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
a deep trench with many passages through it not dig'd in a right line but thus In the midst was a short Line on either end whereof went out two streight horn-works and from both ends of the horn-works the trenches ran in right lines a great space of ground The Persians soon after came with their army and encamped at Amodis a Village two miles and a half from Daras where were Pituazes and Baresmanas with one eye and other Commanders the Generall of the whole Army being Perozes by office a Mirranes so called in Persia who sent to command Belisarius to make ready the bath for the next day he meant to bathe in Daras The Romans upon this provided strongly for the encounter as being the next day to fight The Sun up and seeing the enemy come on they put in order of battell thus The farthest point of their left-hand Line which ran from the horn-work there to a hillock Buzes possest with store of Horse and Pharas the Herulian with three hundred of his Countrymen To the right hand of these on the outside of the trench in the Angle made by the Line and the horn-work stood Sunicaâ— and Augan by birth Massagets with 600 Horse that if Buzes and Pharas should be routed they wheeling about and getting the backs of the enemy might readily second the Romans on that side On the other hand they were embattel'd in the same manner The point of the Line that way was made good with store of Horse commanded by John the son of Nicetas Cyrillus Marcellus Germanus and Dorotheus at the right hand angle were placed 600 Horse commanded by Simas and Ascan Massagetes who were likewise if John should be routed to fall on from thence upon the backs of the enemy All about the trench stood the rest of the Horse and the Infantery behind whom toward the middle stood Belisarius and Hermogenes Thus were the Romans ordered amounting to 25000 the Persian being 40000 Horse and Foot They stood both in rank their Fronts against each other striving to make it as deep as might be Neither began the fight but the Persians seemed to wonder at the Romans order musing what they would doe Towards evening some Horse from their right wing charged the Troupes of Buzes and Pharas who retreating fair and softly the Persians did not pursue them but stood still fearing to be compast by the Enemy The retiring Romans then of a suddain charged them who staid it not but gallopt home to the Batallion and Buzes and Pharas put themselves into the same place and order again Seven Persians in this encounter were slain whose bodies the Romans carryed off As their battels stood thus a young man a Persian spurred up to the Roman army challenging any to fight with him No man daring to undertake him one Andrew a follower of Buzes no souldier nor trained to the wars but the master of a Wrestling school in Constantinople and following the army to attend Buzes in the bath being a Constantinopolitan born without provocation by Buzes or any other adventured the combat And the Barbarian looking about him which way to assault him Andrew prevented and with his Lance hit him on the right pap so strong a blow that the Persian fell from his horse and Andrew as he lay with a short knife cut his throat At which from the Town-wall and the Roman army was a huge shout But the Persians being grieved at it sent out another horsman valiant and very tall no youth but with some gray hairs Who approaching the Romans and slashing with his whip often made his challenge also None presenting themselves Andrew though prohibited by Hermogenes stole into the field and both with their Lances made a furious charge Their Lances broke upon their Corslets and their horses heads meeting down they fell with their riders both falling neer each other And striving to rise the Persians heavy body could not so easily But Andrew by the advantage of his practise in the Wrestling school first got up and struck the other as he was upon one knee and having him down killed him Upon which a greater shout than before was made from the town and Roman army and the Persians loosing their bataillion retired within their trenches it growing dark The next day came 10000 men from Nisibis to the Persians But Belisarius and Hermogenes wrote this Letter to Mirranes All men confess peace to be the chiefest of blessings and consequently a Peace-breaker to be guilty of his own and other mens mischiefs So that that Generall is best who is apt to end awar in a peace whereas you bring a causless war upon us while all stands well between the Persians and us and our Princes are consulting upon terms of peace and our Ambassadors near at hand to accord all differences if some desperate effect of this your invasion choak not our hopes Draw home your Army therefore and be not an obstacle to so great a blessing least you prove authour of the mischiefs likely to fall on your own Nation To these Letters Mirranes returned this answer I should be perswaded by your letters to doe what you desire if it were not a Letter from Romans who can easily promise but their performance is not to be hoped though you