AFTER MANY GREAT AND PF­rillous batailes fought betwene the Ro­maines and the Carthaginenses, at the last a peace was taken for certaine yeres: du­ryng whiche tyme Amilcar than capitayne of the army of Carthage, warred fiue ye­res continually in Affrica, with the cities and countreyes adioynynge to Carthage. And from thens he passed the sea with his army into Spayn: where he abode .ix. yeres, in whiche tyme he meruaylonsely increased and inlarged the dominion of Carthage. This A­milcar was father to Hanniball, whyche at his saylynge into Spayne, was but .ix. yeres of age: but yet his hart and cou­rage was suche, that he neuer ceassed, tyll he had with fayre and pleasant wordes opteined lycence of his father, to goo with hym into Spayne. And at his departyng on a solemne day whan his father dyd sacrifice in the Temple, accordynge to the vse and ceremonye than vsed, yonge Hanniball beinge there present, layinge his handes on the holy aultar of the Temple, sware and auowed, that from thensforth he wolde become a deadly ennemy to the Romayns, and that he wolde vtter the same his malice on them as soone as he were able. This othe and vowe pleased wel his father Amilcar. For his intent was shortly after to moue the Carthaginēses to warre with the Romaines, but he dyed soone after: whose deathe, with the tender age of his sonne Hannibal stayed that enter­pryse, and caused the peace to endure betwene them .viii. ye­res longer. Duryng whiche tyme one Asdruball, that maried the daughter of Amilcar, gouerned the army, a man of great wysedome and policy. For he by his gentyll entertainyng of princis, and frendly handlyng of his neighbours, more than by batayle, brought many cities vnder the obedience of Car­thage. Whose facion, in gettyng of frendes, whan the Ro­maynes perceiued, they sent vnto hym: and renewyng their olde amitie, entred into a newe league, for the more sure and stable conseruation wherof, they determined to set metes and boundes of both their empires. Wherfore they agreed, that [Page] the ryuer of Iberus [...] depart their two seig [...]lories. Fur­ther, that the Saguntines (a people that dwelled betwene both theyr dominions, and were then in amitie and league with the Romaines) shulde continue in peace and be at liber­tie, not troubled nor oppressed by warre of nother partie. This peace beyng concluded, Hasdruball, that hartily loued Hanniball, sent his letters, and for his sake, caused the coun­sell of Carthage to be moued, to lycence Hanniball, beyng than a freshe yong man, to exercise him selfe in warre to the intent, when he were of lawfull age, he myght optayne, both the rule and richesse, that were his fathers. Wherevnto the mooste parte of the Senatours agreed. Whervpon Han­nibal was incontinent sent into Spaine, to be Capitaine there vnder Asdruball. At his fyrst commyng he gate the fauour of al the armie, and so resembled his father in al pointes, that the olde souldiours supposed Amilcar that was dead, to be restored ageine to them aliue. And in short space he brought to passe, that his father was not to be compared vnto him, in wynnyng the hartes of people. He excelled so in wisedome, policie, and feates of warre, that whan the Capitayne wolde haue any weighty matier enterprised, he wolde to him aboue all other cōmitte the charge therof. He so ordred hym selfe, both in obeying his capitayn, and rulyng his souldiours, that it was harde to knowe, whether he was better beloued of his capytayne or of his hooste. He was of an hyghe courage in icopardynge on any peryll, and of noo lesse counsaile in a­uoyding the same. His body and mind coulde with no labour be weried or ouercomme: he coulde as well susteyne heate as colde: of meates and dryakes he vsed none excesse, but that wolde suffice nature: he prescribed no tyme to reste or slepe by nyghte nor by daye. And whan he myght from bu­synes conueniently rest, he desired neyther soft beddes, nor quiet slepes, but being couered with a shorte cloke or souldi­ours garment, he wolde repose him vpon the harde earthe. He was not curious in garmentes: In pleasant horses and sure armour was alwayes his delite. Among all the army on horse backe and on fote he was founde the best, he wolde be euer the fyrst and the last in battail: Which his noble vertues lacked not dyuers vyces to accompany theym. For instede of mercie and pitie, he vsed extreme crueltie, mixte with vn­feithfulnes, [Page 2] he regarded not the obseruyng of his othe, whi­che was to his great dishonour.

VVHAN THIS YONG capitayn had thus exercysed hym selfe vnder Asdruball the space of .iii. yeres, it chaunced that one of that countrey (whose mayster Asdruball before had slayne) sodeynly ranne on hym, and slewe hym. Whervpon beinge taken he nother changed countenance nor feared any punyshement that shuld come to hym therfore: but with smi­lyng countenance receyued his deathe. Than the souldiours of the army after the losse of Asdruball immediately by one consent chose Hanniball to be theyr gouernour. And he ap­poynting to warre agaynst the Romayns, and Italy to be his prouince, thought he wold not long stay or tracte the tyme in ouermoch deliberating theron: lest therby it myght chance vnto hym, as it dyd vnto his father & Hasdrubal, to be oppressed by some other myschance, intēded to moue warre to the Sa­guntines before rehersed. And to colour his intent, he fyrste led his army into the costes of Olcades, a people of Spayne beyonde the ryuer of Iberus, neighbour to the Saguntines, to thende it shuld seme, that he of purpose or by any pretence of warre dyd not seke to inuade the Saguntines, but wynning the countreys adioynyng togyther, he shulde also take Sa­gunt with hym as it laye in his way in order with the other. Amonge these he wanne the citie called Carteia that was ve­ry riche, whiche citie beinge subdued, the smalle townes ad­iacent wyllyngly submitted them selues to be vnder tribute. This done he for the wynter tyme withdrue his armye to a citie in Spayne called newe Carthage. And with distributing largely to his souldiours the pray before gotten, and welpay­ing of euery mans wages that was behynde, he wonne the hartes of all the hoste. So that they holly agreed the nexte sommer folowynge to warre vppon the Vacceis. Whiche warres brought to passe and ended, as they retourned, not farre from the ryuer of Tagus, the banysshed people of the coun­treys [Page] aforesayde, assembled togyther, and reysed the Carpe­tanes, by whose helpe they were to the numbre of a hundred thousande, and trustyng to theyr great multitude, came new­ly vpon the Carthaginenses. Anniball perceyuing that great power commyng vpon hym, absteyned from batayle, and pri­uily in the nyght conueyed his [...] ouer a fourde, and from thense withdrue his people a good space of: so that his ene­mies myght haue place to come ouer the ryuer. Than set be xl. elephantes alonge the ryuer syde, that they myght be re­dy to oppresse them at the entryng of the water. Also he cō ­maunded his horsemen, that as soone as the footemen were entred the water, they shulde fiersly assayle them. The Car­petanes with the Vacceis and Carteians thynkyng theyr en­nemies for feare to be fledde from theym, and intendynge to pursue them, without any foresyght or order, with all spede, makyng great clamour, euery man rashely toke his next way through the water. Hannibals horsmen perceyuing that they were entred the fourde, violently ranne on them, and with li­tell peyne ouerthrewe a great number of their fotemen in the water, whiche thyng was easy to doo, for a footeman in the strength of the streame coulde in no wyse susteyne the force of a horseman, onely the rushe of the horse, though the ry­der be vnarmed, is able to ouerthrowe any foteman: so feble is the stay of his fote in the water. Thus some were drow­ned, and some other that passed ouer the ryuer, were oppres­sed with the elephantes, so that in shorte space they were all vtterly discomfyted and ouercome. For before that those, whiche last entred the ryuer (though they escaped the dan­ger of the horsemen) coulde recule backe agayn tolande, and assemble togyther, and set them selfe in aray, Annibal with a freshe band of men entred the water, and so quyckly folowed and chased them, that fewe escaped. Whervpon shortly after he conquered al the Carpetanes, and broughtthem vnder subiection of Carthage. And thāall the borderers beyonde the water Iberus, holly became tributaries to Carthage, sauyng only the Sagūtmes, with whom as thāthey had not medled, but diuers quarels were pycked by their neyghbours, to get some occasion to warre ageyuste them. And that perceiued well the Sagantines. Wherfore to preuent the matter, they sent messangers to Rome, to require succours in the warres that they vndoutedly loked for.

THe same yere that the Ambassadours were sent to Rome, Publius Cornelius Scipio, & Titus Sempronius Lōgus were consuls, and whā this matter was waied in the senate hous with many other, cōcerning the cōmon welth, Publius Valerius Flaccus, and Quintus Fa­bius Pamphilus, were chosen ambassadours to go to Anniball, with gentyl perswasions to withdraw him from warres with the Saguntines theyr frendes: whiche if they coulde nat do, that than they shulde go to Catthage to Hasdruball the capitayne, chargynge hym vpon peyne of the truce breakyng, to cesse and take vp the warres.

¶Whyles the Romaynes prepared theyr legacies, and or­dered theyr affayres, Anniball forslowyng no tyme conueni­ent to his busynes, with his army spoylyng and wastynge the countreye, approched and fiersely assayled the citie of Sa­gunt on thre partes. This citie was named the rychest that was beyonde the ryuer of Iberus: It stode not passynge a myle from the sea: and was in short space so mightily increa­sed by reason of the commodities of the water, the fruites of the lande, and multitude of people, that they excelled all the cities and countreyes aboute theym bothe in number and rychesse. Whan Anniball hadde cyrcumspectly viewed the walles, he founde a corner, from the whyche dydde extende a fayre playne valeye, vnto the whyche corner he layde his siege, reysynge vp certayne engyns of defence, for the safe­gard of his people, tyll they myght approche the walles, and caryenge other ingyns to gyue assaute and to beate downe the walles. But bycause the fayre playne without that cor­ner, made that syde to be in mooste ieopardye: the citezens therfore had buylded the walles on that parte hygher than the other sydes. There was alsoo buylded at that coruer a myghty high towre, the strength wherof letted Anniball to lay his siege to the towne as he wold haue done: Hot with­standyng he by reason of his engyns, gaue so sharpe assaulte, that the cytezens beinge vppon the walles were greately a­basshed, who at the same assaulte, not onely defended theyr [Page] walles manfully, but also couragiously issued out of the towne and assayled their ennemies, and breakyng downe theyr mu­nimentes and fortifications, entred the towne ageyn welnere to as great losse of their ennemies as of their owne people. Whyche thynge whan Anniball perceiued, he sodaynly with out aduysement approched to the walles, and was stryken with a barbed iauelyn in the thygh, so that soore wounded he felle to the grounde. Whan his people sawe hym falle, there was suche feare and clamour amonge them, that they cleane gaue ouer the assaute, so that they suffred the towne to be in reste tyll theyr capitayne was healed. Durynge whiche time of rest from battayle, the citizens were not vnoccupied. For they fortified them selfe the more strongly, for that they per­ceyued the assautes to come shulde be more fierce and peril­lous. Whan Hanniball was cured of his wounde, the siege and warre became more deadly and terrible than before. The Carthaginens dayly increased, they were to the noumber of Cl. M. who with theyr engins bet downe the walles of Sa­gunt to the ground in dyuers partes: so that they semed sun­dry tymes to haue won the citie: but they within, where the walles lacked, with strengthe of men defended it. And thus sometyme hope, and sometyme dispayre enforced bothe par­tes to do theyr vttermost.

IN the meane season of this longe contynued warre, very doubtful and variable on both par­tes, worde came to Hannibal, that the Romain Legates were come: Vnto whome he sente a messanger, to shewe theym, that there was ieo­pardy in passing through so perillous and dout­full battayles of straunge and wylde nations: And hym selfe was so intricate with busynesse, that he coulde not attende to speake with them, or to here their legacy. The ambassadours heryng this answere departed towardes Carthage, as they were commaunded. Whiche thyng Hanniball perceyuynge, sent letters to the senate and princes of Carthage, that were [Page 4] frendes, wyllynge theym so to induce the people, that they shulde in no wyse shewe fauour to the Romaines. So that it came to passe, that as they coulde not be receyued of Hanni­ball, euen soo theyr ambassage was voyde at Carthage. For whan Hanno, a man of great authoritie, had opened in the se­nate, the peryll and ieopardy of the truce breakyng, and the vengeance whiche might folowe vpon the same: and perswa­ded, that it shuld be necessary, that Hanniball, shulde be yel­ded to the Romaynes, for amendes of the truce breakynge: His oration being fynished, the hole senate, more inclynynge to the vniuste enterpryse of Hanniball than to any reasonable perswasion to the contrarye, estemed hym to haue spoken more vnfrendly than the legates of Rome. Whervpon they answered the ambassadours, that Hanniball had done nothing but iustely, and that the Romayns dyd wronge in takyng part with the Saguntynes agaynst theym of Carthage, beynge theyr olde frendes. And thus whyles the Romaynes sente theyr ambassadours to and fro, Hanniball ceassed not, but whan his weary souldiours releued them selfes of theyr pei­nes and trauayle, to encourage his men against his ennemies, sometyme with hope of victory, sometyme with hope of the ryche pray: so that they were in suche wyse encouraged and stered, that they thought nothyng able to resyste them. And contrarywyse the Saguntines were no lesse carefull and di­ligent to repayre their broken walles, and to prouide thinges to make resistence. Hanniball, who neuer cessed, but beinge styll occupied with inuention of subtiltie and crafte, comman­ded a hygh towre of tymber so to be made, that it myghte be remoued to euery part of the walles at his pleasure. Whiche whan it was fynished, he furnyshed with crossebowes and o­ther ordynance, wherwith he bette the defenders frome the walles. Than incontinent he sent .v. C. Affricanes, with pike­ [...]xes and instrumentes to vndermyne and breake downe the walles, whiche was very easye to brynge to passe with suche tooles. The walles were of the olde rude makyng, not layde with lyme and sande, but with clay and blacke morter. Wher­fore they had soone ouerthrowen a great part of the walles, at whiche breache the Carthaginenses entred, and came to a hygh place of the citie, whiche they garnyshed with all kyn­des [Page] [...] [Page 4] [...] [Page] of ordynances, and made a wall about the same, makynge it as a castell or fortresse for them within the citie. Not with­standinge the Saguntines, with as great shyfte as myght be, made countermures in the towne, and defended theym selfe: and saued those partes that were not gotten as it myght be. But in shorte space they were so beaten, that they wyste not where to defende. Thus the Saguntines defendyng the in­warde partes of theyr towne, loste dayely more and more of theyr citie. Vitayles also fayled theym sore, by reason of the longe siege. Agayne, the expectation of theyr succours was in vayne, bycause the Romaynes, theyr onely hope, were soo farre of. Not withstandyng they were alyttell comforted, by reason that Annibal was so sodaynly sent for to go against the Oretanes and Carpetanes, whiche than were raised agayne, and beganne to rebelle, but their warre in the meane tyme se­med nothing the lesse, by reason of one Maharball, Himil­cos sonne, who kepte the siege so streightly, that it semed the capitayne was not absent.

¶ Whan Anniball was retourned from the Carpetanes and Oretanes warre, the battayle beganne more strongely than before. Duringe whyche tyme, two souldiours, one named Alcon a Sagūtine, and the other called Alorcus a Spaniard, hauyng some hope of peace, determined to moue Anniball to the same. Alcon the Saguntine was brought before Annibal, who shewed vnto hym, what they shulde do, if they intended to haue peace. Whiche conditions of peace semed vnto Al­con very vnreasonable. Wherfore thinkyng that the Sagun­tines wold in no case agree vnto the same: he remained there styll, and wolde not retourne agayne to his citie, affirmynge, that he were worthy to dye, that vnder such couenātes wold treate of peace Whan Alcon had denied, that the Sagunti­nes wold receyue any suchetruce, Alorcus aforesayd, beinge a souldiour of Annibals, and an olde frende to the Sagun­tines, supposyng that theyr myndes myght be perswaded to receyue the conditions of peace, seing their walles so weake, and their towne so easy to be wonne, promised to declare vn­to them the contentes of the truce. He deliuering his wea­pon to the capitaynes of theyr ennemies, was brought to the Pretor Saguntine: and so into the senate, where, whan the multitude of the commons was a lytell withdrawen, thus he [Page 5] beganne his oration.

¶ If your citezyn and messanger Alcon, that came to Anni­ball to require peace, had lykewise broughte from hym vnto you the conditions of the same, my cōmyng nowe had ben in vayne. Which thing if he had done, I shuld nother as Anni­bals oratour, nor as a fugityue, haue come vnto you at this tyme. But seing that he, either through his owne defaute, or els by yours, tarieth with your ennemies (lest you shulde be ignorant, that there are certayne conditions offered bothe of peace and safegard) I for the olde frendshyp and hospitalitie that hath ben betwene vs am come to you: and fyrst I wolde ye shulde perswade your selues, that for your welth and none other cause, I speake to you those wordes, which I wyl de­clare, and this you may well perceyue. For as longe as you were able with your owne power, to make resistence, or tru­sted to haue succour from the Romayns, I neuer made men­tion to you of peace. Nowe seing there is no hope of succour from the Romains, and your own strēgth and walles do fayle you, being vnable any longer to resist: I bring to you peace more necessary than ryghtuous or iuste. Of the which peace there is yet some hope, yf, as Anniball beinge conquerour, doth sende it, so you as people subdued, wyll receyue it. For you must consyder, that you beinge conquered, muste of the conquerour receiue that whiche of his goodnes he wyl giue you as a reward. The conditions of peace are these: He wyl take the citie (whyche he hath broken for the most parte, and almoste wonne) from you. He wyll leaue to you the fieldes, and also assigne a place, where you shall buylde a newe citie. He commaundeth also your golde, syluer, and other goodes, publike and priuate, to be brought to hym. He is contented to suffer your selues, your wyues and children to passe in safe garde, if ye go out of the citie vnarmed, takyng with you on­ly double apparell for your bodies. Those thynges your vic­torious enemy Anniball dothe commaunde you, the whyche your sorowfull chaunce and fortune dothe perswade you to accepte. Truely I doubt not, whan ye haue accomplyshed all these his requestes, but that some of these conditions shalbe remytted vnto you. I thynke better, you shulde rather suffer these iniuries, than your selues to be slayne, your wyues and chyldren taken & violently led away before your faces, by the extreme lawes of warre.

[...]Vhan Alorcus hadde ended his oration, the chiefe rulers of the citie departed sodaynely from the reste of the multitude, and gathered all theyr golde and syluer frome the publyke and priuate places, into the market place: and before any answere was gyuen vnto Alorcus, towchynge his message, they caste it all into a fyre, that was quyckly made for the same purpose, and many cast them selfe headlonge after. Whan the feare the trembling and the qua­kyng for this busynes had passed through the citie, annother rumour was afterward heard. A towre of the citie, that had longe tyme be brused and shaken, fell downe to the earthe: at which place a company of the Carthaginenses entred. Anni­ball in suche a chance thynkyng not mete longe to deliberate, with great violence entred the town, and incoutinent cōman­ded, that all the youth shulde be slayne, a cruelle victory, notwithstanding it was knowen in that case almost necessary. For whiche of those shulde be spared, that eyther being inclosed with their wyues & children burned theyr houses ouer them: or els being well armed, wold determine no end of the warre but by deathe? The citie was taken with a great praye: of the whiche moche goodly householde stuffe was sent to Car­thage. Some write, the .viii. moneth that the warre began, the citie was won, and that Anniball for the wynter, returned agayne to newe Carthage. Duryng which tyme the ambassa­dours that went to Carthage, brought worde to Rome, that the Saguntines were ouercome and distroyed, and their citie taken: Whyche tydinges hearde and knowen for trouthe, brought suche heuynes and sorowe togither to the Romans, What for pitie of theyr frēdes vnworthily lost, and for shame that they had not succoured thē in due tyme, that therby they conceyued as great displeasure toward the Carthaginenses, and also feare of losse of their owne countrey and goodes, as though the hole power of theyr ennemies had bene presente at hande. Thus being troubled at one tyme with dyuers mo­tions of the mynde, they seemed rather to quake and tremble than to take counsayle: and good cause why. For there ne­uer warred agaynste theym a more cruell ennemy, nor more [Page 6] vehementely gyuen to all kyndes of warre: nother theyr ci­tezens neuer soo sluggysshe and vnmeete to warfare as then. Whan they hadde longe bewayled this sorowfull chaunce, they prepared all thynges as meete and necessarye for the warres as they coulde. Some were sent into Fraunce, some into Affrica, and lykewyse into all other places, where they hadde warres.

AL the foresaide busynesses prepared and set in good order, Quintus Fabius, Marcus Li­uius, Lucius Aemilius, Caius Lucinius, and Quintus Bebius were sent into Affrica, to in quere of the Carthaginenses, whether Han­niball distroyed the citie of Sagunt, by the as­sent of the publyke counsayle or noo. And yf they wold graunt and defende, that it was done by the holle counsaile, than to declare vnto them, that they wold reuenge their wronges in battayle. After the Romans were come to Carthage, and that Quintus Fabius had in the senate enque­red of the senatours of Carthage, accordyng to his cōmaun­dement, a prince of Carthage answered on this wyse.

¶ Oye Romaynes, your fyrst legacy (whan ye came and re­quired Anniball to be delyuered vnto you, as one that hadde besieged Sagunt of his owne mynde without our counsayle) was voyde and of none effecte: Howe than shulde this your cruell legacy take place, wherin ye requyre of vs a confession of the trespasse, and amendes for the same? I thinke it ought not to be inquired, whether Sagunt was distroyed by our publike or priuate counsayle, but whether it was done ryght­fully or wrongefully. For your question and consyderation, as concernynge our cytezen is, whether he enterprysed the syege and battayle by his owne mynde, or by our accorde: and our controuersy with you is, whether it myght be done, the truce beynge obserued, or no. Therefore sythe it muste be determyned, what rulars maye doo by the common coun­saylle, and what of theyr owne wylle: Ye muste vnder­stande, that the truce that was taken betwene you and vs, [Page] was gyuen by Luctatius, than being your consull: in whiche it was conteyned, that bothe our frendes shuld be spared, no mention being made of the Sagūtines, for as th [...]n they were not your frēdes. But verily in the truce, that was taken with Hasdruball, the Saguntines were excepted, against which I wyll say nothyng, but that I haue learned of you. Truely ye refused to obserue the truce, that C. Luctatius your consull dyd decree and make with vs, bycause it was not done by au­ctoritie of the fathers conscripte of your senate: than yf you do not obserue and kepe your bandes and truce, onelesse they be constitute and made by your auctoritie and cōmandement: We also wyll not obserue the truce takē by Hasdrubal, wher­of we were ignorant. Wherfore leaue now to speake of Sa­gunt and Iberus: and declare boldly that whyche you haue longe tyme consultynge, deuised. Than the Romayn Legate aduaunced forthe hym selfe, and sayd: Here we brynge vnto you peace or warre: take whether you wyll. Whervnto they fiersely answered, that he shulde giue whether he wold. And whan he agayn settyng forth his commandement, had shewed theym that they shulde haue warre, they aunswered all: that they wolde accept it, and with no lesse courage prosecute the warre, than they had receyued it.

¶ Whan the Romain ambassadours had proposed the warre as it was commaunded theym, they wente from thense into Spayne, with fayre behestes to wynne and allure the chiefe cities therof to their fauour, and to tourne from the Cartha­ginenses. Fyrst they came to Bargusies, who receyued them gentilly, bicause they were wery to be vnder the dominion of Carthage, sturring moch people with desyre of the new war­res. From thense they came to the Volcians: whose wyse and quicke answere shortly knowen through Spayne, turned the resydue of the people from the frendshyp of the Romaynes. Thus the eldest of them in counsayle answered.

¶ Dye Romaynes, how may ye for shame requyre vs to ac­cepte your frendshyp before the frendshyp of the Carthagi­nenses, whan they that so did (the Saguntines) ye more cru­elly betrayed than theyr ennemies dyd destroy. Therfore I wold counsayle you, to go seke your frendes, where the de­struction of Sagunt is not knowen. For as theyr destruction was an heauy and pitiefull thing to the Spaniardes: so is the [Page 7] same a great warnyng and teachyng, that no man shulde trust to the promesse and frendshyp of the Romaynes. With this answere they were commaunded shortly to depart frome the Volcianes, nother coulde they after gette any better frende­shyp of any of the counsayle of Spayne. And soo whan they had in vayne trauailed through Spayn, they cam into France where whan they had before the nobles and great multitude of the people, magnified and extolled the renoume and po­wer of the Romaynes, they desyred, that the Carthaginen­ses shulde haue no way through Fraunce, to leade theyr ar­my into Italy. At which request there arose such a laughing amonge them, that (as it was sayd) scarsely the youth coulde be pacified of the auncient men and rulers. Their desyre was thought very folyshe and vnreasonable, that the frenchemen shoulde not suffer the Carthaginenses to leade theyr armye through Fraunce: but they for other mens pleasure shoulde tourne the warre to them selues, and hasarde theyr countrey to be distroyed. Whan the noyse was appeased, answere was made, that the Romaynes were at noo tyme so frendly vnto them, nor the Carthaginenses so great foos, that they wolde eyther holde with the one, or warre against the other. They sayd more ouer, that the Romaynes hadde dryuen dyuers of theyr countrey men out of Italy, and caused other to pay tri­bute, with many other iniuries. Suche answere for the moste parte they receyued through all Fraunce, nor other newes of peace or frendshyp they scarsely hearde before they came to Massilia: There they had knowledge by certayne of theyr frendes, that Anniball had obteined the hartes of the french­men before, and that he had corrupted the princis and rulers with money, wherof they were most couetous and desirous of all nations. So whan the Romains had wandred through Spayne and Fraunce, at laste they came to Rome, not longe after the Consuls were gone to the prouinces, & they founde the citie holly bente on the expectation of warre. For it was euidently knowen, that the Carthaginenses were passed the riuer Iberus.

AFter Sagunt was wonne, Anniball (as afore-is sayd) went to newe Carthage for the wyn­ter, and there heryng what was done and sayd both at Rome and Carthage, and that he was not only the capitayne of the warres, but also the chief cause therof: partyng and deuidyng the residue of the pray, and thynkyng to lose no longer tyme, called the souldyours of Spayne togyther, and exhortynge them to warre, sayde on this wyse:

¶ I suppose that you my frendes do knowe, seingal Spayne is peasyble and at reste, that eyther we muste fynysshe the warfare and sende home our souldiours, or els begyn war­res with some other nation. If we seke renoume and victory in other countreys, our owne nation shall not onely flouryshe in goodes, tranquillitie, and peace of theyr owne at home, but also enioy the rychesse, the iewelles of the spoyle at our conquest. Wherfore seing ye must trauayle farre from home, and vncertayne it is, whan ye shall retourne agayne to se your houses, and those whome you loue, yf any of you wyll go se his frendes, I shall gyue hym spendynge for a season, but I warne you all, that ye be here ageyne with me at the sprynge of the yere, at whyche tyme I intende to begynne the war­res, by the goddis fauour, with great hope of wynnyng and prayse. Euery man was gladde of the libertie that Anniball of his fre wyll had gyuen them, to go se their countreys and frendes. The rest from trauaile whiche they had all the win­ter season, made them stronge and lustye in theyr bodies and couragious to endure the labours and peynes that were to come. And at the begynning of ver they assembled togither, as it was commaunded.

¶ Whan Anniball had taken the musters of all nations that came to ayde hym, he departyng from Gades, accomplished his vowe made to Hercules: and bounde hym selfe with new vowes, if his other enterprises dyd prosperousely succede. Wherfore prouydyng as well for to withstande inuasions, as to inuade by warre, leste whyle that he iourneyed by lande, through Spayne and France towarde Italy, he shulde leaue [Page 8] Affrica open and naked to the Romayns from Sicilia, he de­termyned to leaue there stronge garrisons in all places. And for that cause he sent for a bend of Affricanes, namely of those that vse to throwe dartes, and were lyght harneysed: whiche number of Affricanes he leste in Spayne, and than sente he a great number of Spaniardes into Affrica to kepe that coun­trey, to the intent they beinge eche of them farre from theyr countreys and frendes, shuld (as though they were pledges eche for other) play the good souldiours, and stickyng toge­ther, defend in that they myght the one cuntrey of the other. After he had ordered and assigned strong garrisons to euery part and region, as to Carthage, Spayne, and Affrica, remo­uyng his army from Gades to new Carthage, led them from thens to the ryuer of Iberus, and to the sea coste. There (it was sayd) he sawe in his slepe a yong man of a heuenly shape, whiche sayd he was sent from Iupiter vnto Anniball, to con­ducte hym into Italy, shewyng to him before the destruction of Italy: and that he shuld procede in his vyage, & serche no more? for the destenies were hid & secrete. Whan he had sene and herde these thinges, he conueied his hoste, deuided into thre partes, ouer the riuer of Iberus. Diuers of his frendes he sent before hym, to wyn the hartes of the frenchemen with giftes, through whose cuntry he must nedes passe: and also to viewe the passages ouer the mountains. He conducted .lxxx. and .x. M. fotemen, and .xii. M. horsemen ouer the foresayd water of Iberus. Than subdued he diuers townes & domini­ons therabout, which lay at the fote of the mount of Pyrene, and there he appoynted Hanno with .x. thousande footemen, and a thousande horsemen to remayne to kepe those passages and straites, whiche lay betwene France and Spayne, whan they began to approche nigh to the foresaid high and dange­rous mountayns, and that it was openly knowen, that the war was taken against the Romains, thre thousande of the Car­petanes footemen, sodainly departed from the hoste, and for­soke him: not for feare of the warre, but for the longe iorney, and perillous passage ouer the mountayns, almoste vnable to be passed. Anniball seing he coulde not change theyr mindes, and that it was doutfull to kepe them by violence, lest it shuld stere the fierce myndes of the resydue and make them wery, sent after thē aboue .vii. M. other more, suche as he supposed [Page] to be wery of the warfare: fay [...]ing that he had also licenced them that were fyrst stolen away, to depart home, bycause of the tedious iourney: this dyd he to thintent the reste shulde haue none occasion to leaue or forsake hym. And than lest by prolongyng the tyme, he shuld hynder the myndes of the re­sydue, he ledde his hoste forthe with spede, and passyng the mountaynes of Pyrene, pitched his tentes before a towne, called Illiber. The frenchmen although they herde that the Carthaginenses were come to warre vpon Italy, yet bicause the fame went, that the Spaniardes on the other syde of the hyll of Pyrene, were by them subdued, and strong garrisons therfore there lefte, being afraide of seruitude, armed them, and moche people assembled at a towne called Ruscino. Whi­che thyng whan Anniball herde, fearyng more delay of tyme, than warre, with as great haste as myght be, he sent oratours to theyr rulers, desyryng to speake with them: shewyng that he came not as an ennemy, but as a guest or frende to France, and that he wolde not, if it pleased theym, drawe his sworde, before he were passed France. The frenchemen hering this, incontinent remoued to Illiber, and with good wyll came to Anniball, whiche wan [...]e theym with gyftes, to suffer hym to haue free passage through their townes and countreys.

THus Annibal either with feare or with mo­ney wynnynge the countreys as he wente, brought his hoste to a fielde of the Volca­nes, a stronge kynde of people, which inha­byted on both sydes the water of Rhoda­nus, who doubtyng the power of the Car­thaginenses, and mystrustynge theyr owne strengthe, conueyed all that they hadde ouer the ryuer, and formoste kept the parte therof, that the ryuer shulde be as a munyment or defence to them: The residue of the inhabitan­tes, that remained there (bycause they were gladde to rydde the countrey of suche a huge numbre of men of warre) were suche [Page 9] contented to be reteyned by Anniball for rewardes to make botes nd shyppes, to passe ouer the ryuer: so that in shorte space they hadde gotten and newe made a greatte nauye of shyppes, and of small cockebotes. The frenchemen beganne to fasshion botes, hewynge trees and makynge theym ho­lowe, after the ryghte fasshion: And than the souldyours theym selues, bothe for the plentye of tymber and also the easynes of the crafte, euery man hewed his tree, and made a bote to carye hym selfe and his stuffe ouer. Whanne all thynge was made redye to passe ouer, the great companye of ennemies on horsebacke and o [...] foote, that were on the o­ther syde, abasshed theym sore. Whiche to driue awaye, An­niball sent Hanno Bomilcars sonne with a stronge companye namely of Spaniardes, in the begynnyng of the nyght, com­maundyng them to kepe vp the riuers syde a dayes iourney, and as sone as be coulde to conuey his company ouer priuily, that they might be redy whā tyme required, to set vpon their ennemies behynde. Certayn frenchemen were appoynted to guyde and conuey them vp alonge the ryuer syde: Who con­ducted them the space of .xxv. myles vp the streame to [...] ­tell Ile, where they felled trees, and spedyly made bote [...], in the whyche they myght conuey theym selues, theyr horses, and theyr necessary stuffe ouer. The Spanyardes throwyng theyr clothes vpon botels, and sittynge on their sheldes fast­ned aboue theron, passed the ryuer, the rest of the hoste, ioy­nyng botes togyther, passed ouer, and pitched their tentes on the other syde of the riuer, where after their nyghtes ior­ney, and wery days labour, they rested all that day and nighte to refreshe them. The nexte day they remoued from thens, and with bournyng made a smoke, to signifye that they were passed the ryuer, and they were not farre of. Which thynge whan Anniball perceyued, lest he shulde lose the tyme, gaue a [...]ygne to his hoste to passe ouer. The footemen with theyr baggage passed ouer in botes: the horsemen shypped suche horses, as at theyr landyng they must nedes occupy, the rest of the horses they tyed to smalle botes, and caused them to swymme ouer. And to asswage the rage of the water, as well for the ease of the small botes, as of the horses that swamme, they sette the great shyppes and botes betwene the streame and them. The frenchemen seinge this, ranne to the bankes [Page] with great shoutyng and synging [...]ter [...], knocking their sheldes ouer theyrheades, [...] theyr weapons in theyr ryghthandes: not withstandynge it was a terrible bashement vnto them, to beholde suche a multitude of shyp­pes, to here the huge noyse and rushe of the water: the dy­uers cries and clamours of the mariners and souldiours, that indeuoured them to ouercome the rage of the water: the ex­hortations that they that were landed gaue to the other.

Thus being in great feare of the tu [...]ltuous rufflyng before them, behynd them arose a more [...] clamour, that Han­no had taken theyr campe, and [...] on them at theyr backes: they fledde euery man what way he might soonest get. Whan Anniball had co [...]eyed the rest of his hoste ouer, nothing re­gardyng the Frenchemen, pitched his tentes. The Romains had sente P. [...] Scipio with [...] armye to [...]ere with Anniball, and was a lytell before arriued at Massilia, and had pytched his tentes on the syde of the ryuer of Rhodanus. Whan Annibell knewe therof, he sent .v. C. Numidian hors men, to viewe the Romayns campe, theyr order, and also the [...]ber of them, who beinge espied were encountred with­all [...]y .iii. C. Romayns, whiche after great [...]aughter on both sydes opteyned the vyctorye, and perforce put the Numidi­ans to flyght. Publius Cornelius Scipio, beinge consull and capitayn of the Romaine army, loked for none other thynge but that Anniball shulde gyne hym battayle. And like it was, that he wold so haue done, had not the legates of the Boios, and the ruler of Fraunce (whyche offered them selfes as cō ­panyons in the iourney) tourned his mynde: aduisynge hym in nothynge to mynysshe his power tyll he were come into Italy. Whan Anniball was fyrmely fyxed to goo forthe, he beganne to exhorte and encourage his souldyours, whyche were almost dyscouraged with feare of the doubtfull passage ouer the hygh mountaynes, whyche they shulde passe, she­wyng vnto them, that before they came out of Spayne, they hadde brought all those people and realmes whiche were in­closed with two seuerall seas, to be vnder the domynyon of Carthage: And that it were shame for them to departe, seing they had alredy passed the ieoperdous passage ouer the ry­uer of Rhodanus, and also ouercome so many Frenchemen, that prohybyted them that peryllous passage. Moreouer he [Page 10] sayde, the [...] hyghmountaynes were in theyr syght, which on the one parte ioyned to Italy. He sh [...]wed them also, that the sayd mountayne were not so dangerous, as they supposed them to be. For they were but hygh hylles, and that men and beastes dyd inhabyte vpon them, whych hylles whyles they did not touche the skye, myght be ouercome by mans labour. Also seinge that trauaylers paste ouer with theyr stuffe wy­ues and chyldren, moche more souldyours, hauyng but their armour and weapons, myght go ouer theym: ye may (sayde he) well perceyue, that such as in tymes past went ouer these hylles, had not wynges to [...]ee ouer them, wherfore eyther ye muste gyue place bothe in hardynesse and vertue to the Frenchemen, beinge so oftentymes ouercome of vs, whiche by theyr strength and manhode conquered these mountaynes in olde tyme, orels let vs truste, that the ende of our iourney shall be the great fielde lyenge betwene the ryuer of Tiber, and the walles of Rome.

