The history of the warres of the Emperour Justinian in eight books : of the Persian, II, Vandall, II, Gothicke, IV / written in Greek by Procopivs of Caesarea ; and Englished by Henry Holcroft, Knight.

CHAP. III.

TOtilas forthwith sent forces against Florence, commanded by Bledas, Rode∣ricus, and Valiaris, who sate down before it. Justinus within it having laid in no provisions, sent to Ravenna, praying the Commanders to come to his succour. The messenger by night slipt by the Enemy, and reported their Estate to the Roman Commanders in Ravenna, whereupon an army of good im∣portance under Bessas, Cyprianus and John, Vitalianus his Sisters Son, marcht to Flo∣rence. The newes of them raised the Goths siege, who retired to Micale, a Town standing a dayes journey from Florence. The Roman army left with Justinus some few men, and went against the Enemy: Upon the way they advised to make choise of one of the Commanders of most account, suddenly to set upon the Enemy, and the rest to march after fair and softly; they cast lots, and fortune gave it to John; but the commanders would not stand to the agreement, so that John with his own troops only went against the enemy. The Goths understanding their coming, left the cham∣pian, and in fear and tumult ran up to a high hill: Johns Troops ran up also, and be∣gan the fight. The Goths valiantly opposed, and many brave men fell on both sides. Then John furiously giving upon the Enemy with a great shout, one of his life guard was slain by a dart, whereupon the Romans retired, beaten back: Then came up the rest of the Roman army, and in the plain put themselves in batallion, and made an halte: if they had set upon the flying Troops of John, and with them set upon the Enemy, they had gotten the day, and had them almost all at their mercy; but an unlucky rumor was spred that John was slain in the fight by one of his owne Life-Guard, so that they would stay no longer, but made a shamefull retreate, not reti∣ring in a whole body, nor yet in Troops; but every man ran away as he could. Ma∣ny of them perished, and they who escaped ran on for many dayes, none pursuing them, and at last every man as he could got into strong places, reporting to all they met, that John was slain: From thence forward they joyned not, nor had thought of making head; but every one kept within his walls, expecting a siege. To∣tilas gained his prisoners with his much humanity to serve him willingly against the Romans, and then ended the winter, and the seventh year of this warr, written by Procopius.

Totilas then took in the Castles of Cesina and Petra,* 1.1 came into Tuscany; and the Towns there not yeilding to him, he past the Tiber, but would not touch upon the Territories of Rome, but went into Campania and Samnium, and tooke without labour the strong Town of Beneventum, and layd the walls flat with the Ground, that the Romans coming from Constantinople might not from a fortified place infest the Goths. Naples refusing to receive him, notwithstanding his fair words (having Conon within, with a thousand Romans and Isaurians) he incamped before it with the most part of his army, and sent out some forces, who took in Cuma and other fortresses, from whence he raised great sums of mony. The wives of some Senators he found in the fame, who had no incivility used to them, but were dismist with much curtesie: from whence he got a great fame of the Romans of discretion and huma∣nity. He still sent out small parties (no Enemy appearing against him) and did things of good importance, taking Bruttia, and Lucania, Apulia, and Calabria, He took up the Tributes, and from the land-holders received the rents; disposing all things as absolute Master of Italy. The Roman army hereby received no enter∣tainments, and the Emperour owed it huge summs; and the Italians mourned, be∣ing reduced to so great danger, The Souldiers also grew more disobedient to their Commanders, and were glad to lye still in their Garrisons. Constantianus held Ra∣venna, John Rome, Ressas Spoletum, Justinus Florence, and Cyprianus Perusia; eve∣ry one the place he had fled to. The Emperour hereof advertised, and esteeming it a great calamity,* 1.2 forthwith made Maximinus * Praefect of the Palace for Italy, that he might be over the Commanders, and to furnish provisions to the Souldiers. With him he sent a navy, having aboard an army consisting of Thracians under Herodian, and of Armenians under Phazas an Iberian, sisters Son of Peranius, and some few Huns they had with them. Maximinus from Constantinople, with his Fleet came up∣on

the coast of Epirus, where he spent the time to no purpose, being no Souldier, a coward; and an extream delayer. Afterward the Emperour sent Demetrius Ge∣nerall; who had formerly commanded a company of Foot under Belisarius: He arriving in Sicily, and hearing how Conon was besieged in Naples and in great want of victuall, had a mind to succour him speedily; but with so small an army being not able, be freighted a number of ships, (which he got together from all parts of. Si∣cily) with corn and other provisions, making the Enemy beleive that he had a great army abroad, who indeed hearing of a huge navy coming from Sicily, expected a great army with it. If Demetrius had made directly for Naples, he had frighted a∣way the Enemy and saved the city. But he was afraid to put in there, and sailed on to the port of Rome, imploying himself there to gather together the Souldiers; Who being already beaten by the Goths, and extreamly afraid of them, refused to follow him against Totilas. So that with those only he brought from Constantinople, he went towards Naples. Another Demetrius, a Cephalenian, an ancient marriner ve∣ry skilfull, when he sailed with Belisarius into Affrica and Italy, grew famous for his skill, and the Emperour made him Procurator of Naples. In the beginning of the Goths seige there, being a man of a foul intemperate tongue, he used many disgrace∣full words against Totilas. the Famin there growing, and the mortality still increa∣sing, with Conons consent he adventured in a small bark alone to go secretly to De∣metrius, and hardly escaping, he met with Demetrius, and incouraging him, drew him to undertake the businesse. Totilas hearing of the Fleet coming back, prepared many Pinnaces swift of sail, and the enemy being upon the coast neer Naples, he set on them suddenly, amazed them, and put them to flight; killing many and taking more: They only escaped, who at first leapt into the cock-boats, among whom was Demetrius the Generall. The shipps the Goths took with all their men and Lading, and there sound Demetrius the Procurator of Naples, whose Tongue they cut out, and so let him go whether he would; such was the punishment of Demetrius for his intemperate language. Afterward came Maximinus with his Fleet upon the coast of Sicily, where he sate still in Syracuse, afraid of the war. The Roman commanders, and especially Conon from Naples (whom all provisions now failed) sent to him to come to their succours: He wore out the season in this cowardly fear; but at last fearing the Emperours menaces, and wearied with the revilings of all men, he staied himself; but sent the army to Naples under Demetrius, Herodian, and Phazas in the sharpest of the winter. The Fleet being neer to Naples a storm took them, so great, that Demetrius and the two other yeilded to the Sea. The Waves would not suffer the sea men to use their Oares, nor do any other worke, neither could they hear one anothers call for the Tempest. Confusion had the victory, and the storme was the absolute judge, bringing them against their wills to the shoare, where the Enemy was incamped; who clining up into their vessells, kill'd men and sunk ships none resisting; many prisoners they took, and the Generall himself, Demetrius. He∣redian and Phazas, with some few putting in further from the Enemies campe, esca∣ped.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Incipit An. 8. bel. Goth 6. Justiniani, Anno domini 542.
• * 1.2

  Praefectus praetorio per Italiam.