❧ The first Chapter.

IR the tyme that Ze­ne 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 [Page]from whence the Gothes first came, and what hope moued them to inuade the Empyre.

After the death of the yonger Va­lentinian,The death of Valentinian. who (as it is well ynough knowen) was slayne 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 Valentinian for fears of Attila, and afterwardes associated by the Romaynes agaynst the Vandales. 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 remayned at that tyme in one Augustulus, who beynge but a verye chylde, was goucrned by hys father Orestes a [Page 2]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 slewe hym, and fourthe wyth folowynge theyr Cap­tayne Odoacer, camme to Rome and deposed Augustulus.Augustulus is deposed and Odoacer vius peth. 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.The cause of the commvng of the Gothes into Italy. For the Gothes that in­habited the vpper coaste of Thracia, hadde alreadye begonne to vere and disquiett the Countreys borderynge vppon them. [Page]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 betwixt them was fought not farre from the Citie of Aquileia, vppon the riuer Fontius. In the which conflict after a long and sharpe encoū ­ter, the Gothes gate the victorye, and putte the Captaynes of Odoacer to flyght.

❧ The .ij. Chapter.

AFter this, when the Gothes had wonne the cities there aboutes,Odoacer is besseged. 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 bée 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 [Page]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,Composition, betwene Odoacer and Theodorich. 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, Throdorich and hys Go­thes entered into Raucuna, neyther was there any parte of all Italy that was not content to receyue hym.

But thys copertuershyppe in the Em­pyre lasted not longe. For when as the one bare grudge in hys heart pre­nelye agaynst the other, Theodorich preuentyng Odoacer badde hym to a Banquet and there kylled hym,The death, of Odoacer. and so with hys Gothes bare all the swaye [Page 4]alone in Italy. Howe [...] 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.The raygne and actes of Theodorich. 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 an­ticred Sicill wyth all the Ilclandes a­bout it vnto hys kyngdome, and also subdued Dalmatia. Moreouer, du­ryng the sayde tyme 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 actes, and hys name was famous and renowmed, sauynge that in hys latter dayes, he was noted of [Page]crucirye and outrage, for puttyng to death of Symmachus and Boetius Senatours of the citie of Rome,Symmachus. Boetins. with certain other noble men, onely vppon suspition that they sought to set the ci­tie at libertic.

❧ The .iij. Chapter.

THeodorich being deceased with out issue male, his doughter Amulusuentha, as then a Wi­dow, with her sonne Athalaricke suc­ceded in the kyngdome. This Athala­ricke [Page 5]was but a chyld to speake of, and therefore all the whole care of the go­uernment lay in the Quéenes necke. Who hauyng great regard of her in­fant,An example of the good education of a Prince. immediatly dyd put hym forth to be broughte vp in learnynge and good nurture. For she gaue hym learned men to be is teachers, and appoynted certaine Lordes of the Gothes, men auncient, of great grauitie and good bringyng vp to be continually aboute hym. And she heer selfe looked verye straightlye to the gouernement of the Empyre, prohibiting the Gothes as well to do wronge as to take wronge, and also repealyng diuers actes of her father Theodorich,Iustice and clemencie in a vvoman. reducyng them to a moore gentlenesse and clementie. Amongest the whiche this was one, that she restored to the sonnes of Boe­tius and Symmachus their fathers goods and inheritaunce, which Theo­dorich had lately before confiscate: affirming that they were wrongfully condempned through false accusations, [Page]whereto the kyng vnaduisedly had ge­uen lyght credit. Furthermore, she compelled her cosyn germaine,Iustice vvith­out parcilaitie Theo­datus (who hauyng great possessions in Thuscane had taken many fermes and maners violently from hys neigh­bours lyke a tyrant) to make resti­tuition of the harmes he had done, with a sharpe rebuke for hys great misbehauiour. This seueritie of the Quéene, made many of the Gothes to become her enemyes. And therefore, tertayne of the chief [...] them conspiring together, determined to bring vp her sonne contrary to her disposition, maugre her power. Wherevpon thei came vnto her saying, it lyked not the Go­thes that their kynge shoulde lyue in subiection vnder tutors and teachers, or that he should be kept in awe of his elders, they sayd it was meete for a Kyng of such pusaunce as he should be to set hys mynde vppon cheualrye and feates of armes, and to exercise hym­self among lusty yong gentlemen, ra­ther [Page 6]than to learne to wayte vppon a maister, or to sit glummyng amonge a sort of old Doctards. For by this mea­nes both the body & the mynde of their Kyng shoulde bée effeminated: But through thother he should encrease as well in strength and courage, as also in conning and experience. For he was not made kyng to thentent to instruct his people in learnyng, but to enlarge his dominion by knighthod & cheualry. The Quéene albeit she were not ignoraūt to what end & purpose al this drift was driuen, yet not withstanding be­cause she would not seme to be vtterly against their requests; she cōdescended vnto thē. The yong prince being deli­uered to the cōpany of as youthfull as himself, win a litle while after,Licentious li­berty corrup­tion of youth fell to a more lasciuius trade of liuing folowig altogether y^e lust of y^e flesh & such other kinds of filthy pleasures. And against his mother he became so stoberne & self willed through thenticement of ill coū sell that he disdeined to go vnto her or speake to her. [Page]The Queene when she saw her self by such pollicies assaulted of her aduer­sary and bereft of her kyngdome,Eūill counsell [...]he confusion of counsellers be­ing a woman of a stout courage, could no lenger beare with their doynges, but sent certaine of her officers priue­ly, and put to death thrée of the chiefest of the Gothes, whiche were the ryng­leaders and counsaylers of her sonne vnto all noughtinesse. And so hauyng reconciled hym vnto her, she tooke vp­pon her the gouernement again. But Athalaricke beyng fallen into diuers surffetts and diseases through the dis­order of hys former lasciuious lyuyng,The death of Athalaricke. deceased in the .xviij. yere of hys age, when he had raigned with his mother x. yeres after the death of Theodorich. The Queene aftre the decease of her sōne, thinking that she shuld be the better able to wade through the weigh­tye affayres of the realme, yf so be she had some partaker & assistent,Theodotus is made kyng. tooke her cousin Theodatus (of whome I made mencion before) to be her pertner in [Page 7]the kyngdome. Thys Theodatus was excellently well learned both in Latyne and in Greke, and had geuen himself much to the readyng of Plato and other philosophie. Neuerthelesse, beyng of nature féeble and vnconstant he was distayned wyth many vices.An example of excedyng in­gratitude. Through whych where as the quéene of her mere bountie & good wyll, had raysed hym from a subiect to the state of a kynge, he forthwyth requited her with the greatest ingratitude and treacherie that could be. For he conspired secretly with her enemyes, and tooke and sent her as a banyshed persone, in­to the Ilelande in the lake of Vulsin. And ere it was long after, he suffered her to be kylled by the kynsfolke and chyldren of them, whome she had put to death in the tyme of the obstinat re­bellion of her sonne agaynst here. This so great vntrueth and treacherye of Theodatus, dyd greatly disquiet ma­ny of the Gothes, lamenting the vn­worthy mischaunce of the Queene, & [Page]to see the posteritie of Theodorich so wickedly destroyed, in so much that it wanted but litle, but that the Gothes had made insurrection against him.

Whereof as soone as the Emperour Iustinian had intelligence (for after Zeno,The cause of the vvarres be tvvene the Emperour & the Gothes. Anastasius, & Iustine, the Em­pyre descended vnto him) thinking that the tyme now serued to set Italy at li­bertie, he applied all his whole mynde and study how to compasse and bring the same to effect. Herevnto his prosperous successe since he was Empereour prouoked him: in as much as lately be­fore by his captain Belisarius, he had vanquished the Vandales and wrested Affrick out of their hands. And there­fore he thought it was not to be abid­den, that (contrary to the honour of the Romain Empyre) Italy shuld be held in subiection by the barbarous.The effect of them perours ambassade van to Theodatus Indu­ced with these reasons, he sent Ambas­sadours to Theodatus, requiring him to surrender vp Italy & Sicill, in recō ­pence whereof he profered him other [Page 8]dignities & promotiōs: the which offer yf he refused, then he denounced open war against him. Vpon the refusall of these offers made by Theodatus, the Emperour entending to make no fur­ther delay,Belisarius is appovnted in to Italy and Mundus into Dalmatiz. cōmaunded Belisarius to passe into Italy with his army. Howe­beit whiles he was making preparatiō he pretēded as though he would haue sent his nauy into Affricke, & not into Sicill. About the same time also he cō ­maunded another of his captaines cal­led Mundus to inuade Dalmatia with another power: to the entent that the Gothes beyng assayled on all sides at once, might the easlyer be oppressed.

Mūdus entering into Dalmatia won Salons & set al the countrey on an vp­rore. Belisarius hauing rigged hys shippes & embarked hys Souldyours,Belisarins vi­age into Sicill and of his doing there. sayled toward Sicill. He had of foote­men a sufficient number, all tall men and pyked Souldiours, and his Horse­men were conueyed wyth him by wa­ter also.

Captaines of his footemen were Constantine, Bessas, and Herodian: cap­taines of his horsemen were Valen­tine, Innocent and Magnus: and lieu­tenaunt generall and soueraigne of them all was Belisarius. Who folo­wyng the commaundment of the em­perour hys maister whereas he pre­tended to sayle towarde Cartharge, ariued by the way in Sicill,A politique Captine. and there goyng a land as it had bene to refreshe hym selfe and hys souldyours, when he espied tyme and occasion for hys purpose, sodenlye he assayled the ci­tie Catina and wonne it. Then she­wyng hym self with hys army abrode, and disclosing hys prepensed purpose, within few dayes after, he receyuedNow called Saragoza Syracuse by composition. After this it is a wonder to sée how victory ranne on hys syde, and how the Cities of theyr owne accord yelded and called him to them. The cause herof was the hatred that the Siciliands bare to the Gothes, and the authoritie of the [Page 9]Empyre or Rome, together with the presence of Belisarius. Whome (for as much as he had delyuered Affricke from the Vandalians) they hoped should do the lyke by the Gothes tho­rough Sicil & Italy. Moreouer, the Gothes had made no preparation in Sicil, because they looked not for any warre there. By meanes whereof it came to passe, that as many of the Gothes as were in Sicill, beyng amazed at the so­dain inuasion of Belisarius, and the hasty reuoltyng of the cities, thought more of runnyng awaye then of ma­kyng resistence. Only the citie ofNow called. Palerno. The siege of Panormus & the vvynnyng thereof. Pa­normus (by reason there was a strong garrison of the Gothes in it) abode the fiege, and endured it to the vttermost. The which citie beyng very defensible and well fortified toward the land, and therevppon settyng lyght by any thing that thenemie could worke agaynst it, at the last by a nauye sent into the ha­uen was wonne by the sea. For the ha­uen extended hard to the walles of the [Page]towne: And Belisariushad marked howe that in diuers places, the toppes of the mastes reached a great hight a­boue the walles of the citie. Where­fore he set Archers and slyngers in the topcastles of the shyppes, who with ar­rowes and darts dyd so beate their enemies vnderneath them on all sydes, that the walles were left naked with­out defendaunts: so that theyr compa­ney went without daunger to the foote of the wall,The good successe of Beli­sarius. and brake it downe. Tho­rough which distresse theyr enemyes beynge discomforted, yelded vp the towne. This was the last Citie of all Sicill that came in subiection. When Belisarius had recoueredPanormus he retourned to Syracuse, and there makyng sumptuous and royall page­ants, threwe Golde and Syluer a­monge the poople. For it was the laste daye of hys Consulshyppe the whyche was geuen hym in honour of the vi­ctorye that he gate of the Vandalians. And Fortune was so fauourable vn­to [Page 10]hy, that besydes all hys former victories, euen the verye laste daye of hys Consulshyppe she closed vp wyth the recouerye of all Sicill. Thus went the world in Sicill.

❧ The .iiij. Chapter.

IN Dalmatia both partes raysed greate powers and made to­wardes the Citie of Saions.The doinges of Mundus in Dalmatia, Nowe when they were comme neare vnto the town, and that the w [...]rd was whote on bothe varries, it longth there was a battell sought, not prepurposed but by chaunce vpon these daine with­out knowledge before of any of both partes. The rause thēreof was this. [Page]The captaine Mundus had a sonne called Maurice a goodly yong gentleman and a tall man of his handes. Whe ha­uyng the leadyng of a troope of Horse­men, rode to view the Campe of the Gothes. Now by chaunce the Gothish horsemen met with him, and assoone as the one parte had espied the othere, there was no tarience but straight to the skirmishe. So thei encountred for a tyme very stersly, and many of the stoutest of the Gothes were slaine, and at the last Maurice also was kylled.

Both the Campes heavyng of the skir­mishe, made soede to rescow their companies.Sodaine bat­tell betvvene the Gothes & the Imperialls Whyles that Mundus was on his way, tidings was brought him of the losse of his sonne. Then the man beyng of nature fierce & warlyke, ran in a rage lyke a mad man vppon his e­nemies. By that [...] was at the hosts of the Gothes come thither, and the en­counter was with the whole power of eyther part, the battell was very bloo­dy and cruell. At length the Gothes [Page 11]being discomfited with meat slaugh­ter and losse of their people were put to flight. But Mundus whiles he vn­saciably followed the slughter of the Gothes,Se thende of ourragious furye. and for angre and sorowe of the losse of his sonne pursued the chace to farre, was recountered of his disper­sed enemies and slaintand so the fatheer through the outragious reuengement of his sonne, in thend did séeke his own confusion. After this battell both ar­mies departed a sundre. For the Go­thes being vanquished durst not abide in those quarters, and the Emperours souldiours being dismayed with the losse of theyr Captain, left Salons and retyred backe agayne. I thinke it not good to suppress with silens a thing that many authours haue made menciō of. They say there were certaine old ver­ses of Sibill in the which it was pro­phesied,A prophesie of Sybill. that when Affricke should be recouered by the Romains, then shuld Mundus (which word as it is here a mans name: so also it signifieth the [Page]worlde) and hys yssue shoulde neryshe. This prophesie of Sybill made many men affrayed, doutyng least heauen and earthe with all mankynd shoulde vtterly haue decayed. But after the time that Affrick in the former warres was recouered by the pussaūce of Be­lisarius, then it appeared howe that Sibill prophesied of the destruction of this Captaine and his sonne. So depe­ly are all prophesies wrapped in dout­full circumstaunces. After the death of this Captaine and the departure of his army, the Gothes beganne to growe the monger in those parts. For Grip­pa one of the noble men of the Gothes,The Gothes recouer all that Mundus had cōquered imediatly thervppon raising a new po­wer recouered Salons & all that euer M̄udus had gottē before ī those places. In so much that the Gothes were farre of greater power then their enemies in those borders. And therwithall Theo­datus the king taking stoutly vpō him thought himself able to match or rath­er to ouercome themperour in battell.

❧ The .v. Chapter

WHEN Iustinian heard of the thynges that were done in Dal­matia, he made one of his Cour­tyers named Constantian Lieutenant of the warres there.Constantian made lieute­nant of Dal­matia. And therewyth­all wrote to Belisarius that he should withoute further delaye passe into Italy. Constantian therefore hauyng repayred hys armye and throughlye furnyshed hys nauye of all thynges, after that he hadde taryed a whyle aboute the doynge thereof at Dyrra­chin̄, remoued from thence and sayled to Rhagusium. There were at Rhagusium certayne skowtwatches set there by Gryppa, who seing y^e nauy of Cōstantian passing along the shore­side, beautifull to beholde bothe for the [Page]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.The solaine feare of Grip­pa at the arri­uall of Con­stnatian. 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 bietualls. Beyng distressed with these cares,Counsell the refuge of cares at length (which is the refuge in such extremities) he fell to counsell. According to the same he conueryghed all hys hoost a good waye out of Salons, and encamped in a place conuenient. In the meane tyme [Page 13]Constantian arriued with [...] his [...] 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,Constantian getteth Dal­matia and Lyburnia. 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 Rauenna by water, lea­uyng vp vtterly to the enemye bothe Dalmatia & Lyburnie,Dalmatia, Ly­burnia, & Illy ricū, are novve called all by one name of Sclauony. the which im­mediatly without any resistence came into the hands of Constantian.

❧ The .vj. Chapter.

BElisarius vppon the receipt of the Emperours ietters,The arriuall of Belisarius in Italy, when he shuld passe into Italy, leauing garrisons of souldiours at Syracuse and Panor­mus, went with the residue of his ar­mie to Messana: and there wasted ouer vnto Regium. From thence he led his arune 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 coūtreys reuolted to him thick and threfold. When he had after thys sort certaine dayes continued his iour­ney,Belisarius cō ­meth to Na­ples. 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^e place vpon the land. It was not long after [Page 14]but that he tooke by composition a strōg 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 authorittie in the citie.

He spake these wordes in effect: that Belisarius dyd not well to make war vppon the Neapolitans,The vvords of the Neapoli­tan ambassa­dour to Belis. 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 sub­iection of other men. But yf so be it he myght be so bolde to say hys mynd, he dyd vnaduisedlye to lenger there in dayne. 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 [...] for hint 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 euer the world went.The answere of Belisarius to them bassa­dour. 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 vtterly 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^e it. This was his saying openly. And secretly he per­suaded [Page 15]suaded Stephan to exhort his Citizens rather to seke them p [...]urs good will & fauour,Good counsel if it had bene taken. then his indignation displea­sure. Thoratours at their retourne in­to the citie, reported the [...] of Be­lisarius. And when th [...] came to consultation as concerning the same, Sre­phen being demaunded his opinion in the case, saide he thought it is [...]nge­rous a matter for the [...]p [...]ranes, to tourne the brunt of so great a warre vppon themselues, and therefore he wisshed them by some composition or [...]. This counsell was furthered also by one [...]nnochus a Syrian dorne, 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 opiniont the people also & the commōs of the citie were deūrous of the same. In so much that shoutes were openly [Page]heard trying [...]ut to haue the gates set open and Belisarius let [...]. There were [...] Gothes in garrison, who albeit that it greeued them [...] for as muche as they durite not with­stand the wyll of the people, [...] themselues together. Pastor and [...] frends of the Gothes,The craftye dealing of Asclepiodotus and Pastor. and therefore [...] ­rye to see the present estate of the citie altered, when they sawe howe the peo­ple were bent, durste not openly gain­say meyr oesyres, out wrought by an ouerthwart meanes to breake [...] ­ment. And therevppon allowyng and praysing openly all that was determi­ned in the assemblye, as though it hat lyked them verye well, they co [...]selled to knitte vp the matter stronglye with many bandes and couenaunts,Fayre wordes make fooles fayne & wyse men to some­tymes. reoui­rynge an othe for performinge of the same. The articies that they had d [...] ­sed were suche as they thought Beli­sarius woulde not haue consented vn­to, [Page 16]in esperialtye seynge he shoulde be swornē 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 therevpoon all thynges were penned and fayre wor­des engroced. Stephan [...] with the Booke from the Citie to Belisa­rius. Who after he hadde perused the same agreed to euery article, and effe­red to be sworne for the keeping of thē. Stephan [...] thereof into the citie.The malice of Pastor and As­clepiodotus brusteth out. Wheras the peo­ple greatly retoysing began to [...] to the gates, sayinge that Belisarius should be let in. Pastor and Asclepio­dotus seyng this, when they perceyued that their first crafts tooke n [...] 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 pleasure of the vnskylfull multitude.

For what man [...] that could not vnderstand [...] 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 graūted 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 taried to surprise thē 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 defence of the Citie. Besids this they ar­ened 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 communicatiō [Page 17]ano couenaunts [...] 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 walies 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 sented 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 [Page]of conquest vnto him. There was a water chanel cut deepe into the groūde by which water was wont to be cōueyed 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.Good fortune of Belisarius. 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 [Page 18]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 souidyer 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 easly go through. When the matter stood in thys case, Belisarius perceyuynge he shoulde bee may­ster of the Citie when he lyst hymselfe,the clementie and mercy of Belisarius. 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 Varlettes 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,The meane whereby Be­lisarius won Naples. 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 swords 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 Ennas stout men, in whose puissaunce he dyd putte muche confi­dence. When it was now past myd­nyght, [Page 19]nyght, [...] the matter so the leaders, and shewyng them the place commaundeth them to leadche 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.Shame sur­mounteth dread of daunger. Whyles he was thus aboute his matters, many of the souldiers that were with Magnus re­tyred backe for feare of the daunger, and could not be made to go forwarde, neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule. Whome Belisarius sent away wyth great rebuke, supplying their roomes with two hundred of them that he had about him. Vppon the which reproche euen they that before refused to go, fo­lowed. [Page]The souldiers wont a long and a blynde way in the chanell. For it en­ded not at the wall, but led further in­to the citie, being vaulted euer aloft with Bricke In so much that y^e souldi­ers wist not where they were, vntyll they espyed the skye at the ende of the vault. Then they perceyued themsel­ues to be in the middes of the citie, out of the which place it was a hard mat­ter for them to escape, because they had ylfauoured clymburg vp vpon the high walles wherew^e it was endosed round about. Neuerthelesse at length when one had helped vp another & all were come owt,Naples is ca­ten. they went to the walles there hauing slayne the watchemen toke two towres, & from thens gaue a signe by sownding atrumpet, and making a greate shoute. By and by Belisarius made toward the same places, and rering vp ladders comaun­ded his souldyers to scale y^t towne. In thesame place happened much trouble & muche taryens, by reason the ladders [Page 20](being made [...] not able to reach the toppe of the wall. By meanes whereof they were driuen of necessitie, to bynde two ladders one at thend of another, & so to get vp. This was done on the northside of the town, and at the same instaum was a sharpe encounter at the other side of y^t towne that is toward the sea. For in the same place fought a multitude of Iewes, leud & desperat perfōs, such as hoped for no fauour nor mercy if y^t citie were ta­ken.The desparate fighting of the iewes. And therefore they stood stoutly at defens, geuing no place of entrance to thenemie. Another part of the host had set fier on y^e East gate, & made hast to breake into the citie. In the meane fea­son the day began to breake, & the soul­diers y^e had scaled vp by ladders, had broken open a gate to let in tharmy, & ther withall thother company russhed in at the East gate y^t was before set on fier. Then was there running through the citie, and all places were defiled with slaughter and rauysshynge.

But inesverially those souldyers pla­yed the Butchers, whose brothers or kinsfolke had bene slaine in the former conflictes by the Neapolitans a boute the Citie. For they after that y^e towne was taken, vsed the victorie very cru­elly, sparing no age yong nor old man nor woman. And the Iewes, whiche defended that part of the Towne that is toward the sea, when all the rest of the towne was taken, stode neuer the lese styfly at their defens, neyther gaue thei ouer before that the souldiers ron­nyng aboute the Citie, assayled them behynd. Then was enterans made on that parte of the Citic also, and euery place was repleneshed with slaughter and sacking.The elemen­tie and gentle vsing of the victorye by Belisarius. But Belisarius himself after the taken of Naples, vsed the vic­torie veri gently. For after that weapō was ones Layd out of hand, he suffe­red not any Citizen to be eyther flayne or taken prysoner, and he restored the women to their husbandes and paren­tes vnrauished and vndefiled at all.

Towarde the Gothes also which were there in garrison, he shewed no maner of cruelty. As for Pastor and Asclepio­dotus the Authours and causes of so great mischiefes, not Belisarius,Euyll counsel worst to the geuers therof but the people of the towne themselues did iustice vppon. Who the next day after the taking of the citie, ranne to theyr houses and finding Asclepindotus at home kylled hym and drewe hym tho­rought the citie. But they coulde not finde Pastor. For he euen in the verye tumult of the taking of the citie, either wilfully slew him selfe, or ells dyed for bespaire and sorow of mynde. Yet not­withstaindinge the people bearynge a deadly hatred against him, neuer left sekyng him, vntill such tyme as they sawe hys dead carcas wyth their eyes. Neyther coulde they be satisfied, but that they tare hys bodye in peeces eue­rye member from other. And Belisa­rius did beare with theyr outragious dealynge, for the euyll whych they had cōmitted, vpō whom such cruelty was [Page]ertended. [...] this meanes bothe taken and saued.

❧ The .vij. Chapter.

THE Gothes that dwelte at Rome and other places there­aboutes, hearyng of those thin­ges that were done at Naples, were stryken with great feare and mistruste in them selues. For they beleued vn­doutedly that Belisarius would come against them. Wherefore encoura­ging one another, and calling forth the rest that were men of warre of theyr owne nacion, they encamped them­selues betwene the cities of Anania & [Page 22]Taracina. There when [...] men of warre of the Gothes were assem­bled together, findyng great faulte with the former misgouernent & pre­sent cowardnesse of Theodatus,The election of Vitigis with the deposition & death of Theodatus final­ly they made insurrection against him in the campe, and set vp Vitigis to be their kynge. This Vitigis was not borne of the blood royall, but he had al­wayes bene knowen for a stout Cap­tain & a good man of warre, & through his valiaunt behauiour he had purcha­sed much honour & authoritie. Theodatus when he hard thereof, stale priuely away & fled toward Rauenna with all the spede he could make. But the new king sending of his gard immediatly after him, ouertooke him by y^t way & kil­led him. After this Vitigis came to Rome, & there making an oration to the Senate & the people, put thē in remembrance of the benefits of Theodorich,The oration of Vitigis to the Romains. exhorting thē not to worke any nouel­ties. For he told them that the Gothes had a great power in Italye, and that [Page]those things which had lately hapened chasiced not through the imbecillitie & weakenes of their nacion, but because that the Gothes could not find in their harts to loue & obey Theodatus. But now considering they agreed all in one will & drew all by one lyne, cleane con­trary effects must nedes followe. And therefore no man should be able to at­tempt any alteration hereafter in Ita­ly, but that he shoulde be met with to his cost. Al these things he did discourse before Liberius bishop of Rome. And for beeause he was but a newe founde kyng, he caused the bishop & the people toswere to be trew vnto him. For the more assuraunce wherof, he chose ma­nye of the Senatours and people of Rome, whome he ledde with him as pledges, committing the charge of the citie to one of his noble men called Lu­deris, with whome he left foure thou­sande chosen souldyers to keepe Rome withall. He hym selfe with the residue of his army made towarde Rauenna. [Page 23]When he came thither, to my entent the moore to establishe his estate,Vitigis meri­eth. he tooke in mariage the doughter of A­mulusuentha nece vnto the late Theodorich, whome Theodatus had kept in warde lyke a prisoner. And so by ali­yng him self with the blood royall, he aduaunced the honour and dignitie of his crowne. This dene, he ceased not to muster the Gothes through all his realme, and to furnysh them through­ly with horse and harnesse, and vigi­lantly to prouide for all kynde of mu­nitions and artilerie for the warres.

But as Vitigis was aboute to assem­ble the Gothes that were about the ri­uer Po and the citie Pauie and other places in Lūbardy of which there was great power and an huge number, a stoppe was cast in hys way, namely the feare of the French nacion. For at that tyme they had extended their domini­on euen vnto the Alpes, and on thys side the Alpes the Gothes possessed al. These two nacions were scarce frends [Page]out to another, but rather more men halfe enemies through priuie harthur­nyng among them selues. Further­more it was well knowen,Vitigis ente­reth in league wyth the Frenchmen. that them­perour had lately sollicited the French men to make warre against the Go­thes. For the which causes Vitigis sending his Anthassadours into Fraunce endeuored to rid himself of that feare, the which he at length obteyned by en­tring in league and frendshippe with them. Whyle Vitigis was laying for these things before hand, in the meane season Belisarius hauynge refreshed and furnished his armie, determined to go to Rome. Wherevppon leauing Herodian with a garrison at Naples, and another garrison lykewise at Cu­me, he with the residue marched to­ward Rome. His iorney lay by the way that leadeth from Rome into Latium. The Romains hearing of Belisarius approche, were nothing discontended therewith. It chaunced so that one Fi­delis of Millaine (who in the tyme of [Page 24]Athalericke had bene [...] of the kings house) departing frō Rome met with Belisarius, & counsailed him to bring his hoste with all spede nere to y^e citie,The Romains become imperialles. for he told him that the Romains were not minded to shut their gates a­gainst y^e emperours army. And in dede by al mens talke it was to be sene that the people were of the same mind with in the citie. With the which thinges the Gothes being sore dismayed that were left there in garrison, determi­ned fully to go all awaye: sauyng the Captayn Luderis: who standing vpon his reputation, had rather to haue died then to abandon the town cōmitted to his charge. The Romains gaue y^t Go­thes free passage w^eout interruption. And so it fortuned that at y^t very same day & houre that the Gothes went out of Rome at the gate of Flaminius, Belisarius entered in at y^e gate Celimon­tana, otherwise called Asinaria. After y^e Belisanꝰ had ben receiued into y^e town with great ioye & gladnes of all estates, [Page]he [...] and the people, & afterward vsed great diligence in repairing the walles & for­tifiyng of the citie.Belisarius for­tifieth and vic tayleth Rome For he not onelye mended the walles and buylded bul­works in places conuenient, but also cast vp trenches and rampyres abcute them. And moreouer conueryghed thi­ther great store of grayne by water, the which he caused to be layed vp in common gratters. The Romaines al­though they wondered at the wisdome of their captaine, yet that lyked not this his so [...] diligence in fortistyng of the citie. For so noble a captaine as he as beinge enticed [...] Rome w^t the emperours armye, ought not to thinke of being besieged, but of besie­ging others. Howbeit to say the trueth Belisarius weying with himselfe hys owne weakenes & the great power of the Gothes, did already in his mynde forese what was lyke to ensue. And yet was he not altogether ydle in y^e meane season, but by his petie captains Con­stanting [Page 25]and Belisarius some time he recouered Narma, Spolet,Belisarius goet­teth three tovvnes from the Gothes. & Peruse by composion. Also there was a battell fought againste the Gothes not farre frō the ettie ofNow called Perugio. Peruse. For Vitigis immediatly vppon intelligence of the reuolting of y^e Perusians, sent Vuilas and Pyssa with an army into Thus­cance to the entent as well to kepe styll in due obedience such as had not reuolted, as also to subdue againe suche as had forsaken their allegeaunce.

