the most probable and having most resemblance to the modern Discipline The Romans therefore formed their first Battalions of their youngest raw Souldiers which they called Bo-Hastati the second were those who had served some years and were named Principes the old Souldiers were in the rere and there was the Post of the Eagles which were the Ensigns Colonel and the other Ensigns of the Legions These old Souldiers called Triarii waited the Success of the first Battalions with one Knee upon the ground and leaning upon their Bucklers and still as the first bodies were broke or gave way they retired into the intervals in the rere and then the third line rose up and closing the ranks the Battalions left no interval at all but marched up to the Enemies and charged in one continued front In all these occasions the Horse always acted separate detaches from the Legions and with the light-armed Foot was posted on the Wings or right and left of the Army they were armed almost like the legionary Foot onely their Javelins were longer and their Shields were lighter This is what hath been thought fit to be explained but here the Reader is desired to be so charitable as not to think it done to make any vain shew of reading or learning for every one knows these things are but trifles and very common amongst the learned what is done here is onely for the information of those whose business and emploiments will not permit them to make enquiry themselves among Books of this nature THE CONTENTS TO The First Volume CHap. I. The estate of the Roman Common-wealth after Cataline's Conspiracy Pag. 1. Caesar's design upon Cicero and Cicero's reply to Metellus Nepos p. 9. Chap. III. Concerning Clodius and the return of Pompey p. 14. Chap. IV. Pompey makes the Consuls He ruffles the Senate The Vnion of Caesar and Pompey p. 21. Caesar's Consulship and what follow'd p. 25. Chap. VI. The pursuit of Caesar's Consulship The Affair of Vettius Clodius admitted into the popular Order The Banishment of Cicero p. 29. Chap. VII The Departure of Caesar for the Gallick War and the return of Cicero p. 35. Chap. VIII Cicero unites himself with Pompey who is chosen Consul with Crassus Their union with Caesar after his first Triumvirate p. 40. Chap. IX Pompey and Crassus get themselves invested in Governments The Cause of Division between Caesar and Pompey p 46. Chap. X. The Death of Pompey's Wife Julia The Magnificent Shews he gave the People The Death of Clodius p. 49. Chap. XI Pompey sole Consul Caesar secures himself of the favour of the Roman People p. 54. Pompey's Laws Curio goes over to Caesar's Interest p. 59. Chap. XIII Curio declareth himself against Pompey Caesar returns the Legion that Pompey had lent him p. 63. Chap. XIV Caesar sends a Letter to the Senate They declare War against him Anthony and Curio the Tribunes of the People go to find out Caesar p. 66. Chap. XV. The Passage of the Rubicon and the taking of Rimini p. 70. Chap. XVI The amazement of the Senatours They leave Rome and retire to Capua p. 73. Chap. XVII Some Propositions of Peace between Caesar and Pompey but without any success p. 76. Chap. XVIII The Progress of Caesar. He seizes upon the March of Ancona The siege of Corfinium p. 79. Chap. XIX The taking of Corfinium Caesar gives Domitius and the other Senatours their liberty He writes to Cicero p. 83. Chap. XX. New Propositions for Peace Caesar besieges Pompey in Brundusium Pompey retires by Sea p. 87. Chap. XXI Caesar goes to Rome by the way sees Cicero He seizes upon the money of the publick Treasury and goes into Spain The Siege of Marseilles p. 92. Chap. XXII Pompey gathers together great Forces Fabius enters Spain with the Troops belonging to Caesar p. 96. Chap. XXIII Caesar joins his Army and marches against Petreius and Afranius p. 99. Chap. XXIV The Battel of Lerida p. 101. Caesar's Army reduced to great extremities by the overflowing of two Rivers Cicero and a great many other Senatours go to find out Pompey p. 104. Chap. XXVI Caesar passes the Segre and pursues Afranius and Petreius p. 108. Chap. XXVII Different motions of the two Armies Caesar besieges the Enemies two Generals p. 111. Chap. XXVIII Petreius causes several of Caesar's Souldiers to be slain He decampeth and Caesar follows him but without a design of defeating him utterly p. 116. Chap. XXIX Afranius and Petreius pressed for want of Provision surrender themselves to Caesar with all their Army p. 120. Chap. XXX The Continuation of the Siege of Marseilles and the taking of that City Caesar chosen Dictatour The Defeat and Death of Curio in Africa p. 123. Pompey's Forces The Defeat of Dolabella and Caesar's Lieutenants Brutus goes to find out Pompey p. 127. Chap. XXXII A Mutiny amongst Caesar's Troops He reduces them to their Duty by his Eloquence and Resolution He is chosen Consul with Servilius and makes new Laws p. 130. Chap. XXXIII Caesar with part of his Army goes into Greece some Discourse of Peace but to no purpose Two Armies draw towards one another near Durazzo p. 133. Chap. XXXIV Caesar exposes himself alone in a Skiff to go and find the rest of his Army p. 137. Chap. XXXV The happy arrival of Caesar's Troops in Greece Caelius and Milo raising disturbances in Italy are slain p. 140. Chap. XXXVI Marcus Antonius joins himself with Caesar in spight of Pompey who retreats to Aspargua near Durazzo p. 143. Chap. XXXVII Caesar offers Battel to Pompey who refuses it They both post themselves near Durazzo Caesar hemmed in by the lines of Pompey's Camp p. 146. Chap. XXXVIII A fight between Caesar and Pompey's Troops p. 150. Chap. XXXIX Pompey attacks Caesar's Fortifications The Valour of Sceva Pompey quits his Camp the Treason of Roscillus and Aegus p. 154. Chap. XL. Pompey attacks Caesar's Trenches great disorder amongst Caesar's Troops he confirms them by his Presence p. 158. Chap. XLI Caesar in a great Battel is overthrown Pompey loses the opportunity