not very brode but it is so deepe that neyther horseman nor foteman can passe it Aboute thys ryuer bothe armyes encamped Narses on the hyther syde and Teias on the furtherside the riuer ronning in the myddes betwene 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 sorte 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 â—ight 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 froÌ„ whence it was â—il conueyed to the Camp But after the time that their nauie through treason was loste and that they coulde haue no more â—ualls and artilleryâ— 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 â—yll 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 in the same place also as much oppressed with 〈◊〉 as they were before determined to put the matter in tryall by the sworde And thereupon puttyng themselues in aray vpon the toppe of the hil they descended from aboue sodaynely assayled their enemyes thynkyng nothing 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 horfes fought on foote Narses dyd set hys fotemen also to encounter with them The battell was cruell bloudy in all places For â—n the one syde the Gothes fought obstinately as men in despayre on the other syde the souldiers of Narses were 〈◊〉 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 weâ— nie beuÌ„eged them now in the hyll which they had fled to for their refuge Both parties being incensed with these persuasions foughte very valiantly â–ª I will not passe ouer with 〈◊〉 the noble Demeanor of Teias Kyng of the Gothes in hys hattel 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 maruayles 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 chaiÌ„â— to receaue his deathe swouÌ„de by a â—art that was sent at hym By the whyche 〈◊〉 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 â—ebled wyth trauell and losse of blouds he fell downe flatte vppon hys face It was almost â—yre of the clocke when Teias dyed 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 Fiynallye 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 assoons as the daye peredâ— they fell to fyghtyng a freshe contynuing so styll vnto the sonne goyng downe to the great â—aughter of both partes At length the Gothes sente vnto Narses offeryng to departe oute of Italye so he would suffer them wythout impeacheâ—e 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 demauâ—des by the aduise of hys counsell he condysâ—nded vnto theÌ„ to the entent he would not to the great preiudyâ—e and losse of hyâ— men seeke the aduantage of hys desperate enemye In the meane tyme aboute a thousande horsemen â—ed oute of the Camp of the Gothes and by greate iourneyes came vnto Pauâ—e and other townes beyonde the ryâ— Poâ— The residue fell to a fynall agreement with Narses promisyng to departe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Italye carrying nothyng more then euery man hys owne and neuer after to make warre vpon the Romaynâ— Empyre prouyded alwayes that they themselues shoulde retayne â—till 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 eyghtenthe yeare of this warre FINIS * Now called 〈◊〉 maiore * Now called Tartarie The dâ—th of Valentinian Augustulus 〈◊〉 deposed and Odoacer 〈◊〉 peth The cause of the commyâ— of the Gothes into Italy Odoacer is besieged Composition betwene Odo acer and Theodorich The death of Odoacer The raygne and actes of Theodorich Symmachus â—tius An example of the good education of a Prince Iustice and clemencie in a woman Iustice without parcialitiâ— Licentious liberty corruption of youth Euill counsell the confusion of counsellers The death of Athalarickâ— Theodotus is made kyng An example of excedyng ingratitudo The cause of the warres be twene the Emperour the Gothes The effect of themperours ambassade vn to Theodatus Belisarius is appovnted in to Italy and 〈◊〉 into Dalâ— Beli◠〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 and of his do ing there A politique Captine * Now called Saragoza * Now called Palerno The siege of Panormus the â—ynnyng thereof The good suc cesse of Belisariuâ— The doingâ— of Mundus 〈◊〉 Dalmatia Sodaine battell betwene the â—thes
many to as many or some what mo in number then they them selues were and to be of more conning and audacitie in their feighting His horsemen being thus by litle and litle practised began to set lyght by the horsemen of theyr enemies And the besieged beganne to take courage and confidence vnto them To be short it came to that point that they would not any more 〈◊〉 but feight it out in the playâ—e held wyth hand strokes For the Captaynes and the Souldyers had lyen so sore at Belisarius and had so often and so earnestly entreated hym that he determined to trye some greater encounter And therevpon he disposed his armye in this wyse First he commaunded one band to issue out at the gate of Aurelius and to stand in battell raye before Adrianus tumbe against theyr enemies The charge of this bande he commited to Ualentine Lieutenant of the horsemen geuing him besides his horsemen a certayne of the olde expert footemen and of the peoplâ— of Rome which of their own fre wyll requested the thyng at his hand He wold not haue these footemen stand with the horsemen but willed them to take the hilles which rise ouer the playnes on the left hand of Ianiculum And he gaue Ualentine commaundement tâ— make a shewe as though he woulde euer geue an onset vppon the enemye but in anye wyse not to encounter with them vnlesse he were compelled For hys mynde was no moore but to deteyne that parte of the Gothes that encamped in that place styll there to the entent they shoulde not succour theyr felowes at the gate Salaria where he determined to feyght Then made he two other battels one at the gate Saleria and another at the gate Pinciana And in them both he placed the horsemen in the forewarde and the footemen in the rereward commaundynge eche battell to issue out at theyr seuerall gates and to marche toward theyr enemies Uitigis kynge of the Gothes hauyng intelligence by certayne runnagates that he shoulde haue battell the nexte morowe caused the Gothes to arme them selues by the breake of the daye In orderyng of hys battelles he set hys footemen in the middes and on eche syde of them hys horsemen as it were in wynges In thys order he proceded agaynst Belisarius and gaue hym battell The Souldyers on bothe sydes encountered together very fyercely And the Captaynes folowynge after them Belisarius on the one syde and Uitigis on the other encouraged their parties At the beginning of the battell the Souldiers of Belisarius were farre to strong for their enemies and many of the Gothes were slaine The battell was foughte harde by their campe by meanes whereof the Gothes abounding in multitude sent euer freshe and freshe in steed of them that were ouerthrowen In this sorte the conflict lasted vntyll it was noone neyther partye gettynge aduantage of other Howbeit the Souldyers of Belisarius foughte more cherefullye The Gothes helde it out onely with sufferaunce In the meane tyme the battell that stood at the Sepulchre of Adrian encountred with theyr enemies For the people of Rome descendynge from the hylles gaue charge vppon the Gothes And Ualentine perceyuynge hys people entangled wyth theyr enemyes marched forewarde wyth the Hoste whereof he was Captayne from the 〈◊〉 of Adrian and assayled hys 〈◊〉 also By reason whereof the Gothes were not able to endure long against them in especiallye foras muche as they were abasshed at the great number that came downe from the hylles so that beyng not able to recouer agayne to theyr Campe they were fayne to flye further of Nowe the Romaynes that came from the hygher groundes fell by and by to ryflynge of theyr enemyes Tentes By meanes whereof neyther they them selues pursued theyr enemyes nor yet the Souldyers but suffered them to goe where they woulde For the Souldyers perceyuynge them to fall to ryflynge to the â—ntente they woulde not lose theyr parte of the Praye lefte the pursute of theyr enemyes and retourned to spoyle theyr Tentes also And so the Gothes being let slip when they sawe that no body folowed after them stayed in the next mountaynes From thence beholdyng theyr tentes to be pulled downe and caryed away when they perceyued howe theyr enemyes kept neyther any order nor warrelyke discipline they encouraged one another and gaue a newe charge vppon them Whome by reason they were laden and skattered in gatherynge of the spoyle they easly ouercame and so both saued theyr tentes and also recouered theyr pray By that tyme Fortune beganne to chaunge her copie aboute the kinges campe also For the Gothishe footemen resorting in great number out of the nexte campe cast them selues vppon Belisarius horsemen and keueryng them selues wyth theyr shieldes in maner of a vaulte preased so sore vppon the forefront of theyr battell that they compelled them to lose grounde The whyche thynge when theyr horsemen that stoode on the ryght wynge perceyued they also assayled Belisarius horsemen on the syde Who beynge not able to abyde the brunte and force of them any long tyme at length retyred to the mayne battell of theyr footemen The which beyng not of strength sufficient to withstande the violence of the enemye was with great slaughter lykewyse put to flyght Howe be it there were two Peticaptaynes named Principius and Taruunt whose manhode and audacitie was well approued in that place to theyr great com mendation and immortall fame For at suche tyme as all the reste fled they two kepyng theyr standings put them selues against the whole power of the Gothes and kepte them occupyed to thentent that theyr companye mighte haue space to recouer the citie so long vntyll Principius beynge pitifullys mangled all hys body ouer after long feyghtyng fell downe and aboute hym two and fourtye of hys retinewe and Taruuntes being of lyke valiantnes and courage when he had lost much blood at hys woundes and that hys strength beganne to fayle was caried out of y e battel to the Pincian gate by hys brother whether he woulde or no and there fell downe dead After whose departure the Souldyers ranne ful flyght toward the Citie The Romaines standing vppon the walles dyd shut y e gates against them for feare least their enemies should haue entered in with them by meanes whereof agreat forte of the souldyers were shutte out who getting ouer the Uaumure stood with their backes to the wales and their faces toward their enemies hauyng no way to saue their lyues but one which was to be defended by them that stood vppon the walles For the most part of them hauing eyther broken their wapons in the battell or â—lls throwen them a way in the chace had not wher with to defend them selues Howbeit those that were vppon the battelmentes defended them wyth stones Thys battell being begonne at the Campe of the Gothes at the laste ended harde at the gates and walles of the Towne There were sâ—ayne of Belisarius men a great number and those of the valiantest
Gothes then to feight wyth theym in open felde Marching therefore the waye before mencioned when he came vnto the hilles that ryse agaynste Arimine as 〈◊〉 nedes be lightly in so great an armye he founde certaine of hâ—s enemies ranging abrode The which beyng either slayne or elles taken prisoners some of them with their faces sore mangled he let goe agayne Who returninge to the Campe of the Gothes brought tidynges that Belisarius was at hand wyth his whole power for the confirmation whereof they shewed their faces newlye wounded It was aboute noone when this newes was brought to the campe And thervpon proclamacion was made to harnesse that euery man shoulde fall in order of battell vnder his antesygne The Captaines hauyng putte their men in araye waited for the commynge of Belisarius lookyng continually toward the moun taines from whence he was reported to come But Belisarius had aboute midday encamped himselfe in the mouÌ„ taynes a good way of from Ariminie and came not downe to hys enemyes that day By meanes whereof the Gothes hauyng stood gapyng for them all day to no purpose at length about the Sunne setting brake their aray and retourned into their tentes Howbeit when night came espying a great sorte of fiers on the sea coast cleane contrary to that way that Belisarius was reported to come they were the fiers that Martyne and hys armye made they were in great feare all that night in so muche that there was not anye of them that eyther tooke any slepe or put of hys harnesse As soone as it was daye when they beheld the nauie also ready decked and furnysshed makinge sayle toward Arimine for feare least they shoulde be entrapped by two hostes at ones the one from the lande the other from the water they by and by brake vp theyr siege and without any order fled to 〈◊〉 Fyrst of all arriued Ildeger with hys 〈◊〉 at Arimine and goyng on land spoyled the tentes of the Gothes Anone after came Martine and Belisarius wyth theyr armyes When 〈◊〉 beheld Iohn and hys souldyers that had bene beseged howe pale and leane they looked wyth hunger turning him selfe to Iohn as it were to taunte him for hys rashenesse he saide ye are muche beholdynge to Ildiger and worthye to thanke him for his paines Iohn aunswered proudlye and arrogantlye agayne that there was no cause whye he shoulde thanke Ildiger or anye man elles saue onelye Narses As who should saye he desyred to haue it knowen that Belisarius woulde smallye haue regarded hys delyueraunce ys Narses had not compelled hym These wordes troubled Belisarius and they were the begynnynge of discorde For after that tyme Iohâ— standyng in feare of Belisarius cleaued vnto Narses The residue also of his frends styrred vp Narses with euyll counsell against hym Uouching that it was not for his honour being Threasurour of Thempyre and one of the Emperours priuie counsell to be led by thad uise of Belisarius specially seyng that he him selfe had an armye farre passyng tharmye of Belisarius both in number and strength of souldyers and also in pollicie of Captaines and therfore he ought to seeke the glorye of the recouery of Italy from the Gothes to hym self and not to Belisarius These flatterynge persuasions set Narses in such a pryde that he euer after encamped by him self and would not folow Belisarins aduise in nothyng But consulted by hym selfe as touchynge these warres and all other affayres that were in hande Neuerthelesse they went bothe together to the fiege of Uâ—bine but yet not in one campe For Belisarius laye on the â—ast syde of the towne and Narses on the West At suche tyme as Belisarius was purposed to haue assaulted the towne and had prepared engines for the same Narses laughyng hym to skâ—rne for his labour within a daye or twayne after he came thither brake vp his siege and retourned with hys armye to Arimine leauyng Belisarius his company in worse case then yf he had not come there at all For the enemye perceiuinge parte of the armye to dislodge beganne to take a stout cou rage â—nally regarding that part that remained still behynd Neuerthelesse Belisarius beganne to rere vppe ordinaunce toward that gate of the towne where the ground was most leuell to geue the aduenture to wynne it by assault Whiles he was putting these things in a readynesse by a meruelous good fortune it happened that the fouÌ„taine the townesmen of Urbine haning no mo but that one onely dryâ—d vp of the owne accord Wherthrough it came to passe that the town for feare was yelded vppon condition that the Gothes and the Citizens of Urbine should become subiectes to the Emperour Iustiâ—an in as free and ample manner as other Italyans that were Imperiall The. vi Chapter ⧠Of the great dearth that was throughe all â—taly and how the Gothes besege Millaine and winne it throâ—gh the discord of Belisarius and Narses Whereof the Emperour beynge aduertised by Belisarius calleth Narses out of Italy Whervpon Belisarius hauing absolute aucthoritie agayâ— procedeth wyth the warres and besegeth Aâ—mum the sytuation and strengthe whâ—reof 〈◊〉 here declared WHen 〈◊〉 was thus yelded vn to hym for as much as it semed not as yet expedient tattempte the â—ege of Auximum Belisarius led his 〈◊〉 against the Urbeuetanes The winning of that towne was somâ— what difficult because it stood vppon a rocke so stepe on all sydes that men coulde not well come to assault it The onely hope was to wynne it by famin For Italy was as it were so worne to the hard bones with continuall warre and troden vnderfoote with many armyes that there was not one citie in all the countrey but it suffered scarsitie and penurie the which penurie Urbeuetus also being at length op pressed came in subiection to Belisarius Narses lyinge at Arimine sent Iohn with an armye of men to wynne Cesena At the which towne as he was scalyng of the walles he was reÌ„pulsed with manye woundes and loâ— a great sort of hys company In the same assaulte was slayne Phauotheus captayne of the Erules Wherevppon Iohn desisting from Cesena went to Forum Cornelâ— the whiche was yelded vnto hym by composition The same tyme Mundilas and those that were w t him at Millaine began to be wrapped in great distres For Teudebert the French kyng as is before specified being by Uitigis called vpon for ayde by vertue of the leage that was betwene them had sent to Uraias ten thousand Burgonians vpoÌ„ confidence of the which multitude he encamped himself not far from Millain suffering neither corne nor any other kinde of sustenance to be conueyed thither Mundilas had of necessitie bene driuen before to disperse his soldiers into Come Bergome Nouaria so that he had no great number of horsemen aboute hym Howe be it the hardest of the mat ter was not the defence of the citie for the Citizens of Millain wyth one accorâ— knitte themselues togyther in the defence
