with quiet and peaceable minds. But upon the Emperours letters which sodain∣ly were brought unto them, whereby they were commaunded to passe over into Hellespontus, they required without any swelling humour of pride, to have their warfare money, meat, and two dayes respite allowed them [of the citie.] Which the head magistrat of the citie, taking not well, and picking a quarell thereat (for displeased he was and angrie with them about some spoyle and wast made in a countrey house of his not farre from the citie) made no more adoe, but brought forth all the commons together with the artizans and craftsmen, of whom there is a mightie multitude there, and them he armed to their utter confusion: and so commaunding the trumpets to sound the battaile, unlesse they went their wayes the sooner (as it was decreed) he threatned them all with the utmost perill of death. The Gothes sore troubled with this unexpected adversitie, and affrighted with the citizens, more hastie ywis than considerat) pressing upon them, stood still and mooved not. But at length when they had beene rayled at, reviled and cursed at their hands, yea and assailed otherwhiles with some few casting dartes launced at them, they brake forth into open defiance, and professed rebellion. And thus, when they had slaine a great number of the citizens, whom their over-malapert violence had deceived, and put the rest to rout, and wounded them with sundrie kinds of weapons, after they had difarmed and spoyled the dead bodies, and put them∣selves into Roman armour, they espyed Fritigernus neere at hand, and joyned themselves unto him, as duetiful and obeisant allyes, and so distressed the citie, now shut up, with those troubles and miseries that follow siege. In which difficultie of daungerous service, being a long time employed, they ran on head everie where, and without all respect. Some of them, who were more bold and ad∣venturous than their fellowes, perished without revenge, yea and many with shot of arrowes and discharging of stones out of slings, lost their lives. Then Fritiger∣nus, considering that men unskilfull in sieges and assaults, wrestled in vaine with so many misfortunes and losses, leaving there a sufficient power, advised them to depart and leave their businesse undone, saying, That he was at peace with bare walls, and persuading them that they would set in hand without endangering their lives, to spoyle the rich and plentifull countries, as wherein as yet there were no garrisons to empeach them. Then they commending highly the kings counsell, whom they knew would be an effectuall partaker with them in these projects and designes, dispersing themselves into everie quarter and coast of Thracia, marched warily, having those that either yeelded or were taken prisoners, to shew them plenteous townes, and such especially, wherein, by their saying, might bee found great store of victuals: and beside an inbred courage and boldnesse of their owne, which set them on, this principall helpe they had to put them forward, in that there conflowed daily unto them a multitude out of the same nation, such as of late had beene sold by marchants, with a number of others flocking stil unto them, whom at their first comming over, those that were pined and starved for hunger, had exchaunged for some course or small wine, and peeces of broken bread. There came also unto them for to encrease their companie, many that were expert in fol∣lowing after the veines of gold in mynes, not able any longer to endure the heavie burdens and taxations laid upon them of impost and customes. And being with the willing consent of all gladly received, they stood them in verie good stead as they passed through unknowne places, shewing unto them where were the hid∣den garners of corne, the privie lurking places and secret receits of the people, and