The historie of Leonard Aretine concerning the warres betwene the Imperialles and the Gothes for the possession of Italy, a worke very pleasant and profitable. Translated out of Latin into Englishe by Arthur Goldyng.

❧ The. vj. Chapter.

¶ Belisariua arriueth in Italy, and after long 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wynneth Naples.

BElisarius vppon the receipt of the Emperours letters, when he shuld passe into Italy, leauing garrisons of souldiours at Syracuse and Panor∣mus, went with the residu•• of his ar∣mie to M••ssana: and there wosted ouer vnto Regium. From thence he led his armie by lande through the Brutians and Lucanes, commaunding his na∣uie to coast him by the shore of the nei∣ther 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 iour∣ney, 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 situ∣ation of the citie & the nature of y^• place vpon the land. It was not long after

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 wis∣dome and authoritie in the citie.

He spake these wordes in effect: that Belisarius dyd not well to make war vppon the Neapolitans, whiche ne∣uer 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 sub∣••ion of other men. But yf so be it he myght be so bolde to say hys mynd, he dyd vnaduisedlye to l••nger there in vayne. For hadde he once gotten Rome, he shoulde strayghte wayes obteyne Naples. But yf he were sette besyde Rome, he were not able to keepe Naples though he had it.

Wherefore it had bene méeter for him to haue gone firste of all to Rome a∣gainst the Gothes that wer there, and not to haue stayed at Naples, the whi∣ch should fall as an ouerplus to the lot of the Conquerour which way so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the world went. Belisarius replied therevnto, that whether he did adui∣sedly or vnaduisedly in tariyng aboute Naples, was no part of their charge to determine, for he asked not their coun∣sell 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 saufe∣garde and libertie by receyuynge the Emperours armye, or by continuyng in bondage vnder the barbarous Go∣thes worthely to be besieged and vtter ly destroyed. For he was fully purpo∣sed not to depart thence vntyll he had the citie at his pleasure, his desier was to obteyne the towne rather withoute their destruction then w^t it. This was his saying openly. And secretly he per∣suaded

Stephan to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Citizens rather to seke themperours good will & fauour, then his indignation & displea∣sure. Thoratours at their re••ourne in∣to the citie, reported the words of Be∣lisarius. And when thei came to consul tation as concerning the same, Ste∣phen being demaunded his opinion in the case, saide he thought it to daunge∣rous a matter for the ••politanes, to tourne the brunt of so great a warre vppon themselues, and therefore he wisshed them by some composition or other, to prouide for their saufegarde. This counsell was furthered also by one Antiochus a Syrian borne, who had continued longe tyme at Naples as in the waye of traffique & marchan∣dise, a man of great wealth & of much credit among the Neapolitanes, he by persuading the lyke that Stephan had done, had moued many to be of hys opinion: the people also & the commōs of the citie were desirous of the same. In so much that shoutes were openly

heard crying out to haue the gates set open and Belisarius let in. There were about eyght hundred Gothes in garrison, who albeit that it greeued them to see these things, neuerthelcsse for as muche as they durste not with∣stand the wyll of the people, gathered themselues together. Pastor and As∣clepiodotus citizens of Naples beyng frends of the Gothes, and therefore so∣rye to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the prescnt estate of the citie altered, when they sawe howe the peo∣ple were bent, durste not openly gain∣say theyr desyres, but wrought by an ouerthwart meanes to breake thagre∣ment. And there vppon allowyng and praysing openly all that was determi∣ned in the assemblye, as though it had lyked them verye well, they counselled to knitte vp the matter stronglye with many bandes and couenaunts, requi∣rynge an othe for performinge of the same. The articles that they had deui∣sed were suche as they thought Beli∣sarius woulde not haue consented vn∣to,

in especiallye seynge he shoulde be sworne to the performaunce of them. Therefore in as much as they seemed to speake these thynges of good wyll to the people, they obteyned to haue the decree made accordynge to theyr owne deuise. And therevppon all thynges were penned and fayre wor∣des engroced. Stephan was sent with the Booke from the Citie to Belisa∣rius. Who after he hadde perused the same agreed to euery article, and offe∣red to be sworne for the keeping of thē. Stephan returned and brought worde thereof into the citie. Wherat the peo∣ple greatly reioysing began to runne to the gates, sayinge that Belisarius should be let in. Pastor and Asclepio∣dotus seyng this, when they perceyued that their first crafts tooke no place, cal∣led together the Gothes and citizens of Naples such as wer of their own facti∣on. Declaring vnto them that it was a folly to lose the towne at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the vnskylfull multitude.