❧ The .viij. Chapter.

THere was at Peruse Consian­tine one of Belisarius captaines, and he had assembled thyther all [Page]hys men of w [...]rre sauyng a fowe soul diers that he hadde lefte in garrison at Spolet.A patten be­tvvene the Gothes and the ijmperialls Now at such time as the Go­thishe armye approched and was come almoste hard to the walles of Peruse, Constantine with his men in order of battel readie to syght, yssued out of the Citie and set vpon the Gothes. Great was then counter with much force and puissans on bothe sydes. The Gothes were greatly furthered by their multi­tude, and the souldiers of Constantine by the aduantage of the place, & thassis­tens of the Citie at hand. After longe fyghtinge, the Gothes at length were ouercome & put to flight, great slaugh­ter was made of them and many were taken prisoners, amonge whō Vuilas and Pyssa the Captaynes were taken and sent to Rome vnto Belisarius. Vitigis therefore hauinge besydes the lossE of his townes receiued moreouer this flaughter, thoughte it was not to make any further delaye, but wyth all the power of the Gothes that he was [Page 26]able to raise, set forward to y^e warres. when he remoued from Rauenna to­ward Rome,Vitigis mar­cheth tovvard Rome vvyth 200000. foul­dyers. he had in his hoste .CC.M. fyghting men, of which y^e most part were armed in Almain riuetts. With this so huge hoste he marched toward Rome in suche terrible maner, & wyth suche spede, that it was to be doubted least that Belisarius would not haue abydden his comming. And therefore he made not anye staye eyther at Spo­let, Peruse, or Narma, but kept on his waye styll toward Rome. Belisarius when he perceyued so great a brunt of warres turned vppon hys necke, com­maunded Constantine and Bessas to returne to him out of hand, wyth such power as they had aboute them. Con­stantine obyed his commaundeinent and came wyth hys armye forthwyth out of Thuscane to Rome. But it was somewhat later ere that Bessas did set out of Narma, in so much that he was entangled with the firste foreriders of the Gothes. For Vitigis way lay hard [Page]vnder Narma. Whether as sone as y^e Currours were come, Bessas yssued out of the city and skirmished w^t them, & he put many of their troopes to flight and slew diuers of thē. Neuertheles by reason of resorte of mo & mo stil to y^e res cowe, he was cōpelled to withdraw hī self again into the citie. From whence he made hast to Rome & bare ridinges that y^e Gothes were at hande & within kenning. The Gothes passing by Narma went through the country of y^e Sabines into the fields of Rome. When they came nere the town they staied at the riuere Anio. For beisarius had fortified the bridge on both sides y^e water w^t bulwarks & enclosures, & had set a gar­risō of souldiers to kepe it. By meanes wherof y^e Gothes at their first cōming being not able to get ouer,The shameful flight of the souldiers of Belisarius. encamped thēselues beyond the riuer Anio. But y^e next night folowing they y^e were set to kepe the bridge, being dismaied at y^e number & fercenesse of the barbarous people, forsoke the towres & bulwarks [Page 27]of the [...] away went into Cāpanie for feart least Be­lisarius should punishe thē for their labour. Belisarius was minded to haue pitched his campe by the riuer Anio di­rectly against y^• campe of the Gothes, to thentent to haue detained them the longer in y^e same place. And therfore y^t next day he went thither w^t a M. horse­men to view the costery & the Deameanour of his enemies & also to chose a meete grounde to encampe in.An encounter vnloked for. As he was going thether, when he came al­most at the [...] contrary to his expes­tation he met with the Gothyshe horse men. For the Gothes but euen a lytrie while before, pereceiuing y^e bulwarkes of the brydge to be abandoned, had bro­ken open the gates and the barryers, and had passed euer the Ryuer in greate number. Whose sodayne ap­proche vppon Belisarius other wyse then he looked for, conūrayned hym whether he would or no to put hym­selfe in the encounter.

At the beginning Belisarius [...] nothing but thoffice of a Captaine, en­couraging and commaunding his soul diers and shewinge what euerye man should doe. But when he saw his men ouerlayed & like to go by the [...] of the staffe, then was he [...] compelled to leaue the office the Cap­taine, and to playe the stout souldiour. For he was fayne to put himself into the forefront of the battell, and there to laye his hands about him stoutlye and valiātly as other of his souldiers. The which days surely he was in great danger vpon such occasion. He had a good­ly horse, vpon which he was commāly 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 Vale. (For so doe the Gothes terme a bay horse in their lan­guage,) & there was none other noise ouer all the fyeld but to strike y^e Vale, [Page 28]By meanes whereon it came to passe, that all the brunt of the battel was turned vpon Belisarius.Daunger the vvhetstone of courage. And vndoutedly if a puisant band of his verye sanulier 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 then saud strokes 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^e time he was valiantlye defended, both by hys own prowesse fighting most expertly & commingly, and also by the helpe of his frends and familiars, who with incre­dible loue clynged fast aboute hym. In thys place manye of Belisarius verye frends were flain, and inespecially one Maxentius a man of singular actiuity who fyghting about Belisarius, after that he had shewed many proses of his manhood and prowesse, and slaine many of the Gothes, at the last being very sore wounded fell downe dead. At the [Page]length such as were about Belisarius making prease vpō their enemies, put thē to open flight, & pursued them hard to the bridge. But the footemen y^e stod at the bridge recountred Belisarius & his men, & easly put them backe. The horsemen seyng y^e, turned again & assailed thē behind, by meanes wherof they were of necessity compelled to w^tdraw themselues for their own saufgard vn­to a higher ground.Belisarius is compelled to tlye. There also then coū ter of horsmen being renued, & the nū ber of the enemies still encreasing, af­ter y^e many had berie slaine on both partes, at length they were forced to sty toward Rome vppon the spurre. They tonne dewarde the gate that is com­monlye called Pm̄cian. The Gothes chaced Belisarius hard to the gate in­so much y^e 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 [Page 29]selfe knowen, albeit he called alowd vnto them, bicause the Sunne was then down, & he fore dissiguret [...] & swette.Belisarius put­teth the Go­thes to flight. Therefore when they had cast themselues in a ring before the gate & could not be let in, & that menemy was hardat their backs, Belisarius encou­raging his men, gaue a new charge vp on his enemies, & putting thērs night draue them far frō 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 [...]. For it beganne anene after the sonne rising, & it ended not vntil it was darke night. Belisarius by the iudgement of al mē was demed the best warriour that day that was on his syde. And amonge the Gothes, Vssidius. When Belisarius was returned into the Citie, he com­maunded as well his owne souldyers as the Towne semen to keepe warche on the walles that nyghte.

Distriburinge the gaces to his Cap­taines euery one, one to kepe. Geuyng them charge that if any alarme were geuen, no man should styree out of the place where be was appoynted.A larmes ge­ven to the Ci­tie of Rome. in the nyght. The same night many Alarmes were geuē and diuers of theym false. For it was cried through the Citie that thenemye was entred in at the gate of Ianiculū, and therevpon 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 mā well knowen in Rome whom Vitigis had sent thether for the same purpose,The vvordes of Bachius to the Romanes. spake vnto them saying How is it with you ye Ramaines are ye not ashamed of your follye? to com­mit [Page 30]your seiues to the ruicion of a few Grekyshe men, mariners, and plaiers, of enteriudes, & good for nothing els, despising y^e 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 trcason 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 Vitigis com­maunded to be told vnto you. The Romaines 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 [Page]the riuer. And thus paued ouer y^e [...] night. The next day the Gothes seyng no body come for the guiue them batter in the field, adressed themselues to the siege. Thorder wherof was this.

The .ix. Chapter.

THey pitched theyr denter in [...] places about the citie,The siege of Rome. frō the way of fiaminius, vnto the ways that leadeth to Preuesie, This campe bese­ged fiue gates of the citie. Afterward they unbattelled the .vii. campe on the further fyde of the brydge Militius. This last Campe besoiged the gate of Aurelius and cutte of the wayes that leade ouer the Ryuer Tyber. They fortified theyr campes with diches and trenches and turrettes of timber. And [Page 31]as wel on the onesive as on the other of the Tybeer they made hauocke of all y^e came in their waye. Belisarius o the coutrary part pprouided in this wise for the defence of the city. The gate called Pinciana which was directly againste the greater campe of the Gothes, together w^t the nextegate vnto it on y^e right hād called Salaria, & whatsoeuer was on that part of the walles therabouts, Belisarius toke vnto himselfe tokepe. The gate towarde Preueste he com­mitted to Bessas. The gate of Flami­uius whiche is on the left hande of the Pincian gate, he deliuered to Cōstan­ [...]nand at euerye other of the gates he set a keper. The Gothes goyng about the Citye brake all the Conduittes.The conduius aboute the Citye. There were of theym in all fourtene made of wonderfull worke, by the which water was conueyed into the Citie. By the breakynge of these, the Ro­maynes were not so greatelye afflyc­ted wyth scarcetye of water, as wyth want of cornemylles.

For the conduit that ranne downe no the toppe of Ianiculum, throughe the furth erside of Tiber into the city, running swiftly downe the stepe hyll, dyd virue many mylles. The lyke commo­dity of grinding was also ministred by other of the conduits in diuers places. The which being then brokē, brought great distresse vpon them that were be seiged.A prouision for grinding of corne. Against this displeasure Belisarius prouided this remedie. Two lighters with a space betwene theym for a whele to goe in, were fastned together with strong rafters of timber, vpon the which the milles were set and so driuē with the swiftnes and violence of the streame, and the lighters were stayed with Cables streyned hard and made fast on both sydes of the Ryuer. These lyghters he placed harde by the firsie brydge that leadeth ouer Tiber. After those he set other lyghters on a rowe. And least the enemye might hurte the lighters by casting downe fyre or other stuffe from alofte, there were cheynes [Page 32]of yron drawē by the brydge to receiue all such gere, and men set on both sides to take the same & cary it away. Thus was good prouison made to supply the want of milles, for those lighters suf­fyced to grynd as much as they would. As for the want of water, that dyd the ryuer Tiber supplye. Belisarius had on diuers places of the walles deuises many engines to strike and put backe thenemy withall.Engines for to assault the tovvne. The battell Ram. On the otherside the Gothes prouided great store of artille­rie and engines for the winning of the Citie. The angins were these. Fyrūe fowre battell Rammes whiche were made after this fashion. Foure postes of timber of lyke hygh equallye distant are sette square one ageinste another. These pyllers are fastened with eyght ouer wayes foure at the toppe & foure at y^e foote, so that it standeth as it were a pretye square house. The same is co­uerd aboue with leather to the entent that such as are within it should not be hurte from the walles. Aloft is laid a [Page]beame [...] at [...] whereof hangeth downe another beame as it were to the middell of y^e pillars fastned w^t plates of yron, y^e which hath a great square head of stelelike vnto an anuild. The whole engine is driuen vpō foure wheles fastened in the feete of pillars. When it is remoued frō place to place there are not fewer then L. souldyers within it to driue it forward. Who af­ter the time they haue brought it nere vnto the walles, doe with a cewrtayne wynch wey vp the foresaid beame that lyeth ouerthwart,The great force of the battell Ram. and when it is aloft doe let it fall with all the whole swaye that it hath. Then the head of y^e beame being let downe, partlye with violence and partly with weight falling vpon y^e wall, dothe batter and breake in peces al that euer it lighteth vpon. Moreouer the Gothes made Turretes of Tym­ber of lyke heigh with the walles, the whiche went vppon fyue wheles a pece. Also they prepared a great num­ber of skaling ladders, together with [Page 33]an immumerable sorte of faggottes of shrubbes and strawe to fyll vp the dy­ches. When all thynges were in suf­ficient readinesse, Vitigis commaun­ded all hys men to be in armour by the breake of the next daye, whom he de­uided into companyes, appoyntynge what he would haue euery man to doe The Gothes were verye glad of it and wonderfull desyrous of thassault,Thassault of Rome. some carrying faggotts, some bearing skalyng Ladders and other some dry­uyng the engines toward the walles. Belisarius stood vppon the vamure before the gate wyth the tallest men that he coulde chose oute in all hys host,Thvnskilful­nesse of the Gothes. geuynge all the reste of hys retinewe charge, not to styre oute of theyr places before he gaue theym warnynge. The Turrettes (whi­che I toolde you that the Gothes had prepared) were drawen wyth Ox­en and sette before the reste of the o­ther engynes.

The which thing whē Belisarius be­helde, he laughed at the simplicitie of the Gothes, that they should thinke naked Oxen able to drawe an engine against armed enemies. And thervpon he commaunded all hys men to dys­charge their arrowes at them, the which beynge done and thoxen forthwyth slaine, the engine stood still and coulde be remoued no further. Such as caried skalinge ladders and faggottes to fill vp the dyches, being repulsed with the number of weapons commynge from the vamure, coulde neyther fyll the di­ches, nor gette vnto the walles, nor yet brynge the battell Rammes nere. Neuertheles the battell of the Gothes abode by it, and castinge their sheldes ouer their heades, sometyme wyth plaine force came harde to their ene­myes, howbeit they were neuer able to winne the vamure. Thencounter was with arrowes, dartes, Iauelings pykes and all other kind of artillerie.

❧ The .x. Chapter.

WHyle these things were in doing at the Pincian & Salaria gates,The continu­ance of the assault. Rome was assaulted in three o­ther place. For Vitigis setting parte of his armie tokepe Belisarius occu­pied, went hymselfe with a number of souldiers to the gate that leadeth to preneste. And at the same instant ano­ther companie of the Gothes assaulted the gate of Aurelius. Another sorte of them endeuored to brust in at the gate that is on y^e tope of Ianiculum. Thus was Rome assaulted in foure places at ones at the gates Pinciana and Sa­laria which Belisarius himself kepte, at the gate prenestine where Bessas [Page]stood, and at the gates of Aurelius and Ianiculum. But the Gothes that as­saulted Ianiculum were easlye put backe. For the place is stepe and vnea­sie to come 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 cap­taines wioth a puissant band of souldi­ers. At the gate of Aurelius was some what more daunger. The waye was vaulted ouer that leadeth to the church of Saynct Peter thappostle.Thassaulting of Adrians Pyle. The Go­thes hydynge themselues in the sayde Porche, astone 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 vttermost wall whyche en­closeth the Pile and was foure square. [Page 35]Thys Pyle was the sepuichre of the Emperour Adrian buylded of moste excellent and costly worke manshippe.The descrip­tion of Adri­ans tumble. 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 myddes of this square ryseth vppe as if were a tower of a verye great heyghth, and of such a breadeth that a man were searse a­ble to throwe a stone directelye from the one syde to the other of the foore that was on the toppe. It hathe a brydge leadynge from thence 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 Cyfye, and was (as it were) a certayne Towre or bulwarke, Belisarius prouyded be­fore hand to haue it well marmed and [Page]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 betwene the fielde of Mars and the gate of Aurelius, fearing the lownesse of y^e walles, (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 gottē the outer ciccuit, endeuored also to winne the pyle it selfe. The souldiers that were aboue, to thentent the more to endomage & repulse their enemies,The defacing of an excellēt piece of vvork 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 ly deuised and excellentlye wroughte. [Page 36]Some of these the souldiers tumbled downe whole vppon their enemies, o­ther some thei brake in pieces to throw at thē, And so whether it were through the rudenes or through the lewdnes of the souldiers, within few howers were destroied the excellent innentions of y^e conning est workmen in all the world, whiche cost so many yeres in making, and which were the greatest ornamentes and the very heautie of the tumber.Adrians pyle is rescovved. Constantyue hauynge in the meane while repulsed the euemy from the ry­uer, hearing in what ieoperdie 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 saued, and the enemy repulsed. At the gate toward preneste also (where Vitigis 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 Vinariū. The same was [Page]double walled, wyth a good space be­twen the two walles. The ground be twene thē was very plaine and leuell, and the walles some what weake.Rome in daū ger to be ta­ken by as­saulte. Vi­tigis therfore and the Gothes geuing assaulte to the vttermoste wall, albeit that there was vuleant and manful defence made agaynste theym, yet they wanne it by sure force. Then Bessas (to whose charge that part was comit­ted) mistrustinge that he was not able to continue long against so greats po­wer of his enemyes, sent worde in all haste to Belisarius in what perill he stood, desyring him to come to his res­cow w^t al the spede he could make. Be­lisarius somwhat moued with the matter. 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 soul­diers beganne to take harte at the pre­sence [Page 37]of theyr Captayne, The Gothes had vndermined the wall, and a great companye of them enteryng in at the breach stood betweite 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 cōstrained to retyre out at the same gappe where they came in, with greate slaughter and losse of their people.The repulse of the gothes at the fyrste assaulte. As sone as they were gotten oute, theyr enemies pursewynge hard vppon the, 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 assaul­ted in manye places at ones, and va­leantlye defended. There were stayn at these assaultes aboute three thou sand Gothes, but yet the syege en­dured styll.

The Romaines albeit then had Beli­sarius in great admiracion for his pro­wesse,The Romains murmur a­gainst Belisa­rius. yet they murmured against him in that against so great a puisians of y^e Gothes, he had with so small a handful in coparison styered vp se great warres & cast the Citie of Rome into such ex­treme perill and imminent daunger.Belisarius vvriteth to the Emperour. The which thinge Belisarius percey­uing (for it was [...]st done in huther muther) althoughe he had duiers other times before aduertised y^e Emperour Iustinian therof. Yet notiwhtstanding being as then greatly moued with the matter, he wrote more earnestly vnto him, declaring the besetgement 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 armye that he brought forth with him, by lea­uing garrisonsof souldiers at Panor­mus and Syxacuse in Sicill: and by manninge of Naples Cume, & other places in Italye, as nede required for [Page 38]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^e siege. As for his owne part, he had once vowed to spend his life in she 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 honur or dishonour of the Empire of Rome.

❧ The .xi. Chapter.

THe Emperour Iustinian was vs rye sore moued at the receipte of these letters:The Empe­rour sendeth nevv succours into Italye. and therevpon com­maunded that certayne souldyers whi­ch had bene put in a readynesse before should immediatly sayle into Italy, entending with all spede to leuie a grea­ter power. Valerian and Martiā were appoynted Captaynes of those souldy­ers whyche he had alreadye prepared and whyche had wyntered all the dead tyme of that yere in Aetoly and Acar­name. The newes hereof beyngs 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,The Gothes besege Salōs in Dalmatia. Asinarius and Vligisalus Captaynes of the Gothes (whom Vitigis had sent wyth an host of men into Dalmatia, appoyntynge to theym moreouer for theyr more strengthe a nauye of shyppes), be­syeged Salons bothe by sea and lande For Constantian perceyuynge hym [Page 39]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 Gothes both by sea and by lande. In thys meane time, Rome beganne to be more hard­ly distressed by the seyge. For Vitigis after the time that he had taken so dis­honorable repulse at the foresayde as­saulte, beynge therewith somewhat quickned, ceased not to seke & 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 Kyuer Tyber, and adioyning to the same a Cytye enuyroned wyth a stronge wall. In the whyche place were wonte to be sette a lande all suche thynges as were broughte by water:Vitigis vvyn­neth Portua, and from thence agayne eyther by lande or by water were con­neyed to Rome.

Vitigis 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 ensued great distresse at Rome, when their vent of fetching in of corne and victiaulls was ones stop­ped. For the Gothes leauing a garison of souldiers there,The cruell commaunde­ment of Viti­gis against the Romayne hostage dyd kepe both the towne and the mouth of Tiber suffer­ing nothing to be conueyed in. It was not longe after but that Vitigis sent commaundement to Rauenna, that al the Citizens of Rome, which (as is de­clared) he led from thens and kept for hostages should be put to death. Many of them were of the nobility and many of the commonaltie (surely worthy personages) 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 Ceruentinus. [Page 40]& Reparatus the brother of Vigilins, 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 lamented for the siaughter of theyr ei­tizens at Rauenna, there came ano­ther sorrow in the necke of it. For Belisarius fearinge least graine shoulde faile and ware searce, 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 cōtrary from those places that were beseged by thenemy. For the Gothes (as we haue sayd) dyd not enuiron the whole Citie with their syege, [Page]but onely from the gate of Aurelius to the gate that goeth to Preneste. Be­yond those boundes they durst not behold to be ouer busye, or to stray ouer farre. For yf they aduētured 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 therefore sent forthe their wyues and children and all their other people that were vnmeete for the warres. Wher­of somme abode in Campanie, some at Naples and some in Sicill as euery man thought most for hys commo­ditye and behoofe. At Rome Belisari­us gaue streyghte commaundemente and looked narrowlye to it,Belisarius de­uideth corne by the pole. that the corne was deuyded by the poll, to the entent y^e no waste nor spoyle should be made of it. The same time Belisarius [Page 41]bannished the town Liberius the pope vppon suspicion of secrete conspiratie with the Gothes.A pope bani­shed vpō sus­pition of trco­son. And anone after was Vigilius 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 Marimus, whose great graundfather after the death of Valentinian had vsurped the name and dignitie of the Empyre.

The .xij. Chapter.

WHyle these thynges were a do­ing,Nevv succour commeth to Rome. Martine & Valerian (whom Iustinian had sent forth as I she­wed before) came vnto Rome, bring­ing with them a thousand & fixe hun­dred horsemen, the which for the most [Page]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,Belis. practi­seth his Soul­dyers in Skyt­misshes. 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 vnatrempted. For Belisarius beynge a most expert captaine in fcats 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. [Page 42]In these conflictes the fouldiers of Belisarius 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 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 skyrnisshe, but feight it out in the playne field wyth hand strokes.

For the Captaynes and the Soul­dyers had lyen so sore at Belisarius, and had so often and so carnestly en­treated hym, that he determined to trye some greater encounter.A battell be­tvvene the Gothes and Beli­sarius.

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 committed to Valentine Lieutenant of the horsemen, geuing him besides his horsemen a certayne of the olde ex­pert footemen, and of the people 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 Valentine commaundement to make a shewe as though he woulde e­ner 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 [Page 43]theyr felowed al the gate Saiaria 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. Vitigis 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 Vitigis on the other, encouraged [Page]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 Valentine perceyuynge hys peo­ple entangled wyth theyr enemyes, marched forewarde wyth the Hoste whereof he was Captayne, from the rumbe of Adrian, and assayled hys [Page 44]enemyes also. By [...] whereof the Gothes were not able to endure long against them, in especiallye for­as muche as they were abasthed 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,It is yll fish­ing before the nette. but suffered them to goe where they woulds. For the Souldyers percey­uynge them to fall to ryflynge, to the entente 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 [Page]sawe that no [...] them stayed in the next mountaynes. From thence beholdyng theyr tentes to be pulled downe and earyed 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 faued 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, east 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, [Page 45]they a [...]o auayied Belisarius horse­men on the syde. Who beynge not able to abyde the brunte and force of them any long tyme,Belis. and hysmen put to fleyght. af 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 lyke wyse put to flyght. Howe be it, there were two Peticaptaynes na­med Principius and Taruunt, whose man hode and audacitie was well ap­proued in that place to theyr great commendation and immortall fame.The valiaunt­nes of Princi­pius and Tar­nunt. 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 pitifullye mangled all hys body ouer, after long seyghtyng fell downe, and aboute hym two and fourtye of hys retinewe: and Taruuntes being of lyke valiantues [Page]and courage, when he ha [...] 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 peryll of thē that were ouercome. The Romaines standing vppon the walles dyd shut y^t gatesagainst 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 Vaumure, 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 ells throwen them a way in the chace, had not wher with to defend them felues Howbeit those that were vppon the battelmentes defended [Page 46]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 slayne of Belisarius men a great number, and those of the valiantest and best practised.

¶ The .xiii. Chapter.

AFter this barrell Belisarius ab­steyned certayne dayes from fey­ghtyng,The syndged child dreadeth fyer. and was content to de­fend the walles onely. At the length, when he had well hartened hys foul­diers, 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 oueragainst the gate of Aurelius.Skyrmisshes aboute the bridge Milui­us. 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 foul­diers of Belisarius dyd take and vse it for a campe, or elles the Gothes pre­uentynge them layed ambusshes in [Page 47]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^t 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,Aduersitie [...] keth men wyse. 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 whiche crossyng eche other doe stretch [Page]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 mast and the neather coast,The great pe­ril that Rome stood in. 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 besse­ged 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 [Page 48]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,A plage. not only of the common people, but also of Beli­sarius Souldiers. They were brought to a great distresse, and to afore after­deale, and therefore the Romaines refortyng to Belisarius, bewayled theyr heauie misfortune,A pitous com­playnt. in that they had brought themselues to such extre­mitie by kepyng theyr fayth and alle­geans towarde the Emperoure vp­pon hys promise. For theyr Citizens had bene miserablye murdered at Ra­uenna by their enemie, their citie dishenorably besieged by y^t Gothes, all thin­ges without y^t 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 [Page]men with their weapons in their hads 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.A rough an­swere. 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 reasō. 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 wythoute 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,the vvise practise and pol­licie of Beli­sarius. 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 fyue hundred vnto Tibur: and he placed another bande at Alba. Vnto all these he gaue commaū ­dement that to the vttermoste of their power they shuld stoppe all victuallers from the Gothishe Campe, and helpe to saufrōduct 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^e Go­thes.Reuerēs ba [...] to religion. The church of S. Paule is w^tout [Page]the gate toward Ostia, quite & cleane another way from the church of S. Peter, 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 siege 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,Antonia the vvife of Beli­sarius. retour­ned backe agayne and spoyled all the townes in those quarters, whyche ministred relyefe and succour to the Gothes, and wythin shorte 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 repaired the walles of that towne which [Page 50]were decayed, dyd dayly molest and disquiet the Gothes out of that place. By some meanes or other, & wold not fuffer anye graine to be caried to theyr campe, The same thing did thei in like wife y^t were sent to Alba. By meanes whereof w^tin very short space,Scarcetie and pestilence in the Gothishe Campe. it came to passe y^t the Gothes which were y^t be fyegers, 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.

WHile these things were in doing,A nevve sup­plement of souldiers. Iustiniā sent another hoste of mē into Italy. They were of Thra­cian horsmen eight hundred, of whom Iohn the sonne of his brother Vitalian had the leadinge: and a thousand and three hundred mustered in other pla­ces, vnder the conducte of Alexander Maxcent and Zeno. Moreouer three thousand footemen which came by water ledde by Paule and Conon. Also there were at Naples fyue hundred footemen 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 victuals. 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 hauīg knowledge of theyr commynge,A suttle pol­licye. for feare leaste the Gothes should meete wyth them and [Page 51]interrupt them, inuented this pollicie. 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 stopped. 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 kept 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 poynctes thus accompli­shed, whyles they were feyghtynge at the Pincian Gate, Belisarius [Page]sodainly issuyng out at the gate of Flaminius 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.a great slaughter of the Gothes. So that it wanted lytle but that he 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 [Page 52]meanes troubled and putte in feare, the Emperours armye without anye let came vnto Ostia.Communica­tion of peace The Gothes therefore beynge weryed and vexed with many displeasures, and besydes that, vnderstandynge howe a freshe crewe of Souldyers were come to the ayde of Belisarius, began to consu [...]te 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. Vitigis therefore s [...]dyng Commissioners, vnto Rome (after that many thynges had bene alledged, and aunswered on bothe sydes to and fro, as concernynge the equitye of theyr case,) at length agreed to re­ferre the determination of theyr con­trouersyes to the Emperour Iusti­nian, and he to decide the matter as he should thinke good.

Here vppon Ambassadours were sent to hym,Truce taken for a tyme. and a truce taken for thee mo­nethes vntyll they niyghte returne a­gaine, and for the better obseruynge of the truce, and performaunce of co­uenauntes, pledges were geuen and taken one both fydes. When thinges were thus seta at staye, the army and victualls that were meete at Ostia, came to Rome bothe by lande and by water.

¶ Thus endeth the fyrst Booke.

❧ The first Chapter.

WHyles thynges stoode thus at a staie, and that the warres ceased by reason of the truce that was takē, (Belisarius yet neuertheles in the [Page]meane time kepinge Rome, ano [...] Gothes their Campe and b [...]stiles) so­daynly there fortuned complaints and altercation for breakynge of the truce contrarie to promise,Causes of al­tercation. 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^e Paule Captaine of the Isautiens, remayning with the nauyc at Ostia, 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 Vitigis knewe that hys enemyes had taken those Cities, he sent commissioners to Rome, to complayne of violatyng [Page 54]the Truce contrarye to the articles of agreement. 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 made. Belisarius made aunswere to the commissioners in this wyse. Re­turne (ꝙ he) to the Kynge your Ma­ster, and tell hym that as for those thinges that he alledgeth as concernynge the callynge of hys garrysons from theyr charges, to send them thyther agayne, are but feyned matters.

For it was easye to be sene for what consyderation the Gothes forsooke those Cytyes.