confirme your agreements with oath So that tired with your deceipts we are forced to come armed and expect nothing my deare Romans now but war with us For here will we die or grow gray till you have done us right Belisarius wrote againe unto him Good Mirranes you must not humour your own arrogance nor lay false imputations upon others we have said it and truly that Rufinus is coming in Ambassage and not farre hence Which shortly your selfe will know But since you desire warre with Gods help we shall oppose you who will assist our peaceableness against your arrogance who being by us invited to peace reject it The Letters we have written both we shall hang up upon our Ensignes in the battell Mirranes to this replies againe Neither are we entred into this warr without Gods but with them shall come upon you who we hope to morrow will put us in possession of Daras Let there be made ready therefore for me the best bath in the town Belisarius then prepared for the battell CHAP. X. ANd the next day Mirranes about Sun rising calling his Souldiers made a speech to them That he knew Persians in dangers not to take their courage from their Captains orations but from their own vertue and awe of one another But seing them dispute how the Romans not using without tumult and disorder to come to fight receaved the Persians now with an order so little belonging to them Least upon a false conceipt they should commit error he warned them not to suppose the Romans upon the suddaine grown more valiant and expert Souldiers but rather cowards more then ever being so affraid of Persians that they dare not embattle without making a
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
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
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
brothers son of Solomon The Moors angry for having so easily let goe such a pawn besieged Laribum to take Solomon The besieged were afraid wanting provisions and offered the Moors money to raise their siege which they accepted finding they should not force the Town being not used to assaults and not knowing the wants within So the Leucathians went home But Antalas made head again in Byzacium having besides his Moors Stotzas with some few Romans and Vandals John the son of Sisinniolus at the Africans opportunity raised Forces and went against them and he appointed Himerius the Thracian Commander of the forces in Byzacium to draw out his troops and to joyn with him at Menephesis in Byzacium But heating the enemy to be there encamped he wrote of it to Himerius and to joyn with him in another place that they might with joynt forces encounter the enemy The bearers of the Letters going another way met not Himerius who with his troops fell into the enemies hands only Severianus a young man the son of Asiaticus a Phaenician with his troop of horse being 50. fought with the enemy and held out till pressed with multitude they ran to a Castle upon a hill which was of no strength and there yielded upon composition to the enemy who killed him not nor any of the soldiers but they took Himerius prisoner and bestowed all the soldiers on Stotzas upon their promise to serve against the Romans Himerius they threatned to kill if he performed not his promise which was to deliver to them the City of Adramettus and upon the protestation of his true meaning they went thither with him being not far off Him they sent before with some soldiers of Stotzas dragging after them Moors bound Themselves followed They directed Himerius to tell the guards that John was victorious and would forthwith come with a multitude of Moors his prisoners and that the gates being open he should get in with his company They did thus and the Adramettians were deceived and let them in not mistrusting one who commanded the whole forces in Byzacium They that entred with him staid the guards from shutting the gates and received all the Moors into the City which they sackt and leaving a small Garison departed Some prisoners afterward escaped to Carthage among whom was Himerius and Severianus it being no hard matter to run from Moors Many staid willingly with Stotzas Shortly after one Paul a Priest such as oversee the sick told some principal men of Adramettus that he would go to Carthage and hoped to return with an Army shortly which he bad them be ready to receive in They let him down the wall by cords and â—e finding at sea-side a fishing Busse perswaded the owners with mony and sailed to Carthage Where he acquainted Sergius with the matter and desired some forces to recover Adramettus Sergius liked it not having not many soldiers in Carthage He desired him to give him some few and getting but 80. he put them aboard a number of ships and boats with many Manners and Africans wearing soldiers coats and with this fleet sailed to Adramettus and being near it sent word secretly to some chief Citizens that Germanus the Emperours Nephew was newly come to Carthage and had sent a good Army to the Adramettians in the confidence of which he bad them open one of their gates They did so and Paul with his company got