which had fought and others to descend from the Hils and some to stay vpon the tops he marcheth against the Enemy with his Ensignes putting the Elephants before And when as the Macedonians had no â—duertisement by Trumpets and Clarons and that they could not make it good nor receiue any true order of a battallion aswell for the difficulty of the place as for that the Combattants had the forme of goers and not of an order of Battaile and that there was no further meanes to fight single or hand to hand with the Romans Being also terrified and much iniured with the Elephants and likewise separated one from another they marcht presently away Wherefore many Romans pursued them continually and slew them One of the Captaines Milleneirs being of this Troupe hauing but twenty Ensignes considering at the very instant what was to be done did great seruice for the obtaining of an absolute Victory For when he saw those that accompanied Philip assailed the others often and grieuously to annoy the left Wing hee turnes to them that were in distresse leauing those which vanquished on the right Wing and charged the Macedonians in the Reare When as they of the Battallion could not make resistance fighting man to man this other was at their backes killing those they incountred there beeing no man that could succour them so as in the end they were forced to turne head and to abandon their Armes Although that Philip as wee haue sayd in the beginning had a great hope in the Victory making a coniecture in his owne conceite yet seeing the Macedonians to abandon and leaue their Armes suddainly and the Enemies to charge in the Reare hee parts speedily from the Battaile with some Horse and Foote to consider fully of the Combate When as he imagined that the Romans by their pursuite would approach to the right Wing on the tops of the Hills hee seekes to draw together as many Thaesiens and Macâ—donians as possibly hee could When as Tytus pursued the Chase and had discouered the left Wing of the Macedonians to assâ—ile the toppes of the Hills hee stayed For that the Enemies held their Iauelings right vp The which the Macedonians are accustomed to do when they yeild or retire from the Enemy When hee had knowne the cause of this accident hee restraines his men being willing to pardon those that were amazed with feare But whilst that Tytus considered of these things some of the fore most Charge them from aboue and kill many few escaped abandoning their Armes This Battaile being thus ended of all sides and the Romans hauing the victory Philip retires towards Tempe and comming the first day to the Tower of Alexander hee past the Night there The day following passing to Gonnes hee entred Tempe staying there for those which should escape in the flight When as the Romans had pursued the Chase for a time some strip the dead others draw the Prisoners together and a great part goe to force the Enemies Campe. There they finde the Etoliens who had forced it before for spoile and imagining that they were frustrated of a booty which was due and did belong vnto them they beganne to accuse the Etoliens before the Generall and to complaine that hee had imposed the danger and the burthen of the Battaile vpon them giuing the profite and benefit vnto others yet being returned vnto their Campe they were somewhat pacified The day following they assemble and gather together the Prisoners and the rest of the spoile and booty and from thence they tooke their course towards Larissa There dyed in this battaile about seauen hundred Romans and neerâ— vpon eight thousand Macedonians the Prisoners were not lesse then fiue Thousand Besides many that escaped by flight Thus ended this Battaile giuen betwixt Philip and the Romans in Thessaly at the Dogshead Of the difference of the Roman and Macedonian Armes I Had promised in the sixt Booke to make a Comparison of the Roman and Macedonian Armes and of the ordring of their Battailes and wherein they differ eyther worse or better Now I will indeauour to performe my promise As in former times the Macedonian Armies haue giuen good proofes of their Valour hauing Vanquished the Asiatiques and Grecians and that the Romans haue surmounted the Affricans as much as all the Westerne Nations of Europe and that in our time the conferrence of these Armies and men is to be made not for once but for many times it will be commodious and profitable to seeke out their difference and for what reason the Romans vanquish hauing alwayes the vpper hand in Martiall Combats To the end that acknowledging it from Fortune wee should with reason call them happy Victors as the ignorant vsually do But knowing the true cause wee should commend and holde these Captaines for miracnlous In regard of the Battailes giuen betwixt Hannibal and the Romans and their losse it is not needfull to vse any long Discourse The Romans without doubt did not suffer those losses for want of Armes and the order of their Battailes but in regard of the good direction and pollicy of Hannibal We declared this when we related the Battailes themselues The end of the Warre confirmes our opinion For when as the Romans had found a Commaunder like vnto Hannibal they suddainely were Victors So doth this that when as Hannibal had Vanquished the Romans first he furnished the common Souldiers better with the Roman Armes reiecting their owne Hauing vsurped them in the beginning he afterwards made continuall vse of them Pyrrhus in like manner did not onely vse the Italians Armes but also their ordering of Armies when as by change he sets in the head of the Romans an Ensigne and Band of the Battallion Yet hee could not ouer-come nor vanquish by this meanes the end of the Combate beeing alwaies doubt to the one and the other It shal be therefore necessary and conuenient to Treaâ—e thereof first to the end that nothing may seeme any way contrary vnto our opinion but I will beginne our conferrence It is an cafie thing to know by many instructions that if a Battalion obserues its proper order and forces so nothing can annoy it nor withstand it for as an armed man hath three foote in his posture in a close Combate and that the length of his Pike from one end to the other is of foure and twenty foote and at the least of one and twenty And that for the space of his hands with the end which remaines for to shake it they abate sixe foote during the Combate it is apparent that a Pike shall haue fifteene foote in length besides the body of euery man that is armed when with both hands hee presents it and chargeth the Enemy Whereby it commonly happens that the other Pikes passe three foote before the second third and fourth rancke of the precedent The others before the fifth if the Battallions be fitly ioyned and close according vnto the order of
