TheannalsofBaroniusareacopiousbutpartialhistory。HispapalprejudicesaretemperedbythegoodsenseofFleury，Hist。
Eccles。tom。viii。，andhischronologyhasbeenrectifiedbythecriticismofPagiandMuratori。]
[Footnote65:Johnthedeaconhasdescribedthemlikeaneye—witness，l。iv。c。83，84；andhisdescriptionisillustratedbyAngeloRocca，aRomanantiquary，St。Greg。Opera，tom。iv。p。312—326；whoobservesthatsomemosaicsofthepopesoftheviithcenturyarestillpreservedintheoldchurchesofRome，p。321—323ThesamewallswhichrepresentedGregory\'sfamilyarenowdecoratedwiththemartyrdomofSt。
Andrew，thenoblecontestofDominichinoandGuido。]
[Footnote66:Disciplinisveroliberalibus，hocestgrammatica，rhetorica，dialecticaitaapueroestinstitutus，utquamviseotemporeflorerentadhucRomaestudialiterarum，tamennulliinurbeipsasecundusputaretur。Paul。Diacon。inVit。St。Gregor。
c。2。]
[Footnote67:TheBenedictinesVit。Greg。l。i。p。205—208
labortoreducethemonasteriesofGregorywithintheruleoftheirownorder；but，asthequestionisconfessedtobedoubtful，itisclearthatthesepowerfulmonksareinthewrong。
SeeButler\'sLivesoftheSaints，vol。iii。p。145；aworkofmerit:thesenseandlearningbelongtotheauthor—hisprejudicesarethoseofhisprofession。]
[Footnote68:MonasteriumGregorianuminejusdemBeatiGregoriiaedibusadclivumScauripropeecclesiamSS。JohannisetPauliinhonoremSt。Andreae，John，inVit。Greg。l。i。c。6。Greg。l。
vii。epist。13。ThishouseandmonasteryweresituateonthesideoftheCaelianhillwhichfrontsthePalatine；theyarenowoccupiedbytheCamaldoli:SanGregoriotriumphs，andSt。AndrewhasretiredtoasmallchapelNardini，RomaAntica，l。iii。c。6，p。100。DescrizzionediRoma，tom。i。p。442—446。]
ThepontificateofGregorytheGreat，whichlastedthirteenyears，sixmonths，andtendays，isoneofthemostedifyingperiodsofthehistoryofthechurch。Hisvirtues，andevenhisfaults，asingularmixtureofsimplicityandcunning，ofprideandhumility，ofsenseandsuperstition，werehappilysuitedtohisstationandtothetemperofthetimes。Inhisrival，thepatriarchofConstantinople，hecondemnedtheanti—Christiantitleofuniversalbishop，whichthesuccessorofSt。Peterwastoohaughtytoconcede，andtoofeebletoassume；andtheecclesiasticaljurisdictionofGregorywasconfinedtothetriplecharacterofBishopofRome，PrimateofItaly，andApostleoftheWest。Hefrequentlyascendedthepulpit，andkindled，byhisrude，thoughpathetic，eloquence，thecongenialpassionsofhisaudience:thelanguageoftheJewishprophetswasinterpretedandapplied；andthemindsofapeople，depressedbytheirpresentcalamities，weredirectedtothehopesandfearsoftheinvisibleworld。HispreceptsandexampledefinedthemodeloftheRomanliturgy；^69thedistributionoftheparishes，thecalendarofthefestivals，theorderofprocessions，theserviceofthepriestsanddeacons，thevarietyandchangeofsacerdotalgarments。Tillthelastdaysofhislife，heofficiatedinthecanonofthemass，whichcontinuedabovethreehours:theGregorianchant^70haspreservedthevocalandinstrumentalmusicofthetheatre，andtheroughvoicesoftheBarbariansattemptedtoimitatethemelodyoftheRomanschool。^71
