contrary to hym aduysyng hym not much necessary but lytell mete in so sharpe a besynes And seyng hym yll wyllyng to euery thing he graunted hym lycēce at last to depart toward Rome as he before had often requyred and demaunded by peticion ¶ But as I haue sayd longe before the letters whiche were sende to Rome to the commens by fauourers of Marius were well accepted For whan the commentie had ouersene them and by them vnderstode the praising of Marius and the dispraysyng of Metellus They were al inclined vtterly to the auaūcement of Marius and detraccion of the other The noblenes of Metellus the capitayne whiche was before to his great worshyp and honour tourned now to enuye and hatered against hym But the lownes and vnnoblenes of Marius encreased to hym fauour specially of the cōmentie whiche were come of vnnoble bloude as he was But the diligente fauour of bothe the parties that is to say of the states which helde with Metellus and of the commens that helde with Marius dyd measure and gyde euery thing rather than the good or yll disposcions of the two aduersaryes Metellus or Marius For the cōmens to dye for it cōcluded to exalte Marius And thestates in the same maner labored to kepe hym vnder because he was vnnoble borne and to exalte none saue thē whiche were come of noble progeny Farthermore the masters head officers of the cōmenty which loued debate at euery assēble congregaciō of the cōmens sore blamed Metellus dispised his deedes desiring of the cōmens that Metellus might lose his head saying that he was so worthy for that he prolonged the war in Numidy against Iugurth more than nede was But in despising accusyng Metellus they forgat not to cōmend Marius exalte hym with wordes somwhat to much and more thē he was worthy in many pointes In so moche that the people wer so gretly inclined to him with their fauour that al the craftes men laborers of the citie also of the contrey which had no liuynge saue in the labour of their handes left their worke busines folowed Marius frequēting and resorting to his cōpanie And set more by his auancement honor then by their owne profet or auantage trusting that after if he obteyned the said honor they shuld haue their liuing by him And thus shortlye to speke the estates noble men beyng sore astoined the cōsulshyp was cōmitted to Marius a newe gentleman whose predecessours before hym to suche dignitie could neuer attayne and were counted vnworthy Thus that thyng which many yeres before that tyme could neuer be done nor brought about was now brought to effecte that is to saye the consulshyppe which was the most excellēt dignitie of Rome was now in hādes of the cōmense cōmitted to a mā of base birth Shortly after this the protectour of the commenty named Lucius Maulius enquired demaunded of the people whom it wold please them to send into Numidy to fynyshe the warre with Iugurth The most parte of the commentie answered that Marius shuld haue that office and busines how be it a lytle before that tyme the Senatoures had assigned by their ordinaunce the prouince of Numidie to Metellus for his worthy deedes wherfore now this ordinance was frustrat void For the cōmēty wold haue their statuts executed fulfilled ¶ Of the seconde batayle foughten bytwene Metellus and Iugurth and how Iugurth lost the batayl also one of his chief townes named Thala The .xliiii. Chapter IN the meane tyme whyle the enterprise of Marius proceded thus forward at Rome Iugurth was sore troubled in his mind for many cōsideracions Fyrst he considred the losse of many whō he reputed for his friendes tyl before he knewe their treason of whō he had many put to death and many other had fled from hym for feare some to the Romains and other some to Bochus king of the Mauriens He called also to his mynd that without ministers and men of warre he was not able to execute the warre and moreouer he thought it ieoperdous after so greate falsehode and treason of his olde frendes to proue or assay the fidelitie of newe For these causes and mo lyke as I haue sayd before his mynde was driuen to and fro variable incerteine in diuers opinions I so much that there was no maner thyng no counsell nor no maner man that could sufficiently satisfie nor please his mynd He chaunged his iourneys and waies euery day into sundry places for feare of treasō Somtyme he addressed hym towarde his enemies and anone after returned into wodes wildernesses Often tymes he had trust and cofidence in flyght and anone after put his trust in armour and bataile He douted whither he might lesse trust to strength or trueth of his mē which wer with him so that what euer he purposed to do or whither so euer he intended euery thynge was contrary to hym But while Iugurth thus prolonged taryed sodenly Metellus with his army appered in his syght Iugurth that parceiuing set in order and array his Numidiens aswel as he might after the short tyme which he had therto And immidiatly the armies approched and the batayle began In that part of the batayle where Iugurth himselfe was they stroue and resysted a lytell space but all the other Numidyens at the firste brūt concourse or assaut wer put to flyght with violence and driuen backwarde The Romayns toke some of their standeres and armour whiche they fleyng away left behynde them but of their ennemies they toke but fewe For the Numidiens in that bataile and almoost in all other defended themselfe better with their fete than with their handes or armoure Iugurth at this tyme mystrusted his case muche more than at any other tyme euer before for the cowardous withdrawynge of his people Wherfore he acompanyed himselfe with the Romayns which had forsaken and betrayed Metellus and fled to him With them and with a part of his horsmen he fled in to the wildernesses therby and frō thens vnto a towne named Thala which was a great towne and a riche and much of his treasour and of the aparell longing to the youthe of his yong chyldren was in the same towne But whan Metellus vnderstode that Iugurth was fled to so ryche a towne how beit he knewe that bytwene the towne and the next flod therto was .l. mile space of dry ground voyde and without habitacion neuerthelesse he toke in hande to ouercome all sharpnes and difficultie of places and also to ouercome nature though it semed impossible to mannes mynde This thynge Metellus toke in hande in hope to fynishe the batayle muche soner yf he myght wynne that towne ¶ Wherfore he commaunded that al the beestes which serued for cariage shuld be vnladen of al such baggage and burthen as they caried longynge to the souldyours saue onely whete and vitayle for the space of .x. dayes Also he commaūded some of the bestes to
armye the tother is capytayne and ruleth Mauritaine Those two shal we haue as felowes in counsaylynge and moste trusty and sure helpers in our nedes and busynesse But other menne good lorde what routes and withe what fauoure and hardy courage they agree with vs to recouer liberte I let passe here to speake of the noble citizens the whiche hauinge neither lande nor rent left and being wrapped in great wretchednesse and nede can vnneth suffer and endure that this so noble and mighty a citie shoulde be subiecte to the wyll and power of a fewe persons For who is the moste noble and valiante men the whose ryches worshyp honour prouynces roumes offyces and hyghe auctorities are not dere and pleasante Whereto shulde I reherse to you the good wylles of poore men whiche vnfortunate felowes beinge oppressed with excedynge greate dette and trouble with infinite wronges can not be safe and sure by none other meane than by ciuile warre But what nedethe me to remembre to you these men the whiche very nede the whiche priuate iniuries the whiche feare of iugementes and the which necessitie compellethe vnto warre I swere to you my faythe there is no citizen without this dominacion of the mighty men the whiche wold not with al his harte resiste and withstande these cruell tyrantes There are but ouer many redy to recouer liberti the market place is ful of those men al the townes of Italye are ful all Italie is reysed vp men of al states and condicion and finally men of euery age agree and consent all on this one thynge And it doth not a litle helpe forwarde that the riches of these men is spited amonge stronge nations theyr might hated the consuls power withe whiche at the next election I truste you shal se me adourned Do you than doubte I beinge your consul and capitaine the souldioures myndes styrred and kendeled herto and all Italy conspiring with vs to recouer agayne your libertie For goddes sake moste strong and valiant men let not slyppe but take sure holde on this occasion offered vnto you and at last cal to your remembraunce that you be Romaine princes We haue suche a time as neuer man hadde before vs. And if you lette this scape you shall neuer haue suche an other tyme agayne I am longe in exhortinge you There is nothynge elles that I will monishe you for there is no man so foolyshe but that he perceiueth that we can be none other way in saftie Wherfore necessitie perill the large rewardes that shal aryse by thys warre shoulde moche more stere and prouoke you therto then mine ooracion You shal haue me to bee your capitaine or elles your companion or rather bothe twayne Neyther my mynde nor body shal euer fayle you