warnyng geuen dyd resrowe the towne by himself or by his deputie Diogenes should surrender it at a certayne daye And Totilas shoulde not in the meane season by any meanes moleste or dysquiet hym For the assurance of these Articles Hostages were deliuered and vppon thys agreement Totilas brake vp his siege The .v. Chapter ¶ Totilas makyng warre in Sicill besiegeth Siracuse a new Lieuetennaunt is sent from the Emperour into Italy WHen all thynges were nowe in a readinesse that were to be prepared Totilas maketh warre in Sicill Totilas turned hymselfe to the warres in Sicill commaundyng that his shyppes shuld be ready at hand in the narrowe seas of Sicill He hymself went by land vnto Rhegium purposyng to haue wonne the towne by force Captaynes of the towne were Teremund and Imere placed there by Belisarius not longe before Who diuerse sundry tymes repulsed the Gothes to their great losse attemptyng to wynne that towne by assault By meanes wherof Lotilas despayring to get it by violence determined with long continuance of hys siege to subdue them by famyshment And therefore leauyng a number of the Gothes about it he conueyed all the reast of hys armye by water to wynne Tarent the whiche he easily obteyned From thence wafting ouer into Sicil after that he had eyther by force of Armes or ells by composition gotten into his hand certayne of that lesser townes The syege of Siracuse at length he besieged Siracuse both by sea by land By that tyme the Gothes which as ye heard before wer sent among the Picentes against Iohn Valerian hauyng associated greate ayde vnto them and gotten the vpper hand in diuerse conslyctes toke the Citye Arimine And in another encounter not farre from Rauâ—nna they slews Vere Captayne of the Elurians wyth all hys hoste Moreouer Teremund Imere whiche were besieged in the towne of Rhegium for want of victualls were fayne to yelde themselues the towne to the Gothes All these thynges being declared to the Emperour at one instant namely the sakyng of Rhegium Tarent and Arimine and the passyng of Totilas into Sicill made hym vtterly astonyed to heare of so many misfortunes at once And ther vpoÌ„ he denounced one GermaÌ„ his cousin Germine by that fathers side captaine of that warres in Italy agaynst the Gothes commaunding great preparation to be made for that same A new Lieuetennant sente into Italy froÌ„ them perour WheÌ„ that fame hereof was blowen into Italy it greatly abasshed that enemye recoÌ„forted hys frends For thys GermaÌ„ was a man of a hualt courage and of no lesse wysedome and pollicye wonderfull lyberall and verye welbeloued both wyth the people and wyth the souldyers Besydes thys he had after the death of Vitigis taken to wyfe Mathasuta the nece of Kyng Theoderych the whiche thyng wonne hym the hartes of the Gothes and therefore as the fame of hym was great so was he greatly loked longed for in Italy The .vi. Chapter ¶ Diogenes dalayeth with Totilas in deliueryng vp of Centmucelles accordyng to coÌ„position The newe Lieuetennant of Italy dyeth in kys waye whose sonnes are commaunded to prosecute theyr fathers charge WHon German was nowe in Illiricke The Selauines the nation of the Sclauines hauing passed that riuer of Danow inuaded the prouinces of the Empyre of Rome A kynde of people cruell and outragius beyonde all measure whoe turnyng themselues toward Macedonie and Thrace put Iustinian in suche a feare that he commaunded German to stay his iourney into Italy Through this taryans the Gothes had leysure to do what they lyste in Italy and Sicill The answere of Diogenes to Toulas for Centmucelles In the meane season came the daye appointed that Diogenes should haue deliuered Centmucelles wherupon Totilas sendyng vnto hym required hym to performe hys promyse Diogenes alledged that Germane was newly created Captayne of the warres in Italye By reason whereof he sayd the state of thynges was wholly altered so that it laye not in his power to yelde that towne seing that Lorde proper owner of it was on hys iourney would with in two or three daies be in Italy Totilas was be sieging Siracuse in Sicill and the Gothishe men of warre skowring through the whole countrie made hauocke of althynges In Italy Rauenna Auchon Hydrunt and Centmucelles wyth certayue other townes remained styll imperiall The Gothes helde all the reast One only hope stayed them namely the commyng of German the whyche also fayled them For wheras he was sore longed for in Italye he was taken with a disease and to the great sorrowe of all the were belonging to hym dyed in Illiricke The death of Germane German had two sonnes whom he led with hym into Italy Them dyd the Emperour coÌ„maunde to procede with their fathers enterprise ioyuly together with theyr kynsemen Iohn Vitalian the Captain so well knowen in Italy For Iohn had maryed the daughter of German Iohn therfore the sonnes of GermaÌ„ taking the charge of the army vpoÌ„ them came vnto Salons And forasmuche as wynter was at hand they determyned to abyde that season there in the begynning of the nexte spring to passe ouer to Rauenna About the same tyme well nye Liberius being sente from themperour wyth a nauye entered into Siracuse mawgre the Gothes that kepte their station in the hauen to prohibyte their arriuall Howbeit for doubt of scarcety of victualls whyche so greate a number was soone lyke to cause in a Citye besieged he purposed to goe his way agayne and therfore wyth in a fewe dayes after hys commyng he tooke shippyng agayne and departyng from Syracuse arryed at Panorme The vi Chapter ¶ Narses is sente agayne Lieuerennant into Italye vvyth a greate povver and greate treasure Totilas sendeth a nauye into Grece to infeste those countryes and besyegeth Aucon in Italye The Captaynes of Totilas are ouercome on the sea by the Imperialls and Aucon is rescovve The Gothes receaue another ouerthrovv vpoÌ„ the land after the vvhich certain Gothishe Captaynes become imperiall Narses marcheth vvith an inestimable povver to Rauenna and from thence tovvarde Rome in the vvhiche iurney he vanquysheth a Captayne of the Gothes and killeth hym at Arimine He encountereth vvith Totilas vvho in the same conflicte is slayne and Teias created kyng of Gothes in hys steade IN the meane whyle the Emperour alteryng hys purpose Narses is made themperours Lieuetennant in Italy made hys Eunuch Narses Lieuetennant general of the warres in Italy makyng hym large promyses of men and mony Also he wrote to Iohn that he shoulde not passe into Italy but tary stil at Salons there abyde the commyng of Narses Narses therfore taking the charge couragiously vpon him endeuored to leuie a great power from all places To the performance whereof greatly aualyed hys fauour authoritye For he was one of the Emperours preuis Counsel and ruled hym in manner as he lyste he had greate frendship and Aliance with the
