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. Whiles Valentinian lyeth sicke of a grievous disease, certaine of the principall officers and rulers lay their heads together, about chusing Rusticus Iulianus, Master of the Rolles, or Severus, Colonell of the footmen, to be Emperour. But the said Empe∣rour recovering, declareth Gratianus his son for his Colleague and Augustus both, after he had in a grave oration recommended him unto the armie, which generally accepted of him: and when he was adorned with a coronet and imperiall robes, exhorteth him to doe his devoire, with the exceeding applause of them all.

WHiles Valentinian in this meane time lay grievously sicke, & thought no other but like to dye, at a feast where the Gaules secretly met, who served in the Emperours armie, Rusticus Iulianus then ^k Ma∣ster of the Rolls, was, as it were, in a furious fit or motion of mad∣nesse nominated to the Empire, one as bloud-thirstie as any savage beast, as he well shewed whiles he governed Affricke in place of Proconsull. For in his Prefecture of the citie, during which he dyed, fearing the daungerous and ticklish dayes of tyrannie, by the will and pleasure whereof, he had climbed up to that high dignitie, for default, as it should seeme, of worthie persons, enforced he was to shew himselfe mild and verie tractable. Against these Gaules, some there were who in a deeper reach and drift laboured in favour of Severus, then Colonell

of the footmen, as a man fitted for the obtaining thereof: who albeit he was rigo∣rous and dread, yet more tollerable, and everie way to be preferred above Rusti∣cus aforesaid. But whiles these matters are thought upon to no effect, the Empe∣rour somewhat refreshed and recovered by the meanes of many remedies, and perceiving that himselfe was scarce yet delivered from daunger of death, had a full purpose to adorne with the imperiall ensignes his owne sonne Gratian, a pretie young stripling, and well growne: and having provided all things in readinesse ac∣cordingly, and wrought the souldiors to accept thereof in good gree and willingly, when Gratian was come he went forth into the field, and ascended up to the Tri∣bunall: where being environed with a gallant companie of noble persons and Of∣ficers of State, hee tooke the youth by the right hand, brought him forth before them, and with a solemne publicke oration recommended him (as ordained Em∣perour) to the armie, in this wise: In this habit of princely place and dignitie which I carrie about with me as an ample signe of your favour enlarged toward me, by which I am deemed a more worthie personage than many others, and those right honourable, I will be∣fore you my associats in counsels, and fore-men in desires and wishes, in due office of pietie and kindnesse, set in hand with a matter, God saying Amen, and promising good successe, by whose eternall ayd and helpe the Roman State shall stand firme and invincible. Vnder∣stand therefore, I beseech you, with peaceable minds, yee right valiant Knights, what our desire is, considering thus much withall, that these things which the lawes of love and naturall affection ordaine to be done, we have beene desirous not onely to passe with your knowledge and privitie, but also to have approoved and ratified, as meet and expedient for us, by your authoritie. This my young sonne Gratian (whom for that hee hath beene a long time conversant among your children, yee love as a deere pledge common to me and you) I am about, for the better assurance on all sides of publike peace and tranquilitie, to take in∣to the fellowship of imperiall service and warfare, in case the propitious favour of the heavenly power above, and your maiestie, shall second and assist the love of his father: one not brought up from his cradle hardly as our selves, nor enured to the enduring of the hard world, nor capable as yet of martiall toyle, as yee see: but answerably according with the prayse-worthie vertues of his familie, and the noble deeds of his auncestors, like shortly to come behind verie few of them, for feare, as they say, of any envie. For, as I am woont to thinke and conceit of him, weighing many times, as I do, his manners and motions (though the same are not yet come to maturitie in these tender and youthfull yeares of his) for as much as being polished with humanitie, and the studies of wittie sciences, he shall peise and examine by uncorrupt iudgement the deserts for well and evill doing, hee will so order the matter, that good men shall understand there is knowledge taken and regard had of them: He will advance and put himselfe forward to performe brave exploits, readie to stick close unto the militarie ensignes and Aegles: he will endure the hot parching Sunne, the cold frost and snow, long thirst and watching: he will otherwhiles, if need so require, make good and defend the campe: he will venture and expose his owne life for his partners in perils; and, that which is the chiefe and principall point of pietie, he wilbe able to love the Commonwealth, as the verie house of his father and auncestors. These words, before he had made an end of his speech, being heard with joyfull assent, everie souldior ac∣cording to his place hastening and striving a vie, with glad heart one to out-goe a∣nother, as if they had beene partakers of commoditie and joy, declared Gratian Augustus, intermingling with a most lowd sound of trumpets, the gentle noyse and clattering of their armour. Which when Valentinian perceived, rejoycing now with greater confidence, after he had adorned his sonne with a crowne, and the

robes of highest estate, he kissed him: and thus all gorgeous and goodly to be seen, and giving attentive eare to that which he said, he spake unto him in this manner: Behold (quoth he) my sonne Gratian, thou hast upon thee Imperiall garments, as we all hoped for, conferred with luckie osses and acclamations by the iudgement of my selfe and our fellow souldiors: Arme thy selfe therefore according to the importance of ur∣gent affaires, as the Colleague of thy father and uncle both, and enure thy bodie with∣out feare to goe over with the whole regiments of footmen, the rivers Hister and Rhene, passable on foot with yce; to stand next unto the armed souldiors; to spendthy bloud and life both consideratly for them whom thou doestrule; yea and to thinke that no straunge ground which reacheth to any side of the Roman Empire. Let it suffice for this present, to have given thus much in charge: for the rest, I shall not cease to admonish thee accor∣dingly. Now, those of you beside, who are the chiefest maintainers of the State, I desire and earnestly beseech, That with grounded and firme affection yee preserve this hopefull Emperour in his rising and growth, committed as hee is to your faithfull protection. When these words were with all solemnitie confirmed, Eupraxius Caesariensis, a Moore, Master of the Rolls at the same time, first of all cryed out in these tearms, The familie and linage of Gratian deserveth this honour: and presently being pro∣moted to be Questor, he left behind him many examples of good loyaltie and trust, swerving no way aside from the state of a fearelesse nature, but constant al∣wayes, and like unto the lawes which wee observe to speake with one and the same voyce in many and sundrie causes: who also persisted then more stedfastly in any part of justice undertaken, when the Emperour in threatning and violent man∣ner shooke him up, as he advised him to any good wayes. After this they fell all at once to resound the prayses of the elder Emperour and the yong Prince both, but especially of the youth himselfe, whom a lively, a quick lightsome eye, a most plea∣sant grace as well of countenance as the rest of the bodie, besides a singular toward∣nesse of wit and mind did commend: which had made an accomplished Emperor comparable with the best that ever were in auncient times, if the Destinies would have given leave, and his inward favourites besides, who with their leawd and wic∣ked acts darkened his vertue, which as yet was well setled. Howbeit, in this affaire, Valentinian transgressing the maner and custome taken up of old, nominated his brother and sonne in much kindnesse and affection, not Caesares, but Augusti. For there was not any man aforetime that assumed unto him a Colleague in equall power and authoritie, save onely the Emperor Marcus, who made his adopted bro∣ther Verus (without any abridgement at all of imperiall majestie) his fellow and companion.

Notes

• or principall re∣membrances.
• Magister Me∣moriae.
• Aurelius Anto∣ninus Philosophus.
• L. Aurelius Ʋe∣rus Commodus: ex Iulio Capitol.