also mocked him and went crying up and down My Masters I give you notice that you are like to eat no Tusculan Figs this year With these and many other such lewd Speeches they compelled Pompey to submit to their rash and giddy desires contrary to his more prudent purpose and determination which yet a General over so many Nations and Armies should not have done These little considered that he with whom he was to sight was Caesar who had taken a thousand Towns and Cities by assault had subdued above three hundred several Nations had won infinite Battels of the Germans and Gauls and was never overcome Had also taken a Million of men Prisoners and had slain as many in divers Battels Yet Pompeys men still vexing him with their importunity when they were come into the Fields of Pharsalia caused him to call a Counsel There Labienus the General of the Horsemen swore before them all that he would not return from the Battel till he had driven his Enemies out of the Field and the like Oath did all the rest of the Commanders take The Night before the fatal Battel there were heard sudden and fearful Noises in Pompeys Camp which awaked all the Souldiers At the changing of the fourth Watch there was seen a great light over Caesar Camp like unto a burning Torch which came and fell in Pompeys Camp In the morning Caesar intending to raise his Camp and to remove to the City of Scotusa whilst his Souldiers were busy in sending away their Bag and Baggage some brought Caesar word that they saw much Armour and many Weapons carryed too and fro in thier Enemies Camp and heard a great noise and bustling as of men that were preparing to fight His Scouts also brought him word that Pompeys Van was already set in Battel array Caesar much rejoyced when he heard this saying Now the day is come that we shall no longer sight with hunger and want but with men and thereupon gave order that they should presently put out the red coat of Arms upon his Tent which was the sign used amongst the Romans when they were to fight The Souldiers when they saw that left their Tents Carriages and all and with great shouts of Joy ran to arm themselves and so without noise or tumult they were by their Captains put into Battel array Pompey himself led the right Wing of his Battel against Anthony The middle Battle he gave to Scipio his Father in Law which was right against Domitius Calvinus His left Wing was led by Lucius Domitius Aenobarlius which was guarded by the men at Arms for all the Horsemen were placed there to distress Caesar if possibly they could and to overthrow the tenth Legion which contained the valiantest Souldiers that Caesar had and amongst whom himself always used to fight in Person Caesar seeing the lest Wing of his Enemies so strong with the guard of Horsemen brought six Company 's of Foot for a reserve and placed them behind the tenth Legion commanding them to stand close that they might not be discovered by the Enemy and commanded them when the Horsemen should charge upon them that they should not throw their Darts strait forward but upwards at their Faces For said he These brave Fellows and fine Dancers will not endure to have their Faces marred Pompey being on Horse-back rode up and dovvn to observe hovv both Armies vvere marshelled and perceiving that his Enemies stood still in their ranks expecting the signal of Battel and that his ovvn Battel vvaved up and dovvn disorderly as men unskilful in the Wars he feared that they would flie before they were charged Therefore he commanded his Van to stand steadily in their ranks and to defend themselves in a close fight when the Enemy should assault them But Caesar disliked this devise for thereby said he the force of their blows was lessened and by with-holding them from giving the charge that courage was taken away which the assailant carrieth with him when he comes on with fury it made them also more fainthearted in receiving the Enemies charge In Caesars Army there were about twenty two thousand fighting men and in Pompeys above twice so many When the signal of Battel was given on either side and the Trumpets sounded an Alarm every man began to look to himself But a few of the chiefest of the Romans and some Grecians that were amongst them that yet were not entred into the Battel perceiving the eminent danger began to bethink themselves to what a sad pass the ambition and contention between these two great Persons had brought the State of Rome unto where were Kinsmen against Kinsmen and Brethren against Brethren imbrewing their hands each in others blood Whereas if they could have been contented quietly to Govern what they had conquered the Roman Empire was big enough for them both Or if that could not have quenched their insatiable desires and thirst after Glory they had occasion enough offered them against the Germans and Parthians Or else they might have proceeded to conquer Scythia and India For what Scythian Horsemen or Parthian Arrows or Indian Riches could have withstood the power of seventy thousand Roman Souldiers especially being led by two such Captains as were Pompey and Caesar whose Names were famous through the World Now when the Fields of Pharsalia were covered over with Horse and Men in Arms after the Signal was given the first man of Caesars Army that advanced forward to give the charge was Caius Crassinius a Captain of one hundred twenty and five men and this he did to make good his promise to Ceasar who having asked him that morning what he thought of the event of the Battel he said Oh Caesar Thine is the Victory and this day thou shalt commend me either alive or dead Thereupon he brake out of his rank many others also followed him and ran into the midst of his Enemies making a great slaughter but as he still pressed forward one ran him through the neck and slew him Pompey did not make his left Wing to advance over suddenly but staid to see what his Horsemen would do who had already divided themselves intending to compass in Caesar and to force his Horsemen who were fewer in number to give back upon his squadron of Footmen and thereby to disorder them But on the other side Caesars Horsemen gave back a little and the six Companies of Footmen that he had placed secretly behind them being three thousand in number ran suddenly to charge the Enemy in the Flank and coming neer to Pompeys Horsemen they threw their Darts as Caesar had appointed them full in their Faces The young Gentlemen being raw Souldiers and little expecting such a manner of fight had not the hearts to defend themselves nor could abide to be hurt in their Faces but turning their Heads and clapping their hands on their Faces they fled shamefully They being thus routed Caesars men made no account to follow
the way you must understand that about forty years before the Father of this present King of China had conquered this City and Countrey from the Tartars and had so planted the same with new Colonies that but few of the Tartarians remained except only in the flat Countrey and some small walled Towns who all came with their Keys and willingly submitted to Tamerlane whereby he had great plenty of victuals in his Army which made him hope for good success there being nothing that doth sooner overthrow great Armies than the want thereof Thus was Paguinfou besieged round the footmen lying within a flight-shoot the Walls the Citizens and Souldiers using their best endeavour for their defence and Tamerlane doing the like for their offence Axalla having viewed a great Suburb which was in length almost half a League supposed that the Citizens kept no watch there and therefore acquainting the Emperour with his purpose in the first watch of the night his men being all ready with scaling Ladders he assaulted the same in sundry places and after a great fight entred and cut in pieces at least eight thousand men which were within the same yet on one side where they expected to be assaulted he lost many of his men The taking of this Suburb did greatly astonish the Citizens who observing the valour of the Tartarians began to suspect their own safety By this Suburb there ran a River which being now under the command of Axalla he stopt all provision from going to the City In the mean time the King of China's Army approached which was very great whereupon the Emperour determined to go in person and meet him with the greatest part of his Horsemen but to leave most of his Foot to continue the siege being very desirous to take the City for the accelerating whereof he caused his Engines for battery to approach as Rams and such like so that the City was assaulted on two sides very couragiously and in the end through the valour of Axalla who gave an assault with twenty thousand of his best Souldiers he won the Wall and at the command of the Emperour lodged there who desired rather to have the City by Treaty than storm the City being great and rich and the Enemy but thirty Leagues from thence and therefore he feared lest his Army should be found in disorder and knowing also that rich Souldiers never fight well Besides he intended to draw out of that wealthy City such things as he stood in need of and to make it his Magazine for the time to come