monny in the fortresse of Cume had made his brother Captaine of the same fortresse When Narses had vnderstanding therof he sent part of hys armye to besyege Cume and he hymselfe abydynge still at Rome endeuored to repayre the Cytye and to replenyshe it wyth people And to the entente that the Gothes that were beyonde the Ryuer Po shoulde not rescowe Cume or anye other of the places that were besyeged he commaunded Iohn Vitalian and Philimunt wyth theyr bandes to abyde in Hetruria to sette 〈…〉 agaynste the enemys at the fyrste approche and curte them of ere they 〈◊〉 â—â—ye further For Teias when he perceyued that Cume was besyeged determyned fullye to goe and rescowe it Wheroppon sertynge oute of Pauye by longe and ouerthwarre iourneyes he ledde hys hoste by the shore of the vpper sea and so throughe the countryes of the Picentes and Marses into Campanye The whiche when Narses vnderstood he called Iohn wyth hys band oute of Hetruria After whose commynge he marched forwarde into Campanye wyth hys whole power fullye purposing to encounter wyth Teias The mountaine Vesuuius There is a hill in Campanye called Vesuuius oute of the tooppe whereof oftentymes ryseth vppe smoke and flames of fyre But in the foote of the same mountain are springs of swete water the whiche doe make a brooke called Dracon that runneth not farre from the Citye Nuceria thys brooke is not very brode but it is so deepe that neyther horseman nor foteman can passe it Narses Teias encamp together parted with a riuer Aboute thys ryuer bothe armyes encamped Narses on the hyther syde and Teias on the furtherside the riuer ronning in the myddes betwent theÌ„ both There was but one brydge ouer it that had the Gothes taken By meanes wherof it laye in their hande to chose whyther they would fyght or not fyght The armyes abode in thys forte by the space of two monethes so that Narses his meÌ„ which were desyrous to come to hande strokes could not by any meanes come to their enemyes only they came to the riuers syde from both Campes shotte arrowes and threw dartes one at another Also there were fought many coÌ„bates and many chalenges were performed on both sydes duryng the sayd tyme the Gothyshe souldiers passing ouer the brydge dyd fight with the souldiers of Narses hand to hand The sea was well nere at hand the Gothes had their shippes vpoÌ„ the water which alwayes brought corne and victualls set it a land nere vnto them The Gothes lose their shippes by treasoÌ„ froÌ„ whence it was stil conueyed to the Camp But after the time that their nauie through treason was loste and that they coulde haue no more victualls and attillerye brought to theÌ„ by the sea the Gothes were constrayned of necessitye to dyslodge froÌ„ that place Whereupon forsaking the bridge the grounde by the riuers syde they departed to the nexte hylt which the inhabitantes of the couÌ„trye do cal the mylkie hyll Narses pursuyng them forasmuch as he could not assayle them by reason of the stepenesse of the hyll settled hymselfe about the foote of it The Gothes beyng to the same place also as much oppressed with scarcetye as they were before determined to put the matter in tryall by the sworde A cruel battel betwene the Gothes the imperialls And thereupon puttyng themselues in aray vpon the toppe of the hil they descended from about sodaynely assayled their enemyes thynkyng nothyng lesse then of any such matter in somuch that they had not any leysure to order their battells or to encourage their souldiers but were fayne to sette theÌ„selues against the enemie according as euery mannes fortune had appoynted hym And for bicause the Gothes had left their horses fought on foote Narses dyd set hys fotemen also to encounter with them The battell was cruell bloudy in all places For on the one syde the Gothes fought obstinately as men in despayre on the other sydo the souldiers of Narses were ashamed to geue place being so many in number as they were in especially consyderyng that but euen the other daye they had compelled them to forsake their firste campe and had well me besteged them now in the hyll which they had fled to for their refuge Both parties being incensed with these persuasiens foughte very valiantly The notable prowesse courage of Teias king of the Gothes I will not passe ouer with silence the noble Demeanor of Teias Kyng of the Gothes in hys battell For he being endued as it were with an heroical prowesse wolde nedes put himselfe into the forefront of the battel among the formest fyghters He was easye to be knowen from the reast by hys goodly armour hys ryche apparrell In the lyft hand he helde a target in hys ryght hand he brandished a Iauelyng Many that encountered agaynst hym he strake starke dead yet dartes came flying at him froÌ„ all sides Howbeit he being of an incredible courage and strength dyd marnayles in armes At the length when hys shylde stake full of dartes so that he could not handsomely wield it standyng with his face towarde hys enemyes calling to his harnessebearer by name he coÌ„mauÌ„ded hym with a loude voyce to bryng hym another target When it was brought vnto hym he let slyppe hys old one to haue taken the new in his hand in the which chaunge it was his chouÌ„ce to receaue his deathes wouÌ„de by a dart that was sent at hym By the whyche albeit he lost much bloud yet notwithstandyng lyke a most puyssant champion he neuer gaue foote backe nor neuer tourned hys face but standyng stoutly towarde hys enemyes fought it oute as longe as he was able to stande on hys legges vntyll at length sebled wyth trauell and losse of bloude he fell downe flatte vppon hys face It was almost syre of the clocke when Teias dyed The death of Teias And yet the Gothes were nothyng at all dyscouraged wyth the death of theyr Kyng but helde oute the battell vntyll it was nyghte neuer geuyng one foote backe Fynallye when it was so darke that they coulde not see the battell ceased beyng begonne at the sonne rysyng That nyghte both the armyes watched in theyr harnesse and assoone as the daye pered they fell to fyghtyng a freshe contynuing so styll vnto the sonne goyng downe to the great slaughter of both partes At length the Gothes sente vnto Narses offeryng to departe oute of Italye so he would suffer them wythout impeachemente to carrye suche thynges as they had awaye wyth them But yf he woulde not graunt them thys request they sayd they would neuer leaue fightyng as long as the breathe was in their bodyes When Narses had heard their demaundes by the aduise of hys counsell he condyscended vnto theÌ„ to the entent he would not to the great preiudyce and losse of hys men seeke the aduantage of hys desperate enemye In the meane tyme aboute a thousande horsemen fled oute of the Camp of the Gothes and by greate iourneyes came vnto Pauie and other townes beyonde the ryuer Po. The residue fell to a fynall agreement with Narses promisyng to departe oute of Italye carrying nothyng more then euery man hys owne and neuer after to make warre vpon the Romayne Empyre prouyded alwayes that they themselues shoulde retayne still their freedome and libertye wythout any bondage or subiection to the Empyre The whiche being done according to couenant Narses receaued Cume al other townes that held with the Gothes and so ended the eyghten the yeare of this warre FINIS
and yet they that had robbed hym had hys good wythin the Cyty and dyd weare it daylye before hys face These wordes dyd styrre the pacience of Belisarius verye sore And therfore affoone as he came home he caused Constantine to be called before hym for they were his souldiers that had taken awaye the sworde and gaue hym a great rebuke for neglectyng of his commaundement so oftentymes in delyuerynge of the sworde Marry ê™ Constantine I wyll rather throwe it into the Tyber then I wyll restore it to that Varlet This was very lewdly and presumptuously answered Then sayde Belisarius vnto him art not thou vnder me Yes sayd he for as much as it is the Emperours pleasure But yet for all that in this one thyng I wyll neuer be ruled by you whyles I lyue When Belisarius hard hym saye so he was more angrye with hym then before and called for the Serieauntes Constantine knowing that it should be to his coste that the Serieauntes were sent for drewe out his Dagger that hung at his thigh and lyke a Bedlem runnyng at Belisarius and dabbed hym in a lytle beneath the stomacke Out of dout yf such as stood by had not spedely stept vnto him and wronge the Dagger out of hys hande and