AFter the events of an invincible expedition atchieved , whiles the hearts * * or Factions . of both the * * Magnentius the Vsurper , and Constantius the Emperour , who in one field at Mursa lost 70000 betweene them . Pomp. Lat. sides were fainting , which sundry dangers and travailes had sore quailed ; before that either the trumpets gave over sounding , or the souldiers were bestowed in their wintering stations ; such stormes of fortune still raging , arose , as poured downe a world of new troubles upon the State and Commonwealth , occasioned all by many wicked and horrible acts of Caesar Gallus ; who from an exceeding poore and miserable condition , advanced in the very flower of his yeares ( with unexpected honor ) to princely dignity , and running out beyond the bounds of that authority which was conferred upon him , made foule worke every where , and with extreame rigour marred all : For , presuming upon his neerenesse of kinne unto the * * He was cousin germane to Constantius , euen the sonne of his unckle great Constantinus the late Emperors brother . bloud royall , and the alliance which he had still with the name of Constantine , hee bare himselfe very proud and insolent , ready ( as it was thought ) to have giuen some hostile attempt even against the founder of his owne good fortunes , if he had bin of greater power : whose cruelty was not a little enkindled and set on fire by his * * Constantina , or Constantia . wife ; who beside her unmeasurable pride , as being sister in the whole bloud unto the * * Constantius . Emperour , and by her father * * the Great . Constantine before time joyned in marriage with his brothers sonne king Annibalianus , was a very devill incarnate , inciting and incensing him continually , given as hee was to cruell tyranny , and no lesse bloud-thirstie her selfe , nor of a milder disposition than her husband : who both of them in processe of time by little and little growne more skilfull in doing mischiefe , by means of secret and crafty tale-bearers , such as lewdly used to make those things greater that upon slight grounds were discovered , ready also to * * Dicentes , others read , Discentes , i. to learne and find out . report untruths and matters pleasing unto them , falsely raised upon innocent persons imputations and slanders , either of ambitious aspiring to the kingdome , or of practising wicked and naughtie arts . Now , among other designements and deeds of a lower nature ( for by this time their greatnesse surmounted the tearmes of meane delinquences ) notorious above the rest was the horrible and sudden death of one Clematius , a nobleman of Alexandria : whose wives mother falling in hote fansie with him her sonne in law , and solliciting him wantonly to company with her , when she could not obtaine his love , was ( by report ) let in at a posterne gate of the palace , and thereby presenting unto the Queene a rich jewell of great price , effected thus much , That by vertue of a writ or warrant sent unto Honoratus , then * * Comite●● Oricutis under 〈…〉 , lieutenant ᵃ generall of the East , the said Clematius , upon deadly malice , without touch and attaint of any wicked act , not permitted once to open his mouth , or to speake for himselfe , should be killed . After this wicked part committed , which now was feared also in others , as if a licence had beene graunted unto cruelty , certaine persons , upon obscure mists onely of suspitions and presumptions were judged guilty and condemned : of whom , some suffered death , others punished with forfeiture of goods , and turned out of house and home as banished folke , hauing nought left unto them but plaints , mones , and bitter teares , lived onely of contribution and almes . And thus , whiles in lieu of civile and just government , a bloudie mind and will bare sway , wealthy and noble houses were quite shut up : neyther was there required in all these heapes of enormities and troubles , any voice of an accuser , were he but counterfeit and suborned , that criminall matters might seeme ( though but in outward shew ) committed to the formall triall of Law ( a course that very tyrants divers times have taken : ) but whatsoever setled once in Caesars irreconcileable heart , the same went currant for right and lawfull , yea , and was followed hard even to present , execution . Moreover , devised it was , that certaine unknowne persons , such as for their basenesse were of small regard , should be sent out of purpose through all parts of * * Some call it at this day Aleppo . O●telius . Antiochia , to hearken after tales and rumors , with direction , to relate whatsoever they heard . These fellowes in manner of travailers raunging from place to place , and covertly joyning themselves close to men of quality and honour at their meetings , entring also in habit of needie and poore folke into rich mens houses , what ever they could learne or heare , being let into the Court secretly at the backe dores , made report thereof ; observing this one point joyntly with one accord , some things to invent and forge of their owne heads , and what they knew in deed , to make the same worse by