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 21. Booke.

(a) IƲlian had beene alreadie five yeares Caesar, and therefore being now Augustus, he performed his Quinquennall vowes, as the manner was also, for tenne yeares, twentie, and more.

(b) Xystarcha,] the master professour of Wrestling, so called of Xystus, a place where they used to wrestle and practise that and other exercises of activitie, out of the Sunne and rayne.

(c) Auguria and Auspicia:] although they be commonly confounded, yet for as much as they be here distinctly put downe, you may understand, that properly Auguria were the signes taken by birds flight, and their singing or voice, (and some wil have Augurium to be quasi avium garritus;) Auspicia by their manner of feeding &c.

(d) Many Prophetesses there were and wise women under the name of [Sibyllae,] which some Etymologize to be as much as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. privie to the secret counsels of Iupiter: I would rather say 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for they were the very lims of the devill, with their impostures deceiving the world. The chiefe of them was Cumana, of Cumes, a citie in Asia the lesse, called also Erythraea: who comming into Italie, bewitched the Romanes with her prophesies, and left a∣mong them those famous bookes, whereof Livie and other Historians make so much mention: unto which they had recourse in all their extremities.

(d) Epiphanie] is that feastivall holy day among Christians, which we call Twelfe-day; upon occasion, that about that time our Saviour Christ began to appeare unto the Gentiles; what time as the Magi came out of the East to adore him. Yet Epiphanius in his booke Ad∣vers. Hareses will have the Epiphanie to be the very day of his nativitie, which we call Christ∣mas; for then Christ appeared unto us in flesh: and so sayth Suidas. Others take it for the memoriall day of Christs Baptisme, on which also the Catechumeni were baptized. But by the circumstance of the moneth in this place I take it in the first signification.

(e) Apud signa.] The strongest place in battaile and campe both, was called Principia, where stood the Praetorium; and there were the Standards, Ensignes, and Banners bestowed: where also was the safest custodie of any committed to ward. And that the Signa were in the maine battaile among the Principes or Principia, it appeareth by this, That they who were marshalled in the vaward, be usually called Antesignani, and those in the rereward, Post∣signani.

(f) The goddesse of Warre: she is also named Enyio.

(g) How ever Praefectus Praetorio was an high Magistrate, and secundus ab Augusto, yet you must alwaies except the [Consuls;] whose place and authoritie was peculiarly called Am∣plissimus Magistratus. The Ensignes belonging to this Magistrate, was especially the Purple or Scarlet Robe, called Trabea: insomuch as by a Metonymie it is in this Author put for the Dignitie it selfe; as namely in the beginning of the 23. Booke: Ascito in Collegio Trabeae Sal∣lustio, i. assuming Salustius to be fellow Consull with him. As touching the Ensignes belonging to Praefect. Praetorio, see at the note upon Praefectus Ʋrbi.

(h) Largitiones curandas.] Have recourse to the note upon Comes Largitionum. Domesticis.] See the Annotation upon Protectores.

(i) Legiones Constantiacae.] They tooke name of Constantius the Emperour, who enrol∣led them.

(k) Iniectis Ponticulis.] The manner of putting foorth these little bridges out of tow∣ers and other fabrickes, to the walls of a citie besieged, you may see lively described and portrayed by Godescalcus Stenechius, at the seventeenth Chapter of the fourth Booke of Ʋegetius.

(l) Cum parte validiori exercitus.] Vnderstand it of the Legionarie footmen, in whom the Romanes reposed greatest confidence. The like phrase our Author useth elsewhere, and namely in the 15. Booke, cap. 3. Arbetio Magister Equitum, cum validiore exercitus manu: where doubtlesse he speaketh of the Infanterie.

(m) Lancearij] were souldiors of a Palatine Legion under the Generall of the Forces, cal∣led Praesentalis; haply of the Launces or Speares that they served with: Some had the addi∣tion Stobenses, of Stobium a towne in Macedonie: others Augustenses, of Augustus, as Ve∣getius thinketh Lib. 2. Cap. 7. and divers denominations beside, as you may read in No∣titia.

(n) Mattiarij, or Martiarij] were auxiliarie forces, so called of Mattium, a towne in Germanie, the Metropolis of the Catti, where now Marpurgum standeth. Laeti also were souldiors levied out of a people in Gaule so named, and they served in divers nations, where∣upon they have sundrie additions. Notitia. Zosimus. Howbeit, Donatus Marcellus sayth, they were so called of Mattia, i. a Club, or Maza, a Mace; such as Clavatores were in Plautus.

(o) These Iambicke verses are called Senarij, because they consist of six single feet; other∣wise Trimetri, for that they stand of three measures or duple feet; for distinction of other Iam∣bickes, named Dimetri, Tetrametri, &c.

(p) Hermes] a noble Philosopher, Priest, and King of Aegypt, whom our writer calleth Ter-Maximus, others Trismegistus, in the same sence, for that he was Philosophus Max. Sacerdos Max. & Rex Maximus.

