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
onely in the temper of his body but in the complexion of his mind too insomuch that he was seized with the Disease of Avarice and laid up money with great care and sollicitude of which he made his Mother his Treasurer But whilst his Affairs stood in this unhappy posture the Armies that were in Pannonia and Mysia who had no great kindness for him before were now more inclined to a Revolt and therefore being set upon Innovation they raised Maximinus who was Captain of a Pannonian Troop to the Empire He therefore having got all his forces together march'd into Italy as fast as he could because he thought it easier to attaque the Emperour at unawares But Alexander who was then in the parts about the Rhine having intelligence there of their design'd Innovations moved towards Rome with all speed Where though he offer'd pardon both to the Souldiers and Maximinus too if they would desist from their Attempts yet he could not reconcile 'em and therefore in a desperate humour expos'd himself as it were to Death His Mother Mamaea too who came out of the Palace with the Prefects to appease the Tumult was murthered together with the Prefects By which means Maximinus was well setled in the Empire but all people were sorry that they had changed a moderate Emperour for a cruel Tyrant For he was of an obscure Family and therefore when he came to be Emperour eclipsed those Virtues that he was naturally endued with by the excessive confidence of his own power insomuch that he was intolerable to all men in general and did not onely injure those that were in places of Honour but used all cruelty in the conduct of his Affairs obliging none but Sycophants who inform'd against innocent quiet men as if they were Debtors to the Imperial Treasury At length he proceeded to murther men through covetousness before he heard what they could say for themselves made all the Towns his own and plunder'd the Inhabitants Now the Nations subject to the Romans being not able to endure his extravagant cruelty but mightily troubled at the open ravage which he committed the Africans declared Gordianus and his Son of the same name Emperours and sent Embassadours to Rome among whom was Valerianus a Consuls fellow who himself was afterward Emperour At which the Senate was well pleas'd and consulted how to remove the Tyrant inciting the Soldiers to Rebellion and putting the people in mind of the injuries done to them both in their private capacities and also as they were members of such a Commonwealth Then being all agreed they chose twenty Men out of their whole Senate who understood Military Discipline and from among them elected two called Balbinus and Maximus to whom they committed the chief Command and going toward Rome were ready to make an Insurrection But Maximinus when he heard of these things went in all haste toward Rome with the Moors and Frenchmen that he had under him and by the way besieged the Garison of Aquileia because they shut their Gates against him though his own party who at last conulted the publick good with much ado consented to those who had a mind to take him off and thereby reduced him to such extremity of danger that he was fain to make his own Son a Petitioner in his behalf supposing that his tender years would rebate their anger and move them to pity But they were thereby the more enraged and after they had kill'd the Boy in a most barbarous manner dispatch'd him also upon which one of 'em came and cutting off his head brought it along with him to Rome for a demonstration and Trophy of their Victory And thus being freed from all their fears they waited for the Arrival of the two Emperours out of Africk But they being cast away in a storm the Senate conferr'd the universal management of affairs upon Gordianus who was Son to one of ' em In whose Reign the Romans remitted something of their former melancholy because the Emperour diverted 'em with Plays and other exercises But when they were all awaked as it were out of a dead sleep they laid a private Plot against the Emperour by the advice of Balbinus and Maximus who instigated certain Soldiers against him Which being found out the Heads of the party besides a great many of the Complices were put to death Not long after this the Carthaginians fell out with the Emperour and would needs have put Sabianus in his room but Gordianus raised the African forces which soon reconciled 'em insomuch that they deliver'd up the Vsurper that would have been begged pardon for their Offences and freed themselves from all impendent dangers In the mean time Gordianus married the Daughter of Timesicles who was a man very much applauded for his learning and made him Prefect of the Court by which action he seemed to supply the defects of his own nonage in the administration of publick Affairs But when he had secur'd the Empire he look'd every hour when the Persians would attaque the Eastern Nations since Sapores was King upon the Death of Artaxerxes who restored the Government back from the Parthians to the Persians For after Alexander the Son