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.

Annotations and conjectures upon the 28. Booke.

(a) SIngular care was alwayes had in the Roman State, that corne and other victuall should be verie cheape: For which purpose in the free Commonweale there were especiall officers called Aediles, and after in the Emperours time one ordayned out of the de∣gree of Knights or Gentlemen, named Proefectus annonoe, and Curator annonoe. The policie of that Commonwealth was such, that by good forecast there was alwayes plentie rei annonarioe, and the price thereof alwaies low; yea and many times there was given away among the people a migh∣tie deale and dole of corne and bread: also, that which they called Edulitas, which was a lar∣gesse of flesh given by the Emperour, and distributed among the common people in time of scarcitie. Read hereof Aelius Lamprid. in the life of Alex. Severus.

(a) Because there is so often mention made of Proefec̄tus urbi, the Prefect of the citie, that is * 1.1 Rome, called ordinarily in this author Vrbs oeterna, it wil not be impertinent some what to write of that magistrat. In the free state he was Provost or governour of the citie deputed in the ab∣sence of the Consuls, whiles they solemnized the festivall sacrifices on the mount Albanus du∣ring the Latine holy-dayes, as appeareth in Livie. In the Emperours time he resembled some∣what for civile jurisdiction and government within Rome and about it, the Proefectus Proetorio: and they two were of chiefest authoritie, as appeareth by the same or verie like ensignes belong∣ing to the office. And as it may be gathered out of Notitia, they were these. A chariot-man on foot wearing upon a red, or (as some bookes have) a greene coat, a white loose mandilian, or a greene, without sleeves: his armes both he putteth out, wearing upon his red stockings * 1.2 blew shooes: in his left * 1.3 hand he beareth a rod, with his left he holdeth the reines and guideth them, hanging from the head of the last or next horse of the foure, whereas the other three are unbri∣dled, and be all of white colour. The chariot is of Ivorie guiltall over, and of that kind which they call Carrucha. Above the portraiture hereof, there is a table covered with a blew carpet fringed, of tapestrie, which carrieth a booke standing upright with a leather cover silvered,

bound in the mids, & toward both ends, with golden strings, with the image in gold likewise of the Prince in the mids of the backe: and the same containing the articles of his charge, putting him in mind, to have care of the citie, and to gather up the revenues thereof. These in a certaine frame had the Emperours images in gold carried before them, and under them the image of a woman, carrying in her hand Cornucopia. There were represented also two tapers gilt, bur∣ning on each side of the said booke. And as to the Proefects Proetorio there were besides women portraied with crownes on their heads, and chargers or boles full of golden peeces of coine, ac∣cording to the number of the Diocesses under them: so it is probable, that this Prefect had a∣mong his ensignes the picture also of Rome. More hereof you may read here and there in Notitia.

(b) Aruspex] properly is that Soothsayer that foretelleth future events, by peering and prying into the inwards of beasts killed for sacrifice: so called à speciendo victimas ad aram, and is the same that Extispex.

(c) The Solidus among the Romanes, as Budeus saith, was Aureus, i. a coined peece of gold: whereof foure went to an ounce, so that by this reckoning it was about 15. s. Now if Mo∣dius were our pecke and halfe, and ten of these peckes were sold in time of a great dearth for one Solidus or Aureus, that is, everie pecke for 18. d. of our money, then a measure with us called a strike, or London bushell would have cost ••. s. which was counted deere among the provincials, which no doubt would have beene affoorded much cheaper unto the citizens of Rome: For the Roman provision out of which this want was supplied, cost but the third part of that price.

(d) Vnder Comes sacrararum largitionum] in the West Empire, were six Procuratores mone∣toe, or Masters of the mint, which had their mint-houses in severall places: at Sciscia in Panno∣nia secunda, at Aquileia, at Lions, at Areles, at Triers, and at Rome, in the temple of Iuno Mone∣ta. * 1.4 Here is meant the Mint-master at Rome.

(e) Among other devises to torment folke, were certaine plummets or pellets of lead, cal∣led Plumbatoe, different in forme from those Plumbatoe in Vegetius, which were a kind of casting weapons: and herewith poore prisoners and martyres were pelted to death. These Constantius the Emperour called Plumbatorum verbera. And Prudentius expresseth the maner of this tor∣ture lively in these verses:

Tudatur tergum crebrisictibus, Plumbóque cervix verberata extuberet. Pulsatus ergo Martyr illa grandine Postquam inter ictus dixit hymnum Plumbeos, &c.

(f) Although this word Summates may verie well agree to all the Senatours in Rome, or Curiales in provinciall cities and townes, yet properly it is meant of those that had beene superi∣our magistrats, and borne office of estate.

