withstandinge in very deede ye shall knowe to be true Yet for as much as I prouoked wyth rebukes and iniuries and depriued of the fruite of my labour and diligence opteyned not the state of dignitie as my custome is toke vpon me to defende the cause of suche as are miserable not that I want or haue not sufficient possessions to paye myne owne dettes seyng that the liberalitie of my wyfe Horistilla with her owne and her doughters goodes hath payed other mens dettes but bycause I sawe men vnworthye auaunced to honour and my selfe throughe false suspicion alienated and put from honour And for this cause I haue for the case that I am in gotten metely good hope to conserue suche dignitie as hereafter shal chaunce me As I wold haue written mo thinges it was shewed mee violence was prepared against me Nowe I commende and deliuer Horistilla to your fidelitie prayinge you for the loue that ye beare to your children defende her from iniuries Farewell ¶ Many in the citye blamed the softnes of Cicero that he suffred their enemye to go his waye Cap. xxii BVT when it was knowen at Rome by manye mennes letters and often messages that Catiline was admitted capytaine ouer the armye and that hee intended too make warre vpon his countreye there were verye manye that greatelye blamed the consull bycause he had not taken soo greuous an enemie to the coÌ„mon weale and that he had let scape the principall and chiefe of the conspiracie For at that tyme the people reasoned and commoned amonge them selfes on this maner Catiline longer this tyme ought to haue ben put to deathe by the consulles commaundement and with moste cruell and sharpe tourmentes to haue ben punished This mischief which he hath craftly imagined againste vs oughte to haue ben layde vppon his owne necke For if the consull had put hym to death as he hath deserued we had ben nowe without warre the straytes of Hetruria had not ben fylled with the tentes of our enemies the common welthe had ben nowe in quiete and rest It was no nede at that tyme to haue vsed mercy it had ben a very mercifull dede most sharply to haue punyshed oure ennemie and by the deathe of one wicked personne to haue preserued the whole common wealthe Some other vsinge the aunciente examples shewed howe that Sp. Elius desiringe to reigne alone was slayne of P. Seruilius Hala. And lykewise Tiberius Gracchus of P. Scipio and also howe that C. Marius slew L. Saturnius protectour of the commonaltie and C Seruilius Glaucia the mayre for certaine suspicions of sedicion But Cicero hath commaunded him whom he knewe to be an enemy most greuous whom also he perceiued to be loked for of their enemies to be their capâ—taine and gouernour to go vnto his armye and so to make warre ageynste his countreye ¶ O the miserable estate of them that gouerned suche coÌ„mon welthes in the which he that is diligeÌ„te is called wayward and hard to please He that is negligente dyshoneste where he that is constante and iuste is called cruell and vngentle and he that is mercifull fearfull and dissolute wherin is geuen no pardon to them that do amysse and small praise to them that do well Or euer it was spoken that L. Catiline was gone in exile it was sayde that he was not by Cicero spoyled of his armours of boldenes that he was not circumuented and weakened by the diligente labour and councel of Cicero and that he had altered his intente not bycause that he dyd greatly feare but that he vncondemned and an innocent was exiled only by the wordes and power of the consull He was not then called vnhappy but fearefull Contrary wyse the consull not diligente but cruel But seynge there were menne that spake these thinges what wolde they haue saide if Catiline had ben put to deathe Nowe for as muche as Catiline lyueth and is vnpunished they call Cicero a manne of no greate counsell but ignoraunte fearefull and dissolute Certes there is nothinge more ignorant and vnwise than the vulgare people whiche without any difference or wisedome iudgeth and onelye pondreth the chaunce of the thynge and to whom any thynge well happeneth hym they saye to be very prouident and circumspecte and to whome otherwyse he to perceyue and knowe nothinge But let vs omytte these thinges ¶ Catiline and Manlius be proclaymed ennemies vnto whom fled very many hopeâ— ostes Cap. xxiii BVT when it was surelye knowen at Rome that Catiline was admitted capitayne ouer the armye and intended to make warre vpon his countrey there was an acte of parliament made in the whiche Catiline and Manlius were iudged to be vtter enemies to the common welthe And to all other there was a daye appoynted sauynge to those that were alredy condemned that it shuld be lawful for them to departe from the army vnpunyshed And if any man after that tyme shulde go vnto Catiline the senate to take hym as a traytoure againste the common weale and agaynste all mennes safegarde and profite The senate also decreed that the consuls shulde muster and that C. Antonius with suche ayde as he myght gather shulde pursue Catiline bothe by lande and sea and Cicero to defende the citye frome al deceites and mischaunces Neuerthelesse the mindes of desperate persons were nothynge refrained by these sharpe decrees For there was none out of soo greate a company of conspiratours that departed from Catiline excepte it were eyther to spye or to doo some myschiefe but contrary wyse there were many that drewe to hym bothe out of the countrey and out of the citye But of all those that drewe to hym he refused bonde seruantes of whoÌ„ an innumerable multitude fled to hym he estemed it a thinge vnsemely that runnagates shulde haue to do in citizens matters and thynkinge this also whiche in dede shoulde haue come to passe if his companions at Rome had performed their enterprise that huge routes of snaphances and hope lostes from all partes of Italy wolde resorte to hym For not onlye they that were confederate in the conspiracye coueted that Catiline shulde victoriousely ouercome but also whosoeuer were greatly indetted who soo euer had solde awaye their landes who so euer were in tyme paste condemned or atteinted Many also by troublynge of the common weale looked to be aduaunced to honours and moost hyghe ronmes many desired warre by reason that of such ruffeling and dissencions they opteyned power Farthermore in a greate city are alwayes many naughty yll doers hope lostes malaperte troublous sedicious and nedye felowes which with a becke are redy to disturbe the quiet and rest of a citie But most specially the delycate youth and lytle bearded yonge men or Catilines flocke wythout beardes whiche smellynge all of muske their heares featelye comed wearinge veyles and not gownes allowed Catilines counsayles And of these manye got them to catilines armye And of that number was one Fuluius the sonne of Aulus a Snatour the whyche if he coulde
nedeful and expedient For before that tyme the seperatinge of the chiualrie or gentylmen from the senatours caused manye yeres moste greuouse contencion and strife betwene them For where as is diuision and part taking in a common weale there muste nedes folowe not only sedicion but also moste pestilent warres amonge them selues Nor I maruaile not at all that Catiline wente aboute to trouble the common weale seinge he was of nature inclyned and withe soo manye occasions styrred and inflamed therto This also made for hym that eueÌ„ the same tyme theyr children that were banished came forthe and required the honorable roumes and offices whiche if they had opteyned it was thought of trouthe they wolde haue conspired with Catiline And therfore the Consull vppon his owne hatred without promyse of rewarde kepte them from election ¶ When all this was done the consull thoughte it yet no tyme to disclose and open the conspiracie before the Senatoures Therefore hee not with the publike ayde and strengthe but with his priuate diligence defendâ—d and kepte hym selfe from Catilines wyses and snares and dayly wythstode and fordyd his driftes abated his boldenes and courage and resisted his mischeuous purpâ—â—e withoute publyke ruffelinge or steryng of the people But the more prouision that the consull made the more conspiracie grewe and increased ¶ Catilines endeuour and dilygence in augmentyng the conspyracie Cap. xi TRVELY there was no streete no corner in all the cytie but Catiline instanted prouoked tempted and stered And to opteyne hys desyre he suffered colde thryste hunger and trauayle But speciallye hee entyced the youthe