknesse; and then only he reserued what might serue for a day, not what couetousnesse might haue vvished, our Lord daylie sending him greater store. But his fame waxing euery where glorious and manifest, the Arrian Bishops, especially Cyrill, beganne to be tormented with sore enuy, and pursued him with daylie quarrels. To be short they put into the Kings head, not to suffer him to sit in his Pontificall Throne, nor preach after his accustomed manner: Fur­ther to forbidde him, that any men or wo­men attyred after the Vandall manner, should be seene in the church. The Bishop answered as became him: The house of God is free for all; those which enter, no man may driue forth: and the rather, for that an exceeding multitude of our Catholikes vvent after their guise, by reason of seruice in the Kings Court.

CHAP. III. The terrible vsage practised vpon Courtiers, resorting to the Catholike seruice.

SVCH answere, as soone as the King had receiued from the man of God, he [Page 50] ordeyned torturers at the Church-gates, who, when they espied man or woman clad like one of the Vandall nation, forth­with clapping on their heads flesh-hooks and writhing about the same their lockes of haire, with a strong twitch pulled away both haire and scalpe withall, from the head: some being thus serued, lost there­with their eyes; certayne also dyed out­right. The women after this torment en­dured, were carried through the streets to the gaze of the City, with a Cryer before them, which they (who suffered it) made reckoning of, as a great gaine: many of whom we knewe; but any one of them to haue for the paine forsaken their straight way, I neuer knew. When by this meanes he could not infringe the constancy of a­ny one of the faithfull, he determined that none of our religion being of his Court, should receiue their prouision of corne, or accustomed penfions. He proceeded al­so to trie them with rurall labours, & sent men of good calling & delicately brought vp, to the Country of Vtica, there vnder the seruent parching of the Sun Vt Cespites messi­ [...]m desec [...] ­ [...]ent. to delue for tillage, whither all of them cheerefully going forwardes, rejoyced in our Lord. [Page 51] Amōgst whome one of the company had a withered hand, which for many yeares stood him in no steede, who therefore not vntruly alleadged that he could not work yet was he so much the more violently pressed forth. But as soone as they came to the place, and that all falling to their prayers mourned, & principally for him; through the mercy of God, that dry hand of the Confessor became hole. This was the entrance of Hunrickes persecution, and now began our griefe and Part [...] ­tio. trauailing.

CHAP. II. The horrible tyranny of Hunricke toward his owne linage.

HE, who had nowe begonne to shewe himselfe desirous (although it other­wise fell out) to leaue his Kingdome to his children after his death, persecuted cruelly his brother Theodoricke with his sonnes, and the sons likewise of his brother Genton, of whome not one should haue escaped, had not death interupted his designment. First for asmuch as he knew the wife of B Dede­richus & The deri­cus. P. F. & P. S. The­odoricus. Theodo­ricke to be a politike woman, he slewe her vpon pretended ruine, least by some witty wile she should (as I suppose) arme her hus­bāds eldest sonne against the tyrant, as she [Page 52] that was both wise and sage: After whom was also slayne her eldest sonne, who had beene brought vp in learning, and by the constitution of Gensericke, should first of all his nephewes enjoye the Kingdome, being the eldest of them all. Proceeding yet farther, he resolued vpon more cruel­ty, and caused Iocundus a Bishop of his owne sect (whome also they called Patri­arch) to be buried in the market-place, before the staires of the newe streete, in face of all the people; for no other cause, but that he was held very deare in the house of Theodoricke the Kings brother, by whose assent it may be, that the said familie might haue obtayned the King­dome. Which impious villainy gaue vs to foresee the mischiefe that hung ouer our owne heads, saying one to another: he that sheweth such cruelty to his owne Priest, when will this fellowe spare vs and our religion? Next he banished with inhu­mane exile, Godagis the elder of Gentons sonnes, and his wife, without permitting the solace of seruant or hand-maide. His brother Theodoricke likewise (his wife and sonne being before slayne) he sent pack­ing, naked and in distresse: after whose [Page 53] death he set his litle infant, & two daugh­ters of ripe yeares, on Asse backes, and to their great affliction sent them wandering farre away. Diuers Earles and Nobles of his owne nation he pursued, laying false surmises to their charge, for that they B. made themselues a brother­hood. fa­uoured his brother. Some of them he bur­ned; others he slewe with the sworde, a right imitator of his Father Gensericke, who drowned his brothers wife in Amsag the B. faeti­dum. famous Riuer of the Ptol. Cir­tesii, whose City was Cirta Iuli [...]. Cirtenses, waighty stones hanged at her necke: and after the death of the mother, slewe also her sonnes. Sondry had beene commended vnto Hun­ricke (and that vnder an oath) by his father Gensericke at his death, whome, he vnmind­full of fidelity, and violating his oath, put to death by fire, and sondry torments, B. [...]ldicus Heldicas, whome his father had some­time made gouernour of his Kingdome, nowe an aged man and full of yeares, he beheaded, and burnt his wife in the midst of the City, together with an other wo­man called ali. Th [...]u­caria. Thamaria: the bodies of whome he willed to be drawne through the streets, hardly suffering them at the entreaty of his Bishops, to be buried at e­uening, when they had layne al the day in [Page 54] open viewe. P. F. P. S. Gamut. Caniut brother to Heldicas, hauing fledde to their Church, he might not slay, whome yet he shut into a filthy draught, and made him there liue a long space: lastly condemned him with a cer­tayne goat-heard & a Country fellowe, to digge holes for vines; whome besides this he caused to be rent with terrible whips, twelue times in the yeare, that is euery moneth once, scant graunting them a litle water and browne bread. This they suffe­red fiue yeares or more, who if they had beene Catholikes and endured for their faith, these punishments might haue auay­led them to an eternall rewarde. But thus much I could not but write, least the kings impiety euen towardes his owne compa­ny, should be omitted; who not only brent with flames his Bishop locundus (as I haue already told) but very many other in like manner of his Priests and Deacons, that is to say of Arrians, he addicted eyther to flames or to Bestiis mancipauit keepe beasts. All those be­ing now in short space cut off, whome he feared; and hauing established (as hee thought) the Kingdome, which neuerthe­lesse was to be but short & transitory, be­ing somewhat secure and voide of affaires, [Page 55] he addressed all the instruments of his fu­ry, to persecute the Catholike Church.

