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THe same Procopius relates, that Justinian (in compassion to those Christians who suf∣fered grievously there,) declared [he would undertake] an Expedition [into Africa;] but by the suggestions of Johannes the Prae∣fectus Pr••torio, he was diverted from that design. Yet, he was afterwards admonished in a a 1.1 Dream, not to desist from that Invasion.
For [he was told,] that in case he would give the Christians assistance, he should ruine * 1.2 the King∣dom of the Vandalls. Incouraged by this Dream, b 1.3 having passed the seventh year of his Reign, he sends Belisarius to the Carthagi∣nian War, about the Summer Solstice: after the * 1.4 Praetorian Ship had been brought to that Shore which is be∣fore the Pallace, and Epi∣phanius Bishop of the [Im∣perial] City had made such Prayers as were fit and a∣greeable, and had put a∣board the Praetorian Ship some of those Souldiers, whom he had baptized a little before. The same Authour likewise has given a Narrative of some pas∣sages concerning The Mar∣tyr Cyprianus, which deserve [to be inserted into this] History: his express words are these. All the Cartha∣ginians have an high vene∣ration for that holy per∣son Cyprianus, and [in honour] of him have e∣rected a most magnificent Church * 1.5 without that City, near the Sea-Shore, and besides other Religious respects [by them paid to him,] they also celebrate an Anniversary Fe∣stivall, which they term Cypriana; and hence the Mariners are wont to call that Storm (which I have even now mentioned,) by the same name with this Festivall, because it usually rages at that very time, whereon the Africans are accustomed perpetually to celebrate that Festivall. In the Reign of Hunericus, the Vandalls took this Church from the Christians by force, drove the Priests out thence with great Ignominy, and afterwards * 1.6 altered it, in regard it was come into the posses∣sion of the Arians. The Africans being vexed and highly displeased on account hereof, they say that Cy∣prianus appeared and visited [them] frequently in [their] sleep, [and said to some of them,] that the Christians ought in no wise to be solli∣citous about him: for, that he himself in process of time would be his own Revenger. Which pre∣diction was compleated in the Times of Belisarius; when Carthage by the Commander Belisarius was reduced to a Subjection to the Romans, c 1.7 after the Ninty fifth year of its being lost: when also the Vandalls were totally vanquished, the Heresie of the Arians was prefectly driven out of Africa, and the Christians recovered their own Chur∣ches, according to the Martyr Cyprianus's pre∣diction.
Concer∣ning this Vision which appeared to Justinian in his sleep, Victor Thunonensis writes thus: Justiniano Aug. IV. Cos. Justinianus Imp. Visitatione Lati, &c; Justinianus Augustus being the fourth time Consul. The Emperour Justinianus, by a Visitation of Laetu•• the Bishop who was made a Martyr by Hunericus King of the Vandalls, sends an Army into Africk against the Vandalls, under the Command of Belisarius Master of the Milice. Victor Vitensis has made mention of this Laetus the Bishop, in his first book De Persecutione Vandalorum. Further, concerning this Expedi∣tion of Justinian into Africk against the Vandalls, Marcellinus Comes speaks also in his Chronicon, and places it on the Fourth Consulate of the same Justinianus, that is on the year of Christ 534. Marius Aven∣ticensis relates the same in his Chronicon. But Baronius in his Annalls reproves Marcellinus, and maintains that that Expedition was under∣taken by Justinianus in his Third Consulate, on the year of Christ 533. Justinian's Constitution de Confirmatione Digestorum (which is pre∣fixt before the work of the Pandects,) confirms Baronius's opinion. But, by Baronius's favour, I think the opinion of Marcellinus and Victor to be truer. Nor do I doubt, but a fault has crept into Justinian's Constitution, (on the authority whereof Baronius relies,) and that the Third Consulate of the Emperour Justinian has been written by Transcribers of Books instead of The Fourth. And this Justinian him∣self does so manifestly shew in the foresaid Constitution, that I admire it was not perceived by Baronius. For thus Justinian speaks: Leges autem nostras, quas in his Codicibus, id est, Institutionum & Digestorum posuimus, &c; But our Laws which we have put in these Codes, that is, of the Institutions and Digests, [shall] obtain their strength from [our] third most happy Consulate of the present twelfth Indiction, on the third of the Calends of January, and shall be of force for ever. For on the twelfth Indiction Justinian bore his Fourth Consulate, as Marcellinus Comes attests. But, some one will object, that the twelfth Indiction was begun from the Calends of September, in Justinians Third Consulate. Therefore, we must have recourse to another Argument, to prove what I have said above; viz. that the Vandalick Expedition was begun on Justinians Fourth Consulate, and that that Constitution whereon Ba∣ronius's opinion is founded, was written in Justinians Fourth Consulate. Now, this may be proved thus. In the end of the foresaid Constitution, as well in the Greek as Latine, Justinian makes mention of a Pr••fectus Praetorio of Africa. But, a Praefectus Pr••torio of Africa was first created by Justinian in his Fourth Consulate, a little before the Calends of the September of the thirteenth Indiction, as the First Law of the Code de Praefecto Praetorio Africae informs us. For Justinian speaks in this manner: Haec igitur Magnitudo tua cognoscens, ex Calendis Septem∣bribus futurae decimae tertiae Indictionis effectui mancipari procuret. Vales.
Or, Af∣fairs.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Procopius's words out of the First Book of his Van∣dalicks pag. 107, are these: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Which words import, that his se∣venth year was already past. Now, if we should say that the Vanda∣lick Expedition was undertaken in Justinians third Consulate, as Justinians words do wholly seem to perswade; (when, about the Summer Solstice, the Roman Navy came up to the Byzantine Port, and soon after set Sail from thence (as Procopius relates,) that is about the end of the month June:) Justinian was then in the seventh year and third month of his Empire. For the first day of Justinians Reign is brought from the Calends of Aprill. But, if we should place the Vandalick Expedition on Justinians Fourth Consulate, it will be the eighth year of his Empire; and not the seventh, as Procopius writes: wherefore Baronius's opinion is truer; which is confirmed both by the Emperour Justinians au∣thority, and also by the testi∣mony of Procopius. Vales.
Or, Ad∣mirall Ship.
Or, Be∣fore.
Reformed, or, re∣paired.
The Em∣perour Ju∣stinian a∣grees; whose words in the First Law of the Code De Officio Praefecti Praetorio Africae, are these: Ut Africa per not tam brevi tempore reciperet Libertatem, ante nonaginta quinque annos a Vandalis captivata; that Africk should by vs receive its Liberty in so short a time, having been captivated by the Vandalls ninty five years be∣fore. Marcellinus Comes in his Chronicon relates, that Carthage was taken by the Romans on the ninty sixth year of its being lost. But Victor Thunonensis affirms that Africk was recovered by the Romans under the Command of Belisarius, on the ninty seventh year of the Vandalls entrance into it. Vales.