those which are in the Reare and vpon the Flanckes As Homer teacheth when hee sayth the Target assures the Target the Head-peece the Head-peece and the Man the Man The Head-peeces adorned with Horses haire touch one another with their braue Crests tending that they should be ioyned together and close As these things are spoken with good reason and trueth it is apparently necessary that the Pikes should be charged according to those that go before passing betwixt them the length of ten foot and a halfe By this meanes they may visibly know of what force the preparation and order of a Battallion is hauing the length of sixteene Ranckes Whereof they which exceed the fifth cannot fight with their Pâ—kes For this cause they cannot fight hand to hand nor man to man but they support them at their backes vntill they take breath to the end that the first ranke may hold a firme order repulsing all manner of force with their Pikes which passing the first might charge vpon the reare For in marching after this â—manner they presse the fore-most with the weight of their bodies to make a more violent charge For it is impossible for the fore-most to turne backe This being the order of a Macedonian Battalion aswell in particular as in generall wee must by way of comparison speake of the properties and differences of the Roman Armes and of their ordering of a Battaile The Romans haue three foote space with their Armes The which in fighting they mooue from man to man for that euery man couers his body with his Target the which they also vse when any occasion of Combate is offered They commonly fight with the Sword by transport and apart Wherefore it is manifest that these men haue betwixt them a Retreate and space of three foote at the least betwixt him that goes before and the other which followes to fight more at ease whereby it happens that a Roman standing still contaynes the space of two Macedonian Souldiers beeing in the first Ranke So as he must offer himselfe and fight against ten Pikes All which one cannot cut if hee would holding them in his hands Neyther can the following Forces any way assist the first Ranke neyther to assaile nor to mannage their Armes So as wee may easily coniecture that it is impossible for any man liuing to sustaine and defend the violence of a Macedonian Battallion in Front if as wee haue formerly sayd it retaynes its propriety and force for what cause then doe the Romans Vanquish Whence comes it that Macedonian Battallions are frustrated of their Hope of Victory It is for that the Roman Ordonance hath in Battaile infinite places and times commodious for the Combate and the Macedonians haue onely place and time when it may bee seruiceable and commodious And therefore if vpon some necessity the Aduersaries â—all suddainly vpon the Macedonian Battallions when they are to giue Battaile it is likely that they which make vse of it would be alwayes the Masters But if they can diuert or turne it which is an easie thing of what amazement and great terrour will this Ordonance be Moreouer it is very playne and manifest that a Macedonian Battallion hath neede of Plaines and Euen ground without any let or incumbance as Ditches Springs Vallies Hills and Water-courses for all these things may disturbe breake and make frustrate their desire and intention It is as a man may say in manner impossible to finde a Countrey of twenty Furlongs I speake of no more where none of the afore-mentioned things are found It is without any question or doubt a rare thing and which no reasonable man will deny Yet I will allow there are some found If the Enemies do not direct and guide themselues thether but passing on ruine the Townes Villages Cities and whole Regions of their Friends and Allies what profite then will grow by this kinde of Ordonance If it stayes in places of aduantage it cannot giue succours to its friends nor preserue it selfe For Victuals Munition and succours may bee very easily intercepted by an Enemy if without any opposition hee be master of the field If likewise in leauing places of aduantage a Macedonian Battalion seekes to execute some enterprize hee is in danger of the Enemy For although that some one goes to field and doth not at one time offer his Army to the fury of the Macedonian Battalion diuerting himselfe for a time during the fight wee may easily coniecture by that which the Romans doe at this day what will happen The coniecture of that which wee say must not bee taken from the effect They doe not present their Battalion in such an indifferent place as they must suddenly fight with all their forces in front One part fights the other stirres not Moreouer if at any time the Macedonians presse their Enemies eagerly and are afterward repuls'd by them the proper order of the Battalion is broken For they leaue the rest of the Army whether they pursue those that are retired or flye from those which charge them The which being done they leaue vnto the Enemy the place which they had held not to charge in front but to serue them vpon the flancke or in the reare to succour those of the Battalion Why it is not probable that it should bee easie for