¶ Whan he had with these exhortations incouraged them, the next day he remoued from Rhodanus, and toke his waye through the myddell of France, not bicause that was his next way, but for that he wolde not mete the Romanes before he came into Italy. Wherfore he wente the further frome the sea, and brought his hoste into a lyttell Ile. The inhabitaun­tes wherof were called Allobroges, a kynde of people, that in honour and rychesse myghte not lyghtely be matched in Fraunce. Amonge them was great discorde, by reason of two bretherne that stroue for the lande. Whan Anniball was en­tred the sayd lande, the determination of the contention was committed wholy to hym: who in shorte space sette and esta­blyshed the elder in possession of the inheritaunce. Whyche done, the sayde lande ayded hym with men, vitayles, clothes, to defende them from the colde of the mountaynes, and other necessaries, and so he departed to go to the mountaynes, not holdyng the ryght waye, but helde on the lefte hande stylle without interruption vntyll he came to a floudde called Dru­entia, this was in all Fraunce the daungeroust ryuer to passe ouer. For not withstandyng that the water was swyfte and of great strength, yet coulde it beare no shyppes, bycause it was inclosed with noo sure bankes: soo that it made nowe here d [...]ye grounde, nowe there deepe trylle hooles.

[Page] Besyde this [...] stones, so that there [...] to [...] ouer.

¶ After [...] from the riuer of [...] within .iii. dayes came to the campe where [...] they were gone, and that he coulde not easily [...] them, he went to his shyppes, thinkyng to mete them [...]s they descended from the mountaynes into Italy, and so the better to medle with them there. And bycause Spayne fhulde not be left without defence, he sente thyther [...] Scipio his brother with a great part of his hoste, agaynst [...], to the intent not onely to helpe his frendes and get [...], but also to daine Has­druball out therof, if hemyght: he hym selfe with a small ar­my went to [...], and with the hoste, that lay about the ry­uer of Padus, he intended to [...]pe Italy.

HAnniball came from Druentia moste part by the playne fieldes and valeys (by the sufferance of the Frenchemen being inhabitauntes there) to the Alpes or high mountains: [...]d as the fame went, so it was found: The toppes of the high hilles were myngled with snowe, that almoste touched the sky, and full [...]de houses were set vpon the roc­kes, the beastes and labourynge cattell beinge wethered for colde, the men naked, v [...]shanen, and vnrounded, all the bea­stis and people werehardned and drawētogither with frost: with other thinges more fearefull and filthy to be seene than spoken, whiche whan the hooste sawe nere hande, dyd renue and increase theyr dr [...]de. As the army marched vp betwyxt the rockes, they myght perceyue the mountayne men assem­bled on the hylles ouer them to defende the passage. Annibal caused his standerdes to stay there, and sent the Frenchmen to viewe the passage. And whan he vnderstoode, that there was no going that way, he pitched his tentes in the playnest valey that he could fynd among the [...] stones & cragges. [Page 11] And perceyuyng by the Frenchemen, who knew almost their language, that the besert passages were kept on the day time, and that on the nyght euery of them wolde repayre to theyr cotages or houses. The nexte mornyng he gatte vp on the hylles, makyng semblance as though [...] he wolde attempte to wynne the passage by force. Thus he [...]pent the hole day, dis­semblyng to do one thing, and intendyng an other, tyll it was nyght: than he withdrue hym to his campe, where he before rested. But so soone as he wyst, that the mountayne men, and those that watched the passage, were gone to their rest: he made many great fyres, and leauyng all the cariage and stuffe, with the horsemen and moste part of the fotemen in his cāpe, hym selfe with a great numbre of lyght and valiant men, quik­ly passed the straites, and gate the same hylles, that the other kepte before: The nexte day the hoste and stuffe beganne to come after. In the mornyng the mountayne men assembled to go to their places as they were wont to doo. But whan they sawe their enemies had gotten their castels and places aboue their heades, it feared them sore, and caused them to stay for a season. Afterwarde, whan they sawe so great feare amonge the hoste in the streites, and that they were almoste confoun­ded with theyr owne noyse and trouble, the horses trembling for brede: they thought to put them to further trouble, and to worke them more displeasure. Wherfore they came down by the hylles syde along the rockes, being vsed therto, where none other coulde escape: And nowe here, nowe there, inua­ded the army, so that what for the dangerousnes of the pas­sage, and also by their ennemies they were meruaylously en­cumbred. But aboue al other troubles the greatest was, that whan thay sawe them selues thus in danger by reason of their ennemies and of the passage: than stroue the one with the o­ther, who shuld fyrst escape the daunger therof, by passynge fyrst the sayd straites, fyghtyng more with theyr owne com­pany than with theyr ennemies. Theyr cattell being also stri­ken and hurt by the derth of the mountayns, roryng and yel­lyng, hurt and ouerthrewe many of the hooste, some armed, some vnarmed downe the hygh mountaynes, with stuffe and baggage, that pitie it was to beholde. Whan Anniball was in formed therof, he descended with a greate number with hym and at his fyrst commyng, he disparkled and put his enemies [Page] to flight, so that afterward he had not only leis [...]re to conuey his army, but also sylence and quietnes. Th [...]n he toke the ca­stell the chiefe place of all that region, and other theyr villa­ges. And with the captiues cattell he founde his army thre dayes. Departyng from thense he came to an other sorte of mountayne people, whyche not by battayle, but being taught by the destruction of theyr neyghbours, with crafte subtilty and wyly deceytes, wrought hym moche displeasure. Certain of the eldest and chiefest of the castelles came to Anniball, shewynge hym, that they beyng admonyshed with the harme of theyr neyghbours, wolde rather haue his frendshyp and amitie, than prouoke the wrathe of the Carthaginenses, of­feryng to obey his commaundementes, and to ayde him with vytailes, and to conducte hym and his people on theyr way, and for the assuraunce thereof, they offered to delyuer hym pledges. Anniball as wyse and taught in suche rusynes, ney­ther gaue to theyr wordes ouer hasty credence, nor despysed theyr gentyll offer: lest therby he shulde haue made them his manyfest enemyes, but sobrely receyued theyr hostages, and vsed theyr ayde vpon the way: whose guides he folowed not neglygently, but in good order and araye. The elephantes and horsemen were set before, and Anniball hym selfe came after with the strengthe of his footemen in good aray, wyse­ly ouerlokyng all thynge. Wh [...]n they came to a more narow waye, hauyng an hygh hylle on the one syde, the sayd barba­ryke people sodaynly set vpon them bothe behynde and afore, rollyng downe great stones among the host: The rerewarde was by them soore troubled: so that yf it had not ben surely defended, many of them had bene destroyed. In this trou­ble and peryll remayned they all the day: tyll the nyght cau­sed the ennemyes to withdrawe. On the morowe they were nothyng so vexed as the day before. For theyr assaultes were but skyrmyshes, sometyme before, somtime behynde. Wher­fore they passed the streytes, and came to the toppe of the mountaynes, within the space of .ix. days, not without great ieopardy and slaughter, but more of the beastes than of the men. There Anniball caused the army, beinge weryed with labour, trauayle, and fyghtynge, to reste theym the space of two dayes. Duryng whiche tyme there fell suche abundance of snowe, that it reuewed theyr sorowes, for the snowe fyl­lyng [Page 12] euery place as the armye shulde passe in the mornynge, made them almoste desperate. Anniball perceyuynge theyr great discourage, gotte before the s [...]anders, and went vp on a hylle, from whence he myghte see farre and wyde, where causyng his army to stay a lyttell, he shewed to them Italy, and the fayre fieldes that lay aboute the ryuer of Padus, ad­ioynynge to the mountaynes: and he sayde vnto theym, that after they had passed these mountaynes, they had alredy sca­led the walles not onely of Italy, but also of the verye citie of Rome, shewing them, that all other passages were plaine, easy, and nothynge daungerous: and that within two or thre battayles at the moste, they shoulde attayne Rome, whyche was the head of Italy. With that the hoste beganne to sette forewarde without any interruption, except it were by small inuasions, as it were of robbers, and such small skyrmyshing: But the way to descende was than more daungerous than it was at the ascendyng vp of the same: for it was so narowe, stipe, and slyppy, that they coulde not saue them selues from fallyng. And whan one slode, he ouerthrewe hym, that went before hym, so that men and cattell were in ieopardy of theyr lyues. After that came they to a moche more strayte rocke, the clysses therof were so hygh and stype, that with greatte peyne, the ligier souldyours, by takynge holde of the shrub­bes and trees, that grewe on the rocke syde, coulde des­cende downe. The place, whyche was before of his owne nature pytchelonge, by sodayne breakynge downe of the earthe, was made a thousande foote stype ryght downe to the bottome. The horsemen stayed there, as thought they hadde bene at theyr iourneyes ende. Whan Anniball inqui­red, what caused theym to tarye, it was shewed hym, that noo manne coulde passe the daunger of the rocke. Than wente he to see the place hym selfe: and it seemed to hym, that by the pathes and wayes, whyche appeered to haue bene vnvsed, by leysure and longe compasse, he myght well ynoughe conuey his armye aboute the rocke, but all was in vayne, for vppon the olde yse and frosen snowe there was the nyghte before newe snowe fallen of a small thyckenesse, whyche after a lyttell goynge vppon, thawed and gaue some what agayne, and became soo slyppy, that skarsely vppon theyr handes and knees could they sustayne theym selues. [Page] Theyr horse [...] [...] in the [...], and were sore cut on theyr legges with the [...]: so that it was great pitie to here the [...] that the people made in euery parte. To appease all this noyse, and to comforte his people, Han­niball caused the [...] by palyc [...] to make a place to pytche they [...] tentes on. Fyrst he caused the snowe and vse to be digged vp and striken away, whiche was not done without great labour and trau [...]le. Than had he inuented a propre diuise to breake the rockes, and through them to make a reasonable passage, he caused his company to cut downe a great numbre of trees that grewe on the hall ouer them, which he caused to be tum­bled downe the hylle vnto the sayde troublesome rockes, and therof to make great pyles of wodde vppon the sayd greate rockes, and whan the wynde was bygge, he caused theym to be sette on fyre. Than caused he greate plentye of vineger to be powred on the stones that were before burned and wasted with the great heate of fyre, wherby they were made moche more gentyll to be broken and hewed, and than with barres of yron and other instrumētes they broke and brused the rockes and made them away so playne, that not only the cattal might passe throughe, but also their elephantes and their cariage. About this worke they continued .iiii. dayes, in whiche tyme theyr c [...]ttall was almoste f [...]ished, for on the hylles was no­thing but snowe to be gotten. Wherfore they sent theyr bea­stes to the valeis partes to grase, wherethey also rested .iii. dayes, and than they came to the playne countreys, whiche were occupied with husbandry, and were fertile. After this maner they came into Italy, the fyft moneth after they sette forthe from newe Carthage: And as some wri­ters say, they passed the mountaynes in .xv. dayes. What numbre of menne Anniball brought into Italy, the writers do not agree. Some say he had C. thousande fotemen, and .xx. thousande horsemen: somme wryte of more, and some of lesse.❧

AT Anniballes commynge to those parties, he found moch for his purpose, the Taurines and Insubres warryng one agaynste the other, but he coulde not arme his hoste to helpe the one parte, for their bodies were so wery of labour, theyr clothes so foule and fylthy, that some de­syred to rest after theyr trauaile, some sought for vitayles af­ter theyr hunger, some taried to chaunge their apparayle and make cleane theyr garmentes: they were so soore handled in passynge the mountaynes. Which thyng P. Cornelius Sci­pio the consull perceyued well, and that caused hym to make the more spede with his army to the ryuer of Padus, that he myght fight with them er they were refreshed of theyr great labour, or could haue time to furnishe their army. Scipio had receiued of Manlius and Attilius, an host of newe souldiors, not moch exercised in warres, and such as were straungers to him. Whan he was come to Placentia, Annibal was remoued and had taken and destroied the chiefe citie of the Taurines, bycause they wold not willyngly yelde them: and had wonne to his amitie all the dwellers about Padus, had not the com­ming of the consull feared them. By that tyme that Anniball was a litel remoued from the Taurines, the two hostes were almost mette, and also the capitaynes. And as nother of them was as than knowen to the other, so they were stryken with a certayne admiration the one of the other. For Anniball, by the wynning of Sagunt was drad of the Romayns: and like wyse he supposed Scipio to be of no lesse fame and worthy­nesse, for that he was chosen of the Romayns to be capytayn agaynst hym. Than Scipio passed ouer Padus, and remoued his campe to a ryuer called Ticinus: Where before he wold gyue battayle, to exhorte and encourage his men, this he be­gan his oration vnto them.

¶ If I had (louyng souldiours) the same armye, that I had in Fraunce with me, I wolde not speake vnto you that, which I intende at this present tyme to say. For what shuld it nede to stere and incourage those horsemen, whyche at the ryuer [Page] of Rhodanus soo valyantly ouerthrewe theyr ennemies: or those legions, with whom I folowed this our fugitiue enne­mye. Nowe for bycause that hoste was sent by the senate of Rome into Spayne, there to make warre vnder my brother Cneius Scipio, to the intent you shulde haue bothe a consull and capitayne agaynste Anniball and the Carthaginenses, I wyllyngly toke vpon me this warre. A newe capitayn to new souldiours shuld vse fewe wordes. Notwithstandyng lest ye shulde be ignorant in this kind of warre, and not knowe with whome ye shall fyght: ye shall vnderstand, that with these ye shall haue a do, whom in your laste warres, ye subdued bothe by lande and sea, of whom ye toke truage perforce the space of twenty yeres: from whom also you wonne Sardinia and Sicilia as a prey of warre. Therfore in this battayle ye must haue the same hartes and myndes, that is wont to be in con­querours: and in your ennemies muste nedes be suche hartes as happen to men ouercome. And they do not now gyue ba­tayle of theyr owne hardynesse and courage, but bicause they can not chose: onelesse you thynke, that they, which hauyng theyr hole army freshe and lusty, withdrewe them and durste not encounter with vs in battayle beyonde the mountaynes, and whyche loste two partes bothe of horsemen and foote­men in passynge ouer the same mountaynes: shulde haue nowe more hope and trust than before. And those fewe that be left of them, haue loste both hartes and strength: so that they are nowe ymages, yea rather shadowes of men, than men in dede beinge clonged together with hunger and colde, feynte and febled emonge the rocky hylles. Besydes this, theyr sy­newes and veynes are shronke togyther with colde of the snowe, theyr membres wythered with froste and yse, theyr harnies shaken, rusty, and brokē, theyr horses feble and lame. With these enemies you must fyght, ye they ar the leuynges of your ennemies, and not your ennemies. And I feare no­thynge more, than before you shall fyght with your foos, it shalbe thought, that the mountayns haue fyrst ouercome thē, and taken the honour from vs. But so it is perchance neces­sary and mete, that the goddis without mans helpe, and with­out battayle, shulde ouercome them, that are truce breakers. And we that be violated and disceyued, shulde next after the goddis (as theyr mynisters) bryng them to vtter confusyon. [Page 14] Peraduenture many of you wyl suppose, that I speake these wordes proudly and hyghly, onely for your exhortation and comfort, and that I shulde thynke otherwise my selfe: Ther­fore ye shall vnderstand, that I was sent into Spayn to myne owne prouince, whether I was nowe going with myne host, where I shulde haue vsed bothe the felowshyp and counsayle of my brother in all peryls and ieopardies, and shoulde haue fought rather with Hasdrubal being lesse of power, than with Hanniball: and so shuld I haue had lesse to do. Not withstan­dyng whan I arriued with my shyppes beyonde the costeo of Fraunce, landyng I hearde great bruite of Anniball, and sen­dyng a certayne horsemen before, pitched my tentes at Rho­danus: and there my company ouerthrewe and put to flyghte those, with whom it was theyr chaunce to mete in battayle. Than bycause I could not with footemen ouertake myne en­nemy, whiche fled before me, I returned to my shippes, and with as good spede as I could make, sayling a great compasse about, arriued here, to mete hym in the front of the mountai­nes, to the intent to gyue hym battayle: And to proue whe­ther the earthe hath brought forthe sodainly, within the space of these .xx. yeres, other Carthaginenses, than were wonte to be bredde there or no. For if these be of the kynd of them, that warred at the yles of Egates, I remembre welle, that they were sold from Erix for .xviii. d. a pece come who wold. Also I longe to proue, whether this Anniball be the folower of Hercules in his iourney, as he sayth that he is, orels a tri­butary, a stipendary, and a seruaunt to the people of Rome, left by his father. We haue to shewe the bandes of truce, writen with the hande of his father Amilcar: who beinge com­maunded by our capitayne, withdrewe his garrison from the citie of Erix, who lamentyng and frowning receiued the gre­uous lawes made agaynst the Carthaginenses subdued, who couenanted with the Romayns to depart from Sicilia and to pay tribute. Therfore souldiours, I wolde haue you fyghte not onely with so good a courage as ye were wonte agaynste other ennemies, but also with suche an indignation and disple­sure, as though you sawe your seruantes armed to fyght a­gaynst you. We myght if we had wolde, whan they were in­closed at Erix, with very hunger (the hardest and soorest pu­nyshement amonge men) haue destroyed them. We might al­labours [Page] so (yf we had wolde) haue sayled with our victorious N [...]uye into Affrica, and it: short space with out battaile, vtterly haue destroyed Carthage. We pardoned theym, we made peace with them after they were subdued, and toke theym into our protection and defence whan they were sore greued with the warres of Affrike. And for these our benefites shewed vnto them, folowinge this furious yonge man, they come to con­quere our countrey. And wolde to god this battayle nowe were for honour, and not for the healthe and safetie of vs all. We fyght not nowe for the possession of Sicilia and Sardi­nia, for whiche we stro [...]e in tymes paste: but nowe we muste fyght for Italy. Nor there is none other armye behynde vs, which wil withstande them if we be ouerthrowen: Nother be there any mo mountaines, ouer which whiles they were pas­syng, men might prouide newe succours. Here we must resist them euē as we shuld fight before the walles of Rome. Eue­ry man must thinke that he with his armour couereth not and defendeth only his own body, but also his wife and small chil­dren. Nor let no man care only for his owne house and family but let him likewise haue in minde, that the senate and people of Rome beholdeth this our conflict and battayle, and vppon our fortune at this present tyme dependeth the prosperitie o [...] the citie and hole empyre of Rome.

WHyles Scipio the consulle in this maner exhorted the Romaines, Anniball thyn­kyng fyrst to encourage his men with de­des, before he wolde exhort theym with wordes, disposed his army in compasse as it were to beholde a fyght, and thanne he brought in the middes of them the moun­tayne men [...]nnde, whome he before had taken prisoners: and layde also in the same place the armour of the Frenchemen, whyche he hadde ouercome, and caused one, that coulde speake the language, to inquere of those prysoners, whyche of them, yf they were losed out of theyr bondes, wold take hors and armour, and fight for theyr lines. [Page 15] Whan they all hadde desyred armour and battayle, he caused lottes for them to be caste, and accordyng to the lotte losed a great number of them, who with leapyng and skypping after theyr maner, euery of them shortely toke his armour, beinge as ioyfull and glad to dye with honour, as to lyue with shame and in capti [...]itie. Than incontinent he called his souldiours aboute hym, and made to them an oration in maner and forme folowynge.

¶ If ye haue any mynde or remembrance of the example of the strangers fortune not longe passed, ye shuld haue the same euen nowe, in wayinge your owne fortune and chaunce. We haue ouercome in battayle those our captiues. Wherfore ye must thynke, that all these your prisoners, nowe shewed be­fore you, were not shewed as a spectakle for you to beholde, But as a certayn resemblance of your owne chaunce and con­dition, in case ye be nowe ouercome and taken? And I can not tell, whether fortune hath gyuen greatter bandes, and more vrgent necessitie to you, than it hath gyuen heretofore to these captiues. Two seas doo compasse you bothe on the ryght hande and on the lefte: and shyppes haue you none to escape awaye withall. The water of Padus is all aboute vs, more violent than the ryuer of Rhodanus, and at our backes are the hygh mountayns, which ye passed with so great peyn and peryll. Wherfore louing souldiours, ye must eyther ouer come your ennemies at the fyrst encounter, or els be slayne. And the self fortune, which hath brought you now into suche necessite, that nedes ye must fight or die: the same fortune shal giue you such rewardis, if ye subdue your enmies, as no mor­tall men can desire greatter of the immortall goddis. If we shuld by our valiantnes recouer agayne but onely Sicilia and Sardinia, whiche were wonne from our forefathers, it might be thought a sufficient reward. But in case we spede wel now what so euer the Romains haue goten with so many victories and triumphes, and all the dominions, which they nowe pos­sesse, shall be all ours, with the princis, lordes, and rulers of the same. To wynne so ryche a preye with fauour and helpe of the goddis, arme youre selfe, and sette forthe boldely. Ye haue hytherto longe ynoughe chacynge beastes on the wyde and large mountaynes of Lusitania and Celtiberia, founde [...]o worty praye nor rewarde to recompence soo many your [Page] and perils. Nowe it is tyme to get your ryche prays measuryngly our great rewardes accordynge to the desertes of your trauaile, enterprysing this so great a iourney, passing ouer so many mountayns and ryuers, and by so many kyndes of armed people. Here fortune hath gyuen you an ende of your trauayle: Here fortune wyl rewarde you accordyng to the costes and charges that you haue ben at. Nor ye shuld not suppose the vyctory to be so harde, as the battayle is of great name. Oftentimes a small host hath made a great and a dout­ful battayle: agaynl noble people yea and kynges haue ben o­uer come in a lytel moment. For take away the terrible sound of the name of Rome, and what are they to be compared to you? Your great warres this .xx. yeres, with your manhod with your good fortune I speake not of: I wyl only remem­bre thynges of late done. Ye are come hyther from the pyl­lars of Hercules, from the Occean sea, frome the furthest parte of the worlde, passyng through and conqueryng so ma­ny fierce and cruell nations of Spayne and France. You shall nowe fyght with yonge and vntaught souldiours, of late bea­ten and ouercome by the Frenchemen, and as yet vnknowen to theyr capitayne, and he vnto theym. Shall I that was born and brought vp in the noble hous of my father, that hath ben the chastyser of Spayne and France, that haue conque­red not onely the people of the mountaynes: but also all the passages, whiche is moche more: compare my selfe with this weake capytayne of a fourtenyght olde, wandrynge frome hoste to hooste: to whom yf a man this day wolde shewe the army of Carthage and the army of the Romains togyther: he can not tell of whyche hoste he is gouernour, but only by the banners and badges. Surely worthy warriors, I esteme not this a lyttell, that there is none of you, before whome I haue not done some worthy feate of warre. At that tyme ye dyd extolle and laude me, and thought me worthy of gyftes and preferrement. And nowe I shall more lyke a father than a capytayne, before you all enter into battayle agaynste these people, that nother knoweth vs, nor any of theym knoweth other. Where so euer I caste myne eyes, I see nothynge a­monge you but hardynesse and strength, the moste aunciente and famous footemen, the mooste noble armed and vnarmed horsemen, and you moste faithfull and hardy Carthaginenses [Page 16] and felowes, shall both fyght for your countrey, and in a iuste and ryghtuous quarell. We brynge warre and banners dys­played into Italy noysome to the Romaynes: And so moche more boldly we may fyght, in how moche the hope and cou­rage of vs that inuade, is stronger than theyrs that onely de­fende. Besydes all this theyr wronge, and vnworthy dea­lyng towarde vs, bothe kendle and encourage our myndes. For fyrst I beinge capitayne was requyred, and than all you that were at the destruction of Sagunt, were in lykewyse re­quyred to be delyuered to the Romayns to be put to deathe. This moste cruell and proude nation dothe all thynges after theyr owne brayne and iudgement: they wyll determyn with whome we shall haue warre or peace. All thing that they do, they thynke it ryghtefull. They wylle appoynte hylles and fluddes to be boundes and meres, whyche we may not passe, yet wyll not they obserue the places and termes, whych they haue sette and prescribed them selues. Thou shalt not (saye they) passe Iberus, lest thou make the a do with the Sagun­tines, Sagunt is at Iberus: Therefore you shall not moue thyther from your appoynted place. They esteme it but a li­tell to haue taken from vs our most auncient prouinces, Sar­dinia and Sicilia, but they woll haue Spayn also. And if they wynne that, than they wyll haue Affrica. I may well say Af­frica also, For they haue sent two consuls this yere, one into Affrica, and an other into Spayne. There is nothynge lefte to vs, but that that we muste be fayne to wynne agayne with the sworde. If feare compelle theym, lyke cowardes to flee here from vs, they haue places ynoughe to receyue theym, they knowe the countreys and wayes wherby to escape: It behoueth you to play the valyant men, and settyng all at six and seuen, eyther to vanquyshe, or elles yf fortune frowne, rather manfully to dye in battayle, than to be slayne in fleyng away, If this that I haue sayd, be fast fixed in your myndes, I say to you for certayne, you haue all ready the vyctorye.

[...]Vhan by these exhortations the men of warre on bothe partes were kendled and stered to battayle, the Romaines pitched their tentes [...]t Ticinus, where they beganne to make a bridge, and fyrst they made a towre vpon the same, for the safegarde of the bridge whiles it was workyng. But while they were occupied about theyr worke, Hanniball sent Maharball, with a wynge of the Nu­midies of .v. C. horsemen, to destroye the fieldes of suche as were frendes to the Romayns, chargyng theym to spare the Frenchemen: and to stere the princis to forsake the Romans amitie. Whan the bridge was made, Scipio con [...]eied his ar­my ouer, and pytched within .v. myles of Anniballes campe. And whan the Romaines hoste approched, Maharball was called backe. Wh [...]n Anniball (who coulde neuer inough stire his souldiours to battayle) had promised them gyftes, rewardes, ye and fredome, with landes also other in Affrica Spayn or Italy at theyr owne pleasures in case they myght obteyne the vpper hande, he dydde sacrifice vnto the goddis, holding a lambe in the lefte hande, and a [...]ynt stone in the ryght hand, desyrynge Iupyter and the goddis all, so to slea him as he did the lambe, yf he wolde weake promyse with them. And than euery of them receiuynge a sure hope, desyred the battayle. The Romans made no suche haste, bycause they were feared with strange tokens and fyghtes a lyttell before. For a wolfe was se [...]e to come into theyr campe, which rent and tore those that he mette, and hym selfe escaped without hurte. Dyuers other suche tokens very straunge, were shewed amonge the Romaynes. Whan Scipio had soughte deligently what they myght sygnifye: he went with certayne horsemen with hym, to a lytte [...]l hyll [...]ere adioynyng, to viewe the number and de­meanour of Annibals hoste: where by chance he mette An­niball, and certayne horsemen with hym, that was also ridden forthe to viewe the countreys aboute. Whan they were al­most mette, with great care and diligence they set them selfes in aray to fyghte. The battayle was stronge for a season and [Page 17] doubtfull. But in a whyle the Romain fotemen fledde backe to their battayle, where beinge myngled with the horsemen, they caused great confusion: but whan the Numidian horse­men, whiche were on the wynges, came on theym also, than fledde they on all partes to their campe. In this conflict was the consul Scipio soore wounded, whom with great peyn his horsemen caried out of the fielde to theyr great discomforte. Wherfore the nyght folowyng, the Romanes, makyng as li­tell noyse as myght be, that theyr ennemies shulde haue noo knowledge, remeued from Ticinus to Padus: and came to Placentia, before that Anniball wyst that they were depar­ted from Ticinus. Mago with the Spanyshe fotemen swam ouer the water quyckly, and Anniball by the hygher parte of the ryuer, passed ouer his hoste with as great spede as might be. And within a fewe days he came and pitched before Pla­centia, and on the morowe after, in the syght of his enemies, he ranged his hoste, and sette them in aray redy to gyue bat­tayle. The nyght folowyng by reason of a sedition that arose in the Romane army there were many Frenchemen slayne, of those that came to they raide, whervpon two thousand fote­men and two hundred horsemen of the Frenchemen, sleinge the watchemen at the gates, fledde vnto Anniball, whome he gentilly entertained and kēdled with hope of exceding great rewardes, and sent euery man home to his owne citie, therby the more to allure and tourne the myndes of the commons of theyr countrey vnto hym. Scipio demyng this slaughter to be a token, that all the Frenchemen wolde forsake hym, and that they beinge touched with this yuell dede, as a madnesse were fallen vppon theym, wolde runne to harneys, not with­standynge his wounde greued hym soore, yet as pryuily as he myght in the nyghte tyme, he remoued his hooste to the ryuer Trebia, and pytched in hygher places, and on lyttell hylles ylle for horsemen. Anniball hauynge knowlege ther­of, sente fyrste certayne Numidians after, and thanne all the horsemen: whyche shulde haue putte the rerewarde to great trouble, hadde not the Numidians for couetousnes of pray, tourned to the voyde tentes of the Romanes, in which sea­son they escaped.

DVryng this tyme was Sempronius the other consull going to Sicilia with his army, but in his iourney he receiued letters from the se­nate, of the entring of the Carthaginenses in­to Italy, requiring him to aide the other con­sule as sone as he might. Which whan he perceiued, he layd garrisons in diuers places, to defend the pro­uinces, and came him selfe with a strong power into Italy, to kepe the costes. Thus whan the two consuls were met toge­ther, al the power of Rome was there assembled ageinst An­niball. Not withstanding the one consul, beinge ab [...]ted by his fyrst battayle and sore wounde, wold rather prolong the mat­ter than fight. But the other being freshe and lusty, and ther­fore more fierce, wold haue no delay, thinking it great honour vnto him, if he might recouer agayn that the other consul had lost. Wherfore he sayd, that there was no man wold deferre the battaile, but only he, who being more weaker in his harte than in his body, for the remēbrance of his wound, did refrain to fighte. And also that the tyme ought not to be prolonged with sicke folkes. Shal we tary and lose time? For what third consull, or what other army shall we abyde? The Carthagi­nenses haue pitched theyr tentes in Italy, and weluere in the citie of Rome: who seeke nowe neither Sicilia, nor Sardi­nia, that were afore conquered from them, nor Spayne be­yonde Iberus, but they are come to driue and expell the Ro­maynes out and from their owne lande and natiue countrey. O (say the he) howe moch wold our fathers, who were wont to warre before the walles of Carthage, lament, if they sawe vs their children, ye and two consuls, with their two hostes, tremblynge and quakynge in Italie within our owne campe, and that the Carthaginenses had wonne al the feldis betwene the Alpes and Apenni [...]ū. These wordes spake he to his hurt felowe in the Pretory. And also the chosynge of offycers at Rome, prouoked hym to make haste, leste that the taryinge for his felowe beyng hurte, myght be occasyon of theyr losse of preyse and victory: and lest the warre myght be cōmytted to new consuls, whose election was than at hand. Which thin [Page 18] ges consydered, they prepared for the batayle in haste. An­nibal although he thought, that nothyng shalde be done vn­warely, sens the two cōsuls were mette together, and that the warre shulde be cruell and strong: yet dyd not he mystruste good fortune, bycause of his fyrst battayle. He was also the more busy and intentiue to do battayle, whyles he thoughte the souldiours his ennemies were yong and rawe in the war­res, and whiles one the beste consull was yet not hole of his woundes: and whiles the Frenchemens hartes of his armye (of whom he than had a great numbre) were stronge and har­dy, whose courage he thought and knewe well wolde rather dyminyshe than increace, whan they shoulde be brought any further from theyr owne countrey. These thynges conside­red, he sent certayn Frenchmen abrode the cuntrey as spies, who shewed hym, that the Romayns were all redy to fyght. Than Anniball wente to see and prouide a place for disceyte. There was in the myddes betweene the two hostes, where the fielde shuld be, aryuer whiche was closed on both sides, with greatte and hygh bankes, be sette aboute with the wie­des of the fennes, whiche almoste couered all the grounde, with yonge wyllowes and shrubbes, and also with hygh bus­shes and thornes: whyche whan he had serched and percey­ued it to be a place obscure and darke ynough, to hyde an in­busshement of horsemen in, he sayde to his brother Mago: This place shalt thou kepe, and thou shalte (sayde he) chose vnto the one thousande of horsemen, and oone thousande of fotemen, of the best of myn army, to lye here in these couert places: and whan tyme shal requyre, to do as I shal shew you what therto appertayneth: and be ye sure, that ye shall haue ennemies blynd in these feates of warre. Whan Mago had a M. horsemen, and a. M. fotemen deliuered to him, Anniball commaunded the Numidian horsemen, the nexte mornyng to passe the water of Trebia, and ryde vp and downe before the gates of his ennemies campe: and whan they hadde with ca­styng and throwyng into theyr tentes and stations, prouoked them to issue out to batail, alluring them to pursue after, that then they shuld by litell and litell recule backe again ouer the said riuer. The residu of the capitayns he cōmāded, that they shuld cause al their men to dyne & refreshe them selfes, & after to be in a redynes, against they shuld be called to the battaile. [Page] Sempronius bearyng the rumour of the Numidies, brought all his army (beinge very desyrous of battayle) to the ryuer, whervnto the other reculed backe, as was appointed by An­niball. The weather was extremely colde, and it showed fast. The souldiours hadde taken no sustenance before, nor made any prouision to strength and kepe theyr bodies warme from the colde frost and snowe. But in all haste folowyng the Nu­midians, theyr crafty ennemyes that fledde before theym, en­tred into the ryuer. Nowe was the water rysen that nyghte, by reason of that snowe, as high as theyr brestis. Whan they cam out of the water, theyr bodies were so stark and benom­med with colde, that scarsely they could holde theyr armour vpon them: and also towarde the myddes of the daye, they beganne to faynt for hunger. In the meane season Anniball caused great fyres to be made before his souldiours tentes, that euery man might warme him: and also to put oyle in their gloues, whyche shoulde souple their ioyntes and membres. Whan they hearde that theyr ennemies were passed the ry­uer, beinge lusty bothe in body and harte, euery man toke his weapon and went to battayle. Anniball ordred his battayles circumspectly: fyrst he sette forthe his throwers of dartes, whyche were of the yles called Baleares, than his light har­neysed fotemen, to the numbre of .viii. M. and after them the other footemen: he also bestowed in the .ii. wynges .x. M. horsemen, in whom rested the great strength of his battayle, and into these wynges also he departed his elephantes, put­tynge them craftily before the fyght of his ennemies horses, whyche were not wont to them, so that for strangenes of the syght, and the vnaccustomed sauour of them, they scattered abrode, and than the battayle by the footemen was mayntey­ned for a season: But [...]none, what by reason of the horsmen and elephantes, and also through the sodayne commynge of Mago with the Numidians, that fiersely assayled the Ro­maynes at theyr backes, they were stryken with suche feare, that they fledde on all partes: Some ieoparded to take the water ageyne, and escaped to theyr tentes, but of them were but fewe, for either they were drowned in the depe water, or els slayne of theyr ennemies in the chase at the water syde. Many toke the ryght way to Placentia, and therby were sa­ued. On the other syde the Carthaginenses were soo beaten [Page 19] with the rayne myxte with snowe, and with the intollerable colde, that the beastes, elephantes, and men, were almost pe­ryshed. The ryuer of Trebia caused them to retourne from the pursuite of the Romans: so that almoste deade for colde they came to theyr campe, with very small ioy of theyr victo­ry. The next night Scipio conueyed his hoste ouer the ry­uer of Trebia, and so to Placentia, vnware to the Carthagi­nenses: who by reason of the vehement storme of rayne that felle that nyght, coulde not here the remouyng: or elles for peyne of theyr woundes and werynes of labour, dyssembled the matter and toke no hede ther of. Thus were the Romans conueyed peasibly to Placentia, and from thens they passed ouer Padus to Cremona. Whan the chance therof was kno­wen at Rome, there arose suche so dayn feare among them, as though theyr ennemies had ben come alredy with baners di­splayde before the gates of Rome: Neyther had they hope of any further succours, wherby they myght defende theyr enemyes from their gates and walles: The one consul being ouercome at Ticinus: and the other called frome Sicilia to helpe hym: and nowe bothe beinge togyther ouercome, and their two hostis. What other capitayns, what other legions had they more left to with stande them?

