possession of the Caspian Gates and the Fort. But the Emperour who used not to doe things unadvisedly considering that it was not possible to maintaine a garrison in that place wanting all commodities and having no nation neer it subject to the Romans he thanckt the man much for his good will but would not meddle with the thing Ambazuces soone after died and Cabades forcing out his sonnes possessed himselfe of the Gates Anastasius also after the truce with Cabades at a place called Daras built a very strong City and named it then Anastasia being distant from Nisibis about twelve miles and from the Persian frontier three miles and a halfe at most This building the Persian desiring to hinder could not having his hands full with the Hunnes But having dispatcht that warre he expostulated with the Romans for this building so neer his confines and contrary to the Articles of Peace Anastasius partly threatning partly pretending friendship and with large presents put it off Another City also this Emperor built upon the frontier of Persarmema which had been before a village and from Theodosius his name was called Theodosia But Anastasius compassed it with a strong wall which no lesse then the other troubled the Persians being both as Rampires upon his Country Not long after Anastasius deceasing Justine succeeded in the Empire the others kindred being rejected though many of them very eminent men Cabades was also troubled fearing innovation upon his house after his decease For upon his Sonnes he could not transferre the Kingdom without some question His eldest Caoses the law invited but him he could not abide the fathers opinion therein overruling nature and the ancient Lawes His second Sonne Zames having lost an eye the Law excluded prohibiting to make a King having but one eye or any other maime But Chosroes borne of the sister of Aspevedes he chiefly affected But seeing the Persians admire the valour of Zames as being a good Souldier and a favourer of vertue he feared least taking armes against Chosroes they might ruine his house and Kingdom Hereupon he resolved to make a peace with the Romans by procuring his Son Chosroes to be adopted by the Emperour Justine which he conceaved the onely way to preserve the security of his Empire To this purpose he dispatcht Ambassadors to Constantinople with letters to Justine to this purpose Your selfe know that the Romans have done us wrongs which I am resolved not to urge knowing that those in reason ought to have the Victory He was Son of Vigilantia sister of Justine by a very obscure man one Sabatius and Illyrian This Quaestor or Assessor Imperatoris diclated all Laws and Edicts and subscribed them Which war warrant to the Praesectus Praetorio to publish them He judged a pâ—ales to the Emperours person and in summe had the care of the whole Empire committed to him vid. Notitiam utriusque Imperij who having the right on their side are yet willingly put to the worst to gratisie their friends But for this I must demand a favour which binding our selves and subjects by kindred and the consequent thereof good affection may for ever settle to us the blessings of peace It is that you would adopt my Son Chosroes who is to succeed me in my Kingdom for your Son Justine was glad at the proposition and so was Justinian his sisters son and successor designed urging the speedy perfection and drawing up of the adoption after the Roman forme But Proclus crost it who was assessor to the Emperor the Romans call this officer Quaestor and a knowne just man not to be bribed nor hastily passing Edicts or altring things setled He opposing it spake thus I use not to meddle with novelties which of all things I feare most knowing that they cannot possibly stand with safety But were I a very daring man I think I should shrinck and tremble at the storme that is to be expected from this Act. For I cannot conceave any thing now in consulation but with a faire pretence to betray our State to the Persians who in plaine words without disguising or modeslie pray us to let them take our Empire from us covering their grosse deceipt with simplicity and their impudent proposition with a pretended desire of quietnesse But you both had need to oppose this designe of the Barbarians to the utmost of your power you Sir I least you prove the last Roman Emperour and you the General least you block up your own way to the Empire Some tricks coverel with faire pretences need an interpreter to the common sort But this Ambassage bluntly at first dash will have this Chosroes heire to the Roman Emperour Consider it thus I pray By nature is due to children their fathers estates All Lawes though differing in other things do yet in this agree both among Romans and Barbarians that children are to inherit their fathers estates So that yeilding to this their first request the rest you must consequently grant The Emperour and his Nephew approved this speech consulting what was to be done In the meane time came other letters from Cabades to Justine to send to him men of experience for concluding of a peace and to signifie the forme that was to be observed in the adoption Upon this Proclus more eagerly opposed the Persians proposall and urged that they should rather adopt to themselves the Roman power and dominion declaring his opinion that it was fit they as speedily as might be should conclude a peace and withall that some chief men should be sent who being demanded by Cabades in what manner the adoption should be should answer as is fit for a Barbarian For the Barbarians adopt sons not by writings but by arming them Accordingly Ambassadors were sent by Justine and promise of some greater men to follow for consummating all touching the peace and Chosroes There were therefore shortly after sent Hypatius a patrician Nephew to the late Emperour Anastasius and Generall of the East and Rufinus sonne of Silvanus a principall patrician and one well knowne to Cabades From the Persians came Seoses their most powerfull man who had the chief power over all armies and offices and with him Mebodes who was Master of the Palace in Persia These meeting upon the frontier treated concerning an according of the differences and concluding a peace And Chosroes came down to the Tigris two dayes journy from Nisibis that the peace being concluded he might go to Constantinople Many discourses past about their differences and Seoses alledged that Colchis now called Lazica antiently belonged to the Persians and that the Romans held it from them unjustly The Romans took it very ill that their title to Lazica should be questioned But when they said that the Adoption must be performed in a form fit for a Barbarian the Persians thought this insufferable So both broke off and they severally went home And Chosroës returned to his father vowing to revenge this scorn upon the Romans Mebodes afterward