(g) Busiris] the sonne of Neptune, a most cruell tyrant of Aegypt, whose maner was to sacri∣fice all straungers unto his Idoll Iupiter. In the end, when he would have dealt so by Hercules, he and his sonne, together with the bloudy ministers of such sacrifices, were by him slaine. Of him so no torious a tyrant Virgil writeth thus:

Georgic. 3. Quis illaudati nescit Busiridis aras?

Antoeus likewise the sonne of Neptune and Tellus, a mightie Giant (as Poets feigne) in Libya, 6••. cubits high: He ufed to lye upon the bare ground, and overcame all others in wrestling, un∣till he met with Hercules, in wrestling with whom when he was weary and laid upon the ground here covered eftsoones his strength thereby, and became more vigorous than before: which Hercules perceiving, and how he gat more strength by touching his mother the earth, over∣threw him no more, but in his armes held him betweene heaven and earth, so long and so fast, that he crushed him to death. Natalis Comes of this fabulous narration doth mythologize in this maner, namely, that hereby is confirmed the great Axiome in Physicke, That contraries be cured by contraries: for that as Hercules signifieth the Sunne, or heat, and the earth cold; so, hot disea∣ses be cured by cold remedies. Thus much by the way, and by the Paracelsians leave.

(h) He pointeth at a place in the seventeenth booke of Homers Iliads, where the Greekes fought for the dead bodie of Patroclus, and were bemisted and overcast with darkenesse. The words Ai••x useth are these:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Where note that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is put for caligo, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. a mist or darkenesse that taketh all sight away.

(l) Tullianum,] one part of the gaole or prison at Rome added to the other named Robur, by Serv. Tullius the king. Sallustius saith, it was walled round about with stone, and arched o∣ver head. And Carolus Sigonius collecteth, that herein condemned persons were throtled and strangled with the halter. De Iudic. lib. 3. cap. 16.

(k) Valentia] seemeth to be the North part of that province in Britannie, which is called Maxima Caesariensis: and so called in honour of Ʋalens the Emperour, under whom Theodosius had recovered it out of the hands of the Picts &c. * 1.5

(l) Whether he meaneth here hot artificiall bathing, or drinking water hot, (a device of Nero) I leave indifferently to the readers judgement.

(m) The sonne of Agiasarchus, and a Poet, who being by his father sent into the field to keepe cattell, slept in a certaine cave 75. yeares: whence came the proverbe, Epimenidis somnum dormere. Suidas.

(n) Semiramis] Queene of the Assyrians, and wife of Ninus, who dissimuling the death of her husband in his habite, governed untill her sonne Prince Ninus was come to his age. One day as she was dressing her head, word was brought, that Babylon rebelled: & presently undres∣sed as she was, with one halfe of her haire loose about her eares, she ran forth to assault the citie, and made not an end of trimming her head, before she had brought the citie to her devotion. Whereupon the Babylonians erected her statue at Babylon in that manner and habitas she ha∣stened forth to that exploit. Valer. Max. lib. 9. cap. 3.

Cleopatra Queene of Aegypt, wife of Ptolemeus Auletes, the sister and wife both of the last Ptolomie, after whose death being wedded to M. Antonius, she accompanied him in his warres. Of her you may read more in Plinie, Plutarch, and others.

Artemisia the wife of Mausolus king of Caria, a Ladie of incomparable chastitie, and with∣all right valiant. So affectionat to her husband, that when hee was dead, shee spiced her wine with his ashes and dranke it: She procured Oratours out of Greece to solemnize his funerals with eloquent Orations, and erected for him a stately tombe, reputed a wonder of the world: whereupon all goodly and costly monuments are called Mausolea.

Zenobia Queene of the Pasmyrenes, after the death of her husband Odenatus, shee usurped the Empire in Syria, and is reckoned one of the thirtie tyrants or usurpers in Galienus the Em∣perour his time: of her rare chastitie (as who never companied with her husband but for pro∣creation) of her magnificent estate, her martiall strowesse, beautie, eloquence, skill in langua∣ges, writing of an Epitomicall Hystorie, and training up of her children in learning, read Tre∣bell. Pollio. Iul. Capitolinus.

(o) Castor and Pollux,] the sonnes and twinnes of Laeda and their reputed father Tynda∣rus, whereupon they were called Tyndaridae. They lived and ruled together most lovingly, and were placed after death in heaven, by the name of the signe Gemini. There is a certaine Meteor or firie impression appearing many times to Marriners, called after their names, and the same apparition is fortunat: for they are reckoned 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. Daemones averrunci, or de∣pellentes: and the Romans held the appearing of them to be luckie.

(p) Plinie in his eight booke, and 57. chapt. Nat. Hyst. reckoneth up Dor-mice about deli∣cate meats served up at the table. The maner of keeping and feeding them for that purpose, you may find there, and in Wottonus de Animalibus.

