lyes mid way betwixt vs and our lodging all that is behind vs is the enemies wherefore there is no better safetie than to trust to our owne vertues He then caused his companies which were gone to skirmish to retyre as if they would haue fled that he might draw forth the enemie as hee did for the Spaniards thinking that the Romanes had retyred for feare left their campe and came out armed filling the place betwixt their trenches and the Romanes armie and there put themselues confusedly and hastily into battaile but the Consull gaue them no leisure but caused certaine troupes of horsemen to aduance who came and charged these Barbarians thus disordered but the Romanes on the right hand were presently repulsed and retyring in hast had almost put the footmen in rout The Consull perceiuing this he presently sent two bands of foot who passing along the enemies right flanke presented themselues behind before the battaillons of foot came to joyne the which did so amaze the enemies as the partie which before was doubtfull for the Romans by reason of the disorder of their horse was now almost equall yet both the horse and foot on the right wing were so troubled as the Consull could hardly make them stand firme yea he was forced to take some by the hands to turne them against the enemie Whilest they did fight with their darts a farre off the encounter was doubtfull yea the Romanes wauering on the right wing could hardly be kept in order On the left wing and in front the Spaniards were sorely prest and besides they feared those companies which came in the rere to charge them but when they were approched and so joyned as no blow fell in vaine and that there remained no hope but in their resolutions and valours being come to the sword and that Cato had refreshed his tyred men with new troupes The Spaniards defeated by Cato which charged the enemie like lightening then were they forced and put to rout so as they did what they could to saue themselues in their campe Then Cato galloping to the second Legion which he had reserued for succours he caused them to aduaunce speedily towards the enemies campe to force it but with such order as if any one aduaunced too fast or went out of his ranke he beat him into his order with a jaueline which he carried commaunding the colonels and captaines to doe the like Now did the Roman armie giue an assault vnto the enemies rampiers palisadoes who defended themselues valiantly repulsing their enemies with stones staues and other arms where a new Legion arriuing the combat was more furious both parties growing more couragious the one through hope the other through despaire The Consull riding about the campe obserued what part was worst manned or weakliest defended and finding that the gate on the left hand was but ill furnished with men he sent some of the formost rankes of the second Legion thither and such as carried long staues who forced the gard which was at this gate and entred into the campe The Spaniards seeing the enemies within their trenches leaue their armes and ensignes flye out of their ports and cast themselues ouer their rampiers euery man seeking to saue himselfe and one hindering another with hast so as there was a great slaughter of them that fled A great slaughter of Spaniards and their baggage was all taken Some hold that there died in this battaile fortie thousand Spaniards There are three commendable things noted in Cato in this action First to take all hope of safetie from his souldiors but by their armes and vertue he had led them far from their campe and ships betwixt the enemies campe and his countrey Secondly that he did send two companies behind the enemies armie whilest that he charged them in front and for the third that he had reserued the second Legion behind the rest and led them in good order to assayle the enemies campe whilest that all the other troupes were disbanded and busie in fight After this great victorie he gaue his souldiors no great rest for being a little refreshed in their campe he led them to spoyle the enemies countrey the which they did ouerrun at their pleasures for that they were all fled This was the cause which made the Spaniards of Empuria to yeeld and many other people thereabouts There were many inhabitants of other Cities and Communalties fled to Empuria whom Cato caused to come before him and courteously entreated them commaunding to giue them meat and drinke and then he sent them home to their houses Soone after he marched with his armie towards Tarracone and in all places where he passed he met with the embassadours of townes which yeelded vnto him so as all Spaine on this side Ebro was reduced vnder the obedience of the people of Rome before he came to Tarracone and from all places there were presented vnto him and freely giuen an infinite number of prisoners Romanes Latines and other allies which had beene taken by diuers accidents The bruite was That hee would lead his armie into Turditane which is the furthest part of Spaine towards the strait and some sayd That he would passe vnto the mountaines and places vnknowne The Spaniards alwaies apt to rebell Vpon this false bruit there were seuen strong places in the countrey of the Bargistanes which rebelled whom hee subdued without any great toyle or memorable combate but soone after the Consull being returned to Tarracone Catos seueritie in the Spaniards relapse they rebelled againe so as hee leading his armie thither againe subdued them but they escaped not so good cheape as at the first for he caused them all to be sold for slaues by the drumme to the end they should trouble the peace no more In the meane time the Pretor P. Manlius hauing receiued the armie from his predecessour Qu. Minutius and being joyned with that which Appius Claudius Nero had in the farther Spaine all old bands he marched into the countrey of Turditania the which is Andalousia and the countrey adjoyning The Turditanians were esteemed the worst warriours among all the people of Spaine yet trusting in their multitudes they came to encounter the Romans when the Romane horsemen disordered them at the first charge then the Legions arriuing they put them wholly to rout But the war was not thus ended for the Turditanians did entertaine in pay ten thousand Celtiberians and continued to make warre with these mercinaries The Consull being incensed at the double rebellion of the Bargistanes vsed his naturall rigor and seueritie against all the Spaniards which dwelt on this side the riuer of Ebro for he disarmed them all thinking that if they were armed they would vpon any occasion fall into rebellion This was taken so disdainefully by these people as many grew furiously mad and slew themselues The Spaniards esteemed not the life which passed without armes A nation in truth fierce and warlike who esteemed not
