Offices Yet despised he not this meane Office but discharged it very Faithfully For said he the Office or Authority shewes not only what the man is but also the man what the Office is Shortly after Epaminondas was returned out of Thessaly the Arcadians were overcome by Archidamus and the Lacedemonians who in the fight lost not a man and therefore they called this journey the tearlesse Battel and Epaminondas forseeing that the Arcadians would yet have another storme he gave them counsel to fortifie their Towns which they did accordingly and built that City which afterwads was called Megalopolis situated in a very convenient place Whilst the Thebans made War with the Elians their neighbours the minde of Epaminondas was alwayes lifted up to high enterprizes for the good of his Country wherefore in an Oration which he made to his Citizens he preswaded them to make themselves strong by Sea and to endeavour to get the principality and to make themselves the Lords thereof This Oration was full of lively reasons whereby he shewed and proved unto them that the enterpize was both honourable and profitable which he made out by sundry Arguments telling them that it was an easy thing for them who were now the stronger by Land to make themselves also the stronger by Sea and the rather for that the Athenians in the War against Xerxes though they had armed and set forth two hundred Gallyes armed and well appointed with men yet they willingly submitted themselves to the Lacedemonians He alleadged many other reasons whereby he prevailed so far that the Thebans were willing to undertake the enterprize and thereupon gave present order to build an hundred Gallies and an Arsenall with so many rooms that they might lay them under covert in the Dock They ordered also to send to them of Rhodes and of Chio and of Byzantium to desire their furthrance in this enterprize for which end Epaminondas was sent with an Army unto these Cities In his Passage he met with Leches a Captain of the Athenians with a number of Ships in his Fleet who was sent on purpose to hinder this designe of the Thebans Yet Epaminondas so affrighted him that he made him retire back again and holding on his course he brought the aforenamed Cities to enter into League with the Thebans Shortly after the Thebans fell out with the City of Orchomene which had done them great hurt and mischiefe and having won it by assault slew all the men that were able to bear Armes and made all the women and children Slaves Some time after the death of Pelopidas certain private Persons of Mantinea fearing to be called to an account for their bad behaviours and robberies which they had committed if the Arcadians and Elians should agree they so brought it about that they raised a new quarrel in the Country which was divided into two Factions whereof the Mantineans were the chief on the one side and the Tageates on the other This quarrel went so far that the Parties would needs try it by Armes The Tageates sent to request aid of the Thebans who accordingly chose Epaminondas their Captain Generall and sent him with a good number of men of War to aid the Tageates The Mantineans being terrified with this aid that came out of Boeotia to their eneemies and at the reputation of their Captain they immediatly sent to the Athenians and Lacedemonians the greatest enemies of the Boeotians for their assistance which both the Cities granted Upon this there fell out many and great skirmishes in diverse parts of Peloponnesus and Epaminondas being not far off from Mantinea understood by some of the Country men that Agesilaus and his Lacedemonians were come into the Field and that they wasted all the Territories of the Tageates whereupon judging that there were but few men left in the City of Sparta to defend it he undertook a great exploit and dangerous and had certainly effected it if the marvelous good Fortune of Sparta had not hindred it His designe was this He departed from Tegea by night the Mantineans knowing nothing of it and taking a by way he had certainly surprised Sparta without striking a stroak had not a Post of Candia speedily carried word of it to Agesilaus who immediatly dispatched away an Horsman to give intelligence to them of Sparta to stand upon their guard and he himself speedily hasted after and arrived there a little before the coming of the Thebans who being very near the City a little before day they gave an assault to them that defended it This made Agesilâ—us to bestir himself wonderfully even beyond the strength of so old a man But his Son Archidamus and Isadas the Son of Phaebidas fought valiantly on all parts Epaminondas seeing how prepared the Spartanes were to oppose him began then to suspect that his design was discovered yet notwithstanding he left not off to force them all he could though he fought with great disadvantage considering the places wherein he was yea he continued fighting courageously till the Army of the Lacedemonians came on and till the night approached whereupon he sounded a retreat Then being informed that the Mantineans came on also with their forces he withdrew his Army somewhat farther off from the Town and there Camped After which he caused his men to refresh themselves with victuals and leaving certain Horsemen in the Camp he commanded them to make fires in the morning and in the mean time himself with the rest of his men went to surprize Mantinea before any should discover that he was departed Yet herein also he failed of his purpose the prosperity of the Thebans being come to its height and the course of Epaminondas his Life drawing neer to an end whereby Greece was deprived of this Noble and famous Captain from whom was taken a most notable Victory and that twice by strange accidents For at the second time when he was come neer to Mantinea that was left without guard and defence just then on the other side of the Town there arrived six thousand Athenians conducted by their Captain Hegelecus who having put sufficient force into the Town ordered the rest of his Army in Battel array without the Walls and immediatly also came the Mantineans and Lacedemonians together who prepared to put all to the hazard of a Battel and therefore sent for their Allies from all parts and when they were come together they were in all twenty five thousand Foot and two thousand Horse The Arcadians Boeotians and their partakers were thirty thousand Foot and three thousand Horse When they came to the Battel first the Horse charged with great fury and the Horsmen of the Athenians encountering with the Thehans proved too weak for them not because they were lesse valiant or hardy than the other but because they had not so good Chieftains and had few Archers amongst their Troops The Thebans on the other side were all excellently well appointed and had
strait Then he asked who had the Victory The Boeotians answered the Target-bearer Then he commanded them to bring to him Diophantus and Jolidas they told him they were both dead Upon this he advised his Citizens to make Peace with their enemies for that they had not any Captain of skill to lead them to the Wars And now said he it is time for me to die and therefore pluck the Dart Head out of my Body At this word all his Friends that were about him fetched grievous sighs and even cryed out for sorrow and one of them weeping said unto him Alas Epaminondas Thou diest now and leavest no Children behind thee Yea said he that I do Eor I leave two faire Daughters behind me whereof the one is the Victory at Leuctres and the other this of Mantinea So they pulled out the Dart and immediatly he gave up the Ghost without shewing any signe that he was at all troubled at it He used often to say That War is the Bed of Honour amd that it is a sweet Death to dye for ones Country He was one of the bravest Captaines that ever we read of For whereas others excelled in some one or two Virtues by which they made their Fame great and glorious he excelled in all the Vertues and good Parts that could be desired in a Grave Politick and Great Captain to make him compleat in all things that could be expected in an Heathen In his time he advanced his Country to the Principality of all Greece But after his Death they soon lost it and not long after Alexander the Great utterly â—rake them in peices made slaves of those that survived and razed their City to the very ground Aâ— in hiâ— life time he had alwayes detested covetouâ—nâ—sse so after his Death the Thebans were faigne to bury him at the common charge of the City because they found no mony in his house to defray the least patt of the Funerall expences FINIS Courteous Reader be pleased to take notice that these Books following are Printed for and sold by William Miller at the 〈…〉 in St Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door HIckes Revelation Revealed Folio Clarkes Martyrology Compleat with the Persecutions of England to the end of Queen Maries Reign Folio Lives of ten Eminent Divines some being as follow Bishop Vsher Dr Gouge Dr Harris Mr Gataker Mr Whittaker c. and some other famous Christians Life of Christ 4º Life of Herod the Great 4º Life of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus the Great the one the first founder of the Baylonian Empir the other the first founder of the Empire of the Medes and Persians 4º Life of Alexander the Great the first founder of the Grecian Empire As also of Charles the Great commonly called Charlemagne the first founder of the French Empire 4º A Prospect of Hungary and Transylvania together with an account of the qualities of the Inhabitants the Commodities of the Countries the Chiefest Cities Towns and Strong-holds Rivers and Mountains with an Historycal Narration of the Wars amongst themselves and with the Turks continued to this year 1664. As also a Brief Description of Bohemia Austria Bavaria Steirmark Crâ—atia Dalmatia Moravia and other Adjacent Countries contained in a Map joyned therewith by which Map you may know which Places are in the Power of the Turk and which Christians have 4º Cradock's KNOWLEDGE and PRACTICE Or a Plain Discourse of the Chief Things necessary to be KNOWN BELIEVED and PRACTISED