of totally routing him Caesar's opinion upon that occasion p. 161. Caesar's Discourse to his Troops to confirm them He decamps to march toward Thessaly Pompey follows him p. 165. Chap. XLIII Caesar goes into Apolonia Domitius joins himself with him The taking of Gomphes and Metropolis p. 169. Chap. XLIV Scipio joins his Troops with those of Pompey's They post themselves in the Plains of Pharsalia The approach of the two Armies Pompey's uneasiness p. 172. Chap. XLV Pompey forced to fight against his Opinion His Discourse with Labienus Some Presages p. 175. Chap. XLVI The order of the two Armies The two Generals speak to their Souldiers to encourage them to the Fight p. 178. Chap. XLVII The Battel of Pharsalia The Fierceness of Crastinus The Flight of Pompey and overthrow of his Troops p. 181. Chap. XLVIII Some other Presages reported to Caesar p. 187. Chap. XLIX Pompey puts to Sea and takes in King Dejotarus and goes
were how he might take away from his People the fear they had of the Enemy and especially of their Elephants wherefore having some of them in his Camp he accustomed his Souldiers to approach them boldly he caused them to observe the place where those Beasts were most easily to be wounded and caused his Cavalry to assault them with blunted Lances by that means to inure the Horses to the sight of them At last when by these exercises he found they were grown no longer afraid of them he decamped seeking dayly how he might post himself with most advantage After many removings and some skirmishes wherein Labienus came by the worst observing that his Enemies began to fear the Valour of his Legions he went to attack the City of Thapsus where Virgilius Commanded for Scipio with a very strong Garrison Scipio who was afraid lest in loosing that City his Reputation might suffer came also to post himself about the nine miles from Caesar where he and Iuba entrenched themselves in two several Camps There was near to Thapsus a Pond of salt water about 1500 paces distant from the Sea Scipio's design was by that interval to put some Troops into the place but Caesar who had foreseen as much and expected it had built a Fort there and left a Garrison in three places which obliged Scipio to make some attacks but without success and after having passed a whole night and a day on the banks of the Pond set his Troops a work for retrenching themselves towards the Sea 1500 paces from Caesar's Fort. Caesar about break of day was informed of the proceeding so leaving Asprinas to guard his Camp he marched directly upon the Enemy by the interval which was between the Pond and the Sea He sent also orders to those who Commanded his Vessels that were before Thapsus that leaving onely some to defend the mouth of the Port they should advance with the rest on the other side of Scipio's Camp and at the first noise of Battel setting their Souldiers on shore make an attack upon that side with noise and shouting Caesar's Army marched upon three lines the four best Legions on the front and the five others making as it were a body of Reserve five Cohorts upon the Wings who were designed to engage the Elephants with all his Archers and Slingers and his light armed Foot mingled with his Cavalry For himself he was on foot going through the ranks and animating his Souldiers by his presence and his Exhortations He found Scipio drawn up in Battalia before his Retrenchments the works whereof he caused dayly to be continued but at the sight of Caesar's Army his Souldiers began to be much disordered It was easie to see how they ran about from one place to another sometimes into the Camp and sometimes out again in all manner of confusion which extremely animated Caesar's Men who nevertheless did what he could to oppose their impatience and ran to put a stop to such as he saw most eager when upon the right Wing a Trumpet contrary to his Orders sounded a Charge immediately the Cohorts upon the Wings in spight of their Commanders ran on which Caesar seeing gave for the word of Battel Felicitas and calling for his Horse was the first that charged the Enemy Scipio's Elephants were immediately put to flight by the Archers and Slingers upon the right Wing and overthrowing the Souldiers that were behind them ran into the entrance of the Camp The Moorish Cavalry being abandoned by the Elephants were easily dispersed and Caesar's Legions killing all that opposed their way got possession of the Enemies Trenches The Garrison of Thapsus had made one sally but were driven in again by the very Servants that belonged to Caesar's Camp so that nothing but disorder and fear appearing every where Scipio's Men had nothing to consider of but flying towards the Camp which for two days before they had quitted but seeing themselves without any Leader they threw down their Arms that they might run more lightly towards the Camp of Iuba which those of Caesar's Troops who had not been engaged had already forced so these poor Souldiers of Scipio retreated up to a hill where though they made sign that they would surrender themselves though they saluted Caesar's Men and had thrown down their Arms nevertheless the Veterans heated with bloud and transported with fury after having wounded and killed some Senatours of their own Party whom they did not love and who would have with-held them they cut them all in pieces though Caesar himself were present CHAP. LX. The death of Scipio and Juba Caesar marches towards Utica The death of Cato PLutarch reports that 50000 Men fell in this Battel Hirtius reckons onely 10000. This Victory so absolute as it was cost Caesar but 50 Souldiers All the heads of that Party seeing no hopes of farther relief perished by divers accidents Scipio endeavouring to save himself by Sea finding his Vessel taken ran upon his own Sword Iuba and Petreius fought one against the other where Petreius being slain by the King he also commanded a death from the hands