The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. XVIII. How, after the death of Isdigerdes the Persian King, the League between the Romans and Persians was broken, and a bloudy War hapned, wherein the Persians were worsted.

AFter the death of Isdigerdes King of Persia, by whom the Christians in that country were not persecuted in the least, his Son by name Vararanes succeeded in that Kingdom; and being induced thereto by the Magi, he vexed the Christians severely, inflicting on them va∣rious punishments and Persian tortures. The Christians therefore in Persia, constrained there∣to by necessity, flie to the Romans, entreating them not to neglect and see them wholly de∣stroyed. Atticus the Bishop receives the sup∣pliants kindly; and made it his business to assist them to the utmost of his power. Likewise, he acquainted the Emperour Theodosius with what had hapned. It fell out at the very same time, that the Romans were offended with the Persians upon another account: because the Persians would not restore the Miners of Gold, whom they had hired of the Romans; and in regard they had deprived the Roman Merchants of their * 1.1 effects. To this occasion of difference, the flight of the Christians in Persia to the Romans made an accession. For the Persian King dis∣patch't away an Embassie immediately, to de∣mand the Fugatives. But the Romans would in

no wise deliver up those who had fled to them, not only because they were desirous of preser∣ving them as being suppliants, but in regard like∣wise of their readiness to do any thing in de∣fence of the Christian Religion. Wherefore they chose rather to have a war with the Per∣sians, than permit the Christians to be miserably destroyed. Hereupon the League was broken, and a fierce War broke out, concerning which I judge it not inopportune to give a short nar∣rative. The Roman Emperour sent part of an Army first, which was commanded by Arda∣burius. He made an irruption into Persia through Armenia, and ruined one of the Per∣sian Provinces termed Azazene. Narsaeus the Persian King's Generall marched out to oppose him, at the head of a great Persian Army. And coming to an Engagement, was worsted, and fled. [Afterwards] he judged it advanta∣gious to make a sudden irruption through Me∣sopotamia into the Roman territories being un∣guarded, [thinking] by this means to be re∣venged on the Romans. But this design of Nar∣saeus's was not unknown to the Generall of the Romans. Having therefore in a short time laid Azazene desolate, he likewise marched into Mesopotamia. Wherefore Narsaeus (notwith∣standing he was furnished with a numerous army, yet) could not invade the Roman Pro∣vinces. But, coming to Nisibis, (which is a City scituate in the confines [of both Em∣pires,] and belongs to the Persians,) he sent a message from thence to Ardaburius, desiring they might come to an agreement between them∣selves about the management of the War, and that a place and day for an Engagement might be set. Ardaburius, gave the messengers this answer: Tell Narsaeus [thus,] the Roman Em∣perours will not fight when you have a mind they should. Moreover, the * 1.2 Emperour perceiving that the Persian mustered up the whole force of his Kingdom for the carrying on of this war, placed all his hopes of Victory in God, and be∣sides sent vast supplies of Forces. Now, that the Emperour (in regard he put his whole con∣fidence in God,) received benefit from him im∣mediately, 'twas from hence evident. The Con∣stantinopolitans being very anxious, and doubtfull about the event of the war, the Angells of God appeared in Bithynia to some persons going to Constantinople about their private concerns, and bad them tell [the Constantinopolitans,] that they should be of good courage, and pray to God, and be confident that the Romans would be Conquerours. For they said, that they them∣selves were sent from God to be the managers of the War. At the hearing hereof, the City was not only encouraged, but the Souldiers also became more bold and valiant. Whereas there∣fore (as I have said,) the war had been remo∣ved from Armenia into Mesopotamia, the Ro∣mans shut up the Persians in the City Nisibis, to which thy laid siege. And having made wooden Towers, which moved upon Engines, they brought them to the walls, wherewith they killed many of those who fought from the walls, and [of them] who ran to their assistance. Vara∣ranes King of Persia hearing that his Country Azazene was laid desolate, and his Army be∣sieged within the City Nisibis, resolved to go in person with all his forces against the Romans. But, being afraid of the Roman Army, he called the Saracens to his assistance, who were then go∣verned by Alamundarus, a valiant and war∣like man. He brought a numerous multitude of Saracens with him, and spake to the King of Persia to be confident and couragious, he like∣wise promised, that he would quickly make the Romans his prisoners, and deliver Antioch in Syria to him. But the event succeeded not ac∣cording to his promise. For God possest the Saracens with a vain and irrationall terrour. Who supposing the Roman Forces to be falling upon them, became terrified, and not finding how they might make their escape, cast them∣selves armed as they were into the River Eu∣phrates, wherein about an hundred thousand men were drowned. These things fell out after this manner. But the Romans who laid siege to Nisibis, being informed that the King of Persia was bringing many Elephants along with him were terrified, and having burnt all their Engines which they had made use of in the siege, a 1.3 re∣treated into their own Country. But, what engagements hapned afterwards; and how A∣reobindus, another Roman Generall, killed the va∣liantest person amongst the Persians in a single duell; and how Ardaburius destroyed seven valiant Persian Commanders in an Ambuscade; or after what manner b 1.4 Vitianus another Roman Generall vanquished the Remains of the Sara∣cen-forces, I think fit to omit, least I should seem to digress too far from my Subject.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, Wares, or, Merchan∣dizes.
• * 1.2

  Theo∣dosius.
• a 1.3

  We read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• b 1.4

  In the Tripartite History which Epi∣phanius Scholasticus rendred in∣to Latine, this Roman Commander is termed Beatianus. Which name I like best. This Victory of the Romans over the Persians hapned in the Consulate of Eustathius and Agricola, on the year of Christ 401, as Marcellinus informs us in his Chronicon; the Authour of the Alexan∣drian Chronicle says the same; who relates, that the Emperour Theo∣dosius had news of that Victory, in the month Gorpieus, on the eighth of the Ides of September, on the third Feria. This was the fourteenth year of Theodosius Junior's Reign. Wherefore Theophanes is mistaken in his Chronicle, who places this Victory of the Romans over the Persians on the eighteenth year of Theodosius. Vales.