as a goddesse to be revenged of such as ioy in wicked deeds will in the end bring such prowd swelling and fierie spirits to dead sparkes and embers as my selfe have found by experience and as I easily am induced to beleeve by the knowledge I have out of auncient histories What remaineth then but that we withstand these tempestuous whirlewinds that are raised and by speedie remedies represse and quell the rage of this warre new sprung up before it bee growne to greater strength For there is no doubt to be made with the favour of that most high God assisting us by whose eternall sentence unthankefull persons are alreadie condemned but that the edge of the sword so impiously prepared will be turned upon them to their utter destruction who not provoked with iniuries but made greater by many benefites have thus risen up to endanger the innocent For as my mind presageth and iustice readie to further good counsels doth promise I dare undertake that if they come once to buckle in close fight they will for starke feare grow so benummed that they shall not be able to endure the ardent light brandishing and sparkling out of your eies or the first noise of the outcrie at the ioyning of battaile After these speeches uttered hee drew them all to his mind and when they had answered the same with kind words and loving acclamations they shooke their speares in angrie wise and called to bee led foorth out of hand into the field against the rebell Whereupon the Emperour turning his feare into the joy soone after dissolved the assembly commaunded Arbetio whom he knew alreadie by former proofes to bee above all others a fortunate man in appeasing of civile warres to goe before him in his journey with the m Lancearij and n Mattiarij the companies of the light armed souldiors likewise Gomoarius with the Laeti who was to be opposed against them that should come into the straits of Succi one whom in this respect he preferred before others because hee was mischievously bent against Iulian as who had beene despised and disgraced by him in Gaule CHAP. XIII Constantius after this being disquieted with dreames and as hee thought for saken of his tutelar Genius and frighted withall by a certaine unluckie and ominous token whiles hee came unto a village neere Antioch fell mortally sicke and dyed HIs fortune thus sticking standing still in this tumultuous state of adversities shewed by signes as openly almost as if they had spoken plaine That the painfull end of his life was at hand For both terrified he was in the night time and before also that hee fell fast asleepe he saw the ghost of his father as offering unto him a faire babe Againe when he had taken the said babe unto him and bestowed it in his bosome it strucke from him and flung a great way off the ball which himselfe carried in his right hand Now this betokened nothing else but a change in the State although the interpreters answered pleasing things to him After this he confessed unto his familiars that kept neerest unto him daily bare him companie at the table That now as one forlorne he saw no more any secret apparition in cheerefull and pleasant forme but he thought it stood hard by him in poore and mournefull maner and supposed it was That a certaine tutelar Genius allotted unto him for the protection of his life had forsaken him readie to depart verie shortly out of the world For the Divines out of their learning say That all persons new borne saving alwayes the stable firmnesse of the destinies have to accompanie them some such powerful spirits to guide as it were governe their actions and yet the same appearing to veriefew even those whom many kinds of vertues have made great and famous And this doctrine both the Oracles and also excellent authors have taught us among whom is Menander likewise the Comical Poet in whom are read these two o Senarie-Iambick verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One Angell hath each man his birth once past Which him directs whiles lively breath doth last Semblably out of those everlasting verses of Homer wee are given to understand That they were not gods of heaven that communed with valiant men neither stood by or helped them as they fought but familiar Genij or angels that conversed with them by meanes of whose especiall helpe it is said that Pythagoras Socrates Numa Pompilius the former Scipio and as some thinke Marius and Octavianus the first that had the name of Augustus given unto him excelled likewise that great p Hermes Tris-Megistus Apollonius also Tyaneus and Plotinus who adventured by discoursing upon this Theme by way of argument both mystically and profoundly to shew the first beginnings when these Genij become linked to mens soules which being once received into their bosomes they protect as long as they may and instruct them in many high points in case they perceive them to bee pure and by the immaculat societie of the bodie severed from the filth of sinne Well Constantius with all speed being entred Antioch and minding earnestly to addresse himselfe as his manner was against the troubles of civile warres after he had put all things in readinesse hastened to