the Empire He therefore so wearied Annibal by leading him through the whole Country of the Samnites and through the woods of Falernus and Gaurus that he who could not be overcomâ— by valour was broken and harass'd by delay Afterwards Claudius Marcelius being General the Romanes ventur'd to engage him they drove him out of his dear Campania and forc'd him to raise the siege from before Nola. Nay Sempronius Gracchus being General they presum'd to pursue him through Lucania and press hard upon him in his retreat though then ô what shame they fought with servile hands For the concurrence of so many disasters had forc'd them to it * Sed libertate dona i fecerat de serâ—is vâ—tus Romanos But they were made free afterwards though their own valour had made them Romans before O the prodigious constancy in so many adversities O the extraordinary courage and gallantry of the Romans in the midst of so many extremities when they were not assur'd of Italy they have the confidence to aime at other places and when the enemies march'd up and down Campania and Apulia ready to cut their throats and had brought Africk into the midst of Italy they at the same time kept Hannibal in play and sent Forces into Sicily Sardinia Spain and other parts of the world Sicily was the charge of Marcellus nor did it hold out long For the whole Island was reduc'd in one City â—yracuse that great and till then conquer'd Metropolis though defended by the skill of Archimedes yeelded at last It was compass'd at a good distance by a treble wall and had so many Fortresses the port was built all about with marble there was also the famous Fountaine of Archusa but what avayl'd they save only that they occasion'd the sparing of the vanquish'd City for its beauty sake Gracchus reduc'd Sardinia nor did the savagenesse of the Inhabitants nor the excessive height of the Mad Mountains so they call them stand them in any stead The Cities were treated with the extremities of hostility especially the chiefest of all Caralis that an obstinate Nation which contemn'd death might be brought down by the desolation of their native soile Cneus and Publius Scipio being sent into Spain had once depriv'd the Carthaginians of all hope but surpriz'd by their artifices they lost all again even after they had beaten the Carthaginian Forces in very great fights But the Punick treachery prov'd so successeful that they kill'd one of them as he was encamping and the other having escaped into a Tower they set it a fire about him Therefore to revenge his Father and Uncle there was sent thither with an Army Scipio for whom the Fates reserv'd the great surname deriv'd from Africk He recover'd all Spain that martial country famous for men and arms the seminary of the enemies Army and the Tutresse of Hannibal himself all I say though hardly to be credited from the Pyrenean Mountains to Hercules Pillars and the Ocean whether with greater expedition or lesse difficulty is not known With what expedition it was effected four years witnesse with how little difficulty may be deduc'd from one City for it was taken the same day it was first besieg'd and it was an omen of our victory over Africk that Carthage in Spain was so easily taken Yet is it certain withal that what most contributed to the reduction of the Province was the admirable Sanctimony and continency of the General who return'd back to the Barbarians young lads that had been taken and Virgins of extraordinary beauty not having suffered them to be brought into his sight that he might not seem so much as with his eyes to have blasted the flower of their Virginity Thus did the Romans do in forreign Countries yet could they not remove Hannibal lodg'd in the heart of Italy Several Nations had revolted to the enemy who being exasperated against the Romanes made his advantages of the artifices of Italy Yet had we forc'd him out of several Cities and regions Tarentus was come in to us We had also almost recover'd Capua the seat and mansion and second Country of Hannibal the losse whereof gave him so much trouble that he thereupon brought all his Forces against Rome O people worthy the world's Empire worthy the favour and admiration of Men and Gods Being reduc'd to the greatest extremities they desisted not from their attempt and while they provided for the safety of the City they neglected not Capua but part of the Army being left there under the Consul Appius part having follow'd Flaccus to the City they fought both present and absent What therefore do we wonder at Hannibal encamped within three miles of Rome and ready to come on the Gods I say the Gods nor is it a shame to acknowledge it once more prevented him for there fell such excessive rains at every motion of his and such extraordinary winds that it should seem they had been sent from above to remove the enemy not from Heaven as the Gyants sometime were but from the Walls of the City and the Capitol He therefore departed fled and retired to the extremities of Italy leaving the City when he was just upon the point of assaulting it This is a thing hardly worth mentioning yet a pregnant argument of the magnanimity of the people of Rome that during the time the City was besieg'd the ground on which Hannibal was encamped being publickly set to sale met with a purchasor On the contrary Hannibal desirous to imitate our confidence proferr'd to sale the Goldsmiths shops of the City but found no buyer whence it may be seen that the destinies had also their presages But there had yet been nothing done answerably to so great valour and favour of the Gods For Asdrubal Hannibal's brother was upon his march from Spain with a fresh Army new-raised Forces and other requisites for the prosecution of the war We had no doubt been ruin'd if he had joyn'd his Brother but Claudius Nero and Livius Salinator defeat him as he was encamping his Army Nero was employ'd about the dislodging of Hannibal in the most remote part of Italy Livius was gone into the contrary part so vast that is the whole territory of Italy where it is longest lying between them By what intelligence with what expedition the Consuls joyn'd their forces and joyntly engag'd the enemy and all without Hannibal's knowledge of any thing done it is hard to give an account of This is certain that Hannibal being assur'd of it when he saw his Brother's head cast into his camp said I now see the unhappinesse of Carthage This was the first acknowledgement of the man not without a certain presage of the fate hanging over him Now it was taken for granted that Hannibal even by his own confession might be vanquished But the people of Rome heightned by so many prosperities thought it a noble attempt to subdue that most irreconcileable enemy in his own Country Africk Scipio therefore being