of one of his slaves Afranius and Faustus the Sons of Silla were taken by Sittius who put them to death Onely Labienus escaped into Spain and all Africa submitted to Caesar except the City of Vtica Cato Commanded there with some Troops and had established a kind of a Senate composed of 300 Romans which he had gathered to him he received the news of the Battel by some of Scipio's Horsemen who had rallied together in a considerable number and as the Inhabitants of Vtica had always appeared inclined to Caesar Cato to secure them had put them into a Fortification without the City The Cavaliers would have taken this occasion to plunder but Cato went to them and by his Intercession and Authority persuaded them not to use any violence They offered him to follow him if he would make his retreat with them but he answered That his design was to hold out the siege though when he returned into the Town he found the minds of every body so divided and so unresolved that he soon quitted that design for another more agreeable to his Character and those Opinions of Philosophy whereof he had always made profession In the mean while he gave out his Orders with most admirable Prudence and Resolution He sent away the Cavaliers fearing lest they should commit some new disorder He persuaded several of his Friends to save themselves by Sea others as Lucius who was a Kinsman of Caesar's to rely upon his goodness this last thing he recommended to his Children and made a large discourse to the eldest exhorting him never to intermeddle with the affairs of the Republick At night according to his usual Custome he came to Supper that is to say sitting for since the death of Pompey he had never according to the Roman Custome lain down at his Meals Several of his particular Friends were with him and amongst
and what measures he was to take he well knew that the Consulary Dignity carried with it all Authority of Command he saw no Propositions of Rewards but to the deserting Legions Nevertheless as he thought himself engaged in Honour to the War and being willing to establish his Reputation by some Illustrious Action he resolved to dissemble all with a Prudence much surpassing his Age so that in all this affair he made not so much as one step against his true Interest Now it was the custome with Sacrifices to thank the Gods for any Honours received Caesar had publickly discharged that Duty and in a short discourse gave his Souldiers to understand That he thought himself obliged onely to them for his Dignity since the Senate would never have allowed it him but for their sakes and that therefore he would magnificently reward them So the Consuls divided their Charges Pansa went into Italy to raise new Troops and Hirtius came to Caesar to Command the Army with him He demanded of him by a private Order from the Senate those two Legions which had quitted Antonius and which Caesar without any more adoe gave him so their next business was to put their Troops into Quarters A Legion at that time was much the same thing as a Regiment is now but something stronger consisting of about six thousand Foot and six hundred Horse which always attended them a certain number of Archers which were called Launcers each Legion having its particular Engines and Ammunition The Constitution too which was called a Cohort consisted of about four or five hundred Men. Now the manner of sieges in those times was also very different from what is at this day in Practice they had no Artillery nor any other Engines of fire they always attacked a Town by Scalings Sappings or battering Rams their Scalings were of two sorts either with the help of Ladders or else when the Wall was not very high the Souldiers covered with their Bucklers made their approaches those who were nearest stood upright with their Bucklers upon their heads those who followed stooping a little till the rere Rank who were either upon their Knees or lay flat with their Bellies on the ground so the others mounted upon them and this was that which they called the Tortoise The Sapping is still in use and for the Ram it was a great Beam armed with a Head of Iron hanging by Cords upon four Joysts set upright and fastened together at the top This Engine was set in motion and forc't violently against the Wall which sometimes took effect accordingly but when the Wall was very thick and the Garrison strong the last recourse which the Besiegers usually had was to Famine And this was that which now pressed the Troops of Decimus he gave notice of it by Letters to Hirtius and Caesar who left their Quarters to go to his Relief and came and encamped themselves near Antonius's Lines He was much stronger than they but as it was a difficult Countrey full of Ditches and he having a River to pass over durst not attack them Cicero at this time governed in Rome with an absolute Authority and there it was that he made use of his great Talent of Wit which he employed chiefly in raising Money at the expence of Antonius's Friends who were called to account with the extremest Rigour Ventidius who was a Souldier of Fortune and a particular Friend to Antonius upon this Persecution quitted the City and being well known for his Valour and beloved by the Souldiers he raised two Legions in Italy where all Caesar's Souldiers were dispersed in a great number and with these he resolved to relieve Antonius But to doe him first one signal service he caused several Troops privately to enter into Rome where he design'd to have feiz'd upon Cicero this Enterprise occasioned great fear through all the City several fled with their whole Families and amongst the rest Cicero himself sufficiently affrighted so that by this means Ventidius failed of his design and that Man who afterwards so gallantly signalized himself by defeating the Parthians marched with his Army towards Modena but Hirtius and Caesar cut off his passage and forced him to retreat towards