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
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
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
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
anye graine to be caried to theyr â—ampe The same thing did thei in like wise y â— were sent to Alba. By meanes whereof w tin very short space it came to passe y t the Gothes which were y e besyegers were put to as much distresse as they that were besyeged And besides the scarcetye of corne the pestilence also had sprede it selfe into the campe of the Gothes ¶ The. xiiii Chapter ¶ A new suppliment of souldiers commeth from thempâ—ur for the saufe conuey wherof vnto Rome Belisarius pollitique ly prouideth to the great slaughter of the Gothes who thervpon enter in communication of peace so that a truce is taken whiles Ambassadours may go and come from themperour to whom the determi natioÌ„ of all their coÌ„trouersies is referred WHile these things were in doing IustiniaÌ„ sent another hoste of meÌ„ into Italy They were of Thracian horâ—en eight hundred of whom Iohn the sonne of his brother Uitalian had the leadinge and a thousand and three hundred mustered in other places vnder the conducte of Alexander Marcent and Zeno. Moreouer three thousand footemen which came by wa ter ledde by Paule and Conon Also there were at Naples fyue hundred footenien prepared by Procopius of Cesarea All these bandes assemblyng themselues together determyned to goe to Rome they brought with them great plenty and store of viâ—uals The horsmen marched by the sea coast and the footemen were conueyed by water In the same flete was broughte great abundaunce of corne and much corne was also caryed by land in wagons Belisarius hauâ—g knowledge of theyr commynge for feare leaste the Gothes should meete wyth them and interrupt them inuented this polliâ— He commaunded the gate of Flaminius whyche he had dammed vp from the begynnyng of the syege to be opened in the nyght tyme and the bagage taken away wherewythall it was stop ped The whych beyng done he sent certayne of hys souldyers thyther the nexte mornynge by the breake of the daye ready harnessed and well appointed byddyng them putte themselues in araye and so kepe them close wythoute noyse Then he sent Traiane and Diogenes wyth a thousand horsemen oute at the Pincian gate commaundynge theym to runne to the campe of theyr enemies with as much noyse as they coulde and when their enemyes were yssued out vpon them to retyre backe agayne and not to staye before they came to the Gate where they went forthe These thinbeynge in all poynâ—es thus accomplished whyles they were feyghtynge at the Pincian Gate Belisarius â—odainly issuyng out at the gate of Fla minius with the reste of hys armye made strayght to the campe of the Gothes where he founde all thynges vnprouided and in maner emptye on that syde as they that mistrusted no harme at all from the gate of Flaminius because that it had bene longe closed vp So that it wanted lytle but that 〈◊〉 had wonne their Campe Then tourning hym selfe towarde the Pincian gate there gettyng his enemyes in the middes betwene his two hoosts he by assayling them on the backes and those that were fledde by retournyng fiersly vppon them before strake them with an incredible slaughter And vppon thys Battell there fell suche a terrible feare amonge them that they doubled theyr watche in their Campe and tooke care for nothynge so much as howe to defende themselues from the pollicies of Belisarius The enemye beynge by this meanes troubled and putte in feare the Emperours armye without anye let came vnto Ostia The Gothes therefore beynge weryed and vexed with many displeasures and besydes that vnderstandynge howe a freshe crewe of Souldyers were come to the â—yde of Belisarius began to consulte of breaking vp theyr siege For by that tyme a great part of theyr campe was dimished eyther by the plage or elles by the sworde and many had bene fayne to forsake the Campe eyther for theyr woundes or elles for that they were sicke Uitigis therefore sendyng Commissioners vnto Rome after that many thynges had bene alledged and aunswered on bothe sydes to and fro as concernynge the equityâ— of theyr case at length agreed to referre the determination of theyr controuersyes to the Emperour Iustinian and he to decide the matter as â—e should thinke good Herevppon Ambassadours were sent to hym and a truce taken for thre monethes vntyll they myghte returne againe and for the better obseruynge of the truce and performaunce of couenauntes pledges were geuen and