Iugurth and howe Marius was creat consull and assigned to execute the warre of Numidy at pleasure of the coÌ„mens agaynst the wyll of all the noble men of Rome ¶ The .xliii. chapyter WHan Metellus by such as fled bitwene the two parties vnderstode of the chance of Bomilchar and of this treason disclosed he began than agayne to coÌ„tende 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 sayd licence and congy to depart to Rome and also greuous hatefull and contrary to hym aduysynge hym nat moche necessary but lytell mete iÌ„ so sharpe a besynes And seyng hym yll wyllyng to euery thyng he graunted hym lyceÌ„ce at last to departe 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 coÌ„mens by fauourers of Marius were well accepted For whan the coÌ„mentie had ouersene them and by them vnderstode the praysyng of Marius the dispraysyng of Metellus They were all inclined vtterly to the auauÌ„cemeÌ„t of Marius detraccion of the other The noblenes of Metellus the capitayne whiche was before to his great worshyp honour tourned nowe to enuy hatered agaynst hym But the lownes vnnoblenes of Marius encreased to hym fauour specially of the coÌ„mentie which were come of vnnoble blode as he was But the diligence fauour of both the parties that is to say of thestates which helde with Metellus of the coÌ„mens that helde with Marius dyd measure gyde euery thynge rather than the good or yll disposicions of the two aduersaryes Metellus or Marius For the commens to dy for it concluded to exalte Marius And the estates in the same maner laboured to kepe hym vnder bycause he was vnnoble borne and to exalte none saue them which were come of noble progeny Farthermore the maisters and heed officers of the coÌ„mentie which loued debate at euery assemble and coÌ„gregacion of the coÌ„menssore blamed Metellus and dispised his dedes desyring of the coÌ„mens that Metellus might be put to the punysshe of his heed sayng that he was so worthy for that he ê“longed the warr in Numidy agaynst Iugurth more than nede was But in dispisyng and accusyng Metellus they forgat nat to coÌ„mende Marius and exalt hym with wordes som what to moche and more than he was worthy in many poyntes In somoche that the people were so greatly enclyned to hym with their fauoure that all the crafty men and labourers of the cite and also of the countrey whiche had no lyuyng saue in the labour of their handes left their warke and bâ—synesse and folowed Marius frequentyng and resortyng to his company And sette more by his auauncement and honour than by their owne profet or aduauntage trustyng that after yf he optayned the sayd honoure they shulde haue their lyuenge by hym And thus shortly to speke the estates and noble men of Rome beynge sore astonyed the consulshyp was coÌ„mytted to Marius a newe gentylmen whose predecessours before hym to such dignite coude neuer attayne were counted vnworthy Thus that thynge whiche many yeres before that tyme coude neuer be done nor brought about was nowe brought to effect that is to say the consulshyp which was the most excellent dignite of Rome was nowe in handes of the commentie coÌ„mytted to a man of basse byrth Shortly after this the protectour of the coÌ„mentie named Lucius Manlius enquyred demaunded of the people whome it wolde please them to sende into Numidy to finysshe the warre with Iugurgth The most part of the coÌ„mentie answered that Marius shulde haue that office besynesse how beit a lytell before that tyme the senatours had assigned by their ordinaunce the prouince of Numidy to Metellus for his worthy dedes wherfore nowe this ordinaunce was frustrate voyde For the coÌ„mentie wolde haue their statutes executed fulfylled ¶ Of the seconde batell foughten bytwene Metellus and Iugurth and howe Iugurth lost the batayle and also one of his chiefe townes named Thala ¶ The .xliiii. chapyter IN the meane tyme whyle the interprise of Marius proceded thus forwarde at Rome Iugurth was sore troubled iÌ„ his mynde for many coÌ„sideracions First he consydred the losse of many whome he reputed for his frendes tyll before he knewe their treason of whom he had many put to deth and many other had fled from hym for feare some to the romayns and other some to Bocchus kynge of the mauriens He called also to his mynde that without ministers an men of warre he was nat able to execute the warre and more ouer he thought it ieopardous after so great falshode and treason of his olde fâ—endes to proue or assay the fidelite of newe For these causes and mo lyke as I haue sayd before his mynde was driuen to and fro variable incertayne in diuers opynions Insomoch that there was no maner thyng no couÌ„sell nor no maner man that coude sufficiently satisfy nor please his mynde He changed his iournayes and wayes euery day into sondry places for feare of treson Somtyme he addressed hym towarde his ennemies and anone after retourned into wodes wyldernesses Often tymes he had trust coÌ„fidence in flyght and anone after put his trust in