Commaunder of the Sea Army had giuen charge to the Sea Captaines to draw vnto the Port assoone as the Vessels should be ready he went directly to Messina with seauenteene ships and left the rest vpon the Italian shore whereas hauing made prouision of things necessary for the equipage of his ships he sailes vpon necessity directly to Lipparo sooner then was needfull At that time Haniball Commaunder of the Carthaginians kept his Sea Army at Palermo who being aduertised of the Consuls comming sent one Boodes a Senator of Carthage with twenty ships to draw into that Quarter Who arriuing by night found the Roman ships and besieged them in the Port so as at the breake of day the multitude got to Land But Gneius Cornelius thus vnfortunately surprised could finde no other meanes but to yeild himselfe vnto the Enemy The Carthaginians after this prise returned to Haniball soone after this apparent and new defeate of Cornelius Haniball to whom Fortune was at that time gracious receiued as great a losse He had intelligence that the Romanes Army at Sea which coasted about Italy was not farre from Sicily Wherefore desiring wonderfully to see their number and their order and the manner of the trimming of their ships he takes fifty Vessells and sailes into Italy But for that he had a contrary VVind the which was fauourable to the Romanes by the reason of the Coast of Italy he fell vnaduisedly into their Army which was in order and in Battell where he was suddainly charged so as he lost in a manner all his ships and saued himselfe with very few contrary to his Hope and the opinion of all the VVorld The Romanes after this defeate approached neerer vnto Sicily and being aduertised by the Prisoners of the Consuls ouer-throw they sent speedily to Caius Duellius Consull hauing at that time the charge of the Army by Land Where hauing attended some space and receiued newes that the Enemies Army at Sea was not farre off they all prepared to battell They planted vpon euery one of their ships for that they were ill built and heauy a kind of Engine which was afterwards called a Rauen behold the fashion of this Engine They did set a Pillar or Mast of foure fathome long and nine inches thicke vppon the Prowe the which had also a pulley on the top and one the side was made an assent of boards all along the which was foure foot broade and foure fathome long the passage was turning about the pillar in the two first fathomes of the assent About the which were barres of eyther side to the height of a mans knee and they had set at the end of it an Iron like vnto a pestell which went vp streight the which had on the top of it a King so as altogether seemed as an Engine wherewith they pound things To this Ring was fastned a cord by meanes whereof at the encounter of the ships they fastned the Rauens by the pulley and let them fall vpon their Enemies ships Sometimes at the Prowe sometimes on the side in turning when as they could not assaile them by the flanke and after that the Rauens were fastned within the bands of the ships and that the Vessels were grapled and fast if they found themselues vpon the side they entred it of all sides And if it were by the Prowe they marcht by the bridge two and two to the Combate whereof the first couered their bodies with their Targets and they which followed defended the flankes and held their Targets euen with the bars When as this Equipage at Sea was ready they attended a conuenient time for the battell When as Caius Duelius had beene suddainly aduertised of the mis-fortune of the Commaunder at Sea he left that at Land to the Tribunes of the men of Warre and makes hast to that at Sea And being aduertised that the Carthaginians spoyl'd the Country of Myles hee drew thither with his whole Army But when the Enemy was certayne of his comming they were in great hope thinking the Romanes vnderstood not any thing in Sea-fights Wherefore they drew out to Sea with an Equipage of sixe score and ten Vessels thinking this War not worthy of any order of battell as if they had gone to a certaine booty Whereof this Haniball who as wee sayd retyred his Army by night and past ouer the Enemies Trenches was Commaunder He had a Vessell of seauen bankes which did sometimes belong to Pyrrhus King of the Epirotes When as the two Armies beganne to approach and that their Engines called Rauens were discouered the Carthaginians were a time in suspence for the nouelty Finally whatsoeuer it were without any further reckoning they charge with great fury The ships ioyn'd and grapled so as the Romane souldiers by meanes of their Engines called Rauens entred their enemies ships where there was a great slaughter made of the Carthaginians The rest being amazed at this kind of Engines yeilded you would haue sayd it had beene a battell at Land where the danger is not lesse The thirty Vessells of the Carthaginians which gaue the first Charge were taken among the which was that of the Captayne which we haue sayd had belonged vnto King Pyrrhus Haniball whose Fortune was otherwise then he expected saued himselfe in a little Skiffe The rest of the Carthaginian Army came with great fury agaynst their Enemies as the former had done but when they were aduertised that their first ships had beene taken by the meanes of the Engines they did not charge in Front thinking to auoyde them but came vpon their flanke trusting to the lightnesse of their Vessels thinking by this meanes to auoyde the violence of their Engines but they were made in such sort as of what side soeuer the Enemy approached they could easily grapple with them Wherefore the Carthaginians amazed with the strangenesse of these Engines in the end fled after the losse of fifty of their ships The Romans being now become masters of the Sea contrary vnto their Hope sayl'd about the Sea towards Segestane and raysed the siege which lay before the Towne Then parting from thence they tooke the Towne of Macelle by assault After this battell at Sea when as Amilcar being then Captayne Generall in Sicily of the Army by Land was aduertised remayning at Panorme that there was a great quarrell betwixt the Romanes and their-Allies touching the prowesse and glory of the Combate and that the Allies after they had beene beaten were retired apart betwixt Prope and Termine hee marcht with all speed to the Allies Campe and slew foure thousand by surprize Haniball after all these Fortunes retyred to Carthage with those few ships which he had remaining at the battell Within few dayes after he was dispatch to goe with an Army into Sardinia with some excellent Sea Captaines but he was soone inclos'd in a Port by the Romans and in a manner lost his whole Army And as he had escaped the
day drew forth their Ensignes before the breake of day returning into Gaule along the Sea-shore laden with all sorts of pillage When as Lucius Emilius had retired those which had fled to the Hill he pursued the Gaules with his Army Yet he did not hold it fit to present battell to so great a multitude but rather resolued to attend some opportunity either of time or place where hee might amaze the Enemy or make them abandon the booty in some sort At the same time Caius Attilius tbe other Consull who was lately arriued at â—â—sa from Sardinia landed with his whole Army and marched directly to Rome by the Sea-shore before the Gaules They were not farre from Telamona a Towne of Tuscany when as some of their scouts fell by surprize into the Romans hands who discouered vnto the Consull that the Gaules were not farre off and that Lucius Emilius pursued them These things being vnderstood Caius Attilius wondering at this fortune and hoping partly of the Victory for that Fortune seemed to haue deliuered the Enemy betwixt their two Campes he gaue the Legions to the Tribunes of the Souldiers and gaue them charge to march against the Enemy as much as the opportunity of place would giue them leaue In the meane ttme seeing a little Hill vpon the way very commodious for their Warre to the which the Gaules seemed to tend hee tooke the Horse-men and resolued to get it before them and to vndergoe the danger hoping that if the Romans had the Victory by this meanes they would attribute the honour vnto him The Gaules ignorant in the beginning of the Consuls comming and doubting by the things which they saw that Lucius â—milius had past before night with his horsmen to gaine the Countrey which was aduantagious for the Warre they presently sent all their Horse and some of their most actiue men to recouer this Hill But when they were aduertised by the Prisoners that Attilius held it they presently caused their Foot-men to march and order their battell in the Reare as in the Front for that they saw Emilius followed them in the taile and that the other attended them in front as they had learned by the Prisoners and by the things which had happened They which were with Emilius were not yet confident although it were a common bâ—uite that the Army of Sardinta was arriued at Pisa. But they were assured when as they saw the combat at the Hill for the Enemies were very neere and therefore the Emilian Horse reioyced much and tooke a way by the side of the neerest Hill to goe and succour those which defended it Emilius in the meane time marcht after the Gaules in the same order hee had beene accustomed When the Gaules saw themselues thus inuolued by the Enemies they put vpon the Reare the Gâ—ssates and Milannois against Emilius who followed them and vpon the Front the Pâ—emontois and those which inhabite along the Poe appointing the Bolonians and the Caâ—s with all the baggage apart without the two Battalions and all the pillage vpon a 〈◊〉 Hill with some Horse-men to guard it When they had thus ordained their Battell with two fronts it seemed not onely terrible to bâ—hold but also of a wonderfull efficacy for the combat The Bolonians and Millannois made choice of such as had Breeches and were most at ease in their apparrell But the Gessates for the great courage and wonderfull desire of glory which they had stript themselues and put themselues before the Battalion naked onâ—ly with their Armes hauing a conceit that by this meanes they should be more actiue and disposed to fight For the Bushes which were thicke there would stay them by their Clothes and hinder their fighting First the Combate which was at the Hill was in the sight of both Aâ—mies whereas the Horse men charged one another and fought valiantly There Caiâ—s Attilius was slaine fighting too rashly whose Head was presently carried to the Kings of the Gaules Yet the Romane cauallery fainted not but were the more incensed to fight so as in the end they not onely defended the Hill but defeated all the Gaules Horse-men In the meane time the Foot men approach and the combate began the which was not onely horrible and wonderfull to behold for those that were present but likewise for those which shall heare it spoken of First coâ—sidering that the battell was of three Armies euery man may imagine that the sight was not onely new and fearefull to the assistants but also their manner of fighting Moreouer who will doubt but the Gaules had the worst being chargd as well in the Reare as in the Front Or it may be the better for that they fought altogether against the two Armies and that the two sides repulsed their Enemies so as at the same instant they defended one another And that moreouer they could not passe on not hope for flight backe ward There is no doubt but a Battell with two Fronts hath the benefit that the Souldiers haue no meanes to flye In regard of the Romanes they had hope of Victory for that they saw their Enemies inclosed as it were deliuered into their hands On the other side they feared the fury and order of their Army the sound of Trumpets and Clairons was terrible with the which all the Troope made a great cry and shoute so as there was an incredible noise They could not heare the Trumpets and Souldiers and moreouer the neighbour places seemed to ecchoe forth their cries It was a terrible thing to see the forlorne hope march naked Beleeue me these great naked bodies with their motions vnder their Bucklers were maruelous and fearefull The beauty and riches of their Apparrell gaue also a great luster For the whole Army shined with chaines of Gold and Silkes wouen with purple The which the Romanes obseruing they were partly amazed and partly encouraged with the hope of spoile Finally the taile of the Army which was armed was not gauld by the Roman Archers who doe vsually march before the Battalion But the forlorne hope which fought naked before their Troopes were contrary to all hope much annoyed For they could not couer their great naked bodies with their French Bucklers And therefore the Arrowes fell easily vpon them Finally when they saw themselues thus beaten and could not bee reuenged of the Archers by reason of the distance and for the multitude of Arrowes which flew from all parts they cast themselues like desperate mad-men some vpon their Enemies where they were slaine others retired vpon their owne Troopes who being all bloody daunted the courage of the rest and put them in disorder By this meanes the fiercenesse of the Gessates which made the forlorne hope was abated Then the Milannois the Bolonians and the Turinois maintained the burthen of the battell where they did not fight a fatre off with their Arrowes and Darts as formerly but hand to hand with their Speeres and Swords and
principally of them by reason of their wonderfull beauty and excellency Moreouer this scituation is strong by nature and in a manner impregnable For on the one side they are inclosed by the Sea and on the other they are wholly enuironed with Mountaines There are onely three entries which are narrow and painefull the one is at Samnium the second at Eriban and the third among the Arpins The Carthaginians made a shew to goe into these Countries as into a Theater to amaze them all and thereby to flye from the Enemy and then to campe alone Wherefore Hannibal moued with these reasons leades his Army by Samnium to the streights of Mount Eriban and plants his Campe neere vnto the Riuer of Vantour which diuides the said Champaigne from Rome Then the most pleasant Countrey of Italy was ouerrunne and the Villages put to fire and sword And although that these things were very troublesome to Fabius yet he continued constant in his resolution But Marcus Minucius and all the Tribunes of the Horse were of opinion not to temporize any longer but to fall vpon the Carthaginians with all their strength and forces not suffring the spoile of so goodly a Countrey in the view of the Roman Army Fabius dislodging more suddainly then he had beene accustomed seemed to make haste to preserue the Countrey of Capua from spoile But when hee came to Falerna hee did but shew his Army vpon the Mountaines lest the Allies should thinke he held not a Campe. Yet he would neuer drawe downe into the field fearing to fight with the Carthaginians as well for the reasons which wee haue formerly mentioned as for that he was the weaker in Cauallery When as Hannibal had often attempted in vaine to drawe the Enemy to fight in the end he studied of a place to winter in hauing ruined all parts of the Countrey and taken a wonderfull spoile hauing no intent to lose his Pillage but to transport it to some place where he might passe the Winter to the end his Army might not want any thing as well for the present as the future Fabius knowing well that the returne of his Enemy would be by the same streight by the which he had entred hee imagined that this passage would be beneficiall to the Romans and placeth about foure thousand men within these streights intreating them to carry themselues like braue and valiant men when occasion should require making vse of the aduantage of the place For his part hee recouered the next Mountaine with the rest of the Army looking earnestly about him what was to be done and from whence and by whom the Enemy should be Charged holding himselfe assured to defeate their whole Army or at the least to make them abandon the Booty which they carried But Hannibal saw that Fabius fought with his owne weapons and hauing duly considered thereon he disappointed his enterprize with an excellent stratagem causing many Faggots of dry stickes to be drawne together and bound to the hornes of Oxen and Bugles whereof he had to the number of two thousand and gaue charge to Asdrubal that in setting fire to the stickes at a certaine houre he should chase the Troupe to the next Mountaine which was betwixt the Camp and the streight they were to passe and that as soone as they should see a signe which he would giue they should force the Oxen against the Mountaine vntill they had gotten the top When as all things were ready he makes them to feed and to take some rest About mid-night hee causeth them to march which had the charge to tie the Torches to the hornes of the Oxen. This being suddainly done by reason of the multitude of assistants he giues order to kindle them all and to chase them to the top of the Mountaine Finally hee giues charge to them that were lightly Armed to follow them to a certaine place commaunding them that as soone as the Troupe should begin to runne furiously through the Mountaines they should recouer the places of aduantage whereby they might succour his men in passing and annoy the enemy if they encountred any In the meane time hee dislodgeth with his Army and marcheth directly to the streights ordring in Front the Souldiers that were best armed and after them the Horse-men then the Baggage and in the Reare the Gaules and Spaniards The Romans which had been appointed to guard these passages thinking that Hannibal came where they saw the fire on the toppe of the Mountaines abandoned their places retiring to the highest Hils And when at the first they encountred some of these Oxen seperated from the rest they made a stand seeing their heads on a flaming fire wondring as at a miracle But when the Souldiers were discouered they entertained one another with casting of Darts And when in the end the Oxen came on they all made a stand on the top of the mountaines expecting day with great desire to be more certainly informed of the businesse Fabius aduertised of this noise conceiuing it was some Ambush and flying the battaile as they resolued kept his men within the Fort. In the meane time Hannibal to whom matters succeeded according to his desire past his Army by the mountaine and carried away all his Spoiles without any obstacle Then seeing at the breake of day the Romans in front against his men and to bee stronger in number and in their kind of Armes he sent them a band of Spaniards to second them Who after they had slaine about a thousand at the first Charge they brought their men safe backe vnto the Campe. Hannibal being freed by this policy from the streights of Falerna from thenceforth he was more carefull to choose a safe place to Campe in seeking where he might Winter greatly terrifying the Townes and people of Italy During these actions many taxed the Dictator of Cowardize for that he had suffered the enemy to escape so easily being inclosed within the streights but hee continued still constant in his opinion Some few daies after he was called backe to Rome for the Sacrifices and left the Gouernment of the Army and all other affaires to the Constable giuing him charge that he should not study so much to offend the Enemy as to defend his owne men But Minucius whom the Dictator aduised in vaine had no other care but to fight During these actions in Italy Asdrubal hauing repaired thirty good ships which he had receiued from his brother Hannibal adding thereunto ten others parts from Carthage in the beginning of Summer and giues the charge to Imilcon who ran along the Coasts and Asdrubal led the Army by Land neere the shore hoping to meete at one instant at the mouth of the Riuer of Ebro with the Army by Sea Cneus Scipio aduertised that Asdrubal was gone to field hee was first of the same opinion but afterwards he resolued to fight rather by Sea then Land by reason of the bruite of their new succours and
