The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Part 2, Book 1 · Biography 5
JVSTINIAN
The Life of Justinian, who dyed, Anno Christi 568.
JVSTINE, Emperour of the East being growne old, and having no sonnes of his owne, adopted his sisters son, called Justinian, appointing him to succeed in the Empire: He was a very godly man, zealous for the truth against Heresies, and would suffer no faith to be openly professed, but that which was allowed in the foure Generall Councells: and accordingly God blessed him exceedingly in his warrs: For coming to the Empire in a very troublous time, the first warr that he made, was against the Persians, who for fiftie yeares together had often invaded the Romane Empire, and commonly had the better of it: against them therefore Iustinian sent a great Army under the conduct of Belisarius, a noble and valiant A great Battell.captaine, who fought a bloody battell with the Persians, which continued almost a whole day, but in the conclusion (through Gods mercy) Belisarius prevailed, and made a great slaughter of the enemyes: After which notable victory, he recovered sundry places in Mesopotamia, which the Persians had vsurped from the Empire. Another Army also of Iustinians entring into Armenia, by the same good hand of providence obtained victory, and recovered most part of that which was formerly lost: Hereupon Cavadas, King of Persia, raised a mighty Army under the command of a valiant old Captaine of his, called Alamander, who had formerly gotten many victories against the Romans, with whom Belisarius A bloody battell.after some encounters, came to a battell, which was the greatest, and cruellest that ever happened those warrs: this battell was fought neere to the river Euphrates, and much against the opinion of Belisarius, who, knowing that the enemy had the advantage, would not have fought, but his men, against his will preparing themselves: he ordered and incouraged them all that he could: the fight was maintained with such obstinacy, and fury of both sides, that for the greatest part of the day it appeared not to which side victory would incline: but at last the Imperialists waxing faint (having fasted all day, because it was Easter eve) they began to retreat: which the Persians seeing, they charged the horse-troops of Belisarius with such fury, that they brake them also: Belisarius did what he could to incourage A brave Captaine.and reinforce them, but when he could not prevaile, he alighted from his horse, and placed himselfe in a squadron of footmen that kept their ground, and encouraging them with his presence, they all resolved to conquer or die, insomuch as when the Persian Generall saw them remaine whole, he came upon them with great fury, thinking easily to have had the execution of them, but they kept themselves so close together, that they could not be broken, and fought so valiantly, that they slue many of the Persians, till night coming on, the Persians left them: then did Belisarius with his men retire into an Iland which was in the river Euphrates hard by, whither the rest of his Army came to him, & the next morning set his men in order to fight againe: but the Persians having lost more men then the Romans, removed into an other quarter, and the King of Persia understanding his great losse, sickned, and shortly after dyed, whereupon his sonne made peace with Iustinian: & Belisarius returned to Constantinople, where he was received with much triumph. A few daies after, two potent men in the City, which were sisters sons of Anastasius the Emperour, with a Civill broyles.great party that adhered to them, rebelled against Iustinian, one of them taking the ensignes, and name of Emperour: and the warr was so cruell within the City, that thirty thousand persons were slain together with the usurpers, whereby God did wonderfully deliver Iustinian from an imminent danger, after which time he lived in peace and better estimation then before: in this scuffle Belisarius did him better service then all others: After the Ʋandalls had seised upon Africk, they raised a cruell persecution against the Christians, some of them being heathens, others Arrians: but after the death of Gensericus, Persecution.Gilimer his nephew succeeding in the Kingdome, Iustinian sent Belisarius with a purpose to regaine the Kingdome of Africk, who imbarked himselfe accompanied with many excellent Captaines in fiue hundred saile of ships, and ninetie two Gallies, and so began his voiage towards Africk, where (through Gods mercy) he safely arrived: Epiphanius Bishop of Constantinople going in the fleet, prayed for their Prayer powerfull.prosperous successe; when they were landed, they found some that tooke part with them, and so they they marched along the Sea-Coast towards Carthage, and the Navie did the like by Sea: when Gilimer understood this, he left his brother Amata in the City for the guard of it, commanding him to kill all the prisoners, and at such an houre the next day to issue out of the City with all