armour batayle He douted whyther he myght lesse trust to strength or trueth of his men which were with hym so that what euer he purposed to do or whyther so euer he intended euery thynge was coÌ„trary to hym But whyle Iugurth thus prolonged and taryed sodenly Metellus with his army appered in his syght Iugurth that parceyuyng set in order and array his numidyeÌ„s aswell as he might aft the short tyme which he had therto And immidyatly the armyes approched and the batayle began In that part of the batayle where Iugurth hymselfe was they stroue and resysted a lytell space but all the other numidyens at the first brunt concourse or assaut were put to flyght with violence and driuen backwarde The romayns toke some of their standerdes and armour which they fleyng away left behynde them but of their ennemies they toke but fewe For the Numidiens in that batayle and almoost in all other defended themselfe better with their fete thaÌ„ with their handes or armoure Iugurth at this tyme mystrusted his case moche more than at any other tyme euer before for the cowardous withdrawyng of his people Wherfore he acoÌ„panyed hymselfe with the romayns which had forsaken and betrayed Metellus fled to hym With them and with a part of his horsmen he fled into the wyldernesses therby and from thens vnto a towne named Thala which was a great towne a richâ— and moch of his treasour of the aparell longyng to the yongth 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
he first of all reduced the sowdiours to good rule and order acordynge to the auncient ordinaunces of chyualry and than in tyme conuenieÌ„t after his army was brought to order he assailed Iugurth fyersly And after certayne sharpe and greuous batayles he diminished his riches his myght power brought hym almost to extremite After this Metellus one named Marius last of all was creat consul and the prouince warre of Numidy decreed and coÌ„mitted to hym This Marius anone pursued Iugurthe in batayle moost sharply fiersly of all other insomoche that finally he vtterly brought hym to extremite his frendes his riches and power brought all to nought And at conclusion by treason betrayeng of one Bocchus kyng of the Mauriens Iugurthe was deliuerd to the same Marius as prisoner whome he ledde bounde to Rome with great glory triumphe At last this Iugurth was throwen into prison where at conclusion he ended his miserable lyfe in dolors captiuite This is the argument and processe of all this hystory and cronicle in whiche the redar of whatso euer condicion and degre he be shall fynde both profite and pleasure if he redde it attentyfly and with good aduertens And moost namely gentylmen apt to attayne to glorious fame honour by fayt of chyualry shall fynde both pleasaunt and profitable pastime in redyng this hystory vnto whose example profite and pleasure I chefely haue translated the same ¶ The prologue of this present cronycle compyled in laten by the famous romayn Salust and traÌ„slated into englysshe by Alexander Barcley preest MAnkynde wrongfully complayneth of his naturall dysposicion sayeng that his feble frayle lyfe of short coÌ„tinuaunce of tyme is rather ruled by chauÌ„ces of fortune than by ê“uision of strength or vertu But if man wel coÌ„syder his natural iÌ„clinacion coÌ„trary to such opinion he shall fynde that nothyng longynge to mankynde may be founde proued greater better or more preemineÌ„t than his naturall inclinacion and that his owne diligeÌ„ce exercyse rather fayleth hym than outher myght or longe continuauÌ„ce of lyfe tyme. But in this opinion to iuge indiffereÌ„tly let man vnderstande that the mynde is ordayned gyder ruler captayne of maÌ„nes lyfe which mynde whan it valyantly inteÌ„deth to attayne to worshyp dignite by way of vertu it is excellent ynough myghty and clere of it selfe so that it nedeth nat to force of fortune nor to care for her vncertayne gyftes but to dyspise her as nat able to gyue to any man honesty diligence or other good and vertuous exercises nor able to depriue man agayne of the same gyftes after he hath obtayned the same But on the other part if this mynde of maÌ„ taken blynded with frowarde pleasurs be subdued vnto slouthe bodyly lustes after it hath exercised occupied such ieoê‘dous pleasure by a lytel season after that by cowardous slouth both the strength the tyme the wyt ar vanisshed away decayed than anone the infirmite felâ—ylnes of nature is accused put in blame And thus all such slouthfull doers traÌ„spose lay away the faute which in themself is culpable vnto the difficulte of such besynesses as they haue omitted by negligeÌ„ce But if it were so that men had as great cure affeccion of thyngê good and profitable as they haue desyre pleasure in sekyng folowyng thyngê coÌ„trary vnto them nothyng ê“fitable ye also moch ê‘ylous hurtfull than shuld nat they be more ruled by the chauÌ„ces of fortune than they shuld rule the sayd chauÌ„ces And thus shulde they attayne procede vnto so great excellence that where