army in the said village and in old houses without it layed ambushes of foot The Persians amounted in all to four thousand men The Romans came to a place distant a dayes journey from Anglon and took a scout of the enemies who told them that Nabedes was retired from Anglon Narses at this chafed reproaching his fellow Commanders for their tardinesse The same others did likewise taunting one another And now carelesse of fighting and fearlesse of dangers they attended pillaging onely They marcht confusedly without discipline without watch-word as is usuall in such actions or distinction by any kind of order The souldiers were mingled with the attendants upon the baggage and marcht as to some great booty ready drest for them Being near Anglon they sent out scoutes who brought them word that the army was inbattail array The Commanders were amazed with the suddainnesse yet thought it base and cowardly to turn their backs with so great an army So ordering the army as well as in that case they could they marcht against the enemy Peter having the right hand wing Valerianus the left and Martinus the battell Being come near the enemy they stood still in their ranks confusedly by reason of the ragged ground and their being newly put in order The Barbarians also drew close together and stood viewing the enemies powers Nabedes had commanded none to strike the first blow but the enemy giving on to resist him Narses with his Herulians and some Romans gave on upon the Persians and them he routed who ran away up to the Castle Much mischief was done between them in the narrow passage and Narses pressed upon the enemy and encouraged his men and the rest fell to work But suddainly the Ambushes issuing from the old houses into the narrow lanes killed some Herulians and wounded Narses in the head mortally whom his brother Isaac carried off but he dyed quickly having in this fight done bravely The Romans upon this growing to confusion Nabedes drew out all his army which in those narrow lanes shooting at a multitude killed them at ease and most the Herulians being the most part unarmed and in fight never using head-piece corslet or other defensive armour save a shield and a thick coat girt about them Their slaves fight without shields which their masters permit them to weare when they have shewed themselves good souldiers But the Romans not enduring the enemy longer fled amain remembring neither valour shame nor ought that good is The Persians suspecting that they could not fall to so shamelesse a running away but had some ambushes drave them out of the fastnesses and then turn'd bridle not daring with a few to encounter so many in a plain But the Romans specially the Commanders thinking the enemy still pursuing ran without intermission urging their horses with whip and voice throwing away their arms in haste as having no courage to fight with a Persian over-taking but all their hope of safety in their horses feet In a word it was such a running away as scarce a horse over-lived it but instantly dyed the course ended So great a disaster the Romans have not formerly had Many were slain more made slaves to the enemy who took so great a quantity of arms and baggage that the rich state of Persia appeared much richer by this victory Adolius in this retreat passing by a Castle in Persarmenia was slain by a wound in his head of a stone thrown by one of the Inhabitants Justus and Peranius having a little plundered the country of Taraunia returned home CHAP. XVIII BUt the next year Chosroes invaded the Romans the fourth time Chosroës 4th Invasion in An. Dom. 544. Justiniani 18. with his army into Mesopotamia And this expedition he made not against the Emperour Justinian nor any mortall man indeed but even against God whom onely the Christians adore For in his first Invasion missing Edessa and retiring so he and his Magi were much discontented to be overcome by the Christians God Wherefore he threatned to make the Edessenians slaves and to turn their City to a Sheep-pasture Being come before Edessa with his army he sent some Hunnes to the walls over against the Circus to steal the sheep kept near the walls by shepheards presuming upon the strength and steepnesse of the place But the Barbarians got to the sheep and the shepheards stoutly resisted but with the aid of some Persians they got away one flock which ran back again while some Romans sallying fought with them Where a Hunne fighting in the front and most troubling the Romans a country fellow hit him with a sling-stone on his right knee and down he fell headlong which encouraged the Romans The fight lasted from morning till noon and both thinking they had the better parted the Romans to their walls and the Barbarians to pitch their tents a mile from the City where they encamped Chosroes either upon some dream or the apprehension of disgrace to misse Edissa twice thought of selling his retreat to the Edessenians for money Paul the Interpreter therefore the next day under the town-walls advised the Romans to send men of quality to Chosroes They chose four eminent men whom Zaberganes met in the camp by the Kings direction and with threatning words asked them which they would rather have a Peace or a War They confessing to chuse peace before dangers Then must you buy it quoth Zaberganes with a great summe They sayd they would give as much as formerly when he came thither after the sack of Antioch Zaberganes laught and bade them consult seriously for their lives and come back again Shortly after Chosroes sent for them and recited the Roman towns he had led into captivity threatning to them also the terriblest usage if they gave him not all their money within their walls upon which onely he would raise his siege The Ambassadours acknowledged that they would buy their peace if he enjoyned possibilites But the conclusion of a danger they said no living man could know before the combat war being not upon articles of