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
accident encountred and killed him and a Roman knowing him brought his head to Narses which filled them with courage to see God fight for them and the Goths having a plot upon their Generall to lose their owne Commander suddenly not by any humane designe or providence But Narses medled not with Ariminum though Vsdrilas were slaine nor with any other Enemy-towne that he might not retard his maine designe nor distract it by any by-businesse And the Enemy in Ariminum having lost their Commander gave no impediment to him in the making a Bridge by which he past the River at his ease He left Via Flaminia and took the left hand way for the Enemy had taken the strong Rock of Petra pertusa described by me before and all other pieces upon Via Flaminia which made it unpassable for the Romans and therefore he left the shorter and went the quieter way CHAP. XVIII TOTILAS hearing what had happened in Venetia stayd for the Army with Teias about Rome Who being all come up save two thousand Horse without staying longer for them he martcht away with the rest purposing to fight with the Romans at his best conveniency In his way hearing the news of Vsdrilas and how the Enemy was past the River at Ariminum he marcht through Tuscany to the Appennine and in a Village there called Tagiâ—â— encamped Afterward came Narses and sate downe upon the Apennine also in an even peice of ground twelve miles and a halfe from the Enemy About the place were many little round Hills being the Tombs of the Gaules slaine by Camillus and the Romans and they are to this day called Busta Gallorum Busta in Latine being the remainders and reliques of a funerall Pile Narses sent some unto Totilas to desire him to to lay aside Hostility and to entertaine at last peaceable counsells representing how impossible it was for him having under him but few men and them not held together by any Law to contend long with the whole Roman Empire And he directed his Ambassadors if they saw Totilas resolved upon War to bid him instantly appoint a day for a pitcht Battell They did acccordingly and Totilas with a brave countenance told them that by any means they must have Warr. Noble Sir then quoth they what time appoint you for the Battell Eight dayes hence quoth he we will meet you Narses hearing this report from the Embassadors suspecting some cunning in Totilas prepared as to fight the next day And he was in the right for the next day Totilas came with his whole Army And they lay one against the other about a flight shot off Both parts had a minde to possesse a little Hill to gaine advantage of upper ground to shoot downe on the Enemy and there being also no beaten way to the Roman Campe but by that Hill the Campe being compassed by those round Hills I mentioned they esteemed it an important place for the Goths to gaule the Romans every way and for the Romans to prevent that inconvenience Narses in the night time sent fifty choice men who surprized the place none opposing Before the Hill and neer the beaten way opposite to the Goths Quarters runs a Brook by this the fifty Romans stood close body to body putting themselves into a square forme In the morning Totilas perceiving them sent a Troop of Horse to beat them away who rode against them furiously and with clamour as if they would drive them away at the first onset But they stood thick and firme and fenced close with their Sheilds which clashing together and charging their Lances in sit time all at once in order they bravely resisted the Goths hot assault frighting their Horses with the noise of their Sheilds and the men with the points of their Lances The Horses flew back having space enough to retire and the men crying aloud to them could not be heard but were thus beaten off They came on againe and found the same entertainment and went off and failing often in the end they gave it over Totilas commanded out another Troop of Horse who sped as the former and so did others after that and Totilas having tryed many Troops and doing no good in the end quitted the businesse whereby these fifty men got much reputation but especially Paul and Ausilas who drawing their Cimiters layd them before them then made many shots upon the Enemy which killed many both men and Horses and their Quivers being empty they took up their Swords and Sheilds and alone opposed the assailants cutting off with their Swords their Lances heads And Paul having bowed his Sword with cutting the Lances he threw it away and snatcht from the Enemy four Lances and by his valour was the greatest cause of their despairing Narses for this service made him one of his Targeteirs In the meane time both parts prepared for the Battell Narses spake thus to his Souldiers When a Battell is to be with equall powers happily it is necessary with encouragements to get some advantage of the Enemy for the Victory But you fellow Souldiers being to fight with men inferiour in valour numbers all kinde of preparations need no more but with Gods propitious to begin this Battell Ever then with your prayers making him your assistant march on with a noble scorn against these theeves the ancient Slaves of our Emperour and now Fugitives though for a time they have troubled us having gotten to themselves a Tyrant pickt out of their multitude Indeed reasoning probably it is most strange that these men should so much as stand in ranck against us They are weary of living and like brutes and mad men run upon a manifest death and from that reasonlesse resolution as they can have no hopes so they care not what befalls them being men brought hither by God to be punished for their ill government When men have a sentence against them above they run themselves into their just chastisement You do likewise hazard in this Battell for a lawfull State but they are Rebels and struggle against the Lawes They thinke not to leave their estates to their Posterity and therefore live in momentany comforts which they know will be lost with their owne breath So that they are to be despised Men without Law and Government all good hopes faile and Victory abandons which uses not to forsake the good cause Totilas also seeing his Troops apprehensive of the Roman Army used this exhortation I am now fellow Souldiers to make to you my last Speech we shall need no more after this day which certainly will conclude the fortune of the Warr. Both our selves and the Emperour are even so spent with toyles fights and other necessities that he that beats his Enemy shall have need to fight no more and he that is beaten will have a faire excuse to be quiet When men reap from their affaires miserable fruits they dare no more returne to them but even in occasions vehemently pressing their judgements start back upon the
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
is not so grievous to grow old and die in slavery as after freedom to return to it again the interim of ease making the calamity taste more sowre You may consider therefore how in the overthrow of the Vandals you had your part in the toil and others now possess the spoils and how being soldiers you are engaged to a life of hazarding either for the Emperour if you serve him again or for your selves if you keep your liberty And the better of these two you may now chuse by resolving in this action to fight without fainting Consider also that you have taken arms and if you now be subdued you will not find the Romans gentle masters but shall suffer extremities with the addition of being justly ruined So you see our death will be honorable if we die and if we be victorious our life will be free and happie but bitter if we be beaten when our only hope must be in our enemies mercy And in the battel the enemy hath much the disadvantage in numbers and hath no great mind to charge us wishing it seems their part in our liberty Thus spake Stotzas and the Armies came to the encounter But a strong wind blew in the mutiners faces who fearing the disadvantage of fighing where the wind would carry the enemies arrows violently on them and abate the force of theirs they wheeled about thinking the enemy not to have their backs open would turn about too and so have the wind in their faces But Belisarius seeing them open their ranks and straggle disorderly bad begin the fight which Stotzas men not looking for fell into confusion and ran away into Numidia where they rallied again Belisarius followed no execution thinking it enough with so small an Army to beat the enemy and send him going To the soldiers lie gave the enemies camp to pillage who found not a man in it but much wealth and many Vandal women for whose sake this war was Then Belisarius marcht back to Carthage where hearing that his Army in Sicily mutinied too and would undoe all if himself in person did not prevent he took order for Africk and committing Carthage to Ildiger and Theodorus he went into Sicily The Commanders in Numidia hearing of Stotzas being there and gathering head prepared to fight with him Marcellus and Cyrillus commanded the Confederates Barbatus the horse and Terentius and Sarapis the foot Marcellus commanded in chief being Governor of Numidia Who hearing of Stotzas being with a few at Gazophyli a Towne two dayes journey from Constantina marcht with speed to prevent the coming of the other mutiners The Armies being near and the fight ready to begin Stotzas came alone into the midst and spake thus to the enemy Fellow soldiers It is unjust in you to take arms against your kinsmen and companions who have undertaken this war with the Emperour being grieved to see your miseries and wrongs Do you not remember how long your pay hath been due and still is detained from you how the spoyls of the enemy your prizes appointed by the law of arms are taken from you The fruits of your victory others must riot upon while you follow as their servants If I offend you use your anger against this body presently for I hate to fly to others for refuge If you have no exception to me come and use your arms for your selves The soldiers embraced this motion of Stotzas and affectionately saluted him and their Commanders seeing it retired into a Church in Gazophyli Stotzas joyned the Armies against them gave them his faith for their coming out and then killed them all CHAP. XII THe Emperour hearing these things sent Germanus his brothers son a Patrician accompanied with Symmachus as Praefect of the Camp to manage the expence of the Army An. Dom. 537. Just 11. and Domnicus to be Commanders of the foot upon the decease of John his predecessor Germanus being landed at Carthage mustered the forces and by the Check Roll of the soldiers names he found a third part of them to be in Carthage and other Cities and the rest joyned with the Rebels Wherefore he would begin no fight but took care of the Army and finding the soldiers in Carthage to be kinsmen and comrades of the enemies he courted them and said the Emperour had sent him expresly into Africk to vindicate the soldiers and to chastise such as had wrong'd them Which the mutiners hearing came in by few at a time whom Germanus received courteously gave them his faith and held them in good account paying them their full dues for the time they had been in rebellion The report whereof drew them in troops from the enemy And then Germanus hoping to match the Rebels in numbers prepared for a battel Stotzas also perceiving the mischief and fearing more defection of his men made haste to try his fortune He had some hope too if he could get near the soldiers in Carthage to get them to run away to him And with this hope he chiefly confirmed his Army and speedily marcht to Carthage and encamped near the sea about four miles from the City Germanus armed and put in order his soldiers and having heard what hopes Stotzas had he spake thus Fellow soldiers you have no just complaint against the Emperours usage of you Who in Constantinople took you to him newly come out of the Country with a knap-sack and one poor coat and hath now made you so great that the Roman State is committed to you But how he hath been scorned by you and suffered the greatest extremities you cannot be ignorant Whereof the remembrance indeed he would have you retain but the prosecution he clearly remits expecting this only satisfaction from you to be ashamed of what you have done and thereupon to learn a new lesson of fidelity and to repair your former ingratitude The timely repentance of erring men obtains their pardon and a seasonable service done may take the name of ungratefull men from you Nay if at this time you appear well affected to the Emperour know this that no memory will remain of what is past The actions of men have their names from the conclusion and errors done no ages can undoe but being repaired by better deeds they get a handsome silence and commonly are forgotten If now you neglect your duties against these rogues your many battels hereafter for the Romans and victories of our enemies will not by the Emperour be thought a recompence The bravest apology is to get honour in the very things men have erred in Thus you are to think concerning the Emperour And I who never wrong'd you but to my power have shewed my affection to you entreat this only of you in this danger That no man will march against the enemy contrary to his mind but if he desire to joyn with their Army to pass over to them immediately doing us this only favour not to abuse us secretly but in an open way Which is the reason
by this the City might be lesse vexed with wants and the Goths might be beseiged more then It. He sent Martinus and Traianus with a 1000. men to convoy his Wife Antonina to Taracina and from thence to give her a convoy to Naples where she was to expect the Event in a safe place And he sent Magnus and Sinthues one of his Life-guard with 500. men to the Castle of Tibur standing about 17. miles from Rome To the small City of Alba standing so many miles also from Rome upon Via Appia he had before sent Gontharis with some Herulians whom the Enemy beat out from thence a while after There stands a Church of the Apostle Saint Paul a mile and three quarters from the walls of Rome upon the Tiber. It is not fortified but a Porticus reaches to it from the City which with the buildings upon it make the place not easily to be invaded The Goths also so much reverence those two Apostles that during the siege no hurt was done to either of these Temples but the preists celebrated divine Service in them as formerly In this place Belisarius commanded Valerianus with all the Hunnes to intrench upon the bancks of Tiber thereby to favour the pasturing of their own Horse and to restrain the Goths from coming out so far at their pleasure Valerianus encamped the Hunns accordingly and then returned to the City And Belisarius having setled these things lay still resolving to begin no fight but to defend only the walls from harm and to some of the Commons he distributed corne CHAP. IV. BUT Martinus and Trajanus past in the night by the Enemies camps came to Taracina and sent Antonina with a convoy into Campania themselves seised the fortresses there about from whence issuing and charging ever suddenly they restrained the Goths inroads that way Magnus also and Synthues repaired the decayes of the castle of Tibur and from a safe place infested the Enemy and a fortification they had not far off frighting with unlook't for charges their convoys of provisions Untill Synthues by a hurt of a Lance upon his right hand was disabled his sinews being cut asunder The Hunnes also quarter'd neer there about did the Goths as much hurt that the Famine vexed them having not provisions brought so freely and the plague killed many especially in the camp neer Via Appia where the few that escaped ran to the other intrenchments The Hunnes also suffered the like and went back to Rome Procopius in Campania got together 500 souldiers and ships freighted with corn and when Antonina came she took care with him to set out the fleet Vesuvius then bellowed but did not cast up which was expected and the inhabitants were terribly frighted This mountain stands eight miles three quarters from Naples northward steep and thick with wood below and above craggy and very wild At the top is a deep cave seeming to reach to the bottom of the mountaine and if you peep in you may see fire which ordinarily keeps in not troubling the people But when the mountain bellowes like an Oxe soon after it casts out far away a huge quantity of cynders which catching a man upon the way he hath no means to save his life if it fall upon houses they fall with the weight if the wind blow stiff it rises up past ones sight and is carryed by the wind to very farr countryes They say it fell once in Constantinople which so frighted the Citizens that to this day they have yearly publick supplications to appease God and that another time it fell in Tripolis Formerly this bellowing came every 100 yeares or more but since oftner When the Vesuvius casts out cynders they are confident of a plentifull year the aire about it is pure and none more healthy that the Physitians send thither men far gone in Consumptions But from Constantinople arrived at Naples 3000 Isaurians commanded by Paulus and Conon and at Otranto 800 horse Thracians led by John Sisters Son of that Vitalianus who formerly rebelled against the Emperour With them were a 1000 more horsemen commanded by Alexander and Marcentius and others Zeno with 300 horse was already come to Rome through Samnium and by Via Latina John and the rest coming into Campania with many waggons out of Calabria and joyning the 500 levied as I said in Campania marcht by the Sea shore with their waggons which they were to fortifie with in case of an Enemies assault Paulus Conon they sent by sea with their troops to joyn with them at Ostia having put corn sufficient in their waggons fraighted the ships therewith with wine and other provisions They thought to find Martinus Trajanus about Taracina but they were newly sent for and gone to Rome Belisarius fearing the Enemy with multitudes might cut off the troopes marching with John and having at the beginning of the warre ram'd up Porta Flaminia with stones that the Enemy encamping neer it might not there force the city neither was there ever any fight there nor did the Barbarians looke for any Enemy thence from this gate he took away the stones secretly and put there in armes the greatest part of his army and at day-break he sent out Diogenes and Trajanus by Porta Pinciana with a thousand horse to shoot into the Enemies quarters and when they came out to run away upon the full speed to the town walls They accordingly provoked the Goths who from all their quarters encountred them and both parts came upon the speed towards the walls the one flying the other pursuing When Belisarius saw the Enemy upon the chase he opened Porta Flaminia and drew out the army unexpected Neer the high way there was one of their camps and before it a narrow lane craggy and hard to passe where a Barbarian gallant and well armed seeing the Enemy coming ran and preposessed the said passage calling to his companions to help to maintain it but Mundilas overtook him and killed him not suffering any of the rest to come to the Lane So they went through without opposition to the Enemies quarter which some attempted but could not take it though few were within by reason the ditch was deep and the Earth cast up inward and was raised to a kind of a wall and the stakes were very well pitcht and thick wherein the Goths trusting resisted valiantly Aquilinus a Targetier of Belisarius and very valiant leapt into the quarter drawing his horse by the bridle after and some he killed but they darted thick at him and killed his horse himself escaped strangely through the Enemy and went towards Porta Pinciana with his fellowes who overtook the Goths yet pursuing and killed them shooting them behind Trajanus with his troopes seeing it their horse there also seconding gallopt against the pursuing Goths who surprized between the Enemy thus were slain in confusion and the slaughter was great and few recovered their Quarters Which they were all afraid of kept in and fortified expecting
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
sired and threw upon the Romans Rams which failed little to be all set on fire and were saved by the men having the long Poles who cleered away the fire still but long they could not think so to hold out the fire being such that where it toucht it instantly burnt if not instantly cast off CHAP. VII BUT Bessas putting his Forces in Armes caused scaling Ladders to be set to that part of the Wall which was sunck And himselfe using no other exhortation but the example of his own Valour being an old man above 70. yeares of age he first mounted the Ladder Here was a Fight so valiantly performed by both Romans and Persians as the like hath not been seen The Persians amounted to about 2300 men and the Romans were some 6000. On both sides almost all were hurt that were not slaine the Romans forced their ascent with all their power and the Persians with much toile and after the killing of many on both sides were very neer to have quite beaten off the danger Many Romans were slain at the tops of the Ladders the Enemy standing above them and Bessas himselfe fell from the Ladder whereat a great shout was made the Persians from all parts shooting at him and his Lanciers standing all close about him covering him having their Murrions and Corselets on and with their Shields making the form of a Roofe over him and keeping off the Arrowes which clasht upon their Armour and snapt asunder And all was full of clamour panting and toile The Romans eager to bring off their Generall shot thick at the Walls and represt the Enemy Bessas could not get up for the Shields that were hold over him and being an old man fat and unweildly Yet he lost not his Spirits but in that great danger suddenly advised that which preserved himselfe and the Romans Affaires He directed his Lanciers to drag him off by the legs which they did and went off with him holding their Shields over one another and drawing him away so far at once only as not to be subject to the Enemies shot Bessas so soon as he was in a safe place rose and encouraging his Souldiers gave on again mounting again the Ladder himselfe and the Romans following him did very valiantly The Persians hereupon demanded time to quit the place and to yeild it But Bessas suspecting it to be cunning in the mean time to fortifie the Walls said that he could not stay the Fight but he pointed to another part of the Walls whether they might go with him and parly while the Armies fought They not entertaining the motion the Fight was hotly pursued Which continuing equall another part of the Wall where the Romans had formerly min'd suddenly fell down Many of both parts ran thither The Romans though divided exceeded the Enemy in numbers and prest hard upon them And the Persians being charged in both places and their fewnesse by being divided appearing did not equally indure the charge While the Armies were toyling and the Persians unable to repell the eagernesse of the Romans and the Romans absolutely to force their entry John Guzes left them fighting upon the ruined Wall and with some Armenians his Country-men mounted the Rock where the City was esteemed impregnable and forcing upon the Guards there killed with his Lance one of the gallantest Persians and made the place accessible In the mean time the Persians in the wooden Tower kindled many Fire-vessels by flinging the same thick to burn the Engines and men in them notwithstanding their long Poles But a strong Southern wind blew against them and withall let afire one of the boards of the Tower They within it being overtoyled and full of tumult and disorder perceived not the Accident soon enough their businesse taking from them their senses and the flame kindling by little and little and with the Medean Oyle and the other materials burnt all the Tower and the Persians in it who consumed into Coales fell down some within the Town some among the Roman Engines At the ruined Wall also the Enemy grew faint and gave back and the Romans entred and then was Petra absolutely taken only some 500. Persians retired to the Cittadell The rest the Romans took being 730 men of whom 18. only were unhurt in the Fight Many Romans also fell brave men and among them John Guzes valiantly entring the Town was killed with a stone The next morning the Romans besieged the Persians in the Cittadell and propounded offers of safety unto them and to give assurances for the same But they rejected them and resolved to oppose though they had no thought of subsisting long but they chose to dye bravely Bessas was desirous to draw them from this Opinion and to perswade them to live He commanded a Roman Souldier to speak to them to that purpose as hee dictated it unto him who being neer said thus Valiant Persians what mean you thus to pull on your own destruction using a sencelesse endeavour to dye and shaming the profession of Valour which never opposes unresistible necessities but wisely yeilds to the Conquerour It is not dishonourable to obey your Fortune and Live Necessity having left no hope excuses the dishonour although one be put to the poorest Actions pardon ever attending that which cannot be avoided Insoevident a danger affect not therefore pride nor sacrifice your lives for a little vaine-glory Think how men once dead revive not again but that the living may in time recompose themselves Consult therefore your last consultation and study your own good Those Counsels are ever best wherein the advisers have left it in their power to repent We pitty this your strugling under the Yoake and spare you so fond to dye And while you are wanton and foolish in a case of life wee as Romans and Christians commiserate you If you live the worst that shall befall you will be to change your Common-wealth for a better and to have Justinian your Lord instead of Chosroes and for this we give you our Faith Murther not therefore your selves having meanes to live It is not excusable thus to no purpose to be in love with dismall things which is not to be valiant but to be weary of life The valiant man endures while from his sufferings he expects advantage Men commend a willing death when some gallant hope is built upon it But a precipitate end is a rash and uselesse folly and a vaine-glorious dying foolish Wise men condemning such a fond pretext of brave spirit Consider moreover if herein you be not unthankfull to God who if he Would have you destroyed would not have delivered you to men who desire your preservation Thus it is and doe you advise whether you be worthy to live or no. The Persians would not so much as afford attention to this Counsell as men willingly deafe By the Generals direction therefore the Romans threw fire into the Cittadell thinking so to bring them to yeild But they though beholding the