Yet though the Wall was won the Enemies wanted not heart to defend themselves valiantly hearing that their King was coming for their relief but it so happened that an Engine shooting a bullet slew the Governour whereupon the Citizens were so discouraged that they resolved to yield saving their lives and the Souldiers to march away with Horse and Arms. The conditions were admitted and there came out of the City eighteen thousand Souldiers almost all the Inhabitants remaining behind This siege had lasted two months and the City had in it at first thirty thousand Souldiers Axalla had the honour of winning this City and therefore was made Governour of it and all the Country belonging to it but he beseeched the Emperour to bestow it upon some other Person reserving for himself the hope of his Master in whose fortune he would take part This gave great content to Tamerlane who much desired the service of Axalla and upon his refusal the charge was conferred upon the Prince of Thanais with the Title of Vice-Roy Then did Tamerlane give notice of his affairs to the old Emperour and having paid his Souldiers and setled all things in the best manner he could he marched forward and taking a general Muster of his whole Army Horse and Foot he found them to be diminished ten thousand men only And so with his Army he spent one whole day in Prayer calling upon the immortal invisible invincible and incomprehensible God and then went directly to meet the Enemy who was at Sintehu with all his own and the forces of his Allies and as soon as he received news that Tamerlanes Army was advanced over the River of Chulifu the King of China marched directly towards them with great magnificence There was nothing to be seen in his Army but Gold and precious Stones He himself usually rode in a Chariot whereof every part shone with Gold Pearls Rubies and Diamonds He was of the age of about three and thirty and had been brought up in pleasures and not under the bloody Ensigns of Mars So that he was very insolent in threatnings brava does and defying to the Battel He often accused Tamerlane for surprizing him before he was ready not giving him warning c. The rumours of his riches so fired the spirits of the Tartarians that they longed to be at the Battel and so both sides hasted forwards and in the way there was a City called Tunichevoy surrendred to Tamerlane which afforded him much refreshing for his Army And thus the two Armies drawing near together Tamerlane made choice of a place in his judgment most advantageous for the Battel and having set down to Odmar the Order which he would have to be observed he longed to see his Enemy Then did he send before him five or six thousand Horse as Scouts under Calibes and himself went with them and having viewed the great confused Army of his Enemies which came continually forward he commanded Calibes to retire himself so soon as they drew near to him And bring saith he this great cloud to me which I hope soon to disperse and so retiring to his Army he encouraged them assuring them of the Victory He placed all his Foot-men which were about a hundred and twenty thousand along a Mountain planting great store of Artillery for their guard Many of his Foot-Souldiers were armed after the Christian manner who were all commanded by Axalla His Horsemen were in a Battalia in a great plain who upon any disadvantage could retire to the assistance of the Footmen the Horsemen were eighty thousand Calibes with the Scythians were in the Avantguard being thirty thousand Horse who were to receive Odmar when he should retreat from the Enemy as he was commanded thirty thousand more were appointed for Odmar and Tamerlane himself remained in the Arrear at one of the Wings of his Footmen His purpose was to let that sixty five thousand Horse under two such Gallant Captains to break the force of the Enemy hoping after them to have a good market causing his Foot to march forward and reserving with himself twenty thousand of his best Horse who of themselves were able to make a new Battel if any mischance should befal the former For he understood that it was the custom of the Kings of China to enclose themselves in the midst of their Chariots with their Footmen and not to
ten thousand of my best Horse whom I will send into every place where I shall think needful within my Army for to impart my commands Over the first forty thousand Horse the Prince of Ciarchan commanded over the formost Footmen was the Lord Synopes a Genovois Kinsman to Axalla and his Lieutenant over the Footmen a Captain of great estimation The Prince Axalla's charge consisted of five Squadrons of Horsemen Bajazet's Army also being fair and great came bravely still on forwards towards their Enemies who stirred not a whit from the place which they had chosen for the Battel except certain light-light-Horsemen Scythians Parthians and Muscovites who being sent out as loose men hotly skirmished between the two Armies Tamerlane was informed by a spie that Bajazet was on foot in the midst of thirty thousand Janizaries his principal men of War and greatest strength amongst whom he ment that day to fight and in whom he had repoled his greatest hope His Battel of Horse was very fair amounting to the number of one hundred and forty thousand all old Souldiers the Sultan of Egypt also had sent to his aid thirty thousand Mamelukes all excellent good Horsemen with thirty thousand Footmen so that his Army marching all in a front in the form of a half Moon seemed almost as great as Tamerlanes These Turks with infinite number of horrible cries still advanced forwards Tamerlanes Souldiers all the while standing still with great silence Never was there a more furious charge than the Turks gave upon the Prince of Ciarchan who was commanded not to fight till the Enemy came unto him neither could there have been chosen a fairer Plain and where the skilful choice of the place gave less advantage either to the one or to other only Tamerlane had a River on the left side of his Army serving him to some small advantage Now this young Prince of Ciarchan with his forty thousand Horse was in the first encounter almost wholly overthrown yet having fought right valiantly and entred even in the midst of the Janizaries where the Person of Bajazet was putting them into disorder he was himself there slain About which time Axalla set upon them with his squadrons but not with the like danger for having overthrown one of the Enemies Wings and cut it all to pieces and his Footmen coming to joyn with him as was appointed he faced the Battalion of the Janizaries who right valiantly behaved themselves for the safety of their Prince This furious fight continued an hour and yet you could not have seen any scattered but the one still resolutely fighting against the other You might there have seen the Horsemen like mountains rushing together and infinite numbers of men dying crying lamenting and threatning all at the same instant Tamerlane had patience all this while to see the event of this so mortal a fight but perceiving his men at last to be begin to give ground he sent ten thousand of his Horse to joyn with the ten thousand appointed for the Rereward commanding them to assist him when they saw that he had need and so himself gave a furious Charge and made them to give him room causing the Footmen also to charge over whom the Prince of Thanais commanded who gave a gallant charge upon the Battalion of Janizaries wherein was yet the Person of Bajazet who before had sustained a great burden Now Bajazet had in his Army a great number of Mercinary Tartars called Destenses with many thousands of other Souldiers taken up in the Countries of the poor exiled Mahometan Princes in whose just quarrel and the Greek Emperours Tamerlane had chiefly undertaken that War These Tartarians and other Souldiers seeing some their friends and other some their natural and loving Princes in Tamerlanes Army stricken with the terrour of disloyalty and abhorring the cruelty of the proud Tyrant in the heat of the Battel revolted from Bajazet to their own Princes which much weakned Bajazets Forces who nevertheless with his own men of War especially the Janizaries and the help of the Christian Souldiers brought to his aid from Servia and other places of Europe with great courage maintained the fight But the multitude rather than true valour prevailed for as much as might be done by valiant and couragious men was by the Janizaries the Mamelukes and the rest performed both for the preservation of their Prince and for gaining the Victory But in the end the Horsemen with whom Tamerlane himself was giving a fresh charge and his Avantguard being rallied and joyning with him he with much ado obtained the Victory Bajazet himself being wounded when he saw all desperate mounted on Horseback thinking to have escaped but falling into Axalla's hands he yielded himself to him supposing him to have been Tamerlane neither did Axalla for a while know him but took him for some great Commander in the Turks Army Musa sirnamed Zelabi or the Noble one of Bajazets Sons with divers other of his great Captains were there taken also and amongst the rest George Despot