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A06878 The Roman historie containing such acts and occurrents as passed under Constantius, Iulianus, Iovianus, Valentinianus, and Valens, emperours. Digested into 18. bookes, the remains of 31. and written first in Latine by Ammianus Marcellinus: now translated newly into English. Wherunto is annexed the chronologie, serving in stead of a briefe supplement of those former 13. bookes, which by the iniurie of time are lost: together with compendious annotations and coniectures upon such hard places as occurre in the said historie. Done by Philemon Holland of the citie of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke.; Rerum gestarum libri. English Ammianus Marcellinus.; Holland, Philemon, 1552-1637. 1609 (1609) STC 17311; ESTC S114268 628,185 520

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bodie and words from his mouth in a chiding accent delivered he stayeth them and laboureth with bold standing to it a long time to wipe away so shamefull a dishonour was wounded mortally with a dart and so dyed After whose death the banner of the Eruli and Batavi was caught away which the barbarous enemies leaping and dauncing with many a friske erected often and shewed on high but after great conflicts it was recovered againe When knowledge was taken with exceeding great sorrow of this overthrow Dagalaiphus to make amends for this dishonourable foile was sent from Paris But whiles he a long while trifled out the time and alledged That himselfe was not able to set upon the barbarous enemies so scattered and spred in sundrie parts and was soone after sent for to take upon him the dignitie of a Consull together with Gratian who as yet was but a privat person Iovinus Generall of the Cavallarie addressed himselfe to this businesse and being well appointed and readie in battaile ray having a most watchfull and warie eye to both the sides of his armie as it marched drew neere unto a place named Scarpona where sodainely and unlooked for he surprised the greater multitude of the sayd Barbarians before they were armed and in the turning of an hand flew them everie one This worthy and notable captaine leading forth his souldiors rejoycing for this glorious battaile which cost them no losse of bloud for to defeat likewise the other companie behind and marching softly on was enformed by a trustie espial That the forces of these spoyling brigands having rifled the villages neere at hand rested hard by a river and approaching then anone and lying close hidden in a darke vale set thick with groves and woods beheld how some of them were washing and bathing themselves others busie in colouring the hayre of their heads yellow and making the same shine like gold as their manner is and some againe drinking garaus Thus having met with a verie seasonable time of advantage all on a sodaine he gave the signal by sound of trumpet and brake into the campe of these robbers The Germans on the contrarie side in bragging wise rapping out nothing but vaine sounds and noyses of threats were not permitted the conquerour pressed so hard upon them either to make readie their armes and weapons scattered here and there or to put themselves in order of battaile nor so much as to plucke up their spirits and resume strrength A number therefore of them pierced through with javelins and swords were slaine besides those who ran away and with good footmanship gat into the crooked and narrow lanes and there hid themselves Iovinus now fleshed and more emboldened with this happie exployt which vertue and fortune together had atchieved leading on his souldiors and sending out before a diligent scout-watch to discover the coasts made hast with a running campe to charge upon the third regiment of them which remained And having sped himselfe apace in this journey he found them all neere to the Catelauni most readie to joyne battaile When as therefore he had encamped himselfe within a rampier in a place convenient and as the time would give leave refreshed his men with meat and sleepe at the verie dawning of the day he arraunged his armie displayed at large with politique skill in an open plaine to the end that the Romans inferiour in number yet equall in puissance taking up so large a ground might seeme to match the enemies in multitude When as therefore the trumpets had sounded the battaile so that they began to fight close hand to hand the Germans affrighted with the strange sight of our glittering banners stood still Who being for a while daunted but soone after taking heart again so that the conflict held unto the end of the day our men with great force pressing hard upon them had gained the honour of a brave day without any losse at all but that Balcobaudes Tribune of the b Armaturae a man made altogether of big words but cowardly withall when as now the evening came on reculed in disorder whom if the rest of the cohorts had followed and gone away the matter would have growne so farre forth to an heavie issue that there could not possibly one have remained alive to tell what had beene done But our souldiors standing to it with resolute and fierce courage quit themselves so well with strength of armes that having sore wounded foure thousand of the enemies they left other six thousand dead in the place but they themselves lost not of their fellows above two hundred and two hundred likewise and no more were hurt Thus therefore when by the nights comming the battaile was ended and the wearied bodies of our men refreshed our brave leader toward day-light having stretched forth his armie in forme of a foure square battaile and found that the barbarous enemies taking vantage of the darkenesse were secretly slipped away and gone secure of any ambushments followed through the open champian grounds and easie plaine wayes riding over them as they lay along halfe dead who by reason that the sharpe cold aire drew their wounds together were killed with extremitie of paine After this when hee had gone further in his returne finding no enemie he learned that the king of those regiments of the enemies with some few taken by the c Hastarij whom himselfe had sent out another way to ransacke the tents of the Alemans was hanged on a gibbet Hereupon in his anger he purposed to punish the Tribune that durst doe such a deed without the advice of an higher power and verily had condemned him but that it appeared by evident proofes that this foule and cruel fact was committed in the souldiors hot bloud After this as he returned toward Paris upon the exploiting of this brave service the Emperour with great joy met him and afterwards named and elected him Consull and this I assure you augmented the measure of his joy For that the verie same time he had received the head of Procopius sent over to him from Valens Besides all this there were many other skirmishes fought lesse worthy the relation in sundrie tracts of Gaule which here to set down were superfluous labour considering that neither the proofe and issue thereof brought any great matter of gaine and importance nor beseeming it is to draw our an hystorie in length by such base and slight particulars CHAP. II. A portenteous prodigie seene in the town Pistoriensis presaging bloudie seditions as Rome especially and that among the Christians for the strife and contention of Damasus and Vrsicinus about the bishopricke AT this time or a little bfore there appeared a strange and portenteous sight in Thuscia d Annonaria and what might the end and effect thereof be the skilfull and learned in such prodigious signes were altogether ignorant For in the towne Pistoriensis neere the third houre of the day in the sight of many an Asse
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
matter and cause of their brawles allayed were reconciled and growne to agreement and withall that most dishonourable departure of the Romane leader much encreased their pride and stoutnesse naturally in bred in them Likewise it went worse on the Romanes part by another meanes and that upon such an occasion and occurrent as this Two brethren there were of the bloud royall who being fast tied by vertue of that peace which they had obtained from Constantius durst neither raise any uprore nor so much as once stirre But within a while after when one of them named Gundomadus the greater person of the twaine and more firme of his word was by a traine murthered all his people conspired and banded with our enemies and presently withall the common sort also of Vandomarius his subjects as it was affirmed joyned themselves to the forces and regiments of the Barbarians that made warre Well when all the armie from highest to lowest gave their allowance that it was even then a convenient and meet time to joyne battaile and slacked nothing of their resolute minds fully bent to fight all on a suddaine the Standard-bearer cried out in these tearmes On foorth most happie and fortunate Caesar whither the kind favour of fortune leadeth thee By thee at length we have a sence of valour and militarie policie Advaunce forward and lead the way as a luckie and valiant warrior marching in the vaward hard before the standards Good proofe thou shalt have what souldiors in the sight of a warlike leader and an inseparable witnesse of service to be performed will be able upon these motives and encouragements to do in case it may please the God of heaven to assist them CHAP. X. The order of the Alemans armie and the principall commaunders thereof Iulianus a second time wisely encourageth as well his ownemen as strangers to give battaile WHen they heard this without any further respite or delay the whole armie marched on and approched an hill of a pretie height and easie ascent spred all over with standing corne now ripe and readie for harvest not farre distant from the edge or bankes of Rhene From the top whereof three horsemen of the enemies lying there in espiall rose up and readie to give notice suddainely that the Romane hoast was neere at hand made hast to their companie But one footman not able to follow was taken by the quicke pursute of our men who told us That the Germanes for three dayes and three nights together passed over the river whom when our leaders espied hard by arraunging themselves thicke and close together into squadrons they made a stand and stirred not a foot whiles the Antepilani i the Hastati and the formost of every ranke in the vaward stood firme and fast like a strong and insoluble wall and with semblable warinesse the enemies kept their ground and made no hast forward And when according as the foresaid fugitive had told they saw all the Cavallerie on the right side opposite unto them the very flower of their horsemen they bestowed thicke thronged together in the left wing and among them here and there they entermingled skirmishers and footmen lightly appointed For well they wist That an horseman of theirs though a skilfull souldior otherwise fighting with our man of armes in complete harneis whiles he holdeth his shield and reines of the bridle by shaking and casting his speare with one hand can doe no hurt unto a warriour hidden wholly under an yron armour of proofe but that a footman in the very point and heights of dangers when no man is wont to take heed of aught but that which commeth in his way and encountereth him as he creepeth close to the ground by digging into the horse side is able to throw the rider over his horse head ere he be aware and then may he with small adoe be killed Having marshalled the matter thus the right side of the battaile they flanked and made sure with secret and blind ambushments Now the chiefe leaders of all these warlike and fierce nations were Chonodomarius and Serapio in higher place of power and authoritie than the other kings And Chonodomarius verily the mischievous fire-brand of the whole warre with a flame-colour wreath or tassell fitted to his crest advaunced before and led the left wing a man bold and trusting upon his wonderfull strength of bone and brawne where the heat of battaile was looked for mounted on high upon a lustie frothing courser bearing with him a great breadth and bignesse of bulke with his launce in rest and that of a terrible bignesse all bravely to be seene in glittering armor both an hardie souldior aforetime and also a good leader above all others But the right side was conducted by Serapio even then a lustie gallant with tender downe growing on his cheekes but for action more forward than his yeares the sonne of Chonodomarius his brother Medericus a most perfidious wretch all his life time so called for that his father kept as an hostage or pledge a long time in Gaule and having learned certaine hidden Greeke mysteries changed the name of this sonne of his who originally at the first was cleped Agenarichus into Serapio After these followed kings or potentates next in power unto them in number five and princes of the bloud royall tenne also a great traine and ranke of nobles with five and thirtie thousand fighting men all armed levied out of sundry nations partly for wages and partly upon covenant and agreement to have the like service tendered unto them againe By this time terribly sounded the trumpers al'arme and then Severus a Romane leader who had the commaund of the left wing when he drew neere unto the trenches above said full of armed men from whence order had beene given afore that lying there close and hidden they should start up of a suddaine and breake the arraies he stood still without all feare being somwhat suspitious of blind ambushments hee attempted neither to recule backe nor to step forward any further Which when Caesar saw as he was courageous to enter upon the services of greatest danger guarded with a troupe of two hundred horse according as the heat of the service required and riding swiftly among the footmen where they stood embattailed he gave them comfortable words of encouragement And considering that to speake unto them all at once neither the large ground that they tooke up stretched foorth in length nor the number of so great a multitude assembled would permit and otherwise he avoided the heavie load of envie and displeasure for feare he might be thought to affect that which the Emperour supposed due to himselfe alone taking good heed unto himselfe and riding apace without the shot of the enemies with these and such like speeches he animated the souldiors knowne and unknowne one with another to play the men and doe their devoire valiantly Now quoth he is come the full time of fighting my good
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
But in case Fortune mutable as she is should defeat me any where in battaile sufficient it shal be for me that I have devowed my selfe to the Roman Empire like as in old time Curtius Mutius and the noble race of the Decij have done Abolish we must and destroy this most troublesome nation upon whose swords the bloud of our kinred is not yet dryed Our auncient forefathers had many ages passe over their heads before those were rooted out that annoyed and troubled them Doubtfull was the warre and of long continuance whereby Carthage was overcome and subdued but while the glorious conquerour feared that it should still stand and continue he subverted and rased it to the very foundation Scipio after he had gone through many chaunges and chaunces that follow a siege overthrew Numantia Rome went downe with Fide●● least it should grow up in an emulation to aspire unto soveraigne Empire yea and destroyed both Falisc● and Veij so as that the record of auncient hystories hath much ado to make us beleeve that these cities were ever of any strength and puissance Thus much have I layd open as a man well seene in antiquities It remaineth now that setting aside all greedie desire of spoyle and pillage which oftentimes hath beene the bane of Roman souldiers everie one march on close with the armie readie to follow his owne colours when it commeth to the point of ioyning battaile knowing thus much that if he stay anywhere betime he shall be left shorter by the legs For nothing feare I but the deceitfull traines of our enemies in this kind so exceeding craftie To conclude I promise unto you all That hereafter when things are happily appeased setled without chalenging any prerogative of princes who in regard of their powerful authoritie suppose whatsoever they speake or iudge is rightfull and iust I will give a reason and account if any man require it of whatsoever I have advised be it wel or otherwise Wherefore now plucke up your hearts I beseech you bee resolute I say and presume of much as those that shall together with us in the same sort and equall measure undergoe what daungerous service soever shall occurre and making this account that victorie is alwayes woont to ioyne in company with equitie When he had finished his speech with this most grave conclusion the martial warlike souldiers rejoycing in so glorious a leader and conceiving greater hope of prosperous successe held up their targuets and shields aloft cried all with one voyce That they wold reckon of no daunger or difficultie under such a Generall and Commander as who had enjoyned himselfe more painefull service than he did to common souldiors But most of all the companies of the Gaules by a more joyfull and jocondnoyse shewed the same as bearing well in mind that sometimes whiles he their leader conducted them and traversed to and fro among the rankes and fyles they had seen some nations defeated and others brought to humble supplication upon their knees CHAP. VI. The description of the kingdome of Persia to wit the beginning of it the first kings the rising and encrease the scituation and limits thereof FOrced I am by the course of the storie that is devolved now thus far by way as it were of a quick digression to shew the site of Persia which hath bin curiously described by Geographers of whom verie few and those hardly have delivered a truth Now whereas this discourse shall fall out to be somewhat long availe it will to the perfect knowledge of the thing For whosoever hee bee that in the narration of unknowne matters affecteth too much brevitie he seeketh not that so much which he should verie plainely declare but what ought indeed to be overpassed This kingdome in times past small and for such causes as I have oft related called before time by many names what time as Alexander the great was taken away by untimely death in Babylon became subject to Arsaces the Parthian a man of obscure parentage and no better in his youthfull dayes than a ring-leader of theeves but by little and little turning over a leafe and changing his purpose to the better by a continued course and traine of noble deedes he advanced himselfe to an high estate Who after he had atchieved many glorious and valiant exploits vanquished Seleucus Nicator that succeeded the foresaid Alexander who for his manifold victories obtained that sirname and driven out the garrisons of the Macedonians himselfe leading a more peaceable life proved a moderat ruler and mild judge of such as yeelded obedience And in the end when he had subdued unto him all the borderers either by force of armes or by a due consideration of his equitie or else by feare so that Persia now was replenished with fortified cities strong castles and pyles and became dread unto all the neighbour inhabitants of whom afore time it was woont to stand in feare himselfe in the middle race of his age departed this life in peace And by the uniforme accord and consent as well of the noble Peeres as the common people striving a vie who might be most forward became the first that according to the due rites of consecration was inserted as they be persuaded and ranged among the starres Whereupon in those dayes the high minded and prowd kings of the same nation can well abide to be styled the brethren of Sunne and Moone And like as our Emperours love well and wish the title of Augustus even so to the Parthian kings who before time were abject ignoble and base through the happie auspices and government of Arsaces there accrewed even the greatest titles of dignities that might be and therefore they worship and adore him no lesse than a god and so farre forth are his honours spred and enlarged that even to our very dayes there is not a prince preferred before all other to the rule of that kingdome unlesse hee bee of the line and race of Arsaces yea and in every civile brawle and contention which dayly happen among them there is not one but avoideth no lesse than sacriledge to lay violent hands upon any descended from Arsaces beare he armes or be he otherwise a private person And well knowne it is that this nation having vanquished and subdued many States dilated the bounds of their dominion as farre as Propontis and Thracia how ever through the pride of their hautie minded leaders who licentiously encroched upon farre countries and committed outrages there by receiving very great foyles and overthrowes it became much impaired First through Cyrus whome after hee passed over the Frith of Bosphorus with a fabulous and incredible multitude Tomyris Queene of the Scythians in a most eagre revenge of her g sonnes discomfited and put his host to the sword Then what time as Darius and afterwards Xerxes by altering the use of the very elements invaded Greece all their forces in manner as well on land as