the most part they are methodicall Sciences Wherefore it is a very profitable portion of a well composed History Of Antiochus THe Aspasiens dwell betwixt Oxus and Tanais Of which Riuers the one fals into the Hyrcanian Sea and Tanais into the Lake of Meotis They are Nauigable for their greatnesse So it seemes wonderfull how the Tartarians passing Oxus aswell by foote as Horse-backe come into Hyrcania There are two opinions conceiued The one is credible the other strange although possible Oxus drawes his Springs from Mount Coucasus but augmented much in Bactria by the descent of smaller Riuers it passeth by a violent Course by the Country of Pedâ—a There it fals into a Desart and runs with a violent streame thorough certaine Rockes and Pits for the great number and vehement beating of the places lying vnder it so as its violence ouer-flowes the Rocke in the lower Countries aboue a Furlong By this place neere vnto the Rocke the Aspasiens as they say passing the Riuer both on Foot and Horse-backe descend into Hyrcania The other opinion hath a more propable reason saying that for that place hath great Ditches into the which this Riuer fals with its force shee makes hollow and opens the bottome by the violence of her Course And by this meanes the Riuer takes its course vnder ground for a small space and then riseth againe The Barbarians hauing experience hereof passe there on Horse-backe into Hyrcania When as Antiochus was aduertised that Euthideme was about Tagure with an Army and that a thousand Horse kept the passage of the Riuer of Aria hee proceedes and resolues to besiege it hauing no more confidence in his resolution And when he was within three daies iourney of the Riuer he marcht the two first slowly And on the third hauing fed his men hee causes his Campe to march at the breake of day Then taking the Horse-men and his strongest souldiers with a thousand Targetteers he makes hast in the night Hee had vnderstood that the enemies Cauallery was at the guard of the Riuer in the day time but at night they retired to a City some twenty Furlongs off When hee had performed the rest of the way in the night for those Countries were conuenient for Horsemen he past the Riuer at the break of day with the greatest part of his Army The Bactrian Horse-men being aduertised by their Scouts crie out and fight with the Enemy vpon the way The King seeing that hee was to maintaine their first Charge giues Courage to those which had beene accustomed to accompany him in such encounters which were two thousand Horse and commands the rest to cast themselues betwixt both with their Troupes put into battaile as of custome Finally hee fights with the Bactrian Horse which presented themselues Antiochus seemed in this danger to haue fought more valiantly then his men so as many perished on either side Yet the Kings men defeated the first troupe of Horse But when the second and the third charged them they were repuls'd turning their heads basely But when as Etole had giuen charge to the great power of the Horse to march in Battaile he freed the King and his Company terrifying the Bactrians who were in disorder and put them to flight Wherefore when they were charged by all the Etoliens they ceased not to flie vntill hauing make a great losse they were ioyned vnto Euthideme And when as the Kings Horse-men had made a great slaughter and taken many in the Citty they presently retired and planted their Campe neere the Riuer It happened that in this same Combate Menippe was wounded and dyed loosing some of his Teeth with a blow Finally hee purchased a renowne of Valour After this Combaâ—e Euthideme retired with his Army to Zariaspe a Citty of the Bactrians A PARCELL OF the Eleuenth Booke of the History of POLYBIVS ASdrubal did not allow of any of these things But seeing the Enemies march in Battaile when as matters changed not hee caused the Spaniards and Gaules that were with him to fight Setting the Elephants in Front beeing ten in number and after hee had ioyned the Battalions close vnited and in length and had put all the Army in battaile in a short time casting himselfe in the middest of the Ordonance neere to the Elephants hee assailes the Enemy vpon the left flancke hauing resolued to die in that battaile The Lybian presents himselfe with great Courage to the enemy and in charging fights valiantly with his troupes Claudius Nero one of the Consuls appointed for the right side could not ioyne with the enemy nor yet inclose them for the vneuennesse of the ground wherein Asdrubal trusting he had charged the enemy on the left hand Wherefore as he was perplexed and in doubt for that he lost time hee learned what he had to doe Taking therefore the Souldiers of the right wing he goes beyond his Campe neere vnto a passage behind the Battaile and on the left hand and giues a charge vnto the Carthaginians neere vnto the wing where the Elephants had their station At that time the Victory wauered For in truth the danger was equall of both sides considering that neither Romans Spaniards nor Carthaginians had any hope of safety remaining if they were frustrated of their intention Finally the Elephants were of vse to both of them in the fight For when they were inclosed in the middest and assailed with Darts they aswell brake the rankes of the Spaniards as of the Romans But when as Claudius Troupe had charged the enemy in the reare the Combate was vnequall for the charge giuen vnto the Spaniards both in Front and behind So as it happened that in the beginning of the Combate there was a great laughter made of Spaniards So likewise there were sixe Elephants suâ—ine by the force of the men they carried the other foure brake theirâ— râ—nckes being alone and destitute of their Indians they were taken And when as Asdrubal had beene formerly and vnto his ende an able man hee lost in fighting valiantly his life worthy to be commended Hee was brother to Hannibal who vndertaking the Voyage of Italy gaue him the Conduct of the Warres of Spaine And afterwards being practised by many encounters against the Romans hee hath indured many and variable Fortunes And in this also that the Carthaginians sent Commaunders to succeede him hee alwaies carried himselfe like a man worthy of his Father Barca bearing vnto the ende like a man of Courage all disgraces and losses Wee haue declared these things in regard of the precedent But now we will decide the last Combats in that which seemes worthy of Consideration Seeing before our eyes many Kings and Commanders which hauing great Combates concerning their whole estates haue alwayes cast their eyes vpon the most excellent Actions and of Consequence and who often enquire and Discourse how they shall helpe themselues in euery good Fortune And who moreouer care not for mischances not consider of the meanes nor that
all amazed and terrified by these accidents The Authors of these mischiefes being whipt and slaine and drawne through the midst of them the rest were assured in common by the Commander and Princes that no man hereafter should be punished by any man for the remembrance of this fact Wherefore they came all to the Milleniers and sweare absolutely to obey the Commandments of the Princes and not to consent to any thing against the City of Rome When as Scipio had corrected the Mischiefe newly growne hee settles his Army in its former estate Then suddainly drawing it together within Carthage he made his complaints of the rashnesse and wickednesse of Andobale towards them and after he had made a long speech of his disloyalty he incensed the hearts of many against the sayd Potentate Finally he put them in minde of their encounters against the Spaniards and Carthaginians whilest they were vnder the Carthaginian Commanders Of whom as they had beene alwayes victorious there was no cause he sayd to be in doubt or feare but that comming againe to fight with the Spaniards vnder Andobale they would be defeated Wherefore he sayd he would make no more vse of the Spaniards to fight and that hee would vndergoe the danger with the Romans alone to the end it may be manifest to all the world that wee haue not chased the Carthaginians out of Spaine with the helpe of Spaniards but by a Roman vertue and that by our owne dexterity wee haue vanquished them with the Celtiberians This Speech being ended hee perswaded them to liue in Concord and that they would vndertake this present danger if euer they vndertooke any with great assurance In regard of the meanes of the victory he assures them that with the helpe of the Gods he will take order The Commons conceiued so great a courage and confidence as all of them carryed a countenance like vnto those which behold their Enemies and prepare to fight His words being ended hee sent backe the assembly The next day hee raiseth his Campe and marcheth and being come on the tenth day to a Riuer he passeth it foure dayes after then he plants himselfe before the Enemies hauing recouered a certaine Plaine betwixt his Campe and theirs The day following he sent forth towards the Enemy vpon the Plaine some Cattell which followed the Army and commands Caius to keepe certaine Horse-men in a readinesse and to the Chiefe of the Milleniers to prepare Archers and Slingers When the Spaniards had fallen suddainly vpon the Cattell he sent certaine Souldiers that were Archers The Combat beginning and the Souldiers running vnto it on either side in good numbers there grew a great Skirmish of Foot-men neare vnto the Plaine When a fit occasion was offred to assaile the Enemy and that Caius had his Horse-men ready as he had commanded him he chargeth the Foot-men and repulseth them from the Plaine to the places neare vnto the Mountaines to the end they might be scattred and slaine in great numbers When this happened the Barbarians were moued fearing that being vanquished in skirmish before they came to the Battaile they should seeme to haue fainted wherefore at the Sun-rising they drew their Army in good order to Field preparing for the Battaile Publius Scipio was ready to giue it But when hee saw the Spaniards descend without reason into the Plaine and not onely to put their Hors-men in order but also their Foot he stayed to the end that a greater number might assemble in this order of Battaile hauing confidence in his Cauallery and much more in his Foot-men for that they should come to an equall Combat and fight hand to hand and that the Armes and men which he had were more excellent then the Spaniards But for that it seemes necessity prest him he directed his Army against those which were in Battaile against the Mountaine drawing foure Cohorts out of the Campe towards those that were descended into the Plaine Finally Caius Lelyus led his Horse-men against the Enemy by the Hils which come from the Campe vnto the Plaine and chargeth the Spaniards Horse in the Reare and in fighting stayes them to the end they should not succour their Foot The Enemies Foot being destitute of the helpe of their Cauallery in whom hauing put their trust they had descended into the Plaine were forced and annoyed in the Combate the which likewise happened to the Horse-men For when as inclosed in the streight they could not fight at ease their defeate was greater then that of the Enemy for that their Foot-men were on the side and their Enemies in Front and their Horse-men were charged in the Reare The Combat being after this manner they which descended were in a manner all defeated They which were ioyning vnto the Mountaine fled They were the most valiant and the third part of the Army with whom Andobale escaped recouering a certaine Fort. Scipio hauing ended the Warres of Spaine drew to Tarracona to carry a great triumph of ioy and a glorious Victory to his Countrey Desiring them to be present at the Creation of Consuls hee sayles to Rome being accompanied by Caius deliuering the Army to Iunius and Marcus hauing giuen order for all the affaires of Spaine Of King Antiochus IT was in truth Ewthydemes Magnes to whom he answered saying that Antiochus laboured to chase him out of his Kingdome vniustly and that he had not rebelled to the end he might enioy the Principality of the Bactrians And when he had vsed a long speech tending to that end hee intreated Teleus that by his meanes he might obtaine a truce and that he would informe Antiochus that hee did not enuy his royall Name For that if he did not yeeld to his accords neither of them should liue in safety For there was a great descent of Tartariens which would be dangerous to either of them and if they entred the Region it would vndoubtedly be reduced vnder the subiection of Barbarians These words being ended hee sends Teleus to King Antiochus When the King had long ruminated to what end this businesse would tend he heard the proposition which was made by Teleus concerning a truce When Teleus was returned going and comming often from the one to the other Euthydemes in the end sent his Sonne Demetrius to confirme the Accord Whom when the King had receiued graciously and holding the Young man worthy to reigne as well for his outward shew as for his excellent dexterity of Eloquence hee first promiseth to giue him one of his Daughters and to his Father the Name of King Finally after hee had past in writing the Pactions and Accords sworne he raiseth his Campe and sends Victuals freely to his Army When hee had receiued the Elephants which Euthydemes had sent hee passeth Mount Caucasus and after that hee came into India he renewed the League with Sophasine King of the Indies where after he had receiued an hundred and fifty Elephants and had againe giuen Victuals
those which are in the Reare and vpon the Flanckes As Homer teacheth when hee sayth the Target assures the Target the Head-peece the Head-peece and the Man the Man The Head-peeces adorned with Horses haire touch one another with their braue Crests tending that they should be ioyned together and close As these things are spoken with good reason and trueth it is apparently necessary that the Pikes should be charged according to those that go before passing betwixt them the length of ten foot and a halfe By this meanes they may visibly know of what force the preparation and order of a Battallion is hauing the length of sixteene Ranckes Whereof they which exceed the fifth cannot fight with their Pâ—kes For this cause they cannot fight hand to hand nor man to man but they support them at their backes vntill they take breath to the end that the first ranke may hold a firme order repulsing all manner of force with their Pikes which passing the first might charge vpon the reare For in marching after this â—manner they presse the fore-most with the weight of their bodies to make a more violent charge For it is impossible for the fore-most to turne backe This being the order of a Macedonian Battalion aswell in particular as in generall wee must by way of comparison speake of the properties and differences of the Roman Armes and of their ordering of a Battaile The Romans haue three foote space with their Armes The which in fighting they mooue from man to man for that euery man couers his body with his Target the which they also vse when any occasion of Combate is offered They commonly fight with the Sword by transport and apart Wherefore it is manifest that these men haue betwixt them a Retreate and space of three foote at the least betwixt him that goes before and the other which followes to fight more at ease whereby it happens that a Roman standing still contaynes the space of two Macedonian Souldiers beeing in the first Ranke So as he must offer himselfe and fight against ten Pikes All which one cannot cut if hee would holding them in his hands Neyther can the following Forces any way assist the first Ranke neyther to assaile nor to mannage their Armes So as wee may easily coniecture that it is impossible for any man liuing to sustaine and defend the violence of a Macedonian Battallion in Front if as wee haue formerly sayd it retaynes its propriety and force for what cause then doe the Romans Vanquish Whence comes it that Macedonian Battallions are frustrated of their Hope of Victory It is for that the Roman Ordonance hath in Battaile infinite places and times commodious for the Combate and the Macedonians haue onely place and time when it may bee seruiceable and commodious And therefore if vpon some necessity the Aduersaries â—all suddainly vpon the Macedonian Battallions when they are to giue Battaile it is likely that they which make vse of it would be alwayes the Masters But if they can diuert or turne it which is an easie thing of what amazement and great terrour will this Ordonance be Moreouer it is very playne and manifest that a Macedonian Battallion hath neede of Plaines and Euen ground without any let or incumbance as Ditches Springs Vallies Hills and Water-courses for all these things may disturbe breake and make frustrate their desire and intention It is as a man may say in manner impossible to finde a Countrey of twenty Furlongs I speake of no more where none of the afore-mentioned things are found It is without any question or doubt a rare thing and which no reasonable man will deny Yet I will allow there are some found If the Enemies do not direct and guide themselues thether but passing on ruine the Townes Villages Cities and whole Regions of their Friends and Allies what profite then will grow by this kinde of Ordonance If it stayes in places of aduantage it cannot giue succours to its friends nor preserue it selfe For Victuals Munition and succours may bee very easily intercepted by an Enemy if without any opposition hee be master of the field If likewise in leauing places of aduantage a Macedonian Battalion seekes to execute some enterprize hee is in danger of the Enemy For although that some one goes to field and doth not at one time offer his Army to the fury of the Macedonian Battalion diuerting himselfe for a time during the fight wee may easily coniecture by that which the Romans doe at this day what will happen The coniecture of that which wee say must not bee taken from the effect They doe not present their Battalion in such an indifferent place as they must suddenly fight with all their forces in front One part fights the other stirres not Moreouer if at any time the Macedonians presse their Enemies eagerly and are afterward repuls'd by them the proper order of the Battalion is broken For they leaue the rest of the Army whether they pursue those that are retired or flye from those which charge them The which being done they leaue vnto the Enemy the place which they had held not to charge in front but to serue them vpon the flancke or in the reare to succour those of the Battalion Why it is not probable that it should bee easie for a Roman Battalion to obserue time and aduantage and not for a Macedonian seeing the differences are great according to the truth of the said things Moreouer it is necessary for those which make vse of the Macedonian Ordonance to passe through all sorts of Countries and to plant their Campe and finally to seaze vpon commodious places and to besieged and indure sieges and to present himselfe against the Enemy All these things are requirest in warre Sometimes also the generall moments which are great serue much for the victory all which are not easie for a Macedonian Ordonance yea sometimes they are vnprofitable for that the souldier can neyther serue in rancke nor man to man Whereas the Roman is fit and profitable for these things For euery Roman comming to fight with his Armes is actiue for all times and places and for all charges and hath generally one Ordonance whither he be to fight in Troupe with the whole Army or particularly Ensigne to Ensigne or Man to Man Wherefore as the commodity is most excellent so many times the end and conclusion of the Battaile is more prosperous and successefull vnto the Romans then to others I haue therefore thought it necessary and conuenient to vse a long Discourse concerning these things for that there are many Grecians at this day which hold it incredible that the Macedonians should be vanquished and ouercome being ignorant of the cause and meanes whereby a Macedonian Ordonance is vanquished by the Roman Armes When as Philip had vsed all possible meanes hee could in this Battaile and yet was preuented of the Victory hee foorth-with made great hast passing by Tempe to recouer