And although my mynde and corage hath euer ben prompte and redy yet the time hathe fayled vs but alwaye as soone as oportunite appered I was my selfe the chiefe and principal that wold haue recouered agayne your libertie Soo that I beinge consull and prince and you the auctoures and capitaines the goddes beinge helpers surelye in shorte tyme we shall be free and out of al bondage excepte we had rather be in thraldome then lyke men by feate of armes and dente of swâ—rde to trye the matter ¶ Whan he had saide euery man moste highlye lauded Catiline they gaue him greate thankes and approued his counsaile And vnto manye of them that asked him what the condition of this warre shulde be and what rewardes and winninges shulde ensue and folow of this conspiracye Catiline fyrste promysed them the deathe of great riche men newe proscriptions prouinces offyces and honoures Than he discriued vnto them al the hole maner of this warre And lastly he exhorted them that they shuld moste fauourably sticke to him in the request of the consulshyp And after they hadde embraced and taken eche other by the hande he let them departe ¶ The confederacie concluded and knytte vp with manâ—â—s bloude Cap. vi I WYL NOT in thys place omytte that Linius and Saluste haue lefte in writing After Catiline had ended his oration and had with all kynde of assurances and othes knytte vnto him felowes of his furie to go forthe with they re wicked and vengeable enterpryse he powred wyne and mannes bloude together in a cuppe and firste he beganne and after gaue it to hys felowes to drinke Some other wryters haue added hereunto that this confideracie was not onelye concluded wythe mannes bloude but also it was stablyshed and conâ—yrmed withe the fastinge of the flesshe of a certayne man that Catiline had slayne And they say he dyd it for this consideracion that throughe suche a cruell deede they shulde be the more faythfull one to an other Some other consideringe the great cruelnesse of the dede thinke it is but a feyned matter and incredible But I am not onlye sone perswaded to thynke that it was so done but also I deme hym not to haue doone that to the entente that they shulde be the more faythful among them selfe But I beleue he dyd it to reache the conspiratoures by example the maner and vse of wilde beastes of whiche there are none more cruel and mortal then they as men saye whiche haue ones tasted mannes fleshe So likewise whan they had ones take a taste of mannes bloud there shuld be no enterprise so fierse and fel nor no dede so cruel that they ought to feare and abhorre to do And to beleue this thinge that I lerned of a certayne greate auctour induceth me how Catiline was borne in hand by southesayers that a certaine Egle or standarde of Siluer that C. Maryus had in the warres agaynste the Cimbrians was predestinate to be the destruction and ruine of the common weale to the whiche as we rede he erected aulters and ordeyned and oratorye at home in his house and was wonte to worshyppe it is a godly thynge whan he wente in hande with any enterprise O crueltie that neuer was harde of before those dayes that there shulde be than some founde the which vnder the shappe of men were in harte fierce and cruell wilde beastes ¶ Of .vii. that desired the consulshyppe amongâ— whome Cicero preuayled Cap. vii IN THE MEANE whyle when they wente to electe newe consuls there came foorthe .vij. that desyred to bee consulles of the whiche twoe were descended of noble linage L. Catiline and P. Galba Foure were meaner personnes of the whiche two were moore noble C. Antonius the sonne of the moste wittye and eloquent Oratour M. Antonius L. Cassus Longinus that was amonge them at the foresayde vngratious assemblye Q Cornificius C. Licinius sacerdos and oone of theym a knyghtes sonne borne M. Tullius Cicero the whiche in noble birthes was inferioure to the other but in wytte counsayle eloquence and stoutenesse of stomacke he far passed them all When this man through the great fouour good wyll and loue of the people had bene Tresourer Gardian of the temples and
and power of his frindes wythstode the vengeable purpose of Catiline But D. Syllanus and L. Murena weere chosen consuls the whyche Murena was after accused of ambicioÌ„ by Seruice Sulpice and M. Cato Whom Cicero the consul defended whose moste goodlye oracion intiâ—uled Pro L. Murena remayneth to this daye ¶ After Catiline perceyued he coulde not be consull to trouble and vexe the common weale beynge a priuate person determined to make warre And so all the money that he coulde heape together he caused to be caryed to Manlius beynge at Fesulas and to hym he sente before axes roddes hornes trumpettes armoure bannars and stremars for warre and also that same syluer Egle to the worship wherof he at home in his house had made an oratorie Moreouer he sente L. Septimius into the countrey Picenium and C. Iulius into Apulia an other into the countreye Camertes an other into the dominion of Fraunce to styrre vp those countreys For into these partes as it were an infection this myschiefe was entred And he at home in Rome attemted manye thynges At the laste the .xxvi. daye of October he determined with a stronge power violently to entre into the court and after he had slaine the consul and a great part of the Senatours to go to Manlius wher his army laye But M. Cicero watching night and day and knowyng these matters about the .xix. day of October called a great counsayle He began with a proeme farre fetched to declare the vengeable driftes mischeuous imaginacions of Catiline hee shewed them what strengthe and power he had prepared to slee the Senatours and how he had sente C. Manlius into Hetruria to reyse an armye and that he wolde be in harneys erre the .xxiiij. daye of October and how he sente C. Iulius into Apulia to styrre vp the shepeherdes He sayde hee feared not Manlius nor Iulius but he was in drede of those whom he dayelye sawe brag vp downe in places of moste assemblye yea whom he sawe come into the Senate house amonge them by whome the slaughter burninges destructioÌ„ of the common weal was prepared ¶ More ouer he diligeÌ„tly admonished the Senatoures to be ware of such perylles that were iminent to prouide for the safegarde of theyr countrey to defende and mainteine the common weale For if they made not good prouision it was not the publycacyon of the lawe Agraria nor a common sedition or suche a hurte as beinge some tyme harde spokenne of is lamented but those felowes haue secretelye concluded te burne this citye to mourder and slee che citizens and to exâ—incte the Romaynes names He sayde there was no nation no kynge that was able to make warre to the Romaynes there was not outwarde danger to be dredde within the citye were the snares layde within was the pestilence shutte within was the Troyan horse of whiche so longe as he was consul they shulde neuer be oppressed slepynge he saide they re ennemyes were not at the gates whiche were a thynge moste greuous but in the citie in the markette place in the palays After this he shewed howe thys great mischiefe myghte be remedyed Finallye he admonished the conspiratoures to leaue theyr furyousnesse to laye noo mo snares for his distruction and noo more to mynde murders burninges robberyes and to perswade them selfe that the consuls were righte vigilante about the common weale and that there were many noble officers manye valyent and worthy men and suche as moste hartely loued the common weale whiche wold more sharpely do theyr endeuour for the profyt publike then they wolde for the dâ—struction therof and that they shulde trust no more vpon the slaughterr of riche men so longe as he was consull For seinge thâ—t al consuls shulde be careful and diligent to defende the common weale yet oughte they moste specially which by the only fauour of the people of Rome and not for any noble actes images or commendacion of they re auncetours were made consuls He sayde they dyd nothinge that went aboute nothinge nor imagined any thynge that coulde be hyd from him I knowe ê™ he whom ye haue sent into Hetrurya to reyse warre whom into Apulia who in to the countreye of Pice and who is sente into Fraunce He sayde they were farre wyde if they supposed that he wolde vse them alway gentelly He sayd he had not tolde all and how he had suffered moche And that now it was nedefull to do sharpe punishemente And that he mighte so do he had examples of his predecessoures whiche oftentymes vpon theyr owne mindes dyd put suche mischeuous and vngratious persons to deathe He sayde more ouer he marueyled greatelye if they could not lyue honestly why they wolde rather die shamefully Fynally he sayde that not onelye men but also all the goddes wolde resiste and withstande suche and so great cruelty The decree of the Senate that the common weale shulde take none harme Cap. xiii AL be it that there were manye that gaue no credence to the consulles wordes for the greatnesse of the cryme and manye throughe foolyshenesse coude not thynke it to be so and manye of the leude and naughtye sorte fauoured the matter yet the Senate perswaded by certayne noble and valiant menne made a decree that the consuls shoulde take hede that the common weale toke none harme This decree was not wonte to be made but agaynste detestable lawes whan the people