The Roman historie containing such acts and occurrents as passed under Constantius, Iulianus, Iovianus, Valentinianus, and Valens, emperours. Digested into 18. bookes, the remains of 31. and written first in Latine by Ammianus Marcellinus: now translated newly into English. Wherunto is annexed the chronologie, serving in stead of a briefe supplement of those former 13. bookes, which by the iniurie of time are lost: together with compendious annotations and coniectures upon such hard places as occurre in the said historie. Done by Philemon Holland of the citie of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke.

CHAP. I. Iulianus taking unto him Sallustius as Collegue, whom he ordained to bee Praefect for Gallia, goeth in hand with the reedification of the Temple at Jerusalem, but in vaine. Being terrified with ominous signes, and prodigious tokens, yet mindeth he to en∣terprise the Persian war.

THese were the acts, to say nothing of smal matters and minutes of affaires that passed this yeare in the Provinces: But Iulian * 1.1 having beene thrice Consul alreadie, taking unto him ^• Sallu∣stius the Praefect in Gaule, to the fellowship of wearing the Consulare robe, entred himselfe that most honourable magi∣stracie the fourth time: And a strange noveltie it was thought, to have a privat person joyned to the Emperour in that place of dignitie, a thing that no man could remember done since Dioclesian and Aristobulus time. And although he with carefull mind conceiving aforehand

the varietie of accidents, hastened forward with ardent desire the manifold prepa∣rations for the expedition; yet distrusting mens diligence everie where, and much desiring to propagat the memoriall of his Empire by some great workes, hee inten∣ded with excessive cost to reedifie that sumptuous and stately temple in times past at Ierusalem, which after many mortal skirmishes and assaults, during the siege that Vespasian first, and Titus afterwards layd unto it, was with much adoe hardly forced and beaten downe: And he gave the charge of dispatching the businesse with speed, to Alypius of Antioch, who sometime had beene deputie ^a governor of Bri∣tannie. When as therefore the sayd Alypius was earnestly bent upon this affaire, and the ruler of the * 1.2 province did set to his helping hand; behold certaine fearefull flaming balls of fire issuing forth neere unto the foundations, and making many terrible assaults, consumed sundrie times the workemen, and made the place unac∣cessable: and by reason that this element still gave the repulse, the enterprise was given over. At the same time were sent from Rome unto the Emperour, as embas∣sadors, noble personages of high birth, and for their approved life and conversati∣on knowne to be of good desert, whom he honoured with sundrie dignities. As for Apronianus, he decreed, that he should be Praefect of Rome; and Octavianus Proconsul of Affricke; to Venustus he committed the deputiship of Spaine; and Rufinus Arabius he promoted to be Lieutenant generall of the East, in the place of his uncle Iulianus late deceased. Which affaires thus ordered, as meet it was, behold he was terrified with a certaine ominous signe, that tooke effect, as the event shew∣ed, most surely and with speed. For, by occasion that Felix the Treasurer sodainely dyed of a flux of bloud, and the said Lieutenant Iulian followed streight after him, the common sort having an eye to the * 1.3 publick titles, and putting all together, pro∣nounced Iulianus, Foelix, and Augustus. Now, there had gone before another feare∣full and adverse signe also: For, upon the verie * 1.4 kalends of Ianuarie, as he went up to the temple of Genius, whereto men ascend by stairs, one of the colledge of priests more antient than the rest, fell downe sodainely without any bodie thrusting him, and with that casuall and unexpected fall, yeelded up his ghost: which the stan∣ders by, whether for want of skill, or upon a mind they had to flatter, said, did pre∣tend some such accident unto the elder of the two Consuls, and namely to Sallusti∣us: but as it appeared, fore-shewed it was thereby, That death approached not un∣to him that was more auncient in yeares, but precedent in power and authoritie. Besides these, there were other smaller fore-tokens likewise, which otherwhiles pre∣saged that which happened: For, at the verie beginning of making preparation for this Parthicke expedition, word was brought, That Constantinople was shaken with an earth-quake: which the skilfull Soothsayers in this kind, pronounced to be no fortunat signe unto the ruler, that was in hand with the over-running of ano∣ther Princes Realme; and therefore advised him to desist from this unhappie enter∣prise: affirming, That these and the like tokens, thus farre forth, and not otherwise, ought to be contemned, if there be invasion made by a forreine power: for then, this one rule abideth firme and perpetuall, By all meanes to stand ^b upon our safe∣guard and defence, all violence of death whatsoever notwithstanding. At the verie same time intelligence was given unto him by letters, That the propheticall bookes of Sybilla, being by his commaundement perused and consulted with at Rome, as touching this warre, by a plaine answer forbad the Emperour that yeare to depart from his owne limits. And yet among these occurrents, the embassadours of many nations that promised their ayd, after liberall entertainment had their dispatch,

and were sent home again, with this answer of the prince, proceeding from a brave confidence, That it no wayes became the State of Rome to bee defended by helpe from strangers, whose meanes meet it was should maintaine their friends and allyes, in case they were driven upon necessitie to call for and crave their succour: Onely Arsaces king of Armenia, he warned to gather his puissant forces together, and attend his will and pleasure, as who should quickly know whereto he tended, and what hee ought to urge and set forwrd. Wherefore, upon the first opportunitie that might stand with his advised & considerat consultations, making hast with a fore-running rumor, to be seised of the enemies lands, having before the mid-spring sent by his militarie companies a token or watchword, giving notice of an expedition, hee commaun∣ded them all to passe over Euphrates. Which being once knowne, they all hie away speedily out of their wintering harbours, and having crossed the river, as the hysto∣rie ensuing shall declare, were dispersed into sundrie stations, and expected their Princes comming.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ter Consul not ter Consule, For •• cannot find in the Chronologie, that Saliust ••s was be∣fore this yeare Consul with him: and the veri•• words following imply no lesse.
• * 1.2

  of Iudea.
• * 1.3

  For it seemeth that this title, Foe∣lix, was in his stile, else it could not now be ominous.
• * 1.4

  The 1. day of Ian••ari••.