Certaine Stratagems and politike practises of worthy warriours and expert souldiors BY as Priennius when the Citie of Priennia was besieged by the mighty Aliattes vsed this Stratageme or policie when the towne could not holde out any longer for want of vittaile for their men and forrage for their horses he turned out of the Citie into the enimies Campe certaine horses and mules which were wonderfull fat for they were for the nonce fed for that purpose whereby the enemy might think and know that they in the towne had sufficient forrage prouender for their horses insomuch that when Aliattes the Captaine of the enemie did see this he thought indeede that the citizens had plenty of all things sending a spie priuily into the City to viewe their abilitie in all respects Which when Byas had intelligence of he caused great heapes of sand to be piled vp together and poured thereon wheat and other grain to make a shew of plenty giuing further commandement that no man should trouble or molest the spie nor make as once they suspected him but let him haue liberty to passe repasse at his pleasure the spie hauing well viewed all things soone returned to his Captaine shewing him of their great plenty and abundance of all things which so soone as Aliattes heard hee presently remoued his siege and departed thinking it a thing vnpossible to get the towne before their vittaile fayled knowing that hee should want for his companie before those heapes of corne were spent in the City therefore he with speed marched from the towne which in short time might haue beene taken by reason of the great scarcity in the City for the people dyed very fast by famine crying out dayly to Priennius to yeeld the City and saue their liues but by this subtile pollicy they were clearely fréeed to the wonderful ioy of the distressed Citizens Also when Quin. Fabius Maximus had wisely enclosed the wily Hanniball within the straits of Formiana keping the mouth of the strait passages so surely that Hanniball could not passe out the coūtry also being stony and barren not able to relieue his army long fearing least that if he shuld spend y t prouision which he had alredy he might perish with y e whole hoast before he could get any more in that place Hanniball seing himself in such extremity knowing that he could not giue battel to y e Romans without hazarding his whole power for that their enemies lay so strongly on the hill tops being so well backed with fresh supplies if occasion serued wherfore he was forced to vse this slight and mockerie to beguile and deceiue the Romans hauing gathered a great quantity of dry rotten stickes wyth rubbish thornes and such other stuffe fit for his purpose commanding his men to fetch into the campe so priuily as they coulde that the enemie might not perceiue whereabout they went al the oxen and lusty beasts that they coulde finde Now hauyng brought into their campe the number of two thousand lusty beasts they wyth speede fastned vnto their hornes the aforesaide dry stickes keeping them priuily vntill the darke night so that their inuention by no means might be espied being once very darke he caused his armie to be in a readinesse marching circumspectly vp toward the straights which were strongly kept by the Romanes making as little noise as they could being come neere where the enemy lay hee caused those fagots which were on the oxe horns to be set on fire stil driuing them before towards the strait which fire so mightily incresed by the swift running of the beasts for feeling the heat to come so neere the quicke they ran forward as if they had been starke mad puffing blowing making such a noise flinging and tossing the flame and sparks after a most terrible maner so that it was a wonderfull strange and fearfull sight The frighted Romans beholding such a miraculous wonder being much amased on the sudden for that they suspected no such Stratageme began to bussel run for feare because that horrible sight came stil furiously on them insomuch that they were dispersed scattred abroad by the great fright feare therof leauing the narrow places wide open without any force or garde at all so that Hanniball comming after in good order did with great ease passe thorow without any resistance which when the Romans perceiued they could in no case pursue him for that their men were so disordered by running away thus at last but too late they knewe how they were deluded and mocked by the craft of wily Hanniball Also Hanniball vsed this policie to bring the wise Captaine Q. Fabius Maximus in mistrust with the Romans for that he perceiued the sobernes of Fabius did much indamage him who before had tyred and wearied him with daliance committing nothing ouer rashly to fortune which wise dealing of Fabius séemed to Hanniball displeasant altogether repugnant to his nature wherfore at such time as he knew very well the Romans did beare no great good liking to Fabius by reason of the ouerthrowe which Minutius had giuen to Hanniball in his absence knowing also that hee was openly condemned in the Senate either that hee durst not fight wyth Hanniball or else that he did beare goodwill and fauour to the Carthaginians and therefore to bring him in further cause of mistrust with the Romans that also the Senat might easily thinke there were some conspiracie or confederacie betwixt him Hanniball he vsed this craftie practise sending out a great number of soldiors to spoile rob the Countrey of Italie in diuers places straitly commaunding them that they should spare and not once touch the goods cattells and landes which were knowne to be the possessions of Fabius but spoyling and wasting round about them they should leaue them whole vnminished to the end that the Romans should cōceiue such displeasure against him as that they might in no case permit or suffer him to deale in their affaires which thing woulde beene most pleasant to Hanniball And surely this subtile practise sounded much to the discredite of Fabius and had taken further effect if he by his wise policy had not somwhat qualified their hard conceit by this means presently thereupon he sent his sonne into the country to sell make away those lands and goods which Hannibal had spared for litle or nothing despising to possesse any thing which Hannibal preserued which deed made the Romans somwhat better to think of him Notwithstanding though Hanniball was the wisest captain that in those dayes liued mocking and deceiuing the Romans at his pleasure yet in the ende hee himselfe was kindely flouted by a Roman Captain suspecting no stratagem or policy at all to be practised insomuch that on a time when he had long besieged the great city Cassilinum could by no means take the Town he assayed to famish them make the city perforce yeeld to his mercy not suffering any
