All that thou sees't and readest is Divine Learning thus vs'd is water turn'd to wine Well may wee then despaire to draw his minde View heere the case i' th Booke the Jewell finde THE LIFE DEATH OF HANNIBAL THE GREAT CAPTAIN OF THE CARTHAGINIANS Who maintained Wars against all the power of ROME for eighteen years together in ITALY AS ALSO The LIFE and DEATH of EPAMINONDAS the GREAT CAPTAIN of the THEBANS Who was famous both for his Virtues and Valour By SA CLARKE sometime Pastor in St Bennet Finck London LONDON Printed for William Miller at the Guilded Acorn in St Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door 1665. THE LIFE DEATH OF HANNIBAL the Great CARTHAGINIAN CAPTAIN Who maintained Wars in ITALY against the ROMAMS for eighteen years together By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pastor in St Bennet Finck London LONDON Printed for William Miller at the Sign of the Guilded-Acorn in St. Pauls Churchyard near the little North door 1665. Licensed Roger L'estrange October 20. 1664. THE LIFE DEATH OF HANNIBAL THE GREAT HAnnibal the Son of Amilcar was about tweenty six years old when he was chosen Generall of the Carthaginian Forces in Spain He was elected by the Army as soon as Asdrubal their late Generall was dead and the election was approved and confirmed by the Senate of Carthage wherewith Hanno and his faction was nothing pleased This was now the third of the Barchine Famely so called of Amilcar whose surname was Barcas that commanded in chief over the men of War Hanno therefore and his Partizans being neither able to tax the Virtue of their enemies nor to perform the like services to the Common-wealth had nothing left whereby to value themselves excepting the generall reprehensions of War and cautelous advise of not provoking the Romans but they were little regarded For the Carthaginians saw apparently that the Oath of the Romans to the Articles of Peace was like to hold no longer than till the Romans could find some good advantage to renew the War It was therefore rather desired by the Carthaginians that whilst they were in a fit condition the War should begin rather than in some unhappy time of Famine or Pestilence or after some great losse in their Army or Fleet they should be driven to yeild to the impudent demands of their insulting enemies This disposition of his Citizens Hannibal well enough understood Neither was he ignorant that in making War with the Romans it was no small advantage to get the start of them Could he but bring his Army into Italy he hoped to find Friends and assistance even from those People that helped to encrease the Armies of the Romans But his design must be carried privately or else it would be prevented He resolved therefore to lay Siege to Saguntum in Spain where he now was with his Army which might seem not greatly to concern the Romans and would highly please the Carthaginians Having resolved hereupon neverthelesse he went orderly to work beginning with those that lay next in his way First therefore he entered into the Territory of the Olâ—ades and besieging Althaea in a few dayes he became Master not only of it but of all the other Townes in their Country and the Winter coming on he rested his Army in New Carthage or Carthagena imparting liberally to his Souldiers of the Spoiles that he had gotten in his late Conquests In the Spring he made War upon the Vaccâ—i and with little difficulty wan first Salamanca and after it Arbucala though not without a long Seige and much difficulty But in his return he was put to the height both of his Valour and Prudence For all such of the Vaâ—caei that could bear Armes being made desperate by the Spoile of their Country with diverse others that had escaped in the late overthrow joyning with the Toletans made up an Army of one hundred thousand able men waiting for Hannibal on the Banks of the River Tagus They knew that he was very adventurous and had never turned his back upon any enemy and therefore hoped that having him at such an advantage they should easily have foiled him But at this time our Great man of War knew as well how to dissemble his Courage as at other times to make good use of it For he withdrew himself from the River side as seeming fearfull to passe over it aiming thereby to draw over that great multitude from their Banks of advantage The Spaniards as Hannibal expected and desired thinking that he retreated out of feare thrust themselves in a disordered manner into the River to pursue him But when Hannibal saw them well neare over he turned back his Elephants to antertain them at their landing and thrust his Horsemen both above and beneath them into the River who by the advantage of their weapons slew almost all of those in the River without resistance and then pursued the rest who being amazed fled and so he made a very great slaughter of them The Saguntines perceiving the storme drawing near to them hastened their Ambassadours to Rome who complained that they were like to be undone onely for their Friendship to the Romans This so moved the Senate that some would have War presently proclaimed both by Sea and Land and the two Consuls sent with Armies one into Spain the other into Affrick But others went more soberly to work according to the Roman gravity whereby it was concluded that Ambassadours should be sent into Spain to view the State of their Confederates These Ambassadours found Hannibal at Carthagena where they had Conference with him who carried himself so reservedly that they departed as doubtfull as they came But whilst they were passing to and fro Hannibal prepared not only his Forces but some Roman pretences against Saguntum For the Tudetani who were neighbours to the Saguntines complained to him of sundry wrongs that they had received from them of Saguntum Probably Hannibal himself had hatched some of them Having therefore such an occasion he sat down with his whole Army before Saguntum The Romanes were glad of the Quarrel as hoping that Carthage with all belonging thereto would in short space become their own Yet were they not hasty to threaten before they were ready to strike but meant to temporize untill they had an Army in readinesse to be sent into Spain where they intended to make Saguntum the seat of War In the beginning of Hannibals Siege his Carthaginians were much discouraged by reason of the brave Sallies which the Saguntines made upon them in one of which Hannibal himself received a dangerous wound in the thigh that made him unable to stir for many dayes Yet in the meantime he was not unmindfull of his businesse but gave order to build certain movable Towers that might equall those upon the City walls and to prepare to batter the Curtaines and to make a breach These being finished and applied had soon wrought their desired effect A large breach was made