his forces against Belisarius, promising that himself with his Army would charge him at the same time in the reare, and so he departed out of Carthage with his Army: and sent a Captaine with some Troops to Alarum & trouble Belisarius in his march: the next day Amata came forth according Gods goodnesse.to appointment, but was quickly beaten and slaine by the Vauntguard: & Gilimer with his forces charged so resolutely upon the reere, that the Imperialists began to retire; but Gilimer hearing of the defeat, and death of his brother, made an Alt, whereupon Belisarius his souldiers charged with such fury, that Gilimer was wholly overthrown, many of his men slaine, and he by flight saved his life: the next day Belisarius marched to the City, where arriving in the evening, he found noe resistance, and the gates open, yet would he not enter into an enemies City by night, but the next day he marched in with great quietnesse, neither suffering his souldiers to plunder or murther any, who were very obedient to him: Possessing the City, he commanded Clemencypresently the walls to be repaired, which were very ruinous: and in the meane time Gilimer unbroken in spirit, rallied his Army, raised more forces, sent for his brother Zazon with a great army out of Sardinia, and having thus gotten a sufficient number, he went towards Carthage, either to fight, or besiege Belisarius. But Belisarius for certaine daies would not take the field, till he had sufficiently repaired the walls, and then he marched forth with his Army to give Gilimer battell, and when the commanders saw each other, they set their men in order, one relying upon the Arme of flesh, the other putting his confidence in God. The fight began with great fury, Faith.but in the first charge Zazon was slaine, and some other principall men of the Ʋandalls, whereupon the rest fled into their Campe which they had strongly fortified: Belisarius gathering his forces together presently pursued them, which when Gilimer saw, suspecting that he could not defend the Campe, with a few servants, he fled away, and Belisarius entred it, putting all in Armes to the sword, taking the women and children captives. In the Camp they found an infinite quantity of gold, silver, money, and Iewells, for the Ʋandals, having noe place of A great prize.refuge which they counted safe, carried all their treasure with them, and so in one houre they lost all that they had stolne, and gotten in Africa in nintie fiue yeares before: thus God blessed his servant Iustinian, and justly plagued those wicked Ʋandalls, who Gods just judgement on persecutors-had cruelly persecuted the Orthodox, cutting out their tongues, imprisoning the Godly ministers, and making them their drudges, making stables of their Churches &c. The next day Belisarius sent an excellent Captaine with a good Troop of horse to pursue Gilimer, and shortly after himselfe followed with some choise men of his Army, but finding that Gilimer was fled into some inaccessible mountaines in Numidia, he left a Captaine with sufficient forces to besiege him, and so returned to Carthage, in his passage taking in many townes, and much people resorted to him with joy, being glad that they were freed from the miserable servitude of the Ʋandalls, and restored to the liberty of the Empire: Shortly after he sent some to take in Sardinia, and others into Mauritania, and in all places God gaue him wonderfull successe, so that in little more then foure moneths he tooke in all Africk, that had beene possessed by those wicked Ʋandalls for the space of nintie six yeares, wherein they had been great oppressors of the true Church of Christ, and had allmost extirpated it: Gilimer being straitly besieged as before is said, at last yielded himselfe upon quarter for his life, and so was brought prisoner to Belisarius, who sent the Emperour Iustini…n newes of his successe, requesting that he might re…urne to Constantinople and bring Gilimer with him. Iustinian referred it to himselfe, whether to stay and governe that province or to returne; he made one Salomon governour, left with him a good part of his Army, and so tooke Gilimer, and his kindred, and infinite Iewells, treasures and riches, which the Vandalls had plundred from Rome, Spain, Africk, & other provinces, and so returned to Constantinople, where he was received in triumph: In the mean time the Churches of the East being Danger of Heresie.much infected with the Arrian heresie, were ful of dissentions & troubles, but the good Emperour published an edict, wherein he accursed the principall ringleaders, and inflicted great penalties on Hereticks punished.them that held and maintained such damnable opinions, endeavouring thereby that noe dissention might take roote in any of the Churches through the world: About this time the nation that dwelled Converon.by the river Tanais sent to Iustinian, requesting him to send a Bishop to them, who willingly assented to their requests, by which meanes they were converted to the Christian faith.