they be mortall of nature they shuld be made iÌ„mortall by glory renowmed fame For in lykewyse as man is coÌ„posed made of .ii. thyngê that is to say of the body soule right so all thyngê all besynesses exercises to mankynd belongyng foloweth some the nature of the body to decay brefely to be mortall as it is some other folowe the nature of the soule to be eternall iÌ„mortall as it is Which thing forther to ê“ue by exaÌ„ple we dayly se that the goodly beauty of the visage shape of maÌ„kynde great abondauÌ„ce of riches also the strength of the body with all other suche thynges semblable decayeth vanyssheth away within short tyme. But coÌ„trarely the excellent worthy actes belongyng to maÌ„nes wyt be iÌ„mortall euerlastyng as the soule is iÌ„mortall And finally in lykwyse as the begynnyng of the gyftes corê‘all or naturall of the gyftes of fortune is caduke vayne vncertayn ryght so is the ende of the same mutable traÌ„sitory And all thyngê which be borne and sprygyng agayne decayeth approcheth to deth and whan these same be growen encreased to the hegth of theyr perfeccion agayne they begyne to decay and consume by age and debilite But the mynde and soule beynge incorrupt eternall and gouernoure of mankynde ruleth and weldeth all thynges but it selfe can nat be violently ruled nor compelled by any thyng erthly coÌ„syderyng the frewyll whiche it optayneth of his creatour For which consyderacion the frowarde iniquite of them is more to be marueyled which subdued to the ioyes pleasures of the body passe forthe the tyme of theyr lyfe in carnall lustes and ydelnes But towchyng theyr wyt whiche is the best gyft and grettest treasure grauÌ„ted to mankynde that suffre they to slomber and to slepe without exercise in slouthe and ydelnes whose dulnes surely is somoche more to be blamed namely syth so many and diuers noble exercises occupacions of the mynde be by whom moost clere nobles and fame vndefyled may be optayned But of suche diuers exercises concernynge the mynde some are better refused than procured in troublous tymes inquiet And namely in this tyme turbulent and season vnquiet great offices lordshyppes rowmes to commaunde rule and brefely to speke All maner cure coÌ„cernyng the administracion of thynges apparteynyng to the commen wele semeth vnto me nat at all to be couyted or desyred of any wyse man For neyther is honoure gyuen vnto vertue as condigne rewarde and worthy therto belongyng nether suche as haue goten iurisdiction honour by â—â—aude vnlaufull meanes in lyke case can nat be more sure nor more honest by meane of such honour so vnright wysly obtayned For certenly a man to rule his countrey kynred by myght violence all if he haue power so to do also though he ryght wysly correct the crimes of traÌ„sgressours misdoers Neuertheles so to do it is vnbehouefull vnexpedient And often at coÌ„clusion more perilous dauÌ„gerous than it is sure or ê“fitable that namely syth all mutacions of thynges and chaunges of gouernours pretende and thretten slaughter of some exile or wylfull flyght imprisonmeÌ„t with otherlyke cruelties more longyng to ennemyes of a coÌ„men we le than to defeÌ„ders of the same Than forthermore a man to labour to the vttermost of his power and all in vayne
Numidy and how Marius vndercapten of Metellus escaped the danger of Iugurth The .xxxv. cha Fo. xlv ¶ Howe Iugurth assayled and inuaded the tentes of the romayns in the meane tyme whyle Metellus gaue assaute to the towne of SaÌ„mam The .xxxvi. chapyter Fo. xlvi ¶ How Metellus behaued hymselfe for his part and of the great conflyct whiche the romayns had agaynst the NumidyaÌ„s Metellus with his fotemen assaylynge the towne of zammaÌ„ for the one part Iugurth fiersly fightyng with the romayns speremen for the other part the .xxxvii. cha Fo. xlvii ¶ How Metellus remoued the siege from zammam and howe Bomilchar so parsuaded Iugurth that he yelded hymselfe his kyngdome and all other thynges to mercy and grace of the romayns and howe Iugurth after losse of his men tresour elyphantes armour horse chaunged his mynde agayne The .xxxviii. cha Fo. xlviii ¶ How Marius by ambytion laboured to be consull and to prosecute the warre of Numidy and how he detracted the consull Metellus The .xxxix. chapyter Fo. l. ¶ How Iugurth renued the warr agaynst Metellus and howe the Numidyans inhabytours of the towne of Vacca by treson murdred the garnyson of romayns whiche Metellus had sette in the same towne The .xl. chapyter Fo. lii ¶ How Metellus distroyed the towne of Vacca and murdred all thynhabytauntes and howe Turpylius lyeutenant or captayne of the towne was beheeded at the commaundement of Metellus The .xli. cha Fo. liii ¶ Howe Bomylchar conspyred treason agaynste Iugurth and by what meanes this treason was dyscouerd and Bomylchar with certayne other were put to dethe for the same The .xlii. chapyter Fo. liiii ¶ Howe Metellus renued the warre agaynst Iugurth and how Marius was creat consul and assigned to execute the warr of Numidy at