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. I. Iulianus Caesar having set aside all cares of warre, hath a watchfull eye to the safetie of Gaule, and seemeth a maintainer and lover of justice: after this, renewing warre against the Alemans, he buil∣deth and storeth his garners: seven cities he taketh in, and repaireth.

THese acts in one and the same yeare were in sundry parts of the world atchieved. But in Gaule, now that the State stood in better tearmes than before, and Eusebius, together with Hypa∣tius, brethren, were styled with the high titles of Consuls; Iuli∣an renowmed in the place of his Winter abode, for contriving of his affaires to so good successe, having sequestred and layed aside for the meane time all cares of warre, with no lesse regard disposed and ordered many things to the behoofe and welfare of the provinces, observing diligently, That no man should be surcharged with the burthen of tri∣bute, That no one mans greatnesse or power should over-weigh and oppresse ano∣ther, nor they be in place of authoritie, whose privat estate grew by the fall and de∣cay of the Common weale, ne yet that any Iudge should without punishment swerve from equitie. And this redressed he with small travaile and little adoe: for that himselfe deciding quarrels and controversies (especially when the greatnesse either of causes or persons s required) was a constant and irremoveable discerner of right and wrong. And albeit there be many commendable examples of his, in such like controversies, yet it shall suffice to put downe but one, to the patterne or likenesse whereof his other deeds or sayings are to bee considered. Numerius, ruler but a while before of Narbonensis [Gallia] being accused for theft, he heard after an unusuall censorious rigour openly at the barre before his Tribunall, and admitted to the audience of his triall whosoever were willing to bee there: who when he pleaded unguiltie, and put by all matters objected against him, by a bare deniall, and could not in any one point be convinced; Delphidius a most sharpe O∣ratour, who layd sore against him, for want of proofes and evidences, in a great chafe cried out: Who can ever be found guiltie, ô most noble and renowmed Caesar, in case it shall be sufficient to denie? Whereat Iulian being mooved, wisely replied thus ex tempore: And who (quoth he) can be unguiltie, if it will suffice to have accu∣sed? These verily were his speeches, and many such in civile matters. But now being minded to goe forth unto an urgent warre-service, when he considered that

certaine territories of the Alemans harboured in their hearts hostilitie, and would both dare and doe many outrages, unlesse they also, after the examples of others, were overthrowne, he stucke perplexed and doubtfull, with what forces, or with what expedition (so soone as in reason he might have fit oportunitie) by preventing all rumor of his comming, he should be able on a suddaine to invade their lands. Now as he cast about and thought upon many and sundry waies, hee resolved at length to assay that which prooved in the issue and effect thereof expedient. Hee dispatched in shew of embassie Hariobaudes, a * 1.1 Tribune not in ordinarie, a man of approoved fidelitie and fortitude, without any one privie thereto, unto Hortarius a king now at peace, that from thence going easily forward into their confines, a∣gainst whom he was immediatly to make warre, he might enquire (as he was very skilfull in the Barbarians language) What they went about: who beeing boldly gone about this businesse, himselfe taking the fit season of the yeare, having assem∣bled his souldiors from all parts, went foorth to this expedition: and among the most speciall services to be done, he thought good with all speed to performe this one, namely, before the heat of any conflicts and battailes to enter into those cities which long before had beene rased, and when they were thus recovered, them to fortifie: also to build new barnes and garners in lieu of those that were burnt, wherein might be layed up for store the provision of corne which was wont to be transported out of Britannie. And both these workes were finished sooner than a∣ny man would have thought: for not onely the garners were quickly reared, but also the cities taken in and seized on, in number seven, to wit, * 1.2 Castra Herculis, * 1.3 Quadriburgum, * 1.4 Tricesimae, * 1.5 Nivesio, * 1.6 Bonna, * 1.7 Antennacum, and * 1.8 Bingio: where, as good hap was, Florentius the Praefect suddainely shewed himselfe, ha∣ving in his conduct part of the forces, and bringing with him sufficient provision of victuall to serve for a long time. After these things thus accomplished, it remai∣ned (such was the urgent occasion and present necessitie) that the walls of these cities thus gained, should be repaired, whiles no man as yet was there to interrupt or impeach this worke: and this is apparant by cleere evidences and arguments, that the Barbarians at that time, for feare and not for love of their ruler, served the common good. The kings according to the capitulation of covenant the former yeare, sent upon their owne carts and waggons much matter meet for building: and the aid-souldiors, who alwaies disdained such kind of ministeries, by the faire words that Iulian gave them wrought to the performance of diligent service, wil∣lingly carried upon their neckes timber-pieces fiftie foot long and above, and a∣mong those workmen and labourers that served the carpenters, stood them in right good stead.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vacantem Tribu∣num.
• * 1.2

  Erkelens.
• * 1.3

  Quaetraedt, be∣tweene Guilich and Colein.
• * 1.4

  Some take it for Vltrajectum, i. Vtrecht. Ortel.
• * 1.5

  Nuiss. upon Rhene. Ortel.
• * 1.6

  Bon.
• * 1.7

  Andernach.
• * 1.8

  Bing.