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. VIII. Sapor reiecting the admonitions of a Christian bishop, by force winneth the besie∣ged citie, fareth cruelly against the townesmen: and having given the attempt upon Virta, a most strong fenced citie, and relinqui∣shed this vaine enterprise, at length departeth.

BVt the day following, when a truce by common assent after manyfold travaile and paines taken was graunted, what time as a great terror was presented round about the walls, and the Persians feared no lesse, a Christian bishop shewed by certaine signes of gesture and by becke∣ning, that he was willing to goe foorth, and upon faithfull promise of returne in safe conduct, he came as farre as to the kings pavilions: where after leave given to speake his mind, in a mild manner of speech he persuaded with the Persians to de∣part home, now that both parts had received in common lamentable losses, saying withall, that greater sorrowes yet were to bee feared which happily would come unto them. But hee stood discoursing of these and such like points in vaine: such was the fell and outrageous furie of the king, who withstood the motion, & stoutly swore, That he would not depart before the towne and fortifications about it were destroyed: yet was the bishop somewhat suspected (untruly, as I thinke, though commonly it was by many men vouched) That in secret conference and talke hee informed Sapor what parts of the wall he should assault, as weake within-forth and easie to be battered. And this seemed to carrie some likelyhood with it, for that af∣terwards the enemies engines were evidently seene with a great shout and joyous leaping of the assaylants to play lustily upon the undefensible places, and such as for very age and rottennesse began to leane and were readie to fall, as if some that knew the inward secrets of the citie, had given direction. And albeit the narrow wayes yeelded difficult accesse unto the walls, and the Rams fitted for batterie were hardly set forward, for feare of stones throwne by hand, and arrow-shot that

kept them off, yet ceased not eyther the brakes or scorpions, wherof these dischar∣ged stones thicke, the other sent out darts as fast, and together with them baskets and panniers burning, besmeared over with pitch and ^k Bitumen: by the conti∣nuall fall whereof, comming still downe the hill, the sayd engines of artillerie stucke fast, as fixed and rooted deepe within ground; and beeing thus set, fierie darts and burning linkes together throwne lustily with a good arme and star hand, set them on a light fire. But although the case stood thus, and many on both sides were slaine, yet the assaylants were more hotely set to rase and destroy the towne, (both by naturall situation strong, and also by great workemanship of mans hand fortified) ere the middest of Winter; as being persuaded, that the kings rage would not be allayed before. And therefore, neither the effusion of much bloud, nor the number of them that were shot into the bodie and deadly wounded, could re∣clayme the rest from like boldnesse. But when they had a long time maintained fight with much hurt and mischiefe gotten thereby, at length they exposed them∣selves to extreame and present dangers: and as they drave their Rammes, what with the weightie stones comming thicke from the wals, and what with sundrie fireworkes, debarred they were from going forward. Howbeit, one Ram higher than his fellowes, covered over with wet bulls hides, and therefore in lesse danger of mishap by flames or darts, going before all, with much straining and endevour crept to the wall, and so with his mightie sharpe pointed head entring betweene the joints of the stones, and having losened the same, overthrew a tower: which bee∣ing fallen with a wonderfull crashing noyse, they also who stood upon it, with so suddain a ruine thereof were throwne downe, and so eyther breaking their bones, or overwhelmed with rubbish, died sundry deaths, and those unlooked for: thus the armed multitude having found a more safe ascent, rushed in. Then, as the hi∣deous noyse which the Persians made, yelling and crying out on every side, thun∣dered and resounded in the fearefull eares of the townesmen thus over-matched, the fight grew hote and more close within the wals, whiles our enemies in squa∣drons fought at hand, considering that standing with their bodies one against ano∣ther thicke, and having their swords drawne on both sides, there was not one spared that stood in the way. In conclusion, the besieged resisting a long time with much adoe, and to the mischiefe of both sides, were at length with the pressing hard of the huge multitude disranked and scattered by heapes: after which, the angry ene∣mies put to sword whomsoever they could find, the small babes were plucked from their mothers bosomes, the mothers also themselves killed, and no man regarded what he did. And yet in the meane time this bloudie nation more greedie of pil∣lage than of carnage, loaden with all kind of rich spoyles, and leading away an ex∣ceeding great number of prisoners, went backe with much rejoycing to their tents. The king for all he was puffed up with extraordinarie joy, as one who a long time burned in desire to win Phaenicha, a strong fenced piece, and of great importance, departed not thence, before that hee had right strongly repayred that part of the wall which was shattered, layed up there in store plentie of victuals, and bestowed in it a garrison of armed men, such as for their birth were of good note, and for skill in martiall feats renowmed. For he feared (as it fell out indeed) least the Ro∣manes taking to the heart the losse of such mightie strong holds, would addresse themselves by maine force to besiege the same. Vaunting therefore, and bearing himselfe more big, and fed with hope to win whatsoever he could go in hand with, after he had surprized and taken in other meaner piles, he determined to set upon

* 1.1 Virta, a sort of great antiquitie: insomuch, as it is thought to have beene built by Alexander king of Macedonia, seated verily in the utmost part of Mesopotamia, but encircled with wals as it were winding in and out, and pointed with hornes, and by reason of sundry devices and meanes made unaccessable. Which when he assayed by all the skill and art he had, one while alluring the defendants with goodly promises, otherwhiles threatening to hang and crucifie them: sundry times going in hand to raise up bankes and mounts, and bringing engines against it, per∣taining to a siege, after more wounds and losses received than given, he gave over his vaine enterprise, and in the end departed. These were the acts atchieved that yeare betweene Tygris and Euphrates. Which when Constantius had learned by the relation of many messengers, fearing the Parthian expeditions whiles he win∣tered in Constantinople, with greater care he furnished the frontiers with all war∣licke provision; setting also armour together and new trained souldiors, strengthe∣ning likewise the legions with supplies of strong young men; for that the set bat∣tailes of legionarie souldiors oftentimes sped well in all the warres and services of the East parts: besides all this, he sought for the Scythians aid either for money or love, that in the mid Spring setting forth on his journey out of Thracia, he might forthwith seize into his hands the places that were suspected.

Notes

• * 1.1

  or Iu••ta.