so licentiously to over-run whatever came in their way When he had thus order'd his Affairs at Carrae a Town that parts the Roman from the Assyrian Dominions he had a mind to view the Army from some more eminent place and admire the Foot Companies as well as the Troops of Horse which were in all full sixty five thousand men And therefore marching out of Carrae he presently pass'd the Castles between that and Callinicum from whence arriving at Circesium of which I told you before he cross'd the River Aboras and so sailed over Euphrates The Soldiers also follow'd him who had brought provisions along with them and they likewise took shipping who were enjoin'd so to do For by this time the Navy was arriv'd in which there was a great many ships that is to say six hundred made of Wood and five hundred made of Skins Besides which there were fifty ships of War and others also that follow'd along with 'em to make Bridges if occasion were for the Army to pass the Rivers on foot There were also a great number of other Ships or Vessels that follow'd which serv'd partly to carry provisions for the Army partly Timber to make Engines and partly battering Engines for a Siege that were ready made Now of all this Navy Lucilian and Constantius were Admirals And when the Army was thus disposed of the Emperor sate upon a Throne and from thence spake to 'em all that was requisite for him to say or them to do which when he had done he gave each of 'em an hundred and thirty pieces of Silver and so march'd toward Persia where Victor commanded the Foot but Hormisdas and Arintheus together the Horse Of that Hormisdas I told you before that he was a Persian and a Kings Son but persecuted by his Brother and fain to run away to the Emperor Constantine from whom his approved fidelity and friendship deserv'd the greatest honours and preferments When therefore the Emperor was come into Persia the Horse was placed in the left Wing and march'd along the bank of the River whilst part of the Foot attended upon the right and the rereguard of them was seventy furlongs off Between whom and the foremost march'd the Beasts of Burthen that carry'd the heavy Armour with other Provisions and Attendants that they also might be secure as being enclosed on every side by the Army And now having so contrived his march forward he thought fit to send one thousand five hundred of his men before him to scout and see whether any Enemy approached either in open view or by way of Ambuscade of whom he made Lucilianus Captain Then moving forward sixty furlongs he came into a place called Lautha and from thence to Dura where you might have seen the ruins of a City which was at that time deserted as likewise the Sepulchre of King Gordianus In which place also the Soldiers found a multitude of Deer which they shot and eat with great satisfaction From thence he went seven Days march to a place called Phathusae over against which there was an Island in the River whereon stood a Castle that had a great many men in it He therefore sent Lucilianus thither with a thousand of his Vanguard under his Command to besiege the Castle And though as long as it was dark the besiegers went undiscover'd yet as soon as it was Day being espied by one that came out of the Castle to fetch Water they put those that were within into a grievous fright Upon which immediately they all got up upon the Wall till the Emperor came over into the Island with his Engines and the other part of his Army and promised those that were within that if they would deliver up themselves and their Castle they should escape certain Death Accordingly they did surrender and the Emperor sent them Men Women and Children into the Roman Dominions with a Guard of Soldiers to conduct 'em and made Puseus their Captain not only a Tribune in his own Army but for his fidelity made him one of his familiars ever after Some distance from this he arrived at another Island in the same River where there was another very strong Castle which the Emperor attaqued but found it impregnable on every side and therefore demanded of 'em that they would surrender and not run the risque of being sack'd To which they reply'd That they would do as others did and so he went forward to other Castles which he pass'd by as being satisfied with the like promises For he did not think it worth his while to spend too much time about small things but look'd upon it as his best course to hasten and prepare for the main business of the War So then after some days march he came to Dacira which is a Town on the right hand as you sail along Euphrates Which when the Soldiers found forsaken of its Inhabitants they took away a great deal of Corn that was laid up there and no small quantity of other things And when they had kill'd all the Women that were left in it they razed the Walls so low that no one who saw the place would think there ever had been a Town there But to conclude the account of this place and the parts adjacent give me leave to tell you by the by That upon the opposite shoar there was a Fountain that flow'd with Pitch or Bitumen From thence he came to Sitha Megia and the City Zaragardia in which there was a lofty Throne made of Stone which the Inhabitants used to call Trajans Throne where when the Soldiers had easily plunder'd and burnt the City they spent that Day and the next in Recreations In the mean time the Emperor wonder'd that his Army had march'd so far and met no Persians either in Ambuscade or the open Field wherefore he sent Hormisdas with his Scouts to look out because he knew that Country best In which Expedition Hormisdas and his Soldiers had all been like to have perish'd if it had not been for one lucky accident that unexpectedly saved ' em For a Person called Surenas which is a Title of Honour among the Persians had planted an Ambuscade in a certain place expecting Hormisdas and his men to come that way and designing to surprize 'em as they pass'd by And indeed that hopes had taken effect if Euphrates had not broken out of its usual course and running between the Enemy and Hormisdas impeded the passage of him and his Soldiers And upon this account being forced to defer their Journey the next Day they discover'd Surenas and all his Accomplices in the Ambuscade with whom they wheeled about and engaged And having kill'd many of 'em they put some to flight but mingled the remaining part among their own Army From thence they went on to an Arm of Euphrates which reaches as far as Assyria and all along till you come to Tigris Where being the Soldiers met with a stiff Clay and marshy ground in which the
immediately to the City where Surenas had surprised the Scouts he storm'd took and burnt it And as to the Captain of the Scouts because he left his Ensign with the Enemy preferring his safety before the bravery and honour of a Roman he took away his Girdle from him and look'd upon him as a scandalous pitiful Fellow as well as all the rest that ran away along with him But going forward over the River he came to a place near which there is a City called Tissenia about the Walls whereof there was a Ditch which though it were very deep the Persians fill'd with a great deal of Water which they derived into it out of the neighbouring River which is called the Kings River But they passed this City without any stay because there was nothing in it that had the face of hostility and went through a place where there was an arrificial Fenn made out of a fancy which the Persians conceiv'd that if they cut a Sluce for the River to come in it was impossible for an Army to pass that way Yet the Emperor running before as much as men use to do over such a wet ground the Army follow'd him though they were up to the knees For they could not for shame but do what they saw the Emperor did before ' em But when the Sun was set the Army rested hard by whilst the Emperor commanding some of his Soldiers and several Artificers to follow him cut down Trees and Wood wherewith he made a Bridg over the Sluces and throwing earth into the Fens fill'd up the deep places and in some measure widen'd the streight passages After which coming back he led his Army through with great facility till he came to a Town called Bithra in which there was a Palace and room enough to receive not onely the Emperor but his Army also But he departed thence too and with the same pains as before went before his men making the way thereby more tolerable to ' em And by this means he carry'd 'em all over with him till he came to a place where there was ne'r a House but onely a Grove of Palm-trees in which there were also Vines growing that ran up to the top of the Palm-trees and presented their Eyes with the sight of Palm-fruit mix'd with Grapes And when he had spent the ensuing Night in this place the next Morning he went forward But coming too near to a certain Castle he had like to have receiv'd his Deaths-wound For a Persian that came out of the Castle with his Sword in his Hand strook full at the Emperors Head which he foreseeing clap'd his Shield upon his Head and so broke the blow Upon which the Soldiers immediately fell aboard the Persian and kill'd him together with all his Companions except some few that by chance escaped through the Enemies and fled into the Castle And now the Emperor being extreamly enraged at this bold action walk'd round the Castle to see if it were any where pregnable But whilst he was busie about this Affair Surenas set upon the Soldiers that remain'd in the Palm-grove before they were aware of him as hoping by that means not only to get all their beasts of Burthen and Carriages but to divert the Emperor from besieging the Castle as soon as he heard of it though he was deceiv'd in both parts of his Project For the Emperour thought it a matter of great consequence to take the Castle because there was a City near it called Besuchis which was very populous besides a great many other Castles whose Inhabitants were fled away into that which the Emperor was a besieging because their own were not strong enough to protect 'em excepting some that fled to Ctesiphon or hid themselves in the thickest part of the Grove Upon this account the Emperor laid close Siege to it whilst in the mean time that part of the Army which was sent out to Scout or assist their own Party if any Enemy appear'd did not only defeat all those that opposed 'em but killed some and made others shamefully run for their lives insomuch that they secur'd the Emperor whilst the Siege lasted And because some of those that fled had gotten into the Fens that are in the Grove the Scouts did not spare even them neither but kill'd some and took the rest Prisoners whilst those that were besieged in the Castle kept off the Enemy with Darts of all sorts which they threw at ' em And because they had no Stones within they made Balls of Pitch which they set fire to and flung upon them nor was it hard to hit them they aimed at because they threw from above and at a great multitude together Yet notwithstanding the Roman Soldiers though they had the disadvantage of the lower ground omitted no kind of Warlike Policy or true Valour For they threw and shot great Stones and Darts at the Enemy not onely out of Bows but Engines also and those so contrived that they would hit not onely one but two three or more at a time But seeing the Castle stood upon an Hill and was fortified with two Walls sixteen great Towers and a deep Ditch about it which at one part of it brought in Water for them that were in the Castle to drink the Emperor bad the Soldiers get Earth enough and fill up the Ditch and then raise a Mound upon it as high as one of the Towers He likewise resolv'd to dig in another place through under the Wall toward the middle of the inner Wall with intention to surprise the Enemy out of a Mine But the Enemy hinder'd them that were to raise the Mound by continual flinging of Darts upon 'em and therefore the Emperor himself undertook the main Battery by several contrivances for defence against either Darts or Fire-balls but he left the care of the Mines and raising of the Mounds to Nevita and Dagalaiphus Then giving Victor the Command of so many Foot and so many Horse he order'd him to Scout out in all places betwixt that and Ctesiphon and if any Enemy appear'd with design to divert the Emperor from his Siege that he should frustrate any such attempt by the help of those he had with him and likewise that he should make the way from thence to Ctesiphon by Bridges and other Methods more easie for him and his Army Having thus given his Captains their several Charges he planted his Rams against a certain Gate which he did not onely shake but broke to pieces And seeing those that had the care of the Mines committed to them were lazy and did not mind their business he removed them by way of Disgrace for their remissness and substituted others in their places After which he brought a second Ram before another Gate which was not strong enough to bear the shock of it when at the same time there came a Messenger to tell him that they who were order'd to dig a Mine from the Ditch into the
therefore sent Embassadours and desired to purchase a Peace though with a small sum of Money as likewise to have Aetius and Jason the former Son to Jovius and the latter to Gaudentius for Hostages and therewithal told 'em that he would send them two under the like circumstances out of his Nobility and having made peace upon such terms would lead his Army out of Noricum into Pannonia But Alarichus demanding Peace upon these conditions the Emperour refus'd him his Request although he must have of necessity done one thing or other of two that were before him if he would have disposed of his Affairs the right way For he must either have deferr'd the War and procured a Peace for some small sum or if he would rather fight he ought to have muster'd up all the Legions that he could and posted them in the Enemies way to obstruct the Barbarians from coming any further on Besides which he should have chosen a fit Man to lead 'em and made Sarus General of the War who in his own person was sufficient to strike a terrour into the Enemies upon the account both of his courage and his experience in Warlike Affairs and had also a number of Barbarians under him enough to make a good defence But he on the contrary neither embracing the offers of Peace not making Sarus his Friend nor mustering up the Roman Army but placing all his hopes in the desires and wishes of Olympius was the cause of so many calamities to the Commonwealth For he made such Men Commanders as were contemptible in the esteem of the Enemy to wit Turpilio whom he made General of the Horse Varanes of the Foot Vigilantius of the Domesticks and so of all other things accordingly Upon which account all Men despaired and seemed to have the utter ruin of Italy even then before their Eyes Now seeing these things were thus order'd Alarichus began his expedition against Rome and laugh'd at the preparations made by Honorius And because he would not go about such a weighty business with onely equal but rather far greater Forces than his Enemy he sent for his Wifes Brother called Ataulphus out of the upper Pannonia to be his Partner in the Action as having a very considerable number of Gotths and Hunns to bring along with him Yet nevertheless he did not stay for his Brother-in law's coming but marching forward in haste passed by Aquileia and all the other Cities in order that lie beyond the River Po I mean Concordia Altinum and Cremona And when he had cross'd the River being as it were at some Festival and having no Enemy to stop him he came into a certain Castle of Bononia which they call Oecubaria From whence passing by all Aemilia and leaving Ravenna behind him he â—arne to Ariminum a great City of Flaâ—â—nia But moving by that also with â—â—eed as he did by all the rest that were in that Province he came into Picenum which is a Nation lying in the extremity of the Ionian Bay And from thence marching towards Rome he sack'd all the Castles and Towns that were in his way insomuch that if Arsacius and Tarentius the two Eunuchs had not made haste and so prevented the coming of the Barbarians into those parts as to bring Eucherius Stilico's Son before that time to Rome to die according to the Emperour's Order and executed what the Emperour commanded the Youth had certainly fallen into the hands of Alarichus and been saved But the Eunuchs having fulfilled what was enjoyn'd 'em upon that score and deliver'd Thermantia Honorius's Wife to her Mother they took shipping and went over to the Emperour in Gallia Celtica where he then lived because they could not go unto him the same way they came Now upon this account the Emperour thinking he should do good service to the Commonwealth if he rewarded these two Eunuchs for their great exploits in restoring Thermantia to her Mother and killing Eucherius he made Tarentius Imperial Chamberlain and gave Arsacius the next Place under him Then having taken oft Bathanarius who was Master of the Soldiers Militum Magister General in the greater Libya and Husband to Stilico's Sister he gave that Command to Heraclianus who was the Man that kill'd Stilico and receiv'd his Honour as the reward of that Action But when Alarichus was near Rome besieging those within the Senate suspected Serena for bringing the Barbarians against their City And therefore both the whole Senate and Placidia who was the Emperour's own Sister by the Mothers side thought fit that she should die for it as being the cause of all the present mischief For Alarichus said they when Serena is removed will draw off from the City because there will be no body left from whom he can hope to have the City betray'd into his hands But this suspicion was really salse for Serena never thought of any such thing However she suffer'd justly for her impieties toward the Gods as I am now agoing to tell you When Theodosius the Elder having defeated the Rebel Eugenius came to Rome and created in all people a Contempt or neglect of divine Worship denying to defray the charge of holy things out of the publick Stock the Priests of both Sexes were turn'd out and banish'd and the Temples bereft of all their Sacrifices Whereupon Serena scoffing at 'em would needs see the Temple dedicated to the Mother of the Gods In which when she saw certain Bracelets and attire about the neck of Rheas Statue suitable to the divine Worship which was paid to her She took it off of the Statue and put it about her own Neck And when a certain old Maid that was the onely person left of all the Vestal Virgins upbraided her with such a wicked Action even to her Teeth she not onely gave her very ill Language but commanded her Attendants to carry or drive her away But notwithstanding the old Woman as she was going from the place pray'd that whatsoever was due ro such impiety might fall upon Serena her Husband and Children But Serena took no notice of what she said and went out of the Temple well pleas'd with the Attire that she had gotten though afterward there often appear'd to her something not onely fantastick in a Dream but real when she was awake which did foretel her Death But others too besides her saw the like things and so far did that just Vengeance which uses to punish the wicked discharge its duty that though Serena knew what would happen she took no care of her self but submitted that Neck about which she had put the Goddesses Attire even to * What Death Serena died I cannot learn from those Authors that I have by me But I should wonder if Zosimus did not refer such accidents to these to a contempt of the Gods for there is no fitter defence for false worship than what is derived from Tables But it is indeed credible that Serena hang'd her self though upon far different occasions as the
