sent into Britain for Corn and invented a way how to carry that Corn up the Rhine in Boats And this he did so often because the Voyage was but short that he abundantly supply'd them that were restored to their Cities so that they had meat enough Seed-corn and what they lacked between that and Harvest And these things he did when he was hardly enter'd into the five and twentieth year of his Age. But seeing the Soldiers loved him for his frugality at home and courage in the Wars and also for his Command that he had of himself in respect to Riches with his other Virtues wherein he excell'd I had almost said all the men of his Age Constantius was full of envy to see Julian do such great things and thought that Salustius who was one of those Counsellours that were allotted to him had been the Author of all that Policy which gained him so much Honour both in his Warlike and Civil Affairs Wherefore he sent for Salustius as if he would have made him Governour of the Eastern Countreys And Julian as readily dismiss'd him because he was resolv'd to be obedient unto Constantius in all points But though Salustius were now removed yet all that was committed to Julian's charge encreas'd every day as I may say in a great measure and the Soldiers were improved in military experience as well as augmented in their numbers whilst the Towns enjoy'd Peace and the fruits of it And now almost all the Barbarians thereabouts began to despair and expected little less than the utter ruine and destruction of all them that were lest alive when at the same time the Saxons who are the stoutest Barbarians in all those parts both for courage strength and hardiness in a Campagne sent out the Quadi who are a part of themselves into the Roman Dominions But they were hinder'd from passing the River by the Franks who lived upon their Confines and were affraid of giving Cesar a just occasion to make another inrode upon them and therefore built themselves a convenient number of Boats in which they sailed upon the Rhine beyond the French Territories and got into the Roman Empire And when they arrived at Batavia which the Rhine by being divided makes an Island much bigger than any River-Island besides they drove out the Salii who are a Nation descended from the Franks and turn'd out of their own Country into this Island by the Saxons For this Island though it had been formerly subject to none but the Romans yet it was now in possession of the Salii Which when Cesar knew he endeavour'd to countermine the Quadi but first commanded his Army to engage them briskly but kill ne'r an one of the Salii or hinder their passage into the Roman Countreys because they did not come as Enemies but were forced thither by the Quadi As soon as the Salii heard how kind Cesar was to 'em some of 'em went over out of the Island with their King into the Roman Confines and others fled to the utmost borders of the Country but all of 'em came and humbly committed both their lives and fortunes to Cesar's gracious protection But Cesar by this time observing that the Barbarians durst not fight with him any more they were so intent upon their secret incursions and sly Thieveries by which they did a great deal of damage to the Country he could not tell what to do till at the last he invented this Stratagem to baffle the Barbarians There was a man much bigger than any body else and one that had courage proportionable to his bulk Which Person being by Nation a Barbarian and having used to rob with the other Barbarians thought fit to leave his own Country and go into Gallia Celtica which was under the Romans But whilst he sojourn'd sometime at Treves which is the greatest City in all the Nations beyond the Alps and saw the Barbarians beyond the Rhine over-run the Cities that are situate upon this side of the River and pillage all places without controul which was before that Julian was made a Cesar he was resolving with himself to defend those Towns But because he durst not do that for want of Law to back him in it he at first went alone into the thickest part of the Woods and waited till the Barbarians made their incursions and so in the Night-time when they were Drunk and asleep he set upon 'em and cut off as many of their heads as he was able which he brought and shew'd to those that were in the Town And this he did continually insomuch that he rebated the keenness of the Barbarians who though they could not tell how it came to pass yet they were sensible of a prejudice done to 'em by the Armies decreasing almost every Day But after other Robbers had join'd with this same Person and of a great many single Persons had made a considerable Company then Charietto for that was the mans Name who first found out this way of Ambuscade against the Barbarians came to Cesar and told him all the story which few People knew before that time And thereupon Cesar who could not easily restrain the nocturnal and clandestine inrodes of the Barbarians for they robb'd in small Companies straggling from each other and when it was Day you could not see one man of 'em because they hid themselves in Woods adjacent to the fields and lived upon that which they had gotten by robbing Cesar therefore I say considering how difficult it was to subdue such an Enemy was forced to oppose these Thieves not with an Army of Soldiers onely but Moss-Troopers also For this reason he took Charietto and his men along with him besides a good many of the Salii which he added to 'em and sent 'em forth in the Night against the thievish Quadi who though they lived at that time upon what they stole yet might be less skill'd in the Art of Robbing which these men had studied And then in the Day-time he kept Guard in the open field and kill'd all that escaped his Robbers And thus he did for a great while together till the Quadi were reduced to such a streight and so small a number that they and their General surrendered themselves to Cesar who had taken a great many Prisoners in the former excursions and engagements had got among the rest the Kings Son whom Charietto took For that was the cause that when they made such miserable Petitions for Peace and Cesar demanded some of their Nobility for Hostages amongst whom he requir'd the King's Son should be one the General or King broke out into a most lamentable Complaint and swore with tears in in his Eyes that he had lost his Son too among the rest Which Cesar seeing he had compassion upon his sorrow and shew'd him his Son who was kept very nobly but told him withal that he would keep the Youth for an Hostage as well as others of the Nobility whom he had upon that account