go forth into the field although a number secretly in mumbling maner were exceeding much against it For no man durst either openly dissuade him or say nay Toward the later end of Autumne he put himselfe in his journey and when he was come to a certaine countrey Manor not far from the said citie to wit three miles off named Hippocephalus in the morning when it was day light he espied the dead bodie of a man slain lying on his right hand with the head severed from the shoulders stretched out along just against the West side And being afrighted with this ominous signe himselfe as the destinies hastened his end went on apace the more resolutely and came to Tarsus where hee got a light ague but supposing that all danger of this crasinesse of his might bee shaken off by stirring in his travaile he came by difficult and cumbrous wayes to Mopsuestia the utmost station of Cilicia as men go this way scituaâ— under the foot of the mountaine Taurus And when the next morrow he would have gone forth the grievousnesse of his disease growing upon him had so impaired his strength that he was staied there and so by little and little the unkind and excessive heat of the fever so inflamed the bloud within his veinâ—s that his bodie burning in maner of a furnace or oven would not suffer a man so much as to touch it When as therefore all meanes of medicines failed drawing toward the howre of death hee bewailed his end While his memorie and sences were yet sound and perfect he ordayned by will as the report went Iulian to succeed him in his imperiall place After this when his wind grew
companies of the barbarous rebels fully bent there to leave their lives And because the fierie courage of our men resolved fully by manhood to wipe away all shamefull dishonour as whetting their anger against such disloyall and perfidious enemies without spare downe they went with all that stood in their way hewing them in pieces trampling underfoot as well those that were alive as them that lay halfe dead killed outright indeed and before they could make up their hands full with killing these Barbarians there lay whole heapes of them dead thrust up and steaked fast together For these rebels were driven to extremities whiles some were killed downright in the place others for deadly feare scattered asunder of whom a great sort conceiving some hope of life by prayers which came to nothing after many a blow wound received one in the necke of another were massacred in the end After they were all defeated and made away when the trumpets sounded the retreat our men also though but here there were seene lying breathlesse and dead namely such as some violent rout had borne down or whom the fatall course of destinie made an end of whiles they withstood the enemies rage and laid their naked and unarmed sides open to them But the death of Cella a Tribune of the Scutarij was notable among others who at the very beginning of the conflict thrust himselfe first of all others into the middest of the Sarmatians troupes After which so cruell a carnage and massacre committed Constantius having taken order for securitie according as the urgent occasions of the limits required returneth to Sirmium with full revenge taken of his false enemies where when he had likewise dispatched those affaires which the instant necessities of the time called for he departed from thence and went to Constantinople that being now so neere unto the East he might salve the sores and hurts received at Amida and by renewing the armie with fresh supplies with like puissance and forces restraine the king of Persia his violent attempts who as it was well knowne unlesse the heavenly power and some greater care of many besides did repell intended to leave Mesopotamia behind him and advaunce his ensignes displayed along the spatious and wide countries of the maine CHAP. XI A new Tragoedie growing from a slender matter the chiefe part wherein to be acted is committed unto one Paulus a Notarie and skilfull in cruell feats HOwbeit among these cares and thoughts the trumpets sounded with full blast according to a certaine received custome of old in lieu of civile warres certaine matters of imputation coloured deepely with the crime of majestie or high Treason For the pursuit and managing whereof Paulus that Notarie whom I must so often name was sent who being a skilfull practitioner in these capitall and bloudie arts like as a fencer or sword-player out of s Funerals or t Playes so himselfe also from the racke or hangmans office used to reape some gaine and commoditie for as he had an obstinate and setled purpose to doe hurt so he forbare not also to theeve and steale devising against innocent persons sundrie causes and imputations tending to their mischiefe and overthrow so long as he had his hand in such damnable salaries Now a small and base occasion there was that ministred matter of examinations infinitely extended There is a towne named Abydum seated in the furthest part of the province Thebais here the Oracle of a god called in that place Beses in old time revealed things to come and was wont to have honor and worship done unto it according to