Some of them he hym selfe loued and to somes loue he was ryght seruiseable for some he prepared and gotte harlottes and for some horses hee taughte some the feates of armes some hee wanne wyth money but many mo with his faire flatterynge wordes And if he perceiued any of them to be a man of stoute and valiaunt courage hym firste woulde he wynne by vertue but afterwardes by diligence and costume he wolde by littell and lyttell drawe hym headlonge into all vnleful luste For the maners and condicions of menne proceede neyther of nature her selfe as many falsely do suppose nor yet of lynage but are oftetymes planted in vs by those wyth whome we lyue and be conuersant Catiline as sayde is was maruaylous subtyle and crafty to styre yonge men to luste and pleasure wherwith not onelye that age whiche is slipperye and vncertayne but also graue men of auncientie are attached with this his varyable nature he dayly augmented the nombre of the conspiratours ¶ And I am well assured that Catiline at that tyme dyd not onely allure men to that myscheuouse dede but also he made of counsayle with hym certayne noble women which had liued wantonly prodigallye voluptously and horishelye For by theÌ„ he hoped he moughte eyther get theyr husbands to take his parte or elles to murther those that wolde not agree therto Besydes al this he dyd many thynges priuely he had hâ—s assembes by nyghte and euer laide snares to attrap the coÌ„sul ¶ Nor Catiline letted not for al these so greate busynsses to set his mynde and courage to require the consullshyp but beinge glad and mery accompanyed with a lusty hande of yonge men made ofte tyme lowlye suite to the peple and submyttynge hym selfe to the tribunes made many great promyses he humblye beseched hee wyllyngty offâ—rynge hym selfe prayed his fathers frendes he sued and soughte to he repayred ofte to the houses of some noble menne by these craftes makynge hys waye to come to the consulshyp ¶ How Cicero opened the conspiracy before the Senatours Cap. xii THAN the consull consideringe theese two myschiefes that hee coulde noo longer by his priuate diligence defende the common weale and howe peryllous it were for the common weale of Catiline shulde be consull determyned to enforme the Senatoures of the matter to prorogue the election of officers and to make Catiline hated for his conspiracie wherby he shulde be hyndered in his requeste of consulshyp For rumours yea thoughe they be false and a feyned tale troubleth all to gether and changeth holye the opinion of the electoures Thus when they were assembled in parliament he instructed them how Catiline and other assocyate withe hym in that mischiefe and madde dede were secretly agreed to oppresse the common weale to slee the Senatours and murther the citizens Than was it decreed that on the morowe shulde be none election to th ende they mought in parliament treate of these matters ¶ On the morowe the consull opened in the parlyamente house manye thynges of the conspiracye and demaunded Catiline if he wolde oughte saye touchinge those matters that were layed to his charge But Catiline althoughe he were full of all fraude and lyinge and whiche with greate diligence and craft augmented those vices vnto whiche he was naturally inclined yet beinge pricked withe his conscience dyd not soo moche clere and purge as he opened and shewed hym self fauty For he saide than The common weale had two bodies one weake with a sycke feble head the other stroÌ„ge without a head To this body syth it had of hym wel deserued it he woulde be heade as longe as he liued The weake bodye with a sycke feble heade he called the consent and agrement of good men together the whych he wolde they shulde vnderstande myght easely be broken and ouercome of the other sorte leude and naught syth he was theyr capitaine ¶ But the Senate at that tyme vsed great myldnes or rather pacience that wolde not concerninge those matters decre any thynge againste Catiline namelye sythe he a fewe daies before whan Cato the perpetuall ennemie of dishonest and naughty persons thretned hym to be punyshed aunswered and saide If there weere any fire prepared to burne his goodes he wolde not quench it with water but with ruine But therefore they were not harde to hym partely because they dradde nothyng partely because they dradde and partelye because some fauoured hym Yet I harde say that this rumour spred abrode in the citye dyd greatelye hynder Catiline in requeste of the consulshyppe althoughe manye supposed it to be false ¶ In the meane whyle the tyme instantynge to choose the consuls Catiline hauing prepared a greate companye as it semed determined if he weere not elected consull to make a slaughter in the fielde and to slee hys Competitors Seruius Sulpice Postumus L. Murena D. Syllanus but namelye M. Tully the consull But the consull whan the daye of election was come descended into the fielde enuironed about wyth a great route of his friendes and with a large and bryghte habergion not whiche myght defende hym For Catiline vsed not to stryke at the sydes or bealye but at the head and necke but that al good men shuld take hede when they sawe the consul in drede and peryl whyche chaunced afterwarde to runne to succoure and helpe hym Thus the consull beynge defended wyth strengthe
greatelye reioyce and glorye that he hathe opteined hys purpose When he shall see this countreye glyster and shyne in bryghte armoure and this citye set on fyre gyue lyghte Than shall hee preyse his inuencions and driftes and extoll his inuincible mynde and thynke he hathe sufficientlye reuenged hym selfe and his fore fathers for the contumelies and rebukes done to hym For he is wonte sometyme to saye that he is of the family and kinred of Tullius Hostilius kynge of the Volscians speciall ennemie to the people of Rome the whiche thynge is the onelye knowen occasion why vniuersallre the name of Romaines is hatefull vnto hym and he shall alway abhorre this common weale by whose dominion the house and family of his ancestours is dymmed and their empiere cleane subdued and ouerthrowen whiche thynge howe great cares it carieth into mennes mindes iudge ye your owne selues This I may only esteme of Cicero that as longe as that enuye of his fore fathers and those olde enmities of vnpacient mynde shall turmoile and vexe his braine he wolle neuer cesse from hys violence and madnes So greate is his vnmoderate luste and mynd to destroye this empiere And euen now truely the hole worlde beyng in peace so many kynges people and straunge nacions subdued all menne bothe by lande and see obeyinge vnto vs and nowe that there is no superior enemie of the people of Rome but doo approue our great puisance and noble actes And therfore he hath no hope to bringe this empiere to destruccion by outward hostilitie All thinges are in sure quiete vnder vs all men wyllinglye obey vnto vs. But for as muche as he greatly desireth to reuenge hym selfe and his ancestours and that his harde and cruell mynde wyll neuer cesse from that opinion he flyeth to those perturbacions with the which priuate enmities fyrst with me lastly he intendeth to greue the hole common weale And so first he accuseth Catline his ennemie and manye other felowes with hym in his conspiracie that they intend to inuade the common weale ouer runne theyr countreye deface the citie to burne houses temples aultares to rauyshe virgins to murther and slee the auncient men the peple and the nobles ne neuer stinte frome wrathe ne spare the sworde vntyll they haue vtterlye destroyed this moste beautifull cytie the soueraine princesse ouer all the world But I swere by the immortall goddes I wot not to what ende this vayne estimacion of men wol come that any mortall man shoulde beleue that there were any so vtterlie an hopelost or so ignorante of reason that dothe not pereriue a certayne zeale and tender loue towarde his cuntreye planted in hym the whyche alwaye throughe a certayne secrete and vehemente power of nature is powred in to mennes breastes Than what Romaine mynde wolde desire to brynge the common weale to so great calamitie For what moste cruell ennemye of the Romaines yea the verye Capitayne of Carthage Anniball coulde inuente and imagine greatter or the lyke hurtes to vs Wolde I inuade the common weale whiche haue for the common weale enterprised and susteyned so excedynge great perilles Shuld I be so bolde to deface the Senate and citie whiche haue adorned my lynage with so many most large benefites