of Servia who notwithstanding his misfortune had that day by his valour gained the reputation of a great and valiant Captain insomuch as Tamerlane in the very heat of the Battel marvelled to see him and his Servians and the other Christians that he had brought to the aid of Bajazet to fight so valianty whereupon turning to some of his Captains that were near him he said See how valiantly these Religious fight supposing them by their strange attire to have been some of the Turks superstitious Votaries But the Despot being now taken and afterwards brought to Tamerlane he was by him courteously entertained yet withal reproved for that he had assisted Bajazet against him who was come in favour to the Christian Emperour and the other poor oppressed Princes such as the Despot himself was who thereupon boldly answered That indeed it was not according to his profession but according to the prosperity of Bajazet unto whom it seemed that all the world should bend and that he did it for his own safety Whereupon Tamerlane excused him and without any more ado gave him liberty at his own pleasure to depart Bajazet himself Being afterwards brought to Tamerlane as a Prisoner was by him courteously entertained who never shewed any token of submission at all but according to his proud nature without respect of his present state answered him presumptuously to whatever he demanded of him Wherewith Tamerlane being somewhat moved told him that it was in his power to take his life from him whereto he answered no more but Do it for that loss will be my greatest happiness Then Tamerlane demanded of him what made him so proud as to enterprize to bring so noble a Prince as the Greek Emperour into his subjection He answered Even the same cause which moved thee to invade me namely the desire of glory and sovereignity But wherefore then said
as Tamerlane's Army approached to it By this unexpected coming of the Sultan the great City that before was ready to have revolted was again confirmed in his obedience to the great prejudice of Tamerlanes affairs For to remain long before it was impossible through want of Victuals for so great an Army in an Enemies Countrey Yet this discouraged not Tamerlane from approaching to it and with all his Army to encamp near unto the same having caused a great Trench to be made for the security of his Horsemen and therein to lodge his Army more safely during which time he caused divers attempts to be made as well to try the enemies confidence as to see how the people of the City especially the slaves which in that populous City are in great numbers were affected towards him who indeed were glad to see the state of his Army and the proud Mamelukes still put to the worst but farther strirred not During this siege he thought good one day to draw forth his Army before the City to try whether the enemy had any mind to come to a battel as also to view his own Forces and so indeed to seek occasion to fight hoping that if the Sultan should come forth with his Army some revolt might happen at the same time in the City as well by the slaves unto whom by secret Spies he had promised liberty as by the Citizens themselves who were much discontented with the insolency of the Mamelukes and by whom Tamerlane by the same Spies had made it known that he came not to hurt them but to deliver them from the tyranny of his and their enemies But standing thus in Battel array none stirred out of the City neither was there any tumult raised within according as he expected For the Sultan being plentifully provided with all things in that rich City resolved to weary out Tamerlane by lying still and not to put all to the hazard of a battel Tamerlane perceiving his Design yet resolved not to depart till he was Victorious whereupon he thought fit also to attempt him in his greatest strength and in the heart of his greatest City though it could not be done without great hazard such confidence had he in the Valour and Multitude of his Army Now his purpose was first to take one of the Cities for Caire is divided into three and therein encamping himself by little and little to advance forwards as he could find opportunity Upon this resolution he commanded a strong assault to be given and having conducted his Footmen to the place chosen by him for the onset for the City was not Walled but only fortified with Ditches and Trenches he commanded the Prince of Thanais with fifty thousand men to begin the Assault even in the face of the Enemy which he most valiantly performed which occasioned a great and terrible fight Axalla in the mean time deeming as the truth was that the Sultan had drawn the greatest part to his Forces to that place fetched a compass about and in another part of the City with small resistance passed the Trenches where he presently left thirty thousand men to fill up the Ditches thereby to make way for the Horsemens entrance himself with the rest advancing forwards against twenty thousand sent by the Sultan to oppose his farther passage the Prince of Thanais being at the same time almost beaten back by the Mamelukes But the Ditches being presently levelled ten thousand Horsemen entred who charged upon the backs of the Mamelukes where the Sultan himself was there were likewise seconded by ten thousand more sent in by Tamerlane himself following after with all his power Hereupon the Sultan retreated into a second strength which he had made in the next City This fight continued full seven hours wherein were slain of the Sultans men above sixteen thousand and of Tamerlane's between seven and eight thousand Tamerlane being well contented that he had dislodged his enemy and gained one of the Cities caused a retreat to be sounded hoping the next day to win all the rest as indeed he did For the next morning the Prince of Thanais storming the Trenches in one part as Axalla did in another the Sultan after a great fight finding himself hardly pressed by the obstinate Enemy and unable longer to hold out retreated abandoning the City and encamping himself along the River Nilus resolving to retire to the City of Alexandria his second strength and only refuge which Tamerlane suspecting followed after him with his Horsemen who only were in order and some few Foot hardly drawn from the City which their fellows were in plundering Tamerlane promising them both to regard and reward their good service Against these the Sultan upon a narrow cawse-way had opposed twelve or fifteen thousand men to favour his passage who being of his best Souldiers maintained their ground stoutly the place being much for their advantage yet at length their enemies still increasing and pressing hard upon them they were forced to cast themselves into the great River and made a most honourable retreat every man having his Weapon in one hand and swimming with the other hand to the farther Bank The Sultan flying with about eighteen thousand Horse the rest being either drowned or dispersed is said to have comforted his flying men by telling them they were not men but gods that had vanquished them Divers of the Mamelukes that were taken Prisoners being brought before Tamerlane were by him courteously used and asked if they would be content to serve him seeing their Master was fled and gone This they all utterly refused whom notwithstanding for their fidelity Tamerlane set at liberty to go again to their Master being no less desirous to be admired by his Enemies for his Goodness and Bounty than to be feared for his Force and Valour The wonderful wealth of this so great and famous a City became a prey to his Souldiers who for the space of twenty four hours had the spoil thereof At the end of which time every man was straitly charged by open Proclamation to retire to his Quarters Tamerlane would not suffer any of the Citizens to be taken Prisoners and such as were he released and so leaving ten thousand good Souldiers with many others that followed his Camp for the Guard of the City and taking with him all such persons as he thought might hurt him he caused his Army to pass over the River and to follow the Sultan to Alexandria that so his Victory might be compleated Axalla hasted before with the Avantguard to hinder the Sultan from gathering up his Forces together The rest of the Army was conducted by the Prince of Thanais Tamerlane himself with an infinte number of Boats and many Souldiers to attend him went by Water greatly delighting to behold that fair River of Nilus sometimes running with a swift course other sometimes very calm and scarce moved The Citizens of Alexandria
