two kings not onely raigned together but also governed with great unitie and concord But after certaine yeares the kindred of king Tatius chanced to beat and euill intreat the embassadours of Laurentum And when as the Laurentines pleaded the law of nations for satisfaction of this outrage Tatius his kinsfolke what by favour and what by intreatie prevailed more with him than the just complaint of the others Whereby hee brought vengeance due to them upon his owne head For being come upon a time to Lavinium unto a solemne sacrifice and feast there in an uprore or hurliburly the people ran upon him and so was he slaine Which thing they say Romulus made lesse regard of than was meet either for that fellowship in lordship is neuer faithfull or because he esteemed him not unjustly to be made away Wherupon he forbare indeed to make warre yet to the end the wrong done to the Embassadours together with the murder of the king might bee expiate and purged cleane away the league betweene the citties of Rome and Lavinium was renued But whilest peace verily was beyond mens expectation with them concluded behold another fresh warre arose much neerer than the other and hard almost at their very gates For the people of Fidene supposing the Romans power and riches to encrease overmuch so neere unto them before they should grow to such greatnesse as they were like to doe began first to warre upon them and sending a power of lustie tall souldiours invaded and wasted all the countrey betweene the cittie of Rome and Fidene And taking their way on the left hand for that the Tyber kept from the other they forraied and spoiled as they went to the great feare of the pezants and countrey people So as this suddaine tumult and garboile heard out of the fields into the cittie brought the first newes of the warre Romulus raised therewith for so nigh a warre might beare no delay led forth his armie and encamped within a mile of Fidene and leaving there a competent guard hee departed thence with all his other forces commanding part of his souldiours to lie close in certaine covert places among the thickets in ambushment Himselfe with the greater number and all his horse advanced forward and riding up and downe before their gates after a disordered and bragging manner made semblant of a bravado and all to traine the enemie forth which was the thing he onely sought This kind of horse service was a meanes that the Fidenates lesse suspected and marvelled at their flying which they were to counterfet For whilest the Cavallirie stood unresolved as it were in a mammering whither to slie or fight and the infanterie withall began to retire all at once the enemies in thrunging manner sallied forth of the gates and chased the Romanes so fiercely that in their eager pursute they were drawne to the verie place of ambush Thence the Romanes suddainely arose and charged the flocke of the enemies And to encrease their fright they likewise that were left behind to guard the campe shewed themselves with banners displaied So the Fidenates terrified sundrie waies before well neere that Romulus and his men of armes could reine about their horseheads turned their backes and rodefull gallop towards the towne againe and so much the faster for that they fled now in good earnest themselves that pursued them who a little before made but semblance thereof Yet for all this could they not escape the enemie for the Romans hard at their heeles rushed together with them pelmell into the towne before the gates could be shut against them At this Fidenatian warre spreading so dangerously the Veientians grew angrie in their hearts and began to chase Touched they were also in regard of kindred and alliance for the Fidenates were likewise Tuscanes And fearing least if the Romane forces should thus distresse and lie upon all the borderers they being so neere should not goe free they were the rather pricked forward and thereupon made rodes and entred in armes the confines of Rome spoiling and boothaling more like robbers than professed warriors So without pitching any tents or abiding the comming of their enemies but onely driving and carrying away great booties out of the fields they returne againe to Veij The Romanes contrariwise not â—â—â—ding the enemies in the field but yet provided and resolved to give battell and to hazard all passed over the Tybet Whom the Veientians understanding to be encamping themselves fully minded to come against their cittie issued forth and met them intending to trie the quarell by dint of sword and in open field rather than to be mued up within the town to fight defend themselves from off their houses and wals There the Romane king with the strength onely of his old beaten souldiors without anie other helpe and supplie whatsoever without policie or stratagem had the better and having thus discomfited the enemies he chased them even to their verie wals And for that the cittie was exceeding strong fortified as well by naturall situation as by wals he forbare to assault it But in his returne homeward hee wasted the countrey more upon a mind to revenge than hope of spoile With this defeature the Veientians no lesse subdued than if they had lost a field sent Orantours to Rome to sue for peace unto whom truce was graunted for an hundred yeares but they were amerced to lose part of their lands These were in a manner all the acts that were done both at home and abroad during the reigne of Romulus Whereof none seemed to derogate anie jot from the opinion both of his divine birth and beginning and also of his immortalitie or deification after his death Such was his courageous heart in recovering his grandfires kingdome his policie and wisedome in founding the cittie first and after in establishing and governing the same as well in war as in peace By whose good proceedings it got such strength and so sure footing that for fortie yeeres space after it enjoied peace with salatie Neverthelesse of his commons hee was better beloved than of his nobles but above all his souldiours most heartely affected him of whom he had alwaies about him as squires of the bodie three hundred pensioners armed not onely in time of warre but also of peace whom he called Celeres Thus having atcheeved these noble and immortall deeds as he upon a time assembled al the people upon the plaine at the marish Caprae there to number or muster his armie behold upon a suddaine there arose a tempest with great crackes of thunder which with so thick cloudie a storme covered the king that the people lost the sight of him And never after was Romulus seene on earth The Romane youth after their feare was at length past and that upon so darke and troublesome weather it prooved a faire day againe and calme withall seeing the kings throne emptie albeir they credited the Senators that stood