trench to defend them nor with it begin a fight but are glad and thinck their business spedd above their hopes if they are able to retire to their walls the Persians not charging them Hence were they in no disorder not coming to the hazard of a battell But if the fight come to handy blows then their cowardize and want of experience will put them into their wonted disorder And for themselves he bad them have their thoughts upon the judgement of their King of Kings expecting a base punishment if they doe not now fight as becomes the valour of Persians Mirranes having thus encouraged his Souldiers led on against the enemy Belisarius also and Hermogenes drawing out their troupes from their trench exhorted them to consider by the former fight that the Persians are not invincible nor immortall and that they were beaten by them formerly through their own disobedience to their commanders not by any advantage of valour or strong bodies in the enemy Which fault they may easily amend Indeed the crosses of fortune no industry can cure but of a mans faults his own will may be the Physician So that if they resolve to obey directions the day will be theirs and the enemy failing in their onely confidence the Romans disorder will goe off as they did in the former encounter And for the enemies nombers their greatesh scare-crow he bad them despise it Seing their foot was nothing els but a multitude of miserable peasants who come to the warre onely to sappe a wall or riffle a dead body and other things to serve the Souldier having no armes to trouble much an enemy and their bucklers no bigger then to ward a shot onely So that if they fight bravely this day they will both vanquish the Persians now and restraine their insolence from invading the Romans Belisarius and Hermogenes having made this exhortation and seing the Persians coming on ordred the Army as before The Persians stood opposite in front Mirranes not placing so the whole Army but the one halle onely the other shood behind him to receave men from the fight and to give on fresh and so in their turnes to come all to fight The band onely named Immortall he commanded to stand still till himself gave the signall Who stood in the front giving the command of the right wing to Pityazes and of the left to Baresmanas The Armies being thus embattell'd Charas came to Belisarius and Hermogenes and said thus I see no great service I can doe upon the enemy staying here with my Herulians But if covering our selves under yonder rising ground when the fight is begun we shall suddainly from the hillock charge shooting the enemies backs in likelyhood we shall ruine them Belâ—sarius approved it and accordingly it was done Neither side began the fight till noone which being past the Persians gave on Who put it off to that time of the day because themselves use to eat about evening and the Romans at noone and if they charged them fasting they thought they would not endure the fight so well At first the arrowes slew from both sides and with their multitude made a kind of duskiness a long time and slew many The Persians arrowes came much thicker by reason of their fresh men still renewing which the Romans did not marke Who notwithstanding had not the worse a strong wind blowing upon the Persians and not suffering their shot to do much effect The Arrowes being spent they used their Lances on both sides and came up closer The Romans left wing was in most distress where the Cadisens with Pityazes charging suddamely and furiously routed them kill'd many in the execution Which Sunicas and Algas perceaving gallopt amaine to them But first the three hundred Herulians under Pharas came down from the hill upon the enemies backs and did wonders specially upon the Cadisens who when they saw Sunicas too giving on upon their flanck ran away And there the overthrow being cleer the Romans on that side joining made a great slaughter among the Barbarians so that of their right wing they lost about 3000. The residue escaped hardly to the Bataillion and the Romans chasing no farther both parts stood still in their orders And such was the successe on that side But Mirranes sent the Immortall band and many others closely to the left side which Belisarius and Hermogenes perceaving sent Sunicas and Algas with their six hundred horse to the angle of their right hand line where Simas and Ascas stood and behind them many troupers of Belisarius The Persians left wing commanded by Baresmanas with the Immortalls charged the Romans with full career who not abiding it fled Then from the Angle the Romans and those behind them gave on hotly upon the Barbarians slâ—nck as they pursued and cut their Army in two leaving the most to their right hand the rest to the left among whom was the Ensigne-bearer of Baresmana whom Sunicas with his lance wounded The Persians who pursued foremost seing their ill case turned about and leaving the chase rode against these and so came to be charged both wayes by the Romans For they that fledd knowing what happened turned head The Immortall band and the other Persians there seing the great Ensigne taken down and lying upon the ground they with Beresmanas presently charged the Romans who receaved them and first Sunicas kill'd Baresmanas and threw him from his horse Then the Barbarians struck with feare thought no more of fighting but ran away in confusion The Romans compassing them as they could kill'd about 5000. So the Armies moved the Persians to their retreat the Romans to the pursuit The Persians foot in the overthrow threw away their bucklers and surprized in confusion were cut in pieces The chafe lasted not long Belisarius and Hermogenes not suffering them to follow further least the Persians might turn head and rout them pursueing without order They thought it enough to keep the victory entire For before that day t' was long since the Persians were overthrown by the Romans Thus they parted then nor would the Persians come to any more battells Some skirmishings there were upon inroads wherein the Romans had not the worst And this was the success of the Armies in Mesopotamia CHAP. XI BUt Cabades sent another Army into the Roman Armenia consisting of Persarmenians Anno Domini 529. Justiniani 3. and Sunites who border upon the Alans and three thousand Sabirian Hunnes a very warlike Nation The Generall was Mermeroes a Persian who encamped in Persarmenia three dayes journey from Theodosiopolis preparing for the invasion Dorotheus was then Generall of Armenia a wise man and who had seen many warrs but Sittas Generall of the Forces in Constantinople commanded the Armenian Army in cheif These hearing of Forces levyed in Pâ—rsarmenia sent two Lanciers to discover the enemies power To whose Army they came and having observed all and returning met in a village some of the enemies Hunnes who took one
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
great sum of money for their ransom In a word he was the sharpest enemy the Romans had The reason was because onely Alamundarus had command of the Saracens under the Persians with authority and title of a King whereby he could invade the Romans when and where he pleased Neither were the Roman Captains called Duces Limitanei nor the Phylarchi or chieftains of the Saracen-tribes in league with the Romans able to oppose him being too weak to fight with him single in their severall countries Whereupon the Emperour Justinian put many of those Tribes under Arethas the sonne of Gabâlas chieftain of the Saracens in Arabia giving him the title of a King a thing not used by the Romans But Alamundarus rather more ruined the Romans Arethas in the inroads or fights either having ill fortune or betraying the business we have no certainty of him And so Alamundarus none opposing forraged the East furthest of any and longest being a very old man and Cabades liking his counsell sent 15000 men under the command of Azarethes as I have said whom Alamundarus was to guide the way CHAP. XIV THese passing the Euphrates into Comagena unlookt for and being the first Persians that ever invaded us that way that we can learn it amazed the Romans and at first perplexed Belisarius when he heard it But he soon resolved upon resistance and having left competent garrisons in the places of Mesopotamia that Cabades with the rest of his army might not find them unguarded he went with speed against the Enemy compassing the Euphrates and having about 20000 horse and foot 2000 of them Isaurians The Captains of horse were the same that fought at Daras with Mirranes Of the Infantery was Peter commander a Lancier of the guard to Justinian and of the Isaurians Longinus and Stephanacius At the City of Colchis they encamped hearing the Enemy were at Gabbula a place almost fourteen miles from it Alamundarus and Azarethes hearing thereof stayd their journey resolving to march homeward fearing to hazard and they retired keeping the Euphrates to their left hand The Roman army followed and where the Enemy lodged sate down the night after Belisarius purposely not suffering the Army to march greater journeys having no mind to fight and thinking it sufficient if Alamundarus and the Persians retired home without effect The army at this murmured at him both Commanders and Souldiers but not yet to his face The Persians at last lodged upon the shore of Euphrates opposite to the City of Callinicum resolving from thence to march through a desert country and so out of Roman ground and not as before by the rivers side The Romans from the City Sura where they lodg'd rose and overtook the Enemy trussing up their baggage The Feast of Easter was to be the next day which Christians observe above all others the day before it and much of the night abstaining from all meats and drinks And Belisarius seeing them eager upon the enemy and willing to withdraw them from the opinion Hermogenes being of the same mind sent newly Ambassador from the Emperour he called them together and spake thus Whether are you transported fellow souldiers to chuse thus a needless danger That onely is pure victory that comes off without damage from the Enemy and that now fortune and the fear of us amazing them gives us which advantage it is better to enjoy having it than to seek it when it is gone The Persians invited with hopes invaded us and now failing run away If we force them to change their course and fight overcoming we gain nothing but to rout an enemy flying already But having the worst we lose our present victory not forced from it but giving it away and leave the Emperours land to the spoil of the Enemy with none to defend it Consider also that God doth cooperate with mens necessary not wilfull actions how men stopt from flying will fight though unwillingly and how many disadvantages there are to us for a battell many being marcht hither afoot and all of us fasting and some of us not yet come up The Army reproached Belisarius for this speech not muttering now but with open clamour to his face calling him faint-hearted man and a discourager of them And this errour some Commanders ran into with the souldier onely to shew their valour Belisarius amazed at this impudence turned his discourse to encourage them and to order them to the encounter saying that he knew not their alacrity before but now he took courage and went against the enemy with more hopes So he set his Batallion in front and his foot in the left wing towards the river and to the right hand where there was a steep peece of ground Arethas with his Saracens himself with the horse stood in the middle Azarethes seeing the Romans embattell'd and ready for the encounter said to his men That being Persians certainly they will never change their honour for life if they might have the choice But that now if they would they could make no such choice They who can by running from a danger live dishonourable if they can so resolve chuse yet instead of the best the most pleasant thing But they who must die either honourably by an enemy or basely by a superiour dradg'd to execution are mad if they chuse not the best condition instead of the basest He bad them therefore not thinking onely upon the enemy but upon their Lord and Master so to fight that day Having exhorted them he placed his Batallion opposite to the Enemy and gave the right wing to the Persians and the lest to the Saracens The battell then joyned and was stifly fought The arrows flew thick from both sides and killed many Some single encounters were between the Battallions with much valour performed The Persians fell more by the shot though they shot thicker and are almost all Archers and the most dextrous living but from weak bowes little beut the shaft lighting upon the Romans corslet head-peece or sheild crackt without hurt doing The Romans shot is slower being from stiff bowes much bent and hardly but coming from stronger men than Persians they speed where they light no armour resisting the force Two thirds of the day were past and the fight yet equall When the Persians best men combining charged the right wing where was Arethas and his Saracens They opened their Battallion and not abiding the charge ranne away suspected that day to betray the Romans The Persians thus breaking through the ranks had the backs of the Romans horse who weary with their journey and toyl in fight being fasting too and prest both wayes by the enemy gave it over and ran into small Ilands in the river near them Some staid and did bravely among whom Ascas having slain many chief Persians was with much adoe cut in pieces leaving a noble story to his enemies and with him eight hundred more fell good men and all the Isaurians with their Commanders using no
Iland of the Nile neer Elephantina built a strong Castle with Temples and Altars for the Romans and these people appointing Priests of each Nation and thinking by a participation in the same devotions to make a sure amity between them And upon this he called the place Philae Both the Blemmyes and the Nobates worship the Gods esteemed by the Graecians and Isis and Osiris and Priapus too and the Blemmyes sacrifice men to the Sunne The Temples in Philae these Barbarians held to my time but by direction of the Emperour Justinian Narses the Persarmenian who revolted to the Romans as I said commanding the forces in those parts demolished them keeping the Priests in restraint and sending the Images to Constantinople CHAP. XVI BUt during this warre with Persia Hellisthaeus King of Ethiopia a very devout Christian hearing how the said Homerites of the opposite continent were many of them Jewes and many Heathen and laid excessive burdens upon the Christians he sent out a Navy and Army against them and fighting with them routed them and slew their King and much people And having made Esimiphaeus King of them a Homerite and a Christian and imposed a tribute upon them he went home In the Ethiopian Army were many both slaves and leud persons that would not follow the King home but staid with the Homerites being in love with the Country as being very good land But not long after the people imprisoned Esimiphaeus and made one Abramus their King a Christian who had been a slave to a Roman Merchant residing for his traffique in the Ethiopian City of Adulis Hellisthaus to punish Abramus and his complices for the wrong done to Esimiphaeus sent against them under the command of a kinsman 3000. men These also desiring to remaine in that good land liad secret conference with Abramus unknown to their Commander and in the battell kill'd him and joyned with the enemies and continued there Hellisthaeus angry sent another Army which coming to a battell returned with much losse and then afraid to meddle any more with Abramus he forbare warr But he being dead Abramus was content to pay the tribute to his successour and so confirmed his governement These things happened afterward But then during the raignes of Hellisthaeus and Esimiphaeus Justinian sent his Ambassadour Julian to desire their confederacie against the Persians the Romans and they consenting in one religion and that the Ethiopians would make themselves masters of a rich trade by dealing with the Indians for their silke and selling it to the Romans who should have this onely advantage therein that they should carry out their mony to their enemies for it Of this silke are made the anciently called Persian now Serick or silke garments The Homerites were prayed also to make chiefetaine of the Maadeni Saracens one Caisus a banisht man who having kill'd a kinsman of Esimiphaeus was fled into a wilderness being of the race of the Phylarchi and a very good Souldier and that together with those Saracens they would invade the Persians Both dimist the Ambassador with promise to effect the Emperours desires but neither performed the Ethiopians not being able to buy the silke because the Persian Merchants ever come first to the havens where the Indians unlade being their next borderers and buy up all And the Homerites thought it hard to travell through a desert many dayes journy to fight with a people more warlike then themselves Afterward Abramus having setled his Kingdome promised oft to Justinian but onely once began the journey and turned home againe Thus the Romans spedd with these people In the meane time Hermogenes came to Cabades in Ambassage after the battell of Euphrates but could not effect the peace finding him much enraged and so came away Belisarius also the Emperour sent for discharging him of that command to make warre upon the Vandales and Sittas was sent to guard the East The Persian Army led by Chanaranges Aspevedes and Mermeroes againe entred Mesopotamia and none encountring them sate downe before Martyropolis where were garrison'd Buzes and Bessas It stands in the Province of Sophanene thirty miles to the North of Amida upon the river of Nymphius which bounds the Roman and Persian territories The Persians assaulted and were valiantly receaved by the besieged who could not thinke long to hold out the walls being very assaultable and easie for the Persians works and they having neither provisions nor engines nor any other thing within of importance to defend Sittas with the Roman army came to Attachas twelve miles from Martyropolis where he encamped not daring to march further with him was Hermogenes in another Ambassage In the meane time this happened The Romans and Persians have anciently had spies defrayed at the publique charge who secretly passe among the enemy informing themselves of all occurrences and advertising their owne Princes Many of these as affectionate Patriots doe their best some betray their Countries secrets to the enemy One of the Persian spies then discovered to Justinian much of their affaires and how a Nation of Massagetes was coming into Persia and from thence were to invade the Romans with the Persian army The Emperour had experience of the mans truth and persuades him with mony to goe and report to the Persians before Martyropolis that these Massagetes were hired by the Emperour and instantly to come against them Who according went to the Persian Camp and told them that an armie of Hunnes their enemies were coming to ayde the Romans which made them afraid and doubtfull what to doe CHAP. XVII IN the meane time Cabades fell mortally sicke and calling to him Mebodes a Persian his chief favourite opened his resolution concerning Chosroes and the Kingdom and that he feared the Persians would seek to frustrate it Mebodes prayed him to leave his resolution in writing and to assure himself the Persians would not disrespect it Cabades thereupon declared Chosroes King by his testament written by Mebodes himself and soon after died His usuall funerall ceremonies being performed Caoses presuming upon the Law took upon him the dignity Mebodes forbad him alledging that none of himself might take the Kingdome but by the votes of the principall Persians Caoses referred to the great Officers the cognisance of the matter not suspecting opposition from thence So the principall Persians being assembled and set down Mebodes by reading the testament manifested the determination of Cabades Anno Domini 531. Justiniani 5. whose great vertues they all remembring forthwith declared Chosroes King of Persia And thus Chosroes got the Kingdom But Sittas and Hermogenes having no meanes to relieve Martyropolis sent to the enemies Generalls to tell them That they were hinderanoes to the King their master to the blessings of peace and to both their common-wealths That Ambassadors are sent from the Emperour to their King to end all differences and to make a truce That therefore they should quit the Roman territory and give the Ambassadours leave
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
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
