running downe of bloud much like as when at Troy in times past there was a right hote and bloudie conflict about the breathlesse bodie of Patroclus companion to the Thessalian leader Achilles By occasion of this death the kings house was heavie and sad and for that all the lords and nobles together with the father were strucken with this suddaine losse after proclamation of a vacation made the young prince commendable for his nobilitie of birth and well beloved was solemnely bewayled and mourned for after the guise of his owne nation Being therefore carried out all armed as he used to bee placed he was upon a certaine large and high raysed terrace or scaffold and about him tenne little beds were spread carrying the images of dead men so curiously dressed and embaulmed as that the very portraits were like unto bodies new enterred And thus for the space of seven dayes together all the men verily by bands and companies kept good cheare and with dauncing and singing certaine mournefull kinds of dumpes and sorrowfull dities bewayled the death of the young prince but the women with wofull knocking of their breasts and shedding teares after their wonted manner piteously cried and lamented for the hope of their nation thus untimely cut off in the very prime and flower of his age like for all the world to those women priests and worshippers of Venus that are oftentimes seene to weepe in the ordinarie feasts and solemnities of a Adonis which mysticall Religion teacheth us to be some representation of corne full growne CHAP. II. The description of the siege before Amida A most terrible and hote assault made by the Persians which the besieged manfully sustaine untill night AFter the corpes was burnt and the bones bestowed close within a silver pot which his father determined should be carried unto his owne nation for to be enterred upon debating in counsell as touching the main chaunce agreed it was to expiate the Manes of this young gentleman slaine with the generall fire of this citie when it was once overthrowne for Grumbates would not endure to goe any further without revenging the ghost of his only deere sonne And after two daies rest given and a great number sent out to wast the rich and well husbanded fields lying open after the manner of peace the citie was environed about with a five-fold ranke and course of shields and upon the third day betimes in the morning the glittering troupes standing round in plumps tooke up all the ground so farre as a man was able to looke and see from him and the rankes marching with a soft and gentle pace held their places divided by lot unto them All the Persians invested the circuit of the wals that part which looked Eastward fell to the Chionites which was the quarter where the young gentleman to the mortall mischiefe of us was slaine the Vertae were appointed to the South side the Albanes kept the North tract and against the West gate were opposed the Segestans the fiercest warriors of all others with whom the Elephants making a loftie shew and terrible to behold for their bodies full of wrinckles paced their ground softly as being loaden with armed men and as wee have often said for dreadfull sight exceeding all other foule spectacles whatsoever Beholding then so infinite a number sought out a long time to set on fire the Romane world and wholly bent to worke our destruction in full dispaire of any safetie we tooke care from thence-forth to end our lives with glorie the onely thing now that wee all wished for Well from the Sunne-rising to the end of the day stood their battaillons in array as fixed fast in the ground and never stirred not so much as once shifting foot without any noise at all or neighing of horses heard and in the same manner retyred they as they came but after they had refreshed themselves with meat and sleepe before the night was fully past with the sound of trumpets leading the way they beset the citie round about and gave so terrible an assault unto it as if within a while it would have fallen Scarcely had Grumbates there like an herault at armes launced after his owne countrey fashion and our manner also his speare died all red in bloud but the whole armie with a clattering noise of weapons mounteth up to the wals and streight way beginneth a hote and lamentable fight whiles on the one side these by whole troupes run on violently and with all resolution and alacritie bend themselves to the assault and contâ—â—iwise on the other our men were as eager and forward to encounter and receive them Therefore it came to passe that huge stones throwne out of Scorpions brake many of our enemies heads in pieces and brained them some were shot through with arrowes part of them having barbed darts and javelines sticking in them lay wounded and bespred the ground others ran away and fled as fast as they could toward their fellowes againe Neither was there within the citie lesse weeping and wayling or fewer sorts of death whiles many a cloud of arrowes flying thicke together with a multitude of them shaddowed and darkened the ayre whiles also the engines of ordinance and artillerie which the Persians were possessed of since the sacking of Singara did much hurt and inflicted many wounds For the defendants gathering their strength together and falling afresh to fight againe by turnes after they had given over for a time in their exceeding heat of defending the towne being mortally hurt fell downe dead or after they were torne and mangled with their tumbling over-turned those that stood next them or at leastwise whiles they were yet alive sought about for them that had the skill to draw foorth the arrow and dart heads that stucke fast in their bodies Thus these slaughters happening one in the necke of another and continuing unto the very latter end of the day the very darknesse of the evening had not slacked by reason that on both parts they were so stiffely set to fight to the outrance After that the watch therefore was kept by those that were heavily armed and weaponed the hils of the one side resounded againe with the cries that were set up whiles our men extolled the vertues of Constantius Caesar as the soveraigne Emperour and Lord of the world and the Persians for their part styled Sapor both Achaemenes and Artaxerxes which by way of interpretation import as much as commaunder of kings and conquerour of warres And before the day began to peepe upon the signall given by trumpets inestimable numbers of forces were raised from all sides and flocked in manner of so many fowles to the like hote skirmishes as before and every way both farre and wide as a mans eye could reach before him the fields and dales made no shew of any thing but the glittering harneis and brandishing weapons of savage nations and within a while upon setting up a mightie shout and out-crie as they