was made of the paisants that fled from him by his vauntcurriers the Numidian light horsemen whom he sent asore to make riddance And many there were of all conditions and ages that were taken captive In this tumultuous trouble Fulvius Flaccus with his armie entred Rome at the gate Capena from whence he went through the middest of the citie along the street Carinae into the Exquiliae and from thence hee went forth and betweene the gates Exquilina and Collina pitched his tents Thither the Aediles of the Commons brought victuals the Consull and the Senate resorted to him into the campe where they sat in counsell about the State of the Commonweale And agreed it was That the Consuls should lie encamped likewise about the gates Collina and Exquillina that C. Calpurnius Pretour of the cittie should have the keeping of the Capitoll and the castle with a guard and that the Senatours keepe residence continually in good number within the compasse of the Forum what need so ever there should be of their counsell and advise against all suddaine accidents By this time Anniball was come forward as farre as to the river Anio within three miles of the citie lay encamped where he kept a standing leaguer But himselfe in person with 2000 horsemen advaunced forward toward the gate Collina even as farre as to Hercules his temple and rode all about as neere as he well could to veiw the walls and the situation of the citie Flacus tooke foule disdaine thereat and thought it a shame full indignitie that he should brave it at his pleasure so scornefully without revenge whereupon hee sent out certaine of his owne Cavallerie and gave commaundement That they should set the enemies horsemen farther off and chase them backe into their campe Whiles they were in skirmish together the Consuls gave order that the Numidian horsemen such as were fled from the enemie and turned to the Romanes who were at that time to the number of twelve hundred upon the Aventine hill should passe through the middest of the cittie to the Exquiliae supposing that there were none more meet than they for to sight among the valleyes the garden houses the sepulchres and hollow waies on every side Whom when some from the castle and the Capitoll espied riding downe the descent of the hill called Clivus Publicus they ran crying about the citie The Aventine is taken The Aventine is taken Which alarme caused a tumult gave such an occasion of fear and running away that if the campe of Anniball had not been without the walls fearefull multitude doubtlesse would have abandoned and quit the cittie But they tooke their houses and gat every man up to the terrasses and leads thereof from whence they pelted with stones and others shot their own friends in steed of enemies as they rode scattering one from another in the streets This tumult could not be repressed nor the errour appeare by reason that the waies were so pestered with a number of the countrie peasants and of cattell besides whom suddaine feare had driven into the citie Howbeit the horsemen fought fortunately and the enemies were removed and set backe And because it was necessarie to stay all disorders and uprores that chaunced upon small occasions to arise it was thought good and agreed upon that all those who had been either Dictatours or borne the office of Censors should have their full power authoritie untill such time as the enemie was clean departed from about the walls And that was to good purpose for all the rest of that day and the night following there were divers and sundrie garboiles without any cause or occasion raised and the same stilled appeased by that meanes The next day Anniball passed over Anio and brought forth all his whole power into the field Neither were Flaccus and the Consuls behind hand for their parts but readie for battell When both armies stood arraunged in order on both sides amused upon the issue and event of that one sight which was for no lesse a prize and reward to the victorious part than the very cittie of Rome there sell such a mightie storme of raine and haile together and so troubled both hoasts that they could scarce hold their weapons in hand but were driven to retire themselves for safetie into their severall campes fearing nothing lesse than their own enemies The morrow after likewise when they stood in the same place in battel array the like tempest parted them asunder And they were not so soone retired into their campe but the day was wonderfull faire and the weather calme againe The Carthaginians tooke this for an ominous presage to them of ill lucke And Anniball was heard by report to say That one while his mind another while his fortune would not give him leave to win the citie of Rome There were other occurrences besides as well small as great that discouraged him and abated his hope Of more importance was this that whiles he lay with his hoast in arms before the walls of Rome he understood there were certaine companies with banners displaied sent into Spaine for to supplie the armies there Of lesse reckoning was this that hee was advertised by a certaine captive how the very same plot of ground whereon hee was encamped happened at the same time to be sold not underfoot but at the full price and nothing abated This he tooke to be so presumptuous a part and such a scornefull indignitie namely that there should bee a chapman found at Rome to make purchase of that peece of land which hee was possessed of and held in right of armes that presently he called for a publicke crier trumpet and gave commaundement unto him to proclaim port sale of all the shops of Bankers and money chaungers at that time aboutthe Forum in Rome Neverthelesse hereupon hee was moved to dislodge and retired his campe backewards from the citie to the river Turia sixe myles from Rome From whence hee tooke his way to the grove of Feronia where stood a temple in those daies much renowmed for wealth and richesse The inhabitants thereabout were certaine Capenates who used to bring thither the first fruits of their corne and revenues yea and many other oblations besides according to their store by meanes where of they had adorned garnished it with much gold and silver Of all those gifts and offerings was this temple then robbed and spoiled But after the departure of Anniball from thence there were found great heapes of brasse by reason that the souldiours upon touch and remorse of conscience had cast in many brasen peeces The sacking and pillage of this temple all writers doe agree upon and make no doubt thereof Coelius faith That Anniball as hee went toward Rome from Eretum turned thither and hee setteth downe the beginning of his journey from Reate Cutiliae and from Amiternum And that out of Campania he came into Samnium and from thence into the countrie of Peligni and so passed beside
come and money for the maintenance of the aid-souldiors untill their embassadors were returned from Rome yea and tender paiment of ten thousand talents of silver by even portions in fiftie yeares Item That they should put in a hundred hostages at the pleasure of Scipio and none of them to be either under fourteene yeeres of age or above thirtie Last of all they would grant a truce upon this condition That the ships which were taken during the time of the former cessation of armes should be restored back againe with all things els that were therein otherwise no truce for the present nor hope of peace hereafter These articles and conditions the embassadors were willed to returne home with all Which after they had related in the generall assemblie of the people Gisgo mounted up the pulpit to dissuade peace and had audience geven him with great applause of the multitude who as they were heartlesse and unmeet for warre so they were as peevish and unruly and could not long continue in repose Heereat Annibal took great indignation was highly displeased that in such a time those things should either be delivered or heard and he made no more ado but stepped to Gisgo laid hand upon him and pulled him down from the pue out of which he spake whereat the people were moved and grumbled in great discontent to see so strange a sight and unusuall in a free citie Then Anniball as he was a meere martiall man and could not skill of civile affaires nor well away with these citizens libertie I went quoth he from you when I was but nine yeeres old and now after 36 yeeres I am come againe All militarie skill and knowledge which fortune sometime in my private matters and otherwhiles in publick affaires hath taught me from my childhood