time men worthie many were Amongst them all one Furius Camille For vertue past all those supplied that place For seruice good he was requited ill He is exile was forest to take his race Although sometime he Consull were in grace Ingratitude so raignes in peoples mindes For doing good with ill requitall findes Causelesse exilde the Senate him recalde Whose vertue sau'de all Rome from spoyle and sacke By French men wrought and therefore was restalde In dignitie for putting them to wracke Thus fortune plaies with men now forth then backe Dictator he was after in two yeares Vertue supprest at length more great appeares A worthy wight eke Manlius ycalde Soone after that the Capitall did guard Against the French who welnie hap it thralde In doing which he had an hard reward Suspicion foule his fame and glory bard Sans proofe suppos'd he would Romes state distaine For which he was cast from rocke Tarpeiane Decreed it was not any of his race Or noble house thenceforth should beare the name Of Marc which seem'de as then a great disgrace But to rehearse againe Camillus fame Who seuen times of Tribune had the name To leade the Romaines vnto battell bolde Had good successe and died very olde CAP. 3. Of Romes seueritie in iustice of their constancie for the common wealthes cause the time of Alexander the great his being and of the Romaines warres against Pirrhus King of Epirotes ROmes age was now three hundreth fourescore Also nine yeares when Captains there was found Most valiant wise the like was nere before Who in assaults their enemies brought to ground Themselues not dreading death or deadly wound Too long it were their names all to recite Who in defence of Romes estate did fight And in the same vs'de iustice for small crime Amongst all which one of them doe I finde Torquatus nam'de chiefe Consull at that time His onely sonne a thing farre out of kinde He caus'd to die for fighting vnassin'de Against his foe which he orecame in fight Though well he did law could not him acquight What lawes were made were duely executed Such men they were Heroicall of minde For dastards they disdain'd to be reputed For countries weale dutie and loue did binde Their deaths to seeke rather then liues to finde For to aduance the Romaines state and name Willing died many to gaine perpetuall fame One Decius Mus did vow to lose his life In fight against the Latines Romaines foes For countries cause which he perform'd in strife With them that time which made the Latines lose The field that day receiuing bloodie blowes One of selfe name after his sonne also In such like cause his life did eke forgoe Although that he were Consull at that time About which time as written I doe finde The Monarch great was then in chiefest prime Macedo king stout Alexanders minde Whose conquests great were but a puffe of winde For when he had maistred the world all At Babylon by poyson had his fall Against the state of Rome he did intend To haue made warre if Asia once subdued Then next through all Europa to haue wend His hands yet more in blood to haue imbrued But fates by death his purpose did seclude At 12. yeares raigne and 33. yeares age His part being playd he left vaine worlds stage His force against but death you heare forbad Papirius was for Romaines chieftaine chose Whose valiantnesse great fame attayned had In giuing foyle to Samnites cruell foes To Romaines tho in danger like to lose Their army all vnder their Consuls twaine Papirius force did victorie obtaine Dictator he that office after bare And earnest was in martiall discipline Expert and quicke in warlike feares his care Was euermore that souldiers should encline Not nice to be to lodge or dyet fine But valiant stout and to endure all toyle Which made them oft to giue their foes the foyle In this time loe of Romes encreasing fame In Saragosse the Tyrant then did raigne Whom to aduise with precepts good there came Diuine Plato who hardly scapt vnslaine This tyrants acts was had in such disdaine In histories who list to reade shall see His hatefull life vpheld by tyrannie Strange were his acts too many to be tolde Here in this place but for to make the rest To be supposde from one I cannot hold Of Barbar would he nere be trim'd or drest For feare the razor should his life arest His daughters aye with nutshels burning bright Should sindge his beard and so his head to dight But now returne to noble Rome againe After the death of Alexander great Fortie two yeares one Pirrhus that did raigne Epirotes King the Romanes state did threate His armie did their forces oft defeate Yet ere two yeares were gone and ouerpast He sought their peace and friendship at the last To which request the Senate would haue graunted But Appius Claude full seauen times elected Consull then old and blind their purpose daunted Of cowardise the Senate he detected In publique speech he Pirrhus peace reiected Fabritius eke gainst Pirrhus stout did stand Friendship with him to hold would at no hand Though Pirrhus did to him great presents send With offers mo for to reuolt and turne Vpon his side Fabritius would not bend For presents ne for promises once spurne Against Romes state such loue in him did burne To countries weale O patterne pretious stone For this our age to looke nay gaze vpon Yet more what did this noble heathen knight But Machiauels from whom all mischiefs springs Worke contrary he voyd of hate or spight No stabbing blades or murdring dags in brings No banketting nor phisicke poysonings Nor no such parts vile practises most euill Bred first in hell inuented by the diuell But he sends to Romes enemie Pirrhus king A runnagate a rogue a periur'd slaue A souldier of his owne who promising By poyson or some other meanes in graue The Romanes should Pirrhus dead see or haue Fabritius n'wold to this foule deede consent But him fast bound to Pirrhus prisoner sent When Pirrhus saw the Romanes friendship hee Could not obtaine by treaties or reward Determined by warre the end to see With martiall men he stood vpon his guard And Elephants to combat strong prepar'd He was the first to Italy that brought Those beasts who bare mē on their backs that fought But to encounter Pirrhus haughtie pride And mightie force a noble Romane knight Dentatus cal'd with Romanes him beside For Romes estate who did not flye but fight They Pirrhus and his power discomfit quight Dentatus for his worthie valour showne Had triumph braue which through all Rome was knowne Vntill this warre which Pirrhus lastly made Fiue hundreth yeres the romaines had welnie Broyles still at home and often ouerlayd With neighbours nere people of Italie Doubtfull their chaunce and fortunes they did trie The Latines oft the Samnites Toscanes other One
