mynd fauour distracte and diuersly deuided from all their wiues for the multitude of thē and because they haue so many that they reserue none for their speciall bedfelow Wherfore they al ar reputed vyle litle set by after one maner Thus the affinitie betwene these .ij. kinges Iugurth Bocchus was lytle set by and smal auayled in this busines Not withstanding both they and their hostes came together in one place apointed therto wher after they had geuen and takē faith truth one to other of fidelitie to be obserued betwene thē Iugurth inhaunced lifted vp the minde of Bocchus with his words saying that the Romaines were vniust grounded in auarice without suffisance or measure cōmon enemies to euery man to euery contrey that they had as much quarel againste Bocchus as against hym and one selfe cause to war against thē both and also against manye other nacions which cause was but only the plesure of great lordshyp and riches So that for the same cause al kyngdoms to thē were aduerse contrary that he hym selfe to thē was enemy for the same cause And not long before that tyme the Carthaginenses afterward Perses kyng of Macedony were subdued and vndone by the Romains without any iust tytle or cause of bataile saue only ambicion and enuy which the Romaines had against thē And that in tyme to come euerye nacion whiche shulde haue welth and riches shuld become enemies to the Romains for their inordinate pride insaciable couetise ¶ Wyth these wordes and other lyke Iugurth moued the mynde of Bocchus agaynste the Romaynes In so muche that anone a daye was appointed betwene both the kynges to procede forthe together to the towne of Cyrtha and to assayle the same wyth bothe their powers conioyned Thys towne they purposed firste of all to besiege because Metellus had lefte within the same towne prayes and prisoners whiche he hadde taken of Iugurth And also muche of his owne ordinaunce had he lefte there to auoyde impedimente in his voyage Thus Iugurth thoughte mooste expediente to do For if he myght wynne the towne by assaulte before the rescous of Metellus he thoughte that shulde be moste to hys honour and profite Or elles if the Romayne captayne Metellus and hys armie shulde come to succour the towne than thoughte he that there bothe hym selfe and Bocchus shoulde geue batayle to Metellus Iugurthe for crafte and subtyltie hasted thereto so muche the moare to tangle Bocchus in the warre before anye place shulde be moued bytwene him and the Romayns And lest the same Bocchus by prolōging of the time might rather encline to peace than to warre after he at leasour shulde haue taken better counsell and aduisement For Iugurth suspected at beginninge that Metellus in proces of time wolde desyre this Bocchus not to medyll in this war assistyng the part of Iugurth nor mentayning his cause ¶ How Metellus vsed hym selfe heryng that these two kynges were confederate agaynste hym and howe after he was certified that the prouince of Numidy was assigned to Marius the new consull he ceassed the warre for the nonce The .xlviii. Chapter WHan Metellus knewe that the two kinges were associate together he thought not to fyght with them rashely without prouision nor in euery place for his aduantage or not as he was wont to do often tymes before after the first time that he had ouercome Iugurth But within his feldes well and surely defended he kept him selfe abydinge the commynge of the two kinges and that not farre from the towne of Cirtha This dyd he thinking it best to knowe the myght maners and condicions of the Mauriens firste or he wolde fyght with them bycause the were but newe enemies and therfore their maners vnknowen to him And whan he saw his best auantage than thought he to gyue them bataile ¶ In the meane time while Metellus taryed the comminge of the two kinges letters wer brought vnto him from Rome whiche certefied hym that the prouince of Numidi was cōmitted and giuen to Marius the new consull For he had herde long before this time that the sayd Marius was elect consull but this was the firste time that he vnderstode the prouince of Numidy committed to him For this cause was Metellus moued and displeased muche more than longed to measure or honesty In somuche that he coude neyther refraine his eyes from wepyng nor measure his tong from speking yll by Marius This Metellus was a synguler noble worthy man in all other cōdicions but the displeasure of his minde he toke ouer womanly and tenderly to his hert and namely in this cause Whiche condicion some reputed to procede of a proude hert of Metellus And other some thought it no meruayle though his noble hert wer moued and kindled with anger for this iniury and wrong done to hym And many sayd that Metellus toke so great sorow and displeasure bycause the victorie whiche he had almoost optayned shulde be pulled out of his handes his selfe hauing the labour parill and an other man the tryumphe and honour But to be playne in the mater indifferently to write it was not vnknowen to the wisest Romains but that the dignite auancement and honour of Marius greued Metellus much more thā dyd his owne iniury And that he wold not haue taken it so heuely if the prouince of Numidy which was taken from him had ben giuen to any other noble man than to Marius Wherfore Metellus was let from his first besines for the sayd displeasure so that he purposed not to vexe himselfe from thensforth with out thanke or profet And also he thought it foly to take in hande the charge of another mannes mater to his owne paryll labour paine Wherfore he sende messangers to the king Bocchus desiring him not to become ennemy to the Romains without occasion And saieng that he was yet in suche case that he myght adioine with the Romayns felowshyp loue and amitie whiche shulde be muche better to hym and more profitable And how beit he trusted gretly in his power rychesse and treasour yet ought he not to change certayne thynges for thynges incertayne For euery batayle to begyn is easy and lyght but it is a very hard thynge to ende the same whan it is ones begon The begynning and endynge therof is not alway in the power of one same man For warre may be begon of a cowarde or of any other wretch but it can not be left of againe nor ceassed but whan it pleaseth him which is strongest and is maister hauynge the vpper hand And finally he had him better to prouide for himselfe and for his kingdom than he began to do and not to adioyne nor myngle his goodes treasour and fortune which were in estate royall florishyng with the goodes and fortune of Iugurth whiche were lost and distroyed to the vttermost The embassadours of Metellus came to king Bocchus and shewed him their capitains wyl as is said
retynue which thing I know for certayne is to your greate pleasure and gladnes For his worthy merytes he is right dere and wel beloued vnto vs. And we shall deuoyr vs to the best of oure power that he may bee lyke deere and well beloued of all the senatours people of Rome I am surely ryght ioyefull on youre behalfe of this youre treasoure Iugurth thauncient amyte betwene you and me byndeth me to be gladde of this your commodite For certaynely lo here haue ye a man of Iugurth wrrthy to discende of such noble stocke as ye are and as his grandefather Massinissa was in his dayes whom he foloweth in all poyntes of vertue and magnanimite ¶ Howe the kyng Micipsa adopted Iugurth vnto his sonne The fyfte Chapter WIth these letters of Scipio Iugurth retourned vnto Numidy vnto his vncle Mycipsa where he was worthely and ioyefully receiued of the coÌ„mentie But after that the king Micipsa vnderstode by these letters of commendacion of the captayne Scipio that the valiaunte and noble actes of Iugurth were trewe whiche longe before he had harde by report of the coÌ„men fame thaÌ„ what for the nobles of Iugurth and fauoure bothe of his dedes and commendacion of Scipio he moued his mynde chaunged froÌ„ his forsayd purpose and not forther intended to oppresse Iugurthe by malyce nor enuy But concluded to attempt to ouercome him with benefites and kindnesse to th entent that he so ouercome shulde not in tyme to come fynde in his hert for pyte to indommage hym nor his heyres And sone after this purpose the same Micipsa adopted Iugurth vnto his sonne and farthermore decreed ordayned in his testament that Iugurth shulde be one of his heyres and partener in possession of his kingdome togyder with his two natural soÌ„nes Adherbal Hiempsall But a fewe yeres after this ordinaunce Micipsa what by age what by sykenesse drew nere vnto his end of lyfe and was consumed by age and disease wherfore consideryng his deth so fast approchynge it is sayd that he called Iugurth before him and than before many of his frendes and kynsmen also in preseÌ„ce of his two natural soÌ„nes Adherbal and Hiempsal he had to the same Iugurth such wordes as he herafter insue folowe ¶ The exortacion which the kyng Micipsa a lytell before his deth had to Iugurth The .vi. Chapter MI dere sonne Iugurth I knowe it is not oute of your remembrauÌ„ce howe after that ye had lost your father my brother I charitably louingly receiued you yonge of tender age into my kyngdome what tyme ye warre without riches wythout conforte and without any hope of comferte or ryches but very lykely to haue bene cast awaye This dyd I thinkyng that for these my benefytes and kyndnesse I shoulde bee vnto you not lesse intyerly beloued than of myne owne naturall chyldren with my body begotten Nor certainly this thing hath not disceiued me For why to ouerpasse your other great magnificente excellente dedes of you valyauntly done before specially now last of all coÌ„mynge from the warre of NumaÌ„ce ye greatly adourned and inhaunced to honoure glory bothe of mine owne person and this my kingdome And where as the Romaynes in fore times were frendes vnto vs by your vertue and manlye actes ye haue establyshed that amitie and of frendes made theÌ„ moche moore frendes So that in Hispayne the name glorie of oure householde by your manhode is renouate and renewed Thus finally ye haue ouercome the enuie of your yl willers onely by your glorious actes and valiaunt interprises whiche is one of the moost difficultie wherfore nowe my sonne Iugurth sithe it is so that nature hath nere concluded the ende of my life I admonishe charge and exhorte you by the faith of your right hand and by the faith and fidelite which ye owe to this my kingdome I obtest and require you that ye loue meintaine and cherishe these my two sonnes Adherbal and Hiempsall whiche of kinnered be nere to you and by my benefite and kindnes are bretherene vnto you Forthremore I exhorte you that ye counte not better and moore pleasure to acquainte and conioine vnto youe forayns or straungers rather than to retâ—yne suche as be ioyned to you by natural blode and kynred For neyther is a great army of men nor habundance of treasours the chefe socours or defence of a kyngdome but â—oche rather trusty faythfull frendes whome a man canne neyther compelled by force of armes