a Roman Battalion to obserue time and aduantage and not for a Macedonian seeing the differences are great according to the truth of the said things Moreouer it is necessary for those which make vse of the Macedonian Ordonance to passe through all sorts of Countries and to plant their Campe and finally to seaze vpon commodious places and to besieged and indure sieges and to present himselfe against the Enemy All these things are requirest in warre Sometimes also the generall moments which are great serue much for the victory all which are not easie for a Macedonian Ordonance yea sometimes they are vnprofitable for that the souldier can neyther serue in rancke nor man to man Whereas the Roman is fit and profitable for these things For euery Roman comming to fight with his Armes is actiue for all times and places and for all charges and hath generally one Ordonance whither he be to fight in Troupe with the whole Army or particularly Ensigne to Ensigne or Man to Man Wherefore as the commodity is most excellent so many times the end and conclusion of the Battaile is more prosperous and successefull vnto the Romans then to others I haue therefore thought it necessary and conuenient to vse a long Discourse concerning these things for that there are many Grecians at this day which hold it incredible that the Macedonians should be vanquished and ouercome being ignorant of the cause and meanes whereby a Macedonian Ordonance is vanquished by the Roman Armes When as Philip had vsed all possible meanes hee could in this Battaile and yet was preuented of the Victory hee foorth-with made great hast passing by Tempe to recouer
the Combate was as furious as euer any was for euery man performed his duty It is true that their Targets and Swords were not equall For the Gaules Swords were heauy and blunt and their Targets weake The Romanes couered themselues with stronger Targets and carried short Swords and sharpe And therefore the Gaules were still defeated in what manner so euer they fought whether in troope or man to man Yet they stood firme in battell vntill that the Romane Cauellery came downe from the Hill in great fury Then they were broken and slaine here and there The Foot-men died in the place where they had their Stations appointed But the Horse-men fled The Gaules lost in this battell forty thousand men there were onely taken ten thousand with King Congollitane Aneroeste which was the other King of the Gaules fled with some few which followed him to a neighbour-place who some dayes after slew themselues After this defeate Lucius Emilius the Consull sent the Enemies spoyles to Rome and restored the booty to those to whom it did belong From thence he went thorough the Genouois Countrey into that of Bâ—lonia making great spoyles And hauing in a short time inrich't his Army with all sorts of booty he brought it backe to Rome with the Armes chaines and bracelets of gold wherewith hee did adorne the Capitoll being a kind of ornament of gold which the Gaules are accustomed to carry about their wrists and neckes the rest of the spoyles and all the prisoners went before him in triumph Behold those great attempts of the Gaules which the Romans not onely feared but all Italy in like manner came to nothing The Romans hoping now to chase the Gaules out of Italy sent Quintus Fuluius and Titus Manlius late made Consuls with a great Army into Gaule Who at their entry forced the Bolonians to submit themselues to their obedience But they could not proceede in the warre but were forced to retire by reason of the continuall Raine and the Plague Afterwards Publius Furio and Caius Flaminius being created Consuls came againe into Gaule with an Army and after they had receiued the Ananes into friendship which are not farre from Marselles they marched directly into the Country of Milan with their Legions where as the Riuer Ada ioynes vnto the Poe. The Milannois had made a great leuie to repulse their enemyes By whom when the Romans had receiued great losse not onely at the passage of the Riuer but also in fortifying their Campe they parted thence and tooke their way to the Country of the Cenomans where after they had ioyned their Army to theirs for they were their Allies they made a new descent into the Milannois by the higher Country which lookes toward the Alpes ruining all where they past The Princes of Milan hearing the resolution of the Romans to bee immutable resolued to vndergoe the hazard and to fight with them Wherefore after they had drawne an Army together and taken the Ensignes of gold which they call vnmoueable out of Minerva's Temple made prouision of all other things necessary they marcht against them with great assurance planting their Campe â—ight against them to the number of fifty thousand Men. It is true the Romans finding themselues not strong enough were of aduice to call the Gaules to their aide with whom they were in league But for that they feared their reuolt they were to fight with men of the same Nation they held it dangerous to trust in such men in so great a danger and especially to put their safeties in their handsat such a time and in such an action Finally being neere the Riuer they call the Cenomans and cause them to passe When all were past they brake the Bridge depriuing them at one instant of the meanes to ioyne with their Enemies and leauing their Men no hope of safety but in the victory When this was done they put their men in order and offâ—â— battell to the Milannois It seemes the Romanes had ordered this battell discreetly by the aduertisement of the Tribunes for the meanes to fight in troope or man to man For when as their men were in battell they tooke the Pikes from the Triarij and gaue them to such as were in the Front giuing them charge to entertaine the fury of the Gaules vntill their first heate of fighting were spent Which being done leauing their Pikes they should flye to their Swords ordayning it in this manner for that they had