delyuered hym to the officers Belisarius had surely died forit and hys death had drawen all things with it to vtter ruine the Gothes had the same day bene made lords of all But God of hys infinite goodnes woulde not suffer so great a mischaunce to happen And after at the commaundement of Belisarius Constantine was put to death Within a whyle after Treason tvvise detected the Gothes attempted to haue raken Rome by stealth first by a way that they founde out in one of the channells of the conduites in the night tyme and afterwarde by stealing ouer the ryuer in botes nere vnto the fielde of Mars But they missed of their purpose in both places For in the channel theyr owne lyghts bewrayed theyr couert workyng by meaues whereof the channell was stopped they enclosed from gettyng out And at the field of Mars their treason was detected so their attempt was made frustrat The treason was deuisedin this wise Two rascall Varletts that dwelte by S. Peters churche the Gothes as is showed before neuer offered harme or displeasure to that place but in honour of thapostle preserued bethe the buyldynges therof and those that dwelled in them unhurt had secret coÌ„ference with Vitigis of betraying the citie And to bring theyr purpose to effect they deuised this policie Beneath the field of Mars in one place the walles were vexye weake sore decayed for lacke of looking to by reasoÌ„ as I think thei the had ben before tymes trusted altogether to the defens of the Ryuer Vitigis therfore caused lyghters barges and all kind of botes to be put in a readinesse at the brydge Miluius For had he once set any conuenient number of hys souldiers ouer on thother side of the ryuer he thought it would be an ensie matter after the landing of the first to conuey ouer still mo and mo in the same vesselles He douted nothing so muche as that the watchmen that warded on that side should escrie hym and bewray his denise For the auryding of which dout he corrupted the two Remaines for a piece of money to further thys attempt To whome he delyuered a sieping pouder willing them to geue it the watchmen with wine to th entent that when they had dronke the same they might fall into a dead slepe After these conueances were thus deuised agreed vppon the one of them beyng stryken with repentance disclosed the whole matter to Belisarius and there vppon the other beynge taken with the slepie medicine aboute hym that the Kynge hadde geuen hym was put to the torture and compelled to vtter all the order of the matter The whiche done Belisarius caused his noe and eares to be cut of and settyng hym vppon an Asse sent hym out at the Pincian gate to the Gothish Campe to the entent that Vitigis might perceiue how that his close workyng was detected and his serret practises browght to lyght ⧠The .ij. Chapter ¶ Vpon the disconerrie of the treason the truce ceaceth Iohn Vitalian vvynneth divers tovvnes from the Gothes and amongest other Arminine vppon the takinge vvherof they breake vp their liege before Rome WHen Belisarius had so onely discouered these their craftie packinges The truce broken betvvene the Gothes Belisarius he thought it not mete to obserue the truce any lenger with them Wheruppon he wrare to Iohn that he shoulde execute his commission He with his two thousand horsemen scouring the couÌ„trey of the Picents through tooke the wyues and children of the Gothes prisoners and forraged spoyled all the whole countrey from the one ende to the other Morcouer encounteryng with Vglitheus vncle of Vitigis by the fathers syde coÌ„ming against him with an armye of the Gothes he vanquished him and stew the captaine himself with a great part of his hoste so lyke a coÌ„queror ranged ouer al the whole countrey When he had wonne many townes that he was about to besiege AuriuuÌ„ it was not vnknowne vnto him what a slender garrison was with in the town but yet the place was of it self very strong defensible And therefore thinkyng it folly to spend the tyme in vayne aboute the besieging thereof he kept on hys iourney forwarde The same opinion also had he of the besieging of Vrbine For the citie being wel fortified strong of it self sented of necessitie to aske a long time in the siege therof he had put al his hope in spedie celeritie He tooke Fauum PisauruÌ„ and then brought his army against Arimine in hope to get in because he had heard saye that the men of Arimine could not well agree with the Gothes When he had ones brought his hoste to this towne the cast such a terrour vppon the Gothes thereby that thei durst not abyde thereaboutes but remoued vnto Rauenna and the towuesmen set open their gates to let him in By this meanes Iohn toke Arimine leauing behinde two stronge cities manned by the Gothes namely Auximum and Vrhine All the which doinges were cleane contrarye to Belisarius commaundements Howbeit he thought it better to be sure of Arimine then to spende hys tyme vaynly in lying styll aboute Auximum and Vrbine Wherevnto he was the rather persnaded because that Arimine a towne so nere neyghbour vnto Rauenna being taken it was not lykelye that the Gothes would tary any long tyme after at the siege of Rome but rather make hast to come away to the defence of Rauenna and the places thereaboutes The which thing came so to passe in dede For as soone as the Gothes vnderstood that Arimine was taken they determined to breake vp their siege before Rome and to depart thence Vitigis therefore within a few dayes after set fier on his
battel A battell betvvene ildouade and the imperialles This encounter was fought not farre froÌ„ * Novv called Trenizo Taruisium against Vitalis one of the Emperours Captaines In the which Ildouade getting thupper hand made such aslaughter of Vitalis army the whiles the captanie himself with a few sled away all the rest were either slain or taken prisoners by the Gothes Through this victorie being so great so notable it is a wonder to see how the gothes were entouraged how much the power of their aduersaries was abated In so much the not only beyonde the Ryuer Po and vnder the dominion of Venice but also all suche as on thys syde the Po helde of the Gothyshe part were throughly strengthened and the name of Ildouade grewe famous euen in the Emperour Iustinians Court and amonge forreine nations also It was not long after but that he pursued to that death Vraias a man of much aucthoritie and estimation among the Gothes vpon presumption the he should conspire with his enemies This cause was pretended The death of Vraias Howbeit somme were of opinion that he tooke prytch agaynst Vraias by cause that latly before there had bene alterration betwen his wife and the Quéene But surely I cannot thinke that Ildouade being a graue wyse man would be so farre ouersene as to be induced with brablinge matters of women to kill suche a man as was Vraias I beleue rather that the cause why Ildouade dyd putte him to death was that he feared his power aucthoritie For it is mamifest that the Gothes in generall are of nature very mistrustfull and scarce sufficientlye fasthfull toward their kinges Many of the Gothes dissalowed the death of Vraias and openly detested it as a heynous and wicked acte By meanes wherof it came to passe that Ildouade himself was stayne by one of his owne gard whiles he sate at his meate The death of Ildouade In his stead was Ataricus created King but he raigned not long For with in fiue monethes after his election he was slain by his owne subiectes for his euil behauiour misgouernement The death of Ataricus Thus hauing killed two of their kinges wtin two yeres space they offered the kingdome with one consent vnto Totilas Totilas created king This man before