CHAP. V. Visions sorewarning the Catholikes of persecution towardes them.

YET before the tempest of persecutionThou gi­uest to them which fel, the imminent mischief at hand, was foreshewed by many visions and tokens, which wēt before it. For almost two yeares1. feare thee, a token to flie from the face of the bovve. Psal. 59. before it came, a certaine man sawe Faustus Church glittering with accustomed orna­ments, & while he rejoyced in the bright­nesse of so great glory, as the tapers gaue goodly light, and aswell the rich pals and cloathes as the lampes glistered; sodainly (as he said) the amiable clearenesse of that light vanished, & darknes succeeding, a fa­uour abhominable arose, and all the cōpa­ny of the fathers present, were by certaine Arrians driuen out of dores; so much the more to be lamented because he sawe not the former beauty restored any more: this vision he which saw it, told in my hearing to holy Eugenius. A certaine priest also saw the same church of Faustus ful of innumera­ble people, & a litle after none at al, but in their place a multitude of swine. An other3. [Page 56] sawe a floore of wheate ready to be win­nowed, the corne not (as yet) seperated from the chaffe; and while he wondred to see so great a confused heape, sodaynlie a tempestuous whirle-winde with roring noyse beganne, the approch whereof the rising of the dust shewed; by the force hereof all the chaffe flew away, the corne remayning. Then came a certayne tall personage, of a goodly countenance, and costly apparelled, who beganne to clense the wheate, casting away the empty and pined graines, such as vvere vnapt for slowre, vntill hauing thus tryed, and lea­sed a good space, he had brought the greatnesse of that heape to a quantity, though winnowed and fine, yet passing small. Moreouer, an other told vs thus.3. A certayne high man stood vpon our Lordes hill, which is called Ziquens, and cryed on the right hand and on the left. Get yee hence, get yee hence. There was one4. vvhich beheld in a rudy skie, sulphury cloudes tossing vp and downe, which be­ganne to shoot forth mighty stones; these stones falling to the earth kindled more fiercely, and flashed with greater flames, & entring into houses, burnt those whome [Page 57] they found within. He that sawe it said that he hid him selfe in a chamber, whi­ther the [...]me, through Gods mercy, could not approch: that the wordes of the Prophet might as (I thinke) be fulfil­led. Shut thy dore, and be hidden a litle space, Isa. 26. [...]. vntill the anger of God passe. The reuerent Bi­shop Paul sawe also a tree, streatching out with flourishing branches to the very hea­uens, which also was so well spredde, that it ouer-shadowed all Africke: and when al people tooke pleasure in the talenesse and beauty thereof, there came (said he) an Asse with great violence, who rubbing his necke against the stocke of the roote, ouer threwe by his shouing, that wonde­rous tree, not without a great cracke. Quin­tianus 6. likewise an B. Vene­rable. honourable Bishoppe sawe him selfe standing vpon an hill, from whence he beheld an innumerable flocke of sheepe, and in midst of the flocke were two boyling pots. Butchers vvere also there, who did cast the flesh of those mut­tons into the seething pots, and by so do­ing the whole flocke was consumed. I­magine these two pots to be the Cities Sicca Veneria, and B. Lara. but Ptol. hath Lares Laribus, where the mul­titude was first assembled, and whence this fire [...]

CHAP. VII. The horrible banishing of almost fiue thousand persons, with certayne pittyfull acci­dents hapning in the same.

WITH what floudes of teares shall I now present, how he banished to the wildernesse Bishops, Priests, Dea­cons, and other members of the Church, foure thousand, nine hundred, seauenty and six: amongst whome some had the gout, others through very age lost their bodily sight. Amongst whome was bles­sed Foelix Bishop of P. F. P. S. Abdirita­nus. Abbiris, who had fourty-foure yeares continued Episcopall dignity, and being stroken with a palsie, neyther felt any thing, nor could speake at all. Of whome being very carefull, be­cause he could not ride, I perswaded that the King might be moued by some about him, to permit him at least (being almost at point of death) to remayne at Carthage: for to banishment he could by no meanes be carryed. Whereunto (as is reported) the Tyrant freshly answered: If he can­not sit vpon a beast, let wilde buls be cou­pled and drawe him tyed fast with ropes, [Page 61] to the appointed place. We carryed him therefore throughout the journey, bound ouerthwart a Super b [...] ­donem. mulets backe, as if he had beene a logge. All were brought together to the Cities of Sicca and Laribus, whither the Moores resorting, should receiue them deliuered vp to their handes, and trans­port them to the wildernesse. Then came thither two Earles, vvho with damnable subtilty beganne in sweete communica­tion to deale vvith Gods Confessors. What meane you (say they) to be so ob­stinate, not to obey our Lord the Kinges lawes; who may honourably stand in his presence if you speedely obey his vvill? Streight way all with a great shout cryed out and said: We be Christians, we be Catho­likes, we inuincibly confesse the Trinity one God.