Shulde I burne the temples of Rome the which shew forthe so manye grauen images and tables of mine ancestoures Shuld I murder the noble men of bloud or Senatoures that am nowe in honoure and dignitie amonge them Shuld I wearyng the honorable robe defile the citie with other mischeuous dedes that which with all diligence haue withstand that other shoulde not defile it What hope what mynde what occasion shoulde driue me to do suche a deede Shoulde the luste and desire of dominion and rule whereof a lytle whyle ere Cicero reasoned haue I not quietely opteyned the dignite aboue all haue not I as good hoope lefte me to excuse other dignities as it is lawful for any mortal man to require for I am both of the bloud of noble Senatours and haue opteined the dignitie of a Senatour and here after I may be consul or dictatour The whiche dignities are suche and so greate that not onlye in this moste noble citie but also they far excel the empiers and principalities of all people of all nacions that are in all the worlde What nedeth it then to seke that thinge in harde warre whiche willingelye in peace is prepared for me But peraduenture as Cicero sayde enuie styrred me great dette pouertie immoderate boldenesse to beare a rule But this shuld be estemed of a man that is wylful rashe and brainesicke or of any other the which in hope to wynne and gette goodes maye vnwyselye make soo great a sedicion amonge the people of Rome and not of a man of the noblest bloud borne and in a citie aboundynge in welthe For shuld he that is honestly furnished with riches doubte that he shulde at â—nye tyme wante for so muche lucre and wynning doth euen offer it selfe and suche profite cometh of the common treasure that if a man shulde a lytle decaye and in no wyse obeye vnto honestie it is incredible howe easelye he maye be laded wyth aboundance of riches And to let passe other thinges thou Cicero arte an example vnto me whyche in a maner the other daye entredst into this citye bare nedy of al thynges after thou gottest thee once in office thou gatheredst sodeinly together so great a heap of ryches that all the townes belonginge to Rome as it semed were scasely sufficient for thy factoures Wherfore thou doste but folyshely to laye couetousenes pouertie and greate det vnto my charge All whiche thynges I coulde by a more sure maye appease then to disturbe the common weale to take the vncerteine for certeyne for a lytle commoditie to enterprise exceadynge greate peryls Neither I as touchinge suche thynges as I am accused of wolde for any priuate debate haue goone in hande with so horrible a dede There is no man in thys common weale that I reken to be myne ennemie onlye Cicero is agreued with me because I coulde not cloke his vices whyche he dyd secretlye whose folyshe and trifling toyes if I sholde haue exchewed and put from me I had many wayes to reuenge my selfe wythoute publike peryll Nor I neded no refuge to the hurt of the common weale seynge there was neither drede nor ieopardy to withstande or let me for if he were rydde oute of this lyfe there shulde remaine no man that wold not onely reuenge hym but also mourne at his funerall But god forbydde that I shulde dishoneste my selfe for hys fole hardynes For it is no laude for noble men to be reuenged on abiecte persons yet perchance if I wold haue desired it it shuld not be imputed worthy citizens but that I if I had gone about it at that tyme myghte haue had muche more oportunitie than he shulde haue had Surely if I fortified myne house wyth strength of men of armes broughte in my
haue exchewed Catilines company and amytie he had nothyng gone oute of kynde from his forefathers He was excellently lerned in greke and latine he had a ioly quicke wytte he was a goodly yonge manne and a towarde But he with Catilines company and amitie made vnlyke to hym selfe in a folyshe brayde fled vnto Catilines campe Whom his harde father returnynge hym backe againe frome hys iourney whanne he hadde with spytefull rebukes rated hee afterwarde commaunded hym to be slayne Also there was an opinion that P. Clodius the sonne of Appius departed out of the citie to thentente to go to Catiline After that chaunging his purpose he returned to the citie and so Cicero obiecteth againste hym in manye places that he was companion of the conspiracie the whiche cryme although it werē obiected of an enemye yet I beleue it to be true for the lyfe and maners of Clodius approue that he boldely enterprised all thinges Also there were some that saide that C. Antonius the consull was one that conspired with Catiline whoos 's opinion was approued by this one argumente that Antonius neuer endeuoured hym selfe to auoide that suspicion of familiaritie wyth Catiline which men than had of hym neyther by denyinge nor yet by dissimulacion Nor this furious infeccion dyd not onelye inuade the citie but in a maner all Italy and was nowe spred priuely throughe many prouinces And excepte the conspiracie had bene discouered in the citie surely Catiline in short tyme had gathered an infinite armye and the commocions in all places had ben excedynge greate In Apulia in Brutiis in Pelignis in Capua in a countrey of Pise and specially amonge the Pisaurians and Camercians in Tuschayne in Fraunce the hither and further the bandes of men of armes romed abrod some priuelye and some openlye ¶ Ambassadours are sente from the senate into diuers prouinces of Italy to wythstande the rebellion Cap. xxiiii BVT the huge mocion of this cursed conspiracie reysed vp by Marcellus the father and the sonne disclosed by L. Vectius was appealed and brought downe by Bibulus in pelignis and by Cicero in Brutus and by them they were bothe punyshed But in the further Fraunce C. Murena the legate brother vnto Murena that was apointed to bee consull In the countreye of Pyse and the one parte of Fraunce the noble maire Q. Metellus dyd withstand and let the myscheuous fury and ententes of the conspiratours And many of these dyd Metellus cast in prisō Albeit through the faulte of the writers as I suppose it is falsely red in Saluste that this C. Murena shulde be the ruler of the hyther Fraunce For Cicero doth affirme that he was at that tyme in the further Fraunce with all his power And by the same authour wee haue shewed before that Q. Metellus Celer was sente from the senate into the countrey of Pise a part of Fraunce Furthermore Cicero the consul cōmaunded that all the inhabitantes and dwellers there aboute shulde strongly fortifie their townes with garisons of men of armes and to defende their borders and cities from the inuasion of Catiline Also he sente P. Sestius the treasourer with an army to Capua bycause he herde saye that the rebels wente about to take it Than whan he was come to Capua he banyshed frome thence C. Meulanus a man geuen to ryot and C. Marcellus endeuoryng him selfe to wynne the citie by force and to reyse vp a seruile warre and entendynge to do many other leude deedes and deliuered that citie frome mooste greuouse peryll Wherfore the chiefe rulers of Capua for that the welth of their citie was preserued they in honour of M. Tullius sette vp a golden image and called hym their patrone and to P. Sestius they openly gaue gret thākes ¶ The preparacion of the rebelles in the citie and their councelles wyth the ambassadours of Dolphinois Cap. xx v. AT THE same season the capitaines lefte by Catiline in the citie entised vnto warre the citizens the straungers the noble men the meane and men of lowe degree of what sort so euer they were which they sawe desyrous of new alteracions that were mete for warre further they prepared mallettes to set fire on the citye and sente secretlye vnto Catiline bothe armoure and money ¶ There were than at Rome ambassatours of Fraūce sente from a citie somwhat in trouble desiryng of the senat to deliuer their towne which was greatly indetted Wherfore Lētulus supposed lightly to allure those men to ayde them in their warres for as much as the french men are of nature inclined to warre and alwaye intentiue to newe businesse and hated the present estate of the people of Rome In this confederacie were many commodities Fyrst Fraunce had great plentie of horsemen of whome the conspiratoures sawe them selfes to haue greate neede Seconde bycause the people of Dolpiny were next adioynynge to Italye and by the reason that Fraūce shuld be in an vprore ruffelinge they thought no man could resiste the conspiracy And so bycause P. Vmbrenus was aqueinted with