The Cruelty of the Arian King, Honoricus, in the Year 477

In the year 477, Honoricus, King of the Vandals, an adherent of the Arian sect, rose up with great violence against those who would not agree with his views, cruelly persecuting them and pitifully mistreating them. He had honorable women and young women hung up naked; their bodies burned with torches; their breasts and arms cut off; hot pitch applied to their backs, breasts and sides; he also had them drawn up, with heavy stones tied to their feet, and so on.

When he proposed to many that they should swear an oath, some thought it was not contrary to God, but the bishops and elders of the church of Christ would not swear, saying that it was forbidden in the Gospel, since Christ says: "Do not swear." Then they were martyred, or at least severely punished. But those who had been persuaded to swear did not go free, for, according to ancient writers, he punished both alike: these, because they had sworn contrary to the command of the Gospel, and those, because they refused to swear.

In the meantime, the distress and misery were so great that scarcely a house could be found that was not filled with wailing and lamentations.

After this terrible tyrant had put to death, by these and similar torments, and had also exiled, a countless number, God, after many plagues had been sent upon that country, punished him dreadfully: worms and lice so gnawed his flesh that his whole body became putrid, one limb dropping off after another, so that he was buried piece by piece, thus coming to a horrible and no less shameful end—the evident vengeance of God for his tyranny against the Christians. Compare P. J. Twisck, Chron., 5th book, page 166, column 2, with Chron. Carionis, book 3, folio 29. Eccl. Caspar Hedio, 3rd part, book 2, chapters 18 to 21, 25, 27, Chronol. Leonh. Krantz., book 3, folios 87, 89. Paul. Merula, folios 381, 382. Hist. Andr., folio 180. Jan. Crespin, folio 139.

NOTE. It is stated that about this time, until the year 495, and afterwards, there were made in different councils held in Africa five hundred and five laws (called canons or rules), in which, among other things, it was resolved by the Roman church

1. "That the children of the Donatists (namely, those Donatists who had renounced the doctrine of Donatus) shall not be rebaptized." 2. "That those who say that a child is not to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, and so on, are excommunicated." 3. Act. 23. "That the agitation about baptism should be suppressed by military force." Seb. Franck, Chron. der Roomsche Concilien, folio 48, columns 2 to 4, and so on.

NOTE. From the third article it appears: 1. That at this time there were people who stirred up agitation about baptism, that is, infant baptism, for this was now practiced by the Roman church. 2. That these people were suppressed by military assistance or force. What views, besides this article, these people held, or in what manner they were suppressed, we have not been able to determine; therefore we let this suffice.