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
Valentinian His growth and progresse His acts and whole course of life briefly run over NOw is it time to unfold as divers times we have done and from the nativitie of this Princes father by way of a briefe collection to discourse of his acts even to the death of himselfe not leaving out the distinct difference of his vices or good parts which his high place and dignitie shewed that is alwayes woont to lay naked the inward dispositions of the mind Gratianus the elder was borne at Cibalae a towne in Pannonia of ignoble and base parentage sirnamed from his verie childhood Funarius because that he as yet but a stripling as he carried a rope about with him to sell shrunke not five souldiors that with great endevor were in hand to snatch the same violently from him following herein Milo l Crotoniates from whom as hee held many times and clasped close either in his right hand or his left any apples no man was ever able with might and maine to wrest them away For the cleane strength therefore of his mightie bodie and the skill he had in wrestling as the manner is of souldiors being verie well knowne unto many after the dignitie borne of a Protector and a Tribune he managed in Affrica the office of m Comes reicastrensi whereupon being touched with the suspition of theft and departed thence long after in the like place he had the rule of the Britaines armie and at the last discharged honestly of his militarie othe returned home to his privat house and notwithstanding that he lived farre remote from all stirre and noyse of the world yet was he fined by Constantius with the losse of his goods for this cause that in the heat and broyle of civile warre he was said to have entertained and lodged Magnentius as his guest what time as by his lands and possessions hee made hast to his intended designes In regard of whose deserts Valentinian his sonne from the verie prime of his youth commendable with the helpe also of a long traine of his owne vertues being adorned at Nicea with the investure of Imperiall Majestie tooke his brother Valens unto him as fellow Emperour who in respect of brotherhood in the whole bloud sorted and accorded most joyntly with him a man that carried himselfe in a meane betweene reproachfull and prayse-worthie acts which I will in convenient place declare Valentinian therefore after many dangerous troubles past whiles he led a privat life was no sooner entred upon his Empire but he visited the castles scituat neere unto great rivers violent streames as also Gaule that lay exposed to the Alemans rodes and invasions who began the more boldly to revive and stirre againe upon knowledge of the Emperour Iulians death whom onely of all the men in the world they stood in awe of And for this good cause also was Valentinian much dread because he both reenforced his armies with strong supplies and also fortified Rhene on either side with high castles and fortresses that the enemie making rodes breaking out upon our province might no where be undiscovered And to let many-particulars passe which he did by the authoritie of a staied and well grounded governour as also what abuses he reformed either by himselfe or his industrious captaines after he had assumed his sonne Gratian into the societie of his power and high place he privily stabbed because openly he could not Vithigabius a king of the Alemans the sonne of Vadomarius a young prince in his verie flower and first downe of his cheekes for stirring up the people to insurrections and warres Also in a battaile against the Alemans neere unto Solicinium a place where he was forelaid and like to have lost his life he might have put then to the sword everie man of them but that by vantage taken of the darke night some few of them made quicke speed and escaped And yet among these politike and warie exploits by a treacherous stratageme I must needs say but advantageous to him he slew the Saxons that now were growne to fearefull outrage a nation at all times making sodaine rodes and invasions and then arrived at the Maritime tracts with the spoyles whereof they were returned almost loden these robbers I say and brigands then by force defeated he stripped of all their bootie and pillage And in like manner the Britaines who were not able to endure such troupes of enemies overrunning them he restored to their libertie and quiet peace with hope of better dayes suffering not one in manner of the foresaid brigands to returne home into their countrey With semblable valour and fortunat successe whereas one Valentinus a banished person in Pannonia went about in these provinces to trouble the common peace he suppressed him before his plotted designe grew to any strong head After this he delivered Affricke out of great daungers being much troubled with a sodaine mischiefe what time as Firmus not able to abide the greedinesse and pride of the militarie men raised the nations of Mauritania who upon everie small gale are forward ynough to entertaine all commotions and discords And with like fortitude he had revenged the lamentable losses and calamities of Illyricum but that prevented by death he left that serious businesse unfinished And albeit these atchievements which wee have related were performed by the service of his excellent captaines yet full well it is knowne that himselfe also as he was of a quicke and nimble conceit yea and throughly grounded with long experience of warfare atchieved many acts beside among which this might have more notably appeared in case he could have taken alive king Marcianus who in those dayes was verie terrible according as with great industrie he had assayed after he understood with sorrow and griefe that he was escaped to the Burgundians whom himselfe had annexed unto the Alemans Thus much may serve for a briefe discourse as touching the acts of this prince CHAP. XI His vices are at large described VPon assured confidence now that posteritie enthralled neither to feare nor foule flatterie is woont with an uncorrupt and single eye to behold things past we will summarily reckon up his vices and afterward shew also his good deserts He pretended sometime an outward shew of clemencie whereas by heat of nature he was much inclined to crueltie forgetting I assure you this lesson That a King and Emperour ought to avoid all excessive courses no lesse than so many steepe and craggie rockes For never doe wee find that he tooke up with any mild correction and punishment but commanded otherwhiles bloudie examinations to be multiplied one upon another when as some after cruell interrogatories were tormented even to the danger of their lives And so much given he was to do mischiefe that he was never knowne by a mercifull note of his subscribing to have saved any one person from death were he once condemned to dye whereas otherwhiles even most cruell princes have done so
are Scythians be most skilfull souldiors Now the Alani in manner all be tall of stature and faire of complexion their haire meetly yellow with the cast of their eyes that yeeld a temperat sternenesse terrible and by reason of their light armour swift and nimble Equall and sutable to the Hunnes in all respects save that in their feeding and apparell more civile they be than they ....... in swimming and hunting raunging over the countries as farre as to the meeres of Maeotis the Cimmerian Bosphorus Armenia likewise and Media And like as quiet and peaceable men take pleasure in rest and ease so delight they in daungers and warres Happie is that man reputed there who in battaile hath lost his life For such as dye by age and other accidentall death they revile and reproach with bitter taunts as base and cowardly Neither is there any thing that they glorie and vaunt more of than the killing of some man or other And instead of glorious spoyles when they have slaine any off go their heads the skinnes they flea and use them instead of trappings for their great horses of service There is not a temple or chappell to be seene among them nor a shrine nay a man shall not see there so much as a cottage thatched over head with straw But after a barbarous rite and ceremonie there is a naked sword sticking fast in the ground and the same in lieu of Mars the President and Prelate of those countries which they raunge about they adore with much devotion A wonderfull device they have to presage and foreknow things by For the women gathering the streightest wands and rods they can get and looking wistly upon them at a fore-set time and with certaine secret charms and enchauntments know evidently what is imported All of them as descended of gentle bloud in times past knew not what servitude meant And even at this day they chuse those for their Iudges and Rulers who for their long practise and experience in the warres be of approoved worth But now returne we to that which remaineth of our intended hystorie CHAP. III. Sundrie nations of the Gothes through the puissance of the Hunnes partly vanquished and driven out of their native habitations and partly smitten withfeare having seized the bankes of Danubius crave ayd of Valens and quiet habitation WEll then the Hunnes after they had over-run the countries of the Alani who confining upon the Geuthungi are by custome called Tanaitae and both slaine and spoyled many upon a faithfull covenant of concord and unitie joyned in league and confederacie with the rest and thus presuming more confidently upon their association they boldly and with sodaine violence brake into the goodly large and plenteous territories of Ermenrichus a most warlike king and for his many and sundrie valiant exploits dread unto the neighbouring inhabitants Who being strucken with the force of this unexpected storme although he held out a long time as one resolved and able to abide yet considering there went a brute commonly abroad that made the terrour of imminent calamities more and more still the feare of so great daungers he quieted and ended with voluntarie death after whose decease Vithimiris created king withstood for a while the Alani as trusting upon the ayd of other Hunnes whom for money he had waged to side with him But after many overthrowes and losses which he sustained his fortune was by fine force to be vanquished in the field and there to end his life The charge of whose little sonne named Viderichus Alatheus and Saphrax experienced captaines and for their valiant and trustie hearts well knowne undertooke as guardians and protectors Who being prevented by the straitnesse of time when they had cast from them all hope and confidence of resistance departed and came to the river Danastus which runneth a great way along the champian fields betweene Ister and Broysthenes Then Athanaricus the Iudge and Ruler of the Theruingi against whom as hath beene sayd before Valens a good while since had bent his forces for sending aid unto Procopius advertised how these occurrents fell out otherwise than it was hoped and looked for assayed to make good his ground and to stand upon his guard readie to rise up in armes in case he also as the rest were put to it and provoked In conclusion when he had commodiously encamped his forces within a rampier neere unto the bankes of the river Danastus and the same extended along the vale Vngorius he sent Munderichus Lord Warden of the Marches afterward in Arabia together with Lagarimanus and other noble personages twentie myles off to lye in espiall and to discover the enemies comming whiles himselfe in the meane time without the molestation of any man raunged his armie in battaile ray But it fell out farre otherwise than he thought it would For the Hunni as they are a people in their conjectures quicke and wittie suspecting there was some great multitude of enemies lying farther off letting them alone whom they saw and who because no man stood in their way betooke themselves to their quiet rest so soone as the Moone shewed her selfe and dispatched the darkenesse of the night passed over the river at a fourd and chose that piece of service which made most for their behoofe But fearing least some fore-running discoverer might skare those that kept aloofe they made what speed they could and directly advaunced against Athanaricus himselfe Who being amazed at the first brunt and impression after he had lost some of his men was constrained by the enemies to make all the hast he could for his succour to the high mountaines Vpon this strange accident and for feare of some greater mischiefe to ensue he was put to his trumpes And so from the edge of the mountaine Gerazus unto Danubius passing along the territories of the Taifali he erected wals higher than ordinarie and with speedie diligence having furnished the battlements and cope thereof he thought thereby to provide the better for his securitie and safetie And whiles the worke went up with effectuall diligence the Hunnes made quicke speed after him and now had they at their suddaine comming surprised him but that loaden with the heavie burthen of their booties they gave over their pursuit But when the fame was spread all abroad over the rest of the Gothicke nations That a strange and unknowne kind of people before time now rushing in violently as a whirlewind from the high mountaines but risen from out of a secret nouke was readie to ruinate and destroy all before them the greater part of the multitude which for want of necessaries had forsaken Athanaricus sought to plant themselves in some place far remote from the knowledge of the Barbarians And deliberating a long time with themselves What seat to chuse they thought that Thracia was a meet countrey to receive and entertaine them and that for two reasons both for that it is a most fruitfull soyle and also because by the
appointed as you may read in Ausonius Quis Mirmilloni componitur aequimanus Thrax See more of these in Sueton. Caligula n A Tribune here is called Vacans namely such an one as was enrolled extraordinarily and not promoted thereto by degrees of service These also as well as others placed in any dignitie after that maner by other authors are expresly tearmed Ascripti and Ascriptitij For thus writeth Ael Lampridius in Alexandro Severo Nec qu●mqua passus est esse in Palatinis nisi necessarios homines iureiur ando deinde constrinxit ne quem ascriptum id est vacantem haberet ne annonis rempub gravaret Also Terbellius Pollio in Balista where Valerianus the Emperour in a letter unto Balista seemeth to joy that by his counsell nullum ascriptitium i. vacantem haberet Tribunum nullum stipatorem qui non verè pugnaret But take this for my conjecture onely as touching Tribunus vacans I will gladly yeeld to him that shall bring a more probable reason of this tearme o Dion writeth That Augustus admitted certain Batavian horsemen to keepe residence in Rome within campe How ever Tranquillus Suetonius affirmeth that hee allowed no more than three cohorts to harbour within the citie and those sine castris But it seemeth that by occasion of many strangers conflowing to Rome who could not be received in the hostelries and ordinarie Innes there was a certaine place assigned by it selfe for their lodging called therupon Castra peregrina or Peregrinorum And of this opinion is Guidus Pancirolus de 1● Regionibus urb Rom. Annotations and conjectures upon the seventeenth Booke a BRasmatiae or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist de mundo are those earthquakes which shake the earth upward and downeward ad angulos rectos so called of the resemblance of water boyling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. to seeth or boile up b Clinatiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as I guesse because they bend sidelong or Climatiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. pervertere vel diruere as Marcellus Donatus thinketh c Chasmatiae of Chasma in Greeke which signifieth a gaping or wide chinke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to gape Aristotle maketh mention of them De mundo d Mycematiae or rather Mycetiae as Aristotle tearmeth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. to bellow to loow or roare e Donative was a largesse or liberalitie bestowed upon the souldiors by the Generall or upon the people by the Prince f Cicero in his second booke de Divinatione writeth thus It is reported that in the territories of the Tarquinienses when an husbandman ploughed the ground and tooke one deeper stitch than the rest there started up out of the earth on a sodaine this Tages and spake unto the said Plough-man now this Tages as is found written in the Tuscane bookes seemed in personage and countenance a verie child but for wisedome was equall to the aged who being affrighted at this sodaine sight cryed out in so much as out of all Tuscane the people flocked soone thither And then Tages uttered many speeches in the hearing of them all which they noted and put in writing and this his speech contained the whole knowledge and learning of Soothsaying Ovid also in his Metamorphos writeth of him But it is like he was some base and obscure fellow who by his impostures deceived the world professing as he did the art of Divination Annotations and conjectures upon the eighteenth Booke a LVstrum was the space of foure yeares after which time complet there was a solemne review and cessing holden at Rome and the citie by a Sacrifice purged with sundrie other ceremoniall complements almost duely observed in everie revolution of such a tearme of yeares whereunto peradventure our author alludeth it was so ordinarie a thing in Constantius his Court which he tearmeth Castra by a word borrowed of warfare to have these alterations and chaunges like as at everie Lustrum new Magistats as Censors c. b Diribitores otherwise called Distributores were certaine persons imployed in tendering unto the Romane citizens certaine little tablets as they went to give their voyces at their solemne elections of Magistrats therein to write their affirmative or negative There were also of this denomination the Paymasters of wages to souldiors in an armie Coelius Rhodigin c Homer in his ninth tenth and eleventh bookes of his Poem Odyssea faineth how Vlysses held these Phaeaces upon whose land he was cast by tempest with a long discourse and narration of his travels In imitation of whom Virgil bringeth in his Aeneas making the like reports unto Queene Dido The silent audience of the Phaeaces Homer expresseth in this verse eftsoones repeated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 d Tricesimani were souldiors picked out of the thirtieth legion e Fortenses A companie of souldiors auxiliarie so called of Fortia a towne in Sarmatia Asiatica f Superventores Companies of souldiors placed apart from the bodie of the armie or battel readie to come upon the enemies forcibly on a sodaine whiles they are otherwise emploied or secure g Praeventores Companies of souldiors keeping likewise apart from the maine armie or battel readie to prevent the enemies or gaine a place before them h Iam Comite For having beene one of the guard called Protectores before he now became a captaine and had the charge of a regiment and was dignified also with the name Com●s Annotations and conjectures upon the 19 Booke a THese solemne holy-daies and feasts were kept for memorial of Adonis the darling of Venus slaine by a wild boare in hunting in the month of Iuly what time Fruges sunt adultae corne is ripe i Siccitas i. drought I suppose he meaneth heat the active qualitie for drinesse being a passive qualitie is not so powerfull And that he meaneth heat it may appeare by the Plague in the Greeke campe and armie before Troy occasioned by the arrowes of Apollo i. the Sunne Homer Ilia α. k By this straunger or guest is meant Paris who tooke away Helena the wife of Menelaus for which indignitie and wrong arose that warre and siege which continued tenne yeares l Of this Pestilence yee may read more in Thucidides lib. 2. and in Lucretius lib. 6. where it is described verie pathetically and to the life and in manner word for word out of Lucretius m Leviores I suppose he meaneth acutiores i. more quicke and sharpe n o p In putting downe these names of maladies we are to observe that Marcellinus although he was a souldior and out of his owne element yet speaketh not unproperly nor doth exorbitate from the doctrine of Hippocrates Galene and the rest who among these vulgar diseases called here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 allow some to be Epidemij simply not pestilenciall but such as kill for the most part to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and pestilenciall q Rhesus was King of Thracia and came to aid the Trojanes against the Greekes who together with his horses were the first night they came
