ment, when having intoxicated him, he sent of that monarch, however, prevented him for Julia in the name of her master. The from receiving any relief; for Maurice, who slave, not suspecting the design, immediately succeeded him, had no opportunity of affordwent; when the governor told her that he ing any succor to Hermenigildus. The king would procure her liberty, if she would sac- immediately laid siege to Seville; the prince rifice to the heathen gods; but, not being defended the place with great bravery, and able to prevail, he ordered her to be severely held out for twelve months; but finding that beaten, and finding her still resolute, he com- the city must soon be taken, he privately manded that the hair of her head should be made his escape, and fled to the Roman pulled up by the roots. This barbarity hav- troops to beg protection; when being ining no greater effect, he sentenced her to be formed that they intended to give him up, hanged. Scarcely was Julia dead when Eu- he precipitately retired to Corduba, and from sebius recovered from his intoxication, and thence to Asseto, which he fortified. On understanding what had passed, he, in the the escape of the prince from Seville, that first transports of his resentment, thought city surrendered, and the king having put a of complaining to the emperor, who being a garrison in it, pursued his son, laid siege to Christian, would have punished the perfidy Asseto, and soon obliged it to surrender. of the governor; but reflecting that Felix had only acted with zeal for the deities he himself adored, he determined to put up with the loss, and retire from the place.

ACCOUNT OF ANASTASIUS.

The prince being thus driven to extremities, flew to a church for sanctuary, when the king having a respect for the sanctity of the place, sent an officer, named Reccaredus, to assure him of his pardon, upon his submitting CRUELTY OF A KING TO HIS CHRISTIAN SON to ask it. The prince believing his father Hermenigildus, a Gothic prince, was the to be sincere, immediately went to him, and eldest son of Leovigildus, king of the Goths, threw himself at his feet: the king, howin Spain. This prince, who was originally ever, instead of forgiving him, loaded him an Arian, became a convert to the orthodox with chains, and carried him to Seville, faith, by means of his wife, whose name was where he endeavored to make him renounce Igonda. The king, on hearing that his son the Christian faith both by promises and had changed his religious sentiments, strip- menaces. Nevertheless, the prince remained ped him of the command at Seville, where true, and at the feast of Easter, when the he was governor, and threatened to put him king sent an Arian bishop to him to adminto death, unless he renounced the new faith. ister the eucharist, Hermenigildus refused On this, the prince, in order to prevent the to receive it; which so enraged the king, execution of his father's menaces, began to that he caused him to be cut to pieces by his prepare for defence; and many of the ortho- guards, on the 13th of April, A. D. 586. dox persuasion in Spain declared on his side. The king, exasperated at this act of rebellion, began to punish all the orthodox Chris- Anastasius, a Persian, was brought up a tians who could be seized; and thus origin- Pagan, and bore arms as a soldier under Cosated a very severe persecution; he marched roes, king of Persia, at the time that monagainst his son at the head of a very power-arch plundered Jerusalem; and, among other ful army; and knowing that he could not things, they carried off the very cross on oppose the formidable force that his father which Christ was crucified. Anastasius was bringing against him, he implored the could not imagine why the Christians had assistance of the Roman troops that were such a veneration for a person who had died left to garrison those parts of Spain which so mean a death as that of being crucified; the emperor still possessed. The Roman com- for that mode of death was held by the Permander undertook to assist Hermenigildus, sians in the greatest contempt. At length but being bribed by the king, he broke his some Christian captives instructed him in promise. Leovigildus then made it his busi- the whole Christian mystery, and being ness, as much as possible, to detach the or- charmed with the purity of their faith, he thodox Christians from the interest of his left the army, and retired to Syria; here he son; and in this he had great success, for it learned the trade of a goldsmith, and then was effected in 581, by convening the Arian going to Jerusalem, he supported himself by prelates at Toledo, who abolished the prac- that business; was baptized by Modestus, tice of rebaptizing those who came over to vicar-general of Jerusalem; and staid a week their sect; and he drew up a captious pro- with his godfather Elias. When that time fession of faith, which deceived many, and was over, and he was to quit the white clothes prevailed upon them to quit the interest of which he wore at his baptism, according to Hermenigildus. Hence finding himself for- the practice of the church, he desired the saken by numbers of those whom he most priest would put him in a way of renouncing confided in, the prince was obliged to retreat the world. Elias recommended him to Justowards Seville, in which city he soon after tin, abbot of a seminary four miles from Jeshut himself up, and sent to Constantinople, rusalem, who employed a person to instruct for assistance from the emperor. The death him in the Greek tongue, and teach him the

