CHAP. II.
BUT Honorius holding the Western Empire, the Barbarians invaded his Coun∣try: Who they were, and in what manner, I will tell you. Heretofore were many Gothick Nations, and now are; but the greatest, and most famous of them are the Goths, Vandals, Visigoths, and Gepaedes. Anciently they were called Sar∣matians, and Melanchlenians. Some called, these, Getick Nations. They vary all in names, but in nothing else; being all fair-bodied, with yellow hair; tall, and with good faces: They have the same lawes, customes, and religion (being all Arrians) and speak all the Gothick language. I suppose them to have been anci∣ently one Nation, and their names to have been distinguished afterward by their several Princes. Formerly this people inhabited about the river Danubius; then the Gepaedes held the places about Singedon and Sirmium, on both sides the River where now they are. From thence the Visigoths rose first, and came to the aid of Arcadius; but some time after, (For Barbarians cannot inure themselves to keep faith with Romans) these Visigoths under their Prince Alaricus rebelled against both the Emperours: They begun in Thrace, and thence overran all Europe. Honorius at first sate still in Rome, thinking of no enemy, but contented to be suf∣fered quiet in his palace but hearing how the enemy was not far off, but already in Taulantia with a mighty Army, he fled from his Palace to Ravenna, a strong City lying upon the bottom of the Ionian gulf. Some say (but improbably, by what I can gather by his disposition) that upon some mutiny by his subjects he drew in the Bar∣barians: But they finding no enemy opposing, exceeded all that ever were in cruel∣ty; so destroying the Cities they took, especially on * this side the Ionian gulf, that they have no mark now remaining save some turret or gate; killing also all in their way, old and young, not sparing women nor children, so that Italy remains to this day extreamly unpeopled. They robbed all the wealth of Europe; and having for their master-piece left nothing in Rome, publike nor private, they marched into France.