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. XIII.

BElisarius heard nothing from these parts; but marcht with the army toward Nisibis; and being half way thither kept his right hand way, where

were store of springs, and a spacious champian to encampe. But some had no mind to goe on, so that Belisarius made this speech to the Commanders.

I did not mean to publish my determination: For a word vented in a camp spreds at last even to the enemy. But I see every man will be an absolute Commander; therefore I shall impart, what I thought to conceale; with this preamble, that when in an army many will be absolute, nothing can be well done. Certainly Chosroes invading others, hath not left his own country without guard, especially this City, being the first therof and a rampire to the rest; wherein, I know, he hath lodged a garrison so strong, and of so good men, as will be able to oppose our assaults. A demonstration thereof is Na∣bedes their Commander, who next to Chosroes is the prime man for reputa∣tion in Persia. Who doubtlesse will set upon us, and we shall not be rid of him, without vanquishing him in fight. If we fight near the city, the Per∣sians will have the advantage, backt with their fortification, to follow their execution securely, if they overcome; and if they be overcome, to be pre∣sently within their walls, which you see well defended, and inexpugnable. On the other side, if we rout them, we may enter the town pell-••ell with the enemy, or thrust between them, and force them to fly to some other re∣gion, and so get Nisibis, having none to defend it.

Upon this speech of Be∣lisarius, the rest obeyed, and kept within the camp: Onely Peter, General of Armenia, stood still, with a good part of the army under his command, a mile and a quarter from Nisibis. Belisarius put in order of battail the troupes with himself, and sent direction to Peter to stand in readinesse till he gave the sig∣nall, and to observe at noon, that the Barbarians will sally, because them∣selves dine in the evening, and the Romans at noon. But Peters men slighted his commands, and being faint with the sunne (for that city is extremely hot) layd down their arms, and disorderly fell to gather figs, without apprehen∣sion of an enemy. Which Nabedes observing, gallopt up to them with his army. They seeing them issue out of the gates (being in an open champian) sent to Belisarius to succour them; and themselves tumultuously, and in con∣fusion encountred. Belisarius, before the messenger came, saw the enemies mo∣tion by the dust raised, and with his troupes rode amain to their succour. But in the mean time the Persians charged them; which they not enduring, ran away. The enemy pursuing took Peters Ensign, and slew fifty of them. Doubt∣less they had dyed every man, if Belisarius had not received them into his troups, much distressed. Where first the Goths presenting their long thick Lances, the Persians stood them not, but fell to running, and the Romans, and Goths pursuing killed a hundred & fifty of them. The chase was not long. So the enemy got within their walls, and the Romans returned to their camp. The next day the Persians set the Ensign of Peter for a trophy, upon one of the turrets; and laught and brag'd, but durst sally no more out of their forti∣fications.

Belisarius considering Nisibis strongly scituated, and having no hope to take it, urged to rise thence, and to march, where they might suddainly spoyl the enemy. So after a dayes march he came to a castle of the Persians called Sisibranum, full of inhabitants, and eight hundred of the best Persian horsmen to guard it; commanded by Blechames, a principal man. The Romans encamp∣ed before the Castle, and assaulting were repulsed with losse of many; the walls being strong, and the Barbarians opposing obstinately. Belisarius then called his fellow Commanders, and told them;

How experience of many wars taught them to foresee the event in actions doubtful, and before dis∣asters to chuse the better way. That they knew their disadvantage now, marching in an enemies country, full of strong Garrisons. If they goe on, it is likely that from Nisibis the enemy will follow them, and infest them with ambushes. And if another army meet them, they will be forced to a battail with both, and may be undone. Then if they be routed, they have no means of retreat into Roman land. They should not therefore crush them∣selves with inconsiderate industry, nor with ambition to winne, hurt the Roman affairs. An ignorant daring brings to destruction, and a sober de∣laying

laying preserves men. That themselves therefore should sit down before the Castle, and that Arethas with his Saracens (men unapt for assaults, but excel∣lent plunderers) should enter Assyria, and with them some of their best soul∣diers. These, if no opposition appear, to take the spoyl; and (the enemy op∣posing) to retire to this army: Which if it take the Castle, may passe the Tigris, fearing no mischief behind, and informed in what state the Assyrians are.

