who at the report of Attila approaching, had gone to Arelate unto Aetius, for to crave aid; and both by the confidence of this man, and also much more of divine help, he confirmed their trembling minds. Therefore Aetius commeth on Attila, besieging the Au∣relians at unawares, with the covenanted Kings: whom he fly∣ing, departed into Belgia.
There in the year 451, a great bat∣tell being joyned, he was scattered in the Catalonian fields, which are also named Mauriacan, saith Jornandes, the which lye open a hundred leagues, as the French call them, in length; they are broad seventy; the same Author affirmeth. Moreover a league hath a thousand and five hundred paces.
In that battel, saith Jornandes, were present with the Romans, the Wisegoths, Franks, Sarmatans, Burgundians, Saxons, and other Nations, with the Hunns, the Gepidans, and Ostrogoths, Valamir being Captain. Yet
Sidonius
affirmeth, the Franks, and Burgundians to have been in Attila's Camps, the which may be understood of some part of both. The∣oderick King of the Wisegoths was slain, and were killed on both sides, 170000. as saith Jornandes. Idatius 300000. It is manifest enough, that they might have been subdued with the Hunns, but that it was feared by Aetius, lest these being utterly put out, the Goths could not be upheld in France.
Therefore he perswaded Thorismund the son of Theodorick, through a shew of comming to his fathers Kingdome, to return into Narbony:
who, the year turning, was stabbed by his brothers, Theodorick, and Frede∣rick.
Attila being beyond hope delivered, sendeth an Army into Italy: where Aquileia being taken by siege, he made it equall with the ground, from thence Mediolanum, Ticinum, and other Towns being wasted, he desiring Rome, being moved by an Em∣bassage of Leo, who met him at the River Mincius, he went back into his Countrey, in the year 452. from whence going against the Alanians into France, who had set down beyond Irigeris, he was, as Jornandes saith, put to flight by Thorismund, in like manner as in the Catalonian fields.
But in the year four hundred fifty and four, when as he had married a Maid, new Wine being largely drawn in, he came to his end by a sudden vomiting of bloud.
They say the City of the Venetians took its beginning from that inroad of the Barbarians, many people of Italy, and especially of the Patavians, from the burnings of their Cities, and ruines, betaking themselves for refuge, unto overflowed places.
But Valentinian through the death of his Mother Placidia, which deceased in the year four hundred fifty one, the Reins of liberty being let loose, he abuseth his Government by lust and cru∣elty, and when he had committed adultery on the wife of Max∣imus, a Senatour, he beheadeth Aetius being returned to him, su∣spected for his crafty counsell in the Pallace, the year four hun∣dred fifty four, and in the following year, by the deceit of the same Maximus, he is thrust thorow by the men of Aetius Guard,
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