agreement between the parties Upon this Chosroes commanded them in anger to get them gone The eighth day of the Siege he beganne to raise a mount against the walls making without arrow-shot a square work of trees cut down with leaves on spreading over them much earth and over all a quantity of rude unwrought stones his onely care being to raise the Mount speedily putting between the earth and stones long timbers which fastned the work that growing high it should not be weak But Peter the Roman Generall being in the town with Martinus and Peranius sent out Hunnes against the workmen who falling on suddainly killed many One of his Lanciers named Arger killed above seven and twenty But the Barbarians kept better guard afterward and none sallyed on the workmen Who being come within arrow-shot the Romans from the walls stoutly employed their slings and bows Before their labourers in this Aggestus so is
would be content to lay aside all his quarrells to the Romans Wherewith Rusinus acquainted the Emperour at his returne to Constantinople whither soon after came Hermogenes And so the Winter ended and * Anno Domini 530. Justimani 5. the fourth yeare of Justinians raigne * Anno Domini 531. Justiniani 5. In the beginning of the Spring 15000. Persians all horse under the command of Azarethes a Persian invaded the Romans and among them Alamundarus the Saracen with great numbers of Saracens In this invasion they did not as they were wont enter by Mesopotamia but by Comagena now called Euphratesia The reason of forbearing Mesopotamia now and why it is so called is thus From a Mountaine of Armenia not very steep being five miles to the North of Theodosiopolis issue two springs presently making the right hand spring Euphrates and the left Tigris Tigris without winding goes strait on to Amida taking in no waters by the way and by the North-side of it passes into Assyria But the Euphrates running not farr vanishes not sinking under ground but with a kind of miracle Over the water lyes a bogg deep and six miles long and two miles and a half broad wherein much reed growes and the mudd is so stiffe that to passengers it seemes firme ground Horse and Foot and Waggons passe upon it every day and stirr not the ground nor discover it for a bogge The inhabitants every yeare burn off the reed that it stop not the way and sometime a strong wind blowing the fire pierces to the roots and discovers the river in a small channell And the mudd landing up againe soon after restores to the place the forme it had Hence this river runs to the Country of Ecelesa where was the Temple of Diana in Tauri Iphigenia Agamemnons daughter with Orestes and Pilades flying thither with the image of Diana The other Temple standing to this day at Comana is not that of Tauri But thus it was Orestes stealing with his sister from Tauri fell into a great sickness and enquiring of the Oracle for cure was answered that he should have no help till he had built a Temple to Diana like that in Tauri and there should shave off his haire and call the City by it Orestes hereupon travelling in these parts saw the river Iris springing from a steep Mountaine and supposing it to be the place designed by the Oracle built there a faire City and a Temple to Diana and shaving his haire called it Comana which continues to this day But this abated not the disease which raged rather more So that travelling and seeking yet further he found a place in Cappadocia very like Tauri and I have wondred seing it taking it for Tauri it self The Mountaine there is absolutely like Taurus and so called also and the river Sarus there very like the river Euphrates So there Orestes built a goodly City with two Temples in it the one to Diana the other to his sister Iphigenid which the Christians have made Churches not altring the buildings at all This City is called the Golden Comana where he cut off his haire and recovered of his disease Which some hold to be no other but the madness he fell into for killing his own Mother But the Euphrates from this Tauri in Ecelesa of Armenia runs Southward by much Country and takes in many rivers and among the rest Arsinus which comes down from Persarmenia then grown large passes into Leucosyria now called the lesser Armenia the Metropolis whereof is Melitene a faire City From thence it runs by Samosata and Hierapolis and many other townes to Assyria where both rivers meeting end in one name of Tigris The Country from Samosata beyond the river was anciently called Comagena but now Euphratesia from the river The Country on this side between it and the Tigris is called Mesopotamia Some part of which hath severall other names as Armenia unto Amida Edessa also with the towns about it And Osrhoêne from Osrhoês who anciently raigned there when they were confederates of the Persians The Persians therefore having taken Nisibis and other places in Mesopotamia from the Romans when they invaded their country ever neglected the Province beyond the Euphrates being without water and wast and there drew together being their own country near an enemies inhabited from thence used to make their invasions CHAP. XIII MIrranes also upon his return with his Army overthrown having lost most of his men had a sharp punishment from the King who took from him his Head-tire of gold and pearl which tied up his hair a mark of the greatest honour in Persia next to the King where none may wear gold ring nor belt nor buckle nor any thing of gold but by the Kings grant Cabades then being in doubt how to invade the Romans for Mirranes failing thus he could not presume upon any other Alamundarus King of the Saracens advised him thus In all things not to trust to Fortune nor in all wars to expect the better being neither reasonable nor mans condition but the conceit of it prejudicial For mens unreasonable hopes of success failing sometimes as they may prove their vexation That men having not ever Fortune to presume on