the auncient ceremonies of the countries lying round about it And for as much as some personally present and some again by others sending a script that shewed what they were desirous to know with an expresse forme of supplications conceived asked counsell of the divine powers those pieces of paper or parchment which contained in them their requests and petitions remained otherwhiles even after answeres given in the chappell Of these some upon a malicious intent were sent unto the Emperour who as he was a man of a base mind carrying a deafe eare in other matters even of great weight and importance became in this particular cause and information presented unto him passing tractable and suspitious and besides being prepared before hand naturally with bitter gall soone was heat and caught fire Immediately therefore he warned Paulus with all speed to go into the East armed with this warrant and commission That as a captaine renowmed for his experience in the world hee should cause these matters to be heard at his will and pleasure Likewise there was emploied in this businesse Modestus then lieutenant overall the East a man fitted for these and such like affaires for Hermogenes Ponticus at the same time Praefectus Praetorio was rejected as one of too mild a temper Well Paulus according as hee was commaunded set forward on his journey full of deadly furie and carrying a pernicious breath with him Having graunted libertie therefore to preferre slanders and false endictments a number were brought into question from all parts in manner of the earth as well of noble birth as of obscure parentage whereof some were put to paine by hard and streight bonds others died pent up in close prisons and dungeons And chosen there was to behold these deadly and wofull punishments Scythopolis a citie in Palęstina which upon a twofold consideration was thought the meetest of all others for that it stood more secret and apart and besides was just in the middest betweene Antiochia Alexandria whence many most commonly were drawne to their accusations CHAP. XII The executions of right honourable and most noble personages whiles Paulus the Notarie sat as Iudge The exquisit censure of Ammianus Marcellinus as touching this affaire An horrible monster borne and seene at Antioch The Isauri with theeving and robberie infest the neighbour nations but by the threats rather than the rigour of Lauritius they are reformed BRought there was therefore judicially with the first Simplicius the sonne of Philip who had beene Praefect and Consull both endited upon this point for that he was reported to have enquired about the obtaining of the Empire and being commaunded to be put to torture by vertue of the princes writ who in these cases at any time neither sinned nor trespassed in matter of pietie and mercie by some speciall providence of God protecting him without any foile or abuse done to his bodie was condemned to banishment then Pernasius late Praefect of Aegypt a plaine conditioned man brought to that point of danger that he had sentence pronounced worthie of death was likewise driven into exile he had beene heard oftentimes long before to say That when hee left Patrae a towne in Achaia where he was borne and had his dwelling place for to obtaine or get a certaine office he had seene as he lay asleepe many images in habite of
upon the same that they had knocked and beaten before Betweene these rockes that thus open asunder and jurre one against another so often if a fowle should happen to flye by no swiftnesse of wing could she possibly escape and get away but be crushed to death These cliffes when as Argo the first ship that ever was making speedie way to Colchi for to steale the golden Fleece had passed by them without harme stood unmooveable conjoyned in one bodie with the head or point crackt round about so that no man who seeth them now would ever beleeve they were at any time parted asunder but that all the songs and poemes of men in old time agreed joyntly thereupon Beyond part of Bithynia the provinces Pontus and Paphlagonia stretch out in length wherein stand Heraclea Sinope Polemonion and Amysos great cities also Tios and Amastris all founded auspicately by the direction of bird-flight such was the precise care of the Greekes likewise Cerasus from whence Lucullus brought such fruit as are named Cerasa i. Cherries Semblably certaine Isles bearing up aloft containing in them Trapezus and Pityus townes of no meane account Beyond these places there is the hole or cave Acherusius which the people dwelling thereby call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also the haven Acone with divers rivers rivers to wit Acheron named likewise Archadius Iris Tembrius and hard by Parthenius running all downe into the sea with a swift course and violent streame Next unto these is the river Thermodoon falling from the mountaine Armonius and gliding betweene the woods and groves of Themyscyra into which the Amazones in times past were forced to flit upon this occasion The auncient Amazones after that the bordering nations were sore weakened with continuall losses as who by them were wasted with