that we ever saw him use to any Ambassadour feasting him and Braduâ—ionas his Interpreter and setting them upon the same couch with himself a thing never done before No man ever saw an Interpreter sit at table with the meanest Governour much lesse the Emperour And this Ambassadour without businesse he entertained and dimissed more honourably than ever any 31500 l. sterl His charges and presents came to more than ten Centenaries of gold CHAP. XXI BUt into Lazica Chosroes first sent much ship-timber giving out it was for engines to stand upon the walls of Petra Then he sent Fabrizus with three hundred chosen Persians instructing him closely to kill Gubazes and of the sequele he would take care The timbers in Lazica were all consumed by lightening But Fabrizus being there and practising to execute his instructions concerning Gubazes sent for a Nobleman of the country named Pharsanses whom he understood to be in disgrace with Gubazes for some offence not daring to come in his fight and to him revealed the matter and advised with him how to attempt it The conclusion was that Fabrizus should goe to Petra and send for Gubazes to acquaint him with the great Kings resolution touching Lazica But Pharsanses secretly discovered the plot to Gubazes Who thereupon refused to come to Fabrizus and prepared for an open revolt Fabrizus committed the guard of Petra to the other Persians to prepare all things safe against a siege and so went home having done nothing Gubazes reported to Justinian the present estate besought his pardon for things past and his present ayd to shake off the Persian Government The Emperour was glad of the news and sent him seven thousand men commanded by Dagisthaeus and a thousand Tzanians Who joyned with Gubazes and the natives and besieged Petra The Persians within defended it valiantly and much time was spent in the siege they having laid in store of victuall in the town Chosroes was troubled at it and sent against them a great army of horse and foot under the command of Mermeroes Whereof Gubazes being advertised and upon advise with Dagisthaeus did thus The River of Boas springs near the confines of Tzanica about Pharangium in Armenia First it runnes a good way to the Northward and is small and fortable till it comes where it hath the Marches of Iberia to the North and the utmost ridge of Mount Caucasus to the South Hereabout inhabit the Alans and the Abasgians in antient amitie with the Romans and they are Christians the Zecchians also and Sabirian Hunnes From the Marches of Iberia and Caucasus this River is supplyed with other waters grows greater and instead of Boas is called Phasis is navigable and disembogues into the Euxine sea On both sides of it is Lazica To the right hand the country is well inhabited to the borders of Iberia on that side the river are their villages and some small cities antiently built as Archaeopolis a strong place Sebastopolis and the Castle of Pityuntium and towards Iberia Scanda and Sarapâ—nis Other strong Cities there are as Rhodopolis and Muchrisiis But to the Southward are the Marches of Lazica for a dayes journey a country uninhabited upon which border the Ponticke Romans In the desert marches of Lazica Justinian built Petra in my time where as I said John Tzibus set up the monopoly which caused the Lazians defection From Petra Southward the Roman borders begin where are populous towns as Rhizaeum Athens and others unto Trapezond The Lazians when they brought Chosroes into the countrey past the Boas and came to Petra leaving Phasis then so called to his right hand pretending to avoyd the delay and toyle of ferrying over the river Phasis but in truth not willing to shew the Persians their dwellings And Lazica on both sides the river is full of bad wayes having rocks on either side the countrey which make long narrow glinnes The Romans as the Grecians call such wayes Clausurae But then Lazica being unguarded the Persians guided by the natives came with ease to Petra But now Gubazes being informed of the Persians coming wrote to Dagisthaeus to send forces to guard the passage beyond the Phasis and not to raise the siege before Petra were taken Himself with his own army march't to the utmost borders of Lazica to guard the Passage there He had sometime before gotten some troopes of Alans 9450 l. sterl and Sabirians who agreed for three Centenaries to help to guard his countrey and so depopulate Iberia that the Persians should not be able to come in that way and the money the Emperor was to pay whom Gubazes praid to send the same and some Donative to the Lazians now in much distress alledging himself also to be behind for ten yeares being enrolled a Silentiary of the Imperiall Palace and having receaved no pay from the time Chosroës entred Lazica Justinian meant to performe his request but greater business diverting him he sent not the money in the due time But Dagisthaeus being a young man and unable to manage a Persian warr made no advantage of the opportunities offered him Whereas he should have sent to the Passage the most of his army and been himself at the action he sent as to some slight business onely two hundred men And he did nothing upon Petra with all his forces The enemy within at first were not 1500. men who continually being shot and slaine at the assaults after as much valour as ever men shewed were reduced to a very few and dispairing and unable lay still The Romans drew a mine under the wall and the wall falling with a house joyning to it fell all into the Ruine securing the town as much as the wall This troubled not the Romans who saw hope by mining in another part to take the town and Dagisthaeus wrote of it to the Emperour urging for rewards of victory and appointing what he and his brother should have for they would take Petra presently But the Persians receaved the assaults bravely and beyong expectation their troopes being much decayed Wherein the Romans prevailing not they mined againe and came on with their work so that the foundation of the wall had no ground to beare it and the wall was in the aire suddainly to fall And if Dagisthaeus had presently put fire to the supporters the town had been taken But he with his hopes from the Emperour dallying did nothing CHAP. XXII IN the meane time Mermeroes with a Persian army past the marches of Iberia and avoyding the townes of Lazica for feare of stopp kept the Phasis to his right hand his care being to save Petra and the Persians in it Where the piece of the wall which tottered as I said fell suddainely at which fifty Romans entred and cryed out aloud The Victorious Emperour Justinian They were led by John a young Armenian son of that Thomas sirnamed Guzes who by the Emperours direction built many fortresses in Lazica commanding the army there
Romans these Visigoths under their Prince Alaricus rebelled against both the Emperours They begun in Thrace and thence overran all Europe Honorius at first sate still in Rome thinking of no enemy but contented to be suffered quiet in his palace but hearing how the enemy was not far off but already in Taulantia with a mighty Army he fled from his Palace to Ravenna a strong City lying upon the bottom of the Ionian gulf That is all Italy on this side Otranto in respect of Constantinople which must diligently be observed in this Author when he says On this side Some say but improbably by what I can gather by his disposition that upon some mutiny by his subjects he drew in the Barbarians But they finding no enemy opposing exceeded all that ever were in cruelty so destroying the Cities they took especially on * this side the Ionian gulf that they have no mark now remaining save some turret or gate killing also all in their way old and young not sparing women nor children so that Italy remains to this day extreamly unpeopled They robbed all the wealth of Europe and having for their master-piece left nothing in Rome publike nor private they marched into France CHAP. III. THe taking of Rome by Alaricus was thus An. Dom. 412. Honorii 16. Having spent much time in the Siege and not taking it by force nor other means he chose out 300 beardless Youths whom he knew well bred and valorous above their years These he told secretly that he would colourably present them for Slaves to some Roman Patricians and he charged them being in their houses to shew all mildness and sobriety and to serve their masters cheerfully in all their injunctions but at a day apyointed after noon while their masters were sleeping after their dinners to meet all at Porta Salaria suddenly to kill the Guards and to open the gate Alaricus having thus instructed the young men sent Ambassadors to the Senate to tell them That he admired their good affection to their Emperour and would trouble them now no more seeing manifestly their singular valour and fidelity But to have remembrances remaining with such worthy men he desired to present them with some few Servants Soon after he sent the young men and commanded the Barbarians to truâ—s up their baggage for a retreat that the Romans might perceive it The Senators gladly entertained this discourse and the Presents and lived merrily and suspected no design seeing the young mens obedience and in the Camp some gone already some busie to rise the rest expected to do the like immediately At the hour assigned Alaricus put his Army in order by Porta Salaria as if to march away being there quartered at first The young men then also killed the Guards at the said gate and set them open receiving in Alaricus at pleasure The houses next the Gate they burnt and among them that of Salust who wrote the Roman History whereof the remains half-burnt stood to my time Then they sackt the City slew most of the Romans in it and went away Then they say that the Eunuch of Honorius then being at Ravenna who kept his Cocks of the game told him the news how Rome was lost He cryed out Why even now he eat from mine own hands He had an extraordinary great Cock named Rome The Eunuch understanding him told him that the City Rome was lost by Alaricus The Emperour rousing himself replied I thought my friend it had been my Cock Rome So simple they say was that Emperour Some say that Alaricus took not Rome thus But that Proba a Roman Lady eminent for wealth and honour pittying the people perishing with miseries and for famine eating one another and seeing no hope of better the River and Port being block'd up by the Enemy directed her servants in the night to open the gates Alaricus at his parting from Rome declared Attalus one of the Nobility Emperour putting on him the Diadem and Purple robe and all other ensigns of the Imperial dignity that by this he might depose Honorius and give Attalus the Western Empire But Attalus had neither wit himself nor could follow good counsel sending into Africk without Alaricus's consent Governours without an Army Britany then revolted from the Romans and the Souldiers chose Constantine their Emperour an eminent man who with a Fleet and a good Army invaded Spain and Gaule Honorius with ships in readiness expected the success in Africk to sail thither upon the rejection of those sent from Attalus and so to retain some part of the Empire if otherwise to go to Theodosius who being very young held the Empire after his father Arcadius and to continue with him But fluctuating in these uncertainties and cares he had a miraculous blessing God usually assisting men not subtile to devise for themselves so they be not wicked For from Africk came sudden news that Attalus's Governours were slain and unexpectedly came to him a great Navy from Constantinople with an Army to his aid Alaricus also offended took from Attalus the Imperial habit and made him a prisoner and himself soon after died and the Army of Visigoths were by Adulpbus led against Gaule Constantine also was overthrown in battel and slain with his sons But Britany the Romans could never recover continuing ever since under their own Princes He ever calls the Ostrogoths only Goths The Goths who passed over the river Danubius first held Pannonia then Towns in Thrace given them by the Emperour where having not spent much time they Conquered Italy But of that in my discourse of the Goths CHAP. IV BUt the Vandales inhabiting about the Lake of Moeotis upon a great famin went to the Germans now called Franks and to the river of Rhine associating the Alans a Gothish Nation From thence they rose under the conduct of Godidiscius and planted in Spain And Honorius came to conditions with Godidiscius to continue there without infesting the Province And whereas there is a Roman Law That men out of possession the space of thirty years cannot enter upon the disseisors but before are by prescription barred their action in Court for the same Honorius by his Edict commanded the Vandales continuance in Roman Land not to need that thirty years prescription In this estate Honorius left Italy and died With him Constantius was Emperour who married his sister Placidia but died before Honorius having had in his small time in the Empire no means to act any thing his son Valentinian from his nurse was brought to the Palace of Theodosius and there bred But the Courtiers in Rome chose Emperour one of the Souldiers named John a mild and a prudent man and valiant He usurped five years but ruled moderately not hearkning to informers nor unjustly killing nor confiscating any But against the Barbarians he could do nothing by reason all at Constantinople was his enemy Theodosius the son of Arcadius sent an Army against him under Aspar and Ardaburius his son
but with his power made Leo against whom afterward he conspired And now fearing lest the victory of the Vandals might make him proud both to his particular and in the government he instructed Basiliscus at his departure to prolong the war Leo also sent Anthemius a Senator great in blood and estate to be Emperour of the West that he might be aiding to him in the Vandalick war And Genserick promised the Western Empire to Olybrius Placidia's husband to joyn with him upon which confidence he had higher thoughts and more vexed the Roman dominions * The Greek again In the mean time Marcellianus a friend of Aetius who after the murder of Aetius entred into action against Valentinian and got the dominion of Dalmatia none opposing Leo courted and gained and then sent him to the Iland of Sardinia subject to the Vandals whom Marcellianus presently drave out and got the Iland From Constantinople also was sent Heraclius into Tripolis in Africk who took all the Towns therein left his ships there and led his Army by land to Carthage These were the entrances into this war But Basiliscus arrived with his Army at a small Town 35 miles from Carthage called Mercurium from an ancient Temple of Mercury And if he had not treacherously dallied but marcht instantly to Carthage he had taken the Town instantly and made the Vandals his Captives So much afraid was Genserick of Leo seeing Tripolis and Sardinia taken and so brave a Navy as the Romans had not set out of a long time But this the Generals either cowardly or traiterous delay hindred But Genserick made this good use of Basiliscus his negligente He armed his Subjects manned most of his ships and made ready of the rest the swiftest of sail without men in them then sent Ambassadors to Basiliscus desiring a five days cessation that he might advise upon the means of doing the Emperours pleasure They say he sent him closely a great sum of money which bought this truce supposing which came to pass that he should get in that time a wind to bring his ships about And Basiliscus either to comply with his promise to Aspar or selling his opportunity or whether he thought it so best lay stil attending the enemies advantage But the Vandals the wind serving hoist sail against the enemy towing after the ships without men When they came near they put fire into the empty ships whose sails spreading to the wind they let them run upon the Roman Navy They falling in among a multitude of Vessels suddenly consumed with themselves those they fell foul with In the mean time the Roman fleet was in confusion with cries equalling the winds and the whizzing of the flames and with the Soldiers and Mariners calling and thrusting the fire-ships with long poles from their own pittifully perishing The Vandals also shot and sunk the rest taking the flying Soldiers with Arms and all Some in this over-throw did bravely specially John Lieutenant General to Basiliscus but not acquainted with his Treason His ship being boarded he slew many upon the deck and when he saw the ship taken by the enemy he leapt into the sea with all his Arms. Genson the son of Genserick wooed him and gave him his faith to save his life but he plunged into the sea using this word only That John should never come into the hands of dogs And this was the end of this war Heraclius returned home Marcellianus perisht by the Treason of one of his fellow-Commanders But Basiliscus in Constantinople took sanctuary in the great Church dedicated to Christ the Constantinopolitans call it the Church of St. Sophia holding the attribute of wisdom most becoming God and the Empress Verina obtained his pardon But the Empire he could not then get what he endeavoured for Leo shortly after killed Aspar and Ardaburius in his Palace suspecting them to conspire his death Anthemius also Emperour of the West was slain by Recimer who married his daughter And Olybrius succeeding him had not long after the same fate Leo deceasing in Constantinople Leo the son of Zeno and of Ariadne daughter to Leo received the Empire being very young And his father being chosen his partner in the Empire the child was quickly rid out of the way CHAP. VII THen Majorinus had the Western Empire a man worth the remembring as excelling in virtue all the Roman Emperours that ever were He could not with patience endure the disaster of Africk but raised a great Army in Liguria to go against the Vandals himself being industrious and very ventrous of his person He thought best first to discover the Vandals power and the humour of Genserick and how the Moors and Africans stood affected towards them And resolving to put this in execution himself he took his journey to Genserick with a feigned name and as an Ambassador from the Emperor And further to avoid mischief and the overthrow of his business by discovery he died his hair which was as yellow as the finest gold into a perfect blew for the time Genserick to fright him took him in a friendly way into his Armory where was much good Arms. They say the Arms then of themselves moved and clashed together that Genserick thought it an Earthquake but being without and upon enquiry finding no notice taken of any Earthquake he thought it a miracle not guessing the meaning Majorinus dispatcht to his desire returned into Liguria lead his Army over land purposing to cross the Straits at Hercules Pillars and so to march to Carthage Genserick informed thereof and how he was deceived by Majorinus was heartily afraid and made preparation for the war and the Romans from the virtues of Majorinus conceived hope of recovering Africk In the mean time Majorinus died of a dyssentery a man moderate to his Subjects and to his enemies terrible newly come to the Empire and living in it too short a time * An. dom 471. Glycerius succeeded him and had the 〈◊〉 fortune Then Augustulus received the Empire Other Emperors there were in the West whose names though I know I omit they living a very short time in the Government and so doing nothing worth mentioning But Basiliscus in Constantinople passionately in love with the Empire attempted to usurp and prevailed Zano with his Empress fled into Isauria his native Country And Basiliscus usurped a year and eight months generally hated by all men and by the very Guards of his Palace for his extream avarice Zeno therof advertised went against him with an Army to whom Basiliscus opposed another under Aâ—â—â—dius his General But being encamped near Armatus delivered his Army to Zeno upon condition he should make his son Basiliscus Caesar being very young and make him his successor Basiliscus forsken by all the world fled to the Church of St. Sophia but Acacius the Bishop of the City put him into Zeno's hands objecting against him impiety in much embroiling and innovating the Christian Doctrin as inclining to
what soldiers the Vandals were nor how nor from whence to make the war upon them The soldiers also troubled him fearfull of a sea-fight and not ashamed to tell him that on land they will do their best but if the enemies ships come they will fly not able to fight with them and waters too In this perplexity he sent Procopius his Assessor to Syracuse to enquire if the enemy way-laid their passage in the Island or main Land what part of Africk was best to land in and from whence to make the war and this done to meet him at Caucana about 27 miles from Syracuse where the fleet should ride at anchor It was given out he was sent to buy victual of the Goths For Amalasuntha the mother of Aâ—â—lâ—ricus had agreed with Justinian to give his Army free market Aralaricius was under years bred by his mother and was King of the Goths and Italians upon whom after the death of Theodoricus the Kingdom descended being son to his daughter Amalasuntha by a man deceased also Amalasuntha to make Justinian her friend had yielded to this free market among other his commands and now performed it But Procopius found at Syracuse a Countryman and friend of his from a boy residing there about his Traffique at Sea of whom he learnt all his demands For a servant of his who had returned within three days from Carthage told him that there was no fear of the Vandals way-laying the fleet there being there no news of an Army coming and their valiantest men being newly sent against Godas and that Gelimer having no thought of an enemy neglected Carthage and the sea-towns and made his abode at Hermione near Byzacium 4 days journy from any sea so that they might sail on securely and put in where the wind and weather should invite Procopius hearing this took the servant by the hand to the Port and was inquisitive of many particulars til being aboâ—rd he commanded to hoist sail for Caucana The Master of the fellow stood upon the shore wondring at his man 's not returning But Procopius called out to him not to take it unkindly for his servant must speak with the General and guide the Army into Africk and then should be returned to him to Syracuse with a rich reward But arrived in the Army he found them all mourning the death of Dorotheus General of Armenia a man much desired by the Army Belisarius when he heard the news from the man rejoyced extreamly and much commending Procopius commanded the Trumpets to give warning for weighing anchor And so they came to the Isles of Gaulus and Malta dividing the Adriatique and Tyrrhenâ— seas and thence with an Easterly wind they came the second day upon the coast of Africk five dayes journey from Carthage Being near the shore Belisarius commanded to cast anchor and assembling the Commanders consulted of their landing After some diversity of opinions Archelaus spake thus Our General is to be commended highly who having the advantage of wisdom experience and power yet consults and commands us to speak our opinions of landing though knowing by his own observations what must and may be done And I cannot but admire you the Commanders for so readily perswading our landing who know that to exhort men to an imminent danger brings no advantage to the adviser but laies him open to an accusation For men when things succeed to their desire are pleased and that 's all but when otherwise they accuse the author of the advice though it be unjust that a man for his counsel in publick deliberations should be questioned But resolving thus to land in an enemies Country in what Port will you leave your ships What fortification or walled Town expect you The coast from Lecca to Carthage you hear is nine days journey open to all winds and without any harbour And in all Africk by Genserick his command no walled Towns are standing but Carthage And the Country I am told is destitute of waters And if in the midst of these incommodities we meet with an enemy what shall we resolve then shall we not think such counsels infused rather by some unlucky Damon then humane reason Our ships also when we are landed and a storm comes must either be scattered infinitely or else perish upon this shore Then for your necessary support what supply expect you Let no man look upon me the Commissary for Provisions Then there are no servants for you the soldiers must supply that Office To conclude where will you put your spare arms and baggage and when you need such whence will you be furnished My opinion is to sail directly for Carthage where there is a haven four miles and a half from it called the Pool unguarded and capable of a great fleet from whence you may make the war and easily take Carthage And then having vanquisht the enemy far from thence nothing will be difficult nor dangerous to Conquerours For naturally the head once gon the rest fals of it self These things you are to consider and chuse the best After this speech Belisarius began thus ' Let none fellow Commanders think me to sit here a judge of what hath been spoken nor to speak last supposing my sentence necessarily to be followed I have heard your opinions and my part is to propound what I conceive and together with you to chuse the best One thing you must remember that the soldiers even profess to fear a sea-fight and if the enemy come to turn their backs to them And in that case it is foolish to pray to God for success being afraid and our selves procuring the contrary event If then we sail to Carthage and encounter an enemies Navy and our men fly from them our counsel will be followed with repentance and complaints A fatal error admits some excuse but this none And if a Tempest happen which is most urged to fright us and not well and our ships be â—â—attered as they say or perish upon this coast I pray which is less hurt to have our ships cast away alone or with them all the rest of us to fall by the enemy Besides falling upon the enemy unprovided and not looking for us we may subdue him but when he is armed and prepared we shall hazard a war upon equal terms Concerning the provision of necessaries and how we shall put ashore it is not now time to consult nor enquire Shall we stay for a temipest to fall upon our Navy in a fight as often happens and then begin to learn what to do I think we ought forthwith to land taking with us our horses arms and other needfull things and presently to entrench our selves within a good Rampire which will defend us as the strongest wall and from thence make the war And think not to want any thing if we fight valiantly Who vanquish their enemies all they have is theirs Victory brings all to that side it enclines to In your swords therefore consists your safety and aboundance
