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. IX. The Romanes that abode in Amida having in some sort intelligence of the Persians de∣signes, by certaine characters written in a parchment, send out Ammianus Mar∣cellinus, who wisely having taken view of the enemies armie, returneth un∣to his companie more speedily than could be hoped or looked for.

WHen our discoverers were returned hither, we found a parchment writ∣ten in cyphers and strange characters within a scabbard, which by commaundement was brought unto us from Procopius, whom toge∣ther with * 1.1 Lieutenant Lucilianus I said to have beene sent before in embassage to the Persians: and the same being set downe in darke tearmes of pur∣pose, least if the bearers had beene caught, and the sence of the writings under∣stood, some matter of much mischiefe should have risen thereupon, carried this te∣nour: Now that the embassadour of the Greekes are sent away farre off, and perhaps to be killed, the long-liv'd king not contented with * 1.2 Hellespontus, by making bridges over the rivers Granius and Rhyndacus, will come with a puissant armie of many nations, minding to over-run Asia: who being a prince of his owne nature easily provoked to an∣ger, and most fierce withall, hath to incite and incense him, the successour of Hadrian, sometime Emperour of Rome. All is lost and past helpe for ever, unlesse Greece take bet∣ter heed. Which writing implied thus much, That the king of Persia having passed over the rivers Anzada and Tigris, by the advice and instigation of Antoninus aspi∣red to the dominion of all the East throughout. Now, when these contents were very hardly and with much adoe read, by reason they were written so exceeding intricately, this politicke course was taken. There was at the same time a great po∣tentate named Iovinianus, ruler of Corduena, a province under the Persian domi∣nion, who had growne up in the Romane ground, and secretly stood well affected unto us, for that he was detained as an hostage in Syria, and beeing allured with the sweetnesse of liberall arts, had an hote desire and affection to returne unto our parts againe. Vnto him I (being sent with a certaine centurion, right trustie and of approoved fidelitie, to know more certainely what matters were in hand) came by desart mountaines and steepe straits. Being seene, knowne, and courteously recei∣ved, after I had confessed unto him alone the cause of my presence, I was sent ac∣companied with one of secrecie, and skilfull in the waies, unto passing high rockes a great way off, from whence might be seene for fiftie myles forward the least thing that was, if a mans eye-sight failed not. After we had abode there two whole daies, by the sunne-rising on the third day we discovered all the circles of the earth under us (which we use to call Horizons) full of infinite troupes of armed men, and the king himselfe leading the way, all glittering in his gorgeous and glorious array. Close unto him on his left hand went Grumbates king of the Chionites, a man (I must needs say) of middle age, and with riveled lims, but carrying with him a brave mind, and ennobled for the ensignes of many goodly victories: on his right side the king of the Albanes, an high and mightie prince of equall place and honour: after them divers captaines and leaders, men of eminent qualitie and commaund, marched: whom there followed a multitude of all sorts and degrees, picked and chosen out of the manhood of the nations adjoyning, trained and enu∣red a long time by many adventures to endure the difficultie of all accidents what∣soever. Now tell me, Greece, that art so fabulous, How long wilt thou talke

unto us of Doriscus, a towne in Thracia, and of the forces mustered and numbred by bands within enclosures? Whereas we, warie and circumspect, or (to speake more truly) timorous, amplifie nothing, but what testimonies of credite neyther doubtfull nor vncertaine have delivered. Well, after that the said kings had passed through * 1.3 Nineve in * 1.4 Adiabene, a mightie citie, in the middest of Anzaba bridge having killed beasts for sacrifices, and seene the inwards thereof praesaging good successe, they went over most joyfully, and were guessing, that all the multitude behind could hardly goe through in three dayes after, made hast to returne from thence unto the potentate and ruler aforesaid, with whom we rested, and were re∣freshed with courteous offices of hospitalitie. From whence, after we had retur∣ned by places likewise desart and solitarie, sooner than could be hoped or expected, whiles we had the mightie meanes of necessitie to be our guide, wee strengthened the hearts of those that stood in a doubtfull quandarie, as who had intelligence gi∣ven unto them, That the kings without fetching any compasse about, had passed over one of the bridges made with ships.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Comes.
• * 1.2

  Statto di Gallipo∣li, or Bras da S. George, i. Saint Georges arme.
• * 1.3

  Mosse, or Mosal.
• * 1.4

  Botun. Castaldo.