modest and noble prince Marcus who what time as Cassius had mounted up to the imperiall dignitie in Syria and a packet of letters sent from him to his complices and adherents was presented unto him and the bearer intercepted caused the same sealed as it was straight waies to be burnt this did he whiles he abode in Illyricum for feare least if the traytors were detected and knowne hee might offend and displease some of them whom he would not And as divers of sound judgement are of opinion it was a signe rather of great vertue in the same prince to have left the Empire without any bloudshed of those of his traine and privie Counsell than if he had beene revenged so unmercifully According to the doctrine also of Tully in a certaine Epistle to Nepos taxing Caesar for crueltie For Felicitie quoth hee is nothing else but prosperitie of honest things Or that I may define it otherwise Felicitie is that fortune which helpeth good counsels which whosoever useth not can by no meanes be happie And therefore in wicked and impious counsels which Caesar tooke to there could be no felicitie And more happie in my iudgement was Camillus whiles hee lived in exile than in the same dayes Manlius although he might as he desired have raigned king Her aclitus also the Ephesian affirmeth the same and advertiseth us That brave and worthy men have divers times beene overcome such are the variable events that fortune worketh even of idle and slothfull cowards And that this moreover among other principall prayses is most eminent when as authoritie placed in high degree having the desire to hurt to be cruell and wroth subdued and as it were put under the yoke hath erected a glorious trophie of clemencie in the castle of a victorious mind Now as this Prince in foreine warres went away with hurt and foyle so by reason of civile conflicts wherein he sped well he bare himselfe proud and by occasion of the inward ulcers of Common weale he was all embrued with horrible and filthy bloud Whereupon in a perverse purpose rather than just and usuall he reared with great cost and charges in Gaule and Pannonia triumphall arches even out of the losse and calamitie of the Provinces together with the titles of his acts affixed thereto for men to read so long as those monuments would be able to stand Exceeding much addicted he was to his wives to the small puling voyces of Eunuches and to some Courtyers who applauded every word he spake and observed to honour him and sooth him up in whatsoever hee affirmed or denyed The distastfull bitternesse of these times was made the worse by the unsatiable extortion and snatching of these receivers importunat collectors of tributes and taxes who drew more hatred upon his head than money into his coffers And this seemed unto many the more intollerable for that he never heard any cause nor tendered the indemnitie of the provinces when they were over-layed with taxes tributes and imposts one in the necke of another Over and above all this apt hee was to take away againe what hee had once given and that perfect and syncere religion of the Christians hee blended with foolish and doting superstitions and beeing given to search thereinto more intricately than to settle it with gravitie hee stirred many schismes and discords which as they spread more and more hee maintained with contentious words and disputations insomuch as whiles their bishops coursed up and downe by troupes on post-horses allowed by the State from Synode as they tearme it to Synode labouring to bring all rites and ceremonies to their owne dispose and will he thereby cut the sinewes quite of those that kept waggons for hire As touching his forme and feature of bodie this it was His complexion somewhat blacke or browne the cast of his eye loftie his sight quicke the haire of his head soft his cheekes alwaies shaven and shining beautifully from the grafting of his necke to his groine very long bow-legged and short withall whereby he both leapt and ran passing well Well being thus dead his corpes being embalmed and chested Iovianus who then was Protector u Domesticus had commaundement to attend upon it with royall pompe as farre as to Constantinople to be enterred close unto the neerest of his bloud and unto him sitting upon the Carroch that carried the Reliques as the manner is unto Emperours were presented the essayes and proofes of the souldiors corne and victuals as themselves tearme them x Indicia proba also publique beasts were shewed and according to the usuall custome they came upon him and grew more and more which together with officious meetings upon the way and other such signes portended verily unto the sayd Iovianus the Empire but the same to no effect and without any port or continuance as unto one that was the minister of such funerall pompes THE XXII BOOKE CHAP. I. The death of Constantius once knowne Iulianus as yet a young man of good growth with exceeding applause of all men is received by the Constantinopolitanes WHiles the mutable and rolling chances of Fortune worke these occurrents in divers parts of the world Iulian among many affaires which he projected in Illyricum pried continually into the bowels of beasts and gazing withall at the flight of birds longed to know before hand what end all accidents would have but when he had received doubtfull and darke answers he rested still uncertaine of the future And at the length Aprunculus Gallus the Oratour a skilfull Soothsayer and promoted afterwards to be governour of the province Narbonensis told him the events instructed before hand as himselfe said by the inspection of a liver which hee had seene hidden within a duple skin And when as Iulian feared for all that least this might bee devised to humour his desire and was therefore sad and heavie himselfe espied a much more certaine praesaging token which evidently shewed the death of Constantius For at the very same instant when the said Constantius died in Cilicia it happened that the souldior who with his right hand lifted him up to his horse backe caught a fall and lay along on the ground whereupon he cried out by and by in the hearing of many That He was fallen who had raysed him up to his high place of dignitie And albeit he knew these were gladsome signes yet standing fast still as it were upon his guard he kept himselfe within the bounds of Dacia fearing even for all this many accidents for he thought it no point of wisedome to trust in conjectures which peradventure would fall out contrarie Whiles hee stood thus doubtfull and in suspence behold all on a suddaine there came as embassadours sent unto him Theolaiphus and Aligildus with tidings That Constantius was deceased and saying moreover That by the last words he spake he nuncupated him successor in his imperiall throne Which being knowne after he was exempt from dangerous broyles
