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. IV.

BUT why Chosroes was so desiroust of Lazica, having sayd something before, I will now relate what most induced him, having thus described the afore∣sayd Countries, and thereby made my discourse more cleer. The Persians often had invaded the Roman Territories under Chosroes, and done mischeifes there not to be expressed: But they got little by it, but came home still with much losse of their men and estates, whereupon at their returne into Persia they mur∣mured against Chosroes, calling him the ruiner of their Nation. Once coming home out of Lazica, and being fallen into some desperate extremities, they were ready to mutiny; and had slaine him, if he had not foreseen it, and warded it, by gaining the principall of them with faire words. And being desirous to finde some reall Apologie, he was studious to procure some notable advantage to the Persian Empire. He attempted the City of Daras, but was repulsed (as I have sayd) and he despaired to get it, either by surprize, the Guards being well kept, or by a siege. There being still in Daras all Provisions layd up in store for a long time: And be∣sides neer it rises a Spring in a Rocky ground, which makes a pretty River, descen∣ding directly into the City: an no Enemy can divert it, nor force it another way, by reason of the Rocks. Being within the City it goes round about it, and having filled their Ponds and Cisternes, it goes out againe, and close unto the Town-wals falls into a bottomlesse pit, and is seen no more, nor hitherto knowes any man where it rises againe. This pit was not alwayes there, but it happened thus, long after the building of Doras by Anastasius the Emperour. By reason of this natu∣rall situation of the place, they who besiege it are afflicted with much want of wa∣ter: So that Chosroes failing in this attempt, thought of taking some other Roman Towne; but farr within the Roman Territories to sit downe before any City, lea∣ving so many strong places at his back, he thought it impossible. For this reason he layd Antioch flat with the ground, and quitted the Roman-Territories, so that his thoughts mounted after hopes further off, and full of difficulty. For hearing how the Barbarians seated on the left hand of the Euxine Sea, about the Lake of Maeotis, doe without controule over-run the Roman Provinces; he thought also by having Lazica to passe unto Constantinople it selfe, without crossing the Sea, as well as those Barbarians. And for this cause the Persians strive to get Lazica. But to returne from whence I digressed.

Corianes with the Persian army encamped by the River of Hippis, and against them Gubazes King of Lazica, and Dagisthaeus commander of the Roman army, led their forces of Romans and Lazians. They past the said River, and being there incam∣ped, they consulted whether they should stay there, or receive the Enemy marching them, or should march against the Enemy, and by giving demonstration of the cou∣rage

and by beginning the fight, charge them with lesse apprehension of danger themselves, and abate the Enemies spirits. This counsell prevailed that they should charge them, and on they went: But the Lazians refused to joyne with the Roman Troops, who, they sayd, were not to fight for their Countrey and dearest pledges, themselves adventuring for Wives and Children, and their native soyle: So that being overcome, they should be ashamed to look upon their Wives; by which ne∣cessity, valour (in case they had none) would grow in them. And they would have the first charge, least the Romans, who could not have an equall eagernesse to theirs, should in the fight break their orders. Gubazes being glad to see his La∣zians so gallant, called them together at some distance from the Romans, and spake thus.

Countrey-men! I know nor whether it be sit to use exhortations to courage, your forwardnesse provoked by necessity not ne••ding any: The danger is about Wives and Children, and your Countrey, and for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which the Persians now in∣vade you. And none will willingly suffer others to take their estates from them by force, nature compelling men to contend for their right. You know how nothing will stop the Persians avarice, if once they get power. They will not now rule over you onely, and lay tributes, and in other things make you subject; but ruine and transplant you, if they have the better in this Warr. We cannot forget what Chosroes lately attempted against us: And let me not so much as mention the tryall of the Persians in that kind nor let ever the name of the Laz••ans be extinguished. Our fight with them will not be difficult; we have often fought with them, and vanquisht them. And there is no hardnesse in things, we have been used to; the toilsomenesse thereof being spent in our former practise. So that we must not apprehend an Enemy often beaten; as being now not so vali∣ant as they were before; and a spirit once dejected, commonly neve rising again. With these considerations therefore, encounter the Enemy with courage.

Ha∣ving thus said, he led them on. The army was thus ordered. The Lazian horse were set in the front, and a good distance behind them came on the Roman horse, com∣manded by Philegagus a Gepaede, a valiant man, and by John the Armenian, sirnamed Guzes, formerly spoken of by me, an extraordinary good souldier. In the rear came Gubazes, and the King of the Lazians, and Dagisthaeus, the Roman Generall, with their foot; that if the horse were routed, they might escape unto them. Corianes on the other side sent a thousand choice men well arm'd to discover, himself marching after them, and leaving only some few to guard the camp. The Lazians being fore∣most, and coming to the businesse, gave the lye to their former confidence. For lighting suddenly upon the Enemies Avant-coureurs, they being unable to withstand them, came gallopping all back in confusion, and mingled with the Roman Horse; glad to fly to those, with whom before they made scruple to be ranckt. Both the Cavalleries being neer, they joyned not battell, but each, when the Enemy came on, gave back, and set on them retiring, and so spent much time in renewing charges, and in quick turns and returnes. In the Roman army was one Artaba∣nes a Persarmenian, revolted lately to the Roman army, having secured his faith by the killing of a hundred and twenty Persian Souldiers. He got accesse to Valerianus, then Generall of Armenia, and desired of him fifty Romans, with whom he went to a Castle in Persarmenia, guarded by a hundred and twenty Persians; who received him with his men, not knowing of his revolt. This Garrison they killed, and returned to Valerianus; and Artabanes appearing by this sure and firm to the Romans, serv∣ed them in their warrs. In this incounter he put himself between the armies accom∣panied with two Romans; against them came some Enemies, whom Artabanes charging killed a Persian, valiant, and of a strong body, and threw him from his Horse to the ground. A Barbarian standing next, strake Artabanes with his Sword upon the head, but no mortall blow. One of Artabanes two Companions, a Goth, while the Persians hand was yet over the head of Artabanes, thrust him into the left flanck and killed him. The thousand that were sent out at this retired, and stayd for Corianes, and the rest of the Army of Persians and Alans, and soon after they joyned: Then came up the Infantry both of Gubazes and Dagisthaeus to the Horse, and the fight came to handy blowes. Philegagus and John finding them∣selves too weak for the Enemies horse, and having seen what the Lazians could do,

lighted, and caused the Romans and Lazians to do the like; and with the foot they stood in a deep battallion opposite to the Enemy and charging with their Lances. The Persians being not able to charge the Enemy being on foot, nor to break their Battallion, and their Horses flying back, troubled with the heads of the Lances and noise of the sheilds, they trusted with the multitude of their arrowes to break them. The Romans also, and the Lazians let fly their arrowes, and they coming thick, ma∣ny were slain on both sides. The Persians and Alans discharged oftner; but the arrowes for the most part rebounded from the Romans sheilds. Corianes, the Persian Generall, was shot into the neck' (by whom it was not known) of which he dyed instantly; and his death swayed the victory to the Romans side: For the falling from his horse, forthwith the Persians ran away to their camp. The Romans pursued, kil∣led many, and hoped to take the Enemies camp at first assault; But an Alan a strong man, & very expert to shoot backward and forward, put himself into the nar∣rowest entrance into the Trenches, and stopt the invaders a long time; untill John Guzes killed him with his Lance, and then the Romans took the Camp. Many Persians there perished, the rest returned home as they could. This was the successe of that Persian invasion of Lazica. Another army also came, and victualled the Garrison in Petra; and then retired home.