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. The detestable sleights and practises of Maximinus, that he might continue still in that butcherly execution of his, now being created Prefectus Pretorio. Di∣vers successors after him in the Prefectship of the citie; the last of whom exceedeth the crueltie of Maximinus.

BY these and other prankes with like sorrow to be lamented, which greatly blemished and stained the beautie of Rome, that im∣mortall citie, this man not to be named but with a grone, made outragious spoyle by the manifold overthrows of mens estates, stretching and straining his power beyond the bounds of law and justice. For, by report, he both had a small cord alwayes hanging at a certain remote window of the Pretorium, the one end wherof shold tye or binde together a certaine Tamusa (as it were) not grounded verily upon a∣ny proofes or presumptions, but like to doe mischiefe unto many guiltlesse per∣sons: And also commaunded sundrie times Mutianus and Barbatus, his daily offi∣cers and ministers, fellowes most apt and fit to deceive others, severally to bee clapt up. These, as if they bewayled their owne wofull mishaps, whereby they made semblance that they were wronged and oppressed, aggravating still the crueltie of the said judge, and iterating the same speeches verie often, pretended and affirmed, That for persons standing then accused and in trouble, there was now no other meanes or remedie remaining to save their owne lives, unlesse they would seeme to charge and accuse some of the nobilitie of great crimes, who if they were once joy∣ned with them in societie of daunger, then they warranted them they might be ea∣sily quit and absolved. By reason whereof, considering that the vile impietie of these courses proceeded further now than to abjects neere at hand, it came to passe that many a man had his hands streight manacled; and those of noble birth were seene as unregarded, in poore plight and much distressed. Neither ought any of them to be blamed, when in their simple salutations they crouched and bowed their bodies so low, as that they welneere touched the verie ground, considering they heard this robber with the pestiferous breath of his mouth come out often∣times with this note, If he were so disposed, that no person could possibly be found innocent. Which words turning quickly into deeds, had beene ynough, I assure you, to have terrified as good men as ever Numa Pompilius or Cato were. For in this wise altogether were matters carried, that some mens eies were never drie, but shed fresh teares in the beholding of other folks miseries, a thing that commonly in this life happeneth to men, upon sundrie troubles and crosse accidents of their owne. Howbeit this hard hearted judge how ever he went oftentimes from the course of right and justice, yet in one speciall point tollerable he was. For, otherwhiles hee would spare and pardon some if he were requested and intreated: which, as we

read in Tullie, savoureth yet of some vice in this place of authoritie. For if wrath (quoth he) be implacable, it is rigour and bitternesse in the highest degree; but if it be exorable, it is as great a lightnesse and vanitie: which notwithstanding, as in choice of bad things, is to be preferred before bitternesse. After this, when Leo went forward, and was admitted his successor, Maximinus being sent for to the princes court, and advaunced to be Praetor Praetorio, became never a jot milder, but did harme still even a farre off, like to the serpents called Basiliskes or Cocatrices. Against that time, or not much before, the very beesomes wherewith the noblemens * Curia used to be swept, were seene to bloome and beare blossomes: and this portended, that some persons of most contemptible and base condition, were to be raised un∣to high degrees of rule and authoritie. And although it be now high time to re∣turne unto the order of our Historie begun, yet without hindering the processe of times, we will tarrie a while in rehearsing some few particulars, that through the iniquitie of those, who governed as deputie Pręfects in the citie, were done other∣wise than ought to have beene; which were carried all according to the will and pleasure of Maximinus, by the same ministers, as his agents or apparitors. After him commeth Vrsicinus in place; a man more enclined to milder courses: who because he would be warie and civile, gave information, and referred over to the Emperour Esaias, with others kept in hold, for committing adulterie with Ruffina; and who had gone about to accuse and indict her husband Marcellus, late a Pursivant or In∣telligencer, of Treason: And therefore he, despised as a lingering delayer, and no∣thing meet for the stout execution and quicke dispatch of these matters, was put out of his deputicship. After him succeeded Simplicius Hemonensis; who of a professor in Grammar became counsellor unto Maximinus after the administration of his deputieship: a man neither stout nor prowd, but of a crooked and terrible aspect; who, seeming to frame his words to a kind of modestie, studied and plot∣ted the mischiefe of many. And first he put to death Ruffina, together with all those that were either parties culpable in the matter of adulterie, or privie thereto: as touching whom, Vrsicinus (as I said before) had given information: Then, ma∣ny others, without any difference of guiltie or innocent. For in this bloudie bat∣tail, contending with Maximinus (marshalled as it were in the maine battaile before him) he endevoured to outgoe him in cutting the sinewes (as one would say) of noble families: imitating ^g Busiris in old time, as also Antaeus and Phalaris; so as there seemed nought wanting but that Bull of Agrigentum.

Notes

• Summitas, for this author useth it indifferently
• Here am I glad∣ly Scepticus: whiles one taketh it for a nonze, ano∣ther a pulley, a third for a hatchet and a fourth for, I woe not what, bloudy substance &c. I suppose they almisle the mark: and untill we may meet with a more perfect copie I cannot determine. The place I doubt is corrupt.