day and long before the third the aire now become faire and cleare discovered all the wofull and deadly downefals that were hidden before For behold some folke thrust and crushed together with an huge deale of rubbish falling upon them were under the weight thereof pressed to death others that stood up to their neckes buried as it were within heapes thereof whereas they might have beene saved if any had come to helpe them for want of succour perished others againe stucke fast hanging at the sharpe ends of timber-logs bearing out With one blow were a number seene slaine men and women but a little before but then confused heapes of dead carkasses pell mell huddled together Some there were whom the finials of houses leaning forward bare up otherwise unhurt but that they were to die with anguish and hunger Among whom Aristaenetus governing and taking charge as deputie lieutenant of that diocesse or province so affectionately loved and which Constantius in honour of his wife Eusebia had named Pietatis by this mishap after long dolour and paine yeelded up his vitall breath Some having their heads bruised and squized together or their shoulders or legs severed from their bodies lying thus in doubtfull plight betweene life and death piteously crying for Gods sake unto others in the same case to helpe them were quite forlorne and left unto themselves And verily the greater part of sacred churches and private houses yea and of people also might have beene saved had not the outrageous flames dispersed here and there for fiftie daies and nights together burnt up and consumed whatsoever was combustible And now I thinke it a meet and convenient time to report as touching Earthquakes what auncient writers have by way of conjecture collected for the hidden depth of the truth it selfe not onely this vulgar ignorance of ours but the very everlasting wits also of naturall Philosophers after long studie upon this point not yet exhaust or worne out could never reach unto Whereupon provided it is both in the ceremoniall bookes and also in the rites under the pontificiall priests and their Colledges That by naming one god for another since unknowne it is which of them thus shaketh the earth there bee no hainous scandale and damnable sinne committed But according to the Philosophers opinions among which Aristotle is much perplexed and troubled these earthquakes fall out to be either within the small caves of the earth which we in Greeke call Syringas whiles with thicke and often beating the waters wave to and fro and cast up surges or els verily as Anaxagoras affirmeth by reason of violent winds getting close within the ground below which when they happen to hit and beat upon the sides thereof hard baked or felted together finding no way of issue shake those parts of the earth at which they entred when they were moist Whence it is that men observe for the most part that during an Earthquake we above the ground perceive no winds to blow because they are busie in the most remote nookes of the earth beneath Anaximander is of opinion That the earth waxing drie upon a long and extraordinarie drought or after much moist weather store of raine openeth very great chinkes and wide chawnes at which the aire above with violence and in exceeding much quantitie entreth and so by them shaken with a strong spirit is stirred and moved out of her proper place For which cause such like terrible accidents chaunce either in excessive hote seasons or after immoderate fall of raine from heaven And hence it is that both auncient Poets and Theologers also have tearmed Neptune who hath dominion over the moist elements Ennosigaeon and Sisichthona Now these earthquakes are observed to be foure manner of wayes for they are either a Brasmatiae which heaving and raising the earth within force upward most huge mounts in which sort in Asia Delos appeared above the water and Hiera likewise Anaphe and Rhodus called in the fore-going ages Ophiusa and Pelagia drenched in times past with a golden shower also Eleusin in Boeotia and the Island of Vulcane among the Tyrrheni with many more beside or secondly b Climatiae which rushing askew or sidelong and crooked lay cities houses and mountaines flat or else c Chasmatiae which by a greater kind of motion suddainely opening wide gulfes swallow up parts of the earth as in the Atlanticke sea an Island more than all Europe and in the gulfe Criseus Helice and Bura as also in Ciminia a part of Italie the towne Succiniense swallowed up all in a deepe gaping chinke lye hidden for ever in perpetuall darkenesse Among these three sorts of Earthquakes those that be heard with a menacing noyse are tearmed d Mycematiae namely when as the elements by loosening of their joynts encounter and run one upon another of their owne accord or fall backe as the ground doth settle For then of necessitie the crashing noyse and rumbling of the earth within must bellow and rore like a Bull. But proceed wee from hence to the historie that we have begun CHAP. VIII Iulianus whiles he maketh his abode in Paris warreth upon the Alemans After that the Franci Salij and Chamani were defeated and subdued there fell out a famine which in the armie caused a tumult and hot mutinie which being quenched our souldiors passe over Rhene and lay wast the Alemans territories BVt Caesar whiles he wintered in Paris hastened with all diligence possible to prevent the Alemans who as yet were not assembled together but now after the battaile of Argentoratum become all audacious cruell beyond all measure and waiting still for the moneth Iuly whence they of Gaule use to begin their warre-service and to come into the field he was much troubled a long time in his mind For go forth he could not before that corne was brought out of Acquitaine upon the breaking of the cold weather and frosts by reason of the mild Summer season But as diligent and considerate regard is the conqueresse in manner of all difficulties casting many and sundry things in his head this was the only way he found namely without expecting the full season of the yeare to encounter the Barbarians before he was looked for And in this setled resolution he tooke corne for twentie daies out of that store which was provided to be spent in the standing place of abode baked throughly for to last into bisket bread such as commonly they call Buccellatum and layed it upon his willing souldiors shoulders and so confident of this helpe in a good houre as before hee tooke his journey thinking that within five or sixe moneths two urgent and necessarie expeditions might be performed Which things being put in a readinesse first of all others he marcheth against the Frankes those I meane who commonly are tearmed Salij and who in old time durst in the Romane ground at a place called Toxiandria very boldly place and plant themselves Now