in Order to SALVATION 4º Ford of Baptism 8º Cotton on the Covenant of Grace 8º Culverwell of Assurance 8º Records Urinal of Physick 8º Ravins Oriental Grammer 12º Peacocks Visitation 12º Dr Tuckney's Good Day well Improved 12º Death Disarmed 12º Balm of Gilead 12º Clamor Sanguinis 12º Aristippâ—â— or Bâ—lsac's Master piece 12º 〈◊〉 Charles's Works 24º Hannibal chosen General He besieges and takes many Townes His Valour and Policy His Victory He besieges Saguntum Saguntum taken Roman Ambassadors sent to Carthage The Carthaginians answer War denounced by the Romanes Hannibal prepares for Italy He Conquers much of Spain His passage through France He is opposed His Victory in France Some Gauls incourage him He passeth the Alps. The Gauls rise aganst the Romans They besiege Modena The Romans send an Army into Spain Hannibals losses in his march Hannibal prepares to fight A Battel The Romans beaten The Gauls forsake the Romans Hannibal beates the Consul He wins Clastidium Hannibals Forragers beaten Another Battel The Romans beaten Hannibals Policy Treacheries against him His dangerous march The Romans beaten again· The Romans beaten Great feaâ— at Rome A Dictator chosen Fabius his warinesse Hannibals Policy Fabius his wisdom Hinnibals Stratagem Hannibal Forragers beaten Minutius made equall with Fabius A Battel The Romans beaten Cannae Castle taken Varro makes hast to fight They prepare to fight The great Battel at Cannae Hannibals Policy The Romans beaten Many Towns inertain Hannibal Capua intertains him The Romans mourn Their Superstition A Dictator chosen Hinnibal beaten Acerrae taken by Hannibal Cassiline besieged· Mago sent to Carthage Large supplies promised to Hannibal Diverse Cities taken The promised Supplies come not Gracchus his Prudence The Capuans beaten Cuma besieged The Siege raised Hannibal delaies A Battel The Carthaginians bâ—aten The Romans poverty how supplyed Cassilâ—ne taken by the Râ—mans Arpi taken by the Romans The Romans beaten Tarentumâ—ake â—ake by Hannibal The Carthaginians beaten Capua besieged by the Consuls The Seige raised by Hannibal The Romans beaten Another victoâ—y Capua besieged again Hannibal comes to relieve them Hannibal intends for Rome and leaves it Capua taken The Consuls cruelty The publick wants supplied Salapia yeilded to Marcellus The Romans beaten A Battel A Battel The Romans beaten Tarentum taken The Romans beaten Locry besieged The Romans beaten The Consuls slaine The Romans beaten Great fear at Rome Asdrubal comes into Italy A Battel Asdrubal slaine Hannibal retires into Brusia His Prudence Scipio coms from Spain· Is chosen Consul He goâ— into Sycily Sends inti Africk And goes himself Vtica besieged The Carthaginians beaten And a second time They sue for Peace They dealt deceitfully Hannibal leaves Italy Comes into Afrck. An interview of the Generals Hannibals Speech to Scipio Scipios reply They prepar to fight A Battel Hannibal beaten He flies to Carthage and perswades them to seek Peace His Civil imployment He is complained of to the Romans He flies from Carthage to Tyre· He goes to Antioccus His counsel neglected He flies to Prusias Who betrays him His last Speech He poisons himself His Parentage and Education His parts He exercises and studies His Discourse with a Phylosopher His contempt of Riches His Poverty His Charity His Sobriety His Vigilance His Valor Tyran's in Thebes His prudence The Tyrants slain His Modesty He is advanced to Honour The Spartans beaten A Battel The Spartans beaten Peace among the Greeks The Thebans are excepted Plataees destroyed Hiâ— wisdom And courage His Prudence Fat men cashired His Prudence And Policy A Battel The Spartans beaten His Humility He plunders Laconia He braves the Spartans Messina re-edified Pallene destroyed Peloponesus fortified He beates the Spartans His Clemency He is envied His prudence He is accused and abused Pelopidas imprison ed by a Tyrant His Policy His Prudence Pelopidas released His witty speeches His Humility Megalopelis built The Thebans build a Navy New Wars A notable atempt An other but frustrated A Battel He is deadly woundâ—d The Spartans beaten His advice to the Thebans His death His character Hâ—s poverty
was expected but there came no more than a few Elephants and Hannibal was forced to rest contented with them Then did he take the Field and sought to make himself master of some good Haven Town that might serve to intertain the Carthaginian Fleet when it should arrive with the supplies For this end he sent Himilco who by the help of his good Friends the Brusians won Petilia he won also Concentia and Crotan and the City of Locri and many other places only the Town of Rhegium over against Sicily held out against him The Romans at this time were in such a case that Hannibal with a little help from Carthage might have reduced them to great extremity But his own Citizens suffered him to languish with expectation of their promised supplies which being still deferred from year to year caused as great opportunities to be lostâ— as a Conquerer could have desired But whatsoever Hannibal thought he was faign to apply himself to his Italian Friends and to feed them with Hopes and to trifle away his time about Nola Naples Cumae c. being loath to weaken his Army by a hard Siege that was to be reserved for a work of more importance Many offers he made upon Nola but alwayes with bad successe Once Mercellus fought a Battel with him there under the Walls of the City having the Citizens to assist him wherein Hannibal lost a thousand men which was no great marvil his forces being then divided and imployed in sundry parts of Italy at once At this time T. Sempronius Gracchus and Q. Fabius Maximus the late famous Dictator were chosen Consuls But Fabius was detained at Rome about matters of Religion or Superstition rather wherewith the City was commonly especially in the times of danger very much troubled so Gracchus alone with a Consular Army waited upon Hannibal amongst the Campanes not able to meet him in the Field yet attentive to all occasions that should be presented The Slaves that lately had been Armed were a great part of his followers These and the rest of his men Gracchus continually trained and had not a greater care to make his Army skilfull in the exercises of War than in keeping it from quarrels that might arise by their upbrading one another with their base condition Gracchus at this time had a bickering with the Capuans upon whom he came at unawars and slew above two thousand of them and took their Camp but staid not long to rifle it for fear of Hannibal that lay not far off By this his Providence he escaped a greater losse than he brought upon the Capuans For when Hannibal heard how things went he presently marched thither hoping to find these young Souldiers and Slaves busied in loading themselves with the Booty But they were all gotten safe into Cumae which so angred Hannibal that at the earnest request of the Capuans he assailed it the next day Much labour and with ill success he spent about this Town He raised a woodden Tower and brought it close to the Walls thereby to assault it but they within built a higher Tower whence they made resistance and found meanes to set Hannibals Tower on fire and whilst the Carthaginians were busy in quenching the fire they issued out charged them valiantly and drove them to their Trenches The Consul wisely sounded a retreat in time or Hannibal had requited them The day following Hannibal presented Battel to them but Gracchus refused it Seeing therefore no liklyhood to prevail he raised his Siege and departed About this time Fabius the other Consul took the Field and recovered some small Towns that Hannibal had taken and punished the Inhabitants severely for their revolt the Carthaginians Army was too small to Garrison all the Towns that had yeilded to them and with all to abide as it must do strong in the Field Wherefore Hannibal attending the supply from Carthage that would enable him to strik at Rome itself was driven in the mean time to alter his course of War and instead of making as he had formerly done a general invasion upon the whole Country he was faign to wait upon occasions that grew daily more commodious to the enemy than to him When Hannibal was gone to Winter in Apulia Marcellus wasted the Country of the Hirpines and Samnites the like did Fabius in Campania The People of Rome were very intentive upon the work they had in hand they continued Fabius in his Consulship and joyned with him Cladius Marcellus Of these two Fabius was called the Shield and Marcellus the Roman Sword The great Name of these Consuls and the great preparations which they made put the Campans in fear that Capua it self should be besieged wherefore at their earnest request Hannibal came from Arpi and having comforted his Friends on a sudden he fell upon Puteoli a Sea-town of Campania about which he spent three dayes in vain there being six thousand in Garrison wherefore he left it and marched to Terentum werein he had great intelligence In the mean time Hanno made a journy against Beneventum where T. Gracchus met him Hanno had with him about seventeen thousand Foot Brutians and Lucans besides twelve hundred Horse most of them Numidians and Moors Four hours he held the Romans work ere it could be perceived to which side victory would incline But Gracchus his Souldiers which were most of them Slaves had received from him a peremptory denunciation that this day or never they must purchase their Liberty by bringing every man an enemies head The sweet reward of Liberty was so desireable that they feared no danger in earning it though the cuting off their enemies Heads troubled them exceedingly which Gracchus perceiving proclaimed that they should cast away the Heads assuring them that they should have their liberty presently after the Battel if they wan they day This made them run headlong upon the enemy whom their disparate fury had soon overthrown if the Roman Horse could have made their party good against the Numidians But though Hanno did what he could and pressed so hard upon the Roman Battel that four thousand of the Slaves retired to a ground of Strength yet was he glad at length to save himself by flight with two thousand Horse all the rest being either slain or taken Gracchus preformed his promise to the Slaves making them free only on those four thousand that went aside in the Battel he inflicted this slight punishment that as long as they served in the Wars they should eat standing unlesse sicknesse forced them to break this order So Gracchus with his Army returned into Beneventum where they newly enfranchised Souldiers were Feasted in publike by the Townsmen some sitting some standing and all with their Heads covered as the manner of such was with white Caps This was the first Battel worthy of note that the Carthaginians lost since the comming of Hannibal into Italy Thus the Romans by degrees began to get heart and
