diverse Battels Yet Pompeys men still vexing him with their importunity when they were come into the Fields of Pharsalia caused him to call a Counsel There Labienus the Generall of the Horsemen swore before them all that he would not rerurne from the Battell till he had driven his enemies out of the Field and the like Oath did all the rest of the Commanders take The night before the fatall Battel there were heard sudden and fearfull noises in Pompeys Camp which awaked all the Souldiers At the changing of the fourth Watch there was seen a great light over Caesars Camp like unto a burning Torch which came and fell in Pompeys Camp In the morning Caesar intending to raise his Camp and to remove to the City of 〈◊〉 whilst his Souldiers were busy in sending away their Bag and Baggage some brought Caesar word that they saw much Armour and many weapons carryed too and fro in their Enemies Camp and heard a great noise and bustling as of men that were preparing to fight His Scouts also brought him word that Pompeys Van was already set in Battel array Caesar much rejoyced when he heard this saying Now the day is come that we shall no longer fight with hunger and want but with men and thereupon gave order that they should presently put out the red coat of Armes upon his Tent which was the signe used amongst the Romans when they were to fight The Souldiers when they saw that left their Tents Carriages and all and with great Shouts of joy ran to arme themselves and so without noise or tumult they were by their Captaines put into Battel array Pompey himself led the right wing of his Battel against Anthony The middle Battel he gave to Scipio his Father in Law which was right against Domitius Calvinus His left Wing was led by Lucius Domitius Aenobarbus which was guarded by the men at Armes for all the Horsemen were placed there to distresse Caesar if possibly they could and to overthrow the tenth Legion which contained the valiantest Souldiers that Caesar had and amongst whom himself alwayes used to fight in Person Caesar seeing the left Wing of his enemies so strong with the guard of Horsemen brought six Companys of Foot for a reserve and placed them behind the tenth Legion commanding them to stand close that they might not be discovered by the enemy and commanded them when the Horsemen should charge upon them that they should not throw their darts strait forward but upward at their faces For said he These brave Fellows and fine Dancers will not endure to have their faces marred Pompey being an Horseback rode up and down to observe how both Armies were marshalled and perceiving that his enemies stood still in their ranks expecting the signall of Battel and that his own Battel waved up and down disorderly as men unskillfull in the Wars he feared that they would fly before they were charged Therefore he commanded his Van to stand sleadily in their ranks and to defend themselves in a close fight when they enemy should assault them But Caesar disliked this devise for thereby said he the force of their blowes was lessened and by with-holding them from giving the charge that courage was taken away which the assailant carrieth with him when he comes on with fury it made them also more fainthearted in receiving the enemies charge In Caesars Army there were about twenty two thousand fighting men and in Pompeys above twice so many When the signal of Battel was given on either side and the Trumpets sounded an Alarme every man began to look to himself But a few of the chiefest of the Romans and some Grecians that were amongst them that yet were not entred into the Battell perceiving the imminent danger began to bethink themselves to what a sad passe the ambition and contention between these two great Persons had brought the State of Rome unto where were kinsmen against kinsmen and Brethren against Brethren imbrewing their hands each in others bloud Whereas if they could have been contented quietly to Govern what they had conquered the Romane Empire was big enough for them both Or if that could not have quenched their insatiable desires and thirst after Glory they had occasion enough offered them against the Germans and Parthians Or else they might have proceeded to Conquer Scythia and India For what Scythian Horsemen or Parthian Arrows or Indian Riches could have withstood the power of seventy thousand Roman Souldiers especially being led by two such Captaines as were Pompey and Caesar whose Names were famous through the World Now when the Fields of Pharsalia were covered 〈◊〉 with Horse and men in Armes after the Signall was given the first man of Caesars Army that advanced forward to give the charge was Caius Crassinius a Captain of one hundred twenty and five men and this he did to make good his promise to Caesar who having asked him that morning what he thought of the event of the Battel he said Oh Caesar Thine is the Victory and this day thou shalt commend me either alive or dead Thereupon he brake out of his rank many others also