the frenchemen they gaue hym charge that he shulde require the saide ambassadoures to take their partes and shewed hym by what reason it myght be done Vmbrenus sente for the ambassadours and diligently accomplyshed the matter ¶ Ciceros watchefull diligence and hys monicions to the frenche ambassadours whych vttered the secretes of the conspiracy Cap. xxvi BVT M. Cicero beynge alway watcheful and prouident to see and perceiue what the conspiratours wente aboute and intended vsed the helpe and counsaile of L. Torquatus P. Lentulus Spinter Q. Catulus M. Lucullus P. Seruilius M. Cato Q. Sanga and of many other moste noble and worthy men They hyghly fauoryng the common weale inquered and serched out al thyng and what so euer came to their knowlege they forthwith made relacion therof to the consull Than as fortune woulde the ambassadoures communed of these matters wyth Q. Fabius Sanga a righte noble manne whyche was the Frenche mens patrone He beyng a a counsel wyth Cicero in al thinges spedely shewed the matter to the consull Than the consull thynkinge that he hadde nowe good occasion openlye to conuince the conspiratours which thing he alway desyred commaunded the ambassadours to come secretelye vnto hym and admonyshed them that they shulde not bee ennemyes to the people of Rome withoute a cause Nor that they shulde ioyne their welthy state with the wretched condicion of Catiline Lentulus and other miserable personnes nor that it behoued them to enteprise thynges vncertayne for certayne or for a small commoditee to aduenture vpon exceding great perylles All warre is easelye begonne but it is not in his power to make an ende that beganne it He sayde Catiline by my counsailes by my great laboure and trauaile and wyth mi strēgth of men of armes is so be set about on al sides febled that my felowe Antonius with an army may easely subdue hym Within the citie al thinges are abundantly foreseen and prouided for that no man can once sturre
more nere to the sea of Affrike The GetuliaÌ„s iÌ„habited more nere to the sunne rising not far froÌ„ the ferueÌ„t cuntrey of Inde this peple anone had roumes dwelling places for the sea bitwene theÌ„ Spaine was but narow wherfore they agreed with the Spaniards to make exchaÌ„ges bargins of merchaÌ„dise with theÌ„ The LibieÌ„s corrupted their name by litle litle changing the same at last in sted of MedeaÌ„s named theÌ„ selfe MaurieÌ„s by barbarike ê“nuÌ„ciacion of their laÌ„gage But the welth riches of the PersieÌ„s in short tyme increased multiplied In somoch that after they had named theÌ„ selfe NumidiaÌ„s thei iÌ„creased in so gret multitude that theyr fyrst couÌ„trey was not able to noryshe theÌ„ al. So that after ward many of the yong lusty people departed in sonder froÌ„ theyr frindes left their cuntrey resorting to a cuntry nere the citie of Carthage vacaÌ„t at that tyme. In which cuÌ„trey they iÌ„habited theÌ„ selfe named it Numidy after their name Shortly after this both they which remayned stil in their first cuÌ„trei these which remoued theÌ„ce assisted one an other with al maner help socour In so much that what by strength what by feare they brought vnder theyr subieccioÌ„ dominioÌ„ suche other nacions as marched nere theÌ„ so that within short tyme they much inhauÌ„ced augmented their name and glory but namely they which inhabited the part of Affrike which is ouer against Italy nere the Italian sea these most iÌ„creased in welth honor For the Libiens were not so good men of war as the GetuliaÌ„s or NumidiaÌ„s And so al the inward part of Affrike was for the most parte in possession of the Numidians so much dyd they that al the nacions of theÌ„ subdued wer called Numidians after the name of ouercomers Now haue we declared how the Getulians LibieÌ„s wer first inhabitaÌ„tes of Affrike how the Perseans MedeaÌ„s Armeniens came afterward ioyned with theÌ„ How the Perseans named theÌ„selfe Numidians And the MedeaÌ„s Armeniens by corrupcioÌ„ of langage wer called Mauriens And now coÌ„sequently I shal declare what other peple came afterward inhabited the same land of Affrike After al these nacioÌ„s before rehersed out of the land of Phenice cam much peple to inhabit theÌ„ selfe in Affrike Some bicause theyr owne countrey was not sufficieÌ„t to sustaine so grete a multitude as werof theÌ„ And other some great men of birth desirous of lordship raised vp asseÌ„bled the nedy coÌ„men people left their owne cuÌ„trey in hope to fynd some other greter dominioÌ„ els where in proces of tyme ariued at the land of Affrike there builded thre cities vpon the sea cost named Hippona AbrumentuÌ„ Leptis with other diuers cyties but not so gret and famous as these were These cities in short tyme wer so augmeÌ„ted incresed that some of theÌ„ wer honour and some socour ayd to their original cuÌ„tries But of the citie of Carthage whiche also by theÌ„ was bylded afterward became the hed citie of Affrike I thinke it is better to pas ouer with silence thaÌ„ of it to speke a litel thaÌ„ to leue the matter in the myds vnperfet and also this my busines procedeth to an other purpose Neuertheles some what shal I touch the fyrst foundacioÌ„ of this citie of Carthage not folowing mine author Salust which wrteth nothing therof but folowing the opinioÌ„ of Virgil as he writeth in the first boke of Eneas ¶ The quene Dido doughter of Belus kyng of the land of Cipre wife to Sicheus king of Phenice fled wyth her shyps laded with gold other riches out of her owne cuÌ„trey dreding the cruelte of her brother PigmalioÌ„ whiche blinded by couetise and ambicion had slayne her husband Sicheus by tresoÌ„ This Dido at last ariued with her shyps coÌ„pani at the coast of Affrike wher reigned a king named Hierbas which moued with beaute of Dido desired her to wife But for loue whiche she had to her first husbaÌ„d Sicheus she wold not coÌ„sent therto by any meanes but desired to bie of the same kyng as much grouÌ„de as might be coÌ„pased about with the hide of a bul And after that it was grauÌ„ted she cut the hide of smal that with the same she coÌ„pased .iij. myle of grouÌ„de about In which space she buylded a citie which first was named Birsa after in ê“ces of tyme it was called Tiros last of al Carthage Vnder which name bi long coÌ„tinuauÌ„ce so amply it encreased in fame welth that it contained xxiiij miles in compasse But whaÌ„ it was in most excellence it was vtterly distroied bi the Romains Publius Scipio Affricanâ— the tyme being captayne of the Romaine armye Touching the foundacion of this famous citie of Carthage so moch haue I writteÌ„ more than mine authour Salust But now wil I returne to mine institute purpose concerning the discripcion of Affrike brefely bring it to coÌ„clusion The valey of whoÌ„ I spake before named in Affricke langage CathahathmoÌ„ deuided the couÌ„trey of Affrike froÌ„ Egipt on the side saue that an arme of the see is bitwene the first citie or habitacioÌ„ of Affrik toward this valey is called Cirene And nere to the same be other two cities the one named Tolonia the other ThercoÌ„ beiond these thre cities be two quicksaÌ„des bytwen both the saÌ„des a cite named Leptis Beyond this cite of Leptis is a place named of the Romains PhylenoruÌ„ in english the auters of two brethern called Philenis bicause these two brethern suffred theÌ„ selfe to be quicke buried in the same place for the commeÌ„ wele of their couÌ„tre wherof thistory herafter shal be writteÌ„ at more oportunite This place diuideth the dominioÌ„ of Carthage from Egipt on the side After this place on the side costs be other cities belonging to the dominioÌ„ of Punike Al the places from thens forth to Mauritany or land of the Mauriens be vnder subieccioÌ„ of the Numidians The Mauriens haue theyr habitacion nere to Hispaine But as we rede the Getulians haue theyr habitacioÌ„ beiond the NumidiaÌ„s some in pore lodgis some other more vilely wtout habitacioÌ„ wandring as vagabuÌ„des Beyonde these GetuliaÌ„s is the land of Ethiope froÌ„ thens forth be couÌ„treis so brent with feruour of the soÌ„ne that they be inhabitable But duriÌ„g this war bitwene the RomaiÌ„s Iugurth the Romains had iÌ„ their possessioÌ„ many townes of Punike much of the costes of theÌ„pire of Carthage ruled the same by officers vnder theÌ„ therto assigned A gret part of Numidy of the Getulians vnto a flode named MuluchaÌ„ was vnder the dominioÌ„ of Iugurth Ouer al the MauriaÌ„s raigned one kinge named Bocchus of whoÌ„ the RomaiÌ„s had no knowledge saue of his name only And before this bataile he was nother in peace nor in war acquainted nor knoweÌ„ of the Romains Of Affrik of thinhabitauÌ„tes of the same ynough is spoken