was honourably interred by Hannibal some of whose straglers had slaine him the Manumissed Slaves that served under him took this opportunity to go every man whither he pleased so that it was long ere they could be got together again Yet the Consuls proceeded in their work Mago and the Citizens gave them but bad welcome sallying out and slaying fifteen hundred of their men Neither was it long ere Hannibal himself came fought with them and caused them to dislodge They removed by night and went severall wayes Fulvius towards Câ—nnâ— and Claudius into Lucanâ—a Hannibal followed Claudius bin could not reach him Yet by the way he met with one Penula a stout man that had the charge of neer sixteen thousand men with him he fought and slew him and almost all his men scarce a thousand of them escaping Then was Hannibal informed that Cneus Fulvius a Roman Praetor was in Apulia with about eighteen Thousand men Coming to Fulvius so forward he was that needs he would have fought with him that night Hannibal set Mago with three thousand men in an Ambush then offering Battel to Fulvius he soon had him in the Trap whence he was glad to escape himself leaving all save two thousand of his men dead behind him These two great blowes much astonied the Romans Yet when they had gathered they remainders of those Armies the Consuls fell hard again to the Seige of Capua At the first sitting down of the Consuls they proclaimed that whosoever would come out of Capua by such a day should be pardoned and enjoy his estate if not no grace was to be expected the Capuans relying on their own strength and the assistance of Hannibal rejected this offer with scorn And before they were wholly closed up they sent to Hannibal requesting his help He gave them good words and dismissed them But he thinking that they were well able to hold out for a long time staid to dispatch his businesse before he went by which means the Consuls had time enough to entrench and secure themselves When the Consulship of Claudius and Fulvius was expired they were continued in their charge of the Army as Proconsuls and their designe was to take Capua by Famine But Hannibal came before he was expected by the Romans and took one of their Forts and fell upon their Camp the Capuans also at the same time sallyed out but were beaten in again Yet did Clâ—â—iâ— in pursuing them receive a wound that ere long brought him to his Grave Hannibal followed his businesse better and had almost taken the Camp yet at length was repelled This extreamly angred Hannibal and made him intertaine a haughty resolution even to set upon Rome which accordingly he pursued and because that work must be done with celerity he caused his men to provide victuals for ten dayes and so marched forward This newes coming to Rome they sent to acquaint their Generals with it wishing them to do what they judged best for the safety of the City And thereupon Q. Fulvius took fifteen thousand choise Foot and a thousand Horse and with them hasted towards Rome As Hannibal drew neer making wofull havock as he went all the streets and Temples in Rome were filled with women crying and praying rubbing the Altars with their haire the Senators were all in the Great market place ready to give advice upon all emergencies But Fulvius and Hannibal arrived at Rome neer together The Consuls and Fulvius encamped without the Gate of Rome attending Hannibal who coming within three miles of the City advanced with two thousand Horse and rode along a great way under the Wals viewing and considering how he might best approach them Yet went he back without doing or receiving any hurt Many tumults were at this time raised in the City and the multitude were so affrighted that they would have run out of the Gates if they could have done it with safety The day following Hannibal brought up his Army and presented Battel to the Romans who would have accepted it had not a terrible shower of rain caused both the Armies to return into their Camps and this happened two dayes together and the weather cleered up presently after But Hannibal who had brought but ten dayes provision with him could not stay any longer he therefore made all the spoil he could in the Roman Territories passing like a Tempest over the Country and run towards the eastern Sea so fast that he had almost taken Regiuâ— before his arrival was suspected As for Capua he gave it for lost and 〈…〉 faction of Hanno which thus disabled him to relive that fair City Fulvius returned back to the Siege of Capua which now began to suffer want And faign they would have sent again to Hannibal but that all wayes were intercepted The truth is Hannibal had already done his best and now began to faint under the burden of that War wherein as he afterwards protested he was vanquished by Hanno and his Partizans in the Senate of Carthage rather than by any force of the Romans Capua being now brought to extremity the multitude forced the Senators to consult about the delivering of it up to the Romans The bravest of the Senators foresaw what the issue would be and therefore one of them invited the rest home to supper telling them that when they had Feasted themselves he would begin to them such a Health as should for ever free them from the malice of their enemies the Romans Twenty seven of the Senators imbraced the motion and when they had supped drank Poison whereof they died The rest hoping for mercy yeilded to discretion So a Gate was opened whereat a Roman Legion entred disarmed the Citizens and made the Carthaginians Prisoners The Senators were laid in Irons and presently after Fulvius caused all the Campane Prisoners to be bound to stakes and scourged a good while with Rods after which he struck off their heads The like rigor Fulvius used to all the Towns of the Campanians most of the Inhabitants with their Wives and Children he sold for Slaves the rest were banished after which the Glory of Hannibal began to shine more dimme and most of Italy by the terrible example of the Capuans had a generall inclination upon good conditions to return to the Roman side Marcellus and Levinus being chosen Consuls Levinus went into Sicily and Marcellus was to make War with Hannibal They were busy in raising Souldiers but wanted mony extreamly many wayes were proposed how to supply that want At last the Consuls said that no preswasions would be so effectual with the People as good examples wherefore they propounded and it was presently resolved that every one should bring and put into the Treasury all the mony Jewels and Plate that they had and none reserve more than one Salt and a Bowle wherewith to make their offerings to the Gods as also a Ring for himself and some other small Ornaments for his
Wife and Children and this was accordingly done by all with much cheerfullnesse Then went forth Marcellus against Hannibal whose Army was now greatly diminished by long and hard service His credit also amongst his Italian Friends was much weakened by the losse of Capua This put him upon pillaging those Towns which he could not keep thinking that the best way both to enrich himself and to presâ—â—â— it from his enemies but this farther alienated them from him whereupon Salapia yeilded to Marcellus and betrayed to him a gallant Regiment of Numidians the very best that Hannibal had After this the Consul took two Cities of the Samnites wherein he slew above three thousand of Hannibals men which Hannibal could not prevent the Romans being grown stronger in the Field than he But now came newes that Massanissa was at Carthage with five thousand Horse ready to set sail for Spain whither when he came he was to accompany Asdrubal the Brother of Hannibal into Italy This did not more comfort Hannibal and his followers than it terified the Romans At this time Hannibal was informed that Cn. Fulvius a Roman Prator lay neer to Herdonea to get the Town by practice Hannibal made great marches thitherward and when he came offered Battel to Fulvius who readily embraced it The Roman Legions made good resistance a while till they were compassed round with the Carthaginian Horse then fell they to rout and a great slaughter was made of them Fulvius with twelve Collonels and about thirteen thousand were slain and Hannibal set Herdonea on fire because it was appointed to be delivered up to the Romans Marcellus hearing this hasted thither At Venusia they met and fought a Battel from morning till the night parted them and ended with uncertain Victory Many more skirmishes they had but none of importance Then Q. Fabius Maximus and Q. Fulvius were again chosen Consuls and Fabius resolved to besiege Tarentum which if he could win like it was that scarce any one good City would remain true to Hannibal and in the mean time he desired Fulvius and Marcellus with their Army to presse Hannibal so hard that he might have no leasure to help Tarentum Marcellus was glad of this opportunity judging that no Roman was so fit to deal with Hannibal as himself He followed him therefore from place to place desiring ever 〈◊〉 come to Battel but upon unequall tearmes Hannibal only intertained him with skirmishes meaning to keep his Army intire till Asdrubal came to him But Marcellus was so importunate that he could not be rid of him wherefore Hannibal bad his men to beat soundly this hotspur Roman Captain of whom he could not be rid till he had let him bloud