the Marsh of Ancona where he raised another Legion to those he had already which afterwards proved a great succour to Antonius CHAP. XXI A Battel between Antonius's Troops and Caesar's joined with the Consuls Pansa mortally mounded Caesar's Troops are beaten Hirtius comes to their relief and defeats Antonius IN this manner both Parties daily fortified themselves and Pansa who had raised four Legions of new Souldiers sent word to Hirtius and Caesar to take care for the safety of his passage he could not come to them but by narrow passes through the Woods which they sent the Martial Legion and their two Companies of Guards to take possession of there was a certain Causway which went a-cross a Marsh at the coming out of the Woods and at the end of the Causway a large Burrough Town called Forum Gallorum at present Castell Franco between Modena and Bulloigne Into this Town Antonius put his two best Legions which were the second and the thirty third and his Company of Guards together with that of Sillanus before him he placed his Cavalry and his Archers to intice on the Enemy and cover his Legions for he would not have had them known that he had brought them thither Galba Commanded the Consuls Van-Guard with Carsuleius the Colonel of the Martial Legion Their Souldiers were incouraged at the sight of the Cavalry and past the Causway briskly with the two Companies Pansa came galloping to the head of the Troops after having ordered the two new Legions softly to follow him he formed his order of Battel with twelve Cohorts of the Martial Legion and the Companies of Guards taking the left Wing where the Guards were with two Cohorts of the Legion and leaving the right with the other eight to Galba At the same time Antonius drew his Legions out of the Town and charged the Enemy e'er the new Legions could come up the place was blocked up and the Souldiers very much provoked Antonius's Legions were for revenging themselves upon the Martial who had deserted them and on the other side the Martials were as firmly resolved to maintain their Honour so that by this means the Battel became a particular Quarrel between the Souldiers who immediately fell on with all fierceness they could not open their Ranks but fought at Swords Point every blow they gave each other gave a wound too no cries of pain were heard but shouts of Fury and in the very moment that one man was knocked down or slain the body was carried off and another advanced into his place these being all old Souldiers who had no need of Commanders to make them understand their Duty At last the Consuls right Wing where Galba Commanded gave ground to the thirty third Legion for above a hundred paces But as Galba
downright upon that of Menas who by his extreme courage seconded by the bravery of his Souldiers maintained a stout Fight though he had a pile through his Arm which he pulled out without quitting his post in this instant Menecrates was hurt in his Thigh by a barbed Dart which put him from fighting himself and though he still encouraged his men yet Menas's made more bold by this advantage boarded his Gally so vigorously that they soon made themselves Masters of it Menecrates in despair for his Defeat threw himself into the Sea rather than fall into the hands of his Enemy who sent the conquered Ship towards the shoar and he himself bore down to help Calvisius who fought in the starboard division or the right wing of the Battel This Lieutenant or Vice-admiral had at the beginning of the engagement broke the larboard division or left wing of Pompey but as he too closely persued those that ran Menecrates's Vice-admiral rallied and prest the remainder of Calvisius's squadron so warmly that he took some of them and forced the others to buldge upon the Rocks where he burn'd them Calvisius though a little of the latest perceived his errour came up to the assistence of his squadron and saved some of them and night coming on retired into the Bay of Cumes although the loss fell heaviest on Caesar's side Demochares astonished at the death of Menecrates retreated to Sicilia which gave opportunity to Calvisius to goe out of this Gulf in a very ill equipage Caesar was then with a powerfull Fleet at Tarentum from whence he went to Rhegium to attack Pompey who had onely four Sail in the Port of Messana Caesar against the Advice of his Officers would stay for Calvisius in the mean time Demochares joined Pompey who made Apollophanes his Rere-admiral they were both of them freed-men and certainly these fellows whom he preferred before so many noble Romans had either a great deal of gallantry and desert or a very great influence over him In this Place Caesar received the News of the Fight at Cumes and resolved to pass the Strait or Phare of Messina to meet Calvisius Pompey seeing him engaged in this narrow passage engaged the rere-most Vessels and forced the others to draw up close aboard the shoar to make head against him Demochares having a Port behind him attacked them with great advantage in this narrow strait where every Ship of Caesar's had two Enemies upon the Bow without being able to be relieved by the others several of them ran a-shoar either purposely or forced to it Caesar himself was constrained to throw himself a-shoar and never did he run more risque than at this time and as he went upon the coast to rally his men that saved themselves out of the shattered Vessels he perceived some Brigantines that came close along the shoar he imagined them to belong to his own Fleet and did not perceive his Errour till he was surrounded by the Enemies that landed The knowledge that he had of the turning ways of a neighbouring mountain at that time preserved him from that danger to throw him into another no less hazardous A Slave of Emilius Paulus who was then with Caesar and whose Father had been banished believed that a fit opportunity offered it self of revenging his Master He came