while longer the famine still continuing Afterwards they resolve to make an escape but that was prevented by their wives who committing a heinous offence out of their affection cut their horse-girts Whereupon reduc'd to despair and exasperated into fury and rage they at last resolve upon this kind of death They with the help of weapons and a general conflagration destroy'd their Captains their City and themselves Well! I should * Asserverim affirm it the most valiant and in my judgement the most happy City even in its greatest calamities since it hath with so great constancy towards its Allies by its own strength and for so long time held out against a people back'd by the forces of all the world In fine the City being forc'd by the greatest General that ever was left the enemy nothing to satisfie his vanity for there was not a man of all Numantia to be brought home in chaines spoil none because they were poor their Arms they had burnt themselves and so we had onely the name of a Triumph CHAP. XIX A summary of the Roman wars for the space of two hundred years HItherto the Roman people seem'd to expresse a certain Noblenesse Gallantry Sanctity and Magnificence in their actions * Reliqua saeculi The remainder of that age as it produc'd atchievements equally great so did they exceed in turbulence and infamy vices improving with the dilatation of the Empire So that if any one divide this its third age employ'd in forrein acquests he will acknowledge the former Century thereof wherein Africk Macedonia Sicily and Spain were subdu'd justly to have deserv'd as the Poëts speak the name of Golden and the ensuing Century to have been of Iron and sanguinary or if any thing can be more inhumane as comprehending the Jugurthine the Cimbrian the Mithridatick Gaulish and Germane wars whereby the Roman glory ascended up to the skies together with the Gracchian and Drusian massacres as also the Servile wars and to compleat our infamy our engagements even with the Gladiators At last the Commonwealth arming against it self by the commotions of Marius and Sylla and in fine by the wars between Caesar and Pompey as if possess'd with a spirit of madnesse and fury became * Per rabiem furorem nefas semet c. ô horrour it s own executioner Which transactions though ravell'd and confus'd together yet that they may the better appear and that there may be a difference between their Heynous and Heroick actions they shall be set down a part And in the first place we shall as we have already begun give an account of those pious and just wars with forreign nations that the continual augmentation of the Empire may be made manifest And then we shall return to the horrid actions and the foul and execrable broils of our own people CHAP. XX. Attalus King of Pergamus makes the peoples of Rome his Heir Astronicus takes occasion thence to enter into a war against them Crassus defeated and taken Prisoner Astronicus subdu'd and put into chains the unworthy procedure of Aquilius in poisoning the springs and by that means blasting the reputation of the Romans SPain being subdu'd in the western part of the world the people of Rome were at the East nay they not onely enjoy'd peace but by an unwonted and unknown kind of prosperity wealth left by regal bequeasts and whole Kingdoms came into them Attalus King of Pergamus Son of King Eumenes heretofore our Ally and fellow-soldier left this Will Let the people of Rome be the Heir of my estate Of which these were part Entring upon the inheritance the Romans became possessors of the Province not by war or force of Arms but what was more just in right of the Will But it is not easie to affirm whether they more easily * Occupaverit possess'd themselves of or lost that Province Aristonicus a fierce young man of the blood Royal easily drawes in some of the Cities formerly subject to Kings and take◠some others which stood out by force as Mindus Samos and Colophon He also defeated the Army of the Pro-consul Crassus and took him But he reflecting on his Family and the reputation of the Romans struck out the eye o◠his barbarous Keeper with a wand and so he incensed him as he would have it to his own destruction Not long after Aristonicus was subdu'd and taken by Perpenna and upon surrender of himself kept in chains M. Aquilius put an absolute period to the Asian war poisoning ô wicked act the springs in order to the rendition of certain Cities Which action as it hastned the victory so it rendred it infamous in as much as contrary to all Religion and the customes of our Ancestors the Roman Arms till then continu'd sacred were defiled by detestable compositions THE ROMAN HISTORY BY L. JULIUS FLORUS The Third Book CHAP. I. Jugurth King of Numidia wars against the Romans he endeavours to overcome them by artifices and presents At last after several defeats he is betray'd into the hands of Sylla by the means of Bocchus THus went things in the East But there was not the like quiet in the Southern parts Who would expect any war should break forth in Africk after the destruction of Carthage But there was no small disturbance in Numidia and there was next Hannibal what might be feared in Jugurth For when the Romans were glorious and unconquerable by the way of Arms this most subtle Prince engages against them by that of wealth and yet it fell out beyond expectation that a King famous for his artifices should be ensnar'd by artifice He being Grand-child to Massinissa and Son by adoption to Micipsa designing the murther of his Brethren incited thereto by a desire of Soveraignty and yet fearing not them so much as the Senate and people of Rome under whose tuition and protection the Kingdom was compass'd his first mischief by treachery and having taken off Hiempsal's head while he would have done the like to Adherbal who had fled to Rome he with the mony sent by his Ambassadors brought even the Senate to side with him And this was his first victory over us Afterwards he in like manner treated those who had been sent to divide the Kingdom between him and Adherbal and having in the person of Scaurus who suffer'd himself to be corrupted overcome the integrity and customes of the Roman Empire he prosecuted the wickednesse he had begun with greater confidence But wicked actions lye not long conceal'd The wickednesse of the corrupted Embassy of Scaurus came to light and a war was resolv'd upon against the Parricide The Consul Calpurnius Bestia was the first sent into Numidia But the King knowing by former experience that gold could do more against the Romans than Iron brought his peace Of which hainous action being guilty and summon'd upon a safe-conduct to appeare before the Senate he with equal confidence both came and got Massina Grand-son to Massinissa