They were after this shut in a prison ve­ry grieuous, but somewhat large, where I found meanes to get in, made an exhorta­tion to the brethren, and Diui [...] misteria celebrandi. celebrated the diuine mysteries. There were also very many litle children, whome their mo­thers followed, with motherly affection: some rejoycing; others drawing them back: some were glad that they had borne Martyrs; others perswading to the deluge [Page 62] of rebaptization, endeauouring to recall them from confession of their faith: but their allurementes could not then ouer­come any, neyther made any one stoope vnto earthly affections. It liketh mee here briefly to declare what a good old woman did. As I trauailed accompaning Gods army, setting forwardes more by night then by day, because of the heate; I beheld a poore woman carrying a bag, and other implements, leading in her hand an infant, and encouraging him in this wise. Runne Domine meus. Sirra: seest thou all the Saints howe merry lie they goe forward, and hasten to their Crowne? Whome vvhen I rebuked, for that shee seemed vnseasonable, presuming to thrust her selfe amongst the professed warriours of Christ, and being a woman to associate her selfe with men. She answered P. S. hath it but once. Be­nedicite, benedicite, and * pray yee for me with this my litle nephewe. For sinner though I be, daughter I am to one, who vvas Bishoppe of Zurina P. F. Zu­rita. I asked her why then she walked in so meane a sort, and for what cause she had vnder taken so long a journey. Who replyed: With this my litle boy I goe to the place of ba­nishment, [Page 63] least the enemy finding him alone, call him from the way of truth, to death. To these wordes I could answere nothing else, the teares trickling downe my cheekes, but only, Gods vvill be done. The aduersary, who nowe per­haps said in his hart: I will part the spoyles, Exod. 15. I will glutte my soule, I will slay with my sworde, my hand shall rule. As soone as he sawe that he could not catch one, sought nar­rowe and filthy places wherein to penne vp Gods company. Then was to them denyed all comfort of accesse, for per­mitting vvhereof the keepers had beene beaten with staues, and sorely punished. The Confessors of Christ are tumbled one vpon an other, as swarmes of gras­hoppers, or (to speake more properly) as graines of corne. In which thronging together, there could be no meanes of stepping a side to doe the office of nature, but of necessity euen there vvas the re­ceptacle of their ordure and vrine, so that the horrour and stench thereof sur­passed all other manner of paynes. I vvas once (not without much a doe, and deepe bribes bestowed on the Moores) per­mitted to enter whilst the Vandals slept. [Page 64] Stepping in I began as at a mire, to sincke vp to the knees, and sawe that of Ieremie come to passe, who were bredde vp in Saffron Ierem. 4. [...], embraced [...]. In fine being called v­pon by the insolent and clamorous Moores, to hasten forward their imposed journey, issuing forth vpon a Sunday, their gar­ments, face, and head besmeared with dirt: in cruell wise were they led away by those Moores, singing yet vnto our Lord vvith great joy: Glory is this to al his Saints. Psal 14 [...]. Gloria haec est omnibus Sanctis eius. Present was there also at that time, Cyprian the blessed Prelate Bishop of B Vnzi­bil. but Ptol. V [...] ­ [...]bi [...]a▪ Pl [...] Vl [...]uburita V­ [...]izi [...]ir, who to their singular consolation, cherished euery one with godly and fa­therly affection, and not without streames of teares, ready to leaue his owne life for the brethren, and to yeelde himselfe vo­luntarily to the fellowships of their paines, if he might haue beene suffered. He spent in very deede in that hard distresse, all that he had, bestowing it vpon the impoueri­shed brethren: for hee sought occasion how he might be joyned to the Confes­sors, being himselfe a Confessor already in preparation of hart, and in vertue: af­terwardes passing many bickerings and calamities of prison, he enjoyed to his [Page 65] great gladnesse, the exile which he so de­sired. Howe great multitudes followed from sondry Countries and Citties, to see the Martyres in a longer sense then it is novve a daies taken Martyrs of God, the wayes and pathes beare witnesse, not able to con­teine the flocke of people, who comming as beholders, ranne vp and downe on the higher ground. An inestimable troupe also of the faithfull, with waxe tapers in their handes, descended downe; who ca­sting their childrē at the feete of the Mar­tyrs, cryed out thus. * To whome wil you leaue vs wreatches, while you goe forwardes to your Crowne? Who shall christen these sucklings in the font of the euerlasting water? who shall impart vnto vs the benefite of Penance, by Reconci­liationis in dulgentia. Matt. 16. reconciling and indulgence, absoluing vs from the bandes of our sinnes? for asmuch as it is saide, whatso­euer ye shall loose on earth, shalbe loosed in heauen? who shall with solemne prayers com­mend vs to the graue, when we dye? By whome shall the wonted Rites of the Diuini sacrificii. diuine Sacrifice be performed vnto vs? Our hearts serue vs well to goe with you, if we might; that so no necessity might seperate the sonnes from you our fathers. A midst these wordes, not destitute of B. prayses teares, is no man any more admitted to goe forwardes with them for their com­fort: [Page 66] but the whole crewe was pressed for­wasrds and made to runne, that they might reach to the laborsome lodging where the The Ar­rabians at this day cal such a troup Carauanna and very neare to Cannaua is the vvord Conuoy, vsuall through Christen­dome in the same sense Cannaua was prepared. As oft as the men fainted, or any other (yea although tender children) they were first punched forwardes with the toppes of staues, or with stones; but afterwardes the Moores were commanded to tie by the feete, those which were not able to goe, & hale them through the hard rough places, like car­cases of brute beasts. So, first were their garments rent, then all parts of their bo­dies. For here a head was dasht against the Gladios acutos pe­trarum. sharp-edged rocks, there sides were thumpt; so that life was gasped out, euen betweene the hands of them which haled them: the number of whome I could not reckon, thy were so many. Extant re­mayneth to be seene all alongst the com­mon Agge­rem publi­cum. high way, the reatchlesse buriall of the Saints, their graues witnessing, where they lie. The rest as stronger, ariued at the wildernesse, where being setled, they had barly (as beasts) giuen them for food. Where also is reported to be so great plenty of venimous wormes and scorpions, as to them who knowe it not, might seeme [Page 67] incredible, which with their very breath infect and poyson, euen such as are farre of. And they say that no man stung with one of those Scorpions, euer escapeth; whose deadly venime neuerthelesse, was at no time found to haue hurt any one of Christs seruants, through his mercyfull protection. But vvhen as a vvhile they had beene fedde with barly-corne, that same also was afterwardes with-drawne, as though God, who rayned Manna to the auncient Fathers, could not as well 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 [Page 70] [...]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 Coepis­copos. 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 B.Sancto 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, [Page 71] 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 P. F. P. S▪ Ob [...]d [...]s. 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 B. Euan­gelium. (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 [Page 72] common faith, especially to the Church of Quae ca­put est om­nium Ecclesiarum. 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 B. Vinia­ [...]ense se­ [...]undum, [...]c. 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. [Page 73] 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 Apo­stle2. Tim. 2. teacheth vs) is wont to creepe like a canker, howe much more could their familiarity at table infect? seing the same Apostle1. Cor. 5. 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 [Page 74] 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 Hymni Nocturni Cantante populo. Which tearme of Nocturne remayneth at this day in the churches office or seruice▪ 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 [Page 75] 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 B. crude­litate. rigour, if he should stifly re­fuse, and because withall the time did call⸬ P. F. P. S. credulitate. 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 Crispan­tem bene­dixit aquae fontem. P. F. alue­um fontis. 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 [Page 76] 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 P. S. P F. irreuoca­bilis B [...]naesti­mabilis. 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 [Page 77] with affliction and sorrowe. Many dayes togither there was no mention of disputing, vntill in the meane-space i. the king 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 Satelliti­bus. 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 [Page 78] 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 B. Euse­bius. 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 [Page 79] 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.

