Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/27

 to oppose them. About three years, Photius had been recluse in this manner, when the Pro­phet Zachary appeared to him in a Dream, re­quired him to escape, and promised his assist­ance. This Vision having encouraged him, he got out of his Dungeon as he could, and having passed unknown thorow hundreds of his per­secutors, he came at length to Jerusalem, where (having shaved) he took the habit of a Monk, and evaded the cruelty of Theodora.

Bellisarius having neglected him in his perse­cutions (though he had sworn solemnly to assist him, and his sufferings were only for his sake) no wonder if afterwards God Almighty deserted in him all his affairs. Being a while after sent with an Army against Cosroes, King of Persia, who was the third time ravaging the Provinces of the Empire, though he repelled him with honor enough, yet he was suspected of Treason: For Bellisarius continuing in his Camp, instead of pursuing Cosroes, who in his retreat over Euphra­tes, had made himself Master of Callinicum (a very populous City) and taken many Romans prisoners in it, gave occasion of jealousie to the World, That it was either want of Fidelity, or Courage; besides which miscarriages, there was another accident which augmented his disgrace. The sickness being at that time in Constantinople, and many people dying, the Emperor fell very ill among the rest, and a report was raised, that he was dead: The report being general, came at length to the Army of Bellisarius, and some of the cheif Officers began to talk, That if the Rh