He confessed that it was not lawful for him by the truce, to take them perforce or to sceale thē, but to enter vpon such as had no owners, nor anye bodye to kéepe possession, that he sayd was not forbidden. Vppon this matter rose pre­uye grudge and hartburnyng, the Go­thes sekynge meanes to requite Beli­sarius wyth the lyke. For those thre ci­ties being taken, did Belisarius great pleasure and seruice for the warres. Wynter drew on a pace. And Belisa­rius hauing men of warre good store, determined to send forth his horsmen to winter in the country. Whervppon besides those that went into other pla­ces. He sent MM. into the Country of the Picents. Ouer whō he made cap­taine Iohn Vitalian geuinge him in­structions what he would haue hym to do. There were in the same countrye the wiues and children of the Gothes, for the husbāds & fathers were al come to the siege of Rome as many as were able to beare armour. If the truce cōn­tinued, [Page 55]he bad he shuld not stirre, but yf the Gothes should happen to worke anye thynge contrarye to the articles of the Truce, then he wylled hym to make hauocke and spoyle, and to take as manye townes as he could. If any towne made resistens he commaun­ded hym to besyege it, and not to passe from it vntyll he had wonne it. For he thoughte it shoulde not be for hys ease to procéede onward, and leaue the Townes of hys enemyes behynde hym. Wyth these wordes and instruc­tions Belisarius sent Iohn amonge the Picentes wyth an armye. The verye same tyme Datius Byshoppe of Myllaine,Datius bis­shoppe of Millaine. and wyth hym certayne of the heade Cityzens came to Beli­sarius declarynge vnto hym, that the Cytye of Myllaine shoulde be at the Emperours commaundement, yf he woulde send neuer so slender a garry­son thyther. For they were of power suffycient of theymselues to dryue the Gothes not onely out of Myllaine, [Page]but also oute of all Lumbardye, yf so be it that the Emperour woulde but onely beare the name of it. Belisa­rius entertaynynge theym curtuously, and geuyng theym moste harty than­kes wyth gentle and honorable words wylled theym to putte no doubte in the matter,A so dayne daunger. affyrmynge that when tyme serued he woulde fullfyll theyr requestes. Duringe thys tyme that all thynges thus prospered and follo­wed theyr desyres, there happened an horrible daunger, the whyche in one moment had almoste tourned all thynges vppe syde downe. There was one Presidius a citizien of Rome who beynge wont to dwell at Rauen­na, in the begynnyng of thys warre stale awaye from thence, and came to Rome. In hys iourney the soul­dyers of Constantyne whiche laye at Spolet, had taken from hym a sword curiouflye wroughte and costlye ver­nyshed. The man beynge robbed and [Page 56]takyngs the dyspleasure in yll parte, had made complaint thereof to Beli­sarius wyth request to haue hys good restored again. And Belisarius had geuen commaundement that it shoulde be so. But by meanes of the warre and of the syege whyche afterwarde ensewed, the souldyers beynge o­therwyse occupyed and the Captayne busyed aboute weightier matters, the thynge was delayed. At the length in thys tyme (as I sayde) whyles all thynges were in ioyfull estate, as Belisarius rodde through the towne. Presidius caughte hys Horse by the brydle, and wyth a lowd and com­playnynge voyce, in the audyence of a greate number, asked hym yf it were meete that a Cytyzen of Rome (who abandonynge all that euer he had to the enemy had fled a­way naked) shuld also be robbed by his souldiers of that little y^e he had caryed away w^t him, and be thus wrongfully [Page]and iniurlously dealt withall. He sayd he had oftentymes putte vp hys com­playnt vnto him of the wrong and vio­lence that had bene offered, and coulde haue no redresse, and yet they that had robbed hym, had hys good wythin the Cyty, and dyd weare it daylye before hys face. These wordes dyd styrre the pacience of Belisarius verye sore.

And therfore affoone as he came home he caused Constantine to be called be­fore hym (for they were his souldiers that had taken awaye the sworde) and gaue hym a great rebuke for neglec­tyng of his commaundement so often­tymes in delyuerynge of the sworde. Marry (ꝙ Constantine) I wyll rather throwe it into the Tyber, then I wyll restore it to that Varlet. This was ve­ry lewdly and presumptuously answe­red. Then sayde Belisarius vnto him, art not thou vnder me? Yes sayd he, for as much as it is the Emperours plea­sure. But yet for all that, in this one thyng I wyll neuer be ruled by you [Page 57]whyles I lyue. When Belisarius hard hym saye so, he was more angrye with hym then before, and called for the Serieauntes. Constantine kno­wing that it should be to his coste that the Serieauntes were sent for, drewe out his Dagger that hung at his thigh and lyke a Bedlem runnyng at Beli­sarius, and dabbed hym in a lytle be­neath the stomacke. Out of dout yf such as stood by, had not spedely stept vnto him, and wronge the Dagger out of hys hande, and delyuered hym to the officers, Belisarius had surely di­ed forit, and hys death had drawen all things with it to vtter ruine, & the Go­thes had the same day bene made lords of all. But God of hys infinite good­nes woulde not suffer so great a mis­chaunce to happen. And after at the commaundement of Belisarius, Con­stantine was put to death. Within a whyle after,Treason tvvise detected. the Gothes attempted to haue raken Rome by stealth, first by a way that they founde out in one of the [Page]channells of the conduites in the night tyme, and afterwarde by stealing ouer the ryuer in botes nere vnto the fielde of Mars. But they missed of their pur­pose in both places. For in the channel theyr owne lyghts bewrayed theyr co­uert workyng, by meaues whereof the channell was stopped, & they enclosed from gettyng out. And at the field of Mars their treason was detected, & so their attempt was made frustrat. The treason was deuisedin this wise. Two rascall Varletts that dwelte by S. Pe­ters churche (the Gothes as is showed before, neuer offered harme or displea­sure to that place, but in honour of tha­postle preserued bethe the buyldynges therof and those that dwelled in them unhurt) had secret cōference w^t Vitigis of betraying y^e citie. And to bring theyr purpose to effect, they deuised this po­licie. Beneath the field of Mars in one place, the walles were vexye weake & sore decayed for lacke of looking to, by reasō (as I think) thei y^e had ben before [Page 58]tymes, trusted altogether to the defens of the Ryuer. Vitigis therfore caused lyghters & barges and all kind of botes to be put in a readinesse at the brydge Miluius. For had he once set any conuenient number of hys souldiers, ouer on thother side of the ryuer, he thought it would be an ensie matter, after the landing of the first, to conuey ouer still mo and mo in the same vesselles. He douted nothing so muche as that the watchmen that warded on that side should escrie hym and bewray his de­nise. For the auryding of which dout, he corrupted the two Remaines for a piece of money, to further thys at­tempt. To whome he delyuered a sie­ping pouder willing them to geue it the watchmen with wine, to 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 [Page]there vppon the other beynge taken with the slepie medicine aboute hym, that the Kynge hadde geuen hym, was put to the torture and compelled to vtter all the order of the matter.

The whiche done, Belisarius caused his noe and eares to be cut of, and settyng hym vppon an Asse, sent hym out at the Pincian gate to the Gothish Campe, to the entent that Vitigis might perceiue how that his close wor­kyng was detected, and his serret prac­tises browght to lyght.

❧ The .ij. Chapter.

WHen Belisarius had so onely di­scouered these their craftie pac­kinges,The truce broken betvvene the Gothes & Belisarius. he thought it not mete to obserue the truce any lenger w^t them. [Page 59]Wheruppon he wrare to Iohn that he shoulde execute his commission. He with his two thousand horsemen scou­ring the coūtrey 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. Morcouer encounte­ryng with Vglitheus vncle of Viti­gis by the fathers syde, cōming against him with an armye of the Gothes, he vanquished him and stew the captaine himself w^t a great part of his hoste, & so lyke a cōqueror ranged ouer al y^e whole countrey. When he had wonne many townes & that he was about to besiege Auriuū, it was not vnknowne vnto him what a slender garrison was with in the town, but yet the place was of it self very strong & defensible. And there­fore thinkyng it folly to spend the tyme in vayne aboute the besieging thereof, he kept on hys iourney forwarde. The same opinion also had he of the besie­ging of Vrbine. For the citie being [Page]wel fortified & strong of it self, sented of necessitie to aske a long time in y^e siege therof, & he had put al his hope in spedie celeritie. He tooke Fauum & Pisaurū, and then brought his army against A­rimine in hope to get in, because he had heard saye that the men of Arimine could not well agree with the Gothes. When he had ones brought his hoste to this towne, the cast such a terrour vppon the Gothes thereby, that thei durst not abyde thereaboutes, but remoued vnto Rauenna, and the towuesmen set open their gates to let him in. By this meanes Iohn toke Arimine, leauing behinde two stronge cities manned by the Gothes, namely Auximum and Vrhine. All the which doinges were cleane contrarye to Belisarius com­maundements. Howbeit he thought it better to be sure of Arimine, then to spende hys tyme vaynly in lying styll aboute Auximum and Vrbine.

Wherevnto he was the rather per­snaded, [Page 60]because that Arimine a towne so nere neyghbour vnto Rauenna be­ing taken, it was not lykelye that the Gothes would tary any long tyme after at the siege of Rome, but rather make hast to come away to the defence of Rauenna, and the places there­aboutes. The which thing came so to passe in dede. For as soone as the Go­thes vnderstood that Arimine was ta­ken, they determined to breake vp their siege before Rome, and to depart thence. Vitigis therefore within a few dayes after set fier on his tentes,The Gothes break vp their siege before Rome. 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 et vppon them that were be­hinde, amonge whome he made suche a slaughter, that a greate number of theym that escaped hys handes, for haste in gettynge [Page]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 albeit he made seede to­ward Rauenna, yet not withstqan­ding 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 Vrbiuetus, fyue hundred at Tudert, foure thou­sande [Page 61]at Auxiuum, at Vrsine .ij. thou­sande, fyue hundred at Cesena, and as many at Mountferrat.Vitigis goeth to besege A­rimine. 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 Iohn & 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 [Page]by water from Aucon, whiche newly before had yelded it selfe vnto him.

Herevppon Ildiger and martine for­stowing no time, dyd fetche 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, whereas 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 Belisarius,The vvvlful­nesse of Iohn Vitalian. Iohn would neyther obey hymselfe, nor yet suffer hys cosyn Damian wyth hys horse­men whyche were aboute foure hun­dred, to be ruled by them. And therefore Ildiger 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 [Page 62]Iohn and Damian had of their owne. Immediatlye herevppon Vitigis came and besyeged the Towne. At hys fyrste commynge thyther, he framed a towre of lyke heyghth wyth the walles, the whyche 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 moste ease ap­proache, entendynge the nexte daye to haue wonne the Towne by as­saulte. But Iohn the same nyghte went oute wyth hys souldyers,The diligence and industrie of Iohn in preuentyng the purpose of his enemies. 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 Vititgis was mynded to fyll vp the dyche, 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 staughter and so greate losse of theyr best men of warre, that they were vtterlye in despayre of wynnynge the towne by force, determinyng to sub­due it by famine.

❧ The iiij. Chapter.

THe verye selfe same tyme, Be­lisarius graunted an ayde of soul­dyers to the Ambassadours of Millain that came before vnto Rome. He appoynted Mundilas one of hys familiar frendes a verye stoute and [Page]valiant man to be 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 conueyed 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 tolde, 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 skyrmyshe 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 [Page 64]by the town. In the same place was Fidelis of Millain staine. For he wēt 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, be ouerethrewe. The whiche thyng hys enemyes that stood vppen the Walle perceyuyng, russhed out vppon hym and slew hym,The death of Fidelis of Millaine. before that 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 com­pany keepynge on theyr iourney to­warde Millaine,Millaine and other cities of Lumbardy be come Imperial were receyued in­to the Citie. Therevppon, Come, Bergome, Nouaria, wyth the reste [Page]of the cities in those borders, folowing thensample of Millaine, of their owne accorde receyued Mundūas and hys souldyers. When Vitigis had know­ledge of those thinges that had happe­ned aboute Millaine, he sent Vraias hys brothers sonne with a great ar­my into those costs, to shentent 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 Thew­deberre Kynge of Fraunce (wyth whome not long before he had ente­red in leage) desyring hym to mimister ayde vnto Vraias. In thys state or ra­ther in this expectation were the mat­ters of Lunthardie. Belisarius at such tyme as corns began to ware type, 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 [Page 65]for as muthe 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, Vi­tigis 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 Varinius. Who adioining his newe sould yers and the olde crewe to­gyther, purposed to attempt the winnyng of Aucon hys nexte neyghbour citie, whych was manned wyth a gar­ryson of Belisarius. And therevppon he went wyth all hys whole power agaynste the inhabiters of Auton.

That Towne in those dayes was walled onelye on that syde, that stoode vppon the hyll, the lower places situated on the playne grounds [Page]albeit they were replenished with buildings, yet were they not enclosed with anye wall. Therefore at such time as the Gothes approched. Conon 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,The foole has dinesse of Conon. and set hymselfe agaynste hys enemye. But in that case Conon was to farre ouermatched For he hauynge scarse a thousand soul diers, encountered with his enemies beynge foure thousand. And there­fore he dyd quickely abye hys foolyshe hardynesse. For beynge not able to stand agaynste so manye, he was at length vanquisshed, and beynge put to flyghte loste the moste parte 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 [Page 66]should enter in amonge the souldyers, fearefully closed vppe their gates. By meanes whereof there was a greate slaughter made of theym euen harde vnder the wall. And the Captayne Conon himselfe was driuen to so nar­rowe an erigent, that he had none other waye to saue hys lyfe, but to be drawen vppe the wall by a lyne. The Gothes rerynge vppe skalynge Lad­ders, endeuored to wynne the Cytye. Othersome settynge fyre on the houses that we spake of before, burnte vppe all that was wythoute the walles.

¶ The .v. Chapter.

NOT longe after that these thin­ges were done at Aucon,The cōminge of Narses in­to Italy. Narses came into Italye wyth 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 offyce of greattest honour and truste) and one of hys priuye counsell, by whome the Emperour was in manner altogether ruled.

He broughte wyth hym into Italye fyue thousande souldyers. The no­tablest amonge whome, was Iu­stine, Captayne of the Illirien soul­dyers, & another, Narses a Persian [Page 67]borne. Also there were in his retinew MM. of Therules of whom were cap­taines Isandre and Phauotheus.The meeting of Belisarius and Na [...]. In y^e 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 Aurimum, Iohn & those that were besyeged wyth hym in Ari­mine should be left in apparant icoper die, inespecially consydering that foode fayled them. Againe yf they should go to Arimine, they shoulde leaue be­hynd them at Aurimum a great gar­rison of the Gothes, to the preiudice 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,Opinions of thofficers a­gainst 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.A frend is tri­ed at nede. 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.Thoration of Narses. My Maisters (ꝙ 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 cōsult, me thinks I spie this difference in the matter. If we delay the siege of Auximū, there is no let but that with in fewe dayes after we maye attempt [Page 68]the same when we lyste. But yf we make anye taryance in rescowyng 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 compelled to yelde themselues to their enemies. And therefore what indifferent Iudge doubteth, but that most spede oughte to be made thyther where tariance procureth vnreconera­ble 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^e 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 beseech the O noble and puissant Captaine Belisa­rius, yf Iohn haue offended thee, wylt [Page]thou wreke his trespasse vpon thempe­rour? who therby should lose both hys towne and his souldiers, to the greate preindice of the publike weale? againe what shall men thinke, or what shall men say of vs and our armies if we sit ring 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 besegeNow called Ozimo, Auximū & other of our enemis holds. To further thopinion of Narses w^t al, y^t very same time came letters frō Iohn vnto Be­lisarius, aduertising him y^t the souldi­ers coustrained by famin, had fallen to composition w^t their enemies, to yelde w^tin seuen daies, onles they were res­towed in the meane while. Herevpon, [Page 69]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^t all speede possible,The polliti­que prouisi [...] of belisariu [...] for the res­cowinge of Arimine. Beli­sarius prouyded for the same in thys wise. Fyrst he commaunded Aratus 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 mea­nes to attempte fortune for anye oc­casyon, but onelye to defende hys 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 Vliarius. But y^t rule of the whole flete he wold shuld be at the discretion of Ildiger, cōmaunding him forthw^t to direct his course to­ward Arimine. Another part of his ar­my he betoke to Martine, bidding him coast the shippes and kepe w^t them as nere as he could by the shore.

And assone as they approched their e­nemies so that thei came w^tin kenning then of set purpose to kindle manye fires in their Campe, to the entent to make the enemy beleue y^t 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 faire citie but it had bene destroyed and beaten downe to the grounde by the Gothes that came fyrste into Ita­lye vnder Alaricus,Saluia. 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 [Page 70]policie agaynste the Gothes, then to feight wyth theym in open felde. Mar­ching therefore the waye before men­cioned, when he came vnto the hilles that ryse agaynste Arimine, (as muste nedes be lightly in so great an armye) he founde certaine of hs enemies ran­ging abrode. The which beyng either slayne or elles taken prisoners, some of them with their faces sore mangled he let goe agayne. Who returningt to the Campe of the Gothes, brought tidynges that Belisarius was at hand wyth his whole power, for the confir­mation whereof they shewed their fa­ces newlye wounded. It was aboute noone when this newes was brought to the campe. And thervpon proclama­cion was made to harnesse, & that eue­ry man shoulde fall in order of battell vnder his antesygne. The Captaines hauyng putte their men in araye, wai­ted for the commynge of Belisarius, lookyng continually toward the mountaines from whence he was reported [Page]to come. But Belisarius had aboute midday encamped himselfe in the moū taynes, a good way of from Ariminie, and came not downe to hys enemyes that day. By meanes whereof the Go­thes hauyng stood gapyng for them all day to no purpose, at length about the Sunne setting brake their aray and re­tourned into their tentes. Howbeit, when night came, espying a great sorte of fiers on the sea coast, cleane contra­ry to that way that Belisarius was re­ported to come, (they were the fiers that Martyne and hys armye made) they were in great feare all that night, in so muche that there was not anye of them that eyther tooke any slepe or put of hys harnesse. As soone as it was daye, when they beheld the nauie also ready decked and furnysshed makinge sayle toward Arimine,The Gothes breake vp their lege be­fore Arimine. for feare least they shoulde be entrapped by two hostes at ones, the one from the lande, the other from the water, they by and by brake vp theyr siege, and without [Page 71]any order fled to Rauenna. Fyrst of all arriued Ildeger with hys flete at Arimine, and goyng on land spoyled the tentes of the Gothes. Anone after came Martine and Belisarius wyth theyr armyes. When Belisarius be­held Iohn and hys souldyers that had bene beseged, howe pale and leane they looked wyth hunger, turning him selfe to Iohn as it were to taunte him for hys rashenesse, he saide: ye are muche beholdynge to Ildiger, and worthye to thanke him for his paines. Iohn aunswered proudlye and arro­gantlye agayne,Occasion of discord amōg thimperialles. that there was no cause whye he shoulde thanke Ildiger or anye man elles saue onelye Nar­ses. As who should saye, he desyred to haue it knowen, that Belisari­us woulde smallye haue regarded hys delyueraunce, yf Narses had not compelled hym. These wordes trou­bled Belisarius, and they were the be­gynnynge of discorde.

For after that tyme, Iohn standyng in feare of Belisarius, cleaued vnto Narses.See what mischiefe flattrye worketh. The residue also of his frends styrred vp Narses with euyll counsell against hym. Vouching that it was not for his honour being Threasurour of Thempyre, and one of the Empe­rours priuie counsell, to be led by thaduise of Belisarius, specially seyng that he him selfe, had an armye farre pas­syng tharmye of Belisarius, both in number and strength of souldyers, and also in pollicie of Captaines, and ther­fore he ought to seeke the glorye of the recouery of Italy from the Gothes, to hym self and not to Belisarius. These flatterynge persuasions set Narses in such a pryde, that he euer after en­ramped by him self, and would not fo­low Belisarins aduise in nothyng.

But consulted by hym selfe as tou­chynge these warres and all other af­fayres that were in hande. Neuerthe­lesse they went bothe together to the siege of Vrbine, but yet not in one [Page 72]campe. For Belisarius saye on the raw syde of the towne and Narses on the West. At suche tyme as Belisarius was purposed to haue assaulted the towne, and had prepared engines for the same, Narses laughyng hym to skorne for his labour, within a daye or twayne after he came thither brake vp his siege and retourned with hys ar­mye to Arimine, leauyng Belisarius & his company in worse case, then yf he had not come there at all. For the ene­mye perceiuinge parte of the armye to dislodge, beganne to take a stout courage, smally regarding that part that remained still behynd. Neuerthelesse Belisarius beganne to rere vppe ordi­naunce toward that gate of the towne where the ground was most leuell,The good for tune of Beli­sarius. & to geue the aduenture to wynne it by assault. Whiles he was putting these things in a readynesse by a meruelous good fortune it happened that the fou­taine (the townesmen of Vrbine ha­uing no mo but that one onely) dryed [Page]vp of the owne accord. Wherthrough it came to passe that the town for feare was yelded, vppon condition that the Gothes and the Citizens of Vrbine should become subiectes to the Empe­rour Iustinian, in as frée and ample manner as other Italyans that were Imperiall.

The .vi. Chapter.

WHen Vrbine was thus yelded vnto hym for as much as it semed not as yet expedient tattempte the fiege of Auximum, Belisarius led his hoste against the Vrbeuetanes [Page 73]The winning of that towne was some what difficult, because it stood vppon a rocke so stepe on all sydes, that men coulde not well come to assault it.

The onely hope was to wynne it by famin. For Italy was as it were so wome to the hard bones with continu­all warre, and troden vnderfoote with many armyes, that there was not one citie in all the countrey, but it suffered scarsitie and penurie:Great darth through out all Italy. the which penu­rie Vrbeuetus also being at length oppressed, came in subiection to Belisa­rius. Narses lyinge at Arimine sent Iohn with an armye of men to wynne Cesena. At the which towne, as he was scalyng of the walles, he was re­pulsed with manye woundes, and loft a great sort of hys company. In the same assaulte was slayne Phauotheus captayne of the Exules. Wherevppon John desisting from Cesena, went to Forum Cornelij, the whiche was yel­ded vnto hym by composition. The same [...]yme Mundilas and those that [Page]were w^t him at Millaine, began to be wrapped in great distres. For Teude­bert the French kyng (as is before spe­cified) being by Vitigis called vpon for ayde by vertue of the leage that was betwene them,Millane besie­ged by the Gothes. had sent to Vraias ten thousand Burgonians vpō confidence of the which multitude he encamped himself not far from Millain, suffering neither corne nor any other kinde of su­stenance to be conueyed thither. Mun­dilas had of necessitie bene driuen be­fore to disperse his soldiers into Come, Bergome, & Nouaria, so that he had no great number of horsemen aboute hym. Howe be it the hardest of the matter was not the defence of the citie, for the Citizens of Millain wyth one accord knitte themselues togyther in the defence thereof. But the feare was leaste victualle should fayle in so populous a Cytye, yf so be it the bar­barous Gothes shoulde be suffered to continue longe in those borders. Beli­sarius therefore hauynge intelligence [Page 74]thereof, sent Martine & Vliarius thi­ther with a great power, to thentent that Mundilas & they ioynyng toge­ther, might remoue the Gothes fur­ther of. When they came at the ryuer Po, which is frō Millain but one days iourney, they durst not passe ouer for feare of their enemies, but lyngered many dayes in the same place, frustra­ting day by day the hope of Mundilas & them that were besieged w^t him. For where as they made promise to haue passed the riuer & come vnto Millaine, thei performed no part thereof. Dayly both hope & sustenance failed those that were besiged. At y^e last after long lyn­gering Martine & Vliarius confessing the truth aduertised Belisarius y^e they alone were not able to passe ouer y^e ri­uer against so great a power of their enemies, onles they woulde wylful­ly runne in open danger of their liues. Wherefore if he thought it good, he shuld cause Iohn & Iustine which wer w^t theyr armies not farre frō Bonome [Page]to ioyne w^t them. Belisarius herevpon imediatly wrate vnto Iohn & Iustine commaundinge them to ioyne wyth Martyne, and to make all the spede they coulde to relieue theyr fellowes beinge besieged and in vtter peryll of their lyues. They sent hym worde againe that they woulde nothing do without the cōmaūdement of Narses. Therevppon Belisarius wrate again vnto Narses. Who albeit he gaue his consent that the armye shoulde go thy­ther, yet not withstanding, for as much as it was a thing done by Belisarius, he went about it verye slowly and ne­gligently as men are wont to do in o­ther mens businesses. By this mea­nes the matter was so longe delayed, that at last they were vtterly deceyued. In the meane tyme Millaine was eue­ry daye sorer afflicted then other, intol­lerable hungre welnye pyned them away, and the citie wauing betwene hope & feare, abode such miseries & an­guish as almost no menwere able to a­bide [Page 75]again.Millane is loss through the discorde of Narses and Belisarius. At y^• length being brought to vtter extremitie Mūdilas & his soul­diers fell to cōposition to abandon vp the towne so they might escape with theyr lyues. After whose departure the Gothes enteryng into the citie, spared neither yong nor old. For they slew in euery place not only such as were able to beare armour, but also thold men & yong boyes. The women were geuen in seruitude to the Burgonions,A notable crueltie. & the citie rased to the ground. Reparatus a citizen of Rome beyng taken in the towne by the Gothes, was hewen in smale gobbetts & throwen to dogges. Thus was one of the goodlyest & most populous cities of all Italy (through the discord of Narses & Belisarius) put to vtter destructiō. In this ruine & ouer throw of y^e citie, were slain of y^e Millai­ners about .xxx. M. When Belisarius had tidings of it, he tooke great sorow forthe same, & wrate vnto themperour Iustinian, the beginning and proce­ding of all the whole matter. [Page]Iustinian being certruce or the trueth, was much offended thereat, but yet punisshed not any man for it. Only he called home Narses out of Italy,Narses is cal­led out of Italy. cōmit­ting the whole charge & authoritie of the warre vnto Belisarius. Herevpon Narses w^t part of his armie retourned into Grece, & Belisarius with all the rest abode still in Italy. Who now ha­uing no man to ouerthwart him in his determinatiōs concerning the warre. Although that his chief care rested vp­pon Vitigis & Rauenna, yet he minded is take two townes mo from she Go­thes, before he proceded with hys ar­mie against Vitigis & Rauenna. The towns that he desired were Auximum and Fesules: both of them very strong­ly situate, & both of them throughly manned by the Gothishe garrisons.

For neyther woulde he leaue at hys backe Auximū hauing in it thre thou­sand of chosen souldiers, whiche were able to do muche displeasure & hinde­rance to his adherents: nor yet Fesules [Page 76]because that as long as y^• Gothes held that citie, he thought othing shuld be in rest through Hetruria. Herevpon he deuided his army into thre parts, of the which he toke one with him to besiege Auximum, another he sent by Iustine & Cyprian against Fesules, & the third he betoke to Martine & Iohn Vitalian, cōmaunding them to encampe abouts the riuer Po, & to deteyne Vraias with his hoste as long as they could in those borders, to thentent thei shoulde narcome to raise any of the siges among y^e Thuskans & Picents. And if thei were not able to kepe him still there, then to solow him in the taile. Martiue & Iohn therfore setting forth into Lumbardye w^t that part of the armye that we spake of before, wanne the citie Dert one si­tuate by the ciuer Po, and from thence did their endeuour to trouble Vraias & y^t Gothes. Cyprian & Iustin w^t another armye going vnto Fesules, albeit the besteging of that citie were very difficil for y^e nature & roughnes of the place, [Page]yet not withstandyng they brought theyr campe as nere as they could, & be­sieged it from a higher ground, where the way lay more plaine to the towne. Belisarius himself with the puyssan­test company of all,Belis. besie­geth Auximū. beset Auximum. Vitigis had placed in Auximum the best that he couldpyke out among the Gothes, & was very circumspent in for­tifiyng of that towne. Coniecturing that which was most true, namely that Belisarius would neuer procede to the befieging of Rauenna, onles he had first subdued Auximum. When Beli­sarius had well viewed the situation & nature of the place, he was past all hopeof winning Auximum by force. For the citie standeth vpon somwhat a high grounde, & besides that there were within to defende it, a puyssant band of chosen men of warre, able to gene battell euen in thopen field. So he had none other hope, but only to tame them by famin, for asmuch as there was a great number enclosed w^t ­in [Page 77]the citie. And therefore Belisarius omitting assault, pitched his campe round about the hill on euery side, nar­rowly watching that nothing shoulde be conueyed in to them. But lyke as that large compasse of his campe was good to proibit the portage of things in, so was it vnprofitable against so­dain inuasions of the enemie. For they that were w^tin, might at their pleasure make sodaine assaults vpon what part of the Campe they lysted out of the towne aboue. And the souldyes of Be­lisarius lay so farre one from another, that they coulde not readily helpe at need. By this meanes it came to passe that the enemye continually infested the campe, and diuers skyrmysshes were therevppon fought. Moreouer; there was a certain moyst ground not farre from the citie, where there grew muche grasse. This field was as it were the place of theyr dayly exercises, when eyther the besiegers or the be­sieged resorted thyther for forage: and [Page]sometyme theyr courages were so kyndeled on bothe sydes, that almoste all the whole Campe ranne thyther to feyght. In these encounters the Souldyers of Belisarius preuay­led in multitude, and the Gothes by the situation of the place, bothe partes beynge equall in manhod and pro­wesse. The lyke conflictes were al­so at Fesules, for there were manye sodayne alarmes geuen, and welnye daylye skyrmysshes betwene the be­stegers and the besieged.

The besiegers had none other hope of atteynynge theyr desyre, then by keepynge the besieged from suste­naunce, and famisshinge them for want of foode. For there was no hope to wynne so stronge Cities as those were by force. And therefore by ta­kynge vp standynges in places conue­nient about the townes, they cutte of all carryages and conueyaunce of thynges in.

¶ The .vii. Chapter.