seene by the former Warres that the Gaules had a furious poynt and afterwards their hearts were faint and effeminate and that moreouer their Swords as we haue sayd were only fit to giue one blow but afterwards their length grew crooked and the edge turned by reason of the breadth So as if they did not suffer them to set the poynt to the ground and to make them straight againe with their Feete the second blow wrought no effect The Romanes following the Commaund of the Tribunes charge their enemies with great blowes vpon the brest with their Pikes The Gaules on the other side imploy all their fury to cut them Then the Romanes abandoning their Pikes fought hand to hand breaking by this meanes the fury of the Gaules And taking from them all meanes to steppe backe which these people are accustomed to vse in their Charge for that their Swords are blunt and vnprofitable by reason of their length but only to giue one blow a farre off But the Romans by meanes of their short Swords wherewith they did not strike like vnto them but thrust often through the bodies and throates of the Gaules so as they slew a great number Behold how the prouidence of the Tribunes preuailed much without doubt the Consull had not made choise of a place fit to fight Considering that in ordering the battell vpon the Riuer side hee had taken from the Romanes the meanes to march which is vsuall vnto them Wherefore if during the Combate they had beene forced to retyre they had all fallen into the Riuer by the errour of the Consull Yet they had a goodly Victory by their owne forces and retyred to Rome with a great multitude of Prisoners and spoyle The yeare following the Gaules weakned with so many battel 's lost sent an Embassie to the Romanes for a Peace making them goodly promises But Marcus Claudius and Caius Cornelius chosen Consuls vsed all diligence to draw their Army into their Country to the end the Senate should not yeild vnto it Wherefore the Gaules hauing no more hope of peace being as it were in despaire raysed a new Army and intertayned thirty thousand Gessates who as we haue sayd dwell on this side the Rhine hauing them all ready and in Armes attending the descent of the Romanes When as the Consuls were entred the Millannois Country in the Spring they besieged the Towne of Acorras which lyes betwixt the Poe and the Alpes And although it were
hinder him to haue the Victory seeing he hath a greater Troupe of men If he doth not abandon the Citty as it is fitting hee can carry backe his men without danger into his Countrey after that he hath ouer-runne the Champion Leauing a great amazement and terrour to his Enemies and assuring the hearts of his owne Souldiers The which succeeded according to his proiect For when the people saw the whole Prouince thus spoyled they began to blame Antigonus who notwithstanding discharging the Duty of a wise and discreet Captaine would not goe to field Cleomenes in the meane time ouer-ran their whole Countrey without feare By this meanes he returned safely into his Countrey after that hee had at pleasure ruined the Prouince and left a great amazement amongst the Argiues and made his owne men more hardy for the future VVarre But when the Spring came the Macedonians and the Acheins returning from wintering went to field Antigonus marcht to Laconice with his Army consisting of ten thousand Macedonians three thousand Archers three hundred Horse a thousand Bowmen and likewise as many of the Gaules Moreouer three thousand Foote which were Mercinaries with three hundred Horse and about a thousand Megalopolitains armed after the manner of the Macedonians whereof Cerciâ—es had the leading As for the Allies hee had two thousand Foote of Bauâ—ere and two hundred Horse a thousand Foote of the Epirâ—tes and fifty Horse and as many of the Acarnanians and besides all these a thousand and sixe hundred Sclanonians whereof Demetrius of Phare was Captaine Thus the whole Army consisted of twenty eight thousand Foote and twelue hundred Horse Cleomenes being aduertised by his Spies of the Enemies descent hee placed forces vpon the passages by the which they might enter into his Countrey fortifying them with Trenches and Trees cut downe And hee himselfe went with his Army to a passage which they call Sellasia thinking as it happened that the Enemy would take that way His Army was about twenty thousand men There were two Mountaines in this passage whereof the one is called Eua by the people of the Countrey and the other Olympus There is a way betwixt both which runs along a Riuer vnto Sparta When as Cleomenes had lodged himselfe in these two Mountaines and had carefully fortified them with Trenches and Pallisadoes hee put the Souldiers which were drawne together with the Allies into Eua whereof his Cozen Euclide had the Commaund and stayed himselfe in that of Olympus with the Lacedemonâ—ans and Mercenaries Moreouer hee placed his Horse-men in the Plaine with some of the Mercenaries vpon the two Bankes of the Riuer When as Antigonus was come into those places and finding the scituation of them and the wonderfull industry of Cleomenes to dispose of his Army hee was not resolued to fight at that time And therefore hee camped neere vnto him vpon the banke of the Riuer of Gorgile whereas staying some dayes hee turned about the Countrey and the Enemies Campe and sought to draw them to battell by skirmishes But when hee found nothing without defence for that the Prouidence of Cleomenes had carefully rampired all places hee gaue ouer his enterprize But in the end they resolued by a common consent to make an end of their Warre by a battell Behold how Fortune had drawne together two great Captaines equall in virtue Counsell and Wisedome Thus Antigonus opposed in Front to those which held the Mountaine of Eua the Macedonians with their Targets and the Sclaâ—onians and hee put the Leginaries in diuers bands to succour the one and the other to whom hee gaue for Commaunder Alexander