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.

THese passing the Euphrates into Comagena unlookt for, and being the first Persians that ever invaded us that way, that we can learn, it amazed the Romans, and at first perplexed Belisarius, when he heard it. But he soon resol∣ved upon resistance, and having left competent garrisons in the places, of Me∣sopotamia, that Cabades with the rest of his army might not find them un∣guarded; he went with speed against the Enemy, compassing the Euphrates, and having about 20000 horse and foot, 2000 of them Isaurians. The Cap∣tains of horse were the same that fought at Daras with Mirranes. Of the In∣fantery was Peter commander, a Lancier of the guard to Justinian; and of the Isaurians, Longinus and Stephanacius. At the City of Colchis they encamped, hearing the Enemy were at Gabbula, a place almost fourteen miles from it. Alamundarus, and Azarethes hearing thereof, stayd their journey, resolving to march homeward, fearing to hazard; and they retired, keeping the Euphra∣tes to their left hand. The Roman army followed; and where the Enemy lod∣ged, sate down the night after: Belisarius purposely not suffering the Army to march greater journeys, having no mind to fight, and thinking it suffici∣ent if Alamundarus and the Persians retired home without effect. The army at this murmured at him, both Commanders and Souldiers, but not yet to his face. The Persians at last lodged upon the shore of Euphrates, opposite to the City of Callinicum, resolving from thence to march through a desert country, and so out of Roman ground, and not as before by the rivers side. The Romans from the City Sura, where they lodg'd, rose, and overtook the Enemy trussing up their baggage. The Feast of Easter was to be the next day, which Christians observe above all others; the day before it, and much of the night abstaining from all meats and drinks. And Belisarius seeing them eager upon the enemy, and willing to withdraw them from the opinion, (Hermo∣genes being of the same mind, sent newly Ambassador from the Emperour) he called them together, and spake thus;

Whether are you transported fellow souldiers! to chuse thus a needless danger? That onely is pure victory, that comes off without damage from the Enemy: and that now fortune, and the fear of us amazing them, gives us; which advantage it is better to en∣joy, having it, than to seek it when it is gone. The Persians invited with hopes, invaded us, and now failing, run away. If we force them to change their course, and fight; overcoming, we gain nothing, but to rout an ene∣my flying already. But having the worst, we lose our present victory (not forced from it, but giving it away) and leave the Emperours land to the spoil of the Enemy, with none to defend it. Consider also, that God doth co∣operate with mens necessary, not wilfull actions; how men stopt from fly∣ing will fight, though unwillingly; and how many disadvantages there are to us for a battell, many being marcht hither afoot, and all of us fast∣ing, and some of us not yet come up:

The Army reproached Belisarius for this speech, not muttering now, but with open clamour to his face, calling him faint-hearted man, and a discourager of them. And this errour some Commanders ran into with the souldier, onely to shew their valour. Be∣lisarius amazed at this impudence, turned his discourse to encourage them, and to order them to the encounter, saying that he knew not their alacrity before, but now he took courage, and went against the enemy with more hopes. So he set his Batallion in front, and his foot in the left wing towards the river, and to the right hand, where there was a steep peece of ground, A∣rethas with his Saracens: himself with the horse stood in the middle. Aza∣rethes seeing the Romans embattell'd, and ready for the encounter, said to his men;

That being Persians, certainly they will never change their honour for life, if they might have the choice. But that now, if they would, they could make no such choice. They who can by running from a danger, live disho∣nourable, if they can so resolve, chuse yet instead of the best, the most pleasant thing. But they who must die either honourably by an enemy, or basely by

a superiour, dradg'd to execution, are mad if they chuse not the best condi∣tion, instead of the basest. He bad them therefore, not thinking onely upon the enemy, but upon their Lord and Master, so to fight that day.

Having ex∣horted them, he placed his Batallion opposite to the Enemy, and gave the right wing to the Persians. and the lest to the Saracens. The battell then joy∣ned, and was stifly fought. The arrows flew thick from both sides, and killed many. Some single encounters were between the Battallions, with much va∣lour performed. The Persians fell more by the shot, though they shot thicker, and are almost all Archers, and the most dextrous living; but from weak bowes little beut, the shaft lighting upon the Romans corslet, head-peece, or sheild, crackt without hurt doing. The Romans shot is slower, being from stiff bowes much bent, and hardly; but coming from stronger men than Persians, they speed where they light, no armour resisting the force. Two thirds of the day were past, and the fight yet equall. When the Persians best men com∣bining, charged the right wing, where was Arethas and his Saracens. They opened their Battallion, and not abiding the charge ranne a∣way, suspected that day to betray the Romans. The Persians thus breaking through the ranks, had the backs of the Romans horse, who weary with their journey and toyl in fight, being fasting too, and prest both wayes by the ene∣my, gave it over, and ran into small Ilands in the river near them. Some staid and did bravely; among whom Ascas, having slain many chief Persians, was with much adoe cut in pieces, leaving a noble story to his enemies; and with him eight hundred more fell, good men; and all the Isaurians, with their Commanders, using no resistance: Men unexperienced, newly taken from the plough, and who knew not what a battell meant; yet hotter than any upon the fight, they reproached Belisarius with cowardize a little before. Indeed they were not all Isaurians, but most Lycaonians. Belisarius staying with some few, while Ascas and his company stood, resisted also: But seeing them slain, he fled into the battallion of foot, where Peter their leader maintained the fight, with some with him, the most being run away. Then Belisarius quitted his horse, causing his followers to doe the like, and with the rest re∣ceived the enemy. Who after a short execution came back, and gave on upon Belisarius; who to prevent the enemies compass, kept his mens backs to the river, and stood their charge; where was a fierce fight, though with unequall powers, a few footmen fighting with all the Persian horse, and yet not routed by them. For standing close, and fencing with their shields, they shot the e∣nemy to more purpose, than they were shot. And the Barbarians to break them, riding oft against them, rode back again without effect; their horses being skittish upon the clashing of the shields, and the riders in confusion. And at night they retired to their camp. Belisarius also with some few got into a ship, and past into an Iland, whether some came after swimming. The next day the Romans were transported to Callinicum in ships, sent from thence. The Persians having spoyled the dead bodies, went home; finding their own not fewer in number than their enemies. Azarethes at his come∣ing home had no thanks from Cabades, though he wanne this battell; and upon this reason. When an Army is levyed in Persia the King uses to sit upon his Throne, and by him stand baskets, and the General designed for the army; which is to pass man by man before the King, and each to throw an arrow into the baskets; and they to be sealed with the Kings own seal. When the army comes home, every souldier takes his arrow out of the panniers, and some Commissioners number the arrows remaining, and so report to the King the number of the souldiers come home; whereby it is known how many are perished in that war. This custom is ancient in Persia; and Azarethes pre∣senting himself to the King, he askt him what place he had conquered, ha∣ving invaded the Romans with Alamundarus, with design to take Antioch? Azarethes answered, that he had taken no place, but had vanquisht Bellisarius in battell. Then Cabades willed the army to come in, and take out their arrows, whereof many being left in the baskets, the King reviled Azarethes, and after hold him in disgrace.