Asdrubal sonne to Gisgo by Mago being both joyned together They were distant from the Romanes some fiue dayes journey But that which Asdrubal sonne to Amilcar the auntient Gouernour of Spaine led was neerer being lodged neere vnto Anitorge The Generall of the Roman armie would first giue him a charge hoping to defeat him easily One onely difficultie troubled them which was how they should hinder the other two armies after the defeat of this Asdrubal from retiring into some place of aduantage among the mountaines and forests The two Scipioes attempting too much ruine themselues and by that meanes should draw the warre in length Hauing then a conceit to make warre against all Spaine at one instant they resolued to diuide their forces betwixt them so as P. Scipio with two third parts of the Romane armie and the bands of their allies should goe and affront Asdrubal sonne to Gisgo and Mago and that Cneus Scipio should lead the rest of the old legions and the allies against Asdrubal Barcin This being concluded these two armies with their commaunders parted at one instant the Celtiberians marching before came and encamped neere vnto Anitorge in view of the enemie being seperated the one from the other by a riuer There did Cneus Scipio stay with his troupes and P. Scipio marched on where he was to make warre But when as Asdrubal saw them diuided and one farre from the other being a wise and politique captaine considering that the sinewes and strength of the Romane armie consisted of their allies and in mercinarie souldiours and knowing the treacherous and inconstant disposition of the barbarous euen of the Spaniards in those times by the experience he had had in that long warre hee resolued to trie all means possible to corrupt the Celtiberians which were vnder the Romans pay being 30000 the which he did happily effect by the meanes of some of the same nation which were in his camp who vsing the same language and hauing means to haue secret conferences one with another The mercinarie Spaniards make no account to abandon the Romans at need they concluded with the captaines of the Celtiberians that for a good summe of money they should retire with their men and returne to their houses It seemed a matter of small moment to them for they were not prest to turne their armes against the Romanes but onely to retire and not to make warre besides most of the souldiors were glad to rest and desired to see their kinsfolkes and friends goods and possessions Wherefore it was easie for the captains who were corrupted to persuade them to dislodge being without feare to be staied or forced by the Romanes who were but few in number Let this be an example to all estates that make warre The force of an armie ought to be of naturall subiects and not of strangers neuer to fortifie themselues so with mercinaries and strangers as they may prescribe them a law but let their greatest strength be of their own nation These Celtiberians then hauing taken vp their ensignes and trust vp their baggage departed suddenly neither could any intreatie nor prayers preuaile to stay them pretending that they had warre at home The infidelitie of the Celtiberians and that they must goe and defend their owne houses Cncus Scipio seeing himselfe thus abandoned and not able to preuent it neither by intreatie force nor any good counsell finding himselfe too weake to hold the field against so great and mightie an armie hauing also no meanes to joyne with his brother P. Scipio he meant to trie if he might retire safely and with his honour and flie all occasions to be forced to fight But Asdrubal holding him vanquished would giue him no rest but followed him continually at the heeles The like terrour Two Roman armies in pâ—ey to the enemie but a farre greater daunger did at the same time presse P. Scipio being freshly charged by a new and a valiant enemie it was Masinissa a young prince then allied to the Carthaginians who afterwards was famous and made mightie by the amitie of the Romanes Masinissa a fierce aduersarie to the Romans P. Scipio at his first arriuall found him in front with goodly troupes of Numidian horsemen comming continually day and night to his trenches keeping his armie in perpetuall alarme so as not any one durst goe farre out either for forrage or for wood dislodging their sentinels oftentimes and pursuing them euen within their gards and to the ports and rampars of their campe whereas the Romanes were shut vp as if they had beene besieged and in want of all things wherewith they were likely to be daily more and more opprest if a Spaniard called Indibilis should come and joyne with the Carthaginians where he was expected with seuen thousand and fiue hundred Suessetanians For so graue and wise a commander as P. Scipio was he tooke a bad and rash resolution for hauing left his campe to the gard of a few men vnder the commaund of T. Fonteius his lieutenant hee parted about midnight to goe and encounter Indibilis and to fight with him the which he did and had easily defeated him if the Moores and Numidian horsemen who had watched Scipioes departure had not come and charged the Romanes in flanke the which caused a great terrour among them and besides they were charged in the rereward with all the Carthaginian armie which had followed them Being thus enuironed of all sides doubtfull where they should make head or which way they should force through the enemies and escape that daunger their Generall P. Scipio fighting and encouraging the souldiors and going to all places where his presence was needfull P. Scipio slaine and the Romans defeated was thrust through the right flanke with a launce so as he fell downe dead from his horse Then the enemies which had charged that troupe which was about Scipioes person seeing him on the ground went running throughout the armie leaping for joy and crying out that the enemies Generall was slaine This accident gaue the Carthaginians an assured victorie the Romans being destitute of a head thinking onely how they should flie and saue themselues It was easie for them to make way through the Numidians who were but lightly armed but to saue themselues by flying against so many horsemen and footmen who did run in a manner as swift as horses there was no meanes so as the slaughter of the Romans was very great both in the fight and in the flight and hardly had any one escaped if the darkenesse of the night had not fauoured them The victorious Carthaginians pursue the victorie The happinesse of so great and important a victorie of the Carthaginians was no whit impaired by the negligence of their captaines but making good vse thereof presently after the conflict hauing giuen some little rest vnto their souldiours the armie dislodged and marched with all speed to Asdrubal Barcins campe being assured that all their
with the whole armie hauing against the expectation both of his own soldiors and of the enemie set the Romans vpon either wing and the troupes of their allies in the midst Asdrubal moued at the noyse which his horsemen made goes out of his tent and seeing the tumult which was before the trenches and palisadoes of his campe the smal assurance of his soldiors the enemies colours glistering a far off and all the fields couered with their troups he presently sends forth his horsemen against the Roman horse and he himselfe hauing put his footmen in battell goes out of his campe without changing any thing of his former order The horsmens encounter continued long without any aduantage for whē as any one was forced to giue back the which was ordinarie on either side they had a safe retreat to their squadrons of foot but after that the bodies of both armies were neere one vnto another Scipio giuing a signe caused his horse to retire opening the ranks of foot receiued them within the battell then he placed them in two squadrons behind the points of it to reenforce and support his foot and when he saw it was time to charge he commanded the battaillon in the middest which were all Spaniards to march softly he himselfe leading the right point had giuen charge to Syllanus and Martius who had charge on the other side that as they should see him aduance The Romanes and the Carthaginians ioyne in battaile they should doe the like and begin the battaile with the enemy with the most resolute of their horse and foot before the two squadrons in the middest should come to joyne Wherefore stretching forth in this manner both the wings either of them with three companies of foot and as many