that we ever saw him use to any Ambassadour feasting him and Braduâ—ionas his Interpreter and setting them upon the same couch with himself a thing never done before No man ever saw an Interpreter sit at table with the meanest Governour much lesse the Emperour And this Ambassadour without businesse he entertained and dimissed more honourably than ever any 31500 l. sterl His charges and presents came to more than ten Centenaries of gold CHAP. XXI BUt into Lazica Chosroes first sent much ship-timber giving out it was for engines to stand upon the walls of Petra Then he sent Fabrizus with three hundred chosen Persians instructing him closely to kill Gubazes and of the sequele he would take care The timbers in Lazica were all consumed by lightening But Fabrizus being there and practising to execute his instructions concerning Gubazes sent for a Nobleman of the country named Pharsanses whom he understood to be in disgrace with Gubazes for some offence not daring to come in his fight and to him revealed the matter and advised with him how to attempt it The conclusion was that Fabrizus should goe to Petra and send for Gubazes to acquaint him with the great Kings resolution touching Lazica But Pharsanses secretly discovered the plot to Gubazes Who thereupon refused to come to Fabrizus and prepared for an open revolt Fabrizus committed the guard of Petra to the other Persians to prepare all things safe against a siege and so went home having done nothing Gubazes reported to Justinian the present estate besought his pardon for things past and his present ayd to shake off the Persian Government The Emperour was glad of the news and sent him seven thousand men commanded by Dagisthaeus and a thousand Tzanians Who joyned with Gubazes and the natives and besieged Petra The Persians within defended it valiantly and much time was spent in the siege they having laid in store of victuall in the town Chosroes was troubled at it and sent against them a great army of horse and foot under the command of Mermeroes Whereof Gubazes being advertised and upon advise with Dagisthaeus did thus The River of Boas springs near the confines of Tzanica about Pharangium in Armenia First it runnes a good way to the Northward and is small and fortable till it comes where it hath the Marches of Iberia to the North and the utmost ridge of Mount Caucasus to the South Hereabout inhabit the Alans and the Abasgians in antient amitie with the Romans and they are Christians the Zecchians also and Sabirian Hunnes From the Marches of Iberia and Caucasus this River is supplyed with other waters grows greater and instead of Boas is called Phasis is navigable and disembogues into the Euxine sea On both sides of it is Lazica To the right hand the country is well inhabited to the borders of Iberia on that side the river are their villages and some small cities antiently built as Archaeopolis a strong place Sebastopolis and the Castle of Pityuntium and towards Iberia Scanda and Sarapâ—nis Other strong Cities there are as Rhodopolis and Muchrisiis But to the Southward are the Marches of Lazica for a dayes journey a country uninhabited upon which border the Ponticke Romans In the desert marches of Lazica Justinian built Petra in my time where as I said John Tzibus set up the monopoly which caused the Lazians defection From Petra Southward the Roman borders begin where are populous towns as Rhizaeum Athens and others unto Trapezond The Lazians when they brought Chosroes into the countrey past the Boas and came to Petra leaving Phasis then so called to his right hand pretending to avoyd the delay and toyle of ferrying over the river Phasis but in truth not willing to shew the Persians their dwellings And Lazica on both sides the river is full of bad wayes having rocks on either side the countrey which make long narrow glinnes The Romans as the Grecians call such wayes Clausurae But then Lazica being unguarded the Persians guided by the natives came with ease to Petra But now Gubazes being informed of the Persians coming wrote to Dagisthaeus to send forces to guard the passage beyond the Phasis and not to raise the siege before Petra were taken Himself with his own army march't to the utmost borders of Lazica to guard the Passage there He had sometime before gotten some troopes of Alans 9450 l. sterl and Sabirians who agreed for three Centenaries to help to guard his countrey and so depopulate Iberia that the Persians should not be able to come in that way and the money the Emperor was to pay whom Gubazes praid to send the same and some Donative to the Lazians now in much distress alledging himself also to be behind for ten yeares being enrolled a Silentiary of the Imperiall Palace and having receaved no pay from the time Chosroës entred Lazica Justinian meant to performe his request but greater business diverting him he sent not the money in the due time But Dagisthaeus being a young man and unable to manage a Persian warr made no advantage of the opportunities offered him Whereas he should have sent to the Passage the most of his army and been himself at the action he sent as to some slight business onely two hundred men And he did nothing upon Petra with all his forces The enemy within at first were not 1500. men who continually being shot and slaine at the assaults after as much valour as ever men shewed were reduced to a very few and dispairing and unable lay still The Romans drew a mine under the wall and the wall falling with a house joyning to it fell all into the Ruine securing the town as much as the wall This troubled not the Romans who saw hope by mining in another part to take the town and Dagisthaeus wrote of it to the Emperour urging for rewards of victory and appointing what he and his brother should have for they would take Petra presently But the Persians receaved the assaults bravely and beyong expectation their troopes being much decayed Wherein the Romans prevailing not they mined againe and came on with their work so that the foundation of the wall had no ground to beare it and the wall was in the aire suddainly to fall And if Dagisthaeus had presently put fire to the supporters the town had been taken But he with his hopes from the Emperour dallying did nothing CHAP. XXII IN the meane time Mermeroes with a Persian army past the marches of Iberia and avoyding the townes of Lazica for feare of stopp kept the Phasis to his right hand his care being to save Petra and the Persians in it Where the piece of the wall which tottered as I said fell suddainely at which fifty Romans entred and cryed out aloud The Victorious Emperour Justinian They were led by John a young Armenian son of that Thomas sirnamed Guzes who by the Emperours direction built many fortresses in Lazica commanding the army there
unto them Great Actions fellow Souldiers prosper not commonly by suddaine Opportunities but by solid Counsels seasonable delaying often doing good and many undoing their hopes by undue hast For men unprovided though equall in numbers are more easily beaten in Fight then though inferiour in Powers yet well prepared Let us not therefore provoked with the present honour hurt our selves incurably It is better with a short disgrace to preserve a perperuall Reputation then avoding it for a moment to be ever confounded with Ignominy * Leander cals this Venetia Marca Trivigiana Our maine numbers and our magazines are in Gaule and Venetia and other remote Parts We have also a War with the Francks which before we have setled to enter into another is folly Who stands between two Enemies and hath not his eye upon one at once is commonly ruined by both I say then that we ought to go to Ravenna and having agreed the War with the Francks and disposed our businesse then to fight with Belisarius Let none be ashamed or feare that this Retraite will be called a running away A seasonable Imputation of Cowardize hath crowned many a man with Successe And the name of Valour gotten by some before the time hath ended in a Defeat Let us not affect Names but reall Advantages Actions in their conclusions not beginnings shew the worth of men They run not away who returne upon the Enemy with greater preparations but who hide themselves as if they would keep their Bodies ever alive And of this City be not affraid If the Romans be well affected to us they will secure it for us being to indure no extremity in the short time before we returne If they be unsure they will hurt us lesse by receiving the Enemy into their City it being ever best to Encounter men that hate us in an open way But this also I shall prevent leaving in it a strong Garrison and an able Commander and that being so setled we can have no hurt by this Retrait The Goths approved this advise of Vitigis and prepared for the Journey Then Vitigis using many Exhortations to Liberius the Bishop of Rome the Senate and People to think of Theodoricks Reigne and to continue their affections to the Gothish Nation he bound them in strong Oathes And leaving to guard Rome 4000. men under Leuderis a man ancient and much esteemed for his Wisedome he marcht to Ravenna with the rest of his Army taking the most part of the Roman Senators with him in the quality of Hostages There he married perforce Mattasuntha a Beautifull Virgin the Daughter of Amalasuntha that by alliance with the Blood of Theodorick he might make his Reigne firme Then he assembled the Goths from all parts and ranckt them in order distributing Horses and Armes to them Those onely lying in Gaule for feare of the Francks he sent not for The Francks were formerly called Germans where they first inhabited and how they incroached upon Gaule and then fell out with the Goths I will tell you I said before how from Calis and the Ocean into the Mediterranean the left hand continent is called Europe and that against it Africk and further on Asia The Countries beyond Africk I can say nothing of being not inhabited whereby the Spring of Nile is unknowne which they say comes from those Parts But Europe at the first is like Peloponesus having the Sea on both sides The first Province from the Ocean is named Spaine unto the Alpes which are in the Pyrenaean Mountaines the Natives calling narrow passages Alpes From thence Gaule reaches to Liguria where other Alpes divide the Gaules and Ligurians Gaule is broader then Spaine for Europe begins narrow and proceeds to a great breadth by degrees and it hath the Ocean on the North side and on the South the Tyrhene Sea Among other Rivers it hath the Rhone and the Rhine having contrary courses the Rhone into the Tyrrhene Sea but into the Ocean the Rhine Here Lakes also are where-about anciently these Germans did inhabit now called Francks a Barbarian Nation and at first not considerable Beyond them dwelt the †They inhabit some say Belgia about Brabant Arborychi subject formerly to the Romans as all the rest of Gaule and Spaine Augustus planted the Thuringians to the East of the Arborychi not far from whom to the South inhabited the Burgundians and beyond the Thuringians the Suevians and Almans Potent Nations All these were free States and from all Antiquity seated there In processe of time the Visigoths oppressing the Roman Empire subdued Spaine and Gaule to the River of Poe and made them tributary The Arborychi were then become Roman Souldiers whom the Germans or Francks to bring them in Subjection being their Borderers and for having abandoned their former Common-wealth pillaged and made a generall War upon them In this War the Arborychi shewed much Valour and Affection to the Romans And the Germans not able to force them offer'd to make them their Confederates which they willingly embraced both being Christians and being joyned into one people they grew into a great power Other Roman Souldiers also Garrison'd in the Confines of Gaule being not able to returne to Rome nor willing to mingle with the Goths their Enemies and Arrians yeilded themselves their Ensignes and the Country under their Guard to the Arborychi and Germans which they have left to their Posterity and preserved the Roman Customes which to my time they religiously observe They still are inrolled in the same Bands they anciently served in have their proper Ensignes in Fights and use the Roman Lawes and Habit and especially the Fashion of their Diadems The Roman State flourishing Gaule on this side the Poe was the Emperours But Odoacer usurping the same by the Tyrants cession the Visigoths had all Gallia Cisalpina to †The Author calls the Pyrean and the Apennine by the name of Alpes those Alpes which sever Gaule and Liguria Odoacer being slaine the Thuringians and Visigoths fearing the Germans power who were grown a strong multitude subduing all in their way sought allyance with the Goths And Theodorick afterward gladly contracted affinities with them Theudichusa his Daughter a young Virgin he betroathed to Alarick the younger Prince of the Visigoths and Amaloberga the Daughter of his sister Amalafrida he affianced to Hermenefridus Prince of the Thuringians And the Francks fearing Theodorick forbare to force the Visigoths and Thuringians but made Warr upon the Burgundians CHAP. XI AFterwards the Francks and Goths made a league against the Burgundians upon conditions to ruine the race of them and to subdue their Countrey and that the Conquerours shall have a Fine from the part not joyning in the War but the Country to be a common conquest of both The Francks accordingly went with a great Army against the Burgundians Theodorick made preparations in shew but delayed the expedition expecting the event At last he sent his Army which he bade march faire and softly and
cannot want or by divine Inspiration For by his Testament he declared his Son his Successor and Isdegerdes K. of Persia his Protector whom he besought with his whole power and providence to preserve both his Empire and Son And thus Arcadius having disposed of the Empire and his private Affairs * Anno Domini 398. died Isdegerdes before renowned for Nobleness now shewed it more than ever to deserve wonder and praise For not neglecting the Injunctions of Arcadius he kept perfect peace with the Romans and preserved the Empire to Theodosius by his Letters to the Roman Senate accepting the Protectorship and threatning War against any that should rise against Theodosius Who grown a man and Isdegerdes dead * Vararanes begin 〈◊〉 in Anno Dom. 423. Vararanes King of Persia invaded the Roman Territories with a great Army but did no hurt returning in this manner Anatolius was sent the Emperors Ambassador to the Persian who being come near the Army leaped from his Horse and alone and afoot went towards Vararanes who demanded of the company who this was they said it was the Roman General The King amazed at the excessive honour turned his horse and rode away and after him his Army Being in his Country he entertained the Ambassador with much curtesie and yeelded to the terms of peace he desired That neither should erect any new Fortification near the others boders which if it were done gave either side opportunity of doing what they pleased Afterwards Perozes King of Persia * Perozes began in Anno 457. with a great Army warred against the Ephthalites a Nation of Hunnes called white Hunnes about their Boundaries These Ephthalites are a Hunnish Nation but not mingled with other Hunnes having no part of their Country bordering upon them their dwelling being to the North of Persia where is a City called Gorgo and some skirmishing about bounds they have being no * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called because they have no fixt habitation but move from place to place carrying their families in waggons and driving their flocks heards before them as the need of fresh pasture requires Creaghters as other Hunnes but are seated in a good Land Neither make they any Inroads into the Roman Territories but onely with the Persian Armies These onely Hunnes have white bodies and visages not uncomely and their course of life is not as of the rest brutish being under one King in a lawfull government and dealing justly with themselves and neighbours no less than the Romans or any other people Their Rich men have each twenty or more companions to