me thinks I have learned sufficiently mary for the rights and priviledges for the lawes customes and fashions of the citie and the common hall I must be informed and instructed by you Thus having pleaded ignorance for his excuse he discoursed at large of peace arguing how reasonable and equall yea and how necessarie it was The greatest point of difficultie in all the capitulations ministred unto them was this That touching the things abovesaid which were taken during the abstinence of armes there was nothing now forth-comming and to be seene but the bare vessels and no easie matter was it to seeke up the rest Now when as they that gainsaid the peace were convinced and put downe by reason agreed it was that the ships should be redelivered and the men likewise be sought out and found as for all the rest that was wanting there should an estimate be made according to the value at the discretion of Scipio and so the Carthaginians to make all good in money Writers there be that have delivered how Anniball presently from the field sped him to sea and there finding a ship readie prepared for him streightwayes embarked and went directly to king Antiochus Also when Scipio demaunded above all other things that Anniball should be yelded into his hands answere was made that Anniball was not in Affrick After that the embassadorswere returned to Scipio the Questours or Treasurers were commaunded to draw an extract according to their bookes upon record of all such things as were in the ships and apperteined to the citie and looke what belonged to private persons the owners thereof were willed to declare and testifie In consideration and recompense whereof there was a summe of money set downe amounting to 25000 pound weight of silver and the same to be paid presently out of hand by the Carthaginians Thus a truce was graunted to them for three moneths with this clause annexed over and besides That during the said terme they should send their embassadours to no other place but only to Rome and what embassadours soever came to Carthage they should not let them depart before they had certified the Romane Generall both who they were and what their message and errand was Then with the Carthaginian embassadors were sent to Rome L. Veturius Philo M. Martius Ralla and L. Scipio brother to the Generall At that time there came such store of graine and victuals out of Sicilie and Sardinia and thereby corne was so cheape that the merchant was faine to leave corne behind him to satisfie the shipmen and marriners for the portage and carriage thereof Now there had been much trouble and fear at Rome upon the first news and al'arme that the Carthaginians had taken arms againe and T. Claudius had commission to conduct a fleet with all speed into Sicilie and from thence to passe over into Affrike likewise the other Consull was commaunded to stay still at Rome untill it were certainely knowne in what terms all matters stood in Affrike But T. Claudius went but slowly to worke either in preparing and rigging an armada or in putting it to sea because the LL. of the Senat were of opinion that as touching the peace and the conditions thereof it was rather at the disposition of Scipio than of the Consull Moreover there were certaine prodigious signs reported even presently before the very rumour of the foresaid rising and insurrection which caused men to feare greatly At Cumes the circle and compasse of the sunne appeared lesse and it rained a good shewre of stones Also in the territorie of Velitre the earth setled and sunke and made huge hollow chinks in so much as trees were quite swallowed up under the ground At Aticia the market-place and the shops all about likewise at Frusino the wall of the citie in divers places yea and the gate were smitten with lightning from heaven and in mount Palatine it rained stones This wondrous sight last rehearsed was expiat after the ancient custome by keeping a Novendiall sacrifice and feast for nine daies the rest by killing of greater sacrifices Among all there were unusual deluges and inundations of waters which troubled the minds and consciences of men for the Tyber so swelled and rose so high that by reason that the shew-place of the Circus was overflowne preparation was made for the setting forth of the games Apollinares without the gate Collina neere the chappell of Venus Erycina But vpon the very day when the plaies should be exhibited it grew to be so fair weather of a sodain that the pageant and pompous traine of the shew which was a going to the gate Collina was called backe and conveied into the Circus and word brought that the water was fallen and gone cleane out from thence so the people were more joious and the pastimes celebrated with greater resort for that the usuall and ordinarie place served againe for the solemnitie to be performed Claudius the Consull at last departed from the citie of Rome and went to sea where betwene the havens of Cossa and Lauretum he was overtaken with a terrible and fearefull tempest that arose and put him in exceeding feare From thence he came to the Populonij
valuation of their goods For Cato commanded the sergeants to take a note of all the ornaments jewels apparrell of women also of their chariots and coaches if they amounted to the sum of 15000 asses to enroll the same in the Censors booke Item all bondslaves under twentie years of age sold after the last tax of assessment for ten thousand asses or upward that they should bee valued at an higher price by ten fold than they were esteemed worth and that for all these thinges they should pay and contribute to the citie chamber after three in the thousand These Censors cut off all water either running out of any common stream into a priuat house or derived into particular fields and grounds And all hovses either built by privat persons upon common ground or any waies encroching and leaning to publike places they caused to be demolished and pulled downe within thirtie dayes After this they set out divers peeces of worke to be wrought at a price of that money which was ordeyned to that purpose namely to pave certaine pooles with stone to skoure and clense the draughts and sinks wher need was and in the mount Aventine and other parts where none were alredy to make new And particularly of themselves Flaccus caused the causey or wharse to bee made against the waters called Neptuniae that the people might passe too and fro that way and also a street way through Formianum And Cato for his part built two galleries Moenium Titium in the Mineries and bought foure shops for the citie he built there also the stately hall or pallace called Porcia As for the citie revenues they did set and let them foorth to fermers at an exceeding racked rent but al the city works they put out to undertakers by the great at as low a reckoning as they could These leases and bargains aforesaid being once cancelled by order from the Senate and new made at the importunat suit and that with outcries and teares of the Publicanes as well farmers as vndertakers then the Censors by proclamation commaunded those to avoid farre from the subhastation who had disanulled the former leases and bargains and with some little abatement and easing of the former rents they demised the same profits and revenues again to others This was a censureship of great note full of repine ill will and heartburning which troubled and molested M. Porcius as long as he had a day to live for that he was reputed and held to bee the author of that severitie and rigor exercised therein The same yeare two Colonies were erected and inhabitants sent from Rome to wit Pollentia into the Picene territorie and Pisaurum into the Gauls