by the meanes and long use whereof Demetrius the sonne of Antigonus after he had given the assault unto Rhodes and other cities was called Poliorcetes and built it is in this manner There is a mightie Testudo or frame made strengthened with very long pieces of timber and fitted together with yron spikes and the same covered with ox-hides and new rods or windings drawne one within another the roofe or upmost part whereof is bestrewed and layed over with mud to the end it may checke the fall of fire or shot of casting-weapons Now there are set fast in the front of it certaine sharpe-pointed yron pikes or heads with three edges very massie much like in shape to those lightnings or thunderbolts that painters or forgers exhibite unto it to the end that whatsoever it runneth against it may with those sharpe heads that so beare out batter and breake in pieces This so strong and huge a frame the souldiors within ruling with wheeles and a number of ropes drive with maine and speedie force against the weaker part of a wall and unlesse the defendants from above bee the stronger and quit themselves the better it beateth downe the walls and maketh wide breaches As for the Malleoli a kind of Darts shaped they be on this fashion There is an arrow made of a cane betwixt the head and the steile joined and couched close with an yron full of chamfers and teeth which arrow after the maner of a womans distaffe on which they spin linnen thred is finely made hollow within the bellie yet open in many places thereof and in the bellie or hollownesse it receiveth fire with some fuell to feed it and thus being discharged softly out of a weake bow for with violent shooting the fire goeth out if it take fast hold on any place it burneth the same and having water cast or sprinckled upon it the hoter fire it causeth neither is there any remedie to allay or quench the rage thereof but by flinging dust upon it Thus much as touching peeces of Ordnance for walls of which some few have beene shewed Now returne we to the orderly course of our Hystorie CHAP. IIII. Iulianus setting nought by the letters of the Praefect of Gaule passeth over into Persia and then plucketh up the bridge to take away all hope from the souldiors to returne And once againe wearied he is with adverse prodigies whiles the Soothsayers and Naturalists disagree about the interpretation of such strange tokens THe Emperor having taken to him the Aids of the Saracenes which they offered with most willing and readie minds marching with quicke pace toward Cercusium in the beginning of Aprill entred into that fenced towne a place most safe and as finely and workemanly built the wals whereof the rivers Aboras and Euphrates compasse about shaping out as it were the spacious plot of an Island This fort being but small aforetime and suspected Dioclesian enclosed round with high walls and towers what time as in the very confines of the Barbarians he did set out and ordaine the inward limits least the Persians might raunge over Syria as within few yeres before it chaunced to the great detriment and damage of the provinces For it happened at Antioch that when all was still and silent at the solemne stage-playes a dauncing Tregetour sent in to make sport together with his wife was acting and counterfeiting certaine gestures that were commonly and usually taken up with so pleasant and delightsome a grace that the people were astonied thereat suddainely his wife Vnlesse I dreame quoth she in my sleepe loe yonder be the Persians Whereat the whole multitude turning their heads backe for to decline and avoid the darts that came flying thicke about their eares were dispersed every way Thus the enemies when they had burnt the citie and hewed a number in pieces who as in time of peace were stragled abroad very losely at their pleasures when they had fired also and wasted the villages and places bordering upon it loaden with booties and pillage returned home without receiving any hurt at all after they had burnt Mareaâ—es quicke who without good advisement had led them forth to the death of his owne countreymen And this fortuned verily in the dayes of Gallienus But Iulian whiles he stayeth at Cercusium to the end that by a bridge of ships over Aboras the armie and all the traine following might passe over received letters That nothing pleased him from Sallustius Praefect of Gaule who prayed him that the expedition against the Parthians might be put off and earnestly besought him That hee would not thus hastily and unseasonably plunge himselfe into an irrevocable danger of destruction having not as yet obtained the grace and favour of the gods Howbeit rejecting the advertisement of this most sage and wise counsellor hee boldly advaunced forward still for why Never was there any power or prowesse of man able to merit and prevaile so much but that which the fatall order of Destinies had once prescribed must needs take effect And forthwith having passed over the river hee caused the bridge to bee plucked in sunder and had away that the souldiors might have no confidence or hope remaining to returne backe from their proper companies and regiments In like sort here also was seene a sight praesaging heavie and unluckie fortune to wit the dead corpes lying along of a certaine officer or purveyor executed by the hangmans hand whom Sallustius the PrÄ™fect being presentin place had condemned to suffer death and loose his head for that having given his promise to deliver an encrease of victuals within a day prefixed was by reason of a cause of impeachment disappointed and did frustrate mens expectation But when the poore man a pitifull case was done to death the very next morrow as he had made promise arrived another fleet fraight with plentie of corne and victuall From thence we departed and came to Zaita a place which by interpretation is as much as the Olive tree Here saw we the brave and admirable tombe of the Emperour Gordian whose acts from the very beginning of his childhood and whose most fortunate conducts of armies together with his death wrought by traiterous conspirators we have in order put downe in due time Where when he had of his inbred pietie devotion sacrificed to the Manes of that consecrated prince and was going forward to Dura a dispeopled towne hee espied a farre off a companie of souldiors whereat he stood still and stirred not a foot and as he was in doubt what newes they brought there was by them presented unto him a Lyon of a most huge and mightie bodie wounded to death with many a dart as hee made toward the armie Vpon which sight giving now as it were a more certaine praesage of some more fortunate spectacle he bare himselfe aloft and marched on with greater courage and jolitie But such was the uncertaine will and equivocant decree of Fortune