most dishonourable Peace with the Persians And not long after when the Persian Fire had enflamed all the East and that great City Antioch was taken so that the Persian Army march'd as far as Cilicia Valerianus the Emperor undertook an Expedition against 'em and though he were taken by 'em yet they durst not pretend to be Masters of these Countreys Onely the death of the Emperor Julian was cause enough for us to lose 'em and that so irrevocably that the Roman Emperors could never recover any part of 'em even to this day but by degrees have lost more and more still of which some have made themselves perfectly free others have surrender'd themselves to Barbarians and others have been almost quite deserted all which I will demonstrate in the progress of this History as they severally happened But to return from whence I have digress'd When this Peace was made with the Persians in the manner that I have told you Jovianus the Emperor and his Army were coming home securely but met with many difficulties through the roughness of the Way and want of Water besides his loss of many Men in the Enemies Country through which he pass'd wherefore he sent Mauricius a Tribune and commanded him to bring Provisions for his Army from Nisibis and meet 'em with it as far off as he could He also sent others into Italy to tell of Julian's death and how he himself was declared Emperor And when he was come with a great deal of pains and much ado near unto Nisibis he would not go into the Town because it was surrender'd to the Enemy but lay all night in a Piazza before the Gate and the next morning receiv'd the Crowns and Complements that were offer'd to him whilst all the Townsmen besought him that he would not forsake them and force 'em to degenerate into Barbarism who for so many Ages had lived under the Roman Laws Besides they told him it was a dishonour to him that Constantius who had been engaged in three Persian Wars and was defeated in every one of 'em had notwithstanding always protected Nisibis and even when it was besieged and in extream danger done all he could to save it and yet that he when there was no such necessity for it should give up the city to the Enemy and shew the Romans such a day as they had never seen before as being forced to suffer such a Town and such a Country to be surrender'd to an Enemy Which when the Emperor heard he excused his not complying with their desires by telling 'em what Articles he had enter'd into and then Sabinus who was the chief Man of their Council their Recorder went on with what the People had said before by way of Petition and told him farther That they wanted neither Mony to carry on a War against Persia nor any forein Aid but that they were able with their own Bodies and their own Purses to defend themselves from any War that should be waged against 'em and likewise assur'd him that whenever they were Victorious and had regain'd their Liberty they would again be subject to the Romans and obey their Commands as formerly they had done To which when the Emperor reply'd that he could not break his Covenants the Townsmen beg'd of him a thousand times that he would not deprive the Roman Empire of such a Bulwark as that was But all was in vain and away the Emperor went in a fury whilst the Persians desired to have possession of the Countreys Castles and of that City according to the Conditions agreed upon And thereupon the Inhabitants of some Countreys and Castles that could not privately escape let the Persians do with them what they pleased but the Nisibini having gained some time to prepare for their removal they went most of 'em to Amida though some few inhabited in other Towns But all places were full of lamentation and mourning because they thought themselves exposed to the incursions of the Persians now Nisibis was surrender'd to them And among others the Carreni were so sorry when they heard of Julian's death that they stoned him to death who brought the news and threw a great heap of Stones upon his Carcass so great an alteration of Affairs was one mans death then able to create But Jovianus therefore march'd through the Towns with all speed because they were so full of grief that they could not give him one pleasant look which is the custom and nature of those People and along with him as many Soldiers as belong'd to the Imperial Guard he went to Antioch whilst the whole Army attended upon Julian's Body which was carry'd into Cilicia and buried in a Royal Sepulchre in the Suburbs of Tarsus upon whose Tombstone there is this Inscription Julian has Tigris left and here he lies A Warlike Prince just valiant and wise And now Jovian being mindful of his Imperial Affairs disposed of other matters and among the rest sent Lucillianus his Father in law Procopius and Valentinian who was afterward Emperor to the Armies in Pannonia to tell 'em of Julian's Death and how that he was chosen Emperor But the Batavi that were at Sirmium and were left there for a Guard to it as soon as they heard the news they kill'd