stoode in this estate thambassadours returned froÌ„ themperour Dominicus Maximus both of the Senate They brought Iustinians aunswere to those demaunds that Uitigis the Gothes had made as concerning the concord agreement The suÌ„me of the Emperours decree was this That Uitigis 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 thempyrs of Rome When the Ambassadours had first conferred w t Belisarius they entered into Rauenna and declared their commission the which things both Uitigis and the noble men of the Gothes were glad to here and consented thereto with all their hartes 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 doe 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 coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t And therevppon bred a suspicion as though Belisarius went aboute to make him self emperour were vtterly minded to w tdrawe his obediens froÌ„ Iustinian This suspicion was almost in euery mans head at that time with the which opinioÌ„ the Gothes being induced sent priuely vnto him exhorting him to take y â— 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 subâ—tes to obey him with all theyr harts that he shouldâ— ioyntly enioy the kingdome of the Italians the Gothes together w t an incomparable puissaâ— These thinges were wrought priuely by the Gotishe nobilitie Uitigis 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 â—eatlye for hys beâ—oofe yâ— they were handeled wisely sent awaye into sundrie places with theyr bandes Iohn Uitalian 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 shoulde finde more plentie abundaunce of victuall and forage in other places This excuse was pretended but in déede they were sent awaye to the â—ntent 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 â—aye 〈◊〉 he yf we shoulde by this warre atteyne at theyr handes not onely those things wherewyth the Emperour séemeth to be con tented 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 com pany to Rauenna aduertising the Gothes that he was coÌ„tented to do as thei had counselled hym exhorting them to make spede in the matter The Gothes as they y â— 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 â—thyng 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 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 Uitigis his noble men when he was come to Rauenna The coÌ„missioners 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 his comming to Rauenna But Belisarius purposed nothyng lesse 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 did but daly wyth the Gothes in that behalfe Uppon 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 after hys comming thither licensed all such to departe home as dwelled on thys syde the ryuer Po. They beynge wearyed wyth theyr longe continued warfare were verye willing to retourne home to their frendes And so the multitude that was at Rauenna being diminished the armye of Belisarius waxed 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 Beliâ—arius 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 The whyche suspicion was augmented vppon the sodayne sendynge of Iustinian vnto Belisarius commaundyng hym to retourne home For the fame went certain had made report to the Emperour that Belisarius went
prowd for those things whych no man is able to assure himself that they shall coÌ„tinue with him vntill night Thus doth an Historye make vs bothe more wyse and more modest in our dooinges And therfore ryght reuerend father I determined to dedicate these Bookes vnto you as well to thentent you might vnderstaÌ„d my entier loue and affection to wardes you as also that you myghte be as a Iudge of my worke and trauel the which I shal thinke very well bestowed if so wyse and wel learned a maÌ„ as you are doe allow them and take them in good worthe Whereuppon I wyll take occasion to goe in hand with the processe of myne Historye Farrewell The fyrst Booke of Leonard Aretine concernyng the warres in Italy against the Gothes ⧠The first Chapter ¶ The dispotition of Agustulus the diuision of the landes through Italy the cause of the commyng of the Gothes thither and of their encounâ—er with Odoacers Captaines IN the tyme that Zeno was Emperour of Rome the Gothes vnder the leading of Theodorich determined to inuade Italy lately before soore afflicted with diuers rodes and inuasions of barbarous people and at that tyme oppressed with the tyranny of Odoacer of the which thinges I purpose to entreate repeatyng somewhat deper the state of those tymes to the intent it may be knowen from whence the Gothes first came and what hope moued them to inuade the Empyre After the death of the yonger Ualentinian who as it is well ynough knowen was â—ayne at