Romanes force the citie should o'rethro But like as time of euery thing makes end So now of Carthage fast came on the fine Besiegde with out with in themselues they bend To iarre alas of vtter ruine a signe Strength fayld and with dispayre they gan to pine Yet long and oft they did the Romanes grieue Whom Scipio by his valor did relieue Succour by land and sea from them he tooke Brake downe the walles entred the citie in When terror loe the Carthaginians shooke Like people mad to runne the doe begin In desperate case to loose all or all win Killing and kild at length the Romanes gaine The maistrie and the citie to obtaine Which to beholde what heart but would lament To see how Carthage stoode in wofull case Her stately fort cal'd Birsa torne and rent And houses sackt before the owners face Huge flames of fire rising in many a place A woefull thing for to beholde with eye Smoake dim the ayre and flames to reach the skie Great was the slaughter made by Romaines all In euery streete ran murder blood and fire The sillie babes from mothers breastes doe fall Husbands and wiues a sunder doe retyre Brothers and friendes and sisters pay the hyre Of death alas a griefe it was to see The cities ruine and their great miserie Some with the sword some midst the flame to burne A spectacle most horrible to rue Both magistrates and people dying mourne Of former welfare their ilfare last to view Scipio himselfe shed teares with griefe that grew To see the ruine of that citie olde Late rich and fayre welnie laid flat on molde Continued had seuen hundreth yeares and more Flourisht most braue with plentie of each thing And had commaund ore kingdomes cities store Rul'de eke by sea as chiefe imperiall King With store of ships that riches home did bring All in short space consumde and ruinde quight Subiect vnto blinde fortunes cruell spight Which well may shew the state of kingdomes all Though nere so rich so populous and stout But fortune can and hath made them to fall And welnie razde both names and places out Recount we will some chiefe among the rout What is become of Troyes pompe and pride Of Priam King and all his power beside Assiria that Monarchie so great The Persian Mede and Macedonian King In battaile that Darius stout did beate And all the world did subiect to him bring Carthage may here draw with them in one string Thus worketh time change and chance of each thing Base high to raise more faster downe to bring Thus Carthag loe came to her finall ende Razde to the ground to Rome rich spoyles were brought That were of choyse and Scipio eke did send Scicilians too braue statutes finely wrought And ornaments the Carthaginians cought Long since from them which antique were and olde Which they by force from them also did holde In Rome was ioy for this great victorie With high and low Scipio did triumph gayne His prayses were extended to the skie With peoples voyce and sound of trumpes amayne For surname also was giuen him Africane Because an end he made of so great warre Whereby Romes gloriy stretcht exceeding farre CAP. 7. The conquest of Achaia the razing of the city Corinth warres in Portugall Spayne and with the slaues in Scicilia the razing of Numanitia in Spaine WHen all these warres of Carthage ended were Th'acayan people gathered head amaine In Greece and there an armie they did reare Against Romes state whose brauing to restraine Lucius Mummius Consull leaue did gaine To fight with them of Romes force was he chiefe Who them o'rethrew vnto their paine and griefe Their countrey subiect vnto Rome they yeelded Corinth chiefe citie principall of Greece Hundreth of yeares full many had been builded With sack and spoyle his souldiers did it fleece Burning the same left standing not one peece And after razde the same quight with the ground No dwelling left in it for to be found About which time in Portugall there was A person stout Viriatus cal'd by name But meane of birth yet so it came to passe That from a shepheard grew to so great fame And with his force the Romanes oft did tame But he by treason slaine and not by fight Which caus'd that countrey fall to Romanes right Not far from thence in Spayne a towne did stand Numanitia cal'd which long time warres did hold With Romanes force fighting with equall hand Both one and other gaynde as fortune would The Romanes tooke disdaine a poore towne should Braue them so long and not to haue it tane Thither was sent stout Scipio African At whose aproach disorder great was found The army in that at the siege did lie Which he reformde and then by trumpets sound With sharpe assault Numantiaes force did trie Did take the same the people mercie crie His souldiers spoyl'd and sacked euery place And afterward did clearely it deface About this time within Scicilia isle Bondmen and slaues did make a great vprore Them to appease was vsed many a while Their number did increase still more and more But yet an armie was rais'd vp before For to subdue their power and their strength Whom Consul Fuluius pacified at length CAP. 9. The second warres in Asia the death of Scipio African warres with Iugurth King of Numidia and warres in Germanie France and other places SOone after this in Asia warre was mou'd On the behalfe of Attalus the King Who by his will had giuen to be prou'de His kingdome crowne and euery royall thing The Romanes too but one a plea did bring Against the case namde Aristonicus But Rome replyed and brought an action thus With armed men to trie the matter out Aristonious orecome and brought to yeld Perpenna Consul with his Romane rout Captiued him in battaile on the field Which yeare following to death too soone did yeeld Scipio as he within his house tooke rest Strangled t'was thought by some whom he lou'd best Not much aboue fiftie sixe yeares of age Loe valiant wightes foule fortunes cruell spight Rome was perplext with dolor griefe and rage And as some write in skies appear'd a sight It's said the sonne kept not his course aright How ere it was the losse was great to Rome So time brings too all earthly things their doome In France ensuing after this also The Consull Fabius gain'd a battell great And Gracchus Tribune of the people tho A man most rare on matters graue to treate By Enuies rage some did him cruell threate For slaine he was about diuiding lands The wise we see cannot shun malice hands And now began the warres of Iugurth stout Which Salust doth at large most plainly show Where may be seene great matters brought about And of the rest before past on a row In other workes who will them reade may know Why this small worke was writ one cause was chief Romes rising
the countrie all about The summer past to winter he did go To Capua with Carthaginian rout Where idlenes infected valour stout Abundance bred their bane cloyd with delight His armie all was welny orethrowne quight But whil'st he lay within Italia soyle He Romanes force had welny vanquisht quight Yet Asdrubal receiu'd a mightie foyle By Romanes Consuls that with him did fight Bringing new succours for to reuenge the spight To Carthage done whil'st Hannibal with chance By fortune might against Romes walles aduance But Scipio this while stout bold and wise Whose valour great is spoken of before Had good successe in Spayne whose fame did rise Throughout all Rome and to augment it more In getting Spayne which place his father bore And vncle both to Rome did come at last Where for desert in Consulship was plast His noble mind bent to his cities good Required Afrique might be him assignde For publique weale to loose his life and bloud But his desire impediments did finde Old Fabius sharply did resist his mind Who gaue aduise rather at home to stay Gainst Hannibal with force to take the way But Scipio then contrarying Fabius will Declar'd his mind in open audience The Senate too to grant him their good will For it will proue by good experience In Afrique if we fight for Romes defence Neede will driue Carthage call home Hannibal Who it denies I know such hap will fall For he who is their chiefest hope and stay And he on whom their saftie