the one halfe : but in any wise to suppresse and conceale all the praises that came to their eares of Caesar ; which many men were forced even against their wils to give out , for feare of calamities that hung over their heads . And otherwhiles it fell out so , that if the husband had whispered ought in his wives eare , within a secret roome , where no servitor at all , more inward and privie to his life , was present , the same should the Emperour bee sure to know the morrow after ; no lesse than if ᵇ Amphiaraus or Martius , renowned Divinors and Wisards in old time , gave intelligence thereof : and therefore , the very bare wals alone , made acquainted with any secrets , were feared . Now , this obstinate and setled purpose of his , to search into these and many such like matters , became of greater force , by reason of the Queene ever at his elbow to pricke and proke him forward , who bearing her selfe shrewd and froward upon her husbands high estate , lay on him , still creaking and crowing , as one most sharpe set and hotely bent to worke mischiefe : whereas , out of that mildnesse which beseemeth a woman , she ought rather by good and holesome persuasions to have reduced him into the way of truth and courteous humanitie ; as we have reported in the acts of the Gordians , That the wife of Maximinus that ᶜ cruell emperour was woont to do . To conclude , this Gallus after a new and pernitious example , feared not to put in practise the same foule and dangerous pranke which Gallienus is reported to have attempted sometime at Rome , with the greatest dishonor and shame that might be : and taking some few in companie , privily weaponed , he would in the evening walke here and there about the shops , hostelries , carrefours , and crosse streets , busily inquiring in the Greek tongue ( wherein he was very perfect ) what any man thought of Caesar ? And these parts plaid he boldly within the citie , even where lights shining cleere all night long , are woont to resemble the bright dayes . At length , being oftentimes knowne who he was , and perceiving now , that if he came thus abroad hee should bee discovered , hee was not seene to go forth but openly by day-light , and that about his serious affaires , as he thought them . And these verily were the courses that hee tooke , whereat many a man grieued and groaned at the heart . Furthermore , Thalassius , then * * Praefactus Pratorio . Lord chiefe ᵈ Iustice , beeing in place , who also himselfe was of an arrogant nature , considering that this hastinesse of his , to the hazard of many , still increased , did not by gravitie or sage counsell mitigate his mood ( as divers times men placed in high authority have mollified and assuaged the wrath and ire of princes ) but by way of opposition and rebuke at unmeet seasons set him farther out , and made him starke mad , giving informations very thicke unto the Emperour of him , aggravating his proceedings , and making them more than they were , yea and endevouring ( of what mind I know not ) that the same should not be hidden : whereat Caesar within a while much more fell and enraged , erecting on high the banner , as it were , of selfe-will and frowardnesse , without regard either of other mens safety , or his owne , ran on end still in manner of a swift streame , with irreclamable violence , to beare downe and carry quite away all under him .

NEither verily was this the only bane that plagued the East with sundry troubles and calamities : For , the Isauri ( with whom an usuall matter it is , oft times to rest quiet , and as often with suddaine outrodes to disturbe and confound all ) from secret robberies , and those but seldome committed , brake out ( while impunitie fostered their boldnesse growing worse and worse ) into grievous warres , stirring up verily their hostile and rebellious stomacks a long time by commotions without all rest ; howbeit mightily moued by occasion of this indignitie ( as they gave it out ) that some of their consorts taken prisoners , were at * * Cogni , Bellonio Gognia , Postello . Conia . Leuncla● . Iconium , a towne of * * A Region within Cilicia . Ptolem. Pisidia , contrary unto the manner and custome , cast out to be devoured of ravenous wild beasts , at a publique shew in their Amphitheatre : and according to the saying of Tully , Like as even savage beasts , upon warning given , returne for the most part unto the place where sometimes they have beene fed ; even so all of them , in manner of a whirlewind , being come downe from the cumbersome and high mountaines , repaired to the sea coasts , along the which , hiding themselves within the vallies , full of lurking holes , toward darke night especially , when the Moone was but new , and in her first quarter , and therefore yet not shining out in her full light , observed the * * Na●tices . shippe-masters and saylers ; whom when they perceiued once to be layed along to sleepe , creeping on all foure among the anchor-gables , and then going softly for being heard , they conveyed themselves slyly into the shippe-boats , and so stood hard by them ere they were aware : thus , while greedie covetousnesse gave