iudgement The Cape whereon Carthage stands is ioyned to Affricke like vnto a crooked backe and is very stony with Mountaines full of wood whereas the wayes are very vneasie and inaccessible they being most of them made by the hand of man And therefore Matho had seized vpon all the little Hills that were vpon the way and had planted good Garrisons Moreouer hâ—e passed the Riuer which they call Machera the which hath high banks and a very swift course and cannot be past but by a Bridge vpon the which stands the Towne of Sephyra the which Matho did likewise hold By this meanes the paâ—â—ages of Affricke were not onely shut vp from the Carthaginian Army but also from a priuate person The which Amilcar considering and trying all meanes to passe into Affricke in the end hee vsed this inuention Hee had obserued that sometimes the course of this Riuer was so stopt by the Winde as the mouth of it ouerflowed and made in a manner a great poole and at that time it had no great fall into the Sea Wherefore hee was of opinion that at this season they might passe it neere vnto the Sea Hee kept this secret and onely made necessary preparation for the Army to march Hee carefully attended the opportunity of the time and then appointed his Army to part secretly in the Night and to passe the Riuer But at the breake of day the Enemy and they that were in the Towne were wonderfully amazed at this passage In the meane time Amilcar march'd with his Army directly to those which held Sephyra When as Spendius had the news that Amilcars Campe had past he presently makes haste with his forces to succour his men Behold how the two Campes succoured one another There were 10000. men in Sephyra neere vnto the Bridge and about 15000 in Bisarthe These thinking they might easily compasse in the Carthaginians if they all marcht against them at one instant some in front and the other at their backes suddainly they tooke courage and marcht against Amilcar with all their Troopes who 〈…〉 the fore-ward then the Horse and the Souldiers that were lightly armed and vpon the Reare 〈…〉 But when hee saw the Enemies charge his men couragiously he presently changed the order of his Army and turned it quite contrary So as they which were in the fore-ward returned backe making shew of some flâ—ght and they which were in the Reare taking another way marcht directly to the fore-ward The which the 〈◊〉 seeing who assailed the Carthaginians on eithâ—â— side and thinking that the Enemies amazed at this 〈◊〉 had fled they began to purâ—ue them without order and came suddainly to fight But when as they saw the Horse-men approach and the other Battalions to fall vpon them with great fury amâ—zed at this new manner of War they were soone broken and in the end flying away â—ome were defeated by the Legionaries who charged them vpon the 〈◊〉 with great slaughter others by the Elephants and Horse-men who entred after the Legionaries There were sixe thousand men slaine and about two thousand taken the rest saued themselues by flight some in the Towne of Sephyra the rest retired to the Campe before Bifarthe After this good foâ—tune Amilcar pursued those which had gotten into Sephyra the which he tooke at his comming for the Souldiers that were within it fled presently to Tunes and from thence running ouer the Prouince he tooke diuers Townes whereof some were won by breach and assault By this meanes thâ— Câ—rthaginians who before were deiected and without hope tooke heart and recouered their ancient courage At that time Matho held Hippona besieged and had peâ—swaded Spendius and Autarice Captaine of the Gaules to pursue the Enemy and that flying the Plaines by reason of the multitude of Elephants and Horse-men they should keepe the foote of the Mountaines and not to goe farre from them vpon any occasion that should be offered Moreouer he sends often to the Numidians and Lybians solieiâ—ing and intreating them to giue him succours and not to lose so great an opportunity to restore Affrick to liberty Spendius then hauing made choice of sixe thousand old Souldiers out of the Campe which was at Tunes lodged continually neere vnto the Enemy keeping the foote of the Mountaines Moreouer he had the Gaules with him which were vnder the charge of Autarice to the number of about two thousand men for the rest of their Troope which was in Sicily had retired to the Romans during the siege of Erix Whilest that Amilcar stayed with his Army in a Plainâ— wholly inuironed with Mountaines there came great supplies of Numidians and Affricans to Spendius By this meanes the Carthaginian Army was besieged with three Camps The Affricans were in front the Numidians vpon their taile and Spendius on the side Hannibal was long in suspence what counsell hee should take being thus beset There was at that time among the Numidians a certaine man called Naraue of a noble and aunciâ—nt extraction and of a Royall courage Hee had alwayes beene fauourable vnto the Carthaginians keeping his Fathers affection and who then had succoured them for that Amilcar was chosen their Captaine Thinking new to haue found a good opportunity to purchase their friendship he marched directly to the Campe accompanied with about an hundred Numidians being neere vnto it he makes a stand giuing them a signe with his hand that he would parley Amilcar wondring at his great boldnesse sends an Horse man vnto him to whom he sayd that he was come to speake with the Commaunder of the Army And as Amilcar stood still in doubt and could not beleeue him the Numidian leanes his Horse his Lance and his Company and goes directly vnto him without any feare for amazement The whole Army wondred and were amaâ—ed at this Numidians great confidence Finally being called to parley he told him that he had alwayes borne a great affection to the Carthaginians and that he had long desired the Friendship of Amilcâ—â— Moreouer that he was come to doe him seruice and to put himselfe and his estate faithfully into his hands vpon all occasions Amilcar hearing this Speech was so ioyfull as well for the boldnesse of this young Man who had presented himselfe so confidently vnto him as for the plainenesse of his Speech that he not onely made him Companion of his fortunes but protested and vowed vnto him to giue him his Daughter in keeping his faith to the Carthaginians After this discourse Naraue retired to his men and within three dayes after returned to Amilcar with two thousand men which he had vnder his charge The Carthaginians being fortified with this troope Amilcar durst fight with the Enemy Spendius likewise supplied with Numidians and Affricans drawes his Army into the Plaine and without any long stay comes to the Combate which was cruell Finally the Carthaginians relying in the multitude of their Elephants and likewise Naraue performing his duty well
hinder him to haue the Victory seeing he hath a greater Troupe of men If he doth not abandon the Citty as it is fitting hee can carry backe his men without danger into his Countrey after that he hath ouer-runne the Champion Leauing a great amazement and terrour to his Enemies and assuring the hearts of his owne Souldiers The which succeeded according to his proiect For when the people saw the whole Prouince thus spoyled they began to blame Antigonus who notwithstanding discharging the Duty of a wise and discreet Captaine would not goe to field Cleomenes in the meane time ouer-ran their whole Countrey without feare By this meanes he returned safely into his Countrey after that hee had at pleasure ruined the Prouince and left a great amazement amongst the Argiues and made his owne men more hardy for the future VVarre But when the Spring came the Macedonians and the Acheins returning from wintering went to field Antigonus marcht to Laconice with his Army consisting of ten thousand Macedonians three thousand Archers three hundred Horse a thousand Bowmen and likewise as many of the Gaules Moreouer three thousand Foote which were Mercinaries with three hundred Horse and about a thousand Megalopolitains armed after the manner of the Macedonians whereof Cerciâ—es had the leading As for the Allies hee had two thousand Foote of Bauâ—ere and two hundred Horse a thousand Foote of the Epirâ—tes and fifty Horse and as many of the Acarnanians and besides all these a thousand and sixe hundred Sclanonians whereof Demetrius of Phare was Captaine Thus the whole Army consisted of twenty eight thousand Foote and twelue hundred Horse Cleomenes being aduertised by his Spies of the Enemies descent hee placed forces vpon the passages by the which they might enter into his Countrey fortifying them with Trenches and Trees cut downe And hee himselfe went with his Army to a passage which they call Sellasia thinking as it happened that the Enemy would take that way His Army was about twenty thousand men There were two Mountaines in this passage whereof the one is called Eua by the people of the Countrey and the other Olympus There is a way betwixt both which runs along a Riuer vnto Sparta When as Cleomenes had lodged himselfe in these two Mountaines and had carefully fortified them with Trenches and Pallisadoes hee put the Souldiers which were drawne together with the Allies into Eua whereof his Cozen Euclide had the Commaund and stayed himselfe in that of Olympus with the Lacedemonâ—ans and Mercenaries Moreouer hee placed his Horse-men in the Plaine with some of the Mercenaries vpon the two Bankes of the Riuer When as Antigonus was come into those places and finding the scituation of them and the wonderfull industry of Cleomenes to dispose of his Army hee was not resolued to fight at that time And therefore hee camped neere vnto him vpon the banke of the Riuer of Gorgile whereas staying some dayes hee turned about the Countrey and the Enemies Campe and sought to draw them to battell by skirmishes But when hee found nothing without defence for that the Prouidence of Cleomenes had carefully rampired all places hee gaue ouer his enterprize But in the end they resolued by a common consent to make an end of their Warre by a battell Behold how Fortune had drawne together two great Captaines equall in virtue Counsell and Wisedome Thus Antigonus opposed in Front to those which held the Mountaine of Eua the Macedonians with their Targets and the Sclaâ—onians and hee put the Leginaries in diuers bands to succour the one and the other to whom hee gaue for Commaunder Alexander the Sonne of Ameta and Demetrius of Phare After these marcht the Acarnanians and they of Candy Finally he placed two thousand Acheins for a supply to succour them at need Then he set his Horse-men neere vnto the Riuer-side in Front of the Enemies Horse whereof Alexander had the charge with two thousand Foote-men As for Antigonus hee lodged neere vnto Mount Olympus with the bands of Aduenturers and the Macedonians where hee resolued to fight with Cleomenes VVhen hee had put the Mercenaries into battell hee caused the Battalion of the Macâ—donians to march The place which was straight would not suffer them to doe otherwise They had giuen charge to the Sctauonians to begin the battell as soone as they should see a white cloth which should be aduanced neere vnto Mount Olimpus at the foote whereof they lodged at Night vnder the Riuer of Gorgile The Megalopolitains also with the Horse-men were to enter the combate as soone as they should see a purple Robe aduanced in the Aire from the Kings Quarter The houre of the battell was now come the Sclauonians had already discouered Antigonus signe They encourage their Companions according to the opportunity of the time making no doubt but they had the victory in their hands Then they endeauoured with wonderfull resolution to gaine the Mountaine But the Foote-men which were lightly armed whom Cleomenes as wee haue sayd left in the Plaine with the Horse-men seeing that the Bands of the Acheins had not the courage to second them charg'd them vpon the Reare so as they were in great danger For on the right hand and in Front Euclide had the better with his men and the Mercenaries on the left hand fighting obstinately made a great spoile vpon the Reare By this meanes they were suddainly enuironed with two Troopes of Enemies When Philopomene the Megalopolitaine saw this disorder hee suddainly gaue good aduice to the Captaines But for that hee was a young man and had neuer had charge they gaue no eare vnto him Wherefore addressing himselfe to those of his Nation Companions sayth hee the Victory is ours if you will follow mee And in charging the Enemies Horse they assailed them with great courage Wherefore the Aduenturers strangers who fought in the Reare of those which assail'd the Mountaine hearing a great noise and seeing the Combate of the Horse-men retired to aide and succour them whereunto they had beene at the first ordained The order of the Enemies being by this meanes broken the Sclauonians and Macedonians with others whom Antigonus had appointed fell vpon them with great violence and fury So as afterwards all the World was of opinion that the industry and courage of Philopomene had defeated Euclide at that time And therefore they say that when as Antigonus demaunded of Alexander why hee had sent the Horse-men against the Enemy before hee had seene the signe and that hee had answered it was not hee but a young Megalopolitaine which had done it without his priuity hee then replied that this young man had performed the duty of a good Captaine and Alexander that of a young foole But they which kept the toppe of the Mountaine with Eucelide shewed their basenesse seeing the Enemies ascend for they should not haue attended vntill they had gain'd the top with safety But relying vpon the aduantage
or to giue ouer the Warres to the ende they may alwaies defend themselues from those which seeke an opportunity to do euill and to make vse of those whom they know to bee their Subiects or true friends when necessity shall require These causes which we haue specified are those of the second Punique Warre and the beginning of that which we will now relate The Carthaginians hardly induring the losse of Sycile which the Romanes had taken from them It is true that as we haue said Sardinia which they had surprized by Treason during the mutiny of Affricke and this summe of money which they had caused them to pay did much increase their hatred And therefore it was likely that as soone as they should grow great in Spaine they would transport the VVarre into Italy But after the death of Asdrubal who after the death of Amilcar was Generall of the Carthaginians they desired to know the will of the Souldiers before they would place a new Commaunder And when as the newes came from the Campe that Hannibal had bin chosen Captaine by a generall consent they presently assembled and confirmed with one accord by the election of the men of VVar. Hannibal hauing receiued all power and considering that to linger was of no worth he marcht with his army to the skirts of the Olcades to ruine them And therefore he besieged Carteia the chiefe Towne of that Countrey and tooke it by assault after some dayes resistance So as the other Townes being terrified yeelded of themselues to the Carthaginians After this Victory the Army retired to winter at Carthagena with great booty whereas Hannibal vsing great bounty deuided it amongst the Souldiers So as hee gained their hearts wonderfully leauing them in great hope for the future In the Spring hee led his Army against the Vacceens and presently conquered Ermandique Afterwards hee tooke Arbacale by force not without great danger hauing held it long besieged For that it had beene well defended by the greatnesse of the Citty and the multitude and courage of the Inhabitants After this hee suddainly fell by chance into a maruellous danger by a charge which the Toletains haue him at his returne from the Vacceens with a great booty For it is a people which exceeds all the rest of this Prouince in courage and multitudes of men with the which also there ioyned the Fugitiues of Ermandique Whereunto the banished men of the Olcades had perswaded them Without doubt the Carthaginians had beene vanquished and defeated if they had offered Battell but Hannibal gaue order to the contrary and striking Sâ—ile to enemy he planted himselfe vppon the Banke of the Riuer of Tagus giuing charge vnto his Horse men that when they should see the Enemies enter into the Water they should charge the Battalion of foote He lodg'd forty Elephants along the Bankes By this meanes all things succeeded happily for that he had the riuer and the Elephants as it were for Combattants For the Barbarians thinking that the Carthaginians were retired for feare they cast themselues confusedly into the Riuer with great cries Wherefore a great number of them were defeated vpon the Bankes of the Riuer by the Elephants which stood there and flew them at their landing Some were also slâ—ine in the Riuer by the Horse men for that the Horsemen being at ease and without Armour could better helpe themselues and annoy the enemies who durst not relye vpon the Ford. They which were in the Reare and might easily recouer the Banke retired vntill in the end the Carthaginians cast themselues into the riuer with all their bands and companies and put them to flight The Toletains army with the Olcades and Vacceens consisted of a hundred thousand men After which defeate there were not any found beyond the riuer of Ebro that durst resist the Carthaginians except the Sagontins It is true that Hannibal would not fall vpon them least hee should offer an occasion of Warre to the Romanes before hee had seized vppon that which his Father Amilcar had aduised him to do In the meane time the Sagontins sent often to Rome aswell for the care of their owne priuate affaires as also fore-seeing future things and likewise to aduertise them of the good Fortune of the Carthaginians in Spaine Finally the Romanes hauing thereupon many and diuers aduertisements they sent an Embassie into Spaine to discouer the course of Hannibals actions But he was retired to Winter at Carthagena hauing mannaged his affaires to his owne liking Being suddainly arriued there he cals them and giues them audience and power to deliuer their charge The Embassadours at the first signifies vnto him that he should demaund nothing from the Sagontins being allied vnto the Romanes And moreouer that he should not passe the riuer of Ebro for that it had beene so concluded by the Treaty made with Asdruball The which being heard by Hannibal like a young man and greedy of War and who easily did what he would with the Senate of Carthage by the meanes of the heads of his faction together with the hatred he bare against the Romanes he answered the Embassadours as a friend to the Sagontins blaming the people of Rome who when they had lately receiued Letters from the Sagontins for a mutiny which was growne amongst them to the end they might send some Embassie to pacifie it they had wickedly put to death some of the principall of the Citty Whereof he threatens them to take reuenge saying that the Carthaginians had a Custome not to disdaine outrages On the other side he sent vnto Carthage to aduertise them of that which they were to do considering that the Sagontins relying vppon the Alliance with the Romanes had done great outrages to many Townes subiect to the Carthaginians Finally as one full of inconstancy and rage and inflamed with a desire to make Warre he propounded no other valuable reason pursuing only certaine friuolous and impertinent causes The which is incident to those who transported by their passion forget their duty But had it not beene much better to say thus That the Carthaginians do rightfully demaund of the Romanes that they restore vnto them Sardinia and the siluer which for so many yeares they had vniustly drawne from them during their great affaires and if they did it not they will proclaime Warre against them Where as contrariwise it seemes now in leauing the true cause and supposing a false one of the Sagontins they would make it not only without occasion but also with great outrage And although the Embassadours vnderstood well that vppon necessity they must enter into Warre yet they went vnto Carthage where they vsed the like speech It is true the Romanes meant to Transport it into Spaine and not into Italy and to haue Sagont for a Fort. Wherefore in the interim they laboured first to pacifie the Wars of Sclauonia as if they intended to make a Warre that was
