rebellious place and wholly set upon deadly mischiefe is hardly able to shew the tokens and remaines and those verie few of the antient glorie that it had But as for Cilicia that vaunteth it selfe of the river Cydnus ennobled it is by Tarsus a faire and goodly citie the founder of it by report was Perseus the sonne of Iupiter and Danaë or else one named Sandan come out of Aethyopia a wealthy man and a noble by Anazarbus also which carrieth the name of him that first built it and by Mopsutrehia the habitation of that famous Prophet or Divinor Mopsus who in his returne from the warlike voyage and service of the Argonauts with the Golden fleece that they tooke away wandring apart from the rest of his companie and arriving upon the coast of Africke died sodainly and from that time his heroicke Manes covered under Punicke mold as medicinable and for the most part causing health cure and heale sundry griefs and maladies These two Provinces long agoe in the Pirats warre intermingled with bands of brigands and rovers and by Servilius the Proconsul subdued and brought under subjection became tributarie And these countries verily scituat as it were in a promontorie are severed from that part of the world by the mountaine Amanus But the frontier bound of the East stretching forth along and streight forward reacheth from the bankes of the river Euphrates unto the borders of Nilus bounding on the left hand upon the nations of the Saracenes and on the right lying open to the roaring sea which tract or coast Nicator Seleucus being possessed of very much enlarged when after the decease of Alexander the Macedonian hee held the kingdomes of Persis in right of succession Seleucus I say a mightie and victorious king according as his sirname doth import For making use to his owne advantage of the multitude of people whom he had ruled a long time in peace of rude and rusticall habitations he built cities surely seated for much wealth and strength both of which at this present albeit they beare Greeke names imposed upon them according to the founders pleasure yet loose they not their primitive names quite which the antient erecters of them gave out of the Assyrian tongue And after Osdroena which as hath beene said we have put apart from this description first Comagena now called Euphratensis greatly riseth up by degrees a countrey well knowne by reason of three great cities namely Hierapolis old Ninus and Samosata Then lyeth Syria spread abroad along a spacious and large plaine and this hath much renown by Antiochia a citie wherof the world hath taken knowledge with which no other may compare as paragon for affluence of commodities as well home-bred as thither brought by Laodicia also and Apamia by Seleucia likewise most flourishing cities all even from their first beginning Next hereunto is Phoenice bending up toward the mount Libanus a region right lovely and beautifull adorned with great and faire cities among which for pleasantnesse and name excell Tyrus Sidon and Berytus and matchable to the same Emissa and Damascus built in auncient times Now these provinces which the river Orontes as it environeth them and running along the very foot and bottome of that high hill Cassius dischargeth it selfe into the Parthenian sea Cneus Pompeius after he had vanquished Tigranes tooke from the kingdomes of the Armenians and layed unto the Romanes dominion The last of all the Syriae is Palestina stretched forth farre and wide having plenteous storeof grounds well husbanded trim and gay with certaine excellent cities also nothing inferior one unto other but striving all as one would say by line and levell to be alike and equall as namely Caesarea which Herode founded out of the ground in honor of Octavian the Emperour Eleutheropolis and Neapolis in like sort Ascalon Gaza and Iulia built in the age aforegoing In these tracts there is no where to be seene a river navigable and in most places hote waters of their owne nature arise out of the ground medicinable and holesome for many purposes But even these countries also Pompey in like sort when he had tamed the Iewes and woon Ierusalem brought into the forme of Provinces committing the jurisdiction over them to a governour Close unto this adjoyneth Arabia reaching on the other side hard to the Nabataei a rich land flourishing with varietie of trade and traffique replenished also with strong castles and piles which for to repell the out-rodes and invasions of neighbour nations the men of old time in their watchfull care raised along the streights and passages in meet places and advantageous This region also hath among some townes cities likewise to wit Bostra Geraza and Philadelphia with strong wals most surely fenced And this very countrey Traian the Emperour when he had given it the name of a Province and set a governour over it enforced to yeeld obedience unto our lawes having many a time quelled and abated the swelling pride of the inhabitants what time as he made glorious and brave warre upon Media and the Parthians Semblably the Isle Cyprus dissoigned afarre off from the firme land and full of havens two cities among other townes standing thicke doe make renowmed namely Salamis and Paphus the one in much request and reputation for the holy altaâ—s shrines of Iupiter the other for the temple of Venus Now the same Cyprus aboundeth in so great and so manifold plenty of all things that standing in no need at all of forraine helpe by the meanes that it hath of the owne is able to build a great carricke or shippe of burthen from the very bottome keele beneath up to the highest top-sailes and having rigged furnished the same with all tackling thereto belonging shooteth it to sea Neither bash I to say that the people of Rome invaded this Isle rather upon a greedy mind to encroch than any just title thereto For after that king Ptolome our confederat and allie by occasion that our treasure went low was by vertue of a decree without any fault on his part committed proclaymed Outlaw and thereupon hee voluntarily made himselfe away by drinking poyson both it became tributarie and the spoyles also thereof as of an enemie state were bestowed in a fleet and brought into Rome citie by Cato Now will I come backe againe to the order of my historie CHAP. VIII Certaine persons but principally Epigonus and Eusebius by the commaundement of Gallus are executed AMid these sundry mischiefes and miseries falling one in the necke of another he on whom upon mine allegeance I was by the Emperour commaunded to give attendance being sent for from Nisibis the keeping whereof he had in charge was driven to looke narrowly into the beginnings and occasions of these dangerous debates a man gainesaying and repugning the flatterers that by whole troupes
without any example precedent thus much by way of intreatie had Caesar obtained at the Praefects hands That the ordering and dispose of the second Belgica which had bin overwhelmed with many sorts of calamities should be cōmitted unto him and namely with this condition That no minister or officer belonging to Praefect or President should urge any man to pay By which comfortable order taken they being all eased whom debt distracted apart to take care for themselves without any calling upon paied their duties before the day appointed came CHAP. III. A long narration at touching the Obeliske which was erected in the greatest shew-place at Rome IN these good beginnings of easement and refreshing given unto Gaule whiles Orphitus as yet governed the second time as Praefect the Obeliske was erected at Rome in the great Cirque or Shew-place concerning which I will now because it is a fit time and place therefore make some briefe discourse The citie Thebes in auncient time built famous for the sumptuous and stately wall as also for the entrie into it at an hundred gates the first founders thereupon tearmed Hecatompylos after the denomination whereof there is a province at this day called Thebais This citie what time as Carthage began to spread her dominion farre the Carthaginian captaines by a suddaine and unexpected rode surprised and destroyed and afterwards when it was reedified Cambyses that renowmed king of Persia a prince all the while he lived encroching upon the territories of other kings and cruell withall after he had broken into Aegypt gave the attempt to assault it that from thence he might carry away a mightie masse of riches and pillage forbearing not so much as the temples and the gifts offered there unto the gods who whiles he busily bestirred himselfe among those that fell to spoyle and saccage chaunced by occasion of his loose and large garments that entangled him to catch a fall forward with which suddaine and forcible fall his owne dagger that he wore close unto his right thigh happened to bee unsheathed and so dangerously to wound him that he had like thereof to die Long time after Cornelius Gallus procurator of Aegypt whiles Octavian was Emperour of Rome pilled and beggered this citie taking to his owne use the most part of the wealth thereof and upon his returne home when he was judicially accused for his robberie wasting of the province fearing the nobilitie unto whom the said Emperour had committed this matter to be enquired into and examined who also were highly offended and bitterly bent against him he fell upon his owne sword and killed himselfe This is that Gallus the Poet if I take not my marke amisse whom Virgil bewailing after a sort in the latter end of his Bucolickes in a mild kind of verse maketh a dittie of In this citie among mightie great cisternes and sundry huge massie pieces of worke expressely resembling the images of the Aegyptian gods we saw many Obeliskes standing and others lying along and broken which the auncient kings after they had in warre subdued other nations or growne prowd of their prosperitie and high estate hewed out of the bowels of mountaines which they stucke not to search for even among the utmost inhabitants of the earth erected on high and in their religious devotion dedicated to the Gods in heaven Now an Obeliske is a most hard and rough stone broad beneath and sharpe above rising by little and little to a mightie height and because it might resemble a ray or sunne-beame waxing smaller and smaller it is with foure-faces brought up to a narrow top and the same is smoothed also artificially by the workemans hand The infinite number of Characters and markes of sundry shapes tearmed Hieroglyphickes which we behold cut every where into it the auncient authoritie of sacred wisedome from the very first beginning hath ennobled For they engraving many kinds of birds and wild beasts even those of another world by reason that the memoriall of their Emperors more publiquely reached to the ages of future times shewed thereby the vowes of kings either promised or performed for not as now adaies a certaine set and expedite number of letters uttereth declareth whatsoever mans mind is able to conceive so did the Aegyptians in old time use to write but for every nowne or name they had one severall letter and sometimes under one verbe or word they signified whole sentences and full meanings For the knowledge and skill whereof this example for the while in these two instances may serve By a Vulture or Gripe they represent the vocable or name of Nature because our Naturalists do report there can bee no males found among these foules and by the forme of a Bee making honey they shew a king declaring by these signes That in a ruler there ought to be with sweetnesse a sting also growing and of this kind there be a great number And for that a sort of flatterers as the manner is puffing up Constantius buzzed this without all measure into his eares That whereas Octavianus Augustus had translated two Obeliskes from the citie Heliopolis in Aegypt whereof the one was placed in Circus Maximus the other in Campus Marcius but as for this one now newly brought over he durst not once meddle with nor stirre it as affrighted with the greatnesse and difficultie of the worke know they thus much who are ignorant of the thing That the said auncient prince when he had transported some of them passed by this untouched and undealt withall for this reason That being by a speciall gift dedicated unto the god Sunne and set fast within the sacred chappels of a sumptuous and stately temple which might not once be touched and prophaned it mounted up aloft as the head and top of all the other But Constantine the Great making small account of that displaced and unseated this huge masse yea and thinking truly that it was no breach nor offence of religion if taking this admirable monument out of one temple he consecrated it in Rome that is to say the temple of the whole world suffered it to lye a long time whiles necessarie meanes for the translation thereof were a providing Which being conveyed along the channell of Nilus and landed at Alexandria there was a ship of huge and strange bignesse built the same to be rowed with three hundred oares After which provision thus fore-cast and the abovesaid prince departed this life the urgent hast of effecting this businesse was slacked and at length late though it were being shipped partly by sea and partly up the streame of Tibris fearing as it were least that which Nilus almost unknowne had sent himselfe should hardly bee able under danger of his owne course to bring up to the walls of his owne foster citie conveyed it was into Vicus Alexandri a towne situate three myles from Rome from whence beeing layed upon certaine draught-vices and engines it was
he entred with exceeding joy in manner of a petie triumph into the said citie overwhelmed before time with many distresses and calamities but now on a suddaine refreshed so farre forth as it might hope for perfect safetie And here upon this prosperous successe encouraged to greater attempts he abode doubtfull of the future and casting what course safely to take like to speed as being informed as well by the confession of captives as the relation of fugitives that these diffuse companies of sundry nations spred so farre abroad and raging so cruelly could not possibly be vanquished but by privie sleights secret ambushes suddain excursions To conclude after edicts published promise made by proclamation of impunitie he called unto their colours and service again such as had forsaken the field and were run to the enemie as also many other that having free pasport and licence to go and returne at their pleasure were dispersed in sundry parts At which warning given when most of them were returned being throughly kindled and set on with courage yet curbed with heavie and pensive cares he required to have Civilis by name sent unto him for to governe Britannie as deputie Praefect a man of a very sharpe wit and quicke spirit but withall a good justicer and observer of righteousnesse likewise Dulcitius a captain renowmed for his skill in deeds of armes And thus went the affaires in Britannie CHAP. VIII The most miserable state of Africke under Romanus the Lieutenant without the knowledge of Valentinian whose cowardise and crueltie Ammianus Marcellinus taxeth The rovers and robbers out of Isauria are repressed Praetextatus Prafect of Rome a righteous and wiseman is put downe for the patterne of an excellent magistrate BVt as for Africke ever since the beginning of Valentinian his raigne it was all in combustion through the outrage of barbarous enemies wholly set upon slaughter and spoile that they made by bold adventurous outrodes which thing was much encreased through the idlenesse of the soldiors and the covetous desire to encroch seize upon other mens goods but especially of one named Romanus lieutenant there who forecasting what would come and his crafts-master in deriving all envie from himselfe unto others in regard of his cruell demeanour was hated of many for this cause especially that relying himselfe upon the affinitie he had with Remigius then master of the offices he strived to outgoe the very enemies in wasting of the provinces by the meanes of which Remigius who stucke not to give wrong false information the prince who tooke himselfe to be most warie and wise was the longer ignorant of those losses which the men of Africke sustained But the full and whole order of the proceedings in those countries as also the death of Ruricius the President and of the embassadours with other lamentable accidents I will more exactly deliver when reason shall so require And for that there is now offered free opportunitie to utter what we thinke let us plainely speake it out to wit that this Emperour was the first of all others that exalted militarie men to a great pitch of pride even to the hinderance and dammage of the weale publique whiles he raised on high their dignities and wealth and that which was a thing both in publique and privat to be lamented punished the errors and delinquencies of common souldiors with inflexible rigour and spared the great ones who as if they had gotten a dispensation and indulgence for all faults grew to staine themselves with horrible sinnes who hereupon puffing and taking on suppose the estates of all men to depend upon their will and pleasure whose prowd blasts and heavie hands the first devisers of auncient lawes seeking to restraine have passed their doome for the putting to death otherwhiles even of some innocent persons Which oftentimes happeneth when for the crimes of a multitude some harmlesse folke such is their hard lot are punished as culpable For this hath reached sometimes to the cases of privat persons But in Isauria the brigands passing by plumpes and companies along the townes adjoyning and the plentifull villages spoyling them at their pleasure put Pamphylia the Cilicians to great losses whom when Musonius deputie Praefect then of Asia who before time had beene a professour of Rhetoricke at Athens in Attica perceived to wast and consume all in bloudie and cruell manner when their state lay a bleeding in desperate plight and the souldiors who should have helped growne feeble with loosenesse and riot he taking unto him some few halfe armed men whom they tearme p Diocmitae assayed to set upon one squadron of those robbers if peradventure he could have found his advantage but passing by a certaine narrow winding lane with a steepe descent he fell into the inevitable danger of an ambushment and there together with those whom he led was stabbed and hewed in pieces These brigands exceeding prowd and bold for this good successe and raunging more confidently sundrie wayes the maine armie at length went forth and after some few of them slaine forced them to the blind craggie mountaines which they inhabite where having neither libertie to rest nor meanes to meet with victuals beside a truce they required to have peace graunted unto them and that through the motion and persuasion of the inhabitants of Germanicopolis whose authoritie like unto the vantguard in battaile hath alwayes beene among them of great force to sway the rest and so after they had put in their pledges as they were enjoyned they continued a long time quiet and attempted no hostilitie at all During these affaires Praetextatus who in stately port managing the Praefectureship of the citie by many deeds of integritie and honestie whereby from his very youth he became famous attained to that which sildome happeneth namely that albeit he was dread yet lost he not the love of the citizens which commonly is wont to be grounded upon threats especially toward rulers and judges that be feared By whose grave authoritie and just sentence going with the truth when the tumult was appealed which the debates and jarres of the Christians had raised and Vrsicinus put to the repulse and expelled there grew together with a joint purpose of Romane citizens and the honour of their noble governour who ordered and disposed many profitable things a most settled and uniforme peace For he tooke away all those juttying galleries of pleasure called q Meniana which even by auncient lawes also were forbidden to be built in Rome and he caused a partition to be made between the wals of privat mens houses and sacred temples whereto before they unseemely joyned and he ordained certaine weights throughout all the r regions or wards of the citie when otherwise there could be no meanes found to meet with the greedinesse of many that made false ballances according to their pleasure Moreover in trying and deciding of controversies thus much above all others he gained which Tully reporteth in the
governement allotted unto them by the neighing of an horse In this region there is a medicinable oyle made where with an arrow or dart being annoynted if it bee gently shot out of a weake bow for with swift flight the vertue thereof is quenched and sticke in any place it catcheth fire and continueth still burning and if a man wold wash it away with water he maketh the same to burne more violently Neither by any other meanes goâ—th it out than by casting dust upon it Now the making of it is in this manner They that are skilfull confectioners take common oyle infected with a certaine hearbe and this being condited preserve it a long time and as it gathereth to a thicker consistence harden it by meanes of a substance issuing out of a naturall veine like unto grosse oyle and this kind of drugge is engendred among the Persians which as I have said alreadie they used to call by a tearme of that countrey Naphtha CHAP. IX The morefamous and better frequented townes of Persia A narration as touching the Parthians Arabians Carmans and Hyrcanes their neighbours as also of their townes maners and commodities IN these countries there stand a number of cities dispersed and the principall of them all be Zombis Patigra and Gazaca among which also for wealth and large walls these be conspicuous Heraclia Arsacia Europos Cycopolis and Ecbatana seated all under the mountaine Iasonium in the lands of the Syro-Medians Many rivers there be that passe along these regions of which the greatest are Choaspes Gyndes Amardus Charinda Cambyses and Cyrus which carrying a great and spatious streame Cyrus the elder that noble and amiable king so named when he had a bolished the old name therof what time as he made a voyage for the conquest of the kingdome of Scythia both for that it was so strong as himselfe also was reported puissant and also because with mightie force making itselfe way as he also did it runneth into the Caspian sea Beyond these confines next unto the sea coasts is auncient Persis inhabited stretched forth along the South tracts a countrey rich in the smaller sorts of graine and fruits as also in vines and for plentie of water most delectable For many rivers have their course through it into the gulfe aforesaid the biggest wherof are these Vatrachites Rogomanis Brisoana and Bagrada And the inland townes are verie great and large For in what regard they built nothing of any note along the maritime coasts it is not certainely knowne Among which cities Persepolis beareth a great name like as Ardea Orobatis and Tragonica But there are no more than three islands there seene to wit Tibiana Phara and Alexandria Neere bordering upon these are the Parthians scituat under the North-east inhabiting lands full of snow and frozen all over whose countries the river Choatres bigger than the rest divideth in the mids And for townes these bee of more account than the other all namely Genonia Charax Apamia Artacana and Hecatompylos From the bounds whereof along the Caspian sea shore unto the verie straits thereof are reckoned a thousand and fortie stadia The inhabitants of all the territories there be fierce and given to fight and such delight take they in skirmishes and warres that he is deemed among all other right happie who spendeth his life in battaile For such as depart otherwise by casuall or naturall death they rayle at and revile as base persons and meere cowards Vpon these on the East and South side bound the happie Arabians so tearmed for that they be so rich in come as well as in plenteous increase of cattell in vines and odoriferous spices of many kinds and a great part of them reach unto the red sea namely on the right side for on the left hand they border hard upon the Persian sea and so are acquainted with all the blessings and commodities that both elements can affoord Where also there be both rodes and quiet harbours verie many also townes of marchandise standing thicke and retiring houses for the kings passing sumptuous and beautifull besides most holesome and medicinable fountaines of waters naturally hot together with a number of brookes and rivers running cleere and a temperature of the ayre verie healthy so that whosoever considerâ—th all things aright may well thinke there is nothing wanting for the accomplishment of felicitie in the highest degree And although it hath store of cities as well Mediterranean as maritime and abound in plenteous fields and vales yet these it hath of greatest state above the rest to wit Geapolis Nascus and Baraba likewise Nagara Mephra Taphron and Dioscurias Moreover furnished it is with many islands hard at hand along both seas which to reckon up it skilleth not But of more note and name than all other is Turgana wherein standeth by report the greatest temple of Serapis Beyond the marches hereof which containe a mightie ground Carmania the greater mounteth up with loftie hills and reacheth even to the Indian sea decked with the encrease that commeth of fruits and trees but much more obscure and farre lesse than the land of the Arabians howbeit as wel replenished with rivers and for fruitfulnesse of soyle nothing inferiour to it But these be the rivers in it of greater name than the rest Sagareus Saganis and Hydriacus There are in it cities also although in number few yet for fare and apparell passing full and rich Among which Carmania mother of them all carryeth a brave shew so doth Ortospana also Alexandria and Hermupolis But as you travaile further within the countrey you meet with the Hyrcani by whom a sea of their name flowes and among whom there be verie big clods of earth glittering againe with gold Little set they by tillage and husbandrie but they feed upon venison in varietie whereof a wonder it is how they abound Where also are seene many thousands of Tigres and a number of wild beasts which by what sleights and devises they are woont to bee taken I remember well that a good while since I have related And yet for all that are not they unskilfull of holding the plough taile but some parts of these countries are sowed with seeds namely where the soyle is rich and fat neither bee hortyards vineyards and groves wanting in places meet to be planted and a number of the inhabitants be sustained with marchandise and commodities of the sea Here also be two verie notorious rivers Oxus and Maxera which the Tigres when they bee hunger-bitten swim over sometimes and at unwares do much mischief in the parts bordering upon them CHAP. X. Divers nations of Persia the Abij Margiani Bactriani Sacae Scythians Laxaâ—ae and Galactophagi together with the chiefe cities are described MOreover among smaller townes they have also strong cities two verily upon the sea coast namely Socunda and Saramanna other also within the land to wit Azmoâ—na Sole and Hyrcana more noble and famous than they Over against this nation
having mounted up to the Tribunall was heard to keepe a great braying and when all there present as also they that understood so much by report of others were astonied hereat and none able to guesse the future event thereof that fell out afterwards which was then portended or signified by it For Terentius a man of base parentage borne in the citie and a Baker by way of recompence and reward because he had given information of one that had beene Praefect for robbing the Treasurie administred the office of a e Corrector in this selfe same province and taking upon him afterwards in this presumptuous confidence of his to be medling verie busily in the matter and affaire of Ship-Masters and convicted to have dealt falsely therein as the voyce went dyed by the hangmans hand whiles Claudius governed Rome But long before that this chanced after Apronianus succeeded Symmachus a man worthie to bee named among the principall paternes and examples of learning and modestie during whose being in place that most sacred citie enjoyed the blessings of peace and wealth in more plentiful manner than usually it had done and vaunteth much of a sumptuous and exceeding strong bridge the which himself built and dedicated with great joy of the citizens unthankfull persons they as the truth most evidently shewed who after certaine yeares gone over their heads burnt a most beautifull and goodly house of his in the c tract beyond Tiberis as taking much offence and displeasure hereat because a certaine base commoner devised and fained that hee should say and no man else there was to declare and testifie so much That he would more willingly with his owne wine quench the lime-kills than sell the said wine at the price they hoped for After him followed in the regencie and government of the citie Lampadius who had bin Praefectus Praetorio a man that would take the matter verie hainously if he were not praysed even when he did but spit as who forsooth had a speciall grace above all others to doe that also with wisedome but yet otherwhiles he was grave and of good government This man what time as he exhibited being Praetor stately games and playes with a bountiful largesse not able to endure the tumult of the commons instantly oftentimes calling upon him to have many things bestowed on unworthy persons for to shew himselfe liberall and a despiser of the multitude sent for certaine needie and poore persons out of the f Vatican and them endowed with great riches But to shew his vanitie that we rove not much abroad it shall suffice to put downe this one example a small matter though it be yet such as Iudges ought to take heed of For in everie part of the citie which had beene adorned at the expences of sundrie princes he would use to write his owne name not as REPAIRER of old but as FOVNDER of new workes Of which disease Traian the Emperour is said to have laboured whereupon by way of jeast and skoffe they used to tearme him the hearbe g Parietina This Praefect was troubled with many commotions and one above the rest when the rascall commons gathering together with throwing of firebrands and firebals had quite burnt his house neere unto h Constantines Baine but that his slaves and friends speedily ran and assembled themselves and from the house tops pelted them so with stones and tyles that they were glad to depart With which violent attempt and the noyse of a seditious tumult growing to be more hot himselfe affrighted retyred to Pons Milvius which the elder Scaurus is sayd to have built waiting for the appeasing of a tumult there that arose upon this just and grievous occasion Going in hand to erect new edifices of the citie or to repaire some old he caused the charges thereof to be raysed not out of the accustomed levies and taxes And if any yron lead brasse or such like stuffe were to be provided his ministers or officers were sent foorth who like to chapmen should buy and carrie away divers sorts of wares but never pay therefore whereupon much adoe hee had though he went away as speedily as he could to avoid the anger of poore men enchafed and bewailing their losses for such commodities as had beene taken from them Then came in place his successor Viventius who had beene Treasurer of the Emperors household an upright man and a wise a Pannonian borne whose government was quiet peaceable and flowing abundantly with plentie of all things And he likewise was terrified with the bloudie seditions which stirred up such a broyle as this Damasus and Vrsicinus exceedingly hote set upon the getting of the Episcopall See by divisions and factions contended most bitterly so that the partakers of both sides proceeded as farre as to dealing of bloudie blowes and even to danger of death Which stirres Viventius not able either to redresse or appease upon great violence compelled retired himselfe apart into a countrey house by the citie side And in this skuffling Damasus had the upper hand so instant was that part which favoured him And knowne for certaine it is that in the great Hall of Sicininus where there is holden a congregation and meeting of Christians there were found in one day an hundred and seven thirtie dead bodies of them slaine as also that the common people growne hereupon to be outrageous a long time were hardly afterwards pacified Neither can I denie beholding the glorious braverie of the citie that the competitors desirous of this Episcopall dignitie for the attaining of that which they desire have good reason to strive all that ever they can considering that when they have gotten it they shal be so void of care and thought taking that they are enriched with the oblations of matrones ride abroad mounted in coaches and therein gloriously arrayed keeping profuse and riotous fare insomuch as their feasts surpasse kings tables who might be happie and blessed indeed if despising the greatnesse of the citie by which they pretend to cloake their vices they would live according to the example of some provinciall bishops whose slender diet in eating and drinking most sparily whose low priced apparrell also and eyes looking downe to the ground commend them as pure and modest persons to the eternall God and his true servants CHAP. III. Ammianus Marcellinus going about to describe the Gothes warre first of all presenteth unto us the limits the auncient nations provinces and principall cities in his time of Thracia THus farre foorth it shall suffice that wee have digressed out of the way now returne wee to the orderly processe of our Hystorie Whiles these matters above said proceed thus in Gaule and Italie new warres arose in Thracia For Valens as it seemed good unto his brother whose advice he asked and after whose will and pleasure he was wholly ruled levied armes against the Gothes mooved thereto upon a good and just cause namely
for that they sent aids to Procopius when he entred into civile warres Meet it is therefore by way of a briefe digression to discourse as touching their originall and the situation of their countries As for the description of Thracia easie it were if the auncient writers thereupon did accord but for as much as their obscure varietie helpeth not a worke that professeth truth sufficient it shall be briefely to tell what I have to mine owne remembrance seene That these lands extended in times past a mightie way as well in plaine and pleasant champian fields as also in high hils the ever-during authoritie of Homer doth shew who faineth That the two winds North-east and West do blow from thence which either is a fabulous fiction or else all those tracts that spred farre and wide abroad heretofore and were appointed for savage nations went all under the name of Thracia And verily a part thereof was inhabited by the Scordisci farre removed now from the same provinces a people cruell in times past and terrible as auncient records beare witnesse procuring the propitious favour of i Bellona and Mars by sacrificing of captives and greedily drinking bloud out of mens skuls By whose rigorous and rough dealing the State of Rome after many foughten fields oftentimes sore troubled lost at length their whole armie and leader both But as now we see it the same places shaped in manner of a crescent or new Moone portray unto us the faire resemblance of a Theatre In the very top whereof Westward the straits of Succi standing thicke with high and steepe hils begin to open dividing Thraciae and Dacia asunder but that part on the left hand lying toward the North starres is enclosed with the loftie mountains of Hęmus and the river Hister whereas it runneth hard by Romane ground and hath many cities castles and forts seated upon it On the right hand which is the South side thereof are stretched out the craggie cliffes of Rhodope and where the Sunne riseth bounded it is with a narrow sea against which as it runs with surging waters out of the Euxine sea and passeth forward with reciprocall ebbes and flowes to the Aegean sea there openeth a narrow partition of lands Howbeit out of the East angle it joyneth to the Macedonian marches by certaine narrow and steepe waies which are tearmed Acontisma hard by which lyeth the vale Arethusa and a station wherein is to be seene the sepulchre of Euripides that Poet famous for his loftie penning of Tragoedies also Stagria where wee have heard say Aristotle was borne who as Tully sayth poureth from him a river of gold These places also were in old time held by barbarous nations farre different in varietie of manners and of language among whom there is beside others mention made of the Odrysae as of people exceeding outragious and savage so accustomed to the shedding of mens bloud that when they want enemies to fight with themselves at the very boord after they have engorged themselves with meat and drinke turne the edge and point of the sword one upon anothers bodie as if they were strangers But when our State was growne great during the flourishing government under Consuls Marcus Didius with mightie resolution and constancie subdued these nations untamed alwayes before time and wandering licentiously without civilitie or lawes Drusus reduced them within proper bounds of their owne and Minutius neere unto the river Februs which runneth from the high hils of the Odrysae in a battaile vanquished them after whom those that remained were in a cruell battaile by Appius Claudius Proconsull utterly destroyed For the Romane navies were possessed of the townes standing upon Bosphorus and Propontis After these came Lucullus that noble warrior and conqueror in place who was the first of all others that strucke a battaile with that most bold and hardie nation of the Bessi and in the same journey defeated the Haemimontanes that stoutly made resistance who whiles he hovered over those parts all Thracia throughout was reduced under the subjection of our auncestors And in this manner after many doubtfull battailes fought with the hazard of the Commonweale sixe provinces were gained among which the first which confineth afront upon the Illyrians is by a speciall name called Thracia adorned with two spatious cities Philippopolis called in old time Eumolpias and Beroea Next to it Haemimontum hath in it Hadrianopolis which was called Vscudama and Anchialos great cities Then Mysia where standeth Martianopolis surnamed of Traianus the Emperour his sister also Dorostorus Nicopolis and Odyssus and hard unto it Scythia wherein Dionysopolis Tomi and Calatis are the townes of greatest name And the last of all Europe which besides borough townes shineth againe with two cities Apris and Perinthus called also by the posteritie ensuing Heraclea Rhodopa which is annexed unto this hath Maximianopolis Maronea and Aenus which when Aeneas had built and left he after wandering travailes a long time by a perpetuall traine of prosperous Auspices arrived in Italie Now it is for truth knowne as continuall rumors from time to time have bruited that in manner all these countrey people which in the regions aforesaid inhabite round about the high mountaines outgoe us in health of bodie and a certaine peculiar prerogative of long life And this happeneth as folke thinke hereupon for that they abstaine from feeding of many meats together and by reason that a continuall freshnesse of deaw with cold sprinklings bindeth and hardeneth their bodies they enjoy the sweetnesse of a purer ayre and are besides the first of all that see the Sunne beames which of their owne nature give and maintaine life before they are infected with any corruption of earthly things Having thus digested in order these matters returne we to that which we began CHAP. IIII. Valens reiecting the frivolous excuse of the Gothes who had maintained Procopius and his side passed over Hister and meeting none to make resistance returneth with his forces The warre being in the yeres ensuing renewed at length the Gothes by the intercession of Athanaricus obtaine peace and Valens goeth backe to Constantinople AFter that Procopius was vanquished in Phrygia and the matter of civile dissentions layed asleepe Victor Generall of the Horsemen was sent unto the Gothes to know in plaine tearmes For what cause that nation friend unto the Romanes and obliged by covenants of a free peace had given aid by armes unto one that warred against lawfull and naturall princes who that they might seeme by their first plea to justifie the deed presented unto him the letters of the same Procopius alledging That he tooke upon him the Empire due unto him as a neere kinsman of Constantines race and avouching that the error was worthie to be pardoned Vpon knowledge whereof by the relation of Victor Valens making small reckoning of this their most vaine excuse advaunced in warlike manner against them who
whereof the former under Nero the other under Traiane Emperours of Rome were renowmed for many valiant acts Being departed therefore from Arles with most luckie and fortunat Auspices and having passed the sea with that fleet whereof he had the conduct without any rumour going before hee arrived at the shore of Mauritania Sitifensis which the inhabitants call Igilgitanum and there finding by chaunce Romanus and speaking gently to him he sent him to set in order the centinels fore-guards with little or no rebuke at all for those things that he feared Who being gone away to Mauritania Caesariensis he sent Gildo the brother of Firmus as also Maximus to reforme Vincentius who whiles he was lieutenant of Romanus became partaker of his uncivile behaviour and his thefts When he had therefore received his souldiors late though it were who made the longer stay by reason of the maine and wide sea hastening to Sitifis he gave order That Romanus with his domesticall attendants should be committed unto the safe custodie of the Protectores And whiles he abode within the towne distracted he was with doubtfull thoughts and cares casting and tossing in his mind by what way or by what device he might either through hot and scorched countries lead his souldiors accustomed to frosts or take the enemie prisoner that used to make suddaine rodes and trusted more upon secret ambushes than any set battailes Which when it was knowne unto Firmus first by running rumours and afterwards by plaine and open intelligences given sore affrighted at the comming of a most approoved and expert captaine he confessed his error and craved pardon of all that was past both by Orators whom he sent and also by letters which he wrote shewing and declaring That he brake not forth of his owne accord to that fact which he knew to be wicked but by reason of unjust dealing which grew to licentious outrage as he promised by demonstration to prove Which missives being read and pardon promised upon the receit of hostages the captaine aforesaid went forward to take a review of the Legions which defended Africke unto a station named Panchariana whither as to the Rendez-vous by commaundement they were to repaire There having with honourable and wise speeches confirmed all their hopes he returned to Sitifis and assembled the souldiors there inhabiting together with those whom he brought with him and impatient of farther delayes he made hast to exploit some warlike service Moreover among many and notable parts of his beside this one thing mightily encreased the love of the countrey unto him in that he expressely forbad That the provinciall inhabitants should find the armie any victuals giving out and that with a brave confident spirit That the harvests and hoords of the enemies were the garners of our valorous men CHAP. XI Through the trecherous and deceitfull dealing of Firmus it came to passe that upon a battaile fought wherein the Barbarians were discomfited Firmus in the end was glad to crave peace and pardon which being obtained Theodosius repaireth Caesarea THese things thus ordered with joy of the Land-holders he marched forth to Tubusuptus a towne adjoyning to the mountaine Ferratus where he rejected the second embassage of Firmus which had not brought according to appointment the hostages with them From whence when he had warily viewed and searched all as the time and place would give leave he sped himselfe apace toward the nations of the Tyndenses and Masinissenes furnished and well appointed with light armour whom Mascizel and ... dius brethren of Firmus had the leading of Now when these enemies nimble and deliver of lim were within view after discharge of shot and casting-weapons on both sides there was strucken a most sharpe and cruell battaile and among the grones deaths and wounds was heard lamentable yelling and weeping of the barbarous people taken prisoners and slaine And when the fight was finished many of the territories were forrayed and fired Among which the miseries of the Burgade Petrensis exceeded as being utterly rased and destroyed which place the lord thereof Salmaces brother to Firmus had built in manner of a citie The conquerour lifted up with this good successe with wonderfull celeritie possessed himselfe of the towne Lamforctense situate among the nations abovesaid where he caused great abundance of victuals to be layed up to the end that if as he went more inward into the countrey he should find scarcitie of food he might give order to have it fetched neere at hand In these traine of affaires Mascizel having repaired his forces with the aid-souldiors of the nations bordering upon him joined battaile with our men wherein after many of his part defeated himselfe through the swiftnesse of his horse with much adoe escaped the danger of death Firmus wearied with the adverse fortune of two battailes and chafing at the very heart root because he would not omit the utmost meanes that were sent certaine Christian bishops with hostages to treat for peace Who because they were courteously entertained and upon promise of victuals sufficient for the souldiors according as they had in charge brought backe a joyfull answere the Moore himselfe sending his presents before him very confidently went forth toward the Romane Generall mounted upon a courser meet for any doubtfull chaunces that might betide him And when he drew neere being strucken amazed at the glittering ensignes and the terrible countenance of Theodosius he alighted from his horse and bowing downe his head stouped almost to the very ground and so with teares blamed his owne rashnesse craving pardon and peace who being received with a kisse for it was thought behoofefull to the Commonwealth and now full of good hopes furnished us with sufficient food and so leaving some of his owne kinsfolkes behind in lieu of the hostages departed with a purpose to redeliver the captives as he promised whom in the very beginning of the troubles he had caught up and carried away and within two dayes after without any longer delay he rendred back according to commandement the towne I cosium the founders whereof I have before related the militarie ensignes also and the Sacerdotall crowne with all the rest that he had intercepted From hence when our Generall after speedie and great journeyes entred into Tipasa unto the embassadours of the Mazices who had combined themselves with Firmus and now in humble manner besought pardon he answered thus with an high spirit That forthwith he would warre upon them as perfidious rebels Whom being dismaid and cast downe with feare of imminent daunger he commaunded to returne home into their owne countrey and so he marched toward Caesarea a wealthy and noble citie in times past the originall whereof likewise we have fully shewed in the description of Affricke Being entred into it when he saw it in manner all burnt and consumed with the fiers that spred all abroad and the flint stones of the streets covered and
rise higher and higher a noyse that by a peculiar tearme they call Barritus plucked up their valiant hearts and strength together but the Barbarians with untunable cries and shouts creaked forth the praises of their ancestors and thus among sundry words passing betweene of dissonant noyse began the lighter skirmishes And now whē they had aloofe assailed one another on both sides with louped darts and such like casting-weapons they came togither in menacing wise to close fight and hand strokes and couching their shields in forme of a roufe over their heads they set foot to foot and maintained the medley The Barbarians as who were alwaies repaired with fresh supplies and nimble withall hurling at our men huge clubs parched and hardened in the fire and fiercely foining with point of sword full upon the breasts of those that stood against them brake through the left wing which being readie to recule and go down a right strong and hardie regiment which lay for supply rising valiantly from a side hard by when as the cohort now was hard at their neckes succoured and supported againe When as the fight therefore grew exceeding sharpe and hot with much slaughter bloudshed every one who was more readie to rush upon the thickest of the enemies whiles on all sides swords swashed and darts flew as thicke as haile lost his life and the horsemen followed both on the one side and the other with strong arme slashing those that fled in the necke backe likewise on both parts the footmen hewed the houx or hamstrings of as many as slipped away or lagged behind for feare And whereas every place was full of slaine bodies some there were that lay among them halfe dead and halfe alive feeding themselves with a vaine hope of life Some were shot with bullets throwne out of slings others with reeds or arrowes headed with yron the heads of some cloven with the sword through the middest of the forehead and crowne hung down with great horror on both shoulders And both sides not wearied as yet with tough fighting plagued one another indifferently and sped alike neither was there one that slacked one jot his owne naturall vigor of bodie so long as his courageous heart served him to stirre up his strength Howbeit as bloudie mortall as this conflict was it ended with the day and when as many as could any waies make shift departed in disorder the rest every one recovered their tents again heavily appayed To conclude when as some honourable personages among the dead were enterred as place and time would give leave the bodies of the slain that remained the cursed fowles of the ayre devoured such as were wont at that time to feed upon carkasses as appeareth by the fields all over white with bones at this day Howbeit for certaine it is knowne That the Romanes fewer farre in number having encountred with that huge multitude and abidden many deadly dangers yet not without wofull lamentable calamities foiled the barbarous people These chances of battaile thus piteously ended our men went to the next retiring places of Martianopolis and the Gothes thrust pent of their owne accord within the foresaid circuit precinct of their wagons never durst for seven daies together go forth or be seene and therefore our souldiors taking the advantage of this opportunitie inclosed an infinit sort of other Barbarians within the straits of Haemimontum barred with high hils against them building as one would say upon this hope That this mischievous multitude of enemies hemmed in betweene Ister and the desarts and finding no way out would perish by famine considering that all necessaries of this life were carried into the strong cities of which they never went about to besiege any one as yet being altogether ignorant in these and such like machinations After this Richomeres returned into Gaule minding to bring other helps and means from thence in regard of greater and more troublous warres which were feared CHAP. IX The Gothes having taken in the Hunnes and Alanes to the societie of their bootie with horrible slaughter and spoile wast Thracia and in vaine lay siege to the towne Dibaltum As they pursue Frigeridus a most puissant warriour and leader they are terrified with a new overthrow and Frigeridus having taken many of them confineth them about Mutina Rhegium and Parma there to till the grounds THese things were done in the yeare that Gratianus was the fourth time Consull together with Merobaudes toward the Autumne season in which time when Valens heard the dolefull events of warres and spoyles after he had committed the charge of the Cavallerie for the time unto Saturninus he sent out Traianus and Profuturus bringing aid and helpe with them And it fortuned in those dayes that when throughout the regions of Scythia and Moesia all things comestible were spent the Barbarians what upon a cruell fiercenesse of their owne and what for meere want that set them forward were exceeding hot and eagre to worke mightie matters But having many a time given the attempt and seeing themselves overweighed with the vigorous valour of our men manfully resisting them notwithstanding all rough and stonie difficulties driven at length upon extreame necessity they procured upon hope of exceeding great booties to combine with them certaine of the Chuni and Alani Which when Saturninus knew for by this time was he come and had placed the fore-fences and out-standing guards abroad in the fields gathering by little and little his forces together he prepared to depart and that in good policie least the suddaine multitude like to a violent streame of water breaking the bankes and gushing forth should with little adoe disranke and discomfit all those that diligently watched the suspected places Then after the straits were layd open and our souldiors in good time for the enemies departed those aforesaid that were enclosed every one what way he could find after a disorderly manner bent his whole power and set his mind seeing no man to impeach him for to set all in a garboyle and throughout Thracia as wide as it is spred themselves spoiling and wasting without controlment beginning at those very coasts which Ister runneth by and so going on as farre as Rhodope and that tract which severeth the maine and huge seas making foule worke and havocke of all in most shamefull manner what with spoyling robbing and bloudie murthering and what with firing and abusing the bodies of free borne persons Then might a man have beheld with groning griefe of heart facts horrible to be said and seene women massacred and amazed with feare coursed all about with scourges that rung againe even great bellied wives with babes in them yet unperfect and untimely before they came into the world enduring many impieties Other little infants also clinging to their mothers armes you might have heard piteously crying as also the lamentable mones of young springals and damosels nobly borne with their hands strait bound whiles themselves were haled