and at the pit going few in rank came clear to the Army The Persians not imagining the plot pursued furiously upon full speed it being in an open Plain and so fell into the pit not onely the foremost of them but the rear also for pursuing furiously they perceived not the mischief of those in the front but falling on them with Horses and Lances killed them and were destroyed for company Among whom was Perozes and all his Sons They say being ready to fall into this pit he took a Pearl hanging at his ear a most fair one and of infinite value and cast it away that none might hereafter wear so beautifull a Piece as no King was ever master of the like but to me the report seems not probable for one in such a suddain distress to have his mind upon ought else I rather think his car was cut off and the Pearl conveighed away The Roman Emperor endeavoured to buy it of the Ephthalites but they could not find it though they took much pains in the search Some say they found it and sold another to Cabades for it The Persians story of this Pearl is remarkable and not altogether incredible They report that this Pearl lying in a Scallop-fish not far from the Sea-shore in Persia both the shels opened and in the midst lay the Pearl a most goodly spectacle No where was found any thing to resemble it in bigness or beauty since the world was Upon this beauty doted a huge fierce Dog-fish following without quitting it day or night Being to seek his food he would hunt for it and having found it snatch it up and hastily devour it then to his Scallop-fish again to fill himself with that beloved sight Which a Fisherman once observing but fearing the Fish he durst not venture on it but made the relation to King Perozes who thereupon long'd to have the Pearl importuning the Fisherman with fair words and great hopes and he yeelding to the requests of his Lord is reported to have sayd to him O my Liege 't is true Wealth is desirable and life more but above all a mans children are precious for whose sake nature forces a man to do any thing I will venture upon this fish and hope to make you master of this Peal If I come off victorious 't is likely I shall be ranked among the happy men of the time Doubtless you being a King of Kings will bestow great wealth on me And should I get no reward it is enough I have been my Prince's benefactor If I be devoured be it your part Sir to recompence my children for their fathers death So shall I have my reward in those nearest to me and your glory will be greater doing good to me in my children for which I cannot give you thanks That onely is pure gratitude which is shewen to the dead Having thus said he departed Being at the place where the Scallop used to swim and the Dog-fish to follow he sate upon a Rock watching to get the Pearl alone from her Lover At last the Dog-fish finding a fish for his repast fell aboard The Fisherman left those who attended him and making after the Scallop caught it and hasted to shore which the Dog-fish perceiving came to the rescue The Fisherman though not far from shore finding he should be surprised threw the Scallop on land and presently was caught and devoured His attendants ashore took the Pearl and brought it to the King relating what happened Thus the Persians report of this Pearl But to return to my former discourse Perozes and his Army thus overthrown for who escaped the pit fell into the enemies hand the Persians made a Law Not to follow the chase upon the full speed though the enemy run away in that kind As for the rest that went not in this expedition they chose for their King * Cabades began in Anno Domini 486. Cabades the yonggest Son of Perozes onely surviving And they were under the Ephthalites two yeares and paid them tribute untill Cabades more confirmed in his kingdome refused it who afterwards governed Tyrannically and made many Alterations and a Law That the Persians should have their women in common which the Commons misliked and taking arns deposed him and kept him in prison and chose Blasses King the brother of Perozes all his other Sons being dead For of a private race the Persians might not chuse a King if the blood Royal were not quite extinct Blasses succeeding assembled the chief men of Persia and propounded in counsell touching Cabades whom the multitude would not endure to be put to death Many severall opinions being spoken Gusanastades a principall man and by Office a Chanaranges which with them is a Generall who had his government bordering upon the Ephthalites shewing his knife such as the Persians use to pare their nails with as long as a mans finger and the third part of an inch thick See this knife said he a very short one yet can it doe that now which within a while twenty thousand armed men will not be able Intimating that if they did not kill Cabades now he would get abroad and trouble them again But they thought it not fit to kill one of the blood Royall but rather to keep him in the Tower of Oblivion where if a man be imprisoned it is not lawfull to mention him once to name him is death from whence the Persians gave it that name CHAP. IV. THe Armenian Histories report that once this Law of the Tower of Oblivion was broken thus There was a cruel War between the Persians and Armenians for thirty two years in the Reigns of Pacurius King of Persia and Arsaces King of Armenia of the race of the Arsacides This war continuing both were brought low especially the Armenians But being both distrustfull neither sent Heralds to his adversary In the mean time the Persians fell into a war with other Barbarians inhabiting near the Armenians who to make demonstration of their affections to a peace invaded those people acquainting the Persians therewith and coming unexpected slew most of their men Pacurius pleased with the proceeding sent to invite Arsaces giving him his faith And being come he entertained him with much curtesie and as a brother used him with all terms of equality and having mutually sworn amity and confederacy between the Persians and Armenians he dismist him A while after Arsaces was accused to attempt innovations and Pacurius beleeving it again sent for him to communicate of their common affairs He without delay went and with him the gallantest Armenians and Basicius his chief Captain and Counsellor eminent for valour and wisdom Pacurius reproached them both for forgetting their Oath and plotting a revolt They denyed constantly with oaths never to have any such thought At first Pacurius put them in hold with disgrace but after demanded of the Magi what was to be done They thought it not fit to condemn men denying and not evidently convinced
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
