Valentinianus.
VAlentinianus ruled xi. yeares, and almost 9. months: his father Grati∣anus, was meanly borne, and among the Cihalae was called Fanartus, because carrying about cords to sel, fiue souldiors could not take one [ E] of them from him by force: for that merit hee was cailed to be a souldiour, where by degrees he arose to be the Maister of the Praetory: for whose sake the souldiors bestowed the Empire vpon Valentinian his sonne, although he denyed to accept it. He made his cozen Valeus companion of his Empire, & afterward his sonne Gratianus, who being yet a child through the perswasi∣on of his mother in Law, and wise, hee created Augustus. This Valentinianus was of a comely presence, of a quick wit, and most eloquent in speeche, al∣thogh he spake seldome. He was seuere, vehement, and an enemy to vices, especialy couctousnesse, wherof he was a sharpe punisher, and in al things I haue related of him, he was most ••ik to A ••••rianus. He remēbred his ance••••ors, [ F] he gaue his mind to new feates of warre, hee coulde make 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the earth or clay, he vsed in good discretion, time places, and speech. To con∣clude, yf he had not trusted deceiptfull parasite••, to whome he•• gaue too much credence, contrary to the counsell of his wisest Nobles and approued friends, he had liued and dyed a peerelesse Prince. In his time was F••rmus slaine, who did attempt the Empire in Mauritania. Valentinian giuing audi∣ence to an Ambassage of the Guadi at Bergention lost his voyce, through a Flux of blood, and so in the 5. and 50. year of his age, being of perfect sence and memory, gaue vp the Ghost. The which disease some affirme hapned vn∣to him through surfet of meat, and saturity stretching his sin••wes. He being [ G] dead, Valentinian his sonne of foure yeare olde being with his mother, by the procurement of Equituis and Mcrobaudus was created Emperor.