andtheedictwhichexcitedthemostviolentclamors，maynotappearsoextremelyreprehensible。Theemperorhadobserved，thatseveralofhissubjects，gratifyingtheirlazydispositionunderthepretenceofreligion，hadassociatedthemselveswiththemonksofEgypt；andhedirectedthecountoftheEasttodragthemfromtheirsolitude；andtocompelthesedesertersofsocietytoacceptthefairalternativeofrenouncingtheirtemporalpossessions，orofdischargingthepublicdutiesofmenandcitizens。^74TheministersofValensseemtohaveextendedthesenseofthispenalstatute，sincetheyclaimedarightofenlistingtheyoungandablebodiedmonksintheImperialarmies。
Adetachmentofcavalryandinfantry，consistingofthreethousandmen，marchedfromAlexandriaintotheadjacentdesertofNitria，^75whichwaspeopledbyfivethousandmonks。ThesoldierswereconductedbyArianpriests；anditisreported，thataconsiderableslaughterwasmadeinthemonasterieswhichdisobeyedthecommandsoftheirsovereign。^76
[Footnote69:Dr。JortinRemarksonEcclesiasticalHistory，vol。
iv。p。78hasalreadyconceivedandintimatedthesamesuspicion。]
[Footnote70:Thisreflectionissoobviousandforcible，thatOrosiusl。vii。c。32，33，delaysthepersecutiontillafterthedeathofValentinian。Socrates，ontheotherhand，supposes，l。iii。c。32，thatitwasappeasedbyaphilosophicaloration，whichThemistiuspronouncedintheyear374，Orat。xii。p。154，inLatinonly。Suchcontradictionsdiminishtheevidence，andreducetheterm，ofthepersecutionofValens。]
[Footnote71:Tillemont，whomIfollowandabridge，hasextractedMem。Eccles。tom。viii。p。153—167themostauthenticcircumstancesfromthePanegyricsofthetwoGregories；thebrother，andthefriend，ofBasil。ThelettersofBasilhimselfDupin，Bibliotheque，Ecclesiastique，tom。ii。p。155—180donotpresenttheimageofaverylivelypersecution。]
[Footnote72:BasiliusCaesariensisepiscopusCappadociaeclarushabetur……quimultacontinentiaeetingeniibonaunosuperbiaemaloperdidit。ThisirreverentpassageisperfectlyinthestyleandcharacterofSt。Jerom。ItdoesnotappearinScaliger\'seditionofhisChronicle；butIsaacVossiusfounditinsomeoldMss。whichhadnotbeenreformedbythemonks。]
[Footnote73:Thisnobleandcharitablefoundationalmostanewcitysurpassedinmerit，ifnotingreatness，thepyramids，orthewallsofBabylon。Itwasprincipallyintendedforthereceptionoflepers，Greg。Nazianzen，Orat。xx。p。439。]
[Footnote74:Cod。Theodos。l。xii。tit。i。leg。63。Godefroytom。iv。p。409—413performsthedutyofacommentatorandadvocate。TillemontMem。Eccles。tom。viii。p。808supposesasecondlawtoexcusehisorthodoxfriends，whohadmisrepresentedtheedictofValens，andsuppressedthelibertyofchoice。]
[Footnote75:SeeD\'Anville，Descriptiondel\'Egypte，p。74。
HereafterIshallconsiderthemonasticinstitutions。]
[Footnote76:Socrates，l。iv。c。24，25。Orosius，l。vii。c。
33。Jerom。inChron。p。189，andtom。ii。p。212。ThemonksofEgyptperformedmanymiracles，whichprovethetruthoftheirfaith。Right，saysJortin，Remarks，voliv。p。79，butwhatprovesthetruthofthosemiracles。]
