the mind and will of this new Emperour who assured himselfe by vaine mockeries of pręsaging signes that his strength encreased and all to this end that whiles with sundrie counterfeit shewes of flatterie his securitie proked him forward to a milder course he fearing no hostilitie at all might be deceived But the issue of this our project seemed difficult and dangerous For indeed it would have stood better with good policie and our safetie to take heed that our desires might have had a correspondencie with oportunitie neither running before nor lagging behind it which if they should breake out before their due time sure we were all by vertue of one writ or word to suffer death Howbeit the said captaine of ours being mildly received and forced the present businesse it selfe requiring no lesse to bow downe and stoupe yea and to adore in solemne wise as the manner is him that aspired so high to the purple robe was especially regarded and made much of and being now most inward as having easie and readie accesse unto him and the honour to sit at his royall table such preheminence he had above others that by this time hee was used in secret consultation about the maine points of importance and the very Empire it selfe Silvanus tooke it to the heart that when unworthie persons were advanced to the dignitie of Consuls and other honourable places of high government himselfe and Vrsicinus alone after so great and manifold paines endured for the weale publique were so despised that he for his part cruelly abused by sifting and examining his familiar friends and that under a base manner of proceeding and triall should bee accused of treason and the other againe through the malice and hatred of his enemies haled out of the East and brought home These continuall complaints made hee both secretly and in open place And yet for all these and such like speeches terrified were we with the mutinous grumbling on every side of the souldiors alledging their want and hotely set in all the hast to breake through the streights of the Cottian Alpes In this perplexitie and doubtfull trouble of heart wee closely cast about and sought for some device like to take effect and in the end after many alterations of our mind by reason of feare resolved thus That when wee had with great industrie gotten warie ministers and bound our communication with a religious oath and protestation there should be sollicited the Braccati and Cornuti n companies wavering in their allegeance and for large hire mutable and readie to turne every way After therefore that this businesse was made sure by meanes of certaine base mediators and brokers betweene who for their obscure condition were meet to worke the feat and set on fire beside with the expectation of rewards when the Sunne was now arising suddainely a crew of armed men breaketh forth and as it falleth out in such doubtfull cases being more bold and hardie after they had slaine the warders entred into the palace plucked Silvanus forth of a little chappell whither hee was fled all amated and breathlesse and as he was going to a congregation of the Christian Religion with many strokes of swords slew him out-right Thus a brave leader and a man of no meane desert died this kind of death even for feare of slanderous accusations wherewith by the faction of his enemies he was in his absence ensnared and entangled so that for the safetie of his life he was driven to proceed unto the utmost extremitie of all shifts For albeit in regard of that issuing foorth of his so seasonably with young and gallant souldiors before the battaile at Mursa hee held Constantius obliged unto him for a good turne yet feared hee him as a prince variable and uncertaine although he might pretend the valiant acts of Bonitius also his father a Franke verily and who in the civile warre behaved himselfe many times right manfully taking part with Constantine against the Licinians Now it happened so that before any such matter was a working in Gaule the people in the greatest Cirque or Shew-place at Rome whether upon any ground of reason or moved by some pręsage it was unknowne cried out with lowd voice Silvanus is vanquished CHAP. VI. Constantius through the great and glorious words of Flatterers exalted now as it were up to the skie exerciseth crueltie upon noble personages Leontius represseth a seditious uprore raised in the citie A Romane bishop named Liberius for favouring Athanasius bishop of Alexandria is put from his See and expelled the Citie WHen Silvanus therefore was thus slaine as hath beene related at Agrippina and the Emperour had taken knowledge thereof with exceeding great joy as he was a prince made altogether of insolent pride and vanitie he ascribed this also to the prosperous traine and course of his owne felicities holding on still his old manner which was evermore to hate men of action and valiant as Domitianus did in times past yet desirous by any contrarie slight whatsoever to overthrow them Nay so farre was he from praising his industrious acts that he wrote how he had intercepted somewhat out of the treasure in Gaule which in truth no man ever had once touched And this commaunded he to be searched narrowly into questioning about it with Remigius also then Auditor or Receiver to the office belonging to the said colonell Silvanus whose fortune it was long after in the daies of Valentinian to loose his life by the halter in the matter of the embassage of Tripolis These things thus finished Constantius as one that now touched heaven with his head and were to commaund all humane chaunces was puffed up with the loftie speeches and big swelling words of flatterers the number of whom himselfe encreased and namely by despising and rejecting those that were not so cunning as others in that kind as we read of Croesus that he therefore thrust Solon by the head and shoulders out of his kingdome because he could not skill of soothing him up in his humor also that Denis threatened to put Philoxenus the Poet to death for that when all others praised him as he recited his owne absurd verses and such as carried no grace with them he alone was never moved at the hearing of them a thing that is a most pernitious fostresse of vices for that commendation onely in very deed ought to be acceptable unto a great potentate and person of high place when otherwhiles also there is rowme allowed for to entertaine dispraise of things done amisse And now after this care was past and securitie obtained inquisitions according to the manner and judiciall trials were holden whereby a number after imprisonment in chaines and yrons were punished as guiltie malefactors For then Paulus that divellish promoter who could hold no longer but breake out for very joy rose up to practise more licentiously his venomous and pestiferous arts and whiles both the Counsellors of State and
shewed in the variable fortune and death of some great personages and of Gallus especially is here recommended unto us BVt here the equitie and justice of the heavenly power above had a vigilant eye as well on the one side as the other For not onely it surprised Gallus suddainely with a cruell and bloudie end but also not long after both of them died a most painefull death who by their forswearing kindly deluding and beguiling Caesar an offendor though he were drew him on untill he fell into the net and toyle that cost him his life of which twaine Scudilo by a distillation or colliquation of the liver casting up his lungs died and Barbatio who a long time had falsely framed matter of crime against him when after he had beene colonell of the Footmen he was by the secret whisperings and suggestions of some charged to aspire and reach over-high and hereof condemned to make satisfaction unto Caesars Manes that by his fraudulent practise came to his end sacrificed his owne life by a reprochfull death These and an infinite sort of such like examples Adrastia who hath a two-fold name and is called also Nemesis the revenger of wicked and ungodly acts as also the rewarder of good deeds worketh and bringeth about otherwhiles and would God it did so alwaies A certaine high power or authoritie of the mightie and operative heavenly Nature she is according to the opinion and capacitie of mens understandings placed upon the sphaere of the Moone or as some define her a substantiall Tuition or Defence by a generall power president over the particular destinies who as the auncient Divines or Theologers faining her to be the daughter of Iustice doe teach by vertue of a certaine hidden eternitie overseeth all earthly things Shee as Queene of causes and Iudge of matters she also as an umpire to arbitrate tempereth and shaketh the pot of lots making alternative turnes and changes of accidents and what our wils have enterprised and begun bringing the same otherwhiles to another issue and end than they aymed at shee shuffleth and rolleth manifold actions together by exchange of one for another And the same power with the insoluble bond and hold-fast of necessitie binding the pride of mortall men swelling in vaine and turning to and fro as she knoweth full well the weights of increments and detriments both of risings fallings one while presseth downe and weakeneth the stiffe necks of high minded men another while raising up good men from below advanceth them to an happie life Now hath fabulous antiquitie therefore fitted wings to her that by her flight-swiftnesse she might be thought present in all places and given her the helme or rudder of a ship to carrie before her yea and put a wheele under her that it might not be unknowne how she running through all the elements ruleth the universall world Well Caesar being wearie even of himselfe by this kind of untimely death departed out of this life in the nine and twentieth yeare of his age when he had reigned foure yeares Borne he was among the Thuscanes in Massa Veternensis whose father was Constantius the brother of Constantine the Emperour and his mother Galla sister unto Rufinus and Cerealis noble Consuls in their time and honourable governours of provinces a man of a goodly presence and well favoured of comely shape and feature of bodie his lims streight and proportionably compact the haire of his head yellow and beard soft by reason that the downe was but newly come upon his tender cheekes yet so as that he carried betimes a manly countenance in manners and behavior as much difference there was betweene him and his brother Iulian as betweene Vespasians sonnes Domitian and Titus Being lifted up to the highest degree of honour that Fortune could give him he had experience of those mutable motions of hers which play and make good game with men now extolling some to the very starrie skie then plunging them downe into the deepe pit of Cocytus whereof there being innumerable examples yet will I lightly touch and run over but some few This variable and unconstant Fortune made Agathocles the Sicilian of a Potter a King and Denis that terrour sometime of the world to be the master of a Grammar schoole This advaunced to an high estate Andriscus the Adramittene borne in a Walke-myll under the name of Pseudo-Philippus d and the lawfull sonne of Perseus she taught the Ferrars craft for to get his living The same Fortune caused Mancinus after he had beene Lord generall of the field and an absolute Commaunder to be subject to the Numantines Veturius and Claudius prowd and stout in the highest degree to stoope unto the Corsi Regulus also to yeeld unto the crueltie of Carthage By the iniquitie and hard dealing of Fortune Pompey after he had gotten the sirname Magnus was killed in Aegypt at the pleasure of guelded Eunuches And one Eunus a very slave kept hard to worke in a house of correction had the leading of fugitives in Sicilie And by the connivencie of this very same Ladie of the world how many men of high birth and noble parentage have submissively embraced the knees of Viriatus or Spartacus How many heads that all nations did feare have bloudie executioners severed from their shoulders One is led captive in chaines another is promoted to the rule of some high place that he never hoped for another againe is cast downe from the highest pitch of dignitie All which examples if any man would know how many and sundry they be and how ordinarily they fall out he may as well like a witlesse foole as he is be able to number and tell the sands or to weigh and peise the mountaines THE XV. BOOKE CHAP. 1. Constantius upon the execution of Gallus become more fierce and outrageous and by the wilie and subtile devises of sycophants in the Court undone and overthrowne goeth about to kill Vrsicinus Iulianus and Gorgonius men of especiall Nobilitie THus farre forth according as wee could search out the truth and what we might not for our yeares see our selves learne in some sort though obscurely by enquiring of such as were conversant in place have we reported declaring the order and processe of divers occurrents the rest which the text ensuing shall lay abroad wee will to our abilitie performe and perfit more exactly not fearing at all the back-biters and depravers of this so long a worke as they hold it For brevitie is then commendable when cutting off impertinent and unseasonable delaies it defalketh nothing from the knowledge of necessarie and materiall points Gallus was not yet at Noricum devested out of his royall robes when Apodemius the very firebrand and kindler of all broyles so long as he lived caught up his shooes and carying them away riding post with quicke change of horses that through excessive enforcement he might spoyle and kill some came to Millaine as a fore runner to tell the newes
and beeing entred into the palace threw them downe at Constantius his feet as if they had been the king of the Parthians spoyles And when suddain tidings were brought giving intelligence of this unexpected businesse and of so great weight and difficultie with such facilitie fully performed to his mind those that bare the greatest sway in the Court employing all their studie and desire of pleasing as the manner is to flatterie extolled the vertue and felicitie of the Emperour up to the skie at whose becke two princes namely Veteranio and Gallus although at divers times were in manner of common souldiors and no better thus cassed With the exquisite and fine affectation of which faire words he being lifted up and supposing cōfidently that from thenceforth he should be freed from all displeasures and harmes incident unto mortall men forth with declined from justice so intemperately that now and then he would not sticke to avouch and maintaine that same Eternitie so much spoken of in enditing and writing with his owne hand tearmed himselfe Lord of the whole world which if other men had said he for his part ought to have taken it in foule skorne and indignitie as who laboured withall earnest endevour as he gave it out to frame his life and compose his behaviour to the example and patterne of civile princes For say that he did rule those infinite worlds of Democritus his making which by the inciting of Anaxarchus Alexander the great dreamed of he should have considered this withall by reading or hearing that as all the Mathematicians with one accord agree the compasse of the whole earth which unto us seemeth unmeasurable compared to the greatnesse of the universall world is no more than a little pricke And now by this time after the horrible fall of Caesar thus put to death whiles the trumpet of judiciall dangers sounded the alarme Vrsicinus was accused of high treason for that envie hurtfull to all good men grew more and more to the prejudice of his life and estate For surcharged he was with this one difficultie in that the Emperours eares fast stopped for admitting any equall plea and reasonable defence lay open to the secret suggestions of close enemies who devised That the foresaid Generall now that the name of Constantius became quite forgotten in all the tracts of the East was much missed and wished for both at home and abroad as the onely dreadfull enemie unto the Persian nation But the magnanimous knight stood unmooveable against all accidents whatsoever very heedfull and warie that hee might not seeme over-basely to cast himselfe downe in despaire yet grieving groning at the very heart that innocencie had no sure place of safe repose and in this one regard more heavily appaied for that his friends who heretofore flocked about him were revolted to the mightier side much like unto officers and sergeants that according to the custome are wont to goe from their old masters to new magistrats their successors Moreover his colleague Arbetio under a faire shew of counterfeit courtesie and by calling him many times a valiant warriour as hee was passing skilfull in laying traines for to entrap a man of plaine and simple conversation and withall in those daies of great authoritie proved his heavie friend and set himselfe sore against him For like as a serpent under the ground lying close hidden within his hole and observing every one that passeth by fiercely on a suddaine assaileth them even so he joyning his office also in warfare unto the power that he had to hurt being neither harmed at any time nor so much as provoked by him polluted his conscience with an unsatiable will and purpose to doe mischiefe Well forced he is making some few captaines privie to his secrets closely to breake with the Emperour and to reveale his mind Agreed it had beene that in the night following Vrsicinus caried violently away farre out of the sight of the souldiors should be killed without any condemnation even as in times past by report a Domitius Corbulo a trustie and wise defendor of the provinces was murthered in that troublous confusion that happened in Neroes daies This plot thus layd and the match set when those that were appointed to doe the feat waited the time aforesaid suddainely this counsell turned to be more mild and commaundement was given to put off so wicked an act unto a second consultation And so from him the whole engine of forging calumniations was turned upon Iulian newly brought thither a renowmed prince afterwards and intangled within a two-fold crime as the iniquitie and unjustice of men deemed it first for that from Marcelli-Fundus a place lying in Cappadocia he had flitted into Asia upon a desire he had to learne the liberall sciences and againe because hee had seene his brother as hee passed by through Constantinople Who when he cleared himselfe of these imputations and shewed that he had done neither of these two things without warrant yet at the urgent suit of a cursed crew of flatterers he had died for it but that by the gracious favour of the heavenly power Eusebia the Queene stood his friend by whose meanes he was brought to the towne Comum neere to Millain and after he had abode there a little while permitted to travaile into Greece according to his ardent desire for to studie and apply his wit to learning Neither wanted there henceforth matters arising out of these cases which while they were to be punished by order of law it would have displeased them to have had a good and fortunat issue or else fell away without effect as void and vaine But it happened sometimes that the rich seeking for succour at greater and mightier mens hands and cleaving close unto them as yvie doth to tall trees bought their discharge and deliverie at an exceeding high rate whereas the poorer sort who had small meanes or none at all to defend their lives were condemned downe-right without all order and therefore both truth was disguised and masked with lies and divers times also false and forged matters went currant for true At the very same time was Gorgonius also brought into question he that had the charge of Caesars bed-chamber committed unto him and when it appeared upon confession that hee had beene a partie in those enterprises and designes of his yea and otherwhiles a setter and causer of them yet through the complotting and practising of the guelded Eunuches whiles justice was shadowed with lies finely framed he wound himselfe out of danger and went his wayes cleare CHAP. 11. Those that had taken part with Gallus together with many innocent persons are cruelly punished Some that in taking their cups liberally had blurted out some foolish words against Constantius were therefore put to dolorous torments and kept in close prison WHiles matters thus passe at Millaine brought there were to Aquileia out of the East martiall men by whole troupes and companies together with a number of
cause unto the Senat. Who finding by the equall ballance of justice how the case stood and thereupon confining him to Boae a place in Dalmatia could hardly endure the Emperours wrath who chafed mightily when hee understood that a man destined as himselfe intended to death had his punishment by a milder sentence For these and many such like examples the daungers seene in a few men begun to feare would light upon them And least if so many enormities being winked at and creeping on still by little and little there might grow whole heapes of miseries by vertue of a decree passed by the Nobilitie embassadors were dispatched unto the Emperour by name Pretextatus who had beene Prefect of the citie Venustus sometime deputie-Prefect and Minervius late a Consular Governor of a Province with this supplication That there should not bee inflicted punishment more grievous than the offences required and that no Senatour after an unexampled and unlawfull manner might be exposed unto tortures Who being admitted into the Consistorie when they made report of these particulars aforesaid as Valentinian denied that ever he ordained such a course and cryed out that he was traduced and sustained abuse Eupraxius the Questor in modest tearmes reproved him for it By whose libertie of speech that cruell proceeding thus begun which exceeded all precedents of rigour was reformed About this time Lollianus a young gentleman in the verie prime of his youth the sonne of Lampadius who had beene Prefect being by Maximinus who looked narrowly into his cause convicted to have copied forth a booke of divelish arts when by reason of yong yeres his head was not well stayed and upon the point to be sent into exile as it was feared at the motion and instigation of his father appealed to the Emperour And being commaunded to be led from thence unto his Counsell which was as they say out of the smoke in the flame was delivered over to Phalangius the governour of the province Baetica and lost his life by the hangmans hand Over and besides these Taratius Bassus afterwards Prefect of the citie and his brother Camenius likewise one Marcianus and Eusaphius all noble persons and of Senators degree were brought into question and had their triall for that as privie all to one and the same practise of sorcerie they were named to favour and make much of Auchenius the Chariotier but for that the evidences and proofes were as then but doubtfull they went away quit by the meanes and helpe of Victorinus as the running rumour went who was a most inward friend to Maximinus Neither escaped women free but had their part also no lesse in the like calamities For even of this verie sex were many of high birth put to death as guiltie of the foule crimes either of adulterie or whoredome among whom Claritas and Flaviana were of greatest name of which the one being led to execution they stripped so neere out of all her apparell wherewith she was clad that shee was not permitted to keepe about her so much as would suffice to cover her secret parts And therefore the executioner convicted to have committed a most lewd and shamefull fact was burnt quicke Moreover Pafius and Cornelius Senators both convinced to have polluted themselves with the damnable sleights of poisoning and sorcerie were by the definitive sentence of the same Maximinus put to death In like sort also the d Procurator of the Mint lost his life For Sericus and Asbolius afore named because in exhorting them to appeach and name in any place whom they thought good hee promised faithfully with an othe That he would commaund none of them to bee punished either by fire or sword he caused to be killed with the mightie pelts of e plumbets And after this he awarded Campensis the Soothsayer to the flaming fire for that in his affaire he was not tyed to any such othe And now convenient it is as I suppose to declare the cause that drave headlong upon his owne death and destruction Aginatius a man of noble auncestors descended according as it hath beene constantly reported For as touching this matter there be no evident records extant Maximinus whiles he was yet Prefect of the corne and victuals puffing and brawling still in a proud spirit of his owne and having gotten no meane instigations and incouragement of boldnesse proceeded so farre as to the contempt of Probus in the ranke of right honourable persons the greatest of all other and by vertue of the Prefecture of the Pretorium a governor of provinces Which Aginatius taking to be a mightie indignitie setting it also to his heart that in examining of causes Olybrius had preferred Maximinus before him considering himselfe had been deputie-Prefect of Rome secretly in familiar talke shewed unto Probus That the vaine man spurning as he did against persons of high desert might be overthrowne and brought to confusion if he thought so good These letters as some affirmed Probus sent making no bodie privie therto but the bearer unto Maximinus as standing in great feare of him growne now more cunning and expert in doing mischiefe and besides in grace and reputation with the Emperour Which when he had read the man fell into such a heat of rage that from thenceforth hee bent all his engines and levelled his bolts at Aginatius like to some serpent wounded and squized by a knowne person Beside this there was another greater cause of practising the overthrow of Aginatius the which brought him to utter destruction For he accused Victorinus now dead That whiles he lived hee had sold the friendship of Maximinus and gained by his proceedings by whose last will and testament himselfe had received no small legacies And in like malapert saucinesse he threatened his wife Anepsia to go to law and by litigious suits to molest her Who fearing these troubles to the end she might be protected also by the aid of Maximinus feined and devised That her husband in his wil which he lately made left unto him a legacie of three thousand pound weight in silver Who burning in excessive desire and covetousnesse for he was not without this vice also claimed the one moitie of the inheritance But not resting contented herewith as being but a small portion and nothing sufficient he devised another feat which as hee thought was both honest and safe and because he would not forgo his hold of so good meanes offered unto him to gaine a wealthie patrimonie he sued to have the daughter in law of Victorinus whom his wife Anepsia bare unto a former husband for to be his sonnes wife the which with the assent of the woman was soon obtained and concluded CHAP. IIII. The detestable sleights and practises of Maximinus that he might continue still in that butcherly execution of his now being created Prefectus Pretorio Divers successors after him in the Prefectship of the citie the last of whom exceedeth the crueltie
the first lay prostrate before them and craved pardon then afterwards urged more forcibly to make his answere declared That he had knowledge indeed of all this by Euserius but that he should not give intelligence thereof to the Emperour as divers times he went about to doe he was debarred by him who avowed That by no unlawfull desire of aspiring unto regall dignitie but by a certaine course of inevitable destinie that which was hoped for would of the owne accord come to passe Then as Euserius being under the hand of bloudie tormentors confessed the very same Theodorus was by his owne letters convinced which he had written by way of oblique circumlocutions unto Hilarius implying thus much That since he had alreadie conceived assured hopes from the Divinors and Prophets he stood not now upon the substance of the thing as doubting it but was earnest to know the circumstance of the time when his desire should be effected After these points knowne when they were had away and sequestred apart Eutropius who at that time governed Asia as Proconsull was drawne within danger and judicially indicted as privie and partie to this faction but he went away without harme as unguiltie for that Pasiphilus the Philosopher acquited and cleared him who notwithstanding he was cruelly tortured to this end that by fastening some lye upon him he might defame and subvert him quite could not be removed from the state of a constant and stout mind After these commeth in the Philosopher Simonides who verily in regard of his yeares was but a yong man howbeit for his carriage the gravest and precisest person within our remembrance who being informed against for that he had taken knowledge of this businesse by the meanes of Fidustius and perceiving that the matter was weighed not according to truth but the will and direction of one pleaded for himselfe and said That he had heard indeed of these things aforesaid but when they were imparted unto him in a constant resolution concealed the same All which matters being throughly from point to point examined the Emperour in a correspondencie to the counsell of the Commissioners under one sentence and warrant commaundeth they should all be put to death and so in the sight of an infinite number of people who scarcely could behold so abhominable a spectacle without horror of mind but filled the heavens againe with mones and complaints for the miserie of each one seemed to be the common case of them all brought they were forth together and in pitifull manner had their throats cut all save Simonides whom onely that cruell doome-giver growne enraged at him for his grave constancie caused to be consumed with fire who running from this life as from a furious mistresse and scorning the suddaine fals of worldly things endured the flames and never quetched following the example of that famous Philosopher Peregrinus sirnamed Proteus who being fully determined to leave this world at the h Quinquennall solemnitie of the Olympicke games in the sight of all Greece leapt up to that funerall fire which himself had made and there was burnt to ashes And after him for certaine daies following a multitude almost of all sorts and degrees whom by name to reckon were a difficult piece of worke driven within the dangerous toile and snares of false imputations made worke for the hangmen and executioners untill they wearied them out after they had been maimed and lamed before with stretching upon the racke with the weightie pelts of plumbets and the smart lashes of the whip And some there were that suffered death without any breathing time or respite graunted even whiles it was in question Whether they should be executed or no So there was nothing but carnage and slaughter scene in every place of the citie as if so many beasts had been slaine by the butchers knife After this to allay the envie and displeasure of the people for such a bloudie massacre an infinit number of bookes and many heaps of volumes were gotten together and before the Iudges burnt such as were fetched out of sundrie houses as if forsooth they had beene unlawfull and prohibited whereas indeed the most part of them were Tables and Indexes of the liberall Sciences of the civile Law And not long after that noble Philosopher Maximus a man of great name and renowme for his learning out of whose most plentiful discourses Iulian the Emperor became sufficiently furnished for skill and knowledge was charged to have heard those verses of the Oracle abovesaid and having graunted indeed that he knew thereof howbeit in consideration of his profession blabbed not forth such things as were to be concealed but voluntarily foretold that the seekers of this Oracle themselves should surely suffer and die for it was led to Ephesus the place of his nativitie and there cut shorter by the head he found and learned by this last experience at his death That the iniquitie of a Iudge Commissioner is more heavie than any crime whatsoever Diogenes also intangled within the snares of impious falsitie a man descended of a noble house for his wit eloquence at the barre and sweet behavior otherwise excellent late ruler of Bithynia to the end that his rich livelode and patrimonie might be ransacked and taken from him was put to death And now behold Alypius also late deputie of Britannie a man of quiet cariage and pleasant demeanure after a privat and retired life led in repose because injustice thus farre had stretched forth her hand being tossed and tumbled in most sorrowfull plight was cited and indicted for the feat of poysoning together with his sonne Hierocles a young man of good towardnesse upon the evidence and testimonie of one Diogenes a base fellow and but himselfe alone who after he had beene tormented in all butcherly manner that he might utter words pleasing the prince or rather his accusor when his lims would not serve to endure more painful punishments being condemned to be burnt quicke Alypius also himselfe after the losse of his goods commaunded to goe into exile by a certaine good hap recovered his sonne againe as recalled from death notwithstanding he was in pitious wise led to execution CHAP. V. The most wicked and abhominable practises of Palladius the worker of all these so many troubles and calamities to put oyle into the fire The wittie wyles also and craftie fetches of Heliodorus who together with Palladius framed all these mischiefes are described whereupon ensue new tragoedies DVring all this time Palladius that plotter and worker of all miseries whom we said at the first to have beene attached by Fortunatianus and one for his very basenesse of condition even in the lowest degree readie to enter rashly into any action by heaping one calamitie upon another had filled the whole State and Empire with teares and sorrowfull lamentations For having gotten licence to nominate whom he would without respect of calling and degree as tainted with unlawfull and
