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
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
far as the Sea-port Towns he took a view of the remaining part of the Army And understanding that the men of those parts were frighted at the very name of Barbarians whilst those whom Constantius had sent along with him who were not above three hundred and sixty in number knew nothing more as he used to say than how to say their Prayers he listed as many more as he could and took in abundance of Voluntiers He also took care for Arms and found a parcel of old ones in a certain Town which he fitted up with all convenient speed and distributed among the Soldiers But when the Scouts brought him word that an infinite number of Barbarians had cross'd the River near the City of Argentoratum Strasburgh that stands upon the Rhine he no sooner heard of it than he went forth with his Army in all haste and engaging with the Enemy gain'd such a Victory as is above all expression for there were sixty thousand men kill'd upon the spot besides as many more that were tumbled into the River and drown'd So that if a man compares this Battel with that of Alexander against Darius he 'll find this Victory to be no way inferiour to that But we ought not silently to pass over that which Cesar did after he had gotten the Victory which was thus He had you must know a Regiment of six hundred Horse that were well disciplin'd men to whose strength and experience he so far trusted that he ventur'd a great part of his hopes upon their performances And indeed when the fight first began the whole Army fell upon the Enemy with all the briskness they could shew but some time after though the Roman Army had much the better on 't these were the onely men that ran away and left their station so dishonourably that when Cesar rode up to 'em with a small Party and called 'em back to share in the Victory he could not prevail with 'em by any means Upon which account Cesar was very angry with them that they as much as in them lay had betray'd their Countrymen to the Barbarians But yet he did not inflict upon them the legal and usual punishment For he put 'em in Womens Cloths and led 'em through the Camp toward another Province because he thought such a Penalty would be worse than Death to Soldiers that were Men. And truly this happen'd to prove very good both for him and them for in the second War against the Germans they remember'd the ignominy that was formerly laid upon them and were almost the onely men who behaved themselves bravely in that Action When Cesar had done thus he raised a great Army by degrees to make War upon the whole German Nation But the Barbarians opposed him in very vast numbers and therefore Cesar would not stay till they came up to him but cross'd the Rhine as judging it more advantageous that the Barbarians Country should be the Seat of War rather than that of the Romans for thereby the Cities would escape being pillaged by the Barbarians any more So therefore to it they fell and very briskly too insomuch that an infinite number of Barbarians were slain in the Battel whilst others fled whom Cesar pursu'd into the Hercynian Woods and kill'd a great many of 'em but took Vadomarius the Barbarian Generals Son alive and brought his Army home singing triumphant Songs and Praises to Cesar for his Exploits in the atchieving of those Victories But Julian sent Vadomarius unto Constantius believing that he owed the success of that Victory to his good Fortune In the mean time the Barbarians who were in very dangerous circumstances fearing upon the account of their Wives and Children lest Cesar should go into those places where they lived and quite destroy their whole Generation they sent Embassadours to treat of an Accommodation by which they would be bound never to fight against the Romans any more But Cesar told 'em He would not treat of Peace upon any terms unless he first receiv'd back the Captives whom they had formerly taken in the several Towns which they conquer'd To which seeing they consented and promised to deliver up all that were alive Cesar to make sure that no single Captive should remain among the Barbarians took this course He sent for all those that were fled out of each City and Village and requir'd 'em to tell him by their Names what Captives the Barbarians had taken from each of their Cities or Villages And when they had severally named the Persons whom they knew either upon the score of Kindred Neighbourhood Friendship or upon some other account he order'd the Imperial Notaries to take a Catalogue of them which they did so privately that the Embassadours knew nothing of it And then Cesar crossing the Rhine commanded them to bring back the Captives which in a short time they obey'd But because they said that those were all the Captives Cesar who was seated upon an high Throne and had planted the Notaries behind him he gave Order that the Barbarians should produce their Captives according to their Articles So when the Captives came before him one by one and told their names the Notaries that stood hard by Cesar look'd into their Papers to see whether they were right But afterward comparing those which they had taken down with those that appear'd before Cesar and finding that the Inhabitants of the several Cities and Villages had named many more than were there present they stood behind Cesar and told him of it Whereupon he threaten'd the Embassadours to make War against the Barbarians for not delivering all the Captives and by the suggestion of the Notaries named certain Persons of such and such Towns that were yet lacking Which the Barbarians hearing they presently imagined that Cesar had all the most abstruse and secret things in Nature revealed to him by some Divine Intelligence and therefore they promised to deliver up all that they found alive and bound their Promise with the accustomary Oaths of their Country Which when they had done and had restored as many Captives as it was probable might be taken out of forty Cities which they sack'd Cesar was at a loss what to do because he saw the Cities quite ruined and that the Land had been for a considerable time untilled which caused a great scarcity of provisions among those that were delivered up by the Barbarians For the neighbouring Cities could not supply 'em because they themselves had been very sensible of the Barbarian violence and consequently had no great plenty for their own use He therefore being in a doubt what to resolve on contrived it thus The Rhine discharges it self into the Atlantick Ocean at the utmost limits of Germany where some of the Galls live and from that shore the British Isle lies nine hundred furlongs distant For which reason he got Timber out of the Woods that lie upon the River and built eight hundred Vessels bigger than Skiffs which he
resolving to get her consent by these means made it his whole business to prepare for a War And being incited by a Woman he not onely obliged the Soldiers by increasing their Allowances but he likewise corrected his own remissness in other cases since necessity forced him to it resolving to take care of some things that would want looking after when he was gone To which end seeing Cynegius the Prefect of the Court had happen'd to die by the way as he was coming back from Egypt he consulted who was fit to succeed him in that Office And having taken frequent views of many Men at length he found out one for his turn called Tatianus whom he sent for from Aquileia For this Tatianus had born other Offices under Valens and was a good Man in all respects wherefore Theodosius declared him Prefect of the Court all over the Countrey and sending him the Ensigns of Magistracy made his Son Proclus Praetor or Governour of the City And truly in this he did very well in committing the greatest Offices to such good Men who knew how to dispose of things very skilfully for the good of the Subjects when the Emperor was gone He likewise took a care for the Army and made Promotus General of the Horse and Timasius of the Foot But just when all things were ready fot his Journey he heard the Barbarians who were mix'd among the Roman Legions had been solicited by Maximus with promises of great Rewards if they would betray the Army But they perceiving that the Design was discover'd fled into the Fens and Bogs of Macedonia where they hid themselves in the Woods But being pursu'd and search'd for with all diligence they were most of them slain So that the Emperour being freed from this fright march'd with all resolution and his whole Army against Maximus having first put Justina with her Son and Daughter on Ship-board and committed 'em to the care of those who would see 'em safe at Rome For he believ'd that the Romans would receive 'em very gladly because they were disaffected to Maximus But he with his Army design'd to march through the upper Pannonia and over the Apennine Mountains to Aquileia that he might surprise the Enemy before they were prepared But whilst Theodosius was on his way it happen'd that Maximus having heard that Valentinian's Mother with her Children was like to cross the Ionian Bay got together a convenient number of swift Chase-ships and gave 'em to Andragathius whom he sent to hunt 'em out But Andragathius though he sailed to and fro to all places yet miss'd of his aim for they were passed the Ionian Streight before and therefore getting together a competent Navy he sailed to all the Coasts thereabout because he thought Theodosius would attaque 'em in a Sea-fight But whilst Andragathius was thus employ'd Theodosius having passed through Pannonia and the Streights of the Apennine Mountains set upon Maximus's Army before they expected or were provided for him And when some part of his Army who ran as fast as they could had got to the Walls of Aquileia and forced their passage through the Gates for the Guards or Sentinels were too few to resist 'em Maximus was pull'd down from his Imperial Throne whilst he was beginning to distribute Money among his Soldiers and being strip'd of his Imperial Robes was brought to Theodosius who having recounted some few of his Crimes against the Publick by way of Reproach deliver'd him to the common Hangman or Executioner to suffer due punishment Now this was the end of Maximus and his usurp'd Dominion who when he had craftily conquer'd Valentinian dream'd he should easily subdue the whole Roman Empire But then the Emperour Theodosius having heard that when Maximus came over the Alps he left his Son Victor there whom he had honour'd with the Title of Caesar he presently sent his General called Arbogastes who deprived the Youth not onely of his Dignity but his life too Which when it was told to Andragathius who was then a cruising in the Ionian Bay it made him so sensible of ten thousand dangers which were like to befal him that he never stay'd to expect the Enemies coming but was the Executioner of his own punishment for he threw himself into the Sea as chusing rather to trust the Waves than Men that were his greatest Enemies Then did Theodosius deliver to Valentinian as much of the Empire as ever his Father had which was indeed but what a Man ought to do to those that have deserv'd well of him And afterward having mingled all the choice of Maximus's Soldiers among his own he sent Valentinian away into Italy Celtica and other parts to order such things as concern'd his share in the Empire His Mother also went along with him to supply as much as in a Woman lay what prudence he through want of age might lack But going himself back to Thessalonica he found no small confusion in the Affairs of Macedonia For all the Barbarians who had hid themselves in the Fens and the Woods lying near the Lakes and had escaped the former incursion of the Romans having got an opportunity when Theodosius was engaged in the Civil War plunder'd all Macedonia and Thessaly without any opposition But when they heard of the late Victory and that the Emperour was coming back again they once more hid themselves in the Fens and from thence stealing out privately at break of Day they carry'd off all that came in their way and then they repaired to their usual places Insomuch that the Emperor thought at last that these whoever they were that sally'd out thus to pillage the Countrey were rather Devils than Men. Wherefore being very doubtful in his mind he told no body his Design but taking along with him five Horsemen whom he order'd each of 'em to lead three or four Horses that so if any Horse tired the Rider might have another to get upon and the Horses by that means be able to sustein the fatigue of that enterprise which he intended he gave no ground for suspicion that he was the Emperour but went about the Countrey like any ordinary person and if he or his Retinue at any time wanted meat he begg'd of the Country people At last he came to a small Inn where an old Woman lived and desired that she would let him into her House and give him some Drink both which she did and by that time she had entertain'd him very kindly with Wine and other things that she then by chance had in the House it was almost Night and so he desired her to let him lie there to which the old Woman likewise consented and the Emperour lay in a certain Room where he saw a Man that said ne'r a word but look'd as if he had not a mind to be known At which the Emperour wonder'd and calling the old Woman to him demanded of her who he was and whence he came To which she reply'd that she could
