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. XVII.

JƲSTINƲS, the elder of them, was young (his beard newly sprouting) but valiant and sharp witted; and not long before was made Consull. Arsaces went to him, telling him, that he would willingly meet him in a certain Church. Being met, Arsaces prayed him to assure him by oath, that he would not re∣veal their conference to any but to his Father. When he had sworn accordingly, he fell to chide him.

That being the Emperours neerest kinsman, and seeing Pettifog∣gers and common fellowes holding all the great offices, himself at these years would endure so long the affaires to be managed by mean men. That the Emperour did not only despise him, but even his Father, a man attained to the height of virtue; and suffred Justinian his Brother stil a privat man. That he could not get the estate of Boraides his Uncle, who had made him his heir by his will; but was deprived of the most part of it: and he would despise them more, so soon as Belisarius was re∣turned out of Italy, who was reported to be in the midst of Illirium. With such allega∣tions he incited Justinus, and discovered the conspiracy between him, Artabanes and Chanaranges. The young man was amazed and troubled to hear him, and plainly told him, that neither himself nor his Father could ever joyn in such an Action. Arsaces reported the successe to Artabanes, and Justinus acquainted his Father with the dis∣course, who communicated it to Marcellus, Captain of the Palatine Guards, and demanded his opinion if he should reveal it to the Emperour: Marcellus was a grave, austere man, of few words, an Enemy to jestings, and loose fashions, of a rigid life, and a stranger to all pleasures; but precisely just, and a zealous Lover of Truth. He would not have the matter revealed to the Emperour as yet. You (quoth he) to be the Informer, is not convenient. Upon your least private conference with the Emperour, Artabanes will suspect his plot to be discovered, and then Arsaces run∣ning away, you will remain without proofe. And my self never use to beleive any thing before punctually examining it, nor to report it to the Emperour.

I would gladly hear the discourse my self, or that some of mine might hear the men speaking clearly in this subject. This advise Germanus bade his Son Justinus to put in Ex∣ecution: Who having so flatly denyed Arsaces, would not speak of it to him again; But he askt Chanaranges, if by the privity of Artabanes, Arsaces lately came to him. I durst not, quoth he, to such a man, open my self; but if you have any thing to say

in it, we will advise, and happily may do something. Chanaranges after conferring with Artabanes, told Justinus as much as Arsaces had done, and Justinus promised all he desired, and to draw in his Father. And a day was appointed for Germanus to conferr with Chanaranges, and Germanus entreated Marcellus for some confident of his to be an ear witnesse of Chanaranges. He sent Leontius who married the daugh∣ter of Athanasius, a right honest man, who would be sure to report the truth. Him Germanus placed in his dining roome behind the hangings, and himself with his Son Justinus staid in the roome, where Leontius heard Chanaranges plainly declaring the conspiracy between himself, Artabanes, and Arsaces. Then they fell to discourse, that if they should kill the Emperour while Belisarius was upon his way, their de∣sign would not succeed; for if they should make Germanus Emperour; it was like∣ly that Belisarius would come against them with an army, which he might levy in Thrace, and they should not be able to keep him off. It were better to defer the acti∣on till the coming of Belisarius, who being in Constantinople, and with the Empe∣rour in his Palace, they might enter at evening suddenly with their daggers, and kill Marcellus and Belisarius, together with the Emperour, and so manage their busi∣nesse as they pleased. Marcellus being hereof advertized by Leontius, yet forbare to report it to the Emperour, least with too much haste he might unadvisedly ruin Ar∣tabanes. But Germanus revealed it to Buzes and Constantianus, fearing, that which hapned, to be suspected for his delay. But Belisarius afterward being reported to be neer at hand, Marcellus revealed the Treason to the Emperour; who caused Artaba∣nes and his Complices to be committed to the common Prison, and to be examined by some principall Officers. The conspiracy being manifest, and reduced into wri∣ting, the Emperour summoned the Senate to the place within the Palace appointed for hearing causes. They, albeit they heard the plain confessions of the Prisoners, yet had involved Germanus, and Justinus in the crime; if the Testimonies of Marcel∣lus and Leontius had not cleered them: who deposed, and Buzes also and Constan∣tianus, that Germanus had hid nothing from them, but demeaned himself, as afore∣said. So that the Senat aquitted him and his Son, as having in nothing offended the State: But coming to the Emperours chamber, the Emperour stormed, and was much inflamed against Germanus, for his slownesse in the discovery; and two prin∣cipall Officers seconded his opinion to please him, and they seemed much offended with Germanus, and to kindle more the Emperours anger, being officious to ingra∣tiate themselves by other mens miseries. The rest stood amazed without a word speaking; yeilding, by not opposing. Marcellus only saved him by speaking truth, taking the blame upon himself, and urging vehemently, that Germanus discovered it to him timely, but himself searching more narrowly into it, revealed it with the latest. And thus he pacified the Emperour, and got a great fame for using his virtue in a time of so great need. Artabanes the Emperour removed from his office, and did him no other harm, nor any of the rest; they were restrained, but not dishono∣rably, nor in the common prison, but in the Palace.

The Barbarians at this time were cleerly masters of all the West, and this Gothick war was now come to this, that the Romans who at first won all afore them, had now consumed their men and money to no purpose, had lost Italy, and stood looking up∣pon Illyrium and Thrace, shamefully wasted by Barbarians their next borderers. In the beginning of this war, the Goths gave to the Francks all Gallia, subject to them, being not able to fight with both, as I have said. This the Romans hindred not, but Justinian confirmed the Gift, that he might not be crost by a war from these Bar∣barians; nor would the Francks have thought their possession sure, if the Empe∣rour had not put his Seal to the Act. Hereupon the Kings of the Francks got Mar∣seilles, a colony of the Phocaeans, and all the Sea townes, and were Masters of that Sea: And now they sit in Arles, beholding the horse races there, they coyn Gold Staters out of the Gold mines in Gaule, not with the stamp of the Roman Empe∣rour (as the custome is) but with their own Images. The King of Persia coynes silver monies as he pleases, but it is not lawfull for him, nor any King of Barbarians to put his own stamp upon a Gold Stater, though he be a greater Master of Gold; for such money they cannot put away, though they trade with Barbarian Merchants. But the Francks seeing Totilas prevaile, seized the most part of Venetia; the Ro∣mans had no power to resist, nor the Goths to make war upon both.