put not war bluntly upon hazards though they have the advantage of their enemies but study to deceive them with stratagemes In a danger upon equal terms is no assurance of victory That therefore he should not grieve for the misfortunes of Mirranes nor tempt Fortune again If he enter by Mesopotamia and Osroëne where the Cities were never stronger nor better guarded with souldiers that he will have no sure bargain of it That the Country beyond the Euphrates and Syria next it hath no fortified City nor considerable Forces but he shall find Antioch the chief Roman City of the East for wealth bignes and populousnes with no souldiers in it and a common people thinking upon nothing but Holy-daies and Feasts their perpetual quarrels with one another in the Theaters Which he may take by surprise and return home without meeting an Enemy and before the Forces of Mesopotamia can have the news of him That he should take no thought about water or provisions himself would guide the Army the best way Cabades neither disputed against this advise nor distrusted it knowing Alamundarus a wiseman an experienced souldier and faithfull to the Persians and very valiant who for fifty years had brought the Romans into low case from Egypt to Mesopotamia forraging their country and driving all afore him burning cities and making innumerable slaves whom he kill'd or sold for a great deal of money He made his inroads so suddainly and advantageously that none encountred him The Commanders seldome hearing of him before he was gone with his booty And when any overtook him he defeated them either charging them unprepared or pursuing disorderly Once he took prisoners Demostratus brother of Rufinus and John the sonne of Lucas with all their men and got a
great sum of money for their ransom In a word he was the sharpest enemy the Romans had The reason was because onely Alamundarus had command of the Saracens under the Persians with authority and title of a King whereby he could invade the Romans when and where he pleased Neither were the Roman Captains called Duces Limitanei nor the Phylarchi or chieftains of the Saracen-tribes in league with the Romans able to oppose him being too weak to fight with him single in their severall countries Whereupon the Emperour Justinian put many of those Tribes under Arethas the sonne of Gabâlas chieftain of the Saracens in Arabia giving him the title of a King a thing not used by the Romans But Alamundarus rather more ruined the Romans Arethas in the inroads or fights either having ill fortune or betraying the business we have no certainty of him And so Alamundarus none opposing forraged the East furthest of any and longest being a very old man and Cabades liking his counsell sent 15000 men under the command of Azarethes as I have said whom Alamundarus was to guide the way CHAP. XIV THese passing the Euphrates into Comagena unlookt for and being the first Persians that ever invaded us that way that we can learn it amazed the Romans and at first perplexed Belisarius when he heard it But he soon resolved upon resistance and having left competent garrisons in the places of Mesopotamia that Cabades with the rest of his army might not find them unguarded he went with speed against the Enemy compassing the Euphrates and having about 20000 horse and foot 2000 of them Isaurians The Captains of horse were the same that fought at Daras with Mirranes Of the Infantery was Peter commander a Lancier of the guard to Justinian and of the Isaurians Longinus and Stephanacius At the City of Colchis they encamped hearing the Enemy were at Gabbula a place almost fourteen miles from it Alamundarus and Azarethes hearing thereof stayd their journey resolving to march homeward fearing to hazard and they retired keeping the Euphrates to their left hand The Roman army followed and where the Enemy lodged sate down the night after Belisarius purposely not suffering the Army to march greater journeys having no mind to fight and thinking it sufficient if Alamundarus and the Persians retired home without effect The army at this murmured at him both Commanders and Souldiers but not yet to his face The Persians at last lodged upon the shore of Euphrates opposite to the City of Callinicum resolving from thence to march through a desert country and so out of Roman ground and not as before by the rivers side The Romans from the City Sura where they lodg'd rose and overtook the Enemy trussing up their baggage The Feast of Easter was to be the next day which Christians observe above all others the day before it and much of the night abstaining from all meats and drinks And Belisarius seeing them eager upon the enemy and willing to withdraw them from the opinion Hermogenes being of the same mind sent newly Ambassador from the Emperour he called them together and spake thus Whether are you transported fellow souldiers to chuse thus a needless danger That onely is pure victory that comes off without damage from the Enemy and that now fortune and the fear of us amazing them gives us which advantage it is better to enjoy having it than to seek it when it is gone The Persians invited with hopes invaded us and now failing run away If we force them to change their course and fight overcoming we gain nothing but to rout an enemy flying already But having the worst we lose our present victory not forced from it but giving it away and leave the Emperours land to the spoil of the Enemy with none to defend it Consider also that God doth cooperate with mens necessary not wilfull actions how men stopt from flying will fight though unwillingly and how many disadvantages there are to us for a battell many being marcht hither afoot and all of us fasting and some of us not yet come up The Army reproached Belisarius for this speech not muttering now but with open clamour to his face calling him faint-hearted man and a discourager of them And this errour some Commanders ran into with the