of them both on both sides But the power of the noble men and of theyr party was more mighty thā the power of the commens For all the estates were all togyder assembled conioyned and vnyed But the commens were dispersed and spred abroade into diuers places and companies gettyng their liuynge with laboure of their handes and sweat of their bodyes So euerye thinge was gouerned in peace and in warre at the pleasure and aduise of a fewe priuate noble men The commen treasure the prouinces mastershyps offices trybutes worship triumphes al other things longing to honour or auantage wer only in the handes and possession of the same few noble men But the symple cōmen people was weried and opressed with pouertye bataile and warfare Euer in ieopardie and neuer in auantage nor lucre For the capitaynes with a fewe other noble men pulled suche prayes as were taken in batayle only to their singuler auantage and behofe But in the mean season the parentes and smal children of the souldiours wer driuen from their dwelling places and possessions by the saide noble men eche one of them by that lord vnto whom they dwelled nereste And so the myghte and power of suche noble men conioyned with immoderate couetise assayled defyled wasted and destroyed euerye thynge without good maner without measure or moderacion hauing no respect nor consideracion of any thing belonging to goodnes or vertue tyl they had so farforth proceded that at conclusion they were destroyed and ouerthrowen by their owne obstinate pryde and tyranni But at laste as soone as euer some of the estates were founde which remembring and considering them selfe sette more by true and laudable glorye than by vniuste power dignitie And wer moued in mind by cōpassion to shew merci pite against the cōmente to socour their misery thā began the citie to be troubled moued greuously for the courage of the cōmens was reuiued by supportacion of such noble men by meanes wherof discord and deuysion began to ryse in the cite as it were drye dust of the grounde raysed in a great and tempesteous wynde For after that Tiberius Gracchus and Caius Gracchus whose progenitours much encreased the cōmen weale in many batayls but namely in the batayle of Carthage began to restore the commētie into theyr olde libertie and to detect the cruel mysdedes of the few iniurious estates Than al the lordes cōfederate and after maner chafede with yre assembled theyr felowes as Latynians and some knyghtes of Rome which in hope of promocion left the commens party and helde with the nobel men All these with suche as were to them lenyng of other nacions began to withstand the accusementes of the cōmenty and first of al they slew Tiberius Graccus And after that within a fewe yeres the slewe the other brother named Caius Graccus while he was protector of the cōmenty bicause that he according to law right deuided among the pore cōmente such landes as they had won in batayle of theyr ennemies And at the same season the estates put to deth also a lorde named Marcus Flaccus bycause he defended the commens liberte agaynst theyr extorcion But touchyng the two bretherin Tiberius and Caius Graccus sothly their myndes were greatly immoderate and vnmeasurable in theyr desyre to ouercome thestates Neuerthelesse it had be muche better to thestates to haue suffred them in theyr ryghtwyse tytell and somewhat to haue inclyned to theyr myndes than to haue ouercome them so iniuriously how best that they were ouer hasty and busy But whā thestates had the victory of them after their desyre and pleasure than put they to death the commenty with out nombre and many they exiled and droue out of the cite In somuch that from thens forth they rather encresed theyr crueltie and feare to the commens than their owne honoure or power By which meanes many worthy cityes haue often tymes ben dystroyed whyle the estates and commens contend the one to ouercome the other by one meane or other And whyle the party vyctoure wyll punyshe ouer greuously that party which is ouercome But if I wolde prepare to write of the besines and dedes of both the parties seriatly and distinctly And yf I shuld touch al the maners of the cite acording to the gretnesse of the mater and as it requyrth sothely the tyme shuld fayle me rather thā the mater Wherfore I will omyt this superfluous and infinite besynes and retourne to my first mater and purpose touchyng this cronycle of this tyranne Iugurth ¶ Howe Metellus was create consull and sende by the Romayns to war agaynst Iugurth and of the wyse and discrete behaueour of the same Metellus The .xxviii. Chapter AFter the truce and composicion of Aulus before sayde made with Iugurth and the foule and shameful flyght of the Romayne army Quintus Metellus and Marcus Sillanus wer create proclaimed cōsuls of Rome whiche acordyng to the olde custome parted and deuided the prouinces belonging to Rome betwene them both The countrey of Numidi fell and happened to Metellus This Metellus was a fierse man and a noble and a worthy warriour And how be it he fauored the party of the noble men and was contrary to the party of the commens neuertheles he was of fame vndefyled and vnuiolat coūted of good name indifferēly on bothe parties Assone as euer this Metellus entred in his office and dignite he thought that euery thynge apartayning to his rowme and charge belōged aswell to his partynge felowe as to himselfe saue the war of Numidy whiche onely belonged to himselfe and to his particuler charge Wherfore he commytted all other charges to Sillanus and onely sette his mind to make prouysion for the war agaynst Iugurth But bycause he mistrusted the olde army whiche was in Numidy with Albinus and Aulus and had no confydence in the myndes of these soudyours corrupted with ydelnes and many other vices therfore he elected assembled newe soudyours And of al such as were felowes and frendes confederate to the Romayns he called for helpe and socours He prepared made redy armoure wepyn horse harnes and all other ordynaunce expediēt to warfare And also he ordained abundance of vytayls And shortly to speke all thynge he ordayned which ar wont to be necessary and profitable to the variable chaunces and incertayne accidentes and ieopardies of warre which requyreth reparacion of many thinges and chargeable But suche as were felowes of the empire of Rome at instaunce and request of the Senatours and by theyr authorite and by the Latinians many other strange kinges of their own frewil sent socours to Metellus to auaunce him in his enterpryse And shortly to speke the hole citie laboured with all theyr might to socoure and ayde Metellus in his besines Thus at last whā euery thynge was prouided sette in order after his pleasure and intent than toke he his iournay in Numidi◠with great hope of all the citezins of Rome that for his
friendes of the commen welth nowe I exhorte you for complement of all your honorable fame to remembre your old accostomed worthynes and suffer not thys excellente honour and glory whiche ye haue now optayned by boldenes to be quenched and decaye againe by ignominious cowardyse ¶ With such wordes many other like Metellus recōforted his cōpaynie and maruelousely kindled their corage to the desire of honour by valiant feates of armes But in the meane season the knowen gyle of Iugurthe went not frō his mynd therfore to exclude al danger of tresō he fente certaine of the Numidiās which betraying Iugurth had forsaken him fled to the Romains and also wyth them he sente forthe diuerse other of hys owne companie whiche were expert of the cuntrey and oportune to suche businesse to serche and espie amonge what people or in what place Iugurth helde hym selfe and wherein he was occupyed Whether he kepte hym with a smal company or whether he hadde an army reassembled for a newe batayle and how he behaued him selfe and where about he went sythe he was ouercome But Iugurth had conuaied him selfe into suche places as were ful of dyches valeis hylles trees bushes and dales defended of nature And there had he assembled agayne a newe armie of men mo in numbre than he had before But they were but vncrafty inexpert and dul to bataile and could better tyll the ground and kepe beastes then exercise the dedes of chiualrie For therto had they neuer ben vsed before but in the other seruyle occupacions and businesses had they ben occupied al their