galeys and castyng their ankers drewe as neere the shore as they coulde Asdruball perceyuinge the other two galeys or rowbarges of Scipios comynge towardes the same hauen knewe full welle they were the vesselles of his ennemyes Wherefore not doubtynge but that they beynge soo fewe in numbre myght easyly be oppressed and vanquysâ—hed before they shoulde gette the hauen he commaunded his folkes to wey vp the ankers and to make theim redy to sette furthe with all speede But the other hauynge good wynde to theyr furtherance entred the hauen before the galeys of Asdruball myght gette out suche ruffelinge noise and littell shifte was made by his men Wherefore when the Romaynes had ones gotten the kinges hauen no man durste be so bolde to meddell with theym Thus wente the two capyteynes on lande fyrste Asdruball and then Scipio with Lelius and bothe wente to the kynges palayes whose comynge dydde vnto Syphax greatte honour For it was neuer before seene that the gouernoures of the .ii. most noble seignories that were in those dayes in all the world came euer to his palayce vpon one day to desire his amitie and peace The kynge ryght gentylly receyued theim bothe and sens theyr chaunces were to mete both at one time in his howse he dydde what he myght to brynge them both to communication trustynge therby to appease all stryfe and discorde for any mattier that hadde beene betweene theym But that Scipio refused to doo affyrmynge that there was no pryuate matter of displeasure betweene hym and Asdruball whyche by communication or hearynge of friendes neded to be determined Neyther was there any thynge touchynge the common welthe of his countrey wherin he might trauayle or intreate onelesse it were by speciall auctoritie or commaundement of the wholle senate Than the kynge made great instance to Scipio seinge they were bothe his guestes at ones that he wolde be contented to be so ordered that he myghte not haue cause to expelle any of theim bothe frome his table Scipio at the kynges requeste was not onely contented to sytte with Asdruball at oone table but also for the kynges pleasure he laye in the same bedde that he dyd For Scipio was naturally of suche dexteritie and so conformable to reason that thereby he not onely wanne the herte of Syphax but alsoo he broughte his mooste mortall ennemye Asdruball in more admyration of hym after he hadde seene his conuersation than euer he dydde before for any acte that euer he dydde Wherevppon he beganne than to coniecture and to iudge that Syphax with all his myghte was become friende to the Romaynes Suche polycie he deemed Scipio to haue in wynnynge the hertes of men And than he beganne to dyuise that it was necessary for the Carthaginenses to consult among theim selues not how Spayne was loste and myghte be recouered but rather howe they myghte keepe their domynion in Affrica Specyally he was moued thus to be in doubte for that he iudged that soo greatte a capytayne of the Romaynes woulde not leaue the countrey that he lately hadde conquered to wander abrode in a straunge domynyon onely with two galeys leauynge behynde hym his greatte power and committyng hym vnto the daungier of an vnknowen kynge but onely vppon some truste that he had therby to wynne Affrica ¶ Scipio concludinge a peace and amitie with the kynge departed from hym leauynge Asdruball wrapped in manyfolde troubles And within foure dayes after susteynynge many stormes on the seas he arriued in safegard at newe Carthage ¶ Massanissa speaketh secretely with Scipio and entreth in leage with the Romaynes Mago sayleth into Italy to ioyne with Anniball Cap. lvii IT is before declared howe Sillanus had secrete communication with Massanissa and had wonne hym to be friende to the Romaynes but the conclusyon of this communication was deferred tyll Massanissa myghte speake with Scipio personallye for the more sure and faythfull assurance of theyr alliaunce Whiche caused P. Scipio to enterpryse that longe peynfull iourney to come nere to the sea side to mete hym Of whose approchynge Massanissa being in the yle called the Gades was aduertised by L. Martius He fained to Mago that his horses were lost and spylt for that they were so longe kepte within the yle without any exercise and his men also were empayred throughe idlenes not puttynge them selues in vre to do any feates of armes Furthermore he saide their longe lienge in that ilande caused derth and scarsitie of all thynges Wherfore he desired licence of him that he mighte with his horsemen passe ouer in to Spayne there to spoyle and wast the countrey nere to the sea syde ¶ By this perswasyon he obteyned lycence and came ouer in to Spayne At his fyrste arryuaile he sente thre noble men of Numidie to Scipio wherof he wylled him to reteyne with hym two of them as pledges And to sende againe the third of theim to acertayne hym of the tyme and place of theyr metynge by whose conducte he myght be broughte to the place appoynted When the daye came they met to gether with a smalle numbre in their companye where Massanissa at the fyrste syghte althoughe before he had a greate admyration of Scipio throughe the noble fame of his actes yet vppon the syght of hym and his presence he had hym in moche more veneration For besydes that of nature he was indowed with goodlye and large stature wherein he shewed a marueylouse magnifycence yet the same was set forthe the more by reason of his goodly long heare and his comly apparell after a manly and warrelyke fashion He was also of a myddle age at his full strength and was become so beautyfull after a sickenes of whiche he was late recouered that his lusty youthe semed renewed wherby he was more pleasaunt to beholde At theyr first metyng Massanissa half astonied gaue hym humble thankes for his goodnesse shewed in sendynge home his brothers sonne whom he before had as prisoner From which tyme he sayde he ceassed not to seke occasion of his friendshyp and amitie for the whiche nowe that he had obteyned it he gaue thankes to the goddes Trustynge that he wold so apply himselfe in his affayres and the Romaynes causes that theyr common welthe was neuer more aduaunced by one man beinge a straunger vnto them Which his harty beneuolence and good wyll that he bare to them he coulde neuer before althoughe he wolde haue shewed to hym and to them in Spayne beinge to hym a straunge and an vnknowen countrey But in case the Romaynes wolde sende Scipio as theyr capitayne into Affrica where he was bred and brought vp he doubted not there to do them such hie seruice that the honour of Carthage shuld no longe while endure ¶ Scipio gladly behelde hym and also heard hym knowinge surely that he was the chiefe of al the horsemen in the army of his ennemies and a lusty yonge man of a nobleherte and courage Wherfore after they had entreated of theyr busines giuynge faythe the