captaines of his horsemen were Ualentine Innocent and Magnus and lieutenaunt generall and soueraigne of them all was Belisarius Who folowyng the commaundment of the emperour hys maister whereas he pretended to sayle towarde Cartharge ariued by the way in Sicill and there goyng a land as it had bene to refreshe hym selfe and hys souldyours when he espied tyme and occasion for hys purpose sodenlyâ— he assayled the citie Catina and wonne it Then shewyng hym self with hys army abrode and disclosing hys prepensed purpose within few dayes after he receyued Syracuse by composition After this it is a wonder to sée how victory ranne on hys syde and how the Cities of theyr owne accord yelded and called him to them The cause herof was the hatred that the Sicilians bare to the Gothes and the authoritie of the Empyre of Rome together with the presence of Belisarius Whome for as much as he had delyuered Aâ—ricke from the Uandalians they hoped should do the lyke by the Gothes thorough Sicil Italy Moreouer the Go thes had made no preparation in Sicil because they looked not for any warre there By meanes whereof it came to passe that as many of the Gothes as were in Sicill beyng amazed at the sodain inuasion of Belisarius and the hasty reuoltyng of the cities thought more of runnyng awaye then of makyng resistence Only the citie of Panormus by reason there was a strong garrison of the Gothes in it abode the siege and endured it to the vttermost The which citie beyng very defensible and well fortiâ—ed toward the land and therevppon settyng lyght by any thing that thenemie could worke agaynst it at the last by a nauye sent into the hauen was wonne by the sea For the hauen 〈◊〉 hard to the walles of the towne And Belisarius had marked howe that in diuers places the toppes of the mastes reached a great hight aboue the walles of the citie Wherefore he set Archers and â—yngers in the topeastles of the shyppes who with arrowes and darts dyd so beate their ene mies vnderneath them on all sydes that the walles were left naked without defendaunts so that theyr companye went without daunger to the foote of the wall and brake it downe Thorough which distresse theyr enemyes beynge discomforted yelded vp the towne This was the last Citie of all Sicill that came in subiection When Belisarius had recouered Panormus he retourned to Syracuse and there makyng sumptuous and royall pageants threwe Golde and Syluer amonge the poople For it was the laste daye of hys Consulshyppe the whyche was geuen hym in honour of the victorye that he gate of the Uandalians And Fortune was so fauourable vnto hym that besydes all hys formâ— victories euen the verye laste daye of hys Consulshyppe she closed vp wyth the recouerye of all Sicill Thus went the world in Sicill ⧠The. iiij Chapter ¶ Of the doynges of Mundus in Dalmatia agaynst the Gothes of the death of the sayde Mundus and hys sonne Maurice and howe onâ— Gâ—ppa a noble man of the Gothes recouereth all that Mundus had conquered before IN Dalmatia both partes raysed greate powers and 〈◊〉 towardes the Citie of Salons Nowe when they were comme neare vnto the town and that the warre was whote on bothe partes at length there was a battell fought not prepurposed but by chaunce vpon the sodaine without knowledge before of any of both partes The cause thereof was this The captaine Mundus had a sonne cal led Maurice a goodly yong gentleman and a tall man of his handes Who hauyng the leadyng of a troope of Horsemen rode to view the Campe of the Gothes Now by chaunce the Gothish horsemen met with him and assoone as the one parte had espied the other there was no tarience but straight to the skirmishe So thei encountred for a tyme very fiersly and many of the stou test of the Gothes were slaine and at the last Maurice also was kylled Both the Campes hearyng of the skirmishe made spede to rescow their com 〈◊〉 Whyles that Mundus was on hi◠〈◊〉 â—dings was brought him of the losse of his sonne Then the man beyng of nature fierce warlyke ran in a rage lyke a mad man vppon his enemies By that time was al the hoste of the Gothes come thither and the encounter was with the whole power oâ—â—yther part the battell was very blooâ— and cruell At length the Gothes being discomfited with great slaughter and losse of their people were put to flight But Mundus whiles he vnsaciably followed the slaughter of the Gothes and for angre and sorowe of the losse of his sonne pursued the chace to farre was recountered of his dispersed enemies and slain and so the father through the outragious reuengement of his sonne in thend did seeke his own confusion After this battell both armies departed a sundre For the Gothes being vanquished durst not abide in those quarters and the Emperours souldiours being dismayed with the losse of theyr Captain left Salons and retyred backe agayne I thinke it not good to suppress with filens a thing that many authours haue made mencioÌ„ of They say there were certaine old verses of Sibill in the which it was prophesied that when Affricke should be recouered by the Romains then shuld Mundus which word as it is here a mans name so also it signifieth the worlde and hys yssue shoulde peryshe This prophesie of Sybill made many men affrayed doutyng least heauen and earthe with all mankynd shoulde vtterly haue decayed But after the time that Affrick in the former warres was recouered by the pussauÌ„ce of Belisarius then it appeared howe that Sâ—ill prophesied of the destruction of this Captaine and his sonne So depely are all prophesies wrapped in doutfull circumstaunces After the death of this Captaine and the departure of his army the Gothes beganne to growe the stronger in those parts For Grippa one of the noble men of the Gothes imediatly thervppon raising a new power recouered Salons all that euer MuÌ„dus had gotteÌ„ before â— those places In so much that the Gothes were farre of greater power then their enemies in those borders And therwithall Theodatus the king taking stoutly vpoÌ„ him thought himself able to match or rather to ouercome themperour in battell ⧠The. v. Chapter ¶ The Emperour sendeth a new Lieutenaunt into Dalmatia named Constantian who recouereth all Dalmatia and Lyburnia WHEN Iustinian heard of the thynges that were done in Dalmatia he made one of his Courtyers named Constantian Lieutenant of the warres there And therewythall wrote to Belisarius that he should withoute further delaye passe into Italy Constantian therefore hauyng repayred hys armye and throughlye furnyshed hys nauye of all thynges after that he hadde taryed a whyle aboute the doynge thereof at DyrrachinÌ„ remoued from thence and sayled to Khagusium There were at Khagusium certayne skowtwatches set there by Gryppa who seing y â— nauy of CoÌ„stantian passing along the
kepte at the gate prenestine where Bessas stood and at the gates of Aurâ—ius and Ianiculum But the Gothes that assaulted Ianiculum were easlye put â—acke For the place is stepe and vneasie to â—ome vnto insomuch that a man could not well get to the wall though there were no bodye to let hym And therefore must their enterpryse nedes be to none effect the place beyng defended by Paule one of Belisarius cap taines with a puissant band of souldiers At the gate of Aurelius was some what more daunger The waye was vâ—ulted ouer that leadeth to the church of Saynct Peter thappostle The Gothes hydynge themselues in the sayde Porche 〈◊〉 as they espyed tyme for theyr purpose brake sodaynely oute of theyr ambushe and in all haste made toward Adryans Pyle to winne it And they dyd so muche wyth theyr Ladders that at the fyrste brunte they tooke the vttermoste wall whyche encloseth the Pile and was foure square Thys Pyle was the sepulchre of the Emperour Adrian buylded of moste excellent and costly workemanshippe The fyrste circuyt was made fowre-square all of whyte Marble of the Ilande Paros garnyshed throughoute wyth most exquysite workes and portraytures In the inyddes of this square ryseth vppe as it were a tower of a verye great heygâ—th and of such a breadeth that a man were scarse able to throwe a stone directclye from the one syde to the other of the floore that was on the toppe It hathe a brydge leadynge from thcnce ouer the Tyber into the Cytye For the Citye endethe at the Ryuer Tyber and thys is on the furthersyde of the Ryuer Yet notwythstandynge bycause it had a brydge stretchynge harde to the walles of the Cytye and was as it were a certayne Towre or bulwarke Belisarius prouyded before hand to haue it well manned and kept with his owne souldiers committing the charge therof to Constantine Constantine therefore when as a lytle before he sawe hys enemies passinge ouer the Riuer Tiber in botes to assault that part of the Citie which is be twene the fielde of Mars and the gate of Aurelius fâ—aring the lownesse of y â— watles for they were not very strong and defensible theraboutes nere vnto the Riuer ranne thyther from Adrians pyle with a band of souldiers leauing but a fewe behind him for the defence of the pyle The Gothes herevpon as we said before hauinge by meanes of thabsence of the Captaine gotteÌ„ the outer ciâ—cuit endeuored also to winne the pyle it selfe The souldiers that were abouâ— to thentent the more to endomage repulse their enemies committed an euill acte There were in the toppe of the pyle on euerye syde vpon the battlementes great ymages of men horses and chariottes conning â—y deuised and â—cellentlye wroughte Some of these the souldyers tumb led downe wâ—ole vppon their enemies other some thei brake in pieces to throw at theÌ„ And so whether it were through the rudenes or through the lewdnes of the souldiers within few howers were destroied the excellent inuentions of y e conningest workmen in all the world whiche cost so many yeres in making and which were the greatest ornamen tes and the very beautie of the tumbe Constantyne hauynge in the meane while repulsed the enemy from the ryuer hearing in what 〈◊〉 the pile was rescowed it by the bridge and assailed his enemies from beneth wherwith his owne souldiers were greatly recomforted and encouraged By thys meanes the Pyle at length was sauâ—d and the enemy repulsed At the gate to ward prenâ—e also where Uitigis and the Gothes that he brought with hym gaue the assault was great daunger For not farre from the said gate was a place called UiuariuÌ„ The same was double walled wyth a good space betwen the two walles The ground be twene theÌ„ was very plaine and leuell and the walles somewhat weake Uitigis therfore and the Gothes geuing assaulte to the â—ttermoste wall albeit that there was valeant and manful de fence made agaynste theym yet they wanne it by fine force Then Bessas to whose charge that part was coÌ„mitted mistrustinge that he was not able to continue long aâ—ainst so greate power of his enemyes sent worde in all haste to Belisarus in what perill he stood desyring him to come to his rescow w t al the â—pede he could make Belisarius somwhat moued with the mat ter Left sufficient defence behind him at the gate Salaria and hymselfe with a band of hys best souldyers ranne tho rowe the Citye to the same place At hys comminge thyther thencounter was renewed a freshe and the soulâ—iers beganne to take harte at the presence of theyr Captayne The Gothes had vndermined the wall and a great companye of them enteryng in at the breaâ—h stood betwene the two walles By meanes whereof the feyghte was verye sharpe and cruell in the same place In fyne thassaulte came to this ende that the Gothes were coÌ„strained to retyre out at the same gappe where they â—ame in with greate slaughtâ—r and losse of their people As sone as they were gotten oute theyr enemies pursewynge hard vppon them chaced theym away and set all theyr engines on fyre The lyke chaunce happened vnto theym at the Gate Salaria For the souldyers breakynge oute vppon theym burnt vppe all theyr Turrets and other engynes Thus was Rome in one daye bothe earnestlye assâ—lted in manye places at ones and valeantlye defended There were slayn at these assaultes aboute three thou sand Gothâ— but yet the syege endured styll The Romaines albeit they had Belisarius in great admiracion for his prowesse yet they murmured against him in that against so great a puissans of y â— Gothes he had with so small a handful in coÌ„parison styrred vp so great warres cast the Citiâ— of Rome into such extreme perill and imminent daunger The which thinge Belisarius perceyuing for it was not done in huther mu ther althoughe he had diuers other times before aduertised y â— Emperour Iustinian therof Yetnotwithstanding being as then greatly moued with the matter he wrote more earnestly vnto him declaring the beseigement of the Citie of Rome with the huge multitude of his enemies and the litle handfull of his owne men For he saide he had bene faine to diminishe his â—rmye that he brought forth with him by leauing garrisons of souldiers at Panormus and Syracuse in Sicill and by manninge of Naples Cume other places in Italye as nedâ— required for their defence and saufgard so that he had no mo then v. thousand remaining about him and yet he was beseged w t an host of CC. M. The Romains vnacquainted with such perills wold not endure the hasard of y â— siege As for his owne part he had once vowed to spend his life in the Emperour Iustinians seruice thende whereof he passed not greatly whether it came sone or late Howbeit he said there was respecte to be had how much the same should redound to the honour or dishonour of
the Empire of Rome ¶ The. xi Chapter ¶ Themperour sendeth new succours in to Italy Asinarius and Vligisalus Captaines of the Gothes besege Salons in Dalmatia Vitigiâ— winneth Portua and causeth all the Romaines to be put to death whom he helde at Rauenna as hostagâ—s Bâ—lisarius putteth all vnable folke for the wars oute of the citie for consuming of victalls and banisheth the pope vpon suspicion of treason THe Emperour Iustinian was be rye sore moued at the receipte of these letters and therâ—vpon commaunded that certayne souldyers whi ch had bene put in a readynesse before 〈◊〉 immediatly sayle into Italy en tending with all spede to leuie a greater power Ualerian and MartiaÌ„ were appoynted Captaynes of thâ—se souldyers whyche he had alreadye prepared and whyche had wyntered all the dead tyme of that yere in Aâ—toly and Aâ—arname The newes hereof beynge broughte to Rome put the Romains in good comforte lokynge for theyr arriuall as sone as the tyme of the yere wold serue While these thyngs were a dooynge at Rome Asinarius and Uligisalus Captaynes of the Gothes whom Uitigis had sent wyth an host of men into Dalmatia appoyntynge to theym moreouer for theyr more strengthe a nauye of shyppes beâ— Salons bothe by sea and lande For Constantian 〈◊〉 hym selfe to weake to matche so huge a power as hys enemies had fortifyed the Citie throughly before hand and abode the syege Durynge the which sometyme yssewinge oute of the towne he dyd greate harme to the Goâ—es both â—y sea and by lande In thys meane time Rome bâ—ganne to be more hardly distressed by the seyge For Uitigis after the time that he had taken so dishonorable repulse at the foresayde assaulte beynge therewith somewhat quickned ceased not to sâ—ke serche all meanes possible to be deuysed whereby he myghte anoye hys beseeged enemyes There was a hauen by the Sea syde standinge on the ryght hand of the Ryuer Tyber and adioyning to the same a Cytye enâ—yroned wyth a stronge wall In the whyche place were woâ—te to be sette a lande all suche thynges as were broughte 〈◊〉 water and from thence agayâ— eyther by landâ— or by water were conueyed to Rome Uitigis therfore sending thither sodain ly a great number of his souldiers assailed the said citie of Portua vnwares and wonne it ere the townsmen could put themselues in a readines to make resystens aganst so greate a power of the Gothes By taking of this towne strayt wayes â—nsued great distresse at Rome when their vent of fetching in of corne and victiualls was ones stopped For the Gothes leauing a garison of souldiers there dyd kepe both the towne and the mouth of Tiber suffering nothing to be conueyed in It was not longe after but that Uitigis sent commaundement to Rauenna that al the Citizens of Rome which as is declared he led from thens and kept for hoâ—tages should be put to death Many of them were of the nobility and many of the commanaltie surely worthy per sonages all the which tasted of one cup sauyng a few who hauinge incling of the matter before escaped by flighte Amonge the which number were Cer Ceruentinus Reparatus the brother of Uigilius that was afterward pope For they hauing warning therof fled into Fraunce and saued their lyues the rest were all put to death In the tyme that the Romaines moorned and lamâ—nted for the slaughter of theyr citizens at Rauenna there came another sorrow in the necke of it For Be lisarius fearinge least graine shoulde faile and waxe scarce made proclamacion that the citizens should send away their wiues and children wyth al thother multitude that was vnmete and vnable for the warres compelling hys men of warre also to doe the lyke whych had eyther Lemans or lackeys with in the towne There were as yet two wayes left them to passe out at One leading to Ostia by the left syde of the ryuer Tiber and another through the fields cleane coÌ„trary from those places that were beseged by theâ—my For the Gothes as we haue sayd dyd not enui ron the whole Citie with their syege but onely from the gate of Aurelius to the gate that goeth to Preneste Beyond those boundes they durst not be bold to be ouer busye or to stray ouer farre For yf they adueÌ„tured ouer farre from theyr Campe they lightly ranne in daunger of commynge short home they could not stirre any great way onlesse they went in greate companyes By meanes whereof it came to passe that men myght at all tymes goe and come saufely by the waye of Appius and the way of Ostia The Romaines thâ—refore sent forthe their wyues and children and all their other people that were vnmâ—ete for the warres Wherof somme abode in Campanie some at Naples and some in Stâ—ill as eue ry man thought most for hys commoditye and behoofe At Rome Belisarius gaue streyghte commaundemente and looked narrowlye to it that the corne was deuyded by the poll to the entent y â— no waste nor spoyle should be made of it The same time Belisarius bannished the town Liberius the pope vppon suspicion of secrete conspiratie with the Gothes And anone after was Uigilius consecrated high bishop and enstalled in his steed Other of the nobilitie of Rome also were bannished vppon lyke presumption of the which number was one Maximus whose great graundfather after the death of Ualentinian had vsurped the name and dignitie of the Empyre The. xij Chapter The ayde that the Emperour sent into Italâ— commeth to Rome Belisarius after practising his souldiers in skyrmishes encountereth with the Gothes in a mayne battâ—ll and is ouercome with great slaughter WHyle these thynges were a doing Martine Ualerian whom Iustinian had sent forth as I shewed before came vnto Rome bringing with them a thousand sixe hundred horsemen the which for the most parte with all Hunnes Belisarius beynge recomforted by the commynge of these Souldyers determined to order hys warres after another sort then he had done before For he was not mynded to stand styl with in the Citye kepynge of the walles but euery daye sent out hys lyght horse men and skirmyshed wyth hys enemyes in open fyelde By meanes whereof it came to passe that bothe partes were wonderfullye enflamed and nothynge was lefte vnattempted For Belisarius beynge a most expert captaine in feats of armes taught his horsmen what they should do shewing them how farre they shuld go where and when they should stay One while he sent out his horsmen sodainly at the gates Salaria and Pinciana and disquietted the Gothes that encamped theraboutes Another while he would yssue oute at Aurelius gate and be doyng wyth the Gothes that lay betwen Adrians tumbe the bridge Miluius In these conflictes the souldiers of Be lisarius beganne to preualle Not that they were able to match the whole power of theyr enemyes horsemen but because they seemed to be to good for them being equally matched as
