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. VII. Gaule is infested by robbers, and Constantianus Tribune of the stable slaine. The Maratocupreni, other brigands, play their theevish parts in Syria. The Saxons likewise in Britanie are repressed by Theodosius, who is created Generall of the horsemen.

IN this meane while, a rabble of outragious and cruell robbers swarmed all over Gaule, to the mischiefe and utter undoing of many; besetting the frequented high wayes, and failing not to lay along and spoyle what fruits of the earth soever came in their way. To be short, besides a number of others, who lost their lives by such wait-layers, Canstantianus, Tribune of the stable, and neere kinsman to Valentinian, a brother also to Cerealis and Iustina, was by a privie rode intercepted, and soone after killed. But a farre off, as if the fu∣ries of hell haunted the like theeves and pricked them forward; the Maratocupre∣ni, most fierce brigands, the inhabitants of a * 1.1 towne carrying that name in Syria, scituat neere unto Apamia, raunged on everie side: and a wonder it was what a number they were, and how cunning and craftie beside: In this regard also much dreaded, for that making shew of substantial marchants houses, villages and towns: neither could any man beware of their sodaine comming, setting as they did their journey not to any one appointed place, but to sundrie quarters, and those farre re∣moved, and in one word, breaking in wheresoever the wind served to conduct them. For which verie cause, the Saxons are feared above other enemies, doing that they doe all on a sodaine. And albeit many mens goods were given and dealt among these confederat theeves, yet incontinent herewith, when they were once set a madding and entred into any intended furious action, they committed wo∣full murders, as being no lesse bloud-thirstie than greedie of prey. But least in re∣porting everie particular occurrent I should hinder the course and proceeding of my storie, it shall suffice to put downe this one most mischievous practise of theirs. A damned crew of these godlesse and ungracious folke being gathered in a plump together, resembling in outward shew the whole office of a Receivor or Auditor, and the Iudge himselfe, in a darke evening at the dolefull sound of trumpet, and voyce of crier, entred a citie, and with sword in hand beset the stately and sumptu∣ous built house of a certaine noble and principall personage, as if he had beene out∣lawed, and by speciall commission to be slaine: where, after they had seized into their hands and carryed away houshold-stuffe of much worth, because they of the house being sodainely taken, and their wits maskered, had not defended the master therof, slew a number, and before returne of the day-light departed and went their wayes a great pace. But when thus furnished and laden with the spoyle of many, for nothing went beside their hands, that was not too hot or too heavie (such was the sweetnesse they found in these cheits) intercepted they were by a power that the Emperour raised, and being over-matched lost their lives to the verie last man: yea and their issue and progenie, then but young and small, for feare they should grow up, like unto their parents, were in the same manner utterly destroyed, and their dwelling houses subverted, which with the lamentable losses of many they had bravely built. And thus verily went things according to the narration afore∣said. But Theodosius, a noble and renowmed captain, having gotten heart and cou∣ragious vigour, taking his journey from Augusta, which in old time they called

* 1.2 Lundinium, with a power of souldiors that in his politique industrie hee had levi∣ed and trained to his hand, brought exceeding great succour unto the troubled and confused state of the Britans, gaining before hand such places everie where, as gave advantage to annoy the barbarous enemies, and enjoyning the common souldiors no service, whereof himselfe tooke not the essay with a cheerefull heart. And in this kind as he performed the principall part of a stout souldior, and fulfilled the carefull function of an excellent leader, by discomfiting and putting to flight sundrie nations, whom insolent pride nourished with securitie, had incensed and incited to set upon the Romans territories, he restored wholly into the former state cities and castles which had sustained many losses, yea established peace surely founded for a long time. Now, there happened whiles he managed these affaires a foule matter, like to breake out to a daungerous mischiefe, if it had not beene quen∣ched in the verie beginning of the enterprise. One Valentinus in * 1.3 Pannonia Vale∣ria, a man of a proud spirit, brother unto the wife of Maximinus that cursed and mischievous deputie, afterwards Praefect, being banished into Britannie for an hai∣nous act committed, as one impatient of rest, like some noisome wild beast, upon a certaine swelling homour of pride, rose up to worke mischiefe and innovation in the State against Theodosius, whom he perceived to be the onely man able to with∣stand his wicked designes. Howbeit, casting many wayes about both closely and openly, as the gale of his unmeasurable desire rose higher, hee solicited the exiled persons and the souldiors, promising (as the time would affoord) rewards for their attempts, thereby to draw them on to his purpose. And now, when the time drew neere, that their attempts should take effect, the * 1.4 warlike leader aforesaid, advertised hereof by such as were meet to give information, and thereby readie to adventure, as also upon a resolute and couragious heart, forward ynough to be revenged of such as were detected, committed Valentinus verily with some few of his most in∣ward confederats, unto captain Dulcitius for to be executed with death according∣ly. But in his militarie skill and policie, wherein he excelled all men living in those dayes, guessing at future daungers, he inhibited all inquisitions to bee made as tou∣ching the rest of the conspirators with him, least if this feare proceeding were once spred among many, the tempestuous troubles of the provinces, now well allayed, should revive againe. From hence, turning himselfe to the distresse of many mat∣ters, and those of needfull consequence, now that all danger was quite past (for that it was for certaine knowne, that propitious fortune never failed him in all his enter∣prises) he reedified and repaired cities, the garrison castles also, as I have said, and the marches he defended with out-watches, with guards & fore-fences. And thus ha∣ving recovered the province againe, which had yeelded subjection to the enemies, he reduced it unto the pristine estate; so, as by his owne relation and report made, it both had a lawfull governor, and also was from that time called ^k Valentia, at the pleasure of the Prince. The Areans, a kind of people instituted by those in aunci∣ent time (concerning whom I have said somewhat in the acts of Constans) who by little and little were fallen into disorders and enormities, he removed from their sta∣tions: as being manifestly convicted, that induced with the greatnesse of rewards re∣ceived, and more promised, they had otherwhiles revolted unto the Barbarians, what was in hand and a doing among us. For, their office was this, by running a great ground to be cursitours to and fro, and to intimate unto our captaines upon the marches, what sturres there were among the neighbour nations. Thus having managed most excellently these matters abovesaid, and others the like, being sent

for to the Emperours Court, and leaving behind him the provinces leaping and dauncing for joy: like unto Furius Camillus, or Papyrius Cursor, renowmed he was for many victories, and those of good importance. And so, accompanied with the favour of all men to the narrow seas, having passed over with a gentle gale he came to the Princes campe. And being received with joy and prayses, hee suc∣ceeded in the roome of Valens Iovinus, who had the conduct of the horsemen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Maratocu∣prenum.
• * 1.2

  London.
• * 1.3

  Stiria.
• * 1.4

  Theodosius.