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. X. Constantius by sundry wily sleights ensnareth Gallus, bereft of his wife: and when he was by a traine brought unto him, putteth him to death.

THis done, and a league made after the manner of those nations, with the solemne complements finished which were thereto belonging, the Emperour departed to * 1.1 Millaine, there to Winter: where casting off all other weightie cares, hee thought upon Caesar, as the untowardest knurre and difficultie that now troubled him most, bending his whole endevour how to shake and overthrow him: and as he consulted with those favourites next about him in secret conferences, and by night, what forcible meanes or cunning devise he might use to effect the same, before that he in his foole-hardinesse should more eagerly be set upon mischiefe, even to the marring and confusion of all, re∣solved it was, That laying aside all threats, the said Gallus should under a colour of some publique Diet or treatie as touching the State, be sent for by mild and kind letters, to the end that being destitute of all helpe, he might without any let in the way come to destruction. Now whiles all the sort of these weather-cocke flatte∣rers stood against this resolution, among whom was Arbetio, quicke and sharpe set to practise wiles; and Eusebius, then Lord great Chamberlaine, forward ynough to doe mischiefe: this came into their heads for to alledge, namely, That Caesar being once departed, a dangerous matter it would be to leave Vrsicinus in the East, were there none to keepe him downe, reaching as he did at higher matters. And with them joyned the residue of guelded Eunuches within the court, whose covetous∣nesse and desire of having more still, was in those daies growne out of all measure, who taking the oportunitie of service and attendance in the privie and bed cham∣ber, conveyed under hand by way of secret whispering, suggestions of matters, feeding fained imputations: who also brought into disgrace that right * 1.2 valiant man aforesaid, oppressing him with the heavie load of most grievous envie, mutte∣ring softly, That his sonnes, growne to be gentlemen of ripe yeares, began already to favour of the imperiall robe, as being for their lovely personage and youthfull yeares very gracious and highly favoured, to the manifold skill of armes and agili∣tie of body trained up and practised by daily essaies & proofes of activitie, knowne

also for to bee of discreet carriage and advised counsell: that Gallus of his owne nature fell ynough, was by certaine persons suborned for the nonce, animated un∣to cruel acts for this cause, That after he was become odious, and had incurred the worthie detestation of all estates and degrees, the ensignes and ornaments imperi∣all might be transferred unto the * 1.3 master of the horsemens children. When these and the like matters were once buzzing in his carefull and timorous cares, expo∣sed alwaies and open to such rumours, whiles his mind was swelling and working divers waies; at the last upon counsell given he tooke the best course: and first he commaunded Vrsicinus in very honourable tearmes to come unto him, pretending this, that, according as the urgent occasions and affaires of that time required, there might by joint counsell and consent a good order bee set downe, and namely, what encrease of forces were requisit to represse the invasions of the Parthicke na∣tions that threatened open warre. And least before his comming he should suspect any harme toward him, Prosper a ^s Comes was sent as his vice-gerent or deputie, untill he returned: who when he had received letters, and had a licence graunted to take up wagons for carriage, he made great journeyes, and hastened to Millaine. It remained now, that after this, Caesar likewise should be sent for with speed: and for to put away all suspition, Constantius by many faire and flattering words sollici∣ted his wife * 1.4, now after so long time and so much desired and missed as she was, to come unto him. Who albeit she stood in doubt, as fearing him so often bloudily minded, yet in hope that shee might appease and pacifie him her naturall brother, shee taketh her journey: and when she was entred into Bithynia, in a certaine * 1.5 sta∣tion named Coenos Gallicanos, she died suddainly of a violent fever. After whose death, her husband seeing and considering that the trust and affiance wherewith he thought himselfe surely upheld was fallen, stood perplexed in pensive cogitati∣on with himselfe what way to worke. For in the present estate of his, so troublous, so intangled and brought into the briers, his carefull mind ran ever upon this one thing, That Constantius measuring and weighing all according to his own will and pleasure, would neither admit satisfaction, nor pardon offence; but (as hee was a prince too much bent to the overthrow of his kinred) closely lay snares for him, and if hee tooke him once at unawares in a trip, would bee sure to put him to death. Being brought to this hard exigent, and looking for no other than extre∣mitie, unlesse he watched the better, he made no more adoe, but shot at the high∣est place of all, if meanes any way might have beene made unto it. But for want of faithfull dealing in his friends about him, forsaken he was in two respects; both for that they stood in great feare of him, a cruell and fickle minded prince, and al∣so because they did much dread the fortune of Constantius, which in civile dissen∣tions usually had the upper hand. Amid these huge heapes of infinite cares, let∣ters he received continually from the Emperour, putting him in mind and praying him to come away, yea and shewing (farre otherwise than he meant) that the go∣vernment of the Commonwealth neither could nor should be divided, but every man ought to his power for to lend his helping hand unto it, troubled as it was, and waving to fro; pointing herein at the wasting and spoiling of Gaule: to which rea∣sons he alledged a precedent and example of no great antiquitie, namely, that unto Dioclesian and his colleague, the ^t Caesars not sitting still, but like * 1.6 Apparitours, Ser∣ieants, and such like ministers running up and downe, yeelded their obedience: as also that in Syria, Galerius ^u in his purple robes went on foot for the space almost of one mile before the chariot of the * 1.7 Emperor, when he was angry. Well, after many

