one of the earliest apologists of Christianity in the west, was a teacher of rhetoric at Sicca (now Keff), in Numidia, towards the end of the third century. Becoming dissatisfied with his ancestral faith, and harassed with doubts, which pursued him even in his dreams, he became desirous of embracing Christianity, and for this purpose applied to the bishops for admission into the church; but his former violent hostility to the faith led them to distrust him, and, before they would consent, they insisted on some proofs of his sincerity. In compliance with this demand, he wrote against the Gentiles, refuting the absurdities of their religion, and ridiculing their false gods. In this treatise he has employed all the flowers of rhetoric, and displayed great learning; but it is defective in arrangement, and manifests but an imperfect knowledge of the Christian faith. His work bears the title Adversus Gentes, and there are several editions of it. The best is that of Orelli, Lips. 1816. 2 vols. 8vo. He wrote also a piece entitled De Rhetorica Institutione, which is not extant.

ARNOLD of Brescia (Arnaldus, or Arnulphus Brisiensis), distinguished himself in the twelfth century, as the founder of a sect which opposed the wealth and corruption of the Roman clergy. He went into France, where he studied under the celebrated Abelard. Upon his return to Italy he put on the habit of a monk, and opened his invectives in the streets of Brescia. He pointed his declamation against the bishops, the clergy, the monks, and finally against the Roman pontiff himself; to the laity only was he indulgent. In 1139 he was cited to appear before a grand council at Rome. His accusers were the bishop of Brescia, and many others whom he had ridiculed and insulted. Nor from his judges could he look for much indulgence. He was found guilty, and sentenced to perpetual silence. Upon this he left Italy, crossed the Alps, and found a refuge in Zurich. After the death of Pope Innocent II. he returned to Italy, headed an unsuccessful revolt in Rome, and was ultimately condemned to death and crucified in 1155. His name is deserving of being remembered for the boldness of his attempt to lower the power of the pope and his clergy, in an age when the papacy existed in all the plenitude of its influence. His followers were known as Arnoldists.