and best practised ¶ The. xiii Chapter ⧠Of dyuers skyrmishes duringe the continuaunce of the syege the Gothes enuiron the Citye wyth another Campe wherevppon groweth scarcetye and anone after enseweth the plague Belisarius by hys pollicye caused scarcetye in the Gothyshe campe likewyse into the whiche the plague spredeth it selfe also AFter this battell Belisarius absteyned certayne dayes from feyghtyng and was content to defend the walles onely At the length when he had well hartened hys souldiers he beganne to lead them forth againe But he durst not any more encounter with his whole power Only he perseuered to make lighte skyrmisshes as he had benn wont to do before Of the which some were very notable specially suche as were agaynst those Gothes that encamped on the hyther syde of the bridge Miluius ouer against the gate of Aurelius For in the same place is a plaine grounde very fytte for horsemen to skyrmisshe in and in the same playne standeth a theatre buylded in olde tyme for maisters of fence to playe at weapons in Aboute the same theatre were many whote skyrmisshes Because that eyther the souldiers of Belisarius dyd take and vse it for a campe or elles the Gothes prenentynge them layed ambusshes in the same Moreouer both at the gate Salaria and the gate Pinciana daye by daye was skyrmishyng almost euerye daye The Gothes therefore consideryng howe the siege was lyke to continew longe thoughte there was no hope of wynnyng of the Citie anye other waye then by famin For albeit that the taking awai of y e hauen might seeme to haue bene a great anoyance yet not withstandyng as mans witte is imaginatiue specially in extremitie the hoyes and such other shippes of bur then as were wont to arriue at Portna arriued at Autium and there vnloding their corne and other necessaries sent them from thence to Rome by land The Gothes therefore desyrous to cutte of this commoditie from the Romains also pytched the eyght Campe aboute the Citie betwene the waye that leadeth into Latium and the waye of Appius For there are in the same place two conduytes the 〈◊〉 crossyng eche other doe stretch as it were into two armes and leauyng a certayne space betwixte them do mete a gayne a good waye of They are from the Citie aboute fyue myles The grounde betwene the sayde armes the Gothes tooke and enclosed with a Wall of stone layed with lome And so by that meanes they hadde a strong and well fortified campe wherin they placed seuen thousande horsemen who infestyng bothe the vpper coast and the neather coast stopped vp the way into Latium the waye of Appius and the waye to Ostia cuttynge of all libertie of conueying in of corne Through this they that were besieged stood in worse case then euer they dyd and it was none other lyke but that Rome shoulde be famished Yet not wythstandynge as longe as there was corne in the fieldes the Souldyers woulde steale out of the towne in the night tyme and fetch in corne the which they solde very dere to the Citizens and so relieued the necessitie for a whyle But when that this shift once fayled then all thyngs laye in vtter despayre Nowe was the Sunne at the highest and the dayes at the longest and the plage beganne to raigne in the towne so that diuers dyed not only of the common people but also of Belisaris Souldiers They were brought to a great diâ—resse and to a sorâ— afterdeale and therefore the Romaines resortyng to Belisarius bewayled theyr heauie misfortune in that they had brought them selues to such extremitie by 〈◊〉 theyr fayth and allegeans 〈◊〉 the Emperoure vppon hys promisâ— For theyr Citizens had bene miserablye murdered at Rauenna by their enemie their citie dishâ— norably 〈◊〉 by y â— Gothes all thinges without y â— walls wasted spoiled within the walls oppressed with intollerable famin penurie of all things Wherefore they besoughte hym to leade them forth against theyr enemy for it were better for them to dye lyke men witâ— their weapons in their haÌ„ds then to pine away for hunger and to abyde so great and so dishonorable calamities When Belisarius heard them make their mone in this sorte he gaue them scarce so gentle aunswere as the case required He saide they were missaduised and ledde by rasshenes accordyng to the nature of common people whyche are wonte to be ledde by rage rather then ruled by reasoÌ„ They knewe well ynough that he was wont to be alwayes ruled by Counsell and to doe hys matters by discretion and not by wylfullnes He looked for an armye of men from the Emperour the whyche beynge ones come yf they were then so willynge to feyghte as they made themselues to be he might be able to warrant them victory wyth oute fayle The sayd armie did bring wyth theym an infinite deale of corne and therefore he wylled theym to departe and to lette theym alone wyth the order of the warres The Romaines with these words eyther recomforted or rather put in feare he beganne to imagin and deuise with himselfe by what meanes he myghte bring scarcenesse of corne amonge the Gothes For the performance wherof he practised this pollicie He sent Constantin and Traiane with a thousand horsmen vnto Taracine and Martine and Seuthis with â—yue hundred vnto Tibur and he placed another bande at Alba. Unto all these he gaue commauÌ„dement that to the vttermoste of their power they shuld stoppe all victuallers from the Gothishe Campe and helpe to 〈◊〉 them that were willing to goe to Rome And to thentent that the Campe which laye at the Conduyt should not anoy them he caused a bulwarke to be fortified at the church of s. Paule and appointed a troope of horse men toward in the same place to thentent to defend the wayes as farre as they could from thinuasions of y â— Gothes The church of S. Paule is w tout the gatâ— toward Ostia quite cleane another way from the church of S. Pâ— ter both of theym standyng wythout the towne and eche of them hauinge a porch from the gate of the Citie to the Church These two temples of the Apostles The Gothes in all the tyme of their â—ge did neuer violate The priestes contynuinge in them dyd their deuine seruice fréely wythoute interruption or trouble as they had bene accustomed to doe in foretymes Constantine and Traiane therfore goyng to Taracine when they had broughte Antonia the wyfe of Belisarius at Naples and there lefte her retourned backe agayne and spoyled all the townes in those quarters whyche ministred relyâ—e and succour to the Gothes and wythin shorts space they broughte to passe that nothing at al was conueyed to the Gothes out of those places Martine and Senthis also goyng to Tibur when they had 〈◊〉 paired the walles of that towne which were decayed dyd dayly molest and disquiet the Gothes out of that place By some meanes or other wold not suffer
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 deuise For the auoyding of which dout he corrupted the two Romaines for a piece of money to further thys attempt To whome he delyuered a sleping pouder willing them to geue it the watchmen with wine to thentent 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 nose 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 Uitigis might perceiue how that his close workyng was detected and his secret practises browght to lyght ⧠The. ij Chapter ¶ Vpon the discouerrie of the treason the truce ceâ—th â–ª Iohn Vitalian vvynneth diâ— tovvnes from the Gothes and amongest other Arminine vppon the takinge wherof they breake vp their siâ—ge before â—ome WHen Belisarius had so openly discouered these their craftie packinges he thought it not mete to obserue the truce any lenger w t them Whervppon he wrate to John that he shoulde execute his commission He with his two thousand horsemen scouring the couÌ„trey of y e 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 Moreouer encounteryng with Uglitheus vncle of Uitigis by the fathers syde coÌ„ming against him with an armye of the Gothes 〈◊〉 vanquished him and slew the captaine himself w t a great part of his hoste so lyke a coÌ„queror ranged ouer al y â— whole countrey When he had wonne many townes that he was about to besâ—ege AuxiuuÌ„ it was not vnknowen 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 bâ—sieging of Urbine For the citie being wel fortified strong of it self semed of necessitie to aske a long time in y e sâ—ge 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 it 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 he cast such a terrour vp pon the Gothes thereby that thei durst not abyde thereaboutes but remoued vnto Rauenna and the townesmen set open their gates to let him in By this meanes John toke Arimine leauing behinde two stronge cities manned by the Gothes namely Auximum and Urbinc All the which doinges were cleane contrarys 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 Urbine Wherevnto he was the rather persuaded because that Arimine a towné 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 Raueâ—na and the places thereaboutes The which thing came so to passe in dede For as soone as the Gothes vnderstood that Ariminc was taken they determined to breake vp their siege before Rome and to depart thence Uitigis therefore within a few dayes after set fier on his tentes and with all the whole power of the Gothes dislodged In his retyring he suffered great losse For when the one halfe of hys armye was passed the bridge Belisarius commaunded hys men to set vppon them that were behynde amonge whome he made suche a slaughter that a greate number of theym that escaped hys handes for haste in gettynge ouer the bridge were throwen downe on both sides and drowned This siege of the citie of Rome endured a whole yere and nyne dayes taking his beginning about the. xiiij or xv daye of March Nowe I wyll pursue the actes of eyther partes and what prouision was made on both sides after the breaking vp of the siege The. iii. Chapter ¶ Vitigis besieginge Arimine is by the diligence and industrie of Iohn disapoynted of an assault that he determined to haue geuen to the towne and repulsed with great losse VItigis albeit he made speede toward Rauenna yet not withstanding he coueted to kepe the cities of Hetruria and of other Prouinces in theyr accustomed obedience And therfore he placed at Clasium a thousande horsemen as manye at Urbiuetus fyue hundred at Tudert foure thousande at Auxiuum at Urbine ij thousande fyue hundred at Cesena and as many at Mountferrat And he hymselfe with the rest of his armie went to besiege Arimine Belisarius after the departure of the Gothes commaunded Martine and Ildiger with a thousande horsemen to make hast to Arimine to bryng John his horsemen that were with him from thence placing fotemen there in their steds The whiche thinge he did to the entent he woulde not haue that bande wherein were the best horsemen of the hoste besieged by the enemie For if so be it that Arimine were manned with fote men he thoughte that the Gothes would not bestowe theyr labour in besieging of it And if they shoulde besiege it he thought the footemen shuld be better able to endure out the siege then horsemen for as muche as it is a difficulte matter to keepe horses in a siege and footemen might easly be conueyed to Arimine at all tymes by water from Aucon whiche newly before had yelded it selfe vnto him Herevppon 〈◊〉 and martine forslowing no time dyd 〈◊〉 a wyndlasse farre from theyr enemyes and came vnto Arimine For the Gothes by reason of the huge multitude of their armye were compelled to take more leysure in their iourney wheras the other beynge lyght harnessed out went theym a greate waye When they were come to Arimine and had declared the mynde and commaundement of 〈◊〉 John would ney ther obey hymselfe nor yet suffer hys cosyn Damian wyth hys horsemen whyche were aboute foure hundred to be ruled by theym And therefore 〈◊〉 and Martine departynge from Arimine ledde awaye wyth theym all the horsemen that Belisarius had delyuered vnto Iohn at hys settynge forthe leauynge behynde theym none but the footemen and those horsemen that Iohn and Damian had of their owne Immediatlye herevppon Uitigis came and besyeged the Towne At hys fyrste commynge thyther he framed a towre of lyke heyghth wyth the walles the 〈◊〉 was not drawen wyth Oxen as
the other was before at Rome but dryuen by souldyers that were wythin the engyne The Gothes therefore sette the same agaynste that parte of the wall where they myghte wyth 〈◊〉 ease approche entendynge the nexte daye to haue wonne the Towne by assaulte But Iohn the same nyghte went oute wyth hys souldyers and caused theym to cutte a broode and a deepe Dyche on that syde castyng vppe all the earthe that came oute of it on that browe of the Dyche that was nexte the wall And so one nyghtes worke disappoynted the longe prepensed labour of the enemye cuttynge of all possibilitye of bryngynge the engyne to the wall Yet for all that Uitigis was mynded to fyll vp the dythe commaundyng all hys armye to prepare Fagotts and strawe wyth suche other baggage for the same purpose And to the entent the towre shoulde not the night followyng be set on fyer by the enemie he determined to drawe it backe agayne to the Campe. As the Gothes were aboute it Iohn issued out with hys souldyers and set vppon them beyng busye about the worke There was a great and cruell combate aboute the Turret and manye of the Gothes were slayne Howe be it after longe feyghtyng they drewe it backe agayne oute of daunger but wyth suche a 〈◊〉 and so greate losse of theyr best men of warre that they 〈◊〉 vtterlye in despayre of wynnynge the towne by force determinyng to subdue it by 〈◊〉 ¶ The iiij Chapter 〈◊〉 Belisarius seudeth Mundilas with a poâ— to receiue Millaine who in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the Citye of Pauie by a misâ— loseth a noble man of hys companye called Fidelis 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 other Cityes of Lombardye yelde vnto Mundilas Vraias the 〈◊〉 of Vitigis goeth into Lumbardye agaynste the Imperialles Be◠〈◊〉 dyuers townes in Italye by composition Vitigis sendeth a 〈◊〉 of souldyers to Auxiuum for the more strengthenynge thereof â–ª the vvhych makyng a rode 〈◊〉 the inhabiters of Aucon throughe the follye of 〈◊〉 Capâ— thereof make a greater slaughter and put the towne in daunger of takynge THe verye selfe same tyme Beâ— graunted an ayde of souldyers to the Ambassadours of Millain that came before vnto Rome He appoynted Mundilas one of hys 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a verye stoute and valiant man to bâ— chieftaine of the said armie In the same band was also Fidelis of Millaine whome we declared to haue bene Stewarde of the kynges house All these being conuâ—yed to Geane by shippe went from thence to Millaine on foote And to thentent they woulde not be hyndered of theyr passage ouer Po they caryed Bots with them in Wagons to ferrie ouer the ryuer withall Marching therefore in this sort as I haue toldâ— when they had passed ouer the ryuer Po and were come to the Citie Ticiuum which is nowe called Pauie the Gothes issued out of the towne and set vppon them For by reason that towne had a strong castle in it the Gothes had bestowed manye and precious thynges in the same and had manned it wyth a great garrison The skyrmyâ—he was no sooner foughte but that the Gothes were dryuen into the Cytye And so Mundilas passed wyth hys armye ouer the bridge that was harde by the town In the same place was Fi delis of Millain slaine For he weÌ„t into a certaine church to make his prayers and the residue of hys company beyng all gone last of all he came out alone as he wold haue taken hys horseback he ouerthrewe The whiche thyng hys enemyes that stood vppon the Walle perceyuyng rusâ—hed our vppon hyâ— and slew hym before that â–ª Mundilas and the souldyers wyste of it The deathe of thys man was great sorowe bothe to the Captaine and to the souldyers For he was a noble man in hys countrey and of muche power and such a one as wyth his presence might greatly haue furthered the warre that was in hand Mundilas therefore and the reste of his companye keepynge on theyr iourney towarde Millaine were receyued into the Citie Therevppon Come Bergome Nouaria wyth the reste of the cities in those borders folowing thensample of Millaine of their owne accorde receyued Mundilas and hys souldyers When Uitigis had knowledge of those thinges that had happened aboute Millaine he sent Uraias hys brothers sonne with a great army into those costs to thentent he should bothe cause such to keepe theyr allegians to the Gothes as had not yet reuolted and also yf he could recouer such as had already yelded Furthermore he wrate to Thewdeberte Kynge of Fraunce wyth whome not long before he had entered in leage desyring hym to minister ayde vnto Uraias In thys state or rather in this expectation were the matters of Lumbardie Belisarius at such tyme as corne began to waâ— rype setting out of Rome marched wyth hys armye towarde hys enemyes The Gothes that were left in garrison at Tudert and Cluse hearing that Belisarius was makyng towarde theym for as muche as they thought themselues ouer weake to encounter agaynste hym forthewyth sent messengers vnto hym and yelded vp theyr Townes by composition Whyle these thynges were in doinge Uitigis sent another armye vnto Auximum For he was vtterlye determyned to reteyne and kéepe styll that Citye Wyth thys armye he sent a newe deputye to haue the charge of the Towne and the men of warre named Uacinius Who adioining his newe souldyers and the olde crewe togyther purposed to attempt the win nyng of Aucon hys nexte neyghbour citie whyâ— was manned wyth a garryson of Belisarius And therevppon he went wyth all hys whole power agaynste the inhabiters of Aucon That Towne in those dayes was walled onclye on that syde that stoode vppon the hyll the lower places situated on the playne grounde albeit they were replenished with buil dings yet were they not enclosed with anye wall Therefore at such time as the Gothes approched 〈◊〉 captain of the towne and souldyers of Aucon fearing least the suburbes and the inhabiters thereof should be wasted and destroyed by thenemye came downe from the vpper part of the towne with all his whole crewe and set hymselfe agaynste hys enemye But in that case Conon was to farre ouermatched For he hauynge scarse a thousand souldiers encountered with his enemies beynge foure thousand And therefore he dyd quickely abye hys foolyshe hardynesse For beynge â—t able to stand agayâ—ste so manye he was at length â—quished anâ—â—eynge put to flyghâ— loste the moste partâ— of hys men and the Citie it selfe was with much a doe hardly saued from taking For when the souldiers retyred full flyght toward the towne the townesmen for doubte leaste their enemyes should enter in amonge the souldyers fearefully closed vppe their gates By meanes whereof there was a greate slaughter made of theym euen harde vnder the wall And the Captayne Conon himselfe was driuen to so narrowe an erigent that he had none other waye to saue hys lyfe but to be drawen vppe the wall by a lyne The Gothes rerynge vppe skalynge Ladders endeuored