VVhan Sempronius by chaunce had escaped the great daunger of his enemies, he retur­ned to Rome, to the chosyng of the new cō ­suls, at which parliament Cneius Seruslius and C. Flaminius were created consulles. Whiche thinge done, he came to Placentia, thynkyng to passe the wynter quietly in that place, but the Romans had not quiete so moche as the win­ter tyme. For the Numidians and other of the hoste of An­niball were sparkled abrode in the co [...]es, so that they were troubled on euery syde. There was a certayn market towne [Page] and castell, not farre from Placentia, very ryche and strong­ly fensed. Thither went Hannibal with his horsemen, and su­che as were lyght harneysed, thynkyng to wynne it by assa [...] in the nyght. But the watchemen perceyuing his intent, rei­sed suche a crye, that it was hearde to Placentia. Than the consull in the next morning, with his horsemen before, and his legions in good order folowyng after, came thither, and gaue them battayle, in the whiche Anniball was wounded: Wher­by the Carthaginenses were in suche feare, that they gaue backe, and the peace lasted whyles Anniballes wounde was in healynge. And ere he was fully cured, he went to a place called Vicunuias. That place was surely kepte by the Ro­manes, who being a great numbre, what of the garrison, what of the townes mē, also by reason of the assemble of the peo­ple of the countrey, who beyng afrayde of the Numidians, whiche roued abrode: fledde thither for succour: these peo­ple (I say) being many in numbre, hering of the noble defen­dyng of the castell, adioynynge to Placentia, thynkyng to do a great feate, with a great route of people, without any or­der, ranne to armour, and came forth to encounter with An­niball. But bycause they were an vnruly company, without a capytayne or good order, the other, being but a fewe in nū ­ber, and good men of warre, hauynge a good capytayn, vnto whom they myght truste, dyd discom [...]te of them .xxxv. thou­sande, and the nexte daye toke the towne, and made suche a slaughter and destruction amonge theym, as was not hearde of a great season before. These were Anniballes vyctories durynge the wynterseason, after whyche they rested the deepe of the wynter: And as soone as sprynge tyme of the yere came, Sempronius the consull, who was than returned from Rome, prepared to gyue battayle to the Caathaginen­ses, & the first day that they met, the Romans had so good for tune, that they not only wonne the victory in playn fielde, but also draue them to their tentes, and indeuored them selfes to wynne their campe. But Anniball, setting certayn of his fotemen to defend their gates or entrees of their campe, and cau­sing the rest, as well fotemen as horsemen to recule, dyd sette them in aray within the campe, to the intent to be in a redines to rushe out vpon their enemies, so sone as he made to them a signe. The Romans seing they coulde not wynne the campe, [Page 20] blewe the retreite. Whan Anniball sawe, that the bataile was slakid, and the Romans began to recule back from his campe: he set forthe the horsemen, some on the ryght hand, and some on the lefte, and hym selfe with the fotemen, came after from the campe, and gaue theym a stronge battayle, puttyng them to moch dysplesure. But anon the nyght departed them with lyke losse and slaughter on bothe sydes.

¶ Whyles these thynges were doone in Italy, Cn. Scipio, being sent into Spayne with his hoste, partely by force, and partly by amitie and olde frendshyp, he brought all the coun­treys from Lusitania, to the riuer of Iberus, vnder the obe­dience of the Romans. And also the fame of his gentil enter­tayning of people broughte the inhabitauntes on the moun­taynes, and the wylde nations to be his assured frendes. So that they were all redy with theyr armour & succours to aide the Romans to the best of their powers. Hanno, whom An­niball hadde left for the defence of these regions, knowynge these actes of Scipio, after his arryuall, and fearyng leste he shuld be by hym put from the possession of all that countreye: appoynted to fight with hym before the matter were ouerfar gone, and pytched his campe not farre from the hoste of the Romans. Scipio knowyng that yf he did long tary from ba­tayle, he shulde haue to do with hym, and also with Hasdru­ball, who were bothe lefte for the defence of the countrey, thought it better for hym to mete with theym and theyr ho­stes seuerally, thanne to matche with bothe the hostes togi­ther. Wherfore he made spede to mete fyrste with Hanno and his company. In whyche battayle there were slayne .vi. thousand of the Carthaginenses, and .ii. M. taken with their capytayn Hanno, and all their tentes, with a certain town also nere vnto the campe called Stissus. Hasdruball, before he herd of the discom [...]iture of his felowe Hanno, was passed the ryuer of Iberus with .viii. M. fotemen, and one thousande horsemen, intendynge to mete the Romaynes at theyr fyrst commynge: But whanne he hearde of the ouerthrowe of Hanno and his people, he tourned toward the sea, where by chance he met with many Romans, that were left in the ships not far from Tarracon, wandryng abrode vpon the sea costis, takynge no hede to theyr ennemies, as people mystrustynge nothynge, but beynge neglygent by reason of theyr late pro­sperous [Page] successe. Of these negligent persons many he [...] the rest he drone to their shyppes with greate feare. [...] the lesse hym selfe being afrayd of Scipios commyng, [...]urste not longe tary in those parties, but with his army passed the ryuer of Iberus, and distroyed the fieldes of the Illergites, bryngyng them to his subiection.

AS soone as the sprynge of the yere dyd appere Annibal goinge from the place, where he win­tred: bycause it was sayd that Flamminius the consule was come to Aretium: not withstan­dyng that there was a more easy & better way: Yet bycause it was further aboute he toke the nexte waye ouer the greatte peryllous fennes, where as at that tyme the ryuer of Arnus hadde ouerflowed more hygher than in tymes past, he commanded the Spany­ardes with the Affricans, and the moste part of the olde soul­diours with their stuffe to go before, lest whan they were constrayned to stay in any place theyr necessaries shulde be wan­tyng: next theym he set the Frenchemen, bycause he wolde haue that hoste in the myddell, in whom he had lest truste: last of all he commanded the horsemen to come, giuing in charge to Mago with certayne of the beste Numidians, to come be­hynde, and to brynge forth the army, specially the Frenche­men, lest that other wearynes or feare of the long way, shuld cause them to stay or to slyp away, as they are very faynt and fearefull people in suche busynes. The fyrst company walo­wyng in the thycke mudde and the depe waters, skarcely sa­uyng them selues from drownyng, folowed theyr standardes and guydes. The Frenchemen that folowed theym, coulde nother saue theym selues from fallynge: nother whan they were downe well aryse agayne, nother coulde their hartes comfort their bodies, nor hope comforte their hartes: some drewe their weary membres with peyne after theym. Some [Page 21] other, where they ones fell, theyr hartes being ouercomme with wearynes, were constrayned to dye. The watche that they suffred .iiii. days and .iii. nyghtes, without any slepe, was the chiefe cause of theyr confusyon. Whan they could fynde no dry place, where they myght rest theyr weary bodies, the water coueryng al the erth, they heaped theyr stuffe and bag­gage in the water, one packe on an other, whervpon they re­sted and saued them selfes. The heapes of dead cattell, whi­che were dead in all the way, was in stede of beddis to many that were faint and feble, whiche eased them for a lytel space. Anniball hym selfe hauynge sore eies, by reason of the intem­perate sprynge tyme of the yere, that chaunged now to heate and nowe to colde, being caried vpon an elephant (which on­ly remained) bicause he shulde be hyghe from the water: yet through his great watche and colde, and by reason of the fen­ny ayre beinge noysome to his heade, and bycause there was no place nor tyme to heale him, he loste one of his eies. And whan he had passed the fennes, not without great losse bothe of men and of beastes, as soone as he came to dry ground, he pytched his campe, hauing certayne knowlege by his espies, that the Romane hoste was about Aretium, a cuntrey as ple­sant and fertyle as was in all Italy.

¶ The consull was than fierse and cruell, for the ioy and the pride of his newe office. And he not onely lyttell feared the lawe and dignitie of the fathers of the senate, but also he wanted the feare of the immortall goddis. Fortune also had nou­ryshed this his foolyshe hardynes with prosperous successe, as wel in the ciuile busynes and affayres at home, as in certain foreyn batayles: so that it appered, that he wente aboute all thynges cruelly and ouer hastily: nother counsaylynge with the goddis, nor with men. And howe moche more redye he was to folowe his owne foly, so moche the busyer was Anni­ball to prouoke and stere hym to the same. Wherfore leauing his ennemies on the left hande, he went towarde Fessula, in­tendyng to distroy the fieldes of Hetruria, where he shewed the consull as great waste, destruction, and spoylynge of his frendes as he myght, bothe by robbynge, slaughter, and bur­nyng: to thintent he shulde therby the rather be prouoked to battayle. Flamminius of his owne nature was gyuen to be busy, although his ennemy wolde haue ben quiete and in rest, [Page] but whan he sawe the goodes of his frendes caryed awaye: and his neyghbours bourned before his face: thynkynge it dishonour vnto hym, to see Anniball wander throughe the myddes of Italy, taking his pleasure without any resistence, he determyned incontinent to gyue battayle, although many of his men perswaded hym, that he shuld tary the commynge of his felowe the other consul, so that they shulde with both their counsayles and hoostes togyther, procede vnto theyr enterpryse agaynste Annibal: and in the meane tyme with the horsemen, and lyght harneysed footemen, to lette hym frome his robbynge and destroyinge the countrey. But he contra­ry to the aduertisement that was gyuen hym, beinge angrye, rushed forth of the counsel howse, & quikly caused the baners and standerdes to be dysplayde, and lepte hym selfe vpon his horse: but incontinent the hors sodainly fell, and cast the con­sull to the earthe: whyche vnlucky begynnynge caused those that were present, greatly to feare the successe therof.

ANniball this whyle distroyed and wasted, by cruell warre, all the fieldes that were betwene the citie of Cortona, and the lake of Trasimenus, thynkynge the hartes of his enemies the sooner to be moued to re­dresse the iniuries of theyr frendes: And they came to a place meete for treason and disceyte, where as the great lake or fenne of Trasimenus dydde almoste ioyne vnto the hylles of Cor­tona. There was at that place one onely strayte and narowe waye to enter in, but afterwarde the fieldes waxed a lyttell broder and larger: Ouer that playne the hylles arose of a great heyght. In the same fayre and playne place Anniball pytched his campe, where he onely with the Affricanes and Spanyardes dyd reste. The rest of the lyght harneysed men of the army: he brought about the backe of the hylles. And he disposed the horsemen nere to the mouthe of the narowe entre, where the hylles myght secretly couer and hide them: [Page 22] commaundyng, that as soone as the Romans were ones pas­sed the straytes, the horsemen shuld appere at theyr backes, soo that they shoulde be inclosed and hemmed in on all par­tes, hauynge no waye to escape, by reason of the hylles and greatte lake.

¶ Flamminius folowynge his ennemies, was come aboute the settyng of the sonne to the lake: And the next day early in the mornynge, whan it was scarcely day lyght, he with his hoste were passed the straytes. And whan his people began to stray abrode into the larger felde, they saw al the place be­fore them occupied with theyr enemies: And than they aper ceyued treason bothe behynde them, and ouer theyr heades. Whan Anniball knowyng: his ennemies to be enclosed with the lake and hylles on the one syde, whyche he desyred, and also compassed about with his army on the other side, he gaue a signe to his men sodeinly, to inuade their ennemies: which his commandement they anon with all diligence executed, rū ­nyng downe from the hylle and assaylyng the Romanes on all partes. One thyng moche amased the Romaynes by the so­dayne and straunge chaunge thereof: there arose frome the brode lake a myste thycker and darker than the hylles in ap­parence, whyche letted theym of the syght and true know­ledge of the maner of theyr ennemies inuasyon. The noyse of the sodayne affraye arose amonge theym, before they per­ceyued theym selues to be betrayde and hemmed in: And the battayle was begonne bothe before and on bothe sydes, be­fore that they coulde be put in good aray, or take theyr armor and drawe theyr swerdes.

¶ The Consull Flamminius, whan all his people were thus oppressed with feare, he hym selfe as a man of great courage and lyttell affrayde, ordered his troubled company, and sette them in order as well as the tyme and place wolde serue him, styll exhortyng them by all the meanes he myghte, to abyde and to fyghte, shewynge theym, that it booted theym not to praye and call on theyr goddis, or to make vowes theym for theyr delyuerance: There was nowe no waye to for theym to escape but by strengthe and hardynesse, there was no way than to be made, but with the swerd: and the lesse feare they dydde take, the lesse ieopardye and perylle shoulde they be in. But the noyse was soo greatte, that the wordes and [Page] counsaylle of their Capitayne coulde not be hearde: And they were so dismayde, that they skarsely knewe theyr stan­derdes and places to repayre vnto. They hadde scante har­tes to drawe theyr weapons: theyr harneis was rather a bur­then to them than a defence, They myght heare moche noyse and clamour of those that were wounded, but lyttell coulde they see. Some fled, and in the fleing hapned to fall into com­panies of Romanes that fought earnestly, and by them were stayed from further fleinge. Some were commynge towarde the battayle, and by the discomfyture of suche as they mette, whyche fledde away, were discouraged and fledde also. But at the laste, whan they perceyued no way to escape, than felle they earnestly to fyghtyng, not kepyng order oraray, but by companyes, as it happed theym to falle togyther. Than be­ganne the battayle to be fyerce in all partes, and endured al­moste thre howres, and euery where very cruell, but moste daungerous about the consull. For the strengthe of the hoste folowed hym: And on what so euer parte he sawe his men in daunger, quyckly and diligently he rescued them: And he be­inge very valiant, bothe myghtyly assayled his ennemies, and defended his citezens, vntyll one of Insubria, called Duca­rius, knowyng bothe his horse and his face, sayd to his com­pany: Here is the Consu [...] ▪ that not longe agone confoun­ded our legyons, and distroyed bothe our cyties and fieldes: nowe shall I sende his sowle to the company of our frendes, that he all redy hath slayne: and hyttynge his hors with the spurres, he ranne violently through the thyckest of his en­nemyes route, sleinge a squyre, whyche mette hym vnhap­pyly in the way. And afterwarde with his speare, ranne the Consull through the body, and hadde spoyled hym, had not the stronge company of the Romayne knyghtes withstande hym. After his deathe beganne the Romans to flee on al par­tes, and than nother hylles nor lake coulde lette theym: they wandred as blynd men through the straites and ouer the roc­kes, some fallyng one ouer an other. And whan they coulde fynde none other waye, they toke the next way through the fennes, runnynge into the water ouer head and shulders, and were for the moste parte drowned. Thus was the daunge­rous battayles at Trasymenus .xv. M. Romans were slayne in the bataile, and .x. M. sparkled abrode by diuers ways, cam [Page 23] came to Rome. A. M. and .v. C. of the Carthaginenses were slayne in that battayle, and many died after by reason of theyr woundes, whiche they had. Anniball deliuered all the pryso­ners of Italy without raunsome, but the Romans he kept in prison. Than commanded he the bodies of his company that were deade, to be disseuered from the other, and buried. He sought the body of Flaminius with greate diligence, to haue buried it, but he coulde not finde it. Whan the newes of this great slaughter was first knowen at Rome, the people assem­bled with great feare and rumour in the market place, gathe­ryng into companies, to knowe the trouth therof. And a litel before the sonne settyng, Marcus Pomponius pretor saide: With great bataile wear ouercome: and although the people herd him say no more of certainty, yet by receiuing the newes one of an other, they filled the hole city with tidingis, that the consul, with a great part of the host, was slayne, and that fewe were left on lyue, but were other chased abrode, or taken of theyr ennemies. The women chiefely made eyther great ioy for theyr frendes that escaped, or elles great sorowe for the deth and captiuitie of them that were slayn and taken. It was sayd, that one woman whan she herde sodeinly, that her sonne came home escaped from the battaile, for ioy dyed at the gate of the citie. And an other, to whome it was shewed falsely, that her chyld was slayne, she abode in her house very sorow­full, but whan he came home to her sodaynly, she at the fyrst syght of hym for great ioye dyed. The Pretours kepte the Senate for certayne dayes frome the sonne rysynge, to the sonne sette, counsaylynge what capytaynes, and what hooste they myght haue to withstande the Carthaginenses: but be­fore they had made any certayne determination of theyr bu­synes, they had tydynges of an other newe slaughter, which was, that .iiii. thousand horsemen, which were sent by Serui­lius the other consull to flamminius, vnder the gouernā [...]e of one C. Centronius. After they herde of the battaile of Tra­symenus, they returned backe, and in Vmbria were betrayed by Anniball, and distroyed. Which thyng troubled the myn­des of the people meruaylously. They were in great trouble and feare, the consulle and head officers beinge absent, vnto whom they scarsely durst sende theyr letters for feare of the Carthaginenses, who were almoste spredde ouer all Italy.

[Page] Wherfore they made Quintus Fabius Maximus Prodie­tator, that was ruler of the commons, and Marcus Rufus Minutius mayster of the horsemen, to these it was gyuen in charge by the Senate, to establysshe and make sure the walles and towers of the cytie, and to fortifye suche places, as they shoulde thynke conuenient. Also to breake the brid­ges, that were ouer the waters, and to prouide for the keping of theyr horses and citie, seing they coulde not defend Italy.

ANniball came in the meane season by Vmbria to Spoletum, distroyeng and burnyng all before hym. Than began he to lay siege to the towne but he was driuen thense with great slaughter of his men. Wherfore supposynge the citie of Rome to be of a great strength, seing that ly­tell towne was so stronge, whose strength and power he than not very prosperously hadde assayde, he with­drewe his armye to the plentyfull countrey of Picenus, and from thens to Pelignes, to Arpos, and to Luceria, a coun­trey adioynyng to Apulia, styll robbynge and spoylynge the countreys abrode in the way as he went.

¶ Whan Fabius, whom the Romanes had chosen hygh offi­cer, had set all thynge at a stay in Rome, he (takyng with him the army, that before was with Seruilius the consull, and al­so .ii. other newe Romayn legions for the encreasyng of his army) went with the mayster of the horsemen Minutius, to mete with Anniball, and to stay hym from the destruction of the countrey. Fabius committing nothyng rashely to fortune by easy iourneis and good espies, came into the feldes of Ar­pos, pytchyng his campe not farre from his ennemies. Anni­ball soone after his cōminge, brought his people into the fiel­des in good aray redy to fyght: but Fabius al that day kepte his men in their campe, whervpon Anniball rebuking the fe­ble courage of the Romans, withdrew his people into their tentes, fearyng in his mynde the sobrenes of Fabius: whiche was a capitayne chosen, farre vnlyke to Sempronius or Flā ­minius. [Page 24] Neuerthelesse to proue the fascion and conduicte of Fabius, Anniball very oftentymes remoued his campe, and euer spoyled the countreys of the frendes of the Romanes as he went: Sometyme he wolde sodeynly conuey his army: and than secretely tourne out of the way, and lye in awayte, yf by chaunce he myght take his ennemies at auantage: but Fa­bius euer ledde his hoste by the high places of the countreis styll kepynge his ennemies in syghte, so that he wolde not be farre from theym: yet intended he not to giue them battayle, his men went neuer out of theyr campe, but only for the pro­uisyon of thynges necessary. And whan they lacked vytailes forage, or woode, he sent a great numbre togyther, that they myght walke surely. And also those that wente therfore, he suffered not to stray farre from the hoste. He hadde euer his horsemen and lyght harneysed footemen in a redynesse and in aray, for feare of sodayne inuasions of his enemies. And also to thintent they shulde be redy to oppresse his foes, that at a­ny tyme shulde roue abrode for spoyle or for vitailes, he myn­ded neuer to ieoparde the hole estate of the empire in open battayl, but he remayned styl as a stay to weary his enemies. Whiche his sobrenes was no lesse displeasant to Anniball, thā it was to Minutius, the maister of the horsemen. For he be­inge rashe, and desyrous to put all in auenture, fyrst pryuily, and than openly dyspraysed the slacknes of Fabius, callynge hym bothe slowe and fearefull. Anniball often remouing, cam from Arpos to Samnium, wastyng the fieldes of the Bene­uentanes, and there he toke the towne of Tilesia, trustyng by the shewe of soo moche displeasure, to cause Fabius to gyue hym battayle. There camme to hym the same tyme thre gen­tylmen of Italy, whome Anniball hadde before at the bataile of Trasimenus taken prysoners, and delyuered to lybertie without raunsome. These men shewed hym, that in case he wolde conuey his army into Campania, they wolde helpe him with smalle peyne to wynne the noble citie of Capua. To this their motion Anniball at length agreed, sendyng them to Ca­pua before hym, to stere the myndes of the rulers and of the communes therto, and to retorne, bryngyng him the certain­tie of their speede. Than commanded he his guyde to leade hym the next way to the fielde of Cassinus, hauyng knowlege by diuers expert men of the same countrey, that yf he were [Page] ones mayster of the hyll and strayte there, he shulde stoppe the Romanes from bryngyng any succours to theyr men, but that he shuld at his pleasure distroy them. But the guide mi­staking the name of the countrey, toke Casilinus for Casinus. Wherfore leadyng hym a wronge way, he conducted hym by the countreys of Alifinus, Calatinus, and Calenus, to the fieldes of Stellates. Whan Anniball behelde that countrey to be on all partes enclosed with mountaynes and ryuers, he inquired of his guyde, in what region he than was? He an­swered agayn, that the same day he wold bring him to Casili­nus. Wherat Anniball being displeased, caused him to be sore beaten with roddes, & after hanged for the example of other. Than seing that he was so farre frō his purpose, he thought in reuengyng of his malice, to bourne and spoile that plenty­full countrey about the ryuer of Vulturnus.

¶ By this tyme was Fabius come by the hilles, to the toppe of Massicus the mountayn: where the Romayns myght be­holde the Carthaginensis lodged in the fayre playnes vnder them, who ceassed not to spoyle the fieldes of Falernus, and to burne the houses of Simessa. This displeasure entred er­nestly into the hart of Minutius: who aboue other maligned at the cowardise of the dictatour Fabius. And by an oration full of great inuectiues, set the hartis of the most part of the host agaynst hym. But all theyr murmurynge Fabius lyttell estemyng, contynued the reste of the sommer in his olde fas­cion, euer kepyng Anniball from battaile, the thyng that he most desyred. Whan the wynter began to draw nere, Fabius perceiuyng the countrey not to be able to susteyne the host of his ennemies any long season, and that there was none other way for them to passe out of the fieldes of Falernus, but only by the same strayte wayes, by whych they before had entred, he sendyng sufficient power of Romans to the hyll of Calli­cula, and the towne of Casilinus: hym selfe, with the mayster of the horsemen, kept the narowe way, by whyche Anniball must nedes passe. Anniball wylling to proue the maner of ke­pyng of that strayt, came thyther, and there made a skirmishe with the Romanes, somewhat to his losse, and was fayne to recule backe. And he perceyuynge the Romans to haue the Samnites and the Campanes their frendes at theyr backes, redy to succour them with all necessaries, and that he and his [Page 25] hoste were so enclosed, that he was like to winter among the stones of Formiana, and the sandes of Linterni: he forgatte not than to renewe his accustomed subtiltie and craft. He in­uented a deceyte and mockery, very fearefull to mens syght, wherby he myght passe the straites by stelthe in the nyght. he caused rotten styckes and drye pieces of woode, to be gathe­red togither in the fieldes, and fagottes of yong roddes and bowes to be made, whych he caused to be tyed to the hornes of oxen and kyne, whiche he had before taken at a pray in the countrey, some being wylde, and some tame. There were .ii. thousande beastis, that shuld be thus ordred. And the charge was committed to Hasdruball, that he shuld in the beginnyng of the darknes of the nyght, sette the faggottes on fyre, that were on the hornes of the beastes: and than to dryue theym to the hylles and straytes, specially aboue the way, which the Romans kept. Than in the begynnyng of the nyght, secrete­ly he caused his men to remoue their campe, driuing the oxen a lytel before the standerdes. but whan they came to the fote of the hyll, and to the narowe way, he commanded the fago­tes on the beastes hornes to be set on fyre. Whiche done, the feare of the flamyng fyre aboute theyr heades, and the heate commyng to the quicke and lower parte of the hornes of the beastes, caused them to runne, as though they had bene mad. With whyche sodeyne running the yong roddes toke a bur­nyng, euen as though the woddes and hylles had ben on fire: and the mouing of their heades, causing the flame to sprede a­brode, shewed like as it had ben men rūning abrode with fyre. Whan those that were set at the entryng of the passage sawe the fyre on the hygh hylles aboue them, supposyng that they had ben betrayde, lefte the place assigned theym to kepe, and fiedde to theyr succours, sekyng theyr best way by the toppe of the hylles, by whiche the great flame and blase dyd shyne, where they chaunced vpon certayne oxen strayed from theyr flocke. And whan at the fyrst they sawe as it were liuing thinges, breathynge fyre and flames, they stode as astonyed with the syght. But after, perceyuynge the crafte to be made and conueyd by men, than supposing that there was treason, with great noyse and rumour they toke them to flyght. Fabius al­so, seinge this mockery, fearynge deceyte, kepte his people within his campe tyll it was day. Thus in the nyghte, whyle [Page] they were astonyed with this strange [...]yght, Anniball passed the straite passage with his hoste without danger, and pitched his campe in the fielde of Alifanus.

AFter this hard escape out of daunger, An­niball ledde his army as though he wolde haue gone towarde Rome, by the fieldes of the Samnites, robbing and burning vn­to the Pelignes, and from thens returned towarde Apulia. And Fabius set his ten­tys betwene the citie of Rome and his en­nemies, nother goyng from theym, nor gy­uinge them battayle, tyll in short space after he was called to Rome, for bycause of the sacrifice that shulde be doone to the goddis. Before his departyng, he not only exhorted Minu­tius, mayster of the horsemen, whom he lefte with his army, but also streyghtly commaunded hym, that he shuld in no wise haue to do with his ennemies, for any occasion that shulde be gyuen him: and that he shuld better trust to counsayle than to fortune: and that he shuld rather folowe his aduise, being his capytain, than vse the trade of Sēpronius and Flaminius, she­wyng the dangers of it by examples. Also he declared to him [...]e disceite of theyr ennemies. And whan he had gyuen hym these exhortations in vayne, he departed to Rome.

¶ In the begynnyng of sommer, whyles those thinges were done in Italye, great warre begunne in Spayne. Hasdruball deliuered vnto Himilco .xl. sayle, wel furnished for the warre, and hym selfe with a great numbre of shyppes, also departed from Carthage, and sayled into Spayne, where after he was arryued and landed his hoste, he set his shyppes at the shore, nere to the lande, and pitched his campe on the lande, beinge redy to fyght with his ennemies, where soo euer he founde them on lande or water. Scipio, after he came from the win­trynge, [Page 26] thought to haue gone on his enemies vpon the lande, but whan he hearde of theyr succours, that were comme to them, he durste not mete them on lande, but chose a noumbre of good sowldiours, and made redy .xxxv. sayle for to meete them on the water, thynkyng to assayle them sodeinly, er they shulde be able to ordeyne all thyng for their defence. Whan Hasdruball had knowlege of theyr commynge, by reason of hygh towers made in dyuers places of Spayne, from whens they may see farre of on the sea, there arose a great noise and feare amonge his hoste in theyr tentes. for suche as were on the land, and thought lytel to haue had battaile that day: He commaunded to make haste to theyr shippes, whiche they did obey, and hym selfe came hastyly after. And whan they came to the water, the sowldiours so troubled the shipmen, and the shypmen the souldiours, that none of them coulde aray them selues, and sette in order thynges necessaryly for theyr busy­nes. Whyles this rumour lasted, the Romans not only were at hande, but also redy to fyghte. The Carthaginenses noo more troubled with theyr enemies than with theyr owne ru­mour, were shortly ouercome and fledde: and at the first con­flyct the Romans toke two shyppes, and drowned .iiii. And although the Romans sawe all the shoore occupied with men of armes, yet were they not aferde, but folowed their enne­mies shyppes fleynge, in soo moche that of .xxx. sayle they toke and distroyde .xxv. And with this great pray went again to the sea, and landed at Tarracon, where Scipio taryed not longe, but that his brother P. Scipio arriued there also, sent by the senate with a great nauy, to the numbre of .xxxv. shyp­pes, and .viii. M. souldiours, with great store of stuffe and or­dynance.

¶ Whan the two bretherne were assocyate togyther, there was nothynge that dydde withholde the wylles and har­tes of the people of Spayne from the frendshyppe of the Romans, sauing they feared the trespas shuld be reuenged on theyr chyldernes bloudde, whyche were lefte as pledges by Anniball at Sagunt.

THan was there in Sagunt a noble spanyard, called Acedux, who before that tyme had ben very faythfull to the Carthaginenses: but than (as it is the facion of many of the common sort of men) whan fortune fayled, his faith lykewyse chaunged. He imagined with hym selfe, what way he myght best at­tayne the frendshyp of the Romans. After many sundry ima­ginations, he thought soonest to brynge it about, if he might finde the meanes, to delyuer them those noble mens children, whiche were left at Sagunt as pledges and suerties. For by that meanes he thought the Romans myght beste wynne the hartis of the pricis of Spain. But this enterprise he thought he coulde not compasse, onlesse he myght obteyne the fauour of one Bostar, who lay encamped without the citie vpon the shoore of the ryuer, with a good numbre of Spaniardes, for the sure kepyng of the citie, and to stoppe the Romanes the entre that way from the hauen, without whose cōmandement he knewe well the kepers of the pledges wolde nothyng do. Than Acedux thought with crafte to assay Bostar, and went to the campe where he lay, desyryng secretely to speake with hym: And fyrst he beganne to shew hym the daunger that the countrey was in, consyderyng the stronge armye of the Ro­mans, whiche was than at hande. He shewed hym also, that the Spaniardes had so longe continued in the frendeshyp of the Carthaginenses, for feare more than for loue. And all by cause the Romane army was so farre from theym: but nowe syns they were come ouer Iberus, it was to be feared, leste they wolde all yelde them selues vnto Scipio. Wherfore he desyred hym to worke wysely therin.

¶ Whan Bostar demaunded of him, what he wold haue him to do for remedy therof, he answered: I wold aduyse you, to sende the children of the noble mē, whom ye haue as pledges in this towne, to their parentes frendes and cities: so shal ye get all theyr hartes and loues by this kyndnes shewyng, whi­che ye can neuer get with feare. For whan they fynde, that ye [Page 27] put trust in them, ye shall the more bynde them to be faithful. And I my selfe wyll gladly take the peyne to delyuer agayne the pledges to theyr frendes: and so worke, that I wyll get theyr hartes to you moche more than ye nowe haue. Bostar, meanynge all truthe and playnnes, was anone perswaded to the same purpose, and graunted hym the conduite of the sureties. Than went Acedux priuyly to Scipio his tentes, and there declared vnto hym the good wyll that he bare towarde hym and the Romanes: And appoynted with hym the tyme and place of delyuere of the pledges. Than went Acedux a­gayn to Bostar, of whom he receyued speciall cōmandemen­tes and tokens to the kepers of the pledges, to go with him, takyng with them the pledges, whan he wold requyre theym. Than shewed he the kepers of the chyldren, that he wolde depart from the citie in the nyght, to thintente the better to escape the danger of the watches of the Roman hoste. Wherfore he wylled theym to be redy to ryde with hym, whan he called on theym at an howre certayne in the night folowinge: They as innocentes in the matter, made all thynges redye to departe at the howre appoynted, at whyche howre he fay­led not to come. Thus departed he from the cytie, both with the chyldren and also their kepers, and [...]re they were ware, he ledde theym amonge a numbre of Romaynes, that by his crafty appoyntement were layde in imbus [...]hementes for the same purpose: where they were all taken, and brought to Scipio, who delyuered the pledges to theyr cities and frendes: wherby he gate the loue of the more parte of the cities in Spayne: so that they were redy to take armour to the ayde of the Romans, whan so euer Scipio commaunded them. These thynges were doone in Spayne, the se­conde yere of the battayl betwene the Carthaginenses and the Romaynes.

NOwe let vs returne to Fabius, who by his wyse absteining from battayl had saued ma­ny of the Romans from death: Neuer the lesse it was thought at Rome by many, that his hart failed him, and that he trifled forth the tyme, onely to thintent his empire and rule myghte the longer contynue, and that he cared not, what coste the citie were at, infyndyng so great an army, so that he myght be at rest with honour. Thus had he gotten many enemies at Rome. And to encrease their ma­lice towarde him, Anniball wrought a meruaylous subtyltie: he sente a numbre of his men to spoyle the cuntrey, and com­maunded them in any wyse to do no hurt to the landes of Fa­bius: of whiche he gate the knowledge by certayne that were fledde to hym from the Roman army. This did he, to the in­tent it shuld be thought, that som secret bargayn or conspiracy was made betweene hym and Fabius. Whyche crafty act of Anniball caused Fabius to be the more suspect tothe senate of Rome. But to take awaye that suspection from hym, Fabius sent his sonne, and solde the grounde or feldes, whiche were not violated by Anniballes subtiltie. Nowe fortuned it also to encrease Fabius euyll wyll at Rome, that after his departing from the hoste, Minutius, the mayster of the horsemen, be­inge lefte to guyde the armye, caused the campe and tentes, whiche were by Fabius sette safe in the hyghe hylles, to be broughte downe and pytched in the lowe valeys: And there they were disposed after the discretion of the capteyn, thyn­kyng eyther to make a skyrmishe with them that went abrode to robbe, or els to inuade thē that were left behind in the tētis

¶ Anniball, knowing that he shuld kepe warre with a captein moche vnlyke the other, and that his ennemies wolde order their busynes more quyckly than wysely, and perceyuyng his enemies to draw more nere vnto him: he sent the thyrd part of his souldiors to robbe and wast the cuntreys, the other .ii. partes he kept within theyr tentes. Than remoued he his campe [Page 28] more nere to the Romās, & abode vpō a certain hyll, where as the Roman host might pceiue, that they were redy to succour their robbers, if any assaut were made on thē. This did he of purpose, to entise the Romans to batail. Than could Minu­tius no lōger forbere, but sent a good nūber of horsmen, to as­saile the robbers, who distroid many of them that were spark­led abrode seking theyr pray. Than cam Annibal to the rescue of his men. But fortune so serued the Romanes, that as they wer [...] most busy in fighting: One Numerius Decimus, a capy­tain of the Samnites cam to the succour of the Romans with viii. M. fotemen, & .ii. C. horsmen, by whose help they bet An­niball to his cāpe & slew .vi. M. of his men. which glad tydin­ges Minutiꝰ (although he had lost in the same batell v. M. of his owne men, sent in his bosting letters to Rome, wherwith the citie was moch cōforted. Not withstanding Fabius (whan all the citie was mery, wold nother beleue the newes, nor the letters. At the last he said, if al were trewe, he rather feared their prosperous aduenture, than reioysed therin. Whyche saying caused him greatly to be hated of the citezens, & Mar­cus Metellus openly rebuked Fabius therfore, sayinge, that he kept his men in theyr campes, more lyke captiues and pri­soners, than men of warre. Specially it was not to be suffred that he being present, wold not only suffer nothing to be done valyantly agaynst his enemies, but now also being absent, held against the thing that was well done by his master of horsmē. Fabius answered but fewe wordes, for he thought they shuld be euyll harde: but he sayd, that where .ii. yeres past, the citie had susteined great harmes and losse through the folishe har­dynesse of the gouernours, he douted not, but yf he myght beare rule and haue his mynde, he wolde make it euident to all men, that fortune coulde lyttell do or worke against a good captain: but that wisdom & reason shuld haue the dominion o­uer al her chances. He said further, that he had saued his host from a cruel enmy, in al this perillous time without harme or shame: which he thought, ought more to be praised, thā to kyl a great nūbre of enmies. But in conclusion, the determination of the senate was, that M. Attilius Regulus shuld be consull in the plabe of Flāminius: And that Minutius, the maister of the horsemen (who so nobly had gouerned his army) shuld be halfe ruler of the hoste with Fabiꝰ, & the gouernāce therof to be parted betwene thē.