of Philip was dead and other Successors of his in the Macedonian Empire at that time when Antiochus govern'd those superiour Satrapies or Provinces Arsaces a Parthian being incensed at an injury offer'd to his Brother Teridates levyed War against the Satrape of Antiochus gave occasion to the Parthians to turn out all the Macedonians and make the Government their own The Emperour therefore made all the preparations that he could to go against the Persians Now though the Roman Army seemed to have gotten the Victory in the first fight yet seeing Timesicles the Prefect of the Court died the Emperours great Confidence in the security of his enterprize was very much abated For Philip being chosen in his place the good will of the Soldiers toward the Emperour decay'd by degrees and grew insensible For he being born in Arabia which is a wicked Nation and no better than he should have been in the advancement of his Fortune as soon as he got into his Office affected to be Emperour obliged all the Soldiers who were inclined to innovations and seeing there was plenty of military provisions brought in whilst the Emperour stay'd about Carrae and Nisibis commanded the Ships that brought such provisions to go up farther into the Countrey that thereby the Army being oppress'd with Famine and want of necessaries might be provoked to mutiny And indeed his Design took effect for the Soldiers under pretence of wanting necessaries came about Gordianus in a very rude manner and having kill'd him as the chief cause that so many perish'd in the Army they conferr'd the Purple Robe upon Philip according to their Contract He therefore made a Peace with Sapores upon Oath which when he had done and put an end to the War he march'd toward Rome and as he obliged the
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
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
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
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
and this was the foundation of his Design There was a certain Eunuch called Eugenius not long before turn'd out of the Court who had no great love for the Emperors Him therefore Procopius made his friend because he found him very Rich and told him who he was why he came thither and how things ought to be managed Whereupon the Eunuch having promised him to bear a part in all Attempts whatever and to lend him Money if he wanted it the first thing they undertook was with Money to corrupt the City-Guards which consisted of two Legions And then arming the Slaves and mustering up with ease a vast multitude of Men who were many of 'em Voluntiers they sent 'em in the Night into the City and made a general disturbance for that the people came every one out of their several Houses and gazed upon Procopius as if he had been a King made of a sudden in a Play But the City being all in an uproar and no Man in his right mind or that could tell what to do by reason of the surprise Procopius thought he was yet undiscover'd by a great many and that he might secure the Power to himself if the business were but so far unreveal'd Then having taken Cesarius whom the Emperors had made Prefect of the City and Nebridius to whom they had committed the Government of the Court after Salustius he forced 'em to write to the Subjects of the Empire whatever he pleased But he also kept 'em asunder that they might not advise with one another And when he had contrived things thus he went toward the Court in a splendid manner where getting up upon a Tribunal before the Gate he fill'd all people with hopes and large promises and then march'd into the Palace to take care for the remaining part of his Affairs And because the new Emperors had divided the Army between 'em Procopius thought it requisite to send certain persons to the Soldiers who were yet in Disorder and went by the Emperor's Command from place to place as they pleased to bring over as many as they could to his Party Nor did they fail with ease to accomplish their Design by giving Money to them and their Officers insomuch that they muster'd up a considerable number and made themselves ready openly to set upon the Enemy After which Procopius sent Marcellus with an Army into Bithynia to take Serenianus and the Imperial Horse that he had with him in hopes to destroy ' em But they flying to a Town called Cyzicum Marcellus took it as being too strong for 'em both by Sea and Land and having caught Serenianus who was fled into Lydia he put him to Death With which first lucky hit Procopius was so exalted that he raised more Men by degrees and was able in the Opinion of many people to fight the Emperors for both the Roman Legions and the Barbarian Forces flock'd to him And then besides the very honour of being akin to Julian and having been his Fellow-Soldier in all the Wars that he was ever engaged in drew people to his Party Nor was that all but he likewise sent certain Noblemen to the Prince of Scythia which lies beyond Ister who contributed ten thousand Men to fight in his service So also did the other Barbarous Nations send in their Quota to