occasion and advantage of greater matters For when as both sides fought so faintly as if oftentimes they had beene at the point to depart asunder behold by the stroke of a Ram long time disused and which a little before was brought against the wall downe came a tower higher than all the rest and built most strongly of bricke the fall whereof brought after it with a mightie crash that side of the wall that joined unto it Then and there by occasion of sundrie accidents and occurrents the painfull labour of the besiegers and the diligent industrie of the besieged was notably shewed by brave and worthy exploits For our fighting souldiers were so enkindled with anger and dolour that they thought no service hard and the defendants running as they did and bestirring themselves for life nothing was dread and terrible Now when the fight had continued hot a long time in even ballance and doubtfull tearmes after much bloudshed and many a man slaine on both parts it determined with the end of the day and so at length respect and consideration was had of their wearinesse And whiles these things were a doing in open day light word was brought unto the Emperour full of watchfull care That the legionarie souldiors who had the charge of digging trenches and undermining after they had wrought under ground hollow wayes and upheld them with props had pierced through the verie foundations beneath readie now to rise above the ground if hee did so direct them When as therefore the most part of the night was past upon signall given by sound of trumpets to go forth running there was on all hands to arme and to fight and on purpose the assault was given on both sides affront the walls that whiles the defendants are skudding to and fro about the walls to put by and repell daungers so that neither the tinging sound of the yron tooles digging hard by could bee heard nor any man remained within forth to make resistance a companie of myners all on a sodaine shew their heads Which being so ordered as agreed it was before and the defendants busily occupied and the lurking caves layed open up starteth first a souldior one of the number that before was overcome after whom Magnus a Tribune and Iovianus a Notarie whom a bold and hardie multitude following after they had stabbed those whom they found in the house through which they came forth to light marching on softly with a silent pace they killed all the watchmen as they were with lowd and shrill voyces extolling as the manner is and custome of that nation the justice and felicitie of their king Thought it was sometime that Mars himselfe in person if the lawes of divine majestie permit that gods may be entermingled with men was assistant to k Lucinus when hee invaded the campe of the Lucanes And men verily beleeved so much because in the verie middle and heat of skirmish there was one seene of a huge and terrible bignesse all armed carrying ladders and the next day when a review was taken of the armie such an one could not be found though he were with a speciall care searched for whereas if he had bin a souldior he would willingly of his own accord have shewed himselfe knowing as he did what a memorable act he had done But as it was altogether unknowne then what was he that performed so brave a deed so now they that did most valiantly shew themselves and were seene above the rest rewarded with obsidionall coronets and praised in open place before the whole armie assembled according to the custome of our auncients CHAP. VIII The citie thus forcibly won is wasted with fire and sword A dumbe boy and a tumbler or player of feats falleth in the pillage to Iulianus his share the singular continence of the said Emperour The hunting of the Romans their comming to Seleucia And then was Nabdates captaine or governor of Maiozamalcha executed accordingly AT length the citie laid thus naked and by reason of many breaches and wayes made into it readie to fal was forcibly entred into and without regard either of sex or age whatsoever violence found the power of angrie souldiors made havocke of and put to the sword Others for feare of imminent destruction seeing fire threatning of one side and drawne swords presented on another weeping their last flung themselves downe from the walls with their heads forward and so being disabled in all their limmes disjoynted led for the time a life more wofull and miserable than death it selfe whiles they were killed by little and little Now there was fetched forth alive Nabdates captaine of the garrison with fourescore of his guard about him whom the gracious and mercifull Emperour when he was brought before him with others commaunded to bee kept unhurt and untouched When the saccage therefore was divided and dealt with consideration of everie mans desert and paines taken himselfe as hee was one that stood content with a little tooke for his share a dumbe boy brought unto him one of these tumblers and dauncers kind who also could expresse by most lovely and daintie jestures what he had skill of and valued at l three peeces of gold him I say he tooke for a pleasant and acceptable reward as he esteemed it of victorie obtayned But of the virgines that were taken prisoners and beautifull with all as in Persia where the women be passing faire he would neither touch nor see one Following herin the example of Alexander and Africanus who declined these temptations for feare they might be overcome of lust who everie where shewed themselves of labour and travaile invincible In the time of these conflicts the Architect and master Carpenter of our side whose name commeth not to my remembrance as he chaunced to stand behind the engine of a Scorpion by the reverberation or recoyling backe of a stone which the enginer had bestowed loose and tottering in the sling socket was strucken downe therewith on his backe and his breast so squized that presently he lost his life withall and the knitting of his joynts was so disjoyned and torne in sunder as that the tokens verily of his whole bodie could not be knowne As the Emperour went forward on his journey from thence there was one enformed him for certaine That about the wals of the towne thus subverted there was a companie lay close in ambush within certaine deceitfull and blind caves such as there be many in those tracts to the end that from thence at unwares they might set upon the backe part of our armie and have the killing of the hindmost And streight wayes for the fetching them out of their holes were sent footmen of approoved valour Who when they could neither make entrance into the said caves nor drive them forth that were bestowed within to fight gathered a deale of stubble straw and vine cuttings which they laid upon heapes at the very mouth of the holes Whereupon the smoke being gotten into the