Psalms; and then admitted him into his com- he had not the power to perform his undermunity. Anastasius passed seven years in taking. Olympius thus finding it would be that house, dividing his time between hum- very difficult to destroy Martin, put himself ble domestic employments, and administer- at the head of his troops, and marched against ing the word of God; and at length he con- the Saracens, who had made some inroads ceived a strong desire to lay down his life into Italy, but during this expedition he died. for his Redeemer. His successor was Calliopas, who received On going to Cæsarea, which was then in express orders to seize Martin, which, with the hands of the Persians, he was taken up the assistance of a considerable body of solas a spy, and brought before Marzabanes, the diers, he performed; showing the clergy the governor, to whom he owned that he was a imperial mandate, which commanded him to Christian, and was sent to prison. Many at- dispossess Martin of his bishopric, and carry tempts were made to convert him, and at him a prisoner to Constantinople. Having length Justin, being apprized of his suffer- endured various hardships, during a tedious ings, recommended him to the prayers of the voyage, he reached the imperial city of Conwhole community, and sent two of his people to encourage him to perseverance.

stantinople, and was thrown into prison. While in confinement, he wrote two episThe governor at length wrote to the king tles to the emperor to refute the calumnies concerning Anastasius, and the sovereign did forged against him with respect to his faith all in his power to engage him to renounce and loyalty; for a proof of the soundness of his religion, but finding his endeavors in vain, the former, he appeals to the testimony of the he ordered him to be executed, which was whole clergy, and his own solemn protestaperformed in this manner: he was laid upon tion to defend the truth as long as he lived; his back, with a piece of wood across his and in answer to the objections made against legs, pressed down with the whole weight the latter, he declares he never sent either of two strong men: he was then severely money, letters, or advice, to the Saracens, beaten, hung up by one hand, with a weight but only remitted a sum for the relief of poor fastened to his foot; and after being strangled, his head was cut off, and sent to the king.

BISHOP MARTIN.

Christians among those people: he concludes with saying, that nothing could be more false than what the heretics had alleged against him concerning the blessed Virgin, whom he Martin, bishop of Rome, was born at Lodi, firmly believed to be the mother of God, and in Italy. He was naturally virtuous, and his worthy of all honor after her divine Son. In parents bestowed on him an excellent edu- his second letter, he gives a particular accation. He took orders, and on the death of count of his being seized at Rome, and his Theodore, bishop of Rome, was advanced to indisposition and ill-usage since he was that important see, by an unanimous elec- dragged from that city; and ends with wishtion, in which all parties gave him the fullest ing and hoping his persecutors would repent praise, and admitted that he well merited of their conduct, when the object of their a trust of such importance. hatred should be removed from this world. The first vexation he received in his epis- The fatigues that Martin had undergone, copal capacity, was from a set of heretics, and his infirmities, were so great, that on the called Monothelites; who, not daring, after day appointed for his trial, he was brought the express decisions of the council of Chal-out of prison in a chair, being unable to cedon, to maintain the unity of nature in walk. When he was before the court, the Christ, asserted artfully, that he had but one judge ordered him to stand, which not being will and operation of mind. This sect was able to do, two men were ordered to hold patronized by the emperor Heraclius; and him up. Twenty witnesses were produced the first who attempted to stop the progress against him, who swore as they were diof these errors, was Sophronius, bishop of rected, and charged him with pretended Jerusalem. Martin, who on this occasion crimes. Martin began his defence, but as coincided in sentiments with the bishop of soon as he entered upon an investigation of Jerusalem, called a council, which consisted the errors which he had combated, one of of 105 bishops, and they unanimously con- the senators stopped him, and said, that he demned the errors in question. But the em- was only examined respecting civil affairs, peror, provoked at these proceedings, ordered and consequently that ecclesiastical matters Olympius, his lieutenant in Italy, to repair had nothing to do in his defence. The judge to Rome, and seize the bishop. The lieuten- then prevented him from going on. Martin ant performed the journey; but on his arrival was then ordered to be exposed in the most at Rome, he found the prelate too much be- public places of the town, and to be divested loved to induce him to attempt any open vio- of all marks of distinction; but all these lence; he therefore suborned a ruffian to rigors he bore with Christian patience. assassinate him at the altar; but the fellow, After lying some months in prison, he was after promising to execute the deed, was sent to an island at some distance, and there seized with such horror of conscience, that cut to pieces, A. D. 655.