countrie Six acres of land were assigned to every one of the coloners And the same Triumvirs namely Q. Fabius Labio M. Fulvius Flaccus and Q. Fulvius Nobilior were they that both parted the sayd lands and also had the leading and planting of the foresaid Colonies The Consuls that yeare atchieved no memorable exploit at all neither at home in citie nor abroad in warre Against the yeare following they created Consuls M. Claudius Marcellus and Q. Falius who upon the fifteenth of March on which day they entred into their government put to question as concerning the provinces as well their own as the Pretours For there had ben chosen Pretours C. Valerius the Flamin of Iupiter who also the yeare before was in election for the place Sp. Posthumius Albinus and P. Cornelius Sisenna also L. Puppius L. Iulius and Cn. Suinius Vnto the Consuls was assigned the province Liguria togither with the charge of the same armies which P. Claudius and M. Porcius had conducted As for both the provinces in Spaine as well beyond as on this side Iberus they were reserved with their ordinarie forces for the Pretours of the former yeare by speciall commission without casting any lots at all therefore The new Pretours were enjoyned for to dispose and part their governments that C. Valerius the Flamine of Iupiter might exercise one of the jurisdictions of Rome So he was L. chiefe justice for the forreiners and Sisenna Cornelius over the citizens Vnto Sp. Posthumius fell Sicilie to L. Puppius Apulia to L. Iulius Gallia and to Cn. Sicinius Sardinia As for L. Iulius hee was enjoined to make hast and set forward on his journey for the Transalpine Gauls beyond the mountains had passed over by the streights of the forrests and waies unknowne before time into Italie as hath bene beforesaid and were building them a towne in that territorie which at this day is called Aquiliensis This Pretour had in charge to impeach them in that enterprise so far foorth as hee might possibly without warre and force of arms and if there were no other remedie but that they must of necessitie use violence then to certifie the Consuls thereof for agreed it was that one of them should lead the Legions against the Gauls In the end of the former yeare there was a generall assemblie holden for the chusing of an Augur wherin Sp. Posthumius Albinus was created in the joume of Cn. Cornelius Lentulus late deceased But in the beginning of this present yeare P. Licinius Crassus the arch-Pontifie departed our of this world in whose place M. Sempronius Tuduanu was invested for the bishop But C. Seruilius Ceminus was created the archprelat or high priest aforesaid In the honor of P. Licinius at his funerals there was given a dole of flesh and a shew exhibited of 120 sword-fensers fighting at sharp likewise there were represented funerall plaies and games which continned three dayes and after that solemnitie a least was holden during which when the tables were set and spred accordingly all over the grand-place of the cittie sodainly there arose a tempest with great stormes which forced most men to erect tents booths there but after a while when the weather was faire againe they were taken down and had away and men commonly gave out and said That whereas the prophets and wisards had foretold among other their fatall presages that they should be forced to quarter and pitch tents in the market place of Rome now that prophesie was fulfilled and they were freed and excused from farther danger And no sooner were they eased and delivered of that scruple but they were troubled with another for that it had rained blood two daies in the court-yard of Vulcane and the Decemvirs published a solemne supplication for the expiation of that prodigious signe Before that the Consuls departed into their provinces they brought into the Senate for to have audience the embassages come from beyond sea And never before that day were so many men of those forrein parts seene at Rome For from the time that the bruit was blown abroad amongst the nations bordering upon Macedonie that the Romanes gave no dease eare to the complaints and accusations commensed against Philip and that many had sped well by complaining every citie and State in their owne
Aelius Paetus the Augur Tib. Sempronius Gracchus C. Attchus Aemylius the chiefe superintendent of all the parish-priests and M. Sempronius Tuditanus a bishop These were substituted bishops in place of the dead to wit C. Sulpitius Galba in stead of Tuditanus For Augures were subordained T. Veturius Crassus Sempronianus in the roume of Gracchus Q. Aelius Paetus for P. Aelius Decemvirs over holy rites was elected Catus Sempronius Longus and C. Scribonius surnamed Curio supplied the want of the grand superintendant aforesaid Still continued the pestilence where upon the Senate ordeined That the Decemvirs should have recourse to the bookes of Sibylla by whose order and direction publicke supplications held for one day long and after a devout manner the people conceived and made a solemne vow in the common-place according to that forme of words which Q. Martius Philippus endited prompted unto them to this effect That if this maladie and pestilent disease were remooved out of the territorie of Rome they would for two daies space solemnize a feast goe in procession and poure out their prayers with all devotion In the Vejentian countrey a main child was borne with two heads and another at Sinuessa but with one hand At Oximum a maid child came into the world with teeth in the head and over the temple of Saturne standing in the market place of Rome there was seene in the skie a bow full bent all the day long if the aire were cleere and the weather faire and at one time there shone out three sunnes Also in one night there evidently appeared many flaming lights and fire-drakes shooting along in the aire The men of Lanuvium and Caere affirmed plainely That within their towne they saw a serpent with a crest and mane yea and the same marked all over with yellow spots like gold and it was held for certein that in the territorie of Capua an oxe spake Now were the embassadours returned out of Affricke by the Nones of Iune those I meane who went to Carthage after they had been with king Masanissa and spoken with him But better and more certaine intelligence they had by this king than from the Carthaginlans themselves as touching the affaires that had passed in Carthage Howbeit thus much they reported upon their assured knowledge that embassadours came from king Perseus and had audience in the Senate secretly by night within the temple of Aeseulapius Also both the king affirmed flatly and the Carthaginians themselves but faintly denied that embassadors likewise had been sent from Carthage into Macedonie Whereupon the Senate was of advise and resolved to dispatch their embassadours also into Macedonie And these three were sent to wit C. Laelius M. Valerius Messala and Sext. Digitius During this time Perseus by occasion that certaine Dolopians obeied him not and of some matters in controversie and difference referred the audience and decision to the Romanes and refused the arbitrement of the king led forth an armie against them and reduced the whole nation under his obedience and jurisdiction From thence hee passed over the Oetaean mountaines and upon certaine religions motions arising in his mind he went up to Delphos for to visite the Oracle Being thus on a suddaine seene in the very heart and middest of Greece he strucke a terror not onely into the cities next adjoining but also the bruite of this tumultuous alarme was blowne as farre as to king Eumenes After hee had staied at Delphi not above three daies hee returned