of Gaule inclined to revolt Constantius not able to undergoe the charge minding to take Iulian to him as his companion in the Empire is hindered by flatterers but in the end declareth Iulian his Colleague and investeth him in the purple Robe with exceeding applause of the whole armie AS for Constantius disquieted he was with newes continually reporting how Gaule was now in a desperate case while the barbarous enemies made wast and spoyle of all killing and sleying in every quarter and no man there was to withstand them Now as he tossed to and fro in his mind what force to use for the repressing of these troubles resiant still himselfe in Italie as he desired for he thought it a matter of danger to thrust himselfe into parts farre remote he hit at length upon the right way and meanes to effect the same and it came in his mind to joyne with him as companion in the Empire his cousin germane Iulianus not long since sent for and brought out of Achaia and even yet in his students cloake or gaberdine When he had upon the urgent occasion of so many imminent calamities bewrayed thus much to his favourites and friends next about him shewing in plaine tearmes That himselfe but one shrunke now which hee never had done before under the burthen of so many necessities and troubles comming so thicke upon him they beeing throughly taught how with excessive flatterie to beare him up foolified and gulled the man telling him ever and anone That there was nothing in the world so adverse and difficult but his powerfull vertue and heavenly fortune together were able as ever heretofore to overcome and many of them pricked in conscience for their offences committed said thus much moreover That he was from henceforth to beware of the name of Caesar rehearsing therewith the lewd parts committed under Gallus Against whom labouring hard upon this point the Queene alone opposed her selfe were it for very feare to flit into so farre countries or that in her own naturall wit and wisedome she thought it good policie for the State I wote not but she said That a kinsman ought to bee preferred before all other And after much debating of the matter by way of deliberation to and fro this resolution stood firme and so setting aside all frivolous and bootlesse disputations hee fully determined to take unto him Iulianus as his compartener in the imperiall governement Now when he was sent for and come at the day prefixed the Emperour after all the companies of fellow souldiors there present were called together and a Tribunall erected upon an high banke above which stood the maine standerds of Eagles and other ensignes he mounted up unto it and holding Iulianus by the right hand thus by way of a mild and gentle speech began to say Here stand we before you right valorous defendors of the Weale publique to maintaine in manner all with one breath and spirit the common cause which I being to plead as it were before equall Iudges will briefely declare unto you After the death of rebellious tyrants whom rage and furie moved and egged on to attempt these designes which they proiected the Barbarians as if they meant with Romane bloud to sacrifice unto their wicked Manes invade Gaule and over-run it having broken the peace of the marches encouraged upon this confidence and assured persuasion that extreame necessities bind us fast ynough by occasion of lands so farre dis-ioyned asunder This mischiefe therefore which incrocheth alreadie beyond the frontiers hard adioyning if while time permitteth our helpe and yours together after consultation had shall ioyntly with one accord meet with both the neckes of these prowd nations will not swell so big and the bounds also of our Empire shall remaine entire It resteth now that the hope of our affaires which I doe conceive yee also strengthen with fortunate effect This Iulianus here mine unckles sonne by the fathers side well approoved as yee know well ynough for his modestie in regard whereof as well as of neerenesse in bloud he is deare unto us a young gentleman of industrious action which alreadie appeareth in him I wish to ioyne with me in the place and power of a Caesar Which motion of mine if you thinke the same profitable and expedient is to be confirmed also by your graunt and allowance As he was about to say more to this effect the assembly interrupting his speech in gentle manner stayed him saying in a fore-knowledge as it were of the future consequence That this was the will and choice of mightie Iupiter and not of mans wit and understanding And the Emperour standing still without stirring untill they were silent went more confidently through with the rest of his speech For as much as quoth he your ioyfull acclamation sheweth that there is a correspondencie of your favourable assent let the young gentleman endued with a peaceable vigour and whose temperate behaviour is to be imitated rather than commended rise up to this honour seconded with your fortunate favour whose singular towardnesse instructed with good arts even herein me thinkes I have fully shewed in that I have chosen him Him therefore by the grace and present direction of the heavenly God will I clad in his princely robes This said he and soone after when he had put upon Iulian his grandfathers purple and declared him Caesar with the joy of the armie he speaketh unto him somewhat sad and carrying a demisle and lowly looke in this manner Thou hast in thy prime brother mine and the most loving brother that ever I had recovered the glorious flower of thy parentage and originall augmented I confesse is mine owne glorie who take my selfe more truly advaunced by conferring a superiour power upon a noble prince of mine owne bloud than by the soveraigne power it selfe which I enioy Come on therefore as partaker of paines and perils undertake the defence and service of Gaule as one readie by all bountifulnesse to ease the parts afflicted and if need require to ioyne battaile with the enemies stand to it with sure footing among the very ensigne-bearers themselves a considerate exhorter and encourager to adventure in due time by leading the way with advised warinesse heartening and emboldening them that fight with succours and supplies strengthening those that be troubled and in disarray in modest tearms rebaking the slouthfull a present and most true witnesse as well to the industrious souldior as to the idle coward Therefore as urgent service requireth on forth like a valiant Knight to lead likewise as hardie souldiors we will be assistant one to another in our turnes by course with firme and stedfast love serve we will together and another day if God graunt our request ioyntly governe the world with equall moderation and pietie You for your part shall be in all places even present with me and I againe in whatsoever you shall goe about will not bee wanting to you Hasten for my sake unto the highest
away because Bainobaudes a Tribune and Valentinian Emperour afterwards with troupes of horsemen which were in their regiment ordained for the execution of that charge were by Cella Tribune of the Scutarij who joyning with Barbatio came to that piece of service forbidden to observe that passage by which they had intelligence the Germanes would returne The Colonell of the footmen not content herewith beeing himselfe a coward and an obstinate backbiting depraver of Iulianus his glorious deedes knowing that himselfe had given that commaundement against the good of the Romanes for so much confessed Cella when he was charged with this point deceived Constantius in making relation thereof and he fained That these very same Tribunes came with a pretence of some publique negotiation of the state to sollicite the souldiors whom he had conducted For which cause being deprived of their place of commaund they returned home to their houses as privat persons At the same time the Barbarians who had seated themselves on this side Rhene affrighted with the comming of these armies some of them skilfully by hewing down mightie strong and big trees stopped up the waies quite which otherwise were hard to travaile in and of their owne nature full of steepe cliffes and well neere unpassable others having gotten the Islands lying thicke scattered along the river Rhene making a piteous yelling and howling rayled a good both at the Romanes and also at Caesar who beeing highly displeased and wroth for to catch and attach some of them craved of Barbatio seven of those shippes which hee as minding to passe over the river had provided to put and joyne together for bridges who because nothing might be obtained at his hands set them all on a light fire At the last advertised by the information of spies and discoverers newly taken prisoners that being now the hote season of Summer the river might be waded over after exhortation given he sent the auxiliarie light armed souldiors together with Bainobaudes Tribune or Captaine of the Cornuti with the favour of Fortune minding to atchieve a memorable exploit who one while wading through the shallow fourds and sometimes bearing themselves upon their shields in manner of troughes or small punts swam over to an Island neere by and being landed they killed all they found one with another without any regard of sex male or female and of age old or young as if they had beene so many sheepe Now after they had gotten to them some emptie boats rowing by the meanes of them tottering though they were they brake into many of such places and when they had their fill of slaughter being laden with rich spoyle a part whereof they lost by the violence of the river they returned all in safetie And upon the knowledge hereof the residue of the Germanes abandoning the Islands as an untrustie place of defence got away their wives children and dearest friends together with their corne and barbarous richesse unto places further remote CHAP. VIII A Fort named Tres-Tabernae he reedifieth Chonodomarius and Vestralpus Aleman kings after they had put to flight Barbatio Colonell of the Romane footmen and chased part of the armie with a puissant army sat them downe neere unto Argentoratum and by their embassadours insult over Iulianus CAesar turning from hence to the reedifying of Tres-Tabernae a fort so called not long since by the obstinate assault of the enemies destroyed which if it were once re-built sure he was that the Germans might be kept off from entring into the in-land parts of Gaule as they had wont he both finished this worke sooner than was looked for and laid up for one whole yeare for those that were to bee placed there to defend the place food sufficient which had beene gathered together by the souldiors hand not without feare of danger even out of the Barbarians harvests And verily not content herewith onely hee purveyed also for himselfe victuals to serve twentie dayes For these warriors the more willingly made use of that which they had gotten with their owne right hands as taking great snuffe and indignation because they could have nothing of that provision of corne which was newly brought unto them for that Barbatio when he passed hard by prowdly caught it up before hand and the residue which remained behind he layed upon an heape and burnt it every jot Which whether he did like a vaine and braine-ficke foole or boldly enterprised many wicked attempts by commaundement from the Emperour was not then knowne Howbeit this was bruited abroad in all places and rife in every mans mouth That Iulian was not chosen Caesar to give easement to the distressed state of Gaule but that hee might by most cruell warres there come to his end being then as it was thought but a fresh-water souldior and one that could not endure so much as the clattering noyse of armour Well whiles the worke about the sayd fort goeth apace forward whiles part of the souldiors maketh fore-fences abroad in the fields and others againe gather corne warily for feare of ambushments the barbarous multitude preventing with exceeding celeritie the rumour of their comming having violently on a suddaine set upon Barbatio and the armie which hee had the conduct of as hath beene said divided and severed from them by a Gaulish fortification and following them in chase as farre as to the Rauraci yea and further as long as they could after they had carried away the greatest part of their carriages labouring beasts and campe slaves returned home againe And he as if hee had performed a notable and fortunate expedition bestowed his souldiors here and there in their Wintering harbours and returned to the Emperours Court minding to frame an action and accusation against Caesar as his manner was readie at all times bitterly to assayle and vexe him When this foule foyle and terrour was once dispersed and spread abroad the Aleman kings Chonodomarius and Vestralpus Vrius also and Vrsicinus together with Secapio Suomarius and Hortarius assembling all their forces and power together into one place sat them downe neere unto Argentoratum supposing that Caesar was retyred for feare of utter extremitie whereas he continued still busily employed about the finishing of the fort abovesaid Now that which made them the bolder to beare their heads more confidently was a certaine false and fugitive Scutarius who fearing punishment for a crime committed fled unto them after the departure of his captaine put to flight and declared that there remained not above fifteene thousand armed men with Iulianus for that number indeed followed after whiles the fierce and cruell Barbarians were on every side set upon rage and furious fight Vpon whose constant avouching still of the same tale they were pricked on with boldnesse to dare greater matters and so sending their embassadours away imperiously ynough commaunded Caesar to depart out of those landes which they had conquered by their valour and at the swords point CHAP. IX Whiles
comfort of life and so after their houses burnt and whole families caried away commaundement was given That vessels should be gotten together to search out those whom the farther banke of the river had severed from our armie and foorthwith least the courage of the warriours should abate or wax coole certaine nimble and lightly appointed skirmishers were put in boats who being guided along the secret coasts of the countrey met with all the lurking holes of the Sarmatians who at the suddaine sight of them were deceived namely seeing them to be their owne countrey wherries and rowers whom they knew But when by the glittering of the weapons afarre off they perceived that was comming toward them which they feared they betooke themselves for refuge and safetie to their moorish and fennie grounds whom the souldiors followed the more maliciously and having killed the most of them found a victorie there where a man would have verily thought they neither could keepe sure footing nor would adventure upon any service CHAP. XV. The Picenses and Limigantes terrified with these fresh examples of their confederats thus subdued and laied along yeeld their neckes unto the Romane yoke and having beene compelled to seeke other places for their habitation at length are reducea by Constantius into their auncient seat AFter that the Amicenses were in manner all destroyed as large a countrey as they over-spread our men marched without delay against the Picenses thus called of the regions bordering upon them who were the safer by reason of their fellows miseries wherof they had certain intelligence by the continuall rumors that ran of them To the surprising and subduing of them for an hard piece of worke it was to pursue them scattered as they were in divers places and namely where vnskilfulnesse in the waies giveth a check they tooke unto them the helpe of the Taifali and likewise of the free Sarmatians And considering that the regiments of these their aid-souldiors were by distance of places farre severed our men chose those tracts to invade that joyne to Moesia the Taifali tooke in hand those parts that lay next and the free Sarmatians seized upon the lands that lay opposite unto them The Limigantes afflighted with the fresh examples of them that were subdued and overthrowne wavered a long time in doubtful minds Whether they should die or fall to entreatie seeing they had notable examples and experiments given of both waies In the end the counsell of their elders prevailed so much and the consideration withall of so many and sundry victories that they tooke the course to yeeld themselves They also came in and joined with them in humble supplication who by force of armes had usurped libertie and the residue likewise of them despising now such masters as had bin overcome were unmeet for warre seeing the mightier in place with humble praiers submitted their necks to the yoke The more part of them therefore after they had received a safe-conduct and forsaken the strong defence bulwarke of the mountaines sped them apace to the Romanes campe over the spacious and wide champian fields together with their parents wives and children as also with that pelfe which their quicke departure permitted them to steale away And they that were thought would rather loose their lives than be compelled to void their countrey whiles they tooke licentious madnesse to be libertie willingly agreed now to be under authoritie and to enter upon other quiet trustie places of habitation so as they might not be troubled with warres nor changed by seditions And these men being received into protection according to their owne desire as it was verily thought remained quiet for a small time but afterwards through their in-bred wildnesse grew againe to commit most mischievous outrage as shall be shewed in convenient processe of our historie In this prosperous course and successe of affaires a competent defence of Illyricum was upon a two-fold reason established the duple greatnesse of which businesse the emperor having taken in hand effected both The banished persons suspected thogh they were for their mutabilitie yet like to behave thēselves somewhat more civilely he reduced home at length and placed in their auncient habitations and to doe the same people a greater pleasure he set over them not an ignoble base minded king but one of royall bloud descended and endued with excellent parts both of bodie and mind even him whom before time they themselves had made their governour CHAP. XVI Constantius taking ioy in the sirname and style of Secundus Sarmaticus in a solemne Oration reioyceth both in the behalfe of himselfe and of his armie for the victorie gained of his enemies VPon so happie a traine of brave exploits Constantius now bearing himselfe higher than one that feared any thing and with generall consent of the souldiors styled Secundus Sarmaticus after the name of those whom he had subdued and being now at hand to depart called all the Cohorts Centuries and Maniples together standing up in his Tribunal environed about with the Ensignes Eagles and a number of sundry captaines and officers of high place in the campe made a speech after his manner unto the armie gracious as he was in the eyes of all men to this effect The remembrance of our glorious atchievements which to valiant men is more acceptable than all the pleasures in the world moveth me in right modest tearmes to rehearse unto you the most faithfull defendors of the Romane State what enormities by our victorious fortune sent unto us from God above both before battaile and in the very heat also of fight we have reformed and set in frame For what is there so glorious or so worthie in all right to be commended unto the memoriall and records of posteritie than that a souldior having been in the action of worthy exploits may reioyce in the same so wisely and politickely devised Our enemies in their furious rage and upon a vanitie of swelling pride despising us in our absence whiles we were employed in the defence of Italy and Gaule over-ran Illyricum at their pleasure and in sundry rodes that they made to and fro wasted the frontiers of our limits one while in hollowed troughes of oake otherwhiles on foot passing over rivers not by way of conflict in open field nor using the meanes of armour and fine force but like as their use hath alwaies bin after the manner of secret brigands and robbers for their craftie guile and varietie of deceitfull mockeries ever from the first beginning of their nation dread even unto our old ancestors What displeasures were by them done tollerable we suffered as being in person farre removed supposing that lighter losses by the effectuall service of our captaines might be forfended But when through their licentiousnesse they proceeded further and grew to worke many mischiefes and the utter undoing of whole provinces after we had fortified and made sure the avenues into Rhaetia and by a most vigilant