in killed the enemy and recovered thus Adramettus The report of Germanus spread as far as Carthage and the Moors and Stotzas followers at first ran to the utmost marches of Africk but hearing the truth it vexed them to be used thus by the Adramettians whom they had spared so that every where they committed cruelties upon the Africans sparing no age the Country became waste the Provincials that were left flying some to the Citiâ—â— some into Sicily and other Islands and the chief of them to Constantinople among whom was Paul who recovered Adramettus The Moors in the mean time none opposing ransackt all without controll and with them was Stotzas grown powerfull and many Roman soldiers followed him some voluntaries some taken prisoners at first but now staying willingly John also whom the Moors did somewhat respect being in disgrace with Sergius lay still CHAP. XVIII IN the mean time the Emperour sent into Africk with some soldiers another General Areobindus a Senator and a gallant man but no soldier With him for Prefect of the Camp he sent Athanasius lately come out of Italy and some Armenians commanded by Artabanes and John the sons of John of the race of the Arsacides These with the Armenians with them lately revolted from the Persians to the Romans With Areobindus was his sister and his wife Projecta daughter to Vigilantia the Emperours sister Justinian did not call home Sergius but divided the Generalship the Province and the Cohorts between Areobindus and him And him he directed to make the war in Numidia and Areobindus in Byzacium who arriving at Carthage Sergius with his Army went into Numidia And Areobindus hearing that Antalas and Stotzas were encamped at Sicavenerea three days journey from Carthage sent John the son of Sisinniolus against them with the choice of his Army and wrote to Sergius to joyn with John and in one body to encounter the enemy Sergius slighted the direction and the business so that John with a small power was forced to combat with innumerable enemies Between him and Stotzas was an everlasting hatred Their wish had been to kill one another and so die This batâ—el being ready to joyn they both rode out against each other John shot Stotzas in the groine on the right side who having his deaths wound fell upon the place but died not instantly His own men and the Moors set him against a tree ready to expire and then they furiously charged the Romans and exceeding them so much in numbers easily routed them They say John then said that he should die a pleasant death seeing his wish upon Stotzas accomplised and then his horse stumbling down a hill threw him and the enemy killed him striving to get up again A man great in reputation and valor Stotzas being told of it said this only word and died that now he died with delight John the Armenian was also slain having done very bravely The Emperour advertised of the death of John and troubled for the great worth of the man finding it also inconvenient to have two Generals recalled Sergius and sent him with forces into Italy and committed Africk wholly to Areobindus Two months after Sergius departure Gontharis attempted to usurp being Commander of the Cohorts in Numidia and there residing He dealt secretly with the Moors that they should invade Carthage and they suddenly with an Army levied out of Numidia and Byzacium marcht thitherward the Numidians led by Cutzinas and Jabdas and the Byzacians by Antalas With them was John who was made General in the room of Stotzas by the Roman mutiners
that we without danger or Treason might follow the Conquerour Having thus said they produced Jewes who assured the town should want nothing and the Goths promised to guard them safely Wherewith perswaded they defied Belisarius who fell to assault and was often repulsed with losie of many and even of his valiantest men For the walls what by reason of the sea and for the steepe ground were unaccessible and not to be approacht by an enemy And the cutting of the Aquaeduct by Belisarius troubled not the Napolitans much their wells within supplying their uses And they sent to Theodatus to Rome to send them succours Theodatus being a coward as I have said made little preparation for a warre and he had an accident they say but not credibly to my conceit which put him into great fear Theodatus was acquainted ever with men thar pretend to foretell things to come and being now perplexed with the present affaires when men use most to runne after prophesies he askt an Hebrew famous for such things what would be the event of the War He directed him to shut up three halfe scores of Hoggs severally and to each ten to give severall names of Goths Romans and the Emperours Souldiers and so for a certain number of dayes to let them alone Theodatus at the appointed day went to the sties to see the Hoggs Those which were called Goths he found all dead save two Those called the Emperours Souldiers were allmost all alive And those who bare the name of Romans were halfe living and all with their haires fallen off Theodatus by this divined the successe of the war and was affraid perceiving