had fore-knowledge alreadie of this trouble comming toward them And in the beginning of the Spring having assembled his forces together encamped neere unto a strong hold named Daphne and upon a bridge floored with flankes over the hatches of ships passed the river Hister without resistance made of any And now bearing himselfe aloft with great boldnesse when riding up and downe he could find none that he might overcome or terrifie for all men strucken with feare of our souldiors approching with a brave shew of preparation were retyred to the mountaines of the Serri which were very high and inaccessible but only to such as were skilfull in the wayes least that having spent the whole Summer he should returne without any exploit done by sending out Arinibeus colonell of the footmen with certaine companies to wast and spoyle seized on part of their families such as before they came to the broken and winding wayes might be taken straggling and wandering over the plaine fields And thus having atchieved this onely that Fortune presented to his hands he returned with his forces in safetie having neither given nor received any grievous blow The yeare following when he assayed with like courage to enter into the enemies land being hindered with the streames of Danubius that overflowed farre beyond his banks he rested still pitching his standing campeneere to a village named Carporum untill the end of Autumne Whence because nothing could be done by reason that the great flouds kept him off he departed to Martianopolis there to Winter Semblably the third yeare also holding on his purpose still having broken into the ground of the barbarous enemies by Novidunum and that by meanes of shippes joyned together for to passe over the river after continuall journeyes taken he set upon the Grutungi a warlicke nation that inhabited further off and after some light skirmishes constrained for feate of extremitie Athanaricus to take his flight who in those dayes was a most puissant ruler who with a power that he thought more than sufficient dared to make resistance and then himselfe with all his forces returned againe to Martianopolis there to keepe his Winter a place as in those tracts meet and convenient Now after sundrie accidents that fell out in these three yeares space there were good motives and reasons to end the warre First for that the enemies feare encreased by the princes long abode in these parts Then because the barbarous people being debarred of traffique and commerce were distressed for exceeding want of necessaries in so much as they sent embassadors oftentimes in manner of suppliants and craved pardon with peace Vnto whom the Emperour unexpert I must needs say but a most equall and indifferent considerer as yet of things before that he was beguiled with the pernitious allurements of flatterie and afflicted the Commonwealth with slaughters and executions for ever to be lamented taking sage advice for the common good decreed That it was behovefull to graunt peace And he sent forth by turnes Victor and Arintheus who then had the managing of the horsemens service Who when they had given true intelligence by their letters That the Gothes condescended unto the conditions proposed there was a meet place appointed for the conclusion of a peace And for as much as Athanaricus avouched That he was bound under the fearefull curse of an othe and beside by his fathers commaundement expresly forbidden to tread at any time upon Roman ground in which regard he might not bee compelled and withall it had beene an unseemely and base thing that the Emperor should go over to him thought good it was by them that were wise that in certaine vessels guided by ores into the mids of the river where were embarked the Emperor and the foresaid Iudge of the nation together with their Esquiers they should as before it was determined passe the covenants of a league and peace together Which businesse being dispatched and pledges received Valens returned to Constantinople where afterwards Athanaricus driven out of his native countrey by a faction of his neerest kinsmen and followers yeelded unto nature and was enterred with solemne and sumptuous funerals after the guise of our countrey CHAP. V. Whiles Valentinian lyeth sicke of a grievous disease certaine of the principall officers and rulers lay their heads together about chusing Rusticus Iulianus Master of the Rolles or Severus Colonell of the footmen to be Emperour But the said Emperour recovering declareth Gratianus his son for his Colleague and Augustus both after he had in a grave oration recommended him unto the armie which generally accepted of him and when he was adorned with a coronet and imperiall robes exhorteth him to doe his devoire with the exceeding applause of them all WHiles Valentinian in this meane time lay grievously sicke thought no other but like to dye at a feast where the Gaules secretly met who served in the Emperours armie Rusticus Iulianus then k Master of the Rolls was as it were in a furious fit or motion of madnesse nominated to the Empire one as bloud-thirstie as any savage beast as he well shewed whiles he governed Affricke in place of Proconsull For in his Prefecture of the citie during which he dyed fearing the daungerous and ticklish dayes of tyrannie by the will and pleasure whereof he had climbed up to that high dignitie for default as it should seeme of worthie persons enforced he was to shew himselfe mild and verie tractable Against these Gaules some there were who in a deeper reach and drift laboured in favour of Severus then Colonell of the footmen as a man fitted for the obtaining thereof who albeit he was rigorous and dread yet more tollerable and everie way to be preferred above Rusticus aforesaid But whiles these matters are thought upon to no effect the Emperour somewhat refreshed and recovered by the meanes of many remedies and perceiving that himselfe was scarce yet delivered from daunger of death had a full purpose to adorne with the imperiall ensignes his owne sonne Gratian a pretie young stripling and well growne and having provided all things in readinesse accordingly and wrought the souldiors to accept thereof in good gree and willingly when Gratian was come he went forth into the field and ascended up to the Tribunall where being environed with a gallant companie of noble persons and Officers of State hee tooke the youth by the right hand brought him forth before them and with a solemne publicke oration recommended him as ordained Emperour to the armie in this wise In this habit of princely place and dignitie which I carrie about with me as an ample signe of your favour enlarged toward me by which I am deemed a more worthie personage than many others and those right honourable I will before you my associats in counsels and fore-men in desires and wishes in due office of pietie and kindnesse set in hand with a matter God saying Amen and promising good successe by whose eternall ayd