Rome of hys owne Subiectes the Empyre of the West beganne to wauer and to bée as it were without lyfe or soule Nowe there were at the same tyme in Italy great armyes of forreyners raysed latelye before by Ualentinian for feare of Attila and afterwardes associated by the Romaynes agaynst the Uandales These forreyners perceyuynge the empoueryshemente and weakenesse of the Empyre and therevppon takynge courage conspired together and demaunded to haue the thyrde parte of the landes through all Italye deuyded amonge them The name of the Empyre remaynÌ„ed at that tyme in one Augustnlus who beynge but a verye â—ylde was gâ—uerned by hys father Orestes a Senatour of Rome Therefore at suche tyme as the menne of warre demaunded a partition of the landes and that Orestes beynge a wyse and sage personne wythstoode theyr request the Souldyours â—ewe hym and fourthewyth folowynge theyr Captayne Odoacer camme to Rome and deposed Augustulus By meanes whereof hauynge nowe the lawe in theyr owne hande they deuyded the thyrde part of the landes among them Odoacer hauynge by thys meanes gotten the Soueraygnytye in hys owne name and in the name of the armye ruled the Cytyes at hys owne luste and pleasure Zeno also Gouernour of the East Empyre lying at Constantynople beganne to dread soore the power of Theodorich For the Gothes that inhabited the vpper coaste of Thracia hadde alreadye begonne to vere and disquiett the Countreys borderynge vppon them And it was none other lyke but that they woulde make some insurrection against the Romain Empyre Whervppon to the entent to delyuer hymself and the countreys there aboutes from feare of the Gothes He persuaded Theodorich to passe into Italy and to delyuer the cities there oute of the hands of the wrongfull withholders of them Induced with these persuation Theordorich remouyng out of Thrace and leadyng with him the Gothes with their wyues and children and al that euer they had through Syrmium and Illyricum went toward Italy where at hys fyrst entraunce the Captaines of Odoacer camme against him with their armies The first battell betwirt them was fought not farre from the Citie of Aquileia vppon the riuer Fontius In the which conflict after a long and sharpe encouÌ„ter the Gothes gate the victorye and putte the 〈◊〉 of Odoacer to flyght ⧠The. ij Chapter ¶ Theodorich kyng of the Gothes besiegeth Odoacer in Rauenna the matter is ended by composition 〈◊〉 of them lyeth in wayre to destroye other Theodorich preuenting Odoacer kylleth hym at a banquet by meanes whereof he obteyneth the soueraignitie of Italy of the actes of Theodorich and of hys death AFter this when the Gothes had wonne the cities there aboutes and vanquysshed the power of their enemyes in other places also at length they besieged Odoacer in the Citie of Rauenna The siege held the Gothes tack lenger then thei thought it woulde haue done at the firste and that happened by reason of the situation of the place For neyther can Rauenna bee easlye besieged vppon that syde that is towarde the sea because it standeth hard vppon the shore neither vppon that syde that is towarde the land because it hath a diche cut from the riuer Po and is enuyroned wyth certaine standyng waters and marisses By meanes whereof the Gothes laye well nye full thrée yeres at the siege thereof and could not wynne it But yet in the meane season thei won all the townes nere aboute sauynge Cesena the which also was kept with a stronge garrison of Odoacers At the last as well the Assaylaunts as the Defendauntes beinge weryed the matter was decided by composition that Theodorich and Odoacer should be Comperes and Felowes in Empyre After that thynges were thus set at a staye Theodorich and hys Gothes entered into Rauenna neyther was there any parte of all Italy that was not content to receyue hym But thys copertnershyppe in the Empyre lasted not longe For when as the one bare grudge in hys heart preuelye agaynst the other Theodorich preuentyng Odoacer badde hym to a Banquet and there kylled hym and so with hâ—s Gothes â—are all the 〈◊〉 alone in Italy Howe be it to saye the trueth hys gouernement was not verye intollerable albeit he reteyned for hys people y e thyrde part of the lands in suche sort as Odoacer had lately before deuyded them For he suffered the cities to bée gouerned by their own lawes and by theyr owne citizins Appoyntyng Rauenna to bée the Sea of hys kyngdome where he also planted hym selfe Thyrtye and seuen yeres raygned Theodorich in Italye neyther sate he styll Idellye lyke a cowarde all the whyle For he bothe annexed Sicill wyth all the Ilelandes about it vnto hys kyngdome and also subdued Dalmatia Moreouer duryng the sayde tymâ— of hys raygne he led an huge hoste ouer the Alpes and the ryuer Rhone into Fraunce agaynste the Frenche men Thus dyd thys Kynge manye noble 〈◊〉 and hys name was famous and 〈◊〉 sauynge that in hys latter dayes he was noted of â—rucltye and outrage for puttyng to death of Symmachus and Boetius Senatours of the citie of Rome with certain other noble men onely vppon suspition that they sought to set the citie at libertic ⧠The. iij. Chapter ¶ Amulusuentha the doughter of Theodorich with her sonne Athalaricke succede in the kingdome the seueritie of the Quene in executing of iustice the wilfulnesse of the Gothes in the education of theyr kyng the vntimely death
