whom Belisarius brought to Constantinople with Blischames after his taking the Castle of Sisaurium He settled a 100. men of the Army and late in the night got neer to the Town The Watch-man opened the Gate some stood still and sent for the Army others mounted the Walls and slew the Sentinels coming unexpected And the Goths perceiving the mischiefe ran out at another Gate and retired to a high Hill over against Verona from whence one may discern all done in the City and number the men in the Streets and it hath a large Prospect into the Champian and here they stayed all night The Romans being within five miles of the City would go no further the Generals disputing about the Booty of it and while they were thus brabling for the spoiles the day grew bright The Goths from the Hill discovering the Enemy in the Town and how great a way the Army was from it ran in at the same Gate they ran out the Romans within being not able to possesse it who advising together fled to the Battlements where the Goths in multitudes assailed and they stoutly defended and did wonders especially Artabazes The Roman Commanders when they had disposed the Wealth of Verona among themselves marcht against the Town with the Army But finding the Gates shut and the Enemy strongly opposing they forthwith ran away though they saw their Companions upon the Walls fighting and calling to them to stay for them So that Artabazes and the rest being opprest with multitudes and despairing of Succour leapt from the Walls and himselfe with such as lighted upon smooth ground came safe to the Camp but they that fell upon stony ground perisht all The Roman Army past the Poe and came to Faventia which is a City of Emilia standing 15. miles from it Totilas when he heard what had happened at Verona sent for most of that Garrison and with his whole Army being 50000. he marcht against the Enemy The Roman Commanders hereof advertised held a Counsell where Artabazes spake thus Fellow Commanders let us not despise the Enemy as inferiour in numbers nor as being to fight with men cowed by Belisarius go on with resolution False conceits have deceived and undone many and their unseasonable despising an Enemy dissolved their Forces The former ill successe of these men invites them to some better Fortune Fortune by making men desperate brings them to an excesse of daring I speak not this by guesâ—e I have learnt their Courage by mine own late danger And let none be offended with me for extolling their power having been with a few with me beaten by them Mens Valour is seen as well when they are more as when they are fewer then those they fight with My Opinion therefore is to guard the passage of the River and when the Goths are halfe past over to fight with them rather then now with their whole body And let no man think that there is no honour in such a Victory Honour and disgrace receive their names from the Event Men commend the Victors not searching into the manner of the Victory Artabazes so spake But the Commanders contradicting one another did nothing they should do but there staid and did nothing The Goths came neer and being ready to passe the River Totilas spake thus unto them Friends and Country-men other Battells begin upon the shew of equality in the Armies to fight but we now stand to fight having a Fortune most unequall If they be beaten they have meanes to fight with us again having numbers of Souldiers in their Garrisons all Italy over and expecting forthwith the seconds of another Army from Constantinople But if the same befall us the hopes and name of our Nation is lost being already from 200000. reduced to 50000. yet is it sit that you be put in mind that when you took Armes with Ildebad against the Emperour you had but 1000. men together and no place left but the Town of Picenum But no sooner were you Conquerours but your Armies and Townes augmented And if you now do bravely I hope the War proceeding probably we shall vanquish the Enemy It is the Fortune of Conquerours ever to grow in numbers and power So that resolve to meet the Enemy chearfully and stoutly knowing that if you get not the honour of this day you can never possibly fight again Moreover our Enemies Injustice is to embolden us in this Battell The Italians subject to them they have so opprest that they need no other punishment for their Treason against the Goths So in a word have they found all manner of mischiefes from their new Guests Now what is more easily caught then an Enemy who stands not sound with God Their feare of us also may encourage us we going against no other men then those who being in the midst of Verona quitted it without reason and ran away shamefully none pursuing them Totilas having used this encouragement commanded 300. men to passe the River two miles and a halfe off and to get behind the Enemy and the Fight being begun to shoot at their backs and being in confusion to gall them Himselfe with the rest past there the River and went against the Enemy The Romans encountred them and both marching faire and softly and being neer each other Valiaris a Goth tall and of a stern Countenance and very Valiant rode out from the rest between the Armies armed with Corslet and Helmet and challenged any Roman to fight with him Artabazes accepted the Combate Both rode against each other and charged their Lances Artabazes preventing ran Valiaris into the left side who having his mortal wound and sincking backward his Lance resting upon the ground and at a great stone kept him from falling Artabazes with eagernesse thrust his Lance into his belly not thinking he had his deaths wound already and the head of Valiaris Lance standing upright lighted upon the Corslet of Artabazes and gliding over it peirced his neck and cut one of the Arteries He bled instantly in abundance but feeling no pain gallopt to the Roman Camp and left Valiaris dead upon the place The blood could not be stancht so that the third day he dyed and stagger'd all the hopes of the Romans for his being not able to fight in that Battell was an extream ruine to them He attending the cure of his Wound without Arrow-shot the Armies joyned Battell in the heat whereof the 300. Goths at the Romans backs suddenly appeared the Romans thinking them to be great numbers were affraid and ran away in confusion with the Enemy at their heels who took many Prisoners and all their Ensignes a thing never before happened to the Romans The Commanders with some few ran into severall Townes for safety and guarded the same CHAP. III. TOtilas forthwith sent forces against Florence commanded by Bledas Rodericus and Valiaris who sate down before it Justinus within it having laid in no provisions sent to Ravenna praying the Commanders to come to his
dull men not ashamed to leave to posterity such a mark of their disposition And of all Cities under the Sun Rome is confest to be the greatest and most famous being not the work of one mans virtue nor arrived to this beauty and bignesse in a small time Many Emperours and excellent men length of time and excesse of wealth have drawn together materialls from all countries and rare artificers and having so by little and little built the City as you now see it they have filled it with monuments of all their virtues and the violence done to the same is an injury committed against all mankind taking from our progenitors the memorialls of their worth and from posterity the sight of such goodly works Know then that one of the two must be either you will be vanquisht by the Emperour or get the better If you be victorious by having destroyed Rome you have ruined Great Sir not anothers but your own by preserving which you will be rich in the goodliest possession in the world But if you draw the loosing lot having preserved Rome you have reserved abundant thanks from the conquerour But by destroying it bereft your self of all pretence to favour And you will get nothing by it but a fame in the world sutable to such a proceeding which attends your Resolution herein either way Whatsoever the actions of Princes be such are necessarily the name they must bear from them Totilas upon often reading this Letter and pondring the advise forbare further harme to Rome and signifying to Belisarius his determination he dismist the Ambassadors He encamped most of his army at Algidum 15 miles from Rome to the Westward to ly there and keep Belisarius fast in Portus and himself and the rest went against John and the Lucanians Some Roman Senators he led with him and the rest with their wives and children he sent to Campania leaving not a man in Rome John hearing of Totilas coming would stay no longer in Apulia but ran into Otranto The Patricians confined in Campania sent commands by Totilas direction to their husbandmen of Lucania to leave John and to manure their Lands as formerly which were declared to belong to their Landlords Whereupon they forsook John and went and lived peaceably at home Tullianus also ran away and his 300 Antians retired to Johns army So all on this side the Jonian Gulfe save Otranto became again subject to Totilas and the Goths grown bold stragled about in small parties John sent forces out and kill'd many of them which caused Totilas to unite his army about mount Gargarus almost in the middle of Apulia where he encamped in Hanniballs Entrenchment In the mean time Martianus a Constantinopolitan born one of the souldiers that escaped out of Rome with Conon when it was taken desired Belisarius that he might go to the Enemy pretending himself a run-away and he would do good service Belisarius approving it Martianus went to Totilas who was glad of him having heard much of the young man and seen him do bravely in some single combats Presently he restored to him his wife a captive and one of his children there being two but reserved the other for a hostage and he sent them with some others to Spoletum whereof the Goths had demolisht the walls after their taking it by Herodians Treason and put a Garrison there of Goths and Romans fugitives into the place used for the hunting of wild beasts called the Amphitheater which they had fortified Martianus got some Associates whom he perswaded to do some remarkable service and so to return to the Roman army and to the Roman Commander in Perusia he sent for forces discovering his designe to him Oldâ—gandon a Hunne the commander there Cyprianus Being murder'd by one of his own life-Guard as aforesaid marcht with some forces to Spoletum whom Martianus seeing with the 15 Souldiers he had got to joyn with him he killed the Captaine of the Goths Garrison and received the Romans into the Fort they kill'd most of the Enemies and brought the rest to Belisarius Who resolved thereupon to enter Rome and with a thousand Souldiers he marcht to it The Enemy at Algedon was advertized hereof by a Roman and layed an Ambush neer Rome which seeing Belisarius set upon his troops and a hot fight being the Romans valour routed the Enemy who after the killing of most of them retired to Portus Upon the sea-coast of Calabria stands Tarentum two daies journy from Otranto in the way to Thurium and Rhegium John invited by the Tarentines went thither with some few leaving the rest in Otranto the city he found great unfortified conceived it impossible to man it But finding to the northward of the City the sea to embay it self on both sides the Land and to make it an Isthmus between of two miles and a half broad he cut the said Isthmus from the city with a wall and a deep ditch and put in it the Tarentines and the inhabitants of some other Townes with a good Garrison The Calabrians having gotten this refuge thought of revolting from the Goths In the mean time Totilas surprized Acherontis a strong Castle in Lucania upon the confines of Calabria and put into it a Garrison of 400 men Then himself with his army went toward Ravenna leaving some Goths in Campania to Guard the Senators there confined CHAP. XIII BUt Belisarius undertook a design provident and bold which seemed a kinde of madnesse at first but proved a gallant work He left a small Garrison in Portus and with the rest of his army he went into Rome with a resolution to hold it He could not in so short a time repaire the walls demolished by Totilas but he heaped stones one upon another rudely without lime or the like between only to give it the form of a wall without it he pitcht good store of stakes And a ditch he had formerly made round about as I said before The whole army working cheerfully in five and twenty daies the breaches were filled up The Romans from the townes about flocked thither aswell desiring to dwell in Rome again as to be supplyed with Victuall which they wanted and found there in abundance imported by Belisarius up the River Totilas at the newes went instantly thitherward Belisarius having not yet set up the Gates which Totilas had broken down and he for want of Artificers could not build them again The Barbarian Army encamped by the River of Tiber and there lodged that night the next morning they marcht furiously to the City-walls Belisarius placed where the Gates had stood some of his best men and commanded the rest from the Walls to maintain fight against the Assailants and it was hotly fought For the Goths who hoped to take the Town at the first on-set finding the businesse prove tough and the Romans powerfully defending grew angry and their anger made them more ventrous The Romans also held out beyond expectation the danger inducing them
not every day but fasting sometimes a good while together Some Ephthalites scouring the Country espyed this James offered to shoot at him but their hands suddainly benummed could not draw their bows Cabades hearing the report of it in the Camp would be an eye-witness of the miracle and seeing it was astonisht and all the Persians with him he humbly therefore besought James to remit his mens offence which he doing at the first word they were instantly freed of their fears Cabades then bade him demand something thinking he would have askt some great sum But he prayed him only to bestow on him such men as in this war should come to him for protection Which Cabades granted and left him Letters for their assurance And it being divulged many from all parts came and were preserved But Cabades with his Rams battered Amida on every side the defendants avoyding the stroak of the Engine with cross beams And he gave not over till he found the wall that way impregnable as not falling nor so much as shaking at so many stroaks So strong their buildings were in ancient times Failing therefore this way he raised a Mount so high that it commanded the wall To which the defendants drew a Mine from the Town and by carrying out the earth from within the Mount made it hollow the outside keeping the form it had giving no suspition of any thing to the Enemy The Persians mounted it thinking as upon firm ground to shoot into the Town But company pressing in the Mount sunk and almost all perisht Cabades at this despairing resolved to raise the siege commanding the Army the next day to retire But the Townsmen now secure flouted the Barbarians from their walls and some common women drew up their clothes shewing Cabades the parts which should not be seen by men Upon this the Magi forbade his retreat assuring the King that ere long the Amidenses would shew him all their secret and hidden things So the Camp lay still Some dayes after a Persian found near one of the Turrets the mouth of an old Vault onely with a few small stones covering it He entered it a lone in the night and got within the wall and when 't was day came and told it Cabades who the next night went with some of his Army and scaling ladders to the place where he had a favourable chance The said Turret was guarded by Monks the strictest kind of Christians who that day observed an Annual Feast and at night wearied in their solemn assembly having taken a greater proportion of meat and drink than usuall they perceived not the Enemy who entring the Town by few at a time ascended the Turret and killed the Monks being fast asleep Then Cabades set scaling ladders to the wall next the Turret and day appearing the Amidenses who guarded the next Turret perceiving their danger came hastily to the rescue Where after a hot conflict on both sides at last they got the better killed many of the men already come up kept off those upon the ladders and were very near quit of the danger But Cabades drawing his Cimeter forced his men up the ladders threatning death to the comers down And so having much the advantage in numbers they got the better and took the Town after eighty dayes siege Much slaughter was done till Cabades riding into the Town an old Priest of Amida came to him and told him That it was not Kingly to kill men that were at his mercy Cabades yet angry answered Why then would they stand out against me Because Sir replyed the Priest God would give you Amida not by our wills but your own valour Cabades pleased with this reply suffered no more execution to be done but bad the Persians sack the City and take prisoners selecting the principall for himself Then leaving a thousand Persians in garrison under one Glones and some few wretched Citizens to serve them in their necessaries with the rest of his army and prisoners he went home To these prisoners Cabades used a princely courtesie he let them all goe home free and gave out they ran away The Emperour Anastasius also dealt liberally with them remitting the Citties tribute for seven years and destowing many benefits upon their City in publique and on particular men so that they soon forgot their miseries But this was afterwards CHAP. VI. BUt Anastasius hearing of the siege of Amida immediately sent forth an Army against the Enemy In which besides the Commanders of companies were Generals Areobindus who married the daughter of Olybrius late Emperour of the West Generall of the East and Celer Commander of the Palatine Cohorts called by the Romans Magister and the two Generals of the Legions in Constantinople Patritius the Phrygian and Hypatius the Emperours Sisters Son These were the four Generals and with them went also Justine who was Emperour after Anastasius and Patriciolus with Vitalianus his son who afterward rebelled against Anastasius Paresmanes of Colchis an excellent good souldier with Godidasclus and Sbesas Goths who followed not Theodorick into Italy out of Thrace both gallant men and expert Souldiers others followed of the best So brave an Army went not against the Persians before it nor since They marcht not together Every General led his own forces The Praefect or Commissary of Provision for the Army was Appion an Egyptian a principal Patrician and valiant whom the Emperour declared his partner in the Empire by a Patent that he might have absolute authority in the expense of the army which being long in levying marching but slowly found the Persians after this cursory invasion gone home with their spoils The Generals would not besiege Amida hearing it to be abundantly provided with all necessaries but were earnest to make an impression into the Enemies Country And they marcht not in one body but encamped severally Cabades being near and knowing this entred the Roman borders They not informed of his being there with his whole army supposed it to be some small party Areobindus encamped in a town called Arzaméne being distant two dayes journey from the City of Constantina And Patricius and Hypatius in a town called Siphris about 44 miles distant from Amida Celer was not yet come up to them But Areobindus heaâ—ing Cabades came with his whole army quitted his camp and ran to Constantina The Author reckons by furlongs and sayes here 350 furlongs An Italian mile contains 8 furlongs The Enemy took the camp and baggage but no men in it and from thence with speed marcht to the other But Patricius and Hypatius having met eight hundred Ephthalites marching before the Persian army had killed them all and not dreaming of the army with Cabades were passing their time merrily like Conquerors laying down their arms and preparing for dinner And they were washing their meat in the brook there and some troubled with heat were bathing which made the water run foul Cabades having heard the fortune of his Ephthalites
marcht apace toward the Enemy and by the thickning of the brook guest at the matter and that the enemy was unprepared So commanding to drive on with full speed suddainly he surprised them at dinner and unarmed The Romans not able to abide their charge ran away without striking stroak Some were overtaken and slain others fled to the Mountain there and for fear leapt down the rocks not one of them escaping Bat Cabades fearing his enemies the Hunnes who now invaded his country went home with his whole Army and had a long war with them on the Northern borders thereof In the mean time the other Roman army came but did nothing having no Commander in chief and the Generals with their equality of power ever crossing one anothers opinions Celer past the river Nymphius and invaded Arzaméne This river runs by Martyropolis and is distant from Amida thirty five miles and having forraged the country soon went home Areobindus the Emperour sent for to Constantinople and the others sate down before Amida in the winter Who failing in their endeavours to force the place resolved to take it by famine And the besieged then wanted provisions but the Generals not knowing it and seeing the souldier weary of a winter siege imagining also the Persian army would ere long come against them they made hast in some way to rise from thence And the Persians also doubtful in these difficulties though they concealed their wants and made shew of plenty yet gladly they would make a handsome retreat In the end a capitulation was made for the Persians to have a * Are ten Centenaries of gold If there be but ten ounces and a half to tâ—e Roman pound then is a Centenary 3150. l. sterling And 10 Centenaries here 31500. l. sterling thousand pound weight of Gold and so to render the City The articles were performed and the Son of Glones receiving the money gave up Amida For Glones himself was slain in this manner The Romans being not yet set down before Amida but not far from it a peasant who frequented the City and used secretly to sell to Glones at great rates poultery bread and ripe fruits promised the Generall Patricius for reward to put Glones and two hundred Persians into his hands He promised him his demand and sent him away The man rent his garments and came weeping into the town went to Glones and tearing his hair My Lord quoth he I was bringing you of my best provisions but I was met beaten and had all taken from me by these rogues whose custome it is to rob the poor peasants being old Roman souldiers rambling in small parties and who fly before the Persians and robb the poore Countryman Thinck Sir I how you may avenge us and the Persians It is but hunting without the suburbes and you will find good game For they go prolling about not above foure of five in a company Glones askt how many would suffice for the business He said fifty was enough being to meet not above five together but whatsoever should happen it would be good to have 100. and if it were 200. 't were the better Store hurts no man Glones chose 200. horse and bad the man guide them But he said 't was better to send him before to discover these Roman free booters and to bring the Persians word who then might take their best orportunity Glones approved of his counsell and then he went to the Generall Patricius and acquainted him with all the proceedings who sent 1000. Souldiers and two of his own Life-guard with him These he laid in ambush neer a village called Thialasamum five miles from Amida within a vally of coppices and bushes Then he ran and told Glones his game was ready and guided him and his 200. men into the enemies ambush Being past a good space within it unseen by Glones or his Company he ran and called up the Romans ambush and shewed them the enemy The Persians seing them were amazed at the suddain accident Retire they could not the enemy having their backs nor being in an enemies Country knew any other way to runne As they could therefore they put in order to receave the assailants but overmatcht in numbers were broken and all killed with Glones which vexed his Son that he could not stay to revenge his Fathers death so that he burnt the Church of St. Simeon where he lodged Other buildings neither Glones nor Cabades nor any Persian destroyed nor defaced in Amida nor without it But to returne to my former discourse Thus the Romans recovered Amida for mony two yeares after the taking Being within it their own negligence appeared and the Persians abstemiousness finding by comparing the quantitity of the victuall left and the Barbarians that went out not above seven dayes provision remaining though Glones his son had long issued it out to the Persians more scarcely then need could well endure and to the Romans in the Town nothing from the beginning of the siege So that they were forced to eat unusuall food and abominable and at last one another The Generalls finding themselves thus deceaved by the Barbarians reproached the Souldiers intemperance and disobedience who having it in their power to take the Town with all the Persians in it at mercy had dishonorably transported the Roman treasure to Barbarians and gotten Amida as a merchandize for mony Afterward the Persians their warre with the Hunnes growing long made a Truce with the Romans for seven yeares concluded by Celer the Roman Generall and Aspevedes for the Persian Thus I have told the beginning and conclusion of these warrs with the Persians CHAP. VII BUt what happened concerning the Caspian Gates I will now relate Mount Taurus of Cilicia passes first by Cappadocia then Armenia and Persarmenia and then Albania and Iberia and the other nations that way free or subject to the Persians extending thus through many Countryes and the further it goes growing to a greater bredth and height Beyond Iberie you come to a narrow way reaching some six miles and ending at a steep place unpassable where for the way out nature hath built a kind of Gate anciently called the Caspian gates or streights Beyond which are faire champions well watred and large plaines for horse pastures where are seated the nations of the Hunnes and extend to the Lake of Maeotis who passing by the streights in their inroads into Roman or Persian provinces come with their horses lustie going not about nor nor being engaged in ragged Countries save onely those six miles into Iberia whereas by other passages they arrive with much toile and cannot make use of the same horses having been forced to many circuits and craggie wayes which Alaâ—â—nder the great considering built Gates indeed there and by them a Fort which through many owners at last came to Ambazuces a Hunne a friend of the Emperor Anastasius This man growne old and neer his end offered Anastasius for mony to put the Romans in
resistance Men unexperienced newly taken from the plough and who knew not what a battell meant yet hotter than any upon the fight they reproached Belisarius with cowardize a little before Indeed they were not all Isaurians but most Lycaonians Belisarius staying with some few while Ascas and his company stood resisted also But seeing them slain he fled into the battallion of foot where Peter their leader maintained the fight with some with him the most being run away Then Belisarius quitted his horse causing his followers to doe the like and with the rest received the enemy Who after a short execution came back and gave on upon Belisarius who to prevent the enemies compass kept his mens backs to the river and stood their charge where was a fierce fight though with unequall powers a few footmen fighting with all the Persian horse and yet not routed by them For standing close and fencing with their shields they shot the enemy to more purpose than they were shot And the Barbarians to break them riding oft against them rode back again without effect their horses being skittish upon the clashing of the shields and the riders in confusion And at night they retired to their camp Belisarius also with some few got into a ship and past into an Iland whether some came after swimming The next day the Romans were transported to Callinicum in ships sent from thence The Persians having spoyled the dead bodies went home finding their own not fewer in number than their enemies Azarethes at his comeing home had no thanks from Cabades though he wanne this battell and upon this reason When an Army is levyed in Persia the King uses to sit upon his Throne and by him stand baskets and the General designed for the army which is to pass man by man before the King and each to throw an arrow into the baskets and they to be sealed with the Kings own seal When the army comes home every souldier takes his arrow out of the panniers and some Commissioners number the arrows remaining and so report to the King the number of the souldiers come home whereby it is known how many are perished in that war This custom is ancient in Persia and Azarethes presenting himself to the King he askt him what place he had conquered having invaded the Romans with Alamundarus with design to take Antioch Azarethes answered that he had taken no place but had vanquisht Bellisarius in battell Then Cabades willed the army to come in and take out their arrows whereof many being left in the baskets the King reviled Azarethes and after hold him in disgrace CHAP. XV. THe Emperour Justinian then bethought himself of associating the Homerites and Ethiopians against the Persians Who where they inhabite and wherein the Emperour thought them usefull to the Romans I will tell you The Homerites are to the East of Palestina upon the red sea which beginning from India ends in that part of the Roman Empire having upon the coast where it ends in a narrow straight the City AElas and the mountains of Egypt to the South and a desart country reaching far to the North. As you sayl in the land from both fides is seen till the Iland of Jotabeé which is from Aelas some hundred and five and twenty miles where are seated the Hebrews anciently free but in Justinians reign made subject to the Romans From hence a large sea opening no land is to be seen to the right hand as you sayl in but at night you cast anchor on the left hand shore the sea being full of shelfes and in the dark not to be meddled with There are many harbours made by the nature of the places and safe to put in at The coast from Palestina the Saracens possese who are anciently seated in the country of Palm-trees being in the midland spacious and having nothing growing but Date-trees Which Abocharabus Governour of the Saracens there gave to Justinian who made him Chieftain of the Saracens in Palestina thereby preserving that Province from spoyl Abocharabus being terrible to his subjects and enemies and very valiant This country of Palm-trees being desert and in the middle without water for ten dayes journey is of no use to us Abocharabus gave us the name of a present only which the Emperour knowing well yet took it of him Next to the Saracens in Palestina are other upon the same coast called Maadeni subject to the Homerites Upon the coast nextbeyond are the Homerites and beyond them many other nations are seated to the Man-eating Saracens Beyond whom are the Indians Opposite to the Homerites on the other shore are Ethiopians called Auxomites of the City of Auxomis where is their Kings court The sea between them is five dayes and nights sayl over with a reasonable wind keeping there the sea all night by reason there are no slielves This some call the Red sea and the rest as you sail out to AElas the Arabian gulf For all the country from thence to Gaza was formerly called Arabia and their King held his Court at Petra The Homerites haven from whence they sayl into Ethiopia is called Boulicas and they land at a haven of the Adulites from whence the City of Adulis is onely two miles and a half and from Auxomis twelve dayes journey The vassels of India and on these seas are not built like other ships nor trimmed with pitch or such like nor are the planks fastned with iron through them but tyed together with cords Not because of Iron-drawing Rocks as is vulgarly thought the Romans ships upon that sea coming from AElas though built with Iron finding no such matter but because neither Indians nor Ethiopians have Iron nor other materials for that use Nor can they buy any of the Romans who forbid it upon pain of death From Auxomis aforesaid to the Roman Frontiers in Egypt is thirty dayes journey where are the Blemmyes and Nobates and other numerous people The Blemmyes are seated in the midland but the Nobates upon the Nile This was not formerly the Roman frontier which was seven dayes journey beyond But Dioclesian finding their tribute a trifle and their country narrow being most taken up with the rocks of Nile and the garrisons in it being many burdening his Treasury with the charge And considering how these Nobates then dwelling about the City of Oäsis spoyled the Towns near them he drew them to rise from that place that they might no more trouble the country about Oästs by giving them fair Roman Cities and a large country all from Elephantina on both sides the Nile which he thought they would now guard and beat off the Blemmyes as being their own land and other barbarous Nations He gave them also and to the Blemmyes a pension in Gold not to prey upon the Roman territories which they still receive yet over-run the Provinces So impossible it is for Barbarians to keep faith with Romans but for feare of the Souldier Yet the said Emperour in an
Persians breaking the peace did much infest the Romans of the East Belisarius having newly subdued Vitigis and brought him to Constantinople Before the Persian invasion Justinian who saw Chosroes as I have said quarrelling sent a remonstrance to him by Anastasius a prudent man who lately had suppressed the Rebellion at Daras and wrote letters to this effect Wise men who know God strive to root up the occasions of warr especially with their best friends But men unadvised and rashly affecting even God for their enemy contrive causes which are no causes of sights and troubles To break a peace and run into a warr is an easie matter The nature of things makes the worst courses easiest to worthless men But to finish a warr to ones mind and to get peace againe is not so easie You complaine of letters which by me were written with no all purpose but by you are interpreted with a sense such as conduces to the execution of your own counsells with some pretence But we can alledge your Alamundarus his forraging our countryes and acting desperate things during the peace sucking our Towns ransacking killing enslaving our people so that you are not to complaine but to excuse The complaints of wrong doers are proved by actions not discourses And we notwithstanding all this resolved to observe the peace while you seek warr and coine complaints which concerne not us Men seriously embracing quiet shake off complaints against friends though they presse hard But such whom the articles of their friendship displease study for pretexts A thing not becoming ordinary men much lesse Kings Lay then these things by and consider the multitudes to perish in this warr and who shall beare the blame of what shall happen in it Consider the oath you took when you receaved your money which you slight now but can with no sophistry evade God is of a more excellent nature then to be cosened by all the men living Chosroes would not answer any thing to this Letter nor dismisse Anastasius But in the end of the Winter and of the * Chosroes first Invasion thirteenth yeare of Justinians raigne Chosroes entred the Roman territories with a great army and so cleerly brake the Perpetuall Peace He marcht not through the midland * Justinians reigne ended with the Winter almost For he was declared Emperour with his Vncle the third day before Easter See Secret History So this first Invasion of Chosroes was Anno Iustimani 14. Anno Dom. 540. but with the Euphrates to his right hand Beyond the river stands Circesium the furthest castle the Romans have and a very strong one The river Aborras being great meetes the Euphrates there and the castle stands in the neck of land between the two rivers and a long wall from each river taking in the ground without the castle makes it a triangle Chosroes would not attempt so strong a place nor passe the river his designe being for Syria and Cilicia so he marcht on and being gone so much way as would amount to about three ordinary dayes journey by the bancks of Euphrates he came to Zenobia a City built by Zenobia the wife of Odenatus who anciently being a Prince of the Saracens and in amity with the Romans recovered for them the Easterne Empire subdued by the Persians This Zenobia Chosroes considering to be no place of importance and the Countrey about it desert and barren not to take time from his greater affaires he attempted to get it by composition and not prevailing march't on as much way more and came to the City of the Surenians upon the Euphrates Staying before it the horse he rode on neighed and pawed with his foot from which Omen the Magi pronounced the Town would be taken So he encamped and from his Camp drew his Army to assault where an Armenian one Arsaces who was Captain of the Garrison brought his men up to the battlements and after a brave fight and many enemies slaine was kill'd by a shot and the Persians it being late retired to their Camp meaning the next day to renew the assault But the Romans despairing upon the death of their Commander sent out the next day the Bishop of their City to supplicate Chosroes for the sparing themselves the Town Who with some attending him and a present of fowle wine and fine manchets cast himselfe downe before Chosroes weeping and beseeching hâ—m to spare miserable men and a City of little estimation with the Romans or Persians hitherto and promising to pay reasonable ransome for their persons and city Chosroes was offended with the Surenians the first Roman subjects in his way and refusing to receave him nay taking armes and killing many principall Persians but he hid his anger under a faire countenance that by these mens chastisement he might terrify all in his way and bring them to yeild without fighting So he took up the Bishop very courteously receaved his present and pretended to communicate with some chief men about the ransome and then to satisfie his request and so sent him away without the least jealousie of his designe With him he sent a convoy of Persians whom he instructed to go to the Town comforting the Bishop with hopes that himself and company might be seen by the Townsmen cheerfull without feare and when the guards opened the gate for him to cast a stone or piece of wood between and himder their shutting it awhile presently his army should follow which he presently made ready with command to ride full speed to the town upon signall given The Persians came close to the town and took leave of the Bishop whom the Surenians seeing over-joyed and honourably conducted by the enemy apprehended no mischief but set their gate wide open and caught the bishop in their arms applauding him Being in the Guards thrust the gate to shut it but the Persians having thrown a stone between they could not get it together and they durst not open it again perceiving it possest by the enemy Some report that it was not a stone but a piece of wood that the Persians threw down But before the townsmen could perceive it Chosroës came with the army and quickly forced open the gate and entred the town and being in a fury ransackt the houses kill'd most of the men and making the rest slaves burnt the City to the ground and then he sent away Anastasius willing him to carry the news to Justinian in what part of the world he left Chosroës the sonne of Cabades But either for covetousnesse or kindnesse to Euphemia whom being one of these captives and very beautifull he made his wife and infinitely doted on her he was pleased to doe the poor Surenians some good He sent to Sergiopolis a Roman City bearing the name of Sergius a famous Saint and distant from this ruined City fifteen miles to the Southward in the Barbarian plains and directed that Candidus the bishop thereof should ransome them being twelve thousand captives for
