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. II. The Romane armie afflicted with famine. The frugalitie of Iulian. His owne Genius and a Starre appeareth in menacing manner unto him.

AFter this, during the truce appointed for three daies, whiles every man was busied in curing his owne wounds or his fellowes, destitute were we of victuals, and pinched with hunger, by this time intollerable. And for as much as by the burning as well of forage as corne, men and horses both were driven to extremities; out of that provision of food which the beasts of the Tribunes and * 1.1 Comites carried, a great part was dealt among the meanest com∣mon souldiors who were in extreame want. And verily the Emperour, for whom there were provided no daintie eates as kings use to have, but for his light supper, which hee was to take under the little pillars of a tent, or hole, a small pittance of thicke * 1.2 gruell (which a very common and * 1.3 base drudging souldior would dis∣daine

to eat) looke whatsoever was made readie for his service, carelesse of himselfe, distributed and sent it away among the poore and needie souldiors. And himselfe being drawne for a little while to take a pensive repose betweene sleeping and wa∣king, when being quite broken (an usuall matter with him) of his sleep, in imitation of Iulius Caesar, who was wont to write somewhat whiles he lay in campe, he passed the dead time of the night musing and meditating upon the sentences of a certaine Philosopher, he saw (as himselfe confessed to his inmost friends) in very simple and poore plight the resemblance of that publicke Genius, which when he was mou••∣ting to the imperiall diademe he beheld in Gaule, and the same in sad and heavie wise, with Cornu Copia covered over, departing by the tapistrie hangings of his pavilion. And albeit for the present he was amazed and strucken therewith asto∣nied, yet as one not stouping at all to any feare, he committed the future events un∣to the will and decree of god in heaven: and forsaking his couch or pallet that lay upon the very ground (as being risen when it was now midnight) in making sup∣plication and prayer unto the gods by the meanes of certaine depulsorie sacrifices, he thought that he saw a very light burning flame, like as if it fell, to shoot along in the ayre, and to vanish quite out of sight: and hereupon he trembled all over and quaked for feare, least it had been the planet Mars that appeared so evidently mena∣cing. Now this fierie bright * 1.4 impression, which we tearme 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, did neyther fall at any time, nor touch the ground: For he that thinketh coelestiall bodies can fall, is justly deemed a prophane and foolish person. Now this Meteore or appa∣rition above commeth many wayes, of which it shall suffice to shew a few. Some thinke they be sparkes set afire, and glowing by the vigorous heat of the skie; but not able to goe farre, doe goe out: or at leastwise, that certaine flaming raies hitting against thicke clouds, by a quicke touch doe sparkle: or else when some light mee∣teth close and joyneth with a cloud: For that being shaped like a starre, runneth a course verily, so long as it is held up with the strength of fire; but the bodie there∣of being in so long a way and spacious passage emptied and spent, turneth into an exhalation, going to that substance, by the forcible rubbing and fretting whereof, it caught heat. Streightwaies therefore, ere the day began, were the Tuscane wi∣zards and Soothsayers sent for, and being asked their judgement, What strange ac∣cident this kind or apparition of a starre portended? answered, That most wisely hee must beware and forbeare to attempt any thing at that time; shewing out of Tarquitius his bookes, how in the title De rebus Divinis, this Aphorisme was set downe, That if such a fire-light were seene in the skie, there ought no battaile be fought, nor any such matter attempted. Now, when as he despised this warning also, as he had done many other, the Soothsayers besought him, That he would yet put off his journey, if it were but some few houres; but they could not obtaine so much as this; so crosse was the Emperour, and readie to withstand all the skill of divi∣nation and prophesie: but so soone as it was full day light he dislodged and remo∣ved his campe forward.

Notes

• * 1.1

  or lieutenants, or captaines.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, or such like 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as •••• hastie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c.
• * 1.3

  etiam 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 gregano.
• * 1.4

  or Meteore.