to wynne the Cytye Othersome settynge fyre on the houses that we spake of before burnte vppe all that was wythoute the walles ¶ The. v. Chapter ¶ Narses an Eunuche the Emperours Chamberlaine commeth into Italy with a new power and meeteth with Belisarius about Aucon where in consultinge what is to be done after diuers opinions of thother captaynes Narses perswadeth to goe and rescow Iohn Vatalian besieged in arimine the whych Belisarius veâ—ye pollitiquelye bringeth to passe Through flatterie and euill instigatioâ—â—yseth emulation and dis corde betwene Narses and Belisarius Belisarius going with Narses to the siege of Vrbine is of him forsakeÌ„ and yet through good fortune winneth the towne NOT longe after that these thinges were done at Aucon Narses came into Italye wâ—th a newe hoste of men Thys Narses was an Enuche a man that stoode muche in the Emperours fauour and one that bare greate rule and aucthoritie aboute hym For no man myghte commaund in the Emperours court but he onelye Moreouer he was threasurer of the Empyre whyche is the offycâ— of greattest honour and truste and one of hys priuye counsell by wâ—ome the Emperour was in manner altogether ruled He broughte wyth hym into Italye fyue thousande souldyers Tâ—e notablest amonge whome was Iustine Captayne of the Illirien souldyers another Narses a Persian borne Also there were in his retinew MM. of Therules of whom were captaines Isandre and Phauotheus In y â— meane tyme Belisarius hearynge in what daunger the men of Aucon stood was come among the Picents and so was Narses in likwise The captayns and their armies met both together about the towne There as they were consultinge concernynge the warre that they had in hand and were deuisinge what was moste requisite to be done next of all out of hand there appeared many doubtes and daungers in the matter For yf they should go and besyege Auximum Iohn those that were besyeged wyth hym in Arimine should be left in apparant ieoper die inespecially consydering that foode fayled them Againe yf they should go to Arimine they shoulde leaue behynd them at Auximum a great garrison of the Gothes to the preiâ—dice of theyr armye and domage of the countrye In geuing of their verdittes manye of theym that were chiefe officers of the campe spake much against the rashenesse of Iohn in that he had shutte vp hymselfe in Arimine contrarye to the commaundement of Belisarius and that of a proud an couetous stomacke he had runne vppon hys owne heade without regard of hys Captayne or of hys charge When Narses perceyued that fearing least by y e meanes Iohn should be abandoned whom he loued most entierly he spake hys mynde to thys effect My Maisters ê™ he when men consult as concernynge the publyke vtilitie in my opinion they ought to haue an especiall eye thereto for it owne selfe and not to hynder it eyther for malice or for loue Certainly all other thynges set a syde when I waye with myselfe the thing wherof we doe coÌ„sult me thinks I spie this difference in the matter If we delay the siege of AuximuÌ„ there is no let but that with 〈◊〉 fewe dayes after we maye attempt the same when we lyste But yf we make anye taryance in 〈◊〉 the souldiers that are at Arimine we cannot afterward helpe theym when we would For ere many dayes to an end hunger wyll so pinch theym that they shalbe compâ—lled to yelde themselues to their enemies And therefore what indifferent Iudge doubteth but that most spede oughte to be made thyther where tariance procureth vnrecouerable daunger But Iohn ye will saye deserueth not to be succoured because he despised his captaynes commaunde ment and through his owne wilfulnesse cast himselfe into that daunger Admitte that all these things are true y â— are reported of Iohn What then shall we for the hatred we beare to Iohn willfully suffer the destruction of so noble and worthy a Citie as Arimine is and of the innocent souldiers besieged in the same I 〈◊〉 the O noble and puissant Captaine Belisarius yf Iohn haâ—e offended thee wylt thou wrekâ— his trespasse vpon themperour who therby should lose both hys towne and his souldiers to the greate preiudice of the publike weale againe what shall men thinke or what shall men say of vs and our armies if we sitting still like a sort of cowards and beholding it with open eyes shall suffer our companions in armes to peryshe and our besyeged Citie to be taken by the enemye in manner harde vnder oure noses My opinion is therefore that wythoute anye further protracting of tyme we lead our armyes to Arimine to succour our men that are in daunger And afterward yf it shall seme expedient to besege AurimuÌ„ other of our enemis holds To further thopinion of Narses w e al y e very same time came letters froÌ„ Iohn vnto Belisarius aduertising him y t the souldiers constrained by famin had fallen to composition w t their enemies to yelde w tin seuen daies onles they were rescowed in the meane while Herevpon the opinion of Narses was confirmed by the assent of all the whole counsel When it was ones fullye condiscended that succour shoulde be ministred vnto Iohn w e all speede possible Belisarius prouyded for the same in thys wise Fyrst he commaunded Araâ—us to abyde in the same place where they then were with a thousand horsemen willynge hym in anye wyse not to remoue from thence nor by any mâ—anes to attempte fortune for anye occasyon but onelye to defende bys campe yf the enemye aduentured vppon hym After that he furnyshed hys shyppes and embarked hys souldyers commyttyng the charge of them to Herodian and Uliarius But y â— rule of the whole flete he wold shuld be at the discretion of Ildiger coÌ„maun ding him forthw e to direct his course toward Arimine Another part of his army he betoke to Martine bidding him coast the shippes and kepe w e them as â—ere as he could by the shore And assone as they approched their enemies so that thei came w ein kenning then of set purpose to kindle manye fires in their Campe to the entent to make the enemy beleue y e they were a greater army then they were in dede Whiles these kept by the sea coast he himselfe went a contrary waye by the City Saluia The same was somtime a saire citie but it had bene destroyed and beaten downe to the grounde by the Gothes that came fyrste into Italye vnder Alaricus so that nothynge remained therof more then the ruines Belisarius therfore passinge by thys towne marched by the mountaynes eschewynge the playner waye that leadeth to Arimine by the fyeldes of the Fauenses and Pisauriens For seynge that hys enemyes had a farre greatter armye aboute Arimine then he had and that he had lefte a stronge garryson of theym behynde at Auximum he thoughte it more for hys behoofe to vse wysedome and policie agaynste the
tyme as the Frenche Ambassadours came thyther in somuch that he caused the offers of the Frenchemen to be reiected and a Truce to be taken for further communication to be had wyth the Emperour for a small peace and agreement Durynge the whyche Truce the storehouses and garners of corne in Rauenna are sette on â—yre no man can tell how WYthin a stones cast of the walles of Auximum on the north side of the towne there was a wel w t a very freshe spring the which Belisarius purposed to take from theym bycause he perceiued that the townsmen had none other place to fetch water at but onely there To bring this matter to effect he commaunded his armye to be in armour by the dauninge of the next day and to geue an approch to the walles The Gothes thinkinge they had prepared them to thassault placed themselues orderly vppon the battell ments Belisarius in the meane time sent fiue men conninge in such feats with mattockes and axes well pauished w t the bucklars and tergattes of a great number that were sent w t them for their defence to vndermine the well and to cutte downe the tymber work Who assone as they came there dyd get them vnder the shed that couered the well being saufe out of dauÌ„ger from the walles beganne to digge downe the Mason worke But when the Gothes perceiuinge that all their endeuour was about heuing downe the well they yssued out of the towne and assailed theym verye fiâ—rslye The fraye was harde vnder the walles in a place of aduantage and easye to the Gothes coming downe to the defence of the well but very vntoward and vn indifferent for the souldiers of Belisarius to make assault in In this coflicte were many slaine but most of Belisarius souldiers for the Gothes darting froÌ„ aloft myght easly endomage their enemies Howbeit Belisarius was euer at hand calling still vpon hys men and encouraging them w t a lowd voice and would not suffer theym to geue backe but euer put freshe men in the places of suche as were wounded or slaine This encounter being begonne by the sunne rising lasted vntil noone At the last his souldiers pearsing stout ly vpon the Gothes compelled theym to recoyle into the towne Then they returned backe and called away those that were digging downe y â— well supposinge that they had dispatched their worke But they had done litle or nothing to the purpose in mining downe of the Mason worke The cause therof was by reason that y â— well being made in old time was wrought so close and so sure that it had bene an easier matter to cutte a piece out of a whole quar rte then to haue dygged downe anye parte of the wall of it When it was perceyued howe that all that they had done and all theyr feyghtynge was but lost labour Belisarius caused the reste of the water to be infected wyth the Iuce of venemous herbes wyth stynkinge Carions of dead cattell and wyth a kynde of stone called Asuest so longe vntyll he had vtterlye marred it that it was not to be occupied any more so that the Gothes fyndynge scarcetye of water by the mystre of thys well had muche a doe to relyeue theym selues wyth that lyttle and corruped water that they had in fylthye puddles wythin the towne After thys Belisarius neuer soughte to disquiet theym anye more eyther by skermishyng or by anye other meanes but satte styll peaceablye to beholde the ende of the matter At length mention was made of yeldyng and the Gothes requested that they myghte departe to Rauenna wythe bagge and baggage Belisarius hearynge theyr demaundes was in doubte what he were beste to dooâ— For he thoughte that to lette goe so manye good men of warre and therby to augment the strengthe of hys enemies y â— were at Rauenna shuld be nothing to y e profite of y â— weale publique Again to sit spending of y â— time in vain about AuximuÌ„ he thought perillous preiudicial inespecially seing it was re ported y â— y â— freÌ„chmeÌ„ were coÌ„ming to thaid of y â— Gothes But most of al stoud in contentioÌ„ w t him his own souldiers who in recoÌ„pens of their miseries and calamities endured at their longe continued siege loked of dutie to haue the spoyle of the towne and would not in anye wise suffer themselues to be defrauded therof by anye composition or agrement Finally when on thone side the Gothes were sore pinched w t penu rie and scarcetiâ— of things necessarie and on thother side Belisarius in maner forced by the importunitie of the tyme at length throughe Belisarius greate trauell the matter was concluded that the one halfe of all that was in the towne should be geuen to hys souldiers for theyr share and the Gothes shoulde keepe the other halfe styll prouided that the Gothes whiche were wythin the towne of Auximum shoulde serue Belisarius in hys warres in lyke case and estate wyth other of hys souldyers After thys sorte were thynges knytte vppe and the Towne surrendered accordynge to the composition When Belisarius had thus gotten AuximuÌ„ into hys hande he assembled all hys power togyther myndyng to procede agaynst Uitigis and Rauenna As sone as he came thyther by and by he sent Maximus one of his captaines w t parte of hys armye to watche and keepe the banckes of the Ryuer Po to thentent that nothynge shoulde be conueyed into Rauenna that waye For one of the mouthes of that ryuer falleth into the Sea not farre from Rauenna from whence there is a certayne dych cutte oute of the whole ground wherin the ryuer is conueyed to the Towne Belisarius therefore myndinge first formest to disappoint them of this commoditie gaue Maximus charge to kéepe the hythersyde of the Riuer w t that bande that he had deliuered vnto him Uitalis also coÌ„ming out of Dalmatia at the comman dement of Belisarius had committed vnto him the keping of the furtherside w t another band There happened the same tyme a wounderfull chaunce such a strang thing as hath not lightly bene heard of For as a great number of shippes and galeyes were comming out of Fraunce laden wyth corne and victualles makinge sayle toward Rauenna the Riuer fell so lowe that ma ny of the ships stood styl for want of wa ter to beare them Wherby it came to passe y â— they were all taken by the souldiers of Belisarius This was y â— fyrst token of good lucke wherw t fortune beganne to further the procedynges of Belisarius For it could not be remeÌ„bered that euer any such thyng had hap pened before By this meanes was al libertye of caryinge in and out by the ryuer Po cutte of from Rauenna As for by sea nothing could be conuâ—ied in by reason that the enemes of y â— Gothes were euery where lordes of the sea Agayne on the land Belisarius wyth his armye kéept them so short that he would not suffer oughte
about to make himself king of Italy had already taken it vppon him For feare wherof Iustinian sent for him immediatly out of Italy The Gothes 〈◊〉 that coulde not at the first by any meanes persuade them selues that he would returne to themperour Iustinian But when they saw preparacion made for the same and all thynges put in a readinesse toward his iourney then they knewe well ynoughe that Belisarius had wonne them in by a trayne and had vtterly de ceiued them But what remedy For he had both the towne and their noble men in his hand so that they could not so much as bewayle their misfortune one to another but that he mâ—st nedes be priuye to it When the Gothes that dwelt on the furthersyde of Po heard â—ydinges hereof they assembled themselues togyther at Pauye and there bewaylyng one to another the commoÌ„ misfortune of their nation and the deceitfullnesse of Belisarius at length would haue made Uraias theyr kyng The whych thyng he would not in any wyse suffer them to doe excusing him selfe by thys reason that for as much as he was Uitigis brothers sonne he myght not seeme to haue done eyther lyke a kynsman or lyke an honest man yf he shuld take y e kyngdome vpon him whiles Uitigis were alyue Through thys allowable erâ—se alledged for hymselfe he was the occasion that Ildouade a man of great aâ—horitie and power amonge the Gothes and which had bene ruler of Ueron a longe tyme before was created kynge Ildouade therefore beynge sent for oute of Ueron vnto Pauye was there inuested in hys purple Robes of estate and pro claymed kynge of the Gothes to the entent he shoulde studye and take care for the saufgard of hys countrey men Beyng in thys sorte made kynge he sent ambassadours by by to RaueÌ„na vnto Belisarius geuing them charge to put hym in remembraunce of hys promise lately made for the taking vpon him of the kingdome of Italy of the Gothes not letting to reproue him openly of breakinge his faithfull promise through whiche cautel the Gothes were deceyued Wherefore if he woulde yet accomplishe his promise in proclaiming him selfe kyng and shewe the same in his doings Ildouade offered him selfe to come to Rauenna to laye of hys robes of estate at hys féete But yf he had rather be themperours slaue then to be Emperour himself he oughte 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 there vnto that as long as the Emperour Iustinian lyued he would neuer take vppon him to be kynge Wyth thys answere the Ambassadours retourned to Ildoâ—ade vnto Pauie And Belisarius hauynge decked hys Nauie sayled towarde Constantinople wyth Uitigis 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 betwene hym and the Captaiâ—es that succeded hym WHen Belisarius was come to Constantinople y â— Emperoâ—r Iustinian welcomed hym with great ioy and hauing hym in great reputation and honour put out of mynd all mistrust that he had coÌ„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 Uitigis king of the Gothes that of late had besyeged Rome wyth such a multitude and his wyfe Amulusuentha the nece of Theoderich somtime king of the Gothes who first brought them into Italy and there gaue them possessioÌ„s Furthermore there were the two sonnes of Ildouade then Kynge of the Gothes whom Belisarius fynding in the Courte of Uitigis at Rauenna wold not suffer to depart but brought them away w t hym into Grece 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 extoâ—ling 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 Uitalis Constantian also was come out of Dalmatia was added to the nuÌ„ber of the Gouernours It was soone seene what difference there was betwene y â— gouernment of these men of Belisa For to omitte his skilfulnesse in feats of warre cheualrie wherin he far surmounted al the Captaines of his time there was in him a singuler humanitie gentlenes through the which he exhibited himself aswell to the poore as to the rich There was no maner of per son but might haue casie fre accesse to his presens besides that he was wonderous bountifull liberall Unto 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 obseruing the lawe of armes he obteyned 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 vered or molested any of them But as for them that succeded hym they were nothynge lyke hym neyther in humanitie neyther in prowesse neyther yet in vpryght 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 shewe you hereafter The. ij Chapter ¶ The diligence of Ildouade kinge of the Gothes the greate misgouernaunce of the Imperiall Captaines by meanes whereof they be brought lowe and the Gothes incresed in strength and courage The death of Vraias the death of Ildouade the electtion and death of Ataricus 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