Sellacurulis A certaine chaire or seat of estate one of the regall ensignes at Rome belonging to the Kings afterwards to Consuls c. It was made of Ivorie Annotations and conjectures upon the 26. Booke a SIgna A place in the campe where the Aegle standerd and other militarie ensignes stood where the Tribunes and chiefe officers quartered and souldiors punished b The odde day which everie fourth yeare arising out of the six excrescent howers in each yeare maketh the leape yeare is called Bissextus which is occasioned hereby the 2â— of Februarie is the 6. day before the Kalends of March Now when this day commeth unto it and maketh 29. dayes of that moneth the day following the said foure and twentieth is the 6. day likewise before the Kalends and therefore they used to reckon that sixt day twice and the yeare thereupon is called Bissextilis and Intercalaris of the odde day put betweene c The imaginarie circle in heaven through which the Sunne and other Planets runne their race in twelve signes is called Zodiak of Zodion in Greeke a little living creature because those twelve signes are represented by certaine creatures as the Ram Bull c. d Intercalation is a putting betweene of a moneth or dayes thereby to defer or delay e Martenses were a companie of souldiors serving under Dux Armoricani tractus and Nâ—rvicani Notit They served in the marches and limits f Patricij were the Nobilitie of Rome and the Senators degree g Divitâ—nses Souldiors so called of Divitum or Divetum a Mediterranean or inland towne in Sicilie Tungritani or Tungricani of Tungri a towne in Secunda Germania h Pomponius Latus maketh mention of Constantia a daughter that Constantius Chlorus the father of Constantine had by his wife Theodora But I read not elsewhere of this Anastasia i Heliogabolus assumed unto him the firname of Antoninus unworthily as degenerating from that line and name which seven Emperours before him bare and himselfe was the last so stiled Ael Lamprid. k How Alexander Severus with his mother Mamâ—â—â— was killed see Aeâ—â—ilius Lamprid. l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is to say a dart or javelin It seemeth it was a long narrow and strait passage m See a little before at the letter g. n To wit with yron hookes and beasts clawes o Phalaris a most cruell tyrant of the Agrigentines who devised a brazen bull to torment condemned persons in by making a fire under it causing them to frye within it and bellow like a bull But both the artisan Perillus who made this bull was for proofe of his handiworke by the tyrants commaundement tortured therein and Phalaris himselfe also in a commotion of the people worthily put into it and so ended his tyrannie p It may be collected that by Defensores are meant here certaine officers or Magistrats in Cities and great Provinciall Townes called Municipia which were Protectors of the Commons in them like as Tribuni Plebis among the Romanes for here is no mention made of besieging or assaulting this citie But if the reader will understand it of the defendants upon the walls and generally of the citizens that withstood a siege which here may be implyed I will not be against him Annotations and conjectures upon the 27. Booke a WHat Souldiours these Divitenses and Tungricani were hath beene shewed before b Armaturae signifieth a certaine militarie exercise in Vegetius whereto young souldiors were trayned by the Campiductores also light armours and the souldiors so trayned and so armed But I suppose in this place are meant a certaine Palatine Schola or companie of souldiours about the Emperour whereof Notitia speaketh and I have written somewhat before c Hastarij and Hastati were Pyke-men or Speare-men who in libera Repub. Romanorum fought in the vaward before the Principia as is to bee seene in Titus Livius everie where Howbeit in the later times of the Emperours and in Vegetius dayes Principes were marshalled in the vantguard and Hastati in the battaile and middle and even so much Amm. Marcell in one place seemeth to shew d That part of Tuscia or Tuscane which was more up-land into the countrey and therefore better for corne was so called for distinction from that which was Maritime e A part of Rome was seated on the other side of the river Tiberis and thereupon called Transtiberina regio f This hearbe because it delighteth to grow upon wals we commonly call Pellitarie of the wall for Parietarie The scoffe will fit those well that love to write their names on everie wall g h These were built by Constantine the Great Where note that howsoever Malleolus be by Marcellinus described elsewhere as a fire-dart or engine in warre yet here Malleoli be certaine bundles of tow drie stickes or such light fewell apâ— to take fire besmeared with pitch bitumen or such matter used to set houses on fire as Cicero chargeth Catiline with provision of them ad incendium urbis or to throw downe the walls upon enemies that are readie to assault or upon their engines and fabrickes We may in these dayes call them balls of wild-fire There is use of them also to kindle and make fire without such intent as we read how the Gothes kindled them ad Carraginem i. their campe or strength â—enced with their carts and carriage Am. Marcell lib. 31. i Of Bellona She is taken to be the same that Minerva according to that of Virgil Praeses Titonia belli See before â—k Of Magister Memoriae have recourse to the note before l As Comes was in dignitie before Dux so he is here set in the first place like as in the Notitia also he is called Comes Maritimi tractus for that he kept the coasts of the East side of the island like as the Lord Warden of the Cinque ports in these dayes Afterwards Comes limitis Saxonici per Britanniam was crected against the invasion of the Saxons who had then set foot on that side of the island and encroached farther m As Comes Maritimi tractus had the charge of the sea coasts so Dux Britannioe of the Mediterrancan and inland parts what forces and legions were under the one and the other yee may find in Notitia Occidentalis Imperis n Yet note that Dux hath a reference to the Marches of the Empire for the inland part of Britannie was neerer to the limits of the Empire than the sea coast whereof there was a Comes o Iovis either are the same that Ioviani before erected by Diocletian who named himselfe Iovius or else levied out of a nation in Gaule so called As for Victores they were haply souldidiors of Victrix legio that served in Britannie or tearmed of Victoria a place in Britannie as we find in Notitia or else so called boni ominis causa p Diocmitoe were light appointed horsemen and halfe armed for better expedition to pursue and follow in chase whereof they had that name q Meniana were buildings jutting forth into
excellent sayings of his Eutropius recordeth this unto his friends seeming to blame him for being ouer courteous to all men he answered thus That he was such an Emperour to priuat persons as he would wish Emperours to be unto him selfe if he were priuat      Him succeeded      ¶ Imper. Caesar Traian HADRIANVS Aug. P. Max. COS. III. the 15. Emperor He reigned yeres 20. moneths 10. dayes 29. Dion Spartian      Here would be obserued the difference in Chronologers whiles Ptolome Gerhart Merc. will have the beginning of Adrians Empire to be in the yeare since Christs Natiuitie 117. The Rom. writers in the yeare 118. and this difference continueth unto the yeare 162.   4089 119 ¶ Hadrianus Augustus the 2. time Ti. Claudius Fuscus Salinator Hadrian envying the glorie of Traian calleth home the armies out of Armenia and Mesopotamia and rendreth up those prouinces againe unto Cosroes the king of the Parthians Volater 1 871 4090 120 ¶ Hadrianus Augustus the 3. time Q. Iunius Rusticus He brought colonies into Libya wasted with the tumultuous commotions of the Iewes Euseb Dio. 2 872 4091 121 ¶ L. Catilius Severus T. Aurelius Fulvus Who was afterward called Antoninus Pius Augustus  3 873 4092 122 ¶ M. Annius son of M. Verus 2. Augur  4 874 4093 123 ¶ M. Acilius Attiola C. Cornelius Pansa The Christian Church is much troubled with the Gnostici most silthie Heretikes 5 875 4094 124 ¶ Q. Artius Paetinus C. Veranius Apronianus Hadrian persecuteth the Christians and purposeth to punish the Iewes that made turnults in Iurie especially 6 876 4095 125 ¶ M. Acilius Glabrio C. Bellicius Torquatus Learned men are raised vp by God to withstand Heretikes and defend Christian Religion among whom were Agrippa Castor Aristides a Philosopher of Athens and Quadratus bishop of Athens and disciple of the Apostles and these two hauing written bookes in defense of Christian Religion exhibit them to Hadrian the Emperor Euseb lib. 4. cap. 3. This Quadratus in a booke that he presented unto the Emperor writeth that himselfe being verie aged had seen many who in the daies of our Sauiour hauing been afflicted with maladies were by him healed in Iudea and who also had risen from the dead Hyeronimus 7 877    In this age liued Papias bishop of Hierapolis who heard the disciples of the Apostles and wrote that in his   hearing the daughters of Philip reported how in their time one was raised from the dead and that which was no lesse admirable Iustus Barsabas of whom mention is made in the first chapter of the Acts of th'apostles by reason of the grace giuen unto him from our Lord found no trouble or harme by drinking a cup of deadly poison Eusebius lib. 3.      Hadrianus built and erected in Athens an admirable Librarie He disputeth and discourseth there in manner of a Philosopher he remoueth those from professing and teaching schooles who were insufficient He contendeth with learned men by way of writing and disputation Spartian   4096 126 ¶ P. Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus the 2. time Q Vettius Aquisinus  8 878 4097 127 ¶ M. Lollius Pedius by others Vespronius Verus Q Iunius Lepidus Bibulus Sixtus Bishop of the Church at Rome for mainteining the Gospell is put to death In whose place the next morrow after was Telesphorus the sonne of Anachoreta elected Onuph 9 879    Serenus Granius or as some write him Serennius Granianus a Lieutenant and of noble parentage descended wrote a letter unto Hadrian the Emperor aduertising him that it was a most unjust course to yeeld unto the clamors of the common people the shedding of innocent Christians bloud that without any crime committed they should be held guilty condemned for their name and sect sake onely wherewith Hadrian being moved wrote unto Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia That no Christians should be condemned without enditement of crimes and the same proued The copie of which letter remaineth extant to this day Euseb lib. 4.   4098 128 ¶ Gallicanus D. Coelius Titianus Lampridius in the life of Seuerus writeth that Hadrian was once minded to build a Temple unto Christ and commanded that for the use of Christians their should be Churches founded and erected in Cities without images but was prohibited and stayed by some who said if this were done all men would forsake the temples of their gods and embrace Christian Religion 10 880 4099 129 ¶ L. Nonius Asprerias or Asprenas Torquatus M Annius Libo About this time flourished Aquila Ponticus who translated the Bible or Holy Scriptures out of Hebrew into Greek Suetonius the Historiographer who was secretarie unto Hadrian Phlegon the Chronographer Also P. Iuuentius Celsus Nerasius Priscus and Domitius Labeo famous Lawyers Likewise Lucianus Samosatenus Atheus who with much libertie of tongue and pen marketh and revileth the gods of the Gentiles He spareth not Christ also naming him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i The sophister hanged upon a Crosse Some set this downe 2. yeares after 11 881 4100 130 ¶ P. Iuventius Celsus the 2. time Q. Iulius Balbus Rufus the Procurator or Governour of Iudaea killeth a great number of the Iewes Iosip Many Christian soldiors for the Christian faith suffer death at Rome Eus 12 882 4101 131 ¶ Q. Fabius Catullinus M. Flavius Apet Barcozba a Prince of the Iewes and their counterfait Messias haleth to execution such Christians as perseuere in the faith Euseb lib. 4. cap. 6. 13 883    The citie Hadrianopolis was built Niceph. lib. 3. ca. 24.   4102 132 ¶ Ser. Octavius Lenas Pontianus M. Antonius Rufinus The furious tumults and outrages of the Iewes increase in Syria and Palestina assembling themselues together by infinite numbers and promising themselues exceeding great victorie under the leading of Bar-cozba their Mock-Messias Dio Euseb This Barcozba is otherwise named Barcochab that is the sonne of a starre for so he termed himselfe and deceiued the credulous Iewes and expounded that prophesie of himselfe Out of Iacob shall arise a starre 14 884 4103 133 ¶ Serius Augurinus Arrius Severianus The last warre of the Iewes under Hadrianus The Iewes revolting openly from the Romans and taking armes spoile and waste all Palestina Vnto Tinius Rufus Governour of the Province Hadrian sendeth an Armie to sub due the Rebells This was a dangerous and a long warre continuing three yeares whiles the Iewes take it to the heart that forraine Nations came to inhabite their City Ierusalem At first the Romans made small accompt of them but after they understood once that all Iewry was up and all the Iewes wheresoever dispersed Hadrian sent the most expert and valiant Captaines that he had against them Dio. Euseb 15 885 4104 134 ¶ Heberus Iulius Silanus Sesennius Bar-cozba or Bar-cochab aforesaid not onely adjoyned unto him the Iewes but went about also
Trithemius Funccius   4287 317 ¶ Ovinius Gallicanus Septimius Bassus Constantine himselfe in person goeth into Illyricum against the Barbarians Crispus valiantly defendeth the limites of Germany Constantius the sonne of Constantine is borne Sigonius 12 1069 4288 318 ¶ Imp. Licinius Augustus the fifth time FI Valer. Aug. F. Crisp Caes Crispus obtaineth a noble victorie of the Frankes that rebelled and tameth them Constantine adorneth Rome with sumptuous and stately buildings Euseb Sigonius 13 1070 4289 319 ¶ Imp CoÌ„staÌ„tinus Aug the 5. time C. Valer. Aug. F. Licinius Iunior Caesar Licinius the Emperour forgetting his Lievtenants and seeking by secret traines to overthrow Constantine went about to persecute the Christians whom notwithstaÌ„ding 14 1071   that Constantine by his Letters admonished of his duety and allegeance and to desist from his malice yet could he not persuade him Cedrenus      Arius a most pestilent hereticke enemy to the Godhead of Christ beganne now to spread abroad his blasphemies Eusebius and other Ecclesiast hist. Constans the sonne of Constantine is borne Sigonius   4290 320 ¶ Imp. CoÌ„staÌ„tinus Aug the 6. time FI Valerius CoÌ„stantinus the yonger Caesar Licinius in a mischievous mind to Christians intendeth cruelty against them Constantine appeaseth a mutiny of the old soldiers in Gaule Eusebius Sigonius 15 1072 4291 321 ¶ Crispus Caesar the second time Constantinus the son Caesar the second time Licinius afflicteth the Christians Constantine warreth against the Sarmatians and having slaine their King Rausimodus retired to Thessalonica Zosimus He maketh a law That every man might leave his goods to the Clergie Eusebius Sigonius 16 1073 4292 322 ¶ FI. Petronius Probianus Anicius Iulianus Licinius carrying still a malicious mind against Christians is warred upon by Constantine whereupon hee raiseth a power of 150000. footemen and 15000. horse men and beside riggeth forth a most strong Armada Zosim Constantine relieveth Rome distressed with penurie Euseb Sigon 17 1074 4293 323 ¶ Acilius Severus FI. Iunius Rufinus Constantine layeth siege to Bizantium and vanquisheth Licinius in fight both on land at sea Licinius adjoineth unto him Martinian to be his associate and nameth him Caesar Zosimus 18 1075 4294 324 ¶ Crispus Caesar the third time Constantinus Augustus the son Caesar the third time Licinius and Martinianus march against Constantine with a puissant army in battaile ray Constantine after a hot field fought got the upper hand Of the Licinians who by report were an hundred and thirty thousand strong scarce thirty thousand escaped When Constantine had recovered Bizantium hee besiegeth Nicomedia Licinius and Martinianus being deprived of their imperiall dignity are beholden to Constantine for their life and so retire unto a private life Eusebius Cedrenus 19 1076    The Churches delivered from externall tyranny are grievously troubled with the inward assaults of Arians Constantine appeaseth the East and against the yeere following proclaimeth the Nicene Synode Licinius and Martinianus plota rebellion Euseb Sigon   4295 325 ¶ M. Iunius Caesonius Nichomachus Anicius Faustus Paulinus P. Publilius Ceionius Iulianus Camoenius Constantine killeth Licinius and Martinianus and after hee had rooted out all the persecutours of the Church and obtained an absolute Monarchie brought externall peace to the Christians But then was the Church much molested with inward and domesticall stirres occasioned by heretickes At the Nicene Synode Constantine is present the Bishops there assembled he honoureth with respect and being at a jarre he laboreth to reconcile them and purposeth to build sundry cathedral Churches in divers places Being returned into Italie hee putteth his sonne Crispus to death charged grievously with imputations by Fausta Zosimus Euseb Sig. Terrible Earthquakes and Eclipses both of Sunne and Moone Cedr 20 1077 4296 326 ¶ Imp. Constantinus Augustus the seuenth time Constantinus triumpheth in Rome and for that his mother Helena found the Crosse of Christ he commandeth a 21 1078  Gonstanti Caesar more magnificent church to be built and putteth the common wealth in order Euseb Sigonius   4297 327 ¶ Fl. valerius Constantinus Fl. valerius Maximus Basilius Helena hearing that Crispus Caesar by the instigation of his step-mother Fausta was put to death chid Constantine and caused Fausta to be shut within a hote burning Baine and so with excessive heate to be killed Zosim Victor Ierom. 22 1079    Presently after Fausta followed Helena now four score yeeres olde but dying in peace was by Constantine interred Constantine returneth into the East buildeth Drepane and calleth it Helenopolis and beginneth the Cathedrall church of Antioch Euseb Sigonius   4298 328 ¶ Fl. Magnus Ianuarius Fabius Iustus Constantine determining to build a new city for the imperiall seate of the East and to call it after his owne name first goeth in hand with Ilium then with Chalcedon and last of all with Bizantium Hierom. Sigon 23 1080    Constantine removeth the souldiers of the Marches Sigonius   4299 329 ¶ Imp Constantinus Augustus the eight time Constantius the sonne Caesar the fourth time  24 1081 4300 330 ¶ Ovinius Gallicanus L. Autelius Symmachus Constantine divideth the Provinces and Magistrates of the East and West Empire and ordaineth Generalles of Armies Bizantium is reedified by Constantine enlarged walled about and beautified with buildings Sigonius Onuphr 25 1082 4301 331 ¶ Annius Bassus Ablabius Aegyptius Bizantium by the new founder and reedifier thereof Constantine is named Constantinopolis and upon the eleventh day of Maie is with solemne ceremonies and complements dedicated to be the Seate of the East empire and therefore it was called New Rome and advaunceth the church of Constantinople to a Patriarchall dignitie Hieron Sigon 26 1083 4302 332 ¶ Ovinius Pacaâ—ianus Mecilius Hilarianus By an Edict of Constantine the Temples of the Gentiles are overthrowne thirtie yeeres after the subversion of the Christian churches under Diocletian Constantine ordaineth Lawes for both the Empires The Eunuches of his chamber he restraineth Great stirres and troubles in the church Euseb Hieron Sigonius 27 1084 4303 333 ¶ Fl. Valerius Dalmatius named afterwards Caesar M. Aurelius Xenophilus Constantine after he had repressed the Gothes being mis-led by an Arian Elder or Priest commandeth Arius to come unto him and for his sake troubleth Athanasius the faithfull Orthodox Bishop of Alexandria He bringeth over the Limigantes of Sarmatia and the Vandals likewise into the Roman Provinces Euseb Sig. 28 1085 4304 334 ¶ L. Ranius Optatus M. Iunius Caesonius Nichomachus Anitius Faustus Paulinus Iunior The Arians by their blasphemies and deceitful slights infestmany people assemble Synods to establish that execrable heresie of theirs Ecclesiast histor 29 1086    Constantine styleth his sonne Constans Caesar and writeth to Antonius a famous Heremite Euseb Eccles hist.   4305 335 ¶ FI. Valerius CoÌ„stantinus C. Cesonius Albinus Constantine confineth Athanasius to Triers Celebrateth the espousals of his sonne Constantius is
the river Calycadnus the mightie streame and waves whereof run hard by the verie towers of the walls they arranged them in order readie to fight how beit not one of them set foot hastily forward nor was permitted to encounter and joyne battell for why they stood in feare of the adverse power so furiously set upon rage being both for number superiour and readie also to run without all regard of life upon the verie pyke and swords point These Brigands then having espied our armie afarre off and heard the trumpettiers and cornettiers sound stayed their march and stood still a prety while and drawing forth their swords in threatening wise afterwards went on faire and softly against whom our souldiers continuing still resolute ready to make head and encounter them with their displayed rankes yea and knocking their shields and speares together which manner and fashion stirreth vp in warriours both anger and dolour with this their gesture now hard at hand greatly terrified them But thus sharpe set as they were to give battaile their leaders reclaimed and drew them backe supposing it unseasonable and inconuenient to hazard themselves upon a doubtfull peece of service being as yet not farre from the wals of a citie within the defence whereof they might be all fully secured from danger The souldiers moved effectually with this persuasion were brought backe againe within the said wals and after they had locked up and made fast the gates on every side stood upon the plat-formes bulwaikes and battilments having every where in readinesse stones and daits to the end that if any one had ventured farre forward he might with multitude of shot and stones be beaten downe and overthrowne Howbeit this one thing mightily troubled those which were shut up within because the vessels that used to bring corne along the river were taken whereby the Isaurians for their parts had plenty of victuall but themselves having spent up already the ordinary provision of food and sustenance wonderously feared the wofull and deadly miseries of imminent famine When the newes of these occurrents were flowne farre abroad and intelligences thereof continually given one after another had made Gallus Caesar to starckle for that the Master of g the Horsemen was greatly employed and busied very farre off Nebridius Lieutenant generall in the East by commandement and commission directed unto him having from all parts assembled his forces sped himselfe with exceeding hast and diligence to deliver this citie so great and of such importance from danger which being once knowne the foresaid theeves departed without atchieving any memorable exploit besides and being scattered asunder as their manner is made toward their wields and desart mountaines CHAP. III. The violent Rhode into Mesopotamia of Nohodares the Persian together with the Saracens whose manners are lively depainted THe case thus standing in Isauria whiles the king of the Persians was encumbred with the warres of borderers and busie in driving from his owne confines and frontiers those most fierce and cruell nations which of a certaine wavering and mutable mind many times in hostile manner assaile him and otherwhiles aid him when he warreth upon us a certaine great lord and nobleman one named Nohodares appointed so often as oportunity served to invade Mesopotamia searched with great care and diligence into all parts of our territories ready to breake through with suddaine violence wheresoever he could find convenient place And for that all the tracts and quarters of Mesopotamia which used oftentimes to be disquieted were kept safe with fore-fences and standing wards abroad turning his journey on the left hand he forelayd closely the utmost parts of Osdruena and entred upon a new device and stratageme that little at any time had beene attempted which if he might compasse he would in manner of a lightning lay wast and consume all Now the designe which he projected was after this sort A borough towne there is named Batne in Anthemusia built by the ancient Macedonians not farre distant from the river Euphrates and replenished with wealthy marchants where ordinarily every yeare toward the beginning of September there meet at a solemne Mart or Fayre a multitude of people of all sorts and degrees to buy and sell the commodities which the Indians and Seres send together with much other marchandize that usually is brought thither by land and sea This countrey the foresaid Captaine purposing to invade during those daies appointed for this great concourse and that by the way of the desarts and greene bankes of the river Abora being discovered and betrayed by his owne men who in bodily feare for some foule and hainous fact committed ran unto the Romane garrisons went his way without any thing done and afterwards sat still and stirred not Howbeit the Saracens whom we are never to wish either for our friends or enemies raunging up and downe over the countrey whatsoever came in their way in a small time spoyled and destroyed like unto ravenous Gledes and Kites which if they have spied any prey from on high quickly in their flight snatch it up or if they seize upon it make no long stay As touching whose manners although I well remember that I have related in the Acts of the Emperour Marcus and divers times afterwards yet will I now also briefely write somewhat of the same Among these nations whose beginning reacheth out unto the Cataracts h of Nilus and to the confines of the Blemyae i they be warriors and martiall men all of like condition halfe naked clad as farre as their groine with painted or stained short cassockes by the helpe of swift horses and slender gant cammels raunging here and there as well in peace as in troublesome times neither doth any of them ever lay hand to the plough plant or dresse a tree nor get his living by tillage of the ground but wander alwaies they do from place to place dissete farre and wide asunder without house and home without any abiding seat and positive lawes neither can they any long time endure the same aire nor the tract of one and the same soile ever pleaseth them the manner of their life is alwayes in flight and flitting and mercenarie wives they have hired by covenant and upon condition for a time and for a shew yet of matrimony the wife that shall be by way of dowry presenteth unto her husband a speare and a tent after a certaine set day ready to depart from him if she be so disposed And uncredible it is with what heat both sexes of them are given over to fleshly lust and so long as they live they use so to rove and scatter themselves abroad that the woman wedded in one place is brought to bed in another and leadeth her children farre off without any time at all permitted of rest and quietnesse They feed generally of Venison and great plentie of milke which is their chiefe sustenance also of many
shall chaunce to reade these writings may wonder what should be the reason that when my style is diverted to shew those things that were done in Rome I relate nothing but of seditions tavernes and such like base matters I will summarily touch the causes hereof and not swerve by my good will one whit at all from the truth What time as Rome began to arise with luckie presaging tokens even at the very first to worldly glorie like to live and flourish so long as men shall remaine upon the face of the earth to the end that she might encrease and grow on still to an high estate by the firme league of eternall peace Vertue and Fortune which for the most part use to disagree concurred both togither of which twaine if the one should have failed she had never mounted to the pitch of that perfection The people thereof from their very cradle as one would say and first infancy unto the end of their childhood which compriseth the space wel neere of three hundred yeres endured neighbour-warres even round about their wals and then being once entred into the growing age and prime of their youth after manifold travailes and toyles of warre passed over the Alpes and beyond the sea no sooner were they shot up to their vigorous yeares and perfect manhood but from all parts of the wide world environed within the cope and curtaine of heaven they carried away victorious triumphs And now enclining toward old age and conquering divers times by the name onely and fame that went of them betooke themselves to a more calme and quiet manner of life Therefore this venerable and renowmed city after she had subdued and yoked the prowd necks of fierce and savage nations and made lawes the only ground-works and everlasting staies or hold fasts of freedome like a good and thriftie mother prudent withall and wealthy committed unto the Caesars q as to her children the whole right and interest of the inheritance to be managed ordred by them and long since although the tribes sat still the centuries were quiet and no contention or strife rose about giving voices but as if the peaceable and secure daies of Pompilius his reigne were returned againe throughout all the quarters and coasts of the earth honoured she was like a soueraigne ladie and queene in every place the reverend grey haires of Senatours carrying authoritie with them and the name of the people of Rome became highly regarded held in reuerence But this glorious shew and majestie of their councels and assemblies is much blemished by the rude disorder levitie of some few who consider not where they were borne but as if the reines were let loose unto vices are slipt quite aside into errors wantonnesse For as Simonides the Lyricall Poet teacheth us For him that would live perfectly happy meet it is and requisit above all things that his native countrie be glorious Now some of these there are who making account that they may be eternized by Statues are hotely affected thereunto as if they were to gaine greater guerdon out of workes made of brasse and copper void of all sence than from a conscience privie to good and honest acts and the same forsooth they take order to be gilded all over which honour was conferred first upon Acilius r Glabrio when by policie and force of armes he had vanquished king Antiochus But how brave and goodly a thing it is for a man despising these gaudes and trifles of no worth to mount and climbe up the long and difficult ascents of true glory as Hesiodus the Poet sayth Cato Censorius hath shewed who being demanded why among many noble personages he had not his owne Image standing I had leiffer quoth he that good men should move question wherefore I have not deserved it than which of the twaine is the worse mutter softly among themselves why I have obtained it Others againe reposing the chiefest grace and glory that is in carroches higher than ordinary and in the superfluous braverie of sumptuous apparrell sweat againe under their weightie and massie mantles which they may fasten with very claspes to the shoulders bearing out from the necke having exceeding fine oure wrought therein and passing through and the same standing out from all places and the left side especially to the end that these inner garments thus beset with long jagges and purfles might shine againe with varietie of threads seene quite through and those portrayed and shaped after many and sundry formes of living creatures Moreover there are among them such as unasked of any man with a counterfeit gravitie of countenance extoll their possessions and patrimonies infinitely above all measure multiplying the yearely revenewes and profites of their lands fruitfull as they thinke by good husbandry which they vaunt abroad and spare not that they possesse from East to West ignorant as they be how their auncestors by whom this greatnesse of the Romane State reacheth so farre became so renowned in the world not by their riches but by most cruell and bloudie warres who differing neither in wealth nor fare at their table or homelinesse of apparell from common souldiers conquered all before them by vertue and valour Hence it was that the noble Valerius s Publicola was buried by a contribution of money gathered for him and the poore wife of t Regulus together with her children were maintained by the helpe and reliefe of her husbands friends the daughter also of u Scipio had a dowrie given her out of the Chamber of the citie when the nobilitie were abashed to see the flower of a bigge and growne virgine unbestowed and ashamed at the long absence of her poore father But now adaies if happily thou a good honest man come as a stranger unto one of these great monied men that are so puffed up with pride for their full bagges to do thy duty by way of salutation at the first thou findest entertainement as a right welcome and wished-for guest and after many and sundry questions asked whereby thou art forced to make some lyes thou wonderest being never seene before that this great man thus affectionately favoureth thee so meane a person insomuch as it repenteth thee that thou hadst not seene tenne yeares sooner these happy daies as a principall felicitie And thus presuming confidently upon such Romane courteous affabilitie if thou doe the same the next morrow thou art at a stand with thy selfe as one altogether unknowne and come of a suddaine whiles that wonderous encourager that heartened thee so much but yesterday is in doubt a long time who thou shouldest be and from whence thou art come But being at the length agnized and taken into the ranke of friends if thou shew thy selfe ordinarily in his chamber of presence to doe honour and reverence intermingled with other waiters for three yeares together and be wanting as many for them againe thou returnest to abide the like services not once demaunded where
thou wert and whether thou didst depart out of the way thou shalt to no purpose spend all thy life time in servile attendance and drudgerie Moreover when preparation begins to bee made for these long and unholesome feasts which are kept ordinarily after certain set times betweene or the distribution of these solemne doles or gifture banquets put to question and debated it is with carefull and serious deliberation Whether it will be meet excepting those to whom by course it is due that a stranger should be invited and if after full and mature consultation had it be agreed upon That it shall so be such an one is called and admitted who watcheth and waiteth duly before the houses of Chariottiers or professeth Dice-play and Cheators craft or els maketh as though he knew some more secret arts than ordinarie for learned and sober persons they even of purpose avoid as unluckie folke and good for nothing Over and besides the x Nomenclatores or beadles also who are wont to set to sale these and such like vanities receiving some piece of money for a bribe foist in among the rest at suppers and dinners certaine base and obscure fellowes in lieu of others For I overpasse least I should proceed too farre their wastfull and excessive fare at the table and the sundry allurements of pleasures minding rather to speake of this point that some of them drive their steedes apace as if they were publique post-horses of the State with shoes as they say especially marked to be seene without feare of danger through the large and spacious streets of the citie yea and over the stones turned up of the broken pavements drawing after them at their tailes great traines of the meniall and household servitors like unto crewes and troupes of preading brigands leaving at home to keepe the house not so much as Sannio according as the Comicall Poet sayth With which retinue of attendants and followers many of their dames with their heads covered and in close chariots course up and downe over all the quarters of the citie and like as skilfull captaines in arraunging of their battailes place first in the vantguard thicke and strong squadrons to affront the enemie then light armed souldiors afterwards the archers and darters and last of all in the rereward the companies of succours readie upon any extremitie to advance forward and to charge even so according to the carefull direction and dispose of those overseers and masters that have the marshalling of these citie servants otherwise to seeke what to doe and make a goodly shew with warders in their right hands now as if the signall were given close unto the front of the chariot marcheth all the sort of weavers and embroderers next unto whom goeth the blacke guard and kitchinree then all the meiny one with another with a rascall rabble of idle commons from out of the neighbour streets joyning unto them in the last place a multitude of guelded grooms keeping their rankes and files the old ones formost and the boyes behind of complexion pale and wan for their lineaments and making of the body crooked and ill fauoured So that which way soever a man went and beheld such companies of maimed and dismembred men he might detest the remembrance of Semiramis that Queene in old time who was the first that ever guelded the tender babes of male kind offering violence as it were unto nature and turning her quite backe from her intended course who at their very first beginning and nativity by those primitive fountaines of seed which they are borne with shewed in some sort by a secret ordinance the waies and meanes to propagate posteritie The case thus standing those few houses which before time were frequented with serious students and professors of learning swell now and overflow with the ridiculous toyes of lithernesse resounding with lowd noise and shrill ringing as well of wind-Organs as stringed instruments Furthermore instead of the Philosopher a Chaunter and in place of the Orator a teacher of trifling and toyish arts is in request and whereas the Libraries be shut up fast for ever like unto Sepulchers framed there be Organs or water instruments huge Harpes like unto chariots Haut-boys also and no meane furniture for gesturing actors and stage-players Finally the world is growne now to this basenesse and indignitie that when aliens and strangers were driven forth of the citie by the head and shoulders for feare not long since of dearth and scarcity of victuals yea and the students or professors of liberall Sciences whereof the number was exceeding small without any delay or breathing time thrust out yet were there kept still the followers of wanton gesturing wenches such as were so indeed or but counterfeits for the time yea and there remained behind three thousand such dancing wenches not so much as once disturbed and troubled together with their quiers and as many masters and teachers to them and what way soever a man casts his eye he may behold a mighty number of women with their haire all to curled and frizled who if they had wedded might well by this time for their age have beene the mothers of children at three severall births dancing and footing it upon the pavements untill they be weary againe wagging and winding themselves with many a turne about whiles they expresse and resemble an infinit number of counterfeit formes that Stage-playes have devised Moreover no doubt is made of this that when Rome was in times past the dwelling place of all vertues the Nobilitie and Gentilrie for the most part if any strangers well borne and of good fashion came thither used with many offices of kindnesse and courtesie to keep them there still like as the y Lotophagi in Homer with their sweet fruits and pleasant berries But now such is the vanitie and pride of some that they esteeme all bred and borne without the wals of the citie to bee base and of no worth unlesse they be childlesse and unmaried folke and incredible it is what obsequious loating and courting there is at Rome sundry waies to such persons as are without children And for as much as among them as in the head place of the world grievous diseases reigne and rage in the highest degree for the allaying and assuaging only whereof no art of Physicke is of any force devised there is a preservative and helpefull meane therefore to wit that no man should visite and see a friend that suffereth such maladies And among those few warie cautions and provisoes there is another effectuall remedie ordained namely That such servants as have beene sent to enquire how those of their acquaintance doe that are held with this disease they receive not into the house againe before they have cleansed their bodies with a bathe so fearefull be they even of an infection that other mens eyes onely have seene And yet as carefull as they be in these points to save themselves some you shall have enfeebled
a goodly pompe and solemne shew and pretending along time sicknesse for his excuse he neither set foot within the palace nor went abroad into the citie but keeping close plotted many means to bring him to destruction putting into his reports some unnecessarie matters beside the purpose which otherwhiles he sent unto the prince At the last being entreated and admitted into the Consistorie g without any circumstance of words by way of preface premised inconsiderately ynough and bluntly Be gone Caesar quoth hee as you are commaunded and know this That if you make any stay I will cause forthwith all the provision for maintenance of your selfe and of your palace to be carried away With this peremptory speech and no more thus malapartly delivered he departed somewhat angry and came not afterwards in his sight although he was often sent for Hereupon the other al in a fume and chafe as one that suffered injuries and indignities committed the said Prefect to ward under the custodie of trustie pentioners of his guard which when Montius understood being at that time Questor h a man verily of a rigorous nature but yet somewhat enclined to mildnesse called unto him the chiefe of the Palatine trained companies and spake unto them in mild and gentle tearmes saying It was neither meet nor expedient thus to doe but proceeding withall to other words in a chiding accent That if they liked and allowed of this course after the Statues of Constantine were cast downe they might with lesse feare certainly devise how to take away the Emperours life also Gallus taking knowledge hereof faring as a serpent at which some dart is shot or stone flung abiding his utmost hopes and seeking to save himselfe by any meanes commaunded all his souldiors to assemble in armes and when they stood astonied he whetting gnashing his teeth Be prest quoth he right valiant men to assist me in ieopardie together with you Behold how Montius in a strange and unwonted humor of swelling pride by these muttering words of his chargeth us as rebels and spurners against the sacred maiesty of the Emperour displeased for sooth and angry for that I commaunded in regard of feare onely the malapart and stout Praefect who made himselfe ignorant what the course of the world and State requireth to be kept inward This said the militarie men very desirous many times of stirres and troubles without any longer stay first set upon Montius whose lodging was hard by a weerish old man and a sickly and with hairie cords bound fast to his legges drew him stride long without any intermission as farre as to the Praefects Praetorium And in the same gary braid they tyed Domitian likewise with his head forward to a sled or ladder and so harried and hurried them both together up and downe all over the broad streets of the citie And now by this time that the knitting of their joints and limmes were plucked asunder they clambering over their dead bodies mangled and dismembred in most unseemely manner as if now they had taken their fill of revenge cast them soone after into the river Now these men so outrageous desperat and even wood againe one Luscus governour of the citie whom suddainly they had a sight of had incensed to attempt these wicked designes and together with him Sthenelaus captaine or leader of the Porters inciting often calling upon them to the execution and quick dispatch of that which they had begun who not long after was therefore burned quicke And because Montius readie to yeeld up his vitall breath under their hands that like butchers were tearing him in pieces cried out divers times and layd much blame upon Epigonus and Eusebius without naming either their profession or place degree much diligent search there was What these persons should be and that the businesse might not waxe any thing coole brought out of Lycia there was Epigonus a Philosopher and out of Mysia Eusebius having his surname of Pietie a quicke and vehement Orator whereas the foresaid Quęstor had appeached and charged not them but certaine masters of forges or worke-houses i who promised armour if haply any commotion and trouble in the State should arise At the very same time Apollinaris who had married Domitians daughter late graund Seneschall or steward of the palace was sent from his father in law into Mesopotamia a man out of all measure inquisitive among the militarie bands that abode there Whether they received any secret letters of Gallus now projecting and plotting some higher designes who having learned what had beene done at Antioch passed through Armenia the lesse and went to Constantinople and from thence being brought backe againe by the Guard-souldiors was laied up fast and kept close prisoner Whiles these things were thus a working intelligence was given of a royall robe woven secretly in Tyrus but it was not certainly knowne who put it forth to be wrought or for whose use it was provided The governor therefore of that province for the time being Apollinaris the father for names sake was brought in question as privie thereto and many others were gotten together out of divers cities who had grievous imputations charged sore upon them of haynous and horrible crimes and now the trumpets resounding aloft intestine miseries and calamities his turbulent spirit raged not covertly as before time but turned quite aside from the consideration of truth and whiles no man enquired duly and by ordinarie course into the truth of matters plainely charged upon men or cunningly devised against them nor once putting difference betweene the innocent and the guiltie all right and equitie as thrust out of the judgement places was departed and gone quite whiles also the lawfull defence of causes was put to silence there was nothing so rife as the hangman sequestring of pillage hoodwincking punishing by the purse and confiscation of goods every where throughout the East provinces which I thinke it meet and convenient to reckon up all save Mesopotamia set already in due place when I treated of the Parthick warres and Aegypt which of necessitie I have put over to another time CHAP. VII The description of the East Provinces all save Mesopotamia and Aegypt AFter a man hath passed over the tops of the mountaine Taurus which toward the East rise up a great height Cilicia lyeth farre stretched out in length and breadth a land enriched with all good things and unto the right side thereof adjoyneth Isauria a fresh and goodly countrey in like sort as well for plentifull vines as aboundance of corne and graine through the middest whereof runneth the navigable river Calicadnus And verily this region two cities besides many other good townes doe beautifie to wit Seleucia founded and built by king Seleucus and Claudiopolis which Claudius Caesar erected as a Colonie For the citie Isauria being afore time strongly walled and fenced and long since subverted as a
the mind and will of this new Emperour who assured himselfe by vaine mockeries of pręsaging signes that his strength encreased and all to this end that whiles with sundrie counterfeit shewes of flatterie his securitie proked him forward to a milder course he fearing no hostilitie at all might be deceived But the issue of this our project seemed difficult and dangerous For indeed it would have stood better with good policie and our safetie to take heed that our desires might have had a correspondencie with oportunitie neither running before nor lagging behind it which if they should breake out before their due time sure we were all by vertue of one writ or word to suffer death Howbeit the said captaine of ours being mildly received and forced the present businesse it selfe requiring no lesse to bow downe and stoupe yea and to adore in solemne wise as the manner is him that aspired so high to the purple robe was especially regarded and made much of and being now most inward as having easie and readie accesse unto him and the honour to sit at his royall table such preheminence he had above others that by this time hee was used in secret consultation about the maine points of importance and the very Empire it selfe Silvanus tooke it to the heart that when unworthie persons were advanced to the dignitie of Consuls and other honourable places of high government himselfe and Vrsicinus alone after so great and manifold paines endured for the weale publique were so despised that he for his part cruelly abused by sifting and examining his familiar friends and that under a base manner of proceeding and triall should bee accused of treason and the other againe through the malice and hatred of his enemies haled out of the East and brought home These continuall complaints made hee both secretly and in open place And yet for all these and such like speeches terrified were we with the mutinous grumbling on every side of the souldiors alledging their want and hotely set in all the hast to breake through the streights of the Cottian Alpes In this perplexitie and doubtfull trouble of heart wee closely cast about and sought for some device like to take effect and in the end after many alterations of our mind by reason of feare resolved thus That when wee had with great industrie gotten warie ministers and bound our communication with a religious oath and protestation there should be sollicited the Braccati and Cornuti n companies wavering in their allegeance and for large hire mutable and readie to turne every way After therefore that this businesse was made sure by meanes of certaine base mediators and brokers betweene who for their obscure condition were meet to worke the feat and set on fire beside with the expectation of rewards when the Sunne was now arising suddainely a crew of armed men breaketh forth and as it falleth out in such doubtfull cases being more bold and hardie after they had slaine the warders entred into the palace plucked Silvanus forth of a little chappell whither hee was fled all amated and breathlesse and as he was going to a congregation of the Christian Religion with many strokes of swords slew him out-right Thus a brave leader and a man of no meane desert died this kind of death even for feare of slanderous accusations wherewith by the faction of his enemies he was in his absence ensnared and entangled so that for the safetie of his life he was driven to proceed unto the utmost extremitie of all shifts For albeit in regard of that issuing foorth of his so seasonably with young and gallant souldiors before the battaile at Mursa hee held Constantius obliged unto him for a good turne yet feared hee him as a prince variable and uncertaine although he might pretend the valiant acts of Bonitius also his father a Franke verily and who in the civile warre behaved himselfe many times right manfully taking part with Constantine against the Licinians Now it happened so that before any such matter was a working in Gaule the people in the greatest Cirque or Shew-place at Rome whether upon any ground of reason or moved by some pręsage it was unknowne cried out with lowd voice Silvanus is vanquished CHAP. VI. Constantius through the great and glorious words of Flatterers exalted now as it were up to the skie exerciseth crueltie upon noble personages Leontius represseth a seditious uprore raised in the citie A Romane bishop named Liberius for favouring Athanasius bishop of Alexandria is put from his See and expelled the Citie WHen Silvanus therefore was thus slaine as hath beene related at Agrippina and the Emperour had taken knowledge thereof with exceeding great joy as he was a prince made altogether of insolent pride and vanitie he ascribed this also to the prosperous traine and course of his owne felicities holding on still his old manner which was evermore to hate men of action and valiant as Domitianus did in times past yet desirous by any contrarie slight whatsoever to overthrow them Nay so farre was he from praising his industrious acts that he wrote how he had intercepted somewhat out of the treasure in Gaule which in truth no man ever had once touched And this commaunded he to be searched narrowly into questioning about it with Remigius also then Auditor or Receiver to the office belonging to the said colonell Silvanus whose fortune it was long after in the daies of Valentinian to loose his life by the halter in the matter of the embassage of Tripolis These things thus finished Constantius as one that now touched heaven with his head and were to commaund all humane chaunces was puffed up with the loftie speeches and big swelling words of flatterers the number of whom himselfe encreased and namely by despising and rejecting those that were not so cunning as others in that kind as we read of Croesus that he therefore thrust Solon by the head and shoulders out of his kingdome because he could not skill of soothing him up in his humor also that Denis threatened to put Philoxenus the Poet to death for that when all others praised him as he recited his owne absurd verses and such as carried no grace with them he alone was never moved at the hearing of them a thing that is a most pernitious fostresse of vices for that commendation onely in very deed ought to be acceptable unto a great potentate and person of high place when otherwhiles also there is rowme allowed for to entertaine dispraise of things done amisse And now after this care was past and securitie obtained inquisitions according to the manner and judiciall trials were holden whereby a number after imprisonment in chaines and yrons were punished as guiltie malefactors For then Paulus that divellish promoter who could hold no longer but breake out for very joy rose up to practise more licentiously his venomous and pestiferous arts and whiles both the Counsellors of State and
enterprises as having all mens wishes and prayers to ioyne with you and purposing to defend by vigilant care the station as it were and ward assigned unto you by the very Commonwealth it selfe These words once ended no man afterward held his peace but the souldiors all with a terrible clattering knocked their shields and knees together which is a full signe of prosperitie and contentment for contrariwise when they smite their shields with their speares it is a token of anger and dolour and a wonder it was to see with what and how great joy they all except some few approoved the judgement and election of the Emperour and with worthie admiration they entertained Caesar glittering in his resplendent imperiall robe whose eyes carrying with them a terrour and amiable lovelinesse withall whose pleasing countenance also with an extraordinarie quicknesse and lively vigour as they wistly a long time beheld they gathered what a one he was like to prove as if they had throughly perused the old bookes the reading whereof declareth by bodily signes the physiognomie or inward indewments of the mind And to the end that he might be regarded with better respect and reverence they neither commended him above measure nor yet lesse than was meet and becomming and therefore esteemed they were as the voices of Censours and not of souldiors In the end being taken up to sit with him in the chariot and received into the regall palace this verse out of Homers Poëme hee softly whispered to himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now purple death hath seiz'd on me And powerfull strength of destinic These things passed thus the eight day before the Ides of November that yeare in which Arbetio and Lollianus were Consuls CHAP. VIII Iulianus having wedded the sister of Constantius came to Vienna where by a certaine old wife his future acts as touching Religion are fore-told WIthin few daies after this when Helena the sister of Constantius a virgin was joyned in marriage to the same Caesar and all things put in readinesse requisite for his speedie journey taking with him a small traine in his companie hee set foorth the first day of December accompanied on his way by the Emperour himselfe as farre as to a place marked with two Columnes and it lyeth betweene Laumellum and Ticinum and so holding on his journey streight forward he came to the Taurini where he was strucken with heavie newes which having beene brought lately to the Emperours Counsell was notwithstanding of purpose concealed for feare least all the preparation made for his voyage should have beene lost and come to nothing Now it purported thus much That Colonia Agrippina a citie of great name and importance in the second Germanie was upon continuall siege layed to it by the Barbarians layed open and with great forces destroyed With which wofull tidings being sore astonied as if it were the first hansell and beginning of evils comming toward him muitering softly with monefull words hd was often heard to say That all which he had gotten was no more than this To die and perish in more imployment and trouble And when he was come to Vienna in his entrance thither the people of what age and degree soever came running to receive him honourably as one wished for I assure you and their naturall Emperour and the whole comminaltie together with the neighbour nation bordering upon them seeing him a farre off and saluting him as a mild and fortunate Emperour as they went before entertained and honoured him with correspondent praises beholding with more affectionate desire such royall pompe in a prince so lawfully elected and in his comming reposed the remedie and redresse of common calamities crying out with one voice and thinking no lesse that now there shone upon them a certaine blessed and comfortable Genius Then a certaine old woman that had lost both her eyes having learned by enquirie who came into the citie that it was Iulianus Caesar cried out That he it was who should repaire the temples of the gods Considering therefore that as that loftie Poet of Mantua said before time Maius opus moveo maior mihi nascitur ordo Rerum A greater worke I am to enterprise As greater traine of matters doth arise I thinke it now a convenient time to shew the tracts and situation of Gaule least if I should when armies are readie to encounter and among the variable chaunces of battailes cursarily tell of such things unknowne unto some I might seeme to follow the example of slouthfull saylers and mariners who when their worne sayles and fretted gables might have beene at more leisure prepared and repaired are forced to mend and trim them up in the middest of waves and tempests CHAP. IX Of the first originall of the Gaules Their Bardi Eubages and Druidae The nature of the aire and soile among them and the description of the Alpes THe auncient writers doubtfull as touching the originall of the Gaulois left the knowledge of this businesse unperfect but afterwards Timagenes both for his diligence and language a Greeke collected out of many and sundrie bookes those thinges which lay long unknowne whose credite and authoritie we following now that all obscuritie is remooved will declare the same distinctly and plainely Some have affirmed That the people first seene in these regions were Aborigines called Celtae after the name of an amiable king and Galatae according as his mother was named for so are the Gaulois in the Greeke tongue tearmed Others have reported That the Dorienses followers of that more auncient Hercules inhabited the coasts confining along the Ocean The Drasidę record That a part in very deed of the nation were homelings in-borne and there bred but others also from the utmost Islands and the tracts beyond Rhene driven out of their owne native seats what with continuall warres and what with the inundation of the swelling sea conflowed thither Some say That after the destruction of Troy a few that fled from the face of the Greekes and were every where dispersed possessed themselves of these places then lying void But the inhabitants of these countries vouch this above all other which also we have read engraven in their monuments of record That Hercules the sonne of Amphitryo made hast to destroy Geryon and Tauriscus two cruell tyrants of whom the one infested Spaine the other Gaule And after he had vanquished them both that he lay with the gentlewomen of the countrey on them begat many children and that they called after their owne names those parts which they had rule of As for a people of Asia from out of Phocęa they to avoid the cruell rigor of Harpalus a lieutenant generall or captaine under king Cyrus sailed into Italie Of whom one part built Velia in Lucania the other Massilia in the province of Vienna Then afterwards in the ages ensuing they as their puissance encreased founded many townes But I must