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 [Page 81] 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.

CHAP. II. Extreame proceedinges of Hunricke against the Bishops.

AFTER these lamentable edicts, far­ced with intoxicate poyson, he wil­leth al the Bishops which were assembled at Carthage (whose Churches, houses, and substance he had already seazed) to be de­spoyled in their lodgings, and so driuen out of the Towne gates. Neyther seruant, nor beast, nor garment to change, was [Page 89] left them. It was farther more forbidden, that any man should harbour any one of them, or giue them susteynance. And who so should attempt for pity to doe the con­trary, he with all his family should be brent by fire. Prudently did the Bishops, who were then cast forth, in that (though begging) yet they departed not from thence. For had they gone their wayes, not only should they neuer haue beene recalled: but they vvould haue belyed them (as they did) that they shunned dis­putation; especially because when they should haue retourned, their churches had no goodes left, all being rifled. While therefore the Bishops lay round about the walles in the open ayre, it fell out so, that the wicked Tyrant went forth towardes the fish-pondes, vvhome they thought good to meete in the way, saying: Why are we so afflicted? For what euils com­mitted suffer we this? If called to dispute, why are we spoyled? why are we slaun­dred? why are we deferred, and driuen to remayne amongst the dunghils here with­out in the Country, afflicted with hunger and nakednesse, farre from our Churches and houses? Whome he beholding with [Page 90] a fell regarde, before he heard their com­plaint, willed the horse-mē with ful course to ride ouer them, that by such violence they might not only be trampled vpon: but be slaine outright. Many of them were then sore crushed, especially aged men. Then to the men of God was it com­maunded to present themselues, and meete him at the Temple of Memory, vnwitting what treachery was there prepared.

CHAP. III. A fraudulent oath is proposed to the Bishops.

THITHER when they came, in a wri­ting deliuered vnto them, was this ser­pentine subtlety inclosed. Our Lord King Hunricke, although lamenting your obsti­nacy, refusing as yet promptly to obey his will, and to become of the same religion where of he himselfe is, being now in pur­pose to deale gratiously with you, will (if you sweare vnto the contents of this pa­per) send you to your Churches and hou­ses. Hereunto answered the Bishops with one voyce: We say still, as we haue alrea­dy said, and will euer say: Christians we are, Bishops we are; we hold the Apostolicall and on­ly true faith. A litle silence hauing ensued [Page 91] after confession of their faith, the Kinges commissioners proceeded hastely to ex­tort an oath from the Bishops: whereup­on the blessed men Bishop Hortulane, and Bishop P. F Flo­rentinian. Florentian joyntlie replyed: De­pute you vs brute beasts, that we should easely & vnaduisedly sweare, ignorant what the writing contayneth? The Kings mes­sengers vvithout more stay disclosed to them the purport thereof, which with co­lourable wordes was glosed: for thus the entrapping tenour thereof comprized. Sweare ye, if ye desire that after the death of our Lord the King, his Sonne Hildericke succeede in the Kingdome: and if none of you will send any letter beyond the Sea. This oath if ye refuse not to take, he will restore you to your Churches. The mer­cyfull playne meaning of many, minded to haue sworne (whereas God indeede prohibiteth swearing) least Gods people might afterwardes say, that the Priests by not swearing, gaue cause that their Chur­ches were not restored. Others of the Bi­shops more circumspect, smelling out the guilfull treachery, denyed to sweare, al­leaging that it was forbidden by the au­thority of the Gospell; our Lord himselfe [Page 92] denouncing. Yea and shall not sweare at all. Matt. 5. Then inferred the Commissioners: Who purpose to sweare let them goe a-part. Which vvhen they did, by notary was straight enrolled what each said, in what City he was entitled. The like was done to them that would not sweare. Then were both parties committed to warde, and not long after, the deceiptfull drift of the oath, which before lay hid, plainely appeared. To those which would sweare, it was said: for as much as contrary to the commande­ment of the Gospell you vvould haue sworne, the Kings will is that you shall ne­uer see your Churches; but being banish­ed you shall lawfully receiue wast and vn­habited places, there to husbandry the ground; yet with this clause * that you shall neyther say Psalmes, nor pray, or hold any booke to reade in your hand, nor baptize, nor giue orders, nor Reconci­liare prae­sumatis. presume to reconcile any man. In like manner to those which refused the oath they said. Because you wish not the raigne of our Lordes Sonne, therefore you would not sweare: for which consideration it is com­maunded, that you shall be sent away into Corse the Island, there to hewe timber for ships.

CHAP. IIII. The horrible cruelty of the Heretikes: the con­stancy of Dionisia and her Sonne, with others.

