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. III. Warre against the Lentienses, a people of Alemaine. The description of the Lake Brigantia. The Romane armie discomfited and put to flight, having with∣in a while after vanquished the Alemans, returned to Mil∣laine, there to winter.

THis matter thus ended, within a while after warre was denounced a∣gainst the * 1.1 Lentienses, people of Alemaine, who oftentimes brake in∣to the marches of the Romanes, and made rodes all abroad. To which expedition the Emperour being gone forth, came to the * 1.2 Rhaetiae and Campi Canini. And after long and sage consultation had, this was thought to be a course both honest and profitable to all, That Arbetio Generall of the Horsemen taking part of the footmen, and coasting along the sides of the lake * 1.3 Brigantia with the stronger power of the armie, should march on thither, presently to affront and encounter the Barbarians: the description of which place I will briefely set down, as farre as my reason will give me leave. Betweene the winding of high hils Rhene running in and out with a mightie strong streame, holdeth on his course through the * 1.4 Lepontij, and runneth by the downe-fals of water in manner of Nilus, with a swift current swelling immediately from his first head where he beginneth, and so with store of his owne water violently passeth forward in one single channell, and no more. And now by this time augmented with snow, melted and resolved into water, and rasing as it goes the high bankes with their curving reaches, entreth into a round and vast lake (which the Rhaetians dwelling thereby, call Brigantia) carry∣ing in length foure hundred and threescore * 1.5 stadia, and in breadth well neere as much; whereto there is no accesse by land, for the thicke growne, shadie, and un∣pleasant woods (unlesse it be where that auncient and sober valour of the Romans made a broad way) whiles both the nature of the ground and rigour also of the ayre impeached the Barbarians. This Mere therfore, the river, with frothing whirle∣pooles breaking into and running through the still and standing water thereof, cut∣teth quite in the middest as it were just betweene two equall sides, throughout to the very end, and like unto an element severed apart by an everlasting discord, with∣out

encreasing or diminishing one whit the streame that it carried in, saving both name and strength whole, maketh an end of his race; neither afterwards suffereth he the meeting or fellowship of other rivers, but entreth of himselfe into the gulfe of the maine Ocean. And that which is a very great wonder, neither is the lake once stirred with that violent streame running through it, nor yet the river stayed in his hastie course, for all the muddie filth of the lake: and howsoever they be con∣founded together, yet are they not mixed into one bodie, which if the very sight did not prove to be so, a man would not beleeve by any meanes they could be par∣ted one from the other. Thus Alpheus * 1.6 rising in Arcadia, for love he beareth to the fountaine Arethusa, cutting quite through the Ionian sea, runneth forward, as fables doe report, to the very confines of his beloved. Arbetio not expecting un∣till the messengers came to bring word of the Barbarians comming, although he knew that the beginnings of warres were usually very sharpe, fell within the dan∣ger of a privie ambush, and with this suddaine and unlooked for mischiefe was strucken (as it were) stone dead. Meane while were the enemies discovered lea∣ping forth of their starting holes, and without any intermission shot & sticked with many kinds of darts whomsoever they could find: for neither was any of our side able to resist, nor to hope for other meanes to save their lives but by speedie flight. Wherefore, our souldiors being wholly bent to the avoiding of wounds, in a disor∣derly march scattering one from another to and fro, offered their backes to take all blowes and harmes. Howbeit, the most of them dispersing themselves through the narrow lanes, and rid out of present danger by helpe of the darke night, upon the returne of the day light, after they had refreshed their strength, betooke them∣selves every man to their owne rankes and files. In this so heavie and unlooked for mischance, a very great number of souldiors, and tenne Tribunes besides, were missing: upon which defeature, the Alemans taking more heart to them, and very stoutly every day approching neere unto the Romanes fortifications, whiles the morning mists dimmed the light, ran up and downe braving with their drawne swords, grating their teeth, and letting flye big and prowd menaces. Then on a suddaine the * 1.7 Targuetiers, who sallied forth, when by reason of the troupes of e∣nemies affronting them, they were driven backe, and at a stand, provoked all their fellowes with one mind and resolution to fight it out. But when the greater part of them were affrighted by the example of the foyle so fresh and lately received, and Arbetio, supposing all behind would be safe ynough, held off; three Tribunes at once lustily issued forth, Arintheus * 1.8 deputie colonell of the Armature: also Seni∣auchus, who had the charge of the * 1.9 horsemens troupes, ^d belonging to the Comi∣tes: and Bappo, leading the ^e Promoti * 1.10, together with those that the Emperor had committed to his conduct. The common cause as well as their owne particular put them forward, whiles they joyntly altogether resolved to resist the force of the adverse part, after the example of the auncient inhabitants bordering upon the ri∣ver: and so comming upon their enemies, not by way of a set battaile, but in run∣ning skirmishes, after the maner of Brigands, they put them all to shamefull flight: who dispersed and in disarray upon the opening of their rankes, whiles they make hast to escape with their heavie load encumbred, were forced to disarme and lay their bodies bare, and so with many a blow and thrust of swords and speares, down they went, and were slaine: and many of them slaine horse and man together, even as they lay, seemed still to sit fast upon their backes. At which sight all those issu∣ed by heapes out of the campe, who made doubt before to goe forth to battaile

with their fellowes: and now unmindfull of taking heed to save themselves, they beat downe and trode under foot the barbarous sort (unlesse they were such as made shift, by running away, to escape death) trampling upon the heapes of dead bodies, and embrued with the bloud of their slaine enemies. Thus when the bat∣taile was done and ended, the Emperour with triumph and joy returned to Mil∣laine, there to winter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lintzgoewer. Scudo.
• * 1.2

  Schwaben and Grawpuntner, or Grisoni. Ortelius readeth rather Cani than Canini.
• * 1.3

  Bodensee. Ortel.
• * 1.4

  Rhinwalder. Scudo.
• * 1.5

  The great fur∣longs, whereof 8. make a mile.
• * 1.6

  Orphea, or Rophea.
• * 1.7

  Scutarij.
• * 1.8

  Ag••ns vicem 〈…〉〈…〉 recto••••••
• * 1.9

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.10

  Promotos.