dying CHAP. XVII Livius Drusus would inforce the Gracchane Laws Cepio violates the Senate The Consul Philippus opposing him is unworthily treated the sudden death of Drusus LAstly Livius Drusus not onely with the strength of the Tribuneship but also with the authority of the Senate and the consent of all Italy endeavours the establishment of the same Laws and attempting one thing after another caused so great a conflagration that the first eruptions of it could not be endur'd so that taken away by a sudden death he left a hereditary war to his posterity According to the judiciary Law C. Gracchus had devided the Roman people and made that a double-headed City which was but single before The Roman Knights invested with so great power as to have the fates and fortunes of the Senators and the lives of Princes in their power intercepting the tributes robb'd the Commonwealth at their pleasure The Senate being weakened by the exile of Metellus and the condemnation of Rutilius had lost all the lustre of Majesty While things were in this posture Servilius Caepio and Livius Drusus two persons equal as to courage wealth and dignity which begat the emulation in Drusus stood up for one the Knights the other the Senate The Ensignes Standards and Banners were ready to advance But they were divided in one and the same City as if they had been in two distinct Camps Caepio first assaulting the Senate pitch'd upon Scaurus and Philippus chief persons of the Nobility as chargeable with ambition Drusus to oppose these commotions by the Gracchane Laws got the common people to joyn with him and drew in the Allies by a hope of being made free of the City His saying upon this occasion is extant That he had not left any one ought to give away unlesse he would distribute dust or air The day for the promulgation of the Law was come when of a sudden so great a multitude came in from all parts that the City seem'd besieg'd by enemies Yet the Consul Philippus had the boldnesse to oppose the enaction of the Laws But the Viator taking him by the throat let him not go till the blood gush'd out his mouth and eyes So the Laws were enacted by force But our Allies immediately called for the reward of their assistance when in the mean time death took away Drusus unable to keep his word and troubled at the commotions he had rashly caused a seasonable death in so great a danger and yet the Allies ceased not by Arms to demand of the people of Rome the performance of Drusus's promises CHAP. XVIII All Italy in a commotion a general conspiracy which after great destructions of men is at last appeased THe war between us and our Socy or Allies I may call the Social War to make it lesse odious but the truth is it was a Civil war For the Roman people having shuffled together the Etrusci the Latines and the Sabines and deriving one blood out of them all of several members it made up a body and is but one consisting of all the parts Nor did the Allies lesse wickedly rebel within Italy than the Citizens did within Rome The Allies therefore justly demanded the freedom of that City to whose greatnesse they had contributed to which hope Drusus out of a desire of dominion had raised them and he afterwards destroy'd by the perfidiousnesse of his domesticks the same firebrand that consumed him enflam'd the Allies into Arms and a design of besieging the City What more lamentable than this destruction what more calamitious when all Latium and Picenum â—ll Etruria and Campania lastly Italy rose up against its Parent and Mother-City when the flower of our most valiant and faithful Allies had those municipal prodigies each under their Ensignes Popedius led the Marsians and Latines Afranius the Vmbri the whole Senate and Consuls those of Samnium and Telesinus those of Lucania when that people which judg'd Kings and Nations could not govern it self and that Rome the Conqueresse of Asia and Europe might be assayled from Corfinium The first scene of the war was to have been upon Mount Albanus it being resolv'd that on the Festival day of the Latines the Consuls Julius Caesar and Martius Philippus should have been offer'd up amidst the Sacrifices and Altars But that treachery being discovered the whole fury broke out at Asculum the Ambassadors who had been sent from the City being murthered at the assembly of their solemne sports This was the engagement of that impious war Popedius the Author and Ring-leader of the war posting up and down spread the insurrection through several Nations and Cities The desolationâ— committed by Hannibal and Pyrrhus were not so great Behold Ocriculum behold Grumentum Faesulae Carceoli Nuseriae and Picentes are wafted with slaughter fire and sword Rutilius's Forces are defeated Coepio's defeated Nay even Julius Caesar himself after the losse of the Army being brought all bloody into the City the lamentable spectacle of his funeral was carried through the midst of the City But the great fortune of the Roman people and ever greater in extremities rose up a fresh with all their Forces and sending out several Commanders to engage against the several Nations Cato defeats the Etruscans Gabinius the Marsyans Cardo the Lucanians Sylla the Samnites But Strabo Pompeius having layd all waste with fire and sword never gave over destroying till that by the destruction of Asculum he had appeased the Manes of so many Consular Armies and ransack'd Cities CHAP. XIX An insurrection of the Slaves Sicily under the Government of a Syrian who feigns himself a Fanatick They are at last overcome and punish'd by the valour of Rupilius A second insurrection of the Slaves quieted by Aquilius THough we fought with our Allies dishonour enough yet we had to do with free persons and well educated But who can brook that the Soveraign people of the world â—â—ould arm against their Slaves The first serâ—ile war happen'd at the infancy of Rome and â—â—â—y'd within the City Herdonius Sabinus beâ—ng the Leader when the City being busied â—y the seditions of the Tribuneship the Capiâ—ol was besieg'd and taken by the Consul But that was rather a tumult then a war Soon after the Forces of the Empire being employ'd â—n several parts who would believe that Sicily was more cruelly desolated by the Servile then by the Punick war Being a Country plentiful in Corn and in a manner a Suburb-Province was possessed by Roman Citizens who had great inheritances there They had there many prisons full of chain'd Slaves for the cultivation of the ground and these occasion'd the war A certain Syrian named Eunus the greatnesse of the destruction makes us remember him counterfeiting a fanatick destraction while he boasteth of the * Câ—mas hair of the Syrian Goddesse animated the Slaves as it were by a command of the Gods to assert their liberty and take up Arms. And that he might prove it done by Divine inspiration having a nut-shell in
