Victor of Vita, Historia persecutionis Africae provinciae, 3.17-20 [4.3-5]

Victor of Vita, Historia persecutionis Africae provinciae, 3.17-20 [4.3-5]

Written c. 485-490 CE. Describes events occurring when Huniric, King of the Vandals, called a Council of the North African Catholic bishops in 484 CE and ordered them to swear to support the succession of his son, Hilderic, in the event of Huniric’s death.

Source: Victor of Vita. History of the Vandal persecution, p. 70-71. Trans: John Moorhead. Translated Texts for Historians, Vol. 11. Liverpool University Press, 1992.

17 Then those men of God were ordered to proceed to a place called the temple of Memoria. They did not know of the trap which had been prepared for them. When they had come there they were shown a rolled-up document, and they were told, with subtlety worthy of the serpent: "Our lord king Hunirix, although he is distressed that in your contempt you are still holding back from obeying his will by becoming adherents of the religion which is his, has nevertheless had a good thought concerning you. If you will swear to carry out what is contained in this document, he bids you return to your churches and homes." To this, the bishops replied all together: "At all times we say, have said and shall say: We are Christians, we are bishops, we hold the one, true apostolic faith!"

18 After they had made this confession of faith there was a short silence, and then the men who had been chosen by the king made haste to obtain the oath from the bishops by force. Then those true men, the blessed bishops Hortulanus and Florentianus, spoke on behalf of them all and for them all: "Surely we are not unreasoning animals that will easily and thoughtlessly swear without knowing what the document contains?" The men chosen by the king immediately made known to them the contents of the piece of writing, decked out in words of this kind.

19 That piece of chicanery read as follows: "Swear that, after the death of our lord the king, you wish his son Hildirit to be king, and that none of you will send letters to lands across the sea, for if you give your oath concerning this, he will restore you to your churches." In their good-hearted simplicity, many decided to give the oath, contrary to the divine prohibition, in case the people of God were later to say that the bishops who had not wished to swear were to blame for the churches not being restored. But other, more astute bishops felt that it was a deceptive trap, and were totally unwilling to swear. They said that it had been prohibited by the authority of the gospel. when the Lord himself says: 'Do not swear at all.' (Matt 5:13[Sic]) The king's servants said to them: "Let those who are prepared to swear step aside." When they had done this shorthand writers took down what each one said and from which town he came; the same thing happened with those who did not swear. Each group was immediately delivered into custody.

20 But afterwards the trick which had been concealed became clear. To those who had sworn they said: "Because you were willing to swear, contrary to the precept of the gospel, the king has ordered that you are never to see your towns and churches, but are to be banished with the status of coloni and given fields to cultivate. As well, you are not to sing the psalms or pray or hold in your hands a book to read from; you are not to baptize or ordain, nor are you to dare to reconcile anyone." Similarly, it was said to those who had not sworn: "You did not want to swear because you do not wish the son of our lord to reign. For this reason an order has been given for you to be banished to the island of Corsica, so you can cut timber for the king's ships."