Carthage and all Africk is the purchase of your valour and Victors never have faint hearts But it is not unseasonable to put you in mind that fighting bravely now the Vandals will have an end of their hopes and we of fighting You ought then chearfully and with pleasure to enter into this combat being to be the period of your labours And let none speak of the Vandals multitude which uses not to determine wars but mens valour Let the most powerfull thing among men a sense of reputation upon your former actions affect you it being a shame for men in their wits to grow worse and to lessen their own virtue The enemy their fear and remembrance of misfortunes will make cowards the one frighting with things past the other expelling hope of victory ill fortune ever instantly dejecting mens spirirs Besides our combat is for greater things If the former fight had succeeded ill our danger had been not to conquer anothers Country But now we lose that which is our own if we be not victorious So that our fear is so much the greater as it is less to purchaâ—e nothing then to lose what one hath Formerly we got a victory without our Foot but now with our whole Army I hope we shal get the enemies Camp men and all they have You have in your hands the conclusion of this war if you neglect it and put off opportunity you will seek it when 't is gone Fortune despised stops especially if the judgements be improved of those she favoured not before That Goddess hates such as squander away their prosperity And if any man imagine that the fight of the enemies wives and children and most precious things will make them dare even beyond power he errs Anger about things so dear weakens minds excessively affected and suffers them not to make due use of occasions All which taking into our consideration let us undaunted march against the enemy Having thus encouraged them he sent out all his horse that day save 500. and to John the Armenian he gave his own Targetiers and Ensigne which the Romans call Bandum commanding him to skirmish upon occasion Himself with the foot and â—oo horse followed The Hunns were determined to keep their accords with Gelimer and Belisarius too and to begin no fight for the Romans nor before it to turn to the Vandals but upon the victory of either to follow the execution upon the vanquished The Roman Army found the Vandals encamped at Tricamazus about 17 miles from Carthage and lodged not far from them Where about midnight fires were seen upon the Romans spears and the heads thereof red hot and the few who saw this Prodigie were amazed not knowing what the event would be But the same happening long afterward in Italy they took it upon experience for a signe of victory But then it happening first they were troubled and past the night in fear CHAP. II. THe next day Gelimer placed the Vandals wives and children and all their wealth in the midst of the Trench though unfortified and calling them together spake thus We strive not now dear Countrymen about loss of honor or Empire as if by cowardly abandoning these we might live quietly at home and hold our estates Fortune hath turn'd us now to this point either to conquer our enemies or to leave them masters of our wives and children Country and all our wealth and the only advantage of our escaping will be to be slaves and beholders of these things But if we vanquish we shall live in prosperity and after an honorable death leave our Families happy and preserve the Vandals name and Empire If ever men fought a battel for all they have and for the hopes of all men we are they Our fear and danger now is not to die but not to vanquish our enemies which failing only death is good for us Let none of you therefore faint but couragiously abandon his person affecting death rather then the base miseries of a defeâ—t He that is ashamed to be base fears no dangers Think not upon the former fight wherein not our cowardise but some cross fortune tript us whose stream holds not always the same course but changes every day In valour we presume to have the advantage and in numbers we exceed our enemies by ten times as many men Then have we many and great provocations to valour The glory of our ancestors ashamed of our degenerating and the Empire they left us protesting to forsake us if unworthy Then to see the howlings of these women and these weeping children even stops my speech with the extream grief so that I will only say this That these our dearest pledges we shall never more see if we vanquish not our enemies Consider it and be valiant and do not deface the glory of Gensâ—rich Having thus said he commanded his brother Tzazon particularly to animate his soldiers that came from Sardinia who assembling them some space from the camp spake thus ' Fellow soldiers The generality of Vandals are to combat for what you have heard from the King but you are moreover to strive with your own selves Lately fighting for dominion and to recover the Island you overcame Now you hazard in the greatest things you have and must use your greatest courage Who fight for dominion and are vanquished are not ruined in the main But fighting for all their lives depend upon the conclusion of the battel And if you be valiant to day the deposition of Godas will clearly appear an effect of your valour but if now you faint you will lose the reputation also of that action And we have the advantage over the rest terrified with their former defeat we being unvanquisht and fighting with a courage untainted Then will the greatest part of the garland of victory be yours you will be called the Preservers of the Vandal Nation for by winning in company of men formerly unfortunate you will appropriate to your selves the better fortune Upon these considerations you may do well to stint the howling of your women and children and calling God to your assistance to march boldly against the enemy in the head of your Countrymen Gelimer and Tzazon after these exhortations drew them out and about noon came on the Romans being preparing their dinners and stood in order upon the banks of the brook there On the other bank the Romans put also in order thus The left wing Martinus Valerianus John Cyprian Althias and Marcellus had and the other Commanders of Confederates The right wing Pappus Barbatus and Aigan and the Captains of the Legionary horse In the midst stood John with the Generals Lanciers and Ensigne and thither in the due season came Belisarius himself leaving the foot behind marching fair and softly The Hunns who used before not to mingle their ranks with the Roman Army then stood aloof with the intention I have said The Vandals order was to distribute each wing among the Colonels of thousands every one
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
conquest to the Romans And if we do valiantly now we shall be Masters of these men also This exhortation ended the battel begun At first the Romans were put into confusion by their horses skittishness at the sight and cry of the Camels throwing their riders and running away and by the Moors incursions darting the Javelins they had so that being frighted and in tumult they neither defended nor kept their ranks Which Solomon seeing leapt from his horse and commanded the rest to do the like and to stand still warding with their shields against the enemies Javelins and to keep their orders Himself with 500 men gave on upon the Round directing to kill the Camels The Moors there ran away and some 200 Camels were killed Which being done the Round was to be entred and the Romans pierced into the midst of it where the Moors wives were The Barbarians all amazed ran up the mountain whom the Romans pursuing killed some 10000 of them flying in confusion The Camels surviving were taken and the Romans marcht to Carthage to keep their Feast of Victory The Barbarians grown angry made an universal invasion leaving none behind First they overran Byzacium sparing no age they could catch Solomon was newly come to Carthage when this news was told him So that he marcht against them with the whole Army and at the mountain of Burgaon upon which the Moors encamped he sate down expecting the Moors descent that he might give them battel upon plain ground But seeing them not come down he put the Army in a fair order to fight But they watched their occasions in the mountain being heartily afraid of the Romans and having no mind to fight in a champian Burgaon is most of it very ragged and to the East inaccessible but to the West passable and rising gently and between two rocks is a deep woody Valley The top of the mountain where they expected no enemy they left without men and they quitted the foot of it which was easie of access and encamped in the middle to have the shooting of the enemies heads from above And they had horses either to run away with or to chase if they got the day Solomon seeing the Moors would not yet come to the even ground and the Roman Army weary in that desert place made haste to fight But finding the soldier dismayed atheir enemies multitude much greater then in the former battel he spake thus to them The enemies fear of you needs no accuser nor witness it convinces it self So many thousands not daring to encounter you upon even ground and having no confidence in themselves but making this fastness their refuge So that exhortations in words are needless to you whom the things themselves and your enemies weakness animates Only let me put you in mind that by the prosperous conclusion of this day you will instantly enjoy all the wealth of Africk the Vandals being overcome and the Moors reduced and no enemy left to think of And that the enemies may not shoot down upon our heads nor we suffer harm from the nature of the place shall be my care Solomon having thus said commanded Theodorus the Scout-Master to draw out 1000 foot with their Ensignes about the evening and closely to get up at the East side of Burgaon where the mountain is most difficult and being come to the top to pass the night without noise and with Sun-rising to shew themselves to the enemy displaying their Ensignes and to shoot at them He did accordingly and at mid-night passing up a ragged way near the rock was neither discerned by Moors nor Romans being said to be sent to ly abroad to prevent mischief to the Camp Before break of day Solomon went to the skirt of the hill toward the enemy and the soldiers when the day grew bright seeing the top of the mountain full of men displaying Roman Ensignes were amazed When they on the top began the fight the Romans perceived them to be their own and the Barbarians finding themselves shot on both sides and without means to drive off the enemy they despaired and ran away But daring to fly neither to the top nor bottom of the hill being both possessed by the enemy they ran amain to the woody Valley some on horse-back some afoot And being a multitude and in fear and tumult they killed one another and falling in to the Valley very deep the foremost were slain and not discerned by them that followed But when the Valley was full of horses and dead bodies the residue were saved passing over the bodies from Burgaon to the other rock The survivers affirmed 50 thousand Moors to have been slain in this overthrow The Romans lost not a man nor so much as received a wound from the enemy nor other accident but all enjoyed the victory untoucht The Barbarians Princes escaped all save Isdilasas who upon promise of life yielded himself prisoner Their booty of women and children was so great that they sold a Moorish boy for the price of a sheep The Moors remaining then remembred the womens Prophesie That their Nation should perish by a man without a beard CHAP. IX THe Roman Army with their booty and Jsdilasas returned to Carthage But the Barbarians surviving would not continue in Byzacium being few and fearing to be opprest by the neighbouring Africans but fled to to Jabdas An. Dom. 535. Just 9. Prince of the Moors of Aurasium in Numidia In Byzacium such of them only remained as were subject to Antalas who kept his faith to the Romans and had no harm done to his Sujects In the mean time the said Jabdas forraged Numidia with 3â—000 men and made slaves of many Africans Althias then had the command of a Castle thereabout who having a mind to rescue some of those captives drew out 70 Hunns of his Garison but not conceiving it possible with such a number to stand the multitude of the Moors he would have possest some narrow passage where the enemy marching he might have seized upon the captives But finding all open champian about the Towns there he resolved to possess a great well standing in Tigisis an unwalled City but in a great fastness thinking that the enemy being thirsty would certainly come thither no other water being near The great odds in numbers caused his conceit herein to savour of madness The Moors having toiled in the summer heats and being extream thirsty ran to the well imagining no opposition But finding the place possest by the enemy they stood amazed being faint and longing for water Jabdas therefore came to a parly with Althias and offered the third part of his booty that his Moors might drink which he refused but offered to fight a single combat with him Which Jabdas accepted and it was agreed that if he vanquisht Althias the Moors should drink Who were glad and confident seeing Althias a lean man not tall whereas Jabdas was the goodliest and valiantest of all the Moors They were on horseback
moderately and kept it safe disciplining the Army and sending the suspicious men to Constantinople and to Belisarius supplying their rooms with new and banishing the remains of the Vandals and all their women He compassed the Cities with walls and observing the Laws exactly preserved the State that Africk in his Government was rich and happie Things being setled he made war upon Jabdas and the Moors of Aurasium and sent out before with forces Gontharis one of his life-guard a good soldier who encamped by Bagais a desert Town upon the River of Abigas and there he was overthrown in a fight by the enemy and retiring to his camp was straitly besieged Solomon afterward encamped with the whole Army seven miles and a half from Gontharis entrenchment and hearing how he had sped he sent him part of his Army and bad him be of good courage and fight again The River Abigas comes from Aurasium and being in the plain below waters the land as the Inhabitants will by drawing the stream to their uses For it enters through several breaches under ground into the plain where it rises again gathering a stream And the Inhabitants by damming up the breaches or opening them make what use they please of the waters The Moors then opened the breaches and let in all the River about the Romans camp which made a marish not to be past for deepness The Romans were distracted at it but Solomon bearing thereof marcht thither whom the Barbarians fearing retired and in Babosâ—s at the foot of the mountain encamped Solomon came thither too and in fight beat them and made them run away The Moors thought it disadvantageous to have fights upon equal terms thus being not able to stand them but trusting to the fastnesses of Aurasium and hoping that the Romans would be weary of the toil as formerly and be gone many of them went away into Mauritaniâ— and to the Barbarians to the southward of mount Aurasium But Jabdas with 20000 Moors went to Zerbule a Castle built by him in Aurasium and there lay still Solomon not to spend time in besieging and hearing how the Country of Tamugadas had store of ripe wheat he conducted his Army thither took the spoil and burnt the rest and then returned to Zerbule In the mean time Jabdas leaving a sufficient guard for the Castle was gone up to the top of Aurasium fearing to be blockt up in the Castle and reduced to wants And at Tumaz a place rising with cliffs round about and fenced with broken rocks he rested The Romans three days assaulted Zerbule and the walls being low shot many Moors and chanced to kill all their Commanders The third day at night the Romans hearing nothing of those Commanders death consulted to rise Solomon thinking it best to go against Jabdas and the main body of the Moors who being subdued Zorbule would quickly yield But the Barbarians their Leaders being slain would hold no longer but silently ran away and abandoned the Castle undiscovered by the enemy The Romans at day break were trusting baggage but wondred to see no enemy upon the wall And doubting what it should mean and compassing the Castle they find the gate open where the Moors ran way They entred and took the booty but would not pursue the enemy being men apparelled lightly and skilfull in all the passages Having sackt the Castle and left a Garison in it they went on all afoot And at Tumaz where the enemy was they encamped in a fastness having water and other necessaries very scarcely A long time was spent and the Moors sallied not so that being more besieged then the enemy they fretted chiefly for the want of water Here the Latine Translation which Solomon put a guard upon giving out but a cup full to a man every day But seeing them impatient and unable to endure longer this hard diet he resolved to stay no longer but to draw the men to fight near this Castle and thus exhorted his men CHAP. XV. HAving by Gods favour beaten the Moors out of Zerbule a thing seeming difficult and uncredible to such as have not seen our former actions we must not now neglect the gift of God but with our accustomed valour boldly undergoe this hazard and from our former good fortune presage a future victory And the advantages of all actions standing in the due use of occasions if any man now slothfully neglect the offer of fortune let him not accuse her but himself being abandoned through his own default You see the Moors weakness and this Castle wherein they shelter themselves destitute of provisions And you must with a patient siege expect the enemies surrender or by neglecting that neglect with danger a victory ready for us How much better and less dangerous is it to try your fortune against men not likely to fight with you being wasted with famine Confider these things seriously and obey directions Solomon spake thus and then studying how and where to assault all being round about a rock fortune shewed him his way One Geson a Lieutenant of foot whom the Romans call Optio either in sport or earnest or by divine impulsion mounted alone and presently other souldiers admiring his courage followed him Three Moors ran to oppose him and the place being narrow came single The first by chance falling the Roman used his advantage and killed him The souldier who followed him seeing it ran up with a shout and the whole Army neither expecting leader nor sound of trumpet nor observing order but crying and encouraging one another gave on where Rufinus and Leontius the son of Zanâ—as did so bravely upon the enemy that terrified at it and seeing their guards cut in pieces they all ran away and the most overtaken in narrow passages were slain Jabdas though woudned by a dart in his thigh escaped and fled into Mauritania The Romans pillaged the enemies camp and Solomon caused them to stay in Aurasium and repair the Castle and left a garrison to hinder the Moors recourse thither in their rebellions In Aurasium is an ancient Tower standing upon a rock called Geminians Rock safe and difficult of accesse Here Jabdas had lately put his wealth with his women and never thinking that an enemy could get thither or force the Tower he left one old Moore onely to take charge of his treasure But the Romans through all the difficulties got thither and one of the souldiers as in sport began to climb up to the Tower whom the old man and the women laught at for a mad man But he scrambled up with his hands and feet and being got up drew his sword and cut off the old mans head The rest of the souldiers boldly and with alacrity helpt one another up took the women and a great treasure with which Solomon re-edified the walls of many cities in Africk The Moors being beaten out of Numidia fled into Zebe a Country of Mauritania beyond mount Aurasium whose metropolis is Sitiphis tributary to the
spared despising his age The next day Gontharis sent Areobindus his head to Antalas but kept his goods and the 1500 soldiers At which Antalas chased and it troubled him to see how Gontharis had forswore himself to Areobindus his friend so that he could not think he should ever keep faith to himself or any After much debate he resolved to submit to the Emperour and so marcht away He then sent to Marcentius Commander of the Horse in Byzacium who was fled into an Island acquainted him with the business and upon assurances got him to come to him So Marcentius was with Antalas and the soldiers of Byzacium true to the Emperour guarded Adramettus The mutiners of Stotzas about 1000 men were led by John to Gontharis who gladly received them Of them were 500 Romans and 80. Hunnes the rest were Vandals Artabanes upon assurances came to the Palace with his Armenians professing his service to the usurper But closely he plotted his death consulting with Gregorius his Nephew and Artasiris one of his guard Gregorius to egge him on told him That he had now the means to gain the glory of Belisarius nay to exceed it He with a gallant Army a huge treasure with many Commanders and Counsellors with a Fleet of ships the like whereof this age had not heard of with store of horse and arms and with a preparation fitting the Roman Empire had recovered Africk All which was now so cast away as if none of it had ever been and that the Romans from Belisarius his victory were fallen to be abused in their persons and robbed of their goods But that it was onely in his spirit wit and sword now to recover all this to the Emperour He bad him consider how he was of the race of the Arsacides and think how men nobly born must be every where valiant Being a youth he slew Acacius Governour of Armenia and Sittas the Generall and thereby was made known to King Chosroes and made war for him against the Romans that being such a person he ought not now to abandon the Roman Empire thus to a drunken dog but to make it appear that his former actions proceeded from true nobleness and valour that himself and Artasiris would serve his commands therein Thus Gregorius incensed Artabanes against the Tyrant CHAP. XX. WHo in the mean time removed the wife and sister of Areobindus from the Castle to a house where they had competent provisions and had no dishonour honour nor constraint used to them save onely that Projecta was made to write to the Emperour her Uncle That Gontharis used her with all due respect and was clear of her husbands murther committed by Vlitheus without his allowance Gontharis did this upon the advise of Pasiphilus a chief mutiner in Byzacium and his principall assistant in this usurpation who alleadged that by thus doing the Emperour might give him the Lady to wife which would bring him much wealth Gontharis also commanded Artabanes to lead the Army against Antalas and the Moors of Byzacium Cutzinas was fallen from Antalas and joyned with Gontharis and had given him his mother and children for hostages Artabanes marcht directly against Antalas with John Captain of Stotzas mutiners and Vlitheus with the Moors under Cutzinas They past by Adramettus whereabout they found the enemy and encamped a little distant The next day John and Vlitheus staid with part of the Army and Artabanes and Cutzinas with the rest drew out against the enemy But Antalas and his Moors stood them not but ran away And Artabanes with a willing cowardize turned about his ensign suddainly and rode back whom Vlitheus would have killed at his coming but he excused it upon his fear lest Marcentius with aids from Adramettus might distresse them and that it were â—it that Gontharis should oppose the enemy with his whole Army Artabanes hereupon thought first to joyn with the Emperours Army at Adramettus but upon better advise he resolved to kill Gontharis and so rid the Emperour and Africk from trouble Returning therefore to Carthage he told the Tyrant the necessity of a greater Army who after consulting with Pasiphilus armed the whole forces and purposed to lead them himself leaving a garrison in Carthage And every day he killed some upon causelesse jealousies He instructed Pasiphilus to whom he left the guard of Carthage to murder all the Greeks and having set all in order he thought good to feast his friends being the next day to depart His feast was in a room where three couches stood ever ready upon the uppermost himself sate with Athanasius and Artabanes and some of Gontharis favourites and Peter a Thracian formerly of the guard to Solomon At both the other couches were the best men of the Vandals John the captain of Stotzas mutiners was feasted by Pasiphilus and the rest severally by Gontharis friends Artabanes when he was invited resolved it for a sit opportunity to kill the Tyrant and to execute his designe He acquainted Gregorius and Artasiris therewith and three other of his guard these he directed to get in with their swords the fashion being while the Commanders feast for their guard to stand behind them and when they see their time to fall to work suddainly and Artasiris to begin Gregorius he instructed to bring many of their valiantest Armenians to the Palace onely with swords it not being lawfull to attend their Commanders in a City with other weapons and leaving them in the utter Court to go in with the guard And they to pretend themselves jealous lest Gontharis had invited Artabanes for no good and to desire to stand among Gontharis guards to guard their Captain And then in sport to eatch the others shields and to tosse them and play with them and when they heard the cry within to put on the shields and run in This direction of Artabanes Gregorius put in execution and Artasiris had this devise also He cut arrowes in two and the pieces he thrust in round about his left arm to his elbow tying them with whip-cord and covering all with the sleeve of his coat that he might take any blow made at him upon his arme and so cause it to glaunce down the wood of the arrowes from off the body To Artabanes also he spake thus I will undertake this without the least fear and I hope with this sword to pierce Gontharis The successe I know not whither God offended with the Tyrant will assist me or to punish my sins crosse me If you see him not mortally wounded kill me with this sword instantly lest by torture I should discover you and so basely perish my self and be forced to ruine you too Having thus said he went with Gregorius and one of the guard and stood behind Artabanes The rest staid with the guards without and did as they were directed Artasiris at the beginning of the feast would have done it and had his hand upon his cimiter But Gregorius stopt him saying in the Armenian