should bee a table prouided and set by it selfe in a place seuerall and that a cubbord should be furnished with dew preparation and swéet perfumes tempered burned and scattered against the comming of the said Menecrates all which costes was expended and laide out to pleasure the fine nosed gentleman who sat solitarie and alone at a side boorde by himselfe whilst all the companie that were bidden guests tasted of the toothsome cheere and sumptuous feast which wanted no varietie of delicates but nothing was serued vnto the table where he sat by himselfe notwithstanding hee held him content for a season and greatly delighted in the worship and honour which was exhibited to him being in a manner regall sauing that he was kept fasting which was after a sorte seruile But after that hunger griped his guts and appetite whetted his stomack insomuch that his téeth watered at the cates he saw brought in and none fell to his share then was he taught by experience that hée was not Menecrates Iupiter but Menecrates mortalis and foorthwith he arose from the table and went his way complayning on the iniurie which he suffered being a bidden guest to that banquet whereof hee not once tasted thus did Philip cut Menecrates his combe and detected the mad mans vanitie with a notable flout King Herod because he stood still to shew himselfe to the people when they magnified him as a God was wonderfullie slaine for his proud minde for when on a time hée had made a certaine oration in the hearing of a number of people he so pleased the companie by his eloquence that they made a great showte and crie saying It was the voyce of a God and not of a man by reason whereof hée was so eleuated and lifted vp with stately pride that he stoode vaunting himselfe before the multitude taking himself to be no lesse than they had termed him For which proud follie the liuing God to shew that he was but man did strike him in the presence of them all in so much that hee died with most grieuous paines liuing wormes issuing out of his body to the great terror of all the beholders thus dooth the immortal God reuenge himself on those mortall earthly gods to make them knowe they are but men and soone shall turne to dust Yet notwithstanding although they are taught by experience and daylie do sée most plaine and euidently that man is mortall both from the Prince and Péere to the poorest people yet for al that when they doo perceiue their mortall carkasses must néeds to the ground perforce they couet to leaue behind them at least their name and fame to be immortall for which cause they striue mightely in their life time And truly so in princes it commeth oft to passe for they are long time remembred either for their vertue liberalitie courtesie patience and constancie which no doubt but is both to the pleasing of God and drawing on of their successors to imitate folow their vertue But if their immortall fame bée purchased by their great tyrannie cruelty vnsatiable appetites dronkennes monsterous pride or such like horrible vices no doubt but they haue registred themselues to euerlasting ignomie and perpetuall infamie But diuers so that they may after their death attaine to perpetuall remembrance care not by what meanes they purchase that immortalitie For Herostratus a priuate Citizen liued not contented for that no man talked much of him wherefore he thought that after his death he shoulde be buried in the graue of obliuion and fully be forgotten In so much as whē he heard the dayly fame of worthy men set forth some for vertue some for valure yea and againe some dayly spoken of for their great crueltie auarice dronkennes and such like vices whose fame be also perceiued to liue after their death grew in the end himselfe so desirous of perpetuall remēbrance that his name might come in question to be as much noted in the Citie as the rest were But when he had long time studied and could not bring to passe any notable thing worthy to be talked of at the last he went priuily and set on fire y e stately temple of Diana in the Citie and vtterly consumed it downe to the ground Thus when the most sumptuous gallant temple was so vilely defaced great inquisition was made in the Citie who should doe that notorious fact talking much of the matter but none did know the mā For which cause Herostratus much repining in himselfe that although the matter was spoken of in euery part of the Citie yet notwithstanding his name was in no admiration amongst them Wherfore he went presently to the Citizens detected himselfe For which cause be foorthwith was most cruelly put to death Then in trueth he was therfore wonderfully spoken of and is in remembrance at this day Scho. In mine opinion he hath very well deserued perpetuall remembrance who was of that mad minde to register such meere folly to his euerlasting reproach and ignomie which is worthie to be noted throughout all ages But it séemeth that the vices of men doe much longer continue and are of more ancient antiquitie than their vertues For a few speciall vices do dimme and ouershadow a great number of good qualities and shall longer be remembred to their reprochfull infamie than the other to their praise and merite We also read of diuers notable Princes who by a few inordinate follies haue drowned a number of their especiall vertues as most plainly appeareth in your last examples For what good vertues are to be picked out of the liues of those that for their madde pride would be accounted as Gods on the earth although indéede diuers good qualities and examples of vertue procéede from them before Yet notwithstanding this most monstrous pride obscured and blotted out their meritorious remembrance shadowing as it were with a thick and darke veile their notable vertues from the face of the earth Therefore I beséech you to vnfold and lay open part of those monstrous vices which are such enemies and so repugnant to vertue which suffereth not the worthie fame of man to rise and flourish but croudeth and thrusteth it downe into the darke graue of obliuion wherein is drowned his worthie merites by the ouerflowing of his foolish follie Fa. There is remaining in man my good friend manie notable vices and sundrie misgouernments which are altogether repugnant to vertue as the vnsatiable pride of the minde which is alreadie spoken of as the most monstrous folly and vice in man The filthie vice of drunkennesse is also most odious detestable and a great enemie to the quiet gouernment of man it bringeth also with it manie vexations troubles enormities great incōueniences being a disturber daily breaker of peaceable amitie and friendly tranquilitie purchasing both reproachfull rebukes and sharpe reprehensions in their life time and also perpetuall infamie euerlasting ignominie after their death For as