Then followed a Battel wherein Hannibal had the victory took six Ensigns and slew about three thousand of the Romans Marcellus rated his men exceedingly and called them cowards which did so shame them that they asked pardon and desired him to lead them forth again against the enemy Hannibal was angry to see that nothing would make them quiet and so they fought again and though the Romans had the better of it fighting very desparately yet they lost so many men that they had little cause to boast of the Victory Only this advantage they had that hereby Fabius got time to prosecute his Siege at Tarentum without disturbance Fulvius the other Consul this while took in diverse Towns of the Hirpines Luâ—uls and Volscentes that willingly rendred themselves and betrayed Hannibals Garrisons to him Fabius by the Treason of a Brusian Captain in Tarentum had the Town delivered into his hands and yet when he was entered he put all to the Sword Brutians as well as others whereby his credit was much empaired All the Riches of the Town he sought out which was very great and sent it to the Treasury at Rome where there was much need of it Hannibal having gotten cleer of Marcellus fell upon those that besieged Caulonia all whom he slew or took Prisoners and then he hasted to relieve Tarentum But when he came within five miles he heard that it was lost This grieved him yet he said no more than this The Romans have also their Hannibal We have lost Terentum in like sort as we got it But lest he should seem to retreat out of fear he encamped there four or five dayes and thence departing to Metapont he bethought himself how to take Fabius in a trap He caused the chief of Metapont to write to Fabius offering to betray it into his hand These Letters were sent by two young men of the City who did their errand so well that the Consul wrote back and appointed the day when they should expect him Hannibal being glad of this at leasure made ready his Ambushes for the wary Fabius but something hindred him from coming and so aâ—l was frustrated M. Claudius Marcellus and T. Quintus Crispinus were chosen Consuls who had a strong desire to make War upon Hannibal assuring themselves of Victory Crispinus had also a desire to make his Consulship Famous by taking some good Town as Fulvius and Fabius had done by taking of Capua and Tarentum wherefore he went and besieged Locri the best City in Italy that held for the Carthaginian bringing all sorts of Engins to promote the work But Hannibal was not slow to relieve the City at whose approach Crispinus rose and retreated to his fellow Consul Thither followed Hannibal to whom the Consuls offâ—red Battell He â—â—fused it yet dayly intertained them with â—kirmishes waiting for some advantage and reserved his Army to a time of greater imployment when his Brother Asdrubal should come into Italy Marcellus was not well pleased with this and therefore sought to force him to fight for which end he comanded a Navy by Sea and the Garrison of Tarentum again to besiege Locri But Hannibal had an eye behind him and by the way laid an Ambush for those of Tarentum slew three Thousand of them and made the rest to fly back into Tarentum As for the Consuls Hannibals desire was to wast them by little and little Betwixt him and them was a little Hill overgrown with bushes amongst them he hid some Numidians willing them to attend every advantage To this Hill the Consuls thought fit ro remove their Camp thither therefore they rode to view the place taking with them the son of Marcellus a few Collonels and other principal men and about two hundred Horse The Numidian Centinel gave warning of their approach and the other discovered not themselves till they had surrounded the Consuls and their Company The Consuls defended themselves hoping to be quickly releived from their Camp that was neer at hand But all their Horse save four forsook them and fled Marcellus was slain with a Lance Crispinus had his Deaths wound and young Marcellus was wounded yet got to the Camp the rest were all slain Hannibal gave an honourable Funeral to
and saved them both Not long after the Lacedemonians by a stratagem won the strong Castle of Thebes called Cadmaea and put a strong Garrison into it and gave the Government of the City of Thebes unto Archias Philippus and Leontidas authors of all the mischief whereupon to avoid their Tyranny Pelopidas and many others were fain to save themselves by flight upon which they were banished by sound of Trumpet But as for Epaminondas they as yet said nothing to him but let him alone in the City for he was contemned as a man of no account because he was so much given to his Book and if he should have any mind to stir against them yet they judged he could could do nothing because of his Poverty Whilest Pelopidas and his Companions were at Athens they laid a plot to free Thebes from those Tyrants But Epaminondas not making a shew of any thing had devised an other way to effect it by raising the hearts and courages of the young men of the City For when they went out to play and exercise themselves he alwayes found out a way to make them wrestle with the Lacedomonians and when he saw the Lacedomonians throw them and give them shrewd falls they being the stronger he would prvately rebuke the Thebans and tell them that it was a shame for them to suffer the Lacedomonians to set their feet upon their throats for want of courage who yet were not half so strong and boisteâ—ous as themselves were All this while Pelopidas and his followers went on in their Plot and had such good success that one night they got privily into the City of Thebes and met at Charons House about forty eight in number Epaminondas knew all this well enough and at night some took him aside and endeavoured to perswade him to joyn with them in delivering their City from these Tyrants to whom he answered that he had taken order with his Friends and Gorgidas to put themselves into a readiness upon any such occasion but for his own part he would not have a hand in putting any of his Citizens to death unless they were legally condemned yet said he if you will make an attempt for the delivery of the City so as that it be without murther or blood shed I will joyn with you with all my heart But if you will persevere in your former determination pray you let me alone pure and not defiled with the blood of my Citizens that being blameless I may take hold of another occasion which may tend more to the good of the common wealth For the murthers that will be committed in this way cannot be contained within any reasonable bounds I know indeed that Pherecidâ—s and Pelopidas will especially set upon the Authors of the Tyranny but 〈◊〉 and Sâ—miâ—das being fierce and Cholerick men taking the liberty of the night will never sheath their swords till they have filled the whole City with murther and slain many of the chief Citizens Besides it s very convenient for the People of Thebes that some be left free and blamelesse of these murthers and guiltlesse of all that should be done in the fury of this action Notwithstanding all that was said the enterprise was executed and the Tyrants put to death the City was restored to her ancient liberty the Castle of Cadmaea was rendred up by composition and Lysandradâ—s the Lacedemonian and other Commanders that were in it were suffered safely to depart with their goods and Souldiers This was the occasion of the long Wars which followed between the Lacedomonians and Thebans with whom the Athenians joyned in League Epaminondas still applyed himself to his Book yet at last he was put forwards by Pammenes a chief man amongst the Thebans and he began to follow the Wars very eagerly and in divers encounters gave good proof of his prudence hardinesse and valour insomuch as by degrees he attained to the highest charges of Government in the Commonwealth and his Citizens who before made small account of him till he was fourty years old after when they knew him better they trusted him with their Armies and he saved the City of Thebes that was like to be undone yea and freed all Greece from the servitude of the Lacedemonians making his virtue as in a cleer light to shine with Glory shewing the effects when time served Upon a time Agesilaus King of Lacaedemon entered into Boeotia with an Army of twenty thousand Foot and five thousand Horse wherewith he harrased and spoiled all the plain Country and presented Battel to the Thebans in the open Fields which yet they would not accept of finding themselves the weaker Howbeit they defended themselves so well by the assistance of the Athenians and the wise conduct of Epaminondas and Pelopidas that they caused Agesilaus to return home with his Army But when he was gone the Thebans went with their Companies before the City of Thespies which they surprized and put to the Sword two hundred of the Garrison and afterwards returned back with their Army to Thebes and Pâ—aebidas the Lacedemonian who was then Governour of that City sallyeâ— out of the Town and charged upon the Thebans in their retreat who intertained him so hotly that he lost five hundred of his men and himself was slain in the fight Not long after the Lacedemonians returned with their former Army to make War with the Thebans who having seized upon certain straights and places of advantage so blocked up the way that they could not over run the Country and spoile it as they had done before yet did Agesilaus so molest and trouble them that at last it came to a main Battel that held long and was very cruel and though at the first Agesilaus had the better yet the Thebans charged him so furiously that at the length he himself was wounded and forced to retire being well paid for teaching the Thebans Millitary Discipline And this was the first time that the Thebans knew themselves to be as strong and lusty as the Lacedemonians whereupon they Triumphed in signe of Victory and from that time forward they grew more couragious to make head against the Enemy and to present them battel But that which most encouraged them was the presence of Epaminondas who counselled commanded and executed very wisely valiantly and with great successe At another time they went with a great number of chosen men before the City of Orobomene where yet they prevailed not because there was a strong Garrison of the Lacedemonians that sallied out upon them and the fight was very sharp betwen them yet though the Lacedemonians were far more in number the Thebans gave them the overthrow which never happened to them before For all other Nations thought that they had done excellent well if with a far greater number they had overcome a small number of the Lacedemonians But this Victory and an other which fell out shortly after under the conduct of