hym for the defence of Sicilia certaine at his pleasure ¶ King Syphax marieth the daughter of Asdruball he sendeth letters to Scipio willing him to abstein from any warre in Affrica with the aunswere and dyssimulation of Scipio vnto the same Scipio arryueth in Affrica with his hoost to whom cometh Massanissa Ca. lxii VVhyles the Romaynes made this great ordynance for the warre the Carthaginenses fearing greatly the coming of Scipio prepared as moche as they coulde for theyr defence and strengthe Wherfore to plucke Syphax from the amitie of the Romaynes Asdrubal the sonne of Gisgon made hast to fynishe a maryage betwene Syphax and his daughter that was a very fayre mayden The kynge being inflamed with loue made hast also to be maried Then Asdrubal besides his particular aliance made a newe general bonde of amitie betwene hym and the Carthaginenses with greate solempnitie and othes takynge promisynge faythfully that the friendes and ennemies of the one shulde also be the friendes or ennemies to the other Neuer the lesse Asdruball remembringe the promyse of amytie that the kynge had ones made with Scipio when he was lodged with him in his palais knowynge the mutabilitie and vnstedfastnes of those barbarous nations and fearynge leste if that Scipio were ones arryued in Affrica that the bande of mariage wolde be but lyttel worthe Therfore whyles the loue was feruent betwene the kyng and his daughter he by his greate desyre and his daughter also with her fayre entreatynge caused the kynge to sende his embassadours to Scipio into Sicilia with letters gyuynge hym warnynge that he shulde not vpon the truste of any promise to hym before made by the kynge sayle ouer into Affrica aduertisynge hym that he had maryed the daughter of one Asdruball of Carthage whom Scipio mette in his palaice when he arriued in Affrica Furthermore he sayde he was in a greate leage and amitie with the people of Carthage Wherfore he desyred hym and the Romaynes if they wolde warre with the Carthaginenses that they do it farre from Carthage as they haue done heretofore that he shulde not nede to be present at theyr battailes For in case Scipio wold not forbeare Affrica but lay siege to Carthage he coulde no lesse do but fighte for the defence of his countrey of Affrica in which he was gotten borne and brought vp and for the defence of the countrey of his wyfe for her father and family ¶ With these letters came the messangers to the citie of Syracusa to Scipio who parceiued by the contentes of the same that he shuld haue great lacke of the kynges helpe in his busines of Affrica yet he set forth a countenaunce kepynge secrete the cause of theyr coming tyll he had sent them home agayne to the kynge with letters wherin he moued him neuer to breake the promise that he ones made him nor swarue from the faith and amitie made with the Romains wherof the goddes were witnesses When the messangers wer departed with his letters Scipio fearing lest his soudiours wold muse moch and deuise also of the cause of the comynge of the sayd messangers to hyde the sayd cause from them and to put them in courage he dissembled the matter and callinge his men to gether sayde to them ¶ Sirs nowe is the ful tyme for vs to depart hense into Affrica without further tarieng For the kinges our friendes haue sent vnto vs instantly desiring vs to make spede Fyrst Massanissa came to Lelius complaining greatly of our tractynge of tyme. And nowe Syphax hath also sent vnto vs marueylynge why we tary so longe Desiringe that we wyll eyther shortlye come ouer to him or els in case we be otherwise minded to certifie hym by writing that therupon he maye prouyde for hymselfe and his countrey Wherfore sens althinges is now redy and the matter requireth hast I intende to leade mine army nauy to the partes of Lilibeus as soone as the wether serueth to depart with the fauour of the gods towardes Affrica ¶ After these wordes to them spoken he ordered al thynges for his departynge and soone after came to the sayde porte with all his host All his shyppes also met him there The nomber whereof was so greatte that the hauen suffysed not to conteine theym nor the citie coulde not receyue the men Of the certainte of the nombre wrytars do not agre Wherefore I wyll let it passe But it semeth the nomber of the men was greatte that achyeued so greatte an enterpryse and for whom so gret prouisiō was made For there were .iiii. C. shippes charged with men vitailes ordinances and other necessary cariage besides .xx. great and long shippes wherof Scipio him selfe and L Scipio his brother toke the gouernance and other .xx. like shippes vnder the rule of C. Lelius his admyrall of the sea Whiche .xl. great shippes thus deuided sailed euer on both sydes of the other .iiii. C. as wafters for the defence of theyr vitayles and cariage In euery shyppe also he caused to be vittailes and freshe water for .xlv. dayes wherof the meate that wolde serue for .xv. dayes was redye sodden the other was rawe Then gaue he commaundement to al his souldiours to kepe peace and sylence in theyr shyps for troublynge the shipmen and that they shulde be redy to do al that the sayd shypmen desyred them to do if nede requyred With this great numbre of shippes and of mē they departed the day folowyng Euery one of the .xl. long shyppes beinge appointed to haue in the nyght season one lyght euery one of the .iiii. C. laden shyppes u. lyghtes and the capitaynes chiefe ships for a speciall marke or knowlege had thre fayre lightes In the mornynge at the soundinge of a trumpet the vesselles set forth in good order And Scipio hym selfe at his departynge made his praier openly in the audience of many peple on this maner ¶ Oye goddes and goddesses whiche inhabite rule and gouerne both sea and lande I humbly beseche you that ye graūt all thynges that I haue done do or shall do may turne to the honour and welthe of me and the citizens of Rome and that ye wyll be aydynge and assistinge to me in my procedinges So that our ennemies beinge ouer come we maye safe and sounde returne home to our houses laden with the pray gotten by the spoyle of our ennemies Graunt ye also that I may haue power so to do vnto the people and citie of Carthage as they haue intended to do to the citie of Rome ¶ After these wordes doing sacrifice after the custome that they vsed he departed The wynde was good and in shorte space toke them from the fyght of the lande and within foure dayes they were brought vpon the cost of Affrica Then Scipio seinge a great mounteyne or rocke lienge out vpon the sea inquired of the mayster of his shyppe what was the name of that mountain He answered it is named the mount of Beaute Then sayde Scipio I lyke the name and
that they were nothyng priuie nor consentynge to his departynge ¶ Now was Annibal arriued at Tyrus where he was receyued honorably and with great ioy and there he soiourned certaine daies From thense he sayled to Antioche and after that to Ephesus where he founde the king Antiochus who was in great doubte before his comynge in what maner he shulde mainteygne his warres against the Romayns The kyng was greatly comforted by the meane of his coming and also by the beinge there of the embassadours of the Etholiens whoo the same tyme wer departed from the amitie of the Romaines He was determined to moue warre for agree wolde he not to certaine conditions of peace that the Romaines prescribed vnto him Whiche he thought shuld be greatly to the losse both of his honour and also of his dominions For they wold haue caused hym to leaue the possession of certayne cities that he had And also that he shuld not medle in Grece but how and where he shulde moue this warre he was not determyned Anniball was greatly in his fauour and chieifly for that he thought him an expert man a mete counsaylour in his affayres agaynst the Romaynes Anniball euer was of the opinion that he shulde make warre in Italy for that the countrey of Italy is able to furnyshe an army of vitayles and all thynges necessary and also of souldiours if he shulde haue nede of men of armes at any tyme. But sayde he if no warre be moued in Italy soo that the Romaynes maye haue all the hole power therof to make warre in other regions out of Italy then is there no prynce nor nation of the worlde able to withstande the Romaynes Wherfore if ye wyll delyuer vnto me one C. of shyppes of warre and .xvi. thousande fotemenne with one thousande of horsemen