my patrimonie which my Father left me but be contented therewith and leaue it to my sonne as it was left me Wherewith the king being not content went home sorowing remaining verie pensiue and heauie for that he could not lawfully or without great shame take away the vineyard of Naboth but when Iezabel fully perceiued the cause of the Kings sorowing and heauines she directed letters to y e Rulers of y e place wher Naboth dwelt making them priuie of her bloudie practise wishing and commaunding them to proclaime a fast in their Citie and then to hire and suborne two witnesses that should falsely accuse him before the Iudges and presently therevpon to lead him out of the Citie and stone him to death which cruel doome and execrable murder was forthwith accordingly executed But notwithstāding although for a time reuengement was deferred yet could she not scape vnpunished for so soone as Iehu was annointed King he was straightly cōmanded from the verie mouth of God to persecute the house of King Ahab with great crueltie and not to leaue anie one liuing that should pisse against the wall wherefore he presently warred on the Citie of Iezrael and spoiled the house and frends of Ahab vntill he came where Iezabel lodged who was most cruelly vsed in consideration of her former trespasse for she was throwen and tumbled downe headlong from a lofty window to the hard pauements of the stréete wherewith her bloud sprong about the postes and walles of the stréet so that dogges came and licked vp her bloud and eate her flesh the rest being troden to durt with horseféete and marching souldiers insomuch that there remayned no more vnspoyled and defaced but onely the palmes of her hands Thus was Iezabel most cruelly slaine and miserably vsed by the very commaundement of God for the murdering and sheading of innocent bloud Also Olimpias wife to Philip the Macedonian king and mother to Alexander the great cōmitted diuers most horrible shamefull murthers namely first it was suspected and layd to her charge the consenting to the murther of her husband king Philip who was slaine by the hande of Pausanias For after this Pausanias had trayterously slaine the king her husband had receiued iust punishment for his villanie she openly mourned for the death of the said murtherer And also it was well knowē that she had prouided horses ready against the deede was committed to the end the slayer of her husbande might the better escape Further when his body did hang on the galous she came thether the first night and crowned the dead head of Pausanias with a crowne of gold taking also the carkasse from the trée burying it most nobly and made a famous Tombe in the same place for his remembrance Which causes being thorowly considered can import no otherwise than an accessary and guilty mind This Olimpias after the death both of Philip her husband and Alexander her sonne in the time that the Macedonian Princes and successors to her sonne Alexander did contend and striue for the superioritie and regiment of their dead master came down into Macedon with a great power to warre on Philip king thereof and Euridice his wife who at that time were lawfull inheritors of that kingdome and gaue them battaile In which conflict she tooke the King prisoner and all his whole familie But Euridice his wife fled for her safetie into the Citie Amphipolis where not long after she also was taken Then seised Quéene Olimpias into her hand all the whole Realm of Macedon howbeit she very vngently entreated these her prisoners For first she caused the king and Euridice his wife to be put into a straite prison that they could hardly turne themselues within and had their meat geuen thē in at a little hole but after they had béen there awhile thus miserably dealt withall Olympias perceiuing that the Macedonians for very compassion they had of the said captiues greatly maliced and hated her wherefore she caused King Philip by certaine souldiers of Thrace to be slaine after he had reigned king sixe yeares and foure moneths And for because that Euridice not well digesting her shamefull crueltie in so treacherously betraying her dead husband and also somewhat insolently spake said that she had better right and title to the crowne and realme of Macedonia than Olympias had she therefore either without regard of the late dignitie royall that the sayd Euridice had béen in or yet the common mutability variety of fortune sent her three liberall gifts to make her choyse thereof which was a sword a halter and poyson to end her life withal who of necessitie was forced to take one Thus whē the wofull Queene had receiued this present of Olympias seeing no remedie but that needs she must take and accept of one she said The Gods graunt like choyce to this cruell Olympias and that she may receiue like guerdon for her liberalitie heerein Thus when she had adorned the bodie of her husband Philip slaine in her presence and stopped vp the wounds to couer the deformitie of them then refusing the aforesaid presents of the curteous Queene in the best manner she could with her own girdle strāgled her selfe and so died Yet was not Olympias satisfied with these lamentable and execrable murders but soone after she had thus shamefully put them to death she made Nicanor Cassanders brother to be slaine and spitefully defaced the tombe of Iolas his other brother Ouer and besides this she picked weeded out an hūdred noble men of Macedonie which were frends to Cassander and caused their throates to be cut for which cruell and barbarous deed Cassander being moued gathered an Armie minding to reuenge himself on the Queen for her great crueltie and draue her at the last to the Citie Pidue where hee besieged her long vntil such time that vittaile failed her yet notwithstanding she would not yeeld although both her company and the Citizens dyed wonderfully by famine and greeuous plagues which chanced to them by reason of the dead bodies which lay in the town diches vnburied most horribly stinking insomuch that there dyed daily in the towne through these two causes aforesaid verie many citizens and soldiors Being also forced thorough extreame and miserable hunger to feed on the dead carkasses of the pined men The townesmen seeing theyr lamentable estate yeelded vp the Citie against Olympias will and humbled themselues willingly to the mercie of Cassander Then after this Queen was taken prisoner Cassander caused all the friends of them whom she had murdred to accuse her in the common place of iudgment before the assembly of the Macedonians Which thing they accordingly did where the Macedonians in the absence of Olympias hauing there neither any patrone or aduocate to defend her vniust cause condemned her to death For execution wherof Cassander sent 200. of his trustiest souldiers to kil her which entered her Pallace where she was Streightway so soone as she perceiued them