THE Beast thirsting after innocents bloud, proceeded (during that the Bi­shops vvere not as yet exiled) and sent through all the Prouinces of Africke at once, his cruell tormentors; so that no place, no house, remayned free from la­mentation, screeching, & outcryes. They spared not any age or sex, but such only as yealded to their will. Some they cudge­led with staues; some they hunge vp; o­thers they burned. Women (and especial­ly Gentle-women) they tortured openly naked, against the lawe of naturall hone­sty. One of whome our Country-wo­man Dionisia, I will succinctly intreate of. When they sawe that she was not only bolder, but more beautiful also then other Matrones, they willed her first to be vn­rayed, and made ready for cudgels. Who in her payne cryed boldly vnto them: I am assured of my God; vexe me how you list, only my woman-hood diclose yee not. But they with greater rage set her [Page 94] naked vpon an higher place, for a pub­like spectacle. Amidst the stripes of the woundes, while streames of bloud flowed ouer all her body, with a free voyce she spake thus vnto them: Ye Ministers of Satan, that which you doe, reckoning it my reproch, is to me an honour. More­ouer in so great extreamities, and already nowe a Martyr; being her selfe Diuina­ [...]um Scri­pturarum [...]cientia plena. vvell seene in the Scriptures, she animated o­thers to Martyrdome. By this her holy example, she saued almost all her Coun­try. And beholding her only Sonne (who was deinty, and as yet of tender age) to be somevvhat daunted vvith feare of paynes, chaslising him with her lookes, and becks, and checking him vvith the authority of a mother, she so encouraged, that he became thereby much the more constant: to whome amongst his terrible torments she spake as followeth. Re­member (O my child) that in the name of the holy Trinity we were baptized In Matre Ecclesia Catholica. in our Mother the Catholike Church: let vs not loose the garment of our saluation, least he which inuited vs, finde not at his comming a nuptiall garment, and say to his seruants. Caste them into vtter darkenesse Matt. 22. [Page 95] where shal be weeping of eyes, & gnashing of teeth. That payne is to be dreaded which neuer endeth, & that life to be desired which al­way lasteth: With such words as these she made her sonne a Martyr. For the honou­rable youth (who had to name Maioricus) yealding his spirit, in the combat of his confession consummated his triumphant course: and she embracing her sacrifice, giuing God thankes by mouth asmuch as euer she could, chose to bury him in her owne house, in consolation of her hope to come, that as often as vpon his graue she powred out prayers to the Trinity, she might conceiue confidence, that shee should neuer be estranged from her sonne. Howe many were by her (as I said) gay­ned to God in that City, it were tedious to recite. For howe great thinges her sister likewise, called Datiua; and B. Leotia. P.S. P. F. Leontia. Loice daugh­ter of the holy Bishop German; and the honest Phisicion B. Aemy­lius. Emelius, cosen to Da­tiua; and deuout Tertius a man famous in Confession of the Trinity; or Boniface the Sibidensian did endure; vvith vvhat tor­ments they were Euiscera­ti. i. bovve­led. torne: let him orderly declare that is able.

CHAP. V. Admirable endurance of Maiorc; and incomparable conquest of Victoria.

WHo can also expresse, vvhat paynes Maiorc a noble-mans slaue of the towne of Tuburb, did sustayne for Christ? who after innumerable blowes of staues, was lifted vp with pullyes, and be­ing carryed through the City in hanging wise, was nowe hoysted vp a loft, and in a moment by letting the ropes ship, ligh­ting vpon the slintes of the streets, with the peyse of his body, dashed against the stones like a stone. He was moreouer of­ten times haled along, and so crushed with the sharpe pointed flintes, that you might haue seene (by reason the vtmost skinne was rent asunder) the oflappes of his in­ward partes, hanging at his sides and bel­ly. This man had suffered not much vn­like matters, in the time of Gensericke, ra­ther then he would bewray the secretes of one of his friendes. Howe much more then, would he be furnished with constan­cy about Sacraments of religion? and if he shewed himselfe so trusty to his friend, [Page 97] which only loued him; howe much more did he owe to him, who shal fully rewarde his loyaltie?

What outrages were done in the City Cluse, it is not in me to declare; for the ve­ry number of Martyrs and Confessors, it is not possible to recount. One Matron amongst them called Victoria, a true am­plifier of her name, as she hung burning ouer a softe fire in the face of the people, was thus intreated by her vngratious hus­band, her children standing by. Why suf­ferest thou, O wife? If thou despise me haue pity (thou hard harted woman) of these litle ones, whome thou hast engen­dred. Howe hapneth it that thou regardest not thine owne wombe, & settest nothing by those, whome groaning thou brough­test into the world? Where is the plighted troth of matrimoniall loue? where are the bandes of wedlocke? Where is the honest contract drawne long since betweene vs? Regard I pray thee thy children and hus­band, and fulfill quickly the Kings com­maundement, that thou may est escape the torments yet at hand, and be rendred to me againe, and to our children. But she neyther giuing eare to her childrens cry­ing, [Page 98] nor to the Serpents flatteries, casting her eyes vpwardes from the ground, con­temned the world with the desires there­of. Whome when the Executioners per­ceiued to be dead, after that her shoulders were with long hanging out of their place, tooke her downe fully bereft of life. And (as she afterwards told vs) a certayne Vir­gin came to her, who touched euery part of her body, whereby she became imme­diately whole and sound.

CHAP. VI. The resolute constancy of the Proconsull or Marshall Victorian, and his braue answere.

IN what sort to extoll Victorian of the City Adrument, and at that time Pro­consull of Carthage, through default of wordes I am ignorant. No man in Africke was richer then he, and held he was in e­stimation with the impious King, as one very faithfull in all thinges giuen him in charge. The King sent him word after a familiar sort, that if he gently assented to his commaundement, he would make ac­count of him aboue all other: but the ser­uant of God gaue this confident answere. [Page 99] I am assured of Christ, my God, and my Lord: say thus to the King. Let him lay me vpon coales, thrust me vpon beasts, put me to all kinde of torments; if I giue place, then in vaine was I christned in the Catholike Church. For if there were no other life then this alone, which is present, & that we hoped not after an other which is eternall▪ yet would I not doe it, and for a litle temporall glory be so vngrate­full to my Creator, which in such sort hath bestowed vpon me his faith. At which answere the Tyrant chafed, and with what torments and how sore paynes he afflicted him, humane eloquence is not sufficient to expresse, vvho trium­phantly and happily consummating his course, receiued the Crowne of Martyr­dome.

CHAP. VII. A story of two brethren in like sort, tor­mented with equall paynes.

NEYTHER is any body able to ex­plicate the conflicts of the Martyrs, which they atchiued at the City of P.S. Tambar. P. F. Tambay. Tam­bad, vvhere two brothers of the City of Aquis­regie [...]. Kings-water, well assured in our Lord, [Page 100] gaue each to other their faith, howe they vvould request the torturers, that they might be handled with like payne and pu­nishmēt. When therefore at the first, hung vp with waighty stones at their heeles, they had remayned in that case all the whole day; the one of them desired that he might be let downe, and that a litle respite might be giuen him: the other brother fearing least he vvould haue-denyed his faith, cryed to him from the engine where he hung. Doe not so, doe not so brother: that was not our oath to Christ, I will accuse thee, when we shall appeare before his terrible Throne, since we sware vpon his body and bloud, to suffer to­gither for his cause.