kinds of hearbes and what birds can be gotten by fowling and for the most part we have seene them altogether ignorant of the use either of corne or of wine Thus much of a dangerous and mischievous people Now returne we to our proposed text CHAP. IIII. The Massacres of Constantius Caesar committed in the West by the advise and endevors of flatterers about him WHiles these things thus passe in the East Constantius keeping his winter at Arles after he had set forth his stage-playes and k Circeian games with sumptuous furniture and provision upon the sixth day before the Ides of October which made up the thirtieth yeare of his Empire peising all strange occurrents with a very heavie hand and entertaining what doubtfull or false matter soever was presented unto him as evident and truely knowne among other things after he had caused Gerontius a captaine 1 of Magnentius his faction to be sore tortured awarded him to wofull exile And like as a crasie and sickly bodie is wont to bee sore distempered upon every light grievance even so his base faint and tender mind supposing whatsoever hee heard spoken was some practise or plot devised to the losse or danger of his life estate with the slaughter of innocent persons atchieved a lamentable victorie for looke what martiall man what honourable person or noble gentleman in all his trayne was but by some flying rumor charged to have favoured and maintained his enemies part sure he was to have heavie chaines hung upon him and so was drawne and haled like unto a beast yea and though his very adversarie or none at all followed hard upon him as if it sufficed onely that he was but named presented or accused he had sentence pronounced against him either to suffer death or to lose his goods or else to be confined within some desart Island This rigor of his was much more exasperate by information given of certaine offensive crimes which were commonly divulged sounding as it was said much to the prejudice of the imperiall majestie and his suspected anger set on fire with flattering speeches tending all to bloudinesse of such favorites as were next about him ready ynough to aggravate and multiply all occurrences making semblance also of exceeding griefe and sorrow in case the prince forsooth should loose his life upon whose good estate and welfare as upon a twined thread the whole world depended as they with open mouth and counterfeit words gave it out And therefore reported it is that he commaunded no man at any time were he once adjudged to bee punished for these or such like offences to be called backe upon the tendering as the manner is of a commendatorie m testimoniall a thing that hard hearted and inexorable princes have been wont to doe and this mischievous or deadly vice which in others sometime abateth and waxeth cooler in him as age came upon him grew the hoter whiles a company of claw-backe flatterers egged him forward in his purposed course among whom the principall and of greatest note was one Paulus a n Notarie borne in Spaine who verily under a smooth countenance caried a close and secret nature a man passing witty and subtile finding out all the hidden waies to endanger folke He being sent into Brittany for to bring away with him certaine martiall men who had entred into conspiracy and action with Magnentius seeing they could make no resistance after he had outrageously come over them in manner of a floud suddainly seized upon the fortunes and estates of many more Thus went he on still making much spoile and havocke to the utter undoing of a number imprisoning such as were free borne and afflicting their bodies with bonds yea and crushing some of them with mannacles whiles forsooth he patched and pieced many crimes and imputations together that he layed to their charge and all as false as might be whereupon was committed such an impious and wicked fact as branded the daies of Constantius with a note of perpetuall shame There was one Martin that ruled those provinces as deputy Lieutenant who grievously lamenting the miseries of the innocent and oftentimes beseeching him to spare the guiltlesse when as he could not prevaile threatened to depart to the end that this malicious inquisitor and persecutor at leastwise for feare of it might give over at length to draw and induce into open dangers a people naturally given to quietnesse and peace Paulus supposing that by this meanes his profession and trade would decay as he was a shrewd artisan and his crafts-master in wrapping and linking these and such like matters together whereupon hee came also to bee surnamed Catena id est a Chaine drew the said Deputie Lieutenant himselfe who still protected them whom the other as yet had spared to beare a part in these common perils and earnestly bent he was to bring him also bound with Tribunes and many others before the Emperours priuie o counsell At which extremitie of mischiefe so neere at hand Martin throughly provoked caught up a dagger and assaulteth the person of the same Paulus But for that his right hand fayled him so that he was not able to give a deadly wound with the sayd weapon drawne as it was hee stabbed himselfe into the side and so by this unseemely kind of death departed he this life a most righteous man after he had attempted by some stay to ease the piteous cases of many Which wicked parts thus committed Paulus all embrued with bloud returned to the princes campe bringing with him a number of prisoners covered in manner all over with chaynes as men dejected and plunged into miserable calamities and wofull sorrowes at whose comming were the Rackes p made readie the hangman prepared both hookes and wresting-vices and of them many were proscribed and outlawed some banished and other had their punishment by bloudie stroke of civile sword For no man well can remember that under Constantius any one went away quiet whensoever these matters were but by way of whispering set a foot During these troublous affaires Orphitus governed the Citie of Rome as q Praefect bearing himselfe insolently beyond the bounds of the dignitie conferred upon him a wise man verily and passing well practised in plees and judiciall proceedings but nothing so well furnished and adorned with liberall arts as a nobleman ought to have beene in the time of whose being in place dangerous commotions were stirred up for scarcitie of wine the common people greedily set upon the use and expence whereof is soone provoked to raise many tumults and insurrections CHAP. V. The lively portraiture of the citie of Rome in her flower and youthfull daies of growth in her full yeares and strength in her old age also and crasie time full of diseases Likewise the description of the most miserable estate thereof under Constantius and Gallus ANd for as much as I suppose some strangers who happily
fell out heavily on his part CHAP. X. Constantius by sundry wily sleights ensnareth Gallus bereft of his wife and when he was by a traine brought unto him putteth him to death THis done and a league made after the manner of those nations with the solemne complements finished which were thereto belonging the Emperour departed to Millaine there to Winter where casting off all other weightie cares hee thought upon Caesar as the untowardest knurre and difficultie that now troubled him most bending his whole endevour how to shake and overthrow him and as he consulted with those favourites next about him in secret conferences and by night what forcible meanes or cunning devise he might use to effect the same before that he in his foole-hardinesse should more eagerly be set upon mischiefe even to the marring and confusion of all resolved it was That laying aside all threats the said Gallus should under a colour of some publique Diet or treatie as touching the State be sent for by mild and kind letters to the end that being destitute of all helpe he might without any let in the way come to destruction Now whiles all the sort of these weather-cocke flatterers stood against this resolution among whom was Arbetio quicke and sharpe set to practise wiles and Eusebius then Lord great Chamberlaine forward ynough to doe mischiefe this came into their heads for to alledge namely That Caesar being once departed a dangerous matter it would be to leave Vrsicinus in the East were there none to keepe him downe reaching as he did at higher matters And with them joyned the residue of guelded Eunuches within the court whose covetousnesse and desire of having more still was in those daies growne out of all measure who taking the oportunitie of service and attendance in the privie and bed chamber conveyed under hand by way of secret whispering suggestions of matters feeding fained imputations who also brought into disgrace that right valiant man aforesaid oppressing him with the heavie load of most grievous envie muttering softly That his sonnes growne to be gentlemen of ripe yeares began already to favour of the imperiall robe as being for their lovely personage and youthfull yeares very gracious and highly favoured to the manifold skill of armes and agilitie of body trained up and practised by daily essaies proofes of activitie knowne also for to bee of discreet carriage and advised counsell that Gallus of his owne nature fell ynough was by certaine persons suborned for the nonce animated unto cruel acts for this cause That after he was become odious and had incurred the worthie detestation of all estates and degrees the ensignes and ornaments imperiall might be transferred unto the master of the horsemens children When these and the like matters were once buzzing in his carefull and timorous cares exposed alwaies and open to such rumours whiles his mind was swelling and working divers waies at the last upon counsell given he tooke the best course and first he commaunded Vrsicinus in very honourable tearmes to come unto him pretending this that according as the urgent occasions and affaires of that time required there might by joint counsell and consent a good order bee set downe and namely what encrease of forces were requisit to represse the invasions of the Parthicke nations that threatened open warre And least before his comming he should suspect any harme toward him Prosper a s Comes was sent as his vice-gerent or deputie untill he returned who when he had received letters and had a licence graunted to take up wagons for carriage he made great journeyes and hastened to Millaine It remained now that after this Caesar likewise should be sent for with speed and for to put away all suspition Constantius by many faire and flattering words sollicited his wife now after so long time and so much desired and missed as she was to come unto him Who albeit she stood in doubt as fearing him so often bloudily minded yet in hope that shee might appease and pacifie him her naturall brother shee taketh her journey and when she was entred into Bithynia in a certaine station named Coenos Gallicanos she died suddainly of a violent fever After whose death her husband seeing and considering that the trust and affiance wherewith he thought himselfe surely upheld was fallen stood perplexed in pensive cogitation with himselfe what way to worke For in the present estate of his so troublous so intangled and brought into the briers his carefull mind ran ever upon this one thing That Constantius measuring and weighing all according to his own will and pleasure would neither admit satisfaction nor pardon offence but as hee was a prince too much bent to the overthrow of his kinred closely lay snares for him and if hee tooke him once at unawares in a trip would bee sure to put him to death Being brought to this hard exigent and looking for no other than extremitie unlesse he watched the better he made no more adoe but shot at the highest place of all if meanes any way might have beene made unto it But for want of faithfull dealing in his friends about him forsaken he was in two respects both for that they stood in great feare of him a cruell and fickle minded prince and also because they did much dread the fortune of Constantius which in civile dissentions usually had the upper hand Amid these huge heapes of infinite cares letters he received continually from the Emperour putting him in mind and praying him to come away yea and shewing farre otherwise than he meant that the government of the Commonwealth neither could nor should be divided but every man ought to his power for to lend his helping hand unto it troubled as it was and waving to fro pointing herein at the wasting and spoiling of Gaule to which reasons he alledged a precedent and example of no great antiquitie namely that unto Dioclesian and his colleague the t Caesars not sitting still but like Apparitours Serieants and such like ministers running up and downe yeelded their obedience as also that in Syria Galerius u in his purple robes went on foot for the space almost of one mile before the chariot of the Emperor when he was angry Well after many messengers came Scudilo captaine of the Squires under the cloke of a nature somewhat rude and uncivile in cunning persuasion his crafts-master who by way of flattering words intermingled with serious matter was the onely man of all other that overcame and woon him at last to set forward in his journey with a counterfeit countenance many times iterating redoubling these speeches That his cousin germane wished earnestly and desired to see him readie as a mild and mercifull prince to remit and forgive what faults and follies had escaped him that he was taken to him as companion and partaker of his majestie to the end he should be also a fellow labourer with him whom both
strokes and that with variable fortune At length the Alemans put to flight are defeated and suffer afearefull overthrow THe Alemans therefore after they had discomfited and disbanded our horsemen charged upon the foreward and front of the footmen minding by casting away all mind and purpose of resisting to make head first and cause them to recule But after they were come once to cope at hand-strokes the fight was maintained a long time in equall tearmes For the Cornuti and Braccati redoubted souldiors through long experience of warres manfully received them being now at the point to set up a mightie great shout called Barritus which outcrie in the very heat of the medley beginning with a small humming and growing bigger by little and little riseth higher in manner of waves beating against the rockes After this as the arrowes and darts flew thicke to and fro with a singing noise as they flew the dust that arose by the equall stirring of both sides tooke away the eye-sight and caused them to run their armour and bodies one upon another But the Barbarians without all order what with violence and what for anger burnt like a flaming fire and the close jointed shield-fence which defended our men in manner of a roufe they hacked and hewed with many a stroke of the sword Which being knowne the Batavi together with their kings a puissant and terrible troupe ran in with speed to helpe their fellowes readie to rescue and deliver them with the assistance of fortune in that extremitie compassed in as they were round about But the Alemans as they began fiercely to fight puffed and blowed hard as if in some furious fit they would have utterly destroyed all that stood against them in their way Yet gave not over the javelines and casting-darts yea and the yron headed arrowes were let flye although in close fight also one weapon strucke upon another and the habergeons were cloven with swords and such as were wounded before all their bloud was shed out rose up againe to doe some service before they died for they were after a sort very even matched the Alemans strong and the taller our souldiors by long experience and practise cunning those fierce fell and turbulent these quiet and warie the Romanes bold of heart and courageous the other presuming upon their mightie big bodies Howbeit otherwhiles the Romane with the weight of armour driven back rose up again the Barbarian when both his knees were wearied with stepping and pressing forward bowing his left ham backe would ease himselfe and lye close behind readie yet to give an assault upon his enemie which is a token of obstinacie and stiffe resolution in the highest degree And so there leapt foorth suddainely a gallant troupe of the nobles among whom the kings also fought and having the common sort following after before all other brake within the battaillons in the vantguard of our men and so making themselves way came as farre as to the legion of the 1 Primani placed in the middest which guard and strength they use to call Castra Praetoria where our souldiors thicker arranged in many rankes and files and therefore in manner of towers standing their ground firme and fast with greater courage fell to fight againe and so carrying an heedfull eye how to ward all venies and covering themselves close in manner of a m sword-fencer with their drawne swords ran their enemies into the sides where by reason of their hote and furious anger they lay most open And the Barbarians againe fully bent to spend their lives for to gaine victorie assayed to leuse our battaile so jointly knit together but seeing a number lying dead in rewes all the way before them whom the Romanes now upon taking better heart unto them had layed along followed on as many I meane as remained alive in place of the slaine and when they heard many a grone of those that lay a dying in the place for exceeding feare they were stricken astonied Outwearied at last with so much painefull toile their strength served them thenceforth onely to flye and so by divers and sundry lanes they made shift with all the speed they could to get away much like unto mariners who make hast from out of the middest of surging waves in a boisterous tempest at sea to be cast upon land which way soever the wind carrieth them The Romanes then upon this victorie a thing rather wished than hoped for as any man will confesse that was there present worship the gracious power of God so propice and mercifull unto them Howbeit our souldiors without all mercie slashing and hewing them upon the backes as they fled when otherwhiles by reason their swords were bent and rebated they had not wherewith to strike any longer thrust the Barbarians to the very heart with their owne weapons neither was there one of them that for all this wounding satisfied his anger with bloudshed nor thought his right hand had ynough yet of slaughter or for any humble entreatie and supplication would take pitie and give over execution Thus therefore lay a mightie number of them thrust through the bodie to death craving none other remedie but quickly to bee dispatched of their lives Some halfe dead when their breath began now to faile sought about yet with dying heavie eyes for meanes to live longer others had their heads cut in manner quite off with huge weapons so as they hung downe and had no more hold than by the very throats a number of them in the mierie and slipperie ground chauncing to slide and fall downe in the bloud of their fellowes although no weapon touched their bodies were over-whelmed with the souldiors rushing and running over them by heapes and so killed The winners having got so good an hand of their enemies yet preassed on still more forcibly so that the points and edges of their weapons waxed blunt and dull with striking so thicke and the bright helmets and shields together lay tumbled under their feet The Barbarians at last seeing themselves driven to this utmost extremitie and that the heapes of dead carcasses rose so high that they stopped all passage out sought for the onely helpe that remained even of the river which now ran hard at their backes And because our souldiors running a great pace even under their armour were not wearie but preassed still upon them as they fled some of them supposing that by their skilfull swimming they should bee able to rid themselves of all danger committed their lives unto the waves of the river In which regard Caesar together with the Tribunes and captaines in a quicke fore-cast fore-seeing what dangers might ensue cryed out after a rebuking manner and gave streight charge That not one of our men in hote pursute after the enemie should venture upon the streame so full it was of whirle-pits Whereupon this order they tooke that standing upon the bankes of the river with sundry sorts of darts and casting-weapons they sticked the
Caesar directed by all policie to take the surest way alledging very many motives that carried good probabilitie with them graunted for tenne moneths and namely making this account as he was a prince of provident forecast That those holds and fortresses which he had seized into his hands even beyond his hope and more than he could wish for without impeachment aught to be fortified with offensive engines planted upon the wals and other strong ordinance and munition Presuming confidently hereupon there came in from among those that had sent aid to them which were vanquished before Argentoratum three most fell and cruell kings fearing now at length their owne estates who tooke an oath in a set forme of words after the manner of their countrey That they would not stirre nor trouble the peace but truly keepe the covenants agreed upon to the prefixed time expired because that stood with the will and pleasure of our men together with the fortresse above said safe and whole yea and bring corne thither even on their shoulders in case the defendants thereof made it knowne that they wanted and verily by reason that feare was a bridle to curbe their perfidious disloyaltie they performed both the one and the other CHAP. II. The Frankes keeping foule rule about Colonia Agrippina and Iuliacum he represseth having besieged and recovered the towne Castellum Then he taketh order that provinciall people should not unreasonably be overcharged with new taxes and tributes which the Lord chiefe Iustice thought to levie and gather of them IN this memorable warre worthie to be compared verily with those against the Carthaginians and Teutones and atchieved with the least expence and hurt of the Romane estate Caesar rejoyced and magnified himselfe as a fortunate and happie prince and well might a man have beleeved his backbiters who devised this and gave it out That therefore hee demeaned himselfe so valiantly in every place because hee wished rather to die a glorious death than in the ranke of condemned persons like unto his brother Gallus as they hoped to be put to death had he not with semblable purpose and resolution after the death also of Constantius become renowmed for his admirable exploits Well these affaires thus firmely setled as in such case might be returning to his Wintering place of abode he found the remaines still of his laborious atchievements standing in these tearmes Severus Generall of the Horsemen going by the way of Agrippina and Iuliacum toward Rhemes lighted upon right strong companies of the Frankners consisting as afterwards appeared of six hundred light armed skirmishers as they wasted and spoyled the quarters that were without garrisons who tooke this opportunitie to actuate their boldnesse in doing mischiefe because whiles Caesar was busily employed out of the way in the secret parts of the Alemans and none at hand to give them the checke they thought verily to make up their mouths and fill their hands with rich booties but for feare of the armie now returned they possessed themselves of two forts which in times past were abandoned and left void and there defended themselves as well as they could Iulianus much troubled with this new occurrent and guessing whereto it might turne in case he passed by them undealt withall kept his forces still about him and determined to beleaguer the towne Castellum hard by which the river Mosa runneth and so for the space of foure and fiftie dayes to wit during the moneths of December and Ianuarie he stayed about the siege whiles the Barbarians with stout hearts and incredible resolution held out and withstood him Then Caesar a most prudent prince fearing much least the Barbarians by taking advantage of the night should passe over the river hard frozen upon the yce tooke order that certaine souldiors should every day from time that the sunne began to set until the breake of day in light barges and whirries to and fro scud up and downe upon the river to the end that by breaking evermore the yce as it began to gather to a coat none of them might easily have means to breake away from him And by this stratageme being wearied out with hunger long watching utter despaire they yeelded themselves of their owne accord and were sent out of hand to the Emperours counsell for the rescue of whom out of this danger a multitude of Frankners went forth but when they understood how they were taken prisoners and carried away without adventuring any further they retired to their owne holds Then Caesar having performed these acts returned to Paris there to Winter Now for that it was feared that many nations would with greater force make head together this well advised governour casting how deceitfull the issues were of warres was much perplexed with huge heapes of care And whiles he verily thought that during the truce and cessation of armes short though it was and full of businesse he might remedie the miserable losses and burthens that landed men or farmers sustained he disposed and set in order the accounts of tribute and whereas Florentius Lord chiefe Iustice having taken a survey and review of all as he endevored did avouch that whatsoever was wanting in the poll-tribute he supplied out of the goods gotten by conquest he being ware of such dealings said plainely That he would forgoe his life sooner than suffer this to be done for well he wist that the incurable wounds of these and such like provisions or eversions rather to speake more truly brought provinces many times to extreame povertie which very thing as afterwards shall be shewed was the utter overthrow of Illyricum Hereupon the said L. Iustice Florentius crying out that he could not endure thus on a suddaine to be made an unfaithfull officer unto whom the Emperor had committed the immediate managing of the state Iulian after a temperate sober sort appeasing his mood by an exact and true computation proved That the reckoning and summe taken of the foresaid poli-tribute was not only sufficient but yeelded also an overplus to the necessarie provision of victuals Yet neverthelesse for a long time after when an augmentation of taxe and impost was presented unto him he could not endure either to read or subscribe but flung it in the floore And when he was advertised by the Emperors letters upon information that the said Iustice had given not to deale so strictly and precisely as that Florentius might seeme to be touched in his credite he wrote backe again That they were to rejoice and be glad if the provinciall inhabitants wasted so as they were on every side might yeeld at leastwise their ordinarie and customable tributes if not increment augmentation which no punishment is able to extort from the poore and needie And so it came to passe then thenceforth through the stout courage of him alone that no man went about unjustly to fetch from the Gaules nomine Camelasij any thing but the usuall customes And
when hee was come to Tungri an embassage of the foresaid people meeteth him supposing the Emperour was to be found still in his Wintering harbour pretending peace upon this condition That no man might eyther provoke or molest them whiles they remained quiet as in their owne territories These embassadours after hee had fully digested and disposed his affaire and opposed certaine ambiguous and doubtfull conditions as if he meant to stay in those tracts untill their returne he sent away rewarded No sooner were they in their way homeward but he followed hard upon them sending out the Generall Severus and suddainely having set upon them all along the rivage he smote them as it had beene a whitling thunderbolt or flash of lightening And now when they fell to entreatie rather than to make resistance turning the effect of victorie to a commodious course of clemencie upon the yeelding of themselves their riches and children he tooke them to mercie The Chamavi likewise who had given semblable attempts he set upon and with the same celeritie partly he put to the sword and partly when they stoutly resisted and were taken alive he hung yrons upon others that tooke them to their heeles and fearefully in all hast fled he permitted for the while to get away without hurt unto whose embassadours sent afterward to make supplication and to provide for their estates lying humbly prostrate upon the ground before his face and under his very eye he graunted peace with this capitulation to returne in safetie to their owne home Thus when all things succeeded according to his hearts desire hastening with most vigilant care to found by all means possible the good of the provinces he thought as the time would permit to repaire three skonces or forts situate directly in a rew upon the banke of the river Mosa which lately had beene overthrowne by the obstinate selfe-willed Barbarians and forthwith omitting the warres for a small time reedified they were And to the end that the policie wisely begun he might by quicke dispatch make safe out of the seventeene daies provision of corne which the souldiors as they marched forward in their expedition carried on their neckes he defalked a portion and layed up in the same holds hoping that so much as was taken from it might bee supplied out of the Chamavians corne fields But it fell out farre otherwise for by reason that the standing corne was not yet ripe the souldiors having spent what they carried and finding food in no place fell to threatening tearmes in the highest degree provoked Iulian with foule names and opprobrious language calling him a vaine Grecian of Asia and a deceitfull yea and one that under the shew of wisedome and learning was a very lob and foole and as usually there be some found even among armed souldiors that have readie and rolling tongues of their owne above their fellowes they stucke not to mumble many of these and such like speeches Whither are we drawne without all hope of better in times past verily we endured hard travaile and most irkesome to be abidden even through snowes and the pinching cold of bitter frosts but now ô shamefull indignitie when we are upon the point finally to vanquish and defeat our enemies readie we be to pine away and consume for very famine the most inglorious and base kind of death that is And that no man may thinke us to be mutineus and given to raise commotions we protest that it is for our life onely that we speake craving neither gold nor silver which long agoe we might not have nor so much as once see so denied it was us as if we had been convicted to have undertaken so many toilefull paines and perils even against the State and Commonweale And to say a truth good reason they had thus to complaine For among so many courses of probable or allowable matters and doubtfull points of necessitie the souldiors out-toyled and spent with the painefull services of Gaule had gotten neither e donative nor wages since time that Iulian was thither sent for that neither himselfe could come by aught to give nor Constantius after the wonted manner permitted any such allowance to be bestowed And hence it appeared plainely that this was done upon fraudulent malice rather than nigardize because when the said Caesar had given a small matter of no value to a certaine common souldior asking somewhat according to his need to goe unto the barber for to be trimmed he was for it with contumelious tearmes traduced and backbitten by Gaudentius then Notarie who had abode long in Gaule to spie into his proceedings whom afterwards himselfe commaunded to be put to death as shall be shewed in place convenient At length after the mutinie was appeased not without sundrie sorts of faire words and pleasing speeches and when by meanes of a bridge made of ships joyned together he had passed over the Rhene and set foot in the Alemans countries Severus Generall of the horsemen who aforetime had beene a warlike and industrious captaine all on a suddaine became lither and heartlesse And he that oftentimes encouraged both all and some to fight courageously now seemed a contemptible and timorous dissuader of battaile haply for feare of death so neere at hand like as we read in the bookes of Tages the Tuscane that they who are within a while to be smitten with the lightening of Veiovis f are so dulled in their sences that they can heare neither thunder nor any great noise whatsoever And contrarie to his wonted manner hee marched in his journey lazily insomuch as hee terrified by threatening death the guides that led the way apace and lustily before unlesse they all with one accord would agree and avouch that they were altogether ignorant of the waies who fearing the authoritie of this prohibition went no where after that one foot forward CHAP. IX The Aleman kings Suomarius and Hortarius not able to endure the heavie weight of this warre in humble manner sue for peace and obtaine it HOwbeit during these lingering delayes Suomarius a king of the Alemans of his owne accord together with his friends and followers unthought of before met Caesar upon the way a prince he was before time prowd and cruelly bent to endammage and hurt the Romanes but then he thought it would be an unexpected gaine well gotten in case he might be suffered to hold his owne And for that his countenance and gate shewed him to be an humble suppliant he was entertained and willed to be of good cheare and quiet in mind who then abandoning wholly his owne will and pleasure meekely upon his knees besought peace And verily hee obtained the same with pardon graunted for all that was past under this condition That he should redeliver our men that were captives and find the souldiors food so oft as was needfull after the manner of base vassales received to mercie and protection taking onely securitie of life for whatsoever he brought in which if