They all approved this advise of Belisarius: Who accordingly commanded Arethas to go against the Assyrians, and sent with him 1200 souldiers, most of his own Targettiers, commanded by two of his Lanciers, Trajanus and John sirnamed Phagas, and directed to be obedient to Arethas, whom he instructed to forrage the countries, and coming back to the camp, to report what forces the Assyrians had. These past the Tigris into Assyria, found the country rich, and without guard, and so ransackt many towns and got much wealth. Be∣lisarius in the mean time understood from Persian prisoners, That the Castle (not using, as Daras and Nisibis, to lay in yearly provisions, and then prevent∣ed by an enemy, and having brought in none, and many suddainly resorting thither for refuge) wanted provisions. He sent therefore George, a wise man, and trusted with his secrets, to try if the place might be had by composition. Who with his reasons, and fair words, prevailed with them to take assurances for their safety, and to render themselves and the Castle to the Romans. Be∣lisarius did no harm to the Inhabitants, being Christians, and antiently Ro∣mans. The Persians with Blechames he sent to Constantinople, and threw down the walls of the Castle. These Persians and Blechames the Emperour sent into Italy against the Goths.

But Arethas, fearing the Romans might take away his booty, would return no more to the camp. And he commanded some scoutes sent out purposely by him, to report a great army of enemies to be at the passage of the river; up∣on which he advised John and Trajan to return some other way into the Ro∣man Territories. So they went not to Belisarius, but keeping the Euphrates on their right hand, came to Theodosiopolis, standing upon the river of Abor∣ras. The Roman army with Belisarius, hearing nothing of these forces, were troubled and affraid: And the said siege having being long in the Persian Mesopotamia, infinitely hot; the men being not used to heats, specially those of Thrace; and stirring much in them, and lodging in close cabbins in the summer, the third part of them lay half dead with Feavers; and all were ear∣nest to be gone home; specially Requithancus, and Theoctistus, Captaines of Phoenicia Libani. Who importuned Belisarius (the Saracens consecrated time being past) protesting to stay there to no purpose, and in the mean time to abandon the towns of Libanus and Syria to Alamundarus. Belisarius hereupon called a counsell, where John the sonne of Nicetas first rose, and spake thus;

Excellent Belisarius! I think the world hath not had, neither for time nor va∣lour, a Captain like your self. This opinion prevailes not onely with Ro∣mans, but with all Barbarians. And certainly hereby you will preserve this glory firm, if you bring us alive into the Roman dominions; as we now are, our expectations are not fair. Our Saracens, and best men are come over the Tigris, and gone into our upper Provinces, so fast, as not to send us so much as a messenger. Requithancus and Theoctistus will be instantly gone; supposing Alamundarus forraging Phoenicia: and of the rest we have more sick, then sound men, to bring them into the Roman dominions. Such, as if an enemy light on us here, or upon our retreat, not a man will be left to report our disaster to the Romans at Daras. To march up higher, I think it not pos∣sible in reason. Whilst therefore some hope is left, 'tis good counsell to make a faire retreat; and madness for men in our danger, not to advise upon safety, but designes on an enemy.

All approved this speech of John; and cryed out for a speedy retreat. So Belisarius put his sick into waggons, and led home the army; where he heard what Arethas had done, but could have no right of him, being not yet come to him.

Chosroes in the mean time, having taken Petra, had the newes of Belisarius invasion; of the battaile by Nisibis; the taking of Sisabranum, and what the

forces, which with Arethas past the Tigris, had done. So leaving a Garrison in Petra, he went into Persia with the rest of his army, and Roman captives. These were the occurrents of Chosroes's second invasion; And Belisarius was by the Emperour sent for to Constantinople, where he spent his Winter.