them fighting with great resolution and courage The other part of the Army at Sea landed march't and prest the enemy in the Reare Wherefore for as much as the Romans charg'd them on all sides and that the Sclauonians were prest before and behind the Combate was long and cruell Finally the Romans had the Victory The greatest part of the Sclauonians were most miserablely slaine some saued themselues within the Towne and the rest fled into the Desarts of the Iland Demetrius the Night following saued himselfe contrary to the opinion of all the World by meanes of certaine Vessels which hee had appointed in three places for his safety the case so happening and retired to Phillip King of Macedon with whom hee spent the Remainder of his dayes Hee was a man of great courage and ouerweening but of little iudgement in Martiall affaires And therefore hee ended according to the life which hee had formerly led For when as at Phillips desire hee had begunne to besiege the Towne of the Messenians hee was most shamefully slaine by the Enemy for his great and ouerweening boldnesse But wee will speake of these things more particularly when wee shall come vnto that time When as Emilius had so suddainly gotten Phare hee razed the Towne to the ground And hauing within few dayes reduced the rest of the Townes of Sclauonia to the Romane obedience and decided all the affaires of the Prouince as hee had resolued hee returnes to Rome in the beginning of Autumne where hee was receiued with wonderfull great glory triumph and good esteeme of all men to haue done not onely like a wise and discreete man but like a resolute But when in the meane time newes came to Rome of the razing of Sagont some haue written that the Lords of the Romane Councell were not of opinion to make Warre and they alledge causes and reasons which held them in suspence But what can bee spoken more vnreasonably How is it likely that they which the yeere before had signified Warre vnto the Carthaginians if they entred the Sagontins Countrey should now growe doubtfull whether after the taking of Sagont they should make Warre or not But is there any thing lesse worthy of credit to say that the Senate on the one side was wonderfully heauy and afflicted as if all had beene vtterly lost On the other side that the Fathers brought all their Children to the Senare so as they were aboue twelue yeeres of age and that being partakers of the Councell they neuer reuealed or made knowne the secrets to any Without doubt these things are neither true nor likely vnlesse the Romans haue that gift of nature to bee wise from their Cradles We haue discoursed sufficiently of these writings which are of Cherea and Solilus neither haue they so much shew of a History as of old wiues Tales and are like vnto those which they vsually tell in Barbers shops The Romans then after the newes of the taking of Sagont and the murther of their Allies sent presently an Embassie to Carthage to let them vnderstand two things whereof the one seemed to bee of consequence for ignomy and losse of the Carthaginions and the other had a shew to draw their Empire in hazard For they demaunded that they should either deliuer Hannibal to bee punished for the breach of the publique Faith or else they should hold themselues assured of Warre When as the Embassadours were come to Carthage and that the Senate had giuen them audience they deliuered their Commission which was not without the indignation of of the Carthaginians who made choice of Hanno to debate their Right who at the first made no accompt of Asdrubals treatie as hauing neuer beene made with the Romans and if it were so the Carthaginians were not bound vnto it for that Asdrubal had exceeded his Commission and had done it without the authority of the Senate or people of Carthage Whereunto hee alleadged in the like case that the Romans had beene of opinion that the accord made in Sicily by the Consull Luctatius should bee broken for that it had beene made without the authority of the people of Rome Finally hee insisted still vpon this accord whilest his Speech continued and reade it often saying that there was no mention made of Ebro and that the Allies of the one and of the other were onely reserued and that moreouer it did nothing concerne the Sagontins for that at the time of the accord they were not allied vnto the Romans The Embassadours repuls'd with great words this contention concerning the right of the accorde as a thing which concernes the honour of the people of Rome saying that the quarrels might bee decided if the Sagontins were in there entire But now that Sagont is razed and that the faith and accords are wickedly broken they should either deliuer the Authour of the Crime to the Romans to the end that all the World might know that Sagont hath not beene ouerthrowne and ruined with the consent of the Carthaginians Or if they will not but confesse that the Towne hath beene destroyed with their consent that they should prepare to Warre Thus ended their discourse which they held more amply and in generall I haue held it most necessary not to passe ouer this particular in silence to the end the truth may not bee hidden to those which deale in publique affaires or which haue cause to consider exactly of these things Or else haue a desire to know whether they erre being deceiued by the ignorance and sottishnesse of Historiographers for want of knowledge of the treaties which from the first Punique Warre vnto our times haue beene made betwixt the Romans and the Carthaginians The first then was made betwixt these two Nations immediately after that the name of King was chased out of Rome Lucius Iunius Brutus and Marcus Valerius being Consuls vnder whom also a Temple was dedicated to Iupiter Capitolinus eight and twenty yeeres before the first voyage of Xerxes into Greece the which wee haue interpreted with the greatest diligence wee could possibly Beleeue me the Romane tongue hath beene so changed since that time vnto our dayes as they which are the best instructed in Antiquities vnderstand not much of it but with great difficulty This accord containes in a manner thus much The people of Rome and the Carthaginians shall liue in Amity and Friendship The like shall their Allies doe The Romans and their Allies shall not saile beyond the Promontory of Beauty vnlesse they be forced by storme or the violence of their Enemies If any one takes Port for these causes hee shall not buy nor take anything but what necessity shall require for Sacrifices and for Ships And that within the fift day they shall set faile for their retreate They which shall arriue there for the trade of Merchandize shall be free except the duties which belong vnto the Register and to the Citty who shall giue
go into Italy three thousand furlongs And from Carthage to Ebro two thousand sixe hundred furlongs From thence to the Empories sixteene hundred And from thence to the mouth of the Riuer of Rhone sixeteene hundred furlongs Behold the measure of those places which the Romanes haue made with great diligence From the passage of the Rhone following the Bankes towards the Spring vnto the passage of the Alpes into Italy thirteene hundred furlongs and the passage of the Mountayne is held to be twelue hundred After which they come into the Champion Countrey which is about Poe. And therefore Hannibal was to march nine thousand furlongs from Carthage vnto the entry of Italy And if we will obserue the way he had already past the one halfe But if we will consider the difficulty of the Country he had the most troublesome taske to performe Hannibal endeauoured by all meanes to passe the Perinee Mountaines not without some feare of the Gaules least knowing the passages they should interrupt his voyage into Italy In the meane time newes came to Rome of that which had beene spoken and done at Carthage by the Embassadours and that Hannibal had past the Riuer of Ebro with his Army much sooner then they expected making hast to go into Italy for the which the great men of Rome were not a little amazed Coâ—â—iuing that hee would mooue the Nation of the Gaules against them being alwayes desirous of Warre Wherefore after the Election of the Consuls the diuided the Prouinces Whereof Spaine was for Publius Cornelius and Affricke with Sycily for Tytus Sempronius To whom they appointed sixe Legions for that yeare and as many Allies as they should thinke good and as great an Army at Sea as they could make Whilest they Lâ—uied men at Rome and that the Army at Sea and Munitions were preparing and all the necessary Equipage for the Sea they laboured to people their Collonies which they had lately in Gaule neere vnto the Poe. There were Citties newly built and Cittizens enioyned to be there within thirty dayes to either Citty sixe thousand men whereof the one which was on this side the Poe was called Plaisance and the other on the further side Cremona The Boloniens discontented herewith and remembring the auncient quarrels abandoned the Roman party being aduertised of the Descent of the Carthaginians leauing the Hostages which they had giuen in the former Warre whereof we haue made mention in the last Booke And taking Armes suddainly they solicited the Milanâ—â—is to do the like making a tumultuous hurly-burly in the Countrey assigned to the Collonies so as all the people terrified fled to Modena with the three Deputies which were come to diuide the Land Whom the Bolonieus pursued and besieged the Towne The siege continuing some time they made a shew to parley of Peace And when as the Princes of the Gaules had caused some Embassadours to come vnto them they staied them contrary to the Law of Nations refusing to send them backe if their Hostages were not deliuered When the newes of this accident was come vnto them Lucius Manlius the Pretor who was then present with an Army inflamed with Rage makes hast to succour the Besieged whereof the Boloniens being aduertised they layd an Ambush in the Forrest neere the way and surprizing their enemies at their comming they slew a great number of the Romans The rest with great difficulty recouering the fields saued themselues Where although the Souldiers assured themselues for a time yet finding that the Boloniens pursued them in the Reare they â—â—ed to recouer the Towne of Cannet When the newes came vnto Rome the Romans fearing that their Army would be indangered by a long siege they appointed Attillius the Pretor to succour the Besieged with the Troupes prepared for the new Leuy of the Consull enioyning him moreouer to make a Leuy of others Behold the estate wherein the affaires of the Gaules stood vntill the comming of Hannibal In the meane time the Consulls hauing made ready all their necessary Equipage parted from Rome whereof Publius Cornelius bent his course to Spaine with threescore vessels of warre and Sempronius into Affricke with a hundred and three score Quiqueremes taking the Warre so to heart as he made so great a preparation at Lylibeum that it seemed he should presently besiege Carthage As for Cornelius he tooke his way by the Country of Tuscany and the Geneâ—â—is and arriued on the fifth day at Marcelles and entred with his Army at the first mouth of Rhone for it passeth into the Sea by many mouthes And although he were aduertised that Hannibal past the Pyrenee mountaines yet he made his accompt that hee had a long way to go aswell for the difficulty of the Country as for the multitude of the Gaules those parts being very well peopled But Hannibal made hast daily to passe the Rhone with his Army neere vnto the shore of the Sardinian Sea with incredible diligence after that he had pacified the Gaules partly with gifts and partly by feare The which the Consull hearing and beleeuing but in part this suddaine arriuall desiring likewise to know the truth he Lands to refresh his Men wearied with a torment at Sea Then he acquaints the Tribunes with the places by the which they must go to encounter the Enemy and sends three hundred choise Horse before vnder the Conduct of Pronencials and some succours of the Gaules to discouer the Enemies enterprize Hannibal being now neere the Rhone with his Army and within foure daies iourney of the Sea makes hast to passe it with all possible speed And therefore he cals all the inhabitants thereabouts and wins them by Presents from whom he buies Skifs and small Boates which they ordinarily vse and whereof there were at that time a great number by reason of the Faires for the Trade of the Sea And he causeth others to be made in making hollow the bodies of Trees The which the Souldiers likewise did being mooued with the abundance of stuffe and the facility of the Worke So as in lesse then two daies there were so many Boates and Skifs as they were sufficient to passe Euery man striuing not to be at the mercy of his Companion or Comrade but to passe himselfe and his baggage into his owne Skiffe or Boate. In the meane time there were an infinite number of men drawne together vpon the further Banke of the Rhone to hinder the Carthaginians passage The which Hannibal perceiuing and knowing well that he could not passe the Riuer by force for that the Enemy held the other Banke nor stay there long but he should be inuironed by the people of the Country at the setting of the third Watch of the night the sends Hannâ— sonne to King Bomilcar with a part of his Army to whom he gaue some guides of the Country who mounted vp the Riuer two hundred furlongs staying aboue an Iland about the which the Rhone did runne Where
the Alpes hath lost two parts of his Forces And the rest is so tired and broken with toile hunger cold and pouerty as they can hardly support themselues and the remainder of his Horses if any be escaped are so worne with labour and the tedious wayes as they could not make vse of them Finally it sufficed the Romans onely to present themselues and that moreouer his presence should with reason make them more resolute seeing that he had not left the Army at Sea nor the affaires of Spaine nor had not transported himselfe thither with such speed going so great a circuite both by Sea and Land if he had not knowne it necessary for the Countrey and the victory to be certaine The Army being inflamed with this Speech and making shew of a resolution to fight Scipio commending their good will sent them away and gaue them charge to feed and to be ready and in Armes at the sound of the Trumpet and Drumme Three daies after the two Commaunders marcht with their Army along the Riuer on the side of the Mountaines The Romans had the left hand and the Carthaginians the right And when as the day following they were aduertised by their Spies of their approach one vnto another they stayed The third day after the two Commaunders fronted one another with all their Horse Scipio being moreouer accompanied with men that cast Darts chosen out of the bands of foot-men The which they did to discouer the number of the men and what they were But when they came to affront one another and the dust beginning to rise by reason of the Horses they presently prepared themselues to Battell Scipio puts in Front the Gaulish horse-men with those that Darts and appointed the rest to second them marching a slow pace In regard of Hannibal he makes his point of the strongest of his horse-men and presents it to the Enemy casting the Numidians vpon the Wings But when the two Armies began to enter the Combat furiously they had scarce begun the Crie but the Darters fled without any fight and passing through their supplies they recouered the Battell They were in truth amazed at the violent charge fearing to be ouerthrowne by the encounter of the Horse-men In the meane time the Combat was great betwixt the Horse-men for both the one and the other fought with great courage which made the Battell to continue long in suspence There was fighting both on horse-backe and on foot for that many had left their horses in the Battell And when as the Numidians in turning about had fallen vpon the reare of the Darters who in the beginning had fled from the fury of the Horse-men they were inuironed by them and defeated in great Troupes They also which fought with the Carthaginian Horse-men after they had receiued great losse of their men and slaine many of their Enemies in the end they gaue backe for that the Numidians charged in the reare Some were dispersed here and there others retired to the Campe in a throng sauing the Consull who was wounded in the middest of the Troupe from thence Scipio Commaunded his men to follow him without noise and marcheth with his Army to the Bridge which he had made vpon the Poe there to passe without tumult or danger but when he saw the fields about the Poe so great and spacious and that the Carthaginians were stronger in horses and being moreouer troubled with the Wound which he had receiued he held it the safest course to passe his Army before the Enemy should pursue him Hannibal made his account that the Romans would fight sometime with their foot-men but when he was aduertised of their flight and that abandoning their Fort they had past the Poe by a Bridge