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. V. Silvanus through the unreasonable abuse offered unto him by his adversaries, was driven to plot and take violent courses, and in Gaule mounteth up to the imperiall dignitie, and so at length is slaine.

WHiles these matters were thus in handling, Silvanus making his abode in * 1.1 Agrippina, and taking full knowledge by continuall messengers from his friends, what Apodemius was practising to endanger his whole e∣state; knowing also well ynough the pliant mind of the prince, easie to be induced and persuaded in the said cause; and fearing withall, least absent as he was, without sentence passed against him, he might be held attaint and guilty; plun∣ged thus into a very great extremitie, thought for to commit himselfe to the fideli∣tie and protection of the Barbarians. But when Laniogaisus then a Tribune (who onely whiles he served in the warres as a * 1.2 Candidat, was, as I have written before, with Constans lying at point of death) prohibited him, and shewed, That the Frankes, from whom he was descended, would surely either kill, or els for a reward received betray him; supposing, as his present case stood, there was no safetie for him, put himselfe upon his utmost shifts: and so, after he had by little and little in secret wise conferred with the heads or captains of the * 1.3 Principia, and they againe earnestly endeuoured the same, in consideration of a great reward promised, tooke forcibly away with him the ensignes of ^m Dragons and other banners for the time, and mounted up to the imperiall dignitie. Now, whiles these things passe in Gaule, toward the latter end of the day, unexpected newes came to Millaine, declaring in plaine words, That Silvanus, whiles of a Colonell of Footmen he endevoureth to climbe higher, by solliciting of the armie to his side, was advaunced to be Em∣perour. Constantius being with this weightie and unlooked for accident strucken no lesse than with a thunderbolt of fatall destinie, called a counsaile about mid∣night, and all the chiefe officers and rulers hastened into the palace. And when every

man was to seeke what to advise or speake to the point, namely, to make choice what ought to bee done; mention softly was made of Vrsicinus, as a most worthie man for his policie in warre affaires, and one who had beene provoked, upon no * 1.4 desert of his, with grievous injurie: sent for he was by the chiefe gentleman usher, a thing usually done by way of great honour: and no sooner was hee entred into the Counsell chamber, but the purple robe was presented unto him: and so they set him as a suppliant at the Emperours feet, after the manner of forraine kings, whereas we read that alwaies before, our Emperors were saluted like Iudges. Thus he, who a little before with malicious and spightfull railing was tearmed the * 1.5 Swal∣lowing-pit or Waster of the East, yea, and complained of for aspiring to usurpe the soveraigne place by the meanes of his sonnes; then (forsooth) became a most politicke and wise leader, as who had beene a fellow-souldior with Constantine the Great: and hee alone was called for to quench the fire by good and honest meanes (I must needs say) yet covertly and by way of a traine. For great care was had, and diligence used, that Silvanus might be destroyed as a most strong and ar∣rant traytor to the State: or, if that should misse, yet Vrsicinus, alreadie exulcerate, and carrying rancour in his heart, be utterly abolished, to the end that no scruple should remaine behind, greatly to be feared. Therefore, whiles order was in giving to make hast and set forward on his journey, as the said Generall went about to re∣peale and confute the crimes that had beene objected unto him, the Emperour by way of prevention with a mild speech stayed him, saying, It was no time then to goe in hand for to traverse any cause, or put in his plea for defence, considering the necessitie of urgent occurrents, which was to bee mitigated before it grew more; inforced rather, that on both sides they should grow to tearmes of former concord and old love. After much debating therefore and long deliberation, this point was principally handled, What device to use, that Silvanus might think the Empe∣rour had as yet no knowledge of his designes and doings? there being at length a probable matter found out to assure him thereof, advised he is by letters penned in honourable tearmes, That when hee had received Vrsicinus as his successour, hee should returne with his whole power and authoritie untouched. These things thus digested, straightwaies was this colonell or captaine commaunded to take his journey: and foorth hee led with him in companie to assist him in the necessarie and publique affaires of the State, tenne of the * 1.6 Emperours guard in ordinarie, ac∣cording as he had demaunded: Of which number, * 1.7 I also my selfe was one, to∣gether with my Colleague Verianus; all the rest were kinsmen, or allies and famili∣ar friends. Now, so soone as hee was gone forth of the countrey, every man, in feare of himselfe, accompanied him a great way off. And albeit we, as those that are to fight with wild beasts, were cast before untractable savages; yet weighing throughly, that this one good thing yet evill and heavie precedents have, That they substitute and bring in their place fortunate events; we admired that notable sen∣tence of Tully, delivered and published even from the eternall Oracle of Truth it selfe, in this wise: And albeit (quoth he) most wished it were to be, that our fortune alwaies continued upright, flourishing and prosperous, yet hath not that condition of life so much sence and feeling of the owne good, as when from a wofull and desperate case there is a returne of fortune againe to a better and happier estate. We make the more speed therefore, and take great journies, to the end that the ambitious * 1.8 Commaun∣der of the Forces, before any rumor of his usurping tyrannie passed by the Italians, in the coasts and marches suspected might appeare. But for all the running hast