Thestrictregulationswhichhavebeenframedbythewisdomofmodernlegislatorstorestrainthewealthandavariceoftheclergy，maybeoriginallydeducedfromtheexampleoftheemperorValentinian。Hisedict，^77addressedtoDamasus，bishopofRome，waspubliclyreadinthechurchesofthecity。Headmonishedtheecclesiasticsandmonksnottofrequentthehousesofwidowsandvirgins；andmenacedtheirdisobediencewiththeanimadversionoftheciviljudge。Thedirectorwasnolongerpermittedtoreceiveanygift，orlegacy，orinheritance，fromtheliberalityofhisspiritual—daughter:everytestamentcontrarytothisedictwasdeclarednullandvoid；andtheillegaldonationwasconfiscatedfortheuseofthetreasury。Byasubsequentregulation，itshouldseem，thatthesameprovisionswereextendedtonunsandbishops；andthatallpersonsoftheecclesiasticalorderwererenderedincapableofreceivinganytestamentarygifts，andstrictlyconfinedtothenaturalandlegalrightsofinheritance。Astheguardianofdomestichappinessandvirtue，Valentinianappliedthissevereremedytothegrowingevil。Inthecapitaloftheempire，thefemalesofnobleandopulenthousespossessedaveryampleshareofindependentproperty:andmanyofthosedevoutfemaleshadembracedthedoctrinesofChristianity，notonlywiththecoldassentoftheunderstanding，butwiththewarmthofaffection，andperhapswiththeeagernessoffashion。Theysacrificedthepleasuresofdressandluxury；andrenounced，forthepraiseofchastity，thesoftendearmentsofconjugalsociety。Someecclesiastic，ofrealorapparentsanctity，waschosentodirecttheirtimorousconscience，andtoamusethevacanttendernessoftheirheart:andtheunboundedconfidence，whichtheyhastilybestowed，wasoftenabusedbyknavesandenthusiasts；whohastenedfromtheextremitiesoftheEast，toenjoy，onasplendidtheatre，theprivilegesofthemonasticprofession。Bytheircontemptoftheworld，theyinsensiblyacquireditsmostdesirableadvantages；thelivelyattachment，perhapsofayoungandbeautifulwoman，thedelicateplentyofanopulenthousehold，andtherespectfulhomageoftheslaves，thefreedmen，andtheclientsofasenatorialfamily。TheimmensefortunesoftheRomanladiesweregraduallyconsumedinlavishalmsandexpensivepilgrimages；andtheartfulmonk，whohadassignedhimselfthefirst，orpossiblythesoleplace，inthetestamentofhisspiritualdaughter，stillpresumedtodeclare，withthesmoothfaceofhypocrisy，thathewasonlytheinstrumentofcharity，andthestewardofthepoor。Thelucrative，butdisgraceful，trade，^78whichwasexercisedbytheclergytodefraudtheexpectationsofthenaturalheirs，hadprovokedtheindignationofasuperstitiousage:andtwoofthemostrespectableoftheLatinfathersveryhonestlyconfess，thattheignominiousedictofValentinianwasjustandnecessary；andthattheChristianpriestshaddeservedtoloseaprivilege，whichwasstillenjoyedbycomedians，charioteers，andtheministersofidols。Butthewisdomandauthorityofthelegislatorareseldomvictoriousinacontestwiththevigilantdexterityofprivateinterest；andJerom，orAmbrose，mightpatientlyacquiesceinthejusticeofanineffectualorsalutarylaw。Iftheecclesiasticswerecheckedinthepursuitofpersonalemolument，theywouldexertamorelaudableindustrytoincreasethewealthofthechurch；anddignifytheircovetousnesswiththespeciousnamesofpietyandpatriotism。^79
[Footnote77:Cod。Theodos。l。xvi。tit。ii。leg。20。Godefroy，tom。vi。p。49，aftertheexampleofBaronius，impartiallycollectsallthatthefathershavesaidonthesubjectofthisimportantlaw；whosespiritwaslongafterwardsrevivedbytheemperorFredericII。，EdwardI。ofEngland，andotherChristianprinceswhoreignedafterthetwelfthcentury。]
[Footnote78:TheexpressionswhichIhaveusedaretemperateandfeeble，ifcomparedwiththevehementinvectivesofJerom，tom。