libertie gliding soft by little and little through long and spatious countries and neere unto his issue reducing the same into a narrow streit with his owne channell he defendeth the inhabitants upon it from the invasion of the Romanes by the channell of Danubius and by his owne fence performeth them safe from the out-rodes of the Barbarians In which place the most part of the countrey by reason of the naturall moisture of the ground and the rising of the rivers be overflowne full of standing waters and over-growne with willowes and therefore unpassable unlesse it bee to such as are very skilfull in those quarters and beside all this there is a winding circuit of an Island meeting in a manner by the comming to it of Parthiscus which a greater river environing severeth from all fellowship with the firme land CHAP. XIIII The Sarmatian slaves daring to ioyne battaile with the Romane armie after ashort fight are discomfited and by a very bloudie execution within the space of halfe an houre utterly destroyed After which overthrow the rest who remained at home were cruelly dealt with THey came therefore at the princes motion with their in-bred pride and arrogance to the hithermore banke of the river not minding as the end shewed to doe that they were commaunded but because they would not seeme to dread the presence and sight of our souldiors where they stood in a stout and stubborne selfe-will making plaine shew that therfore they drew so neere because they would reject whatsoever commaundement should be layed upon them Which the Emperour seeing evidently that it might happen having secretly divided his armie into many battailons with quicke speed and expedition enclosed them as they went within the said battailons of his owne souldiors and standing himselfe with some few upon an higher banke and defended with a strength of his guard about him hee mildly willed them not to be unruly But they wavering and doubtfull in mind were distracted contrarie waies whiles by wily craft and furious heat together they assayed to give battaile but withall entermingled their prayers and so providing to issue forth in a place neere unto them and to charge upon our men they cast for the nonce their shields a great way before them that stepping forward by little and little to recover them they might without any shew of fraud gaine ground by stealth Now by this time the day was well spent and grew toward evening seeing then the declining of day-light put them in mind to make hast our souldiors marched with their banners upright and in a fierie heat advaunced against them Who keeping close together and drawing themselves into thicker rankes bent all their force against the prince himselfe standing as hath beene said on high and that they did with menacing eyes and terrible words This furious madnesse of theirs our armie for very anger could not endure but as they preassed hard and hote upon the Emperour as hath beene said with a battailon narrow and sharpe-pointed before which forme the simple and plaine souldiors use to tearme Caput porci i. an Hogs head gave them such a hote and violent charge that they dis-ranked their battaile Thus on the right hand our footmen cut in pieces the companies of their footmen and on the left our men of armes entred the nimble troupes of their horsemen The Praetorian band that carefully guarded the Emperours person affronted them in the very breast and slew them downe right soone after also as they fled came upon their backes and killed them And these Barbarians as they were overthrowne and felled to the ground such was their invincible contumacie and wilfulnesse shewed by the horrible gnashing noise which they made that they grieved not so much at their owne death as at our mens joy and gladnesse And beside those that were starke dead a number of them having their ham strings cut and thereby destitute of all meanes to flye some with their right hands cut off others againe unwounded verily but crushed and squeezed under the weight of those that went over them endured dolorous torments without one word or grone given neither was there one of them who among those sundry sorts of execution either craved mercie or flung his weapon from him or desired quicke dispatch by present death but holding their weapons continually thus piteously afflicted though they were esteemed it a lesse fault to be overcome by the gorce of others than convicted by the doome of their owne knowledge and conscience yea and they were heard otherwhiles grumbling and mumbling these words That it was long of Fortune and not of thdir desert that this befell unto them Thus in the space of one halfe houre was the trhall of this battaile dispatched and so many Barbarians lay dead at once upon the ground as that it was the victorie alone and nothing else which shewed there had bedne a field fought Scarcely were yet these hostile nations defeated when the neere kinsfolke and deere friends of them that were slaine of both sexes and all ages one with another were brought forth in routs and companies plucked out of their poore and low cottages who abandoning the pride of their former life fell to the most humble and servile obsequiousnesse that might be And thus againe within the compasse of a very small time a man might see whole heapes of bodies slaine and flockes of poore captives Whiles this heat therefore of fighting and the gaine withall of conquering pricked our men still forward they rose up all at once intending the destruction of those that either forsooke the field or lay close hidden within their cottages When our souldiors therefore thirsting still after the bloud of Barbarians were come to the places where they kept downe they went with the light thatch and hewed the men in pieces neither was there any one of them whom his cabbin were it never so surely framed of strong timber-peeces saved from danger of death Finally when as all was on a light fire that none could lurke or lye hid any longer now that all meanes of saving life were cut off every one either perished obstinately consumed with fire or avoiding the fire if he went forth of dores whiles he sought to decline that one kind of death fell upon the enemies sword and so was slaine Yet some there were of them who escaping both weapon and fire as generall as it was committed themselves to the streame of the river running hard by in hope by skill in swimming to gaine the banke on the farther side of whom the most part sunke under the waves and perished some were shot in with arrowes and so lost their lives insomuch as with abundance of bloud there shed the streame of the river fomed and swelled againe Thus by both elements the armed anger and valour of the winners made cleane worke and riddance of all Decreed then it was after this order taken aforesaid That generally throughout they should all loose both hope and
open eares of the Emperour many shrewd and grievous matters ignorant as hee was of that wise saying and so wel known of Aristotle who sending Calisthenes a sectarie kinsman of his unto K. Alexander gave him many times in charge That very seldom he should have any talke and be sure then it were pleasant with a man who carried in the tip of his tongue power of life and death And that we should make no marvell at this That men whose minds and soules we suppose to be of a coelestiall substance otherwhiles are able to discerne of things profitable and meet considering that unreasonable creatures are wont sometimes to defend their lives by deepe silence as appeareth by this notable example Cranes when for heat they leave the East parts flie Westward no sooner begin to enter upon the mountaine Taurus wherein there bee so many Eagles but fearing those so strong and hardie fowles close up their bills with little stones that very extreame necessitie it selfe might not fetch any noise or voice from them and after they have with swift flight passed over the same hils they cast away the said stones and so hold on their flight forward with more securitie CHAP. IIII. Whiles Sapor king of the Persians prepareth to make warre against the Romanes Constantius besotted by his sycophants of the Court is advised to call backe home Vrsicinus a most renowmed warrior and Praefect of the East WHiles these matters were with much diligence straitly sought into at Sirmium the fortune of the East sounded terrible trumpets and gave intelligence of much danger abroad For the king of Persia bearing himselfe bold of helpe from those savage nations whom he had quieted and burning unmeasurably in an ambitious desire of rule and dominion made preparation of armour forces and victuals consulting with the fiends and infernall spirits of hell and seeking to all conjurers and juglers for to know the future events And thus beeing sufficiently furnished every way intended in the first temperat season of the spring to over-run all before him Now when as the newes hereof were brought first by running rumors and afterwards by certaine messengers all men stood perplexed and wist not what to doe for so great feare they had of calamities comming toward them the Forge in court beating still both day and night as one would say upon the same anvile and all for the pleasure of guelded Eunuches presented unto the Emperor a suspitious and fearefull prince Vrsicinus as a bug-beare or grim-visaged Gorgon oftentimes iterating these and such like suggestions That he being after the death of Silvanus sent eftsoones to the defence of the East parts as it were for default of better men aspired to higher matters By this base manner of foule flatterie many endevoured to purchase the favour of Eusebius then chiefe Chamberlaine with whom if we must speake a truth Constantius could doe much who was eagerly bent to overthrow the state of the foresaid Generall of the Horse for two causes for that he of all men alone had no need of his helpe as others and besides at Antioch gave not up his house unto him which most importunately he required This Eusebius like a serpent full of ranke poyson stirring up a number of her young ones that yet can hardly creepe to doe mischiefe sent out his groomes of the chamber now well growne and of good bignesse with direction That in their neere attendance which they gave about privie and inward ministeries they might with their small voice alwaies continuing childish and soft wound with grievous envie the credite and reputation of that valiant man in the princes eares too open unto such suggestions who quickly put in practise his instructions In irkesomenesse of these and such like I take delight to fall in praise of old Domitian who albeit farre unlike unto father and brother hee stained the memoriall of his name with inexpiable detestation yet famous he was for making this law so generally received and approoved by which in threatening wise hee gave streit charge That no man within the bounds of the Romane jurisdiction should gueld any boy which if it had not happened who could have endured whole swarmes and multitudes of them whose fewnesse is hardly tollerable Yet a good and warie course was taken least the same Vrsicinus beeing sent for againe as hee made semblance should for feare set all on a hurly-burly but when any good opportunitie was offered be haled presently away to suffer death CHAP. V. Antoninus a politicke and well experienced person leaving Constantius sideth with Sapor WHiles they waited for the event of these plots and were troubled with doubtfull thoughts in the time that wee made some short abode at Samosata the most noble citie in old time of the kingdome Comagena suddainely by rumours comming thicke and threefold we heard of new troubles which the processe of our historie shall declare There was one Antoninus who of a rich marchant became a minister in the Auditors office and then one of the protectors or guard under the Lord Warden of Mesopotamia a man well experienced wise and in all those parts passing well knowne being through the greedie avarice of some lapt in bonds and brought within the danger of exceeding great losse when he saw that by contesting with bigger and mightier than himselfe he gained nothing but was through unjust dealing more and more weakened by reason that they who had the hearing and handling of his cause leaned to the mightier as readie to currie favour with them he because hee would not kicke against the pricke framed himselfe to give fairer words and gentler language yea and confessed the debt which by covin and cautelous packing was turned over as due to the princes Treasurie And now projecting great and high designes very closely pried into all parts of the Common-wealth and as he was well seene in both tongues Greeke and Latine hee busied himselfe about the reckonings and accompts setting downe what souldiors and of what forces were abiding in any place and in whole defence they served in time of warre semblably enquiring by way of diligent search Whether there were abundant store of armour victuals and other necessarie provision for the warres Thus when he had learned the inward secrets of all the East and distributed the greatest part as well of men as money throughout Illyricum where the Emperour was held employed in serious affaires now that the appointed day drew neere of paying that money which by force and for feare he was compelled to confesse by a bill of his owne hand-writing that he owed fore-seeing that on every side hee was like to bee over-whelmed with all manner of perillous troubles whiles the Lord Treasurer for to pleasure another was very instant and sore urged him he endevoured all he could to addresse his flight unto the Persians with his wife children and all the deerest kinsfolke that he had And to the end he might
tragicall actors accompanying and bringing him on the way Andronicus afterwards well knowne for his liberall studies and excellencie in Poetrie was brought into the judgement place who carrying a cleere and secure conscience when he could not be touched with any suspitions and presumptions laied against him standing still to his purgation and that very stoutly was acquite Semblably Demetrius a Philosopher sirnamed Cythras a man verily farre stept in yeares but having still a good strong bodie and as stout a mind being hardly layed unto and charged That divers times he had offered sacrifice could not denie the fact but the fault impleading That from the very prime of his youth he had used so to do for to please and pacifie God and never sounded nor searched into high matters for he did not so much as know any man that affected or desired it Continuing therefore a long time set fast on the racke when surely grounded upon a firme confidence he persisted fearelesse and without varying in his answeres alleadged and pleaded still the same suffered he was without any further harme received to depart unto Alexandria where he was borne And these verily with some few others the righteous hand of God which helpeth and assisteth Truth delivered out of extreame and present dangers But whiles these criminations and endictments spred still further and further by intricate and intangling snares without end some after their bodies were piteously mangled died therof others despoyled of their goods were condemned to suffer further punishment and Paulus all the whiles was the prompter and succentor of these cruell enterludes which out of a spence or budget of craftie devices he brought forth in open shew to do hurt and whereof he acted many upon whose will and pleasure I may in manner boldly say depended the life of as many as went on the ground For if a man wore about his necke any remedies against the Quartane ague or some other paine or could be charged by the information of evill-willers to have passed by a monument in the evening as one that were a witch or sorcerer and collected the horrors of sepulchres and vaine illusions of spirits and ghosts walking and wandering thereabout pronounced hee was to deserve death and he died for it And verily the matter was thus for all the world carried and handled as if many a man had sollicited u Clarus the x Dodonaean trees and the Oracles of y Delphi which were so famous in times past and all to procure the death and destruction of the Emperour Whereupon the Palatine cohort of courtiers about him curiously and finely faining naughtie devises of flatterie affirmed flatly That he should from henceforth be exempt from all evils that commonly befell other men giving it out alowd with open mouth That his fortune had appeared at all times powerfull and surely effectuall in confounding and destroying of his adversaries And verily that there was such streight inquisition into these matters no man of wisedome and discretion findeth fault For we doe not denie that the life and safetie of a lawfull prince who is a protector and defendor of good men and from whom we seeke for means of others safetie ought with joint diligence and endevour of all men to be fenced and maintained For whose redeeming with might and maine when upon violence and abuse offered to his majestie he standeth upon his guard and defence the laws z CorneliÄ™ have exempted no person of what estate and degree soever from examination by way of torture though the same were with losse of bloud But on the other side it becommeth not princes unmeasurably to rejoyce and take pleasure in the wofull cases of subjects least they should seeme governed by licentiousnesse and not by authoritie And the example of Tully ought in this point to be followed who when it was in his power to harme and to spare as himselfe affirmeth sought for causes of forgivenesse and not occasions of punishment which is the proper dutie of a discreet and considerate Iudge At the same time in Daphne that pleasant and sumptuous place neere unto the citie Antioch was borne a monster horrible to be seene and reported an infant with two mouths two teeth a beard foure eyes and two exceeding little eares which birth so mishapen and deformed foretold that the Common-wealth was turning into a foule and ill favoured state Now such strange and uncouth monsters as these are many times brought forth into the world signifying and praesaging the events of sundrie things which because they are not openly as in old time expiated they passe away as unheard of and unknowne And even in these dayes the Isauri who had beene long time quiet after they had done some acts according to the contents of the former storie and attempted the siege of the citie Seleucia reviving by little and little as serpents are wont in the Spring season to leape out of their holes came downe the craggie straits and desart wields and then putting themselves close into thicke companies and squadrons as robbers and brigands sore troubled and disquieted the borderers and withall as mountainers passed beside the fore-fences and stations of our souldiors unseene and by meanes of their dayly practise ran easily to and fro over rockes and through grounds full of bushes For the appeasing of whom either by maine force or reasonable persuasions Lauritius was sent as ruler with the dignitie also of a Comes added to his style a man politicke and of a civile carriage who reformed most enormities by threatening rather than by rigorous dealing insomuch as for a great time while he governed the province there happened nothing that was reputed worthie of punishment THE XX. BOOKE CHAP. 1. Lupicinus is sent from Iulianus into Britannie for to represse the troubles and commotions there Vrsicinus by the slanderous calumniations of those in the Court depressed and throwne underfoot laid away his girdle of knighthood and is commaunded to betake himselfe to a private life THis was the order and processe of affaires throughout Illyricum and the East But in the tenth yeare of Constantius his Consulship and third of Iulianus when by the out-rodes of Scots and Picts savage nations the peace was broken in Brittannie and the places neere unto the limits appointed for marches wasted so that the provinces wearied with a multitude of calamities past heaped upon them were affrighted Caesar keeping his Winter in Paris and distracted into sundry carefull thoughts was afraid to goe and succour those beyond the seas as Constantius had done before time according as I have declared least he should leave Gaule without a ruler especially at such a time when the Alemans were stirred up to make cruell warres He thought it good therefore to send into these parts for to set all things in order Lupicinus at the same time Colonell of the Infanterie a warlike man I assure you and skilfull in feats of armes but prowd withall carrying a stately looke setting up his
swords in hand running forth here and there divers waies as the manner is in a suddaine uprore in all hast gat unto the princes traine at which excessive noyse the Warders and Tribunes being astonied and by name Excubitor captaine of the guard in ordinarie fearing also some trecherie of mutable and unconstant souldiors dispersed themselves for feare of suddaine death and slipt out of sight Howbeit the souldiors when they saw all was well and husht stood for a while armed as they were quiet and being demanded What was the cause of this unadvised and suddain hurlyburly after long silence and making some doubt of their new Emperours life they departed not before they were sent for into the Consistorie and had seene him at the full gloriously dight in his imperiall robes Notwithstanding when these newes were heard abroad they also who I said were gone before unfore under the leading of Sintula being now secure and past feare returned togegether with him unto Paris and upon an edict or proclamation made that the morning next following they should all meet in the open plaine field the prince beeing come forth with greater port and pompe than usually mounted up to the Tribunall environed about with Ensignes as well the maine Eagle standards as banners and guidons as also guarded with whole squadrons of armed Cohorts And after hee had paused a time whiles from aloft hee beheld the countenances of them there present when he perceived them all chearefull and joyous with plaine and simple words to the end he might bee understood as it were with so many trumpets he incensed them in this wise CHAP. V. The Oration of Iulianus as touching the appointment of militarie rewards Also with what words the night before that day wherein he was declared Emperour he was by the publicke Genius of the State saluted THe difficultie of this present businesse doth require and instantly crave right valiant and trustie protectors both of my person and of the Common-wealth who together with me have many a time put your lives in danger for the state of the Provinces for as much as yee have in a setled iudgement advaunced your Caesar to the highest pitch of all honours and dignities in few words summarily to deliver how there may be devised iust and wise remedies to cure and salve this chaunge of the world with us While I was a very youth scarce come to my growth being as ye well know clad in purple and made Caesar onely for a shew yet by the providence of the heavenly power commended to your protection and tuition I never was put from my settled purpose of leading an upright and honest life in all painefull labours seene together with you what time as having put to rout the confidence of bold nations after cities destroyed and infinite thousands of men slaine those few remaine which were left behind halfe broken and unsound infinite calamities still overran And needlesse I thinke it to rehearse how often in the hard Winter and bitter cold weather at which time both lands and seas are exexempt from warfare we repelled the Alemans a nation untamed before time with no small detriment and losse of their forces And verily for this one thing it is not meet that I should either over-passe or conceale it namely that when neere unto Argentoratum that most blessed day shone which in some sort brought with it perpetuall libertie unto the Gaules whiles I rode to and fro through the pikes and among the arrowes and darts where they flew thickest ye throughly grounded what with vigorous courage and what by long experience vanquished your enemies that suddainely brake in and overflowed all in manner of swelling and swift land flouds and them either layd on the bare ground by dint of sword or else drowned in the deepe channell of the river and that with few of our men left dead behind us whose funerals we honourably kept rather with solemne prayses of them than any mournefull sorrow of ours After which exploits so great and so renowmed posteritie I suppose will not keepe silence as touching your good deserts of the Common-wealth in all nations if whom yee have fully adorned with so high a title of maiestie ye vouchsafe to defend by your vertue and gravitie in case any adverse fortune should assaile me Now to the end there might be a sound course holden in our affaires and that the rewards of valorous men may attend upon them without all corruption and no secret ambition or indirect seeking after promotions catch them up beforehand this under the reverend presence of your counsell and assembly I determine and set downe That neither any civile Iudge nor martiall commaunder shall be preferred to higher degree through the helpe of aught else but his owne worth and good desert neither shall he who otherwise will presume to be a suiter for any goe his wayes without disgrace and shame The inferior souldiors beneath encouraged with this confidence of greater hopes as who had beene a long time kept fasting for having any dignities or rewards smiting their bucklers with their javelines rose up with a mightie noise and with one voice in manner and accord gave a favorable assent to his speeches and good beginnings and immediately for feare there might be never so little time given to trouble this so considerat and well advised dispose in the behalfe of the Atthuarij the Petulantes and Celtae besought they might be sent to governe what provinces it pleased him which when they could not obtaine they departed neither offended nor ill appaied Howbeit that very night which went next before the day wherein hee was declared Augustus as himselfe now Emperour reported to those were next about him and more inward with him in his sleepe there appeared one unto him in that shape and forme as the publicke d Genius or Angell useth to bee portrayed who said by way of chiding these words unto him Iulian long since have I in secret manner duly observed and kept the entrie of thy house desirous to encrease thy dignitie and divers times gone my wayes as reiected But if I bee not at this time received and admitted namely when the iudgements of so many agree in one goe I will as forlorne and sorrowfull howbeit take this with thee and set it deepely to thy heart That I will no longer dwell with thee CHAP. VI. The king of the Persians whiles Constantius abode farre off invadeth Mesopotamia forceth the citie Singara hewed in pieces two Romane legions and carried the rest as well citizens as souldiors away unto the furthest parts of Persis WHiles these things were earnestly a doing in Gaule that cruell king of the Persians burning in hote desire kindled first by Antonine and now redoubled by the comming of Craugasius to bee Lord of all Mesopotamia whiles Constantius abode farre off with his armie after he had augmented his armed forces and passed after his usuall manner over Tygris setteth in hand
