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 king of the Persians, whiles Constantius abode farre off, invadeth Mesopotamia, forceth the citie Singara, hewed in pieces two Romane legions, and carried the rest as well citizens as souldiors away unto the furthest parts of Persis.

WHiles these things were earnestly a doing in Gaule, that cruell king of the Persians, burning in hote desire (kindled first by Antonine, and now redoubled by the comming of Craugasius) to bee Lord of all Mesopotamia, whiles Constantius abode farre off with his armie; af∣ter he had augmented his armed forces, and passed (after his usuall manner) over Tygris, setteth in hand to assault Singara, a citie very well fortified both with souldiors and all things else necessarie and requisit, as they deemed, who had the government of those countries. The defenders of which place, after they had espied the enemie a great way off, quickly shut their gates, and with stout and courageous hearts ran to and fro along the turrets and battlements, gathering to∣gether great stones and warlike engines to discharge upon them: and thus having made all readie beforehand, they stood all in armour, prest to repell the multitude of their enemies, if they attempted to climbe the wals. The king therefore being come, when by the mediation of his nobles and captaines admitted to approch neere, hee might not by a gentle and mild parle persuade the defendants to yeeld unto his pleasure, both gave them a whole dayes respite, and in the next morning betimes by breake of day setting up a signall of a fire-red banner, assayled was the citie on every side, whiles some brought skaling ladders, others planted their en∣gines, and the most part defended with a fence of timber and hurdles before them, as also with penthouses over their heads, sought wayes to undermine the founda∣tions of the wall. Against these devises the townesmen standing above upon their high bulwarkes and munitions, with stones and all sorts of casting-darts afarre off, repelled those who venturously and proudly presumed to put themselves forward within the reach of shot. Thus continued they fighting for certaine daies together with doubtfull event, and many a man on both sides lost his life, and as many were wounded. At the last, when the skirmish was very hot, and evening now came on, one exceeding strong Ram among other engines was brought forward, which with pushes thick & threefold butted upon that round tower, at which in the for∣mer siege, I said, the citie by a breach was layed open. Vnto which tower all the

multitude came to rescue, where they fought most closely. There might a man have seene firebrands, burning torches and fierie darts flying every way for to burn this mischievous engine, as it approched neere, neither gave over the thicke shot of arrowes and bullets of either side. But the sharpe pointed head of the said Ram went beyond all the devices against it, entering and piercing into the joynts of the stones new layed, and as yet by reason of moisture weake and feeble. But while the fight continued still with fire and sword, the tower aforesaid fell downe, wher∣by way was made into the citie, and the place disfurnished of defendants, whome the great danger so imminent had scattered: wherupon whole troupes and bands of Persians setting up a yelling outcrie, filled all parts of the towne, whiles there was none to restraine them; and after some few slaine, and those pell mell one with another, all the rest by commaundement of king Sapor were taken alive and carried away into the furthest countries of Persia. Now, there were two legions in garri∣son for defence of this citie, to wit, ^e Prima Flavia, and ^f Prima Parthica, besides many homelings and naturall inhabitants, together with auxillarie horsemen, whose hap was by reason of this suddaine danger to be shut within, who all, as I said, were led with their hands bound, whiles none of our men helped them. For the greater part of our armie lay in the field encamped for the defence of Nisibis, a citie very farre distant from it: and otherwise, never could any man so much as in old time succour Singara when it was in distresse, by reason that all the places there round about for want of water be dried up. And albeit antiquitie built this fort in a very fit and convenient place for the discoverie of adverse and suddaine trou∣bles, yet it turned alwayes to the detriment of the Romanes, as being sundry times surprized and taken with the losse of the defendants thereof.

Notes

• Singra. D. Atha∣nasio.