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.

CHosroës, this done, marcht forward. The Generall-ship of the East the Emperour had so divided, as that all to the Euphrates was left to Belisa∣rius (who formerly had the whole command) and from thence to the Persian frontier, all was under Buzes, and till Belisarius should returne out of Italy, he had the charge of the whole East; who first lay at Hierapolis with all the army. But understanding what happened to the Surenians, he called to him the chief men of Hierapolis, and told them;

That when the match is equall, there is reason to fight quickly with an enemy invading; but to men much weaker than their enemy, it is more expedient to circumvent him with stratagems, then to run into an evident danger: What forces Chosroës hath, they have heard. That if they make the war from the walls, the Persians will block them up; and furnish themselves with provisions out of their country (none opposing) while they want within; and that the siege lasting, their walls cannot hold out, being very assaultable, nor can the Romans but fall into some desperate estate. But that guarding the City with part of the army, and lodging the rest in the bottoms of the mountaines near the City, infesting the enemies camp, and his forragers with suddain courses, they will force him to raise his siege, unable to make his assaults at his ease, nor to provide food for so great an army.

The advise of Euzes seemed pertinent, but he did nothing; but went away with the choicest men of the army; and in what part of the world he was, neither the Romans in Hierapolis, nor the e∣nemy could learn. Justinian, hearing of the invasion, dispatcht Germanus, his brothers sonne, in much haste with three hundred men, promising to send a great army soon after. Who came to Antioch, visited the walls, and found much of them of good strength; the plain ground was compast by the river Orontes, and the hill was steep, craggy, and unapproachable; onely at the top

of mount Casius, he found the wall very assaultable, from a rock stretching far in bredth, and as high as the wall. He directed therefore, either to cut the rock from the wall, that none from it might get up, or else to joyn it to the wall by a tower upon it. But workmen found both these impossible, in so short time with an enemy so near, and to beginne and not perfect it, would but shew the enemy where to make their war. Germanus failing in this, and after long time seeing no army from the Emperour, nor likelyhood of any, fearing Chosroës might make it his chiefe business to take Antioch, hearing the Emperours Nephew to be within it; and the Antiochians having the same thoughts, resolved all in counsell to buy their safety with money. And to Chosroës they sent Megas, Bishop of Berrhoea, a prudent man; who finding the Persians not far from Hierapolis, and being admitted to Chosroës, besought

him to pitty men who never offended him, nor were in case to resist him. That it is not fit for a King to use violence against yeelding men; nor ge∣nerous to give the Emperour no time to consult, either for rectifying the peace, or for preparations to war, by a mutuall consent; and to invade thus without warning; their Emperour not knowing in what case they are.

The rude nature of Chosroës could not be put in tune by discreet words; they rather more swell'd him with pride and folly; threatning to destroy all the Syrians and Cilicians; and he bade Megas follow him. Then he encamped before Hierapolis; which finding strong, and a good garrison within, he sent Paul his interpreter to demand money of them; Paul was bred up in the Ro∣man Territory, and went to a Grammar-school in Antioch, and was thought to be descended of Romans. The citizens fearing their walls, which embra∣ced a great circuit to the mountaine; and willing to save their country from spoyling, agreed to give two thousand pound weight of silver. And Megas obtained of Chosroës with much intreating, to accept * ten Centenaries of gold for all the Easterne provinces, and so to leave them. Megas returned to An∣tioch; and Chosroës having his money for Hierapolis, marcht to Berrhoea, stand∣ing between Antioch and Hierapolis, from either two dayes journey. But the fourth day, Megas, with few in company, came to Antioch; and the Persian army to the suburbs of Berrhoea. Chosroës urged the Berrhoeans by Paul the in∣terpreter, for twice as much money as Hierapolis gave, because their walls were weak, nor could they trust to them. They yeelded to his demand, pay∣ing down 2000 l. weight of silver, but the other 2000 l. alledging they could not pay down; and he urging them, they fled by night to the Castle in the high town. The next day, they that came from him to receive the rest of the money, found the gates shut, and could speak with none. The King under∣standing it, by his command they entred the Citie with scaling ladders, none resisting; and opening the gates let in all the army. Chosroës in a rage would have burnt the City; but first he would take in the Castle; where some Ro∣man souldiers defended valiantly, and killed some enemies. But the Berrhoe∣ans flying to the castle with all their horses and cattell, by that niggardly trick were undone; for there being but one spring, and all the cattell suffred improvidently to drink up the water, the spring became dry; and in such e∣state they were.

Notes

• 5250. l'. sterl.
• 31500. l'. sterl.