Saying these and other wordes, he im­boldned his brother in such wise, to the a­gony of his passion, that he cryed out with a loude voyce. Put me to what punishments you will, persist, vrge vs being Christians, with your cruelest torments: as my brother doth, so will I al­so. With what fiery plates they were scor­ched, and with what instruments each was feared, and with what torments they were tortured, the thing it selfe declareth, in that the executioners themselues did cast them out of their sight, saying: These fellowes [Page 101] 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 Ptol. Ti­pasa, at this day Tenes▪ or Tun [...]. 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 [Page 102] Carthage: whereupon the King in a great rage, directed thither a certayne Earle with charge, that in midst of the market­place, 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 [Page 103] 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 lōg after. He that thinketh this a fable, let him aske of B. Auius. 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 [Page 106] [...]to be racked (Epidophorus sitting by and raging) before his torments tooke out Sabana. In Spayne this word is at this day current In Greeke also Saba­non, signi­fieth any cloath to mundifie vvithall. 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 Lintea­ [...]ina. 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 [Page 107] thee who wert once called, and seing thee to want thy wedding rayment, shall with terrible indignation say vnto thee. Friende, Matt. 22. 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 [...]a [...]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 thē 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 suggestiō ofal Theu­ [...]rius. Theu­corius (who of a Lector was become a runne­gate) vvere to be seperated, such as he knewe to haue cleare strong voyces, and [Page 109] 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 [Page 110] 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 Abbas. Abbot, Bonifacius a Deacon, Seruus a Sub deacon, Rusticus Sub dia­conus. 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 [Page 111] 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, [Page 112] 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 [Page 113] 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) Ibi est mortis dānatio. there is mor­tall sinne and damnation, where consent of will is obtained: I stood fast in faith, & confessing it with often speech main­tained [Page 114] 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 [Page 115] shall be to no man permitted to buy or sell, but to Apoc. 13 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) B. Des­picatis pos. ia­nuarum. PF. Des­picatio ianuarum 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 Suae hae reseos a­quam. & so hath B. 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 vpon their heads; some did put on mournfully haire-cloath, because such a change had hapned, others did a­noint themselues with filthy dirt, renting to fitters the Chrysoms which had beene laide vpon them, and with faithfull hand [Page 116] casting them into draughts and stinking places.

CHAP. XV. Children taken from their parents: the manly courage of a Phisicions wife.

VVITH semblable force, was be­fore my eyes, in Carthage, a Gen­tlemans sonne of seauen yeares old ta­ken from his parents, by Cyrillas com­mandment. The mother (all matronlike grauely laide aside) ran after the theeues through the Cittie, her heaire about her eares, & the child cried aswel as he might, In P. F. is thrise repeated Christia­nus sum. I am a Christian already, by Saint Stephen I am a Christian, whose mouth they stop­ped, and drenched his guiltlesse infancie in their puddle.

Like prank they plaied with the chil­dren of honest Liberatus the Phisition: For being commanded with his wife & chil­dren to banishment, the malicious Arri­ans thought it best, to diuide the litle chil­dren from the parents to proue if by ten­dernes of affect on they might ouerthrow the fathers constancie Seperated are the younglings from their parents, whereat [Page 117] as Liberatus was about to shed teares, hee was by his wife reprehended, and the teares as they were issuing forth dried vp: For in this wise she spake vnto him. And wilt thou (my Liberatus) loose thy soule for thy children? esteeme them as if they had neuer beene borne; for Christ will at full be reuenged in them▪ See you not, how they crie, & say that they are Chri­stians? What this woman did also in the sight of the Iudges must not bee concea­led When her husband and shee were imprisoned (but seuerally that one might not see the other;) word was sent to the woman, that shee should nowe lay away her stubbornesse, for that her husband had obeyed the Kings commandement, and was become a Christian of theirs. Let me see him saide she and I will also do as please God. Being led out of prison, shee found her good man standing before the iudgement seate, compassed with a great multitude; & thinking it to be true which the enemies had feigned, caught houlde with her hand vpon his garment next to his throate, and before them all throtled him, saying: vngratious and reprobate, vnworthie of Gods fauour and mercie, [Page 118] why wouldst thou florish for a litle while & perish euerlastingly? what wil thy gold profit thee? what wil thy siluer; wil they deliuer thee frō the furnace of hell? This she said and much more. To whome her husband answered: what ailest thou wo­man? what seest thou? or what maist thou (perhaps) haue heard say, concerning me? In the name of Christ I remaine Ca­tholike still, neither shall I euer forsake that, which I yet hold fast. Then coulde the heretickes, being guilty and detected of their lye, no longer coulour their trea­cherie.

CHAP. XVI. The voluntary exile of sundrie persons: the Supplication of Bishop Habet­deum to the Kinge.

