In pouring out the third vial it is [8] said:  Thou art righteous, O Lord,—­because thou hast judged thus:  for they have shed the blood of thy Saints and Prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy.  How they shed the blood of Saints, may be understood by the following Edict of the Emperor Honorius, procured by four Bishops sent to him by a Council of African Bishops, who met at Carthage 14 June, A.C. 410.

Impp.  Honor. &.  Theod.  AA.  Heracliano Com.  Afric.

Oraculo penitus remoto, quo ad ritus suos haereticae superstitionis abrepserant, sciant omnes sanctae legis inimici, plectendos se poena & proscriptionis & sanguinis, si ultra convenire per publicum, execranda sceleris sui temeritate temptaverint.  Dat. viii._ Kal.  Sept.  Varano V.C.  Cons._ A.C. 410.

Which Edict was five years after fortified by the following.

Impp.  Honor. & Theod.  AA.  Heracliano Com.  Afric.

Sciant cuncti qui ad ritus suos haeresis superstitionibus obrepserant sacrosanctae legis inimici, plectendos se poena & proscriptionis & sanguinis, si ultra convenire per publicum exercendi sceleris sui temeritate temptaverint:  ne qua vera divinaque reverentia contagione temeretur.  Dat. viii._ Kal.  Sept.  Honorio x. & Theod. vi. AA.  Coss._ A.C. 415.

These Edicts being directed to the governor of Africa, extended only to the Africans.  Before these there were many severe ones against the Donatists, but they did not extend to blood.  These two were the first which made their meetings, and the meetings of all dissenters, capital:  for by hereticks in these Edicts are meant all dissenters, as is manifest by the following against Euresius a Luciferan Bishop.

Impp.  Arcad. & Honor.  AA.  Aureliano Proc.  Africae.

Haereticorum vocabulo continentur, & latis adversus eos sanctionibus debent succumbere, qui vel levi argumento a judicio Catholicae religionis & tramite detecti fuerint deviare:  ideoque experientia tua Euresium haereticum esse cognoscat.  Dat. iii._ Non.  Sept.  Constantinop.  Olybrio & Probino Coss._ A.C. 395.

The Greek Emperor Zeno adopted Theoderic King of the Ostrogoths to be his son, made him master of the horse and Patricius, and Consul of Constantinople; and recommending to him the Roman people and Senate, gave him the Western Empire, and sent him into Italy against Odoacer King of the Heruli. Theoderic thereupon led his nation into Italy, conquered Odoacer, and reigned over Italy, Sicily, Rhaetia, Noricum, Dalmatia, Liburnia, Istria, and part of Suevia, Pannonia and Gallia.  Whence Ennodius said, in a Panegyric to Theoderic: