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. XVII. Having left Hadrianopolis, they gave the attempt of Perinthus and Constantinople: but by sundrie calamities daunted, they invade the Northerne Provinces. They that seized upon Thracia, by the meanes of Iulius, Colonell of the Footmen, in one and the selfe same day, as if a sig∣nall haa beene given, were all murthered: and so the Provinces of the East are deli∣vered from dangers.

AFter this, all the night, which was not long, as being in the mid∣dest of Summer, they betooke themselves to the care of their wounds, and to use the meanes both to dresse and heale them, after the manner of their owne nation: and upon the returne of day light they fell to consultation, and were divided into sun∣drie opinions, doubting which way to take their journey. After much deba∣ting and dispute pro & contra, they determine to take in Perinthus, and from thence to seize all places stored with riches: as knowing which they were by the relation of fugitives (who told them all the secrets, not of cities onely, but of every house also.) Following therefore this resolution, forward they went (for none there was to withstand them) making havocke still, by robbing spoyling, and fiering all the way. But after their departure, those that were besieged within Hadrianopolis, when discoverers of approoved truth and fidelitie had reported unto them, That all the quarters next adjoyning were cleared from the enemie,

went forth at midnight, avoiding the common high wayes, ran over the woods and wields beyond Philippopolis, and from thence to Serdica, another citie of Macedonia, together with all the goods which they had yet whole and untou∣ched, making all the speed and hast they could devise to find out Valens (forsooth) as if he had beene in those countries, not knowing one whit, that he was slaine in the very tempestuous stormes of the battaile, or at leastwise fled to a countrey cottage, where he was thought to have beene burnt to death and consumed. But the Gothes intermingled with the Hunnes and Alanes, nations exceeding war∣like and valiant, yea, and hardened in many adventurous and dangerous services, whom Fritigernus in his wit and policie had by wonderfull allurements of rewards associated unto himselfe, having encamped hard by Perinthus, durst not in re∣membrance of their former foyles and calamities either come unto or assault the citie it selfe, but forrayed the fertile fields and territories about it, that reached farre and wide, even to extreame penurie killing or taking prisoners the inhabi∣tants therein. From whence they made great hast, marching for feare of wait∣laying and ambushments in foure square battailons to Constantinople, gaping after the exceeding wealth and riches there, minding to make many attempts for to force and destroy the said citie: whom thus unmeasurably advauncing them∣selves, and at the point almost to doe violence upon the port-cluses of the gates, the heavenly power of God repulsed by such an accident as this. A regiment of the Saracenes (as touching whose originall and manners I have in divers places related much) a people meet rather for the service of quicke expeditions, than for any encounter and conflict in battaile, being newly sent for thither, no soo∣ner espied the troupe of Barbarians, but with a mind to joyne battaile, all on a suddaine boldly issued foorth of the citie, and after a stiffe bickering betweene them, maintained a long time, both parts left the field on even hand. Howbeit, by a certaine strange event, and never seene before, the foresaid regiment of Ea∣sterlings got the upper hand. For out of it a certaine shag-haired fellow, naked in all parts save the groine and privie parts, making a rustie, hoarse, and dolefull noyse, drawing out his skeine or short cuttleaxe, thrust himselfe into the middest of the Gothes: and after he had slaine an enemie, by cutting his throat, set it lips close unto the wound, and sucked out the bloud that gushed forth. At which monstrous and wonderfull sight the Barbarians affrighted, marched afterwards not in any outrageous and prowd sort, when they went about any exploit, but paced their ground in warie and doubtfull manner. And so in processe of time, when their boldnesse was well abated and taken downe, considering well the compasse of the wals, which by reason of huge and spacious Islands lay out in length, beholding also the beautifull fortifications of the citie, how inaccessible they were, and withall, the infinite number of the inhabitants, yea, and hard by it a Frith or narrow cut of the sea, which divideth Pontus from Aegeum: after the worke-houses of warlike engines were cast downe which they prepared, and more deadly blowes taken than given, departed thence in dissolute manner as fast as they could by the Northern provinces, which they over-ran licentiously at their pleasure, even as farre as to the foot of the Iulian Alpes, which in old time they tearmed Venetian. In these dayes remarkable above the rest was the profi∣table and expedite service of Iulius, colonell of the Footmen on the farther side of Taurus: for by the direction and appointment of the Destinies he gave com∣mandement,

That all the Gothes entertained before time in Thracia, and now dis∣persed into many cities and castles, by sending secret letters unto their generals and captaines all Romans (a thing at this time that seldome happeneth) should in one and the same day, as if a banner had beene erected for that purpose, be killed in a ge∣nerall massacre, even when they feared no such thing, but in expectation of wages promised unto them, were drawne forth into the villages neere the citie side: By which prudent policie put in execution without any noise made thereof or further delay, the East Provinces were delivered from great perils and dangers.

Thus have I, as a souldior sometime, and a Grecian borne, according to the measure of my abilitie, drawne out an hystorie, beginning at the raigne of the Emperour Nerva, and continuing it unto the death of Valens: A worke professing truth, and which I never wit∣tingly (as Ithinke) durst corrupt either with silence or leasing. Let other men, for age more sufficient, and for their learning better knowne, write the rest: Whom, if it shall please them to enter thereupon, I advise to frame their tongues unto an higher stile.

FINIS.

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Notes

• or houses stan∣ding by them∣selves.
• or penus.