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. XIV.

THE Goths with their fleet came to Corcyra, and forraged the Island, and the Ilands also of Syntae. They landed also upon the main land of Epirus, and pillaged the townes about Dodona and Nicopolis it selfe, and Anchia∣lus, where Anchises, the Father of Aenaeas sayling from Troy dyed, and gave the name to the Towne. They tooke upon the coast also many Greeke shippes, and some transporting Provisions to Narses Army. Totilas likewise sent an army into Picenia to take Ancona, commanded by Skipuar, and Giblas and Gun∣dulse, (called by some Indulfe) formerly of the life-guard to Belisarius. He gave them forty seven gallies to block up the Castle by sea also. The Seige lasting long, and the besieged wanting victuall, Valerianus being at Ravenna, and unable alone to succour it, wrote this Letter to John, Vitalianus his Sisters Son, at Salonae.

Ancona you know is only left us within the Jonian Gulfe, if it be left us: it is so sharply besieged, that I fear our succours will come too late, and we shall use our indeavour after our opportunity. I forbear to write more; the necessity of the be∣sieged claimes all our time, and their danger permits not a long Epistle, requiring succour swifter then speech.

John, though the Emperour had forbidden him to stir, adventured to go, concei∣ving the necessity, whereinto fortune had cast them, to dispence with the Emperours instructions: He chose his best souldiers, and put them aboard forty Gallies, swift of Sail, and well built for a Sea fight; and having furnished them with all necessaries, came with them before Ancona. Whether soon after came Valerianus with twelve ships: Upon conference together they rose from thence, and Anchor'd at a place called Senogallia, not far from Ancona. The Goths Generall also manned forty seven ships with their choice men, leaving the rest to block up the Castle: and sailed against the Romans. Skipuar commanded the men left behinde, and Giblas and Gundulfe those in the Ships. The Fleets being neer, each drew their ships as close together as might be and exhorted their men. John and Valerianus spake thus.

Think not fellow Souldiers! that you are to fight now only for the Castle of Ancona, and the Romans in it; but that the main of the war depends upon this bat∣tell; and that the conclusion of our fortune is to be drawn in the same Lot with it. Consider, how the cheif moment of war consists in the expences of it, and that they who want supplies, are of necessity to be beaten in the End. Valour and hun∣ger cannot dwell long together, nature not induring to pine with famine, and to fight bravely too: And other fortresse we have none between Otranto and Ra∣venna, where we can lay in any provisions for our selves or our Horses. And the Enemy being Master of the Country we have no place our freind, from whence to furnish any small proportion of victuall. In Ancona is our only hope,

where such as come from the opposite land may put in and ride safely. So that if we win this battell, and thereby assure Ancona, we may hope well of all the rest of this war; but if we be defeated, I will not speak any thing that is harsh, God grant unto the Romans the perpetuall Dominion of Italy. And consider too, that if you speed ill now, you cannot so much as run away; the Enemy possessing all the land, and being also absolute master of the Sea. Our only hope of living now is in our armes, and depends upon our actions in this fight. Fight bravely therefore, having this in your minds, that if you now be beaten, it will be your last beating; if you conquer, you will be rancked with honour among the most happy.

Thus Iohn and Valerianus; and the Goths Commander spake thus.

These wretched men expulsed out of Italy, and long hid in some corners of the Sea and Land, seeing now they dare to sight with us again; it is our parts to check their unadvi∣sed presumption, least it grow higher being let alone. Folly, not restrained in the beginning, proceeds to endlesse daring, and at last ruines those it incounters. Shew them then quickly, that they are Greeks, and naturally cowards, and now grown desperate with being beaten. Take heed least they prosper upon this Experiment; Cowardize despised, becomes bold, and fool-hardinesse in the end may grow to be incapable of fear. And if you do valiantly, thinke not that they can stand long. A spirit not measured out proportionably to the power of him that uses it, common∣ly rises before the businesse; but when the battell is begun, it suckes. Remember therefore the often tryals this Enemy hath made of your valour;

& from their then successe, argue, that they are not now suddenly become better men; but have rash∣ly undertaken as then, and will go off with the like fortune.

After these exhortations, the battell began, and was stoutly sought, and some∣thing like a land fight. They stood with all their ships in front against each other; and plied their Bowes. The forwardest grapled, and fought from the decks with Javelin and sword, as in a feild. But the Goths unexperienced in Sea-sights maintained the incounter with much disorder. Some stood aloofe, whereby the Romans set on them single: Some came on so thick, that they fell, foule with their fellowes for want of Roome. Their ships stood jumbled together like so many baskets that they could neither shoot at the Enemy, nor manage their Javelins nor swords; but were perpe∣tually imployed in getting cleer of one another, with loud clamours, and confused pushing off with their long poles; intangling their front for want of roome, and then getting aloofe, and both to their own mischeise: their cries and hollowings were not against the Enemy, but to their own men to keep off; and thus puzzelling one ano∣ther, they were the cheifest cause of the Enemies victory. Who in their close fights did valiantly, and in their Sea fights skillfully; keeping their ships in front, not too far asunder, nor more close then was convenient; And still joyning and severing in good proportion, when they saw an Enemies ship scatter'd, they struck at her, and with ease sunck her; and where they saw the Enemy in confusion, thither they sent clouds of arrowes; then seeing them wearied with the toyle of their disorder, they fell on them and cut them in peices. The Goths desponding, did neither consider their crosse fortune, nor their own Errours; and being not able either to use their ships, nor to fight from their decks they left fighting and fell to a dangerous quiet∣nesse, committing themselves to fortune; and then betook themselves to a shameful and disorderly retreat, having no remembrance either of resisting, or of handesom∣ly flying; but being scattered among their Enemies, they stood amazed. Eleven ships got away; the rest the Romans took, or sunck with the men in them. Giblas was taken Prisoner; but Gundulse escaped in the eleven ships, and the men being landed, he set them on fire, that they might not come into the Enemies hands. Then they went a foot to Ancona, where relating the accident to their companions, they all retired from thence, leaving their camp for the Romans, and they ran tumultuous∣ly into Auximum. The Romans came to the Goths camp before Ancona, and took it, then put provisions into the Castle, and sailed away, Valerianus to Ravenna, and John to Salonae. This overthrow much abated the power of Totilas.

In Sicily at the same time thus it was. Liberius was sent for home to Constantin••∣ple, and Artabanes by the Emperour was made sole Commander of the army in Sicily; Who took in all the Castles from the few Goths left in the Iland, after some sieges and overthrowes given them. The Goths were terrified therewith, and with

the late defeat at Sea, and their hearts with these losses were so dejected, that if any succours should come to the Romans, they had no thought of subsisting, or of keeping their footing in Italy; nor could they hope to obtain any thing from the Emperour. For Totilas had sent many Ambassadours to the Emperour, shew∣ing how the Francks had seised upon a great share of Italy, and how the rest was become wast: That the Goths should quit to him Sicily and Dalmatia, which only remained unspoyled; and should pay tribute for the wasted Lands in Italy, and serve the Emperour against all the World, and in other things be obedient to him. But the Emperour would take no notice of these overtures, but still sent away the Ambassadours, being distasted at the very name of Goths, and purposing to chase them out of the Roman Empire.