Forces a long time and with doubtfull successe yet was he not overcome by war till he was betray'd by his own domesticks Having pursu'd his Forces all over Spain they had many and those doubtful engagements The first were managed by Lieutenants when of one side Domitius and Thorius and the Herculians on the other met as forlorns Soon after the latter being defeated neer Segovia the former at the River Ana the Generals themselves approaching one the other had another tryal neer Lauro and Sucro and the losse was equal on both sides Whereupon one side minding the desolation of the Country the other the destruction of Cities wretched Spain ru'd the differences of the Roman Generals till that Sertorius being murther'd by his servants and Perpenna vanquish'd and having surrendred himself the Cities also reacknowledg'd the jurisdiction of the Romans to wit Osea Terme Tutia Valentia Auxima Calaguris after it had endur'd the extremities of a famine So Spain being restor'd to peace the victorious Generals would have it accounted rather a forreign than a civil war that they might have the satisfaction of a triumph CHAP. XXIII Lepidus raises new commotions he is vanquish'd and dies in Sardinia MArcus Lepidus and Q. Catulus being Consuls there broke forth a civil war which was extinguish'd in lesse time then it had been begun But how far soever the fire-brand of that commotion spread it was a spark arising from the funeral pile of Sylla For Lepides insolently desirous to see some alteration would abrogate the acts of so great a person not unjustly could it have been done without injury to the Commonwealth For the Dictator Sylla having prescrib'd his enemies by the Law of Arms those who surviv'd to what end should they be called together but to war And the estates of the condemn'd Citizens being bestow'd by Sylla upon others though it were a thing unjustiable in it self yet done with a certain form of Justice the restitution thereof to the former proprietors must no doubt disturb the tranquillity of the City It therefore concern'd the Commonwealth now indisposed and wounded to rest though upon any terms that the wounds of it might not be opened in order to its cure Lepidus therefore having startled the City with seditious remonstrances as with an alarm he went into Etruria and thence brought an Army against Rome But Lutatius Catulus and Cn. Pompeius the Captains and Promoters of Sylla's tyranny had already possessed themselves of Milvius bridge and mount Janiculus with another Army By whom being forc'd back at the first onset and declar'd an enemy by the Senate he retreated without any bloodshed to Etruria afterwards into Sardinia and there of sicknesse and grief died The Conquerours a thing rarely seen in any of the other civil wars contented themselves onely with the peace THE ROMAN HISTORY BY L. JULIUS FLORUS The Fourth Book CHAP. I. The detestable conspiracy of Catiline against his Country he is assisted by several persons of the Noblest Families in Rome Cicero discovers the design the punishment of the Conspirators Antonius gives Catiline and his Army an absolute overthrow FIrst luxury and what is the effect of that the want of things necessary and withall opportunity in regard the Roman Armies were distant as far as the uttermost parts of the world forc'd Cataline upon these hainous designs of oppressing his Country murthering the Senate killing the Consuls firing the City robbing the Treasury overturning the whole Commonwealth and doing what Hannibal seems not to have wish'd What complices had he to compasse that horrid act He himself was of the order of the Patricii but that amounted to little There were engag'd with him in the same design some of the Curii the Porcii the Sylla's the Cethegi the Antronii the Vargunteii and Longini How great Families were these What ornaments of the Senate Nay Lentulus also then Praetor had entertained all these as instruments to carry on his most horrid attempt The conspiracy was seal'd with humane blood which carried about in goblets they drunk one to another a crime the most enormous in the world that onely excepted upon the account of which they drunk it There had been an end of the Noblest Empire in the World if that conspiracy had not happened in the time of the Consulship of Cicero and Antonius of whom the one discovered it by his industry the other quashed it by force The discovery of so great a wickednesse came from Fulvia a common Strumpet but not guilty of the intended parricide Whereupon Cicero assembling the Senate made an Oration against the Parricide Catiline present than among them but that proceeded no further then that the enemy might escape openly professing that he would extinguish the conflagration of the City by the utter destruction of it He goes to the Army raised by Manlius in Etruria with a design to bring it against the City Lentulus prophecying to himself the Government design'd his Family by the Sibylline verses disposes at set places about the City Men Firebrands and Arms against the day appointed by Catiline and not content with a civil conspiracy he drew into Arms the Ambassadors of the Allebroges then casually at Rome And the fury had spread beyond the Alps if upon another discovery of Vulturius the Praetor's letters had not been intercepted Whereupon by the order of Cicero the Barbarians were secured The Praetor is openly convicted in the Senate Being in consultation about their punishment Caesar would have had him spar'd upon the account of their quality but Cato would have them punish'd according to the horridnesse of the crime Which opinion the rest fellowing the Parricides were put to death in prison Though some part of the Conspiracy were smother'd yet Catiline persisted in his design and upon his march from Etruria with an army against his country he is defeated by Antonius How sharply they fought the event made appear not one of the enemies surviv'd the encounter that place which every one fought upon prov'd that whereon his body reposed after death Catiline himself was found at a great distance from his own people among the carcasses of his enemies a most noble death had he so fallen for his Country CHAP. II. A Relation of the War between Caesar and Pompey which was rather an universal one than a civil The league between Pompey Crassus and Caesar the distrust between Caesar and Pompey upon which ensu'd an open war Pompey flies out of Italy Caesar's exploits he besieges Marseils passes over into Spain defeats Pompey's Lieutenants and follows him into Epirus The courage and fortune of Caesar Pompey vanquish'd by him in Thessaly his deplorable death in Aegypt Caesar utterly destroys the Army of Pharnaces Scipio defeated Cara and Juba the bloody fight against Pompey's Sons the valour conduct and incomparable fortune of Caesar his clemency the great honours attributed to him he is envied at Rome and murthered THe whole world being now in a manner overcome the Roman Empire
