ABSTRACT
And so the Duke saw that he could do nothing ; he departed thence displeased and went, by sea and by land, to Mazzara. And before he reached it, micer Simon de Vallguarnera had entered it with his company, and he at once issued out to fight them. What shall I tell you ? They also tried to attack Mazzara and there as well they took great damage. And then they departed from Mazzara and went to Sciacca ; and there likewise, micer Simon de Vallguarnera had entered with his company before they reached it, and there likewise they took great damage. What shall I tell you ? Departing from Sciacca, they came to Caltabellota and to Cattolica and Girgenti and then to Alicata and to Naro and Terranova and Caltagirone and to Scicli and to Modica and to Syracuse and to Noto and to Bucheri and to Forla and to Palazzolo and to Xom a and to Noia and to Ragusa and to Agosta and to Lemi and to Catania. And, at each of these places micer Simon de Vallguarnera was before him with his company, doing much damage to his host. And then he helped to defend the places, so that he followed him in such manner, that no man could leave the host to get grass nor anything else without being either killed or taken prisoner. Thus he did him great damage. He had to leave Catania and he went to embark in his fleet to the left of Catania and, on leaving there, he went along the coast and landed sometimes, but never w'ent near the city of Messina. And then he reviewed his company and found that he had lost full half his people, some by sickness, some in deeds of arms. And so also, knowing that the Lord King of Sicily, his uncle, was in the plain of Milazzo, he prepared to go and fight him. And he thought that the Lord King Fadrique would come against
him with a great force of sound and rested men and that they were all of one mind and will, but that he was with worn-out men, who had had great disappointments and who were of various nations and various minds, wherefore the battle would not be safe for him. And so he embarked and passed into Calabria, to the city of Reggio, greatly displeased. And so he should be, for, in all Sicily, he had not been able to take one estate nor manor nor town ; rather he pondered on the great damage he had taken.