lyfe tyme without intermixtion of other occupacion It fortuned that Iugurth had non other souldiors but suche rurall people aboute hym at thys tyme namelye for this cause For whan he fled from the bataile foughten before with Metellus none of all his souldiors folowed hym except the horsemen of his gard For al the other souldiors departed where it lyked them best Nor this is not counted nor reputed for any fault or rebuke among the Numidian souldiours For suche is the costume of the cuntrey whan the captaine fleeth the hoste forsaketh hym ¶ What waste and destruccion Metellus made in the lande of Numidye after this fyrst batayle and flyght of Iugurth and of the gyle of Iugurth agaynste Metellus The .xxvi. Chapter WHan Metellus vnderstode by his espyes that the mynd of Iugurth cōtinued yet styl in his olde fiersenes crueltie thoughe he was lately ouercome in bataile And whan Metellus sawe that Iugurth renewed the warre againe and prepared a new bataile which could not be done but at the pleasure of Iugurthe bicause he had taken suche a place to abyde in that no man coulde conueniently contende with hym for difficultie thereof Metellus this knowing aduised himselfe of many thinges Namely he considred that they were not indifferēt and egall on both parties in executyng therof For al if that he had the vpper hand ouer Iugurth and had put him to flight yet lost he mo men and had more damage in ouercomyng hym then Iugurth had which was ouercome For this cōsideracion Metellus purposed no more to contend with him in plaine fildes nor in ordred bataile but by an other maner to execute war with him from thence forthe This determined Metellus with his hole host and ordinaunce went forth into the moste ryche and plentefull places of all Numidye and there wasted and destroied the fieldes and contrey on euerye side He toke without any resistence castles and townes not strongly defended with walles dyches nor garnyson And brente and beate them downe to the grounde All suche as came in his waye and were able to beare harnesse full growen to age and apte to batayle he slew and rydde out of hand Thinkyng that the mo he slew the fewer aduersaries and ennemies shulde he haue to contende againste hym He commaunded his souldiors to spare no robbery nor prayes but gaue all thynge hauocke amonge his souldiours ¶ For feare of this crueltie many of the Numidyens yelded themselfe to the Romains and gaue vnto them hostages vytaile soldyours and all other thinges necessary abundauntly In some townes whiche were taken Metellus sette defence and garnison where nede requyred and fortified them sufficiently This besinesse troubled the mind of Iugurth muche more than the bataile that was foughten before to his great damage and disconfort of his men For he lost more people by this way than by any other meane before Thus Iugurth whiche before put all his hope and trust in his flyght was nowe of necessite compelled to folowe and pursue his ennemies and he whiche could not defende his owne places whiche styll remianed in his possession was constrained nowe to warre in those coostes which Metellus had wonne of him to recouer them if fortune wolde suffre him Neuertheles of suche poore shyft and counsel as he had he toke the best which could be taken by his aduyse in such extreme necessite He commaūded his army for the most part to remayne styll in the same place where they were And he himselfe with a cōpany of horsemen whiche wer bolde and chosen men ensued Metellus priuely making his iourneis by night tyme by biwaies secrete valeys And at last sodeinly of vnwares he fel vpon a part of the Romaines which were dispersed abrode frō the host in foraging and spoyling Many of thē without armour wer slaine many takē None of thē al scaped clen nor fre without dāmage but ether wer slaine or els sore woūded Whē Iugurth had done this skirmy she anone he withdrue him selfe his cōpany into the hyls mountaines next to thē before anye socours or rescous myght come from Metellus to reuenge their treason and deathe of the Romaynes ¶ Of the great ioye that was demeaned at Rome for thys worthy behaue our of Metellus and how he guided hym selfe and hys army to contynue and augment this honour which he had gotten The .xxxiiii. Chapter WHile Metellus and Iugurthe striued thus together the one with manhode wisedom strēgth the other with treason crafte and gyle tydings were brought to Rome of this noble behaueour of Metellus Ouer all the citie was demeaned great ioye and gladnes for that Metellus behaued himself and gyded his army acordyng to the maner and ordinance of olde noble capitains of the Romains before his days And how be it he was in place aduerse contrary to him yet had he the vpper hande of his ennemies as victorie ouer thē And by his strength manhod he had in possession the countrey of his ennemies and had driuen thē from place to place Al these things cōsidred they much reioyced greatly cōmended Metellus namely for that he had caused Iugurth to put his trust of helth only in fleyng into the moūtaines wildernes which before was magnificent and proud by the feare cowardise of Aulus predecessor of Metellus Wherfore for these fortunat glorious dedes of Metellus the Senatours decreed
gyue credēce to that blind errour shewed many tokēs to them in such maner sacrifice which tokēs they often found true But now to my purpose The preest of the ydolles whiche sacrifysed for Marius shewed great and marueylous tokēs vnto him wherby he might greatly trust to come to his intent and purpose byddyng him prosecute that thing on whiche he had sette his mynde and haue sure confidence in his goddes Sayng that if he wold proue the extremite of fortune diligētly and often than doutlesse euery thing prosperously shuld happen to him But Maryus afore that tyme a longe season wonderouslye desyred in his minde the dignite of the consull And to say trueth he wanted nothing which longed to him whiche shulde haue suche a dignite saue onely antiquite of his progeny auncient noblenes of birth For thoughe he were but a gentyl man of the first heed neuertheles his cōdicions were worthy and excellēt In him was great experiēce of wisdome much probite honestie and sadnesse He had greate polycy and conning in chyualry in batayle his mynde was excellent and bolde But in peace it was lowe and moderate He ouercame couetise and sensualite of his body He desyred nor coueyted nothing erthly saue glorie lande and worshyp This Marius was borne and brought vp by all his chyldhode in the coūtrey of Champayne beionde Fraunce in a towne named Arpine But assone as he was encreased so that he might bere harnesse and bide the herdnes of warfare he concluded to lyue on the wages of chyualrie And in that study he exarcysed hymselfe and not in eloquence of greke langage or in other study or science nor yet in the superfluous aparayle nor carnall lustes of citezins vnto whiche he neuer subdued his body And thus was he indued with good maners and excercysed amonge honest ocupacions and so continued that his hole and vndefyled wytte shortly encreased and exalted himselfe growyng to honour vertu First whan this Marius desyred of the commenty of Rome to haue an office that is to say to be ordained protectour of the souldyours many of the citezins knewe not his persone bycause he was alway from the citie in warre and batayle but his actes made his name wel knowen Wherfore after that the cōmentye vnderstode that he was Marius of whose nobles al Italy much cōmuned and talked anone they graunted his peticion and proclaimed hym protectour of the souldyours ouer all the prouinces and tribes of Italy In that maistership and office he behaued himselfe so well and wisely that after that he obtained an other office of more worship and authorite and after that againe an other of hyer dignite And shortly to speke in euery office and dignite he so behaued himselfe that euery man thought coūted him worthyer of more dignite and honour than he had How beit for al these cōdicions as honorable as he was he durst neuer before desyre thoffice of consull of Rome tyll this tyme whan he had suche comfort by his sacrifice But whan he was thus warned and put in hope and confort euer after he was hedlyng enclined to ambicion couetise of that dignite ¶ At this season the commenty of Rome had all other offices amonge them or at their gyfte and dystribucion But the estates and noble men kept among them and in their handes the consulship yerely one succedyng other by