I wyll with that power sayle into Affrica trusting to cause the Carthaginenses to rebel agaynste the Romaynes Or in case they wyll not folowe my request yet wyll I inuade some part of Italy and moue warre to the Romaynes Then maye you sayde he to the kyng with all the rest of your power sayle into Europe kepynge your armye in Grece redy to set forwardes as ye se cause ¶ This his counseyle was well allowed of the kinge wherevppon one Ariston an Ephesien a wyse and a trustie manne was chosen to sayle to Carthage to the friendes of Anniball with priuie and speciall tokens by mouthe whiche they knewe wer true and not feyned to shewe vnto theim his purpose For writinge durste he sende none for feare of takynge of the messangers His message onely was to be declared vppon credence ¶ But whyle Aryston went on his message and therin hadde no good spede the ambassadours of Rome were come to Ephesus to knowe of Antiochus the cause why he intended suche warre agaynst the Romaynes among whiche ambassadours it was sayd that P. Scipio called Affricanus was one Whiche ambassadours hauyng knowledge that the kyng Antiochus was a lyttell before gone agaynste the Pisidians and fyndyng Annibal there they diuers times resorted vnto him and had familyar communication with him onely to the intent to make him haue a good opinion of the Romaynes and not to mystruste that any thyng was intended by theym agaynste him Among other communication betwen the ambassadours and Annibal it is remembred that Scipio demaunded of him whome he iudged to be the most noble capitayne that euer he knewe or hearde of To whome Anniball aunswered that it was Alexander of Macedony for that he with a smal power ouercame so many nations and vanquished so many greate armies in battayle traueylynge so many straunge and farre cuntreis whiche passed the power and witte of mannes cumpasse Then Scipio demaunded of hym whom he iudged to be the seconde most noble capytayn He aunswered Pyrrbus which was the most wyse and expert man in placinge his campes in fortifieng his fortresses with watche and ward and in getting the hertes of men vnto his obeysaunce In soo muche that when he warred in Italye the Italyens were gladder to be vnder his gouernaunce beynge but a straungyer then vnder the dominion and power of the Romaynes Then demaunded Scipio whome he thoughte to be the thyrde Withoute fayle sayde he it is my selfe At whych aunswere Scipio laughed and sayde What wouldest thou then haue sayd in case thou haddest ouercome me in battayle as I haue done the Treuly sayde Anniball then woulde I haue putte myselfe before bothe Alexander and Pyrrhus also This aunswere seemed to Scipio very straunge and proude whereby he mynded to take from Scipio al his glory ¶ Durynge this longe taryenge of the Romayne legates at Ephesus nothynge els was wrought but that the often metynge and communication of theym with Anniball made the kynge more to suspecte and mystrust him Whervpon he was no more called to his councel ¶ Agayn one Thoas an Etholien desirous to haue the kyng with all his power to arryue in Grece withoute partynge of the same his strengthe sayde vnto hym Syr the greatte citie Demetrias and the more part of all the cities in Grece loke daylye for your commynge thyther And agaynste your arryuayle ye shall see all the countreye assemble on the seasyde so sone as they may by watches perceyue your nauy comynge on the sea And as touchyng the parting of your shyppes and power that I can in no wyse allowe And in case ye were mynded so to do Anniball of all men is most vnmete to haue the rule and gouernance therof ¶ Fyrst ye must consyder said this Thoas that Annibal is a Carthaginens and an outlaw or banished man frō his cuntrey Whose crafty witte wyl imagyne dayly a. M. newe deuyses euen as fortune dothe varye or as it shall fall into his brayne Agayne yf it shoulde chaunce that Annibal loose his nauie or his men to be vanquyshed the losse wil be no lesse then if any other capitayne had loste theym But in case it shoulde happen hym to haue the vyctorye the honour therof shall wholly abyde with Anniball and not with Antiochus Furthermore if fortune so well serue that Anniball vtterly subdue the Romaynes what will ye then thynke that he will continue in your subiection whiche in his cuntrey culd not suffre him self to be in any obedience Nay said he he that in his youth hath euer coueted in his minde to be Emperour of the hole world will now in age neuer be contented to be vnder the rule of any other if he may chose Wherfore my coūsayl is that ye haue no nede to make Annibal your capitain But if it please you ye may vse his cōpany as your frēd in your iourney takīg his aduise in your affayrs as a prudēt counsailour none otherwise ¶ This crafty and vntrew coūsail of Thoas turned the kīges mynde cleane frome sendynge of Anniball with any army into Affrica which before was thoughte most mete and necessary Wherfore he prepared to sayl in to Grece where by the
than being your consull in whiche it was conteyned that bothe our frendes shuld be spared no mention being made of the SaguÌ„tines for as thâ—n they were not your freÌ„des But verily in the truce that was taken with Hasdruball the Saguntines were excepted against which I wyll say nothyng but that I haue learned of you Truely ye refused to obserue the truce that C. Luctatius your consull dyd decree and make with vs bycause it was not done by auctoritie of the fathers conscripte of your senate than yf you do not obserue and kepe your bandes and truce onelesse they be constitute and made by your auctoritie and coÌ„mandement We also wyll not obserue the truce takeÌ„ by Hasdrubal wherof we were ignorant Wherfore leaue now to speake of Sagunt and Iberus and declare boldly that whyche you haue longe tyme consultynge deuised Than the Romayn Legate aduaunced forthe hym selfe and sayd Here we brynge vnto you peace or warre take whether you wyll Whervnto they fiersely answered that he shulde giue whether he wold And whan he agayn settyng forth his commandement had shewed theym that they shulde haue warre they aunswered all that they wolde accept it and with no lesse courage prosecute the warre than they had receyued it ¶ Whan the Romain ambassadours had proposed the warre as it was commaunded theym they wente from thense into Spayne with fayre behestes to wynne and allure the chiefe cities therof to their fauour and to tourne from the Carthaginenses Fyrst they came to Bargusies who receyued them gentilly bicause they were wery to be vnder the dominion of Carthage sturring moch people with desyre of the new warres From thense they came to the Volcians whose wyse and quicke answere shortly knowen through Spayne turned the resydue of the people from the frendshyp of the Romaynes Thus the eldest of them in counsayle answered ¶ Dye Romaynes how may ye for shame requyre vs to accepte your frendshyp before the frendshyp of the Carthaginenses whan they that so did the Saguntines ye more cruelly betrayed than theyr ennemies dyd destroy Therfore I wold counsayle you to go seke your frendes where the destruction of Sagunt is not knowen For as theyr destruction was an heauy and pitiefull thing to the Spaniardes so is the same a great warnyng and teachyng that no man shulde trust to the promesse and frendshyp of the Romaynes With this answere they were commaunded shortly to depart frome the Volcianes nother coulde they after gette any better frendeshyp of any of the counsayle of Spayne And soo whan they had in vayne trauailed through Spayn they cam into France where whan they had before the nobles and great multitude of the people