he was made kynge had borne great aucthority at * Novv called Treuizo Tarui fiuer which is a citie of the Venetians and hys father was brother to Ildouade late Kynge The .iii. Chapter ⧠A larger declaration of the election and creation of Totilas mencioned brieflye in the Chapter before The Emperours Captaines through their insaciable gredines of pray stryuing for the bootie before they had gotten it lose the Citis Veron vvhiche vvas deliuered into their handes and betray their ovvne companie AFter that Ildouade as I shewed before was slaine Totilas dreading to be in daunger bycause he waws so nere of his kinne sent priuely to Rauenna made compact with themperours captaines to turne vnto them with such as he had rule of to yeld vp the town of Taruisium into their haÌ„ds A day was limited for performans of the matter But ere euer the day came the Gothes repenting the they had reioyced in that death of Ildouade that they had made Ataxicus their king a maÌ„ nether of wisdome nor courage able to defend the Gothes against so great strength of their enemies began to encline to To tilas the nere kinsman of Ildouade to wishe that he were their king In coÌ„ clustoÌ„ they dispatched Ataricus out of the way made Totilas king in ded Iustinian hauing intelligence of these things the had happened in Italy found great fault with thunskilfulnes cowardnes of his captaines that in al the tyme the their enemies were so at dissention among themselues among so many alterations chaunges they hauing so great oportunity for the speÌ„ding of their matters had done nothing at all The captaines moued w e this dishonorable rebuke asseÌ„bled togither at Rauenna There when it came to consultation as concerning the war it was thought best first formest to send an armye against the citie Veron For they had ben secretly put in hope of thobteining of the towne The captaines were in nuÌ„ber xi of whoÌ„ the chiefe were Constantian AlexaÌ„der lately sent thither by them perour for the collection ofhis money Therfore setting forth wyth a greate armye when they approched neere to Veron they determyned to putte in tryall the hope that was lately genen theym For there was one Martine a noble man of that Countrie that had a Castle not farre from Veron who for as much as in his hart he was unperiall had allured the keper of one of the gates to let in that emperours army The matter being in this wyse closely agréed vpon when the captaines came thither with their armye they sent before one Artauades an Armenian with a number of pycked souldiers to take the gate there to awaite the coÌ„ming of the rest of the hoste No parte of promyse was lefte vnperformed in that place For in the dead of the night wheÌ„ the souldyers came to the gate the traitour set it wyde all open let them into the Cytye They enterynge in and hauynge also taken the walles aboue the same gaue notyce thereof to the rest of the armye The Gothes perceiuing their enemies wythin the towne fled out at another gate Note the couetousnes of thimperialles and vvhat came of it The captains hearinge that their men had taken the towne marched forwarde But ere euer they came there they fell at altercation for the spoyle by the way staied fiue miles from the Citie In the meane while the daye brake Now there is a castle aboue the citie of Veron which hath a very great prospect both into the towne also farre into the countrye The Gothes which were fled into this hold perceliâ—â—g few of their enemyes to be within the Citie and the armye to abyde still without makinge no approch toward the walles sodainely yssued out of the Castle aduenturyng through the citie recouered to the gate where their enemies came in shut it The souldygers that were entered by night were partly oppressed partly flying to the walles made resistens froÌ„ aboue Anone after the captaines comming thyther finding the gate shut although the souldiers wtin called to theÌ„ for help desiring them not to abandon them in that sorte yet notwithstanding they retired backe againe out of hand Some of the souldiers leaped downe the walles saued themselues among which number was Artauades the Armenian their guide The rest were eyther slaine or ells taken prisoners By this meanes through the misgouernement couetousnes of the Captaines striuing amonge theymselues for the praâ—e before they had gotten it when they shuld haue made most spede for the winning of the same the matter quailed about Veron The iiij Chapter ¶ f Totilas by his
of instice the vvilfulnesse of the Gothes in the education of theyr kyng the vntimely death of the said Athalarick the great freÌ„dship of the Quene tovvard Theodatus the ingratitude of him tovvards her agayn themperour Iustinian sendeth Belisarius against the Gothes and he conguereth all Sicill THeodorich being deceased with out issue male his doughter Amulusuentha as then a Widow with her sonne Athalaricke succeded in the kyngdome This Athalaricke was but a chyld to speake of and therefore all the whole care of the gouernment lay in the Quéenes necke Who hauyng great regard of her infant An example of the good education of a Prince immediatly dyd put hym forth to be broughte vp in learnynge and good nurture For she gaue hym learned men to be is teachers and appoynted certaine Lordes of the Gothes men auncient of great grauitie and good bringyng vp to be continually aboute hym And she heer selfe looked verye straightlye to the gouernement of the Empyre prohibiting the Gothes as well to do wronge as to take wronge and also repealyng diuers actes of her father Theodorich Iustice and clemencie in a vvoman reducyng them to a moore gentlenesse and clementie Amongest the whiche this was one that she restored to the sonnes of Boetius and Symmachus their fathers goods and inheritaunce which Theodorich had lately before confiscate affirming that they were wrongfully condempned through false accusations whereto the kyng vnaduisedly had geuen lyght credit Furthermore she compelled her cosyn germaine Iustice vvithout parcilaitie Theodatus who hauyng great possessions in Thuscane had taken many fermes and maners violently from hys neighbours lyke a tyrant to make restituition of the harmes he had done with a sharpe rebuke for hys great misbehauiour This seueritie of the Quéene made many of the Gothes to become her enemyes And therefore tertayne of the chief â—â— them conspiring together determined to bring vp her sonne contrary to her disposition maugre her power Wherevpon thei came vnto her saying it lyked not the Gothes that their kynge shoulde lyue in subiection vnder tutors and teachers or that he should be kept in awe of his elders they sayd it was meete for a Kyng of such pusaunce as he should be to set hys mynde vppon cheualrye and feates of armes and to exercise hymself among lusty yong gentlemen rather than to learne to wayte vppon a maister or to sit glummyng amonge a sort of old Doctards For by this meanes both the body the mynde of their Kyng shoulde bée effeminated But through thother he should encrease as well in strength and courage as also in conning and experience For he was not made kyng to th entent to instruct his people in learnyng but to enlarge his dominion by knighthod cheualry The Quéene albeit she were not ignorauÌ„t to what end purpose al this drift was driuen yet not withstanding because she would not seme to be vtterly against their requests she coÌ„descended vnto theÌ„ The yong prince being deliuered to the coÌ„pany of as youthfull as himself win a litle while after Licentious liberty corruption of youth fell to a more lasciuius trade of liuing folowig altogether the lust of the flesh such other kinds of