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. 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 re∣turne. And once againe wearied he is with adverse prodigies, whiles the Soothsayers and Naturalists disagree about the inter∣pretation 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 * 1.1 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 * 1.2 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 delight∣some 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 mul∣titude 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 * 1.3 Marea••es quicke, who without good advisement had led them forth, to the death of his owne coun∣treymen. 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 ar∣mie and all the traine following might passe over, received letters, That nothing pleased him from Sallustius, Praefect of Gaule, who prayed him that the expedi∣tion against the Parthians might be put off, and earnestly besought him, That hee would not thus hastily and unseasonably plunge himselfe into an irrevocable dan∣ger 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 Pręfect being pre∣sentin place, had condemned to suffer death and loose his head, for that having gi∣ven his promise, to deliver an encrease of victuals within a day prefixed, was by rea∣son 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 vi∣ctuall. From thence we departed and came to Zaita, a place, which by interpretati∣on is as much as the Olive tree. Here saw we the brave and admirable tombe of the Emperour * 1.4 Gordian, whose acts from the very beginning of his childhood, and whose most fortunate conducts of armies, together with his death wrought by trai∣terous 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 com∣panie 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 prae∣sage 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 de∣cree of Fortune, that the event fell out otherwise. For indeed the death of a king was thereby portended, but of what king it rested doubtfull. For we read, that even Oracles also were doubtfully delivered, and such, as nothing but the accidents that happened in the end could distinctly determine: as for example, the truth and proofe of the Delphicke prophesie, which foretold, That Craesus after he had passed over the river Halys, should be the overthrow of a most ^d mightie kingdome: as al∣so another, which by crooked tearmes appointed the ^e sea for the Athenians, to trie battaile with the Medes: yea, and an answere by Oracle later than these before ci∣ted, which verily was true, but no lesse ambiguous and equivocant, Aiote ^f Aeacida

Romanos vincereposse, i. I say, thy selfe Aeacides the Romans vanquish may. How∣beit the Tuscane Soothsayers which were in his traine, and had skill in these prodi∣gious and presaging tokens, considering there was no credit given unto them, when they oftentimes prohibited and dissuaded this expedition, brought foorth their bookes of rites and ceremonies, shewed plainely the foresaid sight was a signe prohibitorie, and contrarie to a prince that invadeth (although justly) a forraine princes kingdome. But downe went they, and were troden under foot, in compa∣rison of Philosophers that gainesaid them, whose authoritie in those dayes was had in great esteeme and reverence, who otherwhiles shoot wide of the marke, and yet in matters whereof they have no perfect knowledge, stand stiffely a long time. For they pretended and alledged, as a probable argument to maintaine the truth and credit of their skill, in that unto Maximian also before time Caesar, being now at the point to joine battail with Narses king of the Persians, there was in like maner a lion and a huge wild bore also tendered, slain both together: & he, say they, after he had vanquished that nation departed in safetie. But little considered these Philoso∣phers, that thereby destruction was portended to him that invaded and sought for other mens lands: and well it is knowne, that Narses began first to seize Armenia into his hands, which was subject to the Roman power and jurisdiction.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Giulap.
• * 1.2

  or Buffon.
• * 1.3

  the traitor.
• * 1.4

  the younger.