to bée slaine but both by the face and similitude of the youth and by the confession of the shepheard and the time of the receit thereof Hee then knewe that hee was his right Nephew vanishing all feare from himselfe of the aforesaide Dreame and Prophecie for thinking himself to bée as a dead man in his sleepe and his Nephew to bee King and as the Southsayers had declared hee should be thought himselfe clearelie freede from all perill But Harpagus scaped not vnpunished for breaking the kings commandement for Astiages catching the sonne of Harpagus slew him and caused his cookes to dresse the mangled boy inuiting after the father of the child causing him vnawares to eate his owne flesh Which thing being afterward knowne vnto Harpagus he dissembled the matter vntill he might with fit oportunitie reuenge this villanie foorthwith sending priuily into Persia to Cyrus shewing him how his grandfather had dealt with him for sauing his life wishing him also to prepare an army and come to chalenge his kingdome which his grandfather meant to defraud him of Cyrus hauing receiued the letters considering the ancient wrongs that his grandfather had offered him before and nowe also howe greatly hee had abused him who had preserued his life wherefore he presently gathered an army minding now to chalenge his right whilest that he had such a faithfull friend as Harpagus was who offered himselfe to do his vttermost in the behalfe of Cyrus But Astiages hearing of such great preparation against him by his nephew in like sort also prouided a mightie hand against him the conduction whereof he committed whollie to the gouernement of his counseller Harpagus who presently when he had receiued them yéelded vp the whole army to Cyrus to reuenge himselfe on the king for the great iniurie hee had offered him the king hauing knowledge thereof gathered a newe power of men and went himselfe against his nephew marching on to the borders of Persia where was fought betwixt the grandfather and the nephew a most cruell and bitter fight in which conflict this notable courage in the Persian women is remembred for the battell being planted on both partes woonderfull strong And Astiages to the intent his souldiours should fight manfully had diuided his army in such sorte that he placed at the backes of those that should fight the battell an other army of souldiors saying Vnles they ouercame and went forward they should finde as hard fight behinde them as their enemies were before them If in case they should offer to retire backe the battelles on both sides being come to handstrokes and deadly blowes the Persian army at the first began to flee backe and retire which sorrowfull sight the Persian women had soone espied wherefore foorthwith the matrons wiues and daughters assembled themselues in haste and running to méet them who came fléeing before Astiages and the Medeans as men despairing of their good fortune plucking and folding vp their clothes shewing the priuie secrets of their bodies asking them whether or no they would flée for succor into the wombs of their mothers or wiues requesting them ernestly to returne into the battell and fight for their liues saying That if they would needes runne home they coulde neither succour or helpe them any otherwise than by what meanes they had already shewed them By which castigation of the women the Persian souldiours retired into the battell againe and put their enemies to shamefull flight taking also prisoner Astiages the Medean king Thus far digressing from our purpose to shew both the crueltie of Astiages the valiantnesse of the Persian women and the good happe of Cyrus in attaining vnto the crowne But now to returne to our purpose againe Cyrus possessing all Persia and Medea was not contented with those large kingdomes and dominions but still coueted to enlarge his possessions delighting in bloudie battailes reioycing at the ruine and destruction of statelie Townes and Cities For after manie cruell fightes and bloudie broyles hee entered into Lydia where in a great battaile hee tooke Croesus the rich King thereof Notwithstanding he was not satisfied with all the treasure Kingdome of Lydia which was then the most richest Region vnder the heauens but marched forward into Asia conquering that also returning at the last with all the East part of the world which he held vnder the subiection Yet being not filled with bloudie fight nor satisfied with victorie he waged warre with the Scythians who at that time were gouerned by Quéene Thomyris which sent her Sonne with a great Armie to defend her Countrey but the subtile Captaine Cyrus perceiuing the yong man to be but a fresh water soldier fraughted his Tents well with wine and fresh vittaile in which he knewe the Scythians much delighted and after faining a flight as if thorough feare of the Scythian Armie he departed leauing his Tents wholly furnished to intrap the Scythians withall which fel out accordingly for the lustie youth ouer rashly and without good consideration seazed on those Tents being forsaken of the enemie and according to their accustomed manner fell to such excessiue quaffing and bibbing that the whole Armie was soone drunken therewith being void of all feare for that they supposed the Enemie to be fled But Cyrus being aduertised therof returned in the night to his tents againe finding the Scythians ouercome with his wine so that he easily slew the Sonne of Thomyris and the whole Scythian Armie The Quéene hearing of the losse of her deere Sonne also of her Armie did not spende the time in wéeping but presently sought meanes to reuenge her selfe on that vnsatiable wretch with such like subtiltie as Cyrus beguyled her sonne with such pollicie she trained him to his destruction for the Persians greatly reioycing in their first victorie and happie successe in the beginning and the Scythians contrariwise making shew as if they were greatly discomfited with the losse of their Armie and former foyle retiring still backe from their enemies to traine them in like sort into the marishes and straight places of their Countrey where the enemie was intangled before they knewe of any such practise or suspected anie such craft at all There was Cyrus slaine with 200000. Persians whereof there remained not one to carrie newes or message back into Persia how they had sped in Scythia in which great conflict slaughter when Thomyris had found out the dead bodie of Cyrus she caused the head to be cut from the carkasse flinging the head into a tub of mans blood which was filled for the same purpose saying Satia te sanguine quem sit isti cuiúsque insatiabilis semper fuisti Cyrus now satisfie thy selfe with blood which thou hast long thirsted after wherof thou couldest neuer haue thy fill Thus died Cyrus when he had raigned 30. 〈◊〉 Pompeius Magnus so called for his incomparable Uictories being the sonne of Pompeius Strabo in like case wanted the gift of temperance for
life by no meanes he coulde saue or preserue Now was Darius ouercome when his power was most strongest with the benefites and friendlinesse of his foe so honouring in his heart his aduersarie that for loue he bare him he could not arange his battaile against him reioysing greatly in himselfe and also saying to his friends If I am ouercome in this warre yet notwithstāding I haue great cause to reioyse that I shall be conquered by so noble a minded prince Wherefore againe he sent his letters to Alexander offering him the greater part of his kingdome to the riuer of Euphrates with his other daughter and for the other captiues he offered three hundred thousand talents But Alexander returned this answere refusing the compositiō saying It was need lessethankes of his enemie for he alwaies had vsed to reuenge himselfe on armed men and on his fighting foe and not vpon hurtlesse women Thus by the hautie courage of Alexander Darius was forced and drawen into the fielde vnwillinglie to fight against his enemie whom he estéemed as a friendly foe notwithstanding there was fought betwixt them a fierce and cruell battaile the Persians in the end being ouerthrowen with great slaughter for that Darius their Captaine could not encourage or stirre them vp to fight against his friend In which conflict certaine of the friends and alliance of Darius séeing the battaile vtterly lost and that Alexander was like presently to be Lord of the field sought to betray their king into the hands of Alexander thereby to pick a thanke or as they say to currie fauour In accōplishing of which thing Darius was sore wounded by his allies notwithstanding he escaped preuented their purpose But Alexander not hearing of Darius sent out seuen thousand horsmen to prosecute after him whō when they could not finde they requested leaue to rest themselues and their ouer wearied horses then one of the souldiers going to water his horse at a certaine riuer thereby by chaunce found out Darius lying in a coach or chariot being mortally wounded with many gréeuous hurtes ready to yéeld vp his life comming néere to the coach he did plainly perceiue that it was Darius and Darius did well knowe that he was one of the crewe or bande of Alexander wherefore he called him to his coache saying My good friend I greatly reioyce that it is my good fortune before I die to haue so fitte a messenger as yourselfe to carrie these my last words not to my enemie but to my good frend Alexander at whose handes I haue founde great fauour say thou my friende that I confesse I die greatly indebted vnto him being altogether vnable to requite the very least of his courtesies shewed to my mother wife and children and that I haue of him a more happier enemie than my kinsmen are frendly For my mother wife and children haue found both fauour and life at the hand of mine enemie and I my selfe am depriued of life by my kinsmen and allies to whom I gaue both life and land Wherefore I wish as great happines to fall on him as he being victor can wish or desire and that I euen now dying doe wholy committe and betake both myself my landes and goods into the hands of so noble a minded prince praying both to the high Gods and also to the infernall powers that he may be victor against whomsoeuer he wageth warre and that all blessings may happen to him according to his owne hartes desire And for the