JOHN OF BERGAMO.

ions. Gozbert also commanded the attention of his Pagan subjects to Kilien's doctrines; and the greatest part of them became Christians in less than two years.

John, bishop of Bergamo, in Lombardy, a learned man, and a good Christian, did his utmost to clear the church from the errors Gozbert had married his brother's widow, of Arianism, and joining with John, bishop for which Kilien, though he knew the sinfulof Milan, he was very successful against the ness of the thing, did not choose to rebuke heretics. Grimoald, however, an Arian, hav- him till he was thoroughly confirmed in his ing usurped the throne of Lombardy, the faith. When he thought him fully instructed orthodox Christians feared that heresy would in the principles of Christianity, he entreated rise once more in that country; but the him, as the last proof of the sincerity of his bishop of Bergamo used such persuasive ar- conversion, to quit that person whom he had guments with Grimoald, that he brought him hitherto looked upon as a wife, as he could to profess the orthodox faith. On the death not cohabit with her without committing of Grimoald, and his son who succeeded him, sin. Gozbert, surprised at the proposal, Pantharit came to the crown, and again in- told the bishop this was the hardest demand troduced those errors which had been com- he had ever made upon him. But," said bated with such spirit by the true clergy. he, "since I have renounced my own incliThe bishop of Bergamo exerted himself nations and pleasures in so many particulars strenuously to prevent the heresy from for the love of God, I will make the work spreading, on which account he was assassi- complete, by complying with your advice in nated on the 11th of July, A. D. 683.

MARTYRDOM OF KILIEN.

66

this too." The wife of the governor, in consequence, determined to be revenged on those who had persuaded Gozbert into such a resolution. She sent accordingly to the Kilien was born in Ireland, and received place where they usually assembled, and from his parents a Christian education. His had them all beheaded. Kilien and his comfavorite study was theology, and hence he panions submitted without resistance, the was very assiduous in bringing many to the former telling them, that they need not fear light of the gospel. Afterwards he crossed those who had no power over the soul, but the sea, with eleven other persons, in order could only kill the body, which, in a short to make converts on the continent. On land- time, would of itself decay. This happened ing, they directed their route to the circle A. D. 689, and the martyrs were privately of Franconia, in Germany. On arriving at buried in the night, together with their the city of Wurtzburgh, they found the peo- books, clothes, &c. &c. It is said, that some ple in general, and their governor Gozbert, days after this impious tragedy was acted, Pagans; but conceived great hopes of con- Gozbert, surprised that he had not seen verting them to the gospel faith. Previous Kilien lately, ordered diligent search to be to making this attempt, however, he deemed made for him. Geilana, his wife, to stop it necessary to go to Rome, in order to ob- the inquiry, gave out, that he and his comtain his mission from the pontiff. He accord- panions had left the town, without giving ingly went thither, attended by Coloman a any account of their motions; but the execupriest, and Totman a deacon, who had ac- tioner, with remorse of conscience, ran about companied him from Ireland, and found Co- like a madman, and declared, that Kilien non in Peter's chair. He gave them a fa- burned him. Thus disordered, he was seized, vorable reception, and being informed of and Gozbert was considering what to do, Kilien's business at Rome, after some ques- when a creature of his wife's, a pretended tions about his faith and doctrine, consecrated convert, advised him to leave the God of the him bishop, with full permission to preach to Christians, to do himself justice on his enethe infidels, wherever he found them. Thus mies, and proposed the event as a test of his authorized, Kilien returned to Wurtzburgh, power. where he opened his mission; but he had not Gozbert was weak enough to tempt God, long been employed in his labors, when Goz- by putting it on that issue: and the murderer bert sent for him, and desired to know the being set at liberty, went raving mad, tore nature and tendency of this new religion, his own flesh with his teeth, and died in a which he recommended so boldly. The new miserable condition. Geilana was so perbishop had several conferences with the gov-plexed in her conscience, that she soon after ernor on that subject, and God gave such a expired; and Gozbert's criminal condescenblessing to his endeavors, that Gozbert not sion was punished by a violent death, and in only received the faith, but gave him leave a few years his whole race was extermito preach wherever he pleased in his domin-[nated.

SECTION II.