souldier onely to shew their valour Belisarius amazed at this impudence turned his discourse to encourage them and to order them to the encounter saying that he knew not their alacrity before but now he took courage and went against the enemy with more hopes So he set his Batallion in front and his foot in the left wing towards the river and to the right hand where there was a steep peece of ground Arethas with his Saracens himself with the horse stood in the middle Azarethes seeing the Romans embattell'd and ready for the encounter said to his men That being Persians certainly they will never change their honour for life if they might have the choice But that now if they would they could make no such choice They who can by running from a danger live dishonourable if they can so resolve chuse yet instead of the best the most pleasant thing But they who must die either honourably by an enemy or basely by a superiour dradg'd to execution are mad if they chuse not the best condition instead of the basest He bad them therefore not thinking onely upon the enemy but upon their Lord and Master so to fight that day Having exhorted them he placed his Batallion opposite to the Enemy and gave the right wing to the Persians and the lest to the Saracens The battell then joyned and was stifly fought The arrows flew thick from both sides and killed many Some single encounters were between the Battallions with much valour performed The Persians fell more by the shot though they shot thicker and are almost all Archers and the most dextrous living but from weak bowes little beut the shaft lighting upon the Romans corslet head-peece or sheild crackt without hurt doing The Romans shot is slower being from stiff bowes much bent and hardly but coming from stronger men than Persians they speed where they light no armour resisting the force Two thirds of the day were past and the fight yet equall When the Persians best men combining charged the right wing where was Arethas and his Saracens They opened their Battallion and not abiding the charge ranne away suspected that day to betray the Romans The Persians thus breaking through the ranks had the backs of the Romans horse who weary with their journey and toyl in fight being fasting too and prest both wayes by the enemy gave it over and ran into small Ilands in the river near them Some staid and did bravely among whom Ascas having slain many chief Persians was with much adoe cut in pieces leaving a noble story to his enemies and with him eight hundred more fell good men and all the Isaurians with their Commanders using no
one of his commanders conceiving the conference would be for a composition came to him hastily and sayd O Master you differ from the Romans themselves to think to preserve these men who before the danger flout your Majesty and being beaten dare impossibilities and desperate acts upon the Persians as if they feared your humanity should pitty men scorning preservation and spare them that will not be spared such as lay ambushes for and kill their Conquerours in a town taken their own garrison having forsaken them Chosroës at this sent many of his best men against them who brought him word that all was well the Persians having by their numbers routed the Antiochians with much slaughter sparing no age Two wives of Noblemen of Antioch are reported to have gotten without the walls and that seeing the enemies coming towards them on all sides and fearing to be taken and abused they ran to the river Orontes and covering their faces with their veils lept into it and were drowned So every species of misery fell upon the Antiochians Then did Chosroës speak thus to the Ambassadours The old saying I see is true God ever gives the good mingled with the evill so that we have not so much as laughter which we repent not of Good fortune is attended with some cross and pleasure with grief suffering no prosperity untainted This city the most renowned of the Roman dominion I have taken without labour God hath given me you see a suddaine victory Yet to behold the slaughter of such multitudes my trophy died with so much blood it takes away the pleasure And hereof are the miserable Antiochians guilty who being not able to beat off the Persians have yet with senceless rashness sought their own deaths strugling under the yoak against men conquering them so easily My chief men importune me to compass the city and destroy every man in it But I to preserve them direct rather to drive them on that fly as being impious to insult on men under my power This Chosroes spake in a vaunting affected way to the Ambassadours who saw for what reasons he gave the Romans leysure to run away He was the shrewdest man living to speak things that were not to conceale the truth and to lay the blame upon men he wrong'd for the faults done by himself Ever ready to agree to any thing and sweare to it but more ready to forget both agreement and oath skillfull to abase his mind to any abomination for money and yet in his countenance to pretend piety and in words to detest the action As when he so treacherously ruined the Surenians who never wrong'd him Espying a principall matrone the town being taken drag'd violently by her left hand by a Barbarian and with the other haling after her her little child newly weaned and fallen to the ground which she would not let goe it being not able to keep pace Here he shewed his very humour Groaning and seeming to the standers by specially Anastasius the Ambassadour to weep he pray'd God to punish the Authors of those things intimating the Emperour though he knew well himself to be the onely authour With this strange bad nature he became King of Persia after rejection of the gallant Zames for his one eye and of the eldest Caoses for his Fathers reasonless hatred and he prevailed easily against his oppugners and to the Romans did even as much mischief as he desired Thus Fortune resolving to make a man