Lucillianus who brought 'em such ill tidings without any regard to that Relation which he had to the Emperor But they let Procopius go untouch'd out of the respect they bore to Julian's Kindred whilst Valentinian made his escape and deliver'd himself from that Death which they intended to inflict upon him But when Jovianus was going from Antioch toward Constantinople he was taken sick of a sudden at Dadastana in Bithynia and died after he had been Emperor onely eight months in which so short a time he was not able to do any signal Service to the publick And when he was dead there was a Consultation proposed concerning who should be his Successor which occasion'd a great variety of Discourse and of several Persons among the Soldiers as well as Officers till at length they all with one accord pitch'd upon Salustius Prefect of the Court But he pretending he was too old and therefore could not serve 'em in those their ill circumstances they desired his Son might be Emperor in his stead But he told 'em that his Son was young and upon that as well as other accounts unfit to undergo the weight of an Imperial Diadem so that they missed the choice of such a Man who was the best in that Age. Upon which reason they voted for Valentinian who was born at Cibalis in Pannonia and an excellent Souldier but no Scholar at all However they sent for him being then at some distance nor did the Common-wealth long want an Head And when he came to the Army at Nicea in Bithynia he there took upon him the Imperial Authority and march'd forward A New HISTORY Written by Count ZOSIMVS Sometime Advocate of the Treasury The Fourth Book HOW
was agoing and came to a place called the Three Taverns he was taken by a Trick of Maxentius's contriving and hang'd But Maximianus Gallerius could not well bear those injuries done to Severus and so resolv'd to come out of the East to Rome and punish Maxentius according to his demerits But when he was come into Italy he found the Soldiers about him so false that he went back into the East without fighting so much as one Battel At that time Maximianus Herculius who could not endure the tumults which disturb'd the publick peace came to Dioclesian who lived then at Carnutum a Town in Gallia Celtica and endeavour'd to persuade him that he would resume the Empire and not suffer that Government which they had preserv'd so long with so much difficulty to be exposed to the madness and folly of those who had possess'd themselves of it and made it shake already But Dioclesian did not hearken to him for he preferr'd his quiet before all business in the World and perhaps he foresaw the trouble that would ensue being a man much conversant in religious matters and therefore Herculius seeing he could do no good upon him came as far as Ravenna and so back to the Alps to meet Constantinus who lay thereabout And being naturally a busie faithless man he promised Constantinus his Daughter Fausta which he perform'd but withal persuaded him to pursue Maximianus Gallerius who was going out of Italy and lay wait for Maxentius To all which Constantinus consented and then he left him with a Design if possible to recover the Empire because he hoped to set his Son-in-law Constantinus and his Son Maxentius together by the Ears But whilst he attempted these things Maximianus Gallerius made Licinnius his old acquaintance and friend Emperor by whose assistance he design'd to cope with Maxentius But whilst Gallerius was consulting about these things he died of an incurable Wound and then Licinnius also claim'd the sole Dominion But Maximianus Herculius as I told you endeavour'd to recover the Empire by alienating the Soldiers affections from Maxentius In order whereunto he wheedled 'em with gifts and pitiful addresses and having brought 'em over to him he would have laid a Plot against Constantinus in which his Soldiers should have conspir'd But Fausta discover'd it to Constantinus and so Herculius who was now at his Wits end through so many disappointments died of a Distemper at Tarsus Maxentius having escaped this Danger and being now of Opinion that he had setled the Empire well enough he sent certain Persons into Africa to Carthage in particular to carry his Image about that Country But the Soldiers that were there forbad it out of their love to Gallerius Maximianus and their honour to his memory till they heard that Maxentius was coming to make War against 'em upon the score of that insurrection and then they went to Alexandria but meeting with a great Army which they were not able to deal with they return'd to Carthage Hereupon Maxentius being disturb'd resolv'd to sail for Africa and punish those that occasion'd such commotions But when the Soothsayers had sacrificed and told him ill signs he was affraid to go not onely because the entrails appear'd in that manner but also lest Alexander who was the Prefect of the Court in Africa should be his Enemy and therefore to secure his passage thither from all suspicion he sent to Alexander to desire him that he would send him his Son for an Hostage For Alexander had a Son of a good bigness and very personable But he suspecting that Maxentius did not desire his Son to make an Hostage of him but to deceive him he deny'd his request But after that when Maxentius sent other Agents to him to take him off by Stratagems and Wiles the Plot was discover'd and then the Soldiers having gotten a good opportunity to rebel conferr'd the Purple Robe upon Alexander though he were not onely a Phrygian born but a fearful cowardly man and one that was unfit for any difficult undertaking besides his being Old At that time there happen'd a fire at Rome whether it came out of the Air or the Earth is uncertain which caught in the Temple of Fortune and whilst the People ran together to put it out a certain