vinegre upon it he had broken and dissolved he marched along the river Druentia that runneth winding with a wandering streame and seized upon the regions of Tuscane Thus much as touching the Alpes Now come we to that which is behind CHAP. X. Gaule called Celtica Aquitanica and Belgica the principall parts thereof together with the shapes and manners of the people are described IN auncient times when these parts lay hidden as barbarous thought they were to have beene three sorts of people divided into the Celtae who are the same that the Galli into the Acquitani and the Belgi all different in language orders and lawes And verily the Gaules who also are the Celts the river Garumna severeth from the Acquitances which river springing from the Pyrenaean hils after it hath passed by many a towne hideth himselfe within the Ocean The same nation also is seperated from the Belgae by Matrona and Sequana rivers of a duple bignesse which running through the province Lugdunensis after they have enclosed and compassed round about in manner of an Island a castle of the Parisij named Lutetia meet in one channell and keeping on their joynt course together forward neere unto Castra Constantia fall into the sea Of all these nations the Belgae had the name in auncient writers to be most valiant for that being farre remooved from a civile kind of life and behaviour and not made effeminate with daintie delights brought in unto them they warred a long time with the Germanes beyond Rhene For the Acquitanes unto whose coasts as being next at hand and peaceable marchandise used to be brought from other parts after they fell once in their demeanor and carriage to be delicate were soone brought under the Romanes dominion Now the whole countrey of Gaule ever since that they were driven by so many urgent warres to yeeld unto Iulius Dictator hath beene ruled by a government divided into foure parts Whereof Narbonensis the first contained within it Viennensis and Lugdunensis the second had the rule wholly of the Acquitanes as for the upper and lower Germanie together with the Belgae two jurisdictions governed at the same time But now are reckoned within the whole circuit of Gaule these provinces to wit the second Germanie beginning first at the West coast fortified with Agrippina and Tungri great cities and wealthie then the first Germanie where besides other free townes or boroughes is Magontiacus Vangiones also the Nemetes and Argentoratus renowmed for the overthrowes and defeatures of the Barbarians After this the first Belgica hath in the frontiers thereof Mediomatrici and Treviri famous for the Emperours resiance there To this adjoineth the second Belgica wherein stand Ambiano an eminent citie among others Cathelauni also and Rhemi Among the Sequani I have seene Bisontij and Rauraci of greater note and estate than many other townes As for Lugdunensis the first adorned it is with Lugdunus Cabillones Senones Biturigae and Augustudunum of note for mightie and auncient wals For Rothomagi make shew of the second Lugdunensis Turini of Mediolanum also the Tricastini the Alpes both GraiÄ™ and PoeninÄ™ besides more obscure towns have Aventicum also a citie verily now desolate and forsaken but of no base account in times past as appeareth even at this day by the buildings decayed and halfe downe These I say are the goodly provinces and cities of Gaule In Aquitania that lieth toward the mountaines Pyrenaei and that part of the Ocean which reacheth unto Spaine is the first province Acquitanica very well inhabited and beautified with faire and great cities but letting many others goe by Burdegala and Averni doe passe likewise Santones and Pictavi Ausci and Vasarae commend unto us ninenations In the province Narbonenfis is comprised Narbona and Tolosa which carry the chiefe name of the cities Viennensis joyeth in the beautie of many cities of which those of the better sort be Vienna it selfe Arelate and Valentia whereto Massiilia is annexed by the societie and power whereof wee read that Rome otherwhiles in great dangers and distresses hath beene relieved and supported Neere unto these are Salluvij Nicea Antipolis with the Isles Stoechades And for as much as by the traine of our text and historicall worke we are come to these parts it were unfitting and absurd to say nothing of Rhodanus a river of the greatest name This Rhodanus flowing from the Poenine Alpes with store of Springs gushing forth in great plentie and running downe apace directly toward the plaine countrey with his owne streame and no more hideth the bankes and so engorgeth himselfe into the lake named Lemanus and albeit he runneth within the same yet entermingled he is no where with other waters besides his owne but gliding of the one side over the slower and more still surface of the water seeking an issue with a swift current maketh way forth of it From whence without hurt of any thing he runneth through the thicke fennes and the Sequani and after he hath gone a great way forward passeth lightly hard by the province Viennensis on the left side and Lugdunensis on the right Having thus rid a great ground with his wavie streame he taketh unto him Araris which they call Sauconna running within the first Germanie and giveth it his owne name In which place beginneth Gaule From thenceforth they use to measure their journeyes not by myles but by leagues and there Rhodanus growne bigger and charged with other rivers falling into him carrieth exceeding tall and big shippes that use oftentimes to be tossed with gales of wind and ending among the vales which nature hath ordained to be his prescript limits frothing now and foming is incorporate into the Gaulish sea by an open frith or gulfe called Ad gradus lying from Arles almost tenne miles Thus much as touching the site of the places Now will I describe the shapes and manners of the people The Gaules in manner all be of stature tall of complexion cleere white and of ruddie haire carrying in the cast of their eyes a kind of terrible and sterne grimnesse given much to brawles and exceeding insolent for if any one of them be set a chiding and brawling having the shrew his wife who commonly of the twaine is the stronger by farre and of a sallow hew to take his part a whole band of others that be strangers is not able to match him especially when she setting out her necke with big swollen veines fals a grating of her teeth and levelling her snow white armes and those of a mightie big size begins once to lay about her with fists and heeles together as if they were bolts and darts discharged violently from the writhed and wrested strings
discomfite and scatter the nations that had layed their heads together and banded themselves to worke the Romanes mischiefe and how to foresee that his armie like to raunge divers waies wanted not victuals As he pondered and carefully cast these matters in his mind a multitude of enemies giveth an attempt upon him mightily enstamed with hope to win the towne and the more confident in this their enterprise because they had learned by the information of certaine fugitives that neither the band of the b Scutarij nor e Gentiles were there as being bestowedin sundry townships for their better feeding and diet When he had therefore shut the citie gates and fortified that part of the wall which was weake and undefensable himselfe in person together with the armed souldiers was usually seene both day and night among the bulwarkes and battlements in boyling heat of anger fretting to himselfe and gnashing his teeth That having many times gone about to sally and breake out upon the enemies he was ever checked and impeached by reason of the small forces that he had presently about him But in the end after thirtie daies the Barbarians went away ill appaied and sad mumbling softly to themselves That vainely and foolishly they had ever thought of besieging the citie Besides all this a thing that must be imputed as a great indignity whiles Caesar was in this jeopardie Marcellus Generall of the Horse who abode then but in the next stations drave off to aid him whereas albeit the citie had beene distressed without the princes beeing there it ought to have beene rescued and delivered from the calamities that follow a siege by making head againe with another power CHAP. II. The vertues of Iulianus beseeming a magnanimous prince Ammianus Marcellinus exactly describeth CAesar a prince right puissant and of wonderfull action was no sooner freed from this feare but in that constant carefulnes which he alwaies carried he provided for his souldiors that after their long travaile they might have some rest though but short yet sufficient to refresh their strength albeit those lands soulely out of order by reason of extreame want as having beene so often wasted affoorded but small meanes meet for the maintenance of life But when with watchfull diligence order was taken also in this behalfe his mind being lifted up with a sprinckling of more plentifull hope of prosperous successe he bent the same to the practise and performance of many worthie parts The first thing therefore that he did hard though it were was this that he enjoyned unto himselfe temperance and kept the same still living as if he had been tied to the d Sumptuarie lawes which being from the Oracles of Lycurgus that is to say The shing les or tables of wood called Axones brought over to Rome long time observed and beginning to grow out of use Sylla the Dictator by little and little restored making this account and that out of the prophesies or sage sayings of Democritus That Fortune setteth out a sumptuous and superfluous table bat Vertue a scant and frugall For Cato Tusculanus also who in regard of his severe and precise life came to be surnamed Censorius wisely defining of this point Great care thou hast quoth he of trim furniture and as great carelesnesse of vertue Furthermore reading continually as he did a little booke which Constantius sending his sonne in law to the Vniversitie had written with his owne hand setting down an order over-liberally What should be the expence of Caesars boord he expressely forbad That Fesant and the daintie meat made of the mother and udder of a young sow that newly farrowed should be called for and served up to the table as contenting himselfe with the course meat and such as came next to hand of a common labouring souldior Hereupon it happened that hee divided the nights according to a tripartite or threefold function For sleepe for affaires of State and for his booke a course that Alexander the Great as we read used to take But this our prince did the same more stoutly of the twaine For Alexander having a bason or pan of brasse set beneath by his beds side held with his arme stretched out of the bed a silver ball that as sleepe came upon him and had let loose the stiffe sinewes of his joints by the ringing sound that the said ball made when it fell downe he might breake off his sleepe But Iulian without any such devise or meanes wakened as oft as he would and rising alwaies at midnight not out of a featherbed or from under coverings of silke glittering againe with sundrie bright colours but from a quilt or tapistrie carpet spred on the ground or some homely rugge which the simple common people tearme Susurna secretly did his devotions and prayed unto Mercurie who as we are taughtout of the learning of Theologie is the swift intelligence of the world stirring up the motion of our minds and in so great want of things upon sure advertisements provided for the Commonweale After which high and serious businesses ended he turned himselfe to the exercise of his wit and a man would not beleeve with how great and ardent desire in seeking after the profound knowledge of principall matters and in gathering together certaine forage and stoovet as it were for to feed his mind climbing up still unto higher points of learning he by way of wise disputation ran through all parts of Philosophie But yet how effectually and fully soever he got the furniture hereof he did not cast at his heeles the meaner sciences as having an indifferent good insight into Poetrie and Rhethoricke as may appeare by the uncorrupt elegance and mildnesse of his Orations and Epistles joyned with gravitie as also into the manifold histories both of our owne and also of forraine acts Besides all this he was able to discourse and deliver his mind sufficiently in the Latine tongue If then it be true which divers writers report That king Cyrus Simonides the Lyricke Poet and Hippias Elêus that most quicke and eagre Sophister had excellent memories for that they attained thereto by drinking certaine medicines we are to thinke verily that this man also being then come to his full growth dranke up a whole tunne of Memorie if possibly it might any where be found And these truly were the nightly signes of his modest temperance and other vertues But as touching that which he delivered by way of gallant speech or pleasant conceit or how he behaved himselfe in the preparation for fight or in the very conflict of battaile it selfe as also what enormities in the civile State he resormed by his magnanimitie and the libertie that he tooke it shall be shewed particularly in due place Whē he was compelled being a student yet in Philosophie to exercise the first essayes and introductions to militarie knowledge as a prince learned the artificiall feat of footing with measures the warlike dance in armes to the musicke of
the enemies thus proudly brave it out Iulianus politiquely looking to himselfe exhorteth his armie to fight The souldiors and captaines of the Forces cheerefully approove the counsell of their Generall and Commaunder CAesar who could not skill of cowardly feare was neither driven into a fit of anger nor stricken downe with griefe and sorrow but laughing at the vaine presumption of the Barbarians kept these embassadors untill the worke of the fortifications was fully ended and persisted still in the same degree of resolution and stirred not a foot Moreover king Chonodomarius bearing himselfe big in every place and the chiefe setter of dangerous enterprises kept a great stirre and made a trouble and confusion of all beyond measure lifting up his browes aloft with a prowd looke as one highly conceited in regard of the fortunate successe many times of his affaires for not onely in a plaine pitched field he encountred Decentius Caesar and gave him the overthrow but also rased and sacked many wealthie cities yea and for a long time invaded and over-ran Gaule at his pleasure whiles there was none to gainesay or withstand him And that which confirmed yet more his confident boldnesse was the fresh discomfiture and flight of a great Leader who for number and puissance had the ods For the Alemans beholding the badges and armes of their shields knew them to be the same souldiors who had let some few of their brigands and robbers enjoy land for feare of whome sundry times when they buckled in close flight with losse of many they went away dispersed and in disarray Whereat Caesar was very pensive and tooke the matter grievously that having upon urgent necessitie driving him thereto escaped such daungers he was now enforced with a few though valorous men to affront and encounter so populous nations And now that the bright Sunne beames began to appeare and the trumpets to sound the footmen were led foorth marching faire and softly and the troupes of light horsemen flanked them on the sides as wings betweene which were bestowed the Corselettiers and the Archers a dreadfull kind of armed souldiors and for as much as from the place whence the Romanes advaunced their standerds unto the Barbarians fort it was foureteene leagues that is to say one and twentie myles Caesar in good regard as well of vantage as of securitie called backe the fore-runners that pricked forth before and after silence proclaimed by the usuall Oyes unto his souldiors standing about him by bands and companies made according to his naturall disposition this mild speech The regard of maintaining the common safetie urgeth Caesar to speake most sparily a man of no base and abiect mind for to exhort and beseech you my fellow souldiers that presuming as you doe upon your well growne and stout valour you chuse rather the warie way either to endure or to put backe the perils feared than that which is over-hastie and doubtfull For as in dangerous adventures meet it is there should be a forwardnesse of manhood and boldnesse so if occasion require the same ought to be regible advised and considerat What mine opinion is therefore if your iudgement shall accord thereto and iust indignation endure I will in briefe declare The day groweth well now to noonetide and we tyred out and wearied with a tedious iourney shall be welcommed with stonie and blind waies the night in the wane and old of the Moone not like to have helpe of any shining starres the lands before us burnt up with heat have no comfort or succour of waters which if any man should make good and effect that we may well and with ease passe through when whole troupes of enemies after rest and refection of meat and drinke come rushing violently upon us where are we then What vigour can we have seeing our bodies are enfeebled with hunger thirst and travaile to make resistance For as much therefore as against most difficult businesses a dispose and order thought upon in time hath oftentimes affoorded remedie and when right counsell given hath beene taken in good part divine meanes even from heaven above sometimes have recovered and set upright the tottering estate of mens affaires here I beseech you let us empaled within a rampire and trench take our rest dividing the watches by turnes and having for the time enioyed the benefit of sleepe and food convenient advaunce forward with the leave of God be it spoken at the breake of day our triumphant standards and victorious ensignes The souldiers that could not well endure untill the end of his speech gnashing and grinding their teeth and shewing their hot desire to fight by knocking their sheilds and speares together besought him earnestly That they might be led foorth to give the enemie battaile who now was within sight trusting upon the favour of God in heaven confident also in themselves and presuming upon the approoved vertues of their fortunate leader and director and as the end shewed a certaine comfortable Genius there in place readie so long as he was present excited them to fight To helpe forward this alacritie and cheerefulnesse of theirs there was the full assent also of the great captaines and high officers especially of Florentius Praefect of the Praetorium who all with one accord agreed That great reason they had on their side to fight though it were with much danger whiles the barbarous enemies preassed on all in plumpes and heapes who if they once should turne aside out of the way hee said that the stirres of our souldiors given too much upon an in bred heat of theirs to seditious commotions would bee intollerable as who could hardly endure without the attempt of some extreame course the victorie as he thought wrested out of their hands Furthermore a two-fold consideration there was that encouraged and emboldened our men calling to remembrance that the yeare last past when the Romanes raunged at their pleasure all over the countries beyond Rhene there was not seene any man to defend his own dwelling house or to make resistance but when the lanes and wayes on every side were stopped up with the lopping and cutting downe of trees lying thicke together during the nipping cold of mid Winter the Barbarians thus remooved farre off had much adoe to live as also that vpon the Emperours entrie into their lands they not daring eyther to resist or to shew their heads upon their humble request and entreatie obtained peace But no man considered all this while that the case of the times was altered for then they were combred kept downe with a three-fold mischiefe namely while the Emperour lay sore upon them in Rhaetia Caesar hard by permitted them not to escape any where and the next borderers whom civile discords caused to be their enemies were readie in a manner to tread upon their necks behind being thus hemmed in on every side But afterwards upon a graunt of peace the Emperour being departed those neighbor nations now after the
day and long before the third the aire now become faire and cleare discovered all the wofull and deadly downefals that were hidden before For behold some folke thrust and crushed together with an huge deale of rubbish falling upon them were under the weight thereof pressed to death others that stood up to their neckes buried as it were within heapes thereof whereas they might have beene saved if any had come to helpe them for want of succour perished others againe stucke fast hanging at the sharpe ends of timber-logs bearing out With one blow were a number seene slaine men and women but a little before but then confused heapes of dead carkasses pell mell huddled together Some there were whom the finials of houses leaning forward bare up otherwise unhurt but that they were to die with anguish and hunger Among whom Aristaenetus governing and taking charge as deputie lieutenant of that diocesse or province so affectionately loved and which Constantius in honour of his wife Eusebia had named Pietatis by this mishap after long dolour and paine yeelded up his vitall breath Some having their heads bruised and squized together or their shoulders or legs severed from their bodies lying thus in doubtfull plight betweene life and death piteously crying for Gods sake unto others in the same case to helpe them were quite forlorne and left unto themselves And verily the greater part of sacred churches and private houses yea and of people also might have beene saved had not the outrageous flames dispersed here and there for fiftie daies and nights together burnt up and consumed whatsoever was combustible And now I thinke it a meet and convenient time to report as touching Earthquakes what auncient writers have by way of conjecture collected for the hidden depth of the truth it selfe not onely this vulgar ignorance of ours but the very everlasting wits also of naturall Philosophers after long studie upon this point not yet exhaust or worne out could never reach unto Whereupon provided it is both in the ceremoniall bookes and also in the rites under the pontificiall priests and their Colledges That by naming one god for another since unknowne it is which of them thus shaketh the earth there bee no hainous scandale and damnable sinne committed But according to the Philosophers opinions among which Aristotle is much perplexed and troubled these earthquakes fall out to be either within the small caves of the earth which we in Greeke call Syringas whiles with thicke and often beating the waters wave to and fro and cast up surges or els verily as Anaxagoras affirmeth by reason of violent winds getting close within the ground below which when they happen to hit and beat upon the sides thereof hard baked or felted together finding no way of issue shake those parts of the earth at which they entred when they were moist Whence it is that men observe for the most part that during an Earthquake we above the ground perceive no winds to blow because they are busie in the most remote nookes of the earth beneath Anaximander is of opinion That the earth waxing drie upon a long and extraordinarie drought or after much moist weather store of raine openeth very great chinkes and wide chawnes at which the aire above with violence and in exceeding much quantitie entreth and so by them shaken with a strong spirit is stirred and moved out of her proper place For which cause such like terrible accidents chaunce either in excessive hote seasons or after immoderate fall of raine from heaven And hence it is that both auncient Poets and Theologers also have tearmed Neptune who hath dominion over the moist elements Ennosigaeon and Sisichthona Now these earthquakes are observed to be foure manner of wayes for they are either a Brasmatiae which heaving and raising the earth within force upward most huge mounts in which sort in Asia Delos appeared above the water and Hiera likewise Anaphe and Rhodus called in the fore-going ages Ophiusa and Pelagia drenched in times past with a golden shower also Eleusin in Boeotia and the Island of Vulcane among the Tyrrheni with many more beside or secondly b Climatiae which rushing askew or sidelong and crooked lay cities houses and mountaines flat or else c Chasmatiae which by a greater kind of motion suddainely opening wide gulfes swallow up parts of the earth as in the Atlanticke sea an Island more than all Europe and in the gulfe Criseus Helice and Bura as also in Ciminia a part of Italie the towne Succiniense swallowed up all in a deepe gaping chinke lye hidden for ever in perpetuall darkenesse Among these three sorts of Earthquakes those that be heard with a menacing noyse are tearmed d Mycematiae namely when as the elements by loosening of their joynts encounter and run one upon another of their owne accord or fall backe as the ground doth settle For then of necessitie the crashing noyse and rumbling of the earth within must bellow and rore like a Bull. But proceed wee from hence to the historie that we have begun CHAP. VIII Iulianus whiles he maketh his abode in Paris warreth upon the Alemans After that the Franci Salij and Chamani were defeated and subdued there fell out a famine which in the armie caused a tumult and hot mutinie which being quenched our souldiors passe over Rhene and lay wast the Alemans territories BVt Caesar whiles he wintered in Paris hastened with all diligence possible to prevent the Alemans who as yet were not assembled together but now after the battaile of Argentoratum become all audacious cruell beyond all measure and waiting still for the moneth Iuly whence they of Gaule use to begin their warre-service and to come into the field he was much troubled a long time in his mind For go forth he could not before that corne was brought out of Acquitaine upon the breaking of the cold weather and frosts by reason of the mild Summer season But as diligent and considerate regard is the conqueresse in manner of all difficulties casting many and sundry things in his head this was the only way he found namely without expecting the full season of the yeare to encounter the Barbarians before he was looked for And in this setled resolution he tooke corne for twentie daies out of that store which was provided to be spent in the standing place of abode baked throughly for to last into bisket bread such as commonly they call Buccellatum and layed it upon his willing souldiors shoulders and so confident of this helpe in a good houre as before hee tooke his journey thinking that within five or sixe moneths two urgent and necessarie expeditions might be performed Which things being put in a readinesse first of all others he marcheth against the Frankes those I meane who commonly are tearmed Salij and who in old time durst in the Romane ground at a place called Toxiandria very boldly place and plant themselves Now
guard firmely founded the securitie of Gaule leaving no cause of terror and feare behind us at our backes we came into Pannonia to the pleasure of eternall God purposing to strengthen whatsoever was like to run to ruine and decay And when all things were prepared accordingly as yee know in the middle of Spring we went in hand with most weightie and important affaires First that when we were about to frame a bridge close ioynted no voleyes of shot might impeach us which worke being with small ado finished after we had seene and overrun our enemies lands the Sarmatians who stubbornely in a wilfull mind went about to withstand us unto death we overthrew and subdued without any losse of our owne men The Quadi also in semblable malapartnes whiles they came to aid the Sarmatians and fell upon the squadrons of our noble legions we hewedin pieces who after miserable damages sustained having found by experience in all their braving rodes and minatorie attempts of resistance of what force our valour was did cast away all fence of armour and those hands which they had prepared and fitted for fight they carried pinnioned behind at their backes and seeing no other meanes to save their lives but in prayer and petition they fell prostrate at the foot of a mercifull Emperour whose battails they had often found to have come unto afortunat end After these were sequestred and set aside with like valour we vanquished the Limigantes also and when a number of them were slaine the others to avoid the danger were driven to flye for refuge unto their starting holes among the blind marishes And when these exploits were likewise brought to an happie conclusion the time was come when we were to use seasonable mildnesse and clemencie The Limigantes we forced to flit into places farre removed for feare they might any more bestirre themselves to doe our men mischiefe and most of them we spared Over those that were free we set as ruler Zizais who was to be devoted and faithfull afterward unto us reputing it a greater matter to create than to present unto the Barbarians a king and this honor added much unto the solemnitie of his creation that he was appointed unto the same people a ruler who had before time elected and accepted him A foure-fold reward therefore which one expedition hath performed we have acquired and the Common-wealth together first by working due revenge upon hurtfull and mischievous robbers and after by taking of our enemies so many prisoners as may satisfie you abundantly For with those things ought vertue and prowesse to stand contented which it hath woon by painefull sweat and strong hand as for our selves our owne travailes and fortitude will be sure to save for us much wealth and ample riches which are great treasures even the patrimonies of all men whole and sound For this is it that beseemeth the mind of a good prince this suiteth well with prosperous successes Finally I my selfe also carrie before me the spoile of our enemies name even the addition in my style of Secundus Sarmaticus which yee all with one accord without arrogancie be it spoken have worthily and for desert conferred upon me After this speech ended the whole assembly with more than wonted alacritie as having their hope of greater matters and gaine bettered by way of joyfull applause and festivall acclamations rose up to resound the praises of their Emperor and at last after open declaration made according to the maner That Constantius was invincible repaired with joy unto their pavilions And the Emperour being brought backe unto his pallace and refreshed with two daies repose returned with triumphant pompe to Sirmium the militarie bands and companies also retyred to their appointed places of abode In these very daies Prosper Spectatus and Eustachius sent as embassadours unto the Persians as I have shewed before went unto the king being returned to Ctesiphon producing the Emperors letters and presents and they demanded as things then stood whole and sound a peace and mindfull of their commission and what directions they had in charge they never left the due regard of the good and majestie of the Romane Empire avouching boldly that the covenant of amitie was to be established no otherwise but with this condition That there should be no motion at all made of troubling the state of Armenia and Mesopotamia When therefore they had staied there a long time seeing the king most obstinately set and hardened against the admitting of any peace unlesse the Seignorie of these countries were awarded unto him they returned without effecting their businesse After this were sent to obtaine the self-same thing with like strength and validitie of conditions Lucillianus a lieutenant and Procopius at that time a Notarie who afterwards entangled and tied fast with a certaine knot of violent necessitie rose up in open rebellion and aspired to the imperiall diademe THE XVIII BOOKE CHAP. I. Iulianus Caesar having set aside all cares of warre hath a watchfull eye to the safetie of Gaule and seemeth a maintainer and lover of justice after this renewing warre against the Alemans he buildeth and storeth his garners seven cities he taketh in and repaireth THese acts in one and the same yeare were in sundry parts of the world atchieved But in Gaule now that the State stood in better tearmes than before and Eusebius together with Hypatius brethren were styled with the high titles of Consuls Iulian renowmed in the place of his Winter abode for contriving of his affaires to so good successe having sequestred and layed aside for the meane time all cares of warre with no lesse regard disposed and ordered many things to the behoofe and welfare of the provinces observing diligently That no man should be surcharged with the burthen of tribute That no one mans greatnesse or power should over-weigh and oppresse another nor they be in place of authoritie whose privat estate grew by the fall and decay of the Common weale ne yet that any Iudge should without punishment swerve from equitie And this redressed he with small travaile and little adoe for that himselfe deciding quarrels and controversies especially when the greatnesse either of causes or persons s required was a constant and irremoveable discerner of right and wrong And albeit there be many commendable examples of his in such like controversies yet it shall suffice to put downe but one to the patterne or likenesse whereof his other deeds or sayings are to bee considered Numerius ruler but a while before of Narbonensis Gallia being accused for theft he heard after an unusuall censorious rigour openly at the barre before his Tribunall and admitted to the audience of his triall whosoever were willing to bee there who when he pleaded unguiltie and put by all matters objected against him by a bare deniall and could not in any one point be convinced Delphidius a most sharpe Oratour who layd sore against him for want of proofes and evidences in a great chafe
into their hands whole provinces even those that in all the former warres unlesse it were in Gallienus his time were untouched and by reason of long peace very wealthie of which enterprise and exploit he promised with the leave and grace of God to be a most meet and sufficient leader This counsell of his being commended and with one accord of them all confirmed they generally bent and set their minds to such things as were with speed to be gathered together and put in readinesse and so all Winter long preparation was made of victuals souldiors armour with other munition and meanes requisit for a warlike expedition shortly to be taken in hand We in the meane while having staied a while on this side the mountaine Taurus in our comming by commandement toward the parts of Italie made hast untill we drew neere to the river Hebrus that runneth downe from the Odrysian hils and there we received the princes letters commaunding us without all excuse making to returne into Mesopotamia that without any officers attendance where wee were to take charge of no dangerous expedition now that all the power of commaund was transferred unto another a thing plotted and contrived by these busie polititians and pragmaticall Statists about the Emperour of purpose that in case the Persians frustrate of their expectation retyred into their owne countrey this should be reputed a doubtie piece of service exploited by the new captaine but if fortune otherwise should come adverse and crosse an imputation of treason to the State might be layed upon Vrsicinus Being thus without all reason tossed to and fro after we had stood doubtfull a good while what to do we returned found Sabinianus full of disdaine a man of meane stature base minded and of small courage hardly able without shamefull feare to abide the light noise of a companie met at a feast much lesse the rustling and clattering of an armie in battaile howbeit because the discoverers sent out in espiall affirmed most constantly the fugitives avouched no lesse That the enemies made hote preparation every way whiles this silly fellow idle and slouthfull as he was slept his businesse we approched Nisibis readie to provide good and necessarie meanes for feare least the Persians making no semblance at all of siege should surprise the citie at unawares CHAP. VIII The Persians with a great power make an excursion upon the Romanes with varietie of fortune as commonly it is seene NOw whiles within the walls every thing with all speed was putting in readinesse we might discover smoke and light fires all the way along from Tigris by Castra Maurorum by Sisara and the rest of the marches even to the very citie shining more thicke than usually they had done and that continually an evident proofe that the enemies having passed over the river were broken forth and fell to wast and spoile the countrey Whereupon least the passages should be intercepted with a running march we made speed forward and when we were come within two myles we espied a well-favoured boy with a chaine about his necke and as we guessed eight yeres of age pitifully crying in the middest of an high way the sonne as he said himselfe of a free-borne gentleman whom his mother when in a terrible affright for the enemies so neere at hand she fled being encumbered with other carriage for hast left all alone behind her This child whiles I at my captaines commandement who tooke pitie of him and was much moved at the sight carrie before me upon my horse and bring backe unto the citie the Brigands having cast a trench and tampier round about the circuit of the wals ranged at randon all abroad And for that I was terrified with the troubles and calamities that commonly follow siege after I had set down the boy within a posterne gate halfe shut with all the speed I could make I returned all windlesse for hast toward the regiment of our men as they marched there I escaped hardly of being taken For when a wing of our enemies horsemen followed after one Abdigidus a Tribune as he fled with his camp-slave and having overtaken the said servant now that his master was by flight slipt away had asked him as I passed in great hast by Who was appointed to be the Iudge or Governour and heard how Vrsicinus who a little before had entred the citie was going toward the mountain Izalla and therewith slaine the partie who answered them to a thing that they never demaunded a number there were which pursued us in hote chase and never rested whom after I had out-stript such was the fleet pace of my horse under mee and found our men laid securely along at their ease hard by Amudum a weake hold whiles their horses were scattered here and there about at their forage I stretched forth mine arme at length and swinging the skirt of my cassocke on high round about my head by this usuall signe shewed That the enemies were at hand and so joyning with them rode amaine with my horse readie by this time to tyre Now the thing that terrified us was the full Moone shining all night long and the flat levell and plaine fields not able to affoord us if we had been distressed and put to our shifts any borough to shelter us as where there was not a tree nor shrub to be seen nor aught at all besides short grasse and low weeds This stratageme therefore was devised namely to set upon an horse backe a burning lampe and to tie the same fast about him for falling and so to let him as he caried the same go loose by himselfe without a rider and take the left hand way whiles we in the meane time marched toward the mountaine tops situate on the right to this end that the Persians weening it to be a tallow linke giving light before the captaine softly marching might take their course that way especially which if wee had not fore-seene wee should have beene taken prisoners and brought in subjection to our enemies Being escaped out of this danger when we were come to a certain woodie place set with vines and apple-trees named Meiacarire so called of cold fountaines now that all the inhabitants were slipt away and gone wee found in a nouke remote farre out of the way one souldior lying hid alone by himselfe who being presented unto our captain after he had faltred in his speech for feare so that his words hung not together and was therefore suspected being further affrighted with menaces revealeth the whole truth sheweth That he was borne at Paris in Gaule that whiles he served in a troupe of horsemen and was afraid to be punished for a foule fact in times past committed he fled his countrey and turned Persian and since that time being for his honest behavior and cariage well approved wedded a wife begat children and sent as a spie into our parts related many a time true tidings but now
running downe of bloud much like as when at Troy in times past there was a right hote and bloudie conflict about the breathlesse bodie of Patroclus companion to the Thessalian leader Achilles By occasion of this death the kings house was heavie and sad and for that all the lords and nobles together with the father were strucken with this suddaine losse after proclamation of a vacation made the young prince commendable for his nobilitie of birth and well beloved was solemnely bewayled and mourned for after the guise of his owne nation Being therefore carried out all armed as he used to bee placed he was upon a certaine large and high raysed terrace or scaffold and about him tenne little beds were spread carrying the images of dead men so curiously dressed and embaulmed as that the very portraits were like unto bodies new enterred And thus for the space of seven dayes together all the men verily by bands and companies kept good cheare and with dauncing and singing certaine mournefull kinds of dumpes and sorrowfull dities bewayled the death of the young prince but the women with wofull knocking of their breasts and shedding teares after their wonted manner piteously cried and lamented for the hope of their nation thus untimely cut off in the very prime and flower of his age like for all the world to those women priests and worshippers of Venus that are oftentimes seene to weepe in the ordinarie feasts and solemnities of a Adonis which mysticall Religion teacheth us to be some representation of corne full growne CHAP. II. The description of the siege before Amida A most terrible and hote assault made by the Persians which the besieged manfully sustaine untill night AFter the corpes was burnt and the bones bestowed close within a silver pot which his father determined should be carried unto his owne nation for to be enterred upon debating in counsell as touching the main chaunce agreed it was to expiate the Manes of this young gentleman slaine with the generall fire of this citie when it was once overthrowne for Grumbates would not endure to goe any further without revenging the ghost of his only deere sonne And after two daies rest given and a great number sent out to wast the rich and well husbanded fields lying open after the manner of peace the citie was environed about with a five-fold ranke and course of shields and upon the third day betimes in the morning the glittering troupes standing round in plumps tooke up all the ground so farre as a man was able to looke and see from him and the rankes marching with a soft and gentle pace held their places divided by lot unto them All the Persians invested the circuit of the wals that part which looked Eastward fell to the Chionites which was the quarter where the young gentleman to the mortall mischiefe of us was slaine the Vertae were appointed to the South side the Albanes kept the North tract and against the West gate were opposed the Segestans the fiercest warriors of all others with whom the Elephants making a loftie shew and terrible to behold for their bodies full of wrinckles paced their ground softly as being loaden with armed men and as wee have often said for dreadfull sight exceeding all other foule spectacles whatsoever Beholding then so infinite a number sought out a long time to set on fire the Romane world and wholly bent to worke our destruction in full dispaire of any safetie we tooke care from thence-forth to end our lives with glorie the onely thing now that wee all wished for Well from the Sunne-rising to the end of the day stood their battaillons in array as fixed fast in the ground and never stirred not so much as once shifting foot without any noise at all or neighing of horses heard and in the same manner retyred they as they came but after they had refreshed themselves with meat and sleepe before the night was fully past with the sound of trumpets leading the way they beset the citie round about and gave so terrible an assault unto it as if within a while it would have fallen Scarcely had Grumbates there like an herault at armes launced after his owne countrey fashion and our manner also his speare died all red in bloud but the whole armie with a clattering noise of weapons mounteth up to the wals and streight way beginneth a hote and lamentable fight whiles on the one side these by whole troupes run on violently and with all resolution and alacritie bend themselves to the assault and contâ—â—iwise on the other our men were as eager and forward to encounter and receive them Therefore it came to passe that huge stones throwne out of Scorpions brake many of our enemies heads in pieces and brained them some were shot through with arrowes part of them having barbed darts and javelines sticking in them lay wounded and bespred the ground others ran away and fled as fast as they could toward their fellowes againe Neither was there within the citie lesse weeping and wayling or fewer sorts of death whiles many a cloud of arrowes flying thicke together with a multitude of them shaddowed and darkened the ayre whiles also the engines of ordinance and artillerie which the Persians were possessed of since the sacking of Singara did much hurt and inflicted many wounds For the defendants gathering their strength together and falling afresh to fight againe by turnes after they had given over for a time in their exceeding heat of defending the towne being mortally hurt fell downe dead or after they were torne and mangled with their tumbling over-turned those that stood next them or at leastwise whiles they were yet alive sought about for them that had the skill to draw foorth the arrow and dart heads that stucke fast in their bodies Thus these slaughters happening one in the necke of another and continuing unto the very latter end of the day the very darknesse of the evening had not slacked by reason that on both parts they were so stiffely set to fight to the outrance After that the watch therefore was kept by those that were heavily armed and weaponed the hils of the one side resounded againe with the cries that were set up whiles our men extolled the vertues of Constantius Caesar as the soveraigne Emperour and Lord of the world and the Persians for their part styled Sapor both Achaemenes and Artaxerxes which by way of interpretation import as much as commaunder of kings and conquerour of warres And before the day began to peepe upon the signall given by trumpets inestimable numbers of forces were raised from all sides and flocked in manner of so many fowles to the like hote skirmishes as before and every way both farre and wide as a mans eye could reach before him the fields and dales made no shew of any thing but the glittering harneis and brandishing weapons of savage nations and within a while upon setting up a mightie shout and out-crie as they
ran all rashly foorth a huge deale of casting-weapons flew from the wals and as we might well thinke none were discharged in vaine falling as they did amongst a number of men that stood so thicke together For considering we were beset round with so many dangers we bore our selves in fight right fiercely not because we would save our lives as I said but for that wee desired to die manfully and from the beginning of day untill twy-light in the evening the victorie swayed to no side but still there was fighting on all hands more fiercely than advisedly For there arose hideous outcries of one terrifying and frighting another so that for heat of courage hardly could any man stand his ground without receiving some hurt or other And at length as the night made an end of slaughtering so the satietie of painefull travails yeelded to both parts a longer respite and cessation of fight For when as wee had time given to rest that little strength which remained in us continuall labour and want of sleepe consumed quite and withall the bloudshed upon the ground and the wan faces of them that lay a dying made us exceedingly afraid and verily the narrow and streight rowme within the circuit of the citie which was none ywis of the greatest would not permit so much as the last comforts yet of burying the dead considering that there were enclosed within the same legions and a confused sort of strangers and citizens one with another of both sexes besides some other few souldiors raised to the number in all of twentie thousand Well every man cured his owne wounds according as they were curable or could meet with leeches ynow to looke unto them considering that some were so grievously wounded that with the spending of their bloud to the last drop they gave up their vitall spirits strugling still for life others being stabbed into the bodie with sharpe pointed weapons lay along on the earth and when they had given their last gasps were throwne forth dead There were againe who had so many deepe gashes and holes on every side in their lims that their skilfull and learned chiruâ—gians forbade them once to goe about the cure for feare least the grievous handling of them taking no effect their poore afflicted soules should be more tormented lastly divers there were who with the plucking out of arrowes where the cure was doubtfull abid torture more dolorous than death CHAP. III. The care that Vrsicinus had for helping the besieged whiles Sabinianus slept till he snored againe remaining still as dead among the Sepulchres The Plague infesteth the Amidens and after some few dayes by fall of smallshowers ceaseth WHiles the fight continued thus at Amida with full resolution and purpose of both sides vrsicinus taking it heavily that he depended upon the will and pleasure of another mans authoritie oftentimes advertised Sabinianus being then in greater place of government and command over the souldiors but keeping still among the Sepulchres That putting in readinesse and order all the skirmishing souldiors they should closely make speed by the bottome and foot of the hils that having by the meanes and helpe of light armour if fortune were any thing favourable unto them intercepted the stations they might set upon the enemies night-watches which taking a mightie compasse about had invested the walls or by often provocation and urging find them occupied that so stoutly plied the siege Which projects of his Sabinianus stood against as hurtfull and dangerous pretending verily in shew the Emperors letters openly giving commaundement That what service soever might bee done should be performed every where without hurt or touch of souldior but secretly in the bottome of his heart root retaining that which he was charged many a time in the court to doe namely to disappoint his predecessor so much inflamed with the love and desire of glorie of all meanes and occasions to win honour though the same might tend to the benefit of the State such hast was made even with the utter destruction of the provinces that this warlike knight might not be reported the author or copartener of any memorable exploit And therefore much abashed and dismayed with these hard fortunes as booting nought by sending spies often unto us although the wayes were layed so by streight watch and ward that hard it was for any man to enter into the towne and gaining as little by devising many good and profitable courses he resembled for all the world a Lyon for big bodie and grim looke terrible but not daring to goe and deliver out of danger his whelps enclosed within net and toyle as having his clawes taken from him and lost his teeth But within the citie where the number of dead bodies lying thicke scattered along the streets was greater than of such as were to performe that last dutie of buriall to mitigate so many miseries beside came the pestilence occasioned by a contagious infection of puttified carkasses breeding by this time vermine in them and maintained with hote vapours and sundrie diseases of the common multitude These kinds of maladies whence they use to arise I will briefely declare The Philosophers and renowmed Physicians have written That excesse of cold of heat of moisture or drinesse breedeth plagues Whence it is that those who dwell hard by fennie moorie and wet grounds are subject to coughes to the falling sicknesse and such like contrariwise they that confine upon hote countries are dried up with the heat of fevers But looke how much more powerfull than other things is the substance of fire so much is drought i more quicke to kill Hereupon it came to passe that when Greece was employed painefully in a warre continuing tenne yeares that a k stranger might not goe away unpunished for breaking the bond of a kings marriage by such a maladie that reigned and came by the arrowes of Apollo who is deemed to be the Sunne a number perished and as Thucidides sheweth That wofull calamitie which in the beginning of the l Peloponnesiacke warre vexed the Athenians with a grievous kind of sicknesse crept by little and little from the hote climate of Aethyopia and so set foot in Attica Others are of opinion That the ayre like as waters use to be infected and corrupted with the stinke of dead carkasses or such like is the greatest cause of most diseases or at leastwise that the suddaine alteration and change of aire breedeth lighter m sicknesses Some also affirme That the aire thickened by some grosse exhalation of the earth and thereby resisting the letting forth of the subtile matter that useth to breath out of the pores of the bodie killeth some for which cause all other living creatures besides men which continually looke downe to the ground Homer once said and we our selves know by many experiments afterwards die thereof at first The first kind of this contagious maladie is called n Pandemus which causeth those that dwell in drie places to be troubled