Offices Yet despised he not this meane Office but discharged it very Faithfully For said he the Office or Authority shewes not only what the man is but also the man what the Office is Shortly after Epaminondas was returned out of Thessaly the Arcadians were overcome by Archidamus and the Lacedemonians who in the fight lost not a man and therefore they called this journey the tearlesse Battel and Epaminondas forseeing that the Arcadians would yet have another storme he gave them counsel to fortifie their Towns which they did accordingly and built that City which afterwads was called Megalopolis situated in a very convenient place Whilst the Thebans made War with the Elians their neighbours the minde of Epaminondas was alwayes lifted up to high enterprizes for the good of his Country wherefore in an Oration which he made to his Citizens he preswaded them to make themselves strong by Sea and to endeavour to get the principality and to make themselves the Lords thereof This Oration was full of lively reasons whereby he shewed and proved unto them that the enterpize was both honourable and profitable which he made out by sundry Arguments telling them that it was an easy thing for them who were now the stronger by Land to make themselves also the stronger by Sea and the rather for that the Athenians in the War against Xerxes though they had armed and set forth two hundred Gallyes armed and well appointed with men yet they willingly submitted themselves to the Lacedemonians He alleadged many other reasons whereby he prevailed so far that the Thebans were willing to undertake the enterprize and thereupon gave present order to build an hundred Gallies and an Arsenall with so many rooms that they might lay them under covert in the Dock They ordered also to send to them of Rhodes and of Chio and of Byzantium to desire their furthrance in this enterprize for which end Epaminondas was sent with an Army unto these Cities In his Passage he met with Leches a Captain of the Athenians with a number of Ships in his Fleet who was sent on purpose to hinder this designe of the Thebans Yet Epaminondas so affrighted him that he made him retire back again and holding on his course he brought the aforenamed Cities to enter into League with the Thebans Shortly after the Thebans fell out with the City of Orchomene which had done them great hurt and mischiefe and having won it by assault slew all the men that were able to bear Armes and made all the women and children Slaves Some time after the death of Pelopidas certain private Persons of Mantinea fearing to be called to an account for their bad behaviours and robberies which they had committed if the Arcadians and Elians should agree they so brought it about that they raised a new quarrel in the Country which was divided into two Factions whereof the Mantineans were the chief on the one side and the Tageates on the other This quarrel went so far that the Parties would needs try it by Armes The Tageates sent to request aid of the Thebans who accordingly chose Epaminondas their Captain Generall and sent him with a good number of men of War to aid the Tageates The Mantineans being terrified with this aid that came out of Boeotia to their eneemies and at the reputation of their Captain they immediatly sent to the Athenians and Lacedemonians the greatest enemies of the Boeotians for their assistance which both the Cities granted Upon this there fell out many and great skirmishes in diverse parts of Peloponnesus and Epaminondas being not far off from Mantinea understood by some of the Country men that Agesilaus and his Lacedemonians were come into the Field and that they wasted all the Territories of the Tageates whereupon judging that there were but few men left in the City of Sparta to defend it he undertook a great exploit and dangerous and had certainly effected it if the marvelous good Fortune of Sparta had not hindred it His designe was this He departed from Tegea by night the Mantineans knowing nothing of it and taking a by way he had certainly surprised Sparta without striking a stroak had not a Post of Candia speedily carried word of it to Agesilaus who immediatly dispatched away an Horsman to give intelligence to them of Sparta to stand upon their guard and he himself speedily hasted after and arrived there a little before the coming of the Thebans who being very near the City a little before day they gave an assault to them that defended it This made Agesilâ—us to bestir himself wonderfully even beyond the strength of so old a man But his Son Archidamus and Isadas the Son of Phaebidas fought valiantly on all parts Epaminondas seeing how prepared the Spartanes were to oppose him began then to suspect that his design was discovered yet notwithstanding he left not off to force them all he could though he fought with great disadvantage considering the places wherein he was yea he continued fighting courageously till the Army of the Lacedemonians came on and till the night approached whereupon he sounded a retreat Then being informed that the Mantineans came on also with their forces he withdrew his Army somewhat farther off from the Town and there Camped After which he caused his men to refresh themselves with victuals