bloudie rodes and invasions aymed now at higher exploits and considering their owne puissance and the places bordering neere unto them oftentimes gave the attempt upon more mightie nations as being ravished with the heat of greedie desire And when they had broken forcibly through many countries they made warre upon the Athenians and beeing in a sharpe conflict discomfited and scattered asunder and having the flankes of their Cavallerie layed naked were slaine every one When the defeature and death of these were knowne the feeble remaines of them that were left at home declining the deadly violence of their neighbours who had before time suffered extremities and were like to pay them home with semblable measure flitted to the more peaceable seat of Thermodoon The progenie of these being in long time after multiplied by many issues and generations returned with a mightie power to their first native places and in processe of time became dread to people of divers discents and originals Not farre from thence mounteth up Carambis an hill of gentle ascent rising full upon the Northren f Elice overagainst which is Criu-metopon a promontorie of Taurica distant from the other two thousand and five hundred stadia And from this place all the maritime coast which beginneth at the river Halys lying streight in length like a line shapeth out the string fastened to the two ends of the bow aforesaid CHAP. VII More of the same argument as before VPon these countries confine the Dahae of all others the most fierce warriors and the Chalybes who were the first that digged up wrought yron into steele Beyond whom the open lands are possessed by the Byzares Tapites Tibareni Mossynaeci Macrones and Philyres people by no acquaintance knowne to us and from them not farre stand the monuments or tombes of noblemen wherein were enterred Stheneleus Idmon and Typhis Of whom the first was a companion of Hercules wounded to death in the warre against the Amazones the second an Augure or Soothsayer to the Argonauts and the third a most skilfull and expert pylot of the ship abovenamed Argo After you have passed beyond these parts before specified you meet with the den or cave Alion and the streame of Callichorus sirnamed so upon this occasion For that Liber or Bacchus having after three yeares vanquished the Indian nations and being returned to those tracts about the greene and shadie bankes of this river brought againe into ure the old songs and daunces t Orgia Some are of opinion That such sacred ceremonies and solemnities as these were called u Trieterica Beyond these confines are the populous and well frequented territories of the Camaritae and the river Phasis with roring streame commeth to the Colchi the auncient off-spring of the Aegyptians where among other cities standeth Phasis bearing the name of the river abovesaid also Dioscurias knowne even to this day The founders whereof as we find in record were Amphitus and Telchius two Spartanes the chariot-drivers to Castor and Pollux of whom began the nation of the Hemiochi Not farre removed from these dwell the Achaei who having finished a certaine former warre at Troy I meane not that warre which was fought for the quarrell of Helena as some authors have written by reason of contrarie winds wandering and driven into Pontus finding nothing but hostilitie and no where any assured place to set foot in possessed themselves of the hill tops alwaies full of snow and thus being pent in and hardened with the chilling cold of the weather accustomed they were to get their living dangerously by robbing and by that meanes grew afterwards beyond all measure fell and cruell As touching the Cerceti who joyne close unto them there is no memorable matter written At the backe of them dwell the inhabitants of the Cimmerian Bosporus where are the Milesian cities and the mother of them all Panticapaeum before which runneth the river Hypanis swelling as well with his owne water as forraine streames running into him Then a great way off the Amazones stretching out in length even as farre as to the Caspian sea inhabite about Tanais which rising among the rocks of Caucasus glideth by many winding turnes and reaches and parting Asia from Europe is hidden at last within the meeres of Maeotis Neere unto this is the river Rha on the sides whereof groweth a comfortable and holesom root so named good for many uses in Physicke Beyond Tanais there spread out in breadth the Sauromatae through whome all the way run the rivers Maraccus Rhombites Theophanes and Totordanes although there be another nation also of the Sauromatae farre distant from these joyning hard upon the shore which letting in the river Corax sendeth it to the utmost maine sea Neere unto this is the meere Maeotis of an exceeding large circuit out of the most plentifull veines whereof by the straits Patares a maine deale of water breaketh forth and runneth into Pontus in the right side of which are the Islands Phanagorus and Hermonassa reared by the industrious labour of the Greeks