messengers, came Scudilo captaine of the Squires, under the cloke of a nature some∣what rude and uncivile, in cunning persuasion his crafts-master, who by way of flattering words, intermingled with serious matter, was the onely man of all other that overcame and woon him at last to set forward in his journey, with a counter∣feit countenance many times iterating & redoubling these speeches,

That his cou∣sin * 1.8 germane wished earnestly and desired to see him, readie as a mild and mercifull prince to remit and forgive what faults and follies had escaped him: that he was ta∣ken to him as companion and partaker of his majestie, to the end he should be also a fellow labourer with him, whom both together the Northerne provinces a long time out-toyled and wearied, called for. And, as it usually falleth out when the de∣stinies lay hand on men, that their wits are made blunt and their sences dulled, by these allurements hee was raised up againe to the hope and expectation of better fortunes:

and so departing out of Antioch in an ill houre, & without the guidance of Gods favour, went just as the old proverbe saith, out of the smoke into the light fire: and after he was entred into Constantinople, as in time of prosperitie, like one secured of his estate, he exhibited the games of ^x horse-running, and adorned the head of Corax the chariottier as victor, with a crowne. Which when Constantius knew, beyond all measure hee chafed: and least peradventure the same Gallus, doubtfull of the future events, might goe about in his journey to attempt some meanes expedient for his owne safetie, all the souldiors were of purpose removed, who abode in the cities that stood in the way. And at that very time Taurus, a Quaestor sent into Armenia, confidently passed by and balked him, not vouchsa∣fing to salute, or once to see him. Howbeit, some there came by commandement of the Emperour, in shew of doing divers duties and services, but readie indeed to observe and keepe him, that he might not be able once to breake out nor attempt any stirre secretly. Among whom was Leontius, governour of Rome afterwards, as * 1.9 Quęstor or Treasurer for the time being; also Lucilianus, as it were * 1.10 captaine of the guard, and the * 1.11 Tribune of the Squires of the bodie, named Bainobaudes. Ha∣ving therefore travailed a long way in the countrey, and the same lying plaine, when he was entred into * 1.12 Hadrianopolis (a citie of * 1.13 Haemimontum) called before time Vscudama, refreshing himselfe wearied with travaile, for the space of twelve dayes, hee understood that the * 1.14 Thebęan ^y legions, wintering in the neighbour townes, had sent certaine of their consorts and companions to encourage him up∣on their faithfull and sure promises to stay behind. Trusting then confidently in his owne strength, he bestoweth them in the stations, bordering & confining there together. But such was the watchfull care and observing eye of those about him, that he could not catch any time or oportunitie either to speake ought, or to heare what intelligences they brought. Then, after more letters still received one in the necke of another, urging him to be gone, having withall the use of tenne waggons allowed by the State, according to a warrant given, leaving all the trayne of the palace, unlesse it were some gentlemen of the bed-chamber, and servitors at the ta∣ble, whom he had taken to him to give neere attendance; all sorrowfull now, and even made of miseries compelled he was to hasten his pace, by reason that many drave him forward, cursing ever and anon with shedding teares his owne folly and inconsiderate rashnesse, which had put him now a despised and abject caitife under the will and pleasure of weake and feeble persons. Yet amid these troubles, du∣ring the time that nature tooke her rest, his sences and spirits were wounded with dreadfull spectres and fansies skreaking hideously round about him: and whole