make themselves sharers in the Expedition But yet Procopius consider'd that it was not fit for him to engage with both the Emperors together and therefore thought it the best way to fight him first that was nearest and then consult farther what was to be done And thus was Procopius employ'd whilst the Emperor Valens who heard of this Rebellion at Galatia in Phrygia was frighted at the news and fill'd with consternation But Arbitio bad him have a good heart and then he made those Men that he had ready for the War and sent likewise to his Brother to let him know what Designs Procopius had in hand But Valentinian did not think fit to send Auxiliaries to him who was not able to defend that Empire which was committed to him So Valens was fain to prepare for a fight and made Arbitio General of his Army against Procopius But when the Armies were just ready to engage Arbitio circumvented Procopius by a stratagem and brought over a great number of his Men from whom he learn'd before-hand whatever Procopius design'd to do And when the Emperor and Procopius came toward each other the two Armies met near Thyatira where Procopius had like to have had the better on 't and made him sole Lord of all because Hormisdas which was his Father's name too seemed in the fight to be too many for the Enemy But Gomarius another of Procopius's Captains imparting his intention to all Procopius's Soldiers that loved the Emperor cry'd out in the midst of the fight Augustus with a shout and gave the signal for all the rest to do the same so that all Procopius's Men went over to Valens And he as soon as he had gotten the Victory march'd to Sardeis and thence into Phrygia where in a Town called Nacolia he found Procopius and there again one Naplo a Captain of Procopius having order'd every thing for the Emperors advantage Valens had much the better of him insomuch that he took the Traitor and not long after him Marcellus whom he put both to Death But finding an Imperial Robe in Marcellus's possession that was given him by Procopius he was so angry at it that he fell foul upon all and inquired after not onely those that were Actors in the Rebellion but those also that were Counsellers in it or so much as heard any thing of it which they did not presently discover By which means he was very severe upon all sorts of Men without any justice whilst all that either conspired or were but even kinsmen or friends of the Conspirators though otherwise altogether innocent were sacrificed to the Emperours fury Now this being the state of Affairs in that part of the Empire which was allotted to Valens the Emperor Valentinian who dwelt in the Countries beyond the Alps fell into very great and unexpected dangers For all Germany recollecting what they had suffer'd in those Days when Julian was a Cesar as soon as they heard of his Death shook off all fear from their Souls and resuming their natural audacity they went one and all and invaded the Countries that were subject to the Roman Empire Where when the Emperor met 'em they had a smart Battel in which the Barbarians won the Day and put the Roman Army to a shameful flight But Valentinian was resolv'd he would not run away to save his life and therefore bore the fortune of the fight with seeming satisfaction till he had found out who were the cause of their misfortune by beginning first to fly And having made strict enquiry so as at last to prove the Batavian Legion guilty of it he order'd all the Army to come together in
all their habiliments of War as if they had been to hear some Speech that might have been for their instruction in some matter of consequence And when they came he made such an Oration to 'em as brought perpetual shame upon them that began to fly and commanded that the Batavi should be strip'd of their Arms and sold for fugitive slaves to any publick Colony or Plantation Whereupon they all fell flat upon the ground and begg'd of him not to inflict so shameful a punishment upon his Soldiers promising that hereafter they would shew themselves men and worthy of the Roman Name To which he comply'd and bid 'em shew by their actions they meant what they said whilst they arose from the Earth and arming themselves as they ought to do they renew'd the fight and going without the Trench shew'd such alacrity and courage that of an infinite number of Barbarians there were but few went home again And thus the War against all Germany ended at that time But the Emperor Valens having put many men to death after Procopius's death and confiscated the goods of many more was hinder'd from his expedition into Persia by a party of Scythians that live beyond the Ister who infested the Roman Territories Against whom he sent out a competent number of men and stopp'd their progress nor onely so but forced 'em to surrender their Arms and sent 'em to inhabit in several Towns of his that lie upon the Ister with Orders that they should be kept in a Prison without Chains Now these were the Men that the Scythian Prince had sent Procopius as Auxiliaries to him and therefore when he desired of the Emperor that they might be