filthy pleasures And against his mother he became so stoberne self willed through thenticement of ill couÌ„ sell that he disdeined to go vnto her or speake to her The Queene when she saw her self by such pollicies assaulted of her aduersary and bereft of her kyngdome EuÌ„ill counsell â—he confusion of counsellers being a woman of a stout courage could no lenger beare with their doynges but sent certaine of her officers priuely and put to death thrée of the chiefest of the Gothes whiche were the ryngleaders and counsaylers of her sonne vnto all noughtinesse And so hauyng reconciled hym vnto her she tooke vppon her the gouernement again But Athalaricke beyng fallen into diuers surffetts and diseases through the disorder of hys former lasciuious lyuyng The death of Athalaricke deceased in the .xviij. yere of hys age when he had raigned with his mother x. yeres after the death of Theodorich The Queene aftre the decease of her soÌ„ne thinking that she shuld be the better able to wade through the weightye affayres of the realme yf so be she had some partaker assistent Theodotus is made kyng tooke her cousin Theodatus of whome I made mencion before to be her pertner in the kyngdome Thys Theodatus was excellently well learned both in Latyne and in Greke and had geuen himself much to the readyng of Plato and other philosophie Neuerthelesse beyng of nature féeble and vnconstant he was distayned wyth many vices An example of excedyng ingratitude Through whych where as the quéene of her mere bountie good wyll had raysed hym from a subiect to the state of a kynge he forthwyth requited her with the greatest ingratitude and treacherie that could be For he conspired secretly with her enemyes and tooke and sent her as a banyshed persone into the Ilelande in the lake of Vulsin And ere it was long after he suffered her to be kylled by the kynsfolke and chyldren of them whome she had put to death in the tyme of the obstinat rebellion of her sonne agaynst here This so great vntrueth and treacherye of Theodatus dyd greatly disquiet many of the Gothes lamenting the vnworthy mischaunce of the Queene to see the posteritie of Theodorich so wickedly destroyed in so much that it wanted but litle but that the Gothes had made insurrection against him Whereof as soone as the Emperour Iustinian had intelligence for after Zeno The cause of the vvarres be tvvene the Emperour the Gothes Anastasius Iustine the Empyre descended vnto him thinking that the tyme now serued to set Italy at libertie he applied all his whole mynde and study how to compasse and bring the same to effect Herevnto his prosperous successe since he was Empereour prouoked him in as much as lately before by his captain Belisarius he had vanquished the Vandales and wrested Affrick out of their hands And therefore he thought it was not to be abidden that contrary to the honour of the Romain Empyre Italy shuld be held in subiection by the barbarous The effect of them perours ambassade van to Theodatus Induced with these reasons he sent Ambassadours to Theodatus requiring him to surrender vp Italy Sicill in recoÌ„pence whereof he profered him other dignities promotioÌ„s the which offer yf he refused then he denounced open war against him Vpon the refusall of these offers made by Theodatus the Emperour entending to make no further delay Belisarius is appovnted in to Italy and Mundus into Dalmatiz coÌ„maunded Belisarius to passe into Italy with his army Howebeit whiles he was making preparatioÌ„ he preteÌ„ded as though he would haue sent his nauy into Affricke not into Sicill About the same time also he coÌ„maunded another of his captaines called
ladders to scale the wals with commaundyng all his armye to be ready in their harnes wherof he had the nymblest and best practised aboute his owne persone Shame surmounteth dread of daunger Whyles he was thus aboute his matters many of the souldiers that were with Magnus retyred backe for feare of the daunger and could not be made to go forwarde neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule Whome Belisarius sent away wyth great rebuke supplying their roomes with two hundred of them that he had about him Vppon the which reproche euen they that before refused to go folowed The souldiers wont a long and a blynde way in the chanell For it ended not at the wall but led further into the citie being vaulted euer aloft with Bricke In so much that the souldiers wist not where they were vntyll they espyed the skye at the ende of the vault Then they perceyued themselues to be in the middes of the citie out of the which place it was a hard matter for them to escape because they had ylfauoured clymburg vp vpon the high walles wherew e it was endosed round about Neuerthelesse at length when one had helped vp another all were come owt Naples is caten they went to the walles there hauing slayne the watchemen toke two towres from thens gaue a signe by sownding atrumpet and making a greate shoute By and by Belisarius made toward the same places and rering vp ladders comaunded his souldyers to scale that towne In thesame place happened much trouble muche taryens by reason the ladders being made 〈…〉 not able to reach the toppe of the wall By meanes whereof they were driuen of necessitie to bynde two ladders one at th end of another so to get vp This was done on the northside of the town and at the same instaum was a sharpe encounter at the other side of that towne that is toward the sea For in the same place fought a multitude of Iewes leud desperat perfoÌ„s such as hoped for no fauour nor mercy if that citie were taken The desparate fighting of the iewes And therefore they stood stoutly at defens geuing no place of entrance to thenemie Another part of the host had set fier on the East gate made hast to breake into the citie In the meane feason the day began to breake the souldiers the had scaled vp by ladders had broken open a gate to let in tharmy ther withall thother company russhed in at the East gate that was before set on fier Then was there running through the citie and all places were defiled with slaughter and rauysshynge But inesverially those souldyers played the Butchers whose brothers or kinsfolke had bene slaine in the former conflictes by the Neapolitans a boute the Citie For they after that the towne was taken vsed the victorie very cruelly sparing no age yong nor old man nor woman And the Iewes whiche defended that part of the Towne that is toward the sea when all the rest of the towne was taken stode neuer the lese styfly at their defens neyther gaue thei ouer before that the souldiers ronnyng aboute the Citie assayled them behynd Then was enterans made on that parte of the Citic also and euery place was repleneshed with slaughter and sacking The elementie and gentle vsing of the victorye by Belisarius But Belisarius himself after the taken of Naples vsed the victorie veri gently For after that weapoÌ„ was ones Layd out of hand he suffered not any Citizen to be eyther flayne or taken prysoner and he restored the women to their husbandes and parentes vnrauished and vndefiled at all Towarde the Gothes also which were there in garrison he shewed no maner of cruelty As for Pastor and Asclepiodotus the Authours and causes of so great mischiefes not Belisarius Euyll counsel worst to the geuers therof but the people of the towne themselues did iustice vppon Who the next day after the taking of the citie ranne to theyr houses and finding Asclepindotus at home kylled hym and drewe hym thorought the citie But they coulde not finde Pastor For he euen in the verye tumult of the taking of the citie either wilfully slew him selfe or ells dyed for