horse and some forlorne hopes lightly armed went with all speed to affront the enemie whilest the others followed Betwixt both wings there was a void place for that the Spaniards marched more slowly and they had alreadie begun the charge on either side when as the chiefe strength of the enemie which consisted in the Carthaginians and old African souldiors was yet a crosse-bow shot of and durst not turne towards the wings to succour their companions least they should leaue the battaile naked and open to the enemie who came against them The horsemen and Romane souldiours did wonderfully gall the enemies wings vpon the flankes the companies of foot which made the point prest them in front and sought to cut off the wings from the rest of the battaile and euen now the partie was not equall in any part for besides that the points of the Carthaginians armie were furnished with horse-boyes and Spaniards newly leuied Scipioes policie deceiues Asdrubal who had to deale with Romanes and braue Latine souldiors the day being far spent Asdrubals armie grew weake for that they had beene surprised by the alarme in the morning and were forced to put themselues in battaile without feeding the which Scipio had done of purpose and to that end had delayed the fight for many houres beginning it as late as he could It was past noone before the foot companies which were in the wings began to charge and much later before the battaillons in the middest did joyne so as before that all their forces came to fight the heat of the Sunne the toyle being so long on foot laden with armes hunger and thirst had so tyred the Carthaginians and young Africanes as they were forced to support themselues vpon their targuets they were so faint Besides the Elephants terrified with the furious combate which was vpon either wing had run through their middle battaillon Wherefore the Carthaginians tyred in bodie and fainting in courage began to recoyle but without disorder euen as if they had retyred by their Generals commaund But the victorious Romanes charging them with great resolution on all sides when as they found them to shrinke notwithstanding all the persuasions of Asdrubal to keepe their rankes vnto the next hils where they had a safe retreat being not able to withstand the enemies force they all turned their backes and fled feare being of more force than shame Feare is of more force than shame Being come vnto the foot of those hils they would haue stayed their ensignes and rallied themselues to make head against the Romanes who had made a stand to put themselues in order to assayle them but when they saw they were eagrely pursued they fled into the fortification of their campe with great amazement being chased so neere by the Romanes as they had almost entred pell-mell with them There fell so great a shower after the heat of the Sunne as they which pursued were forced to stand still and to retyre with great toyle vnto their campe yea there were some which did superstitiously beleeue That it was not good to proceed any farther that day Although the night and the raine did inuite the Carthaginians who were tyred and wounded to take some rest yet feare and danger made them to fortifie their campe with all expedition which they presumed would be assayled by the enemie at the breake of day and seeing they could not conquer by armes they raysed their rampiers with stones gathered out of the neere vallies Hereupon they did see themselues abandoned by their allies Trecherie of the Spaniards to the Carthaginians their allies wherefore they thought it best to be gone holding flight more safe for them than anyforce The beginning of the Spaniards reuolt was by Atanes Lord of the Turditanes who passed vnto the Romans campe with great troupes of his subjects and soone after two forts of importance were yeelded vnto the Romanes by such as had them in gard Asdrubal fearing this mischiefe would grow greater trussed vp his baggage and dislodged Scipio being aduertised in the morning that the enemie was gone sent his horsemen after them and then marched after with the Legions and the rest of the armie with all speed who if they had followed them the rightway they had soone ouertaken them but they trusted to their guides who assured them of another way which conducted them to the riuer of Betis where they might cut off their passage Asdrubal hearing that way was stopped was once in mind to haue retired towards the Ocean but his souldiours obseruing no kind of discipline marched like men that fled so as they got some ground of the Romane Legions yet the horsemen and souldiors which were lightly armed pursued them still and did not abandon them but charging them sometimes in the rere and sometimes in the flanke did stay them and force them to fight vntill the Legions arriued then was there no more any combat but a slaughter as of sheepe vntill that their Generall the author of their flight saued himselfe with about seuen thousand men most without armes the rest were in a manner all slaine or taken The Carthaginians which escaped with their captaine An absolute defeat of the
the rereward and on their flankes they had other troupes of horse And for that they were in some doubt of the French which were at Tiuoli they sent some troupes of horse and foot on the right hand to stay the enemie if they should haue any notice of their enterprise Hee then sent aboue three hundred before with ladders and other instruments to climbe vp and to breake open gates if need were that being brought by some neere way neere vnto Port Maior they might giue a sudden assault and being seconded by some horse which were neere them they might enter the Citie and keepe a port vntill that the rest of the armie arriued The order was that they should present themselues vnto the wall about the seuenth houre of the night but there falling a small continuall raine the waies were so broken as being constrained to take a longer course it was breake of day before they arriued so as being discouered by some of the Countrimen they aduertised them of the citie which made them retyre speedily leauing their ladders against the walles and many cloakes wherewith they had couered themselues from the raine yea and some armes but the slackenesse of the enemie in the pursute was the cause that there were not aboue fiue and twentie or thirtie taken Cardinall Caraffy had intelligence by the Secretary Placidi when he came from the viceroy that the armie began to rise whereupon hee doubted they would assaile Rome or Tiuoli and take the French vnprouided so as hee gaue them warning ouer night and hee himselfe not making it knowne to the Romanes in whom he had no great confidence wachâ— all night with the duke and was in armes doubling the sentinels wheras they most doubted the enemie Ascanio de la Corne who commanded the horse that went to second the 300 foot seeing the lights about the wall and the gards in a readines held the enterprise to be discouered And to confirme this opinion foure light horsemen went forth earelie to get some bootie they thinking by reason of the darkenesse of the night the number to be greater and that they had laied an ambush whereupon they retired The duke of Alba comming neere vnto Rome and seeing his men had not done any thing thought that they stood readie within to receiue them And for that he vnderstood by certaine spies that Strossy had led foure hundred Horse and twelue companies of Gascons the euening before out of Tiuoli it confirmed him in his beleefe that they were entred into Rome Rome in danger to be sackt hauing notice of the Spaniards comming wherupon he caused the armie to retire to Colonna from whence