companies of those whom he had killed, with Domitian and Montius leading the way, caught him up, presented him to the hookes and clawes of the Furies, as hee imagined in his sleepe. For the soule, loosened from the bonds of the body, being alwaies fresh and in motion, never wearied, subject also to the cogitations and cares that disquiet mens minds, gathereth night visions, which we call Phantasias. And thus whiles a most heavie destinie opened the way of fatall necessitie, whereby or∣dained before it was, that he should be deprived both of life and imperiall digni∣tie, having passed all the journeyes betweene, by changing of fresh horses, he came to * 1.15 Petobio, a towne of the * 1.16 Norici, where the whole knot of covert and hidden traynes laid for him was discovered: and all on a suddaine Barbatio the * 1.17 Comes shewed himselfe, he that under him had the charge of the * 1.18 Guard in ordinarie (to∣gether with Apodemius, a * 1.19 Messenger ^a or Pursevant) leading a number of souldi∣ors whom the Emperour had selected, as engaged unto him by the favours and good turnes that he had done unto them, assured that neither for reward nor pitie they could be turned aside. And now went not he to worke by way of shaddow∣ed and dissimuled deceit; but whereas the palace stood without the wals, hee did beset it round about with armed men: and so entring into it before it was full day light, he tooke from Caesar all regall garments, and clad him in a coat and common souldiors cassocke upon it, assuring him and binding it with many an oath, as it were by the Emperours commandement, that he should not thenceforth sustaine any harme: and forthwith, Rise up, quoth he: and so mounting him ere hee was aware upon a privat chariot, led him into Istria, neere unto the towne * 1.20 Pola, where sometimes (as I have heard say) Crispus Constantius sonne was killed. And when he was kept there most streitly, not worth the ground he went on, but buried as one would say alreadie (such was the terror of his end so neere at hand) there com∣meth thither unto him in all hast Eusebius, at that time Lord great Chamberlaine, with Pentadius the Notarie, and Mellobaudes captaine of the ^b Armature, by com∣maundement from the Emperour, to compell him for to say and shew particularly for what cause he had commanded every one of them to be killed that were put to death at Antioch? Whereto changing colour, and looking as pale as ^c Adrastus, he would have answered to this effect, That most of them he had murthered through the instigation of his wife Constantina: not knowing verily, that Alexander the great, when his mother lay hard upon him to kill a certaine innocent person, and said of∣tentimes withall, in hope of obtaining afterward what she desired, how shee caried him nine moneths in her wombe; wisely gave her this answere: Good mother aske some other reward & recompence; for the life of a man is so deare, as no benefit can coun∣tervaile it. Now the Emperour when he understood this, falling into an irreclama∣ble fit of anger and wrath, reposed all the assurance and confidence hee had of esta∣blishing his owne securitie, in making him away. And sending Serenianus (who as we shewed before standing indicted of the crime of Majestie, by means of certaine subtile sleights and juggling casts was acquit) Pentadius also the Notarie, and Apo∣demius the Messenger or Pursevant abovesaid, adjudged him to suffer death, and to lose his head: and so with his hands bound and pinnioned together, like unto some theefe and malefactor, his head was smitten off: thus when the beautie of his face and head was gone, there lay the trunke of his deformed carcasse left alone, which a little before was dread of cities and whole provinces.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mediolan••im.
• * 1.2

  Vrsicinus.
• * 1.3

  Vrsicinus.
• * 1.4

  Constantia, or Constantina.
• * 1.5

  or baiting place, or lodging.
• * 1.6

  ••a Apparitores.
• * 1.7

  Angusti.
• * 1.8

  Constantius the Emperour.
• * 1.9

  Vt Quaestor praefectus urbi.
• * 1.10

  Quasi domestico∣rum comes.
• * 1.11

  Scutariorum Tribunus
• * 1.12

  Hadrianopoli.
• * 1.13

  A Region in Thracia.
• * 1.14

  Thebaeas legiones.
• * 1.15

  Pettaw. Lazio.
• * 1.16

  Bavaria, or Bey∣erne.
• * 1.17

  Comes.
• * 1.18

  Domesticis prae∣fuit.
• * 1.19

  Agentem rebus.
• * 1.20

  otherwise called Iulia Pietas.