the Empire of Rome ¶ The. xi Chapter ¶ Themperour sendeth new succours in to Italy Asinarius and Vligisalus Captaines of the Gothes besege Salons in Dalmatia Vitigiâ— winneth Portua and causeth all the Romaines to be put to death whom he helde at Rauenna as hostagâ—s Bâ—lisarius putteth all vnable folke for the wars oute of the citie for consuming of victalls and banisheth the pope vpon suspicion of treason THe Emperour Iustinian was be rye sore moued at the receipte of these letters and therâ—vpon commaunded that certayne souldyers whi ch had bene put in a readynesse before 〈◊〉 immediatly sayle into Italy en tending with all spede to leuie a greater power Ualerian and MartiaÌ„ were appoynted Captaynes of thâ—se souldyers whyche he had alreadye prepared and whyche had wyntered all the dead tyme of that yere in Aâ—toly and Aâ—arname The newes hereof beynge broughte to Rome put the Romains in good comforte lokynge for theyr arriuall as sone as the tyme of the yere wold serue While these thyngs were a dooynge at Rome Asinarius and Uligisalus Captaynes of the Gothes whom Uitigis had sent wyth an host of men into Dalmatia appoyntynge to theym moreouer for theyr more strengthe a nauye of shyppes beâ— Salons bothe by sea and lande For Constantian 〈◊〉 hym selfe to weake to matche so huge a power as hys enemies had fortifyed the Citie throughly before hand and abode the syege Durynge the which sometyme yssewinge oute of the towne he dyd greate harme to the Goâ—es both â—y sea and by lande In thys meane time Rome bâ—ganne to be more hardly distressed by the seyge For Uitigis after the time that he had taken so dishonorable repulse at the foresayde assaulte beynge therewith somewhat quickned ceased not to sâ—ke serche all meanes possible to be deuysed whereby he myghte anoye hys beseeged enemyes There was a hauen by the Sea syde standinge on the ryght hand of the Ryuer Tyber and adioyning to the same a Cytye enâ—yroned wyth a stronge wall In the whyche place were woâ—te to be sette a lande all suche thynges as were broughte 〈◊〉 water and from thence agayâ— eyther by landâ— or by water were conueyed to Rome Uitigis therfore sending thither sodain ly a great number of his souldiers assailed the said citie of Portua vnwares and wonne it ere the townsmen could put themselues in a readines to make resystens aganst so greate a power of the Gothes By taking of this towne strayt wayes â—nsued great distresse at Rome when their vent of fetching in of corne and victiualls was ones stopped For the Gothes leauing a garison of souldiers there dyd kepe both the towne and the mouth of Tiber suffering nothing to be conueyed in It was not longe after but that Uitigis sent commaundement to Rauenna that al the Citizens of Rome which as is declared he led from thens and kept for hoâ—tages should be put to death Many of them were of the nobility and many of the commanaltie surely worthy per sonages all the which tasted of one cup sauyng a few who hauinge incling of the matter before escaped by flighte Amonge the which number were Cer Ceruentinus Reparatus the brother of Uigilius that was afterward pope For they hauing warning therof fled into Fraunce and saued their lyues the rest were all put to death In the tyme that the Romaines moorned and lamâ—nted for the slaughter of theyr citizens at Rauenna there came another sorrow in the necke of it For Be lisarius fearinge least graine shoulde faile and waxe scarce made proclamacion that the citizens should send away their wiues and children wyth al thother multitude that was vnmete and vnable for the warres compelling hys men of warre also to doe the lyke whych had eyther Lemans or lackeys with in the towne There were as yet two wayes left them to passe out at One leading to Ostia by the left syde of the ryuer Tiber and another through the fields cleane coÌ„trary from those places that were beseged by theâ—my For the Gothes as we haue sayd dyd not enui ron the whole Citie with their syege but onely from the gate of Aurelius to the gate that goeth to Preneste Beyond those boundes they durst not be bold to be ouer busye or to stray ouer farre For yf they adueÌ„tured ouer farre from theyr Campe they lightly ranne in daunger of commynge short home they could not stirre any great way onlesse they went in greate companyes By meanes whereof it came to passe that men myght at all tymes goe and come saufely by the waye of Appius and the way of Ostia The Romaines thâ—refore sent forthe their wyues and children and all their other people that were vnmâ—ete for the warres Wherof somme abode in Campanie some at Naples and some in Stâ—ill as eue ry man thought most for hys commoditye and behoofe At Rome Belisarius gaue streyghte commaundemente and looked narrowlye to it that the corne was deuyded by the poll to the entent y â— no waste nor spoyle should be made of it The same time Belisarius bannished the town Liberius the pope vppon suspicion of secrete conspiratie with the Gothes And anone after was Uigilius consecrated high bishop and enstalled in his steed Other of the nobilitie of Rome also were bannished vppon lyke presumption of the which number was one Maximus whose great graundfather after the death of Ualentinian had vsurped the name and dignitie of the Empyre The. xij Chapter The ayde that the Emperour sent into Italâ— commeth to Rome Belisarius after practising his souldiers in skyrmishes encountereth with the Gothes in a mayne battâ—ll and is ouercome with great slaughter WHyle these thynges were a doing Martine Ualerian whom Iustinian had sent forth as I shewed before came vnto Rome bringing with them a thousand sixe hundred horsemen the which for the most parte with all Hunnes Belisarius beynge recomforted by the commynge of these Souldyers determined to order hys warres after another sort then he had done before For he was not mynded to stand styl with in the Citye kepynge of the walles but euery daye sent out hys lyght horse men and skirmyshed wyth hys enemyes in open fyelde By meanes whereof it came to passe that bothe partes were wonderfullye enflamed and nothynge was lefte vnattempted For Belisarius beynge a most expert captaine in feats of armes taught his horsmen what they should do shewing them how farre they shuld go where and when they should stay One while he sent out his horsmen sodainly at the gates Salaria and Pinciana and disquietted the Gothes that encamped theraboutes Another while he would yssue oute at Aurelius gate and be doyng wyth the Gothes that lay betwen Adrians tumbe the bridge Miluius In these conflictes the souldiers of Be lisarius beganne to preualle Not that they were able to match the whole power of theyr enemyes horsemen but because they seemed to be to good for them being equally matched as
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
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
prowd for those things whych no man is able to assure himself that they shall coÌ„tinue with him vntill night Thus doth an Historye make vs bothe more wyse and more modest in our dooinges And therfore ryght reuerend father I determined to dedicate these Bookes vnto you as well to thentent you might vnderstaÌ„d my entier loue and affection to wardes you as also that you myghte be as a Iudge of my worke and trauel the which I shal thinke very well bestowed if so wyse and wel learned a maÌ„ as you are doe allow them and take them in good worthe Whereuppon I wyll take occasion to goe in hand with the processe of myne Historye Farrewell The fyrst Booke of Leonard Aretine concernyng the warres in Italy against the Gothes ⧠The first Chapter ¶ The dispotition of Agustulus the diuision of the landes through Italy the cause of the commyng of the Gothes thither and of their encounâ—er with Odoacers Captaines IN the tyme that Zeno was Emperour of Rome the Gothes vnder the leading of Theodorich determined to inuade Italy lately before soore afflicted with diuers rodes and inuasions of barbarous people and at that tyme oppressed with the tyranny of Odoacer of the which thinges I purpose to entreate repeatyng somewhat deper the state of those tymes to the intent it may be knowen from whence the Gothes first came and what hope moued them to inuade the Empyre After the death of the yonger Ualentinian who as it is well ynough knowen was â—ayne at Rome of hys owne Subiectes the Empyre of the West beganne to wauer and to bée as it were without lyfe or soule Nowe there were at the same tyme in Italy great armyes of forreyners raysed latelye before by Ualentinian for feare of Attila and afterwardes associated by the Romaynes agaynst the Uandales These forreyners perceyuynge the empoueryshemente and weakenesse of the Empyre and therevppon takynge courage conspired together and demaunded to haue the thyrde parte of the landes through all Italye deuyded amonge them The name of the Empyre remaynÌ„ed at that tyme in one Augustnlus who beynge but a verye â—ylde was gâ—uerned by hys father Orestes a Senatour of Rome Therefore at suche tyme as the menne of warre demaunded a partition of the landes and that Orestes beynge a wyse and sage personne wythstoode theyr request the Souldyours â—ewe hym and fourthewyth folowynge theyr Captayne Odoacer camme to Rome and deposed Augustulus By meanes whereof hauynge nowe the lawe in theyr owne hande they deuyded the thyrde part of the landes among them Odoacer hauynge by thys meanes gotten the Soueraygnytye in hys owne name and in the name of the armye ruled the Cytyes at hys owne luste and pleasure Zeno also Gouernour of the East Empyre lying at Constantynople beganne to dread soore the power of Theodorich For the Gothes that inhabited the vpper coaste of Thracia hadde alreadye begonne to vere and disquiett the Countreys borderynge vppon them And it was none other lyke but that they woulde make some insurrection against the Romain Empyre Whervppon to the entent to delyuer hymself and the countreys there aboutes from feare of the Gothes He persuaded Theodorich to passe into Italy and to delyuer the cities there oute of the hands of the wrongfull withholders of them Induced with these persuation Theordorich remouyng out of Thrace and leadyng with him the Gothes with their wyues and children and al that euer they had through Syrmium and Illyricum went toward Italy where at hys fyrst entraunce the Captaines of Odoacer camme against him with their armies The first battell betwirt them was fought not farre from the Citie of Aquileia vppon the riuer Fontius In the which conflict after a long and sharpe encouÌ„ter the Gothes gate the victorye and putte the 〈◊〉 of Odoacer to flyght ⧠The. ij Chapter ¶ Theodorich kyng of the Gothes besiegeth Odoacer in Rauenna the matter is ended by composition 〈◊〉 of them lyeth in wayre to destroye other Theodorich preuenting Odoacer kylleth hym at a banquet by meanes whereof he obteyneth the soueraignitie of Italy of the actes of Theodorich and of hys death AFter this