in the tumults of War I have no skill my love of learning and exercises therein have removed me from the noise of Battailes So that I have no reason to be ambitious of Kingdomes nor to live in dangers having meanes to avoid both neither pleasing me The first as all other sweets being ever punisht with satiety And the other vexing a man that is not used to it If therefore I may have lands in possession of the yearly value of 12. Centenaries of gold I shall prefer them before a Kingdome and will surrender to you the Dominion of the Goths and Italians I shall be more contented to live a Husband-man then in the cares and multiplying dangers of a Kingdome Send to me therefore speedily some man to whom I may resign Italy and the State The Emperour infinitely over-joyed returned this answer I ever took you for a wise man and now my experience assures it in that you depend not on the uncertaine event of a War by which some have undone themselves already and you shall never repent for having made us a friend of an Enemy your demands you shall have with this addition to be advanced to the prime honours of the Roman State I have sent Athanasius and Peter to make our selves sure by some Articles and Belisarius shall be speedily sent to put a conclusion thereunto The Emperour accordingly sent Athanasius brother to that Alexander lately sent Ambassador to Atalaricus and the afore-named Peter with Instructions to allot lands to Theodatus of the Emperours Demeans and having by writings and oath perfected the accord to call in Belisarius from Sicily to take possession of the Imperiall Palaces and Italy and the custody thereof And he directed Belisarius being sent for instantly to go over During this negotiation an Army of Goths led by Asinarius and Gripas entred Dalmatia and neer Salonae were encountred by Mauritius the sonne of Mundus who with a few went out to discover only They made a furious charge and the best of the Goths fell but the Romans almost all and Mauritius their Leader Munaus was much grieved at the newes and in his passion marched against the Enemie with no good order The Battail was stifly fought and the Romans got a Cadmâ—an victory cleerly defeating the Enemy and cutting off the most part But Mundus killing and chasing at adventure as enraged for the losse of his sonne was wounded and slain by a Run-away Whereupon the Execution ceased and the Armies parted Then did the Romans remember a verse of Sibyll famous and seeming formerly to foretel some strange prodigie That when Affricke should again come under the Romans Mundus cum suo semine interibit But in the Oracle it was not so exprest but having intimated the said return of Affricke it sayes Quod tunc Mundus cum filio interibit Mundus signifying the world in Latine they conceived it to be meant of the world But into Salonae no man entred The Romans destitute of a Generall retired home and the Goths having lost their cheife men kept close in their Garrisons having no confidence in the Fortifications of Salonae and the Romans inhabiting it being not their friends Theodatus upon the newes hereof slighted the Ambassadors being naturally slippery and faithlesse The present fortune ever drew him either into senseless fears not sutable to the occasion or into excessive presumption As now upon the newes of Mundus and Mauritius he was exalted not proportionably to the accident and he flowted the Ambassadors being now with him Peter once expostulating his breach of agreements he called him into publique and said That Ambassadors indeed are persons of respect and by all men honoured but that they preserve this priviledge and the honour of their places by moderation onely For men use to put an Ambassador to death if he demeane himself insolently to a Kings person or lye with another mans Wife Theodatus said not thus as thinking Peter to kave layen with any mans Wife but to shew that there were crimes in an Ambassador punishable with death But the Ambassadors made him this answer O Prince of the Goths upon such mistaken unsound pretences do not you violate the persons of Ambassadors An Ambassador if he would cannot be an Adulterer who can hardly have so much as the use of water without the privity of those that guard him For words though harsh if he utter such as he received from his Master not he but his Master is to beare the blame An Ambassadors onely part is to execute the service And we what we have received from the Emperour will utter it all and you are patiently to heare us If you be angry you have no help but to abuse men that are Ambassadors It is high time for you to perform your Covenants with the Emperour For which purpose we are sent hither His letters to your selfe you have another directed to the principall Goths we will deliver only to themselves The great Officers being present bad them give the Letter to Theodatus which was thus Our care is to receive you into our State for which you ought to rejoyce For you shall mingle with us not for your diminution but to adde more value to you We invite not the Goths to Countries strange and unknown to them but to our selves sometimes their familiars though for a time divided from them Athanasius and Peter are sent about this businesse whom you are to assist in all things CHAP. VI. THeodatus perused all the letters but refused to perform the agreements and put a strait guard upon the Ambassadors The Emperour advertized hereof and of the successes in Dalmatia sent into Illyrium Constantianus Master of his Horse to gather an Army and attempt Salonae and he directed Belisarius without delay to passe into Italy and make War upon the Goths Constantianus at Epidamnus stayed some time and raised Forces Gripas in the meane time had entered Salonae with the Goths And Constantianus having made his preparations left Epidamnus with his Fleet and * Ragusa stands now where about this was upon the gulfe of Venice cast Anchor at Epidaurus standing to the right hand as you saile into the Jonian gulph Some here sent by Gripas to discover seeing the land Army and the Ships covering as they imagined Land and Sea reported to Gripas that Constantianus had many thousands He afraid thought it not best to encounter them Neither would he willingly be besieged by the Emperours Army Master of the Sea The walls of Salonae much decayed troubled him too and he could not trust the Inhabitants For these reasons he removed from thence and encamped in a champian between Salonae and the Citie of Croton Constantianus wayed Anchor from Epidaurus and came before Lysâ—ne upon the gulph Hence he sent some to discover and report concerning Gripas from whom understanding how it was * The Gothick war began in the Spring which begins exactly 11. Martii the Sun emring into Aries Justinian began
unto them Great Actions fellow Souldiers prosper not commonly by suddaine Opportunities but by solid Counsels seasonable delaying often doing good and many undoing their hopes by undue hast For men unprovided though equall in numbers are more easily beaten in Fight then though inferiour in Powers yet well prepared Let us not therefore provoked with the present honour hurt our selves incurably It is better with a short disgrace to preserve a perperuall Reputation then avoding it for a moment to be ever confounded with Ignominy * Leander cals this Venetia Marca Trivigiana Our maine numbers and our magazines are in Gaule and Venetia and other remote Parts We have also a War with the Francks which before we have setled to enter into another is folly Who stands between two Enemies and hath not his eye upon one at once is commonly ruined by both I say then that we ought to go to Ravenna and having agreed the War with the Francks and disposed our businesse then to fight with Belisarius Let none be ashamed or feare that this Retraite will be called a running away A seasonable Imputation of Cowardize hath crowned many a man with Successe And the name of Valour gotten by some before the time hath ended in a Defeat Let us not affect Names but reall Advantages Actions in their conclusions not beginnings shew the worth of men They run not away who returne upon the Enemy with greater preparations but who hide themselves as if they would keep their Bodies ever alive And of this City be not affraid If the Romans be well affected to us they will secure it for us being to indure no extremity in the short time before we returne If they be unsure they will hurt us lesse by receiving the Enemy into their City it being ever best to Encounter men that hate us in an open way But this also I shall prevent leaving in it a strong Garrison and an able Commander and that being so setled we can have no hurt by this Retrait The Goths approved this advise of Vitigis and prepared for the Journey Then Vitigis using many Exhortations to Liberius the Bishop of Rome the Senate and People to think of Theodoricks Reigne and to continue their affections to the Gothish Nation he bound them in strong Oathes And leaving to guard Rome 4000. men under Leuderis a man ancient and much esteemed for his Wisedome he marcht to Ravenna with the rest of his Army taking the most part of the Roman Senators with him in the quality of Hostages There he married perforce Mattasuntha a Beautifull Virgin the Daughter of Amalasuntha that by alliance with the Blood of Theodorick he might make his Reigne firme Then he assembled the Goths from all parts and ranckt them in order distributing Horses and Armes to them Those onely lying in Gaule for feare of the Francks he sent not for The Francks were formerly called Germans where they first inhabited and how they incroached upon Gaule and then fell out with the Goths I will tell you I said before how from Calis and the Ocean into the Mediterranean the left hand continent is called Europe and that against it Africk and further on Asia The Countries beyond Africk I can say nothing of being not inhabited whereby the Spring of Nile is unknowne which they say comes from those Parts But Europe at the first is like Peloponesus having the Sea on both sides The first Province from the Ocean is named Spaine unto the Alpes which are in the Pyrenaean Mountaines the Natives calling narrow passages Alpes From thence Gaule reaches to Liguria where other Alpes divide the Gaules and Ligurians Gaule is broader then Spaine for Europe begins narrow and proceeds to a great breadth by degrees and it hath the Ocean on the North side and on the South the Tyrhene Sea Among other Rivers it hath the Rhone and the Rhine having contrary courses the Rhone into the Tyrrhene Sea but into the Ocean the Rhine Here Lakes also are where-about anciently these Germans did inhabit now called Francks a Barbarian Nation and at first not considerable Beyond them dwelt the †They inhabit some say Belgia about Brabant Arborychi subject formerly to the Romans as all the rest of Gaule and Spaine Augustus planted the Thuringians to the East of the Arborychi not far from whom to the South inhabited the Burgundians and beyond the Thuringians the Suevians and Almans Potent Nations All these were free States and from all Antiquity seated there In processe of time the Visigoths oppressing the Roman Empire subdued Spaine and Gaule to the River of Poe and made them tributary The Arborychi were then become Roman Souldiers whom the Germans or Francks to bring them in Subjection being their Borderers and for having abandoned their former Common-wealth pillaged and made a generall War upon them In this War the Arborychi shewed much Valour and Affection to the Romans And the Germans not able to force them offer'd to make them their Confederates which they willingly embraced both being Christians and being joyned into one people they grew into a great power Other Roman Souldiers also Garrison'd in the Confines of Gaule being not able to returne to Rome nor willing to mingle with the Goths their Enemies and Arrians yeilded themselves their Ensignes and the Country under their Guard to the Arborychi and Germans which they have left to their Posterity and preserved the Roman Customes which to my time they religiously observe They still are inrolled in the same Bands they anciently served in have their proper Ensignes in Fights and use the Roman Lawes and Habit and especially the Fashion of their Diadems The Roman State flourishing Gaule on this side the Poe was the Emperours But Odoacer usurping the same by the Tyrants cession the Visigoths had all Gallia Cisalpina to †The Author calls the Pyrean and the Apennine by the name of Alpes those Alpes which sever Gaule and Liguria Odoacer being slaine the Thuringians and Visigoths fearing the Germans power who were grown a strong multitude subduing all in their way sought allyance with the Goths And Theodorick afterward gladly contracted affinities with them Theudichusa his Daughter a young Virgin he betroathed to Alarick the younger Prince of the Visigoths and Amaloberga the Daughter of his sister Amalafrida he affianced to Hermenefridus Prince of the Thuringians And the Francks fearing Theodorick forbare to force the Visigoths and Thuringians but made Warr upon the Burgundians CHAP. XI AFterwards the Francks and Goths made a league against the Burgundians upon conditions to ruine the race of them and to subdue their Countrey and that the Conquerours shall have a Fine from the part not joyning in the War but the Country to be a common conquest of both The Francks accordingly went with a great Army against the Burgundians Theodorick made preparations in shew but delayed the expedition expecting the event At last he sent his Army which he bade march faire and softly and
provisions conceiving that the Goths repulsed here could not passe by any other Bridge in lesse then twenty days and to get Boats would be a longer worke Upon these considerations he placed that Garrison The Goths lodged neer it and the next day intended to assault the Tower Here came to them 22. Fugitives Barbarians born but Roman Souldiers of Innocentius Horse-troop Belisarius thought fit to make a Camp neer the Tiber the more to hinder the Enemies passage and to give some demonstration of their own courage The Roman Garrison upon the Bridg frighted with the multitude and the danger quitted the Tower at night and ran away into Campania They would not goe to Rome fearing chastisement from the Generall or ashamed to see their fellowes The next day the Goths brake down the Gates and passed over none opposing Whereof Belisarius hearing nothing with 1000. Horse marcht toward the bridg to view their ground where they might best incamp who lighting upon the Enemy newly passed over were engaged in a fight unwillingly They were both sides Horse And Belisarius though formerly cautions observed not then the ranck of a Generall but fought in the head of his Souldiers which hazarded extreamly the Roman affairs the whole inclination of the War depending on him But he was upon a Horse used to the War and skilfull to save his Rider He was of a brown bay and from the fore-head to the nostrils white Such a Horse the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Barbarians Balan Most of the Goths shot at Belisarius and his Horse upon this occasion Those new-come Fugitives seeing Belisarius fighting in the first ranck knowing that by his fall the Romans would be ruined cryed aloud to shoot at the bald fac'd Horse This word ran through the Goths Army who in the tumult being not inquisitive nor certain it was Belisarius but guessing the word so generally spred was not for nothing most left all others and shot at Belisarius Such as were ventrous and ambitious of honour got neer reacht at him and in fury layd on with Lances and swords And Belisarius layd about him too killing those within his reach The affection of his Lanciers and Targetiers stood him in good stead in this danger who sticking close to him shewed valour the like whereof I think was never seen holding their sheilds before the Generall and receiving all the arrowes and thrusting off the multitudes with main strength CHAP. XV. THus was the whole fight about one man wherein fell at least 1000 Goths and such as fought in the first rancks Many of the best of Belisarius his Retinue were slaine and Maxentius one of his Lanciers after he had performed bravely Himselfe was neither wounded that day nor shot though the fight was about him alone In conclusion the Romans routed the Enemy multitudes flying till they recovered their campe where their foot being fresh received the Romans and easily repulsed them Who seeing another supply of Horse coming fled up to a Hill where they made a stand and encounter'd the Barbarian horse overtaking them Where Valentinus Gentleman of the horse to Photius Antonina's sonne shewed extraordinary valour gallopping into the thickest of the enemy and stopping their course and bringing off his company and thus they escaped to the Walls of Rome with the Barbarians at their heels up to the gate now called Belisaria The Romans within fearing the Enemy might enter pell mell would not open the gate notwithstanding Belisarius's earnest commands loud cries and threats who could not be discerned from the Turret it being after Sun set having his face covered with bloud and dust and they did not think the Generall to be alive those that ran away at the first defeat having reported him to be slain fighting bravely in the head of his troopes The Enemy therefore coming with multitudes and much Fury thought to get over the ditch and charged the retirers who near the Walls stood thick and close body to body in a small roome And they within being no Souldiers nor prepared at all and afraide of their city could not succour them when a sudden bold resolution of Belisarius saved all who encouraging his company charged the Enemy and they being disordered as in the dark and upon a chase and seeing those that fled unexpectedly coming on suspected succours to be come from the city and in a fear run all away Belisarius pursued them not but turned about to the walls whom the Romans taking heart received in and his company In so great perill was Belisarius and the Emperours affaires The fight beginning in the morning ended at night wherein Belisarius did best of the Romans and of the Goths Visandus the standard bearer who with the rest charged Belisarius and went not off before hee fel to the ground after 13 wounds received and neglected by his companions though they had the victory he was left among the dead Three dayes after the Goths being encamped neer Rome sent out to bury the dead men and to performe their funerall rites these searching the bodies found Visandus with breath in him but he could not speak his inward parts with famin and drouth being extreamly inflamed they put water in his mouth and so having drunk and got life they carried him to the campe and for this he was in great reputation with the Goths and he lived long after Belisarius being in safety assembled his souldiers to the walls and most of the common people commanding them to light fires and to watch all night He went the round himself set all in order and appointed commanders to every gate Bessas who guarded Porta Praenestina sent him word that the town was entred by the Enemy at a gate bearing the name from Saint Pancratius The company advised Belisarius to escape out at some other gate but hee misliked the motion sent horsemen down to the Tiber who upon the view brought word that there was no Enemy thereabout appearing Wherefore he sent direction to the Commanders of every gate if they heard that the Enemie was entred at any other part not to succour but to continue upon their guards least they should be disordered with false alarms Himself would take care of those things Vitigis the Romans being in this tumult sent a Commander named Vacis to Porta Salaria who reviled there the Romans for their disloyalty to the Goths and thus betraying their countrey and indeed themselves having exchanged the Goths power for Greeks unable to defend them none of which nation were formerly seen in Italy but stage-players and some pilfring mariners But seeing none would answer him he went back to Vitigis The Romans also flouted Belisarius who had so hardly escaped yet bade them despise these Barbarians for he knew he should absolutely beat them By what he knew this shal be sayd anon but now it being grown late and he being yet fasting his wife and freinds had much ado to perswade him to eat something CHAP. XVI
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
your self against the Lord of the Goths and Italians How absurd is it for you shut up thus and affraid of your Enemies to lodge in Rome while her King lives in a trench acting the mischeifes of a war upon his own Subjects Yet will wee grant to you and your troopes a free retreat and leave to carry away your goods holding it not religious nor manly to insult upon men who have learnt to be sober again But we would willingly aske these Romans wherewith they can charge the Goths that they thus have betrayed both us and themselves having hitherto enjoyed our moderation and now finding what your aides are Belisarius to this speech made this answer Our season for fighting shall not be at your disposing men use not to make war by the advise of their Enemies whose Law is for every man to order his owne businesse to his owne liking The time will come when you would hide your heads in bushes and shall not be able We having taken Rome possesse nothing that is anothers You usurped it formerly being not yours and now have restored it to the ancient owners And who ever of you hopes to enter Rome without fighting he is mistaken It is impossible Belisarius should live and so much degenerate Thus spake Belisarius But the Romans for fear sate mute not daring to contradict the Ambassadors though reproached thus with treason Onely Fidelius was bold to reprove them being Prefect of the pallace made by Belisarius and most affected to the Emperours Service The Ambassadors were reconducted to the campe whom Vitigis askt what manner of man Belisarius was and how resolving touching his retreat They answered that the Goths hoped an impossibility if they thought to fright Belisarius whereupon Vitigis resolved to assault the City for which he was thus prepared He made Towers of wood equall with the walls having the just measure of them by often numbring the stones at the Bases and corners of the towers were wheeles which with ease were moved and turned about as the assailants pleased and drawn by oxen He fitted also many Ladders and made four Rammes which Engin is made first setting up four woodden pillars equall and opposite to each other into which are mortessed eight crosse beams four above and four into the Bases making the form of a little house four square This instead of roofe and walls was covered with Skins that it might be light to draw and they within secure from shot Within about the Engin aloft hangs another crosse beam with loose chains the top whereof is made sharpe and over it a great quantity of iron layd as on the head end of an arrow where the said iron is made four square like an anvill The Engin is raised upon four wheeles fastned to the four pillars and within fifty men at least move it who having set it to the walls draw the said loose beam backward with a pully then let it go with violence at the walls and by often shooting it thus it shakes and makes a breach where it hits hence the Engin hath the name the point of the said beam putting forth and pushing like a ram The Goths also had quantity of fagots of wood and reed ready to make the ground and the City ditch even for their Engins to passe without rubb Belisarius upon the other side placed upon the Towers engins called Balistae These have the form of a bow with a hollow horne sticking out beneath and hanging loose but lying upon a strait peice of Iron when they are to shoote they bend the two peices of wood making the two ends of the bow with cord and put the arrow upon the hollow horne being halfe so long as common arrowes and four times as thick It mounts not with feathers but instead thereof hath thinn peices of wood mortess'd in and it is in shape wholly like common arrowes having a head of iron proportionable to its thicknesse men at both ends bend the bow with pullyes and the hollow horne going forward at last falls off and out flies the arrow with such force that it reaches twice as far as an arrow from a bow and lighting upon tree or stone cleaves it asunder It is called Balistae because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shootes very far Other Engins were set upon the battlements proper for slinging stones and are like slings and are called wild Asses At the Gates they set up wolves These wolves were something like Potteulisses made thus They set two beams from the ground reaching to the battlements and laying Chequer wise peices of Timber wrought some upright and some a crosse they joynt them so that the mortessing holes meete one another And before each joynt sticks out a pointed peice of wood like a thick spurr and fastning the crosse timbers to another beam which from the top reaches half way down they lay the beams flat-long upon the Gates an Enemy approaching men above lay hold of the higher ends of the beams and thrust them down which falling suddenly among the Assailants with those wooden points sticking out kill all they light on Belisarius having these preparations the Goths conducted by Vitigis himself the eighteenth day of the siege about sun rising marcht to the assault The Towers and Rams in the head of them astonisht the Romans not used to such sights But Belisarius seeing the Enemies order with their Engins fell into a laughing and bade the Souldiers stand and begin no fight till he gave the Signall He imparted not the reason of his laughing but afterward it was known The Romans thinking he jeer'd them railed at him and called him an impudent man and extreamly murmured that he did not stop the Enemy coming neer or still Who being approacht the town ditch the Generall bent his bow and shot an armed man leading the rest into the neck and the wound being mortall the man fell downe with his face upward All the people of Rome upon the Battlements taking it for an excellent presage made a huge shout Belisarius shot again with the like fortune and againe there was a greater shout from the walls that the Romans within thought the Enemy had been vanquisht Then Belisarius gave the signall to the whole Army to shoot and commanded those about himselfe to employ all their Arrows against the Oxen which soone fell all and so the Enemy could neither bring on their Towers nor invent any remedy being puzzel'd in the midst of their business Then was known Belisarius providence not to stop them afar off and that he laughed at their sottishnesse in hoping to bring their Oxen to their Enemies walls so unadvisedly These things were about Porta Belisaria CHAP. XVIII BUT Vitigis being there repulsed left a good part of the Army ordered in a deep Batallion and directing the Commanders not to assaile the walls but to stand in their orders and ply the Battlements with shot to divert Belisarius from succouring another part which with