great ever acts her resolution in the fit time none opposing the strong current of her will she regards not the worth of the man nor avoids things seeming unfit nor cares for the worlds rayling for having advanced one not deserving her grace In brief not thinking upon any thing but how to bring her purpose to effect CHAP. VII CHosroes commanded his army to make slaves of the Antiochians surviving and to ransack their estates and himself with the Ambassadors went down from the Hill to the Church Here he found so great treasures of gold and silver that had he taken no other spoile he had gone away with a huge wealth He took down many admirable pieces of marble which he Commanded to lay without the walls to be carried into Persia and then gave order to burne the City The Ambassadours requested him to spare the Church onely for which he had receaved a sufficient ransome This he granted and commanded to set fire to all the rest for which leaving some few he retired to his camp God had foreshewn a while before this calamitie to this city The Ensignes of the Cohorts residing there standing to the West-ward of themselves turned to the East and then returned where they were before none touching them This the Souldiers shewed among many others * This Officer he calls before Praefect of the Camp to the Pourveyor of the expence of the army one Tatianus born at Mopsuestia in Cilicia a discreet man They seeing the prodigie knew not then how the dominion of the city would be transfer'd from the Western to the Eastern Emperour that being appointed to suffer what fell out they might have no means to avoid it I am astonished recording for ages to come this great calamitie and comprehending what should be the will of God highly thus to exalt some man or place and then upon no reason appearing to ruine them It is not lawfull to say but that all things by him are done with reason who yet endured Antioch to be laid flat with the ground by a most impious man whose beauty and magnificence could not even then be wholy concealed The Church onely escaped this destruction by the Persians care who had the charge of it Many houses also were saved in the Cerataeum not by any mans care but standing in the furthest end of the city not joyning to other buildings the fire reacht them not They burnt also all without the walls but the Church of Saint Julian and the houses about it where the Ambassadours lodged And the city-walls they wholly forbore The Ambassadors came againe also to Chosroes and said thus If we did not Sir speak to your self present we should not believe that Chosroes the son of Cabades were entred the Roman Territories in armes despising his Oath so lately sworn the strongest pawn of faith among men and breaking Truce the onely hope left in the calamities of warr Certainly this course is to translate the life of men to that of beasts Without Truces must be perpetuall warr which will banish those from nature who use it You wrote lately to your brother that he is guiltie of breaking the Truce confessing thereby that Truce-breaking is a foule mischief If the fault be not his you do not justly to invade us If he have done some such thing yet pursue your action no further and appeare the better man He that hath the worst in the ill ought to overcome in the better But we know the Emperour hath not transgrest the peace
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
Persians breaking the peace did much infest the Romans of the East Belisarius having newly subdued Vitigis and brought him to Constantinople Before the Persian invasion Justinian who saw Chosroes as I have said quarrelling sent a remonstrance to him by Anastasius a prudent man who lately had suppressed the Rebellion at Daras and wrote letters to this effect Wise men who know God strive to root up the occasions of warr especially with their best friends But men unadvised and rashly affecting even God for their enemy contrive causes which are no causes of sights and troubles To break a peace and run into a warr is an easie matter The nature of things makes the worst courses easiest to worthless men But to finish a warr to ones mind and to get peace againe is not so easie You complaine of letters which by me were written with no all purpose but by you are interpreted with a sense such as conduces to the execution of your own counsells with some pretence But we can alledge your Alamundarus his forraging our countryes and acting desperate things during the peace sucking our Towns ransacking killing enslaving our people so that you are not to complaine but to excuse The complaints of wrong doers are proved by actions not discourses And we notwithstanding all this resolved to observe the peace while you seek warr and coine complaints which concerne not us Men seriously embracing quiet shake off complaints against friends though they presse hard But such whom the articles of their friendship displease study for pretexts A thing not becoming ordinary men much lesse Kings Lay then these things by and consider the multitudes to perish in this warr and who shall beare the blame of what shall happen in it Consider the oath you took when you receaved your money which you slight now but can with no sophistry evade God is of a more excellent nature then to be cosened by all the men living Chosroes would not answer any thing to this Letter nor dismisse Anastasius But in the end of the Winter and of the * Chosroes first Invasion thirteenth yeare of Justinians raigne Chosroes entred the Roman territories with a great army and so cleerly brake the Perpetuall Peace He marcht not through the midland * Justinians reigne ended with the Winter almost For he was declared Emperour with his Vncle the third day before Easter See Secret History So this first Invasion of Chosroes was Anno Iustimani 14. Anno Dom. 540. but with the Euphrates to his right hand Beyond the river stands Circesium the furthest castle the