following him and ran into the midst of his enemies making a gâ—eat slaughter but as he still pressed forward one ran him through the neck and slew him Pompey did not make his left wing to advance over suddenly but staid to see what his Horsemen would do who had already divided themselves intending to compasse in Caesar and to force his Horsemen who were fewer in number to give back upon his squadron of Foot men and thereby to disorder them But on the other side Caesars Horsemen gave back a little and the six Companies of Footmen that he had placed secretly behind them being three thousand in number ran suddenly to charge the enemy in the flank and comming neer to Pompeys Horsemen they threw their Darts as Caesar had appointed them full in their faces The young Gentlemen being raw Souldiers and little expecting such a manner of fight had not the hearts to defend themselves nor could abide to be hurt in their faces but turning their heads and clapping their hands on their faces they fled shamfully They being thus routed Caesars men made no account to follow them but went presently and charged his Infantry and especally where they had no guard of Horsemen by which meanes they might be the easiler compassed about Thus they being charged by these in the Flank and in the Van also by the tenth Legion finding themselves contrary to their expectation compassed about by their enemies whereas they thought to have environed them they could no longer make resistance but were put to the rout also When Pompey saw the dust flying up in the aire and thereby conjectured the flight oâ— his Horsemen he was like a man amazed and at 〈◊〉 end forgeting that he was Pompey the Great 〈…〉 retiring into his Camp he sat silent for a good 〈…〉 â—uch time
the like so that in a short space he had gotten three compleat Legions together as also Amunition Carts and all other necessaries for them In this sort did Pompey advance towards Sylla not in hast as a man that was afraid to be met with by the way but by small Journeyes lodging still where he might have the best advantage against an enemy causing the Cities wheresoever he came to declare against Carbo and for Sylla Yet three Captains who adhered to Carbo Carinna Caelius and Brutus did in three severall places compasse him in on every side thinking to have destroyed him Pompey was nothing amazed hereat but marshalling his Army he first set upon Brutus having placed his Horsemen amongst whom himself was in Person before the Battel of his Footmen and when the men at Armes of his enemy who were Gauls came to charge upon him he singled out the chiefest amongst them and ran him through with his Spear and slew him The other Gauls seeing their Champion slaine turned their backs and in their flight over ran their own Footmen so that at last they all fled for their lives Then the Cities round about being terrified with this overthrow came in and yeilded themselves to Pompey Afterwards Scipio also the Consul coming against Pompey to fight him when the Battels were ready to joyn before they threw their Darts Scipio's Souldiers saluted Pompey and went over to his side whereupon Scipio was faign to fly And lastly Carbo himself sending diverse Troops of Horse against him by the River Arsis Pompey charged them so furiously and drave them into such a place of disadvantage that being neither able to fight nor fly they delivered up themselves with their Horses Armes and all to his mercy Sylla all this while heard nothing of these overthrows which Pompey had given to his enemies but understanding his danger being environed with so many Armes fearing lest he should miscarry he made hast and marched to his relief Pompey being informed of Sylla's approach commanded his Captaines to Arme themselves and to set their Army in good array that their Generall Sylla might see how bravely they were appointed For he expected that Sylla would do him great honour as indeed he did even beyond his expectation For when Sylla saw him afar off coming towards him and his Army marshalled in such good order of Battell and his men so bravely advancing themselves being elated with their late Victories he alighted from his Horse and when Pompey came to do his duty to him and called him Emperour or Soveraigne Prince Sylla resaluted him with the same Title which made all that were present to wonder that he would give so honourable a name to so young a man as Pompey was who as yet was not made a Sanator Considering also that Sylla himself did now contend for that Title and Dignity with Marius and Scipio The intertainment also that Sylla gave him afterwards was every way answerable to the first kindnesse that he shewed him For when Pompey at any time came to him he would rise up and put off his Cap to him which he did not to any other Noble man that was about him Yet was not Pompey puffed up with all this nor the prouder for it Shortly after Sylla would have sent Pompey into Gaul now France because that Metellus the Roman Generall there