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. VI. Valentinian goeth about to bridle the rodes and invasions of the Alemans: and they having sued for peace, but not obtained it, set upon the Romanes at un∣awares, and kill two of their martiall leaders.

BVt Valentinian conceiving great matters in his mind, and those of be∣hoofefull consequence, fortified the Rhene all along, from the begin∣ning of Rhaetia, unto the narrow sea or Frith of the Ocean, with migh∣tie pyles and bankes; raysing up castles, skonces, forts and turrets of a great height, one by another raunged along in meet and convenient places along the coast of Gaule, as farre as it reacheth in length, yea, and otherwhiles with hou∣ses and buildings planted beyond the rivers, encroaching somewhat upon the li∣mits of the Barbarians, and winning ground. Finally, when he cast with himselfe and considered, how that high built and strong fenced fortresse, which himselfe at his first entrance had founded out of the very ground, by reason that the river na∣med * 1.1 Nicer running hard by, might by little and little with the violent beating of the waves be undermined and subverted, he devised to turne the streame another way: and having sought out and gotten together cunning workemen, skilfull in water-workes, and a number beside of stout souldiors, hee entred upon this hard piece of worke: For certaine maine pieces of timber, and those of Oake, for many

dayes together were framed and couched close, and the same cast into the chanell; notwithstanding huge posts forcibly pitched down hard by, and eftsoones pitched againe, at the rising of the mightie billowes were shuffled and huddled together, yea, and plucked up with the violence of the streame, and broken in sunder. Yet for all this, the great and earnest care of the Emperour, together with the painefull labour of the dutifull souldiors (who oftentimes when they were at worke stood up to the chin plunged in water) overcame all difficulties. And so at the last, not without danger of some, the garrison forts were rid quite frō the trouble wrought by the mightie wandering river, and now stand strong and sure. Being glad there∣fore, and rejoycing at so good speed, and gathering those together, who according to the time and season of the yeare were slipped sundrie wayes, he had a care of the Common-wealth, as beseemed the dutie of a prince. And supposing this to be most fit and meet for the effecting of that which he intended, he purposed in all hast to build a fort on the farther side of Rhene, upon the mountain * 1.2 Pirus (which place is within the Barbarians ground) and to the end that quicke dispatch might worke withall a sure effect of this businesse, he advertised Arator the lord marcher, by Syagrius then * 1.3 Notarie, afterwards Praefect and Consull, that whiles all was still and silent on every side, he should endevour to take the vantage thereof. So the Marcher, together with the said Notarie, went straightwayes over the water, as he was commaunded: and having begun by the helpe of the souldiors whom he led, to lay the foundation, received Hermogenes to be his successour. And at the very same instant certaine nobles and lords of the Alemanes, the Emperours hostages, came; those I meane, whom according to covenant, and as sufficient pledges of peace long to continue, we had in keeping: who humbly upon their knees be∣sought, That the Romanes (whose loyaltie and faith at all times had extolled up to heaven their fortune) without forecast of future securitie would not be deceived with a false error, nor by treading their covenants underfoot, enter upon an unwor∣thie action. But delivering, as they did, these and such like speeches in vaine, when they could neither have hearing, nor perceive any mild answere returned, lamen∣ting the destruction of their children and posteritie, departed. And no sooner were they gone, but out of a secret nouke of an hill hard by, there leapt forth a companie of the Barbarians, waiting, as we were given to understand, what answeres should be given unto those nobles aforesaid; and setting upon our souldiors, halfe naked, and even then busie in carrying of mould, with their swords, lightly and nimbly ap∣pointed as they were, slew them downe-right; among whom were also both the leaders slaine: neither was there one left to tell newes of what was done but onely Syagrius; who, after all the rest were put to the sword, returned to the court, and by sentence of the prince in his anger, cassed and discharged of his militarie oath and service, went home to his own house, judged by rigorous censure to have deserved no lesse, for that he escaped alone.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Neckar.
• * 1.2

  where now is Speyr. Herald.
• * 1.3

  or principall Secretarie.