pleasure of the coÌ„mens agaynst the wyll of all the noble men of Rome The .xliii. chapyter Fo. lvi ¶ Of the seconde batell foughten bytwene Metellus and Iugurth and howe Iugurth lost the batell and also one of his chefe townes named Thala The .xliiii. cha Fo. lvii ¶ How Metellus fortified the cite of Leptis at request of theÌ„bassadours of the same cite sent thyder garnyson to defende it agaynst Iugurth and of the sytuacion of the same cyte and behauour of the inhabitauntes therof The .xlv cha Fo. lix ¶ The discripcion of that place of Affrike which is named the Phylen auters and for what cause the same place was first so named The .xlvi. chapyter Fo. lix ¶ Howe Iugurth assembled a newe army of the rude Getulyans agaynste the romayns and howe he assocyated vnto hym Bocchus kyng of the mauriaÌ„s to streÌ„gth hym in batell agaynst Metellus The .xlvii. cha Fo lx ¶ Howe Metellus vsed hymselfe heryng that these two kynges were confederate agaynst hym and how after that he was certifyed that the prouynce of Numidy was assigned to Marius the newe consull he ceassed the warre for the nones The .xlviii. chapyter Fo. lxi ¶ Of the great ordynaunce and preê‘ation whiche Marius the newe coÌ„sull made agaynste Iugurth and for the warre of Numidy The .xlix. chapyter Fo. lxiii ¶ The orison or exhortacion of Marius had to the commen people of Rome before his voyage into Numidy whiche orison is demonstratiue contaynyng the laude and prayse of Marius and dysprayse and blames of the noble men of Rome The .li. chapyter Fo. lxiii ¶ Howe Marius after his exhortacion ended anone laded shyppes with ordynance of warre and sent forward with the same one Manlius his embassadour and how he hymselfe anon after folowed withall his company and how he behaued hymselfe in Numidy at first begynnynge The .li. chapyter Fo. lxvii ¶ Howe Metellus the olde consul retourned to Rome and of the worthy and valyant behauour of Marius agaynst Iugurth and of his great actes at his begynnyng The .lii. chapyter Fo. lxviii ¶ Howe Marius wanne the great riche cyte named Capsa and howe he vtterly dystroyed the same and gaue al the richesse therof to hauocke amoÌ„g his soudyours The .liii. chapyter Fo. lxix ¶ Howe Marius by fortune more than by strength wanne the strongest castel of al Numidy wherin were the treasours of Iugurth The .liiii. chapyter Fo. lxxi ¶ How in the meane tyme whyle this castell was in wynnyng a noble man of Rome named Lucius Sylla cam from Rome to Marius with a great bende of horsmen and of the maners and behauoure of this Sylla The .lv. chapyter Fo. lxxiiii ¶ Howe Marius preuayled in batell agaynst both the two kyngê Iugurth Bocchus The .lvi. cha Fo. lxxv ¶ Of the great prouision wysdome of Marius after his victorie and of the secoÌ„d batell which he had agaynst the two kynges in whiche also he had great victorie with great laude honour The .lvii. chap. Fo. lxxvii ¶ Howe Bocchus after that he was twyse ouercome in batayle purposed to make peace with the romayns and how at his request Marius sent vnto hym Sylla and Manlius to knowe his mynde in that behalfe The .lviii. chapyter Fo. lxxix ¶ Of the wordes of Sylla tresourer of the romayne army had before king Bocchus The .lix. cha Fo. lxxix ¶ Of the answere of Bocchus made to Sylla· and of the vnstablenesse of mynde of the same Bocchus The .lx. chapyter Fo. lxxx ¶ How Bocchus chauÌ„ged his mynd yet ones agayne and sende newe embassadours to Marius to treat of the peace and howe Sylla receyued and treated them in absence of Marius The .lxi. chapyter Fo. lxxx ¶ Howe Marius herde thembassadours of Boechus sent them to Rome and howe they were answered of the senators The .lxii. cha Fo. lxxxi ¶ How Marius sent Sylla agayne to Bocchus at his desyre and what daunger the same Sylla escaped by helpe of Volur sonne of kynge Bocchus The .lxiii. cha Fo. lxxxi ¶ Of the metyng and secrete apoyntmeÌ„tes bytwene Bocchus and Sylla and howe bytwene them both they abused Asper the embassadour of Iugurth The .lxiiii. cha Fo. lxxxiii ¶ Of the seconde coÌ„myng togyder of Bocchus and of Sylla of the wordes of Bocchus had to Sylla and replication answere of Sylla agayne to hym And how Bocchus grauÌ„ted coÌ„cluded to betray Iugurth to the romayns The .lxv. cha Fo. lxxxiii ¶ Howe Bocchus betrayed Iugurth and delyuerd hym bounde vnto Sylla The .lxvi. cha Fo. lxxxiiii ¶ Howe Marius was receyued into Rome with triumphe and howe Iugurth was cast in prison where he coÌ„tynued in myserable captiuite tyll he dyed The .lxvii. cha Fo. lxxxv FINIS The preface of Alexander Barclay preest vnto the right hye and mighty prince Thomas duke of Northfolke RIght myghty hye magnificent prince myne humble seruyce due vnto your grace And the vehemeÌ„t affection whiche I haue vnto your honour perpetual fame impelleth me often tymes to deuyse and reuolue in mynde what seruice or pleasur my simplenesse might do coÌ„uenient and acceptable vnto your hyghnesse therby to testify the honour the loue obsequy whiche I knowlege my selfe to owe vnto your magnificeÌ„ce But
