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. XII. Firmus starting from his promised allegeance, forceth Theodosius to take armes. Cer∣taine horsemen of the Romanes, who had revolted to the rebels, are thrust downe to the lowest degree of warre-service. Afterwards Theodosius executeth others with losse of their heads. And then, by occasion that the enemies were with many overthrowes brought upon their knees, and weakened, he politikely delive∣reth out of daunger a small companie of his owne men.

WHom when Theodosius had seene and received with joy, making his abode still at Caesarea, upon verie diligent search made for the truth of everie thing, he understood for certaine, that Firmus under co∣lour of a well-willer and suppliant, in a covert policie reached at this, to come in manner of a sodaine tempest upon our armie fea∣ring no hostilitie, and to put it in disray. The General therefore turning from hence came to a free borough towne named Sugabarritanum, seated upon the rising of the mountaine Transcellensis: where he found the horsemen of the fourth cohort of archers, which had revolted unto the rebell: and to shew that hee was content with some mild punishment, he thrust them all downe to the lowest degree of war service: and both them and also part of the Constantian footmen, he commanded to come to Tigaviae with their Tribunes; one of whom had done upon the head of Firmus a chaine for a diademe. Whiles these things are a doing, Gildo and Ma∣ximus returned, leading with them Belles a Prince of the Mazices, and Ferinus Prefect of that nation, who had ayded the faction of him that had troubled the the common peace . . . . to produce them bound. Which being performed

according to appointment, himselfe went forth at breake of day, and finding them in the armie enclosed round about, What thinke yee (quoth he) my devoted fellowe souldiors, ought to be done with these wicked traitours? and when they cryed all with one voyce and required, That they who served among the ¹ Constantiani, should loose their life-bloud for it; he following their desire delivered them, after the old manner, unto the souldiors to be massacred. As for the principall of the archers aforesaid, he cut off their hands, the rest he beheaded after the example of Curio, that most fierce & valiant captain, who by this kind of punishment made an end of the Dardanians stoutnesse, which after the manner of the ^m Lernaean serpent other∣whiles sprung up new againe. But malicious backebiters, as they commend that auncient fact, so they condemne this, as cursed and over rigorous; saying, That the Dardanians were mortall enemies and justly deserved those punishments that they sustained, whereas the souldiors serving under their colours, when they all happened to fall into one errour, should have beene dealt with in a milder kind of correction: Whom, I knowing that I doe, answer and give to understand, That this cohort both by fact and example were rebellious. As touching Belles and Fericius aforesaid, whom Gildo brought, as also Curandius, Tribune of the archers, he commaunded them to be killed in this regard, for that neither himselfe in person would ever encounter with the enemies, nor exhort his souldiors under him to fight. And in this wise proceeded Theodosius, cōsidering this sentence of Tully, That wholesome rigor and severitie surpasseth the vaine shew of clemencie. After this he went forth, and came before a fort named Gaionatis, having a strong wal round about it, which was the most safe & sure place of refuge for the Moores: with violent push of the Ram this he cast down, & when he had slain all the inhabitants therin, & laid the wals even with the ground, he went forward to the castle Tingitanum, & by the hill Ancorarius set upon the Mazices assembled there together, who now also dischar∣ged darts backe again, that flew as thicke as haile: & when as on both sides they had skirmished, the Mazices not able to abide our hot charging so violently with men & munition (a warlike nation though they were and fierce) thus beaten down in sun∣dry slaughters, in a foule fright brake their arraies: and as they fled amaine, were kil∣led, all save those who making shift to escape, by humble suit afterward obtained pardon & peace, which the time so requiring was granted. Suggena their leader . . . . . . who succeeded Romanus, appointed to goe into Mauritania Sitifensis, there to take order for the placing of garrisons, himselfe lifted up still with these accidents past, marcheth against the nation of the Musones, whom their owne privitie and guiltinesse of robberies and murders had gathered together to joine in action with Firmus, who as it was hoped would shortly attaine unto greater maters. And when he was entred wel forward on his way, neere unto the burrough-towne Ad∣dense, he had certaine intelligence that a number of nations, how different soever they were in fashions and language, yet in one accord of heart agreed to rayse and begin cruell warre: whereto they were incited and encouraged with verie great hope of rewards from a sister of Firmus, named Cyria; who abounding in wealth, and in a wilfull resolution of a woman, purposed with all her power and endevour to helpe her brother. Theodosius therefore fearing to adventure himselfe upon an unequall match, and least if encountring an huge multitude with a few (for he was but three thousand and five hundred strong) he might loose them all, keeping a meane betweene shamefull flight and eagre fight, gave ground and retyred softly, by reason that the multitude pressed sore upon him, and so gat away. Vpon which

event the barbarous people taking an exceeding good heart . . . . and lost hee had them all to the last man, but that those nations seeing the ayds of the Mazices, before whom marched certaine Roman corporals, were mightily troubled and af∣frighted: and supposing they had beene many battailons, readie with violence to charge upon them, tooke them to their heeles, and so opened the passages and wayes for our men to get out, which before were quite stopped up.