restrain in him He objects to his Sons their slaughter of one another and the murther of their Kinred He shews the sloth of Jovian and the cowardise of his mind in quitting those Provinces which belonged to the Empire He sets a mark upon Valentinian for his unreasonable suspicion and thence his cruelty to such as he distrusted his oppressing his People with immoderate and unreasonable Taxes In Gratian he shews how his too great affection towards the barbarous Nations and his contempt of his own Subjects were the occasion of his death and an alteration in the Common-wealth He blames Theodosius for changing and augmenting the number of Magistrates and selling of their places and his being so excessively given to voluptuousness though excepting these he as freely praises him He terms his Son Arcadius no better than beast for being governed onely by Eunuchs and idle Women to the extream detriment of the Commonwealth and the grief of all good Men and says that Honorius was even as slothful as his Brother These are those godly Princes I suppose against whom Photius complains Zosimus has bark'd in exposing their Vices to the World who nevertheless if he found any thing that deserved commendation he never dissembled it Add the Pillars of our Religion St. Chrysostom who he says was wont with great Eloquence to soften and cajole the unlearned Rabble and Pope Innocent who opposed not the use of those impious Rites for the safety of the City as if he had had that of Virgil in his mind Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta movebo And lastly the Monks whom he takes notice of for abstaining from Marriage filling Cities and Villages with Colledges of single People of use neither to the Wars nor to any civil Duty in the Common-wealth but have ever since gone a certain way whereby they have secured a considerable part of the Earth to themselves and under pretence of relieving the poor have reduced a great part of mankind to beggery And here you see the yelping Photius is so displeas'd at In those other things wherein Zosimus hath reflected upon the Christian Religion you may observe a kind of admirable return or Circle of Times and humane things He relates how Gratian died by a kind of Judgment for refusing to put on the Garment of the Pontifex Maximus according to the custom of his Predecessours declaring himself a Christian and no Worshipper of the host of Heaven which Garment was wont to be presented to the Pagan Emperours with the same Ceremony as in succeeding ages the Christian used to put on the Stolae Diaconatus He reports how the Senate in defence of the Religion they had received from their Ancestours laid before Theodosius the Antiquity of their Rites and Worship having derived them from the very foundation of their City and by the observing of which the People of Rome had preserv'd their Empire twelve hundred years that it was unreasonable to prefer a Religion that had so little to say for it self to one so ancient and august And adds how Theodosius abolish'd those sacred Rites which by the Institution of his Ancestours ought to have been perpetual how he forbad sacrificing at the Publick charge and commanded provisions for the Army to be raised out of them for the safety of the Roman Empire He complains of his removing the Images and shortly after the Statues of Gold and Silver and coining vast sums of Money out of them which he was afterward forc'd to part with to Alaric to buy a Peace at his hands that Serena Theodosius's Niece sacrilegiously rob'd the Mother of the Gods of her Jewels and wore them herself and that her Husband Stilico took away those huge Plates of Gold which were 〈◊〉 to the doors of the Temple belongings to the Capitol But who is there that has not seen the like in our days and heard the like Complaints From all which it is evident that that common Enemy of mankinds that he might obstruct the true Worship of God has always been the same But 't is my Opinion that Wise Men will be so far from refusing to read Zosimus that the variety of these kinds of Relations will render him more acceptable and delightful This is what I had to offer in his Defence against the frightful Invectives of some Writers and which I hope will obtain among those Men who are capable of making a right judgment of things I could if I pleas'd or thought it worth my while inlarge in the just praise of Zosimus's History But because as they say Good Wine needs no Bush I will no longer detain the Reader from entertaining himself better with the most Elegant Writings of our Author and I promise my self that excepting those things which relate to Church-Affairs the learned Reader will in all others prefer him far before either Eusebius Socrates Sozomen or Theodoret or if out of a religious kind of scruple they are affraid to prefer a Pagan to those Ecclesiastical Writers of the upper Form yet we do not at all doubt but they will without dispute allow him to equal them in his way and not so much as admit the rest of them as Zonaras Cedrenus c. into competition with him A New HISTORY Written by Count ZOSIMVS Sometime Advocate of the Treasury The First Book WHEN Polybius of Megalopolis design'd to write the History of all remarkable passages in his time he thought it the best way to shew from matter of fact that the Romans who had Wars with their neighbouring Nations for six hundred years after the building of their City gain'd in that time no very great Dominions But when they had reduced some small part of Italy which after Hannibal came over at the Battel of Cannae they lost and saw their Enemies lie before their Walls they grew so great and fortunate that in less than fifty three years they were masters not onely of all Italy and Africa but subdu'd the Spaniards too And being still desirous to propagate their Empire they pass'd the Ionian Bay conquer'd the Grecians and ruin'd the Macedonians whose King that then was they took alive and carry'd to Rome Now the cause of all this no man will say was meerly humane but either fatal Necessity or the Influence of the Stars or the Will of God which favours all our Actions as long as they are just and good For these things lay such a train of seeming causes upon future contingencies that thinking men suppose the Administration of humane affairs is managed by divine Providence so that when peoples Spirits are up and vigorous they thrive and are in good plight but on the contrary when these are dejected and want courage those dwindle into the present circumstances But my business is to shew from the things themselves that what I say is true and therefore I must tell you That after the Trojan War until the Battel of Marathon the Greeks did nothing that I know worth the speaking of either
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
whereupon they travail'd into the Countrey near Phasis where they say is the Temple of Diana called from the place Phasiana and the Palace of King Aeeta and having in vain attempted to take that Temple went streight to Pityus Where when they had taken the Castle and turn'd out all the Guards that were in it they went on forward and having a very numerous Navy whereinto they put all the Captives who knew how to handle an Oar they sailed in calm weather which continued almost all the Summer toward Trapezus which is a great and populous City and had in it some ten thousand men besides their usual Complement They therefore when they first laid Siege to it did not so much as dream they should take it because it was surrounded with two Walls but when they observed that the Soldiers were given up to sloth and drunkenness and did not continue upon the Wall but were always in pursuit of pleasures and debauchery they piled up Trees which they had prepared for the purpose against the Wall whereby to scale it and so getting their men up by degrees in the night-time they took the City whilst the Soldiers within were amazed at the sudden and unexpected invasion but made a shift to escape through several Gates of the City and the rest were destroy'd by the Enemy And when the City was thus taken the Barbarians got an unspeakable quantity of Money besides an infinite number of Slaves for almost all the Countrey people thereabout were fled into that City for refuge as being a well-fortified place They therefore having demolish'd all the Temples and Houses besides other things whatever they were that conduced either to the grandeur or beauty of the Place and over ran the adjacent Countrey too return'd home with a great number of Ships When the Scythians that were their Neighbours saw what a booty they had gotten they had a mind to do something in imitation of 'em and to that end prepared a Fleet which either their Captives or others that for want had mix'd themselves among them help'd 'em to build But they resolv'd not to set out as the Borani had done because it was tedious and difficult to sail that way and they must pass through places that were already plunder'd Wherefore they stay'd till Winter and then leaving the Euxine Sea on the left hand but Ister Tomes and Anchialus on the right whilst their Land-forces march'd by the shore as fast as they could they arrived at the Lake of Phileatina which lies to the Westward of Byzantium near Pontus But finding that the Fishermen of that Lake had hidden themselves and their Vessels in the Fenns adjacent to it they went and made an agreement with 'em put their Land-forces into the Fishermens Boats and so sailed forward in order to pass the streight that lies between Byzantium and Chalcedon And though there was a Guard from Chalcedon all along as far as the Temple which stands at the entrance into Pontus that was much too strong for the Barbarians who came against it yet some of the Soldiers march'd off under pretence of meeting a General that the Emperor had sent thither and others were in such a fright that they ran away as fast as they could when they first heard of it Whereupon the Barbarians cross'd over took Chalcedon without any opposition and made themselves masters of Mony Arms and other provisions in abundance From hence they march'd on to Nicomedia a great and wealthy City fam'd both for the riches and general affluence of it where though the Citizens had heard of their coming and were run away with all the Money they could carry the Barbarians notwithstanding admired at the vast quantity of things that they found there and pay'd Chrysogonus all Honour and service who had formerly advised 'em to Nicomedia And when they had over-ran Nicaea Cius Apamea and Prusa and done the same in those places they went toward Cysicus but the River Ryndacus was so mightily out by reason of the great Rains that had fallen they could not pass and so were forced to go back again Then they burnt Nicomedia and Nicaea and putting up or stowing their Spoils in Carts or Ships begain to think of going home again which put an end to their second incursion or inrode By this time Valerianus had heard of the disturbances in Bithynia but durst not trust any of his Captains with the defence of it he was so diffident Wherefore he sent Felix to look after Byzantium and went himself from Antioch as far as Cappadocia where having done some injury to every City as he passed along he returned homeward But then the Plague happen'd among his Army and destroy'd most of 'em at what time Sapores made an Attempt upon the East and reduced it all into his own Power In the mean time Valerianus was so effeminate and supine that he despair'd of ever recovering out of the present ill circumstances and would have put an end to the War by giving of Money but Sapores sent his Embassadors whom he sent about that Affair away without their Errand desiring that the Emperor would come and parley with him in Person concerning those things that he thought requisite To which he consented like an imprudent man as he was and going without any consideration to Sapores with a small Retinue to treat forsooth about a Peace was presently taken by the Enemy and so ended his days in the quality of a Slave among the Persians to the great dishonour of the Roman Name in all future times This being the State of the East all things at that time were in a confus'd helpless condition But the Scythians were unanimous and therefore mustering themselves into one body out of every Nation and Countrey within their Dominions they plunder'd Illyricum with some part of their Army wasting the Cities in those parts and march'd with the rest into Italy as far as Rome it self In the mean time Gallienus continu'd still beyond the Alpes intent upon the German Wars whilst the Senate seeing Rome in such extream danger arm'd all the Soldiers that were in the City besides the stronger sort of the Common People and gather'd up an Army which for number out did the Barbarians At which the Barbarians were so scar'd that they left Rome indeed but pillaged almost all Italy besides But then when Illyricum was in extream danger from the incursion of the Scythians and the whole Roman Empire in such a tottering condition that they knew not what to do there happen'd a Plague to break out very rise in several of their Towns the like was never known that did alleviate the Calamities which the Barbarians inflicted upon them making the sick esteem themselves happy and the Cities too that were already taken but by this means turn'd into Deserts Gallienus was disturb'd at all these things and therefore return'd to Rome to relieve Italy from that War which the Scythians had levied there when at the same
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
