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
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
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
for being of Zenobias's side he set forth Edicts in all places to call 'em back and told 'em such things had happen'd more out of force and necessity than of his own inclination Which when the Fugitives saw they came in whole droves and were courteously receiv'd by the Emperour who having disposed of Affairs in that City went thence to Emisa Where when he found that a Party of the Palmyrenians had got possession of a certain Hill above the Suburbs of Daphne and thought by the steepness of it to stop the Enemies passage he commanded his Soldiers to march up with their Bucklers so near to one another and in so close an order as to keep off Darts and Stones if any were thrown down upon 'em by the meer contiguity of their Armour And so they did Nor were they sooner got up the Hill according to Command but being in all points equal to their Adversaries they put 'em to the run made 'em fly so that some of 'em were dash'd to pieces down from the precipices others kill'd in the pursuit by those that were upon the Hill and those that were a coming up But let the Enemy scape as they could when the Day was theirs they march'd on with great satisfaction that the Emperor made his way with such success whilst Apamea Larissa and Arethusa entertain'd him He therefore seeing the Palmyrenian Army drawn up before Emisa in a body of seventy thousand men consisting of Palmyrenes and their Allies he opposed 'em with the Dalmatian Cavalry the Mysians and Pannonians beside those of Noricum and Rhaetia which are Celtick Legions Nay more than that there were the best of all the Imperial Regiment pick'd out and chosen man by man the Morisco Horse the Tyaneans the Mesopotamians the Syrians the Phenicians and the Palestinians out of Asia all men of undoubted courage among whom the Palestinians besides their other Arms had Clubs and Quarter-staves Now when they fell to it the Roman Cavalry seemed a little to give way lest the Palmyrenes who were too many for 'em and better Horsemen should by some stratagem environ the Roman Army But in truth the Palmyrene Horse pursu'd 'em so hard though they broke their Ranks that the event was quite contrary to what the Roman Cavalry expected For they were pursu'd by an Enemy much too strong for them and therefore they were most of 'em slain but the fatigue of the Day lay chiefly as it happen'd upon the Foot For seeing the Palmyrenes had broken their Ranks when the Horse made their pursuit they wheeled about and set upon 'em whilst they were scatter'd and out of order Whereupon many were kill'd because the one side fought with usual Weapons but those of Palestine brought Clubs and Staves against Coats of Maile made of iron and brass And that in some sense was the chief cause of Victory because the Enemy was amazed to see 'em fight so strangely with Clubs The Palmyrenes therefore ran away as fast as they could and in their flight trod one another to pieces though they were kill'd by the Enemy also insomuch that the Field was full of dead Men and Horses whilst some that could get away made into the City Zenobia as you may suppose was not a little disturb'd at this defeat of hers and therefore consulted what was best to be done But all her friends were of Opinion that she had better relinquish the thoughts of any pretensions to Emisa because the Emisenes were disaffected to her and friends to the Romans But they advised her to keep within Palmyra and when they had secur'd themselves in that strong City they would deliberate about their grand Affairs at leisure Nor was this sooner said than done by the concurrence of the whole Assembly But Aurelianus when he heard that Zenobia was fled away went into Emisa where he was frankly entertain'd by the Citizens and having found a Treasure which Zenobia could not carry along with her he immediately march'd with his Army to Palmyra which he besieged quite round whilst the neighbouring Countreys supply'd his men with all kind of Provisions In the mean time the Palmyrenes jeered the Romans as if they thought it impossible for them to take the Town and one Fellow in particular spoke very undecent words concerning the Emperors own Person whereupon a certain Persian that stood by him said If you please Sir you shall see me kill that impudent Rascal To which the Emperor consented and soo the Persian presently planting himself behind some other mens backs that he might not be discover'd shot at him just as he was looking over the Battlements and hit him whilst he was yet uttering his insolent language so that he fell down from the Wall before the Soldiers and the Emperor Yet the besieged stood it out as hoping that the Enemy would draw off for want of Provisions and persisted in their resolutions till they found themselves want Necessaries Whereupon they called a Council in which it was determined that they would fly immediately to Euphrates and there desire aid of the Persians in order to some new action against the