be their perpetual Camerades and to partake in a community of their goods When any Principals die the Retainers use to be put into the same grave with them Perozes invading these Ephthalites Eusebius then Ambassador from the Emperor Zeno was with him The Ephthalites made shew to be much affraid and betook themselves to flight and with much hast ran into a place compassed with steep mountains and covered with thickets between the mountains is a broad way reaching far with no way out but still continuing in the same circle Perozes suspecting no fraud nor considering he went in a strange Country pursued without looking afore him some few of them flying before him but the most hiding themselves in the Fastnesses who now had the back of the Enemy and would not yet appear that the Persians might be so far engaged within their Ambushes and the Mountains that they should not be able to retreat Which the Persians apprehending the danger now beginning to appear were silent for fear of Perozes but they desired Eusebius to admonish the King who saw not the ill terms he was come to rather to advise upon some way to escape than to hazard thus impertinently Eusebius told not Perozes the danger but this tale That a Lion once spyed a Goat bleating and tyed upon a bank and ran to make his dinner of him but fell into a deep hole which had in it a round narrow path without any way out framed purposely by the owners of the Goat which they set over it to bait the Lion into a snare Perozes at this tale grew affraid lest the Persians pursued their own mischief and so went no further but called a Council what to doe The Hunnes now in sight had guarded the entrance that none might goe out The Persians then cleerly seeing the disaster lamented no hope appearing to avoid the danger The King of the Ephthalites sent to reproach Perozes for his sensless rashness in thus foolishly ruining himself and his people but promised the Hunnes should grant them their lives if Perozes would adore him being now his Lord and swear his Country oath that the Persians should no more invade the Ephthalites Perozes consulted with the Magi whether these conditions were to be yeelded to Who answered that for the Oath he might doe what he pleased but in the other he should delude the Enemy by a trick They had a custom each morning to adore the rising Sun that he observing duly the hour should meet the King of the Ephthalites with his face to the rising Sun and so adore avoyding by this the disgrace Perozes accordingly swore the peace and adored his Enemy and then went home with his Army CHAP. III. BUt not long after Perozes neglecting his Oath resolved to revenge this scorn and assembling from all his Dominions both Persians and Confederates he went against these Hunnes of his thirty Sons leaving onely Cabades behind him then grown a man The Ephthalites hearing of it and grieving to be so deceived reviled their King for betraying their Affairs to the Persians He smiling demanded what Affairs he had betrayed whether their Country or Arms or Goods They replyed Nothing but our opportunity upon which all other things depend urging him presently to goe meet the Enemy But the refused the Invasion being yet not certain and the Persians still in their own Country and staying where he was he did this Upon a Plain through which the Persians were to enter his Country he digg'd in a great space of ground a deep pit extreme broad leaving in the middle a narrow passage for ten Horse a breast over the pit he laid Reeds and upon the Reeds Turfs which concealed the superficies And he directed his people running from the Enemy to keep close and few in rank upon the firm ground and to beware of the pit On his Royal Palace also he hung out his Halas or Gods by whom Perozes swore and breaking his Oath invaded now the Hunnes While the Enemy were in their own Country he stirred not but hearing by his Scouts they were come to Gorgo being in the utmost border of Persia and marching toward him himself with most of his Army stayd short of the pit sending out some to shew themselves upon the Plain at a good distance and no sooner seen by the Enemy but to retreat amain remembring the pit They did so
would be content to lay aside all his quarrells to the Romans Wherewith Rusinus acquainted the Emperour at his returne to Constantinople whither soon after came Hermogenes And so the Winter ended and * Anno Domini 530. Justimani 5. the fourth yeare of Justinians raigne * Anno Domini 531. Justiniani 5. In the beginning of the Spring 15000. Persians all horse under the command of Azarethes a Persian invaded the Romans and among them Alamundarus the Saracen with great numbers of Saracens In this invasion they did not as they were wont enter by Mesopotamia but by Comagena now called Euphratesia The reason of forbearing Mesopotamia now and why it is so called is thus From a Mountaine of Armenia not very steep being five miles to the North of Theodosiopolis issue two springs presently making the right hand spring Euphrates and the left Tigris Tigris without winding goes strait on to Amida taking in no waters by the way and by the North-side of it passes into Assyria But the Euphrates running not farr vanishes not sinking under ground but with a kind of miracle Over the water lyes a bogg deep and six miles long and two miles and a half broad wherein much reed growes and the mudd is so stiffe that to passengers it seemes firme ground Horse and Foot and Waggons passe upon it every day and stirr not the ground nor discover it for a bogge The inhabitants every yeare burn off the reed that it stop not the way and sometime a strong wind blowing the fire pierces to the roots and discovers the river in a small channell And the mudd landing up againe soon after restores to the place the forme it had Hence this river runs to the Country of Ecelesa where was the Temple of Diana in Tauri Iphigenia Agamemnons daughter with Orestes and Pilades flying thither with the image of Diana The other Temple standing to this day at Comana is not that of Tauri But thus it was Orestes stealing with his sister from Tauri fell into a great sickness and enquiring of the Oracle for cure was answered that he should have no help till he had built a Temple to Diana like that in Tauri and there should shave off his haire and call the City by it Orestes hereupon travelling in these parts saw the river Iris springing from a steep Mountaine and supposing it to be the place designed by the Oracle built there a faire City and a Temple to Diana and shaving his haire called it Comana which continues to this day But this abated not the disease which raged rather more So that travelling and seeking yet further he found a place in Cappadocia very like Tauri and I have wondred seing it taking it for Tauri it self The Mountaine there is absolutely like Taurus and so called also and the river Sarus there very like the river Euphrates So there Orestes built a goodly City with two Temples in it the one to Diana the other to his sister Iphigenid which the Christians have made Churches not altring the buildings at all This City is called the Golden Comana where he cut off his haire and recovered of his disease Which some hold to be no other but the madness he fell into for killing his own Mother But the Euphrates from this Tauri in Ecelesa of Armenia runs Southward by much Country and takes in many rivers and among the rest Arsinus which comes down from Persarmenia then grown large passes into Leucosyria now called the lesser Armenia the Metropolis whereof is Melitene a faire City From thence it runs by Samosata and Hierapolis and many other townes to Assyria where both rivers meeting end in one name of Tigris The Country from Samosata beyond the river was anciently called Comagena but now Euphratesia from the river The Country on this side between it and the Tigris is called Mesopotamia Some part of which hath severall other names as Armenia unto Amida Edessa also with the towns about it And Osrhoêne from Osrhoês who anciently raigned there when they were confederates of the Persians The Persians therefore having taken Nisibis and other places in Mesopotamia from the Romans when they invaded their country ever neglected the Province beyond the Euphrates being without water and wast and there drew together being their own country near an enemies inhabited from thence used to make their invasions CHAP. XIII MIrranes also upon his return with his Army overthrown having lost most of his men had a sharp punishment from the King who took from him his Head-tire of gold and pearl which tied up his hair a mark of the greatest honour in Persia next to the King where none may wear gold ring nor belt nor buckle nor any thing of gold but by the Kings grant Cabades then being in doubt how to invade the Romans for Mirranes failing thus he could not presume upon any other Alamundarus King of the Saracens advised him thus In all things not to trust to Fortune nor in all wars to expect the better being neither reasonable nor mans condition but the conceit of it prejudicial For mens unreasonable hopes of success failing sometimes as they may prove their vexation That men having not ever Fortune to presume on put not war bluntly upon hazards though they have the advantage of their enemies but study to deceive them with stratagemes In a danger upon equal terms is no assurance of victory That therefore he should not grieve for the misfortunes of Mirranes nor tempt Fortune again If he enter by Mesopotamia and Osroëne where the Cities were never stronger nor better guarded with souldiers that he will have no sure bargain of it That the Country beyond the Euphrates and Syria next it hath no fortified City nor considerable Forces but he shall find Antioch the chief Roman City of the East for wealth bignes and populousnes with no souldiers in it and a common people thinking upon nothing but Holy-daies and Feasts their perpetual quarrels with one another in the Theaters Which he may take by surprise and return home without meeting an Enemy and before the Forces of Mesopotamia can have the news of him That he should take no thought about water or provisions himself would guide the Army the best way Cabades neither disputed against this advise nor distrusted it knowing Alamundarus a wiseman an experienced souldier and faithfull to the Persians and very valiant who for fifty years had brought the Romans into low case from Egypt to Mesopotamia forraging their country and driving all afore him burning cities and making innumerable slaves whom he kill'd or sold for a great deal of money He made his inroads so suddainly and advantageously that none encountred him The Commanders seldome hearing of him before he was gone with his booty And when any overtook him he defeated them either charging them unprepared or pursuing disorderly Once he took prisoners Demostratus brother of Rufinus and John the sonne of Lucas with all their men and got a
they understood it not the Phrensie taking away their senses Some Physitians upon these symptomes conceaving the head of the disease to be in those plague sores searcht the dead bodyes and opening the sores found a huge carbuncle growing inward Some died forthwith some after many dayes Such whose bodies were spotted with black pimples the bigness of a lentile lived not a day Many a voluntary vomiting of bloud seizing died This I can say that many famous Physicians judged some instantly would dye who unexpectedly grew well and confidently affirmed the recovery of others who were vpon the point of death So that no cause of this sickness was reach't by mans reason some event happening to all whereof no reason could be rendred Some bathing helped others it hurt Many dyed for want of cure and many scaped without it it proving both wayes to those that used it In a word no way was found of preservation neither by preventing the disease nor mastering it no cause appearing neither of their falling sick nor recovering Women with child taken with it certainly dyed some miscarrying some fairely deliver'd and perishing with their children Yet they say that three women were delivered who grew well their children dying and one dyed whose child had the happ to live Such as had their sore great and running with putrefaction escaped the same asswaging the violence of the carbuncle and this was commonly a certaine signe of health But whose plague-sore stay'd as it first rose such had the miserable accidents I mentioned Some had their thigh withered the sore rising upon it and not running Some escaped with imperfect tongues and lived stammering o◠speaking sounds without sence In Constantinople this sickness lasted foure months and was three months in extremity At first few dyed more then usually Then it grew hotter then died five thousand every day then 10000 and more In the beginning men took care to bury each his own dead casting some into other mens Monuments either unseen or by force But in the end all was in confusion Servants were without Masters and rich men wanted servants to attend them being sick or dead and many houses were empty So that divers for want of acquaintance lay long unburied The Greek fails here and it is supplied from the Latine translation * The Emperour as was reason made it his own care and committed the oversight to Theodorus whose office was to subscribe the Emperours answers to Petitions the Latines call him Referendarius To them that wanted and to the poor multitude he gave reliefs in mony out of the Treasury And now in the afflicted City were no trades nor shops to be seen Many for fear leaving their bad courses consecrated themselves to God and many when the danger was past fell to their old despising of God again CHAP. XVII BUt to return to my former discourse Chosroes marcht Northward to Ardabigara a town in Assyria Anno Domini 543. Justiniani 17. purposing from thence to invade the Romans again Here is a great Pyraeum which the Persians adore above all Gods where the Magi keep a perpetuall fire and offer much sacrifice and in their greatest affairs use it for an Oracle it is the fire which anciently the Romans called Vestall Here Chosroes had news of two Ambassadors from Constantinople about the Peace Constantianus an Illyrian and Sergius an Edessenian both Orators and able men Chosroes expecting their comming forbare hostility But Constantianus fell sick upon the way and the Plague at last came into Persia But Nabedes Governour of Persarmenia by the Kings command sent Eudulius Prelate of the Christians there unto Valerianus Commander of the forces in Armenia to complaine of the slownesse of the Ambassadors and to exhort the Romans to peace He came into Armenia with his brother and told Valerianus that he heartily affected the Romans being Christians as himself and would so perswade Chosroes that the Ambassadors should find no impediment of concluding a peace to their own desire But the Prelates brother getting privately to Valerianus told him That Chosroes in great distresse desired a peace his sonne conspiring against him and his army being full of the Plague Valerianus upon this sent away the Prelate promising the Ambassadors should shortly come to Chosroes and the said advertisement he wrote to Justinian Who thereupon directed him and the Army to invade the Persians for he saw not that any enemy would oppose them willing all the forces to joyn and enter into Persarmenia The Captains upon these Letters rode with their troopes into Persarmenia Chosroes was newly gone from Ardabigara for fear of the Plague with his army to a part of Assyria where the sicknesse was not yet come Valerianus with his forces encamped at Theodosiopolis to whom joyned Narses with some Armenians and Herulians But Martinus Generall of the East with Ildiger and Theoctistus encamped at Citharizum a Castle four dayes journey from Theodosiopolis whether came Peter shortly after and Adolius with some other Captaines Isaac also * brother of Narses was there Here begins the Greek again and Philemuth and Verus with the Herulians under their command came to Arzanéne not far from the camp of Martinus Justus also the Emperours Nephew and Peranius and John the son of Nicetas with Domentiolus and John Phagas encamped at Phison a Castle near unto Martyropolis Thus were these Commanders quartered with their severall troops amounting in the whole to thirty thousand These joyned not nor communicated save when the Generals sent to one another to know news of the Persians Peter upon a sudden motion without acquainting the rest invaded the enemies country And the next day Philemuth and Verus with their Herulians followed Martinus and Valerianus hearing thereof marcht likewise to the Invasion Shortly all joyned in the enemies country save Iustus who was quartered far off but hearing though late that his fellow Commanders were entred the enemyes land he marcht thither also but could not unite his troopes with theirs Those Generalls marcht directly to Dubis neither forraging nor otherwise hurting the country Dubis is a Territory eight dayes journey from Theodosiopolis of good land wel scituated for air and water being fair champians full of populous villages close together and inhabited by Merchants who traffique with the Indians and neighbouring Iberians and with all the Persian Nations and some Romans The Bishop of the Christians the Greeks call Catholicus who hath the charge of all the country Some fifteene miles from Dubis to the right hand comming from the Roman Territories stands a ragged mountain hardly to be passed and in a very narrow passage a village called Anglon where Nabedes hearing of the enemies comming kept fast confident of the strength of the place The village is at the furthest end of the mountain where upon a steep rock stands a Castle of the same name Nabedes fortified the passage to the village with stones and waggons and drew a trench before and lodged his