near to Caesar as they marched in disorder and stroke at him with his Sword the darkness of the night made him miss his blow and he was immediately killed by the Souldiers upon the Place so that Fortune or to speak more properly Providence preserved in one day from three imminent dangers the Man that was destined for the Empire of the World When he had gained the top of the Mountain he rallied as many of his Souldiers as he could In the mean time Cornificius who commanded under him still maintained the Combat by his bravery and example he had given the Galley of Demochares so rude a shock that he sank it and as that freed man went aboard another he perceived Calvisius and Menas who came to Caesar's assistence This made him sound a Retreat to the great wonder of Caesar's Army who were reduced to extremity and did not see the arrival of this succour The weakness of the Souldiers and the ill plight of the Vessels hindred them from pursuing the Enemies They went a-shoar and there made great Fires This night was very painfull to the Souldiers but no body past it with more perplexity than Caesar himself in the disquiet to know the fate of his Fleet these Fires which he descryed from the top of the mountain gave him some Hopes which he endeavoured to inspire the Souldiers with that were with him But incertainty and doubt are very vexatious and the state he left his Fleet in gave him mortal apprehensions His Troops that were spread along the Coast had no less hearing no news of their General By good fortune the thirteenth Legion which was nearest him perceived the Fires he had lighted on the top of the mountain they were detached to know what it was and when they understood who it was the Souldiers of this Legion mounted the Rocks without following any Path and came to him he had then none of his houshold about him so that night he was waited on by the Souldiers he sent every where to learn news of his Troops and knowing Calvisius was safe arrived he passed the rest of the night with more tranquillity CHAP. XVIII The wreck of Caesar's Fleet. The arrival of Anthony at Brundusium He agreed with Caesar by means of Octavia THE day appearing Caesar saw his Vessels stranded upon the Coast some half burnt others quite consumed the Sea was all covered with the Wreck but that which afflicted him most was to see the Enemy approach to finish his Defeat He sent to Calvisius to put the remainders of his Fleet into a fighting posture and he himself prepared to assist him The Enemies were ready drawn up in battalia without moving waiting to engage Calvisius as soon as ever he began to work When immediately the Sea began to run very high with a Southerly wind Pompey retired into the Port of Messana Menas who had a perfect experience in Sea affairs stood into the Ossin with his Vessels where he rode with all his Anchors down and stemmed the head Sea with the force of his Oars so the greatest fury of the Storm fell upon Caesar's Gallies who were anchored close by the shoar and had ran out Booms betwixt them and it to hinder their striking But the Wind increasing and the Sea rolling upon them very furiously all fell into disorder and after the Cables broke and gave way some were buldged against the Rocks and others stranded The noise of the Storm hindred the Pilots from being heard they could no longer work the Ships so that in this confusion falling foul of one another the weakest were split by the stronger There one might see Souldiers Sailors and Officers swallowed by the
to shew the power which â—he usurpes over all things and especially in War had not proved unconstant The Cohorts of Caesar's Right Wing searching for the entrance into the Camp followed the outside of that Trench which led them to the River believing that it was the Rampart of the Camp when perceiving their Errour they put themselves upon the Rampart and as there was no body there to defend it passed easily all the Cavalry followed these Cohorts seeking for breaches to enter This unhappy proceeding gave Pompey time to come to their succour with the Fifth Legion putting all his Cavalry before him so that both parts of the Camp which was attacked at the same time discover'd Pompey Marching Embattelled with his legions At sight of this every thing began to change the Legion that was besieged by the hope of this Succour recovered so much courage as to make a Sally and Charge those of Caesar. His Cavalry finding themselves disordered in passing the Ramparts thought of nothing but how to save themselves and his right and left wing being separated were equally terrified with seeing the Horse upon the flight and fearing to be cut in pieces in that strait place hurried through the breaches of the Ramparts with so much disorder that a great many falling headlong into the Ditches the others passed over them to save themselves The Souldiers of the left wing seeing the Succours of Pompey the overthrow of their Friends and the Enemy before and behind them sought to return through the place where they entred At last nothing but disorder fear and a total rout was every where to be seen so that in spight of all Caesar's endeavours himself to retain the Ensigns which fled abundance of them forsook him their Colours Horses and all and run away on Foot One amongst the rest an able and strong Man but confounded with the fear he was in turned upon him the point of his Launce and had certainly killed him if his Master of the Horse at one blow had not cut off his arm At last a Party of Pompey's Horse appearing at the entrance of the Camp forced them to make head in that place Pompey pursued his Victory as far as Caesar's very Camp but durst not attack it in which he committed a fault which cost him dear in the consequence Caesar avouches That his Army might have been entirely overthrown upon that occasion and farther adds That he had been lost without redress could Pompey have known how