the Sonne of Ameta and Demetrius of Phare After these marcht the Acarnanians and they of Candy Finally he placed two thousand Acheins for a supply to succour them at need Then he set his Horse-men neere vnto the Riuer-side in Front of the Enemies Horse whereof Alexander had the charge with two thousand Foote-men As for Antigonus hee lodged neere vnto Mount Olympus with the bands of Aduenturers and the Macedonians where hee resolued to fight with Cleomenes VVhen hee had put the Mercenaries into battell hee caused the Battalion of the Macâ—donians to march The place which was straight would not suffer them to doe otherwise They had giuen charge to the Sctauonians to begin the battell as soone as they should see a white cloth which should be aduanced neere vnto Mount Olimpus at the foote whereof they lodged at Night vnder the Riuer of Gorgile The Megalopolitains also with the Horse-men were to enter the combate as soone as they should see a purple Robe aduanced in the Aire from the Kings Quarter The houre of the battell was now come the Sclauonians had already discouered Antigonus signe They encourage their Companions according to the opportunity of the time making no doubt but they had the victory in their hands Then they endeauoured with wonderfull resolution to gaine the Mountaine But the Foote-men which were lightly armed whom Cleomenes as wee haue sayd left in the Plaine with the Horse-men seeing that the Bands of the Acheins had not the courage to second them charg'd them vpon the Reare so as they were in great danger For on the right hand and in Front Euclide had the better with his men and the Mercenaries on the left hand fighting obstinately made a great spoile vpon the Reare By this meanes they were suddainly enuironed with two Troopes of Enemies When Philopomene the Megalopolitaine saw this disorder hee suddainly gaue good aduice to the Captaines But for that hee was a young man and had neuer had charge they gaue no eare vnto him Wherefore addressing himselfe to those of his Nation Companions sayth hee the Victory is ours if you will follow mee And in charging the Enemies Horse they assailed them with great courage Wherefore the Aduenturers strangers who fought in the Reare of those which assail'd the Mountaine hearing a great noise and seeing the Combate of the Horse-men retired to aide and succour them whereunto they had beene at the first ordained The order of the Enemies being by this meanes broken the Sclauonians and Macedonians with others whom Antigonus had appointed fell vpon them with great violence and fury So as afterwards all the World was of opinion that the industry and courage of Philopomene had defeated Euclide at that time And therefore they say that when as Antigonus demaunded of Alexander why hee had sent the Horse-men against the Enemy before hee had seene the signe and that hee had answered it was not hee but a young Megalopolitaine which had done it without his priuity hee then replied that this young man had performed the duty of a good Captaine and Alexander that of a young foole But they which kept the toppe of the Mountaine with Eucelide shewed their basenesse seeing the Enemies ascend for they should not haue attended vntill they had gain'd the top with safety But relying vpon the aduantage
of the place they should haue encountred them and charged them from aboue and if necessity had required they might haue retired safely on the right hand to charge the Enemy againe In doing this they had easily broken defeated and put the Macedonians to flight But they did the contrary as if they had the Victory certaine in their hands for without moouing from the place which the Cleomenes had appointed them they staied expecting the enemy with hope of a greater defeate For that they should be repulsed and beaten from the highest place of the Mountaine But they soone suffered the pennance of their basenesse For after that the Macedonians had recouered the Mountaine without any resistance and were come into the Plaine they fell vpon their enemies fighting hand to hand with so great sury as they presently draue them backe into the hollow Caues and inaccessible places In the meane time the Combate was cruell among the Horse-men where it was worth the sight to behold with what heate force and courage the Acheins fought considering they all fought for the liberty of the Countrey But among all others they made great esteeme of Philopomene for when his Horse was ouer thrown with a Pertuisane he fainted not fighting long on foote with great courage Finally in the end hee died valliantly being shot thorough the shinne-bones with an Arrow On the other side the Kings had begunne the fight at Mount Olympus with the mercenaries and such as were lightly armed They were about fiue thousand men who fought sometimes man to man and sometimes they tried the Fortune of the whole Troupe There the Victory was long in suspence finally they parted equally from the battell But when as Cleomees was aduertised that Emlide had abandoned the Mountaine and that the Allies had turned head and that the Horse-men were in great despaire and that all trembled for feare hee resolued to goe out of his Fort and to put his whole Army in Front vpon one side of the Campe and therefore hee caused them to sound a Retreate By this meanes when those that were lightly armed were drawne together the two Armies charged with their Pikes and Iauelings The Combate was cruell and the charge performed with so great courage on either side as the Victory was long doubtfull and the iudgement difficult who deserued the greatest honour For that sometimes the Lacedemonians retired and againe they made the Maceâ—onians giue backe Finally when as the Lacedemonians were vanquished and put to flight they were slaine heere and there like sheepe Cleomenes saued himselfe in Sparta without any wound beeing accompanied by some of the Horse-men From thence hee retired the night following to Sythia