388

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

XXL

menaces, and the oblations of an heretical prince.When the eunuchs had secretly pronounced theexile of Liberius , the well-grounded apprehen-sion of a tumult engaged them to use the utmostprecautions in the execution of the sentence.The capital was invested on every side, andthe prefect was commanded to seize the personof the bishop, either by stratagem, or by openforce. The order was obeyed, and Liberius ,Avith the greatest difficulty, at the hour of mid-night, was swiftly conveyed beyond the reachof the Roman people, before their consternationAvas turned into rage. As soon as they wereinformed of his banishment into Thrace , a ge-neral assembly was convened, and the clergyof Rome bound themselves, by a public andsolemn oath, never to desert their bishop, neverto acknowledge the usurper Faelix, Avho, bythe influence of the eunuchs, had been irregu-larly chosen and consecrated A\bthin the Availsof a profane palace. At the end of tAvo years,their pious obstinacy subsisted entire and un-shaken - , and Avhen Constantius visited Rome , heAvas assailed by the importunate solicitations ofa people, who had preserved, as the last rem-nant of their ancient freedom, the right of treat-ing their sovereign Avith familiar insolence. Thewives of many of the senators and most honour-able citizens, after pressing their husbands tointercede in favour of Liberius , were advised toundertake a commission, Avhich, in their hands,Avould be less dangerous, and might prove moresuccessful. The emperor received Avith polite-