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, vi. Chapter.

¶ A newe Lieuetenant is sent towarde Italy whose cowardnesse in protracting of the time doth not a litle endomage the imperi alls. Demetrius deuiseth prudently for the r••owing of Naples, which for want of courage in executinge the same tourneth to his owne destruction.

JUstinian hearinge of thys, and beynge disquieted for the mise∣rable estate of Italye and the dishonour of the Empyre. Sent one Maximius (receyuer of hys reue∣nues) into Italye, to amende and repayre thynges amisse, geuynge hym a nauye of shyppes and an

armye of Thracians and Armenians. Captayne of the Thracians was He∣rodian, and Captayne of the Arme∣nians was Phases. Besydes these, he had also in hys shyppes no smalle number of the Hunnes. Maximius departynge from Constantinople, came into Epyre. There in delibe∣ratynge vppon the affayres of Ita∣lye, hangynge in doubte betwene hope and feare, throughe his flouth∣fullnesse and cowardyse, helost the tyme. For thys Maximine was a good gentyllman, of a mylde na∣ture, meete for matters of peace, but altogyther vnskyllfull of warre∣lyke exploytes, and therefore fearfull, fyndynge delayes and eastynge doub∣tes in euery trifle. Now thaffaires of Italy at y^• time, required quicke spede both in consultinge and in workinge. Iustinian saw so smal hope of any good doinge in Maximine, he sent one De∣metrius (because that lately before he had serued vnder Belisarius in

the warres in Italy) wyth another na∣uie into Si••. This Demetrius when he was arryued in Sicill, hearyng of the syege of Naples, and of the dys∣tresse that they were putte vnto that were within, determyned to succour theym, and that wythoute further de∣laye. Now for as muche as he thought hymselfe not able to dooe it by playne force, bycause that neyther hys ship∣pes nor hys army were sufficient ther∣vnto, he deuysed thys pollicye. He gate togyther all the shyppes that he coulde comme by in Sicill, and made of theym a greate flete as to the show, the whyche he fraughted wyth corne, and so made sayle towarde Naples.

Thys thynge dyd bothe greatlye com∣forte the besyeged, and also putto the Gothes in greate feare. For they had hearde saye, he was commynge wyth a greate number of shyppes, and they thoughte verylye he hadde broughte a greate power of men in theym. And surely yf he had gonne

dyrectlye vnto Naples at the fyrst, all thynges had happened to good successe and the besyeged Cytye had oute of all doubte bene saued. For hys enemies were so dysmayed at the multitude of hys shyppes that they durste not haue made anye countenaunce of resistens. Howbeit he knowyng his own weak∣nesse, 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 vanquis∣shed by the Gothes in twoo foughte battelles, they stoode in feare of theym beyonde all measure. Beynge therefore destitute of thys hope, De∣metrius was compelled to go against hys enemyes wyth those shyppes one∣lye, that he broughte wyth hym from Constantinople. Totilas kepte con∣tinuallye readye furnysshed certayne ••wyfte Pynesses in the hauen of

Naples, and alwayes tooke diligent heede to the flete of Demetrius. wher fore when he heard that Demetrius was sette oute of Rome toward Na∣ples, and that he was arriued at the nexte shore, sodaynelye he sette vp∣pon hym wyth hys Pynesses tho∣rowe the whyche sodayne vnlooked for assaulte, the shypmen and soul∣dyers were stryken in suche a feare, that they tooke theym to flyghte.

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

Notes

• A new lieue∣tenant sent in to italy.
• The ••ward nes of Maxi∣mius.
• The prudent pollicie of de metrius yf he had followed it.
• Occasion let slyppe wilnot be cawght againe.