when the Gothes had wonne the cities there aboutes and vanquysshed the power of their enemyes in other places also at length they besieged Odoacer in the Citie of Rauenna The siege held the Gothes tack lenger then thei thought it woulde haue done at the firste and that happened by reason of the situation of the place For neyther can Rauenna bee easlye besieged vppon that syde that is towarde the sea because it standeth hard vppon the shore neither vppon that syde that is towarde the land because it hath a diche cut from the riuer Po and is enuyroned wyth certaine standyng waters and marisses By meanes whereof the Gothes laye well nye full thrée yeres at the siege thereof and could not wynne it But yet in the meane season thei won all the townes nere aboute sauynge Cesena the which also was kept with a stronge garrison of Odoacers At the last as well the Assaylaunts as the Defendauntes beinge weryed the matter was decided by composition that Theodorich and Odoacer should be Comperes and Felowes in Empyre After that thynges were thus set at a staye Theodorich and hys Gothes entered into Rauenna neyther was there any parte of all Italy that was not content to receyue hym But thys copertnershyppe in the Empyre lasted not longe For when as the one bare grudge in hys heart preuelye agaynst the other Theodorich preuentyng Odoacer badde hym to a Banquet and there kylled hym and so with hâ—s Gothes â—are all the 〈◊〉 alone in Italy Howe be it to saye the trueth hys gouernement was not verye intollerable albeit he reteyned for hys people y e thyrde part of the lands in suche sort as Odoacer had lately before deuyded them For he suffered the cities to bée gouerned by their own lawes and by theyr owne citizins Appoyntyng Rauenna to bée the Sea of hys kyngdome where he also planted hym selfe Thyrtye and seuen yeres raygned Theodorich in Italye neyther sate he styll Idellye lyke a cowarde all the whyle For he bothe annexed Sicill wyth all the Ilelandes about it vnto hys kyngdome and also subdued Dalmatia Moreouer duryng the sayde tymâ— of hys raygne he led an huge hoste ouer the Alpes and the ryuer Rhone into Fraunce agaynste the Frenche men Thus dyd thys Kynge manye noble 〈◊〉 and hys name was famous and 〈◊〉 sauynge that in hys latter dayes he was noted of â—rucltye and outrage for puttyng to death of Symmachus and Boetius Senatours of the citie of Rome with certain other noble men onely vppon suspition that they sought to set the citie at libertic ⧠The. iij. Chapter ¶ Amulusuentha the doughter of Theodorich with her sonne Athalaricke succede in the kingdome the seueritie of the Quene in executing of iustice the wilfulnesse of the Gothes in the education of theyr kyng the vntimely death
to wynne the Cytye Othersome settynge fyre on the houses that we spake of before burnte vppe all that was wythoute the walles ¶ The. v. Chapter ¶ Narses an Eunuche the Emperours Chamberlaine commeth into Italy with a new power and meeteth with Belisarius about Aucon where in consultinge what is to be done after diuers opinions of thother captaynes Narses perswadeth to goe and rescow Iohn Vatalian besieged in arimine the whych Belisarius veâ—ye pollitiquelye bringeth to passe Through flatterie and euill instigatioâ—â—yseth emulation and dis corde betwene Narses and Belisarius Belisarius going with Narses to the siege of Vrbine is of him forsakeÌ„ and yet through good fortune winneth the towne NOT longe after that these thinges were done at Aucon Narses came into Italye wâ—th a newe hoste of men Thys Narses was an Enuche a man that stoode muche in the Emperours fauour and one that bare greate rule and aucthoritie aboute hym For no man myghte commaund in the Emperours court but he onelye Moreouer he was threasurer of the Empyre whyche is the offycâ— of greattest honour and truste and one of hys priuye counsell by wâ—ome the Emperour was in manner altogether ruled He broughte wyth hym into Italye fyue thousande souldyers Tâ—e notablest amonge whome was Iustine Captayne of the Illirien souldyers another Narses a Persian borne Also there were in his retinew MM. of Therules of whom were captaines Isandre and Phauotheus In y â— meane tyme Belisarius hearynge in what daunger the men of Aucon stood was come among the Picents and so was Narses in likwise The captayns and their armies met both together about the towne There as they were consultinge concernynge the warre that they had in hand and were deuisinge what was moste requisite to be done next of all out of hand there appeared many doubtes and daungers in the matter For yf they should go and besyege Auximum Iohn those that were besyeged wyth hym in Arimine should be left in apparant ieoper die inespecially consydering that foode fayled them Againe yf they should go to Arimine they shoulde leaue behynd them at Auximum a great garrison of the Gothes to the preiâ—dice of theyr armye and domage of the countrye In geuing of their verdittes manye of theym that were chiefe officers of the campe spake much against the rashenesse of Iohn in that he had shutte vp hymselfe in Arimine contrarye to the commaundement of Belisarius and that of a proud an couetous stomacke he had runne vppon hys owne heade without regard of hys Captayne or of hys charge When Narses perceyued that fearing least by y e meanes Iohn should be abandoned whom he loued most entierly he spake hys mynde to thys effect My Maisters ê™ he when men consult as concernynge the publyke vtilitie in my opinion they ought to haue an especiall eye thereto for it owne selfe and not to hynder it eyther for malice or for loue Certainly all other thynges set a syde when I waye with myselfe the thing wherof we doe coÌ„sult me thinks I spie this difference in the matter If we delay the siege of AuximuÌ„ there is no let but that with 〈◊〉 fewe dayes after we maye attempt the same when we lyste But yf we make anye taryance in 〈◊〉 the souldiers that are at Arimine we cannot afterward helpe theym when we would For ere many dayes to an end hunger wyll so pinch theym that they shalbe compâ—lled to yelde themselues to their enemies And therefore what indifferent Iudge doubteth but that most spede oughte to be made thyther where tariance procureth vnrecouerable daunger But Iohn ye will saye deserueth not to be succoured because he despised his captaynes commaunde ment and through his owne wilfulnesse cast himselfe into that daunger Admitte that all these things are true y â— are reported of Iohn What then shall we for the hatred we beare to Iohn willfully suffer the destruction of so noble and worthy a Citie as Arimine is and of the innocent souldiers besieged in the same I 〈◊〉 the O noble and puissant Captaine Belisarius yf Iohn haâ—e offended thee wylt thou wrekâ— his trespasse vpon themperour who therby should lose both hys towne and his souldiers to the greate preiudice of the publike weale againe what shall men thinke or what shall men say of vs and our armies if we sitting still like a sort of cowards and beholding it with open eyes shall suffer our companions in armes to peryshe and our besyeged Citie to be taken by the enemye in manner harde vnder oure noses My opinion is therefore that wythoute anye further protracting of tyme we lead our armyes to Arimine to succour our men that are in daunger And afterward yf it shall seme expedient to besege AurimuÌ„ other of our enemis holds To further thopinion of Narses w e al y e very same time came letters froÌ„ Iohn vnto Belisarius aduertising him y t the souldiers constrained by famin had fallen to composition w t their enemies to yelde w tin seuen daies onles they were rescowed in the meane while Herevpon the opinion of Narses was confirmed by the assent of all the whole counsel When it was ones fullye condiscended that succour shoulde be ministred vnto Iohn w e all speede possible Belisarius prouyded for the same in thys wise Fyrst he commaunded Araâ—us to abyde in the same place where they then were with a thousand horsemen willynge hym in anye wyse not to remoue from thence nor by any mâ—anes to attempte fortune for anye occasyon but onelye to defende bys campe yf the enemye aduentured vppon hym After that he furnyshed hys shyppes and embarked hys souldyers commyttyng the charge of them to Herodian and Uliarius But y â— rule of the whole flete he wold shuld be at the discretion of Ildiger coÌ„maun ding him forthw e to direct his course toward Arimine Another part of his army he betoke to Martine bidding him coast the shippes and kepe w e them as â—ere as he could by the shore And assone as they approched their enemies so that thei came w ein kenning then of set purpose to kindle manye fires in their Campe to the entent to make the enemy beleue y e they were a greater army then they were in dede Whiles these kept by the sea coast he himselfe went a contrary waye by the City Saluia The same was somtime a saire citie but it had bene destroyed and beaten downe to the grounde by the Gothes that came fyrste into Italye vnder Alaricus so that nothynge remained therof more then the ruines Belisarius therfore passinge by thys towne marched by the mountaynes eschewynge the playner waye that leadeth to Arimine by the fyeldes of the Fauenses and Pisauriens For seynge that hys enemyes had a farre greatter armye aboute Arimine then he had and that he had lefte a stronge garryson of theym behynde at Auximum he thoughte it more for hys behoofe to vse wysedome and policie agaynste the
