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THere were several of this Name a 1.1. He that we speak of is the Bishop of Trent b 1.2, who suffered Martyrdom under the Consulship of Stilichon, in the Year 400 or 405 of Jesus * 1.3 Christ, to whom S. Ambrose wrote a Letter, which is the 24th amongst his Letters. Gennadius af∣firmeth,
that this Vigilius, Bishop of Trent, wrote a Letter or small Book in commendation of Martyrs, dedicated to Simplicianus; which contained the Acts of those who suffered Martyrdom in his time by the Cruelty of the Barbarians. Surius mentions this Letter, May 23. And it is be∣lieved that that Simplicianus, to whom it is dedicated, is the Successor of S. Ambrose in the Church of Milan c 1.4. There he gives an Account of the Martyrdom of Sisinnius and his Companions.
THere were several of this Name.] This is the ancientest. There was another of Africa, who writ upon the Revelations, mention'd by Cas∣siodorus in the 9th. Chap. of his Institutions. Gen∣nadius, Chap. 51. speaketh of a Deacon called Vi∣gilius, who wrote a Rule for the Monks. Vigilius, Bishop of Tapsus in Africa, famous for his Writings against Nestorius and Eutyches, is a different Person from all these. There was one Vigilius, the Seventh Bishop of Brescia after Philastrius. One Vigilius a Bishop subscribed in the Council of Agatha or Ag∣de. But these Names cannot be taken one for the other, without mistaking the Chronology and Hi∣story.
Bishop of Trent.] It is certain that Vigilius, Bishop of Trent, lived at the latter end of the 4th. Century, because the 24th Letter of S. Ambrose is di∣rected to him. Usuardus saith, that he suffered Mar∣tyrdom under the Consulate of Stilichon, who was Consul in 400 and 405. There is more probability that it was in 400, because in that very Year Sifin∣nius suffered Martyrdom.
Vigilius of Trent.
'Tis believ'd that that Simplicianus to whom it is dedicated, is the Successor to S. Ambrose in the Church of Milan.] This Conjecture of Miraeus is indeed probable; this Letter is directed to one Simplicia∣nus a Bishop. He of Milan lived at that time; and Paulinus observes in the Life of S. Ambrose, that the Reliques of Sisinnius were sent to Milan. It is true that Gennadius having spoken of Simplicianus as of an Author and Bishop known to him; and then, speaking of Vigilius his Letter, he doth not say that it was directed to him, but only, ad quemdam Sim∣plicianum, to one Simplician; which makes it doubt∣full, Whether it was to the Bishop of Milan that this Letter was directed. But perhaps Gennadius did not think upon it. However, Vigilius, Bishop of Trent, both lived and wrote at the same time that Simpli∣cianus was Bishop of Milan.