Senate and being shut up by him within the Walls of Perusia he forc'd him to the extremities of a surrender after a famine wherein even the filthiest things were fed upon CHAP. VIII Young Pompey possesses himself of Sicily and Sardinia his flight and shameful death CAesar's murtherers being taken out of the waY there remain'd onely the House of Pompey One of the young men died in Spain the other had escap'd by flight and rallying the remainders of an unfortunate war and put Slaves into arms was possessed of Sicily and Sardinia He had also a Navy at Sea ô how different from his Father for he had destroy'd the Cilicians but this man had pirates under his command With these so great preparations of war was the young man quite overthrown in the Sicilian Sea and he had carried along with him into the other world the reputation of a great Captain if he had attempted nothing afterwards but that it argues a noble mind ever to be in hope Being defeated he fled and set sail for Asia where he must fall into the hands of his enemies and chains and what is most insupportable to gallant men be adjudg'd at the discretion of his enemies to die by the hand of an Executioner There was not a more deplorable flight since that of Xerxes For he who ere while had three hundred and forty Ships under his command fled onely with six or seven having put out the light at the Admiral 's stern and cast his rings into the Sea trembling and looking back yet fearing nothing lesse then that he should perish See the remainder of this Chapter at the beginning of the Tenth as D.C. would have it placed CHAP. IX The incursions of the Parthians under the Conduct of young Pacorus They are defeated by the prudence of Ventidius Pacorus's death THe Parthians upon the defeat of Crassus had reassum'd greater courage and gladly receiv'd the intelligence of civil commotions among the Romans so that upon the first opportunity they stuck not to break out being withal animated thereto by Labienus who sent thither by Cassius and Brutus how implacable is mischief had importun'd our enemies to their assistance and they under the conduct of Pacorus their young Prince dismantle all the garrisons of Marcus Antonius Saxa Lieutenant to Antonius to avoid falling into their power was oblig'd to his own sword At length Syria falling off from us the mischief had spread still further the enemies under pretence of assisting Brutus conquering for themselves if Ventidius another Lieutenant of Antonius had not with incredible prosperity defeated the Forces of Labienus and Pacorus himself and all the Parthian Cavalry all along the Champian between the Rivers Orontus and Euphrates There fell twenty thousand men Nor was the work effected without the prudence of Ventidius who pretending fear suffer'd the enemies to come up so close to his Camp that being within reach of our darts they could make no advantage of their arrows The King was slain fighting valiantly and his head being carried about to the Citties which had revolted Syria became ours again without any war So by the death of Pacorus we were even for the overthrow given to Crassus CHAP. X. The Alliance between the Romans and the Parthians broken through the vanity of Marcus Antonius The inconveniences endur'd by the Roman Army and the generous resolution of the Soldiery the insolence and brutality of Antonius THough in Cassius and Brutus Caesar had smother'd the factions and in Pompey taken off the very name of them yet had he not proceeded so far as to settle a firm peace in as much as the shelf the knot and obstacle of publick security Antonius was still alive Nor did he want vices to bring him to his ruine nay having out of ambition and luxury made tryal of all things he delivered in the first place his enemies then his fellow-Citizens and at length the age he liv'd in from the terrour he gave them by procuring his own death The Parthians and Romans having made tryal of each other and Crassus on the one side and Pacorus on the other being testimonies of their valour there was a league made between them with equal reverence and absolute friendship and that by Antonius himself But the excessive vanity of the man while out of a lust to enlarge his titles he was desirous to have the Araxes and the Euphrates written under his Images made him leave Syria of a sudden and without any cause or advice or so much as any imaginary pretence of war as if it had been the part of a great Captain to steal upon his enemies make an unexpected incursion among the Parthians That Nation besides the confidence they repose in their peculiar Arms is subtle and pretends fear and flight crosse the Fields Antonius as if already victorious immediately pursues them when of a sudden an unexpected yet no great party of the enemies fell upon our men wearied with marching and in the evening as it had been a shower and shooting their arrows of all sides two Legions were in a manner cover'd therewith Yet was not this any thing in comparison of the overthrow which was to have been the next day if through the clemency of the Gods one who had surviv'd the defeat of Crassus riding about the Camp in a Parthian habit after he had gain'd credit with the Commanders acquainted them with what was to happen to wit that the King himself withal his Forces was coming upon them that they should retreat and get into the Mountains and that so doing they should not haply be to seek an enemy And so it happen'd that a smaller force of the enemies pursu'd them then was design'd to do it Yet they came on and the remainder of our Forces had been destroyed had it not been that when the Parthian arrows fell like hail upon the Soldiers luckily fell on their knees and lifting their Bucklers over their heads seem'd as if they were slain Then the Parthians gave over shooting with the bows Whereupon the Romans rising up the thing was thought so miraculous that one of the Barbarians said Go and do well oh ye Romans justly does Fame speak you the Conquerours of Nations who are able to endure the darts of the Parthians We suffer'd afterwards as much through want of water as we had done by the enemies First the Region it self was oppressed with drought then to some of us the water of the River Salmacis prov'd more destructive and lastly being drunk excessively by such as were unhealthy even sweet waters prov'd hurtful to us Afterwards the sultrinesse of Armenia and the snows of Cappadocia and the sudden change of air from one to the other were a kind of pestilence So hardly a third part of sixteen Legions being left Antonius that gallant General after his mony was cut to pieces with chizzels by the mutining Soldiery and he himself had in the interval begg'd death at the hands of his Gladiator