and leaving certain Horsemen in the Camp he commanded them to make fires in the morning and in the mean time himself with the rest of his men went to surprize Mantinea before any should discover that he was departed Yet herein also he failed of his purpose the prosperity of the Thebans being come to its height and the course of Epaminondas his Life drawing neer to an end whereby Greece was deprived of this Noble and famous Captain from whom was taken a most notable Victory and that twice by strange accidents For at the second time when he was come neer to Mantinea that was left without guard and defence just then on the other side of the Town there arrived six thousand Athenians conducted by their Captain Hegelecus who having put sufficient force into the Town ordered the rest of his Army in Battel array without the Walls and immediatly also came the Mantineans and Lacedemonians together who prepared to put all to the hazard of a Battel and therefore sent for their Allies from all parts and when they were come together they were in all twenty five thousand Foot and two thousand Horse The Arcadians Boeotians and their partakers were thirty thousand Foot and three thousand Horse When they came to the Battel first the Horse charged with great fury and the Horsmen of the Athenians encountering with the Thehans proved too weak for them not because they were lesse valiant or hardy than the other but because they had not so good Chieftains and had few Archers amongst their Troops The Thebans on the other side were all excellently well appointed and had
water But he was greatly assisted by those of Vivarets and Lionois for though many of them had transported themselves and their goods into Daulphine thinking to defend the Banks against him yet such as remained being willing to free their Country from such unwelcome Guests they helped him to make Boats informed him of a better passage higher up the River and sent him Guides When his Boats were ready he sent Hanno the Son of Bomilcar up the River to the Foard and himself in the mean time made a shew of entering the Foard below that Hanno charging the Gauls on their own side and himself at the same time passing the River in their faces might win the further Bank which was done accordingly though with some difficulty and thereby the enemies were dispersed Having passed this first brunt and overcome both the rage of the River and those that defended it he was visited by the Princes of the Cisalpine-Gauls that inhabited Piemont and Milan who had lately revolted from the Romanes These informed him that the passage over the Alps was not so difficult as report made it and gave him Guides with many other encouragements Yet found he himself extreamly encombred by the Savoyards and lost more of his Carriages and Carthaginians than he could well spare For he was twice strongly assaulted by them before he could recover the plaines on the other side He was fifteen dayes passing over the Alps wherein besides the trouble of his enemies he was much assaulted by foule weather and Snow it being now the begining of Winter But the fair and fertile plaines which they now were entring into with the assistance and encouragment of the Cisalpine Gauls gave them much comfort having nothing else of difficulty remaining but that which from the begining they made account to overcome by their proper valour and resolution namely the Romane Armies and resistance The Romane Ambassadours who had denounced War at Carthage in their return homewards took Spain in their way with a purpose to draw into their Alliance as many Cities and Princes as they could The first that they attempted were the Volcians from whom they received this answer that they would never joyn with them who had forsaken the Saguntines in their greatest need and that themselves had found the Cathaginians such good neighbours that they meant still to adhere to them From Spain the Ambassadours passed through Gaul perswading them not to suffer Hannibal to passe through their Countery and gloried much in their own strength But the Gauls laughed them to scorn and had scarce patience to hear them speak Telling them that they meant not to set their own Houses on Fire to save the Romanes from burning That the Carthaginians had never offended them as the Romanes had done who had already forced some of them out of their habitations and made others Tributaries who were as free as themselves With these unpleasing answers the Ambassadours returned home carrying no good newes of friends like to help them but rather that the Gauls intended to take part with their enemies And accordingly when the Cisalpine-Gauls heard that the Carthaginians had passed Iberus and were marching towards Rome the Bâ—ij and Insubrians rose up against the Romans Their quarrel was the late planting of Roman Colonies at Câ—emona and Placentia within their Territories Relying therefore upon the Carthaginian succour which they thought to be at hand laying aside all regard of those Hostages that they had lately given to the Romans they fell upon those Colonies The Towns they could not win but they forced the Romane Comissioners which were abroad to fly into Modena where they besieged them But the Gauls having little skill in besieging Cities grew weary and were desirous of Peace This they did on purpose to draw on some meeting that laying hands on the Romane Deputies they might with them redeem their Hostages and it fell out in part according to their wish For Ambassadours comming to them from Rome to treat with them they made them Prisoners Manlius the Praetor hearing of this outrage marched with his Army to relieve the besieged But the Gauls laid an Ambush in his way that falling upon him utterly routed him and slew most of his Army except a few that escaped into a defensible place upon the River Po. This being heard of at Rome C. Atilius the other Praetor hasted with an other Army to relieve the besieged But as the Gauls were too hasty so the Romans were too slow in the begining of this War