Soldier that was there speaking blasphemy against the Goddess the Commonalty kill'd him out of their zeal which caus'd a mutiny among the Soldiers who were like to have destroy'd the whole City had not Maxentius soon appeased their fury After these things Maxentius sought all occasions to wage a War with Constantinus and pretending grief for his Fathers death which Constantinus was the cause of he design'd to go toward Rhetia which is near both to Gallia and Illyricum too For he dream'd that he should subdue Dalmatia and Illyricum by the assistance of the Generals in those parts and with the help of Licinnius's Army But though he had these Affairs in his thoughts yet he conceiv'd it was better for him to settle matters in Africa first Whereupon having raised an Army of men and made Rufius Volusianus Prefect of the Court their General he sent 'em into Africa but sent Zena also along with Rufius who was a Person not onely well skill'd in Military Affairs but also cry'd up for an extraordinary affable courteous man And upon the first Onset Alexanders men gave way toward another body of Soldiers to whom they and Alexander at last ran away together nor did that other Party go off unconquer'd by the Enemy or he himself either for he was taken and strangled The War being thus ended there was room enough for Sycophants or Informers to impeach I had almost said all the men of Africa who were either of good Families or Estates as friends of Alexander nor were they any of 'em spared but some of them were put to death and others lost all they had And after that he triumph'd at Rome for the mischief which was done at Carthage Now this was the state of Maxentius's Affairs who did what I have told you behaving himself like a Lecher and a Tyrant to all the Inhabitants of Italy and even Rome it self In the mean time Constantinus who had suspected him long before was then much more inclined to fight him therefore when he had raised an Army out of the Barbarians Germans and Celtae whom he had conquer'd and gotten some out of England too to the number of 90000 foot and 8000 Horse in all he march'd from the Alps into Italy and those Towns that surrender'd he pass'd without doing 'em any damage but those that stood out he took by storm But whilst he proceeded thus Maxentius had muster'd up a far stronger Army for he had eighty thousand Romans and Italians all the Tuscanes upon the Sea-coast and forty thousand men from Carthage besides what the Sicilians sent him insomuch that his whole Army consisted of 170000 foot and 18000 Horse When they were both so provided Maxentius made
invited his Officers to a Feast at which all but Latinus and Thalassius were present but they were not there though they were the Emperors greatest favourites because they were taking care for Philip whom Magnentius detein'd notwithstanding he was an Embassador But whilst they were consulting about this Affair Titianus a person of the Senatorian Order at Rome came and brought a saucy Message from Magnentius For he used many absurd expressions against Constantine and his Children and charging the destruction of the Cities upon the Emperor's negligence he commanded Constantius to make way for Magnentius by quitting the Empire and be content to have his life saved But he onely desired the Gods and Fate to be the revengers of Constans's Death saying that he would fight with their assistance and so let Titianus go back again to Magnentius though Philip were still in his custody At which time Magnentius drew out his Army and taking Siscia upon the first attaque he razed it down to the ground And when he had over run all the Countrey near the Saus and carry'd away great spâ—â—â— he march'd toward Sirmium which he hoped likewise to take without bloodshed But failing of his attempt for he was beaten off by the Inhabitants and Soldiers that were set to guard the Town he went with all his Army to Mursa Where seeing those that were in the Town had shut the Gates against him and got upon the Walls he could not tell what to do in the case because he had no Engines nor any other way to get near the Wall For he was pelted with stones and Darts by those that stood and fought from the Battlements Besides which when Constantius heard the Town was besieged he came with all his Forces to relieve it having passed by Cibalis and all that Country through which the River Draus runs In the mean while Magnentius got nearer unto Mursa and set fire on the Gates thinking that if he could consume the Iron that cover'd the Wood which would soon yield to the slames he might make a passage wide enough for his Army to enter the City But this did not succeed as he would have had it because those men that were upon the Wall put out the fire with Water which they threw down in a great quantity When therefore he heard that Constantius was near Mursa he found out another stratagem which was this There was a certain Stadium or place of Exercise before the City assign'd formerly for those that used to fight Prizes which was all cover'd over with Woods in which he hid four Companies of Celtae and bad 'em that when Constantius came up and they were ready to engage before the City they should set upon the Enemies at unawares so as to encompass and kill 'em every man But this being discover'd by them that stood upon the Wall Constantius sent Scolidoas and Manadus two of his Captains immediately thither But first they pick'd out all the choice of their Soldiers as well such as wore heavy Armour as Bowmen out of all those that they commanded and taking them along with 'em shut up all the Doors belonging to the Stadium And then having possess'd themselves of the upper steps going up to the Stadium and enclosed the Soldiers that were in it on every side they threw Darts at ' em And seeing some of 'em put their