who committed all his Affairs to the conduct of Libertines the Sons of those who had been Slaves that were Eunuchs and his Successors were then advanced to the Imperial Throne Of whom I resolve not to say one word because the World shall not know what monstrous and enormous actions they were guilty of But Vespasian and his Son Titus were much more moderate in their time as on the other hand Domitian surpass'd all others in cruelty luxury and avarice for which reason when he had been a plague to the Commonwealth for fifteen years together he was kill'd by Stephanus one of his Freemen and seemed to suffer justly for his wicked actions From this time good men succeeded in the Empire as Nerva Trajan and after him Adrian Antoninus Pius and that pair of Brothers called Verus and Lucius who corrected many Errours in the State and not onely recover'd what their Predecessors had lost but made likewise some new additions But after them when Commodus the Son of Marcus had been Emperour who was addicted not only to Tyranny but even prodigious Vices besides till Marcia his Concubine took manly courage and kill'd him the Empire was conferred upon Pertinax But the Court Guards being not able to endure his strict way of exercise and Discipline which made 'em mutinee and kill him also Rome had like to have been all in an uproar and confusion whilst the Pretorian Soldiers that were design'd to secure the Palace endeavour'd to extort out of the Senate hands the power of making a Sole-governour And now the Empire being set to Sale as it were one Didius Julianus by the instigation of his Wife and through more folly than Wisdom produced a sum of money wherewith he purchas'd the Empire and made such a Shew as the people ne'r saw in their lives before or any other legal Attendance besides the Soldiers who set him up and by violence gave him possession of the Palace with all the furniture that was in it But he was call'd in question and taken off too by those very men that raised him to his Hononr nor was his Life any more than a momentany golden Dream When he was removed the Senate sate in consultation who they should choose Emperour in his room and pitched upon Severus But Albinus and Niger pretending a right of Government at the same time there arose fierce civil Wars between 'em so that the Cities were divided some being for one side and some for the other Whereupon there were great commotions in the Eastern parts and in Egypt nor did the Bizantians who were Nigers friends and entertain'd him refuse any dangerous Attempt till Severus got the Victory and Niger was kill'd After whom Albinus also quitted the Empire and this World together so that the sole Power was now devolv'd upon Severus He therefore apply'd himself to rectifie those things that had been carried with such exorbitancy inflicting in the first place severe punishments upon the Souldiers that kill'd Pertinax and deliver'd up the Empire to Julianus Which having done and setled the Militia he went against the Persians and in the same expedition took Ctesiphon and Babylon over-ran the Arabians called Scenites from their living in Tents conquer'd Arabia in general and did many other great Exploits besides that he was inexorable to Delinquents and made a publick distribution of their goods who were guilty of any heinous Offence Having adorn'd a great many Cities with sumptuous Buildings he declared his Son Antoninus Emperour but being near his death left not only him but his other Son Geta also coheirs in the Government and made Papinianus a very just person and one that was more skill'd in the knowledg and interpretation of the Law than any Roman either before or since their Guardian or Protector But Antoninus not long after suspected this worthy Person who was Prefect of the Court for no other reason but because he did what he could to frustrate a Design that Antoninus had laid against his Brother Geta and Papinianus had discover'd He therefore resolved to remove this Obstacle and with the Soldiers contrived Papinianus's destruction After which when he had his hands at liberty he slew his Brother whom even his own Mother could not save though he sled to her for protection But not long after Antoninus paid for murthering his Brother nor was the person that slew him ever known And then the Souldiery at Rome chose Macrinus who was Prefect of the Court as Papinianus had been Emperour whilst those in the Eastern Countreys set up Emisenus who was a kin to Antoninus's Mother Now therefore both Armies were so tenacious of what they had done that there arose a civil broil between 'em and whilst Emisenus Antoninus's men were bringing him to Rome Macrinus's Army march'd out of Italy And when at Antioch in Syria the two Armies had engaged Macrinus was so totally defeated that he was forced to fly the Camp but between Byzantium and Chalcedon was taken and killed When Antoninus had gotten this Victory and punished all those that sided with Macrinus as Enemies he lived such a dissolute scandalous life conversing so much with Magicians and Juglers that the Romans not able to endure his excessive Luxury murther'd him tore his body in pieces and declared Alexander Emperour who came likewise of Severus's Family Who though he were but young yet he was a person of a good Nature and put all people in hopes that he would prove an easie Governour For he made Flavianus and Chrestus Prefects of his Court who were men not onely well vers'd in Military affairs but excellent also in the management of civil Business But Mamaea the Emperours Mother set Vlpianus as an Inspector or Overseer over them and indeed as a Partner in their Office because he was an incomparable Lawyer and one that knew not onely how to regulate the present Affairs but to provide with all prudence for the future at which the Souldiers were so offended that they privately contrived his ruin Which when Mamaea understood she prevented their Design by taking off the Conspiratours and making Vlpian the sole Prefect belonging to the Court But after that being suspected by the Army for what cause I cannot well tell since there are so many various reports concerning his inclinations he was murthered in a tumult nor could the Emperour himself save his life From this time forward the Souldiers who by degrees forgot their former kindness to Alexander seemed very unwilling to execute his Commands and lest they should be punish'd for their sloth made publick mutinies in which they promoted one Antoninus to the Empire But he not able to sustein the weight of that great Trust withdrew himself which made 'em chuse Vranius a man of mean and slavish condition who being presently brought before Alexander in his purple Robes their hatred to the Emperour was thereby the more augmented And hence it was that Alexander seeing himself inviron'd with so many difficulties was alter'd not
the people The next day they go up into the Capitol where they offer the usual Sacrifices and thence coming to the place appointed for it they celebrate Games in honour of Apollo and Diana The day after that the great Ladies come into the Capitol at the hour which the Oracle has prefix'd where they behave themselves with all due reverence and at the third hour in the Temple of Apollo near the Palace twenty seven fine Boys with as many Girles whose Parents are all alive sing Hymns and speak in Greek and Latin whereby the Roman Dominions are preserv'd But besides these there were other things done according to the divine prescript which as long as they were kept up secur'd the Roman Empire And to confirm you that it was really as I say I will add the Sibylls Oracle which others have mention'd before my time and it runs thus But when an hundred years and ten are past Which is the longest time Mans Age doth last Romans be sure and see you don 't mistake In any point due Offerings to make To Heaven and see you bring the Sacrifice Into that Field which on the Tiber lies And do so in that Season when the Nigh Deprives Men least of the Diurnal Light After Sun-set Then to the Parcae pay Your homage and upon their Altars lay Young Sheep and Goats Next the Lucinae please With decent Rites who childing Women ease After that offer a black Hog and Sow To Tellus for the product of the Plow But to Joves Altar bring the Bulls Milk-white For Victims in the Day-time not by Night For heavenly Deities accept of none But what are offer'd in the Day alone And so to Juno sacrifice a Cow Spotless all o'r and pure as falling Snow Then let Apollo whom they call the Sun And Phaebus have his equal honours done Whilst in the Temple Latin Girls and Boys In sacred Hymns make a Triumphant noise But let 'em be apart the Girls to stand And sing on this the Boys on t'other hand Besides this caution I must farther give That all the Parents of 'em be alive As for the married Women let them pray To Juno on their knees that each one may Have their desire both Men and Women too But chiefly Women Then Let all of you Bring from your houses what is fit to bring As the first-fruits of every useful Thing To the immortal Gods an Offering And let all that upon your Altars lie Whence you may Men and Women both supply But to attend the Gods be sure there be Both night and day a numerous company Of Votaries both serious and free Observe these precepts and you shall subdue Not onely Latium but all Italy too Who shall submit their supple necks to you Now that the Empire was secure and likely to continue Lords of almost all the known World whilst these things were duly perform'd according to what the Oracle directs and the thing it self requires and on the other side that when these Ceremonies were neglected about the time that Dioclesian laid down his Imperial State it fell to decay and insensibly degenerated most part into Barbarism experience it self assures us And that I say nothing but what is true I 'll prove from Chronology For from the Consulate of Chilo and Libo wherein Severus celebrated the Secular Games or Ceremonies it was an hundred and one years till Dioclesian was the ninth time and Maximianus the eighth time Consul And then Dioclesian from an Emperor turn'd a private person and Maximianus follow'd his Example But when Constantinus and Licinnius were in their third Consulship the 110 years were compleated and they ought to have kept the Festival according to custom but it was neglected and so things consequently ran to that unhappy condition wherein they now are But Dioclesian died in three years after and the Emperors that were at that time that is to say Constantinus and Maximianus Gallerius declared Severus and Maximinus who was Gallerius's Sisters Son to be the rightful Cesars giving all Italy to Severus and the Eastern Provinces to Maximinus But when things were all setled and the Barbarians at quiet since the Romans had been so successful against 'em Constantinus who was begotten by Constantius of a Concubine and had formerly an ambition to be Emperor but was enflamed the more with that desire since Severus and Maximinus had gotten the name and honour of Cesars was now resolv'd to leave the place where he dwelt and go to his Father Constantius who was beyond the Alps most commonly in England But fearing lest he might be taken by the way for a great many knew very well how much he was in love with Dominion he maimed all the Horses that were kept for publick Service as fast as he came to any Stable where they were and took the next for his own use And so he did continually by which means he stopp'd those that pursu'd him from going farther whilst he himself went on toward the Country where his Father was But it happen'd that the Emperor Constantius died just at that time and therefore the Guards who thought none of his legitimate Children fit for the Imperial Dignity as soon as they considered that Constantinus was a person capable of it conferred the honour upon him in hopes of great Presents by way of remuneration But when his Image was shewn at Rome as the custom is Maxentius the Son of Maximianus Herculius could not endure to see that Constantinus should succeed so well who was born of an Harlot whereas he himself who was Son of such an Emperor lay at home and idle whilst others enjoy'd his Fathers Empire wherefore he made Marcellianus and Marcellus two Tribunes of the Soldiers and Lucianus who distributed the Swines flesh which the Treasury provided for the people of Rome and the Court-Guards called the Praetoriani his Accomplices in the Attempt and by them was promoted into the Imperial Throne having promised to reward all those that assisted him in it very liberally Now the first thing that they did in order to it was the killing of Abellius because he being Prefect of the City seemed to resist their Enterprise When Maximianus Gallerius heard this he sent Severus Cesar with an Army to fight Maxentius .. But whilst he came from Millain with several Legions of Moors Maxentius corrupted most of his Soldiers with Money even to the Prefect of the Court called Anullinus and thereby conquer'd him with great facility Upon which Severus fled to Ravenna which is a very strong and populous City furnish'd with provisions enough for him and his Soldiers When Maximianus Herculius knew that he was mightily concern'd for his Son Maxentius no question and therefore leaving Lucania where he then was he went for Ravenna And seeing Severus could by no means be forced out of the City because it was well fortified and stored with all necessary provisions he cheated him with false Oaths and persuaded him to go to Rome But as he
a Bridg over the Tiber which was not all of a piece from one side to the other but divided into two parts so that in the middle of the River that which fill'd up the middle of the Bridg was made to fasten with iron Buttons as it were which might be drawn back as oft as a man had a mind to disjoyn it And he gave the Workmen Order that as soon as ever they saw Constantine's Army upon the juncture of the Bridg that they should draw back the Buttons and dissolve the Bridg so that the Enemy who stood upon it might fall into the River And this Maxentius devised But Constantinus marching on with his Army to Rome he pitch'd his Camp in a field before the City that is broad and therefore convenient for Horsemen Whilst in the mean time Maxentius shut himself up within the Walls and sacrificed to the Gods besides that he consulted the Soothsayers and the Sibylline Oracles too about the event of the War And finding a Prediction that said Whoever Design'd any harm to the Romans should die a misetable Death he took it upon himself because he kept out those that came against Rome and would have fain taken it And indeed it prov'd true For when Maxentius brought forth his Army before Rome and was going over the Bridg that himself had made an infinite number of Owls flew down and cover'd the Wall Which when Constantinus saw he bad his men stand to their Arms. And as the two Armies stood one against the other Constantine sent in his Horse upon that of the Enemy who made such a brisk attaque that they routed ' em And when the sign was given to the Foot they likewise march'd in good order toward the Enemy And having engaged in a smart Battel the Romans themselves and their Allies out of Italy were very loth to hazard themselves because they wish'd to be deliver'd from that bitter Tyranny which they were then under though the other Soldiers were slain in great numbers being either trod to pieces by the Horse or kill'd by the Foot For though as long as the Horse stood their ground Maxentius had some hopes yet when they gave way he ran along with the rest over a Bridg into the City But the Rafters being not strong enough to bear so great a weight they broke so that Maxentius and all the others were carry'd by the stream down the River When the news of this Victory came into the City no man durst shew any joy for what was done because some thought the report was false But when Maxentius's head was brought in upon a Spear they turn'd their fear and dejection into all joy and pleasure And upon this occasion Constantinus punish'd but very few and they were some of Maxentius's best Friends but he took off all the Praetorian Soldiers and demolish'd the Forts where they used to keep At last when he had setled all things in the City he went toward Gallia Celtica But by the way he sent for Licinnius to Millain and gave him his Sister Constantia in marriage whom he had promised him formerly when he had a mind to make him joyn with him against Maxentius And when that Solemnity was over Constantine march'd on toward the Celtae Nor was it long before the Civil Wars broke out between Licinnius and Maximianus who had a sharp engagement in Illyricum wherein at first Licinnius seemed to have the worst of it but presently afterward he rallied again and put Maximianus to the run Who travelling through the East into Egypt in hopes to get men enough to renew the War he died at Tarsus The Empire being thus devolv'd upon Constantine and Licinnius they two in a little time fell out not that Licinnius gave any occasion for it but Constantine as he used to do shew'd himself unfaithful in what he had agreed to by his endeavour to alienate some Nations that belong'd to Licinnius's Dominions And by that means they broke out into an open quarrel and both prepared their Armies for a fight Licinnius made his Rendezvouz at Cibalis which is a City of Pannonia lying upon an Hill to which the way is steep and narrow and five furlongs in breadth In which Road or Avenue there is a deep Fenn that lies very near the greatest part of it and the rest of it is mountainous wherein there is an hillock upon which the City stands But from thence there is a spacious Plain which entertains the Eye with an infinite Prospect Now upon this did Licinnius encamp and spread the body of his Army all along under the Hill lest he should seem too weak for the Enemy in the Wings And Constantine in the mean time drew up his men near the Mountain placing the Horse in the Front For he thought that the best way lest the Enemy should fall upon the Foot who moved but slowly and hinder their marching forward When he had so done he presently made the attaque gave the signal and went against the Enemies And so the fight began which was the fiercest I had almost said that ever was For when each side had shot their Darts they fought a long time with Spears and Javelins and after they had fought from Morning to Night the right Wing which Constantine commanded had the better on 't And thereupon the Enemy being put to flight Licinnius's men when they saw him mounted and ready to run away durst not stay to eat their Suppers but left their Cattel and all their other provisions behind onely they took as much Victuals as would satisfie their hunger for one Night and so march'd along with Licinnius in all haste to Sirmium which is a City of Pannonia by which there runs a River on both sides of it and discharges it self into the Ister And as he passed this Town he broke down the Bridg over the River and so march'd on with an intention to raise men in Thrace When Constantinus had taken Cibalis and Sirmium and all the other Towns that Licinnius ran away from he sent five thousand men in pursuit of him But they being ignorant what way he took could not overtake him Yet Constantinus having re-built the Bridg over Saus which Licinnius had broken down was with his Army almost at his heels And when he was got over into Thrace he arrived at the Plain where Licinnius lay encamp'd Where the same Night that he came he marshall'd his Army and gave Orders that his Soldiers should be ready to fight as soon as it was Day But when it was light Licinnius seeing Constantinus with his Army put his men also in array having Valens whom he stiled Cesar for his Ally ever since he fled from Cibalis And when the two Armies engaged they first fought with Bows at a distance but when their Arrows were spent they fell on with Javelins and Ponyards So that the fight continued very fierce for a good while till those whom Constantinus had sent to pursue Licinnius