I Haue briefely spoken already of the monstrous violence and outrage by them vsed. VVhich many fearing, hide themselues: some in caues; others in vn­couth places, both men and women, no man being of their counsaile: where for want of reliefe, ouercome with hunger or colde, they breathed forth their contrite [Page 119] and afflicted soules, carrying with them among their tribulations the security of an vnuiolate faith. In such plight was found Cresconius a Priest of the Cittie Mi­zent, in a caue of the B. Qui­z [...]n. P. F. & P. S. Ziquens but Ptol. hath Vuic zan and Plinie Quiza. Quizan mountaine, already deade, & his body beginning to draw to corruption. Seing we haue new­ly mentioned Habet-deum, he came to Car­thage and thought good to goe to the ab­hominable King, to manifest to him his conscience, which had alwaies beene fa­milier and well knowne to God. Neither could Antony hould him backe for verie shame. He offered to the King a Suppli­catiō hauing in effect these words? What haue you now obtained at their handes which are fledde? or of them which you banished? yee haue daily spoiled them of their substance, yee haue depriued them of Church, country, and home: you haue onely lefte them their soule, which also you seeke to make * captiue. O times, O corrupted manners? All the world vn­derstandeth it, and the persecutor him­selfe seeth it. If it be faith which you fol­low, why vexe yee the members of the true faith, with so enormious persecuti­ons? what meddle you with our banish­ment? [Page 122] [...]ley, began to bring forth a duskish, rather then a florishing haye; forthwith a scal­ding wind was at hand, scorching it all, and withering it away. For the dusty sea­son vnder a hotte ayre, chafing al things, had filled euery place as with a cloud. Al trafficke was ceased, no ploughes with labouring Oxen turned vp the gritte of the ground; for neither were Oxen a­liue, nor any ploughes remaining. And of the country Peasants, part were dead the other part seeking their graues. And for as much, as through the incōuenience of the famine, neither buying nor selling were accustomed, nor the earth duely til­led, troopes, and in a manner carcas [...]es of olde people, of young men and maydes, of boyes and girles, were in euery place scattered abroade, through townes, villa­ges, and each particuler cittie, wheresoe­uer they could, and in such sorte as they could, and in such sort as they might. For seeing they were become like a naughtyNum. 20. Psal. 57. and froward body, prouoking Gods wrath at the waters of contradiction; they felt hūger as dogges, not that they might finde foode, but that they might feele the Trinity reuenging, whom they had so de­nied. [Page 123] Some did spreade themselues ouer the fieldes; others sought the secretest places of the woods, searching after olde rootes of hearbes, or of such trifles. There were, which about to enter into their house, fell downe by companies on the very threshold, being conquered by fa­mine. The high waies and pathes were full of carcases: the stincke breathing from the deade, killed the liuing on all sides. Burials abounded of those which daily deceased, and there was no vertu­ous abilitie to bestow the charity of the graue: for famine raging, the liuing were not sufficient to bury the deade; and they themselues also soone after to dye. All men greatly desired to turne their owne liberty & their childrens, into bondage; but they found not vnto whome. Moun­taines and hilles, Streetes of the Citties, waies and pathes, made one common graue for all, to whom consuming neede denied sustenance. The Vandalls them­selues, whom before the sundry spoiles of many Princes, & possession of Africa had enriched, were now most of all oppressed with necessity: and how much the state­lier they seemed to themselues, by multi­plying [Page 126] [...]Could they well be called by any other name then Barbares, a name importing their fierce crueltie, and dreadfull terror? with how great gifts soeuer yee honour them: with how great seruices soeuer ye appeasethē, they know not how to doe otherwise, thē to enuy Romans. And as tou ching their inclination and ayme, they e­uermore endeuour to blemish the glorie and stocke of the Roman name: neither are they willing that any Roman should remaine aliue. And where they are found to spare whom they hould in subiection, it is but for their seruice that they spare them: for they neuer loued any of the Ro­mans. If euer barbarous and rude Pagan, cared to debat with vs in matter of faith by argument, then will likewise the Ar­rians heresie come to disputation. But when could it euer obserue any reason, since it seperateth God our Sauiour from God the Father: By fraude and calum­niation maintaine they their cause: and like a tempestious whirl-wind, with their storming rage, would they turne all vp­side dowe. If disputation by Bishops was expedient, what is to doe with hanging vp from ground, with fire, hookes, and [Page 127] with gallowes? why hath continuallie the Arrian brood inuented such kinds of tormēts against guiltlesse persons, as not Mezentius himself did euer excogitat? A­gainst innocēcy haue outragious furor & couetous cruelty fought; to destroy mens soules, and rauin away their substance. If conference were wished, wherto tendeth rapine of other mens goods; and not on­ly from Priestes, but from all the Laity; who reioyced when they were spoyled, and with great consolation receiued the ransacking of their substance.

CHAP. XIX. Lamentation of the Auctor for the miserie of Afric: & inuocation of the praier & meditatiō of Saints, for redresse therof.

Approch now (I pray you) all ages, al sexes, all estates: approch all ye that beare the name of Catholikes; who are o­uer all the world borne in your Fathers bosome; who alone know how to impart a true brotherly affection, who haue lear­ned of Paule our instructour both to re­ioyce with them which ioy, & to lament with them which sorrow. Assemble to­gither [Page 130] [...] and yong men haue learned to treade sharpe and rough wayes: trained vp in cloisters of mo­nasteries, they haue beene led into capti­uitie of the Morians: and her holy stones are dispersed, not only in the higher end of the streets, but euen in the dreary me­tall mines. Tell confidently you may vn­to her protector what tribulation shee is in, and how her stomacke is disquieted with excessiue weeping. For shee sitteth among the Gentiles finding no ease, and there is no man to comfort her. I sought among the Fathers of the East to see who bewailed her, and there was not any. I searched a comforter & I found him not, while in her hunger shee fed vpon gall, and in her thirst drunke vineger: imita­ting the passions of her spouse and Lord: who therefore, suffered for her, that shee might follow his steppes. Pray O ye Pa­triarkes, of whose stocke shee is borne, who now so traiueileth in earth. Pray, O yee Prophets, knowing her affliction, whose prayse you by Prophesie, so long before did sing forth BeSuffra­gatores. intercessors for her, O Apostles, seeing to gather her togi­ther you ranne as swift coursers ouer the whole world, our Lord reyning the bri­dle. [Page 131] Thou principally, O blessed Peter, why art thou silent for the sheepe,Ioh. 21. and lambes commended to thee, with great care and regard, by our vniuersall Lord. Thou, O holy Paul, instructor of the Gentiles, who from Hierusalem vnto Slauony didst preach the Gospell of God; aduize what the Arian Vandals doe, & how thy children lament in captiuity. O all ye A­postles, poure forth togither your grones for vs. Wel we know that we are vnwor­thy for whom you should entreate: for­asmuch as these calamities which haue fallen out for our probation, haue not bin sēt vs as to the iust is wōt, but as plagues for our deserts: yet pray for vs your chil­dren (euill though we be) as Christ praid for the Iewes his enemies. Let that suffice for our chastisement, which hath already beene laide vpon vs: and now at last let forgiuenes bee solicited for sinfull wret­ches. Let it bee saide vnto the reuenging Angell; It sufficeth; hold thy hand. Who is ignorant that our approbrious wicked­nes procured all this for going astray frō Gods commaundements, and refusing to walke in his lawe. But prostrate wee be­seech you, that yee despise notVestros peccato­res. your [Page 132] miserable sinners; for his sake who from poore fishermen raysed you to the hight of Apostolicall dignity.