Romans have and a very strong one The river Aborras being great meetes the Euphrates there and the castle stands in the neck of land between the two rivers and a long wall from each river taking in the ground without the castle makes it a triangle Chosroes would not attempt so strong a place nor passe the river his designe being for Syria and Cilicia so he marcht on and being gone so much way as would amount to about three ordinary dayes journey by the bancks of Euphrates he came to Zenobia a City built by Zenobia the wife of Odenatus who anciently being a Prince of the Saracens and in amity with the Romans recovered for them the Easterne Empire subdued by the Persians This Zenobia Chosroes considering to be no place of importance and the Countrey about it desert and barren not to take time from his greater affaires he attempted to get it by composition and not prevailing march't on as much way more and came to the City of the Surenians upon the Euphrates Staying before it the horse he rode on neighed and pawed with his foot from which Omen the Magi pronounced the Town would be taken So he encamped and from his Camp drew his Army to assault where an Armenian one Arsaces who was Captain of the Garrison brought his men up to the battlements and after a brave fight and many enemies slaine was kill'd by a shot and the Persians it being late retired to their Camp meaning the next day to renew the assault But the Romans despairing upon the death of their Commander sent out the next day the Bishop of their City to supplicate Chosroes for the sparing themselves the Town Who with some attending him and a present of fowle wine and fine manchets cast himselfe downe before Chosroes weeping and beseeching hâ—m to spare miserable men and a City of little estimation with the Romans or Persians hitherto and promising to pay reasonable ransome for their persons and city Chosroes was offended with the Surenians the first Roman subjects in his way and refusing to receave him nay taking armes and killing many principall Persians but he hid his anger under a faire countenance that by these mens chastisement he might terrify all in his way and bring them to yeild without fighting So he took up the Bishop very courteously receaved his present and pretended to communicate with some chief men about the ransome and then to satisfie his request and so sent him away without the least jealousie of his designe With him he sent a convoy of Persians whom he instructed to go to the Town comforting the Bishop with hopes that himself and company might be seen by the Townsmen cheerfull without feare and when the guards opened the gate for him to cast a stone or piece of wood between and himder their shutting it awhile presently his army should follow which he presently made ready with command to ride full speed to the town upon signall given The Persians came close to the town and took leave of the Bishop whom the Surenians seeing over-joyed and honourably conducted by the enemy apprehended no mischief but set their gate wide open and caught the bishop in their arms applauding him Being in the Guards thrust the gate to shut it but the Persians having thrown a stone between they could not get it together and they durst not open it again perceiving it possest by the enemy Some report that it was not a stone but a piece of wood that the Persians threw down But before the townsmen could perceive it Chosroës came with the army and quickly forced open the gate and entred the town and being in a fury ransackt the houses kill'd most of the men and making the rest slaves burnt the City to the ground and then he sent away Anastasius willing him to carry the news to Justinian in what part of the world he left Chosroës the sonne of Cabades But either for covetousnesse or kindnesse to Euphemia whom being one of these captives and very beautifull he made his wife and infinitely doted on her he was pleased to doe the poor Surenians some good He sent to Sergiopolis a Roman City bearing the name of Sergius a famous Saint and distant from this ruined City fifteen miles to the Southward in the Barbarian plains and directed that Candidus the bishop thereof should ransome them being twelve thousand captives for
provisions conceiving that the Goths repulsed here could not passe by any other Bridge in lesse then twenty days and to get Boats would be a longer worke Upon these considerations he placed that Garrison The Goths lodged neer it and the next day intended to assault the Tower Here came to them 22. Fugitives Barbarians born but Roman Souldiers of Innocentius Horse-troop Belisarius thought fit to make a Camp neer the Tiber the more to hinder the Enemies passage and to give some demonstration of their own courage The Roman Garrison upon the Bridg frighted with the multitude and the danger quitted the Tower at night and ran away into Campania They would not goe to Rome fearing chastisement from the Generall or ashamed to see their fellowes The next day the Goths brake down the Gates and passed over none opposing Whereof Belisarius hearing nothing with 1000. Horse marcht toward the bridg to view their ground where they might best incamp who lighting upon the Enemy newly passed over were engaged in a fight unwillingly They were both sides Horse And Belisarius though formerly cautions observed not then the ranck of a Generall but fought in the head of his Souldiers which hazarded extreamly the Roman affairs the whole inclination of the War depending on him But he was upon a Horse used to the War and skilfull to save his Rider He was of a brown bay and from the fore-head to the nostrils white Such a Horse the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Barbarians Balan Most of the Goths shot at Belisarius and his Horse upon this occasion Those new-come Fugitives seeing Belisarius fighting in the first ranck knowing that by his fall the Romans would be ruined cryed aloud to shoot