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
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
barked at him and one that alwayes had beene a doutie warriour both souldior and captaine but a meere stranger in law cases and troubles at the barre who being much perplexed with feare of his owne danger toward when as he saw those suborned accusers and judges associate and joyned with him newly appearing and shewing their heads out of the same pits what matters were in plotting and devising either under hand or openly he by secret letters informed Constantius of craving means of aid and assistance for feare whereof the prowd and swelling humor of Caesar so notoriously knowne might breath out and be spent But by this over-much warinesse and circumspection of his he happened to sticke fast among worse snares laied for him as I shall shew hereafter whiles his envious concurrents packed and patched grievous matter to entrap him unto Constantius a prince otherwise indifferent and moderate ynough but if any person whatsoever base though he were and unknowne had once put into his head some such matter as this very cruell implacable in this matter of causes in triall unlike himselfe Vpon the day therefore appointed aforehand for these detestable inquisitions and examinations there sate him downe as Iudge for forme and fashion the generall of the Horsemen with other assessors to him who were taught their lessons and directed what they should doe and assistant there were on either hand the Notaries ready to carry in post hast what questions were demanded and what answeres were made unto Caesar by whose commandement set wholly then upon crueltie through the instigation of the queene laying her eare otherwhiles out through the tapistrie hangings many not permitted once to cleare themselves of the crimes objected nor allowed any defence were cast away and undone First therefore of all others came to the barre Epigonus and Eusebius layd hard unto and sore wronged for the affinitie of their names For I have said before that Montius a little before his death blamed certain masters of the Forges who bare these names as having promised some meanes and helpes to worke revenge when time should serve And verily Epigonus a Philosopher in habit onely and apparrell when he had by much entreatie craved favour in vaine after that his sides were tewed and gashed yea and the feare of death was presented unto him by a shamefull confession avouched himselfe to bee partie and accessarie in such plots and projects as never were whereas hee had neither seene nor heard anything silly man he as one altogether unacquainted in law matters and judiciall proceedings But Eusebius standing very confidently to the deniall of the imputations layd upon him notwithstanding he was hoysed k up aloft upon the rack persisted long in one and the same state crying out That this was plaine robberie and no lawfull judgement Now whiles hee called very instantly for his accuser and the ordinary course of triall as one skilfull in the lawes Caesar informed hereof and supposing this liberty and free speech of his to bee pride commaunded him to bee torne and mangled as an audacious and malapart slaunderer who beeing so rent and bowelled as that he had no part of his body cleare for to bee tormented any longer crying up to heaven for justice and smiling under a grim and angry looke with grounded resolution continued stedfast and constant not enduring to accuse himselfe nor any man else and so at length neither confessing nor convicted together with his abject companion was condemned to suffer death And led forth he was to execution with a fearelesse and unappalled courage reproching the iniquitie of those daies and following the example of that auncient Stoicke Zeno who having beene tortured a long time for to expresse some lyes from him plucked his owne tongue from the very root and with his spettle all bloudy spit it at the very eyes and face of the l Cyprian king as he questioned with him After this the royall garment abovesaid was sought for and when the servants that died purple upon torturing had confessed a little jacket for the body woven without sleeves there was brought in one named Maras a Deacon as the Christians tearme him to give evidence whose letters written in the Greeke tongue unto the Master or foreman of a Weavers shoppe in Tyrus were produced wherein very urgently hee called upon the said party to have the peece hastened forward but what peece he shewed not Finally the same Maras tormented even to danger of death could not yet be forced to confesse any thing During this inquisition which extended to sundry estates and degrees when some things appeared doubtfull and others againe were found slightly committed after the overthrow and undoing of many one both the Apollinares father and sonne were banished and being come as farre as to a place named Crateras a mannor or village of their owne standing foure and twentie myles from Antioch according to commaundement given their legges were broken and they slaine After whose death Gallus as fierce and cruell as before like unto a Lyon fleshed with carcasses made streight search for many such cheats the which to report in particular it skilleth not for feare I exceed the bounds of my profession a thing that I must carefully avoid CHAP. IX Constantius highly offended with Gallus levieth warre upon the Aleman kings unto whom craving peace he with consent of the Romane armie graunteth it WHiles the East parts endured this cruell tyrannie a long time so soone as warme and open weather was come Constantius in the seventh yeare of his owne Consulship and in the second of Caesars departed eftsoones from Arles and went to Valentia minding to make warre upon Gundomadus and Vadomarius brethren kings of the Alemans by whose often excursions the lands confining upon the marches of the Gaulois were layed wast And whiles he stayed long there waiting for the provision of victuall the conveyance and transporting whereof out of Acquitaine was hindered by the Spring raines that fell thicker than ordinarie and by the rising up of the brookes Arculanus arrived one of the m Guard-band in ordinarie the sonne of Hermogenes late master of the Horsemen torne in pieces long since in a petty riot and broile of the people at Constantinople as I have above reported upon whose relation and that most truly delivered namely what parts Gallus had played hee lamenting sore for the hurts past and standing in suspence for feare of those to come palliated and stayed the griefe of his heart so long as he could Howbeit all the forces in the meane while drawne together unto Cabillo impatient of delaies grew mutinous and raging incensed the more for that they had not maintenance for their life by reason that the usuall provision for food c. was not yet come over to them Whereupon Rufinus at the same time Lord chiefe Iustice was driven to a very hard extremitie for compelled he was himselfe in person to go unto
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
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
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
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
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