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. XVII.

THe brother of Sergius, yong Solomon, was thought to have perisht with his Uncle, and was not lookt after, so much as by his brother. But he was taken prisoner by the Moors; and being askt who he was; he said he was a

Vandal, and slave to Solomon, and that he had a friend at Laribum, a Town there∣about, named Pegasus, a Physitian, who would pay his ransome. The Moors un∣der the Town-walls called for Pegasus, and shewing him Solomon, askt if he would redeem him;* 1.1 and for 50 gold staters they delivered him to him. Being within, he slouted the Moors for being cosened by a boy; and told them how he was the brothers son of Solomon. The Moors angry for having so easily let goe such a pawn, besieged Laribum to take Solomon. The besieged were afraid, wanting provisions, and offered the Moors money to raise their siege: which they accept∣ed, finding they should not force the Town, being not used to assaults; and not knowing the wants within: So the Leucathians went home; But Antalas made head again in Byzacium; having besides his Moors, Stotzas with some few Ro∣mans, and Vandals. John the son of Sisinniolus, at the Africans opportunity, raised Forces and went against them; and he appointed Himerius the Thracian, Commander of the forces in Byzacium, to draw out his troops, and to joyn with him at Menephesis in Byzacium. But heating the enemy to be there encamped, he wrote of it to Himerius, and to joyn with him in another place, that they might with joynt forces encounter the enemy. The bearers of the Letters going another way, met not Himerius; who with his troops fell into the enemies hands; only Severianus a young man, the son of Asiaticus a Phaenician, with his troop of horse, being 50. fought with the enemy, and held out, till pressed with multitude, they ran to a Castle upon a hill, which was of no strength, and there yielded upon composition to the enemy, who killed him not, nor any of the soldiers, but they took Himerius prisoner, and bestowed all the soldiers on Stotzas, upon their promise to serve against the Romans. Hi∣merius they threatned to kill if he performed not his promise: which was to de∣liver to them the City of Adramettus; and upon the protestation of his true meaning, they went thither with him, being not far off. Him they sent before with some soldiers of Stotzas, dragging after them Moors bound: Themselves followed. They directed Himerius to tell the guards that John was victorious, and would forthwith come with a multitude of Moors his prisoners; and that the gates being open, he should get in with his company. They did thus, and the Adramettians were deceived, and let them in, not mistrusting one who com∣manded the whole forces in Byzacium. They that entred with him, staid the guards from shutting the gates, and received all the Moors into the City; which they sackt, and leaving a small Garison, departed. Some prisoners afterward e∣scaped to Carthage, among whom was Himerius, and Severianus; it being no hard matter to run from Moors Many staid willingly with Stotzas.

Shortly after one Paul, a Priest, (such as oversee the sick) told some principal men of Adramettus, that he would go to Carthage, and hoped to return with an Army shortly, which he bad them be ready to receive in. They let him down the wall by cords; and ••e finding at sea-side a fishing Busse, perswaded the ow∣ners with mony, and sailed to Carthage. Where he acquainted Sergius with the matter, and desired some forces to recover Adramettus, Sergius liked it not, ha∣ving not many soldiers in Carthage; He desired him to give him some few; and getting but 80. he put them aboard a number of ships and boats, with many Ma∣nners and Africans, wearing soldiers coats; and with this fleet sailed to Adra∣mettus; and being near it, sent word secretly to some chief Citizens, that Germa∣nus, the Emperours Nephew, was newly come to Carthage, and had sent a good Army to the Adramettians, in the confidence of which, he bad them open one of their gates. They did so, and Paul with his company got in, killed the ene∣my, and recovered thus Adramettus. The report of Germanus spread as far as Carthage: and the Moors, and Stotzas followers at first ran to the utmost march∣es of Africk; but hearing the truth, it vexed them to be used thus by the Adra∣mettians, whom they had spared; so that every where they committed cruelties upon the Africans, sparing no age; the Country became waste, the Provinci∣als that were left flying, some to the Citi••••, some into Sicily, and other Islands, and the chief of them to Constantinople; among whom was Paul who recovered Adramettus. The Moors in the mean time (none opposing) ransackt all without controll, and with them was Stotzas, grown powerfull; and many Roman soldi∣ers

followed him, some voluntaries, some taken prisoners at first, but now staying willingly; John also, whom the Moors did somewhat respect, being in disgrace with Sergius, lay still.

Notes

• * 1.1

  38 l. 15 ••.