many times with extraordinarie heats the second o Epidemus at which time as it doth invade it dimmeth the quicke light of the eyes and stirreth up perillous humours the third is p Loemodes which likewise is temporarie but speedily dispatcheth and killeth With this deadly and mortall plague were they here shaken and after some few consumed with intemperate heat whom the pestering multitude stifled at length in that night which followed the tenth day when by some smal showers the grosse and thicke ayre was dissolved and scattered the bodies recovered and retained againe their firme and perfect health CHAP. IIII. When the citie was encircled round about with hurdle-Fabrickes by the meanes of a certaine townes man the Persians become masters of an high tower from whence cunningly they scatter fire-darts among the besieged and by all meanes molest them and upon the winning of a pile called Ziatum cruelly fall upon many thousands of prisoners BVt in this time the restlesse Persian king compassed the citie round about with hurdle-workes and began to raise platformes against it then were there also framed high towers with fronts bound with yron and upon the top of every of them Balists planted that they might drive the defendants from their bulwarkes howbeit the slingers and archers ceased not so much as one minute of an houre to make light skirmishes Now there were with us the two legions Magnentiae newly brought out of Gaule as I have said before the same consisting of valiant men active and nimble meet for fight on even and plaine ground but for that manner of service and warre whereto wee were tied not onely unfit but contrariwise also exceeding unruly and troublesome Who when they would not lend their helping hand to any man in engine-worke nor making of bulwarkes and fortifications used foole-hardily to fallie forth and fight most courageously but came home fewer than they went doing no more good than one handfull of water as men say in a common 〈◊〉 fire At the last when the gates were lockt Fast up and they for all the entreatie that their Tribunes made might not issue forth they fretted gnashed their teeth like wild beasts But certain daies after their valor effectual service was seene above all others as I wil declare In a by-place or corner of the South part of the wall which looketh downe to the river Tigris there stood a tower rising to a great height under which certaine craggie and broken rocks lay gaping open so that a man could not looke downe into them without horrible dizzines and turning of the braine from whence by vaults hollowed under the ground along the foot of the mountain certaine staires workmanly and finely polished led unto the very plaine plot of the citie whereby to the end that water might privily and by stealth be drawne out of the rivers chanell a deuise that we haue seene in all the forts and strong holds throughout those countries which lie hard to rivers Through this darke angle not regarded by reason of the broken rocke with the guidance of a certaine townes-man fugitive who had revolted to the contrary side seventie Persians archers chosen out of the kings regiment very cunning and bold withall guarded with the silence of that remote and by-place afore-said sodainely at midnight climbed one by one up to the third storie or loft of the above said tower and when they had lien there close hidden in the morning they put out a soldiers coat of a red colour which was a signall or token to begin battaile which done when they perceived once that the citie was invironed round on every side with forces that flowed like waves upon it after they had emptied their quivers and cast them at their feet with clamorous yellings and shouts they set all on fire bestowing their arrowes abroad right cunningly And then anon all the armie in thicke set squadrons assailed the citie much more eagerly than before Whiles we within were uncertaine doubtfull which way to turne us and to make head against these that stood aboue and molested us or against the multitude that by skaling were already at hand to take hold upon the very bulwarks thus was the service devided among us Five of the lighter kind of balists were removed out of their owne places and planted against the tower the which discharging verie quickly wodden darts otherwhiles pierced through two of them at once Some of them heereupon greevouslie wounded fell downe others for feare of the engines making such a noise were cast headlong and so with their bodies sore mangled died which being dispatched with great celeritie and expedition and the said engines brought backe againe to their wonted places with somewhat better securitie we ran on all hands to the defence of the walls And for that the wicked act of this fugitive encreased our soldiers trouble and care as if they were encountring in the verie plaine they bestirred their strong armes so lustily in discharging divers sort of casting-weapons that the Vertae who were quartered against the South-side now repulsed and set backe with many a smart wound and weeping for the death of many their fellowes retyred in feare unto their tents Thus fortune breathed upon us some hope of safetie cōsidering we had passed one day not taking hurt our selves and doing hurt unto our enemies the rest of which day being graunted for rest to refresh our wearied bodies behold the next morning betimes we discover from the citadel an infinite number of people which uppon the winning of the fort Ziata were led into the enemies land for unto that place being strong and of very great receit as taking up in compasse ten stadia the multitude one with another of all sorts had fled for safetie For there were other holds also about that time woon and burnt whence many thousands of folks were taken forth and followed after into captivitie Among whom many men for old age feeble and women also now farre stricken in yeares when as they fainted upon sundrie causes as being offended with travailing so farre casting off all desire to live any longer had the calves of their legges or hough-strings cut and so were left behind CHAP. V. The souldiors of Gaule requiring leave to encounter the enemie and impatient of delay charge upon the king of Persia guarded with a power of one hundred thousand fighting men and kill a number that lay fast asleepe but being almost beset round about with other companies that came running in with the losse of foure hundred retyre unto the citie After this their leaders had by commaundement from Constantius armed Statues erected for them THese pitifull and miserable troupes of captives the Gaulois souldiors beholding upon a reasonable motive verily although it were unseasonable demaunded leave to encounter the enemie in plain fight threatening to kill the Tribunes if they forbad them and the principall corporals of every companie if afterward they should prohibite them And like as
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
Amida and with many assaults redoubled in sundry sorts wearieth as well his owne people as the Persians besieged THe tenth day therefore after the assault began when our mens hope grew worse than it was so that they were set all in heavinesse thought good it was to bring over that huge frame of a Ram which the Persians in times past after they had by the batterie thereof rased Antiochia brought from thence and left at Carras which being on a sodain seene and most artificially set together and fitted accordingly daunted the hearts of the besieged so as that they had fallen in manner to the last remedie of yeelding but that they tooke heart againe and prepared to oppose some meanes against this terrible and menacing engin Neither after this gave our men over one jot to adventure rashly or to advise politikely For whiles this old Ram beeing unjoynted and taken in peeces for easier carriage was a setting in order and readinesse with all cunning and strength of man notwithstanding the exceeding force and firme resolution of the defendants the peeces of ordnance were still defended neverthelesse with a number of stones and bullets sent out of slings on both sides many were killed and still the mounts and bulwarkes waxed greater and quickly rose to a mightie height so that the siege grew more fierce and hoter every day than other and many of our men lost their lives in the place for that fighting in the sight of the Emperour in hope of rewards and taking off their helmets from their heads because they might the sooner be knowne they were with the cunning shot of the enemies archers overthrowne and therefore tending watch and ward both night and day they stood more wary on both parts and did their devoir And now by this time the Persians seeing the banks terraces brought up to a mightie height and withall the huge ram aforesaid after which there followed also other smaller engins of that kind were stricken with a wonderful horror and did what they possibly could with might and maine to burne them all and albeit they ceased not to fling heaps and bals of wild-fire and shoot fiery darts yet they laboured in vaine for that most of the timber peeces were covered all over with skins and hayre clothes throughly wet others againe well smeared with alum that the fire might glide off without doing harme But the Romans bringing them forward with great force and valor though with much difficutlie yet defended and saved them and in an earnest desire they had to win the towne they set nought by imminent and present dangers and on the other side the defendants of the wals when the greatest Ram above said came toward them ready to shake downe the tower that stood against it by a subtle deuise ensnared the yron front that it beareth out before and in truth it resembleth a Rammes head with long ropes on either side and so held it fast that by returning backe againe it should not gather new strength nor be able with thicke jurres and pushes forcibly to strike the walls to any purpose and withall they powred downe scalding hot pitch The engins also being advanced forward stood along time carrying upon them huge stones to batter the walls and other casting weapons Now when the mounts without were raysed still higher the defendants fearing their destruction was at hand unlesse they tooke the better heed ran headlong into a most bold and adventurous action and in a sodaine sally issuing by numbers out at the gates and setting upon the formost of our men threw with all their might upon the Ram fire-brands and yron buckets loden with fire But after a skirmish valiantly performed with doubtfull fortune most of them prevailing nought were driven backe within the wals and anon from the mounts which the Romans had erected the same Persians as they stood upon their bulwarkes were assayled with arrowes slings-shot and fiery darts which flying among the roofes and curtaines of the towers for the most part went by or glaunced in vaine and did no hurt for that there were some of purpose readie to quench them And when on both sides the fighting men grew to be fewer and the Persians were driven to utmost dispaire but that they found better meanes they eftsoons gave the attempt with greater care and diligence to sally out of their fortifications and so the multitude breaking suddenly forth among our armed souldiers some appointed there were of purpose who carried greater store of fire than those before and threw yron skuttles full of flaming fire upon the timber frames stickes also and twigges with other dry fewell very apt to take fire And for that the exceeding blacke clouds of smoake tooke away all sight when the trumpet sounded the battaile the legions in good array marched on a quicke pace and as the heat of skirmish grew still by little and little by that time they came to buckle at hand-strokes all the foresaid engines at once were on a light fire and in manner burnt save only that greater one than the rest which being halfe burnt after the ropes were plucked away that were cast upon it from the wals and held it fast with much adoe and by the forcible straining of strong men was drawne forth of the fire But when the darkenesse of the night made an end of the skirmish our souldiers rested not long but beeing refreshed with small food and short sleepe they rose at the call of their captaines and removed their munitions far from the wall providing to fight more close and short along the high bastiles or countermures which now that they were finished overtopped the walls and that the defendants might easily be driven from off the wals upon the very top of the said bastiles were planted two Balists for feare of which it was verily thought that not one of the enemies could so much as put up his head and looke out before him These meanes being sufficiently provided a little before the twy-light of the morning appeared three battailons of our men in good array advancing with the crests of their helmets bending forward in threatning wise together with a number that carried ladders attempted to giue an assault upon the wals And now as the armor clattered and the trumpets resounded fighting on both sides joyntly with semblable heat and eagrenesse they made a venturous conflict of it which as it did spread still more and more the Romans perceiuing that the Persians hid their heads for feare of the engines of artillery placed upon the mounts did beat upon the walls with the ram and then with mattocks pickaxes yron crowes and ladders they approched meane while on both sides flew the casting dartes thicke But that which troubled and annoyed the Persians much more than all the rest was the sundrie shot discharged from the Balists running as it were through loope holes and grates from the bastiles newly raysed Whereupon supposing now that they were come
effect all and that in two regards First because he feared the adverse part which he had offended and then because hee made hast by the meanes of this so good an opportunitie to commend his doings unto Constantius who he made no doubt would get the victorie For no man then there was of the contrarie opinion but fully of the same mind This Gaude●tius being thither come and carrying in mind the charge which the Prince had given him after he had by letters instructed Cretio a lieutenant what was to bee done as also the rest of the commaunders and made choyce of the stoutest souldiers from all places yea and brought over out of both the Mauritaniae nimble and light appointed skirmishers kept most straitly the sea coasts that lay opposite unto Acquitanie and Gaule Neither failed Constantius of his purpose by this policie For so long as he lived none of the adverse part set foot in those lands although there was a number of armed men that observed the coast of Sicilie reaching from Lilybaeum to Pachynus readie soone to sayle over if the passage had beene cleere and open Constantius having disposed of these and other small and lighter matters as he thought considering how things stood expedient for him was advertised by messengers and letters from his captaines that the forces of the Persians being all assembled together under the conduct of their proud king leading the way before were now marching neere unto the edge of Tigris and doubtfull it was whither they went to breake out and make invasion At which newes being much moved to the end that making his abode neerer he might prevent their attempts he departed with all speed out of his wintering harbour and sending from all parts for his horsemen and strength of infanterie wherein he trusted he passed over Euphrates by Capessana upon a bridge of ships and went to Edessa a citie stored with victuals and strongly fenced waiting there a while untill either his owne discoverers or else some fugitives brought him word that the enemies encamped forward Meane while Iulian departing from the Rauraci after hee had dispatched his businesse which ere while we shewed sent backe into Gaule Sallustius promoted to be Praefect and commaunded Germanianus to hold the roome of Nebridius Semblably the Mastership of the armour he committed unto Nevita fearing Gumoarius an old traitor of whom he had heard say that whiles he had the leading of the Scutarij he secretly betrayed Veteranio his Prince and Soveraign Also to Iovius he gave the Questorship of whom I have made mention in the acts of Magnentius and unto Mamertinus the charge of the Treasure and revenewes Dagalaiphus he ordained Captaine of his h domesticall traine and others according to his owne will and pleasure whose good deserts and faithfull service hee well knew over the souldiers Being therefore to make his journey through the Martian woods and the wayes joyning upon the banks of the river Ister being as among sudden occurrents exceeding uncertaine what to doe hee feared especially this one thing least having so few in his traine to accompanie him he should grow despised and offend the multitude readie to repugne and repine against him To prevent this inconvenience he with good forecast tooke this wise course For dividing his armie into divers regiments he sent some under the leading of Iovinus and Iovius to march with speed along the knowne wayes of Italie and others he committed to the conduct of Nevita Generall of the horse to the end that being thus spread sundrie wayes they might be thought an infinit number and so fill all places with the feare and terrour of them For even thus did Alexander the great and after him many other skilfull leaders when the case so required Howbeit hee gave charge unto them that thus were gone forth in their march to stand well upon their guard as if the enemie forthwith were readie to encounter them and to keepe watch and ward by night in their stations and sentinels least they might by some outrode at unawares be set upon Which businesses beeing thus as it was thought well digested following that manner whereby he had oftentimes broken through the Barbarians tracts and presuming confidently upon a continued traine of successes hee went on still farther and farther And when he was come to the place whence he understood the river was navigable he embarked in fisher boats whereof as hap was he found good store and along the chanell of the river he passed as closely as possibly he could keeping himselfe therfore secret for that finding no misse of fine viands but contenting himselfe with slender and course dyet hee passed beside the good townes without forth securely laying for his rule to follow that notable saying of old Cyrus who turning in by the way to an hostelrie and being asked of his host What good cheere he should provide for him answered Bread onely for I hope quoth he to sup neere unto some river CHAP. VII The fame of Iulians comming chaseth away certaine captaines of the adverse part Lucillianus thinking to make head against him is sodainly taken prisoner and in few words rebuked and chastised The straits and passes of Illyricum and Thracia with great celeritie intercepted by Iulianus are fortified BVt fame which with a thousand tongues as folke say multiplies the report of things exceedingly was with much talke spread through all the Illyrians That Iulian having overthrown a number of kings in Gaule vanquished an armie of manie nations and bearing himselfe proud of his sundrie successes was comming neere at hand at which rumor Taurus Praefect of the Praetorium being stricken with feare departed quickly auoyding him no lesse than a foreine enemie and ryding away speedily with change of post-horses allowed by the State after he had passed over the Iulian Alpes in the same trice had Florentius the Praefect likewise away with him Howbeit Lucillianus a Comes who at that time in those countries had the charge and commaund of the forces moved with some sleight intelligences as touching the stirre and trouble that Iulian made having his abode at Sirmium and gathering souldiers together as many as the speedie execution of the businesse in hand would permit to bee sent for out of their proper stations intended to make head against him when hee should come but he like a firebrand or casting dart set on fire hastening swiftly as if hee flew to the finall end of his appointed journey was no sooner come to Bononia which standeth 19. miles from Sirmium but in the old of the Moone therefore shining not the greater part of the night he leapt all on a sodaine out of his ship tooke land and presently sent Dagalaiphus with a companie of light appointed men to call Lucillianus unto him or to take him away perforce if he made resistance who being even then at his
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
