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. XII. Valens using the service of Arbetio an old experienced captaine, draweth unto him many of Procopius his footmen and horsemen both: At length Procopius himself bound in chaines by his owne men, and brought unto Valens, had his head stricken off, and so buried quite the troubles of a civile war which was begun.

BVtwhen that most honourable magistracie was transferred to Gratianus as yet a privat person, and to Dagalaiphus, and the Spring began, where∣in all things gather strength, Valens joyning unto him Lupicinus, with strong auxiliaries, speedily advaunced his ensignes towardes

* 1.1 Pessinus, a towne in times past of Phrygia, and now of Galatia: which when he had quickly fortified with a garrison, least any unexpected accident might at una∣wares arise in those tracts, he intended to take his journey by the foot of the high hill Olympus, and the rough craggie lanes, minding to set upon Gomoarius, whiles he lay secure and negligent. But crossed he was in this designe by many, that joint∣ly and resolutely agreed together, upon this consideration especially, That his ene∣mie (as hath beene related before) by carrying about with him in a litter the little daughter of Constantius, with her mother Faustina, both in the way as he marched, and also when battailes approched one another embattailed, he enkindled the cou∣rage of the souldiors, to the end, that for this imperiall progenie, whereto he sayd moreover that himselfe was linked, they might fight more boldly. Like as upon a time the Macedonians, readie to strike a battail with the Illyrians, placed their king (as yet an infant in his swathling bands) behind the armie raunged in battaile ray; for feare of whom, least he should be carried away captive, they fought more vali∣antly, and vanquished their enemies. Against these craftie fetches, the Emperour in sage policie, to helpe the matter thus wavering and readie to reele, tooke good order, and exhorted Arbetio sometime Consull (who this long time had lived privately) to repaire unto him, to the end that by the reverent regard of him, a cap∣taine under Constantius, the rebels fell stomacke might be appeased. And so it fell out in very deed. For when he, in yeares elder, and in dignitie higher than all the rest, shewed his reverend gray haires unto many, that were otherwise en∣clined to perfidious trecherie, he calling Procopius himselfe a trayterous rebell to the State; but the souldiors that now followed his error, sonnes and parteners with him in travailes and paines-taking long agoe, requested them rather to follow him, as a father knowne unto them for his most happie conducts, than to be ruled by a lewd varlet, who would even anon beforlorne, and at point to take his finall overthrow. Which being knowne, Gomoarius, when he might well ynough have deluded the enemies, and returned safe to the place from whence he came, taking the vauntage of the neere distance, in pretence and colour of a captive passed over to the Emperours campe, as if he had beene beset with the rode of a multitude, that he suddainely espied. Vpon this good successe, Valens marched on with a running campe toward Phrygia; and neere unto * 1.2 Nacolia, when they were come to joyne battaile, the captaine of the adverse side Agilo, at the very instant of a doubtfull fight, by riding suddainely out of the ranke, betrayed all: and in imitation of him a number of others now shaking their javelins and swords, goe over to the Emperour, bearing their banners and shields reversed: a most ma∣nifest signe of revolt. This being once seene besides all mens expectation, Pro∣copius perceiving himselfe cut off from all meanes of escape, betooke him to his heeles, and ran within the secret noukes of the woods and woulds that stood round about: and after him there followed Florentius, and Barchalba a Tribune, whom being well knowne for his service in most bloudie warres, even from Con∣stantius his dayes, necessitie, and not his owne will, had drawne into this leawd and wicked action. When as therefore the greater part of the night was past, and the Moone, which from evening shone untill day light, augmented their feare, Procopius seeing on every side himselfe destitute of all meanes of esca∣ping, not knowing what to doe (as it falleth out commonly in such hard ca∣ses) expostulated with his lamentable and heavie fortune: and so, over whel∣med with a world of sundrie cares, was suddainely by his owne companions

fast bound, and upon the returne now of day brought into the campe, and pre∣sented to the Emperour, saying never a word, and looking downeward; and immediately having his head smitten off, hee buried with him the troubles of civile discords that were growing: according to the example of Perpenna in old time; who after that he had murthered Sertorius as he sat at his meat, having enjoyed a while the Soveraignetie, was plucked forth of the shrubs under which he had shrowded himselfe, and being brought before Pompeius, at his commaun∣dement was slaine. And in the like heat of bloud, Florentius and Barchalba, who brought him in, were streightwayes killed, without any regard and considera∣tion had of reason. For, if they had betrayed their lawfull prince, even Iustice her selfe would have pronounced, they were rightly killed: if a rebell and ene∣mie of civile peace (as he was named to be) they ought to have had ample and large rewards given them for so memorable an act. Now, Procopius departed this life, when he was fortie yeares old and tenne moneths over: a man not un∣comely of bodie, nor of meane stature, somewhat stouping, and in his gate loo∣king alwayes downeward to the ground, and by his close and sad behavior, like for all the world to that Crassus, of whom Lucillius and Tully make this report, That he laughed but once all his life time: and that which is to be wondered, so long as he lived, not stained with bloudshed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Possene. Theveto.
• * 1.2

  Einagiol. Louncl.