of the said Arhalarick the great frâ—dship of the Quene toward Theodatus the ingratitude of him towards her agayn themperour Iustâ—an sendeth Belisarius against the Gothes and he conâ—uereth all Sicill THeodorich being deceased with out issue male his doughter Amulusuentha as then a Widow with her sonne Athalaricke succeded in the kyngdome This Athalaricke was but a chyld to speake of and therefore all the whole care of the gouernment lay in the Queenes necke Who hauyng great regard of her infant immediatly dyd put hym forth to be broughte vp in learnynge and good nurture For she gaue hym learned men to be his teachers and appoynted certaine Lordes of the Gothes men auncient of great grauitie and good bringyng vp to be continually aboute hym And she her 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 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 con dempned through false accusations whereto the kyng vnaduisedly had geuen lyght credit Furthermore she compelled her cosyn germaine Theodatus who hauyng great possessions in Thuscane had takâ—n 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 seueritiâ— of the Queene made many of the Gothes to become her enemyes And therefore certayne of the chief of them conspiring together determined to bring vp her sonne contrary to her disposition maâ— gre 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 hymsâ—f among lusâ—y yong gentlemen rather than to learne to wayâ—e vppon a maister or to sit glummyng amonge a sort of old Dotards For by this meanes both the body the mynde of their Kyng shoulde bee 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 Queene albeit she were not igno rauÌ„t to what end purpose al this drift was driuen yet not withstanding because she would not seme to be vtterly against their requests she coÌ„descended vnto theÌ„ The yong prince being deliuered to the coÌ„pany of as youthfull as himself w tin a litle while after fell to a more lasciuius trade of liuing folowiÌ„g altogether y â— lust of y e flesh such other kinds of filthy pleasures And against his mother he became so stoberne self willed through thâ—nticement of ill couÌ„ sell that he disdeined to go vnto her or speake to her The Queene when she saw her self by such pollicies assaulted of her aduersary and bereâ—t of her kyngdome 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 châ— of the Gothes whiche were the ryngleaders and counsaylers of her sonne vnto all noughtinesse And so hauyng reconciled hym vnto her she tooke vppâ—n her the gouernement again But Athalaricke beyng fallen into diuers surffetts and diseases through the disorder of hys former lasciuious lyuyng deceased in the. 〈◊〉 yere of hys age when he had raigned with his mother x. yeres after the death of Theodorich The Queene after the decease of her soÌ„ne thinking that she shuld be the bet ter able to wade through w t the weightye affayres of the realme yf so be she had some partaker assistent tooke her cousin Theodatus of whome I made mencion before to be her pertner in the kyngdome Thys Theodatus was excellently well learned both in Latyne and in Greke and had geuen himself much to the readyng of Plato and other philosophie Neuerthelesse beyng of nature féeble and vnconstant he was distayned wyth many vices 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 trea cherie 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 〈◊〉 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 her This so great vntrueth and treacherye of Theodatus dyd greatly disquiet many of the Gothes lamenting the vnworthy mischaunce of the Queene to see the posteritie of Theodorich so wickedly destroyed in so much that it wanted but litle but that the Gothes had made insurrection against him Whereof as soone as â—he Emperour Iustinian had intelligence for after Zeno Anastasius Iustine the Empyre descended vnto him thinking that the tyme now scrued to set Italy at libertie he applied all his whole mynde and study how to compasse and bring the same to effect Herevnto his prospe rous successe since he was