and we entreat you not to act those mischiefs upon us which the Persians will never enjoy and you will gaine nothing but the fortune of doing desperate injuries to the Romans with whom you lately made Truce But Chosroes protested Justinian to have broken the Truce and recited particulars some materiall others slight or counterfeited Especially he offered to shew the Emperours letters to Alamundarus and the Hunnes the maine causes of the warr but he neither alledged nor shewed that ever any of the Romans invaded the Persians or did any hostile act The Ambassadors denied some things and in others laid the blame upon Justinians Ministers In conclusion Chosroes demanded money not onely a present summe being to establish a peace for ever For friendships gotten with money commonly wast with the money but a yearely pension for a firme peace and for the Persians guarding the Caspian Gates and no more importuning about Daras for which they shall be their perpetuall stipendiaries What! said the Ambassadors would you have the Romans pay them a tribute No! quoth he but to have the Persians their souldiers giving them pay for their service You give pensions to the Hunnes and Saracens not as they are Tributaries but to guard your Territories After much debate in the end they came to this accord That Chosroes should presently receave fifty Centenaries of gold 157500. l' 15720. l' sterl and a perpetuall yeerly payment of five more and so do no more mischief but receaving hostages upon this accord to retire with his whole army into his country whither other Ambassadors should be sent from Justinian to settle a firme peace CHAP. VIII CHosroes then went on to Seleucia a maritime city about sixteen miles from Antioch where neither finding nor harming any Roman he washt onely in the Sea-water did sacrifice to the Sun and whom he pleased with a deale of superstition and rode back againe Being come to his camp he desired much as he said onely for curiosity to see Apamea which stood neer The Ambassadours unwillingly yeilded upon condition that having seen the city and receaved 1000. l' weight in silver he should retire without spoiling it But Chosroes appeared to the Ambassadors and all men to take that journey onely to catch at some triviall cause to sack the city and countrey about it Then he went up to Daphne a suburbe of Antioch where he admired the Grove and the Fountaines things worth the seeing Having sacrificed to the Nymphs he came away doing no mischief there but the burning of the Temple of Michaell the Archangell upon this mistaking An eminent Persian well known to the King rode with some in his company by a ragged piece of ground called Tretum where stands the Church of the Archangell made by Evaris where finding a young man of Antioch hidden and alone he quitted his company and chased him The young man was a Butcher named Acimachus who ready to be caught turned upon his pursuer suddainly and with a stone hit him under the eare into the dura mater and being fallen down dispatcht him with his own Cimiter rifled his armes and apparell got up on his horse and rode cleer away by good chance or his knowledge of the wayes Chosroes was grieved at the accident and commanded some to burne that Church of the Archangell who thinking he meant this in Daphne burn it with the buildings about it Then Chosroes with his army went to Apamea where is a piece of wood of a cubit long part of Christs Cross brought thither long agoe by a Syrian This the Inhabitants believing to be a great defence to them and their city have put it in a casket set all with gold and precious stones and committed it to three Priests to keep and one day yearely the whole city brings it out and adores it The Apameans were affraid of the Persians coming hearing too how in Chosroes was no truth and they entreated their Bishop Thomas to shew them the wood of the Cross that they might doe it their last worship When a miracle happened above reason and belief The Priest carrying and shewing the wood a bright flame hovered above it and the roofe over it shone with an extraordinary light The Priest goeing round the Church the light went along keeping still the place of the roofe directly over him The Apameans were ravisht with delight at the miracle at once rejoycing and weeping and now confident of their preservation Thomas having gone round about the Church put up the wood of the Cross into the casket and covered it and suddainely the shining ceased Understanding the enemies to be neer he went to Chosroes who asking him if the Apameans meant to oppose his army he answered they had no such thought Then open your gates quoth Chosroes and receave me into your city with some few I am come replied the Bishop for the same purpose to invite you So the Army pitcht their tents by the walls and Chosroes with two hundred of his best men rode into the city And no sooner in but he forgot his promise to the Ambassadors commanding the Bishop to give him not 1000 l. weight of silver onely nor ter fold that but all their treasures of gold and silver being very great I doubt not but without scruple he had sackt enslaved the whole city if God had not manifestly hindred him So did covetousness and vaine glory besot him For to lead cities into captivity he esteemed it a great renown and thought it nothing to use the Romans thus contrary to accords and truces This humour of his appeares by his attempt upon Daras and the Callinicians during the truce which I shall relate hereafter But God as I said preserved the Apameans When Chosroes had taken their treasures and Thomas saw him drunk with aboundance he brought the wood of the Cross and opening the casket shewed it him saying O Excellent King This is all I have left This casket beautified with gold and precious stones I envy not unto you Take it with all the rest But this piece of wood is to us both preservative and precious I beg and entreat you Sir to give it me Which Chosroes granted Then to shew magnificence he willed the people to goe to the Circus and the Charioters to run their matches and himselfe was an earnest beholder of their sports But hearing how Justinian was long addicted to the Veneti meaning to be contrary to him in that also he would procure the victory for the Prasini The Charioters from the starting place set out and one that wore the Blew got the start another wearing Green following close at the others wheels Chosroes supposing it done purposely chafed and cryed out That Caesar was foremost which should not be commanding the foremost Chariot to stay and so cast behind to get afore againe if it could His command being fulfilled his side the Prasini won the match There an Apamean came and complained to him of a Persian for
Amida would have also gotten Edessa and Constantina And being before Edessa he demanded of the Magi if it were to be wonne pointing with his right hand to the place They told him no. For by stretching his right hand to it he gave a symbole not of taking or of hurting the city but of preservation He was satisfied with this and led his army against Constantina and encamped with purpose to besiege the town Baradotus then Bishop of the city an upright godly man mighty with God in prayer whose very countenance shewed him to be indeed gracious with God came to Cabades with a present of wine dry â—iggs hony and fine manchets and besought him not to attempt a town of no importance neglected by the Romans without garrison or other defence but the poore miserable inhabitants Cabades upon this not onely bestowed the city upon him but gave him all the store-victualls of the army for the siege and then departed out of the Roman territory Hereupon Chosroes claimed the city to belong to him from his Father Being come to Daras he sate down before it Within the Romans and the Generall Martinus prepared for their defence The city hath two walls the innermost large and faire and sixty foot high with turrets all one hundred foot high The outward wall is much lesse but strong and of good importance The ground between is about fifty foot broad where upon the approach of an enemy the Darenians put their cattle At first Chosroes with multitude of arrows forced upon the walls to the West-ward and set fire to the gates of the lesser wall but none durst enter Then he wrought a Mine closely on the East-side of the town the rest of it being built upon a rock The Persians beginning from the town ditch being very deep were neither seen nor at all discovered by the enemy And now they were under the foundation of the outter wall and in the ground between the walls and shortly to pass the great wall and take the town when from the camp of Chosroes about noon came a man or more than a man all alone to the wall seeming to gather up the scattered arrows and withall warding with his shield to flout those upon the battlements Then discovering the businesse he bade them watchfully provide for their safety and went his way The Romans immediately dig'd for life in the ground between the walls which the Persians not discerning went on with their work in a streight line to the wall and the Romans by the advise of Theodorus a famous Ingineer traversed with their Mine very deep that in the end the Persians in the ground between the walls fell suddainly into the Romans cross Mine who killed the first comers but the rest escaped to the camp The Romans would not pursue them in the dark Chosroes failing in this and seeing no hope of taking the town capitulated for a thousand pound weight of silver which he had from the besieged and went home Justinian for this attempt of Chosroes upon Daras during the truce refused to ratifie the Treaty And this was the successe of Chosroes first Invasion and so the summer ended In Assyria he built a City a dayes journey from Ctesiphon and named it Antioch of Chosroes planting there the Antiochian captives He built them a publique Bath and a Circus and fitted it for other delights bringing from Antioch and other Roman Cities Charioters and skilfull Musicians He kept these Antiochians at the publique charge not like captives and termed them Basilici as exempt from all Magistrates but the King If a Roman captive ranne from his Master and fled to this Antioch of Chosroes being there avowed by an inhabitant for his Kinsman he might not be led away by his master though a very principall Persian The Prodigy which befell the Antiochians in the reign of Anastasius was now consummated A strong wind then and a suddain blew up by the rootes the goodly tall Cypresses in Daphne the suburb of Antioch it being not lawfull to cut them Shortly after this prodigy in the reign of Justine an Earthquake shook the City so that it overthrew most of the buildings and destroyed three hundred thousand men But in this last destruction the City as I have related was even ruined And now Belisarius the Emperour sent for to Constaentinople where having wintred at the beginning of the spring he sent him Generall against Chosroes with the Commanders who came with him out of Italy Anno Dom. 541. Justiniani 15. Of whom Valerianus was made Generall of the Cohorts in Armenia Martinus being formerly sent into the East so that as I said Chosroes found him at Daras Of the Goths Vitigis stayd at Constantinople the rest served with Belisarius against Chosroes At this time the Ambassadour of Vitigis who called himself a Bishop dyed in Persia The other stayd awhile with them for an Interpreter then retired into Roman land where John commander of the forces in Mesopotamia took him near Constantina and imprisoned him and being questioned he told him all his negotiation Belisarius made haste to prevent any new Invasion of Chosroes But CHAP. XI IN the mean time Chosroes led an army into Lazica Second Invasion of Chosroes the said Anno Dom. 541. upon this ground invited by the Lazians The Lazians first inhabited Cholchis and were subject to the Romans not to payment of tribute Onely upon decease of their King the Roman Emperour sent to the Successor the Ensignes of Majesty and they guarded the marches of their country that the Hunnes might not by Mount Caucasus which borders with them passe through Lazica and invade the Romans Neither for this received they money nor army from the Romans nor served in their wars only they trafficked in Merchandise with the Romans of Pontus bartring skins hides and slaves for corn salt and other commodities they want But upon the accident formerly recited by me to Gurgenes King of Iberia some Roman forces were lodged in Lazica with whom the Barbarians were discontented and chiefly with Peter the General a man naturally mischeivous He was born in Arzanéne a country beyond the river of Nymphius subject to the Persians Being a child he was taken captive by Justine invading Persia with Celers army after the taking of Amida who used much humanity to him and sent him to a Grammar school Then was he Scribe to Justine who comming to the Empire upon the death of Anastasius made him a Generall wherein he grew infinitely covetous and lewd to all men Justinian afterward sent Commanders into Lazica and at last Iohn Tzibus a man raised from mean condition and advanced to this Generalship onely for being the wickedest of all men and very sufficient to find unjust revenues And he ruined and confounded the affairs of the Romans and Lazians He perswaded Justinian to build a Sea-town in Lazica called Petra Where sitting as in a Cittadell he made booty of Lazica He prohibited
he commanded them to goe along and with much diligence prepared for the Invasion CHAP. XII BUt Chosroes and the Persian army being come through Iberia to the confines of Lazica guided by the Ambassadors cut the treeâ— 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 master rendring himself with his Royall Palaces and all Lazica Petra stands in Lazica upon the Euxine Sea formerly a meane town but by Justinian furnished 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 utter the least sound or voice The Persian being come before the walls and seeing no man supposed the city wast and abandoned by the enemy So he approach'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 neerest 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 battlements The Romans defending with their engines and shot at first the Persians 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 Barbarians 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 timbers 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 suddainly 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 parly and receaving Chosroës oath for their persons and goods yeilded themselves and the city by composition Chosroes finding in Petra much wealth belonging 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 Persian army CHAP. XIII BElisarius heard nothing from these parts but marcht with the army toward Nisibis and being half way thither kept his right hand way where were store of springs and a spacious champian to encampe But some had no mind to goe on so that Belisarius made this speech to the Commanders I did not mean to publish my determination For a word vented in a camp spreds at last even to the enemy But I see every man will be an absolute Commander therefore I shall impart what I thought to conceale with this preamble that when in an army many will be absolute nothing can be well done Certainly Chosroes invading others hath not left his own country without guard especially this City being the first therof and a rampire to the rest wherein I know he hath lodged a garrison so strong and of so good men as will be able to oppose our assaults A demonstration thereof is Nabedes their Commander who next to Chosroes is the prime man for reputation in Persia Who doubtlesse will set upon us and we shall not be rid of him without vanquishing him in fight If we fight near the city the Persians will have the advantage backt with their fortification to follow their execution securely if they overcome and if they be overcome to be presently within their walls which you see well defended and inexpugnable On the other side if we rout them we may enter the town pell-â—ell with the enemy or thrust between them and force them to fly to some other region and so get Nisibis having none to defend it Upon this speech of Belisarius the rest obeyed and kept within the camp Onely Peter General of Armenia stood still with a good part of the army under his command a mile and a quarter from Nisibis Belisarius put in order of battail the troupes with himself and sent direction to Peter to stand in readinesse till he gave the signall and to observe at noon that the Barbarians will sally because themselves dine in the evening and the Romans at noon But Peters men slighted his commands and being faint with the sunne for that city is extremely hot layd down their arms and disorderly fell to gather figs without apprehension of an enemy Which Nabedes observing gallopt up to them with his army They seeing them issue out of the gates being in an open champian sent to Belisarius to succour them and themselves tumultuously and in confusion encountred Belisarius before the messenger came saw the enemies motion by the dust raised and with his troupes rode amain to their succour But in the mean time the Persians charged them which they not enduring ran away The enemy pursuing took Peters Ensign and slew fifty of them Doubtless they had dyed every man if Belisarius had not received them into his troups much distressed Where first the Goths presenting their long thick Lances the Persians stood them not but fell to running and the Romans and Goths pursuing killed a hundred fifty of them The chase was not long So the enemy got within their walls and the Romans returned to their camp The next day the Persians set the Ensign of Peter
wealth but indeed to surprize the city But Sergiopolis was not then to be taken For a Saracen under Alamundarus being a Christian named Ambrus came under the wall by night revealed the plot and bad them receave no Persians into their town So Chosroes seeing his men returne without effect in a great rage sent six thousand men to force the town Who assaulted and the Sergiopolitans at first defended bravely But grown weary and affraid they advised to render the city having but two hundred Souldiers within But Ambrus came againe by night and told them that within two dayes the Persians would raise their siege their water absolutely failing Whereupon they refused to parly and the enemy afflicted with third rose and returned to Chosroes Who would not dismiss Candidus It behoved I think that having broke his oath he should no more be a Priest But when Chosroes came into Comagena called Euphratesia he would not forrage nor take townes as having spoiled all in Syria formerly in his way and either sackt or ransom'd them as hath been said But his intent was to march directly into Palestine and there to take the spoile especially of the Treasures at Jerusalem hearing the Province was fertile and richly inhabited The Romans both Commanders and Souldiers had no mind to meet the enemy to stay his passage but thought it enough within their fortifications to preserve them and themselves Justinian advertised of this invasion againe sent Belisarius who taking Post-horses arrived with great speed having no Souldiers with him in Comagena Justus the Emperors brothers son with Buzes and some other were gotten into Hierapolis and hearing Belisarius to be neer wrote this letter to him Chosroes as your self know hath againe invaded the Romans with a much greater army then formerly Whither he intends he yet makes no shew onely we heare he is very neer and hurts no town in his way still marching forward Come therefore speedily unto us if possibly you can slip by the enemy that you may be preserved for the Emperour and guard here Hierapolis with us Belisarius liked not this letter but went to Europus a town upon the Euphrates from whence he sent and levyed an army which encamped there and to the commanders he returned this answer If Chosroes goe against other people and not Romans you have fallen upon a most safe counsell They who by lying still can avoid the mischief are madd to run into a needless danger But you being quit of the Barbarian he will fall upon some other country the best he can find and without garrisons Know then that a valiant death is better then such a preservation or rather treason Come you therefore speedily to Europus where assembling our whole forces we shall effect upon our enemies what God shall grant us The Commanders took heart at this letter and leaving Justus with some to guard Hierapolis the rest went to Europus CHAP. XV. WHen Chosroes heard Belisarius to be at Europus he march't no further but sent to him one of his Secretaries named Abandanes a very discreet man This is supplied by the Latin Translation to complaine that Justinian had not sent his Ambassadors to ratifie the treaty Of whose coming Belisarius understanding he chose six thousand the goodliest of his men as if he would send them out to hunt He commanded also Diogenes one of his Lanciers and Adolius the son of Acacius and Armenian one of those who attend in the Emperours Palace to keep off noise whom the Romans call Silentarij and now Captaine of the forces in Armenia to skirt along the shore of Euphrates with a thousand horse and at times to make shew to passe the river to invade their countrey Himself hearing the Ambassador to be at hand retired to his pavillion which uses to be made with boards that he might seeme to the Ambassador to be in a poore town without provisions His souldiers he thus disposed On the one side of his pavillion were the Thracians and Illyrians and behind them the Goths and next the Herulians then the Vandales and Moores They took up much space not standing still but walking at distance and looking carelesly and confidently upon the Ambassador None had his mantle on but linnen coates like women girt about them and in their hands a Horsemans-whip For armes some had swords some battle axes others bowes onely looking like hunters in all hast omitting all to be pursueing the wild beasts Abandanes the Ambassador coming to Belisarius said That it was a foule indignity that Cesar so the Persians call the Roman Emperour had not sent Ambassadors about the Articles which had constrained his master to enter the Roman territory in armes Belisarius not fearing their great army and without any trouble in his mind or countenance smiled and with a cheerfull look answered him Men doe not censure the actions of Chosroes by the same reasons he does them by other men demanding ought of their neighbours send Ambassadors first and if they get not right then they make warr But he being in armes in the heart of our provinces shamelesly now talks of peace Having thus said he dismissed the Ambassador Who coming back to Chosroes perswaded him to lay down armes telling him That he lighted upon a captaine the stoutest and the wisest in the world and upon such souldiers as he never beheld the like whose order he extreamely admired Then was the match between them unequall He overcoming should onely vanquish a slave of Cesars but being overcome should get infinit dishonour to him and his house The Romans also being beaten may escape into their fortresses and in their own countrey But if other then well happen to his army there will be no messenger left to report the calamity in Persia Chosroes upon these reasons had a mind to goe home but was troubled knowing the passages of the river to be guarded by the enemy * Here the Greek begins againe and march the same way againe through a wilderness he could not the provisions they brought with them failing In conclusion he thought it best though with hazarding a battaile to get to the land on the other side the river and so to march through a plentifull countrey Belisarius knew well that not 100000. men could hinder his passage the river being passable by boats and his army stronger then to be barred their way by few enemies Having also as I said commanded Diogenes and Adolius with a considerable party to the shore to amaze the enemy with suddainess and to put him in disorder Now he feared least by frighting him he might interrupt his quitting the Roman territory thinking it a matter of much importance to drive him away without hazarding with a very small army heartily affraid of the Persians against so many thousands Wherefore he bad Diogenes and Adolius stay And Chosroes speedily making a bridge pass'd with his army over the Euphrates Which was done with ease the Persians having in their
their ladders and engines as if they would instantly enter But the Romans defending in great numbers the enemy fledd and the Romans hiss't at Chosroes daring him to the assault Onely Azarethes with his troupes continued fighting about the gate of Soëna and from a place called Tripugia the valiantest of the Romans sallied Other Persians assaulting an outwork prest hard upon the defendants till Peranius with many souldiers and some Edessenians having routed Azarethes rode up to these So that Chosroes beginning the assault in the morning gave it over late at night Both passed the night unquietly the Persians affraid of their trenches the Romans providing stones and other things against another assault the next morning when the Barbarians came not on But the day after a part of the army animated by Chosroes set upon the gate of Barlaim but were beaten back to their camp Then Paul the Interpreter called up to the walls for Martinus to treat an accord Which he did and Chosroës receaving * 39062. l' 10. s' sterl 50000. gold Staters from the Edessenians subscribed the articles promising no more to infest the Romans In conclusion setting his palissadoes and others works on fire he went home with his army About this time died two Roman commanders Justus Justinians nephew and Peranius the Iberian the first by sickness the other by a fall from his horse in hunting In whose roomes the Emperour placed Marcellus his sisters sonne a youth and Constantianus afterward Ambassador to Chosroes about the treatie These had audience in Assyria where stand Seleucia and Ctesiphon faire cities built by the Macedonians who after Alexander the great raigned in Persia Of which cities the Tigris bounds their territories no other countrey being between them Here finding the King they demanded restitution of the places in Lazica and ratification of the articles of peace But Chosroes said that a peace would hardly be without a truce first for a time during which by mutuall concourse and communication they might more firmely determine the Perpetuall Peace and that the Romans to get it must give him money and they must send him one Tribunus with whom by a day certain he would conclude the businesse This Tribunus a Physitian had cured Chosroes of a great sicknesse The Quinquennial Cessation An. Justin 19. Anno Dommi 545. for which he was his friend and very gratefull Justinian forthwith sent him Tribunus and of the money twenty thousand Staters And so a Truce was concluded for five years in the nineteenth year of Justinians reigne Shortly after Alamundarus and Arethas had a war without any ayds of Persians or Romans on either side Alamundarus in an Inroade took a son of Arethas prisoner and sacrificed him to Venus From him was discovered how Arethas sold the affairs of the Romans to the Persians Afterward they came to a battel with their whole forces wherein Arethas got the better and routed the enemy and killed many A while after he had the pursuit of two sons of Alamundarus but could not take them CHAP. XX. But in Lazica Chosroes had a design to kill Gubazes their King Here the Greek continues * and to transplant the Nation into some other part of his dominions and to plant Persians in their room For he thought it a matter of much importance firmly to possesse Lazica being of manifold use to the Persians First by holding more securely the Iberians who would have none to fly to in case of revolt For the principall Iberians with their King Gurgenes revolting as I said before the Persians suffered not the nation to chuse their King any more neither were they willing subjects to the Persians but both were suspicious of each other and the Iberians discontented and ready to stir upon fit opportunity He considered also that not onely the Persian dominions would hereby be for ever free from the devastation of the Hunnes bordering upon Lazica but that himself having a mind might send them against the Romans there being no rampire against the Barbarians of Mount Caucasus but only Lazica But principally Lazica would advantage the Persians by issuing from thence to infest by land and sea the places upon the Euxine sea to subdue Cappadocia Galatia and Bithynia and to surprise Constantinople there being none to stop their course Upon these considerations Chosroes would have Lazica but could not be confident in the Nation For after the Romans were retired from thence the common people were discontented at the Persians Government who of all men have least variety in their humours their manner of life being extreamly strict their laws hard of disgestion and their commands intollerable And in reference to the Lazians the difference infinitely appeared both in Religion and conversation the Lazians being Christians none more and the Persians quite contrary Besides no Salt being in Lazica nor Wine nor other native commodity all is imported from the sea coasts of the Romans not giving money to the Merchants but skins and slaves and other things with them abounding From which being now barred they were discontented And Chosroes perceiving it consulted upon some safe prevention before they should stirre for an alteration and thought it most expedient to rid away Gubazes their King and to transport the Nation and to plant Persians and others in their country He sent also to Constantinople Isdigunas under pretext of an Ambassage and with him five hundred chosen Persians directing them to get into Daras and lodging in severall houses to set them afire and while the Romans were busie to quench the fire to open the gates and receive in the rest of the Persian army the Governour of Nisibis being commanded to be in readynesse with forces concealed thereabout Thus Chosroes thought without labour to have the killing of the Romans in Daras and to be master of the City But a Roman fugitive in Persia having knowledge of it went to Daras and there revealed it to George who formerly perswaded the Persians besieged in Sisibranum to yeeld to the Romans George went out to meet the Ambassador and told him this was not like not Ambassage and that Persians in so great numbers use not to lodge in Roman Cities he should do well to leave the rest in a town called Amudis and with a few in his company to enter Daras Isdigunas chased and took this for a great affront being an Ambassadour sent to the Emperour But George without respect to his storming preserved the City to the Romans receiving him in with onely twenty of his train He failing in his plot went to Constantinople with his Wife and two Daughters the pretence of his extraordinary company Where having accesse to the Emperour of businesse great or small he had nothing to say though he had been six moneths in the Roman dominions but he delivered usuall presents to the Emperour and letters to know if he were in good health This Isdigunas Justinian entertained with the most grace and honour
to reign alone after Justins death on the first of July saith Evagrius And with Justin the 3. day before Easter vide Secret Hist cap. 7. he made for Salonae Where arrived he landed and rested his Army upon the place and he directed Siphyllas one of his Life-guard with 500. chosen men to possesse a narrow passage in the Suburbs of Salonae which he performed And the next day Constantianus entered the Citie with the Land army and the Fleet lay before it at Anchor He tooke care of the walls and repaired the decayes And Gripas seeing the Romans masters of Salonae seven dayes after rose and transported the Goths over to Ravenna So Constantianus tooke in Dalmatia and Liburnia and the Goths there inhabiting And then ended the Winter and the first year of this Warre written by Procopius Belisarius leaving Garrisons in Syracusa and * Annus 2. Bâ—ll Goth. incipit being in 10. Iustiniani 〈◊〉 Ann. Dom. 536. Panormus passed over his Army from Messinae to Rhegium where the Poets fain Scylla and Charybdis to have been The Inhabitants came in to him daily their Towns having been long without walls and without Garrisons and they hated the Goths weary it seems of the present Government Ebrimus also a Goth revolted to him with his Followers having marryed Theodatus Daughter Theodenanthe He was sent to the Emperour and besides other bounties made a Patrician The Army marcht from Rhegium through Brutia and Lucania and the Navy kept close to the Coast In Campania they sate downe before Naples a strong maritime Citie with a great Garrison in it of Goths The Fleet Belisarius commanded to lye at Anchor without Bow-shot in the Harbour Then he took the Castle in the Suburbs by composition He gave the Citizens leave to send him some chiefe men to acquaint him with what they had to say and hearing his Propositions to report them to their Communalty The Napolitans sent him Stephanus who spake thus to Belisarius It is not just O Generall to bring your Army upon Romans and who never wrong'd you having a small Citie and the Barbarians within our Masters that we cannot do as we would Nay the Souldiers of our Garrison have lest under Theodatus their Wives and Children and most precious things that by practising upon us they should not more betray our Town then themselves But if we may say the truth without mincing you have advised ill to invade us For take Rome first and Naples is yours without difficulty but repulsed from thence you can never be sure of this Towne So that you will spend time impertinently in this siege Belisarius made Stephanus this answer We meane not to referre it to the Napolitans whether We be here upon good or bad advice We desire you to consult of what concerns your selves and to choose your owne best advantage Entertaine therefore the Emperours Armie come to free you and all Italy and doe not prefer the most sorrowfull things Such as make War to shake off slavery or other base condition gaine in vanquishing with the victory freedome from misery and being vanquished are yet comforted for not having willingly submitted to a wretched fortune But such as may be free without fighting and yet will fight to establish their own servitude if they conquer they do but more ruine themselves and if they have the worse they adde to their other wretchednesse the calamity of a defeate This he sayd to the Napolitans To the Goths we give Liberty either to serve the Emperour with us or to retire home without harme If you slight all this and imploy your armes against us we shall use you as Enemies But if the Napolitans will joyne with the Emperour and be rid of a sharpe servitude I will pawn my faith for such conditions as the Sicilians had who cannot say we are forsworne This Belisarius commanded Stephanus to impart to the people promising him great rewards if he drew them to the Emperour Stephanus acquainted the City with these propositions and with his owne opinion of the inconvenience of resisting the Emperour With him joyned Antiochus a Syrian merchant who had long dwelt there and was esteemed a very wise and an honest man CHAP. VII BUt Pastor and Asclepiodotus two Orators much esteemed in Naples and freinds to the Goths to crosse the treaty drew the people to propound great things and many and that Belisarius would swear to their present obtaining the same And they gave to Stephanus demands in writing which they thought Belisarius would never yeild to He went to the Camp shewed the writing to the Generall demanding if he would grant those propositions and take his Oath accordingly He promised to grant all and sent him away The Napolitans imbraced the Capitulation and commanded the army to be received into the City which said they may safely be done the Sicilians giving us ample proofe who for Barbarian Tyrants have chosen the Empire of Justinian and are become free men and eased of all greivance And then in much tumult they went to open the gates which troubled the Goths but being not able to hinder it they kept out of the way But Pastor and Asclepiodotus assembled the people and spake thus It is not strange for a City-multitude to ruine it selfe when they will resolve in the generall absolutely without communicating with the better sort But being with you upon the point of destruction we cannot but contribute this last advise to our country You are running to deliver your selves and City to Belisarius who promises much and will solemnly swear to it If he could assure you that he shall conquer in this war no man can gainsay but that these things will be good for us It were foolish not to gratifie him that is to be our Lord but since this is uncertaine and since none can secure the Resolutions of Fortune consider for what miseries you may take this pains For the Goths overcoming wil punish you for having done them the greatest despight revolting thus not forced by necessity but as willing cowards Nay even Belisarius himself being Victor will esteeme us false and Traitors to our Princes and as such we must expect a perpetuall garrison upon us A Traitors service pleases for the present with the victory obtained but afterward the Victor suspects fears and hates his Benefactor having with him the marks of his falshood But continuing true to the Goths and valiant in this danger if they conquer they will do us many good turnes and Belisarius getting the victory will pardon us No understanding man will punish a good affection failing of successe And why fear you this seige being in no wants nor blockt up but at home secured by these walls and souldiers If Belisarius could hope to force us he would not come to this capitulation and if he would do justly and us good he would not fright us thus and establish a power upon our wronging the Goths but come roundly to a battell with them
So that taking the Cock-boats of the greater Ships and walling them round with boards to guard the men from shot they put aboard those Boats a proportion of Archers and Marriners and stowing as much as they could carry in them and getting a wind they sailed up the Tiber a part of the Army winging them on the right hand shore And they left a strong guard of Isaurians in the Ships Their sailes they tooke from the Enemy and went up with ease Only where the Stream with an eddy went side-long their sails had no wind for them and the Marriners rowed and with much toyle forced up The Barbarians interrupted them not either fearing to hazard or not thinking provisions could be imported that way And they held it inconvenient to crosse the Cessation promised upon a slight occasion In Portus also the Goths medled not with them as they sayled by them wondring what their intent was Having in this manner sailing to and fro imported their ladings the Marriners went away with the Ships it being now toward the Winter Tropick The rest of the Army entred Rome save Paulus who staid in Ostia with some Isaurians Afterward they gave Hostages for observing the Cessation the Romans Zeno and the Goths Vlias a man of quality Neither to invade the other for three moneths till the Ambassadors should bring the Emperours resolution And if any should begin to wrong the other yet the Ambassadors should be returned home safe The Goths Ambassadors were convoyed by the Romans to Constantinople and Ildiger who married Antonina's daughter came from Africk to Rome with a faire troop of Horse The Goths in the Castle of Portus wanting provisions quitted it and came to the camp by Vitigis direction The place Paulus with his Isaurians from Ostia surprized It was the Romans being Masters of the Sea which caused these wants of Victuall permitting no Provisions to come to the Barbarians Upon the like scarcity they quitted then also Centumcellae a Sea Towne of much importance great and populous and standing in Tuscany 35. miles to the West of Rome The taking of it much strengthened the Romans and of Alba likewise standing to the East of Rome and abandoned by the Enemy for the same reason So that the Romans compassed them round which made the Goths eager to breake the Accord and to do them mischiefe They sent Ambassadors to Belisarius complaining that Vitigis having upon some occasion sent for the Goths from the Castle of Portus Paulus without any reason had surprized it and pretending the like for Alba and Centumcellae with menaces if they had not restitution Belisarius sent them away laughing at their pretext all men knowing why they quitted those places From hence forward they were suspicious of each other Belisarius seeing then Rome strong with Souldiers sent out many parties of Horse to places neer Rome And Vitalianus Johns Nephew to winter about Alba in Picenia with his own 800. Horse and 400. of the Troopes of Valerianus whose Sisters Son Damianus commanded them and 800. of his own Targetiers extraordinary good men led by two of his Life-guard Sutas and Abigis These he directed to follow John withersoever and him while the Enemy kept the Truce to be quiet but if they broke it suddenly to fall upon Picenia to visit the Townes before they had newes of his coming few men being left in the Country but almost all before Rome and their Wives Children and Goods being in every Town some and to carry away Captive and pillage all he found taking care not to hurt the Roman Inhabitants lighting upon any Town Fortified and Garrison'd to attempt it and if he took it to march forward but if were too tough for him to come back or stay For going on with a strong Town at his back it would be dangerous and he could hardly be succoured if distressed by an Enemy that he should keep all the Booty to be distributed to the Army Then smiling he added this word That it is not just for some to toile to kill the Droanes and others at their ease to eat the Honey Belisarius with these Instructions sent away John and those Forces ABout that time Datius Bishop of Millane with some chiefe Citizens came to Rome and intreated of Belisarius some Souldiers with whom they undertook not only to draw Millane from the Goths to the Emperour but all Liguria This City is in †Liguria * This Author cals much more Liguria then now is Leander sates there was a Liguria Cisappeninna anciently The Liguria now he names Transappennina in the mid way between Ravenna and the Alpes which are upon the Frontier of Gaule standing eight daies Journey from either Next to Rome it was the greatest of the Western Cities and the most populous and rich Belisarius promised as they desired and kept them there the Winter but Fortune grew envious at the Romans Prosperity and meant to temper it with some ill putting a quarrell between Belisarius and Constantianus upon a slight ground Persidius a Roman Citizen of quality who dwelt at Ravenna having offended the Goths when Vitigis was upon leading his Army to Rome under a pretence with some few Servants to go a hunting ran away communicating his Designe to none nor carrying money nor money-worth save two short Swords with Scabberds set with much Gold and precious Stones Being come to Spoletum he lodged in a Church without the Walls which Constantianus then there understanding sent Maxentiolus one of his Targetiers and took the Cimiters from him who being grieved at the wrong went to Rome to Belisarius whether soon after came Constantianus also the Goths Army being reported to be neer While the Romans were in trouble and danger Persidius was silent but they having the better and the Goths Embassadours being dispatched to the Empetour he acquainted Belisarius with the Injury praying his assistance in his just Cause who in Person and by others reproved Constantianus and advised him to wash his hands of so foule an Imputation But Constantianus who was to have a mischiefe put off the advise with a Jest and flouted the man he had wronged Who meeting Belisarius riding through the Market place took his Horse by the Bridle and clamouring aloud askt if it were the Emperours Law that when a poor Suppliant comes for refuge from Barbarians any man may take from him what he hath about him The Company threatned him and bad him let go the Bridle which he would not do before Belisarius promised to give him the Swords The next day he called Constantianus and many Commanders to a Room in the Palace putting him in mind of the Accident the day before and though late to restore the Cimiters He said he would sooner throw them into the Tiber Belisarius grew angry and askt if he took not himselfe to be under his command In other things he professed to obey him since it was the Emperours pleasure but that which he now commanded he