further acknowledging of my vnfeined loue and well wishing desire towardes Alexander my approued friend take here of me this my right hande which thou seest me cut of willingly being aliue and carrie it to thy Lord and master my good friend as a sure seale and firme pledge of my vnfeyned good will and hartie well wishing towards him Thus died Darius when hee coulde no otherwise gratifie and recompence his friendly foe for the great fauoures and courtesies shewed to his familie than by the acknowledging of his clemencie and and gentlenes This friendly fauour of Alexander was soone spred thorow the world and more often repeated to his high praise and commendation than the great and famous victorie which he had against the Persians which was a most wonderfull conquest and remayneth at this day the very chiefe and most principall praise and merite to Alexander Was there not likewise singular courtesie and wonderful gentlenes in King Darius which Alexander conquered For at such time as certaine of his noble men sought to entangle and take him by treason which were of no small account amongst the Persians Darius the King hauing intelligence of their wicked practise thus considered with himselfe and brake it vnto his secrete friend saying Here are diuers noble men which traiterously haue conspired my death if now I shoulde put them all to the sworde there is no doubt but that I should stirre vp against me many of their friends and allies and so be forced to make great effusion of bloud which truely is contrarie and repugnant to my nature The cause surely to me is vnknowen why they should thus wickedly worke my hurt It may be they would be better cōtent with another king to raign ouer them than with me now their present prince yet truely I rather chuse to haue it registred of their disloyaltie toward their Prince by my death than to purchase to my selfe the name of a cruell tyrant by their bloudy slaughters With these considerations he concealed the matter making a shew as though he nothing mistrusted any such thing on a time riding foorth a hunting these noblemen which had conspired against him flocked together hoping now to get some conuenient time and place for their purpose riding with the king to the forrest making a shewe of great ioy and gladnes to the end the king should suspect no euill but he full well knew their intent though he dissembled the matter Thus following their game they trouped together hoping that the king would come that way which they had laide and stauled for him which indéede he did The King séeing their intent and spying their order singled himself from the rest of his companie going directly to the traytors who stoode in ambush redy to fulfill and accomplish that for which cause they came The king boldly rushed into the middest of them saying Now ye traytors dispatch and committe that which ye are determined to doe I haue long time knowē your intent for because I would not be counted a bloudy prince I haue spared you all rather chusing that your handes should be unbrued in the bloud of your giltlesse Prince to your euerlasting infamie and dishonor than my sworde should be stayned with the slaughter of so many Subiectes wishing rather here to die and free your troubled mindes than to liue and remaine such an eyesore to so many noble estates though traytors to their Prince Therefore said he Quid igitur non exequimini id cuius
be as ioyfull vnto them as the restitution of their daughter vndefiled Then Scipio being ouercome with their long and vehement intercession caused the saide summe to be layd on the ground before his feete and calling Lucius againe to him hee said Beside the dowrie that you shall receiue of your Father in law for the mariage of his daughter ye also shall take this gift at my hande With which his great gift and also much honor done to him beside he returned home to his house countrey declaring to euery man the honor magnificence of noble Scipio saying There was a young man come most like a God who both with his power in warre and also with his gentlenes and liberalitie in peace had ouercome all the countrey Not long after this young Gentleman leauing his house and familie in good order returned to Scipio bringing with him 1400. good horsemen to the ayde and succour of the Romanes Thus first Scipio began with mercy lenity and gentle courtesie which was the cause that he gote in the end to the Romanes such notable and mightie victories The great Pompey neuer gate the like renowne in all his conquest of Spaine and Affrike nor in the subduing of the valiant Sertorius neither in the victories of Armenia Cappadocia Arabia Iberia Mesopotamia with diuers other Prouinces and Kingdomes as he did by his great courtesie For when in his warres against Mithridates he had taken certaine noble matrons and beutifulll virgins he caried a vigilant eye ouer them neither abusing any of them himselfe nor suffering his captains or souldiers to dishonour or dishonest them in any case calling them all together before him comforting them with sweete wordes in the best maner he coulde saying That none vnder paine of death should offer them villanie graunting foorth his safeconduct to them that they might be conueyed to their husbandes parents and friends with honour vndefiled richly rewarding them with iewels which he had taken in his warres protesting also vnto them that he for his part was most heartely sorrie that it was his hap so to fright and terrifie such hurtlesse creatures requesting them to take it in good part for such was the chaunce and casualtie of warre for which gentle behauiours had it not béen for certaine other lewd vices which are before mentioned he had attained to péerlesse praise Alexander the great king of Macedon although hee frequented a number of most notable and bad vices yet were it no reason to burie in obliuion and forgetfulnesse couering as it were in the graue of silence the gentle courtesie and manly pietie which hee showed in most ample maner to the distressed houshold and familie of king Darius For euen at such time as the mightie Warres began betwéene these two Princes In the second Battaile and conflict Alexander had a great victorie against Darius and the Persians taking the tents with all the bag baggage appertaining to the King and the Persians and also for a pray amongst other booties hee tooke prisoners the mother wife sister and the two daughters of King Darius his enemie whome when Alexander came to comfort beeing in great sorrow and distresse they beholding him comming with an armed troupe pitifully schritched and lamentably cried out as if they then should presently haue been slaine falling downe prostrate at the féete of Alexander beséeching him that they might before they died burie the dead bodie of their Lord Darius whom they supposed to be slaine in that bloudie fight and that now wheras he was a man and had at this time gotten a most noble and manly victorie against Darius their Lord and King so to behaue himselfe towards those poore distressed creatures who were altogether vnguiltie of that pitiful slaughter being as it were present in the Armie with their friend for their countreyes cause and in defence of their libertie in which also their Lord King Darius was now slaine therefore now that he would vouchsafe to bestow the bodie of their slain friend on them that they might doo to him in their life the rights of buriall and then said they O Alexander our liues be at thy cōmaundement Alexander beeing greatly mooued with pitie séeing their bitter teares and considering the hard hap and bad destinie of so noble Dames bewayled their distressed case with wéeping further comforting them saying that Darius theyr Lord and King was aliue and at libertie still with his owne force and power and although he was ouercome in that fight yet was he readie to giue newe battaile againe as in déede hee did causing them to banish feare from them for that no iniurie or wrong should happen to them giuing also commaundement that they should be prouided for and vsed as to their high estate and dignitie appertained giuing good words and comfort vnto the two yong Daughters of Darius wishing them assuredly to thinke and firmely to perswade themselues that hee woulde haue as great care to bestowe them in marriage if King Darius their father did die and perish in these warres as he liuing with a fatherly care would prouide for them and that with no base or obscure mates Which thing when Darius was truely certified of and of the courteous entertainement of his mother wife and sister being all prisoners and captiues at the hands of Alexander his enemie although he then was able to geue battaile to the strongest king of the earth for he agayne had gathered a most mightie and huge armie was already ouercome and conquered with the gentle courtesies of his enemie altogether vnwilling to fight against so friendly a foe wherfore he sent his letters to Alexander requiring him that he might redéeme his captiues promising a mightie summe masse of money for their raunsome Notwithstanding Alexander would receiue no money but required his whole kingdome for their redemption Darius not willing to fight with so friēdly an enemie sent his letters to Alexander the second time offering one of his daughters in mariage with part of his kingdome to him if it might please him to accept thereof But the vnsatiable Alexander could not be content with part vnlesse he might haue all the whole And as for the offer of his daughters he returned this answere saying He had them already and could doe with them his pleasure Now was Darius forced to goe against his friendly foe the thirde time hoping to get his prisoners and yet notwithstanding louing and honouring the very name of Alexander for the great courtesie and lenitie he had shewed to his familie The army and power of Darius was at this time foure hundred thousand footmen and an hundred thousand horsmen thus marching toward his enemie Alexander it was told him in his iorney that his wife was dead whose death Alexander lamented with teares and caused a noble funerall to be appointed doing to her the greatest honor he could deuise comforting the rest requesting them not so heauely to take the death of their friend whose