at the bald fac'd Horse This word ran through the Goths Army who in the tumult being not inquisitive nor certain it was Belisarius but guessing the word so generally spred was not for nothing most left all others and shot at Belisarius Such as were ventrous and ambitious of honour got neer reacht at him and in fury layd on with Lances and swords And Belisarius layd about him too killing those within his reach The affection of his Lanciers and Targetiers stood him in good stead in this danger who sticking close to him shewed valour the like whereof I think was never seen holding their sheilds before the Generall and receiving all the arrowes and thrusting off the multitudes with main strength CHAP. XV. THus was the whole fight about one man wherein fell at least 1000 Goths and such as fought in the first rancks Many of the best of Belisarius his Retinue were slaine and Maxentius one of his Lanciers after he had performed bravely Himselfe was neither wounded that day nor shot though the fight was about him alone In conclusion the Romans routed the Enemy multitudes flying till they recovered their campe where their foot being fresh received the Romans and easily repulsed them Who seeing another supply of Horse coming fled up to a Hill where they made a stand and encounter'd the Barbarian horse overtaking them Where Valentinus Gentleman of the horse to Photius Antonina's sonne shewed extraordinary valour gallopping into the thickest of the enemy and stopping their course and bringing off his company and thus they escaped to the Walls of Rome with the Barbarians at their heels up to the gate now called Belisaria The Romans within fearing the Enemy might enter pell mell would not open the gate notwithstanding Belisarius's earnest commands loud cries and threats who could not be discerned from the Turret it being after Sun set having his face covered with bloud and dust and they did not think the Generall to be alive those that ran away at the first defeat having reported him to be slain fighting bravely in the head of his troopes The Enemy therefore coming with multitudes and much Fury thought to get over the ditch and charged the retirers who near the Walls stood thick and close body to body in a small roome And they within being no Souldiers nor prepared at all and afraide of their city could not succour them when a sudden bold resolution of Belisarius saved all who encouraging his company charged the Enemy and they being disordered as in the dark and upon a chase and seeing those that fled unexpectedly coming on suspected succours to be come from the city and in a fear run all away Belisarius pursued them not but turned about to the walls whom the Romans taking heart received in and his company In so great perill was Belisarius and the Emperours affaires The fight beginning in the morning ended at night wherein Belisarius did best of the Romans and of the Goths Visandus the standard bearer who with the rest charged Belisarius and went not off before hee fel to the ground after 13 wounds received and neglected by his companions though they had the victory he was left among the dead Three dayes after the Goths being encamped neer Rome sent out to bury the dead men and to performe their funerall rites these searching the bodies found Visandus with breath in him but he could not speak his inward parts with famin and drouth being extreamly inflamed they put water in his mouth and so having drunk and got life they carried him to the campe and for this he was in great reputation with the Goths and he lived long after Belisarius being in safety assembled his souldiers to the walls and most of the common people commanding them to light fires and to watch all night He went the round himself set all in order and appointed commanders to every gate Bessas who guarded Porta Praenestina sent him word that the town was entred by the Enemy at a gate bearing the name from Saint Pancratius The company advised Belisarius to escape out at some other gate but hee misliked the motion sent horsemen down to the Tiber who upon the view brought word that there was no Enemy thereabout appearing Wherefore he sent direction to the Commanders of every gate if they heard that the Enemie was entred at any other part not to succour but to continue upon their guards least they should be disordered with false alarms Himself would take care of those things Vitigis the Romans being in this tumult sent a Commander named Vacis to Porta Salaria who reviled there the Romans for their disloyalty to the Goths and thus betraying their countrey and indeed themselves having exchanged the Goths power for Greeks unable to defend them none of which nation were formerly seen in Italy but stage-players and some pilfring mariners But seeing none would answer him he went back to Vitigis The Romans also flouted Belisarius who had so hardly escaped yet bade them despise these Barbarians for he knew he should absolutely beat them By what he knew this shal be sayd anon but now it being grown late and he being yet fasting his wife and freinds had much ado to perswade him to eat something CHAP. XVI