magnified and extolled the renoume and power of the Romaynes they desyred that the Carthaginenses shulde haue no way through Fraunce to leade theyr army into Italy At which request there arose such a laughing amonge them that as it was sayd scarsely the youth coulde be pacified of the auncient men and rulers Their desyre was thought very folyshe and vnreasonable that the frenchemen shoulde not suffer the Carthaginenses to leade theyr armye through Fraunce but they for other mens pleasure shoulde tourne the warre to them selues and hasarde theyr countrey to be distroyed Whan the noyse was appeased answere was made that the Romaynes were at noo tyme so frendly vnto them nor the Carthaginenses so great foos that they wolde eyther holde with the one or warre against the other They sayd more ouer that the Romaynes hadde dryuen dyuers of theyr countrey men out of Italy and caused other to pay tribute with many other iniuries Suche answere for the moste parte they receyued through all Fraunce nor other newes of peace or frendshyp they scarsely hearde before they came to Massilia There they had knowledge by certayne of theyr frendes that Anniball had obteined the hartes of the frenchmen before and that he had corrupted the princis and rulers with money wherof they were most couetous and desirous of all nations So whan the Romains had wandred through Spayne and Fraunce at laste they came to Rome not longe after the Consuls were gone to the prouinces they founde the citie holly bente on the expectation of warre For it was euidently knowen that the Carthaginenses were passed the riuer Iberus ¶ Howe Anniball renewyng the warre conducted his army into Fraunce to passe the mountaynes Cap. vii AFter Sagunt was wonne Anniball as afore-is sayd went to newe Carthage for the wynter and there heryng what was done and sayd both at Rome and Carthage and that he was not only the capitayne of the warres but also the chief cause therof partyng and deuidyng the residue of the pray and thynkyng to lose no longer tyme called the souldyours of Spayne togyther and exhortynge them to warre sayde on this wyse ¶ I suppose that you my frendes do knowe seingal Spayne is peasyble and at reste that eyther we muste fynysshe the warfare and sende home our souldiours or els begyn warres with some other nation If we seke renoume and victory in other countreys our owne nation shall not onely flouryshe in goodes tranquillitie and peace of theyr owne at home but also enioy the rychesse the iewelles of the spoyle at our conquest Wherfore seing ye must trauayle farre from home and vncertayne it is whan ye shall retourne agayne to se your houses and those whome you loue yf any of you wyll go se his frendes I shall gyue hym spendynge for a season but I warne you all that ye be here ageyne with me at the sprynge of the yere at whyche tyme I intende to begynne the warres by the goddis fauour with great hope of wynnyng and prayse Euery man was gladde of the libertie that Anniball of his fre wyll had gyuen them to go se their countreys and frendes The rest from trauaile whiche they had all the winter season made them stronge and lustye in theyr bodies and couragious to endure the labours and peynes that were to come And at the begynning of ver they assembled togither as it was commaunded ¶ Whan Anniball had taken the musters of all nations that came to ayde hym he departyng from Gades accomplished his vowe made to Hercules and bounde hym selfe with new vowes if his other enterprises dyd prosperousely succede Wherfore prouydyng as well for to withstande inuasions as to inuade by warre leste whyle that he iourneyed by lande through Spayne and France towarde Italy he shulde leaue Affrica open and naked to the Romayns from Sicilia he determyned to leaue there stronge garrisons in all places And for that cause he sent for a bend of Affricanes namely of those that vse to throwe dartes and were lyght harneysed whiche number of Affricanes he leste in Spayne and than sente he a great number of Spaniardes into Affrica to kepe that countrey to the intent they beinge eche of them farre from theyr countreys and frendes shuld as though they were pledges eche for other play the good
distroyeng and burnyng all before hym Than began he to lay siege to the towne but he was driuen thense with great slaughter of his men Wherfore supposynge the citie of Rome to be of a great strength seing that lytell towne was so stronge whose strength and power he than not very prosperously hadde assayde he withdrewe his armye to the plentyfull countrey of Picenus and from thens to Pelignes to Arpos and to Luceria a countrey adioynyng to Apulia styll robbynge and spoylynge the countreys abrode in the way as he went ¶ Whan Fabius whom the Romanes had chosen hygh officer had set all thynge at a stay in Rome he takyng with him the army that before was with Seruilius the consull and also .ii. other newe Romayn legions for the encreasyng of his army went with the mayster of the horsemen Minutius to mete with Anniball and to stay hym from the destruction of the countrey Fabius committing nothyng rashely to fortune by easy iourneis and good espies came into the feldes of Arpos pytchyng his campe not farre from his ennemies Anniball soone after his cōminge brought his people into the fieldes in good aray redy to fyght but Fabius al that day kepte his men in their campe whervpon Anniball rebuking the feble courage of the Romans withdrew his people into their tentes fearyng in his mynde the sobrenes of Fabius whiche was a capitayne chosen farre vnlyke to Sempronius or Flāminius Neuerthelesse to proue the fascion and conduicte of Fabius Anniball very oftentymes remoued his campe and euer spoyled the countreys of the frendes of the Romanes as he went Sometyme he wolde sodeynly conuey his army and than secretely tourne out of the way and lye in awayte yf by chaunce he myght take his ennemies at auantage but Fabius euer ledde his hoste by the high places of the countreis styll kepynge his ennemies in syghte so that he wolde not be farre from theym yet intended he not to giue them battayle his men went neuer out of theyr campe but only for the prouisyon of thynges necessary And whan they lacked vytailes forage or woode he sent a great numbre togyther that they myght walke surely And also those that wente therfore he suffered not to stray farre from the hoste He hadde euer his horsemen and lyght harneysed footemen in a redynesse and in aray for feare of sodayne inuasions of his enemies And also to thintent they shulde be redy to oppresse his foes that at any tyme shulde roue abrode for spoyle or for vitailes he mynded neuer to ieoparde the hole estate of the empire in open battayl but he remayned styl as a stay to weary his enemies Whiche his sobrenes was no lesse displeasant to Anniball thā it was to Minutius the maister of the horsemen For he beinge rashe and desyrous to put all in auenture fyrst pryuily and than openly dyspraysed the slacknes of Fabius callynge hym bothe slowe and fearefull Anniball often remouing cam from Arpos to Samnium wastyng the fieldes of the Beneuentanes and there he toke the towne of Tilesia trustyng by the shewe of soo moche displeasure to cause Fabius to gyue hym battayle There camme to hym the same tyme thre gentylmen of Italy whome Anniball hadde before at the bataile of Trasimenus taken prysoners and delyuered to lybertie without raunsome These men shewed hym that in case he wolde conuey his army into Campania they wolde helpe him with smalle peyne to wynne the noble citie of Capua To this their motion Anniball at length agreed sendyng them to Capua before hym to