election So that of the commenty was none so noble nor excellent of dedes but that was reputed vnworthy of that dignite and as who saithe vyle and polluted But whan Marius sawe and consydred that the wordes and counsel of the enchauntour and preest whiche he helde his sacrifice pretended to the same poynte and conclusion as the desyre of his mynde moued him longe before Anone he came to his captiaine Metellus besechyng hym to be dyscharged of the batayle tyll he mighte go to Rome to thintente to desyre the consulship of the Senatours But how beit that in his Metellus was vertu glorye worship and al other things longing to a good man plentifully ynough Neuerthelesse of his courage and mynde was he sōwhat proude despisinge and dysdaynyng other which were not come of so hye lynage as he was But speciallye he was statelye and proude of minde which is a commen vyce and mischefe amonge estates and gentylmen Wherfore Metellus hering this interprise of Marius first of al was moued with the nouelty of his peticion For at that tyme were none wonte to speke for that dignite but if they were come of a noble stocke And so was not Marius And thus Metellus marueyled much at his enterpryse and who might counsel him therto warninge him as vnder colour of amyte and frendshyppe not to presume vpon so contrary and vnlikely a thyng nor to exalt his mynd so hy aboue fortune cōuenient for his state and cōdicion Sayng also to hym that euery thing was not to be coueyted or desired of euery man And that it became him wel by reason to be contented pleased and satisfied with that honoure which he had and that was his owne and not to desyre thyngs vnmete for his degre And finally he exhorted and counselled hym to beware to desyre the thynge of the Romayns whyche lawfullye myghte be denyed vnto hym considerynge and hauyng regarde to hys lynage and auncestrie ¶ After Metellus had counseiled Marius wyth these wordes and other lyke and that he could not turne nor apease hys mynde he answered hym at last that assone as he could conuenyently not lettynge the busynesse of of the commen weale he wold graunt his desyre and peticion But after this when Marius desired the same discharge importunely and often he made hym answer saying that he shuld not make so gret hast to Rome for that purpose for he shulde come tymely ynoughe to demaund that dignitie acompanied with the sonne of the same Metellus which sonne shuld also go to Rome in tyme to come to demaunde of the Senatours the same dignitie wyth Marius This sonne of Metellus was at that tyme in the armye of hys father continually exercising the feates of warre notwythstandinge that he was but twenty yeres of age Thys answer of Metellus stirred ▪ Marius against him with greuous yre and wrath what for the honour which he desired and what for the lycence to departe whyche he could not obtayne of hym by no prayer nor requeste at hys pleasure In so muche that he enraged agaynste Metellus moued by desyre of that office and prouoked by yre whyche two vyces ambicion and yre counselled and impelled thys Marius to muche euyll agaynste the sayde Metellus sparyng neyther worde nor deede whiche myght endamage or hynder hym hys honour and name And that myght helpe or auaunce hym selfe by ambicion to come to the dygnitie whyche he desyred He gouerned the souldiours which passed forth the winter vnder his gouernāce not as he ought to do but suffered them to haue their pleasure to the intente thereby to optaine their fauoure and good
suffred none of these to pay any thinge at all but elect many of them for his souldyours Manye of the Romaines surmysed that Marius elected vnto warre these abiect persons for want of other good souldyours Some other demed that he so dyd for fauoure ambicion and parcialite bycause this sort of people assisted and honoured hym by auauncement at beginning of his promocion And also men coÌ„sidred that vnâ—o a man desyrous of dignitie and power the most nedy men be most mete and behouable For suche nedy wretches he moost auenturous for they haue nought to lose and alway trust in auauncement by auenturinge theÌ„selfe And therfore they iudge euery thinge whiche they do good honest and laudable if any auantage be therto appendant Thus dout they no peryll so that they may come therby to promocion At last Marius departed from Rome with somwhat gretter nombre than was graunted and decreed to him of the senatours Within fewe dayes after that he toke shyppyng arriued in the prouâ—nce next vnto Affrike vnder the Romains at a towne named Vtica The army whiche was there with Metellus was deliuered to him by one Publius Rutilius which was embassadour with the said Metellus For Metellus himself fled the sight of Marius bâ— cause he wolde not se that with his eyes which he coude not endure to here But whan Marius had restored and fulfylled the legions of his souldyors and the cohortes for the subsidyes and rescous Than went he into a plentifull place of Numidy whiche was full of prayes Al that he toke there he gaue frely in rewarde to his souldyours This done he assayled suche castels and townes which wer but febly defended with men and walles He had many batayls lyght skyrmishes and many other thinges he dyd in other place not with much difficultie In the meane time the newe souldiours were redy manly fighting without fere seyng that they which fled wer other taken or slayne therfore they aduysed them wel that the strongest boldest was most sure of all They considred wel that it stode them in hande to defende with wepyn and armour their libertie their countrey their frendes and all other thynges longing to their helth and honour Thus laboured they for glorie laude and riches which they optained so that within short season the olde souldiours and the newe encreased together cherishynge and infourmynge one an other tyl their vertue and boldnes was like But whan the two kinges Iugurth and Bocchus vnderstode of the comminge of Marius they deuyded their hoostes and went in sonder into dyuers places where no man coude attayne to them for difficultie of the places This was done by counsell of Iugurth For it pleased him so to do trustinge that within shorte space the Romaines wolde be spred abrode in spoilinge and than thought he to assayle them in euery place whan they were moost without fear at libertie at large and vnprouided as men ar want to be specially whan their ennemies behaueth them as if they were affraied Than often be the victours improuident and lesse circumspect ¶ Howe Metellus the olde consull retourned to Roome and of the worthy and valyaunte behaueour of Maryuâ— agaynste Iugurth and of hys greate actes at his begynnyng The .lii. Chapter IN the meane time Metellus returned to Rome which contrary to his opinion was receyued wyth gladde myndes of the Romains and after that the enuy whiche Marius had moued agaynste hym was asswaged and ouerpassed he was lyke dere and beloued bothe to the commens and Senatours ¶ But Marius on his parte applyed and toke heede to his owne busines and his enemies also without slouth but with great wisedome He perceiued well and knew what was good and yll for auantage on both sides He caused the waies iourneis of the two kinges to be daily searched and espied He preuented interrupted their counsels prouisions and guiles He suffered nothyng to be vnprouided and vnredie on his side but on the other syde and party of his enemies he suffered nothing to be sure or prouided for alwaie he preuented their prouisions pursued them Often while Iugurth and the Getulians spoiled the Numidiens which had yelded them selfe to the Romaines Marius was redie in their way and valiantly assayled them ouerthrewe many of theÌ„ while they were dispersed abroade and flying away for feare And also not farre frome the towne of Cirtha he made Iugurth hym selfe so trust in his flighte that for hast to ren awaie he left his armour behind hym But whan Marius considered that his actes were only glorious and excellent without any auantage and that he might not execute bataile with Iugurth for his vnstedfastnes and mouinge from place to place he considered in minde and ordeined hym redy to besiege the cities of the contreys one after another And namelye suche as eyther of men or of place were necessarie and behouable to his enemies and contrarye or hurtefull to hym Thys dyd he thynkynge that if Iugurthe wythoute disturbaunce suffered hym so to do he shulde eyther be spoyled and bereft of hys cities ordinaunce socoures