turned into his owne realme by the way of Phthiotis Achaia and Thessalie without any dammage done or wrong offered to the territories through which he passed Neither thought hee it sufficient thus onely to win the love and favour of those cities and states through which he was to journey but hee addressed either embassadors or wrote his letters praying them to beare no longer in mind the enmities which had beene betweene them and his father for as much as they were not so bitter and deadly but they might well ynough yea and ought to end and die with him as for himselfe he saw no let or hinderance in the world to empeach them for entertaining a faithfull amitie with him But above all others hee sought meanes to be reconciled to the Achaeans and to reenter into grace and favour with them This nation alone of all Greece together with the citie of Athens were growne into those tearmes of despight and malice against the Macedonians that they debarred them from once setting foot within their confines And hereupon it came that when certaine slaves fled out of Achaea they retired into Macedonie for refuge and there remained and because the Achaeans had forbidden the Macedonians to come within their liberties they durst not likewise for their parts enter into the marches frontiers of his kingdome to recover their bondmen Which when Perseus perceived he caused al those fugitive slaves to be apprehended and he dispatched his letters unto the Achaeans where in he wrote That he would right courteously send backe their slaves home againe although they were runne away from them unto him advertising and advising them to beware and looke well unto it that there were no more any such escapes and runnings away of their bond-servants here after When these letters were read by Xenarchus their Pretour who sought to currey some favour and to wind himselfe into grace with the king most of them that were present judged the letters to have been written right graciously and with great government and moderation but principally those persons who beyond their hope were to recover and receive their slaves whom they had lost But Callicrates one of them who were fully persuaded that the safetie of their whole estate depended upon the loiall observance and inviolable maintenance of the accord contracted with the Romanes spake thus or to this effect following It may seeme to some here quoth he my maisters of Achaea that wee are in question at this present of a small matter and of meane importance but I for my part am of opinion that we are not now in hand to treat but have alreadie debated and after a sort concluded one of the greatest affaires and of most consequence that wee know For we who have interdicted the KK of Macedonie and the Macedonians to come within our borders and have decreed that this edict may stand firme and irrevocable and that for this intent especially Because wee would admit neither embassadors nor messengers from the KK for feare least by entercourse of them the hearts of some among us might bee sollicited and tempted to noveltie and alteration wee now are content to heare the king although absent in person preaching in some sort to us yea and more than that God send us good lucke approve and applaude his Oration And whereas the very wild beasts refuse for the mest part the meat which is laid for a bait to deceive and hurt them yea and have the wit to shun
togither more freely and not be too nice coy and bashfull one to the other After that your espoused wife taken captive by our souldiours was brought unto me and that I heard of the exceeding fansie and affection that you cast unto her I beleeved it full wel for her singular beautie deserveth no lesse Now for as much as my selfe if I might be allowed to use the pastimes of youth I meane no otherwise than in honest lawful love were not called away by the common-weal emploied wholly in other affairs of state I would think to be pardoned and held excused if I had an extraordinarie liking to a spouse of mine owne and loved her extreamly I must therefore needs favour and tender your love which is the thing I can considerng that I may not the other in any wise Your sweet-heart and best beloved I have entertained as well and as respectively as she should have bene with your father and mother in law who are her owne kind and naturall parents Reserved she hath bene kept for you alone that you might receive her at my hands unspotted and untouched and a present beseeming me and you both In lieu and recompence therefore of this boone and gift which I now bestow upon you I require at your hands againe this onely promise and faithfull covenant that you will bee a friend and well-willer to the state of Rome And if you take me in deed to bee a good and honest man such as these nations and people here have knowne my father and unckle to have bene before me know you thus much that in the cittie of Rome there are many more like unto us and that there cannot at this day a nation in the world be named which you would wish lesse to bee an enemie to you and yours or desire more to entertaine as your friend The young gentleman being abashed for very modestie and yet right glad and joyfull withall held Scipio by the hand called upon all the gods and besought them in his behalfe to thanke and recompence him therefore since it lay not in his owne proper power in any proportion or measure to be thankfull and make requitall either as himselfe could with or as Scipio had deserved Then were the parents kinsfolke of the maid called for who seeing the damosell freely rendred and given them againe for whose raunsome and redemption they had brought with them a sufficient summe of gold fell to intreating and requesting Scipio to vouchsafe for to accept the same at their hands as a gift and token of their good will assuring him that in so doing they should take themselves no lesse bound and beholden unto him than for the restoring and delivering of the virgine untouched and undefiled Scipio seeing them so earnest and importunate promised for to receive it and withall commaunded that it should be laid downe at his feet and calling Allucius unto him Here quoth he over and besides all your other dowrie which your father in law must pay you have from me thus much more money to mend your marriage with take this gold therefore to your selfe and keepe it for your owne use And so after this rich reward given and great honour done unto him hee was dismissed and departed home with much joy and hearts content where he made report unto his countriemen and people of the praise-worthie vertues of Scipio and the favours from him received Saying moreover there was come into Spaine a young man resembling the immortall gods in all respects who as well by bountie liberallitie and bestowing benefits as by martiall prowes and force of arms is in the very way to win and conquer all So when he had assembled and mustred all his vassails and tennants he returned within few daies accompanied with a traine of foureteene hundred of the best and most choise horsemen of his countrie Scipio keeping Laelius still with him untill by his advise and counsell hee had disposed of the captives hostages and other prises and pillage after hee had setled all in good order appointed a Galeace of five bankes of ores wherein he embarked the prisoners with Mago and some fifteen Senators besides who togither with him were taken sent them to Rome with a messenger to carrie tidings of this victorie Himselfe determined to sojourne a few daies in Carthage which time he spent in training and exercising his souldiours as well of land service as at sea The firâ—t day he caused the legions to