The auncient ecclesiasticall histories of the first six hundred yeares after Christ, wrytten in the Greeke tongue by three learned historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Cæsarea in Palæstina vvrote 10 bookes. Socrates Scholasticus of Constantinople vvrote 7 bookes. Euagrius Scholasticus of Antioch vvrote 6 bookes. VVhereunto is annexed Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus, of the liues of the prophetes, apostles and 70 disciples. All which authors are faithfully translated out of the Greeke tongue by Meredith Hanmer, Maister of Arte and student in diuinitie. Last of all herein is contayned a profitable chronographie collected by the sayd translator, the title whereof is to be seene in the ende of this volume, with a copious index of the principall matters throughout all the histories

CAP. IX.

Howe Chosroes when he had sent captaine Adaarmanes against the Romaines who vexed them aboue all measure, went him selfe to Nisibis.

CHosroes being now furnished to battaile, brought Adaarmanes on his way as farre as the other side of Euphrates, which was with in his owne dominions, sent him with an armie into the marches of the Empire of Rome, and commaunded him to breake into the towne Circesium, Circesium is a town very conunodious for the Romaines, situated in the furthest parts of the Romaine dominions, not onely fortified with strong walles, raised vp to a marueilous great height, but also inuironed with two riuers, Euphrates and Aboras, and become by reason of them as it were an Isle. Then he him self went with his power ouer the riuer Tigris, & got him straight to Nisibis. But the Romaines of a longe time vnderstoode not of these voyages, and Iustinus was made a foole. For he belieued a flimflame reporte that was blased abrode, howe Chosroes was either dead, or at the point of death. They say againe that he was sore displeased, because the siege of Nisibis was lingered, and that he sent certaine men for to egge Martianus forwardes, and with all speede to bring him the keyes of the citie. When their affaires tooke no prosperous suc∣cesse, but Iustinus bore away greate shame and reproche, because he woulde seeme to attempt that which was vnpossible for him to doe, that is to besiege so great and so wide a citie, specially with so simple an armie: firste of all Gregorie Byshop of Antioch, was certified of the whole. For the Byshop of Nisibis was his deare friende, and liberally rewarded of him, and therefore beinge ve∣ry sory that the Christians sustained such losses, and such vexations of the Persians, beinge also de∣sirous that the citie whereof he was Byshop, were part of the Romaine dominions, signified vnto him all that was done about Nisibus, without the boundes of the Empire of Rome. Gregorius wrote immediatly of these tidings vnto Iustinus, and tolde him with all speede how Chosroes inua∣ded the countreis. But he wallowinge still in the filth of his wonted voluptuousnes, neyther gaue eare vnto Gregories letters, neyther belieued them, thought that onely to be true, which his owne sicke braine had conceaued. For he immitated the maner of intemperate and riotous persons, who as they are lither and rechelesse, so they build toe much vpon prosperous successe and fortune, and

if any thing happen contrary to their minde, they will in no wise be brought to beleeue it for true. Wherfore he wrote backe again vnto Gregorie, reiecting his letters for false reports. if they were true, that the Persians should not win the citie and raise the siege before his power came, or if they won it before, they should be met withall ere they left the cuntrey. Afterwards he sent Acacius a proud man, of a disdainefull condition vnto Martianus, with this commaundement, that if Mar∣tianus had before put one foote in the Citie and recoyled backe, he should put him beside his honor and dignitie. The which he did in all the hast to the great hurt of the common weale, and all for to satisfie the Emperours will. For he went into the Romaine campe and tooke Martianus being out of the Empire, and depriued him of all martiall dignitie, vnknowing vnto the armie. The cap∣taines of the bands & Centurions after their watch was ended, vnderstanding that their captaine was put out of office, shooke of their armour, stole away priuely, scattered them selues here and there in their flight, and left the siege to the great laughter of all men. Adaarmanes therefore who had a mightie armie of the Persians and Barbarians called Scenetae passing by Circesium, destroyed all the Romaine Countreis before him with fire, sword, and euery other sort of lamentable inuasi∣on, shewed no mercy at all, neither in word, neither in dede. He tooke castels & many villages, and no man w^t stoode him, first, because the Romaine host wāted a head or captaine: next for y^t Chosroes had beset all the soldiers about Daras, and therfore the countrey was ouerrun and destroyed freely without feare at all. furthermore Chosroes inuaded Antioch by his soldiers onely, for he him selfe was absent, who lost their labour and were driuen backe thence, yea when as very few remained in the Citie, when as also the bishop fledde away, and conueyed with him the holy treasure of the Church, because that the greater part of the wall lay on the ground, and the people as it falleth out at such times was vp all on rebellion, and when they were gone, the Citie was left desolate, neither was there any one that deuised engines to repell the violence of the aduersary, or that was disposed to resist the enemie any kinde of way.