greater Forces hee meant to assault he marched toward Porta Praenestina to that part which is called Vivarium or the Park where the Walls are most assaultable having other Engines of Rammes Towers and scaling Ladders The Goths also made another assault against Porta Aurelia without which stands Adrians Tomb a stones cast from the wals worth the sight It is made of Parian stone close joyned without any other matter within It hath four equall squares each being neer a stones cast broad and is higher then the City walls On the top are Statues of the same stone of men and horses of admirable worke This tombe the Citizens have anciently joyned to the walls by two Flanckers from the same that it shews as a turret defending the gate there The Fortification being very sufficient Belisarius gave the command of it to Constantianus directing him to take care of the wall adjoyning which had but a small guard For the wall being there strong the river running under it he look't not for an assault that way and so put no important guard at it distributing his maine Forces which were but few to the most necessary places For the Emperours Army at the beginning of this siege amounted but to five thousand men in Rome Constantianus perceiving the Enemy to attempt a passage over the Tiber and fearing the Flancker there himselfe went to the succour with a few directing the rest to guard the Gate and Adrians tomb Where the Goths gave on holding before them their leather Bucklers like Persian Targets and having no engines of Batteries but store of scaling Ladders and Archery thinking quickly to perplex the Enemy and master the Garrison being few Their opposites saw them not till they came very neer being covered by the Porticus which reaches to Saint Peters Church Then suddenly the Goths shewing themselves began and the Romans were not able to use their Balistas which can shoot but right forward nor with their Archery to annoy them the shot doing no good by reason of those Bucklers The Goths prest hard and shot thick at the Battlements and were ready to se their Ladders to the Flanckers having almost encompassed the tomb and when the Romans came on still wheeling about at their backs The Romans were troubled seeing no hope of holding out till they agreed to take down the Statues being great and the stones huge which they threw down upon the Enemies heads Who being hurt gave ground by little and little and the Romans grew bold and repelled them with their Bowes and stones and falling to their Engines put them into feare so that their assault was not long And Constantianus appearing frighted those who attempted to passe the River not finding the Flancker there without guard as they imagined Thus the Aurelian gate was in safety and all about it The Enemy also attempted Porta Pancratiana upon the River but did no good upon the place being strong and the walls not easily assaultable there standing on steep ground Paulus with his Foot company guarded there Neither attempted they Porta Flaminia scituate upon craggy ground not easie of accesse and guarded by a Foot-company of Rhegians commanded by Vrsicinus Between this gate and Porta Pinciana next it on the right hand part of the wall had been long broken halfe way down from the top It fell not but panch't on both sides part appearing inward and part outward whence the Romans call it the broken wall Belisarius at his first coming going about to repair it the Romans hindered him alleadging that the Apostle Peter had promised to guard the place whom above all they reverence And it succeeded according to their expectation For neither that day nor during all the siege of Rome the Enemy ever approacht it not was the least trouble about it And we wondered in all the time that the place never came into the Enemies thoughts having made so many assaults and attempts by night No man since hath been so bold as to repaire it but still the wall remains broken At Porta Salaria in the meane time a tall goodly man valiant and of good quality among the Goths being armed with Corslet and Morion left his ranke and standing on a tree threw a rope up to the Battlements whom an arrow from a Balista piercing through his body halfe way into the tree nailed him dead to the same This frighted the Goths from coming within arrow-shot and kept them in their ranks from infesting any more those upon the walls CHAP. XIX IN the meane time Bessas and Peranius whom Vitigis hotly charged in the Vivarium sent for Belisarius And he speedily came to their reliefe fearing the weaknesse of the wall in that part and leaving at Porta Salaria one of his retinew He encouraged the Souldiers in the Park frighted with the assault and the Enemies multitude Anciently the Romans finding the ground flat and fit for invasion and the bricks of the wall there grown loose scarce sticking together compassed the same with a Flancker not so much for safety for it had no Battlements nor other Fortification upon it to resist an Enemy but for pleasure to keep in it Lions and other wild Beasts whereupon it was named Vivarium the Park Vitigis made ready his Engines against the wall there and commanded the Goths to get through the Flancker into the Park and then he knew he should be easily master of the Town-walls being weake Belisarius seeing the Enemy digging through into the Park and in many parts assaulting the walls suffered not his men to defend nor stay upon the Battlements but held them with their swords and Armour ready neer unto the Gate there The Goths having now cut through the wall and entred the Park he sent out Cyprianus with his company to begin the fight who killed them all falling downe for feare and spoiled by one another running out at their narrow breach the whole Enemy being amazed with the suddennesse and out of their orders and some carried one way some another Belisarius instantly opened the Gate and sallied with the whole Army And the Goths having no mind to fight ranne away every man whom the Romans followed and killed them with ease and had a long execution the Goths having assaulted there far from their Entrenchments Belisarius commanded to burn the Enemies Engines which with the flame being high more astonished them At Porta Salaria also they sallied at the same time unexpectedly killed the Enemy running away without resistance and burnt their Engines The flame rose above the walls which put them all to a generall retreat the Romans from the walls shouting to encourage the pursuers and the others from the Entrenchments wailing the disaster Thirty thousand Goths were slain that day as their Commanders affirmed and more wounded For from the Battlements shooting at multitudes they seldome mist and they who sallied slew heaps of amazed flying men and the businesse lasted from morning to evening At night they retreated the
it her own So that the women let it alone and the Goat nursed it for which the people called the child Aegisthus I travelling that way they brought me to it and anger'd it to make it cry the Goat hearing it being a stones cast off ran to it bleating and stood over it that none might hurt it and this is the story of Aegisthus CHAP. XV. BUT Belisarius marcht by the mountaines resolving not to come to a direct battell being much inferiour in numbers and the Goths desperate with their mis-fortunes But he thought that when they heard of Forces invading on every side they would not resist but run away and the guest as it fell out For being upon the Mountaines a dayes journey from Ariminum he lighted upon Goths travelling about businesse who being suddenly surprized could not turne out of the way but were some slain by the Romans and the rest wounded ran up and hid them in the rocks from whence seeing the Romans marching many together in narrow passages they judged them far more then they were and perceiving the Ensign of Belisarius they knew that he led them The night overtaking the Romans flayed there and the Goths hurt men run to Vitigis Camp whether being arrived about noon the next day they shewed their wounds and reported Belisarius to be at hand with an innumerable army Hereupon they prepared to fight marching to the North of Ariminum which way they thought the Enemy would come and still looking to the mountain tops At night having put off their armes and taking their rest they saw fires some seven miles from the City Eastward kindled by Martinus They fell into terrible fear apprehending in the morning to be surrounded by the Enemy and so lay still that night in that fear And by Sun rising they saw a great fleet coming which even struck them dumb that with tumult and clamouring they truâ—s'd up harkning to no commands nor thinking upon any thing but how to get quit of the camp and within the walls of Ravenna If the besieged had had any strength or courage left they had cut the Enemy in peices and made an end of the war but they were heartlesse with their miseries and feeble with want of food The Goths in that confusion left much of their baggage behind and ran amain to Ravenna Ildiger with his forces first seized the Enemies trenches tooke the baggage they left there and some sick men At noon Belisarius came with the army and seeing John and his company pale and greivously nasty he said he must give thanks to Ildiger glancing at his unadvised presumption He answered that he acknowledged none to Ildiger but to Narses the Emperours Treasurer intimating that Belisarius did not willingly releive him but perswaded by Narses both these were ever after jealous of each other That Narses friends would not let him march with Belisarius suâ—gesting how poor it was for him who communicated of the Emperours secrets not to be an absolute commander but to obey one that was but a Generall and that Belisarius would never indure to command with him in Equality but that if he would himself lead an army he should have more Souldiers better captaines to follow him the Herulians and his own Lanciers and Targetiers and the troops under Justinus and John himself with those of Narses and Aratius being not lesse in all then 10000 valiant men and able Souldiers That they would not have the conquest of Italy wholly attributed to Belisarius but Narses to share in it who had not left his attendance on the Emperours person to establish with his own dangers the Glory of Belisarius but by shewing his own valour and wisdome to grow famous in the world and that Belisarius without him could do nothing most of the army commanded by him being dispersed in the places he had taken All which they reckoned up from Sicily to Picenia Narses was much pleased with these discourses and could not contain himself within his present condition but Belisarius directing him any businesse still he flew to some excuse rejecting his commands Which Belisarius observing he assembled the Commanders and spake thus Fellow commanders I find not my self to be of the same opinion with you concerning this War You despise the Enemy as absolutely subdued but I thinke this confidence will bring you into danger knowing that the Goths have not been beaten through their cowardice or want of men but overstratagem'd with counsell and foresight and so routed And you in like sort I fear from some false opinion may receive a blow which may undo your selves and the Roman affaires They are more easily undone who are insolent with successes and conceit of victory then such as having lost some honour do for the time to come use feare and caution towards their Enemies Carelesnesse hath ruined many well setled and a solicitous labour releived men after mis-fortunes the powers of the negligent lessening of themselves but care naturally adding powers Consider that Vitigis is in Ravenna with many thousands That Vraas besieges Millar and holds all Liguria That in Auximum is a great and gallant army and that there are other garrisons of Goths able to fight with us all along to Vrbiventum which is a neighbour to Rome That if we should now be compassed by the Enemy our danger were more then ever The Francks also are said to be in armes in Liguria which every Roman ought to consider and apprehend My opinion therefore is that part of the army be sent into Liguria and Millan and all the rest to march against Auximum and undertake as God shall enable and as shall seem best and most advantagious To this speech of Belisarius Narses replied Noble Generall in all the rest being nothing but truth none can contradict you but that all the rest of the Emperours army should be confined to Auximum and Millan I hold it inconvenient for you to lead such of the army as you please for those purposes is good reason In the mean time we will get †Lombard Ciâ—padana from the city of Ast to Parma vid. Leanurum Emilia for the Emperour a Province most set by by the Goths and we will give such alarmes to Ravenna that you shall bring the Enemy on your part to what tearmes you please being excluded from hope of succours I fear if we sit down before Auximum together the Goths will set on us from Ravenna and we shall be charged on both sides and wanting Victuall perish upon the place Belisarius fearing least by dividing the Forces the Emperours Affaires might fall asunder and ruine by the disorder arising from thence produced the Emperours Letters directed to the Commanders in these words We have sent Narses our Treasurer into Italy not to command the Army it being our pleasure that Belisarius alone shall have the leading thereof whethersoever himselfe thinks best and it behoves you all to follow him for the good of our State Narses took hold
to gather it but being not strong enough to pull it up they fell upon their hands and dyed with the Grasse in their mouths None buried any nor had the least thought of Funeralls The very ravenous Fowles that feed on dead bodies would not touch them there being no flesh left to allure them which the Famine had consumed all So grievous was that Famine But Belisarius sent Martinus and Vliaris with an Army against Vrbias and the Goths whom he heard to besiege Millan They encamped and stayd upon the Poe a dayes journey from Millan and spent much time in consulting about their passage over the River Which Mundilas understanding sent one Paulus a Roman to them who slipt by the Enemy and finding no Boats upon the Poe stript himselfe and in great danger swam over the River Coming to the Roman Campe he told the Commanders Martinus and Vliaris that they did unjustly and not befitting their reputations to come there in pretence to serve the Emperour but in effect to augment the Goths power That Millan the cheife of the Italian Cities for bignesse wealth and populousnesse being a Bulwark for the whole Roman Empire against the Germans and other Barbarians is now in perill with Mundilas and the Emperours Forces and yet by them neglected The wrong they did the Emperour he would forbeare to aggravate time not allowing many words but demanding speedy succour whilst yet some hope is left That therefore they must instantly releive Millan if they delayed it Our fortunes quoth he will be after the bitterest sufferings to perish and yours to betray the Emperours Souldiers to the Enemy .. Seeing such are justly sayd to betray not onely who open their Gates to an Enemy but who having meanes to rescue their best Freinds beseiged by preferring a backward security before hazarding abandon them to the Enemy Paulus spake in that sort and Martinus and Vliaris promised him to follow immediately and so sent him away who entred Millan by night revived the Souldiers and other Romans and made them yet more cheerfull in their Faith to the Emperour CHAP. XVII BUT still the Troops with Martinus were backward and lay still and so continued long Martinus to put the blame from himselfe wrote thus to Belisarius You sent us out to releive our distressed Freinds in Millan we have used our best diligence and are as farr as the River of Poe which the Army feares to passe hearing that in Liguria is a great Army of Goths and a multitude of Burgundians with whom we conceive our selves not able to fight Command therefore John and Justinus who are our neighbours in Emilia to joyne their Troops with us in this adventure whereby we shall be safe our selves and doe some hurt to the Enemy Belisarius upon receite of this Letter commanded John and Justinus immediately to joyne with Martinus for Millan They refused unlesse Narses directed them whereupon Belisarius wrote thus to Narses Consider how the Emperours Army is one body If as members in bodies you be not all of a minde but will be doing one without anothers concurrence in the end having done nothing you should you will all perish Wherefore leave Emilia which hath no strong place in it and for 〈◊〉 present is not of any importance to us and command John and Justinus immediately to march with Martinus against the Enemy before Millan whose Troops are neer the same and well furnisht to vanquish the Barbarians From hence it is not convenient to send Forces thither much time will be spent in the march that they will come after the season and being come they will not be able to use their Horses in a fight after so long a journey But those and Martinus and Vliaris marching to Millan in likely hood will beat the Goths and then againe subdue Emilia none being to oppose them Narses after perusall of this Letter wrote to John and Justinus to march to Millan accordingly John afterwards was sent to the Sea-coast to get Barks for transporting the Army over the Poe but a sicknesse hindred his businesse In the mean time of this backwardnesse of Martinus Troops and Johns staying for Narses his Orders the Besieged became infinitely distressed with Famine The extremity constrained them to feed on Dogs Rats Mice and such uncouth creatures The Goths sent to Mundilas to render the City offering Indempnity to himselfe and the Souldiers He accepted so they would give assurances of performance and not use hard measure to the Inhabitants When the Enemy had given assurances to Mundilas and the Souldiers but being angry with the Ligurians appeared resolved to destroy them he called the Souldiers and spake thus If ever men have chosen to dye honourably when they might have lived basely such would I have you now to be and not for love of breath to live in disgrace the rather being of the Schoole of Belisarius where you have learnt so plentifully that it were impious not to be generous and extreamly daring To all men that come into this light one fate is appointed in their due time to dye But in the manner of their deaths men are distinguished Cowards first becoming the scorn and laughter of their Foes fulfill their destiny too in their defined times But generous men suffer the same with Virtue and an advantage of Honour If by becoming Slaves to the Barbarians we could preserve this People our base preservation would have an excuse but for us to behold so many Romans destroyed by the Enemy is more bitter then any death for we shall seem even to have helpt the Goths to act this Calamity Whilst therefore we are yet Masters of our selves and can beare necessity with Virtue let us make this our hard Fortune our Glory My Opinion is to arme our selves compleatly and to sally upon the Enemy not looking for us We shall gain one of these two either Fortune to do something for us or else an honourable riddance of our miseries by a happy death beyond our hopes The Souldiers for all these words of Mundilas would not hazard but yeilded themselves and the City upon the Conditions offered Them the Goths hurt not but made Prisoners with Mundilas but the City they demolisht to the Ground killing men of all ages 300000. at least The Women they made Slaves and gave to the Burgundians to gratifie their joyning with them Finding there Reparatus Praefect of the Palace they cut him in peeces and threw them to the Dogs Vergentinus who was then in Millan went into Dalmatia with his Troops through †Venetia * This is now Marca Trivigiana saith Leander and other Countries and from thence brought the newes to the Emperour of the Romans Disaster at Millan The Goths also took other Townes by composition from the Roman Garrisons and quickly subdued all Liguria And Martinus and Vliaris returned towards Rome with their Army CHAP. XVIII BElisarius heard nothing of these Occurrents in Liguria but the Winter being ended he marcht with his Army
into Picenia In which Journey he understood to his great griefe what was become of Millan Vliaris he suffered not to come into his sight and wrote the whole matter to the Emperour who punisht no man but hearing of the differences between Belisarius and Narses he sent for Narses home and appointed Belisarius absolutely to command all the Army Narses went to Constantinople with some few Souldiers And being gone the Herulians would 〈◊〉 stay in Italy though Belisarius in his own name and the Emperours made them large promises They first went into Liguria where meeting with Vraeas his Army they sold their Slaves and Cattell they had and for a Sum of money given them sware never to take Armes against the Goths and so peaceably they came into Venetia where having speech with Vitalius they repented of their Errour against the Emperour and to expiate the same left Visandus there and his Troops The rest came to Constantinople conducted by Aluâ—th and Philimuth who was chiefe Phanotheus being dead in his Tent. But Vitigis hearing that in the beginning of the Spring Belisarius would come against him and the Goths in Ravenna they were all affraid and consulted what to do and finding upon debate themselves alone not able to match the Enemy they resolved to draw in the aid of other Barbarians Of the Germans they were shy having already had experience of their unfaithfulnesse being contented they should continue neutrall not joyning with Belisarius But to Vacis King of the Lombards they sent Ambassadours and large Sums for aide but he being a Friend and Auxiliary of the Emperour they returned without doing any thing So that Vitigis in much perplexity demanded the advise of ancient men what was to be done to repaire his Affaires After many Opinions of his Counsell some unseasonable some worthy of consideration it was said That the Roman Emperour could not invade the Barbarians of the West before he had made truce with the Persians Then the Vandales and Moores were ruined and these things now befell the Goths If the King of Persia might be put into a quarrell with Justinian the Romans in war with that Nation could maintain none elsewhere Vitigis liked the Counsell resolved to send Ambassadours who were not Goths to set Chosroes King of Persia at variance with Justinian for feare of discovering and spoyling of the negotiation But they perswaded two Priests of Liguria with money to undertake the Service One of them taking upon him the shew and name of a Bishop was the Ambassadour and the other went as his attendant To these Vitigis gave his Letters to Chosroes who being therewith moved did those mischiefes to the Romans during the Truce I formerly related And the Emperour so soon as he found the Persians plotting those mischiefes thought good to end the War in the West He sent therefore for Belisarius to go against the Persian and he dispatcht Vitigis Ambassadours who yet were at Constantinople with promise to send some to Ravenna to conclude a Truce with the Goths as should be expedient for both parts But Belisarius made stay of the Enemies Ambassadours untill they also sent home Athanasius and Peter who went to Constantinople and were highly rewarded Incipit Annus 5. belli Goth. 13. Reg. Justiniani Ann. Dom. 540. Athanasius the Emperour made Praefect of the Palace in Italy and Peter Captain of the Emperours Guard And thus the Winter ended and the fourth yeare of this War written by Procâ—pius Belisarius resolved first to get Auximum and Faesulae and then no Enemy being in his way nor to be at his back to set upon Vitigis and Ravenna Unto Faesulae he sent Cyprian and Jastinus with their own Troops and some Isaurians and 500. Foot under Dâ—metrius these beseiged the Goths in that Castle Towards the Poe he sent Martinus and John Phagas with their own Troops and other Forces commanded by that John whom he directed in case Vraeas with his Forces came towards them out of Millan by any meanes to get the Reare of them and to follow at their backs These taking Dorthon a Town unwalled upon the River there encamped CHAP. XIX BElisarius himselfe with eleven thousand men came before Auximum which is the Metropolis of Picenia It stands ten miles and a halfe from the shore of the Jonian Gulfe and from Ravenna three dayes journey and ten miles more upon a high Hill with no entrance in any plaine ground and so not approachable by an Enemy Vitigis had Garrisoned in it the choisest Goths supposing that the Romans missing this Towne would not dare to invade Ravenna Belisarius encamped his Army round about the bottome of the Hill divided and lodged in severall quarters The Goths seeing them thus severed and not likely in a great Campagnia to succour one another charged them about evening from the East side of the Towne where Belisarius Quarter was with his Lanciers and Targetiers who opposed the Invaders and soon routed them and pursuing got up to the midst of the Hill where the Barbarians trusting to the advantage of the place turned head against them killed many shooting upon their heads till the night prevented them The day before this skirmish some Goths being sent out early to get Provisions were returning by night and seeing the Romans fires stood amazed Many adventured and got into Auximum unseen by the Romans others of them hid themselves in the Woods thinking to goe to Ravenna but were surprized and all cut in peices Belisarius finding Auximum strong and no meanes to assault it despaired to take it by force but hoped by a close Siege to reduce them to wants and in time to subdue them The store of Grasse neer the Walls was occasion of dayly skirmishes The Romans seeing the Goths cut the same for their Horses ran up the Hill fought with them gallantly still hindred their carrying away the Grasse and killed many of them The Barbarians overmatcht by their Enemies valour did thus They took the Wheels and Axeltrees off their Waggons and their men beginning to cut Grasse they rolled them downe upon the Romans when they were ascended the middle of the Hill but they went to the bottome without touching a man The Goths failing herein ran into the Towne Afterward they layd an ambush of their best men in Vallies neer the town then some few appeared about the Grasse plot and when the fight was come to Sword and Lance they rose from their ambush and having the advantage much in numbers and amazing the Romans being unlookt for they killed many and put the rest to flight The Romans in the quarters saw the Enemy rise from their ambush and cryed loud to their companions to retire but were not heard being divided from them the whole length of the hill and the Barbarians clashing their armes to drown their cryes Belisarius was troubled at it and Procopius the writer of this History came to him and sayd Noble Generall Anciently the Roman Trumpeters