taken one both sydes When thinges were thus seta at staye the army and victualls that were meâ— at Ostia came to Rome bothe by lande and by water ¶ Thus endeth the fyrst Booke The second booke of Lenard Aretine concernyng the warres in Italy against the Gothes ⧠The first Chapter ¶ There riseth occasion of gâ—udge betwene the Gothes and the Imperialls which groweth to altercation so that in the end the truce is broken Datius Bishop of Millaine enformeth Belisarius of the good wills of the Millainers towards the Emperour and is remised with great thankes Belisarius is put in daunger of his lyfe by one of his Peâ—captaines whom he wouldâ— haue punnished for his misbehauiour the Gothes going about to steale the Citie and to winne it by treason are twise detected WHyles thynges stoode thus at a staie and that the warres ceased by reason of the truce that was takeÌ„ Belisarius yet neuertheles in the meane time kepinge Rome and the Gothes their Campe and bastiles sodaynly there fortuned complaints and altercation for breakynge of the truce contrarie to promise vpon thys occasion There was as I told you before a garrison of Gothes at the Citie Portua Now the souldyers of the said garrison when victualls fayled them forsoke the towne They were not so sone gonne out of it but y â— Paâ—le Captaine of the Isauriens remayning with the nauyâ— at 〈◊〉 entered into it And wythin a whyle after the souldyers of Belisarius receyued another Cyty in Tuskye nere vnto the sea syde called Centumcelles beynge lykewyse lefte vppe by the Gothes Moreouer the Gothes abandoned vppe the Citye Alba amonge the marses after the same sorte and the souldyers of Belisarius tooke it When Uitigis knewe that hys enemyes had taken those Cities he sent commissioners to Rome to complayne of violatyng the Truce contrarye to the articles of agreement â–ª In that Portua Centumcelles and Alba townes of the Gothes contrarye to all equitye and conscience were taken from them for the Gothes had not geuen theym vppe but suche as were there in garryson were comme to hym at hys commaundement and should haue shortlye retourned into the same agayn that whych they did they thought they myghte the freelyer haue done it by reason of the Truce And therefore of reason restitution oughte to be madâ— Belisarius made aunswere to the commissioners in this wyse Returne ê™ he to the Kynge your Mastâ—r and tell hym that as for those thin ges that he alledgeth as concernynge the callynge of hys garrysons from
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
Epyre. There in deliberatynge vppon the affayres of Italye hangynge in doubte betwene hope and feare throughe his flouthfullnesse and cowardyse helost the tyme. For thys Maximine was a good gentyllman of a mylde nature meete for matters of peace but altogyther vnskyllfull of warrelyke exploytes and therefore fearfull fyndynge delayes and eastynge doubtes in euery trifle Now thaffaires of Italy at y â— time required quicke spede both in consultinge and in workinge Iustinian saw so smal hope of any good doinge in Maximine he sent one Demetrius because that lately before he had serued vnder Belisarius in the warres in Italy wyth another nauie into Siâ— This Demetrius when he was arryued in Sicill hearyng of the syege of Naples and of the dystresse that they were putte vnto that were within determyned to succour theym and that wythoute further delaye Now for as muche as he thought hymselfe not able to dooe it by playne force bycause that neyther hys shippes nor hys army were sufficient thervnto he deuysed thys pollicye He gate togyther all the shyppes that he coulde comme by in Sicill and made of theym a greate flete as to the show the whyche he fraughted wyth corne and so made sayle towarde Naples Thys thynge dyd bothe greatlye comforte the besyeged and also putto the Gothes in greate feare For they had hearde saye he was commynge wyth a greate number of shyppes and they thoughte verylye he hadde broughte a greate power of men in theym And surely yf he had gonne dyrectlye vnto Naples at the fyrst all thynges had happened to good successe and the besyeged Cytye had oute of all doubte bene saued For hys enemies were so dysmayed at the multitude of hys shyppes that they durste not haue made anye countenaunce of resistens Howbeit he knowyng his own weaknesse durste not arryue at Naples but went to Rome to thentent there to furnyshe hys nauye wyth men and so to sayle stronglye vnto Naples But the souldiers that were at Rome woulde not take shippynge for hym For by reason they had bene vanquisshed by the Gothes in twoo