Most mischieuous Huneric held the do­minion of his kingdome seauen yeare, ten monethes: then consummated the race of his life by a death correspondent to his demerits. For he putrified and boy­led out vermine; so that not his body, but gobets of his body may be said to be bu­ried.Ier. 22. And as that King long since trās­gressor of the lawe giuen had no other buriall then the buriallP. P. Ni cas [...]j &c. of an Asse: so perished and soone, this (execrable Ty­rant) by semblable ignominious death.

CHAP. I. B. The Passion of seanen Christian brethren. Seeke lib. 3. cap. 12. The Passion of seauen blessed Martirs which suffered at Carthage vnder King Huneric The 2. day. 6. Non. of Iuly.

AT tēpting to set forth the triumphes of blessed Martyrs, I first implore aide of God, to the declaration of their actes, that hee which accomplished vnto them conquest and victorie, vouchsafe also to affoorde vnto mee (although vn­worthy and vndeseruing) some ornamēts [Page 133] how meane soeuer of vtterance: For then shal I be able to expresse what is desired, if they for me wretch make supplication vnto our Lord. The seauenth yeare it was of most cruell and no lesse impious Huneric, when behold the ancient enemy, that olde & craftie serpent, spitting forth the venim of his threeforked tongue, v­sing for an instrumēt one Ciritlas a Bishop Ario­manitarū P. F. B. A­riahorū. of the Arrian-madd heretickes, subuer­ting and possessing the mind of the bloo­die Prince, so to perswade him, that hee could not euer enioy a peaceable, & long continued raigne vnlesse he vtterly abo­lished the very memory of innocents, (though neuertheles through Gods iust iudgement preuēted by a most shameful death, scraling with vermin he breathed out his ghost) with gory mouth began to persue the multitude of Catholikes, who through all the Prouince of Africa had multiplied much like what was foretold to Abraham the Patriarke: to wound thē by theGladio rebapti­zatis. glayne of rebaptization, and to soile with his muddy swarth, the stole of one cleane baptisme, which Christ wash­ing in the wine of his flesh, & wringing in the presse of his Crosse had perfectlie [Page 134] whitned. The Tyrant therefore admit­ting (as he was both easie to be caried a­way, and fierce) that serpent in suggesti­on, began to shake all Africa at once with sauage edictes.

CHAP. II.

FIrst and foremost hee sent parling by inhumane banishment into far lands a notable company of Priestes and Dea­cons: to whom for compassion he com­manded to giue the Bis-acu­tum. twy-edged sort of grayne which only beasts feede vpon; & neither dishusked by the myll; but the branny scorce remained vpon it. After­wards moreouer, his madnes and impie­tie encreasing most vnmercifully gaue he commandment this simple sustenance to bee withdrawne. Not long after this, willed hee yet further, the Churches (Per iu­dicafis venerabi­libus por­tis. whose gates were in time past held so venerable) to bee mured vp stronly with huge morterworks. As for monasteries; as wel those of mē, as those of holy virgins, hee charged to be deliuered vp togither with their dwellers into the hands of the Gētiles, (that is to the Morians.) Sembla­ble was the lamentation of all; semblable [Page 135] entire and full of resolution of dying for Christ: semblable floudes of teares trick­ling from their eyes For our Lord nowe permitted them to be fed with the bread of teares; and to drinke their measure of teares, if not teares without measure. And if there were Gen. & percutiā coruorū. of Rauens some prone to destruction, which departing forth of the arke stayed eger vpon the dead carkases; greater yet was the number of happie Doues persisting in the name of the Trini­ty. How many noble & excellēt persons; Lords of ample & large demayn exchā ­ged land for heauē, rēdring vp both body and goods? and how many tender and noble Gentle-women were contrary to naturall honesty whipt with rods, in face of all the people; and excruciated with sundry torments, euer bare away trium­phant monuments of victorie? How ma­ny yong children deriding the inhuman edictes, first despised the world ere they entred the inticing pathes thereof?

CHAP. III.

IN those daies were also seauen (as cō ­cerning association of our Lords fer­uice, brethren) who dwelt with one hart and

CHAP. 4.

SOONE came this to the Tyrantes eares, who drunken with furie, willed them yet more to be constrained by vn­heard-of torments, & loaded with more plensant shackles. Thē gaue charge that a shippe should be filled with bundles of dry fewell; them to be fast bound in the same vessell; so fire to bee applied in the midst of the sea; whereby they should be burnt to death. As they were brought forth out of the prison; the multitude of Gods people accompanied those warri­ars of the Trinity, who as innocent lambes were led to be sacrificed; contemplating the weighty and horrid yrons; no lesse then as rare iewels. For bonds these were not indeed to bee reputed, but rather or­naments of brauery. With cheerefull a­lacritie went they toward execution, as if they had hastned vnto a banquet; sing­ing through the passages of the streetes with one voice vnto our Lord; Glory in the Luke 2. highest to God; and in the earth peace to men of good will. This is our desired day; more festifull then any festiuity: Now behould is 2. Cor. 6. the acceptable time; now behold is the day of sal­uations [Page 139] when for the faith of our Lord God we endure addressed death, that wee may not lose the garment of obtained faith. The people also with common voice cryed: Feare not O seruāts of God, nor dread the threats and terrors of tribulations present: dye we rather for Christ, as he died for vs, redeeming vs with the price of his sauing blood. One neuerthe­lesse by name Maximus a child of their cō ­pany, laboured those authors of euil with vehement endeuour to disioyne from so­ciety of the Saints, saying Why hastnest thou prety boy vnto death? let them goe, they are mad; heare thou our counsaile, that thou mayst obtaine thy life, & goe to the great Kings court. Wher­vnto he, though a child in yeares, yet cri­ed with mature grauity, no man gets me from my holy Father that Liberatus, and from my brethren, who bred mee vp in the monastery: with them I liued in the feare of God, with them I desire to dye; with whom also I trust that I shal attaine the glory to come. Thinke not that you can seduce my childhood: seauen soules sith our Lord would assemble vs, hee will in like sorte vouchsafe to crowne vs all with one martirdome. As none perished of 2. Mac. 7. the seauen Machabees so the number of seauen shall [Page 142] [...]church of Celebrina. Thus in confession of the Trinity suffered the thrise-blessed Martirs, accomplishing a glorious pro­secution of their combate, and receiuing crownes of our Lord. To whome is ho­nor, & glory, world without end, Amen.