drew neer in good order to relieve them and doing therein the office of a good Citizen regarding more the good of his Country than the disgrace which he had wrongfully sustained Upon Fabius his approach Hannibal retired Fearing as he said to be well wet with the cloud that had hung so long upon the Hil-tops Minutius forthwith submitted himself to Fabius by whose favour he acknowledged that his life was preserved Thence forward the War went on slowly whilst Fabius his Dictatorship lasted and the year following also when he had delivered up his charge to the Consuls that followed his instructions With little pleasure did they of the poorer sort in Rome hear the great commendations which were given to Fabius by the principall Citizens because the War was not finished nor much done tending thereto And this affection was very helpfull to Terentius Varro in his suit for the Consulship and farther to help him he had a kinsman Bibius Herennius Tribune of the People He boldly affirmed that Hannibal was drawn into Italy and suffered there to range at his pleasure by the Noblemen that without a Plebeian Consul the War would never be ended c. By which perswasions the multitude were won to be wholly for Terentius to the great vexation of the Nobles who could not endure such an upstart But nothing could hinder the choise of Terentius Wherefore the Nobles to ballast this hot-headed man set up L. Aemilius Paulus a gallant man and a brave Captain to stand for the other Consuls place and he easily carried it These new Consuls Varro and Paulus omitted no diligence in preparing for the War wherein though Varro made the greater noise boasting what wonders he would do if he could but once see Hannibal yet the care and Prudence of Paulus did tend much more towards the effecting of it He wrote to the two old Consuls to forbear fighting and yet to ply the Carthagians with daily Skirmishes and so to weaken them by degrees that when he and his Fellow Consul came with the new Army they might find the four old Legions well accustomed to the Enemy and the Enemy well weakned These new Consuls raised an Army of above eighty thousand Foot and six thousand Horse Hannibal all this while lay at Geryon where all his provision and store was The Romanes to be neer him lodged about Canusium laying up most of their provisions in the Castle of Cannae This place Hannibal wan and thereby not only furnished himself but compelled his enemies to want many necessaries Hereby he also enabled himself to stay in that open Country fit for the service of the Horse Of this mishap when Servilius had informed the Senate it then seemed needfull to them to adventure a Battell with the Carthaginian rather than to suffer him thus to root himself in Italy When all things were ready in the City and the season of the year commodius the two Consuls with their Army set forward against Hannibal This was done with great solemnity Sacrifices and solmne Vowes were made to Jupiter and the other Gods for good successe and Victory and the Generals were accompanied with a great number that brought them out of the City and dismissed them with Friendly leave-taking and good wishes These new Generals arriving at the Camp dismissed M. Atilius one of the last years Consuls because of his age and retained Servilius with them as their Assistant Aemilius laboured to encourage his men telling them that the enemy had stole all the former Victories by his Ambushes that otherwise the Romans were far beyond them in Valour c. and therefore he exhorted them to play the men and to do their best This set them on fire to be dealing with the Carthaginians and herein Varro concurred with them longing for an oportunity to get the honour which he promised to himself having now such a numerous Army By this means the Romans fell into a great inconvenience by the disagreement of of their Generals Varro would fight and Aemilius would not for the present hoping for better advantage ere long when the enemy should be forced to dislodge out of the plain Country The Consuls command in in turnes every day Aemilius lodged six miles from Hannibal where the ground was uneven Terentius the next day descended into the plaines his Colleague beseeching him to stay but could not prevaile He sat down neer to the Carthaginian who yet gave him but a rude welcome and intertainment The Carthaginian Horse and light Armature fell upon the Roman Vant-Courriers and put the whole Army into a tumult whilst it was yet in its march but the Carthaginians were beaten off though not without losse The next day Aemilius who could not securely draw back the Army encamped upon the River Auâ—â—us sending part of his Forces over the River where they encamped themselves with the rest he fortified and kept within his Trenches Varro was perswaded that it concerned him in honour to make good his word to the People of Rome When therefore it was his turne to Command 〈◊〉 the break of Day he began to passe the River withâ—out staying to bid his Colleague good morrow But Paulus came to him labouring by all meanes to disswade him Terentius had nothing to answer but that his honour was engaged Hannibal had twice or thrice bâ—aved them which must not be endured When Aemilius perceived that he could not prevaile he was carefull that what must be done might be done well Ten thousand Foot he caused to be left behind in the Camp opposite to the Carthaginians to the intent that Hannibal might be forced to do the like or else when they were in fight these might fall upon his Camp and take it with all the wealth therein which would much distract the Carthaginians This done the Consuls drew forth their Army over the Water and ranged them in order of Battell This Hannibal was very glad of and therefore without any delay passed over the River also leaving in his own Camp enow to defend it and no more To encourage his men he told them how fit the ground was wherein they were to fight and that therefore they were to thank the Gods who had so infatuated the enemies as to choose such a place where the stronger in Horse was sure to pervail Besides said he These are the men whom you have beaten as often as you have seen them and now you are to fight for their Cities and all the Riches that are in them and ere many houres passe ye shall be Lords of all that the Romans enjoy This set his men on fire to be at it and at the same time came his Brother Mago whom he had sent to view the countenance of the enemy to whom he said What newes What worke are we like to have Work enough answered Mago for they are a horrible company As horrible a many as they be said Hannibal I tell thee that amongst them all there is not one
repair their breaches only their Treasury was very empty whereupon the People were called together and were plainly told that in this exigent there must be no taking of mony for victuals weapons apparel or other necessaries for the Souldies but that they must trust the Commonwealth with the loan of these things till the Wars were ended This was willingly assented to and the Armies were well supplied both at home and abroad In the mean time the Roman Generals omitted no part of industry in seeking to recover what had been lost Cassiline was besiged by Fabius unto whose assistance Marcellus came The Town was well defended by a Carthaginian Garrison for a longtime but at length the Inhabitants grew fearfull craved a Parlee and agreed to deliver it up so as all might have liberty to depart whither they pleased This was consented to yet as they were issuing out Marcellus seizing upon a Gate entred with his Army and put all to the Sword only about fifty that had gotten out ran to Fabius who saved them and sent them to Capua Hannibal was this while about Tarentum but after long expectation of having it delivered to him he was faign to depart without it So he went to Salapia which he intended to make his wintring place and began to Victual it The new Counsuls chosen at Rome were Q. Fabius the Son of the present Consul and T. Sempronius Gracchus the second time The old Fabius became Lieutenant to his Son and on a time when the old man came to the Camp his Son rode out to meet him Eleven of the twelve Lictiors let him passe by on Hotsback which was against the custome but the Son perceiving this bad the last of the Lictors to take notice of it who thereupon bad old Fabius alight and come to the Consul on Foot the Father cheerfully did so saying It was my mind Son to make tryall whether thou didst understand thy self to be Consul Altinius a wealthy Citizen of Arpi came to Fabius and offered to deliver the Town into his hands Hannibal hearing of it was glad and sent for the Wise and Children of Altinius into his Camp he examined them by torment and being assured of the Treason he commanded them to be burnt and seized upon all Altinius his wealth Fabius shortly after came to Arpi which he took by Scalado in a stormy night Five thousand of Hannibals Souldiers day in the Town and of the Arpines there were about three thousand These were thrust formost by the Carthaginian Garrison who suspected them and therefore thought it no wisdom to trust them at their backs But after some little resistance the Arpines gave over the fight and Parlied with the Romans and the Arpine Praetor going to the Roman Consul received his Faith for the security of the Town wherefore they presently made head against the Garrison yet did the Carthaginians make stout resistance till it was agreed that they should passe safely and returne to Hannibal About this time Cliternum was taken