where he imbarqued in certaine shippes which lay long ready for the necessities of the Countrey and sailed with his friends to Alexandria When as Antigonus was entred into Lacedemon finding no resistance hee intreated the Lacedemonians graciously and courteously in all things but especially in suffering them to liue and gouerne their Common-weale after the Lawes of the Country When he had staied certaine daies there he returned into Macedony with his Army hauing newes of the descent of the Sclauonians and of the spoile they made Behold how Fortune disposeth of great affaires as she pleaseth There is no doubt but if Cleomenes had deferred the battell a little or staied in Sparta after his defeate keeping them in hope in the end he had preuailed in his affaires after the retreate of Antigonus Antigonus came from thence to Tegee to whom hee left their Common-weale intire Three dayes after he arriued at Argos at such time as the people were gathered together to celebrate the Nemean games who presently went foorth to meete him All the Citty had their eyes fixt vppon him and beheld him all the World commended him all the assembly of Greece and euery Citty in perticular did him Honour not onely Humane but Diuine From thence he made hast to go into Macedon where as he found the Sclauonians spoiling the Country to whom hee gaue battell and got the Victory after a long combate But hee cried so much during the fight as within few dayes after hee died of a fluxe of blood so as the Grecians lost the great hope they had conceiued not so much for his skill in Warre as for his vertue and royall perfections He left the Realme of Macedony to Philip the sonne of Demetrius But if you demaund of me why I haue helde so long a Discourse of this present Warre you must know I haue done it of purpose For as this time concurres with that whereof wee meane to speake I haue held it fit and necessary to let the World vnderstand according to my first resolution what the estate of the Macedonians and Grecians were at that time At that time Ptolomy died of sicknesse to whom succeeded Ptolomy Philopater The like did Seleucus the sonne of Seleucus who was surnamed Callinice and in like manner Pogon to whom his brother Antiochus succeeded in the Realme of Syria The like in a manner hapned to those which helde the Kingdomes of Alexander after his death as Seleucus Ptolomy and Lysimacus for those died in the hundreth foure and twenteth Olympiade as wee haue formerly related and these in the hundreth thirty nine Seeing wee haue exposed the preparation of all our History and sufficiently declared at what time and how and for what causes the Romanes after the conquest of all Italy assailed forraigne Realmes and what the estate then was of Greece Macedony and the Carthaginians I haue thought it fit to make an end of this Booke with a Commemoration of these actions and this alteration of Kingdomes Seeing that according to our intention we are come vnto the times when as the Grecians made the VVarre of the Allies the Romanes against Hannibal and to that when as the Kings of the lower Asia fought for the Empire of Syria The end of the Second Booke of Polybius THE THIRD BOOKE of the History of POLYBIVS WEe haue shewed sufficiently in the First Booke how that wee haue taken for the beginning and foundation of the Romane actions the VVarre betwixt the Allies that of Hannibal and that of Syria Wee haue in like manner set downe the causes for the which wee haue beene forced in reducing the beginnings farther off to write the History of the Second Booke Now we will indeauour to make you vnderstand the Warres themselues and the causes why they were vndertaken and dispersed in so many places hauing let you vnderstand in as few words as possible we may the attempts of the people of Rome Seeing that which wee haue vndertaken to write is but a Worke and as it were a spectacle that is to say how when and wherefore all the Countries of the VVorld haue beene reduced vnder the obedience of the Romans and that this hath a notorious beginning a prefixed time and the end certaine VVee haue thought it
the most part they are methodicall Sciences Wherefore it is a very profitable portion of a well composed History Of Antiochus THe Aspasiens dwell betwixt Oxus and Tanais Of which Riuers the one fals into the Hyrcanian Sea and Tanais into the Lake of Meotis They are Nauigable for their greatnesse So it seemes wonderfull how the Tartarians passing Oxus aswell by foote as Horse-backe come into Hyrcania There are two opinions conceiued The one is credible the other strange although possible Oxus drawes his Springs from Mount Coucasus but augmented much in Bactria by the descent of smaller Riuers it passeth by a violent Course by the Country of Pedâ—a There it fals into a Desart and runs with a violent streame thorough certaine Rockes and Pits for the great number and vehement beating of the places lying vnder it so as its violence ouer-flowes the Rocke in the lower Countries aboue a Furlong By this place neere vnto the Rocke the Aspasiens as they say passing the Riuer both on Foot and Horse-backe descend into Hyrcania The other opinion hath a more propable reason saying that for that place hath great Ditches into the which this Riuer fals with its force shee makes hollow and opens the bottome by the violence of her Course And by this meanes the Riuer takes its course vnder ground for a small space and then riseth againe The Barbarians hauing experience hereof passe there on Horse-backe into Hyrcania When as Antiochus was aduertised that Euthideme was about Tagure with an Army and that a thousand Horse kept the passage of the Riuer of Aria hee proceedes and resolues to besiege it hauing no more confidence in his resolution And when he was within three daies iourney of the Riuer he marcht the two first slowly And on the third hauing fed his men hee causes his Campe to march at the breake of day Then taking the Horse-men and