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. Valens reiecting the frivolous excuse of the Gothes, who had maintained Procopius and his side, passed over Hister, and meeting none to make resistance, returneth with his forces. The warre being in the yeres ensuing renewed, at length the Gothes by the intercession of Athanaricus obtaine peace; and Valens goeth backe to Constantinople.

AFter that Procopius was vanquished in Phrygia, and the matter of civile dis∣sentions layed asleepe, Victor Generall of the Horsemen, was sent unto the Gothes, to know in plaine tearmes, For what cause that nation, friend unto the Romanes, and obliged by covenants of a free peace, had given aid by armes unto one that warred against lawfull and naturall princes: who, that they might seeme by their first plea to justifie the deed, presented unto him the letters of the same Procopius; alledging, That he tooke upon him the Empire, due unto him as a neere kinsman of Constantines race, and avouching, that the error was worthie to be pardoned. Vpon knowledge whereof, by the relation of Victor, Valens ma∣king small reckoning of this their most vaine excuse, advaunced in warlike manner against them, who had fore-knowledge alreadie of this trouble comming toward them: And in the beginning of the Spring having assembled his forces together, encamped neere unto a strong hold named Daphne; and upon a bridge floored with flankes over the hatches of ships, passed the river Hister, without resistance made of any. And now bearing himselfe aloft with great boldnesse, when riding up and downe, he could find none that he might overcome or terrifie (for all men strucken with feare of our souldiors, approching with a brave shew of preparation, were retyred to the mountaines of the * 1.1 Serri, which were very high and inaccessi¦ble but only to such as were skilfull in the wayes) least that having spent the whole Summer, he should returne without any exploit done, by sending out Arinibeus, colonell of the footmen, with certaine companies to wast and spoyle, seized on part of their families, such as, before they came to the broken and winding wayes, might be taken straggling and wandering over the plaine fields. And thus having atchieved this onely that Fortune presented to his hands, he returned with his for∣ces in safetie, having neither given nor received any grievous blow. The yeare fol∣lowing when he assayed with like courage to enter into the enemies land, being hindered with the streames of * 1.2 Danubius, that overflowed farre beyond his banks, he rested still, pitching his standing campeneere to a village named Carporum, un∣till the end of Autumne: Whence, because nothing could be done, by reason that the great flouds kept him off he departed to Martianopolis, there to Winter. Sem∣blably, the third yeare also holding on his purpose still, having broken into the ground of the barbarous enemies by Novidunum, and that by meanes of shippes joyned together for to passe over the river, after continuall journeyes taken, he set upon the Grutungi, a warlicke nation, that inhabited further off; and after some light skirmishes, constrained for feate of extremitie Athanaricus to take his flight, who in those dayes was a most puissant ruler, & who with a power that he thought more than sufficient, dared to make resistance: and then himselfe with all his forces returned againe to Martianopolis, there to keepe his Winter; a place as in those tracts meet and convenient. Now, after sundrie accidents that fell out in these three yeares space, there were good motives and reasons to end the warre. First, for

that the enemies feare encreased by the princes long abode in these parts. Then, be∣cause the barbarous people being debarred of traffique and commerce, were di∣stressed for exceeding want of necessaries, in so much as they sent embassadors of∣tentimes in manner of suppliants, and craved pardon with peace. Vnto whom, the Emperour unexpert, I must needs say, but a most equall and indifferent considerer as yet of things, before that he was beguiled with the pernitious allurements of flat∣terie, and afflicted the Commonwealth with slaughters and executions for ever to be lamented, taking sage advice for the common good, decreed, That it was be∣hovefull to graunt peace. And he sent forth by turnes Victor and Arintheus, who then had the managing of the horsemens service. Who when they had given true intelligence by their letters, That the Gothes condescended unto the conditions proposed, there was a meet place appointed for the conclusion of a peace. And for as much as Athanaricus avouched, That he was bound under the fearefull curse of an othe, and beside, by his fathers commaundement expresly forbidden, to tread at any time upon Roman ground (in which regard he might not bee compelled) and withall it had beene an unseemely and base thing, that the Emperor should go over to him, thought good it was by them that were wise, that in certaine vessels guided by ores into the mids of the river, where were embarked the Emperor and the foresaid Iudge of the nation, together with their Esquiers, they should, as be∣fore it was determined, passe the covenants of a league and peace together. Which businesse being dispatched, and pledges received, Valens returned to Constantino∣ple, where afterwards Athanaricus driven out of his native countrey by a faction of his neerest kinsmen and followers, yeelded unto nature, and was enterred with solemne and sumptuous funerals, after the guise of our countrey.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Accursius ren∣deth Succi.
• * 1.2

  Do••w.