Persecutions from the Eighth to the Tenth Century.

ACCOUNT OF BONIFACE.

for the salvation of his fellow-creatures; in BONIFACE, archbishop of Mentz, and father the progress of which he gave the first proofs of the German church, was an Englishman,* of that apostolical zeal, which afterwards and is looked upon, in ecclesiastical history, made such glorious conquests in a most sayas one of the brightest ornaments of his coun- age and barbarous part of the world. try. His name originally was Winfred, or There being an important occasion to asWinfrith, and he was born at Kirton, in De- semble a synod of bishops in the kingdom of vonshire, then part of the West-Saxon king- the West-Saxons, it was judged expedient to dom. When only about six years of age, he depute one of their body to the archbishop discovered a propensity to reflection, and of Canterbury, to inform him of the exigency seemed solicitous to gain information on reli- of affairs; and Boniface being proposed, was gious subjects; and some evangelical mis- unanimously chosen by the synod. sionaries coming by chance to Kirton, hap- Boniface discharged this trust with great pened to fix their abode at his father's house, prudence, and obtained the applause of every whose discourse determined him to devote member of the synod; but far from being himself to a religious life. When he in- vain of the reputation he had acquired, he formed his father of his resolution, he would proposed to forsake his country, relations, have dissuaded him from it; but finding him and friends, in order to be of service to the fully resolved, he permitted him to go and faith, and extend Christianity on the contireside at a monastery in Exeter. Wolfrad, nent. At first, the abbot and monks of Nutsthe abbot, finding that he possessed a bright celle would have dissuaded him from his genius, had him removed to Nutscelle, a purpose; but finding him resolute, two of seminary of learning, in the diocese of Win- their number were ordered to assist him. chester, where he would have a much greater Boniface accordingly left Nutscelle, and aropportunity of attaining improvement. The rived in Friesland about the year 716; when abbot of Nutscelle, who was celebrated for he found that country in the utmost disorder his great learning, took uncommon pains and confusion. It had belonged to the crown with the young pupil, who, in time, became of France, but was at that time in the posa prodigy in divine knowledge; and was, at session of Prince Radbord, who had establength, employed at Nutscelle as a principal lished Paganism in it, persecuted the Christeacher. tians, and was at war with Charles Martel.

TRAVELS OF BONIFACE.

We are informed by the ancient Saxon historians, that those who studied under him had no need to remove to any other place to He, therefore, went to Utrecht, where he finish what they had begun, for he gave found the infidel prince, and made him a them lessons in grammar, poetry, rhetoric tender of the gospel; but he being obdurate, and philosophy; and explained the holy Boniface perceived that the time of convertscriptures in the literal, moral, and mystical ing that nation was not yet come, and resenses. But his example was as instructive turned to his monastery in England. But he as his lectures, and while he formed his had not been many months there when the scholars to learning by his dictates, he en- abbot died. Boniface undertook to comfort couraged them to the practice of virtue by his conduct.

his brethren under that calamity, and discovered so much zeal and charity in the The abbot of Nutscelle, seeing him quali- transaction, that they desired he would supfied for the priesthood, conferred on him that ply the place of their deceased father and holy order, when he was about thirty years friend; but he either never accepted of that of age. From that time he began to labor post, or quitted it very soon; for he obtained letters from Daniel, bishop of Winchester, * As we are speaking of a celebrated English his diocesan, which recommended him to the martyr, and have already mentioned the first person who was martyred in England for the Christian pope, and all the bishops, abbots, and princes, faith, it will be interesting to the reader to learn, he should find in his way to Rome, where he that before the coming of St. Austin into England, arrived in the beginning of the year 719. there had been four persecutions in Britain. The first, under Diocletian, in which many Chris with great friendship, and after several conHe was received by Gregory the Second tians suffered in Britain, in common with every ferences with him, finding him full of zeal, other part of the Roman empire.

The second, by the Picts and Huns, who devas- he dismissed him with a commission at large tated the southern part of the island, and butchered to preach the gospel to the Pagans, wherever indiscriminately all who fell in their way.