we made, a certaine wandering and flying fame had gotten the start of us, and be∣wrayed the thing; so that being entred into Agrippina, wee found all above our reach. For by reason of a multitude of people, who (from all parts thither assem∣bled) were in grounding sure the enterprises so hastily begun, besides other great forces gathered together, as the present state required; we tooke this to be the bet∣ter way, That our pitifull and lamentable leader * 1.9 should be framed and accommo∣date to the mind and will of this new Emperour, who assured himselfe by vaine mockeries of pręsaging signes, that his strength encreased: and all to this end, that whiles with sundrie counterfeit shewes of flatterie his securitie proked him for∣ward to a milder course, he fearing no hostilitie at all, might be deceived. But the issue of this our project seemed difficult and dangerous. For, indeed, it would have stood better with good policie and our safetie, to take heed that our desires might have had a correspondencie with oportunitie, neither running before nor lagging behind it: which if they should breake out before their due time, sure we were all, by vertue of one writ or word, to suffer death. Howbeit, the said captaine of ours being mildly received, and forced (the present businesse it selfe requiring no lesse) to bow downe and stoupe, yea, and to adore in solemne wise (as the manner is) him that aspired so high to the purple robe, was especially regarded and made much of: and being now most inward (as having easie and readie accesse unto him and the honour to sit at his royall table) such preheminence he had above o∣thers, that by this time hee was used in secret consultation about the maine points of importance, and the very Empire it selfe. Silvanus tooke it to the heart, that when unworthie persons were advanced to the dignitie of Consuls, and other ho∣nourable places of high government, himselfe and Vrsicinus alone, after so great and manifold paines endured for the weale publique, were so despised; that he for his part cruelly abused by sifting and examining his familiar friends, and that un∣der a base manner of proceeding and triall, should bee accused of treason: and the other againe, through the malice and hatred of his enemies haled out of the East, and brought home. These continuall complaints made hee both secretly and in o∣pen place. And yet for all these and such like speeches, terrified were we with the mutinous grumbling on every side of the souldiors, alledging their want, and hote∣ly set in all the hast to breake through the streights of the * 1.10 Cottian Alpes. In this perplexitie and doubtfull trouble of heart wee closely cast about and sought for some device like to take effect; and in the end, after many alterations of our mind by reason of feare, resolved thus, That when wee had with great industrie gotten warie ministers, and bound our communication with a religious oath and prote∣station, there should be sollicited the Braccati and Cornuti ⁿ, companies wavering in their allegeance, and for large hire mutable and readie to turne every way. After therefore that this businesse was made sure, by meanes of certaine base mediators and brokers betweene, who for their obscure condition were meet to worke the feat, and set on fire beside with the expectation of rewards, when the Sunne was now arising, suddainely a crew of armed men breaketh forth: and as it falleth out in such doubtfull cases, being more bold and hardie after they had slaine the war∣ders, entred into the palace, plucked Silvanus forth of a little chappell, whither hee was fled all amated and breathlesse, and as he was going to a congregation of the Christian Religion, with many strokes of swords slew him out-right. Thus a brave leader, and a man of no meane desert, died this kind of death, even for feare of slan∣derous accusations, wherewith by the faction of his enemies he was in his absence

ensnared and entangled; so that for the safetie of his life he was driven to proceed unto the utmost extremitie of all shifts. For, albeit in regard of that issuing foorth of his so seasonably with young and gallant souldiors before the battaile at Mursa, hee held Constantius obliged unto him for a good turne, yet feared hee him as a prince variable and uncertaine; although he might pretend the valiant acts of Boni∣tius also his father, a Franke verily, and who in the civile warre behaved himselfe many times right manfully, taking part with Constantine against the * 1.11 Licinians. Now, it happened so, that before any such matter was a working in Gaule, the people in the greatest Cirque or Shew-place at Rome (whether upon any ground of reason, or moved by some pręsage it was unknowne) cried out with lowd voice, Silvanus is vanquished.

Notes

• * 1.1

  now Colein.
• * 1.2

  not yet promo∣ted to place of commaund.
• * 1.3

  the chiefe officers of the armie.
• * 1.4

  Frustra.
• * 1.5

  Orientis vorago.
• * 1.6

  Protectores do∣mest••os.
• * 1.7

  Am Marcellinus, the author of this Historie.
• * 1.8

  Ma••ister ar••orū. he meaneth Sol∣varus whom be∣fore he called Rectorem pedestris m••litia, Colonell of the Infanteri••.
• * 1.9

  Vrsicinus.
• * 1.10

  Monte Genebre, or Mont Cenis.
• * 1.11

  The faction of Licinius the usur∣per.