els farre greater spoiles of Rome shall come to Carthage Whereunto the graue Hanno made this sober answere I was determined saith he Fathers conscript at this time in your so great and common ioye to haue spoken nothing which might haue béen displeasaunt to you but I can now doo no lesse but answere the rash Senator that enquireth whether the warres begun against the Romanes forethinke me or no To him I answere that I still forethinke it and blame our victorious Captaine vntill I sée the warre taken vp and finished by some tollerable condition neither shal anie other thing cause me desist from desiring our ancient peace saue onely a newe league confirmed betwixt vs. This newes which Mago hath blazed abroad are verie ioyfull to Hamilco and other of Hannibals friends and seruants and to me also if we take our good fortune while it is offered but if we let it passe and the time also in which we may be thought rather to grant peace than craue it I doubt lest this ioy wil deceiue vs come to nothing With these and such like speaches by him vttred in the Senate he quietly made an ende but Hamilco and the rest of the Senators gaue no regarde to his Oration for that they thought it either procéeded of méere mallice betwixt Hanniball and him or els to holde downe or kéepe vnder the glorie and renowme of flourishing Carthage which in déede was not anie thing so Thus for the true meaning of Hanno he was openly checked in the Senate by the vainglorious Senatours who afterward but not in time remembred his counsaile beléeuing nothing that hee said at the first vntill experience had made them throughly féele their owne folly On the other part after diuers great ouerthrowes and bloudie slaughters of the halfe vanquished Romanes the distressed Senators did choose for their chief Captaine to fight against Hannibal and the Carthaginians Q. Fabius Maximus a most noble and prudent Senator also at that time with him a young Gentleman of Rome named Minutius who was in like sort by the Senate made master of the horsemen being a hotspur an ouer desperate youth which afterward turned the Romanes to much displeasure and miserie Now Fabius being thus vnequally paired with a wilful fellow marched forward toward the Carthaginians and had alway a circumspect care least that he should committe any thing ouer rashly being not willing desperately to hazard his charge and the whole state of the Roman Empire at the first brunte or in one battaile with so valiant a Captaine and worthy souldier as Hanniball was wherefore he led his army by easie iorneyes and good espies into the field against his enemie pitching his campe in the high places of the high hilles not farre from the Carthaginian campe whereupon Hannibal seeing anew captaine of the Romanes thought good also to offer him present battaile to welcome him at his first comming brought his men foorth into the fields in order of battaile and good aray to fight but wary Fabius all the day kept him selfe close in his Campe and would not suffer his men to fight for that he knew Hanniball went about to proue him if in case he might find him rash and vnaduised as he had found the other captaines before therfore in like case by holding his men from battell he went about to trie and proue the patience of Hanniball which indeede hee right wisely found out for Hanniball when he perceiued that Fabius would not rashly venture battaile he foorthwith retired out of the field into his campe againe fearing greatly in his minde the sobernes of the wise Romane Captaine being in his iudgement a man much vnlike to Sempronius or Flaminius whom before he had ouerthrowen by their rashnes and desperate follie But Minutius master of the horsmen when he had espied the Carthaginians marching in order of battaile would needes haue issued out on the brauado and geuen them downe-right battaile in this his rash and desperate moode hazarding all at one time had not the wise Fabius withholden and perswaded him to the contrarie For which cause he openly exclaimed on and dispraysed the slacknes of Quintus Fabius sending worde to Rome what a coward they had placed in office Yet notwithstanding for all the inuentions of Minutius who had so earnestly maligned and inueied against him both openly by Orations in the Campe and also by letters sent to Rome on set purpose spitefully to worke him displeasure at home with the Senators He folowed still his wise course and procéeding in following the enemie from place to place camping alwais him selfe as neere to Hanniball as conueniently he might to waite on him at all assayes Which thing was as vnpleasant to Hāniball his foe as to Minutius his fellow For he right well did know that vnlesse the Romanes would venture battaile hee could not long remaine In Italie which thing also the wise Fabius diligently heeded and noted But nowe although Fabius had saued many thousād of the Romans from the cruell slaughtering hand of Hanniball by his great wisdome in abstayning from battaile and in dayly preuenting of the enemie from their purposes which otherwise woulde haue turned the State to great dammage and perill neuerthelesse it was thought at Rome that his heart fayled him and that he trifled out y e time onely to the intent his honor and dignitie might the longer continue and that he cared not what coste the Citie was at so that he still might be in office and liue with honor Thus by his prouident wisdome and carefull foresight he had gotten many enemies at Rome and especially by the meanes of this young hotespur Minutius insomuch that he departed from the camp and went to the Citie to answere the ouer-light beleeuing Senators who so hardly had conceiued of him It so fortuned at that time when he was in Rome that word was brought to the Senat from Minutius who gouerued the armie in the absence of Fabius that he by his valour and pollicie had geuen Hanniball a great ouerthrow which indeede was partly true for the wily Hanniball had gotten certain knowledge by his espials how the case stoode betwixt Fabius and Minutius and also that Fabius was now in some displeasure at Rome by the meanes of Minutius their young Captaine wherfore he began to practise wholy to thrust Fabius whom he feared into vtter hatred and displeasure with the chiefe Senators and gouernours of Rome By which meanes the Romanes peraduenture might committe the whole armie to the gouernment of Minutius and so displace Fabius whose wisdome and policie alway made the enemie to feare and dread him Wherefore the subtile Hanniball knowing that already the Romanes had conceiued a very good opinion and good liking of their young couragious Captaine if now therefore he should geue in the absence of Fabius some small victorie to Minutius that then the Romanes would be in further liking of him insomuch that they would repose further trust in him
by which meanes he hoped soone to be the Lorde ouer all Italie With these considerations Hanniball brought foorth his armie for he knew full well that Minutius would presently fight which fell out accordingly Hanniball had in that fight slaine sixe thousand men and so gaue grounde and retired into his Campe before the fierce pursuing Minutius Notwithstanding it was no great victorie to the Romanes for they lost in the same fight fiue thousand But Minutius being right ioyfull of this his good fortune foorthwith sent vaunting word thereof to Rome that they might perceiue this hée had done in the absence of Fabius and greater exploites hee would haue done if he had not beene hindered heretofore by the slacknes of Fabius By meanes of these his boasting letters the whole Citie was much comforted notwithstanding Fabius when all the Citie was merry and in common ioy would nether credite the newes nor beleeue the letters At the last he said If all were true that was reported hee rather greatly feared their prosperous and fortunate aduenture than any way reioyced therein For he was assured of he said and very well knewe the subtile sleightes and pollicies of craftie Hanniball For which words he was euen in the Senate house among them all openly rebuked by Marcus Metellus who saide and affirmed That he kept his Souldiers and men of warre in their Campes more like Captiues and Prisoners than men of warre And especially it was not to be suffered that hee himselfe their chiefe gouernour and Generall being present amongst them would not onely permitte and suffer any thing to be done valiantly against the enemies but now also being absent held against the thing that was well done by the master of his Horsmen Fabius at that time answered fewe wordes for he thought they would be euill heard but this he said Whereas two yeares past the Citie had sustayned great harmes and losses thorowe the foolish hardines of the desperate gouernors that nowe hee doubted not but if he might beare rule and haue his minde without controlment he would make it euident and manifest to all men that Fortune could little doe or worke against a good Captaine but that Wisdome and Reason shoulde haue the dominion ouer all her chaunces Yet for all that the Senates determination at that time was that Minutius who had so nobly behaued himselfe gouerned the army in his absence should be halfe ruler of the hoast with him and the whole gouernance thereof to be parted betwixt them both This fell out right to the expectation of Hanniball but a heauie and lamentable hap to Fabius who tenderly fauoured the welfare of the Roman Commonwealth and although he could very willingly haue yeelded and resigned vp the whole armie and his authoritie there withall to the Romanes who had offered him this disgrace yet notwithstanding the duetifull care which he had ouer his countrey and the present perill which hee sawe the whole armie to stand in caused him to take and accept the half hoping to preserue them at the least But Minutius perceiuing himselfe to be had in such estimation at Rome as well of the common people as of the Senators themselues wherefore he was not a little proude he then began to take much more on him prowdly boasting and vaunting on himselfe saying That in their great heauines and calamitie he alone was found out a Captaine able to match with couragious Hanniball Now fell Quintus Fabius and Minutius to cōference about the gouernment of the armie committed to both their