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.

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Title
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.
Author
Ammianus Marcellinus.
Publication
London :: Printed by Adam Islip,
An. 1609.
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Subject terms
Rome -- History -- Empire, 284-476 -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A06878.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 30, 2024.

Pages

CHAP. VIII. Ammianus Marcellinus turning his pen to the state of the West Empire, rehearseth cer∣taine cruell proceedings of Valentinian, made more fell by Maximinus Prefect of the Pretorium.

BY reason hereof turning my pen toward Gaule, I also meet with the or∣der and course of the affaires there troubled and confused, finding a∣mong many and fearefull occurrents, Maximinus now become Pre∣fect, by reason of his large power and authoritie a perillous firebrand to incense the Emperour, who with the majestie of his high fortune intermingled

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his licentious will. Whosoever therefore considereth what is said, may ponder al∣so and weigh all the rest that is concealed, and in his wisedome pardon me, in case I comprise not everie particular which the naughtinesse of Iudges and their asses∣sours by aggravating crimes, and making them worse, hath committed. For, Va∣lentinian naturally of himselfe fierce and fell, as rigour (enemie unto all righteous proceedings) grew more and more, after the comming of the said Maximinus, whiles there was none either to advise him better, or to hold him backe in a certain swelling current (as it were) of waves and stormes, was carryed through a sea of rigorous acts; in so much as many times in his fits of anger his verie voyce, his countenance, his gate and colour would change. Which, to be true, sundrie evi∣dences there be, and those most certaine that doe testifie, of which it shall suffice to set downe a few. A well growne youth, one of these whom they tearme Peda∣gogianos, being appointed in a place, for the better marking of the hunters game, to hold a Spartane hound, chaunced to let him slip before the set time, for that the dogge whiles he strived to be gone had assayled and bitten him: For which, he had by his commaundement the bastinadoe, untill he dyed therewith, and was bu∣ried the same day. The master of a certaine 1 forge or worke-house, who had pre∣sented unto him a curace most workemanly polished, and therefore looking for his reward, he commaunded to be killed, for nothing else but this, that the sayd peece of yron armour was somewhat lesse in weight than the patterne which he had given him. Constantianus the horse-chooser, because he was so bold as to ex∣chaunge some of those horses of service, for the m allowing of which he had beene sent into Sardinia, by his commaundement also was stoned to death. Athanasius a chariotier, and favourite then of his, whom he had in suspition for some vulgar levitie, in so much as he gave commaundement he should be burnt quicke, in case he attempted any such thing; notwithstanding that not long after hee had (by re∣port) done him pleasurable service, without any pardon at all vouchsafed to this ar∣tificiall deviser of his delights and sports, was by precept from him consumed to ashes. Africanus, a well practised Advocate and defender of mens causes in the ci∣tie, after he had governed a Province, aspired to the rule of another: unto whose friend and mediator Theodosius captaine of the horsemen, who sued in his behalfe for the said preferment, he returned this churlish and rude answer, Goe thy wayes Lieutenant (quoth he) and change his head, who desireth thus to have his Province chan∣ged. And by this warrant-parol the eloquent man lost his life, whiles he hastened to greater preferments, as many doe. A certaine fellow for his verie base condition contemptible, accused Claudius and Sallustius, who from out of the band of the Io∣viani were advaunced to the dignitie of Tribunes: for that when Procopius sought to be an Emperour, they had given out some good words in his behalfe. But when there could appear no matter of substāce against them, by any examinations upon the racke, the Prince never gave over to give the captaines of the horsemen, who had the hearing of their cause, in charge, That they should banish Claudius, and pronounce sentence of death upon Sallustius; promising therewith, That when he was had away, and haled to the place of execution, he would recall him backe againe. Now when according to appointment they ever looked and waited for this deliverie, neither Sallustius escaped death, nor was Claudius freed from this hea∣vie plight of banishment, before the death of the said Valentinian . . . . . . . when as they were verie often tortured. After many inquisitions therefore by torments holden one after another, and some examinats through excessive and dolorous

Page 364

tortures killed, there were not found so much as any presumptions of those crimes which were layed against them. In this businesse, the Protectores, sent to exhibit and bring the persons in place, are said to have (against all custome before time) gi∣ven them the Bastinado. My heart quaketh, and withall is afraid to reckon up all, least I should be thought of purpose to have searched into the vices of him, who otherwise was a very good prince, and studious of the Weale publique. Howbeit this one thing it is not meet either to be over-passed or concealed, namely, that ha∣ving two curst and cruell shee Beares, that used to feed of men and womens flesh, the one named Golden Mica, and the other Innocentia, he carefully tooke order to place their cages neere unto his owne bed-chamber, and to set trustie keepers dili∣gently to see that they wanted nothing, nor had nought that might offend them. As for Innocentia, after he had seene many burials of dead bodies rent and dismem∣bred by her, he suffered her, as having well deserved libertie, to goe her waies with∣out any harme done unto her, into the forrests.

Notes

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