that one halfe of the Romans should perish and all loose their Estates that the Goths should be vanquisht and reduced to a small remnant and that the Emperour should get the victory with the losse of few Upon this he was affraid to fight with Belisarius who besieging Naples was troubled not thinking it would yeild and being not able to force the difficulty of the place and his losse to time vexed him fearing to be put to set upon Theodatus and Rome in the winter But having directed the army to rise and being thus perplexed he had this fortune CHAP. VIII AN Isaurian curious to see the structure of the Aquaeduct and how it brought water to the City entred it far from the city where Belisarius had cut it which had made it dry and being come in neer to the town-wall he met with a Rock to which the Aquaeduct was joyned and through it was cut a vault not sufficient for a man to enter but only to let through the water so that there the Aquaeduct was not passable especially by a man armed with sheild and corslet The Isaurian observing it conceived that by widening the vault forces might enter and being himself an obscure man unknown to the Commanders he revealed it to Paucaris a Targettier of the guard to Belisarius who told it to Belisarius and he revived with the newes promised the man mony and perswaded him to take some Isaurians and with speed and secrecy to cut the rock wider Paucaris with some choice Isaurians fit to worke entred silently the Aquaeduct and being come to the Rock and narrow Vault they wrought not cutting it with hatchets and axes lest the noise should discover them but paring and filing it with instruments of iron and in short time there was roome for a man with his sheild and corslet on to go through All being ready Belisarius considered how the army entring by force there would be slaughter and such things as befall places forced by Enemies He sent therefore for Stephanus and sayd to him thus I have been at the taking of many Cities and and am acquainted with the usuall accidents therein They kill the men of all ages the women they vouchsafe not to kill though they beg it but lead them away for base and pitifull uses The children without other Education must learne to serve their greatest enemies whose hands are stained with their Fathers bloud I speake not of the fire which wil consume your goods and the beauty of your city Beholding as in a glasse in other ruined cities the miseries of Naples I pity it For my engins are ready wherewith I shall not faile to take it And while I am Generall I would not have an ancient city long inhabited with Christians and Romans come to this fortune the rather having in the army Barbarians enraged for the losse of brothers and kindred whom I shall not be able to restraine if they enter by hostility So that chuse the best for your selves while you may and avoyd this calamity which happening as it will blame not fortune but your owne Counsells Stephanus weeping reported to the People this Speech of Belisarius But they whose Subjection to the Emperour was to be accompanied with their mischiefe feared not nor thought of yeilding Then did Belisarius about Evening chuse out 400. men and gave the Command of them to Magnus a Captaine of Horse and Ennes Commander of the Isaurians whom he directed to stand ready with their Corselets on and with Swords and Shields till he should give the Signall And he sent for Bessas to advise with him of some things of Importance Far within night he told Magnus and Ennes the businesse shewed them the place where he had cut the Aquaeduct and commanded affright the Towne and to signifie to him what they did Himselfe had many scaling Ladders in readinesse They entred the Aquaeduct and went towards the Town and himselfe with Bessas and Photius staid in the place directing the Army to stand with their Armes ready and keeping many of the Valiantest men about himselfe More then the one halfe who were to enter apprehending the danger came back to the Generall and Magnus with them after much exhorting them to go on but not prevailing Belisarius rated them and gave Magnus 200. other of his owne Retinew whom Photius would have led and first entred the vault but Belisarius forbad him The Run-awaies ashamed at the reprehensions of Belisarius took hart and followed the rest Belisarius least the Enemies sentinels upon the Turret next the Aquaeduct should discover them went thither and bad Bessas talke with the Goths in their owne Language that they might not heare the clashing of the Armes Bessas aloud called to them to yeild promising many Advantages And they flouted him with scornefull Speeches against Belisarius and the Emperour The Aquaeduct is not onely covered without the Walls but so continues with a high Arch of Brick a great way within that Magnus and Ennes being within the City could not imagine where-about they were nor finde where to get up till their fore-most men came where they found the Roofe uncovered and where stood a Cottage and in it dwelt a Woman alone and very poore and at the top of the Aquaeduct grew an Olive Tree The men perceiving the Skie and themselves in the