WHyle the warre was in this state and that Auximum among the Picentes, & Fesules among the Hetrurians were narowly besieged,The cause of the sodaine commyng of the frenchmē into Italy. there happened a straunge chaunce a­bout the riuer Po. For the frenchmen with their Captaine Thewdebert, ha­uing passed ouer the Alpes, came in great number into Lumbardye. The cause of their comming (as afterward was knowen) was thys. Because that when they peerceyued how warre was made in Lumbardy, they being a war­like people & in maner sauage, were of­fended that suche a countrey beyng [Page]their next neighbour, should fall as a reward to them y^t could get the vpper hand, and that thei themselues sytting still lyke cowards the meane whyle, should accepte such to be their neygh­bours, whom the fortune of victorie appoynted to them. This was the oc­casion why they passed the Alpes. The same tyme Vraias beyng often writtē to by Vitigis, had passed the Ryuer Po and was marchinge wyth hys ar­mye toward Rauenna. Martin and Iohn likewise newlye sent thyther by Belisarius, preuentinge Vraias, had encamped themselues not farre from the same place, to the entent (if they could) to haue stopped hym of hys pas­sage. Their campe was distant frō the campe of Vraias about [...], myles. In the meane season, the Frenchmen so­dainly came into those quarters. Vra­ias & the Gothes by reason of the leage that was lately taken betwixte them, supposed they had come to their ayde, lyke as they had doo [...]e before in the [Page 79]warres about Miliaine. These frenchmen y^e passed ouer the Alpes at that time w^t Thendebert,The number & armour of the frchchmē were to the number of foure score thousand, wherof very fewe were horsemen & those atten\ded alwaies vpon the kings person, all the residue being footemen. Their ar­mour was not in pikes nor in bowes, but to keuer their bodies w^t, they bare a tergat & a skull, and to strike the ene­mye w^tall, a sword & a byll. In the bat­tell they vsed moste commonlye their billes, the which strake w^t such force, y^e neither head pece nor tergat was able to hold out the blow, but that they cut through, nor anyman was of power able to w^tstand the violence of y^e stripe. These therfore as frendes of the Go­thes, being suffred to passe ouer the ryuer Ticinus at the bridge by Pauie, did afterward much hurt & displeasure to thinhabiters of Pauie, & of a sauage cruelty slew the wines and children of the Gothes as they found them abrod in the country, anon after passing ouer [Page]Po, when they approched nere Vraias campe,The Gothes and the impe­rials tourned both out of their campes by the french men. whether it were of set purpose, or through rashenes, they fell a quare­ling & consequently a feighting w^t the Gothes. Thend of the fray was, that the Gothes being put to the worse for­soke their campe, & flying not far from the campe of our men, caused the soul­diers of Belisariꝰ to wonder sore what thei shuld meane. For thei had hard no thing of the comming of the French­men, & therefore thei thought verely y^e Belisarius had bene come by some pri­uis & vnknowen way, to destroy Vrai­as. Herevppon arming themselues in hast, when they had gone a litle fore­ward, sodeinly they met w^t the french­men, & being not able to retyre with­out battell, were enforced to feight, in the which they were soone ouercome, & for asmuche as they durst not repayre for heir campe, they had none other way to saue themselues but by flight. The Frenchmen getting the vpper hād bothof y^e Gothes & tharmy of Be­lisarius [Page 80]in one day, obteyned the cam­pes of them both also, & rested in them finding good store of victuals in eche of them. Vraias fied to Rauenna, & the souldiers of Belisariꝰ through y^e fields of y^e Placentines and Parmenses gate ouer y^e mountaine Appennine & went into Hetruria. This sodain cōming of the Frenchmen troubled both Vitigis & Belisarius. The thing that Belisari­us feared most, was least the French­men should come into Hetruria & op­presse his army that besieged Fesules. For through y^e fields of the Placenti­nes & Parmenses, it is but a shorte & a redy way into Hetruria.The French­men retourns againe into Fraunce. But y^e french mē whē they had taried a whyle about Po, & coulde fynde neyther wyne nor other necessaries (the countrey beyng left bare by meanes of the long conti­nuance of the warre) so that they had nothynge to feede on but Beof, nor nothynge to drynke but the water of the ryuer, within short space they fell into diuers diseases.

Of the which forasmuch as they dyed in great number, they determined to retire backe, and so they went home a­gaine into Fraunce, y^e very same way that they came oute ouer the Alpes.

This was thende of the Frenchmens voyage into Italy. The Gothes that were beseged w^tin Fesules,Fefules is yel­ded the Imperialles. being sore constreined w^t hunger, when they saw that rescow was often promised & yet none came, at length yelded vppe the towne to Iustine and Ciprian by com­position. When they had receiued the towne & placed a garrison therin, they went w^t all the rest of their army vnto Auximum. For Vitigis had promised to come w^t all his whole power to raise the sege before Auximum. And foras­much as Vraias was then with hym, it was none other like but he woulde haue done so in dede. By reason wher­of Belisarius was cōpelled to gather all his power aboute him out of other places, to thentent that after hys long continued syege, he would not be sette [Page 81]beside his purpose. But when this of­ten promised succour came not, and yet they stiffly held their owne to thutter-most, Belisarius determyned to cout-pell them to yelde by some extremitys maugre theyr harts for the compassing wherof he inuented this pollicie.

The .viii. Chapter.

WYthin a stones cast of the Walles of Auximum, on the north side of the towne there was a wel w^t a very freshe spring the which Belisa­rius purposed to take from theym, by­cause he perceiued that the townsmen had none other place to fetch waler at but onely there. To bring this matter to effect he commaunded his armye to be in armour by the dauninge of the next day, and to geue an approch to the walles. The Goths thinkinge they had prepared them to thassault, placed themselues orderly vppon the battell ments. Belisarius in the meane time sent fiue men conninge in such feats. with mattockes and axes, well paui­shed w^t the bucklars and tergattes of a great number that were sent w^t them for their defence, to vndermine the well and to cutte downe the tymber work. Who assone as they came there dyd get them vnder the shed that coue­red the well, & being saufe out of daū ­ger from the walles, beganne to digge [Page 82]downe the Mason worke. But when the Gothes perceiuinge that all their endcuour was about heuing downe the well, they yssued out of the towne and assailed theym verye fierflye.An encoun­ter aboutbreaking dovvne of a vvell. The fraye was harde vnder the walles in a place of aduantage and easye to the Gothes coming downe to the defence of the well, but very vntoward and vn indifferent for the souldiers of Belisa­rius to make assault in. In this coflicte were many slaine,In this vvere slaine of Belisarius souldiers but most of Belisa­rius souldiers, for the Gothes darting frō aloft, myght easly endomage their enemies. Howbeit Belisarius was e­uer at hand calling still vpon hys men and encouraging them w^t a lowd voice and would not suffer theym to geue backe, but euer put freshe men in the places of suche as were wounded or slaine. This encounter being begonne by the sunne rising, lasted vntil noone. At the last his souldiers pearsing stout ly vpon the Gothes, compelled theym to recoyle into the towne. Then they [Page]returned backe and called away those that were digging downe y^t well, sup­posinge that they had dispatched their worke. But they had done litle or no­thing to the purpose in mining downe of the Mason worke. The cause therof was by reason that y^e well being made in old time, was wrought so close and so sure, that it had bene an easier mat­ter to cutte a piece out of a whole quarrie then to haue dygged downe anye parte of the wall of it. When it was perceyued howe that all that they had done, and all theyr feyghtynge was but lost labour, Belisarius caused the reste of the water to be infected wyth the Iuceof venemous herbes, wyth stynkinge Carions of dead cattell, and wyth a kynde of stone called Asnest so longe vntyll he had vtterlye marred it, that it was not to be occupied any more, so that the Gothes fyndynge scarceiye of water by the mystre of thys well, had muche a doe to re­lyeue theym selues wyth that lyttle [Page 83]and corruped water that they had in fylthye puddles wythin the towne.

After thys Belisarius neuer soughte to disquiet theym anye more, eyther by skermishyng or by anye other mea­nes, but satte styll peaceablye to be­holde the ende of the matter. At length mention was made of yeldyng and the Gothes requested that they myghte departe to Rauenna wythe bagge and baggage. Belisarius hea­rynge theyr demaundes, was in doubte what he were beste to dooe.

For he thoughte, that to lette goe so manye good men of warre and therby to augment the strengthe of hys ene­mies y^e were at Rauenna, shuld be no­thing to y^t profite of y^t weale publique: Again to sit spending of y^e time in vain about Auximū, he thought perillous & preiudicial, inespecially seing it was reported y^t y^e feēchmē were cōming to th­aid of y^e Gothes. But most of al stoud in contentiō w^t him his own souldiers, who in recōpens of their miseries and [Page]calamities endured at their longe con­tinued siege, loked of dutie to haue the spoyle of the towne, and would not in anye wise suffer themselues to be de­frauded therof by anye composition or agrement Finally when on thone side the Gothes were sore pinched w^t penurie and scarcetie of things necessarie,Auximum yelded to Belisa­rius. and on thother side Belisarius in ma­ner forced by the importunitie of the tyme, at length throughe Belisari­us greate trauell the matter was con­cluded, that the one halfe of all that was in the towne should be geuen to hys souldiers for theyr share, and the Gothes should keepe the other halfe styll, prouided that the Gothes whi­che were wythin the towne of Auxi­mum, shoulde serue Belisarius in hys warres, in lyke case and estate wyth other of hys souldyers. After thys sorte were thynges knytte vppe and the Towne surrendered accor­dynge to the composition. When Belisarius had thus gotten Auximū [Page 84]into hys hande, he assembled all hys power togyther,Belisarius go­eth to besege Rauenna. myndyng to procede agaynst Vitigis and Rauenna. As sone as he came thyther, by and by he sent Maximus one of his captaines w^t parte of hys armye to watche and keepe the banckes of the Ryuer Po, to thentent that nothynge shoulde be conueyed into Rauenna that waye.

For one of the mouthes of that ryuer falleth into the Sea not farre from Rauenna, from whence there is a certayne dych cutte oute of the whole ground, wherin the ryuer is conueyed to the Towne. Belisarius therefore myndinge first & formest to disappoint them of this commoditie, gaue Maxi­mus charge to kéepe the hythersyde of the Riuer w^t that bande that he had deliuered vnto him. Vitalis also cō ­ming out of Dalmatia at the commandement of Belisarius,The wonder­full good foretune of Beli­sarius. had committed vnto him the keping of the furtherside w^t another band. There happened the same tyme a wounderfull ch [...]unce, & [Page]such a strang thing as hath not lightly bene heard of. For as a great number of shippes and galeyes were comming out of Fraunce laden wyth corne and victualles makinge sayle toward Ra­uenna, the Riuer fell so lowe, that many of the ships stood styl for want of water to beare them. Wherby it came to passe y^e they were all taken by the soul­diers of Belisarius. This was y^t fyrst token of good lucke wherw^t fortune be­ganne to further the procedynges of Belisarius. For it could not be remē ­bered that euer any such thyng had happened before. By this meanes was allibertye of caryinge in and out by the ryuer Po cutte of from Rauenna. As for by sea nothing could be conueied in by reason that the enemes of y^t Gothes were euery where lordes of the sea.

Agayne on the land Belisarius wyth his armye kéept them so short, that he would not suffer oughte to be caryed that way. Whyle Rauenna was thus straightlye besyeged, there came Am­bassadours [Page 85]out of Fraunce to Vi­tigis,French Am­bassadours to Vitigis. offering that the Frenchemen should come into Italy and rayse the syege, and doubtlesse to siea Belisa­rius wyth all hys armye, yf so be yt that the Gothes woulde be content to admitte them as coparteners of their Empyre. This stout bragge made by the french Ambassadurs, dyd set the hearers harts in a pryd. For thei promised to bryng fyus hundred thousand men of warre, whose comyng (if he were in hys ryghte wyttes) Beli­sarius woulde neuer abyde. For yf he did, they threatened to suetch hym and all hys companye wyth theyr hol­berdes. These hyghe wordes dyd part­lye puffe vp Vitigis & hys Gothes w^t pryde, & partly made them afraid. For if the Frenchmen came into Italy, it was not to be doubted that they shuld get the vpper hand, but it was a diffi­culte matter to be beleued, that they would kéepe touche and play the good fellowes in parting of the Empyre.

And therfore yf the Frenchmen shuld come they mistrusted least they would be as much to their confusion as to the cōfusion of their enemies.Belisarius sendeth commis­sioners to Vi­tigis. This doubt of theirs Belisarius helped to increase. For he beynge a sage Captayne and pollitique in all affayres, as sone as he knewe of the commynge of the Frenche Ambassadours, sent his com­myssioners also to Rauenna, both to offer the Gothes peace and attone­ment wyth the Emperour, and al­so to wythdrawe theym from societye wyth the Frenchemen, by puttynge them in remembrance of their former vnfaythefull dealynge. The Gothes when they had hearde the Frenche Ambassadours and Belisarius Com­myssioners what coulde be alledged on bothe sides, takinge deliberation what was best to be done, after longe debating of & on, preferred thattone­ment w^t the Emperour. By thys meanes the French Ambassade was dis­missed w^tout the thing that they came [Page 86]for, and often treaties were had w^t Be­lisarius concerning the same, and dy­uers commissioners and messengers went to and fro for conclusion there­of.Truce be­twene the Gothes and the imperialls Finallye thys was the ende of the matters debated. That the determy­nation of all controuersies should be referred to the discretion of the Empe­rour Iustinian. Herevppon Ambassa­dours were sent to hym and a Truce was taken betwene the besyegers and the beseged. In the meane while it fortuned that the common store­houses at Rauenna and all the corne in them was burned vp,The store­houses are set on fire. y^e mischaunce broughte the Gothes in greate dis­tresse, consyderynge theyr owne corne was burnt vp, and Belisarius woulde not suffer any more to be brought in, the whych (he sayde) he dyd vpon this consideration, to the entent the Gothes shoulde be agreable to more indifferent articles of attone­ment. Howebeit Vitigis was in a merueylous mistrust, because it could not [Page]be learned by what meanes the fyer came. Some thought they were set a sterw^t lightnig, other supposed it to be done by some malicious persons, & o­thersome mistrusted that Belisarius should be the doer of it. The Quéene also was suspected for y^t matter. Who forasmuch as she was forced to marry w^t Vitigis against her will, was ther­fore demed to beare hatred and malice towarde hym in her harte. This bur­nyng of the grayne dyd greatly trou­ble Vitigis and the Gothes, & brought them in maner to vtter dispayre. For if the fyre came by lyghtninge, they mighte thinke that God and the hea­uens were agaynste theym. Or yf it were done of a set purpose, they wist not whom they might truste. So were they lyke wythin a whyle to be quyte w^toute corne, and withoute all hope of comming by any more, because y^e Belisarius after the burninge of the store­houses, looked more straitlye to theyut that none should be conueyed in.

¶ The .ix. Chapter.

About this tyme many of y^t Gothes that inhabited the Alpes, sent word to Belisarius that they woulde yelde theymselues vnto him.

There are vppon the Alpes many ca­stles, the which in old tyme were kept by the Gothes placed there to dwell.

For Thalpes do disseuer Italy from Fraunce, rysing of a wonderful hight very hard to clymb vnto or to passe o­uer, the which passages it was expedi­ent to the well kept. And therefore Theodorich kyng of the Gothes dyd hoth place a puyssaunt company of his countrey men with their wyues and children in those wast grounds, and al­so buylded them casteles & holds. Sisi­gis one of y^e Gotish nobilitie, who had certain Castles in Thalpes, was the first of all that of his frewyll receyued the souldyers sent into those coasts by Belisarius, persuading other Castles to do the lyke. The same tyme Vraias was in Lumbardy, musteryng of soul­dyers to carye wyth hym to Rauenna. He had already raised an army of foure thousand men. Of the which the most part were inhabiters of Thalpes.

Who hearyng that Sisigis was re­uolted [Page 88]to their enemies, & that the Ca­stles wherein they had their wyues & children were assayled, they compelled Vraias first & formest to lead them thi­ther. Wherevppon he tooke his iour­ney w^t al the power that he had raised, into Thalpes, and there besieged Si­sigis and the souldyers of Belisarius. When newes of this gere came to Iohn Vitalian and Martine, who the same tyme had theyr campe in Lum­bardye, they also without further tari­ance marched toward Thalpes, & toke certain Castles in theyr waye. In the same were taken many of the wyues and chyldren of them that serued vn­der Vraias. When the fathers, hus­bands, & kinsfolke of them had know­ledge thereof, they forsooke Vraias campe & fled to theyr enemies, to the entent to recouer them againe.

Vraias beyng thus forsaken of hys owne souldyers, retourned with a few into Lumbardy, & neuer set his minde any more eyther about musterynge of [Page]other souldiers, or succouringe such as were besieged. So Vitigis & the Go­thes that were at Rauenna, beyng for saken of their owne people & destitute of all hope of comforte, were still besei­ged and suffered euerye day more dis­tresse then other. Whyle the Gothes stoode in this estate, thambassadours returned frō themperour, Dominicus & Marimus both of the Senate.The answere of the Empe­rour to the demaunds of the Gothes. They brought Iustinians aunswere to those demaunds that Vitigis & the Gothes had made as concerning the concord & agréement. The sūme of the Empe­rours decrée was this. That Vitigis should hold styll all that he had beyond the ryuer Po, & surrender all that he had on thyssyde. That he should dely­uer to the Emperour thone half of his threasure, & kepe the other half for him selfe & that all the Gothes inhabityng on the hyther syde of the Ryuer Po, should become subiectes to thempyre of Rome. When the Ambassadours had first conferred w^t Belisarius, they [Page 89]entered into Rauenna and declared their commission, the which things both Vitigis and the noble men of the Gothes were glad to here, and consen­ted thereto with all their hartes.A crafty & sut tell kynde of dealing. But Belisarius was very sory to see it. For it spyted him to the hart, that when he might fully haue had the victorie of the Gothes, it shoulde be taken out of his hand. And therefore anone after when the commissioners retourned, and re­quested him to subscribe the articles he would not put to his hand. The which thing brought the Gothes in a mer­ueylous maze, fearing to be deceyued vnder a counterfet pretense of peace. In so muche that they beganne to saye openly, they woulde dee nothyng as concernyng the peace, without the consent of Belisarius. Thambassa­dours themselues and suche as were chiefe officers in the Campe, were greatly displeased with Belisarius do­ing, and thought he dyd not well in disobeyng themperours cōmaūdemēt.

And therevppon bred a suspicion, as though Belisarius went aboute to­make him self emperour, & were vtter­ly minded to w^tdrawe his obediens frō Iustinian. This suspicion was almost in euery mans head at that time with the which opiniō the Gothes being in­duced, sent princly vnto him, exhorting him to take y^t west Empyre vpon him himselfe, and not to acquire it to ano­ther. For if he woulde so do, they sayde that the Gothes woulde be contented to become his subiectes, & to obey him with all theyr harts, & that he shoulde inyntly enioy the kingdome of the Ita­lians & the Gothes, together w^t [...]u in­comparable puissa [...]s. These thinges were wrought priuely by the Gotishe nobilitie. Vitigis perceyuinge that suche profers were made, sent his mes­sengers also vnto Belisarius encou­raging hym vnto the same. Belisarius ponderyng these thynges wyth hym­selfe, and consideryng they myght be greatlye for hys behoofe, yf they were [Page 90]handeled wisely, sent awaye into sun­drie places with theyr bandes, Iohn Vitalian, Bessas, & Aratus, men of much authoritie in hys campe, but in no wyse his frendes, pretendynge an excuse as thoughe so greate armyes coulde not well be victualled together in one place, and that they should finde more plentie & abundaunce of victuall and forage in other places.

This excuse was pretended, but in déede they were sent awaye to the [...] ­tent that with their presence they should not interrupt him of his doings. Afterwardes he him selfe sommoning before him all the officers of his camp, when he had sufficientlye debated with them as concernyng the distresse that the Gothes were broughte vnto, what woulde you saye (ꝙ he) yf we shoulde by this warre atteyne at theyr handes, not onely those things where­wyth the Empereur sée meth to be contented, but also greater thynges.

Euery man for hym selfe commended that greater thyngs shoulde be attey­ned if it might be. When he hard them saye so, withoute further disclosinge of the matter, he dismissed the counsell. And therevppon he sent one of his company to Rauenna, aduertising the Go­thes that he was cōtented to do as thei had counselled hym, exhorting them to make spede in the matter. The Go­thes as they y^e were alreadye oppressed with famin, without any delay sent theyr commissioners fully authorised by the prince and the common consent of them all vnto Belisarius. These persons when they came into the camp spake nothyng before the souldyers, but talkynge with Belisarius alone, tolde hym that they were come to re­ceyue his faythfull promise and othe for thaccomplishment of the matter before debated. There were two kinde of promises propounded by them, wher vnto they required him to be sworne. Thone was that he shoulde gouerne [Page 91]them with iustice and equitie, maine­teyne and supporte the customes and lawes of the Gothes, and not be offen­ded against any of them for ought that had bene done in tymes past, with di­uers other things of lyke purport.

The other was that he shoulde from hence forth proclaime himselfe king of Italy & of the Gothes. If he woulde a­gre to these articles & be sworne to the performance of them, they would set open their gates & receyue hym & all his armye into Rauenna. Belisarius sware to all thother demaundes accor­ding as the commissioners had reque­sted, but concernynge the takynge of the kingdome vppon him, he sayde he woulde take hys othe before Vitigis & his noble men when he was come to Rauenna. The cōmissioners mistru­sting not but that he would haue bene king in dede, delayed the takynge of his othe in that behalfe, as though he shoulde haue performed the same be­fore the noble men immediatly vppon [Page]his comming to Rauenna. But Beli­sarius purposed nothyng lesse.the cause why Belisa. woulde not take vpon him to be emperour. For Iu­stinian when he made him Lieute­naunt generall of the warres, had bounde him with a great othe, that he shoulde not take vppon him nor vsurpe the kingdome or Empyre, as longe as he were alyue, nor yet suffer himself to be accompted or called by the name of tyrant, King or Emperour. This his othe he was determined to kepe vnui­olated,The yelding of Rauenna to Belisarius. & did but daly wyth the Go­thes in that behalfe. Vppon this com­position the Gothes verye desirouslye called Belisarius into the towne.

And he with hys armye in royall or­der, and wyth hys shyppes trymly dec­ked, bryngyng in them abundaunce of all kynde of victualles, entered into Rauenna to the great reioycement of the Gothes and theyr armye. Nowe because there were a great number of men of warre of the Gothes wythin the towne, Belisarius myndynge to abate theyr power, wythin a few daies [Page 92]after hys comming thither, licensed all such to departe home, as dwelled on thys syde the ryuet Po. They beynge wearyed wyth theyr longe continued warfate, were verye willing to re­tourne home to their frendes. And so the multitude that was at Rauenna being diminished, the armye of Beli­sarius wared the stronger, and were euen as Lordes of the towne. As thin­ges fell oute in this wyse the nobilitie of the Gothes that dwelled in anye part of all Italy, eyther came them sel­ues, or elles sent their commissioners vnto Belisarius to Rauenna.

But when Belisarius beganne to make delayes in the takynge vppon hym of the kingdome, men beganne to maruell what he shoulde meane, and also to cast doutes of hys doynges.Belisarius is sent for out of Italy. The whyche suspicion was augmen­ted vppon the sodayne sendynge of Iustinian vnto Belisarius commaun­dyng hym to retourne home.

For the same went & certain had made report to the Emperour, that Belisa­rius went about to make himself king of Italy, & had already taken it vppon him. For feare wherof Iustiman sent for him immediatly out of Italy. The Gothes perceyuing that, coulde not at the first by any meanes persuade them selues, that he would returne to them­perour Iustinian. But when they saw preparacion made for the same, and all thynges put in a readinesse toward his iourney, then they knewe well ynoughe that Belisarius had wonne them in by a trayne and had qvtterly deceiued them. But what remedy? For he had both the towne and their noble men in his hand, so that they could not so much as bewayle their misfortune one to another, but that he must nedes be priuye to it. When the Gothes that dwelt on the furthersyde of Po, heard tydinges hereof, they assembled them­selues togyther at Pauye, and there bewaylyng one to another the commō [Page 93]misfortune of their nation, and the de­ceitfullnesse of Belisarius, at length would haue made Vraias theyr Kyng.Vraias refu­seth to be made kyng of the Gothes. The whych thyng he would not in any wyse suffer them to doe, excusing him selfe by thys reason, that for as much as he was Vitigis brothers sonne, he myght not seeme to haue done eyther lyke a kynsman or lyke an honest man yf he shuld take y^e kyngdome vpon him whiles Vitigis were alyue. Through thys allowable excuse alledged for hymselfe, he was the occasion that Il­douade a man of great aucthoritie and power amonge the Gothes,Ildouade is made king of the Gothes. and which had bene ruler of Veron a longe tyme before, was created kynge. Ildouade therefore beynge sent for oute of Ver­on vnto Pauye, was there inuested in hys purple Robes of estate, and proclaymed kynge of the Gothes, to the entent he shoulde studys and take care for the saufgard of hys countrey men. Beyng in thys sorte made kynge, he sent ambassadours by & by to Rauēna [Page]vnto Belisarius,The effect of the ambassade sent by Ildo­uade to Beli­sarius. geuing them charge to put hym in remembraunce of hys promise lately made for the taking vp­on him of the kingdome of Italy & of the Gothes, not letting to reproue him openly of breakinge his faithfull pro­mise, through whiche cautel the Go­thes were deceyued. Wherefore if he woulde yet accomplishe his promise in proclaiming him selfe kyng, and shewe the same in his doings, Ildouade offe­red him selfe to come to Rauenna, & to laye of hys robes of estate at hys féete. But yf he had rather be themperours slaue then to be Emperour himself, he oughte not to be discontented though Ildouade & the Gothes that remayned endeuoured to prouide for the sauf­gard of theyr weale publique. Thys was the summe of theyr ambassade.

Belisarius answered openly therevn­to,An example of a faithfull subiect and of an inuincible mynde. that as long as the Emperour Iu­stinian lyued, he would neuer take vp­pon him to be kynge. Wyth thys an­swere the Ambassadours retourned [Page 94]to Ildouade vnto Pauie. And Beli­sarius hauynge decked hys Nauie, sayled towarde Constantinople wyth Vitigis and dyuers other noble men of the Gothes, and all the kynges Threasure, the fyfth yere after the warre was begonne in Italy. (*)

❧ The first Chapter.

WHen Belisarius was come to Constantino­ple y^e Emperour Ius­tinian welcomed hym with great ioy, and ha­uing hym in great re­putation and honour, put out of mynd all mistrust that he had co!ceyued of his doinges before. The Gothes whom he had brought with him were entertay­ned very gently and courteously, and men wondered to beholde theym: the whych mighte seme to haue chaunced [Page 95]not without good cause. For there was Vitigis king of the Gothes that of late had besyeged Rome wyth such a mul­titude,What they vvere vvhome Belisarius brought pri­soners to Constantinople. and his wyfe Amulusuentha, thenece of Theoderich somtime king of the Gothes who first brought them into Italy, and there gaue them posses­siōs. Furthermore there were the two sonnes of Ildouade then Kynge of the Gothes, whem Belisarius fynding in the Courte of Vitigis at Rauenna, wold not suffer to depart, but brought them away w^t hym into Grecs. There were other noble men of the Gothes also, whom al men beheld, wondering at the puissans of Belisarius, that had atcheued so great exploytes, and extol­ling him wyth prayses to the skye, in that he had lately before subdued Aph­rycke, and now Italy, vnder the domi­nion of Iustinian. And thus went the worlde in Grece. In Italye after the departure of Belisarius, the order of thynges by the commaundement of the Emperour was committed to the [Page]discretion of Iohn, of Bessas, & of Vi­talis. Constantian also was come out of Dalmatia, & was added to the nūber of the Gouernours. It was soone seene what difference there was betwene y^e gouernment of these men & of Belisa.The prayse of belisarius. For (to omitte his skilfulnesse in feats of warre & cheularie wherin he far sur­mounted al the Captaines of his time) there was in him a singuler humam­tie & gentlenes, through the which he exhibited himself aswell to the poore, as to the rich. There was no maner of person, but might haue easie & fre accesse to is presens: & besides that, he was wonderous bountifull & liberall. Vn­to his souldiers that had lost theyr hor­ses, weapons and armour (so it were not cowardly) forthwith he gaue new agayne. Of the husbandmen he had so great regarde, that in leading of hys armie, he would not suffer any of them to be hurte or endomaged. Hys souldi­ers durste not be so bolde as to touche the Apples hangyng on the trees.

Through this his straightnesse in ob­serning the lawe of armes, he obtry­ned that his campe was more plenti­fully serued, then the marketts in any citie. So free and without peryll was the conueyance of all things that were to be solde. His vprightnesse towarde suche Cytyes as were in societie and leage wyth hym, no man is able to reporte as it deserued. Men myghte heare of the great good tournes that he dyd for them, but not that he vexed or molested any of them.

But as for them that succeded hym, they were nothynge lyke hym, ney­they in humanitie, neyther in pro­wesse, neyther yet in vyryght dea­lynge. For bothe they them selues were Pyllers and Pollers, and also they suffered theyr Souldyers to fall into all kynd of licentiousnesse & disor­der, beynge proude to theyr partakers, and easye inough to be entreated to­ward their enemies, by meanes wher­of within short space matters began to [Page]goe cleane backeward, and to slyde in­to open and manifest ruine, as I shall sheweyou hereafter.

The .ij. Chapter.

ILdouade beyng newly created kyng of the Gothes (as I decla­red before) after the departure of Belisarius, went in hand wyth hys matters very diligently. For he gaue commaundement that all the Gothes and all the Italians that fauored the Gothyshe parte, should at a daye ap­poynted meete all rogyther readye furnished with armour at Pauye. His armye at y^t beginning was verye stender, but it cōtinually encreased & euery [Page 97]daye was in better hope and comforte then other.The iniurs­ous dealing of the Empe­perours Col­lectours cau­seth great al­teration. The couetousnesse and wrongful dealing of their aduersaries dyd not a lytle helpe the Gothish part. For the collectours of Iustinian vnder the colour of forfeytures and arrera­ges, began to vexe the people of Italy maruelous bytterlye, and to compell theym to the payment of summes that were neuer due. For by calling an ac­compt of all thyngs that the Italians had taken charge of in the tyme of Theoderich fyrste kynge of the Go­thes, or of anye other of the Kynges that succeeded hym, togyther wyth the accompte of all suche offices as anye Italyan had borne durynge the sayde tyme, and moreouer by makyng in­quisition for the money lately promy­fed by the Cytyes to the Gothes, the whyche they chalenged to the Empe­rour as due by the name of forfeyture, they broughte euery man priuatelye and all the Cytyes generallye in suche adespayre, that they wyshed y^e Gothes [Page]to be loroes of all againe & therevppon many, of their owne free will reuolted to Ildouade, helpinge to augarent the number & strength of his armie. The loke grudge was also in themperours armie. For loke with what greadines the money that was neuer due was tracted of the Italians, with like pin­ching were the souldiers restrayned of theyr due deserued wages. Thers was no regarde had of any thyng but one, which was to satisfye the Empe­rours vnsatiable couetousnes, by ga­thering of money and spendinge none againe. And therfore as well the soul­dyers as the Italyans, beyng constrai­ned with so great wronges, sought to bryng the Empyre to decaye. By meanes whereof Ildouade daylye grow­ynge stronge, brought vnder hys o­beysance all the Cytyes beyonde the Ryuer Po, and all the Cytyes per­teynynge to the estate of Venice, and hys armpe was fullye furnished with number both of Italians and Gothes, [Page 98]Through the whyche within a whyle he was so encouraged, that he was not a frayde to leade hys armye into open feld, & to try the fortune of battel.A battell be­tvvene ildo­uade and the imperialles. This encounter was fought not farre frō Novv called Trenizo. Taruisium against Vitalis one of the Emperours Captaines. In the which Ildouade getting thupper hand made such aslaughter of Vitalis army y^e whiles the captanie himself w^t a few sled away, all the rest were either slain or taken prisoners by the Gothes.