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
at variance and which sore hindred their service strove for honour and dignitie Which when the Sarmatians as they were passing wittie perceived not expecting any solemne signall of battaile charge upon the Moesiack legion first And while our souldiors were some what slacke in this tumult to arme and make readie their weapons they slew the most of them and herewith more emboldened they brake through the Pannonian legion and having broken the rankes with meere might and maine they had redoubled the charge and put them in manner all to the sword but that some of them made so quicke shift that they escaped the daunger of death During this disasterous danger and heavie losse the marquesse of Moesia Theodosius the younger a young gentleman whose beard began but then to bud forth and who afterward prooved a most politique and experienced Emperour divers times drave out and sore annoyed yea and with many skirmishes one in the taile of another crushed the free Sarmatians so called for difference from the rebellious bondmen that from another side invaded our confines and so defeated whole multitudes of them conflowing together and resisting right manfully that the most part of them most justly slaine satisfied the bloudie foules and ravenous wild beasts Whereupon the rest now that their swelling pride was fallen and well abated fearing least the same captaine a warriour of expedite prowesse as it appeared and quicke dispatch would either beat downe or put to rout the troupes that made rodes even in the first entrie of the borders or else bestow ambushments secretly along the woods after many offers and attempts of breaking through made from time to time in vaine casting aside all trust in fighting craved a tolleration and pardon for all that was past And thus being overcome for a time entred into no action contrarie to the covenants of peace graunted unto them as being most of all curbed and kept downe with this feare for that there was come a strong power of the Gallicane souldiors to the defence of Illyricum Whiles these occurrents so many and of such sort by way of continuall troubles do passe in the time that Claudius governed Rome citie the river Tiberis which running through the mids thereof together with many sinkes sewers and riverets aboundant intermingleth himselfe with the Tyrrhene sea swelling bigge and overflowing with outragious fall of raine and powring shewers and spreading now beyond the termes of a river welneere surrounded all And for as much as all parts of the citie besides seated upon an even and levell place were all a standing poole the hills onely and what great houses built apart by themselves were mounted upon the higher ground saved themselves from the present fearefull daunger And least a number of the people should pine and perish for want of food considering the water was so great that it suffered no man to go forth any whither with boats and wherries there was plentifull store of meat brought unto them But when as the tempestuous weather was appeased and the river by breaking those barres that held it in returned to his woonted course all feare was done away and no more trouble afterwards expected This verie Prefect carryed himselfe in his place verie quietly as having endured and tasted of no sedition upon any just cause of quarel and complaint and besides he reedified many buildings among which hee reared a mightie gallerie or walking place hard by the o baine of Agrippa which he named The Baine of p good event by reason that there is seene neere unto it a temple bearing this name THE XXX BOOKE CHAP. 1. Para King of Armenia taken by a wile and wrongfully detained by Valens wittily maketh meanes to escape AMong these daungerous troubles which Generall Perrha raysed after the King of the Quadi was treacherously slaine there chaunced an execrable fact to bee committed in the East by the murdering of Para King of Armenia by villainous and secret traines of which matter upon an impious intent conceived this we know to have beene the originall cause Certaine persons there were having shrewd and unhappie wits of their owne fed and maintained many times with the losses of commonweale who before Valens complotted and packed against Para being as yet but a young Prince divers imputations aggravating the same in the worst manner Among whom was Terentius Lord Warden of the Marches one that walked lowly and alwayes somewhat heavie and sad but so long as he lived a perillous sower and stirrer up of dissentions Who having taken into his societie some few people such as for their lewd and hainous offences stood in doubtfull tearmes of feare by writing to the Emperours Court and Counsell ceased not to reiterate the death of Cylaces and Artabanes adding moreover That the said young Prince reaching and ayming at proud deeds became exceeding hard and cruel to his subjects Whereupon the said Para under a colour as if he should be made partaker of a treatie then to be holden as the instant affaires required called after a roial sort and under a pretense of serviceable courtesie attended at Tarsus in Cilicia when as he neither could be admitted into the Emperours campe nor yet know the cause of this urgent apparance of his for that everie man held his tongue at the length by a secret inkling given unto him he found that Terentius by his letters advised the Roman Emperour to send straightwayes another to be king of Armenia least in hatred of Para and for feare that he should returne the whole nation of such importance to us should revolt and become subject unto the Persians who were hot upon the getting of it either by force or feare or flatterie Which when he the said king revolved in his mind he presaged that some grievous mischiefe hung over his head And being now ware of this deceitfull plot and finding no other meanes to save himselfe but by a speedie departure at the persuasion of such as he had affiance in he having gathered about him three hundred of his traine who had followed him forth of his countrey upon most swift horses when the greatest part of the day was spent more adventurous than advised as commonly it is seene in great and daungerous frights he went forth in manner of a pointed battailon and hastened away fearelesse And when an officer belonging to a the Moderator of the Province who warded the gate much troubled to see him make such hast found him in the suburbes and quarters neere unto the citie he besought him verie earnestly to stay and seeing he could not prevaile turned backe for feare of being killed In like manner a little after the legion also that pursued and now approached neere unto him himselfe together with the forwardest of his companie galloping backe and shooting arrowes that flew as thicke as sparkes of fire but missing them for the nonce put to flight so that all our souldiors togegether with their Tribune terrified retyred
