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 102 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xxxvii defeated the rebels, and executed severe justice ; which the Arians, in their turn, might brand with the reproach of persecu- tion. Eight bishops, whose names betray their Barbaric origin, abjured their errors ; and all the books of Arian theology were reduced to ashes, with the house in which they had been purposely collected. The whole body of the Visigoths and Suevi were allured or driven into the pale of the Catholic communion ; the faith, at least of the rising generation, was fervent and sincere ; and the devout liberality of the Barbarians enriched the churches and monasteries of Spain. Seventy bishops, . assembled in the council of Toledo, received the submission of their conquerors ; and the zeal of the Spaniards improved the Nicene creed, by declaring the procession of the Holy Ghost from the Son, as well as from the Father : a weighty point of doctrine, which produced, long afterwards, the schism of the Greek and Latin Churches. 136 The royal proselyte immediately saluted and consulted pope Gregory, surnamed the Great, a learned and holy prelate, whose reign was distinguished by the conversion of heretics and infidels. The ambassadors of Eecared respectfully offered on the threshold of the Vatican his rich presents of gold and gems ; they accepted, as a lucrative ex- change, the hairs of St. John the Baptist, a cross which inclosed a small piece of the true wood, and a key that contained some particles of iron which had been scraped from the chains of St. Peter. 137 conversion The same Gregory, the spiritual conqueror of Britain, en- bards of couraged the pious Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards, to 6oo, &c. ' propagate the Nicene faith among the victorious savages, whose recent Christianity was polluted by the Arian heresy. Her devout labours still left room for the industry and success of future missionaries ; and many cities of Italy were still dis- puted by hostile bishops. But the cause of Arianism was gradually suppressed by the weight of truth, of interest, and of example ; and the controversy, which Egypt had derived from the Platonic school, was terminated, after a war of three 136 This addition to the Nicene, or rather the Constantinopolitan, creed was first made in the eighth council of Toledo, a.d. 653 ; but it was expressive of the popular doctrine (Gerard Vossius, torn. xi. p. 527, de tribus Symbolis). 137 See Gregor. Magn. 1. vii. epist. 126, apud Baronium, Annal. Eccles. a.d. 599, No. 25, 26, ix. 122 [vol. ii. p. 1031, ed. Bened.].