to negotiate for the good of both parties and that they are ready for what they say to give good hostages that it will shortly be effected There chanced to be there at the same time a messenger with the newes of the death of Cabades and that Chosroes was King and the affaires in Persia yet tottering Which caused the Generalls to heare gladly the Romans propositions â—earing also the invasion of the Hunnes So that the Romans declared for hostages Martinus and Sonecius one of Sittas his Lifeguard and the Persians raised their siege and went home The Hunnes not long after entred the Roman territory and finding no Persian army after some few dayes retired home also And Hermogenes with his fellow Ambassadors Rufinus Alexander and Thomas repaired to the Tigris where was the King of Persia who upon their coming released the hostages The Ambassadors to make Chosroes tractable used flatteries little becoming Roman Ambassadors which so pacified him that a perpetual peace was concluded for 110. Centenaries 346500 l. sterl to be given him and the Commanders of the Forces in Mesopotamia to reside no more at Daras but at Constantina as they did formerly The forts in Lazica he denied to restore and yet demanded of the Romans restitution of Bolus and Pharangium A Centenary weighes 100. pound weight so called of Centum in Latin and this gold he demanded to quit the Romans from demolishing Daras and sharing in the charge of the Garrison at the Caspian Gates The Ambassadors liked all but the Forts alledging they could not deliver them without the Emperours express pleasure So it was resolved to send Rufinus to Constantinople concerning these particulars prefixing him seventy dayes for his journey and the rest to stay till his returne The Emperour hearing what Chosroes stood upon directed the peace to be concluded upon those tearmes But Chosroes upon a false rumour that Justinian offended with Rufinus had put him to death being troubled and angry at it he invaded the Romans with his army But Rufinus returned and overtoâ—k him neer Nisibis where they resolved to consummate the peace and the mony was brought into the town by the Ambassadors But Justinian repenting the quitting the two Forts in Lazica wrote to his Ambassadors absolutely forbidding to part with them So Chosroes refused to conclude the treatie and then Rufinus considered how more hastily then safely he had brought the mony into the Persian dominion and casting himselfe prostrate before Chosroes besought him to safe conduct the mony and to deferr the present bringing an Army upon the Romans Chosroes bad him rise and promised to grant all for his sake So the Ambassadors came to Daras with the mony and the Persian Army marcht back His fellow Ambassadors were jealous of Rufinus and accused him to the Emperour because Chosroes yeilded upon his perswasions to every thing But the Emperour did him no hurt sending him againe shortly after and Hermogenes to Chosroes when they concluded the accord That each should restore what was taken in this warre That there should be no more any Commander of Forces residing in Daras And for the Iberians now in Constantinople they were to have their choice either to stay there or returne home Upon which many of them staid and many went into their own Country Thus was concluded the Perpetual Peace as they called it in the * sixt yeare of Justinians raigne Anno Domini 532. Iustiniani 6. the Romans delivering up the Forts of Bolus and Pharangium and the Persians the places in Lazica Who then also sent home Dagaris to the Romans for another Persian of quality Dagaris did often after expell the Hunnes and he overcame them in severall battells being an extraordinary good Souldier CHAP. XVIII THe peace being thus ratified by both parts two Rebells of their owne subjects fell upon both these Emperours in this manner Chosroes was of an unruly spirit a great undertaker troublesome full of tumult himselfe and an extreame troubler of others So that the Persians being weary of his governement such of them as were stirrers consulted to make another King of the house of Cabades Zames they had a mind to but the Law excluded him for his mayme of an eye In the end they resolved to advance to the Kingdome the son of Zames and he as his sons protector to manage the affaires This resolution they revealed to Zames and with their many encouragements perswaded him to the business and a fit time was appointed to surprize the King But the plot being discovered to the King he prevented it and put Zames to death and the rest of his brother and their male issue and all such men of quality as contrived or were accessory to the conspiracy among whom was Aspevedes his mothers brother Cabades the son of Zames being fostered with the Generall Adergudunbades he directed the said Generall to kill though his own foster child trusting the manâ— neither indeed could he force him not without him kill the child The Generall much grieved at this dismall Injunction acquainted his wife with it and the childs nurse The wife