Romans Having so decreed they set Zenobia upon a She Camel which is the swiftest of that kind of Beasts and much fleeter than Horses are and so convey'd her out of the City Aurelianus was troubled at Zenobias's escape and therefore employ'd all his industry to send out Horsemen in pursuit of her And they indeed took her just as she was going over Euphrates out of the Boat and brought her to Aurelianus At which surprizing sight though he was very much rejoyced yet being naturally ambitious and considering that it would be no great honour to him in after-times to have conquer'd a Woman he seemed a little uneasie In the mean while some of the Palmyrenes that were shut up in the Town resolved bravely to expose themselves and run the risque of being taken in defence of their City against the Romans as on the other hand some of 'em used humble submissive gestures from off the Walls and begg'd pardon for what was past Which seeing the Emperour accepted and bad 'em be of good chear they came pouring out of the Town with Presents and Sacrifices in their hands Whereupon Aurelianus having pay'd all due respect to their Holy Things receiv'd their gifts and sent them away uninjur'd But when he was once made Master of this Town with all the Stores Money and Donaries in it he went back to Emisa where he called Zenobia and her Accomplices to account by way of publick Judicature Zenobia therefore coming into the Court pleaded much in excuse of her self and produced many Persons who seduced her as being a simple Woman and among the rest Longinus whose Writings are very beneficial to all Lovers of Learning upon whom being found guilty of the Crimes objected against him the Emperour immediately pass'd the sentence of Death which he bore with so much courage that he spoke comfortable words even to his
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
Ablabius the Court-Prefect put to death and fate was just in his punishment because he contrived how to murther Sopatrus the Philosopher out of envy that he was so familiar with Constantine But as he was unnatural to all his Relations so likewise he put Anaballianus among the rest suborning the Soldiers to cry out that they would have no other Governours but Constantine's Children onely And these were Constantius's exploits In the mean time Constantine and Constans had a dispute concerning that part of Africa that belong'd to Carthage and Italy And Constans who had a mind to surprise his Brother concealed his ill will for three years together till on a certain time when he was got into a Province that loved him he sent Soldiers to him upon pretence to assist him in the War against the Persians but in reality to assassinate him before he was aware which accordingly they did and so kill'd Constantine When Constans had thus removed his Brother out of his way he exercised all manner of cruelty towards his Subjects exceeding the most intolerable Tyranny For he bought some well-favour'd Barbarians and had others with him as Hostages to whom he gave the liberty to do what they pleas'd to his Subjects in order to gratifie his leud Eyes and thereby brought all the Nations that were under him into extream misery At which the Court-Guards were troubled and seeing him much given to Hunting they put themselves under the conduct of Marcellinus Prefect of the Treasury and Magnentius who commanded the Joviani and Herculiani two Legions so called and laid a Plot for him in this manner Marcellinus gave out he would keep his Sons Birth-day and therefore invited a great many of the Superiour Officers of the Army to the Feast and among the rest Magnentius And when it was midnight for so long the Banquet lasted Magnentius rose from Table as if he had been going about some necessary Affair and was not gone long before he came again as it had been in a Play clothed in a Royal Robe and stood before ' em Whereupon all the Guests there saluted him by the name of King and all the Inhabitants of Augustodunum for there it was that this was done were of the same Opinion But when the report of it was gone abroad the Country people also flock'd into the City Whilst at the same time a party of Illyrian Horse that came to supply the Celtick Legions were joyn'd with those that were concern'd in this Enterprise And to speak plainly when the Officers of the Army came together and heard the Heads of the Conspiracy cry out first they scarce knew what the meaning was but however they all set up their Throats and saluted Magnentius by the name of Augustus Which when Constans heard he endeavour'd to escape to a certain little Town called Helena that lies near the Pirenaean Mountains But he was taken by Gaison who was sent with some other select Men upon that Errand and being destitute of all assistance was kill'd When therefore Magnentius had gotten the Empire and was Lord of all the Nations beyond the Alps besides all Italy Vetranio General of the Pannonian Army when he heard that Magnentius was promoted to be Emperour was enflamed himself with the same desire and declared Emperour by the Legions that he had there with him