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. X.

THen came letters from Justinian to Chosroes, agreeing to ratifie the trea∣tie between him and the Ambassadours; upon which he discharged the Hostages, and prepared for his retreat; being pleased to ransome the Antio∣chian captives: the Edessenians therein shewed an incredible alacrity. Not a man, but according to his ability brought the ransomes into the Church, and some above ability. Courtisans threw in their Jewells, and the husbandman, wanting money or householdstuffe, brought his asse or poore ewe to the Church, that a great quantity was gathered of gold and silver, and other goods; but none of it was given for the ransome. Buzes being there, prohi∣bited the ransoming, expecting some great gaine out of it. So Chosroes with the captives marcht on. The Carrenians met him, and offered him a great summe, but being no Christians but Heathens, he would not take it. But of the Constantinians he took their monie, yet claimed the city to be his from his An∣cestors. For Cabades having taken Amida, would have also gotten Edessa, and Constantina. And being before Edessa, he demanded of the Magi, if it were to be wonne, pointing with his right hand to the place. They told him, no. For by stretching his right hand to it, he gave a symbole, not of taking, or of hurt∣ing the city, but of preservation. He was satisfied with this, and led his army against Constantina, and encamped, with purpose to besiege the town. Barado∣tus then Bishop of the city (an upright godly man, mighty with God in pray∣er, whose very countenance shewed him to be indeed gracious with God) came to Cabades with a present of wine, dry ••iggs, hony, and fine manchets; and besought him, not to attempt a town of no importance, neglected by the Romans, without garrison, or other defence, but the poore miserable inhabi∣tants. Cabades upon this, not onely bestowed the city upon him, but gave him all the store-victualls of the army for the siege, and then departed out of the Roman territory. Hereupon Chosroes claimed the city to belong to him from his Father.

Being come to Daras, he sate down before it. Within, the Romans, and the Generall Martinus prepared for their defence. The city hath two walls, the innermost large and faire, and sixty foot high, with turrets; all one hundred foot high: The outward wall is much lesse, but strong and of good importance. The ground between is about fifty foot broad; where, upon the approach of

an enemy, the Darenians put their cattle. At first Chosroes with multitude of arrows forced upon the walls to the West-ward, and set fire to the gates of the lesser wall; but none durst enter. Then he wrought a Mine closely on the East-side of the town, the rest of it being built upon a rock. The Persians be∣ginning from the town ditch, being very deep, were neither seen, nor at all discovered by the enemy. And now they were under the foundation of the outter wall, and in the ground between the walls, and shortly to pass the great wall, and take the town; when from the camp of Chosroes, about noon, came a man (or more than a man) all alone to the wall, seeming to gather up the scattered arrows; and withall warding with his shield, to flout those upon the battlements. Then discovering the businesse, he bade them watch∣fully provide for their safety, and went his way. The Romans immediately dig'd for life in the ground between the walls; which the Persians not discern∣ing, went on with their work, in a streight line to the wall; and the Romans, by the advise of Theodorus, a famous Ingineer, traversed with their Mine very deep, that in the end the Persians in the ground between the walls, fell sud∣dainly into the Romans cross Mine; who killed the first comers, but the rest escaped to the camp. The Romans would not pursue them in the dark. Chosroes failing in this, and seeing no hope of taking the town, capitulated for a thou∣sand pound weight of silver, which he had from the besieged, and went home. Justinian, for this attempt of Chosroes upon Daras, during the truce, refused to ratifie the Treaty. And this was the successe of Chosroes first Invasion, and so the summer ended.

In Assyria he built a City a dayes journey from Ctesiphon, and named it Antioch of Chosroes, planting there the Antiochian captives. He built them a publique Bath, and a Circus, and fitted it for other delights; bringing from Antioch, and other Roman Cities, Charioters, and skilfull Musicians. He kept these Antiochians at the publique charge, not like captives; and term∣ed them Basilici, as exempt from all Magistrates but the King. If a Roman captive ranne from his Master, and fled to this Antioch of Chosroes, being there avowed by an inhabitant for his Kinsman, he might not be led away by his master, though a very principall Persian. The Prodigy which befell the Antiochians in the reign of Anastasius was now consummated. A strong wind then, and a suddain, blew up by the rootes, the goodly tall Cypresses in Daphne, the suburb of Antioch; it being not lawfull to cut them. Shortly after this prodigy, in the reign of Justine, an Earthquake shook the City so, that it overthrew most of the buildings, and destroyed three hundred thousand men. But in this last destruction the City, as I have related, was even ruined.

And now Belisarius the Emperour sent for to Constaentinople; where having wintred, at the beginning of the spring he sent him Generall against Chos∣roes; with the Commanders who came with him out of Italy.* 1.1 Of whom Va∣lerianus was made Generall of the Cohorts in Armenia; Martinus being formerly sent into the East; so that, as I said, Chosroes found him at Daras. Of the Goths, Vitigis stayd at Constantinople; the rest served with Belisarius against Chosroes. At this time the Ambassadour of Vitigis, who called him∣self a Bishop, dyed in Persia. The other stayd awhile with them for an In∣terpreter, then retired into Roman land; where John, commander of the forces in Mesopotamia, took him near Constantina, and imprisoned him; and being que∣stioned, he told him all his negotiation. Belisarius made haste to prevent any new Invasion of Chosroes; But

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anno Dom. 541. & Justi∣niani 15.