CAP. VIII.
Howe Theopolis otherwise called Antioch, was againe tossed with earthquakes.
FOure moneths after the returne of Gregorie from Constantinople in the sixe hundred thirtie and seuenth yeare after Antioch was so called, and the threescore and firste yeare after the earthquake whiche went next before, when as I my selfe the last day of September had ta∣ken to my wyfe a virgine of tender yeares, and the citye therefore kept holiday, and flocked wyth great pompe and solemnitie to my wedding ca••••ber & feasting house, about the third houre of the night, there rose such an earthquake that with the violence thereof it shooke together the whole ci∣tie. It so tossed the fundations that all the buildinges about the most holy Churche were turned downe to the ground, except onely the hemispherical rouf that Euphraemius had made of baye trees which also was sore hurt of the earthquake in the time of Iustinus, and so tossed also by other earth∣quakes, after that againe, that it leaned very muche into the North, and thrust out of their place the mightie wodden beames whiche fell with a marueilous great crackinge, and immediatly the he misphericall roufe shrinked to his owne place, and stood perpendicular wise as it did before, without bowing to either side. Manye peeces of Ostracina and Psephium (mentioned before) all the places called Brisia, and moreouer the buildings of S. Maries Church were quite ouerthrow∣en, saue one middle porche that was marueilously saued. All the turrets that stoode on the playne grounde came tumblinge downe, when as the rest of the buildinge (the battlements of the wall ex∣cepted) stoode still. yet the stones of the battlements were driuen backe and notthrowen downe. O∣ther Temples moreouer, and both the publique baths that were vsed at seuerall times were also partakers of that calamitie and came to ruine. The people perished confusely one with an other (as it was cōiectured by the bread which was spent in that citie) about a threescore thousand per∣sons. But the byshop escaped very straungely when the whole lodginge he sate in came to ruine, &* 1.1 al that were about him were only saued, otherwise none, for they lifted him vp with all spede, when the earthquake the seconde time shooke the place, and as it were opened the lodginge, so that they let him downe by a rope, and deliuered him out of daunger. It fared very well with the citye, notwithstandinge all that infortunate successe. For it came to passe by the goodnesse of our mer∣cifull God, mittigatinge his furie, and correctinge with the rodde of pitye and mercies, the sinnes of his people that no fyre followed after, When as great flames flashed vp out of herthes, and lightes both pudlyque and priuate, out of kitchens, baths, and infinite other suche lyke places in compasse of the whole citie. There dyed in this earthquake manye noble and famous personages, and so did Asterius: but the Emperour repaired with money this lamentable ruine of the citie.