savage beasts with keene and fell teeth kept up in grated cages and made more fierce and cruell with their foule and filthie keeping upon hope to get out rush and bounce against the barres that turne and wind within their sockets even so fell they to hewing and hacking with their swords the gates which as I said before were kept locked as wonderfully troubled in mind least either when the citie was rased and destroyed they also should perish without the atchievement of some brave and glorious exploit or if it happened to be delivered from dangers they might be reported to have done no worthie and memorable act beseeming the magnanimitie of the Gaules albeit before time when they had often issued foorth and attempted to impeach the pioners as well casters up of bankes as makers of plat-formes yea and killed some themselves received the like at their hands We then destitute altogether of good counsell and doubting what wee should set against them in their way raging in this wise as they did at length made choice of this course above the rest although themselves would hardly yeeld their assent unto it namely that seeing they could no longer be endured after some short pause and stay made they might bee permitted to set upon the watch and ward of the enemies that were placed not farre out of the darts shot to the end that when they had broken through them they might proceed on still further For apparant it was That if they chieved well in this enterprise they would make foule worke and commit some notable carnage among them Whiles preparation is made for this designe by sundrie sorts of fight and skirmish the walls were valiantly still defended what with paines taking and continuall watching and what with planting of engines and ordnance to discharge from all parts both stones and casting-weapons yet were there two high bankes erected by the hands of Persian footmen and the winning of the citie was intended by long work 〈…〉 taking leisure thereto against which with the more earnest care and endevour of our men also were raised exceeding mightie mounts topping equally the height of the terraces or bankes affronting them and such as would beare the greatest weight that might be of defendors Meane while the Gaules impatient of all delayes armed with axes and swords went out at a posterne gate set open for them taking the vantage of a darke night when the Moone was in the change praying unto the heavenly power to bee good and favourable unto them and withall holding their very wind as they went now when they drew neere all in a thicke plumpe they ran violently and after they had slaine some of the standing warders killing also the utmost watch of the campe as who fearing no such matter lay sound asleepe they thought and fully purposed secretly with them if they had good lucke and sped any thing well suddainely to come upon the king himselfe and to surprise him But their sleepe being broken with hearing the noise of them that fell downe and the groning of such as were slaine a number of the enemies were raised and when every man for his part cried Arme Arme these venturous souldiors stood still and stirred not a foot as not daring to passe on further for it was no point of warie policie since those were awakened whom they layd in wait for to run rashly upon an open hazard Now when as whole companies of Persians fuming and fretting on every side came hotely set to fight the Gaules on the other side with strong bodies and undaunted boldnesse so long as they could hold out slashed and hewed all them with their swords that stood in their way and some of their owne side were either beaten downe or shot into the bodie with a number of arrowes flying about their eares on every hand When they perceived therefore all the danger bent amaine to one place and whole squadrons of their enemies running toward them they made hast to get away and yet not one of them turned his backe and so being driven without the rampier retyring by little and little as it were by sound of the measures when they could no longer endure the bands so thicke assayling them with the noyse of the trumpets from the campe they were sore troubled and so departed also while many trumpets and cornets resounded out of the citie the gates were set open to receive our men if happily they could possibly returne so farre yea and the engines of artillerie kept a great ratling without shot of any dart to the end that both the captaines of the stations and wards after their fellowes were slaine might be driven to goe behind as not knowing that they stood against the naked wals of the citie and that those hardie and valiant men might bee received without taking harme And so by this stratageme and cunning device the Gaules having their number lessened entred the gate when it was twylight wounded some deadly others lightly and having lost in that nights worke foure hundred of their fellowes who if some more violent chaunce had not withstood them would have killed in the very tents not q Rhesus nor the Thracians lying encamped before the walls of Troy but the king of the Persians guarded with an hundred thousand armed men For the leaders and trainers of these Gaules as beeing the chiefetaines of valiant deeds after the citie was destroyed and raced the Emperour commaunded there should be their statues all armed set up at Edessa in a country of great resort which statues are kept there sound and entire unto this present CHAP. VI. Great sorrow and lamentation in the Persians armie for the slaughter of their nobles and potentates and three daies cessation of armes which being past the Amidens are fiercely assaulted but the Persians valiantly repulsed howbeit the next morning by day light they renew the combat THe day following when the dead bodies were discovered and noble potentates and great lords found among the carkasses of the slaine the dissonant cries and teares together shewed sundrie mishaps in sundrie places every where nothing was heard but sorrowfull mourning and indignation of the kings supposing that the Romanes had broken in among them through the corps deguard placed against the wals and for that a truce was graunted by common consent for three dayes we also tooke a time to breath our selves After this these nations sore troubled and made more wood with so new and strange an accident setting aside all further trifling and delay thought good now to trie the quarrell by raising maine fabrickes and other fortifications since that fine force sped no better and thus in the heat of their bloud meaning to put the matter to the extremitie of warres they all hastened now either to die with honour or else to make satisfaction unto the ghosts of them that were slaine with the downefall and utter ruine of the citie And now by this time when they had on all hands with
to assault Singara a citie very well fortified both with souldiors and all things else necessarie and requisit as they deemed who had the government of those countries The defenders of which place after they had espied the enemie a great way off quickly shut their gates and with stout and courageous hearts ran to and fro along the turrets and battlements gathering together great stones and warlike engines to discharge upon them and thus having made all readie beforehand they stood all in armour prest to repell the multitude of their enemies if they attempted to climbe the wals The king therefore being come when by the mediation of his nobles and captaines admitted to approch neere hee might not by a gentle and mild parle persuade the defendants to yeeld unto his pleasure both gave them a whole dayes respite and in the next morning betimes by breake of day setting up a signall of a fire-red banner assayled was the citie on every side whiles some brought skaling ladders others planted their engines and the most part defended with a fence of timber and hurdles before them as also with penthouses over their heads sought wayes to undermine the foundations of the wall Against these devises the townesmen standing above upon their high bulwarkes and munitions with stones and all sorts of casting-darts afarre off repelled those who venturously and proudly presumed to put themselves forward within the reach of shot Thus continued they fighting for certaine daies together with doubtfull event and many a man on both sides lost his life and as many were wounded At the last when the skirmish was very hot and evening now came on one exceeding strong Ram among other engines was brought forward which with pushes thick threefold butted upon that round tower at which in the former siege I said the citie by a breach was layed open Vnto which tower all the multitude came to rescue where they fought most closely There might a man have seene firebrands burning torches and fierie darts flying every way for to burn this mischievous engine as it approched neere neither gave over the thicke shot of arrowes and bullets of either side But the sharpe pointed head of the said Ram went beyond all the devices against it entering and piercing into the joynts of the stones new layed and as yet by reason of moisture weake and feeble But while the fight continued still with fire and sword the tower aforesaid fell downe wherby way was made into the citie and the place disfurnished of defendants whome the great danger so imminent had scattered wherupon whole troupes and bands of Persians setting up a yelling outcrie filled all parts of the towne whiles there was none to restraine them and after some few slaine and those pell mell one with another all the rest by commaundement of king Sapor were taken alive and carried away into the furthest countries of Persia Now there were two legions in garrison for defence of this citie to wit e Prima Flavia and f Prima Parthica besides many homelings and naturall inhabitants together with auxillarie horsemen whose hap was by reason of this suddaine danger to be shut within who all as I said were led with their hands bound whiles none of our men helped them For the greater part of our armie lay in the field encamped for the defence of Nisibis a citie very farre distant from it and otherwise never could any man so much as in old time succour Singara when it was in distresse by reason that all the places there round about for want of water be dried up And albeit antiquitie built this fort in a very fit and convenient place for the discoverie of adverse and suddaine troubles yet it turned alwayes to the detriment of the Romanes as being sundry times surprized and taken with the losse of the defendants thereof CHAP. VII Sapor king of Persia setteth upon Bezabde otherwise called Phoenicha and with great violence assaulteth it AFter the racing therefore of this towne the king in wisedome and policie avoiding Nisibis as one ywis well remembring what hurts he had there many times sustained tooke the right hand way marching by crooked and winding journeyes minding either by force or with winning unto him the garrison defendants by sweet promises to recover Bezabde which the auncient founders tearmed also Phoenicha a very strong fort situate upon a pretie high hill and bending toward the bankes of Tygris and where the places be either suspected or low fenced with a double wall For the defence of this piece were three legions deputed Secunda g Flavia Secunda h Armeniaca and likewise Parthica i Secunda together with many Zabdicene archers in whose ground being at the same time under our subjection stood this towne At the first brunt therefore the king in person accompanied with a troupe of horsemen glittering in their complete harneis being himselfe mounted higher than all the rest riding about the circuit of the bulwarkes and fortifications approched venturously to the very brim and edge of the trenches and albeit he was assayled with shot of balists that missed not their marke and with arrowes flying thicke yet by reason hee was under a good armour of proofe and the same wrought in manner of a roufe or Tortoise-shell he went away without taking harme Howbeit for all this sequestring and setting apart his anger for that time he sent as his manner was his heraulds by whome hee gently exhorted the besieged That they would looke unto their lives and other hopes and by yeelding in time raise the siege and setting open the gates goe forth in humble manner and present themselves unto the conqueror of all nations These heraulds adventured to approch very neere but in this regard the defendants of the wals forbare them because they brought with them close by their sides certaine gentlemen freeborne of their acquaintance taken prisoners in Singara for in a pitifull respect of them no man flung a dart nor made any answer as touching peace Then after a cessation of armes graunted for one whole day and night before it was daylight the next morrow the Persians all at once setting fiercely upon the rampier gave out cruell threats and with a terrible noyse comming boldly to the very walls preassed hard upon the townesmen who with great force resisted them whereby most of the Parthians were sore hurt for that some of them carrying ladders and others holding out before them hurdles of oysiers went as it were blindly forward within shot neither escaped our men without hurt for the arrowes flying thicke like hayle went through them as they stood close together Now after the Sunne was set they departed on both parts with equall losle and toward the next morning fought much more eagrely than before whiles the trumpets sounded from the one side and the other neither was there lesse flaughter seene on either hand fighting as they did most obstinately on both sides CHAP. VIII Sapor reiecting the admonitions
of a Christian bishop by force winneth the besieged citie fareth cruelly against the townesmen and having given the attempt upon Virta a most strong fenced citie and relinquished this vaine enterprise at length departeth BVt the day following when a truce by common assent after manyfold travaile and paines taken was graunted what time as a great terror was presented round about the walls and the Persians feared no lesse a Christian bishop shewed by certaine signes of gesture and by beckening that he was willing to goe foorth and upon faithfull promise of returne in safe conduct he came as farre as to the kings pavilions where after leave given to speake his mind in a mild manner of speech he persuaded with the Persians to depart home now that both parts had received in common lamentable losses saying withall that greater sorrowes yet were to bee feared which happily would come unto them But hee stood discoursing of these and such like points in vaine such was the fell and outrageous furie of the king who withstood the motion stoutly swore That he would not depart before the towne and fortifications about it were destroyed yet was the bishop somewhat suspected untruly as I thinke though commonly it was by many men vouched That in secret conference and talke hee informed Sapor what parts of the wall he should assault as weake within-forth and easie to be battered And this seemed to carrie some likelyhood with it for that afterwards the enemies engines were evidently seene with a great shout and joyous leaping of the assaylants to play lustily upon the undefensible places and such as for very age and rottennesse began to leane and were readie to fall as if some that knew the inward secrets of the citie had given direction And albeit the narrow wayes yeelded difficult accesse unto the walls and the Rams fitted for batterie were hardly set forward for feare of stones throwne by hand and arrow-shot that kept them off yet ceased not eyther the brakes or scorpions wherof these discharged stones thicke the other sent out darts as fast and together with them baskets and panniers burning besmeared over with pitch and k Bitumen by the continuall fall whereof comming still downe the hill the sayd engines of artillerie stucke fast as fixed and rooted deepe within ground and beeing thus set fierie darts and burning linkes together throwne lustily with a good arme and star hand set them on a light fire But although the case stood thus and many on both sides were slaine yet the assaylants were more hotely set to rase and destroy the towne both by naturall situation strong and also by great workemanship of mans hand fortified ere the middest of Winter as being persuaded that the kings rage would not be allayed before And therefore neither the effusion of much bloud nor the number of them that were shot into the bodie and deadly wounded could reclayme the rest from like boldnesse But when they had a long time maintained fight with much hurt and mischiefe gotten thereby at length they exposed themselves to extreame and present dangers and as they drave their Rammes what with the weightie stones comming thicke from the wals and what with sundrie fireworkes debarred they were from going forward Howbeit one Ram higher than his fellowes covered over with wet bulls hides and therefore in lesse danger of mishap by flames or darts going before all with much straining and endevour crept to the wall and so with his mightie sharpe pointed head entring betweene the joints of the stones and having losened the same overthrew a tower which beeing fallen with a wonderfull crashing noyse they also who stood upon it with so suddain a ruine thereof were throwne downe and so eyther breaking their bones or overwhelmed with rubbish died sundry deaths and those unlooked for thus the armed multitude having found a more safe ascent rushed in Then as the hideous noyse which the Persians made yelling and crying out on every side thundered and resounded in the fearefull eares of the townesmen thus over-matched the fight grew hote and more close within the wals whiles our enemies in squadrons fought at hand considering that standing with their bodies one against another thicke and having their swords drawne on both sides there was not one spared that stood in the way In conclusion the besieged resisting a long time with much adoe and to the mischiefe of both sides were at length with the pressing hard of the huge multitude disranked and scattered by heapes after which the angry enemies put to sword whomsoever they could find the small babes were plucked from their mothers bosomes the mothers also themselves killed and no man regarded what he did And yet in the meane time this bloudie nation more greedie of pillage than of carnage loaden with all kind of rich spoyles and leading away an exceeding great number of prisoners went backe with much rejoycing to their tents The king for all he was puffed up with extraordinarie joy as one who a long time burned in desire to win Phaenicha a strong fenced piece and of great importance departed not thence before that hee had right strongly repayred that part of the wall which was shattered layed up there in store plentie of victuals and bestowed in it a garrison of armed men such as for their birth were of good note and for skill in martiall feats renowmed For he feared as it fell out indeed least the Romanes taking to the heart the losse of such mightie strong holds would addresse themselves by maine force to besiege the same Vaunting therefore and bearing himselfe more big and fed with hope to win whatsoever he could go in hand with after he had surprized and taken in other meaner piles he determined to set upon Virta a sort of great antiquitie insomuch as it is thought to have beene built by Alexander king of Macedonia seated verily in the utmost part of Mesopotamia but encircled with wals as it were winding in and out and pointed with hornes and by reason of sundry devices and meanes made unaccessable Which when he assayed by all the skill and art he had one while alluring the defendants with goodly promises otherwhiles threatening to hang and crucifie them sundry times going in hand to raise up bankes and mounts and bringing engines against it pertaining to a siege after more wounds and losses received than given he gave over his vaine enterprise and in the end departed These were the acts atchieved that yeare betweene Tygris and Euphrates Which when Constantius had learned by the relation of many messengers fearing the Parthian expeditions whiles he wintered in Constantinople with greater care he furnished the frontiers with all warlicke provision setting also armour together and new trained souldiors strengthening likewise the legions with supplies of strong young men for that the set battailes of legionarie souldiors oftentimes sped well in all the warres and services of the East parts besides all this he sought for
rest and raysed up with a troublesome noyse when he saw himselfe environed round about with a companie of men whom he knew not conceived presently what the matter was and at the hearing of the Emperours name amazed with feare obeyed his commaundement though full against his will And thus he who a little while before was commaunder of the horse-men and bare himselfe proud and stout enough yeelded to the will and pleasure of another and being set upon an horse such as came next to hand was presented unto the Prince as a base captive unneth able to call his wits againe together so much oppressed they were with the terrour hereof But when at the verie first sight of him he perceived that he had leave and favour granted him to adore the purple robe hee taking heart againe at the last and now secure of himselfe My Lord Emperour quoth he you have done unwisely and rashly thus to venture your person with so few upon these foreine parts To whom againe Iulian with a grim and bitter kind of smile Reserve quoth hee these wise words of thine for Constantius For this ensigne of Imperiall maiestie reached out to thee not as to a counsellor but because thou shouldest cease to feare After this when Lucillianus was voided away Iulianus supposing now he was to make no delayes nor to slacke his businesse in hand as he had beene alwaies a Prince in doubtfull and dangerous affaires bold and confident marching toward the citie which he presumed was no lesse than surrendred went a quicke pace and as hee drew neere unto the suburbs which were verie large and reaching out a great way in length the whole companie of souldiers and the multitude of people of all sorts comming forth with many burning lights gay flowers and luckie vowes calling him Augustus and Lord brought him into the royall palace where taking much contentment at this good speed and grounding the hope of future events with a lucky presage That according to the example of this mother citie so populous and so well frequented he should in other cities also be received as a gracious healthfull starre after he had proclaimed the morrow after a solemne game of running with chariots for the prize to the great joy of the people when the third morning waxed once light as impatient of delayes hee rode with speed along by the common high-wayes and meeting with no man that durst make resistance he tooke in Succi and kept them with garrisons and for the defence thereof hee ordained as ruler Nevita a man of approved trust and fidelitie the site of which place it will be meet now to shew The tops standing thicke together of the high mountaines Haemus and Rhodope whereof the one ariseth from the verie banks of the river Ister and the other from the hither part of the river Axius ending at length in streits with risings of small hills cut through the mids of the Illyrians and Thracians of one side bordering hard upon the midland Dacae and Serdica on the other looking downe to Thracię and Philippopolis great noble cities and as if nature foreknew that the nations seated round about should be reduced under the Romans dominion so framed and fashioned of purpose in times past gaping more obscurely betweene the hills thrust close and neere together but afterwards when the Roman State rose up to greatnesse and glorie laid wide open for passage also of carts And sundrie times when the avennes thereof were shut up and stopped they have checked the attempts of great captaines and puissant nations As for that part which faceth Illyricum being of a meaner height is now and then taken as it were at unwares and passed over but that part over against it opposit unto Thraciae broken and bearing forward downe right both of the one side and the other encombred with rough and craggie wayes is hardly climbed although no man be there to impeach Vnder these high bankes and cliffes there lyeth on both sides a spacious ground of plaine fields the upper plot reacheth unto the Alpes Iuliae the nethermore is so flat and open as that it is inhabited without any let all the way as farre as the narrow sea and Propontis CHAP. VIII An embassage of Iulianus sent unto the Senat of Rome with an invective against Constantius two of whose legions under the conduct of Nigrinus having taken in Aquileia drive Iulianus into new thoughts and counsels THese things thus set in order as in such so urgent a businesse might be this Soveraigne commaunder leaving the Generall of the horsemen there returneth to Naessum a wealthy towne to the end that he might from thence dispose readily and with speed of all particulars that shold make for his commoditie and profit Where he commanded Victor the Hystoriographer whom he saw at Sirmium to come from thence unto him ordained him Lord Deputie to governe Pannonia secunda honoured him with a brasen statue a man for his sober carryage right commendable and long after made him Pręfect of Rome citie And now by this time bearing himselfe more aloft and thinking verily that Constantius could never possibly be wrought unto an agreement he sent unto the Senat a sharp and invective oration laying open certaine reprochfull villanies and vices against him Which when they were read in the Senat house by Tertullius who as yet governed the citie of Rome as Praefect right notable was the curtesie and thankfull goodnesse of the nobilitie unto him joyned with an honourable testimonie of their affiance in him for with one accord of sentence and judgement they cryed out all alowd Autorituo reverentiam rogamus i. We wish and award reverence and honour to thy Author Then also it was that he harrowed the memoriall of Constantine as one that had beene a deviser of innovation and troublous confusion in the auntientlawes and customes received of old laying openly to his charge That he was the first of all others who advanced Barbarians unto the honour and dignitie of Consuls unsavorly I assure you and with small discretion who when he ought to avoid that which he right bitterly blamed in another shortly after preferred to a Consulship Mamertinus a man neither for honest life for brave part for sightly presence nor glorious reputation in the world comparable to any of these upon whom Constantine had conferred that most honorable magistracie but contrariwise one full of imperfections rude and uncivile withal and that which was intollerable in high place of authoritie cruell As he was thinking of these and such like matters and carefull about most weightie and serious businesses fearefull and unexpected newes were brought unto him shewing the wicked attempts of some like to hinder the forward courses of his designes unlesse with watchfull providence hee repressed them also before they grew farther The two legions i Constantiacae with the additiō of one cohort of archers which he
found at Sirmium he sent as whose allegiance he yet distrusted into Gaule under a colour of some urgent and necessarie occasions These making but slow hast forward and fearing as well the long and tedious journey as the Germans cruell and continuall enemics plotted to make some rebellion through the counsell and inciting of Nigrinus borne in Mesopotamia and Tribune of a troupe of horse-men Having contrived this matter by secret conferences and strengthened it the more by deeper silence when they were come into Aquileia a towne strongly seated and compassed about with mightie munitions bulwarkes and walls in hostile manner all on a sudden they tooke it in and the naturall inborne townesmen and common people who favoured and friended still the name of Constantius put to their helping hands to set forward this horrible and fearefull tumult And having shut up all wayes of entrance and manned the towers and bulwarks thereof with armed souldiers they made preparation against the time to come for fight living in the meane time at ease and libertie and by this so audacious an act they stirred up the Italian inhabitants to side with Constantius as if he had beene yet living When Iulian was advertised hereof abiding then at Naessum without feare of any troubles behind his backe and knew besides by reading and heresay That this citie how ever it had bin divers times besieged yet never was either rased or rendered up the more earnest he was and made hast to gaine it to his owne side what by cunning practises and what with sundrie sorts of flatteries before some greater mischiefe might arise And therefore he commanded Iovinus a captaine of the horsemen who comming by the Alpes was entred into Noricum to returne with speed for the quenching of that fire one way or other which was now on a flame And that nothing might be wanting he gave commaundement All souldiers who followed either court or captaine to be staid as they passed by the same towne for to bee readie to their power to give aid CHAP. IX The siege and assault of Aquileia whiles Iulian wintered in Constantinople upon hearing of Constantius his death are described THese things thus set in order himselfe not long after taking knowledge of Constantius his death passed with speed through Thracia and entred Constantinople and being oftentimes advertised that the said siege would rather hold long than bee dreadfull and dangerous having appointed for this service Immo with his companie and other captaines he removed Iovinus from thence to be employed in other affaires of more importance and necessitie When as therefore Aquileia was compassed about with a double pavoisado of shields thought convenient it was by consent of all the captaines to draw the defendants what with threatening words and what with faire speeches to yeeld and after much debating to and fro seeing their obstinacie grew still more and more they depart from the parle without effecting their purpose And because there was now nothing looked for but fight after they had on both sides refreshed their bodies with food and sleepe earely in the morning with sound of trumpets incensed they were to doe mischiefe one unto another and so with more hast than good advisement they set up cries amaine and prepared to encounter The assaylants therefore carrying before them roofefences and hurdles very thicke wrought marched softly and with good heed and so with a number of yron tooles assayed to dig under the walls and many of them brought skaling ladders framed to the just measure and heights of the said walls And when they were now almost at the very wall some with stones that came tumbling downe upon them were bruised and sore squized together others shot with darts that flew singing about their eares gave back and drew away with them all the rest who for feare of the like welcome were wholly averted from their purpose of fighting The besieged now emboldened with this first encounter assumed confident hope of better and better still and made small account of any thing behind but with settled and resolute hearts along the river where it yeelded convenient place with uncessant labour they performed watch and ward and all other meanes for their better securitie On the other side the assaylants without although they were sore troubled with the feare of dangers yet for very shame least they might be thought dull of spirit and slouthfull seeing that the assaulting by open force sped no better betooke themselves to artificiall fabrickes and engines meet for a siege And because the place was no where found meet eyther to set Rams to it or plant engines against it or to undermine it by reason that the river Natiso runneth along the citie side neere unto it there was a device found out comparable to those in old time They built with quicke speed certaine towers of timber higher than the enemies bulwarkes and placed the same upon three ships strongly fastened one to another on which stood armed men that putting their whole strength together joyntly laboured all at once with equall courage neere at hand to drive away the defendants from their standings and under them were light appointed skirmishers that came foorth of certaine holes in the said towers put foorth and layed over little k bridges which of purpose they had framed and joyned before and made hast in a trice to passe over upon them to this end that whiles they which were placed aloft on both sides assayle one another with casting-weapons and stones these that went over on the said bridges without any one to disturbe them having pulled up part of the stone-worke in the wall might make a breach and entrance into the towne within But this second enterprise as wisely as it was begun sped amisse in the end For when these towers drew neere assayled they were with shot of fierie darts all besmeared over with pitch with reed also with stickes twigs and sundrie sorts of fuell readie to catch a light fire Which towers being quickly set a burning when they bending forward and reeling with the weight of those that stood waving upon them fell downe into the river some of the armed men sticked with engine-shot a farre off were killed from their very tops During which conflict the footmen beneath after their ship-mates that served on the water aloft were fallen with huge stones were crusht all but some few who by swift footmanship through combersome places of refuge escaped At length after the conflict had continued untill it was toward evening at the sound of the retreat as the manner is they departed on both sides asunder and passed that little remnant of the day diversly affected For as the assailants upon sorrow and lamentation for the death of their fellowes so the defendants in hope of winning the upper hand were mightily incensed and yet these also themselves tooke the losse of some few of their owne side right heavily Neverthelesse no time was
lost and after allowance of so much for one whole night as was sufficient to recover their strength with rest and food betimes the next morning the fight began afresh at the sound of trumpet And some of them bearing up their shields over head to fight more nimbly others carrying ladders as before upon their shoulders and running forward with fervent violence exposed their breasts to the stroke of many a dart There were also who setting in hand to breake the yron port-cluses were soone fired away or killed with mightie stones from the wals And some that went about very boldly to passe over the ditches by the suddaine assaults of them that issued forth secretly at the posterne gates as they rushed on unadvisedly were sore hurt and set backe For the safe recourse they had to the wall and vaumure strengthened with turfe defended these wait-layers from all danger And albeit the defendants in skill of martiall feats surpassed who now had no other helpe left but their walls yet our souldiors picked forth of the best companies not able to endure long delayes went round about all the places neere unto the citie seeking by what forcible meanes or engines they might make way and breake into it But when they could not effect so much so great difficulties were in their way they began more slackly to lay siege unto the citie and the stationarie or garrison souldiors leaving their guards and centinels by wasting the fields neere adjoyning got plentie of all things meet and necessarie and imparted a great deale of the booties which they had gotten unto their fellow souldiors whereby swilling in a deale of drinke and cramming themselves with full fare and high diet they became heavie spirited and unlustie CHAP. X. After newes brought of Constantlus his death the men of Aquileia besieged set open the gates unto Agilo sent from Iulianus Nigrinus is burnt quicke other two are executed with the sword Iulianus taketh charge of the affaires in Illyricum and Italie IVlian having intelligence hereof by the common report and relation of his consorts whiles hee wintered yet in Constantinople politiquely tooke order to set in frame these troubles Soone after therefore he sendeth Agilo colonell of the Footmen at that time a man of good note and well knowne to this end that upon the sight of that right honourable personage and knowledge taken by him of Constantius his death the siege should breake up Meane while that the siege of Aquileia might not bee given over thought good it was since all their paines and labours undertaken otherwise came to nothing that these who so fiercely stood out should be forced for very thirst to yeeld and whereas notwithstanding the conduit pipes were cut betweene them and the springs heads they valiantly made resistance neverthelesse nay with more courage and confidence than before with much labour the course of the river was turned away which device likewise tooke no effect For when the meanes of drinking liberally and with greedinesse were cut off those that by their owne wilfull rashnesse were enclosed within lived sparily and contented themselves with water out of pits and wels While these things thus passe and fell out as hath beene said Agilo according as he had commaundement came upon them who being covered over head with a thicke fence of shields approched confidently and when he had delivered many speeches and those truly whereby he acquainted them with Constantius his death and how the Empire was settled upon Iulian reputed he was as a lyar and escaped not without reviling tearmes Neither gave any man eare unto his relation of what was done before that upon graunt of safe-conduct he was admitted alone unto a certaine bastile or fortification where upon a more religious protestation of his true report he recounted the same againe that before he had delivered Which when they heard after long sorrow the gates were set open and they all came forth by heapes and with joy received this peaceable captaine who in excusing and cleering themselves presented Nigrinus as the author of all this outrage with some few others requiring that with the execution of them the crime of majestie and the calamities of the citie might be expiated To conclude within a few dayes after when this businesse was more neerely sifted and examined before Mamertinus the Praefectus Praetorio then sitting in place of justice Nigrinus as the hotest persuader of this warre was burnt quicke But after him Romulus and Sabostius principall bourgeffes of the towne convicted to have sowen discord and stirred up sedition without regard of what perill might ensue had for their deserts punishment by losse of their heads All the rest whom necessitie and not their owne will forced to these furious broyles went away without harme For so this mild and mercifull Emperour weighing well the case with equitie and reason tooke order And these verily were the proceedings that passed afterward But Iulian resiant still at Naessum was encumbred with deeper cares fearing many things on both sides For he stood in dread least if the souldiors shut within Aquileia by some suddaine impression should stop the streits of the Iulian Alpes he might loose the provinces and the succours which he dayly expected from thence Semblably he feared much the affaire of the East hearing that the souldiors dispersed over Thracia against suddaine violence quickly assembled drew toward the confines of Succi under the leading of Comes Martianus But yet for all that himselfe also in regard of these instant businesses working effectually with such carefull provision as was meet gathered together the Illyrian forces bred up and inured in martiall exploits and readie in all conflicts to joyne with any warlike commaunder not despising in this so troublous and busie a time the good and profit of private persons but giving audience to causes and matters in controversie and especially to the States of free townes to the favouring of whom being overmuch enclined he unjustly invested many of them in great offices of State There finding Symmachus and Maximus two Senatours of good marke for their noble birth sent as embassadours unto Constantius when they were returned from him hee visited them in honourable manner and rejecting a more worthie personage in the rowme of Tertullus he made Maximus Praefect of Rome and all to gratifie Rufinus Vulcatius whose sisters sonne he knew him to be in whose government the markets were plentifully served with victuals and the complaints of the commons which oftentimes were wont to arise ceased Then also to settle the fearefull State in securitie and to embolden those that were obedient he declared Mamertinus the Praefect Praetorio in Illyricum Confull together with Nevita he I say did this who but of late had beyond all measure taxed Constantine as the first man that began to countenance and honour base Barbarians CHAP. XI When there was a very dangerous warre toward from the Persians Constantius in much sorrow and
sundrie rumors there were stirred up came abroad a number of Aegyptians a litigious kind of people taking much pleasure and joy at all times in an ordinarie custome they have to sue one another and maintaine ambiguous controversies but above all most greedie to require againe and that by way of multiplication and increase if they have given ought to an Atturney or creditor for to be eased thereby of a debt or at least wise to be allowed more commodiously by way of forbearing and giving day to bring in those summes which are as debts demaunded or for feare of some odious crimination to call into question and molest rich men in the case of extortion All these being thronged thick together flocked about the prince himself and the Praefects of the Prętorium where chattering like a sort of Iayes they disturbed and troubled them out of all order most rudely readie to extort and wrest what they avouched they had given unto verie many whether rightfull or otherwise it skilled not even threescore and ten yeares before And when they would suffer no businesse else to bee dispatched Iulian published a proclamation commanding them all to passe over the water unto Chalcedon with a promise that himselfe also in person would follow quickly after to decide and determine these their causes When they were gone over there went out a precept to the masters of the ships who use to sayle to and fro between That no man should be so hardie as transport over sea an Aegyptian any more Which precept was kept so straitly and with so forward carefulnesse that their obstinat purpose thus to quarell and forge accusations came to nothing in the end so disappointed of their presumed conceived hope they returned all home Whereupon a law passed as if equitie her selfe had indited it whereby provided it was That no Advocat or Atturney should be troubled about those moneyes which it might appeare for certaine that he rightfully and by law had received Well when as the first day of Ianuarie was come what time as the names of Mamertinus and Nevita were entred into the rolor kalender of Consuls the Prince was seene in a verie humble manner of duetie to goe on foot with other honourable personages a thing that others commended but some againe found fault with as a base part of his and ful of affectation Afterwards when Mamertinus exhibited the games k Circenses what time as the manner was these were brought in and presented who came to be manumised and made free himselfe as his custome was commanded by the under l usher Lege m agi and being straightwayes advertised That the jurisdiction for that day pertained to another himselfe also changed the December morning as lyable to an errour In this while much resort there was to the court of justice from divers wayes and coasts and a number of folke there were who upon sundrie occasions did put in their bils And when as on a certaine day word came unto him That Maximus the Philosopher was come out of Asia to see him he leapt up full undecently and forgetting who himselfe was ran apace forth a great way from the palace gate to meet him kissed him received him and with much reverence and honour brought him in shewing himselfe by this unseasonable ostentation of courtesie to bee an excessive hunter after vaine glorie and forgetfull of that notable saying of Tullie whereby such persons are noted taxed in these words Even those Philosophers themselves saith he in these verie bookes which they pen and entitle as touching the contempt of glorie write their owne names so as even in this verie point that they seeme to despise the fame and glorie of the world willing they are to be named and that men should talke of them Not long after two of those busie and pragmaticall Pursuivants who were cassed and put out of their places came boldly unto him promising if they might bee restored unto their degree which they had in warfare to shew where Florentius lurked and hid himselfe Whom he rated and tearmed Promoters saying moreover It was not the manner and part of an Emperour to be induced by indirect suggestions and informations to fetch a man backe againe into daunger that for feare of death lay hidden and who peradventure should not bee suffered long to hide his head without hope of pardon In all these proceedings there was assistant to him a noble Senator n a man of an excellent disposition to vertue carrying with him the ancient gravitie of old time who by chance was found about businesse of his owne at Constantinople and him of his own meere motion and pleasure he made a Proconsular deputie in Achaia Neither for all his being so precise and earnest in reforming of civile abuses neglected he those of the campe but hee ordained captaines and commaunders over souldiers such as had beene a long time approoved and tried repairing moreover all the cities throughout Thracia together with the utmost frontier forts and taking diligent care that neither armour apparell money or victuall should be wanting unto them who lying dispersed along the banks of Ister and opposit to the rodes and invasions of the barbarous enemies hee heard say performed their service with great vigilancie and valour Whiles hee disposed thus of these affaires suffering nothing to be done slackly when his favourites next about his person persuaded him to set upon the Gothes joyning so neere who had beene so often false and perfidious he said That he sought for better enemies for the Galatian marchants quoth he are sufficient for them by whom they are everie where sold without regard of state and condition As hee was employed in these and such like businesses fame commended him to forreine nations as a brave and eminent person for prowesse sobrietie skill in feats of armes and good progresse in all vertues and growing thus forward by little and little he filled the whole world with his name The feare therefore of his comming being spread all abroad as well among neighbour nations as those that were farre remote there came with great care from all parts embassages thicke Of the one side those beyond Tigris and the Armenians craved peace on the other side the men of Inde strived a vie and sent great men with gifts before-hand even from as farre as the Indians and Serindians From the South climat the Mauri offered their service to the Roman State from the North and Easterly regions in which the verie Phasis falleth into the sea the Bosphorians and other people before time unknowne brought with them their embassages in suppliant maner requesting That upon performance of their yearely tributes and dueties they might bee permitted to live quietly within the bounds of their native countries CHAP. V. An exact description of provinces and nations which at this time are inhabited farre and wide in Thracia and along the circuit of
upon the same that they had knocked and beaten before Betweene these rockes that thus open asunder and jurre one against another so often if a fowle should happen to flye by no swiftnesse of wing could she possibly escape and get away but be crushed to death These cliffes when as Argo the first ship that ever was making speedie way to Colchi for to steale the golden Fleece had passed by them without harme stood unmooveable conjoyned in one bodie with the head or point crackt round about so that no man who seeth them now would ever beleeve they were at any time parted asunder but that all the songs and poemes of men in old time agreed joyntly thereupon Beyond part of Bithynia the provinces Pontus and Paphlagonia stretch out in length wherein stand Heraclea Sinope Polemonion and Amysos great cities also Tios and Amastris all founded auspicately by the direction of bird-flight such was the precise care of the Greekes likewise Cerasus from whence Lucullus brought such fruit as are named Cerasa i. Cherries Semblably certaine Isles bearing up aloft containing in them Trapezus and Pityus townes of no meane account Beyond these places there is the hole or cave Acherusius which the people dwelling thereby call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also the haven Acone with divers rivers rivers to wit Acheron named likewise Archadius Iris Tembrius and hard by Parthenius running all downe into the sea with a swift course and violent streame Next unto these is the river Thermodoon falling from the mountaine Armonius and gliding betweene the woods and groves of Themyscyra into which the Amazones in times past were forced to flit upon this occasion The auncient Amazones after that the bordering nations were sore weakened with continuall losses as who by them were wasted with bloudie rodes and invasions aymed now at higher exploits and considering their owne puissance and the places bordering neere unto them oftentimes gave the attempt upon more mightie nations as being ravished with the heat of greedie desire And when they had broken forcibly through many countries they made warre upon the Athenians and beeing in a sharpe conflict discomfited and scattered asunder and having the flankes of their Cavallerie layed naked were slaine every one When the defeature and death of these were knowne the feeble remaines of them that were left at home declining the deadly violence of their neighbours who had before time suffered extremities and were like to pay them home with semblable measure flitted to the more peaceable seat of Thermodoon The progenie of these being in long time after multiplied by many issues and generations returned with a mightie power to their first native places and in processe of time became dread to people of divers discents and originals Not farre from thence mounteth up Carambis an hill of gentle ascent rising full upon the Northren f Elice overagainst which is Criu-metopon a promontorie of Taurica distant from the other two thousand and five hundred stadia And from this place all the maritime coast which beginneth at the river Halys lying streight in length like a line shapeth out the string fastened to the two ends of the bow aforesaid CHAP. VII More of the same argument as before VPon these countries confine the Dahae of all others the most fierce warriors and the Chalybes who were the first that digged up wrought yron into steele Beyond whom the open lands are possessed by the Byzares Tapites Tibareni Mossynaeci Macrones and Philyres people by no acquaintance knowne to us and from them not farre stand the monuments or tombes of noblemen wherein were enterred Stheneleus Idmon and Typhis Of whom the first was a companion of Hercules wounded to death in the warre against the Amazones the second an Augure or Soothsayer to the Argonauts and the third a most skilfull and expert pylot of the ship abovenamed Argo After you have passed beyond these parts before specified you meet with the den or cave Alion and the streame of Callichorus sirnamed so upon this occasion For that Liber or Bacchus having after three yeares vanquished the Indian nations and being returned to those tracts about the greene and shadie bankes of this river brought againe into ure the old songs and daunces t Orgia Some are of opinion That such sacred ceremonies and solemnities as these were called u Trieterica Beyond these confines are the populous and well frequented territories of the Camaritae and the river Phasis with roring streame commeth to the Colchi the auncient off-spring of the Aegyptians where among other cities standeth Phasis bearing the name of the river abovesaid also Dioscurias knowne even to this day The founders whereof as we find in record were Amphitus and Telchius two Spartanes the chariot-drivers to Castor and Pollux of whom began the nation of the Hemiochi Not farre removed from these dwell the Achaei who having finished a certaine former warre at Troy I meane not that warre which was fought for the quarrell of Helena as some authors have written by reason of contrarie winds wandering and driven into Pontus finding nothing but hostilitie and no where any assured place to set foot in possessed themselves of the hill tops alwaies full of snow and thus being pent in and hardened with the chilling cold of the weather accustomed they were to get their living dangerously by robbing and by that meanes grew afterwards beyond all measure fell and cruell As touching the Cerceti who joyne close unto them there is no memorable matter written At the backe of them dwell the inhabitants of the Cimmerian Bosporus where are the Milesian cities and the mother of them all Panticapaeum before which runneth the river Hypanis swelling as well with his owne water as forraine streames running into him Then a great way off the Amazones stretching out in length even as farre as to the Caspian sea inhabite about Tanais which rising among the rocks of Caucasus glideth by many winding turnes and reaches and parting Asia from Europe is hidden at last within the meeres of Maeotis Neere unto this is the river Rha on the sides whereof groweth a comfortable and holesom root so named good for many uses in Physicke Beyond Tanais there spread out in breadth the Sauromatae through whome all the way run the rivers Maraccus Rhombites Theophanes and Totordanes although there be another nation also of the Sauromatae farre distant from these joyning hard upon the shore which letting in the river Corax sendeth it to the utmost maine sea Neere unto this is the meere Maeotis of an exceeding large circuit out of the most plentifull veines whereof by the straits Patares a maine deale of water breaketh forth and runneth into Pontus in the right side of which are the Islands Phanagorus and Hermonassa reared by the industrious labour of the Greeks
About these marishes which lye furthest and utmost there dwell many nations in varietie of speech customes unlike one another namely the IaxamatÄ™ Maeotae Iazyges Rhoxolani Alani Melanchlaenae and together with the Geloni the Agathyrsi among whom there is plentie of the Adamant stone others also lye hidden beyond because they are of all the rest furthest within But neere to the left side of Maeotis lyeth Cherronesus full of Colonies inhabited by Greekes whereby the men are quiet and still setting their minds upon tillage and living upon the encrease of fruit that the earth yeeldeth From these no great way off are the Tauri disjoyned and those divided into sundrie kingdomes Among whom for their exceeding crueltie the Arinchi Sinchi and Napaei most terrible and by reason of their long licentious libertie the more cruell they be have given name unto the unhospitall sea which of the contrarie by way of merriment and jeast is called Pontus Euxinus like as we tearme a foole x Euethes in Greeke the night Euphrone and the furies Eumenides For appeasing and pleasing their gods with offering men for sacrifice and sacrificing strangers to Diana who among them is named y Orsiloche they used to fasten upon her temple walls the heads of men slaine as the perpetuall monuments and testimonies of valiant exploits In this byland Taurica the Island Leuca without any inhabitants in it is dedicated to Achilles At which if any happen by chaunce to arrive after they have seene certaine tokens and remaines of antiquitie the temtained ple also and oblations consecrated to the said worthy prince in the evening they go to shipboord againe For they say no man is able to stay there all night without daunger of his life There also are rivers and there breed white birds like unto the z Halcyones concerning the first originall of which fouls and the battailes in Hellespontus we will discourse in due time Now there be certaine cities within this Taurica among which the principal are Eupatoria Dandace and Theodosia besides other of smaller account not stained or polluted with any sacrifices of mens bodies Thus farre forth is thought the top of the bow to reach CHAP. VIII More still of the same argument THe remnant now thereof with a gentle bent and lying under the Northerne Beare-starre as farre as to the coast of Bosporus Thracius wee will as order doth require prosecute and declare telling you thus much by the way that whereas the bowes of all other nations are bent with the staves thereof crooked onely those of the Scythians and Parthians having the bowing and open hornes thereof drawne about on both sides inward represent the shape of the Moone in her wane and a streight and round rule divideth them just in the mids In the verie beginning therefore of the joynt or knitting together where the Riphaean mountains do end dwell the Arimaspi righteous men and for ther meekenesse humanitie wel known by whom the rivers Chronius and Bisula do run along and hard by them the Massagets Alani Sarmatae and a number of other obscure nations of whom we know neither the names nor their manners Then after a meane space betweene openeth the gulfe Carcinites a river also of the same name and the sacred grove of Trivia a held religious with much devotion in those countries Then Borysthenes springing from the mountaines of the Neuri carrying much water by occasion of his owne fountaines and growing big with the confluence of many rivers with a streame of huge rolling waves entreth into the sea upon the rivage whereof full of woods standeth the citie also Borysthenes and Cephalonesus likewise the altars consecrated to Alexander the Great and to Caesar Augustus From hence a great way betweene is that Biland or demy Isle which the Sindi inhabit an ignoble and base kind of people who upon the overthrow of their lords and masters in Asia enjoyed afterwards their wives and goods Vnder theselyeth a little strond or shore the homeling inhabitants cal it Achileos-dromon a place memorable in times past for the exercise there of that Thessalian Commaunder And next unto it standeth the citie Tyros a colonie of the Phaenicians by which passeth the river Tyras Now in the middle space of the bow which as I said before carieth a large round bent and which is fifteene daies journey of a nymble and light appointed foot-man are seated the Alani of Europe and the Costobocae and infinit nations of the Scythians which in length reach out as farre as the lands that stretch forth without an end of which some few feed upon corne and fruits of the earth all the rest wandering in scattering wise over the vast wildernesse which never felt the plough nor know what seednesse is but lye desert and subject to many frosts feed after the filthy maner of wild beasts Their wives and children their houses such as they be and their houshold-stuffe are set upon waines covered over with barkes and whensoever it pleaseth them they flit without any let tumbling and rolling with them the same wagons whither they list Moreover when you are come to another bent or compasse full of creekes and havens which determineth the utmost figure of this bow there beareth forth the island Peuce round about which dwell the Trogloditae and Peucimi and other smaller nations There also standeth up Istros sometime a most mightie citie likewise Tomi Apolloni Anchialos and Odyssis beside many other contained within the coasts of Thracia But the river Danubius which hath his head neere unto the mountaines Rauraci that confine upon the borders of Rhetia stretched forth through a wider part of the world receiving into him threescore rivers in manner all navigable through this Scythian shore breaketh forth into the Sea at seven mouthes and their names carrie their interpretation according to the Greeke tongue of which the first is Peuce the island above sayd the second Naracustoma the third Calonstoma the fourth Pseudostoma as for the fift Boreonstoma and the sixt Sthenostoma they be farre lesse than the rest the seventh is a mightie great one and in manner of a meere blacke Now this whole sea Pontus in all the circuit thereof flowing round about is both cloudie and sweeter also than other seas yea and full of shallowes for that the ayre thickened oftentimes with the breathing up and elevation of moist vapours congealeth and is tempered with a multitude of waters rushing into it and riseth into certaine flats full of shelves and sand-banks by occasion that a number of streames comming into it everie way about cast up mud and heaps of sand And knowne for certaine it is that from the utmost bounds of our sea fishes flocke by whole skuls or sholes to this nooke of the Ocean to breed and shut their spawne to the end that with the sweetnesse of the water they may more holesomely bring