friends who were so much concern'd for his misfortunes But besides Longinus there were others also that suffer'd upon Zenobias's accusation Now it were worth while to tell you what happen'd before the sacking of Palmyra though I pretend onely to write a transient History as I told you in my Preface For whereas Polybius gives us an account how the Romans acquired a vast Empire in a short time I on the contrary am to shew how by their own ill management they in as short a time lost it But of that when I come to that part of the History I am now speaking of the Palmyrenes who having gain'd a great share of the Roman Empire as I told you had several Declarations from the Gods which did portend that overthrow of theirs which afterward fell out As for example At Seleucia in Cilicia there was a Temple of Apollo called there Sarpedonius and in that Temple an Oracle But as to what is reported of that God That he used to give all those who were infested with swarms of Locusts a certain kind of Birds called Seleuciades that used to be about his Temple and would send 'em along with all People who desired it and that the Birds would fly among the Locusts take 'em in their mouths and kill an infinite number of them in a moment so as to free People from the trouble of 'em I ascribe to the happiness of that Age since our generation has rejected such kindness from Heaven Now the Palmyrenes having consulted this Oracle to know if they should ever get the Empire of the East the Answer was this Avoid my Temple Cursed treacherous Nation Enough to put the Gods themselves in passion And when certain persons enquired there also about the success of Aurelianus's expedition against the Palmyrenes the God told them One Falcon many Doves commands whose end Vpon his fatal pounces does depend Besides which there goes likewise another story of the Palmyrenes and that 's this There is a place between Heliopolis and Biblis called Aphaca where there is a Temple dedicated to Venus Aphacitis and near unto it a Pond much like an artificial Cistern and where likewise there is often seen about the Temple and in places adjacent a fire in the Air resembling a Lamp or of a round Figure which has appeared even in our time as often as people met there on such and such days Which whosoever did brought to the Pond some Present or other for the Goddess whether of Gold Silver Linnen Silk or any other rich thing By whom if it were accepted the Cloth like things of far greater weight sunk to the bottom but if they were rejected you might see 'em float upon the top of the Water not onely Cloth and such like but even that which was made of Silver and Gold or other materials which are not apt to swim but sink For an experiment of which Miracle the Palmyrenes in the year before their overthrow met together upon an Holy-day and threw into the Pond several Presents of Gold Silver and Cloth in honour of the Goddess which all of 'em sunk to the bottom but the next year upon the same Festival were seen to float a top of the Water by which the Goddess foretold what should afterward come to pass Now in this manner was the kindness of Heaven shewn to the Romans as long as they kept up their holy Rites But I come to speak of those times in which the Roman Empire degenerated to a kind of Barbarity and fell to decay I will shew the reasons of such misfortunes and set forth those Oracles whereby such things were predicted In the mean time I ought to return thither from whence I digress'd lest I should seem to leave the order of the History imperfect Aurelianus therefore marching toward Europe and carrying Zenobia her Son and all the rest who were Confederates in the Rebellion along with him they say Zenobia died either of a Disease or for want of eating but that all the rest were drown'd in the Streight between Byzantium and Chalcedon Nevertheless Aurelianus continu'd his Journey into Europe when by the way a Messenger came and told him there were a parcel of men whom he had left in Palmyra that having won Apsaeus the great Author of all that was past were tampering with Marcellinus whom the Emperor had made Prefect of Mesopotamia and Governour of the East to take upon him the Imperial Robe But he under pretence of taking time to deliberate put 'em off so long that they importun'd him again several times Wherefore he was fain to frame ambiguous answers to their Demands till he had given Aurelianus notice what he design'd to do But the Palmyrenes in the mean time having cloathed Antiochus in a purple garment kept at Palmyra When Aurelianus heard that he went into the East just as he was without any other preparations and coming to Antioch surpriz'd all the People who were then at an Horse-match and mightily astonish'd to see him but from thence he went on to Palmyra Which Town he took and razed without fighting for it but not thinking that Antiochus was worth the punishing upon the account of his mean condition he dismiss'd him After which action of his he quickly reduced the Alexandrians who were inclinable to a Rebellion as being already in a tumult For which he rode in Triumph into Rome where he was most magnificently receiv'd by the Senate and People At this time also he built that sumptuous Temple of the Sun which he adorn'd with all those holy spoils that he brought from Palmyra setting up in it the Statues of the Sun and Belus Which having done he easily subdu'd Tetricus with his rebellious Complices whom he brought to condign punishment He likewise called in all the counterfeit money and gave out new to avoid confusion in Trade Besides which he also bestow'd a Dole of Bread as a mark of his favour upon the people and having setled all Affairs began his Journey from Rome But whilst he staid at Perinthus now call'd Heraclea there was a Plot laid against him which was thus There was a certain Person in the Court call'd Eros whose place it was to carry forth the Emperors Answers This man the Emperor had threaten'd for some fault or other and put him in a fright upon which account he dreading lest the Emperour should make good his menaces by his actions goes to certain of the Guard whom he knew to be the boldest Fellows in all the Court tells 'em a plausible Story and shews 'em a Letter of his own Writing just like the Emperours which he had learn'd to counterfeit long before and persuading them first that they themselves were to be murther'd for that was the plain meaning and scope of the Letter he endeavour'd to induce them to kill the Emperour They therefore observing Aurelianus to go out of the City without any great Attendance ran in upon him with their naked Swords and murther'd him
But he was buried there upon the place very magnificently by the Army in token of the great Services that he had done and dangers that he had undergone for the good of the Publick After him Tacitus got the Empire in whose time the Scythians came over the Fenn of Meotis and made their incursions through Pontus even into Cilicia till Tacitus set upon 'em who partly in his own Person and partly by Florianus Prefect of the Court whom he left in Commission for that end kill'd and quite routed 'em all but went himself into Europe where he was circumvented and kill'd after this manner He had committed the Government of Syria to his Cousin Maximinus who treated the Nobility of the Countrey so roughly that he made 'em envy and fear him both together And that begot such an hatred in them that they at last conspiring with them who had murther'd Aurelianus assaulted Maximinus and having kill'd him slew Tacitus also as he was just decamping Now therefore all things revolv'd into a civil Disturbance whilst those of the East chose Probus Emperor and those at Rome Florianus Of whom the former was Governour of all Syria Phaenicia Palestine and Egypt but the latter had all the Countreys from Cilicia to Italy besides that to him likewise all the Nations beyond the Alpes the Gauls Spaniards Britains and Africans in general did homage Wherefore when they were both now ready for a War Florianus came to Tarsus and resolv'd to pitch his Camp there leaving his Victory against the Scythians at the Bosphorus unfinish'd whereby he gave them an opportunity to recover themselves and return to their own homes though he had block'd 'em up But Probus protracted the time because he came with less preparation for a War by which means it came to pass that the Weather in Summer-time being extream hot Florianus's Soldiers who were most of 'em Europaeans and consequently not used to such excessive heat died of a pestilent Distemper Which when Probus understood he thought it best to attaque the Enemy in time Whereupon Florianus's men attempting somewhat beyond their strength made certain light Skirmishes before the City but seeing there was nothing done worth the speaking of the Armies being divided some of Probus's Soldiers came and deposed Florianus Which when they had done he was kept in custody for a time till his own men said that was not done by Probus's order and so Florianus put on the Purple Robe again till they came back who were sent to know the truth of Probus's resolution in the matter who upon their return caused Florianus to be slain by his own Soldiers When Probus had thus gotten the Empire he marched forward and did indeed a very commendable act for the publick good as a prelude to what he afterward would do For he resolv'd to punish those that had murther'd Aurelianus and plotted against Tacitus though he did not put his design openly in execution for fear of an insurrection but planted a Company of men that he had confidence in at a convenient Post near which he invited the Murtherers to a Feast VVho when they came thither in expectation to be treated at the Emperors Table Probus went up into a kind of Gallery or Balcony from whence he might see the action 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and gave his men the signal when they should do the feat Which they no sooner receiv'd but they fell upon the Murtherers naked as they were and kill'd 'em all but one whom he afterward burnt alive as being a very dangerous Fellow Whilst Probus did these things Saturninus a Moor who was the Emperours most familiar friend and for that reason had the Government of Syria committed to him revolted from his Allegiance to the Emperor and turn'd Rebel Which when Probus heard he resolved to obviate his designs but that the Eastern Soldiers prevented him by destroying Saturninus with all his treacherous machinations He likewise suppressed another insurrection in Britain by the assistance of Victorinus a Moor who had persuaded him to make that Rebel Governour of Britain For having sent for Victorinus to him and reproved him for his advice he sent him to correct the miscarriage who going forthwith into Britain took off the Traytor by a wile Probus therefore having managed things according as I have related obtain'd several Victories against the Barbarians also in two several Wars the one of which he himself was present in but left the other to the conduct of his Lieutenant But because he saw it necessary to assist the Cities of Germany that lay upon the Rhine and were infested by the Barbarians he march'd with his Army toward the Rhine Where when the War began there was a grievous famine in all the Countrey thereabouts but a mighty shower fell at the same time of Rain and Corn together insomuch that in some places there were great heaps of it made by its own descent At which strange sight all People were so much astonish'd that at first they durst not touch the Corn to satisfie their hunger but being at last forc'd to it by necessity which is above all fear they made Bread of it which they ate and thereby not onely satisfied their hunger but got the Victory also with a great deal of ease through the Emperors good success He also put an end to many other Wars with little or no trouble and fought sharp Battels first against the Logiones a German Nation whom he conquer'd and took Semno their General with his Son Prisoners but pardon'd 'em upon submission though he took all their Captives and their plunder from 'em and so upon certain Terms dismissed not only common persons but even Semno and his Son Another Battel that he fought was against the Franks whom when he had bravely subdu'd by the good management of his Officers He made War upon the Burgundi and the Vandili But seeing his Forces were too weak he contriv'd how to single out and engage with some part onely of the Enemies forces And indeed Fortune favour'd his design for the Armies lying on both sides of the River the Romans challeng'd the Barbarians that were on the further side to fight At which they were so incensed that as many as could got over where they joyn'd Battel and fought till the Barbarians were partly slain and partly taken alive by the Romans except some few that were left who desired Peace upon condition to give up their Captives and their plunder which they obtain'd But because they did not restore all they had the Emperor was therefore so angry that he in justice fell upon 'em as they march'd away and killing many of them took their General Igillus Prisoner But as many of 'em as he took alive he sent into Britain where they inhabited the Island and were afterward very useful to the Emperor upon any Insurrection When he had in this manner perfected these Wars upon the Rhine the Isaurians did something about that time which
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