nor yet bye with golde nor syluer to parseuer in stedfast amyte but they be optayned kept by kyndnesse good dedes fidelite faythfulnes But among all frendes who can be more frendlye stedfaste in amyte than brother to brother Certaynly none ought to be more louyng of natural inclination Or what strauÌ„ger shal ye fynd faythful and trusty to you if ye shewe your selfe ennemy to your owne kynsmen Forsothe if ye contynue togyder honest good louyng in agreable concorde bytwene your selfe thanne this kyngdome which I committe gaue vnto you shall continue sure and stedfast as it is nowe But coÌ„trarely if ye be yll and disagreynge among your selfe ye shal in short season make it ryght poore feble incertayne For by loue peace concorde small ryches small lordshyppes generally al smal thynges increase and multiplie by discorde the grettest thynges of the worlde decay and fall vtterly to ruyne But you my sonne Iugurthe by cause ye passe these myne other two naturall sonnes in age wysdome therfore it semeth you moche more than them to make suche wyse prouision bothe for your selfe and for them also that nothyng happen other wyse than well For in euery stryffe debate howe be it whiche is mightyer rycher often suffreth iniury Neuerthelesse it semeth more that he dothe wronge thanne his feble aduersary But ye my dere sonnes Adherball Hiempsall se that ye worshipe and loue this Iugurth your worthy vncle And bewar that ye nat offende nor dysplease hym but folow his vertue manly behauour And do your deuoir to the best of your power after his example behauynge your selfe so discretly so wysely that it be nat hereafter reported by me that I haue taken vnto me by adoption better chyldren than I haue begotteÌ„ Thus concluded the kyng Micipsa his words Howe be it Iugurth well perceyued the kynges wordes but fayned and spoken agaynst his herte if any other remedy myghte haue bene founde neuertheles he answered benygnely for the tyme all if he thought and reuoulued in his mynde moche otherwyse and contrary to his humble and mylde answere ¶ Howe the kyng Mycipsa departed from lyfe and of the fyrst cause of dissencion and discord betwene Iugurth Aâ—herball and Hiempsall The .vii. Chapter NOt long after the kynge Micipsa decessed whose deathe was dolourous and sore bewayled of all his subiectes but most of all to his naturall sonnes it was to be lamented and not without greate cause as the processe of this
contrary to hym aduysyng hym not much necessary but lytell mete in so sharpe a besynes And seyng hym yll wyllyng to euery thing he graunted hym lycēce at last to depart toward Rome as he before had often requyred and demaunded by peticion ¶ But as I haue sayd longe before the letters whiche were sende to Rome to the commens by fauourers of Marius were well accepted For whan the commentie had ouersene them and by them vnderstode the praising of Marius and the dispraysyng of Metellus They were al inclined vtterly to the auaūcement of Marius and detraccion of the other The noblenes of Metellus the capitayne whiche was before to his great worshyp and honour tourned now to enuye and hatered against hym But the lownes and vnnoblenes of Marius encreased to hym fauour specially of the cōmentie whiche were come of vnnoble bloude as he was But the diligente fauour of bothe the parties that is to say of the states which helde with Metellus and of the commens that helde with Marius dyd measure and gyde euery thing rather than the good or yll disposcions of the two aduersaryes Metellus or Marius For the cōmens to dye for it cōcluded to exalte Marius And thestates in the same maner labored to kepe hym vnder because he was vnnoble borne and to exalte none saue thē whiche were come of noble progeny Farthermore the masters head officers of the cōmenty which loued debate at euery assēble congregaciō of the cōmens sore blamed Metellus dispised his deedes desiring of the cōmens that Metellus might lose his head saying that he was so worthy for that he prolonged the war in Numidy against Iugurth more than nede was But in despising accusyng Metellus they forgat not to cōmend Marius exalte hym with wordes somwhat to much and more thē he was worthy in many pointes In so moche that the people wer so gretly inclined to him with their fauour that al the craftes men laborers of the citie also of the contrey which had no liuynge saue in the labour of their handes left their worke busines folowed Marius frequēting and resorting to his cōpanie And set more by his auancement honor then by their owne profet or auantage trusting that after if he obteyned the said honor they shuld haue their liuing by him And thus shortlye to speke the estates noble men beyng sore astoined the cōsulshyp was cōmitted to Marius a newe gentleman whose predecessours before hym to suche dignitie could neuer attayne and were counted vnworthy Thus that thyng which many yeres before that tyme could neuer be done nor brought about was now brought to effecte that is to saye the consulshyppe which was the most excellēt dignitie of Rome was now in hādes of the cōmense cōmitted to a mā of base birth Shortly after this the protectour of the commenty named Lucius Maulius enquired demaunded of the people whom it wold please them to send into Numidy to fynyshe the warre with Iugurth The most parte of the commentie answered that Marius shuld haue that office and busines how be it a lytle before that tyme the Senatoures had assigned by their ordinaunce the prouince of Numidie to Metellus for his worthy deedes wherfore now this ordinance was frustrat void For the cōmēty wold haue their statuts executed fulfilled ¶ Of the seconde batayle foughten bytwene Metellus and Iugurth and how Iugurth lost the batayl also one of his chief townes named Thala The .xliiii. Chapter IN the meane tyme whyle the enterprise of Marius proceded thus forward at Rome Iugurth was sore troubled in his mind for many cōsideracions Fyrst he considred the losse of many whō he reputed for his friendes tyl before he knewe their treason of whō he had many put to death and many other had fled from hym for feare some to the Romains and other some to Bochus king of the Mauriens He called also to his mynd that without ministers and men of warre he was not able to execute the warre and moreouer he thought it ieoperdous after so greate falsehode and treason of his olde frendes to proue or assay the fidelitie of newe For these causes and mo lyke as I haue sayd before his mynde was driuen to and fro variable incerteine in diuers opinions I so much that there was no maner thyng no counsell nor no maner man that could sufficiently satisfie nor please his mynd He chaunged his iourneys and waies euery day into sundry places for feare of treasō Somtyme he addressed hym towarde his enemies and anone after returned into wodes wildernesses Often tymes he had trust and cofidence in flyght and anone after put his trust in armour and bataile He douted whither he might lesse trust to strength or trueth of his mē which wer with him so that what euer he purposed to do or whither so euer he intended euery thynge was contrary to hym But while Iugurth thus prolonged taryed sodenly Metellus with his army appered in his syght Iugurth that parceiuing set in order and array his Numidiens aswel as he might after the short tyme which he had therto And immidiatly the armies approched and the batayle began In that part of the batayle where Iugurth himselfe was they stroue and resysted a lytell space but all the other Numidyens at the firste brūt concourse or assaut wer put to flyght with violence and driuen backwarde The Romayns toke some of their standeres and armour whiche they fleyng away left behynde them but of their ennemies they toke but fewe For the Numidiens in that bataile and almoost in all other defended themselfe better with their fete than with their handes or armoure Iugurth at this tyme mystrusted his case muche more than at any other tyme euer before for the cowardous withdrawynge of his people Wherfore he acompanyed himselfe with the Romayns which had forsaken and betrayed Metellus and fled to him With them and with a part of his horsmen he fled in to the wildernesses therby and frō thens vnto a towne named Thala which was a great towne and a riche and much of his treasour and of the aparell longing to the youthe of his yong chyldren was in the same towne But whan Metellus vnderstode that Iugurth was fled to so ryche a towne how beit he knewe that bytwene the towne and the next flod therto was .l. mile space of dry ground voyde and without habitacion neuerthelesse he toke in hande to ouercome all sharpnes and difficultie of places and also to ouercome nature though it semed impossible to mannes mynde This thynge Metellus toke in hande in hope to fynishe the batayle muche soner yf he myght wynne that towne ¶ Wherfore he commaunded that al the beestes which serued for cariage shuld be vnladen of al such baggage and burthen as they caried longynge to the souldyours saue onely whete and vitayle for the space of .x. dayes Also he commaūded some of the bestes to
haue them Lastely trustynge in hys great route of vnthriftes and hopelostes he toke counsayle to enuade the common weale ¶ But for bycause L. Catiline conspired twise ageynst the common weale ones when Lepidus and Vulcatius weere consuls and ageyne when Cicero was consul it is requisite before we come to the thynges that were done in the time of Ciceros consulshyp somwhat to recite of the former Conspiracy ¶ The fyrste Conspiracie of L. Catiline and P. Antronius Cap. ii WHAN P. Antronius and P. Sylla were chosen to be consuls L. Tullus M. Lepidus beinge consuls they were accused of ambition and spoyled of honour and fame Antronius as he was a man which in prosperitie was accustomed to dispise al men and in aduersitie to striue ageynste those that were good men wold neyther gyue place to tyme nor yet to Fortune her selfe but thought in his mynde by force to recouer the consulship which he had forgone by iustice Wherefore he disclosed his intente to L. Catiline and L. Vargunteius and Gn. Piso an vnthriftye riottous and hasty yonge man and very desyrous to disturbe the common weale The whiche supposynge they coulde not easely brynge this thinge to passe withoute the helpe of some greate man they got to associate and helpe them L. Licinius Crassus a man that florished in great fauour rychesse and honoure Hym they made theyr chiefe capitayne in this matter bycause he was not frendely but ennemye to Gn. Pompei and sore agreued that he grewe so gret in the common weale These men conspired aboute the vij daye of December and purposed with a great nombre of bondmen and sworde players gathered together the fyrste daye Ianuarye folowinge to slee L. Cotta and L. Torquatus the consuls and to besiege the Palaice and after they had murdered many of the Senatoures Crassus shoulde inuade the dictatourshyppe Catiline and Antronius catchynge vp the ornamentes of consulshyp with the sergiantes shulde