of a Christian bishop by force winneth the besieged citie fareth cruelly against the townesmen and having given the attempt upon Virta a most strong fenced citie and relinquished this vaine enterprise at length departeth BVt the day following when a truce by common assent after manyfold travaile and paines taken was graunted what time as a great terror was presented round about the walls and the Persians feared no lesse a Christian bishop shewed by certaine signes of gesture and by beckening that he was willing to goe foorth and upon faithfull promise of returne in safe conduct he came as farre as to the kings pavilions where after leave given to speake his mind in a mild manner of speech he persuaded with the Persians to depart home now that both parts had received in common lamentable losses saying withall that greater sorrowes yet were to bee feared which happily would come unto them But hee stood discoursing of these and such like points in vaine such was the fell and outrageous furie of the king who withstood the motion stoutly swore That he would not depart before the towne and fortifications about it were destroyed yet was the bishop somewhat suspected untruly as I thinke though commonly it was by many men vouched That in secret conference and talke hee informed Sapor what parts of the wall he should assault as weake within-forth and easie to be battered And this seemed to carrie some likelyhood with it for that afterwards the enemies engines were evidently seene with a great shout and joyous leaping of the assaylants to play lustily upon the undefensible places and such as for very age and rottennesse began to leane and were readie to fall as if some that knew the inward secrets of the citie had given direction And albeit the narrow wayes yeelded difficult accesse unto the walls and the Rams fitted for batterie were hardly set forward for feare of stones throwne by hand and arrow-shot that kept them off yet ceased not eyther the brakes or scorpions wherof these discharged stones thicke the other sent out darts as fast and together with them baskets and panniers burning besmeared over with pitch and k Bitumen by the continuall fall whereof comming still downe the hill the sayd engines of artillerie stucke fast as fixed and rooted deepe within ground and beeing thus set fierie darts and burning linkes together throwne lustily with a good arme and star hand set them on a light fire But although the case stood thus and many on both sides were slaine yet the assaylants were more hotely set to rase and destroy the towne both by naturall situation strong and also by great workemanship of mans hand fortified ere the middest of Winter as being persuaded that the kings rage would not be allayed before And therefore neither the effusion of much bloud nor the number of them that were shot into the bodie and deadly wounded could reclayme the rest from like boldnesse But when they had a long time maintained fight with much hurt and mischiefe gotten thereby at length they exposed themselves to extreame and present dangers and as they drave their Rammes what with the weightie stones comming thicke from the wals and what with sundrie fireworkes debarred they were from going forward Howbeit one Ram higher than his fellowes covered over with wet bulls hides and therefore in lesse danger of mishap by flames or darts going before all with much straining and endevour crept to the wall and so with his mightie sharpe pointed head entring betweene the joints of the stones and having losened the same overthrew a tower which beeing fallen with a wonderfull crashing noyse they also who stood upon it with so suddain a ruine thereof were throwne downe and so eyther breaking their bones or overwhelmed with rubbish died sundry deaths and those unlooked for thus the armed multitude having found a more safe ascent rushed in Then as the hideous noyse which the Persians made yelling and crying out on every side thundered and resounded in the fearefull eares of the townesmen thus over-matched the fight grew hote and more close within the wals whiles our enemies in squadrons fought at hand considering that standing with their bodies one against another thicke and having their swords drawne on both sides there was not one spared that stood in the way In conclusion the besieged resisting a long time with much adoe and to the mischiefe of both sides were at length with the pressing hard of the huge multitude disranked and scattered by heapes after which the angry enemies put to sword whomsoever they could find the small babes were plucked from their mothers bosomes the mothers also themselves killed and no man regarded what he did And yet in the meane time this bloudie nation more greedie of pillage than of carnage loaden with all kind of rich spoyles and leading away an exceeding great number of prisoners went backe with much rejoycing to their tents The king for all he was puffed up with extraordinarie joy as one who a long time burned in desire to win Phaenicha a strong fenced piece and of great importance departed not thence before that hee had right strongly repayred that part of the wall which was shattered layed up there in store plentie of victuals and bestowed in it a garrison of armed men such as for their birth were of good note and for skill in martiall feats renowmed For he feared as it fell out indeed least the Romanes taking to the heart the losse of such mightie strong holds would addresse themselves by maine force to besiege the same Vaunting therefore and bearing himselfe more big and fed with hope to win whatsoever he could go in hand with after he had surprized and taken in other meaner piles he determined to set upon Virta a sort of great antiquitie insomuch as it is thought to have beene built by Alexander king of Macedonia seated verily in the utmost part of Mesopotamia but encircled with wals as it were winding in and out and pointed with hornes and by reason of sundry devices and meanes made unaccessable Which when he assayed by all the skill and art he had one while alluring the defendants with goodly promises otherwhiles threatening to hang and crucifie them sundry times going in hand to raise up bankes and mounts and bringing engines against it pertaining to a siege after more wounds and losses received than given he gave over his vaine enterprise and in the end departed These were the acts atchieved that yeare betweene Tygris and Euphrates Which when Constantius had learned by the relation of many messengers fearing the Parthian expeditions whiles he wintered in Constantinople with greater care he furnished the frontiers with all warlicke provision setting also armour together and new trained souldiors strengthening likewise the legions with supplies of strong young men for that the set battailes of legionarie souldiors oftentimes sped well in all the warres and services of the East parts besides all this he sought for
short which is the forerunner of death hee became speechlesse and after he had strugled a long time with his soule readie now to go forth of his bodie he departed this life the third day before the Nones of October when he had ruled q and lived 40. yeares and a few moneths CHAP. XIIII His Testament and his heire The ingenuous and plaine dealing of Ammianus Marcellinus in describing the vertues of Constantius AFter this when his reliques were with grievous grones lowd lamentations and monefull mourning interred those that were of highest place in the court consulted what to do or what they should go about and when they had sounded some few in secret wise about electing an Emperour by the instigation as it was said of Eusebius who was pricked in conscience for his offences committed what time as Iulian aspiring now to the government of the State crossed him there were sent Theolaâ—phus Aâ—igildus then Comites unto him shewing the death of his kinsman and requesting him setting all delayes aside to go directly into the East and to possesse himselfe thereof beeing readie to yeeld him obedience But the voyce went and rumors ran abroad That Constantius in his time had made his last will and Testament wherein he did set downe as I said before Iulian to be his heire and gave to those whom he loved feoffements upon trust and legacies Now his wife he left behind him with child of a daughter whereupon being borne after his death and called after his name when she came to ripe yeares she was coupled in mariage to Gratianus Observing truely then the difference of his vertues and vices meet it wil be that the principal be first declared He kept in all places the State and Maiestie belonging to an Emperour and with a loftie and brave mind despised popularitie exceeding sparing hee was in the beftowing of high dignities suffering seldom times any innovations about the administration of publique offices and never erecting any militarie titles neither was any captaine or commaunder under him advanced with the dignitie of r Clarissimatus for they were as we remember stiled s Perfectissimi Neither came the governour of a Province to be generall of the horse nor suffered hee him to meddle with any civile affaire but as well all officers of the campe as civile magistrats after the maner of the reverence and respect done in old time had alwayes in honour the Praefects of Praetorium as the verie height of all authoritie Passing carefull and warie in preserving of souldiers a precise examiner otherwhiles of their deserts As for the Palatine dignities he gave them as it were by a certaine plumbe-line and levell and in his dayes no new upstart or unknowne person came in place to beare any great sway in the court but he onely that after ten yeares space was throughly knowne like to ss mannage the mastership of the offices or the Treasure and Revenewes or any such like function And verie seldome it fell out that any martiall man passed to the administration of civile matters and on the other side none took the charge of souldiers but such as had beene hardened in warre service An earnest mind and affection he had to learning but when as by reason of his dull and heavie spirit he could not attaine unto Rhetoricke he left it and went to Poetrie wherein he did nothing to any purpose In a frugall and sober kind of life by moderat eating and drinking he had his health so well that seldome he contracted any diseases but when he did sicke he was almost to death For by long experience and proofe in t Physicke we have observed That such dangerous maladies are incident to bodies not loosely nor riotously given A little sleepe contented him when time and occasion so required And in so many yeares of his raigne passing chast hee lived so as he could not be touched so much as with suspition of inconstancie by any page or groome attending about him in which behalfe malicious people if they can find no fault indeed yet sticke not to rayse slanders of such as be in highest place and may live as they list A right good horseman he was and launced a dart verie well but above all as a most cunning archer he shot sure and besides was exceeding skilfull in the feats of service on foot To say nothing that hee was never seene abroad and out of his house to have snit his nose or spit or cast his head at any time at one side nor so long as he lived to have tasted of any apples or such like fruit because this hath beene often related alreadie CHAP. XV. He cloketh not nor concealeth his vices but with the pencill of hystoricall truth painteth them to the life having described the shape and liniaments of his bodie together with his buriall HAving recounted summarily his good parts as many as wee could come to the knowledge of let us now proceed to his bad Wheras in other affaires hee was comparable with princes that were of the middle ranke if he had caught hold once of any presumption of affecting or aspiring to the Empire how untrue or slight soever in sifting and examining thereof he would never make an end but without all regard of right or wrong proceeding herein he went farre beyond the monstrous courses of Caligula Domitian and Commodus whose crueltie he taking for a patterne to imitat in the beginning of his raigne slew and rooted out al of his owne bloud and kinred To adde more unto the sorrowes of these poore wretches that were enformed against as culpable in any point of pety or high treason his rigour and wrathful suspitions were streined and stretched to the uttermost in all such cases And if an inckling were given of any such thing he addressing himselfe to streit inquisition after it more eagrely than might stand with civile justice did set such as were fell and dreadfull to be the examiners and judges of these causes and in punishing some he went about to lengthen out the time of their death if nature would permit as one in such points of judiciall trials more cruel even than Gallienus For he being many times forelaid by the trains of traitors indeed namely Aureolus Posthumus Ingenuus Valens surnamed Thessalonicus and many others punished otherwhiles verie mildly their hainous faults that would have cost them their lives but this man enforced their facts even those whereof some doubt was made to seeme by violence of torment most evident and certaine And in these and such like cases hee then hated to the death when most of all hee laboured and endevoured this to bee reputed just and mercifull And like as out of a drie wood the sparkes that flie by a gentle blast of wind with an unrestrainable course reach to the daunger of countrey townes even so hee also out of the least matters raised whole heaps of mischiefes and miseries farre unlike unto that
and troublous stirres of warre hee bare himselfe wonderous high and now beleeving prophesies and making use of his owne experience namely how expedition in his affaires had diverse times stood him in much steed hee gave knowledge by proclamation of his journey into Thracia and so advauncing forward his ensignes in an happie houre after hee had passed through the bending and hanging straits of the Succi hee marched on to Philippopolis in old time called Eumolpias and all those with a cheerefull pace followed him whom he had in his conduct For they well considered that the Empire which they went by force to win and that with the feare of extreame perils was now beyond their hope graunted unto him by the ordinarie course of right And as the usuall manner of Fame is to amplifie all novelties hee hastened from thence mounted higher and higher as it were in some chariot of Triptolemus who for his swift passage round about in the aire fabulous antiquitie sayth rode upon winged dragons and thus dread by land and sea having no wals to withstand him he entred into Heraclea otherwise called Perinthus This beeing soone after knowne at Constantinople there came forth by numbers a multitude of all ages and of both sexes to see one sent downe as it were from heaven Received therefore he was the third day before the Ides of December with the honourable and reverend attendance of the Senat with the consonant applause also of the people and thus environed with troupes of armed souldiors and gowned citizens conveyed hee was along as in battaile ray having the eyes of all men fastened wistly upon him not onely with an earnest looke but also with much admiration For it seemed to praesage some great thing that he as yet a young man newly come to his growth small of bodie for his brave acts right excellent after the bloudie ends of kings and nations passing from citie to citie with unexpected swiftnesse which way soever he went with encrease still of riches and forces like a burning flame so easily seized and tooke up all places and to conclude who by the ordinance of the heavenly power entred upon the imperiall government without any detriment or losse of the Weale publique CHAP. II. He graunteth out a commission to right honourable personages for the examination and triall of all matters whence ensued the repairing of the tottering state of Commonweale and the punishment of some lewd and wicked persons SHortly after this he committed unto Secundus Sallustius promoted to be Praefectus Praetorio the charge to sit upon inquisitions as unto a faithfull minister and joyned with him in commission Mamertinus Arbetio Agilo and Nevita Iovinus likewise newly advaunced to be Generall of the Cavallerie in Illyricum who being all gone over to Chalcedon in the presence of the a Principia and Tribunes of the b Ioviani and c Herculiani examined causes more rigorously than reason and equitie required except some few in which the truth presented unto them most dangerous malefactors and offendors And first of all they confined into Britannie Palladius late master of the offices called into question upon suspition onely That he had framed and suggested some matter to Constantius against Gallus whiles he was Master of the offices under the said Gallus being Caesar Then banished they unto Vercellum Taurus who had beene Praefectus Praetorio whose fact before indifferent judges that can discerne betweene just things and unjust might seeme very pardonable For what fault committed he if fearing a blustering wind and tempest that was up he fled to the protection of his prince And the acts that passed upon him were read not without great horror when the publique Act or Record thereof contained this Exordium During the Consulship of Taurus and Florentius when Taurus was brought in under the Criers c. Semblably to the like point of destruction was drawne Pentadius unto whose charge it was layed That being sent from Constantius he wrote by way of cyphring What answers upon many interrogatories Gallus made when his death was at hand But when he defended himselfe rightfully he departed without harme of his person By the like unjust proceeding was Florentius the sonne of Nigrinianus Master of the offices for the time being thrust up into Boas an Isle of Dalmatia For the other Florentius who had beene Praefectus Praetorio and was then Consull also being skared with the suddaine change of the State having together with his wife escaped the dangers lay close a long time and could not returne before the death of Iulian howbeit in his absence condemned he was to die In like sort Eâ—agrius Comes d rei privatae and Saturninus late great Master or Seneschall of the palace as also Cyrinus who had beene a Notarie were transported over into exile But for the death of Vrsulus who was Comes Largitionum Iustice her selfe seemeth unto me to have wept blaming the Emperour for an unthankfull person For when as being Caesar he was sent into the West parts there to be kept short and put to all sparing of expences and had no power graunted to give aught by way of donative unto the souldiors to the end that being thus strait laced he mightlye open to the mutinies of the armie this selfesame Vrsulus sending his letters unto him who had the keeping of the treasure in Gaule commaunded That whatsoever Caesar called for it should be given unto him without faile When Vrsulus was put to death Iulian perceiving himselfe exposed to the rayling words and curses of many and supposing this foule fact which could not bee purged might yet bee excused avouched That the man was killed without his privitie pretending That in an angrie mood of the souldiors he was made away as who remembred well those words as I have alreadie related which he had let fall when he saw Amida rased And therefore he seemed timorous or not well advised when he made Arbetio a man alwayes suspected and exceeding prowd a speciall Commissioner and Iudge to heare and determine these causes having others together with the Principia of the Legions for shew onely present with him one I say whom above all he knew to be opposit and set against his life and safetie as became him who should be partner in civile victories And albeit those particulars which I have reported were displeasant to his well-willers and favourers yet these examples that follow were executed with due vigour of justice and severitie For Apodemius lately a Pursivant or Intelligencer who as I have shewed was very hot and sharpe-set to worke the death of Gallus and Sylvanus and Paulus that Notarie surnamed Catena a man not to be mentioned but with the griefe and groning of many were burnt quicke and perished by that end which was to be hoped for Beside these Eusebius who had beene chiefe Chamberlaine to Constantius a man of high spirit and cruell withall was adjudged
that by revising the battaile againe hee might repaire the confident hope of his owne men and seeme in a rechlesse neglect of himselfe wonderfully possessed with a care for the life and preservation of others Shewing herein the same vigorous courage though in a case unlike that Epaminondas that renowmed captaine did who being wounded to death at Mantinea and returned out of the battaile sought carefully for his shield and when hee saw it neere unto him died of his wound more joyfully and he that without feare forwent his life was afraid to loose his shield But when Iulianus his strength was not answerable to his will and that the flux of bloud sore followed him hee stood still and stirred not and hereupon grew he afterward past all hope of life because by inquirie made he understood that the place where hee fell was called Phrygia for he had intelligence given him aforetime by a written answer from the Oracle that even there he must dye When the Prince was brought againe into his pavilion a man would not beleeve in what heat the souldiors enchaufed with anger and griefe hastened to revenge rapping their shields with their speares fully bent even to dye for it if the case so required And although the dust flew upon their eyes and the weather growing hot hindered the agilitie and bestirring of their limmes yet as if with the losse of their leader they had beene discharged of their othe and freed from all militarie discipline they ran desperatly without any respect or spare of themselves upon the pike and swords points On the other side the Persians more couragiously shot their arrowes so thick that the volley and flight therof took away the Sunnes light opposing their Elephants withall who going but slowly with their big bodies and terrible crests affrighted both horse and man The buckling together therefore of men in their armour the groning of those that fell to the ground the blowing and snuffing of the horses and the ringing noyse of weapons was heard a great way off so long untill both sides were weaâ—ied with wounds good store and the night now darke parted the fight Fiftie Potentates and great Lords of the Persians together with the most part of the common souldior were that day left dead in the field and in this confused medley Merena and Nohodares two principall commaunders were slaine Now let antiquitie in her high and loftie words stand amazed at the twentie battailes which e Marcellus fought in divers places Tell they besides with brave speech how f Siccius Dentatus was adorned with a number of militarie crownes wonder they moreover at g Sergius who by report was three and twentie times wounded in sundry foughten fields whose noble and glorious praises Cateline the last of that race blurred with the blots of everlasting dishonour Howbeit there were some heavie occurrents that defaced these joyfull events For whiles these brave feats were everie where performed after the decease of the Generall together with the foyle of the right wing of the armie and the killing of Anatolius for the time master of the offices Sallustius the Praefect was driven headlong into present mischiefe and by the meanes of an officer of his rescued out of danger and when he had lost Phosphorius a counsellor who then assisted him the armie chanced to escape by flight certaine souldiors also through many dangers having put themselves for refuge into a fortresse hard by could not before three dayes after joyne with the armie CHAP. IIII. The Oration of Iulianus to those that stood round about him in his pavilion which being ended he distributed his privat house-goods among his neerest favourites And then discoursing exactly as touching the sublimitie of mens soules having drunk a draught of cold water he departed this life in the three and thirtieth yeare of his age IN this meane while Iulianus lying in his tent spake unto those that stood about him all cast done and heavie after this wise The time is now come quoth he my friends and companions and the same right seasonable for me to depart this life which as a debtor of trust to render unto nature calling for it againe I reioyce with all my heart Neither do I grieve and sorrow therefore as some do think having learned by the generall sentence and doctrine of Phylosophers how much happier the soule is than the bodie and considering beside that so often as the better state and condition is severed from the worse wee are to ioy rather than to grieve observing thus much also That even the gods in heaven have unto some most godly and devout persons given death as the chiefe and best reward And that this office is layd upon me I know passing well namely neither to yeeld unto painefull perils nor desperatly at any time to overthrow and cast my selfe away as having by experience found that all dolorous griefs as they insult and triumph over base cowards so they give way unto those that constantly persist Neither repent I of my deeds past nor wounded am I with the remembrance of any foule and hainous act committed either when I was a scholler and student within doores and privat corners or after I had entred upon the government of the Empire descending upon me as it were from the kinred of heavenly wights but have as I suppose preserved my selfe unstained both in mannaging civile affaires with moderation and also in raising and repelling warres upon advised and considerat reasons Albeit prosperous issues and good consultations do not alwayes and in everie place concurre together because the superiour powers in heaven challenge unto themselves the event and successe of all enterprises and designes And considering thus with my selfe That the end of a lawfull and righteous governement is the profit and welfare of obedient subiects I have beene evermore as ye know inclined to peace and quietnesse banishing from mine acts and proceedings all licentious libertie the corruptrice of States and manners both Right ioyfull also and wittingly much more have I stood firmely grounded and resolute wheresoever the Commonwealth as an imperious mother hath exposed me to apparent and evident daungers aâ— one used to contemne the whirling stormes of all casualties Neither will I be ashamed to confesse That long since I understood by the foretelling of a true and unfallible Oracle that I should die by the violent force of a weapon And in this regard I worship the everliving God that I depart this world not by way of any privie traines of treason nor by reason of long and grievous sicknesse no nor by the ordinarie end of delicat folke but in the mid-course of flourishing and glorious acts I have deserved this honourable decease For if a man iudge equally Both he that desireth to dye when he ought not and hee that refuseth to dye when it is behâ—vefull are fearefull and cowards alike Thus much it may suffice that I have spoken considering my vigour and strength beginneth
in the middest of a desart and long since dispeopled which when Traianus and Severus waâ—like princes attempted at sundrie times to rase downe to the ground they were with their armies like to have beene utterly defeated according as in the historie of their acts I have orderly set downe these particulars also From whence knowing that along this plaine stretching out threescore and ten myles in these drie countries there could be found neither water to drinke but such as was salt and stinking nor any thing else â—o feed upon but Sothernwood Wormewood Dragonce and other kinds of most bitter or biting hearbes all the vessels which we carried with us were filled with fresh water and by killing our cammels and other beasts of draught and carriage we made shift for food though it was unholesome And after six daies journey when there was not found so much as grasse to give comfort â—â— our extreame necessitie Câ—ssianâ—s Lord Warden or Marquesâ—e of Mesopotamia and Mauricius a Tribune sent before of purpose came to a castle in Persia named Vr bringing with them victuals out of that provision which the armie left with Procopius and Sebastian had saved by living frugally From hence another Procopius a Notarie Memorius a militarie Tribune were dispatched to the tracts of Illyricum and of Gaule to carrie tidings of Iulians death and that Iovianus after his decease was advanced to the dignitie imperiall These men the prince had given in charge to urge Lucilianus his wives father who after his militarie charge given up was retyred to a privat life and who made his abode as then at Sirmium after they had presented unto him a patent for the mastership of horse and foot both that he should make hast to Millaine there to settle the state that stood upon doubtfull tearmes and which was more feared if any new occurrences should arise to oppose himselfe Beside these Mandats he gave them letters also unto him of more secrecie willing Lucilianus likewise to bring with him certaine choise men of approved industrie and fidelitie whose helpe he meant to use according as the incident affaires should require And in good and wise policie he commanded Malarichus who had beene a dealer for him in his houshold businesse living as then in Italie to succeed Iovinus in the â— mastership of Armes in Gaule sending unto him the ensignes and ornaments of that office foreseeing herein a two fold commoditie namely that both a captaine of high desert and therfore suspected should be removed out of the way and that a man of inferior hope being thus preferred to an higher place might with great studie and affection establish the estate of his foundâ—r which as yet was but wavering and uncertaine Moreover commaundement was given to those that were to goe about the accomplishing of these businesses That they should extoll the whole course of the late acts and make the best of them yea and spread abroad what way soever they went light rumours according all in one tune namely That the Parthian expedition was brought to an happie end and that in travailing speedily night and day together they should insinuate unto the rulers of provinces and leaders of any forces the new Emperours writings and after they had in secret manner sounded the minds of them all returne quickly with their answeres that thus upon intelligence given what was done in remote parts there might betimes bee some wise course found out for the establishing of his Empire But Fame that prevented these messengers flew all about the provinces most swiftly telling tales of heavie accidents and strucke the people but the Nisibenes above all into grievous sorrow when they understood once that their citie was yeelded unto Sâ—por whose anger and secret grudge they feared as calling ever and anon to mind what mortall foiles and overthrows he had continually there sustained when many a time he went about to assault it For it was full well knowne that the compasse of the East Empire might have beene brought in subjection to Persia but that this citie so wel seated and so fortified with mightie wals made resistance How beit these poore wretches although they much more feared future calamitie yet comforted they were with this small hope that the Emperour either of his owne free accord or at their prayer and entreaâ—ie would in the same state keepe this citie the strongest port-cluse and key of all the East CHAP. XII When these victuals were spent the armie is distressed with hunger Iovianus refuseth to enter into Nisibis which citie Bineses in the name of Sapor taketh possession of notwithstanding the loyall and faithfull citizens who in vaine stood against him and whose pitifull departure out of it is here described WHiles divers rumours dispersed abroad in all places the order and course of these proceedings after the small store was spent of victuals which were in the armie and brought thither as I have said before men were of necessitie to feed on their owne bodies but that the flesh of their labouring beasts which they killed lasted in some sort a while wherby it came to passe that most of their armour weapons and baggage were cast away For so grievous and extreame was the famine whereby wee pined that if in any place there was but one x Modius or peck of meale found and that happened but seldome it was exchanged for ten pieces of gold Being thence departed we came to Thisaphalta where Sebaslianus and Procopius together with the Tribunes and principall captaines of the souldiors committed to their charge for the defence of Mesopotamia as the solemne order required met with us and being courteously received bare us companie After this the prince having made hast in his journey and gladly seene Nisibis pitched his standing campe without the citie and being earnestly requested by many prayers of the people that hee would enter the citie and as the custome was of other princes lodge within the palace he stiffely refused as being abashed and ashamed that whiles he conversed within the wals the citie otherwise in expugnable should be delivered up into the angrie enemies hands Then and there when the evening waxed darke Iovianus the principall of all the Notaries who at the siege of the citie Majozamalcha as I have said escaped with others through a mine under the ground was violently taken from supper and being brought into a place out of the way and pitched headlong into a drie pit was overwhelmed with a number of stones cast upon him for this cause verily that when Iulian was slaine he also being by some few nominated as worthie of the Empire after the creation of Iovianus behaved not himselfe in modest tearmes but was overheard to whisper somewhat as touching that affayre and other whiles invited to feasts the martiall men of the campe The next day Bineses one of the Persians who as I said was a noble and right honorable person among others making hast to