Through this victorie being so great & so notable, it is a wonder to see how the gothes were entouraged, & how much the power of their aduersaries was a­bated. In so much y^e not only beyonde the Ryuer Po, and vnder the domini­on of Venice, but also all suche as on thys syde the Po, helde of the Go­thyshe part, were throughly strengthe­ned and the name of Ildouade grewe famous euen in the Emperour Iu­stinians Court, and amonge forreine nations also.

It was not long after but that he pur­sued to y^t death Vraias a man of much aucthoritie and estimation among the Gothes vpon presumption y^e he should conspire with his enemies This cause was pretended.The death of Vraias. Howbeit somme were of opinion that he tooke prytch agaynst Vraias by cause that latly before, there had bene alterration betwen his wife and the Quéene. But surely I cannot thinke that Ildouade being a graue & wyse man would be so farre ouersene as to be induced with brablinge mat­ters of women, to kill suche a man as was Vraias. I beleue rather that the cause why Ildouade dyd putte him to death, was that he feared his power & aucthoritie. For it is mamifest that the Gothes in generall are of nature very mistrustfull, and scarce sufficientlye fasthfull toward their kinges. Many of the Gothes dissalowed the death of V­raias, and openly detested it as a hey­nous and wicked acte. By meanes wherof it came to passe, that Ildouade [Page 99]himself was stayne by one of his owne gard whiles he sate at his meate.The death of Ildouade. In his stead was Ataricus created King: but he raigned not long. For w^t in fiue monethes after his election, he was slain by his owne subiectes for his euil behauiour & misgouernement.The death of Ataricus. Thus hauing killed two of their kinges w^tin two yeres space, they offered the king­dome with one consent vnto Totilas.Totilas crea­ted king. This man before he was made kynge had borne great aucthority atNovv called Treuizo. Tarui fiuer, which is a citie of the Venetians and hys father was brother to Ildo­uade late Kynge.

The .iii. Chapter.

AFter that Ildouade (as I shewed before) was slaine, Totilas drea­ding to be in daunger bycause he waws so nere of his kinne, sent priuely to Rauenna & made compact with them­perours captaines to turne vnto them with such as he had rule of & to yeld vp y^e town of Taruisium into their hāds. A day was limited for performans of y^e matter. But ere euer y^e day came, the Gothes repenting y^e they had reioyced in y^t death of Ildouade, & that they had made Ataxicus their king, a mā nether of wisdome nor courage able to defend y^e Gothes against so great strength of their enemies, began to encline to To tilas the nere kinsman of Ildouade, & to wishe that he were their king. In cō clustō they dispatched Ataricus out of the way, & made Totilas king in ded. Iustinian hauing intelligence of these things y^e had happened in Italy, found great fault w^t thunskilfulnes & cowardnes of his captaines, y^t in al the tyme y^e their enemies were so at dissention a­mong [Page 100]themselues, & among so many alterations & chaunges, they hauing so great oportunity for y^e spēding of their matters, had done nothing at all. The captaines moued w^e this dishonorable rebuke, assēbled togither at Rauenna. There when it came to consultation as concerning the war, it was thought best, first & formest to send an armye a­gainst y^e citie. Veron. For they had ben secretly put in hope of thobteining of y^e towne. The captaines were in nūber xi: of whō the chiefe were Constantian & Alexāder lately sent thither by them perour for the collection ofhis money. Therfore setting forth wyth a greate armye, when they approched neere to Veron, they determyned to putte in tryall the hope that was lately genen theym. For there was one Martine a noble man of that Countrie that had a Castle not farre from Veron: who (for as much as in his hart he was un­periall) had allured the keper of one of the gates to let in y^t emperours army. [Page]The matter being in this wyse closely agréed vpon, when the captaines came thither with their armye, they sent be­fore one Artauades an Armenian w^t a number of pycked souldiers to take the gate, & there to awaite the cōming of the rest of the hoste. No parte of pro­myse was lefte vnperformed in that place. For in the dead of the night whē the souldyers came to the gate, the traitour set it wyde all open & let them in­to the Cytye. They enterynge in and hauynge also taken the walles aboue the same, gaue notyce thereof to the rest of the armye. The Gothes percei­uing their enemies wythin the towne, fled out at another gate.Note the co­uetousnes of thimperialles and vvhat came of it. The captains hearinge that their men had taken the towne, marched forwarde. But ere e­uer they came there, they fell at alter­cation for the spoyle by y^e way, & staied fiue miles from the Citie. In y^e meane while the daye brake. Now there is a castle aboue the citie of Veron which hath a very great prospect, both into the [Page 101]towne, & also farre into the countrye. The Gothes which were fled into this hold, perceli [...]g few of their enemyes to be within the Citie, and the armye to abyde still without makinge no ap­proch toward the walles, sodainely ys­sued out of the Castle, & aduenturyng through the citie, recouered to the gate where their enemies came in & shut it. The souldygers that were entered by night, were partly oppressed, & partly flying to the walles made resistens frō aboue. Anone after, the captaines comming thyther & finding the gate shut. although y^e souldiers w^tin called to thē for help, desiring them not to abandon them in that sorte, yet notwithstanding they retired backe againe out of hand. Some of the souldiers leaped downe the walles & saued themselues: among which number was Artauades the Armenian their guide. The rest were ey­ther slaine or ells taken prisoners. By this meanes through the misgouerne­ment & couetousnes of the Captaines [Page]striuing amonge theymselues for the pra [...]e before they had gotten it, when they shuld haue made most spede for y^e winning of the same, the matter quai­led about Veron.

The iiij. Chapter.

AFter this the Captaynes of Iusti­nian (for because their attempt fell out so ylfaueredly and dishonorable at Veron) began to fall at debate among theymselues, euerye man putting the fault in other, & therevpon departyng out of those quarters, they passed ouer the riuer Po, & marched toward Pleasans. At that time was Totilas at Pauy who hearing of the comming of his enemies, raised as mam men of warre as be could with all spede possible. In the meane tyme the captaines hauing [Page 102]passed beyond Pleasans, had encāped themselues by the side of the riuer Po. Totilas albeit he were far ouermat­ched, yet he determined to goe against them w^t suche power as he had and to trie thaduenture of battell. So when both the campes approched nere togy­ther, & that thencounter waws fully re­solued vppon by both parties, Totilas in the nyghte tyme seut certayne of hys horsemen before, commaundyng theym to gette ouer the Ryuer almost twenty furlonges aboue the campe of their enemies, & as soone as the bat­tell was ioyned, to retyre and assayle the enemye behynde wythe as muche noyse and hurlyburlye as they could. He himselfe (when he sawe hys tyme) marched towarde hys enemyes. The­emperours captains did y^e like. There was in thoste of Tetilas a Gother cal­led Vlarus mounted on a good cour­ser and rychely armed: who aduaun­cing himself before the battel,A combate hand to hād. chalēged to seight with any man hand to hand. [Page]Against this man offered himselfe to the combat Artauades the Armenian of whome mencion was made in the entering into Veron. So in the sight of both tharmes, 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 vpō the speare of the dead mā sticking in the ground through the only force & violence of his owne horse, ranne him­self vppon the poynet 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, & eeuery 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 feyghtinge, victorie as yet enclining to neyther side, y^e soul­dyers of Totilas whiche had passed the [Page 103]riuer came & set vppon Themperours Captaines behind.The Imperi­alls are van­quished by Totilas. 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^e thei were sone disper peled. Many were slain by the Gothes in y^e chace, & many escaped by bypathes & vnknowen wayes. But the greatest nūber was of thē y^e were takē prisoners Moreouer (which neuer happened be­fore) al y^t stādards, bāners & antesiges,The great & dishonorable losse in thys battell. of themperours army were taken in y^e battell, & being brought vnto Totilas, made his victory more famous & renoumed, in y^e 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 pollitie he had gotten the victorie. Hauing thus gottē the vppeer hand, he vsed the victory very [Page]courteously vexing none of y^e prisoners but sēding diuers away w^tout rāsome The which his gentlenesse dyd gract­ly augmēt his honour and renoume.The gentle­nes of Toti­las after hys victorie, The captaines of Iustiniā y^e escaped, fled first vnto Pleasans, & from thence wēt euery mā a sundry way, busying thēselues as much as might be in ray­sing a new armye of men.

The .v. Chapter.

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, [Page 104]Beldas, Rodericke, & Vliaris. There was in Hetruria a captain cal­led Iustine, one of those y^t had bene at the foresaid battell. Who after the dis­comfiture had neuer ceased leuing of a new power,The beseging of Florens & the raising of the same. & fortifiyng of the townes neuer theles 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 couled be conueied in, & that which was wythin alreadye, was lyke to be so [...]e spent. Wherevppon be sent to the rest of the Captaynes at Rauenna & aduertised theym in what perill his estate shood; requesting them of succour. Being moued w^t this mes­sage, Bessas, Ciprian & Iohn Vitalian came into Hetruria with their armies when the Gothes had vnderstanding of their approch, by & by they brake vp their slege & dislodged their campe, not staying anye where, vntill they came to a place called Muciall whythe is a dayes ioumey from Florens.

As sone as tharmy of conseverats 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 tharmie to marthe against thenemie. Whyle they were on their way, it semed good y^e some one of the Captaines should goe quickely before to assasse 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 enemys. Nowe the enemies being afrayed at the cōming of the hoste, forsake the place where they had emcamped themselues fyrst, and gate them to a hyll thereby bothe stepe and hard to clyurbe 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 [Page 105]stood carnestly at defence, as they that might cassye 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 strikē through wyth a pycke and flayne hard by hys syde.An vntrue re­port cause of a shamefull discomfiture.

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 & they brake their aray and forsoke their standard. By meanes whereof the Captaynes themselues were faynt to take theym to flyght also wythoute compulsion of any enemie. After this time they came no more togither againe, but euery mā [Page]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 winter drewe nere. Thys was the ende of the seuen yeres synce Belisarius be­ganne the warres fyrste. The nexte yere following,Totilas reco­uereth tovvns in Lumbardy 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 comonly 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, whē he had thus compassed hys matters in that coun­trye, he passed from thence wyth hys [Page 106]armie into Hetruria. There finding al thynges whoter for hym then he loo­ked for, he determyned fullye not to spende hys tyme in waste about them. And therefore passing ouer the ryuer Tyber which bowndeth Hetruria, he tooke hys iourney throughe the Vm­bres, the Sabities, and the Marses into ampany,Totilas raseth the vvalles of Beneuent. 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 belefte for hys enemyes, (yf they shoulde happen to comme into these borders, to make they, Bulwarke and fortresse of.The syege of Naples. 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 [Page]thousand souldiers, who would suffer nothing to be done in counsell, wyth­out his cousent. The which thing whē Totilas vnderstoode, he planted hys siege not farre from the Citie. Howbe­it 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 womē of Rome to be taken in those places.An example of clementie and magna­nimitie.

All the which Totilas caused to be be­rys courteouslye entreated wythoute restraint of their libertie, and sent thē home agayne to their husbandes and parentes wyth an honorable company to saufconduit thē. And forasmuche as in those borders was not any Cap­tayne or anye power to withstande the doynges of Totilas, he sent este one parte of hys armye and este another, so longe vntyll he had broughte vnder hys obeysans Appulia, Lucauie, and [Page 107]Calabre wyth all theyr townes. By meanes whereof if came to passe, that there hwas not any more monye paied oute of those countryes to Iustinians Captaines and souldiers,See vvhat vvant of good gouernement doth in vvar. nor any man that would obey the Captaines, or fet one foote oute of doores to goe wyth theym, For the souldyers iurkynge 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 Raucinia. In the meane tyme Naples began to be euerye daye in worse case then other, by meanes of the siege. For Totilas hauing sent [Page]for hys flete had keepte theym so short, that nothing coulde be conueyed in neither 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.

IVstinian hearinge of thys,A nevv lieue­tenant sent into italy. and beynge disquieted for the mise­rable estate of Italye and the dishonour of the Empyre. Sent one Marimius (receyuer of hys reue­nues) into Italye, to amende and repayre thyriges amisse, geuynge hym a nauye of shyppes and an [Page 108]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.The covvardnes of Mari­mius. Marimius departynge from Constantinople, came into Epyre. There in delibe­ratynge vppon the affayres of Ita­lye, hangynge in doubte betwene hope and feare, throughe his flouth­fullnesse and cowardyse, he lost the tyme. For thys Maximine was a good gentyllman, of a mylde na­ture, meete for matters of peace, but altogyther vnskyllfull of warre­lyke exploytes, and therefore fearfull, fyndynge delayes and castynge doub­tes in euery triste. Now thaffaires of Italy at y^e time, required quicke spede both in consultinge and in workinge. Iustinian saw so smal hope of any good doinge in Marimine, he sent one De­metrius (because that lately before he had serued vnder Belisarius in [Page]the warres in Italy, wyth another na­uie into Sicil. This Dometrius when he was arryued in Sicill, hearyng of the syege of Naples, and of the dyf­tresse that they were putte vnto that were within, determyned to succour theym,The prudent pollicie of demetrius yf he had follovved it. and that wythoute further de­laye. Now for as muche as he thought hymselfe not able to dooe it by playne force, by cause that neyther hys ship­pes nor hys army were sufficient ther­vnto, he dettysed thys pollicye. He gate togyther all the shyppes that he coulde comme by in Sicill, and made of theym a greate flete as to the show, the whyche he fraughted wyth corne, and so made sayle towarde Naples. Thys thynge dyd bothe greatlye com­forte the bespeged, and also putte the Gothes in greate feare. For they had hearde saye he was commynge wyth a greate number of shyppes, and they thoughte verylye he hadde broughte a greate power of men in theym. And surely yf he had gonne [Page 109]dyrectlye [...] Naples at the [...], all thynges had happened to good successe and the besyeged Cytye had oute of all doubte bene saued. For hys enemies were so dysmayed at the multitude of hys shyppes that they durste not haue made anye countenaunce of resistens. Howbeit he knowyng his own weak­nesse, durste not arryue at Naples, but went to Rome, to thentent there to furnyshe hys nauye wyth men, and so to sayle stronglye vnto Naples.

But the souldiers that were at Rome woulde not take shippynge for hym. For by reason they had bene vanquis­shed by the Gothes in twoo foughte battelles, they stoode in feare of theym beyonde all measure. Beynge therefore destitute of thys hope, De­metrius was compelled to go against hys enemyes wyth those shyppes one­lye, that he broughte wyth hym from Constantinople.Occasion let slyppe vvil not be cavvght againe. Totilas kepte con­tinuallye readye furnysshed certayne swyfte Pyuesses in the hauen of [Page]Naples, and alwayes tooke diligent bheede to the flete of Demetrius, wherfore when he heard that Demetrius was sette oute of Rome toward Na­ples, and that he was arriued at the nexte shore, sodaynelye he sette vp­pon hym wyth hys Pynesses tho­rowe the whyche sodayne vnlooked for assaulte, the shypmen and soul­dyers were stryken in suche a feare, that they tooke theym to flyghte.

The Gothes pursewinge them wyth theyr swyfte Pynesses, made a great flaughter and tooke all Demetrius shyppes with theyr freight and men. For none escaped of that flete excepte it were suche as at the begynning had leapt into botes & hidden themselues, among whom was Demetrius Cap­taine of the said flete:

¶ The .vii. Chapter.

AFTER thys Marimine sayled oute of Epyre into Sicill wyth a greatter nauye,A covvardly carpet knyght. and a greatter furniture of men. And when he was arriued at Syracuse, through hys ac­customed cowardyse in delayinge and driuing of, he loste the time againe. Neyther regardinge the neceuine, nor the [...] of suche as were be­syeged. At the lengthe when Iusti­nian had sente straighte charge vnto hym, not wythoute threates, that he shoulde procéede, yet coulde not all that cause hym to sayle agaynste hys enemyes, but he delyuered the charge of hys fleete to Demetrius Herodian and Phases, and he him­selfe abode still in Sicill.

It was nowe the dead of the wynter when they beganne to sette forthe.A tempest.

And when they came wythin a lyttle of Naples sodaynely the flete was ta­ken wyth a vehement tempest, in so muche that neyther ores nor anye con­nynge in the world could saue theym but that they were dryuen a land per­force vppon the shore where their ene­mies were encamped.Demetrius is taken priso­ner. The Gothes perceyuinge that, ranne thyther and wythoute anye a doe tooke the shippes If any made resistens they slew them, the [...]. Of the whych number Demetrius was one. Whom Totilas commaunded to be broughte fettered in chaines vnto the walles of Naples, where callynge Conon Captayne of the Towne and the souldyers wyth the Cytyzens of Naples, Demetrius by the Kynges commaundement made an oration, perswadynge theym not to looke for anye more helpe. For consyderynge that those twoo fletes wyth all theyr [Page 111]men and furniture were loste, there remayned not anye hope for theym to truste vnto. They that were besye­ged beynge sore pyned wyth hunger, when they sawe Demetrius taken and all hope of comforte cutte of, fell to weepynge and lamentation, not knowynge what to doe or which waye to tourne theym in so muche that all the Cytye was in a wonderfull trou­ble and disquietnesse for feare. When Totilas rerceiued that, he called them and spake vnto theym as they stoode vppon the walles in thys wyse. Ye men of Naples, we haue not goone aboute to besyege your Cytye, for anye anger or dyspleasure that we beare agaynste you, but to thentent that by settinge you free from the bon­dage of oure enemye, we myght re­compence you for the troubles that you haue suffeted in the tyme of these warres at oure onemyes handes, for keepynge your allegeans to the Go­thes. For you onelye of all the Ita­lians [Page]vtterlye againste your wills came in subiection of oure enemyes, compelled therto by violence & slaugh­ter, and well nye by the vtter destruction of your Cytye. And therefore me thynkes I am asshamed that we haue besyeged you, but that ne­cessitye constrayned vs because oure enemyes were amongest you. Wher­fore assure your selues, rather of a good tourne and of frendshyppe at oure hand then of anye punishement. Moreouer for your sakes we wyll not be anye thynge strayghte laced toward oure onemyes that are in the Towne wyth you. For yf so be it they wyll render it vppe, they shall haue fre libertye and leaue to chose, whether they wyll serue vs in oure warres in lyke estate and case as other of oure owne souldyers, or elles de­parte whyther they lyste themselues wyth bagge and baggage. Thys oure promyse we are contented to consyrme wyth an other. Bothe the [Page 112]Neapolitanes and the Emperours souldyers commended Totilas hys wordes. Neuerthelesse to thentent theyr yeldynge myghte seme the more honnest and reasonable, they desy­red a Truce for thyrtye dayes, yf per­chaunce anye bodye woulde rescowe theym wythin that tyme. Totilas aunswered that he was contented to geue theym not thyrtye, by thryse thyrtye dayes respyte.Naples is yelded to roti­las. The besye­ged wonderynge at so greate libertye, and playnelye perceyuinge that there was no hope of helpe, wythin fewe dayes after sette open theyr gates,The curteous and trendlye behauiour of Totilas tovvard the neapolitaner. and receyued Totilas and hys armye into the Towne. When the was comme into Naples, he entreated not anye man otherwyse then well neyther was he greuous to anye per­sonne but rather vsed suche huma­nitie and courtesye as would not haue bene thoughte to haue bene in a bar­barous Gothe.

For where as manye through hunger were broughte so bare and so weake, that they were not able to totre on their legges, and were fallen sycke, to the entent they should not cast theym­selues awaye wyth ouerlayinge their stomackes by féedyng to greadely, he looked carefullye and diligentlye vnto theym, that not onelye the Citizens of Naples. But also the souldyers had euerye daye twyse, a small pyt­tans allowed theym by wayghte, streyghtelye obseruynge that they shoulde not haue more anye where elles and that euerye daye by lyttle and lyttle theyr meales shoulde be en­creased. To Conon and the men of warre whych were mynded to depart, he appoynted shippes to conuey them. And where as by meanes of contra­rye wyndes they coulde not departe wythin the daye limited vnto theym, yet not wyth standynge he gaue them frée libertye. And furthermore [Page 113]when as the wynde commued dyll a­gaynst them, and that they determined to go away byland, he lent them horses and beasts for their cariages, allowing them moreouere victualls and mony to spend by the waye, and also sente of the Gothes with them to saufconduyt thē.The seueritie of Totilas to­vvard male­factours. Thus Totilas vsed gentlenesse to­ward straungers, but among hys own men he kepte so streight order, that he suffered no offence to scape vnponished the ponyshmente of stealers, quarrel­lers, & rauishers of women was death, and the forfeityng of all their goodes, to the vse of them agaynst whom the dys­pleasure was done. By meanes wher­of wheresoeuer the Gothes encamped, or passed in and out through any of the Cityes or countries that were in leage with them, there was no harme done to any of them.Licencious liberty pernici­ous to men of vvarre. But the case stode farre otherwyse in those daies with the Cap­taynes of Iustinian. For the Captains themselues could not hold their hands from doing wrong, and the souldyers [Page]through their euell ensample fallen is all kynde of licentiousnesse, abstei­ned from nothing that was euyll. Nei­ther was there any thyng more myse­rable in those dayes, then the people of Italy that were vnder thempyre, beyng wythoute theyr walles spoy­led by the enemye, and wythin their walles by theyr owne men of warre. For the Captaynes hauyng taken the strong holdes for theyr owne safegard, passed not what became of the poore commons. Throughe thys iniu­rious dealyng, despayre so encrea­sed daye by daye more and more, that the Emperoure was fayne to deter­myne wyth hymselfe to sende Belisa­rius thyther agayne. For all the other Captaynes were so farre from recoueryng that whych was loste, that it was not lyke they shoulde any long tyme be able to kepe that whiche they had.

The .viij. Chapter.

FOr these considerations Belisari­us was chosen agayne to take the charge of the warres in Italy,Belisarius diligence in chosyng of hys souldiers. and yet the warres were scarcely finyshed the whyche all thys meane tyme he had made agaynste the Medes. Therefore when he sawe there was no remedye but to muster newe souldiers, (for he had leste hys olde armye at the ryuer Euphrates,) he went about al Thrace, where throughe hys lyberall spendyng he gathered to the number of foure thousande withoute commission, the [Page]whiche he embarked speoely, and ra­kyng with hym vitalles the Lieueten­nant of Illiricum whiche came newly to hym oute of Italy, sayled forwarde, & hauyng cut ouer the Ionian sea, arri­ued at Salons. In the tyme of thys iourney, he raysed a siege aboute Hi­drunt a Towne of Calabre.The rescovvig of Hidrunte novv called Otronto. For they that were besieged being compelled therto by the Gothes for want of victu­alls, had compounded to yelde vp the towne by a certayne daye, if they were not rescowed in y^e meane time. Wher­of Belisarius hauyng knowledge, cō ­maunded Valentine to sayle thyther, & to cary with hym come & other necessa­ryes, and to bryng awaye the souldyers that had bene long besieged there, put­tyng newe in their romes. Thys was an easy matter to bryng to effecte.In greatest calme for a storme prouide. For the Gothes after the truce taken, loked but slyghtly to them, not so muche as mistrusting that any body would come to succor them. By meanes whereof [Page 115]when [...] vpon thē vnlookes for, they trembled for feare & were fayne to breake vp their siege and get them further of. Valentyne ente­ryng into the towne, toke the olde soul­diers out of the holde, and placed newe in their steades, leauyng them dictu­alls for a whole yeare. The which done he returned with those shyppes that he brought with hym, vnto the reast of the flete at Salons. After hys returne Be­lisarius sayled to Pole,Belisarius ar­riuall in Italy. where hauyng taried a while to practise hys yong soul­diours that he had mustered in Thrace at length with hys whole nauye he say­led to Rauenna. At hys commyng thi\ther, he founde all thyngs in worse case through Italy thē he thought they had bene. For hys enemyes séemed to haue the better end of the staffe euery wher, and to stand in beste hope and possibili­tye. Contrarywise hys frendes and ad­hearentes weere euerywhere through all Italy discouraged and broughte in despaire.The misery of Italy through misgouerne­ment, The cities and people of the [Page]country because they were [...] & mo­lested by y^e men of warre, & the men of warre because themperour was behind hand w^t their wages for a long tyme & payed none, became stubborne and fro­ward, refusing either to be ruled by the captaines, or to set onefote out of dores to y^e warres. And to say the truth they were brought to a very smal nūber. As for y^e comming of Belisarius, it did ra­ther encrease their despaire then any whit cōfort them.A Captaine is able to do no thing vvith­out men and monye. For albeit he were a notable captaine, & out of all doubt in those daies perelesse, yea & in dede a ve­ry Master of Cheualrie, yet notwith­standyng forasmuch as he brought but a slender company with him (for he had but foure thousand & those were al vn­practised and freshwater souldiers and had no money to deale amongest them, when he preached vnto them at Ra­uenna declaryng the cause of hys com­myng and exhortyng them to goe for­warde with the warres, neyther the Townesmen nor yet the men of warre [Page 116]were [...] gaue any token of comfort & good hope. In­somuche that it repented Belisarius hymselfe that he was come into Italy.Totilas receaueth Tibur. In the meane tyme there rose a dissen­tion betwene the townesmen and the souldiers of Tibur, by meanes where­of Totilas beyng called to the ayd of the one part receaued the whole towne. The Citye of Tibur is nere [...]ygh­boure vnto Rome,Tibur xvi miles from Rome. beyng distant from thence no further then syrtene myles. The takyng whereof was a great eye sore and noyous to the Romaynes, as wherby they were [...] of all thynges in Latium.He besiegeth Auximum. After thus Toti­las hauyng perfecte intelligence of the commyng of Belisarius, wente with hys armye into the countrye of the Pi­centes, and encamped aboute Auxi­mum.The vnfayth­fulnesse ofthe Illirian souldiers tovvarde their captain. The very same season had Be­lisarius sent Vitalis with a conuenient crewe of Illirians into the countrye a­boute Bononie.

After the [...]yme he had wonne a [...] towne thereaboutes, and had beene re­ceaued into Bononie, the Illirians without any cause why or wherfore for soke hym, and assemblyng themselues together went their wayes home. For y^e whiche dede they afterward alledged this excuse vnto themperour, that whi­les they wer scruing him in his warres in Italy, the Collectors of his tributes, did sel their ly uelond in their Countrie, and caste their wiues and children out of house and home, by meanes whereof they were compelled to returne thither to defend their owne. When Totilas heard of thys sodayne departure of the Illirians he sente out an armye of Go­thes, in hope to haue takē Vitales and the reast of hys companye tardie. But they preuentyng hym, had recouered vnto Rauenna. Belisarius knowyng that they which were besieged at Aux­imum were sore oppressed, sent to their ayde a thousand horsemen ouer whom he made three Captaynes Teremunt, [Page 117]Ricilas, and Sabinian, whee entering into the towne priutly by nyghte, the next duye following made a skyrmyshe with the Gothes, by whō Ricils one of the Captaines was slaine. The reast within a fowe dayes after determined to departe. For they sawe that by theyr tarying there, they dyd but helpe to spend their frendes victualls and neces­saryes, and coulde do their enemyes no harme. Hereuppon stealyng out of the towne by nyghte, when they had gone aboute three myles on their waye, they fell into an ambushe of their [...], by whom being be set on all sydes and so put to fryght, they louste two hundred of their companye together with their apparell, armour, and all other stuffe & the beastes that caryed them. The refi­due after long and weary trauell reco­nered vnto Arimin. Fanum & Pysan­rum are Cityes standyng vppon the coaste of thadriatike sea, and are situate beetwene Auximum and Arimine. These townes at y^e begynnyng of these [Page]warres, has Viligis [...], & bea­ten down the walles of them mydway to the grounde.Belisarius re­paireth Pisan­rum, & man­neth in novve called Pezaro Of these two Belisari­us determyned to repayre Pysaurum, and to place a Thrope of horsemen in the same, for the accomplishment wher­of, he sent workemen thyther secretly, to take iuste measure of the gates, the whiche he caused to be framed at Ra­uenna with lockes, henges, barres, and all other yron worke belongyng vnto them, and caused them to be conueyed by water to Pysaurum, writyng to the Captaynes and horsemen of Arimine, that they should sodaynly take y^e towne and hange vp the gates, and mende vp the walles of rough worke, and clense the dyches. As for all kynde of vyand he peouided that it was sent them by Sea. The horsemen of Arimine therefore when they had taken Pisaurum, did all thynges accordyng to Belisarius com­maundement. Totilas perce auyng that, went thither with a great power to interrupte them of their worke.

