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. XIIII. The armies of the Gothes and Romanes embattailed, and their most sharpe conflict: At length the Romanes are put to flight. As touching the death of Valens a two∣fold opinion: while some thinke he was killed with an arrow, and ne∣ver after seene: others, that he was consumed with fire.

NOw, when as on every side they fell to shake both armor and weapons, and Bellona blew the dolefull and lamentable blast of trumpets, our men, who began to give ground at the crying out of many unto them, made head and resisted. And verily the fight in manner of flashing flames affrighted even the stout hearts of our souldiors, when they wistly beheld some thrust through with the whirling shot of darts and arrowes. And then the ar∣mies buckling and dashing one against another, like unto ships pointed in the beak∣head with pikes of brasse, and thrusting one at another by turnes, were with reci∣procall and alternative motions as waves of the sea driven to and fro. And because the best wing of the Romanes horsemen was come as farre as to the verie wagons, readie to advance farther if any had seconded and succoured them, being forsaken of all the Cavallerie beside (the enemies in such numbers pressed upon them) like as if some great rampier or fortification had fallen, was borne downe and disrayed. The footmen then, wanting defence on their flankes, stood in plumps with their companies so thrust and thronged together, that as if they had beene clunged, not one of them could either draw his sword or bring backe his hand. And by this time such a dust was raised, that no man was able to see the sky before him, resounding as it did with horrible cries and shouts: which was the reason, that the casting∣weapons discharged everie way missed not, but where ever they fell gave a deadly stroke, and did mischiefe, because their venues could neither be fore-seene nor avoi∣ded. But when as the Barbarians rushing on still with huge multitudes, overthrew

horse and man together, and considering the rankes [of our men] stood so close together, that there could in no place be roome made for to retire, and the enemies likewise were so thicke thrust together, that there was no meanes to make way through them and escape: then our souldiors also setting light by the utmost ex∣tremitie of death, tooke againe their swords, and with full butt running upon them hewed them in peeces, and withall such maine blowes were dealt to and fro with axes, that both head-peeces and habergeons were slat and dashed a peeces. There might a man have seene the stout stomacked Barbarian, when his teeth gnashed and were set in his head, for all his hamme-strings were cut, or his right hand smit∣ten off with a sword, or his side thrust through, even when he was readie to give his last gaspe, yet in menacing wise to looke round about him with a sterne and terry∣ble eye. Thus, by reason that the bodies on both sides as they fought pell mell, were laid along on the ground, the fields were covered all over with the slaine, and with great horrour were heard the grievous grones of men either dying or else shot into the bodie with deepe wounds. In this so great and so confused a tumult, were the footmen with toyle and daungers cleane spent: but afterwards when their strength failed, and their wits would not serve to devise some counsell, now that most of their javelins with continuall thrusting and knocking together, were bro∣ken asunder, contenting themselves with drawne swords, they engaged them∣selves into the thickest troupes of the enemies, as men unmindfull any more of sa∣ving themselves, and seeing how all about them there was no means left of escape and refuge; and because the ground standing all over with lakes of bloud, was so slipperie under-foot, that it overturned them as they went, they endevoured all they could to sell their lives deere, and not to dye unrevenged, with so great cou∣rage and stoutnesse opposing themselves against those which preased hard upon them, that some of them dyed even upon their owne weapons: when as now at length all was over-spred with a confused shew of nothing but blacke bloud, and what way soever one turned his eyes, there lay heapes of men slaine, then without any spare at all they trampled over the dead carkasses. And withall, the heat of the Sunne mounted a great height, as having passed through Leo, and now in his course to the house of the celestiall signe Virgo, overcame the Romans: who be∣sides that they were more weakened with hunger, and undone for verie thirst, had their heavie armour also, to weigh them downe. To conclude, the Barbarians char∣ged them still with so maine force, that our battailons being discomfited in great disorder, tooke them to their heeles (the onely helpe they had in this desperat extre∣mitie) and fled every man what way he could. Now, whiles they all thus dispersed in blind lanes make shift to be gone, the Emperour beset, as one would say, round about with horrible and fearfull sights, by little and little mounting over the heaps of dead bodies, betooke himselfe to the ^f Lancearij and ^g Mattiarij; who all this while that the violent numbers of the enemies were abidden, had stood their ground still, with their bodies sound and unshaken. Whom when Traianus saw, he crieth out, That all hope was for ever past and gone, unlesse the Emperour, thus forsaken of his owne guard and Squires, might at length be protected by the aid of strangers: Which when a captaine named Victor heard, hastening with all speed to assemble the ^h Batavi, who were bestowed not farre off, to succour and helpe at a pinch, for the defence and guard of the Emperours person; when he could meet with none of them, he retyred backe and departed. In like manner Richomeres and Saturninus made shift for themselves, and escaped out of the danger. The Barba∣rians