stere the myndes of the rulers and of the communes therto and to retorne bryngyng him the certaintie of their speede Than commanded he his guyde to leade hym the next way to the fielde of Cassinus hauyng knowlege by diuers expert men of the same countrey that yf he were ones mayster of the hyll and strayte there he shulde stoppe the Romanes from bryngyng any succours to theyr men but that he shuld at his pleasure distroy them But the guide mistaking the name of the countrey toke Casilinus for Casinus Wherfore leadyng hym a wronge way he conducted hym by the countreys of Alifinus Calatinus and Calenus to the fieldes of Stellates Whan Anniball behelde that countrey to be on all partes enclosed with mountaynes and ryuers he inquired of his guyde in what region he than was He answered agayn that the same day he wold bring him to Casilinus Wherat Anniball being displeased caused him to be sore beaten with roddes after hanged for the example of other Than seing that he was so farre frō his purpose he thought in reuengyng of his malice to bourne and spoile that plentyfull countrey about the ryuer of Vulturnus ¶ By this tyme was Fabius come by the hilles to the toppe of Massicus the mountayn where the Romayns myght beholde the Carthaginensis lodged in the fayre playnes vnder them who ceassed not to spoyle the fieldes of Falernus and to burne the houses of Simessa This displeasure entred ernestly into the hart of Minutius who aboue other maligned at the cowardise of the dictatour Fabius And by an oration full of great inuectiues set the hartis of the most part of the host agaynst hym But all theyr murmurynge Fabius lyttell estemyng contynued the reste of the sommer in his olde fascion euer kepyng Anniball from battaile the thyng that he most desyred Whan the wynter began to draw nere Fabius perceiuyng the countrey not to be able to susteyne the host of his ennemies any long season and that there was none other way for them to passe out of the fieldes of Falernus but only by the same strayte wayes by whych they before had entred he sendyng sufficient power of Romans to the hyll of Callicula and the towne of Casilinus hym selfe with the mayster of the horsemen kept the narowe way by whyche Anniball must nedes passe Anniball wylling to proue the maner of kepyng of that strayt came thyther and there made a skirmishe with the Romanes somewhat to his losse and was fayne to recule backe And he perceyuynge the Romans to haue the Samnites and the Campanes their frendes at theyr backes redy to succour them with all necessaries and that he and his hoste were so enclosed that he was like to winter among the stones of Formiana and the sandes of Linterni he forgatte not than to renewe his accustomed subtiltie and craft He inuented a deceyte and mockery very fearefull to mens syght wherby he myght passe the straites by stelthe in the nyght he caused rotten styckes and drye pieces of woode to be gathered togither in the fieldes and fagottes of yong roddes and bowes to be made whych he caused to be tyed to the hornes of oxen and kyne whiche he had before taken at a pray in the countrey some being wylde and some tame There were .ii. thousande beastis that shuld be thus ordred And the charge was committed to Hasdruball that he shuld in the beginnyng of the darknes of the nyght
wythholden therefrome by his felowe Paulus lykewyse professed yf any euyll dyd happen to them and to theyr souldyours that he wold be clere and innocent of the trespasse saying on fote the wynge of the Numidian horsemen wherof Hasdruball was capytayne ioyned also with the Romans ryghte wynge of horsemen The battayle was stronge on both partes but the Carthaginenses vsed greate subtyltie for at the first encounter about .v. C. of the Numidian horsmen hauing swerdes secretely hydde vnder theyr harneys besydes those that they dyd vse to occupy tourning theyr targettes behind theyr backes makyng as though they had forsaken their host and fledde from theyr company ranne to theyr ennemies and leapynge besydes their horses caste theyr swerdes and other apparant weapons at the fete of the Romans as yelded persons whervpon they were receyued first into the myddell of the Romane hoste and anone they were brought to the vtter and hyndermost warde and there cōmanded to stande tyll the ende of the batayle And whan the battayle began on all partes they stode styll without fyghtynge but after whan they sawe that euery man was busyed and occupied with fighting than drawyng forth theyr swerdes from vnder theyr harneys they toke the sheldes of them that were slayn in the field and russhed on the backes of the Romaynes and so hewynge on theyr backes and hammes behinde they made a great slaughter And whyles that some parte conceyued feare and fledde and some other maynteyned the batayle with smal hope of victory Hasdruball sente a greatte parte of the Numidians to chace and distroy the Romanes as they fled Paulus the consull althoughe he was deadly wounded before yet many tymes with his company restored and renewed the battayles with the helpe of the Romane horsemen who at length alighted from theyr horses and foughte on foote the Consulle for feblenes and bledynge beinge not able to gouerne his horse Than the Carthaginenses seinge that theyr enemies had rather dye in the fielde than flee incontinent slewe those that they coulde not make to flee some they toke and the other that were ouercome being than sparkeled abrode toke suche horses as they coulde get and beganne to flee C Lentulus a Tribune leadyng an empty horse in his hande as he fled sawe Paulus the consull fyttyng on a stone all couered with blud to whome he sayde Lucius Aemilius whome the goddis shoulde take and esteeme as innocent of this cruell slaughter take this horse whyles any strengthe is lefte within the And I beinge thy frende shall lyfte the vp and kepe the on leste thou make this battayle dolefull and sorowfull throughe the deathe of a consull without whyche veryly there is cause of weping and mournyng inough Whervnto the consull answered C. Cornelius be thou increased in vertue but beware lest whyles thou doest bewaile this chaunce thou haue smalle tyme to escape thy selfe Go thou therfore and bydde the senate that they make strong the walles of Rome and strength it with succours before the conquerour come And secretly shewe vnto Quintus Fabius that Lucius Aemilius Paulus doth fyrmly remembre his preceptes ye and lyueth in them and fynally dyeth in them And I pray the suffer me to passe the lyfe amonge these companye of my deade knyghtes lest by lengar lyuynge I become an accuser of my felowe defendynge myne innocency by the trespas of an other and yet at length dye taken as fauty of this dede ¶ The company of them whych fled trode the Consull vnder foote and after his enemise not knowynge who he was dyd ouerpresse hym There was slayn at that battayle fortye thousande footemen and two thousande and seuen hundred horsemen in whyche company was slayne one of the consulles with foure score Senatours and such as had borne great offyce in the cytie whyche voluntaryly gaue theym selues to that battaile Furthermore .xxi. that had borne office of Tribunes besydes that in that batayle were taken .iii. thousande footemen and .iii. hundred horsemen Of the Romans that escaped by fleinge .vii. thousande came into the smaller campe and .x. M. fledde to the greater campe And whan the bataile was fynyshed those Romaynes that were retourned to the greatter campe sente to the other whyche were in the lesse campe to repayre vnto theym in the nyghte whyle theyr ennemies beinge weary of trauayle and ioyfull of theyr