[Page] ¶ With these displesant actes of the senate Fabius returned to his army, trustyng, that although Minutius shoulde haue halfe the rule with hym, yet shuld he want the policy and ma­ner of ordryng his part of the army to him cōmitted: whiche policy by exercyse and great tranayle he had obteyned. Mi­nutius perceyuyng hym selfe to be had in suche estymation at Rome, as wel with the senators as with the commons, where he was before a lyttell proude, he than beganne to take moch more on hym, bostyng hym selfe, that in theyr great calamitie, he alone was founde out a captayne able to matche Anniball. And than began he to diuise of the parting of their empyre or rule. He wold haue had it so parted, that one day or one weke he shulde haue ruled all: And one other day or weke, Fabius to rule al, and so to take the hole gouernance by tourne. That wolde Fabius none of: but wolde haue the army parted be­twene them, with the ordynances and other necessaries. Sayyng, that in case he coulde not by his counsayle saue the hole hoste: yet he wold assay to saue the halfe therof, as wel as he myght. And on that poynt they agreed, and thervpon deuy­ded theyr companies or legions, and also theyr campes. This debate and order of the Romayn capytayns was knowen to Anniball by espyes, as were all other thinges that were done in the tentes of his ennemies, whyche tydynges brought to hym double ioye. One was, for that he thought to vanquishe the foolysshe hardynes of Minutius euen as he wolde hymselfe. The other was, for that halfe the strengthe of Fabius was dymynysshed, by reasone of the partynge of the hoste. Thanne was there a hylle betweene the hooste of Anniball, and the host of Minutius, which hyll who so euer had goten, shuld be able to do moche displeasure to his enemies. Annibal desyred not so moche to take it without batayle (although the occupation therof shuld be to hym very necessary) as to make it an occasion of batail to Minutius: whom, he wist wel, wold euer run to withstande his enterprise in the attaining therof. A fielde there was in the myddell betwene hym and the sayd hyll, whyche fielde was very playne and fayre, and appeered moche vnmete for treason, to hyde any embushement in, by­cause it was nother couered with woode, shrubbes, nor bus­shes. It semed therfore a place rather mete to descry treson than to hyde it, for that in a plaine and bare valey no suche de­ceyte [Page 29] myght be feared. But than Anniball espied, that in the bottome of the sayd hyll were diuers caues and holowe pla­ces in the rockes, of whiche some were able to receyue and hyde .ii. C. souldiours armed. In these darke caues Anniball hydde .v. M. footemen and horsemen: not withstandyng lest the noyse or the bryghtnes of the harneys myghte happen to discouer his disceyte, he sent a fewe in numbre the next mor­nyng to take the foresayd hyll, wherby he withdrew the eies of his ennemies from lokyng to that place of embusshement. Whan the company that went to the hyll, were apperceyued by the Romanes, to be so fewe in numbre, they set nought by them, and euery man coueted to go to dryue theyr ennemies from that hyll. And also the Capytayne no lesse foolyshe than they, called his men to harneys, thretenynge his ennemyes with vayne wordes. Fyrst he sent lyght harneysed yong men: than he sent forthe horsemen, whiche were a great company: laste of all, hym selfe commeth with his hole armye. And as Anniball sawe occasion, and the battayle encrease, he sent euer of his men bothe fotemen and horsemen, to succour his peo­ple, so that the battayle was furnyshed on bothe partes, and waxed very stronge. The Romans were thought to be of a great boldnes and courage, and shulde haue done well, yf the battayle had ben equally handled, they were soo encouraged with theyr late victorye: but sodeynly came those that were hydde in the caues forthe on them, making great clamour and rumour on theyr sides and backes, so that they surprised with feare, had nother hartes to fyght, nor hope to flye. Than Fa­bius fyrst hearyng the noise, and after seing the host troubled afarre of: Fortune (sayd he) hath caught theyr foly, no soner than I feared it wolde: nowe he that is ioyned with Fabius in the empire, hath found Anniball ouerhard for hym, both in power and also in Fortune. But it is not now tyme (sayd he) to chyde, I wyll referre that, tyll more oportunitie. Than caused he his men to display theyr baners beyonde the valey, and in good aray came forwarde to the helpe of his felowes, that some were fledde, and some redy to flee, so that they all thought, that he cam as it were one sent from heauen to their succours. And before he shulde come to the casting of dartes or to handestrokes, Anniball called backe his men from cha­syng any further theyr ennemies that fled, and sodeinly with­drewe [Page] hym to his campe, saying, that he had ouercome Mi­nutius, but that he was also ouercome of Fabius. Than ma­ny of the Roman army, that by fleing were scatered and spar­kled abrode, ranne to the hooste of Fabius: many other that dyd flee before theyr ennemies, tourned agayne to their com­pany: so that there was almooste one battayle of them that were ouercome, and of them that ranne to theyr succours. Whan the moste part of the day was spent vnder the vari­able standerde of Fortune, and that the hostes were come to theyr owne tentes, Minutius (his souldiours beynge gathe­red about hym, sayd:

¶ Thus incontinent they remoued theyr campe, and went to the campe of Fabius, whereof he marueyled not a lyttell. Whan the two legyons were mette togither, and salutations had, after longe protestation made by Minutius to Fabius, they toke eyther other by the handes, and the souldyours lykewyse entertaynynge gentylly the one the other. There Minutius submytted him and his men to be vnder the prote­ction of Fabius, resigning cleane the authoritie of the empire and rule into his handes, whyche he accompted to be to hym a burthen rather than an honour: desyryng him that he might be agayne in the office of the mayster of horsemen, as he was before. Whan this was knowen at Rome, and affirmed to be true, not only by the letters of the capitaynes, but also of the soudiours of both partis, the praise of Fabius was eleuate to the heauens, and he had no lesse praise of Annibal and his host who as than felt, that they had to do with the Romanes, and [Page 30] that they kept warre in Italy. For the two yeres past, they so lyttell dyd esteme bothe the capytayne of Rome, and also the souldyours, that they could scarsely beleue, that they fought with those people, whome they had hearde of theyr fathers, were so moche to be doubted. And it was sayde, that Anni­ball going from the battayle dyd say, that than at the lengthe the cloude, whyche satte so longe on the hyghe hylles, sente downe his peryllous storme.

NOt longe after, Lucius Aemilius Paulus, and C. Terentius Varro were chosen con­sulles. And after that all other offycers were chosen, the armye was augmented, to euery legion a thousande footemen, and one hundred horsemenne. What the num­bre was of the newe host is scarsely agreed amonge wryters. Some holde, that they were of the Ro­maynes .lxxxvii. M. CC. whanne the battayle was holden at Cannas. C. Terentius, before he departed the citie, open­ly made dyuers orations, wherin he declared, that the warre in Italy was through certayne of the noble menne of the cy­tie, whyche warre shulde longe tyme continue amonge them, yf they shulde haue many suche captayns as Q. Fabius was. For yf he had done his deuoyre as a good capytayne, Anni­ball had ben subuerted longe before. but he promysed, that he wolde ende the warre the same daye that he should fyrst meete with his ennemye. And the nexte daye before they departed oute of the cytie, Lucius Aemilius his felowe made also oone Oration to the people, whyche was more trewe thanne thankefull vnto the Cytezens: In the why­che he spake nothynge agaynste Terentius Varro his fe­lowe, but that he meruayled, howe any Capytayne beinge in the citie, shulde knowe, what he shulde do whan he were armed in the fielde, before he knewe other his owne hooste, or [...] [Page] a good numbre of men to gettethem come and cattall. but as they roued abrode vnauysedly, the Romans inuaded theym, and slewe a. M. and .vii. C. of them, with the losse of .C. of theyr men. Than wolde the Romanes haue folowed the rest in the chase, had not Paulus the consull commanded the con­trary, whose turne was to rule the hoste that day. For it was before agreed betwene them, to gouerne the armye, the one, one day, and the other, the next day, and so by tourne. Than were the souldyours very angry towarde Paulus, sayinge to Varro theyr capytayne, that if he had not letted them, they had not fayled to haue beaten Anniball frome his campe, and also oute of Italye. Anniball was not so sorye for the losse of his men, as he was gladde, that the Romaynes were in suche delite and ioye of theyr smalle vyctorye. Wherfore he este­med the angry consul to beredy to take any bayt that he wold laye for hym.

THe next nyght he remoued his hoste on the further side of a great hyll, nere adioyning, There he sette his footemen in aray on the left hande: on the right he set his horsmen: al the cariage he put in the middes betwene them. He left his campe stored with moche stuffe and baggage, to the intent that whan the Romans were busy in spoylyng the tentes, he wolde so­deynly and vnwares oppresse them. And to couer his crafte the better, he made great fyres aboute the campe, before he went, that it shulde be thought, that they wolde not haue the Romans ware of theyr stealynge away, tyll they were passed farre out of their daunger. And as he thought to begyle, so had it happed in dede, had not Paulus staied his men from rū nyng thyther in suche haste: and also had not two prysoners, whyche were taken before by the Carthaginenses, escaped the same mornynge, who came to the Consuls, and declared vnto them, that the holle army of the Carthaginenses abode in arraye on the other syde of the hylle, redye to battayle. [Page 32] Whan Anniball perceyued his diuyse to be knowen, he re­tourned agayne to his tentes, where he taryed but a shorte space for lacke of vytailes, and for bareynnes of the cuntrey. Wherfore he retourned towarde the countrey of Naples, a more warme and plentifull cuntrey, pytchyng his campe nere vnto Cannas. In pytchyug of whyche his campe, he wysely consydered the wynde to be in the northe east, that naturally in drye grounde dryueth the powder and duste into the ayre, makyng it troublous darke and cloudy. Wherfore he soo in­camped hym selfe, that his backe was towarde the wynde, to the intent whan he shoulde haue to do with his ennemyes, the duste shoulde blynde theyr eyes, so that they shoulde be moche hyndered therby. The consulles folowyng the Car­thaginenses were comme to Cannas: And whan they ap­perceyued theyr enemyes in theyr syght, they pytched their campes, euery Consull by hym selfe, and dyuyded theyr ar­myes to euery consull his parte. There was a ryuer called Aufidus, rounnynge besyde bothe Campes, at the whyche bothe the hoostes, not without fyghtynge and skyrmysshyng as they hadde tyme and space watered theyr horses and cat­tall. Anniball lykynge the place welle for the horsemenne to fyghte in, wherein rested his moste trust and chiefe strength, thoughte to prouoke the consulles to battayle, and to styrre theym therto, he came towarde theym in good arraye, and caused the horsemenne to rounne to and fro almooste to the tentes of the Romaynes, byddynge theym base. By reason whereof, there arose greatte dyscorde amonge the Ro­mayne host, and the Consulles also. For Paulus, not myn­dynge to fyghte with theym at theyr pleasures, dydde ob­iecte vnto Varro, the foolysshe hardynesse and lacke of dis­cretion of Sempronius and Flamminius. Varro contrarye wyse layde vnto hym the exaumple of Fabius, whome he reckened amonge the fearefull and slowe Capytayns, pro­fessynge to the goddis, and alsoo to menne, that it oughte not to be layde vnto hym, yf Anniball shoulde take Ita­lye, and holde it as his owne: Seynge that he, and alsoo his sowldyours, beynge mooste desyrous to fyghte, were wythholden therefrome by his felowe. Paulus lykewyse professed, yf any euyll dyd happen to them and to theyr soul­dyours, that he wold be clere and innocent of the trespasse, saying [...] [Page] on fote, the wynge of the Numidian horsemen, wherof Has­druball was capytayne, ioyned also with the Romans ryghte wynge of horsemen. The battayle was stronge on both par­tes, but the Carthaginenses vsed greate subtyltie, for at the first encounter about .v. C. of the Numidian horsmen, hauing swerdes secretely hydde vnder theyr harneys, besydes those that they dyd vse to occupy, tourning theyr targettes behind theyr backes, makyng as though they had forsaken their host and fledde from theyr company, ranne to theyr ennemies, and leapynge besydes their horses, caste theyr swerdes and other apparant weapons at the fete of the Romans, as yelded per­sons, whervpon they were receyued first into the myddell of the Romane hoste, and anone they were brought to the vtter and hyndermost warde, and there cōmanded to stande tyll the ende of the batayle. And whan the battayle began on all par­tes, they stode styll without fyghtynge, but after whan they sawe that euery man was busyed and occupied with fighting, than drawyng forth theyr swerdes from vnder theyr harneys, they toke the sheldes of them that were slayn in the field, and russhed on the backes of the Romaynes, and so hewynge on theyr backes and hammes behinde, they made a great slaugh­ter. And whyles that some parte conceyued feare and fledde, and some other maynteyned the batayle with smal hope of vi­ctory, Hasdruball sente a greatte parte of the Numidians to chace and distroy the Romanes as they fled. Paulus the con­sull, althoughe he was deadly wounded before, yet many ty­mes with his company restored and renewed the battayles, with the helpe of the Romane horsemen, who at length alighted from theyr horses, and foughte on foote, the Consulle for feblenes and bledynge, beinge not able to gouerne his horse. Than the Carthaginenses, seinge that theyr enemies had ra­ther dye in the fielde, than flee: incontinent slewe those that they coulde not make to flee: some they toke, and the other that were ouercome, being than sparkeled abrode, toke suche horses as they coulde get, and beganne to flee. C, Lentulus a Tribune, leadyng an empty horse in his hande, as he fled sawe Paulus the consull, fyttyng on a stone, all couered with blud, to whome he sayde: Lucius Aemilius, whome the goddis shoulde take and esteeme as innocent of this cruell slaughter, take this horse, whyles any strengthe is lefte within the, And [Page 34] I beinge thy frende, shall lyfte the vp, and kepe the on, leste thou make this battayle dolefull and sorowfull throughe the deathe of a consull, without whyche veryly there is cause of weping and mournyng inough. Whervnto the consull answe­red: C. Cornelius, be thou increased in vertue, but beware lest whyles thou doest bewaile this chaunce, thou haue smalle tyme to escape thy selfe: Go thou therfore, and bydde the se­nate, that they make strong the walles of Rome, and strength it with succours, before the conquerour come: And secretly shewe vnto Quintus Fabius, that Lucius Aemilius Paulus doth fyrmly remembre his preceptes, ye and lyueth in them, and fynally dyeth in them. And I pray the, suffer me to passe the lyfe amonge these companye of my deade knyghtes, lest by lengar lyuynge, I become an accuser of my felowe, defen­dynge myne innocency by the trespas of an other, and yet at length dye, taken as fauty of this dede.

¶The company of them whych fled, trode the Consull vn­der foote, and after his enemise, not knowynge who he was, dyd ouerpresse hym. There was slayn at that battayle fortye thousande footemen, and two thousande and seuen hundred horsemen, in whyche company was slayne one of the consul­les, with foure score Senatours, and such as had borne great offyce in the cytie, whyche voluntaryly gaue theym selues to that battaile. Furthermore .xxi. that had borne office of Tri­bunes, besydes that in that batayle were taken .iii. thousande footemen, and .iii. hundred horsemen. Of the Romans that escaped by fleinge .vii. thousande came into the smaller campe, and .x. M. fledde to the greater campe. And whan the bataile was fynyshed, those Romaynes that were retourned to the greatter campe, sente to the other, whyche were in the lesse campe, to repayre vnto theym in the nyghte, whyle theyr en­nemies, beinge weary of trauayle, and ioyfull of theyr victo­ry, were gyuen to take theyr reste, but they doubted to take on theym that enterpryse, sayinge, that it were as meete that they of the greatte campe shoulde come to theym: but that for the daunger of passynge the hoste of theyr ennemies they were afearde so to doo. Thus the most refused to goo out of the campe, not withstandyng such as were hardy and valiant, by the great & noble exhortatiō of P. Sēpronius Tuditanus, a tribune, issued out, & came through their enmies in the night [Page] with their sheldes on the ryght syde towarde the host of the Carthaginenses: wherby they passed by them, receyuing the arowes and dartes that were shotte at them, vpon theyr saide shieldes: and so came to the great campe, to the noumber of iii. M. vi. C. and from thens, takyng with them mony of the other of that company, escaped at theyr pleasure to Cannu­sium. The other consul, with .l. horsemen, fledde to Venusia.

THe battayle thus ended, diuers of the army came to Anniball, and wylled him to rest all that day, and the nyght after his greate la­bour: but Maharball was therewith no­thinge contented, saying: You shuld nowe incontinent with your horsemen, folowe the Romans to Rome in suche spede, that they shall knowe ye be alredy come, before they heare of your cō ­myng: And thus doing, the conclusyon wyll be, that within fyue dayes ye shall lyke a conquerour dyne in the capytoll of Rome. Than sayd Anniball: The way is longe, and we had nede of counsayle or we vndertake so great an enterpryse. At lengthe he allowed the harte and noble courage of Mahar­ball: but he sayd, he wolde deliberate vppon that enterpryse. Than answered Maharball: The goddis haue not gyuen all thynges to one man: thou canste well ouercome thyne enne­mies, Anniball, but whan the vyctorye is gyuen to the, thou canste not vse it. And it was thought, that the same one days reste and slacknes, was the cause of the sauegarde of the city of Rome, and also of all the whole empire.

¶ Anniball, after that he had rested the fyrst nyght, sente his people to the fielde, to see whether any of theyr ennemyes shulde reuyue agayne, and as they sawe or perceiued any like to recouer, he was incontinent slayne: and he proceded and toke the campes, and all theym that were in them. Wherein was a great numbre of men, for beinge afrayde to folow their company, they remayned styll in theyr campes. And he was contented, that the captines shulde be raunsomed, euery one [Page 35] after his degree, the Romans .iii. C. peces of syluer: other that came to theyr succours and of Italy. ii: C. and theyr ser­uantes for .i. C. Whiche money beinge ones payde for theyr redemption, they shuld haue libertie to go to theyr cuntreis. This done, he caused the deade bodyes of his owne host to be searched and buried, whyche were to the numbre of .viii. M. amonge whyche he caused the body of the Consulle to be buryed.

¶ There was a certayn woman of a noble kynred called Bu­sa, whyche succoured the Romans that were fledde to Cam­musium, bothe with meate, drynke, clothe, and other necessa­ries, for whyche dede, the warre beynge fynysshed, she was had with the Romaynes in great honour. There were that timein Cannusium .iiii. Tribunes, whiche were Fabius Ma­ximus the yonger, and Lucius P. Bibulus. P. Cornelius Scipio, and Appius Claudius Pulcher, they al, by the assent also of the other souldyours, gaue the whole rule and gouer­nance of the whole company of the Romanes, whyche were there, to P. Scipio, beyng than very yonge, and to Appius Claudius: To whome, whan they were consultyng amonge other for the profyte of the common welth, P. Furius Phi­lius sayd, that theyr counsell was but in vayne, for to restore and brynge agayne that, whyche was vtterly loste: And that the common wealthe was deserte and cleane subuerted: ad­uysyng the noble yonge men to folow the purpose of Lucius Cecilius Metellus, and to take hym as theyr gouernoure, who was redy, with many other with hym, to depart the city in haste, takynge theyr shyppes, whiche were purposely or­deyned for theym, and by the sea to flee ouer to some prynce or kyng for succour. Whyche cruell counsell sodeynly gyuen after theyr great losse and mysfortune, made them very feare­full and in great doubte what they shulde do: in so moche that many, beinge there present, thought to deliberate on the mat­ter. Whyche deliberation yonge Scipio (elect by desteny to fynyshe the same warres agaynst the Carthaginenses) denied and dispised. We must (sayth he) be bolde, and valyantly en­terpryse thynges in so great a myschiefe, and not stande longe consultyng vpon them. Wherfore he commaunded, that soo many as wolde haue the common welthe safe, shulde go with hym armed. And than he with a fewe folowyng hym, went to [Page] Metellus lodgynge, where fyndynge an assemble of yonge men in coniuration vppon the dyuise of Furius Philus, be­fore declared, he helde his naked swearde ouer theyr hea­des, and sayde: With my whole mynde and wyll, I sweare that I shall neuer leaue the common wealthe of the cytie of Rome, nor shall suffer any citezen of Rome to leaue it. And if I wyllyngly be false, than I pray the mighty and omnipotent Iupyter, to distroy my house, my familye, and all my goodes, with mooste vylest destruction. Whiche othe I requyre of the Lucius Cecilius, and of all other that are here presente. And he that wyll not sweare the same, lette hym knowe, that my naked swerde shall passe through hym. All they beyng no lesse feared with his wordes, than yf Anniball had bene pre­sent, toke the same othe, and commytted theym selues to the tuition of Scipio.

¶ While these thinges were done at Cannusium, there were gathered togither about .iii. M. horsemen and fotemen, and were come to Venusia, where the consulle Varro was, with whyche company the consul came to Cannusiū, and hauyng so great a numbre about hym, thought hym selfe able to defend them selues and the citie from Anniball.

¶ Of this great losse in the batayle newes was broughte to Rome, without any mencion of sauyng of the sayde number, that were with the consull: but that euery man was slayn, and no Roman left on lyue. Whyche newes caused as great feare and rumour in the cytie, as euer was hearde there before: In soo moche that it was bruted abroode, that nother capi­tayn nor souldiour was left in the Roman campes, and that al­mooste all Italy was yelded to Anniball. Wherefore they loked euery howre, whan theyr ennemies wolde come to be­siege the cytie of Rome. Whervppon the senatours prepa­red at Rome all thynges necessary for the succours of the ci­tie. Than they ordeyned theyr legyons and offycers. Mar­cus Iunius, by the whole consent of the Senate, was cho­sen Dictator, and Titus Sempronius mayster of the horse­mē. There was also by the same auctorite chosen. 4. legions, and a thousande horsemen of yonge men, of the age of .xvii. yeres, besydes that they sente to theyr frendes in other pla­ces of Italye, that they also shoulde prepare sowldyours of the same sorte, with horse, harneys, and all other necessaries.

[Page 36] ¶ The cytie thus beinge in extreme feare, letters came from the Consull Terentius to Rome, certifyenge the Senate of the losse of the battayle, and of his felowe the other Consul. And howe he with the leauynges of the hooste, that es­caped at the battayle, were at Cannusium, to the noumbre of tenne thousand men. Whych newes somwhat comforted the hartes of the citezens.

¶ Howe lette vs retourne to Anniball, who beynge busyed about his prysoners, suffered tenne of the Romayn captiues, in the name of all the other, to go to Rome, to see yf the fa­thers conscript, or any of theyr frendes wolde redeme them, and theyr company that were prysoners: desyrynge of these tenne messangers none other suerties for theyr retourne, sa­uynge theyr othe. With whom he sent a noble baron of Car­thage, to the intent, that yf it shulde happe theym to intreate of peace, he myghte brynge the condycions thereof with hym: The pryce of the redemption of a Romayne horse­man was fyue hundred peces of syluer, called Quadrigati, so named for that the coygne bare in it the prynt of a charyote: The pryce of a Romane cytezen was thre hundred: the price of a seruaunt was one hundred. All other prysoners of Ita­ly, that camme to the helpe of the Romayns, he lette go free to theyr countreys without raunsome. And whan it was she­wed the councell, that they were come to Rome, a messan­ger mette this baron of Carthage, whose name was Cartha­bo, and shewed hym, that the Dictator commaunded, that he shulde depart from the boundes of Rome, before the nyght.

¶ Sone after the Senate or parlyament was holden for the captyues messangers, where one of theym, that was of most authoritie, thus began to say & openly pronounce his oracion.

IT is not vnknowen to you all (Fathers con­script) that there was neuer more wretched & vyle prisoners to any citie, thā haue ben to this our citie. Hot withstandyng vnles we stand very moch in our owne conceit, there were neuer Romans takē prysoners in warre, which were [Page] lesse worthy to be dispysed vnto you than we be nowe. For truely we dyd not yeld vp our harneys and wepons in battel, for feare as cowardes, but whan it drewe towarde night, stan­dyng vpon heapes of deade bodies, we withdrewe from the battayle, and went to our tentes, where as we beinge bothe weary with labour, and soore wounded, kepte our selues in sauegarde the residue of the day and nyght folowynge. The nexte daye, whanne we perceyued that we were inclosed and constrayned with the hooste of our ennemies, wantynge al­so water, and seinge no hope of escapyng through the thycke hooste and companye of oure ennemyes, and consyderynge that it were wysedome, and not soundynge to dishonour, se­ing that fifty thousand were slayne of our company, that some shulde be lefte of our souldy ours at this battayle alyue: We than in conclusion agreed with them for our raunsom, that we myght be delyuered. And than we yelded vp our weapons, whiche coulde lyttell preuayle vs. We haue hearde, that our elders were redemed from the frenchmen, ye and our fathers being moste fiers and hardy, were gladde to sende to Tarent for conditions of peace, bycause of redeming their captiues, but in Italye with the Frenchemen, and at Heracleam with Pyrrhus, bothe the batayles were accompted wretched and full of infamy, bicause of the cowardise and fleing of our peo­ple, but so was it not with vs. The deade bodies doo ouer­sprede the fieldes at Cannas, nother hadde we escaped the death, but that for our enemyes, for wearynes in kyllyng and sleinge, lacked both strength and weapons. There be many of vs, whiche neuer came to battayle, but beinge left to kepe the campe; whan the tentes were yelded, they likewise came vnder subiection to theyr ennemies. Verily I doo not enuye the estate or fortune of any citezen, or of my felawe in warre nother wolde I, that my fame shoulde be extolled and raysed by the infamy of other: but truely they ought to haue lyttell rewarde or prayse, vnlesse it be of the agilitie and swyftenes of theyr fete, whyche being vnarmed for the moste parte fle­inge from battayle, neuer ceassed tyll they came to Venusia or Cannusium: yet do they preferre them selues before vs iustly and not without a cause, as they thynke. Ye and they reioyse and boste, that there remayneth in theym more succour and helpe to the common welthe than in vs. But we wolde ye [Page 37] shulde receyue and take them as good and stronge men. And also to thynke vs to be hereafter more prompt and wylling to maynteyn our countrey, by howe moche we may be redemed and restored into the same by your benefytes. Ye haue taken the muster of all your people of alages and sortes, and I here say, ye haue chosen .viii. thousande of your bondemen to the warre, and there is of vs no lesse a numbre, nother wylle our redemyng coste any more than theyr bying wyll cost. Truely yf I shulde compare theym, beinge seruauntes and bonde, vnto vs citezens and free, I shoulde greately dishonour the name of Rome. But this I wold ye shuld remembre fathers conscripte, in suche a councell, yf ye wyll be so hard harted, as to refuse vs (whiche yf you doo, you shall doo withoute our deseruyng) to whiche of our enemyes wyll ye commytte vs: to Pyrrhus? or elles to Anniball? in whom it is harde to be iudged, whether dothe remayne more crueltie or auarice. If ye dyd see the bandes and chaines, with which your citezens are bounde, the filthynes and deformitie that they are in: cer­tes it wolde no lesse moue and pitie you, than yf ye saw your legions lying deade, coueryng the feldes of Cannas. Ye may beholde the sorowe, the heuynes, and the teares of our fren­des and kynsfolke standyng at the porche of the senate, tary­ing for your answere. And sens they be so sorowful for vs and for them that be absent in prison, what myndes wold you sup­pose those prisoners to haue, whose life and libertie is in dout, and hangeth nowe in balance? Certainly if Anniball, contra­ry to his owne nature, wold be meke and gentyl to vs, yet ne­uer the lesse wolde not we desyre to lyue, in case we shall be thought of you, our noble fathers, vnworthy to be redemed. Shulde I desyre the retourne into my countrey, yf beinge a citezen I shulde not be estemed by you worth .iii. C. peces of syluer? Lette euery man do as he wyll fathers conscripte, I knowe my body and lyfe to be in doubt: but the ieopardye of our name and fame bothe more moue and greue me, that we shoulde be reckened vnto you as abiectes and castes awaye. for there is no man that wyl suppose you to spare our redem­tion for coste.

¶ Whan he hadde made an ende of his oration, there arose a great noyse and wepynge amonge the people, both men and women, that were frendes vnto the sayd captiues, who helde [Page] theyr handes towarde the Senatours, desyryng them to re­store theyr bretherne and chyldren. After many and dyuerse contrary opinyons hadde in the senate: somme supposynge it mete, that they shoulde be redemed with the common trea­sure, and some contrarye. T. Manlius Torquatus, a man of ouer harde and cruell nature (as it was thought to many) be­inge desyred to shewe his sentence and iudgement, beganne thus to saye.

IF the legates, that were sent hyther for the redemption of our captiues, had all onely made petition for those, who are taken pry­soners, that they might be restored, I wold haue shewed my mynd brefely, without re­hersall of any of theyr feates, for of what ought you rather to be admonysshed, than to obserue the custome, left by your fathers, as concernynge busynes of warre by example necessary. But nowe, bycause they almost reioyse and glory, that they yelded theym selues to theyr ennemies, and thynke it meete they shoulde be pre­ferred not onely before those, whyche were taken prysoners in batayle, but also before those that escaped to Venusia and Cannusium, ye and before Terentius Varro the consulle: I shall declare vnto you fathers conscripte all that was doone there, ye and I wolde to the goddis, that these thinges, whi­che I am about to shewe vnto you, myght speake at Cannu­sium before the hoste. Whiche wolde be a sure wytnesse of e­uery mannes cowardyse and sluggysshenes, and also of theyr hardynes and vertue: or els I wold that Publius Sempro­nius were here present, whom yf they had folowed, they had be now in saue garde in the Romane tentes, and not captiues with theyr ennemyes. For whan theyr enemyes were wee­ry of fyghtynge, and alsoo reioycynge of theyr vyctory, and the mooste parte of theym retourned to theyr tentes: they myght haue hadde the nyghte free without interruption to [Page 38] haue escaped. Veryly .vii. thousande armed men myght than haue escaped through theyr ennemyes, takyng so lytell hede to them, but truely nother wolde they enterprise this thynge theym selues, nor folowe them that wolde take on them that aduenture. All the nyght longe almoste Sempronius ceassed not to admonyshe and exhorte them, that they should folowe hym as theyr capytayne, whyles there were but fewe of their ennemyes about theyr tentes, whiles euery man was at rest & scilence, and whyles the nyght dyd couer and hide theyr pur­pose: Shewynge theym, that they shoulde come into saue­garde, and to theyr frendes before the day, as by the memo­ry of our grandfathers, Publius Decius dyd in Samnio, and as Calphurnius Flamma, whan we were but yonge men, dyd in the first warres Punicke, to .iii. hundred that wyllyngely folowed hym. Whan he hadde brought them to take a hylle whyche was in the myddell of their ennemyes: Let vs here dye sowldiours (sayde he) and let vs throughe our death de­lyuer our legyons and army, whyche are inclosed and besiged by our ennemies. If Publius Sempronius had spoken suche wordes to you, and yf none of you had ben of suche hardynes to consent to him, he myght haue supposed you neyther to be men, nor Romaynes: but he shewed you a moche more easye way, whyche wolde brynge you as well to glory and prayse, as to health and profyte. He made hym selfe a capytayne and guyde to bryng you to your cuntrey to your fathers, to your wyues, and chyldren: But you lacked audacitie to folowe hym, what wolde you haue done, yf he wolde haue moued you to haue dyed for your countrey? Fifty thousande cite­zens, and of your frendes laye deade about you that daye in the fielde. If the examples of hardynesse and vertue of soo many noble menne, wolde nat moue you, there is nothynge that euer shall moue you? If suche slaughter of your fren­des dothe not cause you to haue smalle estymation of youre owne lyues, nothynge shall euer moue you thereto? You shoulde haue desyred youre countreye, whyles ye were free, safe and sounde, yea you shoulde haue desyred it, why­les it was youre countrey, nowe doo ye desyre it to late. Ye be cleane separate from it. ye are vtterly alienate frome the ryght of the Cytezens. Ye are nowe made seruauntes vnto the Carthaginenses. Wylle ye be redemed srome thense [Page] whither you wyllyngly went with cowardyse, slowenes and wyckednes? you wolde not here Sempronius your citezen commaundynge you to take harneys and to folowe hym. but soone after you hearde Anniball, commandynge you to yelde your armour and your tentes? Why doo I accuse (Fathers conscript) theyr slouthfulnes and cowardise, whan I may ra­ther accuse theyr wicked and abhominable facte? they dyd not onely refuse his counsaile which was profitable: but also they went about to withstande hym, and to constrayne hym to for­sake the common welthe: vnles noble men with theyr naked swerdes hadde put them from their purpose. Publius Sem­pronius was dryuen (I say) fyrst to escape by manful courage through those his felowes and citezēs, and after through the myddell of his ennemies. And shulde this citie and countrey desyre the restitution of suche citezens, whom yf the residue of their felowes, who were at Cannas, had folowed and bene lyke there had no citezen ben lefte vs of those, whiche were at the battell? of .vii. M. men there were .vi. C. that aduen­tured to escape and retourne free with armour to theyr coun­trey, nother dyd the hoste of theyr ennemyes, whyche were xl. M. men lette or hynder them: howe safe than myght the two armyes being ioyned togyther haue passed thynke you? whiche yf they had done fathers conscript, ye shoulde haue had nowe .xx. M. stronge and hardy souldiours at Cannusiū. but nowe howe can these be accompted for good and faythful citezens (as for bolde they wyll not call them selfes) whyche had rather to lye lurkyng in theyr tentes, and tary bothe the day and theyr ennemyes, than to endeuour them selues with theyr company to escape awaye in the nyghte? but seing that theyr hartes wolde not serue theym to auoyde theyr tentes, was it lyke (trowe ye) that they shulde haue hardynes to cō ­serue & kepe the same tētes? They say, that where they were besyeged for certayne days and nyghtes they defended them selues, and at the length, whan they had suffered the extre­mitie, whan all the necessaries to their lyfe dyd fayle theym, than they being ouerpressed with hungre, coulde noo longer susteyn battaile. And they say they were rather ouercome for lacke of humayne necessities than with batayle. This greate warre that ye speake of, lastyng two days, was ended in two howres. Annibal came to the tentes before the sonne arose to [Page 39] whome without any battayle gyuen or resistence made, they yelded vp theyr weapons and them selues. Whan they shuld haue fought in the battayle, they fiedde to theyr campe, and whan they shuld haue defended theyr campe, they nother profitable in the battaile nor in theyr tentes, yelded vp campe and all. Shuld such a sorte be redemed? I thynke them (fathers cōscript) no more worthy to be redemed, than I thynke them worthy to be yelded to Anniball, whiche escaped from theyr tentes through the myddell of theyr ennemies: And through theyr great hardines restored them selues to theyr countrey. Whan Manlius had fynyshed his oration, al though many of theym were of the kynrede and alyance to the senatours, yet the answere was gyuen them, that they shuld not be redemed. And that for two causes, the one was for the olde exaumple of the citie, that had euer lyttell fauoured the redemption of captiue prysoners. An other was, the greate summe of mo­ney that muste be payde for them. wherof theyr treasure had ben before made bare with manyfolde charges of warre. And also they were loth that Anniball, than being nedy of money, shulde with theyr substance be so greatly enryched. Than be­ganne a newe mournyng for the losse of the cytezens. They folowed the legates with greate wepynge and sorowe to the gates. One of those tenne Romayne messangers, that were sent from Anniball, after that his company departed towarde Rome, fayned that he had lefte some thynge behynde hym, and so returned to his tentes, and in the nyght ouertoke his company, by whiche fraudulent retourne, thynking him selfe quytte and discharged of his othe, wente home to his owne house. And there remayned styl, not returnyng to Anniball: but whan his vntruth was knowen, he was taken & sent to the tentes of the Carthaginenses, to do with hym theyr pleasure.