Experiencehadshownhimtheefficacyofthesesolemnandpompousrites，tosoothethedistress，toconfirmthefaith，tomitigatethefierceness，andtodispelthedarkenthusiasmofthevulgar，andhereadilyforgavetheirtendencytopromotethereignofpriesthoodandsuperstition。ThebishopsofItalyandtheadjacentislandsacknowledgedtheRomanpontiffastheirspecialmetropolitan。Eventheexistence，theunion，orthetranslationofepiscopalseatswasdecidedbyhisabsolutediscretion:andhissuccessfulinroadsintotheprovincesofGreece，ofSpain，andofGaul，mightcountenancethemoreloftypretensionsofsucceedingpopes。Heinterposedtopreventtheabusesofpopularelections；hisjealouscaremaintainedthepurityoffaithanddiscipline；andtheapostolicshepherdassiduouslywatchedoverthefaithanddisciplineofthesubordinatepastors。Underhisreign，theAriansofItalyandSpainwerereconciledtotheCatholicchurch，andtheconquestofBritainreflectslessgloryonthenameofCaesar，thanonthatofGregorytheFirst。
Insteadofsixlegions，fortymonkswereembarkedforthatdistantisland，andthepontifflamentedtheausteredutieswhichforbadehimtopartaketheperilsoftheirspiritualwarfare。Inlessthantwoyears，hecouldannouncetothearchbishopofAlexandria，thattheyhadbaptizedthekingofKentwithtenthousandofhisAnglo—Saxons，andthattheRomanmissionaries，likethoseoftheprimitivechurch，werearmedonlywithspiritualandsupernaturalpowers。ThecredulityortheprudenceofGregorywasalwaysdisposedtoconfirmthetruthsofreligionbytheevidenceofghosts，miracles，andresurrections；^72andposterityhaspaidtohismemorythesametributewhichhefreelygrantedtothevirtueofhisownortheprecedinggeneration。
Thecelestialhonorshavebeenliberallybestowedbytheauthorityofthepopes，butGregoryisthelastoftheirownorderwhomtheyhavepresumedtoinscribeinthecalendarofsaints。
[Footnote69:TheLord\'sPrayerconsistsofhalfadozenlines；
theSacramentariusandAntiphonariusofGregoryfill880foliopages，tom。iii。p。i。p。1—880；yettheseonlyconstituteapartoftheOrdoRomanus，whichMabillonhasillustratedandFleuryhasabridged，Hist。Eccles。tom。viii。p。139—152。]
[Footnote70:IlearnfromtheAbbeDobos，ReflexionssurlaPoesieetlaPeinture，tom。iii。p。174，175，thatthesimplicityoftheAmbrosianchantwasconfinedtofourmodes，whilethemoreperfectharmonyoftheGregoriancomprisedtheeightmodesorfifteenchordsoftheancientmusic。Heobservesp。332thattheconnoisseursadmiretheprefaceandmanypassagesoftheGregorianoffice。]
[Footnote71:JohnthedeaconinVit。Greg。l。ii。c。7
expressestheearlycontemptoftheItaliansfortramontanesinging。Alpinascilicetcorporavocumsuarumtonitruisaltisoneperstrepentia，susceptaemodulationisdulcedinemproprienonresultant:quiabibuligutturisbarbaraferitasduminflexionibusetrepercussionibusmitemnititurederecantilenam，naturaliquodamfragore，quasiplaustrapergradusconfusesonantia，rigidasvocesjactat，&c。InthetimeofCharlemagne，theFranks，thoughwithsomereluctance，admittedthejusticeofthereproach。Muratori，Dissert。xxv。]
[Footnote72:AFrenchcriticPetrusGussanvillus，Opera，tom。
ii。p。105—112hasvindicatedtherightofGregorytotheentirenonsenseoftheDialogues。Dupintom。v。p。138doesnotthinkthatanyonewillvouchforthetruthofallthesemiracles:Ishouldliketoknowhowmanyofthemhebelievedhimself。]
Theirtemporalpowerinsensiblyarosefromthecalamitiesofthetimes:andtheRomanbishops，whohavedelugedEuropeandAsiawithblood，werecompelledtoreignastheministersofcharityandpeace。I。ThechurchofRome，asithasbeenformerlyobserved，wasendowedwithamplepossessionsinItaly，Sicily，andthemoredistantprovinces；andheragents，whowerecommonlysub—deacons，hadacquiredacivil，andevencriminal，jurisdictionovertheirtenantsandhusbandmen。ThesuccessorofSt。Peteradministeredhispatrimonywiththetemperofavigilantandmoderatelandlord；^73andtheepistlesofGregoryarefilledwithsalutaryinstructionstoabstainfromdoubtfulorvexatiouslawsuits；topreservetheintegrityofweightsandmeasures；togranteveryreasonabledelay；andtoreducethecapitationoftheslavesoftheglebe，whopurchasedtherightofmarriagebythepaymentofanarbitraryfine。