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 404 THE DECLINE AND FALL Catholic church ; but the fanatics, who still persevered in their opposition, were provoked to madness and despair; the distracted country was filled with tumult and bloodshed; the armed troops of Circumcel lions alternately pointed their rage against them- selves or against their adversaries ; and the calendar of martyrs received on both sides a considerable augmentation.--* Under these circumstances, Genseric, a Christian, but an enemy of the orthodox communion, showed himself to the Donatists as a powerful deliverer, from whom they might reasonably expect the repeal of the odious and oppressive edicts of the Roman emperors.-^ The conquest of Africa was facilitated by the active zeal, or the secret favour, of a domestic faction ; the Avanton out- rages against the churches and the clergy, of which the andals are accused, may be fairly imputed to the fanaticism of their allies ; and the intolerant spirit, which disgraced the triumph of Christianity, contributed to the loss of the most important pro- vince of the West.-^ Tardy re- The court and the people were astonished by the strange ioniface. intelligence that a virtuous hero, after so manv favours and so A D 430 ' ^ many services, had renounced his allegiance, and invited the Barbarians to destroy the province entrusted to his command. The friends of Boniface, Avho still believed that his criminal be- haviour might be excused by some honourable motive, solicited, during the absence of Aetius, a free conference with the count of Africa, and Darius, an officer of high distinction, was named for the important embassy.-^ In their first interview at Car- 23 See Tillemont, M^m. Eccl^s. torn. xiii. p. 586-592, 806. The Donatists boasted of thousands of these voluntary martyrs. Augustin asserts, and probably with truth, that these numbers were much exaggerated ; but he sternly maintains that it was better that some should burn themselves in this world than that all should burn in hell flames. '•^ According to St. Augustin and Theodoret the Donatists were inclined to the principles, or at least to the party, of the Arians, which Genseric supported. Tillemont, Mdm. Eccl^s. torn. i. p. 68. '■^See Baronius, Annal. Eccles. ..D. 428, No. 7, A.n. 439, No. 35. The car- dinal, though more inclined to seek the cause of great events in heaven than on the earth, has observed the apparent connexion of the Vandals and the Donatists. Under the reign of the Barbarians, the schismatics of Africa enjoyed an obscure peace of one hundred years ; at the end of which, we may again trace them by the light of the Imperial persecutions. See Tillemont, M6m. Eccles. tom. vi. p. 192, &c. -'' In a confidential letter to Count Boniface, St. Augustiii, without examining the grounds of the quarrel, piously exhorts him to discharge the duties of a Chris- tian and a subject ; to extricate himself w ithout delay from his dangerous and guilty situation ; and even, if he could obtain the consent of his wife, to embrace a life of celibacy and penance (Tillemont, M^m. Eccles. tom. xiii. p. 890). The bishop was intimately connected with Darius, the minister of peace (Id. tom. xiii. p. 928.)