was moued to departe and leaue the citie whan the citie was in greate trouble and busynes or in feare of sedicion And by that one verse or decree the greattest power of all Rome was gyuen to the consuls as to reyse an armye to make warre and to be the mooste hyghe iudges in all causes as well at home as forth in warfare ¶ Whan the .xxvj. day of Octobre came by reason that the consull had layed a garison of men a boute the Palaice Catiline coude not accomplishe his purpose He quickelye bethoughte hym to doo an other feate The towne preneste standynge not farre from Rome is by naturall situacion of the place verye stronge the same for many oportunities of the warre Catiline purposed the fyrste daye of Nouembre to take with assaut in the nighte But the consull forseinge that in his mynde furnysshed that fortresse strongely with men of armes Wherfore Catiline enterprysed that feate in vaine But afore that there chaunced a thynge I thynke euen by the goodnesse of god the whiche some what troubled Catlines mynd For G. Piso of whom we spake before in whome Catilyne had greatest confidence and hope of victorye was slayne of certayne Spanyarde horse men or as some other saye he was kild by Pompeys horse men And hard it was to iudge whether his deathe was more ioyful and pleasaunt to good men or heuy and sorowful to the conspiratours ¶ How Manlius and other Catilins companyons prepareâ— warre abrode Cap. xiiii IN THE meane whyle Manlius wyth faire promisses reysed the commons in Hetruria that were
had had this consideracion with you whē our consull with so sharpe bytyng wordes wrongefully spake of my maners whē he with his pernicious and insolent eloquence incensed and kendled your mindes against me I dare boldelye saye myne innocente lyfe shulde this daye cleane haue quailed his proude crakinge wordes But nowe I see that ye by the consulles suggestion prepare sentence againste me and that ye can scaselie suffer to here me to gyue credence to his authoritie mistrusting mine honestie Wherefore I maye well feare lest the defence of myne helth be greatly hindered For innocentes through the vniuste enuie or iniurie of a fewe are often times troden vnder foote The which thynge surely besemeth neither the constancie of noble men nor the maners of the Romains nor the dignitie and office of the Senatours Therfore most honorable fathers I beseeche you for the goddes sakes immortall and for your humanitie that in so greate and waighty matters ye lightelye giue not iudgemente reduce againe your mindes mollified and ouercome with Ciceros eloquence to your olde integritie and so restore you them that at length you maye vnderstand the wordes of Catiline a Romaine descended of noble lynage If I worthy citizens haue done anye offence againste my countrey I neither desire fauour nor mercie Then ryd me out of this lyfe put this bodye to cruell deathe and teare these shameful members in pieces for myne oracion tendeth not that ye shulde haue mercie on Catiline For why sodenly to put to cruell deathe hym that entendeth to destroye his countrey is moste hygh mercye But the clemenry of this citye I desire moste honorable fathers that in no maner wise ye forsake not innocencie leste whyle ye defende lybertie throughe the iniquitie of a fewe you shulde go aboute to destroy manye gyltles persons I wyll shewe you and clerely open vnto you that the greuous and sharpe enmitie that oure consull beareth me is not for the sauegarde of the comman weale nor for any desire that he hath to mainteine liberetie but to vexe and trouble the common weal. For howe many and howe immoderate discordes dyd fyrste in tymes past kindle and prouoke hym ageinste me nor what strife contencion hath not ben betwene vs sence I nede not to declare For they are to you honorable fathers sufficiently knowen But I woll rather tell you those thinges whiche he at the laste eleccion when hee was chosen consull shamefully yea and rashely blasted out howe he desired the consulshyp for nothinge more than for the destruccion of Catiline These two mooste noble men C. Antonius and C. Cesar are wytnesses of the same by whose authoritie that his thretnynge was at the same tyme reproued as vndiscreete Goo to nowe moste prudente fathers gyue your hyghe dignities and offices to suche minded men the whiche woll more dylygently pursue priuate ennimities than the profite and sauegarde of all this common weale Cicero desired not the consulshyp to succour the miserable or to restrayne the power and myght of the euyll doers to defende the cytie to prouide for the common weale but specialli that he myght quayle Catiline and banyshe hym Are these the duetyes of a man called to the consulshyp Preferre suche menne in geuynge them highe roumes before the noble men whose hole minde is to extincte the nobilitie For that that is thretned me of thys man shall returne vnto you all Beleue me moste prudente fathers beleue me the consent of beneuolence and loue is rare betwene myndes so vnlyke He beynge a straunger of the towne Arpinate a newe geast planted into thys cytie thinketh vpon his naturall rage and hatered the whiche his maners haue not only prepared ageynst newe and strange citizens but also nature by olde custome Fyrst at the begynninge of hys consulshyp hys countrey was caste in his tethe and sometyme his newe gentlemanshyp was obiected againste hym thynke ye that the manne moste vnpacient could take soo great rebuke pacientelye At that tyme his wytte beynge kendled with a frowarde spirite and as it were a viperous serpente his fierce and cruel mynde with an inflamed and venomed stomacke was all to tossed Thys man that nameth hym selfe the father of the countreye that is wonte to saye that thys common weale was ornated wyth his noblenesse in lyuynge he that by his maners maketh hym selfe not onlye egall to the kynredes of al the moste noble and excellente men but also to excel in vertue al oure forefathers Whan he sawe his newe gentlemanshyppe obiected againste hym how thynke you dyd hee take it Hee than gnashed his tethe together and againste you all he was striken prittelye wyth a woodenes and gan to whet hys anger the whiche ye maye not thynke woll asswage in tyme to come by opteyning of the consulshyppe seeynge that he iudgeth that not by your fauoures but for hys moste greatest vertues hee worthely is aduaunced to so hyghe a dignitie And soo uowe he dothe execute those hys former affections nowe wyth those craftes he intendeth to trouble the citye now with suche inuencions he woll reuenge hym selfe and brynge the nobilitie in suche case that they shall neuer obiecte agaynste hym hys newe gentlemanshyp He shall do it moste honorable fathers he shall do it onlesse your mooste prudente wysedomes at lengthe prouide both for the healthe of vs all and for the common weale For nowe oure citie by thys ryngeleader of myschiefe artificer of damnable dedes is so be spotted with a vengeable and pestilent blemysh he so soweth abroade his detestable seede vpon our countrey that if it once take roote and grow to any forwardnesse thys publyke weale shall be cleane extincted and thys moste floryshyng empire shall be vtterly broughte to naughte For there is nothynge more perilous vnto cities than whan the chiefe and principall citizens bee at stryfe amonge them selfe For Discorde is greatteste fooe to floryshynge common weales Discorde alone disparpleth and turneth vp sette downe thynges stronge and myghtye Truely discorde hath brought this busynes into our citie it hath cast vs into this calamitie the whiche if it be not prouided for in tyme I see that thys mooste floryshing common weale is in greate daunger I see the weapons in youre handes the oone of you to withstande the other this man banyshed and that man murdred Wold to god that innocent Catiline mighte be the ende of all tribulacions like as he is the beginning there is no peryll that shulde greue me to take in hande for the common weale I coulde be contente to be proscribed to be banyshed to suffer death for my countrey But euerie man is not at all tymes of oone selfe mynd An other shall be more vnpacient the which had rather be auenged then to suffer the iniuries of naughtye persons Then the matter muste needes be tryed by cyuile warre then shall our countrey stande in daunger to bee loste and wyll shortelye fall into doubtefull chaunces and sure destruccion of the cytie than shall he