up their yong frie secured from the devouring Whales and monsters of the sea within hollow places of receit which are there verie thicke For in this Pontus there hath beene at no time seene such but onely harmelesse Dolphins and those but small Now what coast soever of this same maine gulfe of Pontus is beaten with the North-east wind and frostie aire it is so throughly frozen and congealed as that neither the courses of rivers are supposed to roll underneath the yce neither is it possible for man or beast to set firme footing upon the ground so unsure it is and slipperie a fault that never taketh hold of the sea as it is pure of it selfe but mingled with river waters Having beene thus carryed somewhat farther than we thought proceed we to the rest of our hystorie behind CHAP. IX Iulianus borne up on high with the favour of all men hasteneth to go unto Antioch what acts he did in this iourney THerefell out another occurrent to encrease the heape and measure of these present joyes which verily was a long time hoped for but protracted by many circumstances of delayes For tydings came by Agilo and Iovius afterwards Questor That the defendants of Aquileia wearied out with so long a siege after they were advertised of Constantius his death did set open their gates went forth and delivered the authors of those sturres and commotions and that when the said parties as hath beene related afore were burnt quicke all the rest obtained a graunt of pardon for their trespasses But Iulian verie proud of these prosperous proceedings carried his thoughts and conceits beyond the ordinarie compasse and reach of men as having by continual proofs trials found that unto him ruling now the citie of Rome peaceably favorable gratious fortune carrying as it were the words β Cornucopia i. wealth aboundance presented unto him all gloâ—y and prosperitie adding moreover unto the titles of his victories past thus much That whiles he held the empire alone he was neither troubled with civile commotions at home nor any of the Barbarians passed beyond their owne bounds and all nations upon a lust and desire they have evermore to inveigh against things past and to blame them as hurtfull and noisome were wonderfully inflamed with an earnest affection to resound his praises Having therefore after considerat deliberation disposed of all things according as the divers causes and times required and withall animated his souldiers what with many hortatorie orations and what with a competent stipend inciting them more readily to make dispatch and put all things in readinesse borne thus aloft with the favor of all men and addressing himselfe to goe to Antioch he left Constantinople supported with verie great meanes of a flourishing estate for being there borne he loved and esteemed it highly as the place of his nativitie After he had crossed therefore the narrow sea and passed by Chalcedon and Libyssa where Annibal the Carthaginian was buried hee came from thence to Nicomedia a citie before time famous so enlarged at the great expences of precedent Princes that for multitude of buildings as well privat as publique it might be reputed to those that know it aright a certaine region or quarter of that eternall citie Rome The walls whereof when as hee beheld how they were resolved into wofull ashes and dead imbers shewing the anguish of his mind by silent teares he went toward the royall palace with a softer pace weeping for the miserable case wherein it was in this regard especially that the magistrats and whole comminaltie met him in mournefull and poore plight now which had beene afore time a most flourishing state And some of them hee agnized as having beene brought up there under Eusebius the bishop whose kinsman hee was though a farre off Here also in like manner when he had given and allowed bountifully toward the reparation of those edifices which the earthquake had overthrowne he came by Nicea to the marches of Gallograecia whence bending his journey at one side toward the right hand hee turned to Pessinus for to visit the ancient temple of the great mother Cybele From which towne in the second Punicke warre by the direction of Cibyls prophesie at Cume Scipio Nasica translated her image to Rome As touching whose arrivall into Italie I have by way of digression together with other particulars belonging to this matter written somewhat in the acts of the Emperour Commodus But why this towne should carrie this name the writers of hystories agree not For some have affirmed that the citie was sirnamed so by occasion of the said goddesses image fallen from heaven of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which with us in Greeke signifieth to fall Others report that Ilus the sonne of Tros and king of Dardanie called the place so Theopompus avoucheth That it was not Ilus who did so but Midas that most mightie king of Phrygia Having therefore adored the divine power there and pleased the same with sacrifices and vowes he returneth to Ancyra and as he was going further from thence the multitude disquieted him whiles some required to have their goods given unto them which by violence and extortion had beene taken away others complained That they were unjustly tyed and incorporated into the societies of the Curiae and some againe without respect of daunger laboured as if they had been starke mad to bring their adversaries within the compasse of high treason but he a more grave and severe judge than either Cassius or Lycurgus weighing indifferently from point to point their causes awarded to everie man his owne no where drawne away from the truth but sharply bent against slanderers and false accusers whom hee hated as having tryed oftentimes the malapert folly of many of this kind even to his owne perill whiles he was yet in low estate and a privat person And for an example of his patience in the like businesse this one although there bee many besides shall suffice to be put downe A certaine person there was who in verie troublous manner appeached an adversarie of his with whom he was at variance for speaking certaine words in most bitter wise tending to treason And for that the Emperour dissimuled and made as though he heard not the matter he enforced the same stil and dayly renewed his accusation So as at length being asked what hee was whom hee thus called into question hee answered That hee was a verie rich Bourger Which when the Prince heard with a smiling countenance What presumptions quoth he haddest thou to give thee light hereunto Because sayth he he is about to make himselfe a purple garment of a silken cloke Who being commaunded after this to goe his wayes with silence and without harme like a base fellowe accusing as base a companion of an high and hainous matter neverthelesse was verie instant and importunat still Iulian wearie with this busie and troublesome fellowe casting
and darkened his courses so glorious in many respects otherwise For after many other good acts some of the lawes also he reformed for the better which by cutting off their doubtfull constructions and long circumstances shewed plainely what they bad and what they forbad to be done But this one inhumane and unmercifull deed of his would be buried in perpetuall silence That hee debarred the professors of δ Rhetoricke and of Grammer to teach those of the Christian religion CHAP. XI Divers men of great name who had beene sometime adversaries of Iulian were punished sundrie wayes A seditious uprore raised in Alexandria which bred many broiles and murders by an edict of Iulianus is appeased AT the verie same time Gaudentius that notorious Notarie who had been sent as I said before from Constantius as an opposit unto Iulians designes in Africk as also Iulianus late deputie Praefect or Vice-gerent there an exceeding great supporter and abettor of the same side were fetched backe kept bound in prison and by justice put to death Then also it was that Artemius who had been the Marques of Aegypt at the urgent and instant suit of the Alexandrines charged with a number of hainous crimes was executed with the losse of his head after whom the son of Marcellus late generall of the horse and foot both as one that aspired to be Emperor suffred death openly Moreover Romanus Vincentius Tribunes of the first second band of the Scutarij being convicted to have plotted certaine designes above their estate and degree were banished And after some small time betweene the Alexandrians given to understand that Artemius was dead whom they feared least upon his returne with power and commaund as before for so he had threatened he would as one highly displeased sit on many of their skirts turned the edge of their anger upon Georgius the bishop as who had oftentimes snapped as I may so say at them with his viperous teeth The soone he was of e Insulius by report borne at Epiphania a towne of Cilicia and being growne to greatnesse with the losse and hinderance of very many against the good of himselfe and of the Commonweale ordained bishop of Alexandria a citie which of the owne inclination and even when there are no causes at all is usually given to many seditious tumults and turbulent commotions according as the very Oracles give true report The people here having their minds alreadie enraged were much more incensed by this Georgius also who in the open eares of Constantius ceased not to accuse many of them as rebellious and disobedient to his commandements and thus forgetting his owne profession which teacheth him nothing but just dealing and mildnesse he forsooke that course and betooke him to the mischievous practises of dangerous promoters And among other matters hee was said malitiously to have enformed Constantius of this also That in the foresaid citie all the houses built sometime by Alexander the first founder with great charges and expences of the State and now annexed to the soyle ought by right to yeeld profit and revenewes to the common Treasurie To these mischiefes this one more also he added for which within a while after he was driven headlong upon his owne destruction Being returned from the princes court as he passed by the beautifull temple of Genius guarded as his manner was with a great traine about him casting his eyes aside toward the very temple How long quoth he shall this sepulchre stand Which word of his being once heard many were smitten as it were with a thunderbolt and fearing least he would give the attempt to overthrow it also they wrought by secret traines to raise what matter they possibly could to bring him to ruine And loe upon the suddaine arrivall of joyfull newes importing the death of Artemius the whole multitude of the commons for this unexpected joy set agog and grinding their teeth with a terrible noyse came upon Georgius whome they haled and tugged with his legs and feet wide stragling trampling and spurning him with sundrie sorts of evill entreating and putting him to paine and torment ynough And together with him Dracontius the Mint-master and one Diodorus by calling in manner of a Comes had their legs drawne through with cords and so were killed together the former of them for that he overthrew an altar newly set up in the Mint-house whereof hee was the Master the other because whiles hee was over-seer for the building of a Church he cut off very licentiously the lockes of boyes haire close to the head supposing that this fashion also smelled of Idolatrie And the outragious multitude not content herewith after they had mangled their dead bodies layed them upon camels and so carried them to the lake and when they had burnt them with a swift fire flung the ashes into the sea fearing as they gave it out alowd least if their reliques had beene gathered up together there would have beene churches built for them like as for the rest who being urged to forsake their religion went so farre in keeping of their faith unspotted and undefiled that they endured dolorous torments even to glorious death and now are tearmed Martyrs And verily these wofull and miserable men when they were led to cruell execution might by the helpe of Christians have beene reseued but that all the people one with another bare so deadly hatred unto Georgius The Emperour certified hereof bent fully to take revenge for so wicked an outrage and being now at the point to have the malefactors punished with losse of life was yet pacified with the gentle words of his neerest favourites and sending out an edict in a sharpe and bitter Oration detested the wicked act committed threatening extremitie of death in case any thing thenceforth should be attempted forbidden by justice and the lawes CHAP. XII Iulian addresseth himselfe to the Persian warre His sacrifices Heathenish ceremonies consultation of beasts inwards and bird-flight The temple of Apollo Daphnaeus by casuall fire burnt incenseth Iulian against the Christians Certaine Prodigies and Earthquakes whereby Nicomedia was overthrowne MEane while preparing an expedition against the Persians which in the highnesse and stoutnesse of his mind he had conceived before time caried aloft he was with an hote desire to the revenge of dishonours past knowing and hearing that this most fierce nation had for the space almost of threescore yeares together set their sure markes and cruell monuments in the East of slaughter and saccage as having oftentimes put whole armies of ours to the sword Now a twofold desire he had that incensed him to this warre first for that impatient altogether of ease and rest he dreamed of nothing all night but trumpets and battailes againe because in the very prime and flower of his youth being presented and exposed to the warres of cruell nations whiles the prayers were yet fresh of kings and princes who were thought might be vanquished by force of
short tayles of whose readie and quicke wit suffice it shall to shew two proofes This beast having made his couch among the high over-growne reedes standing very thicke together with most watchfull care looketh about him to see the coasts cleere and all at rest and finding his time of libertie and opportunitie goeth forth to feed upon the standing corne and when hee beginneth now to returne with his bâ—llie strut and full by going backward he maketh many distinct pathes least the hunters following the direct line of one plaine and streight way should light upon him and without any difficultie wound him to death Semblably when with over-greedie eating his bellie is swollen so big that he waxeth unlustie and slow upon the reeds that are new cut he walloweth and rolleth his thighes and legges that so by wounding his feet the bloud issuing forth might make him light who was before so crammed up and fed fat and then the sore raw places of his flesh hee daubeth over with mud untill the wounds doe cicaâ—rice and be whole and even againe These rare beasts held for wonders and monsters before time the people of Rome saw first in the Aedileship of Scaurus father to that Scaurus whom whiles Tully pleadeth for he commaundeth the Sardi That they also would together with the authoritie of the whole world have a good opinion of that noble house And for many ages after being oftentimes brought hither now can they be no where found as the inhabitants of those countries doe conjecture forced to flit so wearie were they of the multitude of hunters coursing and chasing them still unto the Ï€ Blemmyae Among the fowles of Aegypt the varietie whereof is innumerable the Ï Ibis is a sacred bird lovely and harmelesse in this regard That ministring unto her young ones in neast the Serpents egges for food shee is the cause that such mischievous vermine is consumed and so growe to bee fewer in number The same birds encounter whole companies of winged Snakes which come out of the Arabian fennes casting deadly poysons and the same Serpents before they goe out of their coasts after these birds have by fighting in the ayre vanquished they devour and by report they bring forth their young at their bills Aegypt breedeth also an infinit number of serpents to wit the σ Basilisks or Cocatrices of all other most mischievous and pernitious also the Ï„ Amphisbaenae the Ï… Scytalae the φ Acontiae the χ Dipsades and the ψ Vipers beside many other All which the ω Aspis exceedeth by farre in bignesse and beautie neither of his owne accord goeth hee out of the river Nilus Many things there bee in those tractâ— the reading whereof would verie well pay for the paynes out of which it will bee fit and meet to declare some few There be Therma Lutra there which the home-borne inhabitants call Cythrus Temples also built everie where of great height and bignesse the seven Pyramides likewise that are become wonders of the world which in how long a time and with what difficultie they were brought up so high Herodotus the writer of sheweth Towers they be erected to such an height as exceedeth the handy worke of man of a huge breadth in the bottome and rising to a most sharpe pointed top which figure in Geometrie is tearmed Pyramis for that to the forme of fire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as we say it commeth to be small in the head in fashion of a Cone or Pine apple the greatnesse whereof because in climbing up to an exceeding height it groweth small by little and little consumeth also the shaddowes by mechanicke reason There be allo Syringes i. certaine fistulous noukes under the ground and full of windings which by report the skilfull professors of old rites having a fore-knowledge of a deluge and fearing least the memorie of their ceremonies should be quite abolished built in divers places within digested orderly by curious and laborious delfes and upon the wals hewed out of the very rockes engraved many kinds of fowles and wild beasts yea and infinite formes of other living creatures which being not understood of the Latines they called aa Hieroglyphicke letters Then have you Syene in which at the time of the aestivall bb Solstice when the Sunne Southward stretcheth to the uttermost his Summer race his beames going round about all things that stand streight upright suffer no shadowes to passe from bodies Hereupon it is that if any man shall sticke a stake upright or see a man or tree standing about the very edges of their lineaments he shall perceive the shaddowes to be spent Like as at Meroë being that part of Aethyopia which is next unto the Aequinoctiall circle by report it happeneth where for ninetie dayes together the shaddowes fall contrarie to ours and therefore the inhabitants therof they tearme Antiscij Which because they be many wonderfull things exceeding the purpose of our small work let us put them over to deepe and high wits beeing minded onely to make some briefe narration as touching the provinces therein CHAP. XVI Lastly the provinces and cities of Aegypt and Alexandria by name are described with addition of famous mens names and Sciences flourishing in times past in Aegypt Aegypt as men say in auncient times had three provinces to wit Aegypt it selfe Thebais and Lybia unto which the posteritie following adjoyned twaine namely Augustamnica severed from the said province Aegypt and Pentapolis divided from the drier Lybia Thebais therefore containeth in it among many cities these more famous than the rest to wit Hermopolis and Coptos Antinoon also which Hadrianus built in the honour of Antinous a young stripling and darling of his As for Thebes Hecatompylos who knoweth it not Within Augustamnica standeth Pelusium a noble towne which Peâ—eus the father of Achilles is said to have founded being willed by the commaundement of the gods to be purged in that lake which runneth hard by the wals of the same citie what time as after he had killed his brother Phocus he was haunted and harried with the horrible apparitions and spectres of Furies also Cassius where standeth the sepulchâ—e of Pompâ—y the Greaâ— Ostracine likewise and Rhinocorurae In Pentapolis Lybia Cyrene is situate a citie of good antiquitie but not inhabited which Battus the Spartane built Also Ptolemais and Arsinoë the same that Teuchira likewise Darnis and Berenice which also they call Hesperides but in the drier Lybia Paretonion Cherecla and Neapolis among some few small free townes Aegypt it selfe which ever since that it became annexed to the Romane Empire is ruled by Praefects over and beside many smaller cities hath Athribis Oxyrynchus Thmuis and Memphis right great cities to beautifie it As for Alexandria it is the very head of all cities ennobled in many-respects and namely by the magnificence of the founder that most high prince and the cunning of
Dinocrates the master of the Workes and chiefe builder thereof who when he layed the foundation of the large and faire wals for want of lyme at the same instant unneth found bestrewed all the circuit thereof drawne out by line with meale which by an accidentall signe foreshewed that the citie afterward was like to abound with plenteous store of victuals there the holesome winds doe blow there is the aire calme and mild and as experiments gathered in sundrie ages hath shewed there is no day almost in the yeare but the inhabibitants of this citie see the Sunne shine cleere and bright This câ—ast that it should not as heretofore annoy the saylers with many dangers by reason of the deceitfull and perillous passages to the land Queene Cleopatra devised to set up in the haven an high tower called of the very place it selfe Pharos yeelding the meanes of giving light unto ships sayling in the night season whereas in times past such ships as came out of the Parthenian or Lybian sea seeing along the flat shores void of mountaines no land-markes either of watch-towers or hils ran on ground upon the soft and clammie sands and so were split in sunder This very same Queene built the Heptastadium no lesse wonderful for bignesse than incredible almost for the quicke dispatch thereof and that for a cause well knowne and necessarie which is this The Island Pharos where Homer in his swelling veine of fabulous Poetrie deviseth That Proteus kept with his heards of sea-Calves or Seales lying a myle from the strond on which the said citie standeth was bound to pay toll for portage unto the Rhodians which when some from thence came and demanded excessively this ladie whose wits served her at all times to worke wyles having under a colour of solemne and feastivall holy dayes trained foorth the said fermors or toll-gatherers with her to the places under the citie side caused by uncessant and restlesse labour a piece of worke to be finished and in seven dayes for so many stadia by making huge dams and bankes within the sea there was woon land unto the maine neere adjoyning and thither went she then in her waggon and said The Rhodians mistooke and were deceived who were to demaund tollage of Islands and not of the Continent Besides these there are temples prowdly standing with high lanternes and steeples among which Serapium carrieth up the head aloâ—t which although there be but few words and little speech goe of it yet with most stately courts and porches supported upon pillars with lively portraicts and images and with a number of other artificall workes so adorned it is that excepting the Capitoll whereby venerable Rome advaunceth it selfe in majestie for ever the world cannot see a more sumptuous and glorious thing Wherein were libraries of inestimable worth and all the auncient records jointly doe testifie That seven hundred thousand bookes bestowed there such was the vigilant cate of Ptolomeyes the kings were in the Alexandrine warre whiles the citie was sacked under Caesar Dictator burnt to ashes Twelve miles from thence standeth Canopus to which the Pilot of Menelâ—us as auncient monuments beare witnesse there buried gave that name a place even to this day built sumptuously with churches and goodly faire innes through which the winds blow that are of an holesome temperature insomuch that any man living in those tracts would thinke that he maketh his abode without our world when oftentimes he shall heare the winds make a gentle noyse with a warme ayre and Sunneshine breath But Alexandria it selfe not arising by little little as other cities but at the very first built large with a spacious compasse and a long time grievously wearied with domesticall dissentions at last after many yeares whiles Aurelianus was Emperour what time as civile brawles brake out to mortall broyles whereby the wals were ruinate lost the greatest part of her territories named Bruchion after it had beene for a long time the seat and dwelling place of excellent and renowmed men Thence descended Aristarchus that famous and mostlearned Grammarian Herodian also a diligent student and searcher into the most curious arts likewise Saccas Ammonius the master of Plotinus and a number of other writers in many noble professions of learning among whom Chalcenterus Didymus memorable for his enterprise of manifold sciences caried a great name who in those six â—ookes wherein sometime he findeth fault though unperfectly with Tully following herein the Sillographi foule tongued and rayling writers blameth the judgement of learned eares faring herein with his unsavorie and affectate speech like unto a foolish whelpe that afarre off keepeth a barking and baying about a terrible roaring Lyon And albeit there were many more together with these whom I have named that flourished here in old time yet in the same citie the professions of sundrie sorts of knowledge are not even in these daies silent for both the masters of Mathematickes after a sort here breath and live still and whatsoever lyeth darke and hidden is discovered and layed open by the Geometricians staffe neither as yet among them is Musicke altogether decayed and gone nor harmonie husht and even yet among some blacke though they be the skill and observation of the heavens motion and of the starres is hotely professed againe and in one word learned there be among them not a few Over and besides cunning they are in the science of prophesie and divination which openeth the courses of the Destinies And as for Physicke whereof in this life of ours which can little skill of temperature and sobrietie the many helps and meanes are right requisite and needfull the studie and practise therof encreaseth daily so that although it stand most upon practise and experience yet in lieu of al experiments it sufficeth for a Physitian to commend the authoritie of his skill if he doe but say That he was trained up therein at Alexandria And thus much verily may serve as touching these matters But if any man wil with a quicke understanding revolve the manifold introductions into the intelligence of Divinitie and the originall of fore-knowing things to come he shall find that such kind of learning was from Aegypt carryed and spread over the whole world Here first men long before others came to the sundrie rudiments and cradles as they say of Religion and the first principles of their sacred mysteries they warily keepe and save bestowed in secret sanctuaries In this knowledge Pythagoras being instructed and according to it secretly worshipping the gods whatsoever he said or held he ordained the same to stand in stead of an â—â— approved authoritie and oftentimes he shewed at Olympia his golden thigh and was from time to time seene to talke with an Angell And hence it was that Anaxagoras foretold That stones should fall from heaven and by handling the mud that was in a pit or well gave a prediction of the earthquakes that ensued Solon also
by the helpes hee had from the opinions of the Aegyptian Priests by making lawes according to the direction of justice brought the greatest strength and validitie to the Roman law also From these fountaines glorious Wisedome in imitation of Iupiter marching on high with brave and loftie words having not seene Aegypt hath as it were in warfare displayed her banners Now for the Aegyptians themselves they be men for the most part somewhat of a darke swart colour and blacke and much enclining to melancholie leane and drie upon everie motion wrathful and angry litigious and most eagre demaunders againe for any arrerages and dueties behind If any one of them by his deniall of tributes could not shew upon his body many blacke and blew markes he would be ashamed And to this day there could not be found the torment so violent as to fetch out of any of their hearts obdurat and hardened in robberie so much as to tell what his proper name was And this one thing moreover is well knowne as appeareth by our antient Annales That all Aegypt heretofore was ruled by their kings friends unto the State of Rome but after that Antonie and Cleopatra were in the battaile at Sea before Actium vanquished it became possessed by Octavianus Augustus and tooke the name of a province As for Libya the drie we attained unto it by vertue of the last wil testament of king Apion Cyrenae with the residue of the cities in Libya Pentapolis we received as a gift at the bountifull hand of Ptolemeus Having thus launched out a great way I will returne now to the order of my hystorie begun THE XXIII BOOKE CHAP. I. Iulianus taking unto him Sallustius as Collegue whom he ordained to bee Praefect for Gallia goeth in hand with the reedification of the Temple at Jerusalem but in vaine Being terrified with ominous signes and prodigious tokens yet mindeth he to enterprise the Persian war THese were the acts to say nothing of smal matters and minutes of affaires that passed this yeare in the Provinces But Iulian having beene thrice Consul alreadie taking unto him â— Sallustius the Praefect in Gaule to the fellowship of wearing the Consulare robe entred himselfe that most honourable magistracie the fourth time And a strange noveltie it was thought to have a privat person joyned to the Emperour in that place of dignitie a thing that no man could remember done since Dioclesian and Aristobulus time And although he with carefull mind conceiving aforehand the varietie of accidents hastened forward with ardent desire the manifold preparations for the expedition yet distrusting mens diligence everie where and much desiring to propagat the memoriall of his Empire by some great workes hee intended with excessive cost to reedifie that sumptuous and stately temple in times past at Ierusalem which after many mortal skirmishes and assaults during the siege that Vespasian first and Titus afterwards layd unto it was with much adoe hardly forced and beaten downe And he gave the charge of dispatching the businesse with speed to Alypius of Antioch who sometime had beene deputie a governor of Britannie When as therefore the sayd Alypius was earnestly bent upon this affaire and the ruler of the province did set to his helping hand behold certaine fearefull flaming balls of fire issuing forth neere unto the foundations and making many terrible assaults consumed sundrie times the workemen and made the place unaccessable and by reason that this element still gave the repulse the enterprise was given over At the same time were sent from Rome unto the Emperour as embassadors noble personages of high birth and for their approved life and conversation knowne to be of good desert whom he honoured with sundrie dignities As for Apronianus he decreed that he should be Praefect of Rome and Octavianus Proconsul of Affricke to Venustus he committed the deputiship of Spaine and Rufinus Arabius he promoted to be Lieutenant generall of the East in the place of his uncle Iulianus late deceased Which affaires thus ordered as meet it was behold he was terrified with a certaine ominous signe that tooke effect as the event shewed most surely and with speed For by occasion that Felix the Treasurer sodainely dyed of a flux of bloud and the said Lieutenant Iulian followed streight after him the common sort having an eye to the publick titles and putting all together pronounced Iulianus Foelix and Augustus Now there had gone before another fearefull and adverse signe also For upon the verie kalends of Ianuarie as he went up to the temple of Genius whereto men ascend by stairs one of the colledge of priests more antient than the rest fell downe sodainely without any bodie thrusting him and with that casuall and unexpected fall yeelded up his ghost which the standers by whether for want of skill or upon a mind they had to flatter said did pretend some such accident unto the elder of the two Consuls and namely to Sallustius but as it appeared fore-shewed it was thereby That death approached not unto him that was more auncient in yeares but precedent in power and authoritie Besides these there were other smaller fore-tokens likewise which otherwhiles presaged that which happened For at the verie beginning of making preparation for this Parthicke expedition word was brought That Constantinople was shaken with an earth-quake which the skilfull Soothsayers in this kind pronounced to be no fortunat signe unto the ruler that was in hand with the over-running of another Princes Realme and therefore advised him to desist from this unhappie enterprise affirming That these and the like tokens thus farre forth and not otherwise ought to be contemned if there be invasion made by a forreine power for then this one rule abideth firme and perpetuall By all meanes to stand b upon our safeguard and defence all violence of death whatsoever notwithstanding At the verie same time intelligence was given unto him by letters That the propheticall bookes of Sybilla being by his commaundement perused and consulted with at Rome as touching this warre by a plaine answer forbad the Emperour that yeare to depart from his owne limits And yet among these occurrents the embassadours of many nations that promised their ayd after liberall entertainment had their dispatch and were sent home again with this answer of the prince proceeding from a brave confidence That it no wayes became the State of Rome to bee defended by helpe from strangers whose meanes meet it was should maintaine their friends and allyes in case they were driven upon necessitie to call for and crave their succour Onely Arsaces king of Armenia he warned to gather his puissant forces together and attend his will and pleasure as who should quickly know whereto he tended and what hee ought to urge and set forwrd Wherefore upon the first opportunitie that might stand with his advised considerat consultations making hast with a fore-running rumor to be seised of the enemies lands having before the
that the event fell out otherwise For indeed the death of a king was thereby portended but of what king it rested doubtfull For we read that even Oracles also were doubtfully delivered and such as nothing but the accidents that happened in the end could distinctly determine as for example the truth and proofe of the Delphicke prophesie which foretold That Craesus after he had passed over the river Halys should be the overthrow of a most d mightie kingdome as also another which by crooked tearmes appointed the e sea for the Athenians to trie battaile with the Medes yea and an answere by Oracle later than these before cited which verily was true but no lesse ambiguous and equivocant Aiote f Aeacida Romanos vincereposse i. I say thy selfe Aeacides the Romans vanquish may Howbeit the Tuscane Soothsayers which were in his traine and had skill in these prodigious and presaging tokens considering there was no credit given unto them when they oftentimes prohibited and dissuaded this expedition brought foorth their bookes of rites and ceremonies shewed plainely the foresaid sight was a signe prohibitorie and contrarie to a prince that invadeth although justly a forraine princes kingdome But downe went they and were troden under foot in comparison of Philosophers that gainesaid them whose authoritie in those dayes was had in great esteeme and reverence who otherwhiles shoot wide of the marke and yet in matters whereof they have no perfect knowledge stand stiffely a long time For they pretended and alledged as a probable argument to maintaine the truth and credit of their skill in that unto Maximian also before time Caesar being now at the point to joine battail with Narses king of the Persians there was in like maner a lion and a huge wild bore also tendered slain both together he say they after he had vanquished that nation departed in safetie But little considered these Philosophers that thereby destruction was portended to him that invaded and sought for other mens lands and well it is knowne that Narses began first to seize Armenia into his hands which was subject to the Roman power and jurisdiction CHAP. V. Other presaging signes diversly expounded A persuasive oration of Iulianus unto his souldiers as touching hot pursuit of the warre against the Persians SEmblably the day following which was the seventh before the Ides of Aprill when the Sunne grew now toward setting sodainely of a verie small cloud the ayre so thickened that all the light of the day was quite gone and after terrible thunder claps flashes of lightning that came thick one after another a souldier named Iovianus was strucken from heaven fel downe dead together with two horses which hee was bringing backe from the river after they had drunke their fill Which when he saw he sendeth for the interpreters of these and such like signes who being demaunded What they thought thereof avouched confidently That it also prohibited this expedition and intended war shewing that lightning was a counsellor for so are those tearmed which advise or dissuade any thing to be done And therefore especiall heed was to bee taken hereof because it killed a souldier that carried an high and great name together with horses that are beasts for warre and places smitten or blasted by this meanes the bookes which treat of lightnings pronounce That they ought not to be looked or troden upon On the contrarie side That Phylosophers argued that the brightnesse of sacred fire sodainely seene is not significative but onely is the course or shooting of a swift and vehement exhalation thrust some way out of the skie downe to the Iower parts or if aught were fore-tokened thereby it shewed before hand encrease of honour and renowne unto the Emperour in his glorious enterprise considering that certaine it is flames of their owne nature if there be nothing to checke them flie up on high Well when this bridge as hath been said before was finished and all were passed over the river the Emperours chiefe and principall care now as he thought was to make a speech unto his souldiers so forward and fearelesse presuming confidently upon their owne valour and their Generals prowesse By a signall therefore of trumpets sound when all the centuries cohorts and bands were assembled himselfe standing upon a banke of earth clods and guarded round about with a companie of great Commaunders and officers of the campe with a gratious countenance discoursed unto them in this wise as one highly favoured with a joynt consent and affection of them all Right valiant and redoubted souldiers beholding how vigorous yee are in regard of your exceeding puissance and lustie courage I am determined to make an oration unto you and by many reasons to prove That this is not the first time as some evill tongued folkes secretly give out that the Romans have invaded the kingdomes of Persia For to passe by Lucullus or Pompejus who through the Albanes and Massagets whom now wee tearme Alani having made way by force even through this nation have seene the Caspian lakes wee know that Ventidius also the Lieutenant of Antonius made an infinit number of slaughters and overthrowes in these tracts But to leave these acts of auntient record I will rehearse what exploits be fresh in memorie and of late date Trajanus and Severus entred againe thus farre with victories and trophies and with the like honour and fame had Gordian the younger returned whose monument and supulchre we have newly seene honourably erected after he had discomfited and put to flight the Persian king at Resaina but that by the faction of Philip that was Praefectus Praetorio together with the helpe of some few wicked persons he was in this verie place where he now lyeth buried ungratiously wounded and killed Neither wandered his Manes long unrevenged in that as if Iustice her selfe appeared evidently to take vengeance all that conspired against him were put to torture and dolorous death And as for these brave captaines verily whom I have named carried they were with a forward will and mind of atchieving high matters unto the enterprise of these memorable exploits But as for us wee are mooved to undertake these expeditions which we have intended by occasion of the wofull and miserable case of cities newly forced of the unrevenged ghosts of whole armies put to the sword of the great dammages sustained and the losse of our deere friends to the end we may give comfort to our allies redresse and remedie hurts past and by procuring an honourable securitie unto the Commonwealth on this coast of the world leave unto posteritie matter sufficient for which they may give us a noble report and commendation another day Present will I your Emperour be in all places with you through the helpe of immortall God both to lead before you in the front as a Captaine and to fight with you as a fellow souldior and that with fortunat signes of successe as I am persuaded
at sea were quite defeated and themselves could hardly find meanes to escape with safetie to say nothing of the Alexandrine warres and how by will and testament the whole nation was transferred under the government of one successor Which affaires thus atchieved and long times passed under the Consuls government and then afterward our State being reduced under the power of the Caesars those nations now and then waged warre with us sometimes they went their wayes on even hand otherwhiles with losse and sometimes againe with victorie Now will I set downe the situation of the places therein as summarily and briefely as reason will permit These countries lying out largely spread in length and breadth environ about on every side the Persian gulfe so full of Islands so famous and so much frequented the mouthes of which sea are by report so narrow that from Harmozonta a cape or promontorie of Carmania unto another that standeth over against it and which the inhabitants call Maces a man may kenne without any impeachment at all After which straits one passed through and that the open sea spreadeth it selfe exceeding wide men use to sayle directly as farre as to the citie Teredon where after many downefals Euphrates is drowned in the sea and the whole gulfe if a man measure along the shore as if the whole space were wrought round by a Turners brake taketh up in circuit twentie thousand stadia upon all the coasts and sides wherof stand towns and villages thicke yea and there is frequent passage to and fro of shipping When as therefore yee have sayled through the foresaid straits yee come to the gulfe of Armenia lying into the East and after a certaine distance betweene occasioned by a necke or Isthm of land there openeth a Bay or Gulfe in the South named Cantichus not farre from whence there is another which they tearme Chalites under the Sunnesetting Then after a number of Isles passed by of which but few are knowne they joyne upon the Indians Ocean sea which is first of all others that entertaineth the fervent heat of the Sunne rising beeing of it selfe also exceeding hote And according as the Geographers penne hath in their Cards made the draught in this manner is the whole circuit aforesaid by parcels divided From the North pole to the Caspian straits it confineth upon the Cadusij with many nations of the Scythians and the Arimaspi men with one eye and savage on the South side it meeteth with the Armenians and Niphates as also the Albanes seated in Asia with the red sea and the Arabians Scenitae whom the posteritie ensuing named Saracenes under the South point it over-looketh Mesopotamia and where it lyeth afront opposite into the East it stretcheth to the river Ganges which cutting through the middest of the Indian lands is discharged into the South sea CHAP. VII The regions thereof the Praefects or Rulers in it the wonders of Nature and Cities that it sheweth NOw there are contained within the whole compasse of Persia these countries that be of greatest name and those ruled under Vitaxae that is captaines of horsemen kings and princes tearmed Satrapae for those of the lesser sort they be so many in number it were a difficult and needlesse piece of worke to recount namely Assyria Susiana Media Petsis Parthia Carmania the greater Hyrcania Margiana Bactriani Sogdiani Sacae Scythia lying beyond the mountaine Emodes Serica Aria Paropamissadae Drangiana Arachosia and Gedrosia The next unto us and on this side all the rest is noble Assyria for being well peopled and much frequented for greatnesse also in compasse and fruitfulnesse many wayes most wealthie which having lyen in times past spread into large countries and territories and being full of them and plenteous withall grew into one name and all of it now is called Assyria Where among abundance of Berries and other vulgar fruits groweth h Bitumen neere unto a lake named Sosingites by whose belly or channell Tigris being swallowed and running under ground after he hath gone a great way ariseth and appeareth again Here is engendred i Naphtha clammie and glutinous like unto pitch and it also resembleth Bitumen upon which if a little bird settle she looseth her flight sinketh downe and is drowned quite out of sight And when this kind of liquor beginneth one to catch fire mans wit is not able to devise any meanes save onely dust to quench and put it out In these territories there is likewise to be seene a gaping hole within the ground from whence exhaleth a deadly breath or vapour which with the strong smell or sent whereof killeth what living creatures soever standeth neere unto it Which noysome and pestilent vapor arising forth of a certaine deepe pit when it once passed the wide mouth thereof before that it walmed up higher caused through the contagiousnesse thereof the grounds lying round about it to be inhabitable The like hole unto this was as some report seene heretofore at Hierapolis in Phrygia from which in semblable sort an hurtfull spirit or aire issuing by the continuall smell that it yeelded killed whatsoever came neere unlesse they were guelded what the cause might be of this accident I referre to the reasons that may be made out of naturall Philosophie Also at the temple of Iupiter Asbameus in Cappadocia where that great and most renowmed Philosopher Apollonius is reported to have beene borne in the towne Tyana there is to bee seene a fountaine running forth of a poole which swelling big with abundance of water and drinking up himselfe againe yet never surroundeth his bankes Neere unto this circuit is that part of Assyria called in auncient time Adiabena which by long use turned to this name for that being situate betweene Oena and Tigris two navigable rivers there was no fouâ—d that ever gave accesse in to it For we in Greece expresse a passage over to a place by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And this verily is the conceit of those in old time But we have learned that in these countries there be two ever-running rivers which my selfe also hath passed over namely Diavas and Adiavas having bridges upon them of ships set together And hence we are to understand it tooke that denomination even as of very great rivers Aegypt as Homer sayth India and Euphratensis beforetime Comagena likewise Iberia now Spaine of Iberus and of the river Baetis that famous province Baetica In this Adiabena standeth the citie Ninus which in times past was possessed of the kingdomes of Persis and sheweth the name of Ninus that most mightie king sometime the husband of Semiramis also Ecbatana Arbela and Gaugamela where Alexander after many adventurous and dangerous battails in heat of martiall bloud gave Darius an overthrow Now within the compasse of Assyria
there be a number of cities among which the principall is Apamia surnamed Mesene also Teredon Apollonia and Vologessia together with many other like unto them but for shew and name these three onely be most glorious and of greatest note to wit Babylon the wals whereof Semiramis layd with Bitumen for the tower or citadell thereof that most auncient king Belus built Ctesiphon which Vardanes in old time founded and afterwards king Pacorus when he had bettered it with strength of inhabitants and strong wals gave it a Greeke name and made it the very chiefe seat and mirroir of all Persis and then Seleucia the sumptuous and stately worke of Seleucus Nicator which being by the captaines of Verus Caesar sore shaken and brought to ruine as before I have related the image of Apollo Chomeus being displaced unshrined and brought to Rome the Prelats bestowed in the temple of Apollo Palatinus And the voice goeth That after this very same image was thus caried away and the citie burnt the souldiors in rifling and ransacking the temple met with a narrow hole which when they had layed open therein to find some precious treasure out of a certaine sanctuarie shut up sometimes by the privie counsellors of the Chaldaeans sprung forth that originall disease and corruption which having once conceived the force of an incurable maladie in the daies of the same Verus and Marcus Antoninus from the very bounds of Persia unto Rhene and Gaule infected all places with contagion and bred much mortalitie Here hard by lyeth the Chaldaeans countrey nourice of the auncient Philosophie as themselves report among whom the truth of divination and credit of prophesies first shone foorth and gave light CHAP. VIII The rivers of Persia which are of greater note The many tracts therein The Magi and a wonderous medicinable oyle MOreover there run through these same lands as the nobler rivers above others these which before I have named also Marsyas and the kings river together with Euphrates that passeth all which carrying three channels is in all his streames navigable and as he runneth round about Islands and above all the industrie of husbandmen watereth the corne grounds maketh the same both pliable to the plough and meet also for breeding up of woods and groves Vpon these tracts joine the Susiani who have not many townes but among other Susa holdeth up her head as having beene many times the seat and habitation of the kings likewise Arsiana Sela and Arecha the rest are but small and obscure beside But many rivers there be that run here and there in these places among which more excellent than their fellowes are Oates Harax and Mesus by the sandie straits that keepe the red sea and the Caspian sea asunder flowing into the sea But on the left side Media confineth and openeth upon the Hyrcane sea which countrey before the reigne of Cyrus the elder and the growth of Persis wee read was the Queene of all Asia namely when it had subdued the Assyâ—ians a number of whose territories changed into the name of Atropatena it possessed in right of warre a martiall nation and next to the Parthians who onely are their conquerors right dreadfull inhabiting certaine regions shaped in manner of a fouresquare figure All the inhabitants of these lands spread very farre and take up an exceeding breadth and over them there peake up passing high mountaines which they call Zagrus Orontes and Iasonium Also they that dwell in the West part of Coronus a very high hill have a number of fields yeelding abundance of corne and wine for their fatnesse and fertilitie right pleasant and in rivers and cleare veines of Springs as rich With them a man shall see the fresh greene meddowes there shall yee find a race and breed of generous horses on which as auncient writers shew and our selves have seene brave men are wont to be mounted when in great jolitie they goe to battaile and give the charge with all their force and such they call Nisaei It hath abundance of cities also such as Media is stored with of villages likewise built in manner of townes and is as well peopled And that I may speake fully at a word it is the most plentifull habitation and seat of kings In these tracts lye the fertile fields of the Magi as touching whose sect studie and profession for that we are hither come convenient it is that some briefe discourse were made Plato a most substantiall author of notable opinions sheweth us That Magia is by a mysticall word no other than Machagistia which signifieth the most uncorrupt and sincere religion and observance of divine mysteries to which knowledge in auncient times Zoroastres the Bactrian added many things out of the Chaldaeans secrets and after him the most wise prince Hystaspes father of Darius who when he adventured farre into the inward parts of the higher India came unto a certain wildernesse full of woods the silent and quiet seat wherein the k Bracmans men of high reach and deepe conceit enjoy and by their instruction being taught so farre forth as he was able to conceive and apprehend the manner and order of the heavens motion and of the starres together with the pure rites of religion of such principles as he learned he infused some into the minds of the Magi for their better knowledge which they together with the skill and prescience of things to come deliver everie man successively by his owne children and progenie unto the posteritie ensuing From that time for many ages together even to this present a number proceeding out of one and the same line and race be dedicated to the worship and service of the gods And it is said also if we may beleeve so much that there is kept burning among them perpetually upon harthes the fire that fell from heaven and men say That some small parcell thereof in token of good lucke went in times past before the kings of Asia The number of them at their first beginning was of old but verie small and the mysteries of their profession the Persian Rulers and potentates solemnly used in their sacrifices and divine service And a most haynous offence it was to goe unto the altars or to handle an ost or sacrifice before that a Magus had by a set forme of prayer powred forth certaine praecursarie libations But being by little and little encreased in multitude they grew at length to the greatnesse and name of an entire nation and inhabiting villages not fenced nor fortified with walls and permitted to use their owne lawes in regard of religion they were held honourable Of the race of these Magi as auncient bookes record there were seven that after the death of Cambyses tooke upon them the royall governâ—ment of Persia which records also testifie That they being over-weighed and borne downe by the faction of Darius at the beginning had the said