by Sempronius Tudiâ—anus one of the Roman Praetors Also one hundred and twelve Gentlemen of Capua offered their service to C. Fulvius the other Praetor only upon condition to have their goods restored to them which shewed that their affections were turned from Hannibal to the Romans The Consentines also and the Thurines which had yeilded to Hannibal when there was no appearance of those great succours which were promised from Carthage returned to their old allegiance again Others would have done the like but that at this time Hanno met with and slew L. Pâ—mponius and a great multitude that followed him Hannibal in the mean time had all his care about Tarentum which if he could take it would be very commodius for the Landing of the supplies which he yet expected Long he waited for an opportunity and at last by the help of his Friends within it he one night entered at the two Gates that were opened for him and presently made to the market place which the Governour perceiving fled to the Port and taking Boat got into the Citadel that stood at the mouth of the Haven Hannibal having gotten the spoil of the Roman Souldiers goods he addressed himself against the Citadel which stood upon a Peninsula and was joyned to the Town by a causway which was fortified with a Wall and a ditch Against this Hannibal raised some works hoping in a short time to take it but whilst he was thus busied there came in a strong supply by Sea to them which made his attempt hoplesse The Tarentins Fleet lay in the Haven and could not go forth by reason of the Citadel whereby the Citizens were likely in a short time to suffer want To help this Hannibal caused their ships to be drawn up and carried through the streets which were long and plain and lanched them into the Sea without which done they so cut off all supplies that the Citadel began to suffer want Now this while the Roman Forces grew strong and Q. Fulvius Flaccus with Appius Claudius the new Consuls prepared to besiege the great City of Capua having now armed twenty three Legions though to fill them up they had listed many Boyes and they made a Law for their encouragement that their years should go on from that time as if they had been of lawfull age Before the Roman Army drew near the Capuans through their own wretchlesnesse began to feel want of Victuals they sent therefore to Hannibal desiring him to succour them before they were closed up and he sent Hanno with an Army to supply their wants Hanno appointed them a day to bring store of Carriages to convey in the provisions which he should make but when the day came they brought only fourty Waggons with a few pack horses Hanno was much vexed at it and appointed them another day when they should come better provided But in the mean while Q. Fulvius the Consul came privatly to Beneventum and having learned that Hanno was gone abroad a Forraging he marched all night and by the break a day assaulted his Camp which for a long time was gallantly defended but at last though with great losse he won it in which six thousand were slain seven thousand taken Prisoners besides a great Booty that Hanno had lately gotten from the Roman Confederats This misadventure and the neer approach of the Roman Consuls made them of Capua to send a pitifull message to Hannibal intreating him to hasten to their relief considering how faithfull they had been to him Hannibal answered them with fair promises and sent away two thousand Horse to keep their lands from spoile whilst himself was intent about taking the Citadel and some other Towns in thâ—se parts The Consuls fortifying Beneventum to secure their backs addressed themselves to the siege of Capua Many disasters befell the Romans in the beginning of this great enterprise Gracchus a brave Souldiers and lately twice Consul was slain He
Language Lawes Conditions or any other thing one like to an other yet he held them all in such good order that they never fell to sedition amongst themselves or against their General And here we must leave him till he be drawn into Africk by Scipio P. Cornelius Scipio having Conquered Spain returned home to Rome where he made suit for the Honour of a Triumph which was denied him because he only had the place of a Proconsul Yet to make him amends they chose him Consul together with P. Licinius Crassus who being High Priest also might not go far som the City as being to attend the matters of their Superstition which made well for Scipio who was desirous to be sent into Africk to transfer the War thither Some there were of the Senators especially Q. Fabius Maximus that opposed him therein yet at length he obtained to have the Isle of Sicily for his Province with leave to passe into Africk if he found it expedient The Treasury at Rome being extreamly exhausted no mony was given to Scipio neither was he allowed to presse Souldiers for his African Voyage But the People made up the backwardnesse of the Senate with their forwardnesse For besides his Roman Souldiers he had about seven thousand Voluntaries that came to him from sundry parts of Italy Severall Towns also furnished him with Corn Iron Handmils and all other necessaries so that having his Navy in readinesse he transported his Army into Sicily where he found besides other Forces two gallant Legions of old Souldiers that had served at Cannae For encreasing his number of Horse he pressed three hundred young and rich Gentlemen of Sicily and then discharged them again upon condition that they should deliver their Horse and Armes to as many Roman Gentlemen whom he had brought along with him for the same purpose Then did Scipio imploy Laelius into Africk rather to make discovery than to do any thing who yet took a great Booty and struck no little terrour into the Carthaginians who saw their affaires now to be upon the tearmes of change He also procured King Massanissa to revolt from the Carthaginians and to joyn with the Romans Then did Scipio embark his Army for Africk where he landed neer the Faire Promontory and presently after encamped before Vtica The Carthaginians at this time had no Captain of note in their City nor a better Army than of raw Souldiers that were levied in hast Asdrubal the Son of Gesco that was lately chased out of Spain by Scipio was their best man of War But before he was ready to take the Field Scipio had beaten the Troop of Cathaginian Horse that were sent to impead his landing and slaine Hanno their Captain he had also sacked one of their Towns and taken eight thousand Prisoners and sent them into Sicily He took also Salva which he fortified Then passed he to Vtica and besieged it fourty dayes with all sorts of Engines but prevailed not By this time Asdrubal had gotten thirty thousand Foot and three thousand Horse but all raw Souldiers and King Syphax brought to their help fifty Thousand Foot and ten Thousand Horse with which they marched bravely towards Scipio who thereupon left the Siege and encamped upon the Shore in a place of advantage which he strongly fortified and Winter drawing on Mussanissa brought in great store of Corn Cattel and other Provisions to him Asdrubal and Syphax encamped neer unto him their Souldiers covered their Huts with Mats and Reeds and dry Boughs and being held in hand about a treaty of peace they grew remisse and carlesse in keeping their Guard which Scipio being informed of took his oportunity in the night to set their Camps on fire and in the confusion slew and took Prisoners most of them Yet did the Carthaginians make shift to raise another Army of neer thirty thousand reckoning in Syphax and his men and four thousand Spaniards Mercenaries that were lately come to them Scipio went to meet them and another Battel was fought and the Victory easily obtained by Scipio against those raw and untrained men Thus Scipio became Master of the Field and took in diverse Cities and sent Massanissa and Laelius after Syphax into his Kingdom whom they beat again took him Prisoner and partly by fair meanes and partly by foule became Masters of most of his Kingdom which Scipio bestowed upon Massanissa And this was the first time that the Romans took upon them to make Kings The Carthaginians were extreamly dismayed when they heard this newes and for the calamity which had befaln their good Friend Syphax and when they understood that Massanissa their immortall enemy had gotten possession of his Kingdom This made them send forth Ambassadours to Scipio to make suit for Peace When these came into Scipios presence they basely prostrated themselves on the ground and kissed his Feet and made as unworthy a Speech beseeching him to passe by their offences and to grant them Peace Scipio knew well in what a poor case Rome then was and how unable to defray the charge of the War if it should be continued and therefore he was willing to grant them Peace upon these conditions That they should render up all the Prisoners and all their Renigadoes and slaves That they should withdraw their Armies out of Italy and Gaul That they should not meddle with Spain nor with any Islands betwixt Italy and Africk That they should deliver up all their Ships of War save twenty That they should pay him a great summe of Money with some hundred thousand Bushels of Wheat and Barley All these they assented to whereupon he granted them a Truce that they might send their Ambassadors to the Sanate of Rome But the truth was they desired only to get time till Hannibal might come back in whom they reposed all their confidence And therefore they took occasion to pick new quarrels with the Romans which they were the rather encouraged to hearing newes that Hannibal was already landed in Africk by whose meanes they hoped either to drive the Romans out of Africk or to procure better tearms of Peace Hannibal departed out of Italy no lesse passionate then men are wont to be when they leave their own Countries to go into Exile He looked back to the shore accusing both Gods and men and cursing his own dulnesse in that he had not led his Army from Cannae hot and bloudied as it was to the Walls of Rome Arriving in Africk he disembarked his Army at Leptis almost one hundred miles from Carthage He was ill provided of Horse which he could not easily transport out of Italy From thence he passed through the inland Country gathering Friends by the way Tychaeus a Numidian Prince that had the best Horses he allured to joyn with him and one Mezetallus an other Prince brought him a thousand Horse The Carthagians in the mean time neglected to make those preparations that would