which they had made he pursues them with speed The end of the Bridge was already broken and the guard was yet remaining of the which he presently tooke about sixe hundred Hannibal aduertised that the rest of the Army was not farre off hee returnes to his Fort seeking carefully for a place fit to make a Bridge The which two daies after he found with great difficulty and then effected it ioyning many floats together Afterwards he gaue the Charge to Asdrubal to passe the Army whilst that he busied himselfe to heare the Embassie of the Gaules which were come vnto him from diuers neighbour Countries For as soone as it was bruted that the Romans had bin defeated by the Carthaginians all the neighbour Gaules made hast to ioyne with Hannibal as they had formerly resolued and to giue him succours and to go to the Warre After he had giuen them a good reception he past his Army beyond the Poe and takes his way along the Riuer hoping more easily to ouer-take the Enemy When as Scipio had led his Army to Plaisence which was a Roman Collony he had a care to cure those that were Wounded and thinke of a place whither he might lead his Army The third day after that Hannibal had past the Poe he puts his men in order before Plaisence in view of the Enemies and presented them Battell And when as no man offered himselfe he Camp'd hauing found a conuenient place within sixe miles of them The Gaules who had come to succour Scipio seeing better hopes with the Carthaginians resolued among themselues to abandon the Romans And when at mid-night they found all men asleep they being in Armes in their Tents they part and kill'd most of the Romans they met in their way cutting off some of their heads Finally they retired to the Carthaginians to the number of two thousand foot and two hundred Horse Being graciously receiued and inflamed with hope of good Hannibal sends them home to their Houses to the end they might make those things knowne and induce their Country to seeke the Alliance of the Carthaginians He saw plainly that of necessiy they would leaue the Roman party considering the foule crime which their men had committed Moreouer there was an Embassie come from the Bolonians deliuering vnto Hannibal the Triumviry who as wee haue formerly said had bin sent by the Romans to diuide the Lands being taken by Treason Hannibal commending their good affection makes an Alliance with them and restores vnto them the Triumviry to serue them as a meanes to retire their Hostages as they had formerly resolued Scipio being troubled not so much for the Treason of the Gaules and the slaughter of his men but for that he fore-saw that all the Gaules Country which had bin a long time Enemy vnto the Romans would reuolt which made him study how to giue order in time for his Affaires Wherefore the night following about the breake of day he dislodg'd without noise and seated his Campe neere vnto the Riuer of Trebia on the highest Hils of the Country relying vpon the scituation of the place and the multitude of their Allies inhabiting thereabouts Hannibal being aduertised of his Enemies flight he causeth the
Numidians to march first and then all the Cauallery and soone after he follows with the rest of his Army The Numidians turning to the Campe abandoned by their Enemies they set it on fire to the great benefit of the Romans For if they had not staied in the Campe they might haue pursued them in the Reare and haue made a great slaughter of the Roman Army But whilst they loose time in burning the lodging the greatest part of the Army past the Riuer in safety Some of the Reare-ward were surprized by the Carthaginians who were either slaine or taken Prisoners In the meane time Scipio made choise of the Hils which were neere vnto the Riuer for that they seemed fit to make a â—ort The which being inuironed with a Ditch and a Pallisado hee attended in this distresse the returne of his Companion Tyberius from Sycily with an Army causing his Wounds to be carefully looked vnto to the end that their assailes being in so great danger he might be a pertaker Hannibal seated his Campe within fiue miles of the Enemies Fort whom the Gaules did furnish abundantly not only with Victuals but with all other things necessary and were very ready to vndergoe any danger with the Carthaginians The newes came to Rome of the defeate of their men And although they would neuer haue thought it yet the Romans made no shew to be amazed therewith disguising the defeate of their Horse-men to haue hapned not so much by the Prowâ—sse of the Carthaginians as by the ouer-weening of the Commaunder and the Treason of the Gaules who had yeilded themselues to Hannibal Finally they were in good hope of their Warre seeing that the Bands of foot-men were yet entire Wherefore Sempronius being returned and passing by Rome they all perswaded him publickely to giue Battell to the Carthaginians Sempronius at his comming vnto Rimeny receiues all the Troupes which were come from Sycily according to his commaundment From thence marching to Trobia he ioynes with his Companion where he refresht his Army toil'd with the rediousnesse of the way hauing marcht forty daies together comming from Lylibeum to Rimeny He also vsed diligence to prouide all sorts of munition Moreouer he consulted with Scipio inquiring of the actions past and conferring of the future At the same time Hannibal tooke the Towne of Clastidium by Treason corrupting Brengusin the Captaine of the Garrison where as the Romans had lodged a great quantity of Corne whereof he made vse in his necessity and sent away the Souldiers in safety to the end that by the fame of his Clemency others might yeild more easily vnto the Carthaginians He extended his bounty also vnto him that betraide it And being aduertised that the Gaules inhabiting that little Country which lies betwixt Trebia and the Poe and had made an Alliance with him had sought the friendship of the Romans by Embassie To the end that during the trouble of these two powerfull Nations they might haue the grace of an vncertaine fauour He sends being mooued with rage and despight two thousand foote and about a thousand Numidian Horses with some Gaules intermixt to spoile the Country The which hauing performed and taken a great Booty the Inhabitants sent presently an Embassie to the Consull to 〈◊〉 succours Sâ—mpronius presently imbracing this occasion to giue battell which hee had long desired sends a great part of his Cauallery with a thousand foote with Darts beyond the Riuer of Trebia who charging the Gaules and surprizing them in disorder for that they were in contention touching the diuision of the Booty they put them into a great confusion and forced them to retire killing and chasing them into their Fort Where by the sally of the Troupe which guarded the Campe the Gaules resuming Courage they were forced to turne head and to recouer their Campe. The which 〈◊〉 perceiuing he sent a simply of all his Horse with the Darters and forced the Gaules to retire into their Fort. But for that Hannibal was not then ready to giue battell he was not of aduice to vndertake it without great consideration nor to hazard all vpon all occasions And therefore like a well aduised Captaine he caused a Retreateto be sounded and retires his men into the Fort. And when as the Romans had skirmished with their enemies in vaine they returned to their Campe hauing lost few of their men and made great slaughter of the Carthaginians Sempronius growne ioyfull and proud of this good Fortune had a will to giue Battell onely for the desire of glory whilst that his Companion was weake and infirme And therefore he discouers himselfe to Scipio to whom the time did not seeme conuenient to do it but rather to deferre the Battell to the end that the Roman Souldiers being yet fresh and greene might gaine experience and that in Temporizing the Gaules as people light and without faith might abandon the Carthaginians and that finally he might be present for that his Wound at that time made him vnprofitable Although that Sempronius knew well that Scipio spake the truth yet mooued with ambition either that Scipio should not be present or that the Warre should not be prolonged vntill the comming of the other Consuls for that the time of the election was come he resolued to giue Battell alone Hannibal being of the like opinion with Scipio was carefull how to finde an occasion to fight whilst the Gaules faith was firme and the Enemies Souldiers of little experience and Scipio vnprofitable to vndergoe the danger But especially he feared to loose time For seeing he led an Army in a strange Country and had a great enterprize in hand there was no other meanes of safety then to keepe his Allies Wherefore seeing the desire of Sempronius he prepared himselfe willingly to Battell There was betwixt the two Armies a plaine Champaigne but very conuenient to lay an Ambush hauing a deepe Riuer with high Bankes and Thickets and Bushes round about it Which Hannibal hauing viewed he resolued to lay an Ambush It is true that the Romans fled the Forrests by reason of the Ambushes which the Gaules often layd for them trusting onely in a Champaigne Country Being ignorant that a plaine is more fitting then a Forrest for the couering of an Ambush For they may see the Enemy come farre off and haue sometimes fit meanes and opportunity to couer themselues so as when they finde a Riuer with low Bankes the Reedes Flagges of the Marishes Bushes and such like things doe couer the foote and many times the Horse-men if they bend downe their Helmets which are apparent Hannibal after he had acquainted his Brother Mago with his resolution to giue battel and being both of this aduice he caused him to be called whilst the Souldiers supp'd His brother Mago was a young man of a braue Spirit and Resolute and had bin alwaies bred vp in the Warre To whom he gaue a thousand Horse and as many Boote chosen out of the
from returning Finally the whole Army was in great trouble and paine and they languished the more for that they had watch'd foure daies and three nights going through the Waters But amongst all the rest the Gaules were most tormented Most part of their carriage Horses falling into the Mire dyed seruing the tyred Souldiers to rest themselues vpon and the baggage lying downe vpon them in the Water so as they tooke their necessary rest some part of the night Many Horses also lost their hoofes by their continuall going in the mire Hannibal could hardly escape the moares but that he was carried vpon an Elephant which was onely remaining Who by a great paine in his eyes which had hapned by the bad condition of the Ayre in the end hee lost an eie for that he had neither time nor place to prevent it After that he had past the Moares contrary to the opinion of all the World and was aduertised by his Spies that Flaminius was about the Wals of Aretzo he planted himselfe neere vnto the Marishes partly to refresh his army being tyred with so great toyle and likewise to learne the Resolution and forces of the Enemy with the scituation of the Country and Wayes But being aduertised that among the Regions of Italy that was very fertile and that the Champaigne betwixt Aretzo and Fesula was very rich in Corne and all other things necessary and that moreouer the Consull was a proud man affecting the applause of the people but without experience of Warre and relying much vpon Fortune he thought it fit that in leauing the enemy on the left hand he should drawe towards Fesula to spoyle the Country of Tuscany being conceited that the Consull for the naturall desire he had to purchase the fauor the people would neuer suffer the Country to bee spoi'd Nor attend his Companion as desiring him not in things well done But contrariwise would follow him wheresoeuer he went without feare hauing a desire to fight By this meanes he foresawe good opportunities to giue Battaile making therin a wise and politique discourse of future things Beleeue mee he is deceiued that thinkes any duty greater in a Captaine then to discouer the opinion and Nature of the enemy For as you must obserue in a Combate betwixt man and man the place where you meane to strike and consider diligently where he lies open and discouered So in a great Warâ—e you must seeke the Enemy not so much to vnderstand where the the parts of the body are naked but by what meanes you may discouer the Nature and proceedings of the Generall There are many which not onely forget the publicke Affaires by a dulnesse and negligence but also many times those which concerne their priuate Liues Others subiect to Wine cannot rest vntill they be drunke and some giuen too much to women not only ruine Townes and Common-weales but also their Liues with infamy Moreouer Cowardize and feare in priuate men is full of Reproach and disgrace but in a Commaunder it is sometimes the cause of great losse Ouerweening rashnesse Choller and vaine bragging is preiudiciall and profitable to the Enemy Beleeue me such kind of men doe easily fall into the Snares and Ambushes of their Enemies And therefore if any one hauing discouered the Vices of the Enemy findes some occasion whereby he may circumvent the Generall he may easily preuaile ouer the rest For as an Enemy doth easily boord a Shippe when it is without a Gouernour So if any one during the Warre defeates a Commaunder by his Iudgement and good aduice hee will soone be master of the rest of the Army As Hannibal had made this Discourse of the Roman Consull so he was not deceiued in his opinion for parting with all speede thorough the Fesulans Countrey leauing the Enemy behind he began to put all Tuscany to fire and Sword The Consull inflamed herewith thinking that the Enemy made no account of him holding it a great dishonour to suffer the Goods of their Allies to bee thus spoil'd aâ—d carried away before his face could not take any rest And therefore although that many aduised him not to pursue Hannibal nor to fight with him but to keepe his Horse and foote entire vntill the comming of his Companion to the end that both Armies being ioyned they might mannage the Warre by a common Councell hee would not doe any thing giuing them no other answere but that they should consider what the people of Rome would say seeing the Enemy Camp'd in the middest of Italy and march directly to Rome without resistance they sleeping in Tuscany at his backe Hauing vsed this Speech he began to pursue the Enemy after that he had suddainly drawne his Troupes together without consideration either of time or places desiring onely to fight as if the Victory had beene certaine He had put his whole Army in hope of winning the Battaile so as there were more which charged themselues with chaines and fetters and such like things then with armes to fight Hannibal marching directly to Rome spoil'd all the Champaigne Country which lies betwixt the Towne of Cortone and the Lake of Perouze vsing all manner of cruelty to draw the enemy to fight But when he had newes of Flaminius pursuite with his Army seeing the place conuenient to lay his Ambushes hee began to prepare himselfe for a battaile There was a large plaine enuironed round about with high Mountaines ioyned together hauing within it a lesser Hill which was painfull and difficult and behind lies the Lake of Perouze betwixt the which and the Mountaines there is a narrow passage whereby they enter into the plaine Hannibal gaines these first Hils planting his Campe there and lodgeth with the Spaniards and Affricans laying behind the Mountaines the Souldiers of Maiorque and Minorque with others that were lightly armed He doth also place in the streight the Horse-men with the Gaules to the end that as soone as the Romans should be entred they should be wholy inuironed by the Lake and Mountaines opposing the Horse-men in Front And hauing thus disposed of his men in the night he went to take his rest Flaminius pursuing his enemy with great heate came vnto the Lake before the Sun setting and the next day early began to lead his Army through the streight The day was thicke and misty by reason of a Fogge which came from the Lake and the Neighbour mountaines When as Hannibal saw the greatest part of the Army entred into the Plaine and that the fore-most approached neere vnto him hee then gaue his men a signe of battaile Which done they fall vpon them that were neerest The Romans were amazed at this suddaine surprize for that the mist hindred their sight and with all the Enemies charg'd them on all sides at one instant so as they could not put themselues into battaile nor make vse of their Armes nor scarce know what had beene done being assailed by some in front by