residing at Mursa a City of Pannonia But whilst Affairs stood thus the Persians plunder'd the Eastern Country in Mesopotamia especially But Constantius though he was worsted by the Persians yet he resolv'd to subdue the factions of Magnentius and Vetranio But whilst he was considering of these things and mighty intent upon his Warlike preparations Magnentius being yet in Gallia Celtica Nepotianus Constantius's Nephew by his Sister whose name was Eutropia muster'd up a Company of mad Fellows addicted to Robbery and all kind of debauchery with whom he came to Rome and appear'd in an Imperial Garb But Anicetius whom Magnentius had made Prefect of the Court arm'd some of the common people and drew 'em out of the City as if he design'd they should engage with Nepotianus and a sharp Conflict indeed they had But the Romans who were undisciplin'd and observ'd no Order were easily routed and when the Prefect saw 'em fly he shut the Gates for fear the Enemy should pursue 'em into the City so that Nepotianus's men follow'd 'em and because they had no way to escape kill'd 'em every man But in a few days after Magnentius sent out an Army under the Command of Marcellinus who was Commander of the Court-forces whom they call Magister Officiorum and kill'd Nepotianus In the mean time Constantius came out of the East against Magnentius but thought fit first to oblige Vetranio some way or other because he knew it inconvenient to have to do with two Traitors at a time And on the other side Magnentius did what he could to make Vetranio his friend and thereby put an end to the War against Constantius So they both sent Agents to Vetranio who chose to be of Constantius's side rather than that of Magnentius Whereupon Magnentius's Embassadours went away without their Errand and Constantius desired that both the Armies might meet to consult publickly how to manage the War against Magnentius To which Proposal Vetranio easily agreed and they two seated themselves upon a Throne provided for that purpose Where Constantius according to his Dignity speaking first took all occasions in his Speech to 'em to mind the Soldiers of his Fathers Munificence and of the Oaths which they had taken to be true to his Children And then he told 'em they ought not to let Magnentius pass unpunish'd who was the murtherer of Constantine's Son with whom they had fought many Battels and been most generously rewarded for it Which when the Soldiers heard who had been before hand engaged by rich Presents they cry'd out They would have no mock-Emperors and thereupon they presently strip'd Vetranio of his Purple and pull'd him from the Throne with resolutions to make him live a private life But Constantius would not suffer 'em to do him any harm and therefore sent him into Bithynia where he gave him enough to live upon But he had not lived there long without any employment before he died Constantius seeing his Design against Vetranio took so good an effect he went against Magnentius but first made Gallus his Uncles Son who was the Brother of Julian that afterward came to be Emperor Cesar and gave him his Sister Constantia in Marriage either in order to his opposing the Persians or which was the truth of it to get an opportunity of taking him off For he and his Brothers were the onely persons left of Constantius's Family who had kill'd all the rest as I have told you When therefore he had clothed him in a Cesarian Robe and made Lucillianus General for the Persian War he march'd toward Magnentius with his own and Vetranio's Soldiers all in one body And
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
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
most dishonourable Peace with the Persians And not long after when the Persian Fire had enflamed all the East and that great City Antioch was taken so that the Persian Army march'd as far as Cilicia Valerianus the Emperor undertook an Expedition against 'em and though he were taken by 'em yet they durst not pretend to be Masters of these Countreys Onely the death of the Emperor Julian was cause enough for us to lose 'em and that so irrevocably that the Roman Emperors could never recover any part of 'em even to this day but by degrees have lost more and more still of which some have made themselves perfectly free others have surrender'd themselves to Barbarians and others have been almost quite deserted all which I will demonstrate in the progress of this History as they severally happened But to return from whence I have digress'd When this Peace was made with the Persians in the manner that I have told you Jovianus the Emperor and his Army were coming home securely but met with many difficulties through the roughness of the Way and want of Water besides his loss of many Men in the Enemies Country through which he pass'd wherefore he sent Mauricius a Tribune and commanded him to bring Provisions for his Army from Nisibis and meet 'em with it as far off as he could He also sent others into Italy to tell of Julian's death and how he himself was declared Emperor And when he was come with a great deal of pains and much ado