withstandinge in very deede ye shall knowe to be true Yet for as much as I prouoked wyth rebukes and iniuries and depriued of the fruite of my labour and diligence opteyned not the state of dignitie as my custome is toke vpon me to defende the cause of suche as are miserable not that I want or haue not sufficient possessions to paye myne owne dettes seyng that the liberalitie of my wyfe Horistilla with her owne and her doughters goodes hath payed other mens dettes but bycause I sawe men vnworthye auaunced to honour and my selfe throughe false suspicion alienated and put from honour And for this cause I haue for the case that I am in gotten metely good hope to conserue suche dignitie as hereafter shal chaunce me As I wold haue written mo thinges it was shewed mee violence was prepared against me Nowe I commende and deliuer Horistilla to your fidelitie prayinge you for the loue that ye beare to your children defende her from iniuries Farewell ¶ Many in the citye blamed the softnes of Cicero that he suffred their enemye to go his waye Cap. xxii BVT when it was knowen at Rome by manye mennes letters and often messages that Catiline was admitted capytaine ouer the armye and that hee intended too make warre vpon his countreye there were verye manye that greatelye blamed the consull bycause he had not taken soo greuous an enemie to the coÌ„mon weale and that he had let scape the principall and chiefe of the conspiracie For at that tyme the people reasoned and commoned amonge them selfes on this maner Catiline longer this tyme ought to haue ben put to deathe by the consulles commaundement and with moste cruell and sharpe tourmentes to haue ben punished This mischief which he hath craftly imagined againste vs oughte to haue ben layde vppon his owne necke For if the consull had put hym to death as he hath deserued we had ben nowe without warre the straytes of Hetruria had not ben fylled with the tentes of our enemies the common welthe had ben nowe in quiete and rest It was no nede at that tyme to haue vsed mercy it had ben a very mercifull dede most sharply to haue punyshed oure ennemie and by the deathe of one wicked personne to haue preserued the whole common wealthe Some other vsinge the aunciente examples shewed howe that Sp. Elius desiringe to reigne alone was slayne of P. Seruilius Hala. And lykewise Tiberius Gracchus of P. Scipio and also howe that C. Marius slew L. Saturnius protectour of the commonaltie and C Seruilius Glaucia the mayre for certaine suspicions of sedicion But Cicero hath commaunded him whom he knewe to be an enemy most greuous whom also he perceiued to be loked for of their enemies to be their capâ—taine and gouernour to go vnto his armye and so to make warre ageynste his countreye ¶ O the miserable estate of them that gouerned suche coÌ„mon welthes in the which he that is diligeÌ„te is called wayward and hard to please He that is negligente dyshoneste where he that is constante and iuste is called cruell and vngentle and he that is mercifull fearfull and dissolute wherin is geuen no pardon to them that do amysse and small praise to them that do well Or euer it was spoken that L. Catiline was gone in exile it was sayde that he was not by Cicero spoyled of his armours of boldenes that he was not circumuented and weakened by the diligente labour and councel of Cicero and that he had altered his intente not bycause that he dyd greatly feare but that he vncondemned and an innocent was exiled only by the wordes and power of the consull He was not then called vnhappy but fearefull Contrary wyse the consull not diligente but cruel But seynge there were menne that spake these thinges what wolde they haue saide if Catiline had ben put to deathe Nowe for as muche as Catiline lyueth and is vnpunished they call Cicero a manne of no greate counsell but ignoraunte fearefull and dissolute Certes there is nothinge more ignorant and vnwise than the vulgare people whiche without any difference or wisedome iudgeth and onelye pondreth the chaunce of the thynge and to whom any thynge well happeneth hym they saye to be very prouident and circumspecte and to whome otherwyse he to perceyue and knowe nothinge But let vs omytte these thinges ¶ Catiline and Manlius be proclaymed ennemies vnto whom fled very many hopeâ— ostes Cap. xxiii BVT when it was surelye knowen at Rome that Catiline was admitted capitayne ouer the armye and intended to make warre vpon his countrey there was an acte of parliament made in the whiche Catiline and Manlius were iudged to be vtter enemies to the common welthe And to all other there was a daye appoynted sauynge to those that were alredy condemned that it shuld be lawful for them to departe from the army vnpunyshed And if any man after that tyme shulde go vnto Catiline the senate to take hym as a traytoure againste the common weale and agaynste all mennes safegarde and profite The senate also decreed that the consuls shulde muster and that C. Antonius with suche ayde as he myght gather shulde pursue Catiline bothe by lande and sea and Cicero to defende the citye frome al deceites and mischaunces Neuerthelesse the mindes of desperate persons were nothynge refrained by these sharpe decrees For there was none out of soo greate a company of conspiratours that departed from Catiline excepte it were eyther to spye or to doo some myschiefe but contrary wyse there were many that drewe to hym bothe out of the countrey and out of the citye But of all those that drewe to hym he refused bonde seruantes of whoÌ„ an innumerable multitude fled to hym he estemed it a thinge vnsemely that runnagates shulde haue to do in citizens matters and thynkinge this also whiche in dede shoulde haue come to passe if his companions at Rome had performed their enterprise that huge routes of snaphances and hope lostes from all partes of Italy wolde resorte to hym For not onlye they that were confederate in the conspiracye coueted that Catiline shulde victoriousely ouercome but also whosoeuer were greatly indetted who soo euer had solde awaye their landes who so euer were in tyme paste condemned or atteinted Many also by troublynge of the common weale looked to be aduaunced to honours and moost hyghe ronmes many desired warre by reason that of such ruffeling and dissencions they opteyned power Farthermore in a greate city are alwayes many naughty yll doers hope lostes malaperte troublous sedicious and nedye felowes which with a becke are redy to disturbe the quiet and rest of a citie But most specially the delycate youth and lytle bearded yonge men or Catilines flocke wythout beardes whiche smellynge all of muske their heares featelye comed wearinge veyles and not gownes allowed Catilines counsayles And of these manye got them to catilines armye And of that number was one Fuluius the sonne of Aulus a Snatour the whyche if he coulde
The decree of the Senate for M. Crassus the suspition agenst Cicero and his purgation Cap. xxxvi FOR as much as somme thought this thing incredible and some other though they beleued it yet knowynge the manne to be soo myghty puissaunt and rich in suche a troublous time demed it better by all wayes and meanes to reteyne his fauour than stere hym to displeasure the Senate decreed Tarquinius detection to be false he to be committed to prison and clene to be put to silence excepte he wolde shewe who instanted hym to feyne soo great a thynge There were somme the same season that thought this detector had bene subornated by P. Antronius to th end that Crassus for the danger of their felowshyp shulde with his riches helpe the conspiratours Other there were amoÌ„g the which also was Crassus him selfe whiche beleued that this man was craftily broughte in by Cicero to th ende that Crassus for this suspition shulde not take vpon hym the defence of those that were in prison Whervpon there arose exceding greate hatred betwene Crassus and Cicero But the yonge man P. Crassus the preisar the folower and louer of Cicero did let Crassus to pursue Cicero opeÌ„ly But by whose counsayle Tarquynius was craftylye brought in as yet we know not the certaynety We beleue not that it was Ciceros drifte For this is playne that Q. Catulus and C. Piso Cesars enemies coulde for no fauour opteyne of hym that C. Ceser eyther by the frenche ambassadoures or by any other detectour shuld be named to be in the conspiracy of Catiline And I fynde that Cicero in this busines bare hym selfe very vpryghtly with out any parcialyte He neyther accused any man as culpable of this mischiuous dede wyth out a clere probation or kepte secrete for frendship or for mede conceled any man ¶ Of Lentulus and his felowes sedition seruantes bond and fre and wonderfull token shewed to Cicero Cap. xxxvii WHILE these thinges were in doinge all Lentulus and Cethegus seruantes bonde and free ran aboute from tauerne to tauerne from shoppe to shope to stur vp the myndes with mede of suche as were nedy and naught And whan they had reysed vp a great rout of craftis menne they by dyuers wayes prepared to inuade the Pretors houses But the Consull hauynge knowlege therof had in his mynd many imaginations what shulde be done with the conspiratours that were take and in holde if he shuld do punishemente on them the conspiracy were extyncte but being milde and mercifull in all his lyfe he dradde the name of cruelty and right wel forsawe that for this matter he shulde in time to come be in danger of great hatred and enuie Whyle he mused on this matter somme wryte that this wonderfull token was shewed to hym as they were doinge sacrifice in his house for the people on the alter the fire beyng almoste quenched sodeynly out of the ashes and imbers a longe and a pure flame burned vp bright and answere was made by the diuinours that Cicero shuld not doubt to accomplishe those thinges for the common weale wherabout he in his mind so much mused that thereby to hym of the goddes immortall was sygnified great fame and glory I dare not affirme whether this be true or no because we reade that such sacrifice for the people was not wont to be done in the consuls house but alwaies in the high byshops Furthermore Cicero was nothing moued with such wonderfull sygnes tokens ¶ The sentence of D. Syllanus