i。p。13，45，144，&c。Inhisturnhewasreproachedwiththeguiltwhichheimputedtohisbrothermonks；andtheSceleratus，theVersipellis，waspubliclyaccusedastheloverofthewidowPaula，tom。ii。p。363。Heundoubtedlypossessedtheaffection，bothofthemotherandthedaughter；buthedeclaresthatheneverabusedhisinfluencetoanyselfishorsensualpurpose。]
[Footnote79:Pudetdicere，sacerdotesidolorum，mimietaurigae，etscorta，haereditatescapiunt:solisclericisacmonachishaclegeprohibetur。Etnonprohibeturapersecutoribus，sedaprincipibusChristianis。Necdelegequeror；seddoleocurmeruerimushanclegem。Jeromtom。i。p。13discreetlyinsinuatesthesecretpolicyofhispatronDamasus。]
Damasus，bishopofRome，whowasconstrainedtostigmatizetheavariceofhisclergybythepublicationofthelawofValentinian，hadthegoodsense，orthegoodfortune，toengageinhisservicethezealandabilitiesofthelearnedJerom；andthegratefulsainthascelebratedthemeritandpurityofaveryambiguouscharacter。^80ButthesplendidvicesofthechurchofRome，underthereignofValentinianandDamasus，havebeencuriouslyobservedbythehistorianAmmianus，whodelivershisimpartialsenseintheseexpressivewords:\"ThepraefectureofJuventiuswasaccompaniedwithpeaceandplenty，butthetranquillityofhisgovernmentwassoondisturbedbyabloodyseditionofthedistractedpeople。TheardorofDamasusandUrsinus，toseizetheepiscopalseat，surpassedtheordinarymeasureofhumanambition。Theycontendedwiththerageofparty；thequarrelwasmaintainedbythewoundsanddeathoftheirfollowers；andthepraefect，unabletoresistorappeasethetumult，wasconstrained，bysuperiorviolence，toretireintothesuburbs。Damasusprevailed:thewell—disputedvictoryremainedonthesideofhisfaction；onehundredandthirty—sevendeadbodies^81werefoundintheBasilicaofSicininus，^82
wheretheChristiansholdtheirreligiousassemblies；anditwaslongbeforetheangrymindsofthepeopleresumedtheiraccustomedtranquillity。WhenIconsiderthesplendorofthecapital，Iamnotastonishedthatsovaluableaprizeshouldinflamethedesiresofambitiousmen，andproducethefiercestandmostobstinatecontests。Thesuccessfulcandidateissecure，thathewillbeenrichedbytheofferingsofmatrons；^83that，assoonashisdressiscomposedwithbecomingcareandelegance，hemayproceed，inhischariot，throughthestreetsofRome；^84
andthatthesumptuousnessoftheImperialtablewillnotequaltheprofuseanddelicateentertainmentsprovidedbythetaste，andattheexpense，oftheRomanpontiffs。HowmuchmorerationallycontinuesthehonestPaganwouldthosepontiffsconsulttheirtruehappiness，if，insteadofallegingthegreatnessofthecityasanexcusefortheirmanners，theywouldimitatetheexemplarylifeofsomeprovincialbishops，whosetemperanceandsobriety，whosemeanapparelanddowncastlooks，recommendtheirpureandmodestvirtuetotheDeityandhistrueworshippers!\"^85TheschismofDamasusandUrsinuswasextinguishedbytheexileofthelatter；andthewisdomofthepraefectPraetextatus^86restoredthetranquillityofthecity。
PraetextatuswasaphilosophicPagan，amanoflearning，oftaste，andpoliteness；whodisguisedareproachintheformofajest，whenheassuredDamasus，thatifhecouldobtainthebishopricofRome，hehimselfwouldimmediatelyembracetheChristianreligion。^87Thislivelypictureofthewealthandluxuryofthepopesinthefourthcenturybecomesthemorecurious，asitrepresentstheintermediatedegreebetweenthehumblepovertyoftheapostolicfishermen，andtheroyalstateofatemporalprince，whosedominionsextendfromtheconfinesofNaplestothebanksofthePo。