armye they sent before one Arrauades an Armenian w t 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 trai toâ—r set it wyde all open let them into the 〈◊〉 They enterynge in and hauynge also taken the walles aboue the same gaue notyce thereof to the rest of the armye The Gothes perceiâ—ing their enemies wythin the towne 〈◊〉 out at another gate The captains hearinge that their men had taken the towne marched forwarde But ere euer they came there they fell at altercation for the 〈◊〉 by y â— way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 miles from the â—ifie In y â— meane while the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now there is a castle abo◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of â—eron which hath a very great prospect both into the towne also farre into the countrye The Gothes which were fled into this hold perceiuing few of their enemyes to be within the Citie and the armye to aâ—yde 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 souldyers that were entered by night were partly oppressed partly â—ying to the walles made resistens froÌ„ aboue Anone after the captaines com ming thyther finding the gate shut although y â— souldiers w tin 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 Ar meman their guide The rest were eyther slaine or eâ—s taken prisoners By this meanes through the misgouernement couetousnes of the Captaines striuing amonge theyâ—selues for the praye before they had gotten it when they shuld haue made most spede for y â— winning of the same the matter quailed about Ueroâ— The iiij Chapter ¶ Totilas by his pollicie oâ—rcommeth the Imperials being of greater force and num 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his army was in the which vierâ—â—ie he sheweth great 〈◊〉 AFter this the Captaynes of Justiâ—ian for because their attempt fell out so ylfauoredly and dishonorable at Ueron began to fall at debate among thâ—mselues euerye man putting the fault in other there vpon departyng out of those quarters they passed ouer the riuer Po marched toward Plea sans At that time was Totilas at Pa uy who hearing of the comming of his enemies raised as maâ— men of warre as he could with all spede possible In the meane tyme the captaines hauing passed beyond Pleasans had entaÌ„ped themselues by the side of the riuer Po. Totilas albeit he were far ouermatâ—hed yet he determined to goe against them w t suche power as he had and to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of battell So when both the 〈◊〉 approched neretogyâ—her that thencounter was fully roâ— vppon by both parties Totilas in the â—yghte tyme sent certayne of hys horsemen before commaundyng thâ—ym to gette ouer the Ryuer almost twenty furlâ—ges aboue the campe of their enemies as soone as the battell was ioyned to reâ—e and assayle thee nemye 〈◊〉 wythe as 〈◊〉 noyse and 〈◊〉 as they 〈◊〉 He himselfe when he sawe hys tyme 〈◊〉 â—warde hys â—nemyes Theâ— captains did y e like There Against this man offered himselfe to the combat Artauades the Armenian of whome mencion was made in the entering into Ueron So in the sight of both tharmies they fetched their races ranne one at another with their speares in the rest Artauades thruste the Gothe through the right side with his speare so that he fell downe dead And he himself being driuen by mischaunce vpoÌ„ the speare of the dead maÌ„ sticking in the ground through the only force violence of his owne horse ranne himself vppon the poynct of it in so muche that it wounded him through his Curet of the whyche wounde he dyed within thre dayes after The two battelles in the meane tyme encountred very fierslye euery man shewed hys conning what he was able to doe wyth his weapon When the battell was at the whotest that both parts wer most intentife to their fe yghtinge victorie as yet enclining to neyther side y â— souldyers of Totilas whichâ— had passed the riuer came set vppon Themperours Captaines behind Whervpon arose a great noyse manye being beaten downe first they brake the araye of the Emperours armye anone after put them to open flight For after the time theyr battelles were once opened their enemies pressed so sore vpon them both before behind y â— thei were sone disper peled Many were flain by the Gothes in y â— chace many escaped by bypathes vnknowen wayes But the greatest nuÌ„ber was of theÌ„ y â— were takeÌ„ prisoners Moreouer which neuer happened before al y â— staÌ„dards baÌ„ners antesiges of themperours army were taken in y â— battell being brought vnto Totilas made his victory more famous renou mâ—d in y â— he hauing scars half so many men in his armye as his enemies had wittingly willingly encountred w t a greater power then his own of whom thorough his marciall pollicie he had gotten the victorie Hauing thus gottâ— the vpper hand he vsed the victory very courteously vexing none of y e prisoners but seÌ„ding diuers away w t out raÌ„some The which his gentlenesse dyd greatly augmeÌ„t his honour and 〈◊〉 The captaines of IustiniaÌ„ y â— escaped fled first vnto Pleasans from thence weÌ„t euery maÌ„ a sundry way busying theÌ„selues as much as might be in raysing a new armye of men The v. Chapter ¶ Iustine one of themperours captaines is be seged within Florens rescowed by thother imperial captaines who in the pursute of their enemies through an vntrue report cast in sodain feare are with great slaughter put to flight Totilas recouereth diuers tow nes in Lombardie raiseth the walls of Bene uent besiegeth Naples A comparison be twene the good gouernement of Totilas and the misgouernaunce of the Imperiall Captaines WIthin a while after this victorie Totilas now conceuing greater things in his mind sent an army to Hetruria wherof he made captayns thre of the worthiest men of al the Gothes Beldas Rodericke Uliaris There was in Hetruria a captain called Iustine one of those y â— had bene at the foresaid battell Who after the discomfiture had neuer ceased leuing of a new power fortifiyng of the townes neuertheles tharmie of Totilas came sodainly vpon him besieged him w tin y e walls of Florens Iustine feared nothing so much as scarcety of victualles For nothing coulde be conueied in that which was wythin alreadye was lyke to be soone spent Wherevppon he sent to the rest of the Captaynes at Rauenna aduertised theym in what perill his estate stood requesting
them of succour Being moued w t this message Bessas Ciprian Iohn Uitalian came into Hetruria with their armies when the Gothes had vnderstanding of their approch by by they brake vp their stege dislodged their campe not staying anye where vntill they came to a place called Muciall whyche is a dayes iourney from Florens As sone as tharmy of confederats was entered into Florens the Captaynes thought it good to leaue a fewe behynd theym for defence of the towne they themselues with all the rest of tharmiâ— to marche against thenemie Whyle they were on their way it semed good y e some one of the Captaines should goe quickely before to assaile thenemy to staye him from going awaye the rest w t all spede should follow after When lottes were cast the charge of goynge before fell vnto Iohn who with his men in good order of battell made haste towarde the enemye Nowe the enemies being afrayed at the coÌ„ming of the hoste forsoke the place where they had emcamped themselues fyrst and gate them to a hyll thereby bothe stepe and hard to clymbe vnto Yet for all that Iohn made no curtesye at the matter when he came to place but directed hys battell agaynst the hyll and wyth a noble courage endeuored to get vp by playne force Hys enemyes stood earnestly at defence as they that might easlye make resistens from the higher ground In thys place whyles Iohn stroue to get vp feightinge valiantly amonge the formest one of hys companions was strikeÌ„ through wyth a pycke and slayne hard by hys syde Wherevpon forthwith rose an vntrue rumour which was lyghtly beleued that Iohn was slayne and therwithall his men began to runne awaye The brute hereof beinge reported to theym that came with the rest of tharmye behynd togither wyth the fearfull flyght of suche as were at the battell made them also most shamefully to runne away Neyther was there any measure of their flyght but scatteryng themselues here some there some they brake their aray and forsoke their standard By meanes whereof the Captaynes themselues were fayne to take theym to flyght also wythoute compulsion of any enemie After this time they came no more togither againe but euery maÌ„ kept by himself one in one towne and another in another as they had recouered vnto oute of the chace Yet for all that the Gothes retourned not to the syege of Florens partly for feare of the greate power of theyr enemye the whiche although it were dispersed yet was it styll within the compasse of Hetruria and partlye because the win ter drewe nere Thys was the ende of the seuen yeres synce Belisarius beganne the warres fyrste The nexte yere following as sone as the tyme of the yere serued to encampe in the fielde Totilas leuied an armye and came into Lumbardye and there besieged Cesen and Petra the whyche towne is now a dayes commonly called by a corrupte name Bretines as for all the reste of the townes of that countrye for the most parte eyther he had wonne them by force or ells taken them by composition wheÌ„ he had thus compassed hys matters in that countrye he passed from thence wyth hys armie into Hetruria There finding al thynges whoter for hym then he looked for he determyned fullye not to spende hys tyme in waâ—e about them And therefore passing ouer the ryuer â—yber which bowndâ—th Hetruria he tooke hys iourney throughe the Umbres the Saâ—ines and the Matses into Campanye in the whych place he wonne the Cytye of Beneuent and rased downe the walles of it to the grounde For he was loth that so stronge and defensible a Citie shuld be lefte for hys enemyes yf they shoulde happen to comme into these borders to make theyr Bulwarke and fortresse of The whyche done he besyeged Naples hauynge fyrste entreated theym gentlye wyth many wordes that they woulde rather accepte hys frendshyppe then procure hys displeasure But hys words were to no purpose For there was in garrison Conon one of Iustinians Captaines wyth a band of not so fewe as a thousand souldiers who would suffer nothing to be done in counsell wythout his consent The which thing wheÌ„ Totilas vnderstoode he planted hys siege not farre from the Citie How beit he assaulted it not but sate styll in quiet In the meane while he sent part of hys armye abroade and recouered Cume with certayne other townes in those borders by the whiche he gate a greate masse of money Besides thys there happened certaine noble womeÌ„ of Rome to be taken in those places All the which Totilas caused to be verye courteouslye entreated wythoute restraint of their libertie and sent theÌ„ home agayne to their husbandes and parentes wyth an honorable company to saufconduit theÌ„ And forasmuche as in those borders was not anye Captayne or anye power to withstande the doynges of Totilas he sent efte one parte of hys armye and efte another so longe vntyll he had broughte vnder hys obeysans Appulia Lucanie and Calabre wyth all theyr townes By meanes whereof it came to passe that there was not any more monye paied oute of those countryes to Iustinians Captaines and souldiers nor any man that would obey the Captaines or set one foote oute of doores to goe wyth theym For the souldyers lurkynge wythin the walled townes robbed and pylled as well theyr frendes as theyr foes and throughe theyr extortion euyll rule made hauocke of al thynges And the Captaynes for the same cause kepyng themselues wythin y e walles dyd no more but onelye defende the townes from the enemye For they parted the Cytyes amonge theym so that Iohn had the charge of Rome Bessas the charge of Spolet Cypryan the charge of Perusia Iustine the rule of Florens and Constantian the kepynge of Rauenna In the meane tyme Naples began to be euerye daye in worse case then other by meanes of the siege For Totilas hauing sent for hys flete had kéepte theym so short that nothing coulde be conueyed in nei ther by water nor by land Whereby it was to be perceyued that vnles some bodye rescowed it that Cytye was lyke at length to come in subiection to the enemie The vi Chapter ¶ A newe Lieuetenant is sent towarde Italy whose cowardnesse in protracting of the time doth not a litle endomage the imperi alls Demetrius deuiseth prudently for the râ—owing of Naples which for want of courage in executinge the same tourneth to his owne destruction JUstinian hearinge of thys and beynge disquieted for the miserable estate of Italye and the dishonour of the Empyre Sent one Maximius receyuer of hys reuenues into Italye to amende and repayre thynges amisse geuynge hym a nauye of shyppes and an armye of Thracians and Armenians Captayne of the Thracians was Herodian and Captayne of the Armenians was Phases Besydes these he had also in hys shyppes no smalle number of the Hunnes Maximius departynge from Constantinople came into
of Tibur is a nere neyghboure vnto Rome beyng distant from thence no further then syxtene myles The takyng whereof was a great eyâ— sore and noyous to the Romaynes as wherby they were dysappoynted of all thynges in Latium After thys Totilas hauyng perfecte intelligence of the commyng of Belâ—arius wente with hys armye into the countrye of the Picentes and encamped aboute Auximum The very same season had Belisarius sent Uitalis with a Illirians erewe of Illirians into the countrye aboute Bononie After the â—yme he had wonne a certain towne thereaboutâ—s and had beene receaued into Bononie the Illirians without any cause why or wherfore for soke hym and assemblyng themselues together went their wayes home For y â— whiche dede they afterward alledged this excuse vnto themperour that whiles they wer seruing him in his warres in Italy the Collectors of his tributes did sel their lyuelond in their Countrie and caste their wiues and children out of house and home by meanes whereof they were compelled to returne thither to defend their owne When Totilas heard of thys sodayne departure of the Illirians he sente out an armye of Gothes in hope to haue takeÌ„ Uitales and the reast of hys companye tardie But they preuentyng hym had recouered vnto Rauenna Belisarius knowyng that they which were besiâ—ged at 〈◊〉 were sore oppressed sent to their ayde a thousand horsemen ouer whom he made three Captaynes Teremunt Ricilas and Sabinian whoe entering into the towne priuely by nyghte the next daye following made a skyrmyshe with the Gothes by whoÌ„ Ricilas one of the Captaines was slaine The reast within a fewe dayes after determined to departe For they sawe that by theyr tarying there they dyd but helpe to spend their frendes victualls and necessaryes and coulde do their enemyes no harme Hereuppon stealyng out of the towne by nyghte when they had gone aboute three myles on their waye they fell into an ambushe of their enemyes by whom being be set on all sydes and so put to flyght they loste two hundred of their companye together with their apparell armour and all other stuffe the beastes that caryed them The residue after long and weary trauell recouered vnto Arimin Fanum Pysantum are Cityes standyng vppon the coaste of thadriatike sea and are situate beetwene Auximum and Arimine These townes at y e begynnyng of these warres had Uitigis set on fyre beaten down the walles of them mydway to the grounde Of these two Belisarius determyned to repayre Pysaurum and to place a Thrope of horsemen in the same for the accomplishment wherof he sent workemen thyther secretly to take iuste measure of the gates the whiche he caused to be framed at Rauenna with lockes henges barres and all other yron worke belongyng vnto them and caused them to be conueyed by water to Pysaurum writyng to the Captaynes and horsemen of Arimine that they should sodaynly take y e towne and hange vp the gates and mende vp the walles of rough worke and clensâ— the dyches As for all kynde of dyand he prouided that it was sent them by Sea The horsemen of Arimine therefore when they had taken Pisaurum did all thynges accordyng to Belisarius commaundement Totilas perceauyng that went thither with a great power to interrupte them of their worke But the souldiers had so busilye 〈◊〉 them in scowring the dyches in castyng of the trenches in makyng of Rampyres in fortefiyng the towne and in repayring the walles the bulwarkes that the kyng wondered to see so many thynges so wyttely deuised and pollitiquely brought to passe in so fewe daies And therfore wheÌ„ he had taried a while there aboutes forasmuch as he saw he could do no good he returned into hys campe before AurimuÌ„ neuer y e neerer of hys purpose Howbeit Totilas the Gothes perceauyng that Belisarius shewed not hymselfe abroade in the open fieldes with themperours armye in no parte of Italy but only kept himself within the walled townes and deâ—ended them they determined not to syt altogether aboute Auximum onely but to make warre agaynst other Cityes also Hereuppon Totilas went with an armye and besieged Asculum and Firmum among the Picentes Belisarius being not able to 〈◊〉 such as were besieged that called vpon hym dayly for helpe for he had not sâ— great a power that he durst venture abronde agaynst y e Gothes was in great perpleritie and toke it very greuously that hys name should be so dishonored At the length he sent Iohn Uitalian to Themperour to enforme hym of the state of Italy by whoÌ„ he addressed his letters also the tenor wherof contained thys in effecte The. ix Chahter ¶ The Copie of Belisarius letters to themperour the good successe of Totilas the valiaunt Demeanor of Sisifride the 〈◊〉 murtheryng of 〈◊〉 and the manlinesse of hys souldiers MOste noble and puyssant Emperour your Maiestie hath sent me into Italy slenderly furnyshed of men horses and monye the which thing I declared vnto you before my departure beseching your highnesse to haue redressed the matter In the which 〈◊〉 albeit I could not preuaile yet notwithstandyng it was my dutyâ— to be obedient to your coÌ„maundement Whereby I was constrayned to come forth with a fewe Thracians and Illirians the same being fresh water souldiers and altogether vnskilfull of the warres not knowing so much as howe to holde their weapons in their hands And as for the olde souldiers that I found in Italy by reason they had 〈◊〉 â—anguished in diuerse battells beefore by the Gothes they are so afrayed of them that they dare scarce once loke vppon them Besydes thys forasmuch as they haue bene long â—ime defrauded of their wages they ar not able to furnyshe themselues agayne with horse and armour loste and broken in the former warres neyther will they consent to goe forth with them And yet to saye the truth there is not so greate a number of them that they can encounter against the power of the enemye without their owne manyfeste perrill and daunger For the greater part of them that were wonte to fyghte vnder your hyghnesse banner in Italy prouoked by the aforesayd dyspleasures haue of their owne accorde reuolted to yoâ—r 〈◊〉 Furthermore you may not accompte hereafter that you are lyke to haue any reuenewes here toward the payment of your souldiers considering that the enemy hath recouered y â— greater parte of Italy that which remayneth is so empouerished and afflicted by y â— warres that it is not by any meanes able to yelde you tributes Wherefore if the presence of Belisarius be sufficient to recouer Italy you haue done asmuch as may be done in that behalfe for I am here in Italy But if you purpose to ouercome your enemies in dede your Maiestye must make other prouision For a Captayne be he neuer so valiante pollitique and fortunate is able to dooe nothyng if he haue not wherwyth to accomplyshe hys deuisâ—s And therefore it is requisite that you send me
