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. XIII. Theodosius by a wise policie and militarie holding off assailing his enemies, forceth Fir∣mus by flight to shift for himselfe, abandoning his campe that was ransacked: follow∣loweth him in chase: and when he had vanquished the Isaflenses, who recei∣ved and harboured him, and put certaine of the principall ene∣mies to death, bestoweth his owne peo∣ple in safetie.

WHen Theodosius afterward leading his souldiors safe, was come to a Bur∣gade named Mazucanum, after he had burnt up some few revolters, dismembred and maimed others after the example of those archeis who had lost their hands, he came in the moneth of Februarie to Ti∣pata: Where making his abode a long time, like unto that auncient and warie temporizer, he consulted as the businesse did require, intending if he might haply spie his advantage and opportunitie to vanquish the warlike enemy, by dint of dart and weapon invincible, rather by stratagems and policie, than by daungerous en∣counters in plaine field. Howbeit, he sent continually certaine persons skilfull in persuading, unto the nations round about, namely, the Baiurae, the Cantorians, Avastomates, Cafaves, Devares, and other borderers, one while by feare, other∣whiles by faire promises inducing them to an association, yea and sometime by promising them pardon for their malapert folly, purposing so to vanquish the ene∣mie who much abated his violent forces, by such faire fetches and delayes, like as Pompey in times past overcame Mithridates. For which cause, Firmus declining a mischiefe so neere at hand, although he was well strengthened with great guards about him, leaving the common multitude of souldiors whom he had levied and assembled with great wages, taking opportunitie of the still night to be unseene, reached as farre as to the mountaines Caprarienses, which were farre off, and by reason of broken and craggie rockes inaccessable. Vpon whose secret departure the multitude being scattered, slipping and dropping away one after another, now that they were without a leader, ministred vnto our men good and readie meanes to enter upon his campe. Which being ransacked, and those slaine that made resi∣stance, or else upon their yeelding taken to mercie, when he had wasted the grea∣test part of those countries, like a most prudent and politique captaine, he set over those nations which he passed through, Prefects and rulers, men of approved trust and fidelitie. The enemie terrified with this unlooked-for pursuit of Theodosius, ac∣companied with some few servants, minding by quick departure to save himself, to the end he might not be hindred by any let or encumbrance, threw away the packs of pretious wares and commodities which he had brought away with him. For, his wife, wearied out with continual & very dangerous labor . . . . Theodosius sparing none, when the souldiors were refreshed with finer food, & cheered with wages, af∣ter that the Caprarienses the & Abbannae their neighbours, were in a light battaile

defeated, made hast to the Burrough towne . . . . ense: and being by true mes∣sengers advertised, that the Barbarians were alreadie possessed of the hills, which on everie side with winding in and our mounted up aloft, and were passable for none but the inborne inhabitants that knew the wayes verie well, in his returne backe gave the enemies good means, during a truce (though it lasted but a while) to make themselves stronger, with passing great ayds of the Aethiopians neere adjoyning. Who with a menacing noyse rushing in by whole plumpes, without any regard of themselves to fight, forced him to turne backe as affrighted with a terrible sight of inestimable troupes: but straightwayes taking heart againe, he returned, bring∣ing with him plentifull store of victuals: and with his men cast round into a ring, and shaking their shields after a terrible kind of gesture, made head against them. Albeit therefore that the bands of furious enemies with their Barbarian armour clattering one against another, and making an hideous and fearefull kind of noyse, were at the point to give the charge, yea and themselves also knocked their bucklers against their knees, yet like unto that warie warriour and politique souldior afore∣said, distrusting his small forces, boldly marching with a square battailon, flee tur∣ned his way without any feare to a citie named Contensis, where Firmus for fear of our men had, as in a remote and high fort bestowed his folke. And so after he had recovered all his owne souldiors, he sharply punished (as his woonted maner was) the traytors and the guard of Firmus aforesaid. As he most happily was in atchie∣ving this exploit through the helpe of his great name, advertised he was by a true discoverer, that Firmus was fled into the countrey of the Isaflenses. For the deman∣ding of whom together with his brother Mazuca, and other neere kinsfolke and deere friends he entred thither; but seeing he could not have thē delivered, he pro∣claimed open war against the whole nation. And upō the joining of a cruel battaile against the Barbarians, who beyond al measure braved & behaved themselves most fiercely, he opposed his battaile shaped after a round fashion: And with the forci∣ble violence of mightie troupes and squadrons, the Isaflenses were so driven to the worst, that many of them lost their lives: and Firmus himselfe as hardie as he was, and running oftentimes headlong upon his owne mischiefe, was with his horse carryed quite backe out of the field, as having beene used nimbly to run over rocks and cragges: but Mazuca his brother deadly wounded, was taken prisoner; who being by order appointed to be sent to Caesarea, where he had left cruell and dura∣ble memorials of most wicked deeds, in the opening of his wound dyed: howbeit his head severed from the rest of his bodie, with great joy of as many as came to see it was brought into the citie aforesaid. After this, the noble Generall having van∣quished the nation of the Isaflenses that withstood him, plagued them (as justice re∣quired) with many losses and calamities. And there he caused to be burnt Evasius a mightie Bourgesse, with his sonne Florus, and some other openly convicted, by their secret conferences to have assisted the breaker of peace. And then marching ther within the land, in a brave mind and powerfull courage, having invaded the countrie Iubalena, where he heard say that Nubel the father of Firmus was borne, be∣ing put backe with high mountaines and winding crooked straits, hee stayed his journey. And although by setting upon the enemies and killing many of them he made himselfe way to passe forward, yet fearing the lofty hill toppes most meet for ambushments, leading his souldiors in safetie hee returned to the fortresse Audi∣ense: Where the Isaflenses, a savage people, yeelded themselves, promising volun∣tarily to furnish him with aid-souldiors and victuals.

Notes

• or Burgh.
• Q. Fabius Ma∣ximus.
• Fabius Maximus Cunctator.