his head and shewed it at home to his wives being for bigness and abundance of hair a goodly sight It is not amiss to say something here how and from whence the Moors came originally to inhabit Africk When the Hebrews came out of Egypt and Moses was dead and Joshua his successor with more then humane valour had brought the people into Palestine possest the Country overthrown the Nations conquered their Cities and was thought invincible The Gergesites and Jebusites and other Nations mentioned in the Scripture being populous and inhabiting the sea-coast from Sidon to Egypt called Phoenicia and under one King as is confessed by all Writers of Antiquities seeing this new Captain unresistible they removed from their own Country into Egypt Where finding no room Egypt being antiently populous they went on into Africk and building many Cities possest it all unto Hercules Pillars and to this day continue there using the Phoenician language In Numidia they built a Castle where now is the City of Tigisis In which stand two Pillars near the great Conduit with these words engraven in the Phoenician language We are they who fled from before Joshua the chief the son of Nun. Other people antiently inhabited Africk and therefore were said to be born of the earth Whereupon their King Antoeus who wrastled with Hercules in Clypea was called the son of the earth Afterward the Phaenicians came with Dido into Africk to those of the same race who received them and permitted them to build Carthage But in time the Carthaginians grown great and populous overcame these Moors in battel who came thus out of Palestine and forced them to inhabit far from Carthage And the Romans afterward being Masters of the world planted the Moors upon the uttermost borders of the inhabited Countrys of Africk and made the Carthaginians and other Africans Tributary But lately the Moors got many victories of the Vandals and held Mauritania extending from Caliz to Caesarea and the most part of Africk beside But Solomon understanding the accident of Aigan and Rufinus prepared for a War and wrote this Letter to the Princes of the Moors Others heretofore have ventured foolishly and perisht not divining the event of their presumption But you seeing a president of your neighbours the Vandals upon what madness have you drawn your swords against the great Emperour and do thus abandon your safeties after solemn oaths and your sons given for pledges Is it to shew that you regard neither God faith kindred nor safety Being such in what God can you trust for help provoking a Roman Emperour You have lost your sons for what is it you mean to hazard If you repent for what is past write that you will give over If not expect a Roman war to come upon you with your violated oaths and the undoing your own sons The Moors made this answer to Solomon Belisarius perswaded us with large promises to obey the Emperour But now affording us no share of your prosperity you would have us friends and aids still starving with hunger It is you are the faith-breakers not the Moors Not they who fly off from their associates upon wrongs violate Truces but they who demand Truce and then oppress men Not they who fight for their own make God their enemy but who usurping other mens right dare hazard a war Concerning sons you may be troubled who must have but one wife We who may have 50 wives at once can never want a generation Upon this Solomon resolved to lead his Army against them and having disposed of things in Carthage marcht into Byzacium and encamped at Mamme near the aforesaid Moorish Princes CHAP. VIII AT the foot of high mountains there upon a plain piece of ground the Barbarians put their battel in order to fight thus They put their Camels in a round as Cabaon did formerly made their front 12. Camels deep and placed their women and children in the middle save some few who made their entrenchments and cabbins drest their horses and Camels and their own diet and did many services in their fights Themselves stood between the Camels legs having shields swords and Javelins and some horse upon the mountains Half the Round next the mountain Solomon omitted fearing lest the enemy from thence and from the Round might charge his men at once and so get their backs opposing the Army to the rest and finding them dejected with the accident of Aigan and Rufinus he made them this speech to encourage them You that are fellow soldiers of Belisarius are not to fear nor make it an example if 50000 Moors have vanquisht 500 Romans Call to mind your own valour Think how the Vandals vanquisht the Moors and with what ease you are now Masters of the Vandals and having beaten the better men will you fear the weaker The Moors are the poorest Nation to fight in the world coming naked or with short shields only ill made and unable to keep out a blow and such men as when they have thrown out their two Javelins if they do no effect run instantly away So that we may by warding their first fury have the better with ease your advantage in your arms valour strength of body experience in battels and confidence for having been already victorious over every enemy you are to consider All which the Moors wanting trust only to their multitude who being no soldiers are the more easily beaten by a few well prepared The soldier hath his confidence in himself but the coward is commonly distressed by his croud of assistants And these Camels deserve your contempt which cannot resist us and being wounded by us as they shall will put these men in disorder Their presumption upon their former good fortune will fight for you For boldness measured by ones power may be an advantage but exceeding that it runs him into danger Which considering and not valuing the enemy you shall silently and with ease vanquish him The Princes of the Moors also seeing their men amazed at the Romans order used this encouragement You have found fellow soldiers I that these Romans have but the bodies of men having killed some of their best men overwhelmed with our Javelins and taken many of them prisoners Then have we a great advantage in numbers And our strife is about the greatest things either to be Masters of Africk or slaves of these braggarts So that now hazarding for all if we be not more then ordinarily valiant we shall do no good And let us not regard their arming which combers their foot then whom the Moors will be much the swifter And their horse will be disordered by the sight of our Camels and by their cries louder then the noise of the battel To think the enemy unresistible because of his victory of the Vandals is an errour The Generals vertue ever poises the battel and Belisarius the greatest cause of that victory fortune hath removed Besides the Vandals we had weakened before and made them an easie
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
marcht apace toward the Enemy and by the thickning of the brook guest at the matter and that the enemy was unprepared So commanding to drive on with full speed suddainly he surprised them at dinner and unarmed The Romans not able to abide their charge ran away without striking stroak Some were overtaken and slain others fled to the Mountain there and for fear leapt down the rocks not one of them escaping Bat Cabades fearing his enemies the Hunnes who now invaded his country went home with his whole Army and had a long war with them on the Northern borders thereof In the mean time the other Roman army came but did nothing having no Commander in chief and the Generals with their equality of power ever crossing one anothers opinions Celer past the river Nymphius and invaded Arzaméne This river runs by Martyropolis and is distant from Amida thirty five miles and having forraged the country soon went home Areobindus the Emperour sent for to Constantinople and the others sate down before Amida in the winter Who failing in their endeavours to force the place resolved to take it by famine And the besieged then wanted provisions but the Generals not knowing it and seeing the souldier weary of a winter siege imagining also the Persian army would ere long come against them they made hast in some way to rise from thence And the Persians also doubtful in these difficulties though they concealed their wants and made shew of plenty yet gladly they would make a handsome retreat In the end a capitulation was made for the Persians to have a * Are ten Centenaries of gold If there be but ten ounces and a half to tâ—e Roman pound then is a Centenary 3150. l. sterling And 10 Centenaries here 31500. l. sterling thousand pound weight of Gold and so to render the City The articles were performed and the Son of Glones receiving the money gave up Amida For Glones himself was slain in this manner The Romans being not yet set down before Amida but not far from it a peasant who frequented the City and used secretly to sell to Glones at great rates poultery bread and ripe fruits promised the Generall Patricius for reward to put Glones and two hundred Persians into his hands He promised him his demand and sent him away The man rent his garments and came weeping into the town went to Glones and tearing his hair My Lord quoth he I was bringing you of my best provisions but I was met beaten and had all taken from me by these rogues whose custome it is to rob the poor peasants being old Roman souldiers rambling in small parties and who fly before the Persians and robb the poore Countryman Thinck Sir I how you may avenge us and the Persians It is but hunting without the suburbes and you will find good game For they go prolling about not above foure of five in a company Glones askt how many would suffice for the business He said fifty was enough being to meet not above five together but whatsoever should happen it would be good to have 100. and if it were 200. 't were the better Store hurts no man Glones chose 200. horse and bad the man guide them But he said 't was better to send him before to discover these Roman free booters and to bring the Persians word who then might take their best orportunity Glones approved of his counsell and then he went to the Generall Patricius and acquainted him with all the proceedings who sent 1000. Souldiers and two of his own Life-guard with him These he laid in ambush neer a village called Thialasamum five miles from Amida within a vally of coppices and bushes Then he ran and told Glones his game was ready and guided him and his 200. men into the enemies ambush Being past a good space within it unseen by Glones or his Company he ran and called up the Romans ambush and shewed them the enemy The Persians seing them were amazed at the suddain accident Retire they could not the enemy having their backs nor being in an enemies Country knew any other way to runne As they could therefore they put in order to receave the assailants but overmatcht in numbers were broken and all killed with Glones which vexed his Son that he could not stay to revenge his Fathers death so that he burnt the Church of St. Simeon where he lodged Other buildings neither Glones nor Cabades nor any Persian destroyed nor defaced in Amida nor without it But to returne to my former discourse Thus the Romans recovered Amida for mony two yeares after the taking Being within it their own negligence appeared and the Persians abstemiousness finding by comparing the quantitity of the victuall left and the Barbarians that went out not above seven dayes provision remaining though Glones his son had long issued it out to the Persians more scarcely then need could well endure and to the Romans in the Town nothing from the beginning of the siege So that they were forced to eat unusuall food and abominable and at last one another The Generalls finding themselves thus deceaved by the Barbarians reproached the Souldiers intemperance and disobedience who having it in their power to take the Town with all the Persians in it at mercy had dishonorably transported the Roman treasure to Barbarians and gotten Amida as a merchandize for mony Afterward the Persians their warre with the Hunnes growing long made a Truce with the Romans for seven yeares concluded by Celer the Roman Generall and Aspevedes for the Persian Thus I have told the beginning and conclusion of these warrs with the Persians CHAP. VII BUt what happened concerning the Caspian Gates I will now relate Mount Taurus of Cilicia passes first by Cappadocia then Armenia and Persarmenia and then Albania and Iberia and the other nations that way free or subject to the Persians extending thus through many Countryes and the further it goes growing to a greater bredth and height Beyond Iberie you come to a narrow way reaching some six miles and ending at a steep place unpassable where for the way out nature hath built a kind of Gate anciently called the Caspian gates or streights Beyond which are faire champions well watred and large plaines for horse pastures where are seated the nations of the Hunnes and extend to the Lake of Maeotis who passing by the streights in their inroads into Roman or Persian provinces come with their horses lustie going not about nor nor being engaged in ragged Countries save onely those six miles into Iberia whereas by other passages they arrive with much toile and cannot make use of the same horses having been forced to many circuits and craggie wayes which Alaâ—â—nder the great considering built Gates indeed there and by them a Fort which through many owners at last came to Ambazuces a Hunne a friend of the Emperor Anastasius This man growne old and neer his end offered Anastasius for mony to put the Romans in
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
