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. X. The flatterers in Court goe about to deprave and fore-doe the noble deeds and ver∣tues of Iulianus with flouts and skoffes before Constantius; which is no new and strange practise, Marcellinus sheweth by allegation of notable examples.

WHen knowledge of these occurrents was from time to time taken in Con∣stantius his court (for Caesar like unto an apparitour or double diligent servitor, was of necessitie to give notice unto the Emperour of all pro∣ceedings) as many as bare greater sway than others in the court, and were now learned professors in that [eighth] liberall science of Flatterie, turned whatsoever was by him either wisely advised or happily performed, unto a meere mockerie; giving out beyond all measure these and such like words full foolishly: This Iulian, a goat, and no man (carping thus at him for being full of haire) together with all his victories, stinketh againe, and is become odious: tearming him also, a talka∣tive mold-warpe, an ape in a purple coat, and a bookish smattering Grecian. Thus re∣sounding many lewd speeches and skurrilities of this kind in the princes eares, who tooke pleasure to heare these and such like notes, they went about with impudent words to smother his vertues, rayling at him as a slow-backe and coward, and deli∣cate

carpet-knight, and one that knew how with trim words to set out deedes that were amisse: a thing that newly happened not then, and never before. For as the greatest glorie is alwaies subject to envie, wee read, that malicious and spightfull persons have used to devise even upon the renowmed warriours and captaines in old time (as taking offence at their most redoubted acts) vices and crimes, although there could none such be found. As for example, Cimon the sonne of Miltiades was charged with incest and incontinencie, even he, who neere unto Eurymedon, a river in Pamphylia, vanquished an infinite number of the Persians, and forced the whole nation, prowdly puffed up by reason of the insolencie of their king, in humble manner to sue for peace. Semblably, Aemilianus Scipio, through the evill will of his concurrents, was taxed for a drowsie sluggard, by whose invincible vigi∣lance, two most puissant cities, obstinately bent to worke Rome mischiefe, were ut∣terly rased to the ground. Likewise, certaine slanderous backbiters, seeking many waies for a hole in Pompeius coat, when they could find nothing in him blame-wor∣thie, observed (forsooth) these two things (very toyes to speake of, and of no validi∣tie;) namely, that by a peculiar and naturall use that he tooke, he scratched his head with one finger, and for a prettie while (to hide a certaine foule and ill favoured ulcer that he had) bound up his leg with a little white band: The one of these hee did (said they) as being a loose and dissolute person; the other, as one that looked for a change, and affected to bee king; comming out (forsooth) with this bald and frivolous reason, that it mattered not on what part of the body hee wore a diademe, the marke of regall majestie: and this did they by that man, than whom there was not one that bare himselfe more valiant and politicke in the behalfe of his coun∣trey, as the notable proofes that he gave doe testifie. While these things thus went abroad, Artemius abode also at Rome vice-Praefect or deputie governor for Bassus, who having beene but newly promoted Praefect of the citie, was by naturall death taken away; whose government met with turbulent seditions and commotions, neither had it any memorable matter worth the relation.