weeping took him by the knees and besought him not to kill Cabades So they consulted together and concluded to breed the child closely and to write to Chosroes that he was dead This they did accordingly and so concealed the young Cabades that none had any suspition but his own son Varames and one of his trustiest servants But Cabades being come of age the Generall fearing discovery gave him money and bad him save his life in banishment And all this he kept from the knowledge of Chosroes till Chosroes went with his army into Lazica as shall be related hereafter and Varames with him who had waiting on him the servant privy to the business of Cabades and revealed all to the King producing his servant who agreed in all points Chosroes raged and thought it unsufferable to beare such things from one of his own slaves and he bethought himselfe of this way to get the man into his hands When he was coming home out of Lazica he wrote to the Generall that he resolved to invade the Romans and not at one entry but dividing his army that he might make his invasion both on this side and beyond the Euphrates One part himselfe must lead and he would upon no servant bestow an equality in honour with himself but on him the Generall in regard of his valour So that he should doe well with speed to meet him in his journey that he might communicate and direct what should concern the expedition leaving his traine to follow fair and foftly after The Generall overjoyed with this honour from the King and farr from guessing his own mischief did as he was commanded But spent with hard travell being an old man he slipt his bridle and fell from his Horse wherewith his legg being broken he was forced to stay to be cured Chosroes arriving at the same place he was brought to
put all the Goths to death who attended her charging them with practise against their King and State Of this Theodorick had no revenge wanting a Navy to make war upon Africk and Ilderick was an ancient friend of Justinian who governed absolutely then his Uncle Justin being very old and not skill'd in affairs of State and they courted each other with Presents There was of the race of Genserick one Gelimer the son of Gelgris the son of Genson of ripe years and so expected immediately to succeed Ilderick In war he was thought one of the best of his time but wicked and skilful in mutinies and rapines Perceiving his Reign coming slowly though he had taken the government by the yieldingness of Ilderick he could not keep his thoughts in that condition but made a party and perswaded the best men to depose Ilderick as a Coward beaten by the Moors and betraying the State to the Emperour Justin to keep the Kingdom from him who was of the other house which he said was the intent of the late Ambassage to Constantinople They did so upon these perswasions * An. dom 530. Justiniani quarto And Gelimer getting the Kingdom kept Ilderick in prison after seven years reign with Hoamer and his brother Evagees Justinian hereof advertised being now Emperour sent Ambassadors and wrote thus to Gelimer You doe not religiously nor as is due to the testament of Genserick to keep in prison an old man of your blood and your King if Genserick's wise constitutions be worth ought and to force from him a Kingdom which shortly you will have by law Proceed not in evil nor change the title of a King to that of an Vsurper for a little advantage of time But let him carry the image of Royalty to his grave whereinto he is stepping yourself having the execution of it already and having the substance attend upon the Law of Genserick for the name If you doe thus you will find God propitious and Vs your friend But Gelimer sent away the Ambassadors unsatisfied put out Hoamers eyes and kept Ilderick and Evagees in straiter prison accusing them to have attempted an escape to Constantinople Upon this Justinian sent other Ambassadors and wrote thus We did not think you would have done the quite contrary to our advices But seeing it pleases you to get a Kingdom thus take what fortune gives you But send to us Ilderick and blind Hoamer and his brother to get such comfort whereof men are capable who have lost Kingdoms and eye-sights If you refuse this we will not endure it The hope they had in our friendship induces us and the Treaties with Genserick cannot stop us being not to make war upon but to vindicate his Successor To this Gelimer made this answer King Gelimer to the Emperour Justinian I have neither taken the Kingdom by force nor committed impiety against mine own blood The Vandals deposed Ilderick for practising against the house of Genserick And me time hath called to the Kingdom giving me my right of eldership according to the law 'T is good for a man to govern the State he hath and not to encroach upon other mens cares and 't is just in you who have a Kingdom of your own not to be thus medling If you break the Treaties and invade us we shall oppose you to our power calling to witness the oath sworn by Zeno whose successor you are Justinian was angry before