doth depend Long time they will ne can misse him away So shall our warres in Italy haue end To his aduise the Senate did attend Debating much some loth yet was assignde For Carthage warre which greatly pleasde his minde But first to Scicil Isle must take his course And there prepare to furnish full his neede To rig vp ships t'abide the waters sourse Prest in each poynt away go'th he with speede Though all the Senate scarse thereto agreede Yet loe this warre grew to so glorious fame As none so much encreast the Romanes name So much preuail'd Scipio his vertue there As Carthaginians gaine to losse did fall By meanes whereof so hard beset they were As Carthage towne was welny brought in thrall Enforced to reuoke home Hannibal The Senat now found Scipios saying true Away he went that meant Rome to subdue Who then had for the space of sixteene yeares Infested all Italia about Put Rome and Romaines oft in deadly feares And brought their state to many a dreadfull doubt Deliuered now from troubles which did sprout And spring each day by meanes of such a foe Hannibal gone ioy did expell all woe But ere that he from Italie did passe Carthage to Rome Ambassadors did send For to haue peace which thing concluded was Yet secretly their warres they did intend Each kinde of way they did repayre and mend Their armies that did armes and victuals want Which warres among them had made very scant But Hannibal no sooner was arriu'd At Carthage tho but did dislike the peace Of hope he should be sure to be depriu'd And purpose too if that the warres should cease Displeasde he seemde but did his force encrease Braue Scipio to meete vpon the field Whose noble minde did neuer meane to yeeld Their Armies tweene light skirmish oft did chaunce Hannibal was for victuals hard beset He who but late to warre would needes aduaunce Secret seekes peace prouisions for to get Obtaind performde conditions did not let On Carthage side but people all cride out We are betrayde among these champions stout And iarring thus themselues full oft among Now taking truce and then doe breake againe They crie a fresh these Captaines doe vs wrong Whose outrage rulers seeke for to restraine Things running thus the magistrates are fayne The peace to breake commaunding Hannibal To trie by fight what fortune will them fall Both armies lay each in th'others sight King Massinissa was on Romaines side Who league with Scipio made before in spight Of Carthage who denyed him his bride A noble mayde in prime of beauties pride First his from them but after did her mary Another to the cause that made him vary This ciuill strife with many others moe The citie in and countrie all about Was cause at last of Carthage ouerthrow In steede of reason will did rule the rout Tweene magistrates also foule hate did sprout Rage insolence and often death most vile Thus foule reuenge did high and low beguile But Hannibal hearing of Romaines strength Of Scipioes bountie clemencie and fame His noble minde with more sought meanes at length To speake with him ere they to battaile came It chaunst and loe furie seemde to enflame Hannibal who in wordes was somewhat tart Threatning each other a sunder they doe part The time being come when both their armies met Great was the slaughter made on either side But Romaines did the victorie there get Making their foes to dye with woundes full wide Hannibal fled he durst not longer bide The losse so great that Carthaginians craue Peace once againe with Romaines for to haue Scipio agreed Romes Senate did consent Whilest peace endured many things did chaunce Here to recyte too long were verament But Romaines did their honors still aduaunce And Carthage welfare backwardly did glaunce Scipio to Rome returnde did triumph gayne And for surname was called Africane For that those warres attayned had such fame And profite great brought vnto Romaines state The countrey whole had Africa to name By him subdued ordeynde thereto by fate Thus time we see brings all things to their date Destroying oft and raising vp againe Yeelding some store others doth pinch with paine CAP. 6. The warres of the Romaines with the Macedonians the conquest of Asia the death of Scipio African Romes Ambassador putteth the great King of Assiria in feare with his speech the conquering of Macedonia and Dalmatia PEace on this wise again to Carthage granted Rome had home-broyles warres greater outward grew The Macedonian King gainst Romaines vanted Whose proude attempt with Grecians to subdue Quintus Flaminius led forth the warlike crue Of Romaines tho subduing that same King And Grecians all subiects to Rome did bring He charge gaue to this King of Macedo Phillip by name neuer once warre to moue Gainst Romaine state which he agreed vnto Performing it with dutie and with loue To Romaines he a friend did after proue For ayde he gaue with all his power and might When Romaines would at any neede to fight Antiochus the great Assiria king Came with great power the Romaines to withstand This Phillip then most willingly did bring His force and ioyn'de with those of Romaines band Glabrio for Rome obtain'd the vpper hand Antiochus fled to Egypt ward with speede Raysing more force to doe some other deede Phillip and he t'is said descended were From those who when great Alexander dead In kingdomes did diuide
high to be declar'd in brief But Iugurths warre which next did fall in chase Calphurnius first did take the same in hand Who Consull was and after him had place Cecilius Metellus strongly mand But lastly Marius with his warlike band Orethrew his host with many a deadly wound Ending the warre had Iugurth prisoner bound During which warre with this Numidian king The Germanes high and low gan to molest Italia soyle and mightie troopes did bring In France also that countrie to infest The Romanes had by them vnquiet rest Great slaughter oft amongst them they did make Chief Captaines many were forst their liues forsake But Marius Consull foure times now chose Gaue them repulse and last their power orethrew The Almanes hie were slaine and soone did lose At Aix in Prouence where their strength they drew In Lombardie at Lysieres did rue The other sort which done afresh did grow New warres that ouer all Italie did flow Those people that vpon the soyle did dwell In sundrie partes which often heretofore Be nam'de began againe for to rebell With much adoe appeasde was their vprore And being reduc'de to quiet as before Swift time that doth begin and end all thing A dangerous warre against Romes state did bring CAP. 10. The warres with Mithridate King of Pontus vpon which grew the ciuill warres in Rome betweene Sylla and Marius of warres in Portugall and the vtter ouerthrow of Mythridate the great King of Pontus IN Kingdomes rule most strange is fortunes chance Fleeting vnsure not to be thought with hart Euents each day both to and fro do glance Sores thought well salu'd elswhere vnknowen do smart Trust treason proues and plaies a tragique part With secret sleights Ambition worketh wiles Faith proueth fraudes and friendships are but guiles Mythridate King of Pontus valiant stout With armie strong did giue two Kings the foile Gaue them the chase their seate and kingdome out One of Bythinia the other of the soyle Of * Cappadoce their countries both did spoile Which warre so sore the state of Rome did trouble First strife next hate and after murders double These