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 me● 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 bar●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 C●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 ●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 bes●egeth amost strong fenced pyle which he winneth and burneth after hee had thrust certaine h●rsemen to the service on foot who cowardly received the brun● 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 ●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
better were they secured from the danger of arrow-shot Meane while Iulianus doing the part as it were of a common souldior and commaunder both made hast to uphold those that were sore layed at with fresh supplies yea and to stirre up and incite such as made slow hast The vantguard therefore of the Persians brake their array and giving backe with a gentle and soft pace in their hote armour went toward the citie that was hard by after whom followed our souldiors wearied likewise in fighting from the morning betimes to the evening in the scorching hot fields and preassing hard upon their hind-parts and neckes drave them all headlong together with Tigranes Surena and Narses the principall chiefetaines as farre as to the wals of Ctesiphon laying upon the hams of their legs and on their backes as they ran before them And intermingled in the very companies of them that thus slipped away and fled they had broken through within the entrie of the citie but that Marquesse Victor with lifting up as well his hands as voice forbad them being himselfe slightly shot into the arme with an arrow and fearing least these hastie souldiors found inconsideratly within the circuit of the wall and not meeting with any way out again might be enclosed with maine multitudes Let the old Poets sound out the battails that Hector fought and extoll withall the fortitude of that Thessalian captaine Achilles Let the posteritie long time after talke of Sophanes Aminias Callimachus and n Cynegirus those famous thunderbolts that shooke the Medes warre in Greece evident it is by all mens confession that some of our men behaved themselves as valiantly that day as ever those did CHAP. XI Iulianus preparing a number of sacrifices unto Mars was terrified with an ominous signe Leaving therefore the siege of Ctesiphon he forrayeth and wasteth the countries round about and not well advised setteth on fire and consumeth all his ships save only twelve of a lesser sort AFter the feare was past and the enemies bodies troden on heaps as they lay underfoot the souldiors embrued as they were with the bloud that they had justly shed being assembled before the Emperours pavilion gave him his due prayse and rendred hartie thankes for that unknowne in everie place whether he were a leader or a souldior hee had atchieved then so fortunat a victory as that with the killing of two thousand and five hundred Persians more or lesse there were but threescore and ten of our men lost their lives who also for his part calling most of them by their names whom himselfe as an eie witnesse and judge saw to have performed with resolute heart any brave service rewarded them with Naval o Civik and Campe-Coronets And being now fully persuaded that the like prosperous successes would shortly hereafter follow hee made preparation of many sacrifices to Mars the Revenger and whereas ten most beautifull bulls were to this purpose brought in place nine of them before they were presented to the altars of themselves fell downe dead in most heavie and fearfull manner and the tenth who brake his bonds and got away was hardly brought backe againe and being slaine shewed ominous signes of ill lucke At the sight whereof Iulianus falling into a grievous fit of indignation cryed out and sware by Iupiter That he would now offer no more sacrifice unto Mars neither did hee ever sacrifice againe as being surprised soone after by speedie death And so after hee had debated in counsell with the principall captaines and officers of the armie as touching the besieging of Ctesiphon concluded it was according to the advise and mind of some who knew it was an adventurous and unreasonable peece of service to take that enterprise in hand for that both the citie by the verie scituation thereof inexpugnable was defended and also thought verily it was that the king would be there out of hand with a dreadfull power So the better opinion tooke place the utilitie whereof when he a most prudent prince had approoved hee sent Arintheus with a power of light appointed footmen to forray and spoyle the countries lying round about which were rich in cattell and corne who with like industrie was to pursue the enemies also that being lately put to rout and dispersed lay hidden in thicke over-growne wayes and holes wherewith they were so well acquainted But he againe of a greedie humor at all times to bee encroaching and gaining more little weighing their words that willed the contrarie and rebuking the chiefe leaders and officers because for sloth and desire of ease they gave counsell to forgo the kingdomes of Persia which were in maner alreadie conquered leaving the river on his left hand by the direction of unluckie guides that led the way determined with speedie pace to take the Mediterranean wayes and as it were with the deadly and cursed firebrand of Bellona commaunded fire to be put under the ships and to burne them all save twelve of the lesse sort which he gave order to be carried in carts as meet for the joyning of bridges And hee thought herein that he had taken a profitable course for feare forsooth that a navie being left behind should serve the enemies in good stead or at least wise that twentie thousand welneere of fighting men as from the verie beginning of the expedition they had done should be imployed in haling towing and governing the said ships After this when everie man fearing in his owne behalfe secretly mumbled and the plain truth evidently spake that if haply the souldiers were put back by reason of drouth or high hils they could not returne unto the waters when also the fugitives openly confessed upon the rack that he had erred and done amisse in a great hurly burly commaundement was given That the flaming fires should bee quenched And for as much as the fire caught so mightie an head as that it had consumed the most part of them alreadie twelve ships onely could be saved without hurt which were set apart that they might be kept still CHAP. XII The Persians having burnt the growne grasse and standing corne drive the Romans destitute of shipping and distressed with the distemperature of weather and soyle both into many straits yea and forceth them to alter their iourney BY this chaunce the fleet being lost at such a time when it behoved not Iulianus trusting in his united armie now that none of the armed souldiers were employed in divers places and affaires and standing upon his great numbers marched I say to the inland parts having the wealthy countries yeelding plentie of victuals unto him which beeing knowne the enemies to pinch s● with hunger set on fire the grasse on the ground and the standing corne ful growne and by reason that with this generall fire we were stopped of our passage forward we trusted upon our standing campe untill the flames began to slake And the Persians a great way off insulting over us with their bravadoes one while for
we related before were fled into a fort named Vaccatum Then the day following according as the place wold permit we encamped in an even valley enclosed round about within the circuit as it were of a wall all save one place to goe forth at and the same lying open with sharpe stakes pitched on every side and standing out in maner of so many sword points And when the enemies saw this out of the woods and forests they let flie at us sundrie sorts of dartes and casting weapons reviling us also in reproachfull tearmes as perfidious traitors and murderers of a most valorous and excellent Prince for they had heard as the very fugitives reported by occasion of an headlesse rumor that ran abroad how Iulian was slain by the hand and weapon of a Roman In the end also certaine cornets of horsemen having broken through the s gate Praetoria were so bold herewith as to come neere unto the verie Princes pavilion but after many of their own side slaine were repulsed with maine force Being gone from thence the next night after we entred upon Charcha a place in this regard safe for that by reason of the high banks of the rivage being by mans hand raised to the end that the Saracens might not from thenceforth over-runne Assyria there was not one as before time that trobled our squadrons in their march And when as on these verie Kalends of Iulie we had marched thirtie stadia and drew neere to a citie named Du●a by reason that our horses were wearie their riders in the hindmost taile going on foot had forth with beene environed by a multitude of Saracens and slaine everie man but that the more vigorous and lighter appointed troupes of our horsemen rescued them in daunger Now the reason why wee were thus infested and troubled with the Saracens was for that being debarred by Iulian to receive as in times past many salaries and gifts and making thereof complaint unto him they could get no other answer but this That a warlike and vigilant Commaunder used to have yro● and not gold CHAP. IX The Roman souldiors wearied with so often assaults of the Persians instantly crave leave notwithstanding Iovianus stood against it to passe over Tigris whom for all that they wrestled with hunger Sapor feared IN this place so obstinatly persisted the Persians in molesting us we spent and lost foure dayes For marched we forward at any time they followed us hard at heeles and with their many provocations drew us backe made we a stand as prest to fight they would by little and little retyre and thus vexe us with long delayes And now by this time as usually meere forged rumors are wont to give content unto those that feare the worst by occasion of a flying report That the frontiers of our limits were not farre off the armie with open mouth called importunatly to have leave graunted for to passe over Tigris Against whom the Emp●●our and the great captaines opposing themselves and shewing how the river swelled now at the rising t of the Dog-staire praying them not to hazard their lives in the dau●gerous streame and whirlepooles thereof affirming that a number of them were unskilfull in swimming and adding moreover that the enemies fo●ces had gained al●eadie on both sides the skirts of the river overflowne But when as he redoubled these reasons oftentimes and gainsaid them but all in vaine so that the souldiors crying out alowd in maine heat and big words threatened to doe their worst the Emperour made proclamation to stay the march and that the Gaules practised swimmers should first before all others take the river to the end that when they had been swallowed up or carried away with the mightie streame the wilfull stubbornesse of the rest might be daunted or if they had performed the deed safely the passage might on all hands be attempted more boldly And to this businesse were fit men chosen such as from their childhood had beene enured to swim over the greatest rivers of all others in their own native countries who taking advantage of the stil darke night being let forth at once as it were out at a casement sooner than a man would have thought raught the banke on the further sides and having troden under foot and cut in peeces many of the Persians who being then bestowed to keepe the coasts were in quiet securitie fast asleepe with holding up their hands and shooting of darts they gave signal how their adventure had taken effect and sped This being espyed a farre off our souldiors ho● set upon their passage stayed onely for this that the masters of the works promised to frame bridges of budgets or bottels made of the beasts hides that were slaine Which while these projects are gone in hand with and enterprised in vaine king Sapor both absent a far off and also when he was come neerer was advertised by the true reports of his discoverers sent out fugitives comming in what valiant acts our men had done what shameful foyles and overthrowes his owne had taken and that of Elephants there were more killed than the king could ever remember had bin before time also that the Roman armie hardened with uncessant travailes and paines after the death of their glorious Prince sought not as he gave it out to save their selves but to be revenged and were minded to end these instant dangers and painfull troubles either by an absolute victorie or by a memorable death In these regards he cast in his mind many and those fearefull consequences namely how our forces spread all over the provinciall nations might as he had experience thereof be assembled with a small watchword knowing also that his owne people after the losse of the greatest part of the common souldiors was sore dismayed and affrighted and finding withall that in Mesopotamia there was left an armie of the enemies behind not much lesser And above all these things that which daunted his perplexed and carefull mind was this That five hundred of their men swimming together at one time had passed in safetie over the river when it was risen high and having killed the Warders of the coasts stirred up the rest of their consorts to the like bold and hardie exploit Meane while when the surging and swelling waves would not suffer the said bridges to be framed and all things meet for meat were consumed our souldiors having spent two daies in a miserable case pinched with hunger and chafed with anger grew into a rage making hast to loose their lives like men by the edge of the sword rather than by famine the basest and most cowardly kind of death that is CHAP. X. The embassage of Sapor for the concluding and confirmation of a peace Iovianus for want of skilfull policie provideth badly for the Roman armie and whatsoever the embassadors of Sapor asked without any strife he yeeldeth to Vpon pledges on both sides taken that peace dishonourable to the Roman Empire and name
had fore-knowledge alreadie of this trouble comming toward them And in the beginning of the Spring having assembled his forces together encamped neere unto a strong hold named Daphne and upon a bridge floored with flankes over the hatches of ships passed the river Hister without resistance made of any And now bearing himselfe aloft with great boldnesse when riding up and downe he could find none that he might overcome or terrifie for all men strucken with feare of our souldiors approching with a brave shew of preparation were retyred to the mountaines of the Serri which were very high and inaccessible but only to such as were skilfull in the wayes least that having spent the whole Summer he should returne without any exploit done by sending out Arinibeus colonell of the footmen with certaine companies to wast and spoyle seized on part of their families such as before they came to the broken and winding wayes might be taken straggling and wandering over the plaine fields And thus having atchieved this onely that Fortune presented to his hands he returned with his forces in safetie having neither given nor received any grievous blow The yeare following when he assayed with like courage to enter into the enemies land being hindered with the streames of Danubius that overflowed farre beyond his banks he rested still pitching his standing campeneere to a village named Carporum untill the end of Autumne Whence because nothing could be done by reason that the great flouds kept him off he departed to Martianopolis there to Winter Semblably the third yeare also holding on his purpose still having broken into the ground of the barbarous enemies by Novidunum and that by meanes of shippes joyned together for to passe over the river after continuall journeyes taken he set upon the Grutungi a warlicke nation that inhabited further off and after some light skirmishes constrained for feate of extremitie Athanaricus to take his flight who in those dayes was a most puissant ruler who with a power that he thought more than sufficient dared to make resistance and then himselfe with all his forces returned againe to Martianopolis there to keepe his Winter a place as in those tracts meet and convenient Now after sundrie accidents that fell out in these three yeares space there were good motives and reasons to end the warre First for that the enemies feare encreased by the princes long abode in these parts Then because the barbarous people being debarred of traffique and commerce were distressed for exceeding want of necessaries in so much as they sent embassadors oftentimes in manner of suppliants and craved pardon with peace Vnto whom the Emperour unexpert I must needs say but a most equall and indifferent considerer as yet of things before that he was beguiled with the pernitious allurements of flatterie and afflicted the Commonwealth with slaughters and executions for ever to be lamented taking sage advice for the common good decreed That it was behovefull to graunt peace And he sent forth by turnes Victor and Arintheus who then had the managing of the horsemens service Who when they had given true intelligence by their letters That the Gothes condescended unto the conditions proposed there was a meet place appointed for the conclusion of a peace And for as much as Athanaricus avouched That he was bound under the fearefull curse of an othe and beside by his fathers commaundement expresly forbidden to tread at any time upon Roman ground in which regard he might not bee compelled and withall it had beene an unseemely and base thing that the Emperor should go over to him thought good it was by them that were wise that in certaine vessels guided by ores into the mids of the river where were embarked the Emperor and the foresaid Iudge of the nation together with their Esquiers they should as before it was determined passe the covenants of a league and peace together Which businesse being dispatched and pledges received Valens returned to Constantinople where afterwards Athanaricus driven out of his native countrey by a faction of his neerest kinsmen and followers yeelded unto nature and was enterred with solemne and sumptuous funerals after the guise of our countrey CHAP. V. Whiles Valentinian lyeth sicke of a grievous disease certaine of the principall officers and rulers lay their heads together about chusing Rusticus Iulianus Master of the Rolles or Severus Colonell of the footmen to be Emperour But the said Emperour recovering declareth Gratianus his son for his Colleague and Augustus both after he had in a grave oration recommended him unto the armie which generally accepted of him and when he was adorned with a coronet and imperiall robes exhorteth him to doe his devoire with the exceeding applause of them all WHiles Valentinian in this meane time lay grievously sicke thought no other but like to dye at a feast where the Gaules secretly met who served in the Emperours armie Rusticus Iulianus then k Master of the Rolls was as it were in a furious fit or motion of madnesse nominated to the Empire one as bloud-thirstie as any savage beast as he well shewed whiles he governed Affricke in place of Proconsull For in his Prefecture of the citie during which he dyed fearing the daungerous and ticklish dayes of tyrannie by the will and pleasure whereof he had climbed up to that high dignitie for default as it should seeme of worthie persons enforced he was to shew himselfe mild and verie tractable Against these Gaules some there were who in a deeper reach and drift laboured in favour of Severus then Colonell of the footmen as a man fitted for the obtaining thereof who albeit he was rigorous and dread yet more tollerable and everie way to be preferred above Rusticus aforesaid But whiles these matters are thought upon to no effect the Emperour somewhat refreshed and recovered by the meanes of many remedies and perceiving that himselfe was scarce yet delivered from daunger of death had a full purpose to adorne with the imperiall ensignes his owne sonne Gratian a pretie young stripling and well growne and having provided all things in readinesse accordingly and wrought the souldiors to accept thereof in good gree and willingly when Gratian was come he went forth into the field and ascended up to the Tribunall where being environed with a gallant companie of noble persons and Officers of State hee tooke the youth by the right hand brought him forth before them and with a solemne publicke oration recommended him as ordained Emperour to the armie in this wise In this habit of princely place and dignitie which I carrie about with me as an ample signe of your favour enlarged toward me by which I am deemed a more worthie personage than many others and those right honourable I will before you my associats in counsels and fore-men in desires and wishes in due office of pietie and kindnesse set in hand with a matter God saying Amen and promising good successe by whose eternall ayd