Shields over their heads whilst they endeavour'd to break open the Doors they fell upon them too nor did they cease to throw Darts or cut 'em with their Swords till they had kill'd 'em every one And thus Magnentius's project being frustrated and falling out contrary to expectation the Armies met and fell to it in the Plain before Mursa where there was such a Battel fought as was not known before in the whole course of this War and many fell on both sides But Constantius considering that this being a Civil War even Victory it self would scarce be pleasant to him now that the Romans were so much weaken'd and not able to withstand the Barbarians that attaqued 'em on every side after so great a slaughter he began to think that this War might be ended by some Proposals of a Peace And whilst he was ruminating upon it the Armies were still engaged among whom the Magnentian party grew more furious than ever nor would they give over fighting though Night came upon 'em but even their Captains continu'd doing all that became common Soldiers and encouraging the Soldiers to stand up stoutly against the Enemy And so on the other side Constantius's Captains call'd to mind the ancient courage and glory of the Romans And so they fought on till it was dark Night nor did they give over for all that but wounded each other with Spears Swords or any thing else that came to their hands insomuch that neither the darkness nor any thing else that uses to cause some respit in War could make them cease to kill each other but they thought it the greatest happiness that could befall 'em to perish by one anothers sides And of the Captains who shew'd themselves very stout and brave in this Battel there fell among the rest Arcadius Captain of the Legion call'd Abulci and Menelaus who commanded the Horse Bowmen of Armenia Now it is worth ones while to tell you what they say of this Menelaus and 't is thus They say that he would have taken three Darts at one time and at one shot have hit not onely one but three mens bodies By which way of shooting he kill'd a great many of the Enemies and was himself almost the cause of their flight But he was kill'd by Romulus who was Generalissimo of all Magnentius's Army and Romulus also himself fell at the same time Who though he were wounded by a Dart that Menelaus shot at him yet he did not give over fighting after he had receiv'd the Wound till he had kill'd the man that gave it him And now that Constantius had the better on 't by reason that Magnentius's Army ran away there was a great slaughter of Men Horses and other Cattel Wherefore Magnentius who was destitute of all hopes and fear'd lest the remaining part of his Army should deliver him to Constantius thought best to leave Pannonia resolving to make an excursion into Italy and there raise men to try his fortune once more But when he heard that those of Rome were all of Constantius's side either out of hatred to him or because they had heard what had happen'd in the fight and concluded to go over the Alps and seek some sanctuary for himself among those Nations that live thereabouts But hearing that Constantius had obliged the Barbarians about the Rhine to be his Enemies by great Presents that he had made to 'em as likewise that there was no going into France by reason that some Officers had stopp'd his passage that way to gratifie Constantius nor could he go through Spain into the Moors Country because of those Roman Allies
Horses had the worst on 't nor could they themselves swim the River in their Armour or wade over either it was so deep and muddy they could not imagine what to do And that which made the danger greater was that they saw the Enemy on the other side who were ready to stop their passage with Darts and Stones which they threw out of Slings But when no body else could think of an Expedient to free them from those imminent dangers the Emperor himself who was a man of great sagacity in all things and very well vers'd in Military Affairs resolved to order Lucillianus and his fifteen hundred Scouts to go and attaque the Enemy behind thereby to give 'em a Diversion till he and his Army had pass'd the River To which end he sent forth Victor one of his Captains with a competent number of men who lest the Persians should see him set out began his Journey in the Night-time and when he had gone so far that the Enemies could not see what he did even in the Day he cross'd the Channel to seek Lucillianus and his Party And going on still forward but finding no Enemy by the way he call'd out to his Country-men not onely with a loud Voice but gave 'em notice also with Trumpets to come to him But indeed he met him according to his desire and Lucillianus who guess'd what his business was joining his with Victors Forces went and surprised the Enemy behind Who being taken so unprepared were either slain or made their escape which way soever they could By this means the Emperor seeing his stratagem succeeded pass'd over the River without any resistance And having got his Horse over in Boats that he light upon there and the Foot in other Vessels which he found in many parts of the River he continu'd his Journey forward without any dread of an Enemy till he came to a certain City called Bersabora whose bigness and Situation he took a view of For it was enclosed with two round Walls and in the middle of it there was a Castle with another Wall about it much like the Segment of a Circle to which there was a Way from the inner Wall of the City that one could hardly get up to And then upon the South and West side of this City there was a crooked winding way out whereas upon the North part they had made a broad Water-graff out of the River from whence they convey'd Water for the use of the Inhabitants And lastly upon the East side it was encompassed with a deep Ditch