they declined the fight The Carthaginian Battel was herewith more terrified then before so that refusing to give way to the Mercenaries they sell out amongst themselves and forbore to make head against their Enemies Thus were many of them beaten down and slain through their own indiscretion And this gave the Romans such advantage that the made a great slaughter both of the Carthaginians and Mercenaries who could neither fight nor easily fly Such as could ran towards Hannibal who kept his ground and would not stir to help these run-wayes Then did Scipio advance against Hannibal who intertained him after an other manner than ever he had been received in his life before All the former dayes work seemed but a Pastime in comparison of this The Romans were incouraged because they had prevailed all the day before they were also far more in number But Hannibals old Blades were fresh and the better men They fought with such obstinate resolution that no man gave back one Foot but rather chose to die than to lose their ground so that for a long time the Victory was uncertain But the return of Massanissa and Laelius with the Horse from the pursute of the Enemies was to the Romans most happy and in a needfull time These upon a suddain charging Hannibal upon the Reer overbore them with meer violence and put them to â—ouâ— Hannibal with a few Horse saved himselfe by flight and staid not till he came to Carthage where coming into the Senate he told them plainly that there was no other way left but to make such a Peace as could be procured Amongst other things it was agreed that the Carthaginians should pay to the Romans two hundred Talents a year for fifty years together Which mony when it came to be collected there was pitious lamentation amongst the People the Roman yoak begining to pinch them already that some of the Senators could not forbear weeping but Hannibal could not refrain from laughter For which Asdrubal Haedus one of Hanno's faction checked him saying that it ill becommed him to laugh since he had been the cause why all others did weep He answered that laughter did not alwayes proceed from joy but sometimes from indignation Yet said he My laughter is more seasonable and lesse obsurd than your teares For you should have wept when you gave up your Ships and Elephants and when you bound up your hands from use of Armes without the good leave of the Romans This miserable condition keeps us under and holds us in assured sevitude But of these things you had no feeling Now when a little mony is wrung from you you are very sensible of that God grant that the time come not wherein you shall acknowledge that it was the least part of your misery for which you have shed these teares Afterwards Hannibal in the Civill administration of the City gave an overthrow or two to the Judges which at that time bore all the sway in Carthage having all the lives goods and fame of the rest in their power Shortly after Hannibal was chosen Praetor by virtue of which Office he was superiour to them for that year He sent upon an occasion for one of the Treasurers to come to him but he proudly refused wherupon Hannibal sent a Pursevant for him and brought him in Judgment before the People accusing not only him but the rest of the Judges for their insolency and unbridled power withall propounding a Law that the Judges should be chosen from year to year He found also that they had robbed the Treasury which caused the Taxes to be laid upon the common People whereof he made such plain demonstration that they were compelled to restore with shame what they had gotten by knavery This so irritated his Enemies who were of the Romans Faction that they complained to the Roman Senate that the Barchine Faction grew strong again and that Hannibal would shortly be in Armes For he was like a wild Beast that could never be tamed that he held secret intelligence with King Antiochus who was an enemy to the Romans c. Hereupon the Senate sent three Ambassadors to Carthage to demand Hannibal but he kept such good espiall upon the Romans that he was informed of their intentions against which he was never unprepared And therefore when night was come he stole out of the City accompanied with two Friends whom he could trust and having Horses in a readinesse he rode all night and came to a Tower of his own by the Sea sâ—â—e and having provided a Ship in readinesse he bad Africk farewel lamenting the misfortune of his Country more than his own and shaped his course to Tyre which was the Mother City of Carthage There he was intertained Royally in whose worth and honour the Tyrians thought themselves to have interest because of the affinity between the Cities Thence went he to Antiochus who was exceeding glad of his coming intending War against the Romans To him Hannibal gave excellent advice how he might carry on his War against the Romans with best advantage but Antiochus hearkned more to his Courtiers than to him and so was shamfully beaten by the Romans at which time he admired Hannibal as a wise man yea as a Prophet who long before had foreseen and foretold him what now was come to passe and when it was too late wished that he had followed his Counsel To be brief Antiochus was forced by the Romans to sue for Peace which at last the Romans yeilded to Provided amongst other things that Hannibal might be delivered into their hands Hannibal getting an incling of this fled to Gortina in Creet where he lived a long time very quietly but at length he fell into the envy of many by reason of his great wealth whereupon he filled certain great chests with Lead and deposited them in the Temple of Diana there as if he kept the Treasure for a dead lift and thereupon the People having such a Pledge as that of him looked lesse after him But he in the mean time stole away to Prusias King of Bythinia having first molten his Gold and powered it into some hollow Statues of Brasse which he carried away with him Shortly after there fell a War between Prusias and Eumenes King of Pergamus Prusias being encouraged to break his League and to make War upon him by his confidence in Hannibal whom he had there to mannage his War for him The War therefore grew hot betwixt them both by Land and Sea But Eumenes by the assistance of the Romans overpowred Prusias in both And whereas Prusias was but weak of himself Hannibal procured him the assistance of some other Kings and States and those of very Warlike Nations and amongst them the aide of Philip King of Macedonia who sent him Philocles his General with a very considerable Army to help him When Prusias had received an overthrow from Eumenes by land he sought to try his
Epaminondas This young man went to him and told him the occasion of the other mans coming to Thebes But Dâ—omedon being present Epaminondas said to him I have no need of mony If the King of Persia wish well to the Thebans I am at his service without taking one penny If he hath any other meaning he hath not Gold nor Silver enough wherewith to corrupt me For I will not sell the love which I bear to my Country for all the Gold in the World and as for thee that dost now tempt me not knowing me but judging me like unto thy self I pardon thee for this time but get thee quickly out of the City lest thou corrupt others having failed to prevail over me and for thee Mycethus deliver him his mony again which if thou dost not presently I will send thee before a Justice Hereupon Diomedon besought him that he would let him go away in safety and carry that with him which he brought thither Yea said Epaminondas but it shall not be for thy sake but for my honour-sake lest thy Gold and Silver being taken from thee some man should accuse me that I had a share in that privately which I had refused openly Saying further whither wouldst thou that I should cause thee to be conveyed To Athens said Diomedon This was done accordingly and he had a strong convoy sent with him and that he might not be troubled by the way betwixt the Gates of Thebes and the Haven wherein he was to imbark himself Epaminondas gave Chabrias the Athenian charge of him that he should see him safe at his jorneys end Though Epaminondas was very Poor yet would he never take any thing of his Citizens or Friends and being so inured to poverty he was enabled to bear it the more patiently by his study of Philosophy For on a time having the leading of an Army of the Thebans into the Country of Peloponnesus he borrowed five Crownes of a Citizen for the defraying of his necessary chatges in that Journey Pelopidas being a man of great wealth and his very good Friend could never possibly force upon him any part of his Goods but he rather learned of him to love Poverty For Epaminondas taught him to think it an honour to go plainly in his Apparrel to eat moderately to take paines willingly and in War to fight lustily Yet when he had occasion to relieve others he would make bold with his Friends goods which in such cases were common to him If any of his Citizens were taken Prisoners by the Enemy or if any Friend of his had a Daughter to be married and was not able to bestow her he used to call his Friends together and to assesse every one of them at a certain summe after which he brought him before them who was to receive the mony and told him how much every one had bestowed upon him that he might returne thanks to them all But once he went far beyond this For he sent a poor Friend of his to a Rich Citizen of Thebes to ask of him six hundred Crownes and to tell him that Epaminondas desired him to let him have them The Citizen being amazed at his demand went to Epaminondas to know what he meant to charge him so deeply as to make him to give six hundred Crowns to the other It is said Epaminondas because this man being an honest man is poor and thou who hast