foughte battelles they stoode in feare of theym beyonde all measure Beynge therefore destitute of thys hope Demetrius was compelled to go against hys enemyes wyth those shyppes onelye that he broughte wyth hym from Constantinople Totilas kepte continuallye readye furnysshed certayne â—wyfte Pynesses in the hauen of Naples and alwayes tooke diligent heede to the flete of Demetrius wher fore when he heard that Demetrius was sette oute of Rome toward Naples and that he was arriued at the nexte shore sodaynelye he sette vppon hym wyth hys Pynesses thorowe the whyche sodayne vnlooked for assaulte the shypmen and souldyers were stryken in suche a feare that they tooke theym to flyghte The Gothes pursewinge them wyth theyr swyfte Pynâ—sses made a great slaughter and tooke all Demetrius shyppes with theyr freight and men For none escaped of that flete excepte it were suche as at the begynning had leapt into botes hidden themselues among whom was Demetrius Captaine of the said flete ¶ The. vii Chapter 〈◊〉 Demetrius say linge agayne to the rescowynge of Naples is taken prysonner wherevppon Naples is yelded to Totilas who behaueth hymselfe verye courteouslye and frendlye both to the towne smen and to the Emperours souldyers but towarde his owne men extendeth much seueritie in keping warlike discipline AFTER thys Marimine sayled oute of Epyre into Sicill wyth a greatter nauye and a greatter furniture of men And when he was arriued at Syracuse through hys accustomed cowardyse in delayinge and driuing of he loste the time againe Neyther regardinge the necessitie nor the intreataunce of suche as were besyeged At the lengthe when Iustinian had sente straighte charge vnto hym not wythoute threates that he shoulde procéede yet coulde not all that cause hym to sayle agaynste hys enemyes but he delyuered the charge of hys fleete to Demetrius Herodian and Phases and he himselfe abode still in Sicill It was nowe the dead of the wynter when they beganne to sette forthe And when they came wythin a lyttle of Naples sodaynely the flete was taken wyth a vehement tempest in so muche that neyther ores nor anye connynge in the world could saue theym but that they were dryuen aland perforce vppon the shore where their enemies were encamped The Gothes perceyuinge that ranne thyther and wythoute anye a doe tooke the shippes If any made resistens they slew them the rest they tooke prysoners Of the whych number Demetrius was one Whom Totilas commaunded to be broughte fettered in chaines vnto the walles of Naples where callynge Conon Captayne of the Towne and the souldyers wyth the Cytyzens of Naples Demetrius by the Kynges commaundement made an oration perswadynge theym not to looke for anye more helpe For consyderynge that those twoo fletes wyth all theyr men and furniture were loste there remayned not anye hope for theym to truste vnto They that were besyeged beynge sore pyned wyth hunger when they sawe Demetrius taken and all hope of comforte â—utte of fell to weepynge and lamentation not knowynge what to doe or which waye to tourne theym in so muche that all the Cytye was in a wonderfull trouble and disquietnesse for feare When Totilas perceiued that he called them and spake vnto theym as they stoode vppon the walles in thys wyse Ye men of Naples we haue not goone aboute to besyege your Cytye for anye anger or dyspleasure that we beare agaynste you but to thentent that by settinge you free from the bondage of oure enemye we myght recompence you for the troubles that you haue suffered in the tyme of these warres at ourc enemyes handes for keepynge your allegeans to the Gothes For you onelye of all the Italians vtterlye againste your wills came in subiection of oure enemyes compelled therto by violence slaughter and well nye by the vtter destruc tion of your Cytye And therefore me thynkes I am asshamed that we haue besyeged you but that necessitye constrayned vs because oure enemyes were amongest you Wherfore assure your selues rather of a good tourne and of frendshyppe at oure hand then of anye punishement Moreouer for your sakes we wyll not be anye thynge strayghte laced toward oure enemyes that are in the Towne wyth you For yf so be it they wyll render it vppe they shall haue fre libertye and leaue to chose whether they wyll serue vs in oure warres in lyke estate and case as other of oure owne souldyers or elles departe whyther they lyste themselues wyth bagge and baggage Thys oure promyse we are contented to confyrme wyth an othe Bothe the Neapolitanes and the Emperours souldyers commended Totilas hys wordes Neuerthelesse to thentent theyr yeldynge myghte seme the more honnest and reasonable they desyred a Truce for thyrtye dayes yf perchaunce anye bodye woulde rescowe theym wythin that tyme. Totilas aunswered that he was contented to geue theym not thyrtye by thryse thyrtye dayes respyte The besyeged wonderynge at so