bespaire and sorow of mynde Yet notwithstaindinge the people bearynge a deadly hatred against him neuer left sekyng him vntill such tyme as they sawe hys dead carcas wyth their eyes Neyther coulde they be satisfied but that they tare hys bodye in peeces euerye member from other And Belisarius did beare with theyr outragious dealynge for the euyll whych they had coÌ„mitted vpoÌ„ whom such cruelty was ertended 〈…〉 this meanes bothe taken and saued ⧠The .vij. Chapter ¶ The Gothes kyll Theodatus and set Vp Virigis to be theyr Kyng Vitigis maketh an oration to the Senate and people of Rome and leadeth awaye the chiefe of them with him for pledges he marryeth the doughter of Amulusuentha and enteteth in league with the Frenche men Belisarius commeth to Rome whiche is yelded to hym by the Citizens he forâ—fieth and victaileth the citie and getteth certaine townes from the Gothes THE Gothes that dwelte at Rome and other places thereaboutes hearyng of those thinges that were done at Naples were stryken with great feare and mistruste in them selues For they beleued vndoutedly that Belisarius would come against them Wherefore encouraging one another and calling forth the rest that were men of warre of theyr owne nacion they encamped themselues betwene the cities of Anania Taracina There when 〈…〉 men of warre of the Gothes were assembled together findyng great faulte with the former misgouernent present cowardnesse of Theodatus The election of Vitigis with the deposition death of Theodatus finally they made insurrection against him in the campe and set vp Vitigis to be their kynge This Vitigis was not borne of the blood royall but he had alwayes bene knowen for a stout Captain a good man of warre through his valiaunt behauiour he had purchased much honour authoritie Theodatus when he hard thereof stale priuely away fled toward Rauenna with all the spede he could make But the new king sending of his gard immediatly after him ouertooke him by that way killed him After this Vitigis came to Rome there making an oration to the Senate the people put theÌ„ in remembrance of the benefits of Theodorich The oration of Vitigis to the Romains exhorting theÌ„ not to worke any nouelties For he told them that the Gothes had a great power in Italye and that those things which had lately hapened chasiced not through the imbecillitie weakenes of their nacion but because that the Gothes could not find in their harts to loue obey Theodatus But now considering they agreed all in one will drew all by one lyne cleane contrary effects must nedes followe And therefore no man should be able to attempt any alteration hereafter in Italy but that he shoulde
not to be discontented though Ildouade the Gothes that remayned endeuoured to prouide for the saufgard of theyr weale publique Thys was the summe of theyr ambassade Belisarius answered openly therevnto An example of a faithfull subiect and of an inuincible mynde that as long as the Emperour Iustinian lyued he would neuer take vppon him to be kynge Wyth thys answere the Ambassadours retourned to Ildouade vnto Pauie And Belisarius hauynge decked hys Nauie sayled towarde Constantinople wyth Vitigis and dyuers other noble men of the Gothes and all the kynges Threasure the fyfth yere after the warre was begonne in Italy * The thyrde booke of Lenard Aretine concernyng the warres in Italy against the Gothes ⧠The first Chapter ¶ Thentertainement that Belisarius and his prisoners had at Constantinople A commendation of Belisarius good gouernement by comparison betvvene hym and the Captaines that succeeded hym WHen Belisarius was come to Constantinople the Emperour Iustinian welcomed hym with great ioy and hauing hym in great reputation and honour put out of mynd all mistrust that he had co ceyued of his doinges before The Gothes whom he had brought with him were entertayned very gently and courteously and men wondered to beholde theym the whych mighte seme to haue chaunced not without good cause For there was Vitigis king of the Gothes that of late had besyeged Rome wyth such a multitude What they vvere vvhome Belisarius brought prisoners to Constantinople and his wyfe Amulusuentha thenece of Theoderich somtime king of the Gothes who first brought them into Italy and there gaue them possessiōs Furthermore there were the two sonnes of Ildouade then Kynge of the Gothes whem Belisarius fynding in the Courte of Vitigis at Rauenna wold not suffer to depart but brought them away with hym into Grecs There were other noble men of the Gothes also whom al men beheld wondering at the puissans of Belisarius that had atcheued so great exploytes and extolling him wyth prayses to the skye in that he had lately before subdued Aphrycke and now Italy vnder the dominion of Iustinian And thus went the worlde in Grece In Italye after the departure of Belisarius the order of thynges by the commaundement of the Emperour was committed to the discretion of Iohn of Bessas of Vitalis Constantian also was come out of Dalmatia was added to the nūber of the Gouernours It was soone seene what difference there was betwene the gouernment of these men of Belisa The prayse of belisarius For to omitte his skilfulnesse in feats of warre cheularie wherin he far surmounted al the Captaines of his time there was in him a singuler humamtie gentlenes through the which he exhibited himself aswell to the poore as to the rich There was no maner of person but might haue easie fre accesse to is presens besides that he was wonderous bountifull liberall Vnto his souldiers that had lost theyr horses weapons and armour so it were not cowardly forthwith he gaue new agayne Of the husbandmen he had so great regarde that in leading of hys armie he would not suffer any of them to be hurte or endomaged Hys souldiers durste not be so bolde as to touche the Apples hangyng on the trees Through this his straightnesse in obserning the lawe of armes he obtryned that his campe was more plentifully serued then the marketts in any citie So free and without peryll was the conueyance of all things that were to be solde His vprightnesse towarde suche Cytyes as were in societie and leage wyth hym no man is able to reporte as it deserued Men myghte heare of the great good tournes that he dyd for them but not that he vexed or molested any of them But as for them that succeded hym they were nothynge lyke hym neythey in humanitie neyther in prowesse neyther yet in vyryght dealynge For bothe they them selues were Pyllers and Pollers and also they suffered theyr Souldyers to fall into all kynd of licentiousnesse disorder beynge proude to theyr partakers and easye inough to be entreated toward their enemies by meanes wherof within short space matters began to goe cleane backeward and to slyde into open and manifest ruine as I shall sheweyou hereafter The .ij. Chapter ¶ The diligence of Ildouade kinge of the Gothes the greate misgouernaunce of the Imperiall Captaines by meanes vvhereof then be brought lovve and the Gothes incresed ion strength and courage The death of Vraias the death of Ildouade the electtion and death of Ataticus and the election of Totilas ILdouade beyng newly created kyng of the Gothes as I declared before after the departure of Belisarius went in hand wyth hys matters very diligently For he gaue commaundement that all the Gothes and all the Italians that fauored the Gothyshe parte should at a daye appoynted meete all rogyther readye furnished with armour at Pauye His armye at that beginning was verye stender but it cōtinually encreased euery daye was in better hope and comforte then other The iniursous dealing of the Empeperours Collectours causeth great alteration