hyther an armye of myne own practised souldiers together wyth a greate multitude of the Hunnes and other Barbarous people Moreouer you must of necessitye prouyde that we may haue alwayes stoore of monyâ— for wythout that there is no good to be done in warres Thus much dyd Belisarius write to themperoure at that tyme. Iohn going to Iustinian with these instructions and hauyng taryed there a certayne tyme had a very slowe could sute for he could bring nothing to effecte In the meane while forasmuche as no man rescowed Asculum 〈◊〉 y â— were besieged by Totilas he toke theÌ„ by composition From thence he departed out of the Picentes into â—mbria and besieged Asessum and Spolet Captayne of Spolet was Herodian and Captayne of Asessum was 〈◊〉 Herodian although hys piece were stronge and defensible yet notwithstandyng he toke truce for a fewe daies whitin the which because no rescue came yeldyng the towne and the holde at the day appointed he himself with hys souldiers reuolted to Totilas But Sisifride behaued hymselfe more valiantlye for albeit hys piece were nothyng so strong as the others yet couldâ— he neuer abyde to here any worde of composition but lyke a stoute warrior issued oute valiantly diuerse tymes vppon the Gothes and foughte sundrye skyrmishes wyth them to hys great prayse and commendation How â–ª beit at the length fighting manfully he was slayne by his enemyes The Citiâ—ens of Assisis beeing destitute of the helpe of that worthy Captayne within fewe dayes after yelded themselues their towne vnto Totilas FroÌ„ thence Totilas led his armye against Perusium Captayne therof was Ciprian of whom mention is made before among the Captaynes of Iustinian Totilas perceauyng y â— he could not wynne him neyther by faire meanes nor by foulecorrupted one of his esquires called Uliarus for a piece of mony by whose falsehod and treacherie he kylled him Neuerthelesse after the death of Cipri an the souldiers punished the treason vpon Uliarus head and manfully defended the Citie still ¶ The. x. Chapter ¶ Totilas besegeth Rome and Belisarius pre pareth to 〈◊〉 the same The misfortune of thimperialls at Portua Pelagius a Decon of Rome goeth to Totilas to entreate for his Citizens cannot be heard TOtilas therefore minding not to linger about it any lenger brake vp his siege there made toward Rome When he came thyther he planted hys siege aboute the same in places conuenient but yet he troubled not the husbandmen For all the tyme of thys warres he neuer suffered anye of the Tylmen and husbandmen to be hurte or hyndred by hys men of 〈◊〉 There was in garrison at Rome Bessas one of the Emperours Captaynes Conon whiche not long Sithens had bene Captayne of Naples Also Belâ—sarius had sent thyther Artasyras a Persian and Barbation a Thracian with a conuenient number of souldyers to looke to the saufe kepinge of the Citie with the other Captaynes The Gothes beinge thus settled aboute Rome Artasyras Barbation yssued oute wyth theyr retinew and foughte wyth them At the fyrste they putte theym to flyghte but thorowe followynge the chace to farre they were at length intrapped by their enemyes and wyth the losse of the more parte of theyr men hardlye and narrowlye escaped themselues into the Cyâ—ye From that tyme forward hope daylye decayinge fyrste came derth and afterwarde famyne amonge theym For nothynge coulde be conueyed into theym by lande by reason the Gothes had besette theym rounde aboute nor yet by water forasmuche as the nauye that Totilas had of late buyided at Naples and then sente abroade so scoured the Seas that no shyppe of burden coulde passe for theym Besydes thys the verye same tyme arose wythin the Cytye of Rome greate presumptions of treason For the whyche Cethegus â—hyefe President of the Senate of Rome beynge bannisshed the Cytye fledde to Centmucelles While these thynges were a dooynge at Rome another armye of the Gothes by the commaundemente of Totilas besyeged Pleasans The same is a greate Cytye by the Ryuer Po and all onelye of the Cytyes of that Countrye contynued in faythefull obedyence to the Empyre When Belisarius behelde these thynges he was verye sorrowefull and full of care for the peryll of the Cytye of Rome in as muche as he was not able to remedy it from Rauenna where he was because that wyth that small and slender companye whiche he had aboute hym it was not for him to depart from thence consydring hys enemyes held all the Countries betwene hym and Rome so that he could not goe thither by land wherevppon he deuised to succour them another waye For the performance whereof leauynge Iustine with a band of souldyers at Rauenna he hymselfe wente to * Dirrachium in Dalmatia entendynge there to awayte the commynge of a new armie from the Emperour In the meane tyme Rome was strayghtly besyeged in suche sorte that all thynges were worse and worse and lyke to fall to vtter decaye and ruine Ualentine and Phocas beynge sent before by Belisarius helde the Towne of Portua and from thence dyd greatlye moleste and endomage the enemye wyth continuall rodes almoste daye by daye After they had doone thus a certayne space wyth good successe and by meanes thereof greatlye reliued them that were besyeged at length fallinge into an ambushe and beynge enuiraned of their enemyes they were slayne and but a verye fewe of theyr souldyers escaped the whyche had muche a doe to recouer the towne of Portua Thys slaughter of the Captaynes and the souldyers drewe wyth it a greater discommoditie for it was the losse of a greate deale of corne by suche a meanes Uigilius the Byshoppe of Rome lyuinge at that tyme in Sicill hearynge that the people of Rome were sore afflicted wyth famyne had shypped a greate deale of Corne and sent it towarde Rome The Gothes hauynge knowledge thereof when the shyppes approched conueyed themselues before into the hauen and hiding them behynde the Towres and buyldynges laye readye for theym in Amâ—ushe The souldyers that were with in the towne for as muche as lately be fore they had loste theyr Captaynes and their companyons for the moste parte were slayne they beynge so â—ewe lefte durste not aduenture out againste their enemyes but as well as they coulde from the walles and â—warkes wyth shakinge theyr garmentes wyth wagginge their handes and wyth crying oute a loude to them made tokens to the shyppemen that there was treason in the hauen warnynge theym to beware and not to arriue there But the shyppemen as they that had not heard anye thynge of the vnfortunate battell and the losse of the Captaynes tooke thâ—se sygnes and tokens that were made as signes and tookens of gladnesse and encouragement to come with more spede Wher vppon making the more haste wyth a freshe gale of winde thei entered into the hauen Where they were all taken hy the Gothes breakynge oute of the ambushe to the greate discomforte and dispayre
rescowe Iohn af ter the departure of Belisarius hauing cut ouer the narowe seas had inuaded the Gothes looking for nothing lesse and hauynge putte theym to flyghte wyth greate slaughter pursewed them at the first assault wonne Brunduse Then hauinge reconciled the people of Calabre broughte them again to fauour themperour w t many faire promises made vnto theÌ„ he departed from Brunduse after v. remouings came to CanusiuÌ„ the which town he also brought in subiectioÌ„ Not far from CanusiuÌ„ is y â— vilage of Cannas where the notable battell was foughte betwene Hanniball and the Romaines In this place one Tullian â—he sonne of Uenant a man of greate name authoritie amonge y e Lucans came to Iohn declaring to him that the Lucanes Brutians had taken parte w t his enemyes not of theyr owne accord but compelled by the displeasures doone to theym by the Imperialles Wherefore yf the Emperour woulde entreate them frendly gently the peo ple wold willingly returne vnder his o bedience Iohn loading him wyth commendations thankes promised hym greate rewards afterwarde vsed his helpe to his great coÌ„moditie furtheraunce At such time as Totilas hard of Iohns approch he sent a crewe of hys horsmen to Capua commaunding theÌ„ to keepe themselues close wythin the walles and to make no showe at all to theyr enemyes vntyll they were past and then to followe the tayle of theyr host What was to be done afterward he willed them to caâ— y â— care vpoÌ„ 〈◊〉 This thing so greatly troubled Iohn that for feare he should be entrapped by his enemies he left of his iourney toward Belisarius turned himselfe towarde the Brutians and Lucanes There was amog the Brutians a cer taine Gothe called Richemond sette there by Totilas w t an armie to kepe y â— country in obedience to kepe the enterance betwene Scilla Charibdis Him did Iohn sodainly assaile and at the first brunt put hym to flight and af ter great slaughter receiued the rest y â— werâ— lefte togither w t their Captayne by composition Herevpon al the Brutians Lucanes reuolted from the Go thes to themperour Whiles Iohn occupied himself in this sort Belisarius loked daily for him was wonderfull â—ory for his long tariens greatly blaminge Iohns cowardise that he had not foughte againste the horsemen that were at Capua inespecially seing that he hymselfe had so notable a band of Horsemen of the Hunnes whereby he myghte easily haue come through maugâ— his enemies heades and neded not to haue turned backe agayne so shamefully These and suche other thynges dyd Belisarius fynde faulte with But it booted hym not to complayne for Iohn had taken vp hys standyng in Appulia and there determined to abyde mynding nothing lesse then to goe to Rome Belisarius therfore fearyng least the besieged shoulde thynke themselues abandoned and through despaire shold chaunce to miscarry determined to succour them by y â— Tiber for hys power was not so great that he was able to encounter with his enemyes vppon the land and therefore he trusted rather to hys pollicie and to the riuer for the succoryng of y â— towne Uppon this thought he bestyrde hym gate two hundred of those kind of shippes which the Grekes call Dromades these shippes haue walles of timber on euery syde with loopes in places conueniente to let oute arrowes and other weapons at the â—nemye Agaynste the brydge and other thynges that were set to stoppe hym vppon the riuer he 〈◊〉 thys deuyse he set two shyppes vpoÌ„ the streame fastened surely together wyth barres crowes of yron vpon the same he buylded a tower of tymber somewhat hygher then the towers that wer buylded at the endes of the brydge by hys enemyes WheÌ„ these thyngs were in a redinesse he caused the Dromades to be fraughted with corne other â—uste nance to be conueyed to Rome mannyng them with the stoutest and valiantest souldiers that he had CoÌ„maundyng all the residue to goe on foote by the riuers syde to drawe the shyppes with the tower With his nauie furnished decked in thys wyse he set forwarde agaynst hys enemyes He hymselfe enteryng into one of the Dromades sayled formest and the reste followed hym in order hys footemen also went by hym vpon the ryâ—er 〈◊〉 Furthermore he sente to Rome vnto Bessas that he shoulde yssue out at the very same tyme kepe the enemyes as much occupyed as he could But Bessas dyd neyther that nor yet any thyng ells that was to any purpose during al that siege Bâ—lisarius nauie being decked in suche sorte as I haue tolde you went vp the streame Neyther dyd the Gothes mete them in any place but kepte themselues quietly wythin theyr bulwarkes When the 〈◊〉 came nere y â— brydge there they founde a trope of their enemyes and one 〈◊〉 set at the tone end of the chayne the whiche Belisarius souldiers wonne at y ◠〈◊〉 assault so takyng awaye the chayne proceded to the brydge There began a curste fraye the Gothes endeuoryng to defend the brydge and the souldiers of Belisarius to wynne it For y â— Gothes yssuyng froÌ„ both y â— towers at eche end of y â— brydge fought very valiantly Agayne the souldiers driuyng the shyppes harde to the brydge dyd beate the Gothes and woulde not suffer them to stand vpon it In the meane while Belisarius caused the shyppes wherin the tower of tymber was to be brought as nere the tower of his enemyes as could be And when they came hard to it he commaunded the vessells of brimstone whiche he had hanged in the toppe of hys tower for the same purpose before to be set on fyre and to be caste downe vppon the towre of hys enemyes the which being done the fyre lighting vppon the tower of hys enemyes burned it vp and al the Gothes that wer within it There were not lesse then two hundred that perished in y e fyre among whom was the Captayne of the holde hymselfe such a man of hys handes as was not among all the Gothes agayn Hereuppon the souldiers assayling the reast of the Gothes more boldely and â—erâ—ly compelled them to geue backe wherby they wonne y e brydge y e which forthwith they purposed to haue heauen downe and with their whole flete to haue sayled to Rome For there remayned not now any let in their waye but that they myghte haue gone to the Citye and haue conueyed in the corne and all other necessaryes to the greate renoune and commendation of Belisarius whoe had deuised suche a nauie But fortune as it should scme had determined other wyse For sodaynely there happened a â–ª wonderful mischauÌ„ce not by meanes of the enemye but by hys owne men which peruerted al hys deuises The Gothes helde the Cityâ— Ostia which standeth on the lefte hand of Tyber by the sea syde ouer agaynst the whiche standeth the Citye Portua on the ryght hande of the riuer When Belisarius