victory were gyuen to take theyr reste but they doubted to take on theym that enterpryse sayinge that it were as meete that they of the greatte campe shoulde come to theym but that for the daunger of passynge the hoste of theyr ennemies they were afearde so to doo Thus the most refused to goo out of the campe not withstandyng such as were hardy and valiant by the great noble exhortatiō of P. Sēpronius Tuditanus a tribune issued out came through their enmies in the night with their sheldes on the ryght syde towarde the host of the Carthaginenses wherby they passed by them receyuing the arowes and dartes that were shotte at them vpon theyr saide shieldes and so came to the great campe to the noumber of iii. M. vi C. and from thens takyng with them mony of the other of that company escaped at theyr pleasure to Cannusium The other consul with .l. horsemen fledde to Venusia ¶ Howe Anniball ordered his busynes after the battayle and howe yonge Scipio vsed hym selfe for the sauynge of the commen wealthe Capit. xxiii THe battayle thus ended diuers of the army came to Anniball and wylled him to rest all that day and the nyght after his greate labour but Maharball was therewith nothinge contented saying You shuld nowe incontinent with your horsemen folowe the Romans to Rome in suche spede that they shall knowe ye be alredy come before they heare of your cōmyng And thus doing the conclusyon wyll be that within fyue dayes ye shall lyke a conquerour dyne in the capytoll of Rome Than sayd Anniball The way is longe and we had nede of counsayle or we vndertake so great an enterpryse At lengthe he allowed the harte and noble courage of Maharball but he sayd he wolde deliberate vppon that enterpryse Than answered Maharball The goddis haue not gyuen all thynges to one man thou canste well ouercome thyne ennemies Anniball but whan the vyctorye is gyuen to the thou canste not vse it And it was thought that the same one days reste and slacknes was the cause of the sauegarde of the city of Rome and also of all the whole empire ¶ Anniball after that he had rested the fyrst nyght sente his people to the fielde to see whether any of theyr ennemyes shulde reuyue agayne and as they sawe or perceiued any like to recouer he was incontinent slayne and he proceded and toke the campes and all theym that were in them Wherein was a great numbre of men for beinge afrayde to folow their company they remayned styll in theyr campes And he was contented that the captines shulde be raunsomed euery one after his degree the
sodeynly they had comforte to do good in Affrica by the reasone of one Syphax a kyng of Numidia who as thā was become an ennemy to the Carthaginenses To this kynge were sent .iii. legates that shuld bring him in amitie with the Romans and also cause him to make warre vpon the Carthaginenses This message was also very acceptable to Syphax Whervpon he reasoned with the legates that were expert men of warre and perceyued many thynges wherin he and his men before were ignorant Wherfore whan they wolde haue departed he intreated them that two of them wold retourne home to theyr capitaynes to desyre a sure aliaunce betwene hym and the Romanes and to ascertayne them of his full mynde and that the thyrde of them myght remayne styll with hym to be gouernour of his army saying that his men were good horse men but they were nothynge skylfull to fyght on foote To this his request they agreed and departed takyng the kynges othe and promyse that in case theyr capitayns wold not agree therto that incontinent theyr felowe whiche was left behynd shuld be sent home to them agayn The name of hym that remayned with kyng Syphax was Statorius who anon chose out a greate numbre of yonge and actyue men whome he taught to folowe theyr baners and to kepe theyr aray after the Romayne facion So that in shorte space Syphax thought hym selfe able bothe on horsebacke and on foote to gyue battayle to the Carthaginenses Thus was there a safe bande of peace and amytie betweene the Romaynes and Syphax ¶ Whan the Carthaginenses were ware therof they sent incontinent messangers to one Gala kyng of the other part of Numidia This Gala had a sonne of .xvii. yeres of age a noble and wyse yongman called Massanissa The imbassadours shewed the king that better it were for him with theyr helpe to ouercome Syphax betyme than by his meanes the Romans shuld haue any entre into Affrica ¶ With suche wordes they perswaded Gala to the warre and moche the sooner for that Massanissa his sonne desyred to be gouernour of that army Whervppon the army of the Carthaginenses was ioyned to Massanissa his army And at the fyrste battayle Syphax was ouercome and .xxx. M. of his men slayne so that with a fewe horsemen he fledde to the Mauritaynes that inhabyted nygh the Gades or pyllars of Hercules where he gathered a newe army of men thinkyng to sayle ouer into Spayne but er euer he could take the water Massanissa with his armye camme agayne on hym and without the helpe of the Carthaginenses fought a noble batayle with hym and ouercame hym ¶ Anniball through the treason of Nico and Philomenes wynneth the citie of Tarent Cap. xxxvi ANniball this season euer hauing hope that the citie of Tarent shuld by one meane or other be wōne as is before sayd made his abode not farre from that citie And to bring his opinion to his purpose there happed a fortunate chāce by the meanes of oone Phileas a Tarentine who longe tyme had taryed at Rome as a messanger of the Tarentines There were than at Rome dyuers pledges of the noble bludde of Tarent kept in gentyl kepyng To these pledges this Phileas foūd the mean to haue often recours and at length he so corrupted the kepers that they suffered them to depart out of the citie in the begynning of the nyghti and Phileas went with them to guide them by secrete ways In the morning yarly the fame of the pledges departing was sprede abrode through the citie and a great numbre pursued thē with spede so that before they had far trauailed they ouertoke them brought them all backe agayn into the citie Where for theyr offences iudgement was gyuen that they shuld be first scourged with roddes naked and than brought to a hygh rocke from the toppe wherof they shulde be throwen downe to the grounde ¶ This cruell ende of those nobles offended moch the mindes of dyuers cities in Italy and Grece specially those that were of kynne or by amitie alyed to any of theym that were slayne among whiche sort .xiii. of the nobles of Tarent conspired agaynst the Romans of whom the captayns and chief were Nico and Philomenes They were great hunters and vsed moche to issue out of the citie in the nyght to go on huntyng Wherfore by the colour of goinge on huntynge they went towarde the army of Anniball intendyng to speke with him and to declare vnto him theyr intentes Whā they came nere the campe they two leauyng theyr company in a wodde nere adioynyng wente to the campe and anone were taken of the watchemen and brought to Anniball as theyr request was to whom they declared theyr purpose and good wylle And he gaue theym greate thankes and sente theym hoome agayne looded with fayre promyses And to couer the better theyr deuyse he wylled them to dryue with them certayn cattalle of the Carthaginenses sayinge they hadde gotten that praye of theyr ennemyes whyche they were suffered to doo without resystence and brought them home to Tarent with ioye This vsed they to do oftentymes so that it was thoughte meruayle that they soo often enterprysed suche feates and euer escaped vnslayne Thus often they vsed and euer whan they kylled any venyson or brought any praye from the Carthaginenses