shore-side beautifull to beholde bothe for the buylding and number of the shippes by and by retourned vnto Grippa and where as y e thing was great of it self they reported it to be far greater then it was in dede At the which tidinges Grippa was at his witts end and wist not in the worlde what to do For he thought it both perilous and also great folly to encounter against so great a power and to enclose him self within Salons he durst not because he had the Citizins more then half in a gelousie of treason the walles of the town were in diuers places decayed fallen downe for lacke of reparation Moreouer considering that his enemies were to strong for him on y e sea he was afrayed he should soone be brought to scarcetie of victualls Beyng distressed with these cares at length which is the refuge in such extremities he fell to counsell According to the same he conueyghed all hys hoost a good waye out of Salons and encamped in a place conuenient In the meane tyme Constantian arriued with all his â—ete at Lysne there hauyng intelligence what was done he sayled to the next shore and there setting his men a land sent CCCCC of them before to take the streight narrowe passages in the night season which are within a lytle way of Salons The which thing being executed he him self the next mornyng brought all his army to the citie and without any trouble recouered the same When Grippa had vnderstanding therof he taried not past two or thre dayes there but that he determined to depart thence and so he retourned to Kauenna by water leauyng vp vtterly to the enemye bothe Dalmatia Lyâ—rnie the which immediatly without any reâ—istence came into the hands of Constantian ⧠The. vj. Chapter ¶ Belisariua arriueth in Italy and after long 〈◊〉 wynneth Naples BElisarius vppon the receipt of the Emperours letters when he shuld passe into Italy leauing garrisons of souldiours at Syracuse and Panormus went with the residuâ— of his armie to Mâ—ssana and there wosted ouer vnto Regium From thence he led his armie by lande through the Brutians and Lucanes commaunding his nauie to coast him by the shore of the neither sea as nere the land as might be As he went forwarde the inhabitants of those couÌ„treys reuolted to him thick and threfold When he had after thys sort certaine dayes continued his iourney at length he stayed about Naples the which citie was kept with a great and strong garrison of the Gothes There he commaunded his shippes to lye at anchour in the hauen but yet w tout the shot of artillery he himselfe in the meane tyme bringing his army nere vnto the towne viewed the situation of the citie the nature of y â— place vpon the land It was not long after but that he tooke by composition a stroÌ„g bulwarke standyng in the Suburbes Therevppon as he was about to plant hys siege the Neapolitans sent theyr Oratours vnto him among whome was one Stephan a man of much wisdome and authoritie in the citie He spake these wordes in effect that Belisarius dyd not well to make war vppon the Neapolitans whiche neuer had done hym any wronge in all his lyfe They inhabited a citie kept by the garrisons of Theodatus and the Gothes by meanes whereof he could not hope for any thyng at theyr hands beyng vnder the iurisdiction and subâ—ion of other men But yf so be it he myght be so bolde to say hys mynd he dyd vnaduisedlye to lâ—nger there in vayne For hadde he once gotten Rome he shoulde strayghte wayes obteyne Naples But yf he were sette besyde Rome he were not able to keepe Naples though he had it Wherefore it had bene méeter for him to haue gone firste of all to Rome against the Gothes that wer there and not to haue stayed at Naples the which should fall as an ouerplus to the lot of the Conquerour which way so 〈◊〉 the world went Belisarius replied therevnto that whether he did aduisedly or vnaduisedly in tariyng aboute Naples was no part of their charge to determine for he asked not their counsell therein but rather to take thought for those things that perteined to them selues namely whether it were better for them to procure their owne saufegarde and libertie by receyuynge the Emperours armye or by continuyng in bondage vnder the barbarous Gothes worthely to be besieged and vtter ly destroyed For he was fully purposed not to depart thence vntyll he had the citie at his pleasure his desier was to obteyne the towne rather withoute their destruction then w t it This was his saying openly And secretly he persuaded Stephan to 〈◊〉 his Citizens rather to seke themperours good will fauour then his indignation displeasure Thoratours at their reâ—ourne into the citie reported the words of Belisarius And when thei came to consul tation as concerning the same Stephen being demaunded his opinion in the case saide he thought it to daungerous a matter for the â—politanes to tourne the brunt of so great a warre vppon themselues and therefore he wisshed them by some composition or other to prouide for their saufegarde This counsell was furthered also by one Antiochus a Syrian borne who had continued longe tyme at Naples as in the waye of traffique marchandise a man of great wealth of much credit among the Neapolitanes he by persuading the lyke that Stephan had done had moued many to be of hys opinion the people also the commoÌ„s of the citie were desirous of the same In so much that shoutes were openly heard crying out to haue the gates set open and Belisarius let in There were about eyght hundred Gothes in garrison who albeit that it greeued them to see these things neuerthelcsse for as muche as they durste not withstand the wyll of the people gathered themselues together Pastor and Asclepiodotus citizens of Naples beyng frends of the Gothes and therefore sorye to 〈◊〉 the prescnt estate of the citie altered when they sawe howe the people were bent durste not openly gainsay theyr desyres but wrought by an ouerthwart meanes to breake thagrement And there vppon allowyng and praysing openly all that was determined in the assemblye as though it had lyked them verye well they counselled to knitte vp the matter stronglye with many bandes and couenaunts requirynge an othe for performinge of the same The articles that they had deuised were suche as they thought Belisarius woulde not haue consented vnto in especiallye seynge he shoulde be sworne to the performaunce of them Therefore in as much as they seemed to speake these thynges of good wyll to the people they obteyned to haue the decree made accordynge to theyr owne deuise And therevppon all thynges were penned and fayre wordes engroced Stephan was sent with the Booke from the Citie to Belisarius Who after he hadde perused the same agreed to euery article and offered
to be sworne for the keeping of theÌ„ Stephan returned and brought worde thereof into the citie Wherat the people greatly reioysing began to runne to the gates sayinge that Belisarius should be let in Pastor and Asclepiodotus seyng this when they perceyued that their first crafts tooke no place called together the Gothes and citizens of Naples such as wer of their own faction Declaring vnto them that it was a folly to lose the towne at the 〈◊〉 of the vnskylfull multitude For what man had so lytle witte that could not vnderstand that if Belisarius were in any hope at all of winning the citie he would neuer haue consented to tharticles that were sent vnto him But nowe because he was out of all hope he had grauÌ„ted to those things which he would not stand to to thentent to make them traitours at theyr vttermoste peryll For if he bare them so much good wyll as he pretended he would not haue there taricd to surprise theÌ„ by subteltie but would haue kept on his way to trye the matter by battel against Theodatus and his Gothes By alledgynge these and suche other thyngs they both persuaded the Citizens to make resistence and also encouraged the Gothes to stand to the de fence of the Citie Besids this they armed the Iewes of the which ther was a great multitude in Naples caused them to take their parte By meanes whereof the rest of the citizins were put in feare and all the communicatioÌ„ and couenaunts with Belisarius wer broken Belisarius therefore after that time addressed himselfe to the siege Oftentymes when he attempted to winne it by assaulte he was put to the repulse with great losse and peryll of hys souldiours For the walles of Naples are partly enuironed with the sea and partly do stand vppon high and steepe places so that it is a very harde matter to scale them The conduit pypes by which water ranne into the citie albeit they were all broken by Belisarius yet not withstanding it semed to be no great discommoditie to them that were besieged because they had manye Welles in the towne so that they could want no water But most of all hurted them the hope of helpe to come for as much as thei had sent their Ambassadours to Rome for ayde against their enemies Now as Belisarius was in maner paste hope and thought to haue broken vp his siege Fortune wonderfully opened the way of conquest vnto him There was a wa ter chanel cut deepe into the grouÌ„de by which water was wont to be coÌ„ueyed into the citie This at the beginning of the siege had Belisarius broken as he had done other before A certain souldier of Clandiople by chaunce entering into the same went in it hard to the walles of the citie There was at the place where it went vnder the wall a stone not layed by mannes hand but of nature through the whiche there was a hole bored to let the water into the citie But the hole was not so wyde that a man might enter in at it The which when the souldier had well viewed he perceyued that if the hole in the stone were made wyder they myght haue passage into the Citie And therevppon he made Belisarius priuye to all that he hadde seene The Captaine greatly reioysyng thereat and promisynge great rewardes bade the souldyer choose some of hys fellowes to helpe hym and to open the stone more not by diggynge and heawynge least the noyse of the strykynge should be wray them but by fyling and scrapyng and that very softly Loke as the Captayne commaunded so the souldyer dyd To be short through the continuall and diligent paynestakyng of the souldyer it was brought to that poynt that a man in harnesse wyth hys sworde and hys target in his hand myght easâ—y go through When the matter stood in thys case Belisarius perceyuyngc he shoulde bee mayster of the Citie when he lyst hyinselfe and lothe that hys souldyers shoulde sacke it called out Stephan vnto him againe and putte hym in remembraunce of the miserable chaunces that are wonte to happen vnto Cities that are taken perforce as the slaughter of men the rauyshyng of women at euery Uarlettes pleasure the burnyng of houses the sackyng and reuing of all places and all other kyndes of mischiefes Wherefore he willed the Neapolitans to haue respect vnto them selues and not to abyde the vttermost at their peryll for as yet they had tyme to repent them of their folly Stephan hearynge these thinges at his retourne declared the same to his citizens with sighes and teares But they despising his wordes had hym in derison for his labour Belisarius therefore executynge hys prepensed purpose when he had fully determined to take the citie prouided for the same in this maner Assoone as euer it beganne to be darke he chose out foure hundred souldiours commaundynge euery one of them to put on hys harnesse and to take his swordâ— and hys target in his hande and being so armed in a readinesse to kepe themselues close without noyse vntyll they had knowledge what they should doe He appoynted leaders of them Magnus and Emias stout men in whose puissaunce he dyd putte muche confidence When it was now past mydnyght he disclosed the matter to the leaders and shewyng them the place commaundeth them to lead che souldiers through the channell by torchelyght And assoone as they were gotten into the citie he taught them what they should doe wyllyng them to take some part of the walle and to geue token thereof by the sound of a trumpet He him selfe had prepared before hand a great sort of ladders to scale the wals with commaundyng all his armye to be ready in their harnes wherof he had the nymblest and best practised aboute his owne persone Whyles he was thus aboute his matters many of the souldiers that were with Magnus retyred backe for feare of the daunger and could not be made to go forwarde neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule Whome Belisarius sent away wyth great rebuke supplying their roomes with two hundred of them â–ª that he had about him Uppon the which reproche euen they that before refused to go folowed The souldiers went a long and a blynde way in the chanell For it ended not at the wall but led further into the citie being vaulted ouer aloft with Bâ—cke In so much that y â— souldiers wist not where they were vntyll they espyed the skye at the ende of the vault Then they perceyued themselues to be in the middes of the citie out of the which place it was a hard matter for them to escape because they had ylfauoured clymbing vp vpon the high walles wherew t it was enclosed round about Neuerthelesse at length when one had helpeâ— vp another all were come owt they went to the walles there hauing slayne the watchemen toke two towres from thens gaue asigne by sownding atrumpet and making a greate shoute By and by Belisarius