Emperour prouoked him in as much as lately before by his captain Belisarius he had â—anquished the Uandales and wrested Affrick out of their hands And therefore hâ— thougâ—t it was not to be abidden that contrary to the honour of the Romain Empyre Italy shuld be held in subiection by the barbarous Induced with these reasons he sent Ambassadours to Theodatus requiring him to surrender vp Italy Sicill in recoÌ„pence whereof he profered him other dignities promotioÌ„s the which offer yf he refused then he denounced open war against him Upon the refusall of these offers made by Theodatus the Emperour entending to make no further delay coÌ„maunded Belisarius to passe into Italy with his army Howebeit whiles he was making preparatioÌ„ he preteÌ„ded as though he would haue sent his nauy into Affricke not into Sicill About the same time also he coÌ„maunded another of his captaines called 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 MuÌ„dus entering into Dalmatia won Salons set al the countrey on an vprore Belisarius hauing rigged hys shippes embarked hys Souldyours 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 Con stantine Bessas and Herodian
about to make himself king of Italy had already taken it vppon him For feare wherof Iustinian sent for him immediatly out of Italy The Gothes 〈◊〉 that coulde not at the first by any meanes persuade them selues that he would returne to themperour Iustinian But when they saw preparacion made for the same and all thynges put in a readinesse toward his iourney then they knewe well ynoughe that Belisarius had wonne them in by a trayne and had vtterly de ceiued them But what remedy For he had both the towne and their noble men in his hand so that they could not so much as bewayle their misfortune one to another but that he mâ—st nedes be priuye to it When the Gothes that dwelt on the furthersyde of Po heard â—ydinges hereof they assembled themselues togyther at Pauye and there bewaylyng one to another the commoÌ„ misfortune of their nation and the deceitfullnesse of Belisarius at length would haue made Uraias theyr kyng The whych thyng he would not in any wyse suffer them to doe excusing him selfe by thys reason that for as much as he was Uitigis brothers sonne he myght not seeme to haue done eyther lyke a kynsman or lyke an honest man yf he shuld take y e kyngdome vpon him whiles Uitigis were alyue Through thys allowable erâ—se alledged for hymselfe he was the occasion that Ildouade a man of great aâ—horitie and power amonge the Gothes and which had bene ruler of Ueron a longe tyme before was created kynge Ildouade therefore beynge sent for oute of Ueron vnto Pauye was there inuested in hys purple Robes of estate and pro claymed kynge of the Gothes to the entent he shoulde studye and take care for the saufgard of hys countrey men Beyng in thys sorte made kynge he sent ambassadours by by to RaueÌ„na vnto Belisarius geuing them charge to put hym in remembraunce of hys promise lately made for the taking vpon him of the kingdome of Italy of the Gothes not letting to reproue him openly of breakinge his faithfull promise through whiche cautel the Gothes were deceyued Wherefore if he woulde yet accomplishe his promise in proclaiming him selfe kyng and shewe the same in his doings Ildouade offered him selfe to come to Rauenna to laye of hys robes of estate at hys féete But yf he had rather be themperours slaue then to be Emperour himself he oughte not to be discontented though Ildouade the Gothes that remayned endeuoured to prouide for the saufgard of theyr weale publique Thys was the summe of theyr ambassade Belisarius answered openly there vnto that as long as the Emperour Iustinian lyued he would neuer take vppon him to be kynge Wyth thys answere the Ambassadours retourned to Ildoâ—ade vnto Pauie And Belisarius hauynge decked hys Nauie sayled towarde Constantinople wyth Uitigis and dyuers other noble men of the Gothes and all the kynges Threasure the fyfth yere after the warre was begonne in Italy The thyrde booke of Lenard Aretine concernyng the warres in Italy against the Gothes ⧠The first Chapter ¶ Thentertainement that Belisarius and his prisoners had at Constantinople A commendation of Belisarius good gouernement by comparison betwene hym and the Captaiâ—es that succeded hym WHen Belisarius was come to Constantinople y â— Emperoâ—r Iustinian welcomed hym with great ioy and hauing hym in great reputation and honour put out of mynd all mistrust that he had coÌ„ceyued of his doinges before The Gothes whom he had brought with him were entertayned very gently and courteously and men wondered to beholde theym the whych mighte seme to haue chaunced not without good cause For there