whyche they were suffered to do at all tymes at theyr pleasures they eyther gaue it to the capytayne of the citie a Romayne or elles to the porter of the gates soo that they had brought the porter in suche a custome that whan soo euer Philomenes dyd but whistell at all tymes of the nyghte the gates were opened vnto hym ¶ Whan they had brought all thynges in this good case for their purpose they wente to Anniball and agreed with hym on this couenaunt that the Tarentines shulde lyue euer vnder their owne lawes and customes Also that they shoulde paye hym noo Trybute nor haue anye armye appoynted by Anniball to kepe the citie but at their owne plesure And that they shulde enioy all their goodes Onely that the souldiours of the Romanes whiche were in the citie and theyr goodes shulde be at the pleasure and wyl of Anniball Than lay Anniball .iii. dayes iourney from Tarent and bycause he wolde not haue his longe abode there to be suspecte he fayned hym selfe to be sycke and caused it to be bruted abrode that his sycknes was the cause of his longe lyinge in that one place But agaynste the tyme he wolde haue the towne he chose out .x. thousand horsemen and of the lightest footemen of his army and remoued from his campe in the nyght makyng spede tyll he came within .xv. mile of Tarent where he secretely abode chargyng his men in no wise to breake their aray or order but that they shuld beredy to do what their capitaynes dyd cōmaunde them and none other But fyrste er he sette furth to couer the better his remouing and to thintent that none of the countrey shulde
the citie of Carthage in feare on al partes Fyrst sent Lelius to Rome to beare newes of his victory And then sent Cn. Octauius by lande towarde Carthage with his army of horsemen and fotemen Whiles he takyng with hym bothe the newe nauy of shyppes brought hym by Lentulus and also his olde nauye wente by sea from Vtica towardes the hauen of Carthage He had but a whyle sailed on the sea when a shippe of Carthage met hym couered all with white lynnen clothe and full of bowes of Oliue in token of peace In whiche shippe were .x. embassadours of the prynces of Carthage sente by the mynde of Anniball to desyre peace When this shyppe was come to the fore parte of Scipiosship the coueringe was taken awaye and the legates ryght humbly required hym to extende his mercy and pitie vpon them But other aunswere had they none giuen them but that they shoulde come to hym to Tunes for to that place he sayde he wolde remoue his campe With this aunswere they departed and he wente with his nauy of shippes before Carthage partely to viewe the situation of the towne partely to make the inhabitantes ther of the more afraide But after smal soiourninge there he departed frome thense and returned to Vtica And from thense was goinge to Tunes when sodeine newes wer brought him that Vermina the sonne of Syphax with a great numbre of horsemen and fotemen was comyng to the succours of the Carthaginenses To encountre with these people Scipio incontinent sente a good parte of the fotemen of his host and all his horsemen who metynge with theim at theyr fyrste reencountre put them to flyght and stoppinge the passages wherby they myght by fleinge escape they slewe of the Numidiens .xv. M. and toke aboue .xii. C. with many horses of that countrey to the numbre of xv C. and with peyne the capitayne hym selfe escaped hauynge a small numbre with hym From thense the campe was pytched at Tunes in the olde place where they before had set it Thyther came .xxx. noble men of Carthage embassadours sent vnto Scipio who with moche more lamentation then the other had done before required peace of Scipio constrained more therunto through the contrarietie of Fortune and by the late ouerthrow of their friende Vermina And they were lykewise herde with lesse pitie bicause of theyr late vntruthe and rebellion In so moche that it was thought by moste men that the citie of Carthage myghte then iustely and worthely be destroyed by theim And so had it ben in dede had not one thynge specially moued Scipio to the contrarye Whiche was that the newe consull was comynge thyther whose desyre was to haue the honour and fame of that victory and of fynishinge that warre whiche was before achieued by Scipios traueile to his great daungier And for this cause Scipio and his counsaylours wer fully minded to take peace with the Carthaginenses Wherefore the nexte day he called the legates of Carthage before him greatly rebukinge them of the vntrewth to him diuers times shewed Wyllynge theim nowe at the last beinge taughte by good experience to regarde bothe theyr goddes and theyr othes and shewinge them that he hauing pitie of the destruction of theim and of theyr soo noble a citie was contented to graunte them peace vpon these conditions Fyrste that they shoulde lyue free after theyr owne lawes and customes enioyinge all suche cities and townes in Affrica as they hadde in possession before the warre betwene theim taken And that frome that daye forthe the Romaynes shulde no more destroye or spoyle any parte therof Agayne the Carthaginenses shulde restore to the Romaynes all suche persons as were fled and runne away from the Romayns and all the prisoners of the Romains and theyr friendes whom they had in captiuite Also that they shoulde delyuer theim all theyr shyppes of warre and other shyppes excepte onely galeys hauynge thre orders of oores in a piece And that they shoulde also delyuer vp all theyr elephantes whiche were alredye tamed and made apte for the warre neyther shulde they after tame any moo Agayne that they shoulde moue no warre in Affrica nor withoute Affrica but by the lycence or commaundemente of the Romaynes Furthermore that they shulde restore vnto Massanissa all suche thynges as they hadde taken of his makynge a peace and agrement with hym And also yelde vnto the Romayne hoste wheate and wages vnto the return of the legates from Rome Besydes all this they shulde paye .x. M. talentes of syluer in fyftye yeres durynge whiche tyme they shulde yerely paye that summe deuyded in euen portions For the paymente wherof and perfourmaunce of these condytions they shoulde delyuer hym an C. pledges of his owne election Wherof none shuld be vnder thage of .xiiii. yeres neither aboue thage of .xxx. Vpon these conditions he agreed to giue them truce so that they wolde delyuer to him out of hand all suche hulkes or shyppes of burthen with their fraught and implementes which the Carthaginenses toke from theim duringe the laste tyme of truse that he had before graunted theim Or elles they shulde neither loke for truse nor for peace ¶ Whan the legates were come to Carthage they were cōmaunded to declare the same conditions of peace openly before the congregation of the people therevnto assembled Against which conditions one Gysgo a noble man of Carthage spake very sore and wold haue dissuaded the people from the taking of peace To whose sayinges many of the vnruly multitude gaue good audience But Annibal being therwith greatly moued went to him and with force drewe him downe from his place Which his violent facion had not bene vsed before in that citie and was thought of dyuers to be contrary to the libertie of their citie where before all people had free libertie to speake their opinions Annibal being vsed to the facion of the warres more than to the peasible vse of the citie remembrynge the liberties therof excused his rudenesse in this maner Whan I departed from this citie I was but .ix. yeres olde whiche is nowe .xxxvi. yeres agone during which time I haue sufficiently knowen and been instructed in all feates of warre beinge taught by the chaunces of fortune euen frome my chyldehoode Wherfore beynge disvsed soo longe space frome the lawes maners and customes of the citie although I doo forgette the liberties and vses therof I am the lesse to be blamed Thus after he hadde excused his folye he perswaded the people to the takynge of peace and howe necessary it was nowe for theim and also howe reasonable the conditions were consyderynge theyr presente estate To whiche his perswasions the greattest parte of the multiude agreed and the resisters agaynste it were greately blamed The greatest doubte was howe they myghte make restitution of that that was taken frome the Romaynes in the tyme of truce For all was spoyled and goone neyther knewe they who badde theym onely the shyppes and hulkes remaygned But in conclusyon worde was