Praesaging signes and prodigious sights in the East portending hurt unto Valens The originall cause of his destruction and of divers calamities The nation of the Hunnes exactly described MEane while the swift wheele of Fortune making at all times an alternative change of prosperitie and adversitie armed Bellona together with the Furies her associats continually and brought over sorrowfull events into the East against the comming whereof evident praesages and strange signes gave true warning For after many other accidents which by way of Soothsaying the Prophets and Augures foretold dogges leaped and frisked when the wolves howled the night-birds also in groning wise sounded foorth a monefull and lamentable note and the mournefull rising of the Sunne dimmed the cleare light of the morning Likewise at Antioch in every brawle and tumultuous fray among the common sort a by-word was usually taken up that as any thought himselfe to suffer violence or abuse he would in licentious manner crie out Vivus ardeat Valens i. A light fire catch Valens quicke Besides the Cryers were heard continually to call and charge That there should be wood gotten together for to set on fire the Baine a Valentinum which the prince himselfe with great desire and diligence had built all which put together spake out in manner and plainely shewed That this kind of death was toward him Over and above the pale and dreadfull spectre representing the king of Armenia as also the wofull ghosts of those who a little before in the matter of Theodorus were put to death appearing by visions in the night time and skreaking out certaine horrible and dreadfull verses disquieted many folke in their sleepe and put them into terrible frights A little Goat was seene after the throat thrust through to lye along dead the death whereof shewed very great and notorious calamities of publicke funerals To conclude as the old walls of Chalcedon were in pulling downe for to build up a Baine in Constantinople when the raunge and course of the stone-worke was loosened upon a foure square stone which lay couched in the middle of the worke these Greeke verses following were found engraven opening fully the future events 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is But when new wives and damsels fresh in daunces that delight Shall raunge along the citie-streets with guirlands gayly dight And when the wall with many a grone shall downe to mound a Baine Then shall the Hunnes by multitudes breake forth with might and maine By force of armes the winding streame of Ister they shall crosse To Scythicke ground and Mysian land working much teene and losse They shall both Paeons horsemen brave and furious Gaulois stay Nor but with losse of life and breath their fight shall ever stay Now the seednesse of all mischiefe and the originall of sundrie calamities which the furie of Mars by making a confusion and combustion of all after his wonted manner first raised we find for certaine to have risen upon this cause The nation of the Hunnes little or nothing knowne by any auncient records seated along the frozen sea beyond the marishes of Maeotis exceedeth in felnesse and crueltie beyond all measure where for that their infants cheekes from their very nativitie are deepely gashed with a knife that by reason of the rivelled and wrinckled skarres the yong haire when it should bud forth in due season might be checked and kept downe they grow untill they be old all of them beardlesse without any favour or beautie at all like unto guelded Eunuches Generally their lims be well knit and strong and by reason of their fat chuffe-necks they are monstrously deformed and bending in the backe that a man would take them for two footed brute beasts or else resembling those image-like posts which in the borders and sides of bridges are ill favouredly hewed and shaped in forme of men Semblably in their manner of life they seeme to be so rude and rough that they need neither fire nor savourie and seasoned meats but feed upon the rootes of weeds and the flesh of any cattell halfe raw which being thrust betweene their owne thighes and their horses backes they keepe warme and give a short heat unto Never come they under any roofe but all houses they no lesse decline than if they were sepulchres standing out of the way and apart from any common use for there cannot be found among them so much as a cottage thatched over head with reed But raunging here and there over the mountaines and the woods they are enured from their verie cradle to endure both hunger and thirst When they travel abroad into other countries they come into no house but upon exceeding great necessitie For they do not thinke themselves secured and safe under any roofe They are clad all over in garments made of linnen or else patched up of wild b mice skinnes neither weare they one kind of apparell at home and another abroad but come there once over their head a coat of some over-worne colour it never goes off nor is chaunged before that with long wearing it be over-rotten and run to ragges and tatters They cover their heads with hats shooting out and bending forward and goats skinnes serve for stockings and hose to cover their hairie legges And their shooes not made fit by any last hinder them for setting their feet forward at libertie and going at ease For which cause they are not well appointed for service on foot in the warres but being locked fast as it were to their horsebackes which are tough and hard I must needs say but yet mishaped and ill favoured and otherwhiles sitting upon them sidelong as women do they follow and performe their ordinarie businesses The fashion is throughout this nation for everie one sitting still on horsebacke all night and all day long to buy and sell to eat and drinke yea and leaning forward and couching himselfe upon the narrow necke of his horse to fall sound asleepe untill he have had a sort of sundrie dreames And in this manner also sit they all in counsell together consulting deliberatly upon serious affaires proposed Now directed they are by no regall authoritie but contenting themselves with the tumultuarie conduct and leading of their principall Potentates breake through they do whatsoever stands in their way Sometime also they maintaine defensive warre and fight when they be provoked but they begin battaile by plumps and companies one after another setting up divers noyses sounding after an hideous manner And as they are for quicke dispatch of service verie light and doing all of a sodaine so also as sodainely for the nonce they disperse themselves and fall a wailing and then when the battell chargeth full upon them they ride all abroad with committing much slaughter