robbed the Commonwealth of much art rich He lived so soberly and was such an enemy to all superfluity and excesse that being on a time invited to Supper to one of his Neighbours when he saw great preparation of dainty meats made dishes and perfumes he said unto him I thought thou hadst made a Sacrifice by this excesse and superfluity and so immediatly went his way The like also he spake of his own Table saying that such an Ordinary was never guilty of Traytors and Treason On a time being at a Feast with some of his Companions he drank Vinegar and when they asked him what he meant by it and whether he drank it for his health I know not said he but this I am sure of it puts me in remembrance how I live at home Now it was not that his stomach was an enemy to dainty meats or that he lived so penuriously at home for he was marvelous noble minded But he did it that by his strict and unreprovable life he might bridle and restraine many insolencies and disorders which then raigned amongst the Thebans and to reduce them to the former temperance of their Ancestors Upon a time a Cook giving up an account to him and his Fellows of their ordinary expences for certain dayes he could find fault with nothing but the quantity of Oyle that was spent which his Companions marvelling at Tush said he it is not the expence which offends me but because we have powred in so much Oyle into our Bodies The City of Thebes upon an occasion made a publick Feast where they were very merry and jolly But on the Contrary Epaminondas went up and down without Oyle and perfumes or decked with brave apparrell seeming very sad Some of his Familiar Friends meeting him in this posture and wondering at him asked him why he walked so alone and ill apparrelled through the City Because said he you may in the meane time freely and safely drink your selves drunk and make merry taking thought for nothing His modesty also was such that it would in no wise suffer him to seek advancement but on the contrary he withdrew himself from Government that he might with the more quiet apply himself to the study of Philosophy It happened upon a time that the Lacedemonians intreated aide of the Thebans who at that time were in League with them and acordingly they sent them certain Foot Companies at which time Epaminondas being about thirty five years old Armed himself and went along with them At this time it was that that intimate Friendship began betwixt Pelopidas and him which continued even to the end of their lives These two being in a Battel the one by the other against the Arcatians whom they had in front against them in the plaines of Mantinea it fell out that one of the points of the Battel of the Lacedemonians in which they were retired and many fled But these two resolved rather to dy than fly and accordingly they stood to it gallantly till Pelopidas being wounded in seven places fell down upon a heap of dead Bodies Then did Epaminondas though he took him for dead step resolutly before him to defend his Body and Armes he alone fighting against many resolving rather to die in the place than to leave Pelopidas amongst the dead men until that himself being thrust into the breast with a Pike and wounded in the Arme with a Sword was ready to faint at which time Providence so ordered it that King Agesipolis came on with the other point of the Battel
all other times to come abroad fine and neat and with a pleasant countenance but the next day after this Battel he came out very sad heavy and pensive and when his Friends asked him whether he had heard any ill news which occasioned this posture he said No but said he I perceive by my self yesterday that being overjoyed with the victory I obtained my heart was more elevated than it ought and therefore to day I correct that joy which yesterday exceeded its due bounds He knowing that it was the manner of the Spartans as much as possible to conceal their losses he suffered them not to carry away all their dead Bodies together but every City one after another by which it appeared that there were four Thousand of them slain But of the Booetians there were not found above three hundred dead This Battel was fought in the beginning of the second year of the hundred and second Olympiade The Lacedemonians having by this overthrow lost the greatest part of their honour which they had maintained so long yet lost not their courage but to keep their youth still in heart and to take away all fear from such as had escaped they sent Agesilaus with an Army into Arcadia who was contented to take a few small Towns of the Mantineans and so to return home again Some say that Lycomedes Captain of the Arcadians making an inrode neer to Orchomene slew in an encounter Politropus Captain of the Lacedemonians and two hundred Spartans with him which provoked the Lacedemonians against them and thereupon the Arcadians finding themselves too weak for them they sought alliance and aid from the Thebans Sure it is that these two States were now at enmity which occasioned the Arcadians and Thebans to joyn together who with their Allies being led by Epaminondas entered into Laconia with an Army of fourty thousand men besides thirty thousand others that followed the Camp At this time the Athenians sent Captain Iphecrates with twelve thousand men to aide the Lacedemonians But before their coming Epaminondas was entered into Laconia and had sacked all the Country which had not been wasted by any enemy for six hundred years before The Spartans seeing their Country thus plundred and destroyed were desirous to have gone out with such Forces as they had but Agesilaus would not suffer them telling them how dangerous it was for them to leave their City and to set upon such a potent and numerous enemy This made them quiet and Epaminondas in the mean time marched with his Army towards the River Eurotas which at that time was risen very high because of the Winter raines He endeavoured all he could to draw forth Agesilaus to a Battel who beholding Epaminondas a great while marching with his Army in Battel aray along the River side at the Head of his Troops he wondred at his boldnesse and Valour but would by no meanes adventure out of his Fort So that when this Army had plundred all Laconia Epaminondas led them back again laden with a very rich Booty And though Agesilaus was commended for pteserving his City in safety yet Epaminondas had by this inrode and especially by his Victory at Leuctres so impoverished the Country that Sparta could never after recover that losse nor grow into that reputation and power which it had before Yea notwithstanding the aide sent by the Athenians and the skill and experience of Iphicrates Epaminondas returned with his Army intire as he came Epaminondas that he might keep the Lacedemonians still underfoot and heape new troubles upon them gave Counsell to the Arcadians and their Allies to re-edify and replenish with People the City of Messina which the Lacedemonians had long before destroyed and when all the whole Councel had given their consents to it he forthwith by diligent enquiry sought out all that had been ancient Inhabitants in that City and in the space of eighty five Dayes having repaired the ruined Houses he raised again one of the most Noble and ancient Cities of Grâ—ece and left there a strong Garrison for their security This gat him as much if not more love and honour than any other service which he had ever done The Lacedemonians being freed from a great fear by his departure made an agreement with the Athenians leaving to them the chief command by Sea and reserving to themselves that by Land And afterwards by the assistance of the Athenians and that aide which came to them out of Sicily by little and little they recovered their Towns again The Arcadians to stop their proceedings assaulted the City of Pallene in Laconia and taking it by storme put all the Garrison therein to the Sword then razed the Town and plundred all the Country there abouts And expecting that the Lacedemonians would seek revenge they sent for aid to the Thebans who sent Epaminondas and the other Counsellers to assist them with six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse The Athenians having intelligence hereof sent their Army under the Conduct of Chabrias who marched directly to Corinth where he met with a good supply of Souldiers from the Megarians Pallenians and Corinthians so that now he had a Brigade of ten thousand men These intended to fortifie and stop all the passages and entrances into the Country of Poloponesus The Lacedemonians and their Allies joyning also with them made up an Army of twenty thousand men And accordingly beginning at the City of Cencrees unto the Haven of Lecheum they blocked all the wayes from one Sea to an other with mighty great peices of Timber laid acrosse and with a marvelous deep ditch and this great work was followed with such speed both by reason of the great multitude of labourers as also through the forwardnesse of them that prosecuted it with such earnestnesse that they had quite finished it before the Boeotians could arrive there Epaminondas when he came thither viewing this fortification perceiving that the easiest place to storme it was that which the Lacedemonians themselves guarded he sent to give them defiance though they were thrice as many in number as he was yet for all this they durst not come out but kept close under their fortification Notwitstanding he assaulted them in it and at last drave them out In the heat of the fight every one doing his best some assailing others defending Epaminondas chose out the valiantest men in all his Army and bravely charging the Lacedemonians he forced them to give back and in dispite of them he entred into Peloponnesus which of all other his Noble exlpoites was the most wonderfull and memorable action From thence he marched to the Cities of Epidaure and Troezen and so pillaged all the Country But he staied not to take any of the Towns because they had strong Garrisons in them Yet he put Sicyone Phuente and some other Towns into such fear that they yeilded themselves to him This being done he went to Corinth and overcame the