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. 11. Warre raised by the Brigands or Robbers of Isauria, whereof the euents and issues were diuers.

NEither verily was this the only bane that plagued the East with sundry troubles and calamities: For, the Isauri (with whom an usuall matter it is, oft times to rest quiet, and as often with sud∣daine outrodes to disturbe and confound all) from secret rob∣beries, and those but seldome committed, brake out (while im∣punitie fostered their boldnesse growing worse and worse) in∣to grievous warres, stirring up verily their hostile and rebelli∣ous stomacks a long time by commotions without all rest; howbeit mightily mo∣ued by occasion of this indignitie (as they gave it out) that some of their consorts taken prisoners, were at * 1.1 Iconium, a towne of * 1.2 Pisidia, contrary unto the manner and custome, cast out to be devoured of ravenous wild beasts, at a publique shew in their Amphitheatre: and according to the saying of Tully, Like as even savage beasts, upon warning given, returne for the most part unto the place where some∣times they have beene fed; even so all of them, in manner of a whirlewind, being come downe from the cumbersome and high mountaines, repaired to the sea

coasts, along the which, hiding themselves within the vallies, full of lurking holes, toward darke night especially, when the Moone was but new, and in her first quar∣ter, and therefore yet not shining out in her full light, observed the * 1.3 shippe-masters and saylers; whom when they perceiued once to be layed along to sleepe, creeping on all foure among the anchor-gables, and then going softly for being heard, they conveyed themselves slyly into the shippe-boats, and so stood hard by them ere they were aware: thus, while greedie covetousnesse gave fire unto their cruelty, ha∣ving slaine them all, and spared not so much as one * 1.4 that yeelded, they caried away rich marchandise * 1.5, or gainefull commodities; for, none there was to make resi∣stance. But these prankes were not long practised: For, when knowledge was ta∣ken, that the saylers and marchant venturers were thus murthered and left dead in the place, no man afterward arrived at these rodes, but avoiding them no lesse than the deadly cliffes of ^e Scyron, they sayled close along the coasts of * 1.6 Cyprus, whereas they lye opposite unto the rockes of Isauria. Therefore, within a while after, when they could find nothing thither brought, leaving the sea coasts, they went into Lycaonia, adjoyning hard unto Isauria, and there within their thicke growne Fastnesses and Fore-fences, after the manner of those that lye in ambush for such as passe by, they maintained and enriched themselves with the goods as well of the provinciall inhabitants as the way-faring folke. This broile raised the souldiers that lay in garrison within many townes and castles confining upon them, who endevoring all of them with might and maine, to re∣pell them, incroaching further still, and spreading thus all abroad, one whilekee∣ping together closely in squadrons, other whiles dispersed asunder, were overmat∣ched by reason of their huge multitude: who being bred and brought up among the high and crooked mountains, carrying a great compasse about, use nimbly to passe over them, as if they were plaine places, and even, charging a farre off as ma∣ny as come toward them, with shot, and affrighting them with hideous cryes and yellings. And divers times our foot-men being forced in the pursuit after them, to clime up steepe rising hills, albeit that as their feet slipped from under them, by ta∣king hold of shrubs and bushes, they got up to their verie tops; yet among those narrow and unpassable streits, having no roome to imbattell and set themselves in array, nor yet to march on with sure and strong footing, whiles their enemies tra∣uersing their ground to and fro, tumble downe peeces of rockes and crags from a∣loft, they made shift to get away downe the hill with danger ynough; or else, if they were driuen upon extreame necessitie, valiantly to fight it out, overwhelmd they were, and laid along with the fall of huge and weighty peeces. From thence∣forth therefore, this due observation, with warie circumspection, was made, that ever as these robbers began once to make towards the high mountaines, our soul∣diers knowing the disadvantage of the place, gave way and retyred: but when they might be found upon the plaine (which happeneth verie often) having not the libertie either to stretch forth their armes, or to brandish and shake their dartes which they carry, two or three apeece, their fortune was to be slaine like dumb and silly beasts. Wherefore the same robbers, afraid of Lycaonia, for the most part a champian countrey, and knowing by many proofs made, that they should not be able to make their parts good with our men in a stable and set fight, through blind by-wayes went into * 1.7 Pamphylia, which had continued a long time verily with∣out trouble, but yet for feare of wasting, spoyling, and murders, whiles souldiers