was Uitigis king of the Gothes that of late had besyeged Rome wyth such a multitude and his wyfe Amulusuentha the nece of Theoderich somtime king of the Gothes who first brought them into Italy and there gaue them possessioÌ„s Furthermore there were the two sonnes of Ildouade then Kynge of the Gothes whom Belisarius fynding in the Courte of Uitigis at Rauenna wold not suffer to depart but brought them away w t hym into Grece There were other noble men of the Gothes also whom al men beheld wondering at the puissans of Belisarius that had atcheued so great exploytes and extoâ—ling him wyth prayses to the skye in that he had lately before subdued Aphrycke and now Italy vnder the dominion of Iustinian And thus went the worlde in Grece In Italye after the departure of Belisarius the order of thynges by the commaundement of the Emperour was committed to the discretion of Iohn of Bessas of Uitalis Constantian also was come out of Dalmatia was added to the nuÌ„ber of the Gouernours It was soone seene what difference there was betwene y â— gouernment of these men of Belisa For to omitte his skilfulnesse in feats of warre cheualrie wherin he far surmounted al the Captaines of his time there was in him a singuler humanitie gentlenes through the which he exhibited himself aswell to the poore as to the rich There was no maner of per son but might haue casie fre accesse to his presens besides that he was wonderous bountifull liberall Unto his souldiers that had lost theyr horses weapons and armour so it were not cowardly forthwith he gaue new agayne Of the husbandmen he had so great regarde that in leading of hys armie he would not suffer any of them to be hurte or endomaged Hys souldiers durste not be so bolde as to touche the Apples hangyng on the trees Through this his straightnesse in obseruing the lawe of armes he obteyned that his campe was more plentifully serued then the marketts in any citie So free and without peryll was the conueyance of all things that were to be solde His vprightnesse towarde suche Cytyes as were in societie and leage wyth hym no man is able to reporte as it deserued Men myghte heare of the great good tournes that he dyd for them but not that he vered or molested any of them But as for them that succeded hym they were nothynge lyke hym neyther in humanitie neyther in prowesse neyther yet in vpryght dealynge For bothe they them selues were Pyllers and Pollers and also they suffered theyr Souldyers to fall into all kynd of licentiousnesse disorder beynge proude to theyr partakers and easye inough to be entreated toward their enemies by meanes wherof within short space matters began to goe cleane backeward and to slyde into open and manifest ruine as I shall shewe you hereafter The. ij Chapter ¶ The diligence of Ildouade kinge of the Gothes the greate misgouernaunce of the Imperiall Captaines by meanes whereof they be brought lowe and the Gothes incresed in strength and courage The death of Vraias the death of Ildouade the electtion and death of Ataricus and the election of Totilas ILdouade beyng newly created kyng of the Gothes as I declared before after the departure of Belisarius went in hand wyth hys matters very diligently For he gaue commaundement that
all the Gothes and all the Italians that fauored the Gothyshe parte should at a daye appoynted meete all togyther readye furnished with armour at Pauye His armye at y e beginning was verye slen der but it coÌ„tinually encreased euery daye was in better hope and comforte then other 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 accounpt 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 succeded 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 promysed by the Cytyes to the Gothes the whyche they chalenged to the Emperour as due by the name of forfeyture they broughte euerye man priuatelye and all the Cytyes generallye in suche a despayre that they wyshed y e Gothes to be lordes of all againe therevppon many of their owne frée will reuolted to Ildouade helpinge to augment the number strength of his armie The lyke grudge was also in themperours armie For loke with what greadines the money that was neuer due was exacted of the Italians with like pinching were the souldiers restrayned of theyr due deserued wages There was no regarde had of any thyng but one which was to satisfye the Emperours vnsatiable coustousnes 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 mea nes whereof Ildouade daylys growynge stronge brought vnder hys obeysance all the Cyâ—es beyonde the â—uer Po and all the Cytyes perteyâ—ynge to the estate of Uenicâ— and â—armye was fullye furnished with number both of Italians and Gothes Through the whyche within a whyle he