sickly constitution and having Physitians about him still of all countries and among others Tribunus of Palaestina a man famous for his art and inferiour to none of his time moreover a wise and a godly man and very honest He had formerly cured Chosroes came out of Persia with many great presents but at the making of the Quinquenniall cessation Chosroes intreated the Emperour to let him have Tribunus with him for one year Who having performed his attendance Chosroes bade him aske what he had a mind to Tribunus instead of wealth askt of him the liberty of some Roman captives and got 3000 freed besides some men of quality whom he demanded by name By this act Tribunus got a great reputation among all men Anatozadus hearing of his Fathers sicknesse usurped and rebelled and though his Father were recovered yet he put the City into revolt and keenly pursued the Warr. Chosroes sent against him an army under Fabrizus who won the battell took Anatozadus Prisoner and brought him to his Father Chosroes blemished the young mans eyes not by taking away the sight but by distorting the eye-lids into much uglinesse with irons red hot applied to the out side of the Eye-lids being shut This Chosroes did to cut off his hope of his Kingdome the Law permitting not any man with any blemish to be King of Persia as I have said before Now also was the fifth year of the Cessation expired and Justinian sent unto Chosroes Peter a Patritian and his Master of the Palace with commission to conclude an absolute truce for the East Chosroes dismist him with promise to send one shortly to finish all as should be best for both And soon after he sent Isdigunas again a man supercilious and arrogant and whose insolent puffing and swelling was not tolerable to any Roman He brought his wife and Brother with him and a train so great as if he were marching to a battell He had also with him two principal Persians who wore Diadems of Gold upon their heads The Constantinopolitans murmured to see the Emperour honour him something more then according to the quality of an Ambassador Bradicius the interpreter was not with him whom they say Chosroes put to death for presuming to sit at the same Table with the Emperour Justinian who said he would not have admitted an Interpreter to such an honour if he had not betrayed the Persian affaires Some say that Isdigunas charged him with secret conferences with the Romans Isdigunas now at his audience said not a word of the peace but complained of Transgressions against the Cessation That Arethas and the Saracen Confederates of the Romans committed spoiles upon Alamundarus during the truce and some other things of smal importance In the meane time Bessas sate downe before Petra with the whole Army The Romans mined in the same place where Dagisthaeus formerly had done and for the same reason For the Walls are for the most part founded upon a Rock but in some places upon earth Towards the West they are upon an impenetrable Rock but not very thick a peice whereof Dagisthaeus then and now Bessas digged into but the nature of the ground bounded their Mine not permitting it to proceed further then it selfe After the retreate of Dagisthaeus the Persians had mended the fallen piece of their Wall there by filling up that which had been digged into with pebble stones and placing over it great beames smoothed and tyed together to a pretty breadth This basis of Timber was in stead of a foundation and upon it was the Wall set Which the Romans not knowing thought their Mine to be quite under the foundation and having voyded away much earth from beneath those timbers they shook indeed the Wall and a part of it suddenly sunk but it inclined not to either side nor had one stone disordered but setled upright whole and intire upon the digged ground as if it had been let downe with an Engine onely it was lower then before And so the Romans could not assault the Towne Mermeroes having formerly also with many hands raised all the Walls higher then ever The Romans seeing the piece that sunck and stood upright so were much troubled Mine they could no more neither could they bring the Ram to the Wall the ground being steep and the Ram not being to be drawne but in even ground In the Army then chanced to be Sabirian Hunnes who inhabite about the Caucasian Mountaines and are populous and divided into many Principalities Some of their Princes are ancient freinds to the Roman Emperour some to the King of Persia who give Pensions in Gold to their severall Confederates not yearely but upon occasions The Emperour to his Confederates had lately sent Gold for their ayde in this Warre But the Messenger finding it unsafe to passe the Caucasian Mountaines and by an Enemy with Money came to Bessas before Petra and from thence sent to the Sabirians to send some to receive the Money who presently-sent three of their Princes into Lezica and these were with the Army at the assault When they saw the Romans despairing they devised a new Engine never thought of by the Romans nor Persians who notwithstanding have had excellent Artists and have often needed such an Engine to assault places in stony and steep ground But it never came into their minds Mans nature ever proceeding with time to new inventions As these Barbarians suddenly made a new fashioned Ram using no timbers upript nor lying a crosse but in stead of them small Poles tyed and sitted together They covered the whole Engine with Hides and observed the perfect forme of an ordinary Ram and in the midst placed the usuall Beam with a topp headed with Iron to batter the Walls It was made so light that it needed no men or cattell to draw and thrust it forward onely forty men within it covered by the Hides carryed the Engine with ease upon their shoulders and winded up the Ram and let it go against the Walls Such Engines now were framed by these three Barbarians taking Beames and Iron worke from the Romans Ramms which they could not bring neer the Walls and forty men being put under each they set it close to the Walls On either side of each stood men well armed with Corslets and Morions and with long Poles in their hands topt with great Iron Hooks to draw off from the Walls the stones loosened and unjoynted by the strokes of the Ram. The Romans with many pushes of the same shook the Wall and they with their Poles pull'd downe the loose stones and quickly the Town was in the point of being taken But the Persians upon the Wall set a wooden Tower which they had long before prepared full of their best men having their heads and bodies all covered with Iron and with Corslets and vessells full of Brimstone and Babylonian Pitch and Naptha a Drug used by the Persians and by the Gracians called Medean oyle These Vessells they