For what man had so lytle witte that could not vnderstand, that if Belisari∣us were in any hope at all of winning the citie, he would neuer haue consen∣ted 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 then∣tent to make them traitours at theyr vttermoste peryll. For if he bare them so much good wyll as he pretended, he would not haue there taricd to surprise 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 Citi∣zens to make resistence, and also en∣couraged the Gothes to stand to the de fence of the Citie. Besids this they ar∣med 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

and couenaunts with Belisarius wer broken. Belisarius therefore after that time addressed himselfe to the sie∣ge. Oftentymes when he attempted to winne it by assaulte, he was put to the repulse with great losse and peryll of hys souldiours. For the walles of Naples are partly enuironed with the sea, and partly do stand vppon high and steepe places, so that it is a very harde matter to scale them. The conduit py∣pes by which water ranne into the ci∣tie, albeit they were all broken by Be∣lisarius: yet not withstanding it semed to be no great discommoditie to them that were besieged, because they had manye Welles in the towne, so that they could want no water. But most of all hurted them the hope of helpe to come, for as much as thei had sent their Ambassadours to Rome for ayde a∣gainst their enemies. Now as Belisa∣rius was in maner paste hope, and thought to haue broken vp his siege, Fortune wonderfully opened the way

of conquest vnto him. There was a wa ter chanel cut deepe into the 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 soul∣dier of Clandiople by chaunce ente∣ring into the same, went in it hard to the walles of the citie. There was at the place where it went vnder the wall a stone not layed by mannes hand but of nature, through the whiche there was a hole bored to let the water into the citie. But the hole was not so wyde that a man might enter in at it. The which when the souldier had well vie∣wed, 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 fello∣wes to helpe hym, and to open the

stone more, not by diggynge and hea∣wynge least the noyse of the strykynge should be wray them, but by fyling and scrapyng and that very softly. Loke as the Captayne commaunded so the souldyer dyd. To be short, through the continuall and diligent paynestakyng of the souldyer it was brought to that poynt, that a man in harnesse wyth hys sworde and hys target in his hand myght eas••y go through. When the matter stood in thys case, Belisarius perceyuyngc he shoulde bee may∣ster of the Citie when he lyst hyinselfe, and lothe that hys souldyers shoulde sacke it, called out Stephan vnto him againe, and putte hym in remem∣braunce of the miserable chaunces that are wonte to happen vnto Cities that are taken perforce, as the slaugh∣ter of men, the rauyshyng of women at euery Uarlettes pleasure, the bur∣nyng of houses, the sackyng and re∣uing 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 pe∣ryll, for as yet they had tyme to repent them of their folly, Stephan hearynge these thinges, at his retourne declared the same to his citizens with sighes and teares. But they despising his wordes had hym in derison for his labour.

Belisarius therefore executynge hys prepensed purpose, when he had fully determined to take the citie, prouided for the same in this maner. Assoone as euer it beganne to be darke, he chose out foure hundred souldiours, com∣maundynge euery one of them to put on hys harnesse and to take his sword•• and hys target in his hande, and being so armed in a readinesse, to kepe them∣selues close without noyse, vntyll they had knowledge what they should doe. He appoynted leaders of them Mag∣nus and Emias stout men, in whose puissaunce he dyd putte muche confi∣dence. When it was now past myd∣nyght,

he disclosed the matter to the leaders, and shewyng them the place commaundeth them to lead che soul∣diers through the channell by torche∣lyght. And assoone as they were got∣ten into the citie, he taught them what they should doe, wyllyng them to take some part of the walle, and to geue to∣ken thereof by the sound of a trumpet. He him selfe had prepared before hand a great sort of ladders to scale the wals with, commaundyng all his armye to be ready in their harnes, wherof he had the nymblest and best practised aboute his owne persone. Whyles he was thus aboute his matters, many of the souldiers that were with Magnus re∣tyred 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. Uppon the which reproche euen they that before refused to go, fo∣lowed.