set forth with hys nauie he had lefte hys wyfe and al his householâ— furniture in the sayd towne of Portua and had appoynted as ruler thereof one Isaac a valiant gentleman and a trusty with a conuenient Crew of souldiers commaundyng and hartâ—ly 〈◊〉 him that he would not for any chaunce or occasion depart out of the towne but kepe hymselfe within it and defende it only Now at such tyme as Belisarius had set hys enemyes tower on fyre as we haue declared before by by ranne certayne to the towne of Portua and whereas the victorie was notable of it selfe they reported it farre greater then it was in dede At the which tydinges Isaac leapyng for ioyâ— exaltyng hymselfe in hys owne conceite lyke a mad bedlem quite forgettyng what Belisarius had sayd vnto hym commaunded hys men to arme themselues in thys sodayne heate extasye wafting ouer hys men to inuade hys enemyes that kept their standyng on the other syde of the riuer ranne vpon them not farre from the towne of Ostia Through his sodayne assaulte at the fyrst encounter he put them to flyght Howbeit anon after hys enemies gatheryng themselues together and encouraging one anâ— other returned eftsones vppon hym hauyng slayne a great sorte of his souldiers to coole hys â—rye madnesse toke hym prysoner Immediatly hereupon certayne horsemen broughte worde to Belisarius that his enemies had taken Isaac prysoner With y â— which tydings Belisarius beyng stryken to the heart demaunded not one worde of y â— messaÌ„ger where or in what sort but misconstruing that hys enemyes had taken Portua and bene Lordes of hys wyfe all that euer he had he was sodaynly strycken with suche an inward sorrow y â— he was not able to speake And thereupon turnyng backe agayne he retyred with hys nauye hys souldiers in all haste that myghte be vtterly determynyng eyther to recouer y â— towne while the matter was but newly begonne hys enemyes had yet scarcely settled theÌ„selues or els to die in y â— battell By this meanes y â— victorie which he had as good as gotteÌ„â—ypped out of his handes But wheÌ„ he came to Portua sawe y â— towne â—afe himself deceaued through light credite mistaking of y â— message he toke so great sorrowe for it y â— he fell sicke and was fayne to keepe hys bed and besydes that he was taken with a sore and daungerous feuer which held hym long tyme ere he coulde be ryd of it Isaac the author of all this mischiefe was by the commaundement of Totilas put to death in prison in reuengement of the death of Rodericke Captayne of the garryson whiche had dyed of a wound taken in the foresaid battel For by thys tyme had Totilas quyte chaunged that gentlenesse whiche he had pretended in the begynnyng of hys reigne into statelynesse and crueltie Uerely eyther bycause his prosperous succeste made hym forget hymselfe or ells because hys gentlenesse beyng but â—eined at the begynning could not continue I assure you â—e would speake so bitterly of y e people of Rome y â— the very terror therof was an occasion that they endured the famyne more obstinately then they would haue done because euery man was afrayed of hys outrageous crueliye Therfore as long as euer there was any hope of helpe at Belisarius haâ—d the people of Rome beyond their power to say the truth beyond y â— bondes of manhode and nature endured the famyn For to omit other thynges euen the fleshe of horses asses and mules were deyntyâ— delicates at that tyme in Rome they thoughte they had sped well that coulde get either dogges or myce or such other vncleane beastes to fede on Othersome wer glad to eate all kynde of herbes euen suche as the brute beastes would not haue touched and diuerse lyued by rootes and barkes of trees But when they sawe there was no hope of helpe then turnyng to teares and lamentation some fordyd themselues and some stealyng out in y â— night attempted to deceaue the watche of their enemies Many also â—arued for hunger and want of foode within their own houses neuer came out of their dores While the Citye stoode in thys lamentable and piteous estate foure Isaurien souldiers conspyred to be tray it to the enemye these souldiers warded at the gate Celimontana coÌ„monly called Asinaria whoe after the tyme they were fully resolued vpoÌ„ the matter did let theÌ„selues downe the wall by a lyne went strayght vnto Totilas promysyng to betraye y â— Citye into his haâ—ds Totilas encouragyng them with promyse of great rewardes sent certayne of 〈◊〉 men with theÌ„ to view the place to conuÌ„der whyther the thyng they had promysed were possible to be done or no. The Isaurians leadyng theÌ„ to the walles went vp agayne in their syghte by the â—ame lyne that they flided down And so wheÌ„ the experience of the matter had geueÌ„ sufficient credit Totilas at y â— nyght appoynted to the accoÌ„plyshment of the myschiefe coÌ„maunded hys hoste to be readie in armour about him by one of the clocke after mydnyghte The whiche beyng done he sent certayne of his men before to get vp by the lyne and he hymselfe followyng closely after with the reast of hys armye stayed a lyttle from the gate They that were sente by Totilas were according to couenante beetwene hym and the â—raytours drawen vp the walles from whence they proceeded forthwith to the gate and with axes cut it open Totilas hauyng by thys meanes entered into Rome kept hys armye still about hym at the gate not sufferyng any of hys men to ronne into the Citye but kept them together wyth hym vntyll it was daye Sodaynly there sprang a noyse aboute that parte of the towne that the eneâ—ie was gotten within the walles thereupon ensued a wonderfull feare euery maÌ„ begynnyng to flye Suche as fled wente out at those gates that were farthest froÌ„ the place where y e enemy entered Many also both of the nobilitie and of the commonalty toke sanctuarye in the Churches Assone as it was daye the enemyes ranne through all the Citie and wythout any respect slewe as many as came in their waye Totilas marching froÌ„ Lateran where he had stode al nyght went through the Citye to Saint Peters as it had bene to performe hys vowe accompanied with traynes of most cruell and bloudy butchers which with their naked swordes bathed in bloud slewe all that euer came in their way without regarde of any person Hauyng in this sorte swept through the myddest of the Citye from the one end to the other when he came into the Uaticane vnto the portche of Saint Peters Pelagius of whom we made mention before fearing to approche into presence rauished in y â— apparell accustomed in solemne ceremonyes and holdyng the Testamente of Christ in hys hande kneled humblye downe on hys knees sayd O kyng I besieche thee spare thy humble suppliantes At
a couragious and laudable enterpryse He determyned to take vppon the sodayne and to fortifye the Cytye of Rome lyinge at that tyme waste and desolate Whervppon kepyng thys purpose secrete to hymself he lefte a fewe Souldyers at Portua for defencâ— of the towne wyth al the power he could make besyde no man eyther of hys owne or of hys enemies mistrustinge whereaboutes he went tooke the Cytye of Rome and wyth a wonderfull 〈◊〉 wente in hand wyth repayringe and fortifyinge it agayne And bycause the walles in diuers places were beaten downe to the hard grounde he fylled vppe parte of theym wyth roughe worke and cut deepe â—yches before the walles and caste vppe a Rampyre the whyche he fensed wyth Trunkes of trées fastened in the ground by the rootes wound one wyth in another wyth the sharpâ— endes vpwarde And for the morâ— strengthe of the wall newelye repayred he buylded towers and bulwaâ— of timber The whych things through the earnest labour and willyngnes oâ— hys souldyers he furnyshed it in thrâ— and twentye dayes And shyppes came contynuallye from Portua loden with corne and other 〈◊〉 The Citizens of Rome whereof there stayed a greate number in the townes nere aboutes hearynge that their Citye was repayred were wonderfull desyrous to retourne into theyr natiue Countrye and that inespeciallye bycause there was plentye of corne there wyth scarcetie whereof they were pinched in other places As sone as Totilas had worde of thys forthwyth all other matters sette a parte he made haste towarde Rome Belisarius was not able to hange vppe the gates of the Citye before hys enemyes were come For he had not so good store of Carpenters to repaire them in so short tyme. The Gothes the fyrste daye of theyr commynge encamped themselues not farre from the Citye agaynste the gate Salaria The nexte mornyng by the rysing of the sunne wyth great noyse and hurly burlye they marched to the assaulte Belisarius placed all hys tallest and hardyest men at y â— gate the rest he set vpon the walles in the bulwarkes commaundynge them to beate theyr enemyes downe The encounter was vehement and whote on bothe partes For the Gothes came thyther of sette purpose to haue wonne the Towne at the fyrste pushe But when they sawe better defence made then they looked for they were in such a furye and suche a rage that they ranne desperatly vppon theyr enemies lyke madde men and stryuinge vnaduisedlye to gette vppe were beaten downe and kylled wythoute mercye It was wonder to see howe earnestlye and desperatlye it was foughte on bothe sydes that daye For the assault beganne in the mornynge and ended not vntyll nyghte After that it waxed darcke the Gothes retyred into theyr Tentes But the souldyers of Belisarius partelye kepte theyr standynge vppon the walles and bulwarkes as they had beene placed by hym and partelye warded at the Gates And to the entent the enemye should not sodaynely comme vppon theym in the night and take theym vnwares he caused a greate sorte of Busshes and Brambles to be layde before the Gates The nexte daye the Gothes approched to the Cytye in lyke sorte as they had doone before and Belisarius and hys men made lyke resistens But when the assaulte waxed to longe the souldyers that kepte theyr standynge at the Gate yssued oute boldelye and encounteryng wyth the Gothes hand to hand at length putte theym to flyghte on that syde and wyth manye woundes draue theym farre from the Gate And so was that assaulte ended Afterwarde when they hadde bestowed manye dayes in healinge theyr woundes and repayrynge theyr armour the Gothes aduaunced agayne to the assaulte of the Cytye Belisarius hauyng before well harted and encouraged hys souldiers leauing neuerthelesse a coÌ„uenient number vppon the walles and in the Towers led theÌ„ out at the gate There was a whot and an eager battell fought hard at the gate in the which when as Totilas his standerdbearer was strickeÌ„ starke dead from hys horse with a speare and the standerd ouerthroweÌ„ there was much preasyng aboute it froÌ„ both sydes The Gothes striuyng to saue their standerd lâ—aste they shoulde be dyshonored and y â— souldiers of Belisarius endeuoring to obtayne the honour of wynnyng the same At laste the skyrmishe grewe to thys issue that the Gothes recouered their standard the souldiers of Belisarius had the bodye of the standard-bearer sauyng his lyft hand which the Gothes dyd cut of for spyght that their enemyes shoulde not haue it bycause there was a ring of golde vpon it This done Totilas perceauyng that his attempt was in vayne blewe to y â— retreit and the nerte daye after wente hys waye vnto Tybur For as I tolde you before he helde that Citye and hauing maruelouâ—y fortiâ—d the castle thereof vsed it as a Camp agaynste the Romaynes The Romaynes to the entent they woulde not bee molested by their sodayne inuations from that syde brake all the brydges on the ryuer Anio Thys ryuer Anio spryngeth amonge the Heruices and ronnyng downe from the hylles cutteth the playne betwene Tybur and Rome It hath verye stepe bankes and the chanell is so deepe of water that it cannot be passed And therefore there were brydges made vppon it from all the pryncipall wayes as from the gates Salaria Nomentana and Tiburtyne These brydges beyng at that tyme cut of there coulde no rodes be made a gaynst the Citie of Rome on that syde The ii Chapte◠¶ After the depâ—e of the Gothes from Rome Totilas in the nexte spring goeth to the syege of Peruse duryng whpâ— beyng there Iohn 〈◊〉 attempteth many thin ges in CaÌ„pane to the great pâ—eiudice of the Gothes wherewith â—las being displeased goeth with suche speede agaynst hym that he ouercame hym before he heard of hys commyng The Emperour sendeth another â—ande of men into Italye at whoâ— commyng Belisarius sayling towarde Tarent is driuen by tempeste to land at Croton where for wante of forage compelled to sende hys horsemen into the Countrye through the negligence of the Capâ—nes looseth them By meanes whereof he is fayneto sayle aâ—aye into Sicill during the which his absence Totilas besiegeth Ruscie AFTER the departure of the Gothes Belisarius caused the gates and the yron worke of them to be framed quietly and when he had done as thoughe he had conquered the Citye agayne by force he 〈◊〉 the keyes of it into Grece to the Emperoure Iustinian And thus ended the twelueth yeare of thys warre The nexte yeare following assone as the spryng came Totilas set out of Tibur marched towarde Peâ—use The same Towne was euen then alreadye besieged by another companye of the Gothes And when corne beganne to waxe scarce other victualles to fayle Totilas went thyther to the entent to kepe the towne strayghter to take awaye al hope of succour from the besieged Whyle Totilas was occupyed about the siege of Peruse Iohn takyng a vantage of hys beyng therâ— perceauyng that the Senators
noble men of Rome which Totilas had led prisoners wyth him were left in the townes of Campane vnder the kepyng of hys souldiers thought to wynne hymselfe a name by deliuering them out of their enemyes handes Whereuppon he remoued out of Calabrie with a trope of â—hosen horsemen neuer dyscontinuing his sournye night nor day vntil he camâ— into Campane Totilas mistrusting as much had appoynted a strong band of the Gothes thither WheÌ„ they camâ— vnto Minturne they stayed sâ—nt certayne of their horsemen before to see what was done in the townes Now it fortuned that the Gothyshe horsemen whiche were sente before chaunced to lyght vppon Iohn hys horsemen betwene whoÌ„ there was a sharpe encouÌ„ter In the which Iohn gettyng the vpper hand slewe many of them wounded many and put the reaste to flyght Through this discomfiture they that a bode behynde at Minturne were so discouraged y t they sled also By meanes wherof Iohn had leysure to lead away whom he lysted at hys pleasure For y â— townes of Campaine wer vnwalled the Gothes hauyng lately before beateÌ„ them downe So that Iohn toke all the Romayne prisoners that he founde in euery towne deliuered them out of y â— hâ—ndes of the Gothes conueying them quyte awaye all sauyng Clementine Orestes of the which the one woulde not go away with hym bycause he feared the Emperour whom he had offended the other makyng excuse that he wanted horses taried in doubt whither he might go or no. Howbcit there were not Many Senatours founde in Campaine but very many of their wyues daughters For the men for the moste part the same nyght that the Citie was taken followed the men of warre and fled with them to Portua When Totilas vnderstode of these thynges that Iohn had done he was greatly mouâ—d detâ—rminyng to be reuenged vpoÌ„ him And therupoÌ„ leauing part of his army at y â— siege of Peruse he himselfe w t the residue made haste by great iourneyes through y â— couÌ„tries of y â— Picentes Marses Pâ—ligues into Appulia neuer ceased vntill by crossyng the wayes at length he fouÌ„de Iohn in Calabrie wher sodainly setting vpon him he put him al his army to flight toke hys tentes Notwythstandyng as it chaunced the Gothes made no greate slaughter by reasoÌ„ it was nighte wheÌ„ they assailed y â— camp By meanes wherof y â— souldiers did easily escape hide theÌ„selues in the next mouÌ„taines Iohn Arnulphc captaine of y e Erulians who also serued in y â— warres with Iohn recouered out of y e chace vnto Hidrunt the souldiers afterward some one way some another resorted thither vnto theÌ„ Thys victorie of Totilas dyd greatlye renoune hys name For it was thought to be a notable matter for a king to haue come froÌ„ y â— walles of Peruse into Calabrie and y â— in so shorte space as a light iournying man could scarcely haue done hymself beyng not caryed in a horselytter or a charyte but euen wyth as much paine as the common souldier on horsebacke laden with hys harnesse as other were Not longe after that battell another bande of souldiers sent from Iustinian beganne to approche vnto Hydrunt For the Emporour being moued with often letters from Belisarius declaryng y e state of the warres requesting ayde determined to send a new power into Italy had written to Belisarius that he shoulde hye hym into Calabrie to receaue his souldiers to make war agaynst hys enemyes there Captaines of thys new armye were Ualerian leader of the Armenians Uere leader of the Erulians Belisarius vppon the receipt of the Emporours letters and coÌ„maundement leauyng the reaste of hys armye at Rome at Portua vnder y â— charge gouernement of his Lieuetennant Conon with nyne hundred chosen souldiers whereof seuen hundred were horsemen and two hundred fotemen toke shippyng made sayle to ward Calabre It was hys mynde to haue landed hys armye at Tarent the which is two daies iourney dystant froÌ„ Hydrunt in the same place to haue assembled al the reast of his power about hym But by meanes of coÌ„trary winds he was compelled to land hys men in the hauen of Croton For the violence of the tempest was suche that he could sayle neyther backeward nor forward Therefore when he had landed hys army at Croton forasmuch as there was not plentye of forage in those quarters he was constrayned to seperate hys horsemen from hys fotemen For he hymself his wyfe abode with his fotemeÌ„ at Croton to the entent to cal Iohn with the reast of hys power vnto hym commaunded hys horsemeÌ„ to go further into the countrie and to stay themselues in the borders of the Turnies For in so doyng they shuld easely come by al thyngs necessarye for themselues and for their horses and should also be out of all daunger forasmuche as the mountaynes of Lucanie shoâ—yng into the countrye of the Brutians do make two valleyes with narrowe enterances into them And not farre from one of the valleyes standeth on the sca coast 〈◊〉 Castel of the Turnies called Ruscie a little aboue the whiche is the towne somwhat further from the water situate on a high grounde called Ruscian The same towne did Iohn kepe with a strong garryson of souldiers Belisarius therfore sent his souldiers into those borders made Captaynes ouer them one Phases a Spanyard a noble man of warre Barbation a Thracian coÌ„maundyng them in any wyse to keepe well the entrances of y â— valleyes WheÌ„ these horsemen were come into those quarters by chaunce they met with y â— horsemeÌ„ of their enemies whoÌ„ Totilas had sent to attempt y â— towne which as I tolde you before was kept by Iohns meÌ„ of warre After it came to y â— encoun ter the souldyers of Belisarius albeit they wer fewer in number yet they easily ouercame their enemyes slewe aboue two hundred of theÌ„ Afterwards those y â— abode styll in that place forasmuch as they wer the victours and far froÌ„ the sight of their captaine kept neyther order nor aray But straying farre from their standarde they passed not to kepe either watch or ward or to send any skowtes abrode or to haue any skow tes among theÌ„ nor yet to kepe y â— streigh tes at the entrance of the valley where they might easily haue kept out their enemie Whereof when Totilas had vnderstanding he wente thyther with three thousand horsemen and set vppon theÌ„ ere they mystrusted any such thing For he was passed those narrowe streightes and the entrances of the valleye before that Belisarius horsemen heard of hys commyng Hereuppon beganne a great slaughter and discomfiture to be made of them Phaâ—s and Barbation were the Captaynes Of the whiche Phases wyth hys troope of horsemen settyng hymselfe agaynste Totilas dyd maruelis in Armes howâ—eit at the lengthe he and all hys men were slayne Barbation wyth no mo but