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
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
to assaulte the same and of their goynge to the assault THey pitched theyr tentes in syxe places about the citie froÌ„ the way of flaminius vnto the waye that leadeth to Preuesie This campe beseged fiue gates of the citie Afterward they embattelled the. vii campe on the further syde of the brydge Miluius This last Campe besâ—iged the gate of Aurelius and cutte of the wayes that leade ouer the Ryuer Tyber They fortified theyr campes with diches and trenches and turrettes of timber And as wel on the oneside as on the other of the Tyber they made hauocke of all y â— came in their waye Belisarius on the contrary part prouided in this wise for the defence of the city The gate called Pinciana which was directly againste the greater campe of the Gothes toge ther w t the nextegate vnto it on y â— right haÌ„d called Salaria whatsoeuer was on that part of the walles therabouts Belisarius toke vnto himselfe tokepe The gate towarde Preueste he committed to Bessas The gate of Flaminius whiche is on the left hande of the Pincian gate he deliuered to CoÌ„stantin and at euerye other of the gates he set a keper The Gothes goyng about the Citye brake all the Conduittes There were of theym in all fourtene made of wonderfull workâ— by the whi ch water was conueyed into the Citie By the breakynge of these the Romaynes were not so greatelye afflycted wyth scarcetye of water as wyth want of 〈◊〉 For the conduit that ranne downe froÌ„ the toppe of Ianiculum throughe the furtherside of Tiber into the city run ning swiftly downe the stepe hyll dyd driue many mylles The lyke commodity of grinding was also ministred by other of the conduits in diuers places The which being then brokeÌ„ brought great distresse vpon them that were be seiged Against this displeasure Belisa rius prouided this remedie Two ligh ters with a space betwene theym for a whele to goe in were fastned together with strong rafters of timber vpon the which the milles were set and so driueÌ„ with the swiftnes and violence of the streame and the lighters were stayed with Cables streyned hard and made fast on both sydes of the Ryuer These lyghters he placed harde by the firsie brydge that leadeth ouer Tiber. After those he set other lyghters on a rowe And least the enemye might hurte the lighters by casting downe fyre or other stuffe from alofte there were cheynes of yron draweÌ„ by the brydge to receiue all such gere and men set on both sides to take the same cary it away Thus was good prouison made to supply the want of milles for those lighters suffyced to grynd as much as they would As for the want of water that dyd the ryuer Tiber supplye Belisarius had on diuers places of the walles deuised many engines to strike and put backe thenemy withall On the otherside the Gothes prouided great store of artillerie and engines for the winning of the Citie The engins were these Fyrste fowrâ— battell Rammes whiche were made after this fashion Foure postes of timber of lyke hygh equallye distant are sette square one ageinste another These pyllers are fastened with eyght ouerwayes foure at the toppe foure at y â— foote so that it standeth as it were a pretye square house The same is câ—uerd aboue with leather to the entent that such as are within it should not be hurte from the walles Aloft is laide a beame ouerthwart at thende whereof hangeth downe another beame as it were to the middell of y â— pillars fastned w t plates of yron y â— which hath a great square head of stelelike vnto an anuild The whole engine is driuen vpoÌ„ foure wheles fastened in the feete of pillars When it is remoued froÌ„ place to place there are not fewer then L. souldyers within it to driue it forward Who after the time they haue brought it nere vnto the walle doe with a certayne wynch wey vp the foresaid beame that lyeth ouerthwart and when it is aloft doe let it fall with all the whole swaye that it hath Then the head of y â— beame being let downe partlye with violence and partly with weight falling vpon y â— wall dothe batter and breake in peces al that euer it lighteth vpon Moreouer the Gothes made Turretes of Tymber of lyke heigh with the walles the whiche went vppon fyue wheles a pece Also