wretched Kings distressed thus with woe In league and friendship were with Romanes knit Vnto their aide perforce did driue them to But here marke fortune when she list to flit Who frowning seemde on Romanes side to sit For warres abroade to hurt them did begin And â—arres more ill at home themselues within Strife did arise two captaines stout Which after grew to warre and deadly wound Note here the fruites sedition bringeth out And where likewise ambition taketh ground The bodies sicke whereas the heades vnsound Rome had good cause to looke both pale and wan Neuer so plagude since first their state began Stout Mythridate with kings chase not content But farther runnes into the Romanes land Long t'was before the Senate could consent Who for this warre as leader chiefe should stand On partes they were on this side and that hand Sylla some chose because of noble race Some Marius rather to supply the place Betweene these two began Romes wofull state Here may be seene what ciuill discords breede Sylla had prest his armie at Romes gate Marius constrain'd to flye away with speede Perforce was such and so hard grew his meede In a small boate as fast as he could hye To Afrique coast away from Rome did flye So Sylla had of Pontus warre the charge And thither marcht with Mithridate to fight Absent from Rome Cynna whose power was large That time Consull began the state to spight Stirring vp strife but was soone put to flight By Octauian who in office with him was Out of the citie to Cynna gaue the chase Marius on this returned from exile His power with Octauian did vnite In Rome committing many parts most vile Wrong bare the sway and did orepresse the right Murder and theft was done in open sight They Consuls chose and did what ere they lust Their will was law that euery thing discust Sylla this while in warre gainst Mithridate The Romanes losse in part did get againe Hearing of Romes foule broyles and troubled state Fast homeward hied to ease that grieuous paine And when he had for most orecome and slaine His enemies that gainst him did resist Bare sway alone and then did what he list Thus one gap stopt a worser breach is made One tempest past a fouler storme doth rise One drowning scapte a gulfe more ill to wade One ill foreseene a vilder blinds the eyes One foe found out a crueller lurking lyes One canker heal'd out breakes more pestlent sore Marius was ill Sylla could be no more For when the winde tempestuously doth blow Oreturning towers houses trees and all Those harmes past ore incontinent doth flow A mightie floud by raine continuing fall Drencheth vp beasts on fields and in the stall Drowning both corne and fertile medow ground One common losse doth make a grieuous wound Marius windlike at first did blow and rage Which tempest little calm'd scarse ouerpast Sylla not bent that so it should asswage But after blasts brings flouds of raine as fast The woolfe full pancht the beare take his repast Who hunger bides but weaker beasts among The rauening sort opprest by open wrong Sylla his en'mies sharply did pursue Some banisht were and on their goods set price Their children eke that after should ensue He quite despoyl'd for euer to arise Office or rule to beare in any wise No man what ere might safe enioy his state Or life if once against him he bare hate So farre forth was his heart enflam'd with ire Marius being dead part of his carkasse tho Such furie did his raging mind inspire He causde into a riuer to be throw Behold reuenge to mortall men a foe Neere satisfied vntill she haue her will Of will restrainde with griefe her selfe doth kill Thus Sylla got the victorie at length Dictator made and had the chiefest place For to command and now againe in strength Rome gan to grow and mutinies to race But yet farre of an Exile in disgrace With Sylla nam'de Sertorius stout and fierce With warre did seeke the Romanes state to pierce In Portugall an armie he did wage Got many townes in warres hauing great skill For to appease this vnlookt for outrage Pompee had charge to worke therein his will Betweene these two each part much bloud did spill After great fights Sertorius was slaine In treason foule with craft caught in a traine A few yeares after Pompee this had wrought All Spayne he got and in that time also Bythinia king to earth by death was brought Heire to his crowne he made the Romanes tho But Mithridate king of Pontus sayd no Who occupied Bythinia all the while That Marius and Sylla made the broyle Against whose pride Lucullus Consull went And foyld him oft speeding so at the last His armie all in piecemeale cut and rent And from
his whole Empiere Partage of which great warres and discord bred Betweene all those to that succession led With cruell fightes each other long did thrall As last the Romaines came t'enioy them all Thus Romes triumphing glorie high did growe Her power was great by sea and eke by land With sack and spoyles of cities they did flowe Nations not any might Romaines force withstand Kings and countries fat off did at their hand Desire ayde amongst all which did come Ambassadors from Egypt vnto Rome Praying to guarde young Ptolomé their King Now vext with warres and like to haue the chafe With power which Antiochus did bring From Kingly seate and crowne him to displace The Senate gaue consent to right his case Sending vnto Antiochus to cease His warre and suffer Ptolomé liue in peace Which he obeyde but yet to haue a fleece Of Romaines spoyle and to reuenge late spight Did leade along his armie into Greece Procurde by meanes of Hannibal in flight From Carthage force by Scipio put to flight As is rehearst before from whence he fled Antiochus too with succour to be sped But into Greece the Romanes Armie brought Encountred him with whom `was Hannibal Orethrew thē both brought their powers to naught Here Carthage captaine had a second fall Antiochus eke receiued a farther thrall By sea also Rome got the vpper hand Expeld him thence into Assiria land Lucius Scipio was chiefe this warre that led Brother vnto Scipio calde African And for because so happilie he sped The surname of Asiatique he wan But speake againe of Scipio African Lieutenant to his brother in this war At his returne to Rome there fell a iar The Tribunes of the people did molest Through enuie sure the glorie he had won By meanes whereof in quiet for to rest From Rome he went their mallice for to shun To Lyterne till their heate of rage was done But there as some doe say such was his chaunce This worthy man death wounded with his launce Whose losse full many did lament no doubt So braue a man to dye at such an age For fiftie yeares he was not all full out Thus doe we see the valiant bold and sage When time brings death cannot withstand his rage Rome happie thou to breede so braue a wight Vnhappie folke his virtue so to quight Hereby is seene the fruites of enuie still Who ne're workes good but euill euermore Virtue she seekes for to destroy and kill Things that are whole she hurtes and maketh sore Those that are good the enuious doe abhore Which thing hath been and euer more will be Bright virtue blamde by foule iniquitie Where state and welth increaseth day by day By valour of the vertuous and the stout Enuie there rootes and takes such hold and stay In secret wise brauing among the rout And with pretence each cause is good no doubt Infecting sore such places that so florish Vnder the