cold Northren wind through whose lands there runneth a river named Arias sufficient to beare ships and maketh a huge lake carrying likewise the same name Moreover this selfesame Aria hath a number of townes in it among which these be much resorted unto and of great name Bitaxa Orbitana Sotera Nisibis and Alexandria from whence it is a thousand and five hundred stadia sayling to the Caspian sea Next unto these places are seated the Paropamissadae who on the East side look toward the Indians and to Caucasus on the West they themselves also enclining to the breaches and ends of the hils through whose countrey runneth the river Ortogordomaris bigger than all the rest which ariseth from the Bactriani And these people have also some cities among them of which more famous than the other are Gazaca Naulibis and Ortospana from whence if a man sayle along the shore unto the bounds of Media next lying to the Caspia portae he shall find two thousand and two hundred stadia Vnto this nation aforesaid joyne the Drangiani linked together by hils They goe under the denomination of Arabians because from them they descended and among other townes of theirs they vaunt much of twaine Prophthasia and Ariaspe which are rich indeed and highly renowmed Next overagainst them Arachosia sheweth it selfe bending toward the right side and lying just upon the Indians which a river much lesse though it be arising out of Indus the greatest of all others whence those countries tooke their name watereth plentifully and maketh the marish named Arachotoscrene Here also among other base cities are Alexandria Arbaca and Choaspa In the most inland part of Persis lyeth Gedrosia on the right hand reaching to the borders of the Indians made more fruitfull by the river Artabius beside other of smaller streame and there have the Barbitane mountaines an end out of the foot and bottome whereof spring other rivers that intermingle their waters with Indus loosing their owne names in regard of that which is the greater And here also there be cities among these cities beside the Islands Sedrasyra and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The womens Haven are esteemed better than the rest Least therefore whiles shewing in particular the Bayes along the maritime coast that flow hard upon the borders of Persis we should wander overfarre from our purpose sufficient it shall bee thus much to say that the sea passing along from the Caspian mountaines by the North side unto the straits aforesaid is reckoned to containe nine thousand stadia but the South side from the mouthes of the river Nylus unto the frontiers and entrance of Carmania is by measure foureteene thousand stadia CHAP. XII The bodies of the Persians their manners lawes and arts as well of peace as of warre their decking and trimming especially with pearle as touching the breeding and nature whereof a briefe discourse AMong these so many and dissonant nations the people also and the places be of diverse and sundrie sorts But to describe in generall their bodies and manners they be in manner all slender and lanke somewhat blacke or of a swart palish colour their eyes looking grim as those of Goats doe their browes bending like unto halfe circles doe meet wearing their beards not unseemely and the shag haire of their heads long but all of them one with another indifferently even at their meat and upon feastivall holydayes are seene with swords by their sides Which ancient manner of the Greeks the Athenians first layed away as Thucydides a most sufficient author recordeth Most of them were wont excessively to bee given unto fleshly lust and hardly contenting themselves with a number of concubines they cannot skill of the unnaturall abuse of boyes and every man according to his wealth contracteth marriages more or fewer whereupon among them their love and affection distracted and dispersed by so sundrie lusts is to their children cold or dull They eschew no lesse than a very bane and plague all exquisite fare and lavish expence at the table but especially the greedie desire of drinking neither is amongst them setting aside the kings boord any set dinnertime but every mans bellie is his dyall or clocke which when it strikes they fall to whatsoever comes next hand neither doth any man after he hath once satisfied hunger engorge superfluous meats And wonderfull it is to â—ee how strait laced carefull and warie they are that whiles they passe now and then among their enemies hortyards and vineyards they neyther desire nor touch ought for feare of poyson and secret arts More than this there is hardly seene a Persian either when he stands making of his water or when he goeth aside to ease his bellie so precisely declineth he these and other businesses of the like kind for feare of shame But so dissolute they be and with the loosenesse of their joynts and wandering pace they keepe such a flinging of themselves and jetting in their gate that a man would take them to be meere effeminate whereas indeed they be most fierce warriors but rather wylie in cunning slight than hardie in manly fight and afarre off they are very terrible full of vaine words speaking after a brainesicke and wild manner big boasters shrewd and mischievous given to threats alike in adversitie and