ANniball after the battayle at Cannas, with as greatte spede as he myght, went from Apulia to Samniū, and to Cossa, and so to Naples, but the strengthe of that towne made him afrayde to gyue assaut therto. Wherfore he went from thens, and came to Capua, whiche as than floury­shed [Page] in pleasure and abundance by long felicitie & fauor of for­tune. Than was there in Capua one Pacuuius, a noble mā, sa­uing that he gat not his goodes and riches by honest meanes. This Pacuuius bare gret office in the city the same yere that the Romans lost the bataile at Trasimenus: And now thyn­kyng to make a discord betwene the senate and the cōmon people, who long had vsed great licence and liberty without rea­son, and therby to increase both his authoritie and substāce, deuised a great and perillous enterprise, which was, that so sone as Anniball shuld come thyther with his army, he wold cause the commons to slea the Senatours: After whose death, he myght at his pleasure yelde the citie to the Carthaginenses. Yet at the last he consydered, that better it were for hym to rule and gouerne a cōmon welth florishing in all thinges than to rule a citie, that were vtterly subuerted and distroied (whi­che he accompted to be, yf the noblemen and ancient counsel­lers therof were slayn) he than imagined a way, that he might both saue the senate and counsel of the citie, and make the coū sell of the same, to thinke them selues bound to him and to the commune people. Whervpon he called a counsayle, wherein he shewed the senatours, that to receiue the Carthaginenses, and to leaue the Romans frendship, dyd nothyng please him, consyderynge that he had maryed Appius Claudius dough­ter, and also that Liuius hadde maryed one of his dough­ters: sauynge that necessitie dydde requyre it, bycause there was other matters in hande moche more to be doubted, whi­che was, that the commune people were pourposed fyrste to slea theym all that were of the Senate howse, and after to yelde vp the citie to Anniball. Neuer the lesse he sayde, he wolde vndertake that he wolde saue theym frome daun­ger, yf they wolde commytte theym selues wholly to hym: wherwith he made theym greatte assurance by othes. Whan they all, beinge ouercome with feare, had consented to hym, I wyll shut you (saith he) into the senate house, as thoughe I were of the cōmons councell, and dyd alowe their dedes and purpose: but after I shall fynde a waye to conserue and saue you. And whan they were agreed to the same, he enclosed them in the capitoll, so that none could come to them, nother they gette furthe, vnlesse it were by his licence. And than he called the common people togyther, and sayd: My frendes, [Page 40] nowe haue you power ouer the detestable and wycked sena­tours, whose death ye haue so longe desyred, and that ye haue nowe without stroke stryking. For beholde, I haue theym enclosed in yonder howse aboue vnarmed: And what sentēce ye wyll gyue of them, or any of them, that shall they suffer, accordyng to theyr desertes. but before all thynges, I wolde you shulde haue respect to your helth and profite, before the executiō of your wrath. For senatours I am sure, ye wil haue to gouerne the citie. Therfore nowe haue we two thinges to be done togither, that is, to put downe the old senatours, and than to chose newe. I wyll wel, that you shall iudge what pu­nishment the olde shall haue: but firste you shall chuse a newe valiant wise senator in euery of their places. Thā set he down and causid their names to be put togither in writing into a pot and as their names were seuerally drawen forth of the pot, he caused them to be called in order, and he that was fyrst named he caused to be fetched out of the senate house, wherin they were inclosed. And whan the cōmons herd his name, they all cried, that he was wicked, & worthy of punishment. Than said Pacuuius, I here well what you say, lette him be cast out for [...]ought, & an other chosen in his place. Than were they at the first put to silence, bicause they wanted a better to be chosen in his place. And whan any man wolde take vpon hym to name any other man: there wold arise a greater rumor and noyse at his naming. Some saying, they knew him not, and som repre­hending his birthe, some his maners, some the vilenes of his craft and liuing, with such other like obiections: & moch more the noise was for chosing of the second and third: so that they al agreed, that it was rather better for them to suffer the olde noughty senatours to remain, which they knewe, than to haue such new, as were worse and vnknowē. so that they cōmanded to let the old senatours go free, and vse their romthes. After this maner Pacuuius gat the rule of the cōmon welthe, pea­sybly makyng the senators moche more bounde to him for sa­uinge their lyues, than to the commons of the citie. And by this meane by al mens consent he had the hole gouernance of the citie. Of this cam the losse of the dignitie to the senators, forgetting their liberte, doing nothīg in the coūsel hous with out the cōmons aduise. The citie was always prone & gyuen to lust & plesure, not only by the noughtynes of their myndes, [Page] but also by the abundance of pleasures, ryches, and other de­lytes, and of all fruitefulnes bothe on sea and lande, and wa­red want on through the flattery of pryncis, and ouermoche libertie of the people, folowyng theyr pleasures and lust be­yonde all measure, so that they dispised both the senate and o­ther magistrates, and also all rule and lawe. And than after the battayle of Canuas, they that had a lyttell shamefastnesse before, were not ashamed to dispise the empire of Rome. And in short tyme after, they consented to yeld vp the citie to An­niball, and to leaue the amitie of the Romans: yet before they wolde sende theyr legates to Anniball, they sent messangers to Rome, to desyre that one of theyr citie myght be euer one of the consuls at Rome, yf they wolde that they shuld helpe them in theyr busines. Whervpon there arose great indigna­tion and angre, for that they that were before in amitie and as subiectes, shulde requyre suche equalitie of honour with the Romans. Wherfore they cōmaunded, that the legates shuld be brought out of the senate house, and further they sente an officer, who shoulde conueye theym oute of the citie, and to charge them to departe oute of the limyttes and boundes of Rome. The same legates incontinent vppon theyr retourne home, were sent to Anniball, who receyued them, and gran­ted them all the conditions of peace, accordynge to theyr as­kyng, so that no ruler or magistrate of Carthage shulde here­after clayme rule or dominion ouer any citizen of Capua, no­ther shulde any of them be enforsed to go in the warres, but at his owne pleasure. Agayne, that they myghte kepe stylle theyr owne lawes, with theyr rulers and magistrates. Amon­gest whyche requestes, they desyred .iii. C. Romane captiues to be delyuered vnto them, whiche shulde be chaunged for o­ther .iii. C. of theyr horsemen, that kepte warre in Sicilia, whiche was not denyed theym. To this agreement, Decius Magius, a man of great authoritie (sauing that the commons were not agreable to hym) dydvtterly withstande: fyrst wil­lynge that no legacy shulde be sent to Anniball. And as soone as he hearde, that the agreement was made, and that Anni­ball wolde sende his men of armes to Capua▪ be shewed them for an example, the proude raygnynge of Pyrthus: and the myserable seruitude of the Tarentines, crying alowde, that if they wolde here hym, Anniballes army shulde in no wyse be [Page 41] receyued: And yf they were all redye receyued, that they shulde be put furth agayne.

¶ As soone as these thynges were shewed to Anniball (as they were not secretely spoken) he cōmanded, that Magius shulde be taken and sent vnto hym: but than he fearynge the displeasure of the people, sent worde to Marius the Pretor, that he wold be at Capua the next day folowyng. Marius in­continent assembled the people, and shewed all men of Anni­balles commynge, commandynge them to be redy with their wyues to meete hym. And whanne he was commynge, and all the citie went to mete hym, onely Decius, with his sonne, and a fewe of his frendes, wolde not go with them: but wal­ked openly and stubburnely in the market place. As soone as Annibal came to the citie, he called a counsayle, myndynge in his angre to do cruell execution of his aduersaries, not with­standyng the rulars of the citie desyred hym, that he shuld do nothing as that day, but be mery and celebrate the same in the worshyp of his commynge. To whose request (although he was of a sodayne inclination to wrath and angre) he was con­formable: and spent that day in vewyng the citie.

¶ Pacuuins Calauius, of whome we spake before, who was chiefe of the citie, and chiefe causer of the yeldynge thereof to the Carthaginenses, brought his sonne, being a yong mā, thyther, whom he toke from the companye of Decius, with whom the yonge man stode fyrmely agaynste the bandes and frendshyp made with the Carthaginenses: nother coulde the citezens, being enclyned to that parte, nother the auctoritie of his father, moue the yonge man to the same: vnto whome his father, with great intercession, made Anniball good lorde and frende. Anniball being ouercome and appeased with the request of his father, caused the yonge man, with his father, to be sent for to supper: at whiche supper there was none of Capua, sauyng those that were lodged in that howse, and one Iubellius Taurea, a noble warriour. The souper was begun before the nyght, the feast was sumptuous, and not after the maner of fare in warre tyme. This yongeman, nother by the prouocation of the rulars, nor by the chering of Annibal him selfe, coulde be perswaded to be mery, but he shewed his fa­ther, that he was diseased, and that his minde was soore trou­bled. And whan his father hearde that, he departed oute of [Page] the feastynge chaumbre before the sonne was sette: whome his sonne folowed. And whan they came to a gardeyn, at the ende of the house, whiche was secrete: Father (sayth he) I haue diuised nowe away, wherby we shall not onely purchase our pardon of the Romanes, for that we haue forsaken them and chosen Hanniball to be our gouernour, but we shall stande nowe from hensforth in moche more dignitie and grace with them, than euer we were before. Whan his father (meruay­lyng what it myghte be) had inquired of hym that diuise: he caste his gowne from hym, and shewed his syde beinge gyrte with a swerde: Nowe wyll I (sayde he) establysshe and san­ctifye the bandes betwyxte the Romaynes and vs, with the bloudde of Anniball: Of this counsayle father, I thoughte to make the priuey before, for bycause I knewe not, whether thou haddest rather be present, whyles the deede were do­inge or not. Whyche diuyse whan the olde manne hearde (as thoughe he hadde be presente at the doynge of that whyche was spoken) with greatte feare he beganne to adhorte and perswade his sonne to the contrary: layinge fyrst the greatte othe and promyse made to Anniball by all the whole citie: and also shewynge the daunger of the acte to be suche, that he coulde neuer escape alyne. I beynge thy Father (sayde he) haue wonne Anniball to be thy good lorde, and shall not I wynne my sonne to be frende to Anniball? And after that he hadde with longe prayer, wepynge, and great intercession ouercomme his sonne, and disswaded hym frome his enter­prise: the yonge manne sayde these wordes: O countreye, receyue thou this swerde, with whyche I beynge armed, wolde haue defended this citie and castell, sparyng nothyng, nor Fearynge myne owne deathe, but onely beinge ouercome with my fathers perswasyons. And whan he hadde so sayde, he caste his sworde into the playne ouer the gardeyne walle, and than bycause he shulde not be suspecte, he wente agayne to the feast.

¶ The next day the senate was holden, in the whiche Anni­bals fyrst oration was very gentyll, gyuyng thankes vnto the citezens, for that they preferred his amitie and frendshyp be­fore the Romanes: and among other hygh promises, he pro­mysed theym, that Capua shulde in shorte space be the heade of all Italye: And that the Romaynes, with other cities of [Page 42] Italy, shoulde seke vnto Capua for theyr ryghte and lawe: but he sayde, that there was amonge them one named Ma­gius Decius, who was noothynge agreable vnto the amy­tie betweene the Carthaginenses and them of Capua: who (he sayd) was no citezen, nor ought to be so called nor repu­ted. Wherfore he requyred, that he myghte be yelded vn­tohym, and that also in his presence his cause myght be de­bated before theym of the counsaylle. To whyche requeste euery manne graunted, althoughe somme thoughte he was a manne moche vnworthy to sustayne suche myserye, and that theyr lybertie beganne to mynysshe not a lytell in the begin­nynge. The senate was holden in the temple. Magius was commaunded to be taken, and brought to shewe his mattier, and he anone denyed it to be lawfull for theym, to breake the truce taken with the Romaynes. Wherefore he was com­maunded to be bounde with chaynes, and ledde to the campe of the Carthaginenses. In this leadynge thyther, as longe as his face was not couered, he wente cryinge to all theym, whyche were gathered togyther to see hym: Nowe haue ye, menne of Capua, your lybertie, whiche you desyred: In the markette place, and in the day lyghte, and in the presence of you all, I beinge chiefe and moste auncient of Capua, be­inge bounde, am drawen to deathe. What coulde haue bene done more cruell and violente, yf Capua had be taken? whan he coulde not be stayed, but contynued crienge after this ma­ner, bicause the commune people were thoughte to be moued with his wordes, his face and head was couered, and he was ledde quyckely out of the gates into the tentes of Anniball, and from thense in haste sente towarde Carthage by shyppe, leste there shoulde be anye sedytion moued for the same a­monge the Cytezens: but in saylynge thyther, the shyppe was dryuen by tempeste to Cyrenas, where Magius fledde to the pycture of Ptholomeus the kynge for his sauegarde. Wherevppon he was broughte by the kepars of the towne to Alexandria, before Ptholomeus. And whan he hadde declared vnto the kynge, that Anniball hadde sente hym bounde, contrarye vnto the league and bandes of the truce taken with the Cytezens of Capua: he was delyuered from his bandes, and hadde lybertie to goo whyther he wolde to Rome, or to Capua. To the whyche he made aunswere, [Page] that Capua was not a place very safe for hym: and he sayde, that Rome, whyles there was warre betweene the men of Capua and it, was rather an habitation of vacabundes than of frendes and olde guestes. Wherfore he sayd, he had not soo great desyre to liue in any place, as in his kyngdom, by whom he was restored to his libertie.

WHyles these thynges were done in Italy, Mago the sonne of Amilcar, not sent from the army by his brother, but ocupied a certayn space, in receyuynge the cities of the Brusians, whiche yelded them selues wil­lyngly to the Carthaginenses, brought ty­dinges to Carthage of the victory at Cannas. Whan the senatours were for him as­sembled, he declaryng the actes done by his brother in Italy, sayde: that he had foughten with six capitayns, of the whych iiii. were consuls, the fyste Dictatour, that is chiefe rular in the common welthe of the citie, and the syxte mayster of the horsemen. He sayd also, that he had ouercome .vi. consulles hostes: so that there was slayne by hym .ii. C. M. and aboue fyfty. M. taken. and also he had slayn .ii. of the foure consuls, and the thyrde was sore wounded: and the fourth hauing lost all his hoste, fledde scacely with .l. men. And that the master of the horsemen was ouercome and put to flyght: so that the Dictator, whiche at no tyme durste come to batayle, remained only their head and capitayne. Furthermore, that diuers pla­ces in Italy were tourned to Anniball, as the Brucians, the Apulians, part of the Samnites, and the Lucanes. In so mo­che as Capua, whiche was not onely the head of Campania, but also of all Italy, euer sens the Romaynes were so ouer­throwen at Cannas, had yelded theym selues to Anniball.

And for the more credence of these so ioyfull newes, he cau­sed rynges of gold to be powred before the senatours, which of many men were reported to be to the quantitie of thre bus­shels, and a halfe: but moste authors wryte (and that semeth [Page 43] to bemost agreable to veritie) that they were aboue the me­sure of a busshell. And moreouer bycause it shuld be a token of a more notable slaughter, he sayd: that no man dyd weare any of the saydiewels, but horsemen, and men of iiobilitie.

The summe of his oration was, that the greatter the hoope was of the wholevyctory, so moche rather Anniball shuld be ayded with great helpe and succour, signifying to theym, that the warre was far from thens, in the myddel of theyr enmies lande: and that a great quantitie of grayne and moche money was spent. He sayd also, that as the numbre of their enemies with so many battailes were slayne and diminysshed, so theyr hoste also was partly mynyshed and slayne. Wherfore it was mete (he sayde) to sende money grayne and other necessaries to sowldiours that so well had sette furthe the name and ho­nour of Carthage.

¶ For these tydinges of Mago, euery man being mery, Hi­milco, a man of the faction of the Barchins, thought to finde an occasion to checke Hanno. What nowe Hanno (sayth he) dothe it forthynke the of the begynnynge of the warre with the Romans? Commaunde Anniball to be delyuered nowe vnto them: or forbydde in this so fortunate tyme thankes to be giuen to the immortall goddis. Nowe lette vs here a sena­tour of Rome speke in the senate house of Carthage. Wher­vnto Hanno answered.

¶ I was determined fathers conscripte, at this time, in your so great and cōmonioy, to haue holden my peace, and to haue spoken nothyng, whiche shulde haue bene displeasant to you: but I can nowe no lesse do, but answere the senatour that in­quired of me, whether it forthinketh me of the warre enter­prised agaynst the Romanes, or no. Therfore myne answere shalbe this to Himilco, that I forthynke me yet of the warre taken, and shall stylle repent it, nor shall at any tyme seace to forthynke it, and blame our victorious capytayne, vntyl I see the warre taken vp and ended by some tollerable way and cō ­dition, nother shall any other thynge cause me to seasse frome the desyre of the olde auncient peace, saue only a newe peace made. These goodly newes, whiche Mago hathe blased a­brode, are very ioyfull to Himilco and other Annibals fren­des and seruantes: yea they may be also ioyfull to me, for our prosperitie in warre, yf we take our good fortune whan it cō ­meth, [Page] shall cause vs to haue better and more profitable peace. But if we let passe this time, in the which we may be thought rather to graunt peace, than to craue it: I doubte, leste this ioye wyll deceyue vs, and come to nothynge. Nowe lette vs discusse this matter seriously, and ye shall perceyue what this greate ioye is. He sayth, the army of our ennemies is slayne: yet he commaundeth souldiours to be sent hym. What other thynge wolde a man desyre, yf he were ouercome. He sayth also, that the Campes and tentes of bothe hostes of our en­nemyes are taken, with a ryche praye and spoyle: yet he commaundeth, that we shall sende hym grayne and money. What other thynge coulde a manne desyre, yf he were rob­bed and dryuen frome his owne tentes? But nowe I haue aunswered Himilco to his demaundes, I wolde that other Himilco or Mago wold answere me vnto that I shall aske of them. If the fielde fought at Cannas was to the vtter sub­uertion of the Roman empyre, and deth of the hole host, and all Italy like yeld them, and forsake the Romans? Fyrst whe­ther any of the people of Rome come fleinge to vs, and for­sake the Romans? Moreouer, whether any of the .xxxv. tri­bes haue fledde, and come to Anniball? Which both thinges whan Mago had denied to be done: It must than folow (said he) that we haue many enmies yet left at Rome. But I wold faine knowe, what courage and hope that multitude of our ennemies hath? Whan Mago had sayd, he could not tel. There is nothyng more easy (sayde Hanno) to be knowen. Dydde the Romaynes sende any legates to Anniball for peace? or whether hadde ye any knowledge, that the Romayns made any mention of peace at Rome? Whanne he also hadde de­nyed that: Than haue we (sayde he) as greatte warre euen nowe in hande, as we hadde the fyrste daye that Anniball en­tred into Italye. There be many of vs alyue, that doo re­membre yet, howe varyable the vyctorye was in the fyrste warres that were betwyxt Carthage and Rome. Our war­res and busynes (bothe by sea and lande) were thought neuer to be more prosperous, thanne before Caius Luctatius, and Appius Posthumius were Consuls: But yet in theyr tyme we were ouercomme at the Iles of Egates. Lykewyse nowe, yf Fortune do tourne (as she is always varyable) whi­che I praye vnto the Goddis maye not happen: Wolde ye [Page 44] than hope to haue peace, whan we are ouercome, the whiche nowe we can not gette, although we vanquysshe and ouer­come the Romaynes? If any mention of peace were made, eyther to be gyuen to oure ennemyes, or elles to be taken of theym: I coulde telle thanne ryght well what to saye. But in case ye wylle onely commen of the demaundes of Mago, I thynke, yf our people haue soo vanquyshed our ennemyes as hathe bene declared, it is not nedefulle to sende theym that whyche Mago desyreth. And yf they wolde mocke vs with theyr vayne reporte of vyctorye, whanne none suche is hadde in dede: I thynke than they oughte lesse to be succou­red at our handes.

¶ With this oration of Hanno very fewe were moued to be of his opynion. For the enuye and hatrede, that they bare vnto hym, and alsoo the greatte kynrede of the other, caused hym to be the worse heard. Agayne, they were soo reioy­sed with the sodayne and presente ioye, that they wold heare noothynge, that shoulde hynder the same: Supposynge the warres shoulde soone be fynysshed, yf they dydde sende any helpe nowe at this tyme into Italye. Wherefore by the hole consente of the Senate it was concluded, to sende to Anni­ball forty thousande Numydians, to his succours, and fortye elephantes, and a greatte summe of money. And the Dicta­toure of Carthage was sente into Spayne, with Mago, to hyre twenty thousande footemen, and foure thousande hors­menne, whyche shulde fournyshe agayne the armyes both in Spayne, and also in Italy. But these thinges were forslowed and done by leysure (as commonly it happeth in prosperitie. But besyde the naturall industry of the Romaynes, Fortune also wrought moche for them: for they hapned that yere vp­pon a Consull, that sought all meanes possible, to further all suche thynges as shulde be thought necessary to be brought to passe by hym. And Marcus Junius, beyng Dictatour, be­sydes the Legyons, whyche were appoynted before, and the bondemenne of the Cytie, with other succours suche as he coulde gather togyther of dyuerse countreyes adioy­nynge, to fournysshe the armye: He lepte than besydes his horse, sayinge: All suche as haue commytted any maner of cryme worthye of deathe, and they that are condempned to pryson for money, yf they wolde be sowldyours with hym, [Page] and go to the warre, he wold pay theyr dettes, and lose them from theyr handes and punyshement. Thus hadde he of that sort .vi. M. souldyours, whom he armed with the armor that C. Flamminius toke from the Frenchemen, and than he went out of the citie with .xxv. M. harneyst men.

AFter Anniball had taken Capua, he assayed many and dyuers ways to haue gotten Na­ples, whiche whan he coulde not brynge to passe, he went from thens to the fieldes of the Nolans, assayeng by many ways to wyn the towne of Nola. The senate, and namely the chiefe, stacke surely to their olde fren­des the Romaynes: The cōmunes being (as they are wont) desyrous of newes, inclyned all to Anniball. Wherfore the senate, fearyng to stryue with the commons openly (agaynste whose power, yfnede requyred, they were not able to resyst) priuyly dissemblyng, founde meanes to prolong the time, say­ing, they were cōtent to be yelded to Anniball, but they knew not after what maner and condition they shuld yelde. During whiche tyme of delay, they sent ambassadours to Marcellus the pretor of Rome, being than at Cannusium, shewyng hym the circumstance of the matter: wylling him to come to them yf he intended that they shuld kepe the towne. Who percei­uyng theyr stedfastnes, greately praysed the senate of Nola, desyrynge them to perseuere in theyr purpose: and vse suche subtiltie in prolonging of tyme, as they before had done, vntill his commyng to them, whych shuld be shortly: In the meane season, he willed them, not to be aknowen of any succour that was commynge. Than streyght he made hym redy, and with his army toke the way to Calacia, and ouer the riuer of Vul­turnus, and so to Nola.

¶ Anniball before the Pretors comming, went from Nola to Naples, very desyrous to wynne some towne that laye on the [Page 45] sea costes, to whyche the shyppes myght haue free and safe passage from Affrica. But whan he vnderstode Naples was defended by a Romane capytayne (the Neapolitans had got­ten thyther M. Iunius Syllanus) and shulde as well be kept out there as he was at Nola: he went and layde siege to Nu­ceria, whyche at last, vsynge many wayes, he caused them by famyne to yelde. Marcellus was by that tyme in the towne of Nola, and was no surer of his owne souldyours thanne he was of the pryncis of Nola: but he feared the commons, and aboue all other he dradde a yonge man, very hardye, and of a noble lygnage, whose name was Lucius Bantius, who was moche desyrous to yelde the towne to Anniball. for beynge founde amonge a heape of dead bodies and soore wounded in the battayle at Cannas, Anniball caused hym to be healed, and sent home with large gyftes: for which gentyll dede, he wold fayne that Nola shuld be yelded to Anniball. Marcellus per­ceyued this Bantius to be troubled in his mynde with suche study, so that he must eyther with punyshement be refrained, orels by benefit reconciled: he sent for hym, and so beninglye with wordes, promyses, and gyftes entertayned hym, that there was none in the citie so sure after to the Romans as he.

¶ Whan Anniball was come from Nuceria (which he of late had taken) before the gates of Nola, Marcellus was entred the citie, not fearyng to kepe his campe abrode: but lest his taryinge without shulde be an occasyon of betraying and yel­dyng vp the citie. Than beganne small skyrmyshyng betwene the citie and the Carthaginenses: at whiche time the pryncis of Nola shewed Marcellus, that the common people hadde secrete metynges and communication in the nyghte, with the Carthaginenses: in the whiche it was purposed, that whanne the Romans were gone out to fyght, they wolde take theyr stuffe and cariage, and shutte the gates: and so whan they had gotten bothe theyr stuffe and goodes, they wold receyue the Carthaginenses into the town in stede of the Romans. Whā they had shewed these conspiracies to Marcellus, he praised theyr fidelitie greatly, and thought to assaye what he myght do by battayle, before any suche trouble shoulde be within the citie. First he ordered his hoste being diuided in thre partes, at the .iii. gates, whyche opened agaynste his ennemyes. He commaunded the stuffe and baggage to folowe a prety space [Page] after. And at the middel gate he set the strēgth of the Roman legions, the newe souldiours and other that cam to their suc­cours, he sette at the two other gates, straightly commaun­dyng, that the Nolans in no wyse shulde come on the walles, nor nere the gates. He sent also certayn souldiours to awaite on the cariage and stuffe, lest whan they were busy in battaile, the Nolanes myghte spoyle and take it. Whan all thynges were thus put in good order, they stode styll within the wal­les, without makyng any shewe.

¶ Anniball standing in aray in the fieldes a longe space, as he was wont, meruailed that he sawe nother the hooste come to the fieldes, nor no man armed on the walles: Than he suppo­sed, that theyr counsayle was knowen, and that for feare the cōmons of the towne were constrayned to forsake their pro­myse. Wherfore he sent part of the souldiours to the tentes to fetche ordynaunce and all thynges necessary to assault the walles, thynkyng that if he went on them, whiles they abode in this stay, that the common people of the citie wolde make some rumour on the walles. Incontynent whyles euery man, as the cōmandement was, ranne to his busines, touchinge the assault, and the host wente to the walles: the gates were so­deinly opened. Marcellus cōmanded to spreade the baners, and the trumpettes to blowe, and the footemen fyrst, and af­ter the horsemen to runne on theyr ennemies. Some authors saye, that there were slayne at that skirmysshe .ii. M. iii. C. Carthaginenses, & but one man of the Romans: whetherthe victory were so great, or whether it were lesse, the acte was great, and the conduicte noble. Anniball hauynge no hope of opteynyng the towne, went than to Acerras, and Marcellus streyght caused the gates of Nola to be shutte, lest any manne shulde passe furthe: and made anon strayght and dilygent ex­amination, who they were, that wolde haue betrayed the towne. He beheaded .lxxx. of them, and caused their goodes to be dystributed amonge the commons. And after he had committed the charge of kepyng of the towne to the senate, he remoued with his hole host beyonde Suessala.

¶ Anniball, after he hadde wonne Acerras, came to Cassi­linum, where they so valyantlye defended theym selfes, that Anniball, beinge halfe ashamed, left the siege, and wente to wynter at Capua. And there he kepte his hooste in houses [Page 46] for the most part of the wynter, who of long tyme before had endured agaynst all kyndes of peynes and trauayle, hauynge smalle knowlege of pleasure or ease. And they that could not before be ouercome with any kynde of misery or peyne, were than loste with vnmeasurable pleasures: wherein they were wholly drowned, so gredy they were therof, after theyr ac­customed peynes. Thus toke they al theyr delite in slepe and wyne, in bankettes, hauntynge of harlottes and bathes, with dayly reste and ydelnes, whiche delycate fashion withdrewe bothe theyr courage, and also theyr strength from theyr bo­dies and myndes: so that afterwarde theyr ioye comfort and strength was more by remembrance of the victories, whiche they had opteyned before, than in theyr present strength: In so moche that to lette his souldiours thus folow theyr lustes, was thought amonge expert warriours a greater hynderance vnto hym, than that he did not lead his host to Rome streight after the battayle of Cannas. For that tarienge and doubting was thought but only a prolongyng of the victorye, but this faute made theym vnable afterwarde to ouercome. Soo that whan he remoued from Capua after the winter, it semed that he ledde furthe a straunge army, other than he brought thy­ther, they obserued none of theyr accustomed sort of warre, somme retourned to theyr harlottes: many other, as soone as they beganne to feele peyne, trauayle, and hardenesse of warre, and that they were fayne to be couered with skyn­nes, they were so werye, and the warre semed to them so te­diouse, that they wanted bothe theyr strength of bodye, and hardynesse of mynde, whyche they hadde before. A greatte parte of the hoste without theyr wages, stole from theyr ca­pytaynes, nother hadde they any other denne or receptable but Capua.

VVhan it drewe towarde the sommer, Anniball remoued agayne to Cassilinum, where without assaute gyuynge but only by contynuall siege kepynge, he broughte the [Page] inhabita [...]tes therof almoste to extreme ponertie and famyne. The dictatour in this season was gone to Rome, to serche by diuinations the fortune that shulde happen. Titus Sempro­nius was left as ruler of the army. Marcellus being at Nola wolde haue succoured them of Cassilinum, saue that the cite­zens of Nola wolde in no case suffer hym to go from theym, fearynge leste after his departure, the inhabitantes of Capua wolde haue inuaded theym. The ryuer alsoo of Vulturnus was rysen so hygh, that he coulde not well passe ouer, but in great ieopardy. Gracchus was lefte with a certayne men of warre, to lye about Cassilinum, who moued not, nor brought them any succour, bycause he hadde in commandement of the dictatour, that he shulde moue no battayle in his absence: yet hearde he suche newes from Cassilinum, whyche wolde haue moued a man to haue broken his commandement. For it was shewed hym, that some being not able to susteyne the greatte hungre and famine, without aduysement, distroid them selfes: And some desyryng the death, wold stand on the walles with­out armour, to the intent they myght be slayn with the shotte of theyr ennemies. Gracchus seyng that he durste not helpe theym by battayle, bycause of the contrary cōmaundement of his dictatour, And there was no remedy to brynge them su­stynance, for that in no case coulde be done without battayle. Than he gathered in the fieldes as many kyndes of corne as he could, and therwith fylled a great numbre of vessels or ba­relles, and sent a messanger to the rulars of the citie, certify­ing them, that he wolde the next nyght sende the vessels with grayne downe the water, warning them to be redy to receiue theym at the cōmyng of the tyde. The nyght folowyng, eue­ry man went to the ryuer to tary the cōmyng of the grayn, ac­cordyng to the promyse of Gracchus, at the laste they myght see the tounnes come swymmynge downe the myddell of the streame, whiche they receyued gladly and diuyded it equally among them. Thus they continued by the space of .iii. or .iiii. nyghtes, so longe they disceyued the watchemen of theyr en­nemies: but at the laste the water arose moche hygher than it was wont, by the reason of a continuall rayne that fell, so that the streame was more swyft than it was wont to be, whereby the vessels were dryuen to lande on that part where the host of Anniball lay, and many were founde styckyng amonge the [Page 47] wyllowes, that grew on the bankes of the ryuer, which was shewed vnto Anniball, who afterwarde, with greatter dily­gence, watched the ryuer of Vulturnus, lest he shuld by such meanes be eftsones deceyued. Yet was there suche lyke de­uyse made by sendyng of nuttes downe the streame, in barels tyll it was also espyed. At length they were brought to suche pouertie, that they were constrayned to take skynnes, stryn­ges, and the couerynges of shieldes, whiche they made softe in warme water, and so eate them: nother refrayned they to eate myse and suche kynde of vermyn, and all kynde of herbes and rootes, whiche grewe without in the fielde adioyning to the walles. Thus also perceyued Anniball: wherfore he cau­sed the grounde to be plowed vp, where all suche herbes and rootes dyd growe to his ennemies succour without the wall. In whiche newe plowed groundes the men of the towne so­wed pasnepsede, wherat Anniball cried, Shall I tary at Cas­silinum whyle these sedes be growen vp able for theyr foode and sustynance? Whervpon where before he wolde here of no cōmunication of truce, he than was contented to couenant with them for theyr redemption. The price of their redemp­tion was .vii. ounces of golde for euery of theym. Whan the couenantes were made, they yelded them selues. And they were kepte in pryson, vntylle all the money was payde. And after sent with good leaue to Cumas. There came from Pre­neste to the garyson of Cassilinū .v. C. and seuenty souldiors, of whiche the moste part were slayne and famyshed, the resi­due went to Preneste with their capitayne Manicius: Cassi­linum was giuen to the citezens of Capua, and kept with .vii. C. of Anniballes souldiours, leste whan they were departed from thens, the Romans shulde take it agayn. The senate of Rome appoynted double stypende to the souldiours of Pre­neste, and also gaue them fiue yeres licence, to be absent from the warres, for theyr great fidelitie. Than were the Romans busy in chosyng newe souldiours, to supply theyr places that were slayne in the batayle before. Lucius Posthumius, and Titus Sempronius were chosen consulles. The dictatour, whan the offycers were chosen, went to Theanū, where the army wyntred: he left the maister of the horsemen at Rome: who anone after he had receyued the office, counsayled with the fathers, about chosing and ordeyning of their armies for [Page] that yere. And whan they were mooste diligent aboute theyr bulines, tydynges was brought to the citie of a newe slaugh­ter and losse, that was than happed vnto theym, oone euylle chaunce that yere commynge after an other. The truth was, that Lucius Posthumius and his armye was dystroyed in France by this meane. There was a great wyde woode, cal­led by the Frenchemen Litana, through which he shuld leade his hoste, of the whiche woode the Frenchmen had so cutte all the trees on bothe sydes the waye, yf they were not mo­ued, they wolde stande stylle: but beinge any thynge moued, they wolde anon fall. Posthumius had in his hoste fyue and twenty thousande men. The Frenchemen hadde bestowed their companye rounde aboute the compasse of the woode, and whan the armye of the Romaynes was welle entred the woode, they cast downe the farthest part of the trees, gro­wynge in the borders of the woode, which whan they were moued fell one vpon an other through the woode, hauyng no stay, throwyng downe and sleing the Romans as they passed, bothe men and horses, so that scarsely tenne men escaped, the moste part were almoste paste breathe and deade of the hur­tes of the trees fallynge on them, the residue, that escaped, & wolde haue fledde, beinge amased with the sodeyne chaunce, were slayne by the Frenchemen, who beinge armed, beset tho woode rounde about. There were a few taken, which sought to goo ouer a brydge, whiche the Frenchemen kepte, but a­none they were compassed and beset about with the Frenche­men. There the consull Posthumius, who in no wyse wolde be taken of his ennemyes, manfully and nobly dyed. They brought the ornamentes of his bodye, and his heade, beinge cut from the body, to the chiefe temple in that countrey, with syngyng and moche myrthe. They pourged and clensed the skull within and without, and couered the brayne panne ouer with golde, vsynge it to drynke therin, whan they dyd sacry­fice at any solemne feast: and also it serued the priestes and bi­shoppes of the temple, as a cuppe at the sacrifice. The praye was no lesse to the Frenchemen thanne the victorye, for al­though the most parte of the cattall was slayne, with the fal­lyng of the trees, yet they lost nothyng of the substance that they had about them.

¶Whan this slaughter was knowen at Rome, the citezens [Page 48] were in suche sorowe and trouble for a great space, that they shutte their wyndowes and shoppes, as though it had ben in the nyght: but within short space the senatours charged the officers, to go about the citie, and cause the shoppes and doo­res to be opened, & to cause the citezens to leaue their sorow.

¶Than Titus Sempronius called a senate or courte, in the which he exhorted and counsailed the fathers conscript, that they, whose hartes were not ouer come for the great distruc­tion and losse of the battayle at Cannas, shulde not nowe suf­fer them selues to be vanquyshed with this moche lesse sorow and calamitie: admonysshynge theym, that as concernynge the Carthaginenses and Anniball, all was (as he trusted it shuld be) very well. And as for the warres with the French­men it myght be deferred for a season: for at all tymes the re­uengynge of theyr harmes was in the power of the goddis and the Romayns. Furthermore he shewed theym, that they ought chiefly to counsayle and worke agaynst Anniball circū ­spectly, preparyng with what numbre of men he might be re­sisted, and he fyrste reasoned what numbre of footemen and horsemen, of citezens and other theyr frendes of Italy, were in the host of the dictatour. Than Marcellus declared what nūbre was in his army, that he had charge of: And thus after they had ymagyned and decreed, what numbre shulde satisfye the two Consuls hostes, they agreed, that the warre agaynst the Frenchemenne shoulde be omytted vntyll an other tyme.

VVhyles these thinges were done and prepa­red in Italy, the Romayne capytaynes in Spayne were not ydell, but as than had the vpperhande of their ennemies. P. Scipio and C. Scipio his brother parted their ar­my betwixt theym, so that Cneius shoulde haue the lande, and Publius the sea, There was great warre in Spayn betwene the Scipions and Has­druball: but whan it was knowen in Spayne, that Hasdruball shuld go with his host into Italy: a great numbre of them turned theyr hartes to the Romans. Wherfore Hasdrubal sente letters to Carthage, certifieng the Senate, howe dangerous [Page] his departyng out of Spayne shuld be: And how that before he were passed the ryuer of Iherus, the more part of Spain wold tourne to the Romans. Whiche letters although at the fyrst they moued the senate moche, not withstandyng bycause theyr hole myndes were gyuen toward the charge & busines of the affaires of Italy, they chāged not their purpose, conferryng the sendyng of Hasdruball into Italye: but in his place they sent Himilco with an hoste fournysshed to kepe the seas and the lande, and also the countrey of Spayne: who whan he had all thynge necessary prouyded for hym, with as great spede as myght be, passed the countrey of Spayne, vntyll he came to Hasdruball. And as soone as he had shewed hym the commaundement of the senate, and that Hasdruball had like­wyse informed hym, howe he shulde demeane hym selfe in the warres of Spayne: he retourned agayne to his tentes with spede. But Hasdrubal, er euer he remoued his campe, caused taxes of money to be raysed of all cuntreys that were vnder his obeysance: knowyng well, that Anniball had bought cer­tayne passages of the Frenchemen, and that withoute theyr helpe, the entre into the Alpes or hyghe mountaynes, was harde to be optained. Whan he had gathered greate summes of money, he went downe with spede to the riuer of Iberus.