it came without doubt if hee had but attempted it Rome had beene taken and sackt The citie was so ill garded as a lesser armie would haue forced it for that the Romanes were enemies to the Caraffi for the wrongs they thought they had receiued of them and of the souldiers that were within the citie of the which the Gascons did not spare their goods nor honors the Germans enemies to the Pope spoiled the church altars The Pope considering of these things lamenting the miseries of the time being forced to countenance and not to punish those wretches who called themselues defenders in name but in effect were destroiers of that miserable citie beganne to bee fully resolued to peace and the rather for that hee did visibly see the danger wherein hee was being certified that the Citizens of Rome had resolued that if the duke of Alba returned they would send to capitulate with him and open him the gates vpon honest conditions The duke of Guise and Peter Strossy entred into Rome after this tumult who talking with the Pope aduised him to accommodate himselfe vnto the time as wisemen doe commonly They laied before him the vnfortunate losse of the French king whereby there was no hope of any greater succours and that hee should remaine without a Generall for that hee was to returne speedily into Fraunce which would bee no small preiudice vnto him for that his Nephewes who were to gouerne the warre were of small experience neither would they beleeue them that vnderstood more in that art but intreated them ill keeping backe their entertainment so as seeing his holinesse without money and without Captaines they did not thinke the warre could continue long wherefore they counselled him to make the speediest and best accord he could with the king of Spaine The Pope gaue an attentiue eare to the free speeches of these Noblemen and resolued to make an end of the peoples miseries wherefore he called the embassadour of Venice vnto him intreating him to goe and informe that Senate of the estate of things and to exhort them in his name to make some good accord with the imperials After manie treaties in the end a Peace was concluded by the Cardinals of Santafiori and Vitelli and afterwards by Caraffa and the duke of Alba who met together at Caui And so by either of them hauing full authoritie from the Pope and the king of Spaine the following accord was published the 14 day of September 1 That the Pope should receiue from the duke of Alba in the name of the king of Spaine Peace betwixt the Pope and the king of Spaine the submissions that were necessarie to obtaine pardon from his Holinesse but afterwards the Catholike king should send a man expresly to that end And so his Holinesse should receiue the king into fauour as an obedient Sonne admitting him to all the graces of the holy church like vnto other Christian Princes 2 That the Pope should renounce the league contracted with the French king and remaine a Neuter louing them both equally as his Sonnes 3 That his Maiestie should cause the townes and Cities demanteled which had beene taken and held since the beginning of the warre to bee restored if they did in any sort belong vnto the Apostolike sea 4 That the ordnance taken on either part in that warre should be restored 5 That his Holinesse and his Maiestie should forgiue all offences that had beene done them and remit all spiritiuall and temporall punishments graunting them a gerall pardon with restitution of their honors dignities faculties and iurisdictions wherof they had beene depriued in regard of that warre From the which were excepted Marc Antonio Colonna Ascanio de la Corgna and other rebels the Popes vassals who should remaine in the same censure and disgrace during the Popes pleasure 6 That Paliano should bee deliuered into the hands of Iohn Bernardino Carbone sonne to the Popes Cousin but faithfull to both parties deliuering the fort as it was at that time and that the said Carbone should sweare fealtie to the pope and king of Spaine and to obserue the articles concluded betwixt the Cardinall Caraffa and the duke of Alba hee hauing the gard of Paliano with eight hundred foot which should bee paied equally by the Pope and king Besides
forces vnited together they should easily vanquish the other Romane armie which remained and by that meanes end the warre in Spaine Being arriued the joy was great among the captaines and armies rejoycing at this late obtained victorie whereas so great and redoubted a captaine of the enemies had beene slaine and all his armie defeated wherefore being full of hope they assured themselues to doe as much vnto the others There was yet no newes of this lamentable defeat in Cneus Scipioes armie Heauinesse in Scipioes armie without any apparant cause but there was seene a sad mournefull silence as if they had had some secret presage as it happens often to such as doe diuine of an approaching mischiefe The Generall of the armie besides that he found himselfe weakened and abandoned by his allies hearing that Asdrubals armie was so much renforced was much perplexed and could not by any conjecture and reason of warre imagine other than what had happened For what reason were it to thinke that Asdrubal and Mago could passe without fighting if his brother had beene liuing Why did he not hinder them or at the least coast them and follow them to come and joyne with his brother if he could not keep the enemies armies from joyning Being in this perplexitie seeing no other meanes to assure himselfe but by a retreat hee parted secretly in the night vnknowne to the enemie causing his armie to make a long march But the day hauing discouered his departure the Numidian horsemen were presently sent after who ouertooke the Romane armie toward the euening and skirmishing stayed them much charging them sometimes behind and sometimes vpon the flankes Scipio gaue order that in fighting the armie should still aduance fearing the enemies battailons of foot which marched with all speed after their horse In the end night approached and yet the Romanes had not much aduanced being forced to make often stands against the Moores who did continually annoy them Wherefore Cneus Scipio retired with all his troupes to a little hill a place of small aduantage for them that were alreadie wauering yet the seat was somewhat higher than the fields about it There he lodgeth and puts his horsemen and all his baggage in the middest and his footmen make a circle round about and so did easily resist the attempts of the Moores But when as the Generals with their complete armies were joyned together hee saw there was no meanes to make it good by fighting if he did not intrench himselfe after the accustomed manner Wherefore he began to aduise by what meanes he might make his palisadoes but he was come into a bare barren and drie soyle where there was neither trees nor bushes nor any ground fit to make flagges neither could they digge into it nor make it hard for the enemie to approach for the ascent was easie on all sides yet to make a kind of rampar hee caused them to take their packe-saddles and dorsers and to tye them together wherewith the souldiours made as it were a wall of a conuenient height round about them filling vp the places which wanted with such baggage as they had The Carthaginians being arriued put themselues in order to assaile this little hill but discouering a new kind of rampar and not accustomed they were somewhat amazed but their commaunders began to crie How now souldiours why stay you why doe you not speedily pull vp and scatter this baggage which doth amaze you and is not fit to stop women nor children The enemie is ours wee hold him fast