and other noble men gyuen agaynst the conspiratours Cap. xxxviii THAN the consull strongelye fortifyed the citye and with all celeritie and spede assembled the Senate and required their aduise what shulde be donne with those that were in holde Than D. Sillanus elected to bee consull was first desired to say his mind whose senteÌ„ce was that those that were in warde also L. Cassius whyche desyred to be charged with the burnynge of the citye P. Furius Manlius Chilo Q. Annius P. Vmbrenus which were alwaye occupied in solicitynge the frenche ambassadours if they myghte be taken shulde be put to deathe To this agreed the other that had ben or like to be consuls and namely Q. Catulus in an oracion ful of seueritie sayd that the conspiratours oughte not to lyue and enioye this lyghte one momente of an houre But whan it came to C. Cesar and T. Nero to saye their myndes they began to reason the contrarye and sayde They oughte not to be put to deathe bycause the lawes dyde it prohibyte but their iudgement was that the conspiratours their goodes beyng confiscate shuld be sundred and surely kepte in dyuerse holdes vntyll that Catilyne were by warre vanquised This matter Salust writeth as foloweth ¶ The oration of C. Caesar wherin he contendeth that the conspiratours shulde not be put to deâ—h but kepte continually in prison Cap. xxxix IT becommeth all menne honorable fathers whiche shall gyue counsayle and saye their aduise in matters doubtfull to be cleane without hatred frendship wrathe and mercy The mynde can not easily forese the trouthe where those affections beare a stroke nor no man at one tyme foloweth his yl affection and the profit of the weale publyke where vnto a manne applyeth his wyt there it auayleth If affection possesse the wyt she ruleth reason auayleth nothynge I coulde abundantly recyte vnto you honorable fathers what kinges and people moued with wrath or mercy haue ylle and hurtfully ordered theym selfes in consultation but I wyll rather reherse to you what our forefathers haue done wel ordinatly ageynst their natural inclination ¶ In the warre of Macedony which we made ageinst the kynge of Persy the great and myghty cyty of Rhodes whiche increased in greate ryches by the goodes of the people of Rome was vnto vs contrarye and vnfaithful But after the war was finished they counceled what shulde be done of the Rhodians Our forefathers let them go vnpunished lest any man shulde saye that the warre was begun ageynste theym more for wynnyng of ryches than to reuenge iniurye Also in al the warres Punycke whan the Carthaginois ofte tymes bothe in tyme of peace and truce dyd many detestable deedes ageynste all ryght yet our forefathers hauyng accasyon neuer dyd such thinges they sought more what became them then what they myght laufully do ageynst their enemies This thing also honorable fathers shuld of you be foresene leste the detestable deede of P Lentulus and the other conspiratours shuld more inforce you to reueng than besemeth your dygnyty or rather incline to your wrathe than to your honorable fame For if worthy punyshmente for their deedes be founde I approue new council But if the gretnes of the mischeuous dede both passe all mens wyts my mynd is to vse those punishmentes which are ordeyned by the lawes Many of them that before me haue sayd theyr mindes discretely and magnificently haue bewailed the decay of the coÌ„mon weale and haue full eloqueÌ„tly reckened vp how cruel
Rome hadde nowe as some reporte gathered together aboute twenty thousande men But I suppose he had assembled together a greatter noumbre of cruell caytyues But of all these there was not paste the fourthe parte arrayed and instructed lyke men of warre the other hadde not armour warrelyke but suche as men vse to beare iorneyinge by the waye ¶ With this multitude he Catilyne iournayed vppon the sharpe mountaynes oftentymes he remoued his army and the same moste strongely dyd fortifye aboute with a trenche and a bulwarke sometyme he made towarde the citie sometyme towarde Fraunce nowe he besegeth the mountayns whithin a while after he passethe ouer those hylles nowe on horsebacke nowe on fote Also he caused dylygent watches to be kepte and he hym selfe wolde be the first that shulde goo about it he wolde be among them in theyr labours and in their battayles he wolde benignely calle admonysshe and exhorte his souldyours he wolde very oft take his rest and lye vpon the grounde to th entent that other shulde the more wyllyngly endure labour and trauayle Fynally he wold neuer gyue battayle to Antony bycause that he in prolonging of the tyme might augmente his army with the great multytude of hopelostes robbers and theues that dayly drewe to him from all partes of Italy whiche trustynge to spoyle and robbe and couetynge warre had gyuen ouer theyr husbandry daylye wynnyng And also bycause Catiline thought it more surer to abyde tylle the tyme his felowes at Rome had atcheued theyr enterprises and rather to drawe toward the citie than to assay the hasard of batayle And as he now hasted with all his power to inuade his countrey a messanger came and tolde to hym how the conspiracy was openly knowen at Rome and that they of whome we spake before were putte to death Than Catylyne being soore troubled with these tydinges alterynge his counsayle lefte the citie and toke his iourney towarde France transalpine hopyng that the nation of Frenchmen vtter ennemies to the Romayns and alwaye gyuen to newefanglenes wolde soone be induced to take theyr partes in this warre He thought to brynge outward nations armed to the citie and to make a myghty stronge army of men He had the better hope bycause the Delphinoys whiche are the nereste borderers vnto Italy were by certayne of the conspirators wyth great promyess alredy inticed and the frenche men wyllingly harkened vnto them ¶ Catyline inclosed betwne two armyes determyned to fyght Capitulo .liii. BVt Q. Metellus the pretor whiche led an army of .iii. legions in the countrey of Picene being enfourmed by theÌ„ that fled to hiÌ„ what way Catiline toke spedilye dislodged pitched vnder the very fot of the mountaine with his thre legions by the whiche way Catilyne purposed to passe into Fraunce and with a greate numbre of horsemen and lyght harneysed he laye priuilye in awayte in a places mete and conuenient Whiche thynge whan Catilyne beinge entred into the countrey of Pystoria knewe he determyned for many causes to make no longer delay but as soone as euer he coulde to gyue battayle to Antonius Of all whiche this was the most speciall cause for that he sawe before hym his ennemye Metellus with thre legioÌ„s redy to encouÌ„ter wyth hym and Antonius at his backe with a greate hoste whiche dyd pursue hym in his flyghte one euerye syde were the mountayns whiche dyd let that he coulde not saue hym selfe by flyght and therfore he thought it was no maystry for his enmies stoppyng the wayes that no vytayles shulde come to him to opteine the vyctorye without any stroke strikinge if he shuld abide tyll the two hostis had inclosed him betwene them Also he feared leste by longe delayeng his army wolde slyppe from him For many fledde frome him whan tydinges came that the matter wente yll on theyr syde at Rome and many hastinge to come to him retourned backe home ageyne And also bycause the numbre of his enemies daylye encreased Also the nede of corne soore greued hym for the ways beinge stopt with great peine any vitailes coulde be brought to him Than Catilyne all these thinges considered seinge he had no hoope eyther to scape by flight or that anye succours shulde come to him but onely in battayle determined to assaye fortune and to proue the vttermoste ayde Wherefore assemblynge his counsaile togyther and callinge to the same counsayle souldiours of all sortes and degrees he made to them an oration the which though it be found in Salust yet bicause it can not be so properly Salustis as Catilins I haue therfore vnderwriten here the copie therof For Iustinus writeth that Pompeius Trogus the greate writer of hystories reproueth Liuius and Saluste bycause that they in many places of theyr bookes putte other mens orations for theyr owne And so vndoubtedly the oration that Salust hathe plaÌ„ted in the conspiracye of Catiline vnder the person of Cesar Cato beinge at altercation togyther touchinge the peyne punishment of the conspirators whiche we haue sowed to this oure worke were euery word Cesars Catos Plutarchus sayth it whiche wryteth in the lyfe of Cato that M. Cicero appoynted certayne writers in the Senate whyche by theyr seleritie and spedynesse in wrytinge shulde moste easilye regester the sentences of the Senatours and by that meane the same oration of Cato was kept But whether this oration folowynge were Salustes as I beleue it was or els Catilyns I for certayn consyderations wolde rathere haue it put pere than myne owne Nowe than let vs here Catyline exhortynge hys souldiours to battayle ¶ The oration of Catilyne to his souldyours in whiche he exhorteth them to fyght manfully Cap. lv I Knowe verye well good souldiours that wordes can not make menne couragious nor a cowarde and a fearefull armye can not be made stronge and valyaunte by the capitaynes oration but looke what audacitie euery man hathe by nature or custome suche is it wonte to appere in battayle For in vayne thou shalte exhort hym whom neyther â–ª glory nor peryll can encorage feare of the mynde anâ—oyeth the herynge But I haue tolde you together to declare vnto you a fewe thynges and also to kreake and open my mynde vnto youe Ye know my souldiours to what affliction and myschefe the feynt courage and cowardyse of Lentulus hath brought hym selfe and vs and nowe that I taryeng for succours to come frome the citie can not nowe passe into Fraunce Nowe you all perceyue as well as I in what case we stande Oure ennemyes haue two hostes the tone wyll not suffre vs to drawe to the citie the tother doth let vs to enter into Fraunce to tary longer in these places thoughe we wolde neuer so fayne nede and lacke of vytayle and other thynges wyll not suffer vs whither so euer it pleaseth you to goo the way must be opened with your wepons Wherefore I warne you be of good courage and whan ye shall fyght remembre that yf ye fyght manfullye youe shall