near unto Nisibis he would not go into the Town because it was surrender'd to the Enemy but lay all night in a Piazza before the Gate and the next morning receiv'd the Crowns and Complements that were offer'd to him whilst all the Townsmen besought him that he would not forsake them and force 'em to degenerate into Barbarism who for so many Ages had lived under the Roman Laws Besides they told him it was a dishonour to him that Constantius who had been engaged in three Persian Wars and was defeated in every one of 'em had notwithstanding always protected Nisibis and even when it was besieged and in extream danger done all he could to save it and yet that he when there was no such necessity for it should give up the city to the Enemy and shew the Romans such a day as they had never seen before as being forced to suffer such a Town and such a Country to be surrender'd to an Enemy Which when the Emperor heard he excused his not complying with their desires by telling 'em what Articles he had enter'd into and then Sabinus who was the chief Man of their Council their Recorder went on with what the People had said before by way of Petition and told him farther That they wanted neither Mony to carry on a War against Persia nor any forein Aid but that they were able with their own Bodies and their own Purses to defend themselves from any War that should be waged against 'em and likewise assur'd him that whenever they were Victorious and had regain'd their Liberty they would again be subject to the Romans and obey their Commands as formerly they had done To which when the Emperor reply'd that he could not break his Covenants the Townsmen beg'd of him a thousand times that he would not deprive the Roman Empire of such a Bulwark as that was But all was in vain and away the Emperor went in a fury whilst the Persians desired to have possession of the Countreys Castles and of that City according to the Conditions agreed upon And thereupon the Inhabitants of some Countreys and Castles that could not privately escape let the Persians do with them what they pleased but the Nisibini having gained some time to prepare for their removal they went most of 'em to Amida though some few inhabited in other Towns But all places were full of lamentation and mourning because they thought themselves exposed to the incursions of the Persians now Nisibis was surrender'd to them And among others the Carreni were so sorry when they heard of Julian's death that they stoned him to death who brought the news and threw a great heap of Stones upon his Carcass so great an alteration of Affairs was one mans death then able to create But Jovianus therefore march'd through the Towns with all speed because they were so full of grief that they could not give him one pleasant look which is the custom and nature of those People and along with him as many Soldiers as belong'd to the Imperial Guard he went to Antioch whilst the whole Army attended upon Julian's Body which was carry'd into Cilicia and buried in a Royal Sepulchre in the Suburbs of Tarsus upon whose Tombstone there is this Inscription Julian has Tigris left and here he lies A Warlike Prince just valiant and wise And now Jovian being mindful of his Imperial Affairs disposed of other matters and among the rest sent Lucillianus his Father in law Procopius and Valentinian who was afterward Emperor to the Armies in Pannonia to tell 'em of Julian's Death and how that he was chosen Emperor But the Batavi that were at Sirmium and were left there for a Guard to it as soon as they heard the news they kill'd Lucillianus who brought 'em such ill tidings without any regard to that Relation which he had to the Emperor But they let Procopius go untouch'd out of the respect they bore to Julian's Kindred whilst Valentinian made his escape and deliver'd himself from that Death which they intended to inflict upon him But when Jovianus was going from Antioch toward Constantinople he was taken sick of a sudden at Dadastana in Bithynia and died after he had been Emperor onely eight months in which so short a time he was not able to do any signal Service to the publick And when he was dead there was a Consultation proposed concerning who should be his Successor which occasion'd a great variety of Discourse and of several Persons among the Soldiers as well as Officers till at length they all with one accord pitch'd upon Salustius Prefect of the Court But he pretending he was too old and therefore could not serve 'em in those their ill circumstances they desired his Son might be Emperor in his stead But he told 'em that his Son was young and upon that as well as other accounts unfit to undergo the weight of an Imperial Diadem so that they missed the choice of such a Man who was the best in that Age. Upon which reason they voted for Valentinian who was born at Cibalis in Pannonia and an excellent Souldier but no Scholar at all However they sent for him being then at some distance nor did the Common-wealth long want an Head And when he came to the Army at Nicea in Bithynia he there took upon him the Imperial Authority and march'd forward A New HISTORY Written by Count ZOSIMVS Sometime Advocate of the Treasury The Fourth Book HOW