commendation of Brutus That doing nothing at all for love and favour yet all things seemed lovely and acceptable that he did CHAP. IX The expedition of Valentinian and Gratian against the Alemans in battaile discomfited and put to flight with a great overthrow ABout the same time well neere whiles Valentinian was gone forth warily as he thought to an expedition an Aleman Prince named Rando making preparation long before for that which he designed entred by stealth with a crue of souldiors lightly appointed to kill and rob into Magontiacum when it was without a garrison And for that he found there by chance a solemnitie holden of the Christians he led away without any let and impeachment a sort of both sexes undefended it skilled not of what estate they were of together with no small store of household goods Within a little while after there shone upon the Romane Empire an unexpected hope of better dayes For when king Vithicabius the sonne of Vadomarius in shew an effeminate and diseased prince but of courage bold and valiant kindled oftentimes hote warres against us great care and diligence was employed that he might be made away and murthered it mattered not how and for that being assayled sundrie times he could not either be openly vanquished or privily betrayed at the earnest sollicitation of our men murthered he was by the deceitfull hand of one of his owne ministers belonging to the privie chamber After whose death the enemies in some sort gave over their hostile rodes and incursions howbeit the murtherer for dread of punishment which he feared in case the businesse had beene discovered got himselfe over as fast as he could into Romane ground After this preparation was made with good pause and deliberation as also by sundrie kinds of forces of an expedition against the Alemanes and the same of greater puissance than usually had beene considering that the defence of the State required no lesse because the faithlesse stirres of a nation whose forces might soone be renewed were feared and our souldiors neverthelesse were enkindled against them for their suspected conditions who feeble now and suppliants yet shortly after threatening deadly and mortall hostilitie gave them no rest at all nor cessation of armes Valentinian therefore together with Gratian having assembled an huge hoast well furnished as well with armes as victuals and sent for Sebastian the lieutenant together with the bands of Illyricum and Italie whereof hee had the regiment to joyne with them in the very fresh prime of the yeare set forward marching in foure square battailons close together and undivided himselfe in the middest having Iovinus and Severus s expert and approoved warriors flanking the sides of the rankes on both hands for feare they might be suddainely assayled And so from thence by the guidance of those that were perfect in the wayes having discovered beforehand the avenues through the plaine countries lying out a great length the souldiors advauncing softly forward yet very eagre of fight as if they had found the enemies alreadie in threatening manner gnashed their teeth for anger And for that during certaine daies journey they could meet with none that made resistance there was put forth a regiment of certaine cohorts who with the devouring flame of fire consumed the standing corne and houses that they could set eye upon all save only such food as their doubtfull state wherein they stood forced them to gather and keepe This done the prince going further forward with a milder pace when he was come neere to a place named Solicinium stood still as if a barre had beene set in his way enformed by a most true relation of his out-riders that the barbarous enemies were discovered afarre off who seeing no way or meanes left to save their lives unlesse by a speedie encounter they defended themselves presuming boldly upon their skilfulnesse in the wayes with one mind and accord gained a verie high mountaine by the meanes of rough and craggie hills steepe and unaccessable on everie side save onely the North whence it hath an easie and gentle fall or descent Where having out of hand pitched downe their standerds as their manner is and cryed the alarme on all hands our souldiors easie to be directed at the commaundement of the Prince and leaders stood their ground waiting untill the banner were set up aloft which was the signall to begin battaile in convenient time Now for as much as there was little or no time allowed to take any deliberation whiles the impatient Roman souldiors terribly tooke on and fumed on the one side and the Alemans made horrible noyses on the other this course onely the shortnesse of time and quicke dispatch admitted namely That Sebastian with his companies should possesse himselfe of that North part of the hills which I said had an easie descent there with little adoe if good luck were to have the killing of the Germans as they shold flie Which was not thought good to be put in practise in hast And while Gratian was detained backe about the Corps de guard and ensignes of the Ioviani as who for his tender yeares could not yet endure the toylesome perils of battails Valentinian as a captaine that liked well to hold off and worke safely vailing bonet and saluting the centuries and maniples without making any of the great commaunders privie to his secret designement and having none of his guard about his person rode out with some few in his companie whose industrie and fidelitie he had good proofe of to view and discover the bottomes of the hills giving it out as he was an arrogant prizer and prayser of himselfe That there might bee some other way found out leading up to those high and difficult cliffs beside that which the fore-riders had discovered As he went therefore out of the way through unknowne and moist marishes he had surely lost his life by a sodaine rode of the enemie bestowed in ambush among the craggie and broken cliffes but that he tooke himselfe to the last helpe in time of necessitie and setting spurres to his horse galloped through the slipperie mire got away and shrowded himselfe within the bosome of the legions and so escaped a sodaine and unlooked for daunger whereto he was so neere that a gentleman of his chamber who carried his helmet richly set with gold and pretious stones together with the verie case perished quite and could never after be found alive or dead After rest therefore graunted for the refreshing of their bodies and the banner erected which is woont to give signall and warning to battaile at the menacing sound of the trumpets kindling their courage Salvius and Lupicinus two valiant young Knights chosen of purpose to give the onset in daungerous service the t one a Targuetier the other of the Gentiles band before all others readily stepped forth and led the way with a most bold resolution toward the battailons as they began to advance with a terrible
noise stirring and inticing them forward and thus brandishing their speares when they were come to the foresaid cliffes that stood against them and endevoured maugre the Alemans who shoved and thrust sore upon them to gaine the higher ground thither came all the maine force of the armie and in the end following hard after these ring-leaders through the thickets of bushes and rough brambles and bryers with much straining of their strength got up to the high toppes of the mountaine With a great stomacke therefore of both parts the conflict began by the deadly dint point of the sword to be tried and of the one side the Romans more skilfull souldiors and on the other the barbarous enemies though fierce yet unwarie and inconsiderat coped and joyned hand to hand And verily our armie displayed verie large and spreading forth the wings to enclose the enemies on both sides assailed them sore terrified as they were with hideous outcries neighing of horses and sounding of trumpets yet neverthelesse tooke they heart againe and boldly resisted And thus for a while the hosts in equall ballance of fortune maintained fight with no small ado and endevour whiles the conflict continued with mutual killing and slaying on either side At length such was the valiant courage of the Romans that the enemies rankes were broken and for feare so shufled together that the formost were mingled with the hindmost and whiles they seeke to get away by good footmanship pierced through they were with casting darts and javelins that the enemies launced at them And in the end whiles they run fetching their wind short and all wearie they laid open to them that followed their hammes the calves of their legges and their backes In conclusion after many of them were beaten downe Sebastian placed with a fresh companie for supply at the back of the mountaines slew part of them that had slipped and escaped away by reason they were hemmed in on that side that they tooke no heed of the rest dispersed betooke themselves to the lurking corners of the woods In this conflict there dyed of our part also men of no small account among whom was Valerianus the principall of all the guard in ordinarie and a certaine esquier or targuetier borne a verie evirate Eunuch but such an expert and approved warriour that he might be compared either with old Sicinius or Sergius These exploits thus performed with such varietie of accidents the souldiors returned unto their Winter harbours and the Emperours to Triers CHAP. X. Probus Pretorio Prefectus or L. chiefe Iustice a most cunning and experienced Courtier is here lively depainted IN these dayes when Vulcatius Ruffinus was departed this life even in the time of his government Probus was sent for from the citie to rule as Prefectus Pretorio a man for noble parentage power and wealth knowne all over the Roman world in which throughout almost from the one end to the other he held possessions and livelodes dispersed here and there whether by right or wrong it lyeth not in my simple judgement to set downe This man a certain twofold u fortune as the Poets faine carrying with her flight-wings shewed unto the world one while a bountifull benefactor and advauncer of his friends to great fortunes otherwhiles againe a vengible wayt-layer and by bloudie grudges and displeasures doing much mischiefe And albeit he could doe much all his life time by giving great largesses suing continually unto those that were in high authoritie yet was he now and then timorous in any opposition with those that were bold but bearing himselfe bigge over such as were fearefull so that hee seemed when he presumed of himselfe to creake and vaunt in a loftie tragicall note and whensoever he feared to debase himselfe lower than a comicall actor And as all the kind of fishes and swimming creatures driven out of their owne element live not long upon drye land even so drouped he and could not hold up his head without Prefectures which he was forced to take upon him for the troubles and law-suites of great families which by reason of their infinite desires are never innocent and to the end they may be able to effect many designes without punishment use to engage their Lord deepely in the affaires of State and governement For confessed this must be that being bred up in that magnanimitie as he was hee never commaunded either Client or servant of his to doe any unlawfull action But if he found that one of them had committed any crime or hainous offence although even Iustice her selfe said nay without due enquirie made into the matter without respect of goodnesse or honestie he would patronize it a fault that Cicero by way of reprehension noteth in these words For What difference is there quoth he betweene the counsellor to a fact and the defendor of a fact Or what mattereth it whether I would have a thing done or reioyce that it is done Howbeit of his owne nature suspitious he was and of a base and faint heart and smiling also after a bitter sort yea and glavering otherwhiles upon a man to do him harme and that is a notorious and evident bad propertie in such conditions and then especially when it is thought it may be concealed so implacable and hard hearted that if hee purposed once to doe a man a shrewd turne he could not possibly be intreated nor enclined to forgive so much as light errours and delinquencies and therefore his eares seemed to many men though they were not indeed close stopped up In the highest pitch of dignities and riches full of care and taking thought and in that regard troubled alwayes with light diseases In this order passed the affaires in the West parts CHAP. XI Sapor King of the Persians invadeth Armenia King Arsaces he taketh prisoner and after dolorous torments killeth him And whiles he goeth about to murder and make away his wife and son there fall out some accidents which were the seeds of a new warre betweene Romans and Persians BVt Sapor thus long living king of the Persians and a prince from the verie beginning of his raigne much given and addicted to the sweetnesse of pillage and robberies after the decease of the Emperour Iulian and the covenants of so dishonourable a peace concluded seeming together with his people for a while to friend us brake the faithfull bond of the articles of agreement made under Iovianus and reached at Armenia that as if the strength of the said capitulations had beene reversed and cancelled he might lay the same unto his owne dominion And first of all by divers false and deceitfull fleights he put the whole nation that withstood his intent to some small and light dammages soliciting certaine of the chiefe rulers and great lords of the countrey and surprising other by sodaine rodes and invasions After this when he had caught the king himselfe Arsaces by the meanes of fine allurements and those interlaced
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 Artabane● 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
in so fit and opportune a time when the Alemans for feare of the foresaid nation were dispersed Theodosius at that time generall of the horsemen did set upon them and having slaine a number of them whomsoever he tooke prisoners he sent by the Princes commaundement into Italie where they had fertile lands assigned unto them and now are become tributaries and dwell about Padus CHAP. XIII The mournfull and heavie plight of Tripolis a Province in Affricke is here lively described FLitting from hence as it were into another world let us come to the trouble of Tripolis a Province in Affrica which even Iustice also her selfe as I suppose hath bewailed Whence these broyles grew so to burne like flaming fire the text ensuing shall at full declare The barbarous Asturians bordering hard upon these parts readie at all times and nimbly appointed to make rodes used also to live upon rapine and slaughter having for a little while beene at peace returned againe to their naturall insurrections pretending this as a serious cause of quarell One named Stachao a countreyman of theirs in raunging over our Province at his pleasure committed certaine acts forbidden by the lawes among which this was notorious above the rest that he went about by all subtile and deceitfull meanes to betray the Province as was prooved by most true evidences for which he suffered punishment accordingly and was burnt to death They then alledging for their quarrell the revenge of his death as being their neere kinsman and unjustly condemned like unto wild beasts enraged flung out of their owne habitation even whiles Iovian was Emperour and fearing to approach Leptis a citie strongly walled and as well peopled fat them downe for three dayes together in a plentifull place within the territorie thereof And having either killed the rusticall people whom this unlooked-for and sodaine feare had daunted or else forced them to flie unto caves for refuge and burned much houshold goods that could not be carryed away enriched thus with much spoyles and booties returned leading away as prisoner Silva likewise whom by chaunce they found in the field a principall man of his ranke and degree The men of Leptis affrighted with this sodaine calamitie before the troubles and calamities should encrease which these Barbarians in their swelling pride menaced in lamentable manner craved the ayd of Romanus newly advanced to be the Comes or Lieutenant in Affricke Who when he was come with militarie forces under his conduct and requested to succour their distressed state assured them that he would dislodge and remove from thence unlesse there might be brought together great store of victuals and foure thousand camels provided and put in readinesse accordingly At this answer the pitifull citizens being astonied and avouching they were notable after such wastings and burnings to provide any remedie of their exceeding great losses by the meanes of such enorme and huge a preparation the said Lieutenant having spent there after a dissembling sort fortie dayes without attempting any exployt departed The Tripolitanes disappointed of this their hope and fearing extremitie when the lawfull and ordinarie day was come of their parliament which with them is yearely holden ordained Severus and Flaccianus embassadours to present unto Valentinian by way of congratulation for his entrance into the Empire golden counterfaits or images of α Victories as also boldly to lay open the lamentable ruines of the Province Which when Romanus understood he sent out in post a most swift horseman unto Remigius Master of the offices who was his neere kinsman or partner rather with him in all his pillages willing him providently to take order that by the wil and appointment of the Emperour the inquisition for the full knowledge of this affaire might bee committed unto him as vicar or deputie Well the embassadors aforesaid arrived at the court having accesse unto the Prince by word of mouth shewed what calamities they sustained and withall exhibited the decrees containing the order and discourse of the whole matter Which being read when as credit was given neither to the reports and intelligences of the Master of the offices who favoured the lewd acts of Romanus nor to those that related the contrarie the ful debate and deciding of this businesse being promised was deferred after the same maner as the games of some high magistrat are woont to be namely when greater imployments and affaires be in hand Meanewhile that some remedies were expected from the Princes campe and the Tripolitanes stood long doubtfull and in suspense the bands and companies of the Barbarians came upon them at unwares againe as bearing themselves bold of that which was past and when they had with fire and sword over-run the territories of of Leptis and Oea laden themselves with mightie heapes of bootie and pillage departed having slaine many β Decurions among whom γ Rus̄ticanus a Prelat or Clergie man and Nicasius an δ Aedile were chiefe And this out-rode or invasion of theirs could not be debarred for that upon the request of the same embassadors the whole charge of militarie affaires conferred upon the President Ruricius was soone after transferred to Romanus And now by this time the messenger of this new inflicted calamitie being dispatched into Gaule stirred up the Prince more earnestly to looke into the thing And therefore Palladius a Tribune and Notarie both was sent as well to give unto the souldiors dispersed throughout Affricke their due wages as to search faithfully as meet it was into the occurrences of Tripolis Howbeit during the delayes this of treatie and the expectation of answer the Asturians growne insolent by reason of this twofold successe like unto ravening foules made more cruell and eagre with the tast of bloud that had so fleshed them flew upon the inhabitants and when they had killed all save those who by running away escaped the daunger augmented the booties which beforetime they had left behind them by cutting up both trees and vines Then Michon a certaine noble citizen and a mightie being taken prisoner in a village neere unto the citie and slipped away before he was bound because hee was not able to escape quite by reason he had the gout in his feet cast himselfe into a pit without water whereby he brake a rib and being lifted out by the Barbarians and brought neere unto the gates of the citie for verie commiseration of his wife hee was ransomed and being drawne up by a rope to the battlements of the wall after two dayes dyed Whereupon these most cruell brigands and robbers growne obstinat in their purpose gave an assault upon the walls of Leptis resounding with the wofull weeping and wailing of women who having never before beene by enemies besieged were with this unwonted feare much amazed and dismayed Now after they had besieged the citie for eight dayes together when certaine of the assaylants were wounded without any matter effected they returned to ther owne home verie sad