Town in Picenia where was an ancient bridge over the River the Garrison supplyed them and let them at their pleasure passe the Poe. But the Francks being masters of the Bridge such women and children as they found they sacrificed and threw into the River as the first spoiles of the War †It seems they had Almans with them yet Heathen See Agathias lib. 1. cap. 3. retaining yet though Christians much of the old religion using sacrifices and other ungodly Rites in making their predictions The Goths seeing it in a great fear fled into the town and the Francks being past marcht towards the Goths Camp Who at first seeing them in small troops were glad of their coming thinking it to be to aid them But when numbers came on and fell to the businesse and darting their Battle axes hurt many they turn'd about and ran away by the Romans camp into Ravenna The Romans seeing them flye thought that Belisarius had vanquisht them in fight and taken their camp from them and they took armes thinking to joyne with him in the pursuit but they found an Enemy unlook't for and unwillingly they fought till being beaten and not able to return to their camp they fled into Tuscany and sent Newes of the accident to Belisarius The Francks having conquered both parts and taken their Camps without any men in them there then found their provisions But in a while they had nothing to feed on in a wasted Country but Oxen and water of the Poe no bread at all and being not able to disgest the flesh and abundance of water they fel into fluxes and dysenteries which they could not get cured for want of things convenient So that a third part of them are said to have so perisht and being not able to march on they staid there Belisarius hearing of this army of Francks and how the troops of John and Martinus were routed he was afraid of his army especially of those before Faesulae who were neerest the Barbarians and he wrote this Letter to Theodebert Noble Theodebert for one pretending to virtue and especially being a King of so great a Nation not to be true of his word is not Princely but to violate oaths and accords reduced into writing is not fit for the meanest man Herein you know your self a Transgressor having lately agreed to joyne with us against the Goths now not so much as continuing neutrall but advisedly having taken armes and set upon us Put not this affront upon the Emperour Good Sr. who will revenge it in the highest kind It is better for a man to hold his own securely then by medling with what belongs not to him to run a danger in that which most concernes him Theodebert upon this Letter and being troubled with his present Estate and reviled by the Germans for letting them dy thus in a desart country to no purpose rose with the Francks surviving and made haste home CHAP. XXI NEverthelesse Martinus and John came back with their Troops least the Enemy should set upon the Army before Auximum Where the Goths hearing nothing of the Franks retreat but despairing at the delayes from Ravenna thought once more to importune Vitigis but could not get by the Enemy Seeing at noon one Burcensius a Bessian by birth and a Souldier of Narses the Armenian standing Sentinell to keepe off the Towne from cutting Grasse some came to parley with him and agreed to give him a great Summe in hand to carry a Letter to Ravenna and more at his returne with Letters from Vitigis The man for the Money undertook the service and presently put it in execution He brought the Letters sealed up to Vitigis with all speed which were thus You will perceive our estate by enquiring who is the bearer of this Letter there being no meanes for a Goth to get out of the Towne walls and our best supply of Victuall is the Grasse that growes about them which we cannot touch without fighting and losse of men To what conclusion this will bring us you and the Goths in Ravenna are seriously to consider Vitigis returned this answer My best Freinds in the World think not I am so dejected nor come to that degree of basenesse as through sloth to abandon the Goths affaires my owne journey was in readinesse and Vraeas by my direction was coming from Millan with his Army but an unexpected invasion of Franks stopt our preparations whereof I am not to beare the blame For things above humane power bestow this favour on the unfortunate to make him unblameable Fortune taking the whole imputation upon her selfe But Theodebert being now gone as we heare we will shortly God willing be with you with our whole Army And you must beare your Fortune valiantly and suitably to the necessity Thinke upon the vertue for which we made choice of you to guard Auximum and respect that generall opinion held of you by all the Goths which set you there a Bulwark of Ravenna and of their whole safety Vitigis with this Letter and good store of Money dispatcht the man Who coming before Auximum pretended to his Companions a sudden sicknesse which caused him to goe to a Church neer there for cure and standing Sentinell where he was wont he delivered the Letters unseene by the Romans The reading whereof so raised their Spirits though opprest with the Famine that they would not yeild albeit Belisarius much woed them to it But having no newes of any Army from Ravenna and being in extream want of Victuall againe they sent Burcensius writing onely That they were able to struggle with the Famine five dayes and no more who brought them againe a Letter from Vitigis holding them in suspence with like hopes The Romans also were weary of this long Siege in a barren desert Countrey and troubled to see the Goths not to yeild though in so much misery Belisarius therefore sought to take some Enemy alive from whom he might learne the ground of this obstinacy of the Goths Valerianus promised to serve him therein who had in his Troops Slavonians that used to lye under some Stone or Bush and to steale Enemies a thing ordinarily practised by them by the River Ister where their dwellings are both upon Romans and Barbarians Belisarius liking his way and committing it to his care he chose out a Slavonian a tall lusty fellow and valiant and assured him a good reward from Belisarius to get an Enemy alive and told him That at the Grasse plat which the Goths used to eat for want of food he might doe it with ease The Slavonian before day-breake put himselfe neer the Towne walls concealed in a Bush and gathering up his feet close about him By day-light a Goth came out to gather Grasse suspecting nothing from the Bush but had his eye upon the Camp least any enemy might come from thence The Slavonian stealing behinde him snatcht him up fast between his armes delivered him to Valerianus who enquiring
from what confidence the Goths being so weake refused to yeild and wilfully endured so much distresse the Barbarian told him all the story about Burcensius desiring he might be brought face to face Burcensius seeing himselfe discovered concealed nothing and Belisarius gave him to his Companions to use him as they pleased who burnt him alive in the sight of the Enemy And this fruit had Burcensius of his covetousnesse But Belisarius seeing the Goths still hold out he had a designe upon their water by that way thinking to take them in with most ease and advantage CHAP. XXII THere was a Spring-head to the North-ward of Auximum in a craggy ground a stones cast from the Town sending a small stream into a Cistern anciently there built which being filled from that small stream supplyed water for the Citizens Belisarius thought that if the water were not received into the Cistern the Goths being plyed with Arrowes would be long filling their Vessels from so small a stream To spoile this Cistern he did thus he put his Forces in Armes and in their orders round about the Town as if he would make a generall Assault The Goths fearing the same stood upon the Battlements to oppose the Enemy In the mean time Belisarius brought to the Cistern five Isaurians covered under a multitude of Shields skilfull in Masonry with Axes and other Instruments to cut stones commanding them to break down the sides of the Cistern The Goths thinking they came to approach the Walls kept quiet that being neerer they might shoot at them with more advantage not imagining the businesse But seeing the Isaurians within the Cistern they plyed them with Arrowes and stones The rest ran back and the five Isaurians being under in safety fell to work there being an Arch over the water for shade under which they made no account of the Enemies shot though it came thick The Goths opening the Gate there sallied furiously upon the Isaurians and the Romans encountred them where was a hot fight long and body to body and much slaughter on both sides The Romans fell thicker the Goths having the advantage of the upper ground but the Romans gave not back Belisarius being present and with loud shouts encouraging them When from the Enemy came an Arrow whizzing towards the Generals belly whether shot by chance or purposely Belisarius seeing it not could not ward nor shun it but Vnigatus one of his Life-guard perceiving the Arrow coming almost to his belly put his right hand between and saved the Generals life and being himselfe wounded with it and in extremity of pain he retired His Sinewes were afterwards cut asunder and he lost the use of his hand The Fight beginning in the morning ended at noon where seven Armenians of the Troops of Narses and Aratius shewed great deeds of Valour running up the steep Hill and upon the plain killed all that stood them untill they had routed the Goths in that part And the Romans seeing the Enemy give ground fell to Execution and the Defeat being cleer the Goths got within their Walls The Romans thought the Cistern to be downe and the Isaurians to have dispatcht their work but they could not force one stone out of it The ancient Artists above all carefull of their Credits had so wrought this building that it would not yeild to time nor the attemps of men wherefore the Isaurians seeing the Romans masters of the Feild came out of the Cistern and retired to the Camp Hereupon Belisarius caused the Souldiers to throw dead bodies of Beasts and poysonous Herbs into the water and to quench burning Lime in it that the Goths having but one Well within the Walls with little water in it were much scanted Neither did Belisarius use any more force or designes against the Town hoping by Famine only to have his will of the Enemy and therefore he attended earnestly to his Guards and Sentinels The Goths also in their great wants were quiet expecting an Army from Ravenna In Faesulae the Beseiged endured fore Famine and much misery and having no hope from Ravenna they resolved to yeild And coming to a Parly with Cyprian and Justinus and taking assurance for their lives they rendred themselves and the Castle Cyprian brought them and the Roman Army before Auximum leaving a Garrison in Faesulae Belisarius shewed their Leaders to the Goths in Auximum bidding them leave their Opiniativenesse and hopes from Ravenna from whence receiving no good but being more ruined daily they will at last come to the same Fortune with those of Faesulae They considered of it and being unable to hold out longer against the Famine they embraced the Proposition and rendred the City upon conditions of indemnity to themselves and to go with their Goods to Ravenna Belisarius was in some doubt to suffer so many brave men to joyne with those in Ravenna but he would not lose the opportunity of marching thither against Vitigis while Affaires was yet in suspence and the Francks expected to come with succours to the Goths whose coming though he would willingly prevent yet he would not raise the Seige of Auximum before it were taken But the Souldiers opposed the Goths having their Goods shewing their wounds and recounting their toiles in the Seige whereof they alledged the spoiles of the Conquered to be the due Prizes In the end forced by the pressing opportunity and the Goths compelled by the Famine they came to this accord That the Romans should have halfe the Goods and the Goths with the other halfe he subject to the Emperour And upon this they gave Oath the Roman Commanders to observe the Agreement and the Goths not to conceale any of their Goods So they shared the Goods and the Romans had Auximum and the Goths were mingled with the Army CHAP. XXIII BElisarius having taken Auximum made hast to Ravenna with his whole Army He sent Magnus before with competent numbers to skirt the Bancks of Poe and prevent the transporting of Provisions into Ravenna that way Vitalius being come out of Dalmatia with Forces guarded the other side of the River a Fortune here befell which shewed evidently that she it is who will determine the controversie For the Goths had formerly brought down into the Poe many Barks out of Liguria laded with Corn bound for Ravenna but the water was grown so low then that they could not row on till the Romans coming surprised the Barks and all the lading Soon after the River had the wonted stream and was Navigable again which never happened so before that we could heare And now the Goths began to be scarce of Provisions importing nothing from the Jonian Gulfe by reason the Enemy was Master of the Sea and the River being blockt up The Kings of the Francks understanding how things went and desiring to put for Italy sent Ambassadours to Vitigis with offers of aides so they might share the Dominion of the Country with him which Belisarius being advertised of sent also
pleased Belisarius and he bade them expresse it in a writing that they might not deny it afterwards which they signed accordingly that they were not able to subdue the Enemy by war But the Goths the while prest with Famin could hold out no longer weary they were of Vitigis government and yet scrupulous to yeild to the Emperour fearing to be removed by him out of Italy to Constantinople and planted thereabout So that the principall men upon debate resolved to declare Belisarius Emperour of the West and secretly they sent to entreat him to accept the Empire professing to be most willing to obey him Belisarius would not take the Empire without the Emperours consent to whom he was tyed in a solemn oath not to innovat during the said Emperours life and the very name of an Usurper he hated yet to facilitate his businesse he seemed to accept the offer Vitigis perceiving it out of fear commended the Goths resolution and secretly animated Belisarius that there should be no rub in his way to the Empire Belisarius hereupon called the Commanders with the Ambassadors and askt them if they thought it not a matter of importance to make all the Goths and Vitigis the Emperours Captives to share their wealth and to recover all Italy to the Romans They said it would be an extream high fortune and prayed him to effect it if he could Presently Belisarius sent some of his favorites to Vitigis and the cheife Goths willing them to perform their offer immediatly Indeed the Famin would not permit a put-off but brought them to it that again they sent Ambassadors with the former propositions openly but privatly to take Belisarius oath for their indemnity and that he would be King of Italy and that done to return into Ravenna with the Roman army Concerning the rest Belisarius gave oath but touching the Kingdome he said he would swear it to Vitigis and the Goths Commanders The Ambassadors not thinking he would reject the Kingdome but that he desired it above all things prayed him forthwith to march into Ravenna Belisarius sent away Narses Aratius Bessas and John whom he suspected to be worst affected to him to quarter with their Troops in severall countryes telling them he could not possibly bring into that city provisions for the whole army They with Athanasius Praefect of the Palace lately come from Constantinople went accordingly himself and the rest of the army entred Ravenna with the Goths Ambassadors He commanded also ships he had laded with Corn to come into Esclae the haven for Ravenaa When I saw the entrance of this army into Ravenna I considered how actions are not concluded by valour multitudes or human virtue but that some spirit steers the wits and judgments of men thither where nothing can hinder the pre-ordained conclusion The Goths had much the advantage in numbers and power and since they came to Ravenna had no battell nor their courages dejected with any accident yet they became prisoners and thought it no shame to be slaves to fewer in number The women who had heard from their Husbands that the Enemy were tall gallant men and not to be numbred scorned the Souldiers when they saw them in the City and reviled their husbands cowardice pointing at their conquerours CHAP. XXV BUT Belisarius kept Vitigis in an honourable restraint and sent away such Goths as inhabited this side the Poe to their own houses to possesse them freely fearing from thence no hostility nor that the Goths would gather head in those parts because much of the Army was there Garrison'd And these Goths were glad to go home whereby the Romans in Ravenna were secure having equall numbers The Treasures in the Palace he seised with intent to carry them to the Emperour But neither himselfe plundred any Goth nor suffered others leaving them their Estates according to the Accord The Captaines of Fortresses hearing Ravenna and Vitigis to be in the Romans hands sent to Belisarius offers of surrendring the same upon Composition He gave them assurances and received Tarvisium and another strong Hold Cesina and Emilia he had taken in before with Ravenna and the Goths Garrison'd in those places upon assurances given came into Beliâ—arius and staid with him â—â—debad also Governour of Verona having his Children Prisoners in Ravenna sent to Belisarius to the same purpose but he would not put himselfe into his hands there In the mean time some Commanders had traduced Belisarius to the Emperour falsly with usurpation Who not beleiving the accusation but the Persian war pressing him sent for Belisarius to make an Expedition that way Belisarius left the charge of Italy with Bessas and John and some others and he directed Constantianus to come to Ravenna from Dalmatia But the Goths inhabiting beyond the Poe hearing how Belisarius was called home at first made no account of it not thinking that he would less esteem a Kingdome then his faith to Justinian But afterward seeing his preparations to be gone their cheif men continuing in those parts went into Picenia to Vraeas sisters Sonne to Vitigis and after much lamenting spake thus There is none a greater cause of these miseries of our Nation then your self We had long since deposed your uncle so cowardly and unfortunate a Prince as formerly we did Theodatus the sisters Son of Theoderick if we had not respecting your valour given him the Title but in Effect put the Kingdome into your hands But now our then seeming good counsell appeares our folly and the cause of these Calamities The best Goths are consumed by the war and the best of the remainder Belisarius is carrying away with all our Treasures and no man doubts but we shortly being few enemies shal suffer the same In this extremity a glorious death is better then to behold our wives and children led Captives to the uttermost bounds of the earth and might we have you in the head of us we may yet do something worthy the name of valour Vraeas made this answer I am of your opinion to chuse danger before slavery but to make me King I hold it in no fort convenient For being the Nephew of Vitigis a man so unlucky the Enemy may despise me supposing Fortunes ever to run in a blood Besides I shall seem dishonest to intrude upon my Uncle and thereby have many male-contents My Sentence is to make Ildebad King in this danger a man accomplisht in Virtue and very valiant whole Uncle Theudis King of the Visigoths in likely-hood will enter into this War for his sake whereby we may dispute it with more hope This advise of Vraeas seemed best and forthwith Ildebad was sent for from Verona whom they invested with the purple Robe and proclaimed King recommending unto him their Affaires Ildebad being thus made King assembled the Goths and spake thus Fellow Souldiers we have had experience of many Wars and in likely-hood shall not run rashly now into this Experience brings Wit and wit is
