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. VII. The most strong assault of the said citie. The painefull toyle, industrie, and for∣titude, as well of the besiegers as besieged. At length by under∣mining the walls are overthrowne.

ANd now whiles the trumpets sounded out alowd the battaile, the souldiors on both parts shouted amaine: and first, the Romans with many a run, and with a minatorie noyse charged upon the e∣nemies all covered on everie side with plates of yron in manner of thin and slender feathers, and bearing themselves bold, for that the darts and casting weapons hitting upon the slipperie hard yron of their armours, rebounded backe: and otherwhiles the knitting together of the Romans shields, under which, as under a roofe of arch worke, that cannot well bee described, they were most fitly protected, with continuall stirring and motion, opened somewhat wide a sunder. On the contrarie ••ide the Persians sticking close to their walls, so far forth as they could do or strive againe, assayed to checke and make voyd our dead∣ly violence. But when as now the assailants carrying before them hurdles of tough ••y••ier windings, were upon the point to skale the walls, the slingers and archers together, with others also tumbling downe huge stones, with firebrands and fire∣balls,

set them further off. Then also the Balists bent and fitted with shafts of wood were wrested up and discharged with a great noyse, sending forth headed arrowes exceeding thicke: the Scorpions likewise whither soever by skilful hand they were directed, discharged from them round stones. Thus, after redoubled conflicts one upon another, the heat of the weather still encreasing untill noone (by reason that the Sunne did cast scorching hot vapours from him) called them all away, as busie as they were in preparation of their workes, and desirous of fight, being tyred out, and running all to sweat. With the same purpose and setled resolution, the day also following both parts bickering one with another in sundrie sorts of fight, depart on even hand neither winners nor loosers. But at everie hard pinch and daungerous service, the prince in person joyning close to the fighting men, called instantly up∣on them, to have the citie forced and destroyed, because hee would not lye long a∣bout the walls, and overslip greater designes that he projected. But as it falleth out in cases of urgent extremitie, there is nothing so slight and small, but otherwhiles, even contrarie to all hope and expectation, it yeeldeth occasion and advantage of greater matters. For, when as both sides fought so faintly, as if oftentimes they had beene at the point to depart asunder, behold, by the stroke of a Ram long time dis∣used, and which a little before was brought against the wall, downe came a tower higher than all the rest, and built most strongly of bricke; the fall whereof brought after it with a mightie crash, that side of the wall that joined unto it. Then and there by occasion of sundrie accidents and occurrents, the painfull labour of the besie∣gers, and the diligent industrie of the besieged, was notably shewed by brave and worthy exploits. For our fighting souldiers were so enkindled with anger and do∣lour, that they thought no service hard, and the defendants running as they did, and bestirring themselves for life, nothing was dread and terrible. Now, when the fight had continued hot a long time in even ballance, and doubtfull tearmes, after much bloudshed, and many a man slaine on both parts, it determined with the end of the day, and so at length respect and consideration was had of their weari∣nesse. And whiles these things were a doing in open day light, word was brought unto the Emperour, full of watchfull care, That the legionarie souldiors, who had the charge of digging trenches and undermining, after they had wrought under ground hollow wayes, and upheld them with props, had pierced through the ve∣rie foundations beneath, readie now to rise above the ground, if hee did so direct them. When as therefore the most part of the night was past, upon signall given by sound of trumpets, to go forth, running there was on all hands to arme and to fight: and on purpose the assault was given on both sides affront the walls, that whiles the defendants are skudding to and fro about the walls, to put by and repell daungers, so that neither the tinging sound of the yron tooles digging hard by could bee heard, nor any man remained within forth to make resistance, a companie of my∣ners all on a sodaine shew their heads. Which being so ordered, as agreed it was before, and the defendants busily occupied, and the lurking caves layed open, up starteth first a souldior, one of the number that before was overcome, after whom Magnus a Tribune, and Iovianus a Notarie, whom a bold and hardie multitude fol∣lowing, after they had stabbed those whom they found in the house, through which they came forth to light, marching on softly with a silent pace, they killed all the watchmen, as they were with lowd and shrill voyces extolling, as the manner is and custome of that nation, the justice and felicitie of their king. Thought it was sometime, that Mars himselfe in person (if the lawes of divine majestie permit that

gods may be entermingled with men) was assistant to ^k Lucinus when hee invaded the campe of the Lucanes. And men verily beleeved so much, because in the verie middle and heat of skirmish, there was one seene of a huge and terrible bignesse, all armed, carrying ladders: and the next day, when a review was taken of the armie, such an one could not be found, though he were with a speciall care searched for: whereas, if he had bin a souldior, he would willingly of his own accord have shew∣ed himselfe, knowing as he did what a memorable act he had done: But as it was al∣together unknowne then, what was he that performed so brave a deed: so now they that did most valiantly shew themselves, and were seene above the rest, rewar∣ded with obsidionall coronets, and praised in open place before the whole armie assembled, according to the custome of our auncients.