runne too and fro in their armour foure mile out in length The second day he commaunded them to scoure and furbush their harnesse weapons before their tents Vpon the third day they joined encountred in battel wise practised to fight with blunt wasters and bastons yea and launced one at another darts javelens rounded at the point end with bals in maner of foiles The fourth day they rested and reposed themselves On the fift day againe they ran at turnement as before armed This order they kept exercising laboring and resting by turnes so long as they abode at Carthage And thus much for the Legionarie souldiours The sea servitours and mariners used in calme water and still weather to row up into the sea and there to make triall of the nimblenesse and agilitie of their ships representing shewes of sea-fight and skirmish Thus without the cittie they enured their bodies quickened their spirits and courages both on land and water Within the towne there was nothing heard but preparation of warre furniture All the publicke shops and worke houses full of smithes enginers and all other artificers for the purpose plying their worke and never going from it The Generall himselfe as supervisor with equall and indifferent care oversaw all One while he would bee with the armada in the harbour another while he conversed among the legions and turnoied with them A time he would set by for to visit the workes about the walles see how they went forward Otherwiles he would be in the shops aforesaid among the multitude of the carpenters and smithes and other artisanes viewing what they did there and in the arsenall and ship-docks observing and marking how much they went forward day by day striving a vie as they did who could do most and quit himselfe best Having thus set them aworke repaired the wals which he had battered and shaken and placed certaine guards there for the defence of the cittie he tooke his journey to Taracon and all the way he was visited and plied with sundrie embassages Some of them hee aunswered and dispatched as hee was in his journey others he put off to give their attendance at Taracon for thither he had summoned all the allies and confederates both new and old to meet him And in manner all the citties and States on this side Iberus and many also of the farther province of Spaine there assembled The Carthaginian captaines and commaunders at the first for the nonce suppressed stopped
of Gisgo and the king not onely familiar acquaintance by way of kind welcomming and reciprocall hospitalitie since the time as hath ben said before that Scipio and Asdruball fortuned to meet at one time together in the kings house when they came out of Spaine but also some treatie was alreadie begun of alliance and affinitie and a motion made that the king should espouse and wed the daughter of Asdruball For the assurance of this matter and the appointment of a certaine day for the solemnising of the mariage for now the Damosell was readie for an husband and mariageable Asdruball tooke a journey and seeing the king burning in love as these Numidians of all other barbarous nations are most given that way exceeding amorous he sent for the maiden from Carthage and hastened the wedding And among other congratulations that passed betweene to the end that besides the private affinitie there should be also a publicke league there was an alliance concluded betweene the people of Carthage and the king by giving and taking their faithfull promise interchangeably and obliging themselves by a solemne o th one to the other to observe it as wel offensive as defensive to have the same enemies the same friends for ever But Asdruball remembring both the friendship begun between Scipio and the king and also how fickle variable the natures of the Barbarians are fearing if Scipio should passe over into Affricke that this bond of wedlock would not be strong ynough to hold the king in took the time whiles this Numidian prince was enflamed with his fresh love induced him what with reasons and what with the faire words and allurements of his young spouse to send Embassadours into Sicilie to Scipio for to advise him not to passe over into Affricke nor to relie upon any confidence of him ne yet to build upon his former promises For as much as himselfe was not only linked in matrimonie with a citizen of Carthage the daughter of that Asdrubal whom he saw entertained as a guest in his court but also joined in a publick league with the people of Carthage And first he exhorted him that the Romanes would war with the Carthaginians far from Africk as hitherto they had done for feare least he should of necessitie be forced to have an hand and intermeddle in their quarels and so whiles hee desired to avoid the daunger and hostilitie of one part or other be driven at length to side one way giving him more plainly to understand That if Scipio would not forbeare Affrick but needs come with an armie against Carthage then must he necessarily fight in defence of the land of Affrick wherein himselfe was borne and for the native countrie for the father and house of his owne wife With this commission direction were certaine Orators sent unto Scipio who met with him at Saracose and there delivered their message Scipio albeit he was disappointed greatly of his ground worke that he had laid for his warres in Africke and put besides his good hopes gave the Embassadours letters into Africk unto the king and sent them backe againe in all hast before the thing were published and come abroad In which letters hee requested him earnestly to be advised and bethink himselfe that hee brake not the rights either of friendship and hospitalitie begun with him or of the league and societie entred with the people of Rome nor violated justice and faithfull promise made by giving right hands ne yet beguile and abuse the gods the witnesses aud judges of all covenants agreements made But for asmuch as the comming of those Numidians could not bee concealed for they went all about the cittie were daily conversant in the Generall his lodging if it should have ben kept secret where about they came it was to be doubted least the truth the more it was smothered and dissimuled the more it would break forth come to light and so the armie was to stand in feare that they were to warre at once both with the king and Carthaginians Scipio therefore buzzed aforehand into mens heads false devised matters and so withdrew them from the understanding of the truth indeed He assembled all his souldiours togither and said unto them That now it was no longer staying and trisling out the time bearing them in hand that the kings his allies and consederates importuned him to set over into Africke with all convenient speed that Masanissa beforetime himselfe in person came to Laelius grieving complaining that the time ran thus on in delaies and doing nothing and Syphax now sent his embassadours musing much and wondringwhat the cause should be of so long temporising and requiring that either the armie without more a doe should be set over at once or else if their minds purposes were changed to certifie him so much that hee likewise might provide for himselfe his kingdome And therefore he did them to weere and understand that hee intended now that hee was sufficiently provided furnished of all things considering that the imprese might abide no farther stay to conduct his armada to Lilybaeum to wait the first good day of wind and weather to take the seas for a bon-voiage and with Gods grace and favour to set saile for Africke His letters hee dispatched to Marcus Pomponius to this effect That if hee thought so good hee should repaire to Lilybaeum to the end they