and valiant captaines whom they craue to haue againe by way of exchange and so may you haue me againe here at libertie in Rome notwithstanding first for my auncient authoritie in this our commonwealth then for my approued good wil towards my coūtrey and last in respect of my graue and aged yeares and here by the vertue and dignitie of my place in the Senate house I am to determine causes confer about the good of our weale publique and to haue as great a care for the preseruation both of our Citie and Countrey in as ample manner as the rest of you my fellowe Senators therefore most honourable Fathers being thus strongly warred vpon by so mighty a people who seeke daily to subuert our state throwe down our citie and spoyle our commonwealth the cause is therefore wisely to be considered on First for mine owne part as you all do know I am old decrepite and of little force of body not like long to continue Againe the Captaines whom you holde of the Carthaginians are both lustie valiant and couragious gentlemen likely to perfourme and doe great seruice against you to the great hurt of the Commonwealth Therefore Fathers conscript by the vertue of may aforsaid authorities I wil neuer consent to the redeliuering or redeeming of such perilous enemies but will with a willing heart returne to the Carthaginians from whence I came to saue both the honor of my countrey and the credite of my name from perpetuall infamie lest that we should be hereafter by the Carthaginians our enemies accounted and reprochfully tearmed the confringers of martiall rights Thus the graue Senators by no meanes could perswade the good old man to make such exchange as the Carthaginians offered but would néedes return for his countreis sake although he knew he went to present death and cruel torment Thus went Attilus Regulus to the enemie who after they had bound him cut of his eye lids and set him in a hollow tree vpright filled full of sharp and pricking nailes there continuing in most horrible paine vntill he died Thus did he carry a faithfull heart and noble courage in his countreis cause willing to lose his life for the profite and welfare of his weale publique In like sort Gobrias a Persian holding in his armes by force in a dark chamber him who was a traytor to his countrey insomuch that when one of his fellowes came to his ayde to help to slaye the traytor he cryed out to his friend saying Stay not thy blowe but thrust him thorow although thereby thou doest kill me also so that he escape not from vs to the further hurte of our Countrey therefore presently run thy sword thorow him and so shall our Common-wealth be freed from a wicked traytor Thus Gobrias esteemed not his life in deliuering his countrey from an enemie Codrus king of Athens for the sauegard of his publick weale went to present death willingly and with a valiant courage For at such time as there was warres betwixt him and the Dorians the Dorians went to the oracle of Apollo at Delphos to know who should be victors in that war begun to whom this answere was made That they should be coquerors if they killed not the king of Athens Then was proclamation made in all the Dorian campe to spare and preserue aliue the Athenian king But Codrus hearing of the answere of Apollo and being aduertised of their proclamation did foorthwith change his garmēts in most deformed maner with a wallet full of bread on his shoulders and went priuely to the campe of the Dorians and wounded a certaine od fellow among their Tentes with a sharpe hooke or sickle which hee had prepared for the nonce In reuenge whereof the wounded fellowe slewe Codrus the king but after when the body was knowen the order of his death the Dorians departed without battaile remembring the diuine answere of the Oracle wherby the Athenian king freed his countrey frō peril which otherwise had béen in great danger It is also reported that Lycurgus after he had made diuers good lawes to be obserued kept of his coūtreimē fained that they were made by the cōsent of the Oracle at Delphos And when he perceiued that these lawes statutes were to the great benefit of his countrey fayned that he would go to Delphos for further counsel And to the intent they should kéep those lawes vntill he returned from thence firme and sure he made the whole body of the commonwealth to sweare binde themselues by oath to keepe vnuiolated and vnbroken those lawes which then he had set downe vntill such time that he returned againe from Delphos but because he would haue those statutes remaine and be of force for euer in his Countrey hee went the next way to Créete and not to Delphos where he liued in exile banishing himselfe from his Countrey so long as he liued and at his death because his bones should not be caried into his Countrey whereby his Countreymen might think themselues discharged of their oathes and full fréed from their vowe he caused his bones to be burned and the ashes thereof to be throwen into the sea to the intent that neither he himselfe nor any part of him being left should be brought backe into his Countrey by which meanes he caused his Countreymen perpetually to kéepe those good and holesome lawes to the vnspekable profit of the Commonwealth Zopirus a nobleman of Persia also tendering his Prince Countrey insomuch that when the great Citie of Babylon rebelled against Darius his Lord and king to the great trouble vexation of the whole commonwealth and could by no meanes be subdued he then in fauor of his prince and countrey priuily and vnawares went and cut off his owne nose lips eares and in other deformed maner pitifully mangling his body fled into the City of Babylon saying that Darius his master and certain other of his cruell Countreymen had so shamefully disfigured and martyred him because saith he I perswaded him to haue peace with your citie Which when they heard greatly pitying his distressed case and in recompence thereof made him chiefe captain and gouernor of their towne by which meanes he yéelded vp the rebellious Babylonians to his soueraigne Lord the king to the great good quieting of his countrey Did not Sceuola that noble Roman whē the citie of Rome was besieged by the mighty Porsena king of Tuscane willingly run to desperat death to purchase liberty to his countrey for he apparreled him selfe in beggars cloathes came foorth of the citie by night and ranged in the enemies campe till he had found out the Tent of Persena the king minding to slay that mighty Tuscane who then so strongly compassed and enuironed their citie But he mistaking the king slewe his Secretary and missed his marke who being thereupon presently taken and his pretended purpose further knowen Porsena the king caused a great fire to be made to burne