but these letters more set him upon a revenge And being an acute deviser and nimble in execution he resolved to conclude the Persian war speedily and then to invade Africk Belisarius General of the East was then at Court sent for but with no word of leading an Army into Africk It was given out that he was discharged of his government And * An. dom 533. Justiniani septimo the Persian perpetual Truce was newly made Iustinian all being wel at home and with Persia at a consultation acquainted the great Officers that he would levy an Army against Gelimer and the Vandals The most of them were discontented at it remembring the overthrow of Basiliscus and that great Fleet of the Emperour Leo the Souldiers lost and the huge debt made by the State Above all the Prefect of the Palace whom the Romans call Praetor was netled at it and the Lord High-Treasurer and all Collectors of tributes both belonging to the Treasury and the Emperour considering how they must supply the necessities of the war infinitely and not be admitted to excuse or delay And every Generall doubting the employment apprehended the greatness of the hazard after escaping the sea to encamp in an enemies country and upon their landing to fight with a great and potent Kingdom The Souldiers newly returned from a long and difficult war scarce having tasted of their home-contentments were troubled to be led now to a Sea-fight a thing they had never heard of and to be sent from the East to the West to hazard against Vandals and Moors All others as is the manner of multitudes meant to be spectators of new businesses with other mens danger None durst cross the voyage save Iohn the Cappadocian Prefect of the Palace being the boldest and smartest man of his time He while others mourned in silence spake thus to the Emperour Sir The security of conversing with you gives me confidence to speak things expedient for your service though not pleasing Your wisdom hath so temper'd power justice in you that you judg not him absolutely a friend to your affairs who seconds you nor are offended with opposing you weighing things by the sincere meaning which makes it safe to differ from your counsels Hereby induced Sir I shall advise happily what for the present may offend but hereafter I shall make my affection apparant and call you for a witness If you shall begin a war with the Vandals and then find it grow into length my counsel will then appear good If your confidence arise from assurance of victory no marvail you venture men spend money and engage the toyls of such combats for victory gotten covers these afflictions of war But seeing this is in the hands of God and that looking upon foregoing presidents we cannot but fear the event of this war certainly to content our selves with quietness is better then the hazards of battels You will send an Army against Carthage whither by land it must march 140 dayes journy or sail the â—ength of the great sea to the utmost bounds of it So that the news of the occurrents will be a year in coming to you And if you vanquish your enemies yet you cannot be master of Africk Sicily and Italy being in other hands But if you be overthrown the Peace being broken you will draw the war upon your own country In a word it will not be in your power to enjoy the victory and if fortune be cross it will ruine the affairs well setled Before action consultation is profitable when
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
their wheat barley and Olyra as other animals without reducing it to flour With these Moors Gelimers company having long sojourned in this strange change of diet and now necessaries failing too they could hold out no longer but thought it the most pleasant to die and to serve not base CHAP. V. WHich Pharas understanding wrote thus to Gelimer I also am a Barbarian not used to discourses but do write now what I cannot but learn from the course of things Why have you cast your self dear Gelimer and your whole kindred into this depth of misery Is it to avoid being a slave is that it you stomack as conceiving all miseries good cheap for liberty And doe you not now serve having your best hopes of safety upon the most wretched of all the Moors T is better for a man to be a slave among Romans begging then to reign over the Moors of Pappua And can it be so extreme a scorn to be a fellow-servant of Belisarius Fieâ—l noble Gelimer We glory being not born of noble parentage to be the Emperours slaves But you they say the Emperour intends to receive into the Senate and to the highest honour called the Patriciate and to bestow on you a large fertile country and much wealth and Belisarius will undertake these conditions upon his oath Can you bear what fortune brings generously and when she mingles her distastes with some good will you peevishly reject it Are not good things from fortune as needfull for us as bad But these things the most sensless will not think It seems being plunged in disasters you lose your wits For grief uses to amaze and turn the mind upon bad counsels But