a good nature that having lately attempted great Fortunes and now failed in a small matter is so poorly dejected This is plainly to renounce your selves to be men for never to slip is peculiar to God alone So that setting by these things I say that you are to go to Perusia and to encounter the Enemy If you conquer them Fortune will cleare up again No age can make that undone which hath happened to us but the memory of ill Fortunes is aswaged by the arrivall of good The getting Perusia will cost little labour Cyprianus the Commander Fortune and our Counsels have removed and a multitude without a Governour and without Victuals too are no fit men to fight valiantly None shall infest your backs I having beaten down the Bridges to prevent any sudden incursions Belisarius likewise and John are jealous of one another as may appeare by their Actions which ever convince the disagreement of minds they to this day having never joyned their Forces by reason of their mutuall jealousie And that Guest whosoever hath may be sure of hatred and envie in the same lodging which being intermingled nothing can possibly be done that should be Having thus spoken he led the Army towards Perusia and there fate down before it preparing for a Siege CHAP. XIIII IN the mean time John besieged the Castle of Acherontis and finding that he could do no good upon it he fell upon a bold resolution which preserved some Roman Senators and got much reputation to himselfe While Totilas was busie before Rome he took to himselfe a party of choice Horse-men and concealing his intent made a journey into Campania where Totilas had confined the Senators resting neither day nor night that coming suddenly he might rescue the Senators the Townes being altogether unfortified Totilas before fearing this and that by some Enemy he might lose his Prisoners had sent into Campania some Forces of Horse who being come to the City of Minturnae thought it best to stay there and to rest their Horses being weary with the journey Some others Totilas had directed being men in much account with him and about 400. to view in what Estate Capua was and the Townes about it And the journey thither was but 37. miles and the Horses of these and themselves were fresh and lusty It happened that these 400 and John arrived at the same day and houre at Capua not knowing of one anothers coming Suddenly a gallant fight was performed both parties falling to it at first sight wherein the Romans had the absolute Victory and killed many some few of them got away and gallopt to Minturnae whom the others there seeing all bloody and some with Arrowes sticking in them others not so much as telling them what had befallen them so earnest they were to get away and bewraying the feare they were in they also leapt upon their Horses and ran with them for company And coming to Totilas they told him of innumerable Enemies to save the shame of their running away Seventy Roman Souldiers then came into John who were quartered in Campania And some few Senators he found there but almost all their Wives For most of the men at the taking of Rome were fled into Portus with the Souldiers but all the Women were taken Prisoners One Clementinus a Patritian fled into a Church not accompanying the Roman Army because having betrayed a Castle neer unto Naples to Totilas he feared the Emperours indignation Orestes also who had been Consull staid at his house for want of Horses to carry him away John sent the Senators he found and the 70. Souldiers into Sicily But Totilas was vexed at this newes and eager to have his revenge upon John And he marcht against him leaving only some of his Troops to guard the Camp before Perusia John had encamped his 100. men in Lucania and sent out some to discover upon all the waies that the Enemy might not surprise him And Totilas guesting as much and that John would not lye in his Camp without his Scouts abroad left the ordinary wayes and marcht over the Mountaines which were many high and craggy and thought unpassable that none would suspect his coming that way Johns Scouts found the Enemy was thereabout but no certainty they could learn and fearing what came to passe they rode back to their Camp and with them arrived there the Goths in the night Totilas being in a rage and so not well advised had the fruit of his impertinet anger His Army was ten times greater then his Enemies and it is evidently best for a stronger Army to make an open fight so that he should have charged the Enemy in the morning to take from them the benefit of the dark to hide themselves and so he had taken them all as in a net But he giving way to his anger set on them in the dark night They used no resistance being taken most of them asleep yet the Goths killed not many they having the means in the dark to slip away unseen leaving their camp and running up to the next mountains John escaped amongst the rest and Arusus Captaine of the Herulians Almost 100. Romans were slaine There was with John one Gilacius an Armenian commanding some few of his Countrey-men who spake neither Greeke Latine nor Gothish but Armenian only some Goths lighting upon him ask'd him who he was They forbare to kill any in the dark lest they might kill their owne He could make no other answer but that he was Generall Gilacius having learnt the title of his place in Greek by hearing it often named The Goths finding him an Enemy took him Prisoner and soon after killed him John and Arusus with their troops gallop't amain to Otranto And the Goths afterward pillaging the Romans Camp retired Things being thus in Italy the Emperour upon the importunate letters of Belisarius thought good to send more Forces thither First he sent Bacurius the sonne of Peranius and Sergius Solomons sisters sonne who with some few came to the rest of the Army Afterward he sent â—â—rus with 300. Herulians and Varazes an Armenian with 80. Roman Souldiers He caused also Valerianus Generall of Armenia from thence to goe into â—â—â—ly with his guard of Lanciers and l'argettiers being above a thousand men 〈◊〉 first arrived at Otranto where leaving his Ships and not joyning with Johns Army he rode forward with his men He was no serious man but an excessive Drinker and consequently rash and unadvised He encamped neer to Brundusium Which Totilas hearing Either quoth he Verus is very strong or very foolish Let us go to him either to make tryall of his power or to make him sensible of his folly Accordingly he went against him with a great Army But the Herulians seeing them fled into a Wood where the Enemy compassed them and slew above 200. Verus and the rest were ready to be caught but it chanced that Varazes and the Armenians came suddenly to an Anchor upon that shore and
And thus he pacified the Emperour and got a great fame for using his virtue in a time of so great need Artabanes the Emperour removed from his office and did him no other harm nor any of the rest they were restrained but not dishonorably nor in the common prison but in the Palace The Barbarians at this time were cleerly masters of all the West and this Gothick war was now come to this that the Romans who at first won all afore them had now consumed their men and money to no purpose had lost Italy and stood looking uppon Illyrium and Thrace shamefully wasted by Barbarians their next borderers In the beginning of this war the Goths gave to the Francks all Gallia subject to them being not able to fight with both as I have said This the Romans hindred not but Justinian confirmed the Gift that he might not be crost by a war from these Barbarians nor would the Francks have thought their possession sure if the Emperour had not put his Seal to the Act. Hereupon the Kings of the Francks got Marseilles a colony of the Phocaeans and all the Sea townes and were Masters of that Sea And now they sit in Arles beholding the horse races there they coyn Gold Staters out of the Gold mines in Gaule not with the stamp of the Roman Emperour as the custome is but with their own Images The King of Persia coynes silver monies as he pleases but it is not lawfull for him nor any King of Barbarians to put his own stamp upon a Gold Stater though he be a greater Master of Gold for such money they cannot put away though they trade with Barbarian Merchants But the Francks seeing Totilas prevaile seized the most part of Venetia the Romans had no power to resist nor the Goths to make war upon both CHAP. XVIII THE Gepaedes also took Syrmium and almost all Dacia so soon as Justinian had taken them from the Goths making the Romans their Captives and going still onward spoyling the Roman Provinces so that the Emperour paid them no more the Pensions they anciently received of the Romans To the Lombards also he gave the City of Noricum and the strong places in Pannonia and other Townes and great sums of Money who thereupon left their own Country and planted by the River Ister neer unto the Gepaedes and pillaged likewise Dalmatia and Illyrium to Epidamnus leading the People Captive of whom if any chanced to run away and get home these Lombards being in league with us freely ranging in the Roman Provinces and discovering any of these Fugitives laid hold of them as their Slaves and haling them from their Parents led them back with them without any opposition The Herulians also had given them by the Emperour places in Dacia neer the City of Singidon where now they inhabit and from thence over-run and spoile Illyrium and Thrace Some of them turned Roman Souldiers and were rancked with the Confederates And these Herulian Ambassadours when they come to Constantinople receive their full Pensions without much attendance notwithstanding they ransack dayly the Roman Subjects And thus all these Barbarians shared among them the spoile of the Empire Not long after the Gepaedes and Lombards being Neighbours became Enemies and a day was appointed for a pitch-field between them The Lombards inferiour in numbers and holding themselves to be over-matcht resolved to invite the Romans to aide them in the Battell the Gepaedes also having truce with us were desirous the Romans would joyne with them or stand neutrall And both of them sent Ambassadours to Justinian for aide Thorisin was then Prince of the Gepaedes and Audouin of the Lombards The Emperour heard their Propositions not together but severally The Lombards having first accesse spake thus Great Emperour we are amazed at the impertinency of these Gepaedes who having acted so many great wrongs upon your Dominions come here to offer the foulest scorne that can be in thinking you easie to be deceived and so coming to make use of your simplicity But we desire you Sir to consider their intentions in this friendship so will you deale the more securely for your Empire and judge more safely of the Future by what is past If their ingratitude had been shewn only to other Nations you might expect from us long discourses and forreigne testimonies to convince them thereof But you have the experiment now even in your own selves The Goths formerly held all Dacia tributary whom the Gepaedes dwelling on the further side of the Ister so feared that they never durst attempt to passe over the River But being in truce with the Romans and their great Friends and in that Title receiving large yearly Pensions as well from former Emperours as your selfe what Services have they done you for the same They can alledge not one When they knew not how to wrong you their disability not good intent kept them quiet Beyond the Ister you would not meddle and from this side the feare of the Goths restrained them And can disability be called gratitude or good nature Can a firm Friend be known while he wants power to transgresse No Sir It is a mans power only that expresses his nature and intentions good or bad his ability to do what he list laying his disposition to the publick view For these Gepaedes no sooner saw the Goths gone out of Dacia and you busie with your Enemies but the wicked wretches intruded every where upon your territories Their basenesse herein what words can expresse Have they not despised the Roman Empire broken the sacred Lawes of Truces put scornes upon their Benefactors and violated that Empire whose Slaves they would be proud to be if you had any leisure for them They hold Syrmium and vaunt all Dacia to be theirs in what War having been ever victorious either for you with you or against you or of what Battell having made that Province the prize Nay being ancient Mercenaries and receiving your Monies as hath been said Then a more lewd proceeding then this Ambassage of theirs was never Now when they see us quarrelling with them they have the face to come to Constantinople and to the Emperours presence whom they have so much abused and peradventure in their aboundant impudence will intreat your aide against us who have shewed our selves so affectionate to you If they come to restore what they have unjustly intruded into you must impute it to the Lombards the chiefe Causers of their repentance a constrained feare of whom hath put on them this form of gratitude And if you receive the benefit you must thank those who made the doing it necessary But if now neither they will part with what belongs not to them what an excesse of ill nature is this Let this suffice O Emperour to be spoken in a Barbarian simplicity with words not reaching the matter And do you Sir weigh well what hath been uttered more scantly then the occasion requires and do that
accused Seoses for mentioning Lazica without their Master direction purposely to break the Treaty and for communicating therein first with Hypatius who bare the King least affection and crost the conclusion of the Peace and the Adoption Seoses being charged by his Enemies with many other things was called to a judiciall tryall before the Persian Senate who were all displeased with his new Office and offended at his behaviour He was a man free from corruption and very just but extremely arrogant Which though a vice naturall to the great Officers of Persia yet in Seoses themselves thought it to reign in extremity His accusers charged him with the matters afore mentioned and for not contenting himself with the ancient customes of the Persians worshipping new Gods and that lately he had buryed his Wife the Persian Laws prohibiting the burying of dead bodies in the earth So the Judges condemned him to dye And Cabades seemed to grieve as for a friend but would not pardon him professing that he was not offended with him but he must not infringe the Laws And yet he owed his life Seoses who was the chiefest cause of his living and reigning and being thus condemned he was put to death His office as it began so it ended with him none after him having ever the like Generall power over all offices and armies Rufinus also accused Hypatius to the Emperour who upon it discharged him of his Office but after torturing some about him he found no truth in the accusation and so did no other harm to him CHAP. VIII CAbades then desired to invade the Romans but found this impediment The Iberians of Asia who are seated by the Caspian Gates to the Southward have next them to the West Lazica and to the East part of Persia This people are Christians as devout as any and have alwayes been subject to the King of Persia These Cabades would inforce to his Religion writing to their King Gurgents to do all things as the Persians did and not to bury their dead bodies in the earth but to throw them out to the dogs and birds Whereupon Gurgenes revolted to the Emperour Justine requesting assurance of him that he should not leave him to the mercy of the Persians Which he granted willingly and sent Probus Sisters son to the late Emperour Anastasius a Patritian with money to raise an army of Hunnes for his ayd to Bosporus a Maritime City lying on the left hand as you sail toward the Euxine Sea 20 days journey distant from Cherson which is the farthest Roman City that way all between being possessed by Hunnes These Bosporians were formerly a free people but lately they submitted to the Emperour Justine But Probus returning without doing any thing the Emperour sent Peter Generall into Lazica with some Hunnes to ayd Gurgenes And at tâ—â— same time Cabades sent an army against Gurgenes and the Iberians under Boës a Persian his Generall But Gurgenes finding himself too weak for the Persian and the Roman succours not competent fled into Lazica with his wife and children and chief men of Iberia and his brothers whereof Peranius was the eldest and in the confines of Lazica stayd fortifying in the fastnesses against the Enemy Which hindred the Persians that pursued them from doing any thing to purpose Afterward some Iberians came to Constantinople and Peter was remanded home The Lazians also refusing to help to guard the Province the Emperour sent an army commanded by Irenaeus Formerly the guard of two Forts at the entrance of Lazica from Iberia was carefully maintained by the Provincials though enduring much For no Corn nor Wine grows near nor other commodity nor for the fastnesses can be brought thither but upon mens backs and they lived being used to it upon Panicum or Mill-seed there growing But the Emperour taking thence those Warders put Roman Garrisons to keep the places whom at first the Lazians supplyed with provisions though hardly but after refused the service and the Romans abandoned the Forts which the Persians seised on In the mean time the Romans led by Sittas and Belisarius invaded Persarmenia and having forraged much country and taken many prisoners they retired They were youths then their beards first springing and Lanciers of the guard to Justinian the chief Generall who soon after held the Empire with his Uncle Justine In another inroad into Armenia by Sittas and Belisarius they were suddenly met and put to the worst by Narses and Aratius who not long after revolted to the Romans and served under Belisarius in Italy Licelarius also a Thracian invaded about Nisibis with another Army of Romans who retreated running away and none charging them Whereupon the Emperour discharged Licelarius and gave Belisarius the command of the forces in Daras And then was Procopius the Writer of this history chosen his Consellour * Anno Dom. 527. Justiniani 1. who was declared Emperour with Justine on good friday being then the first of April Anno Dom. 527. And Justine died the first of August after See Alemannus Historicall notes pag 43. Shortly after Justine died having before declared Justinian his Sisters Sonne Emperour with him Justinian being sole Emperour directed Belisarius to build a Fort at Mindon upon the confines of Persia on the left hand of the way to Nisibis who having raised it to a good height the Persians sent to forbid him threatning to hinder it not with words onely but deeds The Emperour hereof informed and how Belisarius was not able with the Forces he had to beat off the Persians he commanded Cutzes and Buzes Captaines of the Forces in * This was one of the fifteene Provinces subordinate to the Governour of the Orient And these were there Duces limitanei The Country bordering with Arabia and the Saracens Phoenicia Libani to repaire thither with another Army These were Thracians and brethren yong men and rash in their encounters They march't together to the building where the Persians hindred and the Romans assisted the workmen all they could In the fight the Romans had the worst and lost many men Cutzes and some other were taken whom the Persians shut up in a cave perpetuall prisoners and no Forces defending the building they cast it down Anno Domini 528. Justiniani 2. CHAP. IX AFterward Justinian made Belisarius Generall of the East and directed him to make an expedition against Persia who levying an Army of good importance came to Daras With him was joined in the command Hermogenes Captain of the Emperours Guard and sometime Quaestor to Vitalianus when he rebelled against the Emperour Anastasius Rusinus also he sent his Ambassador with direction to stay at Hierapolis upon the Euphrates till he should signifie his pleasure there being some discourses on both sides for a peace But Belisarius and Hermogenes had newes that a Persian invasion was feared to take Daras Whereupon they provided to sight in this manner Neer to the gate toward Nisibis a stones cast off they drew
would be content to lay aside all his quarrells to the Romans Wherewith Rusinus acquainted the Emperour at his returne to Constantinople whither soon after came Hermogenes And so the Winter ended and * Anno Domini 530. Justimani 5. the fourth yeare of Justinians raigne * Anno Domini 531. Justiniani 5. In the beginning of the Spring 15000. Persians all horse under the command of Azarethes a Persian invaded the Romans and among them Alamundarus the Saracen with great numbers of Saracens In this invasion they did not as they were wont enter by Mesopotamia but by Comagena now called Euphratesia The reason of forbearing Mesopotamia now and why it is so called is thus From a Mountaine of Armenia not very steep being five miles to the North of Theodosiopolis issue two springs presently making the right hand spring Euphrates and the left Tigris Tigris without winding goes strait on to Amida taking in no waters by the way and by the North-side of it passes into Assyria But the Euphrates running not farr vanishes not sinking under ground but with a kind of miracle Over the water lyes a bogg deep and six miles long and two miles and a half broad wherein much reed growes and the mudd is so stiffe that to passengers it seemes firme ground Horse and Foot and Waggons passe upon it every day and stirr not the ground nor discover it for a bogge The inhabitants every yeare burn off the reed that it stop not the way and sometime a strong wind blowing the fire pierces to the roots and discovers the river in a small channell And the mudd landing up againe soon after restores to the place the forme it had Hence this river runs to the Country of Ecelesa where was the Temple of Diana in Tauri Iphigenia Agamemnons daughter with Orestes and Pilades flying thither with the image of Diana The other Temple standing to this day at Comana is not that of Tauri But thus it was Orestes stealing with his sister from Tauri fell into a great sickness and enquiring of the Oracle for cure was answered that he should have no help till he had built a Temple to Diana like that in Tauri and there should shave off his haire and call the City by it Orestes hereupon travelling in these parts saw the river Iris springing from a steep Mountaine and supposing it to be the place designed by the Oracle built there a faire City and a Temple to Diana and shaving his haire called it Comana which continues to this day But this abated not the disease which raged rather more So that travelling and seeking yet further he found a place in Cappadocia very like Tauri and I have wondred seing it taking it for Tauri it self The Mountaine there is absolutely like Taurus and so called also and the river Sarus there very like the river Euphrates So there Orestes built a goodly City with two Temples in it the one to Diana the other to his sister Iphigenid which the Christians have made Churches not altring the buildings at all This City is called the Golden Comana where he cut off his haire and recovered of his disease Which some hold to be no other but the madness he fell into for killing his own Mother But the Euphrates from this Tauri in Ecelesa of Armenia runs Southward by much Country and takes in many rivers and among the rest Arsinus which comes down from Persarmenia then grown large passes into Leucosyria now called the lesser Armenia the Metropolis whereof is Melitene a faire City From thence it runs by Samosata and Hierapolis and many other townes to Assyria where both rivers meeting end in one name of Tigris The Country from Samosata beyond the river was anciently called Comagena but now Euphratesia from the river The Country on this side between it and the Tigris is called Mesopotamia Some part of which hath severall other names as Armenia unto Amida Edessa also with the towns about it And Osrhoêne from Osrhoês who anciently raigned there when they were confederates of the Persians The Persians therefore having taken Nisibis and other places in Mesopotamia from the Romans when they invaded their country ever neglected the Province beyond the Euphrates being without water and wast and there drew together being their own country near an enemies inhabited from thence used to make their invasions CHAP. XIII MIrranes also upon his return with his Army overthrown having lost most of his men had a sharp punishment from the King who took from him his Head-tire of gold and pearl which tied up his hair a mark of the greatest honour in Persia next to the King where none may wear gold ring nor belt nor buckle nor any thing of gold but by the Kings grant Cabades then being in doubt how to invade the Romans for Mirranes failing thus he could not presume upon any other Alamundarus King of the Saracens advised him thus In all things not to trust to Fortune nor in all wars to expect the better being neither reasonable nor mans condition but the conceit of it prejudicial For mens unreasonable hopes of success failing sometimes as they may prove their vexation That men having not ever Fortune to presume on put not war bluntly upon hazards though they have the advantage of their enemies but study to deceive them with stratagemes In a danger upon equal terms is no assurance of victory That therefore he should not grieve for the misfortunes of Mirranes nor tempt Fortune again If he enter by Mesopotamia and Osroëne where the Cities were never stronger nor better guarded with souldiers that he will have no sure bargain of it That the Country beyond the Euphrates and Syria next it hath no fortified City nor considerable Forces but he shall find Antioch the chief Roman City of the East for wealth bignes and populousnes with no souldiers in it and a common people thinking upon nothing but Holy-daies and Feasts their perpetual quarrels with one another in the Theaters Which he may take by surprise and return home without meeting an Enemy and before the Forces of Mesopotamia can have the news of him That he should take no thought about water or provisions himself would guide the Army the best way Cabades neither disputed against this advise nor distrusted it knowing Alamundarus a wiseman an experienced souldier and faithfull to the Persians and very valiant who for fifty years had brought the Romans into low case from Egypt to Mesopotamia forraging their country and driving all afore him burning cities and making innumerable slaves whom he kill'd or sold for a great deal of money He made his inroads so suddainly and advantageously that none encountred him The Commanders seldome hearing of him before he was gone with his booty And when any overtook him he defeated them either charging them unprepared or pursuing disorderly Once he took prisoners Demostratus brother of Rufinus and John the sonne of Lucas with all their men and got a
the Kings presence who told him he could not go the expedition appointed with his legg in that case but bad him at some Castle there get the help of Surgeons And so he sent him the way to his death and after him men to kill him An invincible Generall and so reputed by the Persians having subdued twelve Nations to Cabades Being dead his son Varames was made Generall Long afterward Cabades the son of Zames or one usurping his name came to Constantinople He was in his face like King Cabades and Justinian used him honourably as the grandchild of that King Mebodes also Chosroes killed upon this ground Being upon earnest businesse he bad Zaberganes call Mebodes to him who found him training his Souldiers and told him the King called him in hast He said he would come presently when he had dispatcht the businesse he was about The other hating him reported to the King that Mebodes would not come as yet alledging business The King enraged sent one to him to command him to the Tripos or three-footed table Which is thus An iron three footed table stands ever at the Court-gate and when any Persian understands the King to be offended with him he may not fly to Temple or elsewhere but sitting by this table must expect the Kings sentence none being to guard him Here Mebodes sate many dayes in a pittifull habit till one by the command of Chosroes took him away and killed him To this came the good services he had done Chosroes CHAP. XIX ABout the same time happened in Constantinople a suddaine mutiny which grew high and ended in much mischief both to the Senate and people The Commons of every City anciently have been divided into the Veneti and Prasini the Blews and the Greens But it is not long since about these names and clours wherein they stand to see sights they consume their estates abandon their bodies to tortures and refuse not the most shamefull death They run the danger of fighting with their opposites being sure should they get the better to be haled to prison and after extreame torturing to be put to death There growes in them a hatred without ground and lasts undeterminable not yeilding to allyance kinred or any law of friendship be it brother or son that dotes upon the contrary Colour Nothing human or divine they regard in comparison of the victory in these be it impietie against God or violation of lawes or of the Commonwealth by subjects or enemies nay themselves wanting necessaries and their Country receaving injury in the most important things they are not sensible of it so this their portion may prosper So they call their fellow Factionists Nay the very women partake in this abomination not onely as their husbands followers but often their opposites though they never goe to the Theaters nor have other inducements That I know not what to say but that it is a meer disease of the mind and thus it is in every City and Corporation But at that time * Praefectus Uâ—bi next in dignity to the Prefect Praetorio The Authour in his old age held this office the Governour of the Citizens of Constantinople led some Factionists to execution Both parties then making peace and conspiring first took away the men led to punishment then let out of prison all who lay either for sedition or any other crime and without respect slew the said Governours ministers The Citizens who were of neither faction fled to the opposite continent and the City as if under an enemy was set afire The Temple of Saint Sophie and the Bath of Zeuxippus and the Emperours Court from the porch to the Temple of Mars was consumed Moreover the great Portions reaching to Constantines market place and many great means houses end much wealth The Emperour and Empress with some Senators shut themselves up in the Palace without stirring The peoples word to one another was Nica overcome From whence to this day that Mutiny is called Nica. John the Cappadocian was then * Praefectus Praetorio of the Orient There was another of Illyrium both belonging to the Easterne Empire Prefect of the Court and Tribonianus a Pamphylian Assessor to the Emperour by the Romans called Quaestor John was a man vnbred in any liberall science having learn't at the Grammar Schoole onely poore letters to write as poorely but in naturall abilities the most powerfull man we ever knew both to discerne fit things and in doubtfull to find a resolution but the wickedest man alive wherein he employed the strength of his nature without respect of God or men for gaine studying the ruine of mens estates and of whole Cities Quickly growing to a great wealth he fell into boundless gluttony preying upon the subject till dinner time and the rest of the day spending in drunkennesse and wanton abusing his body eating till he vomited A man ready to catch mony and more ready to lavish it Such was John the Cappadocian But Tribonianus beside a great naturall ability had attained to an excellence in learning inferiour to no man of his time But in the wayes of Covetousness most industrious and ever ready to sell right for gaine making and repealing Edicts every day ever selling them to any who had occasion to use them During the peoples quarrells about those names and colours there was little speech of these mens misgovernements But when they consented and were now formed into a mutiny openly in the City they rail'd upon them and sought occasions to kill them The Emperour to reconcile the people put them both out of their places and made Phocas a Patrician Prefect of the Palace a wise man and naturally addicted to justice and Basilides a Patrician he made Quaestor a famous honest man But the mutiny raged nothing lesse The fift day of the same about evening the Emperour commanded Hypatius and Pompeius Nephewes of the late Emperour Anastasius to retire to their houses either suspecting some attempt of theirs upon his person or afraid that they were driven thereto by destiny They fearing what came to passe that the people would force them to the Empire said that it was not honest to leave their Emperour in so great danger Justinian at this was more suspitious and bad them instantly be gone home They went and it being night were quiet but the Sun no sooner up but it was divulged how these Lords were retired from the palace and all the multitude ran to them and saluteâ— Hypatius Emperour and conducted him to the market place to take the affaires upon him Maria his wife a wise and sober Matrone crying and lamenting and protesting to her friends that the people were leading her husband to his death and hanging upon him to stay him till the people forced him from her And when he was unwillingly come to Constantines market-place they proclaimed him Emperour of the Romans binding about his head a golden wreath for Diademe they had none nor other thing usuall to
two Centenaries But he not having the money refused it Chosroës willed him to send him a bond to pay it hereafter 6300. l. sterl which is but 10. s a man and so with a small summe to redeeme a multitude of Captives Candidus did so promising to pay the money within a year confirming it by oath and upon penalty if it were not payd by the day to pay it double and to be no more a Priest for breaking his oath This was drawn up in writing and so he had the Surenians delivered to him of whom the most part not enduring the misery fallen on them perished CHAP. IV. CHosroës this done marcht forward The Generall-ship of the East the Emperour had so divided as that all to the Euphrates was left to Belisarius who formerly had the whole command and from thence to the Persian frontier all was under Buzes and till Belisarius should returne out of Italy he had the charge of the whole East who first lay at Hierapolis with all the army But understanding what happened to the Surenians he called to him the chief men of Hierapolis and told them That when the match is equall there is reason to fight quickly with an enemy invading but to men much weaker than their enemy it is more expedient to circumvent him with stratagems then to run into an evident danger What forces Chosroës hath they have heard That if they make the war from the walls the Persians will block them up and furnish themselves with provisions out of their country none opposing while they want within and that the siege lasting their walls cannot hold out being very assaultable nor can the Romans but fall into some desperate estate But that guarding the City with part of the army and lodging the rest in the bottoms of the mountaines near the City infesting the enemies camp and his forragers with suddain courses they will force him to raise his siege unable to make his assaults at his ease nor to provide food for so great an army The advise of Euzes seemed pertinent but he did nothing but went away with the choicest men of the army and in what part of the world he was neither the Romans in Hierapolis nor the enemy could learn Justinian hearing of the invasion dispatcht Germanus his brothers sonne in much haste with three hundred men promising to send a great army soon after Who came to Antioch visited the walls and found much of them of good strength the plain ground was compast by the river Orontes and the hill was steep craggy and unapproachable onely at the top of mount Casius he found the wall very assaultable from a rock stretching far in bredth and as high as the wall He directed therefore either to cut the rock from the wall that none from it might get up or else to joyn it to the wall by a tower upon it But workmen found both these impossible in so short time with an enemy so near and to beginne and not perfect it would but shew the enemy where to make their war Germanus failing in this and after long time seeing no army from the Emperour nor likelyhood of any fearing Chosroës might make it his chiefe business to take Antioch hearing the Emperours Nephew to be within it and the Antiochians having the same thoughts resolved all in counsell to buy their safety with money And to Chosroës they sent Megas Bishop of Berrhoea a prudent man who finding the Persians not far from Hierapolis and being admitted to Chosroës besought him to pitty men who never offended him nor were in case to resist him That it is not fit for a King to use violence against yeelding men nor generous to give the Emperour no time to consult either for rectifying the peace or for preparations to war by a mutuall consent and to invade thus without warning their Emperour not knowing in what case they are The rude nature of Chosroës could not be put in tune by discreet words they rather more swell'd him with pride and folly threatning to destroy all the Syrians and Cilicians and he bade Megas follow him Then he encamped before Hierapolis which finding strong and a good garrison within he sent Paul his interpreter to demand money of them Paul was bred up in the Roman Territory and went to a Grammar-school in Antioch and was thought to be descended of Romans The citizens fearing their walls which embraced a great circuit to the mountaine and willing to save their country from spoyling agreed to give two thousand pound weight of silver 5250. l' sterl And Megas obtained of Chosroës with much intreating 31500. l' sterl to accept * ten Centenaries of gold for all the Easterne provinces and so to leave them Megas returned to Antioch and Chosroës having his money for Hierapolis marcht to Berrhoea standing between Antioch and Hierapolis from either two dayes journey But the fourth day Megas with few in company came to Antioch and the Persian army to the suburbs of Berrhoea Chosroës urged the Berrhoeans by Paul the interpreter for twice as much money as Hierapolis gave because their walls were weak nor could they trust to them They yeelded to his demand paying down 2000 l. weight of silver but the other 2000 l. alledging they could not pay down and he urging them they fled by night to the Castle in the high town The next day they that came from him to receive the rest of the money found the gates shut and could speak with none The King understanding it by his command they entred the Citie with scaling ladders none resisting and opening the gates let in all the army Chosroës in a rage would have burnt the City but first he would take in the Castle where some Roman souldiers defended valiantly and killed some enemies But the Berrhoeans flying to the castle with all their horses and cattell by that niggardly trick were undone for there being but one spring and all the cattell suffred improvidently to drink up the water the spring became dry and in such estate they were CHAP. V. BUt Megas could not perswade the Antiochians to the agreement he had made with Chosroës For the Emperour had sent to him Ambassadours who then abode at Antioch Iohn the sonne of Rufinus and Iulian his Secretary which Iulian forbade expresly to give money to the enemy or to buy â—hus the Emperours towns They accused also Ephraim the Bishop of Antioch to Germanus of attempting to betray the City to Chosroës So Megas departed nothing done and the Bishop of Antioch fearing the Persians coming went into Cilicia whether soon after came Germanus with some few leaving there most of his company But Megas arrived at Berrhoea and much afflicted with what happened complained to Chosroes for this perfideous usage to send him to Antioch about truce and in the mean time to ransack his countrymen who never wrong'd him to block them up thus in the Castle and burn and ruin their