the Kings presence who told him he could not go the expedition appointed with his legg in that case but bad him at some Castle there get the help of Surgeons And so he sent him the way to his death and after him men to kill him An invincible Generall and so reputed by the Persians having subdued twelve Nations to Cabades Being dead his son Varames was made Generall Long afterward Cabades the son of Zames or one usurping his name came to Constantinople He was in his face like King Cabades and Justinian used him honourably as the grandchild of that King Mebodes also Chosroes killed upon this ground Being upon earnest businesse he bad Zaberganes call Mebodes to him who found him training his Souldiers and told him the King called him in hast He said he would come presently when he had dispatcht the businesse he was about The other hating him reported to the King that Mebodes would not come as yet alledging business The King enraged sent one to him to command him to the Tripos or three-footed table Which is thus An iron three footed table stands ever at the Court-gate and when any Persian understands the King to be offended with him he may not fly to Temple or elsewhere but sitting by this table must expect the Kings sentence none being to guard him Here Mebodes sate many dayes in a pittifull habit till one by the command of Chosroes took him away and killed him To this came the good services he had done Chosroes CHAP. XIX ABout the same time happened in Constantinople a suddaine mutiny which grew high and ended in much mischief both to the Senate and people The Commons of every City anciently have been divided into the Veneti and Prasini the Blews and the Greens But it is not long since about these names and clours wherein they stand to see sights they consume their estates abandon their bodies to tortures and refuse not the most shamefull death They run the danger of fighting with their opposites being sure should they get the better to be haled to prison and after extreame torturing to be put to death There growes in them a hatred without ground and lasts undeterminable not yeilding to allyance kinred or any law of friendship be it brother or son that dotes upon the contrary Colour Nothing human or divine they regard in comparison of the victory in these be it impietie against God or violation of lawes or of the Commonwealth by subjects or enemies nay themselves wanting necessaries and their Country receaving injury in the most important things they are not sensible of it so this their portion may prosper So they call their fellow Factionists Nay the very women partake in this abomination not onely as their husbands followers but often their opposites though they never goe to the Theaters nor have other inducements That I know not what to say but that it is a meer disease of the mind and thus it is in every City and Corporation But at that time * Praefectus Uâ—bi next in dignity to the Prefect Praetorio The Authour in his old age held this office the Governour of the Citizens of Constantinople led some Factionists to execution Both parties then making peace and conspiring first took away the men led to punishment then let out of prison all who lay either for sedition or any other crime and without respect slew the said Governours ministers The Citizens who were of neither faction fled to the opposite continent and the City as if under an enemy was set afire The Temple of Saint Sophie and the Bath of Zeuxippus and the Emperours Court from the porch to the Temple of Mars was consumed Moreover the great Portions reaching to Constantines market place and many great means houses end much wealth The Emperour and Empress with some Senators shut themselves up in the Palace without stirring The peoples word to one another was Nica overcome From whence to this day that Mutiny is called Nica. John the Cappadocian was then * Praefectus Praetorio of the Orient There was another of Illyrium both belonging to the Easterne Empire Prefect of the Court and Tribonianus a Pamphylian Assessor to the Emperour by the Romans called Quaestor John was a man vnbred in any liberall science having learn't at the Grammar Schoole onely poore letters to write as poorely but in naturall abilities the most powerfull man we ever knew both to discerne fit things and in doubtfull to find a resolution but the wickedest man alive wherein he employed the strength of his nature without respect of God or men for gaine studying the ruine of mens estates and of whole Cities Quickly growing to a great wealth he fell into boundless gluttony preying upon the subject till dinner time and the rest of the day spending in drunkennesse and wanton abusing his body eating till he vomited A man ready to catch mony and more ready to lavish it Such was John the Cappadocian But Tribonianus beside a great naturall ability had attained to an excellence in learning inferiour to no man of his time But in the wayes of Covetousness most industrious and ever ready to sell right for gaine making and repealing Edicts every day ever selling them to any who had occasion to use them During the peoples quarrells about those names and colours there was little speech of these mens misgovernements But when they consented and were now formed into a mutiny openly in the City they rail'd upon them and sought occasions to kill them The Emperour to reconcile the people put them both out of their places and made Phocas a Patrician Prefect of the Palace a wise man and naturally addicted to justice and Basilides a Patrician he made Quaestor a famous honest man But the mutiny raged nothing lesse The fift day of the same about evening the Emperour commanded Hypatius and Pompeius Nephewes of the late Emperour Anastasius to retire to their houses either suspecting some attempt of theirs upon his person or afraid that they were driven thereto by destiny They fearing what came to passe that the people would force them to the Empire said that it was not honest to leave their Emperour in so great danger Justinian at this was more suspitious and bad them instantly be gone home They went and it being night were quiet but the Sun no sooner up but it was divulged how these Lords were retired from the palace and all the multitude ran to them and saluteâ— Hypatius Emperour and conducted him to the market place to take the affaires upon him Maria his wife a wise and sober Matrone crying and lamenting and protesting to her friends that the people were leading her husband to his death and hanging upon him to stay him till the people forced him from her And when he was unwillingly come to Constantines market-place they proclaimed him Emperour of the Romans binding about his head a golden wreath for Diademe they had none nor other thing usuall to