(q) Ecclesiasticall Writers and other Historians agree not with Marcellinus, eyther in the age of Constantius, or the yeares of his reigne, or day of his death. For some say, he lived ••••. and reigned 2••. as Pomp. Laetus: but evident it is in the 1••. Booke of this Historie and fourth chapter (unlesse there be some notable fault in the copie) that he had then reigned 30. yeares. And Socrates sayth plainely, he ruled 38. in all, and lived ••5. So doth Sozomenus. Howbeit, I meane not to reconcile Historiographers about this point. I attribute much unto Marcellinus, for that he was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

(r) (s) For the better unfolding of this place, you shall understand, that under the Rom. Emperours there were devised five degrees or rankes of dignities, following one another in this order, to wit, Illustris, Spectabilis, Clarissimus, Perfectissimus, and Egregius, albeit Notitia maketh no mention of this last and lowest.

The principall of all the rest, as chiefe Senatours, were tearmed Illustres, and ten magistrates there were of this ranke, Consuls, Praefectus Praetorio, Praefectus Ʋrbi, Magistri Militum, Magister Officiorum, Quaestores, Praepositus sacri cubiculi, Comes Largitionum, Com••s rerum privatarum, & Comes Domesticorum.

The middle sort of Senatours had the title of Spectabiles; among whom were raun∣ged tenne other Magistrats or Rulers, namely, Primicerius sacri cubiculi, Primic••rius No∣tariorum, Comes Castrensis, Magister Scriniorum, Proconsules, Comes Orientis, Praefectus Au∣gustatis, i. Aegypti, Ʋicarij, Comites, & Duces rei militaris. Z••no also reckoneth, Tribunus Notariorum to bee Spectabilis. And these Spectabiles bee sometime confounded with Cla∣rissimi.

The rest of the Senatours be styled Clarissimi, and their dignitie Clarissimatus: Such are Consulares, i. Governours of Provinces; so called, for that they were adorned with Consular ornaments, although they had not beene Consuls: Correctores, otherwise called Modera••ores of Provinces, and Presidents: Likewise the Comites of a second degree, such as had the go∣vernment of the Provinciall Scholae: Also Silentiarij, otherwise called Decuriones Palatij, Officers in the Emperours Court, to see that all were quiet, and no noisemade to trouble and disquiet the Prince &c. These Clarissimi were otherwhiles tearmed Speciosi. See more of them in Notitia: as also of the priviledges and immunities graunted unto them, and the other two degrees above them.

Next under these were raunged by Constantine the Great Viri Perfectissimi, of whom Mar∣cellinus here speaketh: and (to determine of them precisely) they were in higher account than Equites Rom••ni, although sometimes they also be styled Perfectissimi. Thus were entituled the Governours of smaller Provinces: as the Presidents of Arabia, Dalmatia, and Isauria: The Procurators or Auditors under the Emperour, called Rationales: The Principals of the Scrinia, of Comes Largitionum, and his Comites in each Diocesse, whom I take to be un∣der-Treasurers. And as there were three degrees of Comites, so were there also of Viri Per∣fectissimi.

Egregij were such, as out of Equestris ordo attained place of government in the State. Such were the Emperours Scriniarij, called also Tribuni Notarij, whom I suppose to be under Secre∣taries: Also the rulers of some provinces. Their dignitie was called Egregiatus, but now it is growne out of use. Howbeit, the moderne interpreters reckon Prelates, Advocates of the Ex∣chequer, Doctors, Knights and Gentlemen, among Egregios. But for that the handling of this matter of Precedencie is a ticklish point and offensive, Ʋerbum non amplius addam: onely thus much of them and other titles it shall suffice, what Lactantius writeth: Nemo Egregius nisi qui bonus & innocens fuerit: nemo Clarissimus, nisi qui opera misericordiae largiter fecerit: ne∣mo Perfectissimus nisi qui omnes gradus virtutis impleverit. What immunities as well Egregij as Perfectissimi enjoyed, see Pancirol. in Notitiam. I am not ignorant, that there was another title of Nobilis and Nobilissimus, which belonged properly to the Caesars, or heires apparant of the Empire: like as Ethlius and Clito among our auncestors the Saxons. But that title properly belongeth not to this place.

(ss) As touching the Mastership of the Offices and Comitiva Largitionum, hath beene written before.

(t) Is not the same reason hereof, as of other things, which the more pure and perfect they be in their right nature and constitution, as bloud, seed, milke, &c. the more corrupt and noisome they are, if they be out of their temperature?

(u) Protector Domesticus,] One of the Emperours guard in ordinarie.

(x) It seemeth that the Roman Princes as they rode in progresse, or any expedition, when they approched neere any provinciall citie, for honour and dutie there was by way of state pre∣sented unto them the assayes of provision for corne, as also the beasts, as Horses, Asses, Mules, Camels &c. for carriage; and the Saddle, to serve for to ride post or draw wagons for the State, that it might appeare all things were in good order, and readie as they ought to be: beside the complement of meeting upon the way &c.

Notes

• Amon. Marce••••. lib. 10.
• The Praeceptor of Crisp••••, Con∣stantines sonne.