and refuge or els he must abide the fortune of batail striue for the mastry in plaine field Bocchus the kinge of the Mauriens had often sende messengers before vnto Marius saying that he wold gladly come into fauour amyte and frendship of the Romains and bydding Marius not to dout him as an ennemy nor to fear any thing longing to an enemy to be coÌ„mitted of him ageinst the Romains It is but lytel knowen for trueth whether Bocchus fained this thing to the intent that his comming to batayle vnknowen and vnproued myght be to Marius more greuous or els whether he was wont by vnstablenes of mynd to change peace somtime for warre and somtime war for peace But Marius the consul as he had purposed before dru him vnto the castels and townes whiche were walled and defended and fiersly assailed theÌ„ Anone he tourned many of them from his ennemies to him some by strength violence some by feare and other some by promising and giueng of rewardes and prodicion of their captains But at first beginning he medled but with meane castels and townes thinking that Iugurth shulde come to defende and socour his people townes so come into danger of the Romains But whan Marius herde that Iugurth was far thens and occupied in other besinesses than thought he not to lose his time but to auenture on gretter thynges wherin was more harde besinesse and laboure and honoure Wherfore he entended to besiege the cite of Capsa which was a greate cite stronge and riche ¶ How Marius wan the greate and ryche Citye named Capsa and howe he vtterly destroyed the same and gaue all the ryches thereof to hauock◠〈◊〉 his souldiours The .liii. Chapter AMong the most widest thickest wyldernesses of Numidy was this great ryche cite named Capsa whiche as men say was first bylded by that Hercules whiche was
borne in the lande of Libya and not by Hercules the sonne of Iupiter Alcumena Thinhabitours of this citie were ruled by Iugurthe peasably and easely put to no charges nor besinesse and therfore were they moost true and faythful to him They were defeneded againste al ennemies not onely with walles armour and men but also with much strōger defence of the difficultie and hardnesse of the place and contrey nere about them So that it was in maner impossible that any army could come nere thē for wante of water and scarcite of vitels For except the feldes and place nere to the citie all the other be voyde and wast grounde desart without habitacion vneyred barayne and drie withoute water All full of serpentes whiche were somuche more violent and fiers for lacke of meat and sustenance as al other wilde beastes be wont to inrage for honger And moreouer the myscheuous and perilous nature of serpentes is more kindled to raging and vexed with thyrst thā with any other thing which thyrst they coude not quenche ther for wante of water Wherfore neyther man nor beast myght surely passe by thē Whan Marius cast al these difficulties in his mind his hert was persed with a merueylous desyre to wyn this cite both for that it was muche hurtful to him and profitable to Iugurth and also bycause it was herde to do and muche honour myght be gotten in wynninge therof And moreouer bycause Metellus the other consull before him had won the cite of Thala with great honour and glory whiche of sytuacion was not valyke to this cyte neyther vnlyke in defence Saue that not far from the walles of Thala were a fewe fontaynes but about this citye of Capsa was no water wel no◠fontayne saue one and that was within the wals of the citie alway ful of water All other whiche dwelled with out the walles as in the suburbes occupyed but rayne water The inhabitantes of that contrey and of all the remenant of Affrike whiche were far from the see and rude people coude muche the better endure this scarsite of water and thirst for this cause For the moost part of them were fed with milke and venyson not loking after salte sauces nor other suche thinges as be norishinges or prouocatiues to glotony They toke meate drinke onely to slake their hunger and to quenche their thirst and not without measure to prouoke themselfe to pleasure of the fleshe as many christen men do nowe in our dayes which make of their bely their god And eate not to liue but they liue to eate contrary to mannes life and vtterly encline to bestialite O cursed glotony let vs christen men lerne here of panyms to eschewe thee which wastest the body and goodes damnest the soule and art mother and norice of all vices But to retourne to my purpose this Marius after that he had serched euery thynge by his espyes he proceded in his interprise and purpose as men thought holpen of the goddes For agaynst so many and hard difficulties he coude not haue made sure prouision by counsel of man nor by his owne priuate wyt as he which had impediment and was letted not onely by sharpnes of the cōtrey but also by lacke and scarcite of wheat and of al other corne For the Numidiens intendeth more to norishe pasture for beastes than to labour or eire the grounde for corne And also they had brought together all the seed and corne of the yere before into strong holdes as their kynge Iugurth had commaūded them and moreouer at that season the feldes on euery syde were drye and bare without corne and no maruell For it was about the extremite or later ende of somer Not withstandyng all these difficulties and sharpnesses Marius made prouision ynough as the mater required First he commytted all the bestes whiche he had taken in pray in foretyme vnto the horsemen whiche of their owne wyl folowed hym to war or were sende to hym for helpe by frendes of thempire Marius commaunded thē to take charge to driue forth these beastes Than sent he Aulus Maulius embassadour of the hoost to a towne named Laris and all the cohortes of his souldyours with hym which were fotemen and lyght harnysed for to kepe the treasour of the souldyours wages and vitayles whiche he had lefte in the same towne Marius kept his counsel of this interprise so secrete that none of all his company hye nor low knewe of his purpose nor what he intended But whan Manlius and his company shuld depart toward Laris Marius dissimuled wyth them sayenge that he woulde stray abrode in Numidye in rouynge and afterwarde within few dayes he and his company wold come also to the same towne of Laris laded with prayes of his enemies This done he departed towarde a flod named Tana no creature liuely knowyng of his purpose And euery day he distribued in his iournayes amonge his hoost .xlii. heed of oxen for vitayle which he commaunded to be deuided by euyn porcion amonge them by hunders and halfe hunders together deuidynge vitayls to euery company after their nombre And in the meane season he charged bottels and bowges to the hydes of the same beaste and of other ledder in gerate nombre Moreouer he eased their scarcitie of wheate and other corne by wyse prouision And withoute knoweledge of al his company he made good prouision of euery thing whiche myghte be necessary vnto his armye in tyme of nede At conclusion the syxte daie after whan they were come to the saide floud of Thana thither was brought a myghtye multitude of bottels and bowges made of leather There pitched they theyr tentes with easye labour and smal defence Than refreshed they them selfe with meate and drinke and eased them a certeine space This done Marius cōmaunded them that euery man shulde be ready to procede forward euen with the sūne goynge downe and that euerye man shulde onely lade hym selfe and his beastes with water in the sayd bowges and bottels leauing al other cariage burthens and baggage there behynde them in their tentes vnder the custody of other souldiours therto assigned After thys whan he saw his tyme he departed forth from his tentes with his company and labored all the nyght longe in hys iourney The day after folowyng he rested in a secrete and couerte place In the same wyse behaued he hym selfe the night next insuing and in the third night muche before the day lyghte he entred into a faire and large fielde full of small hylles and downes no more but two myle space frome Capsa And there he taried with all his hoste in the moste priuiest maner abidyng the daye light But assone as the day light began to appear many Numidiens issued forth of the towne some to disport them selfe and some about their busines nothinge fearinge nor suspecting of their enemies Whan Marius sawe that anone with al hast he sent his horse men to the towne and with them as many fotemen in