charges Minutius would haue it so parted that he might beare rule one day or one weeke and then Fabius to take place the like time accordingly But this order liked not Fabius for that he knew how the sequele would fall out which he might easilie coniecture by the vnequalitie which was betwixt wilfull Minutius wilie Hanniball therefore Fabius would needes haue it deuided betwene them saying That if in case he could not by his counsell saue the whole hoast yet he would assay to saue and preserue halfe thereof as well as he might Minutius possessing halfe the Armie according to their agreement disdained to Campe néere to the Campe of his fellow Fabius but Fabius although he made as light account of Minutius yet notwithstanding he alwaies carried a vigilant eye whereabout his rash fellow went that he might be readie if néede should be for he thought he would soone néede his helpe which foorthwith accordingly fell out for Hāniball being thoroughly certefied of these things presently conceiued a double ioy one was for that he thought to vanquish the foolish hardines of Minutius euen as he would himselfe the other was for that halfe the power and strength of Fabius was minished by reason of parting the hoast Wherefore he neglected no time to intrap and insnare this ouer venterous Youth who had béen fleshed before with a final victorie knowing that he could no sooner offer but Minutius wold he ready to attēpt Whereupon when he thought that Fabius had bin far inough from his fellow so that he could not aide him on the sodaine he trained foorth to battaile the rash and desperate youth compassing him round about in places of great disaduantage to the Romanes minding there to giue an vtter ouerthrowe to Minutius which indéed he had done if present succour had not bin Now Minutius séeing himselfe in great danger thinking it vnpossible that he should scape that present perill also séeing his men slaine on euery side so that the field was vtterly lost on his part had not this happie chance hapned as followeth Fabius was not so much displeased with the ouerthwart dealing of Minutius but that he carried a watchfull care to the welfare of his Countrey for when he espied his fellow and the Romanes in such daunger and distresse he said Fortune hath caught their follieno sooner than I feared she would now he that is ioyned with Fabius in the Empire hath found Hannibal ouerhard for him both in power and also in fortune but it is not now time said hee to chide I will referre that till more opportunitie Then presently caused hee his men to display his Banners behinde a hill for neither his fellowes nor the Carthaginians déemed that he had béen so néere them comming sodainely to the aide of his despairing fellowe and the Romanes whereof some were fled some slain and other some flying to saue themselues in great distresse so that they all thought hee came as it were a man sent from heauen to their succours and before hee coulde ioyne battaile with the Carthaginians Hannibal called backe his men from chasing anie further the enemie that fled being so afraid at the present approaching of Fabius Insomuch that hee sodainly withdrew himselfe into his Campe saying That hee had ouercome Minutius but that hee was also ouercome by Fabius Then some of the dispersed Romanes ran to the campe of Fabius and the rest that fled before went to
but that he wold both reuenge their iniuries and also expell Hanniball out of Italy The ancient Senators séeing the valiantnes of his minde willingly graunted his request most pitifully with weeping eies and lamentable voices earnestly required him to stand manfully to the defence of their Emyire Citie and libertie beséeching him also to remember the mournfull cries and pitiful waylings of their wiues and children with other miserable and distressed Citizens which had alreadie tasted the crueltie of the Carthaginians by the losse of their déere friends P. Scipio hauing receiued his charge being not willing to defer the time from dooing good to his Countrey presently set vpon the Carthaginians with such circumspect pollicie and manly courage that hee not onely draue them out of Italy and Spaine but also ouerthrewe them in manie great battailes and in the end went with his power into Affrica where he also got diuers victories of the Carthaginians who before had mightely plagued the Romanes Now began fortune to showe her selfe in her right kinde for whereas the Carthaginians dayly hearkened and looked after the conquest of Rome with the whole Empire of Italy at this time they began to suspect to suspect their own estate libertie Insomuch that the Senators of Carthage séeing the Carthaginian Empire in such imminet perill and present danger sent foorthwith for Hannibal commanding him to leaue warring in forren regions and strange countreyes and come home to defend his owne Empire which stood in hazard to be loss yet notwithstanding the comming of Hannibal into Affrica did nothing discourage the noble Scipio but that he still gained on the Carthaginians to their great loffe and spnyle so that nowe the Carthaginians began vtterly to dispaire of their owne safetie minding in this great extremitie to venture and hazarde theyr whole Empire Citie libertie and liues in one Battaile for that they wel knewe they could not long continue the warres by reason that they had alreadie spent such a massie treasure in hope of getting of the Romane Empire that at this time they had not sufficient to defend their owne Countrey wherefore they were forced to compremit the matter to Ladie Fortune whom although for a time she had swéetely smiled on notwithstanding at the last she shewed her selfe no equall or indifferent Iudge but partially tooke part with the Romanes to the quite ouerthrowing and subduing of the Carthaginians before the citie of Carthage in the great and mightie battaile which was at that time fought betwéene them for the Empire of the World Thus Scipio defended both his owne Countrey and Empire inlarging it with the Empire of the gréedie Enemie and also caused the Senators of Carthage to sue both to him and to the Senate of Rome humbly on their knées crauing for their liues and to haue mercie at the hands of the Romanes whome before they would take no peace withall falling now prostrate at the féete of Scipio embracing and kissing the ground whereon hee stood crying continually O thou victorious Scipio vse thy victorie with mercie and thy conquest with clemencie spare our liues suffer our Citie to stand destroy not our countrey and we will hencefoorth become true friends aiders to you O ye victorious Romanes Scipio considering the lamentable miserable estate of the distressed Romanes when Hannibal and the Carthaginians lay before the walls of their Citie and with what mournfull cries pitiful waylings lamentable howlings and fearfull scrichings the pore afflicted Romanes were oppressed withall wherefore now knowing by experience what lamentation and pitifull outcries was in the Citie of Carthage for feare of him and the Romanes who laye at the verie gates readie to spoyle take and sacke the Towne being mooued with a manly pitie he not only refrained from the destruction of their Citie but also graunted them peace vpon such conditions as he prescribed vnto them which they willingly agréed vnto requiring also in the Articles their Nauie of ships which so oft had vexed the Romanes causing them all to be set on fire in their sight to the lamentable spectacle of the gréeued Citizens beeing aboue 500. saile Also it is to be noted that after the compositions Scipio demanded a certaine summe of money to bee gathered amongst them and presently paid vnto him which money was so gréeuous to the Carthaginians because theyr stocke and common substance was before greatly wasted wherfore at the leuying of the said summe of their priuate substance great lamentation and wéeping was made in all partes of the troubled Citie which Hannibal beholding could not forbeare to laugh Whereat one Asdrubal Hedus tooke great indignation rebuking him for that he beeing the verie originall of all their sorrow in the common mourning of the Citie shoulde so laugh Whereunto Hannibal answered If yee might beholde the inward thought of my minde as yee may the outward apparant countenance of my face you should perceine this laughter not to come of anie ioy of the heart but of a mad fransie minde Neuertheles this my laughter is not so inordinate nor commeth so out of time as your teares doo for first you shuld haue wept when your armour was taken from you and your ships burned before your eyes and when your libertie of making warre with anie stranger but onely by the license of the Romanes was taken from you wherein rested your chiefest fall and vndoing But ye feele no hurt vnles it touch your priuate wealth and now when you must pay the tribute of their priuate goods euerie man weepeth as he would doo at the buriall of his friend But they had further cause to wayle and lament than for their money and treasure or anie other priuate goods for they before had lost in this warre 400000. mē which were slaine in battaile besides a wonderfull number of others which died by hurts and in skirmishes by the losses of Cities being no part of the aforesaid number which was slaine in set battaile Also they lost 300. of their ancient Senators other Estates which had borne office in y e Citie of Carthage to their great sorrow gréefe but this as Hannibal told them grieued them but little in respect of the sorow which they conceiued by the touching of euerie mans priuate substance which thing came néerer to the quick than that which they ought farr more to haue lamented Soone after these great victories wonne by Scipio he returned to Rome with great spoyles bringing also with him the Empire of Carthage with a mightie masse of tresure able to haue reioyced anie Nation in the world Notwithstanding for all their victorie great spoyles wonderfull rich prayes and new Empire hee found them in a manner as sorrowful at his comming home as when he departed from Rome in their great extremitie for neither the newes of his successe the mightie masse of treasure which he brought with him nor the stately empire of the world which hee by his valure had obtained to