[Footnote80:ThreewordsofJerom，sanctoememorioeDamasustom。ii。p。109，washawayallhisstains，andblindthedevouteyesofTillemont。MemEccles。tom。viii。p。386—424。]
[Footnote81:Jeromhimselfisforcedtoallow，crudelissimaeinterfectionesdiversisexusperpetratae，inChron。p。186。Butanoriginallibel，orpetitionoftwopresbytersoftheadverseparty，hasunaccountablyescaped。TheyaffirmthatthedoorsoftheBasilicawereburnt，andthattheroofwasuntiled；thatDamasusmarchedattheheadofhisownclergy，grave—diggers，charioteers，andhiredgladiators；thatnoneofhispartywerekilled，butthatonehundredandsixtydeadbodieswerefound。
ThispetitionispublishedbytheP。Sirmond，inthefirstvolumeofhiswork。]
[Footnote82:TheBasilicaofSicininus，orLiberius，isprobablythechurchofSanctaMariaMaggiore，ontheEsquilinehill。
Baronius，A。D。367No。3；andDonatus，RomaAntiquaetNova，l。
iv。c。3，p。462。]
[Footnote83:TheenemiesofDamasusstyledhimAuriscalpiusMatronarumtheladies\'ear—scratcher。]
[Footnote84:GregoryNazianzenOrat。xxxii。p。526describestheprideandluxuryoftheprelateswhoreignedintheImperialcities；theirgiltcar，fierysteeds，numeroustrain，&c。Thecrowdgavewayastoawildbeast。]
[Footnote85:Ammian。xxvii。3。PerpetuoNumini，verisqueejuscultoribus。Theincomparablepliancyofapolytheist!]
[Footnote86:Ammianus，whomakesafairreportofhispraefecturexxvii。9styleshimpraeclaraeindolis，gravitatisquesenator，xxii。7，andVales。adloc。AcuriousinscriptionGrutorMCII。No。2records，intwocolumns，hisreligiousandcivilhonors。InonelinehewasPontiffoftheSun，andofVesta，Augur，Quindecemvir，Hierophant，&c。，&c。Intheother，1。Quaestorcandidatus，moreprobablytitular。2。
Praetor。3。CorrectorofTuscanyandUmbria。4。ConsularofLusitania。5。ProconsulofAchaia。6。PraefectofRome。7。
PraetorianpraefectofItaly。8。OfIllyricum。9。Consulelect；
buthediedbeforethebeginningoftheyear385。SeeTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tomv。p。241，736。]
[Footnote87:FacitemeRomanaeurbisepiscopum；eteroprotinusChristianusJerom，tom。ii。p。165。ItismorethanprobablethatDamasuswouldnothavepurchasedhisconversionatsuchaprice。]
ChapterXXV:ReignsOfJovianAndValentinian，DivisionOfTheEmpire。
PartIV。
WhenthesuffrageofthegeneralsandofthearmycommittedthesceptreoftheRomanempiretothehandsofValentinian，hisreputationinarms，hismilitaryskillandexperience，andhisrigidattachmenttotheforms，aswellasspirit，ofancientdiscipline，weretheprincipalmotivesoftheirjudiciouschoice。
Theeagernessofthetroops，whopressedhimtonominatehiscolleague，wasjustifiedbythedangeroussituationofpublicaffairs；andValentinianhimselfwasconscious，thattheabilitiesofthemostactivemindwereunequaltothedefenceofthedistantfrontiersofaninvadedmonarchy。AssoonasthedeathofJulianhadrelievedtheBarbariansfromtheterrorofhisname，themostsanguinehopesofrapineandconquestexcitedthenationsoftheEast，oftheNorth，andoftheSouth。Theirinroadswereoftenvexatious，andsometimesformidable；but，duringthetwelveyearsofthereignofValentinian，hisfirmnessandvigilanceprotectedhisowndominions；andhispowerfulgeniusseemedtoinspireanddirectthefeeblecounselsofhisbrother。Perhapsthemethodofannalswouldmoreforciblyexpresstheurgentanddividedcaresofthetwoemperors；buttheattentionofthereader，likewise，wouldbedistractedbyatediousanddesultorynarrative。Aseparateviewofthefivegreattheatresofwar；I。Germany；II。Britain；III。Africa；
