the choice of Sidonius himself.]

[Footnote 96: The history of these Britons may be traced in Jornandes,
(c. 45, p. 678,) Sidonius, (l. iii. epistol. 9, p. 73, 74,) and Gregory
of Tours, (l. ii. c. 18, in tom. ii. p. 170.) Sidonius (who styles these
mercenary troops argutos, armatos, tumultuosos, virtute numero, contul
ernio, contumaces) addresses their general in a tone of friendship and
familiarity.] One of the last acts of jurisdiction, which the Roman
senate exercised over their subjects of Gaul, was the trial and
condemnation of Arvandus, the Praetorian praefect. Sidonius, who
rejoices that he lived under a reign in which he might pity and assist
a state criminal, has expressed, with tenderness and freedom, the faults
of his indiscreet and unfortunate friend. [97] From the perils which he
had escaped, Arvandus imbibed confidence rather than wisdom; and such
was the various, though uniform, imprudence of his behavior, that his
prosperity must appear much more surprising than his downfall. The
second praefecture, which he obtained within the term of five years,
abolished the merit and popularity of his preceding administration. His
easy temper was corrupted by flattery, and exasperated by opposition; he
was forced to satisfy his importunate creditors with the spoils of the
province; his capricious insolence offended the nobles of Gaul, and he
sunk under the weight of the public hatred. The mandate of his disgrace
summoned him to justify his conduct before the senate; and he passed
the Sea of Tuscany with a favorable wind, the presage, as he vainly
imagined, of his future fortunes. A decent respect was still observed
for the Proefectorian rank; and on his arrival at Rome, Arvandus was
committed to the hospitality, rather than to the custody, of Flavius
Asellus, the count of the sacred largesses, who resided in the Capitol.
[98] He was eagerly pursued by his accusers, the four deputies of Gaul,
who were all distinguished by their birth, their dignities, or their
eloquence. In the name of a great province, and according to the forms
of Roman jurisprudence, they instituted a civil and criminal
action, requiring such restitution as might compensate the losses of
individuals, and such punishment as might satisfy the justice of the
state. Their charges of corrupt oppression were numerous and weighty;
but they placed their secret dependence on a letter which they had
intercepted, and which they could prove, by the evidence of