with the subtile and wilie Hanniball chiefe General of the hoast of the Carthaginians who came marching to the very walles of Rome conquering the Romans staying their Consuls and beating downe their strongest powers whose force and policie made the citie of Rome to shake for feare the Senators graue fathers to tremble in despaire the noble matrones and young damsels to cry out and lament most pitifully as if the Citie euen then shoulde haue beene sacked knowing not how by any meanes to repell the enemie being in this distresse and ready to be spoyled by their mortall foe when all their flourishing young Gentlemen were almost slaine and their chiefest Captaines and most noble warriors put to the sword Now in this great extremitie the noble Scipio required leaue of the sorowfull Romans to reuenge their iniuries on the bloody minded Carthaginians not doubting but that with a lusty courage and circumspect care to encoūter the power and policie of fierce Hanniball Thus when the graue Senators and the rest of the distressed Romanes did see such willingnes in the noble youth Scipio knowing that both his father and vncle were slaine in the same warre before also seeing such inuincible courage in the braue minded Gentleman they all with willing consent made him gouernour almost ouer their conquered band requiring him with lamentable teares hanging about his necke that at this time he would remember their miserable and distressed estate and seek to hold vp and maintaine their wauering Common wealth which was nowe ready to fall into the hands of their cruell enemie Thus Scipio hauing taken his Countreys cause on him with a noble heart marched against the hardie Hanniball and draue him as well by policie as by force out of the borders and confines of Italie ouercomming him in diuers notable battailes in Spaine getting also the whole Countrey of Spaine againe which the Carthaginians had lately woon from the Romanes not resting vntill he had chased and driuen Haniball back into his owne countrey of Affricke yea and in the end penned him vp hard to the very walles of Carthage which was his chiefest defence and refuge where was fought a cruell and bloudy battaile betwixt two of the most noblest captaines of the world contending in that fight for the Empire of the whole world watching to whō now it should fall For the pride of these two empires of Rome and Carthage could neuer digest or brooke the statelines of each other which first was the cause of this bloudy warre but now at this time it was turned to a whole Monarchie for Scipio in this battaile ouercame the Carthaginians and caused stately Carthage to be yeelded to his mercie Now when Scipio had finished this perilous war he returned with the conquest of Affrica and Spaine making the stout captaine Hanniball to fly for his safetie causing the hautie Carthaginians to yeeld them selues on their knees to the mercie of the Romanes returning into Rome with the Empire in a māner of the whole worlde to the great ioy and euerlasting fame of the Romanes Surely a great and sodain change to see the Romans raigne as victors when that not long before the dreadfull Captaine Hanniball had ranged all Italie ouer and driuen the Romanes into their citie of Rome who euery day expected the destruction of themselues and their Citie and now not onely to be Lordes againe ouer their owne Empire but also ouer the stately Carthaginians who before had sought their subuersiō and confusion which hapned by the wise gouernment and valiant courage of noble Scipio The Romanes being now fréed from all miseries and calamities and againe ruling as kings ouer the whole worlde could not chuse but defile themselues with notable ingratitude and spot themselues with wonderful vnkind dealing for Scipio who had thus pleasured his countrey because the world had him in great honor and admiration comming dayly from far to the citie of Rome to behold and doe honour to so valiant and fortunate a Gentleman who had so manfully defended his countrey and gotten such peereles prayse to the Romanes wherfore the Romanes disdayning that the honour of Scipio should dayly so increase repining and grudging at him séeking by all meanes possible to hunt him from the citie because they would not acknowledge themselues to be beholding vnto him for his noble actes despising that any one should liue amōg them that should be accounted the preseruer or vpholder of their common wealth which was by reason of their intollerable pride therefore they sought by all meanes to banish and exile him from the Citie which was by his meanes preserued as the world at this daye can wel witnesse inuenting against him strange and diuers accusations First hee was charged with the olde matter betwixt the Locrenses and Pleminius wherein as they say he being Consull was corrupted with mony and therefore ministred not true Iustice. Againe they layd to his charge that his sonne being prisoner to Antiochus their enemie was deliuered to him without raunsome which they thought was verie suspitious For these small causes he was called before the Senate to answere to their obiections which were but of small importance euen as if he had béen a meane man base person vrging causes against him with extremitie without fauour or hauing anie respect to his noble actes done for the Common wealth which ingratitude he tooke so displesantly that he departed from the Court and went into the countrey to the towne of Lytarne where he dwelled as long as he liued exiling himself frō Rome for euer and at his death he commaunded his bodie to bee buried there also that his bones might not rest in that vnkind Citie The most worthie Captaine Hannibal was also banished Carthage by his vnkinde country men when he had done wonderfull exploytes in his Countreys cause and although he was in the ende conquered by Scipio yet was he well knowen to bée the most famous and worthiest Captain liuing in the world at that time notwithstanding Fortune fauoured him not Thus we sée that diuers are most vile hardly recompenced by theyr vnkinde countrey men for their good seruice done Fame Yet notwithstanding my good friend although diuers Countreys haue béen vnkinde and vngrateful to their noble Countrey men it is no consequent that anie Country man should be vntrue to his natiue soyle and Commonwealth for the fault is much more hainous and farre more gréeuous for the man to be vntrue to his Common wealth than for the coūtrey to shewe an vnkinde part to the man although it be bad in both But now againe to our purpose though wee haue somewhat digressed from the matter in shewing what man ought to doo for his Countrey and with what willingnesse hee ought to hazard life for the preseruation thereof it shall not séeme vnfitt to retire againe to our former conference concerning the gouernment of man which altogether ought to bee grounded on temperance as our former speach hath hetherto
