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. V. The Oration of Iulianus as touching the appointment of militarie rewards. Also with what words, the night before that day wherein he was declared Emperour, he was by the publicke Genius of the State saluted.

THe difficultie of this present businesse doth require and instantly crave, (right valiant and trustie protectors both of my person and of the Common-wealth, who together with me have many a time put your lives in danger for the state of the Provinces) for as much as yee have in a setled iudgement advaunced your Caesar to the highest pitch of all honours and dignities, in few words summarily to deliver, how there may be devised iust and wise remedies to cure and salve this chaunge of the world with us. While I was a very youth, scarce come to my growth, being as ye well know, clad in purple, and made Caesar onely for a shew, yet by the providence of the heavenly power commended to your protection and tuition, I never was put from my settled purpose of leading an upright and honest life, in all painefull labours seene together with you: what time as having put to rout the confidence of bold nations, after cities destroyed, and infi∣nite thousands of men slaine, those few remaine which were left behind halfe broken and unsound, infinite calamities still overran. And needlesse I thinke it to rehearse, how of∣ten in the hard Winter, and bitter cold weather, at which time both lands and seas are ex∣exempt from warfare, we repelled the Alemans, a nation untamed before time, with no small detriment and losse of their forces. And verily for this one thing, it is not meet that I should either over-passe or conceale it, namely, that when neere unto Argentoratum that most blessed day shone, which in some sort brought with it perpetuall libertie unto the Gaules, whiles I rode to and fro through the pikes and among the arrowes and darts where they flew thickest, ye throughly grounded, what with vigorous courage, and what by long experience, vanquished your enemies, that suddainely brake in and overflowed all in man∣ner of swelling and swift land flouds, and them either layd on the bare ground by dint of sword, or else drowned in the deepe channell of the river; and that with few of our men left dead behind us, whose funerals we honourably kept, rather with solemne prayses of them, than any mournefull sorrow of ours. After which exploits so great and so renow∣med, posteritie, I suppose, will not keepe silence (as touching your good deserts of the Com∣mon-wealth) in all nations, if whom yee have fully adorned with so high a title of maie∣stie, ye vouchsafe to defend by your vertue and gravitie, in case any adverse fortune should assaile me. Now to the end there might be a sound course holden in our affaires, and that the rewards of valorous men may attend upon them without all corruption, and no secret ambition or indirect seeking after promotions catch them up beforehand, this under the re∣verend presence of your counsell and assembly I determine and set downe; That neither any civile Iudge nor martiall commaunder shall be preferred to higher degree, through the helpe of aught else but his owne worth and good desert, neither shall he who otherwise will presume to be a suiter for any, goe his wayes without disgrace and shame. The inferior souldiors beneath, encouraged with this confidence of greater hopes, as who had beene a long time kept fasting for having any dignities or rewards, smiting their bucklers with their javelines, rose up with a mightie noise, and with one voice (in manner) and accord gave a favorable assent to his speeches and good beginnings: and immediately for feare there might be never so little time given to trouble this

so considerat and well advised dispose, in the behalfe of the * 1.1 Atthuarij, the Petulan∣tes and Celtae besought, they might be sent to governe what provinces it pleased him: which when they could not obtaine, they departed neither offended nor ill appaied. Howbeit, that very night which went next before the day wherein hee was declared Augustus, as himselfe now Emperour reported to those were next a∣bout him and more inward with him, in his sleepe there appeared one unto him in that shape and forme, as the publicke ^d Genius or Angell useth to bee portrayed, who said by way of chiding, these words unto him: Iulian, long since have I in se∣cret manner duly observed and kept the entrie of thy house, desirous to encrease thy dig∣nitie, and divers times gone my wayes as reiected. But if I bee not at this time received and admitted, namely, when the iudgements of so many agree in one, goe I will as for∣lorne and sorrowfull: howbeit, take this with thee, and set it deepely to thy heart, That I will no longer dwell with thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  pro Atthuarijs, a nation of the Frankes. O••tel. Some read here, pro Actuarijs, ••. for their Clerkes or Scribes: others per Atthuarios, or Actuarios, i. by their meanes and mediation.