For they could not believe that Carthage which had almost servilely endured so many indignities from them in the late peace durst be so bold on a suddain as to attempt the Conquest of Italy itself Wherefore they appointed one of their Consuls to make War in Spain and the other in Africk Titus Sempronius went into Africk with one hundred and sixty Gallies of five to an Oare which preparations seemed to threaten Carthage her self P. Cornelius Scipio the other Consul hasted towards Spain and by the way touching at Massilia he was there informed that Hannibal had passed the River Rhodanus whom he had thought to have found busy in Spain Hannibal also heard of the Consuls arrivall with whom he meant to have nothing to do Yet both sent forth Scouts Hannibal sent out five hundred Numidians and Scipio three hundred of his best Horse They met and fought and the Romans had the better of it But when Scipio drew neer thinking to have meâ— with the Carthaginians he found that they were gone three dayes before with an intent to see the Walls of Rome Scipio hereupon sent his Brother Cn. Cornelius Scipio into Spain with the greatest part of the Army against Asdrubal and himself with the choisest returned baâ—k and landing at Pisa he marched through Tuscany and Lumbardy where he drew together the broken Bands of Manlius and Atilius who were lately beaten by the Gauls intending therewith to oppose the enemy thinking to find them tired with their long Journey Five moneths Hannibal had spent in that tedious march from Carthagena When he had passed Rhodanus he had in his Army but thirty eight thousand Foot and eight thousand Horse the rest having perished with Diseases Enemies Rivers and Mountaines Having newly passed the Alps and scarce refreshed his wearied Army in Piemont he sought the friendship of the Taurini who being at this time in War with the Insubrians his good Friends the Taurini refused it whereupon he besieged their chiefe Town and in three dayes wan it the spoil whereof did much incourage his Army and the others Calamity terrified their Neighbours Most of those parts would willingly have joyned with Hannibal but when the Consul Scipio came amongst them they began to be better advised This wavering affection amongst the People made the Generals to hasten to a Battel Their meeting was aâ— Tieâ—nunâ— now Pavia where each of them wondred at the others expedition The
Senate at Rome were much amazed at Hannibals arrival in Italy wherefore they sent presently to Sempronius and the other Consul now in Sicily to give him notice of it and to require him speedily to return with his Army for the safegard of Italy which accordingly he did Scipio and Hannibal were now so near that fight they must ere they could part and therefore each of them encouraged their Souldiers by the best arguments they had Hannibal assuring his men that there was no mean betwixt Victory and Death When the Armies approached near each to other Scipio sent forth his Horsemen of the Gauls to begin the fight lining them with his Darters for their assistance himself with his men at Armes followed slowly in good order The Gauls being in their Generals sight behaved themselves gallantly and were as bravely opposed but their Darters at the very first ran cowardly away without casting a Dart for fear of being trodden down by the enemies Horse Yet did the Gauls maintain it stoutly and did more hurt than they received neither was Scipio unmindfull to relieve them wherefore he adventured himself so far that he received a dangerous wound and had there perished if his Son afterwards called Africanus had not brought him off Whilst the Romans were busy in helping their Consul an unexpected storm assailed them at their backs Hannibal had appointed his Numidian Horsemen to charge the Romans in their Flank and to compass them about whilst he with his men at Arms sustained their charge and met them in the face The Numidians preformed it well cutting in pieces the scattered Foot that ran away at the first encounter and then falling on the backs of those that charged Hannibal by this impression the Romans were shuâ—â—ed together and routed betaking themselves to their heels and leaving to their enemies the honour of the day Scipio perceiving how things were like to goe almost stole the Retreat with most of his Footmen yet unbroken and recovered the Bridge over Ticinus but notwithstanding his hast he lost six hundred of his men which brought up his Reare and should have broken down the Bridge It was two dayes after ere Hannibal could passe the River Scipio in the mean time refreshing his men and easing himself of his wound in Placentia But when Hannibal presented them Battel again and they durst not accept of it the Gauls which before assisted the Romans out of fear took courage and left them and thinking that now the time was come for the recovery of their liberty that night they fell upon the Roman Camp wounded and slew many especially of those that kept the Guard with whose Heads in their hands they fled over to the Carthaginians and presented their service Hannibal received them exceeding courteously and sent them to their own homes that they might preswade the rest of the Nation to become his confederates The same night the Consul stole a retreat as he had done before but not with the like successe For Hannibal had an eye upon him and ere he was gone far he sent his Numidians after him and himself followed with the Body of his Army Then had the Romans received a great blow but the Numidians greedy of prey fell to ransacking their Camp and thereby gave them liberty of escaping only some in the Reare were either slain or taken Prisoners Scipio being unable to travel by reason of his wound and judging it meet to stay for the coming of his fellow Consul entrenched himself strongly upon the Banks of the River Trebia which so diminished his reputation that every day more of the Gauls fell to Hannibal amongst whom came in the Boij that brought with them the Roman Commissioners Hitherto they