therefore in a furious rage, which sparkled even out of their verie eyes, fol∣lowed hard in chace upon our men, who now for verie heat of their veines were readie to melt and faint againe. Some of them fell and knew not who smoat them, others againe were overwhelmed with the prease onely of such as coursed them: and there were who dyed upon their owne fellowes hands: For neither was there lightly any yeelding to those that strove againe, nor any one spared those that yeel∣ded. Over and besides all this, many lying halfe dead, not able to endure the smart and torment of their wounds, stopped up the verie wayes; with whom also the corps slain & hudled on heaps together, filled the fields with carkasses. Wel, of these losses, that never amends can be made for, and which cost the Romanes so deere, the night without all moone-light made an end of: And when it began once to be darke, the Emperour among the common souldiours, as it is probably to be thought (for no man ever directly said, that he saw the thing or was by) mor∣tally wounded with an arrow, fell with it, and presently thereupon yeelded his vitall breath, and departed: neither was he ever after found. For by occasion that some few of the enemies tooke up their lodgings there about, for love that they would spoile the dead, none either of our men that were put to flight, or of the inhabitants hard by, durst goe unto the place. The like wofull case befell, as we have heard say, unto Decius Caesar, who manfully fighting with the Barbarians, chaunced to fall from his horse, whom being full of spirit and courage, he could not hold in; and so being flung by him into a bog or moore, could neither ryse againe, nor be ever found. Others say, that Valens yeelded up his ghost not pre∣sently, but with some few of his gallants and guelded Eunuches was brought back to a countrey cottage hard by, made workmanly and strong, with two stories, where whiles he was dressed by unskilfull hands, the enemies beset him, not know∣ing who he was, and delivered him from the shame and dishonour of captivitie: For, when they that followed in chase, who went about to breake open the doores surely bolted, were evidently from the high built house assailed with arrowes, least by cumbersome delayes they should loose their opportunitie of harrying and ma∣king spoyle, they gathered together bundels of stubble and faggots of wood, which they kindled with fire put under them, and so burnt the house with all that were in it: From whence one of the foresaid gallants, or followers of his, having gotten out at a window, and being taken prisoner by the Barbarians, bewrayed and revealed the deed, and put them to much griefe and sorrow of mind, for that they were disappointed of great glorie and honour, in that they tooke not the So∣veraigne Ruler of the Roman Empire alive. And even this young gentleman, when he was afterward returned unto our companies, made relation unto them of this accident in manner and forme abovesaid. Such was the unfortunat hap of one of the ^k Scipioes, whom after he had recovered Spaine, we find to have beene by the enemie consumed to ashes in a tower which they set on fire and burnt, whereunto he was fled: And yet this is for certaine knowne, that neither Scipio nor Valens had the fortune to be buried, which is the last honourable duetie conferred after death. In this manifold calamitie and losse of brave men, the death of Traia∣nus and Sebastian was remarkable, with whom there lost their lives five and twen∣tie Tribunes all Vacantes, and having charge of regiments under them, together with Valerianus and Equitius, the one great Master of the stable, the other Grand Se∣neschall of the Palace. Among these, Potentius also Tribune of the Promoti was slaine in the verie prime and flower of his youth; a knight of everie good man be∣loved

and commended, as well in regard of the approved vertues of his father Vrsi∣cinas sometime Generall of the horsemen, as of his owne good parts. And most true it is, that hardly the third part of the armie escaped. Neither read we in our Annales and Chronicles, of any battel so fought out to the outrace, unlesse it were the field at ^m Cannę: albeit the Romans otherwhiles at the turning back of fortunes wheele, being overtaken with deceitfull sleights and stratagemes, gave way for the time to disadvantageous battailes: and the Fabulous sonets of the Greeks so high∣ly commended, have in lamentable manner bewayled many conflicts . . . . . .

Notes

• or lo••ts.