of them named Dagaris the other got away and brought newes to the Generalls Who instantly armed their Forces and suddainely set upon the enemies campe who frighted with the suddaineness ran away without striking stroak The Romans killed many and rifled their Camp and then rode back againâ— But not long after Mermeroes with his Army entred the Roman territory and finding the enemy neer the City of Sattala he encamped in a village called Octabe seven miles from Sattala Sittas behind a hill whereof are many about that City though scituate in a plaine with 1000. men lay close directing Dorotheus with the rest to keep within their trenches seing they were not able to stand the enemy being 30000. strong and themselves not half the number But the next day the Barbarians came to their trenches and were compassing them when suddainly seing Sittas coming down from the hill and not being able to judge the number because of the dust then great in the Summer time they thought them more then they were and so left compassing and made hast to draw together into lesse ground which Sittas to prevent divided his men into two Troupes and charged them coming from the trenches Which the Romans therein perceaving took courage and sallyed all upon the gallop and charged the enemy also and having them thus in the midst of their Troupes they routed them But the enemy exceeding them in numbers made head and the fight was fierce and at handy stroakes and some short chases upon one another being all Horsemen Then Florentius a Thracian Captain of a Troupe of Horse rusht into the midst of the enemy and took away the Generalls ensigne and throwing it down to the ground gallopt back but was over-taken and cut in pieces in the place and so was the greatest canse of the Romans victory For the Barbarians losing sight of the chiefe Ensigne fell into feare and disorder and retired within their Camp having lost many in the fight The next day they march't home and none followed them The Romans thinking it much first to beat so many of them in their own Country and now when they invaded them to send them home vanquisht by a lesse number and with nothing done The Romans then also took in some townes of the Persians in Persarmenia and two Forts called Bolus and Pharangium where the King hath a revenue out of gold mines A little before also they had subdued the Tzanians who lived formerly within the Roman land a free people Concerning all which thus it was In the way out of Armenia into Persarmenia to the right hand is Mount Taurus reaching to Iberia and the nations before named To the left hand the way is steep with ragged Mountaines over head covered with perpetuall clouds and snow whence the Phasis springing runns into Lasica Here anciently have dwelt these Tzanians subject to none formerly called Sani using to robb the neighbouring Romans and living hardly and upon what they could steale their own Country bringing forth nothing good to feed on The Emperour therefore gave them a pension in gold not to robb those parts For which they tooke their Country Oath and broke it coming still unlookt for and mischieving the Armenians and other Romans beyond them even to the sea They made short inroads going quickly home and if they met a Roman Army were beaten but impossible to be taken by reason of their strong Country But Sittas before this warre overcoming them in fight and using many allurements both by words and deeds gained them absolutely that they became Civill men and were enrolled in Roman bands and marcht with their Armies and turned Christians also Beyond these Tzanians Country a deep rockie vally runns as farr as Mount Cauâ—asus wherein are populous villages and vines and other fruits in abundance For three dayes journy it is tributary to the Romans but further begin the marches of Persarmenia where is that mine of gold by Cabades committed to the charge of one Simeones Who seing the King in the heat of a warre cosened him of the revenue thus He yeilded himself and the Fort of Pharangium to the Romans who demanded not the gold of the Mine being contented if the Persian lost the benefit and the Persians could not force away the Romans the Country was so fast and strong About the same time also Narses and Aratius who had some blowes with Sittas and Belisarius as I said before revolted to the Romans with their Mother whom Narses the Emperours peculiar Treasurer entertained being also a Persarmenian and gave them great gifts Which Isaac their yonger brother hearing got secret conference with the Romans and delivered them the Fort of Bolus standing not farr from Theodosiopolis by causing them to hide Souldiers neer whom he in the night time closely let into the Fort by a Posterne and thus he came to Constantinople too CHAP. XII IN the meane time the Persians overthrown by Belisarius at Daras Anno Domini 530. Justiniani 4. kept together about those parts till Rusinus coming to Cabades told him That Justinian his brother had sent him to him with a just complaint against the Persians for entring his Country in Armes That it would become so great a King and so prudent rather to procure peace then a troublesome war to himself and his neighbours In which hope he said he was come to him that for the futurâ— both of them might enjoy the benefit of peace Cabades replied O Son of Silvanus Doe not recriminate knowing no man better that you Romans are the chief cause of these troubles Wee for the common benefit of us both took the Caspian Gates forcing thence the Barbarians The Emperour Anastasius you know might have purchased them but would not least he should be put to a great expense for us both by maintaining there forces continually And from that time we have lodged a Garrison there and maintained it and you thereby have dwelt in your own Country unspoiled by Barbarians on that side and possessing quietly your estates But as if this were nothing you have fortified at Daras and made it a great City and a rampier against Persia a thing expresly prohibited in the treaty with Anatolius And hereby our affaires have been ruined with toyles ana the expense of two Armies the one to hinder the Massagetes from forraging both our Countries the other to restraine your incursions wee complaining hereof and demanding either your joint Forces at the Caspian Gates or Daras to be dismantell'd you have slighted it nay advanced your desigue with a greâ—ter injury if I remember your fortisieing at Mindon So that the Romans may chase peace and they may chuse warre either by righting us or proceeding in the contrary For the Persians shall not lay down their armes till the Romans as they ought either joyne in the Guard of the Caspian Gates or dismantle Daras Cabades having thus said dismiss't the Ambassadour intimating to him that for a summe of mony he
great sum of money for their ransom In a word he was the sharpest enemy the Romans had The reason was because onely Alamundarus had command of the Saracens under the Persians with authority and title of a King whereby he could invade the Romans when and where he pleased Neither were the Roman Captains called Duces Limitanei nor the Phylarchi or chieftains of the Saracen-tribes in league with the Romans able to oppose him being too weak to fight with him single in their severall countries Whereupon the Emperour Justinian put many of those Tribes under Arethas the sonne of Gabâlas chieftain of the Saracens in Arabia giving him the title of a King a thing not used by the Romans But Alamundarus rather more ruined the Romans Arethas in the inroads or fights either having ill fortune or betraying the business we have no certainty of him And so Alamundarus none opposing forraged the East furthest of any and longest being a very old man and Cabades liking his counsell sent 15000 men under the command of Azarethes as I have said whom Alamundarus was to guide the way CHAP. XIV THese passing the Euphrates into Comagena unlookt for and being the first Persians that ever invaded us that way that we can learn it amazed the Romans and at first perplexed Belisarius when he heard it But he soon resolved upon resistance and having left competent garrisons in the places of Mesopotamia that Cabades with the rest of his army might not find them unguarded he went with speed against the Enemy compassing the Euphrates and having about 20000 horse and foot 2000 of them Isaurians The Captains of horse were the same that fought at Daras with Mirranes Of the Infantery was Peter commander a Lancier of the guard to Justinian and of the Isaurians Longinus and Stephanacius At the City of Colchis they encamped hearing the Enemy were at Gabbula a place almost fourteen miles from it Alamundarus and Azarethes hearing thereof stayd their journey resolving to march homeward fearing to hazard and they retired keeping the Euphrates to their left hand The Roman army followed and where the Enemy lodged sate down the night after Belisarius purposely not suffering the Army to march greater journeys having no mind to fight and thinking it sufficient if Alamundarus and the Persians retired home without effect The army at this murmured at him both Commanders and Souldiers but not yet to his face The Persians at last lodged upon the shore of Euphrates opposite to the City of Callinicum resolving from thence to march through a desert country and so out of Roman ground and not as before by the rivers side The Romans from the City Sura where they lodg'd rose and overtook the Enemy trussing up their baggage The Feast of Easter was to be the next day which Christians observe above all others the day before it and much of the night abstaining from all meats and drinks And Belisarius seeing them eager upon the enemy and willing to withdraw them from the opinion Hermogenes being of the same mind sent newly Ambassador from the Emperour he called them together and spake thus Whether are you transported fellow souldiers to chuse thus a needless danger That onely is pure victory that comes off without damage from the Enemy and that now fortune and the fear of us amazing them gives us which advantage it is better to enjoy having it than to seek it when it is gone The Persians invited with hopes invaded us and now failing run away If we force them to change their course and fight overcoming we gain nothing but to rout an enemy flying already But having the worst we lose our present victory not forced from it but giving it away and leave the Emperours land to the spoil of the Enemy with none to defend it Consider also that God doth cooperate with mens necessary not wilfull actions how men stopt from flying will fight though unwillingly and how many disadvantages there are to us for a battell many being marcht hither afoot and all of us fasting and some of us not yet come up The Army reproached Belisarius for this speech not muttering now but with open clamour to his face calling him faint-hearted man and a discourager of them And this errour some Commanders ran into with the souldier onely to shew their valour Belisarius amazed at this impudence turned his discourse to encourage them and to order them to the encounter saying that he knew not their alacrity before but now he took courage and went against the enemy with more hopes So he set his Batallion in front and his foot in the left wing towards the river and to the right hand where there was a steep peece of ground Arethas with his Saracens himself with the horse stood in the middle Azarethes seeing the Romans embattell'd and ready for the encounter said to his men That being Persians certainly they will never change their honour for life if they might have the choice But that now if they would they could make no such choice They who can by running from a danger live dishonourable if they can so resolve chuse yet instead of the best the most pleasant thing But they who must die either honourably by an enemy or basely by a superiour dradg'd to execution are mad if they chuse not the best condition instead of the basest He bad them therefore not thinking onely upon the enemy but upon their Lord and Master so to fight that day Having exhorted them he placed his Batallion opposite to the Enemy and gave the right wing to the Persians and the lest to the Saracens The battell then joyned and was stifly fought The arrows flew thick from both sides and killed many Some single encounters were between the Battallions with much valour performed The Persians fell more by the shot though they shot thicker and are almost all Archers and the most dextrous living but from weak bowes little beut the shaft lighting upon the Romans corslet head-peece or sheild crackt without hurt doing The Romans shot is slower being from stiff bowes much bent and hardly but coming from stronger men than Persians they speed where they light no armour resisting the force Two thirds of the day were past and the fight yet equall When the Persians best men combining charged the right wing where was Arethas and his Saracens They opened their Battallion and not abiding the charge ranne away suspected that day to betray the Romans The Persians thus breaking through the ranks had the backs of the Romans horse who weary with their journey and toyl in fight being fasting too and prest both wayes by the enemy gave it over and ran into small Ilands in the river near them Some staid and did bravely among whom Ascas having slain many chief Persians was with much adoe cut in pieces leaving a noble story to his enemies and with him eight hundred more fell good men and all the Isaurians with their Commanders using no
resistance Men unexperienced newly taken from the plough and who knew not what a battell meant yet hotter than any upon the fight they reproached Belisarius with cowardize a little before Indeed they were not all Isaurians but most Lycaonians Belisarius staying with some few while Ascas and his company stood resisted also But seeing them slain he fled into the battallion of foot where Peter their leader maintained the fight with some with him the most being run away Then Belisarius quitted his horse causing his followers to doe the like and with the rest received the enemy Who after a short execution came back and gave on upon Belisarius who to prevent the enemies compass kept his mens backs to the river and stood their charge where was a fierce fight though with unequall powers a few footmen fighting with all the Persian horse and yet not routed by them For standing close and fencing with their shields they shot the enemy to more purpose than they were shot And the Barbarians to break them riding oft against them rode back again without effect their horses being skittish upon the clashing of the shields and the riders in confusion And at night they retired to their camp Belisarius also with some few got into a ship and past into an Iland whether some came after swimming The next day the Romans were transported to Callinicum in ships sent from thence The Persians having spoyled the dead bodies went home finding their own not fewer in number than their enemies Azarethes at his comeing home had no thanks from Cabades though he wanne this battell and upon this reason When an Army is levyed in Persia the King uses to sit upon his Throne and by him stand baskets and the General designed for the army which is to pass man by man before the King and each to throw an arrow into the baskets and they to be sealed with the Kings own seal When the army comes home every souldier takes his arrow out of the panniers and some Commissioners number the arrows remaining and so report to the King the number of the souldiers come home whereby it is known how many are perished in that war This custom is ancient in Persia and Azarethes presenting himself to the King he askt him what place he had conquered having invaded the Romans with Alamundarus with design to take Antioch Azarethes answered that he had taken no place but had vanquisht Bellisarius in battell Then Cabades willed the army to come in and take out their arrows whereof many being left in the baskets the King reviled Azarethes and after hold him in disgrace CHAP. XV. THe Emperour Justinian then bethought himself of associating the Homerites and Ethiopians against the Persians Who where they inhabite and wherein the Emperour thought them usefull to the Romans I will tell you The Homerites are to the East of Palestina upon the red sea which beginning from India ends in that part of the Roman Empire having upon the coast where it ends in a narrow straight the City AElas and the mountains of Egypt to the South and a desart country reaching far to the North. As you sayl in the land from both fides is seen till the Iland of Jotabeé which is from Aelas some hundred and five and twenty miles where are seated the Hebrews anciently free but in Justinians reign made subject to the Romans From hence a large sea opening no land is to be seen to the right hand as you sayl in but at night you cast anchor on the left hand shore the sea being full of shelfes and in