otherwise destroy'd In fine a great many men were thrown over-board till night came and put an end to the fight So the one Navy put in at Eleus in Thrace and the other at the Aeantian Harbour And the next Day whilst the Wind blew hard at North Abantus put forth from the Aeantian Port and made ready for a Sea fight But because those Galleys of fifty Oars apiece which lay in the mouth of the Hellespont were come to Eleus by Order of the Admirals Abantus was affrighted at the number of Ships and stood debating whether he should set Sail against the Enemy or no. But about Noon the North-Wind was allay'd and the South-Wind blew so violently that when Licinnius's Navy lay upon the Asian Coast it ran some on ground bilg'd some against the Rocks and sunk others men and all so that five thousand men were lost besides one hundred and thirty Ships full of men which Licinnius had sent out of Thrace into Asia with part of his Army because Bizantium was too little to contain all those who were besieged with Licinnius But when Licinnius was fled into Asia with four Ships and the Sea fight was thus at an end as also that the Ships were come into the Hellespont and had brought all sorts of Commodities and great store of provisions to Constantine's Officers they weigh'd Anchor with the whole Navy to go and join with those that besieged Bizantium and inclose the City even by Sea also But Licinnius's Foot were not able to endure so much as the very sight of such a Navy and therefore got 'em Ships and sailed away for Eleus In the mean time Constantine continu'd close at the Siege and made a Mound as high as the Wall upon which he planted Wooden Towers higher than the Wall from which his Soldiers shot those who defended the Wall that he might with more security bring Rams and other Engines of War near to it and by that means he thought sure enough to take the City At which Licinnius being startled and not knowing what to think he resolv'd to leave Bizantium and the weaker part of his Army in it and onely take along with him such men as were fit for service and had given him demonstrations of their love to him and so make what haste he could into Chalcedon in Bithynia For he believ'd he might raise an Army in Asia and try another Engagement with his Enemies Wherefore arriving at Chalcedon and having made Martinianus who was Captain of the Court Guards whom the Romans call Magister Officiorum his Accomplice and Partner in the dangerous Enterprise he declared him Caesar and sent him with an Army to Lampsacus to hinder the Enemies passage from Thrace into Hellespont whilst he himself posted his own men upon the Hills and Avenues about Chalcedon And whilst Licinnius was intent upon these matters Constantine who had a great number of Ships for burthen as well as War and had a mind with them to cross over and possess himself of the other shore fearing lest the Bithynian Coast might be inaccessible to Ships of burthen especially he immediatey built Skiffs and other Boats and with them he sailed to the holy Promontory as they call it which lies upon the mouth of Pontus two hundred furlongs from Chalcedon And there he landed his Army which when he had done he went upon certain Hills hard by to set 'em in Array At which time Licinnius though he saw that Bithynia was already in the Enemies hands yet was a man so harden'd by Danger that he sent for Martinianus from Lampsacus and to encourage his men to fight told 'em he himself would lead ' em And when he had said what he thought necessary to 'em he drew 'em into Battalia and marching out of the City he met the Enemy who were ready for him And after a sharpe Engagement between Chalcedon and the Holy Promontory Constantines side had much the better on 't for they fell upon the Enemy with such vigour and made such a slaughter of 'em that of an hundred and thirty thousand men scarce thirty thousand escaped Which when the Bizantines heard of immediately they threw open their Gates to receive Constantinus as the Chalcedonians also did But Licinnius having receiv'd this Overthrow went for Nicomedia with what Horse he had left him and some few Thousands of Foot Just at this time a certain Persian called Hormisdas of the Royal Family came over to Constantine for refuge upon this account His Father had been King of Persia and on a time was celebrating his own Birth-day after the Persian way when Hormisdas came into the Palace and brought with him a great deal of Venison But the Guests that were at the Feast not rising up and paying him the respect and honour due to him he was very angry and told 'em he would punish 'em with Marsyas's Death Which saying a great many of 'em did not understand because it related to a Forein Story but onely one Persian among 'em who had lived in Phrygia and heard the story of Marsyas explain'd the meaning of Hormisdas's Menace to 'em as they sate at Table Wherefore they laid up Hormisdas's Menace in their memories and when his Father happened to die they remember'd what he had threaten'd and so chose his younger Brother King though the elder should have had the preference according to Law above all the Kings Children Nor only that but they shackled Hormisdas and kept him upon a certain Hill which lies before the City But when some time had pass'd his Wife contrived his escape in this manner She got a great Fish and put a File into his belly and then solving him up again deliver'd it to the most faithful Eunuch that she had with a strict charge to tell Hormisdas he must eat that Fish when no body was by and use that which he found in his belly in order to his escape And when she had thus contrived it she sent out several Camels loaden with Wine and a deal of Provision to entertain her Husbands Keepers And whilst the Keepers were merry at the Feast which she made for 'em Hormisdas cut up the Fish and found the File with which when he had cut off the shackles that were upon his Legs he put on the Eunuchs Robe and went away through the middle of the Keepers who were by that time Drunk and taking one of the Eunuchs along with him he fled to the King of Armenia who was his Friend and Host And by this means he got away safe to Constantine who thought fit to shew him all the respect and kindness imaginable And so much for that But when Constantinus besieged Licinnius at Nicomedia also he knew not what to do because he was sensible he had not an Army fit to fight and therefore going out of the City he submitted himself to Constantine and brought him the Purple Robe proclaimed him Emperor and Lord and ask'd pardon for what was past For he
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
invited his Officers to a Feast at which all but Latinus and Thalassius were present but they were not there though they were the Emperors greatest favourites because they were taking care for Philip whom Magnentius detein'd notwithstanding he was an Embassador But whilst they were consulting about this Affair Titianus a person of the Senatorian Order at Rome came and brought a saucy Message from Magnentius For he used many absurd expressions against Constantine and his Children and charging the destruction of the Cities upon the Emperor's negligence he commanded Constantius to make way for Magnentius by quitting the Empire and be content to have his life saved But he onely desired the Gods and Fate to be the revengers of Constans's Death saying that he would fight with their assistance and so let Titianus go back again to Magnentius though Philip were still in his custody At which time Magnentius drew out his Army and taking Siscia upon the first attaque he razed it down to the ground And when he had over run all the Countrey near the Saus and carry'd away great spâ—â—â— he march'd toward Sirmium which he hoped likewise to take without bloodshed But failing of his attempt for he was beaten off by the Inhabitants and Soldiers that were set to guard the Town he went with all his Army to Mursa Where seeing those that were in the Town had shut the Gates against him and got upon the Walls he could not tell what to do in the case because he had no Engines nor any other way to get near the Wall For he was pelted with stones and Darts by those that stood and fought from the Battlements Besides which when Constantius heard the Town was besieged he came with all his Forces to relieve it having passed by Cibalis and all that Country through which the River Draus runs In the mean while Magnentius got nearer unto Mursa and set fire on the Gates thinking that if he could consume the Iron that cover'd the Wood which would soon yield to the slames he might make a passage wide enough for his Army to enter the City But this did not succeed as he would have had it because those men that were upon the Wall put out the fire with Water which they threw down in a great quantity When therefore he heard that Constantius was near Mursa he found out another stratagem which was this There was a certain Stadium or place of Exercise before the City assign'd formerly for those that used to fight Prizes which was all cover'd over with Woods in which he hid four Companies of Celtae and bad 'em that when Constantius came up and they were ready to engage before the City they should set upon the Enemies at unawares so as to encompass and kill 'em every man But this being discover'd by them that stood upon the Wall Constantius sent Scolidoas and Manadus two of his Captains immediately thither But first they pick'd out all the choice of their Soldiers as well such as wore heavy Armour as Bowmen out of all those that they commanded and taking them along with 'em shut up all the Doors belonging to the Stadium And then having possess'd themselves of the upper steps going up to the Stadium and enclosed the Soldiers that were in it on every side they threw Darts at ' em And seeing some of 'em put their Shields over their heads whilst they endeavour'd to break open the Doors they fell upon them too nor did they cease to throw Darts or cut 'em with their Swords till they had kill'd 'em every one And thus Magnentius's project being frustrated and falling out contrary to expectation the Armies met and fell to it in the Plain before Mursa where there was such a Battel fought as was not known before in the whole course of this War and many fell on both sides But Constantius considering that this being a Civil War even Victory it self would scarce be pleasant to him now that the Romans were so much weaken'd and not able to withstand the Barbarians that attaqued 'em on every side after so great a slaughter he began to think that this War might be ended by some Proposals of a Peace And whilst he was ruminating upon it the Armies were still engaged among whom the Magnentian party grew more furious than ever nor would they give over fighting though Night came upon 'em but even their Captains continu'd doing all that became common Soldiers and encouraging the Soldiers to stand up stoutly against the Enemy And so on the other side Constantius's Captains call'd to mind the ancient courage and glory of the Romans And so they fought on till it was dark Night nor did they give over for all that but wounded each other with Spears Swords or any thing else that came to their hands insomuch that neither the darkness nor any thing else that uses to cause some respit in War could make them cease to kill each other but they thought it the greatest happiness that could befall 'em to perish by one anothers sides And of the Captains who shew'd themselves very stout and brave in this Battel there fell among the rest Arcadius Captain of the Legion call'd Abulci and Menelaus who commanded the Horse Bowmen of Armenia Now it is worth ones while to tell you what they say of this Menelaus and 't is thus They say that he would have taken three Darts at one time and at one shot have hit not onely one but three mens bodies By which way of shooting he kill'd a great many of the Enemies and was himself almost the cause of their flight But he was kill'd by Romulus who was Generalissimo of all Magnentius's Army and Romulus also himself fell at the same time Who though he were wounded by a Dart that Menelaus shot at him yet he did not give over fighting after he had receiv'd the Wound till he had kill'd the man that gave it him And now that Constantius had the better on 't by reason that Magnentius's Army ran away there was a great slaughter of Men Horses and other Cattel Wherefore Magnentius who was destitute of all hopes and fear'd lest the remaining part of his Army should deliver him to Constantius thought best to leave Pannonia resolving to make an excursion into Italy and there raise men to try his fortune once more But when he heard that those of Rome were all of Constantius's side either out of hatred to him or because they had heard what had happen'd in the fight and concluded to go over the Alps and seek some sanctuary for himself among those Nations that live thereabouts But hearing that Constantius had obliged the Barbarians about the Rhine to be his Enemies by great Presents that he had made to 'em as likewise that there was no going into France by reason that some Officers had stopp'd his passage that way to gratifie Constantius nor could he go through Spain into the Moors Country because of those Roman Allies