they prepared a great number of skaling ladders together with an innumerable sorte of faggottes of shrubbes and strawe to fyll vp the dyches When all thynges were in sufficient readinesse Uitigis commaunded all hys men to be in armour by the breake of the next daye whom he deuided into companyes appoyntynge what he would haue euery man to doe The Gothes were verye glad of it and wonderfull desyrous of thassault some carrying faggotts some bearing skalyng Ladders and other some dryuyng the engines toward the walles Belisarius stoode vppon the vamure before the gate wyth the tallest men that he coulde chose oute in all hys hoste geuynge all the reste of hys retinewe charge not to styrre oute of theyr places before he gaue theym warnynge The Turrettes which I toolde you that the Gothes had prepared were drawen wyth Oxen and sette before the reste of the other engynes The which thing wheÌ„ Belisarius behelde he laughed at the simplicitie of the Gothes that they should thinke naked Oxen able to drawe an engine against armed enemies And thervpon he commaunded all hys men to dyscharge their arrowes at them the whi ch beynge done and thoren forthwyth â—aine the engine stood still and coulde be remoued no further Such as caried skalinge ladders and faggottes to fill vp the dyches being repulsed with the number of weapons commynge from the vamure coulde neyther fyll the diches nor gette vnto the walles nor yet brynge the battell Rammes nere Neuertheles the battell of the Gothes abode by it and castinge their sheldes ouer their heades sometyme wyth plaine force came harde to their enemyes howbeit they were neuer able to winne the vamure Thencounter was with arrowes dartes Iauelings â—kes and all other kind of artillerie ⧠The. x. Chapter ¶ The maner of the assault the discription of the tumbe of the Emperour Adrian and the dâ—acing of the same the repulse of the Gothes the murmuringe of the Romaines agaynste Belisarius whercpâ—n he aduertiâ—eth themperour of his peril necessity WHyle these things were in doing at the Pincian Salaria gates Rome was assaulted in three other places For Uitigis setting parte of his armie to kepe Belisarius occupied went hymselfe with a number of souldiers to the gate that leadeth to preneste And at the same instant another companie of the Gothes assaulted the gate of Aurelius Another sorte of them endeuored to brust in at the gate that is on y â— tope of Ianiculum Thus was Rome assaulted in foure places at ones at the gates Pinciana and Salaria which Belisarius himself
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
said in this wise My fellows companions in armes which way so euer we turne vs ye see we are driuen to an vtter exigent For there is no waye to escape by flyght the enemies â—roning vs round about with their armye and taking so good hede to vs. And to yeld our selues to them besides the disshonor cowardnes of the facté we are like to be horribly tormented rent i pieces For y â— cruelty of these bar barous people is not wont to be coÌ„ten ted w t any simple kind of death As to a bide the siege to â—de vpon horse flesh let theÌ„ doe it that loke to be rescowed I cannot see what reason ought to per suade vs vnto so great sufferance which are vtterly destitut of any such hope onlesse that like a sort of faintharted boies for feare of death we had rather pine ourselues w t sorow than haue our fleshe cut w t a sword And I assure you eyther to yeld to thenemie or to starue for hunger I count it the propertie of them that haue neither hart nor blood in theÌ„ But vnto vs which are men of our handes acquainted w t feighting an honorable death is rather to be em braced then a shamefull lyfe And therefore let vs in such wyse dye that we may bath our selues in y e blood of our enemies not die vnreuenged Let not our enemye laugh at our destruction but wepe Neyther let vs hold vp our throtes to be cut by them but lette vs with our weapons cut theirs For what can the respit of a few yeres profit vs sythens that if we should escape aliue nowe yet are we sure we shall die ere it be longe after Glorye may lengthen mens liues but nature cannot Aduaunce your selues forth w t me therefore to an honorable death the whyche oure enemyes aswell as our countrymen maye wonder at and extoll wyth eternall prayses to the sky The horsemen encoraged wyth these wordes vowed thèm selues to deathe And therevppon embracyng and kyssyng one another they prepared themselues to the battell full beent and determyned to spend theyr lyues manfully Their purpose was to runne vppon the Gothes that warded next