The couetousnesse and wrongful dealing of their aduersaries dyd not a lytle helpe the Gothish part For the collectours of Iustinian vnder the colour of forfeytures and arrerages began to vexe the people of Italy maruelous bytterlye and to compell theym to the payment of summes that were neuer due For by calling an accompt of all thyngs that the Italians had taken charge of in the tyme of Theoderich fyrste kynge of the Gothes or of anye other of the Kynges that succeeded hym togyther wyth the accompte of all suche offices as anye Italyan had borne durynge the sayde tyme and moreouer by makyng inquisition for the money lately promyfed by the Cytyes to the Gothes the whyche they chalenged to the Emperour as due by the name of forfeyture they broughte euery man priuatelye and all the Cytyes generallye in suche adespayre that they wyshed the Gothes to be loroes of all againe therevppon many of their owne free will reuolted to Ildouade helpinge to augarent the number strength of his armie The loke grudge was also in themperours armie For loke with what greadines the money that was neuer due was tracted of the Italians with like pinching were the souldiers restrayned of theyr due deserued wages Ther 's was no regarde had of any thyng but one which was to satisfye the Emperours vnsatiable couetousnes by gathering of money and spendinge none againe And therfore as well the souldyers as the Italyans beyng constrained with so great wronges sought to bryng the Empyre to decaye By meanes whereof Ildouade daylye growynge stronge brought vnder hys obeysance all the Cytyes beyonde the Ryuer Po and all the Cytyes perteynynge to the estate of Venice and hys armpe was fullye furnished with number both of Italians and Gothes Through the whyche within a whyle he was so encouraged that he was not a frayde to leade hys armye into open feld to try the fortune of
beseged Paul his hand of horsmen hauyng fasted al that day the nyght folowing wtout meate or drynke the next day beganne to consult what was best to be doone There were the gaue rounsel to endure the siege with horsfleshe But this deuise semed horrible for the lothsomnes of the vnacoustomed feding Hope to escape by flyght there was none the Gothes befetting theÌ„ on all sides round about ready at receipt to cut theÌ„ of So there remained no shift but to yeld that semed both perillous and dishonorable The wordes of Paule to his souldiers And therfore Paule taking vpon hym to speake said in this wife My fellows companions in armes which way so euer we turne vs ye sée we are driuen to an vtter exigent For there is no waye to escape by flyght the euemies enuironing vs round about with their armye and taking so good hede to vs. And to yeld our selues to them besides the disshonor cowardnes of the facte we are like to be horribly tormemed rentiÌ„ pieces For the cruelty of these bar barous people is not wont to be coÌ„tented with any simple hind of death As to a bids the fiege to fede vpon horse flesh let theÌ„ doe it that â—â—ke to be rescowed I cannot sée what reason ought to per snade vs vnto so great sufferance which are vtterly destitâ—â— of any sUch hope onlesse that like a sore of fain tharâ—eâ— boies for feare of death we had rather pine ourselues with sorow than haue our fleshe cut with a sword And I assure you eyther to yeld to theneâ—â—te or to statue for hunger I count it the propertie of them that haue neither hart nor broud in theÌ„ But vnto vs which are 〈◊〉 of our handes acquainted with feighting an honorable death is rather to be embraced then a shamefull lyfe And therefore let vs in such wyse dye that we may hath our felues in the blood of our enemies not die vnreuenged Let not our enemye laugh at our destruction but wepe Neyther let vs hold vp our throtes to be cut by them but lette vs with our weapons cut theirs For what can the respit of a few yeres profit vs sytheus that if we should escape aliue nowe yet are we sure we shall die ere it be longe after Glorye may lengthen mens liâ—â—es but nature cannot Aduanuee yourselues forth with me therefore to an honorable death the whyche oure enemyes aswell as our countrymen maye wonder at and extoll wyth eternall prayses to the sky The horsemen encoraged wyth these wordes vowed them selues to deathe And there vppon embracyng and kysfyng one another they prepared themselues to the battell full héent and determyned to spend theyr lyues manfully Their purpose was to runne vppon the Gothes that warded next vnto them and to bestowe theyr lyues in the slaughter of theyr enemyes Fortune faue reth the couragious When Totilas sawe them thus bent to trye the vttermost for feare least the desperate endouour of them should doe the Gothes more displeasure then otherwyse so small a number were able to doe he fent an herault to them offeryng theym choyce whether they would departe wyth theyr lyues leanyng theyr Horse and armour behynd them or elles retaynyng all styll serue hym in hys warres in lyke estate with other of hys Souioyers When the horsemen heard that they were verye glad and at the firste chose to leaue all that euer they had to goe to Constantinople But afterward considering the long iourney and the daungers that might happen by the waye they returned their myndes chose to abyde all with Totilas sauyng their Captayne Paule Mundus an Isaurien These tâ—◠〈◊〉 as much as they had wife and childreÌ„ at home Totilas sheweth himself earnest in reparing and peopling of Rome desired to depart And Totilas helping them liberally wyth viand other necessaries sent them again to Constantinople Furthermore be commaunded the no man should be so hardy as to offer any wrong to ani of thother souldiers in garrison that had taken sanctuarie in that church Toward the Citie of Rome he neither extended any crueltie nor went aboute to make it desolate as he had done before But made a serch for the Citizens therof in the townes of Campanie in other places reduced them home again Furthermore he made in Rome tourneies and iustes such other primelye passimes as are wont to be done in fortunate quiet Cities with great cost and solemnitie to the entent the Citizens should conceiue good hope haue a desire to the Citie The houses also which had bene ouerthrowen or consumed with fire in the former desolation of the towne he went about to needifie and repayre Finally he shewed nowe as great a defyre of replemshinge Rome as he had doone before of wasting and leauyng it defolate Thys so great mutabilitie and alteration of hys mynde fomme beleued to haue rysen vppon a vow that he had made to the Apostles Peter Paule whose teÌ„ples he myght seme to haue destroied wheÌ„ he destroied the citie Othersome imputed it altogither to the profyte and commoditie of the warres And dyuers doe reporte that when Totilas latelye before desyred the Frenche Kynges daughter in mariage aunswere was made hym that he was not Kynge of Italye when he had subuarted the Cytye of Rome The whych Taunt men saye altered hys mynde to the repayrynge of the Cytye But what so euer was the cause of it he endenored to repayre and buylde agayne the Gytye of Rome After thys he prepared to make a vyage into Sicill For the furniture whereof he builded him a great flete of Galleyes made a greate number of hoyes and hulkes while he was making preparation for that same he determined to besiege both by water and by lande Centmucelles whiche one Citye was not yet comme vnder hys subiection Captayne of that piece was Diogenes who as to before mencioned escaped lately from Rome He had gathered to hym a good stronge companie of men of warre Therefore at suche tyme as the Gothyshe armie came thither and had encamped theÌ„selues nere vnto the walls of the towne Totilas sommoneth cent mucelles Totilas sendyng an afficer of Armes to hym sommoned hym eyther to come feyght it out with his power against the gothes or els to yeld vp the town vnto hiÌ„ For it was not for him to loke for any help at Iustimans hand considering he neuer releued Rome al the while it was besieged onles perchance he thought themperour did set more by Centmucells then by Rome Diogenes replied therunto saying that as for to fyghte with hym he was not mynded at that time and as for to yeld vp the towne sauing his honour and fidelitie he coulde not before he had sente to knowe the Emperours pleasure and to desyre helpe Whereuppon forasmuche as he seemed to speake that which was honest and reasonable they fel to composition that onlesse the Emperour after