his strongest souldiers with a thousand Targetteers he makes hast in the night Hee had vnderstood that the enemies Cauallery was at the guard of the Riuer in the day time but at night they retired to a City some twenty Furlongs off When hee had performed the rest of the way in the night for those Countries were conuenient for Horsemen he past the Riuer at the break of day with the greatest part of his Army The Bactrian Horse-men being aduertised by their Scouts crie out and fight with the Enemy vpon the way The King seeing that hee was to maintaine their first Charge giues Courage to those which had beene accustomed to accompany him in such encounters which were two thousand Horse and commands the rest to cast themselues betwixt both with their Troupes put into battaile as of custome Finally hee fights with the Bactrian Horse which presented themselues Antiochus seemed in this danger to haue fought more valiantly then his men so as many perished on either side Yet the Kings men defeated the first troupe of Horse But when the second and the third charged them they were repuls'd turning their heads basely But when as Etole had giuen charge to the great power of the Horse to march in Battaile he freed the King and his Company terrifying the Bactrians who were in disorder and put them to flight Wherefore when they were charged by all the Etoliens they ceased not to flie vntill hauing make a great losse they were ioyned vnto Euthideme And when as the Kings Horse-men had made a great slaughter and taken many in the Citty they presently retired and planted their Campe neere the Riuer It happened that in this same Combate Menippe was wounded and dyed loosing some of his Teeth with a blow Finally hee purchased a renowne of Valour After this Combaâ—e Euthideme retired with his Army to Zariaspe a Citty of the Bactrians A PARCELL OF the Eleuenth Booke of the History of POLYBIVS ASdrubal did not allow of any of these things But seeing the Enemies march in Battaile when as matters changed not hee caused the Spaniards and Gaules that were with him to fight Setting the Elephants in Front beeing ten in number and after hee had ioyned the Battalions close vnited and in length and had put all the Army in battaile in a short time casting himselfe in the middest of the Ordonance neere to the Elephants hee assailes the Enemy vpon the left flancke hauing resolued to die in that battaile The Lybian presents himselfe with great Courage to the enemy and in charging fights valiantly with his troupes Claudius Nero one of the Consuls appointed for the right side could not ioyne with the enemy nor yet inclose them for the vneuennesse of the ground wherein Asdrubal trusting he had charged the enemy on the left hand Wherefore as he was perplexed and in doubt for that he lost time hee learned what he had to doe Taking therefore the Souldiers of the right wing he goes beyond his Campe neere vnto a passage behind the Battaile and on the left hand and giues a charge vnto the Carthaginians neere vnto the wing where the Elephants had their station At that time the Victory wauered For in truth the danger was equall of both sides considering that neither Romans Spaniards nor Carthaginians had any hope of safety remaining if they were frustrated of their intention Finally the Elephants were of vse to both of them in the fight For when they were inclosed in the middest and assailed with Darts they aswell brake the rankes of the Spaniards as of the Romans But when as Claudius Troupe had charged the enemy in the reare the Combate was vnequall for the charge giuen vnto the Spaniards both in Front and behind So as it happened that in the beginning of the Combate there was a great laughter made of Spaniards So likewise there were sixe Elephants suâ—ine by the force of the men they carried the other foure brake theirâ— râ—nckes being alone and destitute of their Indians they were taken And when as Asdrubal had beene formerly and vnto his ende an able man hee lost in fighting valiantly his life worthy to be commended Hee was brother to Hannibal who vndertaking the Voyage of Italy gaue him the Conduct of the Warres of Spaine And afterwards being practised by many encounters against the Romans hee hath indured many and variable Fortunes And in this also that the Carthaginians sent Commaunders to succeede him hee alwaies carried himselfe like a man worthy of his Father Barca bearing vnto the ende like a man of Courage all disgraces and losses Wee haue declared these things in regard of the precedent But now we will decide the last Combats in that which seemes worthy of Consideration Seeing before our eyes many Kings and Commanders which hauing great Combates concerning their whole estates haue alwayes cast their eyes vpon the most excellent Actions and of Consequence and who often enquire and Discourse how they shall helpe themselues in euery good Fortune And who moreouer care not for mischances not consider of the meanes nor that
in fighting exceeded their first station Yet the Tyrants souldiers had for a time the better considering their multitude and dexterity with their Armes and Experience The which did not happen without cause For as the multitude in Comminalties is more cheerefull in Combats in Warre then the Subiects which are Enemies to Tyrants so strange Souldiers taking pay of Monarches excell those of Common-weales And as some Subiects fight for liberty and some are in danger of seruitude some also of the Mercenaries fight for a certaine profit others for the defence of their Liues But a popular power puts not her liberty into the hands of Mercenaries after they haue defeated their Enemies Whereas a Tyrant the greater Enterprize he makes the more souldiers he hath need off For as he doth more outrages so he hath more watchers ouer his life The safety then of Monarches consists in the good affection and forces of his forreine Souldiers Wherefore then it hapned that the forreine Souldiers