prosperitie craftie prowd cruell challenging and taking upon them power of life and death both over their servants and the meaner sort also of the common people They flay off the skins from men alive either by peecemeale or all whole neither is it lawfull for a servant among them that waiteth and standeth at the table to open his moâ—th to speâ—â—e or to spit so muzzeled and bound up are all their lips with prickly and sharpe pointed skinnes The lawes with them are mightily feared among which for severitie and rigour those exceed that are enacted against unthankfull persons and traiterous revolts and others there are as detestable and to be abhorred by vertue whereof for the offence of one man all the kinred must die To sit in judgement and decide controversies are such appointed as are for worldly experience tried and of approoved integritie who also little or nothing at all need the counsell of others whereupon they laugh at our custome which otherwhiles setteth eloquent Orators and most learned in the common lawes at the backe of unlearned Iudges to prompt them For that another Iudge was forced to sit upon the skin of that Iudge who was condemned for unjustice and doing wrong it was eyther a fained tale devised by those in old time or if it were an auncient received custome it hath had an end and is no more put in practise For militarie furniture and discipline for continuall flourishes of encamping and using their armour and weapons which I have oftentimes described dreadfull they were even to the greatest armies boldly and confidently presuming upon the prowesse of their Cavallerie in which service all their nobilitie gentrie and
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
and ill appaied CHAP. XIIII The Court-like practises of Romanus Prefect of the Province of Palladius and others to worke the destruction of the Tripolitanes FOr which accidents the citizens doubtfull of their lives and assaying the utmost meanes they could devise ere that the embassadors dispatched before were returned send Iovinus and Pancratius to give faithfull intelligence unto the Emperour of what they had seene and what themselves had endured who meeting with Severus and Flaccianus those former embassadours at Carthage understood by them after question made how they had sped that by commaundement the hearing of their case was committed to the said Deputie and the Lieutenant Of those twaine Severus who was fallen exceeding grievously sick straight waies died therof Neverthelesse these other embassadors aforesaid made great journeyes and sped them in all hast to the Court. After this when the said Palladius was entred into Affricke Romanus advertised beforehand for what cause he was come to the end he might provide for his owne securitie and safetie gave order to the Principals of the bands by certaine that were privie to his secrets that unto him as to a mightie man and next unto the chiefe personages of the Palace they should acknowledge received the greatest part of the wages which he had brought over with him to pay And this was done accordingly He then hereby enriched forthwith set forward to Leptis and that he might the better search out the truth he led forth with him unto the places which lay wasted Erechthius and Aristomenes two eloquent Bourgesses and men of good note who frankly ripped up the miseries of themselves the citizens and the neighbour inhabitants Now when they had plainly declared and shewed all he having onely seene the lamentable ruines and ashes of the Province returned and greatly rebuking Romanus as an idle and slothfull governour hee threatened that he would most truely relate unto the Prince whatsoever he had seene And the other againe in a great chafe and griefe hereat promised That hee also shortly would give information that Palladius being sent as an upright and uncorrupt Notarie had interverted and conveyed all the souldiors donative to his owne proper gaine In which regard having his owne conscience to condemne him for his lewd dealings he afterwards grew to an attonement with Romanus So being returned unto the Court by the impious art of lying he deceived Valentinian and reported That the Tripolitanes complained without cause And therefore sent back he was againe with Iovinus the last of all the embassadours for Paâ—cr atius was departed this life at Triers to the end that himselfe with the Vicarius should see into the reason and cause of this second embassage Besides all this the Emperour commaunded That the tongues of Erechthius and Aristomenes whom the same Palladius had intimated to have spoken certaine words upon spight and envie should be cut out of their heads The Notarie as it was appointed followed after the deputie and came to Tripolis which when Romanus knew he sent with speed a domesticall servant of his thither and Caecilius his counsellor one borne in that province by whose meanes all the burgeffes being circumvented with money or craftie sleights I wot not laid great blame upon Iovinus affirming constantly That they had given him information of no such matters as he had delivered unto the prince and thus farre proceeded