which may be best for the Romans and your own Lombards considering also that you shall do well to joyne with us who are of the same Orthodoxall Religion and to oppose these being Arians The Lombards so spake and the next day the Gepaedes Ambassadours were brought to the Emperour and said in this manner It is right and fit O Emperour for men demanding aides first to shew that they ask things reasonable and just and good for those who are to aide them and so to speak what concernes their Ambassage It is plain therefore that we are wronged by the Lombards in that we have endeavoured to end our differences in a course of justice and we striving to have a legall way cannot be said to use violence And that the Gepaedes exceed the Lombards in multitude and goodnesse of men what need many words to them that know it And we think no wise man will run into evident danger by siding with the weaker when he may get a Victory by joyning with the stronger The Gepaedes moreover will assist you against your Enemies upon obligation of gratitude for what you now shall do for them and with the greatnesse of their power are likely to make you Masters of your Foes Consider also that the Lombards are but lately in amity with you but the Gepaedes are of your ancient acquaintance and allyance and Friend-ship grown with time is not easily dissolved It is good for you therefore to make us your Confederates being both powerfull and firm to you These just reasons may draw you to this Confederacy but see the dispositions of these Lombards Being intreated to end the quarrell legally by no meanes they will consent out of a groundlesse over-weening But the War being ready for a Battell now they shrink being conscious of their own weaknesse and fly to you importuning you without reason to fight for them And these Theeves alledge to provoke you to a War our holding Syrmium and some other places in Dacia Whereas in your Empire are so many Cities and Countries that you seek for men upon whom to bestow some of them to dwell in To the Francks to the Herulians and these Lombards you have given so many Townes and proportions of Land that they cannot be numbred And we being bold in your Friend-ship and Favour have done what your selfe would have to be done And whosoever hath a mind to part with a thing esteemes him the worthier man who from a free Spirit is aforehand and of himselfe takes the benefit them him that gets it as a courtesie if the Giver set the valuation of the thing so as not to insult upon the Receiver but as being bold upon him as of an assured Friend Which is the case of the Gepaedes with the Romans And which you taking into consideration we desire you in the first place to joyn your powers to ours against the Lombards according to the Leagues with us and if not to stand neutrall By thus advising you shall do justly and expediently for the Roman Empire CHAP. XIX BUT Justinian after a long consultation herein dismist the Gepaedes with a refusall and swore a League with the Lombards And he sent them 10000. Horse under Constantianus Buzes and Aratius assisted by John lately come out of Italy who by the Emperours direction was to return into Italy with his Troops so soon as the Battell with the Gepaedes was fought There were also with them 1500. Herulians commanded by Philimuth and others The rest of the Herulian Forces being 3000. and lately revolted from the Romans as I have said formerly were on the part of the Gepaedes Some of these led by Aordus their Princes Brother a party of the Romans marching to the aide of the Lombards met routed them and killed Aordus and many more But the Gepaedes understanding the Roman Army to be neer compounded the quarrell with the Lombards and a Truce was concluded without the Romans who being thereof advertised were troubled being not able to go on nor to return back and they feared least the Gepaedes and Herulians should make a joynt in-road into Illyrium and spoile it So they lay still and advertised the Emperour Thus much by way of digression concerning these ocurrents But Belisarius was now returning to Constantinople with no honour In five yeares space he never marcht up into the land of Italy made no expedition but was all the while in a perpetuall flight sailing from one strong Sea-Town to another which gave the Enemy meanes to captivate Rome and all the rest He abandoned Perusia the chiefe City of Tuscany which was taken by assault while he was in his way home Being come to Constantinople and now grown extream rich and much respected for his former Victories he made his continuall aboad there Before his Voyage into Africa God gave him a cleer presage of his good Fortunes He had Land in Panteichion the Suburb of Constantinople right over against the City where immediately before his expedition against Gelimer and Africk his Vines were very full taken and many Vessels were silled with the Wine thereof which had their bottomes buried in the ground and their tops fast closed with Clay in the Wine-Cellar Eight months after the Wine workt out of the Vessels forcing out the Clay and made the Cellar a puddle The Servants wondred at it filled many Flaggons with it and stopped up the Vessels again and concealed the Accident But the same happening often they acquainted their Master with it and he shewed it to divers of his Friends who divined from thence much happinesse to be coming to his House This thus happened to Belisarius But now Vigilius Bishop of Rome and the Italians at Court being many and of good quality besought the Emperour to vindicate Italy with all his power Above all Gothigus pressed him being a Patrician and late Consull and newly arrived at Constantinople for this purpose The Emperour promised to take care of Italy but he spent the most of his time about the Christians Controversies endeavouring to settle the same During this War Ildiges a Lombard came with forces as far as to Venetia upon this occasion Vaces late Prince of the Lombards had Risiulphus his Brothers Son who by the Law was to succeed him but Vaces plotting the Succession for his own Son charged Risiulphus with some groundlesse Crime and banished him Risiulphus fled to the Varnians leaving two Sons behind him These Barbarians Vaces hired to kill Risiulpus and one of his two Sons dyed but Ildeges the other fled to the Slavonians Not long after Vaces dyed and the Government came to Valdarus his Son who being a Child Audovin was made his Protector and attaining thereby to great power he got the absolute Government to himselfe And shortly after the Child dyed When the Lombards and Gepaedes were in War Ildiges brought to the Gepaedes such Lombards as followed him and many Slavonians hoping that the Gepaedes would restore him to the