as bought Corn and Branne as aforesaid when their money was spent brought their Houshold-stuff to the Market-place and exchanged it for a little daily food In the end the Souldiers Corn being consumed save some small quantity which Bessas had and the Romans money spent they all fell to Nettles which food not sufficing Nature and there being of it not enough to fill their bellies their flesh pined away their colour grew wanne and they lookt like so many Ghosts Many walking with their teeth chewing Nettles fell suddainly dead They did eat also one anothers dung and many when they could find no more Dogs nor Rats to feed on killed themselves One having five Children hanging importunately upon him for meat made no shew to lament but restraining his passion he willed the Children to follow him and they should have meat When he came to the Bridge over the Tiber tying his Cloak about his face and eyes he leapt into the River his Children and many more looking on Afterward the Commanders for money suffered such as would to go out of the City some few staid the rest fled whether they could the most of whom were so weak that they dyed a Ship-board or upon the high waies Many the Enemy caught and kill'd To this was reduced the Fortune of the People and Senate of Rome Isaac and John being joyned with Belisarius at Epidamnus John advised to crosse the Jonian Gulfe and with the whole Army to try their Fortune by Land But Belisarius liked it not for more time would be spent and some impediment might encounter them by Land He would have John march through Calabria and those Countries to expell the Goths being few there and having subdued all on this side the Gulfe to joyne with him about Rome where himselfe purposed to land with the rest of the Army He considered how the least delay would ruine all at Rome and that in five daies with a wind they might land at Portus whereas from Otranto thither would cost the Army 40. daies march So he hoist Saile with a strong gale and came before Otranto The Goths seeing them instantly raised their Seige and went to Brundusium standing upon the Gulfe a daies journey from Otranto with no Walls about it They advertised Totilas of it thinking that Belisarius would instantly passe the straits there who prepared to encounter him and directed the Goths in Calabria to guard the Passage there But the wind coming faire Belisarius left Otranto and the Goths were secure and quiet in Calabria Totilas before Rome guarded the Avenues more stictly to keep out Provisions He made choice of a place about eleven miles below Rome upon the Tiber where it is narrowest and there laid a Bridge of Plancks reaching from one Banck to the other At either end he built Towers of Wood and put good Garrisons into them to impede the passage of Barks from Portus to Rome In the mean time Belisarius landed at Portus and attended Johns Army John past over into Calabria undiscerned by the Goths who were all at Brundusium He took two Scouts of the Enemy upon the high way and having killed the one the other took him about the knees and besought him for mercy promising to be usefull to him John demanded wherein he said he would bring him upon the Goths unlookt for John told him he should not then faile in his request but bad him first shew him where were any Horse-pastures The Goth promising that also went along with him And first surprising the Enemies Horses at their Pasture such as were a foot leapt on them being many of the best men Then they gallopt to the Enemies Camp who being unarmed unprepared and amazed with the suddennesse were most of them cut off using no resistence Some few escaped to Totilas John then animated the Calabrians and reconciled their affections to the Emperour with faire promises of many advantages He staid not in Brundusium but surprised Canusium a Town in the middle of Apulia five daies journey to the Westward of Brundusium in the way to Rome About three miles from this Town is Cannae where Hanniball gave that great overthrow to the Romans Here Tullianus the Son of Venantius a Roman of great power in Bruttia and Lucania complained to John of what the Army had done formerly against the Italians and promised if moderation were used hereafter to reduce his Country-men to obedience and payment of Tribute who revolted unwillingly to Barbarians and Arrians forced by them and extreamly wronged by the Emperours Army John promised all favour from the Emperour to the Italians and Tullianus went along with him whence the Italians were no more jealous of the Souldiers and the most part of the Country on this side the Jonian Gulfe became Friends to them and obedient to the Emperour Totilas upon the newes hereof sent 300. Goths to Capua whom he directed when they saw Johns Army march towards Rome closely to follow it Himselfe would take care of the rest This stopt John fearing to be encompast by the Enemy from marching further towards Belisarius and he went into Bruttia and Lucania Recimund an eminent Goth was placed by Totilas with some Goths fugitive Romans and Moores to guard Bruttia and the straits of Scylla and the Coast thereabout and to hinder the landing of Boats from Sicily the pasting over thither John suddenly fell upon this Army between Rhegiam and Bivona and routed them using no resistance They fled towards a Mountain hard of accesse and craggy But John ran up with them and before they could be settled in the fastnesses killed most of the Moores and Roman Souldiers stoutly defending themselves and took Recimund and the Goths upon composition And having thus done staid in the Country while Belisarius lay still attending his coming and blaming him for not adventuring to passe by a Garrison of 300. men in Capua having with him the choice of the Roman Army But John despaired of getting by and lay quiet at Cervarium a place in Apulia CHAP. X. SO that Belisarius fearing some desperate resolution of the starving Romans studyed meanes to Victuall the City Forces he wanted to fight with the Enemy but he did thus He tyed two Barks together upon which he built a Tower of wood higher then those which the Enemy had at the Bridge having by some Souldiers pretending to run away taken the exact measure of them He lancht into the Tiber also 200. Pinnaces having Walls made of boards full of loop-holes to shoot at the Enemy Aboard the Prinnaces he put Corn and other Provisions and towards the Rivers mouth in places of advantage he laid Horse and Foot by either Banck who were to impede the Enemy if he set upon Portus which he committed to the Guard of Isaac with his Wife and what he had there directing him not to stir though he heard Belisarius were slain but to keep close to his Guard that upon any mischance there might be a place of
and Totilas sent to Diogenes either to put it to a Battell instantly there being no hope of succours from the Emperour of whose disability to continue War with the Goths the successe at Rome after so long space given was a sufficient Argument or else to chuse either to joyn with the Goths Army upon equall tearmes or to quit Centumcellae and to go safe to Constantinople Diogenes and the Romans refused the Battell neither would mingle with the Goths Army nor live without their Wives and Children And chusing to be sent to the Emperour they said they had yet no honest excuse to surrender the Town and therefore desired time to signifie their Estate to the Emperour that receiving no succour from him they might render the Town and be gone not without some pretence Totilas approving this a day was assigned and 30. Hostages were given on both sides and the Goths raised the Siege and went for Sicily Before they passed the straits there they attempted Rhegium where the Garrison was commanded by Thurimuth and Himerius left by Belisarius who having many good men within kept off the Enemy assaulting and sallying had the better but being inferiour in numbers they afterward lay still Totilas blockt up the Town with part of his Army hoping in time to take it for want of Victuall He sent also Forces who took the Castle of Tarentum And at the same time the Goths in Picenia had Ariminum betrayed to them Justinias hereof advertised made Germanus his Brothers Son absolute Generall in the Warre against the Goths commanding him to be in readinesse The Goths in Italy were much troubled at the report of it Germanus being very famous in the World And the Romans especially the Army getting hart and hope held out more firmly against their toiles and dangers But the Emperour I know not why changed his mind and appointed Liberius a Citizen of Rome for the Service who made himselfe ready add was expected instantly to saile away with the Army But the Emperour changed again so that he too staid at home Then also Verus having gotten together many of the valiantest Souldiers had a Battell with the Goths in Picenia not far from Ravenna wherein after the losse of many and doing valiantly himself was slaine CHAP. XXI ABOUT this time a party of some three thousand Slavonians came over the River Ister none opposing them and past the river of Eurus then they severed eighteen hundred in one party and the rest in another The Roman commanders in Illyrium and Thrace fought with them severally and were beaten with losse of some men the rest shamefully running away though the Barbarians were far the fewer They incountred also Asbades who had been of the Emperours Life-Guard and advanced to the place of a Candidate and who commanded now troops of horse anciently Garrison'd in Tzurulum a Castle of Thrace good men Him the Slavonians defeated and killed most of his men shamefully running away They took him prisoner and soon after cut thongs from the skin of his back and threw him into a flame of fire Then without controule they pillaged all Thrace and Illyrium and took many castles having never before assaulted a wall nor presumed to come to an open feild They never durst before this time forrage the Roman Territory nor ever past the Ister before But after their victory against Asbades they pillaged all to the Sea and took Topirum the first Sea Town of Thrace by assault having a Garrison in it being distant twelve dayes journey from Constantinople They took it thus The most of them hid themselves in the fastnesses neer the Town and some few alarm'd the Romans upon the battlements who thinking them no more then they saw sallied The Barbarians seemed afraid and ran away and the Romans being far from the Walls the Ambushes rose and put themselves between them and the Town and the flyers turning head the Romans were charged on all sides and all cut in peices The inhabitants deprived of the Souldiers yet resisted the Enemies assault as they could powring down boyling oyl and pitch and throwing down great stones that they had almost beat off the danger But the Barbarians with a multitude of arrowes forced them from the battlements and with their scaling ladders took the City by assault They killed fifteen thousand men in it and sackt it The women and children they made slaves having formerly spared no age nor sex but killing still all they met from the time they entred Roman Land So that all Thrace and Illyrium was scattered with dead bodies unburied they killed not the people with Swords nor Lances nor in any usuall manner but they pitcht stakes into the Ground with sharp ends upward and set the poor wretches upon the same at their fundaments then forced them downwards and the stakes up into their Entrailes They stuck into the Ground also four posts to which they tied their prisoners hands and feet then knockt their heads with clubs and killed them like so many Dogs or Snakes Others they shut up in houses with such cattell as they could not drive home into their country and without mercy burned them together In the end being drunck with abundance of bloud both the parties of these Slavonians were pleased to make prisoners of those they met and so returned home with innumerable captives In the mean time the Goths assaulting Rhegium were bravely beaten off by the Garrison Thurimuth doing very valiantly Totilas understanding that their victuall grew scarce left part of his army to block it from provisions and so to compell the Garrison to yeild in time and himselfe crost the straits into Sicily and set upon Messina Domentiolus the commander sisters Son to Buzes sallied and had not the worse in fight but afterward kept themselves quiet within the walls and the Goths plundred all Sicily none resisting them In the mean time Thurimuth and Himerius in Rhegium when their victuall was all gone yeilded themselves and the Castle by composition to the Enemy The Emperour at the newes of these successes gather'd a fleet put an army aboard of foot under Liberius whom he required to sail with speed for Sicily and to save the Island But Liberius being an extream old man and no souldier the Emperour repented and sent Artabanes for Sicily remitting his crimes and making him Generall of Thrace He gave him no great forces but directed him to command the fleet with Liberius Magistrum militum pei Thâ—aciam An ordnary officer his imployment now was for the time only Afterward he sent to call home Liberius and again made his Nephew Germanus absolute Generall against the Goths giving him no great army but furnishing mony for him to raise an Army of good importance in Thrace and Illyrium and from thence to march into Italy He commanded Philimuth Leader of the Herulians to accompany him into Italy and John Vitalianus his Nephew who had married the daughter of Germanus and was Generall of Illyrium
which blowes from thence Tanaites These Goths whether they were Arrians as the other Gothish Nations or otherwise instructed in Christianity I cannot say nor do themselves know but they professe the same with much simplicity and without disputes Lately they sent foure Ambassadours to Justinian for a Bishop to be given them as to the Abasgians And the Emperour dismist them with satisfaction in what they desired The said Ambassadours in their publick audience exprest no other cause them that for feare of the Hunnes But being admitted privately they acquainted the Emperour with what might advantage the Romans all ' Barbarians having ever some piques with their Neighbours The planting of these Tetraxites in that Country was thus Anciently multitudes of Hunnes then called Cimmerians kept their Heards in the same and were governed by a King One of their Kings had two Sons named Vturgur and Caturgur who after their Fathers decease divided the Kingdome and gave their names to their severall Subjects and they are yet called Vturgurians and Caturgurians They have all the same addictions and converse not with the Nations dwelling on the other side of the Lake of Maeotis and the Cimmerian straits fearing the passage though very easie because they never had tryed it On the said other side neer unto the shore of the said Lake and straits were formerly seated the Tetraxite Goths and not far from them the Goths and Visigoths and Vandales and all the other Gothick Nations anciently named Scythians as all the other Nations of those parts with some difference in some of Sarmatians Melanclaenians and other names These People have a tradition if it be true that some Cimmerian young men hunting a Stag it took the water and that they either eager upon their sport or driven by some Spirit followed the Stage to the opposite shore where the same whatsoever it were suddainly vanisht as having appeared to no other end but to bring a mischiefe upon the Inhabitants there The young men they say though they mist their game found matter for warre and booty And returning home told the Cimmerians how the passage was fordable who instantly took armes and in multitudes past over to the other side The Vandales were gone before and seated in Affrica and the Visigoths were in Spaine So they fell upon the Goths who dwelt in the Champian killed many and chased away the rest Such as escaped past the river Ister with their wives and children into the Roman territory where they did much mischeif Afterward the Emperour planted them in a country of Thrace and sometimes they aided the Romans in the quality of Confederates receiving yearly pensions whereby it appeares that the Goths came not as men conquer'd but upon the articles of a League The Romans calling Leagues after a war Foedera Sometime also they made causelesse war upon the Romans till under Theoderick they removed into Italy CHAP. III. BUt as I said the Hunnes having slain many of them and driven away more possest their country And the Caturgurians sent for their wives and children and are planted there to this day receiving from the Emperour yearly pensions yet passing continually the River Ister and over-running the Empire being both confederates and Enemies The Vturgurians returned home with their Prince where still they remain They past the Cimmerian straits again against the Goths wasted as aforesaid Who at first stood fenced with their sheilds against the Enemy in battell being confident in their power and the strength of their country And themselves are the valiantest Barbarians in those parts and the straits where about dwell these Goths from the Entrance out of the Lake of Maeotis presently spreads into a Bay imbracing most of those people and hath one only narrow passage over The Hunnes meant not to spend much time there and the Goths could not hope to hold out long against such a multitude so they came to a Capitulation that the Goths should go over and dwell with them in the opposite Continent where now they are and be in perpetuall League with the Vturgurians upon equall tearms Thus the Caturgurians hold the other side of the Lake and the Vturgurians their former country never troubling the Romans but secluded by many nations they observe an unwilling peace Beyond the Lake and the River Tanais the Caturgurian Hunnes have a large country all beyond that way is possest by the Scythians and Taurians part wherof is yet named Taurica where stood the Temple of Diana of which Iphigenia Agamemnons daughter was cheife Preist The Armenians say that that Temple stood in Celesene a country adjoyning to them and that the Inhabitants thereof were then called Scythians grounding themselves upon that which I related formerly concerning Orestes and the city of Comana Thus many things happening other-where or peradventure no where men are fond to attribute to their owne countries and are angry if all men yeild not to their conceits Next to the aforesaid Nations is Bosporus a maritime city lately become subject to the Romans From Bosporus to Chersone a maritime City also and formerly subject to the Romans all between is possest by Hunnish nations Cepi also and Phanaguris two cities were formerly under the Romans almost untill our time but the neighbouring Barbarians took them and utterly ruined them From Cherson to the mouth of the Danuby or Ister is ten dayes journey all inhabited by Barbarians The River Ister springs from the mountaines in Gaule and skirting by Italy and descending through Dacia Illyrium and Thrace it disembogues into the Euxine Sea From the mouth of the River Ister unto Constantinople all belongs to the Roman Emperour This is the whole circuit of the Euxine Sea from Chalcedon to Constantinople How many miles it containes I cannot say so many Barbarians inhabiting the coasts with whom the Romans have no commerce unlesse it be upon Ambassages and they who formerly pretend to have taken the measure of it not speaking exactly Certaine it is that from Chalcedon on the right hand side of the Euxine to the River Phasis is two and fifty daies journey and one may conjecture that the other side differs not much And here I think it not unseasonable to set down the dispute among the Learned concerning the bounds of Asia and Europe Some think the River of Tanais doth sever these two continents and alleadge that division to be naturall For the Sea coming from the western lands to the Eastern the Tanais from the North crosses between Europe and Asia and the Egyptian Nile from the South between Asia and Affrick others reject this reason as weak saying that the straits of Caliz distinguishes at first these two continents and that the Mediterranian still leaves Africk and Asia on the right hand and Europe on the left till it come to the Ends of the Euxine Sea But the Tanais springs in Europe and disembogues into the Lake of Maeotis and the lake falls into the Euxine not into the end of it nor
memory of their former misfortunes So that now it is you must fight reserve nor your valour for any other time and endure now the labour not preserving your bodies for another hazard and spare not Armes nor Horses as things that will no more be usefull to you Fortune having ruined all the rest hath left us this day as the utmost of our hopes Use now your courage venture boldly our hopes hanging upon such a haire we must not be remisse for the least moment of time The point of opportunity being past the greatest endeavours afterward faile the nature of these affaires not admitting stale valour all must be unseasonable that comes after the occasion So that let us doe effectually now that we may finde the benefit of what we doe and assure our selves that running away is most ruinous Men leave their rancks and flye that they may live but when flying brings certaine destruction he that stands the danger is safer then he that flyes And let us despise our Enemies a mingled multitude of many Nations Such Auxiliaries are neither faithfull nor powerfull As they are of severall Nations they have severall intentions also and thinke not that the Hunnes Herulians and Lombards will hazard to the death or esteeme their lives at a lesse rate then the Romans Money They make a countenance of fighting but will turne cowards when they please either after receite of their payes or upon their Commanders direction The most agreeable things not done freely but upon the necessity either of compulsion or hire please not but become greivous at last Consider all this and fight with alacrity The Battells were thus put in order they stood both in front as deepe and as long as they could make it The left wing of the Romans Narses and John had neer the Hill with the choicest men of the Army being both followed with many Lanciers and Targettiers and excellent Hunnes besides their Souldiers on the List In the right wing were Valerianus John Phagas and Dagisthaeus with the rest of the Roman Souldiers The Battalion was of eight thousand foot and the Archers of the List and between the same and both the wings were placed the Lombards Herulians and other Barbarians all whom Narses caused to alight from their Horses and to serve as footmen that if they should turne willing Cowards they might flye but slowly The left wing he put into the forme of a Wedge and he set there fifteen hundred Horse-men whereof five hundred were to relieve the Romans in case they should be put to the worst and the other thousand in the fight to get the backs of the Enemies foot and to gaul them Totilas placed his Army in like manner and rode about with his countenance and words animating his Souldiers Narses did the like holding out to them gilt Chaines and Bridles as the Prizes of their valour that day CHAP. XIX BOth the Armies a while stood still expecting each their Enemies assault Then a Goth named Cocas much esteemed for valour rode up to the Roman Army challenging any to fight with him He had been a Roman Souldier and revolted to Totilas to whom Anzalas an Armenian and Lancier to Narses rode out Cocas spurd on to give the first blow with his Lance ayming at his belly Anzalas turn'd his Horse aside and avoyded the blow then thrust his Lance into his left side at which the Goth fell downe dead and the Romans shouted Then Totilas put himselfe between the Armies not to fight a Duell but to dally out the time understanding the two thousand Horse to be at hand untill whose coming he would put off the Battell He concealed who he was wearing a Gilt Armour and from his Headpeice and Lance hung downe streamers of purple and he was a gallant sigh being bravely horst He acted his feats of Armes skilfully winding his Horse round in a circle then turning short and making many such circular passages He tost his Lance into the ayre in his full carriere then caught it as it came downe againe and removing it skilfully from one hand to another he took much pride in his dexterity therein lying upon his back and putting himselfe upon his Buttocks and bowing this way and that way like a Youth exactly taught all the tricks of a Dancing schoole He spent a great part of the afternoone in these exercises then to gaine more time sent to the Roman Army offering a Parley Narses sayd he juggled being before all for Warr and now making Propositions when the Battells were to joyne In the meane time came the two thousand Horse which when Totilas understood and it being Dinner time he caused the Army to draw off and he went to his Tent where in his owne quarter he found the two thousand Horse He commanded his Troops to dine and himselfe put on another Armour then led out suddenly against the Enemy thinking to surprize them unprepared But Narses fearing what happened forbade his men to retyre to their Dinner or afternoons repose or to put off their Corslets or to unbridle their Horses commanding them in their rancks with their Armour on to take a bit and to have a perpetuall eye upon the Enemies returne They stood in the same order still saving that Narses put both the wings with an addition of four thousand Foot into the forme of a halfe moone The Goths Infantry stood behinde their Horse to receive them being routed within their rancks and joyntly to renue the charge Totilas commanded his men not to use their Arrows but their Lances which senslesse stratagem ruined him making hereby his Army inferiour in their offensive weapons as in all things else For the Romans used according to the occasion their Arrows and Lances and came up to the Sword and did all which the present occasion required either charging on Horseback or on foot to their best advantage and sometimes compassing the Enemy sometimes standing his charges But the Goths Horse without their Foot came on with unadvised fury trusting onely to their Lances and being in the midst of the Romans they found their errour being ingaged among eight thousand Foot By whom being gaulled on all sides they despaired Our Archers drawing home the two ends of their Bowes even to their foreheads and round like a halfe moon so that the Goths before they could touch the Romans Horse had lost many men and Horses And after much mischeife sustained they came late up to the Romans Battalion of Horse where the Romans and Auxiliaries strove with equall valour each one receiving the Enemy bravely and repelling them Then the Evening coming on the Goths began to retyre and the Romans to pursue the Goths being not able to stand after their first furious charge but turning about in confusion daunted with the Romans numbers and good order And they gave over fighting thinking that some Spirits fell upon them and that Heaven it selfe fought against them When they came to their Foot there their mischeife
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