city Your self Sir answered Chosroës are too blame making me lose my time here and returning so long after the day appointed For your countrymen they contracted to pay money which as yet they cannot think of performing but presumptuous in their strong Castle they put us as you see to the necessity of a siege Whom I hope with the help of the Gods shortly to chastise for it and for my Persians here lost Megas replyed If all must be silent while you a King accuse wretched men then am I bound to confesse without disputing absolute power as in all the rest must overcome in words But if one may laying aside respects stand for truth O King you have nothing justly to charge us with I went the messenger of your propositions to Antioch and returning the seventh day then which what can be more speedy I find my country thus used by you Who having abandoned all that is most precious have nothing now left but to fight for their lives and the advantage of not paying the rest of the mony it being impossible for men to pay what they have not Names are anciently defined for things Disability is one thing and Ingratitude another Indeed he that wantonly refuses is with reason hated but one by disability driven to the same point is to be pittyed rather Though the worst things are befallen us yet Sir leave us with this comfort not to have been authours of our own misfortunes Think what you have received to be the whole summe and enough not weighing it by your own greatnesse but by the the Berrhoeans ability Force us no further least at last you seem to want power seeing excessive undertakings ever are rewarded with unfaisibleness The most powerfull way is to attempt no Impossibles Let this be our apology for the present But if I might speak with the poor men I might say something now not thought of Chosroës permitted him to goe to the Castle who finding there what happened to their spring weeping he came back to Chosroës and falling flat upon the ground protested the Berrhoeans had no money and besought him to bestow the bodies of the poor men upon him Which Chosroës granted upon his lamentable crying and gave his faith to all in the Castle Who being so near lost thus came out and went whether they pleased and among them some of the souldiers but the most revolted to Chosroës complaining of the state to be behind in their Pay for many years and they went with him into Persia afterward CHAP. VI. BUt then hearing from Megas that the Antiochians would give no mony he marcht against them where some were fled the City with their goods and the rest resolved the like if Theoctistus and Molathes Captains of the forces in Phoenicia Libani had not with a supply of 6000 old souldiers encouraged them and stayd their flight Shortly after came the Persian army and encamped near the river Orontes Chosroës sent Paul his Interpreter to demand money of the city and for ten Centenaries of Gold or lesse if it were payd presently he appeared willing to have been gone Then came to him the Ambassadours and after much expostulation on both sides about the breaking the peace returned The next day the common people of Antioch who are not used to serious matters but still to merriments and debauches put scorns upon Chosroës and derided him from the battlements and had almost stoned Paul if he had not foreseen and avoyded it for exhorting them to redeem their persons and city for a little money Chosroës incensed herewith resolved upon the assault and the next day he commanded part of the army to give on by the river siâ—â—â—nd himself went against the top of the hill where the wall is most assauâ—â—â—e Here the Romans finding the places they were to stand and fight on narrow tied long beams between the turrets fast together and enlarged the standings for more bodies to oppose the assailants The Persians came on valiantly and their arrows flew to the very top of the hill The Romans both souldiers and many of the boldest citizens defended stoutly the great bredth and height of the rock commanding the wall and bringing the fight to be equall as upon even ground If the Romans had put out but three hundred men and possest the rock first and thence kept off the assailants I doe not think the town had been endanger'd for the Barbarians had no means from whence to assault being beaten perpendicular from the rock and the walls both But this was not thought of the Antiochians being to perish by this army The Persians having Chosroës present and crying loud unto them strove beyond power giving no space to the other to spie or ward their shot But the Romans pressing up to defend the ropes under them which tyed the beames suddainly brake and down they all fell They who made good the next Turret hearing the noise thinking the wall to be thrown down there ran away Some young citizens only who used to quarrell in the Circus would run no further being come down from the wall But the old souldiers with Theoctistus and Molatzes lept on their horses which stood ready and rode to the gate giving out that they went to receive in Buzes with an army with him Thither ran also the Antiochians men women and children and the place being narrow they tumbled over one another overborn with the horses and the souldiers sparing none but rather urging on faster that there was a great slaughter made But the Persians set their scaling ladders and mounted none opposing and a while stayd upon the battlements as if doubtful and discovering lest there might be ambushes in the rough waste ground among rocks and precipices which is within the walls upon the descent from the hill Some say it was upon the advise of Chosroës who perceiving the bad ground and the souldiers running away feared to necessitate their turning head upon him which might hinder him from taking the greatest fairest most populous richest and happiest Roman City in the East than which esteeming lesse all things else he resolved to give the souldiers fair leisure to run away so that the Persians pointed with their hands to them and bade them make haste away And they did so with their Commanders going out of the gate of Daphne a suburbe of Antioch with some few of the common people the Persians having onely not medled with that gate who when they saw the souldiers gone far they descended and from the hill fell into the midst of the City Some young men encountred them some armed with corslets but most unarmed onely throwing stones and driving them off a little they seemed to have the better and sung their Paeans and cryed Emperour Justinian Callinicus or the fair Conquerour as it they had the victory indeed In the mean time Chosroës sent for the Ambassadours to speak with them sitting upon the Turret by the top of the hill when Zaberganes
entring his house and forcing his daughter a virgin He in a great rage commanded the man to be produced and crucified in the campe But the people clamour'd to him and beg'd to spare the man Chosroes promised to pardon him but shortly after secretly crucified him and these things done rode back with his army And at Chalcis distant ten miles and a half from Berrhoea He forgot the accord againe encamped before the city and sent Paul the interpreter threatning to force their city unless they buy their safety ransome themselves and deliver him the Souldiers in their town with their Commander The Chalcians feared both the Emperours and swore they had no souldiers hiding most of them and Adonachus their Captaine in poore cottages from the enemy And getting up hardly * two Centenaries of gold 6300 l' sterl their city being not rich with it they ransomed their bodies and city From hence Chosroes meant to make his retreat not by the way he came but to cross the Euphrates and plunder Mesopotamia Neer Obbane which stands five miles from the castle of Barbalissus he made a bridge and went over signifying to the army to follow and that the third day by such an houre he would take up the bridge and some of them chancing to be cast behind at the houre he not regarding them sent to take up the bridge and they got home as they could CHAP. IX CHosroes was then ambitious to take Edessa induced by a confident tradition among the Christians which troubled him that it was never to be taken affirmed upon this ground Augarus long agoe Toparch of Edessa so they then called their nationall Kings was one of the wisest men of his time and for that cause in much savour with the Emperour Augustus Desiring to be a Roman Confederat he went to Rome and conferring with Augustus so amazed him with his wit and inamour'd him with his conversation that he would not part with him though he urged his dismission At last after long absence longing to returne to his country but not persuading Augustus to let him goe he used this devise He went out neer Rome to hunt being therein studious and compassing much country took many wild beasts alive and from every countrey where he caught them carried of the earth home with him to Rome together with the beast Augustus sitting in the Circus as his manner was Augarus came to him and shewed him the beasts and the earth and which country earth belong'd to every beast The earth he caused to be laid in severall parts of the Circus and the beasts from one place to be let goe When every beast leaving one another ran to the country earth from whence he was taken Augustus beheld it long and earnestly wondring to see nature untaught make even to beasts desirable their native earth Then Augarus suddainly taking him by the knees said O Sir And what mind doe you think I have who have wife and children and a Kingdom though a small one in mine own countrey Augustus overcome and forced with the truth dismissed him though unwillingly and bad him ask him some thing Augarus prayed him to build a Circus at Edessa which being granted him and he dismissed he came home His Subjects askt him what good he had brought them from the Emperour Augustus He answered That he had brought a Grief without damage and a joy without gaine intimating the fortune of the Horse-races Augarus growing old and vexed with a grievous gout and the paine and sitting still troubling him he consulted with the skillfullest Physicians from all lands but finding no ease he forsook them and absolutely despairing bewayled his fortune At that time Jesus the Son of God conversed in the body with the people of Palestine by committing no sin and by working miracles manifesting himself indeed the Son of God He raised dead men as from sleep to men born blind he opened their eyes cleansed leprous bodyes lame feet he set loose and did what ever Physicians pronounce incurable Augarus hearing the relation from some Palestinians residing at Edessa took comfort and wrote to Jesus to leave Jury and those ungratefull men and to live with him Christ wrote back againe to Augarus refusing to come but promising health by his Letter They say he added this That the city should never be conquered by the Barbarians This Postscript the writers of the history of that time knew not of but the Edessenians affirme to have found it with the Epistle which Epistle they have hung for a defence engraven upon their city gates But shortly after it came under the Persian not forced but thus Augarus upon the letter from Christ grew well and having lived long deceased But his son succeeding him being the ungodlyest man living wronged his subjects for which fearing the Romans chastisement he revolted to the Persians But long afterwards the Edessenians killed the Barbarian Garrison and yeilded their city to the Romans Which Chosroes knowing studies to recover the city and this I guess by things happened in my time which shall be related in their seasons And I have had a conceit that if Christ did not write that Postscript yet men having that opinion he would keep the city from taking that he might give them no excuse of wandring But upon this ground Chosroes much affected the taking of Edessa At Batne a little Town three dayes journey from Edessa he lodged his army and by break of day was marching toward Edessa But they went out of their way so that the next night they lodged in the same place and this happened twice And when with much adoe he was gotten to Edessa they say his chopps swell'd with Rhewme which so troubled him that he resolved not to attempt the city But he sent Paul and demanded money of them They said that of their city they had no feare but not to hurt their towns and villages they agreed upon two Centenaries of gold which he receaved and kept his agreement CHAP. X. THen came letters from Justinian to Chosroes agreeing to ratifie the treatie between him and the Ambassadours upon which he discharged the Hostages and prepared for his retreat being pleased to ransome the Antiochian captives the Edessenians therein shewed an incredible alacrity Not a man but according to his ability brought the ransomes into the Church and some above ability Courtisans threw in their Jewells and the husbandman wanting money or householdstuffe brought his asse or poore ewe to the Church that a great quantity was gathered of gold and silver and other goods but none of it was given for the ransome Buzes being there prohibited the ransoming expecting some great gaine out of it So Chosroes with the captives marcht on The Carrenians met him and offered him a great summe but being no Christians but Heathens he would not take it But of the Constantinians he took their monie yet claimed the city to be his from his Ancestors For Cabades having taken
they understood it not the Phrensie taking away their senses Some Physitians upon these symptomes conceaving the head of the disease to be in those plague sores searcht the dead bodyes and opening the sores found a huge carbuncle growing inward Some died forthwith some after many dayes Such whose bodies were spotted with black pimples the bigness of a lentile lived not a day Many a voluntary vomiting of bloud seizing died This I can say that many famous Physicians judged some instantly would dye who unexpectedly grew well and confidently affirmed the recovery of others who were vpon the point of death So that no cause of this sickness was reach't by mans reason some event happening to all whereof no reason could be rendred Some bathing helped others it hurt Many dyed for want of cure and many scaped without it it proving both wayes to those that used it In a word no way was found of preservation neither by preventing the disease nor mastering it no cause appearing neither of their falling sick nor recovering Women with child taken with it certainly dyed some miscarrying some fairely deliver'd and perishing with their children Yet they say that three women were delivered who grew well their children dying and one dyed whose child had the happ to live Such as had their sore great and running with putrefaction escaped the same asswaging the violence of the carbuncle and this was commonly a certaine signe of health But whose plague-sore stay'd as it first rose such had the miserable accidents I mentioned Some had their thigh withered the sore rising upon it and not running Some escaped with imperfect tongues and lived stammering o◠speaking sounds without sence In Constantinople this sickness lasted foure months and was three months in extremity At first few dyed more then usually Then it grew hotter then died five thousand every day then 10000 and more In the beginning men took care to bury each his own dead casting some into other mens Monuments either unseen or by force But in the end all was in confusion Servants were without Masters and rich men wanted servants to attend them being sick or dead and many houses were empty So that divers for want of acquaintance lay long unburied The Greek fails here and it is supplied from the Latine translation * The Emperour as was reason made it his own care and committed the oversight to Theodorus whose office was to subscribe the Emperours answers to Petitions the Latines call him Referendarius To them that wanted and to the poor multitude he gave reliefs in mony out of the Treasury And now in the afflicted City were no trades nor shops to be seen Many for fear leaving their bad courses consecrated themselves to God and many when the danger was past fell to their old despising of God again CHAP. XVII BUt to return to my former discourse Chosroes marcht Northward to Ardabigara a town in Assyria Anno Domini 543. Justiniani 17. purposing from thence to invade the Romans again Here is a great Pyraeum which the Persians adore above all Gods where the Magi keep a perpetuall fire and offer much sacrifice and in their greatest affairs use it for an Oracle it is the fire which anciently the Romans called Vestall Here Chosroes had news of two Ambassadors from Constantinople about the Peace Constantianus an Illyrian and Sergius an Edessenian both Orators and able men Chosroes expecting their comming forbare hostility But Constantianus fell sick upon the way and the Plague at last came into Persia But Nabedes Governour of Persarmenia by the Kings command sent Eudulius Prelate of the Christians there unto Valerianus Commander of the forces in Armenia to complaine of the slownesse of the Ambassadors and to exhort the Romans to peace He came into Armenia with his brother and told Valerianus that he heartily affected the Romans being Christians as himself and would so perswade Chosroes that the Ambassadors should find no impediment of concluding a peace to their own desire But the Prelates brother getting privately to Valerianus told him That Chosroes in great distresse desired a peace his sonne conspiring against him and his army being full of the Plague Valerianus upon this sent away the Prelate promising the Ambassadors should shortly come to Chosroes and the said advertisement he wrote to Justinian Who thereupon directed him and the Army to invade the Persians for he saw not that any enemy would oppose them willing all the forces to joyn and enter into Persarmenia The Captains upon these Letters rode with their troopes into Persarmenia Chosroes was newly gone from Ardabigara for fear of the Plague with his army to a part of Assyria where the sicknesse was not yet come Valerianus with his forces encamped at Theodosiopolis to whom joyned Narses with some Armenians and Herulians But Martinus Generall of the East with Ildiger and Theoctistus encamped at Citharizum a Castle four dayes journey from Theodosiopolis whether came Peter shortly after and Adolius with some other Captaines Isaac also * brother of Narses was there Here begins the Greek again and Philemuth and Verus with the Herulians under their command came to Arzanéne not far from the camp of Martinus Justus also the Emperours Nephew and Peranius and John the son of Nicetas with Domentiolus and John Phagas encamped at Phison a Castle near unto Martyropolis Thus were these Commanders quartered with their severall troops amounting in the whole to thirty thousand These joyned not nor communicated save when the Generals sent to one another to know news of the Persians Peter upon a sudden motion without acquainting the rest invaded the enemies country And the next day Philemuth and Verus with their Herulians followed Martinus and Valerianus hearing thereof marcht likewise to the Invasion Shortly all joyned in the enemies country save Iustus who was quartered far off but hearing though late that his fellow Commanders were entred the enemyes land he marcht thither also but could not unite his troopes with theirs Those Generalls marcht directly to Dubis neither forraging nor otherwise hurting the country Dubis is a Territory eight dayes journey from Theodosiopolis of good land wel scituated for air and water being fair champians full of populous villages close together and inhabited by Merchants who traffique with the Indians and neighbouring Iberians and with all the Persian Nations and some Romans The Bishop of the Christians the Greeks call Catholicus who hath the charge of all the country Some fifteene miles from Dubis to the right hand comming from the Roman Territories stands a ragged mountain hardly to be passed and in a very narrow passage a village called Anglon where Nabedes hearing of the enemies comming kept fast confident of the strength of the place The village is at the furthest end of the mountain where upon a steep rock stands a Castle of the same name Nabedes fortified the passage to the village with stones and waggons and drew a trench before and lodged his
it called in Latine the Barbarians hung upon long poles hair-cloths of Goats hair thick and long that no fiery darts nor arrows could pierce through but there fell dead Then the Romans affraid sent Ambassadours to Chosroes and with them Stephanus a famous Physitian who had cured King Cabades of a disease and got a great estate by him He with the rest coming to Chosroës spake thus Men have ever held humanity the marke of a good King So that mighty Sir if you kill and lead into captivity you may perchance obtaine some other titles but shall never be thought a good man And of all cities Edessa should least have a misfortune from you Where I was borne who not foreseeing what would come to passe fostered you and by counselling your father to appoint you his successor have been to you a principall cause of the Empire of Persia and to my country of these miseries Thus men are themselves the authors of most of their own misfortunes But if you have any remembrance of this service you will doe us no more hurt bestowing this retribution on me by which O King you will have the fortune not to be esteemed a most cruell man But Chosroës professed not to rise from thence till the Romans delivered him Peter and Peranius his fathers slaves presuming to beare armes against him If they refused this they must either pay * 1575000. l' sterl five hundred Centenaries of gold or admit his ministers to search the city and to bring him all the gold and silver within it and upon this they might keep the rest of their goods This Chosroës spake at randome expecting with ease to take the city And the Ambassadors finding his propositions impossible returned much troubled And reporting the demands filled the city with noise and lamentations CHAP. XIX BUt the mount rose to a great height and went on apace The Romans in perplexity sent againe Ambassadors who were sutors for the same things but were not regarded but driven out of the Persian camp with scorn houting Then they began to raise their walls higher toward the mount But the Persians worke farr overtopping that also they gave it over And desired Martinus to procure a capitulation as he would himself He got as neer as he could to the camp and spake with some Persian commanders who to amuse him said Their King desired peace but could not perswade the Emperour to leave quarrelling He could not deny Belisarius to be above Martinus in power and place who perswaded the King to retire from the midst of the Roman Provinces with promises of Ambassadors to perfect the Treatie of peace but he could not performe being not able to force the Emperours will In the mean time the Romans drew a mine to the enemies work and commanded not to leave working till they were under the middle of the Mount Where being the Persians above heard the noise and finding what they did cross-mined on both sides to catch them in the middle They perceaving it stopt up their mine there with earth and from underneath the part of the Mount next the town carryed out the timber stones and earth and made a little hollow roome where they laid dry loggs steep't in Cedar oyle and Assyrian pitch During this preparation the Persian commanders in many meetings with Martinus discoursed to the effect aforesaid seeming to entertaine a parley for Peace But their mount being brought to perfection and raised farr above the walls they sent away Martinus refusing any composition and fell to work * Here againe the Latin translation fills up a great gap The Romans then set the dry loggs a fire which burnt part of the Mount but not spreading to the whole and being burnt out they brought more into the hollow roome Then appeared the smoake from the Mount at night and the Romans to prevent the discovery shot small vessells filled with burning coales and fire darts thick over the mount and the Persians thinking the smoake came from them ran to quench them But the fire prevailed and the Barbarians pittifully crying were shot and killed from the walls At Sun-rising Chosroes came with some of his army went upon the Mount and first found the mischief shewing how the smoake came not from that darted from the enemy but from fire below and he willed the army to shout The Romans grew confident and flouted them They all cast on some earth others water which abated the smoake there but presently it burst out in another part more vehemently The water also added force to the sulfur and Assyrian pitch and spread the fire more and within the fire prevailed above the water and about evening the smoke was so high that it was seen at Carr◠and other neighbouring parts There were fights also upon the Mount wherein the Romans overcame And now the flame rose cleerly when the Persians abandoned the work Six dayes after they assaulted something before day-light the Romans being dead asleep And they set to their ladders and were mounting But a peasant awaking called up the Romans They fought and the Persians were beaten to their camp leaving their ladders which the Romans drew up About midnight Chosroës sent a great part of his army to force the great Gate The Romans not onely Souldiers but peasants and people stood them had the better and routed them As they were running Paul the Interpreter put himself among the Romans and told them that Recimer was newly come from Constantinople an Ambassador about peace So they parted Recimer came to the Barbarians camp some dayes before which they concealed from the Romans expecting the event of their works if those prosper'd they resolved to come to no treatie if they were beaten as they now are they might come to it fairely the Romans having invited them When Recimer was neer the city gate the Persians demanded some to be sent out to treat an accord with Chosroës They answered they would within three dayes send Martinus who now was sicke Chosroës suspecting the answer not to be sincere prepared for warr commanding store of bricks to be laid upon the Mount Two dayes after he approached the walls with his whole army and applyed his ladders and engines and begirt the town placing squadrons at every gate Saracens behind them who when the town was taken were to lay hold on run-awayes The fight began in the morning and at first the Persians had the better being many against few for the Romans were not aware of the assault The fight proceeding the city was full of tumult the women and little children went to the walls and the men resisted valiantly Many peasants did bravely The women and children with the old men brought stones to the combatants Some threw down boyling oyle Then the Persians refused to fight any longer telling the King plainely they would not give on Chosroës in a rage threatning and urging them brought them all on And againe with shouts they applied
immediately to visit the Empress Eudoxia She obeyed and some acquainted with the secret waited upon her in the Court into a room far from the Empresses chamber Here the Greek continues There Valentinian met her and ravisht her She extreamly afflicted with the dishonour went home all blubber'd with tears and reviled Maximus for giving the opportunity Who being infinitely grieved at it conspired against the Emperour But seeing the great power of Aetius who lately had defeated Artilas invading the Roman Empire with a mighty Army of Massagetes and other Scythians and fearing him for an obstacle of his proceedings he determined first to remove him not considering that in Actius was the whole hope of the Romans So by the artifices of some Eunuchs about the Emperour his friends he infused into the Emperour that Aetius was plotting a revolt And Valentinian judging the information by no other argument but by the worth and power of Aetius put him to death When a Roman was famous for a word spoken being askt by the Emperour if the killing of Aetius were not well done and answering That he could not tell whether it were well done or how it was done but this he knew that he had cut off his right hand with his left Aetius being dead Attilas having none to match him forraged at his ease all Europe and made both the Empires tributary both the Emperours sending him annual taxes Then they say Attilas besieging Aquileia a great and populous maritime City within the Ionian gulf and not being able by force nor otherwise to get the town and wearied with a long Siege put his Army in readiness to rise the next day by sun-rising and the Barbarians were busie in their retreat accordingly When a Stork having his nest upon one of the turrets where he had bred his young suddenly with his young flew from the same the young ones sometimes flying even with him sometimes getting upon his back and thus they fled far from the town Attilas seeing it being a very cunning Diviner commanded his Army to stand still telling them that the Bird with his young ones was not fled away for nothing but prophesied some mischief to the Town Upon this they say the Barbarians renewed their siege and that the wall by the Storks nest fell down of it self making the Town open to the enemy and that so Aquileia was taken by assault But afterward Maximus killed the Emperour and married Eudoxia by force his wife being newly dead And in bed he spake a word once how for her love he had done what he did Eudoxia before offended with Maximus and desirous to revenge the wrong done to Valentinian by this word was more incensed to plot against him hearing thus from Maximus himself how her husbands disaster came for her sake So that no sooner day but she sent to Carthage entreating Genserick to revenge Valentinian ruined by a wicked man in a manner unworthy of himself and the Empire and to redeem her suffering things abominable from the Tyrant She urged him as his Friend and Allie and that it were impious such a villany should be acted in a Kings house without a revenger And from Constantinople she expected no revenge Theodosius being dead and Martianus in possession of the Empire Genserick for no other respect but finding he should get wealth by it sailed into Italy with a great Navy marcht up to Rome and none resisting was Master of the Imperial palace Maximus running away the Romans stoned to death and cut off his head and rent his other members in pieces Eudoxia with her two daughters by Valentinian Eudocia and Placidia Genserick made prisoners and carried away to Carthage infinite wealth of gold and silver and spared neither Brass nor any thing in the palace He robbed the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus and took away half the covering of it being of the richest brass with much gold melted in it and very admirable and magnificent They say the ship where the Images were was cast away but with the rest the Vandals landed at Carthage Eudocia Genserick married to his eldest son Honoricus The other daughter was married to Olybrius a principal Senator of Rome whom with the mother Eudoxia at the Emperours request he sent to Constantinople The Empire of the East Leo then held Aspar placing him therein after the death of Martianus CHAP. VI. GEnserick afterward took down the wals of all the Cities of Africk save Carthage That the Africans siding with the Romans might have no strong places to gather head nor the Emperours forces by taking towns and by garrisons in them think to trouble the Vandals His counsel seemed a good one then to secure the Vandals But afterward when these Towns without walls were so easily taken by Belisarius Genserick was laught at and his wise counsel judged folly Thus men ever change their opinions of counsels with the fortunes of them The rich and eminent men of Africk he gave as so many bond-men with their lands and goods to his sons Honoricus and Genson Theodorus being dead without issue From the rest he took their lands and bestowed them on the other Vandals which are yet called the Vandals Heritages All the Towns he gave his sons and others he called the Kings land freeing the same perpetually from tributes The ancient possessors the while had the fortune to be poor and free men and had permission to go whither they would * Lat. vers Some held or claimed their lands to no purpose Many were banished and put to death upon no cause specially such as were thought to have hid money in their houses Thus Africk was overwhelmed with miseries Genserick also in convenient places had garrisons under 80 Colonels whom he called Chiliarchs as if his Army were so many thousands being in truth but 50000. At first he enrolled only Vandals and Alans afterward he admitted under the name of Vandals all other Barbarians except Moors and at last he received them also into the Army After the death of Valentinian he made every Spring a voyage to rob Sicily or Italy sacking some Cities and some laying flat with the ground When he had made havock in those parts turning upon the Eastern Empire he infested Illyrium and Peloponesus and the Ilands adjacent with the rest of Greece Then to Italy and Sicily again if ought were left to pillage it Once hoyâ—ng sail from the Port of Carthage his Ship-master askt him whither he would go for pillage His answer was Whither God shall drive me Making war thus at random The Emperour Leo to restrain this insolence prepared an Army of 100000 men to send against the Vandals and a great Navy collected from all parts of Greece This war they say cost him a huge treasure and to no purpose His General was Basiliscus brother to his wife Verina the trustiest man he had and safest for him friendship continuing yet between him and Aspar who being an Arian could not get the Empire
All the Counsel easily consented to this and rose forthwith landing the Army three months after their departure from Constantinople The General chose by the sea-side a place which both soldiers and mariners fortified with trench and rampire and by multitude of hands concurring and the General urging it was finished the same day Digging the earth they came to much water a thing never before seen in Byzacium a dry Country which supplyed men and beasts Procopius congratulated with the General not so much as he said for the water as for the presage of an easie victory which proved so indeed That night the Army lodged in the Camp set their watches and did all as is usual Only aboard every ship Belisarius appointed five Archers and the light Gallies to lie round about them to prevent sodain mischief CHAP. XIII THe next day some soldiers went up into the Country and stole their ripe fruits whom the General severely chastised and calling the Army together spake thus To feed upon other mens goods by violence is at all times wicked because unjust But now setting the consideration of justice aside though that were hard it is so aboundantly inconvenient that we must fear the danger we are here put ashore with this only confidence that the Africans being anciently Romans are unsure and ill affected to the Vandals From this I did hope for supply of necessaries and to avoid mischief from the enemy But now your intemperance hath changed all to the contrary You have reconciled the Africans to the Vandals and turn'd their hatred upon your selves for wrong'd men naturally hate them that do them the present violence and so you have for a little gain now sold your future safety and plenty By buying what you needed you might have avoided the imputation of injustice and made the owners your friends Now you must have the war with Africans and Vandals too nay with God himself whose assistance no man can invoke doing wrong But give over this sharking and quit your hands of a gain so full of hazard The proper time now being when sobriety must preserve us and disorder will bring certain death If you be carefull of these things God will be propitious the people of Africk well affected and the Vandals easie to be dealt with After this speech Belisarius sent Boraides one of his life-guard with some of his Targetiers to Syllectus a sea-town in the way to Carthage and a days journey from the Camp whose Inhabitants he heard instead of their demolished walls to have fortified each man his own house to keep off the Moors and so to have made a kind of Town wall Boraides he instructed to attempt the Town and taking it to do no hurt but with representing many conveniences and how they come to set them at liberty to get entrance for the Army They about candles lighting getting near the Town past the night in a deep bottom there and the next morning overtaking some Peasants they slipt into the Town with them and possest it then without tumult called the Bishop and principal of the Town told them their Generals instructions and immediately receiving the keys from them sent the same to the General The same day the Master of the Kings Posts revolted and gave up all his horses The General also took one of those that ride with the Kings Packets which they call Veredarii and did him no hurt but took his oath to deliver Justinians Letters written to the Vandals into the hands of the Governours Which signified thus We make no war upon the Vandals nor infring the Treaty with Genserick But we endeavour to free you from an usurper who disrespecting the Testament of Genserick keeps your King in prison and hath begun to destroy such of his bloud whom he hated and of the rest hath put out their eyes and imprisoned them not suffering them to end their sorrows by death Assist us therefore to free you from so wicked Tyranny that you may enjoy peace and liberty which to observe to you we make oath here to God The man that took these Letters from Belisarius durst not shew them but to some privat friends and did nothing material CHAP. XIV BUt Belisarius marcht in order for a battel towards Carthage He gave 3â—0 of his Targetiers to John who was the Steward of his houshold whom the Romans call Optio being an Armenian and eminent for valour and discretion Him he directed to march some two miles and a half before the Army and to give warning if they see an enemy that the Army may prepare for fight And to the left hand of the Army he directed the Massagetes to march And himself was in the rear with his best men looking for Gelimer to come shortly from Hermione To the right hand was no fear being to march by the sea-shore and the seamen he commanded to keep them company by letting down all their sails but their sprit sail in case of a strong gale and in a calm to force their way with oars When they came to Syllectus Belisarius had his soldiers most sober not striking nor using any disorder And the Africans he so gained with his gentleness that he marcht as in his own Country the people not withdrawing themselves nor goods but giving free market and being very serviceable to the soldier They marcht ten miles a day till they came to Carthage lodging still in a Town or safely in their Camp We came by Lepta and Adrymettum to Grassa about 43 miles from Carthage where was a Palace of the Vandal Governor and the fairest Gardens we ever saw aboundantly watered with fountains and with a large grove of trees loaded with ripe fruit whereof the soldiers took their fill without any miss every man setting his cabbin under a fruit-tree But Gelimer hearing the enemies arrival wrote from Hermione to Carthage to his brother Ammatas to kill Ilderick and the other prisoners of his bloud and otherwise appertaining to him and himself to arm the Vandals and such forces as he had in the City and at the narrow passage near a town called Decimum to charge the enemy on both sides and so to catch him as in a net Ammatas accordingly killed Ilderick and his cousin Evagees Hoamer was dead before He armed also the Vandals to sally in the due time Gelimer followed us close and one night only as we lodged in Grassa he gave us an alarm upon some skirmishing of our scouts with theirs by whose returning to the Camp we understood the enemy to be near From hence marching we lost sight of our ships being put to go about some high rocks there and a Promontory under which stands Mercurium Belisarius sent word to Archelaus the Commissary not to put in at Carthage but to stay 25 miles short till he send for them From Grassa the fourth day we came to Decimum about 8 miles from Carthage This day Gelimer sent his Nephew Gibamumdus before with 2000 Vandals