descende into the felde and the common weale ordered after theyr diuise Piso withe an armye shoulde be sente to conquere bothe Spaynes But Crassus when the daye of thys murther was come repentinge hym selfe wolde not be there Wherfore the other conspiratoures were so discoraged by reason of his absence that they coulde not performe theyr enterprise Some report otherwise and they writen that these noble men were not slaine by reson that Catiline gaue token to the rebels before they were redy C. Caesar and P. Sylla moste noble citezens were named to be in this conspiracie And farther theye saye it was so appoynted Caesar shoulde haue ben maister of the horsemen But Caesars vertue noblenesse and magnyficente mynde defendethe hym not to be in this conspiracie And the moste noble oratour Q. Hortentus defendethe Sylla Of this conspiracye Cicero speaketh in his eplstoll which he sent to Pompei of his dedes and of chastite of the common weale wrytynge that two yeres befoore there was an incredyble foroure and broughte to lyghte in hys consulshyppe But hytherto we haue spoken of the fyrste conspiracye ¶ Of the other conspirary far greatter and more greuous Cap. iii. AL thoughe the fyrste conspyracye came shamefullye to passe yet Catiline chaunged not his purpose nor woulde desyste frome his wicked and cursed perswasyon to oppresse the common weale But was more feruente and desyrous by reason that he supposed some mishap letted that the first conspiracy went not luckely forwarde and againe bycause there were many citizens of Rome whiche to lyue in lust and lykynge were so farre endetted that they coulde not come oute withoute sellynge of theyr landes But they loued so moche they re possessions that rather then they shulde be spoyled of them Catiline wiste verye wel thei wolde venter to do what soeuer he desired them Also the hope that he had to obtayne the consulshep kendeled moche his courage and namely bycause he hoped to haue to be hys felowe in office C. Antonius his speciall frende Farthermore his decaye in substaunce and his beastely cruel and importunate nature stered hym which desired neyther rest nor yet warre except it were amonge them selfe There was also a greatter cause whiche stablyshed Catiline a man of his owne corage bent to disturbe the common weale in hys hardynes desyre For after that L. Sylla had by conquest taken on hym to rule the common weale puttinge out the old inhabitaunce of Fesules appoynted his men of warre to whome he had gyuen ryght greate prayes to dwel there These men of nedy persons beinge sodeynly enryched with other mennes goodes beganne to buylde righte sumptous and statelye manour places and houses and to make costly feastes and great expences And whyle they thus lyued after the maner and arraye of kynges the greate abundaunce of goodes that they by spillynge of bloude and slaughter of citizens had heaped together were sone wasted and spente For yll goten goodes are soone broughte to naughte And after warde in that nedynes the ryottous and sumptouse facion that they vsed in abundaunde remaynyng styl it is incredible to speake howe greately they fel in det And for this cause all theyr hole desire was to haue sedicion discorde and warre amonge them selfes And to the great settynge forwarde of theyr matter Gn. Pyso a stoute stomaked and valyant yonge man of whome we spake before was in the hither Spayne wyth an armye But he was endued and brought vp in condicion lyke Catiline couetous a foo to reste and quietnes ennemy to good men a waster of his owne goodes and a catcher of other mennes a standarde bearer of sedicion and sterer to stryfe of chapemem Fartherfore P. Siccinius Nucerius ruled then the prouynce of Maurytayne whiche was a man beyonde al measure desirous of a newe alteracion in the common weale those were Catilines greattest frendes For lykenes of nature and maners hath great strength in knittyng fast frindshyp With these two Catiline had oft afore tyme a counsayl as concerninge to moue warre and hoped now at thys tyme that the conspyracye should be ryght greatly forthered by theyr ayde and power Into this deuellysshe desyre he was drawen with a certayne vehemency and fury bycause he sawe al thinges went as Gn. Pompei and a fewe other wolde haue it For whyle L. Tullus and M. Lepidus were consuls it was longe debated in the Senate house who shulde be chosen capitaine ageynste the kynge Mithridates Catiline laboured all that he coulde with frendshippe fauour and ambition to be capitayne of that warre but all the Senatoures styfely withstode hym and appoynted Gn. Pompey to be in that hyghe roume namely by the meanes of Cicero then beinge Pretor Fierce Catiline touched wythe this rebuke beinge ennemie to good men and sore displeased with the Senatoures determyned hym selfe to disturbe the common weale Callynge also to mynde how many citizens he had slaine the manyfolde cursed and wicked fornications aduoutryes and the infinite vengeable dedes that he had commytted and doone ageynste his countrey
and power of his frindes wythstode the vengeable purpose of Catiline But D. Syllanus and L. Murena weere chosen consuls the whyche Murena was after accused of ambicioÌ„ by Seruice Sulpice and M. Cato Whom Cicero the consul defended whose moste goodlye oracion intiâ—uled Pro L. Murena remayneth to this daye ¶ After Catiline perceyued he coulde not be consull to trouble and vexe the common weale beynge a priuate person determined to make warre And so all the money that he coulde heape together he caused to be caryed to Manlius beynge at Fesulas and to hym he sente before axes roddes hornes trumpettes armoure bannars and stremars for warre and also that same syluer Egle to the worship wherof he at home in his house had made an oratorie Moreouer he sente L. Septimius into the countrey Picenium and C. Iulius into Apulia an other into the countreye Camertes an other into the dominion of Fraunce to styrre vp those countreys For into these partes as it were an infection this myschiefe was entred And he at home in Rome attemted manye thynges At the laste the .xxvi. daye of October he determined with a stronge power violently to entre into the court and after he had slaine the consul and a great part of the Senatours to go to Manlius wher his army laye But M. Cicero watching night and day and knowyng these matters about the .xix. day of October called a great counsayle He began with a proeme farre fetched to declare the vengeable driftes mischeuous imaginacions of Catiline hee shewed them what strengthe and power he had prepared to slee the Senatours and how he had sente C. Manlius into Hetruria to reyse an armye and that he wolde be in harneys erre the .xxiiij. daye of October and how he sente C. Iulius into Apulia to styrre vp the shepeherdes He sayde hee feared not Manlius nor Iulius but he was in drede of those whom he dayelye sawe brag vp downe in places of moste assemblye yea whom he sawe come into the Senate house amonge them by whome the slaughter burninges destructioÌ„ of the common weal was prepared ¶ More ouer he diligeÌ„tly admonished the Senatoures to be ware of such perylles that were iminent to prouide for the safegarde of theyr countrey to defende and mainteine the common weale For if they made not good prouision it was not the publycacyon of the lawe Agraria nor a common sedition or suche a hurte as beinge some tyme harde spokenne of is lamented but those felowes haue secretelye concluded te burne this citye to mourder and slee che citizens and to exâ—incte the Romaynes names He sayde there was no nation no kynge that was able to make warre to the Romaynes there was not outwarde danger to be dredde within the citye were the snares layde within was the pestilence shutte within was the Troyan horse of whiche so longe as he was consul they shulde neuer be oppressed slepynge he saide they re ennemyes were not at the gates whiche were a thynge moste greuous but in the citie in the markette place in the palays After this he shewed howe thys great mischiefe myghte be remedyed Finallye he admonished the conspiratoures to leaue theyr furyousnesse to laye noo mo snares for his distruction and noo more to mynde murders burninges robberyes and to perswade them selfe that the consuls were righte vigilante about the common weale and that there were many noble officers manye valyent and worthy men and suche as moste hartely loued the common weale whiche wold more sharpely do theyr endeuour for the profyt publike then they wolde for the dâ—struction therof and that they shulde trust no more vpon the slaughterr of riche men so longe as he was consull For seinge thâ—t al consuls shulde be careful and diligent to defende the common weale yet oughte they moste specially which by the only fauour of the people of Rome and not for any noble actes images or commendacion of they re auncetours were made consuls He sayde they dyd nothinge that went aboute nothinge nor imagined any thynge that coulde be hyd from him I knowe ê™ he whom ye haue sent into Hetrurya to reyse warre whom into Apulia who in to the countreye of Pice and who is sente into Fraunce He sayde they were farre wyde if they supposed that he wolde vse them alway gentelly He sayd he had not tolde all and how he had suffered moche And that now it was nedefull to do sharpe punishemente And that he mighte so do he had examples of his predecessoures whiche oftentymes vpon theyr owne mindes dyd put suche mischeuous and vngratious persons to deathe He sayde more ouer he marueyled greatelye if they could not lyue honestly why they wolde rather die shamefully Fynally he sayde that not onelye men but also all the goddes wolde resiste and withstande suche and so great cruelty The decree of the Senate that the common weale shulde take none harme Cap. xiii AL be it that there were manye that gaue no credence to the consulles wordes for the greatnesse of the cryme and manye throughe foolyshenesse coude not thynke it to be so and manye of the leude and naughtye sorte fauoured the matter yet the Senate perswaded by certayne noble and valiant menne made a decree that the consuls shoulde take hede that the common weale toke none harme This decree was not wonte to be made but agaynste detestable lawes whan the people was moued to departe and leaue the citie whan the citie was in greate trouble and busynes or in feare of sedicion And by that one verse or decree the greattest power of all Rome was gyuen to the consuls as to reyse an armye to make warre and to be the mooste hyghe iudges in all causes as well at home as forth in warfare ¶ Whan the .xxvj. day of Octobre came by reason that the consull had layed a garison of men a boute the Palaice Catiline coude not accomplishe his purpose He quickelye bethoughte hym to doo an other feate The towne preneste standynge not farre from Rome is by naturall situacion of the place verye stronge the same for many oportunities of the warre Catiline purposed the fyrste daye of Nouembre to take with assaut in the nighte But the consull forseinge that in his mynde furnysshed that fortresse strongely with men of armes Wherfore Catiline enterprysed that feate in vaine But afore that there chaunced a thynge I thynke euen by the goodnesse of god the whiche some what troubled Catlines mynd For G. Piso of whom we spake before in whome Catilyne had greatest confidence and hope of victorye was slayne of certayne Spanyarde horse men or as some other saye he was kild by Pompeys horse men And hard it was to iudge whether his deathe was more ioyful and pleasaunt to good men or heuy and sorowful to the conspiratours ¶ How Manlius and other Catilins companyons prepareâ— warre abrode Cap. xiiii IN THE meane whyle Manlius wyth faire promisses reysed the commons in Hetruria that were
