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.

CAP. 1. The horrible acts of Caesar Gallus, through his wives instigation committed in the East parts.

AFter the events of an invincible expedition atchieved, whiles the hearts * 1.1 of both the * 1.2 sides were fainting, which sundry dangers and travailes had sore quailed; before that either the trumpets gave over sounding, or the souldiers were bestow∣ed in their wintering stations; such stormes of fortune still ra∣ging, arose, as poured downe a world of new troubles upon the State and Commonwealth, occasioned all by many wic∣ked and horrible acts of Caesar Gallus; who from an exceeding poore and misera∣ble condition, advanced in the very flower of his yeares (with unexpected honor) to princely dignity, and running out beyond the bounds of that authority which was conferred upon him, made foule worke every where, and with extreame ri∣gour marred all: For, presuming upon his neerenesse of kinne unto the * 1.3 bloud royall, and the alliance which he had still with the name of Constantine, hee bare himselfe very proud and insolent, ready (as it was thought) to have giuen some hostile attempt even against the founder of his owne good fortunes, if he had bin of greater power: whose cruelty was not a little enkindled and set on fire by his * 1.4 wife; who beside her unmeasurable pride, as being sister in the whole bloud un∣to the * 1.5 Emperour, and by her father * 1.6 Constantine before time joyned in marri∣age with his brothers sonne king Annibalianus, was a very devill incarnate, inciting and incensing him continually, given as hee was to cruell tyranny, and no lesse bloud-thirstie her selfe, nor of a milder disposition than her husband: who both of them in processe of time by little and little growne more skilfull in doing mis∣chiefe, by means of secret and crafty tale-bearers, such as lewdly used to make those things greater that upon slight grounds were discovered, ready also to * 1.7 report un∣truths and matters pleasing unto them, falsely raised upon innocent persons im∣putations and slanders, either of ambitious aspiring to the kingdome, or of practi∣sing wicked and naughtie arts. Now, among other designements and deeds of a lower nature (for by this time their greatnesse surmounted the tearmes of meane

delinquences) notorious above the rest was the horrible and sudden death of one Clematius, a nobleman of Alexandria: whose wives mother falling in hote fansie with him her sonne in law, and solliciting him wantonly to company with her, when she could not obtaine his love, was (by report) let in at a posterne gate of the palace, and thereby presenting unto the Queene a rich jewell of great price, effe∣cted thus much, That by vertue of a writ or warrant sent unto Honoratus, then * 1.8 lieu∣tenant ^a generall of the East, the said Clematius, upon deadly malice, without touch and attaint of any wicked act, not permitted once to open his mouth, or to speake for himselfe, should be killed. After this wicked part committed, which now was feared also in others, as if a licence had beene graunted unto cruelty, cer∣taine persons, upon obscure mists onely of suspitions and presumptions were jud∣ged guilty and condemned: of whom, some suffered death, others punished with forfeiture of goods, and turned out of house and home as banished folke, hauing nought left unto them but plaints, mones, and bitter teares, lived onely of contri∣bution and almes. And thus, whiles in lieu of civile and just government, a blou∣die mind and will bare sway, wealthy and noble houses were quite shut up: ney∣ther was there required in all these heapes of enormities and troubles, any voice of an accuser, were he but counterfeit and suborned, that criminall matters might seeme (though but in outward shew) committed to the formall triall of Law (a course that very tyrants divers times have taken:) but whatsoever setled once in Caesars irreconcileable heart, the same went currant for right and lawfull, yea, and was followed hard even to present, execution. Moreover, devised it was, that cer∣taine unknowne persons, such as for their basenesse were of small regard, should be sent out of purpose through all parts of * 1.9 Antiochia, to hearken after tales and rumors, with direction, to relate whatsoever they heard. These fellowes in man∣ner of travailers raunging from place to place, and covertly joyning themselves close to men of quality and honour at their meetings, entring also in habit of nee∣die and poore folke into rich mens houses, what ever they could learne or heare, being let into the Court secretly at the backe dores, made report thereof; obser∣ving this one point joyntly with one accord, some things to invent and forge of their owne heads, and what they knew in deed, to make the same worse by the one halfe: but in any wise to suppresse and conceale all the praises that came to their eares of Caesar; which many men were forced even against their wils to give out, for feare of calamities that hung over their heads. And otherwhiles it fell out so, that if the husband had whispered ought in his wives eare, within a secret roome, where no servitor at all, more inward and privie to his life, was present, the same should the Emperour bee sure to know the morrow after; no lesse than if ^b Amphiaraus or Martius, renowned Divinors and Wisards in old time, gave intelligence thereof: and therefore, the very bare wals alone, made acquainted with any secrets, were feared. Now, this obstinate and setled purpose of his, to search into these and many such like matters, became of greater force, by reason of the Queene ever at his elbow to pricke and proke him forward, who bearing her selfe shrewd and froward upon her husbands high estate, lay on him, still creaking and crowing, as one most sharpe set and hotely bent to worke mischiefe: where∣as, out of that mildnesse which beseemeth a woman, she ought rather by good and holesome persuasions to have reduced him into the way of truth and courteous humanitie; as we have reported in the acts of the Gordians, That the wife of

Maximinus that ^c cruell emperour was woont to do. To conclude, this Gallus after a new and pernitious example, feared not to put in practise the same foule and dan∣gerous pranke which Gallienus is reported to have attempted sometime at Rome, with the greatest dishonor and shame that might be: and taking some few in com∣panie, privily weaponed, he would in the evening walke here and there about the shops, hostelries, carrefours, and crosse streets, busily inquiring in the Greek tongue (wherein he was very perfect) what any man thought of Caesar? And these parts plaid he boldly within the citie, even where lights shining cleere all night long, are woont to resemble the bright dayes. At length, being oftentimes knowne who he was, and perceiving now, that if he came thus abroad hee should bee discovered, hee was not seene to go forth but openly by day-light, and that about his serious affaires, as he thought them. And these verily were the courses that hee tooke, whereat many a man grieued and groaned at the heart. Furthermore, Thalassius, then * 1.10 Lord chiefe ^d Iustice, beeing in place, who also himselfe was of an arrogant nature, considering that this hastinesse of his, to the hazard of many, still increased, did not by gravitie or sage counsell mitigate his mood (as divers times men placed in high authority have mollified and assuaged the wrath and ire of princes) but by way of opposition and rebuke at unmeet seasons set him farther out, and made him starke mad, giving informations very thicke unto the Emperour of him, ag∣gravating his proceedings, and making them more than they were, yea and ende∣vouring (of what mind I know not) that the same should not be hidden: whereat Caesar within a while much more fell and enraged, erecting on high the banner, as it were, of selfe-will and frowardnesse, without regard either of other mens safe∣ty, or his owne, ran on end still in manner of a swift streame, with irreclamable vio∣lence, to beare downe and carry quite away all under him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  or Factions.
• * 1.2

  Magnentius the Vsurper, and Con∣stantius the Empe∣rour, who in one field at Mursa lost 70000 betweene them. Pomp. Lat.
• * 1.3

  He was cousin germane to Con∣stantius, euen the sonne of his unckle great Constantinus the late Emperors brother.
• * 1.4

  Constantina, or Constantia.
• * 1.5

  Constantius.
• * 1.6

  the Great.
• * 1.7

  Dicentes, others read, Discentes, i. to learne and find out.
• * 1.8

  Comite•••• Oricutis under 〈…〉〈…〉,
• * 1.9

  Some call it at this day Aleppo. O••telius.
• * 1.10

  Praefactus Pra∣torio.