they came but toward the plains of Bule and the way to Numidia About evening John and the Massagets also came to us and relating and hearing the several adventures lodged with us that night in Decimum CHAP. XVII THe next day our foot coming up with Belisarius his wife we marcht toward Carthage and arriving within night lodged abroad near the City No man would have opposed our entrance the Carthaginians opening their gates and the City shining all night with lights and bonfires and the Vandals remaining were fled into the Churches But Belisarius feared in the night some ambush and the soldiers disorder lest in the dark they might fall to pillage The same day also the fleet came up to the Promontory and the Carthaginians had opened the iron Chain of Mandracium their haven to let it in In the Palace is a dark prison called Ancon or the Elbow for such as the Tyrant was offended with Here at that time were many Eastern Merchants whom the Tyrant accused to sollicite the Emperour to invade him and the same day that Ammatas was slain in Decimum he had given order for their execution The keeper of the prison hearing the accident at Decimum and seeing the fleet within the Promontory went to the men who had heard nothing but sate in the dark expecting death and askt them what they would give to be saved from thence They promising to pay any thing he said he would none of their money but prayed them to swear if they escaped and he came into danger to assist him to their power they did so And he taking out a board shewed them the fleet sailing in and then set them lose and went along with them The fleet first doubted hearing nothing then sending to Mercurium they were advertised of all and with great joy sailed on with a strong gale Which bringing them within 18 miles of Carthage Archelaus and the land-men commanded to cast anchor according to the Generals instructions But the Mariners alleadged the coast to be without harbour and that there was likelyhood of a storm which kind of storms the natives call Cypriana which falling in that place they should not be able to save a ship And so it was indeed Wherefore striking sail and consulting they thought not fit to attempt the haven of Mandracium fearing to break Belisarius's direction and suspecting Mandracium to be chained up and besides not able to hold the whole fleet but they thought the Pool to be for their purpose being but five miles from Carthage and capable of the whole fleet and to find there no stop So coming thither about evening they cast anchor all save Calonymus with some mariners who not regarding the General put into Mandracium and there robbed some Merchants strangers and Carthaginians dwelling upon the sea-side The next day Belisarius commanded the men a ship-board to land and with the Army in order of battel rode towards Carthage fearing the enemies ambushes Here he put the soldiers in mind of their good fortunes since their moderation to the Africans admonishing them to continue their good order especially in Carthage That the Africans were formerly Roman subjects and unwillingly brought under the Vandals from whom they had suffered abominable things That for this the Emperour made war with the Vandals and that it were impious now to abuse them whose liberty was the cause of this expedition Then he entred Carthage none opposing went to the Palace and sate down in Gelimers Throne Here the Merchants and the other Carthaginians who dwelt upon the sea came in a multitude and with clamour to Belisarius complaining that Mariners the last night had robbed them of all they had He made Calonymus swear to produce the goods but he neglecting his oath went away with the goods then but afterward at Constantinople by a terrible judgement he fell mad bit out his own tongue and died Belisarius then commanded his dinner to be where Gelimer used to feast his great men The Romans from the Greeks call the place Delphica from a three-footed Table standing in the Palace at Rome upon which the Emperours Cup-bearers set the cups which they call Delphica a three-footed table and first used at Delphos and so in Constantinople and wheresoever the Emperours Table stands they call the room Delphica The Emperours house also they call Palatium of one Pallas a Grecian who dwelt in that place before the sack of Troy and built in it a good handsome house where Augustus having got the Empire first lodged and thence they called the Emperours house the Palace Thus Belisarius dined in the Delphica and with him the Commanders of the Army The day before a dinner was provided for Gelimer and we feasted upon the meats Gelimers servants brought in our dinner filled our wine and in all things else attended us Here a man might see fortune in her bravery shewing all things to be hers and that none can call any thing his own And that day Belisarius attained a glory which never happened in his own time nor to any of the ancients For the soldiers using not to enter no not into any Roman City and but 500 together without some disorder specially upon the sodain This General had his men in such order that there was not the least insolence or menace used There was no interruption of Trade but in a City newly taken in a state changed and upon the alteration of their King not an Officer of Justice had his house shut up The publick notaries dispatcht their writings at the Courts and took the soldiers home with them as is the manner and the soldiers bought what they liked in the market place using no unquietness CHAP. XVIII THen Belisarius gave assurances to the Vandals fled into the Churches and took care of the walls of Carthage which had been so neglected that in many places they were easily to be mounted and a great part was quite faln down which the Carthaginians told us caused Gelimer not to stay in the City as not able in so short a time to secure the walls We heard also of an old Prophesie that had been among the boys in Carthage That Gamma should expell Beta and again Beta should expell Gamma It was then acounted as an idle riddle among sporting boys but now it was clear for Genserick expelled Bonifacius and now Belisarius Gelimer Then also the meaning of a dream was manifested which many had dreamt and often not guessing at the event The Carthaginians above all reverence St. Cyprian and by the sea-side have dedicated a Church to him close to the City where they use many devotions and yearly celebrate a feast which they call Cypriana and from thence those storms I mentioned are named which happened about that feastival This Church in the reign of Honoricus the Vandals got forcing out the Christians and their Priests with much indignity and officiating there themselves as now appertaining to the Arrians The Africans being much grieved at
Theudis was at a Town far from the sea When they caâ—e to him he feasted them with much courtesie and askt them at the feast how things were with Gelimer and the Vandals He had heard all before the Ambassadors coming slowly from a Merchants ship which parted from Carthage the same day the Romans entred it and with a fair wind arrived in Spain And he had forbidden the Merchants to divulge it But now when Gotthaeus and his fellows answered him that all was well he demanded about what they came They propounding a League Theudis bad them go to the sea-side and there you shall know certainly your affairs at home The Ambassadors taking it for the idle speech of a man in drink replyed not But the next day again propounding the League and again Theudis using the same words they thought there was some alteration in Africk but not imagining any thing of Carthage they sailed thither and landing near it fell among the soldiers and yielded and were brought to the General and told him their business and had no hurt from him CHAP. XX. CYRILLVS also came to Sardinia but hearing what was become of Godas he sailed to Carthage where he found Belâ—sarius and the Roman Army victorious Solomon was sent to the Emperour to relate the successes Gelimer in the Plains of Bule near the Frontier of Numidia four days journey from Carthage gathered together the Vandals and such Moors as were his friends being few and without Government For the Rulers of the Moors of Mauritania Numidia and Byzacium sent Ambassadors to Belisarius to profess their service to the Emperour and to promise to joyn with him Some of them sent their sons for hostages and desired him to send them their Ensignes of Principality according to the ancient custom which was that none might rule Moors before he had those Ensignes sent by the Emperour though he were an enemy to the Romans And having them now from the Vandals they thought not their Government firm The Ensignes are a silver Rod gilt a silver Cap not covering the whole head but like a Garland and kept upright with silver wire round about A white Mantle also fastened with a golden Clasp over the right shoulder in the manner of a Thessalian Mantle A white Robe embroidered and a gilt shoe Belisarius sent all these unto them and mony also but they did not joyn with him nor yet durst stand for the Vandals but kept aloof watching the event of the war Gelimer also sent a Vandal into Sardinia with a Letter to his brother Tzazon containing this It was not Godas surely but some mischief from heaven upon us that put that Island into rebellion which thereby deprived us of you and our best Vandals and in sum swept away the prosperity of Gensericks house You went not from hence to recover that Island but that Justinian might be Lord of Africk We understand by the events what Fortune then determined Belisarius came upon us but with a small Army But the Vandals valour presently ran away with our good fortune Ammatas and â—ibamundus are lost by the Vandals cowardise Our horses ships all Africk nay Carthage it self are in our enemies hands while the Vandals sit down with the loss of their wives and children and estates having fought poorly We have nothing left but the Plains of Bule where the hope we have in you hath put us and still keeps us So that leaving any farther to usurp and quitting Sardinia and those cares come speedily unto us with your whole fâ—et It is inconvenient for men in hazard for the main to quillet about the rest And combating our enemies together we shall either recover our former fortune or gain this not to suffer without one another Tzazon when he had perused this Letter and imparted it to the Vandals they howled and lamented concealing it from the Islanders but between themselves bewailing in silence their present estate And forthwith disposing the businesses at random they went all to sea with the whole fleet and the third day landed in Africk upon the Frontiers of Numidia and Mauritania Thence they marcht a foot to the Plains of Bule and joyned to the rest of the Army There were many sad rencontres then among the Vandals not to be exprest and such as an enemy would have pittied to look on and see the condition of mankind Gelimer and Tzazon fallen on each others neck could not let go They said nothing but grasping each others hand howled The like did the others embracing those who came from Sardinia and a long time they enjoyed that contentment And were so amazed at the present fortune that what was important before was not now thought upon Gelimer not enquiring concerning Godas nor Tzazon of the passages in Africk Which he might conjecture by the place they were now in Neither was there speech of wives or children they perceiving well that what was not here was certainly dead or a prisoner with the enemy THE HISTORY OF THE WARS Of the Emperour IV STINIAN BOOK II. Of the War with the Vandals CHAP. I. BUT Gelimer conducted the Army of Vandals being now all come together against Carthage where he cut off the Cities Aquaeduct encamped a while and no enemy sallying retired They quartered themselves in the neighbouring Towns and thought to block up the City so setting guards upon the high-ways They used no spoyl nor pillage assuming the Country as their own and expecting some Treason by the Carthaginians and such Roman soldiers as were Arrians With large promises also they invited the Commanders of the Hunns to be their friends and confederates They who were disaffected to the Romans alleadging that Peter the Roman General had brought them to Constantinople against their wills and contrary to his express oath So they entertained the motion and agreed in the battel to turn their powers against the Romans Of all this Belisarius had some suspition by relation of some fugitives and the walls being not wholly finished he would not sally but accommodated all things within He crucified one Laurus a Carthaginian for Treason upon a hillock before the City convinced by his own Secretary which frighted the rest from the like attempts The Massagetes courting with gifts and invitations to his table and other complements at last he got out of them what Gelimer had promised them to turn cowards in the battel and indeed that they had no mind to fight fearing that the Vandals being overthrown the Romans would not dismiss them to their own Country but wear them out in Africk and besides take their booty from them Belisarius sware to them that they should be sent home so soon as the Vandals were absolutely overthrown with all their booty and bound them by oath to aid us with all alacrity Then all things being well prepared he spake thus to the Army To use exhortations of courage to you may seem needless fellow-soldiers who have already so vanquisht the enemy that
leading his proper Regiment And in the middle stood Tzazon and in the rear the Moors Gelimer himself rode about from place to place to encourage his soldiers Whom he warned in this fight not to use Javelins nor any weapons but their swords It was long ere they began Then John by Belisarius his direction with a few chosen men passed the brook and charged those in the middle where Tzazon repulsed him back towards the main Army pursuing him to the brooks side but not going over Again John drawing out more Targetiers of Belisarius rode against Tzazon and being again repulsed retired He renewed the charge the third time with almost all Belisarius his Targetiers and Lanciers and the Generals Ensigne shouting and clashing their arms The Barbarians valiantly received them using their swords only and the fight grew stiff where many Vandals and of the best were slain and Tzazon himself Then came on the whole Roman Cavalry and passing the brook charged the enemy And the defeat beginning in the middle appeared clearly each one routing their opposites with ease Which the Massagetes perceiving according to their resolution they followed the execution with the Roman Army which lasted not long the Vandals recovering their Camp and the Romans not holding themselves able to fight with them in their entrenchment stript such dead bodies as had any gold upon them and retired to their Camp In this fight were slain of Romans 50. and of Vandals 800. But Belisarius about the evening his foot being come up marcht with his whole Army to the Vandals Camp Gelimer seeing Belisarius with his foot and all marching without one word speaking or giving any direction leapt on horseback and fled the way into Numidia his kinsmen and some few houshold servants following him amazed and concealing what it was for Some time the Vandals knew not of Gelimers flight but when they found it and saw the enemy the men were in a tumult the women howled the children cryed none sought to save their goods nor regarded the lamentations of their dearest friends But every man in confusion ran away The Romans took the Camp with all the wealth in it and destitute of men And following the chase all night killed the men they overtook and made slaves of the women and children They found in the Camp so great a mass of wealth as was never together in a place For the Vandals had long ransackt the Roman Provinces and brought much wealth into Africk which being also good land and most plentifull of all commodities the revenues in mony were not spent in other Countrys but put up by the owners for the space of 95 years An. Dom. 533. Just 70. in which the Vandals had the dominion of Africk From whence their wealth now grown into a great bulk was that day restored to the Romans This overthrow and taking the Vandals Camp happened three months after the coming of the Roman Army to Carthage in the middle of December CHAP. III. BUt Belisarius was troubled to see the Romans disorder and all night was afraid lest the Vandals making head again might ruine them If they had come not one Roman had escaped to enjoy their booty For the soldiers being of a sudden become masters of so great wealth and of personages extreamly beautifull could not contain nor find any satiety in their booty They were drunk with their prosperity and would have every man returned to Carthage carrying all along with them And they stragled by one and by two as their hope of gain led them searching in woods and fastnesses and in caves and such places subject to danger and ambushes fearing no enemy nor respecting Belisarius being affected with nothing but the desire of booty Which Belisarius seeing he knew not what order to take And so soon as it was day he stood upon a hillock by the high way calling upon them for order and chiding the soldiers and commanders Such as came that way sent their booty and captives with their Comrades to Carthage and themselves repaired to the General and obeyed his directions He commanded John the Armenian to follow Gelimer without intermission and to take him alive or dead And he wrote to his friends in Carthage to take the Vandals out of the Churches in Towns thereabout giving them assurances and to disarm them that they might not stir and to keep them safe in the City till his coming With the troops he had he went about recollecting the Army and giving assurances to such Vandals as he found there being none but in Churches whom he disarmed and sent under guards to Carthage giving them no time to make head All being setled he marcht with the rest of his Army against Gelimer John following the chace five days together came very near to Gelimer who being not ordained to be taken by John this cross chance happened Among the pursuers with John was one Vliaris a Lancier of Belisarius valiant and of an able body but not serious his greatest delight being wine and jests The sixth day of their pursuit being in drink he spied about Sun-rising a bird upon a tree and let fly an arrow at it He mist the bird but shot John behind in the neck who soon after dyed of the wound leaving a great miss both to the General and Emperour and all both Romans and Carthaginians He was a valiant and a virtuous man and bore himself mildly and moderately to all men Thus John the Armenian died But Vliaris coming to himself fled into the Church of a Village near hand And the soldiers pursued no further but attended the cure of John and being dead performed his funeral rites and acquainted Belisarius with the accident staying in the place Who came immediately to the Sepulchre mourning the misfortune and honoured the same with a yearly Revenue and many other things To Vliaris he did no harm hearing from the soldiers that John had made them swear that he should not be punished for the fact being unwittingly done Thus Gelimer escaped his enemies hands that day Belisarius still pursued â—im and at Hippo Regia a City upon the sea in Numidia ten days journy from Carthage he learnt how he was gone up to the mountain of Pappua and not possible to be taken This mountain is steep and very ill way high rocks standing round about it In it inhabit Barbarian Moors friends and confederates of Gelimer and on the utmost border of it stands an antient City named Medenos Here Gelimer with his company rested But Belisarius being not able to attempt the mountain in the winter and holding it unsafe to be absent from Carthage the state being unsetled he left Pharas with some forces to besiege the mountain This Pharas was a valiant prudent and virtuous man though an Herulian And for an Herulian not to be false and a drunkard but to pretend to virtue is rare and much to be commended But he was both himself an affecter of discipline and all the
Herulians that followed him Belisarius commanded him to lie all the winter at the foot of the hill exactly guarding that neither Gelimer get down nor have provisions brought to him Then taking the Vandals out of the Churches in Hippo upon his faith given them being of the best he sent them with a guard to Carthage and he had this fortune here One Bonifacius an African of Byzacium Secretary to Gelimer was by Gelimer furnished with a good ship having in it all the royal treasures and he was commanded to lie at anchor in the Port of Hippo and if he saw the affairs go ill to sail with the mony to Theudis Prince of the Visigoths in Spaiâ— where himself upon the ruine of the Vandals intended to save himself Bonifacius staid while there was any hope but hearing of the battel of Tricamarus and the rest formerly related he hoists sail according to Gelimers appointment But a contrary wind brought him back into the Port of Hippo and understanding the enemy to be near he wooed the Mariners with large promises to get to some other Land But they could not a storm coming and the Tyrrhene sea being grown high so they resolved that God certainly meant to give the Romans that treasure not suffering them to put to sea and with much adoe getting clear of the harbour they lay off at sea in some danger Bonifacius sent to Belisarius being come to Hippo some whom he directed to get into a Church saying that they were sent by Bonifacius who had Gelimers Treasures but concealing where he was before oath given that delivering the Treasures he shall have no hurt done him but keep such moneys as are his own They performed these directions And Belisarius glad of the news made no scruple to swear But sent some who received the Treasures and dismissed Bonifacius with his own moneys having stollen a mass of wealth from Gelimer CHAP. IV. BEing returned to Carthage he made the Vandal prisoners ready to send to Constantinople with the first of the spring and sent forces to take in what had been under the Vandals and to Sardinia Cyrillus with the head of Tzazon the Islanders not yet yielding nor believing the report of the Vandals il fortune at Tricamarus And he directed him to send part of his forces to take in Corsica antiently called Cyrnus not far from Sardinia which had been under the Vandals also Cyrillus accordingly shewed the head of Tzazon to the Islanders of Sardinia and made both the Islands tributary Belisarius sent also John with the foot company under his leading unto Caesarea in Mauritania being 30 days journey from Carthage in the way to Caliz and Hercules Pillars and a populous maritine City Another John one of his targetiers he sent to the Straits of Caliz to possess the Castle of Septum one of the Pillars To the Isles of Ebusa Majorica and Minorica he sent Apollinarius an Italian who went young into Africk and there being grown rich by the bounty of Ilderick after his deposing and imprisonment he went a sutor for Ilderick to Justinian with some other Africans And in this voyage with the Romans he did valiantly and at Tricamarus the best of any For which service Belisarius gave him the command of those Islands He re-enforced also the Romans under Pudentius and Tattimuth in Tripolis the Moors pressing sore upon them He sent some likewise to receive the Castle at Lilybaeum in Sicily as belonging to the Vandals dominion but was repulsed by the Goths refusing to yeeld any part of Sicily and denying the Castle to have been the Vandals Whereupon he wrote thus to the Governours there You deprive us of Lilybaeum a Castle of the Vandals the Emperours slaves wherein you deal both unjustly and unwisely without your Princes mind and privity to put the Emperour into a war with him whose favour he hath so laboured to purchase How strange a proceeding is it to suffer Gelimer to hold the Castle and from the Emperour Gelimers Master to take away his slaves possessions Take heed consider how friendship covers many grievances but an enemy endures not the least injury but looks back and will not wink at his foe grown rich whence he should not But then he alleadges the wrongs done to his Ancestors then he fights wherein though he fail yet he loses no possession but prospering makes the vanquished ask forgiveness Do you therefore do us no farther ill nor suffer any Make not the Emperour an enemy to the Goths whom you wish propitious For know that if you dispute this Castle you will have a war not only for Lilybaeum but for all you hold without just title The Goths imparted these Letters to Atalaricus his mother and by her direction made this answer Excellent Belisarius your exhortation may be pertinent to some other men but not Goths We are not so mad as to detain any thing from the Emperour Sicily we challenge all to be ours whereof that Castle is one of the head Lands If Theodorick gave his sister married to a Vandal King the use of a Mart Town in Sicily this can give no pretence of title But noble General do us right and decide this controversie not as an enemy by a battel but as a friend at an Arbitrament We refer it to the Emperour himself to do as to him shall seem legal and just And we wish you to be advised and to attend the determination of your Emperour Belisarius herewith acquainted the Emperour and staid till he should further direct him In the mean time Pharas being weary of a winter-siege and supposing the Moors unable to oppose him he undertook the ascent unto Pappua with his troops well armed But the Moors defended it so that those who went up the Hill being steep and bad way were easily ruined and Pharas being obstinate lost 110 men and with the residue was beaten back But he set very diligent guards that they might be put to yield for hunger permitting none to scape away nor any thing to be brought them from without Where the sufferings of Gelimer and his kindred and others with him delicately bred no relation can equal The Vandals being of all the known Nations the most effeminate and these Moors the hardiest They first since their possession of Africk have used their daily baths and plentiful tables of the best and pleasantest things the earth and sea afford most of them wore gold and silk and past their times in Theaters horse-races and other delights and principally huntings They had their Masques and Playes Musiques and gallant sights many had gardens furnished with waters and trees used much feasting and were as much addicted to venerie But those Moors are choaked up in close cabbins never removing for heat of summer or any inconvenience and lying upon the ground or happily with a sheeps-skin under them They never change apparel but all the year wear a thick coarse mantle and a Freese-coat They have no bread nor wine eating
his head and shewed it at home to his wives being for bigness and abundance of hair a goodly sight It is not amiss to say something here how and from whence the Moors came originally to inhabit Africk When the Hebrews came out of Egypt and Moses was dead and Joshua his successor with more then humane valour had brought the people into Palestine possest the Country overthrown the Nations conquered their Cities and was thought invincible The Gergesites and Jebusites and other Nations mentioned in the Scripture being populous and inhabiting the sea-coast from Sidon to Egypt called Phoenicia and under one King as is confessed by all Writers of Antiquities seeing this new Captain unresistible they removed from their own Country into Egypt Where finding no room Egypt being antiently populous they went on into Africk and building many Cities possest it all unto Hercules Pillars and to this day continue there using the Phoenician language In Numidia they built a Castle where now is the City of Tigisis In which stand two Pillars near the great Conduit with these words engraven in the Phoenician language We are they who fled from before Joshua the chief the son of Nun. Other people antiently inhabited Africk and therefore were said to be born of the earth Whereupon their King Antoeus who wrastled with Hercules in Clypea was called the son of the earth Afterward the Phaenicians came with Dido into Africk to those of the same race who received them and permitted them to build Carthage But in time the Carthaginians grown great and populous overcame these Moors in battel who came thus out of Palestine and forced them to inhabit far from Carthage And the Romans afterward being Masters of the world planted the Moors upon the uttermost borders of the inhabited Countrys of Africk and made the Carthaginians and other Africans Tributary But lately the Moors got many victories of the Vandals and held Mauritania extending from Caliz to Caesarea and the most part of Africk beside But Solomon understanding the accident of Aigan and Rufinus prepared for a War and wrote this Letter to the Princes of the Moors Others heretofore have ventured foolishly and perisht not divining the event of their presumption But you seeing a president of your neighbours the Vandals upon what madness have you drawn your swords against the great Emperour and do thus abandon your safeties after solemn oaths and your sons given for pledges Is it to shew that you regard neither God faith kindred nor safety Being such in what God can you trust for help provoking a Roman Emperour You have lost your sons for what is it you mean to hazard If you repent for what is past write that you will give over If not expect a Roman war to come upon you with your violated oaths and the undoing your own sons The Moors made this answer to Solomon Belisarius perswaded us with large promises to obey the Emperour But now affording us no share of your prosperity you would have us friends and aids still starving with hunger It is you are the faith-breakers not the Moors Not they who fly off from their associates upon wrongs violate Truces but they who demand Truce and then oppress men Not they who fight for their own make God their enemy but who usurping other mens right dare hazard a war Concerning sons you may be troubled who must have but one wife We who may have 50 wives at once can never want a generation Upon this Solomon resolved to lead his Army against them and having disposed of things in Carthage marcht into Byzacium and encamped at Mamme near the aforesaid Moorish Princes CHAP. VIII AT the foot of high mountains there upon a plain piece of ground the Barbarians put their battel in order to fight thus They put their Camels in a round as Cabaon did formerly made their front 12. Camels deep and placed their women and children in the middle save some few who made their entrenchments and cabbins drest their horses and Camels and their own diet and did many services in their fights Themselves stood between the Camels legs having shields swords and Javelins and some horse upon the mountains Half the Round next the mountain Solomon omitted fearing lest the enemy from thence and from the Round might charge his men at once and so get their backs opposing the Army to the rest and finding them dejected with the accident of Aigan and Rufinus he made them this speech to encourage them You that are fellow soldiers of Belisarius are not to fear nor make it an example if 50000 Moors have vanquisht 500 Romans Call to mind your own valour Think how the Vandals vanquisht the Moors and with what ease you are now Masters of the Vandals and having beaten the better men will you fear the weaker The Moors are the poorest Nation to fight in the world coming naked or with short shields only ill made and unable to keep out a blow and such men as when they have thrown out their two Javelins if they do no effect run instantly away So that we may by warding their first fury have the better with ease your advantage in your arms valour strength of body experience in battels and confidence for having been already victorious over every enemy you are to consider All which the Moors wanting trust only to their multitude who being no soldiers are the more easily beaten by a few well prepared The soldier hath his confidence in himself but the coward is commonly distressed by his croud of assistants And these Camels deserve your contempt which cannot resist us and being wounded by us as they shall will put these men in disorder Their presumption upon their former good fortune will fight for you For boldness measured by ones power may be an advantage but exceeding that it runs him into danger Which considering and not valuing the enemy you shall silently and with ease vanquish him The Princes of the Moors also seeing their men amazed at the Romans order used this encouragement You have found fellow soldiers I that these Romans have but the bodies of men having killed some of their best men overwhelmed with our Javelins and taken many of them prisoners Then have we a great advantage in numbers And our strife is about the greatest things either to be Masters of Africk or slaves of these braggarts So that now hazarding for all if we be not more then ordinarily valiant we shall do no good And let us not regard their arming which combers their foot then whom the Moors will be much the swifter And their horse will be disordered by the sight of our Camels and by their cries louder then the noise of the battel To think the enemy unresistible because of his victory of the Vandals is an errour The Generals vertue ever poises the battel and Belisarius the greatest cause of that victory fortune hath removed Besides the Vandals we had weakened before and made them an easie
intrenchments and of the Romanes quartering at the severall Gates Belisarius invention of mills with Boats a presage of his Victory by Samnite boyes Chap. XVII Vitigis sends Ambassadors to terrifie the Romans already fainting Of the form of the Ramme Balista Wolfe Belisarius laughs at the Enemy shootes two of their men dead and by killing their Oxen prevents their assault Chap. XVIII Moles Adriana or Adrians Tombe is assaulted and well defended the broken wall in the guard of St. Peter A Goth stuck into a tree with an arrow from a Balista Chap. XIX The Goths defeated in the Parke Belisarius sallies and routs their whole army and kills â—0000 men More forces demanded by Belisarius of the Emperour and sent The Romans victory presaged by Theodoricks Image at Naples in Musaique worke Sibylla's oracles obscure Chap. XX. Belisarius rids Rome of the unnecessary mouthes The Commons are entertained to serve upon the guards Silverius Bishop of Rome is sent into Greece and Vigilius by Belisarius made Bishop The Temple of Janus Vitigis causeth the Roman Senators his Prisoners to be slaine Chap. XXI Portus surprized by the Goths The description thereof and of Ostia Belisasarius with three sallies kills 4000 Goths who imitating his stratagem therein are cut in peices Chap. XXII Belisarius tells why he was so confident of victory he is importuned by the souldiers to a battell he incourages them orders his troopes resolved to fight with the horse only the foote being over few but is disswaded by Principius and Tarmutus Chap. XXIII Vitigis encourages his army and sets it in order of battell The Romans in Nero's feilds first conquer then by disâ—â—der are ruined the rest first have the better in the end are beaten unto their walls by the Goths with some loss especially of Principius and Tarmutus THE HISTORY OF THE WARRS of the Emperour JUSTINIAN Of the GOTHICK VVarre the first BOOK CHAP. I. THUS were the Romane Affayres in Affrick But I proceed to the Gothick Warre First touching in a word what happened to the Goths and Italians before this Warre When Zeno was Emperour of Constantinople Augustus held the Westerne Dominion whom by a diminitive the Romans called Augustulus because he received the Empire being yet a Boy which his Father Orestes a very wise man did administer The Romans sometime before had drawne to their ayde Skirrians and Alans and other Gothick Nations from whence they came to suffer those things from Alaricus and Attalus formerly related As the Barbarians grew strong the Roman Souldiers were under-valued and by these New-comers under colour of ayds they were tirâ—nnyzed and forced impudently to many things And in Conclusion they demanded of Oresâ—es all the Lands in Italy to be divided and to have a third part allotted them and refusing to do it they killed him There was among them one Odoacer one of the Life-guard to the Emperour who promised to satisfie their demands if they would place him in the Governement †so hee usurped Anno Domini 479. permitting the Emperour to live still a private man without other harme Hee gave the third part of the Lands to the Barbarians and so made them sure his own and established his Tyranny for ten yeares together About the same time the Goths planted in Thrace by the Emperour rebelled against the Romans under Theodoricus a Patritian and advanced in Constantinople to the Consulâ—ship Zeno skilfull at a present accommodation advised Theodoricus to go into Italy to fight with Odoacer and to get for himself and the Gothes the Dominion of the West it being better for him being a Senator to beat out the Tyrant and raign in Rome and Italy then to runne a hazard by contending with the Emperour Theodoricus liked his Counsell and went into Italy with all the Goths putting their Wives and Children in Waggons and all the Goods they could carry They could not crosse the Jonian Gulfe These were seated in Albania now upon the Gulfe of Venice neer unto Epidamus now Durazzo wanting ships but compassed the Gulfe and passed by the Taulantians and other Nations Odoacer and his people opposed them and were beaten in many Battells then they shut themselves up in Ravenna with their Prince and in other strong Towns All the Townes the Goths took in by Siege save the Castle of Caesina about thirty seven miles distant from Ravenna and Ravenna it selfe where Odoacer was which they could not get by Force nor Composition It is scituate in an open Champian at the bottome of the Jonian gulfe distant only a quarter of a mile from the Sea Ravenna is hard of accesse for an Army by Sea or Land no ships can land upon the shore by reason of a shelve of almost foure miles lying before it which keepes the Sayler far from the Coast though it seem neer at first Neither is it approachable by an Army of Foot by reason of the River Poe by some called Eridanus which descends from the mountaines of Gaule and of other navigable Rivers and Lakes compassing the City with waters where happens a dayly wonder The sea each morning rises a dayes journey into the Land and makes it navigable and at evening draws home her waters and spoyles the passage Such as are to import to the City Merchandize or to export the same towe their ships to the place where the water uses to make a Passage and there stay for a Floud which coming by little and little they float their Vessells and steere away This happens all along that coast to Aquileia but not alwayes alike when the Light of the moon is little the tyde is weak and after the first halfe moon to the other the course of the floud is stronger But Theodorick and the Goths spent three yeares in the Siege of Ravenna and were wearied with it aswell as Odoacer and his men who were also prest with wants So that by the mediation of the Bishop of Ravenna they came to an accord that Theodorick and Odoacer should remaine in Ravenna upon equall tearmes This for a while was observed but Theodorick as he sayd finding him plotting against him invited him to a Feast and killed him and gaining so the Barbarian Enemyes surviving he had the sole Dominion of the Goths and Italians He did not assume the Habit or Style of Emperour of the Romans but continued the name of Rex as the Barbarians call their Rulers In the government of his Subjects he had all the Ornaments of a true King being zealous of Justice and maintaining the Lawes guarding also the Province from the Neighbouring Barbarians and attaining to a great heighth of wisdome and valour He never did Injury to his Subjects nor suffered others that practised such things Onely he distributed to the Goths the Lands by Odoacer allotted for his Partizans So that he was in repute an Usurper but in Effect a true Prince no lesse then those who have successively beene graced with that Dignity The Goths and Italians loved