the dark not to be meddled with There are many harbours made by the nature of the places and safe to put in at The coast from Palestina the Saracens possese who are anciently seated in the country of Palm-trees being in the midland spacious and having nothing growing but Date-trees Which Abocharabus Governour of the Saracens there gave to Justinian who made him Chieftain of the Saracens in Palestina thereby preserving that Province from spoyl Abocharabus being terrible to his subjects and enemies and very valiant This country of Palm-trees being desert and in the middle without water for ten dayes journey is of no use to us Abocharabus gave us the name of a present only which the Emperour knowing well yet took it of him Next to the Saracens in Palestina are other upon the same coast called Maadeni subject to the Homerites Upon the coast nextbeyond are the Homerites and beyond them many other nations are seated to the Man-eating Saracens Beyond whom are the Indians Opposite to the Homerites on the other shore are Ethiopians called Auxomites of the City of Auxomis where is their Kings court The sea between them is five dayes and nights sayl over with a reasonable wind keeping there the sea all night by reason there are no slielves This some call the Red sea and the rest as you sail out to AElas the Arabian gulf For all the country from thence to Gaza was formerly called Arabia and their King held his Court at Petra The Homerites haven from whence they sayl into Ethiopia is called Boulicas and they land at a haven of the Adulites from whence the City of Adulis is onely two miles and a half and from Auxomis twelve dayes journey The vassels of India and on these seas are not built like other ships nor trimmed with pitch or such like nor are the planks fastned with iron through them but tyed together with cords Not because of Iron-drawing Rocks as is vulgarly thought the Romans ships upon that sea coming from AElas though built with Iron finding no such matter but because neither Indians nor Ethiopians have Iron nor other materials for that use Nor can they buy any of the Romans who forbid it upon pain of death From Auxomis aforesaid to the Roman Frontiers in Egypt is thirty dayes journey where are the Blemmyes and Nobates and other numerous people The Blemmyes are seated in the midland but the Nobates upon the Nile This was not formerly the Roman frontier which was seven dayes journey beyond But Dioclesian finding their tribute a trifle and their country narrow being most taken up with the rocks of Nile and the garrisons in it being many burdening his Treasury with the charge And considering how these Nobates then dwelling about the City of Oäsis spoyled the Towns near them he drew them to rise from that place that they might no more trouble the country about Oästs by giving them fair Roman Cities and a large country all from Elephantina on both sides the Nile which he thought they would now guard and beat off the Blemmyes as being their own land and other barbarous Nations He gave them also and to the Blemmyes a pension in Gold not to prey upon the Roman territories which they still receive yet over-run the Provinces So impossible it is for Barbarians to keep faith with Romans but for feare of the Souldier Yet the said Emperour in an
for a trophy upon one of the turrets and laught and brag'd but durst sally no more out of their fortifications Belisarius considering Nisibis strongly scituated and having no hope to take it urged to rise thence and to march where they might suddainly spoyl the enemy So after a dayes march he came to a castle of the Persians called Sisibranum full of inhabitants and eight hundred of the best Persian horsmen to guard it commanded by Blechames a principal man The Romans encamped before the Castle and assaulting were repulsed with losse of many the walls being strong and the Barbarians opposing obstinately Belisarius then called his fellow Commanders and told them How experience of many wars taught them to foresee the event in actions doubtful and before disasters to chuse the better way That they knew their disadvantage now marching in an enemies country full of strong Garrisons If they goe on it is likely that from Nisibis the enemy will follow them and infest them with ambushes And if another army meet them they will be forced to a battail with both and may be undone Then if they be routed they have no means of retreat into Roman land They should not therefore crush themselves with inconsiderate industry nor with ambition to winne hurt the Roman affairs An ignorant daring brings to destruction and a sober delaying laying preserves men That themselves therefore should sit down before the Castle and that Arethas with his Saracens men unapt for assaults but excellent plunderers should enter Assyria and with them some of their best souldiers These if no opposition appear to take the spoyl and the enemy opposing to retire to this army Which if it take the Castle may passe the Tigris fearing no mischief behind and informed in what state the Assyrians are They all approved this advise of Belisarius Who accordingly commanded Arethas to go against the Assyrians and sent with him 1200 souldiers most of his own Targettiers commanded by two of his Lanciers Trajanus and John sirnamed Phagas and directed to be obedient to Arethas whom he instructed to forrage the countries and coming back to the camp to report what forces the Assyrians had These past the Tigris into Assyria found the country rich and without guard and so ransackt many towns and got much wealth Belisarius in the mean time understood from Persian prisoners That the Castle not using as Daras and Nisibis to lay in yearly provisions and then prevented by an enemy and having brought in none and many suddainly resorting thither for refuge wanted provisions He sent therefore George a wise man and trusted with his secrets to try if the place might be had by composition Who with his reasons and fair words prevailed with them to take assurances for their safety and to render themselves and the Castle to the Romans Belisarius did no harm to the Inhabitants being Christians and antiently Romans The Persians with Blechames he sent to Constantinople and threw down the walls of the Castle These Persians and Blechames the Emperour sent into Italy against the Goths But Arethas fearing the Romans might take away his booty would return no more to the camp And he commanded some scoutes sent out purposely by him to report a great army of enemies to be at the passage of the river upon which he advised John and Trajan to return some other way into the Roman Territories So they went not to Belisarius but keeping the Euphrates on their right hand came to Theodosiopolis standing upon the river of Aborras The Roman army with Belisarius hearing nothing of these forces were troubled and affraid And the said siege having being long in the Persian Mesopotamia infinitely hot the men being not used to heats specially those of Thrace and stirring much in them and lodging in close cabbins in the summer the third part of them lay half dead with Feavers and all were earnest to be gone home specially Requithancus and Theoctistus Captaines of Phoenicia Libani Who importuned Belisarius the Saracens consecrated time being past protesting to stay there to no purpose and in the mean time to abandon the towns of Libanus and Syria to Alamundarus Belisarius hereupon called a counsell where John the sonne of Nicetas first rose and spake thus Excellent Belisarius I think the world hath not had neither for time nor valour a Captain like your self This opinion prevailes not onely with Romans but with all Barbarians And certainly hereby you will preserve this glory firm if you bring us alive into the Roman dominions as we now are our expectations are not fair Our Saracens and best men are come over the Tigris and gone into our upper Provinces so fast as not to send us so much as a messenger Requithancus and Theoctistus will be instantly gone supposing Alamundarus forraging Phoenicia and of the rest we have more sick then sound men to bring them into the Roman dominions Such as if an enemy light on us here or upon our retreat not a man will be left to report our disaster to the Romans at Daras To march up higher I think it not possible in reason Whilst therefore some hope is left 't is good counsell to make a faire retreat and madness for men in our danger not to advise upon safety but designes on an enemy All approved this speech of John and cryed out for a speedy retreat So Belisarius put his sick into waggons and led home the army where he heard what Arethas had done but could have no right of him being not yet come to him Chosroes in the mean time having taken Petra had the newes of Belisarius invasion of the battaile by Nisibis the taking of Sisabranum and what the forces which with Arethas past the Tigris had done So leaving a Garrison in Petra he went into Persia with the rest of his army and Roman captives These were the occurrents of Chosroes's second invasion And Belisarius was by the Emperour sent for to Constantinople where he spent his Winter CHAP. XIV IN the beginning of the Spring Chosroës third Invasion in An. Dom. 542. Justiniani 16. Chosroes invaded the Roman territorie the third time with a great army keeping the Euphrates to his right hand Candidus Bishop of Sergiopolis having not kept his day with Chosroes was afraid and came to the Persian Camp where he besought Chosroes not to be offended with him That he never had money nor ever thought of ransoming the Surenians himselfe he had been a sutor to the Emperour but got no good But Chosroes put him in prison and bitterly tortured him and bad him procure double the summe formerly agreed He prayed him to send to Sergiopolis to receave the treasures of the Church which Chosroes did and Candidus sent some with his messengers to whom the Sergiopolitans gave many of those treasures protesting to have nothing left But Chosroes said those should not suffice he must have more and he sent some in pretence to make privy search for their
wealth but indeed to surprize the city But Sergiopolis was not then to be taken For a Saracen under Alamundarus being a Christian named Ambrus came under the wall by night revealed the plot and bad them receave no Persians into their town So Chosroes seeing his men returne without effect in a great rage sent six thousand men to force the town Who assaulted and the Sergiopolitans at first defended bravely But grown weary and affraid they advised to render the city having but two hundred Souldiers within But Ambrus came againe by night and told them that within two dayes the Persians would raise their siege their water absolutely failing Whereupon they refused to parly and the enemy afflicted with third rose and returned to Chosroes Who would not dismiss Candidus It behoved I think that having broke his oath he should no more be a Priest But when Chosroes came into Comagena called Euphratesia he would not forrage nor take townes as having spoiled all in Syria formerly in his way and either sackt or ransom'd them as hath been said But his intent was to march directly into Palestine and there to take the spoile especially of the Treasures at Jerusalem hearing the Province was fertile and richly inhabited The Romans both Commanders and Souldiers had no mind to meet the enemy to stay his passage but thought it enough within their fortifications to preserve them and themselves Justinian advertised of this invasion againe sent Belisarius who taking Post-horses arrived with great speed having no Souldiers with him in Comagena Justus the Emperors brothers son with Buzes and some other were gotten into Hierapolis and hearing Belisarius to be neer wrote this letter to him Chosroes as your self know hath againe invaded the Romans with a much greater army then formerly Whither he intends he yet makes no shew onely we heare he is very neer and hurts no town in his way still marching forward Come therefore speedily unto us if possibly you can slip by the enemy that you may be preserved for the Emperour and guard here Hierapolis with us Belisarius liked not this letter but went to Europus a town upon the Euphrates from whence he sent and levyed an army which encamped there and to the commanders he returned this answer If Chosroes goe against other people and not Romans you have fallen upon a most safe counsell They who by lying still can avoid the mischief are madd to run into a needless danger But you being quit of the Barbarian he will fall upon some other country the best he can find and without garrisons Know then that a valiant death is better then such a preservation or rather treason Come you therefore speedily to Europus where assembling our whole forces we shall effect upon our enemies what God shall grant us The Commanders took heart at this letter and leaving Justus with some to guard Hierapolis the rest went to Europus CHAP. XV. WHen Chosroes heard Belisarius to be at Europus he march't no further but sent to him one of his Secretaries named Abandanes a very discreet man This is supplied by the Latin Translation to complaine that Justinian had not sent his Ambassadors to ratifie the treaty Of whose coming Belisarius understanding he chose six thousand the goodliest of his men as if he would send them out to hunt He commanded also Diogenes one of his Lanciers and Adolius the son of Acacius and Armenian one of those who attend in the Emperours Palace to keep off noise whom the Romans call Silentarij and now Captaine of the forces in Armenia to skirt along the shore of Euphrates with a thousand horse and at times to make shew to passe the river to invade their countrey Himself hearing the Ambassador to be at hand retired to his pavillion which uses to be made with boards that he might seeme to the Ambassador to be in a poore town without provisions His souldiers he thus disposed On the one side of his pavillion were the Thracians and Illyrians and behind them the Goths and next the Herulians then the Vandales and Moores They took up much space not standing still but walking at distance and looking carelesly and confidently upon the Ambassador None had his mantle on but linnen coates like women girt about them and in their hands a Horsemans-whip For armes some had swords some battle axes others bowes onely looking like hunters in all hast omitting all to be pursueing the wild beasts Abandanes the Ambassador coming to Belisarius said That it was a foule indignity that Cesar so the Persians call the Roman Emperour had not sent Ambassadors about the Articles which had constrained his master to enter the Roman territory in armes Belisarius not fearing their great army and without any trouble in his mind or countenance smiled and with a cheerfull look answered him Men doe not censure the actions of Chosroes by the same reasons he does them by other men demanding ought of their neighbours send Ambassadors first and if they get not right then they make warr But he being in armes in the heart of our provinces shamelesly now talks of peace Having thus said he dismissed the Ambassador Who coming back to Chosroes perswaded him to lay down armes telling him That he lighted upon a captaine the stoutest and the wisest in the world and upon such souldiers as he never beheld the like whose order he extreamely admired Then was the match between them unequall He overcoming should onely vanquish a slave of Cesars but being overcome should get infinit dishonour to him and his house The Romans also being beaten may escape into their fortresses and in their own countrey But if other then well happen to his army there will be no messenger left to report the calamity in Persia Chosroes upon these reasons had a mind to goe home but was troubled knowing the passages of the river to be guarded by the enemy * Here the Greek begins againe and march the same way againe through a wilderness he could not the provisions they brought with them failing In conclusion he thought it best though with hazarding a battaile to get to the land on the other side the river and so to march through a plentifull countrey Belisarius knew well that not 100000. men could hinder his passage the river being passable by boats and his army stronger then to be barred their way by few enemies Having also as I said commanded Diogenes and Adolius with a considerable party to the shore to amaze the enemy with suddainess and to put him in disorder Now he feared least by frighting him he might interrupt his quitting the Roman territory thinking it a matter of much importance to drive him away without hazarding with a very small army heartily affraid of the Persians against so many thousands Wherefore he bad Diogenes and Adolius stay And Chosroes speedily making a bridge pass'd with his army over the Euphrates Which was done with ease the Persians having in their