cloake of virtue vice doth nourish With pollicie and practise slie they frame Their brasen face and adders tongues to bite They glose and faine and flatter without shame With forged lies they faith and truth doe spite And where as once their venym vile doth light They doe not cease to puffe with poysoned breath Like Cockatrice to bring them to their death Alas the while so Rome did Scipio lose During which time Aetolia people were Taken to be the Romanes vtter foes But Fuluius whose noblenesse was cleare Subdued and brought them vnder Romanes feare Thus still their fame did euery day increase Held warres abroad at home the liu'd in peace Antiochus who late rehearst before To whom for ayde stout Hannibal did flie Enforst to keepe his countrey and no more His fortune with the Romanes force to trie His kingly life away from him did hye Vnto the King then of Bythynia Hannibal went for ayde on him to stay Which thing when as the Romanes vnderstoode To Prusias sent Bythinia King so hight To render him it should be for his good If not t'were meanes to worke him great dispight The Romanes would redresse the wrong with might Thus Hannibal was nere his ending dayes Whose noble acts won euerlasting praise And fame beside for euer during still But foule dispayre did much appayre the same In ougly shape who now came him vntill Monster most vile whose actes aye end with shame With in his minde such deepe conceites did frame As they alone together musing sate Of glorie past and now his wretched state Hope banisht was dispayre did bring in feare And he fear'd most to fall in Romanes hands When him before most ougly shapes appeare Hell seemed loose and round about him stands Griefe sorrow care thought miserie with bandes Ruine decaye woe wrack and endles strife Slaunder disfame and shame to rid his life Enuie reuenge hate discord and disdayne Mallice and scorne pride would not be behinde The pride of Rome so pincht his heart with paine Because reuenge did not fall to his minde And now dispayre againe his eyes did blinde When as these furies had his spirites possest More greater yet t'augment his great vnrest Shewed him his armies and his victories His glorious pompes his triumphes wealth and all Carthage great losse how Rome did him dispise The wracke eke of his brother Asdrubal After all this his owne mishaps and fall From so great height and lastly now to light Into their hands whom he did alwaies spight Midnight was come and euery thing at rest When sightes yet strange more monstrous did appeare As t'is with all by foule dispayre possest Tost and turmoyld with horror dread and feare And long before the day gan for to cleare In vision saw great battailes thousands slaine Huge heapes of dead whose blood the earth did staine Before him seem'd t'appeare great flames of fire Where in dispayre bad him goe end his life Murder fast by inflamde with rage and ire To kill him readie with a bloodie knife Waters to drowne himselfe and rid all strife The Romaines hands t'escape there is no hope Hang thy selfe quoth dispayre here is a rope Beholde this chamber wherein thou doest lye A thousand wayes there is to end thy woe See there a tower stately standing hye Thy selfe from top thereof thou soone mayst throw Here stab thy selfe thy valour greate to show Or cut thy throate or braynes do knocke from head No ioyes in lyfe in best case when th'art dead Dispayre at length the victory did gayne And Hanniball did geeue consent to dye Distressed he past hope did thinke life vaine With shame to liue that late in honours hye Did sit and now to dwell in miserie With them who were his cruell deadly foes He prayed dispayre some way else to dispose His wretched life those former meanes rehearst He liked not when sighing breath'd for ayre Both head and heart of Hannibal quick pearst Then what saiest thou vnto a potion fayre A bolle of wine carrouse
drinke to despayre Sorrowes are drie this draught will quench all strife Thus poysoned he did leaue his loathed life Ah wretched state vaine worldes vading ioyes High for to be auailes nothing at all Thy pompes and glorie are but trifeling toyes For record take we worthy Hannibal And many moe whom fortune hath made fall She lifteth high and smileth when a frowne Makes Cesar hop besides his seate and crowne Antiochus dead Antiochus againe Succeeded him who likewise vndertooke In Egypt chiefe next to the King to raigne Yet vnder age his state to ouer looke But th'Egiptians would not this thing brooke They seeing his sleights and where about he went To Rome in hast once more for succour sent Popilius Lenas charge the Senate fro Ambassage went with that great King to speake By Romanes power he coniur'd him to goe And his great siege from Alexandria breake Antiochus fear'd himselfe to be too weake Desired time to be aduis'd thereon To answer him to stay or else be gone Popilius then a rod held in his hand With haughtie looke beheld the King in face And round about in place where he did stand A circle on the ground therewith did trace Antiochus quoth he say on a pace Ere I out of this circle set one foote Straight answer me delayes shall nothing boote This Scarbrough warning put the King in feare Which made him to Popilius straight agree His siege forthwith in all the hast to reare And Egypt all to leaue in vnitie By writers loe these things recorded be To shew what might and rule the Romanes bare By destinie or through their vertues rare For at this time their rule did stretch so farre Inuading still the world euery where Who did not yeeld themselues the rod of warre Should draw out blood and bring them vnder feare The world they seemde in sunder for to teare Raigning alone as soueraignes and chiefe As after here it shall be shewed in briefe Phillip King of Macedo who but late Rehearsed is ambitiouslie now bent To liue as King within his owne estate Did thinke himselfe too straight shut vp and pent Of promise made before time did relent League with the Romanes brake and purposde warre If he had liu'd but death his course did barre But loe his sonne that next him did succeede Incited oft to take that cause in hand As heyre vnto the warre at last agreed Of Macedons he raisde a mightie band Emilius Paulus did his power withstand Orethrew his hoast and prisoner tooke him tho With wife and children greatly to their woe Return'd to Rome triumphing with his praye Where for surname Macedonique was cal'd Still after that and from that selfe same daye Macedo state to Rome was full instal'd Dalmatia after also was enthral'd By Nasica Cornelius so namde Whose force was such as he those people tamde CAP. 7. The third and last warre of Carthage when the City was quight subuerted and razed to the ground WHen time by fates vnto his period reacheth To top of wealth or bottome of all woe A rule most firme vnto the world teacheth Nature ne arte can alter or forgoe Vnlesse that he most high diuine say no Who ruleth fates who guideth time and all Who builded first and last shall make to fall Sixe hundreth yeares and fower now it was Since building first of noble Rome began Carthage once more deuisde to bring to passe To regaine that which late the Romaines wan Force they prepare with all the speede they can Their neighbours vexe with Massinissa King The Romaines friend and thus themselues they bring To vtter ruine for now it was debated In Senate house to saue or to destroy