Belisarius did not long continue at Constantinople before Iustinian gaue him the charge of his warrs in Sicily and Italy against the Goths, and Theodatus, who at that time was Lord thereof, an enterprise of no lesse importance, and of greater danger then the former of Africk: But Theodatus dying about that time, he left his Kingdome to his nephew Athalaricus bebeing but eight yeares old, wherefore his mother Amalasunta had the education of him, and the Governement of the Kingdom: but Athalaricus shortly after dying, Theodatus his cosen-german vsurped the Kingdom, and treacherously put Amalasunta to death. Instinian detesting so vile a fact, sent Belisarius with his victorious Army against him, who by the way landing in Sicilie, tooke in Catania, Syracuse, and many other townes, and Cities, and after a while the whole Iland submitted to him. Theodatus being informed hereof, was much affraid, and presently dispatched Ambassadours to Iustinian, profering to renounce his title to Sicily: and that in Italy in all decrees and proclamations, Iustinians name should be first used, and that once everie year he would send him a golden crowne in token of subjection: Withall giving them in charge, that if Iustinian refused that proffer, that then they should offer the whole Kingdome of Italy to him, upon condition that he should give him some lands, and possessions in Greece, or else where, Iustinian refused the first, but imbraced the second, and sent back his Ambassadours with them to consummate the agreement; but in the Interim, Theodatus having by his Captaines gotten a victory against some of Iustinians Captaines in Slavonia, he was so puft up with pride, that he refused to stand to his former offer, yea his insolency was such, that he apprehended, and imprisoned Iustinians Ambassadours: and he was the more encouraged, hearing that Belisarius was gone from Sicily ininto Pride.Africk, where a Captaine with a great part of the Army had mutined against Salomon, put the Iudges, and governours to death, and possessed themselves of a great part of the country, but Belisarius arriving there, overthrew them in battell, and so leaving all in peace, he sailed into Italy. About this time there was seene so prodigous a sight about the A ProdigySun, that the like hath never bin heard of: For the Sun, for the greatest part of a yeare, gave so little light, that it was but equall to the light of the moone, the sky being cleere, without clouds, or any thing to shadow it, after which there followed a great famine, and much warr, and bloodshed.
Iustinian seeing the inconstancy of Theodatus, and being greatly displeased with the death of his Captaines in Dalmatia, and the imprisonment of his Ambassadours, with the wisdome, courage and resolution of a worthy Prince, he sent Constantius a noble Captaine into Dalmatia, and Slavonia, who quickly recovered most of that which was lost: and sending to Belisarius speedily to enter Italy with the greatest power he could: Belisarius with his accustomed expedition and courage, leaving sufficient Garrisons in Sicily, transported his Army into Italy, landing at Messina, and finding noe opposition, he seised on many townes thereabouts, conquering all to the City of Naples, into which Theodatus had put a great garrison of his Goths: them Belisarius besieged, and after many skirmishes, he took the City by force, where his souldiers found great spoiles, and slew many of the Goths: but the next day he set all the inhabitants Clemencyat libertie, and restored to them the greatest part of their goods againe: This action stroke a great feare into the Goths, who held Naples to be impregnable.