els farre greater spoiles of Rome shall come to Carthage Whereunto the graue Hanno made this sober answere I was determined saith he Fathers conscript at this time in your so great and common ioye to haue spoken nothing which might haue béen displeasaunt to you but I can now doo no lesse but answere the rash Senator that enquireth whether the warres begun against the Romanes forethinke me or no To him I answere that I still forethinke it and blame our victorious Captaine vntill I sée the warre taken vp and finished by some tollerable condition neither shal anie other thing cause me desist from desiring our ancient peace saue onely a newe league confirmed betwixt vs. This newes which Mago hath blazed abroad are verie ioyfull to Hamilco and other of Hannibals friends and seruants and to me also if we take our good fortune while it is offered but if we let it passe and the time also in which we may be thought rather to grant peace than craue it I doubt lest this ioy wil deceiue vs come to nothing With these and such like speaches by him vttred in the Senate he quietly made an ende but Hamilco and the rest of the Senators gaue no regarde to his Oration for that they thought it either procéeded of méere mallice betwixt Hanniball and him or els to holde downe or kéepe vnder the glorie and renowme of flourishing Carthage which in déede was not anie thing so Thus for the true meaning of Hanno he was openly checked in the Senate by the vainglorious Senatours who afterward but not in time remembred his counsaile beléeuing nothing that hee said at the first vntill experience had made them throughly féele their owne folly On the other part after diuers great ouerthrowes and bloudie slaughters of the halfe vanquished Romanes the distressed Senators did choose for their chief Captaine to fight against Hannibal and the Carthaginians Q. Fabius Maximus a most noble and prudent Senator also at that time with him a young Gentleman of Rome named Minutius who was in like sort by the Senate made master of the horsemen being a hotspur an ouer desperate youth which afterward turned the Romanes to much displeasure and miserie Now Fabius being thus vnequally paired with a wilful fellow marched forward toward the Carthaginians and had alway a circumspect care least that he should committe any thing ouer rashly being not willing desperately to hazard his charge and the whole state of the Roman Empire at the first brunte or in one battaile with so valiant a Captaine and worthy souldier as Hanniball was wherefore he led his army by easie iorneyes and good espies into the field against his enemie pitching his campe in the high places of the high hilles not farre from the Carthaginian campe whereupon Hannibal seeing anew captaine of the Romanes thought good also to offer him present battaile to welcome him at his first comming brought his men foorth into the fields in order of battaile and good aray to fight but wary Fabius all the day kept him selfe close in his Campe and would not suffer his men to fight for that he knew Hanniball went about to proue him if in case he might find him rash and vnaduised as he had found the other captaines before therfore in like case by holding his men from battell he went about to trie and proue the patience of Hanniball which indeede hee right wisely found out for Hanniball when he perceiued that Fabius would not rashly venture battaile he foorthwith retired out of the field into his campe againe fearing greatly in his minde the sobernes of the wise Romane Captaine being in his iudgement a man much vnlike to Sempronius or Flaminius whom before he had ouerthrowen by their rashnes and desperate follie But Minutius master of the horsmen when he had espied the Carthaginians marching in order of battaile would needes haue issued out on the brauado and geuen them downe-right battaile in this his rash and desperate moode hazarding all at one time had not the wise Fabius withholden and perswaded him to the contrarie For which cause he openly exclaimed on and dispraysed the slacknes of Quintus Fabius sending worde to Rome what a coward they had placed in office Yet notwithstanding for all the inuentions of Minutius who had so earnestly maligned and inueied against him both openly by Orations in the Campe and also by letters sent to Rome on set purpose spitefully to worke him displeasure at home with the Senators He folowed still his wise course and procéeding in following the enemie from place to place camping alwais him selfe as neere to Hanniball as conueniently he might to waite on him at all assayes Which thing was as vnpleasant to Hāniball his foe as to Minutius his fellow For he right well did know that vnlesse the Romanes would venture battaile hee could not long remaine In Italie which thing also the wise Fabius diligently heeded and noted But nowe although Fabius had saued many thousād of the Romans from the cruell slaughtering hand of Hanniball by his great wisdome in abstayning from battaile and in dayly preuenting of the enemie from their purposes which otherwise woulde haue turned the State to great dammage and perill neuerthelesse it was thought at Rome that his heart fayled him and that he trifled out y e time onely to the intent his honor and dignitie might the longer continue and that he cared not what coste the Citie was at so that he still might be in office and liue with honor Thus by his prouident wisdome and carefull foresight he had gotten many enemies at Rome and especially by the meanes of this young hotespur Minutius insomuch that he departed from the camp and went to the Citie to answere the ouer-light beleeuing Senators who so hardly had conceiued of him It so fortuned at that time when he was in Rome that word was brought to the Senat from Minutius who gouerued the armie in the absence of Fabius that he by his valour and pollicie had geuen Hanniball a great ouerthrow which indeede was partly true for the wily Hanniball had gotten certain knowledge by his espials how the case stoode betwixt Fabius and Minutius and also that Fabius was now in some displeasure at Rome by the meanes of Minutius their young Captaine wherfore he began to practise wholy to thrust Fabius whom he feared into vtter hatred and displeasure with the chiefe Senators and gouernours of Rome By which meanes the Romanes peraduenture might committe the whole armie to the gouernment of Minutius and so displace Fabius whose wisdome and policie alway made the enemie to feare and dread him Wherefore the subtile Hanniball knowing that already the Romanes had conceiued a very good opinion and good liking of their young couragious Captaine if now therefore he should geue in the absence of Fabius some small victorie to Minutius that then the Romanes would be in further liking of him insomuch that they would repose further trust in him