fill his Purse with money he judged him unworthy to be a Souldier Upon a time he understood that his Target-bearer had received a great sum of money for the ransom of a Prisoner whereupon he said to him Give me my Target and go thy ways home and buy thee a Tavern wherein to spend the rest of thy life for I perceive thou wilt no more like an honest man put thy self in danger in the wars as formerly thou hast done because now thou art grown rich and wealthy Though Epaminondas was thus virtuous and unblameable in his life yet the aforementioned Meneclides would never cease contending and reproaching of him and one day he went so far as to upbraid him because he had no Children and was not married and that he magnified himself more than ever King Agamemnon had done To this Epaminondas answered Thou hast nothing to do to counsel me to marry and in this respect there is never a man here whose advise I would less make use of than thine and this he spake because the other was taken notice of to be an Adulterer And whereas thou thinkest that I envy the fame and renown of Agamemnon thou art fouly deceived Yet let me tell thee that whereas he was ten Years in winning one City I on the contrary by putting the Lacedemonians to flight in one day have delivered not only our own City but all Greece from their slavery But thanks be to you My Lords Thebans speaking to all the Assembly by your assistance I did it and thereby overthrew the power and government of our insulting enemies Yet after all his brave deeds both he and Pelopidas were ill rewarded for all their good service by their ingrateful Citizens For at their return from Laconia they with some other of the six Counsellers were accused that after the time that their Government was expired they retained their power four months after the time appointed by the Law With much ado Pelopidas was quitted But Epaminondas willed all his other Companions to lay the fault upon him who by his Authority forced them to it and instead of excusing himself he told them all the brave exploits which he had done at that time Adding withal that he was willing and ready to die if they so pleased Provided that they wrote upon his Tomb that Epaminondas was put to death because he had compelled the Thebans against their wills to burn the Country of Laconia which in five hundred years before had never been plundered That he had repeopled the City of Messina with Inhabitants two hundred and thirty years after it had been laid wast by the Lacedemonians That he had brought all the People and Towns of Arcadia to be as one Body in League together and had set all the Greeks at liberty and all these things said he we did in that Journey The Judges when they heard this worthy and true defence they all arose from their seats and laughed heartily and would not take up their Balls to Ballot against him But for the second accusation to wit that he had shewed favour to the Lacedemonians for his own particular honour he would make no particular answer to it before the People but rising out of the Theater he passed through the Assembly and went into the Park of Exercises Upon this the People being incensed against him refused to chuse him into Office as they had wont to do though there was a great need of him and created other Counsellers to go into Thessaly and the more as they thought to despite him they commanded him to go that expedition as a private Souldier which he refused not but went very willingly Pelopidas being sent a second time into Thessaly to make peace between the People and Alexander the Tyrant of Pheres was by this Tyrant not regarding that he was an Ambassadour and a Theban committed to Prison together with Ismenias Upon this the Thebans being justly offended sent an Army of eight thousand Foot and five hundred Horse against him howbeit under the conduct of unskilful Captains who wanting judgment to use their advantages thought good to return home without doing any thing But as they went back Alexander being stronger in Horse than they pressed hard upon their Reer killing some and wounding others so that the Thebans knowing neither how to go forward nor backward were in great distress and that which aggravated their misery was that their Victuals were almost spent Being thus almost out of hope ever to get home in safety Epaminondas being at that time a common Souldier among the Foot both the Captains and Souldiers earnestly intreated him to help to redress this disorder He thereupon chose certain Footmen that were light armed and all the Horsemen and with these putting himself into the Rere of the Army he so lustily repulsed the Enemy that the rest of the Army afterwards marched in great safety and still making Head as occasion served and keeping his Troops in good order he at last brought them all well home This brave Act Crowned him with new Glory confounded his enemies and made him well spoken of every where and by it he obtained the love and good will of the Citizens who set great Fines upon the heads of those Captains who had behaved themselves so unworthily in that expedition And now the People seeing that by so many worthy deeds he had stopped the slanderous mouths and confuted the accusations of his ill willers they chose him again their Captain General to conduct a new Army into Thessaly At his coming all the Country wonderfully rejoyced only the Tyrant with his Captains and Friends were exceedingly dejected and possessed with fear being Thunderstruck with the fame of so Noble a Captain and his Subjects had a good mind to rise up against him hoping that they should shortly see the Tyrant fully recompenced for all the wicked and cursed deeds that he had done amongst them Epaminondas when he came into Thessaly preferred the safety and deliverance of his Friend Pelopidas before his own Honour and Glory and fearing lest Alexander when he should see himself and his State in danger to be overthrown should in his rage revenge himself upon Pelopidas he therefore purposely drew this War out in length marching often about him but never setting upon him in good earnest often seeming to make preparations and yet still delaying and this he did to mollifie the heart of this Tyrant and not to provoke to the danger of his Friend the inhumane and unbridled passion of this cruel Bloud-sucker Yet he being a Monster compounded of cruelty and cowardliness was so afraid of the very name and reputation of Epaminondas that he presently sent some to him to excuse his fact and to crave Peace But Epaminondas was not willing that his Thebans should make Peace and Alliance with so wicked a man only he was content to grant him a Truce for thirty Days upon the delivering to him
and of greatness of spirit and courage He so marshalled his Army that all hands were brought to fight where every one might do the best service His Darters and Slingers he sent before to encounter the Roman Velites His Africans Armed after the Roman manner made the two Wings very deep in File Between these he ranged the Gauls and Spaniards armed the first vvith broad Swords and the other vvith short and vvell-pointed Blades The Gauls vvere strong of Body and furious in giving the Charge but soon vvearied spending their violence at the first brunt The Spaniards vvere less eager but more wary These Hannibal caused to advance leaving void the place wherein they had stood and into vvhich they might fall back if they vvere overhardly pressed Between the left Batallion by the River side vvere the Gauls and Spanish Horse under Asdrubal On the right Wing vvas Maharbal vvith the Numidian Horse Hannibal himself vvith his Brother Mago led the Rear His Army this day vvas ten thousand Horse and forty thousand Foot His Enemies had two to one against him in Foot and he five to three against them in Horse The Roman Army vvas marshelled after their usual manner On the right hand vvere the Roman Horsemen under the Consul Paulus On the left Wing vvas Varro with the rest of the Horse vvich were of the Latines and other associates and Servilius had the leading of the Battel The Sun was newly riâ—en and offended neither part the Carthaginians having their faces Northward and the Romans Southward After some light Skirmirshes betvveen the tvvo Forlorns Asdrubal brake in upon the Consul Paulus and after a rough charge and much execution done the Roman Horse vvere overborn and driven by plain force to a staggering recoil When the Battels came to joyning the Roman Legionaries found vvork enough and more than enough to break that Body upon vvhich at first they fell yet at last Hannibals men vvere forced to a hasty retreat But vvhilst the Legions follovving their supposed Victory rushed on upon those that stood before them and thereby engaged themselves deeply vvithin the principal strength of the Enemy the two African Battalions on either side advanced so far that getting beyond the Rear of them they almost vvholly inclosed them Asdrubal having broken the Troops of the Roman Horse follovved them along upon the River side beating dovvn and killing most of them vvithout regard of taking Prisoners The Consul Paulus left his Horse and cast himself amongst the Legions as hoping by them to make good the day But he failed of his expectation Yet did he cheer up his men as vvell as he could both by Words and Example slaying many vvith his ovvn hands The like did Hannibal amongst his Carthaginians in the same part of the Battel but vvith better success For the Consul received a blovv from a Sling that vvounded him much and though a Troop of Roman Gentlemen did their best to save him from further harm yet vvas he so hardly laid at that by vvounds and vveakness he vvas compelled to forsake his Horse vvhereupon all his Company also allighted Hannibal being near and seeing this said