their 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
pretence The Lombards sent to Râ—dulphus to know why the Herulians were in armes against them if their Tribute were not all paid they would satisfie it with advantage if they thought it too mean they would make it greater But Redulphus sent their Ambassadors away with Threats They sent again other Ambassadors who used much entreaty but speeding not the third came and advised him In no sort to make a war without a cause if he did the Lombards though unwillingly must oppose the invasion calling God to witnesse whose least drop upon the scale will weigh down all the power of men as he is induced by the causes wil determin the conclusion of this war The Herulians not frighted herewith nor relenting resolved to have a Battell Both parts being neer each other over the Lombards the aire was suddenly over cast with a black thick cloud there being a clear sky over the Herulians a Presage that the Herulians entred the fight for their own mischeife and among those Barbarians before a battell the saddest prodigie that can be But the Herulians not heeding the same marcht proudly against the Enemy judging of the successe by their great multitudes But they were very many slain with their King Rodulphus and the rest flying were almost all cut in peices Upon this they left their Country and passing through all the land beyond the River Ister came where the Regians or Rugians had inhabited who were gone with the Goths into Italy and there they sate down But the land being wast and famine compelling they removed and came to a country next the Gepaedes who at the first permâ—tted them to plant coming as Suppliants But afterward they wronged them forcing their wives and making prey of their Cattell and Goods and at last began unjust quarrells with them which the Herulians not able to bear past the River Ister to dwell by the Romans there And Anastasius the Emperour received them to plant in the country Soon after by committing much wickednesse upon their neighbouring Romans they offended him and he sent an army against them which in a battell had the victory killed most of them and would have destroyed them all but their cheiftains remaining with supplications begged their lives and to be taken for Auxiliaries and Servants to the Emperour who granted the same and so some Herulians escaped alive but neither ayded nor served the Romans Justinian coming to the Empire gave them a good country and Goods and made them absolute Associates and perswaded them to be Christians upon this they grew civiller and applyed themselves to the Lawes of Christians serving the Romans as Auxiliaries But still they are false to us and covetous not thinking it any shame to wrong their Neighbours They use impious mixtures with men and Beasts being indeed the wickedest of all men and wretches wretchedly to perish Some few of them continued their League with us the rest revolted upon this occasion To shew the lavagenesse of their nature they killed Ochon their King suddenly without alleadging any thing but that they would no more be under a King And indeed their King before had only the name otherwise little advantage above a private man All sat and ate with him and put licentious scornes on him the Herulians being the most indiscreet and the lightest men alive This foule Fact they instantly repented finding no possibility to live without Governours and Generals After much consultation they resolved to send for one of the Blood Royall from the Island of Thule For the Herulians being overthrown by the Lombards and leaving their native Soile some dwelt in Illyrium as I said others past not the River Ister but thought it better to plant in the uttermost borders of the habitable World Conducted by many of the Blood Royall they past through all the Nations of the Slavonians then passing a large desert Country they came to a Nation called the Varnians after whom they traversed the Nations of the Danes the Barbarians there using no violence against them Then they came to the Ocean and getting Shipping arrived at the Island of Thule where they staid CHAP. XII THule is ten times bigger then Britany much distant from it to the Northward The most of it is waste * Mr. Cambden Nec me latet vastissiman illam â—egionâ—m Scandiam sub Thules nomine a Procopio describi Indeed this Scandia wherin is Norway part of Denmark it appeares in the Mappe as a Peninsule It is called by some of our Writers Vagina gentium but in that which is inhabited are seated thirteen populous Nations and over every Nation is a King The Sun about the Summer Tropick sets not in the Island for fourty dayes being in all that time a strange sight still above the Earth And neer the Winter Tropick it is not seen in the Island for fourty dayes but a continuall night hangs over it the Inhabitants leading a sad life all the while and not conversing which one another It was not my fortune to goe to this Island though I much desired to behold the wonder But inquiring of some that came from thence how they knew the due times of Sun-rising and Sun-setting they told me the true reason That the Sun sets not indeed there for fourty dayes but it shines sometimes from the Eastward sometimes from the West and when they see it returne to that place of the Horizon where first they saw it rise they reckon a day and a night And in the long nights they count the dayes by the courses of the Moone which they see every moneth When five and thirty dayes are runn out of this long night men used to it are sent to the tops of the Mountaines who there seeing the Sun bring word that within five dayes it will shine againe For this good newes a solemne Feast is celebrated in the dark which is the Thulites greatest Holy-day They feare it seemes notwithstanding their yearely experience that the Sun may forsake them quite Of all the Nations of Thule onely the Scritifini are Savages who use no apparrell nor shooes to their feet nor get any mans meat out of the earth themselves neither manuring it nor their Wives using any work but both perpetually hunting for their vast Woods and Mountaines breed multitudes of wilde Beasts which they catch and feed upon their flesh covering themselves with their Skins which they patch together with Sinews of Beasts wanting thred or any thing to sow with Their Children are not nursed like other people with Womans milke nor hang at the Mothers breast but are nourished with the Marrow of the wilde Beasts they take The Woman having brought forth her childe wraps it in a Skin and hangs it on a Tree and laying Marrow to the mouth of it out shee goes a hunting with her Husband The rest of the Thulites differ not much from other people They worship many Gods and Damons both Coelestiall and of the Ayre Earth and Sea and the
a Hill The Captaines make Speeches to their Souldiers and order the Battell Chap. XIX Cocas is slain in Duell by a Roman Totilas after some Gllantry to spin out the â—ime his 2000. men he staid for being come up baegins the fight wherein the Goths are defeated and Totilas slain Chap. XX. The Lombards are sent home Teias is made King of the Goths The Vengeance against Ulithus at Perusia Rome taken by Dagistthaeus The Victory of Narses banefull to the Roman Citizens Ragnaris breaks his Faith concerning the yeilding of Tarentum and is overthrown by Bacurius Portus Nepa Petra-pertusa taken in The Francks will joyne with neither side Chap. XXI The Armies prepare to fight Of mount Vesuvius and the torrent of fire there The Goths flye to Mons Lactis but being from thence starved they give Battell which lasted two whole daies The miraculous Valour of Teias who is slaine And the Goths compounded for their Lives and Goods and to quit Italy THE HISTORY OF THE WARRS of the Emperour JUSTINIAN Of the GOTHJCK VVarre the Fourth BOOK CHAP. I. MY discourse hath hitherto been distributed and accommodated to the severall places where the actions were done and is publisht throughout the whole Roman Empire But now I cannot compile the same in that manner nor insert into a History already publisht succeeding Occurrents but must write in this Tract apart touching these Enemies and the Persians what hath happened since the Edition of my History and so the discourse thereof cannot be but mixt The Occurrents untill the fourth yeare of the Quinquenniall Cessation between the Romans and the Persians were formerly related The yeare following a Persian Army invaded Lazica under Chorsanes a Persian and an experienced Commander accompanied with Alans This Army encamped it selfe in a Province of Lazica named Mucheirisis by which the River of Phasis runns not navigable there but to be past by Men and Horses and they entrencht to the right hand of it some distance off But that the Readers may have a cleer notion of Lazica and of the people about it and not converse with things obscure to them like men fighting with shadows I have thought it seasonable here to discourse what kinde of people dwell upon the Euxine Sea conceiving that the Ancients who have written thereof have not handled it exactly speaking of Tzanians whom they make to border with the Trapezuntians and name Colchians and calling the now Lazians by another name being in both mistaken For the Tzanians are high in the Land and border upon Armenia having steep Mountaines in the way to it a vast and desart Countrey deep Torrents and Hills thick with Wood and unaccessible Valleys all which are between them and the Sea Nor can the Colchians be other then the Lazians seeing they dwell now upon the Phasis They have onely changed their name as many other Nations And since those Writers many ages have innovated much by the transplantations of people and successions of Princes and altered their names All which I am to take notice of omitting both fabulous and old obsolete things as upon what part of the Euxine Sea the Poets bound Prometheus Histories and Fables being different workes but to set downe punctually both names and things notorious in those parts This Sea begins at Constantinople and Chalcedon and ends in Lazica Within it on the right hand is Bithynia then Honorias and Paphlagonia where stand Heraclea and Amastris Maritime Townes Next to them are the Pontick Nations to the borders of Trapezond where are Sinope and Amisus Sea townes not far from Amisus is Themiscyrus and the River Thermodon where they say was the Amazons Campe of whom more anon The territory of Trapezond reaches to Susurmaena and Rizaeum which stands upon the coast in the way to Lazica two dayes journey from Trapezond In all the Territory of that City of Trapezond the Hony is bitter To the right hand of these Cities are the Mountaines of Tzanica beyond which is the Roman Armenia From those Mountaines descends the River of Boas through infinite Thickets and a Woodland Countrey into Lazica and disimbogues into the Euxine Sea then it quits the name of Boas and takes that of Acampsis because it bends not nor yeilds to the current of the Sea For the stream is so strong and troublous that running farr into the Sea the Ships sayling that way keep off at Sea not able to hold on their course and cut thorough that swift streame Next to Rizaeum are Mountaines dividing Lazica from Roman Land and inhabited by free Nations and a Village called Athens not so called from a Colony of Athenians as some suppose but from Athenaea in ancient time Lady of that Countrey whose Tombe remaines to this day Next to Athens is Archabis and Apsarus an ancient City three dayes journey from Rizaeum in old time named Apsyrtus from a man of that name slaine by the plots of Medea and Jason neer unto that place but many ages and successions of men have corrupted the memory of that act and changed the name into Absarus on the East side of which City stands yet the Tombe of that Apsyrtus It was anciently very populous and had excellent Walls and a Circus and a Theatre and such other Ornaments of a great City But of those antiquities nothing now remaines but the Pavements By this it appeares strange that any should affirme that the Colchians were borderers to the Trapazuntians For so may Jason be thought not to have fled home into Greece with Medea and the Golden fleece but to have gone the quite contrary way to the Phasis and furthest Barbarians In the Raigne of Traâ—an some say a Roman Legion was there garrisoned even to Lazica and Suania But now the Inhabitants are subject neither to the Roman Emperour nor King of Lazica But onely that being Christians the Bishops of Lazica appoint them * Or Bishops 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preists They are in amity with both and convoy their Ambassadors to each in small Barks which they use but to this houre they will pay tribute to neither To the right hand of this Countrey are steep craggy Mountaines and a Desert reaching very farre Above it is Persarmenia and the Roman Armenia reaching as farr as Iberia From the sayd Absarus to the City of Petra and Marches of Lazica is one dayes journey where the Euxine Sea ends which Sea makes there a halfe Moon and the passage crossing the same is about sixty nine miles All behinde the end of the Euxine is Lazica next to which is Scumia and Suania both subject to the Lazians They have Princes still of their owne Nation but when any of them dye the King of Lazica appoints another in his roome On one side of this Countrey are the Mâ—sâ—hians reaching almost to Iberia to which they have been anciently Subjects and dwell upon the Mountaines which are not wilde nor barren but abound with all commodities and the people are good