fashioned to the forme of the Pole which he carried and also with an horrible noyse the beames and posts within the Consistories made a sound There were seene likewise in the day-time blazing starres as touching the nature whereof the Naturall Philosophers varie much in their reasons and arguments For some hold That therefore they be called Comets or hairie starres for that when a multitude of starres be gathered together by the flashing of fire from them certaine haires seeme to be scattered Others are of opinion That of a drie exhalation of the earth steeming up aloft by little and little they catch fire Some againe doe thinke That the rayes or beames of the Sunne being kept from going downeward by the opposition of a thicke cloud betweene and casting a brightnesse upon a grosse bodie represent unto mans eye a light distinguished as it were with starres And there be also those that are thus conceited of them That such a sight as this then appeareth when a cloud drawne up higher than usually it hath beene shineth by reason of the vicinitie of those eternall heavenly fire or at leastwise that they be certaine starres like unto the rest the rising and setting whereof at what times they bee appointed mens wits could never reach unto Much more besides concerning Comets we have read in authors that be learned in Astronomie which I may not here set downe for that my pen maketh hast to write of other matters CHAP. XIIII Iovianus commeth to Tarsus and being departed from thence establisheth his imperiall dignitie by all the meanes he can But within a while after when he was come as far as to the confines of Galatia and Bithynia hee was in the night found dead His vertues and vices are briefly touched WHen the Emperour had stayed a pretie while at Antioch sore troubled with divers weightie cares a wonderfull desire he had to be gone And therefore sparing neither beast nor man hee sets forth from thence in the verie mids of cold Winter notwithstanding as it hath beene sayd many ominous signes crossed the same and entred into Tarsus a noble citie of Cilicia the originall foundation whereof I have shewed before And making exceeding great hast to goe out of it also he appointed to have the sepulchre of Iulian trimly garnished scituat within the precincts of that way which leadeth to the straits of the mountaine Taurus Whose reliques and ashes if hee had then done right and beene well advised Cydnus should not have seen a most pleasant and cleere river though it be but to perpetuat the glorie of his good deeds Tiberis that runneth through the mids of that immortall citie Rome and toucheth the monuments of the auncient Emperours of sacred memorie should have passed by From Tarsus when he was departed he tooke long journeyes and came to Tyana a town in Cappadocia where Procopius the foresaid Notarie and Memorius a Tribune in their returne meet him and open the whole course of their proceedings beginning as order required at this namely That Lucillianus being entred into Millane with Seniauchus and Valentinian two Tribunes whom he had brought along with him knowing that Malarichus refused the Mastership abovesaid rode in post to Remes and as if there had beene no rumors up but all quiet in that nation ranne forth as we use to say without the lists and verie unseasonably and over soone before as yet all things were well setled of an ordinarie Clerke gave himselfe to be an Auditor Who being privie to himselfe of his owne fraudulent and naughtie dealings fled unto the armie and devised That Iulianus being yet alive a certaine man of meane condition was risen up to make an alteration in the State and himselfe Emperour At whose false and deceitfull forgeries the souldiors mightily mooved and growne to a tumultuous broyle slew both Lucillianus and Seniauchus As for Valentinian who soon after became Emperor being in great feare doubtful whither to fly his friend and host Primitivus had packed him away in safetie But upon these heavie occurrents there came other newes as joyfull namely That the souldiors sent from Iovinus were at hand such as militarie men use to call Capita y Scholarum and these brought tidings That the army serving in Gaule gladly embraced Iovianus as Emperour Which being knowne for truth the second forme or ranke of the Scutarij was committed unto the regiment of Valentinian who returned with them and Vitalianus a souldior serving in the band of the z Heruli was taken into the companie and societie of the Domestici and he long after being advanced to the dignitie of a Comes fought unfortunatly in Illyricum And streight after was Arintheâ—s sent into Gaule bearing letters with him unto Iovinus exhorting him to keepe his place still and remaine constant given also he was in charge That the principall rayser of the foresaid tumult should be punished accordingly and that all authors of sedition should be sent over bound unto the Emperours Counsell After these matters disposed of as seemed expedient at Aspuna a little enfranchised towne of Galatia the α souldiors serving in Gaule shewed themselves unto the Emperour and being admitted into the Consistorie after gracious audience given of those errands which they brought they were rewarded and commaunded to returne unto their colours And when the Emperour was come into Ancyra after all things put in readinesse which according to the present time were requisit to a solemne pompe he entred upon his Consulship taking to him in the fellowship of that honourable dignitie his owne sonne Varronianus a young infant whose wrawling whiles he strugled hard and made means not to ride in the β Curule chaire as the custome was portended that which soone after happened Hereupon also the prefixed time that Iovianus was to end this life made a quicke dispatch of him For when he was come to Dadastana a place that divideth Bithynia and Galatia asunder he was found dead in the night as touching whose death many doubtfull reports have gone abroad For it is said that he could not endure the smell of his bed chamber newly daubed or pargetted with morter made of lime or that hee came to his end upon a tumor or swelling of his head occasioned by an huge fire kindled of coals or at least wise upon greediâ— feeding of a number of meats hee crammed his belly so full that he dyed of surfeit Now he departed out of this world in the three and thirtieth yeare of his age And whereas both he and Scipio Aemilianus chaunced to end their lives alike yet find we not that there was any inquisition made or commission sitten upon about their death His manner of gate was grave his countenance most pleasant his eyes grey bigge he was of making and withall verie tall in so much as a long time there could not bee found in the ward-robe any regall garment meet for the measure of his bodie And a willing
perils whatsoever and in a desperate resolution leading the way nothing at all afraid now to suffer any extremities setteth in hand with a most bold enterprise The g Divitenses and Tungritani of the younger sort and later enrolment appointed among others to make hast unto the urgent service in Thracia and purposing to abide after the solemne manner two dayes in Constantinople he hastened to sollicite by the mediation of some out of the same companies with whom he was acquainted because it was a perillous and difficult matter to speake with them all and made choice of some few to put in trust who beeing woon through the hope of great rewards promised and bound it with a religious oath to doe whatsoever he willed them yea and gave their word for the favour also and assistance of their fellow souldiors among whom themselves carried a great sway and might do much by persuasion as having the greatest pay and being of best desert According to appointment and when it was faire day light the said Procopius distracted into sundrie cogitations went to the Baines h Anastasianae so called of Constantines sister where he knew the militarie ensigns were bestowed and being enformed by those that were privie to their secret counsels that all of them upon an association made in the night agreed to side with him with assurance of safe conduct being gladly admitted unto them environed he was with a multitude thronged together of vendible or sale souldiors by way of honour I must needs say but yet pent up amongst them as one besieged who like as the Praetorian cohort in times past after the death of Pertinax received Iulianus cheapening as one would say the imperiall dignitie and making offer what price he would give for it even so they also bent to every thing that would yeeld them advantage and profite defended Procopius plotting to enter upon an unfortunate soveraignetie He stood therefore among them as one halfe pined and consumed a man would have taken him to have been a ghost raysed from the dead by reason that a rich regall mantle would no where be found clad in a coat beset with embossed gold like unto one of these kings servants arrayed from the heele to the share in manner of a nice and pretie page wearing also purple shooes and hose and as he bare a javelin or speare in his right hand so he carried in the left a pretie piece of purple cloth so as one would have thought that in a stage-play within the Theatre either some notable image and counterfeit through the tapistrie curtaines or else a mocking delusion to make folke laugh suddainely came forth and appeared Well then being thus after a ridiculous manner lifted up to this degree in disgrace as it were and mockerie of all honours and by way of servile flatterie having made a speech unto the authors of this benefit and advancement of his yea and promised unto them great riches and dignities for this hansell and first fruits as it were of his Empire foorth hee went in procession into the streets guarded with a multitude of armed men and there in stately port he marched on with the ensignes borne aloft upright enclosed on every side with a dreadfull noyse of shields and targuets clattering in dolefull wise which they for feare least from the high houses they should bee pelted with stones or broken tyles fitted close and thicke to the crests of their helmets As for himselfe going timorously as he did the people neither withstood nor favoured howbeit ravished they were with a suddaine pleasure and joy in such a noveltie a thing naturally given to most of the vulgar sort and this was the rather set on foot because as I said before all folke with one mind detested Petronius growing on to such wealth by violent meanes as who raised up against divers orders and degrees of citizens new troubles and suits yea and revived bils and writings of debt long since buried When as therefore the said Procopius was mounted up to the Tribunall and by reason that all the people looked downe on the ground and stood astonied which silence of theirs gave suspition of some mischiefe toward supposing there was prepared now as he feared a readier way to his death by reason of a trembling that went over all his joints being of himselfe not readie of speech he stood a long time silent Yet after he had now begun to say somewhat with an interrupt and dead voice whereby he pretended his neere alliance unto the bloud and line imperial with a low whispering of some few that were hired thereto of purpose and afterwards with tumultuarie noises and cries of the common people being named Emperour disorderly in great hast he went to the Curia where finding none there of Senators degree but some few and those ignoble and base persons he went apace but with a most unfortunat and wicked foot and so entred the palace CHAP. IX Valens hearing of this bold action of Procopius chaungeth his purpose Procopius by sundry craftie devices and in the end by an armie levied and assembled provideth for himselfe SOme marvaile I assure you that such ridiculous beginnings unwisely and rashly taken in hand have broken forth in the end to the wofull calamities of Commonweale as ignorant perhaps of former precedents supposing the same to have happened then first and never before Thus Andriscus the Adramytene a base fellow and of the meanest condition raysed up to the very name of Pseudophilippus was the cause of the third grievous and bloudie Macedonian warre Thus whiles Macrinus the Emperour abode in Antioch Heliogabalus i came forth of Emesa and became Antoninus So also by an unexpected assault made by Maximinus was k Alexander together with Mammaea stabbed to death In Affrick the elder Gordian haled by force to usurpe the Empire for very trouble and anguish of imminent dangers strangled himselfe with an halter and ended his life Well procured there were and taken in to the doubtfull issue of this strange occurrence some against their wils and some willingly marchants of trifling cates and such as gave attendance within the palace or had given over to wait those also who having beene enrolled souldiors had betaken themselves now to a more quiet life And there were againe who supposing all conditions of life better than the present State slipped away secretly from the citie and with speedie journeyes made hast unto the Emperours campe All these Sophronius then a Notarie Praefect afterwards of Constantinople out-stript and prevented by riding most swiftly and turned backe into Galatia Valens readie then to depart from Caesarea in Cappadocia intending now that the hote and sultring constitution of the weather in Cilicia was allayed to goe through and that with speed to the habitation and seat of Antioch him I say he averted from his journey after he had declared the whole order of the proceedings aforesaid unto him much troubled and
afterwards Procopius the author of all this proud and audacious rebellion was put to death and the adherents and complices of this faction cruelly executed this verie Tribune in regard of so noble an exployt keeping his life still and the place he had in warre-service dyed long after in Isauria stabbed and killed by a sort of robbing Brigands When Cyzicum was by this service laid open Procopius made hast thither after pardon graunted in generall to all those that had made resistance onely Serenianus he commaunded to be led bound unto Nicea and there kept in ward most straitly And forth with upon Ormisda a forward and ripe young gentleman the sonne of that noble Ormisda a Persian Prince of the bloud royall he conferred a Proconsulship with commission to manage after the manner of old time as well civile causes as warre affaires Who dealing mildly in his place according to his accustomed maner when he should have beene surprised and caught up in a sodaine incursion by those souldiors whom Valens had sent by the wilds and by-wayes of Phrygia with so vigorous a courage escaped that being once embarked he would never lye open to such doubtfull and daungerous chaunces and had away with him his wife that followed in safetie notwithstanding a cloud as it were of arrows flew all about when she was at the point to be taken prisoner a wealthy dame she was and nobly descended whose modest carriage and glorious constancie delivered her husband afterwards from extreame daungers Procopius upon the foresaid victorie vaunting himselfe above the condition of mortalitie and not knowing that any man be he never so happie to day with the turning of Fortunes wheele may once before evening become most miserable commanded the house of Arbetio full as it was by reason of those inestimable escheats which house before time he had spared as his owne as reckoning him for one of his owne complices and adherents to be rifled and ransacked cleane taking stomacke and indignation against him that being sent for sundrie times to come unto him hee alwayes made delayes alledging for his excuse the lets of old age and sicknesse And although for this cause he a presumptuous usurper might well feare some grievous inclination and turning of the ballance yet whereas he might now at his pleasure with the willing assent of all men there being none to make resistance have invaded the East provinces desirous all to see some new chaunge as irked with that rigorous and rough governement wherewith they were held under yet by lingering on and making longer stay for to allure unto him certaine cities of Asia and to chuse out skilfull miners for the getting of gold ore as those that might stand him in good stead against his wars which he expected would be many and great he became dull and blunt in manner of a keene and fine edged sword Like as in times past Pescennius Niger sent for oftentimes by the people of Rome to relieve and succour the hope of the State lying in extremitie whiles hee lingered a long time the invading of Syria was vanquished in the gulfe Issicum which is in Cilicia where Alexander defeated Darius and being put to flight died by the hand of a common souldior in a certaine Suburbe-village of Antiochia These were the acts that passed about mid-Winter whiles Valentinian and Valens were Consuls CHAP. XII Valens using the service of Arbetio an old experienced captaine draweth unto him many of Procopius his footmen and horsemen both At length Procopius himself bound in chaines by his owne men and brought unto Valens had his head stricken off and so buried quite the troubles of a civile war which was begun BVtwhen that most honourable magistracie was transferred to Gratianus as yet a privat person and to Dagalaiphus and the Spring began wherein all things gather strength Valens joyning unto him Lupicinus with strong auxiliaries speedily advaunced his ensignes towardes Pessinus a towne in times past of Phrygia and now of Galatia which when he had quickly fortified with a garrison least any unexpected accident might at unawares arise in those tracts he intended to take his journey by the foot of the high hill Olympus and the rough craggie lanes minding to set upon Gomoarius whiles he lay secure and negligent But crossed he was in this designe by many that jointly and resolutely agreed together upon this consideration especially That his enemie as hath beene related before by carrying about with him in a litter the little daughter of Constantius with her mother Faustina both in the way as he marched and also when battailes approched one another embattailed he enkindled the courage of the souldiors to the end that for this imperiall progenie whereto he sayd moreover that himselfe was linked they might fight more boldly Like as upon a time the Macedonians readie to strike a battail with the Illyrians placed their king as yet an infant in his swathling bands behind the armie raunged in battaile ray for feare of whom least he should be carried away captive they fought more valiantly and vanquished their enemies Against these craftie fetches the Emperour in sage policie to helpe the matter thus wavering and readie to reele tooke good order and exhorted Arbetio sometime Consull who this long time had lived privately to repaire unto him to the end that by the reverent regard of him a captaine under Constantius the rebels fell stomacke might be appeased And so it fell out in very deed For when he in yeares elder and in dignitie higher than all the rest shewed his reverend gray haires unto many that were otherwise enclined to perfidious trecherie he calling Procopius himselfe a trayterous rebell to the State but the souldiors that now followed his error sonnes and parteners with him in travailes and paines-taking long agoe requested them rather to follow him as a father knowne unto them for his most happie conducts than to be ruled by a lewd varlet who would even anon beforlorne and at point to take his finall overthrow Which being knowne Gomoarius when he might well ynough have deluded the enemies and returned safe to the place from whence he came taking the vauntage of the neere distance in pretence and colour of a captive passed over to the Emperours campe as if he had beene beset with the rode of a multitude that he suddainely espied Vpon this good successe Valens marched on with a running campe toward Phrygia and neere unto Nacolia when they were come to joyne battaile the captaine of the adverse side Agilo at the very instant of a doubtfull fight by riding suddainely out of the ranke betrayed all and in imitation of him a number of others now shaking their javelins and swords goe over to the Emperour bearing their banners and shields reversed a most manifest signe of revolt This being once seene besides all mens expectation Procopius perceiving himselfe cut off from all meanes of escape betooke him to his heeles and ran
within the secret noukes of the woods and woulds that stood round about and after him there followed Florentius and Barchalba a Tribune whom being well knowne for his service in most bloudie warres even from Constantius his dayes necessitie and not his owne will had drawne into this leawd and wicked action When as therefore the greater part of the night was past and the Moone which from evening shone untill day light augmented their feare Procopius seeing on every side himselfe destitute of all meanes of escaping not knowing what to doe as it falleth out commonly in such hard cases expostulated with his lamentable and heavie fortune and so over whelmed with a world of sundrie cares was suddainely by his owne companions fast bound and upon the returne now of day brought into the campe and presented to the Emperour saying never a word and looking downeward and immediately having his head smitten off hee buried with him the troubles of civile discords that were growing according to the example of Perpenna in old time who after that he had murthered Sertorius as he sat at his meat having enjoyed a while the Soveraignetie was plucked forth of the shrubs under which he had shrowded himselfe and being brought before Pompeius at his commaundement was slaine And in the like heat of bloud Florentius and Barchalba who brought him in were streightwayes killed without any regard and consideration had of reason For if they had betrayed their lawfull prince even Iustice her selfe would have pronounced they were rightly killed if a rebell and enemie of civile peace as he was named to be they ought to have had ample and large rewards given them for so memorable an act Now Procopius departed this life when he was fortie yeares old and tenne moneths over a man not uncomely of bodie nor of meane stature somewhat stouping and in his gate looking alwayes downeward to the ground and by his close and sad behavior like for all the world to that Crassus of whom Lucillius and Tully make this report That he laughed but once all his life time and that which is to be wondered so long as he lived not stained with bloudshed CHAP. XIII Marcellus captaine of Nicea after that Serenianus was slaine and Chalcedonpossessed taketh upon him the shaddow of a deadly and wofull Emperour but within a little after is suppressed Then was there cruell proceeding against the complices of Procopius and Marcellus and that beyond all measure for which Valens an implacable man whose greatest fault it was deserved blame whose crueltie here is described NEere about the same time Marcellus a Protector and a cousin of the same Procopius captaine also of the garrison at Nicea having intelligence given him of the souldiors revolt and death of Procopius came upon Serenianus at unawares in the dead time of midnight shut where hee was within the palace and slew him whose death was the life of many for if he had survived this victorie being a man rough hewen rude of behaviour and for resemblance of conditions and vicinitie of native soyle well accepted of Valens observing the close disposition and pleasure of the prince too much enclined to crueltie would no doubt have massacred many innocent persons who being slaine Marcellus aforesaid riding presently unto Chalcedon and seizing it into his owne hands at the crie and shout of some few whom their base condition and desperat estate thrust forward to mischiefe taketh upon him the momentanie shadow of an Emperour that cost him his life induced thereto by two motives which failed and deceived him for that both the three thousand Gothes which upon the pacification of the kings were sent to aid Procopius pretending that he was of kin unto Constantius he thought might be brought with some small reward and consideration to side with him and also for that the proceedings in Illyricum were as yet unknowne Amid these fearefull occurrences Equitius being given to understand by faithfull espials That the preparation of the whole warre was turned upon Asia departing by Succi assayed by great force and violence to open Philippopolis called in old time Eumolpiada shut up and kept by the enemies garrisons a citie of very great importance and like to impeach his comming in case he should be forced when he was to bring the aids that were left behind unto Valens for as yet he knew not what had beene done at Nacolia to hasten unto Haemimontum But a little while after when the vaine presumption and usurpation of Marcellus was known there were sent adventurous and resolute souldiors who having apprehended him cast him into safe custodie as a slave yeelded up for to receive punishment Whereupon the next day following he was brought foorth and after his n sides were most cruelly cut and mangled together with his consorts that suffered the like torments he died in this regard onely favoured and loved for that he dispatched Serenianus out of the way as cruell as o Phalaris trustie both to one and another even to the teaching of cruell learning which he shewed upon small and trifling occasions After this mortall and deadly warre was by the fall of the chiefe captaine rooted out more rigorous proceeding there was against many than eyther their errors or trespasses required but most of all against the p defendors of Philippopolis who hardly and with very much adoe yeelded up both the citie and themselves but not before they had seene the head of Procopius which was carried into Gaule But to gratifie those that made much entreatie some were chastised more mildly among whom Araxius was a chiefe man who by ambitious labouring for voices and the intercession of his daughters husband Agilo in the very heat and broile of all attained to be Praefect and he I say was for his punishment confined to the Islands but shortly after escaped As for Euphrasius and Phronemius likewise they were sent into the West parts and exposed to the will and determination of Valentinian and verily Euphrasius was quit and set free but Phronemius was had away into Cherrhonesus and in the same businesse more unmercifully punished because he was a favourite of Iulianus of sacred memorie whose memorable vertues both the princes brethren depraved being themselves neither his like nor comming neere unto him Besides all this other exemplarie punishments there were more grievous yea and farre more terrible than those executions that fall out in battailes For the tormentor the drags and yron hookes with bloudie examinations without respect of age or dignitie made foule worke in all estates and degrees and under the pretence of peace a most detestable vice was put in practise whiles all men generally cursed this unluckie victorie more grievous than any deadly warre whatsoever For among weapons yet and sounding trumpets the equalitie of condition maketh the dangers lighter and the power of martiall valour either preventeth that which was attempted or if death happen suddainely and unawares it carrieth no sence at all of ignominie
bodie and words from his mouth in a chiding accent delivered he stayeth them and laboureth with bold standing to it a long time to wipe away so shamefull a dishonour was wounded mortally with a dart and so dyed After whose death the banner of the Eruli and Batavi was caught away which the barbarous enemies leaping and dauncing with many a friske erected often and shewed on high but after great conflicts it was recovered againe When knowledge was taken with exceeding great sorrow of this overthrow Dagalaiphus to make amends for this dishonourable foile was sent from Paris But whiles he a long while trifled out the time and alledged That himselfe was not able to set upon the barbarous enemies so scattered and spred in sundrie parts and was soone after sent for to take upon him the dignitie of a Consull together with Gratian who as yet was but a privat person Iovinus Generall of the Cavallarie addressed himselfe to this businesse and being well appointed and readie in battaile ray having a most watchfull and warie eye to both the sides of his armie as it marched drew neere unto a place named Scarpona where sodainely and unlooked for he surprised the greater multitude of the sayd Barbarians before they were armed and in the turning of an hand flew them everie one This worthy and notable captaine leading forth his souldiors rejoycing for this glorious battaile which cost them no losse of bloud for to defeat likewise the other companie behind and marching softly on was enformed by a trustie espial That the forces of these spoyling brigands having rifled the villages neere at hand rested hard by a river and approaching then anone and lying close hidden in a darke vale set thick with groves and woods beheld how some of them were washing and bathing themselves others busie in colouring the hayre of their heads yellow and making the same shine like gold as their manner is and some againe drinking garaus Thus having met with a verie seasonable time of advantage all on a sodaine he gave the signal by sound of trumpet and brake into the campe of these robbers The Germans on the contrarie side in bragging wise rapping out nothing but vaine sounds and noyses of threats were not permitted the conquerour pressed so hard upon them either to make readie their armes and weapons scattered here and there or to put themselves in order of battaile nor so much as to plucke up their spirits and resume strrength A number therefore of them pierced through with javelins and swords were slaine besides those who ran away and with good footmanship gat into the crooked and narrow lanes and there hid themselves Iovinus now fleshed and more emboldened with this happie exployt which vertue and fortune together had atchieved leading on his souldiors and sending out before a diligent scout-watch to discover the coasts made hast with a running campe to charge upon the third regiment of them which remained And having sped himselfe apace in this journey he found them all neere to the Catelauni most readie to joyne battaile When as therefore he had encamped himselfe within a rampier in a place convenient and as the time would give leave refreshed his men with meat and sleepe at the verie dawning of the day he arraunged his armie displayed at large with politique skill in an open plaine to the end that the Romans inferiour in number yet equall in puissance taking up so large a ground might seeme to match the enemies in multitude When as therefore the trumpets had sounded the battaile so that they began to fight close hand to hand the Germans affrighted with the strange sight of our glittering banners stood still Who being for a while daunted but soone after taking heart again so that the conflict held unto the end of the day our men with great force pressing hard upon them had gained the honour of a brave day without any losse at all but that Balcobaudes Tribune of the b Armaturae a man made altogether of big words but cowardly withall when as now the evening came on reculed in disorder whom if the rest of the cohorts had followed and gone away the matter would have growne so farre forth to an heavie issue that there could not possibly one have remained alive to tell what had beene done But our souldiors standing to it with resolute and fierce courage quit themselves so well with strength of armes that having sore wounded foure thousand of the enemies they left other six thousand dead in the place but they themselves lost not of their fellows above two hundred and two hundred likewise and no more were hurt Thus therefore when by the nights comming the battaile was ended and the wearied bodies of our men refreshed our brave leader toward day-light having stretched forth his armie in forme of a foure square battaile and found that the barbarous enemies taking vantage of the darkenesse were secretly slipped away and gone secure of any ambushments followed through the open champian grounds and easie plaine wayes riding over them as they lay along halfe dead who by reason that the sharpe cold aire drew their wounds together were killed with extremitie of paine After this when hee had gone further in his returne finding no enemie he learned that the king of those regiments of the enemies with some few taken by the c Hastarij whom himselfe had sent out another way to ransacke the tents of the Alemans was hanged on a gibbet Hereupon in his anger he purposed to punish the Tribune that durst doe such a deed without the advice of an higher power and verily had condemned him but that it appeared by evident proofes that this foule and cruel fact was committed in the souldiors hot bloud After this as he returned toward Paris upon the exploiting of this brave service the Emperour with great joy met him and afterwards named and elected him Consull and this I assure you augmented the measure of his joy For that the verie same time he had received the head of Procopius sent over to him from Valens Besides all this there were many other skirmishes fought lesse worthy the relation in sundrie tracts of Gaule which here to set down were superfluous labour considering that neither the proofe and issue thereof brought any great matter of gaine and importance nor beseeming it is to draw our an hystorie in length by such base and slight particulars CHAP. II. A portenteous prodigie seene in the town Pistoriensis presaging bloudie seditions as Rome especially and that among the Christians for the strife and contention of Damasus and Vrsicinus about the bishopricke AT this time or a little bfore there appeared a strange and portenteous sight in Thuscia d Annonaria and what might the end and effect thereof be the skilfull and learned in such prodigious signes were altogether ignorant For in the towne Pistoriensis neere the third houre of the day in the sight of many an Asse