pleasantly I had rather he would have delivered them to me bound hand and foot meaning that he had them almost as safe as if they had been so bound All this vvhile Varro vvith his associates in the left Wing vvas marvellously troubled with Maharbal and his Numidians who beating up and down upon the great Sandy plain raised a foul dust which by a strong South wind was driven into the eyes and mouths of the Romans These using the advantage both of their number and lightness wearied the Consul and his followers exceedingly neither giving nor sustaining any charge but continually making offers and then wheeling about Yet at the first they seemed to promise him a happy day of it For when the Battels were even ready to joyn five hundred of these Numidians came pricking away from their Fellows with their Shields on their backs as was the manner of those which yielded and throwing down their Arms yielded themselves Varro had no leasure then to examine them but bad them to rest quietly behind his Army till all was done These crafty Marchants did as he bad them for a while till they had opportunity to put their design in execution Under their Jackets they had short Swords and Poniards with which and other Weapons that they gathered up of those that were slain they flew upon the hindmost of the Romans whilst all eyes were bent another way where they did much mischief and raised great terrour Thus Hannibal in a plain ground found means to lay an Ambush at the back of his enemies The last blow that put an end to all was given by the same hand that gave the first Asdrubal having routed and slain all the Roman Horse save the Company of A milius that joyned themselves to the Foot did not stay to charge upon the face of the Legions but fetching a compass he came up to the Numidiâ— ns with whom he joyned and gave upon Terentius This fearful Cloud prognosticated a dismal storm wherefore Terentius his followers having wearied themselves much in doing little and seeing more work towards then they were like to sustain thought it their saffest way to secure themselves by present flight The Consul also was as careful to provide for his own security as were they Now he found that it was one thing to talk of Hannibal at Rome and another to encounter him Close at the heels of him and his flying Troops were Numidians appointed by Asdrubal to the pursute as fittest for that service Asdrubal himself with his Gauls and Spanish Horse fetching a compass fell upon the backs of the Romans who were almost surrounded and much distressed before Here began a miserable slaughter the vanquished multitude thronging each other not finding which way to turn Aemilius who could not sit his Horse before whilst the spaces were open by which he might have withdrawn himself was now unable to fly his way being stopt by a throng of his miserable followers and heaps of Bodies that fell apace in that great Carnage In this terrible overthrow dyed all the Roman Foot save two or three thousand who escaped into their lesser Camp and the Night following about four thousand Foot and two hundred Horse fled into Canusium The Camps were both yielded to Hannibal by those who yet remained in them Terentius the Consul recovered Venusia with seventy at most in his Company the rest of his Troops were scattered over the Fields and gathered up by the Numidians and made Prisoners There died in this great Battel of Cannae besides the Consul Paulus two of the Roman Questors twenty one Collonels eighty Senators or such as had born Office amongst whom was Servilius the last years Consul and Minutius late Master of the Horse and about eight thousand were taken Prisoners Hannibal lost about four thousand Gauls fifteen hundred
a Boy that came from School but the other day must now in hast be a Captain the rest of the Citizens were so incensed against him that they ran upon him and slew him Thus Pompey being but twenty three years old not tarrying for Commission from any man took upon himself Authority and causing a Tribunal to be set up in the midst of the Market place of Auximum a great and populous City he commanded the two Brethren called the Ventidians the chiefest men of the City but his Enemies presently to avoid the City Then began he to leavy men to constitute Captains Lieutenants Sergeants and such other Officers as appertain to an Army And from thence he went to the other neighbouring Cities where he did the like so that in a short space he had gotten three compleat Legions together as also Ammunition Carts and all other necessaries for them In this sort did Pompey advance towards Sylla not in hast as a man that was afraid to be met with by the way but by small Journeys lodging still where he might have the best advantage against an Enemy causing the Cities wheresoever he came to declare against Carbo and for Sylla Yet three Captains who adhered to Carbo Carinna Caelius and Brutus did in three several places compass him in on every side thinking to have destroyed him Pompey was nothing amazed hereat but marshalling his Army he first set upon Brutus having placed his Horsemen amongst whom himself was in Person before the Battel of his Footmen and when the Men at Arms of his Enemy who were Gauls came to charge upon him he singled out the chiefest amongst them and ran him through with his Spear and slew him The other Gauls seeing their Champion slain turned their backs and in their flight over ran their own Footmen so that at last they all fled for their lives Then the Cities round about being terrified with this overthrow came in and yielded themselves to Pompey Afterwards Scipio also the Consul coming against Pompey to fight him when the Battels were ready to joyn before they threw their Darts Scipio's Souldiers saluted Pompey and went over to his side whereupon Scipio was faign to fly And lastly Carbo himself sending divers Troops of Horse against him by the Riuer Arsis Pompey charged them so furiously and drave them into such a place of disadvantage that being neither able to fight nor fly they delivered up themselves with their Horses Arms and all to his mercy Sylla all this while heard nothing of these overthrows which Pompey had given to his Enemies but understanding his danger being environed with so many Arms fearing lest he should miscarry he made hast and marched to his relief Pompey being informed of Sylla's approach commanded his Captains to Arm themselves and to set their Army in good array that their General Sylla might see how bravely they were appointed For he expected that Sylla would do him great honour as indeed he did even beyond his expectation For when Sylla saw him afar off coming towards him and his Army marshelled in such good order of Battel and his men so bravely advancing themselves being elated with their late Victories he allighted from his Horse and when Pompey came to do his duty to him and called him Emperour or Soveraign Prince Sylla resaluted him with the same Title which made all that were present to wonder that he would give so honourable a name to so young a man as Pompey was who as yet was not made a Senator Considering also that Sylla himself did now contend for that Title and Dignity with Marius and Scipio The intertainment also that Sylla gave him afterwards was every way answerable to the first kindness that he shewed him For when Pompey at any time came to him he would rise up and put off his Cap to him which he did not to any other Noble Man that was about him Yet was not Pompey puffed up with all this nor the prouder for it Shortly after Sylla would have sent Pompey into Gaul now France because that Metellus the Roman General there was thought to have done no exploit worthy of so great an Army as he had with him But Pompey answered that there was no reason to displace an ancient Captain that was of greater fame and experience then himself Yet said he if Metellus himself be contented and will desire it of me I will willingingly go and help him to end this War Metellus being informed hereof wrote for him to come Pâ—mpey then entering Gaul did of himself wonderful exploits and so revived the courage and valour of old Metellus that the War prospered exceedingly in their Hands But these were but Pompey's first beginnings and were wholly obscured by the luster of those many Wars and great Battels which he fought afterwards When Sylla had overcome all Italy and was proclaimed Dictator he rewarded all the great Captains and Lieutenants that had taken his part and advanced them to honourable places and Dignities in the Commonwealth freely granting whatsoever they requested of him But for Pompey highly esteeming him for his Valour and thinking that he would be a great support to him in all his Wars he sought by some means to ally him to himself Metella his Wife being also of the same opinion they both perswaded him to put away his Wife Antistia and to marry Aemilia who was Daughter to Metella by a former Husband though she was married to another and now with child by him These marriages were wicked and Tyrannical fitter for Sylla's time than agreeable to Pompey's nature and condition And truly it was a shameful thing for Pompey to forsake his Wife Antistia who for his sake a little before had lost her Father that was murthered in the very Senate House upon suspition that he took part with Sylla for his Son Pompey's sake and to take Aemilia from her lawful Husband by whom she was great vvith child and to vvhom she had been married not long before vvhich also caused the Mother of Antistia to lay violent hands upon her self seeing her Daughter to receive such open and notorious wrong But God who hates such injustice and cruelty followed Pompey vvith this Judgment that his Wife Aemilia died miserably presently after in childbirth in his House About this time news was brought to Sylla that Perpenna was gotten into Sicily and had brought all that Island into subjection to him where he might safely intertain all Sylla's Enemies That Carbo also kept the Seas thereabouts with a certain number of Ships That Domitius was gone into Africk to whom resorted many other Noblemen who were escaped from the proscriptions and outlaries of Sylla Against all these was Pompey sent by his Father in Law with a great Army who no sooner was arrived in Sicily but Perpenna fled and left the Island to him Then did Pompey deal friendly and favourably with all the Citizens vvhich before
