cause unto the Senat. Who finding by the equall ballance of justice how the case stood and thereupon confining him to Boae a place in Dalmatia could hardly endure the Emperours wrath who chafed mightily when hee understood that a man destined as himselfe intended to death had his punishment by a milder sentence For these and many such like examples the daungers seene in a few men begun to feare would light upon them And least if so many enormities being winked at and creeping on still by little and little there might grow whole heapes of miseries by vertue of a decree passed by the Nobilitie embassadors were dispatched unto the Emperour by name Pretextatus who had beene Prefect of the citie Venustus sometime deputie-Prefect and Minervius late a Consular Governor of a Province with this supplication That there should not bee inflicted punishment more grievous than the offences required and that no Senatour after an unexampled and unlawfull manner might be exposed unto tortures Who being admitted into the Consistorie when they made report of these particulars aforesaid as Valentinian denied that ever he ordained such a course and cryed out that he was traduced and sustained abuse Eupraxius the Questor in modest tearmes reproved him for it By whose libertie of speech that cruell proceeding thus begun which exceeded all precedents of rigour was reformed About this time Lollianus a young gentleman in the verie prime of his youth the sonne of Lampadius who had beene Prefect being by Maximinus who looked narrowly into his cause convicted to have copied forth a booke of divelish arts when by reason of yong yeres his head was not well stayed and upon the point to be sent into exile as it was feared at the motion and instigation of his father appealed to the Emperour And being commaunded to be led from thence unto his Counsell which was as they say out of the smoke in the flame was delivered over to Phalangius the governour of the province Baetica and lost his life by the hangmans hand Over and besides these Taratius Bassus afterwards Prefect of the citie and his brother Camenius likewise one Marcianus and Eusaphius all noble persons and of Senators degree were brought into question and had their triall for that as privie all to one and the same practise of sorcerie they were named to favour and make much of Auchenius the Chariotier but for that the evidences and proofes were as then but doubtfull they went away quit by the meanes and helpe of Victorinus as the running rumour went who was a most inward friend to Maximinus Neither escaped women free but had their part also no lesse in the like calamities For even of this verie sex were many of high birth put to death as guiltie of the foule crimes either of adulterie or whoredome among whom Claritas and Flaviana were of greatest name of which the one being led to execution they stripped so neere out of all her apparell wherewith she was clad that shee was not permitted to keepe about her so much as would suffice to cover her secret parts And therefore the executioner convicted to have committed a most lewd and shamefull fact was burnt quicke Moreover Pafius and Cornelius Senators both convinced to have polluted themselves with the damnable sleights of poisoning and sorcerie were by the definitive sentence of the same Maximinus put to death In like sort also the d Procurator of the Mint lost his life For Sericus and Asbolius afore named because in exhorting them to appeach and name in any place whom they thought good hee promised faithfully with an othe That he would commaund none of them to bee punished either by fire or sword he caused to be killed with the mightie pelts of e plumbets And after this he awarded Campensis the Soothsayer to the flaming fire for that in his affaire he was not tyed to any such othe And now convenient it is as I suppose to declare the cause that drave headlong upon his owne death and destruction Aginatius a man of noble auncestors descended according as it hath beene constantly reported For as touching this matter there be no evident records extant Maximinus whiles he was yet Prefect of the corne and victuals puffing and brawling still in a proud spirit of his owne and having gotten no meane instigations and incouragement of boldnesse proceeded so farre as to the contempt of Probus in the ranke of right honourable persons the greatest of all other and by vertue of the Prefecture of the Pretorium a governor of provinces Which Aginatius taking to be a mightie indignitie setting it also to his heart that in examining of causes Olybrius had preferred Maximinus before him considering himselfe had been deputie-Prefect of Rome secretly in familiar talke shewed unto Probus That the vaine man spurning as he did against persons of high desert might be overthrowne and brought to confusion if he thought so good These letters as some affirmed Probus sent making no bodie privie therto but the bearer unto Maximinus as standing in great feare of him growne now more cunning and expert in doing mischiefe and besides in grace and reputation with the Emperour Which when he had read the man fell into such a heat of rage that from thenceforth hee bent all his engines and levelled his bolts at Aginatius like to some serpent wounded and squized by a knowne person Beside this there was another greater cause of practising the overthrow of Aginatius the which brought him to utter destruction For he accused Victorinus now dead That whiles he lived hee had sold the friendship of Maximinus and gained by his proceedings by whose last will and testament himselfe had received no small legacies And in like malapert saucinesse he threatened his wife Anepsia to go to law and by litigious suits to molest her Who fearing these troubles to the end she might be protected also by the aid of Maximinus feined and devised That her husband in his wil which he lately made left unto him a legacie of three thousand pound weight in silver Who burning in excessive desire and covetousnesse for he was not without this vice also claimed the one moitie of the inheritance But not resting contented herewith as being but a small portion and nothing sufficient he devised another feat which as hee thought was both honest and safe and because he would not forgo his hold of so good meanes offered unto him to gaine a wealthie patrimonie he sued to have the daughter in law of Victorinus whom his wife Anepsia bare unto a former husband for to be his sonnes wife the which with the assent of the woman was soon obtained and concluded CHAP. IIII. The detestable sleights and practises of Maximinus that he might continue still in that butcherly execution of his now being created Prefectus Pretorio Divers successors after him in the Prefectship of the citie the last of whom exceedeth the crueltie