midst of the City would willingly get up but could not with their Armes the Building being high and without Steps Being long in doubt and beginning to be crowded with the Company pressing behinde them one of them having a minde to make triall laid downe his Armes and clambered up and finding the poore Woman in the Cottage threatned to kill her if she made any noise She astonisht sate mute and he tying a Rope to the Olive Tree threw the other end into the Aquaeduct by which the Souldiers mounted one by one All being up and but a fourth part of the Night remaining they ascended the Wall and killed the Sentinels upon two Turrets on the North side where Belisarius Bessas and Photius stood expecting the Event They called them to the Walls with their Trumpets and Belisarius set to the scaling Ladders commanding the Souldiers to mount The Ladders were too short the Work-men having not made them upon view and so not judging of a just scantling But they tied two together and so mounted the Battlements That part of the Walls next the Sea where the Jewes guarded the Souldiers could not ascend For the Jewes had offended the Enemy in hindering a peaceable surrender of the Towne and so being hopelesse if subdued they fought valiantly though the Towne were entered and they indured beyond Expectation But day appearing and being charged behinde by some who were entred already they fled and Naples was absolutely taken and the Gates set open where the rest of the Army entred Those who were quartered Eastward having no Ladders burnt open the Gates there the Guards being all run away A great Slaughter was made all being angry and especially such as had Brothers or Kins-men slaine in the former Assaults and they killed all sparing no Age broke into the Houses and made the Women and Children Slaves and pillaged the Goods principally the Massagetes who spared not the Churches but killed many who fled into them till Belisarius rode about and restrained them and assembling the Army spake thus Since God hath given us Victory and the glory of subduing a City heretofore impregnable let us not prove unworthy of the Favour but by our Clemency to the Vanquished make it appeare that we have justly overcome them Do not without limit extend your hatred to the Napolitans beyond the Rules of War No Conquerours continue hating the Vanquished if you kill them now you are not rid of Enemies but indamaged by the death fo your Subjects So that do them no further harm nor gratifie you owne Anger It is base having conquered your Enemies to be overcome by your owne Passion Take the Wealth as the Reward of your Valour but restore the Women and Children and let the Conquered finde by the Events what kinde of Friends they lost by their owne ill Counsels Belisarius having thus said released all their Women and Children and other Prisoners without enduring any Dishonour and reconciled the Souldiers to them So in the same day the Napolitans had the Fortune to be made Slaves and to recover their Liberty with the most precious of their Goods having hid their Gold and things of Value from the Enemy under ground and so found them upon the Restitution of their Houses Thus ended this Seige having lasted twenty daies CHAP. IX THE Gothish Garrison being 800. men Belisarius took and hurt not but respected them as his owne Souldiers Pastor when he saw the Towne taken fell dead of an Apoplexy having never had any touch of it before Asclepiodotus his associate with some other chiefe men came to Belisarius whom Stephanus seeing Thou vildest of all men quoth he what mischiefe hast thou done thy Country-men and sold their safety for Barbarians Favour If they had prospered thou wouldst have claimed Rewards and accused us of Conspiracy with the Romans who gave the best Counsels And now the City being the Emperours and we preserved by this mans Virtue dar'st thou thus foolishly come to him as if cleare of all disservice to the Neapolitans and the Imperiall Army Stephanus in passion for the Disaster uttered this But he answered him Worthy Sir you unwittingly extoll me in that you raile at me for my affection to the Goths None loves his Superiours in danger but from a constant mind Me the Victors shall finde a Defender of their State as lately their Enemy A faithfull man changeth not his Minde with Fortune nor entertaines Propositions from Enemies in an alteration But he that is sick of Inconstancy renounces his Friends upon his first feares Having thus said and retiring the common people followed and charged him with their Sufferings and left him not till they had killed him and torne him in peeces And they entred Pastors house searching and not beleiving the Servants Affirmation of his Death till they saw his Body which they crucified in the Suburbes then excused their doings to Belisarius upon such just provocation and obtaining Pardon went home But the Goths in Rome and other Townes that way wondred to see Theodatus so tame not offering to fight with the Romans being his so neere Neighbours And they suspected him to betray their State