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. XII.

THe Emperour hearing these things, sent Germanus his brothers son, a Patri∣cian, accompanied with Symmachus, as Praefect of the Camp, to manage the expence of the Army,* 1.1 and Domnicus, to be Commanders of the foot, upon the decease of John his predecessor. Germanus being landed at Carthage, mustered the forces, and by the Check Roll of the soldiers names, he found a third part of them to be in Carthage and other Cities, and the rest joyned with the Rebels. Wherefore he would begin no fight, but took care of the Army; and finding the soldiers in Carthage to be kinsmen and comrades of the enemies; he courted them: and said the Emperour had sent him expresly into Africk to vindicate the soldiers, and to chastise such as had wrong'd them. Which the mutiners hearing, came in by few at a time; whom Germanus received courteously, gave them his faith, and held them in good account, paying them their full dues for the time they had been in rebellion. The report whereof drew them in troops from the enemy. And then Germanus hoping to match the Rebels in numbers, prepared for a battel.

Stotzas also perceiving the mischief, and fearing more defection of his men, made haste to try his fortune. He had some hope too, if he could get near the soldiers in Carthage, to get them to run away to him. And with this hope he chiefly confirmed his Army, and speedily marcht to Carthage, and encamped near the sea, about four miles from the City.

Germanus armed and put in order his soldiers, and having heard what hopes Stotzas had, he spake thus.

Fellow soldiers! you have no just complaint against the Emperours usage of you: Who in Constantinople took you to him newly come out of the Country with a knap-sack, and one poor coat; and hath now made you so great, that the Roman State is committed to you. But how he hath been scorned by you, and suffered the greatest extremities, you cannot be ignorant. Whereof the remembrance indeed he would have you retain, but the prosecution he clearly remits, expecting this only satisfaction from you, to be ashamed of what you have done, and thereupon to learn a new lesson of fidelity, and to repair your former ingratitude. The timely repentance of er∣ring men obtains their pardon; and a seasonable service done, may take the name of ungratefull men from you. Nay if at this time you appear well af∣fected to the Emperour, know this, that no memory will remain of what is past, The actions of men have their names from the conclusion: and errors done, no ages can undoe; but being repaired by better deeds, they get a hand∣some silence, and commonly are forgotten. If now you neglect your duties a∣gainst these rogues; your many battels hereafter for the Romans, and victories of our enemies, will not by the Emperour be thought a recompence. The bravest apology is, to get honour in the very things men have erred in. Thus you are to think concerning the Emperour. And I, who never wrong'd you, but to my power have shewed my affection to you, entreat this only of you in this danger,

That no man will march against the enemy contrary to his mind; but if he de∣sire to joyn with their Army, to pass over to them immediately; doing us this only favour, not to abuse us secretly, but in an open way: Which is the reason I move this here between the Armies, and not in Carthage; not to hinder any that will run away; but to leave it in every mans power, to shew his affection to the State.

Every man upon this speech, bustled to shew himself to his General, and to swear the good affection he had to the Emperour. And some days they were thus encamped against each other. At length the mutiners seeing none come to them, whom Stotzas told them of, being afraid, as failing in their hope, they disbanded, and went into Numidia, where were their wives and booty. Ger∣manus shortly after, with his Army well prepared, and with store of waggons for it, came thither also; and overtaking the enemy at a Town called Scalae Vete∣res, he prepared to fight, setting the waggons in front, and the foot by them (commanded by Domnicus) to secureing their backs. The best horsemen, and such as came from Constantinople, himself had at the left hand of the foot. The rest he set at the right wing in three Troops, commanded by Ildiger, and Theodorus the Cappadocian; and the biggest by John the brother of Pappus: the fourth by himself. The Mutiners stood opposite to them, not in much order, but scatter'd like Barbarians. Not far behind came many thousand Moors, led by Jabdas and Orthaeas, not all true to Stotzas; many having sent to Germanus, and pro∣mised in the fight to turn against the enemy. Germanus could not much trust them, being a people so false to all men. And they joyned not with the muti∣ners, but kept aloof behind, waiting the event, and with the conquerours to pur∣sue the vanquished. Stotzas approaching the enemy, and seeing the Generals Ensigne, call'd to his men, and marcht towards him. But the Herulian mutiners stopt him, saying, that the powers of Germanus they knew not; but they knew that the enemy in the right wing would not stand. So that charging them, and they running away, they are likely to put the enemies whole Army in disorder; whereas if Germanus beat them, all will be lost. Stotzas approving the advice, left the rest to fight with Germanus, and himself with his best men, gave on upon John, and his troops, who not abiding them, ran away in confusion. The muti∣ners took their Ensignes, and pursued them. Some turn'd upon the foot, who began to disband; When Germanus drawing his sword, and calling upon his troop to do the like, with much adoe he routed the enemy on his side; and gal∣lopt up to Stotzas, with the troops of Ildiger and Theodorus. And all was so mingled, that the mutiners chasing some of their enemies, fell among others, and were slain. The confusion grew great, and Germanus his troops coming on neer∣er behind them, they were afraid, and thought no more of fighting. Both sides using the same language, and arms, and differing not in shape, habit, nor any thing, could not be distinguished; till Germanus directed the Emperours Army to ask any they took, what he was; if he said he was a soldier of Germanus, to bid him give the watch-word, which if he could not, to kill him. Germanus had his horse killed in the fight, and himself being down and in danger, his life-guard rescued and remounted him. Stotzas in the tumult with some few escaped; and Germanus marcht against the enemies camp; where the mutiners who had the guard of the Trenches, opposed him; and there was a stiff fight, the mutiners being very near beating them back. But some sent by Germanus to attempt the camp in another place, got into the entrenchment with ease, which the mutiners seeing, ran away; and Germanus with the Army, entred the camp. The soldiers fell to pillage, neither thinking of the enemy, nor hearkning to their Generals directions; Who fearing the enemy might rally, and charge them, stood in the camp gate, crying and complaining for discipline to men that heard him not. The Moors followed the execution upon the mutiners, and pillaged the camp with the Army. Stotzas at first trusting to the Moors, rode up to them, to renew the fight. But finding what they were doing, he made a shift to escape with 100 men. Many made head with him, and tryed to fight again, but being repulsed, they all submitted to Germanus; only Stotzas, with a few Vandals, retired into Mauritania, and there marrying a daughter of one of their Princes, remained. And so ended this mutiny.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An. Dom. 537. Just. 11.