might commune and consult togither what legions especially and what number of souldiours he should transport over with him into Africke In like manner hee sent all about the maritime and sea coasts to stayall the carrickes ships of burden to bring them away at once to Lilybaeum Now when all the shippes and serviceable men in Sicilie were assembled to Lilybaeum so as neither the cittie was able to receive the multitude of souldiours nor the haven conteine the number of the vessels so earnestly minded they were all and so hotely set upon their voiage into Africke that they seemed as if they were conducted not to fight a warre but to enjoy the assured rewards of a victorie But especially above all others the soldiors remaining of the Cannian armie were verily persuaded that under this captaine or else none by valiantly quitting themselves in the service of the Commonweale they should be able to end and finish their ignominious and shamefull souldierie And Scipio himselfe made no base account of those kind of souldiours as knowing full well that the defeature received at Cannae was not occasioned by their cowardise neither were there throughout the Romane armie any souldiours so auncient and of so long continuance or so well experienced not onely in many and sundrie soughten fields but also in the assaulting of townes and citties And these Legions of Cannae were the fift and six in order Now when hee had once resolved and given out that hee would transport them over with him into Affricke then hee tooke a
in all made up the number of five hundred As for the left wing it seemed to need no such succours by reason it was flanked with the river and high steepe bankes howbeit in that side there were planted foure troupes of horsemen Thus you see all the forces that the Romanes had besides two thousand Thracians and Macedonians medled and blended together who followed as voluntaries and were left for the guard of the campe and sixteene Elephants which they bestowed in the arreregard for the defence of the Triarij For over and besides that they were not like to hold out against the kings Elephants which were in number fiftie and foure you must consider that those of Africke are not able to match them of India say they were in number equall either because in bignesse the Indians exceede the other as in truth they are much greater by ods or surpasse them in courage and stomacke But the kings armie was composed of divers nations different as well in armes as in souldiours Hee had of Macedonians sixteene thousand footemen heavily armed after their manner called Phalangitae these made the maine battaile and in the front stood divided in tenne squadrons parted and severed one from the other by two Elephants placed betweene Withinforth behind the forefront the battaile was displaied in two and thirtie rankes of souldiours This was the strength of the kings armie and as in other respects so especially in regard of the Elephants surmounting aloft over all the souldiours represented to the eye a feareful and terrible sight For besides that they were high and loftie of themselves their crested head-stalls with plumes upon them their turret upon their backs and in every turrets foure men standing in glittering armour besides the maister and governor himselfe made the apparence and shew far greater On the right wing he placed close unto the Phalangites a thousand and five hundred horsemen of the Gallogreeks unto whom he adjoined three thousand launces in complet armour mounted upon bard horses and those men of armes they themselves called Cataphracti To these were added another wing of a thousand horsemen which they named Agema Medes they were elect and chosen men together with more horsemen of the same region mingled of many nations one with another Close unto them in the arrieregard was set a troupe of sixteene Elephants On which side also in a wing somewhat farther drawne out stood the king his owne cohort bearing the name of Argyraspides by occasion of the silvered shields which they bare After them followed 1200 Dacians archers on horseback Then three thousand footemen lightly armed and composed partly of Candiots and partly of Tralleans in number almost equall and 2500 Mysians attended upon the archers And the utmost side and taile of that wing was guarded with foure thousand Cyrtean slingers and Elymean archers sorted together On the left wing likewise there stood fast unto the Phalangites aforesaid 1500 horsemen Gallograecians and two thousand Cappadocians armed after the same manner sent from king Ariarathes Then the Auxiliaries of all sorts 2700 besides three hundred launces in complet harnesse upon barbed horses armed at all pieces and 1000 other horsemen As for the Cornet of the kings it was more lightly armed as wel themselves as their horses but their setting out and furniture otherwise all one And these were Syrians for the most part with Phrygians and Lydians together Before this cavallerie went the chariots of foure wheeles and drawen by as many horses armed with sharp and trenchant hookes like fith blades and the camels called by them for their swiftnes Dromedaries Vpon these were mounted the Arabian archers who also were armed with keene swords foure cubits long that sitting as they did so aloft they might notwithstanding reach their enemie Then after these were set another multitude equall to that in the right wing whereof the formost were certeine horsemen called Tarentines and after them 2500 Gallograecian horse Likewise of Neocretians a thousand and of Carians and Cilicians one with another 1500 armed alike As many Trallians and three thousand targuatiers These were Pisidians Pamphylians and Lycians and last of all the succors in the arrieregard of Cirteans and Elymeans in like number as they that were placed in the right wing with sixteene Elephants also distant a prety way asunder The king himself in person had the conduct of the right point of the battaile and ordeined Seleucus his sonne and Antipater his brothers sonne to commaund the left The maine battaile in the mids was committed to the leading and governance of three captaines to wit Minio Zeusis and Philip the maister of the Elephants There was a certeine mist arose in the morning and as it waxed farther day gathered aloft into thick clouds and made the weather darke besides by the South wind it resolved into a small drisling raine which wet and drenched all This did little harme to the Romanes but contrariwise was much hurtfull to the kings side For albeit the aire was dim and darke yet by reason that the Roman battailons tooke up no great compasse of ground they could for all the aire was overcast discerne from one end to the other and the moisture that fell dulled nothing at all to speake of either the swords or javelins of them that were heavily armed whereas the kings armie being embattailed so broad had much ado and hardly could see from the middle of the maine battaile to the wings of each hand and much lesse discerne from one skirt and flanke of the battailon to the other Moreover the dropping weather slugged their bowes softned their slings and loups of their darts Their sithed chariots also wherewith Antiochus made full account to breake the arrayes of his enemies turned to the disorder and fright of themselves Now these chariots aforesaid were in this manner armed for the most part certeine sharpe pikes they had about the spire-pole bearing forward from the spring-tree ten cubits in length like unto hornes with which pointed pikes they would pierce through whatsoever they encountered Also at each end of the said spring-tree there were two blades stood out the one of just and even heigth with it the other lower and bearing downeward to the ground the former was devised to cut through whatsoever came neere the side therof the other to reach and teare them that were fallen to the earth or came under the chariot Semblably at both ends of the axeltree without the nave of the wheele there were two such like hookes fastned and bended divers wayes These chariots thus armed the king had placed in the front of the battaile as we said before because if they had bene set either in the midle or the reregard they should have bene driven through their owne battailons Which Eumenes perceiving one that knew well enough the manner of that kind of service and how dangerous it was in case a man rather frighted the horses than charged them directly by ordinary warlike