River Euphrates and lodged hard by him Methridates prepared suspecting that Pompey would that Night storm his Camp but Pompey thought it not safe to fight in the dark and therefore resolved rather to encompass him that he might not fly and to fight him in the morning but Pompey's old Captains would needs fight presently which Pompey at last consented to and the Romans ran upon them with great cries which so affrighted their Enemies that they presently turned their backs and fled so that the Romans slew ten thousand of them and took their Camp Methridates himself with eight hundred Horse-men made a Lane through the Romans and so escaped Yet as soon as they were passed his men dispersed some one way some another that himself was left but with three Persons only whereof Hypsicratea a manlike woman was one who never left him but always looked to his Horse being armed after the Persian manner till he came to a strong Castle called Inora where was store of Gold and Silver and the Kings chiefest Treasure Here Methridates divided all his richest Apparel amongst his Friends and to each of them a mortal Poyson to carry about them whereby they might prevent falling into their Enemies hands alive Pompey built a City in the place where he gained this Victory betwixt the Rivers of Euphrates and Araxes situate in Armenia the Less which he called Nicopolis This City he gave by the consent of his Souldiers to such of them as were old lame sick wounded or disbanded to whom many of the Neighbours afterwards repairing the Nicopolitans lived after the manner of the Cappadocians From hence Methridates had intended to have gone into Armenia but King Tigranes prohibited it and promised an hundred Tallents to him that could kill him Passing therefore by the head of Euphrates he fled through the Country of Colchide In the mean time Pompey invaded Armenia being solicited thereto by Tigranes the younger who rebelled against his Father and met Pompey at the River of Araxes which falleth into the Caspian Sea Then did Pompey and he march forward taking in such Towns as yielded unto them Tigranes who had been much weakned by Lucullus understanding that Pompey was of a mild and Gentle nature he put his Souldiers into Garrisons and himself with his Friends and Kinsman went to meet Pompey When he came near his Camp being on Horseback there came two Sergeants to him commanding him to alight which he did accordingly and put off his Sword and gave it them and when he came before Pompey he shamefully fell upon the ground and imbraced his knees but Pompey took him by the hand raised him up and made him sit down by him on the one side and his Son on the other saying to them both As for your former losses you may thank Lucullus for them who hath taken from you Syria Phoenicia Cilicia Galatia and Sophena but for what you have left till my coming you shall enjoy it paying to the Romans six thousand Tallents for the wrong you have done them Provided also that your Son shall have Sophena for his part Tigranes accepted of the conditions whereupon the Romans saluted him King and he gave great sums of money amongst the Army But his Son was much discontented and when Pompey sent for him to come to Sup with him he refused wherefore Pompey imprisoned him and kept him to be led in his Triumph at Rome Shortly after Phraates King of Parthia sent Ambassadors to desire this young Prince who was his Son in Law and to tell Pompey that Euphrates must be the uttermost bounds of his Conquest Pompey answered that Tygranes had more right to his Son than Phraates and as for limiting his borders he would do it with Justice So leaving Afranius to keep Armenia he passed by other Nations that inhabited about the Mountain of Caucasus having Methridates in chase Two of the chiefest of these Nations were the Iberians and the Albanians near to the Caspian Sea These upon his request suffered him to pass through their Countries But Winter hasting on apace these Barbarous People raised an Army of fourty thousand fighting men and passed over the River of Cyrnus Pompey could have hindred their passage but yet let them come over and then fought with them and overcame them and slew multitudes of them in the Field whereupon they submitted and made peace with him Then Pompey went against the Iberians who took part with Methridates They were more and better Souldiers than the Albanians they were never subject to the Medes and Persians nor to Alexander the Great These Pompey overcame also in a bloody fight and slew nine thousand of them and took ten thousand Prisoners From thence he went into the Country of Colchide where Servilius met him by the River of Phasis with his Fleet with which he kept the Pontick Sea He found it a hard work to pursue Methridates any further who had hid himself amongst a People that bordered upon the Lake of Maeotis He heard also that the Albanians had rebelled wherefore he went back to be revenged on them passing over the River of Cyrnus again yet with much difficulty because the Barbarous People had made a defence on the further side by felling and laying many Trees across all along the Bank of the River and when he was got over he was to travel through a dry Country a great way before he came to any Water whereupon he caused ten thousand Goats skins to be filled with Water and so marched over it At the River Abas he met with his Enemies who had now an Army of one hundred and twenty thousand Footmen and ten thousand Horsemen but Armed only in Beast skins There General was Cosis the Kings Brother In the Battel this Cosis flew upon Pompey and throwing a Dart at him wounded him in the flank but Pompey ran him through with a Lance and slew him Some say that some Amazons assisted this People against Pompey After this Battel Pompey going back to invade the Country of Hyrcania as far as the Caspian Sea was forced to retreat by reason of an infinite number of deadly Serpents that he met withal wherefore he went back into Armenia the less to which place he had many rich presents sent him from the Kings of the Elymians and the Medes to whom he returned courteous answers Yet he sent Afranius with part of his Army against the King of Parthia who had much harrased and plundred the Country of Tygranes and he drave him out At this time the Concubines of Methridates were brought to him but he would not touch any one of them but sent them all home again to their Parents and Friends being most of them the Daughters of Princes and other Noble Captains Only Stratonice whom Methridates loved above all the rest with whom he had left the custody of his Castle where lay all his Treasures of Gold and Silver was but a Singers