presumed he should certainly escape with life because Constantinus had sworn to his Wife that he should But Constantinus deliver'd Martinianus to the Guards for them to kill and sent Licinnius into Thessalonica as if he were to live there in security but not long after he broke his Oath which * If all be true that others say of Constantine then Zosimus has no reason to fix the Crime of Perjury upon him because he did not seem so much to break an Oath and Promise as to punish the breach of it in Licinnius who after so many Victories gain'd by Constantine when he was in a desperate low Condition let slip no occasion to recover that Empire which he was deprived of by the just sentence of Victory but contrived all ways he could to make ill returns for Euergetes kindness as Euseb says in his life of Constantine l. 1. c. 43. Theodor. l. 1. c. 7. To which you may add this also that Licinnius hated Christians as much as Constantine loved 'em and consequently could not endure to see them expos'd to injuries whom he favour'd Nor let any one Object that these Authors are not to be credited because they were partial because Zosimus himself cannot be excus'd in that Point as being a sworn Enemy to Christianity and a great bigot in the Heathenish Religion was an usual thing with Constantine and caus'd him to be hang'd But when the whole Empire was solely in Constantine's hands he no longer concealed his ill Nature and vicious inclinations but did what he pleas'd without controul But he used indeed his former Country way of Worship though not * Among the Imperial Laws or Edicts this is one which Euseb mentions l. 10. c. 5. That every one may apply himself to what way of Worship he thinks suitable to his own reason And therefore though he did not abolish the old Heathen Ceremonies of his Country at that time yet he favour'd the Christians most and gave 'em their liberty which almost all other Emperors before him had used to deprive 'em of out of honour or veneration so much as necessity And therefore he believed the Soothsayers who were expert in their Art as men that had told him truth concerning all the great Actions that ever he did But when he came to Rome he was full of Pride and Arrogance but thought fit to begin his impious pranks first at home For he kill'd his Son Crispus stiled as I told you Caesar upon suspicion that he lay with his Mother-in law Fausta without any consideration of natural Duty And when his Mother Helena express'd much sorrow for what he had done lamenting most bitterly the young mans Death Constantinus under pretence of comforting her made the Remedy worse than the Disease For having caused a Bath to be heated more than ordinary and shut Fausta up in it he in a while after took her out dead Of which being conscious to himself as also of breaking his Oath he went to the Priests to be purg'd from his Crimes But they told him there was no manner of Lustration or Purgation that was sufficient to clear him from such enormities and then a Spaniard called Aegyptius who was there at Rome very familiar with the Court Ladies coming to discourse with Constantine assur'd him that the Christian Doctrine would teach him how to cleanse himself from all his offences and would promise him that all wicked men who receiv'd it were immediately absolv'd from all their sins Which Constantine had no sooner heard but he easily believ'd what was told him and leaving his own Country Ceremonies receiv'd those that Aegyptius offer'd to him and for the first instance of his Impiety he suspected the truth of Divination For since a great many fortunate Chances were thereby foretold him and really came to pass according to the Prediction he was afraid lest that others might be told one thing or other that should fall out unluckily to him and for that reason apply'd himself toward the abolishing of all such things And upon an usual Feast-day when the Army was to go up into the Capitol he reproach'd that Solemnity of their going up very impudently and treading the holy Ceremonies as it were under his feet incurr'd the hatred of the Senate and People But being unable to endure the Curses of almost all the City he look'd out for another City as big as Rome where he might build himself a Palace and therefore when he was between Troas and old Ilium he found a place convenient to build a City in where he laid a foundation and made some part of a Wall to a pretty heighth which is to be seen to this Day by those that sail toward the Hellespont But afterward thinking better of it he left that Work unfinish'd and went to Byzantium where he admired the situation of the place and therefore resolv'd when he had enlarged it exceedingly to make it a fit Seat for an Emperor to live in For the City lies upon a rising ground which is part of that Isthmus which Ceras and Propontas two arms of the Sea on each side inclose And it formerly had a Gate just at the end of the Porticos which Severus the Emperor built after he was reconciled to the Byzantines who had provoked his anger by admitting his Enemy Niger into their City At which time also the Wall went down from the West side of the Hill as far as Venus's Temple even to the Sea side which is opposite to Chrysopolis And so on the North side of the Hill it went down after the same manner to the Port which they call the Dock and farther even to the Sea-side which lies directly against the passage that carries you into the Euxine Sea And this narrow neck of Land between that and Pontus is near three hundred furlongs in length And this was the bigness of the old City But Constantinus built a round Market-place where the old Gate was and encompassed it with double-roofed Porticoes making two great Arches of Praeconesian Marble one against another through which there was a passage into Severus's Porticoes and out of the old City But having a mind to make the City a great deal larger he made a Wall about it that was fifteen furlongs beyond the old one and took in all the Isthmus from Sea to Sea And when he had made the City in this manner much larger than before he built a Palace not much inferiour to that of Rome and made likewise the Hippodrome where the Horses ran very fine taking the Temple of Castor and Pollux into it whose Statues are now to be seen standing in the Porticoes of the Hippodrome or Horse Race Besides which he likewise placed the Tripos that belong'd to Apollo of Delphi in one part of the Hippodrome which had on it the Image of Apollo himself And because there was a very great Market-place at Bizantium consisting of four Porticoes at the end of one of them to
which there are a great many steps going up he built two Temples and in the one of 'em he put the Statue of the Mother of the Gods called Rhea which Jason's Mates had formerly set up in Mount Dindymus which lies about the City of Cyzicum But they say that through his neglect of Religion he had impair'd it by taking away the Lions on both sides and changing the figure of the Hands For whereas it formerly seemed to have a Lion in each hand it was now alter'd into a praying posture looking upon the City and observing as it were what men did In the other Temple he set up the Statue of Romes Fortune And after that he built convenient Houses for certain Senators that follow'd him from Rome But he engaged in no more War insomuch that when the Thaifalians which are a Scythian Nation came upon him with five hundred Horse he did not onely not lead forth his Army against 'em but when he had lost the greater part of his Soldiers and saw the Enemies plunder all before 'em even to their Trenches he was glad to save himself by flight But when he was deliver'd from the distractions of War he gave himself to voluptuousness but distributed a Dole of Corn among the people of Bizantium which is continu'd even to this Day And as he laid out the publick Treasure upon unnecessary and unprofitable Structures so he built some that in a short time were pull'd down again because they were erected in haste and consequently not like to last long He also made a great bustle and changed the ancient Magistracy For whereas before that time there had been two Prefects of the Court whose power was equal not only the Court-Soldiers were under their care and conduct but those also who had the charge of the City with them that lay in the out-parts For he that had the Office of Court-Prefect which was esteemed the greatest place of Honour next being Emperor gave out the Doles of Corn and corrected all Offences in point of military Discipline with what convenient Penalties he thought good But Constantine alter'd that good Constitution and out of one Office or Magistracy he made four of it For to one of those Prefects he committed all Egypt and Pentapolis in Libya besides all the East as far as Mesopotamia with Cilicia Cappadocia Armenia and all the Sea-coast from Pamphilia to Trapezus and the Castles near Phasis and to the same person was given all Thrace and Mysia which reaches as far as Hemus Rodope and the Town of Doberus He likewise added Cyprus and the Cyclades Islands onely Lemnos and Imbrus and Samothrace were excepted To another he gave Macedonia Thessaly Crete and Greece with the Islands thereabout both Epiruses the Illyrians the Dacians the Triballi and the Pannonians as far as Valeria besides the upper Mysia To the third Prefect he gave all Italy and Sicily with the adjacent Isles besides Sardinia and Corsica together with all Africa from the Syrtes or Quick-sands as far as Cyrene To the fourth he committed the Celtae who lived beyond the Alps as also the Spaniards and the British Island which is England And * Zosimus throws the envy of that insensible decay by which the Roman Empire fell to ruin upon Constantine but indeed he ought to have been more cautious in what he said if he would but have consider'd with himself how apt men are who have gain'd the greatest place next to their Sovereign to endeavour all they can to engage the Soldiers affections and out of hopes to be Emperors themselves to put all things out of order And indeed where the care of both the Military Discipline and distributing the publick money is committed to one single person 't is odds but he one time or other takes an occasion to possess himself of the Empire because he has every thing in his power that the fear of punishment or hopes of reward will induce the Soldiers to do Wherefore Constantine fortified himself with that political saying Divide and Rule having thus divided the Power of those Prefects he studied other ways also to lessen their Authority For whereas there used to be in all places Centurions Tribunes and Generals he made certain Officers called Magistri Militum one over the Horse and another over the Foot to whom he gave Authority to Discipline the Soldiers and punish those that offended whereby the power of the Prefects was in some measure diminish'd Now that this was a great damage to the publick Affairs both in Peace and War I 'll prove immediately For whilst the Prefects gather'd the Tributes in all places by their Ministers and laid them out in Warlike expences having the Soldiers also in subjection who suffer'd for offences according to their discretion it 's very probable the Soldiers who consider'd that the same person who gave 'em their pay inflicted their punishment too whenever they offended durst not do contrary to their Duty out of fear partly lest their allowance should be taken off and partly of present correction But now since one is Paymaster and another to look after the Discipline they do what they please not to say that the greatest part of the Corn or other provisions goes into the General 's or his Servants Pockets But besides this Constantine did another thing too that gave the Barbarians a free passage into the Roman Dominions For whereas the Roman Empire by the care of Diocletian was fortified as I told you in the most remote parts of it with Towns and Castles and Forts where the Soldiers lived and consequently it was impossible for the Barbarians to pass because there was always a sufficient number of Enemies to withstand 'em Constantine destroy'd that Security by removing the greater part of the Soldiers out of those Frontier Places and putting them in Towns that wanted no assistance For he strip'd them whom the Barbarians oppressed of all defence and plagu'd the Towns that were quiet with a multitude of Soldiers insomuch that some were quite forsaken of their Inhabitants He likewise caused his Soldiers to grow effeminate by giving themselves to publick Shows and Pleasures And to tell you plainly he was the first cause why things were brought into that miserable state they now are in But I must not omit to tell you that when he had given his Son Constantinus as likewise his other two Sons Constantius and Constans the Title of Caesars he encreased the City of Constantinople to such a vast bigness that many of the Emperors that have come after him and lived in it have drawn more men thither than are necessary who flock to it from all parts either as Soldiers or Merchants or something else Upon which account they have made the Walls about it more capacious than those that Constantine built and have permitted the buildings to be so contiguous that the Inhabitants whether at home or in the streets are streighten'd for room and walk in danger by reason of the
Thrace and Scythia till it discharges it self into the Euxine Sea he built a company of Boats and with three thousand of his men went down the Ister commanding twenty thousand of 'em to go by Land to Sirmium And because they rowed continually with the stream besides that they had the benefit of the yearly Winds called Etesiae he arrived the eleventh day at Sirmiam Where when it was reported that the Emperor was come almost all People thought it had been Constantius that was meant but seeing it was Julian they all stood amazed as if they had taken him for an Apparition But not long after when his Army that follow'd him out of Celtica was come he wrote to the Roman Senate and to the Forces of Italy to have a care and keep their Cities since he was Emperor And whereas Taurus and Florentius the two Consuls for that year who were of Constantius's side left Rome as soon as they heard that Julian was got over the Alps into Pannonia he order'd them to be termed Fugitive Consuls in all publick Instruments But he behaved himself very obligingly to all the Towns that he pass'd by though in all haste and put 'em all in good hopes of him He likewise wrote to the Athenians the Lacedemonians and Corinthians to let 'em know the reason of his coming And when he was at Sirmium there came Embassadours out of almost all Greece to him to whom when he had given such answers as became him and granted 'em all that was their due he march'd forward with his Celtick Army and another which he raised both out of Sirmium and the Legions which lay in Pannonia and Mysia But when he came to Naisus he consulted the Soothsayers to know what he had best to do And seeing the Entrails signified that he must stay there some time he did so observing withal the time that was foretold to him in his Dream Which when it was come according to the motion of the Stars there arrived a party of Horse from Constantinople whilst 〈◊〉 was at Naisus who told him that Constantius was dead and that the Armies desired Julian should be Emperour Whereupon he accepted of what the Gods had bestow'd upon him and so went on his Journey forward But when he came to Byzantium the People all received him with joyful Acclamations calling him their Fellow-Citizen and their Darling because he was born and bred in that City and gave him all other kind of respect as a Person that was like to be the Author of very much good to Mankind And here whilst he took care both for the City and the Army he gave the City the priviledg to call a Senate like that in the City of Rame He also made a large Port to it to secure the Ships from the South-winds together with a Portico resembling the Letter Sigma more than a â—height figure which leads to the Port. 〈…〉 this he built a Library in 〈…〉 wherein he put all 〈…〉 he had and having so 〈…〉 prepared for the Persian War But when he had tarried ten months in Byzantium he made Hormisdas and Victor Generals to whom he committed the Tribunes and the Armies and so went to Antioch It is not necessary to tell you with what pleasure and zeal the Soldiers went this Journey For it is not likely that they should do any thing that was unseemly when they were under such an Emperors Conduct as Julian was So when he came to Antioch the People received him very kindly But being by nature great lovers of Shews and publick Sports and more addicted to pleasure than serious matters they did not very probably so well like the Emperors prudence and modesty in all sorts of things because he would refrain from coming into the publick Theatres nor would he often see Plays or when he did not sit at 'em all Day Upon which account they spoke very strange words of him that vex'd him But he was reveng'd upon 'em not by inflicting any real punishment but by composing a very gentile Oration upon them and the City which has so much of Satyr in it mix'd with Gall that it may serve for a Lampoon upon the Antiochians through the World But they were sorry for their faults and therefore the Emperor when he had done for the City as much as in equity he was able and granted to it a great number of Senators who should succeed in that Office by descent from Father to Son and likewise admitted those that were born of Senators Daughters to be of the same number which is a priviledg that few Cities have and done many other just and good Actions he prepared for the Persian War And when the Winter was over having muster'd his Forces together and sent 'em before him in the regular way of marching he went out of Antioch though he had no encouragement from the Oracle But what the reason of that was I can tell though I had rather hold my Tongue Now therefore when he was come to Hierapolis upon the fifth day where he had order'd all the Ships to meet both Men of War and those of Burthen too from Samosata and other places that used to sail in Euphrates and having made Hierius a Captain of Foot his Admiral he sent him before but stay'd himself three days and no more in Hierapolis After which time he went to Batnae a little Town in Osdroena where the Edesenes met him in whole Droves presenting him with a Crown and bidding him welcome into their City with joyful acclamations He accepted of their kindness and coming into the City made what Orders he thought good and so went on to Carrae But because from hence there were two ways the one through the River Tigris and the City of Nisibis till you come to the Provinces of Adiabene and the other by Euphrates and Circesium which is a Castle encompassed by the River Aboras and Euphrates it self and lies upon the Confines of Assyria the Emperor was at a stand which way to take and in the mean time news was brought that the Persians had made an incursion upon the Roman Dominions At which the Camp was somewhat disturb'd But the Emperor understood they were Robbers rather than any others who took what came next to their hands and went their way with it and therefore he resolv'd to leave a competent Guard upon the places near the River Tigris lest if all the Army should go along with him the other way through the Persian Territories the Persians should pillage Nisibis and all those parts without being discover'd especially when they found 'em destitute of all Defence He therefore thought fit to leave in that Country eighteen thousand men of whom Sebastianus and Procopius should be the Chief Commanders whilst he himself with the main Body of the Army went over Euphrates with his Forces divided into two Parties that they might be ready to resist the Enemy as soon as they saw 'em and not suffer 'em