to their owne authoritie But Ninus hath béen so rightly imitated and iustly followed that at this day warre increaseth of trifling causes to most bloudie battaile Did not the cruell warre of the Persians growe of a small occasion and grudge betwixt Menāder Samius and the Athenians Also the bloudie conflict called Praelium sacrum began about the exaction of the iudgement of the Amphictions the Cheronean warre bred of a light occasion betwixt Philip the Athenians Which warres although they sprang but of friuolous causes could not be ended without great slaughters Therefore it is an easier thing to begin war than to end it wherefore a man ought first to haue a care howe to finish that which he taketh in hand or else he runneth blindly to his enterprise hauing also consideration that whosoeuer shal first begin warre sounding the trumpe of defiance vpon small occasions doth as it were open his gate to be spoyled as well of the forren as domestique enemie such misgouernment disorder there is in warre for the rude and vnbridled rascall doth gape after so fit an opportunitie to deuoure spoyle and rob the honest and true subiect boystrously intruding himselfe into the houses arrogantly challenging to be partakers of the goods substance of the quiet people which they haue long time trauelled for with great paines and carefull toyle so that he who cannot be content to enioy and possesse his owne proper goods priuately with quietnes let him proclaime open warre hee shall soone be rid of that griefe Who is so prone to bloudie broyles as such as haue by euillhusbandrie as they terme it spent their lands goods and substance in vaine pleasures and vile follies Was not Rome in great perill to haue béen spoyled by a notable crue of bankrupts For Lucius Sergius Cataline a noble mā of Rome when hee had by riot spend his patrimonie beeing altogether vnable to maintaine his prodigalitie and wanton vaine in immoderate spending went about to spoile sack and destroy his owne natiue citie and countreymen associating to him in this his greeuous conspiracie such outlawes and bankrouts as either stoode in feare of a law or els such vnthrifts as himselfe as had wantonly and most vainly spent and consumed their goods and possessions which presently were as soone allured as himselfe was ready to entise hoping to be made rich by the spoile of their owne countreymen when they had vnthriftely wasted their owne This rable rout of vnbrideled riotors had wrought their mischieuous purpose to such effect that their wicked enterprice had taken place if by the prouident wise foresight of Cicero it had not beene preuented neither was it knowen that any one Roman of good gouernment or any one that liued orderly in the commonwealth without riot or other bad and lewd conuersation was found culpable or gilty in this dangerous conspiracie although diuers principall and chiefe men at the first were suspected notwithstanding they were in the ende cleerely defended and apparantly freed from that slaunderous reproach and ignomie by their owne Citizens Did not Brennus in like manner leade and conduct a mighty huge bande of Gaules who had before spent their goods by ryot prodigalitie and disordering themselues in many bad and vile misdemeanors spoyling and robbing most vnmercifully the countreys as they marched committing sacriledge with a number of most vile villaines to recouer againe their former vaine expēces Did they not in the end after many cruell acts vnsatiable spoyles and shamefull robberies most miserably perish to the wonderfull example of such spoyling outlawes What was the cause that the Troyans inuaded Italie making such hauock and spoyle in what countrey soeuer they arriued but their greedy couetous mindes to recouer their vnthriftie losses For when they had by their own vnfaithfulnes greatly abused their frends the Greekes with a most shamefull abuse the Greekes in reuengement thereof sacked and spoyled their citie slaying and murthering the vnfaithfull Troyans sauing certaine which afterward made warres in Italie which were saved at the destruction of Troy for betraying their king and citie into the hands of the Grecians this remaine of the disloyall Troyans so scoured and pilled the coastes of diuers countreyes to get and take perforce whatsoeuer they could finger arriued at the last in Italy where they made sharp warre spoyling the people and wasting the Countrey vntill such time as they had taken the whole region from the lawfull inhabitors thereof Thus it is most euident that first warre is begun and set forward either by the vnsatiable person or els by the rebell bankrout or outlaw the one to satisfie his vnbrideled appetite plaguing diuers for his owne priuate gaine the other for his misgouernment and disobedience both to Prince and law to whom warre is swéete and most pleasant to answere their gréedy expectation withall But war to the contented person and quiet subiect is a hell and the very scourge of God the name whereof is most odious and terrible to the quiet minde for it bringeth all miseries and calamities to man as namely plague pestilence sodain death murther bloudy battaile cruel slaughters miserable destruction of many towns ouerthrow of stately cities sword fire and famine with a thousand miseries incidert to man by such a spiteful guest The olde prouerbe saith Dulce bellum inexpertis sed acerbum experientibus Warre is sweete and pleasant to the vnskilfull and ignorant but bitter and vnsauerie to the skilful Yet notwithstanding although war be most fierce and cruell yet is it stoutly to be maintained against the vnsatiable and inuading enemie and with might and maine to be folowed to the beating downe and suppressing of such spitefull foes as are euer ready prest and bent to disturbe a quiet and peaceable kingdome being blinded with auarice doe right soone consent to lamentable slaughters and effusion of bloud it is much more easier to defende a kingdome being already possessed and to repell the aduersarie than to inuade other regions or conquere forraine countreis for it is to be thought that the people will fight more couragiously both for their prince coūtrey libertie wiues and children house and familie than the proud inuading enemy who fights to satisfie his vainglorious minde and vnsatiable appetite Was not Xerxes king of Persia when he inuaded Greece with such an innumerable power who also perceiuing the strēgth of his multitude commanded both sea and laud to obey his pleasure driuē back out of Greece by a small companie of the defending Grecians causing him to flie with spéede home to his owne Countrey againe to his great shame and dishonor Was not such inuading the very chiefe and originall cause that the Romanes subdued Carthage for if the proud and vnsatiable Carthaginiās had not first inuaded Italie and the Romanes their owne Citie and commonwealth could neuer haue béene ouerthrowen and subdued For when first the Carthaginians entered Italie minding to make a whole conquest
vntill such time that experience hath caught their follie But now againe to our purposed procéedings Hath it not béen séene that the stately pride and loftie lordlinesse of diuers hath purchased to others great quietnes Is it not sufficiently knowen that before this last warre betwixt the Carthaginians the Romanes there was an auncient peace and league taken and agreed vpon betwixt them deuiding their Empires with the riuer of Iberius and that their two Segniories should ioyntly be knowen the one from the other for that the haughtie pride and loftie statelinesse of them both could not brook the controlment each of other therefore they thus diuided their Empires not tollerating the imperial minds of each other because they were both a strong and mightie people still contending vntill that agreement which of them both shuld enioy possesse the whole This at that time happened thorough the stately pride of them both There were a people namely the Saguntines who dwelt betwixt both their Empires and deuided their Segniories in equall sort which people before were vnder the obedience of the Romanes but now in great controuersie which of those stately Empires should inioy and possesse them for that it did lye so cōuenient for them both Thus after long contending when neither partie would yeeld that the other should enioy it at the last this was agreed vpon betwixt them both that the Saguntines lying so in the middle should be a border and bank to both their Empires remaining a tree people at libertie frō both their powers neither of them medling with the gouernment of theyr Common wealth nor troubling their Countrey in respect vppon paine of the breach of auncient amitie but should let them wholly alone to their owne rule and gouernment Thus was Sagunt freed from her proud neighbors who for a long time had kept her vnder subiection and seruitude by reason of their imperiall mindes and now againe through their stately pride set at libertie and fréed from such slauerie as before they were holden in In like case when the Athenians and Megarences had manie times fought togeather in diuers most cruell and bloudie battailes for the superioritie and regiment of the Isle Salamina hauing on both parts well tyred themselues with the dayly slaughters and lamentable losses of their people in the end being so wearied with the calamities of warre they were willing on either sior to constitute and ordaine a law that none vnder paine of death should dare on either part to speak or moue warre against Salamina but that it shuld be at frée libertie from them both Did not Ptolome King of Aegypt and Antigone Prince of the Phrigians so mallice and contemne one the other that to despite and displease each other they restored to libertie manie Cities of Greece which were quietly possessed by them before so that the Grecians although for a time they were restrained from their libertie yet notwithstanding they were in the ende againe clearely fréed from such seruitude by the malicious and proud contending of those Imperiall minded Princes Now whereas our purpose is to showe the inconueniences of cruell warre rather commending the peaceable and quiet state of the weale publique than the bitternesse of warre and bloudie fight neither is my entent so to disswade a Common wealth from the prouision of warre that in