them but went presently and charged his Infantry and especially where they had no guard of Horsemen by which means they might be the easiler compassed about Thus they being charged by these in the Flank and in the Van also by the tenth Legion finding themselves contrary to their expectation compassed about by their Enemies whereas they thought to have environed them they could no longer make resistance but were put to the rout also When Pompey saw the dust flying up in the air and thereby conjectured the flight of his Horsemen he was like a man amazed and at his wits end forgetting that he was Pompey the Great and so retiring into his Camp he fat silent for a good while till such time as his Enemies entered pell mell into it together with his men that fled and then he said no more but What! Into our Camp And so rising up he put on a Gown fit for his sad condition and secretly stole out of the Camp His other Legions also fled and Caesars men made a huge slaughter of the Tent keepers and of their Servants that guarded the Camp there were slain about six thousand But at the taking of the Camp Caesars Souldiers plainly saw the madness and folly of Pompeys men For their Pavillions and Tents were full of Nosegays and Garlands of Mirtle and their Couches covered with Flowers their Tables full of Bowls of Wine as men prepared to sacrifice for joy rather than to arm themselves to fight When Pompey was gone a little way from his Camp he forsook his Horse having very few with him and perceiving that none pursued him he walked fair and softly on Foot having his head full of thoughts For he for thirty four years together used always to be Victorious and therefore now it was strange to him to flie He now law how in one hours space he had lost all that Glory and Riches which he had purchased by so many great Victories He that not long before was followed and obeyed by so many thousand men of War by so many Nations and Horsemen by such a great Fleet upon the Sea was now faln into a low and poor estate with so small a train that his very Enemies who sought him knew him not When he had thus passed the City of Larissa he came into the Valley of Tempe where being a thirst he fell down on his belly and drank of the River then rising up he went and came to the Sea side and lay all Night in a Fishers Cottage The next Morning by break a day he went into a little Boat upon the River having some Freemen with him and as for his Slaves he dismissed them and bad them go boldly unto Caesar and not to be afraid Thus rowing up and down the shore side in this little Boat he espied a great Ship in the Sea lying at Anchor which was ready to sail away The Master of the Ship was one Peticius a Roman who though he was not acquainted with Pompey yet he knew him well by sight Some of the Marriners told Peticius that they saw a little Boat coming towards them wherein were some men that held up their hands and made signs to them Peticius looking knew Pompey and commanded his Marriners to let down the Boat wherewith giving Pompey his hand he received him into the Ship and those that were with him and then hoised Sail. With Pompey their were both the Lentuli and Faonius Presently after they espied King Dejotarus coming in a Boat towards them and making signs to be taken in which accordingly they did At Supper time the Master made ready such meat as he had aboard And Faonius seeing Pompey for want of attendants washing himself he ran to him and anointed him and ever after waited upon him doing such Offices as Servants do to their Masters washing his Feet and preparing his food for him Pompey then passing by the City of Amphipolis sailed to the Isle of Lesbos to fetch his Wife Cornelia and his Son who were at Mitilene and having there cast Anchor in the Rode he sent a Servant into the City to his Wife whose Message did not answer her expectation For she had still been put in hope by Letters of her Husbands good success and that the War was well ended The Messenger finding her thus confident thought not fit to salute her but rather by his Tears discovered the great misfortune of Pompey and at last told her that she must dispatch quickly if she would see her Husband with one Ship only and that not his own but borrowed The young Lady hearing this fell down in a swound before him but after she was come to her self remembring that it was now no time to weep and lament she went speedily through the City to the Sea side There Pompey meeting her took her in his Arms and embraced her But she finking under him fell down and at last said Out alas Wo worth my hard Fortune not thine good Husband who now see thee with one poor Ship who before thou marriedst me the Unfortunate Cornelia was wont to sail in these Seas attended with five hundred Alas Why art thou come to see me and didst not rather leave me to my accursed destiny seeing my self am the cause of this thy evil Alas How happy had I been if I had died before I heard of the death of my first Husband Publius Crassus slain in the Parthian War And how wise had I been if according to my determination I then had slain my self whereas I yet live to bring this misfortune upon Pompey the Great To this Pompey answered Peradventure my Cornelia thou hast known a better fortune which hath also deceived thee because she hath continued longer with me than her manner is But since we are born men we must patiently bear these troubles and once more try what she will do For it is not impossible for us again to change this adversity for prosperity no more than it was to fall from our late prosperity into this Calamity When Cornelia heard him say so she sent into the City for her houshould stuff and Family The Metilenians also came to salute Pompey praying him to come and refresh himself in their City But Pompey refused and advised them to obey the Conquerour for said he Caesar is of a just and curteous Nature Then Pompey turning to Cratippus the Philosopher who came amongst the Citizens to visit him made his complaint to him and reasoned a little with him about Divine Providence Then taking his Wife and Friends he hoised sail and departed staying no where but to take in fresh provision and water The first City that he touched at was Atalia in the Country of Pamphilia Thither came to him some Gallies out of Cilicia and many of his Friends and Souldiers insomuch as he had now sixty Senators in his Company Then understanding that his Army by Sea was yet whole and that Cato
yielded themselves and from thence he conducted his Army against the Nervians the stoutest Souldiers of all the Belgae These dwelling in a Woody Country had conveyed their Wives Children and Goods into a very great Forrest remote from their Enemies and being above eighty thousand fighting men they watching their opportunity set upon Caesar when his Army was out of order and little expecting them At the first charge they brake the Roman Horsemen and encompassing the seventh and twelfth Legions they slew all the Captains and had not Caesar himself with his Shield on his Arme run amongst them making a lane as he went and the tenth Legion seeing him in that danger followed him with all speed there had not a Roman escaped alive that day But looking upon Caesars Valour his men fought desperately even beyond their abilities and yet could they not make the Nervi fly but they fought it out bravely till most of them were slain in the Field five hundred only of them escaping Yet was it a bloody Battel to the Romans for that of four hundred Gentlemen and Counsellers of Rome there were but three saved The Senate of Rome made great signs of joy for these Victories by sacrificing to the Gods Plays c. and as Caesars fame was encreased hereby so he wan upon the Peoples love And always when his affairs would permit he used to Winter by the River Po to give direction about his affairs at Rome And truly not only such as sued for Offices at Rome obtained them by Caesars money and therefore imployed all their power to promote his Interest but the chiefest also of the Nobility went to Luke unto him insomuch as at one time there have been seen before his Gates one hundred and twenty Sergeants carrying Rods and Axes before the Magistrates that have waited upon him and two hundred Senators besides Here they held a Councel wherein it was agreed that Pompey and Crassus should again be chosen Consuls for the year following and that Caesar should have more money delivered him to pay his Army and that his Government should be prorogued for five years longer Then Caesar returning into Gaul to his Army found there a great War begun For two Potent Nations of the Germans having passed over the River of Rhine to conquer new Lands Caesar fought with them which himself thus discribeth These Barbarous People saith he after they had sent Ambassadours to me to desire peace contrary to the Law of Armes came and set upon me as I travelled by the way insomuch as eight hundred of their men overthrew five thousand of my Horse-men who nothing at all expected their comming and going on to describe their farther proceedings he saith that they again sent Ambassadours to him to mock him whom he kept Prisoners and then setting upon the Enemies who were about four hundred thousand Persons he slew most of them saying a few that flying gat back over the River of Rhine and so escaped Caesar taking this occasion and being ambitious to have the honour of being the first Roman that ever passed this River with an Army he built a Bridg over it though the River were very broad and ran with a violent stream and especially there where he built the Bridg and the Barbarians casting great Trees into the River they were carried down with such violence that by their great blows they did sore shake the Posts of the Bridg to prevent which and to abate the fury of the stream Caesar caused a Pile to be made a good way above the Bridg which was forcibly rammed into the bottom of the River so that in ten days space he had finished his Bridg of goodly Carpenters work A very rare invention as could be possibly devised Then passing his Army over this Bridg he found none that durst fight with him For the Suevians who were the most War-like People of the Germans had retired themselves and Goods into great Valleys Bogs Woods and Forrests Caesar therefore having burnt up the Enemies Country and confirmed the League with the confederates of the Romans he returned back into Gaul About this time also he made a