Carthage when at the last it was dilated For Romaines weale to make cleare all annoy After that time chiefe magistrate or roy Should gouerne more or dwelling there be found Commission was to raze it quite to th'ground Bellonaes face now fround with tyrannie Behold th'ambitions rightly in their kinde That to aspire regardes no miserie Or woes or wracke of others so their minde Suffised be which with a blast of winde Is ouerturnde and vanisheth away Not knowing how soone may come their own decay But such the nature and condition is Of earthly mindes t'enioy what they delight Forward to run not thinking ought amisse Should them betide or once their purpose spight And certes we see oft times doth run out right Without a stop or any stay at all Those things decreed by destenie to fall As here the Romaines purposing this war All doubtes debated into Afrique sent To Libia coast when Carthage saw a far Romes force and knowing the Senates full intent Amazde they were now this then that way bent One part resolu'd their cittie to defend With fame their liues and miseries to end The league of peace some seeke to hold their ire Some sue t'asswage and to that ende doe make Long suites and plaintes and last with teares desire Bringing pledges in fauour them to take But all in vaine denied with griefe they quake Distressed thus prouisions all were scant Of friends abroad they had as great a want Onely a few but discord caus'd their wrack When warres first gan then brake they vnitie One side forwards did draw the other back Which thing now last wrought all their miserie Famine with plagues murder and trecherie Which to recure was now alas too late When first their folly last brought their finall fate Censorino Martio and Mamilio were Chiefe in this warre who carthage first beset Whose fortunes for the space of foure yere Was losse most part small honour did they get Though toyle they tooke in colde in drie and wet Till Scipio young who was th'adopted sonne Of Scipio that before had Afrique wonne Seem'd for to tread and trace the steps aright Of his great Vnckle or else his Graundsire For in these Carthage last warres did acquight Himselfe so well the army did admire His seruice there a Trybune then no higher Whose virtue did mongst them such glorie gaine As sole Empire by Romes voyce did obtaine Ore all th'army at fiege of Carthage tho But thereto would the Senat not assent The people by treaties desired so Or else perforce would cause them to consent Clayming olde custome lastly were content Applauding much their captaine newly chose For Rome to fight gainst their long mortall foes When Scipio thus had of this warre full charge Within the campe he framed orders new In friendly sort he made vnto them large A speech commending of their valor true Eke what requir'd in souldiers to be due Purging from them the vicious idle all Who through corruption might th'armie thrall Which done preparde by sea and eke by land For the assault which to defend with might The Carthaginians lost time on no hand But fought and wrought t'offend by day and night To Romanes they did many waies worke spight But all in vaine since fates would haue it so That
Bythinia made him hye in hast In Pontus bounds shutting him vp full fast From whence also in fight was driuen away Flying for ayde to the king of Armenia Lucullus still did after him pursue And oftentimes with both the powers did fight Of those two kings who thought for to subdue Lucullus force when each in others sight Were come the Romanes oreprest them by might The Kings enforsed to forsake the field Their people most were slaine and fled some yeeld But here by meanes of mutinie and iarre In Romanes campe which did Lucullus let With Pontus king to make an end of warre Whereby he might the gaine of glorie get The Senate did a message send to set Lucullus home and in his roome did place Pompee those warres of Mithridate to chase Who late before great fame and credite gainde In vanquishing by sea the nauie strong Of Pirats stout who had with power attainde The soueraigntie of all the coasts along From Spayne to Hellespont there all among Those Isles yet further did their force extend By land also which Pompee brought to end The ouerthrow of whom did much preuaile For Romes welfare and for the common state So hard beset till then they could not saile Out from their shores but brought now to this rate Pompee prepar'd himselfe for Mithridate To Asia sped making his power there strong Those warres to end which Rome had vexed long Which entred too he prosecuted so As in short space Mithridate was bereft Of hope for ere to rise his state vnto When once his forces were asunder cleft Small was the succour tho vnto him left For after being besieged by his sonne Pharnaces cal'd his life he yeelded done Killing himselfe O fury foule despayre That doest inspire thy selfe in soules distrest But what is life say such a blast of ayre Foule honors seate chiefe cause of great vnrest The meane estate is ten times happier blest O pride of Rome Ambitions patterne left Which neuer will from following race be rest But yet a while behold this mightie king Stout Mithridate how fortunes frowning spight Did at the last his warres and conquests bring To wretched state that fortie yeares with might Most valiantly did with the Romanes fight And victor oft their Captaines many led With him each where captiu'd so well he sped Treasons he scapte and murmurings many a one Of body strong to walke on foote or ride No wound did euer make him shrinke or grone To shun the warres at any time or tide Gaynst poysoning he poyson did prouide Wherewith when as he would his life haue ended No power at all by poyson was extended His sonne as is rehearst Pharnaces nam'de Vsurping now his crowne and dignitie Mythridate saw his wracke in such sort fram'de Fearing to fall in farther miserie Into the Romaines hands by trecherie Drew forth the venim which he euer bare About his sword began it to prepare Two of his daughters being fast him by Did pray the King that they might first of all Take taste thereof the potion for to trie Loathing their liues to see their fathers fall He would not yeeld but they would needes enthral Themselues to death and dranke and present dyed The selfe same thing by Mythridate was tryed But would not worke his body long before He so prepar'de against all poison strong For to withstand all treason enuie bore Against his state who sought all meanes by wrong T'abridge his dayes but fortune made him long Happie to liue vnhappie for to die From Empire so to fall in miserie Vanquisht with griefe which long before his hart Ne bodie could the Romanes legions great Orecome by practise policie or art And now quoth he loe what doth me most freate Faithles souldiers children vnkind entreate Me too my friends vnfaithfull to me are These foes I flye rather then life to spare Vnto a Duke that stood vnto him neere Quoth he to me thou euer hast been iust From huing any longer rid me cleere Lest Romanes tread my glorie in the dust Ore me a king to triumph as they lust Since poyson will not end my wretched life Helpe me by bloudie stroke to cease all strife The Duke bewayled Mithridate with teares Yeelding his helpe to rid him of his woe To his right breast with trembling hand he beares The bloudie blade that did his life vndoe Mithridate with a stroke draue it into His breast when as the