day and long before the third the aire now become faire and cleare discovered all the wofull and deadly downefals that were hidden before For behold some folke thrust and crushed together with an huge deale of rubbish falling upon them were under the weight thereof pressed to death others that stood up to their neckes buried as it were within heapes thereof whereas they might have beene saved if any had come to helpe them for want of succour perished others againe stucke fast hanging at the sharpe ends of timber-logs bearing out With one blow were a number seene slaine men and women but a little before but then confused heapes of dead carkasses pell mell huddled together Some there were whom the finials of houses leaning forward bare up otherwise unhurt but that they were to die with anguish and hunger Among whom Aristaenetus governing and taking charge as deputie lieutenant of that diocesse or province so affectionately loved and which Constantius in honour of his wife Eusebia had named Pietatis by this mishap after long dolour and paine yeelded up his vitall breath Some having their heads bruised and squized together or their shoulders or legs severed from their bodies lying thus in doubtfull plight betweene life and death piteously crying for Gods sake unto others in the same case to helpe them were quite forlorne and left unto themselves And verily the greater part of sacred churches and private houses yea and of people also might have beene saved had not the outrageous flames dispersed here and there for fiftie daies and nights together burnt up and consumed whatsoever was combustible And now I thinke it a meet and convenient time to report as touching Earthquakes what auncient writers have by way of conjecture collected for the hidden depth of the truth it selfe not onely this vulgar ignorance of ours but the very everlasting wits also of naturall Philosophers after long studie upon this point not yet exhaust or worne out could never reach unto Whereupon provided it is both in the ceremoniall bookes and also in the rites under the pontificiall priests and their Colledges That by naming one god for another since unknowne it is which of them thus shaketh the earth there bee no hainous scandale and damnable sinne committed But according to the Philosophers opinions among which Aristotle is much perplexed and troubled these earthquakes fall out to be either within the small caves of the earth which we in Greeke call Syringas whiles with thicke and often beating the waters wave to and fro and cast up surges or els verily as Anaxagoras affirmeth by reason of violent winds getting close within the ground below which when they happen to hit and beat upon the sides thereof hard baked or felted together finding no way of issue shake those parts of the earth at which they entred when they were moist Whence it is that men observe for the most part that during an Earthquake we above the ground perceive no winds to blow because they are busie in the most remote nookes of the earth beneath Anaximander is of opinion That the earth waxing drie upon a long and extraordinarie drought or after much moist weather store of raine openeth very great chinkes and wide chawnes at which the aire above with violence and in exceeding much quantitie entreth and so by them shaken with a strong spirit is stirred and moved out of her proper place For which cause such like terrible accidents chaunce either in excessive hote seasons or after immoderate fall of raine from heaven And hence it is that both auncient Poets and Theologers also have tearmed Neptune who hath dominion over the moist elements Ennosigaeon and Sisichthona Now these earthquakes are observed to be foure manner of wayes for they are either a Brasmatiae which heaving and raising the earth within force upward most huge mounts in which sort in Asia Delos appeared above the water and Hiera likewise Anaphe and Rhodus called in the fore-going ages Ophiusa and Pelagia drenched in times past with a golden shower also Eleusin in Boeotia and the Island of Vulcane among the Tyrrheni with many more beside or secondly b Climatiae which rushing askew or sidelong and crooked lay cities houses and mountaines flat or else c Chasmatiae which by a greater kind of motion suddainely opening wide gulfes swallow up parts of the earth as in the Atlanticke sea an Island more than all Europe and in the gulfe Criseus Helice and Bura as also in Ciminia a part of Italie the towne Succiniense swallowed up all in a deepe gaping chinke lye hidden for ever in perpetuall darkenesse Among these three sorts of Earthquakes those that be heard with a menacing noyse are tearmed d Mycematiae namely when as the elements by loosening of their joynts encounter and run one upon another of their owne accord or fall backe as the ground doth settle For then of necessitie the crashing noyse and rumbling of the earth within must bellow and rore like a Bull. But proceed wee from hence to the historie that we have begun CHAP. VIII Iulianus whiles he maketh his abode in Paris warreth upon the Alemans After that the Franci Salij and Chamani were defeated and subdued there fell out a famine which in the armie caused a tumult and hot mutinie which being quenched our souldiors passe over Rhene and lay wast the Alemans territories BVt Caesar whiles he wintered in Paris hastened with all diligence possible to prevent the Alemans who as yet were not assembled together but now after the battaile of Argentoratum become all audacious cruell beyond all measure and waiting still for the moneth Iuly whence they of Gaule use to begin their warre-service and to come into the field he was much troubled a long time in his mind For go forth he could not before that corne was brought out of Acquitaine upon the breaking of the cold weather and frosts by reason of the mild Summer season But as diligent and considerate regard is the conqueresse in manner of all difficulties casting many and sundry things in his head this was the only way he found namely without expecting the full season of the yeare to encounter the Barbarians before he was looked for And in this setled resolution he tooke corne for twentie daies out of that store which was provided to be spent in the standing place of abode baked throughly for to last into bisket bread such as commonly they call Buccellatum and layed it upon his willing souldiors shoulders and so confident of this helpe in a good houre as before hee tooke his journey thinking that within five or sixe moneths two urgent and necessarie expeditions might be performed Which things being put in a readinesse first of all others he marcheth against the Frankes those I meane who commonly are tearmed Salij and who in old time durst in the Romane ground at a place called Toxiandria very boldly place and plant themselves Now