to haue deteined them the longer in y e same place And therfore y e next day he went thither w t a M. horsemen to view the couÌ„try the Deameanour of his enemies also to chose a meete grounde to encampe in As he was going thether when he came almost at the riuer contrary to his expectation he met with the Gothyshe horse men For the Gothes but euen a lyttle while before perceiuing y e bulwarkes of the brydge to be abandoned had broken open the gates and the barryers and had passed ouer the Ryuer in greate number Whose sodayne approche vppon Belisarius other wyse then he looked for constrayned hym whether he woulde or no to put hymselfe to the encounter At the beginning Belisarius executed nothing but thoffice of a Captaine encouraging and commaunding his soul diers and shâ—winge what euerye man sâ—ould doe But when he saw his men ouerlayed like to go by the worse end of the staffe then was he of necessitie compelled to leaue the office of a Captaine and to playe the stout souldiour For he was faynâ— to put himselfe into the forefront of the battell and there to laye his hands about him stoutlye and valiaÌ„tly as other of his souldiers The which daye surely he was in great dan ger vpon such occasion He had a goodly horse vpon which he was commoÌ„ly wont to ryde of colour bay w t a white lyste from his foreheade downe to the nostrelles as he fought vpon the same horse among the formest in the battell certain runnagats knowing him cried out to strike the Uale For so doe the Gothes terme a bay horse in their lâ—nguage there was none other noise ouer all the fyeld but to strike y e Uale By meanes whereof it came to 〈◊〉 that all the brunt of the battel was tur ned vpon Belisarius And vndoutedly if a puisant band of his verye familier frendes had not clustered aboute hym and styked notably to him yea and w t their owne bodies and their owne armour kept of a thousand strokâ—s and a thousande weapons bothe from the horse and from Belisarius himself also it had neuer bene possible for hym to haue escaped But as at y â— time he was valiantlye defended both by hys own prowesse fighting most expertly conningly and also by the helpe of his frends and familiars who with incredible loâ—e clynged fast aboutâ— hym In thys place manye of Belisarius vâ—rye frâ—nds were slain and inespecially one Maxentius a man of singular actiuity who fyghting about Belisarius after that he had shewed many profes of his manhood and prowessâ— and sâ—aine ma ny of the Gothes at the last being very sore wounded fell downe dead At thâ— length such as were about Belisarius making prease vpoÌ„ their enemiâ—s put theÌ„ to open flight pursued them harâ— to the bridge But the footemen y â— stod at the bridge recountred Belisarius his men easly put them backe The horsemen seyng y â— turned again assai led theÌ„ behind by 〈◊〉 wherof they were of necessity compellâ—d to w tdraw themselues for their own saufgard vnto a higherground There also thencouÌ„ ter of horsmen being renued the nuÌ„ber of the enemies still encreasing after y â— many had bene slaine on both par tes at length they were forced to fly to ward Rome vppon the spurre They ranne towarde the gate that is commonlye called Pincian The Gothes chaced Belisarius hard to the gate inso much y â— some were striken from the wall There was also muche a doe in the same place For the Romains that kept the walles for feare of their enemies so nere at hand durste not open the gate Neither was Belisarius him selfe knowen albeit he called alowd vn to them bicause the Sunne was then down he sore disfigured with duste swette Therefore when they had cast themselues in a ring before the gate could notbe lâ—t in that thenemy was hard at their backs Belisarius encouraging his men gaue a new charge vp on his enemies putting theÌ„ to slight draue them far froÌ„ the gate So when he had dispersed his enemyes he was then perfectly knowen led his souldiers into the citye The feyght of this day was very sore and variable For it beganne anone after the sonne rising it ended not vntil it was darke night Belisarius by the iudgement of al meÌ„ was demed the best warriour that day that was on his syde And amonge the Gothes 〈◊〉 When Belisarius was returned into the Citie he commaunded as well his owne souldyers as the Townesemen to keepe watche on the walles that nyghte Distributinge the gates to his Captaines euery one one to kepe Geuyng them charge that if any alarme were geuen no man should styrre out of the place where he was appoynted The same night many Alarmes were geueÌ„ and diuers of theym false For it was cried through the Citie that thenemye was entred in at the gate of IaniculuÌ„ and therevponÌ„ weapon was fearefully taken in hand And the noyse could not be stynted vntill such time as messengers comming from thence brought word that all was quiet and no enemy sene or heard of there At the gate Salaria was another Alarme that not wythoute some cause For the Gothes comming to the gate in the night called to the Romaines that stoode vpon the walls there one of them named Bachius a maÌ„ well knowen in Româ— whom Uitigis had sent thether for the same purpose spake vnto them saying How is it with you ye Romaines are ye not ashamed of your follye to commit your selues to the tuicion of a few Grekyshe men mariners and plaiers of enterludes good for nothing els despising y â— power of the Gothes whiche euen at their very fyrste comming haue put them to flighte and beseiged them Surely the Gothes haue not de serued that ye shoulde worke so greate treason against them But repent and amend for this is thonely way for you to escape yf you wyll open the gate for the Gothes to enter in not against you but against those Grekes But if ye be so mad to persist in your folly loke assuredlye for such warre at the Gothes hands as wilbe to whote for you to abyde Thys oure kynge Uitigis commaunded to be told vnto you The Ro maines made none aunswere at all to his wordes But as sone as it was reported that y e Gothes were there there was ronning thether from all parts of the citie The Gothes hauing taryed a lyttle whyle returned to their kinges tent which was betwene the citye and the riuer And thus passed ouer y â— firste night The next day the Gothes seyng no body come forth to giue them battel in the field adressed themselues to the siegâ— Thorder wherof was this The. ix Chapter ¶ Thorder of the seige of Rome the pollitique prouision of Belisarius for the defence of the same what engines the Gothes made for
kepte at the gate prenestine where Bessas stood and at the gates of Aurâ—ius and Ianiculum But the Gothes that assaulted Ianiculum were easlye put â—acke For the place is stepe and vneasie to â—ome vnto insomuch that a man could not well get to the wall though there were no bodye to let hym And therefore must their enterpryse nedes be to none effect the place beyng defended by Paule one of Belisarius cap taines with a puissant band of souldiers At the gate of Aurelius was some what more daunger The waye was vâ—ulted ouer that leadeth to the church of Saynct Peter thappostle The Gothes hydynge themselues in the sayde Porche 〈◊〉 as they espyed tyme for theyr purpose brake sodaynely oute of theyr ambushe and in all haste made toward Adryans Pyle to winne it And they dyd so muche wyth theyr Ladders that at the fyrste brunte they tooke the vttermoste wall whyche encloseth the Pile and was foure square Thys Pyle was the sepulchre of the Emperour Adrian buylded of moste excellent and costly workemanshippe The fyrste circuyt was made fowre-square all of whyte Marble of the Ilande Paros garnyshed throughoute wyth most exquysite workes and portraytures In the inyddes of this square ryseth vppe as it were a tower of a verye great heygâ—th and of such a breadeth that a man were scarse able to throwe a stone directclye from the one syde to the other of the floore that was on the toppe It hathe a brydge leadynge from thcnce ouer the Tyber into the Cytye For the Citye endethe at the Ryuer Tyber and thys is on the furthersyde of the Ryuer Yet notwythstandynge bycause it had a brydge stretchynge harde to the walles of the Cytye and was as it were a certayne Towre or bulwarke Belisarius prouyded before hand to haue it well manned and kept with his owne souldiers committing the charge therof to Constantine Constantine therefore when as a lytle before he sawe hys enemies passinge ouer the Riuer Tiber in botes to assault that part of the Citie which is be twene the fielde of Mars and the gate of Aurelius fâ—aring the lownesse of y â— watles for they were not very strong and defensible theraboutes nere vnto the Riuer ranne thyther from Adrians pyle with a band of souldiers leauing but a fewe behind him for the defence of the pyle The Gothes herevpon as we said before hauinge by meanes of thabsence of the Captaine gotteÌ„ the outer ciâ—cuit endeuored also to winne the pyle it selfe The souldiers that were abouâ— to thentent the more to endomage repulse their enemies committed an euill acte There were in the toppe of the pyle on euerye syde vpon the battlementes great ymages of men horses and chariottes conning â—y deuised and â—cellentlye wroughte Some of these the souldyers tumb led downe wâ—ole vppon their enemies other some thei brake in pieces to throw at theÌ„ And so whether it were through the rudenes or through the lewdnes of the souldiers within few howers were destroied the excellent inuentions of y e conningest workmen in all the world whiche cost so many yeres in making and which were the greatest ornamen tes and the very beautie of the tumbe Constantyne hauynge in the meane while repulsed the enemy from the ryuer hearing in what 〈◊〉 the pile was rescowed it by the bridge and assailed his enemies from beneth wherwith his owne souldiers were greatly recomforted and encouraged By thys meanes the Pyle at length was sauâ—d and the enemy repulsed At the gate to ward prenâ—e also where Uitigis and the Gothes that he brought with hym gaue the assault was great daunger For not farre from the said gate was