to Justinian caring onely to live at ease himselfe and to be rich When they heard that Naples was taken they assembled at Regêta 35. miles from Rome and accused him openly The place they found fit to encamp in being neere to a faire Champian and to the River of Decanovius so called because having made a compasse of 19. miles it enters the Sea about the City of Taracina Neere unto which is the Mountaine Circaeum where they say Vlisses had the Company of Circe improbably in my conceit Homer affirming Circes house to be in an Island Indeed Circaeum runs far into the Sea and seemes an Island along the Shore to the Sailer but being in it he findes his mistaking Upon this reason Homer might call it an Island But the Goths assembled at Regeta chose Vitigis their King a man of no conspicuous Family but in Fights about Sirmium against the Gepaedes with whom Theodorick had War he got great Reputation Theodatus hearing his ran away to Ravenna after him Vitigis sent Optaris a Goth to bring him alive or dead This Optaris had a pique against Theodatus for having betroathed a handsome Maid an Inheritrix Theodatus perswaded her for Wealth to marry another man So that to gratifie his owne Anger and Vitigis too he pursued Theodatus eagerly day and night And overtaking him upon the way laid him upon his back like a Beast and cut his Throat This end made Theodatus in the third yeare of his Reigne CHAP. X. VItigis then marcht to Rome glad of the newes of Theodatus Death and he put his Son Theudegisclus in safe Custody From thence finding things yet in no good preparation he thought it best to go to Ravema and having there compleatly furnished himselfe to enter into the War He assembled therefore the Goths and spake thus
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
brought him very good news and that they should not follow them For what should please a man mare then his Enemies running away In the morning Totilas suspecting now no Ambush went to St. Peters Church to Prayer But the Goths killed some in their way about 26. Souldiers and sixty Commons Totilas being in the Church Pelagius came a suppliant to him with the Gospels in his hand crying out O spare my Lord your owne people Now quoth Totilas scoffing you come an humble Petitioner to me Because God hath made me your slave replyed Pelagius And now O Master spare your owne slaves Totilas wonne with his supplications for bad the Goths to kill any more but to make booty of their Goods reserving the most precious for himselfe They found much wealth in the Patricians houses but most in the lodging of Bessas who had heaped up those wicked prices of his Corn for Totilas The Romans even Senators and Rusticiana the Widow of Boetius and daughter of Symmachus a woman that ever laid out her Revenues upon the poor went begging their bread of their Enemies wandring from house to house knocking at the doors and craving sustenance without blushing The Goths indeavoured to put Rusticiana to death for bribing the Roman Commanders to break down Theodericks Images in revenge of her Husbands and Fathers deaths But Totilas preserved her and protected all the Women from the Souldiers insolence who were eager to ravish them but not one was abused For which his modesty Totilas got a great reputation The next day he assembled the Goths and spake thus Fellow Souldiers I call you together not to make any new exhortations but the same I have given formerly and by entertayning which you have found your greatest good And do not now to this hearken carelesly Advises conducting you to happinesse should never be tedious nor many words seeme wearisome since the fruits springing from them must not weary you I say then againe that the other day we had 200000. valiant fighting men together were masters of infinite wealth had abundance of Horses and other preparations and many wise old men who in Warre are of greatest use Yet were we beaten by 7000. Greeks and senselesly deprived of our Empire and all things else But now being reduced to few and those naked poore and unexperienced we have vanquish'd the Enemy being upward of 20000. men The cause of this our successe I will tell you though you know it already The Goths then not valuing Justice acted foule wrongs upon themselves and their Roman Subjects Which moved God as could not otherwise be to fight against them for the Enemie Whom wee exceeding in numbers valour and other preparations yet were we beaten by an unseen power It is now in your power to keep your prosperity by keeping your justice If you change God will be your Enemy Who assists not this or that race or Nation but the men to whom Justice is precious In him it is no labour to transferr prosperity from one to another Let man only resolve never to do wrong To God all things naturally are in his free power Observe therefore justice and you shall for ever maintain your happinesse Having said thus to the Goths he called the Roman Senators to him and bitterly reproacht them That having received benefits from Theoderick and Atalarick been employed in all offices managed the whole State and made themselves