had keept them as pledges wherewith to recover their own Hostages but now they delivered them to Hannibal as tokens of their affection to him Hannibal being in great want of victuals he attempted the taking of Clastidium wherein the Romans had laid all their Store and Amunition and a Brundusian that had the keeping of it surrendred it to him for a little money The newes of these disasters coming to Rome filled the Senate and People with a desire of revenge their Foot wherein their greatest strength lay being yet entire they therefore hasted away Sempronius with his Army who by speedy marches came to Scipio upon the Banks of Trebia The Consuls took counsel what was fittest to be done now that their Armies were conjoyned Sempronius was eager to fight before Scipio recovered of his wound that he might get the whole glory of the Victory He also feared the election of new Consuls his time being almost expired But Scipio perswaded the contrary by many arguments yet would not Sempronius be taken off wherewith Hannibal was exceedingly pleased who feared nothing so much as delayes To further the desire of Sempronius the Gauls that inhabited near to Trebia complained of injuries done to them by the Carthaginians Indeed they neglected to supply Hannibal with necessaries and therefore he was bold to be his own Carver Hereupon Sempronius sent forth a thousand Horse which coming unlooked for upon Hannibals Forragers who were heavy laden they cut many of them in pieces and chased the rest even to their Camp This indignity made the Carthaginians to sally out who caused them to retire faster than they came Sempronius relieved his own men and Hannibal did the like So that at length the Roman Army was drawn forth and Battel offered if the Carthaginians had not refused it This Victory for so the Consul would name it made the Romans very desirous to try it out in open Field notwithstanding Scipios diswasion from it This Hannibal was informed of by the Gauls that were in the Roman Camp therefore he resolved to secure the Victory by adding a Stratagem to his fortes He found in a hallow place overgrown with Reeds a fit trench to cover an Ambush Therein he cast his Brother Mago with a thousand choise Horse and as many Foot The rest of his Army when he had well fed and refreshed them he led into the Field and marched towards the Consuls Early in the morning he had sent over the River some Numidian Horsmen to brave the enemy and draw him forth to a bad Dinner before he had broken his Fast. Sempronius readily embraced the oportunity of fighting and forthwith sent over the River in a miserable cold day his Footmen who were almost to the armeholes which together with the waâ—t of food did much enfeeble them The Romans were strong in Foot having in all thirty six thousand the Masse of those were ranged in a grosse Battalion guarded on the Flanks with three thousand Horse thrusting their light-armed and Darters in loose Companies before the rest in the nature of a Vauâ—â—guard The Carthaginians equalled them in Foot and exceeded them in Horse when therefore the Roman Horse were broken by the Numidians when their Foot were
they declined the fight The Carthaginian Battel was herewith more terrified then before so that refusing to give way to the Mercenaries they sell out amongst themselves and forbore to make head against their Enemies Thus were many of them beaten down and slain through their own indiscretion And this gave the Romans such advantage that the made a great slaughter both of the Carthaginians and Mercenaries who could neither fight nor easily fly Such as could ran towards Hannibal who kept his ground and would not stir to help these run-wayes Then did Scipio advance against Hannibal who intertained him after an other manner than ever he had been received in his life before All the former dayes work seemed but a Pastime in comparison of this The Romans were incouraged because they had prevailed all the day before they were also far more in number But Hannibals old Blades were fresh and the better men They fought with such obstinate resolution that no man gave back one Foot but rather chose to die than to lose their ground so that for a long time the Victory was uncertain But the return of Massanissa and Laelius with the Horse from the pursute of the Enemies was to the Romans most happy and in a needfull time These upon a suddain charging Hannibal upon the Reer overbore them with meer violence and put them to â—ouâ— Hannibal with a few Horse saved himselfe by flight and staid not till he came to Carthage where coming into the Senate he told them plainly that there was no other way left but to make such a Peace as could be procured Amongst other things it was agreed that the Carthaginians should pay to the Romans two hundred Talents a year for fifty years together Which mony when it came to be collected there was pitious lamentation amongst the People the Roman yoak begining to pinch them already that some of the Senators could not forbear weeping but Hannibal could not refrain from laughter For which Asdrubal Haedus one of Hanno's faction checked him saying that it ill becommed him to laugh since he had been the cause why all others did weep He answered that laughter did not alwayes proceed from joy but sometimes from indignation Yet said he My laughter is more seasonable and lesse obsurd than your teares For you should have wept when you gave up your Ships and Elephants and when you bound up your hands from use of Armes without the good leave of the Romans This miserable condition keeps us under and holds us in assured sevitude But of these things you had no feeling Now when a little mony is wrung from you you are very sensible of that God grant that the time come not wherein you shall acknowledge that it was the least part of your misery for which you have shed these teares Afterwards Hannibal in the Civill administration of the City gave an overthrow or two to the Judges which at that time bore all the sway in Carthage having all the lives