being hidden behind those cofers and burthens Thus contemptuously did the captaines speake yet was it not so easie to make a breach The Roman armie forced and defeated nor to passe ouer them but in the end they forced them and the souldiors found passage in diuers places so as they made a great slaughter of the Romans yet the greatest part of the vanquished saued themselues by flight who finding woods and forests a good number of them after a long and tedious journey came vnto P. Scipioes campe commaunded by T. Fonteius Cn. Scipio slaine the lieutenant Cn. Scipio was also slaine in this assault at the hill as some say in the beginning of the fight others notwithstanding affirme That he thought to saue himselfe with some few men in a tower which was there adjoyning the which being enuironed by the enemie and the gates set on fire they were all taken and slaine Behold two great captaines brethren dead and their armies defeated in lesse than a moneth leauing the Romans affaires in Spaine so troubled and in such despaire as they might well say all was lost But humane things are gouerned by a higher power who doth not alwaies impart his decrees to our discourses 9 There was a Roman knight called L. Martius Anno 541 of Rome sonne to Septimius a yong man actiue hardie and of greater courage than could be expected in a man of his condition who assured the remainders of the legions and the faithfull allies of the Roman state and reuiued Spaine from their sorrow and mourning The courage of L. Martius reâ—iâ—es the Romans from despaire for the losse of two such great personages and of so many good men and from the calamitie and daunger they were then in and in the end recouered the honour and fame of the Romanes which was growne contemptible Hee had with his generous disposition learned good discipline vnder Cn. Scipio And hauing gathered many of them together which had fled from the defeat and drawne a good number of souldiours out of the garrisons and vnited townes he made a little armie and came and joyned with T. Fonteius P. Scipioes lieutenant This armie being on this side Ebro in a campe well fortified it was resolued to chuse a head that should commaund ouer all and that they should take their voyces therein as the bands should enter into gard one after another L. Martius being but a knight was so gracious as all in generall gaue him their voyces and he was chosen Captaine Generall of the Roman armie L. Martius chosen Generall of the Roman army After which time hee was verie carefull to fortifie himselfe in places of strength and to prouide store of victuals and munition finding the souldiours readie to execute whatsoeuer hee commaunded But it was not long before there came newes vnto the campe That Asdrubal the sonne of Gisgo marched towards them to make an end of the warre and to free the countrey of those few Romanes which were yet remaining in Spaine Then the souldiours remembring their old captaines began to faint at their new captaines commands so as the centeniers and other officers and bands yea and L. Martius himselfe had much adoe to reuiue them reproaching them that they behaued themselues faintly like women making fruitlesse lamentations which was not the meanes to reuenge the deathes of their Generals nor to recouer their lost honour The enemies were not far off
themselues in battaile in the plaine which was betwixt the two armies and there attended the Romanes yet Fuluius stirred not but kept his men foure dayes together within his campe during the which the Spaniards shewed alwaies the same countenance then seeing that the Romans lay still and that there was no means to fight with them they kept themselues also quiet for a time onely the horsemen went forth keeping themselues readie if the enemie should make shew to assayle them The forragers on both sides went foorth behind their armies without any let This hauing continued some dayes the Romane Pretor thinking that he had made the enemie secure commaunded L. Acilius to march with six thousand Spanish foot of their allies and some of the horsemen of the left wing about the hill vpon the enemies backe and there he should attend vntill he heard the crie of the Legionaries and the rest of the armie and that then he should come and assayle the enemies campe Acilius parted in the night because he would not be discouered Fuluius at the breake of day caused C. Stribonius Colonel of the Latines to march towards the Celtiberians trenches accompanied with the extraordinarie horsemen of the left wing The enemie seeing him better accompanied than the day before sallied presently foorth with all his horse being followed by their footmen Stribonius seeing them come turned head as he had beene commaunded and retyred towards the Romanes campe The Celtiberians pursued them speedily both with horse and foot persuading themselues the day should not passe before they were masters of the Romanes campe being now within fiue hundred paces Then Fuluius seeing that hee had drawne them farre ynough from their fort he made way for his armie being readie in their trenches causing them to fally foorth by three seuerall ports at one instant commaunding them to make great shouts and cries not so much to giue courage to the souldiors as it was their custome as to aduertise them that were in ambush behind the hill attending a signe to assayle the enemies campe When as they heard the crie they ran vnto their rampiers according vnto their directions The Celtiberians had onely left fiue hundred men to gard it who made no great resistance being amazed both at their own small number and at the multitude of those that came suddainely to assayle them Acilius hauing woon their campe hee presently set fire on such places as lay open to the enemie The flame appearing did much daunt the Celtiberians and gaue courage vnto the Romans being assured thereby that their campe was taken Notwithstanding the Celtiberians seeing themselues destitute of a retreat fought like desperat men A memorable victorie of Qu. Fuluius Flaccus against the Celtiberians and did much annoy the Romanes but in the end being oppressed both with the first troupes and with fresh supplies and by Acilius who returned from the taking of the campe and by the garrison of Ebura who sallied forth in the heat of the battell they were vanquished and great numbers slaine vpon the place and afterwards wholly defeated the horsemen pursuing them that fled They write That in this battaile there died 23000 Spaniards and 4800 prisoners taken the Romanes tooke aboue 500 horse and 88 ensignes Doubtlesse the victorie was great yet not without bloud for there were slaine about 200 legionarie Romanes 830 Latines allies and 2400 strangers The number of the dead Which done the Pretor brought backe his victorious armie into his campe Acilius was sent vnto the campe which hee had taken and the next day they gathered vp the enemies spoyles and the souldiors being publickely assembled euery one was rewarded according to his merits then hauing left the wounded men at Ebura the Legions were led to Contrebia by the territorie of the Carpetanians This towne being besieged they sent to demaund succours of the Celtiberians Contrebia taken by the Romanes but the towne was yeelded before they came There had fallen such aboundance of raine at this season as Fuluius was forced to lodge his armie within the towne The Celtiberians who could not come by reason of the high waters and the badway knew nothing of the yeelding of this towne vntill they were charged by the Romanes which were within it for seeing no signes of a campe about it they imagined the enemie had beene gone so as they