concealed namely that having two curst and cruell shee Beares that used to feed of men and womens flesh the one named Golden Mica and the other Innocentia he carefully tooke order to place their cages neere unto his owne bed-chamber and to set trustie keepers diligently to see that they wanted nothing nor had nought that might offend them As for Innocentia after he had seene many burials of dead bodies rent and dismembred by her he suffered her as having well deserved libertie to goe her waies without any harme done unto her into the forrests CHAP. IX Valentinian raiseth warre upon Macrianus king of the Alemans and without effect returneth to Triers After this he causeth Hortarius a pettie king to be burned for treason ANd verily these are most true proofes of his bloudie behaviour and cruell intent But of his prudent purpose about the Commonwealth never digressing .... If any of the enemies was discovered from above out of the watch-towers or barbicans once to stirre he was overwhelmed Now among many and sundrie cares this above all other he first and principally cast in his mind how by open violence or privie traines he might catch alive and carrie away king Macrianus growne among so many changes of successions to be rich and mightie and now by reason of his puissant forces rising up in armes against our men like as long before Iulianus had intercepted Vadomarius But this businesse required both fore-sight and also time When it was knowne therefore by that which the fugitives told where the foresaid king who looked for no such thing might be taken as closely as possibly he could for feare that any should hinder the framing and setting together of a bridge he made a passage over the Rhene with ships And Severus who had the conduct of the Infanterie being gone before just against Mattiacae Aquae considering full well how few our souldiors were was affrighted and stood still fearing least not able to make resistance he should be borne downe with the mightie power of the enemies squadrons rushing violently upon him And because he suspected that they who brought with them certaine buffons as slaves to be sold whō by chance they found there would by speedie riding out give intelligence of that which they saw those he spoyled of their commodities and slew them all By the comming therefore of more forces the captaines being animated and having pitched their tents for a very short time because no man had either packe-horse nor pavilion but the prince whose carpets of tapistrie served for his tabernacle after they had stayed a small while by reason of the darke night no sooner was the Moone risen but in order of battaile they marched on farther having for their guides such as were skilfull in the wayes ...... with a great stirre and noise of his own people he was hindered whom for all that he charged continually to forbeare burning and spoiling yet could he not prevaile For by reason of the crackling that the fire made and the dissonant cries beside the Pentioners and Squires of his bodie were raysed who suspecting that which happened indeed mounted the king up into a most speedie chariot and in a narrow entrie within the hils which were round about broken bestowed him Thus Valentinian defrauded and disappointed of this glorious exploit through the default neither of himselfe nor of his captaines but through the unruly intemperance of the souldiors which oftentimes hath cost the Romane state grievous losses after he had fired the enemies land fiftie myles forward returned to Triers with heavie cheare where fretting and grinding his emptie jawes like unto a Lyon for the losse of a Stag or Roe-bucke whiles the scattered rankes of the enemies were affrighted he ordained Fraomarius in stead of Macrianus to raigne over the Bucinobantes an Aleman nation just against Mogontiacum Fraomarius I say whom shortly after because in a late rode the same territorie had bin quite wasted he sent over into Britannie and made Tribune and Colonell over a regiment of the Alemans which for number and valour in those dayes was renowmed But Bitheridus and Hortarius principall men likewise of that nation he commaunded to have the charge of souldiors under them Of which two Hortarius detected by the meanes of Florentius duke of Mogontiacum to have written somewhat against the State unto Macrianus and other nobles of the Barbarians after the truth was by torture expressed and fetched out were burnt for it CHAP. X. Firmus a prince of Mauritania raiseth troubles and commotions which Theodosius Generall of the Horsemen endevoureth to appease FRom hence among .... these occurrences that followed next I thought good should be delivered in one continued narration least while in businesses and places farre distant other matters be inserted there ensue of necessitie a confused knowledge of many things Nubel a petie king as it were through all the nations of Mauritania right puissant departing this life left behind him sonnes both legitimate and also base begotten of his concubines One of these named Zamma well accepted and in favor with the lieutenant named Romanus being secretly by his brother Firmus murthered gave the occasion of much discord and warre For the said lieutenant making hast with all earnest desire to revenge his death wrought many meanes and those very dangerous to the utter overthrow of the foresaid privie murtherer And as it was by sundrie rumors reported great diligence and labour hereabout was employed in the Emperours palace And verily the relations made by Romanus which cast many and grievous imputations upon Firmus were willingly entertained of the prince and read before him whiles there wanted not many besides favourably to second the same But on the contrarie side looke what Firmus impleaded and oftentimes by his friends alledged in defence of himselfe and of his life the same how ever it was received did remaine a long time smothered by reason that Remigius master at that time of the Offices allied by marriage and a friend unto Romanus constantly alwayes affirmed That among many weightie and important affaires of the Emperour these so frivolous and superfluous matters ought not be read unto him but at some convenient and seasonable time Which when the Moore perceived to be a practise for to overthrow his defence trembling now for feare of extremitie least haply when those allegations which he pretended and pleaded were cast aside he might be condemned as one pernitious and contumacious and so put to death renounced his allegeance unto the Empire and rebelled and such helpes ... for feare least by encrease of his power he might grow to be an implacable enemie to the suppressing of him with the helpe of some few souldiors attendant about the court was Theodosius Generall of the Horsemen sent whose vertues in those dayes as of great efficacie above the rest shone forth being like for all the world to those auncient knights Domitius Corbulo and Lusius
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
honourable personages they have divers times beene condemned And of these there be some so rude that they cannot remember they were ever masters of any law bookes And if at any assembly or meeting of learned men there happen to be mention made of some auncient author they suppose it to be some forraine name of a fish or dish of meat And in case any stranger chance for example sake to aske for Marcianus an Oratour whose name they were not before acquainted with straightwayes they imagine themselves all to be named Marciani Neither do they set any right now before their eyes but as men sold unto covetousnesse and possessed wholly with it they know nothing at all but an engraffed licentious libertie of craving and getting And looke whom they once catch within their toile they ensnare him with a thousand nets under pretense of sicknesse forsooth lingring for the nonce and making delayes with this and that one after another by turnes and for the proceeding of one reading of a vulgar and common law they prepare seven vendible entrances and returnes plotting and platting as long examinations as possibly they can to protract the time Now when as there have so many dayes monethes and yeares gone over the parties heads that are in suit that they become stript bare of their money at length when as the matter in controversie is growne stale and throughly worne in continuance of time then are the verie principall heads and great doctors admitted and let in who being entred bring in with them other dumbe shewes of Advocates And when they are come within the enclosure of the barre or raile and the whole estate or life of some man begins to come in question and tryall what time as all endevour should be used to keepe either the edge of the sword from an innocent or put by losse from a poore and miserable person with frowning foreheads on both sides and armes composed after the gesture of actors on a stage so that there seemeth nought wanting but Gracchus his h pipe behind their backes by which he was woont in his orations to temper his voice they stand stil along time on either hand And at last out of some premeditate flourish there comes forth by him who is the bolder of the twaine and more confident of speech some pleasant and delightsome exordium or beginning of speech promising as it were the Rhetoricall ornaments resembling those of the famous orations pronounced either for Cluentius or Ctesiphon and when all that heare it are desirous to have an end made the matter groweth to this conclusion at length that the patrons for sooth after a shew made of a three yeares suit depending in the court alledge for excuse that they be not yet sufficiently instructed and prepared and so when they have obtained a longer time still of adjournment as if they had alreadie wrestled hard with that old Antaeus they cease not to call earnestly for their fees in regard of this their daungerous conflict and doubtfull combat performed Howbeit things being so these Advocates are not without many inconveniences which a man of worth that would live in good fashion could not well endure For being fleshed with the baits of idle gaines comming in with sitting still and doing little or nought they are at daggers drawing among themselves and breaking forth into a malapert humor of railing as hath been said they offend and displease many Which bitter humor of theirs then doe they discharge and rashly disgorge when as they are not able with all their stout speeches and orations to cover and protect the weakenesse of their causes And otherwhiles they have for their Iudges such as have learned Philistions or Aesops frumping scoffes or fables rather than those that have come forth of the schoole either of that just Aristides or of grave Cato who having purchased with round summes of money publike offices of state like unto busie and troublous creditors prying and searching straitly into the wealth estate of all sorts of men whatsoever they be fetch booties perforce out of other mens bosomes To conclude the profession practise of these lawyers hath among many other things this one mischiefe grievous and fearfull for that as many almost as go to law are of this nature that whereas controversies and suits by a thousand chances do miscarrie looke whatsoever falleth out otherwise than well they suppose the same lay in the power of their patrons and advocats and what issue ensueth upon any variance and contention they are wont to impute ascribe the same even to them and in no wise are they angry either with the defect of their matters or the iniquitie otherwhiles of the Iudges but only with the defendors of their causes But now returne we whence we hither digressed CHAP. VIII Valentinian going to the Sarmatians and Illyrians neglecteth those things that belong to his charge giveth no audience to the complaints of the Provinciall inhabitants neither duly chastiseth the Praefects and Governours who a long while abuse their publicke authoritie WHen as now the prime of the Spring was come Valentinian remooving from Triers marched apace through the knowne wayes wherewith he was acquainted and as he approched the countries that he went unto there was presented unto him an embassage of the Sarmatians who lying prostrate at his feet besought him by way of peaceable prayers to come among them with a propitious and gracious mind as who should find their countreymen neither partie nor privie to any wicked and cruell act Vnto whom as they still iterated the same petition thus farre forth upon good advisement and considerat deliberation he made this answere That these matters were to be enquired into upon most true and certaine evidences yea and to be punished accordingly in the verie places where it was said they were committed And when after this he entred into Carnuntū a towne of the Illyrians forlorne now God wot in wofull plight yet of great importance to the leader of an armie whensoever either good fortune or politicke reason ministred any advantage and opportunitie from out of the next station he repressed the attempts invasions of the barbarous enemies And albeit he strucke a terror into all men whiles it was looked for and feared that as he was quicke and sharpe he would shortly give commandement That the judges and rulers should be condemned through whose trecherie or departure frō their charge one side of Pannonia was laid naked yet when he was thither come he became so calme and coole that he neither made enquirie into the death of king Gabinius nor searched narrowly to know by whose permission connivencie or slacke dealing those wounds and losses came which had bin deepely setled in the commonweale just according to his wonted maner which was to be sharpe severe in correcting those of the common sort but over remisse in rebuking such as were in high place so much as by way of rough and
as some have given out who love to extoll the Emperours prayses being growne to an exceeding height of pride brake more boldly into our territories Which when Gratianus with great feare had true intelligence of he called backe the cohorts which he had sent before into Pannonia as also assembled others that in wise and circumspect policie he had kept still in Gaule and committed the managing of this service unto Nannienus a valiant and discreet captaine And to him he joyned as Colleague in equall commission and power Mallobaudes Lieutenant or captaine of the band Domestici and king of the Franks beside a man expert in warfare and hardie withall When as Nannienus therefore duely considered the variable chances of fortune and therfore thought it good to hold off and linger the time Mallobaudes carried away with desire of fight as his manner was and impatient of delay was much troubled thinking it long untill he might advance his standerd against the enemie And therfore when on the adverse part they came forward with an horrible noyse to give a valiant charge after the signall given by blowing of the horne they began first to encounter before Argentuaria and with shot as well of arrowes as casting javelins downe they went thicke both on the one side and the other But in the verie heat of battaile our men seeing an infinit number of the enemie to avoid open and manifest daunger dispersed themselves everie man as he could among the narrow lanes beset with trees howbeit within a while after they stood their ground more confidently and carrying the like resplendant shew and glittering afarre off with their bright armour did put the Barbarians in a mightie feare that the Emperour was come Who sodainely turning their backes yet betweene whiles making head againe because they would omit no meanes even in extremitie unattempted they were so beaten downe and hewed in peeces that of the number aforesaid there escaped as it was esteemed not above five thousand and those shrowded within the thick woods and among many other bold hardie knights Priarus also the king was slaine even he that was the inciter and setter of all these mischievous and deadly troubles Gratianus much encouraged with the confidence of this fortunat successe and now marching toward the East parts and turning his way on the left hand closely passed over the Rhene and upon a good hope that set him ward determined if fortune had favoured his enterprise generally to root out the whole nation so treacherous and desirous of rebellion Which purpose of his being knowne by messengers arriving thicke one after another the Lentienses strucken into their dumps what with the miseries of their own nation consumed in maner all and what with the sodaine comming of the Emperour doubtfull what way to take considering they could not find any breathing time were it but short to bethinke themselves either to make resistance or what else to doe or goe about with all the speed and force they possibly could made toward the hils beset on everie side with unpassable cliffes And taking up their standing upon the craggie rockes and ragges round about with all their might and maine defended their goods together with their wives and children which they had brought with them Which difficultie when it was weighed and considered there were chosen through everie legion five hundred armed souldiors of approoved experience and politique skill in warre to be opposed against them same as if they had beene so many walled fences Who the more emboldened and encouraged hereupon for that the Emperour in person was seen to beare himselfe manfully with the formost in the vaward they assailed to climbe the said hills minding immediatly without any fight at all if they might once get the higher ground under their feet to carrie them all away as hunters preyes So the skirmish beginning when it was well toward noone continued untill darke night for why they fought with great slaughter on both sides Our men fell to kill and were killed themselves not a few and withall the armour of those in the Emperours traine about him shining againe with gold and bright colours were with the flinging thicke of heavie and massie stones all to brused and broken And then upon consultation had a good while betweene Gratian and the principall officers of the armie it seemed evidently to be a most dangerous service to no effect thus all in hast to strive without intermission against such rough bankes and mounts bearing out against them And after much debating and sundrie opinions passed to and fro as in such a businesse considering the barbarous enemies had for their defences such places as were disadvantageous unto us concluded it was That they shold by our soldiors sitting still and doing nothing else be round about beleagured and wearied out with famine But when the Germans strove againe for their parts with the like obstinat resolution knowing the country verie wel went unto other mountains higher thā those which before they had kept the Emperour with his armie turning thither with the like fortitude as before sought for the pathes and tracts that led up to those high places The Lentienses then perceiving him to be so fully bent to have their lives and never giving over his earnest pursuit after they had yeelded themselves to his mercie the thing that by their humble request they obtained upon the tendring of their lustie able young men as they were commaunded to bee entermingled with our new trained souldiors were suffered without any more harme received to go into their native countries CHAP. XI The commendation of Gratian. Frigeridus a most excellent Captaine and the terrour of the Gothes is unseasonably called backe by Valens who leadeth a strong armie against the Gothes who neere unto the river Hebrus were grievously discomfited and defeated by Sebastian Colonell of the Infanterie THis victorie of such importance and consequence that it daunted the Westerne nations by the gracious pleasure of the eternall God incredible it is with how great vigour and effectuall celeritie Gratian hastening another way dispatched And in truth a young Prince he was of singular towardnesse well spoken temperat warlike and martiall yet mild and mercifull In which vertues he had proceeded with emulation to excell the best Emperors even when as yet the lovely downe began to grow upon his cheekes but that his owne nature enclined to toyish and ridiculous actions especially when his favourites and minions let him have the reines at libertie turned him to the vaine delights and sports of Commodus Caesar although this Prince was nothing bloudie and cruell For like as Commodus because he was wont in the peoples sight to kill a number of wild beasts with darts and when an hundred lyons were let out at once in the Shew-place of the Amphitheatre slew them with divers kinds of shot and never strucke one of them twice even so this Prince also among those empaled enclosures
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