fought with such great Courage and Resolution as the Sclauonians and Horacites being in front of them could not indure their Charge flying all as repuls'd towards Mantinia seauen Furlongs distant Then that which some men held in doubt was made plaine and certaine It is manifest that many actions in Warre breed Experience of things so do they ignorance It is a great matter for him that hath purchased Authority in the beginning to extend it farther But it is a farre greater matter to fixe vpon him whose first attempts haue not beene successefull and to consider the indiscretion of the vnfortunate and to obserue their faults You shall oftentimes see that they which seeme to haue the better are within a short space frustrated of all in generall And againe they which at the first were beaten haue by their industry restored all the which appeared then betwixt these two Princes For when the bands of Souldiers which the Acheins had wauered and that the left wing was broken Machanides leauing his good Fortune and the Victory of those of the Wing and to assaile the others in Front and finally to attend the Victory he did nothing of all this but scattred with the Mercenaries without order like a young man he pursued the Chase as if feare had not beene able to pursue those which fled vnto the Gates The Chiefe of the Acheins imployed all his power to stay the Mercenaries with cries and perswasions calling to the rest of their Commaunders But when he saw them forcibly repuls'd he was not amazed if they turned head or despairing abandoned the place but he with-drew the Wing which charged and pursued them And when the place where the danger was was abandoned he sent presently to the first Legionaries that they should couer themselues with their Targets and in keeping order he went speedily before Being come suddainly to the place abandoned hee defeated the pursuers hauing great aduantage vpon the Enemies battailion Hee likewise perswaded the Legionaries to haue a good Courage and resolution and not to budge vntill hee gaue them order to march close in Battaile against the Enemy And as for Polybius the Megalopolitaine hauing gathered together the remainder of the Sclauonians which had turned Head with the armed men and the Strangers he enioynes him to haue a great care to keepe the Battallion in good order and to looke to those which were retired from the Chase. The Lacedemonians likewise resuming Courage and strength for that they were esteemed the most valiant charged the Enemies with their Iauelings without Commaund And as in this pursuite they were come vnto the brinke of the Ditch and had no more time to returne for that they were in the Enemies hands and that finally they forsooke and disdained the Ditch for that it had many descents and was drie and without Trees they ranne into it without any discretion As this occasion offers it selfe against the Enemy Phylopomen hauing fore-seene it long before he then Commaunded all the Legionaries to aduance with their Iauelings And when as all the Acheins with one resolution had cast themselues vpon the Enemies with horrible cries hauing formerly broken the battalion of the Lacedemonians descending into the Ditch they turne Head with great Courage against the Enemy which held the higher ground It is true that a great part was defeated aswell by the Acheins as their owne men That which I haue spoken happens not by chance but by the prouidence of the Commaunder who had suddainly made this Ditch Philopomen fled not from the Battaile as some had conceiued But considering and aduising dilligently like a good Commaunder of all things in particular that if Machanides should lead his Army thither it would happen that by ignorance of the Ditch he would fall into danger with his Battalion as it succeeded in Effect And if considering the difficulty of the Ditch hee should seeme to feare and turne Head hee should then be wonderfully frustrated of his Enterprize and Designe for that hee should haue the Victory without fight Machanides beeing defeated by a vnfortunate disaster It had happened to many which had vndertaken a Battaile that finding themselues insufficient to ioyne with the Enemy some in regard of the disaduantage of places others for the multitude and some for other causes and by this same meanes shewing and expressing themselues in their flight to bee of little Experience some hoping to be stronger vpon the Reare and others that they might escape the Enemy safely Among the which were these Commaunders But Philopomen was not deceiued in his fore-sight by whose endeauour it happened that the Lacedemonians made a speedy flight And when hee saw his Legions to vanquish hee laboured to bring that vnto an ende which remained of an absolute Victory Which was that Machanides should not escape and therefore knowing him to be at the pursuite of the Chase on that side of the Ditch which lay towards the City with his Mercenaries had not beene retired and with drawne he attends his comming But when as Machanides flying after the Chase saw his Army turne head and hearing that all hope was lost for him he laboured with his forreine Souldiers in turning head to escape thorough the Enemies dispersed and scattred in their Chase. Whereunto they likewise hauing regard stayed with him in the beginning feeding themselues with the same hope of safety But when as at their comming they saw the Acheins keepe the Bridge vpon the Ditch then all amazed they abandon him and fled euery man looking to his owne preseruation And when the Tyrant despaired of the passage of the Bridge he went directly to the Ditch and endeauours to finde a passage Philopomen knowing the Tyrant by his purple Robe and the caparrisson of his Horse leaues Polybius there and giues him charge to keepe the passage carefully not sparing any of the Mercenaries for that most commonly they fauour and support the Tyrant of Lacedemon In regard of himselfe he takes Polyene Cyparissâ—e and