Journey into England being the first that sailed the Western Ocean with an Army and that passed through the Atlantick Sea to make War in this great and Famous Island and was the first that enlarged the Roman Empire beyond the habitable Earth For he twice passed the Seas out of France into England where he fought many Battels with the Brittans in which he did more hurt to the Enemies than enrich his own men therefore this War had not such success as he expected which made him only to take pledges of the King and to impose a yearly Tribute upon him and so returned back into Gaul He was no sooner landed there but he met with Letters which advertised from Rome of the death of his Daughter the Wife of Pompey for which they both of them were very sorrowful and by this means the league betwixt Pompey and Caesar was broken to the great prejudice of the Common-wealth Caesars Army being very great he sent it into several Garrisons for their Winter Quarters and returned into Italy as he used to do During which time all Gaul rebelled again and had raised great Armies who were led by one Ambiorix These did first set upon the Garrisons of Catta and Titurius whom they slew together with all their men Then they went with sixty thousand men and besieged the Garrison which Quintus Cicero had in charge and had almost taken it by storm Ciceroes Souldiers being all wounded yet they shewed such valour that they did more than men in their own defence This news comming to Caesar who was far off he returned with all possible speed and levying seven thousand Souldiers he hasted to relieve Cicero that was in great distress The Gauls that besieged him hearing of Caesars comming arose and went to meet him making little account of his small number Caesar to entrap them still drew back making as though he fled from them but still lodging in places of safety and commanded his men that they should not stir out to skirmish with them but rather to raise the ramparts of his Camp and to fortifie the Gates as men affraid that their Enemies might the less esteem them But at length he took the opportunity when the Enemies came in a disordered manner to assault his Camp and then sallying out he routed and slew a great number of them This Act suppressed all the rebellions of the Gauls in those parts Himself also went in the midst of Winter in those places where they did Rebel for now he had a new supply out of Italy of three whole Legions to fill up the rooms of those that were slain of which Pompey lent him two and the other Legion was raised about the River Po. Shortly after there brake out the greatest and most dangerous War that ever he had
of the Enemies Horse the Vant-curriers of the Turks Army to pass by him he following them in the tail charged them home the other also which before retired now turned again upon them so that the Turks seeing themselves thus beset and hardly laid to both before and behind as men discouraged fled but in their flight were most of them slain the rest of them were taken Prisoners This was the first encounter between the Turks and the Parthians All the Prisoners taken were by the Prince sent as a Present to Tamerlane and amongst the rest the Bassa of Natolia who led those Troops of whom Tamerlane earnestly demanded what caused his Master Bajazet so little to esteem him as to shew so great a contempt of his Army Which saith he he shall find strong enough to abate his Pride To this the Bassa answered That his Lord was the Sun upon Earth which could not endure any corrival And that he rather was astonished to see how he from so far a Country had undertaken so dangerous a journey to hinder the fortune of his Lord in whose favour the heavens as he said did bend themselves to further his greatness and unto whom all the world subjected it self and that he commited great folly in going about to resist the same Unto this proud Speech Tamerlane replied That he was sent from heaven to punish his insolency and to teach him that the proud are hated of God whose promise is to pull down the mighty and to advance the lowly As for thy self said he thou hast already felt though I pity thy mishap what the valour of my Parthian Horse is against thy Turkish and I have already caused thy Master to raise his Siege before Constantinople and to look to his affairs here in Asia He also asked him whether his Master did come resolved to give him Battel Assure your self said he that there is nothing that he more desireth and would to God that I might acknowledg your greatness in giving me leave to assist my Lord in that Battel Good leave have thou said Tamerlane go thy ways and tell thy Lord that thou hast seen me and that in the Battel he shall find me on Horse-back there where he shall see a green Ensign displayed The Bassa thanked him and swore that next unto his Lord he vowed unto him his service And so returning he related unto Bajazet how he had seen Tamerlane and reported to him truly all that he had willed him to say not forgetting above all to praise his courtesie and bounty who besides that he had frankly set him at liberty had also given him a very fair Horse well furnished although he well knew that he was to serve against himself To this Bajazet answered no more but that he would shortly make trial of him and that he doubted not but before he had done with him he should make him acknowledg his folly The next day the two Armies drew neer together and encamped within a league the one of the other where all the night long you might have heard a noise of Horses which filled the heavens with their neighings and the air with sounds and every man thought the night long that they might come to the trial of their valours and the gaining of their desires The Scythians a people no less greedy than needy talked of nothing but the spoil the proud Parthians of attaining honour the poor Christians of their deliverance from an insulting adversary all which was to be gained by the next days Victory Every man during the night-time speaking according to his humour All which Tamerlane walking privately up and down in the Camp heard and much rejoyced to see the hope which his Souldiers had already conceived of the Victory and so after the second watch returning into his Pavilion and there casting himself upon a Carpet he purposed to sleep a while but his cares not suffering him so to do he then as his manner was called for a Book wherein was contained the Lives of his Fathers and Ancestors and of other valiant Worthies which he used ordinarily to read in as then also he did not vainly to deceive the time but to make use of it by imitating that which by them was worthily done and declinining such dangers as they by their rashness or oversight fell into After which having slumbred a little he commanded Axalla to be sent for to him who presently came accompanied with divers other Great Lords and Captains of the Army with whom after he had consulted a while about the order of the Battel himself presently mounted on Horseback and sent each of them to their charge to see their orders put in execution At which very instant he received intelligence that the Enemy was marching forwards and come to chuse his Ground for the Battel whose order of marching Tamerlane was very desirous to see that so he might marshal his own Army accordingly For said he I do not so much trust to the Lions skin wherein I wrap mine arm but that withall I will make use of the Foxes therein to wrap my head which my Grandfather neglected to his overthrow in a Battel against the Persians For being in a place of advantage he went out of it to seek his Enemy that was lodged strongly contrary to the advise of all his Captains which proved his ruin Then did he cause three thousand Horsemen to advance forward with charge to begin the skirmish himself following after to lodg every part of his Forces in such places as he had foreseen to be fittest for his advantage And seeing the Turkish Janizaries marching in a square Battel in the midst of the Army and upon the two Frons two great squadrons of Horsemen which seemed to be about thirty thousand and another which advanced before and covered the Battalion of the Janizaries he thought this their order to be very good and hard to be broken and therefore turning himself to Axalla he said I had thought this day to have fought on foot but I see that it behoves me now to fight on Horseback to encourage my Souldiers to open that great Battalion of the Enemies And my will is that my men come forwards to me so soon as may be for I will advance forward with a hundred thousand Footmen fifty thousand upon each of my two wings and in the midst of them forty thousand of my best Horsemen and my pleasure is that after I have tried the force of these men they come back into my Avantguard of whom I will dispose and fifty thousand Horsemen more in three bodies whom thou shalt command which I will assist with eighty thousand Horse wherein shall be mine own person having an hundred thousand Footmen behind me who shall march in two Squadrons and for my Arearward I appoint forty thousand Horse and fifty thousand Footmen who shall not march but to my aid And I will make choise of