under the North-east are the Abij said to converse a people most godly and devout as who use to contemne and tread under foot all worldly things whom as Homer verie fabulously poetizeth l Iupiter beholdeth from the Idaean mountaines Beyond the Hyrcans in the next places are seated the Margiani enclosed in manner all on everie side with high hills and therefore disjoyned from the sea And albeit most parts lye there desert and unhabited for scarcitie of water yet have they certaine townes but Iasonion Antiochia and Nisea be better knowne than the rest The next limits to these are possessed by the Bactrians a nation before time warlike and most puissant evermore infesting the Persians before that they drew all the people seated round about them to their devotion and the allyance of their name governed in auncient times by kings dreadfull even to Arsaces The most parts of this country like as Margiana be far remote from the sea coasts but plenteous of such things as breed grow upon the ground the cattell also in the champian places and the mountaines is big limmed compact and strong made as the Camels well shew brought from thence by Mithridates and which the Romans saw the first time at the siege of Cyzicum To these Bactrians many nations yeeld obedience which tyl the plaines and levell fields and the same after the manner of Italie are overflowed with many rivers of which Artamis and Zariaspes that meet in one confluence before likewise Ochus and Orgomanes with their streames concurring together and joyning in one chanell wonderfully encrease the river Oxus There bee cities also here which divers rivers run just by giving place to these as their betters namely Cathra Charte Alicodra Astacia Menapila and Bactra it selfe of which the kingdome and nation tooke the name first scituat at the verie bottome and foot of the mountaines which they call Sogdij Among which rivers there passe two verie capable of ships and Navigable Araxates and Dymas which by hills and vallyes running headlong with a great downe-fall into the champian plaines make the marish named Oxia spred farre in length and bredth And here among other townes Alexandria Tribatra and Drepsa the mother citie are famous Vpon these joyne the Sacae a savage nation inhabiting foule and over growne places commodious onely for cattell and therefore not planted with cities over whom stand aloft the mountaines Ascanimia and Comedus neere to the foot whereof and a towne which they call Lithinos-Pyrgos there lyeth a verie long and open way passable for marchants that otherwhiles go to trade and traffique with the Seres About the breaches and edges of the mountaines which they tearme Immavi and Tapurij are the Scythians within the bounds of Persia confining with the Sarmatae of Asia and reaching to the utmost side of the Alani Who living as it were in some â—ooke and by-place and bred up in a solitarie life are dispersed a great way a sunder used to live upon homely and poore food And verily there bee sundrie nations that in habit these tracts which now to reckon up making hast as I doe to other matters I thinke superfluous Yet thus much would be knowne that among these nations unaccessable in manner by reason of the exceeding rigour and roughnesse of the countrey there be some men mild and kind as are namely the Laxartae and Galactophagi of whom the Poet Homer maketh mention in this verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is to say Of the Galactophagi people that live by eating milke and the Abij among whom no violence beareth sway or who have no regard of their food or life most righteous men Moreover among many riuers which in these lands nature either joyneth to greater or by their course afterward draweth into the Sea much talke there is of Roemnus Iaxartes and Talicus But these nations are not knowne to have above three cities Aspabota Cauriana and Saga CHAP. XI Likewise the Seres Ariani Paropamissadae Drangiani Arachosij and Gedrosij TEyond these places of Scythia the one and the other full upon the East climat the tops of high hills linked as it were in a chaine compasse within a round circle as one would say the Seres for plentifull large countries much esteemed who on the West side joyne upon the Scythians North and East they bound upon the snowie wildernesse and Southward they lye out as farre as India and Ganges Now the same mountaines before said are called Aria Nazavitium Asmira Emodus and Opurocarra This playne therefore environed on everie side with a steepe downefall and these lands stretched so spatiously in breadth two famous and renowmed rivers Oechardes and Banthisis with a still and slow streame run through and of the divers tracts herein the nature also is different in one place large and open in another lying flat and low with an easie fall and descent in which regards they have aboundance of corne store of cattell and plentie of hortyards and such like Now this soile so fertill and fruitfull as it is sundrie nations do inhabit of which Alitrophagi Carambusi Syzyges and Chardi ly open and full upon the Northerne winds and frosts But the Rabannae Asmirae and Essedones the noblest and most famous of them all face the Sunne-rising unto whom from the West part joyne the Atharae and Asparatae but the Betae bending toward the high mountaines in the South are much renowmed for their cities which though they be not many yet great they are and wealthie whereof Asmira Essedon Asparata and Pherae are most beautifull and best knowne Now the people themselves I meane the Seres live very quietly without use of armes at all times without triall of battailes and as rest is to stayed and peaceable men delectable they are to none of their neighbours troublesome The temperature of the weather among them is pleasant and holesome the constitution of the aire cleere and pure the blowing of gentle winds most commodious and the woods have pretie store of light within and under them from whence the people with much sprinckling of water softening that which the trees yeeld and bring forth like unto certaine fleeces kembe a most fine and tender matter mixed of a kind of downe and liquid substance and spinning thred hereof make silke serving for the use of nobilitie and gentrie before time but now for the basest sort also without any difference and respect They themselves are above others most frugall lovers of a still and quiet life shunning the companies of other mortall men And when as strangers are passed over the river to buy their thread or some other commodities without any speech to or fro the prices of wares set forth to sale are esteemed onely by the eye And so void are they of covetousnesse that delivering forth what things grow and are bred among them they themselves buy nothing brought in from other countries Beyond the Seres live the Ariani subject to the
came to a place called Barax-malcha from whence after wee had crossed over the river we enter Diacira standing seven miles off where was a citie voyd of inhabitants full of corne and fine white salt wherein we saw a temple seated upon a citadell and bearing a loftie head Which citie after wee had burned and put some few women to the sword whom we there found as also passed over a certain fountain out of which issueth plentie of Bitumen we seized the towne Ozogardana which likewise the inhabitants forsooke for feare of our armic comming toward it in this towne was shewed for a â—ight the Tribunall of Traian the Emperour When we had consumed this towne also with fire and allowed our selves two dayes for the refreshing of our bodies toward the latter end of the night that followed two dayes after Surena a potentat among the Persians of high place and dignitie for his deserts next under the king and one named Malechus Podosaces a chiefe Tribune of the Saracenes Assanitae a notorious Brigand who with all maner of crueltie had a long time committed ouâ—rage in our marches having laid wait for to intercept Ormisda of whom they had an inkling intelligence given them by what meanes I wot not that he would go forth in espiall to discover the countrey were disappointed of this their attempted enterprise for that the narrow passage of the river running betweene such was the depth thereof could not be waded over And at the first appearing of day-light when as now the enemies were within view as who before time had not beene in sight all glittering with their bright helmets and terribly clad in stiffe and stubborne jacks our souldiors eagre of fight and sharply set to give battaile charged upon them right valiantly And albeit they bent their bowes with mightie strength and the brightnesse of their swords and weapons glittering againe had beene ynough to encrease the Romans yet anger gave such an edge unto their valour that being covered with a â—ence of targuets and shields couched thicke and close together they empeached them so as that they could not discharge or shoot an arrow from them CHAP. III. Our armie passeth over Naar-Malcha i. the Kings river and then both besiegeth and also assaulteth Pyrisabora a large and populous towne OVr souldiors encouraged and emboldned with so good beginnings came to a small towne named Macepracta wherein were seene the remaines of a ruinat wall which in old time stretching out in a great length was reported to be a fence for Assyria from inrodes and invasions From hence one arme of the river is divided with a large streame leading to the more inward tracts of Babylonia to serve the fields countrey villages and cities lying round about and another named Naar-Malcha which is by way of interpretation The Kings river runneth along by Ctesiphon In the verie first entraâ—ce whereof there riseth up a passing high tower in maner of a a Pharus and this bâ—aunch of the river all our footmen passed over upon bridges wisely and warily placed But the horsemen in armes together with their beasts under them swam over the streame of the river which was so much the milder because it runneth a crooked course others were charged sodainely with a volley of the enemies shot whom our auxiliaries being gone forth and most lightly appointed for speedie footmanship followed hard upon their necks in chase as they ran away laid along on the ground and seised on them tearing them in peeces as they had beene foules Which exploit being likewise gloriously atchieved we came before Pyrisabora a large and populous citie fenced round about with a trench and rampier like an island Vnder the walls and plot whereof on which it was seated the Emperour riding about with all warinesse and circumspection began the siege as if with the feare onely of him he would drive the townesmen from all mind of making defence who having beene oft dealt withal by way of parle when there could not a man of them be brought to yeeld either by promises or threatnings he began to give an assault And so environing the walls with a threeâ—old circle or course of armed men for the first day until the night began he maintained skirmish with shot and discharging of peeces against them Then the defendants whose courage and strength was not behind spreading wide on everie side about their bulwarks large haire-clothes to keep off the violent force of darts and casting weapons fenced also with shields before them wrought of most tough and strong oysiers and the same covered also with thicke raw hides most valiantly resisted as who themselves made a shew all over of yron and steele for that the plates fittted aptly close one to another to serve the liniaments and proportion of everie lim and part of the bodie with a sure armour of proofe covered the whole man And howsoever sundrie times they craved earnestly to have conference with Ormisdâ— as being borne and bred among them and a prince beside of the bloud royall yet no sooner came he toward them but they reviled and railed at him with opprobrious tearmes as a disloyall traytor and revolter And thus after the most part of the day was spent with trifling cavillations in the verie beginning of the still and darke night advanced forward there were engines of many fashions and then the deepe trenches began to be filled up and laied even Which the defendants wisely beholding before it was any thing full daylight as also that the forcible and violent push of the Ram had thirled an hole through a corner-tower they leaving the duple wall of the citie put themselves within the citadell joining hard thereto situate upon the broken plaine of a rough and craggie hill the middle part whereof raysed up to a great height with a round compasse resembled an Argive buckler save that from the North side what was wanting of roundnesse the cliffes and raggie rocks lying forth aloft over the river Euphrates running beneath surely fenced the same in which citadell the battilments of the wals excelled as being made of small bricks layed with Bitumen which is knowne to be the surest building that can be And now our souldiors being more fierce than before after they had gone through the citie which they saw void of people fought sharpely against the townesmen that from the citadell let flye shot and casting-weapons of many sorts For when the same defendants were troubled sore with the brakes crosse-bowes and balists of our men they themselves also from aloft set up their bowes strongly bent the crooked hornes whereof arising at both ends were so stiffely bowed that the strings driven with the violent stroke of fingers sent away shafts headed with yron which striking upon the bodies that were against them stucke fast in theâ—â— and gave a deadly wound Neverthelesse the skirmish held still on both sides with stormes as it were of stones flung by hand and thus in
dishonourable presidents of seditions in old time goe on hardly and doe so still I for my part as becommeth an Emperour and noble Commaunder after I have run my race and performed so many brave courses will alone die standing on my feet readie to contemne this life of mine which some little fever or other will bereave me of or at leastwise I will go my wayes and leave the field for I have not lived so but that I may one day become a private person Howbeit I glorie in this and reioyce that there be with us most approoved captaines and tried leaders such as in all kinds of martiall skill be accomplished CHAP. V. The Persians practise meanes of let and hinderance which when Iulian had with much adoe overcome he found countries more commodious and therein Date trees of which there be some strange reports Iulian after his armie was refreshed commeth to Euphrates where he is divided into many branches and neere unto Maiozamalcha was privily assailed by ten Persians but notwithstanding this great danger of his life escaped in safetie BY this modest speech of the Emperours carrying a current betweene courtesie and severitie the souldiors for the time were appeased and putting on a greater confidence with expectation of better matters promising to be tractable and obedient extolled up to heaven his authoritie and highnesse of spirit which when it is said truly and from the heart love is wont by a small noyse to be shewed and declared After this when he returned againe to the tents according to that store which the present would affoord hee refreshed himselfe with food and rest at night Now the manner was of Iulian to animate his armie swearing evermore not by such things as were deere unto him but by the great exploits and affaires that were begun as for example So might hee subdue the Persians So might he repaire the shaken estate of the Roman Empire Like as it is reported of Traian That otherwhiles hee was woont to bind his words and promises with such oathes as these So may I see Dacia reduced into the forme of provinces So may I passe over Ister or Euphrates upon bridges and many such like words After this I say when we had passed foureteene myles forward wee came to a certaine place that with abundant overflow of waters enricheth the fields and maketh them plentifull which way the Persians being informed that we would goe plucked up the floud-gates and suffered the waters to flow and spread all abroad By reason therefore that the ground stood all as it were on a standing poole the second day the Emperour giving his souldiors rest went forth himselfe and on many floored bridges made of f leather bougets and ships supported with pyles as also of hewen logs and plankes of Date tree with much difficultie he transported his armie In these countries there be many fields planted with Vines and sundrie sorts of fruitfull trees where Date trees are wont to grow and take up a great deale of ground reaching in manner of mightie forrests as farre as to Mesene and the great Sea and which way soever a man goeth he seeth continually branches of Palme-trees and the Dates hanging thereupon of the fruit of which trees abovesaid is made plentie of honey and wine and as touching the very Date trees themselves it is said they be maried and wedded as it were one to another also that the sexes may easily be discerned It is reported moreover That the females annointed with the seed of the male doe conceive and beare yea and by report they delight in mutuall love which appeareth hereby in that they doe bend in the head and leane one against another so as that they are not with the very puffing blasts of wind turned another way And in case the female according to the usuall manner be not so besmeared with the seed of the male she looseth by an abortive defect her untimely fruit and if it be not well knowne what tree it is that the female is in love with the stocke or stem of it is besmeared with the ointment thereof and then the other tree naturally conceiveth the sweet odour and so by these tokens is bewrayed the certainetie as it were of their generation With this food the armie replenished plentifully passed by many Islands and where they were afraid before of want and scarcitie there they feared fulnesse and surfeit Well the Emperour in the end being assayled covertly by the enemies archers and yet not without revenge againe drew neere to a place where the greater part of Euphrates divideth it selfe into many rivers with their divers and sundrie streames In this tract there was a citie for the low wals thereof abandoned by the Iewes which the souldiors in an anger set on fire This done the Emperour marched on further still with greater courage and confidence as thinking hee was assisted by the gracious helpe of the divine power And when he was come to Majozamalcha a great citie and encircled with strong walls he pitched downe his tents and carefully provided that his campe might not be troubled with any suddain rode of the Persians horsemen the valour and puissance whereof in champian and open grounds is wonderously dread of all nations And having taken this order guarded with some few light appointed skirmishers being himselfe also on foot minding diligently to search and view the situation of the citie he happened to plunge himselfe headlong into a mischievous ambuscado and escaped in the end the utmost danger of his life For at a blind and secret gate of the towne there went out ten Persians armed who passing closely on their knees under the bottome of the cliffes suddainely with great violence charged upon our men and two of them espying the Emperour himselfe as he was evident to be seen and knowne by his rich apparell with their drawne swords layd at him but by lifting up his broad shield he warded the blowes and under the sure fence thereof himselfe in a brave and bold resolution ran one of them with his sword into the side and the other after many a stroke and wound given was slaine by his guard aforesaid the rest whereof some were hurt ran away and so after he had disarmed and devested those twaine he brought backe his companions in safetie returned with their spoyles unto the campe and was with great joy of them all received g Torquatus tooke from an enemie whom he laid along a coller of gold h Valerius sirnamed afterwards Corvinus by the help and defence of a foule overcame a most bold and bragging Gaule and for these brave exployts were commended unto posteritie We envie not their glorie but yet I would have this noble and worthy act registred also in auncient records CHAP. VI. The siege of Maiozamalcha enterprised and begun by Iulianus THe day next following after he had floored over his bridges transported the armie and in a more holesome place pitched his
campe compassed about with a double trench and rampier because as I said be-before he feared the plaine and open deserts he began to lay siege to the said towne supposing it would be verie daungerous unto him if marching still forward he should leave those at his backe whom hee was to feare Whiles with great endevour he made this preparation Surena the great Commaunder of the enemies having set upon our beasts which grazed in the date tree groves was by our cohorts appointed to drive him backe welcomed with the slaughter of some few and so went his wayes without effect and the inhabitants of two cities which stand as islands environed round about with rivers some upon a confidence of their owne strength hastily betooke themselves to Câ—esiphon a walled towne others running through the thickets and some againe conveying themselves over the washes and marishes in flotes and troughes of hollowed trees betooke themselves to the onely and chiefe helpe that remained namely to get away far ynough off meaning to goe into the more remote parts of the land Of whom some that made resistance our souldiors slew who also themselves skoured the coasts up and downe in flotes and boats and others now and then they toooke prisoners and brought in For with deliberat and advised consideration this order was taken That whiles the regiments of footmen were besieging and assayling the wals of the towne the troups of the horsmen divided into certaine cornets companies â—hold be employed busily in raysing and driving away booties out of the fields and by this provident forecast without any losse and hinderance at all of the provinciall people our souldiors preyed and fed upon the enemies bowels And now by this time our Emperour having encircled with a threefold course of shields the towne aforesaid which had a double wall about it in hope to atchieve his enterprise with maine force gave the assault But as the attempt was necessarie so the effecting therof was most difficult for the avenue unto it being on everie side for the danger thereof doubtfull by reason that the cliffes aloft in their turning were i cloven and rent as also for that their ascents and tops were full of crooked windings denyed them all meanes of accesse especially for that the towers standing so thicke and high made a terrible shew and were equall in height to the craggie mount naturally rising aloft on which the citadell stood and the plaine descent falling to the river side was fortified with strong bulwarkes To all these difficulties there was another mischiefe no lesse troublesome than the rest namely that the besieged who were a picked number of valiant men furnished with store everie way could by no allurements be induced to yeeld but as making full account either to win the victorie or devow and betake themselves to be consumed with the ashes of their countrey withstood their enemies Now by this time were our souldiors hardly and with much ado held backe advancing themselves foolishly and prowdly forward calling also for fight even in plaine field and set battaile yea and when the retrait was sounded still pricked on they were with couragious stomacke and hot endevour to preasse upon the enemie Howbeit the counsell of our captaines overcame at length that exceeding forwardnesse and violence of theirs and so when the service and worke was divided everie man most speedily taketh him to his severall charge appointed unto him For of the one side were raysed high mounts and terraces on the other side some filled up the deepe ditches and made them levell with the ground whiles others were busie elsewhere in making hollow trenches with passages along within the earth There were cunning Mechanikes also that planted engines peeces of ordnance to batter the wals such as wold as they were discharged make a horrible and deadly noyse And verily of undermining and the fabrickes fore-covert and defence Nevita and Dagalaiphus had the charge but the Emperour himselfe gave direction for skirmish as also for saving the frames and engines as wel from fire as sallies And when as all the preparation for the overthrow rasing of the city with much painful labor was finished and nothing now but fight called for Marquesse Victor returned who having sounded and discovered all the wayes as farre as to Ctesiphon brought word That hee found no stops or lets in his journey For joy of which newes all the souldiors were so set a god and bare so confident and resolute minds to fight that they armed presently and waited for the signall to proceed unto the assault CHAP. VII The most strong assault of the said citie The painefull toyle industrie and fortitude as well of the besiegers as besieged At length by undermining the walls are overthrowne ANd now whiles the trumpets sounded out alowd the battaile the souldiors on both parts shouted amaine and first the Romans with many a run and with a minatorie noyse charged upon the enemies all covered on everie side with plates of yron in manner of thin and slender feathers and bearing themselves bold for that the darts and casting weapons hitting upon the slipperie hard yron of their armours rebounded backe and otherwhiles the knitting together of the Romans shields under which as under a roofe of arch worke that cannot well bee described they were most fitly protected with continuall stirring and motion opened somewhat wide a sunder On the contrarie â—ide the Persians sticking close to their walls so far forth as they could do or strive againe assayed to checke and make voyd our deadly violence But when as now the assailants carrying before them hurdles of tough â—yâ—ier windings were upon the point to skale the walls the slingers and archers together with others also tumbling downe huge stones with firebrands and fire-balls set them further off Then also the Balists bent and fitted with shafts of wood were wrested up and discharged with a great noyse sending forth headed arrowes exceeding thicke the Scorpions likewise whither soever by skilful hand they were directed discharged from them round stones Thus after redoubled conflicts one upon another the heat of the weather still encreasing untill noone by reason that the Sunne did cast scorching hot vapours from him called them all away as busie as they were in preparation of their workes and desirous of fight being tyred out and running all to sweat With the same purpose and setled resolution the day also following both parts bickering one with another in sundrie sorts of fight depart on even hand neither winners nor loosers But at everie hard pinch and daungerous service the prince in person joyning close to the fighting men called instantly upon them to have the citie forced and destroyed because hee would not lye long about the walls and overslip greater designes that he projected But as it falleth out in cases of urgent extremitie there is nothing so slight and small but otherwhiles even contrarie to all hope and expectation it yeeldeth
narrow strait passages within by that means the thicker stopped the vital breath of some and killed them others the hot breath of the fire mingled therewith meâ— withall and forced to come forth upon their owne present death And so when they were all dispatched out of the way what with fire and what with sword the souldiors quickly returned backe to their colours Thus a large and populous citie rased by the prowesse of Roman forces fell to dust and utter ruine After which so glorious exploits when we had passed over divers bridges joyning one to another by reason of the concourse of many rivers we came unto two forts built with hollow and vaulted houses where the kings sonne advauncing forward from Ctesiphon with many nobles and a multitude in armes went about to debarre Victor the Comes as he went before the armie from passage over the river but hee having once spied the companies of our souldiers following he went his way And so we marched on untill we came to certaine groves and fields all fresh and greene with the blade of young corne there sowen where also we found an house of the kings built after the Roman fashion and for that it pleased us well it stood untouched For there was in this verie quarter a large peece of ground lying round and enclosed all about with a mound like the fenced circuit of some hold containing within it wild beasts appoynted for the kings game and delight to wit Lyons with shaggemaned neckes wild Boars with brisly shoulders and Beares likewise for such they be in Persia beyond all measure savage and raging beside other beasts chosen for the nonce with mightie maine bodies all which after wee had broken the boults and barâ—es of the gates our horsemen with their hunting launces and a number of shot and casting weapons sticked and slue These places are seated in a fat soyle and well husbanded not farre from which standeth Coche which they call Seleucia where the prince after he had cast a trench and rampier about his campe in tumultuarie hast and for two dayes space refreshed the whole armie by the opportunitie they found of water and food marched before with the avant-curriers and as hee viewed the citie forsaken and left desolat as which in times past had been destroyed and rased by Verus Câ—sar of sacred memorie wherein also an euer running fountaine sendeth forth a mightie great poole running downe into the river Tigris he beheld hanging upon gibbets many bodies of his neere friends and kinsfolke who as I said before betrayed the citie Pyrisabora Here was Nabdates also burnt quicke who as I shewed â—rewhile was with fourescore besides drawne out of the lurking holes of the citie lately forced For why having at the beginning of the siege secretly promised to surrender the citie he fought notwithstanding moststoutly and yet when beyond all hope hee had obtained pardon brake out to that height of insolencie that he reviled Ormisda and gave him all the opprobrious tearmes that could be CHAP. IX Iulianus upon the intercepting of certaine Roman forragers and avoyding of a great danger besâ—egeth amost strong fenced pyle which he winneth and burneth after hee had thrust certaine hâ—rsemen to the service on foot who cowardly received the brunâ— of certaine Persian Brigands And then by ioyning of bridges together the armie passeth over Tigris THus after we had marched a prettie way further strucken we were into our dumpes with a crosse and adverse accident For whiles three bands of our out-riders skirmished lightly with a regiment or companie of Persians which the citie by setting open the gates had suddainely put out others that brake forth from the contrarie banke of the river intercept and kill the horses and beasts that followed us together with some few forragers that straggled loosely at their pleasure Whereat the Emperour being wroth and for anger gnashing his teeth tooke his journey forward and approching now the territorie about Ctesiphon he met with an high castle and passing well fortified to the view whereof he adventured to goe neere being unknowne and unseene as himselfe thought and with a few in his companie rode about the walls but when hee was found once to engage himselfe over-farre even within the reach of dart-shot he could no longer be unknowne and presently being coursed and assayled with a voley and cloud as it were of sundrie casting-weapons slaine he had beene with an engine from the walls but that after his Esquire or armour-bearer that stucke close to his side was wounded himselfe covered with a roufe of shields couched close together escaped this great danger and departed For this cause being mooved much and in an exceeding chase he determined to besiege the said fort notwithstanding the defendants were hotely bent to resist for that they presumed upon the place in manner unaccessable and because the king in person marching apace with a royall armie was verily thought would be shortly there and now when the Fence-fabrickes and all devices else requifite for a â—iege were in readinesse toward the end of the second m watch when the night happening to be very light with the Moone shine shewed all thinges evidently to those that stood upon the bulwarkes suddainely a multitude gathered together in one plumpe opened the gates at once and sallied foorth and charging a cohort of our horsemen at unawares slew may of them among whome a Tribune also chaunced to loose his life as he went about to repell the danger Whiles these things are thus in doing the Persians in like manner as before from the opposite river banke setting upon a part of our men killed some and tooke others alive and withall for very feare because the enemies were thought to have come with a greater number our souldiors as then bestirred themselves but slowly But when they had taken heart againe and were growne more bold so that in the very tumult they hastily armed and caught weapons in hand whereby the armie also was raysed with the sound of trumpets and made more hast with muttering in minatorie wise the foresaid enemies that brake thus foorth upon them were affrighted and returned before they were fought withall And the Emperour himselfe in a great passion of anger thrust all the rest of that cohort who basely and with faint courage had abidden the brunt of the said Brigands downe to serve as footmen a place of more paines and of lesse reputation After this in heat of revenge he converted all his diligence and care to the subversion of that castle where he was in such jeopardie himselfe in person stirring not a foot any way from the vauntguard that fighting so among the formost he might give the souldiors good example to behave themselves valiantly as being a beholder and approver of their acts And after hee had beene a long time much conversant in the very highest extremities of danger at length such was the varietie of munitions and weapons such
point of dangers and extremities the pitching of his tents for holesomenesse and safetie his fore-fences corps de guard and frontier stations without in the fields ordered wholly with good reasons and considerations As for the countenance and authoritie that hee carried it was so great that being most entirely loved yet was he dread withall and howsoever he seemed a fellow in perils and painefull toyles yet in the hotest conflicts he could commaund idle cowards to be punished and being as yet but Caesar he could without pay rule his souldiors even when they were opposed against savage nations as hath beene said erewhile and making a speech on a time to his souldiors all armed when they snuffled and became unruly he threatened That he would betake himselfe to a private life againe unlesse they left their mutinies To be short this one proofe of his authoritie insteed of many it shall be sufficient to know That upon an exhoâ—tation he gave in a mild and submissive kind of Oration unto the Gallicane souldiors inured onely to frosts and acquainted with the river Rhene he drew them along with him after wide and spacious countries travailed through by hote Assyria even as farre as to the confines of Media To speake of his felicitie so conspicuous and notable it was that being carried after a sort upon the very shoulders as it were of fortune who continued a pretie while a good Pilot and directresse unto him with traines of victorious courses he overcame infinit difficulties And after that he was gone out of the West climate so long as he lived upon the earth al nations rested in quietnesse and peace as if a certain Mercurie of this world had with his rod enchanted and appeased them Last of all of his liberalitie there be many and those most true testimonies among which these may goe Very light and easie tributes were by him levied the taxe or imposition of coronets was pardoned many debts growne great by continuance of time were remitted and forgiven the suits about the princes revenues those of private persons were indifferently heard customes and tols were restored unto cities together with their lands all but those which the governours in the foregoing times had alienated as it were lawfully by sale And that he was never a covetous hoorder up of mony which he thought indeed was most safely kept in the owners hands he would otherwhiles give out That Alexander the Great being asked Where his treasure lay answered kindly Among my friends CHAP. VI. Hereto is annexed a briefe recitall of his vices HAving thus set downe in order the good parts in him so many as wee could know let us come now to relate his vices although they have beene lightly noted alreadie He was by nature over-dull and slow but this infirmitie he tempered with a very good and wise course that he tooke suffering himselfe to be corrected and reformed whensoever hee did exorbitate and swerve from the way of honestie Full of words he was and very seldome stood his tongue still given too much to hearken after praesages so as in this behalfe he seemed to equall the Emperour Hadrian rather superstitious than a devout observer of any religion killing for sacrifice without any spare an infinit number of beasts insomuch as men judged if he had returned from the Parthians there would not have beene Oxen ynough for his sacrifices like for all the world unto that Marcus Caesar upon whom I have heard went this by-word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— White Oxen to Marcus Caesar greeting If thou win the victorie wee are all but dead Ioying much in the applause of the common sort he was an immoderat seeker for praise even from the least things that were in a desire of popularitie affecting oftentimes to speake with vile and base persons Howbeit for all these imperfections it might have beene deemed that as himselfe used to speake That Iustice of the old world whom taking offence at mens vices Aratus extolleth up to heaven and there placeth whiles he was Emperour did returne againe to the earth but that in doing some things according to his owne will and pleasure otherwhiles he seemed farre unlike himselfe For he made and enacted lawes nothing grievous and those absolutely commaunding or forbidding certaine things to be done except some few among which he shewed himselfe in this one unmercifull for that he prohibited k professors in Rhethoricke and Grammer to teach Christians for feare they should forsake their religion which was idolatrie And this also was an intollerable act of his that he suffered some unjustly to be tied and incorporated to the companies of municipall societies even meere strangers or such as either by vertue of priviledges or birth were farre removed from these fellowships And verily for feature and shape of bodie this it was meane of stature the haire of his head lying smooth and soft as if he had kembed it wearing his beard which was shagged and rough with a sharpe peake devant his eyes had an amiable cast with a quick and shining aspect bewraying pusillanimitie his eyebrows comely his nose passing streight his mouth somewhat with the greatest and his nether lip parted a fat necke and bending forward his shoulders big and broad from the crowne of his head unto the very toe nayle ends carrying a just proportion and uniforme knitting of his lineaments whereby he was both strong and swift of foot And for as much as backbiters laid to his charge That he raised new troubles and warres to the great damage and hurt of the Commonwealth let them know that by evident instruction of the truth That it was not Iulianus but Constantius that kindled the Parthian broiles whiles he gave â—are oversoone to the lyes that Metrodorus brought unto him as erewhile I have at large related in a thirstie desire of revenge grew to indignation as where divers times our militarie bands had bin taken captive our cities rased to the grouÌ„d our forts either ransacked or pulled downe our provinces impoverished by great expences and where the Parthians as appeared by their threats tending to effect sought to have all even from Persia to Bithynia and the coasts of Propontis And in Gaule whiles the warres by a continued traine grew every day more than other when the Germanes were spred over our provinces and now that the Alpes were at the point to be broken through for the wasting of Italie and the people had suffered many and those horrible outrages there was nothing left but teares and frights where both the remembrance of calamities past was grievous and the expectation of those at hand more wofull All which enormities this young gentleman being sent into the West parts in shew and title of Caesar and coursing the kings he there found like base slaves reformed in manner every one with such celeritie as is wonderous to be spoken And therefore to the end he might with like endevour and
accomplish his lord and kings commandement called instantly for the performance of promise and by permission of the Roman Emperour entred the citie set up the banner of his owne nation upon the citadell denouncing unto the citizens their lamentable remove and departure out of their native seat And being presently commaunded all to flit and be gone they stretched forth their hands and besought there might be imposed upon them no necessitie of departing saying That they alone without the publicke allowance of victuals and souldiors were able to defend their dwelling houses trusting assuredly as they had oftentimes found by experience to find justice hereafter also fighting for the place wherein they were borne And in this wise verily the States and the Commons humbly prayed but they spake in vaine to the very winds as they say whiles the Emperour made semblance fearing indeed other things that he declined the hainous sinne of perjurie Then Sabinus a man forwealth and birth renowmed among his fellow citizens and burgesles having a rolling tongue of his owne made a speech to this effect That Constantius in a world of fierce and cruell warres was otherwhiles vanquished of the Persians and brought in the end by flight with some few to Hibita no sure nor fenced station where he lived with a piece of bread which an old woman of the countrey at his much entreatie reached unto him yet for all this lost he none of his Seignories to his dying day and Iovian now at his first entrance into his Empire hath parted from the very wall of the Provinces by the barre as one would say whereof they continued time out of mind without taking any harme But when as hee could not prevaile whiles the prince constantly pretended the conscience of keeping the oath he tooke and when as he received at length with much adoe and by constraint a Coronet presented unto him which he a good while refused one Silvanus an advocate that used to plead in the defence of mens causes crying boldly alowd So crowned quoth he ô Emperour mayest thou be by all other cities b-sides At which word hee grew so angrie that hee commaunded them all within three dayes to depart out of the wals detesting and cursing the present state of the time So there were set certaine of purpose to force and drive them foorth threatening death also to as many as delayed their departure whereby the citie was full of sorrow and lamentation and throughout all the streets and parts thereof there was nothing heard but groning and wailing on all hands whiles the matron readie to be thrust as banished out of her house wherein she was borne and brought up â—are the haire of her head whiles the mother bereft of her children and the widdow of her husband was to be driven away farre from their Manes and whiles the lamentable multitude clipping the posts cheekes and lintels of their entrie dores piteously wept Hereupon were sundrie wayes full of those that departed every one as they could make shift For why many of them conveyed away by stealth their own riches which they thought might handsomely be caried setting nought by the rest of their household goods wherof there was much that of great price for all this left they behind for want of labouring beasts CHAP. XIII The iudgement of Ammianus Marcellinus as touching the condition of the Romane Empire in those dayes The corpes of Iulian was enterred in a Suburbian place neere Tarsus The armie commeth to Antioch where are seene many and dreadfull sights and namely a Comet as touching the reason and nature whereof there is put downe a naturall discourse ANd here in this place art thou the fortune of the Romane world justly blamed who when the stormes were up blowing and beating fore upon the Common-wealth diddest commit and betake the reynes or helmethereof newly strucken out of the hands of a skilfull leader and pilot of the State unto a raw young man not comes as yet to his proofe who being not knowne for any notable thing during his former life in such affaires can by right neither be blamed nor commended But this one thing went to the very heart of good men that whiles he standeth in feare of a concurrent and whiles hee thinketh seriously upon Gaule and Illyricum and casteth in his mind how some have many times aspired to high matters he making hast to prevent the fame of his comming under a pretense of avoyding perjurie committed an act unbeseeming an Emperour by loosing Nisibis which ever since king Mithridates his dayes stood out with might and maine that the East Empire should not come into the possession of the Persians For never since the citie of Rome was first founded can we find as I suppose though you read over all the Annales that either Consul or Emperour gave away the right of any part of our territories or that triumphall honours were ever conferred upon any for the recoverie of aught that had beene taken away but for the enlarging of our dominions Hence it was that unto Publius Scipio for the regaining of Spaine unto Fulvius when Capua after skirmishes and assaults made a long time was won and unto Opimius after divers battailes ended what time as the Fregellanes then mortall enemies were forced to yeeld themselves triumphes were denied Thus much also we learned out of the auncient records That in extreame cases covenants made with a generall and chief leader after that the parties on both sides tooke an expresse and formall othe were streightwayes by making warie afresh undone and voyd as for example in old time at the streits or gullet Caudinae when the Roman legions were in Samnium put to the yoke also when by Albinus in Numidia a peace was wickedly thought and treated of and lastly when Mancinus the author of an agreement made dishonourably in hast was delivered up unto the Numantines Well after this when the citizens were fetched forth the citie rendred and Constantius a Tribune sent to assigne set out the garrison forts with their territories unto the Persian Lords and great Captaines Procopius was sent with the reliques of Iulian to interre the same in the suburbs of Tarsus as he had given charge in his life time Who taking his journey to execute this businesse presently after he had buried the bodie departed neither could he be found any where although with great diligence hee was sought for untill that long after he was seene at Constantinople all on a suddaine invested in his purple robes These matters in this wise brought about and our journeyes thus dispatched we came to Antioch where for many dayes together as if God had beene offended were seene many fearefull and strange sights the events whereof such as were skilfull in prodigial learning foretold and prophecied would be wofull and lamentable For both the statue of Maximian Caesar which stood in the verie porch or entrie of the kings house lost sodainly the brasen ball
fashioned to the forme of the Pole which he carried and also with an horrible noyse the beames and posts within the Consistories made a sound There were seene likewise in the day-time blazing starres as touching the nature whereof the Naturall Philosophers varie much in their reasons and arguments For some hold That therefore they be called Comets or hairie starres for that when a multitude of starres be gathered together by the flashing of fire from them certaine haires seeme to be scattered Others are of opinion That of a drie exhalation of the earth steeming up aloft by little and little they catch fire Some againe doe thinke That the rayes or beames of the Sunne being kept from going downeward by the opposition of a thicke cloud betweene and casting a brightnesse upon a grosse bodie represent unto mans eye a light distinguished as it were with starres And there be also those that are thus conceited of them That such a sight as this then appeareth when a cloud drawne up higher than usually it hath beene shineth by reason of the vicinitie of those eternall heavenly fire or at leastwise that they be certaine starres like unto the rest the rising and setting whereof at what times they bee appointed mens wits could never reach unto Much more besides concerning Comets we have read in authors that be learned in Astronomie which I may not here set downe for that my pen maketh hast to write of other matters CHAP. XIIII Iovianus commeth to Tarsus and being departed from thence establisheth his imperiall dignitie by all the meanes he can But within a while after when he was come as far as to the confines of Galatia and Bithynia hee was in the night found dead His vertues and vices are briefly touched WHen the Emperour had stayed a pretie while at Antioch sore troubled with divers weightie cares a wonderfull desire he had to be gone And therefore sparing neither beast nor man hee sets forth from thence in the verie mids of cold Winter notwithstanding as it hath beene sayd many ominous signes crossed the same and entred into Tarsus a noble citie of Cilicia the originall foundation whereof I have shewed before And making exceeding great hast to goe out of it also he appointed to have the sepulchre of Iulian trimly garnished scituat within the precincts of that way which leadeth to the straits of the mountaine Taurus Whose reliques and ashes if hee had then done right and beene well advised Cydnus should not have seen a most pleasant and cleere river though it be but to perpetuat the glorie of his good deeds Tiberis that runneth through the mids of that immortall citie Rome and toucheth the monuments of the auncient Emperours of sacred memorie should have passed by From Tarsus when he was departed he tooke long journeyes and came to Tyana a town in Cappadocia where Procopius the foresaid Notarie and Memorius a Tribune in their returne meet him and open the whole course of their proceedings beginning as order required at this namely That Lucillianus being entred into Millane with Seniauchus and Valentinian two Tribunes whom he had brought along with him knowing that Malarichus refused the Mastership abovesaid rode in post to Remes and as if there had beene no rumors up but all quiet in that nation ranne forth as we use to say without the lists and verie unseasonably and over soone before as yet all things were well setled of an ordinarie Clerke gave himselfe to be an Auditor Who being privie to himselfe of his owne fraudulent and naughtie dealings fled unto the armie and devised That Iulianus being yet alive a certaine man of meane condition was risen up to make an alteration in the State and himselfe Emperour At whose false and deceitfull forgeries the souldiors mightily mooved and growne to a tumultuous broyle slew both Lucillianus and Seniauchus As for Valentinian who soon after became Emperor being in great feare doubtful whither to fly his friend and host Primitivus had packed him away in safetie But upon these heavie occurrents there came other newes as joyfull namely That the souldiors sent from Iovinus were at hand such as militarie men use to call Capita y Scholarum and these brought tidings That the army serving in Gaule gladly embraced Iovianus as Emperour Which being knowne for truth the second forme or ranke of the Scutarij was committed unto the regiment of Valentinian who returned with them and Vitalianus a souldior serving in the band of the z Heruli was taken into the companie and societie of the Domestici and he long after being advanced to the dignitie of a Comes fought unfortunatly in Illyricum And streight after was Arintheâ—s sent into Gaule bearing letters with him unto Iovinus exhorting him to keepe his place still and remaine constant given also he was in charge That the principall rayser of the foresaid tumult should be punished accordingly and that all authors of sedition should be sent over bound unto the Emperours Counsell After these matters disposed of as seemed expedient at Aspuna a little enfranchised towne of Galatia the α souldiors serving in Gaule shewed themselves unto the Emperour and being admitted into the Consistorie after gracious audience given of those errands which they brought they were rewarded and commaunded to returne unto their colours And when the Emperour was come into Ancyra after all things put in readinesse which according to the present time were requisit to a solemne pompe he entred upon his Consulship taking to him in the fellowship of that honourable dignitie his owne sonne Varronianus a young infant whose wrawling whiles he strugled hard and made means not to ride in the β Curule chaire as the custome was portended that which soone after happened Hereupon also the prefixed time that Iovianus was to end this life made a quicke dispatch of him For when he was come to Dadastana a place that divideth Bithynia and Galatia asunder he was found dead in the night as touching whose death many doubtfull reports have gone abroad For it is said that he could not endure the smell of his bed chamber newly daubed or pargetted with morter made of lime or that hee came to his end upon a tumor or swelling of his head occasioned by an huge fire kindled of coals or at least wise upon greediâ— feeding of a number of meats hee crammed his belly so full that he dyed of surfeit Now he departed out of this world in the three and thirtieth yeare of his age And whereas both he and Scipio Aemilianus chaunced to end their lives alike yet find we not that there was any inquisition made or commission sitten upon about their death His manner of gate was grave his countenance most pleasant his eyes grey bigge he was of making and withall verie tall in so much as a long time there could not bee found in the ward-robe any regall garment meet for the measure of his bodie And a willing
desire he had to imitate Constantius imploying himselfe in serious affaires otherwhiles after noone and he used to jest openly with his favourites and familiars An affectionat lover and professor he was also of the Christian Religion and sometimes a right honourable embracer thereof meanely learned therein and rather enclined in kindnesse to them than otherwise one also as appeared by those few whom he promoted that would be verie precise and considerat in chusing of Iudges But a great eater he was and much given as well to wine as fleshly lust which vices haply he would in time have amended in regard of the Imperial Majestie that he carried Furthermore it was said that his father Varronianus foreknew long before that which happened by a certaine dreame that told him as much and that he acquainted two of his most faithfull friends therewith and said thus much moreover That himselfe also should have the Consular robe of estate conferred upon him But as the one part of his dreame tooke effect so he never attained unto the other For hearing for certaine of his sonnes fortune before he could see him hee was by fatall death prevented And for that it was foretold unto the old man in a dreame That the sayd most honourable Magistracie was portended to this name his nephew Varronianus as yet an infant was as I said before together with his father â—ovianus declared Consull THE XXVI BOOKE CHAP. I. When Iovianus was dead Valentinian was elected Emperour HAving with verie great care delivered the whole order and course of State affaires unto the times next proceeding our late and neere remembrance beseeming it were now to draw backe proceed no farther in matters so wel known to the end we may both decline the daungers which many times are attendant upon the truth and not bee subject to the censure of unreasonable examiners of this worke now to be compiled forward who keep a great stirre as â—ore hurt in case we should overslip what the Emperour spake at supper or omit for what cause the common souldiors were chastised in the campe about a Principia who also would be readie to find fault and say That in the manifold descriptions of countries we ought not to have beene silent as touching small pyles and forts as also that all their names who assembled at the office or court of the Citie-Praetor were not expresly set downe and many the like particulars not suting with the rules of Hystorie which is wont to discourse and run through high and important affaires and not to search into the small points of low and meane matters Which if any man would desire to know he may as well hope that those indivisible little bodies or motes flying up and downe in the ayre such as we call Atomi may bee numbred Which inconvenience some of the auncient Hystorians fearing published not unto the world the notice of sundrie acts when they were penned and put downe in a flowing stile so long as they lived according as Tullie also a reverend witnesse affirmeth in a certaine Epistle unto Cornelius Nepos And therefore contemning such vulgar ignorance proceed we to the narration of that which is behind These mutable and horrible accidents making an end with a lamentable issue and dolefull death after a small time comming betweene when the corps of the prince deceased was dressed accordingly yea and sent to Consâ—antinople to be interred among the reliques of other Emperours when the aâ—â—ie also was gone forward toward Nicea the mother citie in Bithynia the civile magistrats and martiall officers enwrapped in great cares about the State and some among them puffed up with a vaine hope made enquirie after a governour of long proofe and gravitie and in a running rumor and darke whisperings of some few there was nominated Equitius Tribune as then over the first companie of the Scutarij Who being misliked by the better sort that were in authoritie as one rigorous and somewhat rude from him their voice turned and went after a slight manner to a kinsman of Iovianus named Ianuarius who had the chiefe charge of all necessaries belonging to the armie in Illyricum who also being rejected for that he lay farre off Valentinian with an uniforme accord by the favour and grace of the heavenly deitie was elected as a fit and meet person for that affaire about which they went one who being captaine of the second companie of the Scutarij was left at Ancyra to follow afterwards as it was ordained And for that this was thought without the gainesaying of any to stand with the good of the Common-weale whiles some were of purpose sent to admonish him for to come with all speed for tenne dayes space there was none to steere the helme of the Empire which the Soothsayer Marcus by inspection of beasts bowels at Rome had pronounced to have happened at the same time Meane while to the end that nothing might be practised or done contrarie to that which was decreed nor the unconstant souldiors often mutable should make choice of some one there present diligent fore-cast was had by Equitius and Leo together which Leo as yet under Dagalaiphus Generall of the horsemen kept the accompts of receits and expences for the militarie bands and afterwards prooved a mischievous master of the offices who framed and wrought all that ever they could the mind and judgement of the whole armie as being Pannonians and favourers of the Emperour elect who being upon sending for come and having a presage or perceivance of the businesse to bee performed as hee had an inckling given him even by continuall dreames would neither be seene nor come abroad for two dayes avoiding the Bissext or odde day b of the Leape yeare in the moneth Februarie which then was comming and which he knew had beene divers times unfortunat to the Romans the certaine knowledge of which day I will now declare CHAP. II. A discourse and speculative consideration as touching the Bissextile or odde day of the Leape yeare so precisely observed by Valentinian THe space and revolution of the yeare the auncient writers learned in the motion of the heaven and in Astronomie among whom Menon Euctemon Hipparchus and Archimedes excell define in this wise namely when the Sunne having by the everlasting law and order of things coelestiall run through the circle of the twelve signes which in the Greek tongue is tearmed the c Zodiake a course that he performeth in three hundred threescore and five dayes and nights is returned againe to the same point as for example if setting out at the second degree of Aries he returneth after his course ended to the same againe But most truly the space of one yeare is fully determined in the daies aforesaid and sixe houres besides namely untill noone and then the next yeare shall begin after the sixt houre and reach unto the evening the third day taking his beginning at the first watch extendeth to the sixt houre of the