rich they had proved ungratefull to their Benefactors by unworthily revolting to their own mischiefe and had betrayed themselves by bringing Greeks into their Countrey He urged them to say what hurt the Goths or what benefit the Emperour Justinian had done them They were deprived of almost all commands wrung and tortured by the publique Tax-gatherers to accompt for their carriages towards the Goths in the Treasury And being spoiled by the Warr yet the Greeks made them pay their tributes as in the times of Peace He objected many such things as angry Masters use to their new made slaves Then pointing to Herodian and the four Isaurians You quoth he having been bred with us could never yeeld up to us so much as one forsaken Town but these have received us into Spoletum and Rome it selfe Be you therefore in the condition of slaves and these who have been friends and as Countrey-men to us shall have your offices The Patricians stood silent at these words But Pelagius interceded for them as men ruined and unfortunate till Totilas promised mercy and let them goe He sent Pelagius and Theodorus an Orator of Rome to Justinian his Ambassadors making them sweare to deale fairly and to return into Italy so soon as they could He instructed them to perswade the Emperour to make peace otherwise hee should be compelled to lay Rome flat with the ground to kill all the Senate and to bring the War into Illyrium And he wrote letters to the Emperor who had the news already of the successes in Italy When they came to him they declared their instructions from Totilas and presented his letter of this tenor You are fully advertised what hath happened to Rome I doubt it not But my reason of this Embassage is to crave of you to entertaine the blessings of Peace your selfe and to permit them to us Whereof we have a faire precedent in Anastasius and Theodericke Who reigned together not long since but they filled their Reigns with Peace and good things If you be pleased to do the like I will call you my Father and you shall have the Goths your Auxiliaries against whom you please Justinian read the Letter and heard the Ambassadors but instantly sent them away with this answer in writing to Totilas That he had made Belisarius absolute Generall in this Warr who had ful power to manage all things concerning Totilas as he pleased During this voyage of the Ambassadors to Constantinople and back again Tullianus in Lucania leavyed some Peasants and guarded the Straits there to hinder the Enemies entring to infest Lucania With him were 300. Antians left with him by John being of all Barbarians the aptest to fight in a fastnesse Totilas thought it not fit to employ all the Goths against them But he sent numbers of Peasants in the company of some Goths whom he commanded to attempt the passage They fought and much stirring there was but by the valour of the Antians and favour of the fastnesse Tullianus in the end routed them CHAP. XII TOtilas hearing of it resolved to demolish Rome and leaving part of his army in some towne thereabout with the rest to go against John and the Lucanians He threw downe about the third part of the walls of Rome and was ready to fire the fairest and most eminent buildings and to make Rome a sheepe pasture but Belisarius advertized of his intention sent Ambassadors to him and wrote him this Letter It hath been the invention of wise men of old affecting civility to raise goodly buildings and none destroy them but some
dull men not ashamed to leave to posterity such a mark of their disposition And of all Cities under the Sun Rome is confest to be the greatest and most famous being not the work of one mans virtue nor arrived to this beauty and bignesse in a small time Many Emperours and excellent men length of time and excesse of wealth have drawn together materialls from all countries and rare artificers and having so by little and little built the City as you now see it they have filled it with monuments of all their virtues and the violence done to the same is an injury committed against all mankind taking from our progenitors the memorialls of their worth and from posterity the sight of such goodly works Know then that one of the two must be either you will be vanquisht by the Emperour or get the better If you be victorious by having destroyed Rome you have ruined Great Sir not anothers but your own by preserving which you will be rich in the goodliest possession in the world But if you draw the loosing lot having preserved Rome you have reserved abundant thanks from the conquerour But by destroying it bereft your self of all pretence to favour And you will get nothing by it but a fame in the world sutable to such a proceeding which attends your Resolution herein either way Whatsoever the actions of Princes be such are necessarily the name they must bear from them Totilas upon often reading this Letter and pondring the advise forbare further harme to Rome and signifying to Belisarius his determination he dismist the Ambassadors He encamped most of his army at Algidum 15 miles from Rome to the Westward to ly there and