sundrie rumors there were stirred up came abroad a number of Aegyptians a litigious kind of people taking much pleasure and joy at all times in an ordinarie custome they have to sue one another and maintaine ambiguous controversies but above all most greedie to require againe and that by way of multiplication and increase if they have given ought to an Atturney or creditor for to be eased thereby of a debt or at least wise to be allowed more commodiously by way of forbearing and giving day to bring in those summes which are as debts demaunded or for feare of some odious crimination to call into question and molest rich men in the case of extortion All these being thronged thick together flocked about the prince himself and the Praefects of the Prętorium where chattering like a sort of Iayes they disturbed and troubled them out of all order most rudely readie to extort and wrest what they avouched they had given unto verie many whether rightfull or otherwise it skilled not even threescore and ten yeares before And when they would suffer no businesse else to bee dispatched Iulian published a proclamation commanding them all to passe over the water unto Chalcedon with a promise that himselfe also in person would follow quickly after to decide and determine these their causes When they were gone over there went out a precept to the masters of the ships who use to sayle to and fro between That no man should be so hardie as transport over sea an Aegyptian any more Which precept was kept so straitly and with so forward carefulnesse that their obstinat purpose thus to quarell and forge accusations came to nothing in the end so disappointed of their presumed conceived hope they returned all home Whereupon a law passed as if equitie her selfe had indited it whereby provided it was That no Advocat or Atturney should be troubled about those moneyes which it might appeare for certaine that he rightfully and by law had received Well when as the first day of Ianuarie was come what time as the names of Mamertinus and Nevita were entred into the rolor kalender of Consuls the Prince was seene in a verie humble manner of duetie to goe on foot with other honourable personages a thing that others commended but some againe found fault with as a base part of his and ful of affectation Afterwards when Mamertinus exhibited the games k Circenses what time as the manner was these were brought in and presented who came to be manumised and made free himselfe as his custome was commanded by the under l usher Lege m agi and being straightwayes advertised That the jurisdiction for that day pertained to another himselfe also changed the December morning as lyable to an errour In this while much resort there was to the court of justice from divers wayes and coasts and a number of folke there were who upon sundrie occasions did put in their bils And when as on a certaine day word came unto him That Maximus the Philosopher was come out of Asia to see him he leapt up full undecently and forgetting who himselfe was ran apace forth a great way from the palace gate to meet him kissed him received him and with much reverence and honour brought him in shewing himselfe by this unseasonable ostentation of courtesie to bee an excessive hunter after vaine glorie and forgetfull of that notable saying of Tullie whereby such persons are noted taxed in these words Even those Philosophers themselves saith he in these verie bookes which they pen and entitle as touching the contempt of glorie write their owne names so as even in this verie point that they seeme to despise the fame and glorie of the world willing they are to be named and that men should talke of them Not long after two of those busie and pragmaticall Pursuivants who were cassed and put out of their places came boldly unto him promising if they might bee restored unto their degree which they had in warfare to shew where Florentius lurked and hid himselfe Whom he rated and tearmed Promoters saying moreover It was not the manner and part of an Emperour to be induced by indirect suggestions and informations to fetch a man backe againe into daunger that for feare of death lay hidden and who peradventure should not bee suffered long to hide his head without hope of pardon In all these proceedings there was assistant to him a noble Senator n a man of an excellent disposition to vertue carrying with him the ancient gravitie of old time who by chance was found about businesse of his owne at Constantinople and him of his own meere motion and pleasure he made a Proconsular deputie in Achaia Neither for all his being so precise and earnest in reforming of civile abuses neglected he those of the campe but hee ordained captaines and commaunders over souldiers such as had beene a long time approoved and tried repairing moreover all the cities throughout Thracia together with the utmost frontier forts and taking diligent care that neither armour apparell money or victuall should be wanting unto them who lying dispersed along the banks of Ister and opposit to the rodes and invasions of the barbarous enemies hee heard say performed their service with great vigilancie and valour Whiles hee disposed thus of these affaires suffering nothing to be done slackly when his favourites next about his person persuaded him to set upon the Gothes joyning so neere who had beene so often false and perfidious he said That he sought for better enemies for the Galatian marchants quoth he are sufficient for them by whom they are everie where sold without regard of state and condition As hee was employed in these and such like businesses fame commended him to forreine nations as a brave and eminent person for prowesse sobrietie skill in feats of armes and good progresse in all vertues and growing thus forward by little and little he filled the whole world with his name The feare therefore of his comming being spread all abroad as well among neighbour nations as those that were farre remote there came with great care from all parts embassages thicke Of the one side those beyond Tigris and the Armenians craved peace on the other side the men of Inde strived a vie and sent great men with gifts before-hand even from as farre as the Indians and Serindians From the South climat the Mauri offered their service to the Roman State from the North and Easterly regions in which the verie Phasis falleth into the sea the Bosphorians and other people before time unknowne brought with them their embassages in suppliant maner requesting That upon performance of their yearely tributes and dueties they might bee permitted to live quietly within the bounds of their native countries CHAP. V. An exact description of provinces and nations which at this time are inhabited farre and wide in Thracia and along the circuit of