highly to the Emperour and put the Senate together with the whole Court into such a fear of him that he threaten'd and told 'em he would come to the very Hellespont and go near to turn all things topsy-turvy if the Emperour would not vouchsafe to take some care in satisfying his requests But Gaines did this out of policy at once to conceal his inclinations from the Emperour and by those respects which were shewn to Tribigildus to get an occasion of putting his own project in execution For it did not vex him so much that he himself was slighted as that Eutropius was advanced to the highest pitch of Power so as to be reckon'd among the Consuls called by their Stile for a great while together and honour'd with the dignity of a Patrician For these were the things that most moved Gaines to Sedition and therefore when he was ready for it he first thought fit to contrive Eutropius's death To which end whilst he was yet in Phrygia he sent to the Emperour and told him that he despair'd of any good success since Tribigildus was so subtil a Warriour and besides that that it was impossible to sustein his fury or deliver Asia from the present extremities unless the Emperour would be pleased to comply with his request which was this That Eutropius who was the greatest cause of all the mischief that had happen'd might be delivered into his hands to be disposed on as he thought fit Which when the Emperour Arcadius heard he presently sent for Eutropius degraded him from his Honours and dismiss'd him Whereupon he immediately ran into a Church of the Christians which by him was made a Sanctuary or Place of Refuge But because Gaines was so urgent and said that Tribigildus would never be quiet till Eutropius was removed they took him by force even against the Law for making Churches Sanctuaries and sent him into Cyprus with a strict Guard upon him But Gaines being still very instant and urging the Emperour Arcadius on still to take him off the Emperour 's Attendants made an equivocating evasion upon the Oath which was Sworn to Eutropius when he was dragg'd out of the Church and caus'd him to be sent for back out of Cyprus and then as if they had onely sworn not to kill him as long as he was at Constantinople they sent him to Charcedon and there murder'd him Thus did Fortune deal very strangely with Eutropius on both hands in raising him first to such an heighth as no Eunuch before had attain'd to and then exposing him to death through the hatred which they who were Enemies to the Common-wealth profess'd against him But Gaines though he were now apparently inclined to innovation yet thought himself undiscover'd and therefore being absolute Master of Tribigildus's Soul for that he was much above him in Power and Authority he personated him and made a Peace with the Emperour and after having mutually both taken and given their Oaths he return'd again through Phrygia and Lydia And that way Tribigildus follow'd him marching through the upper Lydia in such a manner that he never set sight upon Sardeis which is the Metropolis of Lydia But when they were joyn'd into one body at Thyatira Tribigildus repented that he had left Sardeis unsack'd since it was so easy a matter to take a City as that was quite destitute of all defence Wherefore he resolv'd to return thither along with Gaines and storm that City And their design had certainly taken effect if a great deal of Rain had not fallen which made a Flood upon the Land and raised the Rivers so high that they were unpassable whereby their journey was stopp'd Whereupon they divided the Country between 'em and led their Forces Gaines toward Bythinia and the other toward the Hellespont permitting the Barbarians that follow'd 'em to plunder all before ' em And by that time the one came to Chalcedon the other had gotten possession of all the places near to Lampsacus so that Constantinople and even the whole Roman Empire was in extream danger And then did Gaines desire the Emperour would come to him being resolv'd to parley with no body but him himself in Person To which the Emperour submitted and they met in a place near Chalcedon where there is a Church dedicated to the holy Martyr Euphemia who is honour'd for her devotion to Christ And there it was agreed that Gaines and Tribigildus should come over out of Asia into Europe and that the most eminent Men in all the Commonwealth should be deliver'd into their hands to be put to death Of which number were Aurelianus who was that year Consul and Saturninus who had been a Consul and John whom the Emperour trusted with all his secrets and who many people said was the Father of Arcadius's Son And this request did the Emperour grant though it was so tyrannical But when Gaines had gotten these Men in his clutches he laid his Sword no more than just upon the skin of their Bodies and was content to let them suffer banishment onely After which he cross'd over into Thrace whither he commanded Tribigildus to follow him leaving Asia that was now beginning to breath again and like to be deliver'd from all those dangers which beset it But whilst he lived at Constantinople he dispersed his Soldiers into several quarters insomuch that he berest the City even of the very Court-Guards giving the Barbarians certain private Signals with a charge that when they saw the Soldiers were gone out of the City they should immediately invade it being now destitute of all defence and deliver up the sole Power to him alone Having given these Orders to the Barbarians under his Command he went out of the City pretending that the fatigue of War had made him sick and that he therefore wanted some refreshment which he should never have if he did not live some time without care Wherefore he left the Barbarians in the City who were a great many more in number than the Court-Guards and retired to a Villa or Country-house some forty furlongs from the City whence he expected an opportunity of invading it as soon as the Barbarians there should have made their attempt And as Gaines was fill'd with these hopes so had he not been carry'd away with the heat of a Barbarian and anticipated the proper season for it the Barbarians must of necessity have made themselves Masters of the City But he not staying for the Signal drew his Soldiers to the Wall and thereby made the Sentinels who were affrighted at the sight give an Alarm And thereupon immediately there was a general tumult with lamentation of the Women and such promiscuous cryes as if the City had been already taken till at length they ran all together and fell upon the Barbarians that were in the City And when they had kill'd 'em with Swords Stones and other Weapons whatever came to their hands they ran up upon the Wall and with the assistance of the
Guards so pelted Gaines's Men that they beat 'em off from coming into the City with every thing that fell in their way But when the City had thus escaped their danger the Barbarians being enclosed by those within and more than seven thousand got into a Church belonging to the Christians that stands near the Palace making that their Sanctuary to preserve 'em the Emperour commanded 'em to be slain even in that place nor would he let it be a sufficient refuge for 'em whereby to avoid the just penalty which was due to their bold actions But though the Emperour commanded it so to be yet no Man durst lay hands upon them to pull 'em out of the Sanctuaries for fear lest they should attempt to defend themselves They therefore thought it best to take off the roof of the Church over the Altar as they call it and that those who were appointed for the purpose should throw down fire-brands upon on 'em so long till they had burnt 'em every man to death And by this means were the Barbarians destroy'd which to some that were very zealous for Christianity seemed a most abominable crime to be committed in the midst of such a great City Now therefore when Gaines was disappointed in this his great Attempt he openly made preparation for a War against the Commonwealth But setting first upon the Countries in Thrace he found their Cities well fenced with Walls and guarded by the Magistrates and Inhabitants For they having been used to Wars and taught by former incursions how to take care of themselves were ready to fight with all their souls wherefore Gaines seeing nothing left without their Walls but Grass for they had gathered up all kind of Fruits Cattel and other provisions he resolv'd to leave Thrace and make haste into Cherronesus with an intention to return through the Streights of the Hellespont into Asia But whilst he was deliberating upon these matters the Emperour and Senate with one accord chose Fraiutus General for the War against Gaines who though he were a Barbarian born yet he was a Grecian in all other respects and that not onely in his manner of living but in his Mind and Religion And therefore to him who had been a famous Leader in many Wars and freed all the East from Cilicia to Phenice and Palestine from the plague of Robbers did they commit the conduct of their Army Which when he had receiv'd he opposed Gaines not suffering the Barbarians to pass over the Hellespont into Asia But whilst that Gaines was a preparing for their fight Fraiutus could not endure his Men should be idle and therefore kept 'em to continual exercise by which he made 'em so fit for service that instead of their former sloth and laziness they were discontented that Gaines delay'd the War so long Thus was Fraiutus employ'd in Asia viewing not onely his own Camp both Night and Day but observing also the motions of the Enemy Besides which he likewise took care of the shipping For he had a Fleet enough to maintain a Sea fight of Ships call'd Liburnae from a Town in Italy called Libarnia where that sort of Ships were-first built And these Ships seem'd to have been as swiftsailers as those with fifty Oars though they were much inferiour to them of three Oars to each bank and have not been built of a long time Yet Polybius the Historian seems to tell us the proportions of Six Oared Ships which the Romans and the Carthaginians seem to have used in their fights against one another But in the mean time Gaines having forced his way through the Long-Wall into Cherronesus had ranged his Men all along that rising shoar in Thrace that reaches from over against Parium as far as Lampsacus Abydus and those places that make that streight Sea Whilst on the other hand the Roman General sailed all about Asia both Night and Day to pry into the Enemies designs But Gaines for want of necessary provisions being troubled that the time was so protracted cut down a quantity of Timber Trees out of a Wood in Cherronesus which he fasten'd together very accurately and making them fit to receive both Men and Horses set his Men and their Horses upon them and so let 'em swim with the Stream or Tide For they could not be either managed with Oars or any otherwise admit of the Pilot's Skill being made so in haste without any Art at all by the rude contrivance of Barbarians But he himself staid upon the shoar in hopes that he should quickly get the Victory for that the Romans could not be any way strong enough to grapple with his Men in this engagement Nor was the wise Roman General unaware of that truth and therefore giving a guess what was to be done commanded his Ships to put a little off from the Land and seeing the Tumultuary Vessels of the Barbarians carry'd down with the stream wheresoever it drave them he first attaqued one that came in the foremost range of Timber and having a Ship with a brazen Stem was much too strong for it for he not onely bore hard upon it with his Ship but so pelted the Men that were upon it with Darts that he sunk both that and them together Which when the rest of his Ships Crews saw and imitated they kill'd some with Darts whilst some fell off the Timbers and were drown'd nor could any one of 'em hardly escape death At which great Overthrow Gaines being much concern'd and knowing not what to do since he had lost so many of his Fellow-Soldiers he removed a little out of Cherronesus into that part of Thrace that lies beyond it But Fraiutus at that time did not think fit to follow Gaines in his flight but muster'd up his Men in the same place and was content with the Victory that Fortune had bestow'd upon him And when almost all People accused Fraiutus for not pursuing Gaines but sparing him because Gaines and those that fled away with him were Fraiutus's Countrymen yet he who was conscious of no such thing return'd to the Emperour very proud of his Victory which he freely and boldly imputed to the favour of the Gods whom he worship'd For he was not ashamed even in the Emperour's presence to profess that he worship'd and honour'd the Gods after the â—â—â—ent way of his 〈…〉 not follow the vulâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 case So the Emperor receiv'd him very kindly and made him Consul But Gaine in the mean while having lost most part of his Army as I told you ran away with the rest to the River Ister where seeing Thrace laid waste by the former inroads into it he plunder'd every thing that came to his hand but fearing lest another Roman Army should follow him and attaque his Barbarians who were but few and besides that suspecting those Romans who went along with him he kill'd 'em every Man before they knew any thing of his intention and afterward with his Barbarians crossed the Ister with a
by Fire And to that end having privately set fire to a Church in the Night-time and got them out of the City at break of Day whereby they prevented the discovery of who they were as soon as it was broad day they shew'd all the People in what extremity of danger the City was For not onely that Church was burn'd to the ground but the contiguous Houses also were consumed especially those upon whom the violence of the Wind drove the fire But besides them the fire caught in the Senate-House which stood before the Palace and was a most beautiful magnificent Structure For it was adorn'd with the Statues of famous Artists that look'd very gloriously and with such colours in Marble as are not now to be found in any Mines Nay they say that those Images which were formerly consecrated in Helicon to the Muses and in the time of Constantine were sufferers by that universal Sacriledg being set up and dedicated in this place were burn'd at the same time to signifie that disaffection which all Men should one day bear to the Muses But because there was a kind of Miracle wrought at that time I think it worth the relating This Temple of the Senate for the sake of which I tell you this Story had the Statues of Jupiter and Minerva before the doors of it standing upon two stone Pedestals as they do to this day Now they say that of Jupiter is Jupiter Dodonaeus and the other of Minerva the same which was formerly consecrated in Lindus When therefore the fire had consumed all the Temple the Lead upon the roof also being melted ran down upon the Statues as likewise all the stones that could not resist the force of the fire fell upon them till at last when the beauty of the building was all turn'd into one heap of rubblish it was the common Opinion that these two Statues also were reduced to ashes But when the place was cleansed and ready to be rebuilt upon it shew'd the Statues of those two Deities onely which had escaped the universal ruine Which Accident gave all those who were above the ordinary rank of Men some better hopes of the City as if these Deities resolv'd to take continual care of it But let these things go as God will have 'em whilst I return thither from whence I digress'd Now all People being sorry for this calamity of the City though they found no reason for it but blind Chance as the saying is the Emperour's Attendants were intent upon the rebuilding of the ruinated Houses But at the same time it was reported at Court that a great number of Isaurians who live above Pamphylia and Cilicia continually in the craggy inaccessible Mountains of Taurus being divided into several Bands of Robbers invaded the adjacent Champaign Country And though they were not strong enough to attack the walled Towns yet they over-ran all the unwalled Villages and plunder'd all before ' em For the former ravage which was committed there by Tribigildus and his Barbarians made their present incursions the more easy But when this news was brought Arbazacius was sent out as General to assist the oppressed Pamphylians Who having got a good competent Army along with him and pursu'd the Robbers up into the Mountains he took most of their Villages and kill'd abundance of Men. And indeed he might easily have perfectly subdu'd 'em and put the Towns in absolute security had he not remitted great part of his vigour by giving himself up to luxury and filthy pleasures or through his covetousness preferr'd Riches before the publick good For which his treacherous behaviour being summon'd to appear before the Emperor he expected to be try'd but by giving part of that which he took from the Isaurians to the Emperess he not onely escaped the Law but spent the rest of his Money in such pleasures as that City afforded Thus did the Isaurians content themselves with private Robberies and were not yet broken out into an open invasion upon the neighbouring Nations But in the mean time Alarichus being departed as I told you before out of Peloponnesus and all that Country which the River Achelous passes through he made an Halt in Epirus where the Molossians the Thesprotians and other People live as far as Epidamnus and the Taulantians Country to wait till Stilico had brought about what they had agreed upon which was this Stilico seeing that Arcadius's Ministers of State were disaffected to him intended by the assistance of Alarichus to add all the Illyrian Countries to the Empire of Honorius And having made a compact with Alarichus to that purpose he expected shortly to put his design in execution But whilst Alarichus waited his Commands one Rhodogaisus having muster'd up four hundred thousand of the Celtick and the German People that live beyond the Ister and the Rhine made preparations to pass over into Italy Which News when it was first told put all People into a consternation and yet though the several Towns were fallen into despair and even Rome it self very apprehensive of its extream danger Stilico took all the Forces with him which were at Ticinum in Liguria which were some thirty Companies with all the Auxiliaries that he could get of the Alani and the Hunni and without staying for the Enemies coming cross'd the Ister with his whole Army By which means setting upon the Barbarians before they were aware he utterly destroy'd their whole Forces insomuch that none of 'em escaped except some few that he added to the Roman Auxiliaries Now Stilico being as you may guess very proud of this Victory he return'd with his Army and had Garlands given him by almost all People as having so strangely deliver'd Italy from the dangers that she so much fear'd or expected But at Ravenna which is the Metropolis of Flaminia Romagnia an ancient City and a Colony of the Thessalians called Rhene because the Water runs round it as the word Rhene imports and not as Olympiodorus of Thebes says that it was so called from Remus Brother to Romulus who was the builder of it for he must leave that to Quadratus who hath mention'd this very matter in his History of the Emperour Marcus at this same Ravenna I say Stilico being intent upon his preparations to attaque the Illyrian Cities and by the help of Alarichus not onely to draw 'em off from Arcadius but to joyn 'em to the Empire of Honorius there happen'd two impediments to fall at once in his way which were a report that Alarichus was dead and Letters of the Emperour Honorius from Rome that gave him account how Constantine was turn'd Rebel and come out of the Island of Britain into the Countries beyond the Alps where he carry'd himself in their Cities like an Emperour But the discourse concerning Alarichus's death seemed to be doubtful before certain Persons came and assured him how it really was But what was said of Constantine's setting up for the Empire was believ'd by all Men. By
the Palmyrenians and turned out the Garison So likewise a second time when the Palmyrenians rallied with fresh forces Probus who had mustered up a company of Egyptians and Africans not onely got the Victory but drove the Palmyrenians out of Egypt But as Probus lay upon a Mountain near Babylon and thereby intercepted the Enemies passage into Syria Timagenes who knew those parts very well went with two thousand men and got atop of the Mountain where he kill'd the Egyptians by surprize and Probus who was taken among the rest kill'd himself When therefore as Egypt was now reduced into the power of the Palmyrenians the Barbarians that were left alive after the fight at Naissus between Claudius and the Scythians defending themselves as it were with their Carriages which went before 'em march'd toward Macedonia but were so hard put to it for want of necessaries that both themselves and their Beasts perished for meer hunger And by the way too the Roman Horse met 'em who killing many of 'em forc'd the rest toward Haemus where being surrounded by the Roman Army they lost a vast number of their men But afterward when the Horse and Foot fell out among themselves the Emperor having a mind that the Foot should fight the Barbarians the Romans after a smart engagement were worsted and many of 'em slain though the Horse coming presently up to 'em made the miscarriage of the Foot seem so much the less This Battel being over the Scythians march'd forward and the Romans follow'd 'em whilst the Barbarians who cruised about Crete and Rhodes went back without doing any thing worth the speaking of and being seiz'd with a Plague in their way home some of 'em died in Thrace and some in Macedonia But all that escaped were either admitted into the Roman Legions or had Land given 'em to manure and so addicted themselves to Husbandry Nor did the Plague sweep away the Barbarians onely but began to be rife among the Romans also who many of 'em dy'd of it and among the rest Claudius a Person adorn'd with all Virtues whose death was a great loss to all his loving Subjects and he consequently very much miss'd among ' em Then Quintillus Claudius's Brother was declared Emperour who lived not many months nor did any thing worth ones taking notice of before Aurelianus was advanced to the Imperial Throne and some Writers say that Quintillus was advised by his Friends assoon as they heard that Aurelianus was made Emperor to make himself away and voluntarily give place to a man much more deserving which they report he did by opening a Vein and bleeding to death Aurelianus therefore having setled the Empire went from Rome to Aquileia and thence to Pannonia which the Scythians as he heard were ready to invade For which reason he sent the Inhabitants of that Countrey word by his Scouts that he would have 'em carry all the Corn and Cattel which they had and every thing else that might be of use to the Enemy into their Towns the more to afflict them with famine which was already very sharp upon them But when the Barbarians were got over the River into Pannonia they fought and came off pretty equal for the Night coming on no one could tell which side had the better on 't Yet the same Night the Barbarians cross'd the River and assoon as it was Day sent Embassadors or Heralds to treat for Peace And now the Emperour hearing that the Alemanes with their Neighbour Nations intended to over-run Italy he was as he had reason to