a little to save the maine of our Dominions then by coveting all to perish and loose all My opinion is if we give the Francks the parts of Gaule bordering on them they will lay down their quarrels and joyne with us in the Warre How to recover those parts upon our good successe let none examine now I remember an old saying To settle well the present The principall Goths conceiving this course advantageous resolved upon it and Ambassadors were sent to the Francks to surrender Gaule and pay the money and to conclude a Confederacy The Princes of the Franks were then Childebert Note Clouis the first Christian K. of France had 4. sonnes Childebert Theodorick Clotarius and Clodomir Clodomir died without issue and Childebert had his partage this Theodebert was sonne of Theodorick See Agathias lib. 1. cap. 1. Theudebert and Clotarius who received that Gaule with the money and divided it proportionably to every mans dominion They agreed to be firm friends to the Goths and to send them succours not Francks but of the Nations subject to them They could not enter into an open War with the Romans having lately promised to joyne with the Emperour in this The Ambassadors having dispatch'd returned to Ravenna and Vitigis sent for Marcias and his Troops Belisarius in this mean time prepared his journey for Rome He appointed 300. Foot under Herodian for the guard of Naples He put a Garrison into Cuma to guard the Castle there there being no strong place in all Campania but Naples and Cuma In Cuma they yet shew Sibyllas Cave where her Oracle was It is a maritime Towne distant sixteen miles from Naples Belisarius put his Army in order but the Romans fearing the fortune of the Napolitans resolved to receive the Emperours Army being moved thereunto chiefly by the Bishop of Rome Liberius * Note He calls this Bishop of Rome in the secret History Silverius And so Helvicus in his Chronology They sent one Fidelius born in Milan a City of Liguria and formerly Quaestor to King Atalaricus inviting Belisarius and promising to surrender the Citie He led his Army by Via Latina leaving Via Appia on his left hand which Appius a Roman Consull made 900. years agoe and it reaches five dayes journey from Rome to Capua It is broad enough for two Carts a breast and worth the sight all the stones being of Mill-stone quarry and very hard and brought by Appius from a far countrey They are smooth wrought square and close fastned without brasse between or any thing else They are so well fastned and close that one would thinke them to grow together After so long a time trampling on by Carts and Beasts every day there is not the least chink in the pavement nor any stone broken nor worn out nor that hath lost the brightnesse But the Gothish Garrison in Rome understanding the Enemies approach and the Romans intent were troubled being not able both to guard the Citie and encounter the Enemie So that by the Romans permission they left Rome and went to Ravenna Only Leuderis ashamed it seems staid behind The same day and houre Belisarius entred Rome with the Emperours Army at Porta Asinaria and the Goths went out at Porta Flaminia The taking of Rome Anno 11. Iustiniani Anno Dom. 337. Thus Rome was recovered in the. 11. yeare of Justinians Reign sixty yeares after the last taking of it The keyes of it and Leuderis Belisarius sent to the Emperour He took care of the walls decayed in many places and made the turrets tenable against an assault He made Works upon the left side of every turret to secure the Defendants left side from shot And about the walls he drew a good deep ditch The Romans commended the Generalls providence and chiefly his skill in contriving the turrets But they murmured wondring he would enter Rome with an opinion of being besieged a place unfit for a siege for want of provisions being not upon the Sea and having a huge compasse of walls and in an open champian easily invested But he though he heard all this yet still prepared for a siege The corn he brought from Sicily he kept in publique Granaries and he compelled the Romans though they grumbled to bring in all their provisions from their Farms CHAP. XIII A GOTH then one Pitzas yeilded to Belisarius halfe Samnium lying upon the Sea and the Goths there inhabiting to the River which divides the countrey The Goths on the other side the River neither would follow Pitzas nor submit to the Emperour Belisarius gave him some Souldiers to help to guard the Townes there The Calabrians and Apulians having no Goths had voluntarily before submitted to Belisarius both in the Mid land and upon the Sea-coast Of which was Beneventum anciently by the Romans called Maleventum now Beneventum to avoid the reproach of the name for Ventus in Latine signifies the Wind because in Dalmatia over against it uses to blow a rough wind during which no Traveller is seen upon the wayes they all shut themselves in their houses The force of the wind is such that it snatches up a Horse-man and his Horse together carries them in the ayre and throws them down and kills them And Beneventum standing high and over against Dalmatia shares in the inconvenience of this wind Diomedes built the Citie being banisht from Argos after the destruction of Troy It hath a monument of him the teeth of the Calydonian Bore the prize of Meleager his Uncle in that famous hunting which are still there and worth the seeing the circumference like a half-moon being of three spanns Here they say Diomedes met with Aeneas and according to Minerva's Oracle gave him the Image stollen by him and Vlisses out of her Temple when they came as spies into Troy before the Citie could be taken Afterward being sick they say he consulted the Oracle which answered that he should never have ease unlesse he gave that Image to some Trojan Where it is the Romans now know not but shew the figure of it graven in stone standing to my time in the Temple of Fortune before the brazen Statue of Minerva in the open ayre on the East-side of that Temple It resembles Minerva fighting and charging her Lance yet in a long robe and with a face not like her Grecian Statues but as the ancient Aegyptians made them They of Constantinople say that Constantine buried the Statue in the Market-place bearing his name But Belisarius thus conquered Italy on this side the Jonian Gulph to Rome and Samnium On the other side Constantianus as hath been said got all to Liburnia To speake something how Italy is inhabited the Adriatique Sea discharges a stream farr into the firm Land and makes the Jonian Gulph Not as in other places where the Sea running to the Land-ward in the end makes an Isthmus or neck of Land As the Chrisaean Gulph ending in the Haven of Lechaeum by Corinth makes there the Isthmus being some
THe next day the Goths thinking with ease to enter Rome by reason of the greatnesse of it and the Romans defending it were thus quartered The city hath fourteen gates and some posterns but the Goths unable to encompasse the whole circuit thereof made â—ixe intrenchments and infested the space of five Gates from Porta Flaminia to Porta Praenestina These were on this side the Tiber But fearing least the enemy should take down Pons Milvius and so exclude them from all from the river to the sea and thereby might not feel the inconveniences of the Seige they made a seventh Intrenchment on the other side of Tiber in Nero's feilds that they might have the sayd bridge in the midst between their Camps And so they infested two gates more It was called Porta Triumphalis Vaticana and was next to Pons Triumphalis Leand. in descrip Italiae Mons Janiculus it was called Porta Aurelia now named of Peter the cheife of Christs Apostles lying buried neer unto it and the Gate beyond the Tiber. Thus they incompassed half the city and being not cut off by the River made the warre in what part of it they pleased The Romans have built their walls on both sides the River thus The Tiber grown great runnes a good space by the walls on this side of it which stand by the Rivers side upon Ground flat and very assaultable Opposite to them beyond the Tiber is a * great hill where stand the City mills the water being brought by an Aquaeduct to the hill top and from thence descending with much swiftnesse which caused the ancient Romans to compasse this hill and the Rivers banck neer it with a wall that an Enemy might not demolish the mills nor passe the River to assail the town walls which with a bridge they joyned to this part and building houses upon this ground beyond the Tiber took the River into the midst of the City The Goths also made deep ditches about their intrenchments and casting the Earth inward and therewith making the intrenchment very high and pitching the top with multitude of stakes they made their camps not inferiour to so many Castles The Entrenchment in Nero's feilds Marcias commanded being come out of Gaule with his troops and there quartered The other were commanded by Vitigis and five other a Commander to every intrenchment They cut also all the Aquaeducts to cut off the cities water that way they are fourteen in all ancient works of brick and so deep and broad that a man on Horse back may ride in them But Belisarius to guard the City used this order himself had Porta Pinciana and Porta Salaria standing to the right hand of it because the wall there is very assaultable and being opposite to the Enemy the Romans were to sally there He gave Porta Praenestina to Bessas and to Constantianus Porta Flaminia which stands to the left hand of Pinciana and rammed up the gate with stones within that it might not be opened fearing the Enemies designs there being close to one of their Entrenchments The other gates he directed the commanders of the foot to guard The Aquaeducts he fortified a good space to avoyd mischeife that way from without But the Aquaeducts being cut they wanted water for their mills and with beasts they could not worke their scarce provisions of fodder as in a siege not sufficing for their horses of service Belisarius to help this tied cables before the bridge that joyned to the City wall from one banck of the river to the other stretching them stiff and fastning boats to them two foot asunder where the stream from the arches of the bridge ranne strongest and putting into each boat a mill-stone he hung the Engine between the boats which turns the Mill. Beneath these he tied other boats together in the same manner in a distance proportionable fitting them with like Engines and the stream being strong and turning the Engins set the Mill stones on worke and grinded sufficient for the City The Enemies informed hereof by fugitives endeavored to spoil the Engins by throwing into the River great trees and bodies of Romans slain and these being driven down with the stream brake the Engins at first but Belisarius had this remedy He hung before the bridge iron chains a-cross the River which stopt all that came down the stream which men appointed drew up to the land and this he did not only for the mills but to prevent the Enemies entrance with boats through the bridge into the midst of the City The Barbarians failing in their attempt gave it over and the Romans made use of those mills but for want of water were shut from their Baths they had sufficient to drinke those who dwelt far from the River having the commodity of wells Their common sewers they needed not secure having all their mouthes into the River and so impossible to be entred by the Enemy In the mean time among the Samnites their boyes who kept their sheep chusing two of the lustiest and calling one Belisarius and the other Vitigis caused them to wrestle It was Vitigis chance to be thrown whom the boyes in sport hung on a tree and suddenly a wolfe appearing they all ran away and poor Vitigis after a long time hanging in great pain dyed The Samnite upon this accident punisht not the boyes but divining at the event beleived that Belisarius would get the Victory CHAP. XVII BUT the people of Rome not used to the miseries of warr and a siege and now wanting their baths and pincht with scarcity being put also to guard the walls and want their sleepes supposing too that ere long their City would be taken and seeing already their country farmes spoiled by the Enemy they murmured greivously to be besieged and run this hazard having done no offence So assembling themselves they railed at Belisarius for presuming to make war with the Goths having no competent forces from the Emperour and the Senators privatly objected the same unto him Vitigis understanding this from fugitives to exasperate them yet more and so to put the Romans affaires into confusion he sent Ambassadors to Belisarius among whom was one Albes who having accesse to him in the presence of the Senate and Commanders of the army spake thus Anciently O Generall men fitly defining names for things have distinguisht presumption from valour the one drives men into danger with dishonour the other with virtue brings abundantly glory One of these hath brought you hither and which of them you may quickly manifest If in the confidence of your valour you have entred into this warr you see from your walls your Enemies and brave S â— you have meanes to be valiant enough If through presumption you have invaded us you will certainly repent what you have rashly done as over-weening men ever use when they come to the tryall Adde not therefore more misery to these Romans whom Theodorick hath bred in freedom and delights and oppose not
Romans singing their Paeans upon the walls extolling Belisarius with acclamations and some stripping the dead bodies and the Goths curing their wounded and mourning for their dead Belisarius also wrote to the Emperour this letter We are come into Italy according to your commands and have gained a great part of the Country and taken Rome expelling the Goths whose Commander Leuderis we send Belisarius defended Rome with 5000 against 150000. Goths But in the strong places of Sicily and Italy which we took by siege we have left the greatest part of our Armie that it is now reduced to 5000 men the Enemie assailing us with 150000. First going out to discover the Enemy neer the Tiber we were put to fight beyond our determination and were almost overwhelmed with the multitude of their Lances Afterward they made a generall assault with men and Engines on all sides and failed little of taking Rome at the first assault if fortune had not rescued us Hitherto what hath been done by fortune or valour hath succeeded well But now I must entreat what may conduce to your future service I will never conceale what it behoves me to say and you to do I know affaires goe as God guides them but the Governours of them get blame or commendation by the actions they perform So that Armes must be sent us and such numbers of Men as that we may encounter the Enemy with aequivalent powers We must not ever trust to fortune which runs not always one way And consider O Emperour That if the Goths now beat us we shall loose Italy now yours and our Army too besides the disgrace for our ill carriage of the businesse And we shall also undoe the Romans who have preferred their faith to your Empire before their safety and so will our prosperity prove the occasion of our calamity For if we had been repulsed from Italy or before from Sicily the lightest of misfortunes would have troubled us only not to be rich with other mens goods You are to consider also that Rome was never before kept so long with many thousands it compasses so much ground and being not upon the Sea it is excluded from necessaries The Romans yet are well affected to us but the prolongation of their miseries will make them choose the best for themselves New freinds to any men keep faith not when they suffer but when they prosper by them Besides the Romans will by famine be forced to do things they would not I know I owe my death to your Majesty so that none shall ever pull me out of this place alive But think what glory such a death of Belisarius will bring you The Emperour upon this letter gathered an Army and Ships and sent direction to Valerianus and Martinus who were dispatch'd with an Army about the Winter Solstice to saile for Italy with all speed but not able to keep the Sea further went on Land and wintred in Aetolia and Aâ—arnania The Emperour advertised Belisarius thereof which much comforted him and the Romans In the mean time in Naples this happened The Image of Theodorick King of the Goths stood in the Market-place made of small peeble stones dyed into all colours In his life time the stones of the head of this Image peeled and shed off and presently after he dyed Eight years after the peebles forming the Images belly dropt off and instantly Atalarick dyed Theodoricks daughters son soon after fell off the pebles upon the privities and then his daughter Amalasuntha was murthered And now the Goths besieging Rome the limbs down to the Images feet were in the same manner spoiled and the whole out-side defaced and the Romans divining upon it were confident of the Emperours prevailing in this Warr taking Theodoricks feete for his Subjects the people of the Goths In Rome also some Patricians produced Oracles of Sibylla that the Cities danger would last but till July when the Romans should have a King through whom they should no more feare Geticke Nations And the Goths they say are a Nation of Getes In the Oracle it is the fifth moneth which they interpreted July some because the siege began in the beginning of March from which July is the fifth others because before Numa March was the first moneth there being but ten in all whence July was called Quintilis But this was mistaken all For the Romans had no such King and the siege was raised after that time and another siege was under Totilas King of the Goths as shall be said hereafter I conceive the Prophesie to intend not this but some other invasion of Barbarians happened already or to come And to find the meaning of Sibylla's Oracles before the event is not possible for a cause I shall tell you having read them all over Sibylla utters not things in order nor with any congruity Having said a few words of the calamities of Africa instantly she leaps into Persia Then talks of the Romans then comes to the Assyrians Then having prophesied again of the Romans she fore-tels the miseries of the Brittons that it is not possible to understand her before the event of her Oracles when time having made the tryall proves the only exact Interpreter thereof But to return to my matter CHAP. XX. THE Goths were thus repulsed and both parts past that night as I have sayd The next day Belisarius commanded the Romans to send away their Wives and Children to Naples and such servants as were not usefull for defence of the City to save victuals and he willed the Souldiers to send away their women servants telling them he should not be able to feed such but must be constrained to put themselves to half victuals every day to take the remainder of their entertainments in money They did so and multitudes went into Campania some getting shipping at the Port of Rome and the rest going by Via Appia by Land And neither that way nor to the Port feared they danger the Enemie being not able to encompasse Rome with their Entrenchments nor daring in small parties to be far from their Camp for feare of the Romans excursions That the besieged had meanes enough for a time to remove out of the Citie and to bring in provisions especially by night For the Goths were affraid and attending their Guards kept in and the Moores often sallyed and finding them either asleep or in small companies upon the wayes to pasture their Cattell or to get necessaries for themselves as is usuall in great Armes they killed and stript them and if they saw numbers of Enemies charging them they ran home being naturally swift of foot lightly apparelled and beginning to fly in time Thus the uselesse multititude got away out of Rome some into Campania some into Sicily or whether they could with most ease But the Souldiers being few and not sufficient for so great a circuit of wall and some being to take their rest while others guarded and the common people being poor handi-crafts men
having nothing but from one day to another and there being no means to releive them Belisarius mingled them with the Souldiers upon the Guards and appointed them them a daily pay raising Companies of them competent to guard the Citie and to every company allotting their nights so that all in their turnes stood Sentinells And by this meanes the Souldiers were releived and they fed Having some suspition that Liberius Bishop of Rome practised to betray the Citie to the Goths he sent him into Greece and made Vigilius Bishop soone after Upon the same ground he banished some Senators whom he recalled after the siege was raised and the Goths retired One of these was Maximus whose Grand-father Maximus ruined the Emperour Valentinian Fearing designs upon the Gates and lest some might be corrupted with money he brake the old keyes twice a moneth and made new of the same form And he stil changed the Sentinels to other Guards far off and every night appointed new Commanders of those Guards who were directed every night by turns to goe rounds with notes in writing of the Sentinels names and where any was missing to place new in his roome and the next day to produce the defaulters for due punishment to be inflicted And he commanded Musitians to play all night on their Instruments upon the walls He sent out Moores also with dogs to lye all night about the ditch to discover such as came towards the walls though afar off Some Romans then attempted secretly to force open the gates of Janus This was the chiefe of those ancient gods whom the Romans called Penates His Temple is in the Forum before the Senate house a little beyond the Temple of the three Fates It is all of Brasse four-square high enough only to cover the Image which is of brasse also five cubits high resembling a man only it hath two faces one standing to the East and the other to the West and against each face are brazen gates which the Romans anciently kept shut in Peace and Prosperity and in time of War set them open But since the Romans have imbraced Christian Religion as much as any men whatsoever they opened these Gates no more though they were in Wars But in this Seige some having the old Religion I think in their mindes endeavoured secretly to open them but could not wholly but onely so much as they stood not close together as before The Actors were not knowne nor inquired after in that troublesome time none of the Magistrates and few of the People having notice of it Vitigis in the meane time being in Rage and troubled sent some of his Lanciers to Ravenna to kill the Roman Senators whom in the beginning of the War he had brought thither Some having notice of it fled of whom were Gerbentiâ—uâ— and Reparatus Brother to Vigilius Bishop of Rome who both got into Liguria and there staid the rest all perished CHAP. XXI VItigis also seeing the Enemies free scope of exporting from the City what they pleased and of importing Provisions by Sea and Land resolved to take in Portus the Romans Haven standing almost 13. miles from the City so far is Rome distant from the Sea and being at the mouth of the Tiber which coming from Rome and being almost within two miles of the Sea parts in two and makes the Holy Island This Island growes still broader downe the River and for about two miles together is as broad as long and on both sides of it the Tiber is navigable in two severall Streames The right-hand Stream runs into the Haven where without the Rivers mouth upon the Strand is an ancient City called Portus incompassed with a strong Wall on the left hand At the other Streames mouth beyond the shore of the Tiber stands Ostia anciently a famous City but now without Walls The way from Portus to the City the Romans have made passable and still Lighters are in readinesse in the Haven and many Oxen for Merchants to draw up their Goods to Rome aboard those Lighters not using Sailes no wind being able to stemme them up the Stream by reason of the many eddies in the River And Oares can do no good the Stream against them is so strong so that they tye the Lighters with long Ropes to the Oxen and draw them up to Rome like Waggons The way to Rome on the other side the Tiber is woody and neglected and not neere the shore the Lighters being never drawn that way The Goths finding the said Towne of Portus ungaurded took it at the first on-set and killed many Romans dwelling in it and so held the Haven too leaving a Garrison of a 1000. men and the rest retiring to their Campe. So that nothing could come to Rome from the Sea but by Ostia with much toile and danger the Romans Ships coming no more in at Portus but lying at Antium a daies journey from Ostia and from thence bringing their Commodities Scarcety of men caused this For Belisarius searing Rome it selfe could put none into Portus if there had been but 300. men in it the Goths had never attempted it being a strong Place and this they did the third day after their being beaten from the Assault Twenty daies after the taking of Portus and the Haven came Martinus and Valerianus with 1600. Horse-men most Hunnes Slavonians and Antians seated beyond the River Jole not far from it Belisarius glad of their company resolved now to make the War upon the Enemy and the next day commanded Traianus one of his Life-guard a valiant man to march with 200. of his Targetiers on Horseback against the Barbarians and neere their Entrenchments to get up to a Hill which he shewed them and there to stand if the Enemy came against them not to come to the Sword or â—ance with them but onely to use their Bowes and having empted their Quivers to make no scruple to retire running away to the Towne Walls Having thus directed he prepared the shooting Engines and their Engineers Traianus at Porta Salaria sallied out upon the Enemies Campe who amazed with the suddainesse encountred as every man chanced to â—e in readinesse Traianus got up to the Hill kept off the Goths with his shot which falling among a multitude still hit Man or Horse and their Arrowes being spent they gallopt home with the Goths at their heeles who being neere the Walls the Engineers fell to work with their Engines and then the Goths gave over the Chase In this Action were kill'd a 1000. Goths Some few daies after Belisarius sent out Mundilas one of his Guard his Favourite and Diogenes extraordinary good Souldiers with 300. of his Targettiers to do the like and they did so and killed rather more of the Enemy then fell before and in the same manner The third time he sent out Oilas one of his Life-guard who performed upon the Enemy the same things So that with these three Sallies he killed about 4000. Enemies Vitigis who conceaved not
Goths multitude nor yet safely to run from them caused the Hunnes to alight from their Horses and with them made a stand in a narrow Lane and shooting the Enemy from a secure place killed many The Goths a while stood their shot hoping when the Hunnes Quivers were empty to take them all Prisoners good cheap But they being good Archers and shooting at a multitude almost at every shot killed an Enemy that halfe their number appeared to be lost And being about Sun-set and having no place to be safe in they ran away and the Hunnes pursuing them close and being excellent to shoot upon the full speed killed them as fast as before and at night came back to Rome with Constantianus Some daies after Peranius fallied at Porta Salaria with Romans and routed the Gothes The over-throw being suddain and about Sun-set a Roman Foot-man in the tumult fell into a Pit there being many anciently made in that place to lay up Corn in He durst not cry out so neer the Enemies Camp and he could not get up so there he staied all night the next day the Barbariaus being again routed a Goth fell into the same Pit They here grew acquainted necessity making them Friends and they sware to procure each others safety and then both roared as loud as they could The Goths ran to the Pit and askt who made that crying The Roman by agreement between them was silent and the other prayed them in their Language to let down a Rope to lift him up they threw in a Rope which the Roman first catcht and said that he being up the Goths would not leave their Companion behind but would make no account to save him being an Enemy and so got up The Goths when they saw him wondred but hearing the Story took up the other who went along with them and the Roman was permitted to go to the City without harm Some Bravadoes there were often between small parties of Horse as if they would fight but still the Quarrell ended in a Duell wherein the Romans ever had the Victory At an Encounter in Nero's Feilds there being many Chases on both sides by the Horse Chorsomantis of the Life-guard to Belisarius by Birth a Hunne pursued with some others 70. Goths who being gon far the rest rode back only Chorsomantis followed still the Goths turn'd about at him and he killed on of their best men and routed the rest They fearing that they were seen from their Trenches and ashamed charging him again and again after the losse of another of their best men were made to run away as fast as before and Chorsomantis chased them up to the Trenches and then returned all alone Not long after at another Fight he was shot into the left leg to the bone and lying for the cure unserviceable he chafed being a Barbarian and threatned to be even with the Goths for the wrong they had done his leg When he was well and had drunk store of Wine at his Dinner out he went towards the Enemy to be revenged for his leg he told the Sentinels at Porta pinciana that Belisarius sent him to the Enemies Camp who not mistrusting one of the Generals Guard opened the Gate and let him go out The Enemy seeing him took him for a Fugitive but when he was come neer and fell to use his Bow some twenty came upon him whom he shook off and retired a foot pace more came on yet he would not run away and still resisting though more still charging him The Romans from the Turrets seeing it thought him some mad man not knowing it to be Chorsomantis who did there brave things and highly to be commended but at last being compassed by the Enemy he paid the penalty of his fool-hardinesse Belisarius and the Army when they knew who it was mourned for him as if all their hopes had perished with him CHAP. II. BUT about Midsommer Euthalius arrived at Taracina with Monies from Constantinople owing to the Army who fearing the Enemy and his Money wrote to Belisarius to conduct him safe into Rome who sent out a 100. of his Targetiers with two of his Lanciers to Taracina to convoy the Treasure and himselfe made a shew of giving Battell to the whole Army to amuse the Enemy from going out upon occasion of Forraging The nex day hearing Euthalius with his convoy would arrive he ordered his Army for a Fight and knowing Enthalius would enter by night he stood all the morning neer the Gates in Armes and at Noon he commanded the Army to dine the Goths did likewise thinking that he put off the Battell till the next day Then he sent Martinus and Valerianus to Nero's Feilds to give Alarmes to the Enemy there And at Porta Pinciana he sent out 600. Horse against the Trenches led by three of his Life-guard Artacines a Persian Buchas a Hunne and Cutilas a Thracian The Enemy encountred them with many and a good while they spent in charges and retirings only without coming up to the Sword and Lance seeming willing so to weare out the day At last they grew angry and the Fight being hot many and of the best fell and seconds came in from the City and the Camp from whence the Skirmish growing more and more the shouts filled the Combatants with Courage In conclusion the Romans routed them Cutilas was hit into the head with a Dart which sticking therein he followed the Execution and that being done he rode with the rest into the City with the Dart dangling on his head a strang Sight Arxes a Targetier of Belisarius was shot between the nose and the right eye the Arrowes head peircing to his neck but not appearing throughâ— and the Shaft as he rode shaked upon his Fore-head The Romans wondered to see him and Cutilas ride so little sensible of such hurts This was the Successe here but in Nero's Feilds the Goths had the better Martinus and Valerianus sustaining their great numbers with much difficulty and danger Belisarius commanded Buchas who was come off untoucht to ride up to Nero's Feilds to succour there who falling on suddenly and in the Evening defeated them but charging himselfe too far he was compast by twelve Enemies with Lances which troubled him not his Corselet holding good against the pushes thereof till a Goth thrust him behind under his right arme-hole which Wound was not mortall but another thrust him into the left thigh and cut the Muscle acrosse Valerianus and Martinus rode speedily to his rescue and beat off the Enemy then led him into the City taking his Horse by the Bridle Night being come Euthalius entred the City with the Treasure and all being within they lookt to their hurt men the Surgeons desired to take the Arrow out of Arzes Face but demurred not in respect of the eye which they had no thought to save but least by tearing the Membranes and Nerves there-about they might kill one of the bravest men of Belisarius retinew One
a present assult In this fight Trajanus was shot above his right eye neer the nose The arrow head though broad and long stuck fast and was not seen but the shaft fell off the head being loose set Trajanus felt it not but continued chasing and killing 5 years after the point of the arrow head appeared of it self out of his fore head This is the third year that still by little and little it comes out and in time 't is thought it will all come out In the mean time it is no trouble to him at all CHAP. V. BUT the Goths upon these successes despaired of the warr and thought of retiring being reduced by the plague and Ememy from many thousands to a few pincht with famin excluded from all provisions and in shew besieging but indeed besieged themselves Hearing also of other forces come from Constantinople by sea and land not as they were but as same gave them out they consulted upon a retreat and sent into Rome a Roman of good account among them with two other Ambassadors who spake thus to Belisarius How neither part hath got by this war all of us find by our experience of the incommodities thereof And neither army can deny what no man can be ignorant of that no wise man wil for a little Emulation perpetually toil and seek no relaxation he must be senslesse that sayes the contrary So that it behooves our Princes not to sacrifice their Subjects safety to their own Glory but to imbrace what is just and profitable not only for themselves but their adversaries and so to end these troubles By desiring moderate things difficulties are accommodated but by wrangling nothing concluded We having therefore advised upon a conclusion of the war are come to propound things advantagious to both parting with some of our Right as we conceive And do not you by contending with us run your selves rather then chuse what is best for you and herein it is not so good to use Rhetoricall speeches but to reply instantly if any thing seem to be said or done amisse Belisarius approved the conference to be so but bade them speak peceable just things They replyed you have done us wrong to take arms against us your freinds and allyes and we will say what you all know The Goths conquered Italy not forcing it from the Romans but Odoacer had deposed the Emperour and changed the state into a Tyranny and Zeno then Emperour of the East desiring to revenge his fellow Emperor upon the usurper to free the Province but unable to suppresse Odoacer perswaded our Prince Theodoriok ready then to besiege him in Constantinople to lay down that quarrell being a Patritian and having been a Roman Consull and by revenging the wrong done to Augustulus upon Odoacer to become with the Goths lawfull master of the province Thus we received the Dominion of Italy and have maintained the Common-Wealth and Lawes as much as any Emperour There is not one new Law made by Theodorick nor any of his Successors written nor unwritten And concerning Faith and Gods Worship we have conserved them exactly that not an Italian willingly nor unwillingly hath changed his Religion and when Goths have changed it hath not been questioned The Romans Churches have been by us held in highest Reverence and none flying to them hath been violated The great Offices the Romans have had not a Goth hath been advanced to any If any man think this not to be so let him stand out and disprove me Nay the Goths have given way that the Roman Consulship should yearly be conferred on Romans by the Eastern Emperour Things being thus you who never pretended to Italy wasted by Barbarians under Odoacer who for ten yeares together wrought so much mischiefe now force out the lawfull Purchasers having nothing to do with it Be gone therefore from us keeping what is yours and the Booties you have taken Belisarius replied Your promise was to be briefe and moderate but your discourse hath been tedious and something insolent The Emperour Zeno sent Theodorick against Odoacer not to be King of Italy for to him what distinction could be between one Usurper and another but that it might be free and obedient to the Emperour And Theodorick did good Service against the Usurper but in the rest proved extreamly ungratefull never bethinking himselfe to restore the Country to the Lord thereof He that ejects forcibly and he that restores not what is his Neighbours is the same man For me I may not give away the Emperours Provinces If you would have any thing else speak on Ambassadour You know all that we have spoken nothing but truth But to shew we affect no Disputes we quit to you Sicily a great and rich Island without which you cannot hold Africk securely And we †Mr. Cambden out of this passage and other authorities proves the Goths to inhabit Scotland sent thither by Gratian and Valentinian that the Scots are their descendents vid. Camb. Brit. page 88. quit all Britanny to the Goths greater then Sicily and formerly subject to the Romans It is fit to requite such as do us Benefits with the like If we mention Campania and Naples you will not accept Belisarius We have no power to dispose of what is the Emperours but with his liking Ambassadour Nor if we shall yeild to the payment of an annuall Tribute Belisarius No truly we have no absolute power in any thing but to guard the Province for the Conquerour Ambassadour Be pleased then we may repaire to the Emperour and conclude and accord with him and some time must be limited for the Armies to forbeare hostility Belisarius Be it so I will not hinder while you consult upon wayes of peace Thus the Conference ended and the Ambassadorurs returned to the Goths Camp CHAP. VI. AFTER often meetings they concluded a Cessation and to give Hostages mutually of eminent men During this negotiation the Fleet of Isaurians came into the Haven of Rome and the Troops of John to Ostia without the Enemies interruption to land or encamp The Isaurians to lodge securely from the Enemie drew a deep Ditch neer the Haven and kept guards and John lay fenced within his Waggons At night Belisarius came to Ostia with a 100. Horse acquainting them with the occurrents and conclusion with the Goths commanding them to send up their lading and to goe boldly to Rome promising them to secure the way for them himselfe before day rode back into the City When it was day Antonina consulted with the Commanders about sending up their lading which seemed difficult and scarce faisible The Oxen were halfe dead and could not hold out and it was unsafe to go with their Waggons in a way so narrow and to draw Lighters up the River as formerly was impossible the left hand way by the same being possessed as I said by the Enemie and not passable for the Romans and by the other bank was no passage at all
Spirits sayd to be in Fountaines and Rivers They are perpetually sacrificing and pacifying with blood and their fairest Victime is a Man before taken Prisoner whom they sacrifice to Mars esteemed their greatest God And they doe it not by cutting his throat onely but hanging him on a tree and throwing him among Bryers and other kinds of death Among these Thulites the Herulian wanderers planted themselves and those who continued among the Romans having murdered their King sent some chiefe men to the Island of Thule to bring home one of the blood royall if they could finde any there They found many and made choice of one whom they liked best and tooke him with them But being come neer home he dyed of a sicknesse and the men went againe to Thule and brought another named Todasius accompanied with his Brother Aordus and two hundred Herulians of the Island Who being long upon their journey the Herulians about Singedon conceiving it might be inconvenient to introduce a King from Thule without the Emperour Justinians consent to Constaneinople to the Emperour to give them what King he pleased He sent them Suartuas an Herulian who had long continued in Constantiople whom the Herulians at first received joyfully adored him as King and obeyed him in the usuall directions But within few daies they had newes how the Ambassadours from Thule were neer Suartuas commanded them to go out and kill them and the Herulians followed him with a seeming approbation but being within a daies journey of them they revolted from him by night to the new commers and himselfe alone fled to Constantinople the Emperour was studious to restore him and the Herulians fearing the Romans betook themselves to the Gepaedes And this was the cause of their Revolt CHAP. XVIII THE Armies of Belisarius and Narses joyned at Firma a City standing neer the Jonian Gulfe a daies journey from Auximum They held a Counsell of War where to oppose the Enemy with best advantage If they go to releive Auximum they doubted the Enemy from Auximum might at their backs infest them and spoile the Romans inhabiting those parts And likewise of the beseiged in Ariminum they were affraid they might be distressed for want of Victuall Most of the Captaines offended with John charged him in their speeches for running into that danger rashly and to get money and for crossing contrary to order the Counsels of Belisarius concerning the War But Narses who loved John above all men fearing least Belisarius upon the Captaines speeches might put Ariminum in the second place spake thus Fellow Commanders you discourse in things not to be discoursed of and consult where none reasonably can be of two Opinions but where he who never knew the War may chuse upon the sudden When the danger appeares equall and the damage alike in mistaking aboundant consultation and much discourse is fit and so to determine the matters propounded But we deferring to attempt Auximum now shall receive no important hurt for what so soon can alter our case Whereas if we receive a blow at Ariminum as can no otherwise be we shall ruine a harsh word our whole power in Italy If John have contemned your Commands excellent Belisarius you have it now in your power to punish him by saving the Offender or abandoning him to the Enemy But take heed you do not punish the Emperour and us for an unwitting Offence of John If the Goths take Ariminum they will make Captive a valiant Generall with his Army and a City of the Emperours obedience Neither will the mischiefe stop there but even constitute the whole fortune of the War For the Enemy have now much advantage in numbers but by being often beaten are become Cowards their ill Fortune having taken their confidence from them But if in this designe they prosper they will soon recover their Spirits and them dispute the War with more then equall Courage Such as escape difficulties being commonly wiser then they who never had misfortunes Thus Narses spake But a Souldier from Ariminum brought Letters to Belisarius from John which were thus Know that our Victuall hath long failed us and we can no longer answer the People nor resist the Enemy but within seven daies must sore against our wills yeild the city and our selves We can no longer strive against our necessities which will sufficiently apologize for us if we shall do any thing not so honorable Belisarius at this was troubled and full of irresolution He was afraid of the besieged and he doubted that the Enemy in Auximum would fly abroad and burn the towns thereabout without controule and by watching advantages distresse his own army especially if there should be a battell In the end he left Aratius with a thousand men to incamp by the Sea side 25 miles from Auximum and not to stir nor give fight to the Enemy but in their own Defence By this he hoped that Enemy would lye quiet in Auximum and not infest his army having a camp of Romans so neer them He sent also forces by Sea commanded by Herodian Vliaris and Narses Brother to Aratius and the whole in cheif by Ildeger Whom Belisarius directed to sail directly for Ariminum and to land not far off from the foot which should march by the Sea shore commanded by Martinus and appointed to wait upon the Fleet whom he directed being neer the Enemy to light many fires not proportionable to their small army so to give the Enemy apprehension of greater numbers Himself with Narses and the rest of the army marcht by Vrbisalia far from the Sea coast a city so ruined by Alaricus that nothing remained of the former beauty but some reliques of one Gate and of the pavement Here I met with this adventure When Jo came with his army into P. the peple were in much confusion and the women some suddenly fled where they could others were carried away captives In this place some woman newly delivered of a Child had left it in swathing clouts upon the Ground whether she ran away or were taken from it by the Enemy she never did return being likely either gone out of Italy or the World The child lying in that Desart cryed and a shee Goat perceiving it pittied it and having also lately brought forth young came to it and gave it her Teate guarding the child that no Dog nor wild beast might hurt it The troubles lasting long in the country this Infant had long the benefit of this Teat But the Picenians finding the Emperours army was come against the Goths only and not to hurt the Romans returned to their severall homes And into Vrbisalia the women with their husbands coming and seeing the child could not imagin what it was and wondred how it lived such women as were sit offered their breasts but the child would not take womans milk neither would the Goat leave it but importunatly bleated and seemed to be greived at the womens troubling it and in a word pretended to