defende themselfe The clamoure noyse was myxt with exhortacion and confort of some and the ioye of the quellars murderers was mingled with the wayling of them which were quelled murdred The sounde of the armoure horrious and strokes mounted to the ayre The sky was darked with dartes fleyng on eyther syde And the walles dychesse were dyed with blode and fylled with deed corses pytefull to se. But whan the Numidiens were somwhat at layser and whan the romayns a lytell abated remitted the assaut than they whiche defended the walles of the towne loked out a farre intentifely behelde the batayle of the horsmen which styll coÌ„tinued There myght one haue sene them somtyme mery ioyous somtyme full of dolour heuynesse after as they sawe the case of the part of Iugurthe went forwarde or bacwarde And aswell as they coude be sene herde of their felowes which were with theyr kyng Iugurth some warned them to audacite some exhorted them to courage other they gaue them signes with their handes or with the iesture of their bodyes coÌ„tenances mouyng and excityng them to boldnesse If they sawe a romayne stryke a Numidyan they moued withdrue their bodyes auoyding the stroke as yf it had ben themselfe whiche had ben striken And if they sawe a Numidyen cast a dart agaynst a romayn they moued their bodyes also as they had cast it themselfe Thus toke they so intentife hede to the batayle that they forgate themselfe where they were and it semed them that they had ben with their felowes in batayle Whan Marius which besyged the towne on that syde vnderstode this maner behauour of the inhabitauÌ„tes garyson he abated his fiersnes for policy was more slowe in besyegyng of the towne than before fayning that he had no trust nor coÌ„fidence to wynne it and suffred the Numidyens within the towne to beholde the batayle of their kynge for a whyle without any resystence or besynesse But whaÌ„ he sawe them most intentifely beholdyng the batayle most amased for the besynesse of their felowes countrey men than sodenly withall his power he gaue assaut to the walles so that many of the romayns with ladders and other ingynes had almost mounted vnto the hyghest part of them Thynhabitantes seynge this expelled their amasednes remembryng themselfe and ran manly agaynst them with resystence throwyng vpon them stones fyre all maner dartes of batayle The romayns at begynnyng resysted valiantly defendyng themselfe and auancyng them to the walles But whan thinhabitantes had first ouerthrowen and broken one ladder and than ouertourned an other They whiche abode last were maymed or slayne Anone the remenant departed gaue ouer the walles vnder the best maner that they coude a fewe or none hole For a great part of them withdrewe themselfe transfired with mortall wondes Anone after the nyght fell vpon them whiche caused both the parties to desyst and leue of the batayle ¶ How Metellus remoued the siege from zammam howe Bomylchar so ê‘swaded Iugurth that he yelded hymselfe his kyngdome and all other thynges to mercy grace of the romayns And howe Iugurth after losse of his men treasour elephantes armour and horse changed his mynde agayne ¶ The .xxxviii. chapyter BVt whan Metellus sawe his purpose and labour all in vayne and that he coude nat wynne the towne and also that Iugurthe dyd nought but by gyle and falshode nor wolde nat fight but yf it were in places for his profet great auantage And also whaÌ„ he perceyued that the somer was passed he departed from the siege of zaÌ„mam in suche townes as he had won of Iugurth whiche were strongly defended with walles water he set garnyson soudyours of his coÌ„pany to defende them But the remenant of his army he coÌ„uayed ordred in the next ê“uince vnto Numidy which was subget to the romayns to remayne there tyll the sharpnesse of the wynter were passed Nâ—r in the meane tyme he suffred nat them nor hymselfe to be corrupted which superfluous welth rest nor lechery after the maner of other before hym But bycause the warre proceded forwarde but lytell with armour or strength he begaÌ„ to proue prepare treason agaynst a treatour dysceyt agaynst a dysceyuer and gyle agaynst gyle of Iugurth and this thought he to proue by suche as were moost chefe frendes of Iugurth most familyer about hym So that he purposed to vse the falshode and treason of them agaynst their maister in stede of armour and batayle Wherfore first of all he began to proue the mynde of Bomilchar whiche had ben before at Rome with Iugurth and as I haue sayd before fled priuely froÌ„ thens for the deth of Massiua leuyng his sureties behynde iÌ„ danger for his cause Metellus consydred that this Bomilchar by cause of the great frendshyppe and familiarite whiche he had with Iugurth sonest myght dysceyue and betray hym Wherfore as I haue sayd before he began and went in hande with hym first of all by promisyng of great rewardes And first of all he dyd somoch that this Bomilchar came priuely to Metellus