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. VI. The description of the kingdome of Persia; to wit, the beginning of it, the first kings, the rising and encrease, the scituation and limits thereof.

FOrced I am by the course of the storie that is devolved now thus far, by way as it were, of a quick digression, to shew the site of Persia, which hath bin curiously described by Geographers, of whom verie few and those hardly have delivered a truth. Now, whereas this discourse shall fall out to be somewhat long, availe it will to the perfect knowledge of the thing. For whosoever hee bee, that in the narration of unknowne matters affecteth too much brevitie, he seeketh not that so much which he should verie plainely declare, but what ought indeed to be overpassed. This kingdome in times past small, and for such causes as I have oft related, called before time by many names, what time as Alexander the great, was taken away by untimely death in Babylon, became sub∣ject to Arsaces the Parthian, a man of obscure parentage, and no better in his youth∣full dayes than a ring-leader of theeves: but by little and little turning over a leafe, and changing his purpose to the better, by a continued course and traine of noble deedes, he advanced himselfe to an high estate: Who after he had atchieved many glorious and valiant exploits, vanquished Seleucus Nicator that succeeded the fore∣said Alexander (who for his manifold victories obtained that sirname) and driven out the garrisons of the Macedonians, himselfe leading a more peaceable life, pro∣ved a moderat ruler, and mild judge of such as yeelded obedience. And in the end, when he had subdued unto him all the borderers, either by force of armes, or by a due consideration of his equitie, or else by feare, so that Persia now was replenished with fortified cities, strong castles and pyles, and became dread unto all the neigh∣bour inhabitants, of whom afore time it was woont to stand in feare, himselfe in the middle race of his age departed this life in peace. And by the uniforme accord and consent as well of the noble Peeres, as the common people, striving a vie who

might be most forward, became the first, that according to the due rites of conse∣cration was inserted (as they be persuaded) and ranged among the starres. Where∣upon in those dayes the high minded and prowd kings of the same nation can well abide to be styled the brethren of Sunne and Moone. And like as our Em∣perours love well and wish the title of Augustus, even so to the Parthian kings (who before time were abject, ignoble, and base) through the happie auspices and go∣vernment of Arsaces, there accrewed even the greatest titles of dignities that might be: and therefore they worship and adore him no lesse than a god, and so farre forth are his honours spred and enlarged, that even to our very dayes, there is not a prince preferred before all other to the rule of that kingdome, unlesse hee bee of the line and race of Arsaces: yea, and in every civile brawle and contention, which dayly happen among them, there is not one but avoideth, no lesse than sa∣criledge, to lay violent hands upon any, descended from Arsaces, beare he armes, or be he otherwise a private person. And well knowne it is, that this nation ha∣ving vanquished and subdued many States, dilated the bounds of their domini∣on as farre as Propontis and Thracia; how ever, through the pride of their hautie minded leaders, who licentiously encroched upon farre countries, and commit∣ted outrages there, by receiving very great foyles and overthrowes, it became much impaired. First, through Cyrus, whome, after hee passed over the * 1.1 Frith of Bosphorus with a fabulous and incredible multitude, Tomyris Queene of the Scythians, in a most eagre revenge of her ^g sonnes, discomfited, and put his host to the sword. Then, what time as Darius, and afterwards Xerxes, by altering the use of the very elements, invaded Greece, all their forces in manner, as well on land as at sea, were quite defeated, and themselves could hardly find meanes to escape with safetie: to say nothing of the * 1.2 Alexandrine warres, and how by will and testament the whole nation was transferred under the government of one suc∣cessor. Which affaires thus atchieved, and long times passed under the Consuls government, and then afterward, our State being reduced under the power of the Caesars, those nations now and then waged warre with us; sometimes they went their wayes on even hand, otherwhiles with losse, and sometimes againe with vi∣ctorie. Now will I set downe the situation of the places therein as summarily and briefely as reason will permit. These countries lying out largely spread in length and breadth, environ about on every side the Persian gulfe, so full of Islands, so famous, and so much frequented: the mouthes of which sea are by report so narrow, that from * 1.3 Harmozonta, a cape or promontorie of * 1.4 Carmania, unto a∣nother that standeth over against it, and which the inhabitants call Maces, a man may kenne without any impeachment at all. After which straits one passed through, and that the open sea spreadeth it selfe exceeding wide, men use to sayle directly as farre as to the citie * 1.5 Teredon; where, after many downefals, Euphrates is drowned in the sea: and the whole gulfe, if a man measure along the shore, as if the whole space were wrought round by a Turners brake, taketh up in circuit twentie thousand stadia; upon all the coasts and sides wherof, stand towns and vil∣lages thicke, yea, and there is frequent passage to and fro of shipping. When as therefore yee have sayled through the foresaid straits, yee come to the gulfe of Armenia, lying into the East: and after a certaine distance betweene, occasioned by a necke or Isthm of land, there openeth a Bay or Gulfe in the South, named Cantichus; not farre from whence there is another, which they tearme Chalites, under the Sunnesetting. Then, after a number of Isles passed by, of which but

few are knowne, they joyne upon the Indians Ocean sea, which is first of all o∣thers that entertaineth the fervent heat of the Sunne rising, beeing of it selfe also exceeding hote. And according as the Geographers penne hath in their Cards made the draught, in this manner is the whole circuit aforesaid by parcels divi∣ded. From the North pole to the Caspian straits it confineth upon the Cadusij, with many nations of the Scythians, and the Arimaspi, men with one eye, and savage: on the South side it meeteth with the Armenians and * 1.6 Niphates, as also the Albanes, seated in Asia; with the red sea, and the Arabians Scenitae, whom the posteritie ensuing named Saracenes: under the South point it over-looketh Mesopotamia: and where it lyeth afront opposite into the East, it stretcheth to the river * 1.7 Ganges, which cutting through the middest of the Indian lands, is dis∣charged into the South sea.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lost••etto di Constantinopoli.
• * 1.2

  with Alexander Magnus.
• * 1.3

  Cabo Lasquette, Ortel.
• * 1.4

  Cherman.
• * 1.5

  Balfero. Ortel.
• * 1.6

  a mountaine.
• * 1.7

  Gangan. Casta••••. Cantan. Merca••••••. Gualgas. Theveto.