time of néede they should altogether be destitute of armour men weapon to beate downe and kéepe backe the proud inuading foe but rather exhorting earnestly wishing them to vse and practise all manner of commendable actions in militarie and martiall affaires to become both expert and skilfull in warlike prowesse onely to the end to defend their owne quiet and well gouerned Common wealth but forasmuch as the hazard of battaile and the stay wheron the whole state dependeth ought not to be giuen and yéelded into the hands of such desperate youths such fresh water souldiors and such proud minded perfons as will neither heare anie friendly counsaile wise aduice nor sage warning of him who hath béene before taught by experience but will with an ouer-rash and vnbridled selfe will as they say with a flantarowe all a brauado run headlong without anie good or gouernment hazarding the spoyle of their souldiers ieoparding the subuersion of a Kingdome venturing the whole state to them committed in one hower to the mutable and vnstedfast chaunce of frowning Fortune There I say is to bee expected as great calamitie as Minutius brought to the Romanes Hanniball to the Carthaginians and Paris to the Troians who by their wilfull follies wrought great miserie to their Countryes neither is the Enemie to bee repelled nor battaile to bee prouided for with superfluous and excessiue brauerie as though they would contend with feathers scarffes trim knackes and such other painted and gilded stuffe hoping to daunt and feare the foe with such vaine toyes Nay surely it dooth incoruage the Enemie hoping to recouer that rich pray spoyle perswading themselues that such vaine pride procéedeth from a fond and foolish wit through which conceipt the enemie is the more better stirred to battaile It may be that some will obiect this saying It is not wisedome nor by anie meanes tollerable to disswade the yong souldiour from that which dooth increase his courage more willingly to follow martiall feates and warlike affaires saying also it is for the honour of his Countrey to come to the field like a braue souldiour meaning by his outward braue attyre gorgeous furniture and other their ordinarie brauerie by them vsed Whereunto I aunswere after this manner Hanniball after he had contended in sharpe and mortall warres long time against the Romanes and was in conclusion beaten out of Italy by the prudence of the valiant Scipio he fled to King Antiochus who at that time had gathered a great power to warre on the Romanes The Armie beeing in a readinesse Antiochus called the wife and politike Captaine Hanniball to the top of a verie high hill shewing him all his whole power being gathered together from all parts of his Dominions for the same purpose This Armie was excéeding sure in the Kings opinion for the Souldiours targets glittered all with Orient golde their armours also wonderfully furnished with golde and rich pearle to conclude euerie thing marueilous sumptuous and braue Antiochus heereat greatly boasting saide vnto Hanniball My good friend doost thou not thinke this my rich and mightie Armie to be inough and sufficient for the proud Romanes Who presently fell into a great laughter laughing Antiochus to scorne for his superfluous vanitie and foolish folly saving in slouting sort Yes truely Antiochus although the Romanes were the most vnsatiable people and discontented Nation of the world Meaning that their rich booties and spoyles would be sufficient and inough againe for the Romanes knowing notwithstanding that their power would prooue small inough to match with them for that he himselfe before had well tried and felt their force
Certaine Stratagems and politike practises of worthy warriours and expert souldiors BY as Priennius when the Citie of Priennia was besieged by the mighty Aliattes vsed this Stratageme or policie when the towne could not holde out any longer for want of vittaile for their men and forrage for their horses he turned out of the Citie into the enimies Campe certaine horses and mules which were wonderfull fat for they were for the nonce fed for that purpose whereby the enemy might think and know that they in the towne had sufficient forrage prouender for their horses insomuch that when Aliattes the Captaine of the enemie did see this he thought indeede that the citizens had plenty of all things sending a spie priuily into the City to viewe their abilitie in all respects Which when Byas had intelligence of he caused great heapes of sand to be piled vp together and poured thereon wheat and other grain to make a shew of plenty giuing further commandement that no man should trouble or molest the spie nor make as once they suspected him but let him haue liberty to passe repasse at his pleasure the spie hauing well viewed all things soone returned to his Captaine shewing him of their great plenty and abundance of all things which so soone as Aliattes heard hee presently remoued his siege and departed thinking it a thing vnpossible to get the towne before their vittaile fayled knowing that hee should want for his companie before those heapes of corne were spent in the City therefore he with speed marched from the towne which in short time might haue beene taken by reason of the great scarcity in the City for the people dyed very fast by famine crying out dayly to Priennius to yeeld the City and saue their liues but by this subtile pollicy they were clearely fréeed to the wonderful ioy of the distressed Citizens Also when Quin. Fabius Maximus had wisely enclosed the wily Hanniball within the straits of Formiana keping the mouth of the strait passages so surely that Hanniball could not passe out the coūtry also being stony and barren not able to relieue his army long fearing least that if he shuld spend y t prouision which he had alredy he might perish with y e whole hoast before he could get any more in that place Hanniball seing himself in such extremity knowing that he could not giue battel to y e Romans without hazarding his whole power for that their enemies lay so strongly on the hill tops being so well backed with fresh supplies if occasion serued wherfore he was forced to vse this slight and mockerie to beguile and deceiue the Romans hauing gathered a great quantity of dry rotten stickes wyth rubbish thornes and such other stuffe fit for his purpose commanding his men to fetch into the campe so priuily as they coulde that the enemie might not perceiue whereabout they went al the oxen and lusty beasts that they coulde finde Now hauyng brought into their campe the number of two thousand lusty beasts they wyth speede fastned vnto their hornes the aforesaide dry stickes keeping them priuily vntill the darke night so that their inuention by no means might be espied being once very darke he caused his armie to be in a readinesse marching circumspectly vp toward the straights which were strongly kept by the Romanes making as little noise as they could being come neere where the enemy lay hee caused those fagots which were on the oxe horns to be set on fire stil driuing them before towards the strait which fire so mightily incresed by the swift running of the beasts for feeling the heat to come so neere the quicke they ran forward as if they had been starke mad puffing blowing making such a noise flinging and tossing the flame and sparks after a most terrible maner so that it was a wonderfull strange and fearfull sight The frighted Romans beholding such a miraculous wonder being much amased on the sudden for that they suspected no such Stratageme began to bussel run for feare because that horrible sight came stil furiously on them insomuch that they were dispersed scattred abroad by the great fright feare therof leauing the narrow places wide open without any force or garde at all so that Hanniball comming after in good order did with great ease passe thorow without any resistance which when the Romans perceiued they could in no case pursue him for that their men were so disordered by running away thus at last but too late they knewe how they were deluded and mocked by the craft of wily Hanniball Also Hanniball vsed this policie to bring the wise Captaine Q. Fabius Maximus in mistrust with the Romans for that he perceiued the sobernes of Fabius did much indamage him who before had tyred and wearied him with daliance committing nothing ouer rashly to fortune which wise dealing of Fabius séemed to Hanniball displeasant altogether repugnant to his nature wherfore at such time as he knew very well the Romans did beare no great good liking to Fabius by reason of the ouerthrowe which Minutius had giuen to Hanniball in his absence knowing also that hee was openly condemned in the Senate either that hee durst not fight wyth Hanniball or else that he did beare goodwill and fauour to the Carthaginians and therefore to bring him in further cause of mistrust with the Romans that also the Senat might easily thinke there were some conspiracie or confederacie betwixt him Hanniball he vsed this craftie practise sending out a great number of soldiors to spoile rob the Countrey of Italie in diuers places straitly commaunding them that they should spare and not once touch the goods cattells and landes which were knowne to be the possessions of Fabius but spoyling and wasting round about them they should leaue them whole vnminished to the end that the Romans should cōceiue such displeasure against him as that they might in no case permit or suffer him to deale in their affaires which thing woulde beene most pleasant to Hanniball And surely this subtile practise sounded much to the discredite of Fabius and had taken further effect if he by his wise policy had not somwhat qualified their hard conceit by this means presently thereupon he sent his sonne into the country to sell make away those lands and goods which Hannibal had spared for litle or nothing despising to possesse any thing which Hannibal preserued which deed made the Romans somwhat better to think of him Notwithstanding though Hanniball was the wisest captain that in those dayes liued mocking and deceiuing the Romans at his pleasure yet in the ende hee himselfe was kindely flouted by a Roman Captain suspecting no stratagem or policy at all to be practised insomuch that on a time when he had long besieged the great city Cassilinum could by no means take the Town he assayed to famish them make the city perforce yeeld to his mercy not suffering any