be more concern'd for Rome and the adjacent places than any other wherefore having ordered a sufficient number of Guards to stay in Pannonia he march'd toward Italy but by the way upon the borders of that Countrey near the Ister kill'd many thousands of the Barbarians in one Battel At which time several of the Senate at Rome being accused of a Plot against the Emperour were put to death for it and Rome was Walled about which before had no Walls But though that Work was begun in Aurelianus's time it was finish'd by Probus At the same time also were Epitimius Vrbanus and Domitianus suspected for Innovators and being immediately apprehended were punish'd for it But whilst Affairs were thus managed in Italy and Pannonia the Emperour was a thinking to go with an Army against the Palmyrenians who had subdu'd all Egypt and the East as far as Ancyra in Galatia and would have gotten Bithynia even to Chalcedon if the People of that Countrey had not heard that Aurelianus was Emperour and so shook off the Palmyrenian yoke of Government Wherefore assoon as the Emperour was on his way thither Ancyra submitted to the Romans and after that Tyana with all the Cities betwixt that and Antioch Where finding Zenobia with a great Army ready prepared for Battel as he himself also was he as he was in honour bound met and engaged her But seeing the Palmyrenian Cavalry confided very much in their Armour which was heavy strong and secure being also much better Horsemen than his Soldiers he planted his Foot somewhere beyond the River Orontes in a place by themselves and gave the Roman Horse a charge not presently to engage with the vigorous Palmyrenian Cavalry but to stay till they made the first attaque and then pretend that they shew'd to fly and continue so to do till they were sensible they had tired both the men and their Horses through the excess of Heat and weight of their Armour so that they could pursue 'em no longer Which Project took effect and the Emperours Horse observ'd his order so that assoon as they saw the Enemy tired and that their Horses were hardly able to stand under 'em or they themselves to stir they reined in their Horses stopp'd their Career and turn'd wheel'd about set upon them and trod them under feet as they fell of themselves from their Horses back By which means the slaughter of 'em was promiscuous some being kill'd with their Swords and others partly by their own and partly by the Enemies Horses Upon this Defeat as many as could got into Antioch therefore Labdas who was Zenobias's General fearing lest the Antiochians should hear of it and mutiny pick'd out a Person somewhat hoary much like the Emperour and cloathing him in such a Garb as it was likely Aurelianus used to wear in time of War led him through the whole City as if he had taken the Emperour Captive With which contrivance he imposed upon the Antiochians stole out of the City by Night and took Zenobia with the remaining part of the Army along with him to Emisa In the mean time the Emperour minded his business and assoon as it was Day called the Foot-Souldiers about him again with a design to attaque the routed Enemy on both sides though hearing of Zenobias's escape he enter'd Antioch where the Citizens entertain'd him very kindly But finding many had left the City for fear they might suffer
for being of Zenobias's side he set forth Edicts in all places to call 'em back and told 'em such things had happen'd more out of force and necessity than of his own inclination Which when the Fugitives saw they came in whole droves and were courteously receiv'd by the Emperour who having disposed of Affairs in that City went thence to Emisa Where when he found that a Party of the Palmyrenians had got possession of a certain Hill above the Suburbs of Daphne and thought by the steepness of it to stop the Enemies passage he commanded his Soldiers to march up with their Bucklers so near to one another and in so close an order as to keep off Darts and Stones if any were thrown down upon 'em by the meer contiguity of their Armour And so they did Nor were they sooner got up the Hill according to Command but being in all points equal to their Adversaries they put 'em to the run made 'em fly so that some of 'em were dash'd to pieces down from the precipices others kill'd in the pursuit by those that were upon the Hill and those that were a coming up But let the Enemy scape as they could when the Day was theirs they march'd on with great satisfaction that the Emperor made his way with such success whilst Apamea Larissa and Arethusa entertain'd him He therefore seeing the Palmyrenian Army drawn up before Emisa in a body of seventy thousand men consisting of Palmyrenes and their Allies he opposed 'em with the Dalmatian Cavalry the Mysians and Pannonians beside those of Noricum and Rhaetia which are Celtick Legions Nay more than that there were the best of all the Imperial Regiment pick'd out and chosen man by man the Morisco Horse the Tyaneans the Mesopotamians the Syrians the Phenicians and the Palestinians out of Asia all men of undoubted courage among whom the Palestinians besides their other Arms had Clubs and Quarter-staves Now when they fell to it the Roman Cavalry seemed a little to give way lest the Palmyrenes who were too many for 'em and better Horsemen should by some stratagem environ the Roman Army But in truth the Palmyrene Horse pursu'd 'em so hard though they broke their Ranks that the event was quite contrary to what the Roman Cavalry expected For they were pursu'd by an Enemy much too strong for them and therefore they were most of 'em slain but the fatigue of the Day lay chiefly as it happen'd upon the Foot For seeing the Palmyrenes had broken their Ranks when the Horse made their pursuit they wheeled about and set upon 'em whilst they were scatter'd and out of order Whereupon many were kill'd because the one side fought with usual Weapons but those of Palestine brought Clubs and Staves against Coats of Maile made of iron and brass And that in some sense was the chief cause of Victory because the Enemy was amazed to see 'em fight so strangely with Clubs The Palmyrenes therefore ran away as fast as they could and in their flight trod one another to pieces though they were kill'd by the Enemy also insomuch that the Field was full of dead Men and Horses whilst some that could get away made into the City Zenobia as you may suppose was not a little disturb'd at this defeat of hers and therefore consulted what was best to be done But all her friends were of Opinion that she had better relinquish the thoughts of any pretensions to Emisa because the Emisenes were disaffected to her and friends to the Romans But they advised her to keep within Palmyra and when they had secur'd themselves in that strong City they would deliberate about their grand Affairs at leisure Nor was this sooner said than done by the concurrence of the whole Assembly But Aurelianus when he heard that Zenobia was fled away went into Emisa where he was frankly entertain'd by the Citizens and having found a Treasure which Zenobia could not carry along with her he immediately march'd with his Army to Palmyra which he besieged quite round whilst the neighbouring Countreys supply'd his men with all kind of Provisions In the mean time the Palmyrenes jeered the Romans as if they thought it impossible for them to take the Town and one Fellow in particular spoke very undecent words concerning the Emperors own Person whereupon a certain Persian that stood by him said If you please Sir you shall see me kill that impudent Rascal To which the Emperor consented and soo the Persian presently planting himself behind some other mens backs that he might not be discover'd shot at him just as he was looking over the Battlements and hit him whilst he was yet uttering his insolent language so that he fell down from the Wall before the Soldiers and the Emperor Yet the besieged stood it out as hoping that the Enemy would draw off for want of Provisions and persisted in their resolutions till they found themselves want Necessaries Whereupon they called a Council in which it was determined that they would fly immediately to Euphrates and there desire aid of the Persians in order to some new action against the Romans Having so decreed they set Zenobia upon a She Camel which is the swiftest of that kind of Beasts and much fleeter than Horses are and so convey'd her out of the City Aurelianus was troubled at Zenobias's escape and therefore employ'd all his industry to send out Horsemen in pursuit of her And they indeed took her just as she was going over Euphrates out of the Boat and brought her to Aurelianus At which surprizing sight though he was very much rejoyced yet being naturally ambitious and considering that it would be no great honour to him in after-times to have conquer'd a Woman he seemed a little uneasie In the mean while some of the Palmyrenes that were shut up in the Town resolved bravely to expose themselves and run the risque of being taken in defence of their City against the Romans as on the other hand some of 'em used humble submissive gestures from off the Walls and begg'd pardon for what was past Which seeing the Emperour accepted and bad 'em be of good chear they came pouring out of the Town with Presents and Sacrifices in their hands Whereupon Aurelianus having pay'd all due respect to their Holy Things receiv'd their gifts and sent them away uninjur'd But when he was once made Master of this Town with all the Stores Money and Donaries in it he went back to Emisa where he called Zenobia and her Accomplices to account by way of publick Judicature Zenobia therefore coming into the Court pleaded much in excuse of her self and produced many Persons who seduced her as being a simple Woman and among the rest Longinus whose Writings are very beneficial to all Lovers of Learning upon whom being found guilty of the Crimes objected against him the Emperour immediately pass'd the sentence of Death which he bore with so much courage that he spoke comfortable words even to his
he seemed to hear a Voice that bid him carry the Children to Tarentum and there warm some Tiber Water over the fire of Dis and Proserpine and give it the Children to drink Which when he had heard quite out he then despaired the more of his Childrens recovery For Tarentum was a great way off and besides there was no Tiber Water to be had at it and then it made him think the worse of it that he heard the Voice say the Water must be warm'd upon the Altar of Infernal Deities or Demons At which the very Southsayers also themselves were startled but however when he heard it the second time he resolv'd to obey the Gods command And putting his Children in a small River Vessel he carry'd the fire along with him Now the Children were almost ready to faint by reason of the heat whilst he made sail to that part of the River where the stream is most calm and lodging at a Shepherds Cottage together with his Children he heard a Voice say he must stay at Tarentum for so the place was called and had the same name with Tarentum which is near the Japygian Promontory or Capo di St. Maria. Whereupon Valesius when he had pay'd due Adoration to the Gods for that good fortune he bad the Pilot put to shore and landing told the Shepherds all the whole Story And presently after having drawn some Water out of Tiber and warm'd it upon an Altar of his own making he gave it his Children to drink who as soon as they had swallow'd it fell asleep and were perfectly cur'd But they fancy'd in that sleep that they saw something which bad 'em offer black Victims to Dis and Proserpine and spend three Nights in singing and dancing which Dream they told to their Father and that it was an huge man of a Godlike presence that bad 'em do it in the Campus Martius where the Horse-Races use to be But Valesius having a mind to build an Altar in that place he set the Stone-cutters to dig who found an Altar ready made upon which there was this inscription To Dis and Proserpine By which he was more plainly instructed what to do sacrificed the black Victims upon that Altar and kept the Vigils in that place Now this same Altar and the manner of Sacrificing upon it was occasion'd thus The Romans and the Albanes were at War and being both Arm'd there appeared a monstrous Shape clothed in a black skin and crying out That Dis and Proserpine commanded them to sacrifice to their Deities before they engaged and when it had so said it disappeared Whereupon the Romans who were affrighted at the sight made an Altar under ground and when they had sacrificed upon it they buried it twenty feet deep so that it might not be discover'd by any but Romans Now Valesius having found it he according to order both sacrificed upon it and kept the Vigils from whence he was called Manius Valerius Tarentinus For the Romans call the Infernal Gods Manes and to be in good health is Valere and then he was called Tarentinus from Tarentum where he sacrificed But some time after when a Plague happen'd in the City which was the year after their Kings were expell'd Pub. Valer. Poplicola sacrificed a black Ox and a black Heifer to Dis and Proserpine whereby he freed the City from the Disease and wrote upon the Altar this Inscription I Publius Valerius Poplicola have dedicated Fire to Dis and Proserpine in the Campus Martius and have also made Shews in honour of them to preserve the people of Rome But after this when Diseases and Wars lay heavy upon them which happen'd in the year 352 since the City was built the Senate had a mind to rid themselves of those Calamities out of the Sibylls Oracles and therefore commanded them whose business it was to consult those Oracles Who having so done they told the Senate that if they sacrificed to Dis and Proserpine it would put an end to all their miseries They therefore got a convenient place which they devoted to Dis and Proserpine according as they were commanded when Marcus Potitus was in his fourth Consulship And when the Ceremony was over they being deliver'd from their grievances laid up the Altar again in some extream part of the Campus Martius And after that this kind of Sacrificing was for some years neglected till some misfortunes befell them and then Octavianus Augustus renew'd the Games which had been celebrated before when Lucius Censorinus and Marcus Manlius Puelius were Consuls but were kept at that time under the Consulate of Lucius Censorinus and Caius Sabinus when Ateius Capito had explain'd the Laws concerning them and the fifteen Men that had the keeping of the Sibylls Books had found out the time when the Sacrifice was to be perform'd and the Shews made When Augustus was dead Claudius celebrated those Games without any regard to the due time But after him Domitian who did not mind what Claudius had done computed the years from the time that Augustus kept that Festival and seemed to observe the original Institution And after them Severus in the 110th year restored those very Games he and his two Sons Antoninus and Geta when Chilo and Libo were Consuls Now the manner of these Games is said to be this The Beadles went about at that time and invited all the People to such a Sight as they never had seen nor ever were like to see any more And in the Summer-time a little before the Games began the fifteen Men sate in the Capitol in the Temple Palatine upon a Tribunal from whence they distributed a kind of purifying preparations to the People called Lustralia which were Torches Brimstone and Pitch of which none participate but Freemen onely And when the People come together in the places aforesaid and in the Temple of Diana which is upon the Aventine Hill each one brings Wheat Barly and Beans and keep Vigils in the Night to the fatal Sisters But when the time of the Festival is come which they celebrate three days and three nights together in the Campus Martius the Victims are consecrated near the bank of Tiber at Tarentum And there they sacrifice to several Deities as Jupiter Juno Apollo Latona Diana and besides them to the Parcae Lucinae Ceres Dis and Proserpine which is perform'd in this Order The first night that these Shews are made about two of the Clock the Emperour with the fifteen Men sacrificeth three Lambs upon three Altars that are provided on purpose by the Rivers side where having sprinkled the Altars with blood he offers up the Victims whole Then when they have prepared a Scene without a Theatre they set up a great many lights and make an huge fire by which they sing some new Hymn to make the Games the more solemn And those that perform'd these things have the first fruits of their Wheat Barly and Beans for their labour For those I told you are distributed among
multitude of men and beasts Besides a great deal of the Sea is turn'd into dry Land where Piles are driven into the ground and Houses built upon 'em enough to make a good big City of themselves And truly I have often wondered since the City of Byzantium is grown so great that no other can compare with it either in happiness or bigness why our Fathers had no prophesie concerning its good Fortune And having employ'd my thoughts a long time about it turn'd over a great many Historians and collections of Oracles and spent some time in the explanation of them I at last with much ado light upon an Oracle which is attributed to Sibylla Erythraea or Phaello of Epirus for they say that she being inspired gave out some Oracles upon which Nicomedes the Son of Prusias relying and interpreting to his own advantage he by the advice of Attalus made War against his Father Prusias and it is this Thou among Sheep Oh! King of Thrace shalt dwell But breed a savage Lion fierce and fell Who all the product of thy Land shall spoil And reap thy fruitful harvest without toil But thou shalt not enjoy thy Honour long Torn by wild Dogs which shall about thee throng Then a mad hungry sleeping Wolf shalt thou Awake to whom thy conquer'd neck shall bow Next a whole herd of Wolves Bythinias Land Shall vex by Joves permission and that hand To whom the Byzantines Obedience yield Shall in short time her royal Scepter weild Bless'd Hellespont whose buildings by the hand Of Heaven were rais'd and by their order stand Yet shall that cruel Wolf my forces fear For all Wights know me who inhabit here My Sires mind I no longer will reveal But Heavens intent in Oracles reveal Thrace shall e're long a monstrous birth produce Baneful to all by tract of time and use And a swoln Vlcer by the Sea shall grow Which when it breaks with putrid gore shall flow Now this same Oracle does though obscurely point out I had almost said all the particular mischiefs which were to befal Bythinia through the heavy Impositions that were laid upon 'em as also how the Government was to be devolved upon them to whom the Byzantines were then in subjection in that Distich and the Hand To whom the Byzantines Obedience yield Shall in short time her Royal Scepter weild And though the things foretold did not fall out till many Ages after let not any man for all that suppose that it was spoken of any other place For all time is short in respect of God who always is and always will be And this is my conjecture both from the words of the Prophesie and the event also But if any one believes there is any other meaning in it let him enjoy his own thoughts When Constantine had done thus he not onely perpetually wasted the Revenue of the Empire in unnecessary Expences and Presents which were bestow'd upon unworthy and vile Persons but he likewise oppressed those that paid the Tribute and enrich'd those that were of no use or service in the Government For * We must confess that Constantine was extravagant in his Expences from whence arose that Jeer of Julian in his Book called Caesares where he brings in Constantine as if he were ask'd by Mercury And what do you think is a commendable thing That a Man says Constantine who has a great deal should give a great deal away he mistook Prodigality for Magnificence He also laid a Tax of Gold and Silver upon all Merchants and Tradesmen even to the meanest of all * See Evagrius l. 3. Hist Eccl. c. 39. where he mightily commends Anastasius in whose Reign this Tax was taken off But he inveighs against Zosimus for saying that Constantine was the Author of it in these words Who would wonder that this should be done in the very infancy of Christianity when his Holiness the Pope suffers the very same things even now it is grown to riper years nor did he spare so much as the poorest Whore Insomuch that upon the return of every fourth year when the Tax was to be paid a man could hear nothing but lamentation and complaints through all the whole City And when the time came there was nothing but Whips and Torments provided for them who by reason of their extream poverty could not pay the money Nay Mothers were fain to part with their Children and Fathers to prostitute their Daughters for money to satisfie the Collectors of this Gold and Silver exaction And because he had a mind to invent some plague for the richer sort of People he call'd 'em all forth and made 'em Praetors for which Dignity he demanded of 'em a vast sum of money For which reason when they whose business it was to manage this Affair came into any of the Cities you might see the People run all away into other Countreys for fear of gaining that honour with the loss of all they had Now he had a Particular of all the best Estates and so imposed a Tribute upon each one of 'em which he called a Purse And with such Exactions he exhausted all the Towns for they endur'd so long even after Constantine's time that the Money was all drain'd clear out of the Cities and many of 'em forsaken by the Inhabitants When Constantine had oppress'd and plagued the Government all these several ways he died of a Distemper and his Sons succeeded him who were three of 'em not begotten of Fausta the Daughter of Herculius Maximianus but of another Woman whom he had put to Death for Adultery but they devoted themselves to the pleasures of Youth more than to publick Service For in the first place they divide the Nations among 'em of which Constantine the eldest and Constans the youngest had all beyond the Alps together with Italy and Illyricum for their share as also all the Countreys upon the Euxine Sea and whatever belong'd to Carthage in Africa whereas Constantius had all Asia the East and Egypt But there were also others that were a kind of Partners in the Government as Dalmatius whom Constantine made Caesar Constantius his Brother and Anaballianus who all wore a Purple Robe with golden Guards and were promoted to the Order of Nobilissimate as they call it or Nobility by Constantine himself out of respect to their being of his Family But when the Empire was thus divided Constantius who seemed to take pains not to fall short of his Fathers impiety began at home to prove himself a Man by spilling the blood of his nearest Relations And first he caused Constantius his Fathers Brother to be murther'd by the Soldiers next to whom he served Dalmatius Caesar in the same kind as also Optatus whom Constantine had raised to the honour of being a Patrician For Constantine indeed first introduced that Order of Men and made a Law that whoever was a Patrician should sit above the very Prefects of the Court. At that time also was