therefore sent Embassadours and desired to purchase a Peace though with a small sum of Money as likewise to have Aetius and Jason the former Son to Jovius and the latter to Gaudentius for Hostages and therewithal told 'em that he would send them two under the like circumstances out of his Nobility and having made peace upon such terms would lead his Army out of Noricum into Pannonia But Alarichus demanding Peace upon these conditions the Emperour refus'd him his Request although he must have of necessity done one thing or other of two that were before him if he would have disposed of his Affairs the right way For he must either have deferr'd the War and procured a Peace for some small sum or if he would rather fight he ought to have muster'd up all the Legions that he could and posted them in the Enemies way to obstruct the Barbarians from coming any further on Besides which he should have chosen a fit Man to lead 'em and made Sarus General of the War who in his own person was sufficient to strike a terrour into the Enemies upon the account both of his courage and his experience in Warlike Affairs and had also a number of Barbarians under him enough to make a good defence But he on the contrary neither embracing the offers of Peace not making Sarus his Friend nor mustering up the Roman Army but placing all his hopes in the desires and wishes of Olympius was the cause of so many calamities to the Commonwealth For he made such Men Commanders as were contemptible in the esteem of the Enemy to wit Turpilio whom he made General of the Horse Varanes of the Foot Vigilantius of the Domesticks and so of all other things accordingly Upon which account all Men despaired and seemed to have the utter ruin of Italy even then before their Eyes Now seeing these things were thus order'd Alarichus began his expedition against Rome and laugh'd at the preparations made by Honorius And because he would not go about such a weighty business with onely equal but rather far greater Forces than his Enemy he sent for his Wifes Brother called Ataulphus out of the upper Pannonia to be his Partner in the Action as having a very considerable number of Gotths and Hunns to bring along with him Yet nevertheless he did not stay for his Brother-in law's coming but marching forward in haste passed by Aquileia and all the other Cities in order that lie beyond the River Po I mean Concordia Altinum and Cremona And when he had cross'd the River being as it were at some Festival and having no Enemy to stop him he came into a certain Castle of Bononia which they call Oecubaria From whence passing by all Aemilia and leaving Ravenna behind him he â—arne to Ariminum a great City of Flaâ—â—nia But moving by that also with â—â—eed as he did by all the rest that were in that Province he came into Picenum which is a Nation lying in the extremity of the Ionian Bay And from thence marching towards Rome he sack'd all the Castles and Towns that were in his way insomuch that if Arsacius and Tarentius the two Eunuchs had not made haste and so prevented the coming of the Barbarians into those parts as to bring Eucherius Stilico's Son before that time to Rome to die according to the Emperour's Order and executed what the Emperour commanded the Youth had certainly fallen into the hands of Alarichus and been saved But the Eunuchs having fulfilled what was enjoyn'd 'em upon that score and deliver'd Thermantia Honorius's Wife to her Mother they took shipping and went over to the Emperour in Gallia Celtica where he then lived because they could not go unto him the same way they came Now upon this account the Emperour thinking he should do good service to the Commonwealth if he rewarded these two Eunuchs for their great exploits in restoring Thermantia to her Mother and killing Eucherius he made Tarentius Imperial Chamberlain and gave Arsacius the next Place under him Then having taken oft Bathanarius who was Master of the Soldiers Militum Magister General in the greater Libya and Husband to Stilico's Sister he gave that Command to Heraclianus who was the Man that kill'd Stilico and receiv'd his Honour as the reward of that Action But when Alarichus was near Rome besieging those within the Senate suspected Serena for bringing the Barbarians against their City And therefore both the whole Senate and Placidia who was the Emperour's own Sister by the Mothers side thought fit that she should die for it as being the cause of all the present mischief For Alarichus said they when Serena is removed will draw off from the City because there will be no body left from whom he can hope to have the City betray'd into his hands But this suspicion was really salse for Serena never thought of any such thing However she suffer'd justly for her impieties toward the Gods as I am now agoing to tell you When Theodosius the Elder having defeated the Rebel Eugenius came to Rome and created in all people a Contempt or neglect of divine Worship denying to defray the charge of holy things out