a thing warre is what yuels chanceth to them that are conquered the virgins rauished the yong babes and children vyolently pulled out of the fathers and mothers armes the honeste wyues must suffre what soo euer please the subduers the temples and houses are spoyled slaughter and burnynges are done finally all thinges fylled with armour carcases bloud and lamentations But tell me I praye you wherto serueth that oration was it to stomake you ageynst the conspiracy If so greate and so cruell a dede will not moue a mans spirites shall an oration kendell hym It is not lykely Nor there is no mortall creature that thinkethe his wronges littell many haue taken these their iniuries more greuousely than ryght required But some thinge honorable fathers may better be suffered in some men than in other some If the priuate persons that lyue obscurely vnknowen coÌ„mit through anger any dishoneste dede Fewe knowe it Their fame fortune are egal The greate rulars and hygh gouernours all men knowe their actes So in hyghest felycitie is least libertye to do a mysse It besemeth suche menne not to be spitefull not to beare hatred but in no wyse to be angry The affection which in other is called anger in the hygh rulars is named Pride and crueltie Surely honorable fathers I deme all turmentes lasse than their detestable dedes But many men remeÌ„bring the last punishementes and forgettinge the mischeuous dede of the transgressours they reason of the peyne whether it be more cruell than it shulde be I surely knowe that what so euer the honorable and moste valiant man D. Syllanus hathe sayde he spake it for the great affection that he beareth to the common weale Neyther hath he in so weyghty a cause said any thynge for fauour nor yet for hatred I know his maners and sobrenes to be suche Truly his sentence to me semeth not cruel for what cruelty can be done to suche menne but yet not all thynge agreable to the common weale For certeynely either dreade or iniury hath constreyned you Syllanus chosen consull for the yere to come to adiudge the conspiratours to suffer a new kynde of punishement As touchyng feare to reason therof it were but in vayne namely sith the great dyligence of the noble consul hathe soo strongly warded and defended the cyty with men of armes As concernynge their punishment I may speke as the truthe is that death to those that be in heuynes and misery is not a tourmente but rather a quyet and rest from all wofull wretchednes For death fynishethe all griefes and euyls that mortall creatures endure But I pray you Syllane why dyd you not adde that they shulde be fyrst beaten was it bycause the lawe Portia or some other lawes do prohibit it Lykewyse the lawes forbyd that citezins condemned shulde be put to death but they commaunde to banishe them Left ye that vnspoken bycause it is more greuous to be beaten than to be put to deathe And yet what punyshemente is to cruell or greuous to men conuicte of soo greate and detestable a deede But if you spake not of beatynge bycause it is easier howe inconuenient is it to feare the lawe in the lesse busines and to neglecte it in the greater For who shall reprehend that that is decreed ageynst traitours to the common weale Tyme day fortune after whose luste nations are ruled To them what soo euer euyll hapneth chanceth accordyng to their deseruinges But consider honorable fathers what lawes ye ordeyne for other All euyl examples take their beginning of good thiÌ„ges for after imperial gouernaunce instituted by good meÌ„ came to the handling of those that were euyl the new exaÌ„ple was transferred from the worthy and mete to the vnworthy vnmet persones Whan the Lacedemonians had subdued the Athemenses they ordeyned .xxx. menne to rule the common weale They at the fyrst put no man to death but suche as for their offences were iustely condemned The people was ryght glade of this law and sayde it was very well done But after this licence increasinge by littell and littel they slewe for their pleasure as well good men as bad and put the other in feare and so the citie beynge oppressed with bondage and thraldome they greuously repented theyr former folyshe gladnes ¶ We remembre Sylla hauynge the vpper hande commaunded Dasippus and suche other hope lostes that were growen riche to the great hurte of the common weeale to be put to dethe Who dyd not preyse hys dede They sayd vngratious and detestable persons and such as with sediâ—ions troubled the common weale were well and iustely put to dethe But that thinge was the beginning of a greate mischefe For if any of Syllas souldiours coueted to haue any mans house in the citye manour in the countrey iewell or garmente they dyd their endeuoure that he whose good they desired might be amonge the nombre of theym that were proscripted So that they whiche reioysed at the death of Damasippus were sone after brought to the same end Neyther was there any ende of slaughter vntyll that Sylla had aboundantly satisfied hys souldiors wyth ryches But I neither feare this thing in M. Tullius nor at this tyme but in a greate cytie many and diuerse are the wittes An other tyme an other beynge consul and hauinge an army at his commaundemente some thynge false may be beleued to be trewe whan suche a consull after this example by decree of the senate shall drawe out his sworde who shall make hym put it vp or who shall moderate hym Our auncestours honorable fathers wanted at any tyme neyther councell nor boldnes neyther pryde letted theym to folowe the lawes and maners of other nacions yf they were allowable Armur and weapons of warre they toke of the Sainnites many ornamentes belongynge to the great offycers and rulars they receyued of the Tuscayns Finally where so euer they sawe any mete or conuenient thyng amonge their frendes or foes the same with great dilygence they vsed at home They wolde rather folow than enuy those that were good But oure auncestours folowyng the maners of the Greekes punished their citizins with beatynges and put to deathe suche as were condemned After the publike weale increased and that partakenge amonge the people began to grow by reason of the multitude the innocentes began to be circumuented and other such lyke mischifes to be practised than the lawe Portia and other lawes were ordeined by the which exyle was granted to them that were condemned Therfore I thynke this cause mooste honorable fathers to be very great wherby we shall not nede to take any new councell Verily there was more vertu and wysedome in them that of so small ryches brought this impire to soo greate welth and renoume than in vs whiche can scasely maynteyne and kepe thinges well wonne Is it therfore my mind that they shulde be let go and increase Catilines army No truly But my iudgemente is that their goodes be forfete and they to remayne
the accused haue confessed You haue iudged it by manye tokens soo to bee Fyrst in that ye haue geuen me hygh thankes in special wordes and haue affirmed that by mine industrie and diligence the conspiracy of these hope lostes is openly knowen further in that ye haue compellyd Lentulus to yelde vp his office of Pretorshyp And in that ye haue gyuen sentence that he and the other shoulde be commytted to ward and specially that ye haue decreed procession to be made in my name whiche honour was neuer done to any man in tyme of peace before me Finally in that ye rewarded yesterday so magnyficently the frenche ambassatours and T. Vulturtius All whiche thynges are of suche forte that they whiche by name ar put in holde wythout doubt seme of you to be condemned But I determyned to referre holly vnto you honorable fathers bothe what you wyll iudge of the dede what you wyll determyne touchynge the punyshment I wyll shewe you before what pertayneth to the consul ¶ I behelde not longe sence great furye waltrynge in the weale publyke and some new myschefes a brewing But I neuer thought this so great and so mortall a cōspiracy to be enterprised of the citesens Now what soeuer it be whither soo euer youre myndes and sentences inclyne it muste be determyned er nyght You see vnto howe greate a daunger we be brought wherunto yf ye thynke a fewe are confederate you are farre wyde This myschiefe is sprawled abrode further than you thynke For it hath not onely ouerflowen Italy but is also runne ouer the mountayns Alpes preuily crepyng forth hath now inuaded many prouinces This thynge in no wyse can be oppressed by sustaynyng and prolongyng therof What so euer way it pleaseth you to take you must spedily determyne ther vppon I se there are two sundrye sentences one of Syllanus whose iugement was that they whiche were bent on this greate mischiefe shulde be put to deth The other of C. Cesar the whiche dysalowyng the punyshment of deth wolde they shuld suffer all greuous peyne and tourmente Eyther of them accordyng to his dignitie and weyght of the cause with greate grauitie handlyd the matter The one thought that they whiche indeuoured theym selfe to slee vs all and the people of Rome whiche wolde distroye the empyre that wolde extincte the name of Romaynes were not worthye to lyue the mynute of an howre And that kynd of punyshmente oftentymes executed vppon suche naughtie citesens in this common weale remaneth or recorde The other vnderstandethe that dethe is not ordeyned of the goddis immortall as a punishmente but as necessitie of nature or els a reste from trauayle and myseries Therfore wise men neuer grutched agaynst it yea oftentymes they wyth a hardy courage and wyllyngly desyred death And to lye in yrons perpetually in pryson is a syngular punyshmente inuented for heynous offences He wyllethe that they shulde be seuered into sundry townes whiche thinge if he wolde haue cōmaunded standeth but lytel with equitie if he wolde desyre it it semeth a harde thynge to be done yet if it please you let it be so decreed For I wyll take it vpon me and I trust to fynde theym that wyll not thynke it to be agaynst theyr dignitie and honoure to do that ye shall ordeyne for the wealthe of vs all He chargeth the townsmen with a greate penaltie if any of them breake prison and wold they shuld be surely kepte and hath appoynted peynes mete for suche greuous offenders and that there shall no man