of the last words of this Letter and said that Belisarius did now advise against the good of the State and therefore they were not bound to follow him CHAP. XV. BElisarius upon this sent Peranius with an Army to beseige Vrbiventum Himselfe led the rest to Vrbinum a strong Town a daies journey from Ariminum which had a good Garrison of Goths within it Narses and John followed him but before the Town they encamped severally at the foot of the Hill Belisarius on the East side Narses on the West Vrbinum stands upon a round high Hill not craggy but unsafe to mount only for the steepnesse and neernesse to the City Towards the North is an entrance upon plain ground Belisarius the Army being thus quartered sent Ambassadours to the Goths hoping to bring them being affraid to a composition and promising many advantages by their submission to the Emperour The Ambassadours at the Gates being not admitted into the Town used many allurements but the Goths presuming upon the strength of the place and their aboundance of Provisions rejected them and their motions Belisarius upon this caused the Army to gather Poles and with them to make a Gallery for men to approach the Gates and Walls under this covert Some Friends of Narses told him that Belisarius laboured in vain John having attempted the place when the Garrison was small and found it impregnable therefore he should take in the Emperours Townes in Emilia Narses upon this advise rose that night though much wooed by Belisarius to stay and help to take Vrbinum and went to Ariminum with the rest of the Army Morras and the Goths under him in the morning seeing halfe the Army gone flouted from their Walls at those that staid behind But Belisarius with them resolved to assault and consulting about it he had strange Successe The only Fountain in Vrbinum which watred all the Inhabitants grew dry of it selfe and in three daies so failed that the Goths drunk the water with mud whereupon they determined to yeild whereof Belisarius not knowing put the Army in readinesse to assault round about the Hill and commanded to bring on the wooden Gallery upon the even ground The men within unseen by the Enemy brought the same on at which the Goths held out their hands crying for peace The Romans knowing nothing of the Fountain conceived that it was the Fight they feared which they gladly forbare And the Goths rendred themselves and Town to Belisarius upon composition of indemnity they becoming Subjects to the Emperour serving in the Army with equall conditions Narses wondred to heare the Newes and took it for a misfortune He lay still in Ariminum but commanded John with the Army to lead out against Cesina They approach the Castle with their scaling Ladders upon their backs assaulted But the Goths defended stoutly and Phanotheus Leader of the Herulians was slain and many more so that John would attempt it no more seeming impregnable but marcht on with Justinus and the rest of the Army and took an ancient City named Forum Corneliâ— by surprise And he recovered all Emilia the Goths avoiding still to fight with him Belisarius also having taken in Vrbinum thought it not expedient being at the Winter Tropick to go against Auximum expecting a long Seige of it the place being strong and impossible to be forced by reason the Goths within it were many and of the best who having forraged much Country had brought in great quantity of Provisions so that he appointed Aratius to winter in Firmum and to restrain the Goths incursions and to spoile the Country and himselfe marcht against Vrbiventum perswaded by Peranius who had learnt of run awaies that the Goths within wanted Victuall and that it was thought they would yeild upon sight of Belisarius Army which came so to passe Belisarius quartered his Army before it and himselfe went round and viewed the Town and found it not possible to be taken by force but he thought by some plot it might be faisable Vrbiventum is built upon a Hill standing alone in a Valley and being plain at the top and towards the bottome craggy About it a stones cast off are many Rocks and the Town hath no Walls nor other Fortification Nature having made it impregnable in regard there is but one way to it between those Rocks which being guarded the Townes-men feare no invasion at any other part And where the way into the Town is a large River unfordable takes up all the space between the Hill and those Rocks So that there is only a small Fortification at the said passage and a Gate to it which the Goths guarded CHAP. XVI BUT Belisarius begirt the Town with his Army hoping to incommode the Enemy from the River and to take them by Famine The Goths for a while were in no absolute wants and though furnished very barely yet they indured beyond expectation having not Food to satisfie but to keep alive only and their Provisions being failed they fed upon Hides and Skins soaked in water and upon vain hopes which Albilas their Commander gave them a man of great Reputation with the Goths The Summer being come the Corn in all those parts grew of it selfe but not in such quantity as formerly being not covered under Furrowes by the Plow and Harrow but lying upon the Face of the Land which could yeild so but small Crop And none being to reap it much shed and never grew again The same happened in Emilia that the Inhabitants went all into Picenia which being upon the Sea they thought the Famine not to be so much there Which seised also upon Tuscany but there the Mountainers grinded Acornes and made bread which bred all kind of Diseases in many but some recovered and lived But in Picenia 50000. Roman Husbandmen at least perished and more on this side the Jonian Gulfe I have seen their Countenances and manner of deaths They grew lanck and pale the Flesh wanting Food according to the old saying feeding on it selfe Choler prevailing spred a wan Complexion over their Bodies And as the Disease grew all moisture forsook them the Skin was hard like a tanned Hide and lookt as if it cleft to the bones afterwards they became black-coloured and like Lincks much burnt Their Countenance were hideous like mad-men and as most dyed for want of Sustenance so some with greedy feeding whose heat being quenched within if they were nourished to satisfaction and not by little and little like Babes new born being not able to digest the meat they dyed Some forced by the Famine fed upon one another Two Women in a Village beyond Ariminum were reported to have eaten 17. men they onely were left alive in the place and so Passengers lodged in their Cottage whom they killed sleeping and eat them As they were attempting the like upon the 18. he waked and finding out the truth killed them both Many being pincht with this Famine went where there was Grasse and stooping
to a great height All the Commanders sate still but Vitalius who had with him in Venetia many Herulians and some other numbers of the Army he would fight with Ildebad fearing what afterward came to passe that his growing power might not so easily be restrained The Battaile was valiantly fought neer the City of Tarvisium but Vitalius had the worst and suffering the losse of most of his men with a few escaped by flight Many Herulians fell and Visandus their Leader Theudimund the Son of Mauricius the Son of Mundus a young man was in much danger of being lost but escaped with Vitalius This Battell made Ildebad famous with the Emperour and all men But afterward Vraeas fell foule with him upon this occasion Vraas had a Wife for Wealth and Beauty the chiefe of her Nation She went once to the publick Bath bravely drest and with a goodly Traine where seeing Ildehads Wife in a mean Habit she bowed not to her as to the Kings Consort but slighted and scoff'd at her for as yet her Husband was in a low Condition as having not been Master of any Kingly Revenue But the Queen vexed with this grosse Affront came weeping to her Husband desiring him to right her having suffered from Vraeas Wife things not to be endured Whereupon Ildebad first accused Vraeas to the Goths of purposing a Revolt and afterward killed him treacherously and was hated for it by the Goths who liked not this killing of Vraas without Examination and they gathered together and railed upon Ildebad for this foule Act yet none of them were willing he should suffer for it One among them named Vilas by race a Gepaede and a Lancier of the Guard to the Emperour was a Suiter to a very faire Woman and infinitely doted upon his love But being sent upon some Service Ildebad the mean while gave his Mistresse to another in marriage either ignorantly or upon some motive Which Vilas hearing at his coming from the Army and being naturally impatient could not beare the disgrace but resolved to kill Ildebad wherein he thought too to gratifie all the Goths He observed his time as the King feasted the chiefe men when many use to stand by him especially his Guards The King reaching his hand to a dish and bowing with his face upon the Couch Vilas suddenly strook him with his Sword upon the neck that the meat being between his fingers the head fell off and amased all the Company Thus was the Murther of Vraeas revenged upon Ildebad and the Winter ended and the sixth * Incipit Annus 7. Bell. Goth in anno 15. Justiniani yeare of this War written by Procopius CHAP. II. AMong the Goths was one Erarick a Rogian by Nation but he had gained a great power with the Goths The Rogians are a Gothish Nation formerly a free People but Theoderick made them and some other Nations his Confederates and mingled them all together and used them joyntly against the Enemy But these taking no Wives of any other Nation preserved their Name in a Posterity of the whole blood And the State being in trouble upon the Murther of Ildebad they proclaimed Erarick King which the Goths misliked whose hearts were now quite down and their hopes frustrated For Ildebad was a man able enough to have recovered the Dominion of Italy but Erarick did nothing to purpose and having reigned five Months he was slain in this manner Totilas Nephew to Ildebad a wise and a Valourous man and in much Estimation with the Goths commanded then the Goths in Tarvisâ—um and hearing how Ildebad was slain sent to Ravenna to Constantianus offering upon assurances of indemnity to deliver up Tarvisium and the Goths under his Command Constantianus most gladly gave Oath as Totilas desired and a day was appointed for receiving into the Town men sent by Constantianus and to put the Gothish Garrison into their hands All the Goths were weary of Eraricks Government finding him not capable to make a War with the Romans and they railed on him as a hinderer of many good Designes they were ready to act when they killed Ildebad In conclusion by common consent they sent to Tarvisium exhorting Totilus to the Government They felt the misse of Ildebad and turned their hope of Victory upon Totilus his Kinsman hoping therein what they desired He told them plainly his accord with the Romans and that if they shall kill Erarick before his day of Assignment with the Romans he will follow them and do as they desire him The Goths upon this resolved the ruine of Erarick In the mean time the Roman Army secure and enjoying their Enemies troubles neither drew together nor had any designe upon them But Erarick assembling the Goths propounded the sending Ambassadours to Justinian for such a peace as was once resolved to be made with Vitigis namely that the Goths holding all beyond the Poe should quit the rest of Italy The Goths all approved the Motion and he sent Caballarius and some other of his Friends Ambassadours who were to pretend the negotiation as aforesaid but he gave them secret Instructions to treat only with the Emperour to give him a good Sum of money and to make him a Patritian upon condition of his delivering up all Italy and his laying down the Royall Habit. The Ambassadours coming to Constantinople did according to his directions In the mean time the Goths kill Erarick by treachery and Totilas takes the Government as was agreed Justinian advertised hereof both of the accident of Erarick and that Totilas was made King he could no longer contain from sharply reproving the Commanders whereupon John Vitalianus Sisters Son Bessas Vitalius the rest leaving Garrisons in the Townes drew together at Ravenna where were Constantianus and Alexander They resolved in Counsell to lead the Army first against Verona which is in Venetia and having taken the same to go against Totilas and Picenum The Army was gotten together 12000. men under eleven Commanders and Constantianus and Alexander in chiefe Being come within seven miles of Verona they encamped before it the City being compassed with faire Champians reaching as far as Mantua which is a daies journey from Verona In Venetia one Marcianus a principall man dwelling in a Castle not far from Verona and well affected to the Emperour sought meanes of delivering the City to the Romans He was acquainted with one of the Watchmen to whom he sent a Friend and perswaded him for money to receive in the Emperours Army The Watch-man promised and Marcianus sent some to the Roman Commanders to negotiate and to let them know the Agreement and to enter the Town by night with them The Commanders thought it best to send one of themselves before with a few if the Watch-man openâ—d the Gate to make it good and then the rest to bring the Army in without hazarding All refusing the danger Artabazes an Armenian chearfully undertook it a very gallant Souldier who was Captain of those Persians
to Naples a storm took them so great that Demetrius and the two other yeilded to the Sea The Waves would not suffer the sea men to use their Oares nor do any other worke neither could they hear one anothers call for the Tempest Confusion had the victory and the storme was the absolute judge bringing them against their wills to the shoare where the Enemy was incamped who clining up into their vessells kill'd men and sunk ships none resisting many prisoners they took and the Generall himself Demetrius Heredian and Phazas with some few putting in further from the Enemies campe escaped CHAP. IV. TOTILAS led Demetrius with a rope about his neck to the Town wall willing him to perswade the besieged not to perish trusting in Groundless hopes but by yeilding to get free of their miseries that no further succours could possibly be expected from the Emperour and that their hopes and power was lost with that Navy Demetrius spake all this unto them and they being extreamly prest with famin and all kind of necessities and seeing the disaster of Demetrius and hearing what he said dispaired and lamented not knowing what to do and their City was full of tumult and howlings Totilas then calling them to the battlements spake thus Citizens of Naples we do not now besiege you upon any quarrell we have against you but to disingage you from Masters that hate you and to have the power to recompense the service of every one of you to us and his sufferings from the Enemy you of all the Italians having shewed greatest affection to our Nation and with most unwillingnesse come under the enemy that now being necesssarily to besiege you we blush when we thinke of your fidelity though wee besiege you not for your hurt Think not therefore as offended with the accidents of the siege that you must he ever angry with us They who study the Good of their freinds are not to be blamed by them when they are inforced to do them good by none of the gentlest meanes And be not affraid of the Enemy nor thinke by what hath past that they will conquer at last strange unlookt for and accidentall things melt away in time We have thus determined of you to suffer Conon and his Souldiers to go free without harm or losse they presently surrendring the City unto us and upon this we are ready to swear that the Napolitans shall be safe Both Conon and the Napolitans accepted this offer of Totilas being extreamly prest with the Famine but to comply with their faith to the Emperour and having some hope of succours they promised to surrender the City within thirty daies Totilas to put such hopes out of their heads assigned three Moneths in which time he would not assault nor have any designe upon them But the besieged not attending the day though assigned accordingly urged by their necessitiess received a while after Totilas into the City The winter also ended and the eighth year of this war written by Procopius Totilas used humanity to the Napolitans not like a Barbarian Enemy For fearing least the languishing Romans with Famine coming suddenly to eat their fill Incipit an bel Goth 9.17 might surfet themselves with fullnesse He commanded guards at the Gates Justinianâ— An. Dom. 544. and the port to suffer no man to go out and with a provident sparingnesse he gave them food more scarcely then according to their appetite adding thereunto every day unsensibly Then having restored them to strength he set open the Gates and let them go that would Conon and such Souldiers as would not stay with him he shipped and bade them sail whether they pleased They were ashamed to return to Constantinople but making towards Rome the wind came crosse and being not able to get away they feared least Totilas might neglect his agreements and do them mischeif but he perceiving their trouble called them to him comforted and cheered them and invited them to joyne with the Goths and buy what they wanted or take it as from freinds The wind continuing contrary a long time he furnished them with horses waggons and provisions and gave them a convoy of Goths to Rome But the walls of Naples he threw to the Gound that the Romans might not surprizing the Town infest the Goths from it his desire being rather to determin the war at once by a battell then to be ever skirmishing against artifices and stratagems yet he left a good part of the said walls standing There came to him at that time a Roman of Calabria complaining that one of his Life Guard had forced his daughter a Virgin he in great anger put the man in prison not denying the fact and was eager to punish him but the cheif Goths fearing in the mans behalf being valiant and a good souldier assembled themselves in his presence and besought him to pardon the crime he mildly and without any perturbation made them this answer Fellow souldiers I shall speak to you not from any humour of cruelty or delight in my countrymens mis-fortunes but from my fear of some ill consequence unto us I know that most men shift the names of things to their contrary they call the inobservation of Lawes Mercy and hence all good things come to be corrupted and confounded On the contraty to pinch upon Lawes too exactly is perverse and greivous and also to use specious names as a veile to a lincentious power thereby to act wickednesse with more security But you I advise by no means to exchange your own safety for the guilt of another mans sin nor to share in his impiety having done no ill your selves For to commit an offence and to hinder the offenders punishment is equall Consider thus the businesse now presented and determine accordingly you have the choice offered you whether this man shall escape the just punishment of his offence or our nation be preserved and conquer in this war Think what numbers of Souldiers we had in the beginning of it how famous how well experienced in war in a word our endlesse wealth abundance of horse and armes and all the strong holds of Italy and these were important preparations for a Warr. But when under Theodatus a man that valued riches more then right we made God angry with us by our lawlesse living how we sped you all know and by what kind of men and by how many we were beaten Now God having sufficiently punished our faults frames our life to his own will and conducts our affaires beyond our hopes And being such now and having vanquisht our Enemies not proportionably to our powers it will be more advantagious for us to prepare a fair occasion of victory by doing that which is just then by the contrary to appear envious of our own Good For it cannot it cannot be that he that practises wrong and oppression should get honour in the day of battell the fortune of the War is adjudged to mans good or
bad lives The cheif Goths upon this speech of Totilas ceased to intercede for the offender and left him to him who soon after put him to death and bestowed his Estate upon the ravished maid In this mean time the Roman army preyed upon the Subjects leaving no insolence unacted Their commanders in their Garrisons with their Mistresses lived riotously having the Souldiers disobedient and full of all kind of disorders between both the armies the Italians suffered the hardest measures the Enemy took their lands from them and the Emperours army their goods they were basely beaten for nothing and perished for want of food The Souldiers could not defend them from the Enemy and were so far from blushing to see their miseries that by their wrongs they made the Barbarians dear unto them Constianus troubled at this wrote to Justinian professing his disability to incounter the Goths and the Commanders signed the Letter being a confession of their base fear to fight Totilas also sent this Letter to the Roman Senat. When men ignorantly or upon forgetfullnesse do wrong the wronged are to be easie to grant pardon The cause of the offence concurring in such excuseth the heaviest of the accusation But a man that does wrong upon malice is not to be admitted so much as to plead seeing he is to bear the blame not only of his fact but of his intent Which being so what can you apologize for your actions against the Goths Can you be ignorant of the favours of Theoderick and Amalasuntha or can time wear them out of your remembrance neither is possible The benefits have not been mean nor are of an ancient date but in the most important things and lately done For the Greeks Goodnesse to their subjects your selves have heard of it and you have had triall of it and you have known how the Goths and Italians have sped under them What Guests and freinds they have been to you the Audits of Alexander may inform you to say nothing of their Souldiers and Captaines you have injoyed their noble usage by which their affaires are come into this case now Think not this to be the reproaches of an insolent young man nor the vaunts of a Barbarian Prince I say not that our subduing of these men is a work of my valour but that due vengeance for the injuries done to you hath overtaken them And how absurdly it shewes that God should punish them for you and yet you adhere to their folly and refuse deliverance from the miseries arising from thence Make therefore some introduction of an apologie and of our pardoning you which will be if while you have some hope though a poor one you chuse what is best for you and repaire what you have done amisse against us Totilas gave this letter to some prisoners to deliver to the Senators in Rome which they did but John forbade them to answer it Totilas wrote many other Letters to them wherein were strong oathes that no Roman should receive hurt from the Goths I cannot say who were the Messengers all of them were in the night set up in the most publick places of the City and discovered in the morning The Roman Commanders suspected the Arian priests and put them out of Rome Totilas hereupon sent part of his army into Calabria to summon the Castle of Otranto and the Garrison refusing to yeild to besiege it Himself with his main forces went against the towns about Rome CHAP. V. THE newes of these things troubled the Emperour and though the Persian War lay heavily upon him he was constrained to send Belisarius against Totilas and the Winter ended and the ninth yeare of this War written by Procopius when Belisarius went the second time into Italy †Incipit Annus 10. Bell. Goth. in anno 18. reg Justiniani Anno Dom. 544. Having but few Souldiers as being not able to withdraw his own Forces from the Army in Persia he levied with his own money Voluntaries in Thrace being assisted by the Emperours direction with Vitalius Generall of Illyrium lately returned from Italy where he had left the Illyrian Cohorts they both raised 4000. men and came to Salona determining to go to Ravenna and thence to make the War For about Rome they found they could not land unespyed the Enemy being in Campania and Calabria nor yet force their landing being inferiour in powers In the mean time the Garrison in Otranto the Victuall being absolutely failed capitulated about the surrender of the Castle by a day assigned Belisarius put a yeares Victuall aboard Ships and commanded Valentinus to transport it to Otranto and to take out the former Garrison pined with Sicknesse and Famine and put in the Souldiers he had with him aboard being fresh and well supplyed Valentinus with a faire wind got to Otranto four daies before the time assigned and finding the Harbour unguarded was Master of it and entred the Castle without resistance The Goths being carelesse and lying still under their confidence in the Capitulation and imagining no opposition and then seeing the Fleet enter ran away in feare and encamped themselves some distance from the Town and advertised Totilas of what happened Some Troops of Valentinus from Otranto made in-roads into the Country and meeting the Enemy upon the Sea shoare they fought were beaten and most of them fled into the Sea where having lost 170. men the rest retired into the Castle But Valentinus as Belisarius commanded took out the old Garrison being men halfe dead and leaving fresh men with a yeares Victuall he went to Salonae with the rest Belisarius from thence came with the Fleet before Pola where he staid and ordered the Army Totilas hearing of his coming and being desirous to know his Forces he wrote Letters to him in the name of one Bonus Nephew to one John and Commander of the Garrison in Genoa entreating his speedy repaire to him as being in much distresse and danger This Letter he delivered to five witty fellowes directing them to spy what Forces Belisarius had and to give out that they came from Bonus Belisarius used the men courteously as his manner was perused the Letter and bad them tell Bonus that he would be with him with his Army They having spyed into every thing returned to the Camp to Totilas assuring him that Belisarius powers were not considerable In the mean time Totilas took Tibur which had in it a Garrison of Isaurians Some of the Townes-men guarding the Gates with the Isaurians fell into an idle brable with them and upon that ground drew in the Enemy by night The Isaurians rallyed themselves seeing the Town taken and almost all got away but of the Townes-men the Goths spared not a man and killed the Bishop of the Town in a fashion which I will conceale not to leave to Posterity Monuments of Inhumanity And one Catellus a man much esteemed in Italy perisht also Thus the Goths having Tibur the Roman Citizens could no more import Provisions
retreat for other Fortresses there was none all the Country thereabout being their Enemy Himselfe aboard one of the Pinnaces led the rest and caused the two Barks with the Tower to be towed after Upon the top of the Tower he put a Cock-boat full of Pitch Rozin Brimstone and other combustible matter upon the Banck where is the way from Portus to Rome stood the Foot He had sent the day before to Bessas to make a generall Sally and to alarm the Enemies Camp The like he had directed him often before but neither before nor now would he perform his directions for he had Corn yet for his own use left sent formerly by the Governours of Sicily sufficient both for the Souldier and the People Of this he gave little to the People but took most of it upon the account of the Army and kept it to himselfe selling it at huge rates to the Senators So that he had no mind to have the Seige raised But Belisarius rowed up the River with a strong stream against him The Goths lying quiet in their Trenches Neer the Bridge they came to a Guard of Enemies and found an Iron Chaine fastned from Banck to Banck which Totilas had put there to hinder the passage to the Bridge They shot and killed some and frighted away the rest then took up the Chain and rowed on to the Bridge where they fell to work The Goths valiantly defending from their Towers and many running in from the Camp Then Belisarius brought his two Barks with the Tower on them close to the Enemies Tower which stood into the water by the way from Portus He caused them to fire the Cock-boat and to shoove it down just upon the Enemies Tower which instantly fell afire and burnt with it selfe 200. Goths within it and their Commander one of the valiantest of the Nation Mean while the Romans shot so thick upon the seconds which came from the Camp that being also amazed at the Accident they ran all away The Romans laid hands on the Bridge and had suddenly pulled it down and gotten into Rome none opposing But Fortune was not so pleased Some envious Daemon plotted that which ruined the Romans Affaires The Armies being thus employed the report to the Romans mischiefe came to Portus how Belisarius had taken up the Chain and killed the Goths there Isaac could not hold but would have his share in the honour and fogetting Belisarius Commands he went hastily to the other side of the River where Ostia stands and with a 100. Horse of the men left him by Belisarius he charged the Enemies quarter commanded by Roderick a skilfull Souldier And coming suddenly he wounded many and Roderick himselfe and the Goths quitted their Quarter either suspecting more to be coming after Isaac or deceiving him to surprise his Troops which happened For Isaac entring the Enemies Trenches and falling to pillage the Goths returned killed many and took himselfe and others Prisoners Some Horse-men gallopt to Belisarius and reported that Isaac was taken by the Enemy Who astonisht with the newes and not enquiring the manner but thinking Portus and his Wife to be lost and all ruined and how no Fortresse was now left for the Army to retire to he had not a word to say a thing never happening to him before And immediately he drew back his Forces meaning to charge the Enemy unprepared and by all meanes to recover the place And thus the Romans retired without doing any thing But Belisarius when at Portus he found the rashnesse of Isaac and perceived his own Counsell perturbation the vexation of it and at the crosse Fortune put him into a Feaver which afflicted him long and brought him to deaths door Two daies after Roderick dyed which so grieved Totilas that he put Isaac to death But Bessas stil trading with his Corn grew rich hunger and necessity setting the prises for him His whole thoughts were upon it neglecting the Guard of the Walls or any thing tending to preservation and the Souldiers might be as negligent as they pleased Upon the Walls were small Guards and those not attended The Sentinels might sleep securely none ever visiting them to call them to an account nor going the round as is usuall And the Citizens being few left and they almost starved would not keep any Watch. At last foure Isaurians who stood Sentinels neer Porta Asinaria at the time of night when their turn came to watch and their fellowes to sleep slipt down the Walls by Ropes tyed to the Battlements and came to Totilas undertaking to receive his Army into the City with ease Totilas promised many Favours and to make them rich if they performed it and sent two Souldiers with them to view the place where they said the City might be entred They came to the Wall mounted the Battlements by the Ropes not a man speaking nor taking notice Being there the Isaurians shewed them how nothing would oppose their coming up nor encounter them being up which they bad them to report to Totilas who though he was glad of the report yet he could not trust them being Isaurians Not many daies after they came again urging him upon the same businesse and he sent two others who examined all exactly and made their report agreeing with the former In the meane time some Roman Scouts met ten Goths neer the City upon the high-way whom they took and brought to Bessas Who by enquiry learnt of them that Totilas hope was to have the City betrayed to him by Isaurians Bessas and Conon made slight of the advertisement and the Isaurians coming the third time to Totilas and he sending others and one of his own Kinred with them and they reporting still the same he resolved the enterprize CHAP. XI THE same night he silently armed his forces and led them to Porta Asinaria willing four Goths valiant and strong to mount the Battlements with the Isaurians at the houre when they were to watch and the rest were to go to bed in their turns They being gotten into the Towne went to Porta Asinaria without meeting any and with their Battleaxes cut in two the Timber posts upon which the Gates on each side hung and wrench'd off the iron worke where-into the Watch-men put their keyes to open and shut then And so having set them open they received in Totilas and the Army Totilas drew all to one place not suffering them to scatter affraid of some ambush from the Enemy The City suddenly was full of tumult and most of the Roman Souldiers fled with their Commanders out at another gate Some took Sanctuary with other Romans in Churches Of the Patricians Decius Basilius and some others fled out with Bessas having Horses but Maximus Olybrius Orestes and others fled into St. Peters Church Of the commons remained but 500. men who took Sanctuary also the rest were all gone away or starved Totilas being told in the night that Bessas and the Enemy were running away sayd they
which may be best for the Romans and your own Lombards considering also that you shall do well to joyne with us who are of the same Orthodoxall Religion and to oppose these being Arians The Lombards so spake and the next day the Gepaedes Ambassadours were brought to the Emperour and said in this manner It is right and fit O Emperour for men demanding aides first to shew that they ask things reasonable and just and good for those who are to aide them and so to speak what concernes their Ambassage It is plain therefore that we are wronged by the Lombards in that we have endeavoured to end our differences in a course of justice and we striving to have a legall way cannot be said to use violence And that the Gepaedes exceed the Lombards in multitude and goodnesse of men what need many words to them that know it And we think no wise man will run into evident danger by siding with the weaker when he may get a Victory by joyning with the stronger The Gepaedes moreover will assist you against your Enemies upon obligation of gratitude for what you now shall do for them and with the greatnesse of their power are likely to make you Masters of your Foes Consider also that the Lombards are but lately in amity with you but the Gepaedes are of your ancient acquaintance and allyance and Friend-ship grown with time is not easily dissolved It is good for you therefore to make us your Confederates being both powerfull and firm to you These just reasons may draw you to this Confederacy but see the dispositions of these Lombards Being intreated to end the quarrell legally by no meanes they will consent out of a groundlesse over-weening But the War being ready for a Battell now they shrink being conscious of their own weaknesse and fly to you importuning you without reason to fight for them And these Theeves alledge to provoke you to a War our holding Syrmium and some other places in Dacia Whereas in your Empire are so many Cities and Countries that you seek for men upon whom to bestow some of them to dwell in To the Francks to the Herulians and these Lombards you have given so many Townes and proportions of Land that they cannot be numbred And we being bold in your Friend-ship and Favour have done what your selfe would have to be done And whosoever hath a mind to part with a thing esteemes him the worthier man who from a free Spirit is aforehand and of himselfe takes the benefit them him that gets it as a courtesie if the Giver set the valuation of the thing so as not to insult upon the Receiver but as being bold upon him as of an assured Friend Which is the case of the Gepaedes with the Romans And which you taking into consideration we desire you in the first place to joyn your powers to ours against the Lombards according to the Leagues with us and if not to stand neutrall By thus advising you shall do justly and expediently for the Roman Empire CHAP. XIX BUT Justinian after a long consultation herein dismist the Gepaedes with a refusall and swore a League with the Lombards And he sent them 10000. Horse under Constantianus Buzes and Aratius assisted by John lately come out of Italy who by the Emperours direction was to return into Italy with his Troops so soon as the Battell with the Gepaedes was fought There were also with them 1500. Herulians commanded by Philimuth and others The rest of the Herulian Forces being 3000. and lately revolted from the Romans as I have said formerly were on the part of the Gepaedes Some of these led by Aordus their Princes Brother a party of the Romans marching to the aide of the Lombards met routed them and killed Aordus and many more But the Gepaedes understanding the Roman Army to be neer compounded the quarrell with the Lombards and a Truce was concluded without the Romans who being thereof advertised were troubled being not able to go on nor to return back and they feared least the Gepaedes and Herulians should make a joynt in-road into Illyrium and spoile it So they lay still and advertised the Emperour Thus much by way of digression concerning these ocurrents But Belisarius was now returning to Constantinople with no honour In five yeares space he never marcht up into the land of Italy made no expedition but was all the while in a perpetuall flight sailing from one strong Sea-Town to another which gave the Enemy meanes to captivate Rome and all the rest He abandoned Perusia the chiefe City of Tuscany which was taken by assault while he was in his way home Being come to Constantinople and now grown extream rich and much respected for his former Victories he made his continuall aboad there Before his Voyage into Africa God gave him a cleer presage of his good Fortunes He had Land in Panteichion the Suburb of Constantinople right over against the City where immediately before his expedition against Gelimer and Africk his Vines were very full taken and many Vessels were silled with the Wine thereof which had their bottomes buried in the ground and their tops fast closed with Clay in the Wine-Cellar Eight months after the Wine workt out of the Vessels forcing out the Clay and made the Cellar a puddle The Servants wondred at it filled many Flaggons with it and stopped up the Vessels again and concealed the Accident But the same happening often they acquainted their Master with it and he shewed it to divers of his Friends who divined from thence much happinesse to be coming to his House This thus happened to Belisarius But now Vigilius Bishop of Rome and the Italians at Court being many and of good quality besought the Emperour to vindicate Italy with all his power Above all Gothigus pressed him being a Patrician and late Consull and newly arrived at Constantinople for this purpose The Emperour promised to take care of Italy but he spent the most of his time about the Christians Controversies endeavouring to settle the same During this War Ildiges a Lombard came with forces as far as to Venetia upon this occasion Vaces late Prince of the Lombards had Risiulphus his Brothers Son who by the Law was to succeed him but Vaces plotting the Succession for his own Son charged Risiulphus with some groundlesse Crime and banished him Risiulphus fled to the Varnians leaving two Sons behind him These Barbarians Vaces hired to kill Risiulpus and one of his two Sons dyed but Ildeges the other fled to the Slavonians Not long after Vaces dyed and the Government came to Valdarus his Son who being a Child Audovin was made his Protector and attaining thereby to great power he got the absolute Government to himselfe And shortly after the Child dyed When the Lombards and Gepaedes were in War Ildiges brought to the Gepaedes such Lombards as followed him and many Slavonians hoping that the Gepaedes would restore him to the