spake with hym Metellus anone promysed hym on fayth treuth to do so for hym that the senatours shuld pardon hym of all thyngê past and of his lyfe goodes So that he wolde betray or delyuer vnto hym Iugurth other quycke or deed lyghtly he persuaded the numidyan For anon Bomilchar agreed therto what for his treaterous false mynde which he had of nature And what for that he douted if any peace or composicion after that shulde be made bytwene Iugurth the romayns hymselfe shuld be delyuerd by coÌ„dycion to the romayns to be punisshed for the deth of Massiua whom he caused to be slayne at Rome This Bomilchar whan he sawe his tyme toke leue of Metellus on this apoyntement and sone after came to Iugurth whome he founde doutefull in care and bewayling his aduers and myserable fortunes with profunde syghes and heuynesse and doutyng what way was most expedient to be taken Bomilchar after many wordes beganne to counsell warne hym praynge and obtestyng hym pyteously wepyng and wayling and requyring that at last he wolde make some prouision for the sauegarde socours of hymselfe of his children frendes and for the people of Numidy which well had deserued agnenst hym to be prouided for and better sene to Bomilchar also obiected to Iugurth howe he and his menne were ouercome in euery batayle and his people also diminisshed or alyenate from hym his feldes and townes wasted distroyd or els in possession of his ennemies his men some taken in prison Some slayne and many wounded maymed the rychesse of his realme dyminisshed and wasted Bomilchar alleged also to hym that he had proued the strength of his soudyours and fauour of fortune sufficiently ynough wherfore it were better for hym to se some remedy and prouision for all these ylles and other mo
and to beware lest whyle he prolonged the tyme and douted the people of the countrey shulde 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 yelde hymselfe and all other thynges to mercy grace of the romayns Anone embassadors were sende to Metellus to certify hym that Iugurth was redy to do what euer he wolde desyre or coÌ„maunde hym and that he wolde coÌ„myt yelde bothe hymselfe and his kyngdome to the fayth grace of Metellus and of the romayns without any pactyon conuenaunt or exception sauyng onely as it pleased them to deale with hym Metellus heryng of this mynde of Iugurth was very glade and coÌ„maunded all the most wyse noble worthy men of his army anone to be called togyder vnto hym from their wyntryng places Whan they were coÌ„e than toke he couÌ„sell of them of other suche as he knewe wysest most discrete touchynge the embassade of Iugurth Anone it was coÌ„cluded decreed among the counsell and declared to the embassadours acordyng to the olde custome of Rome that they shuld coÌ„maunde Iugurth to sende to Metellus the romayns two hundred thousande pounde weyght of syluer all his elyphaÌ„tes which he ocupyed in warre and a certayne quantite of armour and a noÌ„bre of his chife horse All these thyngê were fulfylled and done of Iugurth without any tary or delay Wherfore anone after Metellus coÌ„maunded agayne that all they whiche had betrayed his hoost forsaken hym fled to Iugurth shuld be bounden so brought to hym agayne The most part of them were brought as he coÌ„mauÌ„ded but a fewe of them whan they herde first of this coÌ„posicion feryng the same mater fled vnto Bocchus kyng of the moryens ¶ Whan Iugurth 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 a towne called Tysidium there to here what farthermore shulde be coÌ„mauÌ„ded to hym to yelde hymselfe to thempire of Rome acordynge to his embassade But he began than to change to tourne his mynde agayne dredyng for the knolegyng of his cruell dedes that he shuld neuer escape coÌ„digne punysshemeÌ„t if he were ones iÌ„ the romayns handes Thus he coÌ„tynued many dayes in douring what was best to be done Somtyme he volued in mynde rather to subdue hymselfe to any difficultie to byde all paynes than to begyn warre agayn coÌ„sydring the aduers vnhappy fortune whiche he had before Somtyme agayne he called to mynde how greuous a fall it shuld be to desceÌ„de from a kyngdome into subiection and bondage But at coÌ„clusion whan in vayne to none effect he had lost suche great ordynaunce and helpe of warre as he had lately delyuered to Metellus as a volage brayned man he fully determined agayne to begyn continue the warre with Metellus rather than to yelde hym selfe to deth or captiuite ¶ But durynge this season at Rome was a counsell amonge the senatours concernyng thassignement of rule and gouernaunce of the prouinces belongynge to th empyre in whiche counsell it was decreed that the countrey and warre of Numidy shulde be commytted to Metellus by prorogacion of his authorite for another yere more ¶ But here wyll I leue a whyle to speke of Metellus write of the ambicion of Marius and how he behaued hymselfe in supplantyng the same Metellus for his rowme dignite ¶ How Marius by ambition laboured to be