in the equinoxe and continued three howers and so the rest But these howers were not alwayes equinoctiall but longer or shorter according to the length of the night n Of Callimachus a brave warriour and captaine of the Athenians yee may read in Plutarches Parallels how notwithstanding he was run through the bodie with many a speare yet stood upright and shrunke not And of Cynaegirus an Athenian captain it is reported That with his right hand he staid and held the enemies ship and when it was strucken off did the like with his left and when he had lost that also tooke hold of the ship with his teeth Trop Herod o Naval Coronets are portraied with sternes or beake-heads of ships round about the hoope or circle of the crowne See Veget. lib. 2. cap. 7. Civicke coronets were of Cuicke grasse called gramen for saving of an armie Coronets Castrenses fashioned like to a pallaisado or rampier with pales round about the circlet for entring the campe of the enemies first Annotations and conjectures upon the 25. Booke a IT seemeth these Tertiaci be the same that Tertiani in Notitia to wit those of the third legion Italica b Eight stadia or great forlongs are said commonly to make a mile but in true measure seven stadia and an halfe are a mile c Vnderstand by Legio in this place and divers other not a complet Roman legion but a companie or band d These here tearmed Candidati otherwise Comites were a crew of gallants and brave knights that usually kept about the Emperours person the same that Purpurati among the Persians e Of this M. Marcellus and his triumph yee may read at large in Titus Livius Decad. 3. lib. 6. f For Siccius read Sicinius Dentatus out of Valerius Maximus lib. 3. cap. 2. He sought an hundred and twentie battailes gained the spoyles by combat of six and thirtie enemies saved fourteene Romane citizens at the point to be killed in the field carryed the skarres of five and fortie wounds in his breast and fore-part of his bodie but not one on his backe followed hard after the triumphant chariot nine times And had carried before him in honour of his chivalrie eight crownes of gold fourteene Civick coronets three murall one obsidionall one hundred fourescore and three collers one hundred and threescore bracelets eighteene speares and five and twentie trappers or caparisons It is sayd that he tooke the sirname Dentatus because he had for his row ofteeth one solide and entire bone or for that the first of that house was borne with a tooth Alex. ab Alexand. Genial Dierum lib. 1. cap. 9. g This Sergius it may seeme was the first of that noble familie Sergia and he tooke that name of Sergestus in Virgil. Idem h Anno aetatis altero tricesimo That is the 32. yeare of his age as it appeareth in the Chronologie of Cassiodorus and others according to that phrase in Virgil Alter ab undecimo that is the thirteenth which I observe least any man should thinke he dyed in the 31. yeare of his age i What right he had to succeed his brother in the Empire considering that Constantine had three sonnes I see not unlesse by his testament he made him one of his heires For Pomp. Laetus writeth thus Some say that Constantine the great divided the whole Empire among his heires by will Others that his sonnes parted it by lot among them Or haply he might be heire in remainder if he survivied his brothers sonnes and they dyed without issue k It appeareth plainly by this place that he debarred Christian professors in Rhetorick and Grammer to teach in open schoole for feare least the Gentiles for now himseife was turned a Pagan should leave numinum cultum ● Idolatrie l The Antiochians as he writeth before among other scoffes slouted him for using to put forth his narrow shoulders and here he saith he had big and broad shoulders There must be admitted in the former place a kind of Antiphrasis or speech by the contrarie or else to cover his broad flat shoulders hee used belike to thrust them forth to make them seeme narrower m Ordo Domesticorum here is the same that Schola before to wit a Societie or companie of guard souldiors about the Emperours person in ordinarie and they be called Scholari● Next unto the Comes or captaine of these was hee that they called Primus or Tribunus Domesticorum Then Primicerius Secundocerius and so through the tenne which were tearmed Decemprimi and had better wages than the rest Pancirolus in 〈◊〉 Orientis cap. 89. n Ioviani tooke the name of Diocletian who called himselfe Iovius and instituted this companie o The Domestici aforesaid were called also Protectores as appeareth by this place p As the Iovian● tooke name of Iovius ● Diocletian so 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 for so Maximian Emperour with Diocletian tearmed himselfe q These Iovij were certaine people in Gaule and a companie of them was so called As for those that were instituted by Diocletian sirnamed Iovius they were rather tearmed Ioviani Pancirol in Notit Victores likewise were a companie or band of souldiors taking name either of Victoria a towne of Britannie or else so called for good lucke sake r These Palatini are elsewhere named Comites and Candidati s A principall foregate in the campe was called Praetoria neere unto which was Praetorium i. the Generals pavilion or the Princes if he were in procinctu called here Principis Tabernaculum t About the mids of Iuly 15. dayes before the Kalends of August what time Nilus also in Aegypt beginneth to rise u Armorum Magister is the Generall of the forces horse or foot here put for the Generall of the Cavallerie in Gaule In the time when Notitia was written which was in the dayes of Arcadius Honorius and Theodosius the younger there were not knowne any Ensignes belonging to his place of commaund Haply because that Province was held by the Barbarians Gothes Hunnes and Vandales who not long after subverted the West Empire But it may seeme they differed not much from those of the Generall in the East to wit a booke standing upright on a cupboord or table spread with a white cloth of tapestrie The cover of the booke was of murrey colour with strings in the mids and at both ends of the same colour In the middle of the side there is a tablet of gold and in it the faces engraven of two Princes or Emperours to signifie as I thinke both East and West Empires Notit Orient cap. 31. x Modius seemeth to be a measure somewhat more than our pecke containing 16. Sextarij And if everi● Sextarius receive 2● ounces it is a pecke and halfe if but 18. it is in proportion a fourth part lesse y Capita Scholarum were the Captaines and Tribunes of everie Palatine companie z Of Domestici and Heruli both ynough hath beene said alreadie α Gallicani were such sould●ors as served in Gaule of what countrey soever β
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 2● 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 N●rvicani Notit They served in the marches and limits f Patricij were the Nobilitie of Rome and the Senators degree g Divit●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 Mam●●● was killed see Ae●●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 ap● 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 ●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 ●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
for eight moneths Vopiscus Eusebius Orosius Onuphr 1 1028       After Aurelianus succeeded           M. CLAVDIVS TACITVS who reigned six moneths and 20. daies a prince adorned with many vertues singularly wel accepted of the Senate Vop Eut.     4247 277 ¶ Imp. Tacitus August the second time Fulvius Aemilianus After they were all dispatched and put to death who murdred Aurelianus Tacitus enforced all those Barbarians who had broken forth from Maeotis to returne backe againe thither But in the sixt moneth as some say hee was murdered by the treacherous practise of his owne souldiers others affirme that being surcharged with factions his heart was broken and his wits crackt and so for thought died Vopisc 1 1029       FLORIANVS the whole brother of Tacitus after his brother tooke the Empire upon him of his owne motion but held it scarce two moneths and was killed by his souldiers at Tarsus who heard that Probus was Emperour whom all the armie had elected           After Tacitus therefore succeeded           M. AVREL. VALER PROBVS who ruled five yeeres and foure moneths So noble a warriour he was and mightie in feates of Armes that the Senate wished for him the souldiers chose him and the people of Rome with open acclamation called for him His vertues and brave exploites Fl. Vopiscus hath described           The madnesse and cursed heresie of the Manichees is entred into many parts of the world     4248 278 ¶ Imp. M. Aurel. Probus Augustus the second time M. Furius Lupus Probus recovereth Gaule which the Germans had possessed themselves of having put 400000. of them to the sword Eutro and regained 60. cities out of the Barbarians hands Vopiscus 2 1030 4249 279 ¶ Imp. M. Aurel. Probus Augustus the third time Ovinius Paternus Probus having vanquished the Germans subdued also the Sarmatians in Illyricum He overcame the Nations of the Getes in Thracia and upon their submission tooke them into favour and friendship Vopiscus From thence he marched into the East 3 1031 4250 280 ¶ Iunius Messala-Gratus Probus tooke Palfurius a most puissant Brigand prisoner and slew him freed Isauria after he had quieted the partes of Pamphilia subdued the Blemmies and graunted peace unto the Parthians and Persians at their suite and request Being returned into Thracia hee planted an hundred thousand Bastarnae and other Nations of the Gepidians Gothes and Vandales assembled together in Roman ground Vopisc 4 1032 4251 281 ¶ Imp. M. Aurel Probus Augustus the fourth time C. Iunius Tibetinus Saturninus aspiring to the East Empire was by Probus overcome 5 1033       Bonosus and Proculus at Agrippina make themselves Emperours of Gaule and usurpe therewith Britanny Spaine and Gaule Braccata These Probus overthrew The Gepidians Gothes and Vandales that rebelled at divers times and in sundry victories he subdued After this he was received at Rome in a magnificent Triumph and exhibited vnto the people most sumptuous shewes Vopisc     4252 282 ¶ Imp. M Aurel. Probus August the fifth time Pomponius Victorinus Probus an exactor of Militarie discipline and an enemy of idle persons and withall desirous to end all wars whiles hee addresseth himselfe to the Persian warre as 6 1034     he journeied through Illyricum was treacherously by his own souldiers killed the second day of November Howbeit afterwards all the souldiers together erected for him a mighty great sepulchre with such a title or inscription as this Here lieth the Emperour Probus and truely called Probus that is Good Conquerour of all barbarous Nations Conquerour also of Tyrants See more in Vopiscus           Him succeeded           M. AVRELIVS CARVS who together with his sonnes CARINVS and NVMERIANVS reigned one yeere     4253 283 ¶ Imp. M. Aurel. Carus M. Aurel. sonne of August Carinus Cęsar CARVS taking in hand that Persian warre which Probus prepared for together with his sonne Numerianus gained Mesopotamia and came as farre as to Cresiphon and there with lightning was consumed Vopiscus 1 1035 4254 284 ¶ M. Aurel. Carinus Augustus the second time M. Aurel. Numerianus August the second time C. VALER DIOCLETIANVS IOVIVS was saluted Emperour and reigned twenty yeeres Numerianus was by his father in lawe that is his wifes father Aper slaine 1 1036     * Dryas in Gaule Diocletian yet a privateman having beene tolde by a * witch or wise woman that he should then be Emperour when he had killed Aper which signifieth a wilde Bore hunted oft and killed many a one but missed still of the Empire He would often say Many a Bore have I slaine but others go away still with the sweet venison At length with his owne hand he ranne Aper aforesaid Praefect of the Praetorium through with a sword and then thought himselfe surely invested in the Empire Fl Vopiscus           Carinus fought many a field with Diocletian but in the last battell at Murgum he was vanquished and suffered due punishment for his wickednesse For murdered he was by a Tribune or Captaine whose wife hee had committed adultery with Vopisc Eutrop. Aurel. Vict.     4255 285 ¶ Imp. Diocletian Aug. the second time Aristobulus Many Commotions there were in certaine regions of the Empire also certaine vsurpers or tyrants who soone after were put downe and oppressed Pomp. Laetus 2 1037 4256 286 ¶ M. Iunius Priscillianus Maximus the second time Ve●tius Aquilinus MAXIMIANVS HERCVLIVS was by Diocletian made partner with him in the Empire created Augustus           This Maximian with wonderfull celeritie destroyed Amanius and Aelianus chieftaines and principalles of the faction Bugarida or Bacaudica for so the rurall multitude termed themselves the Almans beginning to stir he repressed Semblably the Chaibones the Heruli and Gaule he quieted Pomp. Laet. Sigonius 3 1038 4257 287 ¶ Imp. Diocletian August the third time Imp. Maximianus Augustus the second time Diocletian driveth backe the Gothes and placeth forts againe in the limits of the Empire Sigon 4 4093       Carausius usurped the kingdome of Britauny and held it for sixe yeeres whiles the Romans strived in vaine against him         Maximian tameth the Almaines againe maketh a bridge over the river of Rhene and erecteth Trophees in the mids of Almaine Sigon Eutrop. Pomp. Laetus     4258 288 ¶ M. Aurel Max. the second time Pomponius Ianuarius Some referre to this time the martyrdome of Saint Maurice who was the Leader of the Thebane Legion which being Christian and abhorring the worship of Idolls and abstaining from sacrifices at the commandement of Maximian was first tithed that is every tenth man thereof was executed and afterwards every one of them together with their Captaine Mauricius hewen and cut in peeces Otho Frising lib. 3. cap. 45. 5 1040 4259 289 ¶ Annius Bassus L Ragonitis Quinctianus
giveth the Romans an overthrow Zosimus 16 110 4323 353 ¶ Imp. Constantius August the sixt time Fl ●onstantius Gallus Caesar the second time Magnentius vanquished in Gaule by Constantius slew himselfe Decentius his brother being Caesar was his owne hangman Desiderius submitteth himselfe Constantius assumeth the joint Empire of East and West At Arles he exhibiteth Games and Plaies Being by the Arians solicited he sommoneth a generall Cnuncell to be holden at Millaine Zosim Zonaras Sigon 17 110 4324 354 ¶ Imp. Constantius Augustus the seventh time Fl. Constantius Gallus Caesar the third time Here Am. Marcellinus beginneth the foureteenth booke of his Storie the first of those eighteene which are left of the one and thirty and containeth the acts of six and twenty yeres which he reporteth at large whereof solloweth a Briefe 18 114       Constantius whiles hee intendeth his warre against the Lentienses Almans causeth Gallus Caesar who in the East committed foule and wicked facts to be brought unto him and commandeth that hee should be killed in I-stria And after this hee vanquisheth the Almans Am. Marcell lib. 14. 15. cap. 1 2 3.     4325 355 ¶ Fl. Arbetio Mavortius Lollianus Silvanus usurping the Empire in Gaule is slaine Am. lib. 15. cap. 1 2 3. 19 1104       Constantius ill affected unto Athanasius banisheth Liberius out of Rome Amm. lib. 15. cap. 6.         * his owne uncles sanne Constantius declareth Iulianus brother of Gallus and Constantines * brothers sonne Caesar cap. 7. and affianceth his sister unto him in marriage cap. 8.     4326 356 ¶ Imp. Constanti us Augustus the eight time Iulianus Caesar Iulianus marcheth into Gaule against the Almans lib. 16. cap. 1. c. Constantius entreth Rome after a triumphant maner and vievverh it in foolish wise hee wondereth at it and being affrighted goeth his waies and leaveth it cap. 5. 6. 20 110 4327 357 ¶ Imp. Constantius Augustus the ninth time Iulianus Caesar the second time Iulianus in a bloody battaile before Argentoratum overthroweth and defeateth the Almans taketh their King Chonodomarius prisoner and sendeth him to Rome Hereupon arose the grudge and displeasure of Constantius against Iulian. Am. Marcell lib. 16. cap. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. 21 1109 4328 358 ¶ Dacianus Nerat●us Cerealis Iulianus restraineth the Almons Frankes and other 22 1110     neighbour Nations making tumults in sundry places and forceth them to keepe quiet Lib. 17. cap. 1. 2. 8. 9. The Persians Embassage Ca. 6. A dreadfull Earthquake which shooke mountaines and many towns of Asia Macedonia and Pontus Cap. 7. Constantius subdueth the Sarmatians and Quadi The Sarmatian slaves he defeateth in battaile The Picenses and Limigantes upon their humble supplication hee reduceth into their auntient habitations and thereupon is styled Sarmaticus Cap. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.     4329 359 ¶ Eusebius Hypathius Iulian wearieth the Almans and forceth them to crave peace Lib. 18. cap. 1. 2. 23 1111       The warre is kindled betweene the Persians and Romans in the beginning whereof Constantius is grievously foiled cap. 4. 5. 6. 7. The former acts and occurrents of this warre and the flight of the Roman troupes cap. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Amida a most strong towne is by the Persians assaulted and after much losse on both sides forced and wonne lib. 19. cap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Great dearth of corne and victualls in Rome cap. 9. Constantius putteth to the sword the Limigantes of Sarmatia who rebelled cap. 10. Constantius cruelly proceedeth by the meanes of one Paulus his Notary or Secretary against those that sought unto Oracles and were given to the superstitions of the heathen An horrible monster was seene at Antioch The Isaurians making a commotion are by Lauritius appeased cap. 11. 12.     4330 360 ¶ Imp. Constantius Augustus the ninth time Iulian. Caesar the third time A memorable Eclipse of the Sunne in the East empire lib. 20. cap. 2. Iulian in Gaule is stiled Augustus With what cunning sleight this was brought about Am. Marcellinus laieth open in the twentieth booke cap. 3. 4. 5. 9. The fortunate successe of the Persians in the East against the Romans cap. 6. 7. 8. The attempts of Constantius against Iulianus and the Persians take no effect cap. 10. 11. 12. 13 Iulian represseth the Athuarij a nation of the Frankes cap. 10. 24 1112 4331 361 ¶ Fl. Taurus Fl. Florentius Iulian desirous to overthrow Constantius embraceth the study of unlawfull and forbidden Arts and for the time maketh semblance of Christianitie lib. 21. cap. 1. 2. Certaine Almaine traitors he chastiseth cap. 3. He purposeth to make open warre upon Constantius cap. 4. The memorie of Constantinus Magnus he traduceth and penneth an Invective against Constantius cap. 8. Hee besiegeth Aquileia which was intercepted by Constantius his Legions and in the end winneth it cap. 9. 10. Constantius being freed from the Persian warre taketh armes against Iulian whom he termeth a Rebell But in the way when he was come to Tarsus he died the third day of November cap. 11. 12. 13. Iulian hearing of Constantius his death commeth out of Moesia to Constantinople fetleth the affaires of the State Impiously hatefully and craftily he dealeth against Christ and the Christians A most foule sight and view of Iulians court and army both lib. 22. cap. 1. 2. 3. 25 1113 4332 362 ¶ Fl. Mamertinus Fl. Nevita IVLIANVS is now Augustus and Emperour alone He maketh his abode at Antioch A professed enemie of true religion Christian Grammarians and Rhetoricians hee debarreth from reading in Schooles lib. 22. cap. 9. 10. Great personages that were his adversaries and opposites he maketh away the seditious Alexandrines who had murdered Georgius the Arian Bishop he mildely intreateth cap. 11. Addicted to magicke arts he addresseth himselfe to the Persian warre and writeth against the Antiochians Certaine prodigious signes are seene and an Earthquake hapneth whereby Nicomedia is overturned cap. 12. 13. 1 1114 4333 363 ¶ Imp. Iulianus August the fourth time Secundus Sallustius Promotus Iulian goeth about in vaine to reedifie the Temple of Ierusalem lib. 23. cap. 1. Hee maketh a journey into Persia cap. 2. c. With a most puissant armie he entreth Persia Anatha is yeelded unto him and after many warrelike expeditions he winneth Maiozamalcha libr. 24. cap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 c. 2 1115       Being skared with an ominous signe leaving the siege of Ctesiphon and wearied together with his whole armie with the distemperature of the aire and the soile forced he is to alter his journey cap. 11. 12. At the last after certaine skirmishes and battailes fought forgetting to take his cuirace and hasting to fight he was mortally wounded by an unknowne person and within a while after yeelded up his vitall breath in the two and thirtieth yeere of his age the six and twentieth day of Iune lib. 25.