by the helpes hee had from the opinions of the Aegyptian Priests by making lawes according to the direction of justice brought the greatest strength and validitie to the Roman law also From these fountaines glorious Wisedome in imitation of Iupiter marching on high with brave and loftie words having not seene Aegypt hath as it were in warfare displayed her banners Now for the Aegyptians themselves they be men for the most part somewhat of a darke swart colour and blacke and much enclining to melancholie leane and drie upon everie motion wrathful and angry litigious and most eagre demaunders againe for any arrerages and dueties behind If any one of them by his deniall of tributes could not shew upon his body many blacke and blew markes he would be ashamed And to this day there could not be found the torment so violent as to fetch out of any of their hearts obdurat and hardened in robberie so much as to tell what his proper name was And this one thing moreover is well knowne as appeareth by our antient Annales That all Aegypt heretofore was ruled by their kings friends unto the State of Rome but after that Antonie and Cleopatra were in the battaile at Sea before Actium vanquished it became possessed by Octavianus Augustus and tooke the name of a province As for Libya the drie we attained unto it by vertue of the last wil testament of king Apion Cyrenae with the residue of the cities in Libya Pentapolis we received as a gift at the bountifull hand of Ptolemeus Having thus launched out a great way I will returne now to the order of my hystorie begun THE XXIII BOOKE CHAP. I. Iulianus taking unto him Sallustius as Collegue whom he ordained to bee Praefect for Gallia goeth in hand with the reedification of the Temple at Jerusalem but in vaine Being terrified with ominous signes and prodigious tokens yet mindeth he to enterprise the Persian war THese were the acts to say nothing of smal matters and minutes of affaires that passed this yeare in the Provinces But Iulian having beene thrice Consul alreadie taking unto him â— Sallustius the Praefect in Gaule to the fellowship of wearing the Consulare robe entred himselfe that most honourable magistracie the fourth time And a strange noveltie it was thought to have a privat person joyned to the Emperour in that place of dignitie a thing that no man could remember done since Dioclesian and Aristobulus time And although he with carefull mind conceiving aforehand the varietie of accidents hastened forward with ardent desire the manifold preparations for the expedition yet distrusting mens diligence everie where and much desiring to propagat the memoriall of his Empire by some great workes hee intended with excessive cost to reedifie that sumptuous and stately temple in times past at Ierusalem which after many mortal skirmishes and assaults during the siege that Vespasian first and Titus afterwards layd unto it was with much adoe hardly forced and beaten downe And he gave the charge of dispatching the businesse with speed to Alypius of Antioch who sometime had beene deputie a governor of Britannie When as therefore the sayd Alypius was earnestly bent upon this affaire and the ruler of the province did set to his helping hand behold certaine fearefull flaming balls of fire issuing forth neere unto the foundations and making many terrible assaults consumed sundrie times the workemen and made the place unaccessable and by reason that this element still gave the repulse the enterprise was given over At the same time were sent from Rome unto the Emperour as embassadors noble personages of high birth and for their approved life and conversation knowne to be of good desert whom he honoured with sundrie dignities As for Apronianus he decreed that he should be Praefect of Rome and Octavianus Proconsul of Affricke to Venustus he committed the deputiship of Spaine and Rufinus Arabius he promoted to be Lieutenant generall of the East in the place of his uncle Iulianus late deceased Which affaires thus ordered as meet it was behold he was terrified with a certaine ominous signe that tooke effect as the event shewed most surely and with speed For by occasion that Felix the Treasurer sodainely dyed of a flux of bloud and the said Lieutenant Iulian followed streight after him the common sort having an eye to the publick titles and putting all together pronounced Iulianus Foelix and Augustus Now there had gone before another fearefull and adverse signe also For upon the verie kalends of Ianuarie as he went up to the temple of Genius whereto men ascend by stairs one of the colledge of priests more antient than the rest fell downe sodainely without any bodie thrusting him and with that casuall and unexpected fall yeelded up his ghost which the standers by whether for want of skill or upon a mind they had to flatter said did pretend some such accident unto the elder of the two Consuls and namely to Sallustius but as it appeared fore-shewed it was thereby That death approached not unto him that was more auncient in yeares but precedent in power and authoritie Besides these there were other smaller fore-tokens likewise which otherwhiles presaged that which happened For at the verie beginning of making preparation for this Parthicke expedition word was brought That Constantinople was shaken with an earth-quake which the skilfull Soothsayers in this kind pronounced to be no fortunat signe unto the ruler that was in hand with the over-running of another Princes Realme and therefore advised him to desist from this unhappie enterprise affirming That these and the like tokens thus farre forth and not otherwise ought to be contemned if there be invasion made by a forreine power for then this one rule abideth firme and perpetuall By all meanes to stand b upon our safeguard and defence all violence of death whatsoever notwithstanding At the verie same time intelligence was given unto him by letters That the propheticall bookes of Sybilla being by his commaundement perused and consulted with at Rome as touching this warre by a plaine answer forbad the Emperour that yeare to depart from his owne limits And yet among these occurrents the embassadours of many nations that promised their ayd after liberall entertainment had their dispatch and were sent home again with this answer of the prince proceeding from a brave confidence That it no wayes became the State of Rome to bee defended by helpe from strangers whose meanes meet it was should maintaine their friends and allyes in case they were driven upon necessitie to call for and crave their succour Onely Arsaces king of Armenia he warned to gather his puissant forces together and attend his will and pleasure as who should quickly know whereto he tended and what hee ought to urge and set forwrd Wherefore upon the first opportunitie that might stand with his advised considerat consultations making hast with a fore-running rumor to be seised of the enemies lands having before the