and a Mound born up with strong cross pieces of Timber about which Ditch great Towers stood which were built from the ground half way with Brick cemented by a kind of bituminous Loam but above the middle they were made of the same kind of Bricks and Plaister Now the Emperor having resolv'd to take this City he encouraged his Soldiers to the attempt who were so far from being backward that they obey'd his Order with all alacrity Whereupon the Citizens desired that the Emperor would please to receive 'em into his favour and friendship begging one while that he would send Hormisdas to treat of Peace with them and anon reviling the same Person as a Fugitive a Renegado and a betrayer of his Countrey At which the Emperor having good cause to be angry he commanded all his Men to mind their business and carry on the Siege with all their vigour Nor did they fail each one to do his part till the besieged seeing themselves unable to defend their Walls fled all into the Castle Which when the Emperor saw he sent his Soldiers into the City that was now bereft of its Inhabitants who pull'd down the Walls burnt the Houses and planted Engines upon the most opportune places from which they threw both Darts and Stones upon them that were got into the Castle But because the besieged from the Castle kept off the besiegers with Darts and Stones which they continually threw back insomuch that there was a great slaughter on both sides the Emperor either by his own ingenuity upon consideration how the place was Situated or out of his extraordinary experience made this kind of Engine He fasten'd great pieces of Timber together with Iron in form of a square Tower which he placed against the Castle Wall till by degrees it was made as high and into that same Tower he put Bowmen with Engineers that use to sling Darts and Stones So that the Persians who were pelted on all sides both by the besiegers and those that were upon the Engine were forced after a short resistance at last to promise they would surrender the Castle if the Emperor would offer any reasonable Terms And thereupon they agreed that the Persians every man of 'em which were within should pass through the middle of the Roman Army untouch'd and each of 'em have a certain sum of money besides a Coat upon their surrendering the Castle to the Emperor Which being perform'd there were about five thousand men dismiss'd besides what escaped in Long-Boats over the Water and among the rest their Captain Momosirus went out at the same time And when the Castle was thus taken the Soldiers who sought for what might probably be left in it found an immense quantity of Corn all kind of Arms and Engines together with Houshold furniture and other Provisions in abundance All which they disposed of as they thought fit only the greatest part of the Corn was put into the Ships to maintain the Soldiers and the rest they divided among them over and above their ordinary allowance And as for the Arms as many of 'em as were fit for the Roman use were distributed among the Army but those that were onely adapted to the Persian manner of fighting were partly burnt and partly thrown down the River From this Action did the Roman glory receive no small addition That so great a City even the greatest in Assyria next to Ctesiphon and so well fortified should be taken by storm in onely two days And for that reason the Emperor was very kind to his Soldiers as he shew'd by a laudatory Speech that he made in their commendation as much as it was convenient for him to say and by the hundred pieces of Silver which he gave to each one of ' em And so much for these Affairs whilst in the mean time Surenas coming with a great Army out of a Town in Assyria surprised the Roman Scouts that went before the rest of the Army kill'd one of the three Tribunes with some of his Soldiers and put the rest to flight so that he carry'd off an Ensign Military which was like a Dragon and such as the Romans use to carry in War Which when the Emperor knew of he was very much troubled and in a rage just as he was fell upon Surenas's men made 'em all run that could get away re-took the Ensign which the Enemy had taken away and coming
Town had done their work and were just ready to spring in Now the men concern'd were three Companies that is to say the Mattiarii Laccinarii and the Victores But the Emperor kept a little in suspense whilst he commanded an Engine to be brought with all speed against another Gate where he planted all his Army to make the Enemy believe that on the morrow with that Engine he would take the Castle For his Design indeed was to keep the Persians from any thoughts of being surprised through a Mine And therefore all those that were in the Castle were wholly intent upon destroying that Engine whilst at the same time the Parties who had the care of the Mines having dug quite through even to the Surface of the Earth they came forth at mid-night in the middle of an House where there was a Woman a grinding Corn whom he that first appear'd immediately kill'd because she was a going to cry out His name that did so was Superantius a notable Soldier in the Regiment of the Victores and next to him came Magnus then Jovianus a Tribune in the Regiment of the Notarii with many more that follow'd ' em And when by degrees the passage was made wider they were all got presently into the middle of the Town From whence they ran to the Wall and surprised the Persians who were singing after their Country fashion in praise of their own King's Valour but condemning the Roman Emperors vain attempt for they said he might sooner take Jupiter's Palace than their Castle till the Romans came upon 'em and killing all they met with by tumbling 'em down from the Wall they pursu'd the rest and cut 'em off with all manner of Deaths nor did they spare either