a place called UiuariuÌ„ The same was double walled wyth a good space betwen the two walles The ground be twene theÌ„ was very plaine and leuell and the walles somewhat weake Uitigis therfore and the Gothes geuing assaulte to the â—ttermoste wall albeit that there was valeant and manful de fence made agaynste theym yet they wanne it by fine force Then Bessas to whose charge that part was coÌ„mitted mistrustinge that he was not able to continue long aâ—ainst so greate power of his enemyes sent worde in all haste to Belisarus in what perill he stood desyring him to come to his rescow w t al the â—pede he could make Belisarius somwhat moued with the mat ter Left sufficient defence behind him at the gate Salaria and hymselfe with a band of hys best souldyers ranne tho rowe the Citye to the same place At hys comminge thyther thencounter was renewed a freshe and the soulâ—iers beganne to take harte at the presence of theyr Captayne The Gothes had vndermined the wall and a great companye of them enteryng in at the breaâ—h stood betwene the two walles By meanes whereof the feyghte was verye sharpe and cruell in the same place In fyne thassaulte came to this ende that the Gothes were coÌ„strained to retyre out at the same gappe where they â—ame in with greate slaughtâ—r and losse of their people As sone as they were gotten oute theyr enemies pursewynge hard vppon them chaced theym away and set all theyr engines on fyre The lyke chaunce happened vnto theym at the Gate Salaria For the souldyers breakynge oute vppon theym burnt vppe all theyr Turrets and other engynes Thus was Rome in one daye bothe earnestlye assâ—lted in manye places at ones and valeantlye defended There were slayn at these assaultes aboute three thou sand Gothâ— but yet the syege endured styll The Romaines albeit they had Belisarius in great admiracion for his prowesse yet they murmured against him in that against so great a puissans of y â— Gothes he had with so small a handful in coÌ„parison styrred vp so great warres cast the Citiâ— of Rome into such extreme perill and imminent daunger The which thinge Belisarius perceyuing for it was not done in huther mu ther althoughe he had diuers other times before aduertised y â— Emperour Iustinian therof Yetnotwithstanding being as then greatly moued with the matter he wrote more earnestly vnto him declaring the beseigement of the Citie of Rome with the huge multitude of his enemies and the litle handfull of his owne men For he saide he had bene faine to diminishe his â—rmye that he brought forth with him by leauing garrisons of souldiers at Panormus and Syracuse in Sicill and by manninge of Naples Cume other places in Italye as nedâ— required for their defence and saufgard so that he had no mo then v. thousand remaining about him and yet he was beseged w t an host of CC. M. The Romains vnacquainted with such perills wold not endure the hasard of y â— siege As for his owne part he had once vowed to spend his life in the Emperour Iustinians seruice thende whereof he passed not greatly whether it came sone or late Howbeit he said there was respecte to be had how much the same should redound to the honour or dishonour of
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
and best practised ¶ The. xiii Chapter ⧠Of dyuers skyrmishes duringe the continuaunce of the syege the Gothes enuiron the Citye wyth another Campe wherevppon groweth scarcetye and anone after enseweth the plague Belisarius by hys pollicye caused scarcetye in the Gothyshe campe likewyse into the whiche the plague spredeth it selfe also AFter this battell Belisarius absteyned certayne dayes from feyghtyng and was content to defend the walles onely At the length when he had well hartened hys souldiers he beganne to lead them forth againe But he durst not any more encounter with his whole power Only he perseuered to make lighte skyrmisshes as he had benn wont to do before Of the which some were very notable specially suche as were agaynst those Gothes that encamped on the hyther syde of the bridge Miluius ouer against the gate of Aurelius For in the same place is a plaine grounde very fytte for horsemen to skyrmisshe in and in the same playne standeth a theatre buylded in olde tyme for maisters of fence to playe at weapons in Aboute the same theatre were many whote skyrmisshes Because that eyther the souldiers of Belisarius dyd take and vse it for a campe or elles the Gothes prenentynge them layed ambusshes in the same Moreouer both at the gate Salaria and the gate Pinciana daye by daye was skyrmishyng almost euerye daye The Gothes therefore consideryng howe the siege was lyke to continew longe thoughte there was no hope of wynnyng of the Citie anye other waye then by famin For albeit that the taking awai of y e hauen might seeme to haue bene a great anoyance yet not withstandyng as mans witte is imaginatiue specially in extremitie the hoyes and such other shippes of bur then as were wont to arriue at Portna arriued at Autium and there vnloding their corne and other necessaries sent them from thence to Rome by land The Gothes therefore desyrous to cutte of this commoditie from the Romains also pytched the eyght Campe aboute the Citie betwene the waye that leadeth into Latium and the waye of Appius For there are in the same place two conduytes the 〈◊〉 crossyng eche other doe stretch as it were into two armes and leauyng a certayne space betwixte them do mete a gayne a good waye of They are from the Citie aboute fyue myles The grounde betwene the sayde armes the Gothes tooke and enclosed with a Wall of stone layed with lome And so by that meanes they hadde a strong and well fortified campe wherin they placed seuen thousande horsemen who infestyng bothe the vpper coast and the neather coast stopped vp the way into Latium the waye of Appius and the waye to Ostia cuttynge of all libertie of conueying in of corne Through this they that were besieged stood in worse case then euer they dyd and it was none other lyke but that Rome shoulde be famished Yet not wythstandynge as longe as there was corne in the fieldes the Souldyers woulde steale out of the towne in the night tyme and fetch in corne the which they solde very dere to the Citizens and so relieued the necessitie for a whyle But when that this shift once fayled then all thyngs laye in vtter despayre Nowe was the Sunne at the highest and the dayes at the longest and the plage beganne to raigne in the towne so that diuers dyed not only of the common people but also of Belisaris Souldiers They were brought to a great diâ—resse and to a sorâ— afterdeale and therefore the Romaines resortyng to Belisarius bewayled theyr heauie misfortune in that they had brought them selues to such extremitie by 〈◊〉 theyr fayth and allegeans 〈◊〉 the Emperoure vppon hys promisâ— For theyr Citizens had bene miserablye murdered at Rauenna by their enemie their citie dishâ— norably 〈◊〉 by y â— Gothes all thinges without y â— walls wasted spoiled within the walls oppressed with intollerable famin penurie of all things Wherefore they besoughte hym to leade them forth against theyr enemy for it were better for them to dye lyke men witâ— their weapons in their haÌ„ds then to pine away for hunger and to abyde so great and so dishonorable calamities When Belisarius heard them make their mone in this sorte he gaue them scarce so gentle aunswere as the case required He saide they were missaduised and ledde by rasshenes accordyng to the nature of common people whyche are wonte to be ledde by rage rather then ruled by reasoÌ„ They knewe well ynough that he was wont to be alwayes ruled by Counsell and to doe hys matters by discretion and not by wylfullnes He looked for an armye of men from the Emperour the whyche beynge ones come yf they were then so willynge to feyghte as they made themselues to be he might be able to warrant them victory wyth oute fayle The sayd armie did bring wyth theym an infinite deale of corne and therefore he wylled theym to departe and to lette theym alone wyth the order of the warres The Romaines with these words eyther recomforted or rather put in feare he beganne to imagin and deuise with himselfe by what meanes he myghte bring scarcenesse of corne amonge the Gothes For the performance wherof he practised this pollicie He sent Constantin and Traiane with a thousand horsmen vnto Taracine and Martine and Seuthis with â—yue hundred vnto Tibur and he placed another bande at Alba. Unto all these he gaue commauÌ„dement that to the vttermoste of their power they shuld stoppe all victuallers from the Gothishe Campe and helpe to 〈◊〉 them that were willing to goe to Rome And to thentent that the Campe which laye at the Conduyt should not anoy them he caused a bulwarke to be fortified at the church of s. Paule and appointed a troope of horse men toward in the same place to thentent to defend the wayes as farre as they could from thinuasions of y â— Gothes The church of S. Paule is w tout the gatâ— toward Ostia quite cleane another way from the church of S. Pâ— ter both of theym standyng wythout the towne and eche of them hauinge a porch from the gate of the Citie to the Church These two temples of the Apostles The Gothes in all the tyme of their â—ge did neuer violate The priestes contynuinge in them dyd their deuine seruice fréely wythoute interruption or trouble as they had bene accustomed to doe in foretymes Constantine and Traiane therfore goyng to Taracine when they had broughte Antonia the wyfe of Belisarius at Naples and there lefte her retourned backe agayne and spoyled all the townes in those quarters whyche ministred relyâ—e and succour to the Gothes and wythin shorts space they broughte to passe that nothing at al was conueyed to the Gothes out of those places Martine and Senthis also goyng to Tibur when they had 〈◊〉 paired the walles of that towne which were decayed dyd dayly molest and disquiet the Gothes out of that place By some meanes or other wold not suffer
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