render into his hands other townes and castles which he had in kéeping Which thing pleased Claudius well hoping to free that countrey without battail from so dangerous a foe Wherefore he willingly consented to the parle appointing time and place for their méeting where there were bookes and articles drawen betweene them for the assurāce of both their promises Their méeting thus continuing thrée or foure dayes together Appius Claudius suspecting no craft for that the motiō came first by Hasdruball himself thinking that all things were plainly and simply meant without fraude or deceite Now Hasdruball in the meane time euery night sent part of his armie with their grosse cariages ouer certaine straite and perillous places which could neuer haue beene passed if the Romanes had knowen thereof himselfe euery day came foorth of the Campe to meet Claudius where they argued of waighty causes and were at a full composition sauing that their agreements were not confirmed and sealed which Hasdrubal shifted off in this sort saying that he would be so bold with Claudius as to conferre with his frendes the next day in his Campe which day also he sayd was euer kept holy among the Carthaginians and therefore he craued such like fauour at the hands of Appius with this knot also that they might be suffered quietly to peruse and conferre on those couenants agreements without any skirmish or battaile offered for that time promising the like for his part that his armie should neither inuade the Romanes nor trouble any of their frends as that day of truce protesting further that the next day his determination shoulde bee plainly declared to Appius and the Romans Now was Appius well quieted in his minde for that he hoped euery thing woulde effectually fall out yet for all that he gaue no great trust to the promise of Hasdruball for not inuading his men the next day Wherefore he caused watch and warde with good order to bee kept circumspectly in his campe to be ready if neede should require But Hasdruball minded nothing lesse than to inuade the campe of the Romanes but rather sought how to deliuer himselfe and his people out of that dangerous place therefore hee neglected no time in folowing so waightie a cause Insomuch that the same night he stole out of his campe with the rest that remayned behinde as close and priuely without noyse as they might ayding and helping one another ouer those harde passages which was wonderfull difficult to them by reason of the darkenes of the night But in the ende they well escaped the danger and were by the daylight safe inough from the Romanes Appius hauing intelligence in the morning of the escape of Hasdruball did then presently pursue after him but all in vain seeing himselfe thus flouted by Hasdruball then hee thought full well that he might cancell the agreements and burne the bands repenting his follie too late in suffering his enemie so easily to scape out of such a perillous straight L. Silla in the warres against Archelaus Mithridates lieutenant at Pirea perceiuing his souldiors had little courage to fight he so wearied them with continual labour that they were glad to desire to fight that the warres might be ended Also Cyrus king of Persia in the wars betwixt him Astyages king of the Medes minding to stirre vp the minds of his souldiors fiercely to giue battaile to their enemy vsed this policy he wearied them with paineful labour all one day in hewing downe a certaine wood and on the morrow after hee made a plenteous feast for them demaunding in the feast time which day liked them best and when they all allowed the pastime of the day present and yet quoth he this pleasure must be obtained by the other dayes paine for except ye first ouercome the Medes yee can neuer liue in fréedome and at pleasure whereby they tooke great courage to fight When Agesilaus had pitcht his field not farre from Orchomeno a City that was in league wyth him and perceyuing that many of the army had their treasure and cheefe riches in the Campe he commanded the townesmen to receyue nothing into the Towne belonging to his army to the intent his Souldiours might fight the more fiercely knowing they should fight both for their liues goods Gelon king of Syracusa entring warre against the Persians after he had taken many of them brought forth the weakest and most vncomely persons naked in the sight of all his army to persuade them that their enemies were but wretches and men worthy to be despised Epaminondas being ready to giue battell to the Lacedemonians seing the courage of his souldiours began somewhat to quaile he vsed this meane to animate their mindes furiously to fight pronouncing in an oration to them how that the Lacedemonians had determined if they gate the victory to slay all their men to make their wiues and children bond-slaues for euer and to beate downe the City of Thebes flat to the ground With which wordes the Thebans were so mooued and agreeued that at the first brunt they ouercame the Lacedemonians Thus we sée oftentimes that subtile policy auaileth where force and strength can hardly resist therefore it is both conuenient and necessarie that the Stratagems of warre be exercised and studied against néedefull times but in my opinion the force of mony is great in causes of warre and winneth by corruption strong castells and inuincible townes insomuch that the wise Erasmus seeing the wonderfull force of money so strong and auaileable sayth thus thereof Porrò nihil est iam sanctum quod non violari nihil tam munitum quodnon expugnari pecunia possit Nothing sayth he is so holie and sacred but by money it may be violated neither is any thing so strong but by the corruption of mony it may be taken and subdued Philip king of Macedon hauing by practise and experience found out the vnincounterable force thereof at such time in his warres as he minded to take a certaine Citie perforce it was tolde him that the passage thereto was very difficult and hard and the towne by common iudgement inuincible An praesidium tam esset difficile accessu rogauit vt asinus auro onustus accedere non posset Wherevnto he demanded this Whether or no is the way or straight so difficult in passing that an asse being loden with golde cannot passe and enter in making then a trifle of it when he heard that there were but such sufficient passage accounting all things possible enough to be won where onely there were but place for money to passe For sayth he Pecuniae obediunt omnia All thinges are obedient to money Yet notwithstanding it is to be wished that whosoeuer wil violate or breake sacred rites or betray things committed to his charge on trust by corruption of mony or for auarice sake that we had as the olde saying is his skinne full of angells The miserable murders and deadly debates that happened betweene
