Et aliud inveni:

History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire

Edward Gibbon (1737-1794)

"[Footnote 33: Muratori has considered with patriotic care the
danger and resources of Modena.  The citizens besought St.
Geminianus, their patron, to avert, by his intercession, the
rabies, flagellum, &c.

    Nunc te rogamus, licet servi pessimi,

    Ab Ungerorum nos defendas jaculis.
The bishop erected walls for the public defence, not contra
dominos serenos, (Antiquitat. Ital. Med. Aevi, tom. i. dissertat.
i. p. 21, 22,) and the song of the nightly watch is not without
elegance or use, (tom. iii. dis. xl. p. 709.) The Italian
annalist has accurately traced the series of their inroads,
(Annali d' Italia, tom. vii. p. 365, 367, 398, 401, 437, 440,
tom. viii. p. 19, 41, 52, &c.)]"