of the publick Stock the Priests of both Sexes were turn'd out and banish'd and the Temples bereft of all their Sacrifices Whereupon Serena scoffing at 'em would needs see the Temple dedicated to the Mother of the Gods In which when she saw certain Bracelets and attire about the neck of Rheas Statue suitable to the divine Worship which was paid to her She took it off of the Statue and put it about her own Neck And when a certain old Maid that was the onely person left of all the Vestal Virgins upbraided her with such a wicked Action even to her Teeth she not onely gave her very ill Language but commanded her Attendants to carry or drive her away But notwithstanding the old Woman as she was going from the place pray'd that whatsoever was due ro such impiety might fall upon Serena her Husband and Children But Serena took no notice of what she said and went out of the Temple well pleas'd with the Attire that she had gotten though afterward there often appear'd to her something not onely fantastick in a Dream but real when she was awake which did foretel her Death But others too besides her saw the like things and so far did that just Vengeance which uses to punish the wicked discharge its duty that though Serena knew what would happen she took no care of her self but submitted that Neck about which she had put the Goddesses Attire even to * What Death Serena died I cannot learn from those Authors that I have by me But I should wonder if Zosimus did not refer such accidents to these to a contempt of the Gods for there is no fitter defence for false worship than what is derived from Tables But it is indeed credible that Serena hang'd her self though upon far different occasions as the
frustration of her ambitious hopes and the unexpected diverce of her Daughter who being now sent home again Serena had no hopes left of being an Emperess nor any reason to cherish her exalted thoughts He likewise in the same Comma or paragraph tells you such an other Story of Stilico though we may easily demonstrate the cause of his Death For he had rais'd the Alemans Suevians Vandals and Burgundians to extort the Empire from his Son-in-law to his Son For he is noted with this Character in Paul Diac. l. 13. He gave the blood of all mankind to purchase a Purple Garment for one Boy an Halter It is likewise said that Stilico for another impiety not much unlike this of Serena did not escape the secret hand of Vengeance For he also is said to have commanded the Doors of the Capitol at Rome that were cover'd with a great quantity of of Gold to be uncased and that those who were employ'd in that Affair found upon some part of the Doors this Inscription These things are kept for a wretched Prince And so it prov'd even as the Inscription foretold for he died most wretchedly and most miserably too Yet notwithstanding Serenas death did not remove Alarichus from the Siege but he block'd up the Gates all round and having possess'd himself of the River Tiber obstructed the supply of necessaries from the Port to the City Which when the Romans saw they resolv'd yet still to persevere because they expected almost every day to have Auxiliaries sent 'em from Ravenna But when they found no body came and that they were disappointed of their hopes they thought good to retrench the measure of the allowance of Corn or other provisions and to order that there should not be dress'd or prepared for eating above one half of what was formerly for each day and afterward when their scarcity encreased upon them a third part onely And seeing there was no remedy for their Relief but that all their Belly timber Succours of the Belly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was spent a Plague as was probable it would succeeded their famine and all places were full of dead bodies And because the dead could not be buried without the City for the Enemies kept all the Passes or Avenues the City was their Sepulchre So that it was like to be dispeopled upon another account and though there had been no want of Victuals yet the very stench arising from the dead bodies was enough to infect and corrupt their bodies But Laeta Wife to Gratian who had been sometime Emperour and her Mother Pissamena supply'd a great many with necessary food for some time For since the Treasury allowed them the Provisions of an Imperial Table through the generosity of Theodosius who gave 'em that priviledg a great many receiv'd the kindness of those two Women and from their House got that which fortified 'em against a Famine But the malady was come to that extremity as that they were in danger to eat one another they try'd all ways which are abominable in the eyes of mankind and then resolv'd to send an Embassy to the Enemy and acquaint them that they were ready to accept of any reasonable conditions of Peace and at the same time more ready for War since the Roman People had taken up Arms and through their continual exercise in Military Affairs were grown very much inclinable to fight Now Basilius being chosen their Embassador who was a Spaniard and Governour of a Province Johnannes went out