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. II. The same king is by a new plat of deceitfull treacherie set upon at a feast, and by the commaundement of Valens murdered.

DAnicles after this, and Barzimeres, when thus deluded they were returned [to the Court,] being with reproachfull tearmes revi∣led as dastards and cowards, faring like unto venimous serpents, which with the first blow are astonied, plucked up their spirits and whetted their deadly chawes, purposing as soone as possi∣bly they could if it lay in their power to be meet with him that thus escaped their hands, and to doe him mischiefe: and so partly to extenuate this their owne offence, and partly to excuse themselves that they were over-raught in suttle policie, they charged Para with false slaunders and imputations in the eares of the Emperour, most apt to entertaine all rumours: devising, That he could skill of the witchcrafts and enchantments of Circe, to transforme and enfeeble folkes bodies wonderously: saying thus much moreover, That by such jugling trickes, a myst being cast before their eyes, he was changed in the shape of divers other things, and passed by them invisible; and would (no doubt) worke much woe and teene, in case he should remaine alive after this scornefull illusion. Here∣upon an inexplicable hatred of the Emperour was encreased against him, and craf∣tie meanes were wrought from day to day, to take his life away, either by open vi∣olence or secret practise. Which designe by writing closely under hand was com∣mitted

unto Traianus, abiding then in Armenia, and having the charge of the martiall forces and affaires there. Who going about to compasse the king by al∣luring sleights; one while delivering unto him the letters of Valens, shewing his gracious favour and affection toward him; another while bidding himselfe to his feasts, at length upon a mischievous plot he invited him also in modest and reverent sort to a dinner: who fearing no evill toward, came and sat him downe at the table in the most honourable place allowed for him. Now, when there were exquisite and daintie viands served up to the bourd, and the house rung againe with the sound of stringed and wynd instruments, fingered right artificially, when the wine also went merrily about, whiles the master himselfe of the feast was gone foorth of the roome under a colour of some urgent bu∣sinesse of nature, one steps stoutly into the place, with a sterne and grim looke, a barbarous and rough hewen fellow, one of those whom they tearme Suprae, shaking a drawne sword in his hand, in menacing wise readie to run the young prince through, who was now so pent in, that he could not leape foorth from him. Whom, when the said prince saw, sitting forward, as it fell out, on the farther side of the dining * 1.1 pallet, and upon this discoverie of treason rising up to defend himselfe by all the meanes he could, was stabbed through the breast, and so lay a long like a beastly sacrifice, fowlely and shamefully mangled with many a bloudie stroke. And thus his credulitie being villanously deceived, by this fraudulent device, in the middest of a feast, which with reverence is regar∣ded even in the Euxine sea, in the very sight of the ^b Hospitall God, the bloud of a stranger spurting upon the rich table-clothes and carpets, and foming a∣gaine, gave all the guests their fill, who by this time, in exceeding horror, were dispersed. Now would that noble Fabricius ^c Luscinus grone and weepe (if folke departed have any sence of griefe in them) at this arrogant and desperate act, knowing, as he did, with what courage and magnanimitie he rejected De∣mochares, or (as some write) Nicias the kings minister, promising by way of a secret parley, That he would in a cup of wine poyson king Pyrrhus, who then plagued and wasted Italie with most cruell warres, and wrote withall to the said king, That he should take heed of his inward servitours and attendants neere a∣bout him: such a reverent regard in that time of auncient justice carried the Ge∣nialitie, even of an enemies table. But this late unexampled and shamefull fact was excused (forsooth) by the like precedent of ^d Sertorius his death; and that by flatterers (ywis) who happily never knew, as Demosthenes (that everlasting ornament and honour of Greece) affirmeth: That whatsoever is argued and obie∣cted, as done otherwise than rightfully, can never be answered and assoyled by the like precedent or impunitie of another crime. And thus much of the memorable occur∣rents that passed in Armenia.

Notes

• * 1.1

  or table.