But [...] them in scowring the [...], in castyng of the tronches, in makyng of Ra [...] ­pyres, in fortefiyng the towne, and in repayring the walles & the bulwarkes, that the kyng wondered to see so many thynges so wyttely deuised and polliti­quely brought to passe in so fewe daies And therfore whē he had taried a while there aboutes, forasmuch as he saw he could do no good, he returned into hys campe before Alximū, neuer y^e neerer of hys purpose. Howbeit Totilas & the Gothes perceauyng that Belisarius shewed not hymselfe abroade in the o­pen fieldes with themperours armye in no parte of Italy, but only kept him­self within the walled townes and de­fended them, they determined not to syt altogether aboute Auximum onely but to make warre agaynst other Ci­tyes also.Totilas besiegeth Asculum and Firmum. Hereuppon Totilas went with an armye and besieged Asculum and Firmum among the Picentes.

Belisarius [...] such as were besieged that called vpon hym dayly for helpe, (for he had not so great a power that he durst venture a­broade agaynst y^e Gothes) was in great perpleritie, and toke it very greuousty that hys name should be so dishonored, At the length he sent Iohn Vitalian to Themperour to enforme hym of the state of Italy, by whō he addrefied his letters also, the tenor wherof contained thys in effecte.

The .ix. Chapter.

MOste noble and puyssant Em­perour your Maiestie hath sent me into Italy slenderly furny­shed of men,Belisarius let­ters to themperour horses, and monye, the which thing I declared vnto you before [Page 119]my [...] besuching your highnesse to haue redressed the matter. In the which sute albeit I could not prenafle: yet notwithstandyng it was my dutye to be obedient to your edmaundement. Whereby I was constrayned to come forth with a fewe Thracians and Illi­rians, the same being freshwater soul­diers and altogether vnskilfull of the warres, not knowing so much as howe to holde their weapons in their hands. And as for the olde souldiers that I found in Italy, by reason they had bene vanquished in diuerese battells beefore by the Gothes, they are so afrayed of them, that they dare scarce once loke vppon them. Bespdes thys, forasmuch as they haue bene long time defrauded of their wages, they at not able to fur­nyshe themselues agayne with horse and armour loste and broken in the for­mer warres, neyther will they consent to goe forth with them. And yet to saye the truth, there is not so greate a num­ber of them, that they can encounter a­gainst [Page]the power of the enemye, with­out their owne manyfeste perrill and daunger. For the greater part of them that were wonte to fyghte vnder your hyghnesse banner in Italy, prouoked by the aforesayd dyspleasures, haue of their owne accorde reuolted to your e­nemye. Furthermore you may not ac­contpte hereafter, that you are lyke to haue any reuenewes here, toward the payment of your souldiers, considering that the enemy hath recoucred y^t grea­ter parte of Italy, & that which remay­neth is so empouerished and afflicted by y^e warres, that it is not by any meanes able to yelde you tributes. Wherefore if the presence of Belisarius be suffici­ent to recouer Italy, you haue done asmuch as may be done in that behalfe for I am here in Italy. But if you pur­pose to ouercome your enemies in dede your Maiestye must make other proui­sion. For a Captayne (be he neuer so valiante, pollitique and fortunate,) is able to dooe nothyng, if he haue not [Page 120]wher wyth to accomplyshe hys [...]. And therefore it is requisite that you send me hyther an armye of myne own practised souldiers, together wyth a greate multitude of the Hunnes and other Barbarous people. Morecouer you must of necessity prouyde that we may haue alwayes stoore of monye. 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.The successe of Totilas. In the meane while foras­muche as no man rescowed Asculum & Firmū y^e were besieged by Totilas, he toke thē by composition. From thence he departed out of the Picentes in­to Vinbria and besieged Asessum and Spolet. Captayne of Spolet was Herodian and Captayne of Asessum was Sisifride. Herodian although hys piece were stronge and defensible, [Page]yet notwithstandyng he toke truce for a fewe daies, within 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:The valiant & faithful de­mean nor of Sisifride. for albeit hys piece were nothyng so strong as the others, yet coulde he neuer abyde to here any worde of composition, but lyke a stoute warrior, issued oute valiantly diuerese tymes vppon the Gothes, and foughte sundrye skyrmishes wyth them to hys great prayse and commendation. How­beit at the length fighting manfully he was slayne by his enemyes. The Citi­zens of Assisis beeing destitute of the helpe of that worthy Captayne, within fewe dayes after yelded themselues & their towne vnto Totilas. Frō thence Totilas led his armye against Perusi­um.The trayte­rous murthe­ring of Cipri­an & the mā ­fulnesse of his fouldiers. Captayne therof was Ciprian of whom mention is made before among the Captaynes of Iustinian. Totilas pereceauyng y^e he could not wynne him, [Page 123]neyther by faire meanes nor by foule, corrupted one of his esquires called Vliarus for a piece of mony, by whose falsehod and treacherie he kyiled him. Neuerthelesse after the death of Ciprian, the souldiers punished the treason vpon Vliarus head, and manfully de­fended the Citie still.

¶ The .x. Chapter.

TOtilas therefore minding not to linger about it any lenger, brake vp his siege there, & made toward Rome. When he came thyther,Totilas bese­geth Rome. 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 [Page] [...] [Page 123] [...] [Page]to be hurte or hyndred by hys men of war. There was in garrison at Rome Bessas one of the Emperours Cap­taynes, & Conon whiche not long Si­thens had bene Captayne of Naples. Also Belisarius 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 Cycye. From that tyme forward hope daylye decayinge, fyrste came derth and afterwarde famyne amonge theym. For nothynge coulde be con­neyed into theym by lande, by reason [Page 122]the Gothes had besette theym rounde aboute. nor yet by water forasmuche as the nauye that Totilas had of late buylded 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 chyefe President of the Senate of Rome, beynge bannisshed the Cy­tye fledded 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,Belisarius de­uiseth to succour Rome. he was verye sorrowefull and full of care for the peryll of the Cytye of Rome, [Page]in as muche as he was not able to re­medy it from Rauenna where he was, because that wyth that small and flen­der 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 toNovv called Durazo. 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. Valentine and Phocas beynge sent before by Beli­sarius, held the Towne of Portua, and from thence dyd greatlye moleste and endomage the enemye wyth con­tinuall rodes almoste daye by days. [Page 121]After they had donne thus a certayne space wyth good successe, and by mea­nes thereof greatlye reliued them that were besyeged,The euill for­tune of the imperialles. at length fallinge into an ambushe and beynge enuironed 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,One mischief in anothers. necke. for it was the losse of a greate deale of corne by suche a mea­nes Vigilius the Byshoppe of Rome lyuinge at that tyme in Sicill, hea­rynge that the people of Rome were fore 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 Am­bushe. The souldyers that were with [Page]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 fewe lefte, durste not aduenture out againste their enemyes, but as well as they coulde from the walles and bulwarkes 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 those sygnes and tokens that were made, as fignes and tookens of gladnesse and encourage­ment to come with more spede. Whervppon making the more haste, wyth a freshe gale of winde thei entered into the hauen. Where they were all taken by the Gothes breakynge oute of the ambushe, to the greate discomforte [Page 124]and dispayre of the people of Rome, whiche hunge wholly vppon the one­lye hope of that borne. In so muche that nowe the Towne was oppressed wyth intolerable famayne. And the Gothes therevppon preased the more boldly vpon them.An example of employng spirituall goodes. There was at the same tyme in Rome a certayne Dea­con called Pelagius, who in this dis­tresse of famine, had shewed very ma­nye & notable workes of mercye vppon the people of Rome, by laying out hys monye & relieuing the want and endi­nesse of euerye man. For the whiche almose dedes (whereas his name was greatly renoumed in times past, nowe it was farre more renoumed then be­fore; The romains came vnto this mā humbly besieching him y^e for the sauf­gard of the people of Rome, he would vouchsafe to go of Ambassade to Toti­las and entreate him to graunt them a truce for a fewe daies within the whi­che onlesse rescowe came, the Cytye should be geuen vppe vnto hym. [Page]Pelagius forasmuch as he sawe there was none other remedye, obeyed the peoples request, and wyth hys instruc­tions went to Totilas into his campe.Prosperitie maketh men forget them­selues. Totilas coniecturinge the effecte of hys errand (for he had learned by the rennegates the vtter necessitie and dis­tresse that the besieged were brought vnto) entertayned Pelagius verye ho­norably at hys commynge. Howbeit before he had begonne to declare hys message, he hymselfe preuentyng him, wyth a longe and bytter oration, in­ueihed against the Romaynes, casting them in the teth wyth the benefites of Theoderich and the Gothes towardes them, and reprouynge theym of theyr vntrouthe towarde the Gothes. In thend he concluded that there was no waye eyther of communication or composition, onles they would beat downe their walles, and wholly submit them selues & al that they had bodles & goods to the wil and discretion of the Gothes to be dealte withall in suche wyse as [Page 125]should please the conquierours. Pela­gius hearing him talke so bytterly and disdaynefully and thynkinge in hym­selfe that it botted not to stand in con­tention wyth hym, sayde thus vnto him. Forasmuch as thou Totilas hast not vouchesaued to here an Ambassa­dour tell hys message, but by preuen tynge hym haste abridged hym of the lybertie of speaking,God the re­fuge in ex­tremities. we will flye vn­to God who of hys Iustice is wont to abate the courages of men, when they grow ouer proude and stately. When he had sayde those wordes, he retur­ned by and by into the Cytye. The Romaynes seynge hym come agayne wythoute speding of hys purpose, were in suche an agonie that they wyst not what to doe nor whyche way to turne them. For on the oneside they were af­flicted w^t intolerable famine, and on thotherside stood before their eyes the outrageous cruelty of Totilas & of the gothes, whose most cruel hands rather then they would fall into, they fullye [Page]determined to starue thēselues for hunger. By meanes whereof the people of Rome suffered and abode such thyn­ges, as it is a miserie euen to reherse them.

The .xi. Chapter.

IN the meane tyme Iustinian sent Iohn w^t an armie vnto Belisarius.The returne of iohn vvith ansvver from themperour. They were not any great number that he set forth at y^e tyme, but he pre­pared to send a greater power oute of hand. For the whiche occasion he had sent his Chamberlaine Narses vnto y^e Erulians & other barbarous nations inhabiting about the riuer of Danow, of the which some were alreadye come into Thrace.Debating in counsell for the rescovv­ing of rome. When tharmies were assembled to Dirrhachisi, & that consultation was had as concerning the war, it was agréed by one confent first of all to rescow the romains. But how that might be done there was diuersitie of opinions. Iohn persuaded to march w^t all y^e whole power togither thorow Calabre & appulia & so to go to Rome. For if they went all in one companye they might be the better able to get the vp­per hand wheras if tharmie should be deuided and some should go by fea anbd some by lande, none of bothe partes should be able to matche the enemye. [Page]Belisarius said he could wel alow the same opinion, if the people of Rome stood not at such an exigent. But now considering their estate, it was nedeful to make all spede y^e might be. It was a long iourney to go through Calabre and Appulia, & if their enemies should mete them they might cast many letts in their way, whereas by the sea yf the wind serued, their nauie myghte w^tin fiue dayes arriue in the Romaine ha­uen, & by theyr beinge so nere at hand, putte the Romaines in certaine hope & comfort. For he had heard of thunfor­tunate mischaunce of his captaines, & knew of the losse of the corne that was sent out of Sicill, wherevpon he consy­dered in his minde the despaire & dis­stresse y^e the Romaines were in. Thys opinion was allowed in the counsell, & thervpon Belisarius setting forth frō Dirrhachiū arriued at Hidrunt. The Gothes which were besieging of that towne being striken with feare at the presence of Belisarius, brake vp their [Page 127]siege and flying from his sight retired to Brunduse, the which is aboute two dayes iourney from Hidrunt. By and by they sent vnto Totilas aduertising him of Belisarius comming, beleuing that he would haue iourneyed by land. When Totilas heard that, forthwith he putte himselfe & his armye in a rea­dinesse to goe méete hym. But when he vnderstoode that Belisarius went by sea, he addressed hymselfe whollye to withstande hym aboute the Citie of Rome, inespecially makynge proui­sion that nothing mighte be conueyed into the Citie to theym that were be­sieged, by the Ryuer Tiber. For the accomplishement whereof he deuised this practise. He chose a place aboute eleuē miles of from Rome where the Ryuer Tiber is narrowest, & there he layd ouer long beames from thoneside to thother in maner of a brydge at eche ende whereof he buylded a Towre of Timber, & drew a long pron chaine by the brydges side, at the endes whereof [Page]he made two bastiles the whiche & the aforesaid towers he manned with soul diers to defend the bridge.Belisarius cō ­meth to Pot­tua for the rescovving of Rome. In y^e meane while was Belisarius come to the Romayne hauen. And hauynge sette hys men a land, taryed for Iohn & tharmie that was with him. The Rmaines knowynge of hys comminge, endured all their extremityes with better cou­rage vppon hope of rescowe. Iohn after the departure of Belisarius, ha­uing cut ouer the narowe seas, had in­uaded the Gothes looking for nothing lesse, and hauynge putte theym to flyghte,The good successe of Iohn against the Gothes. 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 thē, he departed from Brunduse, & after v. re­mouings came to Canusiū, the which town he also brought in subiectiō. Not far from Canusiū is y^e vilage of Can­nas,Cannas. where the notable battell was [Page 128]fought betwene Hanniball and the Romaines. In this place one Tullian the sonne of Venant a man of greate name & authoritie amonge y^e Lucans came to Iohn delcaring 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 people wold willingly returne vnder his obedience. Iohn loading him wyth com­mendations & thankes promised hym greate rewards, & afterwarde vsed his helpe to his great cōmoditie & further­aunce. AT such time as Totilas hard of Iohns approch, he sent a crewe of hys horsmen to Capua, commaunding thē 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 cast y^e care bpō hym. [Page]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 among the Brutians a certaine Gothe, called Richemond sette there by Totilas w^t an armie to kepe y^e 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 after great slaughter receiued the rest y^e were lefte togither w^t their Captayne by composition. Herevpon al the Bru­tians & Lucanes reuolted from the Gothes to themperour. Whiles Iohn oc­cupied himself in this sort, Belisarius loked daily for him & was wonderfull sory for his long tariens, greatly bla­minge Iohns cowardise, that he had not soughte againste the horsemen that were at Capua, inespecially seing that he hymselfe had so notable a band of Horsemen of the Hunnes.

Whereby he [...] haue come through maugre his enemies heades, and [...]eded 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^e Tiber, for hys power was not so great that he was abie 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^e towne. Vppon this thought he bestyrde hym & gate two hundred of those kind of ship­pes which the Grekes call Dromades,Belisarius prouision for the rescovvyng of Rome. these shippes haue walles of timber on euery fyde with loopes in places con­nemente to let oute arrowes and other [Page]weapons at the enemyes [...] the brydge and other thynges that were set to stoppe hym vppon the riuer, he made thys deuysethe set two shyppes vpō 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. Whē these thyngs were in a redinesse, he caused the Dromades to be fraughted with corne & other sustenance to be conueyed to Rome, man­nyng them with the stoutest and vali­antest souldiers that he had. Cōmaun­dyng all the residue to goe on fente 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. Herhym­selfe enteryng into one of the Droma­des sayled formest, and the reste fol­lowed hym in order, hys footemen al­so went by hym vpon the ryuer bancke. [Page 130]Furthermore he sente to Rome vnto Bessas, that he shoulde yssue out at the very same tyme & hepe 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. Belisarius 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 shyppes came nere y^e brydge there they founde a trope of their enemyes and one bastile set at the tone end of the chayne, the whiche Belisarius souldiers wonne at y^e firste assault, & so takyng awaye the chayne proceded to the brydge. There began a curste fraye, the Gothes endeuoryng to defende the brydge, and the souldiers of Belisarius to wynne it. For y^e Gothes yssuyng frō both y^t towers at eche end of y^e brydge, fought very valiantly. A­gayne the souldiers driuyng the shyp­pes harder to the brydge, dyd beate the [Page]Gothes and would not susser 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 vesselles 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 were with­in it. There were not lesse then two hundred that perished in y^t 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 fiersly, 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 [Page 131]to haue sayied to Rome. For there re­mayned not now any let in their wayes, 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.Man purpo­seth and God dysposeth. But fortune (as it should seme) had de­termined other wyse. For sodaynely there happened a wonderful mischaūce (not by meanes of the enemye, but by hys owne men) which peruerted al hys deuises. The Gothes helde the Citye Ostia which standeth on the lefte hand of Tyher by the sea syde ouer agaynst the whiche standeth the City Portua on the ryght hande of the riuer. When Belisarius set forth with hys nauie, he had lefte hys wyfe and al his household 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 hartely belieching him, that he would not for any chaunce [Page]or occasion, depart out of the towne but kepe hymselfe within it and defendest only: Now at such tyme as Belisarius had set hys enemyes tower on fyre (as we haue delcared 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 ioye & eraltyng 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 styght. Howbeit anon after, hys enemies gatheryng themsel­ues together and encouraging one an­other, returned estsones vppon hym & hauyng slayne a great sorte of his soul­diers, to coole hys firye madnesse, toke [Page 132]hym prysoner. Immeviatly hereupon certayne horsemen broughte worde to Belisarius that his enemies had taken Isaat praysoner. With y^e which tydings Belisarius beyng stryken to the heart, demaunded not one worde of y^e messā ­ger where or in what sort, but miscon­struing that hys enemyes had taken Portua, and bene Lordes of hys wyfe & all that euer be had, he was sodaynly strycken with suche an inward sorrow, y^e 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^e towne while the matter was but newly begonne, & hys enemyes had yet scarcely settled thēselues, or els to die in y^e battell. By this meanes y^e victorie which he had as good as gottē stypped out of his handes. But whē he came to Portua & sawe y^e towne safe & himselfe deceaued through light credite & mistaking of y^e message, he toke so great sorrowe for it, y^e he fell sicke and was fayne to keepe hys bed [Page]and besydes that, he was taken with a sore and daungerous feuer, which held hym long tyme ere he coulde be ryd of it.The vvorthie revvarde of vvilful rashe­nesse. 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 batsel. For by thys tyme had Totilas quyte chaunged that gentlenesse whiche he had pretended in the begynnyng of hys reigne, into statelynesse and crueltie. Verely eyther bycause his prosperous succeste made hym forget hymselfe, or ells because hys gentlenesse beyng but feined at the begynning, could not con­tinne. I assure you he would speake so bitterly of y^e people of Rome, y^t 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 cruelty.The miserable estate of Rome. Therfore as long as euer there was any hope of helpe at Belisa­rius [Page 133]hand, the people of Rome beyond their power & (to say the truth) beyond y^e bondes of manhode and nature, endu­red the famyn. For to omit other thyn­ges, euen the fleshe of horses, asses, and mules were deyntye 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^t night attempted to deceaue the watche of their enemies. Many also starued 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,Rome is be­trayed. foure Isaurien souldiers conspyred to betray it to the enemye these souldiers warded [Page]at the gate Celimontana, cōmonly cal­led Asmaria, whoe after the tyme they were fully resolued vpō the matter, did let thē selues downe the wall by a lyne, & went strayght vnto. Totilas promy­fyng to betraye y^t Citye into his hands. Totilas encouragyng them with pro­myse of great rewardes, sent certayne of hys men with thē to view the place & to consider whyther the thyng they had promysed, were possible to be done or no. The Isaurians leadyng thē to the walles went vp agayne in their fyghte by the same lyne that they flided down. And so whē the experience of the mat­ter had geuē sufficient credit, Totilas at y^t nyght appoynted to the accōplysh­ment of the myschiefe, cōmaunded 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 hy hymselfe followyng closely after with the reast of hys armye, stay­ed a lyttle from the gate. They that [Page 134]were sente by Totilas, were according to couenante beetwene hym and the traytours, 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 enemie was gotten within the walles, & thereupon ensued a wonder­full feare euery mā begynnyng to flye, Suche as fled wente out at those gates that were farthest frō the place where y^e enemy entered. Many also both of the nobilitie and of the commonalty toke sanctuarye in the Churches.The sackyng of Rome. 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 frō 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 mydoest of the Citye from the one end to the other, when he came into the Vaticane vnto the portche of Saint Peters,Pelagius ma­keth supplication for hys Citizens. Pelagius of whom we reade mention before, fearing to ap­proche into prefence, rauished in y^t ap­parell accustomed in solemne ceremo­nyes, and boldyng the Testamente of Christ in hys hande, kneled humblye downe on hys knées, & sayd: O kyng I besicche thee spare thy humble suppli­antes. At that worde Totilas dysdayn­fully caste a proud loke vpon hym, say­ing: commest thou nowe to me Pelagi­us to make supplication? Yea euen nowe (ꝙ Pelagius) sithens it is the wil [Page 135]of God to make thee Lorde & Master o­uer me. And therfore my soueraine Lord haue mercy vpon thy seruaunts. Therwithall y^t wrath of Totilas was assuaged, insomuche that he made pro­clamation y^t frō thence forth there shold not any person be strickē with y^t sword but that there should be respecte from slaughter & bloudshed. Moreouer he gaue cōmaundement, that no gentle­woman were she mayde, maryed, wife or wydowe, should be defyled, y^t which he caused to be obserued with great se­ueritie. Onely the goodes of the Ro­maynes he gaue for a pray to hys soul­diers, gcuyng strayght charge that no mā should be so bolde as to touch their bodyes. Then myndyng to pull down the courages of the Gothes, putted vp with pryde for thys victorye, he somo­ned them together the next day & made this oration vnto them.The Oration of totilas to hys men of warre. Is there any of you my companions in armes (ꝙ he) that be holdyng so great alterations as haue chaūced within these fewe yeres, [Page]dreadeth not the frayltye of mannes e­state? And is not able to coniecture whereupon and wherefore all these al­terations & chaunges haue happened? I wyll not speake of Rome, somtyme the Ladye of the whole worlde, whiche now is fallen into your hands. For she hath suffered many myschaūces which were done so longe a goe that they are not nowe to be recounted, and thys is not the fyrst ruine that hath happened vnto her. Wherefore I had rather put you in remembraunce of our owne affayres. What thyng was there of grater power and strength before these warres, then the nation of the Gothes through out all Italy? It sent into the field two hundred thousande fyghtyng men, throughly furnyshed wyth ar­mour, weapons, artillerye, horses, victualles, golde and fyluer. It holde in possession all Italye, Sicill, Corsica, Sardinia, and Dalmatia. Who would haue beleued it had bene possible for [Page 136]seuen thousande Grekes (for there came no mo into Italy at the fyrst) to haue subuerted so great a power? And what shall we say of the same Grekes: when they had in manner brought all in subiection to them: and helde all as Lordes and conquerers? woulde any man haue thought that you beyng but a fewe and broughte almoste to begge­rye, shoulde haue recouered Italy out of the handes of them beyng twentye thousand men, consideryng that at that tyme ye were not able to make aboue foure thousand horsemen? and had not a towne lefte you in all Italy, more then Pauye Veron, &Now called Treuizo. Taruisium? woulde any man haue thought that e­uer ye shoulde haue taken Rome the head of the worlde? the whiche Vitigis was not able to subdue with hys two hundred thousand me in a whole yeres besiegement? Surely countrymē these thynges are very great and not a lyttle to be wondered at.

Howbeit if we liste to consider & marke them, the causes of these alterations are most manifest & apparant. For as long as the Gothes executed. Iustice & vsed equitye, so long their power flori­shed, their estate prospered, their mat­ters went forward, & whatsoeuer they toke in hand had good successe. But as sone as they wer once led away through couetousnesse, then bred there preuye grudge among them, thē rose there in­warde debate, then one soughte to cut anothers throte, then sprang vp secret treason, through y^t which they brought themselues to vtter ruine & decaye. A­gayne whē these contagious maladies were passed out of you into y^t captaines of Iustinian, through your amende­ment you easily ouercame thē. Wher­fore yf you wey & consider these thyngs wel, ye haue no cause at al to be proude of thys victorie, but rather oughte to dread God & to feare the mutabilitie of fortune. For ye must vnderstand that all Empire & power is easily forgone, [Page 137]onlesse they be maintayned by Iustice pollicie, and paynestakinge. Yea my companions in armes, know ye this & beleue it for a certainetie, that the greatest parte of your labour is yet behind. For it is a harder matter to kepe thin­ges gotten, then to gette them, For as muche as in gettinge often tymes the cowardnes of the possessour furthereth a man more then his owne prowesse. But to kepe thynges gotten, no man is able without his own prowesse and pollicie. Thus muche spake Totilas at that tyme & the Gothes dyd great­lye commende the wyfedome of theyr Kynge.

¶ The .xii. Chapter.

AFter this he called the Romaines before him and greatlye reproued their vnthankefullnesse & misde­meanour.The talke of Totilas to the Romaynes. In as much as they being in subiection vnder Odoacer, & delyuered from his tiranny by meanes of Theo­derich & the Gothes, at whose handes they had receiued so great benefites as they theyin selues coulde scarce haue wyshed, through the whyche they had bene greatly enriched & had lyued ma­ny yeares in great tranquillitle, ryghte happys yf they coulde haue sene when they were well, now in the ende wyth­out arm wronge or displeasure offered to them, had contrarye to their othe & allegeans reuolted to the Grekes, men of all other most vaine & withoute ey­ther manhood or prowesse. Who im­mediatly vpon their arriuall being be­sieged by Vitigis, durst neuer shewe their heades in the open field, but lur­king within walls and there staruing themselues for hunger, aboode all the dishonour that might be. Who after [Page 138]the tyme they were made lordes of the Cities, not through their owne man hoode, but through treason & deceyte, fylled all places wyth tollgatherers, Pollers, and Promooters: who wyth maruelous crueltye compelled the Ci­tyes & people of Italye to the payment of those tributes, whiche had bene for­geuen them & clearely released manye yeres before by Theoderich & thother Kynges of the Gothes. Who to satis­fie the insatiable couetousnesse of the Emperour their Master, called as well the people as the magistrates, to a straight accompt of sUch thynges, as they had taken charge of vnder the said kings. Tell me therfore ye Romaines (ꝙ he) whether ye euer suffered anye harme by the Gothishe Kinges? And tell me againe if euer these Greklings dyd you anye good? And not rather more displeasure to you beynge theyr frends, then to vs their enemies? A vi­cious & wicked kinde of people, able to serue to no purpose, but to forginge of [Page]leasinges? whereas on the contrarye part the Gothes were borne & brought vp amonge you in Italye, and yet you haue set more by straungers & aliens then by your owne countryemen & ac­quaintance, so much are ye degenera­ted out of kind, hating whom ye ought to loue, desyring new thyngs & lothing your owne quietnesse, like restie iades which through ouer long standinge in & to much pampering become coltishe & full of euil touches. Wherfore seing you haue done these thinges both con­trarye to your dutye & allegeance, and contrarye to your owne profyte, looke as you haue hytherto bene worthelye punnished, so shall you also be hereaf­ter. Wyth these wordes he dismissed the Romaynes voyde of all good hope.A noble wo­man accused for defacing the kynges ymages. About the same tyme was pleaded the case of a noble woman called Iustini­ana. It was laid to her charg y^e she had caused y^t images of kinge Theoderich to be broken & defaced in reuengemēt of her husband Boetius and of her fa­ther [Page 139]father Symmachus whom Theode­rich had put to death. The enditement for defacing of y^t Images was suppo­sed to be true. Howebeit she was thought to be to be helde excused, in as­much as her Iust sorrow prouoked her therunto, for bicause it was manifest lye knowē that those worthy persona­ges, were wrongfully put to death. In consideration whereof. Totilas acqui­ted the woman, & preferued her from the violence of the Gothes. Afterward he purposed to sende an. Ambassade to Iustinian.An Ambassad sent from ro­tilas to them perour. The Ambassadours were the forenamed Pelagius, & one Theo­dore an Orator of Rome. These men dyd Totilas bynde wyth a great othe, to doe hys messege faithfullye, and to retourne to hym into Italye wyth as muche fpede as myghte be. The effect of their comission was, to declare vnto themperour y^t if he wold admit hym & the gothes into the rather of his frends he wold saue the citie of Rome, & wold moreouer aid him w^t a strōg power like [Page]a faithfull frend in all his voyages and warres. But yf he would rather con­tinue warres against them, he would make Rome euen wyth the grounde. For be mynded not to trouble himself wyth the kéeping of it whyle he should be occupied aboute other warres, nor yet to leaue it vppe to hys enemyes.

Furthermore he wrate a letter to Iu­stinian,The tenour of Totilas letter to them­perour. the tenour whereof was thys. What hathe bene doone aboute the Citye of Rome I thynke you knowe well ynoughe. The accasion why we send Ambassadours vnto you is thys. We couet to be at attonement wyth you, and you wyth vs, lyke as were oure noble predecessours Anastasius the Emperour of Rome and Theode­rich Kinge of the Gothes. Whose mu­tuall concorde & agréement both cau­sed great tranquillitye and quietnesse of those tymes, and also greatlye be­nesited themselues. If therefore you can fynde in your harte to dooe as they dyd, I wyll worthelye accepte you for [Page 140]my parent, and you shall haue me and my Gothes at commaundement to helpe you in all your warres. But yf you be otherwyse mynded, you shall vnderstande by oure Ambassadours what shall be the sequele. Wyth thys message the Ambassadours sayled in­to Grece, durynge whose goyng and commynge Totilas aboode styll at Rome. Belisarius laye all the whyle at Portua, broughte to deathes doore wyth sycke nesse and sorrowe. In the meane tyme Iohn persisted in hys do­inges, & altered many thyngs among the Lucanes and Brutians. By mea­nes whereof Totilas also was com­pelled to sende amonge the Lucanes and to renewe the warre. It was not long after but that he was certifyed of the Emperours answere.Themperours aunswere to the demands of Totilas, For at suche tyme as the Ambassadours commyng before Iustinian had fyrste delyuered the kynges letters, and afterwarde declared their Commission, makynge intercession and supplicatiō for sauing [Page]the Citie of Rome then standing in so great ieoperdie, they coulde gette none other aunswere at themperours hand but that Belisarius was in Italy, to whose will and discretion he had com­mytted the affayres of that countrye. When Totilas heard that perceiuing it was don for none other purpose then to disappoynt him of his desyre, & more ouer takinge displeasure at Iohns de­inges whiche had made warre vppon him sytting still in quiet & abyding for the returne of his Ambassadours sent to entreate for peace,The vtter sacking and de­solation of Rome. he toke counsell to rase the Citie of Rome. Wherevp­on rising vp with maruelous crueltye in sundrye places he beate the walles downe to the grounde, to the mounte­nance of the third part of the Circuit of the whole Citie. That done he set the Capitoll on fire. All was on a lyghte fire about the market, about Subura, & about y^e holy strete. The hil Quirnialis smoked, the hill Auentiue glistered with flames & the noyse of the fallinge [Page 141]of the houses was heard euery where. While the Citie was thus burninge, thin habitantes wyth their wyues and children, were throwen out of their natiue soyle, hauing not so much libertie as to bewaile their owne miseries. All the people and the common sort he dis­persed throughe the townes of Cam­panie. But he kepte still aboute hym the Senatours and noble men for hos­tages. After this he departed oute of Rome with all hys whole ar­mie, leauing it vtterly disolate, in so muche that there re­mayned not anye man or woman in it. *⁎*

¶ Thus endeth the thytde Booke.