mo and mo in the same vesselles He douted nothing so muche as that the watchmen that warded on that side should escrie hym and bewray his deuise For the auoyding of which dout he corrupted the two Romaines for a piece of money to further thys attempt To whome he delyuered a sleping pouder willing them to geue it the watchmen with wine to thentent that when they had dronke the same they might fall into a dead slepe After these conueances were thus deuised agreed vppon the one of them beyng stryken with repentance disclosed the whole matter to Belisarius and there vppon the other beynge taken with the slepie medicine aboute hym that the Kynge hadde geuen hym was put to the torture and compelled to vtter all the order of the matter The whiche done Belisarius caused his nose and eares to be cut of and settyng hym vppon an Asse sent hym out at the Pincian gate to the Gothish Campe to the entent that Uitigis might perceiue how that his close workyng was detected and his secret practises browght to lyght ⧠The. ij Chapter ¶ Vpon the discouerrie of the treason the truce ceâ—th â–ª Iohn Vitalian vvynneth diâ— tovvnes from the Gothes and amongest other Arminine vppon the takinge wherof they breake vp their siâ—ge before â—ome WHen Belisarius had so openly discouered these their craftie packinges he thought it not mete to obserue the truce any lenger w t them Whervppon he wrate to John that he shoulde execute his commission He with his two thousand horsemen scouring the couÌ„trey of y e Picents through tooke the wyues and children of the Gothes prisoners and forraged spoyled all the whole countrey from the one ende to the other Moreouer encounteryng with Uglitheus vncle of Uitigis by the fathers syde coÌ„ming against him with an armye of the Gothes 〈◊〉 vanquished him and slew the captaine himself w t a great part of his hoste so lyke a coÌ„queror ranged ouer al y â— whole countrey When he had wonne many townes that he was about to besâ—ege AuxiuuÌ„ it was not vnknowen vnto him what a slender garrison was with in the town but yet the place was of it self very strong defensible And therefore thinkyng it folly to spend the tyme in vayne aboute the besieging thereof he kept on hys iourney forwarde The same opinion also had he of the bâ—sieging of Urbine For the citie being wel fortified strong of it self semed of necessitie to aske a long time in y e sâ—ge therof he had put al his hope in spedie celeritie He tooke Fauum PisauruÌ„ and then brought his army against Arimine in hope to get it because he had heard saye that the men of Arimine could not well agree with the Gothes When he had ones brought his hoste to this towne he cast such a terrour vp pon the Gothes thereby that thei durst not abyde thereaboutes but remoued vnto Rauenna and the townesmen set open their gates to let him in By this meanes John toke Arimine leauing behinde two stronge cities manned by the Gothes namely Auximum and Urbinc All the which doinges were cleane contrarys to Belisarius commaundements Howbeit he thought it better to be sure of Arimine then to spende hys tyme vaynly in lying styll aboute Auximum and Urbine Wherevnto he was the rather persuaded because that Arimine a towné so nere neyghbour vnto Rauenna being taken it was not lykelye that the Gothes would tary any long tyme after at the siege of Rome but rather make hast to come away to the defence of Raueâ—na and the places thereaboutes The which thing came so to passe in dede For as soone as the Gothes vnderstood that Ariminc was taken they determined to breake vp their siege before Rome and to depart thence Uitigis therefore within a few dayes after set fier on his tentes and with all the whole power of the Gothes dislodged In his retyring he suffered great losse For when the one halfe of hys armye was passed the bridge Belisarius commaunded hys men to set vppon them that were behynde amonge whome he made suche a slaughter that a greate number of theym that escaped hys handes for haste in gettynge ouer the bridge were throwen downe on both sides and drowned This siege of the citie of Rome endured a whole yere and nyne dayes taking his beginning about the. xiiij or xv daye of March Nowe I wyll pursue the actes of eyther partes and what prouision was made on both sides after the breaking vp of the siege The. iii. Chapter ¶ Vitigis besieginge Arimine is by the diligence and industrie of Iohn disapoynted of an assault that he determined to haue geuen to the towne and repulsed with great losse VItigis albeit he made speede toward Rauenna yet not withstanding he coueted to kepe the cities of Hetruria and of other Prouinces in theyr accustomed obedience And therfore he placed at Clasium a thousande horsemen as manye at Urbiuetus fyue hundred at Tudert foure thousande at Auxiuum at Urbine ij thousande fyue hundred at Cesena and as many at Mountferrat And he hymselfe with the rest of his armie went to besiege Arimine Belisarius after the departure of the Gothes commaunded Martine and Ildiger with a thousande horsemen to make hast to Arimine to bryng John his horsemen that were with him from thence placing fotemen there in their steds The whiche thinge he did to the entent he woulde not haue that bande wherein were the best horsemen of the hoste besieged by the enemie For if so be it that Arimine were manned with fote men he thoughte that the Gothes would not bestowe theyr labour in besieging of it And if they shoulde besiege it he thought the footemen shuld be better able to endure out the siege then horsemen for as muche as it is a difficulte matter to keepe horses in a siege and footemen might easly be conueyed to Arimine at all tymes by water from Aucon whiche newly before had yelded it selfe vnto him Herevppon 〈◊〉 and martine forslowing no time dyd 〈◊〉 a wyndlasse farre from theyr enemyes and came vnto Arimine For the Gothes by reason of the huge multitude of their armye were compelled to take more leysure in their iourney wheras the other beynge lyght harnessed out went theym a greate waye When they were come to Arimine and had declared the mynde and commaundement of 〈◊〉 John would ney ther obey hymselfe nor yet suffer hys cosyn Damian wyth hys horsemen whyche were aboute foure hundred to be ruled by theym And therefore 〈◊〉 and Martine departynge from Arimine ledde awaye wyth theym all the horsemen that Belisarius had delyuered vnto Iohn at hys settynge forthe leauynge behynde theym none but the footemen and those horsemen that Iohn and Damian had of their owne Immediatlye herevppon Uitigis came and besyeged the Towne At hys fyrste commynge thyther he framed a towre of lyke heyghth wyth the walles the 〈◊〉 was not drawen wyth Oxen as
the other was before at Rome but dryuen by souldyers that were wythin the engyne The Gothes therefore sette the same agaynste that parte of the wall where they myghte wyth 〈◊〉 ease approche entendynge the nexte daye to haue wonne the Towne by assaulte But Iohn the same nyghte went oute wyth hys souldyers and caused theym to cutte a broode and a deepe Dyche on that syde castyng vppe all the earthe that came oute of it on that browe of the Dyche that was nexte the wall And so one nyghtes worke disappoynted the longe prepensed labour of the enemye cuttynge of all possibilitye of bryngynge the engyne to the wall Yet for all that Uitigis was mynded to fyll vp the dythe commaundyng all hys armye to prepare Fagotts and strawe wyth suche other baggage for the same purpose And to the entent the towre shoulde not the night followyng be set on fyer by the enemie he determined to drawe it backe agayne to the Campe. As the Gothes were aboute it Iohn issued out with hys souldyers and set vppon them beyng busye about the worke There was a great and cruell combate aboute the Turret and manye of the Gothes were slayne Howe be it after longe feyghtyng they drewe it backe agayne oute of daunger but wyth suche a 〈◊〉 and so greate losse of theyr best men of warre that they 〈◊〉 vtterlye in despayre of wynnynge the towne by force determinyng to subdue it by 〈◊〉 ¶ The iiij Chapter 〈◊〉 Belisarius seudeth Mundilas with a poâ— to receiue Millaine who in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the Citye of Pauie by a misâ— loseth a noble man of hys companye called Fidelis 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 other Cityes of Lombardye yelde vnto Mundilas Vraias the 〈◊〉 of Vitigis goeth into Lumbardye agaynste the Imperialles Be◠〈◊〉 dyuers townes in Italye by composition Vitigis sendeth a 〈◊〉 of souldyers to Auxiuum for the more strengthenynge thereof â–ª the vvhych makyng a rode 〈◊〉 the inhabiters of Aucon throughe the follye of 〈◊〉 Capâ— thereof make a greater slaughter and put the towne in daunger of takynge THe verye selfe same tyme Beâ— graunted an ayde of souldyers to the Ambassadours of Millain that came before vnto Rome He appoynted Mundilas one of hys 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a verye stoute and valiant man to bâ— chieftaine of the said armie In the same band was also Fidelis of Millaine whome we declared to haue bene Stewarde of the kynges house All these being conuâ—yed to Geane by shippe went from thence to Millaine on foote And to thentent they woulde not be hyndered of theyr passage ouer Po they caryed Bots with them in Wagons to ferrie ouer the ryuer withall Marching therefore in this sort as I haue toldâ— when they had passed ouer the ryuer Po and were come to the Citie Ticiuum which is nowe called Pauie the Gothes issued out of the towne and set vppon them For by reason that towne had a strong castle in it the Gothes had bestowed manye and precious thynges in the same and had manned it wyth a great garrison The skyrmyâ—he was no sooner foughte but that the Gothes were dryuen into the Cytye And so Mundilas passed wyth hys armye ouer the bridge that was harde by the town In the same place was Fi delis of Millain slaine For he weÌ„t into a certaine church to make his prayers and the residue of hys company beyng all gone last of all he came out alone as he wold haue taken hys horseback he ouerthrewe The whiche thyng hys enemyes that stood vppon the Walle perceyuyng rusâ—hed our vppon hyâ— and slew hym before that â–ª Mundilas and the souldyers wyste of it The deathe of thys man was great sorowe bothe to the Captaine and to the souldyers For he was a noble man in hys countrey and of muche power and such a one as wyth his presence might greatly haue furthered the warre that was in hand Mundilas therefore and the reste of his companye keepynge on theyr iourney towarde Millaine were receyued into the Citie Therevppon Come Bergome Nouaria wyth the reste of the cities in those borders folowing thensample of Millaine of their owne accorde receyued Mundilas and hys souldyers When Uitigis had knowledge of those thinges that had happened aboute Millaine he sent Uraias hys brothers sonne with a great army into those costs to thentent he should bothe cause such to keepe theyr allegians to the Gothes as had not yet reuolted and also yf he could recouer such as had already yelded Furthermore he wrate to Thewdeberte Kynge of Fraunce wyth whome not long before he had entered in leage desyring hym to minister ayde vnto Uraias In thys state or rather in this expectation were the matters of Lumbardie Belisarius at such tyme as corne began to waâ— rype setting out of Rome marched wyth hys armye towarde hys enemyes The Gothes that were left in garrison at Tudert and Cluse hearing that Belisarius was makyng towarde theym for as muche as they thought themselues ouer weake to encounter agaynste hym forthewyth sent messengers vnto hym and yelded vp theyr Townes by composition Whyle these thynges were in doinge Uitigis sent another armye vnto Auximum For he was vtterlye determyned to reteyne and kéepe styll that Citye Wyth thys armye he sent a newe deputye to haue the charge of the Towne and the men of warre