retynue which thing I know for certayne is to your greate pleasure and gladnes For his worthy merytes he is right dere and wel beloued vnto vs. And we shall deuoyr vs to the best of oure power that he may bee lyke deere and well beloued of all the senatours people of Rome I am surely ryght ioyefull on youre behalfe of this youre treasoure Iugurth thauncient amyte betwene you and me byndeth me to be gladde of this your commodite For certaynely lo here haue ye a man of Iugurth wrrthy to discende of such noble stocke as ye are and as his grandefather Massinissa was in his dayes whom he foloweth in all poyntes of vertue and magnanimite ¶ Howe the kyng Micipsa adopted Iugurth vnto his sonne The fyfte Chapter WIth these letters of Scipio Iugurth retourned vnto Numidy vnto his vncle Mycipsa where he was worthely and ioyefully receiued of the coÌ„mentie But after that the king Micipsa vnderstode by these letters of commendacion of the captayne Scipio that the valiaunte and noble actes of Iugurth were trewe whiche longe before he had harde by report of the coÌ„men fame thaÌ„ what for the nobles of Iugurth and fauoure bothe of his dedes and commendacion of Scipio he moued his mynde chaunged froÌ„ his forsayd purpose and not forther intended to oppresse Iugurthe by malyce nor enuy But concluded to attempt to ouercome him with benefites and kindnesse to th entent that he so ouercome shulde not in tyme to come fynde in his hert for pyte to indommage hym nor his heyres And sone after this purpose the same Micipsa adopted Iugurth vnto his sonne and farthermore decreed ordayned in his testament that Iugurth shulde be one of his heyres and partener in possession of his kingdome togyder with his two natural soÌ„nes Adherbal Hiempsall But a fewe yeres after this ordinaunce Micipsa what by age what by sykenesse drew nere vnto his end of lyfe and was consumed by age and disease wherfore consideryng his deth so fast approchynge it is sayd that he called Iugurth before him and than before many of his frendes and kynsmen also in preseÌ„ce of his two natural soÌ„nes Adherbal and Hiempsal he had to the same Iugurth such wordes as he herafter insue folowe ¶ The exortacion which the kyng Micipsa a lytell before his deth had to Iugurth The .vi. Chapter MI dere sonne Iugurth I knowe it is not oute of your remembrauÌ„ce howe after that ye had lost your father my brother I charitably louingly receiued you yonge of tender age into my kyngdome what tyme ye warre without riches wythout conforte and without any hope of comferte or ryches but very lykely to haue bene cast awaye This dyd I thinkyng that for these my benefytes and kyndnesse I shoulde bee vnto you not lesse intyerly beloued than of myne owne naturall chyldren with my body begotten Nor certainly this thing hath not disceiued me For why to ouerpasse your other great magnificente excellente dedes of you valyauntly done before specially now last of all coÌ„mynge from the warre of NumaÌ„ce ye greatly adourned and inhaunced to honoure glory bothe of mine owne person and this my kingdome And where as the Romaynes in fore times were frendes vnto vs by your vertue and manlye actes ye haue establyshed that amitie and of frendes made theÌ„ moche moore frendes So that in Hispayne the name glorie of oure householde by your manhode is renouate and renewed Thus finally ye haue ouercome the enuie of your yl willers onely by your glorious actes and valiaunt interprises whiche is one of the moost difficultie wherfore nowe my sonne Iugurth sithe it is so that nature hath nere concluded the ende of my life I admonishe charge and exhorte you by the faith of your right hand and by the faith and fidelite which ye owe to this my kingdome I obtest and require you that ye loue meintaine and cherishe these my two sonnes Adherbal and Hiempsall whiche of kinnered be nere to you and by my benefite and kindnes are bretherene vnto you Forthremore I exhorte you that ye counte not better and moore pleasure to acquainte and conioine vnto youe forayns or straungers rather than to retâ—yne suche as be ioyned to you by natural blode and kynred For neyther is a great army of men nor habundance of treasours the chefe socours or defence of a kyngdome but â—oche rather trusty faythfull frendes whome a man canne neyther compelled by force of armes nor yet bye with golde nor syluer to parseuer in stedfast amyte but they be optayned kept by kyndnesse good dedes fidelite faythfulnes But among all frendes who can be more frendlye stedfaste in amyte than brother to brother Certaynly none ought to be more louyng of natural inclination Or what strauÌ„ger shal ye fynd faythful and trusty to you if ye shewe your selfe ennemy to your owne kynsmen Forsothe if ye contynue togyder honest good louyng in agreable concorde bytwene your selfe thanne this kyngdome which I committe gaue vnto you shall continue sure and stedfast as it is nowe But coÌ„trarely if ye be yll and disagreynge among your selfe ye shal in short season make it ryght poore feble incertayne For by loue peace concorde small ryches small lordshyppes generally al smal thynges increase and multiplie by discorde the grettest thynges of the worlde decay and fall vtterly to ruyne But you my sonne Iugurthe by cause ye passe these myne other two naturall sonnes in age wysdome therfore it semeth you moche more than them to make suche wyse prouision bothe for your selfe and for them also that nothyng happen other wyse than well For in euery stryffe debate howe be it whiche is mightyer rycher often suffreth iniury Neuerthelesse it semeth more that he dothe wronge thanne his feble aduersary But ye my dere sonnes Adherball Hiempsall se that ye worshipe and loue this Iugurth your worthy vncle And bewar that ye nat offende nor dysplease hym but folow his vertue manly behauour And do your deuoir to the best of your power after his example behauynge your selfe so discretly so wysely that it be nat hereafter reported by me that I haue taken vnto me by adoption better chyldren than I haue begotteÌ„ Thus concluded the kyng Micipsa his words Howe be it Iugurth well perceyued the kynges wordes but fayned and spoken agaynst his herte if any other remedy myghte haue bene founde neuertheles he answered benygnely for the tyme all if he thought and reuoulued in his mynde moche otherwyse and contrary to his humble and mylde answere ¶ Howe the kyng Mycipsa departed from lyfe and of the fyrst cause of dissencion and discord betwene Iugurth Aâ—herball and Hiempsall The .vii. Chapter NOt long after the kynge Micipsa decessed whose deathe was dolourous and sore bewayled of all his subiectes but most of all to his naturall sonnes it was to be lamented and not without greate cause as the processe of this
thought he to proue by suche as were most chiefe frindes of Iugurth and moste familier about hym So that he purposed to vse the false hode and treason of them against their master in stede of armour and batayle Wherfore firste of all he began to proue the mynd of Bomilchar which had ben before at Rome with Iugurth and as I haue sayde before fled priuely from thence for the death of Massiua leauyng his sureties behind in daunger for his cause Metellus considered that thys Bomylchar because of the great frindshyp and familiaritie which he had with Iugurth sonest myght deceiue and betray hym Wherfore as I haue saide before he beganne and went in hande with hym firste of all by promisyng of grete rewardes And firste of all he dyd so muche that this Bomilchar came priuely to Metellus spake with hym Metellus anone promised him on faith and truth to do so for him that the Senatours shulde pardon hym of all thynges past and of his lyfe and goodes so that he wold betray or deliuer to him Iugurth either quicke or dead Lightlye he perswaded the Numidian for anone Bomilchar agreed ther to What for his traiterous and false mynd which he had of nature and what for that he douted if any peace or composicion after that shulde be made betwene Iugurth and the Romaines hym selfe shuld be deliuered by condicion to the Romaines to be punished for the deathe of Massiua whom he caused to be slayne at Rome This Bomilchar whan he saw his time toke leaue of Metellus on this apointment and soone after came to Iugurth whom he found doutfull in care and bewaylyng his aduerse and miserable fortune with profounde