both short-liv'd but one dy'd ere he had gain'd any honour For Lucius dy'd of a disease at Massilia Cajus in Lycia of a wound while he was employ'd about the reduction of Armenia then ready to revolt to the Parthians Pompey having vanquish'd King Tigranes had brought the Armenians to this point of bondage as to receive Governours from us That right of ours being interrupted was by this Caius reasserted after a bloody though short engagement For Domnes whom the King had made Governor of Artaxata pretending he would betray his Master runs him with his Sword into the Temples while he was earnestly perusing a scroll which he himself had presented to him containing the accounts of the Treasures But the Barbarian pursu'd on all sides by the incensed Army was destroy'd by a sword and a fire into which being wounded he cast himself and so made some satisfaction to Caesar not yet dead of his wound In the West all Spain was quiet save onely that part of it which is adjacent to the rocks of the Pyrenean Mountains and lies upon the hither Ocean Here were two most valiant Nations the Cantabrians and the Asturians who acâ—nowledg'd not jurisdiction of the Empire The Cantabrians were the first the more insolent and more obstinate in the revolt nay not content to maintain their own liberty they attempted to rule over their neighbours and harrassed the Vaccaeans the Curgonians and the Autrigonians with their frequent incursions Against these therefore as such as were reported to be the most daring Caesar did not put the expedition upon another but went in person Being come to Segisama he encamped afterwards dividing his Army he compassed the whole Country of Cantabria and subdu'd that savage Nation like wild beasts taken in a toyl Nor had they any quiet at Sea where our Navy charg'd the enemies in the reare The first engagement with the Cantabrians was under the Walls of Vellica Thence they fled to the most steepy Mountain Vindius where they thought the Ocean would ascend sooner than the Roman Armies Thirdly the City Arracillum made great resistance but at last was taken by the Siege of the Edulian Mountain compassed with a trench of fifteen miles by which means the Romans falling on of all sides and the Barbarians being reduc'd to the utmost extremities they anticipated their own deaths some by fire some by the sword in the midst of their banquets and some by poison which is there commonly extracted out of the Yew-trees and so the greater part of them prevented that captivity which they saw coming upon them Caesar wintring at Tarracon a Sea-Town receiv'd an account of these things done by Antistius Furnius and Agrippa his Lieutenants Being come to the Army he forc'd some out of the Mountains engaged others by Hostages and according to martial Law exposed some to sale as slaves The Senate thought the expedition worthy a Lawrel worthy a triumphal Charriot But Caesar was already so great as to slight Triumphs The Asturians having about the same time got a vast Army together were come down out of their Mountains * Nec temere sumptus ut Barbari impetus nor was their attempt inconsiderate as is ordinary with Barbarians but having encamped at the River Astura they divided their Forces into three bodies and design'd to set upon the three Camps of the Romans at the same time It had been a hazardous and a bloody bout * Et uticnam mutua clade certamen I wish the losse on both sides had been but equal we having to do with people so valiant and coming upon us so unexpectedly and with so much deliberation if they had not been betray'd by the Brigaecini by whom Carisius being forewarned came with the Army and frustrated their designs Yet was not that done without much bloodshed The remainders of that most valiant defeated Army escaped to the City Lancia where there was so sharp an encounter that the Soldiry desiring â—hat the City being taken might be fir'd the General with much ado prevayl'd with them That it should be a monument of the Roman victory rather as it stood than burnt Here Augustus put a period to his warlike exploits and this was the last rebellion of Spain From that time there was constant fidelity and a continual peace which proceeded partly from the inclinations of the Inhabitants then more bent thereto and partly from Caesar's prudence who fearing the confidence they deriv'd from their Mountainous habitations into which they retreated commanded them thence forward to inhabit in the plains where his Camp was * Ingentis ecce cousilii â—llud Observaâ—i caepit natuae c. Behold that indeed was an act of great policy Men began to make observations into the nature of the Country which was full of Gold-mines and well stor'd with borax and vermilion and other colours He therefore commanded the ground to be cultivated So the Asturians began to understand the wealth they had lying under ground while they digg'd it out for others All Nations to the West and South being quieted as also to the North onely within the Rhine and the Dannow and in like manner to the East between * Tigris Tigris and Euphrates those others also which were not subject to the Empire were yet sensible of its greatnesse and look'd on the Roman people as Conquerors of the world For even the Scyâ—hians and Sarmatians sent their Ambassadors to us desiring our friendship The Seres also and the Indians who live under the very Sun came with gems and precious stones and bringing also Elephants among their presents complain'd of nothing so much as the greatnesse of their journey which they compleated in four years and yet the very colour of the men argu'd their coming from under another Sun The Parthians also as if it repented them of the Victory of their own accord return'd the Ensignes at the overthrow given to Crassus So was all mankind reduc'd to a firm and uninterrupted peace either by conquest or compact And Caesar Augustus in the seven hundredth year from the first building of the City presum'd to shut the Temple of double-fac'd Janus which had been shut but twice before him under King Numa and after the first reduction of Carthage Thence forward giving his thoughts to peace he reform'd an age bent to all enormities and inclining to dissolution by many prudent and severe edicts For these so many transcendent Actions he was denominated Perpetual Dictator and Father of the Country It was debated in the Senate whether he should be called Romulus because he had establish'd the Empire But the name of AUGUSTUS was thought more sacred and more venerable that even while he lives on Earth he might in name and title be ranked among the Gods A TABLE Of the several CHAPTERS contained in the whole Book The first Book CHAP. I. THe Birth of Romulus first King of the Romans the actions of his youth the foundation of Rome the death of his