for he condescended to make Peace with 'em upon Condition that they should never more lift up their hands against the Romans When Cesar had setled things in this manner he added the Salii some part of the Quadi and of them that live in the Isle Batavia to his Legions whose Discipline we seem still to retain But in the mean time the Emperour Constantius was in the East disposing onely of the Persian Affairs and intent upon the Wars in those parts For all the Nations beyond the Alps were in good order as being managed by Cesars Conduct nor were either Italy or Illyricum in any danger by reason that the Barbarians who dwelt beyond the Ister were affraid lest Cesar should come through Gallia pass the Ister and set upon 'em and therefore contein'd themselves within the bounds of modesty Wherefore Constantius being thus employ'd the Persians whose Kings name was Sapores at that time pillaged the Country of Mesopotamia and when they had wasted all places about Nisibis they besieged the City it self with all their Forces But Lucillianus the General was so well provided for a Siege that partly by the happy occasions which he prudently made use of and partly by his own contrivances the City escaped those mischiefs that beset it and was deliver'd from extremity of danger But how it was brought about I thought supersluous to tell you since Cesar himself has given an account of all the transactions of those times in a peculiar Treatise which whosoever reads will find a great deal of Oratory in that Man But at this juncture when the Affairs of the East seem'd now to be in a quiet posture and Cesars mighty deeds were the publick Discourse Constantius was seized with bitter envy And being stung with the prosperous success of all that was done in Celtica and Spain he devised pretences under which he by degrees and with out any dishonor might lessen Cesar's Power and so deprive him of his Dignity To which end he by a Messenger commanded Cesar to send him two Legions of the Celtick Soldiers as if he wanted their assistance And Julian in obedience to his Order immediately dispatch'd 'em away partly through ignorance of his Design and partly because he would not give him the least occasion to be angry But when he had so done he took all care imaginable of the Celtick Affairs whilst the Army encreas'd daily and the Barbarians even in the remotest parts of the Country were so terrified at it that they did not so much as dream of making War But after that Constantius required some other Legions to be sent him from Cesar and having obtein'd his desire he commanded four Companies more to be transmitted to him According to which Precept Cesar gave notice to the Soldiers that they should prepare to march But whilst Julian was at Parisium a little Town in Germany the Soldiers being ready to march were at Supper till Midnight in a place near the Palace which there they so called but knew not a word of what was intended against Cesar when certain Tribunes who had found that to be really true which was formerly contrived against him dispers'd a great many Notes without any Name to 'em privately among the Soldiers in which they gave 'em to understand how Cesar who by his Policy had so order'd the matter that almost all of them had erected Trophies against the Barbarians and had always fought like a private Soldier was in extream danger from the Emperor who would shortly rob him of all his Army if they did not all get together and hinder the Soldiers marching And when some of the Soldiers having read those Notes had discover'd the Intrigue to the whole Army it made 'em all very angry Whereupon they arose from the place where they were in a great hurli-burly whilst the Cups were yet in their hands and went to the Palace where breaking open the Doors without any Ceremony at all they brought Cesar forth and lifting him up upon a Shield declared him Emperor Augustus and put a Diadem upon his Head whether he would or no. 'T is true Cesar was troubled at what they had done but did not think it safe for him to reverse it because Constantius would not abide by any Oaths or Covenants nor observe any other Obligation which binds mankind to keep their words and yet he would try him So he sent Embassadours to tell Constantius that he had been declared Emperour without his seeking and if he pleased he was ready to lay aside his Diadem and keep to his honour of being Cesar onely But Constantius was so enraged and so arrogant that he told the Embassadors That if Julian loved his life he must lay down the very Garb of a Cesar as well as his Imperial Dignity and in a private capacity submit himself to the Emperors pleasure For he should come to no harm nor suffer what his audacity deserv'd Which when Julian was inform'd of by the Embassadors he openly shew'd what his Opinion was of the Deity and declared before 'em all He had rather trust the Gods than Constantius with his life and fortune And from this time it plainly appear'd what a grudg Constantius bore to Julian for Constantius presently prepared for a Civil War When at the same Julian was troubled that such things should fall out because if he fought with him who had conferr'd upon him the Honour of a Cesar he should be esteemed by many People but an ungrateful Man But whilst he was considering of these things and revolving within himself as being very loth to undertake a civil War the Deity told him what should come to pass in a Dream For when he was at Vienna the Sun seemed in a Dream to shew him the Constellations and to speak these Verses When Jupiter th' extremity commands Of moist Aquarius and Saturn stands In Virgo twenty five Constantius shall Though Emperour of Asia surely fall Now therefore relying upon this Dream he was very diligent as he used to be in publick business And because it was yet Winter-time he took all necessary care of what related to the Barbarians that if he should have been forced to undertake any new Enterprise the state of Celtica might have been secure But at the same time whilst Constantius continu'd in the East Julian prepared to frustrate his Design For it being pretty far in the Summer he had no sooner setled matters among the Barbarians beyond the Rhine whom he had partly forced into good manners with his Sword and partly perswaded 'em by experience from what was past to love Peace rather than War he put his Army in such a posture as if they had been just a going a long Journey And when he had constituted both Civil and Military Officers to govern the Towns and the Borders he march'd with his Army toward the Alps. And when he came into â—â—â—tia where the River Ister rises that runs though Noricum all Pannonia Dacia Mysia in
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
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
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
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
into the Water they engaged the Persians so briskly that they not onely got possession of the Bank but also retrieved those two Ships which came over before being now half burnt and saved all the men that were left in them And then the Armies fell upon each other so fiercely that the Battel continu'd from twelve a Clock at Night till twelve a Clock at noon next Day till at length the Persians gave way and fled as fast as their Legs would carry 'em their Captains being the first that began to run that is to say Pigraxes who was a Person of greatest Birth and Quality next to the King together with Anareus and Surenas himself But the Romans and the Goths ran after 'em and kill'd a great many from whom they took a deal of Gold and Silver besides all kind of Ornaments either for Men or Horses with Silver Beds and Tables whatever they found which the Officers had left upon the Rampires Now they reckon that in this Fight there fell of the Persians twenty five hundred and of the Romans not above seventy five But Captain Victor seemed in some measure to abate the Armies joy for their Victory by being wounded from an Engine The next Day the Emperor got his Army over the Tigris without any difficulty and the third Day after the fight both himself and his Guards went after ' em And coming to a certain place which the Persians call Abuzatha he stay'd there five days whilst he consulted concerning his Journey forward and found it was better to march farther into the Country than to lead his Army by the Rivers side because there was now no necessity of their going by Water And having consider'd of it he imparted his mind to the Army whom he commanded to burn the Ships and they accordingly were all consumed except eighteen Roman and four Persian Vessels which were carry'd along in Waggons to be made use of upon occasion And now their way lying a little above the River when they came to a place call'd Noorda they made an Halt where they kill'd and took a great number of Persians But from thence going forward to the River Durus they made a Bridg over it for their own passage and seeing the Persians had burnt up all the forrage of the Countrey so that the Roman Cattel were ready to starve for want of it as also that they were gathered into several Companies to wait for the Romans whom they imagined to be but few and then soon after drawn up into one Body they made toward the River Where whilst the Scouts that went before the Army engaged with a Party of the Persians one Macamaeus a stout brisk Blade got among 'em and kill'd four though they were naked But for that bold act they all fell upon him and slew him Which when his Brother Maurus saw he ventur'd to rescue at least his dead Body from amidst the Persians and kill'd the Man that gave him the first Wound nor did he give out though he were frequently shot at until he had brought his Brother off and deliver'd him to the Army yet alive Afterward when they came to the City Barrophtha they found the forage as before burnt up by the Barbarians and seeing a Party of Persians mix'd with Saracens who durst not so much as look upon the Roman Army but were immediately gone the Romans could not tell what to think of it till the Persians by gathering themselves into a considerable Body made the Romans believe they had a design upon their Cattel of Burthen Whereupon the Emperour was the first that putting on a Coat of Mail march'd toward 'em with more speed than all the rest of the Army But the Persians not able to endure the shock of his Charge thought best to fly into such places as they well knew And so the Emperour went on to a place called Symbra that lies between two Towns whose names are Nisbara and Nischanabe which are separated from each other by the Tigris though the Townsmen have frequent and easie intercourse by a Bridg over that River But that Bridg the Persians burn'd down lest the Romans by help of it should do 'em both as much injury as they pleased And here it was that the Scouts who went a foraging before the rest defeated the Persian forces as soon as they saw 'em whilst the Army finding great plenty of provisions 〈◊〉 the Town took what they had occasion for and destroy'd the rest From thence they march'd to a place between the Cities of Danabe and Synca where the Persians set upon the Rear of their Army and kill'd a great many but lost more and ran away as having the worst of it upon several accounts For in this fight one Daces a great Satrape a Nobleman of Persia was kill'd being the same Person that formerly had gone Embassador to the Emperor Constantius to treat of Peace and make an end of the War But when the Enemies saw that the Romans came near to a Town call'd Acceta they burn'd up the fruits of the Countrey till the Romans ran in and by quenching the fire saved what was left for their own use In their march from this place they came to a Town called Maronsa where the Persians again attaqued the Rere-guard of their Army and in the Engagement kill'd one Brettanio among the rest who was Captain of a Troop and fought bravely They also took several Ships which fell in their way by being a great deal behind the Army But from thence the Romans passing hastily along by certain Villages came to a place called Tummara where they all repented the burning of their Ships For the Cattel were not able to carry all their necessaries they were so tired with travelling in an Enemies Country and then the Persians got all the forage that they could and laid it up in their best fortified places that the Roman Army might not come at it And when they were in this condition they saw the Persian Army with whom they engaged and having much the better of it they kill'd a great many of the Persians But the day after about the time when it was full Change about noon the Persians drew up in a great Body and fell upon the Reer of the Roman Army once more who being at that time out of their Ranks were surprised and startled at the suddenness of the attaque but yet they made a very brisk defence whilst the Emperor went round about the Army as he used to do encouraging them to stand boldly to it And when by that means they were all engaged the Emperor who went one while to the Captains and Tribunes and another while was among the common Soldiers received a Wound with a Sword in the very heat of the Battel and being laid upon a Shield was carried to his Tent where he lived till Midnight and then died after he had almost ruined the Persian Empire Now whilst the Emperors death was conceal'd the Roman Army
and this was the foundation of his Design There was a certain Eunuch called Eugenius not long before turn'd out of the Court who had no great love for the Emperors Him therefore Procopius made his friend because he found him very Rich and told him who he was why he came thither and how things ought to be managed Whereupon the Eunuch having promised him to bear a part in all Attempts whatever and to lend him Money if he wanted it the first thing they undertook was with Money to corrupt the City-Guards which consisted of two Legions And then arming the Slaves and mustering up with ease a vast multitude of Men who were many of 'em Voluntiers they sent 'em in the Night into the City and made a general disturbance for that the people came every one out of their several Houses and gazed upon Procopius as if he had been a King made of a sudden in a Play But the City being all in an uproar and no Man in his right mind or that could tell what to do by reason of the surprise Procopius thought he was yet undiscover'd by a great many and that he might secure the Power to himself if the business were but so far unreveal'd Then having taken Cesarius whom the Emperors had made Prefect of the City and Nebridius to whom they had committed the Government of the Court after Salustius he forced 'em to write to the Subjects of the Empire whatever he pleased But he also kept 'em asunder that they might not advise with one another And when he had contrived things thus he went toward the Court in a splendid manner where getting up upon a Tribunal before the Gate he fill'd all people with hopes and large promises and then march'd into the Palace to take care for the remaining part of his Affairs And because the new Emperors had divided the Army between 'em Procopius thought it requisite to send certain persons to the Soldiers who were yet in Disorder and went by the Emperor's Command from place to place as they pleased to bring over as many as they could to his Party Nor did they fail with ease to accomplish their Design by giving Money to them and their Officers insomuch that they muster'd up a considerable number and made