at any time war was raised, like David he had recourse to God, knowing that He is the disposer of battles, and by prayer brought them to a prosperous issue. I shall here therefore relate, how by placing his confidence in God he vanquished the tyrant John, after Honorius had died on the 15th of August, in the consulate of Asclepiodotus and Marian. For I judge what then occurred worthy of mention, inasmuch as there happened to the emperor's generals who were despatched against the tyrant, something analogous to what took place when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea under the guidance of Moses. My narrative must however be brief, for the details, which I leave to others, would require a special treatise.

CHAPTER XXIII.

TYRANNY OF JOHN AFTER THE DEATH OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS. HE IS DESTROYED THROUGH THE PRAYERS

OF THEODOSIUS JUNIOR.

THEODOSIUS being now sole ruler, concealed the death of the emperor Honorius as long as possible, amusing the people sometimes with one report, and then another. But he privately despatched a military force to Salonæ a city of Dalmatia, that in the event of any revolutionary movement in the West there might be resources at hand to check it; and after making these provisional arrangements, he at length openly announced his uncle's death. In the interim, John the emperor's chief secretary, not content with the dignity to which he had already attained, seized upon the sovereign authority; and sent an embassy to the emperor Theodosius, demanding to be recog

nised as his colleague in the empire. But that prince after causing the ambassadors to be arrested, immediately sent off Ardaburius the commander-in-chief of the army, who had greatly distinguished himself in the Persian war. He, on arriving at Salonæ, set sail from thence for Aquileia:* but fortune was adverse to him as he then thought (although it afterwards appeared far otherwise); for a contrary wind having arisen, he was driven into the tyrant's hand. The capture of Ardaburius made the usurper more sanguine in his hope, that Theodosius would be induced by the urgency of the case to elect and proclaim him emperor, in order to preserve the life of this officer. And the emperor was in fact greatly distressed when he heard of it, as was also the army which had been sent against the tyrant, lest Ardaburius should be subjected to any rigorous treatment. Aspar the son of Ardaburius, having learnt that his father was in the tyrant's power, and aware at the same time that the party of the rebels was strengthened by the accession of immense numbers of barbarians, knew not what course to pursue. But at this crisis the prayer of the pious emperor again prevailed. For an angel of God under the appearance of a shepherd, undertook the guidance of Aspar and the troops which were with him, and led him through the lake near Ravenna: for in that city the tyrant was then residing, and there detained the military chief. Now no one had ever been known to have forded that lake before; but God then rendered that passable, which had hitherto been impassable. Having therefore crossed the lake, as if going over dry ground, they found the gates of the city open, and seized the tyrant. This event afforded * 'Ακυλήτων.

that most devout emperor Theodosius an opportunity of giving a fresh demonstration of his piety towards God. For the news of the tyrant's being destroyed, having arrived while he was engaged at the exhibition of the sports of the Hippodrome, he immediately said to the people: "We will, if you please, leave these diversions, and proceed to the church to offer thanksgivings to God, by whose hand the tyrant has been overthrown." Thus did he address them; and the spectacles were immediately forsaken, the people all passing out of the circus singing praises together with him, as with one heart and one voice. And arriving at the church, the whole city again became one vast congregation, and passed the remainder of the day in these devotional exercises.

CHAPTER XXIV.

VALENTINIAN PROCLAIMED EMPEROR.

AFTER the tyrant's death, the emperor Theodosius became very anxious as to whom he should proclaim emperor of the West. He had a cousin then very young named Valentinian; the son of that Constantius who had been proclaimed emperor by Honorius, and had died after a short reign with him, and of his aunt Placidia, daughter of Theodosius the Great, and sister of the two Augusti, Arcadius and Honorius. This cousin he created Cæsar, and sent into the Western parts, committing the administration of affairs to his mother Placidia. He himself also hastened towards Italy, that he might in person both proclaim his cousin emperor, and also being present among them, endeavour to influence the Italians by his coun

sels not willingly to submit to tyrants. But when he reached Thessalonica he was prevented from proceeding further by sickness; he therefore sent forward the imperial crown to his cousin by Helion a patrician, and he himself returned to Constantinople.

CHAPTER XXV.

CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENCE OF ATTICUS BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE. HIS FORE-KNOWLEDGE OF HIS OWN

DEATH.

MEANWHILE Atticus the bishop caused the affairs of the church to flourish in an extraordinary manner; administering all things with singular prudence, and inciting the people to virtue by his discourses. Perceiving the church to be divided by the Johannists assembling themselves apart, he ordered that mention of John should be made in the prayers, as was customary to be done of the other deceased prelates; by which means he trusted that many would be induced to return to the church. His liberality was so great that he not only provided for the poor of his own churches,* but transmitted contributions to supply the wants and promote the comfort of the indigent in the neighbouring cities also. On one occasion he sent to Calliopius a presbyter of the church at Nice, three hundred piecest of gold with the following letter.

"Atticus to Calliopius-salutations in the Lord. "I have been informed that there are in your city a great number of necessitous persons, whose condition

* Εν . . . . παροίκιαις, parishes.

† Χρυσίνους, this is of indefinite value (στατήρας, each worth 11. Os. 9d., may be understood).

demands the compassion of the pious. As therefore I have received a sum of money from him, who with a bountiful hand is wont to supply faithful stewards; and since it happens that some are pressed by want, that those who have may be proved, who yet do not minister to the needy-take, my friend, these three hundred pieces of gold, and dispose of them as you may think fit. It will be your care, I doubt not, to distribute to such as are ashamed to beg, to the exclusion of those who through life have sought to feed themselves at others' expense. In bestowing these alms I would have no distinction made on religious grounds; but feed the hungry whether they agree with us in sentiment, or not."

Thus did Atticus consider even the poor who were at a distance from him. He laboured also to abolish the superstitions of certain persons. For he was informed that the Separatists from the Novatians, on account of the Jewish Passover, had transported the body of Sabbatius from the island of Rhodes, where he had died in exile, and having buried it, were accustomed to pray at his grave. Atticus therefore caused the body to be disinterred at night, and deposited in a private sepulchre; after which those who had formerly paid their adorations at that place, ceased to do so, on finding his tomb had been opened. Moreover he manifested a great deal of taste in the application of names to places. To a port in the mouth of the Euxine sea, anciently called Pharmaceus, he gave the appellation of Therapeia; + because he would not have a place where religious assemblies

* Φαρμακέα, i. e, a poisoner.

+ Oepancias, i. e. service, worship, or healing.