being yet without his Bride let me communicate my thoughts to you and when I am dead if you like my advise put it in execution I hold it more advantagious for you to have allyance with the Francks then with the Brittians who being Islanders cannot joyne with you in time nor easily whereas nothing severs the Francks but the Rhyne from you And being so neer and so powerfull they are at hand both to helpe and hurt you and hurt they will if this allyance restraine them not An overgrowne neighbour proves heavy and apt to doe wrong and the meanes of a War are easie against men at the next doore Quit therefore that betroathed Islander and the Money shee hath received restore according to the Law of Nations for a reparation of the refusall of her and let my Son Radisis marry his mother-in-Mother-in-law which our Lawes permit Hermegisclus gave this advise and at the fortieth day dyed and his Son taking the Kingdome renounced his betroathed Spouse by the perswasion of his Nobles and tooke his Mother-in-law to Wife The contracted Lady could not brook the scorne done her but was eager to revenge it For so tender of their honour are the Barbarians of those parts that after the name onely of a marriage without consummation if the woman be refused shee thinks her selfe profest a Strumpet First shee sent Messengers to demand the reason of this rejection seeing he could not charge her with incontinence nor any other offence but that way prevailing nothing with a manly courage shee resolved upon a Warr Shee got four hundred Ships and an hundred thousand men whom her selfe led with one of her Brothers to assist her The Brittians are the bravest Infantry we know but so unexercised in Horsemanship that they know not what a Horse is nor ever saw in Brittia the Picture of any where never any was bred When upon Ambassages they come abroad among the Romans or Francks and are put to necessity of riding men lift them up and set them upon their Horses and so take them downe againe when they are to alight The Varaians also are all Footmen Aboard the aforesayd Fleet were none but rowers for the Brittians have no Sailes Being landed upon the Continent the Virgin-Generall encamped at the mouth of the Rhyne where staying her selfe shee sent out her Brother against the Enemy He finding the Varnians neer the Sea shore encamped had a battell with them and defeated them where many fell and the rest with their King fled and were followed by the Angles as farr as foot-men could who retyring to the Campe were by the Lady chid and especially her Brother for having nothing worthy such an Army seeing he brought not Radisis to her alive Shee selected then her best men and charged them to bring the man to her who in the end found him concealed in a Wood and brought him bound to the Lady He stood before her trembling expecting some cruell death But shee onely reproaching to him the unjust affront he had done her askt him why he would neglect his Vow and bed another Woman his owne Spouse not having committed whoredome He excused all upon the injunctions of a Father and the importunity of his Nobles mingling his apologie with supplications and imputing the crime to necessity promising now if it were her pleasure to live with her and by his future services to cure his former injury The Lady was pleased and Radisis loosed from his bonds was vouchsafed all manner of courtesie And immediately he sent home the Sister of Theodebert and marryed this Brittian Lady In Brittia also is a Wall dividing a great part of the Island in two the reason of it is because to the Eastward is good ayre according to the seasons and many civill Inhabitants and they have Corne and Fruit-trees in abundance and are well stored with waters But to the Westward all is so contrary that a man cannot live there halfe an houre the Countrey being possest with Adders and Snakes and all sorts of venemous creatures The natives affirme that so soon as a man passes to the other side of the Wall he instantly falls dead with the pestilentiall ayre and the like happens to Beasts In this description I am to mention a Story or rather a Fable I cannot think it true though many men affirme to have seen it and been actors in it neither must I absolutely reject it least professing to write of the particularities of this Island I be thought ignorant of the things done in it They report that to this part of the Island are transported the Soules of the departed by a meanes which though I have heard in very good earnest related yet I conceive that the first rumour of it sprung from some dreaming heads Along the Ocean shore over against Brittia are many Villages inhabited by Fishermen Husbandmen and Boatmen who traffique in the Island subjects they are to the Francks but pay no Tribute the exemption from which is granted unto them for a service which I will now relate They have the employment of conducting Soules departed imposed on them by turnes when any mans turne comes they goe home to bed towards night expecting their fellow conductor and at midnight they finde the door opened and heare a softly voice calling them to the businesse Instantly they rise and go downe to the Sea-side finding themselves constrained to goe on but they perceive not by whom Boats they finde ready with no men in them and aboard they goe and sit to their Oares They perceive the Boats loaded with Passengers even to the Deck and the place of their Oares not an inch from the water They see nothing but after an houres rowing come a Land in Brittia whereas in their owne Boats they have much adoe to passe over in a day and a night having no Sayles but rowing onely They instantly land their Fare and are gone away with their Boats suddenly grown light and swimming with the current and having all save the Keele above water They see no men leaveing the Boat but they heare a voice relating to some who it seemes stayes there for them the names of the Passengers with their Titles and additions of what Fathers they were and if women of what Husbands But to returne to my History and to the Gothick Warr having already spoken of the successes of other Provinces CHAP. XIII THE Emperour as I sayd before had sent for Belisarius home where he held him in honour upon the death of Germanus yet he would not send him into Italy and though he were Generall of the East he made him Commander of the Guards of his body and kept him at Constantinople And Belisarius was the cheife of all the Romans in dignity some indeed had the priority of being made Patricians and Consulls before him but yet they yeilded the precedence to him and were ashamed to make use of the Law and to assume the right which that gave them against so eminent