^74TherentortheproduceoftheseestateswastransportedtothemouthoftheTyber，attheriskandexpenseofthepope:intheuseofwealthheactedlikeafaithfulstewardofthechurchandthepoor，andliberallyappliedtotheirwantstheinexhaustibleresourcesofabstinenceandorder。ThevoluminousaccountofhisreceiptsanddisbursementswaskeptabovethreehundredyearsintheLateran，asthemodelofChristianeconomy。Onthefourgreatfestivals，hedividedtheirquarterlyallowancetotheclergy，tohisdomestics，tothemonasteries，thechurches，theplacesofburial，thealmshouses，andthehospitalsofRome，andtherestofthediocese。Onthefirstdayofeverymonth，hedistributedtothepoor，accordingtotheseason，theirstatedportionofcorn，wine，cheese，vegetables，oil，fish，freshprovisions，clothes，andmoney；andhistreasurerswerecontinuallysummonedtosatisfy，inhisname，theextraordinarydemandsofindigenceandmerit。Theinstantdistressofthesickandhelpless，ofstrangersandpilgrims，wasrelievedbythebountyofeachday，andofeveryhour；norwouldthepontiffindulgehimselfinafrugalrepast，tillhehadsentthedishesfromhisowntabletosomeobjectsdeservingofhiscompassion。ThemiseryofthetimeshadreducedthenoblesandmatronsofRometoaccept，withoutablush，thebenevolenceofthechurch:threethousandvirginsreceivedtheirfoodandraimentfromthehandoftheirbenefactor；andmanybishopsofItalyescapedfromtheBarbarianstothehospitablethresholdoftheVatican。GregorymightjustlybestyledtheFatherofhisCountry；andsuchwastheextremesensibilityofhisconscience，that，forthedeathofabeggarwhohadperishedinthestreets，heinterdictedhimselfduringseveraldaysfromtheexerciseofsacerdotalfunctions。II。ThemisfortunesofRomeinvolvedtheapostolicalpastorinthebusinessofpeaceandwar；anditmightbedoubtfultohimself，whetherpietyorambitionpromptedhimtosupplytheplaceofhisabsentsovereign。Gregoryawakenedtheemperorfromalongslumber；exposedtheguiltorincapacityoftheexarchandhisinferiorministers；complainedthattheveteranswerewithdrawnfromRomeforthedefenceofSpoleto；encouragedtheItalianstoguardtheircitiesandaltars；andcondescended，inthecrisisofdanger，tonamethetribunes，andtodirecttheoperations，oftheprovincialtroops。Butthemartialspiritofthepopewascheckedbythescruplesofhumanityandreligion:theimpositionoftribute，thoughitwasemployedintheItalianwar，hefreelycondemnedasodiousandoppressive；whilstheprotected，againsttheImperialedicts，thepiouscowardiceofthesoldierswhodesertedamilitaryforamonasticlifeIfwemaycredithisowndeclarations，itwouldhavebeeneasyforGregorytoexterminatetheLombardsbytheirdomesticfactions，withoutleavingaking，aduke，oracount，tosavethatunfortunatenationfromthevengeanceoftheirfoesAsaChristianbishop，hepreferredthesalutaryofficesofpeace；hismediationappeasedthetumultofarms:buthewastooconsciousoftheartsoftheGreeks，andthepassionsoftheLombards，toengagehissacredpromisefortheobservanceofthetruce。Disappointedinthehopeofageneralandlastingtreaty，hepresumedtosavehiscountrywithouttheconsentoftheemperorortheexarch。TheswordoftheenemywassuspendedoverRome；itwasavertedbythemildeloquenceandseasonablegiftsofthepontiff，whocommandedtherespectofhereticsandBarbarians。ThemeritsofGregoryweretreatedbytheByzantinecourtwithreproachandinsult；butintheattachmentofagratefulpeople，hefoundthepurestrewardofacitizen，andthebestrightofasovereign。^75