approached the towne without order fearing no danger from whence the Romanes sallied forth vpon them with great furie and put them to flight and although the field was spacious and the commoditie great to saue themselues yet there died twelue thousand men Another defeat of the Celtiberians by Fuluius fiue thousand were taken prisoners foure hundred horses of seruice and sixtie two ensignes gotten These Celtiberians being dispersed they aduertised their companions which came vnto them of their defeat whereupon they returned and all this preparation went to smoake In the further or West part of Spaine the Pretor Manlius did also fight happily against the Lusitanians After these exploits Q. Fuluius sent L. Minutius his Lieutenant to Rome with two Colonels T. Meuius and L. Terentius Massaliota to carrie newes That the Celtiberians had beene wholly vanquished in two great battailes and that the Senate should not need to make prouision of money or any other thing for the entertainment of their souldiors that yeare for that sayd they the warre was ended They demaunded also That the Pretor might haue leaue to bring backe the armie which he and others before him had so happily managed and employed the which they sayd was not onely reasonable but very necessarie for that euerie one demaunded leaue speaking openly That if it were not graunted them they would take it 13 At the first generall assembly A. Posth Albinus Luscus Ann. Româ— 573 and C. Calphurnius Piso being made Consuls they also created new Pretors to send into Spaine New Pretors sent into Spaine the hither part by Ebro fell to T. Sempronius Gracchus and L. Posthumius had the West part T. Sempronius was not much pleased with the request made on Fuluius behalfe to whom he should succeed whereupon he protested That if they sent him thither with an armie newly leuied hee would keepe himselfe within his garrisons and not expose vnexperienced souldiours against an enemie so long trained vp in warre Thereupon the Senate did decree That they should rayse a Legion of fiue thousand two hundred foot and three hundred Romane horse and besides it a thousand Romane foot and fiftie horse and the Latines their allies should be enjoyned to furnish seuen thousand foot and foure hundred horse and that with this armie Sempronius should goe into Spaine giuing leaue vnto Qu. Fuluius to bring backe the souldiors which had beene sent thither before that Sp. Posthumius and Qu. Martius were Consuls which was six yeares before and moreouer when the new leuie were come into the countrey it should be also lawfull for him to bring all
enemies as entring into the suburbes they made a pittifull slaughter of all those which could not soone enough get into the city against the which the cannon beeing planted the flankes and curtines were soone ouerthrowne and infinite numbers of houses perced thorow so as the Moores fearing to bee sooner forced by the enemies then succoured by their friends yeelded themselues and went forth of the towne with bagge and baggage Illora yeeldeth to King Fernand and without their armes The King gaue the garrison of Illora to Don Gonçalo Hernandes de Cordoua brother to Don Alphonso d'Aguilar who was afterward surnamed the great captaine The army after that marched to Moclin whether Queene Isabella came to ioyne with the campe at Loxa The towne had beene newly fortified with towers and bulwarkes more then in former times but the battery was made with such store of ordinance as nothing could resist it the Christians besides did vse diuers kindes of artificiall fiers the which did great hurt to the beseeged and burnt all their store of gunpoulder by meanes of a pot of this wild fire which flew in the ayre and did stick fast in a tower where the said poulder lay which was blowne vp into the ayre wherewith the Moores being amazed Moclin taken they did compound to depart with their liues and goods saued Moclin being taken part of the army was sent to beate Montefrio they were the troupes of Siuill Xeres and Carmona whilest the King with the residew thereof made spoile vpon the confines of Granado not without diuers incounters and sharpe skirmishes with the Moores who came forth of the head city The King being returned to Moclin the captaines of Montefrio and Colomera presented themselues vnto him demanding composition which was granted them and the Moores went forth of those two places to Granado with their goods but they left their armor weapons and victuals behind them All these places which were taken were rampired and fortified with good garrisons victuals and other necessaries and hauing left D. Frederike de Toledo sonne to D. Garcy Aluares of Toledo Duke of Alua captaine generall of the who country newly conquered the King and Queene returned to Cordoua Not long after they marched towards Leon to order the affaires of Galicia which was greatly troubled by the insolency of the Earle of Lemos who neuerthelesse appearing before the Kings did humbly craue his pardon and obtained it being fauoured by diuers great Lords of the Court Hee was notwithstanding enioyned not to enter into Galicia for a certaine time and the places of Ponferrada Sarria and Castro-real were taken from him and were applied to the crowne the Kings neuerthelesse giuing a certaine summe of money for the marriage of his aunts The Hospitall of Saint Iameâ— built by King Fernand and Queene Isabel for the releese of pilgrims These things thus ordered the Kings went to visit Saint Iames his Church in the which city they builded a goodly Hospitall for the releefe of the poore and of pilgrims from thence fetching a circuit round about the country of Galicia they redressed diuers tyranies which were there committed restoring diuers monasteries and Churches which were by force dispossessed of their goods lands and reuenewes by certaine Knights and Gentlemen To containe whom and all others in their duties they established a Iudgement seate of foure Auditors which was the beginning of the Royall Audience of Galicia and they confirmed Don Diego Lopes Earle of Haro in his dignity of Viceroy of the country as he had beene in time before And the better to procure the peace of the countrey Mâ—tinous and quaâ—re some 〈◊〉 sent forth of the Country vnder coâ—tlar of other imployment they caused diuerse strong houses to be ouer-throwne and razed to the ground which serued for the repaire of theeues and robbers and carried away with them out of Galicia diuerse mutinous and quarrellous Gentlemen to the end they should employ their strength and courage in the warre against the Moores The Court beeing returned to Benauent the Earle shewed himselfe very liberall and magnificent in the entertainment of the Kings and the great Lords from thence they came to Salamanca where they spent the remainder of this yeare 1486. It hapned this yeare in the towne of Trugillo that the Iudge or Corrigidor of the place hauing laide hands vpon a Priest for committing some notorious crime and not sending him so one enough to his ordinary Iudge Mutiny vnder shâ—w of religion the prisoners kins folke hauing taken a Crosse in their hands ranne vp and downe the Citty crying out for helpe and said that the holy Catholicke faith was trodden vnder foote the which did so stirre vp the brutish multitude as they ranne to take Armes and came in tumultuous manner to the Corrigidors lodging who was glad to make hast to deliuer the prisoner whereof the King and Queene had notice who were greatly displeased with such seditions and sent certaine Iudges and Commissioners to Trugillo with forces who executed diuerse of the mutiners according to lawe This yeare Christopher Colombus