dismiss'd because they were sent at the request of Embassadors from him who had then the power in his hands the Emperor Valens would by no means hearken to it For he said they were neither sent to him nor taken as friends but as Enemies which was the cause of the Scythian War But when the Emperor perceiv'd the Enemy had some thoughts of invading the Roman Dominions and that upon the same account they were muster'd up together with all speed he drew his Army up along the bank of Ister and lying himself at Marcianople which is the biggest City in all Thrace he took care both of his Armies being well exercised and also that they wanted no provisions At which time also he made Auxonius Prefect of the Court Salustius having leave to lay down his Commission by reason of his Age after he had been twice in that same Office Auxonius therefore though such a dangerous War was at hand was not onely just in collecting the Tributes and seeing that no Man was oppress'd beyond what was his right and due to pay but he likewise got a great many Ships of burthen wherein he carry'd the Soldiers provisions through the Euxine Sea as far as the mouth of the Ister and thence by Boats convey'd it to the several Towns upon the River-side so that the Army might easily be supply'd But after these things were thus transacted in the Winter-time the Emperor in the beginning of the Spring march'd out of Marcianople and going over into the Enemies Country with those Soldiers that were engarison'd about the Ister he attaqued the Barbarians But they not daring to fight a pitch'd Battel absconded themselves in the Fenns from whence they made secret sallies and therefore he ordered his Men to stand their ground whilst he muster'd up all the Servants about the Camp with all those that had the charge of the Carriages and promised to give that Man such a sum of Money who brought him the head of a Barbarian Whereupon they were all in hopes to get the Money and going into the Fenns and tge Woods kill'd all they met and bringing the heads of those that were slain receiv'd the Sum appointed By which means there were such a multitude destroy'd that the rest petition'd the Emperor for a Truce Nor did he reject their desire but a Peace was made between them which was no dishonour to the Roman Name For it was agreed that the Romans should enjoy with all security whatever they formerly had and the Barbarians were sorbid to pass the River or come at all into the Roman Dominions Having made this Peace he went to Constantinople where seeing the Prefect of the Court was dead he gave Modestus the Place and when he had so done made haste toward the War in Persia But whilst he was employ'd in his preparations for that the Emperor Valentinian having put the German Affairs into a good posture thought fit to make provision for the future security of the Celtick Countries To which end he raised a vast multitude of young Men both of the Barbarians near the Rhine and of the Husbandmen that lived in Countries subject to the Romans all whom he muster'd among the Legionary Soldiers and disciplin'd them so well that out of meer dread of that skill and experience in military Affairs there was not one of all those who live beyond the Rhine who durst attempt the Cities which were under the Romans for nine years together About which time one Valentinian was banish'd for some misdemeanours into the Island of Britain where whilst he endeavoured to make himself absolute he lost his hopes and his life together And Valentinian the Emperor also fell sick of a Distemper which had like to have cost him his life but yet he recover'd and then the Courtiers came about him desiring that he would declare who should be his Successor lest any thing should happen to befall him and thereby the Commonwealth be endamaged To whom the Emperor assented and declared his Son Gratianus Emperor and his Partner in the Government though he were young and not yet ripe of Age. But the Affairs of the West being in this condition the Emperor Valens prepared to go for the East against the Persians whither he was first bound And as he went gently onward he assisted the Towns that sent Embassadors to him as much as was convenient besides his doing many other good actions and easily granting their requests to all such as made just Demands And when he came to Antioch he order'd all matters relating to the War with great caution and security but having stay'd the Winter-season in the Palace there he went in the Spring to Hierapolis from whence he led his Army against the Persians and when Winter came again return'd to Antioch And thus was the War against the Persians protracted But whilst the Emperor was at Antioch there happen'd an unusual accident which was this There was one Theodorus among the rest of the Imperial Notaries a Person well born and bred but very young and easily drawn into Vice by the glavering delusions of dissembling Knaves as being in the heat and vigour of his Age. Him therefore did a parcel of such Fellows set upon and persuaded him that they were excellent Scholars particularly that by their