them down aiming at the houses, such as they light on tottered, and so frighted the Goths that they held up their hands to those at the Gate, and yeilded upon com∣position, to have no hurt, but to be servants to the Emperour, and obedient to Be∣lisarius. Martinus and Ildiger, removed the most of them, leaving some few with their wives & children, & placing a Garrison of Romans, Then they went to Ancona from whence they took many foot companies, & brought them the third day to Ar∣num, declaring Belisarius his direction. But John refused to go with them, and de∣tained Damianus with his 400 men; so that leaving the foot companies, they went away with the Lanciers and Targetiers of Belisarius. Soon after Vitigis with his whole army sate downe before Ariminum. He made a woodden tower higher then the walis, and upon wheels brought it where the same were most assaultable: They drew it not on with oxen, least they should speed as they did at Rome; but men covered within it, shoved it on: within it was a great broad scaling ladder for the common souldier to mount the battlements, they not doubting but to get up with ease so soon as their tower was set to the walls, so was the figure thereof contrived. Being come neer the walls with it, they lay still, because it grew dark, set their sentinells about it, and took their rest, dreaming of no opposition; there being but a small trench only to hinder their approach. The Romans past the night in fear, ex∣pecting the next day to be ruined. But John neither despairing nor fearing, about midnight left the rest upon their Guards, and himself with his Isaurians carrying Mattocks and other instruments, got secretly without the walls, and caused them to dig in the trench, and to cast up the Earth to the town-ward, which served for a rampire, and in a small time, the Enemy being fast a sleep, they made the Trench of reasonable depth and breadth, where the walls were weakest, and the Goths were to approach with their tower: who (the night being far spent) perceived it, and ran to beat them off: but they, the trench being compleated, got within the walls. Vitigis was extreamly vexed at in the morning, & put to death some sentinells: and being as eager as ever, commanded to fill up the ditch with Faggots, and so to draw the tower on. They did his commands with alacrity, though mightily opposed from the walls. But the faggots with the weight of the Tower sunk, that they could not get it forward, the Ground growing still steeper, where the Earth was cast up, as I sayd. So that fearing the night approaching, and the Enemies sallying to burn their Engin, they drew it back. John to hinder them, put the Souldiers in Armes, and used this Exhortation. "Fellow souldiers, and my partners in this danger, he that would live, and see those he hath left at home; let him know that he holds
this hope by his sword only. When Belisarius sent us out, the hope and Love of many things made us cheerfull in the businesse. We suspected not so neer the sea (the Romans being masters of the sea) to be besieged, nor imagined, that the Emperours army could so much neglect us. Then the occasion of shewing our affection to the state, and of getting Glory incouraged us; now, but by our va∣lour, we cannot so much as live, and for life (were there nothing else) we must of necessity undergo this hazard. And who pretends to valour also, hath a fair opportunity this day to get Glory by it; which is gotten not by overcoming in∣feriours in power, but by a victory with lesse preparations, and greater courage. And who love their lives best, shall gain most by daring; whose affaires (as ours now) are upon the Edge of a razor, such as are preserved only by despising dan∣ger.
Having thus sayd, he led them against the Enemy, leaving some upon the bat∣tlements; the Enemy received them bravely, and it was hotly fought; and with much ado about Evening they brought their Tower to the Camp with losse of many good men, that they resolved to assault no more; but lay still to take the
Romans by Famine; whose provisions failed, and they knew not which way to get supply.