The souldiers went a long and a blynde way in the chanell. For it en∣ded not at the wall, but led further in∣to the citie, being vaulted ouer aloft with B••cke In so much that y^• souldi∣ers wist not where they were, vntyll they espyed the skye at the ende of the vault. Then they perceyued themsel∣ues to be in the middes of the citie, out of the which place it was a hard mat∣ter for them to escape, because they had ylfauoured clymbing vp vpon the high walles wherew^t it was enclosed round about. Neuerthelesse at length when one had helpe•• vp another & all were come owt, they went to the walles there hauing slayne the watchemen toke two towres, & from thens gaue asigne by sownding atrumpet, and making a greate shoute. By and by Belisarius made toward the same plates, and rering vp ladders comaun∣ded his souldyers to scale y^• towne. In the same place happened much trouble & muche taryens, by reason the ladders

(being made secretly by ame) were 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 instaunt was a sharpe encounter at the other side of y^• towne that is toward the sea. For in the same place fought a multitude of Iewes, leud & desperat persōs, such as hoped for no fauour nor mercy if y^• citie were ta∣ken. And therefore they stood stoutly at defens, geuing no place of entrance to thenemie. Another part of the host had set fier on y^• East gate, & made hast to breake into the citie. In the meane sea∣son the day began to breake, & the soul∣diers y^• had scaled vp by ladders, had bro ken open a gate to let in tharmy, & ther withall thother company russhed in at the East gate y^• was before set on fier. Then was there running through the citie, and all places were defiled with slaughter and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

But inespecially those souldyers pla∣yed 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 cru∣elly, 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 ron∣uyng aboute the Citie, assayled them behynd. Then was enterans made on that parte of the Citie also, and euery place was repleneshed with slaughter and sacking. But Belisarius himself after the taken of Naples, vsed the vic∣torie veri gently. For after that weapō was ones Layd out of hand, he suffe∣red not any Citizen to be eyther slayne or taken prysoner, and he restored the women to their husbandes and paren∣tes vnrauished and vndefiled at all.

Towarde the Gothes also which were there in garrison, he shewed no maner of cruelty. As for Pastor and Asclepio∣dotus the Authours and causes of so great mischiefes, not Belisarius, 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 Asclepiodotus at home kylled hym and drewe hym tho∣rough 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 despaire and sorow of mynde. Yet not∣withstaindinge the people bearynge a deadly hatred against him, neuer left sekyng him, vntill such tyme as they fawe hys dead carcas wyth their eyes. Neyther coulde they be satisfied, but that they tare hys bodye in pecces eue∣rye member from other. And Belisa∣rius did beare with theyr outragious dealynge, for the euyll whych they had cōmitted, vpō whom such cruelty was

extended. Naples therefore was by this meanes bothe taken and saued.

Notes

• The arriuall of Belisarius in Italy,
• Belisarius cō∣meth to Na∣ples.
• The words of the Neapoli∣tan ambassa∣dour to Belis.
• The answere of Belisarius to thembassa∣dour.
• Good counsel if it had bene taken.
• The craftye dealing of Asclepiodotus and Pastor.
• Fayre wordes make fooles fayne & wyse men to some∣••.
• The malice of Pastor and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 brusteth 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Good fortune of Belisarius.
• the clementie and mercy of Belisarius.
• The meane whereby Be∣lisarius won Naples.
• Shame sur∣mounteth dread of dau•• ger.
• Naples is ta∣te••.
• The desparate fighting of the iewes.
• The clemen∣tie and gentle vsing of the victorye by Belisarius.
• Euyll counsel worst to the geuers therof