where then he resided Germanus was ambitious to get the honour of vanquishing the Goths and the good fortune to recover both Affrick and Italy to the Empire In Africa where Stotzas had usurped he overcame him and the mutiners unexpectedly and reduced the Province as it is in my former relations And Italy being now reduced to the Estate I have described he desired the Glory of recovering that also His wife Passara being long since deceased he married Mattasuntha Daughter of Amalasuntha the daughter of Theoderick her former husband Vitigis being lately dead He hoped that the Goths would be ashamed to lift their armes against this Lady remembring the Reignes of Theoderick and Atalarick Moreover freely disbursing the Emperours mony and his own more he levied quickly and unexpectedly a very gallant army The best Roman Souldiers left their ordinary commanders whose Lanciers and Targettiers they were and followed Germanus together with many Constantinopolitans Thracians and Illyrians wherein Justinus and Justinianus his Sons used much care and diligence He pickt the best out of the horse Troops garrison'd in Thrace and many Barbarians about the Ister were drawn by the same of Germanus and brought much mony with them and joyned with the Roman army The Prince of the Lombards promised to send him a thousand men well armed Report as in all human things made all this in Italy much more and the Goths were afraid and troubled withall to make war now against the posterity of Theoderick And the Roman souldiers there sent to signifie to Germanus that so soon as they saw him in Italy and his army intrenched they would immediatly joine with him The remainder also of the Emperours army in Ravenna and some other Towns took courage and resolved to guard their Towns firmly for the Emperour Nay those who had been beaten with Verus and others and went now stragling hearing that Germanus was upon his way they rallied themselves in Istria and staid for the said army Totilas then at the day assigned sent to Diogenes to surrender Centumcellae according to the capitulation Diogenes answered that he had no power now Germanus being declared absolute Generall and not far off with his army and he desired him to send him his hostages and he would restore those given by the Goths and so he dismist the messenger and carefully guarded the town expecting Germanus and his army And thus the winter ended the 15 year of this war written by Procopius While Germanus was drawing his army together and exercising his Troops at Sardice Incipit annus 16 bell Goth. in an 24 Juniani ann dom 550. a City in Illyrium and making a powerfull preparation for this warr a Troop of Slavonians greater then ever formerly past the Ister into the Roman territory and came to Naysum The Romans took some few straglers of them bound them and askt them upon what design these Slavonians were come over the River They said it was to sack Thessalonica and the Towns about it The Emperour upon this advertizement wrote to Germanus to defer his Journy into Italy and to defend Thessalonica and to beat away the Slavonians who grew afraid when they heard from their prisoners that Germanus upon this staid still at Sardice whose fame was great among all the Barbarians upon this occasion During the Raign of Justine his great Uncle the Antians who inhabite next unto the Slavonians past the Ister and invaded the Roman territories with a great army Germanus was lately made Generall of Thrace and in a battell with these Enemies killed them almost all which got him a great reputation especially among these people So that fearing him now and supposing him to have a very great army as being sent against the Goths they forbare their intents against Thessalonica and went over the mountaines of Illyrium into Dalmatia not daring to appear in the Champian And Germanus despising them directed his army to be in readinesse within three daies to begin the journy into Italy but he suddenly fell into a sicknesse which made an end of him And so was Germanus quickly lost a vertuous man and very valiant both an excellent Generall and a daring Souldier In peace and prosperity a constant observer of Lawes and good Government He was a most upright Judge and to men in need he lent great Sums without so much as talking of any Interest In the Palace and in the Forum severe and stern but at home and at his Table pleasant free and gracious where he had power he prevented the Errours and innovations of the Emperours Court And he never consented nor conversed with the mutinous Veneti and Prasini Constantinople though many great men ran into that absurdity The Emperour was much grieved at this sudden Accident and commanded John Vitalianus his Sisters Son with Justinianus one of the Sons of Germanus to lead the Army into Italy They went into Dalmatia meaning to winter at Salonae it being not possible in that season to compasse the Jonian Gulfe into Italy and they wanted Ships to crosse it CHAP. XXII LIBERIVS who heard nothing of these alterations put in at Syracuse besieged by the Enemy He forced his way into the Haven and put his Army into the City Artabanes also at Cephalenia hearing how the Fleet with Liberius was gone for Sicily crost the Adriatique Sea thither-ward and neer the Coast of Calabria met with a great storm full in his teeth which so scattered the Fleet that he thought most of his Ships to be cast upon that Coast and in the hands of the Enemy But a strong gale turn'd them back into Peloponesus and some were cast away others escaped The Ship wherein Artabanes was lost her main Mast and being abandoned to the Tide and Waves and in much danger put in at the Island of Malta and by this meanes he was unexpectedly preserved But Liberius being not in case to sally nor fight with the Enemy and the Victuall in Syracuse failing stole from thence into Panormus Totilas in the mean time ransackt all Sicily carryed away great quantities of Corn Horses and Cattell and putting the same aboard his Ships and the whole wealth of the Island returned suddainly into Italy upon this motive He had made one Spinus of Spoletum his Assessor who residing in Catana an unfortified Town was taken by the Romans Totilas desirous to ransome him offer'd for him an eminent Roman Lady but they refused to take a woman in exchange for a man holding the Dignity of Quaestor Spinus fearing to perish among the Romans promised them for his liberty to perswade Totilas to leave Sicily and to transport his Army into Italy They upon his Oath for true performance restored him to the Goths and accepted of the Lady He being come to Totilas said That the Goths further stay in Sicily was to no purpose having already pillaged the Island That he understood for certain among the Enemy that Germanus was dead and that John his son-in-Son-in-Law and