syghes and heuynes and doutynge what waye was most expedient to be taken Bomilchar after many wordes beganne to counsell and warne him praynge and obtesting him piteously wepyng and wayting and requyring that at last he wold make some prouision for the sauegarde and socours of himselfe of his children frendes and for the people of Numidi whiche well had deserued agaynst him to be prouided for and better sene to Bomilchar also obiected to Iugurth how he and his menne were ouercome in euery bataile and his people also diminished or alienate froÌ„ him his feldes townes wasted and distroied or els in possession of his enemies his men some taken and in prison Some slaine many wounded and maimed the ryches of his realme diminished and wasted Bomilchar alleged also to him that he had proued the strength of his souldyors and fauour of fortune sufficiently ynough wherfore it were better for him to se some remedy and prouision for all these ylles and other mo and to be ware lest whyle he prolonged the tyme douted the people of the contrey shuld prouide for themselfe without his aduise or counsell With these wordes and other lyke Bomilchar induced the kynges mynde to make some coÌ„posicion or els to yeld him selfe and al other thinges to mercy grace of the Romains Anone embassadours were send to Metellus to certify him that Iugurth was redy to do what euer he wolde desyre or commaunde him and that he wolde commyt and yelde both himselfe and his kingdome to the fayth and grace of Metellus and of the Romayns without any pactyon conuenaunt or exception sauing onely as it pleased them to deale with him Metellus heryng of this mynd of Iugurth was very glad commaunded all the most wyse noble and worthy men of his army a none to be called together vnto him from their wyntring places Whan they were come thaÌ„ toke he counsel of them and of other such as he knewe wysest and most discrete touchynge the embassade of Iugurth Anone it was coÌ„cluded decreed among the couÌ„sel and declared to the embassadours acordinge to the olde custome of Rome that they shuld commaunde Iugurth to sende to Metellus and the Romains two hundred thousande pound weyght of syluer al his elyphaÌ„tes which he ocupyed in war a certayne quantite of armour a noÌ„bre of his chife horses Al these things were fulfilled done of Iugurth without any tary or delay Wherfore anone after Metellus commaunded agayne that al they whiche had betrayed his host forsaken hym and fled to Iugurth shuld be bounden and so brought to him againe The most part of them wer brought as he commauÌ„ded but a fewe of theÌ„ whaÌ„ they herde first of this coÌ„posicion fering the same mater fled vnto Bocchus kynge of the Moryens ¶ Whan Iugurthe after this maner was bereft of his armour of his horse of his men also of his treasour Anone after he was called by Metellus to come to atowne called Tysidium there to here what farthermore shuld be commaunded to him and to yelde hymselfe to thempire of Rome acordynge to his embassade But he began than to change and to tourne his mynde agayne dredyng for the knoleging of his cruell dedes that he shulde neuer escape condigne punyshement if he were ones in the Romains handes Thus he coÌ„tinued many dayes in douting what was best to be done Somtyme he volued in mynd rather to subdue hymselfe to any difficultie to byde all paines than to begyne war agayn considerynge the aduerse and vnhappy fortune whyche he hadde before Sometyme agayne he called to mynd howe greuous a fall it shoulde be to descende frome a kyngedome into subieccion and bondage But at conclusion whan in vaine and to none effecte he hadde loste suche greate ordinaunce and helpe of warre as he had lately deliuered to Metellus as a volage brained man he fullye determined agayne to begynne and continue the warre wyth Metellus rather then to yelde hym selfe to deathe or captiuitie ¶ But duringe this season at Rome was a counsell among the Senatours coÌ„cerning thassignement of rule gouernauce of the prouinces belonging to the empire in which counsel it was decreed that the contrey war of Numidy shuld be committed to Metellus by prorogacion of hys authoritie for another yere more ¶ But here wyl I leaue a while to speke of Metellus and write of the ambicion of Marius and howe he behaued him selfe in supplantinge the same Metellus for his roume and dignitie ¶ How Marius by ambicion labored to be consull to prosecute the war of Numidy how he detracted and supplaniâ—o the consul Metellus The. .xxix. Chapter AT the same season the sayd Marius was in a towne named Vtica there made suppâ—cacion oblacion to the ydols with much sacrifice to the intent that it myght be his fortune by helpe to haue the place of Metellus A costome daÌ„nable was amonge the people at those dayes whan they slew any beast in sacrifice to loke within the intranes bowels of the same beast so sacrifised where was shewed vnto them diuers tokens whither they shoulde haue any hope to bringe that mater to effect for which they sacrifised or els not And often times the wicked spirites to cause theÌ„ perseuer in their ydolatry to
wyll in his enterpryse Also he spake often in blaming Metellus and proudly coÌ„mending and exalting him selfe to the marchantes of Rome of whom was great resorte and concours to the sayd citye of Vtica where Marius soiourned And ofteÌ„ tymes he boasted saying to them that if the one halfe of the armye were graunted and committed to hym within fewe dayes he woulde so behaue hym selfe that he wolde haue Iugurthe in bondes and subieccion Furthermore he sayde to them in auauncinge him selfe that Metellus proloÌ„ged the bataile for the nonce for a craft because he was a man pompous and desirous of glory and worshyp vtterly reioysing in authoritie and geuen to pryde and affeccion of dygnitie and because he knew well that whyle the batayle continued he shulde be reputed in maner as a kyng therfore he dyd hys deuoyre the more to prolonge the warre to the ende that in the meane tyme he myghte exalte and magnifie hym selfe The wordes of Marius semed to the sayd marchantes certayne and trewe and also as they thoughte by suche informacion moste expediente to the common weale that some newe captayne were chosen whiche shortely wolde fynyshe that warre For by longe continuance of the same warre many of the sayde marchauntes hadde wasted and spente muche of their sayde substaunce and rychesse And also to suche desyrefull myndes as they had nothing could to faste be hasted or brought to end ¶ Moreouer at thys season was in companye of the Romayne armye a certeine Numidian named Gauda whiche was sonne of Manastaball and neuewe vnto Massinissa Micipsa in his testameÌ„t ordeined that this Gauda shuld be second heire of Numidi after the death of his two sonnes and of Iugurthe This Gauda was sore enfebled wyth diseases and sickenes and for that cause his mynd was a lytle endulled and priuate of reason and memorie While this Gauda as sayd is was in the Romains army he required of Metellus to suffer hym to haue his seate and siege next vnto hym after the vse of kynges of Numidye Also after that because of defence and garde of his body he desired that a company of souldiours of the Romayns myght be graunted and assigned to hym But Metellus extremely denyed both his peticions saying for the firste that suche honour longed only to them whom the Romaines toke and named for kynges And also for the second peticion he sayd that it were vnaduised and iniurious ordinance if the Romaine souldiours were geueÌ„ or assigned to the garde and seruice of a Numidian which was no kyng but a souldiour lyke many mo hyred for stipend Whyle Gauda was displeased and angry wyth Metellus for denying of these his peticions Marius came to hym and prouoked hym to reuenge the displeasure and iniurye whiche the captayne hadde done to hym with hys helpe and auauncement This Gauda as I haue sayd before was feble and vnstable minde and the mannes wytte was of lytle valour by meanes of diseases whyche long hadde holden hym Wherefore Marius wyth hys elegante fayre and flatteryng wordes at his owne pleasure induced hym and exalted hys mynde sayinge that he was a kynge and an excellente and great man and also neuewe to the worthy and noble kyng Massinissa Wherfore sayd he yf Iugurth wer eyther slayne or taken prisoner it were lickely to come to that poynt that the kyngdome of Numidi shulde be assigned and commytted to him of the Senatours without any tary or resystence whiche thynge shulde shortely be brought to passe yf Marius himselfe were creat consull in place of Metellus and than assigned to execute finyshe the warre with Iugurth Vnder this maner Marius couÌ„selled and induced bothe the said Gauda the Romayne knyghtes the commen souldyours and also the marchauntes and occupyers whiche were in the towne at that season with many other whoÌ„ he impelled with his wordes so that some of them for loue whiche they had to Marius And other some for great hope and desyre whiche they had to haue peace and concorde wrote to Rome to their to kynsmen and frendes of the bataile of Numidy and that very sharpely agaynst Metellus desyring and beseching them to labour at Rome with all their myght that Marius might be elect consul assigned to erecte the warre of Numidi And thus at Rome was the consulshyp