with whom he had established league and peace there ought to be nothing to the contrarie but that hee might recover those things which hee shewed to have before time appertained unto his auncestors After therefore that the Winter was passed over in quietnesse and peace the two Emperours agreeing most joyntly together the one in name having preheminence the other for outward shew equall in honour after they had passed through Thracia came to Naessum where in a certaine Suburbian countrie towne which is called Mediana and standeth three miles from the citie as if they meant shortly to part divided their Comites betweene them And verily unto Valentinian after whose will and direction the State was mannaged fâ—ll Iovinus promoted a good while since by Iulian to be Master of the men of Armes in Gaule and Dagalaiphus whom Iovian had preferred to be Colonell of the footmen But to follow Valens into the East was Victor appointed who also by the choise and judgement of the foresaid Prince had beene advanced and with him was joyned Arintheus For Lupicinus promoted likewise before by Iovian to be Master of the horsmen had the charge of the East parts Then also was Equitius made Colonell of the armie that served in Illiricum not Master as yet but Comes And Serenianus who long since was discharged of his militarie othe entred into armes and warfare againe as being a Pannonâ—an accompanied Valens and became captaine over the companie or band of the Domestici Which things thus digested and ordered there was a partition made also of the militarie bands and after this when both Princes entred into Sirmium and had divided their Palatine traine as it was thought good unto the elder and better of the twaine so that Valentinian departed to Millain and Valens to Constantinople And verily in the East parts governed Sallustius as Praefect but Mamertinus ruled in the same authoritie both Italy Affricke and Illyricum like as Germanus the Provinces of Gaule CHAP. VI. Whiles Valentinian intendeth to make warre upon the Alemans Procopius in the East parts aspireth to be Emperour Whereupon Valentinian was busied with new cares WHiles therefore the two Princes kept their resiance in the said cities they put on their first Consular robes of Estate and all this yeare was the Roman Empire afflicted with grievous losses damages For the Alemans brake through the limits of Germanie provoked thereto with a more mischievous mind than usually they had beene upon this occasion Whereas upon their embassadors sent unto the Princes court there should have beene bestowed of dutie certaine set gifts appointed by custom allowance was made of smaller and those of lesse value than had beene vsed which they when they should receive faring in furions manner flung away as a most shamefull indignitie offered unto them and after they had beene veâ—ie roughly intreated by Vrsatius the Master of the offices an angrie and cruell man they reâ—â—rned home and aggravating this fact stirred up most fell nations as if they had been contumeliously despised to rebellion And about that time or not long after Procopius in the East rose up in armes and plotâ—ed to usurpe the Empire Which newes happening neere about the Kalends of November were reported the verie same day unto Valentinian as he was comming to Paris And for the Alemans verily he commaunded Dagalaiphus to march forward with speed and to make head against them who having wasted the places neerer at hand were departed gone a great way off without losse of bloud But about the repressing of the designe attempt of Procopius before it might grow to greater strength he was distracted with doubtfull cares and in this regard especially troubled for that he wist not whether hee affected and reached at the foresaid Empiâ—e whiles Valens was alive or after his death For Equitius upon relation and intelligence given by Antonius a Tribune who had the command of the forces in the mid-land parts of Dacia which gave knowledge of nothing but the occurrent it self and that obscurely upon heare-say had also himselfe before the thing was knowne for certain in bare words acquainted the Prince with what was done Vpon knowledge hereof Valentinian having honoured the sayd Equitius with the dignitie of Great Master or Generall purposed to returne unto Illyricum least the rebell become dread now after the overrunning of Thracia should in hostile manner make rodes into Pannonia For exceedingly terrified he was with the late and fresh example as calling to mind how Iulian a little before contemning that Emperour who everie where in civile warre went away on the winning hand before he was either feared or expected passed with incredible celeritie from one citie to another But as hot set as hee was upon returne yâ—t his heat became allaied by the counsell and advice of those about him persuading and beseeching him not to expose Gaule unto the barbarous enemies threatning as they did nothing but deadly mischiefe nor upon this pretense and allegation to forsake the Provinces needing his helping hand And together with them joyned the embassadors of noble cities praying and intreating him not to leave the sayd Provinces in this hard and doubtfull estate unprotected and without defence which with his personall presence he might deliver out of great daungers by affrighting the Germans onely with the majestie of his name At length pondering throughly and with good advisement the utilitiâ— of the thing as bending and framing himselfe to yeeld unto the opinions of many hee otherwhiles would say That Procopius was enemie indeed but onely to himselfe and his brother whereas the Alemans were to the whole Roman world and Empire and so determined not to stirre any whither for the time without the confines of the Gaules being gone forward alreadie as farre as to Remes Yet having a carefull regard of Affricke least the enemies should sodainely breake into it he tooke order that Vulterius afterward Consull then Notarie should goe to the defence thereof as also Masaurio one of the Domestici Protectores upon this consideration that being brought up there in times past under his father Cretio a Comes he knew all the suspected and dangerous places and with these he joyned Gaudentius a Scutarius whom he knew of old to be true and faithfull unto him Now for that there were most wofull tempests and stormes up in both parts of the Empire at one and the selfe same time we wil digest everie thing in due place first reporting what was done in the East and then relating the Barbarian warres in the West For that the most part of these occurrences fell out in the same monethes both in the West and also in the East part of the world least whiles wee make hast by leaps to return other whiles out of one place to another we should in a confusion of all enwrap the order and course of the storie with verie foule obscuritie CHAP. VII What this Procopius was and by what
afterwards Procopius the author of all this proud and audacious rebellion was put to death and the adherents and complices of this faction cruelly executed this verie Tribune in regard of so noble an exployt keeping his life still and the place he had in warre-service dyed long after in Isauria stabbed and killed by a sort of robbing Brigands When Cyzicum was by this service laid open Procopius made hast thither after pardon graunted in generall to all those that had made resistance onely Serenianus he commaunded to be led bound unto Nicea and there kept in ward most straitly And forth with upon Ormisda a forward and ripe young gentleman the sonne of that noble Ormisda a Persian Prince of the bloud royall he conferred a Proconsulship with commission to manage after the manner of old time as well civile causes as warre affaires Who dealing mildly in his place according to his accustomed maner when he should have beene surprised and caught up in a sodaine incursion by those souldiors whom Valens had sent by the wilds and by-wayes of Phrygia with so vigorous a courage escaped that being once embarked he would never lye open to such doubtfull and daungerous chaunces and had away with him his wife that followed in safetie notwithstanding a cloud as it were of arrows flew all about when she was at the point to be taken prisoner a wealthy dame she was and nobly descended whose modest carriage and glorious constancie delivered her husband afterwards from extreame daungers Procopius upon the foresaid victorie vaunting himselfe above the condition of mortalitie and not knowing that any man be he never so happie to day with the turning of Fortunes wheele may once before evening become most miserable commanded the house of Arbetio full as it was by reason of those inestimable escheats which house before time he had spared as his owne as reckoning him for one of his owne complices and adherents to be rifled and ransacked cleane taking stomacke and indignation against him that being sent for sundrie times to come unto him hee alwayes made delayes alledging for his excuse the lets of old age and sicknesse And although for this cause he a presumptuous usurper might well feare some grievous inclination and turning of the ballance yet whereas he might now at his pleasure with the willing assent of all men there being none to make resistance have invaded the East provinces desirous all to see some new chaunge as irked with that rigorous and rough governement wherewith they were held under yet by lingering on and making longer stay for to allure unto him certaine cities of Asia and to chuse out skilfull miners for the getting of gold ore as those that might stand him in good stead against his wars which he expected would be many and great he became dull and blunt in manner of a keene and fine edged sword Like as in times past Pescennius Niger sent for oftentimes by the people of Rome to relieve and succour the hope of the State lying in extremitie whiles hee lingered a long time the invading of Syria was vanquished in the gulfe Issicum which is in Cilicia where Alexander defeated Darius and being put to flight died by the hand of a common souldior in a certaine Suburbe-village of Antiochia These were the acts that passed about mid-Winter whiles Valentinian and Valens were Consuls CHAP. XII Valens using the service of Arbetio an old experienced captaine draweth unto him many of Procopius his footmen and horsemen both At length Procopius himself bound in chaines by his owne men and brought unto Valens had his head stricken off and so buried quite the troubles of a civile war which was begun BVtwhen that most honourable magistracie was transferred to Gratianus as yet a privat person and to Dagalaiphus and the Spring began wherein all things gather strength Valens joyning unto him Lupicinus with strong auxiliaries speedily advaunced his ensignes towardes Pessinus a towne in times past of Phrygia and now of Galatia which when he had quickly fortified with a garrison least any unexpected accident might at unawares arise in those tracts he intended to take his journey by the foot of the high hill Olympus and the rough craggie lanes minding to set upon Gomoarius whiles he lay secure and negligent But crossed he was in this designe by many that jointly and resolutely agreed together upon this consideration especially That his enemie as hath beene related before by carrying about with him in a litter the little daughter of Constantius with her mother Faustina both in the way as he marched and also when battailes approched one another embattailed he enkindled the courage of the souldiors to the end that for this imperiall progenie whereto he sayd moreover that himselfe was linked they might fight more boldly Like as upon a time the Macedonians readie to strike a battail with the Illyrians placed their king as yet an infant in his swathling bands behind the armie raunged in battaile ray for feare of whom least he should be carried away captive they fought more valiantly and vanquished their enemies Against these craftie fetches the Emperour in sage policie to helpe the matter thus wavering and readie to reele tooke good order and exhorted Arbetio sometime Consull who this long time had lived privately to repaire unto him to the end that by the reverent regard of him a captaine under Constantius the rebels fell stomacke might be appeased And so it fell out in very deed For when he in yeares elder and in dignitie higher than all the rest shewed his reverend gray haires unto many that were otherwise enclined to perfidious trecherie he calling Procopius himselfe a trayterous rebell to the State but the souldiors that now followed his error sonnes and parteners with him in travailes and paines-taking long agoe requested them rather to follow him as a father knowne unto them for his most happie conducts than to be ruled by a lewd varlet who would even anon beforlorne and at point to take his finall overthrow Which being knowne Gomoarius when he might well ynough have deluded the enemies and returned safe to the place from whence he came taking the vauntage of the neere distance in pretence and colour of a captive passed over to the Emperours campe as if he had beene beset with the rode of a multitude that he suddainely espied Vpon this good successe Valens marched on with a running campe toward Phrygia and neere unto Nacolia when they were come to joyne battaile the captaine of the adverse side Agilo at the very instant of a doubtfull fight by riding suddainely out of the ranke betrayed all and in imitation of him a number of others now shaking their javelins and swords goe over to the Emperour bearing their banners and shields reversed a most manifest signe of revolt This being once seene besides all mens expectation Procopius perceiving himselfe cut off from all meanes of escape betooke him to his heeles and ran
within the secret noukes of the woods and woulds that stood round about and after him there followed Florentius and Barchalba a Tribune whom being well knowne for his service in most bloudie warres even from Constantius his dayes necessitie and not his owne will had drawne into this leawd and wicked action When as therefore the greater part of the night was past and the Moone which from evening shone untill day light augmented their feare Procopius seeing on every side himselfe destitute of all meanes of escaping not knowing what to doe as it falleth out commonly in such hard cases expostulated with his lamentable and heavie fortune and so over whelmed with a world of sundrie cares was suddainely by his owne companions fast bound and upon the returne now of day brought into the campe and presented to the Emperour saying never a word and looking downeward and immediately having his head smitten off hee buried with him the troubles of civile discords that were growing according to the example of Perpenna in old time who after that he had murthered Sertorius as he sat at his meat having enjoyed a while the Soveraignetie was plucked forth of the shrubs under which he had shrowded himselfe and being brought before Pompeius at his commaundement was slaine And in the like heat of bloud Florentius and Barchalba who brought him in were streightwayes killed without any regard and consideration had of reason For if they had betrayed their lawfull prince even Iustice her selfe would have pronounced they were rightly killed if a rebell and enemie of civile peace as he was named to be they ought to have had ample and large rewards given them for so memorable an act Now Procopius departed this life when he was fortie yeares old and tenne moneths over a man not uncomely of bodie nor of meane stature somewhat stouping and in his gate looking alwayes downeward to the ground and by his close and sad behavior like for all the world to that Crassus of whom Lucillius and Tully make this report That he laughed but once all his life time and that which is to be wondered so long as he lived not stained with bloudshed CHAP. XIII Marcellus captaine of Nicea after that Serenianus was slaine and Chalcedonpossessed taketh upon him the shaddow of a deadly and wofull Emperour but within a little after is suppressed Then was there cruell proceeding against the complices of Procopius and Marcellus and that beyond all measure for which Valens an implacable man whose greatest fault it was deserved blame whose crueltie here is described NEere about the same time Marcellus a Protector and a cousin of the same Procopius captaine also of the garrison at Nicea having intelligence given him of the souldiors revolt and death of Procopius came upon Serenianus at unawares in the dead time of midnight shut where hee was within the palace and slew him whose death was the life of many for if he had survived this victorie being a man rough hewen rude of behaviour and for resemblance of conditions and vicinitie of native soyle well accepted of Valens observing the close disposition and pleasure of the prince too much enclined to crueltie would no doubt have massacred many innocent persons who being slaine Marcellus aforesaid riding presently unto Chalcedon and seizing it into his owne hands at the crie and shout of some few whom their base condition and desperat estate thrust forward to mischiefe taketh upon him the momentanie shadow of an Emperour that cost him his life induced thereto by two motives which failed and deceived him for that both the three thousand Gothes which upon the pacification of the kings were sent to aid Procopius pretending that he was of kin unto Constantius he thought might be brought with some small reward and consideration to side with him and also for that the proceedings in Illyricum were as yet unknowne Amid these fearefull occurrences Equitius being given to understand by faithfull espials That the preparation of the whole warre was turned upon Asia departing by Succi assayed by great force and violence to open Philippopolis called in old time Eumolpiada shut up and kept by the enemies garrisons a citie of very great importance and like to impeach his comming in case he should be forced when he was to bring the aids that were left behind unto Valens for as yet he knew not what had beene done at Nacolia to hasten unto Haemimontum But a little while after when the vaine presumption and usurpation of Marcellus was known there were sent adventurous and resolute souldiors who having apprehended him cast him into safe custodie as a slave yeelded up for to receive punishment Whereupon the next day following he was brought foorth and after his n sides were most cruelly cut and mangled together with his consorts that suffered the like torments he died in this regard onely favoured and loved for that he dispatched Serenianus out of the way as cruell as o Phalaris trustie both to one and another even to the teaching of cruell learning which he shewed upon small and trifling occasions After this mortall and deadly warre was by the fall of the chiefe captaine rooted out more rigorous proceeding there was against many than eyther their errors or trespasses required but most of all against the p defendors of Philippopolis who hardly and with very much adoe yeelded up both the citie and themselves but not before they had seene the head of Procopius which was carried into Gaule But to gratifie those that made much entreatie some were chastised more mildly among whom Araxius was a chiefe man who by ambitious labouring for voices and the intercession of his daughters husband Agilo in the very heat and broile of all attained to be Praefect and he I say was for his punishment confined to the Islands but shortly after escaped As for Euphrasius and Phronemius likewise they were sent into the West parts and exposed to the will and determination of Valentinian and verily Euphrasius was quit and set free but Phronemius was had away into Cherrhonesus and in the same businesse more unmercifully punished because he was a favourite of Iulianus of sacred memorie whose memorable vertues both the princes brethren depraved being themselves neither his like nor comming neere unto him Besides all this other exemplarie punishments there were more grievous yea and farre more terrible than those executions that fall out in battailes For the tormentor the drags and yron hookes with bloudie examinations without respect of age or dignitie made foule worke in all estates and degrees and under the pretence of peace a most detestable vice was put in practise whiles all men generally cursed this unluckie victorie more grievous than any deadly warre whatsoever For among weapons yet and sounding trumpets the equalitie of condition maketh the dangers lighter and the power of martiall valour either preventeth that which was attempted or if death happen suddainely and unawares it carrieth no sence at all of ignominie
with perjuties he invited him to a feast and then commaunded him to be drawne away to a secret back doore and when he had caused his eyes to be plucked out of his head bound him with chaines of silver which among them is reputed some solace and easement yet vaine though it be for punishment inflicted upon honourable persons and so sent him away to a castle named Agabana where after much torture the executioners sword bereft him of his head This done because his perfidious treacherie might overpasse nothing unpolluted and prophaned after he had deposed and driven out Souromaces who by the Roman authoritie was ruler of Hiberia he conferred the said place of governement upon one Aspacures and gave unto him beside the royall diademe of that nation thereby to shew that hee contemned and trode under foot the judgement and election of our State Which after he had effected with a most wicked and ungodly mind he committed the regiment of Armenia unto Cylaces an Eunuch and to Artabanes whom he had in times past intertained as traiterous fugitives from their Prince now one of these before time a captain or Prefect of that nation was said to have beene Generall of the forces and them he gave in charge with speciall care to rase Artogerassa a towne strongly walled and stoutly manned which had the keeping of Arsaces his treasure with his wife and sonne These chieftaines therefore as it was appointed began the siege and for that the said fortified place scituat upon a rough and stonie mountaine by reason also it was extreame cold weather and nothing but frost and snow was inaccessable Cylaces being an Eunuch and a meet fellow to deceive a poore woman taking to him Artabanes approached quickly neere unto the verie walls upon assurance given and taken of safe returne who being with his companion received as his request was into the towne persuaded the defendants the Queene by a speedie surrender to appease the menacing mood of Sapor the most unmercifull man in the world After this when many words had passed to fro and the woman pitifully bewailing the horrible hard fortune of her husband these motioners as hot as they were for the betraying and yeelding up of the towne inclined to mercie and changed their minds and upon hope also of better gaine and preferment by secret conference plotted and ordered the matter so that in the night season at a certaine appointed houre the gates at once being set open a strong companie should sallie forth and sodainly with bloudie sword assaile their enemies camp promising that themselves would betray them into their hands so that the attempters of this explo it would keepe their owne counsell Which when they had with a religious othe confirmed they went forth accordingly constantly avouching that the besieged had craved two dayes to be graunted unto them wherein they might deliberate what course to take brought the besiegers to this passe that they sat still and did nothing So whiles the centinels by reason of securitie were sound asleepe that they sonored againe the citie gate was set open and out of it there issued a nymble crue of lustie young gallants who treading softly for making noyse and creeping close with their swords readie drawne entred into their campe that feared no such matter and whiles no man made resistance slew a number of them as they lay This unlooked-for revolt and unexpected slaughter of the Persians raysed mightie quarrels and causes of discord betweene us and Sapor and this also aggravated the matter for that the Emperour Valens had entertained Para the son of Arsaces who by the persuasion of his mother was departed with some few other out of the said fortified towne and commaunded him to abide in Neocaesarea a citie of great name in Pontus x Polemoniacus there to be kept with liberall diet and in apparell meet for his person With which courteous usage Cylaces and Artabaneâ— allured sent their orators and craved of Valens aid yea and required to have the said Para to be their king But aid for the present being denied Para was by Terentius captaine conducted backe into Armenia to raigne for a time over the nation without any regall ensignes a thing upon good reason and consideration observed least we might be taxed for the breach of covenant and peace CHAP. XII After that the widow of Arsaces was taken prisoner and her sonne by cursed devices reconciled unto Sapor the Romanes helpe the Armenians whereupon the king of the Persians addresseth himselfe to warre upon the Romanes WHen Sapor understood how these proceedings framed he tooke on and raged beyond all measure and so rising in armes with greater preparation by way of open reises and raising of booties wasted all Armenia At whose comming Para being affrighted as also Cylaces and Artabanes looking about them for no aid-forces withdrew themselves into the noukes under those high mountains which confine betweene our limits and Lazica where lying close for five moneths together among the secret woods and winding woulds they deluded the manifold attempts of the king Who perceiving all his labour was lost considering the pinching season of mid Winter after he had burnt all trees bearing apples and such fruit fortified also those piles and forts which he had gotten either by force or treason with the whole puissance of his armie he beleaguered Artogerassa and after many skirmishes and assaults with variable event when the defendants were toyled out and the towne layed open he burnt it out of which he fetched forth the wife of Arsaces with the treasure aforesaid and led her away For which causes Arintheus a lieutenant was sent with an armie to succour and helpe the Armenians in case the Persians should attempt to assayle them againe with fresh warre Meane while Sapor wonderous wylie and craftie as who could carrie himselfe lowly or aloft for his better advantage pretending a shew of some future alliance and societie by secret messengers rebuked Para as negligent and forgetfull of his owne estate thus under a colour and pretence of royall majestie to be a slave unto Cylaces and Artabanes whom he too too forward in trusting these traines of flattering and faire enticements made no more adoe but slew and sent their heads when they were slaine unto Sapor whose devoted vassale he was now become Vpon this losse and misfortune spred farre abroad all Armenia had beene quite lost but that the Persians as the comming of Arintheus terrified made stay ere they invaded it the second time contenting themselves with this onely that they sent embassadors unto the Emperour craving That according as it was agreed betweene them and Iovianus the said nation might not be protected But they were rejected and Sauromaces who as I said before had beene displaced and expelled out of the kingdome of Hiberia was sent backe againe with twelve legions under the conduct of Terentius and when he was now very neere
unto the river Cyrus Aspacuras requested at his hands That since they were cousin germanes and sisters sonnes they might raigne joyntly together alledging this for himselfe That he could neither surrender nor turne unto the Romane side because his sonne Vltus was kept still among the Persians as an hostage Whereof the Emperour being informed to the end he might by policie and wisedome appease the troubles which were like to rise from this affaire also condiscended to a division of Hiberia namely that Cyrus the river which ran through the middest thereof might divice it so that Sauromaces should hold for his part that side which bordered upon the Armenians and the Lazi and Aspacuras the other which bounded upon Albania and the Persians Sapor sore aggrieved hereat and crying out That indignitie was offered unto the articles of agreement in that contrarie to the tenor of the said covenant Armenia was succoured that the embassage which hee had sent about the redresse of this enormitie came to nothing and that without his assent and privitie concluded it was that the kingdome of Hiberia should be divided as if now the dores had beene fast locked against all friendship layed for the aid of the neighbour nations about him and put his armie in readinesse to the end that when the faire season of the yeare came about he might overthrow all that fabricke which the Romanes had framed for their owne behoofe THE XXVIII BOOKE CHAP. I. The most miserable state of Rome citie under Maximinus the Praefect whose parentage and rising is described WHiles this perfidious and disloyall dealing causeth in Persia as I have beforesaid unexpected troubles on the kings behalfe and warres revived in the East parts begin againe sixteene yeares and upward after the death of Nepotianus Bellona provoked upon very small occasions to the working of wofull calamities raged throughout Rome and set all in combustion which I would to God had beene for ever buried in silence least happily there be attempted sometime the semblable like to doe more harme by generall examples and precedents than by delinquencies And albeit from the exquisite narration of this bloudie hystorie feare might justly pull me backe many and sundrie causes duly considered yet presuming confidently upon the modestie of this present age I will summarily lay open every particular that is memorable Neither will I be loath and thinke much briefely to shew which of those accidents that have befallen unto ancient writers it is that I might feare In the first warre of the Medes when the Persians had spoyled Asia besetting the cities herein with huge and puissant forces yea and threatening the defendants thereof with terrible torments and dolorous death they brought the people thus shut up and besieged to this extremitie that they all sore afflicted with great and grievous calamities after they had killed their owne deare wives and children and throwne their mooveable goods into the fire cast themselves also by heapes after them striving a vie who might be for most in that commune flame that consumed them and their countrey together This argument soone after Phrynicus digested and penned in a swelling tragicall style and brought it upon the Stage in the Theatre of Athens and having for a while good audience with contentment when his high and loftie Tragoedie went on still and wrung forth many a teare the people supposing that he had insolently inserted these grievous afflictions also of theirs among Stage-playes not by way of consolation but in reprochfull manner to put them in mind of the miseries that their lovely citie and countrey supported with no helpes of protectors and defendors had sustained in heat of indignation condemned and confined him to Miletus For Miletus was a colonie of the Athenians transported and planted among other Ionians by Nileus the sonne of that Codrus who by report in the Dorique warre devoted himselfe to death for his countrey But let us come to our purposed historie Maximinus governour of Rome in times past in place of vice-Praefect was very obscurely borne at Sopianae a towne of Valeria and his father of no better calling than a clerke belonging to the Presidents office discended from the race of the Carpi whom Diocletian removed from out of their auncient habitations and brought over into Pannonia This Maximinus after he had bestowed some meane studie in the liberall Sciences and become a disnoble advocat and defendor of causes when he had also governed Corsica and Sardinia likewise ruled Thuscia From whence being advaunced to the office and charge of Rome-cities a purveyor for corne and victuals by reason that his successour stayed long in his journey kept in his hands still the rule of that province also And at the first he demeaned himselfe very circumspectly and wisely in three respects first for that the words were fresh and rife in his eares spoken by his father who was passing skilfull in that which the flight of Augurall fowles or the singing of birds fore-signified implying thus much That he should mount to high regiments but die in the end by the executioners hands Secondly because having gotten a man of Sardinia whom himselfe afterwards by deceitfull trecherie and craftie guile murthered as commonly the rumor ran one who was very cunning in raising hurtfull spirits and solliciting the presages of such ghosts and spectres fearing least so long as he remained alive he should be detected he was more gentle and tractable Lastly because creeping as he did a long time below like a serpent lying under the ground he could not as yet raise any great matters of bloudie and capitall consequence CHAP. II. The beginning of Maximinus his crueltie His Patron and his complices Without any words of vulgar persons mention is made of the punishments inflicted upon Marinus Cethegus and Alypius NOw the very beginning from whence he displayed and spred himselfe abroad arose upon such an occasion as this Chilo late a deputie Praefect and his wife named Maxima having complained unto Olybrius Praefect of the citie for that time being and avouching that their lives were assayled and endangered by poysons obtained at his hands a commission That the parties whom they suspected should forthwith be apprehended and clapt up fast in prison to wit Sericus an Organist or maker of instruments Asbolius a professor of wrestling and Campensis a b Soothsayer But whiles this businesse waxed coole by reason that Olybrius was visited with long and grievous sicknesse those aforesaid who had given information of these things beeing impatient of delayes preferred a petition and craved That the matter in controversie might be made over unto the Praefect of the victuals aforesaid for to bee examined accordingly Which for expedition sake was soone graunted Maximinus therefore having received matter to worke mischiefe upon discharged and uttered his inbred rigour that stucke close unto his cruell heart as oftentimes doe these savage beasts exhibited in the Amphitheatres
of all unto Simplicius So there were officers sent who upon the said discoverie made had them away out of their lurking place and Abienus verily upon the crime of adulterie strongly enforced against him which he was said to have committed upon the bodie of Anepsia suffered death but the woman to the end that by deferring her punishment she might have assured hope to save her life avouched That being by cursed and wicked arts assayled she suffered that dishonour and violence in Aginatius his house These things as they happened Simplicius rung out againe into the Emperours eares and Maximinus who abode there upon a malitious mind that he bare against Aginatius alreadie for the cause above specified now that his privie grudge was together with his power and authoritie more incensed made an exceeding earnest suit that there might be a letter sent backe againe for to have him executed And verily this braine-sicke incitor and mightie withall soone obtained so much but fearing the heavie load of envie and hatred in case a man of noble birth should come to his death by sentence of judgement that Simplicius both his owne counsellor and friend also pronounced kept with himselfe for a while the Emperours precept being at a stay and doubting whom he might find out especially to be a trustie and sure executor of this horrible designe And at the last as commonly like will easily sort with like he lighted upon one Doryphorianus a Gaule and a bold franticke person on whom for promising shortly to accomplish this service he tooke order that a deputieship should be conferred and to him he delivered the precept together with the Emperours letters instructing the man cruell though he was yet unexpert and unskilfull with what expedition he might without all let or impeachment dispatch Aginatius who peradventure upon finding out any meanes of delay would escape and be gone Doryphorianus sped himselfe in all hast and tooke long journeyes till hee came to Rome and at his first comming before all complements of salutation ended he cast about and with great diligence sought by what forcible device with the helpe of some others he might take away the life of a Senatour so nobly discended and having intelligence that but a while before he had beene found in a farme-house or mannour of his owne himselfe with a sterne countenance determined to have the judiciall hearing of Anepsia as the chiefe of all the offendors and that during the ugly darke night what time folkes minds possessed with horror and terror use to be dull and dead as among an infinite number of examples h Aiax also in Homer sheweth wishing to dye by day-light rather than to abide the terrors of the nightly feare And for that this Iudge or rather a wicked Brigand intending onely that which he promised made every thing greater than it was when he had commaunded Aginatius to be brought before him judicially he caused a number of hangmen and tormentors to enter in place and whiles the chaynes made an hideous noyse with their jingling he tortured to the very point of death the poore slaves pined with foule usage and evill keeping a long time to endanger by some evidence their lord and masters life a thing that most mild and mercifull lawes have forbidden to be done in the question and matter of fornication In the end when some torments were so grievously inflicted that they had expressed from a sillie maid servant now readie to dye certaine ambiguous or suspicious words no sooner was the evidence by her given fully discussed and sifted but without any more adoe definitive sentence was pronounced That Aginatius should be led to execution And thus without any audience given him notwithstanding with a lowd voice he called upon the names of Princes and Emperours hoisted he was away on high and put to death and by the like sentence Anepsia was also executed As Maximinus himselfe played these prankes both in his owne person whiles he was present and also by his pragmaticall and busie agents when he was farre off Rome citie bewailed the death of many But the Furies made hast to revenge those that were thus slaine For as it shall hereafter be shewed in due season not only the same Maximinus bearing himselfe intollerably prowd under Gratianus was condemned and suffered death but Simplicius also was killed and cut in pieces in Illyricum yea and Doryphorianus pronounced guiltie of death and thrust into the deepe dungeon i Tullianum the prince by his mothers counsell fetched foorth from thence and when he was returned to his owne home in Gaule with dolorous torments made an end of him But now returne we from whence we turned hither Thus stood the state as I may so say of the citie affaires CHAP. VI. Valentinian goeth about to bridle the rodes and invasions of the Alemans and they having sued for peace but not obtained it set upon the Romanes at unawares and kill two of their martiall leaders BVt Valentinian conceiving great matters in his mind and those of behoofefull consequence fortified the Rhene all along from the beginning of Rhaetia unto the narrow sea or Frith of the Ocean with mightie pyles and bankes raysing up castles skonces forts and turrets of a great height one by another raunged along in meet and convenient places along the coast of Gaule as farre as it reacheth in length yea and otherwhiles with houses and buildings planted beyond the rivers encroaching somewhat upon the limits of the Barbarians and winning ground Finally when he cast with himselfe and considered how that high built and strong fenced fortresse which himselfe at his first entrance had founded out of the very ground by reason that the river named Nicer running hard by might by little and little with the violent beating of the waves be undermined and subverted he devised to turne the streame another way and having sought out and gotten together cunning workemen skilfull in water-workes and a number beside of stout souldiors hee entred upon this hard piece of worke For certaine maine pieces of timber and those of Oake for many dayes together were framed and couched close and the same cast into the chanell notwithstanding huge posts forcibly pitched down hard by and eftsoones pitched againe at the rising of the mightie billowes were shuffled and huddled together yea and plucked up with the violence of the streame and broken in sunder Yet for all this the great and earnest care of the Emperour together with the painefull labour of the dutifull souldiors who oftentimes when they were at worke stood up to the chin plunged in water overcame all difficulties And so at the last not without danger of some the garrison forts were rid quite frō the trouble wrought by the mightie wandering river and now stand strong and sure Being glad therefore and rejoycing at so good speed and gathering those together who according to the time and season of the yeare were slipped sundrie wayes he
at variance and which sore hindred their service strove for honour and dignitie Which when the Sarmatians as they were passing wittie perceived not expecting any solemne signall of battaile charge upon the Moesiack legion first And while our souldiors were some what slacke in this tumult to arme and make readie their weapons they slew the most of them and herewith more emboldened they brake through the Pannonian legion and having broken the rankes with meere might and maine they had redoubled the charge and put them in manner all to the sword but that some of them made so quicke shift that they escaped the daunger of death During this disasterous danger and heavie losse the marquesse of Moesia Theodosius the younger a young gentleman whose beard began but then to bud forth and who afterward prooved a most politique and experienced Emperour divers times drave out and sore annoyed yea and with many skirmishes one in the taile of another crushed the free Sarmatians so called for difference from the rebellious bondmen that from another side invaded our confines and so defeated whole multitudes of them conflowing together and resisting right manfully that the most part of them most justly slaine satisfied the bloudie foules and ravenous wild beasts Whereupon the rest now that their swelling pride was fallen and well abated fearing least the same captaine a warriour of expedite prowesse as it appeared and quicke dispatch would either beat downe or put to rout the troupes that made rodes even in the first entrie of the borders or else bestow ambushments secretly along the woods after many offers and attempts of breaking through made from time to time in vaine casting aside all trust in fighting craved a tolleration and pardon for all that was past And thus being overcome for a time entred into no action contrarie to the covenants of peace graunted unto them as being most of all curbed and kept downe with this feare for that there was come a strong power of the Gallicane souldiors to the defence of Illyricum Whiles these occurrents so many and of such sort by way of continuall troubles do passe in the time that Claudius governed Rome citie the river Tiberis which running through the mids thereof together with many sinkes sewers and riverets aboundant intermingleth himselfe with the Tyrrhene sea swelling bigge and overflowing with outragious fall of raine and powring shewers and spreading now beyond the termes of a river welneere surrounded all And for as much as all parts of the citie besides seated upon an even and levell place were all a standing poole the hills onely and what great houses built apart by themselves were mounted upon the higher ground saved themselves from the present fearefull daunger And least a number of the people should pine and perish for want of food considering the water was so great that it suffered no man to go forth any whither with boats and wherries there was plentifull store of meat brought unto them But when as the tempestuous weather was appeased and the river by breaking those barres that held it in returned to his woonted course all feare was done away and no more trouble afterwards expected This verie Prefect carryed himselfe in his place verie quietly as having endured and tasted of no sedition upon any just cause of quarel and complaint and besides he reedified many buildings among which hee reared a mightie gallerie or walking place hard by the o baine of Agrippa which he named The Baine of p good event by reason that there is seene neere unto it a temple bearing this name THE XXX BOOKE CHAP. 1. Para King of Armenia taken by a wile and wrongfully detained by Valens wittily maketh meanes to escape AMong these daungerous troubles which Generall Perrha raysed after the King of the Quadi was treacherously slaine there chaunced an execrable fact to bee committed in the East by the murdering of Para King of Armenia by villainous and secret traines of which matter upon an impious intent conceived this we know to have beene the originall cause Certaine persons there were having shrewd and unhappie wits of their owne fed and maintained many times with the losses of commonweale who before Valens complotted and packed against Para being as yet but a young Prince divers imputations aggravating the same in the worst manner Among whom was Terentius Lord Warden of the Marches one that walked lowly and alwayes somewhat heavie and sad but so long as he lived a perillous sower and stirrer up of dissentions Who having taken into his societie some few people such as for their lewd and hainous offences stood in doubtfull tearmes of feare by writing to the Emperours Court and Counsell ceased not to reiterate the death of Cylaces and Artabanes adding moreover That the said young Prince reaching and ayming at proud deeds became exceeding hard and cruel to his subjects Whereupon the said Para under a colour as if he should be made partaker of a treatie then to be holden as the instant affaires required called after a roial sort and under a pretense of serviceable courtesie attended at Tarsus in Cilicia when as he neither could be admitted into the Emperours campe nor yet know the cause of this urgent apparance of his for that everie man held his tongue at the length by a secret inkling given unto him he found that Terentius by his letters advised the Roman Emperour to send straightwayes another to be king of Armenia least in hatred of Para and for feare that he should returne the whole nation of such importance to us should revolt and become subject unto the Persians who were hot upon the getting of it either by force or feare or flatterie Which when he the said king revolved in his mind he presaged that some grievous mischiefe hung over his head And being now ware of this deceitfull plot and finding no other meanes to save himselfe but by a speedie departure at the persuasion of such as he had affiance in he having gathered about him three hundred of his traine who had followed him forth of his countrey upon most swift horses when the greatest part of the day was spent more adventurous than advised as commonly it is seene in great and daungerous frights he went forth in manner of a pointed battailon and hastened away fearelesse And when an officer belonging to a the Moderator of the Province who warded the gate much troubled to see him make such hast found him in the suburbes and quarters neere unto the citie he besought him verie earnestly to stay and seeing he could not prevaile turned backe for feare of being killed In like manner a little after the legion also that pursued and now approached neere unto him himselfe together with the forwardest of his companie galloping backe and shooting arrowes that flew as thicke as sparkes of fire but missing them for the nonce put to flight so that all our souldiors togegether with their Tribune terrified retyred
cities and townes he either repaired or built from the verie first foundation for brevitie sake I say nothing giving leave unto greater persons themselves to shew that more at large Well these were vertues I suppose that all good men are to follow Now let us as briefly run over his vices Most covetous he was and greedily set to gather great wealth Impatient of all travell and paines taking and rather affecting exceeding great hardnesse given over much to crueltie of nature somewhat rude and rusticall furnished neither with martiall arts nor liberall studies Willingly hunting after gaines and commodities though it were with the grievous grones of others And then was he most intollerable when drawing such trespasses as happened either to a contempt of the Princes dignitie or to high treason he cruelly fought the bloud and undoing of rich persons Neither was this in him tollerable that whereas he would seeme to commit the examination and enquirie of all causes unto the lawes yea and give order that such businesses and controversies should be tryed and decided by certaine Commissioners appointed as especiall and chosen Iudges yet he suffered nothing to passe contrarie to his owne will and pleasure Otherwise also a doer of wrong he was and wrathfull lying verie open to entertaine all promoters and accusers without respect of truth or falsitie a foule fault and which even in these pivat and daily dealings betwene man and man is exceeding greatly to bee feared In one word an idle loyterer and a slow-backe For colout and complexion blacke The apple or sight of the one eye quite closed up yet so as a farre off the blemish appeared not For feature of bodie his limmes well made and trust together his stature neither over tall nor yet too low bow legged and carrying a good graund paunch before him Thus much may serve the turne to have spoken of Valens and that all this is true I report me to the ful testimonie of the time wherin both he and I lived together Moreover this also would not be passed over in silence That whereas in the Oracle delivered from â— three-footed table that Hilarius and Patricius as I have shewed practised with he found those three Propheticall verses of which the last goeth thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is In Mimas fields where their heads burnt shall be At the first as hee was altogether unpolished and rude he contemned the same but in the processe of those most lamentable accidents that befell unto him so fearfull he was that upon the verie calling to remembrance of the said Oracle he quaked and trembled at the name of Asia where over a towne called Erythraeum he heard say by the relation of learned men that both Homer and Tully wrot there stood a mountaine named Mimas But at the last after he was dead and the enemies departed out of the countrey neere unto the verie place wherein it is thought he caught his deadly wound there was found by report a tombe or monument of stone raised above the ground upon which one stone there was fast laid which in Greeke letters engraven shewed that one Mimas a noble man in old time was there enterred Well after this mortall field fought when as now the darke night had over-spred the earth of those that remained alive some tooke the right hand others the left and everie one as feare carried him any way went seeking for his next fellowes and friends when as indeed never a one of them could see any but themselves alone supposing the enemies sword was hard at their heads behind them Yet heare they might though it were a great way off the piteous cryes of those that were left behind the dolefull gaspes and yexes of such as lay a dying and the dolourous plaints and weeping of as many as lay wounded CHAP. XVI The Gothes after this victorie besiege Hadrianopolis but take the repulse and many of them in the assault were slaine NOw no sooner began it to be day light but the Conquerours like savage beasts more fell and enraged with the tast of bloud that fleshed them and whetted their stomackes moved with the alluring inducements of vaine hope marched with their troupes strongly embattailed toward Hadrianopolis with a full purpose to race and destroy it though it were with much hazard and danger as having intelligence given them by traiterous fugitives That the greatest personages and officers of highest place the regall ensignes also belonging to the imperiall dignitie together with all the treasure of Valens were there bestowed as in a strong place of defence And least â—y long delayes and respite betweene their heat should coole at the fourth houre of the day after they had encircled the walls there began a most cruell fight whiles the assaylants of an in-bred stoutnesse hastened headlong to present perill and the defendants on the other side were not behind to shew their vigour with might and maine and for that a great number of our souldiors and campe-drudges together with their horses not suffered to enter standing close unto the walls and the dwelling houses joyning thicke fought valiantly as they might for the low ground and their rage that preassed upon them gat the upper hand unto the ninth houre of the day suddainely three hundred of our footmen who stood hard unto the very parapet of the wals casting themselves into a thicke squadron revolted unto the Barbarians whom they greedily caught within their clutches and presently upon what policie I know not put them all to the sword But from that time forward observed it was That not one of them in what danger and desperat estate soever they stood ever so much as thought to doe the like againe In these so many calamities comming thus hotly and so hudled upon the besieged all on a suddaine with mightie crackes of thunder there poured out of blacke clouds such violent showers of raine that they scattered the coÌ„panies of this raging multitude and after they were returned to their hold set out and cast into a round forme of their carts and waines breathing out still more and more their cruell minds and stomackes they fell to commaund and summon our men by minatorie letters and an embassadour sent unto them upon securitie received to have his life saved But when as he durst not enter in who was sent by a certaine Christian the letters were carried and read which being throughly as he said skanned upon the rest of that day and the whole night following was spent in preparing of fortifications For within-forth the gates were immured and dammed up with mightie huge flints the weake and undefensible parts of the wall strengthened and for the discharging from all sides of casting weapons darts and stones were engines planted in meet and convenient places yea and there was conveyed neere at hand sufficient store of water For the day before some of them that fought for verie thirst were endaungered as much as their
