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. VIII. Valens distracted with manifold cares, sendeth an armie into Thracia. The Gothes and the Romans strike a battaile. The victorie not without sweat, bloud, and teares, falleth to the Romans.

THese newes out of Thracia, Valens the Emperour hearing with much griefe and sorrow of heart was distracted into divers and sundrie cares. And immediatly sending Victor Generall of the Cavallerie into Persia, there to compound and conclude as tou∣ching the state of Armenia, according as these imminent occasi∣ons and troubles did require, himselfe readie forthwith to depart out of Antioch, that he might in the meane time goe to Constantinople, sent Pro∣futurus and Traianus before. Both of them were great Rulers and Cammaunders, who verily reached at brave and noble exploits, but were unskilful in feats of arms. Who when they were come to the places where this multitude of enemies should have beene cut off and diminished by peecemele, by way of stealth and robberie rather than otherwise, wholly before it was full time, bending themselves to that course which was dangerous and pernitious, oppose against the Barbarians whiles they were yet in their hot bloud and furious mood, the legion brought out of Ar∣menia, which verily in martiall services had oftentimes beene well tryed and ap∣prooved; but not able to match so infinit a number of people that overspread both high hills and deepe dales. These companies and bands, I say, having not as yet ex∣perience what untamed rage, joyned with desperatnesse, is able to doe, when they had driven the enemie beyond the cloven and broken cliffes of the mountaine He∣mus, bestowed themselves in the steepe passages and gullets, partly that the Barba∣rians enclosed within those places without end, might with long famine be consu∣med; and partly that themselves might attend Frigeridus Warden of the Marches, who with the aids of the Pannonian and Transalpine souldiors was comming: and whom at the request of Valens, Gratianus appointed to go into the field for to suc∣cour and helpe those that were sore distressed and driven to extremities. After whom, Richomeres then captaine of the ^b Domestici, by commaundement of the said Gratian removing out of Gaule, hastened into Thracia, having in name onely the conduct of certaine cohorts: of whom the most part forsooke their colours and went from him (as some gave it out) through the persuasion of Merchandes, who feared least Gaule being left destitute of the meanes of defence, should be wasted, now that the enemies at their pleasure had broken through the barre of Rhene. But by occasion that Frigeridus was stayed with the gout, or else (as some malicious

backbiters falsely devised) fained himselfe sick, because he would not be at any hot service and dangerous skirmishes, Rhicomeres by a generall consent having the regi∣ment of all the forces, joyned with Profuturus and Traianus as they were marching along neere unto the towne Salices. From whence not farre off, an inestimable number of the Barbarians having orderly placed a multitude of waines and carts round in manner of a circle, enclosed apart, as it were, within a circuit of wals, tooke their ease and solaced themselves with the rich booties they had taken. The Roman captaines then by the good guidance of better hopes (in case fortune affoorded thē oportunitie) meaning to adventure upon some glorious exploit, wittily observed, what the Gothes intended to do, forecasting this especially, That if they dislodged and removed their campe to another place (which they used very often) they might with confidence set upon the backs of the hinmost, gore a number of thē through, and turne away a great part of their spoiles. The enemies perceiving this, or else ha∣ving intelligence given thereof by the fugitives (by whose meanes nothing was so secretly done, but they knew of it) abode in the same place a long time. But struckē with feare of the armie that was abroad, and of other forces which they feared were at hand to joyne with them, by vertue of a watchword given after their countrey maner, they sent for their wast-making companies, which were spred in divers parts neere by, and of every great captaine and commander among them well accepted: and so forthwith having made light fires at the Carrago ^c (for so they tearme it thē∣selves) returning with passing great celeritie, they incensed and incited still their countreymen to attempt greater matters. After this, there was no intermission be∣tweene both sides, more than short truce. For when those were returned, whom up∣on necessitie they had called forth, the whole multitude thrust togither still within the compasse of the inclosure aforesaid, keeping an horrible noyse, and set upon a furious and mad mood, hastened in a fell and cruell gare to trie the utmost hazard of battaile; neither were the princes of their nation there present against it. And for that these matters thus passed, when the Sun was going downe, and the night so fast drawing on, stayed them against their wils and with heavie hearts to go to rest, after they had taken their meat as their leisure would serve, they remained without sleep. On the other side, the Romanes having intelligence hereof, continuing also watch∣full themselves, feared the enemies and their brain sicke leaders, as if they had bin so many enraged wild beasts; howbeit, with undaunted hearts they expected, that the event, although doubtful and dangerous (by reason they were in number much in∣ferior) would yet prove fortunat on their side, in regard of their more just and righ∣teous cause. So, at the very later end of the day, upon the signall of the alarme soun∣ded by the trumpets on both parts, the Barbarians after they had, as their manner is, sworne one unto another, assayed to gain the hillie places, to the end, that frō thence downe the hill they might with greater violence like wheeles over run and tumble downe before them all that were in their way. Our souldiors seeing this made hast every man to his own colours and companies, and so standing their ground neither raunged abroad, nor leaving their rankes, ran out of the array for to skirmish. When as therfore the armies thus embattailed on both sides, marched on warily, and came at length to stand still, the warriors with grim lookes and traverse cast of eye beheld wistly one another. And the Romanes verily setting up a martiall note on all sides, which useth to begin low, and so rise higher and higher, a noyse that by a peculiar tearme they call Barritus, plucked up their valiant hearts and strength together: but the Barbarians with untunable cries and shouts creaked forth the praises of their an∣cestors:

and thus among sundry words passing betweene of dissonant noyse, began the lighter skirmishes. And now, whē they had aloofe assailed one another on both sides with louped darts and such like casting-weapons, they came togither in mena∣cing wise to close fight and hand strokes, and couching their shields in forme of a roufe over their heads, they set foot to foot and maintained the medley. The Barba∣rians, as who were alwaies repaired with fresh supplies and nimble withall, hurling at our men huge clubs, parched and hardened in the fire, and fiercely foining with point of sword full upon the breasts of those that stood against them, brake through the left wing; which being readie to recule and go down, a right strong and hardie regiment which lay for supply, rising valiantly from a side hard by, when as the co∣hort now was hard at their neckes, succoured and supported againe. When as the fight therefore grew exceeding sharpe and hot, with much slaughter & bloudshed, every one who was more readie to rush upon the thickest of the enemies, whiles on all sides swords swashed and darts flew as thicke as haile, lost his life: and the horse∣men followed both on the one side and the other, with strong arme slashing those that fled in the necke & backe: likewise on both parts the footmen hewed the houx or hamstrings of as many as slipped away or lagged behind for feare. And whereas every place was full of slaine bodies, some there were that lay among them halfe dead and halfe alive, feeding themselves with a vaine hope of life. Some were shot with bullets throwne out of slings, others with reeds or arrowes headed with yron: the heads of some cloven with the sword through the middest of the forehead and crowne, hung down with great horror on both shoulders. And both sides not wea∣ried as yet with tough fighting, plagued one another indifferently, and sped alike: neither was there one that slacked one jot his owne naturall vigor of bodie, so long as his courageous heart served him to stirre up his strength. Howbeit, as bloudie & mortall as this conflict was, it ended with the day: and when as many as could any waies make shift departed in disorder, the rest every one recovered their tents again, heavily appayed. To conclude, when as some honourable personages among the dead were enterred as place and time would give leave, the bodies of the slain that remained, the cursed fowles of the ayre devoured, such as were wont at that time to feed upon carkasses, as appeareth by the fields, all over white with bones, at this day. Howbeit for certaine it is knowne, That the Romanes, fewer farre in number, having encountred with that huge multitude, and abidden many deadly dangers, yet not without wofull & lamentable calamities foiled the barbarous people. These chances of battaile thus piteously ended, our men went to the next retiring places of Martianopolis, and the Gothes thrust & pent of their owne accord within the fore∣said circuit & precinct of their wagons, never durst for seven daies together go forth or be seene: and therefore our souldiors taking the advantage of this opportunitie, inclosed an infinit sort of other Barbarians within the straits of Haemimontum, bar∣red with high hils against them, building (as one would say) upon this hope, That this mischievous multitude of enemies hemmed in betweene Ister and the desarts, and finding no way out, would perish by famine, considering that all necessaries of this life were carried into the strong cities; of which, they never went about to be∣siege any one, as yet being altogether ignorant in these and such like machinations. After this Richomeres returned into Gaule, minding to bring other helps and means from thence, in regard of greater and more troublous warres which were feared.

Notes

• of horsemen.