IV。TheEast；and，V。TheDanube；willimpressamoredistinctimageofthemilitarystateoftheempireunderthereignsofValentinianandValens。
I。TheambassadorsoftheAlemannihadbeenoffendedbytheharshandhaughtybehaviorofUrsacius，masteroftheoffices；
^88whobyanactofunseasonableparsimony，haddiminishedthevalue，aswellasthequantity，ofthepresentstowhichtheywereentitled，eitherfromcustomortreaty，ontheaccessionofanewemperor。Theyexpressed，andtheycommunicatedtotheircountrymen，theirstrongsenseofthenationalaffront。Theirasciblemindsofthechiefswereexasperatedbythesuspicionofcontempt；andthemartialyouthcrowdedtotheirstandard。
BeforeValentiniancouldpasstheAlps，thevillagesofGaulwereinflames；beforehisgeneralDegalaiphuscouldencountertheAlemanni，theyhadsecuredthecaptivesandthespoilintheforestsofGermany。Inthebeginningoftheensuingyear，themilitaryforceofthewholenation，indeepandsolidcolumns，brokethroughthebarrieroftheRhine，duringtheseverityofanorthernwinter。TwoRomancountsweredefeatedandmortallywounded；andthestandardoftheHeruliandBataviansfellintothehandsoftheHeruliandBataviansfellintothehandsoftheconquerors，whodisplayed，withinsultingshoutsandmenaces，thetrophyoftheirvictory。Thestandardwasrecovered；buttheBatavianshadnotredeemedtheshameoftheirdisgraceandflightintheeyesoftheirseverejudge。ItwastheopinionofValentinian，thathissoldiersmustlearntofeartheircommander，beforetheycouldceasetofeartheenemy。Thetroopsweresolemnlyassembled；andthetremblingBatavianswereenclosedwithinthecircleoftheImperialarmy。Valentinianthenascendedhistribunal；and，asifhedisdainedtopunishcowardicewithdeath，heinflictedastainofindelibleignominyontheofficers，whosemisconductandpusillanimitywerefoundtobethefirstoccasionofthedefeat。TheBataviansweredegradedfromtheirrank，strippedoftheirarms，andcondemnedtobesoldforslavestothehighestbidder。Atthistremendoussentence，thetroopsfellprostrateontheground，deprecatedtheindignationoftheirsovereign，andprotested，that，ifhewouldindulgetheminanothertrial，theywouldapprovethemselvesnotunworthyofthenameofRomans，andofhissoldiers。Valentinian，withaffectedreluctance，yieldedtotheirentreaties；theBataviansresumedtheirarms，andwiththeirarms，theinvincibleresolutionofwipingawaytheirdisgraceinthebloodoftheAlemanni。^89TheprincipalcommandwasdeclinedbyDagalaiphus；
andthatexperiencedgeneral，whohadrepresented，perhapswithtoomuchprudence，theextremedifficultiesoftheundertaking，hadthemortification，beforetheendofthecampaign，ofseeinghisrivalJovinusconvertthosedifficultiesintoadecisiveadvantageoverthescatteredforcesoftheBarbarians。Attheheadofawell—disciplinedarmyofcavalry，infantry，andlighttroops，Jovinusadvanced，withcautiousandrapidsteps，toScarponna，^90intheterritoryofMetz，wherehesurprisedalargedivisionoftheAlemanni，beforetheyhadtimetoruntotheirarms；andflushedhissoldierswiththeconfidenceofaneasyandbloodlessvictory。Anotherdivision，orratherarmy，oftheenemy，afterthecruelandwantondevastationoftheadjacentcountry，reposedthemselvesontheshadybanksoftheMoselle。
Jovinus，whohadviewedthegroundwiththeeyeofageneral，madeasilentapproachthroughadeepandwoodyvale，tillhecoulddistinctlyperceivetheindolentsecurityoftheGermans。