¶ And whan the purpose of the Carthaginenses, and Hasdrubals iourney was knowen and shewed to the Scipions, they settyng all other busynes aparte, with bothe theyr hostes to­gyther, set forwarde to mete hym, and prepared to lette his enterpryse: supposynge, that yf Hasdruball, being a capitayn and that great newe hoste of the Carthaginenses, were ioy­ned to Anniball (whom alone Italy was scarsely able to with­stande) that than the empyre of Rome shoulde soone be at an ende. Thus they beinge troubled with care of this busynes, brought theyr hooste to Iberus. And whan they had passed the ryuer, consultynge longe, whether they shoulde pytche theyr campe neere to theyr ennemies, or elles ouerrunne and subdue some of the Carthaginenses frendes, therby to staye and prolonge theyr ennemies purposed iourney. At last they determyned to besiege the citie, called Ibera (of the water, whiche was nere it) the rychest of the countrey at that tyme. Whiche thyng whan Hasdruball knewe, in stede of bryngyng succour to his frendes, he wente to besiege a Citie, that was [Page 49] lately yelded to the Romans: so than the Romans left their liege, and turned the battayle wholly to Hasdruball. There was betwixt the two hostes, for the space of certayn dayes, the space of fyue myles, duryng whiche tyme they were not without small skyrmyshyng. At length, as it were pretended of bothe partes, at one tyme bothe the hole hostes discended into the playne, redy to gyue battaile. The Roman host was diuided into thre partes, part of the footemen were sette be­fore the standerdes, and part behynd the horsemen, kept the sydes or wynges. On the other part Hasdruball sette in the myddell battayle the Spaniardes, and in the right wyng the Carthaginenses, and in the left winge the Affricans, with the hyred straunge sowldiours: And he put the Numidians to the footemen of Carthage, the residue of the Affricanes he sette before the wynges: nother dyd he sette all the Numy­dians in the ryght wyng, but those, whose qualities were su­che in lyghtnes and nymblenes, that rydyng vpon one horse, and leadyng a spare horse in theyr handes, whan the one was wery, they wold among the thickest of their enemyes leape armed on the other freshe horse, theyr agilitie and quycknes was so great, and the horses of kind so gentil and wel taught. Thus stode they in aray, and litel difference there was, other in the numbre or kyndes of souldiours of eyther hoste. Not withstandyng the souldiours hartes were not like. The Ro­mane capitayns, although they fought farre from home, yet myght they easyly persuade their souldiours, that they shuld fyght for theyr cuntrey, and for the citie of Rome. Wherfore by that doubtfull battaile they purposed, other to ouercome, or to dye, trusting therby to haue short returne home to their cuntrey. The other hooste hadde not so sterne valiaunt and hardy men. for the more parte of theym were Spanyardes, whiche had rather be ouercome in Spayne, than wynnynge the victory, be conducted into Italy. Therfore at the fyrste metynge, whan the dartes were scarsly throwen, the middell warde fledde, and gaue place to the Romanes: who came v­pon them with great violence, not withstanding the battailes were nothynge lesse in the wynges, for on the one syde the Carthaginenses, and on the other syde the Affricans came on them boldly, and fought egerly. but whan the Romane hoste had gotten in to the myddell togyther, they were stronge y­nough [Page] to put away the wynges of theyr ennemies. Where­fore being in numbre and strength best, they shortly put the o­ther to the worse. There was a great numbre of men slayne, and vnlesse the Spaniardes had fledde away, so thicke before the battayle was begunne, there hadde scarsely any of theym remayned vnslayne. There was no bataile betwene the horse men. for as soone as the Mauritaynes and Numidians sawe the myddell warde ouercome and putte to flyghte, they dry­uynge the elephantes before theym, sodaynly departed and fledde: leauynge bothe the wynges bare. Hasdruball remai­nyng tyll the last ende of the battaile, fledde with a fewe with hym. That battayle caused the hartes of the Spanyardes, whiche doubted before in the frendshyp of the Romanes, to be wholly gyuen to them. And it dyd not only take the hope from Hasdrubal of leading his hoste into Italy: but also that there was scarse tarieng for hym in Spayne. Which thinges after they were certified to the senate at Rome by the Sci­pions letters, they were not so gladde of the victory, as that Hasdrubal and his host were prohibited the entre into Italy.

VVhyles these thynges were done in Spayn, the Romanes ordered theyr busines wyse­ly in Italy. Titus Sempronius and Quin­tus Fabius Maximus were chosen consuls. Marcellus than laye at Nola, and he made dyuers out runnynges with his armye into the fieldes of the Hirpines and Samnites, and so dystroyed all with the swerde and fyre, that he renued the memorye of the olde distruction of Samnium: and than strayght wayes bothe the nations sente theyr messangers to Anniball at ones, who spake to hym after this maner.

¶ We were (O Anniball) ennemies to the Romayns of our selues, as longe as our weapons, our harneys, and strengthe were able to maynteyne vs. Afterwarde whan we had smalle hope and truste in theym, we fell into amitie with Pyrrhus, [Page 50] of whome we were forsaken, beinge not able to defende vs, we toke truce and peace necessary, for that we were vnable to withstande the Romaynes. And we haue endured in the same peace the space of fyfty yeres, vnto thy commyng into Ita­ly. Sens whyche tyme thy onely gentylnes towarde our cy­tezens (whiche beynge taken, thou sendest to vs agayne) as well as thy vertue and fortune, so hathe wonne vs vnto the, that yf thou our frende be safe and in good helth, we not on­ly wolde not feare the Romans, but also yf it were laufull to be spoken, we wold not feare the goddis. But verily not on­ly thou being safe and sounde, but also present where as thou mayst also beholde our houses burnynge, and here the way­lyng of our wyues and chyldren, we are so spoyled, and our goodes wasted and dystroyed, that it may be thoughte, that Marcus Marcellus hath ouercome at Cannas, and not An­niball: and also the Romaynes may reioyce, that thou onely as it were at one battayle, art stronge and valyant, and at the next wethered and faynt. we kepte warre with the Romay­nes the space of one hundred yeres, beyng succoured by no man, sauyng that Pyrrhus the space of .ii. yeres, did increase his strengthe and power with our men, rather than defende vs by his power. We wylle not reioyse of our prosperitie, whan we subdued .ii. Consulles with theyr hostes at one time and brought them into our subiection: but omytting all suche prosperous chaunces that we had, we myghte shewe those thynges that happed infortunately to vs at that tyme, yf there were any with lesse shame than we maye nowe declare those that be chaunced to vs. There dydde inuade the costes of our countreys at that tyme .ii. noble dictatours, the may­sters of horsemen, and two Consulles, with two consulles hoostes, hauynge all thynge prouyded for theym necessary­ly, or they wolde aduenture to robbe and dystroy our coun­trey. But nowe we be almoste a praye to one lyttell hoste, beynge lefte for the succours of Nola. Nowe they beynge but a smalle noumbre, after the maner of robbers, ouer­come our countreye with lesse feare, thanne yf they were in the Romayne fieldes. The cause is, that nother thou doeste defende vs, and also that all our lustye yonge and valyaunt menne, whiche without doubt, yf they were at home, wolde [Page] defende vs, are with the, and vnder thy baner: neyther had we knowen the, nor thyne hoste, hadde not it happed, that through thy myght there were soo many Romans slayne and put to flyght, to whome we may suppose it but a lyght thyng to suppresse our robbers, ronyng abrode in the fieldes with­out order, runnyng whyther as foolysshe and vayne hope of a pray dothe leade theym, whome a fewe of thy Numidians wolde vtterly confounde. And I doubte not, but thou wylte sende vs some sure helpe and succour, excepte thou iudge vs vnworthy to be defended and holpen, whan heretofore thou thoughtest vs not vnworthy to be taken as thy frendes and companyons, receyuyng vs into thy amitie and frendshyppe. ¶ To this theyr lamentable oration Anniball answered, that the Hirpines and Samnites dyd shewe their ruine and losse, requyryng helpe therein, and also dyd complayne, that they were lefte withoute succour and vnholpen, and all at ones: where as they shulde fyrst haue shewed theyr cause, askynge succour in theyr myschiefe, and afterwarde, yf they coulde not haue healpe, than to complayne, that theyr suite was in vayne. Neuer the lesse he promised them succours and helpe, not that his army shuld come into any of theyr groundes, but that he wolde inuade theyr neyghbours, whiche were fren­des to the Romaines: wherby he shulde drawe the Romans from vexyng of them, makyng them gladde to defende theyr frendes. And as concernyng the warre betwene him and the Romaynes, yf the battayle at Trasimenus were nobler than that of Trebia, and the battayle at Cannas more noble than that of Trasimenus: he wolde make the fame and memorye of the victory at Cannas, but obscure and nothyng to be este­med, in comparison of a more noble and triumphant victorye, that he trusted to haue of them. With this answere and great rewardes he sent them home: and leauyng a lyttell company at Tisatis, he toke his iourney to Nola. At the same tyme Hanno came to hym from the Brusians, with stuffe sent from Carthage, and with elephantes.

¶ Whan Anniball had pytched his tentes, not farre frome Nola, he founde all thynges otherwyse than it was shewed hym by the legates of the Samnites. For Marcellus so ru­led hym selfe euer and all his men, that he cōmitted nothinge to fortune, nother left any thyng rasshely in daunger of his [Page 51] ennemyes: for whan he went about any spoyle of the coun­trey, or to gette any pray, he dyd it as prouidently, as though he shuld haue done it, Anniball beinge present. And whan he perceiued Anniball to become: he kept his hoste within the citie. Whervpon Hanno approched nygh vnto the wall, cal­lynge furthe Herennius Bassus and Herius Petreius, who by the lycence of Marcellus went furthe to talke with hym. Than vnto them by an interpretour he beganne to extoll the vertue and fortune of Anniball, and dispised the nobilitie of the Romans, which (he sayd) decayed togyther with theyr power and strength: whyche nobilitie and power yf it were lyke as it was in olde tyme, not withstandyng knowynge the harde and cruell empire and gouernance of the Romans, and the great gentylnes of Anniball towardes all the captiues of Italy, the frendship and amitie of the Carthaginēses was to be preferred before the amitie of the Romans. And yf both the Consuls with theyr hoostes were at Nola, they were no more to be cōpared to Anniball, than they were at the battell of Cannas: moche lesse one pretor with a fewe new & vnskil­led souldiours, was able to defende Nola. And that they ra­ther than Anniball, oughte to care, after what maner Nola shuld come to Anniballes possession: other taken by violēce, or yelded. for there was no remedy but haue it he wold, as he had Capua and Nuceria. He sayd further, that he wolde not diuine, what shuld happen to the citie being taken, but durste rather promyse and vndertake, that if they wold yelde Mar­cellus and the citie to Anniball, that no man, but they theym selues, shulde prescribe the bandes and lawes of the frende­shyp that shulde be betwene them.

¶ Whervnto Herennius Bassus aunswered: that the amitie betwene the Romanes and the Nolanes had continued many yeres, of the whiche nother of them dyd forthynke. He said furthermore, that if they shuld haue changed or broken their faithes, whan theyr fortune fayled or chaunged, that nowe it were to late to chaunge: for that other chaunged a long time agone: And that it had ben foly for them to haue sought suc­cour of the Romaynes if they had bene mynded to haue yel­ded the towne to Anniball. Wherfore theyr myndes were, that with those, whiche came to theyr succours, they were in all thynges ioyned and surely knitte togither, and to the deth [Page] shulde be. Whiche answere toke from Anniball the hope of optayuynge the citie without battayle: Wherfore he besette the citie rounde about, intendynge to gyue assaulte thervnto on all partes.

¶ So soone as Marcellus sawe that hys ennemies appro­ched the walles, he ordered his hooste wysely within the walles, and than sodeynly issued out to batayle, makyng great noyse. Some at the fyrste encountrynge were dryuen backe and slayne: but whan the armies ioyned togyther, the bat­tayle beganne to be very fierse on bothe partes: And no faile it had bena soore syght, had not a huge tempest and raine de­parted theym: wherby hauynge bothe egre myndes, the one was dryuen into the towne, and the other to his campe or tentes, and lyttell hurt done, where (beynge bothe desyrous of battayle) they abode all the next daye, so great was the vio­lence of the storme. The thyrde day Anniball sent parte of his souldiours, to robbe and spoyle the fieldes: which whan Marcellus knewe, he streight ways brought his hoste furth to the battayle, and Anniball on the other syde was nothinge behynde. There was almoste a myle betwene the towne and the campe, where the two hostes mette togyther. The crye that was raysed on bothe partes caused the companye to re­turne to battayle, which were before sent a spoyling, and the Nolans with their power were ready to increase the Roma­nes hoste: whome Marcellus (greatly praysynge for theyr good wylles and courage) commaunded to stande in aray re­dy to theyr succour, and to conuey them, which were woun­ded, out of the battayle. And that they shoulde in no wyse fyghte, vntylle he commaunded theym. The battayle was stronge, the sowldiours fought with all theyr myghtes, and lykewyse the Capytaynes prouoked theym to the same.

Marcellus badde them boldely withstande those that were ouercomme not thre dayes before, and that not longe agone fledde from Cuma as vacabundes, and the yere before were dryuen from Nola, he beynge capytayne. And to comforte theym the more, he sayde, that all theyr enemyes were not in battayle: some were a rouynge in the fieldes, and those that fought in battayle, were wethered with the pleasure of Ca­pua, with wyne and hauntynge of harlottes. And that the [Page 52] strengthes, courage, and myghte of theyr bodyes and har­tes, by the whyche they passed the greatte mountaynes cal­led Alpes, and the hylles of Pyrenes, was cleane goone. He sayde alsoo, that those were the leauynges of the fore­sayde sowldyoures, scarse able to beare and susteyne theyr owne membres and harneys, shewynge, that Capua was as hurtfull and displeasaunt vnto Anniball and his menne, as Cannas was to the Romaones. for there (sayde he) they haue lefte all theyr strongthe, vertue, and good feates of warre, yea and haue lefte there not onely all theyr glorye and fame of the tyme past, but also hoope of victorye in tyme to come.

ANd whan Marcellus with suche wordes to his ennemies reproche had incouraged his sowldiours, Anniball lykewyse with no lesse rebuke and blame to the Romanes called on his men, sayinge, that he knewe theym to haue the same armour and stan­derdes, whyche they hadde at Trebia, Trasymenus, and at Cannas: what mea­neth it nowe (saythe he) that ye scarsely are able to with­stande one legate Romayne, and the battayle of one legy­on or wynge: where two Consulles hoostes were neuer able to withstande you? Shall Marcellus with his newe and vntaught souldyours, and the succours of Nola yet a­gayne prouoke vs, and we not reuenged vpon them? where are my souldyours that drewe Flamminius from his horse, and strake of his heade? Where is he that slewe Lucius Paulus at Cannas? are your swerdes blunte? or are youre ryghte handes astonyed and wearye? What a monstrouse thynge is this? that you, the whyche were wonte, whanne that ye were but a verye fewe in noumbre, in shorte space [Page] to ouercome a great meyny, nowe you beinge many, suffer a fewe to stycke in your handes: you bosted as bolde men with your tongues, that you wold wynne Rome, yf any man wold bryng you thyther. Behold nowe your busines here is moch lesse. I wolde ye wolde proue your strength and hardynesse here by wynnyng of Nola, a citie of the countrey, set in the playne fieldes, beinge compassed with nother fludde nor sea, and than I shall other leade or folowe you, beyng laden with so ryche a pray, to what place so euer you wyll.

¶ Notwithstandyng, neyther these reproches, nor his enti­synges coulde preuayle to strength theyr hartes: they were beaten backe on all sydes. The hartes of the Romanes dyd encrease, not onely by theyr capytaynes exhortinges, but al­so by the Nolanes steryng and kyndlyng theyr courage to ba­tayle. At length the Carthaginenses fledde, and were dry­uen backe to their tentes. And Marcellus brought his soul­diours to Nola with great ioye and thankes of the people, whose hartes before were most inclined to the Carthaginen­ses. There were slayne that day aboue a. M. of theyr enne­mies, and one thousande .vi. C. taken, of standerdes and ba­ners .xx. and .iiii. elephantes slayne in the battayle: There were not a. M. Romanes slayne. The nexte daye truce was taken, whyche they spente in buryinge the deade bodyes. Marcellus made oblation to Vulcan with the spoyle of his ennemies. within thre dayes after, eyther for displeasure, or hope of more wages. M. ii. C. lxxii. of Numidian horsmen and Spanyardes fledde from Anniball to Marcellus, whose faithfull stronge helpe and aide the Romanes vsed in that ba­taile often tymes after. Than Anniball sent Hanno agayne to the Brusians, with the hoste which he brought before with hym from thens: and went hym selfe for the wynter to Apu­lia, and lay about Arpos.

¶ So soone as Quintus Fabius harde, that Anniball was gone to Apulia, and that he had brought corne as moche as he thought necessary to serue them for the winter, from No­la and Naples to the campe at Suessula, leauyng a sufficiente garry son there, he moued his campe nygh vnto Capua, bur­nyng and spoylyng theyr fieldes: so that they of Capua were constrayned) trustyng lyttel to theyr owne strength) to come out of the citie, and encampe them selues before the walles, [Page 53] fortifyeng them with munimentes without the gates. They had .vi. M. souldiours armed, they coulde better skylle on horsebacke than on foote. Wherfore the horsemen euer pro­uoked theyr enemies by skyrmyshyng. Soone after Quintus Fabius the consull remoued his tentes backe from the Cam­panes, that they myght tyll and sowe theyr grounde; nother dyd he come thyther agayne to distroye any of the fieldes of the Campanes, before the new corne was come vp of a good height, and able to be fother for theyr cattall. Than he came thyther agayne, and caused it to be gathered and broughte to Claudius tentes aboue Sucssula, where he prouided for the wynter, cōmaundynge Marcus Claudius, that he leauynge a necessary garrison at Nola for the defence therof, shuld send the residue of the sowldyours to Rome, leste that they shuld be bothe a charge to theyr frendes, and a coste to the com­mon wealthe.

¶ In the ende of sommer, whan all these thinges were done, came letters from the Scipions, what great and prosperous actes they had done in Spayne: but all theyr money grayne and clothynge for theyr souldiours, and sea men was spente. Whiche beinge pondered in the Senate, all thynges neces­sarye were ordeyned and sente to them. And whan these sti­pendes and necessaries were come into Spayn, the towne of Illiturgus was besieged of Hasdruball Mago and Amilcar, the sonne of Bomilcar, for angre that they had changed their hartes, and yelded them to the Romans. Neuerthelesse tho­rough all these thre hostes the Scipions valiantly entred in­to the towne of theyr frendes, not without greate fyght and slaughter, bryngynge with theym of grayne good plentye, wherof they had great nede there, exhorting the citezens so valiantly to kepe and defende theyr towne, as they perceiued the Romaynes to fyght for them. Sone after they issued out to assayle the great campe, wherof Hasdruball was capitayn. Thyther came to his succours the other two capitaynes of the Carthaginenses with theyr two hoostes, for there they knewe well shulde be the greattest battaile and most busynes. And than sodeynly runnyng out of theyr tentes, they mette togyther and fought. There were of the Carthaginenses at that battayle .lx. M. And of the Romaynes aboute .xvi. M. neuerthelesse the battayle was soo prosperous, that the Ro­manes [...] [Page] and that our new man hath gotten good experience, the yere is past, and a newe muste be put in his roume. How can thin­ges prospere, that thus be gouerned? Nowe, bycause I haue sufficiently spoken, what maner of men ye ought to chuse cō ­sulles: I wyll speake a lyttell of those, to whome the fauour of this election hath inclyned.

¶ Marcus Aemilius is one of the sacred priestes, whom we can not sende from the sacrifice, but we shall want the seruice due and accustomed to the goddis. And you Octacilius haue maryed my systers doughter, and haue chyldren by her: Ne­uerthelesse your merytes and desertes towardes me and my frendes are not suche, but that I haue more respecte to the common welthe than to my priuate busynes. Euery maryner can in caulme wether rule the shyppe, but whan the sharpe stormes aryse, the sea beyng troubled, and the shyppe tossed with the wynde: Than is there nede of a man, and a gouer­nour. We sayle not now quietly, but are with troublous stor­mes almost drowned. Therfore we must prouyde with great diligence, who shal gouerne the sterne or helme: yea we must therof take hede before. We haue proued thy diligence T. Octacilius in lesser busynes, wherin truely thou dyddest not deserue, that we shulde committe to the any greatter charge: For thre causes we sent furthe a nauy the laste yere, of which thou were gouernour. Fyrst that the border of Affrica shuld haue bene wasted and distroyed: Seconde that the hauens or strondes of Italy shulde haue ben kepte safe for vs: And before all thynges that no succour, stypende or other necessa­ries, beinge sent from Carthage to Anniball, shulde haue free passage. I am content that ye make T. Octacilius consull, yf he can proue, that he dyd performe to the common welth any of these thynges to hym cōmytted. But yf thou being capy­tayn of the nauy, all that was sent from Carthage to Anniball had as free passage, as though the sea had bene open: And if the borders of Italy this yere were more indaungered than the borders of Affrica: what canst thou alledge for thy selfe, that thou shuldest be chosen chiefe capytayne agaynst Anni­ball? it appertayneth to no man more than to the T. Octaci­lius, to take heede that suche a burthen be not layde on thy necke, the weyght wherof wyll peise the downe. I do admo­nyshe and perswade you all, that in chosynge your consuls at [Page 55] this tyme, ye vse the same circumspection, that ye wolde vse, yf ye were dryuen to chose twayne to gouerne your bataile, whan ye beinge in harneys on the playne againste your enne­mies, were redy to fyght with theym. Trasymenus, and the example of Cannas, are very sorowfull to be remembred: but they are ryght profytable, and a good document, to be ware of suche an other.

¶ After this oration, the prerogatiue of the yonge men was called in agayne: And than wente they to a newe election: in the which Quintus Fabius hym selfe was created the fourth tyme consul: and Marcus Marcellus the thyrd time. These were created without any variance: Nother did any man sus­pect Quintus Fabius of couetousnes of rule and gouernāce: but rather they praised the noblenes and courage of his hart. For that whan he sawe, that the common welthe dyd want a good capytayne, and knewe hym selfe withoute doubte to be one: estemed the enuy, that he shulde haue (yf any shulde a­ryse of that matter) lesse than the profyt of the cōmon welth.

¶ Whan all thynges were ordeyned with great care and dy­ligence for the warres in all partes, the Campanes meruay­lyng of the great and exquisite ordynance of the Romanes, whiche was moche greatter than it was wonte to be, and fea­ryng greatly, leste they wold that yere begynne warre vpon theym: they sent legates to Anniball incontinent, desyrynge hym to moue his army to Capua, shewyng hym, that the Ro­manes hoste was chosen and proscribed to besiege Capua, for that the defection of them was more displesantly taken of the Romanes, than of any citie in Italy. And bycause the matter was so fearefully pronounced vnto hym, he made the greater spede to come thyther before the Romans. Whan he hadde bene there a season, he lefte certayne of the Numidians and Spanyardes to defende the citie, and wente hym selfe to the lake of Auernus, vnder the colour to make sacrifyce. Not withstandyng his pretence was to set on Puteolus, and them that were left there in garryson.

¶ Whan Fabius Maximus hearde, that Anniball was gone from Arpos, and tourned agayne to Campania, without re­styng nyght or day, he went to the hest, and caused T. Grac­chus to remoue frome Luceria to Beneuentum, and made Quintus Fabius his sonne to abyde in his place at Luceria: [Page] and hym selfe came to Cassilinum, intendyng to besiege it, and the Carthaginenses that were therein. The same tyme (as it were a thynge appoynted) Hanno came from the Brusianes with a great host of horsmen and fotemen, to Beneuentū: but it chanced so, that Titus Gracchus came from Luceria thy­ther somwhat before hym, and entred the towne. And whan he hearde, that Hanno had pitched his tentes .iii. miles from the towne, at a water called Calor, and wasted the countrey, he went hym selfe out of the towne, and pytched his tentes a myle from his ennemy, and there he had an assemble of soul­diours, wherof the moste part were of bondemen, that had bene in the warre the yere before. These bondemen thought by theyr desertes to be made free, before they wold desyre it openly: not withstandyng he perceyued a murmure of some ofthem, complaynyng and sayinge: Shall we neuer be free, and do battaile like free souldiours and citezens: Wherof he wrote letters to the senate, as well of their desyre, as of their deseruyng, sayinge, that he had euer vnto that day had theyr good faithful and strong helpe, and that they wanted nothing that belonged to good and iust souldiours, sauing liberty. Cō ­cerning that matter it was permitted vnto him, to do that whiche he shuld thinke mete for the profite of the cōmon welth. Whervpon before he wold do battaile with his aduersarye, he shewed his men, that the tyme was come, in whiche they might opteyne theyr libertie, that they so longe desyred and hoped after. for the nexte day they shuld fyght in a fayre and playne fielde, where the battayle shulde be done without any feare of disceyte, with cleane strengthe and hardynes, and he that then wold shewe the head of one of his ennemies, stry­ken of in battaile, shuld streight way be made free: and he that fledde, shuld be punished with vile seruitude for euer. Wher­fore nowe (sayde he) euery mans fortune lyeth in his owne handes. For the confirmation of whiche his wordes, he said, that he alone was not the auctour of theyr lybertie: but that Marcus Marcellus the consull, and the fathers conscripte were agreable to the same. And thereof he had sente hym theyr letters, whiche he shewed and red vnto them. At these his wordes there arose a great noyse amonge them, desyryng battaylle incontynent, yf it myghte soo please hym. Than Gracchus lette the Conuocation passe, and appoynted the [Page 57] battayle agaynste the nexte daye. The souldyours were ve­rye gladde, and in especiall those, whyche supposed theyr wages for one day to be perpetuall libertie.

THe nexte daye, whan the trumpettes blewe to battayle, they came togyther in good a­raye, and anone vppon the sonne rysynge Gracchus broughte his sowldyours in to battayle. And theyr ennemyes made no ta­ryeng for theyr part. There were of them xvii. thousande footemen, and one .M. ii. hundred horsemen, the battayle was very sharpe, and lasted iiii. howres, not knowynge whiche shulde haue the victorye. There was nothynge troubled the Romanes more, than the heades of theyr ennemyes, whyche Gracchus had appoyn­ted to be the pryce of theyr libertie. Wherfore euer as they had stryken downe any of theyr ennemies, they wolde strike of his heade, and beare it in theyr handes in stede of weapon. Whyche thynge Gracchus apperceyuynge, commaunded, that euery man shulde leaue the head that he had in his hand, and take his weapon and fyghte. Than the battayle beganne more fierce than before, the capitaines on bothe partes ex­hortynge theyr men to fyghte. Gracchus shewed his peo­ple, that yf theyr ennemyes were not that daye put to vtte­rance, they shoulde neuer loke for theyr libertie. Whan the souldyours hearde hym saye so, theyr hartes were so kynd­led, that they ranne fresshe vppon theyr ennemyes with soo greatte vyolence, that they were not able to sustayne theyr myghte and courage, but incontynent fledde towarde theyr campe. The Romaynes folowyng and pursuyng them, made a greatter slaughter in the flyght, than they dydde before in the battayle. There escaped not of the hole hoste, aboue .ii. M. whiche fledde with theyr capitayne away, the most parte were horsemen, all the resydue were other slayne or taken. There were not slayne of the Romayns passynge two thou­sande. Whanne they were retourned in to theyr tentes, [Page] loden with theyr great pray .iiii. [...]. of the bondmen, which had done euyll their deuoyre that day in battayle, had gotten a lyttell hyll not farre from the tentes, who were fetched a­gayne the day folowyng by the Tribunes, and came to the conuocation or courte holden by Gracchus to the souldy­ours: wherin he rewarded the old souldiours as he thought euery one had deserued. Than as concernyng the bondemen he sayd, that he had rather, that bothe worthy and vnworthy shulde that tyme be praysed of hym than punysshed: Neuerthelesse, bycause it had chaunced well to the commune welth and to them, he commaunded that all shulde be free, at which commaundement all at ones thankynge him, desyred all welth to the Romaynes and to hym. Than sayd Gracchus: Nowe haue I fully performed my promyse of libertie to you all vni­uersally: neuerthelesse to thentent it may be knowen, that I wyll put difference betwene well doing and euyll doinge, be­twene vertuous courage, and cowardnesse, I wylle that ye brynge me the names of all those, whiche departed from the fielde the day before. That doone, he caused theym all to be sworne, that none of them shulde other eate or drinke other­wyse than standynge (onlesse they were diseased) so longe as they seryed in the warres. This punyshement (sayde he) ye shall paciently take, yf ye consyder with your selues, that I could not haue noted you with a lesse marke for your cowar­dyse than that is. Than commaunded he theym to trusse vp theyr stuffe: whiche done, the souldyours with great prayse came to Beneuentum, not lyke men that came from batayle: but as mery as though they had come from a bankette. The citezens receyued them meruaylous thankfully, and desyred Gracchus, that he wolde suffer the souldyours to feast with them, whiche he graunted.

¶ Whyles these thynges were done at Beneuentum, Han­niball wastynge the fieldes of the Neapolitanes, moued his tentes to Nola. Which whan the consull Marcellus percei­ued: he sent for Pomponius the pretor to mete him, with the hostes that lay at Suessula, intendyng that they bothe togy­ther, wolde meete hym, and he sente Claudius Nero with a stronge company of horsemen out of the towne by nyght, to compasse Anniball on the other syde, commandyng hym, that whan he sawe the battayle was begunne, he shulde sette vpon [Page 57] his ennemies at theyr backes. Whiche his diuise Nero could not brynge to passe, eyther bicause he knewe not the cumber­some wayes of the countrey, or els for that the shortenes of the tyme wolde not suffer hym. Marcellus in the mornynge mette with his ennemies, and gaue them batayle: in the whi­che he had the victory, and caused his enemies to flee. neuer­thelesse he durste not folowe theym, bycause he wanted his horseman. Wherfore he caused his menne to recule. There were .ii. thousande of their ennemies slayne, and not .iiii. hun­dred of the Romanes. Nero and the horsemen, labouryng in vayne the nyght and the day, without seing his enemies, came home about the sonne sette. for whiche his vayne iourney, he was sore rebuked of the consull, saying, that he was the cause as than, that theyr ennemies had not receiued as great losse, as they gaue at Cannas. The next day the Romans discēded into the fieldes, but Anniball kepte hym in his tentes, know­legyng hym selfe to be ouercome. And the thyrde day, with­out hope of optaynyng Nola, trustyng to haue better spede, remoued to Tarentum.

¶ Quintus Fabius, the other consull, had his tentes at Cas­silinum, whiche was kept with .ii. M. of the Campanes, and vii .C. of Anniballes souldiours. He caused Marcellus to come to hym with his hoste, And if that the Nolans thought them selfes not safe from Annibal, that they shuld send to Beneuentū to Gracchus, to com to theyr succours. which thing done, Cassilinum was quyckely won, and the souldiours that were there, as well of Annibals as of Capua, were taken, and sente to Rome, and there put in pryson. There were taken by Fabius at that time many cities in Italy, and in them to the numbre of .xxv. M. of Anniballes souldiours and frendes ta­ken and slayne, beside .iii. C. lxx. vacabundes and runawayes, whyche were taken and sente to Rome, and there whypped with roddes, and after put to death.

THere were the same yere in Spayne many batailes be­twene Mago, and Hasdruball the capitaynes of Car­thage, [Page] and the Scipions. for before the Romane capitaynes coulde passe the ryuer of Iberus, Mago and Hasdrubal had slayne a great numbre of Spaniardes, frendes to the Roma­nes, and had opteyned the vtter part of Spayn, had not the Scipions come in tyme: whose commynge stayed the waue­ryng myndes of many of that countrey. And there was be­twixte the two capitaines great and many batailes foughten, in the whiche the Romaynes had always the vpperhand: and in sundry batayles slewe great armyes of the Carthaginenses and theyr frendes, wanne diuers townes and castels, brought their enemies to so lowe an ebbe, that of a longe season they were glad to rest, doing no act worth memory. Than the Ro­mane capytaines, remembryng that the citie of Sagunt had ben so long oppressed with the yoke of dominion of the Car­thaginenses, they remoued theyr hooste thyther, and wanne the citie agayne, whyche they restored to the olde inhabitan­tes therof, that were lefte on lyue. Than they inuaded the Turditans, who were the fyrst causers of the warre with the Carthaginenses, whom they wan shortly, and distroyed their cities. These dedes were done in Spayne, Quintus Fabius Maximus, and Marcus Claudius Marcellus being consuls. Thā the officers for the yere to come, were chosen at Rome: where Quintus Fabius the yonger, sonne to the olde Con­sull, was chosen one of the consuls: and Titus Sempronius Gracchus the other: Than all the other officers in order. Whan to euery capitayne was assigned his hoste and warde: the warres agaynst Anniball were cōmytted to the consuls: Sempronius went to the Lucanes, and Fabius to Apulia. The father went as legate to the sonne, to shewe hym of the mynd of the senate. This yong Fabius lay than at the campe aboue Suessula: who hearynge that his father was come to hym as imbassadour from the senate, came furth to mete hym in his royall astate, with his .xii. sergeantes before hym: but xi. of his sergeantes, beholdyng the maiesty of olde Fabius, as he came rydyng, passed by, and nothyng sayd to him. Than the sonne being consull, commanded the .xii. sergeant to take hede to his office. He also with a lowde voyce commaunded his father to descende from his horse. Than incontinent his father alyghted, and sayde: I dyd this sonne, onely to proue whyther thou dyddest knowe, that thou arte Consull or not. [Page 58] and so proceded furthe with hym, declarynge as was gyuen hym in charge.

¶ Soone after came to the same consull into the campe oone Classius Altinius with his thre sergeantes, from the towne of Arpos, promising for a good reward to delyuer to him Arpos. This matter was debated among the counsell, and by the more part agreed, that this Altinius shulde be scourged and slayne, as an inconstant traytour and common enemye, consy­deryng that fyrst he, after the battayle of Cannas, was causer of the yeldyng the towne to Anniball, chaungyng his fideli­tie as fortune chaunged. And nowe agayn, seinge the power of the Romaynes to begin to ryse in prosperitie, he wold be­gyn a newe treason. Wherfore they thought it not to be suf­fred, but that he shuld be ordred as an vntrewe felowe and a vayne ennemye.

¶ Agaynste whyche theyr determynation spake olde Q. Fabius, sayinge, that they oughte to consyder the peryl­lous tyme of warre, and so to procede, that they lose none of theyr faythfull frendes by any occasyon or example that they dyd shewe: but by all meanes possible, yf any of their frendes were fallen from them, to fynde meane to purchase theym a­gayne. And whan any of them knowledgeth their offences, and desyreth to returne to their olde amitie: with great gen­tylnes to receyue them. for in case ye wylle admytte it to be more heynous for oure frendes to retourne agayne to vs, than it is for theym to goo frome vs, there is no doubte, but shortely we shall see the moste parte of our frendes in Italye leaue our frendshyppe, and alye theym selues with Anniball. Neuerthelesse (saythe he) I wylle not aduyse you to gyue moche faythe to Altinius, but kepyng a good meane, no­ther repute hym as an ennemye, nor truste hym as a frende: but that he be sente to somme of youre cyties neere adioy­nynge, there to be safely kepte, tyll the warres be ended: at whyche tyme we may at lengthe consulte, whether the fyrste his departyng from vs hath deserued more punyshment, than his retourue hathe deserued pardon. This his aduyse toke place. He was sente with his companye to Cales. And the Consull determyned, to besiege Arpos. Wherfore folowing his purpose, he pitched his campe within a myle of the towne [Page] where he myghte viewe the towne, and there perceyued on the one parte therof, whiche was leste vsed, a lowe gate and a narowe. To this gate he appoynted certayn good capitay­nes, and .vi. C. actiue souldiours, to beare scalyng ladders a­bout .iii. of the clocke in the mornyng before day, cōmandynge them, first to assay to scale that towre: whiche doone, than on the inner part to breke downe the walles or the gate, and be­ing masters of part of the towne, by the sowne of a horne, to gyue hym knowlege, wherby he with the reste of his hooste might approche to theyr succour. This his deuise with spede was executed. And the chaunce was suche, that one thynge, whiche was thought wolde be a greate let of theyr purpose, best holpe them, and disceyued their ennemies: whiche was, that about the myddes of the nyghte, there felle so great a­bundāce of raine, with so vehement a storme, that the watche men were of force driuen, leauyng their appoynted places on the walles, to descende and entre into theyr howses: where abydyng a good season, they fell on slepe. In this whyle had the Romans scaled the walles, and were besye to breake vp the gates. Whose noyse was not hearde of the watchemen: so rude was the storme, and suche noise made the huge rayne. Than blewe they hornes, at whose sownde the consull drewe nere, and about the breake of the day entred the citie by the broken gate. Than was theyr entre discried. There was of Anniballes men in that towne .v. M. souldiours, the towne also had armed .iii. thousande men, whyche townes men the Carthaginenses caused to go in the front of the battaile, my­strustynge to haue them behynde at their backes. After a lit­tell skyrmyshyng in the stretes, dyuers of the townes men of Arpos, and certayne of the Romanes, whyche were before of acquayntaunce, beganne to common and talke togyther. Fyrst spake the Romans, & sayd: O ye men of Arpos, what do ye meane, to take part with these barbarous nation against your own cuntrey men? Wherin haue the Romans offended you? or what haue the Carthaginenses deserued vnto you, that ye shuld thus trauail to make Italy subiect & tributary to Affrica? The Arpins excused them selues, saying, that they were betrayed & sold by their captains to the Carthaginēsis, & almost vtterly distroyed. Theyr communication stayed the fyghtyng. And after a certayn space, the pretor or gouernour [Page 59] of the towne was brought by his men to the consull: Where they so well agreed, that incontinente the Arpines toke the part of the Romans against the Carthaginenses. There were also in the towne about a thousande Spanyardes, who all in lykewyse tourned to the Romanes: but fyrst they opteyned of the Consul; that the garrison of the Carthaginenses might freely depart the towne, to go at their liberty: Whiche was truely performed. They departed to Salapia, where Anni­bal was, and the towne incontinent was deliuered to the Ro­manes, without losse of any of theyr army.