Justinianus his Son were in Dalmatia with the Army levied by Germanus and immediately to come into Liguria who might take all the Goths Wives and Children Prisoners and pillage their Goods whom they should do well to oppose by wintring securely at home and if they vanquish them they shall with more ease fall again in the next Spring upon Sicily not expecting hostility Totilas upon this advise left Garrisons in foure strong Townes and past into Italy with all his Booty John and the Emperours Army meant to winter at Salonae and from thence with the first of the Spring to march by Land to Ravenna But the Slavonians both those who formerly forraged the Empire and others spoyled again with full liberty the Provinces Some suspected Totilas to have hired them to divert the Emperour with new businesse from putting the Gothick War into a better order But whether to gratifie Totilas or otherwise certainly these Slavonians did desperate mischiefes in Europe dividing themselves into three parties not sacking Townes but wintring in them as in some Province of their own and fearing no Enemy The Emperour sent at last an Army against them under Constantianus Aratius Nazares and Justinus the Son of Germanus and John Phagas and other Captaines made Scholasticus an Eunuch of his Palace Commander in chiefe This Army met one of the Barbarian parties about Adrianopolis in the mid-land of Thrace five daies journey from Constantinople The Barbarians being clogg'd with an innumerable booty of men Cattell and other Wealth durst not come on And the Romans though eager to fight dissembled it The Slavonians were encamped up on a Mountain and the Romans in the plain who there besieged them till the Souldiers murmuring at their Generals that they had plenty of Provisions themselves while the Common Souldier wanted Food and so they delayed to fight with the Enemy the Generals were constrained to come to a fight which was hotly fought But the Romans were beaten and many of their best men slain and the Generalls escaped narrowly with the rest The Ensigne of Constantianus the Slavonians took And now despising the Roman Army they went on and forraged the Province called Astica or Suburbuna which was never forraged before So that they found great Booty in it They pillaged in many places of the Country and came up to the Long walls a daies journey from Constantinople But the Romans fought afterwards with part of them routed them and after much slaughter rescued great numbers of Roman Captives and recover'd the Ensigne of Constantianus The rest with the remainder of their Booty went home-ward Finis Lib. 3. Bell. Goth. THE CONTENTS OF THE FOURTH BOOKE OF THE GOTHICK WARRE Chap. I. THIS Booke is a supplement of the former History Pontus Euxinus Honey bitter in Trapesond The River Boas takes the name of Acampsis in the Sea Absarus or Apsyrtus Christians Scunia Suania The Phasis Jason's fleece Chap. II. Mount Caucasus The Hunnes about it The Alans Portae Caspiae No Amazons but Hunnish wives accompanying their husbands to war The Abasgians cruell covetous Kings they turne Christians The Bruchians Zecchians Sagines Sebastopolis and Pityuntium demolished Gothi Tetraxitae anciently Christians Justinian sends them a Bishop as to the Abasgians Their first Issue upon the Empire by occasion of hunting a stagg Chap. III. The Caturgurian Hunnes joyne with the Goths called Tetraxites to infest the Empire The description from the Cimmerian straits to the mouth of the River Ister Phasis not Tanais divides Europe and Asia The Lake of Maeotis not the Mother of the Euxine Sea Chap. IV. Cosroes desires to have Lazica from thence to invade the Romans of Europe by land A battell in Lazica where Dagisthaeus defeats the Persian army with the death of Chorsanes their Cenerall Chap. V. The revolt of the Abasgians Bessas is made Generall of Armenia Sends John Guzes against the Abasgians who subdues them Apsilia revolts and is reduced by John Guzes Chap. VI. Anatozadus punisht by Chosroes his Father with deformity Tribunus an honest Phifytian Isdigunas the proud Persian is again sent Ambassador The siege of Petra And of the leather Rammes devised by Sabirian Hunnes Chap. VII Petra is taken by the valour and counsell of Bessas and John Guzes and by an accident of fire The obstinate valour of the Persians in the Cittadell where all are consumed Bessas by this recovers his lost Reputation at Rome Chap. VIII Mermeroes seizes upon Lazica with an army through the negligence and Avarice of Bessas He frights away a Roman army and sits down before Archaeopolis The Romans are perswaded by their Commanders to sally Chap. IX The Romans by a brave sally beat the Persians from Archaeopolis and kill 4000 men The Castle of Câ—taesis Justinian buyes another five years peace by making the Romans in a manner Tributaries Isdigunas the Persian Ambassador hath excessive presents Extraordinary heats in the Winter Chap. X. Uchimerium is betrayed to Mermeroes whe is absolute Master of the Feild and invites Gubazes to yeild who refuses Silk Worms are brought first by Monks out of India in their Bags Mermeroes is re-inforced in Lazica but does nothing Chap. XI Africa quiet A Panick feare makes a Truce between the Gepaedes and Lombards Caturgurian Hunnes invade the Empire And the Uturgurians their Country which drawes them home and some of them are planted in the Empire which the Uturgurians take ill Chap. XII Of the Brittians and Varnians who were vanquisht in Fight and their King taken Prisoner by a valiant Maid whom he married A Fable of the transporting Soules into Brittia I suppose this Brittia to be that peninsule of Cimbrica Chersonesus where the Angles did inhabit before their invading Brittany Chap. XIII Narses is made Generall against the Goths which was presaged by an Oxe Totilas repents his defacing Rome Of the Ship of Aenaeas then a Monument in Rome Corcyra is Phaeacia The Ship of Ulisses and that placed by Agamemnon at Geraestum Chap. XIV The Goths plunder Corcyra and Epirus The Sea-fight at Ancona and Victory of John Sicily is recovered by Artabanes Justinian will heare of no accord with the Goths Chap. XV. Theobald the Son of Theodebert King of the Francks will not abandon the Goths The Goths take Corsica and Sardinia The Slavonians spoile the Empire Justinian hath a double treatie with the Lombards and Gepaedes Chap. XVI Great Earthquakes in Greece The Siege of Crotona is raised Narses marches from Salonae into Italy and comes to Ravenna His gallant Army and his owne Virtue is described The Fancks refuse his Army passage through Venetia so he resolves to march by the Italian Coast having Boats to make Bridges for his men to passe Chap. XVII A Digression of Ildigisal a Lombard basely murthered where they fled for refuge Usdrilas after his bragging Letter is slain and Narses passes the River at Ariminum to meet Totilas Chap. XVIII The Armies of Totilas and Narses meet Gallant Service done by 50. Romans defending