on a sodaine appeared or a common strumpet that sometime hath prostituted her selfe to the whole towne or some old whore naught of her bodie they run all at once striving a vie who shall be formost and after some dalliance with this stranger or new commer they make love and by way of much unseemly flatterie fall to praysing and extolling of her as much as the Parthyans do n Semiramis Aegypt Cleopatra the Carians Artimisia or the Palmyrenes Zenobia And this bash not those to doe in whose auncestors time a Senatour was taxed and fined by the Censour that durst whiles it was not decent and seemly kisse his owne wife before the daughter of them both Of these there be some who when they begin to be saluted or greeted breast to breast turning their heads awry when they should be kissed and brideling it like unto curst and fierce bulls offering unto their flattering favourites their knees or hands to kisse supposing that favour sufficient for them to live happily and be made for ever yea and that a stranger unto whom haply they be obliged hath ynough and ynough againe of all manner of courteous usage in case he be but asked by them What baine or water he frequenteth or under whose roofe he lodgeth And being such grave persons and lovers of vertue as they take themselves to be if they once but understand of any man bringing word there be either horses or chariotiers comming to towne from what place soever they throng about him and ply him with a number of questions like as our forefathers with admiration beheld their two brethren o Castor and Pollux when upon the relation of those victories in auncient times they filled all the citie with joy and mirth These mens houses yee shall have certaine idle talkative fellowes ordinarily to haunt after sundrie sorts and devised fashions of flatterie at everie word sounding their high fortunes and praysing them affecting herein the ridiculous conceits and pleasant jests of these smel-feast-parasites in comedies For as they use to sooth up vaine glorious souldiors in their proud homor ascribing unto them as to the demie-gods fellowes the besieging of cities fighting of battailes and slaying thousands of enemies even so these also wondering at their columnes built arch-wise with stately and loftie fronts their stone walls also trimly set out with beautifull and glorious colours extoll noble men above the degree of mortall weights Otherwhiles also at their feasts is the ballance called for to weigh the fishes and foules yea and p dormice to that are set upon the boord The greatnesse of which delicates oftentimes not without the irkesome wearinesse of those that be in place they make no end of praysing as a strange thing that hath not bin heretofore seene But most of all when there stand by readie to number the same thirtie notaries welneere with their standishes with pen and inke and writing tables in their hands so as a man would thinke there were wanting onely the master himselfe to make a shew of a Grammar schoole Some there be who in detestation of learning no lesse than very poyson fall to reading with very earnest studie Iuvenall and Marius Maximus handling no other bookes in the middest of their greatest leisure than these what the reason thereof should be it passeth my simple skill and judgement to set downe whereas they ought to turne over many and sundry volumes according to the amplitude of their glorie and parentage hearing as they doe that Socrates committed to prison appointed to suffer death requested one who sung excellently in measures certaine verses of the Lyricke q Poet Stesichorus to teach him whiles he had time the like cunning and when the Musician asked him What good that could doe unto him since he was to die the next day he answered thus Even that I may depart out of this life learning more than I knew before CHAP. IX The reproches of Senatours and gowned men layd open MOreover there be among them so few grave punishers of faults that if a servant be somewhat slow in bringing hot water unto him commandement is given That he shall have three hundred stripes but if wilfully he kill a man though many there be very urgent to have him condemned yet his lord or master alone thus farre forth crieth out What should a mad man and a lewd knave doe Furthermore this is held a point of civilitie among them now adaies That it is convenient for any one even by law in their power to kill strangers invited by them if they make default any excuse notwithstanding For a Senatour thinketh that he sustaineth great domage in his very patrimonie in case one be wanting whom he hath invited once to a feast after sundrie serious consultations with himselfe thereabout There be some of them who if they have gone foorth any thing farre to see their lands and possessions or a hunting by other mens labours suppose they have equalled the journeyes and expeditions of Alexander the Great or of Caesar yea or if from the lake Avernus they go by water in their painted barges no farther than to Puteoli or Cajeta especially if they adventure such a voyage in a hote season where if it chaunce that among their gilded fannes there settle flies upon the silken fringes or in case any small Sun-beame pierce through an hole of the tilt hanging over their heads they whine and complaine that they were not borne among the r Cimmerij Againe when they use to come from the baine of s Sylvanus or the medicinable waters of Mammaea as any of them being forth of the Bath doth wipe and drie himself with most fine linnens there must be diligent seeking into the usuall presses for faire and daintie clothes and that by the helpe of light to chuse them which are carried at once together so many as are sufficient to serve eleven persons And at the last being enwrapped or clad in some of them picked out especially of purpose he taketh his rings again which he had delivered unto his servants because they should not take hurt by the hot waters and so when he hath fitted them just by measure upon his fingers away he goes Of these there be certaine though few who decline the name of Aleatores i. Dice-players and therefore are desirous to be called Tesserarij i. Tirlers of square bones betweene whom there is as much difference as betweene theeves and robbers Yet thus much I must confesse that whereas all sorts of friendship at Rome wax luke warme and begin to coole this onely of Dice-players as if it were gotten with glorious sweat and travaile is full of good fellowship knit most fast and firme with exceeding love and affection Whence it is that some there be found of these companies so linked in amitie that one would take them to be very brethren And therfore a man shall see an ignoble and base fellow so he be skilfull