fire unto their cruelty , having slaine them all , and spared not so much as one * * Cadentium . that yeelded , they caried away rich marchandise * * Me●ves op●mas vel utiles . , or gainefull commodities ; for , none there was to make resistance . But these prankes were not long practised : For , when knowledge was taken , that the saylers and marchant venturers were thus murthered and left dead in the place , no man afterward arrived at these rodes , but avoiding them no lesse than the deadly cliffes of ᵉ Scyron , they sayled close along the coasts of * * Cypri . Cyprus , whereas they lye opposite unto the rockes of Isauria . Therefore , within a while after , when they could find nothing thither brought , leaving the sea coasts , they went into Lycaonia , adjoyning hard unto Isauria , and there within their thicke growne Fastnesses and Fore-fences , after the manner of those that lye in ambush for such as passe by , they maintained and enriched themselves with the goods as well of the provinciall inhabitants as the way-faring folke . This broile raised the souldiers that lay in garrison within many townes and castles confining upon them , who endevoring all of them with might and maine , to repell them , incroaching further still , and spreading thus all abroad , one whilekeeping together closely in squadrons , other whiles dispersed asunder , were overmatched by reason of their huge multitude : who being bred and brought up among the high and crooked mountains , carrying a great compasse about , use nimbly to passe over them , as if they were plaine places , and even , charging a farre off as many as come toward them , with shot , and affrighting them with hideous cryes and yellings . And divers times our foot-men being forced in the pursuit after them , to clime up steepe rising hills , albeit that as their feet slipped from under them , by taking hold of shrubs and bushes , they got up to their verie tops ; yet among those narrow and unpassable streits , having no roome to imbattell and set themselves in array , nor yet to march on with sure and strong footing , whiles their enemies trauersing their ground to and fro , tumble downe peeces of rockes and crags from aloft , they made shift to get away downe the hill with danger ynough ; or else , if they were driuen upon extreame necessitie , valiantly to fight it out , overwhelmd they were , and laid along with the fall of huge and weighty peeces . From thenceforth therefore , this due observation , with warie circumspection , was made , that ever as these robbers began once to make towards the high mountaines , our souldiers knowing the disadvantage of the place , gave way and retyred : but when they might be found upon the plaine ( which happeneth verie often ) having not the libertie either to stretch forth their armes , or to brandish and shake their dartes which they carry , two or three apeece , their fortune was to be slaine like dumb and silly beasts . Wherefore the same robbers , afraid of Lycaonia , for the most part a champian countrey , and knowing by many proofs made , that they should not be able to make their parts good with our men in a stable and set fight , through blind by-wayes went into * * 〈◊〉 Giravo & Alph. Adnan . together with Cilicia , it is 〈…〉 C●ramania . Bellemu● . Pamphylia , which had continued a long time verily without trouble , but yet for feare of wasting , spoyling , and murders , whiles souldiers ranged through all the quarters neere adjoyning , was fortified with strong garrisons on everie side : whereupon speeding themselves in great hast , for to prevent all rumors of their remove , by exceeding celeritie , trusting also upon the vigour and agilitie of their bodies , through winding lanes they got up ( somewhat late though it was ) to the hill tops . Now having overcome these dangerous difficulties , when they were come as farre as to the banks of that deepe and whirling river * * Crionero . Marius Niger . Melas , which in stead of a wall fenceth the inhabitants on either side thereof , considering the time , & how the night grew apace upon them , they rested a while wayting for day-light : For they supposed , that when they had once gotten over the same without any one to hinder their passage , they should by any sodaine and unlooked for incursion , be able to lay wast whatsoever stood in their way . But all the laborious and painfull toyle that they tooke , came to no effect : for after the sunne rising , by reason of the big streame , narrow , and deepe withall , they were disappointed of their passage over : and whiles they seeke for small fish boats , or prepare to flit or swim upon floats set together and pinned in hast , our legions wintering then at * * Chirisonda , or Candalor , a citie in Pamphylia . Sideniste , came abroad , and with a speedie march affronted them , and having imbattelled themselves neere unto the rivage , to joyne in fight hand to hand , most skilfully they made a fence before them with their targuets couched thicke and close together : Some also that trusted upon their swimming , or adventured in hollow troughes and trunks of trees , secretly to