keep Belisarius fast in Portus and himself and the rest went against John and the Lucanians Some Roman Senators he led with him and the rest with their wives and children he sent to Campania leaving not a man in Rome John hearing of Totilas coming would stay no longer in Apulia but ran into Otranto The Patricians confined in Campania sent commands by Totilas direction to their husbandmen of Lucania to leave John and to manure their Lands as formerly which were declared to belong to their Landlords Whereupon they forsook John and went and lived peaceably at home Tullianus also ran away and his 300 Antians retired to Johns army So all on this side the Jonian Gulfe save Otranto became again subject to Totilas and the Goths grown bold stragled about in small parties John sent forces out and kill'd many of them which caused Totilas to unite his army about mount Gargarus almost in the middle of Apulia where he encamped in Hanniballs Entrenchment In the mean time Martianus a Constantinopolitan born one of the souldiers that escaped out of Rome with Conon when it was taken desired Belisarius that he might go to the Enemy pretending himself a run-away and he would do good service Belisarius approving it Martianus went to Totilas who was glad of him having heard much of the young man and seen him do bravely in some single combats Presently he restored to him his wife a captive and one of his children there being two but reserved the other for a hostage and he sent them with some others to Spoletum whereof the Goths had demolisht the walls after their taking it by Herodians Treason and put a Garrison there of Goths and Romans fugitives into the place used for the hunting of wild beasts called the Amphitheater which they had fortified Martianus got some Associates whom he perswaded to do some remarkable service and so to return to the Roman army and to the Roman Commander in Perusia he sent for forces discovering his designe to him Oldâ—gandon a Hunne the commander there Cyprianus Being murder'd by one of his own life-Guard as aforesaid marcht with some forces to Spoletum whom Martianus seeing with the 15 Souldiers he had got to joyn with him he killed the Captaine of the Goths Garrison and received the Romans into the Fort they kill'd most of the Enemies and brought the rest to Belisarius Who resolved thereupon to enter Rome and with a thousand Souldiers he marcht to it The Enemy at Algedon was advertized hereof by a Roman and layed an Ambush neer Rome which seeing Belisarius set upon his troops and a hot fight being the Romans valour routed the Enemy who after the killing of most of them retired to Portus Upon the sea-coast of Calabria stands Tarentum two daies journy from Otranto in the way to Thurium and Rhegium John invited by the Tarentines went thither with some few leaving the rest in Otranto the city he found great unfortified conceived it impossible to man it But finding to the northward of the City the sea to embay it self on both sides the Land and to make it an Isthmus between of two miles and a half broad he cut the said Isthmus from the city with a wall and a deep ditch and put in it the Tarentines and the inhabitants of some other Townes with a good Garrison The Calabrians having gotten this refuge thought of revolting from the Goths In the mean time Totilas surprized Acherontis a strong Castle in Lucania upon the confines of Calabria and put into it a Garrison of 400 men Then himself with his army went toward Ravenna leaving some Goths in Campania to Guard the Senators there confined CHAP. XIII BUt Belisarius undertook a design provident and bold which seemed a kinde of madnesse at first but proved a gallant work He left a small Garrison in Portus and with the rest of his army he went into Rome with a resolution to hold it He could not in so short a time repaire the walls demolished by Totilas but he heaped stones one upon another rudely without lime or the like between only to give it the form of a wall without it he pitcht good store of stakes And a ditch he had formerly made round about as I said before The whole army working cheerfully in five and twenty daies the breaches were filled up The Romans from the townes about flocked thither aswell desiring to dwell in Rome again as to be supplyed with Victuall which they wanted and found there in abundance imported by Belisarius up the River Totilas at the newes went instantly thitherward Belisarius having not yet set up the Gates which Totilas had broken down and he for want of Artificers could not build them again The Barbarian Army encamped by the River of Tiber and there lodged that night the next morning they marcht furiously to the City-walls Belisarius placed where the Gates had stood some of his best men and commanded the rest from the Walls to maintain fight against the Assailants and it was hotly fought For the Goths who hoped to take the Town at the first on-set finding the businesse prove tough and the Romans powerfully defending grew angry and their anger made them more ventrous The Romans also held out beyond expectation the danger inducing them