CHAP. VI.
THeodatus perused all the letters, but refused to perform the agreements, and put a strait guard upon the Ambassadors. The Emperour advertized hereof, and of the successes in Dalmatia, sent into Illyrium Constantianus, Master of his Horse, to gather an Army, and attempt Salonae; and he directed Belisarius with∣out delay to passe into Italy, and make War upon the Goths. Constantianus at E∣pidamnus stayed some time, and raised Forces. Gripas in the meane time had ente∣red Salonae with the Goths. And Constantianus having made his preparations, left Epidamnus with his Fleet, and cast Anchor at Epidaurus, standing to the right hand, as you saile into the Jonian gulph. Some here sent by Gripas to discover, seeing the land Army, and the Ships covering (as they imagined) Land and Sea, reported to Gripas, that Constantianus had many thousands. He afraid, thought it not best to encounter them; Neither would he willingly be besieged by the Em∣perours Army, Master of the Sea. The walls of Salonae much decayed troubled him too; and he could not trust the Inhabitants.
For these reasons he removed from thence, and encamped in a champian be∣tween Salonae, and the Citie of Croton. Constantianus wayed Anchor from Epi∣daurus, and came before Lys••ne upon the gulph. Hence he sent some to discover, and report concerning Gripas; from whom understanding how it was, he made for Salonae. Where arrived, he landed, and rested his Army upon the place; and he di∣rected Siphyllas, one of his Life-guard, with 500. chosen men, to possesse a narrow passage in the Suburbs of Salonae; which he performed. And the next day Constan∣tianus entered the Citie with the Land army, and the Fleet lay before it at Anchor. He tooke care of the walls, and repaired the decayes; And Gripas seeing the Romans masters of Salonae, seven dayes after rose, and transported the Goths over to Ra∣venna. So Constantianus tooke in Dalmatia, and Liburnia, and the Goths there in∣habiting. And then ended the Winter, and the first year of this Warre, written by Procopius.
Belisarius leaving Garrisons in Syracusa, and Panormus, passed over his Army from Messinae to Rhegium, where the Poets fain Scylla, and Charybdis to have been. The Inhabitants came in to him daily, their Towns having been long without walls, and without Garrisons; and they hated the Goths, weary (it seems) of the present Government. Ebrimus also a Goth revolted to him, with his Followers, having marryed Theodatus Daughter, Theodenanthe. He was sent to the Emperour, and besides other bounties, made a Patrician. The Army marcht from Rhegium through Brutia, and Lucania, and the Navy kept close to the Coast. In Campania they sate downe before Naples, a strong maritime Citie, with a great Garrison in it of Goths. The Fleet Belisarius commanded to lye at Anchor, without Bow-shot in the Har∣bour. Then he took the Castle in the Suburbs by composition. He gave the Citi∣zens leave to send him some chiefe men, to acquaint him with what they had to say, and hearing his Propositions, to report them to their Communalty. The Napoli∣tans sent him Stephanus, who spake thus to Belisarius.
It is not just, O Gene∣rall! to bring your Army upon Romans, and who never wrong'd you, having a small Citie, and the Barbarians within our Masters; that we cannot do as we would: Nay the Souldiers of our Garrison have lest under Theodatus their Wives and Children, and most precious things, that by practising upon us, they should not more betray our Town, then themselves. But if we may say the truth without mincing, you have advised ill to invade us. For take Rome first, and Naples is yours without difficulty; but repulsed from thence, you can never be sure of this Towne. So that you will spend time impertinently in this siege. Be∣lisarius made Stephanus this answer. We meane not to referre it to the Napoli∣tans, whether We be here upon good, or bad advice. We desire you to consult of what concerns your selves, and to choose your owne best advantage. Enter∣taine therefore the Emperours Armie, come to free you and all Italy; and doe not prefer the most sorrowfull things. Such as make War to shake off slavery, or other base condition, gaine in vanquishing, with the victory, freedome from