Page 52
CHAP. XII.
BUt Chosroes and the Persian army, being come through Iberia to the con∣fines of Lazica, guided by the Ambassadors, cut the tree•• which they found thick and entangled, and threw them into the steep and ragged wayes, and so past easily, none encountring them. When they were come into the midst of Lazica (where the Poets fain to have been acted the fortunes of Jason and Medea) Gubazes, King of the Lazians, came and adored Chosroes as his ma∣ster; rendring himself with his Royall Palaces, and all Lazica. Petra stands in Lazica upon the Euxine Sea, formerly a meane town, but by Justinian fur∣nished with walls, and other ornaments, and made a strong famous place. Chosroes understanding the Roman Forces with John Tzibus to be there, sent an army, and Aniavedes Generall thereof, to surprize it. But John knowing their coming, directed no man to sally, nor to be seen upon the battlements; and he placed his forces in armes, close to the gates, commanding them not to ut∣ter the least sound or voice. The Persian being come before the walls, and see∣ing no man, supposed the city wast, and abandoned by the enemy. So he ap∣proach't to set up scaling ladders, expecting none to defend, because he saw nor heard no enemy, and he sent to Chosroes, to let him know, what they found. He sending the most of his army, commanded a generall assault, and one of the Commanders to make use of the Ramme neer the gates, and from the neer∣est hill to the city himself was a spectator of the business. When suddainly the Romans opened the gates, and falling upon the enemy unaware, killed most of them, specially those about the Ramme; The rest with their Generall ran away and escaped. Chosroës in anger crucified Aniavedes, for being over-stragem'd by John, a retailer, and no souldier. Some say he crucified, not Aniavedes, but the commander who attended the Ramme. Then himself with his whole army encamped before the town; and perceaving upon view the fortifications not very tenable, he brought on his forces, commanding to shoot at the battle∣ments. The Romans defending with their engines, and shot, at first the Persi∣ans (though they shot thick) hurt little; but suffred much, being shot from high. Afterward (for Petra was to be taken by Chosroës) John, being shot into the neck, died. Then the Romans became careless; and it growing dark the Bar∣barians retired. The next day, they drew a mine to the town: which for steepe rocks about it, is not accessible, nor yet to the sea-ward; but by one narrow entrance only upon plaine ground, with high clifts on each side. There the builders of the city foreseeing the walls easie to be forced, made from each clift a long wall, a crosse the entrance, and at each end two turrets, wrought with great stones, not hollow in the middle, but whole from the ground, and very high, and the stones so joyned, as not to be shaken with Ramme or other engine. The Persians closely with their mine, were come under one of these turrets; whence carrying out the stones, they set up tim∣bers, and put fire to them. Which encreasing by degrees, crumbled and brake the firme ess of the stones, and so loosening the Turret, down it came suddain∣ly. The Romans in it perceaved it just so much before, as not to fall with the Turret, and to get within the city walls. Then the Enemy could easily force their entrance upon even ground. But the Romans affrighted, came to a par∣ly, and receaving Chosroës oath, for their persons, and goods, yeilded them∣selves and the city by composition. Chosroes finding in Petra much wealth be∣longing to John, took it; but of any other, himself nor the Persians toucht nothing; And the Romans, having every man his own, mingled with the Per∣sian army.