a constant Course of Prosperity did not always attend them. ’Twas with great Difficulty that this City first began to make a Figure in the World, in the Struggles it underwent with the _Thracians_, _Bithynians_, and _Gallogrecians_, and in paying a yearly Tribute of eighty Talents to the _Gauls_ who govern’d _Asia_. ’Twas with greater Contests that it rose to higher Degrees of Eminency, being frequently harass’d, not only with foreign, but domestick Enemies. Mighty Changes it underwent, being sometimes under the popular, sometimes under the aristocratical Form of Government, widely extending its Conquests in _Europe_ and _Asia_, but especially in _Bithynia_. For _Philarcus_ observes in the sixth Book of his _History_, that the _Byzantians_ had the same Power over the _Bithynians_, as the _Lacedæmonians_ had over their _Helotæ_. This Commonwealth had so great a Veneration for the _Ptolemæi_ Kings of _Ægypt_, that to one of them nam’d _Philadelphus_, they pay’d divine Honours, and erected a Temple to him, in the Sight of their City; and so great a Regard had they for the _Roman_ Name, that they assisted them against the King of _Macedon_, to whom, as degenerating from his Predecessors, they gave the nickname of _Pseudo-Philippus_. I need not mention the powerful Succours they sent against _Antiochus_, _Perseus_, _Aristonicus_, and the Assistance they gave _Antonius_, when engaged in a War against the Pyrates. This City alone stood the Brunt of _Mithridates_’s whole Army landed in their Territories, and at last, though with great Difficulty, bravely repell’d the Invader. It assisted at once _Sylla_, _Lucullus_ and _Pompey_, when they lay’d Siege to any Town or Fortification, which might be a Security to their auxiliary Forces in their Passage, either by Sea or Land, or might prove a convenient Port, either for Exportation or Importation of Provision. Joining its Forces at last with _Niger_ against _Severus_, it became subject to the _Perinthians_, and was despoil’d of all the Honours of its Government. All its stately Bagnio’s and Theatres, its strong and lofty Walls, (built of square Stone, much of the same Hardness with that of a Grindstone, not brought from _Miletus_, as _Politianus_ fancies) with which it was fortify’d, were entirely ruin’d. I say, that this Stone was cut out of no Quarry, either of ancient _Miletus_, or _Miletopolis_; because _Miletus_ lies at too great a Distance from it, and _Miletopolis_, which is seated near the River _Rhyndacus_, is no ways famous for Quarries. I saw, by the By, this last City, adjoining to the Lake of _Apolloniatus_, entirely demolish’d, retaining at present its Name only. The Walls of _Byzantium_, as _Herodian_ relates, were cemented with so thin a Mortar, that you would by no means think them a conjointed Building, but one entire Stone. They who saw them in Ruins in _Herodian_’s Time, were equally surpriz’d at those who built, and those who defaced them.