labour neyther by the senate nor by the people to mitigate the punysshementes that they are condempned to suffre Also he taketh away the hope whiche only is wonte to be a mans comfort in misery and moreouer he wylleth theyr goodes to be confiscate The lyfe onely he leaueth to those wycked offendours whiche if he wolde haue taken away with one griefe he shulde haue dispatched theym of many tribulations of mynde and bodye and of all peynes of transgressions And bycause the yl doers in theyr lyfe shulde stande in some dreede our forefathers sayd that suche peynes as be in hell were ordeyned for wycked lyuers meanynge therby that yf the feare of suche infernall peynes were taken away men wolde no whyt be arfayde of deathe ¶ Nowe honorable fathers I see howe thys thynge toucheth me yf you shulde folowe Ceasars mynde bycause he leaueth to the way of the common weale that is acceptable to the people peraduenture I shall not nede greatly to feare the furius rage of the people he being the author of this sentence but if you will folowe the other sentence I doubte whether it shall turne me to more busines yea or nay But yet the profyte of the common weale wayeth more with me than all myne owne perylles We haue also Ceasars mynde and sentence accordyng to his honourable estate and as it be semeth a man descēded of so noble a linage as a pledge of his contynuall good wyll to the common weale And we vnderstande what dyfference is betwene the myldnes of oratours and hym that truly loueth the people and tendreth theyr welth I se that some of them which wolde be sene to fauor the people be absente bycause they wyll not gyue sentence of deathe agaynste the citizens of Rome This man not thre dayes past commytted towarde Cethegus and P. Lentulus citesens of Rome and decreed vnto me porcession and yesterday he gaue great rewardes to the detectours of the conspiracy Nowe there is noo manne that doubteth what his mynde and iudgemente is concerninge all this busynes whiche committed the offendours to warde that so greatly thanked the Questor and decreed the detector to be so highly rewarded But C. Cesar vnderstandeth the lawe Sempronia to be constituted and made for the citesens of Rome but he that is an enemye to the common welthe can in noo wyse be a citisyn and farther the selfe maker of the lawe Sempronie was by commaundement of the people greuously punyshed He also demeth Lentulus to be lyberall and not prodygall and that he that so sharply so cruelly imagened by that meanes he myght destroye his common weale and confounde this citie maye be called a fouourer of the people And so this moste mylde and courteys man doubteth not to commande that Lentulus shulde lyue perpetually fettred in darke prison Also he hathe establyshed that no man hereafter booste hym selfe that he mytigated his peyne that no man offending ageinste the comon weale be rekned a fauourer of the people He wylleth furthermore theyr goodes shulde be confiscate that beside all theyr tormentes of mynde and body they woulde be oppressed wyth nede and pouertye Wherfore whether ye wyll determin this ye must cause the people to here me with loue and fauoure Or if ye wyll rather folowe the sentence of Sillanus ye shall easylie defende bothe you and me from blame of crueltie And yet honorable fathers what crueltie can there be in punyshyng so greate and
Rome hadde nowe as some reporte gathered together aboute twenty thousande men But I suppose he had assembled together a greatter noumbre of cruell caytyues But of all these there was not paste the fourthe parte arrayed and instructed lyke men of warre the other hadde not armour warrelyke but suche as men vse to beare iorneyinge by the waye ¶ With this multitude he Catilyne iournayed vppon the sharpe mountaynes oftentymes he remoued his army and the same moste strongely dyd fortifye aboute with a trenche and a bulwarke sometyme he made towarde the citie sometyme towarde Fraunce nowe he besegeth the mountayns whithin a while after he passethe ouer those hylles nowe on horsebacke nowe on fote Also he caused dylygent watches to be kepte and he hym selfe wolde be the first that shulde goo about it he wolde be among them in theyr labours and in their battayles he wolde benignely calle admonysshe and exhorte his souldyours he wolde very oft take his rest and lye vpon the grounde to th entent that other shulde the more wyllyngly endure labour and trauayle Fynally he wold neuer gyue battayle to Antony bycause that he in prolonging of the tyme might augmente his army with the great multytude of hopelostes robbers and theues that dayly drewe to him from all partes of Italy whiche trustynge to spoyle and robbe and couetynge warre had gyuen ouer theyr husbandry daylye wynnyng And also bycause Catiline thought it more surer to abyde tylle the tyme his felowes at Rome had atcheued theyr enterprises and rather to drawe toward the citie than to assay the hasard of batayle And as he now hasted with all his power to inuade his countrey a messanger came and tolde to hym how the conspiracy was openly knowen at Rome and that they of whome we spake before were putte to death Than Catylyne being soore troubled with these tydinges alterynge his counsayle lefte the citie and toke his iourney towarde France transalpine hopyng that the nation of Frenchmen vtter ennemies to the Romayns and alwaye gyuen to newefanglenes wolde soone be induced to take theyr partes in this warre He thought to brynge outward nations armed to the citie and to make a myghty stronge army of men He had the better hope bycause the Delphinoys whiche are the nereste borderers vnto Italy were by certayne of the conspirators wyth great promyess alredy inticed and the frenche men wyllingly harkened vnto them ¶ Catyline inclosed betwne two armyes determyned to fyght Capitulo .liii. BVt Q. Metellus the pretor whiche led an army of .iii. legions in the countrey of Picene being enfourmed by theÌ„ that fled to hiÌ„ what way Catiline toke spedilye dislodged pitched vnder the very fot of the mountaine with his thre legions by the whiche way Catilyne purposed to passe into Fraunce and with a greate numbre of horsemen and lyght harneysed he laye priuilye in awayte in a places mete and conuenient Whiche thynge whan Catilyne beinge entred into the countrey of Pystoria knewe he determyned for many causes to make no longer delay but as soone as euer he coulde to gyue battayle to Antonius Of all whiche this was the most speciall cause for that he sawe before hym his ennemye Metellus with thre legioÌ„s redy to encouÌ„ter wyth hym and Antonius at his backe with a greate hoste whiche dyd pursue hym in his flyghte one euerye syde were the mountayns whiche dyd let that he coulde not saue hym selfe by flyght and therfore he thought it was no maystry for his enmies stoppyng the wayes that no vytayles shulde come to him to opteine the vyctorye without any stroke strikinge if he shuld abide tyll the two hostis had inclosed him betwene them Also he feared leste by longe delayeng his army wolde slyppe from him For many fledde frome him whan tydinges came that the matter wente yll on theyr syde at Rome and many hastinge to come to him retourned backe home ageyne And also bycause the numbre of his enemies daylye encreased Also the nede of corne soore greued hym for the ways beinge stopt with great peine any vitailes coulde be brought to him Than Catilyne all these thinges considered seinge he had no hoope eyther to scape by flight or that anye succours shulde come to him but onely in battayle determined to assaye fortune and to proue the vttermoste ayde Wherefore assemblynge his counsaile togyther and callinge to the same counsayle souldiours of all sortes and degrees he made to them an oration the which though it be found in Salust yet bicause it can not be so properly Salustis as Catilins I haue therfore vnderwriten here the copie therof For Iustinus writeth that Pompeius Trogus the greate writer of hystories reproueth Liuius and Saluste bycause that they in many places of theyr bookes putte other mens orations for theyr owne And so vndoubtedly the oration that Salust hathe plaÌ„ted in the conspiracye of Catiline vnder the person of Cesar Cato beinge at altercation togyther touchinge the peyne punishment of the conspirators whiche we haue sowed to this oure worke were euery word Cesars Catos Plutarchus sayth it whiche wryteth in the lyfe of Cato that M. Cicero appoynted certayne writers in the Senate whyche by theyr seleritie and spedynesse in wrytinge shulde moste easilye regester the sentences of the Senatours and by that meane the same oration of Cato was kept But whether this oration folowynge were Salustes as I beleue it was or els Catilyns I for certayn consyderations wolde rathere haue it put pere than myne owne Nowe than let vs here Catyline exhortynge hys souldiours to battayle ¶ The oration of Catilyne to his souldyours in whiche he exhorteth them to fyght manfully Cap. lv I Knowe verye well good souldiours that wordes can not make menne couragious nor a cowarde and a fearefull armye can not be made stronge and valyaunte by the capitaynes oration but looke what audacitie euery man hathe by nature or custome suche is it wonte to appere in battayle For in vayne thou shalte exhort hym whom neyther â–ª glory nor peryll can encorage feare of the mynde anâ—oyeth the herynge But I haue tolde you together to declare vnto you a fewe thynges and also to kreake and open my mynde vnto youe Ye know my souldiours to what affliction and myschefe the feynt courage and cowardyse of Lentulus hath brought hym selfe and vs and nowe that I taryeng for succours to come frome the citie can not nowe passe into Fraunce Nowe you all perceyue as well as I in what case we stande Oure ennemyes haue two hostes the tone wyll not suffre vs to drawe to the citie the tother doth let vs to enter into Fraunce to tary longer in these places thoughe we wolde neuer so fayne nede and lacke of vytayle and other thynges wyll not suffer vs whither so euer it pleaseth you to goo the way must be opened with your wepons Wherefore I warne you be of good courage and whan ye shall fyght remembre that yf ye fyght manfullye youe shall