necessaries to be brought them Gracchus then captaine of a band of Romans which lay thereabout waiting if Hanniball would remooue his siege seeing what great extremitie they suffered receiuing letters daylie from them which signified in what lamentable case they stoode and what mortalitie was in the city for want of sustenance so that they were faine to eate their boots and other straps and thongs of leather being much moued with these great miseries also seeing the Citizens to stand on the walls to the end that some dart shot or other weapon might abridge and shorten their griefe yet for all this hee might not fight with Hanniball although hee surelie thought hee might wyth ease haue rescued the Towne for that hee was commaunded to the contrarie by the Dictatour nowe seeing the Citie in such distresse and that he might not fight for their succours he gathered certaine corne and put it into barrels and hogsheads sending priuie word to the towne that the next night he would sende them downe the riuer with the tide willing thē to be ready to receiue the barrels as they came for the riuer came close to their citie Thus at diuers times he beguiled Hanniball vntill at last the craft was bewrayed and then againe the citie disappointed of vittaile Which when the cownesmen perceiued they then had no other shift but secretely to steale out of the towne and get grasse and rootes such as they could finde and bring it in for their reliefe Which Hanniball had soone espied therefore hee caused the ground thereabout to be plowed vp to preuent them of that hope also Then the Citizens séeing there was no way to hold the towne and saue their liues from the fury of the enemie sent word to Gracchus that they perforce must yeelde the citie to Hanniball Whereat Gracchus seeing their great necessitie requested them to haue patience yet for two or three dayes also shewing them that it in case they would follow his his aduice and counsell he doubted not but shortly to free their citie and set them at libertie willing them to take parsnipseede and sowe it on the plowed ground without the Citie defending themselues manfully for that time if need should be They all being willing to try what effect this could worke sowed a great quantitie of parsnipseede on the ground which was plowed vp about the citie Of which thing when Hanniball was aduertised hee foorthwith remoued his siege and departed from the towne saying What shall I stay here vntill these seedes bee rootes that will I not for ten such Cities as Cassilinum is Thinking that they had sufficient in the towne to relieue them in the meane time or els they would neuer haue beene so fonde to sowe their seede Thus was subtile Hanniball drylie flouted himself who in sēblable sort had often beguyled others for the citie could not haue indured the siege foure dayes longer at the vttermost Yong Pub. Cornelius Scipio being made somwhat wise by the subtile sleights that Hanniball had vsed before in Italie remembring the craftie policie which was put in practise to bring Q. Fabius into mistrust with the Romanes by Hanniball now in the end plagued him with such like practise For when the Carthaginians were driuen out of Italie and lost their owne Empire of Affrica and Hanniball their chiefe captaine forced to flie to Antiochus who then had prepared a great armie to warre on the Romanes At the same time this young Scipio was sent by the Senate to Antiochus to know why hee prepared himselfe to warre on the Romanes his friends and being there arriued he perceiued that it was much by the instigation and pricking on of Hanniball their auncient enemie who already had gotten full graunt to leade and conduct halfe the power of Antiochus against the Romanes both for his great wisdome and policie and also for his approued experiēce as well in the countrey of Italie as of the Romanes themselues Which thing yong Scipio diligently noted fearing least the Romanes should be againe troubled with such a cunning warrior and approued Captaine as Hanniball was To preuent which cause he practised this meane He would often frequent the companie of Hanniball falling into friendly conference about the battailes fought betwixt them before in Italie and Affrica feeding and pleasing the humor of Hanniball least that hee might leese his companie and so faile of his purpose for his meaning was by priuie speech and communication with him to bring Antiochus in mistrust of him to the ende he should not committe his power into his hand Thus dayly Scipio vsed the companie of Hanniball comming priuely to his lodging secretly talking and conferring with him making as though Antiochus or his companie should not once suspect him wherfore he would most commonly come in the night yet he woulde euer chuse and picke out such a time that he would be seene by some of Antiochus his friendes to the ende the cause might the more be suspected and also if in the day Hanniball and hee had beene in any conference of causes so soone as he had espied either Antiochus himselfe or any other of his friendes then hee foorthwith would holde his peace sodainly depart as though he woulde not haue them to heare what conference they had which indeede was nothing but what they might haue heard very well without offence This inuention of last fell out accordingly and happy for the Romanes for Antiochus grewe greatly to suspect their priuie meetings and secrete whisperinges fearing least there were some compounded trecheries agreed vpon betwixt them And further for that Scipio had alwaies so praysed the wisdome policie and circumspect carefulnes of Hanniball openly to be both the wisest captaine carefullest Leader and valiantest man that then liued saying Happie were the Souldiers that marched vnder his conduct Which thing Antiochus liked not well of thinking that Scipio did it for this purpose that he should cōmit his armie into the handes of Hanniball and then to be betrayed as their secrete meetings argued Wherfore he would not that Hannibal should bear any charge of his being so cōuersant with his enemie saying he was glad he had so found out their practise before it took effect and that yet it rested in him to preuent their inuention By this stratageme Scipio set frée the Romans from such a politike captain that had so spoyled their coūtrey before which otherwise by quarreliing against him coulde neuer haue been brought to passe but would haue turned y e Romanes to much sorow Also Hasdruball vsed this subtiltie to escape the hands of Appius Claudius the Roman Consal for being inuironed with difficult passages the mouth easiest way whereof the Romanes held and possessed so that Hasdruball his army could not escape out any way without great danger of losing his whole hoast Wherefore he sent to Appius shewing him that if they could agrée vpon certaine articles he would be content to depart the countrey and