themselves ready openly to set upon the Enemy After which Procopius sent Marcellus with an Army into Bithynia to take Serenianus and the Imperial Horse that he had with him in hopes to destroy ' em But they flying to a Town called Cyzicum Marcellus took it as being too strong for 'em both by Sea and Land and having caught Serenianus who was fled into Lydia he put him to Death With which first lucky hit Procopius was so exalted that he raised more Men by degrees and was able in the Opinion of many people to fight the Emperors for both the Roman Legions and the Barbarian Forces flock'd to him And then besides the very honour of being akin to Julian and having been his Fellow-Soldier in all the Wars that he was ever engaged in drew people to his Party Nor was that all but he likewise sent certain Noblemen to the Prince of Scythia which lies beyond Ister who contributed ten thousand Men to fight in his service So also did the other Barbarous Nations send in their Quota to make themselves sharers in the Expedition But yet Procopius consider'd that it was not fit for him to engage with both the Emperors together and therefore thought it the best way to fight him first that was nearest and then consult farther what was to be done And thus was Procopius employ'd whilst the Emperor Valens who heard of this Rebellion at Galatia in Phrygia was frighted at the news and fill'd with consternation But Arbitio bad him have a good heart and then he made those Men that he had ready for the War and sent likewise to his Brother to let him know what Designs Procopius had in hand But Valentinian did not think fit to send Auxiliaries to him who was not able to defend that Empire which was committed to him So Valens was fain to prepare for a fight and made Arbitio General of his Army against Procopius But when the Armies were just ready to engage Arbitio circumvented Procopius by a stratagem and brought over a great number of his Men from whom he learn'd before-hand whatever Procopius design'd to do And when the Emperor and Procopius came toward each other the two Armies met near Thyatira where Procopius had like to have had the better on 't and made him sole Lord of all because Hormisdas which was his Father's name too seemed in the fight to be too many for the Enemy But Gomarius another of Procopius's Captains imparting his intention to all Procopius's Soldiers that loved the Emperor cry'd out in the midst of the fight Augustus with a shout and gave the signal for all the rest to do the same so that all Procopius's Men went over to Valens And he as soon as he had gotten the Victory march'd to Sardeis and thence into Phrygia where in a Town called Nacolia he found Procopius and there again one Naplo a Captain of Procopius having order'd every thing for the Emperors advantage Valens had much the better of him insomuch that he took the Traitor and not long after him Marcellus whom he put both to Death But finding an Imperial Robe in Marcellus's possession that was given him by Procopius he was so angry at it that he fell foul upon all and inquired after not onely those that were Actors in the Rebellion but those also that were Counsellers in it or so much as heard any thing of it which they did not presently discover By which means he was very severe upon all sorts of Men without any justice whilst all that either conspired or were but even kinsmen or friends of the Conspirators though otherwise altogether innocent were sacrificed to the Emperours fury Now this being the state of Affairs in that part of the Empire which was allotted to Valens the Emperor Valentinian who dwelt in the Countries beyond the Alps fell into very great and unexpected dangers For all Germany recollecting what they had suffer'd in those Days when Julian was a Cesar as soon as they heard of his Death shook off all fear from their Souls and resuming their natural audacity they went one and all and invaded the Countries that were subject to the Roman Empire Where when the Emperor met 'em they had a smart Battel in which the Barbarians won the Day and put the Roman Army to a shameful flight But Valentinian was resolv'd he would not run away to save his life and therefore bore the fortune of the fight with seeming satisfaction till he had found out who were the cause of their misfortune by beginning first to fly And having made strict enquiry so as at last to prove the Batavian Legion guilty of it he order'd all the Army to come together in
Insurrection in which he so far prevailed as to appease the Emperor's anger which he had conceiv'd against the Antiochians and which was more than he expected made the Emperon who was now altogether reconciled to their City enjoyn him to make a second Oration upon the same Subject And Hilarius who was highly commended for his great Virtue was by the Emperor made Governour of all Palestine But whilst the Affairs of the East of Thrace and Illyricum were in this posture Maximus who thought things were not carry'd as he deserv'd who was onely Governour of those Countries which were formerly under Gratian contrived how to depose the young Valentinian from the Empire and that totally if he could but if he failed in the whole to make sure of some part at least as much as he could get And being overborn with this Resolution he prepared to pass the Alps and go into Italy But seeing that he must of necessity travel through a streight passage and over craggy pathless Mountains with Marshes and Fens beyond 'em which admit of no Passengers but such as travel very slowly much lefs of such an Army he deferr'd the enterprise till he had better Counsel in it But when Valentinian sent Embassadors from Aquileia to desire a farther security of Peace Maximus comply'd with his requests and pretended that he also was very well pleased with it Valentinian therefore sent Domninus upon that Negotiation who though he was a Syrian born yet he was the Emperor's very good Acquaintance and Friend For as he was the next Man to him in Power and Authority so he seemed to excell all others in fidelity and experience and besides what the Emperor had a mind to do without any other bodies knowledg he resolv'd to impart to this person onely When therefore Domninus came to Maximus and had told him the reasons of that Embassy he received him with all respect and kindness imaginable For he conferr'd such extraordinary honour upon him and gave him such a load of Presents that Domninus thought Valentinian would never have such an other friend Nay so far did Maximus proceed to cheat Domninus that he sent along with him some part of the Army which he had to help the Emperor against the Barbarians who oppress'd the Pannonians that were under his Dominion Thereupon Domninus took his leave and being well pleased not onely with the great quantity of Presents that he received but the company of those Allies who were sent along with him he like an unwise Man made the way over the Alps that led to his own home more pervious for Maximus Which that he would do being Maximus foresaw and therefore had prepared all things in a readiness he followed him with all his Forces and secretly sent out Guards before him who took all the care they could lest any one should pass by that way and tell Domninus's Retinue of Maximus's coming over into Italy And indeed this Guard upon the pass was very easie to be made for it was impossible that any one should go through the narrowest place upon the Alps but he must needs be seen When therefore he understood that Domninus and his Attendants had passed the streights of the Alps with all those invious Mountains besides the Fenny places beyond the Alps that are so difficult for an Army to march through and did not fear meeting any Enemy in those cumbersom places he immediately went into Italy without any resistance and marched to Aquileia At which Valentinian was so surprized and in such a desperate condition that his Courtiers were affraid lest Maximus should take him Prisoner and kill him for which reason he immediately took shipping and sailed to Thessalonica along with his Mother Justina who had been Wife as I told you before to Magnentius but after his decease was married to the Emperor Valentinian upon the account of her extraordinary beauty But she did not go alone without any other Woman for she carry'd her Daughter Galla along with her And when they had passed so many Seas and were arrived at Thessalonica they sent an Embassy to the Emperor Theodosius to beg of him that now at least he would revenge the insolent injuries done to all Valentinian's Family Which when he heard he was immediately astonished and began a little to forget his extravagancy laying some restraint upon his wild-inclination to pleasures and having advised about it 't was thought fit that He with some of the Senate should go to Thessalonica And so accordingly they did and there consulted again what was to be done till it was agreed as the unanimous consent of the Assembly that Maximus should be punish'd for his offences For they were of Opinion that such a Man ought not to live who had not onely kill'd Gratian and usurped his Empire but having succeeded in that had made some farther progress and deprived his Brother also of that Dominion which was left him But though Theodosius was very much displeased at these things yet through his natural effeminacy and the negligent manage of his former life he was loth to undertake a War and told 'em the inconveniences that arise from civil broils and how the Cowmonwealth must of necessity receive some fatal Wounds from both sides Wherefore he said it was best first to send an Embassy and if Maximus would deliver up the Empire to Valentinian and be quiet that the Empire should be divided amongst 'em all as it was before but if he would suffer himself to be overcome by covetousness they would fight him without any more ado Now ne'r a Man in the Senate durst speak a word against all this because it seemed advantageous to the publick In the mean while Justina who was a Person of good experience in things and knew how to conduct her Affairs to the best purpose understanding that Theodosius was very much inclined to Love brought her Daughter Galla who was a very beautiful Lady into his presence and clasping the Emperor about the knees most humbly beseeched him that he would not suffer either Gratian's Death who gave him that Empire to go unreveng'd nor let them lie neglected and destitute of all hopes And as she spake those words she shew'd him the Damsel who was all in tears bewailing her misfortunes When Theodosius had heard this supplication of hers and withal observ'd the beauty of the young Lady he discover'd by his eyes the Wound that she had made in his Heart but notwithstanding deferr'd that business till another time and in the mean while gave 'em some cause to hope the best But being more and more each day enflamed with a desire to the Damsel he went to Justina and requested of her that he might have her Daughter since Placilla his former Wife was Dead To which Demand of his she made answer That she would not let him have her unless he would levy War against Maximus to revenge Gratian's Death and restore Valentinian to his Father's Throne He therefore
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
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
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 City had no publick Stock there was a necessity for those Senators who had Estates to undertake the collection of it by way of Assessment Now Palladius being impower'd to rate every one according to his Estate but not able to make up the whole sum out of all either upon the account that some concealed part of their goods or because the City was otherwise impoverish'd through the continual covetousness and exactions of the Emperours Magistrates that wicked Daemon or Genius who at that time presided over mankind and stirr'd up the Persons employ'd in this Affair to the highest pitch of all wickedness For they resolv'd to supply what was wanting out of the Attire that was about the Statues of the Gods which was in effect no other than to render those Images that had been set up and dedicated to holy Rites and Ceremonies and were adorn'd with decent Attire for that they had kept the City in perpetual happiness when that ceremonious Worship should be in any degree diminished inanimate and inefficacious And because all things must then needs conspire to ruin the City they not onely robb'd the Statues of their Ornaments but also melted some of 'em down that were made of Gold and Silver among which was that of Fortitude or Valour which the Romans call Virtus Which being destroy'd all the Roman Valour and Courage that remained was quite extinguish'd according to that which Men who were conversant about holy Rites and ancient Ceremonies from that time foretold Now the Money being raised in this manner they thought fit to send an Embassy to the Emperour to confer with him about the ensuing Peace and to inform him that Alarichus did not require Money onely but certain Noblemens Sons likewise for Hostages upon which Condition also he would not onely make a Peace but enter into an Alliance with the Emperour and assist the Romans against all those who had a mind to oppose ' em Whereupon the Emperour resolving to conclude the Peace the Money was paid to the Barbarians Which being done Alarichus gave the Citizens the Freedom of a Market for three days together and leave to go securely out at certain Gates of the City as also to bring up their Corn from the Port. By which means when the Citizens had taken breath again by selling all the remaining part of their goods or exchanging one thing for another to buy them necessaries the Barbarians departed from Rome and pitch'd their Camp in certain places about Tuscany And then almost all the Slaves that were in Rome flying daily