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. XIX.

BElisarius himselfe with eleven thousand men came before Auximum; which is the Metropolis of Picenia. It stands ten miles and a halfe from the shore of the Jonian Gulfe, and from Ravenna three dayes journey, and ten miles more, upon a high Hill, with no entrance in any plaine ground, and so not approachable by an Enemy. Vitigis had Garrisoned in it the choisest Goths, sup∣posing that the Romans, missing this Towne, would not dare to invade Ravenna. Belisarius encamped his Army round about the bottome of the Hill, divided and lodged in severall quarters. The Goths seeing them thus severed, and not likely in a great Campagnia to succour one another, charged them about evening from the East side of the Towne, where Belisarius Quarter was with his Lanciers and Tar∣getiers: who opposed the Invaders, and soon routed them; and pursuing got up to the midst of the Hill; where the Barbarians trusting to the advantage of the place, turned head against them, killed many, shooting upon their heads, till the night prevented them. The day before this skirmish, some Goths being sent out ear∣ly to get Provisions, were returning by night; and seeing the Romans fires, stood a∣mazed. Many adventured and got into Auximum unseen by the Romans, others of them hid themselves in the Woods, thinking to goe to Ravenna, but were surpri∣zed, and all cut in peices. Belisarius finding Auximum strong, and no meanes to assault it, despaired to take it by force, but hoped by a close Siege to reduce them to wants, and in time to subdue them. The store of Grasse neer the Walls was oc∣casion of dayly skirmishes: The Romans seeing the Goths cut the same for their Horses, ran up the Hill, fought with them gallantly still, hindred their carrying a∣way the Grasse, and killed many of them. The Barbarians overmatcht by their E∣nemies valour, did thus. They took the Wheels and Axeltrees off their Waggons, and (their men beginning to cut Grasse) they rolled them downe upon the Ro∣mans, when they were ascended the middle of the Hill; but they went to the bot∣tome

without touching a man. The Goths failing herein, ran into the Towne. Af∣terward they layd an ambush of their best men in Vallies neer the town; then some few appeared about the Grasse plot, and when the fight was come to Sword and Lance, they rose from their ambush, and having the advantage much in numbers, and amazing the Romans being unlookt for, they, killed many, and put the rest to flight. The Romans in the quarters saw the Enemy rise from their ambush, and cryed loud to their companions to retire, but were not heard, being divided from them the whole length of the hill, and the Barbarians clashing their armes to drown their cryes. Belisarius was troubled at it, and Procopius, the writer of this History, came to him, and sayd.

Noble Generall, Anciently the Roman Trumpeters were skilfull in two tunes, one composed to incourage the Souldiers to fight, the other to sound a retreat, when the Generall saw his time: Who by this means signified his pleasure, and the Souldiers put it in Execution. For in a battell to doe it by shouting is impossible; the fright of it amazing, and the clashing of armes over∣coming the noise. But now rudenesse hath berest us of this skill, and we cannot signifie both with one Trumpet: wherefore do you thus. Let the horsemens trum∣pets incourage the Souldiers to fight, and let those of the foot call them to the re∣treat; they cannot but distinguish the sound, the one being made of Leather, and very thin wood, and the other of a thick peice of Brasse. Belisarius liked Procopius advise, and calling the army, spake thus.

Courage and forwardnesse is expedient and commendable so far as it is moderate, and hurts not them who use it; all things becoming ever worse with Excesse. Commit therefore no more of these Errors through vain ambition; to fly sometime is no shame, and who unadvisedly runs into evident mischeif, if he chance to escape, yet is he guilty of Folly. The gal∣lant man is he, that fights valiantly in time of need. The Goths now unable to fight with you, indeavour to ruin you with ambushes; and you are more to be blamed for standing the danger, then if you had run out of their ambush; nothing being baser, then to serve an Enemies Counsells. I will be carefull to prevent your falling into ambushes; and you, when I give the signall, presently retire, which shall be done by the sound of the foot Trumpets.

The Souldiers after this speech, seeing the Ene∣my at the Grasse, went towards them, and at first killed some. A Moore espying one of them with Gold Ornaments, ook him by the hair, and drew him aside to strip him; but a Goth hit him through both the calves of his legs with a dart, and so fet∣tered them both together, yet still he drew the dead body, holding, it by the Hair. In this instant the Goths rose from their ambush, and immediatly Belisarius seeing all from the camp, caused the foot Trumpets to sound, which the Romans hearing, retired gently, taking up the Moore with the Dart through his leggs. The Goths durst not follow them, but retired too. Afterward the Goths considered how they might advertise Vitigis of their wants, which grew great, and none adventuring to go, as thinking it impossible to slip by the Enemy, they observed a night without moon light, and preparing their men with Letters to Vitigis, when the night was far spent, they made great cries upon the walls, as if they were in some terrible confusion, prest by Enemies, and their town suddenly taken. The Romans could not imagine the cause, and kept within their quarters by Belisarius's direction, fearing a surprize from the Town, and from some army from Ravenna, which might be come to the Enemies succour; and so thought better to lye still in a safe place, then in a dark night to run into danger: Whereby the Goths sent out their men unespied to Ravenna; who the third day, without meeting Enemy, delivered the Letters to Vitigis, to this Effect.

When your Majesty placed us in Auximum, you said, that in our hands you left the keyes of Ravenna, and of your Kingdom, and you therefore summoned our uttermost power to conserve the dominion of the Goths, and if we needed it, you promised to come to us unsent for with your whole army. We have fought with Famin and Belisarius, and been faithfull Guards of your Kingdome; but you have not thought meet to succour us at all. Think if the Romans take Auximum, and the keyes which lye here by you forgotten, whether they will be kept out of any thing you have.

Vitigis, upon perusall hereof, promised forthwith to succour Auximum with his whole forces, and difmist the men: But upon better considera∣tion he lay still, doubting least the troops with John might fall upon his back, and be∣fore

him fearing a great power of resolute men with Belisarius; but principally want of victuall troubled him, not knowing from whence to furnish his army, in re∣gard the Romans were masters of the Sea, and transporting their provisions from Sicily and Calabria, to the Castle of Ancona, from thence had it brought with case in the due season; but the Goths in Picenia should have no means of supply. But the Messengers came safe to Auximum with Vitigis promise, which raised them with vain hope. And Belisarius hearing thereof, caused the Guards to be more strictly kept.

In the mean time Cyprian and Justinus, besieging Faesulae, could not approach to as∣sault the place; and the Goths willing rather to end it by fights, then to indure the want of victuall, sallied often. At first the fights were equall, in the end the Ro∣mans being too hard for them, shut them within their walls; keeping exact watch that none might get out. In Auximum the Goths perplexed with their wants, sent out again to Vitigis for succour, as unable to hold out any longer. He directed Ʋ∣raeas with the army in Liguria to march into Picenia; promising also to come to the besieged with his whole power. Ʋraeas went into Picenia accordingly, with the ar∣my with him; pass't the Poe, and came neer the Romans Camp. and sate down about 7 miles distant from them. They began no fights, the Romans thinking it enough to keep them from joyning with the besieged. And the Goths were afraid to fight, considering if they should lose the battell, they should ruin all; being to have no more means of joyning with Vitigis, and with him of opposing the Enemy: with there counsells they both lay still.