❧ The first Chapter,

WHen Totilas departed frō rome, he set a crew of souldiers against the citie Portua in a place called Algidone, to the entēt that Belisarius souldiers shuld not worke any thing in his absence,The shamful flight of iohn Vitalian. & with the reste of his armie he went a­gainste Iohn into Calabre. As sone as Iohn heard of his comminge, he a­bandoned vppe al vnto him and tanne hys waye lyke a coward, not stayinge [Page 142]in any place vntill he had recouered to Hydrunt whiche is the furthest towne of all Calabrie. By meanes whereof when Totilas came in those quarters, he quickelye recouered the Lucanes, Brutians, and Calabrians whollye sauynge Hydrunt. The same scason Spolet reuolted from the Gothes.

There was nothynge keept of it but onelye the Castle, for Totilas had before tyme ouerthrowen the walles of the Towne. The authour of thys re­nolting was one Martian of Constan­tinople, who beyng one of the kepers, conspyred wyth eyghtene of the soul­dyers, and hauynge slayne the Cap­tayne of the piece, yelded it vppe to Be­lisarius.The repai­ring of tarent Aboute the same tyme al­moste was Tarent repayred, whereas before, it had beene forsaken and lefte desolate. It was repayred by the Ca­labrians and other people that were driuen out of theyr owne dwellynges by the warres. They were not able to build it of like bignes as it had bene [Page]in tymes paste. But takynge one piece of it buttynge vppon the hauen enclo­sed on bothe sydes wyth the sea, they easely fortified the accesse vnto it from the mayne lande. Totilas hauynge brought vnder hys subiection all the townes of Lucanye and Calabrie sa­nynge Hydrunt, determyned to de­parte thence, and therevppon lea­nynge a garryson of souldyers at the Cytye Atheruse, wyth the reste of hys armye marched towarde Rauenna, In the meane whyle Belisarius be­ynge recouered of hys longe conty­newed Agew, tooke in hande a bolde aduenture, and (as manye a manne woulde haue thought) a rashe, the whyche notwythstandynge in the ende proued 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.The repai [...]g of Rome by Belisarius. Whervppon ke­pyng thys purpose secrete to hymself, he lefte a fewe Souldyers at Portua [Page 143]for defence 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 celeritie 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 déepe dyches 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 sharps endes vpwarde. And for the more strengthe of the wall newelye repay­red he buylded towers and bulwarks of timber. The whych things through the earnest labour and willyngnes of hys souldyers, he furnyshed it in thrée and twentye dayes. And shyppes came contynuallye from Portua loden with corne and other victualles.

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 soneas To­tilas had worde of thys, forthwyth all other matters sette a parte, he made haste towarde Rome. Belisarius was notable 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.The Gothes assault Rome and are re­pulsed. Belisarius placed all hys tallest and hardyest men at y^e gate the rest he set vpon the walles & in the [Page 144]bulwarkes, commaundynge them to beate theyr enemyes downe. The en­counter was behement 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 merrye. 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. [Page]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 fyde 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 af­fanlte of the Cytye.

Belisarius hauyng before well harted and encouraged hys souldiers,A notable re­pulse geuen to the Gothes by Belisarius. leauing neuerthelesse a cōuenient number vp­pon the walles and in the Towers, led thē out at the gate. There was a what and an eager battell fought hard at the gate, in the which when as Totilas his standerdbearer was strickē starke dead from hys horse with a speare, and the standerd ouerthrowē, there was much preasyng aboute it frō both sydes. The Gothes striuyng to saue their standerd leaste they shoulde be dyshonored, and y^e 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 standard­bearer, 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^t retreit [Page]and the nexte daye after wente hys waye vnto Tybur. For as I tolde you before he helde that Citye, and hauing maruelously fortified 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 bakes, 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 agaynst the Citie of Rome on that syde.

the .ii. Chapter.

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 sente [Page]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 Peruse. The same Towne was euen then alreadye besieged by another companye of the Gothes. And when corne beganne to waxe scarce & other victualles to sayle, Totilas went thyther to the entent to kepe the towne strayghter, & to take a­waye al hope of succour from the beste­ged. Whyle Totilas was occupyed a­bout the siege of Peruse,The doyngs of Iohn in Cmapane. Iohn takyng a vantage of hys beyng there & percea­uyng that the Senators & noble men of Rome which Totilas had led priso­ners wyth him were left in the townes of Campane vnder the kepyng of hys souldiers, thought to wynne hymselfe a name by deliuering them out of their enemyes handes. Where uppon he re­moued out of Calabrie with a trope of thosen horsemen, neuer dyscontinuing [Page 147]his iournye night nor day vntil he came into Campane. Totilas mistrusting as much, had appoynted a strong band of the Gothes thither. Whē they came vnto Minturne they stayed & sent cer­tayne of their horsemen before to see what was done in the townes. Now it fortuned that the Gothyshe horsemen whiche were fente before, chaunced to lyght vppon Iohn & hys horsemen, be­twene whō there was a sharpe encoū ­ter. In the which Iohn gettyng the vp­per hand slewe many of them & woun­ded many, and put the reaste to flyght. Through this discomsiture they that a bode behynde at Minturne were so dis­couraged, y^e they fled also. By meanes wherof Iohn had leysure to lead away whom he lysted at hys pleasure. For y^e townes of Campaine wer vnwalled the Gothes hauyng lately before beatē them downe. So that Iohn toke all the Romanye prisoners that he founde in euery towne & deliuered them out of y^e handes of the Gothes, conueying them [Page]quyte awaye, all sauyng Clementine & Orestes of the which the one woulde not go away with hym, bycause he fea­red the Emperour whom he had offen­ded, & the other makyng excuse that he wanted horses, taried in doubt whither he might go or no. Howbeit there were not Many Senatours founde in Cam­paine, but very many of their wynes & daughters. For the men for the moste part the same nyght that the Citie was taken, followed the men of warre and fled with them to Portua. When To­tilas vnderstode of these thynges that Iohn had done, he was greatly moued, determinyng to be reuenged vpō him. And therupō leauing part of his army at y^e siege of Peruse,The great celeritie of To­tilas. he himselfe w^t the residue, made haste by great iourneyes through y^e coūtries of y^e Picentes Mar­ses, & Peligues, into Appulia, & neuer ceased, vntill, by crossyng the wayes at length he foūde Iohnin Calabrie wher sodainly setting vpon him, he put him & al his army to flight & toke hys tentes. [Page 148]Notwythstandyng as it chaunced, the Gothes made no greate slaughter, by reasō it was nighte whē they assailed y^e camp. By meanes wherof y^e souldiers did easily escape & hide thēselues in the next moūtaines. Iohn & Arnulphe cap­taine of y^e Erulians who also serued in y^e warres with Iohn, recouered out of y^e chace vnto Hidrunt, & the souldiers af­terward some one way & some another resorted thither vnto thē. Thys victorie of Totilas dyd greatlye renoune hys name. For it was thought to be a nota­ble matter, for a king to haue come frō y^t walles of Peruse into Calabrie, and y^e in so shorte space as a light iournying man could scarcely haue done, hymselfe beyng not caryed in a horselytter or a charyte, but euen wyth as much paine as the common souldier, on horse backe laden with hys harnesse as other were. Not longe after that battell, another bande of souldiers sent from Iustinian beganne to approche vnto Hydrunt.

For the Emperour being moued with often letters from Belisarius,Themperour sēdeth a nevv povver into Italy. decla­ryng y^e state of the warres & requesting ayde, determined to send a new power into Italy, & had written to Belisarius that he shoulde hye hym into Calabrie to receaue his souldiers & to make war agaynst hys enemyes there. Captaines of thys new armye were Valerian lea­der of the Armenians, & Vere leader of the Erulians. Belisarius vppon the receipt of the Emperours letters and cōmaundement, leauyng the reaste of hys armye at Rome & at Portua vnder y^e charge & gouernement of his Lieue­tennant Conon, with nyne hundred chosen souldiers, (whereof seuen hun­dred were horsemen and two hundred fotemen) toke shippyng & made sayle to ward Calabre. It was hys mynde to haue landed hys armye at Tatent, the which is two daies iourney dystant frō Hydrunt, & in the same place to haue as­sembled al the reast of his power about hym. But by meanes of cōtrary winds [Page 149]he was compelled to land hys men in the hauen of Croton. For the violence of the tempest was suche, that he could sayle neyther backeward nor forward. Therefore when he had landed hys ar­my at Croton, forasmuch as there was not plentye of forage in those quarters, he was constrayned to seperate hys horsemen from hys fotemen. For he hymself & his wyfe abode with his forte­mē at Croton, to the entent to cal Iohn with the reast of hys power vnto hym, & commaunded hys horsemē to go fur­ther into the countrie and to stay them­selues in the borders of the Turnies. For in so doyng they shuld easely come by al thyngs necessarye for themselues and for their horses, and should also be out of all daunger, forasmuche as the mountaynes of Luranie shotyng into the countrye of the Brutians, do make two valleyes, with narrowe enteran­ces into them. And not farre from one of the valleyes standeth on the sea coast a Castle of the Turnies called Ruscie, [Page]a little aboue the whiche is the lowns somwhat further from the water, situ­ate on a high grounde, called Ruscian. the same towne did Iohn kepe with a strong garryson of souldiers. Belisari­us therfore sent his souldiers into those borders, & made Captaynes ouer them one Phases a Spanyard a noble man of warre, & Barbation a Thracian, cō ­maundyng them in any wyse to keepe well the entrances of y^e valleyes.Skirmish be­tvvene the imperiall & Go­thishe horse­men. Whē these horsemen were come into those quarters, by chaunce they met with y^e horsemē of their enemies, whō Totilas had sent to attempt y^e towne which (as I tolde you before) was kept by Iohns mē of warre. After it came to y^e encounter the souldyers of Belisarius albeit they wer fewer in number, yet they ea­sily uercame their enemyes & stewe a­boue two hundred of thē. Afterwarde those y^e abode styll in that place, foras­much as they wer the victours, and far frō the sight of their captaine, kept ney­ther order nor aray. But straying farre [Page 150]from their standarde they passed not to kepe either watch or ward, or to send a­ny skowtes abrode, or to haue any skowtes among thē, nor yet to kepe y^e streightes at the entrance of the valley where they might easily haue kept out their e­nemie.Belisarius lo­seth his horse men through neglegenceof the captaines, Whereof when Totilas had vnderstanding he wente thyther with three thousand horsemen and set vppon thē ere they mystrusted any such thing. For he was passed those narrowe streightes and the entrances of the val­leye, before that Belisarius horsemen heard of hys commyng. Hereuppon beganne a great slaughter and discom­fiture to be made of them. Phases and Barbation were the Captaynes. Of the whiche Phases wyth hys troope of horsemen settyng hymselfe agaynste Totilas, dyd maruells in Armes, how­beit at the lengthe he and all hys men were stayne. Barbation wyth no mo out two companions onely escaped by flyghte, the reast were eyther stayne or taken prisoners.

Some there were that taking themsel­ues to flyghte at the fyrst begynnyng, escaped to Belisarius & caryed hym ty­dynges of that great slaughter. When Belisarius had lost hys horsemen, mis­strustyng that hys enemies wold come agaynst hym, he toke shypping in haste & greatly dismaide with sorrowe, aban­donyng himselfe to the windes arriued the same daye at Messaua in Sicill the which is from Croton about fourescore myles.Totilas besiegeth Ruscian, Totilas hauyng dyspatched these matters & therby disposed y^e pow­er of hys enemyes, determyned to be­siege y^e towne of Ruscian. For in that towne wer three hundred horsemē pla­ced there by Iohn, & an hundred fotemē sent lately thither by Belisarius. More ouer there were a great number of I­talians both horsemen & fotemē, which if they shoulde be besieged, it was none other lyke but y^e they should want vic­tualles ere it were long. In hope wher of Totilas besieged the towne.

The .iii. Chapter.

ABout thys tyme,Conon Cap­tain of Rome for hys coue­tousnesse is slayne of hys ovvnsouldiers the souldiers that Belisarius lefte at Rome, flewe their Captayne Conō in a rage bicause that by encroching the corne priuely in­to hys hand, he dayly raysed the pryce of the market. Vpon the which facte they sent their messengers to y^e Emperour for pardō of their trespasse asserteining hym that onelsse he would graunt it, & moreouer paye them their wages that was behinde. they wold deliuer Rome vnto Totilas. For feare wherof the Emperour graunted them their whole request. They that were besieged at y^e towne Ruscian, being dystressed wyth scarcetieof corne, fel to communicatiō [Page]with Totilas, & toke a truce for a fewe dayes, promising to yelde vp the towne onlesse they were rescowed in y^e meane tyme. Hereupon was preparatiō made by Iohn, to rescowe them, & by Totilas to prohibite hym. In the meane season Belisarius was come out of Sicill, vn­to Hydrunt & had receaued Valerian with the souldiers sent from the Em­perour, by meanes wherof he had a suf­ficient power. Neyther wanted he ship­pes to conuey them into the rescowe of hys complices.The peruerse sentune of the imperialls. Therfore when al thin­ges were in a readinesse he embarked hys souldyers and sayled toward Rus­cie. They that were besyeged seing the nauye a farre of, (for the Citie standeth vpon a hygh ground & hath a large pro­spent into the sea) were so glad of it that they wholde not render the towne at the daye appoynted. It was not long af­ter but that there rose suche a tempeste that it desposed the nauye into sundrye places. The whyche afterwarde meryng all at Croton, set out agayne [Page 152]from thence and made sayle to Ruscie. When the shyppes approched nere the lande, Totilas commaunded hys men to arme them, & set themselues in amy vpon the shore willing them with their dartes & arrowes to prohibite the na­uye from arriuall. When the Grekes sawe that, they were so sore afrayed of the daunger, that after they had houe­red a whyle their aboutes making pre­tence to arriue, at length despairyng to do that they came for, they turned their shyppes & went their wayes. After­warde as they were consultyng what was to be done for the safegarde of thē that were besyeged, it was determined that Iohn & Valerian with y^e horsemen & the reast of the armye shoulde go into the countrye of Picene, & there kepe as greate a styrre as they coulde, to the en­tent that Totilas should be cōpelled to breake vp his siege to succour hys own: And that Belisarius shoulde wyth hys nauye sayle vnto Rome, to appease the mutinie amonge the souldyers [Page]that we spake of before, & to carry corne thither to victual the towne. According to thys determination, Iohn went by & by through Appulia and the Countrye of the Marses to the Picentes by land. Valerian chose rather to goe by water? And so hauing embarked his souldiers he arriued at Aucona, & ioyned hymself with Iohn. Yet notiwhtstanding for al thys Totilas dyssolued not hys syege, but snding two thousand horsemen a­mong the Picentes to defend y^e townes agaynst Iohn and Valerian, he himself with the reast of hys armye continued hys syege about Ruscian. The besye­ged when victualles vtterly fayled thē, & that there remayned ho hope of res­cowe, sent one Deofer an Italian and Godilas a Thracian to Totilas, desy­ryng pardon and safetye of their liues. These men contrary to their expecta­tion found. Totilas gentle and easye to be entreated. For he imputed y^e breach of the truce to no man but one with the punnishment of whom he sayd he wold [Page 153]be satiffied, & was contēmed to parden all the residue. If they woulde serue hym they should kepe still all that euer they had, and yf they had rather goe some where elles they should departe euery man wyth one garmēt. By this meanes he receyued the town,The punishm­ment of Colaser for brea­king of pro­myse. and af­ter that he had caused Colaser Cap­tayne of the garryson to be whipped & mangled, (who was the occasion that the towne was not yelded accordinge to counenant), he commaunded hym to be putte to death. Wyth the rest he keept touch accordyng to hys promise. A great number of the men of warre (to the entent to saue that they had) a­bode still wyth Totilas. Othersome leauing theyr horse harnesse & all that they had besydes, went wyth one gar­ment vnto Croton. The goodes of the townesmen Totilas gaue for a praye to hys souldyers, commaun­dynge theyr bodyes to goe at lybertye.The vvyfe of Belisarius go­eth to con­stantinople. About thys tyme Antonia the wyfe of Belisarius went to Cōstantinople [Page]to sue to Thoodora the Empresse to entreate that her husband mighte be called home out of Italy. But when the found that Theodora was decea­sed a lyttle before, she went to them­perour her solfe and with muche sute earnestly entreated hym that her hus­band mighte becalled oute of Italye. The whyche request she easely ob­tayned, so mu [...]he the rather bycause the Emperour stoode in greate feare of warres in Parthia.Belisarius is called out of Italye. Thus Beli­sarius beyng called out of Italy retur­ned into Grece almost fyue yere after he came thyther last, not hauing had altogyther so good fortune in thys hys latter viage as he had in hys fyrste.

At his departure from Rome he lefte thrée thousande of chosen souldyers there in garryson vnder y^t gouernance of his Liuetenant Diogenes a man of much wisdome & knowledge in feates of armes. Anon after his departing y^t Gothes toke by assault Peruse, which they had so long tyme beseged.

❧ The .iiii. Chapter.

TOtilas hauting set at a slay the affaires of C [...]brie and Appu­lia,totilas bese­geth Rome the thyrde tyme. determined to tourne batke againe and besege Rome. It made hym the bolder that Belisarius was gone, together with the prosperous suscesse of the Gothes in all their doyngs through Italye, and the euill fortune of the Gréekes. [Page]Wherevppon assemblyng a great po­wer from all partes, when al things were in a readinesse, he came to Rome and besyeged it. There were in gar­ryson in the Towne three thousand chosen Souldyers wyth theyr Cap­tayne Diogenes a man of singular ac­tiuitie, who by watchyng, workyng, and preuentynge in places conuenient defended the Citie stoutly. In so much that the syege was prolonged, and the Gothes had none other hope to winne it but by famyshement.Sute made to the emperour for rescowig the e [...]ye of Rome. Durynge the syege aboute the Citye, Vigilius the Byshoppe of Rome beyng as then at Constantinople, and wyth hym many worthy men of Italy, made ear­nest sute to Iustinian that he woulde send. Belisarius agayne into Italy w^e an inestimable power to raise the siege before Rome, otherwyse they decia­red that all was lyke to fall to vtter ruine. The same thing also requested Goding one that had bene Confull & w [...] sent thyther from the people of [Page 155]Rome as an Ambassadour. Iustinian made them answere that he wold prouide wel ynough for thaffairrs of Ita­ly. Howbeit through his delaying & driuing of frō day to day he did nothing in effect. At y^t lēgth whē he saw thē earnestlyin hand w^e him frō time to time & y^e he could not be rid of thē, he denoūced Liberius one of the nobilitie of Rome Captayne generall of the warres in Italy, & at the begynnyng was verye whate in the furniture thereof. But within a while when other cares came in his head he beganne to waxe colde againe. And so with vayne hope some tyme makinge preparation and some­tyme making delayes the tyme passed awaye. Rome in the meane whyle was strayghtly besyeged. For the Go­thes hanynge wonne the Eytye Por­tua kéept them so shorte that nothyng coulde be conueyed in by the Tyber vnto them that were besyeged. And to the entent Rome shoulde not be re­lened from anye place, they had gotten [Page]into theyr handes well nye all the townes aboute it.the foresight and prouisiō of Diogenes for the sauig of Rome. But the foresyght and prouisiou of the Lieutenaunt and hys fouldyers was woulderfull. For they foreseyage these thynges a good whyle before, had caused all the dayde [...]ames witha [...] the Citie (where th [...]e stood no buyldinge [...] be sowed with come. By [...]anes [...] herof it can [...] to pusse that by that tyme their old co [...]ne was spent, new came vp within the walles; where through they endured the fyege a long tyme.Rome is be­trayed. Yea and by all likely hood they had faued the Citie had not the treason of [...] peruerted thē. [...] the gate that [...]adeth to Ostia, [...] ye g [...] to [...] Churche of Sayncte Paule, there was a warde of Isa [...]rien [...]. They after longe [...] of the [...]ge, grudging [...] themselues that they were [...] of many yeres wages, in [...]ps of greate tow [...]des at Totilas hand, [...] hym bargainyng to [...] hym the ga?e. Where they [Page 156]warded, appoyntyng the tyme and the meane how to doe it. When the night prefired was comme, Totilas deuised thys cautele. He set two Barges vp­pon the Kyuer Tyber wyth Trum­pe [...]o [...]es at them, commaunding them to towe vppe the streame and to gette as ne [...] the wall as they coulde, and when they came there to blowe theyr trumpettes as terrybly as they could. He hymselfe wyth hys armye [...] softlye wythoute noyse, and stayed a lytele Raye from the gate before [...] All thyngs happened according to l [...]y [...] desyre. For the [...] when they had rowed to the place ap­ponited, with the teerible and fo [...]ayne noyse of their trumpeites, stralie the Romayns in such a feare that they be­leued their enemyes had bene there.

In so muche that they flocked thythes from all partes of the Citie, and they that watched in other places left their standinges, and came runnynge thy­ther fearfully.

Nowe whyles euery man resorted to that place,Rome is ta­ken. and tooke no héede to the rest, the traytours beyng lefte alone brake open theyr gate and let Totilas wyth hys armye into the Cytye, wher­vppon immediatly ensewed flaughter as well of the Romaynes as of the fouldyers. There was not than any care taken howe to make resistens, but how to runne awaye. They fled by suche gates as werr furthest fro the e­nemye. Diogenes the Captayne for as muche as be sawe there was [...] other remedye yffued oute of Rome wyth parte of hys souldyers and tooke hys waye toward Centmucelles. To­tiles presupposinge as muche before (for all the rest of the townes were lost & there was no mo left them to fly vn­to but onely that) laide an ambushe for him by the way, into y^e which Dio­genes falling lost a great parte of hys souldiers & himself beyng sore woun­ded had much a doe to escape wyth hys life.The valeant doinges of captain Paule. There was at Rome amōg other [Page 157]Captaines one Paule of Silicia, cap­taine of a trope of horsmen. He in this most troublesome nyght after he had skirmished with his enemis in diuers places of the Citie in the takyng ther­of, at length recouered hymselfe with his horsemen vnto Adrians Tumbe. Assone as it was day light the Gothes swarming aboute the Citie (at what tyme that the Capitoll Esquilie & al y^e rest of y^e city was takē) there was hard feyghting still at Adrians tumbe. For Paule had .CCCC. horsemen wyth the whiche he valiantlye defended the Tumbe and the brydge adioynynge thereto. In so muche that he stew ma­nye of the Gothes in the skyrmishe vp­pon the brydge, & draue the rest a good way of. The whych Totilas behol­ding caused his men to retyre, I wyl­not (ꝙ he) bye the destructiō of these mē with the bloodshed of any of my people I will dispatch thē sitting still & neuer trouble my self for the matter, conside­ring that neither they nor their horses [Page]haue wherw^t to sustaine their liues vntill to morow. Thus hauing called his men frō the skirmishe, and set a strong watch against the tumbe & the bridge, he cōmaunded y^e no man shuld molest ordisquiet them y^t were beseged. Paul & his hand of horsmen hauyng fasted al that day & the nyght folowing w^tout meate or drynke, the next day beganne to consult what was best to be doone. There were y^e gaue rounsel to endure the siege w^t horsfleshe. But this deuise semed horrible for the lothsomnes of y^e vnacoustomed feding. Hope to escape by flyght there was none, the Gothes befetting thē on all sides round about ready at receipt to cut thē of. So there remained no shift but to yeld, & that semed both perillous and dishonorable,The wordes of Paule to his souldiers. And therfore Paule taking vpon hym to speake said in this wife. My fellows & companions in armes which way so euer we turne vs, ye sée we are driuen to an vtter exigent. For there is no waye to escape by flyght, the euemies [Page 158]enuironing vs round about with their armye, and taking so good hede to vs. And to yeld our selues to them, besides the disshonor & cowardnes of the facte, we are like to be horribly tormemed & rentī pieces. For y^e cruelty of these bar barous people is not wont to be cōtented w^t any simple hind of death. As to a bids the fiege & to fede vpon horse flesh, let thē doe it that [...]ke to be rescowed. I cannot sée what reason ought to per snade vs vnto so great sufferance whi­ch are vtterly destit [...] of any sUch hope onlesse that like a sore of fain thar [...]e [...] boies for feare of death we had rather pine ourselues w^t sorow than haue our fleshe cut w^t a sword. And I assure you eyther to yeld to thene [...]te or to statue for hunger, I count it the propertie of them that haue neither hart nor broud in thē. But vnto vs which are [...] of our handes, & acquainted w^t feighting, an honorable death is rather to be embraced then a shamefull lyfe.

And therefore let vs in such wyse dye, that we may hath our felues in y^e blood of our enemies & not die vnreuenged. Let not our enemye laugh at our de­struction but wepe. Neyther let vs hold vp our throtes to be cut by them, but lette vs with our weapons cut theirs. For what can the respit of a few yeres profit vs? sytheus that if we should es­cape aliue nowe, yet are we sure we shall die ere it be longe after. Glorye may lengthen mens li [...]es, but nature cannot. Aduanuee yourselues forth w^t me therefore to an honorable death, the whyche oure enemyes aswell as our countrymen maye wonder at and extoll wyth eternall prayses to the sky. The horsemen encoraged wyth these wordes vowed them selues to deathe. And there vppon embracyng and kys­fyng one another they prepared them­selues to the battell full héent and de­termyned to spend theyr lyues man­fully. Their purpose was to runne [Page 159]vppon the Gothes that warded next vnto them, and to bestowe theyr lyues in the slaughter of theyr enemyes.Fortune faue reth the cou­ragious,

When Totilas sawe them thus bent to trye the vttermost, for feare least the desperate endouour of them should doe the Gothes more displeasure, then otherwyse so small a number were a­ble to doe, he fent an herault to them offeryng theym choyce whether they would departe wyth theyr lyues lea­nyng theyr Horse and armour behynd them, or elles retaynyng all styll serue hym in hys warres in lyke estate with other of hys Souioyers. When the horsemen heard that they were verye glad, and at the firste chose to leaue all that euer they had & to goe to Constantinople. But afterward considering y^e long iourney, and the daungers that might happen by the waye, they retur­ned their myndes & chose to abyde all w^t Totilas, sauyng their Captayne Paule & Mundus an Isaurien. These t [...] [...] as much as they had wife and [Page]childrē at home,Totilas she­weth himself earnest in re­paring and peopling of Rome. desired to depart. And Totilas helping them liberally wyth viand & other necessaries sent them a­gain to Constantinople: Furthermore be commaunded y^e no man should be so hardy as to offer any wrong to ani of thother souldiers in garrison that had taken sanctuarie in y^t church. Toward the Citie of Rome he neither extended any crueltie, nor went aboute to make it desolate as he had done before. But made a serch for the Citizens therof in the townes of Campanie & in other places, & reduced them home again. Fur­thermore he made in Rome tourneies and iustes & such other primelye pas­simes as are wont to be done in fortu­nate & quiet Cities with great cost and solemnitie, to the entent the Citizens should conceiue good hope, & haue a de­sire to the Citie. The houses also whi­ch had bene ouerthrowen or consumed w^t fire in the former desolation of the towne, he went about to needifie and [Page 160]repayre. Finally he shewed nowe as great a defyre of replemshinge Rome as he had doone before of wasting and leauyng it defolate. Thys so great mutabilitie and alteration of hys mynde, fomme beleued to haue rysen vppon a vow that he had made to the Apostles Peter & Paule, whose tēples he myght seme to haue destroied whē he destroied y^e citie. Othersome imputed it altogi­ther to the profyte and commoditie of the warres. And dyuers doe reporte that when Totilas latelye before de­syred the Frenche Kynges daughter in mariage, aunswere was made hym that he was not Kynge of Ita­lye when he had subuarted the Cytye of Rome. The whych Taunt (men saye) altered hys mynde to the re­payrynge of the Cytye. But what so euer was the cause of it, he ende­nored to repayre and buylde agayne the Gytye of Rome. After thys he prepared to make a vyage into Sicill.

For the furniture whereof he builded him a great flete of Galleyes, & made a greate number of hoyes and hulkes while he was making preparation for y^t same, he determined to besiege both by water and by lande Centmucelles whiche one Citye was not yet comme vnder hys subiection. Captayne of that piece was Diogenes who (as to before mencioned) escaped lately from Rome. He had gathered to hym a good stronge companie of men of warre.

Therefore at suche tyme as the Go­thyshe armie came thither and had en­camped thēselues nere vnto the walls of the towne.Totilas som­moneth cent mucelles. Totilas sendyng an affi­cer of Armes to hym, sommoned hym eyther to come & feyght it out w^t his power against y^e gothes, or els to yeld vp y^e town vnto hī. For it was not for him to loke for any help at Iustimans hand considering he neuer releued Rome al the while it was besieged, onles per­chance he thought themperour did set more by Centmucells then by Rome. [Page 161]Diogenes replied therunto saying, that as for to fyghte with hym he was not mynded at that time, and as for to yeld vp the towne sauing his honour and fi­delitie he coulde not, before he had sente to knowe the Emperours pleasure, and to desyre helpe. Whereuppon for­asmuche as he seemed to speake that which was honest and reasonable they fel to composition, that onlesse the Em­perour after warnyng geuen, dyd res­rowe the towne by himself or by his de­putie, Diogenes should surrender it at a certayne daye. And Totilas shoulde not in the meane season by any meanes moleste or dysquiet hym. For the assurance of these Articles Hostages were deliuered, and vppon thys agree­ment Totilas brake vp his siege.