Magnentius on the contrary who thought fit to meet him with more Forces declared his kinsman Decentius who was to govern the Nations beyond the Alps Cesar But when the Armies met in Pannonia and came very near one another at a Town called Mursa Magnentius planted an Ambuscade in the avenues near Adrana and sent a Messenger to Constantius's Officers to retard their motion that they might march into Siscia because he intended to fight thereabout where the fields were open and spacious Which when Constantius heard he was very glad of it that he was to fight in a place where there was room enough for the Horse of which he had more than the Enemy and so led his Army toward Siscia But as they went along unarm'd and out of order not thinking what would happen the Troops who lay in Ambush fell upon 'em and stop'd their passage with stones which they threw upon 'em in such vast quantities as that they kill'd most part of ' em And now seeing many of his Enemies slain Magnentius was so proud of this Exploit that he muster'd up his Forces and would not suffer the War to be delay'd any longer but march'd immediately into Pannonia And when he came to the Plains before that which was formerly Cius through the middle of which the River Draus runs and passing by Noricum and Pannonia discharges it self into the Ister he led his men into Pannonia intending to engage near Sirmium But they say his Mother forbad him to go that way or over into Illyricum though he would not observe her directions notwithstanding that he knew she had prov'd a true Prophetess to him upon many former occasions In the mean while Magnentius deliberated whether he should cross the Saus by a Bridg of his own making or joyn his Boats together and so pass over and at the same time Constantius sent Philip who was one of the greatest Men about him as likewise a Person of extraordinary prudence with a pretence of treating concerning Peace and an Alliance but in reality to observe the state of Magnentius's Army and how they stood affected to fighting or which way they were like to move Who when he came near to the Camp met Marcellinus who was Magnentius's greatest Favourite and went along with him to Magnentius Where after the Army was drawn up Philip was desir'd to tell the reason of his coming Nor had he sooner receiv'd the Order than applying himself to the Soldiers he told 'em it was not fit for them who were Roman Subjects to wage War against Romans especially when Constantine's Son was Emperor with whom they had erected many Trophies against the Barbarians And as for Magnentius he ought to remember Constantine with all the kindness he had shewn to him and his Parents For it was Constantine that entertain'd him and promoted him to the greatest Dignities when he was in imminent danger And having so said he desired that Magnentius would depart out of Italy and be content to govern all the Nations beyond the Alps. This Speech of Philip had like to have made a mutiny through the whole Army and therefore Magnentius who was in a fright and had much ado to get the Soldiers to hear him speak told 'em he would willingly conclude a Peace too but said he would dismiss the Assembly for that present time till he had considered what to do and would tell 'em his Opinion the next day Whereupon the Assembly being dissolv'd Marcellinus entertain'd Philip like one that he had a mind to be obliged to by the Laws of Hospitality Whilst in the mean time Magnentius debated with himself whether he should send Philip away without the intended effect of his coming or keep him there contrary to the Law of Embassies And as he was in dispute about it he thought fit to invite all the Officers of his Army to sup with him and tell 'em his Opinion at Table Which when he had done and that it was Day-light he called the Army together once more and put 'em in mind what Constans had done against 'em when he was drunk and mad and that the Soldiers could not endure those Enormities wherewith he oppressed the Commonwealth against all Law and Justice but enclined to that which was most advantageous to the publick and when they had freed the Cities from such a savage beast they forced him to be Emperor Nor had he made an end of speaking before they all rose up and shew'd their readiness for carrying on the War by arming themselves immediately in order to pass the Saus Of whose approach the Sentinels that were upon the Watch in Siscia a Town that lies upon the Saus were aware and gave notice to the Garison who shot some of 'em as they were landing upon the bank of the River and others that were acoming over they stopp'd so that many of 'em were slain but more were trampled into the River either by one another or by the Enemy By which means there was a great slaughter made among 'em and whilst the one party fell off the Bridg as they endeavour'd to escape the other pursu'd with all speed so that Magnentius who was reduced to his last shift had onely this way to avoid the present danger He stuck a Spear in the ground and with his right Hand becken'd to the Enemy as if he had a mind to treat for a Peace Which when he saw they listen'd to He said he would not pass the Saus without the Emperor's leave Which he had no sooner said but Philip told him he must leave Italy and Noricum and go into Illyricum if he would treat of Peace And then Constantius having heard what they said commanded his Soldiers not to pursue 'em any longer and permitted Magnentius to bring his men over into the Plains between Noricum Pannonia Mysia and Dacia because he had a mind to get out of those rough cumbersom places and fight where his Horse might have room enough to shew themselves for he had more than the Enemy And his Design took effect so that he pitch'd upon Cibalis which he thought a convenient place for his business it being the same place where Constantine formerly conquer'd Licinnius For that Town having the above situation which I have told you in my Account of those times he kept part of his Army in it And when he had raised a Buâ—wark between the Hill where the City stands and the Plain where the River Saus runs he enclosed all that part of it which is not encompass'd by the River with a deep Ditch and a thick Mound And then he made a Bridg of Boats over all that part that was surrounded by the River which Bridg he could disjoin when he pleas'd and put it together again with as much ease And here he set up Tents for his Army and in the middle of all a Tent-Royal which was inferiour to none of the Towns thereabout either for bigness or Ornament But at that time the Emperor
sent into Britain for Corn and invented a way how to carry that Corn up the Rhine in Boats And this he did so often because the Voyage was but short that he abundantly supply'd them that were restored to their Cities so that they had meat enough Seed-corn and what they lacked between that and Harvest And these things he did when he was hardly enter'd into the five and twentieth year of his Age. But seeing the Soldiers loved him for his frugality at home and courage in the Wars and also for his Command that he had of himself in respect to Riches with his other Virtues wherein he excell'd I had almost said all the men of his Age Constantius was full of envy to see Julian do such great things and thought that Salustius who was one of those Counsellours that were allotted to him had been the Author of all that Policy which gained him so much Honour both in his Warlike and Civil Affairs Wherefore he sent for Salustius as if he would have made him Governour of the Eastern Countreys And Julian as readily dismiss'd him because he was resolv'd to be obedient unto Constantius in all points But though Salustius were now removed yet all that was committed to Julian's charge encreas'd every day as I may say in a great measure and the Soldiers were improved in military experience as well as augmented in their numbers whilst the Towns enjoy'd Peace and the fruits of it And now almost all the Barbarians thereabouts began to despair and expected little less than the utter ruine and destruction of all them that were lest alive when at the same time the Saxons who are the stoutest Barbarians in all those parts both for courage strength and hardiness in a Campagne sent out the Quadi who are a part of themselves into the Roman Dominions But they were hinder'd from passing the River by the Franks who lived upon their Confines and were affraid of giving Cesar a just occasion to make another inrode upon them and therefore built themselves a convenient number of Boats in which they sailed upon the Rhine beyond the French Territories and got into the Roman Empire And when they arrived at Batavia which the Rhine by being divided makes an Island much bigger than any River-Island besides they drove out the Salii who are a Nation descended from the Franks and turn'd out of their own Country into this Island by the Saxons For this Island though it had been formerly subject to none but the Romans yet it was now in possession of the Salii Which when Cesar knew he endeavour'd to countermine the Quadi but first commanded his Army to engage them briskly but kill ne'r an one of the Salii or hinder their passage into the Roman Countreys because they did not come as Enemies but were forced thither by the Quadi As soon as the Salii heard how kind Cesar was to 'em some of 'em went over out of the Island with their King into the Roman Confines and others fled to the utmost borders of the Country but all of 'em came and humbly committed both their lives and fortunes to Cesar's gracious protection But Cesar by this time observing that the Barbarians durst not fight with him any more they were so intent upon their secret incursions and sly Thieveries by which they did a great deal of damage to the Country he could not tell what to do till at the last he invented this Stratagem to baffle the Barbarians There was a man much bigger than any body else and one that had courage proportionable to his bulk Which Person being by Nation a Barbarian and having used to rob with the other Barbarians thought fit to leave his own Country and go into Gallia Celtica which was under the Romans But whilst he sojourn'd sometime at Treves which is the greatest City in all the Nations beyond the Alps and saw the Barbarians beyond the Rhine over-run the Cities that are situate upon this side of the River and pillage all places without controul which was before that Julian was made a Cesar he was resolving with himself to defend those Towns But because he durst not do that for want of Law to back him in it he at first went alone into the thickest part of the Woods and waited till the Barbarians made their incursions and so in the Night-time when they were Drunk and asleep he set upon 'em and cut off as many of their heads as he was able which he brought and shew'd to those that were in the Town And this he did continually insomuch that he rebated the keenness of the Barbarians who though they could not tell how it came to pass yet they were sensible of a prejudice done to 'em by the Armies decreasing almost every Day But after other Robbers had join'd with this same Person and of a great many single Persons had made a considerable Company then Charietto for that was the mans Name who first found out this way of Ambuscade against the Barbarians came to Cesar and told him all the story which few People knew before that time And thereupon Cesar who could not easily restrain the nocturnal and clandestine inrodes of the Barbarians for they robb'd in small Companies straggling from each other and when it was Day you could not see one man of 'em because they hid themselves in Woods adjacent to the fields and lived upon that which they had gotten by robbing Cesar therefore I say considering how difficult it was to subdue such an Enemy was forced to oppose these Thieves not with an Army of Soldiers onely but Moss-Troopers also For this reason he took Charietto and his men along with him besides a good many of the Salii which he added to 'em and sent 'em forth in the Night against the thievish Quadi who though they lived at that time upon what they stole yet might be less skill'd in the Art of Robbing which these men had studied And then in the Day-time he kept Guard in the open field and kill'd all that escaped his Robbers And thus he did for a great while together till the Quadi were reduced to such a streight and so small a number that they and their General surrendered themselves to Cesar who had taken a great many Prisoners in the former excursions and engagements had got among the rest the Kings Son whom Charietto took For that was the cause that when they made such miserable Petitions for Peace and Cesar demanded some of their Nobility for Hostages amongst whom he requir'd the King's Son should be one the General or King broke out into a most lamentable Complaint and swore with tears in in his Eyes that he had lost his Son too among the rest Which Cesar seeing he had compassion upon his sorrow and shew'd him his Son who was kept very nobly but told him withal that he would keep the Youth for an Hostage as well as others of the Nobility whom he had upon that account
Horses had the worst on 't nor could they themselves swim the River in their Armour or wade over either it was so deep and muddy they could not imagine what to do And that which made the danger greater was that they saw the Enemy on the other side who were ready to stop their passage with Darts and Stones which they threw out of Slings But when no body else could think of an Expedient to free them from those imminent dangers the Emperor himself who was a man of great sagacity in all things and very well vers'd in Military Affairs resolved to order Lucillianus and his fifteen hundred Scouts to go and attaque the Enemy behind thereby to give 'em a Diversion till he and his Army had pass'd the River To which end he sent forth Victor one of his Captains with a competent number of men who lest the Persians should see him set out began his Journey in the Night-time and when he had gone so far that the Enemies could not see what he did even in the Day he cross'd the Channel to seek Lucillianus and his Party And going on still forward but finding no Enemy by the way he call'd out to his Country-men not onely with a loud Voice but gave 'em notice also with Trumpets to come to him But indeed he met him according to his desire and Lucillianus who guess'd what his business was joining his with Victors Forces went and surprised the Enemy behind Who being taken so unprepared were either slain or made their escape which way soever they could By this means the Emperor seeing his stratagem succeeded pass'd over the River without any resistance And having got his Horse over in Boats that he light upon there and the Foot in other Vessels which he found in many parts of the River he continu'd his Journey forward without any dread of an Enemy till he came to a certain City called Bersabora whose bigness and Situation he took a view of For it was enclosed with two round Walls and in the middle of it there was a Castle with another Wall about it much like the Segment of a Circle to which there was a Way from the inner Wall of the City that one could hardly get up to And then upon the South and West side of this City there was a crooked winding way out whereas upon the North part they had made a broad Water-graff out of the River from whence they convey'd Water for the use of the Inhabitants And lastly upon the East side it was encompassed with a deep Ditch and a Mound born up with strong cross pieces of Timber about which Ditch great Towers stood which were built from the ground half way with Brick cemented by a kind of bituminous Loam but above the middle they were made of the same kind of Bricks and Plaister Now the Emperor having resolv'd to take this City he encouraged his Soldiers to the attempt who were so far from being backward that they obey'd his Order with all alacrity Whereupon the Citizens desired that the Emperor would please to receive 'em into his favour and friendship begging one while that he would send Hormisdas to treat of Peace with them and anon reviling the same Person as a Fugitive a Renegado and a betrayer of his Countrey At which the Emperor having good cause to be angry he commanded all his Men to mind their business and carry on the Siege with all their vigour Nor did they fail each one to do his part till the besieged seeing themselves unable to defend their Walls fled all into the Castle Which when the Emperor saw he sent his Soldiers into the City that was now bereft of its Inhabitants who pull'd down the Walls burnt the Houses and planted Engines upon the most opportune places from which they threw both Darts and Stones upon them that were got into the Castle But because the besieged from the Castle kept off the besiegers with Darts and Stones which they continually threw back insomuch that there was a great slaughter on both sides the Emperor either by his own ingenuity upon consideration how the place was Situated or out of his extraordinary experience made this kind of Engine He fasten'd great pieces of Timber together with Iron in form of a square Tower which he placed against the Castle Wall till by degrees it was made as high and into that same Tower he put Bowmen with Engineers that use to sling Darts and Stones So that the Persians who were pelted on all sides both by the besiegers and those that were upon the Engine were forced after a short resistance at last to promise they would surrender the Castle if the Emperor would offer any reasonable Terms And thereupon they agreed that the Persians every man of 'em which were within should pass through the middle of the Roman Army untouch'd and each of 'em have a certain sum of money besides a Coat upon their surrendering the Castle to the Emperor Which being perform'd there were about five thousand men dismiss'd besides what escaped in Long-Boats over the Water and among the rest their Captain Momosirus went out at the same time And when the Castle was thus taken the Soldiers who sought for what might probably be left in it found an immense quantity of Corn all kind of Arms and Engines together with Houshold furniture and other Provisions in abundance All which they disposed of as they thought fit only the greatest part of the Corn was put into the Ships to maintain the Soldiers and the rest they divided among them over and above their ordinary allowance And as for the Arms as many of 'em as were fit for the Roman use were distributed among the Army but those that were onely adapted to the Persian manner of fighting were partly burnt and partly thrown down the River From this Action did the Roman glory receive no small addition That so great a City even the greatest in Assyria next to Ctesiphon and so well fortified should be taken by storm in onely two days And for that reason the Emperor was very kind to his Soldiers as he shew'd by a laudatory Speech that he made in their commendation as much as it was convenient for him to say and by the hundred pieces of Silver which he gave to each one of ' em And so much for these Affairs whilst in the mean time Surenas coming with a great Army out of a Town in Assyria surprised the Roman Scouts that went before the rest of the Army kill'd one of the three Tribunes with some of his Soldiers and put the rest to flight so that he carry'd off an Ensign Military which was like a Dragon and such as the Romans use to carry in War Which when the Emperor knew of he was very much troubled and in a rage just as he was fell upon Surenas's men made 'em all run that could get away re-took the Ensign which the Enemy had taken away and coming