Neuer the lesse this my laughter is not so inordinate nor cometh not so out of time as your teares do For you shuld haue wept when your armour was taken froÌ„ you and your shippes burned before your eies and when your libertie of makinge of warres with any straunger but onely by lycence of the Romaynes was taken frome you wherin rested your chiefe vndoinge and greattest falle But ye fele no hurte onelesse it touche your priuate welthe The great hurte of the common welthe ye neyther fele nor regarde When your ennemies had the greate spoyle after the vyctorie had and when Carthage remayned alone and naked without armour or defence among so many armed men of Affrica Then no man wepte nor mourned But nowe when ye must pay the tribute of your owne priuate goodes euery man wepeth as ye wolde do at the burienge of all your friendes I feare it sore that ye shall shortly perceyue that ye wepte now in your leaste harmes and the worst to be behinde ¶ When the peace was thus coÌ„cluded betwen the Romains and the Carthaginenses Scipio calling his people together besides that he restored vnto Massanissa his fathers kyngedome He also gaue him the citie of Cyrtha and other townes and groundes that he had wonne of Syphax Afterwarde he caused Cn. Octauius to delyuer to Cn. Cornelius the newe consull his nauy that he brought into Sicilia Then caused he the embassadours of Carthage to go towardes Rome there to haue all thinges confirmed by the auctoritie of the Senate whiche he by the auctoritie of the Romayne legates had before concluded with them ¶ Thus all thynges beinge at peace both by sea and by lande he with his army toke shippynge and sayled ouer into Sicilia and from thense into Italye where he was met by the men of the countrey with great honour and ioye so gladde was euery man bothe of peace and of victorye The poore men of the townes and cities by the waye as he went towarde Rome ran forthe to se hym and to prayse hym Thus in greate honour came be into Rome where he was receiued into the citie with mooste noble triumphe After that he enryched the citie with greate sâ—mmes of golde and syluer of the prayes that he had taken besyde that he distributed amonge his souldiours .xl. M. li. And of the conquest whiche he had made in Affrica he was called Scipio Affricanus euer after to the great honour of all his familie and succession ¶ Anniball fleith by sea to Antiochus kynge of Siria Antiochus moueth warre to the Romaynes L. Cornelius Scipio sayleth into Asia fyghteth with Antiochus vanquisheth hym graunteth hym peace vpon conditions and returneth to Rome Cap. lxxiii AFter the warres thus ended in Affrica the Carthaginenses continued in peace a certayne season At the last the ennemies of Annibal to worke him displeasure sent worde to Rome to the senate that Anniball had pryuely sente messangers and letters to Antiochus the kynge of Siria mouynge hym to warre with the Romaynes And also that messangers were sente with letters secretely from Antiochus to Anniball Certifieng them further that the mynde of Annibal was suche that he coulde neuer be contented till he harde the sounde of harneis vpon mennes backes The Romaynes beinge angry therat sent legates thither C. Seruilius Claudius Marcellus and Terentius Culleo to try whether the information to them made were true or no Commanding them to publishe abrode that the cause of theyr coming was to here and determine certaine matters in controuersie which wer betwene the CarthagineÌ„ses the king Massanissa none other ¶ This tale published by them was beleued to be true of the common people But Anniball therwith could not be blinded He knewe full well that he onely was the cause of theyr comminge Wherfore thynkinge for a season to gyue place till the time might better serue hym He with .ii. other departed oute of the citie in the begynninge of the night in a straungers apparaile and came to a place where he before had apointed his horses to mete him and from thense with spede he wente to a castell of his owne by the sea syde where a ship of Italy awaited for hym apoynted for the same purpose In whiche shyp he sayled from Affrica and arriued the same day in the Ile of Circyna makynge more dole all the way for the harde chaunces that were happed to his countreye then he dydde for his owne euyll fortune In the hauen of Circyna he founde many shyppes laden with marchaundyse and at his landinge greate resorte of people of the ile came vnto hym salutynge hym and makynge of his comynge great ioye Anniball fearynge leste some of those shippes in the nyght shuld departe from the hauen and shewe in Affrica that they had sene hym in Circyna He deuised to make a solemne sacrifice and a great feast to the which he badde al the maisters of the shyppes that were in the hauen and all the marchauntes that were in the same And for that the wether was very hot being about the middes of sommer he caused al the sailes of the ships with the crosse mastes wherunto the sayles be fastened to be all broughte on lande Wâ—erwith he made pauilions and bowres to defende theym from the vehement heate of the sonne whyle they souped on the shore The feast was sumptuous as the tyme might serue therto and was kept very solempnely There was wine great plenty wherwith many were drunken and heuy headed The bankette was also purposely prolonged tyll it was farre in the nyght Then fell the marchauntes a slepe with the maryners also Whiche Anniball espienge thoughte he had then good tyme to mocke them and takynge his shyppe secretly departed leauynge them faste on slepe On the morowe when the maryners arose with heuy heades they caryed theyr sayles and other tackelinges agayne to the shyppes preparynge all thynges redy But or they myght bryng al to passe they spent a good parte of the nexte daye ¶ On the morowe after the departyng of Anniball from Carthage his friendes that vsually resorted to his company after that they coulde not fynde hym nor here of hym they gathered a great multitude of the citie together in the market place inquiringe if any newes coulde be shewed of the chiefe ruler of theyr citie Some coniectured that he was fledde away for feare of his conspiracie againste the Romaynes Some other sayde that the Romaynes had by some crafty traine conspired his deathe Thus dyuerse were the tales accordynge to the diuersitie of sectes that were in the citie Tydynges sone after was brought thyther that he was sene at Circyna Than the Romayne legates openly in the senate of Carthage founde greate lacke and blamed greately the citezens and rulers for suffryng hym to departe consyderynge the priuie letters and messages that were sente betwene him and Antiochus saying That he wolde neuer be satisfyed tyll he hadde moued warre throughe all the worlde The Carthaginenses excused theym selues affyrmynge