Theodatus in the meane time making but slender provision for his defence, all his chiefe Captaines met together, and chose for their King, one Ʋitiges a a wise and valiant Captaine, which Theodatus hearing of fled towards Ravenna, but being pursued, he was overtaken, and slaine: Vitiges presently called a councell of war, where it was resolved, that they for the present could neither defend Rome, nor fight Belisarius, and that therefore he should retire to Ravenna, til having raised sufficient forces, he might returne and give him battell: Belisarius, leaving a strong garison in Naples, marched to Rome, to whom the inhabitants opened their gates, and let him in. In the Senate he made an excellent speech, exhorting them to imbrace, and defend their liberty: then hee repaired the City walls, and brought in store of provision from all the adjacent parts: In the meane time Ʋitiges left no meanes untried to increase his power, concluding a peace with the King of France, and drew all his forces thence, and from Germany, and other parts he procured all the aide that possibly he could; so that he raised 150000. men horse, and foot, good Souldiers, and most of them well armed, and so he marched towards Rome, where Belisarius was, but with an inconsiderable army, and therefore not able to take the field: whereupon Ʋitiges, nothing doubting of the victory, grew so proud, Pride.that hee asked every one he met, whether Belisarius was not fled away, and rejoyced infinitely when hee Faith.heard that he was fortifying of Rome. But the valiant Belisarius trusting in God, was far from flying, resolving rather to die then to abandon what he had gotten: Vitiges coming neere Rome, Belisarius had caused two very strong Towers to be built by the Bridge to stop his approach, and had placed in them very good guards; but when Vitiges Army approached, they which guarded the bridge were in such feare, that they presently surrendred the place, and the same night Vitiges passed over a great part of his Army: the next morning Belisarius suspecting no-such matter, sallied out of Rome with a thousand choyce horse, with which he marched towards the Bridge, and comming neere to it, hee suddenly met with Ʋitiges men at Armes, which so vexed Belisarius, imagining that his men that guarded the bridge were lost, that with lesse prudence then was requisite, GODS goodnesse in protecting his own.he charged them with so much fury, that there fel out a cruell fight, so that these men at Armes were driven back to the battalion where Vitiges was, who charged with so great a troope of his Goths, that Belisarius and his company were held for lost, yet he in his owne person did wonders, wounding, and slaying many of his enemies, and charged so far in amongst them, that though he did the part of an excellent soldier, yet not of a discreet Generall: For he put his person in such danger, that he was held for dead, and so some of his men that fled, reported of him in Rome: Being in this distresse, and unable any longer to maintaine the fight, his people began to retire on the spur, and he also did the like, after they had slain a thousand of the Goths. Many of Vitiges horsemen pursued him to the gates of Rome, which were shut, and the guard would not open them, lest the enemy should have entred with them; besides, the noyse was such, that they knew not Belisarius his voyce, whom they accounted for dead: he having fought the greatest part of the day, was driven to leane to the wall, and ranging his souldiers into a squadron, made head against the enemy, and so continued fighting without meate or drinke till it was night; in which he did a valiant, though a dangerous exploit: charging the Goths with such fury, that they all beleeved (through the darkenesse of the night) that great Troops were sallied forth against them, whereupon they retired to their Campe: Thus God almost miraculously preserved this brave Captaine, who afterwards coming to the gates, and calling to the watch, they knew him, and joyfully let him in: hee had abundance of arrowes sticking in his horse, and armour, and some blowes, and cuts with the sword, (but through Gods mercy) none of them came to his skin, which was held for a wonder by those which saw what great danger he had beene in.
The next day Vitiges came with all his Army to the Citie; but being unable, by reason of the great circuit, to compasse it all about, he made six strong Camps in severall parts of it: many dangerous conflicts there were during this siege, which lasted a yeare and nine dayes: For the first seven moneths the Enemy never ceased to assault and batter the Citie on all parts, where they did, and received much hurt: And Belisarius never ceased from defending, sallying forth, and fighting with them, so that they slue above fourty thousand of the Gothes, in which his valour and wisdome did wonderfully appeare; for it was the most terrible, and bloody siege that ever was The good Emperour Justinian neglected them not, but sent them succour of Companies of Horse, and A FamineFoot, valiant Captaines, Corn, and other necessaries, though with much difficulty: Notwithstanding which, the Citie endured extream famine. Belisarius managed all things with such prudence, and valour, that Vitiges seeing his men tired, and weakened, he sent and concluded a truce with him for six moneths: yet it continued not so long, for Vitiges understanding the wants of the Citie, renewed the Warres, whereupon Belisarius sent the Marshall of his Army with two thousand Horse, and other Souldiers, to begin warre in the Marches of Ravenna, and God so prospered them, that they took in Ariminum and other places; Which Vitiges hearing of, and fearing the losse of Ravenna, raised the siege, and returned to defend the rest.