along with him who was the chief of the Imperial Notaries called Tribunes because he was acquainted with Alarichus and might be a means to reconcile them For the Romans did not certainly know whether Alarichus himself were come thither or no or whether it were he that besieged Rome For they were cheated with a former Report that it was another Person who had been Stilico's Friend and brought him to the City When therefore the Embassadors came to him they were ashamed of that ignorance in which the Romans had been so long kept but deliver'd the Senates Message Which when Alarichus heard and that the people having been used to Arms were ready for a War The thickest grass says he is more easily cut than the thinnest and having so said he laugh'd at the Embassadors most excessively But when they came to talk of Peace he used such expressions as were beyond all barbarous Arrogance or insolence For he said He would not relinquish the Siege upon any other Condition than that he should have all the Gold and Silver in the City together with all the Houshold goods in it besides the Barbarian Slaves Whereupon when one of the Embassadors said If you take all these things what will you leave for the Citizens He reply'd Their Souls So when the Embassadors had received this Answer they desired time to communicate it to the Citizens and advise with them what was to be done Which leave having obtain'd they related all the Discourse that had pass'd in that Embassy Whereupon the Romans being persuaded that it was really Alarichus who fought against 'em and despairing of all things that conduce to humane strength they call'd to mind that help which the City had formerly found in insurrections and that they by transgressing their ancient Ceremonies were left destitute of it But whilst they were considering of these things Pompeianus the Prefect of the City litt by chance upon some Men that came out of Tuscany to Rome and said That a certain Town called Neveia had freed it self from imminent dangers inasmuch as it had beaten off the Barbarians who beset it by Thunder and Lightning which was caus'd through their Devotion to the Gods in the ancient manner of Worship And therefore when he had discoursed with these Men he did what he well could do out of the Books belonging to the Chief Priests or Pontifies But when he remember'd what Opinion was then prevalent he resolv'd to go about his business with more security and proposed the whole matter to the Bishop of the City whose Name was Innocentius And he truly preferring the safety of the City before his own Opinion permitted 'em privately to do whatever they knew how to do But they pretending that what they could do would do no good unless the publick and usual Sacrifices were perform'd the Senate went up into the Capitol and there as also in the several Markets of the City did all that was to be perform'd but no body daring to communicate in their Religious ancient Worship they dismiss'd those Men who came out of Thuscany and apply'd themselves to reconcile the Barbarian as well as they could To which end they again sent Embassadours and after they had made long Speeches on both sides they agreed that the City should give five thousand pound of Gold and thirty thousand of Silver with four thousand Silk Coats three thousand Fleeces or Fells of a Scarlet die and three thousand pounds of Pepper But because
Maximillianus who fell into the hands of the Enemy was sold to his Father Marinianus for thirty thousand pieces of Gold For since the Emperour deferr'd the Peace and did not fulfill or perform what was agreed upon the Romans could not any longer pass freely out of the City Wherefore the Senate sent Embassadours a second time to the Emperour about the Peace along with whom the Bishop of Rome also went There were also some Barbarians in their Retinue sent by Alarichus to protect 'em from their Enemies who infested the several Roads But when these Embassadours were come to the Emperour Ataulphus whom Alarichus sent for as I told you before was come over the Alps that lie as you go from Pannonia to Venice Which when the Emperour heard and that he had no great Army with him he order'd all his Soldiers both Horse and Foot as many as were in the several Cities to go with their own Officers and meet him But to Olympius who was Captain of the Court-guards he gave the Hunns that were in Ravenna to the number of three hundred Who when they saw those that came Here is a Chasm or Balk which may be supply'd with these words were arrived at a City after the word came and then it runs thus Who wen they saw those that came were arrived at a City called Pisa they made an attaque and engaging with 'em kill'd eleven hundred Gotths and return'd safe to Ravenna with the loss of onely seventeen Men. But the Eunuchs about the Court made such informations to the Emperour against Olympius as the cause of all the ill accidents that had befallen the Commonwealth that they procur'd his removal out of his present Office Whereupon he fearing lest he might suffer some greater misfortune fled away into Dalmatia whilst in