Macedonia together with all the goods which they had yet whole and untouched making all the speed and hast they could devise to find out Valens forsooth as if he had beene in those countries not knowing one whit that he was slaine in the very tempestuous stormes of the battaile or at leastwise fled to a countrey cottage where he was thought to have beene burnt to death and consumed But the Gothes intermingled with the Hunnes and Alanes nations exceeding warlike and valiant yea and hardened in many adventurous and dangerous services whom Fritigernus in his wit and policie had by wonderfull allurements of rewards associated unto himselfe having encamped hard by Perinthus durst not in remembrance of their former foyles and calamities either come unto or assault the citie it selfe but forrayed the fertile fields and territories about it that reached farre and wide even to extreame penurie killing or taking prisoners the inhabitants therein From whence they made great hast marching for feare of wait-laying and ambushments in foure square battailons to Constantinople gaping after the exceeding wealth and riches there minding to make many attempts for to force and destroy the said citie whom thus unmeasurably advauncing themselves and at the point almost to doe violence upon the port-cluses of the gates the heavenly power of God repulsed by such an accident as this A regiment of the Saracenes as touching whose originall and manners I have in divers places related much a people meet rather for the service of quicke expeditions than for any encounter and conflict in battaile being newly sent for thither no sooner espied the troupe of Barbarians but with a mind to joyne battaile all on a suddaine boldly issued foorth of the citie and after a stiffe bickering betweene them maintained a long time both parts left the field on even hand Howbeit by a certaine strange event and never seene before the foresaid regiment of Easterlings got the upper hand For out of it a certaine shag-haired fellow naked in all parts save the groine and privie parts making a rustie hoarse and dolefull noyse drawing out his skeine or short cuttleaxe thrust himselfe into the middest of the Gothes and after he had slaine an enemie by cutting his throat set it lips close unto the wound and sucked out the bloud that gushed forth At which monstrous and wonderfull sight the Barbarians affrighted marched afterwards not in any outrageous and prowd sort when they went about any exploit but paced their ground in warie and doubtfull manner And so in processe of time when their boldnesse was well abated and taken downe considering well the compasse of the wals which by reason of huge and spacious Islands lay out in length beholding also the beautifull fortifications of the citie how inaccessible they were and withall the infinite number of the inhabitants yea and hard by it a Frith or narrow cut of the sea which divideth Pontus from Aegeum after the worke-houses of warlike engines were cast downe which they prepared and more deadly blowes taken than given departed thence in dissolute manner as fast as they could by the Northern provinces which they over-ran licentiously at their pleasure even as farre as to the foot of the Iulian Alpes which in old time they tearmed Venetian In these dayes remarkable above the rest was the profitable and expedite service of Iulius colonell of the Footmen on the farther side of Taurus for by the direction and appointment of the Destinies he gave commandement That all the Gothes entertained before time in Thracia and now dispersed into many cities and castles by sending secret letters unto their generals and captaines all Romans a thing at this time that seldome happeneth should in one and the same day as if a banner had beene erected for that purpose be killed in a generall massacre even when they feared no such thing but in expectation of wages promised unto them were drawne forth into the villages neere the citie side By which prudent policie put in execution without any noise made thereof or further delay the East Provinces were delivered from great perils and dangers Thus have I as a souldior sometime and a Grecian borne according to the measure of my abilitie drawne out an hystorie beginning at the raigne of the Emperour Nerva and continuing it unto the death of Valens A worke professing truth and which I never wittingly as Ithinke durst corrupt either with silence or leasing Let other men for age more sufficient and for their learning better knowne write the rest Whom if it shall please them to enter thereupon I advise to frame their tongues unto an higher stile FINIS ¶ Annotations and Conjectures upon the 14. Booke of Ammianus Marcellinus THe very entrance into this Booke depending upon a former relation bewrayeth the losse and want of 13. bookes before even from the beginning of Cocceius Nerva his Empire unto the battaile at Mursa in Constantius his reigne what time he had made Gallus his cousin german Caesar with him and defeated the forces of Magnentius with losse also of much bloud on his own side For in this battaile were slaine 54000 and above And whereas the armie of Magnentius the Vsurper consisted of 30000 and that of Constantius of 70000 there died in the field of Magnentius his part 24000 and of Constantius 30000. Howbeit Magnentius fled and afterward stabbed himselfe to death Considering therefore this bloudie execution on both sides no marvaile it is that our author sayth here While the hearts of both the sides were yet fainting and daunted as being sore crushed with such varietie of toyle some dangers a Comitem Orientis Lieutenant Generall in the East Among many significations of this word Comes which I will distinctly shew as they shall occurre it importeth here the Lieutenant Deputie or Vicarius under the Praefectus Prae torio per Orientem He is sometimes tearmed Praefectus and Praeses Orientis also by a more proper denomination Vicarius Orientis His government under Praefect Praetor Orientis extended throughout the East taking it restrictively and divided from Illyricum which also was within the East Empire in a larger signification evenover 15 Provinces and their Rulers whether they were Consulares i. governed by Consulares as Palaestina Phoenicia Syria c. or Praesidales ruled by Praesides as Phoenicia Libani Euphratensis Mesopotamia c. or under Iudices who were Perfectissimi as Arabia and Isauria He was in the second ranke of dignities not Illustris vir but Spectabilis As touching the Ensignes belonging to his place the ornaments of his investure his officers and traine about him and other particulars to his jurisdiction and government appertaining I referre the reader to Notitia Imperij Orientalis and the Commentarie thereupon by Guidus Pancirolus b Amphiaraus was a renowmed Prophet or Wisard among the Greeks like as Martius among the Romans Amphiaraus sonne of Oecleus and husband to Eriphyle