In his retreat, Belisarius charged his rereguard so Pride punished.furiously, that he slue a number of his men: And so with shame, dishonour, and losse, Vitiges went back to Ravenna, and presently after laid a strong siege to Ariminum, where the aforesaid forces were: Belisarius presently raised such forces as he could; went to Naples, fortifyed that City, and so marched straite towards the City of Ravenna, and by the way he met with Narses, a braue and religious Captaine, that Iustinian had sent with new supplies to his aide▪ being thus strengthened, he marched to Ariminum, forced Ʋitiges to raise his siege, and so relieved his men. Hereupon Lombardy, Millan, and other places declared for the Emperour: and Belisarius sent them aide of Captaines, and men, and there fell out many conflicts, and battells both with the Gothes, and with Theodoricus King of France, who came with a Victories.great Army, thinking to possesse himselfe of that countrey: Belisarius after many great adventures fought another terrible battel with Ʋitiges, who had gathered all his forces together for that end, and (through Gods goodnesse) got the victory: Ʋitiges fled into Ravenna: Belisarius pursued, besieged him in the City, and in the end tooke it, and had Ʋitiges delivered into his hands, with whom almost all Italy came under his obedience
Cosroes, King of Persia hearing that Belisarius whom he chiefly feared, was busied in the warrs of Italy, took the opportunity to make warr upon the territories of the Empire, and tooke some Cities, whereupon Iustinian, who was very circumspect for all parts, sent an Army into the East, under a valiant Generall, who being slaine in a battell against the Persians, he sent a second, yet could not the Imperialists make sufficient resistance against them, but that they still prevailed; wherefore Iustinian sent for Belisarius, as the only man that could match the Persian: Belisarius going to Constantinople tooke with him Ʋitiges with his Queene, many of his kindred and other principal men of the Goths his prisoners, and was received into Constantinople with exceeding honour, and much joy, and was looked upon as the wonder of the world, everie one extolling his vertues and noble acts: he was a man of a pleasant countenance, tall of stature, of an excellent constitution, Belisarius his Character.Noble of condition, pious, mild, courteous; and endued with many other rare and heroicall vertues: within few daies after, he was sent into the East against Cosroes, and with his coming, the Imperialists tooke heart, and he revived the warr with such discretion and courage, that there was a present alteration in all things: and having obtained some victories, he soone recovered most of that which was lost: But whilst thus he was farr from Italy, the Goths which kept some Garrisons there, assembled together, and chose one Ydibaldus King; but not long after, his guard slew him: In whose place they chose Araricus King, who was also slaine within five moneths, & then they chose Totila for their King, who presently marched through all Italy without any great resistance, and besieged the City of Naples, which, after many exployts both by Sea and Land, he tooke: and prospered so much in his enterprises, that he was like in a short space to make himself Lord of all Italy: which Iustinian hearing of, sent to Belisarius, commanding him to leaue the affaires of the East in as good a posture as he could, and speedily returne to Constantinople, whence without any stay he was presently sent by the Emperour into Italy, whither he led with him but fiftie thousand men, expecting that he should have found sufficient forces there: for the Emperour was made to believe that his affaires were not in so low a state as they proved; his coming was much expected by his friends, and feared by his enemies; but when they saw that he brought so small an Army with him, his friends grieved, and his enemies contemned him. Putting himselfe into Ravenna, he fortified and kept the same, and within few daies tooke such order, that though he could not match his numerous enemes in the field, yet by policy Policy.he won upon them: whereupon Totila being angry, assembled his whole power, sent one part of his Army to Ravenna against Belisarius, and with the rest he went