to have made use of the Victory For this he gives three Reasons That Pompey was afraid of falling into an Ambuscade That his Cavalry amused themselves too long with desiring to force the entrance into the Trenches And that that defeat happening beyond his hopes he knew not immediately how to take the right course To this we may add That in all likelihood Pompey's Troops suffered themselves to be deluded that in spight of him they would follow the Runaways and that he would not engage himself to attack Caesar's Camp knowing well that he left behind him a brave and daring Enemy with a great part of his Forces CHAP. XLII Caesar's discourse to his Troops to confirm them he Decamps to March toward Thessaly Pompey follows him CAesar lost a great many Men upon these two occasions which happened both in the same day Some have given an account of Nine hundred and sixty Souldiers Thirty two Ensigns and a great many excellent Officers amongst others Tuticanus and Felginas who were both Gauls another Felginas of Plaisance Gravius Sacrativir and Thirty Tribunes or Centurions Pompey and his whole Party were much encouraged with the Victory and sent the News of it over all the World reporting That Caesar was totally routed and with what miserable Troops he had left fled before them It is true indeed that reflecting upon his conduct he passed the next night not very pleasantly But as he understood the valour of his Souldiers and knowing that the disorder was occasioned by themselves and not by the vigour of the Enemy having besides been used to the changeableness of Fortune and the effects of a panick Fear where an unseasonable apprehension intangles the greatest Armies and the disorders which the Imprudence of a General Officer or the negligence of any particular Commander may produce he would not suffer himself to lose either his courage or his hopes but he imagined that it might be proper wholly to change the manner of that War and to speak to his Souldiers Therefore he caused them to quit the Fortifications all at the same time and when he had re-assembled them I see nothing says he in this occasion which ought to trouble you and after so many Battels wherein ye have won glory and advantage gallant Men ought not to be discouraged with a little disgrace We ought to thank Fortune for our Conquest of all Italy which cost 〈◊〉 not a wound for our subduing Spain possessed by powerfull Armies under experienced and able Commanders and reducing so easily those rich and fertile Provinces which now lie round us Remember still the good Fortune ye had in passing the Sea to come hither even through the Fleets of your Enemies when not onely the Havens but the very Rivers too were taken up by their Troops If in this last encounter Fortune seemed to have forsaken us correct her Capricioâ—sness by your own Valour and Industry For it is easie to perceive that her fault and not your own has brought upon us the present misfortune the place of Battel was well chosen ye carried the Enemies Camp at the first onset ye beat and put them to flight with your Swords in your hands and if one little disorder one errour of Inadvertency or indeed if destiny it self has deprived us of the advantage we had gotten ye ought to endeavour to recover it by your proper virtue so this Misfortune shall turn to your glory as it did in Gergoria and those who in this Battel have shewn the least fear shall be the first to charge the Enemy in the next After this Harangue he Cashiered some Ensigns but he had not need to make any other examples For the Souldiers offered and would voluntarily have undertaken great Labours to punish themselves They desired a Battel where they might either all die or be revenged Some of the Chief Officers were of opinion that this eagerness ought to be made use of But Caesar thought otherwise so he commanded his Baggage with all the Sick and Wounded to March in the beginning of the night towards Apolonia He gave them one Legion for their Convoy with order to make no stop till they came to the place These orders being executed retaining two Legions in his Camp at Three a Clock in the Morning he caused all the other Legions to March out by the Avenues and follow the Baggage and a little while after making the usual Cries according to the Custome of Military Discipline at that time he departed at
fifteen paces broad and the Xanthians from their Walls launced a great many Darts against the Romans who endeavour'd to fill up those Ditches against these Darts Brutus caused Pallisado's to be made and after having divided his Troops into several bodies to go and fetch Baskets of earth he caused so great a number of them to be brought that he filled up the Ditch after which his Souldiers came to blows with those who defended the out-works of the Walls and drove them into the Town The Wall being fiercely battered by the Rams and falling down in several places Brutus drew off his Men that he might give the Enemy time to Capitulate but the Xanthians looking upon this as an effect of fear made a fierce Sally out of the Town to set fire to the Engines when the Romans turning upon them charged them so home that those who were at the Gates were forced to lock them fearing lest the Enemy should enter the Town with those who fled so all those Xanthians who remained without were cut in pieces which nevertheless hindred not another Sally about Noon which was performed so vigorously that Brutus's Engines were abandoned and burnt Upon this shame and despight made the Romans Rally and drive back the Enemy again to the Gates who by reason of the former accident were not now locked The Romans entred Pell-mell with those whom they pursued when immediately the Portcullis was let down by which means near two thousand Roman Souldiers who had gotten entrance were shut up in the City and being overwhelmed with Darts and Stones which were thrown at them from the tops of