History of Armenia, by Father Michael Chamich; from B. C. 2247 to ...

374 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
of Abdullah.
This occurred in the fourth year
of the g-Qvernment of Nerseh the Camsaracan.
-^
A.D. 693. Abdullah was accompanied by a number of
Haicnn ^
era 142. Saraccus, and on his entiy into the city of
Duin, received the inhabitants with kindness and
respect.
His affable manners, and the mildness
with which he exercised his authority, tended
greatly to reassure the people. All this, however,
was but a mask, for shortly after, when all appeared
tranquil, he seized, on different pretexts,
the persons of several chiefs, and putting them
in chains, extorted from them their most
valuable property. Nerseh perceiving this,
made his escape to Taics. Abdullah however
caught Isaac the pontiff, and sent him, together
with Sumbat the Beuratian and general, in
chains to Damascus. He then stripped all the
great churches of Ararat of their treasure, with
every valuable
ornament that decorated them,
and taking David Duinensis, caused him to
be crucified. Sumbat the general, however,
effected his escape from Damascus, returning
to Armenia the same year in which he had been
sent from it in chains. He addressed a piteous
letter to Justinian the emperor, painting the distress
into which Armenia was plunged by the governor
Abdullah in the most lively colours, and
imploring assistance to relieve his country from
the yoke of the Saracens.
Justinian hereupon