or Shew-places when by breaking their backe grates and dores in pieces they get at length to be at libertie And when this matter was many times handled and discussed in flourishes as it were and shewes so that some having their sides gashed and torne nominated certaine noble persons as if they had used workers of mischiefe by the meanes of their dependants and other base fellowes this divellish Inquisitor noting as well the parties accused as the informers and tracing them as they say by the foot roved further and in a malicious relation advertised the prince That the wleked and leawd acts which many committed in Rome could not possibly be either searched out or punished but by more sharpe and quicke justice Who upon the knowledge hereof being enraged as he was an enemie to vices rather rigorous than severe by vertue of one precept or warrant directed for such causes which hee mingled with an arrogant intention of treason decreed That all those whom the justice of auncient lawes and the judgement of sacred princes had exempted from bloudie inquisitions should if the case so required be put to cruell examinations by torture And to the end that a duple authority and the same strained to the height might patch matters together to the utter undoing of persons in higher place unto this Maximinus appointed to rule at Rome as deputie PrÄ™fect he joined in commission for the knowing and determining of these things which were a framing to the danger of many Leo a Notarie afterwards master of the Offices a very swash-buckler at every funerall a knowne robber and a Pannonian one who breathed foorth of his savage mouth crueltie and yet was neverthelesse greedie still of mans bloud Now the naturall disposition of Maximinus bent to doe mischiefe was much augmented by the comming to him of a like companion as also by sweet letters from the Emperour together with an honourable dignitie And therefore flinging out his feet to and fro for joy as he went he seemed to leape and daunce rather than to goe whiles he affected to imitate the Bracmans who as some report keepe a staâ—king and stately jetting among the altars And now by this time when the trumpets of domesticall miseries sounded and all men were amazed to see the horrible state of the world how it went beside many cruell and unmercifull examples the varietie and number whereof is incomprehensible most notable was the death of Marinus an advocate whom upon a slight and cursarie weighing of proofes and presumptions he condemned to death for daring by indirect and wicked acts to seeke the mariage of one Hispanilla And because I suppose that some men who haply shall read these reports will be readie to search exquisitly into particulars and reproove me keeping a stirre and saying This was done first and not that or such things are overslipt which themselves saw thus farre forth we are to give satisfaction unto them namely That all things are not worthy to be put downe in writing which passed among meane and base persons neither if that should have beene needfull had we sufficient instruction from the verie records considering how many publique miseries and misfortunes were so rife and hot and that this new furie uncurbed and unrestrained made a generall pudder and confusion whiles it was evidently knowne there was not a thing much feared any lawfull proceeding to judgement but a cessation of all law and justice Then it was that Cethegus a Senatour accused for committing adulterie had his head chopt off and Alypius a noble young gentleman for a small errour was sent away and confined yea and other meane persons were executed and died a publick death in whose calamities everie man seeing as it were the image of his owne perill dreamed of nothing but tormentors chaines bonds and lodging in balefull darknesse CHAP. III. The narration of Hymetius his case The crueltie of Maximinus repressed for a time is more hotly enkindled against Lollianus Clarita Flaviana Pafius Cornelius Sericus Asbolius Campensis and Aginatius AT the same time was the businesse also in hand of Hymetius a man of excellent towardnesse and expectation the order whereof wee know was carried in this wise When he governed Affricke as Proconsull he allowed corne unto the Carthaginians much distressed now for want of food out of the garners appointed for the people and State of Rome and within a while after when the earth had yeelded plentifull store of graine he made full restitution thereof without any delay But for as much as when hee sold unto them that wanted ten modij after the rate of one c solidus and himself had bought thirtie at the same price the whole gaine and advantage accrewing thereby he sent into the Princes Treasurie And therefore Valentinian supposing that by such returne of buying and selling there had beene sent lesse than there ought to have bin fined him with losse of a good part of his substance And to make his miserie the more there fell out this occurrent also at the same time no lesse pernitious to him than the other Amantius a famous Soothsayer above the rest in those dayes being by secret information discovered and made knowne that for the performance and complement of some small matters he was sent for by the same Hymetius to sacrifice and hereupon judicially convented albeit hee stood stooping in manner double under the racke stiffely and constantly denyed the same Who whiles he still made denyall in certaine privat and secret papers produced from his house there was found a Memorandum written with Hymetius his owne hand requesting him out of his art and learning by the rites and ceremonies of some solemne sacrifices to pray unto the divine power of the Emperour and to procure the favour of his sacred Majestie toward him in the utmost part of which writing there was read a certaine invective against the said Emperour as being a covetous and cruell Prince Valentinian advertised hereof by relation of some informers who made construction of all things that were done in the worst sense commaunded there should be inquisition made into this businesse in most rigorous maner And for that Frontinus a practiser with Amantius abovesaid was charged to have beene the minister of that forme of prayer which was made when he had been well tewed with rods and compelled to confesse he was banished into Britaine but Amantius condemned afterwards for capitall matters suffered death After these affairs in this order passed Hymetius being brought to the towne O criculum to have his cause heard by Ampelius Prefect of the citie and Maximinus vice Prefect and like as it seemed presently to be put away when he had libertie graunted to speake tooke the better course and appealed for succour to the Emperour and so protected under the safeguard of his name was kept in ward safe And the Princes pleasure being asked What should be done with him hee committed the managing of this
of all unto Simplicius So there were officers sent who upon the said discoverie made had them away out of their lurking place and Abienus verily upon the crime of adulterie strongly enforced against him which he was said to have committed upon the bodie of Anepsia suffered death but the woman to the end that by deferring her punishment she might have assured hope to save her life avouched That being by cursed and wicked arts assayled she suffered that dishonour and violence in Aginatius his house These things as they happened Simplicius rung out againe into the Emperours eares and Maximinus who abode there upon a malitious mind that he bare against Aginatius alreadie for the cause above specified now that his privie grudge was together with his power and authoritie more incensed made an exceeding earnest suit that there might be a letter sent backe againe for to have him executed And verily this braine-sicke incitor and mightie withall soone obtained so much but fearing the heavie load of envie and hatred in case a man of noble birth should come to his death by sentence of judgement that Simplicius both his owne counsellor and friend also pronounced kept with himselfe for a while the Emperours precept being at a stay and doubting whom he might find out especially to be a trustie and sure executor of this horrible designe And at the last as commonly like will easily sort with like he lighted upon one Doryphorianus a Gaule and a bold franticke person on whom for promising shortly to accomplish this service he tooke order that a deputieship should be conferred and to him he delivered the precept together with the Emperours letters instructing the man cruell though he was yet unexpert and unskilfull with what expedition he might without all let or impeachment dispatch Aginatius who peradventure upon finding out any meanes of delay would escape and be gone Doryphorianus sped himselfe in all hast and tooke long journeyes till hee came to Rome and at his first comming before all complements of salutation ended he cast about and with great diligence sought by what forcible device with the helpe of some others he might take away the life of a Senatour so nobly discended and having intelligence that but a while before he had beene found in a farme-house or mannour of his owne himselfe with a sterne countenance determined to have the judiciall hearing of Anepsia as the chiefe of all the offendors and that during the ugly darke night what time folkes minds possessed with horror and terror use to be dull and dead as among an infinite number of examples h Aiax also in Homer sheweth wishing to dye by day-light rather than to abide the terrors of the nightly feare And for that this Iudge or rather a wicked Brigand intending onely that which he promised made every thing greater than it was when he had commaunded Aginatius to be brought before him judicially he caused a number of hangmen and tormentors to enter in place and whiles the chaynes made an hideous noyse with their jingling he tortured to the very point of death the poore slaves pined with foule usage and evill keeping a long time to endanger by some evidence their lord and masters life a thing that most mild and mercifull lawes have forbidden to be done in the question and matter of fornication In the end when some torments were so grievously inflicted that they had expressed from a sillie maid servant now readie to dye certaine ambiguous or suspicious words no sooner was the evidence by her given fully discussed and sifted but without any more adoe definitive sentence was pronounced That Aginatius should be led to execution And thus without any audience given him notwithstanding with a lowd voice he called upon the names of Princes and Emperours hoisted he was away on high and put to death and by the like sentence Anepsia was also executed As Maximinus himselfe played these prankes both in his owne person whiles he was present and also by his pragmaticall and busie agents when he was farre off Rome citie bewailed the death of many But the Furies made hast to revenge those that were thus slaine For as it shall hereafter be shewed in due season not only the same Maximinus bearing himselfe intollerably prowd under Gratianus was condemned and suffered death but Simplicius also was killed and cut in pieces in Illyricum yea and Doryphorianus pronounced guiltie of death and thrust into the deepe dungeon i Tullianum the prince by his mothers counsell fetched foorth from thence and when he was returned to his owne home in Gaule with dolorous torments made an end of him But now returne we from whence we turned hither Thus stood the state as I may so say of the citie affaires CHAP. VI. Valentinian goeth about to bridle the rodes and invasions of the Alemans and they having sued for peace but not obtained it set upon the Romanes at unawares and kill two of their martiall leaders BVt Valentinian conceiving great matters in his mind and those of behoofefull consequence fortified the Rhene all along from the beginning of Rhaetia unto the narrow sea or Frith of the Ocean with mightie pyles and bankes raysing up castles skonces forts and turrets of a great height one by another raunged along in meet and convenient places along the coast of Gaule as farre as it reacheth in length yea and otherwhiles with houses and buildings planted beyond the rivers encroaching somewhat upon the limits of the Barbarians and winning ground Finally when he cast with himselfe and considered how that high built and strong fenced fortresse which himselfe at his first entrance had founded out of the very ground by reason that the river named Nicer running hard by might by little and little with the violent beating of the waves be undermined and subverted he devised to turne the streame another way and having sought out and gotten together cunning workemen skilfull in water-workes and a number beside of stout souldiors hee entred upon this hard piece of worke For certaine maine pieces of timber and those of Oake for many dayes together were framed and couched close and the same cast into the chanell notwithstanding huge posts forcibly pitched down hard by and eftsoones pitched againe at the rising of the mightie billowes were shuffled and huddled together yea and plucked up with the violence of the streame and broken in sunder Yet for all this the great and earnest care of the Emperour together with the painefull labour of the dutifull souldiors who oftentimes when they were at worke stood up to the chin plunged in water overcame all difficulties And so at the last not without danger of some the garrison forts were rid quite frō the trouble wrought by the mightie wandering river and now stand strong and sure Being glad therefore and rejoycing at so good speed and gathering those together who according to the time and season of the yeare were slipped sundrie wayes he
and ill appaied CHAP. XIIII The Court-like practises of Romanus Prefect of the Province of Palladius and others to worke the destruction of the Tripolitanes FOr which accidents the citizens doubtfull of their lives and assaying the utmost meanes they could devise ere that the embassadors dispatched before were returned send Iovinus and Pancratius to give faithfull intelligence unto the Emperour of what they had seene and what themselves had endured who meeting with Severus and Flaccianus those former embassadours at Carthage understood by them after question made how they had sped that by commaundement the hearing of their case was committed to the said Deputie and the Lieutenant Of those twaine Severus who was fallen exceeding grievously sick straight waies died therof Neverthelesse these other embassadors aforesaid made great journeyes and sped them in all hast to the Court. After this when the said Palladius was entred into Affricke Romanus advertised beforehand for what cause he was come to the end he might provide for his owne securitie and safetie gave order to the Principals of the bands by certaine that were privie to his secrets that unto him as to a mightie man and next unto the chiefe personages of the Palace they should acknowledge received the greatest part of the wages which he had brought over with him to pay And this was done accordingly He then hereby enriched forthwith set forward to Leptis and that he might the better search out the truth he led forth with him unto the places which lay wasted Erechthius and Aristomenes two eloquent Bourgesses and men of good note who frankly ripped up the miseries of themselves the citizens and the neighbour inhabitants Now when they had plainly declared and shewed all he having onely seene the lamentable ruines and ashes of the Province returned and greatly rebuking Romanus as an idle and slothfull governour hee threatened that he would most truely relate unto the Prince whatsoever he had seene And the other againe in a great chafe and griefe hereat promised That hee also shortly would give information that Palladius being sent as an upright and uncorrupt Notarie had interverted and conveyed all the souldiors donative to his owne proper gaine In which regard having his owne conscience to condemne him for his lewd dealings he afterwards grew to an attonement with Romanus So being returned unto the Court by the impious art of lying he deceived Valentinian and reported That the Tripolitanes complained without cause And therefore sent back he was againe with Iovinus the last of all the embassadours for Paâ—cr atius was departed this life at Triers to the end that himselfe with the Vicarius should see into the reason and cause of this second embassage Besides all this the Emperour commaunded That the tongues of Erechthius and Aristomenes whom the same Palladius had intimated to have spoken certaine words upon spight and envie should be cut out of their heads The Notarie as it was appointed followed after the deputie and came to Tripolis which when Romanus knew he sent with speed a domesticall servant of his thither and Caecilius his counsellor one borne in that province by whose meanes all the burgeffes being circumvented with money or craftie sleights I wot not laid great blame upon Iovinus affirming constantly That they had given him information of no such matters as he had delivered unto the prince and thus farre proceeded iniquitie and indirect dealing that Iovinus also himselfe to the endangering of his owne life confessed he had told the Emperour a lye Which being made knowne by Palladius when he was come backe Valentinian a prince very prone to ire and crueltie commaunded That Iovinus verily as the author and principall but Coelestius Concordius and Lucius as privie and parteners with him in that false information should loose their heads as for Ruricius the President he awarded him also to suffer death and this moreover made much against him for that in his certificate given up there were read certaine over-big words of his as it was thought and Ruricius verily was executed at Sitifis but the rest at Vtica had their judgement by the sentence of Crescens the deputie there Howbeit Flaccianus being heard judicially by the said deputie and lieutenant before the death of those embassadours as he stoutly pleaded in defence of his life with the shouts and outcries of the angrie souldiors in their violent heat and with taunting tearmes was well neere stabbed to death who objected That the Tripolitanes could not therefore be defended because themselves refused to find and allow necessarie meanes for the maintenance of an expedition and hereupon being cast into prison whiles the Emperour being asked his advice What was meet to be done was in determining some course by solliciting as might wel be thought his keepers brake prison and fled to the citie of Rome where lying close by the course of nature he ended his dayes CHAP. XV. The iustice of God calleth for due revenge of these most wicked and ungracious men WIth this memorable end ensuing Tripolis after it had been fore plagued as well with forraine as home-calamities was appeased and not left without defence because the eternall eye or Iustice and the Furies revenging the death of those embassadours and the President aforesaid watched over them For long after such an event as this brake out and came to light Palladius cassed and discharged from his militarie oath and deprived of that place which made him swell with pride went to lead a privat life and when Theodosius that noble Generall and grand Commaunder came into Africke for to suppresse Firmus who attempted mischievous matters and according to his commission rifled the moveable goods of Romanus aforenamed among his papers and writings there was found a letter also of one Meterius containing in it these words Domino Patrono Romano Meterius i. Meterius to his Lord and Patron Romanus greeting and in the end after many impertinent words Palladius the outcast saluteth you who sayth That for none other cause he was cast out of favour but for that in the matter of the Tripolit anes he made a lye in the Emperours sacred eare This letter being sent unto the Court and there read Meterius by the commaundement of Valentinian being apprehended confessed That the Epistle was his and therfore Palladius commaunded to be brought foorth and shewed in place thinking with himselfe what a deale of criminall matters he had brewed in a certaine station at the beginning of night observing the absence of the keepers who upon a feastivall day of the Christians lodged all night in the church knit his necke in an halter and so throtled himselfe and died This overture of more happie fortune being fully known and the stirrer up of these wofull broyles dispatched out of the way Erechthius and Aristomenes leapt out of their lurking holes who when they were advertised That commaundement was given to have their tongues as overlong and lavish
was once layd up fast in prison and the scrow containing these matters read as the manner is before the Emperour his monstrous crueltie brake out farther like a most flaming fire and the same fed still with the foule and shamefull flatterie of many but principally of Modestus then Praefect of the Praetorium who whiles he was daily disquieted with feare of a successor in his rowme daily playing the jeaster under the shadow of pleasant and merrie conceits divers waies woon vnto himselfe Valeus a man somewhat rude and rough hewen tearming his unpleasant and rusticall words the fine phrases and flowers of Tullie and to encrease his vanitie and vaine-glorie the more bearing him in hand that the very starres if he did but say the word might be brought there in place out of the skie CHAP. II. An infinit number of men apprehended for the said crime First Theodorus as the head of all What was done in this businesse throughout by Valens and his ministers and with what affection of mind WHereupon commaundement was given That Theodorus also should with all speed be fetched from Constantinople whither hee was gone about some houshold businesse of his owne Meane while that he was brought backe by sundrie fore-judgements which were holden night and day there were drawne from most diffite regions persons of good marke for their dignities and nobilitie And when as neither the common goales being alreadie pestered full nor privat mens houses could now hold the number of them that were committed to ward as being thronged and thrust close together with an hot steame among them because the most part of them were kept in bonds everie man sore feared his owne and his neighbours case At length commeth Theodorus himselfe also halfe dead in manner alreadie and clad in mourning blacke and whiles he was bestowed and hidden in a blind corner of the territorie out of the way and all those implements were put in readinesse which the future examinations did require the trumpets of inward and domesticall calamities sounded And because hee seemeth no lesse deceitfull who wittingly passeth over what he knoweth was done than he that feyneth things never done wee deny not for no man maketh doubt thereof that the life of Valens both oftentimes before by privie conspiracies and then also was plunged into most extreame daungers and the swords blade by militarie men of his owne traine set close to his verie throat was by the opposition of Destinies put backe as whom the sayd Destinies had preordained to lamentable perils in Thracia For not onely in a certaine woodie place betweene Antioch and Seleucia whiles he lay sweetly asleepe afternoone in the shade he was layd at by Sallustius then one of the Seutarij and oftentimes else forelayd by others yet escaped he for that the limits of his life set downe unto him from his verie nativitie bridled those horrible attempts Like as it happened otherwhiles under he Emperours Commodus and Severus whose life was most forcibly oft assayled insomuch as after many and sundrie intestine daungers the one within the lists of the Amphitheatre as he should enter in to behold the sights and games with a spud or dagger was wounded almost to death by Quintianus a Senatour and a man of unlawfull and unhonest life the other in his verie later daies as hee lay in his bed-chamber through the counsell of Plautianus the Prefect had beene unwares surprised and stabbed by the hands of Saturninus a Centurion but that his owne sonne a young gentleman came in to helpe and rescue him And therefore Valens also might well be bome withall and excused in case with all warie circumspection that might be he sought to defend his life which perfidious traytours hastenod to take away from him But this was in him a fault inexpiable that in the proud humour of an absolute king with one and the verie same course of law as if there were no difference of deserts he by way of malicious pursuit proceeded in all hast against offenders and innocent persons indifferently So that whiles the crime remained still doubtfull yet the Emperour made no doubt of the punishment in so much as some heard they were condemned before they understood that they were suspected Now this inflexible purpose of his grew the more confirmed through the covetousnesse both of himselfe and of those also who conversed then in the Court gaping still for more and never laying their chawes together which did set him on and pricke him ever forward who if there were any mention made and that was verie seldome of humanitie and courtesie tearmed it timorous dulnesse who also with their bloudie flatteries corrupting the mind and intent of the man that carried death in the tip of his tongue and turning it to the worst wayes with boysterous blasts of unseasonable whirlewinds violently blew upon all hastening to overturne from the verie foundations most wealthy houses and families For exposed he was and lay open to the accesse of as manie as sought the undoing of others as being daungerously attached with two vices First for that he was intollerably angrie and then most when he should have bashed to be angrie Againe looke what he had heard by secret whisperings and suggestions through the advantage and opportunitie of privat admittance in the swelling pride of a Prince forbearing to examine whether the same were true or no he entertained the same for undoubted truthes Hence it came to passe that under a pretense of clemencie many innocent persons were thrust out of doores and driven headlong into exile whose goods being gotten together and sequestred into the common treasurie himselfe also reduced to his owne proper gaines in so much as condemned folke were faine to beg their bread and live of almes sore crushed with the miserable straits of dreadfull povertie for feare whereof a Theognis an auncient Poet and a wise giveth us counsell to fling our selves with the head forward even into the sea Which proceedings of his say that some man would graunt to have beene lawfull yet the verie excessive rigour thereof was hatefull Whereby this is found to be a sentence well and truely set downe That there is no doome more cruell than that which whiles it seemeth to spare is indeed more rough and rigorous When as therefore the principall men of place together with the Prefect of the Protorium were assembled together unto whom the hearing and determining of these matters aforesaid were by commission graunted then were the rackes b stretched and bent the leaden weights or plumbets brought forth the string-torments also and the whips put in readinesse then rung everie prison among the jengling sound of chaines with horrible and cruell notes whiles the ministers and executioners of sorrowfull offices did nothing but crie Hold shut straine and hide And for as much as we have seene many after dolorous and grievous punishment condemned to dye summarily and briefly we will shew what we are able to call to mind
again to the Isaflenses whom without any farther delay as before he marched against with speed Vnto whom their king named Igmazen a prince in those tracts of high reputation and famous for his wealth advancing forth and boldly affronting him Whence art thou quoth he and what businesse hast thou that thou art hither come Answere me Vpon whom Theodosius in a resolute mind looking wistly with a sterne countenance A Lieutenant I am sayth he unto Valentinian Lord of the whole earth sent to subdue a bloudie and cruell robber and unlesse thou render him out of hand according as the invincible Emperour hath determined thou and the whole nation which thou rulest shall utterly perish Which when Igmazen heard after many reviling taunts that he let flie against the Generall much troubled with anger and griefe together he went his way And the next morning betimes the armies on both sides advanced forth in most menacing wise readie to encounter and joyne battaile On the Barbarians side there were 20000 very neere marshalled in the very front of the vantguard behind whose backes were bestowed secretly the squadrons of auxiliaries for supply who rising up by little and little might shew themselves and with their multitude enclose our men ere they were aware Besides these there came in many of the Iesalenes as aid-souldiors who as I shewed before had promised our men helpe and provision of victuals On the other side the Romans although they were very few yet bearing valiant hearts and lifted up with precedent victories having set their flanks thicke thrust together fitted their shields close one to another in manner of a fence-roufe stood their ground and resisted And when from the Sunne rising unto the end of the day the fight had continued Firmus a little before the evening was seene mounted upon a tall courser displaying forth a good way from him his red coat armor with lowd cries to move and exhort our souldiors for to deliver up Theodosius betimes tearming him cruel detestable a bloudy deviser of torments and executions in case they were desirous to be rid from the extremities which they endured These words of his unlooked for incited some of them more eagerly to fight but inticed others to forsake the field And therefore so soone as the still time of night was come whiles both sides were enwrapped within wandering darknesse the Roman Generall returned to the fortresse Duodiense and taking a review and muster of his souldiors looke how many of them cowardly feare and the words beside of Firmus had turned from their purpose of fighting he punished sundry waies with death some by cutting off their right hands others by burning alive And most carefully keeping watch ward some of the Barbarians who adventured after the Moone was downe when they could not be seene to set upon our campe he either discomfited or else if they rushed in very audaciously took thē prisoners After this departing from thence a great pace he coursed the Iesalenes as a people hardly to be trusted through crooked lanes where he was little looked for and afflicted them so as he brought them to extreame penurie and being returned by the townes of Mauritania Caesariensis to Sitifis after he had racked and tortured even to death Castor and Martinianus partakers with Romanus in all robberies and foule facts he burnt them After this the warre began afresh with the Isaflenses and in the first conflict when many of the Barbarians were beaten backe and slaine Igmazen their king who heretofore was wont ever to be a winner distracted terrified with this present distresse and supposing that if he should beare himselfe obstinately still when commerce and traffique were once prohibited there remained for him no hope at all to live as warily closely as possibly could be out of the battaile he brake foorth alone and espying Theodosius humbly besought him to commaund Masilla a chiefe Peere of the Mazices to come unto him By whom being sent at his request in secret conferences he advised the Generall who of his owne disposition was no starter but constant and resolute That to give him means wherby he might bring more easily his purpose about he would preasse hotly upō those of his owne nation by continuance of fight turne them to feare who verily were readie ynough to affect and favour the Rebell but wearied out with many losses Theodosius gave eare condiscended to his words with often skirmishing foyled the Isaflenses so that whiles they fell downe like so many beasts Firmus privily slipped aside and whē he had bin confined a long time within starting holes out of the way whiles he consulted there how to flie and escape was staied kept in ward by Igmazen And for as much as he was informed what had bin underhand secretly practised by Masilla seeing now in this extremitie despaire of his estate there was no remedie left but one he determined by a voluntarie death to tread under foot all desire of life and being for the nonce full of wine till his skin strutted againe himselfe lay awake for terror of the miserie hanging over his head whiles the warders having their load likewise of headie wine lay sound asleepe in the dead time of the night Then leaving his bed and creeping on all foure without making any noise he severed himselfe apart farre off and having found a cord which to end his life happened to be readie for his hand he hung it upon a nayle or spike that stucke in the wall and so knitting his necke within it without any lingering torments ended his life Which accident Igmazen taking grievously and groning againe that he was disappointed of his glory in that it was not his good hap to lead this rebellious enemie in bonds to the Romane campe after assurance made of safe conduct by the meanes of Masilla himselfe carrying the dead bodie of him thus murthered upon a Camell when he approched the tents of the armie pitched under the sort Subicarense he shifted it upon a packe-horse and presented it unto Theodosius who joyed triumphed thereat And calling together as well the armed souldiors as the common people he asked Whether they knew that visage and when without any delay or circumstance made he understood certainely it was his face after he had remained there a little while he returned to Sitifis in triumphant manner and was received solemnly with the favour of all sorts of age and degree CHAP. XV. Valentinian warreth upon the Quadi whose king Gabinius is by the wicked plots of Maximinus murthered WHiles the Generall aforesaid is thus painefully employed within Mauritania and Africke in the warres the Quadi rose up in armes upon a suddaine a nation now little to be feared but wonderfull it is how warlike and puissant they were before time as their speedie exploits doe shew for that by them and the Marcomanni Aquileia was on a suddaine besieged a long time