the Ramparts they Rallied themselves and got possession of the Temple of Sarpedon who had heretofore been King of Lycia and was slain in the Trojan War The extreme danger these People were in put all Brutus's Army upon finding out a way how they might speedily succour them the Ladders were burnt and some were for making new ones but that being an expedient which would take up too much time they made use of the Masts of Ships to mount by others fastened great Nails to a Cord which they threw up upon the Wall and when ever the Nail took hold on any place got up by the Cord. Thus they tried a hundred useless ways e'er they could find a good one when a certain people called Inandes who were Neighbours and Enemies to the Xanthians and who were in Brutus's Army contrived to get up by certain Rocks almost inaccessible which were joined on one side to the Walls of the Town several Romans followed them and notwithstanding the Enemies Darts which killed them many men they got upon the top of the Walls from thence with their hands they helped up their Companions and by that means got in great numbers upon the Ramparts CHAP. XLII The taking of Xanthus The fury and despair of the Xanthians THERE was near this place a Gate shut up and fastened with beams and other things of that nature thither the Romans who were upon the Rampart ran in great haste and soon found out a way to destroy what filled up the Gate so by that means Brutus's Troops entred the Town making horrible Cries to animate their Companions and terrify the Enemy who furiously attacked the Temple of Sarpedon but when they perceived that the City was taken dispersed themselves in a moment and retreated every one to his own House The Romans surprized at this retreat were more amazed when they saw several places of the Town in flames for these Lycians driven by a fury which was almost beyond imagination resolved to bury themselves in the ashes of their City either their natural fierceness having inspired them on a sudden with this desperate design or having premeditated and resolved upon it before The Romans ran immediately to extinguish the fire but those mad people repulsed them with flights of Arrows and other Darts they cut the Throats of their Wifes their Children and their Slaves before the Souldiers faces and afterwards leapt into the middle of the flames others ran like wild Beasts upon their Enemies Weapons the very Children offered their Throats to their Fathers Swords or else threw themselves down from the tops of the Houses into the fire and after the Conflagration was over a Woman who had hanged her self was found holding in one hand her Child whom she had strangled and in the other a Torch wherewith she had set fire to her House Brutus was not able to see this sad spectacle being so touched with it that he wept but did all that lay in his power to save the small remainders of those miserable people by declaring that he would give a reward to every Souldier who should bring him a Xanthian though all his cares were able to preserve no more than fifteen who notwithstanding complained That in spight of themselves their lives were preserved This furious proceeding was it seems no new thing to the Inhabitants of Xanthus for they had already made use of it twice before the first time when Cyrus's Lieutenant attacked them and afterwards when they were besieged by Alexander From this City Brutus marched against Patarea but fearing the same desperate proceeding there which he had found at Xanthus he did not press it onely sent a Summons to the Inhabitants that they would not force him to destroy them and those Xanthians whom he had preserved were by his orders sent into Patarea to the end that by telling the story of their own miseries they might make the others afraid and serve as well for Example as Instruction He also set at liberty several Women who had fallen into his hands and by those mild proceedings was at last successfull for the City surrendred it self and Brutus according to the example of Cassius gave out severe orders That all the gold and silver that could be found there should be brought to him but that which he did better than Cassius was that he Condemned a Slave who had given advice of a certain Treasure that his Master had hidden the Masters Mother declared That it was she who had concealed the Money but the Slave without being interrogated maintained the contrary and the Master said not a word but Brutus considering that the insolence of this Slave proceeded from no other grounds than the hatred which he bore to his Master sent him to the Gibbet and restored to the Mother and her Son both their Money and their Liberty Another action of Justice got him a great deal of Honour Theodotus was the Man who had the most contributed to the death of Pompey the Great by that Harangue which he made at Ptolemey's Council Board This Man was in Asia where he sculk'd about from Town to Town but Brutus caused him to be seized upon and put to a cruel death and the punishment of this speech-maker was a very welcome thing to all the Princes of that Countrey who had a great Veneration for the Memory of Pompey CHAP. LXIII
