his accusers. He came to discover the plot against him thus. His accusers fearing the miscarriage of their letters to the Emperour, and so to spoil their design, wrote of the usurpation in two letters, by several messengers in several ships; one where∣of sailed away unespied; but the other upon some suspition was taken in Man∣dracium, and his letter intercepted, and the plot discovered to Belisarius, who thereupon made haste to get to the Emperours presence. But the Moors of By∣zacium and Numidia, breaking their truce, revolted, and suddenly made war up∣on the Romans, without any occasion at all: An action agreeable to their dispo∣sitions; for with Moors is no care of oaths, nor hostages, (though of their chil∣dren, brethren, or Rulers) neither any assured peace, but by their feare of the enemy. They made truce with Belisarius, and broke it, as I shall tell you. The Emperours Fleet being expected in Africk, the Moors afraid, resorted to their soothsaying women, it being not lawfull for their men to soothsay. These women after being possessed with a Spirit, as was usual for them, according to the manner of the ancient Oracles; foretold an Army from the waters, the ruine of the Van∣dals, and destruction of the Moors, when a Generall of Romans should come without a beard. Upon this answer the Moors, seeing the Fleet at sea, were afraid, and would not assist the Vandals; but sent to Belisarius, and made a peace, watch∣ing for the success. And the business of the Vandals being dispatcht, they sent to spie in the Roman Army if there were any Commander without a beard; And finding all well stored with beards, they thought (as they would have it) the Oracle to concern some after-ages, and not them. So they long'd to break the truce, but were afraid of Belisarius, despairing of overcoming the Romans, he being with them. And hearing him to be ready to go, and his Lanciers, Targetiers, and Vandal Captives to be already on ship-board, they took arms suddenly, and did the Africans much mischief: For the Souldiers being dispersed in small gar∣risons upon the borders, and unprepared, could not every where oppose, nor hin∣der the Barbarians inroads, which were often, and secret. And so men in con∣fusion were slain, women and children made slaves, goods every where carried a∣way, and all the Country full of flights. Belisarius was at sea when he heard of this, and could not come back now; but he appointed Solomon to govern Africk, and to take the most part of his Targetiers and Lanciers, and to chastise the Moors for this wrong to the Romans. Another Army the Emperor sent to Solomon, with Theodorus the Cappadocian, and Ildeger, who married the daughter of Antonina, Belisarius his wife. And the ancient African tributes being not to be found up∣on the ancient Roman records there, which Genserick had destroyed; Tryphon and Eustratius were sent with commission from the Emperour to make a taxe; Men whom the Africans found harsh and intolerable.
But Belisarius being arrived at Constantinople with Gelimer and the Vandals, was thought worthy of those ancient honours given to Generals for the greatest victories. It is about 600 years since any had the same, unless it were Titus, Tra∣janus, and such Emperours, as led the Army in person, and got victory of some Barbarian nation. He led the spoils, and prisoners of war, in pomp through the City; which the Romans call a Triumph; but it was not in the ancient manner: He went afoot from his own house to the Circus, and there from his Pavillion to the Emperours throne. The spoils were things belonging to the service of the King, and Gold-chains, and the Chariots for his Queen, with many Jewels & Cups of gold, and all things useful at a Kings feast. Silver also weighing many thou∣sand talents and a huge mass of Royal furniture, (Genserick having sackt, as I said, the Palace at Rome) among which were some monuments of the Jewes, brought to Rome by Titus, after the destruction of Jerusalem. A Jew there espy∣ing the same, standing by one of the Emperours familiar friends, It is not so good (quoth he) to bring these monuments into the Palace of Constantinople; for they cannot continue but where Solomon first placed them: Hence it is that Genserick sackt the Palace in Rome, and now Belisarius that of the Vandals. The Emperour hearing this, sent them to the Christian Churches in Jerusalem. The Captives were, Gelimer, bearing a Purple robe, and all his kindred, and the tallest and beau∣tifullest of the Vandals. Gelimer seeing the Emperour sitting upon a high throne, and the people on both sides in the Circus, and himself in that calamity, used no