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. II. The Frankes keeping foule rule about Colonia Agrippina and Iuliacum, he represseth, having besieged and recovered the towne Castellum. Then he taketh or∣der, that provinciall people should not unreasonably be over∣charged with new taxes and tributes, which the Lord chiefe Iustice thought to levie and gather of them.

IN this memorable warre, worthie to be compared verily with those a∣gainst the Carthaginians and Teutones, and atchieved with the least expence and hurt of the Romane estate, Caesar rejoyced and magnifi∣ed himselfe as a fortunate and happie prince: and well might a man have beleeved his backbiters, who devised this and gave it out, That therefore hee demeaned himselfe so valiantly in every place, because hee wished rather to die a glorious death, than in the ranke of condemned persons, like unto his brother Gal∣lus (as they hoped) to be put to death; had he not with semblable purpose and reso∣lution after the death also of Constantius, become renowmed for his admirable ex∣ploits. Well, these affaires thus firmely setled, as in such case might be, returning to his Wintering place of abode, he found the remaines still of his laborious at∣chievements standing in these tearmes. Severus Generall of the Horsemen, going by the way of Agrippina and * 1.1 Iuliacum toward Rhemes, lighted upon right strong companies of the Frankners, consisting (as afterwards appeared) of six hun∣dred light armed skirmishers, as they wasted and spoyled the quarters that were without garrisons; who tooke this opportunitie to actuate their boldnesse in do∣ing mischiefe, because whiles Caesar was busily employed out of the way in the se∣cret parts of the Alemans, and none at hand to give them the checke, they thought verily to make up their mouths and fill their hands with rich booties: but for feare of the armie now returned, they possessed themselves of two forts, which in times past were abandoned and left void, and there defended themselves as well as they could. Iulianus much troubled with this new occurrent, and guessing whereto it might turne, in case he passed by them undealt withall, kept his forces still about him, and determined to beleaguer the towne * 1.2 Castellum, hard by which the river * 1.3 Mosa runneth: and so for the space of foure and fiftie dayes, to wit, during the moneths of December and Ianuarie, he stayed about the siege, whiles the Barba∣rians with stout hearts and incredible resolution held out and withstood him. Then

Caesar a most prudent prince, fearing much least the Barbarians by taking advan∣tage of the night should passe over the river hard frozen, upon the yce, tooke order, that certaine souldiors should every day from time that the sunne began to set until the breake of day in light barges and whirries to and fro scud up and downe upon the river, to the end that by breaking evermore the yce as it began to gather to a coat none of them might easily have means to breake away from him. And by this stra∣tageme being wearied out with hunger, long watching, & utter despaire, they yeel∣ded themselves of their owne accord, and were sent out of hand to the Emperours counsell: for the rescue of whom out of this danger, a multitude of Frankners went forth, but when they understood how they were taken prisoners and carried away, without adventuring any further they retired to their owne holds. Then Caesar ha∣ving performed these acts, returned to Paris, there to Winter. Now for that it was feared, that many nations would with greater force make head together, this well advised governour casting how deceitfull the issues were of warres, was much per∣plexed with huge heapes of care. And whiles he verily thought, that during the truce and cessation of armes, short though it was, and full of businesse, he might re∣medie the miserable losses and burthens that landed men or farmers sustained, he disposed and set in order the accounts of tribute: and whereas Florentius, * 1.4 Lord chiefe Iustice, having taken a survey and review of all as he endevored, did avouch, that whatsoever was wanting in the * 1.5 poll-tribute, he supplied out of the goods got∣ten by conquest; he being ware of such dealings, said plainely, That he would for∣goe his life sooner than suffer this to be done: for well he wist, that the incurable wounds of these and such like provisions or eversions rather, to speake more truly, brought provinces many times to extreame povertie: which very thing, as after∣wards shall be shewed, was the utter overthrow of * 1.6 Illyricum. Hereupon the said L. Iustice Florentius, crying out that he could not endure thus on a suddaine to be made an unfaithfull officer, unto whom the Emperor had committed the immedi∣ate managing of the state, Iulian after a temperate & sober sort appeasing his mood, by an exact and true computation proved, That the reckoning and summe taken of the foresaid poli-tribute was not only sufficient, but yeelded also an overplus to the necessarie provision of victuals. Yet neverthelesse, for a long time after, when an augmentation of taxe and impost was presented unto him, he could not endure ei∣ther to read or subscribe, but flung it in the floore. And when he was advertised by the Emperors letters, upon information that the said Iustice had given, not to deale so strictly and precisely as that Florentius might seeme to be touched in his credite, he wrote backe again, That they were to rejoice and be glad, if the provinciall inha∣bitants, wasted so as they were on every side, might yeeld at leastwise their ordinarie and customable tributes, if not increment & augmentation, which no punishment is able to extort from the poore and needie. And so it came to passe then & thence∣forth, through the stout courage of him alone, that no man went about unjustly to fetch from the Gaules nomine * 1.7 Camelasij, any thing but the usuall customes. And without any example precedent, thus much by way of intreatie had Caesar obtained at the * 1.8 Praefects hands, That the ordering and dispose of the second Belgica, which had bin overwhelmed with many sorts of calamities, should be cōmitted unto him, and namely with this condition, That no minister or officer, belonging to Praefect or President, should urge any man to pay. By which comfortable order taken, they being all eased, whom debt distracted apart to take care for themselves, without any calling upon paied their duties before the day appointed came.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Colein and Gulich.
• * 1.2

  Kessel in Cuyck.
• * 1.3

  Maese, or Meuse.
• * 1.4

  Praefectus Praeto∣rio.
• * 1.5

  or head-silver.
• * 1.6

  Sclavonia.
• * 1.7

  Camelage: haply ••••ll for Camels ca∣riage
• * 1.8

  or chiefe Iustice.