if you can manage your thoughts without repining against fortune you have it in your power to chuse what 's good for you and to rid your self of these miseries Gelimer lamented bitterly at the reading this Letter and wrote back thus I thank you much for your counsel but to serve an Enemy wronging me I hold intolerable Of whom I would get right if God were propitious He hath set Belisarius upon me I know not why found a reasonless pretext of a war and brought me to this having never offended him in word nor deed It is not impossible but that something he wishes not may happen to him though an Emperour yet but a man I can adde no more my misfortune hath taken away my invention Farewell gentle Pharas and at my request send me a Harp a Loaf of bread and a Sponge Pharas doubted long how to construe the last clause of the Letter till the beater told him That Gelimer askt him a Loaf of bread longing to see and taste a baked loaf which he had not seen since his comming to Pappua That he needed a Sponge for his eye swell'd with a rheume for want of sweating and bathing And being skilful upon the Harp he desired one to sing to it a sad Ditty he had composed upon his present calamity Pharas condoling with him and at the condition of mankind sent him the things according to his Letter but blocke him up faster then before And three winter-moneths were spent in this siege And Gelimer feared that ere long they would get up to him He saw the children of his kin even swarm with lice full of sorrow he was weary of the thought of any thing but dying yet he endured all beyond imagination till he saw this sight A Moorish woman had pounded some wheat and thereof made a little Cake which she threw in the hot ashes upon the hearth as the Moors use to bake then bread Two hungry boyes one the said womans son and the other Gelimers sisters son watcht at the hearth to catch the cake when it was baked The Vandale boy caught it first and hungerly thrust it hot into his mouth with the ashes on the other boy took him by the hair and with beating forced him to put out the cake again Gelimer who observed all this accident could not beare it but relented and presently wrote thus to Pharas If ever man endured misery with a success quite contrary to his counsels such am I Excellent Pharas I mean not to neglect your good advice being no longer able to strive with fortune nor struggle under the yoke of destiny which I will follow as it pleases the same to lead me Let me have assurance of Belisarius undertaking the performance of that by the Emperour which you lately intimated and I will immediately render my self to you and all my kindred and Vandals here with me Pharas acquainted Belisarius with this and the former Letters desiring to know his pleasure Who much desiring to bring Gelimer alive to the Emperour and overjoyed with the news instantly sent to Pappua Cyprian Commander of the Confederates with some others to give oath to Gelimer for the safety of himself and company and that he should have an honourable rank with the Emperor and want nothing And they with Pharas went to the foot of the mountain whither came Gelimer received the assurances as he desired and went with them to Carthage Belisarius was in a suburb thereof named Aclae where Gelimer being presented fell a laughing openly that some imagined him to be distracted through the extremity of his misery But his friends alleadged the man to be of sudden apprehension He was royally born and a King and now from a continued power and wealth fallen into bondage and fear And after his enduring so much in Pappua he must now be ranked amongst slaves And thus having had experience of Fortunes smiles and frowns he thought Humane condition to deserve only laughter Thus they conceived of it But Belisarius acquainted the Emperour how Gelimer was a Captive at Carthage and prayed leave to come along with him to Constantinople keeping him in the mean time in an honorable restraint and preparing his Fleet. Many experiments the world hath seen beyond hope and many it will while Fortune continues the same Many things seeming to Reason impossible have come to pass and been wondred at But I know not whether ever the like of these things hath happened For a fourth Successor of Genserick his Kingdom flourishing with wealth and men of war to be ruined in so short a time by 5000 new comers without a place to anchor in so many only were the Horse who by their valour or fortune debated the whole war is justly to be wondred at But I return from whence I digressed This being the conclusion of the Vandal wars CHAP. VI. But some Commanders being envious of Belisarius as is usual in great felicities traduced him without any colour of truth to the Emperour of usurpation The Emperour made no shew of it either despising the accusation or thinking it his best way and sent thither Solomon and gave Belisarius his choice either to come to Constantinople with Gelimer and the Vandals or to stay and send them But he who was not ignorant how the Commanders charged him