Note 034
Both the Hungarian and Russian annals suppose,
that they besieged, or attacked, or insulted Constantinople,
(Pray, dissertat. x. p. 239. Katona, Hist. Ducum, p. 354 -
360;) and the fact is almost confessed by the Byzantine
historians, (Leo Grammaticus, p. 506. Cedrenus, tom. ii. p.
629: ) yet, however glorious to the nation, it is denied or
doubted by the critical historian, and even by the notary of
Bela. Their scepticism is meritorious; they could not
safely transcribe or believe the rusticorum fabulas: but
Katona might have given due attention to the evidence of
Liutprand, Bulgarorum gentem atque Graecorum tributariam
fecerant (Hist. l. ii. c. 4, p. 435.).
The History Of The Decline And
Fall Of The Roman Empire
—Fall In The East
—Chapter 55