We can hardly err, observes Manso, in placing it between the years 453 and 455, Manso, Geschichte des Ost Gothischen Reichs, p.
14 .-- M.] [Footnote 3: The four first letters of his name were inscribed on a gold plate, and when it was fixed on the paper, the king drew his pen through the intervals (Anonym.Valesian.ad calcem Amm.

Marcellin p.

722.) This authentic fact, with the testimony of Procopius, or at least of the contemporary Goths, (Gothic.1.i.c.2, p.

311,) far outweighs the vague praises of Ennodius (Sirmond Opera, tom.i.p.

1596) and Theophanes, (Chronograph.p.