to Rome, which was so slenderly provided with men and amunition, that it was not like to hold out long: Belisarius understanding this, remembring with what trouble and care hee had formerly defended that City, and having not sufficient forces to relieve it by land, he was very sorrowfull, and thereupon wrote earnestly to the Emperour to send him men and money, and in the meane time he resolved to put himselfe into Rome by Sea: and so passing over into Dalmatia, he went to Durasso, where he met with Captaine Iohn, whom the Emperour had sent with an Army to assist him: but holding that the reliefe of Rome was presently necessary, he tooke the Sea to enter Rome by the river Tyber, appointing Captaine Iohn to hast his march by land to relieve him: Coming to the mouth of Tyber, he speedily rigged a great number of Barks and Frigots, with which he passed up the river, in the narrowest part whereof, Totila had drawn a chaine a crosse, made a bridg, and two Castles at either side, guarded with a great number of souldiers: yet Belisarius with his men charged the guard so lustily that they scattered them, and Rome had been presently relieved, if by a strange mishap it had not bin prevented: Indeed God (who Gods providence remarkeable.had raised up these Gothes to scourge the Romane Empire, and to punish the sins of Rome, and the decay of zeale, and increase of superstition in the Church) had otherwise determined of it: For Belisarius having left his wife, whom he deerely loved, with his family in a Port at the mouth of the river, under the care of a good Captaine, and strong garison, had newes brought him, that the towne was taken, and his wife in the enemies hande, which so grieved and enraged him, that he presently returned downe the river, determining to recover his wife, or lose his life, presuming that if he sped well, he might presently returne to the reliefe of Rome: Being come to the port, he found the towne safe, and his wife well, and at liberty, whereupon he was more grieved to see himselfe so deluded: and the same night it pleased God (who makes all things to concurr for the effecting of his owne will) that he fell sick of a fever, and his disease daily encreasing, he was often at the Point of death: In the mean time Totila so straitly besieged the City of Rome, that they within, did eat catts, rats, dogs &c. And yet A great Famine.many dyed of hunger: so that in the end he became master of it, burnt the Capitoll, and best part of all the City, threw downe the third part of the walls, Gods iust judgement on Rome.commanded the inhabitants upon the paine of death to depart, and live in other places: and so he left it burnt, desolate, and wast, which had beene the mistris of the world. And then he marched against Captain Iohn and his army, that was coming towards Rome, who shewed himselfe so very a coward, that he durst not stay his coming, but put himselfe into Otranto, whereby Totila tooke all Calabria, Abruzzo, and Lucania.
In the meane time Belisarius having recovered his health, performed one of the most desperate attempts that ever was: which was, with those troops which he had, to go & put himself into the desolations of Rome, where hee presently caused trenches to bee digged, rampires to be made, and all the victualls that could possibly be gotten to be brought thither. The fame wherof brought many citizens for love of their countrey to come and put themselves therein to with him. As soone as Totila heard hereof, by long Iourneies, he returned to Rome, assuring himselfe presently to enter it, and therein to take Belisarius: But Belisarius so valiantly defended the same, that to his great losse Totila was forced to raise his siege: afterwards Belisarius, having better fortified it, and left a good garrison in it, went to joine with Iohn, and his Army, and to pursue Totila: But the King of Persia againe making warrs in the East, Iustinian sent for Belisarius to Constantinople, which when the King of Persia heard of, he concluded a peace with Iustinian, & so Belisarius remained in Constantinople all the rest of his life; during which time the Huns came downe into Thrace, robbing and spoiling all the countrey, against whom old Belisarius was sent, who overthrew them in a great battell, and so returned to the Emperour.
