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. Sabinianus a cowardly old man, and unfit for warre, is substituted for Vrsicinus the successor elect of Barbatio. Antoninus honourably received of the Persians, stood them afterward in very good stead.

THings being brought to this passe in Mesopotamia, the Cohort Pala∣tine of the Court sounding the retreat and turning againe to doe us mischiefe, found occasion at length how to hurt a most valiant man, and that through the motion and instigation of a sort of guelded Eu∣nuches, cruell at all times and greedie; who wanting otherwise children, the deere pledges of love, embrace riches alone as their most sweet daughters. Determined it was, That Sabinianus, a feeble old man verily, and well monied, but altogether unmeet for warre, and cowardly, yea, and by reason of his base obscuritie, farre un∣like as yet to obtaine the dignitie of commaunding an armie, should bee sent as Praefect to governe the East parts; but Vrsicinus returne unto the Emperours court, to take the charge of the Infanterie, and to succeed Barbatio: to this end, that he, a hote stirrer up of sedition and rebellion, as they gave it out, might now, being pre∣sent in place, be set upon and assailed by his great enemies and such as hee was to dread. Whiles these parts are acting in the campe of Constantius, as it were, in course every ^a five yeeres, and upon the stage, and the ^b Dirribitores or pay-masters spread abroad and divulge in great mens houses the price of an high office thus suddainely bought and sold: Antoninus being brought to the king where hee win∣tered, was gladly received, and graced with the promotion to weare a Tuffe or Tur∣bant (which honour they enjoy that be allowed to sit at the kings boord, and who for good desert among the Persians may open their mouthes in solemne assem∣blies, to persuade and deliver their minds) set his course against our State and Common-wealth, not (as they say) with spret nor oare, with shooving, or haling, that is, by way of doubtfull or darke circumlocutions, but even with spred and full sayle, and inciting the said king, as intimes past Maharball when he rebuked Anni∣ball for his lingering slownesse, ceased not to tell him, That hee had the way to win; but wist not how to use his victorie. For, being brought in place to speake, as a man well skilled and experienced in all matters, when he had gotten diligent and atten∣tive hearers, such as delighted in pleasing speeches, and were readie not to praise o∣penly, but like to Homers ^c Phaeaces, for to admire them with deepe silence, he used

to rehearse the acts that had passed for fortie yeares gone: and namely, how after continuall chaunces of warres, but especially at Hileia and Singara, where there was a most cruell conflict and battaile fought by night; after our forces were migh∣tily overthrowne and defeated, as if some herault came betweene to take up the quarrell, the Persians had not yet for all their brave victories gained and gone as farre as to * 1.1 Aedessa, nor the bridges of * 1.2 Euphrates; whom it had become in the confidence of their puissance in armes and noble atchievements, so farre foorth to have extended and enlarged the bounds of their Empire; what time especially, as by reason of long troubles and civile warres, the Romane bloud was spilt, and their power abated on both sides. By these and such like motives from time to time at the table, and among the cups (where, after the manner of the auncient Greekes, they use to consult about preparation of warres and other serious af∣faires) this revolted traitor full soberly incensed the king, fire-hote of himselfe, pre∣suming also upon his great fortune, that immediatly after Winter was ended, hee should sound the al'arme, promising also assuredly for his owne part to stead him well in many of his necessarie and important occasions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  or Edessa.
• * 1.2

  Rhoa, or Rhoas.