others in the Reare and likewise vpon the Flankes So as many holding on their way they were slaine like sheepe for that they could not succour one another and they were sooner defeated then they could consider what they had to doe Flaminius himselfe when there was no more hope was enuironed and slaine by certayne Gaules There were slaine in this battaile fifteene thousand men who for the most part stood firme vnto the end after the manner of the Romans neuer abandoning their rankes The others inclosed betwixt the Mountaines and the Lakes by reason of the narrow passages and out of hope were slaine basely or rather miserably For being forced in the Lake some were drowned striuing to swimme in their Armes Others going into the Water as farre as they could possibly continued for a time in that estate Finally when the enemies horse were entred they were slaine without pitty Although that lifting vp their hands they humbly begged to haue their Liues saued or taking Courage kild one another There were about sixe thousand of the fore-ward which forcing through the enemies escaped this passage Although it were in their power to inclose them and to succour their friends yet not knowing what was done behind them they marcht on still doubting to make some encounter before they had gotten the top of the Mountaines And hauing made a stand vpon a little Hill and seeing the Mist being past the great slaughter of their Souldiers they hastily got vnto a neere Burrough like men which had no more hope of safety for that they saw the enemy to hold the whole Countrey The battaile being won Hannibal Commaunds Maherbal to pursue them who parting with the Spaniards and the Souldiers that were lightly armed besieged the Burrough The Romans being brought to extremity in the end left their Armes and after they had concluded to haue their Liues saued they yeilded to this Affrican Behold how that famous battaile past which was giuen betwixt the Romans and the Carthaginians neere vnto the Lake of Perouze After this Hannibal cals for those which Maherbal had taken and for all the rest being aboue fifteene thousand telling them at the first that Maherbal had no power to contract with them for their liues without his consent And after he had vsed proud speeches vnto the Romans he distributed them among the Souldiers to be carefully kept in chaines sending away the Allies without Ransome Telling them that hee was not come into Gaule to make Warre against the Latin Nation but with the Romans for their Liberty Afterwards he sent them home to their Lodgings and Commaunds to bury the bodies of those which were of most note being about thirty For hee lost of all his Army onely fifteene hundred men whereof the greatest part were Gaules Hee then held a Councell with his Brother and other friends concerning their affaires who were growne so glorious for this Victory as they held nothing impossible The Newes of this great Defeate was now come to Rome and the Senators could not long conceale it from the Common people nor dissemble the greatnesse thereof So as assembling the Court they were forced to relate it vnto them in particular As soone as the Praetor being set in his Chaire began to say we haue lost a great battaile the amazement and trouble grew so great as they which were at the battaile and there present report that the terrour was greater then in Rome then it had beene in the fight And it is likely for it is not possible that they which for a long time had not felt any great disaster neyther in Word nor Deede should patiently indure so great a losse Yet the Senate made a good shewe as it was fitting aduising what was to be done and what Commaunders they should choose and with what Troupes they should resist the Carthaginians Whilst these things past in Tuscany the Consull Seruilius aduertised that Hannibal was past hee resolued to ioyne with his companions Army But for that it was a difficult thing to passe so great a number of men together he sent Caius Centronius Propraetor before with foure thousand Horse to the end that if any occasion were offered they should doe that which his Companion should commaund him Hannibal hauing gotten this Victory and aduertised by his Spies of the comming of the Enemy hee sends Maherbal to meete them with the best of his Foote and part of his Horse-men who being met they defeated the greatest part at the first charge the rest retiring to the first Hill within three daies after they were taken aliue When as the newes of this defeate came to Rome three daies after the other wherewith their hearts were much aflicted then not onely the people but also the Senators were in so great distresse and misery as all the Citty was in teares Wherefore leauing the Annall Magistrates they had recourse to the election of a Dictator for that the condition of the time and the affaires then required a Commaunder which should haue soueraigne power And although that Hannibal were very glorious for the good successe and fortune of his affaires yet hee did not hold it fit to goe vnto Rome Wherefore putting the Prouince to fire and sword and passing by the Dutchy of Spolettâ— and the Marquisat of Ancona hee came within ten dayes to the Region which is neare vnto Adriatique Sea so rich and abundant in all wealth as the Army was not able to carry it away Finally hee made a great slaughter of men in his iourney for he caused a Proclamation to bee made in his Campe that they should kill all those that they found carrying Armes as they had commonly done in Townes that were taken by assault Hee carried so great a hatred to the Romans as there was no cruelty that hee omitted And after they had found a fit and conuenient place along the Coast of the Adriatique Sea abounding with all sorts of commodities hee laboured by all meanes to refresh his men and horses for both the one and the other were fallen into diseases and the Scuruy which they had gotten as well by the extreame cold in the Winter which they had endured in Gaule being alwaies in field as by the continuall toile which they had lately suffred in passing the Marishes and the continuall sweat and filth by reason of their harnesse In the meane time hee inures the Affricans to carry Armes after the manner of the Romans whereof hee had gotten abundance considering the great spoiles of the Enemies Moreouer hee sent newes to Carthage of his Victories by Sea This was the first time that hee approach't neare the Sea since his first comming into Italy The Carthaginians being ioyfull at this newes were wholly attentiue vnto the affaires of Italy and Spaine The Romans made choice of Quintus Fabius for their Dictator a man of so great virtue and prudence that for his prowesse hee purchased and obtained the name of
this day is for Townes and treasure if you gaine this battell you shall be Lords of all Italy Finally after so many labours and dangers being deliuered by this alone you shall purchase the felicity of the Romans You shall bee the Head and Emperours of all the World For the effecting whereof there is not any neede of words but of effects By the will of the Gods before it be long you shall all see by experience that I am a man of my promise After these Remonstrances 〈◊〉 commended their resolution he planted his Campe vpon the Riuer-side where the Enemies greatest forces lay The day following hee commaunds them to treate themselues well and to prepare themselues to battaile for the day following And therefore at the third day he passed the Riuer at the Sunne-rising and put his men in battaile But Emilius seeing that his Forces were not equall in that place and knowing that Hannibal would dislodge for want of victuals came not out of his Fort. When as Hannibal had stayed some time there seeing that hee had in vaine called the Enemies forth to fight he retired the rest of his Army to the Campe and sent the Numidians to charge those which came from the Romans lesser Campe to water which they kept and detained from them pursuing them with great cries vnto the Fort. Whereat Varro disdaining much that the Roman Campe should bee annoyed by these men was the more inflamed and encouraged vnto battaile The whole multitude wished nor desired nothing more so much the expectance in all things is tedious And as in the meane time the newes were come to Rome that although the Armies were not lodged in a place to giue battaile yet they were one right against another and that there were dayly encounters all the World entred into great heauinesse and care Certainly the Romans hauing receiued lately wonderfull great losses feared much the future Euery man fore-casts with him selfe what the Romans fortune would bee after the defeate of this Army All the World poured out threats against the Sybils Bookes they saw nothing in the Temples and priuate houses but prodigies and strange signes And therefore the whole Citty was addicted to Prayers to sacrifices to the Gods and to Ceremonies for the Romans are great obseruers as well in publique as in priuate in the time of Warre neither doe they let passe any thing out of their rememberance which in reason they ought to doe Varro to whom the authority belonged the next day at the Sunne-rising drawes forth the Armies out of both the Campes without the priuity of his Companion And parting with those which were in the great Fort hee ioynes vnto them those that were in the lesser Then putting his men in Battaile hee places the Roman Horse-men vpon the right wing which was neerest vnto the Riuer Next to the which continuing the order hee disposeth of the Foote-men with the greatest number of Ensignes and the closest Bands and the Horse-men of the Allies were vpon the left wing and in Front those that were lightly armed They were with their Allies to the number of fourescore thousand Foote and about sixe thousand Horse Hannibal passing the Riuer at the same time sends them of Maiorque and Minâ—rque with those that were lightly armed before and passing the rest of the Army at two places hee plants himselfe before the Enemy ordring the Horse-men of Gaule and Spaine neere vnto the Riuer vpon the left wing against the Roman Horse-men After which he sets Foote-men in the midst of the Affricans who were armed to proofe and after them the Gaules and Spaniards and finally the rest of the Affricans and on the right wing he lodgeth his Numidian Horse-men When he had put his whole Army in order he placeth in the midst the Troupes of Gaules and Spaniards he ordered them in a crooked forme and a weake figure meaning that the Affricans should vndergoe the danger before them as a safegard to the Battaile The Affricans were armed in such sort as you would haue taken it for a Roman Battalion by reason of the Armes which they had gotten at Trebia and at the Lake of Perouza The Gaules and Spaniards carried the like Targets but their Swords differ'd For the Spaniards were short and therefore easie werewith they did both thrust and strike But the Gaules were long and without points It was a strange and terrible thing to see the Gaules naked aboue the waiste and the Spaniards attired in shirts of Linnen wrought with purple after the manner of their owne Countrey There were ten thousand Horse and aboue forty thousand Foote with the succours that came from Gaule Lucius Emilius led the right wing and Tarrentius Varro the left Marcus Attilius and Cneius Seruilius gouerned the Battalion in the midst And as for the Carthaginian Captaines Asdrubal led the left wing Hanno the right and Hannibal was in the middest with his Brother Mago The Romans looked towards the South and the Carthaginians to the North but neither of them were annoyed with the Sunne After they had giuen warning to battaile the encounters and skirmishes were for a time equall But when as the Gaules and Spaniards of the left wing had charged the Romans the Combate was fierce and cruell so as they did not charge and recharge but ioyning together they did fight Foote to Foote and man to man after they had left their Horses There the Carthaginians vanquished and slew most of the Romans fighting valiantly and with great courage In regard of the rest they slew them retiring neare the Riuer without any mercy or compassion And then the Foote-men receiued those that were aduantagiously armed charging one another The Spaniards and Gaules resisted the Romans valiantly for a short time but being forced they retired breaking their Lunary order Then the Roman Battalion pursuing with great courage did easily disorder the Enemies Rankes for that of the Gaules was weake as hauing fortified the hornes being in the midst of the danger Wherefore the hornes and the midst were not equall so as the midst of he Gaules Battalion aduanced farre vpon the hornes like an halfe Moone the crookednesse turning towards the Enemie Finally the Romans pursuing them marcht thorough without any resistance so as at their coÌ„ming they had vpon their Flancks the Affricans that were best armed who couering themselues with their Targets charg'd their Enemies vpon the sides thrusting with their swords So as by the prouidence of Hannibal the Romans were inclosed among the Lybians by the encounter which they had made against the Gaules They did not fight by Battalion but Man to Man or by troupes turning against those which charged them vpon the Flancks And although that Lucius Emilius who commaunded the right wing had beene in the Combat of the Horsemen Yet hee was safe and well meaning therefore that in giuing courage his deedes should bee answerable to his words
the Gods had beene by the aduice of one of them It is true that this was done contrary to the course of Arates life during the which hee neuer did any thing rashly nor without consideration whereas Demetrius did alwayes the contrary There are likewise particular presumptions thereof whereof we will speake when it shall be fit Philip then returning to out discourse parts from Therme laden with all spoiles and returnes the same way he came causing the Baggage to goe before with those that were best armed and placing the Acarnaniens in Rearward with the Mercenaries he made haste to passe the streights He feared that the Enemies relying vpon the aduantage of the place might charge him in the Reare The which was presently put in practise for that the Etoliens hauing drawne together three thousand men neuer approaching neere vnto Philip whilest hee held the high Countrey made their Ambushes in scattred places vnder the command of Alexander But when the Rearward began to march they entred into Therme charging them vpon the Taile When as the allarum was giuen the Etoliens relying much vpon the aduantage of places pursued them with great courage But Philip hauing wisely prouided for the future had left the Sclauonians in Ambush vnder a certaine Hill with many others that were armed with Targets Who seeing the pursuite of the Etoliens they marcht against him with great fury and presently slew sixe or seauen score and tooke as many the rest saued themselues by infamous and shamefull flight The Acarnanians and Mercenaries after they had gotten the victory they presently set fire on Paphia and when they had past the streights with great speed they found the Macedonians Phillip seated his Campe neere vnto Methape staying for his men And parting from thence after he had razed it he comes to a Towne called Atres Then continuing his way for three dayes together hee wasted the whole Countrey The day following he planted his Campe neere vnto Conope where he stayed the next day After which hee march't at the breake of day towards Strate where hee past the Riuer of Acheloe and lodged within a Bowes shoote of the Towne drawing the Inhabitants often to skirmish For he had beene aduertised that there were three thousand Etolien foote within it and about foure hundred Horse with fiue hundred Candiots When as no man durst come forth hee raised his Campe againe and at the first tooke his way towards the Fenns to recouer his ships But when as the Reare of his Army began to passe the Towne a number of Etolien Horse-men make a sally and charge them They were presently followed by a Troupe of Candiots and many Etoliens came to succour their Horse-men the Acarnaniens being in danger turned head against the Enemy and the Combate began betwixt them The Victory was long in suspence Finally Philip sent the Sclanonians to succour the Mercenaries Wherefore the Etoliens being vanquished fled of all sides Those which the King had sent pursued the greatest part of them to the Gates and walls of the Towne whereof there were a hundred slaine in the chase the rest durst no more shew themselues in Field By this meanes the Kings Army retired without danger to their ships After which Philip planted his Campe and gaue thankes vnto the Gods for the good fortune which he had obtained according to his desire And making a Banquet he inuited all the Captaines It seemed true that he had past by dangerous places into the which no man before him durst lead an Army But he not onely past them but did what he would and returned without losse or danger Moreouer Megalee and Leonce discontented at the Kings good fortune hauing sworne to Appelles to hinder all his enterprizes which they could not effect for that all things succeeded happily to Philip were present at this Supper sad and pensiue so as they discouered easily vnto the King and to the other assistants what their hearts were But when the Tables were taken away and they were well inflamed with their free drinking they returned to their Tents seeking for Arate Whom when they met vpon the way they vsed many iniurious speeches against him and began to assault him with stones But for that much people came of either side to succour them there grew a great mutiny in the Campe. Philip hearing the Trumpet sent men to inquire and to pacifie this tumult To whom Arate declaring the businesse as it had past and referring himselfe to the testimony of those that were present hee returned presently vnto his Tent. Leonce retired secretly out of the presse Philip causeth Megalee and Crinon to be called with whom he was much offended And when as they answered him proudly that they would neuer cease vntill they had beene reuenged of Arate The King incensed therewith condemned them presently in twelue thousand Crownes and to bee committed to Prison Three dayes after he calls for Arate and intreates him not to care promising him to giue order for all things when as opportunity shall serue Leonce aduertised of the imprisonment of Megalee came with force to the Kings Tent immagining that Philip considering his youth would alter his sentence for feare Being come before the King he demanded what man was so hardy to lay hand on Megalee and who had committed him to Prison But when as the King answered boldly that hee had done it Leonce went away amazed and in a manner sighing Philip setting sayle with his Fleete came presently to Leucade where after he had appointed men to diuide the spoile he called all his friends to iudge Megalee There Arate laied before them the outrages of Leonce the great wrongs he suffred in the time of Antigonus the Conspiracy he made with Appelles and the hinderance he gaue at Palea To all which things he produced witnesses Whereunto when Megalee nor Crinon could not answere any thing they were condemned by all the assembly Whereupon Crinon remained a Prisoner But Megalee was deliuered vpon Leonces caution This was the estate of Appelles and his Confederates whose Fortune was not such as they expected For hoping to tertifie Arate and to doe what they would with the King and by this meanes to preuaile in their wills all things succeeded contrary In the meane time Licurgus retires out of the Messeniens Countrey hauing done nothing worthy of memory Afterwards parting from Lacedemon with an Army he tooke the Towne of Elea and besieged the Fort whereinto the Cittizens were retired where after hee had stayed there some time and seeing his labour lost he returned againe to Sparta And when as the Esienses ouer ran the Countrey of the Dimenses some Horse men which were in Ambush and come to succour them put them easily to flight and slew a good number of Gaules taking Prisoners those of the Townes of Polymede of Egia Agisipolis and Diode of Dime Dorimache was gone in the beginning with an Army onely