was preferred by the iudgement of all men chosen king of the Gothes After that he was thus in stalled in the fiege roial by by he toke to his vse the threasures that Totilas had laid vp at Pauie diligently going in hand to repaire his power to raise a new army to geue distribute horse armour to doe all other things vigilantlye and moreouer to send to the Frenchmen to allure them to take his part in the warres ⧠The .viii. Chapter ¶ Narses continuinge his iourney receiueth Narma and Peruse and winneth Rome by assaulte wherevppon the gothes extend a maruelous crueltye against the Romaine prysonners NARSES hearynge therof commaunded Valerian to fye as it were in garrison wyth hys band about the Ryuer Po to the entent the Gothes shoulde not straye to farre abroade at theyr pleasure wythoute feare and he hymselfe wyth the rest of hys armye marched to Rome In hys waye Narma was yelded vppe to him and he graunted the men of Spolet certayne of hys souldiers for theyr defence vntyll they myght repayre theyr walles whyche Totilas had beaten downe Also he sent to Peruse to sommon that Towne there were in Peruse two Captaynes Melegidius and Vlithus Who beynge at variance betwene theymselues drewe soundrye wayes For Melegidius coueted to yelde vppe the Citye Melegidius and Vlithus Captaines of the Gothes But Vlithus beynge gyltye of the treason and the murther latelye commytted agaynste Cyprian stroue agaynste it for feare to be punnished accordynge to hys desertes By meanes where of there rose contention in the whyche Vlithus was slayne and Peruse was yelded vppe to Narses by Melegidius After thys Narses procéedynge to Rome besyeged it The Cytye of Rome at that tyme stoode in thys estate The Cityzens beynge afflycted wyth the former calamytyes resorted not in any greate number into the Cytye Ye should haue seene whole stréetes emtye and neither man nor woman dwel lynge in theym and the houses eyther fallen downe or elles bourned For Totilas not able to repayre it agayne speciallye the Cytyzens beynge so sore wasted and in manner destroyed The Gothes therfore distrusting their own weaknes that they were not sufficient to defend the whole Citie had chosē a piece of ground not very bigge nere vnto Adrians tumbe the whych they strongly fortified with a diche a rampyre ioyned it to the wall of the rest of the Citie Into the whych place they conueied all their munitions and artillerie vsing it as a fort or a holde Neuertheles they did not vtterly abandon vp the citie but defended it aswell as they could Narses therefore determining to winne the citie assaulted it in diuers places at ones And the Gothes resorting to the same places stood at defence from that walls While these thinges were a doing Narses taketh Rome another cōpanie of the souldyers of Narses stealing aboute to the further syde fyndynge no bodye there rered vp their ladders and skailed the walles The noyse that was made therevppon bewraied that the Cytye was taken and the Gothes leauing theyr defence some fled to the towne of Portua some wythdrew thēselues to the forte at Adrians tumbe The crueltie of the gothes towarde the Romaynes By thys meanes Narses gate Rome after he had a whyle besyeged the hold he toke it by composition There were in Campanie many Senatours Senatours children whom Totilas for the great aucthoritie fauour that their auncestours had wold not suffer to retourne into the Cytye Besydes them there were dyuers of the nobilitie whyche the Gothes had sent thither vpon mistrust All the whiche wyth their children and kynsfocke the gothes did put to death Moreouer Totilas had chosen CCC yongmē as it had bene to scrue him in that wars but in very déede to kéepe thē for pledges and therefore he sent them on a vyage beyond the Riuer Po. The which like wyse after that Rome was come into that hands of Narses were put in death euery chone by the Gothes ⧠The ix Chapter ¶ The falsehoode and treason of a gothishe Captayne named Regnaris Narses recouereth Portua Teias kinge of the gothes and the sayd Narses encampe one againste another by a Ryuers syde the warter runnynge betwyxte them wythoute anye battell vntyll after longe tyme Teias hauynge throughe treason loste hy◠shippes and by meanes thereof beynge destitute of victualle and artillerye to keepe that grounde anye lenger remoueth to a hyll not farre from the same place where beynge in manner besyeged by Narses he setteth hys men in battell raye and geuynge ferce assaulte vppon hys enemyes after a whole dayes feyghtynge and manye a noble deede of prowesse by hym doone he is at laste slaine and the battell ceaseth for that nyghte the whyche begynueth agayne the nexte mornyng contynewinge all the daye lykewyse vntyll it be darcke nyghte Wherevppon they sende commissioners vnto Narses for peace whyche vppon reasonable condytions is graunted and the warres in Italye are broughte to a fynall ende and quietnesse ABOUTE the same tyme Regnaris Captayne of Tarent when he hearde that Teias was made Kynge and that the Frenchemen woulde comme to hys ayde The falsehou and treason of Regnaris repented hym that he hadde reuoulted to the Emperour and determyned to tourne to the Gothes agayne Nowe to the entente he woulde recouer agayne hys hostages he ymagined thys subteltye He sent to Macurius Captayne of Hydrunt desyrynge hynt of ayde agaynste an armye of the Gothes whyche he falselye alledged were commynge agaynste hym Macurius mystrustynge no deceipts sente hym fyftye of hys Souldyers to Tarent whome Regnaris immediatlye caste into pryson and wrat vnto Macurius that yf he woulde haue his souldiers he should delyuer hym the hostages that he had of hys in kéeping Vppon the receit of thys message Macurius was sore troubled in hys mynde and leauyng a few men behynde hym for the defence of hys piece went wyth the rest of hys armye agaynste Regnaris Regnaris makynge no delaye in the matter put to deathe all the Souldyers that he had receyued and then yssuynge oute of Tarent to encounter wyth Macurius was putte to the worse and being driuen to flye with the losse of most of his souldyers when he coulde not recouer to Tarent for that the waies were forelayed Narses recouereth Portua he gate hym to Acheruse In the meane season Narses sendyng hys armye to Portua besieged the towne at length recouered it After thys he assailed Centmucelles and in likewise brought it in subiectiō Teias also ceased not to sollicit the Frenche nation and to allure them to take hys parte in the warres promysinge them sometyme monnye and sometyme copertenershyppe of the kyngdome of Italye But the Frenchemen had alreadye determyned not to entermedle themselues in anye suche warres By meanes whereof the Gothes were disappoynted of theyr hope Totilas in the time of hys lyfe had gathered togyther a greate Threasure at Pauye had layd vp no small masse of