CXXI booke CAssius who had in commission from the Senate to pursue by force of armes Dolabella iudged an enemie to the commonweale being borne out by the authoritie and warrant of the State possessed himselfe of Syria and became maister of three armies which were in that province He besieged Dolabella within the citie of Laodicaea and did him to death C. Antonius was likewise taken prisoner and by commaundement from M. Brutus slaine Of the CXXII booke MArcus Brutus had but bad successe in fight against the Thracians After that all the provinces beyond-sea and the armies were under his hands and Caius Cassius they complotted both together at Smyrna what course to take for the future warre Publicola the brother of M. Messala they vanquished and yet by common consent they pardoned him Of the CXXIII booke SExtus Pompeius the sonne of Magnus assembled together out of Epirus a number of outlawes and banished persons and having a long time with this armie robbed only by way of piracie and setled as yet upon the possission of no peece upon the land first seized Messana a towne in Sicilie and afterwards the whole province And after that A. Pompeius Bithynicus the Pretour there was by Pompeie slaine he the said Pompeie in a battaile at sea vanquished Q. Salvidienus a lieutenant of Caesar. Caesar and Antonie with their armies sailed over into Greece with intent to wage warre against Brutus and Cassius Quintus Cornificius in Africke over came in plaine fight T. Sestius the captain of the Cassian faction Of the CXXIIII booke CAius Caesar together with Antonie fought at Philippi with variable fortune against Brutus and Cassius in such sort as the right points of both battailes had the better ech of them woon the others campe But the death of Cassius was it that turned the ballance made the difference who being in that point that reculed and went downe supposed that the whole armie and maine battaile was discomfited and so killed himselfe In another conflict afterwards M. Brutus also was overcome and there ended his life for hee intreated Strato that accompanied him in his flight to set his swords point toward him and so hee ran upon it The same did some fortie more of the principall Romanes among whom was Q. Hortensius likewise slaine Of the CXXV booke CAius Caesar left Antonie for to his share fell the empire of some provinces beyond-sea returned into Italie He divided lands among his old souldiours The mutinies of his owne armie by occasion that the souldiours were seduced by Fulvia the wife of M. Antonius and rose against their Generall be repressed with exceeding daunger and ieopardie L. Antonius the Consull and brother to M. Antonius by the ungracious counsell and persuasion of the said Fulvia made warre upon Caesar and having procured those nations to side and take part with him whose lands had bene made over and assigned to the old souldiours aforesaid and withall discomfited M. Lepidus who with an armie had the government and guard of the cittie entred perforce by way of hostilitie into Rome Of the CXXVI booke CAius Caesar when hee was but three and twentie yeeres of age besieged L. Antonius in the towne Perusia when he made sundrie offers to sallie out break forth he repelled chased him back yea and for very hunger forced him to yeeld and come under his obeysance As for Antonie himself and all his souldiours he pardoned but Perusia he rased and destroied Finally after hee had brought all the armies of the adverse side to submit and to stand to his mercie he finished the warre without effusion of any bloud Of the CXXVII booke THe Parthians under the conduct of Labienus who had taken part with Pompeie and that side invaded Syria evercame Didius Saxa the lieutenant of M. Antonius and held all that province to their owne use M. Antonius being sollicited by the instigation of his wife Fulvia to make war against Caesar put her away because she should be no let nor hinderance to the accord and agreement of the three rulers in their Triumvirate Then made hee a peace with Caesar and tooke to wife his sister Octavia Q. Salvidienus who complotted mischiefe against Caesar he detected and bewraied who being thereupon condemned wrought his owne death P. Ventidius a lieutenant under Antonius overcame the Parthians in battaile and chased them forth of Syria having before slaine their leader Labienus When as Sextus Pompeius held Sicilie and being a neere enemie and ill neighbour to Italie staied the transporting of corne and victuals by sea upon request Caesar and Antonie made peace with him for this consideration that he should governe Sicilie as his province Also herein are set forth the troubles and warres of Africke Of the CXXVIII booke VVHen Sext. Pompeius infested the sea againe with roverie and piracie and would not make good maintein that peace which he had accepted of Caesar he was forced upon necessitie to undertake war against him and in two navall battailes sought with doubtfull event L. Ventidius a lieutenant of M. Antonius vanquished the Parthians in Syria and slew their king The Iewes also were by Antonies lieutenant subdued Herein besides is set downe the preparation for the Sicilian warre Of the CXXIX booke SVndrie battailes were fought at sea against Sex Pompeius with variable issue so as of Caesars two fleets the one which was conducted by Agrippa got the better hand but the other led by Caesar himselfe had the overthrow and the souldiours being set a shore were in exceeding great daunger But afterwards Pompeius was defeated and thereupon fled into Sicilie Marcus Lepidus crossed the seas from out of Africke pretending to take part with Caesarin his warres to bee made against Sex Pompeius But when Caesar warred upon him also he was abandoned of his armie and being content to resigne up the honour and dignitie of the Triumvirat obteined life M. Agrippa was by Caesar rewarded with a navall crowne an honour to no man ever graunted before him Of the CXXX booke MArcus Antonius in his rioting time with Cleopatra entred into the province of Media with eighteen legions and sixteene thousand horsemen levied warre upon the Parthians and after he had lost two of his legions seeing nothing chieve well on his side he retired back But efisoons the Parthians followed him in chase whereupon in exceeding fearfull hast and great perill of the whole armie he returned into Armenia so as in 27 daies he fled three hundred myles About 8000 men hee lost by tempesteous weather But he was himselfe the occasion that he suffered these daungerous tempests over and besides the Parthian warre which unfortunately he enterprised because he would not winter in Armenia for hast he made to his love Cleopatra Of the CXXXI booke SEx Pompeius having once submitted whiles he was in the protection of M. Antonius went about to levie warre against him in Asia but by his lieutenants he was surprised and slain Caesar staied