appreciate its merits, though it often fuffered the rude attacks of abufe and obloquy: a common tribute, which the most virtuous and patriotic fovereigns, in all ages and countries, have ever paid to envy, difcontent, and faction. But, towards the beginning of the feventeenth century, a very black cloud was fuddenly spread over it, in confequence of a manufcript, which the malicious induftry of a Popifh bigot had brought out of fome obfcure corner of the Vatican, and introduced to the world with all the parade and confidence of authentic hiftory.

Though this extraordinary compofition had neither beginning nor ending, name nor date, to determine by whom or when it was written, it was boldly fathered upon Procopius; a perfon whofe diftinguished learning and abilities had recommended him to the favour of the emperor Anaftafius and Juftin, by the latter of whom he was appointed affeffor, or counfellor, to the famous Belifarius. By the advantage of this fituation, wherein he continued for a long term of years, he was enabled to write a very exact and elegant hiftory of thofe times, which he pub. lithed, much to the fatisfaction of Juftinian; and, without any

apparent adulation or bitterness, had related what he either then knew, or believed to be fact.

It is afferted indeed by fome later author, that, finding himself afterwards deceived in certain particulars, which he had represented too much in favour of that emperor, he intended to correct these miftakes; and it is probable that he did actually publifh fomething to that effect. But it is very obfervable, that the author, who gives a catalogue of the works of Procopius, calls it by a name implying only a retra&ation + of fome former errors, and of a much more confined fignification than the title given to the book in queftion; which contains a great variety of detached ftories, bearing little or no relation to what Procopius had faid in his former hiftory, and confequently could not be the thing he then profeffed to publish.

This circumftance entirely de ftroys the proof of the identity of the author, upon which the editor fo.much relies, and which he endeavours to eftablish upon the credit of Suidas; who mentions, that a book, under the name of Anecdotes, was wri.ten by Procopius, full of fevere reflections upon Juf

proofs of the wickedness, than of the folly or infanity, both of the author himself, and of thofe who have fo earnestly endeavoured to impote him upon the public as an object worthy of attention.

Procopius was a man of the world, univerfally efteemed for his knowledge and probity; who had enjoyed the fame high and honourable station, under no lefs than three fucceffive emperors, for a long courfe of years; and under one of the best and greatest generals that Rome, or perhaps any other nation, could ever boaft of; by all of whom he was refpected, cherifhed, and rewarded." The fpirit, dignity, and correctness, with which the hiftory of his own times is written, plainly fhow, that he fcorned either to flatter or fear. He publifhed it at the earneft encouragement of an able and difcerning prince, who could receive Honeft praise and honest cenfure with the fame complacence and equanimity.

If, amidst the complicated variety of facts which the vaft extent of his fubject required him to relate, he had been guilty of any material errors, it did him honour to confefs and retract them upon conviction. But what he had afferted as a man of honour, he would recant as a man of honour. He would have been afhamed to oppofe unmerited praife with bafe calumny, or to rectify miftakes by improbable falfehoods, or incredible fables. Could he have condefcended to prostitute his pen in fo vile and prepofterous a work as that now imputed to him, he muft, in the first instance, have been a moft abject fycophant; in the other, a moft flanderous affaf

fin. But, as hiftory will justify no fuch fuppofitions, this worthy and learned historian ftands fairly acquitted in the eyes of all perfons of moderation and confcience. The real author, whoever hebe, from his mere infignificance and obfcurity, efcapes that infamy and deteftation which his memory well deferves; and the whole difgrace falls upon the editor and his abettors; who, with abilities and erudition equal to a more honourable employment, rescued this defpicable libel out of its congenial darkness, for the avowed purpose of blafting the good name of this accomplished and difcerning prince,who fo wifely checked the infant pride, and humbled the rifing arrogance of the fictitious fucceffors of St. Peter.

Politically fpeaking, the defign was artful and well-timed. Thefe afpiring pontiffs, who, for several paft ages, had held the whole Christian world in the most humiliating ftate of thraldom, under the impious claim to a divine commiffion, had the mortification to perceive that many rich and potent kingdoms had fhaken off their fetters. They found themselves engaged with the temporal princes of Europe, whofe understandings were more enlightened than formerly with the beams of found learning; who knew how to oppole authority with authority; who could trace this ufurped power up to its original fources, and fay," that from the begin"ning it was not fo;" who thofe were, whofe fuperftitious timidity gave new life to their spiritual infolence; and who had the courage to reftrain and punish it. They could fay-this was Juftinianthis was he who, in virtue of his

Own

own fupremacy, fummoned the fifth œcumenical council at Conftantinople, and fent Virgilius, that turbulent bishop of Rome, into exile; from whence he fuffered him not to return, till his infallibility condefcended to let his hand to the decifions of that affembly, to which he at first had refufed his affent*.

No effort was to be left untried to weaken the force of fo dangerous a precedent. When therefore fome fortunate accident, as it most probably was, brought to light this mufty fragment, imperfect as it was, it fupplied the quiver of flander with plenty of new fhafts against the common enemy; and, furnishing no evidence whereby to authenticate itfelf, it was eafily in the power of an ingenious and artful commentator to afcribe it to whomfoever he pleased, and to place it in thofe hands where it would do the most execution.

Thus did it fall to the lot of Procopius. But whoever will take the trouble to perufe the dedication and preface of the editor, and confider the bitterness and acrimony with which they are penned, will inftantly perceive, that the fuppofed infults on the dignity of the Holy See were the grand fprings of their refentment; that thefe were the tones the moft in unifon with the mafter-fprings of

their paffions; and that malice and revenge could have been the only motives for impofing fuch trafh upon the public, which deferved no better fate than what it had already in part fuffered, to be food for worms. Upon the whole, it is hoped that what has been here advanced, to reicue a refpectable author from the infamy of being the parent of fuch fpurious offspring, will be admitted to stand upon much more fubftantial foundations than mere uncertain conjecture.

It may poffibly be expected, that fome notice fhould be likewife' taken of Juftinian's ingratitude and cruel treatment of the great Belifarius, whereby he is reported to have deprived him of his eyefight, and to have expofed him, in his old age to every extreme of poverty and contempt. This calumny was firft broached by a later author, named Crinitus, of little note or reputation; but being of a nature well calculated to affect the paffions, has received by far the greatest degree of its credit from the pathetic pencils of aVandyke and a Salvator Rofa. This, however, is too grofs a fable almoft to require confutation. Not one of the hiftorians who lived near thofe times has given the leaft hint to juftify fuch a fuppofition: on the contrary, though Belifafarius, either through the malice

candour.

of