surprised by Diomedes and Vlisses and slaine before they had drunke of the river Xanthus which ran by Troy and so Troy was lost For the Oracle had delivered this answer In case he and his horâ—es might once drinke of that river Troy should never be won r Proletarij and Capite censi were the poorer sort of the people not ordinarily but upon great extremitie employed in warfare but appointed to keepe at home ad prolâ—m excitandam Alexander ab Alexand. Genial Dierum lib. 6. cap. 22. s Libitina The Goddesse of Funerals supposed to be Venus Epitymbia in whose temple at Rome were all things to bee sold necessarie for burials The word is put for death and Funerals at which Sword-Fencers were woont to practise their feats and gaine well thereby Whereupon they were tearmed Bustuarij as using to haunt funerall fires t Ludius The god likewise of Games and Playes at which also were employed for more state and pompe the same Sword-players and reaped no small commoditie from thence So that by Commercia Libitinae and Ludij are meant Funerals and plaies and by consequence commoditie growing unto such Fencers at such solemnities u Claros A citie in Ionia renowned for the Oracle there of Apollo whereupon he was called Clarius x Dodona a citie of Chaonia within Epirus neere to which was a Wood consecrated to Iupiter and the same consisting all of Oake wherein by report there sâ—ood the temple of Iupiter thereupon named Dodonaeus and in it an Oracle the most auncient of all others in Greece Some write That the very trees gave answere by way of Oracle y Delphi A citie in Boeotia neere to the mount Pernassus where stood the most famous temple of Apollo and in which he or the devill whether ye will pronounced Oracles foreshewing future events Thence was he called Delphicus z C. Cornelius a Tribune of the Commons proposed a law likewise L. Cornel. Sylla Dictator which were called Leges Maiestatis very strong against any person whatsoever that practised against the State and so by consequence against the Soveraigne authoritie Carol. Sigon Annotations and conjectures upon the 20. Booke a H Eruli A right valiant nation in Sarmatia above the river Ister or Danubius Procop. b Draconarius As everie Centurie or Hundred in a Cohort had Vexilum i. a Banner so in each Cohort of a Legion there was the Ensigne called Draco of the portraiture of a Dragon the bearer whereof was called Draconarius Veget lib. 2. cap. 13. And he was allowed for an ornament to weare a coller or chayne From this place he might be preferred to be Hastatus and so forth a Comes i. a Captaine or Leader of a band For in this sence is Comes taken as it seemeth in this passage and Leo the Emperor in his third booke De bellico apparat defineth Comes to be unius Bandi sive Cohortis Praefectum c The Aureus among the Romanes was a piece of gold coyne currant in the Empire and in round reckoning equivalent to our Spur-royall of 15. s. For an hundred Sestertij made one Aureus and those amount to 15. s. 7. ob which is the fourth part of Mina or Pondo in silver or of one ounce of French-crowne gold or much thereabout with us in these dayes And note here that in electing of an Emperour as it was required on the souldiors part beside the salutation of him by these termes Salve Imperator Salve Auguste Dij te servent or sospitent c. to doe the purple Robe upon him and a Diademe So the Emperour thus saluted and invested used on his behalfe to promise a largesse among them by the poll d The Heathen were persuaded in their blind superstition that as every man had his severall Genius or angell so to each countrey and state likewise there was appropriat a tutelar god or divine power for the protection thereof e Many Legions were called Flaviae as Constantiana Theodosiana c. This seemeth here to be Constantiana of Constantius then Emperour and the sonne of Constantine the Great who assuming to him this fore-name Flavius gave that title to this Legion Other Emperours also following tooke up that name and derived it from them to sundrie Legions of their enrolling f Parthica so called for that it consisted of Parthians As for the addition Prima it was given in regard of auncientie or prioritie This also is confirmed by those Legions following g To wit Secunda Flavia. h Secunda Armeniaca consisting of Armenians i And Parthica Secunda k Bitumen is a certaine clammie and slimie substance arising out of a lake in Iurie and approcheth neere unto the nature of Brimstone for that it catcheth fire so soone Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 35. cap. 15. Being once afire it is inextinguible unlesse it be by throwing dust upon it as Ammianus Marcellinus sheweth afterward Some take Naphtha to be a kind of it l Magister Armorum is a title of high place and more than Comes indâ—fferent as well for Infanterie as Cavallerie and may properly be tearmed Generall of the Forces yet for the most part hath respect unto horsemen He was in the same place under the Emperors as Magister Equitum in the free state under the Dictators Annotations and conjectures upon the 21. Booke a I Vlian had beene alreadie five yeares Caesar and therefore being now Augustus he performed his Quinquennall vowes as the manner was also for tenne yeares twentie and more b Xystarcha the master professour of Wrestling so called of Xystus a place where they used to wrestle and practise that and other exercises of activitie out of the Sunne and rayne c Auguria and Auspicia although they be commonly confounded yet for as much as they be here distinctly put downe you may understand that properly Auguria were the signes taken by birds flight and their singing or voice and some wil have Augurium to be quasi avium garritus Auspicia by their manner of feeding c. d Many Prophetesses there were and wise women under the name of Sibyllae which some Etymologize to be as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. privie to the secret counsels of Iupiter I would rather say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for they were the very lims of the devill with their impostures deceiving the world The chiefe of them was Cumana of Cumes a citie in Asia the lesse called also Erythraea who comming into Italie bewitched the Romanes with her prophesies and left among them those famous bookes whereof Livie and other Historians make so much mention unto which they had recourse in all their extremities d Epiphanie is that feastivall holy day among Christians which we call Twelfe-day upon occasion that about that time our Saviour Christ began to appeare unto the Gentiles what time as the Magi came out of the East to adore him Yet Epiphanius in his booke Advers Hareses will have the Epiphanie to be the very day of his nativitie which we call Christmas for then Christ appeared