a vertue and the Emperour took it well of them But John Sisters son of Vitalianns past that Winter in Salonae whom the Roman Commanders in Italy expecting dayly forbare any action And the Winter ended and the sixteenth year of this Warr wrirten by Procopius The next yeare John resolving to lead the Army from Salonae against Totilas Inâ—ipit Annus 17 bel Goth man 25 Justice Anno dom 551. the Emperour commanded him to stay the comming of Narses the Eunuch whom he had made his absolute Generall in this warr The reason of this determination of the Emperour was not knowne for who can declare the counsels of his heart without his consent But men did conjecture that his Majesty did consider how the rest of the Commanders would grudge to have their power lessened and to be made subordinate to John whereupon either by contrary opinions or through envy they might purposely prejudice his affaires I heard also this story at my former being at Rome from one of the Senators That in the Raigne of Atalaricus a heard of Cattell about evening came into Rome and past through the Market place called Forum pacis where stood the ancient Temple of peace and was thunder-strucken Over against this Market place stands an ancient Conduit and upon it a brazen Bullock the work of Phidias the Athenian or of Lysippus there being in the same place many Statues of their making and upon one the name of Phidias is ingraven There is here also the Bullock made by Myron The ancient Romans being most studious to make all the fairest peices of Greece the ornaments of Rome But the Senator told me that an Oxe of this Heard was left behinde the rest and got up to the Conduit and stood above by the brazen Bullock and that a Tulcan passing by a plaine countrey fellow in appearance but a pretended Soothsayer as all the Tuscan are sayd That one day an Eunuch should depose the Prince of Rome The Tuscan and his Divination was then laught at as all predictions are before they be justified by the event seeming till then ridiculous and fabulous But now all men admire that his interpretation being convinced by the event So that Narses was chosen Generall against Totilas either the Emperour wisely foreseeing the successe or fortune determining the same And Narses with a Gallant Army and store of Treasure was dispatcht He stayd a while in Thrace at Phillippopolis his way being stopt by an army of Hunnes who drave and carried all away without opposition but they being gone some towards Thessalonica some towards Constantinaple he marcht on being hardly disengaged from them While John thus staid for Narses at Sâ—ilonae and Narses intangled with those Hunns marcht slowly Tâ—tilas looking for Narses coming placed in Rome some of the Senators confined in Campania and other Romans Commanding them to guard the City and professing to repent for what he had done to it He had burnt the most part of it especially beyond the Tiber and these men being grown little better then Slaves and stript of all they had were so unable to vindicate the publick that they could not get every man his ownpeculiar right and yet are the Romans the best patriots in the world studying to recover from all parts what belongs to their City and to save all the ancient Ornaments of Rome from perishing During so long a subjection to Barbarians how did they preserve their publick buildings and ornaments of their City Even the orginall monuments of their race do yet last the sufficiency of those ancient workmen holding out against the ruines of time and the negligence of men Among which there yet stands a miraculous spectacle which my selfe have seen the ship of Aenaeas the founder of their City it is for one row of oares only and of a huge length being 120 foot long and 25. broad It is so high only as that men may row in it The Timbers in it are not mortessed into one another nor fastned by iron but are every one of a peice such as were never heard of and are only found in this ship that we can learn For the keele being all one peice reaches from the stern to the foreship and bowes by little and little into a convenient crookednesse then strangely turnes straight again and most aptly in proportion The ribs also of the ship reach from side to side crooking downwards and bowing so handsomely that one would think the hollow bulk of the Ship to be made round and turned with instruments either nature providing such a crookednesse in the Timber for the present use or else those uneven ribs were fitted by mens hands or Engins Every planck also reaches from the stern to the foreship being all of a peice and have only spikes of iron to fasten them to the shipps ribs and to make up her sides Thus doth this ship affoard a sight beyond expression strange workman-ships naturally rising above discourse and as they subdue common things by thenew invention so over-mastring evenspeech it selfe And the ship is strong and lusty yet and sound all through none of the Timbers having any rottennesse appearing as if the ship-wright whatsoever he were had lately built it Totilas also manned 300 Gallies with Goths whom he commanded to pillage and spoil the coast of Greece This fleet hurt nothing till it came to Corcyra anciently the country of the Phaeacians being the only inhabited Island in this passage from the straits of Scylla Having been often upon that Sea I was curious where the Iland of Calypso was I found only three small islands some thirty seven miles from Phaeacia now Corcyra called Othonae from whence one may imagine Vlisses to have past to Corcyra being no farther off either in a boate made of a sudden or otherwise this is but my conjecture only It is hard to discourse exactly of things so ancient Time changes the names of places and the opinion formerly held of them Upon the Sea shore in Corcyra stands the modell of a ship made of white stone compounded of many severall stones which some suppose to be the modell of that which transported Vlisses into Ithaca after his entertainment with the Phaeacians Neptune turned the ship worch carried home Ulisses into a rock so that it must be of on puâ—â— But * the being not of one stone and the Letters ingraven upon it proclaime the same to have been set there by some Merchant in ancient time and dedicated to Jupiter Casius the town also where this ship stands being yet called Casâ—â—pe In Euboea at Geraestum there is also such a modell of a ship dedicated by Agamemnon to Diana to please her with this also as he had by the sacrifice of his Daughter Iphigenia obtained of her a passage for the Grecian army to Troy Which is testisied by Letters ingraven upon it either then or afterward the most of which time hath defaced but at the beginning of the verses they appear thus