(q) Stesichorus] a famous Lyricall Poet, so called, for that he was the first that joyned song and dauncing with the sound of the harpe: for his true name was Tisias. The nightin∣gale

settled upon the lips of him, being a babe, and sung, praesaging thereby, what a sweet Poet he would prove another day. Lyricke verses were such at first, as the Chorus upon the stage be∣tweene every Act in a Tragoedie sung and acted with the Musicke.

(r) Cimmerij] were Northern people inhabiting about the lake Męotis, where there is a frith or strait of the sea called Bosphorus Cimmerius, for difference of Bosphorus Thracius by Propontis and Constantinople. The place of their habitation was darke, cold, and bleake; like unto that vale in Italie between Cumae and Barae; environed about with high hils, so that the Sunne is nei∣ther morning nor evening seene; whereupon they also are called Cimmerij. Strab.

(s) These be certain Bathes and holesome waters, taking the name of Mammaea, the mother of Alexander Severus.

(t) Of M. Marcellus] his behavior and triumph after the winning and sacking of Syracusę you may read in T. Livius, 26 booke.

(u) Ephemeris] in this place, or Ephemerides, as we terme it, is an Astronomicall table, shew∣ing day by day the figure and position of the heavens, and the divination therby, in which sence Iuvenal taketh it in this verse:

In cuius manibus, ceu pinguia succina, tritas Cernis Ephemeridas—

(x) Mitio and Laches] were two actors in Terences Comaedies, representing good plaine and simple old men, speaking popularitèr in a civile and vulgar manner, which is meant here by Socci, i. certaine light shooes or startups that Players in Comaedies used. He meaneth a lowly and humble behavior.

(y) Contrariwise, Ctesphon & Themenus] acted parts in Tragoedies of Hercules his sons, in an higher and loftier straine, & expressed here by Cothurnus, i. a buskin, which tragicall players used, and are here brought in, speaking big, and faring as those that are in a prowd and disdaine∣full humor. What these Ctesphon and Themenus more particularly were, or in what Tragoedies they be actors, I have not read: but well might they be some of the race of Hercules, especi∣ally seeing, as Ʋarro writeth, There were knowne by the name of Hercules 43. and one of them had 50 wives and concubines, and left 70 children behind him. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. dierum, lib. 2. cap. 5.

(z) How infamous this nation was for sacrificing unto their idoll Diana such strangers as arrived at their costs, especially those that had suffered shipwrack, or Greekes, Strabo and other Authors write: but Herodotus in Melpomene sayth, That they sacrificed not unto Diana, but to Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon.

(α) The portraiture of Ʋictorie] is to be seene in many old coynes, in habit of a woman, and with wings, holding forth a guirland in the right hand, and bearing in her left an Olive braunch.

(β) The cities, colonies, & townes called Municipia] within the Roman Empire were much like unto Rome in their manner of Commonweale and government: And as the Romans had a Senate-house and Senators, so had they in resemblance thereof a Curia and Curiales; who like∣wise were termed Decuriones, because at the first erecting & planting of Colonies the tenth man was enrolled a Senatour, or one of the Patres of the place. They had to name likewise Possessores, Ordo, Honorati, and in Greeke Buleutae. As in the Romane Senate there was a President called Princeps Senatus, so that Decurio or Curialis, who had borne all offices of State, they called Pri∣mus Curiae. And like as in Rome the chiefe of the Senatours degree were styled Illustres, the rest Clarissimi, so in these provinciall corporations, in the first ranke were Summales, Principales, and in Greeke Protestasiae. According to the greatnesse of the place there were more or fewer of this order: in some 20 or 10, in others 7 or 5: so that when you read in this Author of Decuriones in any city, or Curiales, or Honorati, or simply Ordines or Ordo, understand this degree of chiefe bur∣gesses: how ever others expound Curiales, either courtiers, whō we in Latin call Aulici, or those that be officers of any judiciall court, as Accursius doth, and the author of the law Ʋocabularia.

(γ) As in Rome there was a Colledge of Prelats called Pontifices, so in these Municipia the chiefe Clergie men were called Sacerdotales.

(δ) Likewise, Aediles] in these colonies and corporat townes resembled in many points

those of Rome: howbeit they had no jurisdiction, but were clerkes of the Market &c. As tou∣ching whose charge, you may read more in Papinian his Astynomicus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  And note that Rome is often in this our author called Vrbs aternoe, and so T. Livtus lib. 33. speaketh of it to the same sense in these •• earmes, Vrbem auspicato Dijs aucto ibus in aternurne conditam.
• * 1.2

  or blew buskins up to the knees.
• * 1.3

  or contra•• ••wise.
• * 1.4

  Triberis.
• * 1.5

  Camd••n in Britan.