iniquitie and indirect dealing that Iovinus also himselfe to the endangering of his owne life confessed he had told the Emperour a lye Which being made knowne by Palladius when he was come backe Valentinian a prince very prone to ire and crueltie commaunded That Iovinus verily as the author and principall but Coelestius Concordius and Lucius as privie and parteners with him in that false information should loose their heads as for Ruricius the President he awarded him also to suffer death and this moreover made much against him for that in his certificate given up there were read certaine over-big words of his as it was thought and Ruricius verily was executed at Sitifis but the rest at Vtica had their judgement by the sentence of Crescens the deputie there Howbeit Flaccianus being heard judicially by the said deputie and lieutenant before the death of those embassadours as he stoutly pleaded in defence of his life with the shouts and outcries of the angrie souldiors in their violent heat and with taunting tearmes was well neere stabbed to death who objected That the Tripolitanes could not therefore be defended because themselves refused to find and allow necessarie meanes for the maintenance of an expedition and hereupon being cast into prison whiles the Emperour being asked his advice What was meet to be done was in determining some course by solliciting as might wel be thought his keepers brake prison and fled to the citie of Rome where lying close by the course of nature he ended his dayes CHAP. XV. The iustice of God calleth for due revenge of these most wicked and ungracious men WIth this memorable end ensuing Tripolis after it had been fore plagued as well with forraine as home-calamities was appeased and not left without defence because the eternall eye or Iustice and the Furies revenging the death of those embassadours and the President aforesaid watched over them For long after such an event as this brake out and came to light Palladius cassed and discharged from his militarie oath and deprived of that place which made him swell with pride went to lead a privat life and when Theodosius that noble Generall and grand Commaunder came into Africke for to suppresse Firmus who attempted mischievous matters and according to his commission rifled the moveable goods of Romanus aforenamed among his papers and writings there was found a letter also of one Meterius containing in it these words Domino Patrono Romano Meterius i. Meterius to his Lord and Patron Romanus greeting and in the end after many impertinent words Palladius the outcast saluteth you who sayth That for none other cause he was cast out of favour but for that in the matter of the Tripolit anes he made a lye in the Emperours sacred eare This letter being sent unto the Court and there read Meterius by the commaundement of Valentinian being apprehended confessed That the Epistle was his and therfore Palladius commaunded to be brought foorth and shewed in place thinking with himselfe what a deale of criminall matters he had brewed in a certaine station at the beginning of night observing the absence of the keepers who upon a feastivall day of the Christians lodged all night in the church knit his necke in an halter and so throtled himselfe and died This overture of more happie fortune being fully known and the stirrer up of these wofull broyles dispatched out of the way Erechthius and Aristomenes leapt out of their lurking holes who when they were advertised That commaundement was given to have their tongues as overlong and lavish
in the equinoxe and continued three howers and so the rest But these howers were not alwayes equinoctiall but longer or shorter according to the length of the night n Of Callimachus a brave warriour and captaine of the Athenians yee may read in Plutarches Parallels how notwithstanding he was run through the bodie with many a speare yet stood upright and shrunke not And of Cynaegirus an Athenian captain it is reported That with his right hand he staid and held the enemies ship and when it was strucken off did the like with his left and when he had lost that also tooke hold of the ship with his teeth Trop Herod o Naval Coronets are portraied with sternes or beake-heads of ships round about the hoope or circle of the crowne See Veget. lib. 2. cap. 7. Civicke coronets were of Cuicke grasse called gramen for saving of an armie Coronets Castrenses fashioned like to a pallaisado or rampier with pales round about the circlet for entring the campe of the enemies first Annotations and conjectures upon the 25. Booke a IT seemeth these Tertiaci be the same that Tertiani in Notitia to wit those of the third legion Italica b Eight stadia or great forlongs are said commonly to make a mile but in true measure seven stadia and an halfe are a mile c Vnderstand by Legio in this place and divers other not a complet Roman legion but a companie or band d These here tearmed Candidati otherwise Comites were a crew of gallants and brave knights that usually kept about the Emperours person the same that Purpurati among the Persians e Of this M. Marcellus and his triumph yee may read at large in Titus Livius Decad. 