flourished many famous Doctours of the Church Ecclesiast hist. 6 938 4157 187 ¶ Imp Cōmodus the fift time M. Acilius Glabrio Perennius the Prefect a bloody Minister of as cruell a Lord by wicked devises entrappeth many of the Nobilitie and killeth them Lamprid. Herodian 7 939 4158 188 ¶ Clodius Crispinus Papirius Aelianus The Capitoll of Rome was smitten with lightning and a great sire occasioned thereby A most renowmed Librarie and all the houses neere adjoyning were burnt Lamprid. Herodian 8 940    Divers Synods are by the Bishops holden about Easter day Whiles the Church hath but a little rest from persecution the Ministers thereof fell to jarres and brawles Ecclesiast hist.   4159 189 ¶ C Allius Fuscianus Dullius Silanus Perennius is torne in peeces by the souldiers after him succeeded Cleander a notable sycophant of the Court who by Domitian is put to death A great famine at Rome Lamprid. Herodian 9 941    Apollonius a Senator of Rome when he had read unto the Senate a Booke which he had written Of true Religion   for his Christian faith lost his head Euseb lib. 5.   4160 190 ¶ Iuuius Silanus Q. Servilius Silanus Commodus tooke away the head of a Colosse and caused the head of his owne image to be set thereupon Hee would needes be stiled Hercules and God Lamprid. Cassiodor 10 942 4161 191 ¶ Imp. Commodus the sixt time Petronius Septimianus The Iewes Thalmud was now written Seder Olam 11 943 4162 192 ¶ Cassius Apronianus M. Atilius Mesilius Bradua the second time There happened in Rome a great scarre-fire whereby the Palace and Temple of Vesta with most part of the Citie was laid even with the ground 12 944    Among so many calamities Victor Bishop of Rome busieth and troubleth the East Churches about Easter day Ecclesiast hist.   4163 193 ¶ Imper. Commodus the seuenth time Helvius Pertinax the second time who afterwards was called Augustus Commodus so incommodious to all men was strangled in the night that went before the Kalends of Ianuarie that is New-yeeres day when hee had lived 31. yeeres and 4. moneths Lamprid. Dio. Herodian 13 945    This Prince lived for nothing but the mischiefe of his subjects and his owne shame Lamprid.      Heere Clemens Alexandrinus endeth his supputation of times who was an Elder or Minister of the Church at Alexandria and in profession of Catechizing was placed in the roome of his Maister Pantaenus   4164 194 ¶ Q. Sosius Falco C. Iulius Fructus Clarus ¶ After Commodus succeeded Helvius PERTINAX the twentieth Emperour who raigned two moneths and eight and twenty daies And was slaine by his owne souldiours in the 68. yeere of his age Dio. Spartian Herodian 1 946    This Pertinax was at first a Professour of Grammer and in that function succeeded his master Sulpitius Apollinaris The Greekes terme him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that hee was rather affable than beneficiall      Pescennius Niger was by the army in Syria saluted Imperator Spartian      After Pertinax ruled Didius Iulianus as Emperor 66. daies Dio. Spartianus      Septimius SEVERVS after that Didius Iulianus was slaine obtained the Empire dread both of the Senate and people of Rome He raigned seuenteene yeeres eight moneths and three daies Of this Emperour this was the dome of the Senate That either hee should never have beene borne or never died because he seemed too too cruel and exceeding profitable to the common-weale Dio. Spartian Herodian      Clodius Albinus is by the Armie in Gaule saluted Emperour Iul. Capitolin   4165 195 ¶ Imp. Septimius Severus Augustus the second time D. Clodius Ceionius Septimius Albinus Caesar the second time Sparrianus names Apuleius Rufinus Severus goeth foorth with an armie against Niger whom he vanquished in three battailes and in the end in a suburbian place neere to Cizicum others say Antioch commaunded him to be beheaded Spartian Herodian 2 947 4166 196 ¶ Q Flavius Tertullus T. Flavius Clemens An end of the warre against Pescennius Niger Severus mindeth to make warre against Clodius Albinus 3 948    During the noise of so many warres the Controversie is very hote about Easter day betweene the Churches of Rome and of Asia for which Victor the Bishop of Rome would needes excommunicate the Bishops of Asia Vnto whom by Letter Polycrates the Bishop of Ephesus and Irenaeus the Bishop of Lions doe answere And Irenaeus verily was of opinion That for the difference about Rites and Ceremonies the concord of Doctrine and of Faith ought not to be broken or dissolved Eusebius lib. 5.      Artemon the Hereticke raiseth trouble in the Church   4167 197 ¶ C. Domitius Dexter the second time L. Valerius Messala Thraseas Priscus  4 949 4168 198 ¶ Ap. Claudius Lateranus M. Marius Titius Rufinus Severus overcommeth Clodius Albinus at Lions setteth the citie on fire and sendeth the head of Albinus to Rome Herodian Spartian and others 5 950 4169 199 ¶ Ti. Alterius Saturninus C. Annius Trebonius Gallus When Severus was returned to Rome he dealeth cruelly with the friends of Albinus and with the principall Nobles Herodian and others 6 951    M. AVRELIVS ANTONINVS the son being by his father saluted Emperor the 6. day of Maie raigned with him 13. yeeres Herodian with others   4170 200 ¶ P. Cornelius Anullinus the secōd time Marcus Aufidius Fronto Severus turneth the warre into the East against Barsenius K. of the Atrenians Dio. Herodian 7 952 4171 201 ¶ Ti Claudius Severus C. Aufidius Victorinus The king of Armenia maketh a league with Severus 8 953    Abgarus king of the Osroens yeelded himselfe and giveth his sonnes for Hostages After this Severus wasteth Arabia the Happy Herodian Spartian   4172 202 ¶ L. Annius Fabianus M. Nonius Mucianus Severus vanquisheth the Adiabenes He besiegeth Atras a citie of Barsenius in vaine Herodian Spartian 9 954 4173 203 ¶ Imp. Septimius Severus the third time Imp. M. Aurelius Antoninus Severus arriving by fortune rather than of purpose upon the coasts of the Parthians disseiseth Artabanus of Ctesiphon and winneth the citie and so becommeth master of all the Treasure and of a very great pillage Herodian 10 955    What was the discipline rites and maners of the Christians in this age Tertullian who then flourished in the Church describeth in his Booke Adversus Gentes ca. 39.      The fift persecution of Christians is set on foote Euseb wherein Leonides the father of Origen by glorious martyrdome was translated out of this life and his very son a childe exhorted his father by Letter cheerefully to abide martyrdome Euseb      Origen saith Hierom with sixe