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. XI. The state of Gaule in the time of Constantius and Iulianus Emperours.

AFter that Domitianus abovesaid by cruell death was dispatched out of the way, Musonianus his successor governed the East in the place and authoritie of Praefectus Praetorio, or Lord Iustice, a man renowmed for his eloquence in both languages: whereby hee arose to an higher degree than was expected. For Constantine, what time as he searched very narrow∣ly into the superstitious sects of the ^q Manichees and such like, and no meet inter∣preter could be found, made choice of him, as commended for a sufficient man in that behalfe: whom, for performing that office and function skilfully, hee would have to be named Musonianus, whereas before he was wont commonly to be cal∣led Strategius: and from this beginning having run through many degrees of ho∣nours, he mounted up to this dignitie of Praefecture, or Iusticeship; a prudent man otherwise, and well ynough endured of the provinces; mild also, and faire spoken: but upon any occasion whatsoever, and especially upon suits and actions in law (which is an abhominable thing) wholly set upon filthie gaine and lucre, (whereby hee grew base and odious) as it appeared evidently among other things in the commissions and inquisitions holden about the death of Theophilus, a Con∣sulare Governor or Lieutenant in Syria, who for betraying of Caesar Gallus was in a confused tumult and uprore of the people torne in pieces: in which affaire poore men were condemned, even those who were knowne for certaine to have beene forth of the countrey when this outrage was committed; but the rich ones, au∣thors in deed of this foule act, with the turning out of their livings and estates were let goe. Equall unto him was Prosper, who had the commaund of the souldiors, in lieu of the generall of horsemen abiding then in Gaule, a base coward and abject person, and such an one (as the Comicall Poet sayth) as despising the art of close theeverie, used open extortion and violent oppression. And whiles these two a∣greed together, and enriched themselves by mutuall commerce and reciprocall bringing of cheats to one anothers hand, the Persian captaines bordering upon

the rivers, while the king was busied in the farthest marches of his owne lands, by companies and crewes of Brigands made foule worke in our pale, boldly invading one while Armenia, another while Mesopotamia, taking their vantage whiles these Romane Commaunders were employed in gathering together the spoyles of them that died.

Notes

• Pratoriani Prae∣fecti.
• Praefecturam.
• So called, not for that he had beene Confull, but bare the Consuls en∣signes.