Women or Children except some few that they had a mind to make Slaves of But Anabdates the Governour of the Castle being taken as he ran through it together with all his Guards which were eighty in number was brought to the Emperor with his Hands bound Now the Castle being thus taken by force and all the People in it of what age soever slain except a few that were unexpectedly preserved the Soldiers fell to plundering and when they had taken all they could find they razed the Wall to the very ground with Engines which they planted against it Nor did they stop there but pull'd down and burn'd all the Houses in such a manner that no body could imagine there had been ever any there From hence he march'd on and pass'd by other Castles of no great Note till he came to an enclosed Place which they call the Kings Hunting Chase where there was a Wall containing within it a large space of ground planted with all sorts of Trees in which there were all kinds of wild Beasts which wanted no food because it was brought in to 'em and they were only kept for the King to Hunt when he pleased Which when Julian saw he order'd the Wall to be broken down in several places and by that means the Soldiers shot the Deer as they ran by ' em But besides this place he saw somewhere nigh unto it a Palace magnificently built after the Roman fashion which when he heard was erected by the Romans he left it and would not suffer the Tribunes to spoil any part of it out of respect to the Romans who were said to be the Founders of it From hence when the Army had pass'd by several Castles they came to a City of Armenia called Sabatha which is thirty furlongs from that which was formerly called Zochasa but is now Seleucia And whilst the Emperor tarried with most part of his Army in a place near to it the Scouts that went before had storm'd the Town The next Day the Emperor walking about the Walls of it he saw several Bodies hanging upon gibbets before the Gates whom the Natives said were the kinsmen of one that had been accused for betraying a Town of the Persians which the Emperor Carus had taken And that put the Emperor in mind to summon Anabdates the Governor of the Castle to his Trial who though he had often deceiv'd the Roman Army by his pretences to assist 'em in the War against Persia yet he had then a fresh Crime laid to his Charge for speaking scandalously of Hormisdas as calling him Traitor before a great many People and saying he was the cause of that Expedition against the Persians for which he was taken and put to death Soon after his Execution the Army marching on Arintheus search'd all the Fens and finding a great many men in 'em he took 'em Prisoners But it was here that the Persians first muster'd up their Forces and set upon the Scouts that went before the Army though they were soon routed and glad to save their lives by flying into a neighbouring City But the Persians on the other side the River attaquing the Servants that look'd to the Beasts of Burthen and others also as many as they found with 'em kill'd part of 'em and took the rest alive which was the first loss the Romans happen'd to have had and therefore put the Army in some kind of consternation From thence they removed to a certain Sluce or Channel which was very large and cut as the Country People say by Trajan when he made War against the Persians Into which the River Narmalaches runs and discharges it self into the Tigris This therefore the Emperor caused to be cleans'd and search'd to make way for his Vessels to pass into the Tigris and if possible to make Bridges for the carrying of his Army over And whilst these things were in agitation there a great Body of Persians upon the opposite Bank both Horse and Foot were got together to hinder their passage if any such thing were attempted Which preparation of the Enemy when the Emperor discover'd he was extreamly eager to be over with 'em and in a sury commanded his men to go aboard the Vessels But they seeing the other Bank somewhat higher than ordinary and besides that a kind of an Hedg along it which was formerly made for a fence to the King's Garden but at that time serv'd for a Wall they said they were affraid of the Darts and Fire-balls which were thrown down from it Whereupon the Emperor being very earnest with 'em two Ships full of Foot Soldiers went over which the Persians presently set on fire by throwing a great quantity of flaming Darts upon them At which the Army was so much more dismay'd that the Emperor was fain to tell a lye to hide his errour They says he are got safe over and have made themselves masters of the Bank I know it by the fire that is in their Ships which I order'd the Soldiers that went over to make in token of Victory Nor had he sooner told 'em so than just as they were they went into the Ships and over as fast as they could till they came where they could wade and then leaping
highly to the Emperour and put the Senate together with the whole Court into such a fear of him that he threaten'd and told 'em he would come to the very Hellespont and go near to turn all things topsy-turvy if the Emperour would not vouchsafe to take some care in satisfying his requests But Gaines did this out of policy at once to conceal his inclinations from the Emperour and by those respects which were shewn to Tribigildus to get an occasion of putting his own project in execution For it did not vex him so much that he himself was slighted as that Eutropius was advanced to the highest pitch of Power so as to be reckon'd among the Consuls called by their Stile for a great while together and honour'd with the dignity of a Patrician For these were the things that most moved Gaines to Sedition and therefore when he was ready for it he first thought fit to contrive Eutropius's death To which end whilst he was yet