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. VI. The answere of Constantius unto Sapor his letters: The Iuthungi, certaine Alemans, are vanquished by Barbatio.

AFter these letters were a long time well pondered and weighed, answere was returned with an upright heart (as they say) and considerately in this wise: Constantius, alwaies Augustus, conquer or both by land and sea, unto Sapor my brother, in ample manner, greeting. For your health verily and welfare I reioyce in your behalfe, as minding (if your selfe will) to be a friend hereafter: but this greedie desire of yours alwaies unreclaymed and still more and more encroching, I mightily blame. You demaund Mesopotamia as your owne, and sembla∣bly Armenia: you advise me also, where the body is sound, to take off some members ther∣of, that so it may afterwards continue safe and whole: which counsaile of yours is to be refuted rather than by any consent of mine approved. Heare therefore from me the truth, not covered with any subtile delusions, but apart and open, not to be terrified with any vaine threats whatsoever. My chiefe Iustice [* 1.1 Musonianus] thinking to enter upon a businesse for the behoofe of the Weale publique, had conference and speech without my pri∣vitie and advice by the meanes of certaine ignoble and base persons with a * 1.2 Marquesse of yours, about a peace: which we neither refute nor refuse, if so be it may stand with ho∣nour and honestie, and not preiudice any ioteither our modestie or maiestie. For absurd it is and undecent, when by the orderly course and traine of our exploits atchieved, the worlds eares are opened, which envie hath many waies enclosed against us, and when by overthrow of tyrants and usurpers, the whole Romane world is brought under our obei∣sance, to betray and surrender those Seignories, which we being drawne into the streits of the East parts, have kept so long untouched. But give over I pray you those fearefull manaces, which (as the manner is) be denounced against us: considering no doubt can be made, that we not for slouth and cowardize, but upon meere modestie, have now and then made defensive warres rather than offensive, and use so often as we are provoked, with a most valiant spirit of courage and resolution to hold and maintaine our owne: as knowing thus much both by experience and reading, that in some particular battailes the Romanes have otherwhiles though seldome received a foyle, but in grosse and in the maine mana∣ging of warres never beene overthrowne and defeated. Vpon this embassage, sent backe againe without any thing obtained (for there could bee no answere made more fully to the kings unbridled and unmeasurable desire) there followed some few daies after Prosper a * 1.3 C••••es, and Spectatus a Tribune and Notarie: likewise, by the suggestion of Musonianus the Philosopher, Eustachius, one that for per∣suading was his crafts-master, carrying with them missives from the Emperor, and gifts beside, readie with all their best endevors by some cunning fetch to stay the

preparations that Sapor made, to the end that the provinces in the North might be extraordinarily fortified. Whiles things stood in these doubtfull tearmes, the * 1.4 Iuthungi, a nation of the Alemans bordering upon the tracts of Italie, forgetfull of the peace and league which they had by entreatie obtained, in turbulent man∣ner wasted Rhaetia, in so much as beyond their wonted guise they attempted the besieging of townes. To the repressing of whose invasions, Barbatio promoted in the place of Silvanus to be colonell of the footmen, was sent with a puissant armie: who albeit he was a coward, but full of big and bragging words, yet such was the forward resolution and courage of his souldiors, that most valiantly he overthrew a number of them, in so much as a small portion of them, which for feare of dan∣ger fled, hardly escaped, and with weeping eyes and lamentations saw home again. In this battaile, Nevita a captaine of the horsemens troupe, who afterwards became Consull, both was (by report) present, and also fought right manfully.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prafectus Pratorio
• * 1.2

  cum Duce tu••.
• * 1.3

  Comes.
• * 1.4

  people in the countie of Tyroll.