named Uacinius Who adioining his newe souldyers and the olde crewe togyther purposed to attempt the win nyng of Aucon hys nexte neyghbour citie whyâ— was manned wyth a garryson of Belisarius And therevppon he went wyth all hys whole power agaynste the inhabiters of Aucon That Towne in those dayes was walled onclye on that syde that stoode vppon the hyll the lower places situated on the playne grounde albeit they were replenished with buil dings yet were they not enclosed with anye wall Therefore at such time as the Gothes approched 〈◊〉 captain of the towne and souldyers of Aucon fearing least the suburbes and the inhabiters thereof should be wasted and destroyed by thenemye came downe from the vpper part of the towne with all his whole crewe and set hymselfe agaynste hys enemye But in that case Conon was to farre ouermatched For he hauynge scarse a thousand souldiers encountered with his enemies beynge foure thousand And therefore he dyd quickely abye hys foolyshe hardynesse For beynge â—t able to stand agayâ—ste so manye he was at length â—quished anâ—â—eynge put to flyghâ— loste the moste partâ— of hys men and the Citie it selfe was with much a doe hardly saued from taking For when the souldiers retyred full flyght toward the towne the townesmen for doubte leaste their enemyes should enter in amonge the souldyers fearefully closed vppe their gates By meanes whereof there was a greate slaughter made of theym euen harde vnder the wall And the Captayne Conon himselfe was driuen to so narrowe an erigent that he had none other waye to saue hys lyfe but to be drawen vppe the wall by a lyne The Gothes rerynge vppe skalynge Ladders endeuored
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
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
set forth with hys nauie he had lefte hys wyfe and al his householâ— furniture in the sayd towne of Portua and had appoynted as ruler thereof one Isaac a valiant gentleman and a trusty with a conuenient Crew of souldiers commaundyng and hartâ—ly 〈◊〉 him that he would not for any chaunce or occasion depart out of the towne but kepe hymselfe within it and defende it only Now at such tyme as Belisarius had set hys enemyes tower on fyre as we haue declared before by by ranne certayne to the towne of Portua and whereas the victorie was notable of it selfe they reported it farre greater then it was in dede At the which tydinges Isaac leapyng for ioyâ— exaltyng hymselfe in hys owne conceite lyke a mad bedlem quite forgettyng what Belisarius had sayd vnto hym commaunded hys men to arme themselues in thys sodayne heate extasye wafting ouer hys men to inuade hys enemyes that kept their standyng on the other syde of the riuer ranne vpon them not farre from the towne of Ostia Through his sodayne assaulte at the fyrst encounter he put them to flyght Howbeit anon after hys enemies gatheryng themselues together and encouraging one anâ— other returned eftsones vppon hym hauyng slayne a great sorte of his souldiers to coole hys â—rye madnesse toke hym prysoner Immediatly hereupon certayne horsemen broughte worde to Belisarius that his enemies had taken Isaac prysoner With y â— which tydings Belisarius beyng stryken to the heart demaunded not one worde of y â— messaÌ„ger where or in what sort but misconstruing that hys enemyes had taken Portua and bene Lordes of hys wyfe all that euer he had he was sodaynly strycken with suche an inward sorrow y â— he was not able to speake And thereupon turnyng backe agayne he retyred with hys nauye hys souldiers in all haste that myghte be vtterly determynyng eyther to recouer y â— towne while the matter was but newly begonne hys enemyes had yet scarcely settled theÌ„selues or els to die in y â— battell By this meanes y â— victorie which he had as good as gotteÌ„â—ypped out of his handes But wheÌ„ he came to Portua sawe y â— towne â—afe himself deceaued through light credite mistaking of y â— message he toke so great sorrowe for it y â— he fell sicke and was fayne to keepe hys bed and besydes that he was taken with a sore and daungerous feuer which held hym long tyme ere he coulde be ryd of it Isaac the author of all this mischiefe was by the commaundement of Totilas put to death in prison in reuengement of the death of Rodericke Captayne of the garryson whiche had dyed of a wound taken in the foresaid battel For by thys tyme had Totilas quyte chaunged that gentlenesse whiche he had pretended in the begynnyng of hys reigne into statelynesse and crueltie Uerely eyther bycause his prosperous succeste made hym forget hymselfe or ells because hys gentlenesse beyng but â—eined at the begynning could not continue I assure you â—e would speake so bitterly of y e people of Rome y â— the very terror therof was an occasion that they endured the famyne more obstinately then they would haue done because euery man was afrayed of hys outrageous crueliye Therfore as long as euer there was any hope of helpe at Belisarius haâ—d the people of Rome beyond their power to say the truth beyond y â— bondes of manhode and nature endured the famyn For to omit other thynges euen the fleshe of horses asses and mules were deyntyâ— delicates at that tyme in Rome they thoughte they had sped well that coulde get either dogges or myce or such other vncleane beastes to fede on Othersome wer glad to eate all kynde of herbes euen suche as the brute beastes would not haue touched and diuerse lyued by rootes and barkes of trees But when they sawe there was no hope of helpe then turnyng to teares and lamentation some fordyd themselues and some stealyng out in y â— night attempted to deceaue the watche of their enemies Many also â—arued for hunger and want of foode within their own houses neuer came out of their dores While the Citye stoode in thys lamentable and piteous estate foure Isaurien souldiers conspyred to be tray it to the enemye these souldiers warded at the gate Celimontana coÌ„monly called Asinaria whoe after the tyme they were fully resolued vpoÌ„ the matter did let theÌ„selues downe the wall by a lyne went strayght vnto Totilas promysyng to betraye y â— Citye into his haâ—ds Totilas encouragyng them with promyse of great rewardes sent certayne of 〈◊〉 men with theÌ„ to view the place to conuÌ„der whyther the thyng they had promysed were possible to be done or no. The Isaurians leadyng theÌ„ to the walles went vp agayne in their syghte by the â—ame lyne that they flided down And so wheÌ„ the experience of the matter had geueÌ„ sufficient credit Totilas at y â— nyght appoynted to the accoÌ„plyshment of the myschiefe coÌ„maunded hys hoste to be readie in armour about him by one of the clocke after mydnyghte The whiche beyng done he sent certayne of his men before to get vp by the lyne and he hymselfe followyng closely after with the reast of hys armye stayed a lyttle from the gate They that were sente by Totilas were according to couenante beetwene hym and the â—raytours drawen vp the walles from whence they proceeded forthwith to the gate and with axes cut it open Totilas hauyng by thys meanes entered into Rome kept hys armye still about hym at the gate not sufferyng any of hys men to ronne into the Citye but kept them together wyth hym vntyll it was daye Sodaynly there sprang a noyse aboute that parte of the towne that the eneâ—ie was gotten within the walles thereupon ensued a wonderfull feare euery maÌ„ begynnyng to flye Suche as fled wente out at those gates that were farthest froÌ„ the place where y e enemy entered Many also both of the nobilitie and of the commonalty toke sanctuarye in the Churches Assone as it was daye the enemyes ranne through all the Citie and wythout any respect slewe as many as came in their waye Totilas marching froÌ„ Lateran where he had stode al nyght went through the Citye to Saint Peters as it had bene to performe hys vowe accompanied with traynes of most cruell and bloudy butchers which with their naked swordes bathed in bloud slewe all that euer came in their way without regarde of any person Hauyng in this sorte swept through the myddest of the Citye from the one end to the other when he came into the Uaticane vnto the portche of Saint Peters Pelagius of whom we made mention before fearing to approche into presence rauished in y â— apparell accustomed in solemne ceremonyes and holdyng the Testamente of Christ in hys hande kneled humblye downe on hys knees sayd O kyng I besieche thee spare thy humble suppliantes At
a couragious and laudable enterpryse He determyned to take vppon the sodayne and to fortifye the Cytye of Rome lyinge at that tyme waste and desolate Whervppon kepyng thys purpose secrete to hymself he lefte a fewe Souldyers at Portua for defencâ— of the towne wyth al the power he could make besyde no man eyther of hys owne or of hys enemies mistrustinge whereaboutes he went tooke the Cytye of Rome and wyth a wonderfull 〈◊〉 wente in hand wyth repayringe and fortifyinge it agayne And bycause the walles in diuers places were beaten downe to the hard grounde he fylled vppe parte of theym wyth roughe worke and cut deepe â—yches before the walles and caste vppe a Rampyre the whyche he fensed wyth Trunkes of trées fastened in the ground by the rootes wound one wyth in another wyth the sharpâ— endes vpwarde And for the morâ— strengthe of the wall newelye repayred he buylded towers and bulwaâ— of timber The whych things through the earnest labour and willyngnes oâ— hys souldyers he furnyshed it in thrâ— and twentye dayes And shyppes came contynuallye from Portua loden with corne and other 〈◊〉 The Citizens of Rome whereof there stayed a greate number in the townes nere aboutes hearynge that their Citye was repayred were wonderfull desyrous to retourne into theyr natiue Countrye and that inespeciallye bycause there was plentye of corne there wyth scarcetie whereof they were pinched in other places As sone as Totilas had worde of thys forthwyth all other matters sette a parte he made haste towarde Rome Belisarius was not able to hange vppe the gates of the Citye before hys enemyes were come For he had not so good store of Carpenters to repaire them in so short tyme. The Gothes the fyrste daye of theyr commynge encamped themselues not farre from the Citye agaynste the gate Salaria The nexte mornyng by the rysing of the sunne wyth great noyse and hurly burlye they marched to the assaulte Belisarius placed all hys tallest and hardyest men at y â— gate the rest he set vpon the walles in the bulwarkes commaundynge them to beate theyr enemyes downe The encounter was vehement and whote on bothe partes For the Gothes came thyther of sette purpose to haue wonne the Towne at the fyrste pushe But when they sawe better defence made then they looked for they were in such a furye and suche a rage that they ranne desperatly vppon theyr enemies lyke madde men and stryuinge vnaduisedlye to gette vppe were beaten downe and kylled wythoute mercye It was wonder to see howe earnestlye and desperatlye