body, everything which he did pleased everybody.

X.

Sec. 1. About the same time, when Valentinian had gone forth on an
expedition very cautiously as he fancied, a prince of the Allemanni, by
name Rando, who had been for some time preparing for the execution of a
plan which he had conceived, with a body of light-armed troops equipped
only for a predatory expedition, surprised and stormed Mayence, which
was wholly destitute of a garrison.

2. And as he arrived at the time when a great solemnity of the Christian
religion was being celebrated, he found no obstacle whatever in
carrying off a vast multitude of both men and women as prisoners, with
no small quantity of goods as booty.

3. After this, for a short interval a sudden hope of brighter fortune
shone upon the affairs of Rome. For as king Vithicabius, the son of
Vadomarius, a bold and warlike man, though in appearance effeminate and
diseased, was continually raising up the troubles of war against us,
great pains were taken to have him removed by some means or other.

4. And because after many attempts it was found impossible to defeat him
or to procure his betrayal, his most confidential servant was tampered
with by one of our men, and by his hand he lost his life; and after his
death, all hostile attacks upon us were laid aside for a while. But his
murderer, fearing punishment if the truth should get abroad, without
delay took refuge in the Roman territory.

5. After this an expedition on a larger scale than usual was projected
with great care and diligence against the Allemanni, to consist of a
great variety of troops: the public safety imperatively required such a
measure, since the treacherous movements of that easily recruited nation
were regarded with continual apprehension, while our soldiers were the
more irritated, because, on account of the constant suspicion which
their character awakened, at one time abject and suppliant, at another
arrogant and threatening, they were never allowed to rest in peace.

6. Accordingly, a vast force was collected from all quarters, well
furnished with arms and supplies of provisions, and the count Sebastian
having been sent for with the Illyrian and Italian legions which he
commanded, as soon as the weather got warm, Valentinian, accompanied by
Gratian, crossed the Rhine without resistance. Having divided the whole
army into four divisions, he himself marched with the centre, while
Jovinus and Severus, the two capta