coÌ„sull and to prosecute the warre of Numidy and how he detracted and supplaÌ„ted the consull Metellus ¶ The .xxxix. chapyter AT the same season the sayd Marius was in a towne named Vtica and there made supplicacion oblacion to the ydolles with moche sacricfice to the intent that it myght be his fortune by helpe to haue the place of Metellus A custome damnable was among the people at those dayes whan they slewe any beest in sacrifice to loke within the intrayles and bowelles of the same best so sacrifised where was shewed vnto them dyuers tokens whyther they shuld haue any hope to bring that mater to effect for which they sacrifised or els nat And often tymes the wycked spyrites to cause them ê‘seuer in their ydolatry and to gyue credeÌ„ce to that blynd errour shewed many tokeÌ„s to theÌ„ insuch maner sacrifice which tokens they often founde true But now to my purpose The preest of the ydolles whiche sacrifysed for Marius shewed great and marueylous tokens vnto hym wherby he myght greatly trust to come to his intent and purpose byddyng hym prosecute that thyng on whiche he had sette his mynde and haue sure confydence in his goddes Sayng that if he wolde proue the extremite of fortune diligeÌ„tly and often than doutlesse euery thynge prosperously shulde happen to hym But Marius afore that tyme longe season wonderously desyred in his mynde the dignite of the consull And to say trueth he wanted nothyng which longed to hym whiche shulde haue such a dignite saue onely antiquite of his progeny and auncient noblenesse of byrthe For thought he were but a gentylman of the first heed neuerthelesse his coÌ„dicions were worthy and excelleÌ„t In hym was great experieÌ„ce of wysdome moche probite honestie and sadnesse He had great polycy and connyng in chyualry in batayle his mynd was excellent bolde But in peace it was lowe and moderate He ouercame couetyse and sensualite of his body He desyred nor coueyted nothyng erthly saue glorie laude and worshyp This Marius was borne brought vp by all his chyldhode in the countrey of Champayne beyonde FrauÌ„ce in a towne named Arpyne But assone as he was encreased so that he myght bere harnesse and byde the hardnesse of warfare he concluded to lyue on the wages of chyualrie And in that study he exercysed hymselfe and nat in eloquence of greke langage or in other study or science nor yet in the superfluous aparayle nor carnall lustes of citezins vnto which he neuer subdued his body And thus was he indued with good maners and excercysed among honest ocupacions and so continued that his hole and vndefyled with shortly encreased exalted himselfe growyng to honour and vertu First whan this Marius desyred of the coÌ„menty of Rome to haue an office that is to say to be ordayned protectour of the soudyours many of the citezins knewe nat his persone bycause he was alway from the cite in warre batayle but his actes made his name well knowen Wherfore after that the coÌ„menty vnderstode that he was Marius of whose nobles all Italy moch coÌ„muned talked anon they graunted his peticion and proclamed hym protectour of the soudyours ouer all the prouinces tribes of Italy In that maistership office he behaued hymselfe so well wysely that after that he obtayned an other office of more worshyp and authorite and after that agayne an other of hyer dignite And shortly to speke in
to reuenge the displeasure iniury which the captayne had done to hym with his helpe auauncemeÌ„t This Gauda as I haue sayd before was of feble and vnstable mynde and the mennes wytte was of lytell valoure by meanes of diseases which long had holden hym Wherfore Marius with his elegant fayre and flateryng wordes at his owne pleasure induced hym exalted his mynde sayeng that he was a kyng an excellent and great man and also neuewe to the worthy noble kyng Massinissa Wherfore sayd he yf Iugurth were outher slayne or taken prisoner it wer lickely to coÌ„e to that poynt that the kyngdome of Numidy shulde be assigned coÌ„mytted to hym of the senatours without any tary or resystence whiche thyng shulde shortely be brought to passe yf Marius hymselfe were creat consull in place of Metellus than assigned to execute and finysshe the warre with Iugurth Vnder this maner Marius counselled and induced bothe the sayd Gauda the romayne knyghtes the coÌ„men soudyours and also the marchauntes and occupyers whiche were in the towne at that season with many other whome 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 which they had to haue peace and coÌ„corde wrote to Rome to their kynsmen frendes of the batayle of Numidy that very sharpely agaynst Metellus desyring besechyng them to labour at Rome withall their myght that Marius myght be elect consull and assigned to execute the warre of Numidy And thus at Rome was the consulshyp desyred by many men with great fauour and very honest peticions for Marius Also at that tyme had the sayd Marius this auauntage For the coÌ„mentie at that season deposed many of the states eralted