liuely sprite outbrast Thus this great king fortune with spight downe cast What therefore bootes long life with troubled state Though riches wealth and honor men possesse What doth auaile long life without debate In pleasure ioy neuer to feele distresse In weale or woe let life be more or lesse Death is all one at first as tarie long Since dye we must mid woes small ioyes among CAP. 11. The disturbance of Romes estate by the conspiracie of Catiline Ierusa'ems tribute to Rome warres by Iulius Caesar in Germany France and England by Pompé the King of Egypt was restored to his kingdome LIke as the day when fresh Aurora spreds Her curtaines large expelling darke nights shade Bright Phoebe doth rise from chamber and vnbeds Himselfe abroad with blasing rayes doth glade Aslant the earth where length of shadowes made By mistie cloudes all vanish quite away Rough winds arise it proues a stormy day Through heate perhaps a thunderclap may sound Or els rough Aeol raise a mightie wind With flouds of raine fast powring on the ground That heards of cattell scarse can finde Shilter to saue their bare backs thinly linde When as those beasts that feeding lye in stall Recks not the storme how great so ere it fall So fareth fates faire weather now foule proue Stormes past there comes a quiet calme againe Seasons and times such earthly chances moue So Romes high state now whole then sicke with paine In worldly life cares be our daily gaine Lawes for the good of common weales firme seated Through ciuill strife their right vse are defeated As Pompee had those broyles and iarres late ended Seditious fire began to light againe Now Catiline by coniuration bended A number moe their countries peace to staine The state of Rome to spoyle ambitious braine But Cicero who Consull was that time Detected them of that most heynous crime But Catiline to Toscane came by flight Gathering fresh crewes of wretches all forlorne Gainst whom Anthonius Consull went to fight By whose great valour in pieces cut and torne The rebels were vnhappie wretches borne But fates to men doe aye alot such chance That by wrong meanes themselues thinke to aduance And in this yeare fine Cicero Consull was Ierusalem and all Iudea land Great Pompees power atchieu'de and brought to passe Did tribute pay vnto the Romaines hand Octauian eke as you shall vnderstand Who Emperour was in processe following here Receiu'de his birth at Rome in this same yere Fiue yeares after Gabinius and Piso
Consuls were chose when as the Swysers bold Did cast their course by Prouence for to go Farder in France whereas they ment to hold Their biding place say nay who so would By reason of the fertile soile and ground Great foyson there of fruites in season found Whom to forbid t'abide or there to rest Iulius Caesar raisde an armie strong Commaunded by the Senate soone was prest And in short space the Swysers came among Their power most dead on earth he laid along And after that to Ariouist also And Almane King he gaue like ouerthrow Besides these two he other battailes fought In parties moe of Germanie and France Neere riuer Rhyn his enemies he brought Subiect which farre his glory did aduance From thence with power ore Ocean seas did glance And did arriue among the Brytanes then With whom to fight he found them matchlesse men But yet in fine he did subiect that Isle Ere he return'd and letters thence did write To Rome which were conueyed in short while The first day of September to recite To Cicero which he receiu'de in sight Vpon the nine and twentith of the same From England in a month those letters came Caesar from thence return'd againe to France Had good successe the countrie quiet brought Ere it was long thus fortune can aduance Those whom she meanes at length to bring to nought About this time th'egiptians Rome besought To aide their king expeld his countrie fro By Archelaus worker of his woe Vnto the Senate Pompee sute did make The king distrest for to restore againe Gabinius charge thereof must vndertake He Archelaus perforce did constreine For to depart vpon a grieuous paine So Ptolome receiu'd againe his crowne And royall seate by Pompees high renowne CAP. 12. The Ciuill warre betweene Caesar and Pompee Caesars quieting the state of Egypt his quicke expedition through diuers other countries his attaining to the Empire LIke as two Lions long without their pray And comming where they hunger may sustaine Both being fierce they will agree no way In friendly sort to part the spoile in twaine High stomackt both both thinke the whole to gaine Doe fall at strife one for the others part Where one or both doe rue their rage with smart This ciuill warre which now began to rise Tweene Caesar stout and Pompee cal'd the great Sheweth lion like the grudge that smothring lies Within the heart which canker like doth eate Vntill such time reuenge breakes out in heate And sets on fire from smoake vnto a flame Neuer extinct without some foule disfame This ground whereon this grudge began to grow The cause thus fell stout Caesar was reiected Consull to be vntill he did bestow His armie and his office last elected But hate hath meanes that spight shall be detected Although small cause important thereto long Right set aside hate workes by open wrong But this conceipt Caesar held in his mind To yeeld his strengthes then naked should he bee Where now before might hap then come behind Yet neuerthelesse ye yeelded to agree If Pompee would release as well as he His power also which Pompee would not yeeld Hasted to France againe and from the field Brought on his armie came in Italie Tooke many townes by loue and composition Pompee this hearing with Consuls both did flie Caesar pursued there was no prohibition But ere he came to make with them condition Embarqute they were on sea boord vnder sayle And out of sight might bid to them alhayle For want of ships to serue his warlike turne He thought not good there long while for to stay But backe againe to Rome made his returne From Durazo from whence they fled away At Rome held court long after day by day Framing complaints gainst those that did him wrong And offring peace the Romance state among He perceiuing the Senate made small count Of what he spake from Rome in hast he sped And ere t'were long at Marcels did dismount Whereas the towne gainst him did make head But he by sea an armie caus'de be led Left it besiegde by water and by land And into Spaine did iourney out of hand Where Pompees captaines did vnto him render With all their forces at his commaund to bee And with them hasted whereas hope was slender At Marseiles towne ere he came sought t'agree And yeeld to him which done away goeth hee To Rome againe and in his absence was Dictator made through fates so brought to passe The people eke the more to raise his fame Elect him Consull with Seruilius marched And when he had set euery thing in frame For publike weale to Thessalie dispatched And there a time to fight with Pompee watched Did him orecome slew all his power welnie Pompee enforst to Egypt for to flie Where raigned then Ptolome his sonne that late Before rehearst by Pompees meane who was Restorde againe into his royall state In hast by flight Pompee to him did passe In hope he would with curtesie alas Requite with aide and succour at his neede Him now distrest for that his former deede But he to whom Pompee this pleasure did Was dead and now this