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. XXVIII. Concerning the Miracle which was performed at Sergiopolis.

MOreover, I will relate another thing, which was done by [the same] Chosroes at the City Sergiopolis; in regard 'tis [a passage] worthy to be recorded, and in reality deserves to be consigned to eternall memory. For Chos∣roes came to this City also, and attempted to take it by a Siege. After therefore he had made an Attacque against its walls, † 1.1 the Inhabitants came to a Parley with him about a preserva∣tion of the City. And it is agreed [at length on both sides,] that the sacred Treasure and Gifts [which had been dedicated to the Church] should be the Ransome of the City; amongst which [gifts] was that a 1.2 Cross also which had been sent thither by Justinianus and Theodora. After these things had been brought to Chosroes, he asked the Priest and those Persians who had been sent with him [into the City on that account,] whether there were any thing remaining. Then a certain person of those not accustomed to speak the truth, returned answer to Chosroes, that there were o∣ther sacred Gifts of great value, which were concealed by the Citizens who were very few in number. Now, of [the sacred Treasure] which was brought out [of the City to Chos∣roes,] nothing of value had been left behind consisting either of Gold or Silver, but of ano∣ther sort of matter more pretious, and which was wholly dedicated to God; to wit, the most holy Reliques of the Victorious Martyr Sergius, which lay in a certain oblong Chest covered over with Silver. When Chosroes, per∣swaded hereby, had sent his whole Army to the City, on a sudden, round the whole Circuit [of the City walls] there appeared an innumerable multitude of Souldiers, who with Bucklers de∣fended the City. Which [Apparition] those sent by Chosroes having beheld, returned, and with admiration declared both their number, and their kind of Armour. But Chosroes, after on a second enquiry he understood that very few persons were left in the City, and those either very aged or very young, the men of strength and vigour being all cut off and destroyed; found that the Martyr was the Authour of this Miracle. And being [on this account] put into a fear, and having admired the Faith of the Christians, he returned into his own King∣dom.

b 1.3 They say also, that at the close of his Life he was vouchsafed [the Laver of] Divine Regeneration.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Or, There was a con∣ference on both sides about, &c.
• a 1.2

  Concerning this Golden Cross which Chosroes had ta∣ken out of the Church of the Sergiopolites for the price of its Redemption, Theophylactus Simo∣catta speaks in the Fifth Book of his History, Chap. 13. Where al∣so Chosroes, Grandchild [or, Nephew] to this Chosroes here mentioned by Evagrius, does in express words attest, that that Cross in honour of the Martyr Sergius had been sent by the Emperour Justinian to Sergiopo∣lis, and was placed in the Church of S^t Sergius. Vales.
• b 1.3

  In the excellent Florentine. Manuscript these words are written in the margin here: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; that is, [Note that Evagrius] speaks that concerning Chosroe, which no other Historian has men∣tioned: to wit, that about the close of his Life he received the Sacra∣ment of Baptism. Vales.