out of the City enrolled themselves among the Barbarians to the number of forty thousand But some of the Barbarians who were stragling up and down attaqued the Romans as they were going down to the Port and bringing up their provisions Which when Alarichus understood he used his utmost endeavour to hinder such proceedings as being done without his knowledg or consent And now they seemed to have some small respit from their misfortunes Whilst the Emperour Honorius at Ravenna was just entring upon the Consulship having had that Honour eight times and the Emperour Theodosius in the East three times At which juncture the Rebel Constantine sent Eunuchs to Honorius to beg his pardon for having receiv'd the Empire For he did not take it of his own choice but by compulsion from the Soldiers Which Petition of his when the Emperour heard and saw it was not easy for him since Alarichus and his Barbarians were so near to prepare for other Wars besides the care that he took of his Kinsmen who were in the Rebels custody as Verenianus and Didymius by name he not onely granted their Request but sent him also an Imperial Robe But indeed his care for his Kinsmen was all in vain and frustrate they being kill'd before this Embassy When therefore he had so done he sent the Eunuchs home But the Peace with Alarichus being not yet confirm'd because the Emperour had neither given him the Hostages nor fulfill'd all his desires there were Embassadours sent from the Senate to Ravenna whose names were Cecilianus Attalus and Maximianus Who though they lamented the sad misfortunes that had befallen Rome and tragically described the multitude of them that perish'd there yet they gained nothing by it by reason that Olympius confounded all Affairs and put a stop to those things that seemed to go in their due course Upon which account the Emperour dismissing the Embassadours without their Errand for which they came he turn'd out Theodorus from being Prefect of the City and gave the place to Cecicilianus commanding that Attalus should be Treasurer But seeing Olympius made it his whole business to search in all places for those that were reported to know any thing of Stilico's Affairs there were several Persons call'd in question upon that false Accusation as Marcellianus and Salonius two Brothers belonging to the Regiment of the Imperial Notaries And these two did Olympius deliver to the Prefect of the Court by whose Order though their bodies were beaten or drubb'd with all sorts of severities in that kind yet they discover'd no tittle of what Olympius would fain have known Now the Affairs of Rome being in no better a condition than before the Emperour thought fit to send for five Regiments of Soldiers out of Dalmatia from their own Quarters there to guard the City of Rome Which Regimenrs were made up of six thousand Men who for carriage and strength were the chief of all the Roman Army and their General 's Name was Valens a Person ready to attempt the greatest and most hazardous enterprise He therefore would not seem so much a Coward as to go that way which the Enemy did not guard so that Alarichus expecting till he came by and falling upon him with his whole Army subdu'd all those that were with him excepting only an hundred that with much ado escaped together with their Commander For he arrived safe at Rome along with Attalus who was sent by the Senate to the Emperour But seeing more mischiefs were still added to the present ones this Attalus when he came to Rome turn'd Heliocrates out of his Office which the Emperour had given him by the persuasions of Olympius For Heliocrates was employ'd to search into the Estates of them that were banish'd upon the account of their Acquaintance or Relation to Stilico and return 'em into the Treasury But he being a moderate good-natur'd Man look'd upon it as an impiety to insult upon the unfortunate and therefore did not make any strict enquiry into things but on the contrary sent many of the Parties notice by a private Messenger to hide what they could insomuch that being reckon'd a vile Fellow upon this score he was brought to Ravenna to suffer for his humanity toward those Men that were under such misfortunes And he had certainly died for it through the cruelty that then obtein'd if he had not got into a Church belonging to the Christians But
make Alarichus General of both his Armies for that he might thereby induce him to remit something of the severity in his Conditions and make a Peace upon pretty tolerable and moderate terms But when the Emperour receiv'd that Epistle he condemn'd Jovius for his forward rashness and sent him a Letter wherein he told him It was fit that he indeed as being Prefect of the Court and understanding the strength of the publick Revenues should assign the quantity of Corn and Gold but that he would never confer any Dignity or Command either upon Alarichus or any of his Family Which Epistle as soon as Jovius receiv'd he open'd and read it not onely to himself but in Alarichus's hearing who though he bore all other things very patiently yet when he saw the Generalship deny'd not onely to himself but to all his Family also he was so enraged that immediately he commanded his Barbarians to march for Rome with all speed to revenge the Affront offer'd both to him and all his Family But Jovius being put to a stand when he saw the Emperour 's unexpected Letter went back to Ravenna And being desirous to acquit himself of all blame he bound Honorius under several Oaths never to make Peace with Alarichus but to wage War against him continually as he himself likewise swore by touching the Emperour's Head and made all others that were in any Office do the same Affairs being thus conserted the Emperour who was to make War against Alarichus call'd ten thousand Hunns to his assistance And being willing to have Provision ready for 'em against they came he commanded the Dalmatians to bring in Corn and Sheep and Oxen sending his Scouts also to enquire how Alarichus intended to march to Rome and mustering up his Forces from all quarters But Alarichus in the mean time repented of his intended Voyage to Rome and sent the Bishops of each City not onely by way of Embassadours but also to advise the Emperour not to suffer such a City as that which had commanded a great part of the World for above thousand years to be deliver'd up and destroy'd by the Barbarian not such magnificent Structures to be demolished by Hostile flames but that he would rather make a Peace upon some reasonable Conditions For the Barbarian he would have 'em tell the Emperour neither wanted preferment nor would he desire those Provinces now which formerly he had a mind to dwell in onely the two Norici that lie upon the extream parts of Ister harass'd with continual incursions and bring in but a small Revenue to the Treasury Besides which he would have only so much Corn every year as the Emperour should think fit and would remit the Gold so that there should be a Friendship and Alliance betwixt him and the Romans against every one that took up Arms or rise in opposition to the Empire Which when Alarichus had modestly and soberly proposed whilst all People admired his moderation Jovius and those that were the Emperour 's greatest Ministers said his Demands could not be possibly granted since all Men that were in any Commission had sworn not to make Peace with Alarichus For if their Oath had been given to God they might indeed have probably broke it and left it to the Deities Goodness to pardon 'em for their impiety but since they had sworn by the Emperour's Head it was by no means lawful for 'em to offend against so great a Vow So cautious were they that then had the management of publick Affairs as being berest of Gods Care and Protection A New HISTORY Written by Count ZOSIMVS Sometime Advocate of the Treasury The Sixth Book ALARICHVS therefore being thus affronted for these his reasonable Demands made haste towards Rome with all his Army designing to lay close Siege to that City But at the same time there came one Jâ—vius a Man of great Learning and Virtue from Constantine who had usurp'd the Government of Gallia Celtica to Honerius by way of an Embassadour desiring that the former Peace which they had agreed upon might be confirm'd and begging pardon for the killing of Verenianus and Didymius who were kinsmen to the Emperour Honorius For he made an Apology and said that they were not taken off by Constantine's good will But seeing Honorius much troubled he said it was convenient for him since he was so embarass'd with the Affairs of Italy to make some small concessions and that if he would suffer him to go back to Constantine and tell him what circumstances Italy was then in that he himself would shortly return thither with all the Forces in Celtica Spain and Britain to relieve both Italy and Rome Upon which Conditions Jovius was permitted to depart But since I have not given you a just Account concerning the state of Celtica 't is fit I should tell you particularly how things were carried there formerly When Arcadius was Emperour Honorius being the seventh time and Theodosius the second time Consuls the Soldiers in Britain made an insurrection and promoted Marcus to the Imperial Throne paying all obedience to him as their chief Lord in those parts But some time after when they had kill'd him for not complying with their humours they set up Gratian whom they presented with a Purple Robe and Diadem and attended upon like an Emperour But being disgusted at him likewise they in four months after deposed and murder'd him delivering the Empire up into the hands of Constantine Who having made Justinianus and Nevigastes Commanders of the Celtick Soldiery left Britain and went over but coming to Bononia which is the nearest City to the Sea-side lying in the lower Germany and having stay'd there some days he made all the Armies betwixt that and the Alps which part Gallia and Italy his Friends so that he now seemed secure of the Empire But at the same time Stilico sent Sarus as General with an Army against Constantine who meeting the General Justinianus with all the Forces which he had slew him and most of his Soldiers and having made himself Master of great Spoils went to besiege Valentia where he understood that Constantine had taken up his Quarters as being a City well guarded and secure for him to reside at Whilst Nevigastes the surviving Commander making some overtures of Peace to Sarus he received him as his Friend but Sarus though he mutually both gave and took an Oath to the contrary immediatly kill'd him without any regard to what he had sworn But when Constantine had made Edobinchus a Frank by extract but born in Britain and Gerontius a Britain his Commanders in the room of Justinian and Nevigastes Sarus who was affraid of these two upon the account of their Military experience and Courage raised the Siege from before Valentia when he had lay'n there seven days But Constantine's Officers attaqued him so briskly with their greatest vigour that he had much ado to escape alive and was fain to give all his Spoils to the Bacaudae to let
convenient Army into Africa and to Carthage thereby to depose Heraclianus from his Dignity lest he who was Honorius's Friend should obstruct their Designs Attalus would not hearken to his Admonitions but being possess'd with those hopes which the Soothsayers gave him and persuaded that he should conquer all Africa and Carthage too without fighting he would not send forth Drumas who with those Barbarians that he had with him might easily have turn'd Heraclianus out of his Office but neglecting Alarichus's Advice gave the Command of all the Soldiers in Africa to one Constantine yet sent no good fighting Men along with him But in the mean time whilst the Affairs of Africa were at an uncertainty he undertook an expedition against the Emperour who was at Ravenna Whereupon the Emperour was so troubled and frighted that he sent out Embassadours to desire that the Empire might be divided between them But Jovius whom Attalus had made Prefect of the Court said that Attalus should not leave Honorius so much as the Title of an Emperour no not a whole body for that he would send him to live in an Island and maim him in some part of his body At which haughty expressions all Men were affrighted and Honorius was just ready to take his flight but when for that purpose he had gotten together a vast number of Ships into the Port at Ravenna six Regiments of Auxiliary Soldiers arrived there which were expected whilst Stilico was alive but came not out of the East till that time being in number six thousand At whose arrival Honorius being awaked as it were out of a dead sleep he entrusted the keeping of the Walls to them that came out of the East and resolv'd to stay at Ravenna till he had better intelligence concerning the Affairs of Africa And if Heraclianus got the upper-hand that then when things were setled and secure in those parts he would make War with his whole Army against Alarichus and Attalus but if on the contrary those that he sent into Africa were worsted that then he would sail away into the East to Theodosius with those Ships which he had in readiness and relinquish the Western Empire And thus it was with Honorius But Jovius who was sent Embassadour to Honorius as I told you before began to think of treasonable Designs being corrupted by Honorius through other Men. He therefore told the Senate that he would be no longer an Embassadour and withal spoke some unhandsom words before them as that they ought since those whom they had sent into Africa had failed of good success to send Barbarians into the War against Heraclianus For since that Constantine was slain their hopes from that part of the World were in a wavering condition But Attalus being enraged and having employ'd others to give Orders what he would have done there were others