Town had done their work and were just ready to spring in Now the men concern'd were three Companies that is to say the Mattiarii Laccinarii and the Victores But the Emperor kept a little in suspense whilst he commanded an Engine to be brought with all speed against another Gate where he planted all his Army to make the Enemy believe that on the morrow with that Engine he would take the Castle For his Design indeed was to keep the Persians from any thoughts of being surprised through a Mine And therefore all those that were in the Castle were wholly intent upon destroying that Engine whilst at the same time the Parties who had the care of the Mines having dug quite through even to the Surface of the Earth they came forth at mid-night in the middle of an House where there was a Woman a grinding Corn whom he that first appear'd immediately kill'd because she was a going to cry out His name that did so was Superantius a notable Soldier in the Regiment of the Victores and next to him came Magnus then Jovianus a Tribune in the Regiment of the Notarii with many more that follow'd ' em And when by degrees the passage was made wider they were all got presently into the middle of the Town From whence they ran to the Wall and surprised the Persians who were singing after their Country fashion in praise of their own King's Valour but condemning the Roman Emperors vain attempt for they said he might sooner take Jupiter's Palace than their Castle till the Romans came upon 'em and killing all they met with by tumbling 'em down from the Wall they pursu'd the rest and cut 'em off with all manner of Deaths nor did they spare either Women or Children except some few that they had a mind to make Slaves of But Anabdates the Governour of the Castle being taken as he ran through it together with all his Guards which were eighty in number was brought to the Emperor with his Hands bound Now the Castle being thus taken by force and all the People in it of what age soever slain except a few that were unexpectedly preserved the Soldiers fell to plundering and when they had taken all they could find they razed the Wall to the very ground with Engines which they planted against it Nor did they stop there but pull'd down and burn'd all the Houses in such a manner that no body could imagine there had been ever any there From hence he march'd on and pass'd by other Castles of no great Note till he came to an enclosed Place which they call the Kings Hunting Chase where there was a Wall containing within it a large space of ground planted with all sorts of Trees in which there were all kinds of wild Beasts which wanted no food because it was brought in to 'em and they were only kept for the King to Hunt when he pleased Which when Julian saw he order'd the Wall to be broken down in several places and by that means the Soldiers shot the Deer as they ran by ' em But besides this place he saw somewhere nigh unto it a Palace magnificently built after the Roman fashion which when he heard was erected by the Romans he left it and would not suffer the Tribunes to spoil any part of it out of respect to the Romans who were said to be the Founders of it From hence when the Army had pass'd by several Castles they came to a City of Armenia called Sabatha which is thirty furlongs from that which was formerly called Zochasa but is now Seleucia And whilst the Emperor tarried with most part of his Army in a place near to it the Scouts that went before had storm'd the Town The next Day the Emperor walking about the Walls of it he saw several Bodies hanging upon gibbets before the Gates whom the Natives said were the kinsmen of one that had been accused for betraying a Town of the Persians which the Emperor Carus had taken And that put the Emperor in mind to summon Anabdates the Governor of the Castle to his Trial who though he had often deceiv'd the Roman Army by his pretences to assist 'em in the War against Persia yet he had then a fresh Crime laid to his Charge for speaking scandalously of Hormisdas as calling him Traitor before a great many People and saying he was the cause of that Expedition against the Persians for which he was taken and put to death Soon after his Execution the Army marching on Arintheus search'd all the Fens and finding a great many men in 'em he took 'em Prisoners But it was here that the Persians first muster'd up their Forces and set upon the Scouts that went before the Army though they were soon routed and glad to save their lives by flying into a neighbouring City But the Persians on the other side the River attaquing the Servants that look'd to the Beasts of Burthen and others also as many as they found with 'em kill'd part of 'em and took the rest alive which was the first loss the Romans happen'd to have had and therefore put the Army in some kind of consternation From thence they removed to a certain Sluce or Channel which was very large and cut as the Country People say by Trajan when he made War against the Persians Into which the River Narmalaches runs and discharges it self into the Tigris This therefore the Emperor caused to be cleans'd and search'd to make way for his Vessels to pass into the Tigris and if possible to make Bridges for the carrying of his Army over And whilst these things were in agitation there a great Body of Persians upon the opposite Bank both Horse and Foot were got together to hinder their passage if any such thing were attempted Which preparation of the Enemy when the Emperor discover'd he was extreamly eager to be over with 'em and in a sury commanded his men to go aboard the Vessels But they seeing the other Bank somewhat higher than ordinary and besides that a kind of an Hedg along it which was formerly made for a fence to the King's Garden but at that time serv'd for a Wall they said they were affraid of the Darts and Fire-balls which were thrown down from it Whereupon the Emperor being very earnest with 'em two Ships full of Foot Soldiers went over which the Persians presently set on fire by throwing a great quantity of flaming Darts upon them At which the Army was so much more dismay'd that the Emperor was fain to tell a lye to hide his errour They says he are got safe over and have made themselves masters of the Bank I know it by the fire that is in their Ships which I order'd the Soldiers that went over to make in token of Victory Nor had he sooner told 'em so than just as they were they went into the Ships and over as fast as they could till they came where they could wade and then leaping
skill in Divination which they very well understood they could foretell things to come and having enquired who should be Emperor after Valens they had set up a Tripos which in a secret manner revealed to them what was to come and furthermore that in that Tripos there appear'd the Letters θ. ε ο and δ i. e. Theod. which did as good as say in plain terms that Theodorus should succeed Valens in the Empire With these fooleries he was so taken that he was mighty desirous to be continually conversant with Juglers and Conjurers consulting what was to be done but was complain'd of to the Emperor who made him suffer for it according to his desert After which there was also another accident One Fortunatianus who was the Emperors Treasurer had sentenced one of his Soldiers to be whip'd for Sorcery who having been put to the Torture and forced to accuse some others that were his Accomplices the Trial was removed before Modestus who was Prefect of the Court because there were some persons brought in that were not subject to the former Judges jurisdiction For Justice and Judgment take place among all sorts of Men and the Emperor who was extreamly incensed suspected all the most famous Philosophers or any other persons that were bred up to Learning besides some Men of Quality in the Court who were accus'd as Conspirators against the Empire And upon this score all places were full of weeping and lamentation for all the Prisons were cram'd with Men that did not deserve to be in them and there were more Men upon the Roads than were left in the Cities Nay the very Guards that were set to keep the Prisons where such poor Innocents lay confest themselves unable to secure those that were under their charge and were affraid lest they should one time or other escape from 'em by meer force they were so many And in this case the Informers went off without any danger being onely forced to accuse others whilst the convicted were sometimes put to death without lawful proof and some of 'em lost their Estates insomuch that their Wives Children and other Relations were reduced to extream necessity For the Design was by these several wicked arts to raise a great sum of Money for the Treasury Now the first great Philosopher that was taken off was Maximus and after him Hilarius of Phrygia who had plainly interpreted some obscure Oracle with Simonides Patricius the Lydian and Andronicus of Caria who were all men of incomparable Learning and condemn'd rather out of envy than by any just proceeding Whereby all things were in so great a confusion that the Informers and the Rabble along with 'em would go without controul into any mans House rifle all they met and deliver 'em to those that were appointed to kill 'em all without hearing what they could say for themselves And of these Rogues one Festus was the Ring-leader whom the Emperor knowing to be very ready at all kind of cruelty had sent Proconsul into Asia that no learned Man might be left alive but his Design might succeed For Festus having made what search he could kill'd all that he found without any tryal of 'em and forced the rest to fly their Country Now the calamity which befell the Cities upon the account of Theodorus was thus removed Whilst Valentinian who thought he had pretty well managed the German War was very severe upon his Subjects in exacting of Tributes and extorting from 'em much more than ever they used to pay Though he pretended that the Military expences forced him to lay out Money from the publick Stock And thus having caused every body to hate him he was more bitter than before nor would he either inquire whether the Magistrates kept themselves from bribery but envy'd all that had the reputation of leading a blameless life And to speak plainly he was quite another man from what he appear'd to be at the beginning of his Reign For which cause the Africans who could not endure the Avarice of that Roman who was the Magister Militum Master of the Soldiery or General among the Moors they gave the Purple Robe to Firmus and declared him to be Emperor Which being told no doubt but it troubled Valentinian who immediately commanded certain Legions from the Garisons in Pannonia and Mysia to sail into Africa And thereupon the Sarmatians with the Quadi who were long before offended with him that had the charge of those places whose name was Celestius when the Soldiers were gone over into Africa invaded the Pannonians and the Mysians For since Celestius had broken his Oath and not onely deceiv'd but kill'd their Prince by treachery before they rose from Table the Barbarians very wisely took the opportunity of this Expedition and plunder'd all the Country about the Ister carrying all away that they found out of the Cities or Towns By which means the Pannonians were exposed to the Barbarian cruelty whilst the Soldiers were very negligent in defending their Towns and did as much damage as the Barbarians themselves to all places within the River But Mysia suffer'd no injury because Theodosius who was the Magister Militum so valiantly withstood 'em and routed 'em when they came against him And from that Victory he not only gain'd great Honour but afterward came to be Emperor But of that we shall speak in due time But Valentinian not able to endure the news which he heard march'd out of Celtica into Illyricum with a Design to make War upon the Quadi and Sarmatians and made Merobaudes who seemed to have more experience in Military Affairs than any other General of his whole Army But seeing that the Winter weather lasted a little longer than ordinary the Quadi sent Embassadors to him with such instructions as were not modest or becoming at which the Emperor was so angry that being almost mad the blood came down from his head into his mouth and stop'd his breath so that he died after he had lived in Illyricum nine months wanting some few days and in the twelfth year of his Reign When he was dead a Thunderbolt fell upon Sirmium which burnt both the Palace and the Market-place and seemed to such as are Critical Judges of those things to be an ill Omen concerning publick Affairs There also happen'd Earthquakes in some places and Crete was shaken very much as likewise Peloponnesus and all Greece so that many places were ruin'd by it yea almost all tumbled down except Athens and the Country of Attica which they say were saved by this means Nestorius who at that time was the chief Sacrist there saw a Vision that commanded him to pay publick Honours to that Heroe Achilles for it would be a safeguard to the City But he having communicated this to the Magistrates of the City they thought he was so old as to doat and regarded not what he said wherefore he consider'd of it within himself and receiving instructions from Divine Contemplations he set up the
a Controversie among 'em till on a time when they were at the Emperour's Table and had drank more than ordinary they broke out into a quarrel with each other and declar'd their Opinions so that the Emperour when he knew the mind of every particular Man put an end to the Entertainment But as they went from the Court they grew into such an heat that Fraustius not able to endure it any longer drew out his Sword and kill'd Priulfus And seeing his Soldiers would have set upon Fraustius the Emperour's Guards stood between and would not suffer the mutiny to proceed any farther though when the Emperour heard of it he did not much regard what they had done but let the quarrelsom fools kill one another as they would In the mean time having deceiv'd the Embassadors with Presents and fair words that seemed to have a great deal of moderation in them he sent 'em home and as soon as they were gone went on with his Warlike preparations But thinking that his chief business was the choice of Captains as indeed it is he made Timasius Commander of the Roman Army and next to him Stilico who married Serena the Daughter of Theodosius the Emperour's Brother putting his Allies the Barbarians under the conduct of Gaines and Saul with whom also Bacurius was in the same Commission who was of Armenian extract but a Man free from all ill inclinations besides his skill in military Affairs When he had thus made choice of his grand Officers and was making what haste he could toward his marching out it happen'd that his Wife Galla died in Child-bed and was no sooner eas'd of her burthen but she was deprived of her life also Upon which occasion when the Emperour had mourned for her a whole Day according to Homers rule he went away with his Army to the War but left his Son Arcadius behind him who was some time before made Emperour But because he was young his Father thought fit to cure as it were the defects of his nonage by leaving Rufinus with him who was not onely Prefect of the Court and did what he pleased but even as much as the power of Majesty enabled the Emperour himself to do And having done thus he took his younger Son Honorius along with him son pass'd the intermediate Countries and having beyond all hopes got over the Alps he arrived where the Enemy lay insomuch that Eugenius was amazed to see him there whom he so little expected Now since he was there and consequently must fight He thought it best to put his Barbarian Forces in the Forelorn-Hope and exposed them first and therefore commanded Gaines with the Nations under his Command to make the first attaque and that the other Captains should follow him as many as commanded Barbarian Soldiers whether Horse Horse Bowmen or Foot Then did Eugenius also draw out his Men and when the two Armies were engaged there was such an Eclipse of the Sun at the very time of the Fight that above half the while it look'd more like Night than Day And therefore seeing they fought a kind of a nocturnal Battel they made such a mighty slaughter that the same Day the greater part of Theodosius's Allies were slain and their Commander Bacurius also who fought very stoutly in the head of 'em whilst the remaining part of 'em escaped very narrowly with the rest When therefore Night came on and the Armies had rallied their Forces Eugenius was so proud of his Victory that he distributed Money among those that had behaved themselves best in the Battel and gave 'em time to sup as if after such a Defeat there were like to be no fighting But whilst they wore at Meat the Emperour Theodosius who saw it was almost break of Day fell upon the Enemies with all his Forces whilst they were yet lying down upon the ground and kill'd 'em before they could tell who hurt ' em And then going on even to Eugenius's Tent where he set upon those that were about him killing many of 'em he also took some of 'em that were running away for fear among whom Eugenius was one whom when they had gotten into their hands they cut off his Head and carry'd it upon a long Spear about all the Camp to shew those who were yet his Friends how they ought as Romans to be reconciled to the Emperour especially now since the Usurper was removed Whereupon almost all those that were left after the Victory ran over to the Emperour and shouting call'd him Augustus beseeching him likewise to pardon 'em for what they had been guilty of to which the Emperour very easily assented But Arbogastes who had no mind to try the Emperour's good nature fled up into the most craggy Mountains where when he perceiv'd that they went about in all places to search for him he stabb'd himself as choosing rather to die a voluntary death than to be taken by the Enemy When things had thus succeeded to the Emperour Theodosius he went to Rome where he declared his Son Honorius Emperour made Stilico General of all the Forces there and left him as Tutor to his Son But before he went away he call'd the Senate together who stuck close to their ancient Country Rites and Customs nor could be persuaded to joyn with them that seem'd any way to incline toward a contempt of the Gods and in an Oration exhorted 'em to relinquish their former Error as he call'd it and embrace the Christian faith which promises remission of all sins and impieties But seeing ne'r a Man of 'em would be persuaded to it nor recede from their ancient Ceremonies which had been deliver'd down to 'em ever since their City was built and prefer an irrational assent before 'em for they said they had lived almost one thousand two hundred years in the observation of 'em in all which time their City was never conquer'd and therefore if they should change them for others they could not tell what might come of it Theodosius told 'em that the Treasury was too much drain'd by the expences that were occasion'd in holy Rites and Sacrifices and that he would therefore abolish them because he neither thought what they did there commendable nor could the Soldiers necessities spare so much Money To which though the Senate reply'd that Sactifices were not rightly perform'd unless the Charges were from the publick Stock yet for this reason the Law for performance of holy Rites and Sacrifices was repealed and is out of date besides other things that lay neglected which they received from their Forefathers insomuch that the Roman Empire being wasted by degrees is become the habitation of Barbarians or rather having quite lost all its Inhabitants is reduced to such a form that a Man cannot tell where the Cities formerly stood Now that things were brought into such a sad condition will appear by a particular account of them But the Emperour Theodosius having deliver'd up Italy Spain the Celti and all