[Footnote73:Baroniusisunwillingtoexpatiateonthecareofthepatrimonies，lestheshouldbetraythattheyconsistednotofkingdoms，butfarms。TheFrenchwriters，theBenedictineeditors，tom。iv。l。iii。p。272，&c。，andFleury，tom。viii。
p。29，&c。，arenotafraidofenteringintothesehumble，thoughuseful，details；andthehumanityofFleurydwellsonthesocialvirtuesofGregory。]
[Footnote74:Imuchsuspectthatthispecuniaryfineonthemarriagesofvillainsproducedthefamous，andoftenfabulousright，decuissage，demarquette，&c。Withtheconsentofherhusband，ahandsomebridemightcommutethepaymentinthearmsofayounglandlord，andthemutualfavormightaffordaprecedentoflocalratherthanlegaltyranny]
[Footnote75:ThetemporalreignofGregoryI。isablyexposedbySigoniusinthefirstbook，deRegnoItaliae。Seehisworks，tom。ii。p。44—75]
ChapterXLVI:TroublesInPersia。
PartI。
RevolutionsOnPersiaAfterTheDeathOfChosroesOnNushirvan。—HisSonHormouz，ATyrant，IsDeposed。—UsurpationOfBaharam。—FlightAndRestorationOfChosroesII。—HisGratitudeToTheRomans。—TheChaganOfTheAvars。—RevoltOfTheArmyAgainstMaurice。—HisDeath。—TyrannyOfPhocas。—
ElevationOfHeraclius。—ThePersianWar。—ChosroesSubduesSyria，Egypt，AndAsiaMinor。—SiegeOfConstantinopleByThePersiansAndAvars。—PersianExpeditions。—VictoriesAndTriumphOfHeraclius。
TheconflictofRomeandPersiawasprolongedfromthedeathofCraesustothereignofHeraclius。AnexperienceofsevenhundredyearsmightconvincetherivalnationsoftheimpossibilityofmaintainingtheirconquestsbeyondthefatallimitsoftheTigrisandEuphrates。YettheemulationofTrajanandJulianwasawakenedbythetrophiesofAlexander，andthesovereignsofPersiaindulgedtheambitioushopeofrestoringtheempireofCyrus。^1Suchextraordinaryeffortsofpowerandcouragewillalwayscommandtheattentionofposterity；buttheeventsbywhichthefateofnationsisnotmateriallychanged，leaveafaintimpressiononthepageofhistory，andthepatienceofthereaderwouldbeexhaustedbytherepetitionofthesamehostilities，undertakenwithoutcause，prosecutedwithoutglory，andterminatedwithouteffect。Theartsofnegotiation，unknowntothesimplegreatnessofthesenateandtheCaesars，wereassiduouslycultivatedbytheByzantineprinces；andthememorialsoftheirperpetualembassies^2repeat，withthesameuniformprolixity，thelanguageoffalsehoodanddeclamation，theinsolenceoftheBarbarians，andtheserviletemperofthetributaryGreeks。Lamentingthebarrensuperfluityofmaterials，Ihavestudiedtocompressthenarrativeoftheseuninterestingtransactions:butthejustNushirvanisstillapplaudedasthemodelofOrientalkings，andtheambitionofhisgrandsonChosroespreparedtherevolutionoftheEast，whichwasspeedilyaccomplishedbythearmsandthereligionofthesuccessorsofMahomet。
[Footnote1:Missisqui……reposcerent……veteresPersarumacMacedonumterminos，sequeinvasurumpossessaCyroetpostAlexandro，pervaniloquentiamacminasjaciebat。Tacit。Annal。
vi。31。SuchwasthelanguageoftheArsacides。IhaverepeatedlymarkedtheloftyclaimsoftheSassanians。]
[Footnote2:SeetheembassiesofMenander，extractedandpreservedinthetenthcenturybytheorderofConstantinePorphyrogenitus。]