in the Reare he pursued the rest and tooke them and their Towne At the same time Cereâ— being one of Ptolomes Commander left it By the meanes whereof Antiochus gained many other Captaines For soone after Hippolochus of Thessaly came to yeeld himselfe to him with three hundred horse And when he had put a Garrison into Aâ—tabyre he proceeded in his iourney pursuing his enterprize and in passing the Country tooke Pelle Came Gepre In the meane time the people of of Arabia agreeing together followed his party Autiochus growing into greater hope drawing victuals from them went farther into the Country and presently tooke Gallate with the Garrison of the Abillatins of whom Nicie a Kinsman and Allie to Nemne was Commander And although that Gadare which at that time seemed impregnable for its scituation held out yet hee tooke it suddainly in besieging it and setting vp his Engines And hauing newes afterwards that a good number of Enemies were drawne together into Rabatamassane a Towne of Arabia and spoyled all the Arabians Countrey which held his party he went suddainly thither with his Army and planted his Campe neere vnto the Mountaines among the which the Towne is scituated And when vpon a view he had discouered that it was not to be forced but in two places he set vp his Engines and other things necessary to force a Towne whereof he gaue the charge to Nicarchus and Theodote and in the meane time attends his other affaires These men carefull of the Battery striued with emulation who should first ouerthrow the Wall whereupon a great part fell sooner then they could imagine This done they fought continually day and night striuing to lose no time And although the Siege continued long yet they could not preuaile in regard of the multitude of men which defended it vntill that a Prisoner shewed them a little Riuer where the besieged fetch their water the which they stopt vp with Pallisadoesâ— stones and such like things Then being out of hope of water they yeelded to the Enemies By this meanes the King hauing it in his hands he gaue it in guard to Nicarchus with a sufficient strength and he sent Hippolichus and Ceree who as we haue sayd had abandoned Ptolomy into the Countrey of Samaria with fiue thousand Foote giuing them charge to continue there for the defence thereof and to preserue all the people which were vnder his obedience From thence he parts with his whole Army and comes to Ptolomais to passe the Winter there When the Pednelissenses had beene the same Summer besieged by the Selgenses and were in great danger they sent to demand succours from Acâ—eus When he had heard them willingly and promised to doe it they endured the Siege with great courage growing more resolute by the hope of succours Finally Acheus sent Gâ—rsyere with sixe thousand Foot and fiue hundred Horse giuing him charge to vse all diligence to succour the Pednelassenses The Selgenses aduertised by the Spies of his comming recouered the streights which are about a place which they call Eschelle with the greatest part of their Army and stop vp all the passages Garsyere entring by force into Myliade and planting his Campe neare â—nto a Towne called Candois he vsed this stratagem seeing that he could not passe for that the Selgenses kept all the passages He began to raise his Campe and to retire making shew that it was impossible for him to succour the Pednelissenses for that the streights of the Country were held by the Enemy The Selgenses thinking they had beene gone as men despairing to be able to succour them retired some to the Campe the rest returned to the Citty to recouer Victuals But Garsyere comes suddainiy backe to the streights whereas finding them abandoned he set men to guard them vnder the command of Captaine Phayle and from thence hee comes with his forces to Perge whereas staying some time hee sent Embassadours to Pamphilia and the other Townes to acquaint them with the insolency of the Selgenses and to solicite them to enter into league with Acheâ—s and to succour the Pednelissenses The Scâ—genses at the same time sent a Captaine with an Army hoping to chase Phayle from the streights But for that matters succeeded otherwise then they expected and lost many of their men in fighting they gaue ouer their Enterprize yet for all this they did not raise their Siege but were more attentiue then before to set vp their Engines In the meane time the Ettenenses which inhabite the Mountaines aboue Syde sent eight thousand men armed to Garsyere and the Aspendiens foure thousand The Sydetes made no shew to send any succours for that they were Friends to Antiochus and hated the Aspendiens Garsyere came to ednelisse accompanied with the Troupes of the Allies thinking at his comming to raise the Siege But when he saw that the Selgenses were nothing amazed he set himselfe downe neere vnto them The Pednelissenses were so opprest with want of Victuals as they could no longer endure the hunger wherefore Garsyere seeing it necessary to vse diligence prepared two thousand men euery one laden with a Mine of Wheat and sent them by night to the Towne The Selgenses aduertised hereof charged them presently and slew the greatest part of them and tooke all the Wheate Wherewith they grew so glorious as they not onely besieged the Towne but they attempted the Enemies Campe. It is the custome of the Selgenses to bee alwaies bold and audatious Wherefore in leauing sufficient forces in their Campe they suddainly assailed the Enemy in diuers place And when the Alarum grew hot so as the Campe was forced in some places Garsyere amazed at this great and suddaine accident and hauing no great hope hee caused the Horse-men to goe forth by a certaine place which was not guarded whom the Selgenses thinking they had fled for feare of being defeated did not pursue nor made any accompt of them These Horse-men turning a little about charged the Enemy suddainly in the Reare fighting with great fury Then Garsyeres Foot-men who seemed to wauer turned head being re-united and fell vpon the Enemy By this meanes the Selgenses being thus enuironed in the end fled The Pednelissenses taking courage hereat made a sally and beate them out of the Campe which had the guard In the chase Garsyere made a great â—laughter for there were aboue ten thousand men slaine of those which remained the Allies retired to their houses and the Selgenses to their Countrey taking their way by the Mountaines The next day Garsyere parts with his Army and makes haste to passe the Mountaines and to approach the Towne before that the Selgenses being amazed with this fresh flight should prouide for any thing Who being full of heauinesse and feare as well for the little hope they had of succours from their Allies considering the losse they had made with them amazed with this fresh misfortune were in great doubt of safety
in fighting exceeded their first station Yet the Tyrants souldiers had for a time the better considering their multitude and dexterity with their Armes and Experience The which did not happen without cause For as the multitude in Comminalties is more cheerefull in Combats in Warre then the Subiects which are Enemies to Tyrants so strange Souldiers taking pay of Monarches excell those of Common-weales And as some Subiects fight for liberty and some are in danger of seruitude some also of the Mercenaries fight for a certaine profit others for the defence of their Liues But a popular power puts not her liberty into the hands of Mercenaries after they haue defeated their Enemies Whereas a Tyrant the greater Enterprize he makes the more souldiers he hath need off For as he doth more outrages so he hath more watchers ouer his life The safety then of Monarches consists in the good affection and forces of his forreine Souldiers Wherefore then it hapned that the forreine Souldiers fought with such great Courage and Resolution as the Sclauonians and Horacites being in front of them could not indure their Charge flying all as repuls'd towards Mantinia seauen Furlongs distant Then that which some men held in doubt was made plaine and certaine It is manifest that many actions in Warre breed Experience of things so do they ignorance It is a great matter for him that hath purchased Authority in the beginning to extend it farther But it is a farre greater matter to fixe vpon him whose first attempts haue not beene successefull and to consider the indiscretion of the vnfortunate and to obserue their faults You shall oftentimes see that they which seeme to haue the better are within a short space frustrated of all in generall And againe they which at the first were beaten haue by their industry restored all the which appeared then betwixt these two Princes For when the bands of Souldiers which the Acheins had wauered and that the left wing was broken Machanides leauing his good Fortune and the Victory of those of the Wing and to assaile the others in Front and finally to attend the Victory he did nothing of all this but scattred with the Mercenaries without order like a young man he pursued the Chase as if feare had not beene able to pursue those which fled vnto the Gates The Chiefe of the Acheins imployed all his power to stay the Mercenaries with cries and perswasions calling to the rest of their Commaunders But when he saw them forcibly repuls'd he was not amazed if they turned head or despairing abandoned the place but he with-drew the Wing which charged and pursued them And when the place where the danger was was abandoned he sent presently to the first Legionaries that they should couer themselues with their Targets and in keeping order he went speedily before Being come suddainly to the place abandoned hee defeated the pursuers hauing great aduantage vpon the Enemies battailion Hee likewise perswaded the Legionaries to haue a good Courage and resolution and not to budge vntill hee gaue them order to march close in Battaile against the Enemy And as for Polybius the Megalopolitaine hauing gathered together the remainder of the Sclauonians which had turned Head with the armed men and the Strangers he enioynes him to haue a great care to keepe the Battallion in good order and to looke to those which were retired from the Chase. The Lacedemonians likewise resuming Courage and strength for that they were esteemed the most valiant charged the Enemies with their Iauelings without Commaund And as in this pursuite they were come vnto the brinke of the Ditch and had no more time to returne for that they were in the Enemies hands and that finally they forsooke and disdained the Ditch for that it had many descents and was drie and without Trees they ranne into it without any discretion As this occasion offers it selfe against the Enemy Phylopomen hauing fore-seene it long before he then Commaunded all the Legionaries to aduance with their Iauelings And when as all the Acheins with one resolution had cast themselues vpon the Enemies with horrible cries hauing formerly broken the battalion of the Lacedemonians descending into the Ditch they turne Head with great Courage against the Enemy which held the higher ground It is true that a great part was defeated aswell by the Acheins as their owne men That which I haue spoken happens not by chance but by the prouidence of the Commaunder who had suddainly made this Ditch Philopomen fled not from the Battaile as some had conceiued But considering and aduising dilligently like a good Commaunder of all things in particular that if Machanides should lead his Army thither it would happen that by ignorance of the Ditch he would fall into danger with his Battalion as it succeeded in Effect And if considering the difficulty of the Ditch hee should seeme to feare and turne Head hee should then be wonderfully frustrated of his Enterprize and Designe for that hee should haue the Victory without fight Machanides beeing defeated by a vnfortunate disaster It had happened to many which had vndertaken a Battaile that finding themselues insufficient to ioyne with the Enemy some in regard of the disaduantage of places others for the multitude and some for other causes and by this same meanes shewing and expressing themselues in their flight to bee of little Experience some hoping to be stronger vpon the Reare and others that they might escape the Enemy safely Among the which were these Commaunders But Philopomen was not deceiued in his fore-sight by whose endeauour it happened that the Lacedemonians made a speedy flight And when hee saw his Legions to vanquish hee laboured to bring that vnto an ende which remained of an absolute Victory Which was that Machanides should not escape and therefore knowing him to be at the pursuite of the Chase on that side of the Ditch which lay towards the City with his Mercenaries had not beene retired and with drawne he attends his comming But when as Machanides flying after the Chase saw his Army turne head and hearing that all hope was lost for him he laboured with his forreine Souldiers in turning head to escape thorough the Enemies dispersed and scattred in their Chase. Whereunto they likewise hauing regard stayed with him in the beginning feeding themselues with the same hope of safety But when as at their comming they saw the Acheins keepe the Bridge vpon the Ditch then all amazed they abandon him and fled euery man looking to his owne preseruation And when the Tyrant despaired of the passage of the Bridge he went directly to the Ditch and endeauours to finde a passage Philopomen knowing the Tyrant by his purple Robe and the caparrisson of his Horse leaues Polybius there and giues him charge to keepe the passage carefully not sparing any of the Mercenaries for that most commonly they fauour and support the Tyrant of Lacedemon In regard of himselfe he takes Polyene Cyparissâ—e and
and planted my Campe within forty Furlongs studying what I should doe with you and your Countrey Now I come into Affricke to thee a Roman to conferre with thee of my lafety and of that of the Carthaginians I pray thee consider this and grow not proud but courteously conferre of the present affaires that is that thou wouldst choose of good things the greatest and of bad the least What man of iudgement will make choice of the danger which is neare him if hee obserue it well For the which if thou obtainest the Victory thou shalt much increase thy glory and that of thy Countrey whereas if thou beest vanquished thou shalt vtterly lose through thine owne fault all thy pompe and magnificence and precedent commodity But to what end doe I vse these words To this that all that for the which wee haue formerly contended may remaine to the Romans as Sicily Sardinia and Spaine and that the Carthaginians in regard thereof may neuer make Warre against them The like also to be done of the other Ilands which lye betwixt Italy and Affricke and let them belong to the Romans I beleeue confidently that these accords and agreements will hereafter bring safety to the Carthaginians and to thee and the Romans great glory and honour Thus much spake Hannibal Scipio answering to these things the Romans sayd they haue not beene the Authors but the Carthaginians of the Warre which hath past for Sicily nor of that of Spaine whereof they must know that Hannibal had beene the chiefe Author and that the Gods are witnesses whom I pray to impart the vertue not to those which are the Authors of out-rages but to those that defend themselues Yet I consider what the Nature of Fortune is and with all my power haue searcht into humane affaires If before the Romans passage into Affricke and that parting out of Italy thou hadst propounded these accords I am of Opinion thou hadst not beene frustrated of thy hope But now thou hast abandoned Italy against thy will and that being in Affricke we haue held our Campe in the open Plaine it is manifest that matters are much changed Withall which is a great matter we are come hither thy Citizens being partly vanquished and suing for a peace we haue past in writing the accords that were sworne in the which besides that which thou now propoundest these Articles were comprehended that the Carthaginians should haue no couered vessels that they should pay three Millions of Gold restore the Captiues without Ransome and giue hostages These were the accords which past betwixt vs for the which wee and they came to the Senate and to our people Wee haue protested that that these accords thus reduced to Writing seemed good vnto vs The Carthaginians intreated that they might enioy the said agreements The Senate obeyed and the people in like manner gaue their consent thereunto The Carthaginians after they had obtained what they had demanded haue transgressed and broken the accords What remaines now to be done Be thou in my place and iudge Shall wee take the grieuances out of the conditions to the end you may suffer no punishments for the transgression and that you may be taught hereafter to preuaricare against your benefactors Or else hauing obtained that which you demaund you should not be bound vnto vs But what When thy people now in suing had obtained their request they presently intreated vs as Enemies after they had conceiued some little hope of thee If the burthens had beene too heauy they might haue required an abatement from the people and if they had remitted any Articles of the accord the Senate doubtlesse would haue made no long delay But to what end tend our words Submit your selues and your Country to our protection or vanquish fighting Hannibal and Scipio hauing discoursed after this manner being of contrary opinions retire The day following at Sunne-rising they put their Armies into Battaile whereof the Carthaginians were to fight for their safety and for Affricke and the Romans for the vniuersall Empire What is hee who considering these things can without compassion heare the relation No man shall euer finde more warlike Armies nor more fortunate Commanders nor more excellent Wrestlers in the Stratagems of Warre nor greater rewards propounded vnto them by Fortune For they which should obtaine the Victory should not onely bee Lords of Affricke and Asia but also of all the other parts of the World which are at this time mentioned in Histories the which soone after succeeded Scipio put his Army in Battaile after this manner First he ordred those that were lightly armed by certaine spaces after whom he placed the Bands of the Principals and not according to the spaces of the first Ensignes as the Romans had beene accustomed but distant one from another in regard of the multitude of the Enemies Elephants and vpon the Reare hee appoints the Triarij As for the Wings hee gaue charge of the left to Caius Lelyus with the Italian Horse-men and the right to Massanissa with all the Numidians that were vnder his charge Finally hee fill'd the spaces of the first Ensignes with forked Iauelings to whom he commanded to begin the Skirmish and if they were repuls'd and forc'd to giue backe by the violence of the Elephants that they which should bee separated should retire by the straight spaces to the Reare of the Army and they which should be enuironed should retire to the Ensignes by the crosse spaces These things being thus ordred he makes an Oration in few words to his Army and yet proper for the euent of the affaires He intreats them to remember their precedent Battailes and to behaue themselues like braue men worthy of the Roman Name setting before their eyes that hauing the Victory they should not onely be Lords of all Affricke but moreouer they should purchase the Empire and gouernment of the rest of the World If the fortune of the Warre succeeded otherwise thee which dyed fighting valiantly should haue an honourable graue hauing died for their Countrey whereas they that should turne head should liue the remainder of their daies in great ignominy and misery for there is no place in Africke that can shelter them in theire flight finally if they fall into the Carthaginians hands they which haue any iudgement vnderstand well what the euent will bee and God forbid that any of you should make triall of it when as fortune propounds vnto vs great rewards of euery side shall wee not bee the most simple Idiotts in the world if when of good things they present the best vnto vs wee choose with a desire of life the worst of bad wherefore in propounding these two either to vanquish or dye hee incourageth them to match against the enemy for being in this humour they must with a dispaire of life alwayes vanquish their enemies in making head Scipio inflamed the hearts of his Souldiers after this manner In regard of Hannibal hee