Government But when the Truce was made Audouin demanded Ildiges of the Gepaedes now his Friends They would not betray him but they bad him be gone and save himselfe He with his own followers and some few Gepaedes went again to the Slavonians and from thence marcht towards Totilas with about 6000. men And in Venetia meeting Romans led by Lazarus he killed many of them yet would not joyn with the Goths but passed the Ister again and retired to the Slavonians About the same time also Ilauf one of the Life-guard to Belisarius and Valiant being left in Italy revolted to Totilas who sent him immediately with a Navie and Forces into Dalmatia He at Monecurus a Town upon the Sea neer Salonae at first was familiar with the Townes-men as a Roman and appertaining to Belisarius But suddenly he put them all to the Sword and sackt the Town The like he did at Laureata a Castle upon the Sea Coast Claudianus Governour of Salonae sent Forces against him in Pinnaces who at Laureata fought with the Enemy and had the worse ran away and left their Pinnaces in the Haven which Ilauf took together with other Ships laden with Corn and Provisions and having killed and spoiled all they found he returned to Totilas When the Winter ended and the 14. yeare of this War written by Procopius Afterward Totilas with his whole Army besieged Rome Incipit Annus 15. bell Goth. in ann 23. Justiniani An. Dom. 549. where Belisarius had left three thousand of his best men under Diogenes one of his Lifeguard a discreet man and a good Souldier And the siege lasted long the besieged with the advantage of their valour matching the whole Goths Army Diogenes also diligently attending his Guards and by sowing corne within the Walls preventing want of Victuall and valiantly repelling the many assaults of the Goths who being masters of Portus absolutely blockt up Rome Justinian also Belisarius being returned to Constantinople intended to send another Generall with an Army which if he had done he had certainly vanquisht the Goths Rome being in his obedience and having an Army there to joyne with his Succours from Constantinople First he commanded Liberius a Patrician to be in readinesse then other businesse intervening he grew cold After a long time spent in the siege of Rome some Isaurians who guarded Saint Pauls Gate discontented for want of pay for many yeares and seeing the advancement of their Countreymen who formerly betrayed Rome to the Goths and the wealth they had gotten came to a secret conference with Totilas and agreed at a day assigned to betray the City to him At the day Totilas launched into the Tiber about the first watch of the night two small Vessells with Trumpetters aboard whom he directed having rowed up neer the City walls to sound their Trumpets Himselfe closely put his Army in readinesse neer unto Saint Pauls Gate and to prevent the Romans slipping away to Centumcellae the onely Fortresse they had left thereabout he layd ambushes upon the way to cut them off as they fled CHAP. XX. THEY in the small Vessells being come neer to Rome sounded their Trumpets as they were directed wherewith the Romans amazed suddenly in feare and tumult left each man his Guard and ran to succour there where they suspected the Enemy would assault Onely the Isaurian Traytors continued upon their Guard opened the Gate and received in the Enemy Much slaughter there was many ran out at other Gates and in their way to Centumcellae fell upon the Enemies ambushes and were cut in peices Some few hardly escaped and Diogenes himselfe after receiving a hurt Paulus a Cilician who had at first commanded Belisarius his Retinue and now commanded a Party of Horse had the guarding of Rome committed to him with Diogenes and the City being taken ran with four hundred Horse to Adrians Tombe and possest the Bridge leading to Saint Peters Church The Goths Army at break of day gave on upon these men whom the Romans sustained had the better and killed many being crowded in a narrow place Totilas hereupon stayd the fight and besieged them thinking to take them by Famine Paul and his four hundred endured that day and all night without eating The next day they thought of feeding on their Horses but being loath to meddle with such uncouth food though much pincht with hunger late in the evening they fell to debate it and exhorted one another valiantly rather to end their lives by an honourable death charging the Enemy suddenly and killing as many as they could So they imbraced and kissed one another as being instantly all to perish Totilas was affraid of men resolute to dye least dispairing of their owne safety they might do some desperate mischeife and he sent to them of two Propositions to chuse either to quit their Horses and Armes and to sweare never more to serve against the Goths and so to returne to Constantinople or keeping what they had to serve with the Goths in equall condition The Romans glad of the Proposition at first chose to go to Constantinople but afterward as ashamed to march away on foot and unarmed and fearing to be cut off by ambushes in their way murmuring also for their many yeares arreares owing to them by the Roman Treasury they joyned with the Goths Army Paul onely and one Mindes an Isaurian besought Totilas to send them to Constantinople having Wives and Children in their Countreys without whom they could not live Whom Totilas commended for dealing plainely and gave them provision for their journey and a Convoy The rest of the Army being in Churches about three hundred took assurances and yeilded to Totilas Who would not now demolish any more of Rome nor quit it but intended to plant there Goths and Romans together both Senators and others upon this occasion He had lately demanded of the King of the Francks his Daughter in marriage who rejected the motion saying That he neither was nor ever would be King of Italy having taken Rome but not able to keep it having demolished part and quitted the rest to his Enemies So that now he brought in Provisions and commanded to re-edifie what was beaten downe at his first taking of Rome And he sent for the Roman Senators and other Romans confined in Campania held the solemnity of the Circensian Games and then prepared for a Voyage into Sicily He put in readinesse four hundred small Vessels for a Sea-fight and many great Ships sent out of the East by the Emperour and taken by him with their men and ladings He sent also Stephanus a Roman his Ambassador to the Emperour desiring Truce upon condition that the Goths should serve him against any other Nation But Justinian suffered not the Ambassadour to come into his presence nor regarded the Proposition Which Totilas understanding prepared first to attempt Centumcellae and then to go into Sicily Diogenes commanded the Garrison there being reasonably strong The Goths besieged it
a Hill The Captaines make Speeches to their Souldiers and order the Battell Chap. XIX Cocas is slain in Duell by a Roman Totilas after some Gllantry to spin out the â—ime his 2000. men he staid for being come up baegins the fight wherein the Goths are defeated and Totilas slain Chap. XX. The Lombards are sent home Teias is made King of the Goths The Vengeance against Ulithus at Perusia Rome taken by Dagistthaeus The Victory of Narses banefull to the Roman Citizens Ragnaris breaks his Faith concerning the yeilding of Tarentum and is overthrown by Bacurius Portus Nepa Petra-pertusa taken in The Francks will joyne with neither side Chap. XXI The Armies prepare to fight Of mount Vesuvius and the torrent of fire there The Goths flye to Mons Lactis but being from thence starved they give Battell which lasted two whole daies The miraculous Valour of Teias who is slaine And the Goths compounded for their Lives and Goods and to quit Italy THE HISTORY OF THE WARRS of the Emperour JUSTINIAN Of the GOTHJCK VVarre the Fourth BOOK CHAP. I. MY discourse hath hitherto been distributed and accommodated to the severall places where the actions were done and is publisht throughout the whole Roman Empire But now I cannot compile the same in that manner nor insert into a History already publisht succeeding Occurrents but must write in this Tract apart touching these Enemies and the Persians what hath happened since the Edition of my History and so the discourse thereof cannot be but mixt The Occurrents untill the fourth yeare of the Quinquenniall Cessation between the Romans and the Persians were formerly related The yeare following a Persian Army invaded Lazica under Chorsanes a Persian and an experienced Commander accompanied with Alans This Army encamped it selfe in a Province of Lazica named Mucheirisis by which the River of Phasis runns not navigable there but to be past by Men and Horses and they entrencht to the right hand of it some distance off But that the Readers may have a cleer notion of Lazica and of the people about it and not converse with things obscure to them like men fighting with shadows I have thought it seasonable here to discourse what kinde of people dwell upon the Euxine Sea conceiving that the Ancients who have written thereof have not handled it exactly speaking of Tzanians whom they make to border with the Trapezuntians and name Colchians and calling the now Lazians by another name being in both mistaken For the Tzanians are high in the Land and border upon Armenia having steep Mountaines in the way to it a vast and desart Countrey deep Torrents and Hills thick with Wood and unaccessible Valleys all which are between them and the Sea Nor can the Colchians be other then the Lazians seeing they dwell now upon the Phasis They have onely changed their name as many other Nations And since those Writers many ages have innovated much by the transplantations of people and successions of Princes and altered their names All which I am to take notice of omitting both fabulous and old obsolete things as upon what part of the Euxine Sea the Poets bound Prometheus Histories and Fables being different workes but to set downe punctually both names and things notorious in those parts This Sea begins at Constantinople and Chalcedon and ends in Lazica Within it on the right hand is Bithynia then Honorias and Paphlagonia where stand Heraclea and Amastris Maritime Townes Next to them are the Pontick Nations to the borders of Trapezond where are Sinope and Amisus Sea townes not far from Amisus is Themiscyrus and the River Thermodon where they say was the Amazons Campe of whom more anon The territory of Trapezond reaches to Susurmaena and Rizaeum which stands upon the coast in the way to Lazica two dayes journey from Trapezond In all the Territory of that City of Trapezond the Hony is bitter To the right hand of these Cities are the Mountaines of Tzanica beyond which is the Roman Armenia From those Mountaines descends the River of Boas through infinite Thickets and a Woodland Countrey into Lazica and disimbogues into the Euxine Sea then it quits the name of Boas and takes that of Acampsis because it bends not nor yeilds to the current of the Sea For the stream is so strong and troublous that running farr into the Sea the Ships sayling that way keep off at Sea not able to hold on their course and cut thorough that swift streame Next to Rizaeum are Mountaines dividing Lazica from Roman Land and inhabited by free Nations and a Village called Athens not so called from a Colony of Athenians as some suppose but from Athenaea in ancient time Lady of that Countrey whose Tombe remaines to this day Next to Athens is Archabis and Apsarus an ancient City three dayes journey from Rizaeum in old time named Apsyrtus from a man of that name slaine by the plots of Medea and Jason neer unto that place but many ages and successions of men have corrupted the memory of that act and changed the name into Absarus on the East side of which City stands yet the Tombe of that Apsyrtus It was anciently very populous and had excellent Walls and a Circus and a Theatre and such other Ornaments of a great City But of those antiquities nothing now remaines but the Pavements By this it appeares strange that any should affirme that the Colchians were borderers to the Trapazuntians For so may Jason be thought not to have fled home into Greece with Medea and the Golden fleece but to have gone the quite contrary way to the Phasis and furthest Barbarians In the Raigne of Traâ—an some say a Roman Legion was there garrisoned even to Lazica and Suania But now the Inhabitants are subject neither to the Roman Emperour nor King of Lazica But onely that being Christians the Bishops of Lazica appoint them * Or Bishops 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preists They are in amity with both and convoy their Ambassadors to each in small Barks which they use but to this houre they will pay tribute to neither To the right hand of this Countrey are steep craggy Mountaines and a Desert reaching very farre Above it is Persarmenia and the Roman Armenia reaching as farr as Iberia From the sayd Absarus to the City of Petra and Marches of Lazica is one dayes journey where the Euxine Sea ends which Sea makes there a halfe Moon and the passage crossing the same is about sixty nine miles All behinde the end of the Euxine is Lazica next to which is Scumia and Suania both subject to the Lazians They have Princes still of their owne Nation but when any of them dye the King of Lazica appoints another in his roome On one side of this Countrey are the Mâ—sâ—hians reaching almost to Iberia to which they have been anciently Subjects and dwell upon the Mountaines which are not wilde nor barren but abound with all commodities and the people are good
man in it he burnt the same and in much anger led his Army back to Archaeopolis This City stands upon a kind of Rock and by it runs a River descending from the next Mountaines The Low Gate opens neer the foot of the Rock and the ground to it from the Plaine rises onely but makes no difficulty of accesse The Gate opening toward the Rock is very hard to approach having also for a great way thereabout great Thickets The towne Walls were built up to the River that they may draw up their water having none within the Towne Mermcroes was eager to assault and finding it rising ground not to be medled with by ordinary Rams he caused his Sabirians to make Rams portable on mens shoulders using the advantage of his Enemies experiment thereof at Petra which he had heard of And these Sabirians made such Rams as their Countrey-men in league with the Romans made then Mermeroes set against the rocky part of the City the Delomites a people dwelling in the midst of Persia among unaccessable Mountaines and so not subject to the Persian but free and in the Persians wars they serve them for pay being all foot men with sword and sheild and two Javelins and are nimble to climbe rocks and to runne along the sides of mountaines as upon plain Ground These being there ordered Mermeroes with the rest of his army assaulted at the lower gate and with his new Rams and his Elephants Where the Persians and Sabirians galled the Romans with their shot making them almost to quit the Battlements and the Delomites did as much on their side with their Javelins that the Romans were in much extremity Odonachus and Babas were it to shew their own or try the Romans resolution or by some instinct leaving some few upon the Battlements drew together the rest and sayd thus to them Fellow Souldiers you see our danger but neverthelesse you must nor yeild to it Nothing preserves men despairing of life but not to be in love with life which sond love is commonly attended with destruction Consider how in such a difficulty as this it is not safe to resist an Enemy from the Battlements of a Towne We may do it bravely but the distance of place will not permit us to use our valour The best we can get is to get off and retyre But if we fight body to body courage is it gets the better there and the Victory goes with valour They who get the better from a Wall gaine not much for the next day the danger renues as fresh as ever and so they perish by little and little and loose at last their defended Fortresses But who overcome in a standing fight are ever after secure Taking this into our thoughts let us make a brave sally trusting in Gods assistance and hoping well even from the despaire wee are in God preserves those most who have no hope left in themselves CHAP. IX ODONACHVS and Babas having thus fayd led out the Army Some they left behinde having suspition of one of the cheife Inhabitants of the City a Lazian who had been treated with by Mermeroes in the heat of the assault to set the City-Magazines on fire Mermeroes by this thought either to enter the Towne with lesse opposition the Romans being busie to quench the fire or if being eager to defend the Towne they neglected the fire he should deprive them of their stores and so easily in time get the Towne by Famine The Lazian according to his promise to Mermeroes when he saw the assault at the hottest fired the Store-houses The Romans left behinde seeing the flame rise ran to it and with much toyle and some hurt put it out Those who sallyed frighted the Enemy with the suddennesse and killed them without resistance For the Persians suspected no sally from so few Defendants and were scatterd and in disorder as upon an assault Some with the Ramms upon their shoulders and without their armes others could do no Execution with their bowes the Romans at the first running up close unto them who slasht with their Swords on all sides and cut them in peices One of their Elephants also either wounded or otherwise starting flew back and cast his riders breaking the rancks and driving the Persians backward whise the Romans securely cut off all in their way It may seem strange that the Romans knowing so well the means of resisting Elephants did nothing now confounded it seems with the present businesse The means is that which was practised upon Chosroes at Edessa an Elephant there was brought close to the walls with many of the gallantest Persians upon it and appearing like a Tower and the shot from it being made directly upon the Defendants heads the taking of the town was certainly expected when the Romans escaped this danger only by hanging out a Hog from the Bulwark which with his squeaking scared the Elephant so that he turned about and retired fair and softly home This now was omitted by the Romans but their good fortune supplied their negligence Having mentioned here Edessa let me tell a strange prodigy which happened in that City a little before the breaking of the Perpetuall Peace which was the delivering of a woman with a child having two heads the events since have made the meaning manifest For the East and much of the Roman Empire besides have been disputed by two Emperours but to return to the fight The Persians being thus disordered and they in the rear seeing the confusion in the van and not knowing the matter ran away in fear The Dolomites also who were upon high Ground and saw all ran away shamefully and the overthrow was cleer Four thousand Persians were slain and three principall commanders and four Ensignes were taken which were sent to Constantinople They lost 20000 horses not all in fight but being spent with running away and not getting a belly full of meat in Lazica they dyed with famine and weaknesse Mermeroes having failed at Archaeopolis was neverthelesse master of the feild in Lazica and led his army into Muchirisis a country distant from Archaeopolis a daies journey having many populous villages and the best land of Lazica full of vines and other fruits through which runs the River of Reon upon which anciently the Lazians had a Castle but they demolisht it because standing in a plain it was easie to be taken The Castle was called by the Grecians Cotyaeum but now by the Lazians Cotaesis as Arrianus in his history Others say it was anciently a City named Coitaeum where Aeaetes was born whom the Poets call Coitaeensis and Lazica Coytaitis This Castle Mermerces was desirous to re-edifie and wanting materialls he staid till the winter was past purposing to repaire it with Timber Neer unto Cotaesis stands Vchimerium a strong Castle guarded by Lazians with some Roman souldiers intermingled Hereabout Mermeroes lay with his army possessing the best land of Lazica and cutting off the Romans from bringing victuall to
be exprest Justinian sent against them an army commanded by the Sonnes of Germanus and others Who being much fewer then the Enemy durst not fight but infested their Reare and cut off some sent of them some prisoners to the Emperour These Barbarians did infinite hurt long pillaging the Country and strewing the high wayes with dead bodies and then went home with innumerable prisoners and all their booty none incountring them The Romans could not infest them in their passage over the Ister because the Gaepedes transported them and had for every head a gold stater for their fare This troubled the Emperour having no means to restrain their passage over the River Ister to spoile the Empire nor their sudden retreat which made him resolve to make a League with the Gaepedes who were then again quarrelling with the Lombards and fearing the power of the Romans who had lately sworn a league with the Lombards they endeavoured to be admitted freinds and Auxiliaries They sent Ambassadors accordingly and the Emperour swore a league with them also and upon the demand of the Ambassadors twelve Senatots sware it likewise Shortly after the Emperour sent an army to aide the Lombards against the Gaepedes whom he charged since the League to have transported Slavonians over the River Ister against the Romans The Army was commanded by Iustine Iustinian the Sons of Germanus Aratius and Swartwall formerly made Prince of the Herulians by the Emperor but banished as I said before by the Herulians of Thule and returning to Constantinople made Generall of the Cohorts there There was likewise Amalafridas a Goth the Daughters Son of Amalafridas who was Sister to Theoderick by Hermenifrid Prince of the Thuringians who being brought to Constantinople by Belisarius with Vitigis the Emperour made him Commander of Roman troops and betrothed his Sister to Auduin Prince of the Lombards Of the aforesaid army only that Amalafridas with his troops came to the Lombards the rest by the Emperours direction staid about the City of Vlpiana in Illyrium where was a mutiny among the inhabitants about things wherein Christians contend among themselves as shall be set down in my relations concerning the same The Lombards with Amalafridas invaded the Gaepedes and in a battell defeated them and killed many And Auduin their King sent the good newes to the Emperour of his victory but complained of the not coming up of the Emperours army according to the League so great numbers of Lombards having been so lately sent by him to aid Narses against Totilas CHAP. XVI GReat Earthquakes at that time happened in Boeotia and Achaia and other parts of Greece about the Gulfe of Crisaeum overthrowing many Cities as Chaeronea Corone Patra and Naupactus Many men perished and in many places by the renting of the Earth were made bottomlesse holes some whereof closed again afterward some continue still so that the people are to compasse much Ground to come to one another The arme of the Sea between Thessaly and Boeotia flowed up into the land about the City of Echinae Scarphia in Boeotia overwhelmed all the Towns there The waters lay long men went into the Iland lying upon that arm of the Sea on dry land while the Sea leaving her ancient current covered the firm land even to the mountaines Afterward it returned to the channels again leaving the fishes upon the land a strange prodigious accident For some tried to seeth and eat them but no sooner heated but they turned to a slymy matter extreamly putrified In one town where the greatest breach was the people being assembled at a great festivall more men perisht then in all Greece beside But in Italy the Crotonians and the Garrison commanded by Palladius being sharpely besieged by the Goths and wanting food had sent to Artabanes in Sicily protesting if they were not instantly succoured to yeild the Town and themselves too But no succour was sent and so ended the winter and the seventeenth year of this war written by Procopius The Emperour commanded the Garrison at Thermopylae in Greece Incipit Annus 18. Bell. Goth. in an 26. Justiniani Et An. Dom. 552. to sail for Italy and to releive Crotona Who getting a faire wind came unexpected into the Haven of Crotona The Goths upon sight of the fleet rose from their siege in much fear and tumult and fled some by sea to Tarentum others ran from their trenches up to the mountain of Scyllaeum These things much deiected the Goths And Ragnaris Commander of the Garrison in Tarentum and Morras of that in Archerontia two principall Goths with their Souldiers assent had a treaty with Bacurius the Sonne of Peranius Commander of the Romans in Otranto for receiving assurances from the Emperour and thereupon to deliver up the townes in their Guard the Capitulation Bacurius took with him to Constantinople And now Narses marcht from Salonae against Totilas with a very gallant army having received much treasure from the Emperor to levy furnish the same above al to pay to the Souldiers in Italy their arreares which were grown great being due for many years He was with this mony also to invite the revolted to return again from the Goths to the Romans The Emperor in the beginning of this war made it very carelesly but now his preparations were very great for Narses seeing him eager to have him to lead the army into Italy did like a brave Generall protesting herein not to serve the Emperours commands unlesse he might have competent forces and by this resolution he procured mony men and armes befitting the Roman Empire Then with much alacrity he made up gallant companies out of the Constantinopolitan Guards and Garrisons of Thrace and many he raised in Illyrium With him went John with his own Troops and those left him by Germanus his Father in Law Auduin also prince of the Lombards in accomplishment of the league and for great summes given him by the Emperour sent five and twenty hundred selected men for auxlliaries accompanied with a retinue of above three thousand men Narses had also three thousand Herulians all horsemen commanded by Philimuth and others and he had many Hunnes Dagistthaeus also was with him with his troops being discharged of his imprisonment for the same purpose Cabades went also with many Persian fugitives who was the Son of Zames and Grand-child of King Cabades and long ago came into the Empire having by the practice of Chanaranges escaped his uncle Chosroes and a young Gepaede very valiant named Asbadas with four hundred Gepaedes good Souldiers And Aruth an Herulian from a child bred among the Romans and married to the widow of Mauricius the Son of Mundus a gallant man and accompanied with many old Souldiers of his Nation Iohn Phagas also commanding many Romans good Souldiers Narses was a man liberall and most forward in releiving men in want using his disposition the more easily by reason of his great power with the Emperour so
encreased for they came not in any orderly retreat as to take breath for a new charge or for any other point of Warr but ran in among them so confusedly spoyling many that they opened not their rancks to receive them but ran away with them for company and it growing darke they destroyed one another The Romans killed them in this feare sparing none and none daring to look them in the faces who exposing themselves to their Enemies were pursued with terrours and mastered with cowardise Six thousand were slaine and many taken Prisoners and not long after put to the Sword Among them perished many Roman Souldiers who had revolted to Totilas And now the darknesse concluded the fight Totilas fled in the darke with five men of whom Skipuar was one he was pursued by some Romans who knew him not among whom was Asbades a Gepaede who had overtaken him and was making a blow at him but a Gothish Boy following his flying Master cryed out Thou Dog Doest thou run after thine owne Master to kill him But Asbades thrust his Lance forcibly into Totilas and was himselfe hurt in the foot by Skipuar that he could follow no further Skipuar also being wounded stood still And the foure men with Asbades followed no further but carryed off Asbades Those who accompanyed Totilas rode on amaine thinking the Enemy pursued still and drew him after them mortally wounded and ready to expire Having run about ten miles they came to a Towne called Caprae there they rested and dressed the wound of Totilas who soon after gave up the ghost There they buryed him and went away Such a conclusion of his life and raigne had Totilas having been King of the Goths eleven yeares an end not suitable to his former actions and successes Fortune in him insulted upon the fraile condition of man shewing her strange proceeding and absolute will Shee had without any apparent merit bestowed on Totilas a long time of happinesse and now upon the sudden she hurryed him at her owne pleasure into cowardise and an ignoble death These are things to men incomprehensible but in all ages have been discoursed of according to mens conceits and fancies to comfort their ignorance with some seeming probabilities But the Romans knew not of the death of Totilas till a Gothish woman told it and shewed his Grave who distrusting the report opened the Grave digged up the Coffin and took out the body and finding it to be Totilas they put him into the ground againe and reported all to Narses Some report this overthrow otherwise that the Goths did not make that unadvised retreat but that in the first skirmishing with the Romans suddenly an Arrow and by chance lighted upon Totilas For being armed like a common Souldier and rancked among them in the Battalion to conceale himselfe he could not be knowne nor purposely shot at But that being mortally wounded in great paine he gallopt away with some few with him to Caprae and after much misery and languishing dyed under the cure And that the Goths amazed to see their King thus mortally wounded and gone off being otherwise too weak then became wholly out of heart and fell into that astonishment and shamefull running away CHAP. XX. BUT howsoever this fell out Narses rejoycing at the successe took the True course to attribute all unto God And he took order in the present occasions and first to be rid of his unrulely Lombards who were infinitely disorderly and burned houses and ravished Women that fled into Churches He bestowed store of money on them for their Service and sent them home commanding Valerianus and Damianus his Sisters Son with their Troops to conduct them out of the Roman Confines that they might do no mischiefe in their way home-ward And so soon as these were out of the Roman Territories Valerianus besieged Verona and the Garrison in it came to some Capitulation with him for rendring the Town But the Francks Garrison'd in the Townes of Venetia hindred it seeking with all their endeavour to get the whole Country to themselves whereupon Valerianus retired without effecting any thing The Goths who fled from the overthrow went over the River Poe and put themselves into the City of Picenum and other Townes about it and made Teias their King He with the Treasures left by Totilas in Picenum sought to draw the Francks to his aide and governed the Goths as he could in that Estate assembling them together Narses advertised thereof commanded Valerianus to keep his Troops about the River Poe to make the Goths rallying difficult Himselfe with the rest of the Army marcht towards Rome In Tuscany he took in Narnia and put a Garrison into Spoletum with direction to reedifie the Walls demolished by the Goths He sent Troops also to attempt Perusia commanded by two Fugitive Romans Meligedius and Vlithus who being one of the Life-guard to Cyprianus was wonne by the allurements of Totilas to murther him Commander of the Roman Garrison there Melegedius accepted the offers of Narses and consulted with his own Followers to yeild the Town which Vlithus with his Friends openly opposing was slain in the Fight and the Town was rendred to the Romans Thus by Gods just Vengeance was Vlithus slain in the very place where he had murthered his Commander Cyprianus The Goths Garrison'd in Rome hearing of the approach of Narses put in readinesse to encounter him as they could At his first taking Rome Totilas had burnt most of the Buildings of the City and then considering how the Goths had not men enough left to Guard the whole Circuit of it he took in with a lesser Wall a small part thereof about Adrians Tomb joyn'd it to the City Walls and so made it as a Castle wherein the Goths laid their things of Value and guarded it carefully neglecting the rest of the Walls Yet then desirous to try the Enemy they left a few to guard that Castle and put themselves upon the Battlements The Circuite of Rome so vast neither could the Romans encompasse nor the Goths guard so that the assaults and defences were accidentally in severall places as the occasions were Narses charged one part with multitudes of Archers in another John Sisters Son to Vitalianus fell on with his Troops Another part Philimuth and his Herulians infested and they were far distant from one another the Goths bravely resisting their Charges and being assembled all where the Romans fell on the rest of the Walls were empty Dagisthaeus with Narses consent took some Troopes with the Ensignes of Narses and John and scaling Ladders and set upon a part quite destitute of Guards and at his ease he mounted by his Ladders none resisting and then set upon the Gates the Goths seeing this left their Guards and ran all away some to their new Castle others to Portus Writing this it comes into my thoughts how Fortune plaies with poor men changing her looks with the times and places and varying suddenly not only her
own humour but even the value and worth of the men Bessas formerly lost Rome unworthily and afterward recovered Petra in Lazica very bravely And on the contrary Dagisthaeus poorly ran away from Petra and now soon after recovers Rome it selfe to the Emperour These things have been done from the beginning and will be while there is Fortune among men Narses then marcht against the new Castle But the Goths yeilded it and themselves Anno 26. Just Rome now had been taken five times in his Raigne upon assurances for their Persons Justinian being now in the 26th yeare of his Reigne Thus was Rome taken five times in his Reigne and Narses sent the Keyes of it to the Emperour To the Roman Senate and People this Victory proved an extream ruine So to men that must have a mischiefe even their seeming good Fortunes turn to their destruction that having had a faire course they both lose it and undo themselves For the Goths now despairing of the Dominion of Italy in their flight killed all the Romans they found And the Barbarians of the Roman Army also at their entring the City used them all as Enemies Many Senators also confined by Totilas in Campania and now repairing to Rome when they heard it to be in the Emperours possession the Goths quartered in the Townes of those parts killed and left not one Patritian alive Maximus was then slain whom I have mentioned formerly Totilas also going against Narses called for all the Sons of the principall Romans and choosing out 300. of the goodliest of them pretending to breed them but indeed holding them for Hostages And he sent them beyond the River Poe whom Teias now finding there killed them all Moreover Ragnaris a Goth who commanded in Tarentum and had compounded with Bacurius as I have said to yield the City to the Emperour and given six Goths for Hostages Now hearing of the Election of Teias and that the Francks were desired to aide him and he immediately to march against the Romans he refused to perform the composition and to get his Hostages again he sent one to Bacurius for a convoy of Souldiers to Otranto from whence he said he would go to Constantinople Bacurius not suspecting his plot sent him 50. men whom Ragnaris imprisoned and sent word to Bacurius that if he meant to have his Soulders he must restore to him his Gothish Hostages Bacurius led out his Forces against him leaving some few to guard Otranto Upon this Ragnaris killed the 50. Souldiers and sallied out against the Romans and in fight was defeated lost many men and ran away into Acherontia Tarentum being blockt up by the Romans The Romans soon after took Portus by composition and Nepa in Tuscany and Petra Pertusa Teias finding his Goths too weak for the Romans sent to Theudebald King of the Francks importuning him with the offer of great sums of Money to joyne with him But the Francks took the resolution best for themselves not to bestow their lives upon Goths nor Romans but to adventure them onely in the Conquest of Italy for themselves CHAP. XXI BUT Narses hearing how Totilas had layed the most part of his Treasures in the Castle of Cuma in Campania with a strong Garrison under his owne Brother Herodian sent to besiege the sayd Castle staying himselfe at Rome to repaire the ruines and sent others to besiege Centumcellae Teias fearing the losse of this Castle and the Treasures and having no hope from the Francks commanded his Troops to be ready for a Battell with the Romans Narses finding his intention commanded John and Philemuth to martch with their Forces into Tuscany to stop the Enemies passage into Campania and to assist in the taking of Cuma But Teias left his neerer way which was to the right hand and made a huge compasse passing along the Sea coast of the Jonian Gulfe into Campania Narses thereof advertised remanded John and Philemuth and sent for Valerianus who besieged Petra-Pertusa and with his whole Army in order to fight martcht into Campania Mount Vesuvius in Campania as I have sayd before often sends out a noise like the lowing of Oxen which is ever accompanied with a vomiting out of huge quantity of Cynders Besides as Mount Aetna in Sicily in the middle it hath made it selfe hollow from the top to the bottome and below the fire burnes perpetually The fire is so deep that peeping in from the top you cannot easily discerne it When the Mountaine vomits the flame forces off peices of rocks from the highest ridges of it shooting up the smaller pieces farr above the Mountaine and scattering the greater round about From the top also of this Mountain runs a Torrent of fire to the foot of it and something further as in Mount Aetna This fiery stream on either side makes high bancks undermining the ground below and when the flame comes upon it it lookes like a flood of water set on fire So soon as the flame is quencht the stream stops its course and the Sediment or Lees of that fiery substance looks like dry Mud and heaps of Cynders At the foot of the Mountaine are wholesome Springs from which comes the River Draco close to the City of Nuceria On either side of this River both Armies encamped it hath a small stream but not to be past being deep as having worne out the ground under the bancks very low The Bridge which is upon it the Goths had gotten and being encamped neer it they had made upon it wooden Towers and many Engines and set up Balistas to shoot downe upon the Enemy This River being such there was no possibility for a close standing Battell So that each part got as neer as they durst to the banks and plyed one another with Arrows Some Duels there were also sometimes Romans and sometimes Goths pasting over the Bridge and challenging all comers Two moneths were thus consumed and while the Goths were Masters of the Sea their Campe being neer the Sea was supplyed with provisions But after the Romans had gotten their Shipps by the Treason of the Commander of them a Goth and were re-enforced also with many other Ships out of Sicily and other Roman Dominions and that Narses had set up wooden Towers upon the Rivers bank the Goths hearts were absolutely dejected and for feare and famine were faine to flye up to a Mountaine neer there called Mons Lactis The Romans for the fastnesses could not come at them But the Goths being there in more want and having no way to get any provision for themselves or their Horses repenting their coming up and choosing rather to dye by fight then to starve came suddenly upon the Romans who stood against them as they could being taken unexpectedly not being embattailed nor under their severall Captaines not any way in order nor at all observing what was commanded them The Goths quitted their Horses and stood in a deep Battalion the Romans left their Horses and stood in