crosse over the river , they most easily killed . Whereupon when they had assayed many meanes and devises , even to their uttermost perill , and nothing auayled , what with feare , and what with violent resistance , quite put beside their purpose , and doubting which way to take , and whither to go , they drew neere unto the towne Laranda . There having refreshed themselves with food and repose , now that feare was past , and set upon the rich townes , by helpe of certaine companies of horsemen , which fortuned to approach neere hand ; not so much as assaying to make head againe in the broad and open plaine ground , they departed aside , and as they retyred backe , raised all the strength and manhood of the youth which was left at home . And forasmuch as they were sore distressed for want of food , they went to a place named Paleas , bending toward the sea , and fortified with a strong wall , where are layd up in store even to this day victuals usually , distributed among the souldiers lying in garrison , to defend all the costs of Isauria . This strong hold therefore they besieged round about for three dayes and three nights together ; and seeing neither the place so steepe could possibly be gained without danger of death , nor any good might be done with undermyning , and that no devise belonging to a siege tooke effect , they departed heavie , & ill appaid , with a purpose in the end , upon an angry mood , to enterprise exployts above their reach . Having conceived therefore a feller fit of furious rage , which dispaire and hunger together did set on fire , they reenforced their power , and in a heat unrestrainable , advanced forth , with a full resolution to destroy the mother citie Seleucia , which Castritius a * * Como● . lieutenant , ᶠ together with three legions of old beaten souldiers , hardned alreadie in warre services , defended . Now the captaines of these sayd souldiers , advertised before hand by trustie espials of their comming , after the ordinarie token or watchword given , led them all forth in armes , well appointed to make a quicke and speedie sally ; and having with great agilitie passed over the bridge standing upon the river * * Saleso . Mar. Nig. or Salepho . Matth. Paris . Some call it at this day Del Ferro . Calycadnus , the mightie streame and waves whereof run hard by the verie towers of the walls , they arranged them in order readie to fight : how beit not one of them set foot hastily forward , nor was permitted to encounter and joyne battell : for why , they stood in feare of the adverse power , so furiously set upon rage , being both for number superiour , and readie also to run without all regard of life , upon the verie pyke and swords point . These Brigands then , having espied our armie afarre off , and heard the trumpettiers and cornettiers sound , stayed their march , and stood still a prety while , and drawing forth their swords in threatening wise , afterwards went on faire and softly : against whom our souldiers continuing still resolute , ready to make head and encounter them with their displayed rankes , yea , and knocking their shields and speares together ( which manner and fashion stirreth vp in warriours both anger and dolour ) with this their gesture now hard at hand , greatly terrified them . But thus sharpe set as they were to give battaile , their leaders reclaimed and drew them backe , supposing it unseasonable and inconuenient to hazard themselves upon a doubtfull peece of service , being as yet not farre from the wals of a citie , within the defence whereof they might be all fully secured from danger . The souldiers moved effectually with this persuasion , were brought backe againe within the said wals : and after they had locked up and made fast the gates on every side , stood upon the plat-formes , bulwaikes , and battilments , having every where in readinesse stones and daits , to the end that if any one had ventured farre forward , he might with multitude of shot and stones be beaten downe and overthrowne . Howbeit , this one thing mightily troubled those which were shut up within , because the vessels that used to bring corne along the river , were taken , whereby the Isaurians for their parts had plenty of victuall ; but themselves , having spent up already the ordinary provision of food and sustenance , wonderously feared the wofull and deadly miseries of imminent famine . When the newes of these occurrents were flowne farre abroad , and intelligences thereof continually given one after another had made Gallus Caesar to starckle , for that the * * or Generall . Master of ᵍ the Horsemen was greatly employed and busied very farre off , Nebridius * * Comes Orientis . Lieutenant generall in the East , by commandement and commission directed unto him , having from all parts assembled his forces , sped himselfe with exceeding hast and diligence to deliver this citie , so great and of such importance , from danger : which being once knowne , the foresaid theeves departed , without atchieving any memorable exploit besides : and being scattered asunder ( as their manner is ) made toward their wields and desart mountaines .