was dismissed, himselfe by the way of Melitina, a towne in Armenia the lesse, and by Lacotena and Samosata, passed over Euphrates, and came to Edessa. Where, when he had stayed a long time, expecting the companies of souldiors as they as∣sembled together from all parts, and waiting for plentifull provision of victuals, af∣ter the Autumnall Aequinox he went forth and came to Amida: the wall whereof when hee approched, and beheld round about, how it was full of ashes and dead embers, he shed teares and groned againe, to consider what calamities that wofull and miserable citie had endured. There Vrsulus, Treasurer to the State, who chan∣ced then to be in place, with griefe of heart cried out and said: Behold with what courage and valiant hearts are our cities defended by the souldiors, for the payment of whose wages, the wealth of the very Empire beginneth now to fayle. This so bitter a speech of his, the militarie multitude remembred afterwards at Chalcedon, and there rose up in a mutinie, to his destruction. From thence marching with thicke∣set squadrons, when he approched Bezabde, he pitched downe his tents: which being fenced all about with an high rampier and deepe ditches, riding a great way off about the circuit of the fortifications of the towne, he was informed by the re∣port of many, that the places were more strongly rebuilt, which before time the in∣jurie of time had decayed. And because he would omit nothing that of necessitie was to be provided, before the heat of fight, he sent certaine sage and wise men un∣to the defendants of the towne, to urge them by proposing a twofold condition, either to returne home into their owne countries, with the graunt of other mens goods without bloudshed; or else to become wholly subject unto the Romane Empire, where they should bee advaunced with dignities and rich rewards. But when they upon a naturall obstinacie and inbred resolution rejected this offer, as men being nobly descended & of high parentage, they addressed themselves with undergoing of extreame perils and paines against all the preparations that belong unto a siege: He therefore began to give an assault unto all parts of the towne, with his men marshalled in thicke rankes, and with sound of trumpets to incite their cou∣rage to the service: the valiant Romane souldior, for that the legions were gathered under sundrie defensive roufes of shields, going softly and safely forward, began to undermine the wals: and because all manner of casting-weapons were dischar∣ged upon them that came under the said wals, and thereby the said joynt frame of their shields loosened, they departed upon the sound of the retreat. Now, after their hearts were for one whole day refreshed, the third morning being more curi∣ously covered and defended, with lowd outcries every where on all sides they assai∣ed to skale and get up the wals. And albeit the defendants lay close within behind haire clothes, because they would not be seene of the enemie, yet so often as need required, they would stoutly thrust forth their armes, and with stones and darts as∣saile them that were beneath. And when the hurdle fences of oysiers went confi∣dently forward, and were at hand to touch the walls, then there fell from above great pipes and barrels, milstones, and pieces of broken pillars, with the exceeding weight whereof the fighting men below were overwhelmed: and thus their devi∣ces to cover them being violently driven asunder and laid gaping open, they made shift to get away with the utmost danger of their lives.