goods and fame of the rest in their power Shortly after Hannibal was chosen Praetor by virtue of which Office he was superiour to them for that year He sent upon an occasion for one of the Treasurers to come to him but he proudly refused wherupon Hannibal sent a Pursevant for him and brought him in Judgment before the People accusing not only him but the rest of the Judges for their insolency and unbridled power withall propounding a Law that the Judges should be chosen from year to year He found also that they had robbed the Treasury which caused the Taxes to be laid upon the common People whereof he made such plain demonstration that they were compelled to restore with shame what they had gotten by knavery This so irritated his Enemies who were of the Romans Faction that they complained to the Roman Senate that the Barchine Faction grew strong again and that Hannibal would shortly be in Armes For he was like a wild Beast that could never be tamed that he held secret intelligence with King Antiochus who was an enemy to the Romans c. Hereupon the Senate sent three Ambassadors to Carthage to demand Hannibal but he kept such good espiall upon the Romans that he was informed of their intentions against which he was never unprepared And therefore when night was come he stole out of the City accompanied with two Friends whom he could trust and having Horses in a readinesse he rode all night and came to a Tower of his own by the Sea sâ—â—e and having provided a Ship in readinesse he bad Africk farewel lamenting the misfortune of his Country more than his own and shaped his course to Tyre which was the Mother City of Carthage There he was intertained Royally in whose worth and honour the Tyrians thought themselves to have interest because of the affinity between the Cities Thence went he to Antiochus who was exceeding glad of his coming intending War against the Romans To him Hannibal gave excellent advice how he might carry on his War against the Romans with best advantage but Antiochus hearkned more to his Courtiers than to him and so was shamfully beaten by the Romans at which time he admired Hannibal as a wise man yea as a Prophet who long before had foreseen and foretold him what now was come to passe and when it was too late wished that he had followed his Counsel To be brief Antiochus was forced by the Romans to sue for Peace which at last the Romans yeilded to Provided amongst other things that Hannibal might be delivered into their hands Hannibal getting an incling of this fled to Gortina in Creet where he lived a long time very quietly but at length he fell into the envy of many by reason of his great wealth whereupon he filled certain great chests with Lead and deposited them in the Temple of Diana there as if he kept the Treasure for a dead lift and thereupon the People having such a Pledge as that of him looked lesse after him But he in the mean time stole away to Prusias King of Bythinia having first molten his Gold and powered it into some hollow Statues of Brasse which he carried away with him Shortly after there fell a War between Prusias and Eumenes King of Pergamus Prusias being encouraged to break his League and to make War upon him by his confidence in Hannibal whom he had there to mannage his War for him The War therefore grew hot betwixt them both by Land and Sea But Eumenes by the assistance of the Romans overpowred Prusias in both And whereas Prusias was but weak of himself Hannibal procured him the assistance of some other Kings and States and those of very Warlike Nations and amongst them the aide of Philip King of Macedonia who sent him Philocles his General with a very considerable Army to help him When Prusias had received an overthrow from Eumenes by land he sought to try his
Pelopidas did so lift up and encourage the Thebans that they became more famous than 〈…〉 were before The year following Artaxerxes King of Persia intending to make War against Aegypt and therein to intertain diverse strangers laboured to make Peace amongst the Grecians in hope that they being at Peace amongst themselves would be the more willing to have Souldiers leavied amongst them For which end he sent Ambassadours to all the Townes of Greece to preswade and intreat them to be at Peace amongst themselves The Greeks were very willing to harken hereto being wearied on all sides with such long Wars and so were easily drawn to make Peace wherein it was especially agreed and concluded that all the Cities of Greece should be free and use their own Lawes and Commissioners were sent abroad to withdraw all the Garrisons where any were kept Unto this the Thebans only refused to agree that every Town should severally capitulate for it requesting that the Towns in the Country of Boeotia should be comprehended under the City of Thebes but the Athenians mightily opposed themselves against this and Calistratus one of their Orators made a notable Oration about it before all the States of Greece Epaminondas on the contrary made an excellent and vehement speech in defence of the right of the Thebans insomuch as this controversy was left undecided and the Treaty of Peace was universally agreed to amongst all the other Grecians the Thebans only excepted who were not comprised in it At this time the Athenians and Lacedemonians who had long contended amongst themselves about the Principality of Greece now agreed that the one should command by Sea and the other by Land And therefore they could not endure that the Thebans should aspire to be chief which made them seek to dismember the other Towns of Boeotia from them the rather for that the Thebans being strong and lusty of Body and much encouraged by their late Victories over the Lacedemonians would now contend with them for their superiority having a wonderfull confidence in the Wisdom and Prowesse of their Captaines especially of Epaminondas Matters resting thus doubtfull the Citizens of Plataees a Town of Boeotia were desirous to enter into League with the Athenians promising that if they