vnto them and to bestow e theyr lyues in the slaughter of theyr enemyes When Totilas sawe them thus bent to trye the vtter most for feare least the desperate endeuour of them should doe the Gothes more displeasure then otherwyse so small a number were able to doe he sent an herault to them offeryng theym choyce whether they would departe wyth theyr lyues leauyng theyr Horse and armour behynd them or elles retaynyng all styll serue hym in hys warres in lyke estate with other of hys Souldyers When the horsemen heard that they were verye glad and at the firste chose to leaue all that euer they had to goe to Constan tinople But afterward considering y â— long iourney and the daungers that might happen by the wayâ— they returned their myndes chose to abyde all w t Totilas sauyng their Captayne Paule Mundus an Isaurien These two for as much as they had wife and childreÌ„ at home desired to depart And Totilas helping them liberally wyth vâ—and other necessaries sent them again to Constantinople Furthermore he commaunded y â— no man should be so hardy as to offer any wrong to ani of thother souldiers in garrison that had taken sanctuarie in y â— church Toward the Citie of Rome he neither extended any crueltie nor went aboute to make it desolate as he had done before But made a serch for the Citizens therof in the townes of Campanie in other pla ces reduced them home again Furthermore he made in Rome tourneies and iustes such other princelye pastimes as are wont to be done in fortunate quiet Cities with great cost and solemnitie to the entent the Citizens should conceiue good hope haue a desire to the Citie The houses also which had bene ouerthrowen or consumed w t fire in the former desolation of the towne he went about to reedifie and repayre Finally he shewed nowe as great a desyre of replenishinge Rome as he had doone before of wasting and leauyng it desolate Thys so great mu tabilitie and alteration of hys mynde somme beleued to haue rysen vppon a vow that he had made to the Apostles Peter Paule whose teÌ„ples he myght seme to haue destroied wheÌ„ he destroied y â— citie Othersome imputed it altogither to the profyte and commoditie of the warres And dyuers doe reporte that when Totilas latelye before desyred the Frenche Kynges daughter in mariage aunswere was made hym that he was not Kynge of Italye when he had subuerted the Cytye of Rome The whych Taunt men saye altered hys mynde to the repayrynge of the Cytye But what so euer was the cause of it he endeuored to repayre and buylde agayne the Cytye of Rome After thys he prepared to make a vyage into Sicill For the furniture whereof he builded him a great flete of Galleyes made a greate number of hoyes and hulkes while he was making preparation for y â— same he determined to besiege both by water and by lande Centmucelles whiche one Citye was not yet comme vnder hys subiection Captayne of that piece was Diogenes who as is before mencioned escaped lately from Rome He had gathered to hym a good stronge companie of men of warre Therefore at suche tyme as the Gothyshe armie came thither and had encamped theÌ„selues nere vnto the walls of the towne Totilas sendyng an officer of Armes to hym sommoned hym eyther to come feyght it out w t his po wer against y e gothes or els to yeld vp y â— town vnto hiÌ„ For it was not for him to loke for any help at Justinians hand considering he neuer releued Rome al the while it was besieged onles perchance he thought themperour did set more by Centmucells then by Rome Diogenes replied therunto saying that as for to fyghte with hym he was not mynded at that time and as for to yeld vp the towne sauing his honour and fidelitie he coulde not before he had sente to knowe the Emperours pleasure and to desyre helpe Whereuppon forasmuche as he seemed to speake that which was honest and reasonable they fel to composition that onlesse the Emperour after warnyng geuen dyd rescowe the towne by himself or by his reputie Diogenes should surrender it at a certayne daye And Totilas shoulde not in the meane season by any meanes moleste or dysquiet hym For the assurance of these Articles Hostages were deliuered and vppon thys agreement Totilas brake vp his siege The. 〈◊〉 Chapter 〈◊〉 Totilas makyng warre in Sicill beâ—iegeth Siracuse a new Lieuetennaunt is sent from â—he Emperour into Italy WHen all thynges were nowe in a readinesse that were to be prepared Totilas turned hymselfe to the warres in Sicill commaundyng that his shyppes shuld be ready at hand in the narrowe seas of Sicill He
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