was so encouraged that he was not a â—ayde to leade hys armye into open â—ld to try the fortune of battel This 〈◊〉 was fought not farre fâ—oÌ„ Taruisium against Uitalis one of the Emperours Captaines In the which Ildoâ—ade gerting â—hupper hand made 〈◊〉 a slaughter of Uitalis army y â— whiles the captaâ—e himself w t a few sted away all the rest were â—ither slain or taken prisoners by the Gothes Through this â—ictorie being so great so notable it is a wonder to see how the gothes were encouraged how much the power of their aduâ—rsaries was abaâ—d In so much y â— not only beyonde the Ryuâ—r Po and vnder the dominion of Uenice but also all suche as on thys syde the Po helde of the Gothy she part were throughly strengthened and the name of Ildouade grewe famous euen in the Emperour Iuâ— Court and amonge foreine nations also It was not long after but that he pursued to y â— death Uraias a man of much aucthoritie and estimation among the Gothes vpon presumption y â— he should conspâ—re with his enemies This cause was pretended Howbeit somme were of opinion that he tooke prytch agaynst Uraias bycause that latly before there had bene altercation betwen his wife and the Quéene But surely I cannot thiâ—ke 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 Uraias I beleue rather that the cause why Ildouade dyd putte him to death was that he feared his power aucthoritie For it is manifest that the Gothes in generall are of nature very mistrustfull and scarce sufficientlye faithfull toward their kinges Many of the Gothes dissalâ—wed the death of Uraias and openly detested it as a 〈◊〉 and wicked acte By meanes wherof it came to passe that Ildonade himself was â—ayne by one of his owne 〈◊〉 whiles he sate at his meate In his stead was Ataricus created King but he raigned not long For w tin fiue monethes after his election he was slain by his owne subiectes for his euil behauiour misgouernement Thus hauing killed two of their kinges w tin two yeres space they offered the kingdome with one consent vnto Totilas This man before he was made kynge had borne great aucthority at Tarui siner which is a citie of the Uenetians and hys father was brother to 〈◊〉 late Kynge The. iii. Chapter ⧠A larger declaration of the election and â—ation of Totilas mencioned brieflye in the Chapter before The Emperours Câ—ptaines through their insaciable grediâ— of pray stryuing for the bootie before they had gotten it lose the Citiâ— Veron â—hiche was deliuered into their handes and betâ—ay their â—wne companie AFter that Ildonade as I shewed before was sâ—aine Totilas dreading to be in daun ger bycause 〈◊〉 was so nere of his kinne sent priuely to Kauenna made compact with themperours captaines to turne vnto them with such as he had rule of to yeld vp y â— town of Taruisium into their haÌ„ds A day was limited for performans of y â— matter But ere euer y â— day came the Gothes repentiâ—g y â— they had 〈◊〉 in y â— death of Ildouade that they had made 〈◊〉 their king a 〈◊〉 nether of wisdome nor courage able to defend y â— Gothes against so great strength of their enemies began to encline to To tilas the nere kiâ—sman of â—douade to wishe that he were their king In coÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of the way made Toâ—ilas king in dede 〈◊〉 hauing intelligence of these things y â— had â—appened in Italy found great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—oward nes of his captaiâ—s y â— in al the 〈◊〉 y â— their eâ—mies were 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 among themselues among so many alterations chaunges they hauing so great oportunity for y e speÌ„ding of their matters had done nothing at al. The captaines moued w t this dishonorable rebuke asseÌ„bled togither at Raueâ— There when it came to â—onsul as concerning the war it was thought best first formest to send an armye against y â— citie Ueron For they had 〈◊〉 secretly put in hope of 〈◊〉 of y â— towne The captaines were in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whoÌ„ the thieâ—e were 〈◊〉 AleraÌ„der lately sent thither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perour for the collection of his money Therfore setting forth wyth a greate armye when they approâ—hed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ueron they determyned to putte in tryall the hope that was lately geuen theym For there was one Martine a noble man of that Countrie that had a Castle not farre from â—eron 〈◊〉 for as much as in his â—rt he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had allured the keâ—r of one of the gates to let in y â— emperoâ—s army â–ª The matter being in this wyse closely agreed vpon when the captaines came thither with their