was thought to have done no exploit worthy of so great an Army as he had with him But Pompey answered that there was no reason to displace an ancient Captain that was of greater fame and experience then himself Yet said he if Metellus himself be contented and will desire it of me I will willingly go and help him to end this War Metellus being informed hereof wrote for him to come Pompey then entering Gaul did of himself wonderfull explots and so revived the courage and valour of old Metellus that the War prospered exceedingly in their hands But these were but Pompey's first beginnings and were wholly obscured by the luster of those many Wars and great Battels which he fought afterwards When Sylla had over come all Italy and was proclaimed Dictator he rewarded all the great Captains and Leiutenants that had taken his part and advanced them to honourable places and Dignities in the Commonwealth freely granting whatsoever they requested of him But for Pompey highly esteeming him for his Valour and thinking that he would be a great support to him in all his Wars he sought by some meanes to ally him to himself Metella his Wife being also of the same opinion they both perswaded him to put away his Wife Antistia and to marry Aemilia who was Daughter to Metella by a former Husband though she was married to an other and now with child by him These marriages were wicked and Tyrannicall fitter for Sylla's time than agreeable to Pompey's nature and condition And truly it was a shamefull thing for Pompey to forsake his Wife Antistia who for his sak a little before had lost her Father that was murthered in the very Senate House upon suspition that he took part with Sylla for his Son Pompey's sake and to take Aemilia from her lawfull Husband by whom she was great with child and to whom she had been married not long before which also caused the Mother of Antistia to lay violent hands upon her self seeing her Daughter to receive such open and notorious wrong But God who hates such Injustice and cruelty followed Pompey with this Judgement that his Wife Aemilia died miserably presently after in childbirth in his House About this time newes was brought to Sylla that Perpenna was gotten into Sicilie and had brought all that Island into subjection to him where he might safely intertain all Sylla's enemies That Carbo also kept the Seas thereabouts with a certaine number of 〈…〉 was gone into Africk to whom resorted many other Noblemen who were escaped from the proscriptions and outlaries of Sylla Against all these was Pompey sent by his Father in Law with a great Army who no sooner was arrived in Sicily but Perpeâ—na fled and left the Island to him Then did Pompey deale friendly and favourably with all the Cities which before had endured great troubles and misery and set them again at liberty the Mamertines only excepted who dwelt in Messina they despising his juridiction and Government pleaded the ancient priviledges of the Romanes which had been formerly granted unto them But Pompey answered them angerly What do you prâ—ting to us of your Law that have our Swords by our sides He dealt also too cruelly with Carbo in his misery for he might have killed him in hot blood when he first fell into his hands with lesse blame But Pompey when he was taken caused him to be brought before him though he had been thrice Consul and to be publickly examined sitting himself in his Tribunall and condemned him to die in the presence of them
to the number of seven thousand Valiant men and of great Houses But his Footmen were raw and untrained Souldiers whom Pompey continually exercised at the City of Beraea taking as much paines therein as if he had been in his youth It was great encouragement to others to see Pompey being fifty eight years old fighting on foot compleatly Armed and then speedily to mount on Horseback and in his full Career to draw and put up his Sword to cast his Dart with as much agility and strength and point blank that few young men could do the like To Pompey there came diverse Kings Princes and Lords of great Countries and of Roman Captains who had born Office to the number of a whole Senate Amongst these there came also Labienus who formerly had been Caesars great Friend and an assistant to him in his Wars in Gaul There came also to him Brutus a very Valiant man who had never before spoken unto Pompey because he thought him guilty of his Fathers Murther but now he willingly joyned with him as a defender of the Roman Liberties Cicero himself also who had written and given counsel for Peace thought it a shame not to be amongst the number of those who would hazard their lives in the defence of their Country There came also Didius Sextus though he was an old man and lame of one of his legs whom when Pompey saw comming though others laughed him to scorn yet he rose up and went to meet him judging it a signe of much love when such old men chose rather to accompany him in danger than to remaine at home in safety The chief of