desyred by many men with great fauour and very honest peticioÌ„s for Marius Also at that tyme had the said Marius this auauntage For the coÌ„mentie at that season deposed many of the states and exalted suche as were newe gentelmen after the lawe of one named Manlius whiche before had ben protectour of the commentie This Manlius ordeyned inacted a lawe that if any thing were vngoodly done and against right of the states beynge in any office or dignitie than he whiche so had done shuld be deposed of his office and in his place some newe gentyll or actyue man of the coÌ„mentie sette and deputed and so exalted This lawe in those daies was kepte in effecte and executed at Rome wherfore euery thynge proceded prosperousely to the purpose and profite of Marius For as I haue saide before in hym was no noblenesse of auncient lynage nor byrthe ¶ But here wyll I leaue to speake of the ambicion of Marius and retourne to write of Iugurth and howe he behaued hym selfe against Metellus ¶ How Jugurth renewed the warre agaynst Metellus and how the Numidians inhabiters of the towne of Vacca by treason murdred the garnison of the Romayns whych Metellus had set in the same towne The â—l Chapter IN the meane tyme whan Jugurthe hadde brokeÌ„ the composicion which he had before made with Metellus by counsel of Bomilchar had concluded againe to begyn the war theÌ„ anone he prepared al things necessary to warre with great diligence and with great hast he asseÌ„bled an army Moreouer he dayly troubled with thretnings or feare or els with great rewardes suche cities townes as before had forsaken hym and yelded theÌ„ selfe to Metellus So that he spared no pollicye to make them render them selfe againe to hym In suche holdes townes as were in his possession he set garnison and defence of men of war He renewed bought agayne armour and wepen set al other thinges which he had lost before or deliuered to Metellus in hoope of peace He attised to hym many of the Romaine subiects and bondmen by promising to theÌ„ their lybertie He also proued attempted with rewards theÌ„ whom Metellus had set assigned in garnisoÌ„ gard defence of such places as he had wonne in Numidy so that vtterly he suffered nothing to be left quiet or vnassayed but by all maner meanes made prouysion for him selfe mouyng and puttyng in profe euery thinge But among al other thinhabitantes of the citie called Vacca in which Metellus at beginning had set his garnisoÌ„ whan Jugurth first sought his peace of Metellus were desired often of Jugurthe and with great and importune instance exited to treason In somuche that at
as they went And also whan they parceiued that the horsmen which wer in the forwarde were Numidiens againe the thought that it was Jugurth with his company Wherfore with great ioy they issued forth of that towne to mete him Metellus anone parceiued their ignorance gaue a token to his people to assaile them The horsmen and fotemen knowinge the wyll of their captayne by blaste of the truÌ„pettes assayled and ouerthrue the commentie which came out of the cite against them dispersed ouer the feldes Some of the Romains ran to the gates of the towne entred without resistence and some toke inuaded the towres of the walles maugre the kepars Thus the dispeasure and yre whiche the Romains had for death of their felowes and the hope of prayes of the towne ouercame excluded their werines which they had in their iournay thyderwarde Thus the inhabitantes of Vacca enioied treson but onely two daies For onely the space of two daies coÌ„tinued their falshode and crueltie vnreuenged For that great and riche cite was all giuen to hauocke and murdre vtterlye distroied of the Romaines so that no creature escaped a lyue to bost of their treason before committed agaynste the Romains whome they had so traiterously slayn within their cite Turpilius lieftenant or captayne of the towne whiche as I haue said before escaped onely with his lyfe was called before Metellus and commaunded to answere for hymselfe by what way or meanes he escaped whyther by treason done to the towne or by any other policy But bycause he coude but simply excuse nor pourge hymselfe of that whiche was layed against him he first was scourged and beateÌ„ and after that his heed striken of from his shulders for that it was thought that if he had not beâ—raied the cite he coude not haue escaped more than any other Farthermore that great dystruction of the Romains was ascribed to his negligeÌ„ce or treason If this Turpilius had ben a Romain he shuld not haue beÌ„ put to deth For the lawe of Porcius prohibyted any citezen of Rome to be slayn but if they coÌ„mitted any great offence the extreme punyshement by the lawe was to commyt them to exyle But this Turpilius inioyed not the priuylege of this lawe for asmuche as he was no citezyne of Rome but an Italyan of the towne of Collace ¶ Howe Bomylchar conspyred treason agaynste Iugurth and by what meanes thys treason was discouered and Bomylchar wyth certayn other put to death for the same The .xlii. Chapyter AT the same tyme Bomilchar by whose couÌ„sell and mocyon Iugurth before hadde begon the composicion with Metellus whiâ—h he omitted and brake agayn for feare was coÌ„uersant with Iugurthe whiche a lytell suspected this Bomilchar of treason Wherfore he suspectynge him agayne ymagyned newe policy agaynste deuyses entred his mind much cure he had in musyng what was moost expedient to be done in the cause But whyle he was in this study sodenly he fell in a slombre and his wery membres desyring rest moued him to fall in slepe This Nabdalsa had a seruant longyng to him whome he muche loued and trusted in somuche that no busynesse nor counsel he hidde nor kept secret from him this counsell of betraynge of Iugurthe onely excepte Whan this seruant vnderstod that the sayd letters were brought to his lorde he thought that he had nede of his counsell as he was wont acustomed to haue in other maters anone entred in to the tent where his maister lay And seing him fast in slepe he toke the letters which Nabdalsa had vnwysely layd aboue his heed vpon the pyllowe and seyng by the superscripcion that the letter came from Bomilchar he redde it to th ende But whan he vnderstode the treason in all hast he addressed with the same letter to Iugurth Nabdalsa not longe after awaked and missed the letter wherfore anone he enquyred who had ben there in his tent But in short season came dyuers of his louers from Iugurth whiche certifyed him of al the mater as it was done Nabdalsa first of al entended to pursue his accuser but whan he perceyued that it was but in vayne so to do consyderinge that he was all redy in the company of Iugurthe he went vnto Iugurth himselfe to thintent to pacify mitigate his displeasure wrath And sayd vnto hym that whan the sayd letters wer first deliuerd vnto him he had fully purposed not to kepe them secret but hymselfe to haue disclosed them to Iugurth But whyle he was sleping his false seruant in hope to be aduansed therby had preuented him his purpose and done the same thing which he himselfe had fully purposed to do Farthermore wepyng he besought and required hym for all amyte and loue whiche had ben bytwene them and for all the faithfull seruice whiche he had done to hym in foretyme not to haue him suspected in so cruell a dede Iugurth answered to these requestes of Nabdalsa myldly and soberly lest any gretter variance myght ryse therof but muche contrary to the disposicion of his mynde For he thought otherwyse than he answered howe beit he had well refrayned and alayed his wrath before with the deth of Bomilchar and of many other whome he knew first deuisours and partynge felowes of that treason whome he had caused to be put to death before the comming of Nabdalsa lest some batayle or other insurrection shuld haue porceded of that businesse if they had lyued and leuger ¶ From this day forwarde Iugurth was neuer quiet day nor night so that he trusted neyther place neither man nor time but suspected and mistrusted euery thing His ennemies and his owne subiectes he dreeded and suspected both in lyke and after one maner He searched and espyed euery place for drede of treason douting and suspectyng euery sound or noise that he herde He rested and lay some night in one place some night in an other and that in abiect and secrete places against the honour of his estate roiall Somtyme he rose from his bed in his slepe in myddes of the night armed himselfe cring enraging and violently smiting agaynst the walles of the chambre as if he had ben in bataile So that for the great drede of treason whiche he had he toke no rest nother slepynge nor wakyng but was violently vexed and fered like a mad man without reason or discression ¶ How Metellus renewed the warte agaynst Iugurth and how Marius was creat consull and assygned to execute the warre of Numidy at the pleasure of the comens against the wyll of all the noble men of Rome The .xliii. Chapter WHan Metellus by suche as sledde bitwene the two parties vnderstode of the chance of Bomilchar and of his treason disclosed he began than agayne to contende with Iugurth with open warre and therto hasted all thyng necessary and expedient And considryng that Marius was coÌ„tinually cryeng on hym for the sayde licence and congy to depart to Rome and also greuous hatefull and