render into his hands other townes and castles which he had in kéeping Which thing pleased Claudius well hoping to free that countrey without battail from so dangerous a foe Wherefore he willingly consented to the parle appointing time and place for their méeting where there were bookes and articles drawen betweene them for the assurāce of both their promises Their méeting thus continuing thrée or foure dayes together Appius Claudius suspecting no craft for that the motiō came first by Hasdruball himself thinking that all things were plainly and simply meant without fraude or deceite Now Hasdruball in the meane time euery night sent part of his armie with their grosse cariages ouer certaine straite and perillous places which could neuer haue beene passed if the Romanes had knowen thereof himselfe euery day came foorth of the Campe to meet Claudius where they argued of waighty causes and were at a full composition sauing that their agreements were not confirmed and sealed which Hasdrubal shifted off in this sort saying that he would be so bold with Claudius as to conferre with his frendes the next day in his Campe which day also he sayd was euer kept holy among the Carthaginians and therefore he craued such like fauour at the hands of Appius with this knot also that they might be suffered quietly to peruse and conferre on those couenants agreements without any skirmish or battaile offered for that time promising the like for his part that his armie should neither inuade the Romanes nor trouble any of their frends as that day of truce protesting further that the next day his determination shoulde bee plainly declared to Appius and the Romans Now was Appius well quieted in his minde for that he hoped euery thing woulde effectually fall out yet for all that he gaue no great trust to the promise of Hasdruball for not inuading his men the next day Wherefore he caused watch and warde with good order to bee kept circumspectly in his campe to be ready if neede should require But Hasdruball minded nothing lesse than to inuade the campe of the Romanes but rather sought how to deliuer himselfe and his people out of that dangerous place therefore hee neglected no time in folowing so waightie a cause Insomuch that the same night he stole out of his campe with the rest that remayned behinde as close and priuely without noyse as they might ayding and helping one another ouer those harde passages which was wonderfull difficult to them by reason of the darkenes of the night But in the ende they well escaped the danger and were by the daylight safe inough from the Romanes Appius hauing intelligence in the morning of the escape of Hasdruball did then presently pursue after him but all in vain seeing himselfe thus flouted by Hasdruball then hee thought full well that he might cancell the agreements and burne the bands repenting his follie too late in suffering his enemie so easily to scape out of such a perillous straight L. Silla in the warres against Archelaus Mithridates lieutenant at Pirea perceiuing his souldiors had little courage to fight he so wearied them with continual labour that they were glad to desire to fight that the warres might be ended Also Cyrus king of Persia in the wars betwixt him Astyages king of the Medes minding to stirre vp the minds of his souldiors fiercely to giue battaile to their enemy vsed this policy he wearied them with paineful labour all one day in hewing downe a certaine wood and on the morrow after hee made a plenteous feast for them demaunding in the feast time which day liked them best and when they all allowed the pastime of the day present and yet quoth he this pleasure must be obtained by the other dayes paine for except ye first ouercome the Medes yee can neuer liue in fréedome and at pleasure whereby they tooke great courage to fight When Agesilaus had pitcht his field not farre from Orchomeno a City that was in league wyth him and perceyuing that many of the army had their treasure and cheefe riches in the Campe he commanded the townesmen to receyue nothing into the Towne belonging to his army to the intent his Souldiours might fight the more fiercely knowing they should fight both for their liues goods Gelon king of Syracusa entring warre against the Persians after he had taken many of them brought forth the weakest and most vncomely persons naked in the sight of all his army to persuade them that their enemies were but wretches and men worthy to be despised Epaminondas being ready to giue battell to the Lacedemonians seing the courage of his souldiours began somewhat to quaile he vsed this meane to animate their mindes furiously to fight pronouncing in an oration to them how that the Lacedemonians had determined if they gate the victory to slay all their men to make their wiues and children bond-slaues for euer and to beate downe the City of Thebes flat to the ground With which wordes the Thebans were so mooued and agreeued that at the first brunt they ouercame the Lacedemonians Thus we sée oftentimes that subtile policy auaileth where force and strength can hardly resist therefore it is both conuenient and necessarie that the Stratagems of warre be exercised and studied against néedefull times but in my opinion the force of mony is great in causes of warre and winneth by corruption strong castells and inuincible townes insomuch that the wise Erasmus seeing the wonderfull force of money so strong and auaileable sayth thus thereof Porrò nihil est iam sanctum quod non violari nihil tam munitum quodnon expugnari pecunia possit Nothing sayth he is so holie and sacred but by money it may be violated neither is any thing so strong but by the corruption of mony it may be taken and subdued Philip king of Macedon hauing by practise and experience found out the vnincounterable force thereof at such time in his warres as he minded to take a certaine Citie perforce it was tolde him that the passage thereto was very difficult and hard and the towne by common iudgement inuincible An praesidium tam esset difficile accessu rogauit vt asinus auro onustus accedere non posset Wherevnto he demanded this Whether or no is the way or straight so difficult in passing that an asse being loden with golde cannot passe and enter in making then a trifle of it when he heard that there were but such sufficient passage accounting all things possible enough to be won where onely there were but place for money to passe For sayth he Pecuniae obediunt omnia All thinges are obedient to money Yet notwithstanding it is to be wished that whosoeuer wil violate or breake sacred rites or betray things committed to his charge on trust by corruption of mony or for auarice sake that we had as the olde saying is his skinne full of angells The miserable murders and deadly debates that happened betweene
most excellent things in the worlde that euer were séene or heard of Now when all these ordinances of Alexander were red by Perdicas heard by the Macedonian Princes although they loued their master maruellously yet when they saw his enterprices to be such and of so great charge they all agreed with one consent that nothing should be done therin departing euery man to his Prouince whereunto he was appoynted by the gouernor Perdicas Shortly after they were all departed and seperated one from another Perdicas thought good hauing so fit oportunity to reuenge himselfe on those that first hindered him from being king And for because that Meleager now prince of Lydia whē he was sent ambassador to the footmē did earnestly stād against his desire altogether preuented his intent therefore Perdicas in reuenge first of all other most cruelly slew him with 30. of the most principall souldiers that were against his proceedings The other princes soon had intelligence of the things Perdicas had done fearing he would shew the like crueltie on them hearing also what their master Alexander had said on his deathbed which was that his kingdomes possessions should be possessed of the most worthy wherfore euery of them enioying so large prouinces and territories thought themselues as worthy personages as either Aride the king or Perdicas his gouernor insomuch that the most part of them would be subiect to neither but seniorized their Prouinces to their owne vses chalenging the name and title of kings deuiding themselues taking part one against the other euery one striuing who should bee worthiest Which words of Alexander together with their stately pride was the originall cause that the whole number of Princes and captaines successors to Alexander perished and were vtterly destroyed for they earnestly coueted each others kingdome raising among themselues bloudy war and cruell strife snatching after the most worthy place not forcing of cruell murthers or lamētable slaughters but with eger minds būted after y e goods life of ech other vntil they had vtterly rooted out consumed themselues for Perdicas hauing slaine Meleager and other of his fellow seruitors in Alexanders warres toke vpō him to go into Egypt to dispossesse Ptolome whom before he had placed in that Prouince But there because he behaued himselfe so proudly dismissing his captains vpon small occasions at his pleasure his souldiers set vpon him most fiercely slew him the greatest part of his army being gone to Ptolome King Philip Euridice his wife wer most cruelly murthered by Olympias Alexanders mother Craterus cōming against Eumenes in opē battail was by him slaine Eumenes also was slain in fight by Antigonus Antigonus likewise put to death Python and gaue his prouince to another Antigonus going to batel against Antioch the sonne of Seleucus was himselfe slain by default of his sonne Demetrius It was credebly reported that the night before Antigonus was slaine his son Demetrius dreamed that Alexander who before was dead came stood before him with his sword drawne saying I wil take part with thy enemies against thy father and thee in the morning also when Antigonus aranged his phalange or square battell of footmen comming foorth of his Tent to fight he stumbled and sell downe flat to the groūd and after he was lifted vp againe holding vp his