it was foughte on bothe sydes that daye For the assault beganne in the mornynge and ended not vntyll nyghte After that it waxed darcke the Gothes retyred into theyr Tentes But the souldyers of Belisarius partelye kepte theyr standynge vppon the walles and bulwarkes as they had beene placed by hym and partelye warded at the Gates And to the entent the enemye should not sodaynely comme vppon theym in the night and take theym vnwares he caused a greate sorte of Busshes and Brambles to be layde before the Gates The nexte daye the Gothes approched to the Cytye in lyke sorte as they had doone before and Belisarius and hys men made lyke resistens But when the assaulte waxed to longe the souldyers that kepte theyr standynge at the Gate yssued oute boldelye and encounteryng wyth the Gothes hand to hand at length putte theym to flyghte on that syde and wyth manye woundes draue theym farre from the Gate And so was that assaulte ended Afterwarde when they hadde bestowed manye dayes in healinge theyr woundes and repayrynge theyr armour the Gothes aduaunced agayne to the assaulte of the Cytye Belisarius hauyng before well harted and encouraged hys souldiers leauing neuerthelesse a coÌ„uenient number vppon the walles and in the Towers led theÌ„ out at the gate There was a whot and an eager battell fought hard at the gate in the which when as Totilas his standerdbearer was strickeÌ„ starke dead from hys horse with a speare and the standerd ouerthroweÌ„ there was much preasyng aboute it froÌ„ both sydes The Gothes striuyng to saue their standerd lâ—aste they shoulde be dyshonored and y â— souldiers of Belisarius endeuoring to obtayne the honour of wynnyng the same At laste the skyrmishe grewe to thys issue that the Gothes recouered their standard the souldiers of Belisarius had the bodye of the standard-bearer sauyng his lyft hand which the Gothes dyd cut of for spyght that their enemyes shoulde not haue it bycause there was a ring of golde vpon it This done Totilas perceauyng that his attempt was in vayne blewe to y â— retreit and the nerte daye after wente hys waye vnto Tybur For as I tolde you before he helde that Citye and hauing maruelouâ—y fortiâ—d the castle thereof vsed it as a Camp agaynste the Romaynes The Romaynes to the entent they woulde not bee molested by their sodayne inuations from that syde brake all the brydges on the ryuer Anio Thys ryuer Anio spryngeth amonge the Heruices and ronnyng downe from the hylles cutteth the playne betwene Tybur and Rome It hath verye stepe bankes and the chanell is so deepe of water that it cannot be passed And therefore there were brydges made vppon it from all the pryncipall wayes as from the gates Salaria Nomentana and Tiburtyne These brydges beyng at that tyme cut of there coulde no rodes be made a gaynst the Citie of Rome on that syde The ii Chapte◠¶ After the depâ—e of the Gothes from Rome Totilas in the nexte spring goeth to the syege of Peruse duryng whpâ— beyng there Iohn 〈◊〉 attempteth many thin ges in CaÌ„pane to the great pâ—eiudice of the Gothes wherewith â—las being displeased goeth with suche speede agaynst hym that he ouercame hym before he heard of hys commyng The Emperour sendeth another â—ande of men into Italye at whoâ— commyng Belisarius sayling towarde Tarent is driuen by tempeste to land at Croton where for wante of forage compelled to sende hys horsemen into the Countrye through the negligence of the Capâ—nes looseth them By meanes whereof he is fayneto sayle aâ—aye into Sicill during the which his absence Totilas besiegeth Ruscie AFTER the departure of the Gothes Belisarius caused the gates and the yron worke of them to be framed quietly and when he had done as thoughe he had conquered the Citye agayne by force he 〈◊〉 the keyes of it into Grece to the Emperoure Iustinian And thus ended the twelueth yeare of thys warre The nexte yeare following assone as the spryng came Totilas set out of Tibur marched towarde Peâ—use The same Towne was euen then alreadye besieged by another companye of the Gothes And when corne beganne to waxe scarce other victualles to fayle Totilas went thyther to the entent to kepe the towne strayghter to take awaye al hope of succour from the besieged Whyle Totilas was occupyed about the siege of Peruse Iohn takyng a vantage of hys beyng therâ— perceauyng that the Senators
season addressed hymselfe to hys Iourney he had suche an armye of men as scarce all the Captaynes beynge putte all togyther broughte wyth them into Italye durynge the whole tyme of thys warre For the Emperour gaue hym so large allowaunce of monnye and he hymselfe was so bountefull and lyberall in bestowing distributing of the same y â— he leuied a greate power not onely in Thrace Grece but also out of diuers other places For he had entertained a boue fiue M. Lombardes notable meÌ„ of war by y â— consent of Albuine theyr Kinge and MMM of the Erulians Furthermore there came vnto hym a great number of the Hâ—nnes Also there was one Cumades a Persian that had bene trayned vppe in the Romaine warres who with a valiant band of Persians resorted vnto hym Moreouer there came to hym a warlyke yong gentleman called Assuades wyth fyue hundred feyghtynge men of the Sepides and Iohn surnâ—ed Phagas wyth an hoste of the Gréekes and Thracians Besydes this Iohn Uitalian and the sonnes of Germaine serued hym wyth theyr armyes Narses therefore hauyng thys so great an hoste as soone as the sprynge tyme approched passed oute of Illiricum throughe Dalmatia and Liburnia and so coastynge aboute the elbowe of the Sea came by lande into Italye not stayinge anye where vntyll he was amonge the Uenetians There were twoo wayes by the whyche he myghte handsomelye passe from the Uenetians The one by the Adriaticke Sea the other throughe the mayne Lande bothe whyche séemed to haue manye lettes For by the Seas syde the Ryuer Athesis maketh greate Lakes whyche fall into the Sea in manye Chanelles and the riuer Po beynge deuyded into manye streames dothe in dyuers places interrupte the Iourney wyth manye quamyers and mooryshe groundes so that an Armye can not well be led that waye wythoute greate trouble Agayne in the waye by the mayne Lande one of the Gothes called Teâ—as placed at Uerâ—n wyth an Armye by Totilas had intercepted hys passage ouer the Ryuers of Athesis and Po. These twoo streames runnynge downe from the Alpes whych deuyde Italy from Fraunce and Germanye dooe fall into the Adriatycke sea And therefore they that wyll passe from Uenice muste needes passe ouer them eyther by the Seas syde where as be Lakes and meres fallynge by dyuers Chanelles into the Sea and where the mowthes of Po doe ouerthwart them betwene Rauenna Clodius diches or ells they must passe the same riuers in the mayne land where they be great vndeuided and where they may easly be stopped of their passage if there be any body to withstand them Wherfore seing y e Teias was at Ueron the which is a citie standing vpon the Riuer Athesis had a power sufficient to let him of his passage Narses left the way through the maine land chose to go by the coast of the Adriaticke sea both bicause it was w eout im peachment of enemyes besides that was nearer way then thother And so marchig by Clodius diches the felds of Adria and passing ouer the Riuers whersoeuer they crossed his way some where with brydges somewhere w e botes at length he came with al his ar mie vnto Rauenna There Captaine Ualerian and Captaine Iustine wyth their bandes ioyned themselues with Narses There were in Italye a great number of old souldiers who by reasoÌ„ the Emperour was behind hand with their wages for a longe tymâ— togyther were offended in theyr hartes and woulde not go forthe to the warres Narses payed theym all theyr wages whereby he healed theyr griefes and gaue theym courage agayne â–ª Hauynge spent nyne daies in dooinge these thynges and in refreshing hys armye at Rauenna he remoued from thens marchâ—d toward Rome The same time was one 〈◊〉 captayne of Arimine as notable a warriour as was among al y e gothes Who 〈◊〉 as the â—oward of Narses hoâ—te was come into the felds of 〈◊〉 went about to stoppe them of their passage The Ryuer that runneth by Arimine was ryseâ— wyth rayne vppon the whyche was a brydge so harde vnder neath the Towne that it was an easye matter to stoppe the passage 〈◊〉 therefore yssuynge out of Arimine before that anye number of hys enemyes had passed the 〈◊〉 sette hymselfe at defence on the furthersyde and encountered wyth hys enemyes euen harde vnder the walls of the towne In the whych conflycte a certayne man of Arines of the Erulians feyghtyng wyth 〈◊〉 hande to hand slewe hym and hys souldiers discouraged wyth the deathe of theyr Captayne retyred fearefully into the Townâ— The head of Usorilas was broughte vnto Narses at the whyche Narses 〈◊〉 and takynge it for a tooken of good lucke that the chyefe of hys enemyes was 〈◊〉 by hys men at the fyrsts conflyâ—te kepte on hys waye full of good hope and comfort For albeit he had a good furtheraunce to the takynge of Ariminâ— at the same instant yet notw tstanding he wold not tary about it to the entent so great an army shuld not be letâ—ed about the sege of one towne therefore â—e passed by Arimine continued on his iourny Totilas hauing intelligns of those things y â— were done amonge y â— Uenitians vnderstanding of the passage of Narses and of his comming to RaueÌ„na although almost al his whole power were at that time w t Teias yet notwithstanding he determined to en counter w t Narses the which he did in the battell was slayn for his labour â–ª As many of the Gothes as escaped froÌ„ the field fled ouer the riuer Po asseÌ„bled togither at Pauie there abouts In the whiche place as they consulted of making a newe gouernour of theyr people Teias was preferred by the iudgement of all men chosen king of the Gothes After that he was thus in stalled in the siege roial by by he toke to his vse the threasures that Totilas had laid vp at Pauie diligently going in hand to repaire his power to raise a new army to geue distribute horse armour to doâ— all other things vigilantlye and moreouer to send to the Frenchmen to allurâ— them to take his part in the warres ⧠The. viii Chapter ¶ Narses continuinge his iourney receiueth Narma and Peruse and winneth Rome by assaulte wherevppon the gothes extend a maruelous crueltye against the Romaine prysonners NARSES hearynge therof commaunded Ualerian to lye as it were in garrison wyth hys band about the Ryuer Po to the entent the Gothes shoulde not straye to farre abroade at theyr pleasure wythoute feare and he hymselfe wyth the rest of hys armye marched to Rome In hys waye Narma was yelded vppe to him and he graunted the men of Spolet certayne of hys souldiers for theyr defence vntyll they myght repayre theyr walles whyche Totilas had beaten downe Also he sent to Peruse to sommon that Towne there were in Peruse two Captaynes Melegidius and Ulithus Who beynge at variance betwene theymselues