¶ The Scipions in this space had broughte theyr busynesse prosperously to passe in Spayne, bothe in conseruyng theyr olde frendes, and gettynge of newe: besydes this sodeyn­ly they had comforte to do good in Affrica, by the reasone of one Syphax a kyng of Numidia, who as thā was become an ennemy to the Carthaginenses. To this kynge were sent .iii. legates, that shuld bring him in amitie with the Romans, and also cause him to make warre vpon the Carthaginenses. This message was also very acceptable to Syphax. Whervpon he reasoned with the legates, that were expert men of warre, and perceyued many thynges, wherin he and his men before were ignorant. Wherfore whan they wolde haue departed, he intreated them, that two of them wold retourne home to theyr capitaynes, to desyre a sure aliaunce betwene hym and the Romanes, and to ascertayne them of his full mynde: and that the thyrde of them myght remayne styll with hym, to be gouernour of his army, saying that his men were good horse men, but they were nothynge skylfull to fyght on foote. To this his request they agreed, and departed, takyng the kyn­ges othe and promyse, that in case theyr capitayns wold not agree therto: that incontinent theyr felowe, whiche was left behynd, shuld be sent home to them agayn. The name of hym that remayned with kyng Syphax, was Statorius, who anon chose out a greate numbre of yonge and actyue men, whome he taught to folowe theyr baners, and to kepe theyr aray af­ter the Romayne facion: So that in shorte space, Syphax thought hym selfe able, bothe on horsebacke and on foote, to gyue battayle to the Carthaginenses. Thus was there a safe bande of peace and amytie betweene the Romaynes and Syphax.

[Page] ¶ Whan the Carthaginenses were ware therof, they sent in­continent messangers to one Gala, kyng of the other part of Numidia. This Gala had a sonne of .xvii. yeres of age, a no­ble and wyse yongman, called Massanissa. The imbassadours shewed the king, that better it were for him, with theyr helpe to ouercome Syphax betyme: than by his meanes the Ro­mans shuld haue any entre into Affrica.

¶ With suche wordes, they perswaded Gala to the warre: and moche the sooner, for that Massanissa his sonne desyred to be gouernour of that army. Whervppon the army of the Carthaginenses was ioyned to Massanissa his army. And at the fyrste battayle Syphax was ouercome, and .xxx. M. of his men slayne: so that with a fewe horsemen he fledde to the Mauritaynes, that inhabyted nygh the Gades or pyllars of Hercules, where he gathered a newe army of men, thinkyng to sayle ouer into Spayne: but er euer he could take the wa­ter, Massanissa, with his armye, camme agayne on hym, and without the helpe of the Carthaginenses, fought a noble ba­tayle with hym, and ouercame hym.

ANniball this season euer hauing hope, that the citie of Tarent shuld, by one meane or other, be wōne, as is before sayd, made his abode not farre from that citie. And to bring his opinion to his purpose, there happed a fortunate chāce by the meanes of oone Phileas a Tarentine, who longe tyme had taryed at Rome, as a messanger of the Tarentines. There were than at Rome dyuers pledges of the noble bludde of Tarent, kept in gentyl kepyng. To these pledges this Phileas foūd the mean to haue often recours, and at length he so corrupted the kepers, that they suffered them to depart out of the citie in the begynning of the nyghti and Phileas went with them to guide them by secrete ways. In the morning yarly the fame of the pledges departing was sprede abrode through the citie, and a great numbre pursued thē with spede: so that before they had far trauailed, they o­uertoke them, & brought them all backe agayn into the citie: [Page 60] Where for theyr offences, iudgement was gyuen, that they shuld be first scourged with roddes naked, and than brought to a hygh rocke: from the toppe wherof they shulde be thro­wen downe to the grounde.

¶ This cruell ende of those nobles offended moch the min­des of dyuers cities in Italy and Grece, specially those that were of kynne or by amitie alyed to any of theym that were slayne: among whiche sort .xiii. of the nobles of Tarent con­spired agaynst the Romans, of whom the captayns and chief were Nico and Philomenes. They were great hunters, and vsed moche to issue out of the citie in the nyght to go on hun­tyng. Wherfore by the colour of goinge on huntynge, they went towarde the army of Anniball, intendyng to speke with him, and to declare vnto him theyr intentes. Whā they came nere the campe, they two leauyng theyr company in a wodde nere adioynyng, wente to the campe: and anone were taken of the watchemen, and brought to Anniball, as theyr request was: to whom they declared theyr purpose and good wylle. And he gaue theym greate thankes, and sente theym hoome agayne looded with fayre promyses. And to couer the bet­ter theyr deuyse, he wylled them to dryue with them certayn cattalle of the Carthaginenses, sayinge, they hadde gotten that praye of theyr ennemyes: whyche they were suffered to doo without resystence: and brought them home to Ta­rent with ioye. This vsed they to do oftentymes: so that it was thoughte meruayle, that they soo often enterprysed su­che feates, and euer escaped vnslayne. Thus often they vsed, and euer whan they kylled any venyson, or brought any praye from the Carthaginenses (whyche they were suffered to do at all tymes at theyr pleasures) they eyther gaue it to the capytayne of the citie, a Romayne, or elles to the por­ter of the gates: soo that they had brought the porter in su­che a custome, that whan soo euer Philomenes dyd but whi­stell, at all tymes of the nyghte, the gates were opened vn­to hym.

¶ Whan they had brought all thynges in this good case for their purpose, they wente to Anniball, and agreed with hym on this couenaunt, that the Tarentines shulde lyue euer vn­der their owne lawes and customes. Also that they shoulde paye hym noo Trybute, nor haue anye armye appoynted [Page] by Anniball to kepe the citie, but at their owne plesure. And that they shulde enioy all their goodes. Onely that the soul­diours of the Romanes, whiche were in the citie, and theyr goodes, shulde be at the pleasure and wyl of Anniball. Than lay Anniball .iii. dayes iourney from Tarent, and bycause he wolde not haue his longe abode there, to be suspecte, he fay­ned hym selfe to be sycke, and caused it to be bruted abrode, that his sycknes was the cause of his longe lyinge in that one place. But agaynste the tyme he wolde haue the towne, he chose out .x. thousand horsemen, and of the lightest footemen of his army: and remoued from his campe in the nyght, ma­kyng spede tyll he came within .xv. mile of Tarent, where he secretely abode, chargyng his men, in no wise to breake their aray or order: but that they shuld beredy to do what their ca­pitaynes dyd cōmaunde them, and none other. But fyrste, er he sette furth, to couer the better his remouing, and to thin­tent that none of the countrey shulde descrye his armye: he sent .iiii. score Numidians lyght horsemen, to go before hym, chargyng them to ouerrunne the cuntrey, by whiche he with his army shuld passe. And yf they ouertoke any men, to bring them backe. And if they met with any, they shuld slea them to the intent it shulde be thought by the inhabitantes as they went, that they were robbers and theues, and not menne of warre. The fame of theyr robbyng came to the eares of the Romayne capitayne at Tarent: who toke but smalle regarde therto, thynkyng syth Anniball hym selfe was sycke, and his army so farre of, that he wolde the next day sende furth cer­tayne of his men of armes, to dryue away those robbers, and to saue the corne and cattall of his frendes. The same nyght, in the deade parte therof, remoued Anniball toward Tarent, hauynge Philomenes with hym, as his guyde. Whan they came nigh to the towne, it was appoynted, that Philomenes shulde entre the towne, with a numbre of men in harneys, at the gate, where he was wonte to entre, bryngynge his praye from huntynge. Whan he came thither, he awaked the por­ter, saying, that he had brought a great bore that he had slayn. At the fyrst call the porter opened the gates: and fyrste let in two yong men of his company: than entred he, and other his seruantes, pluckyng in the great boore. at whose greatnesse whyle the keper was daryng and musynge, Philomenes so­deynly [Page 61] slew hym with his boore speare or huntyng staffe: and incontinent let in .xxx. other men in harneis, who slewe the o­ther watchemen of the said gate: and without noise let in the rest of the army, and secretely brought theym into the market place, where they abode a space without makyng any noyse. Whiles this was done at one gate, Annibal, with a great nū ­bre with hym, came priuily towarde an other gate, and a farre of he made a great fyre, which was a signe or token made be­twene hym and Nico, who abode with other his complices, redy within the towne, loking for his commyng. Whiche fyre whan Nico perceyued, he (as it were answeryng to the same) made him an other fyre. And whan eyther perceyued other, incontinent both theyr fyres were sodeinly put out. And An­niball beganne to approche with his army to the gates. Nico also within the citie, cam to the porters ward, which he found open, and fyndyng the watche on slepe, slewe all the kepers therof, and openyng the gates, lette Anniball and his compa­ny of footemen entre: for the horsemen were cōmaunded to abyde in the playnes without, to do there as neede requyred. Thus they entred the towne, and makyng no noyse, came in­to the market place, where they mette with Philomenes, and his other company. Thā had he in his company .ii. M. french men, whyche he deuyded in thre partes, and sent them to dy­uers partes of the citie. The affricanes and the Tarentynes he caused to kepe the moste accustomed stretes of the towne: commaundynge theym, to slea all the Romaynes, but in any wyse to spare the Tarentine citezens. And to that pourpose he appoynted the sayde yonge gentylmenne of Tarent, that were his helpers and frendes, to be in the company of the o­ther his souldyours. So that whan they sawe any citezens, they shulde comfort them, byddyng them, not to be affrayde: for they shulde haue no hurt. Than beganne a great rumour and noyse to be raysed in the towne, as is euer, where soo so­deyne chaunce happeth. The capytayne at the fyrste noyse, doubtyng treason, fledde to the hauen, and frome thens, in a smalle bote, passed ouer into the castell.

¶ Whanne the day appeered, and that the harneys and ar­mes of the Carthaginenses were perceyued, and also of the frenchemen, with the deathe of soo many Romaynes: than was it manyfest, that Anniball had wonne the towne. Wher­vpon [Page] the Romanes that might escape, fledde into the sayd ca­stell. Than caused Anniball the citezens to assemble togither without armure, to here his pleasure, which they all obeyed. There dyd he declare vnto them, the loue and great affection that he hath euer borne vnto them, and the gentylnes that he had shewed vnto them at the battaile of Trasymenus, and the battaile of Cannas, whan he sent vnto theym suche of theyr frendes, as he had taken captiues, without any hurt, impedi­ment, or raunsome. And after he expressed, with great inuec­tiues, the cruel and proude dominion, that the Romans euer hadde ouer them. From the whiche he was come to delyuer them: wyllinge euery one of them of the citie, to retourne home to his house: and with spede to wryte his name on the doore of his owne house. for incontinent he wold sende his souldiours to spoyle and distroy suche houses, as had not the names entitled on the doores: Chargynge theym on peyne of deathe, that none of theym shoulde write his name vppon the doore of any Roman: for that was the mark, wherby his men myghte knowe the houses of his frendes, from those of his ennemies.

¶ With this exhortation he lycensed euery man to departe home, and within a certayn space, he gaue a sygne to his soul­diours, to spoyle the houses of the Romanes. Whiche was done, and good spoyle therof taken. On the morowe he de­termined to assault the castell: but whan he sawe the stronge naturall site therof, beyng halfe compassed with the sea, bea­tyng on the great hygh rockes, and on the other halfe hauing great dyches and hyghe walles towarde the towne: he was lothe to spende his tyme in the assaultyng therof, and to leaue other great thynges not folowed. Neuerthelesse being loth to leaue his frendes the Tarentines, open to all inuasyons of the men of armes of the Castell. (For to the towne they myght at all tymes haue accesse at their pleasure) he thought to make a walle and dyche on the towne syde, betwene them and the castelle. And he hadde this opinyon, that whan the dyche were castynge, the Romaynes wolde aduenture to make excursion on the labourers, to lette his worke and pur­pose. And he intended, that yf they so fiersely wold do, so to dispose his men pryuily in imbushmentes: that such slaughter of them shulde be made, that they shoulde not be able after to [Page 62] hurte the towne. And euen as he thoughte, soo camme it to passe. For so soone as the worke was begunne, anone the gate of the castell was sette open, and the Romaynes came on the workemen and Carthaginenses, with suche violence, that anone they gaue backe, and sommewhat the more pur­posely, to enhaunce theyr hartes and courage, and to allure theym further frome theyr holde. But anone, at a certayne token gyuen, the imbusshemente brake out, and with suche force inuaded the Romaynes, that they fledde backe with moche speede towarde the castelle: but than was the strete soo narowe, by whyche they muste passe, and they soo troubled with the baggage of the labourers, that laye in their waye, that many more were slayne in the fleinge, than were before in fyghtynge. Thus was the power of the Ca­stell, lefte so small, that afterwarde theyr workes were neuer lette, but that the depe dyche and walle were made in suche wyse, that he neded not to leaue any garryson in the towne. Neuer the lesse for theyr sauegarde he lefte a certayn of his souldiours: and he with the reste of his army remoued fyue myles from thense to the ryuer of Galesus, where he pitched his tentes. Soone after he retourned to viewe the strength of the Castell: and thought it myght be wonne with a saute. Whervppon he caused all maner of engyns to be made, and sette vp agaynste the walles: to the greatte feare of theym of the Castell. But sodeynly in the nyghte came a certayne of shyppes of menne of warre, frome Metapontus, why­che than was holden with Romans, and entred the hauen: by whose healpe they of the Castell threwe downe, and bur­ned all the ingynes and munymentes of the Carthaginen­ses. Wherby Anniball loste his hope of wynnynge the ca­stelle by any assaulte: but than he ymagyned, by contynuall siege to famysshe theym. Whyche purpose also serued hym nothynge. For they of the castelle hadde the sea free on the oone syde, where they receyued vytayles at theyr ple­sure: And the Romaynes, beynge maysters of the ha­uen, kepte all prouysyon frome the cytie, that was wonte to comme by water. Soo that they were moche more lyke to endure famyne, thanne the other of the castelle, whome they besieged. Wherfore Anniball, mystrusting the strength [Page] of the place, called the rulers of Tarent before hym, and sayde:

¶ I beholde the nature, the site, and all the strengthe of this castell, and I can not see, that any assault can preuayle, so long as our ennemies be lordes of the sea, and haue that at liberty. But if we may (said he) haue shippes, which may restrain vi­tailes to be brought to them: either they wil depart thens, or yeld vnto vs. To this the Tarentines agreed well: but they said, that he must helpe, that some of the nauy of Carthage, which were in Sicilia, might be caused to comme thither, to kepe the said port. Why (sayde Anniball) haue you no shyp­pes of your owne. Yes truely (sayde they) but they lye here in a littell creke, and so longe as our ennemies haue the domi­nion of the mouthe of the hauen, howe can they euer escape in to the brode seas? Yes said Anniball feare it not. for many thinges, that naturally be letted, by witte and policy may be brought to passe. Your citie is situate on a playne and euen grounde, and your stretes and ways be brode, to passe to all partes. Your shippes wyll I conuey through the high way, that leadeth through the middell of your citie, vpon waines and wheles, vnto the hauen, with smalle charge. And the sea shall be ours, that nowe our enemies be lordes of. Than both by sea and by lande, we wyll compasse them: so that shortely they shall be dryuen to forsake the castell, or els we shall take bothe them and it also.

¶ This his wyse diuise made all men to haue wonder and ad­miration of hym, with also a hoope of a good successe of his purpose. Furth withal waynes and cartes were gathered and tyed togither. Than were engins made, to raise and to drawe vp the shippes, and the ways made hard, euen, and leuell, that they myght the more easily be drawen on them. Thus with strength of beastes and men, the shyppes were broughte to the hauen, and in fewe daies garnished with men and all thin­ges necessary, and brought rounde about the castell, castyng their ankers before the mouthe of the hauen.

VVhyles Anniball was thus occupied aboute the busynesse of Tarent, Quintus Fuluius Flaccus, and Appius Claudius, that were chosen consuls for that yere, were com with bothe their armyes into the parties of the Samnites: and the rulers of Capua feared greatly, lest they dyd intende shortly to be­siege their citie. Also plentye of corne beganne than to faile them. for the legions of the Romans hadde so inuaded their countrey, that the Campanes durst neither tyll nor sow their groundes. wherfore they sent legates vnto Annibal, desiring hym, to cause plenty of wheate to be brought to Capua, from the countrey adioynyng: before that the consuls dydde enter their countrey with theyr armies. Whervpon Anniball sent messangers to Hanno, that he shuld come from the Brusians with his army into Cāpania: And to make prouision, that the Campanes might haue good plenty of corne sent to them.

¶ Hanno (as he was commaunded) leauynge the Samnites, and the Consuls, passed by, tyll he came within .iii. myles of Beneuentum: where on a mountayne he pitched his campe, and in townes of his frendes adioyning, to which great plen­tie of wheate the sommer before had bene caryed, he made goodly prouision for the Campanes, and sent worde secretely to Capua, what day they shuld, with all the waynes and car­tes that they coulde assemble in the countrey, resorte to the sayd places, for to fette away their said wheate. The Campa­nes, lyghtly and sklenderly foreseing their busines and welth, at the day assigned, came thither, bringyng with them but .iiii. hundred cartes: which theyr slouth Hanno greatly rebuked, maruaylyng, that they wolde no more hedily auoyde hunger whiche all brute beastes labour to eschue. Wherfore he sente them home laden, and appoynted them an nother day, to re­tourne againe for a moche greatter quantitie.

¶ This appoyntment came to the eares of the Beneuenta­nes. [Page] Whervpon incontynent they sente tenne messangers to the Consulles, certifyenge theym of all the Campanes pur­pose. And they furthwith agreed, that Fuluius, with his ar­mye shoulde goo to Beneuentum, and enter the towne, in the nyghte, kepynge him close therin, tyll he sawe tyme apte for his purpose. So soone as Fuluius was entred Beneuen­tum, it was shewed hym, that Hanno with a parte of his ar­my was gone furth for wheate: and that .ii. M. wayns were come to the campe with a great rude sort of people vnarmed, where they lay myngled amonge the souldiours, kepyng no order after the vse of men of warre. This knowen, the con­sul cōmanded his men to be redy with theyr baners & armure: for the next night he wold assayle the Campanes, and the ten­tes of the Carthaginenses. They executyng his commande­ment made them redy, and about .iiii. of the clocke, they set furthe of the towne, and came to Hannos campe, a lyttell be­fore the dawnyng of the day. At theyr fyrst commynge, with their sodain noise, the Carthaginenses becam so feareful, that if the campe had be pitched on plain ground, they had wonne it with small resistence: but the height of the hyll, with the de­fēses that they had made therabout, was such, that they could no way get vp vnto them: but by great steppes and climming. In the daunyng of the day the bataile began to waxe stronge, the Carthaginenses not onely defended their campe, but also they kept the hyll without, euer throwing doune the Romās that stroue wondersly to clymme the place. Neuerthelesse at length by great pein and trauaile, and also with great losse and hurt of men, they gat to the diches of the campe. The consull aduisyng well the mischief that shulde fall to his company, in winning the place, callid the tribunes vnto him, saying: that he wold no further at that time pursue his folishe enterprise, but that he wold returne for that day to Beneuentū. And on the morow he wold ioyne his campe to the campe of his enmies: so that the Campanes shuld not issue out, nor Hanno haue re­cours again to thē, whan he were returned. And to bring this better and more surely to passe, he wolde sende for his felowe Claudius the consull, with his army to assist him therin: whan the tribune caused the retreate to be sowned, his souldiours, that were earnestly busy aboute their enterprise, wolde gyue none care therto. Among other there was one Vibius, a ca­pitain [Page 64] of a cōpany of the Pelignes, who streight toke his ba­ner in his hande, and with force threwe it ouer the diche into the campe of the Carthaginenses. Than sayd he: Euyl might I fare and my company, if myn enemies shall enioy my baner. Than by great force he lightly went ouer the diche, & clame vp, and entred the campe of his enemies: whom his compa­ny boldly folowed. While they thus fought within the cāpe of the Carthaginenses, on an other part cried Valerius Flac­cus: what sluggishe cowardes are we nowe waxen? shall the Pelignes wynne the honour of taking the campe of our enne­mies before vs Romans? Whervpon Titus Pedanius a capi­tayn of a hūdred men, toke his standerd in his hande from his standerde bearer, saying: This standerde wyll I beare in to the fielde of myne enemies, folowe me syrs as many as wolde be lothe of the losse therof. And anone he and his companye were goten into that other part of the cāpe. The consul per­ceyuing their hardynes, changed his mynd of calling them a­way, and began to comfort them: exhorting the rest, to helpe their felowes, that so valiantly fought in the campe of theyr enmies. By whose harty wordis, euery man inforced him selfe to enter, not regarding the dartes nor weapons of their ene­mies, as people fearyng no peryll: And as people that cared not for deth, so they might dye in the campe of their enemies. Thus within short space, that strong place was wōne, & aboue vi. M. slayn, & .vii. M. taken, with the men of Campania, that came for corne, with al their cartes, and a riche pray that Hā ­no before had gotten in the fieldes of the frendes of the Ro­mans. Whiche pray the consuls solde (for by that tyme was Claudius also come thither) & therwith rewarded their men, specially Vibius and Pedanius. Whan Hanno hearde of the losse of his people, he fledde backe againe to the Brutianes, with a fewe men whiche he had taken with hym, to get in the wheate for the Campanes.

¶ The Cāpanes, heryng of the losse of their men & frendes, sent to Annibal, shewing him, that both the cōsuls were at Beneuentū, within a days iorney of Capua, intending to lay siege to their city. And it was to be feared, lest (if he did not shortly succour them) that the Romans wold wynne and distroy that citie. They said further, that nother the castell of Tarent, nor the town also, ought to be so moch estemed of him, as Capua. [Page] the noblenes wherof he knew well him selfe. In so moch that he was wont to compare it vnto Carthage. Wherfore they trusted, that he wold not leaue it vndefended, to haue it spoi­led and distroyed by the Romayns.

¶ Annibal hering this message, shewed to the ambassadours, what loue he bare vnto their citie, promising to be euer a de­fender therof. With these gentyll wordes he sent them home again, & he sent with them also .ii. M. horsmen, by whose helpe they might defend their fieldes from robbing and wastyng.

¶ In the meane whyle P. Cornelius the pretor, with cer­tain shippes, laden with wheate, came into the hauen of Ta­rent, through the hole power of the Carthaginenses. He caused also suche souldiours as were at Metapontus in garrison, to come to the castell of Tarent, there to remaine for the de­fence therof: by whose cōminge, they of the castell were than sure from any hurt of their ennemies. but so soone as the in­habitantes of Metapontus were deliuered of the Romayne garrison, they incontinent fell in leage and amitie with Anni­ball. Whervpon the Thurines, also hauynge a grudge to the Romans, for sleing diuers of their frendes, as is aforsaid, de­uysed a meane, to bringe their citie to the amitie of Anniball: The kynsmen of them that were slayne, sente messangers to Hanno and Mago, who than were among the Brusians: wil­ling them to come with their army, to lay siege to the towne: not doubtyng, but that one Marcus Attinius, the ruler of a smalle company of the Romaynes, left for the defence of the towne, wolde anon be brought to issue out, and to gyue them battaylle, vppon the trust that he had in the yong men of ar­mes of the towne: whom before he had armed and instructed in the feates of warre, after the Roman facion. And they douted not, but this sort wold doo hym small pleasure, whan he shuld haue most nede of theym. The two capitains, hearing this glad tidinges, with spede entred the fieldes of the Thu­rines, diuydyng their company betwene theym. Hanno with the footemen, with baners displayed, in good aray, went to­warde the towne: Mago with all the horsmen abode in a va­ley vnder certayn hylles that were nigh the towne. Attinius knowing only of the company of fotemē, put his men in good aray, and with great courage issued out of the towne, nothing mystrustyng the myschiefe wrought agaynst hym within the [Page 65] towne. The battaile was quicke on the part of the Romans: but the Thurines stode as men that gaue the lokynge on, not as enemies. Hanno with his men of pourpose gaue backe, to drawe the Romanes into the daunger of their horsmen. And whan they came nere the hilles, than they fiersly assayled the Romayns. and on the other syde, Mago with his horsemen came sodainly and egrely vpon them: at the fyrst encountring the Thurines fledde into their towne, as fast as they coulde. The Romans for a season mainteyned the battaile: but at the last, being constrained thereto, they also fledde towarde the towne: The traytours, that were causers of al this mischief had gotten to the gate with their power, and against the com­myng backe of the Thurines that fledde, they kept open the gates, and receyued them into the towne: but whan the Ro­manes came fleyng, also thinkyng to haue entred with the o­ther, they cried: It is tyme nowe to shutte the gates: for els we shall lette the Carthaginenses into the towne among our owne men, and so lose all. Whervpon they shut theyr gates, and suffred the Romans to be slayne by their ennemies with­out succour. Only Attinius the capitayn, who gentilly had or dered them, while he was ruler there, they suffered to enter with a fewe with him: and incontinent they gaue him a shippe in the hauen, and badde hym saue him selfe by the sea. After whose departynge they opened the gates, and receyued the Carthaginenses.

¶ Nowe were the consuls departed from Beneuentū, to as­saute Capua, thinkyng, that they shuld make their yere hap­py and honourable to them, yf they might wynne Capua, that was so noble and riche: and reuenge them of the iniuries, by them before done. Neuerthelesse, to the intent the Beneuen­tanes shulde not be lefte withoute succours in theyr absence, they sent to Titus Gracchus, who was than in the cuntrey of the Lucans, commandyng hym, with his horsemen and other lyght footemen, to come to Beneuentum: leauynge with the Lucanes the reste of his men, vnder some capitayn, whom he myght truste.

¶ The Lucans were than diuided, diuers townes were ren­dred vp to Anniball, and certaine abode vnder the Romaynes iurisdiction: of the which sort the chiefe rular that yere was one Flauius, a Lucan. This Flauius sodeynly was tourned [Page] in his mynde to Anniball: and to obteyne his fauour, he sente to Mago, that was than among the Brutians, to come speke with hym. Whan they were mette, a composition was made betwene them, that if he coulde delyuer Gracchus, the capi­tayn of the Romain army, the Lucanes shulde be frendly re­ceiued in amitie with the Carthaginēses, and lyue after their own lawes. Thā brought he Mago to a great couert, where he willed him, with a great numbre of men of armes to hyde hym: appoyntyng hym a tyme, at whiche he wolde bring thi­ther the Romaine capitayne. After this appoyntment he de­parted, and went to Gracchus, to whom he shewed, that he had begunne secretely a great enterpryse, whyche to brynge to effecte, he muste haue his healpe and assystence. I haue (sayde he) moued and perswaded all the pryncis of the Lu­cans, that were gone to the amitie of Anniball, nowe to re­tourne agayne to the obedience of Rome. I haue declared vnto them the increase of the Romanes power, whiche dayly we may perceiue, and the decrease of the strength of the Carthaginenses. And I bad them not mystrust the gentylnes of the Romains, whose nature we haue euer tryed to be meke and gentyll to suche as haue rebelled agaynst them, vpon hū ­ble submissiō to them made. With these my persuasions they be all contented to be reconciled: so that they may here you speake the same, laying your right hand in theirs, as a pledge of your faithe, whervnto they may trust. And I haue (sayde he) vndertaken, that you shall doo it, and I haue appoynted them for that composition a secrete place, wel out of the way from our company, for feare of espies, yet not far from your campe: where, with fewe wordes, you may go through with them in this matter, and by this meane bryng all the Lucanes wholly vnder your iurisdiction.

¶ Gracchus nothyng my strustynge disceite and treason to be in his wordes, toke his officers and horsemen with him, al vn­armed, and so rode to the place appointed, hauynge Flauius with hym as a guyde. So soone as they were come thyther, Mago with his army inuaded theym sodaynly. And to make the treason more euident, Flauius incontinent ioyned him to the Carthaginenses. Than was there plenty of dartes caste at Gracchus, and his horsemen, and whan he sawe noo other remedy, he alyght from his horse, and bad his company doo [Page 66] the same, exhortynge them, syns they were but fewe in num­ber, and vnarmed, in suche place, where they coulde by noo waye escape, that they wolde not dye lyke beastes vnreuen­ged, but that with noble hartes they shoulde assaile theyr ennemyes, and dye bathed and besprynkled in the bloudde of theyr ennemies: whereby they shulde ende in moste ho­nour: But specially aboue all thyng (sayde he) lette euery of vs, seeke to slea that Lucane traytour Flauius, not doub­tynge, but who so euer shall sende that traytours soule to helle, before he dye hym selfe, he shall fynd the oblation therof, todoo hym moche comforte and solace. As soone as he hadde thus spoken, he threwe his clooke aboute his lefte arme, in stede of his shielde, and ranne vppon his ennemies, who with their dartes and weapons, slewe most part of the Romaines. And whan they sawe Gracchus without helpe, they intended to take hym on lyue: but so soone as he per­ceiued Flauius amonge his ennemies, he ranne through the thickest of them, with suche force, to haue slayne him, that they were there constrained to slea hym, or elles he had done them greate hurte. Whose body Mago caused to be brought to Anniball, and he caused it to be buried with moche honour.

IN THIS meane season were the Con­sulles entred the fieldes of the Campa­nes, theyr menne ouerspreading the coun­trey, robbynge, spoylynge and wastynge in dyuers places, whiche beinge perceyued, Mago with his horsemen, by the healpe of the townes men, issued oute sodaynely on theym: and or euer they coulde gather togyther in order of battaile, slewe of them one thousand, and fyue hundred. Which losse caused the consuls more circum­spectly to worke in all theyr procedynges afterwarde.

¶ Anniball heryng of this prosperous bataile of the Campa­nes in his absence, drew nere vnto Capua with his army, thin­kyng that the Romanes shulde be moche lesse able to indure [Page] his power ioyned to the Campanes. Wherfore the third day after his comming, he displayde his baners, and set his com­pany in order and goodly aray, redy to fight. The Romayns likewise made theym redy, and the horsemen on bothe sydes fought strongly for a season, tyll bothe partes perceiued a strange army comming toward them: wherof nother of them were priuie. The truthe therof was, that C. Cornelius, than bearing the office of Questor at Rome, had taken the legiōs, whyche the yere before were vnder Sempronius, and was commyng to the ayde of the consuls. but his commynge vn­knowen made as well the consuls affraide, as Anniball: so that as it were by agreement, both partes withdrue to their cam­pes, the Romans hauing somwhat more losse thā the Cartha ginēses. Than the consuls, wylling to draw Annibal away frō Capua deuised the night folowing to depart awaye. Fuluius with his host, went to distroy the fieldes of the Cumans. Appius with his host went to the Lucanes. Anniball in the mor­ning, hauing knowlege of their sundry departing diuers wais, was a whiles in dout, whether of them he might folow: t the last he determined to folowe Appius, wherin he was moche deceiued. For he, leadinge hym a great compasse aboute the countreys, at his pleasure, retourned againe an other way to Capua. Than fortune a whyle smylyng on Anniball, sent hym suche chances, that he was a season stayed in those parties. One was the folishe hardy enterprise of one Centenius Pe­nula, a gentylman of goodly stature of body, and of noble cou­rage of mynde, correspondent to the same.

¶ This Centenius, being broughte into the senate house by P. Cornelius Sulla, desyred of the senatours, that he might haue deliuered him only .v. M. souldiours, with whose helpe he doubted not, but that with the knowlege that he had, both of the countreys and also of the crafty feates of his ennemy, he wold with the same subtiltie and policies deceiue Anniball, by whiche he before had deceiued the Romaynes. This his vnwise promise vnto them, was as vnwisely beleued of them. And where he demaunded but .v. M. they gaue him .viii. M. men: and he in the countreys as he went gathered togyther almoste as many mo, of suche as willyngly went with him, ha­uing hope in his courage and promise. With this noumbre of men he came into the fieldes of the Lucanes, where Anniball [Page 67] had rested hym and his company, wery of the chase of Appi­us Claudius. Whan either of them sawe others army, they incontinēt put their folke in aray. The matche was not equall nother of capitaines nor of souldiours: neuerthelesse the ba­taile indured more than two howres. Centenius perceiuinge his part to suffre the worse, and fearing, leste if he shulde lyue after his men were slayne, he shulde suffer great shame and in­famy during his lyfe, for the losse of suche a numbre of men by his folishe enterprise: at the last willingly he entred the thic­kest prease of his enemies, where he was shortly slayne, and than his men fledde on all partes, but they were so harde cha­sed with horsemen, that of that great company, there esca­ped scant one thousand.

¶ One other happy chāce fortune sent to Annibal, as it were for a farewel or leue takyng of him, before she thought to de­part to the Romans: the occasion therof was, that one Cneiꝰ Fuluius, bearing the office of pretor, lay than in Apulia with his host, besiegyng suche townes as before were come to the amitie of the Carthaginensis. And in his busynes he had soo well sped, and was become so welthy and riche, bothe he and his men, with prayes whiche they had taken, that leauyng all good order of warre, or the peynfull pursuite thereof, they were growen into slouthe and sluggysshe ydelnes. Of theyr vndiscrete order the Appulians sente woorde to Anniball by messangers. And he knowing by experience what wolde fo­lowe the gouernance of an army by an vnwise capitane, wher­of of late he had the triall by Centenius, with spede he remo­ued into the costis of Apulia. Whan the Romains had know­lege, that their enemies approched, and were ouen at hande: they were all mynded to haue displayde their baners,. and to haue runne to batail without the cōmandement of their capi­tain. The night folowing, Annibal perceiuing their great hast to battaile, cōmanded .iii. M. of his light men of warre, to lye priuily hyd in woodes bushes & couertes, next adioyning, gy­uing them a signe or token, at what tyme they shulde issue out, and assaile their enmies. Than caused he Mago, with .ii. M. horsemen, to lye priuily in the wayes, by which he demed the Romans wolde flee after theyr discomfiture. These thynges in the nyght tyme being wysely disposed, yarly in the morning he came with his host into the fieldes, putting the rest of his [Page] men in goodly aray.

¶ On the other side Fuluius the pretor made no tarying, be­ing moche inforced therto by the hasty wilfulnes of his soul­diours: Wherfore with suche aduysement as they came into the fielde, with suche lyke aduysement were the batayles or­dred. For euery man went to what place him semed best, and chose his cōpany with whom he wold be: and somtyme chan­ged his place again at his pleasure. The forward and the left wing were fyrst ordered, and that all in length, and of a small thyknesse. The Tribunes cried to them, to set more strength of men in the myddell of their battailes, or els their enemies myght easyly go through them with small force at theyr plea­sure. But they were so wylfull and hasty, that they gaue noo eare to theyr wordes. By that tyme were the Carthaginen­ses come in good order redy to ioyne: at whose fyrst cominge with great noise & bruite, the Romains were put to the wors: whervpon the capitayn, seing all lyke to go to mischiefe, toke his hors, and with two hundred horsemen with him, fled. The reste, that abode, were almooste all slayne. for of .xviii. M. of the company, there escaped not past .ii. M. alyue. The tentes and stuffe was also taken by the Carthaginenses, whiche was a good pray. The tydinges of these great sodayn losses were brought to Rome, whiche caused the citie to be in great feare and mournyng. Neuerthelesse by cause bothe the Consulles, with their armies were safe, and did somwhat prosper in their affayres, they toke the more comforte to theym. And incon­tynent sent messangers to the Consuls, wylling them to serch for all such as were escaped at these two battailes, & that they shuld be gathered togither, and called vnto them: lest either for feare or for dispaire, they wold yeld them to their enmies, whiche thyng with all diligence they dyd execute.

