Of the Persecutions which Took Place after the Time of Justin the Great

1. It is stated that besides the persecution started at the beginning of the reign of Justin the Great by Theodoricus, the Arian, against those who were called orthodox Christians, a certain Jewish tyrant, called Dunan, in the fifth year of Justin's reign, violently persecuted the Christians in the city of Nagra. Folio 293, column 3. [n309-1]

2. Of Amalric, King of the West Goths, in France, it is stated that he heaped much abuse and contempt upon his own wife, Clotildis, because she was orthodox in the Christian faith. In the same place, from Hist. Gall. and Isidor., in Chron.

3. It is declared that in the third year of Justinian the Great, the nephew of Justin the Great, a persecution against the Christians was raised by the Samaritan Jews in Palestine. In the same place, column 4.

4. Afterwards there was also a short persecution of the Christian believers by the Vandals, in Africa. In the same place.

5. Also, the Arian persecution of the Christians by Totila, which is said to have taken place under Justinian, in Italy, is mentioned by the same writer.

6. Besides these, the persecution begun by the Jews and Samaritans at Caesarea, in Palestine, was repeated in the 29th year of the reign of Justinian. See above. [n309-2]

7. We read that in the time of Justin the Second, the Christian churches in Persarmenia were oppressed by Chosroe, the King of Persia. See above. [n309-3]

8. In the third year of this same Justin, Alboin, the first King of the Longobards, invaded Italy, having sworn to destroy all the blood of the Christians with the sword. In the same place.

9. At this time a Saracen persecution against the Christians was also carried on, by Manucha.

10. After this, Chilperic, an enemy of the Christians, showed great cruelty toward them. Folio 294, column 1.

11. In the first year of Mauritius, Emperor of the Cappadocians, the Persians began a persecution with fire and sword, in Armenia. In the same place.

12. At this time the Longobards, throughout Italy, did not cease to oppress the Christian believers. See the same place.

13. About this time there was also a persecution in France.

14. Also in Spain.

15. In England the heathen sought to wipe out the Christians. For full information on the above persecutions, read, besides the references given above, A. Mell., pages 293, 294 and on to page 303. [n309-4]

NOTE. In these fifteen persecutions that occurred in this century, we notice that twelve different kingdoms, principalities, and other countries are mentioned, lying not only in Europe, much less in Italy (which can also be counted only as a single country), where the Roman Bishops chiefly had their seat and ungodly rule; but also, indeed, for the most part, in Asia and Africa, which were far distant from Italy, being different parts of the world. The countries mentioned, in consecutive order, are these: 1. Nagra, a place or region in Arabia. 2. France. 3. Palestine. 4. Some region in Africa. 5. Italy. 6. Caesarea. 7. Persarmenia. 8. A certain country where the Saracens persecuted the Christians. 9. Another country, where Chilperic tyrannized. 10. Armenia. 11. Spain. 12. England. These are the countries mentioned, besides those that are passed over, which were also subjected to persecution:

Who will believe now that all these countries were under the Roman Empire? Indeed, more than that: what man of ordinary intelligence will think that they all held to the Roman See, and therefore that all the persons who were slain in these fifteen persecutions professed the Roman religion? Surely, this does not appear at all; but the opposite is quite evident. In the first place, because we do not find in reliable authors that the authority and power of the Roman Bishop, or Pope, was so great at this time that not only Europe, but also Asia and Africa, making up the whole of the ancient, or then known, world, bowed to him; which would nevertheless have to be proved and established, for in these three divisions of the world lie the kingdoms, principalities, and countries mentioned above, and the persecutions already named occurred not only within, but also beyond their boundaries.

In the second place, that at this time there were people in different countries who, not only in regard to baptism, but also in other points of religion, held views entirely different from what those of the Roman church understood and believed, is so clearly evident from our previous account of baptism in this century that no reasonable person will dispute it, much less be able to refute it.

So it follows that, to all appearance, in the fifteen persecutions mentioned above, not a few, or at least some, orthodox believers were put to death as true martyrs; for such people have from of old been above all others subject to persecution. We shall therefore look into what people at this time, as pious witnesses of Jesus, steadfastly testified to the truth of their Savior by their death, and sealed it with their blood.