and broke them to pieces then that Line gave way and turning upon the second produced nothing but fear and disorder a proceeding contrary to what had been used in the first Battel caused at this time the loss of Brutus for those Troops terrified and prest hard by Caesar came tumbling upon the Wing which Brutus commanded and notwithstanding all that he could doe to rally them broke it in pieces Cato's Son who commanded under him seeing that all must now inevitably be lost ran into the thickest of the Enemy's Battalions and uttring aloud his own Name and his Father's was there slain Caesar and Antonius neglected none of their advantages and on every side charged those Troops which were in disorder Antonius took care to follow the victory and Caesar not being able to doe it commanded Norbanus to go to the Enemy's Camp where a great slaughter was made of those who confusedly were retreating Almost all Brutus's best Officers perished in this fight by endeavouring to save the person of their General A body of Thracian Cavalry commanded by Rhastus persued him very hard and must have taken him had it not been for Lucilius who was his best friend This Man charged the Thracians and stopped them till seeing himself encompassed round he cried out that he was Brutus and demanded Quarter desiring that they would carry him to Antonius These Cavaliers transported with their good fortune sent word of it to Antonius and brought him their Prisoner He notwithstanding all his hatred could not but be concerned at this adventure which cost him many reflexions He was extremely confounded to think how he ought to be have himself to those that brought him the news and who appeared before him with different opinions of the matter when Lucilius shewing himself in the midst of those who conducted him No Man said he to Antonius shall ever have the honour to take Brutus alive nor will the Gods permit that Fortune shall have such advantage over his Vertue but he will always be found whether dead or living in a condition that becomes his Courage I have here delivered my self up to save him I am now in your hands and you may dispose of my life just as you please Antonius could not but admire the vertue of the Man and told the Thracians that they were much happier than they believed they were since in stead of the enemy whom they thought they had brought him they had made him a present of a friend Indeed Lucilius was afterwards one of his first friends and to the day of his death discharged himself with an inviolable fidelity CHAP. LII Brutus's last Words and Death Messala goes over to Caesar with all his Forces THIS contrivance of Lucilius and the night together gave Brutus time to pass over a little River and make his retreat up to an advanced ground which was hard by There lifting up his eyes to Heaven * unhappy Vertue said he I follow thee as a solid good but thou art onely a thing merely talked of a vain empty name or at best a slave of fortune He afterwards repeated several times another Greek Verse which signifies Punish great Jove the authour of these evils by which it was thought he designed Antonius who afterwards remembred it when he was driven to that extremity by Caesar after the Battel of Actium Afterwards with abundance of praises as well as sighs he repeated the names of all those of his friends whom he had seen perish upon that occasion One of those who was still with him complained that he was thirsty and the Souldiers running to the River fetched water in their Helmets and brought it Volumnius a noble Senatour who had been gone out to discover what might be the reason of a certain noise which they had then heard returned at this time and asking if there were any water We have all drank said Brutus to him smiling but do not you be troubled for the spring is not far off so the Souldiers returned to the River but had much adoe to get back again and were several of them wounded which gave Brutus to understand that he was invested then he exhorted those that were with him to make some attempt to get to their Camp which yet held out but they had lost all their courage and told him that he would doe better to think of saving himself I know very well answered he that I ought to doe it but it is with my hands and not with my feet Then Statilius one of his Officers offered to go by himself to the Camp and that if it were not taken to advance a lighted Flambeau in the air for a signal The Flambeau appeared which gave some hopes to Brutus so he expected a long time saying Statilius would come if he were alive But he was slain in his return by some Souldiers belonging to one of those Corps du guard which the Triumviri had every where posted At last Brutus wearied with expectation and seeing that the day approached whispered something in the ear of one of his Domesticks whose name was Clitus and who answered him nothing but fell a-weeping which made Brutus call Dardanus who served him as General of his Horse to him also he said something and addressed himself afterwards to Volumnius who has written all these particulars But seeing they onely answered him with their tears he raised himself up and made them a short discourse to thank them for that fidelity wherewith they had so generously and to the last extremity followed his fortune He said he lookt upon himself much happier than any of his Conquerours since he should enjoy that reputation which always follows Vertue and which Tyranny and Injustice can never deserve He conjured his friends to think of preserving their lives since he hoped that Caesar and Antonius being satisfied with his death would not persue their cruelty any farther He afterwards went aside some few paces with a certain Greek whose name was Strato a very learned Rhetorician and for that reason by him highly esteemed he begged of this man by that strict League that was made between them to doe that office for him which those other friends had refused and seeing that he could not resolve upon it he called for a slave Ah! then said Strato it shall never be said that Brutus in his last extremity stood in need of the assistence of a slave for want of a friend so turning away his head he presented the point of his sword to Brutus who threw himself upon it with such violence that it pierced him through and he died immediately Thus did this Man born with so great advantages and qualified so well by a tragical end pay for that horrible ingratitude wherewith he had dyed his hands in the bloud of a Man to whom he stood indebted for the highest favours It is a crime which can never be washed off from his memory no not by all the Vertue which he so ill employed both