3. lib. 6. f For Siccius read Sicinius Dentatus out of Valerius Maximus lib. 3. cap. 2. He sought an hundred and twentie battailes gained the spoyles by combat of six and thirtie enemies saved fourteene Romane citizens at the point to be killed in the field carryed the skarres of five and fortie wounds in his breast and fore-part of his bodie but not one on his backe followed hard after the triumphant chariot nine times And had carried before him in honour of his chivalrie eight crownes of gold fourteene Civick coronets three murall one obsidionall one hundred fourescore and three collers one hundred and threescore bracelets eighteene speares and five and twentie trappers or caparisons It is sayd that he tooke the sirname Dentatus because he had for his row ofteeth one solide and entire bone or for that the first of that house was borne with a tooth Alex. ab Alexand. Genial Dierum lib. 1. cap. 9. g This Sergius it may seeme was the first of that noble familie Sergia and he tooke that name of Sergestus in Virgil. Idem h Anno aetatis altero tricesimo That is the 32. yeare of his age as it appeareth in the Chronologie of Cassiodorus and others according to that phrase in Virgil Alter ab undecimo that is the thirteenth which I observe least any man should thinke he dyed in the 31. yeare of his age i What right he had to succeed his brother in the Empire considering that Constantine had three sonnes I see not unlesse by his testament he made him one of his heires For Pomp. Laetus writeth thus Some say that Constantine the great divided the whole Empire among his heires by will Others that his sonnes parted it by lot among them Or haply he might be heire in remainder if he survivied his brothers sonnes and they dyed without issue k It appeareth plainly by this place that he debarred Christian professors in Rhetorick and Grammer to teach in open schoole for feare least the Gentiles for now himseife was turned a Pagan should leave numinum cultum â— Idolatrie l The Antiochians as he writeth before among other scoffes slouted him for using to put forth his narrow shoulders and here he saith he had big and broad shoulders There must be admitted in the former place a kind of Antiphrasis or speech by the contrarie or else to cover his broad flat shoulders hee used belike to thrust them forth to make them seeme narrower m Ordo Domesticorum here is the same that Schola before to wit a Societie or companie of guard souldiors about the Emperours person in ordinarie and they be called Scholariâ— Next unto the Comes or captaine of these was hee that they called Primus or Tribunus Domesticorum Then Primicerius Secundocerius and so through the tenne which were tearmed Decemprimi and had better wages than the rest Pancirolus in 〈◊〉 Orientis cap. 89. n Ioviani tooke the name of Diocletian who called himselfe Iovius and instituted this companie o The Domestici aforesaid were called also Protectores as appeareth by this place p As the Iovianâ— tooke name of Iovius â— Diocletian so 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 for so Maximian Emperour with Diocletian tearmed himselfe q These Iovij were certaine people in Gaule and a companie of them was so called As for those that were instituted by Diocletian sirnamed Iovius they were rather tearmed Ioviani Pancirol in Notit Victores likewise were a companie or band of souldiors taking name either of Victoria a towne of Britannie or else so called for good lucke sake r These Palatini are elsewhere named Comites and Candidati s A principall foregate in the campe was called Praetoria neere unto which was Praetorium i. the Generals pavilion or the Princes if he were in procinctu called here Principis Tabernaculum t About the mids of Iuly 15. dayes before the Kalends of August what time Nilus also in Aegypt beginneth to rise u Armorum Magister is the Generall of the forces horse or foot here put for the Generall of the Cavallerie in Gaule In the time when Notitia was written which was in the dayes of Arcadius Honorius and Theodosius the younger there were not knowne any Ensignes belonging to his place of commaund Haply because that Province was held by the Barbarians Gothes Hunnes and Vandales who not long after subverted the West Empire But it may seeme they differed not much from those of the Generall in the East to wit a booke standing upright on a cupboord or table spread with a white cloth of tapestrie The cover of the booke was of murrey colour with strings in the mids and at both ends of the same colour In the middle of the side there is a tablet of gold and in it the faces engraven of two Princes or Emperours to signifie as I thinke both East and West Empires Notit Orient cap. 31. x Modius seemeth to be a measure somewhat more than our pecke containing 16. Sextarij And if everiâ— Sextarius receive 2â— ounces it is a pecke and halfe if but 18. it is in proportion a fourth part lesse y Capita Scholarum were the Captaines and Tribunes of everie Palatine companie z Of Domestici and Heruli both ynough hath beene said alreadie α Gallicani were such souldâ—ors as served in Gaule of what countrey soever β