sent with Money into Africa to assist in the present juncture there Which when Alarichus understood he was displeased at it and began to despair of Attalus's concerns who went about things so rashly as if he were a Fool without either reason or prospect of advantage And therefore when he had consider'd of these things he resolv'd to draw off from Ravenna although he formerly determin'd to prosecute the Siege till he took it For Jovius had persuaded him so to do who when he heard that the General sent by Attabus into Africa had utterly miss'd of his aim he apply'd himself wholly to the Affairs of Honorius and was always speaking ill of Attalus to Alarichus out of a Design that he had to make him believe that as soon as Attalus had secur'd the Empire into his own hands he would first contrive the death of Alarichus and all that were akin to him But whilst Alarichus continu'd constant to the Oath which he had given to Attalus Valens General of the Horse or Cavalry was taken off upon suspition of Treason and Alarichus in the mean time went with his Army to all the Cities of Aemilia that had deny'd very easily to receive Attalus as their Governour And some of them he quickly reduced but having besieged Bononia which held out many days without being able to take it he went toward Liguria to force that Countrey also into an acknowledgment of Attalus for their Emperour But Honorius having sent Letters to the Cities in Britain by way of advice for them to look to themselves and rewarded the Soldiers with the Money sent from Heraclianus he lived at all ease imaginable since he had contracted the love of the Soldiers in all places And Heraclianus having seized and guarded all the Ports in Africa with all security so that neither Corn nor Oil nor any other provision could be carry'd into the Port of Rome there fell a Famine upon the City more grievous than the former and the Market-men or those that sold things in the Market concealed all their goods Iâ—â—grâ—ssers Forestallers out of hopes to get all the Mony to themselves by setting what price they pleased upon their Commodities By which means the City was reduced to such extremities that those who hoped that Man's flesh would be eaten cry'd out in the Hippodrome or place for Horse-Races Lay a certain Rate upon Man's fâ—â—sh Upon which occasion Attalus went to Rome and call'd the Senate together who after some Debate were most of 'em of Opinion that the Barbarians and the Roman Soldiers ought to be sent into Africa and that Drumas should be their General as being a Person that had given great testimonies of his fidelity and good will already Onely Attalus and a few more did not agree in judgment with the majority of the House nor was he willing to send out any Barbarian as General of a Roman Army Now this was the first time that Alarichus had an Eye upon Attalus to take him off or depose him though Jovius had formerly by continual Calumnies and false Accusations instigated him thereunto Wherefore to put his Design in execution he brought Attalus out before the City Ariminum where he then lived and taking off his Diadem and stripping him of his Purple Rope he sent 'em to the Emperour Honorius But though he reduced Attalus to the condition of a private Person before all the People yet he kept him and his Son Ampelius at his own House till he had made Peace with Honorius and then he procur'd their Pardon Placida also the Emperour's Sister was with Alarichus in the nature of an Hostage but had all the Honour and Attendance belonging to the Quality of a Princess And this was the State of Italy whilst Constantine gave his Son Constans a Diadem and from a Caesar made him Emperour after he had depriv'd Apollinarius of his Office and made another Person Prefect of the Court in his room In the mean time Alarichus went to Ravenna to confirm the Peace with Honorius but Fortune found out another Obstacle beyond all expectation and pointed out as it were what should befal the Commonwealth For whilst that Sarus lay with a few Barbarians in Picenum and joyn'd neither with the Emperour nor Alarichus neither Ataulphus who had a grudg against him upon the score of some former difference came with his whole Army to that place where Sarus chanced to be But as soon as Sarus saw him coming he finding himself not able to fight him as having only three hundred Men resolved to fly to Honorius and be his Ally in the War against Alarichus A Supplement of those things that are wanting in Zosimus SOmething is wanting but Photius in his Bibliotheca says That the History of Zosimus ended with the taking of Rome by Alarichus Now seeing Zosimus is deficient in this Point and that no particular History of things relating to the Sacking of Rome is any where else to be found I thought fit to give you the following Account out of Baptista Egnatius Alarichus had besieged Rome for two years together nor had Honorius who then lay idle at Ravenna either Courage or Power to relieve it For being concerned for nothing less than for the safety of the City now Stilico was dead he had constituted no General over the Army to manage the War against the Gotths And that put the Gotths upon besieging the City seeing the Roman Soldiers were either run away or very slothful in their business But the Barbarian Enemy having in vain besieged it nor being able to take it by Storm was fain to make use of Stratagems and Policy They pretended a Journey into their own Country and therefore chose out three hundred young Fellows of great strength and courage whom they would bestow upon the Roman Nobility as a Present but instructed 'em beforehand to oblige their Masters with all observance imaginable and that upon a certain day prefix'd about Noon when the Nobility were either asleep or otherwise unmindful of business they should meet of a sudden at the Gate called Porta Avinaria where having surpriz'd and kill'd the Guards they should open the Gate for them who would be there at hand In the mean time the Gotths delay'd the time of returning home upon a pretence that they wanted one thing one or another still till the three hundred Youths making good use of their opportunity upon the day appointed open'd the Gate to their Countrymen and the Gotths when they were let in fell a plundering all the City though they did more dishonour than damage to the Citizens Now there are some who think the Gate was open'd by the contrivance of Proba a Woman of Quality and great Wealth who pitied the Roman People that died of the Famine and several Distempers like rotten Sheep But two things upon this occasion are worth our Observation the one That there was an Edict made by Alarichus that whosoever fled into the Churches of the Saints especially of Peter and Paul should have no violence offer'd to 'em which was accordingly observ'd with great care The other was That when the news was brought to Honorius at Ravenna that Roma i.e. Rome was destroy'd He thought they had meant a certain stout Gaul whose name was Roma and admired very much that he should be so soon gone with whom he had a little before so merrily diverted himself THE END
things were managed until Jovians death after whom Valentinian was chosen Emperor you may find in the foregoing Book but we have not yet inform'd you that whilst Valentinian was on his way toward Constantinople he fell sick of a Distemper which to his native cholerick humour added much cruelty and even madness it self insomuch that he though falsly suspected the reason of his Illness to proceed from some Charm or Poison that Julian's friends had out of malice prepar'd And upon that ground there were Accusations drawn up against some great Men which the Prefect of the Court who as yet was Salustius by his discretion and prudence took off But after his Distemper abated he left Nicaea and came to Constantinople Where when the Army and his other friends advised him to choose himself a Partner in the Empire that if there should be occasion he might have some body to assist him and not let them suffer as they did at Julian's death he took their Counsel and having consider'd of it chose among all that he could think of his Brother Valens who he thought would prove most faithful to him Him therefore he declared his Partner in the Empire And whilst they both lived at Constantinople all those who were Enemies to Julian's friends continually gave out at Court that such and such Persons had a Design upon the Emperors and made the brutish Rabble also roar it out Upon which the Emperors who for other reasons hated all Julian's Acquaintance were raised to a greater degree of animosity and therefore invented such Charges against 'em as had no shew of reason in them Particularly Valentinian was very severe upon Maximus the Philosopher who had formerly indicted him in Julian's time for prophaning or neglecting holy things upon the score of Christianity But their care and concernment for Affairs both Civil and Military at that time drew 'em off from these kind of things Then did they apply themselves to making of Governors over the several Nations and consulted who should have the charge of the Palace By which means all who had been Governors of Countries or in any other Office under Julian were turned out among them Salustius Prefect of the Court Onely Arintheus and Victor continued in their Military Commands which they had before as Captains whilst others who had a desire for this or that preferment got it by mere chance And this indeed was the onely reasonable thing which they seemed to do for if any of the Officers were found guilty upon just Informations against 'em they suffer'd most certainly beyond all hopes of a pardon When things were thus setled Valentinian thought fit since he and his Brother were Partners to put the East Countries as far as Egypt Bithynia and Thrace under his care and take charge of Illyricum himself From whence he design'd to go over into Italy and to keep all the Cities there together with the Nations beyond the Alps all Spain Britain and Africa in his own hands And when the Empire was thus divided Valentinian began to be more severe in his Government correcting the Errours of the several Magistrates being very rigorous in collecting the Taxes and seeing that the Soldiers had their due out of ' em But because he resolv'd likewise to set forth certain Laws he began at home as they say and forbad the nocturnal Sacrifices intending thereby to restrain and hinder a great many ill actions And yet when Praetextatus Proconsul of Greece who was a person adorn'd with all Virtues told him that the Greeks could never live under such a Law whereby they were kept from performing those most Sacred Mysteries that were the very bond of humane Society he suffer'd 'em to be perform'd according to Order without any regard to his own Law and took care every thing should be done after the ancient custom of the Country In the mean time the Barbarians beyond the Rhine who as long as Julian lived still fear'd the Roman Name and were content to be quiet in their own Dominions as soon as they heard of his Death immediately march'd out of their Country and were prepared for a War against the Romans Which when Valentinian heard he disposed of Forces both Horse and Foot with those also that wore light Armour as it was fit he should and put convenient Garisons in all the several Towns upon the Rhine But these things were thus order'd by Valentinian because he had some skill in Military Affairs whilst Valens was beset with troubles on every side who having lived an unactive life and come to the Empire of a sudden could not sustein the weight of business For not only the Persians who were proud of their condition which was much better since the Truce made by them and Jovian and made inroads upon the Country without controul since Nisibis was subject to 'em by disturbing the Eastern Towns constrain'd the Emperor to go against 'em and at that very time when he parted from Constantinople did the Rebellion of Procopius break out For him Julian had trusted with some part of his Forces as being akin to him and given him charge that he and Sebastianus should go through Adiabene and meet Julian who went against the Enemy another way and gave him leave to wear an Imperial Robe for a reason that no body else knew of But when it had pleas'd God to order things another way and that Jovian had succeeded Julian in the Imperial Throne Procopius ran immediately and delivered the Imperial Garment that was given to him to Jovian confessing why he received it and intreating the Emperor to absolve him from his Military Oath and let him live at quiet that he might mind nothing else but Husbandry and his own private business Which having obtain'd he went to Cesarea in Cappadocia with his Wife and Children because he resolv'd to live in that place where he had a good Estate But whilst he stay'd there Valentinian and Valens being chosen Emperors and having formerly had a suspition of him they sent immediately to take him Nor was there any difficulty in that for he surrender'd himself up to 'em and bad let 'em carry him whither they pleas'd so they would but suffer him to speak with his Wife and see his Children first Which they consenting to he prepared a Feast for 'em and when he saw they were Drunk he and all his Family made their escape toward the Euxine Sea whence he took shipping and went over into Cherronesus Tauriana And having stay'd there some time he found the Inhabitants to be a faithless sort of people which made him fear lest one time or other they would deliver him up to those that sought for him and therefore seeing a Merchant Ship sail by he put himself and Family on board of it and in the Night-time arrived at Constantinople Where lodging at an old Acquaintant's House of his and considering the State of the City since the Emperor's departure he attempted to make himself Emperor