Pompey's Army sitting in Counsel decreed that no Citizen of Rome should be put to death but such as â—ell in Battel That no City subject to the Empire of Rome should be sackt which made Pompey's part liked the better And most judged those enemies both to the Gods and men that did not wish him the Victory Caesar also shewed himself very courteous and mercifull for having taken all Pompey's Army in Spain he set all the Captaines at liberty and only reserved the Souldiers to himself Then comming over the Alps again he passed through all Italy and came to Brundusium in the Winter time and from thence passing over the Sea he came to the City of Oricum and having Vibius one of Pompey's familiar Friends with him whom he had taken Prisoner he sent him to Pompey again to desire that they might meet and both of them disband their Armies within three dayes and being reconciled and having given their Faith each to other to returne into Italy like good Friends together But Pompey durst not trust to these fair words judging them but snares to entrap him He therefore suddenly removed to the Sea coast and took all the places of strength neer to the Sea side safely to lodge his Camp in and all the Ports Harbours and Creeks fit for Ships to lie in so that whatsoever Wind blew it served his turne to bring him either men Victuals or money Caesar on the other hand was so distressed both by Sea and Land that he was driven to hasten to a Battell and to assail Pompey even in his own strength to force him to fight with him and for the most part he alwayes had the better in most skirmishes saving one wherein he was in danger to have lost all his Army For Pompey had valiantly repulsed all his men and made them fly and had slaine two thousand of them in the field but he durst not enter pell mell with them into their Camp when they fled which made Caesar say to his Friends That his enemy had won the Victory that day if â—e had known how to overcome This Victory did so encourage Pompeys men that they would needs hazard a Battel But Pompey though he wrote to many of his Friends and Confederates as if he had already beaten Caesar yet was he not willing to adventure all upon a Battell thinking it better by protracting time and cutting his enemy short of Victuals to overcome him For this end Pompey preswaded his men to be quiet and not to stirre But when Caesar after this last bickering being scanted of Victuals raised his Camp and departed to go into Thessaly through the Country of the Athamâ—neans then he could no longer bridle their courage who cried out Caesar is fled let us follow him And others said let us returne home into Italy And some sent their Friends and servants to Rome to hire them Houses neere the Market place intending at their return to sue for Offices Some in a jollity would needs saile to Lesbos where Pompey had left his Wife Cornelia to carry her the good newes that the War was ended Pompey calling a Councell Affricanus thought it best to go into Italy and to win that as being the chiefest mark they shot at in this War For whosoever had that was sure of all Sicily Sardinia Corsica Spain and Gaul He said also that it was a dishonour to Pompey who should be very tender of his credit to suffer their Country to be in such bondage and subjection to slaves and base flatterers of a Tyrant when as it offered it self as it were into their hands But Pompey thought it dishonourable for him to fly from Caesar and to make him follow him since he now had him in chase nor lawfull before the Gods now to forsake his Father in Law Scipio and many others who had been Consuls and who were dispersed up and down Greece and Thessaly who by this meanes would certainly fall into Caesars hands together with their Riches and Armies He said also that they had care enough for the City of Rome by drawing their Armies farthest from it so as they remaining safe and quiet at home not feeling the miseries of War might joyfully welcome him home that remained Conquerour With this determination he followed Caesar not intending to give him Battel but to besiege him and so to cut him short of Victuals But whilst he pursued him faire and softly his men cryed out of him that he intended not to War against Caesar but against his own Country that he might still keep the authority in his hand Phaonius also mocked him and went crying up and downe My Masters I give you notice that you are like to eat no Tusculan Figs this year With these and many others such lewde speeches they compelled Pompey to submit to their rash and giddy desires contrary to his more Prudent purpose and determination which yet a Generall over so many Nations and Armies should not have done These little considered that he with whom he was to fight was Caesar who had taken a thousand Townes and Cities by assault had subdued above three hundred severall Nations had won infinite Battels of the Germans and Gauls and was never overcome Had also taken a Million of men Prisoners and had slaine as many in