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. v. Valentinian taketh unto him to be Colleague in the Empire, his brother Valens: and when he was come to Constantinople pronounceth him Augustus. Through∣out the whole Roman world there be troubles and commoti∣ons of the people, which the Emperours ende∣vour to quench.

BVt Valentinian declared Emperour, as I have before said in Bithy∣nia, after he had given forth the signall of setting forward in his journey against the third day following, and assembled the chiefe governours and officers of the campe, intending, as it were, wholly to follow such designements and counsels as were right * 1.1 pleasing to himselfe, did put to question and demaunded, Who it was that must be assumed into the fellowship of the Empire? and when all the rest held their peace, Dagala••phus Generall of the horsemen for the time be∣ing, boldly answered thus, If thou lovest thine owne (quoth he) most gracious Empe∣rour, thou hast a brother: if the Commonwealth make further enquirie for another. At which words he was angrie, but saying never a word, and concealing what hee thought, after he had travailed apace, he entred Nicomedia the first day of March, and there with the dign••tie of a Tribuneship, made his brother great Master of his stable. And when hee was come from thence to Constantinople, casting many things in his mind, and considering that he now was about to mannage great and urgent affaires, he supposed there was no lingering about the matter, but produ∣cing the same Valens to a place by the citie side, with one generall accord of all (for no man durst say against him) pronounced him Augustus: and being adorned and invested in Imperial robes, and wearing a diademe about his head, he brought him backe in the same chariot with him: one verily, who was a lawful partner with him in power and authoritie, but yet duetifull unto him, as if he had beene a Sergeant, or such like attendant officer, as the processe of mine Hystorie shall declare. Which businesses thus brought to an end, without trouble and interruption by any one, both the Emperours having been long sicke of hot burning agues, when there was assured hope of life, as they were more industrious to looke into businesses than to compose them, graunted out a commission to make strait inquirie into the suspiti∣ous causes of their sicknesse, unto Vrsatius Master of the offices, a fierce and cruell Dalmatian, and to Iuventius Siscianus, at that time Questor, raising matter of envie and malice, as the constant bruit went, unto the memorie of prince Iulian, and to his friends, as if they had by some secret practise beene hurt. But this storme soon blew ouer and came to nothing: for there was not so much as a word found to lead unto any presumption or suspition of traiterous dealing. At this time, as if the trumpets had sounded the battaile throughout all the Roman world, most fell and savage nations rose up in armes, and invaded the next limits unto them. The * 1.2 Alemans wasted at once both Gaule and Rhaetia: the Sarmatians and Quadi made spoyle in Pannonia both the one and the other. The Picts, Saxons, Scots, and Attacots, infested the Britans with continuall troubles. The Austorians and other Maurite nations made rodes more fiercely than they had wont, into Affricke. Certain bands of Gothicke Brigands and rovers rifled and ransacked Thracia. The king of Persia

layd violent hands upon the Armenians, hastning by all forcible meanes to reduce them a fresh to his owne dominion, but unjustly; pretending and alledging thus much, that after the decease of Iovianus, with whom he had established league and peace, there ought to be nothing to the contrarie, but that hee might recover those things which hee shewed to have before time appertained unto his aunce∣stors. After therefore that the Winter was passed over in quietnesse and peace, the two Emperours agreeing most joyntly together, the one in name having pre∣heminence, the other, for outward shew, equall in honour, after they had passed through Thracia, came to Naessum, where, in a certaine Suburbian countrie towne which is called Mediana, and standeth three miles from the citie, as if they meant shortly to part, divided their Comites betweene them. And verily unto Valentini∣an, after whose will and direction the State was mannaged, f••ll Iovinus, promoted a good while since by Iulian to be Master of the men of * 1.3 Armes in Gaule, and Daga∣laiphus whom Iovian had preferred to be Colonell of the footmen. But to follow Valens into the East, was Victor appointed, who also by the choise and judgement of the foresaid Prince, had beene advanced, and with him was joyned Arintheus. For, Lupicinus promoted likewise before by Iovian, to be Master of the horsmen, had the charge of the East parts. Then also was Equitius made Colonell of the armie that served in Illiricum, not * 1.4 Master as yet, but Comes. And Serenianus, who long since was discharged of his militarie othe, entred into armes and warfare againe, as being a Pannon••an, accompanied Valens, and became captaine over the companie or band of the Domestici. Which things thus digested and ordered, there was a partition made also of the militarie bands: and after this, when both Princes entred into Sirmium, and had divided their Palatine traine, as it was thought good unto the elder and better of the twaine, so that Valentinian departed to Millain, and Valens to Constantinople. And verily in the East parts governed Sallustius as Praefect: but Mamertinus ruled in the same authoritie both Italy, Affricke, and Illyricum, like as Germanus the Provinces of Gaule.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Qua sibi plas••nti••
• * 1.2

  Austri••, Carin∣thi••, Car••iola, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  or horsemen.
• * 1.4

  or Generall.