Intheuselessaltercations，thatprecedeandjustifythequarrelsofprinces，theGreeksandtheBarbariansaccusedeachotherofviolatingthepeacewhichhadbeenconcludedbetweenthetwoempiresaboutfouryearsbeforethedeathofJustinian。ThesovereignofPersiaandIndiaaspiredtoreduceunderhisobediencetheprovinceofYemenorArabia^3Felix；thedistantlandofmyrrhandfrankincense，whichhadescaped，ratherthanopposed，theconquerorsoftheEast。AfterthedefeatofAbrahahunderthewallsofMecca，thediscordofhissonsandbrothersgaveaneasyentrancetothePersians:theychasedthestrangersofAbyssiniabeyondtheRedSea；andanativeprinceoftheancientHomeriteswasrestoredtothethroneasthevassalorviceroyofthegreatNushirvan。^4ButthenephewofJustiniandeclaredhisresolutiontoavengetheinjuriesofhisChristianallytheprinceofAbyssinia，astheysuggestedadecentpretencetodiscontinuetheannualtribute，whichwaspoorlydisguisedbythenameofpension。ThechurchesofPersarmeniawereoppressedbytheintolerantspiritoftheMagi；theysecretlyinvokedtheprotectoroftheChristians，and，afterthepiousmurderoftheirsatraps，therebelswereavowedandsupportedasthebrethrenandsubjectsoftheRomanemperor。ThecomplaintsofNushirvanweredisregardedbytheByzantinecourt；JustinyieldedtotheimportunitiesoftheTurks，whoofferedanallianceagainstthecommonenemy；andthePersianmonarchywasthreatenedatthesameinstantbytheunitedforcesofEurope，ofAethiopia，andofScythia。AttheageoffourscorethesovereignoftheEastwouldperhapshavechosenthepeacefulenjoymentofhisgloryandgreatness；butassoonaswarbecameinevitable，hetookthefieldwiththealacrityofyouth，whilsttheaggressortrembledinthepalaceofConstantinople。Nushirvan，orChosroes，conductedinpersonthesiegeofDara；andalthoughthatimportantfortresshadbeenleftdestituteoftroopsandmagazines，thevaloroftheinhabitantsresistedabovefivemonthsthearchers，theelephants，andthemilitaryenginesoftheGreatKing。InthemeanwhilehisgeneralAdarmanadvancedfromBabylon，traversedthedesert，passedtheEuphrates，insultedthesuburbsofAntioch，reducedtoashesthecityofApamea，andlaidthespoilsofSyriaatthefeetofhismaster，whoseperseveranceinthemidstofwinteratlengthsubvertedthebulwarkoftheEast。Buttheselosses，whichastonishedtheprovincesandthecourt，producedasalutaryeffectintherepentanceandabdicationoftheemperorJustin:anewspiritaroseintheByzantinecouncils；andatruceofthreeyearswasobtainedbytheprudenceofTiberius。Thatseasonableintervalwasemployedinthepreparationsofwar；andthevoiceofrumorproclaimedtotheworld，thatfromthedistantcountriesoftheAlpsandtheRhine，fromScythia，Maesia，Pannonia，Illyricum，andIsauria，thestrengthoftheImperialcavalrywasreenforcedwithonehundredandfiftythousandsoldiers。YetthekingofPersia，withoutfear，orwithoutfaith，resolvedtopreventtheattackoftheenemy；againpassedtheEuphrates，anddismissingtheambassadorsofTiberius，arrogantlycommandedthemtoawaithisarrivalatCaesarea，themetropolisoftheCappadocianprovinces。ThetwoarmiesencounteredeachotherinthebattleofMelitene:theBarbarians，whodarkenedtheairwithacloudofarrows，prolongedtheirline，andextendedtheirwingsacrosstheplain；whiletheRomans，indeepandsolidbodies，expectedtoprevailincloseraction，bytheweightoftheirswordsandlances。AScythianchief，whocommandedtheirrightwing，suddenlyturnedtheflankoftheenemy，attackedtheirrear—guardinthepresenceofChosroes，penetratedtothemidstofthecamp，pillagedtheroyaltent，profanedtheeternalfire，loadedatrainofcamelswiththespoilsofAsia，cuthiswaythroughthePersianhost，andreturnedwithsongsofvictorytohisfriends，whohadconsumedthedayinsinglecombats，orineffectualskirmishes。Thedarknessofthenight，andtheseparationoftheRomans，affordedthePersianmonarchanopportunityofrevenge；
andoneoftheircampswassweptawaybyarapidandimpetuousassault。Butthereviewofhisloss，andtheconsciousnessofhisdanger，determinedChosroestoaspeedyretreat:heburnt，inhispassage，thevacanttownofMelitene；and，withoutconsultingthesafetyofhistroops，boldlyswamtheEuphratesonthebackofanelephant。