lives were worth Contrariwise the Gothes casting with themselves how difficile and daungerous were the events of warre and driven into their dumpes to see that the valianter sort of them were slaine and hurt and how by peecemeale still their forces were decayed devised a wily and craftie stratageme which the goddesse Iustice her selfe bewailed and divulged abroad For certaine Gallants of our side who the day before had revolted unto them they enticed that under a colour of running away as if they meant to returne home to their owne countrey they should endevour to be received within the wals and being entred in closely set on fire some one part of the citie to the end that by a signall hereof secretly erected whiles the whole multitude of the besieged were busily occupied about quenching the fire the enemies might breake violently into the citie void of defendants upon the wals These gallant youths abovesaid went forward as it was appointed and when they were come under the ditches stretching forth their hands they prayed and besought That themselves being Romanes might be let in And thus received because there was no suspition to the contrarie upon interrogatories as touching the designes and purposes of the enemies they varied and disagreed in their tales Whereupon it came to passe that after they had beene by bloudie torture farther examined upon the point and confessed plainely what they came for they had their heads chopt off for their labour Now when all warlike engines and fabrickes were in readinesse toward the third watch the Barbarians forgetting quite all feare of wounds past with many rankes one seconding another conflowed like so many billowes and waves of the sea to the gates of the citie which were made fast against them and that with much greater resolution of their mightie men and rulers among them but together with the armed souldiors both the Provinciall and the Palatine bands rose up and bestirred themselves very quicke to overthrow and beare them downe And such were their darts and casting-weapons that being once discharged though at a very venture yet among so great a multitude they could not light without doing some harme And then our men perceived that the barbarous enemies made use of the same weapons and darts which were flung or shot at them And therefore commaundement was given That the arrowes by guelding or cutting the strings and sinewes which knit the yron heads and the wooden steiles together before they were flung they then should be shot out of the bowes which all the whiles they flew in the ayre kept still their strength sound yea and if they stucke in the bodies lost not their efficacie or verily if they fell to the ground streightwaies knapped asunder and fell in pieces In this fervent heat of skirmishing one unexpected accident there was of great moment and importance A Scorpion which is a kind of Instrument or Engine that the common people tearme Onager planted just over-against a thicke battaillon of the enemies discharged from it a mightie stone Which although it tooke no effect but violently grazed upon the ground yet upon the sight thereof the enemies were so daunted and amazed with feare that wondering as astonied men at this so new and strange a sight they reculed out of the way and made an offer to bee gone But upon the fresh sound of the trumpets as the chiefe Officers and Captaines gave order the assault was renewed againe And in like manner the Romanes for their part got the better hand as having flung in manner no other weapon or shot were it but out of the slings-loupe in vaine For the rest of the enemies behind who followed hard after the companies of those their Leaders that were inflamed with a greedie desire to have the rifling of that wealth which had beene gotten together by the bad endevours and studies night and day of Valens vaunted and gave it out with open mouth That they had endured as many dangers as their betters and superiors And thus some of them halfe dead as being squashed with huge weightie stones or shot into the breast with darts and arrowes lay tumbling upon the ground others carrying ladders and going about on every side to skale and climbe up the walls in an infinite number of places were under their very burthens overwhelmed with stones fragments of pillars and with n Cylinders borne downe the steepe descent Neither was there any one of these furious enemies whom the sight of so horrible carnage and bloudshed could untill it was very late in the evening turne away from their courageous mind to fight manfully and doe some noble service Which courage of theirs was so much the more quickened for that seeing a farre off a number also of the defendants with sundrie sorts of shot overthrowne and fallen downe dead they joyed thereat Thus without any rest or stint fighting there was right courageously both for and against the walls And because now they fought not in any order but skirmished by starts and severall companies as they could sallie one upon another which was a signe they grew to the utmost point of despaire at the shutting in of the evening they all withdrew themselves and returned to their tents evill appayed and heavie blaming one another for their inconsiderate follie in that as Fritigernus gave them counsell before they had not in all places declined the toyles and sorrowes that use to follow sieges CHAP. XVII Having left Hadrianopolis they gave the attempt of Perinthus and Constantinople but by sundrie calamities daunted they invade the Northerne Provinces They that seized upon Thracia by the meanes of Iulius Colonell of the Footmen in one and the selfe same day as if a signall haa beene given were all murthered and so the Provinces of the East are delivered from dangers AFter this all the night which was not long as being in the middest of Summer they betooke themselves to the care of their wounds and to use the meanes both to dresse and heale them after the manner of their owne nation and upon the returne of day light they fell to consultation and were divided into sundrie opinions doubting which way to take their journey After much debating and dispute pro contra they determine to take in Perinthus and from thence to seize all places stored with riches as knowing which they were by the relation of fugitives who told them all the secrets not of cities onely but of every house also Following therefore this resolution forward they went for none there was to withstand them making havocke still by robbing spoyling and fiering all the way But after their departure those that were besieged within Hadrianopolis when discoverers of approoved truth and fidelitie had reported unto them That all the quarters next adjoyning were cleared from the enemie went forth at midnight avoiding the common high wayes ran over the woods and wields beyond Philippopolis and from thence to Serdica another citie of
Macedonia together with all the goods which they had yet whole and untouched making all the speed and hast they could devise to find out Valens forsooth as if he had beene in those countries not knowing one whit that he was slaine in the very tempestuous stormes of the battaile or at leastwise fled to a countrey cottage where he was thought to have beene burnt to death and consumed But the Gothes intermingled with the Hunnes and Alanes nations exceeding warlike and valiant yea and hardened in many adventurous and dangerous services whom Fritigernus in his wit and policie had by wonderfull allurements of rewards associated unto himselfe having encamped hard by Perinthus durst not in remembrance of their former foyles and calamities either come unto or assault the citie it selfe but forrayed the fertile fields and territories about it that reached farre and wide even to extreame penurie killing or taking prisoners the inhabitants therein From whence they made great hast marching for feare of wait-laying and ambushments in foure square battailons to Constantinople gaping after the exceeding wealth and riches there minding to make many attempts for to force and destroy the said citie whom thus unmeasurably advauncing themselves and at the point almost to doe violence upon the port-cluses of the gates the heavenly power of God repulsed by such an accident as this A regiment of the Saracenes as touching whose originall and manners I have in divers places related much a people meet rather for the service of quicke expeditions than for any encounter and conflict in battaile being newly sent for thither no sooner espied the troupe of Barbarians but with a mind to joyne battaile all on a suddaine boldly issued foorth of the citie and after a stiffe bickering betweene them maintained a long time both parts left the field on even hand Howbeit by a certaine strange event and never seene before the foresaid regiment of Easterlings got the upper hand For out of it a certaine shag-haired fellow naked in all parts save the groine and privie parts making a rustie hoarse and dolefull noyse drawing out his skeine or short cuttleaxe thrust himselfe into the middest of the Gothes and after he had slaine an enemie by cutting his throat set it lips close unto the wound and sucked out the bloud that gushed forth At which monstrous and wonderfull sight the Barbarians affrighted marched afterwards not in any outrageous and prowd sort when they went about any exploit but paced their ground in warie and doubtfull manner And so in processe of time when their boldnesse was well abated and taken downe considering well the compasse of the wals which by reason of huge and spacious Islands lay out in length beholding also the beautifull fortifications of the citie how inaccessible they were and withall the infinite number of the inhabitants yea and hard by it a Frith or narrow cut of the sea which divideth Pontus from Aegeum after the worke-houses of warlike engines were cast downe which they prepared and more deadly blowes taken than given departed thence in dissolute manner as fast as they could by the Northern provinces which they over-ran licentiously at their pleasure even as farre as to the foot of the Iulian Alpes which in old time they tearmed Venetian In these dayes remarkable above the rest was the profitable and expedite service of Iulius colonell of the Footmen on the farther side of Taurus for by the direction and appointment of the Destinies he gave commandement That all the Gothes entertained before time in Thracia and now dispersed into many cities and castles by sending secret letters unto their generals and captaines all Romans a thing at this time that seldome happeneth should in one and the same day as if a banner had beene erected for that purpose be killed in a generall massacre even when they feared no such thing but in expectation of wages promised unto them were drawne forth into the villages neere the citie side By which prudent policie put in execution without any noise made thereof or further delay the East Provinces were delivered from great perils and dangers Thus have I as a souldior sometime and a Grecian borne according to the measure of my abilitie drawne out an hystorie beginning at the raigne of the Emperour Nerva and continuing it unto the death of Valens A worke professing truth and which I never wittingly as Ithinke durst corrupt either with silence or leasing Let other men for age more sufficient and for their learning better knowne write the rest Whom if it shall please them to enter thereupon I advise to frame their tongues unto an higher stile FINIS ¶ Annotations and Conjectures upon the 14. Booke of Ammianus Marcellinus THe very entrance into this Booke depending upon a former relation bewrayeth the losse and want of 13. bookes before even from the beginning of Cocceius Nerva his Empire unto the battaile at Mursa in Constantius his reigne what time he had made Gallus his cousin german Caesar with him and defeated the forces of Magnentius with losse also of much bloud on his own side For in this battaile were slaine 54000 and above And whereas the armie of Magnentius the Vsurper consisted of 30000 and that of Constantius of 70000 there died in the field of Magnentius his part 24000 and of Constantius 30000. Howbeit Magnentius fled and afterward stabbed himselfe to death Considering therefore this bloudie execution on both sides no marvaile it is that our author sayth here While the hearts of both the sides were yet fainting and daunted as being sore crushed with such varietie of toyle some dangers a Comitem Orientis Lieutenant Generall in the East Among many significations of this word Comes which I will distinctly shew as they shall occurre it importeth here the Lieutenant Deputie or Vicarius under the Praefectus Prae torio per Orientem He is sometimes tearmed Praefectus and Praeses Orientis also by a more proper denomination Vicarius Orientis His government under Praefect Praetor Orientis extended throughout the East taking it restrictively and divided from Illyricum which also was within the East Empire in a larger signification evenover 15 Provinces and their Rulers whether they were Consulares i. governed by Consulares as Palaestina Phoenicia Syria c. or Praesidales ruled by Praesides as Phoenicia Libani Euphratensis Mesopotamia c. or under Iudices who were Perfectissimi as Arabia and Isauria He was in the second ranke of dignities not Illustris vir but Spectabilis As touching the Ensignes belonging to his place the ornaments of his investure his officers and traine about him and other particulars to his jurisdiction and government appertaining I referre the reader to Notitia Imperij Orientalis and the Commentarie thereupon by Guidus Pancirolus b Amphiaraus was a renowmed Prophet or Wisard among the Greeks like as Martius among the Romans Amphiaraus sonne of Oecleus and husband to Eriphyle
unto us in flesh and so sayth Suidas Others take it for the memoriall day of Christs Baptisme on which also the Catechumeni were baptized But by the circumstance of the moneth in this place I take it in the first signification e Apud signa The strongest place in battaile and campe both was called Principia where stood the Praetorium and there were the Standards Ensignes and Banners bestowed where also was the safest custodie of any committed to ward And that the Signa were in the maine battaile among the Principes or Principia it appeareth by this That they who were marshalled in the vaward be usually called Antesignani and those in the rereward Postsignani f The goddesse of Warre she is also named Enyio g How ever Praefectus Praetorio was an high Magistrate and secundus ab Augusto yet you must alwaies except the Consuls whose place and authoritie was peculiarly called Amplissimus Magistratus The Ensignes belonging to this Magistrate was especially the Purple or Scarlet Robe called Trabea insomuch as by a Metonymie it is in this Author put for the Dignitie it selfe as namely in the beginning of the 23. Booke Ascito in Collegio Trabeae Sallustio i. assuming Salustius to be fellow Consull with him As touching the Ensignes belonging to Praefect Praetorio see at the note upon Praefectus Vrbi h Largitiones curandas Have recourse to the note upon Comes Largitionum Domesticis See the Annotation upon Protectores i Legiones Constantiacae They tooke name of Constantius the Emperour who enrolled them k Iniectis Ponticulis The manner of putting foorth these little bridges out of towers and other fabrickes to the walls of a citie besieged you may see lively described and portrayed by Godescalcus Stenechius at the seventeenth Chapter of the fourth Booke of Vegetius l Cum parte validiori exercitus Vnderstand it of the Legionarie footmen in whom the Romanes reposed greatest confidence The like phrase our Author useth elsewhere and namely in the 15. Booke cap. 3. Arbetio Magister Equitum cum validiore exercitus manu where doubtlesse he speaketh of the Infanterie m Lancearij were souldiors of a Palatine Legion under the Generall of the Forces called Praesentalis haply of the Launces or Speares that they served with Some had the addition Stobenses of Stobium a towne in Macedonie others Augustenses of Augustus as Vegetius thinketh Lib. 2. Cap. 7. and divers denominations beside as you may read in Notitia n Mattiarij or Martiarij were auxiliarie forces so called of Mattium a towne in Germanie the Metropolis of the Catti where now Marpurgum standeth Laeti also were souldiors levied out of a people in Gaule so named and they served in divers nations whereupon they have sundrie additions Notitia Zosimus Howbeit Donatus Marcellus sayth they were so called of Mattia i. a Club or Maza a Mace such as Clavatores were in Plautus o These Iambicke verses are called Senarij because they consist of six single feet otherwise Trimetri for that they stand of three measures or duple feet for distinction of other Iambickes named Dimetri Tetrametri c. p Hermes a noble Philosopher Priest and King of Aegypt whom our writer calleth Ter-Maximus others Trismegistus in the same sence for that he was Philosophus Max. Sacerdos Max. Rex Maximus q Ecclesiasticall Writers and other Historians agree not with Marcellinus eyther in the age of Constantius or the yeares of his reigne or day of his death For some say he lived â—â— and reigned 2â— as Pomp. Laetus but evident it is in the 1â— Booke of this Historie and fourth chapter unlesse there be some notable fault in the copie that he had then reigned 30. yeares And Socrates sayth plainely he ruled 38. in all and lived â—5 So doth Sozomenus Howbeit I meane not to reconcile Historiographers about this point I attribute much unto Marcellinus for that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r s For the better unfolding of this place you shall understand that under the Rom. Emperours there were devised five degrees or rankes of dignities following one another in this order to wit Illustris Spectabilis Clarissimus Perfectissimus and Egregius albeit Notitia maketh no mention of this last and lowest The principall of all the rest as chiefe Senatours were tearmed Illustres and ten magistrates there were of this ranke Consuls Praefectus Praetorio Praefectus Vrbi Magistri Militum Magister Officiorum Quaestores Praepositus sacri cubiculi Comes Largitionum Comâ—s rerum privatarum Comes Domesticorum The middle sort of Senatours had the title of Spectabiles among whom were raunged tenne other Magistrats or Rulers namely Primicerius sacri cubiculi Primicâ—rius Notariorum Comes Castrensis Magister Scriniorum Proconsules Comes Orientis Praefectus Augustatis i. Aegypti Vicarij Comites Duces rei militaris Zâ—no also reckoneth Tribunus Notariorum to bee Spectabilis And these Spectabiles bee sometime confounded with Clarissimi The rest of the Senatours be styled Clarissimi and their dignitie Clarissimatus Such are Consulares i. Governours of Provinces so called for that they were adorned with Consular ornaments although they had not beene Consuls Correctores otherwise called Moderaâ—ores of Provinces and Presidents Likewise the Comites of a second degree such as had the government of the Provinciall Scholae Also Silentiarij otherwise called Decuriones Palatij Officers in the Emperours Court to see that all were quiet and no noisemade to trouble and disquiet the Prince c. These Clarissimi were otherwhiles tearmed Speciosi See more of them in Notitia as also of the priviledges and immunities graunted unto them and the other two degrees above them Next under these were raunged by Constantine the Great Viri Perfectissimi of whom Marcellinus here speaketh and to determine of them precisely they were in higher account than Equites Româ—ni although sometimes they also be styled Perfectissimi Thus were entituled the Governours of smaller Provinces as the Presidents of Arabia Dalmatia and Isauria The Procurators or Auditors under the Emperour called Rationales The Principals of the Scrinia of Comes Largitionum and his Comites in each Diocesse whom I take to be under-Treasurers And as there were three degrees of Comites so were there also of Viri Perfectissimi Egregij were such as out of Equestris ordo attained place of government in the State Such were the Emperours Scriniarij called also Tribuni Notarij whom I suppose to be under Secretaries Also the rulers of some provinces Their dignitie was called Egregiatus but now it is growne out of use Howbeit the moderne interpreters reckon Prelates Advocates of the Exchequer Doctors Knights and Gentlemen among Egregios But for that the handling of this matter of Precedencie is a ticklish point and offensive Verbum non amplius addam onely thus much of them and other titles it shall suffice what Lactantius writeth Nemo Egregius nisi qui bonus innocens fuerit nemo Clarissimus nisi qui opera
the generall Councel of all Afia to this effect If any man proceed to molest or accuse any Christian for his Profession let him who is thus troubled although he be found a Christian be absolved and his accuser suffer just and due punishment 15 905   Euseb And there Antoninus alleageth the Edict of Hadrian in these words In favour of which men that is Christians other Governours also of Provinces wrote before time unto my father of sacred memorie To whom he wrote backe againe That no man should trouble this kinde of men unlesse they were convicted to have plotted and practised aught against the State Eusebius   4124 154 ¶ Bruttius Praesens M. Antonius Rufinus  16 906 4125 155 ¶ Aelius Aurelius sonne of Pius Augustus who afterwards was called Augustus the second time Sextillus Lateranus  17 907 4126 156 ¶ C. Iulius Severus M. Rusinus Sabinianus  18 908 4127 157 ¶ M. Ceionius Silvanus C. Serius Augurinus Marcio Ponticus and his disciples heretickes trouble the Church Onuphr 19 909 4128 158 ¶ Barbatus Regulus  20 910 4129 159 ¶ Q. Flavius Tertullus Sacerdos Vnder Anicetus Bishop of Rome Polycarpus a disciple of S. Iohn the Apostle came to Rome and reduced many that had bin seduced by Heretickes unto the true faith Hee sharpely and with great courage repressed Marcion Euseb lib. 4. 21 911    Irenaus affirmeth that in his youth hee had seene this Polycarpus a very aged man and further faith There be that have heard Polycarpus say that Saint Iohn the disciple of our Lord going to Bath when hee saw Cerinthus within leapt foorth of the Bain before hee had bathed saying withall That he feared left the house would have fallen whiles Cerinthus an enemie to the Trueth was within it And Polycarpus himselfe meeting upon a time with Cerinthus when hee said Take knowledge and acquaintance of us returned this answer I knowe thee indeede to be the first begotten sonne of Satan Irenaeus lib. 3.   4130 160 ¶ Plautius Quinctillus Statius Priscus Antoninus the Emperour having a wealthie estate of his owne by inheritance gave away most liberally all his riches among his friends but made the Common Treasury exceeding rich Euseb 22 912 4131 161 ¶ T. Vibius Barus Ap. Annius Bradua  23 913 4132 162 ¶ M. Aclius Aurelius some of Augustus Pius Caesar the third time L. Aclius sonne of Augustus Pius Caesar the second time Antoninus Pius the Emperor died the 7. day of March at Lorium an house or manor of his owne in the yeere of his age 75. 1 914    ¶ After whom succeeded in the Empire the 17. 18. Emperours to wit MARC AVRELIVS ANTONINVS surnamed Philosophus and Luc. AVRELIVS VERVS Euseb Iul. Capitolin     ANTONINVS the Philosopher governed yeeres 19. daies 11. and VERVS yeeres 9. Eutrop.      This was the first time that Rome began to have two Augusti or Emperours at once Capitolin Euseb   4133 163 ¶ Q. Iunius Rusticus Vettius Aquilinus The Parthian warre with King Vologesus unto which Verus the Emperour went who lying at Antioch and about Armenia performed by his Captains many noble exploits Statius Priscus fought fortunately in Armenia Avidius Cassius and Nartius Verus marched with a puislant armie as farre as to Babylonia and Armenia Seleucia that most noble citie of Assyria with 500000. men hee wonne Hee brought backewith him the Parthick Triumph and together with Antoninus Philosophus triumphed Eutrop. An exceeding great famine and pestilence at Rome Most streit Lawes as touching sepultures and buriall of the dead are enacted 2 915 4134 164 ¶ L. Papirius Aelianus Iunius Pastor  3 916 4135 165 ¶ C. Iulius Macrinus L. Cornelius Celsus  4 917 4136 166 ¶ L. Arrius Pudens M. Gavinus Orfitus Aufidius Victorinus is sent against the Catti who had invaded Rhetia Iul. Capitolin 5 918    The Church under the Crosse hath divers Pastours and Doctours excelling in Pietie and Doctrine To wit Polycarpus Dionysius of Corinth Melito Iustinus and others Euseb   4137 167 ¶ Q Servilius Pudens L. Fusidius Pollio Tatianus the father of the Heretickes Encratitae disquieteth the Church Ecclesiast writers 6 919    The two Emperours triumph at Rome over the Parthians   4138 168 ¶ Antoninus Verus the Emperour the third time T Vinidius Quadtatus The fourth persecution against the Christians wherein Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna 86. yeeres old Iustinus the Philosopher Maturus Pothinus Attalus Blandina and an infinite number of others as well in the East as the West are killed Euseb lib. 4. 5. Blandina in the middes of her tortures cried ever and anone I am a Christian with which she refreshed her selfe to endure all 7 920    The warre against the Marcomanni whereunto the Emperours addressed themselves was by reason of the Pestilence staied a good while Capitolin 8 921 4139 169 ¶ L. Vettitus Paulus T. Iunius Montanus The persecution of the Church continueth Eusebius When in the expedition against the Marcomans the Emperours were come to Aquileia certaine of their Princes intreated for pardon and peace Capitolin 9 922 4140 170 ¶ Sosius Priscus Q Caelius Apollinaris Lucius Aurelius Verus as he was in his journey from the citie Concordia to Altinum sitting together with Antoninus Philosophus in his Chariot died of an Apoplexie A man by nature nothing civile howbeit in a reverent regard of his Companion in the Empire he never attempted any forcible act Eutropius writeth that he died in the eleventh yeere of his Empire but the Chronographers thinke otherwise whom we have followed after his decease Antoninus Philosophus ruled alone Capit.   4141 171 ¶ M. Aurelius Severus â—ethegus L. Iulius Clarus Avidius Cassius nominated in the East Emperor was presently by the souldiers beheaded Spart Vulcat Gall. 10 923 4142 172 ¶ T. Titienus Serenus C. Scoedius Natta Pinariâ—â—s Egesippus now lived who is accompted a famous writer of the Ecclesiasticall historie 11 924    The Church still flourisheth under the Crosse   4143 173 ¶ Claudius Maximus Cornelius Scipio Orfitus Dame Felicitas with hir seven sons at Rome Concordius an Elder of the Church at Spoletum became martyrs Asianus Apollinaris present Apologies unto Antoninus 12 925    The whole world was afflicted with so great a mortalitie that the Roman armies were consumed therewith almost to the last man The Germans that made an insurrection were repressed Euseb Niceph. Capitolin   4144 174 ¶ M. Aurelius Severus the 2. time Ti. Claudius Pompeianus The franticke Heresie of Montanus spread into the Churches Eclesiast histor 13 926    The Marcomans war none before it hath bin recorded so great by singualr prowesse felicitie both was by M. Antoninus Philosophus dispatched and brought to an end whereof we may reade in Oros li. 7. ca. 15. Iul.
flourished many famous Doctours of the Church Ecclesiast hist. 6 938 4157 187 ¶ Imp Cōmodus the fift time M. Acilius Glabrio Perennius the Prefect a bloody Minister of as cruell a Lord by wicked devises entrappeth many of the Nobilitie and killeth them Lamprid. Herodian 7 939 4158 188 ¶ Clodius Crispinus Papirius Aelianus The Capitoll of Rome was smitten with lightning and a great sire occasioned thereby A most renowmed Librarie and all the houses neere adjoyning were burnt Lamprid. Herodian 8 940    Divers Synods are by the Bishops holden about Easter day Whiles the Church hath but a little rest from persecution the Ministers thereof fell to jarres and brawles Ecclesiast hist.   4159 189 ¶ C Allius Fuscianus Dullius Silanus Perennius is torne in peeces by the souldiers after him succeeded Cleander a notable sycophant of the Court who by Domitian is put to death A great famine at Rome Lamprid. Herodian 9 941    Apollonius a Senator of Rome when he had read unto the Senate a Booke which he had written Of true Religion   for his Christian faith lost his head Euseb lib. 5.   4160 190 ¶ Iuuius Silanus Q. Servilius Silanus Commodus tooke away the head of a Colosse and caused the head of his owne image to be set thereupon Hee would needes be stiled Hercules and God Lamprid. Cassiodor 10 942 4161 191 ¶ Imp. Commodus the sixt time Petronius Septimianus The Iewes Thalmud was now written Seder Olam 11 943 4162 192 ¶ Cassius Apronianus M. Atilius Mesilius Bradua the second time There happened in Rome a great scarre-fire whereby the Palace and Temple of Vesta with most part of the Citie was laid even with the ground 12 944    Among so many calamities Victor Bishop of Rome busieth and troubleth the East Churches about Easter day Ecclesiast hist.   4163 193 ¶ Imper. Commodus the seuenth time Helvius Pertinax the second time who afterwards was called Augustus Commodus so incommodious to all men was strangled in the night that went before the Kalends of Ianuarie that is New-yeeres day when hee had lived 31. yeeres and 4. moneths Lamprid. Dio. Herodian 13 945    This Prince lived for nothing but the mischiefe of his subjects and his owne shame Lamprid.      Heere Clemens Alexandrinus endeth his supputation of times who was an Elder or Minister of the Church at Alexandria and in profession of Catechizing was placed in the roome of his Maister Pantaenus   4164 194 ¶ Q. Sosius Falco C. Iulius Fructus Clarus ¶ After Commodus succeeded Helvius PERTINAX the twentieth Emperour who raigned two moneths and eight and twenty daies And was slaine by his owne souldiours in the 68. yeere of his age Dio. Spartian Herodian 1 946    This Pertinax was at first a Professour of Grammer and in that function succeeded his master Sulpitius Apollinaris The Greekes terme him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that hee was rather affable than beneficiall      Pescennius Niger was by the army in Syria saluted Imperator Spartian      After Pertinax ruled Didius Iulianus as Emperor 66. daies Dio. Spartianus      Septimius SEVERVS after that Didius Iulianus was slaine obtained the Empire dread both of the Senate and people of Rome He raigned seuenteene yeeres eight moneths and three daies Of this Emperour this was the dome of the Senate That either hee should never have beene borne or never died because he seemed too too cruel and exceeding profitable to the common-weale Dio. Spartian Herodian      Clodius Albinus is by the Armie in Gaule saluted Emperour Iul. Capitolin   4165 195 ¶ Imp. Septimius Severus Augustus the second time D. Clodius Ceionius Septimius Albinus Caesar the second time Sparrianus names Apuleius Rufinus Severus goeth foorth with an armie against Niger whom he vanquished in three battailes and in the end in a suburbian place neere to Cizicum others say Antioch commaunded him to be beheaded Spartian Herodian 2 947 4166 196 ¶ Q Flavius Tertullus T. Flavius Clemens An end of the warre against Pescennius Niger Severus mindeth to make warre against Clodius Albinus 3 948    During the noise of so many warres the Controversie is very hote about Easter day betweene the Churches of Rome and of Asia for which Victor the Bishop of Rome would needes excommunicate the Bishops of Asia Vnto whom by Letter Polycrates the Bishop of Ephesus and Irenaeus the Bishop of Lions doe answere And Irenaeus verily was of opinion That for the difference about Rites and Ceremonies the concord of Doctrine and of Faith ought not to be broken or dissolved Eusebius lib. 5.      Artemon the Hereticke raiseth trouble in the Church   4167 197 ¶ C. Domitius Dexter the second time L. Valerius Messala Thraseas Priscus  4 949 4168 198 ¶ Ap. Claudius Lateranus M. Marius Titius Rufinus Severus overcommeth Clodius Albinus at Lions setteth the citie on fire and sendeth the head of Albinus to Rome Herodian Spartian and others 5 950 4169 199 ¶ Ti. Alterius Saturninus C. Annius Trebonius Gallus When Severus was returned to Rome he dealeth cruelly with the friends of Albinus and with the principall Nobles Herodian and others 6 951    M. AVRELIVS ANTONINVS the son being by his father saluted Emperor the 6. day of Maie raigned with him 13. yeeres Herodian with others   4170 200 ¶ P. Cornelius Anullinus the secōd time Marcus Aufidius Fronto Severus turneth the warre into the East against Barsenius K. of the Atrenians Dio. Herodian 7 952 4171 201 ¶ Ti Claudius Severus C. Aufidius Victorinus The king of Armenia maketh a league with Severus 8 953    Abgarus king of the Osroens yeelded himselfe and giveth his sonnes for Hostages After this Severus wasteth Arabia the Happy Herodian Spartian   4172 202 ¶ L. Annius Fabianus M. Nonius Mucianus Severus vanquisheth the Adiabenes He besiegeth Atras a citie of Barsenius in vaine Herodian Spartian 9 954 4173 203 ¶ Imp. Septimius Severus the third time Imp. M. Aurelius Antoninus Severus arriving by fortune rather than of purpose upon the coasts of the Parthians disseiseth Artabanus of Ctesiphon and winneth the citie and so becommeth master of all the Treasure and of a very great pillage Herodian 10 955    What was the discipline rites and maners of the Christians in this age Tertullian who then flourished in the Church describeth in his Booke Adversus Gentes ca. 39.      The fift persecution of Christians is set on foote Euseb wherein Leonides the father of Origen by glorious martyrdome was translated out of this life and his very son a childe exhorted his father by Letter cheerefully to abide martyrdome Euseb      Origen saith Hierom with sixe
liking     and favour unto him for his militarie strength yea he advanced and endowed him with many benefits but to his owne destruction and in trueth nourished as they say a Viper in his bosome For Maximinus was no sooner in a tumult of the souldiers saluted Emperour but hee commaunded Alexander and his mother Mammea to be killed This Maximinus was the very plague and baue of the Common-weale as one who went about to establish his Empire not with justice but with crueltie and tyrannie whomsoever it pleased him hee killed without audience given them to pleade for themselves hee thrust out of the Court deprived of goods and offices at his pleasure More rigorous and cruell to citizens and Subjects then to his enemies odious to all good men acceptable to the wicked for his cruelty oppression and exaction Capitolin Iornandes      Maximinus vanquished the Germans The friends of Severus hee caused cruelly to be murdered Capitolin Herodian   4207 237 ¶ Maximinus Augustus C. Iuliu Africaâ—us The sixt persecution against the Christians and especially against the Pastors of the Church was by this Cyclops raised Ecclesiast hist. 2 989    Then it was that Origen writ a Booke of Martyrdom   4208 238 ¶ P. Titius Perpetnus L. Ovinius Rustâ—cus Cornelianus Maximinus the Emperour in the 65. yeere of his age was together with his sonne murdered by his owne souldiers at Aquileia Their dead bodies in shamefull and reprochfull maner being cast out into the open streetes were left to be devoured of dogges and foules Their heads were pitched upon poles and sent to Rome where they yeelded a pleasant spectacle unto all men and at last by the people leaping for joy burnt in Campus Martius When the sonne of Maximinus was killed a crie was set up That of so bad a kinde there ought not to besaved so much as a whelpe There was not saieth Capitolinus a more cruell beast that lived upon the face of the earth such a confidence hee had in his owne strength as that hee thought hee could not possibly bee killed And when as for the goodly greatnesse of his bodie he beleeved in a maner that he was immortall there stepped up one in the Theater even in his presence who pronounced certaine Greeke verses to this effect 1 990    And he that cannot be killed by one is killed by many      An Elephant is bigge and yet is killed      A Lion is strong and yet is killed      A Tigre is strong but yet is killed      Take heede of many together if thou feare none severally      ¶ The two GORDIANS father and sonne being by the Armie in Affrike made Emperours for 36. daies and no more retained both life and dignitie For vanquished they were and slaine by Capellianus Prefect of the Moores When their death was knowne the Senate of Rome created PVPIENVS MAXIMVS and BALBINVS Emperours and by a new name stiled them EATHERS OF THE SENATE     These reigned together one yeere Herodian Capitolin      There happened so great an Eclipse of the Sunne that it was as darke at noone day as at midnight neither could any thing be done without candle light Capitolin   4209 239 ¶ M. Vlpius Crinitus C. Nonius Proculus Pontianus Pupienus Maximus and Balbinus were at Rome by the Praetorian souldiers killed in the time of the Capitoline Games Herodian 1 991    After them succeeded     M. ANTONIVS GORDIANVS the yonger who the yeere before was styled CAESAR and he reigned sixe yeeres It was a saying of his Miserable is that Emperour from whom true reports are kept Capitolinus   4210 240 ¶ Imp. M. Anton Gordianus M. Acilius Aviola Sabinianus in Africke raiseth sedition and rebellion against Gordianus whom Gordianus by the Praefect of Mauritania forceth to yeeld Capitolin 2 992 4211 241 ¶ Vettius Sabinus the second time Venustus  3 993 4212 242 ¶ Imp. Marc. Anton Gordianus the second time T. Claudius Pompeianus The Persian warre Gordianus espouseth the daughter of Misitheus a learned and wiseman of whose valiant service and politicke counsell in the Persian warre he had good proofe Capitolin 4 994 4213 243 ¶ C. Aufidius Vettius Atticus C. Asinius Praetextatus Gordianus openeth the Temple of Ianus marcheth against the Persians vanquisheth Sapor King of the Persians and regaineth many cities Capitolin Eutropius 5 995    There happened so great an Earthquake that itswallowed up many cities with their inhabitants Capitolin   4214 244 ¶ C. Iulius Apriauus Aemilius Papus Misitheus Praefect of the Praetorium dieth In whose place was ordained Philippus Arabs who being forgetfull of a benefit received by Gordianus attempted with wicked and cursed devises to hoist him out of his Emperiall seate Capitoliu 6 996    Argunthis King of the Scythians wasteth the borders of the Roman Empire Capitolin   4215 245 ¶ Peregâ—inus Fulvius Aeâ—ilianu◠¶ After that GORDIAN was by the souldiers slaine in the moneth of March M. IVLIVS PHILIPPVS ARABS governed as Emperor together with PHILIPPVS his son 5. yeeres certaine moneths Eutrop. Victor This Philippus Arabs was the first Roman Christian Emperour And Eusebius reporteth of him that on Easter day the Bishop would not admit him to the Lords Supper before that among others confessing their sinnes hee stood up in the Church and shewed tokens of repentance 1 997 4216 246 ¶ Imp. Mare Iulius Philippus T. Fabius Titianus New heresies sprung up in Arabia which Origen suppressed for spreading further Ecclesiast hist. 2 998 4217 247 ¶ Bruttius Praesenâ— Nummius Albinus  3 999 4218 248 ¶ Imp. M. Iulius Philippus the second time Philippus Caesar his sonne This being the thousandth yeere after the foundation of Rome was by Philippus solemnized with great games and starely plaies Some reckon this solemnity in the yeere following under the third Consulship of PHILIPPVS 4 1000   As touching this celebrity of Sports see Capitolinus   4219 249 ¶ Imp. M. Iulius Philippus the third time His sonne Philippus Caesar the second time  5 1001 4220 250 ¶ Fulvius Aeâ—ilianus Vettius Aquilinus Both Philips Emperours are by the souldiers killed 1 1002    After whom succeeded      GN MESSIVS QUINCTVS TRAIANVS DECIVS who reigned with his sonne DECIVS CAESAR two yeeres and certaine moneths      The Parthians invade Armenia and possesse themselves of it having put Tyridates the King to flight and taken his sonnes into their hands upon submission Pomp. Laetus   4221 251 ¶ Imp. Traianus Decius August the second time Maximus Gratus ¶ The seventh Persecution of the Christians set on foote by DECIVS which like unto some cruell tempest swallowed
Maxentius at Rome is by the Praetorian souldiours made Emperour against Severus Caesar and seemeth favourable and gratious to the Christians Maximian resumeth the purple imperiall Robe Sigonius   4277 307 ¶ Imp. Constantinus Augustus Maximianus the ninth time Maximian by a wile killeth Severus Diocletian sollicited by Maximian refuseth to take the purple againe contenting himselfe with a quiet rusticall life Constantius warreth with Asaicus and Gaiso Kings of the Franckes Maximian deviseth to depose Maxentius from the Empire and afterwards goeth into Gaule to Constantine unto whom hee graunteth his daughter Fausta in marriage Sigonius 2 1059 4278 308 ¶ Imp. Galerius Aug. the seauenth time Diocletian the tenth time Galerius and Maximinus continue the persecution of Christians in the East 3 1060    Constantinus goeth against the Bructeri people of the Frankners      Maxentius chalengeth Africke to himselfe after hee had slaine Alexander the Tyrant and triumpheth at Rome Pomp. Letus Sigonius   4279 309 ¶ After the seuenth Consulship of Imp. Galerius August the tenth of Diocletian Maximinus intendeth to warreupon Maxentius and with Galerius continueth persecution of Christians in the East Maxentius beginneth to tyrannize at Rome persecuteth Christians after hee had cast Marcellus ths Bishop into a Mill-house Maximian in Gaule laieth wait for Constantine his sonne in lawe and by him is slaine at Marsils Constantine goeth against the Bructeri Eccles histor Pomp. Laetus and Sigonius 4 1061 4280 310 ¶ After the seuenth Consulship of Galerius Aug. and the tenth of Diocletian Galerius persecuteth the Christians in Pannonia Quirinus the Bishop not without a miracle valiantly taketh his death for Christs sake Prudentius in his Hymnes For having a querne stone tied unto his necke hee was throwne headlong from a bridge downe into the river and swumme aloft a great while and when he had spoken unto the beholders that they should not by reason of his punishment be affrighted from Christian Religion he prayed unto God that he might sinke and so he was with much ado drowned Euseb 5 1062    Maximinus and Maxentius with infest armes and mindes both trouble the provinces and the Empire Whereupon the sea could not be safely passed whence arose an exceeding great dearth of corne at Rome Sig.   4281 311 ¶ Imp. Galerius Augustus the eight time without a Colleague and after his decease Licinius Augustus stepped into his place Galerius being visited with a most filthie disease and acknowledging it to be the heavy hand of God punishing him for the unjust death of Christians divulged an Edict that Christians should be spared and their churches and chappels restored unto them craving withall that they would offer up prayers and vowes for the Emperours health And within a while after of that disease he pined away and died Euseb lib. 8. 6 1063    During his sickenesse he tooke in Caius Aurelius Valerius Licinius to be his consort in the Empire Licinius held Illyricum and concluded a league with Constantinus and Maximinus Maximinus spareth the Christians and afterwards urgeth against them Constantinus is sent for by the Romans against Maxentius who prepareth to make warre Pomp. Laetus Eutropius Sigonius   4282 312 ¶ Imp. Constantinus Augustus the second time Imp. Licinius Augustus the second time Licinius espouseth Constantia sister of Constantine And these two jointly together sent an Edict to Maximinus that he should forbear the ChristiaÌ„s Maxim suppressing this Edict permitted all to use exercise their religion 7 1064    Constantine being confirmed by a signe from heaven becommeth catechized in the Faith and arming himselfe against Maxentius after a field fought in the Taurins country when he had gained the hither part of Italie goeth toward Rome strucke a battaile at Pons Milvius where Maximinus was slaine and his armie put to flight Constantinus when he had recovered Rome triumpheth setleth the Roman State graunteth free liberty to worship Christ setteth forth plaies and games restoreth them to their places whom Maxentius had condemned the Complices of Maxentius hee condemneth the Praetorian souldiers he riddeth away he disordereth the Praetorian Hold is by the Senate honoured with laudatorie Titles an Arch and Statues a Trophee of the Crosse hee erecteth in the middle of the citie he honoureth with good respect the Bishops he buildeth a stately church to Christ in the Lateran then leauing Rome goeth to Millaine recovereth Africke refresheth the afflicted cities of Italie and by Italie is adorned with a Columne Scutchoon and a Crowne of gold Euseb Eutrop Pompon Laet. Sigonius     The Schisme of the Donatists ariseth in Africke Onuphr   4283 313 ¶ Imp Constantinus Augustus the third time Imp. Licinius Augustus Licinnius having married Constantia together with Constantine maketh an Edict as touching the libertie of Religion goeth againe into Illyricum warreth against Maximinus discomfiteth and at length vanquisheth him at Astacum Maximinus at Tarsus sodainely surprised with most dolorous torments of his body dieth when being foure yeeres Caesar and three yeeres Augustus hee had reigned as a most malicious enemie of Christians Licinnius after he had vanquished the armie of Maximinus adjoineth unto him the East seateth himselfe at Nicomedia maketh decrees against Maximinus and favoureth the Christians Euseb Eutrop. Victor Pompon Laetus Sigonius 8 1065    Constantinus abolisheth the secular Plaies passeth an Edict for the libertie of Christian Religion went againe into Gaâ—le repressed the Frankes that coveted to passe over Rhene and fortified the limite provideth for the peace of the Church Then was Constantine his sonne borne At Triers he setteth forth Games and Plaies Euseb Eutrop. Aur. Victor Pomp. Laetus      Diocletian having received minatory letters from Constantinus and Licinius for that hee had favoured Maxentius and Maximinus killed himselfe Aur. Victor   4284 314 ¶ C. Ceionius Rufius Volusianus Anianus Crispus whose Schoolmaster Lactant. Firmianus was Constantinus iunior Licinius iunior the sons of Constantine and Licinius Emperours are proclamed Caesares 9 1066    Constantine condemneth the Donatists at Millaine Eusebius Sigonius   4285 315 ¶ Imp. Constantinus Aug the fourth time Imp Licinius August the fourth time Constantine enlargeth the cathedrall churches of saint Peter and saint Paule enricheth the churches erecteth a sacred Font to baptize in Then making warre upon Licinius that he might winne to himselfe part of the Provinces of Maximinus vanquisheth Licinius at Cibala a towne in the lower Pannonia and having gotten Illyricum letteth him goe Hee sendeth Crispus into Gaule against the Germans Eusebius Sigonius 10 1067 4286 316 ¶ Fl. Rufius Ceionius Cecina Sabinus Q Arcadius Rufinus Valer. Proculus Constantine warreth fortunately by Gallicanus in Illyricum Sigonius 11 1068    Romans and Gaules invade Frankeland Clogio the five and thirtieth King of the Frankes after whom succeeded Clodomirus was slame in battaile Eutrop.
together the Northerne provinces a long time out-toyled and wearied called for And as it usually falleth out when the destinies lay hand on men that their wits are made blunt and their sences dulled by these allurements hee was raised up againe to the hope and expectation of better fortunes and so departing out of Antioch in an ill houre without the guidance of Gods favour went just as the old proverbe saith out of the smoke into the light fire and after he was entred into Constantinople as in time of prosperitie like one secured of his estate he exhibited the games of x horse-running and adorned the head of Corax the chariottier as victor with a crowne Which when Constantius knew beyond all measure hee chafed and least peradventure the same Gallus doubtfull of the future events might goe about in his journey to attempt some meanes expedient for his owne safetie all the souldiors were of purpose removed who abode in the cities that stood in the way And at that very time Taurus a Quaestor sent into Armenia confidently passed by and balked him not vouchsafing to salute or once to see him Howbeit some there came by commandement of the Emperour in shew of doing divers duties and services but readie indeed to observe and keepe him that he might not be able once to breake out nor attempt any stirre secretly Among whom was Leontius governour of Rome afterwards as Quęstor or Treasurer for the time being also Lucilianus as it were captaine of the guard and the Tribune of the Squires of the bodie named Bainobaudes Having therefore travailed a long way in the countrey and the same lying plaine when he was entred into Hadrianopolis a citie of Haemimontum called before time Vscudama refreshing himselfe wearied with travaile for the space of twelve dayes hee understood that the Thebęan y legions wintering in the neighbour townes had sent certaine of their consorts and companions to encourage him upon their faithfull and sure promises to stay behind Trusting then confidently in his owne strength he bestoweth them in the stations bordering confining there together But such was the watchfull care and observing eye of those about him that he could not catch any time or oportunitie either to speake ought or to heare what intelligences they brought Then after more letters still received one in the necke of another urging him to be gone having withall the use of tenne waggons allowed by the State according to a warrant given leaving all the trayne of the palace unlesse it were some gentlemen of the bed-chamber and servitors at the table whom he had taken to him to give neere attendance all sorrowfull now and even made of miseries compelled he was to hasten his pace by reason that many drave him forward cursing ever and anon with shedding teares his owne folly and inconsiderate rashnesse which had put him now a despised and abject caitife under the will and pleasure of weake and feeble persons Yet amid these troubles during the time that nature tooke her rest his sences and spirits were wounded with dreadfull spectres and fansies skreaking hideously round about him and whole companies of those whom he had killed with Domitian and Montius leading the way caught him up presented him to the hookes and clawes of the Furies as hee imagined in his sleepe For the soule loosened from the bonds of the body being alwaies fresh and in motion never wearied subject also to the cogitations and cares that disquiet mens minds gathereth night visions which we call Phantasias And thus whiles a most heavie destinie opened the way of fatall necessitie whereby ordained before it was that he should be deprived both of life and imperiall dignitie having passed all the journeyes betweene by changing of fresh horses he came to Petobio a towne of the Norici where the whole knot of covert and hidden traynes laid for him was discovered and all on a suddaine Barbatio the Comes shewed himselfe he that under him had the charge of the Guard in ordinarie together with Apodemius a Messenger a or Pursevant leading a number of souldiors whom the Emperour had selected as engaged unto him by the favours and good turnes that he had done unto them assured that neither for reward nor pitie they could be turned aside And now went not he to worke by way of shaddowed and dissimuled deceit but whereas the palace stood without the wals hee did beset it round about with armed men and so entring into it before it was full day light he tooke from Caesar all regall garments and clad him in a coat and common souldiors cassocke upon it assuring him and binding it with many an oath as it were by the Emperours commandement that he should not thenceforth sustaine any harme and forthwith Rise up quoth he and so mounting him ere hee was aware upon a privat chariot led him into Istria neere unto the towne Pola where sometimes as I have heard say Crispus Constantius sonne was killed And when he was kept there most streitly not worth the ground he went on but buried as one would say alreadie such was the terror of his end so neere at hand there commeth thither unto him in all hast Eusebius at that time Lord great Chamberlaine with Pentadius the Notarie and Mellobaudes captaine of the b Armature by commaundement from the Emperour to compell him for to say and shew particularly for what cause he had commanded every one of them to be killed that were put to death at Antioch Whereto changing colour and looking as pale as c Adrastus he would have answered to this effect That most of them he had murthered through the instigation of his wife Constantina not knowing verily that Alexander the great when his mother lay hard upon him to kill a certaine innocent person and said oftentimes withall in hope of obtaining afterward what she desired how shee caried him nine moneths in her wombe wisely gave her this answere Good mother aske some other reward recompence for the life of a man is so deare as no benefit can countervaile it Now the Emperour when he understood this falling into an irreclamable fit of anger and wrath reposed all the assurance and confidence hee had of establishing his owne securitie in making him away And sending Serenianus who as we shewed before standing indicted of the crime of Majestie by means of certaine subtile sleights and juggling casts was acquit Pentadius also the Notarie and Apodemius the Messenger or Pursevant abovesaid adjudged him to suffer death and to lose his head and so with his hands bound and pinnioned together like unto some theefe and malefactor his head was smitten off thus when the beautie of his face and head was gone there lay the trunke of his deformed carcasse left alone which a little before was dread of cities and whole provinces CHAP. XI The equitie of the heavenly power of God
shewed in the variable fortune and death of some great personages and of Gallus especially is here recommended unto us BVt here the equitie and justice of the heavenly power above had a vigilant eye as well on the one side as the other For not onely it surprised Gallus suddainely with a cruell and bloudie end but also not long after both of them died a most painefull death who by their forswearing kindly deluding and beguiling Caesar an offendor though he were drew him on untill he fell into the net and toyle that cost him his life of which twaine Scudilo by a distillation or colliquation of the liver casting up his lungs died and Barbatio who a long time had falsely framed matter of crime against him when after he had beene colonell of the Footmen he was by the secret whisperings and suggestions of some charged to aspire and reach over-high and hereof condemned to make satisfaction unto Caesars Manes that by his fraudulent practise came to his end sacrificed his owne life by a reprochfull death These and an infinite sort of such like examples Adrastia who hath a two-fold name and is called also Nemesis the revenger of wicked and ungodly acts as also the rewarder of good deeds worketh and bringeth about otherwhiles and would God it did so alwaies A certaine high power or authoritie of the mightie and operative heavenly Nature she is according to the opinion and capacitie of mens understandings placed upon the sphaere of the Moone or as some define her a substantiall Tuition or Defence by a generall power president over the particular destinies who as the auncient Divines or Theologers faining her to be the daughter of Iustice doe teach by vertue of a certaine hidden eternitie overseeth all earthly things Shee as Queene of causes and Iudge of matters she also as an umpire to arbitrate tempereth and shaketh the pot of lots making alternative turnes and changes of accidents and what our wils have enterprised and begun bringing the same otherwhiles to another issue and end than they aymed at shee shuffleth and rolleth manifold actions together by exchange of one for another And the same power with the insoluble bond and hold-fast of necessitie binding the pride of mortall men swelling in vaine and turning to and fro as she knoweth full well the weights of increments and detriments both of risings fallings one while presseth downe and weakeneth the stiffe necks of high minded men another while raising up good men from below advanceth them to an happie life Now hath fabulous antiquitie therefore fitted wings to her that by her flight-swiftnesse she might be thought present in all places and given her the helme or rudder of a ship to carrie before her yea and put a wheele under her that it might not be unknowne how she running through all the elements ruleth the universall world Well Caesar being wearie even of himselfe by this kind of untimely death departed out of this life in the nine and twentieth yeare of his age when he had reigned foure yeares Borne he was among the Thuscanes in Massa Veternensis whose father was Constantius the brother of Constantine the Emperour and his mother Galla sister unto Rufinus and Cerealis noble Consuls in their time and honourable governours of provinces a man of a goodly presence and well favoured of comely shape and feature of bodie his lims streight and proportionably compact the haire of his head yellow and beard soft by reason that the downe was but newly come upon his tender cheekes yet so as that he carried betimes a manly countenance in manners and behavior as much difference there was betweene him and his brother Iulian as betweene Vespasians sonnes Domitian and Titus Being lifted up to the highest degree of honour that Fortune could give him he had experience of those mutable motions of hers which play and make good game with men now extolling some to the very starrie skie then plunging them downe into the deepe pit of Cocytus whereof there being innumerable examples yet will I lightly touch and run over but some few This variable and unconstant Fortune made Agathocles the Sicilian of a Potter a King and Denis that terrour sometime of the world to be the master of a Grammar schoole This advaunced to an high estate Andriscus the Adramittene borne in a Walke-myll under the name of Pseudo-Philippus d and the lawfull sonne of Perseus she taught the Ferrars craft for to get his living The same Fortune caused Mancinus after he had beene Lord generall of the field and an absolute Commaunder to be subject to the Numantines Veturius and Claudius prowd and stout in the highest degree to stoope unto the Corsi Regulus also to yeeld unto the crueltie of Carthage By the iniquitie and hard dealing of Fortune Pompey after he had gotten the sirname Magnus was killed in Aegypt at the pleasure of guelded Eunuches And one Eunus a very slave kept hard to worke in a house of correction had the leading of fugitives in Sicilie And by the connivencie of this very same Ladie of the world how many men of high birth and noble parentage have submissively embraced the knees of Viriatus or Spartacus How many heads that all nations did feare have bloudie executioners severed from their shoulders One is led captive in chaines another is promoted to the rule of some high place that he never hoped for another againe is cast downe from the highest pitch of dignitie All which examples if any man would know how many and sundry they be and how ordinarily they fall out he may as well like a witlesse foole as he is be able to number and tell the sands or to weigh and peise the mountaines THE XV. BOOKE CHAP. 1. Constantius upon the execution of Gallus become more fierce and outrageous and by the wilie and subtile devises of sycophants in the Court undone and overthrowne goeth about to kill Vrsicinus Iulianus and Gorgonius men of especiall Nobilitie THus farre forth according as wee could search out the truth and what we might not for our yeares see our selves learne in some sort though obscurely by enquiring of such as were conversant in place have we reported declaring the order and processe of divers occurrents the rest which the text ensuing shall lay abroad wee will to our abilitie performe and perfit more exactly not fearing at all the back-biters and depravers of this so long a worke as they hold it For brevitie is then commendable when cutting off impertinent and unseasonable delaies it defalketh nothing from the knowledge of necessarie and materiall points Gallus was not yet at Noricum devested out of his royall robes when Apodemius the very firebrand and kindler of all broyles so long as he lived caught up his shooes and carying them away riding post with quicke change of horses that through excessive enforcement he might spoyle and kill some came to Millaine as a fore runner to tell the newes