are Scythians be most skilfull souldiors Now the Alani in manner all be tall of stature and faire of complexion their haire meetly yellow with the cast of their eyes that yeeld a temperat sternenesse terrible and by reason of their light armour swift and nimble Equall and sutable to the Hunnes in all respects save that in their feeding and apparell more civile they be than they ....... in swimming and hunting raunging over the countries as farre as to the meeres of Maeotis the Cimmerian Bosphorus Armenia likewise and Media And like as quiet and peaceable men take pleasure in rest and ease so delight they in daungers and warres Happie is that man reputed there who in battaile hath lost his life For such as dye by age and other accidentall death they revile and reproach with bitter taunts as base and cowardly Neither is there any thing that they glorie and vaunt more of than the killing of some man or other And instead of glorious spoyles when they have slaine any off go their heads the skinnes they flea and use them instead of trappings for their great horses of service There is not a temple or chappell to be seene among them nor a shrine nay a man shall not see there so much as a cottage thatched over head with straw But after a barbarous rite and ceremonie there is a naked sword sticking fast in the ground and the same in lieu of Mars the President and Prelate of those countries which they raunge about they adore with much devotion A wonderfull device they have to presage and foreknow things by For the women gathering the streightest wands and rods they can get and looking wistly upon them at a fore-set time and with certaine secret charms and enchauntments know evidently what is imported All of them as descended of gentle bloud in times past knew not what servitude meant And even at this day they chuse those for their Iudges and Rulers who for their long practise and experience in the warres be of approoved worth But now returne we to that which remaineth of our intended hystorie CHAP. III. Sundrie nations of the Gothes through the puissance of the Hunnes partly vanquished and driven out of their native habitations and partly smitten withfeare having seized the bankes of Danubius crave ayd of Valens and quiet habitation WEll then the Hunnes after they had over-run the countries of the Alani who confining upon the Geuthungi are by custome called Tanaitae and both slaine and spoyled many upon a faithfull covenant of concord and unitie joyned in league and confederacie with the rest and thus presuming more confidently upon their association they boldly and with sodaine violence brake into the goodly large and plenteous territories of Ermenrichus a most warlike king and for his many and sundrie valiant exploits dread unto the neighbouring inhabitants Who being strucken with the force of this unexpected storme although he held out a long time as one resolved and able to abide yet considering there went a brute commonly abroad that made the terrour of imminent calamities more and more still the feare of so great daungers he quieted and ended with voluntarie death after whose decease Vithimiris created king withstood for a while the Alani as trusting upon the ayd of other Hunnes whom for money he had waged to side with him But after many overthrowes and losses which he sustained his fortune was by fine force to be vanquished in the field and there to end his life The charge of whose little sonne named Viderichus Alatheus and Saphrax experienced captaines and for their valiant and trustie hearts well knowne undertooke as guardians and protectors Who being prevented by the straitnesse of time when they had cast from them all hope and confidence of resistance departed and came to the river Danastus which runneth a great way along the champian fields betweene Ister and Broysthenes Then Athanaricus the Iudge and Ruler of the Theruingi against whom as hath beene sayd before Valens a good while since had bent his forces for sending aid unto Procopius advertised how these occurrents fell out otherwise than it was hoped and looked for assayed to make good his ground and to stand upon his guard readie to rise up in armes in case he also as the rest were put to it and provoked In conclusion when he had commodiously encamped his forces within a rampier neere unto the bankes of the river Danastus and the same extended along the vale Vngorius he sent Munderichus Lord Warden of the Marches afterward in Arabia together with Lagarimanus and other noble personages twentie myles off to lye in espiall and to discover the enemies comming whiles himselfe in the meane time without the molestation of any man raunged his armie in battaile ray But it fell out farre otherwise than he thought it would For the Hunni as they are a people in their conjectures quicke and wittie suspecting there was some great multitude of enemies lying farther off letting them alone whom they saw and who because no man stood in their way betooke themselves to their quiet rest so soone as the Moone shewed her selfe and dispatched the darkenesse of the night passed over the river at a fourd and chose that piece of service which made most for their behoofe But fearing least some fore-running discoverer might skare those that kept aloofe they made what speed they could and directly advaunced against Athanaricus himselfe Who being amazed at the first brunt and impression after he had lost some of his men was constrained by the enemies to make all the hast he could for his succour to the high mountaines Vpon this strange accident and for feare of some greater mischiefe to ensue he was put to his trumpes And so from the edge of the mountaine Gerazus unto Danubius passing along the territories of the Taifali he erected wals higher than ordinarie and with speedie diligence having furnished the battlements and cope thereof he thought thereby to provide the better for his securitie and safetie And whiles the worke went up with effectuall diligence the Hunnes made quicke speed after him and now had they at their suddaine comming surprised him but that loaden with the heavie burthen of their booties they gave over their pursuit But when the fame was spread all abroad over the rest of the Gothicke nations That a strange and unknowne kind of people before time now rushing in violently as a whirlewind from the high mountaines but risen from out of a secret nouke was readie to ruinate and destroy all before them the greater part of the multitude which for want of necessaries had forsaken Athanaricus sought to plant themselves in some place far remote from the knowledge of the Barbarians And deliberating a long time with themselves What seat to chuse they thought that Thracia was a meet countrey to receive and entertaine them and that for two reasons both for that it is a most fruitfull soyle and also because by the
our most noble and renowmed captaines and quite rooted out they learned with their uttermost perils what martiall valour proceeding from the habite of wisedome and policie is able to doe Semblably in the dayes of Marcus the Emperour a raging rabble of sundrie and different nations banding themselves together after exceeding great frights of horrible warres after many a citie won sacked and rased downe to the ground ........... had like to have left but small parcels of them untouched and whole But within a while after these wofull losses and calamities the State was set upright againe by reason onely of this that the sober auncient world in those dayes not yet infected with loose riot and wantonnesse gaped neither after sumptuous and costly fare nor wicked and detestable gaines but in an uniforme and joynt affection the highest and lowest agreeing together in defence of Commonweale hastened as it were unto some calme haven and quiet harbour to dye a glorious and honourable death With a fleet of two thousand sayle the Scythian nations in great numbers having with breaking through Bosphorus and the coasts of Propontus passed over made great havocke and wrought much mischiefe I must needs say both by sea and land but yet when they had lost the greatest part of their people returned backe There dyed in fight with the Barbarians the Emperours Decij both the father and the sonne The cities of Pamphylia were besieged many islands harried and wasted Macedonia set on a flaming fire and the whole multitude of them beleagured a long time Thessalonica and Cyzicum likewise Anchialos was won and at the same time Nicopolis which the Emperour Traian in token of victorie against the Daci built After many and cruell overthrowes given and taken riciprocally Philippopolis was destroyed and unlesse the Annales doelye an hundred thousand men were put to the sword within the walles thereof Also forraine enemies raunged at their pleasure throughout Epirus Thessalie and all Greece But after that a Claudius that noble and renowmed leader was assumed to be Emperour and the selfe same Prince untimely taken away by an honourable death discomfited expelled they were by Aurelianus a valiant man and a most severe revenger of harmes and damages done whereby they became quiet and stirred not for a long time unlesse it were that afterward certaine routs of robbing brigands made hot incursions but to their owne destruction into the territories neere adjoyning But now go forward I will in that traine of hystorie from which I have digressed CHAP. VII Other petie Princes and nations of the Gothes commaunded to passe over into Hellespontus and wrongfully misused ioyne with others that were alreadie armed and afterwards west and spoyle Thracia THe whole course of these acts being carryed all abroad and divulged by messengers comming thicke one after another Sueridus and Colias Princes of the Gothes who with their people long before were entertained and set to looke unto the wintering harbours at Hadrianopolis regarding their owne lives and safetie above all things in the world beheld all with quiet and peaceable minds But upon the Emperours letters which sodainly were brought unto them whereby they were commaunded to passe over into Hellespontus they required without any swelling humour of pride to have their warfare money meat and two dayes respite allowed them of the citie Which the head magistrat of the citie taking not well and picking a quarell thereat for displeased he was and angrie with them about some spoyle and wast made in a countrey house of his not farre from the citie made no more adoe but brought forth all the commons together with the artizans and craftsmen of whom there is a mightie multitude there and them he armed to their utter confusion and so commaunding the trumpets to sound the battaile unlesse they went their wayes the sooner as it was decreed he threatned them all with the utmost perill of death The Gothes sore troubled with this unexpected adversitie and affrighted with the citizens more hastie ywis than considerat pressing upon them stood still and mooved not But at length when they had beene rayled at reviled and cursed at their hands yea and assailed otherwhiles with some few casting dartes launced at them they brake forth into open defiance and professed rebellion And thus when they had slaine a great number of the citizens whom their over-malapert violence had deceived and put the rest to rout and wounded them with sundrie kinds of weapons after they had difarmed and spoyled the dead bodies and put themselves into Roman armour they espyed Fritigernus neere at hand and joyned themselves unto him as duetiful and obeisant allyes and so distressed the citie now shut up with those troubles and miseries that follow siege In which difficultie of daungerous service being a long time employed they ran on head everie where and without all respect Some of them who were more bold and adventurous than their fellowes perished without revenge yea and many with shot of arrowes and discharging of stones out of slings lost their lives Then Fritigernus considering that men unskilfull in sieges and assaults wrestled in vaine with so many misfortunes and losses leaving there a sufficient power advised them to depart and leave their businesse undone saying That he was at peace with bare walls and persuading them that they would set in hand without endangering their lives to spoyle the rich and plentifull countries as wherein as yet there were no garrisons to empeach them Then they commending highly the kings counsell whom they knew would be an effectuall partaker with them in these projects and designes dispersing themselves into everie quarter and coast of Thracia marched warily having those that either yeelded or were taken prisoners to shew them plenteous townes and such especially wherein by their saying might bee found great store of victuals and beside an inbred courage and boldnesse of their owne which set them on this principall helpe they had to put them forward in that there conflowed daily unto them a multitude out of the same nation such as of late had beene sold by marchants with a number of others flocking stil unto them whom at their first comming over those that were pined and starved for hunger had exchaunged for some course or small wine and peeces of broken bread There came also unto them for to encrease their companie many that were expert in following after the veines of gold in mynes not able any longer to endure the heavie burdens and taxations laid upon them of impost and customes And being with the willing consent of all gladly received they stood them in verie good stead as they passed through unknowne places shewing unto them where were the hidden garners of corne the privie lurking places and secret receits of the people and by the guidance and direction of the same men there remained not untouched and unassailed any thing unlesse it were inaccessable and
might at length be protected by the aid of strangers Which when a captaine named Victor heard hastening with all speed to assemble the h Batavi who were bestowed not farre off to succour and helpe at a pinch for the defence and guard of the Emperours person when he could meet with none of them he retyred backe and departed In like manner Richomeres and Saturninus made shift for themselves and escaped out of the danger The Barbarians therefore in a furious rage which sparkled even out of their verie eyes followed hard in chace upon our men who now for verie heat of their veines were readie to melt and faint againe Some of them fell and knew not who smoat them others againe were overwhelmed with the prease onely of such as coursed them and there were who dyed upon their owne fellowes hands For neither was there lightly any yeelding to those that strove againe nor any one spared those that yeelded Over and besides all this many lying halfe dead not able to endure the smart and torment of their wounds stopped up the verie wayes with whom also the corps slain hudled on heaps together filled the fields with carkasses Wel of these losses that never amends can be made for and which cost the Romanes so deere the night without all moone-light made an end of And when it began once to be darke the Emperour among the common souldiours as it is probably to be thought for no man ever directly said that he saw the thing or was by mortally wounded with an arrow fell with it and presently thereupon yeelded his vitall breath and departed neither was he ever after found For by occasion that some few of the enemies tooke up their lodgings there about for love that they would spoile the dead none either of our men that were put to flight or of the inhabitants hard by durst goe unto the place The like wofull case befell as we have heard say unto Decius Caesar who manfully fighting with the Barbarians chaunced to fall from his horse whom being full of spirit and courage he could not hold in and so being flung by him into a bog or moore could neither ryse againe nor be ever found Others say that Valens yeelded up his ghost not presently but with some few of his gallants and guelded Eunuches was brought back to a countrey cottage hard by made workmanly and strong with two stories where whiles he was dressed by unskilfull hands the enemies beset him not knowing who he was and delivered him from the shame and dishonour of captivitie For when they that followed in chase who went about to breake open the doores surely bolted were evidently from the high built house assailed with arrowes least by cumbersome delayes they should loose their opportunitie of harrying and making spoyle they gathered together bundels of stubble and faggots of wood which they kindled with fire put under them and so burnt the house with all that were in it From whence one of the foresaid gallants or followers of his having gotten out at a window and being taken prisoner by the Barbarians bewrayed and revealed the deed and put them to much griefe and sorrow of mind for that they were disappointed of great glorie and honour in that they tooke not the Soveraigne Ruler of the Roman Empire alive And even this young gentleman when he was afterward returned unto our companies made relation unto them of this accident in manner and forme abovesaid Such was the unfortunat hap of one of the k Scipioes whom after he had recovered Spaine we find to have beene by the enemie consumed to ashes in a tower which they set on fire and burnt whereunto he was fled And yet this is for certaine knowne that neither Scipio nor Valens had the fortune to be buried which is the last honourable duetie conferred after death In this manifold calamitie and losse of brave men the death of Traianus and Sebastian was remarkable with whom there lost their lives five and twentie Tribunes all Vacantes and having charge of regiments under them together with Valerianus and Equitius the one great Master of the stable the other Grand Seneschall of the Palace Among these Potentius also Tribune of the Promoti was slaine in the verie prime and flower of his youth a knight of everie good man beloved and commended as well in regard of the approved vertues of his father Vrsicinas sometime Generall of the horsemen as of his owne good parts And most true it is that hardly the third part of the armie escaped Neither read we in our Annales and Chronicles of any battel so fought out to the outrace unlesse it were the field at m CannÄ™ albeit the Romans otherwhiles at the turning back of fortunes wheele being overtaken with deceitfull sleights and stratagemes gave way for the time to disadvantageous battailes and the Fabulous sonets of the Greeks so highly commended have in lamentable manner bewayled many conflicts ...... CHAP. XV. The vertues and vices of Valens The end of his life and the place where he perished fore-signified by the Oracle THis was the end of Valens when he grew fast upon fiftie yeares of his age having raigned Emperour fourtene yeares or somewhat under whose good parts and vices so farre as we know we will put downe A fast friend he was and a faithfull or sharpe punisher and revenger of all ambitious courses A severe reformer as well of militarie as civile discipline Passing vigilant at all times and carefull that no man under the pretence and colour of kinred with him should beare himselfe over high A right just protector and defender of the Provinces everie one of them he preserved no lesse than his owne house from hurt and domage mitigating with a singular regard and affection their heavie tributes and admitting no augmentation of tolls and imposts In calling for the debts and arrerages of the rest nothing hastie and importunat A sore enemie and a bitter to theeves and Iudges detected for robbing the common treasure Neither can the East Empire remember that they were in such businesses better dealt with under any Emperour beside him Over and above all these parts he carryed with him a liberall mind yet with moderation Whereof albeit there are many examples yet it shall suffice to set downe but one If any person as divers there be in Princes Courts greedie of other mens goods had begged as the usuall manner is a thing fallen in escheat or ought else he would with great respect of justice and reservation of libertie for him that could gainesay the suit passe a graunt unto him that had made the petition but joyning divers times three or foure others that were absent to share with him in those things by him obtained to the end that such busie and restlesse suiters seeing the gaines where at they gaped by this devise to proove so much the lesse might deale more sparily in this kind As touching edifices which in sundrie
Macedonia together with all the goods which they had yet whole and untouched making all the speed and hast they could devise to find out Valens forsooth as if he had beene in those countries not knowing one whit that he was slaine in the very tempestuous stormes of the battaile or at leastwise fled to a countrey cottage where he was thought to have beene burnt to death and consumed But the Gothes intermingled with the Hunnes and Alanes nations exceeding warlike and valiant yea and hardened in many adventurous and dangerous services whom Fritigernus in his wit and policie had by wonderfull allurements of rewards associated unto himselfe having encamped hard by Perinthus durst not in remembrance of their former foyles and calamities either come unto or assault the citie it selfe but forrayed the fertile fields and territories about it that reached farre and wide even to extreame penurie killing or taking prisoners the inhabitants therein From whence they made great hast marching for feare of wait-laying and ambushments in foure square battailons to Constantinople gaping after the exceeding wealth and riches there minding to make many attempts for to force and destroy the said citie whom thus unmeasurably advauncing themselves and at the point almost to doe violence upon the port-cluses of the gates the heavenly power of God repulsed by such an accident as this A regiment of the Saracenes as touching whose originall and manners I have in divers places related much a people meet rather for the service of quicke expeditions than for any encounter and conflict in battaile being newly sent for thither no sooner espied the troupe of Barbarians but with a mind to joyne battaile all on a suddaine boldly issued foorth of the citie and after a stiffe bickering betweene them maintained a long time both parts left the field on even hand Howbeit by a certaine strange event and never seene before the foresaid regiment of Easterlings got the upper hand For out of it a certaine shag-haired fellow naked in all parts save the groine and privie parts making a rustie hoarse and dolefull noyse drawing out his skeine or short cuttleaxe thrust himselfe into the middest of the Gothes and after he had slaine an enemie by cutting his throat set it lips close unto the wound and sucked out the bloud that gushed forth At which monstrous and wonderfull sight the Barbarians affrighted marched afterwards not in any outrageous and prowd sort when they went about any exploit but paced their ground in warie and doubtfull manner And so in processe of time when their boldnesse was well abated and taken downe considering well the compasse of the wals which by reason of huge and spacious Islands lay out in length beholding also the beautifull fortifications of the citie how inaccessible they were and withall the infinite number of the inhabitants yea and hard by it a Frith or narrow cut of the sea which divideth Pontus from Aegeum after the worke-houses of warlike engines were cast downe which they prepared and more deadly blowes taken than given departed thence in dissolute manner as fast as they could by the Northern provinces which they over-ran licentiously at their pleasure even as farre as to the foot of the Iulian Alpes which in old time they tearmed Venetian In these dayes remarkable above the rest was the profitable and expedite service of Iulius colonell of the Footmen on the farther side of Taurus for by the direction and appointment of the Destinies he gave commandement That all the Gothes entertained before time in Thracia and now dispersed into many cities and castles by sending secret letters unto their generals and captaines all Romans a thing at this time that seldome happeneth should in one and the same day as if a banner had beene erected for that purpose be killed in a generall massacre even when they feared no such thing but in expectation of wages promised unto them were drawne forth into the villages neere the citie side By which prudent policie put in execution without any noise made thereof or further delay the East Provinces were delivered from great perils and dangers Thus have I as a souldior sometime and a Grecian borne according to the measure of my abilitie drawne out an hystorie beginning at the raigne of the Emperour Nerva and continuing it unto the death of Valens A worke professing truth and which I never wittingly as Ithinke durst corrupt either with silence or leasing Let other men for age more sufficient and for their learning better knowne write the rest Whom if it shall please them to enter thereupon I advise to frame their tongues unto an higher stile FINIS ¶ Annotations and Conjectures upon the 14. Booke of Ammianus Marcellinus THe very entrance into this Booke depending upon a former relation bewrayeth the losse and want of 13. bookes before even from the beginning of Cocceius Nerva his Empire unto the battaile at Mursa in Constantius his reigne what time he had made Gallus his cousin german Caesar with him and defeated the forces of Magnentius with losse also of much bloud on his own side For in this battaile were slaine 54000 and above And whereas the armie of Magnentius the Vsurper consisted of 30000 and that of Constantius of 70000 there died in the field of Magnentius his part 24000 and of Constantius 30000. Howbeit Magnentius fled and afterward stabbed himselfe to death Considering therefore this bloudie execution on both sides no marvaile it is that our author sayth here While the hearts of both the sides were yet fainting and daunted as being sore crushed with such varietie of toyle some dangers a Comitem Orientis Lieutenant Generall in the East Among many significations of this word Comes which I will distinctly shew as they shall occurre it importeth here the Lieutenant Deputie or Vicarius under the Praefectus Prae torio per Orientem He is sometimes tearmed Praefectus and Praeses Orientis also by a more proper denomination Vicarius Orientis His government under Praefect Praetor Orientis extended throughout the East taking it restrictively and divided from Illyricum which also was within the East Empire in a larger signification evenover 15 Provinces and their Rulers whether they were Consulares i. governed by Consulares as Palaestina Phoenicia Syria c. or Praesidales ruled by Praesides as Phoenicia Libani Euphratensis Mesopotamia c. or under Iudices who were Perfectissimi as Arabia and Isauria He was in the second ranke of dignities not Illustris vir but Spectabilis As touching the Ensignes belonging to his place the ornaments of his investure his officers and traine about him and other particulars to his jurisdiction and government appertaining I referre the reader to Notitia Imperij Orientalis and the Commentarie thereupon by Guidus Pancirolus b Amphiaraus was a renowmed Prophet or Wisard among the Greeks like as Martius among the Romans Amphiaraus sonne of Oecleus and husband to Eriphyle