such as were newe gentylmen after the lawe of one named Manlius which before had ben ê“tectour of the coÌ„meÌ„tie This Manlius ordeyned inacted a lawe that if any thyng were vngoodly done and agaynst ryght of the states beynge in any office or dignite than he whiche so had done shulde 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 at those dayes was kept in effect and executed at Rome wherfore euery thyng proceded prosperously to the purpose profet of Marius For as I haue sayd before in hym was no noblenesse of auncient lynage nor byrthe ¶ But here wyll I leaue to speke of the ambicion of Marius and retourne to wryte of Iugurth and howe he behaued hymselfe agaynst Metellus ¶ Howe Iugurth renewed the warre agaynste Metellus and how the numidyans inhabyters of the towne of Vacca by treason murdred the garnyson of romayns whiche Metellus had set in the same towne ¶ The .xl. chapyter IN the meane tyme whan Iugurth had broken the coÌ„posicion which he had before made with Metellus by couÌ„sell of Bomilchar and had coÌ„cluded agayne to begyne the warre than anone he prepared all thyngê necessary to warre with great diligence And with great hast he asseÌ„bled an army Moreouer he dayly troubled with thretnynges or feare or els with great rewardes suche citees townes as befor had forsaken hym yelded themselfe to Metellus So that he spared no polycie to make them to render themselfe agayne to hym In such holdes townes as were in his possession he set garnyson and defence of men of warre He renewed bought agayne armour wepyn and all other thyngê which he had lost before or delyuerd to Metellus in hope of peace He attysed vnto hym many of the romayns subgettes bondemen by promisyng to them their libertie He also proued attempted with rewardes them whome Metellus had set assigned in garnyson garde and defence of such places as he had wonne in Numidy so that vtterly be suffred nothyng to be left quyet nor vnassayed but by all maner meanes made prouysion for hymselfe mouyng puttyng in profe euery thynge But amonge all other thinhabitantes of the cite called Vacca in whiche Metellus at begynynge had set his garnison whan Iugurth first sought his peace of Metellus were desyred often of Iugurth and with great importune instance exited to treason In somoche that at last they assented to hym to coÌ„spire agaynst the romayns Thinhabitantes of the cite dyd nat yelde themselfe from Iugurth with their owne goodwyll and namely thestates and rulers therof dyd neuer yelde them to Metellus saue faynedly Wherfore specially they were the first that conspired agaynst hym secretely amonge themselfe For why as it often happened the commentie and specially of the Numidiens were vnstable of mynde vtterly enclined to sedicion and discorde couetous of newe thynges and changes and contrary to rest and quyetnesse But as I haue sayd before whan the chyfe of this cite had secretly concluded and apoynted their mater and treason amonge themselfe agaynst the thyrde day they ordayned that the same thyrde day nexte after shulde be commaunded solem holy and worshypped ouer all the countrey of Affrike and Numidy Whiche day shewed and pretended by all similytude myrth game and sport rather than any drede to the romayns whiche were in garde and gernison of the cyte But the Numidyens full of prodicion and treason whan they sawe their tyme called vnto their houses all the chefe captayns and maister soudyours of the romayns whiche were in the towne And also one named Turpilius whome Metellus had ordayned to be his lyeutenant prouost and chife capitayne of the towne they enuited and called as yf it had ben to chere and feest them one to one house an other to an other But this there was suche as the Scorpyon is wont to make whiche whyle she maketh glad semblant with her mouthe mortally styngeth with the tayle so this feest was a cloke to mortall treason For whyle the romayns were in myddes of their daynties vnarmed suspectynge no paryll All the Numidiens at a tokens gyuen and at one houre apoynted before slewe eche one his geest whiche dyned with hym without fauoure so that amonge them all escaped nat one except the sayd Turpilius heed capitayne or lyeutenant of the towne This done all the Numidyens togyder set vpon the remenant of the coÌ„men soudyours whiche wandred and strayed abrode in the towne in the stretes dispersed abrode without any armour as is wont on suche a day without order feryng nor doutyng no daunger Some of the coÌ„mens whan thestates had made them pryue of this treason came also to helpe them and some other ignorant of the mater sauyng that that they had desyre and pleasure in suche murder inuaded the romayns also For though they were ignorant of the counsell of this dede yet the noyse or skirmysshe and newelty of the mater pleased them ynough The romayn soudyours were ignorant and incertayne of this vnprouided feare and cruell murder doutynge what was best to be done Their ennemies coÌ„pasynge them on euery syde