The third, by the Saxons, under Hengist, about he found them. Having passed through A. D. 450; and the fourth, by the Saxons and other Lombardy and Bavaria, he came to ThurinPagans, about a hundred years after. gia, which country had before received the

SEVERAL MONASTERIES ERECTED BY

BONIFACE.

light of the gospel; but at the time that Boni- many that would willingly have been Chrisface arrived there, it had made little progress. tians only by halves; they were ready enough His first exertions, therefore, were to bring to acknowledge Christ, but did not care to the corrupted Christians back to the purity of adhere strictly to his precepts: and some the gospel; and having completed this pious were so far deluded, as to worship a large work with great assiduity, and hearing that oak-tree, which was dedicated to Jupiter. Radbord, whom he formerly in vain attempted This tree Boniface ordered to be cut down; to convert, was dead, he repaired to Utrecht, when the Pagans, finding that Jupiter did to assist Willebrod, the first bishop of that not take any notice of those who had decity. During the space of three years, these stroyed it, owned the weakness of their preworthy pastors labored, in conjunction, in tended deity, and desired to be baptized. extirpating idolatry and propagating the Being naturally diffident of his own abilifaith; and so far succeeded, that most of the ties, Boniface had frequent recourse to such people received baptism, and many of the persons as he thought might be of service to Pagan temples were converted into Chris-him in his present difficult station. Pope tian churches. At this time Willebrod being Gregory, and Daniel, his old diocesan, were very infirm, thought he could not do better his most considerable counsellors; but by the than to appoint Boniface to succeed him; care of the bishop of Winchester, he received but this the English missionary absolutely from England numerous missionaries. refused, saying, he could not stay so long in any place, as he had many evangelical labors to perform. Willebrod, on hearing this, consented to his departure; and Boniface re- In the year 731, Gregory the Third sucpaired to Hesse, where he brought to a know-ceeded to the papal chair, upon whose accesledge of the truth two brothers, who, though sion Boniface sent persons to Rome, to acthey called themselves Christians, were sunk quaint him with the success of his labors, into most of the errors of Paganism. They, testifying his obedience, and desiring assisthowever, became such sincere converts, that ance in some difficulties which occurred in they gave their estate to Boniface, who, in- his mission. The pope not only answered stead of applying its revenues to his own the message by assuring him of the comuse, built and endowed a religious commu- munion and friendship of the see of Rome, nity with them; after which he proceeded tut, as a mark of respect, sent him the palto Saxony, where he converted some thou- lium, granted him the title of archbishop, or sands to the Christian faith. After exerting metropolitan of all Germany, and empowered himself in this new field with prodigious him to erect new bishoprics. Boniface, in success about a year, he dispatched one of consequence, not only erected new bishophis companions to Rome, with an account of rics, but built several monasteries. He then what he had done; upon which Gregory II. made a third journey to Rome, in 738, when sent him a letter, desiring him to repair to Gregory, who had much affection for him, that city; and he set out for Rome. On his detained him there the greatest part of the arrival, the bishop gave him all marks of es- year. teem and affection, and was resolved not to At length having left Rome, he set out let him return to his labors without the epis- for Bavaria, upon the invitation of Odillo, copal character, that he might pursue them duke of that country, to reform some abuses with more author ty, and to greater advan- introduced by persons who had never retage. He was accordingly consecrated on ceived holy orders.

the last day of November, 723; from which At this time Bavaria had only one bishop; time he took upon himself the name of Boni- he, therefore, pursuant to his commission face. from Rome, erected three new bishoprics,

On being thus qualified for forming his one at Saltzburg, a second at Freisigen, and new church, he left Rome, having with him a third at Ratisbon, and thus all Bavaria was six letters from the pope; one to Charles divided into four dioceses. This regulation Martel; a second to all bishops, priests, was soon after confirmed by the pope. dukes, counts, &c.; a third to the clergy and He next established four other bishoprics, people under his more immediate direction; viz. at Erfurt, Barabourg, Wurtzburgh, and a fourth to the five princes of Thuringia, and Achstat.

their Christian subjects; a fifth to the Pa- In the year 741, Gregory the Third was gans in their dominions; and a sixth to the succeeded in the popedom by Zachary, who whole body of Saxons. The purport of all confirmed Boniface in his power, and apthese was, to recommend him to the protec- proved of all he had done in Germany, mak tion of the Christian powers, and exhort the Pagans to hear him, and quit their errors and superstition.

Having made many converts in different parts, he returned to his mission in Germany, and was very successful, though he met with

ing him at the same time archbishop of Mentz, and metropolitan over thirteen bishoprics. He did not, however, lose his simplicity, or forget his innocence, in his ecclesiastical dignity.

During the ministry of this prelate, Pepin