borne at Cugurco vpon the riuer of Genoa came to the Court of Castile The first comming of Christopher Colombus to the King and Queene of Castile who made offer to search the Occidentall Ocean where hee did vndertake to discouer a great land riche and aboundant in gold and other commodities crauing ayde of the King and Queen of money and shippes to furnish him out on such a voyage Colombus was a man very expert in Nauigation and vntill that time hee had gotten his liuing by making Sea Cardes Hee beeing married and dwelling in the Isle of Madera a shippe of Biscay which had for many dayes beene driuen vp and downe by tempests and cast vpon the same coasts whereof hee did then speake did happen to arriue in the Island Colombus brought the Pilot thereof and three other Marriners home to his house who hauing endured much misery at sea did there dye and in recompence of their kinde entertainment they did amply informe their hoast whereabout these lands lay and with what windes a man might saile thether Colombus being a man of a quick apprehension and great courage came to King Iohn of Portugall hoping to perswade him to vndertake that Nauigation offering him his seruice therein and after that to King Henry the seauenth of England in the end to Don Henriques de Guzman Duke of Medina Sidonia and to Don Lewis de la Cerde Duke of Medina Celi who held commodious Hauens in Castile beseeching them to ayde him in so worthy an enterprise but all his trauaile was to no purpose for they esteemed him as an Italian who by bragges and vaunts of matters which hee knew not endeuoured to releeue his pouerty Now this yeare hee came to Court with letters from Frier Iohn Peres de Marchena one excellently learned in all humane learning who dwelt at Rauida which gaue good testimony of Colombus
this growing mischiefe Barbarigo laboured in like manner who with great eloquence and iudgement 1569 so pacified Colonna first and then D. Iohn as they were content to preferre the generall good of Christendome before their owne priuate respects yet they would not that Veniero should treat any more with them concerning any businesse neither as a publike person nor as a priuate but that Barbarigo should supplie his place vntill they had further order from Venice The third of October they went forth in the same order that they should fight and bent their course towards Cephalonia where they had newes that did much trouble them for that by a fregate dispacht from Candie they had letters brought them from Marino Caualli wherein was related the losse of the Realme of Cypres by letters intercepted in a Galeot the which were sent after the taking of Famagosta from the generall Mustafa to Aly. whereof they presently sent aduice to Venice Comming to Val d' Alexandria which was the ancient Samos they returned againe to Councell where hearing for certaine that the Turkes were in the gulphe of Lepanto they resolued after much disputation to goe to the mouth of it and not meeting first with the Turkes to set vpon two forts called Dardanelli to force the enemie to fight or with the losse of their gallies to runne to land with this resolution they parted the sixt of October and came to the Ilands called Curzolares where earely in the morning they had view of the Turkish armie which came out of the mouth of the gulfe in good order The generall Aly had beene informed by Caracossa who had gone to discouer the Christians with what intent they sailed that way in what order and how many vessels they were so as opening at that instant the great Turkes letter which by his order should be red as soone as the enemies fleet approacht they saw it was his mind they should fight and ruin the Christians forces The Commanders of the Turkish Nauy being very resolute to incounter the Christians and to shut them vp in the chanell of Cephalonia being small wheras Caracossa had viewed them had newly fortified their army with tenne thousand Ianisaries Spahies voluntaries which Mehemet Bet had broght with great store of victuals munition and 100 Sangiacs Alobei which are men of title a degree vnder a Sāgiac But the Christians parted from Cephalonia and Val d' Alexandria towards the Curzolares where the sea is verie streit ful of shelfs rocks which the Turks took for an aduātage Thus both armies were resolued to fight were put in batel inform of a Croisant In the right wing of the Christians armie where fiftie and three gallies Order of the Christian armie whereof Iohn Andrew Doria had charge hauing before him two Venetian galleasses and at his backe the admirall galley of Sauoy in the which was the duke of Vrbin On the left wing were the like nūber of gallies galleasses commanded by Augustin Barbarigo Proueditor general for the Venetians being assisted by the admirall galley of Genoua in the which was the prince of Parma Betwixt these two wings was the bodie of the battell consisting of 70 gallies and two galleasses and in the middest or center thereof the three generalls with their royall gallies D. Iohn in the middest Sebastian Veniero generall for the Venetians on the left hād and Marc Antonio Colonna general of the Popes gallies on the right behind thē as it were in the reereward where D. Aluaro Bassan Marquesse of Saint Cruz with thirty gallies and in the front of them was D. Iohn of Cardona with eight gallies as a forlorne hope On the other side Aly opposed against Iohn Andrew Doria 96 gallies commanded by Vluccialy Order of the Turkes army against the Proueditor Barbarigo he set 55 gallies vnder the charge of Mehemet Bei and Sirocco and Aly himselfe with Portau Bassan who was general of the land forces were in the middest against D. Iohn with 96 gallies and the rest of the gallies were appointed in the reere to succour them with many foistes and brigandins to passe from place to place with the Generals commandements D. Iohn went in person to view the armie being accompanied by Lewis de Cardona and Iohn Soto hee was in white armour hauing in his hand a Crucifix D. Iohns speech to the armie going from place to place in a most swift fregat animating the souldiers and telling them that they had not him for their Captaine and leader but that great God alone whose humane shape being dead vpon the crosse to saue the whole world they saw in his hands Hee put them in minde that they did fight for the the great God of victories to whome all humane powers yeeld obedience that hee was their Generall and their guide and the gouernour of euerie mans actions promising to euerie man that day an honourable and glorious victorie whereof nothing could depriue them vnlesse they distrusted to obtaine it 1571 His words were short but deliuered with such efficacie as it made all them that heard him weepe for ioy who with a presage of their future successe beganne to crie victorie wherewith hee was much contented and so hauing saluted the Generall Veniero verie courteously reioycing to see that reuerent old man of seuenty and fiue yeares old in an action where hee must fight as well as command The battell of Lepanto hee retyred to his galley and then hee set vp the standard of the league which was a Crucifix in a red field in signe of battell Whereupon Aly did presently discharge a canon and D. Iohn answered him in like manner Iohn Andrew Doria did an act of iudgement stretching forth his right wing into the sea giuing meanes to the rest to doe the like to the end they should not be compassed in by the Turkes gallies who were in all places more in number the which did auaile them much Barbarigo Anthonie Canale Marc Anthonie Quirin and others which did assist him kept as neere the land as they could so as they could not bee charged in flanke but onely in front the which Sirocco and Aly a renegado of Genoua sought to doe and when they were put to rout which began among the enemies which Barbarigo had in front hee kept them that they could not escape and made a wonderfull spoile of them The fight grew hot and the Canon of either side plaied furiously wherein the Christians were somewhat fauoured by the wind the which in the beginning being in their faces Aly Bassa slaine changed instantly as the battell begunne and carried the smoake into their enemies eies In the beginning the two Generals Gallies of D. Iohn and Aly Bassa affronted one another about the which the combat was very hot In D. Iohns gallies there were foure hundred Harquebuziers and Musketiers vnder D. Lope de Figueroa their Commander Victory of the Christians in the prow
