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. IV.

THeodatus being in possession of the Kingdome, did quite contrary to her hopes, and his own Ingagements. He drew to him many principall Goths, kinsmen to such as shee had put to death; some of Amalasuntha's party he suddenly killed, and put her selfe in safe custody in a strong castle in an Island upon the Lake of Vulsinus in Tuscany. But fearing that the Emperour might be offended at it, (as indeed he was) he sent Liberius and Opilio, two Senators of Rome, and others to make his Excuses, and to assure the Emperour, that Amalasuntha had no harme, though shee had done him extreame Injury formerly. This he wrote to the Emperour, and made Amalasuntha write as much. The Emperour in the meane time had instructed Peter to get private speech with Theodatus, and to give his Oath to conceal the negotia∣tion, and so to make Tuscany sure; to deale likewise with Amalasuntha, and to conclude for all Italy, but publickly to pretend his Ambassage for Lilyboeum, and the rest before mentioned. For of the death of Atalarick, or succession of Theoda∣tus, or of the Fortune of Amalasuntha, the Emperour had not yet heard. Peter upon the way met Amalasuntha's Ambassadors, and heard of the Succession of The∣odatus. Shortly after at Appollonia upon the Jonian gulfe he met with Liberius and Opilìo; and was informed of all the passages. He advertised the Emperour, and stay∣ed there: Who thereupon intending to imbroyle Theodatus and the Goths, wrote Let∣ters to Amalasuntha, of his Resolution to take her part, and sent instructions to Peter to professe the same openly to Theodatus, and all the Goths; Whose Ambas∣sadors

being arrived at Constantinople, Liberius, who was a very honest man, and carefull to speake no untruth, and the rest acquainted the Emperour with the whole matter; onely Opilio protested that Theodatus had not wronged the person of Ama∣suntha. But before Peter came into Italy, Amalasuntha was murdered; The kins∣men of those put to death by her alledging to Theodatus, that neither he, nor they could be safe, if shee were not made out of the way. So with his permission, they went to the Island, and killed her. Which much greived the rest of the Goths, and all the Italians. For (as I sayd before) shee was a woman strongly bent to all kinde of virtue. Peter protested openly to Theodatus and the Goths, that for this foule fact there should be implacable war between the Emperour and them. Theo∣datus was so absurd, as albeit he graced Amalasuntha's Murderers, yet he would perswade Peter, and the Emperour, that the villany was committed by no allow∣ance of his, but much against his will.

At the same time Belisarius had newly conquered Gelimer, and the Vandales; and the Emperour advertized of Amalasuntha's mis-fortune, presently entred in∣to this war, in the † 1.1 ninth yeare of his Raigne: He commanded Mundus, Gene∣rall of Illyrium, to march into Dalmatia, which was subject to the Goths, and to attempt Salonae. Mundus was a Barbarian borne, but much affected to the Em∣perour, and a good Souldier. Belisarius he sent with a fleete, having 4000 Legi••∣naries and Confederates, and 3000 Isaurians. Commanders of marke there were Constantinus and Bessas. Thracians, and Peranius of the Iberia next to Media, but he revolted from the Persian, and was now of the Emperours side. Captaines of Horse were Valentinus, Magnus and Innocentius. Of foote, Herodian, Paulus, D••me∣trius & Ʋrsicinus; of the Isaurians Ennes was Leader. There were also 200 auxiliary Hunnes, and 300 Moores. Generall with absolute power was Belisarius, who had with him many Lanciers and Targettiers of his guard, tryed men. With him went also Photius, the Sonne of his wife Antonina by a former Husband, a discreet young man, and shewing an Ability above his years. The Emperours instructions to Belisa∣rius were, to pretend the voyage for Carthage, but upon some pretext to attempt Sicily, and if he found it feasible and easie, to subdue it, and not to quit it upon any tearms; but if he found Impediment, to sayle away to Affrick, without dis∣covering his intent: He wrote likewise this Letter to the Princes of the Francks.

The Goths have by force taken from us Italy, which they not onely refuse to re∣store, but adde uns••fferable injuryes: which constrayne us to send an Army a∣gainst them, and you have reason to joyne with us in the war, which our Ortho∣doxe Religion rejecting Arrianisme, and our equall Enmity with the Goths makes common to us both.

The Emperour accompanied this Letter with liberall gifts, and promise of more, when they came to the businesse; they readily promised to joyn with him. But Mundus in Dalmatia had a battell with the Goths, was victorious and got Salonae. And Belisarius landing in Sicily, tooke Catana; and from thence got Syracuse by composition, and the other townes without any difficulty. The Goths onely in Panormus presuming upon their walls, and strong Towne, refused to yeild. Belisarius finding it by Land impregnable, sayled with the fleete into the Haven, which reaches to the walls, none being there, neither without nor within, to oppose him therein: The ships being at Anchor, had their Masts higher then the Battlements. Belisarius filled his Cock boates with Archers, which he hung fast to the Mast tops, and the Enemy being thereby shot upon their heads, their hearts fain∣ted, and they surrendred Panormus to him by composition; then all Sicily became tributary to the Emperour, where Belisarius had a fortune beyond expression. He had received the consulship upon his conquest of the Vandales, and in the last day of it he conquered Sicily, and rode into Syracuse, applauded by the Army and Sicilians, and throwing peices of gold among them. This was not so appoin∣ted, but it was his fortune that very day to recover the Island to the Romans, and to ride into Syracuse, and there to lay down his Consulship at the end of his yeare, and not as the use is, in the Senate house of Constantinople. Peter, upon the newes of these successes of Belisarius urged Theodatus, and frighted him: And he, his heart fayling, came to a secret conference with Peter, and to this accord; That Theo∣datus should surrender the whole Island of Sicily to the Emperour, and should yearly send him a crowne of Gold of three hundred pound weight, and three thou∣sand

fighting Goths, when ever he should require them. And that he should not kill, or confiscate the goods of any Priest, or Senatour, without the Emperours as∣sent;

Nor make any Patrician or Senatour by his owne authority; but be a Su∣tor for it to the Emperour: That the common people in their acclamations shall alwayes name the Emperour first; In the Theaters, Circus, or elsewhere, he must not erect any Statue to himselfe alone, but ever another to the Emperour, which is to stand to the right hand of his owne.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Anno 9. Just. Th•• Gothick warre now be∣gins, and is Annus 1 bel. Goth. begin. Anno Do∣mini 535.