neither could they gouerne nor turne her In the meane time two Quinqueremes charge her and bruising her in two places sinke her with the Souldiers Among the which was Democrites Captaine Generall at Sea for Philip. At the same instant Dionysodorus and Dynocrates brethren who were Commanders of the Army vnder Attalus giuing a charge found themselues in great danger in the fight So as Dynocrates gaue charge to a Vessel with seuen Oares and Dionisodorus to one of eight Dynocrates was broken aboue water and that of the Enemy vnder the water yet he could not free himselfe from them although hee had often attempted it in sawing Wherefore when as the Macedonians defended themselues valiantly he was in danger to be taken But for that Attalus came to succour him charging the Enemy and parting the two ships which were grapled Dynocrates saued himselfe by good fortune In regard of the Enemies they were all slaine fighting valiantly so as the Vessell being destitute of Souldiers was taken by Attalus And when as Dionisodorus sayl'd with great swiftnesse to fight hee could not ouertake any and passing through the Enemies he had the Pallisadoe on the right side disarmed and the Beames broken which carried the Tower This happening he was inuested round by the Enemy with great noise and cries All the Marriners perisht with the Ship and Dionisodorus swum away with two others vnto a Galliot which came to succour him In regard of the other Vessels the danger was equall For as the number of Philips Foists was greater so was that of Attalus in couer'd Vessels Finally the Combat was so carried vpon Philips right Wing as the Victory inclined to neither It is true that Attalus was in better hope for the future The Rhodiens in the beginning of the party separated themselues from the Enemies who hauing a great aduantage by the lightnesse of their Vessels fought against the Macedonians making the Reare-ward And when in the beginning they fell to flight they carried away all their defences charging them behinde and in poope But when as Philips Vessels began to turne head altogether giuing aide to those which were in danger and that the Reare of the Rhodiens were ioyned to Theophiliscus then they charged with great fury encouraging one another with great shouts and Trumpets And if the Macedonians had not mingled their Foists among their couered Vessels the Battaile had beene soone decided for they tooke from the Rhodien ships all commodity in diuers sorts For that when as by either side the order was broke they were all mingled Wherefore they could not easily enlarge themselues nor turne their Vessels nor assist themselues with those meanes whereof they were best prouided for that the Foists did continually charge them sometimes falling vpon the Pâ—llisadoe so as they could make no vse of their Rowers and sometimes vpon the prow and poope to depriue them of their Pylot and Oares And when as they fought in a direct line they inuented a stratagem for abating the prowes they made their charge fruitlesse breaking the Enemies Vessels vnder water To preuent the which they could finde no remedy It is true this happens seldome for that all auoided the encounter for that the Macedonians fought valiantly hand to hand and most commonly in passing they razed the Pallisadoe making it vnprofitable Then suddainly casting about they assailed those that were in poope and likewise giuing charge to those which shewed themselues vpon the flankes or which turned aside they brake some and tooke the Equipage from others so as fighting after this manner they had sunke diuers of the Enemies Vessels There were three excellent Quinqueremes of the Rhodiens in danger whereof the Admirall was one in the which Theophiliscus commanded Then that whereof Philostrates was Captaine and the the third was gouerned by Antolice in the which Nycostrates remained It hapned that shee gaue a charge to one of the Enemies Vessels where she left her spurre so as it sunke with the Souldiers And Antolice's Company being inuested for that they tooke water at the prowe defended themselues valiantly But Antolice being wounded fell into the Sea with his Armes and died the rest fighting with great courage At what time Theophiliscus comming to succour them with three Quinqueremes he could not saue the ship being full of water After that he had broken two of the Enemies Vessels and cast the Souldiers into the Sea hee lost the greatest part of his men fighting resolutely for that he was suddainly inuested by many fregats and couerd Vessels It was hardly in his power to saue his ship being wounded in three places for that hee had aduentured himselfe too boldly But Philostrates came to succour him vndertaking the apparent danger with great courage But when hee was ioyned vnto these Vessels he rechargeth the Enemy furiously againe where he was seene weake of body by reason of his wounds but much more excellent and constant in courage then before It happened that there were two Combats at Sea very farre one from another For Philips right Wing coasting still along the shore neuer abandoned the Coast of Asia but the left Wing succouring the Reare-ward had fought with the Rhodiens for that they were not farre from Chios When as Attalus seemed to haue gloriously Vanquished Philips right Wing and that hee approached neere vnto the Iland where he Anchored expecting the end and conclusion of the Battaile he perceiued one of his Quinqueremes in danger to be sunke by a shippe of the Enemles and made hast to succour it with two other of his Quinqueremes When as the Enemies shippes turned away to recouer Land the more hee prest desiring to take it The which Philip perceiuing that Attalus strayed too boldly and aduenturously from his Company hee made hast being accompanied with foure Quinqueremes three Gallâ—otts and the neerest Frigats hoping hee should be able to take it as it fortunately happened forcing him to get vnto the neerest shore in great distresse Then leauing his Vessell there hee fled on foote with the Sea men to saue himselfe in Erythee Wherefore Philip recouered the shâ—p and the Kings plate They which were with Attalus in this great danger bethought themselues of a pollicy in Warre and set the richest of the Kings plate vpon the Hatches Wherefore the first of the Macedonians approaching with their Frigats and seeing great store of plate with a purple Robe and other rich furniture lying there they gaue ouer the pursuite and attended the spoile so as Attalus retired vnto the Port of Erythree without any disturbance And although that Philip were absolutely the weaker in this Battaile at Sea yet he returned very ambitious and proud through Attalus mis-fortune making great haste to come vnto his Company Where after he had drawne and gathered together all his Vessells he perswaded them to be of good Courage and Resolution seeing hee had wonne the Battaile And in trueth such was the opinion of men as if Attalus had
sends those which were vnder the charge of Archidamus and of the Eupolemus and two Tribunes with fiue hundred Horse and two thousand Foote At whose comming they which in the beginning did but skirmish resuming courage presently put on another kind of Combate The Romans relying vpon their Succours double their forces for the fight And although the Macedonians defended themselues brauely yet they sent vnto the King being prest and annoyed by their Armes and for their refuge recouered the tops of the Mountaines And when as Philip had no hope but that they should be able that day to giue Battaile with all their Forces for the fore-sayd Causes hee had sent many of his men to forrage But when he was aduertised of that which happened by those which hee had sent and that the mist was past hee sent Heraclides the Gyrtonien Chiefe of the Thessalian Horse and Leon Commander of the Macedonian Cauallery Hee likewise sent Athenagórus with all the Mercenaries exept the Thracians Who being come to the Ambush and the Macedonians much re-inforced they made head against the Enemy and repuls'd the Romans from the Hills The Dexterity of the Etolien Horse did much hinder the Enemies from turning head They fought in truth with great courage and confidence The Etoliens in regard of the Foote-men are faint both in their Armes and Ordonance for a Combat in Field But their Horse-men are excellent aboue all the other Grecians in particular and separated Combats Wherefore it happened that for that they had stayed the violence and fury of the Enemy they could not so soone recouer the Plaine but stayed for a time in Battaile But when as Titus saw not onely the most valiant and his Horse-men retire but also his whole Troupes to bee dismayed hee drawes his whole Army to Field and puts them in order vpon the Hills At the same instant they which were in Guard ran hastily one after another to Philip crying out vnto him Sir the Enemies flye lose not this occasion The Barbarians seeke vs not This day is yours imbrace the time and by this meanes they â—nâ—ire and stirre vp Philip to Battaile although the scituation of the place did not content and please him For the sayd Hills which they call Dogs-head are rough difficult of all sides and high Wherefore when as Philip had formerly fore-seene the vnequalnesse of the places hee had not in the beginning made any preparation vnto Battaile But beeing then prouoked by the great confidence of the aduertisements hee drawes his Army with all speede out of the Fort. In regard of Titus hee orders his Troupes and Bands for the Battaile and followes them close which began the Skirmish making remonstrances vnto the Battalions as hee turned His Speech was short plaine and intelligible to the Hearers Propounding then the cause hee sayd vnto his Souldiers Are not these O Companions the same Macedonians who formerly holding in Macedony the top of the Mountaines towards Heordia you haue forced with Sulpicius and chased from thence with the defeate of the greatest part of them Are not these the same Macedonians who being seazed vpon the difficult places of Epirus and leauing no hope of approach you haue chased by your prowesse and forced to flye into Macedony abandoning their Armes What reason is there then that you should feare the same men with whom you are to enter into an equall Combate To what end doe we propound vnto you precedent actions to consider on but that in regard of them you should fight more confidently Wherefore Companions attend the Battaile with resolution giuing courage one to another I hold for certaine that with the good pleasure of the Gods the end of this Battaile will soone bee the conclusion of the precedent When Titus had vsed these Speeches hee commands the right Wing of his Army not to budge setting the Elephants before them And assailes the Enemy with great courage with the left Wing being accompanied by the most valiant They which among the Romans had began the Fight shewing their courage prest the Enemies hauing beene relieued by some Troupes of Foot-men And when as at the same time Philip saw that the greatest part of his Army was in order of Battaile before the Pallisadoe hee marcheth taking the Targetteers and the Battalion of the right Wing and ascends the Hills with speede giuing charge to Nicanor whom hee called Elephant to command the rest of the Army to follow close As soone as the first had recouered the top hee defends the Battalion setting the Targets before and seazed vpon the higher Countrey And when as the Macedonians prest the Romans much vpon the two flankes of the Hills he discouered the tops to bee abandoned As he fortified the right Wing of his Army it happened that the Souldiers were much annoyed by the Enemy For when they they which were best armed were ioyned vnto the most valiant of the Romans and succoured them in this fight they prest the Enemies much and flew many As the King was there in the beginning and saw the Combat of the valiant men not to be farre from the Campe hee reioyced againe when hee saw them decline and to haue neede of Succours hee was forced to send them and at that instant to hazard a Battaile although that many of the Troupes of his Army were yet vpon the way and approached to the Hills And in taking the Souldiers hee rankes them all as well on foote as Horsebacke on the right Wing commanding the beares of Burtheâ—s and the Battalions to double the Front of their Rankes and to stand close vpon the right hand This being done when as the Enemies ioyned with them hee commanded the Battalion that bending downe their Iauelings they should match in order and mingle with the strongest At the same instant when as Titus had retired those which had bagunne the Fight to the spaces which were betwixt the Ensignes he chargeth the Enemy The Combat beginning on eyther side with great fury and clamour all crying together yet those which were without the fight crying vnto the rest the Battaile was made very horrible and cruell and it shewed the force of the Combat Philips right Wing carryed it selfe valiantly in this Battaile charging the Enemy from aboue hauing an aduantage in their order which finally for the present fight was much more commodions in regard of the diuersity and seuerall sorts of Armes In regard of the rest of the Army some were ioyned vnto the Enemy fighting a farre off others shewed themselues vpon the left hand hauing gotten the toppes of the Hils When as Tytus saw and did well perceiue that his men could not indure the force of the Enemies battallion and those of the right wing to be repuls'd and some seaine and others to retire by degrees and that all his hope of safety consisted in the right Wing hee goes speedily vnto them and considers the Enemies order When hee saw some succeed in their places
which had fought and others to descend from the Hils and some to stay vpon the tops he marcheth against the Enemy with his Ensignes putting the Elephants before And when as the Macedonians had no â—duertisement by Trumpets and Clarons and that they could not make it good nor receiue any true order of a battallion aswell for the difficulty of the place as for that the Combattants had the forme of goers and not of an order of Battaile and that there was no further meanes to fight single or hand to hand with the Romans Being also terrified and much iniured with the Elephants and likewise separated one from another they marcht presently away Wherefore many Romans pursued them continually and slew them One of the Captaines Milleneirs being of this Troupe hauing but twenty Ensignes considering at the very instant what was to be done did great seruice for the obtaining of an absolute Victory For when he saw those that accompanied Philip assailed the others often and grieuously to annoy the left Wing hee turnes to them that were in distresse leauing those which vanquished on the right Wing and charged the Macedonians in the Reare When as they of the Battallion could not make resistance fighting man to man this other was at their backes killing those they incountred there beeing no man that could succour them so as in the end they were forced to turne head and to abandon their Armes Although that Philip as wee haue sayd in the beginning had a great hope in the Victory making a coniecture in his owne conceite yet seeing the Macedonians to abandon and leaue their Armes suddainly and the Enemies to charge in the Reare hee parts speedily from the Battaile with some Horse and Foote to consider fully of the Combate When as he imagined that the Romans by their pursuite would approach to the right Wing on the tops of the Hills hee seekes to draw together as many Thaesiens and Macâ—donians as possibly hee could When as Tytus pursued the Chase and had discouered the left Wing of the Macedonians to assâ—ile the toppes of the Hills hee stayed For that the Enemies held their Iauelings right vp The which the Macedonians are accustomed to do when they yeild or retire from the Enemy When hee had knowne the cause of this accident hee restraines his men being willing to pardon those that were amazed with feare But whilst that Tytus considered of these things some of the fore most Charge them from aboue and kill many few escaped abandoning their Armes This Battaile being thus ended of all sides and the Romans hauing the victory Philip retires towards Tempe and comming the first day to the Tower of Alexander hee past the Night there The day following passing to Gonnes hee entred Tempe staying there for those which should escape in the flight When as the Romans had pursued the Chase for a time some strip the dead others draw the Prisoners together and a great part goe to force the Enemies Campe. There they finde the Etoliens who had forced it before for spoile and imagining that they were frustrated of a booty which was due and did belong vnto them they beganne to accuse the Etoliens before the Generall and to complaine that hee had imposed the danger and the burthen of the Battaile vpon them giuing the profite and benefit vnto others yet being returned vnto their Campe they were somewhat pacified The day following they assemble and gather together the Prisoners and the rest of the spoile and booty and from thence they tooke their course towards Larissa There dyed in this battaile about seauen hundred Romans and neerâ— vpon eight thousand Macedonians the Prisoners were not lesse then fiue Thousand Besides many that escaped by flight Thus ended this Battaile giuen betwixt Philip and the Romans in Thessaly at the Dogshead Of the difference of the Roman and Macedonian Armes I Had promised in the sixt Booke to make a Comparison of the Roman and Macedonian Armes and of the ordring of their Battailes and wherein they differ eyther worse or better Now I will indeauour to performe my promise As in former times the Macedonian Armies haue giuen good proofes of their Valour hauing Vanquished the Asiatiques and Grecians and that the Romans haue surmounted the Affricans as much as all the Westerne Nations of Europe and that in our time the conferrence of these Armies and men is to be made not for once but for many times it will be commodious and profitable to seeke out their difference and for what reason the Romans vanquish hauing alwayes the vpper hand in Martiall Combats To the end that acknowledging it from Fortune wee should with reason call them happy Victors as the ignorant vsually do But knowing the true cause wee should commend and holde these Captaines for miracnlous In regard of the Battailes giuen betwixt Hannibal and the Romans and their losse it is not needfull to vse any long Discourse The Romans without doubt did not suffer those losses for want of Armes and the order of their Battailes but in regard of the good direction and pollicy of Hannibal We declared this when we related the Battailes themselues The end of the Warre confirmes our opinion For when as the Romans had found a Commaunder like vnto Hannibal they suddainely were Victors So doth this that when as Hannibal had Vanquished the Romans first he furnished the common Souldiers better with the Roman Armes reiecting their owne Hauing vsurped them in the beginning he afterwards made continuall vse of them Pyrrhus in like manner did not onely vse the Italians Armes but also their ordering of Armies when as by change he sets in the head of the Romans an Ensigne and Band of the Battallion Yet hee could not ouer-come nor vanquish by this meanes the end of the Combate beeing alwaies doubt to the one and the other It shal be therefore necessary and conuenient to Treaâ—e thereof first to the end that nothing may seeme any way contrary vnto our opinion but I will beginne our conferrence It is an cafie thing to know by many instructions that if a Battalion obserues its proper order and forces so nothing can annoy it nor withstand it for as an armed man hath three foote in his posture in a close Combate and that the length of his Pike from one end to the other is of foure and twenty foote and at the least of one and twenty And that for the space of his hands with the end which remaines for to shake it they abate sixe foote during the Combate it is apparent that a Pike shall haue fifteene foote in length besides the body of euery man that is armed when with both hands hee presents it and chargeth the Enemy Whereby it commonly happens that the other Pikes passe three foote before the second third and fourth rancke of the precedent The others before the fifth if the Battallions be fitly ioyned and close according vnto the order of