The Reason why _Constantine_ order’d _Byzantium_ to be call’d _New Rome_, or _Queen_ of the _Roman Empire_, is mention’d by _Sozomen_ and others; namely, that God appear’d by Night to _Constantine_, and advised him to build a City at _Byzantium_ worthy his own Name. Some say, that as _Julius Cæsar_, upon a Plot form’d against him, judg’d it necessary to remove to _Alexandria_ or _Troy_, stripping _Italy_ at the same time of every thing that was valuable, and carrying off all the Riches of the _Roman_ Empire, leaving the Administration in the Hands of his Friends; so it is said of _Constantine_, that perceiving himself to be obnoxious to the People of _Rome_, having drain’d the City of all its Wealth, went over at first to _Troy_, and afterwards to _Byzantium_. _Zosimus_, an implacable Enemy to the Christian Name, alledges an execrable Piece of Villany, as the Cause of his Removal. _Constantine_, says he, _when he had murder’d_ Crispus, _and had been guilty of other flagrant Crimes, desiring of the Priests an Expiation for them, their Answer was, That his Offences were so many and enormous, that they knew not which way to atone for them; telling him at the same time, that there was a certain_ Ægyptian _who came from_ Spain _to_ Rome; _who, if he had an Opportunity of speaking to him, could procure him an Expiation, if he would establish in his Dominions this Belief of the_ Christians, _namely, That Men of the most profligate Lives, immediately upon their Repentance, obtain’d Remission of Sins_. Constantine _readily closed with this Offer, and his Sins were pardon’d. At the Approach of the Festival, on which it was usual with him and his Army to go up to the Capitol, to perform the customary Rites of their Religion_; Constantine _fearful to be present at that Solemnity, as being warn’d to the contrary by a Dream, which was sent him from the_ Ægyptian, _and not attending the holy Sacrifice, highly disgusted the Senate, and the whole Body of the People of_ Rome. _But unable to bear the Curses and Scandal they threw upon him on that Account, he went in Search of some Place or other equally famous with_ Rome, _where he might build him a Palace, and which he might make the Seat of the_ Roman _Empire, and that at last he had discovered a Place between_ Troas _and Old_ Ilium, _fit for that Purpose; and that there he built him a Palace, laid the Foundations of a City, and raised part of a Wall for its Defence: But that afterwards disapproving the Situation, he left his Works unfinish’d, and settled at_ Byzantium; _and being wonderfully taken with the Agreeableness of the Place, he judged it in all respects to be very commodious for an Imperial Seat_. Thus far _Zosimus_, a great Favourite of _Julian_ the Apostate, and an inveterate Enemy to _Constantine_ on the account of his Religion; to whose Sentiments I have so perfect an Aversion, that I cannot give the least Credit to those Enormities he charges