of Iugurthe Therfore chosen fathers I am nowe flede vnto you as to my chefe refuge coarted to necessitie to requyre youre socours and constrayned to put you to besynes and charge before I haue done anye pleasure or profete vnto you whiche thynge greued me moost of all and is one of my gretest myseryes Ryght worthy senatours other kynges haue ben receiued into your frindshyp fauoure after ye haue ouercō them in battayle or els perceyuinge them selfe in danger and in doubtefull chaunces of fortune they haue coueited and desyred your feloweshype and fauour rather for theyr owne we le than for yours But moch cōcontrarely our forefathers and rote of our linage Massinissa confederated hymselfe with the people of Rome in the secōd bataile of Carthage what tyme was more faythfulnes to be trusted in thē theyr good wil thē of welth or riches to be optained of the Romains beinge at that tyme assayled with warre on euery side theyr riches and treasours consumed by often batayles Thus it is euident that our auncestry confederat not themself to your felowship for their owne defence in hope of dominion nor for any other priuate profet but onelye for fauour loue whiche they had vnto your empire wherfore noble senatours suffre not the progeny and braunches of his stocke to be distroied Suffer not me which am neuew of your trusty frēd Massinissa to aske of you helpe and socoure in vaine But prudent fathers if it were so that I had none other cause to demaūd socours of you saue onely this miserable fortune wherewith I am oppressed that I whiche was lately a kynge by lyneall discent myghty of auncestry excellent and clere of fame habundaunte in riches and of men of armes and and now disformed by miserable calamite poore nedy so that I am constrained to seke helpe and socours of other men if I had none other mater whereof to cōplaine saue this miserable fortune onely Neuertheles it longeth and is conueniente to the magesty of the people of Roome to prohibite and to withstande iniurye nat to suffer the kyngedome or dominion of anye man to ryse and increase by falshode and mischeuous tyrannye And the ryght heires agaynst right agaynst iustice and agaynst reason to be excluded from theyr true heritage But verely I am excluded and cast forthe of that countrey which the Romaines in time passed gaue vnto my forefathers out of the which countrey my father and grandfather accompayned with your army helpe haue chased the kyng Siphax and also the Carthaginences bothe moost violente enmyes to the empyre of Rome Your benefites be spoyled fro me In this myne iniurye be ye dispysed Wo is me miserable exulate Alas my dere father Micipsa are youre good dedes and kyndnesses against Jugurth come to this poynte and conclusion that he before all other shoulde namelye be dystroyer of your lynage and chyldren whome ye haue made felowe with your owne sonnes and also partiner of youre kyngedome alas than shall oure stocke and houshold neuer be quyet Shal we alway be tossed and turned in effusion of blode and in batayle in exyle and in chasing from our countrie ¶ While the Carthaginences reigned in prosperite we suffered and that paciently and not vndeserued al cruelte vexation For then were our enemies on euery side of vs our frendes in whome we shulde haue found socoure at tyme of nede were ferre disioyned and separate from vs. Thus all our hope all our trust was in oure strength and armoure But nowe after that pestilente dystruction of the Carthaginences is chased and casten out of affrike we continued a tyme ioyfull quiet passinge oure life in peace and tranquilite for why we had no ennemy excepte paraduenture for any iniury done agaynste you ye wolde commaunde vs to take youre enmy for ours also as reason and ryghte requyred But now sodainly vnwarely to vs this Jugurth exaltyng him selfe by his intollerable audacite by cruelte pride hath first slaine my brother his own nere kinsman Hiempsall in augmenting his mischefe hath vsurped to him as in pray my brothers part porcion of the kingdome of Numidy after seing that he mighte not take me lyke maner of trayne as he had done my brother what time I douted nothing lesse than any violence or bataile in the kingdō whiche I holde of you he hath chased me as ye maie se out of your kingdome and hath made me as an abiect outlaw chased frō my coūtrey and dwelling place oppressed with pouertye laded with miseries In so moch that I maie be ī more surety saue garde in any place of the worlde than in owne natife countrey kingdome whiche I holde of you Forsoth worthy senatours I haue euer thought in like maner as I haue oftentimes herd my father Micipsa openly reporte with sadnesse saieng the they whiche shulde dyligentlye continue in youre frendship by theyr merites must take great labours at many tymes vpon themselfe in your causes but of all men they were most sure from iniury of any man And sothely all my linage hath done asmouche as in them was at your desyres And euer hath ben redy in all batails and nedes to assyst you Wherfore if ye folow the precepts of gratitude if ye bere in remembraunce these merites of myne auncestry it is both right honesty that in this myne extreme necessite ye ayde and socoure me and restore me againe to quietnesse whyle ye haue none othere businesse in hande whiche maye be to youe inpedimente in this enterprise Moost discrete fathers more brefely and clerly to declare vnto you my complaint and my myseries And also to certifie youre excellence moore playnlye of myne vnnaturall and vnkynde kynseman Jugurth and of his cruelte It is not vnknowen vnto youre maiestie that my father Micipsa after his departing lefte behynde him vs two brethern his naturall and lauful sonnes supposynge that by his benefites and merites Iugurth shulde be ioyned wyth vs as thyrde brother But alas muche contrary the one of vs is murdred by this cruell Iugurthe blynded by insaciable ambicion and desyre of dominion And I my selfe the second brother scarselye and wyth greate difficulte haue escaped his cruell and vnmercifull handes what maye I doo or whether shall I rathest flee for conforte vnhappye exulate thus desolate and infortunate as I am All the socours all the comforte of my stocke and kinred is extincte by dethe my grandfather Massinissa and my father Micipsa as necessite hathe constrayned them haue payed the generall tribute of nature delyuered frome these mundayne vexacions by naturall deth My nere kynsman Iugurth moch otherwyse thā it be came him to doo hathe cursedlye berefte my brother of his lyfe by tyranny and myscheuous couetise of dominion mine other kinsmen by consanguinite and affinite with mine other frendes by his cruelte bene also oppressed or put to dethe some by one meanes and some by other some of them be taken captiue
wretched persoÌ„ but also against you your empire Suffre not the kingdoÌ„ of Numidy which is youre owne to decay be destroied by cruel tiraÌ„ny of Iugurth by the effusioÌ„ of blod murdre of the linage of Massinissa somtyme most faythfull and constant friend of this your empire ¶ How the embassadours of Iugurth replied against these wordes of Adherbal what direccion was taken for bothe partes of the Senatours of Rome The .xi. Chapter AFter that Adherbal in forme aboue writeÌ„ had ended his coÌ„plaint anone the embassadours of Iugurth arose answered brefely in few wordes as they whiche had more trust and confidence in theyr greate giftes giuen befoore to manye of the rulers of Rome than in any right of theyr cause thus they replyed in effecte saieng before the senatours that Hiempsall was slayne of the Numidians for his owne hastynes cruelte and not by knowlege of Iugurth and as touchyng Adherbaâ— he began warre agaynst Iugurth of his owne froward mynde without any occasion but after he was ouercome in batayle bycause he was not able to reuenge him self nor to make his partie good he fled vnto Rome to complayne hym to the senatours of Iugurth where al the faute was in himselfe in none other concernyng the partie of Iugurth they requyred the senatours in his behalfe in his absence to count him none other than he was proued knowen in the warre of Numance that they wold not set more by the wordes of his ennemy than by his dedes magnificently proued This saide anone after bothe parties departed in sonder from the court Immediatly the Senatours toke couÌ„sell what best was to be done in the cause The fauourers of Iugurth of his embassadours and more ouer a great part of the Senatours wer corrupt before by parcialite fauour and rewardes of Iugurth so deprauat that they contemned set at nought the wordes of Adherball exaltyng coÌ„mendynge the manhode of Iugurth with laude fauour couÌ„tenaunce voyce all other signes And so finally they laboured by al maner of meanes for an other myscheuous vice cruell crime to defende the same as if it had ben in defence of theyr owne honor worshyp honeste But on the other part were a fewe other whiche set more by iustice honeste than by false goten riches these counselled to socour Adherbal sharply to punisshe reueÌ„ge the death of HieÌ„psall But amonge al other of this opinion was one named Emilius Scaurus a man of noble byrth redy to disturbe euery busynes debatfull besye desirous of power of authorite of honour of riches but crafty in cloking of these his fautes After this Emiliê° Scaurê° sawe his gyueng of brybes of Iugurth so shamfully openly knowne he fered lest the corrupcion of the Senatours and head rulers of Rome might ingendre enuie debate and slaughter betwene them and the commons lyke as in suche cases often had fortuned in tymes before Wherefore in this consideracion he refrained his mynde at this tyme from his accostumed vnlawful lustes Neuertheles among the Senatours in this counsell the worste parte preuayled and that part which set more by fauour and rewardes then by right and equitie ouercame the other part whiche labored to sustaine the ryght without any fauour or parcialitie And so the fauorers of Iugurthe optayned their purpose and hys crueltie had no punyshement Neuertheles it was concluded and decreed that .x. embassadours shuld be sente into Numidie to deuide the kingdome which longed to Micipsa betwene Iugurth and Adherbal The principal of this ambassad was one named Lucius Opimus a man of noble fame of greate authoritie and power amonge the Senatours in those daies what tyme Caius Gracchus and Marcus Fuluius great fauorers of the coÌ„mens were slaine of the noble men of Rome for the same cause After victorie of the noble men againste the coÌ„mons the same two princes this L. Opimus enraged greuously with rigorous sharpe inquisicions examinacions against the pore comontie and was one of the chiefe oppressors of them What time this L. Opimus with his companie was come to Numidye Iugurth deuouringe all thinges whiche they maye ouercome But this omittinge I wyll now brefelye declare what maner people firste of all inhabited this couÌ„trey of Affrike what people thither resorted to inhabite nexte after theÌ„ And how the same peoples wer mingled togyder Howe be it that whiche I shall write is moche diuers from the commen fame and opinion of many men neuerthelesse I shall folowe the bokes writen in Affrike langage which as it is sayd belonged to the yong prince Hiempsall whome Iugurth murdred of the same bokes I shall folowe the true interpretacion in this mater and lyke as the inhabitauntes of the same countrey affirme to be true But touchynge the very credence of the truthe of the mater I reporte that to the authours ¶ The first people which inhabited the countrey of Affrike weere named Getulians and Libians a people harde sharpe and vnmanerd These lyued of fleshe of wylde beastes and fedde vpon the grounde as beastes vnresonable And were not ruled by any maners but lyued without lordes or lawes as