The .v. Chapter.

WHen all thynges were nowe in a readinesse that were to be prepa­red.Totilas ma­keth warre in Sicill. Totilas turned hymselfe to the warres in Sicill, commaundyng that his shyppes shuld be ready at hand in the narrowe seas of Sicill. He hym­self went by land vnto Rhegium, pur­posyng to haue wonne the towne by force. Captaynes of the towne were Teremund and Imere placed there by Belisarius not longe before. Who di­uerse & sundry tymes repulsed the Go­thes to their great losse, attemptyng to wynne y^t towne by assault. By meanes wherof Lotilas despayring to get it by violence, determined with long conti­nuance of hys siege to subdue them by famyshment. And therefore leauyng a number of the Gothes about it, he con­ueyed all the reast of hys armye by wa­ter to wynne Tarent, the whiche he ea­sily obteyned. From thence wafting o­uer into Sicil, after y^t he had eyther by force of Armes or ells by composition gotten into his hand certayne of y^t lesser [Page 162]townes,The syege of Siracuse. at length he besieged Siracuse both by sea & by land. By that tyme the Gothes which (as ye heard before) wer sent among the Picentes against Iohn & Valerian, hauyng associated greate ayde vnto them and gotten the vpper hand in diuerse conslyctes, toke the Ci­tye Arimine. And in another encoun­ter not farre from Rau [...]nna, they slews Vere Captayne of the Elurians wyth all hys hoste. Moreouer Teremund & Imere whiche were besieged in the towne of Rhegium, for want of victu­alls were fayne to yelde themselues & the towne to the Gothes. All these thynges being declared to the Empe­rour at one instant, namely the sakyng of Rhegium, Tarent, and Arimine, and the passyng of Totilas into Sicill, made hym vtterly astonyed to heare of so many misfortunes at once. And ther vpō he denounced one Germā his cou­sin Germine by y^t fathers side captaine of y^t warres in Italy agaynst y^e Gothes commaunding great preparation to be [Page]made for y^t same.A new Lieue­tennant sente into Italy frō them perour, Whē y^t fame hereof was blowen into Italy, it greatly abasshed y^t enemye & recōforted hys frends. For thys Germā was a man of a hualt courage, and of no lesse wysedome and pollicye, wonderfull lyberall, and ve­rye welbeloued both wyth the people and wyth the souldyers. Besydes thys he had after the death of Vitigis taken to wyfe Mathasuta the nece of Kyng Theoderych, the whiche thyng wonne hym the hartes of the Gothes: and therefore as the fame of hym was great, so was he greatly loked & longed for in Italy.

The .vi. Chapter.

WHon German was nowe in Illi­ricke,The Selauines the nation of the Sclauines hauing passed y^t riuer of Danow, [Page 163]inuaded the prouinces of the Empyre of Rome. A kynde of people cruell and outragius beyonde all measure, whoe turnyng themselues toward Macedo­nie and Thrace, put Iustinian in suche a feare, that he commaunded German to stay his iourney into Italy. Through this taryans the Gothes had leysure to do what they lyste in Italy and Sicill.The answere of Diogenes to Toulas for Centmucelles In the meane season came the daye ap­pointed that Diogenes should haue de­liuered Centmucelles, wherupon To­tilas sendyng vnto hym required hym to performe hys promyse. Diogenes al­ledged that Germane was newly crea­ted Captayne of the warres in Italye. By reason whereof he sayd the state of thynges was wholly altered, so that it laye not in his power to yelde y^t towne, seing y^t Lorde & proper owner of it was on hys iourney & would with in two or three daies be in Italy. Totilas was be sieging Siracuse in Sicill, and the Go­thishe men of warre skowring through the whole countrie, made hauocke of althynges. [Page]In Italy Rauenna, Au­chon, Hydrunt, and Centmucelles wyth certayue other townes remained styll imperiall. The Gothes helde all the reast. One only hope stayed them, namely the commyng of German, the whyche also fayled them. For wher­as he was sore longed for in Italye, he was taken with a disease, and to the great sorrowe of all y^e were belonging to hym dyed in Illiricke.The death of Germane. German had two sonnes whom he led with hym in­to Italy. Them dyd the Emperour cō ­maunde to procede with their fathers enterprise, ioyuly together with theyr kynsemen Iohn Vitalian the Captain so well knowen in Italy. For Iohn had maryed the daughter of German. Iohn therfore & the sonnes of Germā taking the charge of the army vpō them, came vnto Salons. And forasmuche as wyn­ter was at hand they determyned to a­byde that season there, & in the begyn­ning of the nexte spring to passe ouer to Rauenna. About the same tyme well [Page 164]nye, Liberius being sente from them­perour wyth a nauye entered into Si­racuse, mawgre the Gothes that kepte their station in the hauen to prohibyte their arriuall. Howbeit for doubt of scarcety of victualls whyche so greate a number was soone lyke to cause in a Citye besieged, he purposed to goe his way agayne: and therfore wyth in a fewe dayes after hys commyng he tooke shippyng agayne and departyng from Syracuse arryed at Panorme.

The, vi. Chapter

IN the meane whyle the Emperour alteryng hys purpose,Narses is made them­perours Lieuetennant in I­taly. made hys Eu­nuch Narses Lieuetennant general of the warres in Italy, makyng hym large promyses of men and mony. Also he wrote to Iohn that he shoulde not passe into Italy, but tary stil at Salons & there abyde the commyng of Narses. Narses therfore taking the charge cou­ragiously vpon him, endeuored to leuie a great power from all places. To the performance whereof greatly aualyed hys fauour & authoritye. For he was one of the Emperours preuis Counsel and ruled hym in manner as he lyste, & he had greate frendship and Aliance with the Kinges and the great Princes [Page 165]of the Barbarous nations.Narses is stay­ed by the Hunnes. When hys furniture was in a full readinesse, and that he had commaunded hys men of warre to mete hym all in Illiricke, as he was outward on hys iourney, & was come to Philippople in Thrace, he was of necessitye constrayned to staie and a­byde a tyme in the same place. For the Hunnes enteryng with a great armye into Macedonie & Thrace, made spoyle of all thyngs, & had closed hys way that he could not passe. At the length when one parte of the Hunnes was gone to Thessalonicke & the other to Constan­tinople, Narses went from thence and kept on his iourney. By this ting To­tilas (hearyng of the great preparature of his enemies) was returned into Ita­ly. Leauing for Lieuetennantes of the warres in Sicil foure of his captaines, & he hymself made prouisiō in Italy for all thynges that semed nedeful & requi­site.Totilas sēdeth a nauye into Grece. And to the entent to vaunt hys power to the Grekes (as whoe shoulde say he was as well ablete inuade them [Page]as they had bene to haue inuaded hī, he sent a great flete into Gexce, cōmaun­dyng them to make as muche hauocke & spoyle of all thynges as they could ac­cordyng to the same commaundement thys nauye, spoyled fyrst Corsyra & the Iles adioynyng therunto, & afterward aduenturyng vppon the mayne land, wasted and spoyled with fyre & sworde all the coast of Cypous, Acarnauia and Aetolia. And so keping still the seas, did cut of many Greke shippes by y^e waye as they were sayling toward Italy and Illirium, insomuch y^e no shippe coulde styrre abrode for them.The bosyegīg of Aucon. Whyle these thynges were a doyng in Grece. Toti­las sendyng a freshe crewe of souldiers into the Countrye of the Picentes, cō ­maunded that Aucon shoulde be besie­ged both by sea & land. He made three Captaynes of thys enterprise: Scipu­ar Vdilas & Gothidil, to whom he gaue a flete of seuen and fortye Galleyes. Whē Aucon was thus besyeged, there [Page 166]were so whote assaultes geuen both by sea and by land, that it stoode in greate perrill. Wherefore Valerian who had the rule of Rauenna, forasmuche as he thought hymselfe to weake to rescowe them that were besyeged, he wrote to Iohn Vitaliā lying at Salons, reques­sting hym to ioyne wyth hym and so to rescowe them together. Iohn Al­beit the Emperoure had geuen hym commaundemente that he shoulde not passe into Italye before the commyng of Narses, yet notwythstandyng for­asmuche as he thought it agaynste hys honoure to lye styll and looke on while hys companions were in suche ieoper­dye, he chose oute the beste men in all hys hoste and embarkyng them in eyghtene shyppes, set out of Salons and sayled towarde Rauenna. As he was in hys waye Valerian met him wyth twelve galleyes well decked and furnished to fight. When y^e Captaines had commoned betwene themselues, [Page]and by the aduise of such as were about them had determined as semed beste, they sayled with their whole nauye to­get her agaynst their enemyes. And whē they came nere vnto Aucon, they drewe to the shore at a place which the inhabiters do call Duasse.Battell on the sea betvvene the Gothes & the imperialls The whiche thyng assone as the Gothyshe Cap­taynes peerceaued, they also addressyng themselues to the encounter furnished their nauie with the beste souldiers y^e they coulde chose, & when they had put themselues in a readinesse, launched forth & set themselues in good order a­gaynst their enemyes. The Gothyshe shyppes wer in number seuen & fortie, & the Grekes were thirtye, Captaynes whereof were Iohn and Valerian, and Captaines of the Gothishe nauie were Vdilas & Gothidill: for Scipuar abode with the reast of the armye to keepe the Camp. Therefore after that the Cap\taynes of eyther parte had encouraged their men, and with warlyke orations inflamed theyr myndes wyth hope of [Page 197]victorie, with eager stomackes they ioy­ned battell. At the very fyrst beginning the encounter was fierce, meting with stemme to stemme & eche endeuoryng to ouermatche other, and the matter was handled with greate courage on both partes. For there was not any one in all that great companie whiche had not hys handes full. Insomuch that the matter was tryed wyth dartes, Iaue­lyngs, pykes, and swordes as if it had bene a battell vpon the land. Howbeit in continuance the Gothyshe nauie be­ganne to go by the worse.Conning & expenence pre­uayleth against force. For albeit they were good men of their handes & stowte warryours, yt forasmuche as they wanted experience in sea matters, they troubled themselues. For in some places they clustered so together, that one had not come to styrre by another, and other some agayne to eschewe that fault, disseuered themselues so far frō the helpe of their companye, that their enemyes had them alwayes at aduan­tage. Wheras on the contrary part the [Page]Grekes wer greatly furthered through their connyng the good order of their Sea men there was no araye broken. A man could not haue sene among them any throngyng, nor scatteryng, but y^e they were euer nere at hand to helpe their companye & to be helped of them. And therefore as reason was, at length they gatte the vpper hand.The Gothes are vanqui­shed and Au­con rescovved Some of the Gothyshe shyppes were sunke y^t their men of warre marriners & al. Many being wonne by fyne force were with in­credible slaughter taken. The whiche whē the Gothes beheld, by and by they toke them to flight. There were no mo but ten of their shippes that escaped to land vnperished. The reast were either taken or ells drowned, there was made a great slaughter of the men in the bat­tell and in the chace. They that escaped to land, dyd forthwith set their shippes on fyre, to the entent their enemyes shoulde not obtayne them, & returned into their Camp. Where they were stricken with such a feare, that they de­termined [Page 168]to breake vp their siege. Whereupon in all haste they forsooke their Campe and fled vnto Auximum. Iohn and Valerian enteryng into the hauen of Aucō with their victorious na­uye to the great comfort and incredible reioycement of the Townesmen, made hast to ryfflyng of the enemyes Camp. The which they findyng forsaken, cau­sed all the victualls & artillery that they founde there to be conueyed into the ci­tye.Fortune turneth agaynst he Gothes. They thēselues within fewe daies after departed, Valerian vnto Rauen­na and Iohn vnto Salons. Thys bat­tell dyd sore discourage the hartes of y^e Gothes, & was as it were a preparatiue of a greater ruine y^e was toward them. For Totilas being not a little disqui­etted w^t this losse pulled backe a greate part of his army out of Sicill. By mea­nes whereof Artaunaes the Empe­rours Captayne subrogated in y^e rome of Liberius hauyng receaued hys na­uye of hym, beganne to growe y^e stron­ger in Sicill.

Insomuche that he not onely deliuered his confederates from y^e besiegemente, but also besieged the Gothes in diuerse places in their own townes.The Gothes receaue ano­ther discomfi. ture. Moreouer ere it was long after, an other nauie of Grekes commyng vnloked for to the rescowe of the Crotoniens longe tyme besieged by the Gothes, raysed y^e siege & discomfited their enemyes with great bloudshed & saughter. The Gothes being dispersed fled some to Tarent, and some withdrewe themselues into the next mountayne called Scyllaum, the which ouerthrowe together with y^t for­mer slaughter, dyd muche more discou­rage the hartes of the Gothes, In espe­cially forasmuch as there went a great brute through out all Italy of Narses cōmyng & of his preparatiō for y^e wars, what great furniture he brought with him, & that ther began already to spring vp certain rebellions against Totilas. Forone Reguaris a noble mā among the Gothes Captaine of Tarent,Renoltyng to the part of the imperialles. and Morras captayne of Acheruse, reuolted [Page 169]to the Emperour with theyr townes and souldiers wherof they had charge.The povver of Narses. Furthermore tydinges was brought of another insurrection agaynste the Gothes in Sardinia. Whyle thyn­ges were in thys estate in Italy, Nar­fes assemblynge hys power in the wynter season, addressed hymselfe to hys Iourney: he had suche an ar­mye of men, as scarce all the Cap­taynes beynge putte all togyther, broughte wyth them into Italye du­rynge the whole tyme of thys warre. For the Emperour gaue hym so largs allowaunce of monnye, and he hym­selfe was so bountefull and lyberall in bestowing & distributing of the same, y^e he leuied a greate power not onely in Thrace & Grace,Albuine king of Lombar­des. but also out of diuers other places. For he had entertained a boue fiue M. Lombardes notable mē of war by y^e consent of Albuine theyr Kinge, and, MMM. of the Erulians.Cumades a Persian, Furthermore there came unto hym a great number of the Hunnes. [Page] [...] [Page 169] [...]

Also there was one Cumades a Per­stan 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 surnamed Phagas wyth an hoste of the Gréekes and Thracians. Besydes this, Iohn Vitalian, 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 Venetians. There were twoo wayes by the whyche he myghte handsomelye passe from the Venetians. The one by the Adria­ticke Sea, the other throughe the mayne Lande, bothe whyche séemed [Page 170]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 ground as, so that an Armye can not well be led that waye wythoute greate trouble.Teias after­ward king of the gothes. Agayne in the waye by the mayne Lande one of the Gothes called Te­ias placed at Veron 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 Venice, muste needes passe ouer them eyther by the Seas syde where as be Lakes and meres fallynge by dyuers Chancelles into the Sea, and where the mowthes of Po doe ouerthwart [Page]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 Ve­ron 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^tout impeachment of enemyes, & besides that, was nearer way then thother.Narses com­ming to Ra­uenna. 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^t botes, at length he came with al his armie vnto Rauenna. There Captaine Valerian and Captaine Iustine wyth their bandes, ioyned themselues with Narses. There were in Italye a great number of old souldiers, who by reasō [Page 171]the Emperour was behind hand with their wages for a longe tyme 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.

Hauynge spent nyne daies in dooinge these thynges and in refreshing hys armye at Rauenna, he remoued from thens & marched toward Rome.A conflict at Arimine. The same time was one Vsdrilas captayne of Arimine as notable a warriour as was among al y^e gothes. Who (assone as the Voward of Narses hoste was come into the felds of Arimine) went about to stoppe them of their passage. The Ryuer that runneth by Arimine was rysen wyth rayne, vppon the whyche was a brydge so harde vnder neath the Towne that it was an ea­sye matter to stoppe the passage.

Vsdrilas therefore yssuynge out of A­rimine before that anye number of [Page]hys enemyes had passed the Ryuer, 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 Armes of the Eru­lians feyghtyng wyth Vsdrilas hande to hand flewe hym, and hys souldiers discouraged wyth the deathe of theyr Captayne, retyred fearefully into the Towne. The head of Vsdrilas was broughte vnto Narses, at the why­che Narses reioycynge and takynge it for a tooken of good lucke, that the chyefe of hys enemyes was slayne by hys men at the fyrste conflycte, kepte on hys waye full of good hope and comfort. For albeit he had a good fur­theraunce to the takynge of Arimine at the same instant, yet notw^tstanding he wold not tary about it to the entent so great an army shuld not beletted a­bout the sege of one towne, & therefore he passed by Arimine & continued on his iourny. Totilas hauing intelligns [Page 172]of those things y^e were done amonge y^e Venitians, & vnderstanding of the pas­sage of Narses and of his comming to Rauēna, although almost al his whole power were at that time w^t Teias,The death of Totilas. yet notwithstanding he determined to encounter w^t Narses, the which he did, & in the battell was stayn for his labour. As many of the Gothes as escaped frō the field, fled ouer the riuer Po & assē ­bled togither at Pauie & there abouts. In the whiche place as they consulted of making a newe gouernour of theyr people,Teias is crea­ted kinge of the gothes, Teias was preferred by the iudgement of all men & chosen king of the Gothes. After that he was thus in stalled in the fiege roial, by & by he toke to his vse the threasures that Totilas had laid vp at Pauie, diligently going in hand to repaire his power, to raise a new army, to geue & distribute horse & armour, & to doe all other things vigi­lantlye, and moreouer to send to the Frenchmen to allure them to take his part in the warres.

❧ The .viii. Chapter.

NARSES hearynge therof, com­maunded Valerian to fye as it were in garrison wyth hys band about the Ryuer Po, to the entent the Gothes shoulde not straye to farre a­broade at theyr pleasure wythoute feare and he hymselfe wyth the rest of hys armye marched to Rome. In hys waye Narma was yelded vppe to him and he graunted the men of Spolet certayne of hys souldiers for theyr de­fence vntyll they myght repayre theyr walles whyche Totilas had beaten downe. Also he sent to Peruse to som­mon that Towne, there were in Pe­ruse two Captaynes Melegidius and Vlithus. Who beynge at variance be­twene theymselues drewe soundrye [Page 173]wayes. For Melegidius coueted to yelde vppe the Citye.Melegidius and Vlithus Captaines of the Gothes. But Vlithus beynge gyltye of the treason and the murther latelye commytted agaynste Cyprian, stroue agaynste it, for feare to be punnished accordynge to hys de­sertes. By meanes where of there rose contention, in the whyche Vlithus was slayne, and Peruse was yelded vppe to Narses by Melegidius. After thys Narses procéedynge to Rome be­syeged it. The Cytye of Rome at that tyme stoode in thys estate. The Cityzens beynge afflycted wyth the former calamytyes resorted not in any greate number into the Cytye. Ye should haue seene whole stréetes em­tye and neither man nor woman dwel lynge in theym, and the houses ey­ther fallen downe or elles bourned.

For Totilas not able to repayre it a­gayne speciallye the Cytyzens beynge so sore wasted and in manner de­stroyed.

The Gothes therfore distrusting their own weaknes that they were not suf­ficient to defend the whole Citie, had chosē a piece of ground not very bigge nere vnto Adrians tumbe, the whych they strongly fortified with a diche & a rampyre & ioyned it to the wall of the rest of the Citie. Into the whych place they conueied all their munitions and artillerie vsing it as a fort or a holde. Neuertheles they did not vtterly abandon vp the citie, but defended it aswell as they could. Narses therefore deter­mining to winne the citie, assaulted it in diuers places at ones, And the Go­thes resorting to the same places stood at defence from y^t walls. While these thinges were a doing,Narses taketh Rome, another cōpa­nie of the souldyers of Narses stealing aboute to the further syde & fyndynge no bodye there, rered vp their ladders and skailed the walles. The noyse that was made therevppon bewraied that the Cytye was taken, and the Go­thes leauing theyr defence, some fled [Page 174]to the towne of Portua & some wyth­drew thēselues to the forte at Adrians tumbe.The crueltie of the gothes towarde the Romaynes. By thys meanes Narses gate Rome, & after he had a whyle besye­ged the hold, he toke it by composition. There were in Campanie many Se­natours & Senatours children, whom Totilas for the great aucthoritie & fa­uour that their auncestours had, wold not suffer to retourne into the Cytye. Besydes them, there were dyuers of the nobilitie whyche the Gothes had sent thither vpon mistrust. All the whiche, wyth their, children and kynsfocke the gothes did put to death. Moreouer Totilas had chosen CCC. yongmē as it had bene to scrue him in y^t wars, but in very déede to kéepe thē for pledges, and therefore he sent them on a vyage beyond the Riuer Po. The which like wyse after that Rome was come into y^t hands of Narses, were put in death euery chone by the Gothes.

❧ The ix. Chapter,

ABOUTE the same tyme Regnaris Captayne of Ta­rent when he hearde that Te­ias was made Kynge and that the Frenchemen woulde comme to hys ayde,The falsehou and treason of Regnaris. repented hym that he hadde reuoulted to the Emperour, and determyned to tourne to the Gothes agayne. Nowe to the en­tente he woulde recouer agayne hys hostages, he ymagined thys sub­teltye. He sent to Macurius Cap­tayne of Hydrunt, desyrynge hynt of ayde agaynste an armye of the Gothes whyche he falselye alledged were commynge agaynste hym.

Macurius mystrustynge no deceipts sente hym fyftye of hys Souldyers to Tarent, whome Regnaris im­mediatlye caste into pryson, and wrat vnto Macurius that yf he woulde [Page]haue his souldiers, he should delyuer hym the hostages that he had of hys in kéeping. Vppon the receit of thys mes­sage, Macurius was sore troubled in hys mynde, and leauyng a few men behynde hym for the defence of hys piece, went wyth the rest of hys armye agaynste Regnaris. Regnaris ma­kynge no delaye in the matter, put to deathe all the Souldyers that he had receyued, and then yssuynge oute of Tarent to encounter wyth Macurius was putte to the worse, and being dri­uen to flye with the losse of most of his souldyers when he coulde not reco­uer to Tarent for that the waies were forelayed,Narses reco­uereth Por­tua. he gate hym to Acheruse. In the meane season Narses sendyng hys armye to Portua, besieged the towne & at length recouered it. After thys he assailed Centmucelles and in likewise brought it in subiectiō. Teias also ceased not to sollicit the Frenche nation and to allure them to take hys parte in the warres, promysinge them [Page 176]sometyme monnye and sometyme co­pertenershyppe of the kyngdome of I­talye. But the Frenchemen had al­readye determyned not to entermedle themselues in anye suche warres. By meanes whereof the Gothes were dis­appoynted of theyr hope. Totilas in the time of hys lyfe had gathered to­gyther a greate Threasure at Pauye, & had layd vp no small masse of monny in the fortresse of Cume, & had made his brother Captaine of the same for­tresse. When Narses had vnderstan­ding therof, he sent part of hys armye to besyege Cume, and he hymselfe a­bydynge still at Rome, endeuored to repayre the Cytye and to replenyshe it wyth people. And to the entente that the Gothes that were beyonde the Ryuer Po shoulde not rescowe Cume or anye other of the places that were besyeged, he commaunded Iohn Vitalian and Philimunt wyth theyr bandes to abyde in Hetruria, to [Page]sette [...] agaynste the enemys at the fyrste approche and curte them of ere they [...] [...]ye further. For Teias when he perceyued that Cume was besyeged, determyned fullye to goe and rescowe it. Wheroppon ser­tynge oute of Pauye, by longe and ouerthwarre iourneyes he ledde hys hoste by the shore of the vpper sea and so throughe the countryes of the Pi­centes and Marses into Campanye. The whiche when Narses vnderstood he called Iohn wyth hys band oute of Hetruria. After whose commynge he marched forwarde into Campanye wyth hys whole power fullye purpo­sing to encounter wyth Teias.The moun­taine Vesu­uius. There is a hill in Campanye called Vesuui­us oute of the tooppe whereof often­tymes ryseth vppe smoke and flames of fyre. But in the foote of the same mountain are springs of swete water the whiche doe make a brooke called Dracon that runneth not farre from the Citye Nuceria. [Page 177]thys brooke is not very brode, but it is so deepe that neyther horseman nor foteman can passe it.Narses & Te­ias encamp together parted with a riuer. Aboute thys ryuer bothe armyes encamped Nar­ses on the hyther syde and Teias on the furtherside, the riuer ronning in the myddes betwent thē both. There was but one brydge ouer it, & that had the Gothes taken. By meanes wherof it laye in their hande to chose whyther they would fyght or not fyght. The ar­myes abode in thys forte by the space of two monethes, so that Narses & his mē which were desyrous to come to hande strokes, could not by any meanes come to their enemyes, only they came to the riuers syde from both Campes & shotte arrowes and threw dartes one at ano­ther. Also there were fought many cō ­bates and many chalenges were per­formed on both sydes duryng the sayd tyme, & the Gothyshe souldiers passing ouer the brydge dyd fight with the soul­diers of Narses hand to hand. The sea was well & nere at hand & the Gothes [Page]had their shippes vpō the water which alwayes brought corne and victualls & set it a land nere vnto them,The Gothes lose their shippes by treasō. frō whence it was stil conueyed to the Camp. But after the time that their nauie through treason was loste, and that they coulde haue no more victualls and attillerye brought to thē by the sea, the Gothes were constrayned of necessitye to dys­lodge frō that place. Whereupon for­saking the bridge & the grounde by the riuers syde, they departed to the nexte hylt which the inhabitantes of the coū ­trye do cal the mylkie hyll. Narses pur­suyng them (forasmuch as he could not assayle them by reason of the stepenesse of the hyll,) settled hymselfe about the foote of it. The Gothes beyng to the same place also as much oppressed with scarcetye as they were before, determi­ned to put the matter in tryall by the sworde.A cruel battel betwene the Gothes & the imperialls. And thereupon puttyng them­selues in aray vpon the toppe of the hil, they descended from about & sodaynely assayled their enemyes thynkyng no­thyng [Page 178]lesse, then of any such matter, in somuch that they had not any leysure to order their battells or to encourage their souldiers, but were fayne to sette thēselues against the enemie according as euery mannes fortune had appoyn­ted hym. And for bicause the Gothes had left their horses & fought on foote, Narses dyd set hys fotemen also to en­counter with them. The battell was cruell & bloudy in all places. For on the one syde the Gothes fought obstinately as men in despayre, & on the other sydo the souldiers of Narses were ashamed to geue place being so many in number as they were, in especially consyderyng that but euen the other daye they had compelled them to forsake their firste campe, and had well me besteged them now in the hyll which they had fled to for their refuge. Both parties being in­censed with these persuasiens, foughte very valiantly.The notable prowesse & courage of Teias king of the Gothes, I will not passe ouer with silence the noble Demeanor of Teias Kyng of the Gothes in hys bat­tell. [Page]For he being endued as it were with an heroical prowesse, wolde nedes put himselfe into the forefront of the battel among the formest fyghters. He was easye to be knowen from the reast by hys goodly armour & hys ryche ap­parrell. In the lyft hand he helde a tar­get & in hys ryght hand he brandished a Iauelyng. Many that encountered a­gaynst hym he strake starke dead, & yet dartes came flying at him frō all sides Howbeit he being of an incredible cou­rage and strength dyd marnayles in armes. At the length when hys shylde stake full of dartes so that he could not handsomely wield it, standyng with his face towarde hys enemyes & calling to his harnessebearer by name he cōmaū ­ded hym with a loude voyce to bryng hym another target. When it was brought vnto hym, he let slyppe hys old one, to haue taken the new in his hand, in the which chaunge it was his choūce to receaue his deathes woūde by a dart that was sent at hym. By the whyche [Page 179]albeit he lost much bloud, yet notwith­standyng lyke a most puyssant champi­on he neuer gaue foote backe nor ne­uer tourned hys face, but standyng stoutly towarde hys enemyes, fought it oute as longe as he was able to stande on hys legges, vntyll at length sebled wyth trauell and losse of bloude he fell downe flatte vppon hys face. It was almost syre of the clocke when Teias dyed.The death of Teias. And yet the Go­thes were nothyng at all dyscoura­ged wyth the death of theyr Kyng, but helde oute the battell vntyll it was nyghte neuer geuyng one foote backe. Fynallye when it was so darke that they coulde not see, the battell ceased, beyng begonne at the sonne rysyng. That nyghte both the armyes wat­ched in theyr harnesse, and assoone as the daye pered, they fell to fygh­tyng a freshe, contynuing so styll vn­to the sonne goyng downe to the great slaughter of both partes. At length the Gothes sente vnto Narses offe­ryng [Page]to departe oute of Italye so he would suffer them wythout impeache­mente to carrye suche thynges as they had awaye wyth them. But yf he woulde not graunt them thys request, they sayd they would neuer leaue figh­tyng, as long as the breathe was in their bodyes. When Narses had heard their demaundes, by the aduise of hys counsell he condyscended vnto thē, to the entent he would not to the great preiudyce and losse of hys men, seeke the aduantage of hys desperate ene­mye. In the meane tyme aboute a thousande horsemen fled oute of the Camp of the Gothes, and by greate iourneyes came vnto Pauie and other townes beyonde the ryuer Po. The residue fell to a fynall agreement with Narses, promisyng to departe oute of Italye, carrying nothyng more then euery man hys owne, and neuer af­ter to make warre vpon the Romayne Empyre, prouyded alwayes that they themselues shoulde retayne still their [Page]freedome and libertye wythout any bondage or subiection to the Em­pyre. The whiche being done according to couenant, Nar­ses receaued Cume & al other townes that held with the Gothes, and so ended the eygh­ten the yeare of this warre.