hands to heauen he said I know hard fortune and euill successe drawethny but I pray the immortall Gods rather suffer me to be slaine in this battel than shamefully before mine enemie to flie Also old Antipater falling sick on a surfet which he had takē in these warres deceased and left the kingdome of Macedon to Polispercon his frend and not to Cassander his owne sonne which also caused great controuersie to arise betwixt his sonne Cassander and his friend Polispercon But in the end Cassander expelled Polispercon his fathers kingdome Not long after he himselfe came to vntimely death leauing behind him two sonnes the eldest hight Alexander the other Antipater which Antipater after he had slaine his owne mother sought meanes to driue his brother Alexander out of Macedon For which cause Alexander sent for ayde to king Pirrhus in Cyprus to Demetrius Antigone his sonne in Peloponnesus howbeit Demetrius being so occupied about the estate and affaires of Pelopōnesus whē the Ambassadors of Alexander came that hee coulde by no means help him In the mean time Pirrhus with a great armie came thether and in recompence of his ayde charge took possession of so large a peece of Macedon laying it to his owne countrey of Epyre that Alexander greatly dreaded him And while he abode in this feare he was aduertised that Demetrius was with his whole power comming to his ayde Wherupon he considering the authoritie great renowne of Demetrius and also the worthines of his déedes for which causes he was highly honoured through the whole world did now more than before feare his estate if he entered his realm wherfore he foorthwith went to méet him whom at their first méeting he right courteously and honorably entreated greatly thanking him for his courtesie and trauell in that he would leaue his own affaires of great importance and with so mightie an army come to his ayde further telling him that he already had wel quieted and established his estate so that he should not néede any further to trauell Neuertheles he thought himselfe so much bounde as if he had come at his first sending for or that all things had béen by his meanes quieted To these words Demetrius answered that he was right glad of his quietnes and that he had now no néed of his helpe besides many other louing and gentle words which gréeting ended either of thē for that night returned into his tent During which time there arose such matters betwixt thē that the one greatly suspected the other for as Demetrius was bid to supper with Alexander he was willed to take heede to himselfe for Alexander had practised by treason to slay him notwithstanding he by no mean shewed any countenance of mistrust but meant to go to the banquet to whose lodging Alexander was comming to bring him on his way But Demetrius diuersly detracted the time went a soft easie pace to y e ende his souldiers might haue leisure to arme them and cōmāded his garde being a greater number than Alexanders to enter with him also to waite neer his person but when Alexanders souldiers saw themselues the weaker part they durst not attempt it at that time And after supper because Demetrius would haue some honest cause to depart he fayned he was some what ill in his body therfore foorthwith took leaue of Alexander went thence The next day Demetrius feined that he had receiued letters out of his countrey of great importance so that he with his army must presently return into Peloponnese frō whēce he came praying Alexander to haue him excused offering him
help whē he néeded desiring to vse him as one in whō he might repose his trust Now was Alexāder glad that of his own accord he would return and because he would better let him vnderstande some signe of good wil harty loue he accōpanied him into Thessaly but after they were arriued in the Citie of Larissa they a fresh began to practise new treason one against another and first Alexander to put Demetrius quite out of suspition either without armour or weapon or anie guard to attend on his person would oft visite him hoping thereby to make him doo the like but he was in his so thinking greatly deceiued for as Alexander one night came to supper to Demetrius without guard according to his accustomed wont and that they wer in the chiefe of their supper Demetrius sodainly arose from the table wherat Alexander was sore abashed insomuch that hee arose also followed him to the hall doore but so soone as Demetrius was without he gaue signe and token to his souldiors who incontinently fell vppon Alexander and slew him and certaine of his men which would haue defended him among whom a certain fellowe before he was killed said Demetrius hath preuented vs but a day onely Now was Demetrius King of Macedon and the Macedonians right glad of their change but not long after this Demetrius was taken prisoner by Seleuchus in battaile committed to prison where he continued vntill he died Then was the great fight betwixt Seleucus and Lysimachus which was the verie last battaile that was fought betwixt the successors of Alexander in which conflict Lysimachus was slaine Seleucus victor But Seleucus inioyed his victorie not long for he was shortly after slaine by Ptolome whose sister Lysimachus had married Also Olympias mother to Alexander the Great when she had slaine King Philip and his wife Euridice then to despite Cassander she put to death an 100. noble men of Macedon at one time also she made Nicanor brother to Cassander to be slaine and defaced the tombe and monument of Iole his other Brother to reuenge the death of Alexander her sonne as she said because it was suspected that he had poysoned him in giuing him drinke About the same time when Ptolome Lord of the Isle of Cypres vnderstood that Nicocles King of Paphos had secretly allied with Antigone hee sent two of his chiefe friends to wit Argey and Calicrate into Cypres charging them to kill the said Nicocles fearing that if he should leaue him vnpunished the rest would not sticke to doo the like When these messengers were arriued in Cypres hauing with them the souldiors of Ptolome they incompassed the house of Nicocles signifying to him their charge from Ptolome therefore they exhorted him to kill himselfe who from the beginning vsed manie words in the excusing of the fact but when hee did sée there was no account made of his tale hee at the last slewe himselfe and after that Axithia his wife vnderstood of his death she first slew two yong maides her daughters whom she had by him to the end they shuld not come into the hands of her husbands enemies and after exhorted Nicocles brothers wiues willingly to die with her which indéed they did In this sort also was the pallaice royall of Paphos ful of murders and wilfull slaughters and after in manner of a tragedie burnt for immediately after the brothers wiues of Nicocles were dead they shut vp the dores of the houses and set them on fire and foorthwith they that then liued in the pallaice killed themselues and so finished that lamētable murder In the same season while these things were done in Cypres great controuersie arose in the Countrey of Pontus after the death of Parisade sometime King of Bosphorus betwixt Satyre Eumele and Pritame Parisade his sonnes for the succession of the said Realme insomuch that the brothers made sharpe warre one against the other So it fortuned that Satyre and Pritame were both slaine in that warre wherefore the other Brother Eumele to assure himselfe of the Realme caused all the wiues children and friends of Pritame and Satyre his brethren to be slaine not long after was himselfe cruelly slaine by misfortune Now to returne to Alexander the Great and his line it was reported and partly beléeued that he himselfe consented with Olympias his mother to the death and murder of Philip his father for which gréeuous offence he himselfe with his whole line and stocke was punished accordingly For first it is to be considered that olde Antipater who in Alexanders life was his Lieutenant and after his death first had the Satrape of Macedon bestowed on him by Perdicas the Gouernour Which Antipater and Olympias could neuer agrée but still were at contention and strife both in the life time of her sonne Alexander and also after his death insomuch that when Alexander was comming from the conquest of the world making his abode in Babylon for a time and after minding to returne home into Macedon to visit his mother Olympias Antipater being then Lieutenant of Macedon considered with himselfe that if in case Alexander shuld return home that then his mother Olympias would make gréeuous complaints against him which thing he so much feared that he caused poyson to be giuen to Alexander at Babylon whereof hee presently died Thus when Alexander was dead and olde Antipater deceased there grew a new grudge and quarrell betwixt Olympias and Cassander sonne to Antipater insomuch that he tooke Olympias prisoner and in the end caused her to be slaine Aslo hee slewe Alexander sonne of Alexander the Great and Roxana his mother afterward he put to death Hercules the other sonne of Alexander with Arsinne his mother yet notwithstanding Cassander espoused Thessalonica one of the Sisters of Alexander the great who after the death of Cassander was also slaine by her own sonne Antipater Cleopatra also the other Sister of Alexander was also slaine by the commaundement of Antigonus After this sort was the whole line of Alexander for all his mightie conquests gained with lamentable slaughters and wonderfull effusion of bloud vtterly extinguished by Antipater and his Successours Also what gained his Successors by the large Kingdomes and possessions hee left For they were al by enuie depriued both of life and lands in miserable sort Insomuch that their remained not one that could iustly vaunt and brag of his happie successe but had rather good cause to mourne bewaile the cruel murders manifold slaughters and wastfull ruines both of themselues their wiues children and friends hauing also right good cause to wish that Alexander had neuer béen borne or els that he had neuer conquered so great a part of the world to leaue the possession therof to them wherby they were all driuen to vntimely death with the murder of infinite thousands of their people so that the whole whole world did lament and grieue at their