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. VIII. Iulianus having wedded the sister of Constantius, came to Vienna: where by a certaine old wife his future acts as touching Religion are fore-told.

WIthin few daies after this, when Helena the sister of Constantius, a virgin, was joyned in marriage to the same Caesar, and all things put in readi∣nesse requisite for his speedie journey, taking with him a small traine in his companie, hee set foorth the first day of December, accompa∣nied on his way by the Emperour himselfe as farre as to a place marked with two Columnes, and it lyeth betweene Laumellum and Ticinum; and so holding on his journey streight forward he came to the Taurini: where he was strucken with heavie newes, which having beene brought lately to the Emperours Counsell, was notwithstanding of purpose concealed, for feare least all the preparation made for his voyage, should have beene lost and come to nothing. Now it purported thus much, That Colonia Agrippina, a citie of great name and importance in the second Germanie, was upon continuall siege layed to it by the Barbarians, layed open and with great forces destroyed. With which wofull tidings being sore astonied, as if it were the first hansell and beginning of evils comming toward him, muitering softly with monefull words hd was often heard to say, That all which he had gotten was no more than this, To die and perish in more imployment and trouble. And when he was come to Vienna, in his entrance thither, the people of what age and degree soever, came running to receive him honourably, as one wished for, I assure you, and their naturall Emperour: and the whole comminaltie together, with the neighbour nation bordering upon them, seeing him a farre off, and salu∣ting him as a mild and fortunate Emperour, as they went before entertained and honoured him with correspondent praises, beholding with more affectionate de∣sire such royall pompe in a prince so lawfully elected: and in his comming repo∣sed

the remedie and redresse of common calamities, crying out with one voice, and thinking no lesse, that now there shone upon them a certaine blessed and com∣fortable Genius. Then a certaine old woman that had lost both her eyes, having learned by enquirie, who came into the citie? that it was Iulianus Caesar, cried out, That he it was who should repaire the temples of the gods. Considering therefore that as that loftie Poet of Mantua said before time,

Maius opus moveo, & maior mihi nascitur ordo Rerum—

A greater worke I am to enterprise, As greater traine of matters doth arise:

I thinke it now a convenient time, to shew the tracts and situation of Gaule, least if I should when armies are readie to encounter, and among the variable chaunces of battailes cursarily tell of such things unknowne unto some, I might seeme to fol∣low the example of slouthfull saylers and mariners, who when their worne sayles and fretted gables might have beene at more leisure prepared and repaired, are for∣ced to mend and trim them up in the middest of waves and tempests.

Notes

• Lamello, a citie in times past, now a small village.
• Pavia.
• Piemont.
• Com••tatum, or Court.
• Colein.
• Nether Dutch∣land.
• Virgil.