the inhabitants abandoned the wals and the garrison of Carthaginians thinking that the towne had bin yeelded left their gards where they had bin set and put themselues into one body The inhabitants fearing that if the enemy forced the town they should be all put indifferently to the sword resolued to preuent this danger by yeelding and hauing opened a gate they went forth in troupes carying only their targuets to defend themselues from the Romans darts and holding vp their right hands naked in sign of peace they let the Romans vnderstand that they yielded It is doubtfull whether they did vnderstand their meaning seeing them come a far off or whether the Romans did doubt some fraud Auringe taken by L. Scipio but they charged these poore Spaniards and cut them all in peeces and by the same port entred the towne with their colours flying killing all they met without exception in the meane time some of their troups forced the other gates and made way vnto their companions The horsemen being entred seized vpon the chiefe places as they were commaunded being followed by them which they called Triaires which are footmen fighting alwaies in the rereward to second where need required The rest of the legionaries dispersed themselues throughout the towne putting all to the sword In the end the Carthaginians were taken prisoners and some 300 of the inhabitants the rest which remained after the furie were pardoned and their houses and libertie yeelded them There died at the taking of this towne 2000 of the enemies and some 90 of the Romans It was a pleasing exploit to them that did execute it but especially to P. Scipio who commended Lucius his brother with all the honorable tearmes he could equalling the taking of Auringe to that of Carthage and seeing winter approched that there was little reason to pursue Asdrubal lesse to vndertake the siege of Calis he retired with his campe on this side Ebro sent his soldiors to winter He sent L. Scipio to Rome with newes of that which had bin done and with him he sent Hanno one of the enemies captains and many other great prisoners this done he retired to Tarracone 19 The Romans after this good successe were in hope to chase their enemies out of Spain for hauing defeated one of their armies taken one of their chiefe commaunders the rest of their forces being disbanded and forced to liue within their forts and garrisons in the farthest parts of the countrey Scipio thought there was now no cause of any present feare but that he might dispose of his affaires at leysure yet he was deceiued for Spaine by reason of their stirring spirits and the opportunitie of places was in that respect as fit as any Region in the world after such defeates to leuie new armies and to reuiue the warre Asdrubal then sonne to Gisgo who did second the Barcins in wisedome and valour worthie of a great Commaunder being assisted by Mago sonne to Amilcar did so deale with the Spaniards as he leuied 50000 foot and 4500 horse of that nation beyond the riuer of Ebro he mustered them neere vnto the towne of Sylpia and there did the two Carthaginian captains encampe being resolued to accept of a battaile if it were offered Scipio aduertised of this great vnexpected preparation drew his Legions to field although he held them not sufficient to oppose against so mightie an armie As for the succours of Spanish allies his meaning was to make some shew vnto the enemie yet would he not fortifie himselfe with so great troupes as he should haue cause to feare his ruine by their trecherie Scipio trusts not vnto mercinaries as his father had done as had happened vnto his father and vncle wherefore he sent Syllanus to Colca who commaunded ouer 28 townes to demand the succours of horse and foot which he had promised to enroll during the Winter and he himselfe going from Tarracone as he passed by the townes of his allies tooke vp such souldiors as he thought good and came to Castulo whereas Syllanus met him with 3000 foot and 500 horse From thence he marched beyond Becula hauing in his armie as well of citizens of Rome as of allies of foot and horse about 45000 fighting men As they made their lodging Mago and Massinissa charge the Romanes and did rampier it after the accustomed manner behold Mago and Massinissa come with all their horsemen and charge them that were busie at worke whom they had put to rout if Scipio had not caused certaine bands of horsemen to gard them being in battaile behind a little hill who aduaunced against the first that were approched neere the rampiers forcing them to retyre in the beginning without any great difficultie The fight was long and somewhat doubtfull against them which came afterwards close and in good order but when as the Romane bands which were dispersed here and there approched and that the souldiours which laboured at the rampiers left their worke and fell to armes being so commaunded the wearied refreshed with new supplies and greater numbers comming still from the campe then the Numidians and Carthaginians finding the charge hote retyred in the beginning in good order but being ouerpressed by multitudes they could no longer make head but were put to rout The two armies in battaile readie to fight euery man sauing himselfe as he could This encounter did puffe vp the hearts of the one and abate the courage of the others yet there were daily skirmishes betwixt the horsemen and them that were lightly armed In the end Asdrubal put his army into battaile the which Scipio did also on his part but either armie continued in that manner neere his fort vntill the euening whereupon first the Carthaginians and then the Romanes retyred into their campes and thus they continued for certaine dayes together Asdrubal comming first to field and making his retreat first without any attempt one against another The Romans held the middle part in their battaile and the Carthaginians did the like in theirs being mixt with Africanes vpon the wings in either armie were their allies all Spaniards before the Carthaginians battaile were their Elephants which a farre off shewed like castles and it was giuen out That the armies should fight in that manner and that the Romanes and Carthaginians betwixt whom the quarrell was holding the middest of the battailes should encounter with like armes and courage Scipio hearing that this opinion was generally beleeued changed the order of his battaile wherefore at night hee caused warning to bee giuen secretly throughout the campe That euery one should be readie for the breake of day that both men and horse should refresh themselues the horsemen should be armed and the horses sadled and bridled And when as day began to appeare he sent all his horsemen and the footmen that were lightly armed against the Corps de gard which were vpon the approches of the enemies campe and then he marched himselfe