Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology, Ado, Notker, Usuardo, &c. Authority: — Their authentic and contemporary Acts published by Ruinart.] Huneric, the Arian King of the Vandals in Africa, continued the persecution of the Catholics which had begun under Gens eric.

Seven monks lived in a monastery at Capsa in Byzacene, Liberatus was abbot, the others were Boniface, a deacon, Servius and Rusticus, subdeacons; Rogatus, Septimus, and Maximus were monks. They were brought to Carthage, and promised honour and life, if they would conform to the established Arianism [followers of Arius, who taught that the Son is a created being, not fully God]. With one consent they replied, “There is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Do with us what seemeth good, and keep your riches to yourselves.”

They were laden with chains and thrown into a dark. dungeon. The faithful bribed the guards to allow them admission to the confessors, and then encouraged them to play the man for Christ. Huneric, on hearing of this, ordered them to be confined more closely, and after a while to be put on board an old ship, set adrift, and the ship fired. The martyrs entered the boat without fear. Vain efforts were made to induce Maximus, who was very young, to renounce his belief in the co-eternal and co-equal divinity of Jesus Christ. The vessel was piled up with sticks, but the sticks were not sufficiently dry to kindle, and after several ineffectual attempts to set them on fire, the martyrs were brought back to land and their brains dashed out with clubs.