vagabundes rouers They had no certayne bydinge place but wher as the night toke theÌ„ ther they rested for the time But after that Hercules died in Hispain as the Affricans say his armye whiche was assembled of dyuers nations whan their captayne and heede was lost dispersed theÌ„ abrode anone after his deth and came to dyuers places of the world to seke theyr fortune wher they might optaine any habitacion or lordshyppe Of whiche company the Medeans Perseans and Armenians arriued wyth their shyppes in that coost of Affrike whiche was nerest to the empire of Rome and longe tyme after occupied those costes But the Persians inhabited theÌ„ self more inward in the cuntrei toward the ocean sea in stede of houses thei turned their ships botoms vpward dwelled vnder the same And no marueil for in that cuntrei about theÌ„ grew no timber nor other stuffe mete for building nor of the Spaniards which inhabited next to theÌ„ might they nether bie nor borowe For the sea was so gret teÌ„pesteous betwen theÌ„ their laÌ„gages so diuers vnknowen to either people that by these .ij. iÌ„pedimentes they wer letted froÌ„ the cours of marchaÌ„dise or exchanges betwen theÌ„ These PersieÌ„s by mean of mariages by lytle litle miÌ„gled the GetuliaÌ„s with theÌ„ bicause thei proued ofteÌ„times the coÌ„moditie of their grouÌ„d fildes by often coÌ„mutacioÌ„s changings one with other at last thei named theÌ„ selfe NumidiaÌ„s that is to say herdmeÌ„ diuided And to this preseÌ„t day the cotages or tylmens houses be made long with croked sides or couerturs bowing iÌ„ward as if thei wer belies of ships traÌ„suersed or turned vp set downe Touching the MedeaÌ„s Armeniens thei ioyned theÌ„ self with the LibieÌ„s For the Medeans and Armeniens dwelled before
Calphurnius In somoche that among the commeÌ„ty was raysed greuous hatered and displeasure against hym The senatours were sore troubled wer in doute whyther they myght confirme and alowe this foule shamefull dede of the consull or els abrogate and annull the same In this perplexite they were long tyme vncertayne And moost of all the myght and power of Scaurus bycause he was a doer and felowe with the consull in the saide dede let them from discussing of the ryght But whyle the senatours in such wise prolonged the tyme. In this dubitacion Memmius of whose condicions promptnes of wytte and hatered which he had against the power of the estates and noble men we haue written before at dyuers tymes he assembled the common people exhortyng and inflamyng them to reuenge the cruelte of Iugurth and parcialite of his fauourers and warning them not to forsake the defence of theyr commen weale and lybertye of theyr cite He rehersed vnto them the pride the cruelte and manyfolde vnlawfull dedes of the senatours and of other estates at many tymes done to disworshyp and oppression of the commen wele And vtterly at conclusion so he behaued hymselfe that he kyndled the myndes of the vniuersall commentie to resyst the parcialyte of the estates and to se the cruelte of Iugurth extremely punyshed But bycause the eloquence of this Memmius at that season was at Rome notable and moche set by dyscrete and of greate authoryte I haue intended of so many exortacions as he had to the people to commyt one to remembraunce by wrytinge And speciallye before all other I wyll wryte that exortacion whiche after returnynge of Calphurnius from Affrike the sayde Memmius spake before the commen people in fourme folowyng ¶ The oracion of Memmius had before the commeÌ„ people of Rome In whiche oracion he induceth them to defende theyr lyberte And to expresse and persecute wyth hatered the noâ—le men of Rome The .xix. Chapter RIght worthu cetizins many thinges wolde with draw me from defence of you and from charge medling with your businesses were not the great loue fauour which I haue to the commen wele that causeth me to set a side al such impedimentes vtterly to take vpon me the defence of youre liberte against these corrupt estates More plainly to ascertaine you the thynges which might withdrawe me from defence of youre cause be these Fâ—rst the power of them which are beginers of this variauÌ„ce that is to saye of Calphurnius and Scaurus Secondly your pacieÌ„ce whiche is easye to be subdued of cruelte sithe ye be disposed to endure this wronge Ayd thyrdly the infeccioÌ„ of Iustice whiche is no wher here among vs but clene exyled from oure cytie And principally this letteth me for that I se you so innocent so feble minded so simple that in eueri place ye ar sure of al the peryl of al the laboure of al the paine but these estates which do nought that is coÌ„mendable haue al the honour auantage worshyp And sothely it greueth me to speke to you of the iniury that now of late hath beÌ„ don to you howe moch ye haue ben had in skorne derision in disdayne to the power pryde of a few estates And al so it greueth to recount how vnreuenged many of your defeÌ„ders by theÌ„ haue shamfully be put to deth for your sake within these fiftene yeres And to se how your mindes be corrupt with cowardise negligence that ye wolde neuer socoure them whiche in your quarell and defence haue suddued theÌ„ self to deth What intend ye wil ye stil be subiect vnto these estates your enemies It is surely tyme at the last to arise and defend your lybertie ye do dred them whome if semeth to doute and to drede you consyderynge youre true quarell and theyr vngodlye misdemeanour But not wythstandynge that ye bee thus dysposed to lose youre lybertye and in myserye to passe forthe the resydue of youre lyues neuertheles the good wyll whiche I haue to you and to the commeÌ„ wele causeth and dryueth my minde to resyste this fals fauoure and parcialyte of these proude and vniuste lordes Certesse I shall assay and proue howe I can defeÌ„d the lyberte whiche my father lefte me but whyther I shall so do to auauntage or els in vayne that lieth hole in your handes and power Surely worthy citezins I do not exorte you to withstande these wronges and oppressions with force of armes as our forefathers haue often done To resyst and repell this wronge nedeth no violence no deuydynge of you frome the senatours as your elders haue done before tyme. It must nedes be that these great men confederate in malyce at last shal come to decaye by theyr owne condicions and insolente behauoure ¶ Were not sharp inquisicions greuous examinacioÌ„s had against the commen people of Rome after that Tiberius Graccus was slayne for the defeÌ„ce of the lawes belonging to the commentie whome his euyll wyllers accused as vsurper of kingdome ouer the commen people And moreouer after that Caius Graccus and Marcus Fuluius were put to deth for defending of your lyberte were not many of youre order and behauour that is to saye of the commentie put to deathe or murdred in prison And at both the seasons the estates made no ende of theyr crueltie agaynst you after the lawe but after theyr immoderate pleasur Well forsothe I graunt that it be reputed for treason and vsurpacion of a kingdome to defende the lawes and the right of the commeÌ„tie and I graunt also that what thyng can not be condygnely punished without effusion of blode of many citezins that the same punishemeÌ„t be executed according to lawe and right vpon a fewe such as were begynners of the trespasse within these fewe yeres passed ye disdained and murmured secretly amonge your selfe that the sayde lordes spoyled the commen treasoure wythout youre consente And that kynges and nacions contrybutory to Rome payed theyr trybutes to a fewe priuate estates and not generall to the vniuersall citie in commen and ye grutched that these estates had all the moost dignite and all the rychesse and treasoure also in theyr handes Neuerthelesse they counted but a small thynge to escape vnpunyshed for these so great offences Wherfore nowe are they become so bolde so fiers and proude by youre sufferance that at last they haue betrayed and put in handes of youre ennemyes your lawes your dignite youre magestye wyth all other thinges bothe humayne and diuine to your libertie belongyng So that in pardoninge of these inhumayne and cruell offences of Iugurth they haue polluted and betrayed the lawes bothe of god and man And howe be it that suche is theyr demeanour it nothynge repenteth them nor they be nought asshamede therof But dayly iette before youre faces solemly and pompouslye bostynge them selfe Some of theyr dignities theyr lordshyppes and offices And other some craking of their triumphes and victories as who saieth that they attained the same by
disposed to do wrong and iniury vnto you And ye labour to withstande them vtterly And brefely to speke they take the frendes and felowes of our empire for ennemies But our mortall ennemies they take for theyr felowes and frendes But ye wolde withstand this cursed and vnkynd behauour Wherfore can ye suppose that peace loue or friendshyp can be among people so coÌ„trary of myndes disposicion For these consyderacions I warne and exhorte you that ye suffre not so greate myschefe to escape vnpunyshed This offence is nothynge lyke to the robbyng of the common treasure nor to the spoylinge of money by extorcion from the felowes and frendes of oure empire Whiche dedes how be it they be greuous and in maner intollerable neuertheles by custome and vse of the same thei are repuâ—ed for smal fautes for nought But this dede is moche more greuous and vtterly intollerable For the authorite of the senate is betrayed to our most cruell and fiers ennemy Iugurth youre empire is falsly betraied to other mennes handes and possession The commen wele hathe bene put to sale to Iugurth by the senatours bothe at home in our citye and also in oure army by Calphurnius the consull In so moche that if examinacion be not made hereof and if they be not punished whiche be culpable and fautie her in What thynge shall remayne vnto vs but that we must passe our lyfe vnder obedience and bondage of theÌ„ which thus haue done and vs shall they kepe in subiection as yf they were kynges For what thinge longeth to a kynge saue to parfourme his wyll and pleasure be it good or yl without any resisteÌ„ce or punishmeÌ„t of any maÌ„ Do not these estates without any contradictioÌ„ notwythstanding that it is in your power to withstand theÌ„ if ye wil. Nor certes worthi citezins I do not thus exhort you to coueyte rather that youre citezins shulde do yll than well But I speke to thintente that ye shulde not so fauour and forbere a fewe iniust and yll disposed meÌ„ that the vtter distruction of all good men shulde proceede of suche indiscrete fauoure And also namelye in a cytie or a commen weale it is muche better and more tollerable to forgette the reward of good dedes than the punishement of yll dedes For a good maÌ„ seynge his goodnes not rewarded nor set by he dothe but onely withdrawe his owne kyndnes but an yl man not punished is the more bolde and cursed And moreouer if suche as be misdoers be punished at the last theyr nombre shal be abated and decresed and if