would send them Souldiers they would put the Town into their hands But the Governours of Boeotia having intelligence of it and being desirous to prevent the Athenians brought a party of Souldiers against it who came before Plataees before the Citizens heard any newes of them so that part of them were surprised in the Field by the Horsmen and the rest fled into the Town where having no aid they were faign to accept of such tearmes as it pleased the Thebans to grant them which were presently to depart the Town with bag and baggage and never to returne again into the Country of Boeotia Then did they raze the City to the ground and saked the Town of Thespies which also was at enmity with them The Ambassadours of Persia again solicited the Greeks to a Generall Peace and Commissioners from every Town were to meet at Sparta about it Epaminondas was yet scarce known having laboured to conceal himself and in all his exploits of War had ever preferred the advancement of his great Friend and Companion in Armes Pelopidas before himself He was now chosen by the Thebans to go to Sparta where finding that the other Commissioners did much comply with Agesilaus he spake boldly and plainly not only in behalf of the Thebans but for all Greece also making it evident to all that War still encreased the greatnesse of Sparta only which kept all the other Towns of Greece under He therefore advised them to establish a firme Peace which would last the longer when all comprized in it should be equals Agesilaus perceiving all the Commissioners to be very attentive to and well pleased with this speech he asked him aloud if he thought it just and equal that all Boeotia should be set at liberty Epaminondas resently and boldly asked him if he thought it not also iust and reasonable that all Laconia should be set at liberty Thereupon Agesilaus in great anger stood up and commanded him to answer plainly if they should not restore all the Towns in Boeotia to their Liberty and Epaminondas answered him as before This so displeased Agesilaus who had an old grudge to the Thebans that immediatly he put their Name out of the List of those that should be comprized within the Treaty of Peace and proclaimed open War against them and now there was no remedy but the Thebans must bear the whole brunt alone for there was no one Town that durst send them any aid because they were all sworn to the Peace insomuch as all judged them to be utterly undone Friends pittied there estate and their enemies rejoyced verily believing that they could never stand before the Lacedemonians Then did the Lacedemonians send King Cleombrotus with an Army towards Thebes who being come neer to Chaeronea with ten thousand Foot and a thousand Horse he pitched his Camp there staying for his Allies The Thebans being informed of the approach of the enemy chose Epaminondas to be their Captain Generall giving him the charge of this War with six other Counsellers to be assisting to him Now there came Oracles to Thebes from all parts some promising Victory and others threatening their overthrow and Epaminondas commanded them to set those on the right hand of the chaire for Orations that promised Victory and the other on the left hand which being so disposed of he gat up into the chaire and said to his Citizens If you will be obedient to your Captains and valiant against your enemies these Oraoles on the right hand belong to you But if through faintness of heart ye refuse dangers those on the left hand shall be your Portion Then did he list the Names of all the Thebans which were able to bear Armes and chose out of some parts of Boeotia such as he thought fittest for the Wars His Presence exceedingly cheered up his Army and all the time that he was Captain the Thebans never saw in their Campany of those which they call sudden feares He used to say that there was no Death more honest and desirable than to die in the Wars and that the body of a Souldier should be hardened to endure any labour or paines He could not abide fat men and therefore cashired a whole Company of them as unprofitable burdens in his Army He had in all but six thousand fighting men and as they marched forwards they met with some unlucky signes as many esteemed them but he valued them not thinking that a resolution to fight in a good cause ought to be much stronger and of more force to raise up in him good Hope than these evill signes that appeared to make him fear the worst As he was marching towards the Lacedemonians they heard it Thunder and
strait Then he asked who had the Victory The Boeotians answered the Target-bearer Then he commanded them to bring to him Diophantus and Jolidas they told him they were both dead Upon this he advised his Citizens to make Peace with their enemies for that they had not any Captain of skill to lead them to the Wars And now said he it is time for me to die and therefore pluck the Dart Head out of my Body At this word all his Friends that were about him fetched grievous sighs and even cryed out for sorrow and one of them weeping said unto him Alas Epaminondas Thou diest now and leavest no Children behind thee Yea said he that I do Eor I leave two faire Daughters behind me whereof the one is the Victory at Leuctres and the other this of Mantinea So they pulled out the Dart and immediatly he gave up the Ghost without shewing any signe that he was at all troubled at it He used often to say That War is the Bed of Honour amd that it is a sweet Death to dye for ones Country He was one of the bravest Captaines that ever we read of For whereas others excelled in some one or two Virtues by which they made their Fame great and glorious he excelled in all the Vertues and good Parts that could be desired in a Grave Politick and Great Captain to make him compleat in all things that could be expected in an Heathen In his time he advanced his Country to the Principality of all Greece But after his Death they soon lost it and not long after Alexander the Great utterly â—rake them in peices made slaves of those that