to draw the Christians into societie of warre against the Romans and therefore as many of the Christians as refused this service he put to sundry torments and kindes of execution 16 886 4105 135 ¶ C. Iulius Servilius Vrsus Servianus C. Vibius Iuvētius verus But Iulius Serverus sent into Iewrie and not daring to fight with these most audacious and desperat Brigands drew out the warre in length Meane while the Power and Forces of Bar-cochab were confirmed so that for certaine yeares he held within Iewrie 50. castels 98. villages and Bethoron a towne right strongly fenced 17 887 4106 136 ¶ Pompeianus Lupercus L Iulius Atticus Acilianus Out of whith towne he sallied upon the Romans and oftentimes put them to flight Whereupon Hadrianus returned into Syria and besieged the Iewes for three yeares together forced Bethoron at length and slew Barcozba 18 888 4107 137 ¶ L. Ceionius Commodus Verus who was afterward called Caesar Sex Vetulenus Ciuita Pompeianus The number by report of the Iewes slaine in this warre was 50000. And as for them that died of Pestilence and Famine they were innumerable Here note by the way that when the Iewes were thus defeated and their Leader slaine they knew him to be a very counterfait and their false Messias whereupon they termed him Ben-cozban that is the sonne of Lying Hadrian thus having ended the Iewes warre and subdewed them debarred the Iewes of entrance into Ierusalem He walled the City about and called it Aelia after his owne 19 889   name and upon the gate that leadeth to Bethlehem hee caused a Swine of Marble to be engraven And this was the last and utmost destruction of the Iewes who being expelled and utterly oppressed hee granted Ierusalem unto the Christians Euseb lib. 4. cap. 5. Dio. in Hadrian Thus was the prophefie of Daniel 670. yeeres before fulfilled And by this might the Iewes see that all hope of their Messias to come was quite cut off And now upon their desolation and rooting out began the Church of Christ to flourish c. Then I say was Ierusalem inhabited by Christians and other nations according to the saying of our Saviour Luke 21. Ierusalem shall bee troden under foote by the Gentiles And by Computation of the yeeres this destruction falleth out to bee an hundred yeeres after the suffering of Christ upon the Crosse and the 63. yeere after the former destruction by Titus So that now was fulfilled their crie His blood be upon us and our children Moreover Hadrian made a Law that none of the Iewish nation should be so hardy as enter the territorie of Ierusalem Then was the Prophesie of our Saviour fulfilled There shall not remaine one stone upon another c.      The Iewes taken prisoners in that warre Hadrian sent away into Spaine there to live in exile From whence also in the yeere of our Lord 1500. they were expelled by Ferdinandus King of Spaine and Emanuell of Portugall Vasaeus   4108 138 ¶ L. Aelius the sonne of Hadrian August Verus Caesar the second time Yet for al this ceased not the persecution against Christians Certaine noble women suffered Martyrdome at Rome And in the beginning of this yeere Telesphorus Bishop or Pastor of that Church was killed whom seuen daies after succeeded Higinius of Athens 20 890 4109 139 ¶ Sulpitius Camerinus Quinctius Niger Magnus Hadrian the Emperour dieth the eight day or as some say the tenth of Iulie when hee had lived 62. yeeres 5. moneths and 19. daies Dio. Spartian At his death he pronounced these verses which bewraied hee was no good Christian 1 891    Animula vagula blandula Hospes Comésque corporis Quae nunc abibis in loca Pallidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis iocos      After whom succeeded      ¶ T. Aelius Hadrianus ANTO NINVS Aug. Pius Par. Patr. the sixteenth Emperour Hee ruled yeeres 22. or as some say 23. moneths 7. daies 26. The Apophthegme of Scipio Africanus was rife in his mouth That he had leifer save one citizen and subjects life than kill a thousand enemies Iulius Captiolinus   4110 140 ¶ Antoninus Pius Emperour the second time Brutius Praeses The people of Britannie affecting liberty are in many battells vanquished by Lollius Vrbicius and brought to good order and allegeance Capitolin 2 892   Ptolemaeus the great Astrologer and Galen that renowmed Physician in these daies flourish Likewise Salvius Iulianus the learned Lawyer and Iustin the Historiographer who drew the Bookes of Trogus Pompeius into a Breviarie   4111 141 ¶ Antoninus Pius Emperour the third time M. Aurelius son of August Pius Caesar who after was called Augustus Iustinus the Philosopher compiled a Booke in defence of Christian Religion and delivered it to ANTONINVS Holy and godly Christians endure persecution and are much troubled by these Heretickes Valentine Cerdon and Marcus Colarbassus Eusebius Irenaeus 3 893 4112 142 ¶ M. Paeducaeus Sylogas Priscinus T. Hoenius Severus Hyginius Minister and Pastor of the Church of Rome for Christs Gospel suffered Martyrdome Him succeeded after three daies Pius of Aquileia 4 894 4113 143 ¶ L. Cuspius Rufinus L. Statius Quadratus Antoninus withdrew from many of his Ministers and servants in Court that lived idlely their salaries saying There was not a thing more base nay more cruell than that they should consume the riches of the common-wealth who with their owne labour brought no profite thereto Iul. Capitolin 5 895 4114 144 ¶ C. Bellicius Torquatus Ti. Claudius Atticus Herodes Lucius and Ptolemaeus were at Alexandria killed for the testimony of Christ 6 896    Now beganne the Question at Laodicea in Asia about the day of the Pasche i. Easter Onuphr   4115 145 ¶ Lollianus Avitus C. Gavius Maximus  7 897 4116 146 ¶ Antoninus Pius the Emperour the fourth time M. Aelius Aurelius son of Augustus Pius Caesar the second time Sundry Heretickes companions and disciples of the former worke much trouble in the Churches of Christ groaning under the Crosse of persecution Eusebius Irenaeus 8 898 4117 147 ¶ Sex Erucius the sonne Clarus the second time Cn. Claudius Severus In this yeare Iustinus wrote two Apologies for the Christians Onuphrius Severus afterwards Emperour was now borne Spartian 9 899 4118 148 ¶ M. Valerius Largus M. Valerius Messalinus The learned men of this age were Arianus of Nicomedia Maximus Tyrius Apollonius and Basilides 10 900 4119 149 ¶ C. Bellicius Torquatus the second time M Salvius Iulianus the secōd time  11 901 4120 150 ¶ Ser. Cornelius Scipio Orphitus Q. Nonius Priscus  12 902 4121 151 ¶ Romulus Gallicanus Antistius Verus  13 903 4122 152 ¶ Sextus Quinctilius Gordianus Sextus Quinctilius Maximus  14 904 4123 153 ¶ Sextus Acilius Glabrio C. Valerius Omollius Verianus An Edict of Antoninus Pius the Emperor promulged at Ephesus in the behalfe of Christians in
Achilles possesseth himselfe of Aegypt Pomp. Laetus Maximian invadeth the Frankes countrey and forceth their King Gennobon to seeke for peace But he had like to have lost Mauritania sore infested by the Quinquegentians Sigonius 6 1041 4260 290 ¶ Imp. Diocletian August the fourth time Imp. Maximianus Aug. the third time Sundry warres in divers places beginne to shew themselves Diocletian marcheth beyond the river Ister against the Gothes Carpi Quades and Marcomans Pomp. Laetus 7 1042 4261 291 ¶ C. Iunius Tibetianus Cassius Dion Diocletian and Maximian being overlaied with businesse adopted unto them two Caesars to wit Maximianus GALERIVS and CONSTANTIVS CHLORVS As for Galerius hee tooke to wife Valeria the daughter of Diocletian and Constantius wedded the wifes daughter of Maximian after they had rejected and cast off their former wives CONSTANTIVS reigned fifteene yeeres and GALERIVS one and twenty Sigon Onuph Pomp. Laetus 8 1043 4262 292 ¶ Afranius Hannibalianus or Anabalianus M. Asclepodotus Galerius taketh the charge of defending Illyricum He vanquisheth the Sarmatians and the Carpi Constantius being sent against Carausus recovereth Gessoriacum He delivereth Clivia besieged by the Frankes Maximian requireth to have the recoverie of Mauritania to be committed unto him Constantius giveth unto Galerius his sonne Constantinus as a pledge of his love Sigon 9 1044    Galerius vanquisheth the Basternae the Carpi and the Sarmatians and at the comma undement of Diocletian drawes the Sarmatians over on this side Ister Constantinus the sonne of Constantius beareth himselfe manfully and with singular commendation in the Sarmatian war      Constantius prepareth to warre in Britanny against Carausius who is slaine by Allectus      Maximian restraineth the Franckes and sendeth an armie into Africke against the Quinquegentians      Constantius having vanquished Allectus recovereth Britanny Pomp. Laetus Carol. Sigon   4251 293 ¶ Imp. Diocletianus August the fift time Imp. Maximianus August the fourth time Diocletian overcommeth Achilles in Aegypt Having wonne by force Alexandria hee dealeth cruelly with the Citizens sacketh the citie pulleth downe the walls and so bringeth the Aegyptian warre to an end Hee removeth the Nabatheans out of their borders and entreth into a counsell and purpose with himselfe to persecute the Christians Euseb Sigonius 10 1045   Maximian and Constantius bring over the Franckes into the waste desarts of Gaule Sigon   4264 294 ¶ Constantius Caesar Galerius Caesar Galerius encountereth Narses King of the Persians fighteth a battaile with him and gaineth victory But within a while after having received a foile and overthrow fled to Diocletian where being rebuked by him he repaireth his army with fresh forces After this returning to the warre he over commeth Narses and regaineth two Provinces beyond Tygris Diocletian cannot containe the felicity of the Roman Empire his owne but will needes be adored and worshipped yea hee entendeth an horrible persecution against the Christians 11 1046 4265 295 ¶ Nummius Tuscus Annius Cornelius Annullinus  12 1047 4266 296 ¶ Imp. Diocletian August the sixt time Constantius Caesar the second time Maximian goeth forward against the Quinquegentians whom at length he subdueth 13 1048    Constantius fighteth with the Lingones at the first hee had the foile but afterards the upper hand Hee adventureth a dangerous journey to the Vindones Pomp. Laetus Euseb Sigon   4267 297 ¶ Imp Maximian August the fift time Galerius Caesar the second time  14 1049 4268 298 ¶ Anicius Faustus the second time Severus Gallus Diocletian giveth commaundement that most sumptuous and magnificent Baines should be made at Rome and Maximian at Carthage These two Giants have no better conceit of the Christians then of the refuse and off-skouring of the world Constantius graunteth unto the Clivians Eumenes the Rhetorician who might plant Schooles of learning in Gaule Sigon Pomp. Laetus 15 1050 4269 299 ¶ Imp Dioâ—l August the 7. time Imp. Maximianus August the sixt time Maximian buildeth baines at Millaine likewise a palace at Aquileia and at Brixia and an Amphitheatre at Verona Sigon 16 1051 4270 300 ¶ Constantius Caesar the third time Galerius Caesar the third time Aelius Spartianus Iulius Capitolinus Aelius Lampridius Vulcatius Gallicanus Flavius Vopiscus and Trebellius Pollio Historiographers all at this time lived Bucholeer 17 1052 4271 301 ¶ Posthumius Titianus the â— time Flavius Popilius Nepotianus The church now beautified with many men endowed with pitty and singular erudâ—tion whiles these Emperors prepare themselves to triumph beholdeth the crosse hard at their shoulders Euseb 18 1053 4272 302 ¶ Constantius Caesar the 4 time Galerius Caesar the fourth time Diocletian and Maximian triumphed most gloriously and magnificently at Rome over the Persians and Germans having the wife sisters and children of Narses King of the Persians going before their Chariot A little after this they intend the tenth and most cruell persecution against the Christians in divers countries of East and West both whereof Eusebius and other Ecclesiasticall writers relate at large 19 1054 4273 303 ¶ Imp. Diocletian Aug the 8 time Imp Maximian the 7 time In the second yeere of this perfecution Diocletian and Maximian laid off their purple and resigned up the Empire at Nicomedia the thirtieth day of Aprill and committed the charge of defending the State and Common-weale to Constantius and Galerius who before were Caesars and now proclaimed Augusti These two divided 20 1055   the Roman Empire betweene them CONST ANTIVS the Father of CONSTANTINE reigned two yeeres and GALERIVS seven Euseb Pomp. Laetus   4274 304 ¶ Imp. Diocletianus Aug. the ninth time Imp. Maximianus Augustus the eight time Galerius having gotten the Empire of the East continueth the persecution against the Christians Constantius yielded up againe unto Galerius Italie and Africke neither troubleth he the Christians Eusebius Sigonius 1 1056 4275 305 ¶ Imp. Constantius Aug. the fifti Imp. Galerius August the fifth Galerius riddeth his palace wholly of all holy men Constantius gratious unto Christians hasteneth into Britannie against the Picts and Caledones 2 1057 4276 306 ¶ Imp. ConstaÌ„tius Aug the 6. time Imp. Galerius Aug. the 6. time Constantius dieth at Yorke the five and twentieth day of Iulie in the sixe and fiftieth yeere of his age With him was present Constantine his sonne who had fledde from Galerius Others will have the death of Constantius to fall upon the yeere following 1 1058    After Constantius succeeded      FLAV VALERIVS CONSTANTINVS who ruled thirtie yeeres nine moneths and 27. dayes Likewise M. AVRELIVS MAXENTIVS and CAIVS GALLVS MAXIMINVS For these two were called Emperours Onuphr Sigonius      Galerius maketh over unto Severus Italie and Afrike and unto Maximinus the East hee keepeth unto himselfe Illyricum and together with Maximinus continueth persecution of Christians in the East Euseb     Â
giveth the Romans an overthrow Zosimus 16 110 4323 353 ¶ Imp. Constantius August the sixt time Fl â—onstantius Gallus Caesar the second time Magnentius vanquished in Gaule by Constantius slew himselfe Decentius his brother being Caesar was his owne hangman Desiderius submitteth himselfe Constantius assumeth the joint Empire of East and West At Arles he exhibiteth Games and Plaies Being by the Arians solicited he sommoneth a generall Cnuncell to be holden at Millaine Zosim Zonaras Sigon 17 110 4324 354 ¶ Imp. Constantius Augustus the seventh time Fl. Constantius Gallus Caesar the third time Here Am. Marcellinus beginneth the foureteenth booke of his Storie the first of those eighteene which are left of the one and thirty and containeth the acts of six and twenty yeres which he reporteth at large whereof solloweth a Briefe 18 114    Constantius whiles hee intendeth his warre against the Lentienses Almans causeth Gallus Caesar who in the East committed foule and wicked facts to be brought unto him and commandeth that hee should be killed in I-stria And after this hee vanquisheth the Almans Am. Marcell lib. 14. 15. cap. 1 2 3.   4325 355 ¶ Fl. Arbetio Mavortius Lollianus Silvanus usurping the Empire in Gaule is slaine Am. lib. 15. cap. 1 2 3. 19 1104    Constantius ill affected unto Athanasius banisheth Liberius out of Rome Amm. lib. 15. cap. 6.     * his owne uncles sanne Constantius declareth Iulianus brother of Gallus and Constantines * brothers sonne Caesar cap. 7. and affianceth his sister unto him in marriage cap. 8.   4326 356 ¶ Imp. Constanti us Augustus the eight time Iulianus Caesar Iulianus marcheth into Gaule against the Almans lib. 16. cap. 1. c. Constantius entreth Rome after a triumphant maner and vievverh it in foolish wise hee wondereth at it and being affrighted goeth his waies and leaveth it cap. 5. 6. 20 110 4327 357 ¶ Imp. Constantius Augustus the ninth time Iulianus Caesar the second time Iulianus in a bloody battaile before Argentoratum overthroweth and defeateth the Almans taketh their King Chonodomarius prisoner and sendeth him to Rome Hereupon arose the grudge and displeasure of Constantius against Iulian. Am. Marcell lib. 16. cap. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. 21 1109 4328 358 ¶ Dacianus Neratâ—us Cerealis Iulianus restraineth the Almons Frankes and other 22 1110   neighbour Nations making tumults in sundry places and forceth them to keepe quiet Lib. 17. cap. 1. 2. 8. 9. The Persians Embassage Ca. 6. A dreadfull Earthquake which shooke mountaines and many towns of Asia Macedonia and Pontus Cap. 7. Constantius subdueth the Sarmatians and Quadi The Sarmatian slaves he defeateth in battaile The Picenses and Limigantes upon their humble supplication hee reduceth into their auntient habitations and thereupon is styled Sarmaticus Cap. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.   4329 359 ¶ Eusebius Hypathius Iulian wearieth the Almans and forceth them to crave peace Lib. 18. cap. 1. 2. 23 1111    The warre is kindled betweene the Persians and Romans in the beginning whereof Constantius is grievously foiled cap. 4. 5. 6. 7. The former acts and occurrents of this warre and the flight of the Roman troupes cap. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Amida a most strong towne is by the Persians assaulted and after much losse on both sides forced and wonne lib. 19. cap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Great dearth of corne and victualls in Rome cap. 9. Constantius putteth to the sword the Limigantes of Sarmatia who rebelled cap. 10. Constantius cruelly proceedeth by the meanes of one Paulus his Notary or Secretary against those that sought unto Oracles and were given to the superstitions of the heathen An horrible monster was seene at Antioch The Isaurians making a commotion are by Lauritius appeased cap. 11. 12.   4330 360 ¶ Imp. Constantius Augustus the ninth time Iulian. Caesar the third time A memorable Eclipse of the Sunne in the East empire lib. 20. cap. 2. Iulian in Gaule is stiled Augustus With what cunning sleight this was brought about Am. Marcellinus laieth open in the twentieth booke cap. 3. 4. 5. 9. The fortunate successe of the Persians in the East against the Romans cap. 6. 7. 8. The attempts of Constantius against Iulianus and the Persians take no effect cap. 10. 11. 12. 13 Iulian represseth the Athuarij a nation of the Frankes cap. 10. 24 1112 4331 361 ¶ Fl. Taurus Fl. Florentius Iulian desirous to overthrow Constantius embraceth the study of unlawfull and forbidden Arts and for the time maketh semblance of Christianitie lib. 21. cap. 1. 2. Certaine Almaine traitors he chastiseth cap. 3. He purposeth to make open warre upon Constantius cap. 4. The memorie of Constantinus Magnus he traduceth and penneth an Invective against Constantius cap. 8. Hee besiegeth Aquileia which was intercepted by Constantius his Legions and in the end winneth it cap. 9. 10. Constantius being freed from the Persian warre taketh armes against Iulian whom he termeth a Rebell But in the way when he was come to Tarsus he died the third day of November cap. 11. 12. 13. Iulian hearing of Constantius his death commeth out of Moesia to Constantinople fetleth the affaires of the State Impiously hatefully and craftily he dealeth against Christ and the Christians A most foule sight and view of Iulians court and army both lib. 22. cap. 1. 2. 3. 25 1113 4332 362 ¶ Fl. Mamertinus Fl. Nevita IVLIANVS is now Augustus and Emperour alone He maketh his abode at Antioch A professed enemie of true religion Christian Grammarians and Rhetoricians hee debarreth from reading in Schooles lib. 22. cap. 9. 10. Great personages that were his adversaries and opposites he maketh away the seditious Alexandrines who had murdered Georgius the Arian Bishop he mildely intreateth cap. 11. Addicted to magicke arts he addresseth himselfe to the Persian warre and writeth against the Antiochians Certaine prodigious signes are seene and an Earthquake hapneth whereby Nicomedia is overturned cap. 12. 13. 1 1114 4333 363 ¶ Imp. Iulianus August the fourth time Secundus Sallustius Promotus Iulian goeth about in vaine to reedifie the Temple of Ierusalem lib. 23. cap. 1. Hee maketh a journey into Persia cap. 2. c. With a most puissant armie he entreth Persia Anatha is yeelded unto him and after many warrelike expeditions he winneth Maiozamalcha libr. 24. cap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 c. 2 1115    Being skared with an ominous signe leaving the siege of Ctesiphon and wearied together with his whole armie with the distemperature of the aire and the soile forced he is to alter his journey cap. 11. 12. At the last after certaine skirmishes and battailes fought forgetting to take his cuirace and hasting to fight he was mortally wounded by an unknowne person and within a while after yeelded up his vitall breath in the two and thirtieth yeere of his age the six and twentieth day of Iune lib. 25.
made readie for his service carelesse of himselfe distributed and sent it away among the poore and needie souldiors And himselfe being drawne for a little while to take a pensive repose betweene sleeping and waking when being quite broken an usuall matter with him of his sleep in imitation of Iulius Caesar who was wont to write somewhat whiles he lay in campe he passed the dead time of the night musing and meditating upon the sentences of a certaine Philosopher he saw as himselfe confessed to his inmost friends in very simple and poore plight the resemblance of that publicke Genius which when he was mouâ—ting to the imperiall diademe he beheld in Gaule and the same in sad and heavie wise with Cornu Copia covered over departing by the tapistrie hangings of his pavilion And albeit for the present he was amazed and strucken therewith astonied yet as one not stouping at all to any feare he committed the future events unto the will and decree of god in heaven and forsaking his couch or pallet that lay upon the very ground as being risen when it was now midnight in making supplication and prayer unto the gods by the meanes of certaine depulsorie sacrifices he thought that he saw a very light burning flame like as if it fell to shoot along in the ayre and to vanish quite out of sight and hereupon he trembled all over and quaked for feare least it had been the planet Mars that appeared so evidently menacing Now this fierie bright impression which we tearme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did neyther fall at any time nor touch the ground For he that thinketh coelestiall bodies can fall is justly deemed a prophane and foolish person Now this Meteore or apparition above commeth many wayes of which it shall suffice to shew a few Some thinke they be sparkes set afire and glowing by the vigorous heat of the skie but not able to goe farre doe goe out or at leastwise that certaine flaming raies hitting against thicke clouds by a quicke touch doe sparkle or else when some light meeteth close and joyneth with a cloud For that being shaped like a starre runneth a course verily so long as it is held up with the strength of fire but the bodie thereof being in so long a way and spacious passage emptied and spent turneth into an exhalation going to that substance by the forcible rubbing and fretting whereof it caught heat Streightwaies therefore ere the day began were the Tuscane wizards and Soothsayers sent for and being asked their judgement What strange accident this kind or apparition of a starre portended answered That most wisely hee must beware and forbeare to attempt any thing at that time shewing out of Tarquitius his bookes how in the title De rebus Divinis this Aphorisme was set downe That if such a fire-light were seene in the skie there ought no battaile be fought nor any such matter attempted Now when as he despised this warning also as he had done many other the Soothsayers besought him That he would yet put off his journey if it were but some few houres but they could not obtaine so much as this so crosse was the Emperour and readie to withstand all the skill of divination and prophesie but so soone as it was full day light he dislodged and removed his campe forward CHAP. III. The next day Iulianus raised and stirred with the foile and overthrow of his owne men whiles forgetting his Brigandine and catching up his shield he hasteneth to the battaile chaunced by a horsemans staffe or speare to be run into the ribs but whiles he assaieth to pluckeforth the head hee fell from his horse and out of the battaile which was to both parts lamentable was brought backe into the campe NO sooner were we departed hence but the Persians who greatly feared the steedie fight of footmen as having beene oftentimes beaten therwith laid their amhushes and closely accompanied us avoyding our battailons on either side and lying in espiall to view our march from the tops of the high hills so that our men suspecting so much all the live-long day might neither cast up a rampier nor fortifie themselves with a pallaisadoe Thus verily whiles we firmely guard our sides and the armie according to the site and position of the ground marcheth in six square battailons displayed at large with thin rankes word was brought unto the prince being as yet unarmed and gone forth forward to discover the quarters before That sodainly those who behind were gathering up their armour and weapons together had a charge given them at their backes At which accident he was much troubled and catching up hastily in this tumult his shield but forgetting his corslet and making hast to helpe those in the rereward was called backe againe with another new alarme whereby advertised he was that the avant-guard also from whence he was lately departed felt the like distresse Which whiles without any regard at all of his owne perill hec hasteneth to recover and set upright in order againe from another part a companie of Parthyans in couplet harneis setteth upon the centuries in the mids and spredding themselves fiercely all over the left wing which began alreadie to shrinke whiles our men could not with patience abide the strong strength and braying noyse of the Elephants fought with pikes and casting weapons which they discharged thicke But as the Prince setting spurres to his horse rode with full carrier among the most dangerous skirmishes out went our light armed companies and charging them behind layd at the houx and backe parts as well of the beasts as the Persians themselves and all to cut and hacked them Whom when Iulianus forgetting to looke to himselfe by lifting up his hands aloft and crying alowd made evident demonstration to be disrayed and fearefully scattered and withall stirring up the anger of those that followed in chace engaged himselfe boldly farre into the battaile d the Gallants his followers whom feare had disperkled cryed out unto him on both sides That he should decline the huge multitude of those that fled no lesse than the fall of some ill framed and disjoynted loover of an high building and therewith all on a sodaine an horsemans javelin whence it came God he knoweth having slightly rippled the skinne of his left arme pierced within his short ribs and stucke fast in the neather lappet or fillet of his liver which whiles he laboureth to plucke forth with his right hand he perceived that with the sharpe edge thereof on both sides the sinewes of his fingers were cut through and thus falling forward over his horse head and conveied backe into the campe by those that were present who speedily came running about by the meanes of Physicke and Chyrurgerie he was dressed and cherished accordingly And soone after when the paine was a little assuaged he gave over to feare and with a great spirit striving against death called for his horse and armour to the end
and shame but bringeth with it both end of life and paine together But when wicked and impious purposes have right and lawes for their pretence and the Iudges sit them downe with a false colour and set upon them either of a Catonian or Cassian sentence and whatsoever is done is done according to the will of a great ruler or magistrat puffed up with pride and to satisfie his pleasure matters of great importance even of life and death are weighed and considered accordingly there must the issue needs fall out to capitall mischiefe in the highest degree For as any one in those dayes was in any respect powerfull or toward the Court and burning in greedie desire to seize upon other mens goods although he were openly knowne to accuse an innocent person yet was he welcommed as a familiar and faithfull friend shortly to be enriched with other mens misfortunes For the Emperour readie ynough to doe hurt lying open to all accusers and procuring deadly informations proceeded most fiercely to sundrie sorts of punishments and therein tooke delight ignorant as hee was of that worthie saying of Tully who sheweth That unhappie are they who thinke they may lawfully doe all things This implacable rigour in a most righteous cause verily but foulely blemishing a victorie exposed many innocent folke to the tormentors hand and either brought their heads bending under the racke or layed them along with the stroke of the grim executioner for whom it had beene better to have lost tenne lives apeece in fight if by nature they could have had so many than thus faultlesse as they were with their sides gashed and rent and their whole estates groning as it were to suffer punishment as traitors having their bodies all torne and mangled before which is more dolorous than all the deaths in the world After this when as his crueltie overcome with so many wofull executions became assuaged men of higher place and calling endured proscriptions and banishments and such like which although they be grievous yet seeme to some but light and to the end that another person might be enriched a man of noble birth and happily for his deserts become very wealthie stripped and turned out by the head and shoulders of his livelod and thrust into exile either pined away and died for anguish or else was faine to live upon the devotion and benevolence of others neither was there any end of these mischievous practises untill the prince and his favourites were satisfied with their goods and bloud CHAP. XIIII Fearefull tremblings or quakings of the earth at one and the same time throughout the whole earth WHiles this usurper Procopius whose manifold acts and death I have declared was yet living upon the twelfth day before the kalends of August whiles Valentinian was the first time Consull with his brother most fearefull earthquakes suddainly happened that shooke the whole earth the like to which neither fabulous tales nor true reporting records of antiquitie deliver unto us For a little after Sunnerising the whole weightie and stedie masse of the earthly globe shooke with flashes of lightening most fiercely shot going before very thicke the sea also driven aside with the waves and billowes tumbling out backward went away so that the deepe gulfes being discovered and layd bare a man might have seene many sorts of swimming creatures sticking in the mud also the vast vales and mounts which nature had set farre away under the huge waters saw as men thought that day the beames of the Sunne After therefore that many ships were bedded fast as one would say in drie ground and a number of people straggled at their pleasure in the small remaines of water o take upfishes and such like with their hands the waves of the sea disdaining as one would say and loth to put up this repulse rose up all at once and turned againe and violently among the surging shallowes beating upon the islands and promontories of the continent reaching farreinto the sea overflowed and laid levell an infinit sort of things in cities yea and houses where any were found And therefore in this furious discord of the elements the surface of the world being covered represented straunge and wonderfull sights For the mightie masse of the sea being returned backe againe when it was least looked for killed and drowned many thousands of people and with the swift and violent whirling of the tydes running backe certaine ships after the swelling of this liquid substance or element was abated were seene sunke to the verie ground yea and by reason of shipwrackes many dead bodies lay along either on their backes or groveling Other mightie shippes also driven out by violent winds setled upon the tops of palaces as it happened at Alexandria and two miles almost off farre from the shore were some of them flung as we our selves in passing by beheld one of Laconia neere unto the towne Metson almost rotten for age THE XXVII BOOKE CHAP. 1. As the Alemans make new preparation for wars Carietto and Serenianus encounter them with a power of armed men And when both of them were slaine in fight Iovinus a brave captaine gave the Alemans leaping for joy of victorie three battailes Valens sendeth over the head of Procopius unto Valentinian lying at Paris WHiles these things which we have reported upō divers occurrences passe in the East empire the Alemans after grievous losses sore blows which in their often conflicts with Iulian being Caesar they had sustained having at length resumed their strengh though unequal to that which they had before for the cause aforesaid being now much feared invaded the limits of Gaule And immediatly after the Kalends of Ianuarie when the rigorous and bitter Winter weather froze hard all over the ycie tracts a number of them went forth by plumpes and stragled abroad at their pleasure To encounter the formost companie of these Carietto Lieutenant generall for both the Germanies a man most forward to give battaile went out taking to him for his companion in this painefull service Severianus a Lieutenant likewise but of no valour and aged besides who at Calydona had the command of the Divitenses and the a Tungricanes The Romans therefore having joyned their forces together marched with their squadrons embattailed close and thicke one by another and when they had with sure speed passed over the bridge that stood upon a little river no sooner saw the Barbarians afarre off but they assayled them with arrowes and other light darts which they againe for their parts valiantly shot backe as fast But when the troupes met and fought with drawne swords the battaile of our men sore shaken with the fierce charge of the enemies found no meanes either to resist or to fight manfully as being for feare all of them put to flight when they once saw Severianus unhorsed and shot into the mouth with a casting weapon Carietto likewise himselfe at last whiles verie venturously with opposition of his