the mean time the Emperour sent Attalus Prefect of the City to Rome and being very solicitous that nothing belonging to the Treasury should be conceal'd he sent Demetrius also to assist Attalus and make a diligent enquiry into the publick Stock And when he had made many innovations as to the Magistracy and other matters also turning out those that were formerly in great Authority and conferring their Offices upon others he appointed Generidus likewise to be Commander of all the Forces in Dalmatia who was already Captain General of all the rest that were posted or engarrison'd in the upper Pannonia Noricum and Rhaetia even as far as the Alps. Now this Generidus though he were of a Barbarian extract was in his disposition inclined to all sorts of Virtues and the freest from covetousness of any Man living But whilst he adhered to ancient Rites and could not endure to relinquish the old way of worshipping the Gods there was a Law promulgated that prohibited all who were not Christians from wearing a Girdle in the Court. Which Law being establish'd Generidus who was a Military Officer at that time in Rome laid down his Girdle and kept at home in his own House And when the Emperour requir'd him as being enrolled among the Officers to come to Court in his due course He reply'd There was a Law that forbad him the use of a Girdle or that any one at all should be reckon'd among the Officers who did not reverence the Christian Religion To which when the Emperour answer'd That the Law he cited did indeed oblige all others excepting him alone who had undertaken such dangerous enterprises upon the score of the Common-wealth He made him this return That he could not suffer himself to accept of such an Honour that seemed to affront all the rest who upon the account of that Law had been put out of Commission Nor did he execute his Office till the Emperour being forced both by necessity and shame together had utterly abolish'd the Law and gave all people leave to enjoy their own Opinions in all Places or Offices whether they were Military or Civil Now Generidus having begun with this piece of Gallantry imploy'd and instructed the Soldiers with continual labours and exercises distributing Corn among 'em and suffering no body to take any thing of it away from them as they were formerly used to do besides that he himself out of his publick Allowance gave those that took most pains convenient encouragement Since therefore he appear'd so great he was not onely a Terrour to the adjacent Barbarians but a security also to all those Nations which he had under his care But when the Soldiers mutinied at Ravenna they took possession of the Port there crying out in a rude manner and demanding that the Emperour would come before ' em But he for fear of the insurrection being got into some private place one Jovius came out among 'em who was the Prefect of the Court and honour'd with the Dignity of a Patrician and making as if he knew not the reason why they mutinied although himself was said to be the cause of it together with Illebichus who was Captain of the Domestick Horse He ask'd them what ground they had to be so violent But as soon as he heard the Soldiers say that by all means they must have Turpillio and Vigilantius the two Generals with Terentius the Imperial Chamberlain and Arsacius next to him in Dignity deliver'd to 'em the Emperour fearing lest the Soldiers should revolt condemn'd the two Generals to perpetual Exile and they thereupon being put on board a Ship were kill'd by those that should have carry'd 'em to the place of Banishment For so indeed Jovius had commanded them to do as fearing lest if they ever came back again and discover'd the intrigue that was laid against 'em they might excite the Emperour to punish him for it But Terentius was sent into the East whilst Arsacius was order'd to live at Millain And when the Emperour had made Eusebius Chamberlain in the room of Terentius given Valens Turpillio's Command and chosen Ellebichus Prefect instead of Vigilatius he seemed in some measure to asswage the fury of the Soldiers But Jovius who was Prosect of the Court having transferr'd all the Power of managing the Emperour into his own hands resolv'd to send Embassadours to Alarichus to desire him to come even to Ravenna and to tell him that there they would conclude the Peace Whereupon Alarichus being persuaded by the Letters that he receiv'd both from the Emperour and Jovius too and being come as far as Ariminum thirty miles from Ravenna Jovius made haste thither also as having been Alarichus's Friend and familiar Acquaintance in Epirus to treat concerning the League Now Alarichus made these following Demands That he would have so much Gold every year and such a quantity of Corn as likewise that he and the Barbarians that were with him might inhabit both the Venetias Noricum and Dalmatia Which Demands of his when Jovius had written out in the presence of Alarichus he sent 'em to the Emperour with others Letters which he privately convey'd to him to advise him that he would
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