been victorious in Affrick are at last defeated Publius Scipio undertakes the war and comes off with successe and renown 59 CHAP. VII The Romans enter into a war against the Macedonians who had assisted Hannibal The Macedonians defeated King Philip makes a peace the Romans give liberty to the Grecians page 72 CHAP. VIII Antiochus King of Syria demands a City of Thrace of the Romans who thereupon take occasion to enter into a war against him He is overcome by Aemilius Regulus A second defeat of Antiochus upon which he accepts of a peace 75 CHAP. IX The Rhodians and Athenians use their mediation with the Romans on the behalf of the Aetolians Cephalenia and other Islands subdu'd by the Romans 79 CHAP. X. The Istrians plunder Manlius's Camp but afterwards being surpriz'd in the midst â—f the jollity are defeated and their King taken prisoner 80 CHAP. XI The Gallo-grecians are subdu'd by the Romans the great courage and gallâ—ntry of a Ladâ— in revenging her self of a Centurion who had done her violence CHAP. XII The second Macedonian or Persian war the allyance between the Macedonians and the Thraciansâ— the policy of K. Perses who yet is overcome by P. Aemilius The description of a magnificent triumph the news of the Victory brought to Rome the very day of the Engagement by the means of two young men who were thought to be Castor and Pollux page 82 CHAP. XIII The Illyrians are vanquish'd by the Praetor Anicius Scodra the chief City of their Country layd desolate 85 CHAP. XIV The third Macedonian war occasion'd by the usurpation of a mean person named Andriscus the Praetor Juventius is overcome by him but sufficiently reveng'd by Metellus who brings Andriscus captive to Rome 86 CHAP. XV. The third Pudick or Carthaginian war the deplorable destruction of the City of Carthage by young Scipio 88 CHAP. XVI Corinth the Metropolis of Achaia declared an enemy to the people of Rome for the affronts done to their Ambassadors it is destroy'd and consum'd by fire 91 CHAP. XVII An account of Transactions in Spain which is set upon by the Romans and the Provinces of it subdu'd by several Commanders the policy and valour of a Spanish Captain he is afterwards kill'd by a Roman Soldier Viriathus a Portuguez compar'd to Romulus Pompilius orders him to be murther'd page 93 CHAP. XVIII The City of Numantia opposes the Romans for many years Hostilius Mancinus the Roman General defeated by the Numantians and by order of the Senate deliver'd into the hands of the enemies The constancy and cruel resolution of Numantia exercised on it self 79 CHAP. XIX A summary of the Roman wars for the space of two hundred years 101 CHAP. XX. Attalus King of Pergamus makes the people of Rome his Heir Astronicus takes occasion thence to enter into a war against them Crassus defeated and taken Prisoner Astronicus subdu'd and put into chains the unworthy procedure of Aquilius in poisoning the springs and by that means blasting the reputation of the Romans 103 The Third Book CHAP. I. Jugurth King of Numidia wars against the Romans he endeavours to overcome them by arâ—ifiâ—es and presents At last after several defeats he is betray'd into the hands of Sâ—lla by the meaâ—â—â—â— Bocchus page 105 CHAP. II. The victory obtainâ—d by the Romans beyond the Alps over the Salii the Allobroges and the Aruerni Domitius Aenobarbus and Fabus Maximuâ— erect Towers of stone and set up Trophies on them 109 CHAP. III. The Cimbri and Tentones design an Incursion into Italy they defeat several Armies of the Romans but are at last defeated themselves by Marius The strange resolution of their Wives A miraculous thing happen'd at Rome after the defeat 110 CHAP. IV. The Thracians revolt commit many insolences and â—nhumanities Porrius Cato defeated by them at last they are defeated by divers Roman Generals The Victory obtain'd by Lucullus 115 CHAP. V. Mithridates wars against the Romans and takes Bithynia from them and bring all Asia into an inclination to revolt He causes all the Roman Citizens to be massacred in the Provinces of Asia Sylla defeats him in two battels Mithridates raises a greater Army besieges Cyzicum and is overcome by Lucullus The signal Victory of Pompey over both Mithridates and Tigranes He over-runs all Asia and brings it in subjection to the Romans page 117 CHAP. VI. The Cilician Pirates scour the Seas and hinder Commerce Pompey's miraculous success in the reduction of them in forty days 124 CHAP. VII The Cretians set upon by the Romans defeat the Army of M. Antonius Metellus revenges the affront and treats them most cruelly 127 CHAP. VIII The Inhabitants of the Balearick Islands turn Pirates and engage with the Roman Fleet by which they are defeated 128 CHAP. IX Cyprus sack'd by the Romans and the wealth of it brought to Rome by Porcius Cato 130 CHAP. X. A memorable Exploit of Caesars among the Gauls and in Great Britain He builds a Bridge over the Rhine Vercingetorix submits to him 131 CHAP. XI Crassus vanquish'd and kill'd by the Parthians the indignity exercised by his enemies upon him after his death CHAP. XII A Recapitulation comprehending a Description of the Misfortunes of the Romans proceeding from plenty and that their arming against themselves is to be attributed to the same cause page 139 CHAP. XIII Of the Sedition occasion'd by the power bestow'd on the Tribunes 142 CHAP. XIV The Sedition occasion'd by Tiberius Gracchus who is opposed and kill'd 143 CHAP. XV. Caius Graachus attempts to prosecute the design of his Brother Tiberius and is murthered by Opimius upon Mount-Aventine 145 CHAP. XVI Apuleius Saturninus renews the quarrel of the Grachii he is assisted by Marius and commits many outrages Marius is forced to desert him He gets into the Capitol and surrenders himself to the Senate The people tear him to pieces 146 CHAP. XVII Livius Drusus would inforce the Graachane Laws Cepio violates the Senate The Consul Philippus opposing him is unworthily treated the sudden death of Drusus 148 CHAP. XVIII All Italy in a commotion a general conspiracy which after great destructions of men is at last appeased page 150 CHAP. XIX An insurrection of the Slaves Sicily under the Government of a Syrian who feigns himself a Fanatick They are at last overcome and punish'd by the valour of Rupilius A second insurrection of the Slaves quieted by Aquilius 152 CHAP. XX. Spartacus a Gladiator heads an Army of Slaves and puts many affronts on the Romans at last Licinius Crassus vindicates the honour of Rome by the death of the Gladiator 155 CHAP. XXI The civil War of the Romans occasion'd by the ambition of Marius and Sylla 158 CHAP. XXII The valour of Sertorius banish'd Rome by the proscription of Sylla He makes an insurrection in Spain and after many gallant exploits is kill'd by treachery 164 CHAP. XXIII Lepidus raises new commotions he is vanquish'd and dies in Sardinia 166 The Fourth Book CHAP. I. The detestable conspiracy of Catiline