ranged through all the quarters neere adjoyning, was fortified with strong garri∣sons on everie side: whereupon speeding themselves in great hast, for to prevent all rumors of their remove, by exceeding celeritie, trusting also upon the vigour and agilitie of their bodies, through winding lanes they got up (somewhat late though it was) to the hill tops. Now having overcome these dangerous difficul∣ties, when they were come as farre as to the banks of that deepe and whirling ri∣ver * 1.8 Melas, which in stead of a wall fenceth the inhabitants on either side thereof, considering the time, & how the night grew apace upon them, they rested a while wayting for day-light: For they supposed, that when they had once gotten over the same without any one to hinder their passage, they should by any sodaine and unlooked for incursion, be able to lay wast whatsoever stood in their way. But all the laborious and painfull toyle that they tooke, came to no effect: for after the sunne rising, by reason of the big streame, narrow, and deepe withall, they were disappointed of their passage over: and whiles they seeke for small fish boats, or prepare to flit or swim upon floats set together and pinned in hast, our legions win∣tering then at * 1.9 Sideniste, came abroad, and with a speedie march affronted them, and having imbattelled themselves neere unto the rivage, to joyne in fight hand to hand, most skilfully they made a fence before them with their targuets couched thicke and close together: Some also that trusted upon their swimming, or ad∣ventured in hollow troughes and trunks of trees, secretly to crosse over the river, they most easily killed. Whereupon when they had assayed many meanes and devises, even to their uttermost perill, and nothing auayled, what with feare, and what with violent resistance, quite put beside their purpose, and doubting which way to take, and whither to go, they drew neere unto the towne Laranda. There having refreshed themselves with food and repose, now that feare was past, and set upon the rich townes, by helpe of certaine companies of horsemen, which fortu∣ned to approach neere hand; not so much as assaying to make head againe in the broad and open plaine ground, they departed aside, and as they retyred backe, rai∣sed all the strength and manhood of the youth which was left at home. And for∣asmuch as they were sore distressed for want of food, they went to a place named Paleas, bending toward the sea, and fortified with a strong wall, where are layd up in store even to this day victuals usually, distributed among the souldiers lying in garrison, to defend all the costs of Isauria. This strong hold therefore they besie∣ged round about for three dayes and three nights together; and seeing neither the place so steepe could possibly be gained without danger of death, nor any good might be done with undermyning, and that no devise belonging to a siege tooke effect, they departed heavie, & ill appaid, with a purpose in the end, upon an angry mood, to enterprise exployts above their reach. Having conceived therefore a fel∣ler fit of furious rage, which dispaire and hunger together did set on fire, they reen∣forced their power, and in a heat unrestrainable, advanced forth, with a full resolu∣tion to destroy the mother citie Seleucia, which Castritius a * 1.10 lieutenant, ^f toge∣ther with three legions of old beaten souldiers, hardned alreadie in warre services, defended. Now the captaines of these sayd souldiers, advertised before hand by trustie espials of their comming, after the ordinarie token or watchword given, led them all forth in armes, well appointed to make a quicke and speedie sally; and ha∣ving with great agilitie passed over the bridge standing upon the river * 1.11 Calycad∣nus, the mightie streame and waves whereof run hard by the verie towers of the

walls, they arranged them in order readie to fight: how beit not one of them set foot hastily forward, nor was permitted to encounter and joyne battell: for why, they stood in feare of the adverse power, so furiously set upon rage, being both for num∣ber superiour, and readie also to run without all regard of life, upon the verie pyke and swords point. These Brigands then, having espied our armie afarre off, and heard the trumpettiers and cornettiers sound, stayed their march, and stood still a prety while, and drawing forth their swords in threatening wise, afterwards went on faire and softly: against whom our souldiers continuing still resolute, ready to make head and encounter them with their displayed rankes, yea, and knocking their shields and speares together (which manner and fashion stirreth vp in warriours both anger and dolour) with this their gesture now hard at hand, greatly terrified them. But thus sharpe set as they were to give battaile, their leaders reclaimed and drew them backe, supposing it unseasonable and inconuenient to hazard them∣selves upon a doubtfull peece of service, being as yet not farre from the wals of a citie, within the defence whereof they might be all fully secured from danger. The souldiers moved effectually with this persuasion, were brought backe againe with∣in the said wals: and after they had locked up and made fast the gates on every side, stood upon the plat-formes, bulwaikes, and battilments, having every where in readinesse stones and daits, to the end that if any one had ventured farre for∣ward, he might with multitude of shot and stones be beaten downe and over∣throwne. Howbeit, this one thing mightily troubled those which were shut up within, because the vessels that used to bring corne along the river, were taken, whereby the Isaurians for their parts had plenty of victuall; but themselves, ha∣ving spent up already the ordinary provision of food and sustenance, wonderously feared the wofull and deadly miseries of imminent famine. When the newes of these occurrents were flowne farre abroad, and intelligences thereof continually given one after another had made Gallus Caesar to starckle, for that the * 1.12 Master of ^g the Horsemen was greatly employed and busied very farre off, Nebridius * 1.13 Lieute∣nant generall in the East, by commandement and commission directed unto him, having from all parts assembled his forces, sped himselfe with exceeding hast and diligence to deliver this citie, so great and of such importance, from danger: which being once knowne, the foresaid theeves departed, without atchieving any me∣morable exploit besides: and being scattered asunder (as their manner is) made toward their wields and desart mountaines.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cogni, Bellonio Gognia, Postello. Conia. Leuncla••.
• * 1.2

  A Region within Cilicia. Ptolem.
• * 1.3

  Na••tices.
• * 1.4

  Cadentium.
• * 1.5

  Me••ves op••mas vel utiles.
• * 1.6

  Cypri.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Giravo & Alph. Adnan. together with Ci∣licia, it is 〈…〉〈…〉 C••ramania. Bellemu••.
• * 1.8

  Crionero. Marius Niger.
• * 1.9

  Chirisonda, or Candalor, a citie in Pamphylia.
• * 1.10

  Como••.
• * 1.11

  Saleso. Mar. Nig. or Salepho. Matth. Paris. Some call it at this day Del Ferro.
• * 1.12

  or Generall.
• * 1.13

  Comes Orientis.