two companions onely escaped by â—yghte the reast were eyther slayne or taken prisoners Some there were that taking themselues to flyghte at the fyrst begynnyng escaped to Belisarius caryed hym tydynges of that great slaughter When Belisarius had lost hys horsemen misstrustyng that hys enemies wold come agaynst hym he toke shypping in haste greatly dismaide with sorrowe abandonyng himselfe to the windes arriued the same daye at Messaua in Sicill the which is from Croton about fourescore myles Totilas hauyng dyspatched these matters therby disposed y â— power of hys enemyes determyned to besiege y e towne of Ruscian For in that towne wer three hundred horsemeÌ„ placed there by Iohn an hundred fotemeÌ„ sent lately thither by Belisarius More ouer there were a great number of Italians both horsemen fotemeÌ„ which if they shoulde be besieged it was none other lyke but y â— they should want victualles ere it were long In hope wher of Totilas besieged the towne The. iii. Chapter ¶ Conon Captayne of Rome is slayne of hys owne souldiers Fortune afflicteth the Imperials Totilas receaueth Ruscie putteth Colaser Captay ne therof to death Antonia the wyfe of Belisarius entreateth the Emporour that her housbande is called home out of Italy ABout thys tyme the souldiers that Belisarius lefte at Rome slewe their Captayne ConoÌ„ in a rage bicause that by encroching the corne priuely into hys hand he dayly raysed the pryce of the market Upon the which facte they sent their messengers to y â— Emperour for pardoÌ„ of their trespasse asserteining hym that onlesse he would graunt it moreouer paye them their wages that was behinde they wold deliuer Rome vnto Totilas For feare wherof the Emperour graunted them their whole request They that were besieged at y â— towne Ruscian being dystressed wyth scarcetieof corne â—l to communicatioÌ„ with Totilas toke a truce for a fewe dayes promising to yelde vp the towne onlesse they were rescowed in y e â–ª meane tyme. Hereupon was preparatioÌ„ made by Iohn to rescowe them by Totilas to prohibite hym In the meane season Belisarius was come out of Sicill vnto Hydrunt had receaued Ualâ—rian with the souldiers sent from the Emperour by meanes wher of he had a sufficient power Neyther wanted he shippes to conuey them into the rescowe of hys complices Therfore when al thinges were in a readinesse he embarked hys souldyers and fayled toward Ruscie They that were besyeged seing the nauye a farre of for the Citie standeth vpon a hygh ground hath a large prospect into the sea were so glad of it that they wolde not render the towne at the daye appoynted It was not long after but that there rose suche a tempeste that it desposed the nauye into sundrye places The whyche afterwarde metyng all at Crotâ—n set outa gayne from thence and made sayle to Ruscie When the shyppes approched nere the lande Totilas commaunded hys men to arme them set themsâ—ues in aray vpon the shore willing them with their dartes arrowes to prohibitâ— the nauye from arriuall When the Grekes sawe that they were so sore afrayed of the daunger that after they had houered a whyle their aboutes making pretence to arriue at length despairyng to do that they came for they turned their shyppes went their wayes Afterwarde as they were consultyng what was to be done for the safegarde of theÌ„ that were besyeged it was determined tâ—t Iohn Ualerian with y â— horsemen the reast of the armye shoulde go into the countrye of Picene there kepe as greate a styre as they coulde to the entent that Totilas should be coÌ„pelled to breake vp his siege to succour hys own And that Belisarius shoulde wyth hys nauye sayle vnto Rome to appease the mutime amonge the souldyers that we spake of before to carry corne thither to victual the towne According to thys determination Iohn went by by through Appulia and the Countrye of the Marses to the Picentes by land Ualerian chose rather to goe by water And so hauing embarked his souldiers he arriued at Aucona ioyned hymself with Iohn Yet not withstanding for al thys Totilas dyssolued not hys syege but sending two thousand horsemen among the Picentes to defend y e townes agaynst Iohn and Ualerian he himself with the reast of hys armye continued hys syege about Ruscian The besyeged when victualles vtterly fayled theÌ„ that there remayned no hope of restowe sent one Deofer an Italian and Godilas a Thracian to Totilas desyryng pardon and safetye of their liues These men contrary to their expectation found Totilas gentle and easye to be entreated For he imputed y e breach of the truce to no man but one with the punnishment of whom he sayd he wold be satisfied was contented to pardon all the residue If they woulde serue hym they should kepe still all that euer they had and yf they had rather goe some where elles they should departe euery man wyth one garmeÌ„t By this meanes he receyued the town and after that he had caused Colaser Captayne of the garryson to be whipped mangled who was the occasion that the towne was not yelded accordinge to couenant he commaunded hym to be putte to death Wyth the rest he keept touch accordyng to hys promise A great number of the men of warre to the entent to saue that they had abode still wyth Totilas Othersome leauing theyr horse harnesse all that they had besydes went luyth one garment vnto Croton The goodes of the townesmen Totilas gaue for a praye to hys souldyers commaundynge theyr bodyes to goe at lybertye About thys tyme Antonia the wyfe of Belisarius went to CoÌ„stantinople to sue to Theodora the Empresse to entreate that her husband mighte be called home out of Italy But when she found that Theodora was deceased a lyttle before she went to themperour her selfe and with muche sute earnestly entreated hym that her husband mighte be called oute of Italye The whyche request she easely obtayned so muche the rather bycause the Emperour stoode in greate feare of warres in Parthia Thus Belisarius beyng called out of Italy returned into Grece almost fyue yere after he came thyther last not hauing had altogyther so good fortune in thys hys latter viage as he had in hys fyrste At his departure from Rome he lefte three thousande of chosen souldyers there in garryson vnder y â— gouernance of his Liuetenant Diogenes a man of much wisdome knowledge in feates of armes Anon after his departing y â— Gothes toke by assault Peruse which they had so long tyme beseged 〈◊〉 The. iiii Chapter ⧠Totilas besegeth Rome nowe the thyrde time great sute is made to themperour for reâ—cowing the same Diogenes captayne therof prouideth pollitiquelly and circum spectly for the saufty of it neuertheles itis 〈◊〉 taken Diogenes flyeth to cent mueels Paule another of themperours cap taines saueth him selfe and his valiantlye being
hymself made prouisioÌ„ in Italy for all thynges that semed nedeful requisite And to the entent to vaunt hys power to the Grekes as whoe shoulde say he was as well able to inuade them as they had bene to haue inuaded hi he sent a great flete into Grece coÌ„maundyng them to make as muche hauocke spoyle of all thynges as they could accordyng to the same commaundement thys nauye spoyled fyrst Corsyra the Iles adioynyng therunto afterward aduenturyng vppon the mayne land wasted and spoyled with fyre sworde all the coast of Cypous Acarnauia and Aetolia And so keping still the seas did cut of many Greke shippes by y â— waye as they were sayling toward Italy and Illirium in somuch y â— no shippe coulde styrre abrode for them Whyle these thynges were a doyng in Grece Totilas sendyng a freshe crewe of souldiers into the Countrye of the Picentes coÌ„maunded that Aucon shoulde be besieged both by sea land He made three Captaynes of thys enterprise Scipuar Udilas Gothidil to whom he gaue a flete of seuen and fortye Galleyes WheÌ„ Aucon was thus besyeged there were so whote assaultes geuen both by sea and by land that it stoode in greate perrill Wherefore Ualerian who had the rule of Rauenna forasmuche as 〈◊〉 thought hymselfe to weake to rescowe them that were besyeged he wrote to Iohn UitaliaÌ„ lying at Salons requessting hym to ioyne wyth hym and so to rescowe them together Iohn Albeit the Emperoure had geuen hym commaundemente that he shoulde not passe into Italye before the commyng of Narses yet notwythstandyng forasmuche as he thought it agaynste hys honoure to lye styll and looke on while hys companions were in suche ieoperdye he chose oute the beste men in all hys hoste and embarkyng them in eyghtene shyppes set out of Salons and sayled towarde Rauenna As he was in hys waye Ualerian met him wyth twelue galleyes well decked and furnished to fight When y â— Captaines had commoned betwene themselues and by the aduise of such as were about them had determined as semed beste they sayled with their whole nauye together agaynst their enemyes And wheÌ„ they came nere vnto Aucon they drewe to the shore at a place which the inhabiters do call Duasse The whiche thyng assone as the Gothyshe Captaynes perceaued they also addressyng themselues to the encounter furnished their nauie with the beste souldiers y â— they coulde chose when they had put themselues in a readinesse launched forth set themselues in good order agaynst their enemyes The Gothyshe shyppes wer in number seuen fortie the Grekes were thirtyâ— Captaynes whereof were Iohn and Ualerian and Captaines of the Gothishe nauie were Udilas Gothidill for Scipuar abode with the reast of the armye to keepe the Camp Therefore after that the Captaynes of eyther parte had encouraged their men and with warlyke orations inflamed theyr myndes wyth hope of victorie with eager stomackes they ioyned battell At the very fyrst beginning the encounter was 〈◊〉 meting with stemme to 〈◊〉 eche endeuoryng to ouermatche other and the matter was handled with greate courage on both partes For there was not any one in all that great companie whiche had not hys handes full Insomuch that the matter was tryed wyth dartes Iauelyngs pykes and swordes as if it had bene a battell vpon the land Howbeit in continuance the Gothyshe nauie beganne to go by the worse For albeit they were good men of their handes stowtâ— warryours yet forasmuche as they wanted 〈◊〉 in sea matters they troubled themselues For in some places they clustered so together that one had not rome to 〈◊〉 by another and other some agayne to eschewe that fault disseuered themselues so far froÌ„ the helpe of their companye that their enemyes had them alwayes at aduantage Wheras on the contrary part 〈◊〉 Grekes wer greatly furthered through their connyng the good order of their Sea men there was no araye broken A man could not haue sene among them any throngyng nor scatteryng but y â— they were â—uer nere at hand to helpe their companye to be helped of them And therefore as reason was at length they gatte the vpper hand Some of the Gothyshe shyppes were sunke w t their men of warre marriners al. Many be ing wonne by fyne force were with incredible slaughter taken The whiche wheÌ„ the Gothes beheld by and by they toke them to flight There were no mo but ten of their shippes that escaped to land vnperished The reast were either taken or ells drowned there was made a great slaughter of the men in the battell and in the chace They that escaped to land dyd forthwith set their shippes on fyre to the entent their enemyes shoulde not obtayne them returned into their Camp Where they were stricken with such a feare that they determined to breake vp their 〈◊〉 Whereupon in all haste they forsooke their Campe and fled vnto Auximum John and Ualerian enteryng into the hauen of AucoÌ„ with their victorious nauye to the great comfort and incredible reioycement of the 〈◊〉 made hast to ryfflyng of the enemyes Camp The which they findyng forsaken caused all the virtualls artillery that they founde there to be conueyed into the citye They theÌ„selues within fewe daies after departed Ualerian vnto Rauenna and John vnto Salons Thys battell dyd sore discourage the hartes of y â— Gothes was as it were a preparatiue of a greater ruine y â— was toward them For Totilas being not a little disquietted w t this losse pulled backe a greate part of his army out of Siâ—ill By meanes whereof Artauanes the Eâ—perours Captayne subrogated in y â— rome of Liberius hauyng receaued hys nauye of hym beganne to growe y â— stronger in Sicill Insomuche that he not onely deliuered his confederates from y â— besiegemente but also besieged the Gothes in diuerse places in their own townes Moreouer ere it was long after an other nauie of Grekes commyng vnloked for to the rescowe of the Crotoniens longe tyme besieged by the Gothes raysed y â— siege discomfited their enemyes with great bloudshed slaughter The Gothes be ing dispersed fled some to Tarent and some withdrewe themselues into the next mountayne called Scyllaum the which ouerthrowe together with y e former slaughter dyd muche more discourage the hartes of the Gothes In especially forasmuch as there went a great brute through out all Italy of Narses coÌ„myng of his preparatioÌ„ for y â— wars what great furniture he brought with him that ther began already to spring vp certain rebellions against Totilas For one Reguaris a noble maÌ„ among the Gothes Captaine of Tarent and Morras captayne of Acheruse reuolted to the Emperour with theyr townes and souldiers wherof they had charge Furthermore tydinges was brought of another insurrection agaynste the Gothes in Sardinia Whyle thynges were in thys estate in Italy Narses assemblynge hys power in the wynter
season addressed hymselfe to hys Iourney he had suche an armye of men as scarce all the Captaynes beynge putte all togyther broughte wyth them into Italye durynge the whole tyme of thys warre For the Emperour gaue hym so large allowaunce of monnye and he hymselfe was so bountefull and lyberall in bestowing distributing of the same y â— he leuied a greate power not onely in Thrace Grece but also out of diuers other places For he had entertained a boue fiue M. Lombardes notable meÌ„ of war by y â— consent of Albuine theyr Kinge and MMM of the Erulians Furthermore there came vnto hym a great number of the Hâ—nnes Also there was one Cumades a Persian that had bene trayned vppe in the Romaine warres who with a valiant band of Persians resorted vnto hym Moreouer there came to hym a warlyke yong gentleman called Assuades wyth fyue hundred feyghtynge men of the Sepides and Iohn surnâ—ed Phagas wyth an hoste of the Gréekes and Thracians Besydes this Iohn Uitalian and the sonnes of Germaine serued hym wyth theyr armyes Narses therefore hauyng thys so great an hoste as soone as the sprynge tyme approched passed oute of Illiricum throughe Dalmatia and Liburnia and so coastynge aboute the elbowe of the Sea came by lande into Italye not stayinge anye where vntyll he was amonge the Uenetians There were twoo wayes by the whyche he myghte handsomelye passe from the Uenetians The one by the Adriaticke Sea the other throughe the mayne Lande bothe whyche séemed to haue manye lettes For by the Seas syde the Ryuer Athesis maketh greate Lakes whyche fall into the Sea in manye Chanelles and the riuer Po beynge deuyded into manye streames dothe in dyuers places interrupte the Iourney wyth manye quamyers and mooryshe groundes so that an Armye can not well be led that waye wythoute greate trouble Agayne in the waye by the mayne Lande one of the Gothes called Teâ—as placed at Uerâ—n wyth an Armye by Totilas had intercepted hys passage ouer the Ryuers of Athesis and Po. These twoo streames runnynge downe from the Alpes whych deuyde Italy from Fraunce and Germanye dooe fall into the Adriatycke sea And therefore they that wyll passe from Uenice muste needes passe ouer them eyther by the Seas syde where as be Lakes and meres fallynge by dyuers Chanelles into the Sea and where the mowthes of Po doe ouerthwart them betwene Rauenna Clodius diches or ells they must passe the same riuers in the mayne land where they be great vndeuided and where they may easly be stopped of their passage if there be any body to withstand them Wherfore seing y e Teias was at Ueron the which is a citie standing vpon the Riuer Athesis had a power sufficient to let him of his passage Narses left the way through the maine land chose to go by the coast of the Adriaticke sea both bicause it was w eout im peachment of enemyes besides that was nearer way then thother And so marchig by Clodius diches the felds of Adria and passing ouer the Riuers whersoeuer they crossed his way some where with brydges somewhere w e botes at length he came with al his ar mie vnto Rauenna There Captaine Ualerian and Captaine Iustine wyth their bandes ioyned themselues with Narses There were in Italye a great number of old souldiers who by reasoÌ„ the Emperour was behind hand with their wages for a longe tymâ— togyther were offended in theyr hartes and woulde not go forthe to the warres Narses payed theym all theyr wages whereby he healed theyr griefes and gaue theym courage agayne â–ª Hauynge spent nyne daies in dooinge these thynges and in refreshing hys armye at Rauenna he remoued from thens marchâ—d toward Rome The same time was one 〈◊〉 captayne of Arimine as notable a warriour as was among al y e gothes Who 〈◊〉 as the â—oward of Narses hoâ—te was come into the felds of 〈◊〉 went about to stoppe them of their passage The Ryuer that runneth by Arimine was ryseâ— wyth rayne vppon the whyche was a brydge so harde vnder neath the Towne that it was an easye matter to stoppe the passage 〈◊〉 therefore yssuynge out of Arimine before that anye number of hys enemyes had passed the 〈◊〉 sette hymselfe at defence on the furthersyde and encountered wyth hys enemyes euen harde vnder the walls of the towne In the whych conflycte a certayne man of Arines of the Erulians feyghtyng wyth 〈◊〉 hande to hand slewe hym and hys souldiers discouraged wyth the deathe of theyr Captayne retyred fearefully into the Townâ— The head of Usorilas was broughte vnto Narses at the whyche Narses 〈◊〉 and takynge it for a tooken of good lucke that the chyefe of hys enemyes was 〈◊〉 by hys men at the fyrsts conflyâ—te kepte on hys waye full of good hope and comfort For albeit he had a good furtheraunce to the takynge of Ariminâ— at the same instant yet notw tstanding he wold not tary about it to the entent so great an army shuld not be letâ—ed about the sege of one towne therefore â—e passed by Arimine continued on his iourny Totilas hauing intelligns of those things y â— were done amonge y â— Uenitians vnderstanding of the passage of Narses and of his comming to RaueÌ„na although almost al his whole power were at that time w t Teias yet notwithstanding he determined to en counter w t Narses the which he did in the battell was slayn for his labour â–ª As many of the Gothes as escaped froÌ„ the field fled ouer the riuer Po asseÌ„bled togither at Pauie there abouts In the whiche place as they consulted of making a newe gouernour of theyr people Teias was preferred by the iudgement of all men chosen king of the Gothes After that he was thus in stalled in the siege 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 doâ— all other things vigilantlye and moreouer to send to the Frenchmen to allurâ— 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 Ualerian to lye 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 Ulithus Who beynge at variance betwene theymselues