this Stilico was general of the whole Army out of which he selected all the strongest and most Warlike Soldiers whom he kept with him sending all the weaker part and the very refuse into the East Which when he had done being very angry with Rufinus who had a mind to be invested with a Power in the East that might ballance his in the West he resolv'd to go to Arcadius desiring to have the disposal of all his Affairs too according to his own will and pleasure For he said That when Theodosius was upon his Death bed he gave him charge to take a special care of all the Affairs belonging to both the Emperours Which when Rufinus understood he endeavour'd by all the art he could to hinder Stilico's expedition into the East as likewise to disperse and weaken the Military power of Arcadius And indeed whilst he was a contriving all this he found Men for his turn more wicked than he desired by whose assistance he was the cause of great calamities to the Romans As how I 'll tell you Musonius a Grecian who was an incomparable Scholar had three Sons whose names were Musonius Antiochus and Axiochus of whom Musonius and Axiochus endeavour'd to out do their Fathers Virtues both in their Learning and integrity But Antiochus was pleased with all the contrary courses being an instrument of wickedness onely Wherefore Rufinus finding him fit for his purpose made him Pro-Consul of Greece because he had a mind that the Barbarians when they came in should have no great trouble in laying of it waste and committed the Garison at Thermopylae to the care of Gerontius who would be serviceable in all his Designs against the Commonwealth And when Rufinus had devised these wicked projects seeing Alarichus grew seditious and disobedient to the Laws for he took it very ill that he was not made Captain of some other Military Forces besides those Barbarians which Theodosius gave him when he help'd to remove the Tyrant Eugenius he gave him private notice that he would have him bring forth his Barbarians and all other assistance of what Nation soever they were for that he might easily make himself Master of all that Countrey Whereupon Alarichus march'd out of Thrace into Macedonia and Thessaly destroying all things by the way But when he came near to Thermopylae he sent a private Message to Antiochus the Pro Consul and Gerontius the Governour of the Garison at Thermopylae to inform 'em of his approach Which news Gerontius no sooner heard but he and his Guards march'd off and left a free passage for the Barbarians into Greece Where when they were arrived they immediately fell to plunder the Country and sack all the Towns killing all the Men both young and old and carrying away all the Women and Children together with all the Money in whole ldroves In which expedition all Baeotia and whatsoever Greek Countries the Barbarians passed through after their entrance at Thermopylae were so depopulated that the ruins are to be seen even to this day excepting onely Thebes which was saved partly by its own strength and partly by the haste which Alarichus was in to go and take Athens and therefore would not stay to besiege this City Wherefore the Thebans having thus escaped him he went to Athens supposing he should easily take that City which by reason of its largeness could not well be defended nor being contiguous to the Pyraeeus could it long hold out for want of necessaries before it would surrender Thus did Alarichus hope but the Antiquity of the City even amidst all these impious designs was able to call forth the very Divine Providence to its aid and thereby preserve it Concerning which it is worth ones while to give you an account of the cause whereby the City was saved as being supernatural godlike and apt to excite all those that hear it to Devotion and thus it happen'd When Alarichus came with all his Forces to the City He saw Minerva their Tutelar Goddess walking about the Wall in that very shape that you may see her among the Statues of the Deities which is arm'd and ready to attaque all those that oppose her and before the Walls he saw Achilles standing in such an Heroick posture as Homer shew'd him to the Trojans when he fought against them so furiously to revenge the death of Patroclus Which Sight Alarichus being not able to endure desisted from all attempts upon the City and sent out Heralds to offer terms of peace which they receiving and having mutually given their Oaths to each other Alarichus enter'd Athens with a small number of Men. Where being entertain'd with all kind of civility he wash'd himself and was treated by the best of the City after which also he received certain Presents and went away leaving the City and all Attica unhurt untouch'd Now the City of Athens was the onely place which was saved in the Earthquake that happen'd under the Reign of Valens and shook all Greece as I told you in the precedent Book and escaped also at this time though it was in such extremity of danger Alarichus therefore having left all Attica unwasted for fear of the Apparitions which he saw pass'd on to Megaris which he took upon the first attempt and so went toward Peloponnesus having no body in his way that would resist him And when Gerontius had given him leave to pass over the Isthmus all the Towns beyond that were capable of being taken without the trouble of a fight because they were unwalled and confided onely in the security which they receiv'd from the Isthmus For which reason Corinth was first storm'd and immediately taken with the small Towns adjacent and after that Argos with all the places between that and Lacedaemon Nay even Sparta it self came in for a share in the common captivity of all Greece as being no longer fenced either with Arms or Warlike Men though the covetousness of the Romans but exposed to Magistrates who were treacherous and would readily serve their Governour 's voluptuous inclination in all things that conduced to publick ruin and destruction Rufinus when he heard of the calamities which had befallen Greece was still more desirous to be Emperour For now that the Commonwealth was in an uproar he thought there would be nothing in the way to hinder such an enterprise But Stilico having put a considerable number of Soldiers on board a convenient number of Ships made haste to assist the Achaians in their Affliction And being arrived at Peloponnesus he forced the Barbarians to fly into Pholoe where he had easily cut 'em all off for want of provisions had he not given himself to luxury mimickry and lewd Women and permitted his Soldiers not onely to plunder what the Barbarians left but thereby also to give the Enemy time to depart out of Peloponnesus and marching with all their Spoils into Epirus to pillage all the Towns in that Country Which when Stilico heard that they had done he
design to go into his own Country and there spend the rest of his days But whilst Gaines was doing this one Vldes who at that time was Prince of the Hunns believing it unsafe for him to suffer a Barbarian with an Army of his own at his heels to have any habitation beyond the Ister and at the same time supposing that he should gratifie the Emperour if he expell'd him out of the Country provided to fight him and having muster'd up a considerable number of Men put 'em into Battalia against the Enemy So likewise Gaines on the other side seeing he could neither return to the Romans nor otherwise escape the shock that Vldes had threatned arm'd those Men whom he had with him and met the Hunns And after several Engagements between the two Armies in some of which Gaines's party bore up very stoutly at last after many of his Men were slain even Gaines himself also was kill'd though he fought with great courage and bravery And now the War being ended by the death of Gaines that Vldes the Prince of the Hunns sent his Head to Arcadius the Emperor and was rewarded for sodoing Whereupon he made a League with the Romans But Affairs being carry'd without any conduct because the Emperour had no Prudence at all the Estate of Thrace was again disturbed For there were a company of Fugitive Slaves and others that had run away from their ranks pretending themselves to be Hunns pillaged all the Fields and took whatever they found without doors till such time as Fraiutus went against 'em and killing all he litt upon put the Inhabitants out of fear Here is a Chasme which 't is in vain for any one to think of filling up unless he gives himself the liberty of onely guessing at it The sense therefore such as may be deduced from the precedent passages is this Gaines formerly required that Aurelianus Saturninus and Johannes should be deliver'd into his hands that he might punish 'em as he pleas'd and therefore 't is probable he committed 'em to Custody till he should think fit to inflict some punishment upon them But when Fraiutus pursu'd the remaining part of Gaines's Army who was now kill'd the Keepers gave their Prisoners free leave to escape for fear lest they should fare but very hardly if they fell into Fraiutus's hands Hence does Sylburgius conjecture that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. in Latin Characters liam is the latter end of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thessaliam or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paraliam which signifies near the Sea-Coast into which Country Fraiutus design'd to go over to catch the Traitors and punish 'em according to their demerits and then you must suppose that the next words relate to them when it is said fearing lest they should be but roughly dealt withal But meeting with him they landed in Epirus where consulting how to save themselves for they were in great danger upon the account of their extraordinary Offence they gave their Prisoners an opportunity to escape though others say they gave Mony to be dismiss'd But howsoever they got away they came back to Constantinople beyond all expectation where they appear'd before the Emperour the Senate and all other People Now from this time was the hatred which the Emperess had conceiv'd against John who was a Christian Bishop very much increased for though she had been displeased at him formerly for being somewhat sharp upon her in his publick Homilies before the People yet at this juncture when he and the other two were come home again she broke out into an open abhorrence of him Wherefore to satisfie her passion she did both what she pleased and what she could to make the Bishops in all places consent to John's removal of whom the first and chiefest was Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria in Egypt who was the first that opposed the ancient holy Rites and Ceremonies And though indeed there was a Debate proposed to be held about it yet John seeing that things did not proceed with such equity as they ought to have done went out of Constantinople of his own accord At which the People being disturb'd for he was excellent good at obliging the brutish common People the City was in a Tumult and the Christian Church was fill'd with them that they call Monks Now these are a sort of Men that abstain from lawful marriage and furnish populous Colleges in several Cities and Villages with unmarried Men who are not fit for War nor any other service in the Commonwealth save onely that by going on in their way from that time to this they have gotten a great deal of Land into their possession and under pretence of charity to the Poor have made I had almost said all other Men Beggars And these Men having gotten into the Churches hinder'd the People from coming to their usual Devotion At which the People and the Soldiers too were so vex'd that they desired to correct and lop off as it were the luxuriant boldness of the Monks And having the Signal given 'em for the same purpose they march'd out boldly and without any tryal or examination put 'em all to the Sword till they fill'd the Church with dead bodies and pursuing those that ran away wounded every Man that they met in black Clothes Among whom many died by mistake who either were in mourning or upon any other occasion were in such a habit But by this time John being returned attempted the same things over again and stirr'd up the like troubles in the City where the number of Sycophants being now greater than ever they had been and always attending upon the Court-Eunuchs if any rich Man died they brought an account of his Estate as if he had had no Children or Relations Whereupon the Emperour's Letters were issued out to command that John Doe should have Richard Roes Estate Nay Mens Inheritances were disposed of to any that beg'd 'em though the Children of the Party stood by lamenting and calling upon their Parents In fine there was nothing but fill'd the Cities and Towns with sorrow and did the Inhabitants an unreasonable deal of injury For the Emperour being a meer Fool his Wife who was arrogant above all the rest of Woman kind and devoted both to the insatiable avarice of Eunuchs and the Women who were about her and ruled her most made every body weary of their life insomuch that to modest People nothing was more eligible than Death And as if these things were not sufficient there was misfortune that fell upon Constantinople much greater than can be express'd in this manner John as I told you coming home again after his banishment and instigating the People against the Emperess in his usual Homilies or Sermons and seeing himself expell'd both from the Sea Episcopal as also from the City took shipping and left the Town But those that were of his Party endeavouring to procure that no Man should be Bishop after resolv'd to destroy the City
frustration of her ambitious hopes and the unexpected diverce of her Daughter who being now sent home again Serena had no hopes left of being an Emperess nor any reason to cherish her exalted thoughts He likewise in the same Comma or paragraph tells you such an other Story of Stilico though we may easily demonstrate the cause of his Death For he had rais'd the Alemans Suevians Vandals and Burgundians to extort the Empire from his Son-in-law to his Son For he is noted with this Character in Paul Diac. l. 13. He gave the blood of all mankind to purchase a Purple Garment for one Boy an Halter It is likewise said that Stilico for another impiety not much unlike this of Serena did not escape the secret hand of Vengeance For he also is said to have commanded the Doors of the Capitol at Rome that were cover'd with a great quantity of of Gold to be uncased and that those who were employ'd in that Affair found upon some part of the Doors this Inscription These things are kept for a wretched Prince And so it prov'd even as the Inscription foretold for he died most wretchedly and most miserably too Yet notwithstanding Serenas death did not remove Alarichus from the Siege but he block'd up the Gates all round and having possess'd himself of the River Tiber obstructed the supply of necessaries from the Port to the City Which when the Romans saw they resolv'd yet still to persevere because they expected almost every day to have Auxiliaries sent 'em from Ravenna But when they found no body came and that they were disappointed of their hopes they thought good to retrench the measure of the allowance of Corn or other provisions and to order that there should not be dress'd or prepared for eating above one half of what was formerly for each day and afterward when their scarcity encreased upon them a third part onely And seeing there was no remedy for their Relief but that all their Belly timber Succours of the Belly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was spent a Plague as was probable it would succeeded their famine and all places were full of dead bodies And because the dead could not be buried without the City for the Enemies kept all the Passes or Avenues the City was their Sepulchre So that it was like to be dispeopled upon another account and though there had been no want of Victuals yet the very stench arising from the dead bodies was enough to infect and corrupt their bodies But Laeta Wife to Gratian who had been sometime Emperour and her Mother Pissamena supply'd a great many with necessary food for some time For since the Treasury allowed them the Provisions of an Imperial Table through the generosity of Theodosius who gave 'em that priviledg a great many receiv'd the kindness of those two Women and from their House got that which fortified 'em against a Famine But the malady was come to that extremity as that they were in danger to eat one another they try'd all ways which are abominable in the eyes of mankind and then resolv'd to send an Embassy to the Enemy and acquaint them that they were ready to accept of any reasonable conditions of Peace and at the same time more ready for War since the Roman People had taken up Arms and through their continual exercise in Military Affairs were grown very much inclinable to fight Now Basilius being chosen their Embassador who was a Spaniard and Governour of a Province Johnannes went out along with him who was the chief of the Imperial Notaries called Tribunes because he was acquainted with Alarichus and might be a means to reconcile them For the Romans did not certainly know whether Alarichus himself were come thither or no or whether it were he that besieged Rome For they were cheated with a former Report that it was another Person who had been Stilico's Friend and brought him to the City When therefore the Embassadors came to him they were ashamed of that ignorance in which the Romans had been so long kept but deliver'd the Senates Message Which when Alarichus heard and that the people having been used to Arms were ready for a War The thickest grass says he is more easily cut than the thinnest and having so said he laugh'd at the Embassadors most excessively But when they came to talk of Peace he used such expressions as were beyond all barbarous Arrogance or insolence For he said He would not relinquish the Siege upon any other Condition than that he should have all the Gold and Silver in the City together with all the Houshold goods in it besides the Barbarian Slaves Whereupon when one of the Embassadors said If you take all these things what will you leave for the Citizens He reply'd Their Souls So when the Embassadors had received this Answer they desired time to communicate it to the Citizens and advise with them what was to be done Which leave having obtain'd they related all the Discourse that had pass'd in that Embassy Whereupon the Romans being persuaded that it was really Alarichus who fought against 'em and despairing of all things that conduce to humane strength they call'd to mind that help which the City had formerly found in insurrections and that they by transgressing their ancient Ceremonies were left destitute of it But whilst they were considering of these things Pompeianus the Prefect of the City litt by chance upon some Men that came out of Tuscany to Rome and said That a certain Town called Neveia had freed it self from imminent dangers inasmuch as it had beaten off the Barbarians who beset it by Thunder and Lightning which was caus'd through their Devotion to the Gods in the ancient manner of Worship And therefore when he had discoursed with these Men he did what he well could do out of the Books belonging to the Chief Priests or Pontifies But when he remember'd what Opinion was then prevalent he resolv'd to go about his business with more security and proposed the whole matter to the Bishop of the City whose Name was Innocentius And he truly preferring the safety of the City before his own Opinion permitted 'em privately to do whatever they knew how to do But they pretending that what they could do would do no good unless the publick and usual Sacrifices were perform'd the Senate went up into the Capitol and there as also in the several Markets of the City did all that was to be perform'd but no body daring to communicate in their Religious ancient Worship they dismiss'd those Men who came out of Thuscany and apply'd themselves to reconcile the Barbarian as well as they could To which end they again sent Embassadours and after they had made long Speeches on both sides they agreed that the City should give five thousand pound of Gold and thirty thousand of Silver with four thousand Silk Coats three thousand Fleeces or Fells of a Scarlet die and three thousand pounds of Pepper But because