there be few vniust men the lesse wronge is done And he to whome no wronge is done nedeth not to call for socoure nor helpe Thus is it better to leaue a good dede vnrewarded than an yll dede vnpunished ¶ How Memmius induced the people of Rome by the sayde oracion so that Cassius was sente for Iugurth to brynge hym to Rome to declare and accuse the supporter of hys dedes The .xx. Chapter MEmmius couÌ„sellynge and inducynge often tymes by these wordes other lyke at laste dyd so moche that Lucius Cassius one of the chefe .x. iudges of Rome shulde be sende to Iugurth and assure hym of his lyfe and to come and retourne in saue garde vpon promes fayth of all the hole commenty of Rome And vpon this promes to bring him to Rome to thintent that by his owne wordes and confession of the treuth the falshode couetyse of Calphurnius the consull of Scaurus of other whiche had bene corrupted by hym before by money rewardes myght be euydently proued and knowen ¶ Of the behauour of the Soudyours and other which were lafte in Numidy while Scaurus the consull was at Rome The .xxi. Chapter WHyle these thinges were in hand and done at Rome in meane tyme the chefe of the soudiours whiche Calphurnius had lefte behynde hym in Numidy folowed the maners and behauoure of theyr captayne and dyd many vngodly and myscheuous dedes Some of them were so corrupt with golde that they delyuered agayne to Iugurth the olyphantes which he had gyuen to Calphurnius what tyme the peace was graunted truce first taken bytwene them Some other solde to Iugurth the traytours whiche had fled from hym vnto the Romayns army And other some spoyled robbed the people of Numidy whiche had al redy peace with the Romains and had yelded themselfe So great and shamefull was the violence of couetyse whiche had infected theyr minde as if it had ben an vniuersall contagion of pestilence But nowe wyll I returne to my mater wher I left before coÌ„cerning Cassius the iudge his viage to Numidy for to bringe Iugurth vnto Rome ¶ Howe Iugurth came to Rome with Cassius and howe he behaued hym selfe there The .xxii. Chapter CAyus Memmius in name of all the commens gaue commaundemente to Cassius accordynge to the ordinaunce inacted to spede hym towardes Numidye and to bid Iugurth come to Rome vnder suerte and condition before rehersed WhaÌ„ the estates which knew them selfe culâ—able vnderstod of this were maruelusly abashed But whan Cassius was come to Iugurth not wythstandynge that he was ferefull of hys parte and had no confidence in his cause for asmoche as he knewe hymselfe fauty in his owne conscience yet Cassius aduised him and induced hym bycause he had yelded hym selfe to come vnto Rome without he wold rather proue the Romayns strengthe and violence than theyr mercy and pyte and moreouer the sayde Cassius promised also hys owne faith and trouth that if he wold come to Rome and answere truly to all suche thynges as there shulde be demaunded of hym he shulde safely go and come wythout any impediment Cassius had so good a name at that tyme that Iugurth had asmoche confidence in his fayth promes alone as in the promes or assuraÌ„ce of the hole cite And so at last Iugurth consented to go to Rome wyth Cassius Wherfore to enduce the Romains to the more pyte he arayed himselfe in rude aparell agaynst his honour royall moche vile myserable and so wyth Cassius came to Rome not as a kyng but poorly and with a small company And not wythstandyng that his mynde was moche confirmed assured and bolded by the conforte of them whiche he had corrupted with rewardes before whose defence supportacion he had committed so moche cruelty yet he behaued hym so wyth his gyftes of newe assone as he was come to Rome that by his great reward be induced a lorde of Rome named Caius Bebius one of the protectours of the commenty to be supporter mayntener of his cause amonge the other mo By whose dyshonest and vnmesurable couetise he trusted assuredlye to be defended astaynst lawe from all punyshmentes due vnto hys demerites But the commentye of Rome was violently and sore wrathe agaynst Iugurth some commaunded to haue hym to prison and there to kepe hym in bandes And other some wolde that acordyng to the lawe punyshment of
so cruell a dede Truely I speake according to my mynde for so mote I wyth you enioye the common weale as I that in this cause am ryght vehemente am not moued with anye crueltye of minde For who is more milder than I but yet after a certayne singuler humanitie and mercie For why me thinketh that I see this citie the lanterne of the hole worlde and the fortres of defence for all nacions sodeinely burninge fall in desolacion I see in my minde oure countreye cleane destroied and the miserable heapes of cityzens lye vnburied The furious loke of Cethegus frantike madde in the slaughter of you is neuer oute of my syghte Whan I call to remembraunce Lentulus reigninge lyke a kynge lyke as he confessed to haue seene him selfe by predestinacion Gabinius arayed in a purple weede and Catiline come with his armie O howe I than abhorre to see the lamentacion of the honeste wiues the flyghte of yonge maides and childrene and the trouble of the virginnes Vestalles And because these thinges seme to me vehementely miserable and to be pitied therfore I shew my selfe sharp and vehemente againste those that wolde haue performed them I aske you whether that householder which dothe moste sharpely and greuouselye punishe his seruaunte that sleyeth his childrene kylleth his wife and burneth his house is to bee counted milde and mercifull or els fierce and cruell I iudge him importunate and of an yron courage that wolde not asswage his sorowe with the turmenting of suche a seruaunt In like maner we shall be rekened mercifull if wee shewe oure selues moste sharpe and vehemente againste those that wolde murder vs oure wiues our children that with all their indeuour go aboute to destroye euerie mannes house and this vniuersall common weale whyche haue doone their beste to haue stablyshed the nacion of Delphinois in the steppes of thys citye and in the asshes of thys empiere distroied wyth fire but if wee wyll be seene to be remisse and negligente we shal be vtterly defamed of crueltie for sufferynge our countrey and citesens to be distroyed Excepte any man wyll thynke L Caesar that noble and valyant man and that mooste derely loueth this common weale was the other day very cruel what he sayd that his sisters husband that most honorable lady beinge present and heryng hym was worthy to dye Whan he sayd Flaccus was slayn by the consuls coÌ„mandement and his sonne not .xiiii. yere of age bounde and cast into pryson to be slayne Was any of theyr dedes lyke this What counsayle toke they to destroy the common weale Largesse was than vsed in the coÌ„mon weale to come to honour and some contencion and part takynge And euen at that tyme this LeÌ„tulus grandfather that most noble maÌ„ being armed pursued Gracchê° was thaÌ„ sore wouÌ„ded to the ende the hygh dignitie of the coÌ„mon weale shulde nothyng be blemyshed This Lentulus hath styrred vp the Frenchemen to tourne vpset downe this common weale he hath reysed slaues and bondemen he hath callyd forthe Catiline he hath allotted vs to Cethegus the other cityzens to bee slayne by Gabinius the citye to be burned by Cassius all Italy to be wasted and spoyled by Catilyne I deeme you dreede leste that in this so cruell and cursed a deede ye shulde be seene to determine any thinge ouer sharpe and rigorous Whan it is muche more to be feared leste by negligence of punyshement we shall seme rather cruell to our countrey than by sharpenes of punyshemente ouer vehemente against our moste cruell ennemies ¶ But honorable fathers I can nat dissemble that I haue herd spoken For wordes ar bloweÌ„ abrode whiche are come to my hearyng of them that seme to feare leste I shal not be stronge inough to execute those thinges that ye shall this day determyne to be done All thynges prudent fathers ar foresene prepared and in a redynesse by my no lyttell care and dilygence but moche more by the good courage that the commynaltie hathe to maynteyne and defende this most highe empire and theyr owne goodes They be all of euery state and degree and of euery age bent here vppon The market place is full soo be all the wayes and passages to this place and temple This cause sith the buyldinge of the citie is founde to be alone in the whiche al agree on one selfe thinge excepte those whiche seynge they muste nedes ende theyr wretched life they had rather dy with all other than peryshe alone Those men I except and gladly seuer them from vs. Nor I accompt not theym amonge the numbre of honest citesins but from henseforth to be taken for our mooste cruell ennemies But good lorde with howe greate multitude with what fauour and affection with what wood harte and courage do all other consent and agree to the dignite and welthe of vs all Wherto shoulde I here reherse the gentyll men of Rome whiche so gyueth place to you in degree and consultation that they wylle contende wyth vs in loue of the common weale the whiche this daye and this cause hathe retired from longe dissentyon and debate had with this order and knytte you faste frendes togyther whiche knote of frendshype confyrmed in my consuls shyppe if we contynually kepe in the common weale I assure you after this no ciuile harme amonge our selfe shall endomage the common weale on noo syde Wyth lyke fauour to defende the common weale I see the treasourers men woste hardy and valyante assemble theym selues togyther Also all the notaries and scrybes whiche in great numbre chaunce this daye hath broughte to the treasoure house I perceyue they lokynge to what ende this busines wyll come ar fully bent on the common welth Here is also the holle multitude of the meane sorte of freemen For who is he to whome those temples the aspecte of this citie the possession of libertie and fynally this lyghte and this oure natiue countrey is not dere swete and pleasante It is a ioyfull thynge honorable fathers to see the fauoure and affection of the lybertines whiche chauncynge to enioye the franches of this citie accompte it to be theyr owne countree whiche cytie some that be here borne and comme of noble lynage iudge not theyr countrey but take it as a towne of theyr enemyes But whereto shall I recyte vnto you those men and degrees whome theyr owne priuate coÌ„moditie the common profite fredome and lybertie of all thinges the moste swetest hath a waked and styred to defende the welthe of theyr countrey There is no slaue whose seruile condition is anye thynge tollerable whiche dothe not vtterly abhore the saucy and malapert boldnes of our citisens that wolde not haue theÌ„ bridled that doth not as moche as he dare and as muche as he can applye his good wylle for the coÌ„mon weale Wherfore if haplye any of you be moued with this that a rumoure is blowen abrode that a certayne ruffyan longing to Lentulus runneth about froÌ„ shope to shope hopynge with mede to stere and