The history of the warres of the Emperour Justinian in eight books : of the Persian, II, Vandall, II, Gothicke, IV / written in Greek by Procopivs of Caesarea ; and Englished by Henry Holcroft, Knight.

CHAP. VIII.

BUt Genserick shortly after died a very old man; charging the Vandals by his Testament, that the Kingdom should descend ever to such male descendent of Genserick, as was eldest in years. Genserick having reigned over the Van∣dals from his taking of Carthage 39 years,* 1.1 Honoricus his eldest son succeeded, Genson being dead. In the reigne of Honoricus, the Vandals had war only with the Moors, who being rid of Genserick, who kept them in awe, did the Vandals many mischiefs and suffered many. This Honoricus was most cruel, and un∣just to the Christians of Africa; forcing them to turn Arrians, or for refusing, burning, and in several sorts destroying them. From many he cut out their tongues by the roots; who to my time lived in Constantinople, speaking perfect∣ly, and feeling no manner of inconvenience from that torture. Two of these, medling with light women after it, lost their speech. He reigned 8 years, and died in his bed. The Moors inhabiting the mountain Aurasium, being revolted already from the Vandals, and not to be reduced, by reason the Vandals could not come to fight with them in that sleep unpassable mountain; which stands in Numidia, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 days journey to the Southward of Carthage. After Honoricus,* 1.2 the Dominion of the Vandals come to Gundamund the son of Genson, the son of Genserick, having the advantage of year above any of Gensericks race. Gun∣damund had many battels with the M••ors, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Christians more then the

other;* 1.3 and died in the middle of the 12^th. year of his reign. * His brother Trasamund succeeded; a goodly man, wise and magnanimous. But he constrained the Christians to change, not by tortures, as his Predecessors; but courting them with honours and offices, and with large gifts; taking no notice of such as would not submit. If he found a man in a great crime, he offered him impunity to change his religion. His wife being dead without children, and he desirous to establish his government with succession, demanded to wife Amalafrida, the sister of Theodorick King of the Goths, whose husband was lately dead: He sent him his sister with a guard of 1000 selected Goths, attended with 5000 more, fighting men; and he gave her Lilybaeum, one of the Promontories of Sicily. So Trasa∣mund of all the Princes of the Vandals seemed the most powerful. Yet in his reign the Vandals had a great overthrow from the Moors, Cabaon, Prince of the Moors about Tripolis, a man experienced in many wars, and very witty, hearing that the Vandals would make war upon him, first enjoyned his Subjects to forbear unjust dealings, delicious foods, and specially the company of women: Then he made two Entrenchments; in the one himself lodged, and his men; in the other he shut up the women, making it death for any man to go into the womens Entrench∣ment. Then he sent Spies to Carthage with this direction, to mark what scorns the Vandals upon their march, did to the Christians Churches; and when they were gone from the place, themselves to doe the quite contrary. And they say he used this speech, That 'tis true, he was ignorant of the God whom the Christians worship: But it was likely (if he were so powerful as they say he is) that he will punish those that scorn him, and defend those that honour him.

The Spies having markt the Vandals preparations at Carthage, followed their Army in a poor disguise toward Tripolis. The Vandals at their first dayes march lodged in the Christians Churches, put in their horses and other beasts, and spared no kind of scorn. They practised therein all lewdness, and beat and whipt the Priests they found, commanding them services which they imposed on their mean∣est slaves. So soon as they were gone, the Spies of Cabaon, according to his order, made the Churches clean again, took away the dirt and such like profanely left in them, lighted the Lamps, did lowly reverence to the Priests, and used them cour∣teously, and to many poor about those Churches gave money, and then followed the Vandals Army. Thus in all the journey, they mended herein what the Vandals offended: And being come neer, went before to Cabaon, and told him how far the enemy was, and what was done to the Christians Churches. He presently put in order to fight. The field where he would entrench, he took in with a circle a∣bout, and placed his Camels side-long in a round to fence his Camp, making the Front 12 Camels deep: The women and children, unable men, and baggage he put in the middle, and his fighting men between the legs of those beasts with shields to ward with. The Vandals knew not what to do to this kind of batallion, being neither Archers, nor Darters, nor good Infantry, but most Hors-men using the Lance and the Sword, and not able to hurt an enemy afar off; and their horses not enduring the sight of the Camels, would not approach the enemy, who dart∣ing at multitudes from a safe place, killed them and their horses, that they ran away. The Moors followed the execution, and killed and took them, so that few came home. This fortune had Trasamund with the Moors, and after 27 years reign dyed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An. dom. 479. & Zenonis septimo.
• * 1.2

  An. dom. 488. & Zenonis 15.
• * 1.3

  An. Dom. 500. & Anastasii 7.