in Phrygia he sent to the Emperour and told him that he despair'd of any good success since Tribigildus was so subtil a Warriour and besides that that it was impossible to sustein his fury or deliver Asia from the present extremities unless the Emperour would be pleased to comply with his request which was this That Eutropius who was the greatest cause of all the mischief that had happen'd might be delivered into his hands to be disposed on as he thought fit Which when the Emperour Arcadius heard he presently sent for Eutropius degraded him from his Honours and dismiss'd him Whereupon he immediately ran into a Church of the Christians which by him was made a Sanctuary or Place of Refuge But because Gaines was so urgent and said that Tribigildus would never be quiet till Eutropius was removed they took him by force even against the Law for making Churches Sanctuaries and sent him into Cyprus with a strict Guard upon him But Gaines being still very instant and urging the Emperour Arcadius on still to take him off the Emperour 's Attendants made an equivocating evasion upon the Oath which was Sworn to Eutropius when he was dragg'd out of the Church and caus'd him to be sent for back out of Cyprus and then as if they had onely sworn not to kill him as long as he was at Constantinople they sent him to Charcedon and there murder'd him Thus did Fortune deal very strangely with Eutropius on both hands in raising him first to such an heighth as no Eunuch before had attain'd to and then exposing him to death through the hatred which they who were Enemies to the Common-wealth profess'd against him But Gaines though he were now apparently inclined to innovation yet thought himself undiscover'd and therefore being absolute Master of Tribigildus's Soul for that he was much above him in Power and Authority he personated him and made a Peace with the Emperour and after having mutually both taken and given their Oaths he return'd again through Phrygia and Lydia And that way Tribigildus follow'd him marching through the upper Lydia in such a manner that he never set sight upon Sardeis which is the Metropolis of Lydia But when they were joyn'd into one body at Thyatira Tribigildus repented that he had left Sardeis unsack'd since it was so easy a matter to take a City as that was quite destitute of all defence Wherefore he resolv'd to return thither along with Gaines and storm that City And their design had certainly taken effect if a great deal of Rain had not fallen which made a Flood upon the Land and raised the Rivers so high that they were unpassable whereby their journey was stopp'd Whereupon they divided the Country between 'em and led their Forces Gaines toward Bythinia and the other toward the Hellespont permitting the Barbarians that follow'd 'em to plunder all before ' em And by that time the one came to Chalcedon the other had gotten possession of all the places near to Lampsacus so that Constantinople and even the whole Roman Empire was in extream danger And then did Gaines desire the Emperour would come to him being resolv'd to parley with no body but him himself in Person To which the Emperour submitted and they met in a place near Chalcedon where there is a Church dedicated to the holy Martyr Euphemia who is honour'd for her devotion to Christ And there it was agreed that Gaines and Tribigildus should come over out of Asia into Europe and that the most eminent Men in all the Commonwealth should be deliver'd into their hands to be put to death Of which number were Aurelianus who was that year Consul and Saturninus who had been a Consul and John whom the Emperour trusted with all his secrets and who many people said was the Father of Arcadius's Son And this request did the Emperour grant though it was so tyrannical But when Gaines had gotten these Men in his clutches he laid his Sword no more than just upon the skin of their Bodies and was content to let them suffer banishment onely After which he cross'd over into Thrace whither he commanded Tribigildus to follow him leaving Asia that was now beginning to breath again and like to be deliver'd from all those dangers which beset it But whilst he lived at Constantinople he dispersed his Soldiers into several quarters insomuch that he berest the City even of the very Court-Guards giving the Barbarians certain private Signals with a charge that when they saw the Soldiers were gone out of the City they should immediately invade it being now destitute of all defence and deliver up the sole Power to him alone Having given these Orders to the Barbarians under his Command he went out of the City pretending that the fatigue of War had made him sick and that he therefore wanted some refreshment which he should never have if he did not live some time without care Wherefore he left the Barbarians in the City who were a great many more in number than the Court-Guards and retired to a Villa or Country-house some forty furlongs from the City whence he expected an opportunity of invading it as soon as the Barbarians there should have made their attempt And as Gaines was fill'd with these hopes so had he not been carry'd away with the heat of a Barbarian and anticipated the proper season for it the Barbarians must of necessity have made themselves Masters of the City But he not staying for the Signal drew his Soldiers to the Wall and thereby made the Sentinels who were affrighted at the sight give an Alarm And thereupon immediately there was a general tumult with lamentation of the Women and such promiscuous cryes as if the City had been already taken till at length they ran all together and fell upon the Barbarians that were in the City And when they had kill'd 'em with Swords Stones and other Weapons whatever came to their hands they ran up upon the Wall and with the assistance of the