against his Country he is assisted by several persons of the Noblest Families in Rome Cicero discovers the design the punishment of the Conspirators Antonius gives Catiline and his Army an absolute overthrow page 168 CHAP. II. A Relation of the War between Caesar and Pompey which was rather an universal one than a civil The league between Pompey Crassus and Caesar the distrust between Caesar and Pompey upon which ensu'd an open war Pompey flies out of Italy Caesar's exploits he besieges Marseils passes over into Spain defeats Pompey's Lieutenants and follows him into Epirus The courage and fortune of Caesar Pompey vanquish'd by him in Thessaly his deplorable death in Aegypt Caesar utterly destroys the Army of Pharnaces Scipio defeated Cata and Juba the bloody fight against Pompey's Sons the valour conduct and incomparable fortune of Caesar his clemency the great honours attributed to him he is envied at Rome and murthered page 172 CHAP. III. Sextus Pompeius demands his Father's estate Octavius resolves to revenge Caesar's death Mark Anthony a slave to Cleopatra 194 CHAP. IV. The quarrel between Octavius Caesar and Marcus Antonius the siege of Mutina raised 194 CHAP. V. The confederaâ—y between Oâ—tavius M. Antonius and Lepidus the proscriptions and great cruelties exercised at Rome 195 CHAP. VI. Brutus and Câ—ssius charged by Octavius and Antonius the memorable fight in Thessaly attended by prodigies the death of Brutus and Cassius 197 CHAP. VII A commotion raised bâ— M. Antonius who shut up in Perusia by Octavius Caesar is forc'd to surrender it 200 CHAP. VIII Young Pompey possesses himself of Sicily and Sardinia his flight and shameful death 201 CHAP. IX The incursions of the Parthians under the Conduct of young Pacorus They are defeated by the prudence of Ventidius Pacorus's death page 203 CHAP. X. The Alliance between the Romans and the Parthians broken through the vanity of Marcus Antonius The inconveniences endur'd by the Roman Army and the generous resolution of the Soldiery the insolence and brutality of Antonius 205 CHAP. XI Antonius besotted with the love of Cleopatra promises her the Roman Empire the preparations for the war a Naval engagement between Octavius and Antonius the death of him and Cleopatra 209 CHAP. XII A war raised by the Germans in Augustus's time his exploits in the Northern Provinces the valour and conduct of Drusus who is surnam'd Germanicus his death Quintilius surpriz'd by the Germans his defeat A war in Armenia the attempt of a Barbarian on the person of Caius Augustus's conquests in Spain a general Peace the most remote Nations submit to the Roman Empire the Parthians return the Ensignes taken from Crassus Octavius Caesar shuts Janus-Temple He is named Father of the Country and Augustus An Advertisement TO ALL Gentlemen Book-sellers or others WHereas Samuel Speed Book-seller hath lately undertaken a Whole-sale Trade for Books not making any appearance of that Imployment by Retailing in a Shop as formerly he did These are to certifie That those persons that please to apply themselves to him for Books shall be as well used as by any person whatsoever And whosoever hath any Study or Library of Books or Copies either in Manuscript or such as have been already Printed to dispose of shall receive from him the full value thereof to the said Parties ample Satisfaction BOOKS Printed for Samuel Speed Book-seller between the Two Temple Gates in Fleet-street PHâ—ramond the fam'd Romance written by Author of those other two Eminent Volumes Cassandra and Cleopatra in Folio Palmerin of England in three Parts in Quarto The Destruction of Troy in three Parts in quarto Quintus Curtius his life of Alexander the Great in English in quarto Montelion Knight of the Oracle in quarto Primaleon of Greece in quarto The Jewel-House of Art and Nature by Sir Hugh Plat in quarto The Womans Lawyer by Sir John Dodridge in quarto Divine Law or the Patrons Purchaser by Alexander Huckston in quart The compleat Parson by Sir John Dodridge in quarto Star-Chamber Cases in quarto Actions of the Case for Deeds by William Sheppard Esq in Folio The life of Henry the Great in English written by the Bishop of Rhodes in Octavo The Villain a Tragedy by Tho. Porter Esq in quarto Observations of the Statesmen and Favorites of England since the Reformation their Rise and Growths Prudence and Policies Miscarriages and Falls during the Reigns of K. Henry the Eight K. Edward the Sixth Qu. Mary Qu. Elizabeth K. James and K. Charles the first By David Lloyd A.M. in Octavo The Precedency of Kings by James Howel Esq in Folio The Description of Tangier with an account of the life of Gayland the Usurper of the Kingdom of Fez. in q. The Golden Coast or a Description of Guinney in quarto An Abridgement of the Reports of Sir George Crooks three Volumes in oct An Abridgement of the Reports of Sir Francis More in Octavo The Compleat Lawyer by William Noy of Lincolnes Inn in Octavo The Tenants Law a Treatise of great use for Tenants and Farmers of all kindes and all other persons whatsoever Wherein the several Natures Differences and Kindes of Tenures and Tenants are discussed and several Cases in the Law touching Leases Rents Distresses Replevins and other Accidents between Landlord and Tenant and Tenant and Tenant between themselves and others especially such who have suffered by the late Conflagration in the City of London with Rules for Determination of Differences without troubling the most Honourable Court of Judicature by R.T. Gent. in Twelves Memoires of the Lives Actions Sufferings and Deaths of those Noble Reverend and Excellent Personages that suffered by Death Sequestration Decimation or otherwise for the Protestant Religion and the great principle thereof Allegiance to their Soveraign in our late intestine Wars by David Lloyd A.M. in Folio Arithmetical Recreations by W. Leybourn in Twelves The Reports of Sir Henry Hobart in Folio The Compleat Copy-Holder by the Lord Cook in quarto Machiavels Discourses and Prince in Twelves The Roman History of Lucius Florus in Octavo The City and Country Purchaser and Builder with Directions for Purchasing Building and improving of Lands and Houses in any part of England by Stephen Primate Gent. in Octavo A brief Chronicle of the late intestine War in the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Irâ—land From the years of our Lord 1637. to the year 1663. by James Heath Gent. now reprinting in Folio The new Academy of Complements erected for Ladies and Gentlemen containing Variety of Complements and Letters fitted to the occasions of all persons of both Sexes with an exact Collection of the Newest and Choicest Songs A la mode both Amorous and Jovial in Twelves Systema Agriculturae Being the whole Mystery of Husbandry made known by J.G. Gent. in Folio FINIS