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. XI Procopius besiegeth Cyzicum, and by the good service of Alison a Tribune win∣neth it by force, as also by keeping in most strait ward Serenianus the Prefect, sent unto Nicea. Which done, bearing and vaun∣ting himselfe over high, he neglecteth the op∣portunitie of his affaires.

WHiles these affaires in this manner proceed, Venustus a certaine Mi∣nister or Officer belonging to the Treasurie, under Valens, sent long before to Nicomedia, for to receive gold, and distribute it as wages poll by poll among the souldiors that were dispersed all over the East parts, understanding of this heavie newes aforesaid, conside∣ring the time was unfit for that businesse, went quickly to * 1.1 Cyzicus with those moneyes which he had gathered up; where by chaunce he found Serenianus, then * 1.2 Comes of the Domestici, of purpose sent to keepe the treasure safe: who with the helpe onely of a tumultuarie garrison kept the citie, wel knowne, even upon aunci∣ent records, to be compassed with imprenable walls: to the winning whereof Pro∣copius had appointed a strong power, that being lord of Bithynia, he might be ma∣ster also of Hellespontus. But by reason that the companies of the besiegers were oftentimes sore troubled with arrows, bullets, & other shot, as also for that through the industrie of the defendants there was devised a barre, by a verie strong yron chaine bestowed in the verie mouth of the haven (which, because the enemies ships armed with piked-beake-heads, might not rush in, was bound fast at either end) long it was ere the siege tooke effect. This chaine, after sundrie paines that both souldiors and captaines tooke (who alreadie were out-toiled with most sharp conflicts) one Aliso, a Tribune, and an expert warrior, cut away by this device. Vp∣on three ships joyned together, he built a roofe over head in this manner: Vpon the formost hatches or rowers bankes stood armed men close together with their shields couched thick over their heads, others also behind them stooping somwhat lower, & a third sort by degrees bending their bodies down: so as the hindmost re∣sting upon their houghes or hammes, made a shew of an arched building: Which kind of Fabricke against fight from walls, is framed in such a forme for this cause, That the shot of casting weapons and of stones, as they light and fall, might glance and glide off like shewers of raine, and so take no effect. Thus therefore Aliso being saved for a while from the violence of dartes and other shot, with mightie strength of bodie putting underneath a sound pyle or post, with the huge stroke of an axe so clave and burst the chaine aforesaid, that it fell asunder, and gave a large en∣trance to the citie. And so by the working of this feat the citie lay open and unde∣fended, to the violence of the enemies. For which cause what time as afterwards (Procopius) the author of all this proud and audacious rebellion, was put to death, and the adherents and complices of this faction cruelly executed, this verie Tri∣bune in regard of so noble an exployt, keeping his life still, and the place he had in warre-service, dyed long after in Isauria, stabbed and killed by a sort of robbing Brigands. When Cyzicum was by this service laid open, Procopius made hast thi∣ther, after pardon graunted in generall to all those that had made resistance, onely

Serenianus he commaunded to be led bound unto Nicea, and there kept in ward most straitly. And forth with upon Ormisda, a forward and ripe young gentleman, the sonne of that noble Ormisda, a [Persian] Prince of the bloud royall, he confer∣red a Proconsulship, with commission to manage after the manner of old time, as well civile causes, as warre affaires. Who dealing mildly in his place according to his accustomed maner, when he should have beene surprised, and caught up in a sodaine incursion, by those souldiors whom Valens had sent by the wilds and by∣wayes of Phrygia, with so vigorous a courage escaped, that being once embarked he would never lye open to such doubtfull and daungerous chaunces: and had a∣way with him his wife that followed in safetie, notwithstanding a cloud (as it were) of arrows flew all about, when she was at the point to be taken prisoner: a wealthy dame she was, and nobly descended, whose modest carriage and glorious constan∣cie delivered her husband afterwards from extreame daungers. Procopius upon the foresaid victorie vaunting himselfe above the condition of mortalitie, and not knowing, that any man be he never so happie to day, with the turning of Fortunes wheele, may once before evening become most miserable, commanded the house of Arbetio, full (as it was) by reason of those inestimable escheats (which house be∣fore time he had spared as his owne, as reckoning him for one of his owne compli∣ces and adherents) to be rifled and ransacked cleane, taking stomacke and indigna∣tion against him, that being sent for sundrie times to come unto him, hee alwayes made delayes, alledging for his excuse the lets of old age and sicknesse. And al∣though for this cause he, a presumptuous usurper, might well feare some grievous inclination and turning of the ballance: yet whereas he might now at his pleasure with the willing assent of all men (there being none to make resistance) have inva∣ded the East provinces, desirous all to see some new chaunge, as irked with that ri∣gorous and rough governement wherewith they were held under: yet by linge∣ring on, and making longer stay, for to allure unto him certaine cities of Asia, and to chuse out skilfull miners for the getting of gold ore, as those that might stand him in good stead against his wars, which he expected would be many and great, he became dull and blunt in manner of a keene and fine edged sword: Like as in times past Pescennius Niger, sent for oftentimes by the people of Rome, to re∣lieve and succour the hope of the State lying in extremitie, whiles hee lingered a long time the invading of Syria, was vanquished in the gulfe * 1.3 Issicum (which is in Cilicia, where Alexander defeated Darius) and being put to flight, died by the hand of a common souldior, in a certaine Suburbe-village of Antiochia. These were the acts that passed about mid-Winter, whiles Valentinian and Valens were Consuls.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chyzico.
• * 1.2

  or Captaine.
• * 1.3

  Golfo de Aiazze