husbands especially for Vines Over this Countrey hang very high Mountaines thick with Wood and hard to be past extending almost to the Caucascan Mountaines Beyond them Eastward is Iberia reaching to Persarmenia Between these Mountaines descends the Phasis springing from Mount Caucasus and disimboguing into the middle of the sayd halfe Moon at the end of the Euxine whereupon some hold that it divides the two Continents having Asia on the left hand and Europe on the right On Europe side are the Lazians dwellings having on the other side no Towne nor Fortresse but Petra lately built by the Romans The Countrey people hold that the Golden Fleece was kept on Europe side but in my opinion they are mistaken For Jason had never gotten away with Medea and the golden Fleece unespyed by Aeetes if the Kings Pallace and Houses of the Colchians had not beene separated by the River from the place where the Fleece was kept which may appear also by the Poems written on that subject The Phasis as I have sayd thus enters into the further end of the Euxine and at one point of the sayd halfe Moone stands Petra on Asia side Over against which on Europe side is Apsilia a Countrey of the Lazians the people whereof are Christians as all the rest before mentioned CHAP. II. ABout Apsilia stands Mount Caucasus so high that neither Raines nor Snowes touch the top of it being higher then any Clouds From the midst to the foot it is perpetually covered with the Snow the foot of this Mountain being as high as the very ridges of other Mountaines Some parts of the said foot of Caucasus run out to the West and North-ward even to Illyrium and Thrace other parts of it to the East and South-ward reach to the two straits which let in the Hunnish Nations upon the Romans and Persians The one of the straits is called Tzur the other is called the Caspian Gates The Country extending from Mount Caucasus to the Caspian Gates the Alans hold subject to none but as Confederates they serve the Persians against the Romans and all the World Under Mount Caucasus dwell the Sabirian Hunnes and some other Hunnish Nations From hence they say issued the Amazons and made a Camp at Themiscyrus by the River of Thermodon neer where now stands the City of Amisus But now no Monument is left of any Amazons in the Countries about Mount Caucasus Strabo and some others have spent much discourse about them But they seem to speak most truly who think that there was never any such Mannish race of Women nor that Nature in Mount Caucasus only swerves from its sacred Lawes but that the Barbarians of those parts making an expedition against Asia brought their Wives with them whom they left in a Camp neer Thermodon And that themselves over-running much of Asia were encountred and so defeated that none escaped to the Camp and that there the Wives being put to it by the feare of the People adjoyning and by their want of Victuall put on mens faces and armed themselves with furniture left behind by their Husbands and with the same performed some commendable Actions compelled by necessity till they were all slain This is my Opinion and that the Amazons were Wives who went to War with their Husbands the experiment whereof hath happened in our time And commonly the addictions which descend to Posterity are the Images of those which were before For the Hunnes in their in-roads upon the Romans often coming to a Battell wherein some of them were slain and the Romans searching the dead bodies have found Women among them Other Armies of Women were never neither infesting Asia nor Europe Neither was it ever heard that the Caucasian Mountaines had all their men wasted at any time And so much touching the Amazons Beyond Apsilia and the other point of the aforesaid halfe Moon is Abasgia to the Caucasian Mountaines The Abasgians were formerly subject to the Lazians and had two Princes of their own Nation one seated in the West and the other towards the East They did worship till my time Groves and Woods and in a Barbarian simplicity esteemed Trees to be Gods But they suffered much from the covetousnesse of their Princes who took violently from the Parents such Children as were beautifull and made them Eunuchs and sold them to the Romans at great prices then killed the Fathers least they might revenge their Childrenâ— abusing and that they might not have suspected Subjects And thus the poor Wretches were ruined by the fatall handsomenesse of their Children And hereby most of the Eunuchs of the Imperiall Palace were Abasgians But in the now Raigne of Justinian all hath been changed for the Abasgians to the milder and more civill They have received the Christian Religion And the Emperour sent Euphratas his Eunuch expresly to admonish their Princes to force out no more the virility of humane nature with Iron and the Abasgians bold upon this injunction of the Emperour have opposed that course which made it formerly their greatest feare to be Fathers of handsome Sons The Emperour also built for them a Church dedicated to the Mother of God appointing them * Or Bishops Priests and causing them to be instructed in the Christian rites They also deposed both their Princes and became a free State Beyond the Abasgians towards Mount Caucasus are the Bruchians and the Alamans Towards the Sea Coast are the Zecchians to whom anciently the Roman Emperour gave their King but now in nothing they obey the Romans The Country of the Sagines is next wherein formerly the Romans built two Castles upon the Sea-coast Sebastopolis and Pityus distant from each other two daies journey and there put the first Garrison of Souldiers in those parts Before the Roman Cohoâ—ts were Garrison'd by the Sea-side from Trapezond to the Sagines but then held only these Castles where were Garrisons till my time But Chosroes King of Persia the Lazians having drawn him into Petra intended to send an Army to surprise those Castles and the Romans within them hearing it burnt them and threw down the Walls and fled to the opposite continent by Sea to Trapezond whereby they damnified indeed the Romans by demolishing those Castles but they prevented the Persians from being Masters of the Country who forth-with went back to Petra without doing any thing Beyond the Sagines are many Hunnish Nations in a Country called Eulysia possessed by those Barbarians in the Maritime and mid-land parts thereof to the Lake of Maeotis and River of Tanais which disembogues into the said Lake and the Lake into the Euxine Sea Anciently the Inhabitants were called Cimmerians but now Vturgurians Beyond whom to the North-ward are innumerable races of Antians where the Lake begins to disembogue are the Goths called Tetraxites observers of the Christian Religion no men more The Natives call this disembogure Tanais which reaches from Maeotis to the Euxine and running along 20. daies journey and they call the wind
which blowes from thence Tanaites These Goths whether they were Arrians as the other Gothish Nations or otherwise instructed in Christianity I cannot say nor do themselves know but they professe the same with much simplicity and without disputes Lately they sent foure Ambassadours to Justinian for a Bishop to be given them as to the Abasgians And the Emperour dismist them with satisfaction in what they desired The said Ambassadours in their publick audience exprest no other cause them that for feare of the Hunnes But being admitted privately they acquainted the Emperour with what might advantage the Romans all ' Barbarians having ever some piques with their Neighbours The planting of these Tetraxites in that Country was thus Anciently multitudes of Hunnes then called Cimmerians kept their Heards in the same and were governed by a King One of their Kings had two Sons named Vturgur and Caturgur who after their Fathers decease divided the Kingdome and gave their names to their severall Subjects and they are yet called Vturgurians and Caturgurians They have all the same addictions and converse not with the Nations dwelling on the other side of the Lake of Maeotis and the Cimmerian straits fearing the passage though very easie because they never had tryed it On the said other side neer unto the shore of the said Lake and straits were formerly seated the Tetraxite Goths and not far from them the Goths and Visigoths and Vandales and all the other Gothick Nations anciently named Scythians as all the other Nations of those parts with some difference in some of Sarmatians Melanclaenians and other names These People have a tradition if it be true that some Cimmerian young men hunting a Stag it took the water and that they either eager upon their sport or driven by some Spirit followed the Stage to the opposite shore where the same whatsoever it were suddainly vanisht as having appeared to no other end but to bring a mischiefe upon the Inhabitants there The young men they say though they mist their game found matter for warre and booty And returning home told the Cimmerians how the passage was fordable who instantly took armes and in multitudes past over to the other side The Vandales were gone before and seated in Affrica and the Visigoths were in Spaine So they fell upon the Goths who dwelt in the Champian killed many and chased away the rest Such as escaped past the river Ister with their wives and children into the Roman territory where they did much mischeif Afterward the Emperour planted them in a country of Thrace and sometimes they aided the Romans in the quality of Confederates receiving yearly pensions whereby it appeares that the Goths came not as men conquer'd but upon the articles of a League The Romans calling Leagues after a war Foedera Sometime also they made causelesse war upon the Romans till under Theoderick they removed into Italy CHAP. III. BUt as I said the Hunnes having slain many of them and driven away more possest their country And the Caturgurians sent for their wives and children and are planted there to this day receiving from the Emperour yearly pensions yet passing continually the River Ister and over-running the Empire being both confederates and Enemies The Vturgurians returned home with their Prince where still they remain They past the Cimmerian straits again against the Goths wasted as aforesaid Who at first stood fenced with their sheilds against the Enemy in battell being confident in their power and the strength of their country And themselves are the valiantest Barbarians in those parts and the straits where about dwell these Goths from the Entrance out of the Lake of Maeotis presently spreads into a Bay imbracing most of those people and hath one only narrow passage over The Hunnes meant not to spend much time there and the Goths could not hope to hold out long against such a multitude so they came to a Capitulation that the Goths should go over and dwell with them in the opposite Continent where now they are and be in perpetuall League with the Vturgurians upon equall tearms Thus the Caturgurians hold the other side of the Lake and the Vturgurians their former country never troubling the Romans but secluded by many nations they observe an unwilling peace Beyond the Lake and the River Tanais the Caturgurian Hunnes have a large country all beyond that way is possest by the Scythians and Taurians part wherof is yet named Taurica where stood the Temple of Diana of which Iphigenia Agamemnons daughter was cheife Preist The Armenians say that that Temple stood in Celesene a country adjoyning to them and that the Inhabitants thereof were then called Scythians grounding themselves upon that which I related formerly concerning Orestes and the city of Comana Thus many things happening other-where or peradventure no where men are fond to attribute to their owne countries and are angry if all men yeild not to their conceits Next to the aforesaid Nations is Bosporus a maritime city lately become subject to the Romans From Bosporus to Chersone a maritime City also and formerly subject to the Romans all between is possest by Hunnish nations Cepi also and Phanaguris two cities were formerly under the Romans almost untill our time but the neighbouring Barbarians took them and utterly ruined them From Cherson to the mouth of the Danuby or Ister is ten dayes journey all inhabited by Barbarians The River Ister springs from the mountaines in Gaule and skirting by Italy and descending through Dacia Illyrium and Thrace it disembogues into the Euxine Sea From the mouth of the River Ister unto Constantinople all belongs to the Roman Emperour This is the whole circuit of the Euxine Sea from Chalcedon to Constantinople How many miles it containes I cannot say so many Barbarians inhabiting the coasts with whom the Romans have no commerce unlesse it be upon Ambassages and they who formerly pretend to have taken the measure of it not speaking exactly Certaine it is that from Chalcedon on the right hand side of the Euxine to the River Phasis is two and fifty daies journey and one may conjecture that the other side differs not much And here I think it not unseasonable to set down the dispute among the Learned concerning the bounds of Asia and Europe Some think the River of Tanais doth sever these two continents and alleadge that division to be naturall For the Sea coming from the western lands to the Eastern the Tanais from the North crosses between Europe and Asia and the Egyptian Nile from the South between Asia and Affrick others reject this reason as weak saying that the straits of Caliz distinguishes at first these two continents and that the Mediterranian still leaves Africk and Asia on the right hand and Europe on the left till it come to the Ends of the Euxine Sea But the Tanais springs in Europe and disembogues into the Lake of Maeotis and the lake falls into the Euxine not into the end of it nor
of the place they who besiege it are afflicted with much want of water So that Chosroes failing in this attempt thought of taking some other Roman Towne but farr within the Roman Territories to sit downe before any City leaving so many strong places at his back he thought it impossible For this reason he layd Antioch flat with the ground and quitted the Roman-Territories so that his thoughts mounted after hopes further off and full of difficulty For hearing how the Barbarians seated on the left hand of the Euxine Sea about the Lake of Maeotis doe without controule over-run the Roman Provinces he thought also by having Lazica to passe unto Constantinople it selfe without crossing the Sea as well as those Barbarians And for this cause the Persians strive to get Lazica But to returne from whence I digressed Corianes with the Persian army encamped by the River of Hippis and against them Gubazes King of Lazica and Dagisthaeus commander of the Roman army led their forces of Romans and Lazians They past the said River and being there incamped they consulted whether they should stay there or receive the Enemy marching them or should march against the Enemy and by giving demonstration of the courage and by beginning the fight charge them with lesse apprehension of danger themselves and abate the Enemies spirits This counsell prevailed that they should charge them and on they went But the Lazians refused to joyne with the Roman Troops who they sayd were not to fight for their Countrey and dearest pledges themselves adventuring for Wives and Children and their native soyle So that being overcome they should be ashamed to look upon their Wives by which necessity valour in case they had none would grow in them And they would have the first charge least the Romans who could not have an equall eagernesse to theirs should in the fight break their orders Gubazes being glad to see his Lazians so gallant called them together at some distance from the Romans and spake thus Countrey-men I know nor whether it be sit to use exhortations to courage your forwardnesse provoked by necessity not neâ—ding any The danger is about Wives and Children and your Countrey and for 〈◊〉 which the Persians now invade you And none will willingly suffer others to take their estates from them by force nature compelling men to contend for their right You know how nothing will stop the Persians avarice if once they get power They will not now rule over you onely and lay tributes and in other things make you subject but ruine and transplant you if they have the better in this Warr. We cannot forget what Chosroes lately attempted against us And let me not so much as mention the tryall of the Persians in that kind nor let ever the name of the Lazâ—ans be extinguished Our fight with them will not be difficult we have often fought with them and vanquisht them And there is no hardnesse in things we have been used to the toilsomenesse thereof being spent in our former practise So that we must not apprehend an Enemy often beaten as being now not so valiant as they were before and a spirit once dejected commonly neve rising again With these considerations therefore encounter the Enemy with courage Having thus said he led them on The army was thus ordered The Lazian horse were set in the front and a good distance behind them came on the Roman horse commanded by Philegagus a Gepaede a valiant man and by John the Armenian sirnamed Guzes formerly spoken of by me an extraordinary good souldier In the rear came Gubazes and the King of the Lazians and Dagisthaeus the Roman Generall with their foot that if the horse were routed they might escape unto them Corianes on the other side sent a thousand choice men well arm'd to discover himself marching after them and leaving only some few to guard the camp The Lazians being foremost and coming to the businesse gave the lye to their former confidence For lighting suddenly upon the Enemies Avant-coureurs they being unable to withstand them came gallopping all back in confusion and mingled with the Roman Horse glad to fly to those with whom before they made scruple to be ranckt Both the Cavalleries being neer they joyned not battell but each when the Enemy came on gave back and set on them retiring and so spent much time in renewing charges and