King was but a childe Who scarcely would to Pompee welcome bid Of hope and succour being thus beguilde Ingratitude who is a monster vilde Within the harts of the Egyptians grew Doubting mishap in treason they him slew Vile wretches that durst on him so lay hand Whose noble hart relieu'd your wretched state Did you not feare the breach of league and band With Romanes made but could ye him so hate That was your friend though destinie and fate Did on him frowne so in his bloud t'embrue Your cruell handes but you his death shall rue Caesar shall not let vnreuenged goe Your barbarous part though he his enemie bee The day shall come wherein you shall crie woe Ruying your state with wracke and miserie For doing of so foule a villanie In killing him the worlds flower chiefe Whom Caesar loe bewailes with teares and griefe Presenting of his head thinke you to finde Pardon and peace no no Egyptians base Sprong from the stocke of some vile rascall minde No maruaile though like rogues the world ye trace Let not the earth affoord you byding place But wander ye as wretches all forlorne Your ofspring curst and those before you borne No doubt those plagues shall light vpon you all The Romanes who your kings oft succour gaue Shall raze their seate and euer after thrall Their name and make both king and queene a slaue And farther yet this curse eke shall you haue Craft and deceipt and theft shall be your trade Vntill the gallowes end of all haue made Ah worthy wight Pompee the Phoenix rare Starre of the world before and euer since Both memorie and fame shall aye declare Thy noble artes whose prowesse did conuince Full many a realme and prouince king and prince At twentie fiue
their sences Hannibal poysoned himselfe The ambition of antiochus King of Assiria who also would gouerne the King of Egipt being but yet a childe minding thereby to obtaine the Kingdome to himselfe Romes Ambassador feareth the great King of Assiria with a word * His breach of promise punished after in his sonne called Perseus solicited by his nobles after his fathers death to take in hand this warre * Who at this instant gaue vnto theÌ„ a great ouerthrow which weakened them sore to withstand this last warre * Ambition is neuer sufficed till death The wise foreseeth destinie but fooles fall in their folly A great nuÌ„ber of their Children according to the last trues The people desired him for hope onely of the former Scipio who conquered Astique before The true patterne of a most noble Captaine Where Magistrates are not obeyed with a confusion commeth finall destruction The end of disobedience to the Magistrates in a common welth is many miseries The nature of fury once conqueror The miserie of disordered people euen their owne enemies do often lament to beholde On earth nothing permanent * The image of Apollo of fine gold pillars of golde of the waight of 1000. talents with innumerable other spoyles besides those taken by the souldiers Lucius Mummius had for surname Achaique Portugall subiect to Rome * 14. Yeares after Carthage destroyed and in the 622. of Romes foundation When the foote will rise against the head cut it off on the ground any more to tread In the yeare of Rome 625. Both the other Scipio and this dyed in the flower of their age Iugurth K. of Numidia a countrey in Afrique appertaining sometime to the Carthaginians Calphurnius Slaughter and ouerthrowes of the Romaines by the Germanes * The Latines Samnites To scanes Veientes Eques Falisques and others now such countries as areabout Rome Florence Genua Mantua Ferrara Sienna and others * Two countries in Asia * The Romanes Ciuill discord the onely mischiefe of all common-wealths which bringeth therein destructions sooner then any other plague ContentioÌ„ cause of hate and reuenge One poison driuen out by another and yet the griefe not cured The fruites of ciuill discord A quiet state the meane while True is an olde saying seldome comes the better Reuenge ioyned with ire * Prescribed by Sylla * Giuing many ouerthrowes to the Romans during the ciuill warres * Liued often most sumptuouslie c. Not medling any more in matters of the commonwealth * Pompee * Nere vnto Constantinople or beyond which com passeth the one side of all Europe VnconstaÌ„cie of mind in miseries engendreth dispayre Romes ambition still continueth By this King was inuented the triacle now vsed called by his name Friends and his souldiers forsooke him by meanes of his son who vsurped the crowne The longer life the greater strife The weakest alwaies goes to the wall Ciuill strife a destroyer * Gathereth a crew discontented through idlenes and voluptuousnesse The reward of rebeliious persons disturbing the quiet estate of the common wealth * A people in Germanie * A Countrey in France very fruitefull Iulius Caesar his first charge in warrein Germanie Caesar fortunate in al his warres Caesar in England Letters written to Rome from England * Commanded by the Senate or councell * The noble mind of Pompee to distressed Princes Where reuenge taketh roote nothing but death can supplant it Hate will build on a small ground to be reuenged * Caesaâ—… * Or Marcellis a towne in in France lying betweene Spayne and Italy on the sea coast Partly through feare of further trouble * And Pharsalie where they fought Pompe but young yet a great conqueror There was counted to be in siluer 2200. talents after our account in money an infinite some Besides prisoners there were 314. pledges children of Kinges and great Princes of countries by him ouer come shewed in the triumph with the images pictures of those slaine in battaile to represent his victories The greatnes of mans minde atchieueth many enterprises thought vnpossible which proueth true that a man is but his minde Cato slew himselfe at Vtica a city in Afrique for that hee would not fall into Caesars hands * Iuba a King in Afrique his league with Rome In his owne person ere he attayned the soueraigntie of Emperor hee had made war in three parts of the world viz Asia Africa Europe and from them all returned victor No sooner full sea but ebbe beginneth Ambition cause of many miseries Honers seat full of dangers WheÌ„ dread is least then is danger greatest * A relation to the fourth staffe in the first Chapter of this booke * The Turkes Summer the ripener of al fruites Autum the gatherer â—…orier Winter the destroyer spender Spring the quickner againe of all But this spring the comfort of all Christians the haruest hath been long God graunt many good laborers there in that wheÌ„ Autum commeth winter following be not sharpe Planting with care and yet not knowing who shall enioy that they haue toyled for * Iu. Caesar Inconstancie the change of many strange chances Discention cause of distruction Liking and lust cause of dishonor Sweet meat will haue sower sauce Delightes with carelesnes bringes wracke and wretchednes Christes birth the spring of our ioyes The praise of Augustus Constancie in virtue maketh old age long happie Christs death our comfortable haruest God grant vs grace to gather therby fruites that in winter we dye not but liue The Brytaines reuolt from Romes gouernement Gloucester so Claudius Caeâ—ar Virtue buildeth vice plucketh downe * Who was gouernor of a prouince in France for the Romanes wrote letters into Spayne The onely decaye of the Empire was ciuill discord Virtues praise neuer dyeth Whose increase is mightie now a dayes