After Belisarius departed from Italy, Totila returned againe & besieged Rome, and after a long siege, wherin the inhabitants & souldiers endured great extremities & famine, he againe tooke it, but did it no harme, seeking rather to repaire and repeople it, giving great gifts, priviledges, and exemptions to the inhabitants: Afterwards he tooke many other places, & then passed over into Sicily, but finding that the conquest thereof would be difficult, he left foure Captaines with many men of warr, and so returned into Italy, where, in a short space, he had made himself absolute Lord of the Countrey, had not the Emperour sent Narses, an holy, famous and valiant Captaine with a great Army into Italy; and in his march towards Rome, Totila mett him, and presented battell to him. A Battell.They fought, and in the fight Totila was slaine, and his Army routed, whereupon Narses easily reconquered all Italy: After Totilas death, the Goths chose Teyas, a potent man amongst them, King, who raised with Totila's treasure, a great Army, & so marched out of Lombardy to encounter with Narses: they both lodged their Armies upō a river side, where after some notable skirmishes, they came to a battaile, which was one of the most cruell that had beene fought in all that warr: having fought six hours, wherein Teyas in his own person had done wonders, he was at last slain; yet the battaile continued till darke night: the next morning they returned to the fight againe without ceasing, and the Goths taking the advantage of an hill, defended themselves till towards night, at which time they sent Ambassadours to Narses, profering to resigne all they held in Italy to him, provided that he would let them liue in it, without Armour or weapons. Narses granted their request, for that he would not fight with a desperate people, himselfe also having lost many of his men in the fight: and so they delivered what they possessed, & in a short time after they were so mixed with the natives, that the name of the Goths was wholly extinct, and forgotten. Narses applyed himselfe to the re-edifying of Rome: and because it was extreame ruinous, and the inhabitants few, he contracted the compasse of it, and setled Rome contractedthe Government of it, and of Italy in the best manner he could: He was a man of great judgment, Narses his Character.a good Christian, zealous in religion, and an excellent Captaine, and held the governement of Italy under Iustinian all his life after.
In Iustinians time besides these and many other Earthquakes, &cwarrs, there happened great earthquakes, famine, and many other calamities: He was a Godly and excellent Justinians Character.Prince, who provided for all his great warrs without taxing or oppressing his subjects: and in his civill governement he was so carefull, as if he never had applyed himselfe to any thing else: for whereas the lawes made by former Emperours were many, tedious, obscure, and somtimes contradictory each to other, he contracted, cleered, and made them vniforme, adding new, where there was a defect. And whereas they contained two thousand books before, he reduced them to fiftie, called the Digest, and compiled foure books of Institutes: and other decrees, which were dispersed into divers books, he reduced to twelue, called Iustinians Codex. He was very curious in Architecture, and built many great and sumptuous edifices. Being growne old, and having noe son to succeed him, he adopted his daughters sonne, called Iustin, for his fellow Emperour. And after so many noble acts, he left this for a better life in the eightieth yeare of his age, and of his raigne thirtie-nine, Anno Christi 568. His death was greatly lamented and deplored through the whole Empire.
As some write, Iustinians wife was Theodora, a womane infected with the heresie of Eutyches, who after the death of her husband, out of malice, and envie Ingratitude.to that brave and noble Captaine Belisarius, caused his eies to be put out, and brought him to that extremity of want, that he was forced to sit by the highwayes begging, Date obolum Belisario, For Gods sake Worlds vanity.giuegive an halfpenny to poore Belisarius Evag. Ʋanity of Ʋanities, all is Ʋanity,
One thing is very remarkable in this Godly Emperour Iustinian, Gensericus when he spoiled and plundred Rome, tooke the vessells of gold, and silver, which Titus had brought from the Temple in Ierusalem, and carried them with him to Carthage: these vessells, amongst other spoiles, Belisarius met with when he tooke Carthage, and carried them to Constantinople: but Iustinian would not receive them into his treasury, but sent them againe to Ierusalem, to be disposed of for the good of the church, according to the discretion of the Christian Bishops which lived there.
Collected out of Evagrius, the Imperiall History, and booke of Martyrs.