in quick turns and returnes In the Roman army was one Artabanes a Persarmenian revolted lately to the Roman army having secured his faith by the killing of a hundred and twenty Persian Souldiers He got accesse to Valerianus then Generall of Armenia and desired of him fifty Romans with whom he went to a Castle in Persarmenia guarded by a hundred and twenty Persians who received him with his men not knowing of his revolt This Garrison they killed and returned to Valerianus and Artabanes appearing by this sure and firm to the Romans served them in their warrs In this incounter he put himself between the armies accompanied with two Romans against them came some Enemies whom Artabanes charging killed a Persian valiant and of a strong body and threw him from his Horse to the ground A Barbarian standing next strake Artabanes with his Sword upon the head but no mortall blow One of Artabanes two Companions a Goth while the Persians hand was yet over the head of Artabanes thrust him into the left flanck and killed him The thousand that were sent out at this retired and stayd for Corianes and the rest of the Army of Persians and Alans and soon after they joyned Then came up the Infantry both of Gubazes and Dagisthaeus to the Horse and the fight came to handy blowes Philegagus and John finding themselves too weak for the Enemies horse and having seen what the Lazians could do lighted and caused the Romans and Lazians to do the like and with the foot they stood in a deep battallion opposite to the Enemy and charging with their Lances The Persians being not able to charge the Enemy being on foot nor to break their Battallion and their Horses flying back troubled with the heads of the Lances and noise of the sheilds they trusted with the multitude of their arrowes to break them The Romans also and the Lazians let fly their arrowes and they coming thick many were slain on both sides The Persians and Alans discharged oftner but the arrowes for the most part rebounded from the Romans sheilds Corianes the Persian Generall was shot into the neck ' by whom it was not known of which he dyed instantly and his death swayed the victory to the Romans side For the falling from his horse forthwith the Persians ran away to their camp The Romans pursued killed many and hoped to take the Enemies camp at first assault But an Alan a strong man very expert to shoot backward and forward put himself into the narrowest entrance into the Trenches and stopt the invaders a long time untill
John Guzes killed him with his Lance and then the Romans took the Camp Many Persians there perished the rest returned home as they could This was the successe of that Persian invasion of Lazica Another army also came and victualled the Garrison in Petra and then retired home CHAP. V. IN the mean time the Lazians at Constantinople accused Dagisthaeus of Treachery and favouring the Persians and that by the perswasions of the Persians he forbare to assault that part of the Walls of Petra which fell down and that the while the Enemy fortified the breach with sack-fuls of Sand laid one upon another And that for money or negligently he lost his opportunity by putting of the assault which he could never after recover The Emperour upon this confined Dagisthaeus to his house and made Bessas lately come out of Italy Generall of Armenia whom he directed also to command the Army in Lazica sent thither before under Venilus Brother to Buzes and Odonachus and Babas the Thracian and Vligangus an Herulian Nabedes also came into Lazica with an Army but effected nothing worth the mentioning save only a defection of the Abasgians from the Romans and Lazians and upon the occasion of being there with an Army the taking of sixty Sons of their principall men for Hostages and the taking Prisoner in his way Theodora in Apsilia the Widow of Opsites late Uncle to Gubazes and King of Lazica She was by birth a Roman the Kings of Lazica having long used by the Emperours consent to take Wives in Constantinople and to make allyances with sundry Senators And Gubazes himselfe was the Son of a Roman Lady The reason moving the Abasgians to revolt was this After they had as I said before deposed their Kings some Roman Garrisons were by the Emperour laid upon the Country who sought to reduce it under the Roman Dominion and exacted new things using violent waies which discontented the Abasgians And least they should be brought into slavery to the Romans they set up Kings again Opsites of the Eastern part of the Country and Scaparnas of the Western They were grown desperate of any good and so chose rather to resume their former condition though bad then to retain the worse which succeeded and fearing the Romans power revolted secretly to the Persian But the Emperour perceiving it commanded Bessas to march against them who sent some choice numbers of his Army under Vligangus and John Guzes One of the new Kings of Abasgia had been lately sent for into Persia by Chosroes where he then was The other drew the Abasgians together and opposed the Roman invasion Upon the confines of Apsilia and way to Abasgia is a high Mountain beginning at Caucasus and by degrees growing lower till it ends in the Euxine Sea At the foot of this Mountain the Abasgians have an ancient Castle of a considerable bignesse where they beat off any Enemy invading the place being a great fastnesse not possible to force It hath one passage only leading to this Castle and into Abasgia not passable but by one man at once a foot Under the said foot-path is a deep Vally reaching to the Sea and very stony which hath gotten a name sutable for the roughnesse being called Trachea The Roman Fleet came to the confines of Abasgia and Apsilia where John and Vligangus landed their Forces leaving the Sea-men to waite on them neer the Shore They marcht afoot unto Trachea and seeing the Abasgians in Armes and guarding the foot path they were troubled In the end John left there Vligangus with halfe the Army and himselfe with the rest went aboard the Barkes and compassed the Trachea so that he got the Backes of the Enemy With Ensignes displayed he marcht against them who perceiving themselves charged on both sides resisted not but retyred in confusion so hamperd with their feare and amazement that they hardly found their owne Countrey wayes nor easily got cleer of them The Romans on both sides had the execution and killed many and came running to the Castle where they found the Guards shutting the Gates but not able to put them to and so still receiving in the pursued and Pursuers pell-mell and not discerning Abasgians from Enemies and by reason of the croud being not able to close the Gates the Abasgians who were so glad to get within the walls were taken with the castle Yet the Romans when they thought themselves masters of the Enemy found a difficulty for the houses standing close to one another the Abasgians mounted the same and shot down upon their heads and defended themselves stoutly out of fear and pitty of their wives and children till the Romans set the houses on fire and so became absolute victors Opsites King of the Abasgians fled with some few to the neighbouring Hunnes and to mount Caucasus The rest were consumed to ashes or made prisoners The Romans took both the Kings wives and all their children demolisht the Castle and almost emptied the country This was the successe of the Abasgians revolt But the Apsilians being anciently subject to the Lazians have in their country a strong Castle called Tzibulum which Terdites Master of the Palace in Lazica having offended the King and being discontented agreed to betray to the Persians and getting some Persian forces ready he went into Apsilia Being neer the Castle he rode afore with his company of Lazians and got in the Garrison not distrusting a principall Officer of Lazica And thus Terdites so soon as the Persian forces came up received them into the Castle and the Persians now held themselves Masters not only of Lazica but of Apsilia also while the Romans being busie about Petra and to incounter the Persian army had no meanes to send succours But the Governour of that Castle had a fair wife by birth an Apsilian with whom the commander of the Persian forces fell fondly in love and when with his temptations he could not gain her he attempted to force her which so inraged her husband that he killed him and sacrificed also his Company to their commanders lust and took the Castle to himself Hereupon the Apsilians took occasion to revolt from the Lazians charging them for not coming to their succours against the Persians Gubazes sent against them a thousand Romans and John Guzes who with fair words brought them back to their former obedience to the Lazians And thus was it concerning the Apsilians and the castle of Tzibulum CHAP. VI. ABOUT the same time the cruelty of Chosroes toucht even upon his own blood His eldest Son Anatozadus which in the Persian language signifies Immortall had much offended him with his lewd courses making no scruple to lye with his Fathers Wives At first Chosroes chastised him with Banishment and confined him to the City of Lapato seven dayes journey from Ctesiphon in a Province of Persia called Vazaine a very good country and soon after fell sick so dangerously that he was reported to be dead being of a
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
that he had obliged many both commanders and common Souldiers who all upon his being now Generall were eager to serve under him both in acknowledgement of former favours and in expectation of great advancements by him Above all the Herulians and other Barbarians loved him having done them many benefits Being come upon the Confines of Venetia he sent to the Captaines of the Francks to demand passage as for freinds They refused it and protested to hinder it both for the Francks good and for their amity with the Goths pretending also a poor excuse because Narses had with him Lombards their greatest Enemies Narses was troubled at it but was told by some Italians that if the Francks gave him passage he could not from thence get to Ravenna nor further possibly then to Verona For Totilas had placed in Verona a choice number of Goths under Teias a most valiant Generall to lye in the Romans way This Tejas had stopt up all the passages with workes and made in some places with much art and labour thickets in others ditches deep holes and bogs and overflowed the Grounds and himself lay with his army ready to fight with the Roman army attempting to force their way This was done by Totilas direction knowing how the Romans would not be able to passe along the Sea-coast by so many great Rivers mouths which made the shore unpassable and how they had not ships enough to transport the whole army at once over the Gulfe and coming but few at once that he might easily hinder their landing Narses being herewith much perplexed John who knew those parts exactly advised him to march with the army by the Sea-shore the people there being their subjects and to be attended with some ships and many boats with which boats they might make a bridge over the currents of those rivers and so make their passages Narses followed this advise and got to Ravenna with his whole army CHAP. XVII DUring the wars came to Constantinople Ildigisall a Lombard The Kingdome of the Lombards of right belonged to him but Anduin forced it from him whereupon he fled his country Justinian entertained him with favour made him Captaine of one of the Cohorts called Scholae which guard the Pallace He had three hundred followers his country men who had been bred sometime with him in Thrace Auduin demanded him of the Emperour as a reward due to his freindship and late confederacy but the Emperour would not deliver him to him This Ildigisall afterward grew discontented at the meanness of his entertainments which Goar perceived a Goth taken in Dalmatia in the warrs of Vitigis and sent Prisoner to Dalmatia being a man proud and valiant and repining at his condition and upon the late revolt of the Goths in Italy he was discovered to plot against the Roman State This Goar perswaded Ildigisall to run from Constantinople promising to accompany him and so with some few with them they came to Apri a City in Thrace joyned with some Lombards they found there and taking many Horses from the Emperours Horse-pastures in Thrace they went forward The Emperour commanded the Companies in Thrace and Illyrium to oppose these Fugitives First they were fought with by Cuturgurian Hunnes lately planted in Thrace by the Emperour as hath been sayd But they beat these Hunnes and killed many and then past through Thrace with their Troops none disturbing them In Illyrium they found an Army levyed against them commanded by Aratius Recithangus Leonianus Arimuth and others Who having rode all day resolved in the evening to lodge in a woody ground and taking with them each three or four Souldiers went to drinke of the River being extreamly thirsty Ildigisall and Goar understanding of their being there by their Scouts sell suddenly upon them and killed them all and thenceforward marcht on at their ease the Souldiers perplexed and without Commanders ryding back againe They went then to the Gepaedes from the Gepaedes was also fled one Vstrigoth the onely Son of Elimund late King of the Gepaedes who being suppressed by Thorisin and but a Boy fled to the Lombards but the Lombards Gepaedes and the Emperour making peace and swearing a perpetuall amity both the Emperour and Auduin Prince of the Lombards sent to Thorisin to deliver to them their common Enemy Ildigisall requiring thus for an expression of their new made amity the betraying of a poor man come for refuge Thorisin demanded herein the opinion of the principall Gepaedes who plainely disadvised it protesting to chuse rather to perish with their Wives and Children then to be guilty of so foule an impiety The Prince being unable to doe it without the consent of his Subjects and unwilling to revive the Warr with the Romans and Lombards sent to Auduin and demanded of him Vstrigoth the Son of Elimund provoking him to a like fault and to betray servant for servant that his owne loathnesse in the like absurdity might check his request to another But Auduin consented and they both resolved upon this unjust act and not daring to acquaint their Subjects with it publiquely each treacherously killed his Enemy I forbeare to tell the manner the reports differing as happens in all secret actions And this was the fortune of Ildigisall and Vstrigoth But in Ravenna Valerianus and Justinus the Generalls and the remainder of the Roman Army joyned with Narses Nine dayes after Vsdrilas a Goth Commander of the Garrison at Ariminum wrote this Letter to Valerianus After you had filled the World with rumours and possest Italy with phantasmes thinking to scare away the Goths with your bigg looks now you have enclosed your selves in Ravenna that an Enemy may not see your faint hearts which you cover with the same brave countenance and lye with your mingled multitude of Barbarians upon a Countrey wherein you have no right For shame rise from thence and fight shew your selves keep us not thus under a tedious expectation We attend you like spectators in a Theatre to see a sight Narses laughed at the Letter and the vanity of the Goths and forthwith began his journey leaving Justinus in Ravenna with a Garrison At Ariminum he found the Bridge newly taken up by the Goths and his passage not easie by the Bridge it selfe was never any passage but by one man a breast unarmed and a foot with much adoe though none disturbed but now numbers opposing it was not possible to ferry over Narses came to the place where the Bridge had been and studyed upon some expedient in this difficulty Thither came also Vsdrilas with some Horse to observe the Romans proceeding A Souldier of Narses let flye an Arrow amongst them and killed a Horseman whereat Vsdrilas removed in some haste and put himselfe within the Towne and immediately at another Gate sallyed with others of his best men thinking to take Narses suddenly and to cut him in peices being now searching in another part of the River for a passage But some Herulians by