survived and razed their City to the very ground Aâ— in hiâ— life time he had alwayes detested covetouâ—nâ—sse so after his Death the Thebans were faigne to bury him at the common charge of the City because they found no mony in his house to defray the least patt of the Funerall expences FINIS Courteous Reader be pleased to take notice that these Books following are Printed for and sold by William Miller at the 〈…〉 in St Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door HIckes Revelation Revealed Folio Clarkes Martyrology Compleat with the Persecutions of England to the end of Queen Maries Reign Folio Lives of ten Eminent Divines some being as follow Bishop Vsher Dr Gouge Dr Harris Mr Gataker Mr Whittaker c. and some other famous Christians Life of Christ 4º Life of Herod the Great 4º Life of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus the Great the one the first founder of the Baylonian Empir the other the first founder of the Empire of the Medes and Persians 4º Life of Alexander the Great the first founder of the Grecian Empire As also of Charles the Great commonly called Charlemagne the first founder of the French Empire 4º A Prospect of Hungary and Transylvania together with an account of the qualities of the Inhabitants the Commodities of the Countries the Chiefest Cities Towns and Strong-holds Rivers and Mountains with an Historycal Narration of the Wars amongst themselves and with the Turks continued to this year 1664. As also a Brief Description of Bohemia Austria Bavaria Steirmark Crâ—atia Dalmatia Moravia and other Adjacent Countries contained in a Map joyned therewith by which Map you may know which Places are in the Power of the Turk and which Christians have 4º Cradock's KNOWLEDGE and PRACTICE Or a Plain Discourse of the Chief Things necessary to be KNOWN BELIEVED and PRACTISED in Order to SALVATION 4º Ford of Baptism 8º Cotton on the Covenant of Grace 8º Culverwell of Assurance 8º Records Urinal of Physick 8º Ravins Oriental Grammer 12º Peacocks Visitation 12º Dr Tuckney's Good Day well Improved 12º Death Disarmed 12º Balm of Gilead 12º Clamor Sanguinis 12º Aristippâ—â— or Bâ—lsac's Master piece 12º 〈◊〉 Charles's Works 24º Hannibal chosen General He besieges and takes many Townes His Valour and Policy His Victory He besieges Saguntum Saguntum taken Roman Ambassadors sent to Carthage The Carthaginians answer War denounced by the Romanes Hannibal prepares for Italy He Conquers much of Spain His passage through France He is opposed His Victory in France Some Gauls incourage him He passeth the Alps. The Gauls rise aganst the Romans They besiege Modena The Romans send an Army into Spain Hannibals losses in his march Hannibal prepares to fight A Battel The Romans beaten The Gauls forsake the Romans Hannibal beates the Consul He wins Clastidium Hannibals Forragers beaten Another Battel The Romans beaten Hannibals Policy Treacheries against him His dangerous march The Romans beaten again· The Romans beaten Great feaâ— at Rome A Dictator chosen Fabius his warinesse Hannibals Policy Fabius his wisdom Hinnibals Stratagem Hannibal Forragers beaten Minutius made equall with Fabius A Battel The Romans beaten Cannae Castle taken Varro makes hast to fight They prepare to fight The great Battel at Cannae Hannibals Policy The Romans beaten Many Towns inertain Hannibal Capua intertains him The Romans mourn Their Superstition A Dictator chosen Hinnibal beaten Acerrae taken by Hannibal Cassiline besieged· Mago sent to Carthage Large supplies promised to Hannibal Diverse Cities taken The promised Supplies come not Gracchus his Prudence The Capuans beaten Cuma besieged The Siege raised Hannibal delaies A Battel The Carthaginians bâ—aten The Romans poverty how supplyed Cassilâ—ne taken by the Râ—mans Arpi taken by the Romans The Romans beaten Tarentumâ—ake â—ake by Hannibal The Carthaginians beaten Capua besieged by the Consuls The Seige raised by Hannibal The Romans beaten Another victoâ—y Capua besieged again Hannibal comes to relieve them Hannibal intends for Rome and leaves it Capua taken The Consuls cruelty The publick wants supplied Salapia yeilded to Marcellus The Romans beaten A Battel A Battel The Romans beaten Tarentum taken The Romans beaten Locry besieged The Romans beaten The Consuls slaine The Romans beaten Great fear at Rome Asdrubal comes into Italy A Battel Asdrubal slaine Hannibal retires into Brusia His Prudence Scipio coms from Spain· Is chosen Consul He goâ— into Sycily Sends inti Africk And goes himself Vtica besieged The Carthaginians beaten And a second time They sue for Peace They dealt deceitfully Hannibal leaves Italy Comes into Afrck. An interview of the Generals Hannibals Speech to Scipio Scipios reply They prepar to fight A Battel Hannibal beaten He flies to Carthage and perswades them to seek Peace His Civil imployment He is complained of to the Romans He flies from Carthage to Tyre· He goes to Antioccus His counsel neglected He flies to Prusias Who betrays him His last Speech He poisons himself His Parentage and Education His parts He exercises and studies His Discourse with a Phylosopher His contempt of Riches His Poverty His Charity His Sobriety His Vigilance His Valor Tyran's in Thebes His prudence The Tyrants slain His Modesty He is advanced to Honour The Spartans beaten A Battel The Spartans beaten Peace among the Greeks The Thebans are excepted Plataees destroyed Hiâ— wisdom And courage His Prudence Fat men cashired His Prudence And Policy A Battel The Spartans beaten His Humility He plunders Laconia He braves the Spartans Messina re-edified Pallene destroyed Peloponesus fortified He beates the Spartans His Clemency He is envied His prudence He is accused and abused Pelopidas imprison ed by a Tyrant His Policy His Prudence Pelopidas released His witty speeches His Humility Megalopelis built The Thebans build a Navy New Wars A notable atempt An other but frustrated A Battel He is deadly woundâ—d The Spartans beaten His advice to the Thebans His death His character Hâ—s poverty