IN the meane season was Capua compassed & besieged by both the consuls, & great prouision of corne made for the same, & laid in garners in the castel of Casselinꝰ [Page 68] Than sent they to Suessula for Claudius Nero the Pretor, who leauyng a small garrison there, came hym selfe to theym to Capua with all his power. Thus was Capua compassed with thre greatte armyes on three partes, and to enclose the citezens the more surely, they prepared to compasse the hole city with a great diche. And thervpon they made many castels a good distance thone frō the other. The Cāpanes thinkynge to let their work, issued many times & fought with the Romās but their fortune was euer such, that they lost still of their mē, and at the last were constrained to kepe them within the wal­les of their citie. but before the warkes or siege was so straite and strong, they had sent ambassadours to Anniball, complay­nyng, that he had forsaken theym and his citie of Capua: and that yf he dyd not shortly succour them, they must yeld them to the Romans. To whom Anniball answered, that of late he had res [...]ued them, and raysed their siege ones, and that short­ly he wolde come to helpe them againe, not doubting, but the Romayns shuld be vnable to resist his power at his cōmyng. With this comfortable message they retourned to their citie, whyche they founde so compassed with a double dyche, that with peyne coulde they fynde the meane to enter into it: nei­ther coulde they haue entred, had not the letters of P. Cor­nelius the pretor bene, wherin he aduysed the consuls, before the dyche shuld be fully finysshed, to proclaime, that as many of the Campanes as wolde issue with their baggage and bag­ges, before a day by him lymitted, shulde go free where they wold, and haue their goodes their owne. After that day, soo many as remained, they wolde take and vse as their enemies. But this proclamation was so disdainfully taken of the Cam­panes, that besyde that there wold none issue out of the city, they also spake proude and opprobrious wordes in dispite of the Romaynes. Whervppon the workes of the dyche were ended, and the citie fully enclosed.

¶ Anniball, desyrous to succour his great frendes of Capua, left al his heuy cariage among the Brucians, and with a great numbre of chosen horsemen and light fotemen, hasted thither as faste as he might, and after his hooste came .xxxiii. of his elephantes. With this army he came to the valey that was vnder a mountayn adioynyng to Capua, called Tifata, er the Romans had any knowlege of his cōming. Than sent he spies [Page] to the Romayns hoste to Capua, commaundynge them, soo soone as he shulde gyue them battaile on his parte, that Bo­star and Mago, with the horsemen and garrison of the Car­thaginenses, assemblynge also all the power of the citizens, shoulde sodaynely issue oute of the citie: and with force assayle their ennemies. This diuise of Anniball was executed with soo sodayne crye and clamoure, that the Romaynes were in greate feare and daunger. Neuertheles with as great spede as they coulde, they prepared their battayles, and dyuyded their people. Appius Claudius wente to withstande the Campanes, and Fuluius wente agaynste Anniball. Claudius was stronge inough for his ennemies, but Fuluius was hard­ly handled of the Carthaginenses and Spaniardes. One cō ­pany or legion of his men were driuen backe, and than a great companye of Spanyardes, with thre elephantes, had broken the myddell warde of the Romaynes, and were come to the trench of the campe, redy to enter into the tentes and campe of their enmies. Whan Fuluius sawe, what daunger his peo­ple and campe were in, he cried to Q. Nanius, and other pe­ty capitaines, exhorting them to assaile that company of Spaniardes, that fought at the diche: shewyng them what danger all was in, onlesse they might sone be confounded, which was easy inough to be done, sens there was of them no greatter a number. Nanius was a strong man, and of a huge stature. And whan he hearde the consulles exhortation, anone he toke the standerde from hym that bare it, and commaundyng his com­pany, boldly to take parte with hym, he sette furthe towarde the Spanyardes, with a great courage. As sone as the Spa­niardes sawe hym drawe nere, they threwe plentye of dartes at hym; and beganne violently to assayle him. But he nother beynge stayde with the multitude of his ennemies, nor with the dartes that were caste at him, with great force went stylle forwarde, tyl by the helpe of Marcus Attilius, Portius Lu­cius, and other, they had slain the elephantes, and made great slaughter also of Spaniardes.

¶ On the other part, the Campanes were dryuen back, with the garrison alsoo of Numidians and Carthaginenses: soo that the battaile was stronge euen at the very gate of Capua, that was towarde the ryuer of Vulturnus. This gate was garnished with Crossebowes dartes and other suche ingyns, [Page 69] wherby many of the Romayns were wounded by the shot out of the towre of the gate. Amonge other, the Consul Appius Claudius was soore hurt on the breast vnder the left shulder. Neuerthelesse the citizens with their helpers were driuen in­to the citie with great slaughter and losse of theyr company. Anniball seing the slaughter of his Spaniardes, and that the Romaynes so manfully defended theyr campes, he caused his people to withdrawe them, and made the horsemen to abyde hyndermoste for the defence of the footemen, yf their enne­mies happed to chase them. The Romaines were very egre, and wolde haue folowed them in the chase, had not Flaccus caused to sounde the retreate.

¶ In this batayle Anniball wrought one crafty poynt, he sent dyuers of his men forth, that coulde speake the latine tunge, into dyuers partes of the hooste of the Romaynes, whyche shulde in the consuls name and behalfe declare, that the Ro­mayne campes were taken and spoyled. Wherfore he wylled euery man to saue hym selfe by fleing to the next mountayns, sens by lenger tarying, the greater shuld be theyr losse. This crafty deceite made many of them amased: but at the laste it was espied, to the great slaughter of their ennemies.

¶ After this battaile the Romaynes kept them in their cam­pes, and so straightly besieged the citie, that Anniball seinge he could no more drawe them furth to bataile, nother through the campes of the Romaines haue any way to enter into Ca­pua, fearyng leste his vitayles shuld be cut from hym and his hoste: he determined to depart from thens. And than he y­magyned, that he wolde go towarde Rome, not doubtynge, but whan the Romayn capitaynes dyd perceyue Rome theyr head citie to be in any daunger, that either one or both wolde leaue Capua, and come to the defence therof. And than theyr powers being diuided, bothe partes shoulde be the weaker: and he trusted, that either he or the Campanes shulde haue a fayre day of some of them. One thynge troubled hym soore, lest the Campanas seing his departyng from them, wolde in­continent yelde the citie to the Romayns. Wherfore by fayre wordes and great giftes, he had gotten one of Numidia to go with his letters through the campes of the Romains, as one that was runne away from the Carthaginenses army: & whan [Page] he shuld come to the further part of the host towarde the ci­tie, than secretly to enter into Capua, and deliuer his letters, which were full of comfort, declaring his departyng to be for theyr profite, to thintent onely to withdrawe their ennemies from Capua, to defende their owne citie, bydding them not to dispayre, but to take pacience for a season, trustyng shortly to lose them of the daunger they were in. Sone after he depar­ted with his hoste, and passed the ryuer of Vulturnus, taking the way towarde Rome. His commynge caused great heuy­nes in the citie. The senatours consulted, what was beste for to be done in this daungerous case. At length it was agreed, that Q. Fuluius shulde come from Capua, with a certayn le­gions with him, leauing his felowe at the siege with a numbre sufficient for that purpose. Q. Fuluius, hauing this cōmande­ment, toke with him .xv. M. fotemen, and one thousand horse men, and folowed Anniball as spedily as he could. Now was Anniball come within .iii. miles of Rome, where he pitched his tentes, and made his campe on a riuer side. And soone af­ter came Quintus Fuluius Flaccus into Rome with his ar­my, and consulted with the senators of the affaires that were to be done touching their enmies. Than toke Annibal .ii. M. horsemen with hym, and camme to the walles and gates of Rome, riding from the gate called Porta Collina, to the tem­ple of Hercules, viewynge the situation of the citie, and the strength of the walles. This bolde and hygh mynde of An­niball, in so doing, Fuluius Flaccus coulde not suffer: but in­continent sent furth a greate numbre of horsemen, who with force droue their enemies to their campe. The next day An­niball came into the fielde with his host in good aray, redy to gyue battaile. And Flaccus hauinge with hym the two newe consuls, that of late were chosen, with their powers, made hym redy also to battaile. Thus whan bothe partes were re­dy to go togither, abidynge the chaunce of fortune, whether of them shulde be maister of the noble citie of Rome: there came sodainly on them so vehement a storme of raine and haile togither, that both the partes were faine to withdrawe them to their Campes. The nexte daye they were lykewise redye to ioyne battaile, whan a like storme also departed theym a­gayne. And after theyr departure incontynente the wether waxed verye bryght and fayre, and all the wyndes ceassed, [Page 70] whiche euyl chances toke away the hartes and courage from Anniball and his companye, for euer to enioye the citie of Rome. Wherfore hauynge no further hope therof, he re­turned backe in hast to the Brucians: And the consul Quin­tus Fuluius returned to Capua to his felowe.

THe Campanes perceyuing the returne of Quin­tus Fuluius, and not of Annibal, iuged them sel­fes than to be vtterly forsaken of him. Wherfore wepyng and mourning the noble men kept them in their houses, loking dayly for their owne dea­thes, and distruction of the citie. The hole charge of the ke­ping therof was in Bostar and Hanno, captains of the garri­son of the Carthaginenses. They fering their own estate, sent priuily letters to Anniball, somewhat sharply written, wher­in they blamed hym, not onely for leauyng the citie of Capua to the handes of the Romaines: but also that [...]e, committing his capitaynes and his sure frendes and souldiours of his re­tinue into the handes of his enemies, to suffre tourmentes in­tollerable, was hym selfe gone to the Brucians, bycause he wolde not see before hym the takynge of Capua. Wherfore they saide, in case he wolde come agayn to them, and returne his hole power thither, they with the hole power of Capua, wold be redy to breake forthe on theyr ennemyes, trusting to wynne therby moche honour. They sayde also, that his com­myng ouer the mountaines was not to warre with the Rhe­gines, or with the Tarentines, but with the Romaynes: and where the Romain legions were, there shuld the army of the Carthaginenses also be. And so doinge, he had for the moste part euer good spede, as at Cannas, at Trasymenus, & diuers other places, by giuing them bataile valiantly.

¶ These letters were sent by one of Numidia, an espye, that counterfaited him self to be run from the Carthaginenses ar­my for the hūger that daily oppressed the citie. Other letters also of the same effect, were sent by dyuers other Numidians, [Page] but it chaunced, that a woman, whome one of the messangers had kepte as his harlotte, feelyng greate hunger in the cytie, ranne out of the towne into the tentes of the Romain consull Flaccus, and declared vnto hym of suche an espy, that was in his campe, whiche had letters to conueye to Anniball. This man was founde oute. And whan he came before her, hede­nyed any parte of her accusation to be trewe: he denied also, that he knewe the woman. But whanne he sawe tourmentes prepared for hym, he confessed the hole truthe, and also he confessed, that many other of his facion were among the Ro­mayns, who wayted but theyr tyme, whan they might escape from the Romayn hoste with lyke letters to Anniball. Ther­vpon serche was made, and aboue .lxx. of theym taken: who were beaten fyrst with roddes, and than hadde theyr handes striken of, and were sent again into the citie, to their captains.

¶ Whan the capitayns sawe that extreme punyshement she­wed to theyr messangers, theyr hartes began to fayle them. Whervpon Lesius that yererular of the citie, called a gene­rall counsayle: In the whyche many of the senatours moued, that ambassadours shulde be sent to the Romayn consuls: but Vibius Virius, who was the chiefe causer of the yeldyng of Capua to Anniball, beynge demaunded of his opinyon ther­in, aunswered, that all they that spake of peace takyng, or of the yeldyng of Capua, ought to remembre, bothe what they wolde haue done, yf they had had the Romayns in theyr po­wer, in lyke case as they had them, and also what the Campa­nes were lyke to suffer, whan they were submitted wholly to theyr pleasure.

¶ Lette vs (sayde he) remembre, howe leauing theyr frend­shyp, we submytted vs to Anniball: and not contented ther­with, we slewe all the Romaynes lefte here in garrison with vs. And to haue the certayne knowlege of theyr hartes and enuy towarde vs, lette vs call before vs theyr actes done of late agaynst vs, and therby ye shall perceyue, what kyndnes we are lyke to haue at theyr handes. Anniball a straunger, and theyr vtter enemy being in Italy, and the cuntrey on all par­tes fulfylled with warre: yet they leauyng Anniball, and all other theyr busynesse, sente bothe the consulles with theyr whole armyes, to besiege Capua, where we by longe conty­nuall kepyng of the same siege, are almost famished with hun­ger. [Page 71] but for further profe of theyr [...]yee towarde vs, let vs consyder, that although Anniball commyng to our succours, had almoste wonne theyr campes, sayne many of theyr men, and put them in great ieopardy of losing all that they had: yet all that ieoperdous peryll of losse neuer coulde moue theym to remoue theyr siege. Afterward whan he had passed the ri­uer of Vulturnus, bournynge the fieldes of Calenus theyr fath full frendes: yet coulde not the hurtes of them call the capitaynes from our myserable siege. Ye than he caused his baners to be displayd before the walles of the citie of Rome, saying: that onles they wold leaue Capua, he wold take their high citie of Rome from them. Yet wolde they not leaue the siege of Capua, beares, wulues, and all wyld beastes, be they in neuer so great a rage and fury, if a man goo to their caues, where theyr yong whelpes lye: anone they wyll leaue al that they are aboute, and runne streighte to the defence of theyr yonge: but the furyous Romaynes, whan Rome was com­passed about with theyr enemies, nother for theyr wyues and their chyldren (whose lamentable wepinges myght be heard almoste hither) nother for their houses, the temples of their goddis, nor for feare of violating the Sepultures of theyr auncetours, coulde be withdrawen from the siege of Capua, so desyrous they be to execute on vs greuous punyshement: And so sore they do thyrst to drynke of our bludde. And but reason: for happily we shulde haue done lykewyse to them, yf fortune had deserued vs. Wherfore sens it is the pleasure of the goddis, that nedes I muste dye: yet wylle I chuse me a deathe, bothe honest and gentyll: wherby I wyll escape the tormentes and dispites that myne ennemies truste to put me vnto. Whan Fuluius and Claudius shall solempnely with triumph enter into Rome, I wyl not bounden be drawen be­fore them as a spectacle or wondryng stocke, and after put in pryson, or being tyed to a poste, suffer my body to be scour­ged, and at last haue my head stryken from my body with the axe of Rome, nother will I lyue to se my cuntrey distroied & bourned, or to see the noble matrons and maidens of Capua rauished and defouled. In the beginnyng of the flourishynge of the citie of Rome, the Romains distroyed the citie of Al­ba, and threwe it downe to the grounde: yet had they theyr originall from the same citie, what trowe ye than they wyl do [Page] to Capua, whiche they hate more than they doo Carthage? Therfore frendes, so many of you as be desyrous to dye, be­fore ye se these so many and so spiteful miseries, come this day to dyner with me, your meate is alredy dressed: and whā we be well filled with wyne and good meates, a cup of drynke, that I wyll fyrst drinke my selfe, shall be borne about to euery one of you: and that drynke shall delyuer the body from tor­mentes, the mynde from rebukes, the eies and the eares frō the syght and hearyng of all cruell dispites that be prepared for people that are ouercome. After whan we shall be deade, our seruauntes shall be redy to throwe our bodies into great fyres made for the purpose, there to be bourned, and so shall we neuer come into the handes of our enemies. This is the onely honest and free way to dye, wherby our ennemies shall meruaile and wonder at our noble courage. And Annibal shal therby well perceyue, that he hath forsaken and betrayde his valyant and faithfull felowes.

¶ This oration of Vibius was heard and wel alowed of ma­ny mo than had hartes to folowe it, or put it in execution. for the more part of the senatours said, that they had oft tymes in warres had experience of the pitie and gentylnesse of the Romaines shewed to their ennemies in suche extremitie, not mystrustyng, but they shulde fynde them mercyfull nowe to them, vpon humble request to them made: and thervpon de­termined to send legatis to the cōsul, to yeld them vp Capua.

¶ Vibius Virius went home to his house to dyner, whome xxvii. senatours folowed, where they dyned, and drunke plē ­ty of wyne, to the intent they might haue the lesse feelinge of the last dredefull drynke whan it came. At the last they all re­ceiued the poyson, and went from the table, taking eyther o­ther by the handes, and louingly enbrasyng one an other, la­mented their owne deathes, with the distruction of the cun­trey. Some remained there, and died, and were bourned in the fyres made for that intent: some went home to their hou­ses, and there made their ende: so that before the towne was deliuered to the Romaines, none of them were left on lyue.

¶ The next day the gates were opened, and the Romaines suffered to enter. Than were all the gates kepte by the Ro­mains, that no man shuld go furth, and first all the armour and wepons were brought to the Romain capitain: than were the [Page 72] Carthaginenses of the garrison taken and put in prison. The senatours were cōmanded to go to the consuls, than being in their tentes, from whens such as were most consenting to the receiuīg of Annibal, were sent to sūdry prisons .xxv. to Cales, and .xxviii. to Theanus, vntil it was agreed, what punishment they shuld haue. Their golde and syluer was brought in, and deliuered to the officers, called Questores. Claudius the cō ­sull was moch inclined to take the senators to mercy: Fuluius on the other side wold haue them suffer, in example of other rebelles and traytours. Wherefore Claudius remitted all thing to the iugement of the senate of Rome, and sent thither to knowe their pleasure therin. Whervpon Fuluius, fearing lest he shuld be stayed of his purpose, cōmanded the tribunes, with .ii. M. horsemen, to be redy to ride with him at the third blast of a trumpet. With this cōpany of horsmen in the night he departed from the army, and by that it was day light, came to Theanus, where causyng the senatours of Capua, there being prisoners, to be brought before him, incontinent be cau­sed them to be violently scourged with roddes, and after to haue their heades striken of. From thens, as fast as he might he hied to Cales, and there likewise sat vpon the iugement of the other senatours of Capua. but whiles they were going to execution, one came from the senate of Rome, riding in great hast, with letters, willing him to stay the iudgement and exe­cution of the punishment of the Cāpane senators. Than Ful­uius iudging the letters to be writen for that intent, neuer di­sclosed them, but put them in his bosom, saying to the officers that they shuld procede quickly to the execution accordinge to the lawe: So were they also whipped, and after had their heades stryken of. Than the consull drewe furth his letters, and redde them, saying they came very late, to let the thynge that was alredy done. From Cales he returned to Capua and there put diuers other in prison, beside many of the citie that were sold. Thā was there great debate in the senate at Rome whether the citie of Capua shuld be burned and vtterly dy­stroyed, in exaumple of other rebelles or not. Moch it mo­ued theym soo to doo, for that it was a greate and a stronge citie, and a very nere neyghbour vnto them: whych if it shuld be an ennemy agayne to Rome, as it late was, should great­lye dysquiete the Romaynes. Neuerthelesse in conclusyon, [Page] considering the fertilitie of the grounde, whiche was the best of all Italy, they agreed to vse it to their profit, hauing plow­men laborers & other to manure and tyl the groundes, and the houses to be inhabited with rude people, and menne of handy craftes: so that it shuld be a citie of no body politike, nor haue senatours, or other commune counsell or rulars, but onely a iudge yerely to be sent from Rome, to minister iustice among them. By this meane was the citie preserued from vtter dy­struction, and the profite therof, with the fieldes adioyning, employed to the common profite of the Romains.

DVringe the busines of Capua, and the warres about the same, fortune also fauoured the Ro­maines touching their affaires in Sicilia. For Marcellus, capitayne of the Romaines army there, so wisely & circūspectly gouerned him self and his people, that he wan the noble city of Syracusa. In whiche he had abundance of riches, as great as if he had taken the great citie of Carthage, with whyche (it was thought) in all thinges it might well as than haue ben compared. In the ende of the yere, whan the time of chosing of newe consuls was come, Marcus Marcellus, for his wel proued experience, was chosen consull, & appointed to match Anniball concerning the warres of Italy. And Marcus Va­lerius Leuinus was elect the other consull: to whom thende of the warres of Sicilia were wholly cōmitted: who by his industry, and by the treason of certaine Numidians, wan the towne of Agrigentum, wherby he droue Hanno, Epicides, and all the army of Carthage out of Sicilia: and soone after brought the hole cuntrey into the subiection of the Romans.

¶ While the warres of Sicilia & about Capua were brought to this good passe, Cn. Scipio and Publius his brother, were as busy in Spayne, but not with like successe. They had coū ­sailed togither, the sommer folowing, so to folow the warres, that the Carthaginenses shuld be cleane driuen out of Spain. And to be stronge inough therfore, they hyred .xxx. thousand [Page 73] men of warre of Celtiberia. The power of Carthage was di­uided in .iii. armies, gouerned by thre capitaines, Asdruball, the sonne of Gysgon, and Mago, these two capitaines lay .v. dayes iourney from the Romaine legions: the thyrd, whiche was Asdruball, the sonne of Amilcar, the auncient capitayne of the Carthaginenses in that countreye, laye at Anniturgi­um, more neerevnto the Romaines: and hadde in pourpose the sommer folowynge, to passe the mountaynes, to conueye his armye to Anniball. This his pourpose to lette, the two Scipios thought fyrste to assayle hym aloone from his com­pany, not doubtyng, but they were stronge inough so to doo. Their greattest feare was, lest whan they had ouercome him, that the other Hasdruball and Mago, hearyng therof, wolde flee into the mountaynes and straytes with their power, and so prolonge the warres in Spayn. Wherfore to make an ende of all theyr trouble at ones, they concluded to part their ar­mies in twayne, P. Cornelius with two partes shulde goo a­gaynst the two capitaines that lay togither. And Cn. Scipio with the thyrde part of theyr olde army, and with the Celti­berians shulde assaile the other Asdruball, the sonne of Amil­car. With these mindes they set furth togither toward their ennemies. Cn. Scipio whan he came to Aniturgium, rested with his company in the syght of his enemies, hauyng a riuer betwene hym and them: his brother went furthe, as it was a­greed betwene them. Asdruball perceiuing the numbre of the Romayns to be but small: and that all their strengthe was in strangers late hyred, knowing the faccion of the people, how vntrue and vnstable they were: by the meane of Spaniardes, that coulde speake the language, for great summes of money he corrupted the princis & rulars of them: so that they were agreed to departe home with theyr hole power. They were not desyred or hyred to vndertake the warres with Asdrubal against the Romaines, but onely to depart without fighting. Whervnto they were sone intreated, partly for that they had as large wages as though they shuld haue foughten: And a­gayne for that they were gladde to retourne home to theyr cuntreys and frendes, auoyding the danger of warre. Ther­fore sodaynely they with their baners and caryage departed. The Romaines meruayling what this sodaine chaunge ment, enquired of them the cause of their departure. They answe­red, [Page] they were sent for home to defende theyr owne cuntrey whiche was oppressed also with warre. Other answere could they none gette: nother were the Romaynes able to kepe them with force. Scipio knowyng, that without theym he was nothynge able to encounter Asdruball, and also seynge no waye howe he myghte recouer the companye of his bro­ther: his ennemies beinge soo nere, and commynge on hym, was meruaylously astonied: yet he thought beste, in no wyse to meete with hym on euen grounde, he was soo farre ouer­matched. Wherfore a lyttell and a lyttell he with drewe him backe, sekyng some place of strength, where he myghte suc­cour hym selfe and his small company. That perceiuing Has­druball passed the ryuer with his hooste, and folowed after, with as moche speede as he could.

¶ Nowe was P. Scipio his brother as moche troubled on his parte, by reason of Massanissa, a yong lusty prince of Nu­midia, who beinge than a frende to the Carthaginenses, was comme with a good power of Numidians to the succour of Mago and Hasdruball the sonne of Gysgon, he was fiers and of a greatte courage, the Romaynes coulde nother goo a­brode for vitayles, woode, or suche necessaries, but he with his Numidians was euer redy to oppresse them: and dyuers tymes in the nyght he wolde assayle theym in theyr campe, as people that were besieged. There was also tydinges brought to Scipio, that one Indibilis, with seuen thousande, and fyue hundred Suessanes, was at hande, commynge to the healpe of the Carthaginenses: whose army beinge ioyned to the other, he knewe he shulde be more straightly enclosed. Wherfore, compelled by necessitie to serche the compasse of his wytte, he determyned secretely to take the greatter part of his armye to meete with this Indibilis in the nyghte, in­tendynge, where soo euer he mette with hym, to gyue hym battaylle, he lefte Titus Fonteius, with a certayne with hym, to keepe the campe. And goynge on his waye aboute mydnyght he met with Indibilis and sodaynly assayled hym. There was a fyerse conflycte for a season: And by the so­dayne settynge on theym, the Romaynes hadde putte theym to flyghte with greatte slaughter, hadde not the Numidian horsemenne, who alwayes awayted on the Ro­maynes [Page 74] where soo euer they wente) on bothe partes so­deynly assayled theym: yet Scipio soo pryuily was in the nyght departed, that he hadde thought therby to haue be­giled the Numidians watchemen. Than the battail being re­nued agayn, Mago and Asdruball with their hostes folowing after, were at theyr backes: so that the Romaynes knew not to whiche were best to tourne them. Scipio stille comforted and exhorted his men, and euer where the battaile was moste stronge, thyther went he lyke a noble and valiant gouernour, tyll at the last hym selfe was thyrst into the ryght syde with a speare, so that he fell dead from his hors. Whan the Cartha­ginenses sawe the Romayne capitayne falle, incontinent they ranne abrode in all the partes of the fielde ioyfully cryinge, Scipio the capitayne of the Romaines is slayne. The fame wherof gaue hart to the Carthaginenses, and caused the Ro­maynes to flee. but in the flyght there were mo slayne than in the batail. The Numidian horsmen were so fierse in the chase, and the footemen hauyng lyght harneis were almost as swyft as the horses. So that yf the nyght had not come on theym, fewe or none had escaped. The Carthaginenses after this vi­ctory slept not nor stayde, but to folowe theyr good occasy­on offered, incontinent toke theyr horses, and went to the o­ther Hasdruball, the sonne of Amilcar, not doutyng of good spede there also. After that both theyr powers were mette togyther, there was great ioye made betweene the capitey­nes bothe for theyr metynge, and also for the newes of theyr late victory.

¶ On the other syde the Romayns were stryken with feare­ful pensifenes, not for any knowlege that they had of the losse of their company, for there was such spede made by theyren­nemies, that worde thereof coulde not so soone be broughte them: but their feare was as it were through an inwarde and secrete iudgement in theyr hartes, of somme euyll chaunce that was happed vnto theym. Agayne Cn. Scipio seing the hoste of his ennemyes encreased, by the commynge of Ma­go and Asdruball, meruailed howe they shulde conuey theyr armye thyther so soone without battayle, onlesse his brother were slayne. He meruayled alsoo, that his brother, nother dydde lette their commynge thyther, nother yet dydde ap­pere folowynge theym. For he knewe, yf he were on lyne, [Page] he wolde make haste to come and ioyne his army vnto his. In this great trouble of mynde, he thoughte to withdrawe hym as moche as he myght. Wherefore in the nyght he was gone a good space of grounde, but in the dawnyng of the daye, the Numidians were ware of their departing, and folowed with their horses, so that long before nyght they ouertoke theym, assayling them now on the one side, now on the other, and somtyme behynde them: but euer Scipio caused theym to keepe good aray, and to go euer forewarde in their fightynge, to be out of the daunger of the footemen of their enemies that fo­lowed them: but the horsemen so vexed them on all partes, that they could not go farre. Wherfore Scipio gathered his small company vp to a lytell hyll, the best that he coulde there espy for his aduātage. There he toke this order. theyr stuffe and cariage was brought into the myddell of the host, and the horsemen sette about the same: without them were the foote men, who saued the other from the inuasion of the Numidian horsemen, tyl the rest of the Carthaginenses were come. But than Scipio seing hym selfe so vnable to resist .iii. capitaynes and their great hostes, began to diuise, howe he might by any meanes cast a trenche about his campe, or make some hedge to defende them from the inuasions of theyr enemies: but thā was the hyll so bare, and the grounde so stony, that no bushes or thornes coulde there be gathered, nor turues dygged, or any trenche made: and the hyll it selfe was so flatte, that they coulde by no maner of way let the commyng vp of their ene­mies. Than Scipio to make some shewe of a defence aboute the campe, deuised to lay his packes and grosse cariage in cō ­passe of the campe one vpon an other, and thervppon he cau­sed the packsaddels and other fardels to be tyed: wherby he raysed the walles of his campe of a good height.

¶ Whan the hostes of the Carthaginenses were come, they ascended that small hyll with lyttel peyne: but than seing that straunge kynde of fortifieng the campe, which they had neuer before sene, they were amased, and stayde for a season. The capitaynes perceiuyng theyr sodayne stoppe and wondryng, cried on al partes to them, saying, that it was great shame for them to be so longe or they coulde plucke downe and deface suche a fond deuise and mockery, wherwith children and wo­men wold not so long haue ben stayed. Go to it therfore with [Page 75] courage (sayd they) for your ennemies lye lurkyng behynde those packes. With these rebukes of the capitaines, they as­sayed to enter on all partes. And though a greate whyle they were lette and troubled therabout, at the last in diuers partis they entred, so few in numbre could no longer endure against so many. The campe was wonne, and many were slain, wher­of Cn. Scipio the noble capitayne was one, a good number sledde into the woodes, that were next vnto them, and so es­caped, and came into the tentes of Publius Scipio, whyche than were kept by T. Fonteius. Thus were bothe the bre­therne and capytaynes of the Romaynes in Spayne, slayne within the space of .xxx. dayes: whose death was greatly la­mented, both at Rome and also in Spain. And it was thought at their death, that the hole army of the Romaines in Spayn was vtterly brought to confusyon, and that countrey thereby brought out of the Romaynes handes.

IN all this peryll and ieoperdous estate, one man was founde in the army, by whose witte courage and fortune the honour and welthe of the Romaynes was saued and restored. And that was Lucius Martius, the sonne of Septinius, a freshe yonge man and an ac­tiue. This Martius hadde longe ben in the warres vnder C. Scipio, and of hym had learned moche ex­perience and policy in the gouernance of an army. And nowe, seing all thinges almoste desperate, he gathered togither such souldiours, as by fleing were escaped from the last bataile, and also assembled a good numbre of men of warre out of dyuers townes and fortresses, whiche were vnder the obedience of Rome. With all these he came to the tentes of T. Fonteius, ioynyng all the Romaines power togither, and in short space his name and honour was so exalted, that by the whole con­sent of the souldyours of the army, he was chosen to be their capitayne and guyde. Whervpon he incontinent applied himselfe [Page] busyly to make sure theyr campe, and also to make good prouisyon for vitayles of all sortes. To whose pleasure and commaundement all the men of the hoste gladly obeyed: Ne­uerthelesse, whan they hearde, that Hasdruball the sonne of Gysgon, was at hande with his army, myndynge to dystroye vtterly all the Romaynes that were lefte: and also whan they sawe theyr newe capitayne, makynge redy his people, and a­uauncyng his standerdes: they than remembryng theyr olde noble capytaines, and the great power, wherwith they were wont to go to all batayles, coulde not forbeare to wepe and lament theyr myshappe, in suche wyse, that nother theyr pe­ty capitaynes, nor yet Martius hym selfe, myght appease them: yet dyd they sometime rebuke theyr feminine and vn­profitable wepinges, sometyme styrre them to defende them selues and their countrey, and also to reuenge the deathe of theyr olde noble capitaynes of late slayne. Whyle they thus were spendyng the tyme vnprofytably, theyr ennemies were at hande, and redye to assaile them, and to enter into their campes, but than the Romaines, tournyng their teares to a furious rage, in haste toke their armure and weapons, and not only defended the entries of their campe, but also issued out fiersely, and ranne on their ennemies, whiche kepte no very good aray, so littell they mystrusted any such resistence. This sodayne issuing out of them caused the Carthaginenses to be striken with a feare, and also to meruaile, howe the Romaine hoste was so shortly encreased, whiche so late was almooste wholly slayn and put to vtterance. They mused also of their sodayne courage and hardynesse, and what newe capytaine they myght haue to truste on, the two Scipios beinge slaine. In that feare and dout they beganne somwhat to giue backe, and than the Romaines folowed vppon them, soo that they were constrayned to flee, and in that flyght many of them hadde bene slayne, or elles the folowers hadde bene putte to greatte hurte and dyspleasure, by theyr faste pursuite, hadde not Martius hym selfe sounde the retreate, and halfe agaynste theyr wylles stayed theym frome the chase, and broughte theym backe to theyr tentes, beynge styll hotte, fyerse, and desyrous, by slaughter to reuenge theym on their enenmies. The Carthaginenses fledde faste for a season: but at the laste, seynge noo manne to folowe them, thought [Page 76] that they for feare durste noo longer pursue theym. Wher­efore they made noo more suche haste, but wente softely to theyr campe, and whanne they were come thither, they al­so regarded not greatly the good watche and kepynge ther­of, but lefte all thinges negligently and vnsurely, nothynge mystrusting their ennemies that were at hande, for that they demed them to be but the remenaunt and leauynges of two hostes lately beaten, nowe beynge gathered togyther again. This neglygence of the Carthaginenses was knowen to Martius by espies. Wherefore he (at the fyrste apparance) semed rather rasshely than boldly to enterpryse the night fo­lowinge to inuade theym in theyr tentes and fielde, thinking it more easye for him to wynne the campe of Hasdruball a­lone, beinge sodainly taken and vnprouided, than he shoulde be able to defende his owne campe and fielde, if he taried tyll the .iii. capitaines of the Carthaginenses, and theyr ar­inies, were ioyned togither agayne, Neuerthelesse before he wold sodainly and in the night time enterprise so high a feate, he thought fyrst to make his companye priuie therof, and also to make vnto them an oration, whiche he began in this wise.

¶ The greatte loue that I haue euer borne vnto oure good capytaynes (louynge souldiours) as welle whan they were onlyue, as also nowe they are deade, and our presente for­tune at this tyme is sufficient to perswade any man, that this greatte authoritie and rule, which of your goodnes, ye haue gyuen me, is both weighty and full of care and troubles. For although my mynde be sore troubled and disquieted, that it can almoste at no tyme fynde any comfort or consolation, but onely whan feare dryueth away the sorowes thereof: yet in my dolour, I onely am constrayned to comforte and relieue you all of your sorowes. Neyther whan I am deuysynge, by what meanes I may saue and preserue the leauynges of the two Romaines hostes, for the wealthe of the countrey, can I at any tyme be quitte and ridde of my sorowes. For euen thanne the two Scipios bothe by daye and by nyghte, doo vexe and trouble me: sommetyme in dreames they appeere vnto me, and many tymes they awake me out of my slepes, cōmanding me, not to leaue them, nor yet their noble souldi­ours your cōpanions, nor the cōmon welth vnreuenged. And for that intent, they will me to folow the rules and discipline, [Page] that they haue taught me: And as (whiles they were lyuing) there was no man more obedient to their commandement thā I was: so lykewyse, now they ar departed, I shall always be as glad to do that thyng, which I do suppose they wold haue done, yf they werehere with vs lyuing. And I wold ye shuld not thynke it best (worthy warriours) to mourne and weepe for theym, as though they were cleane deade, sens they lyue perpetually through the noble fame of their honorable actes: but whan so euer ye shall, going to battayle, remembre any of them, I wolde haue you so vahantly fight, as though ye sawe them setting furthe before you with baners displayde, and ex­hortyng you to wyn honour. Such an imagination caused you yesterday so manfully to vanquysshe and put to flyght youre enemies. Wherfore I am moche desyrous to proue, whether you, that were so hardy for your owne pleasure, dare now vn­dertake as moche at the desyre and exhortation of me youre capitayne. For yesterday, whan I called you backe from the chase of your enmies, I dyd it not to plucke downe your sto­makes, or to quench your noble courage: but only to deferre the same to your more and greatter honour, and also better o­portunitie: to the intente that you beinge prepared therfore, may assayle theym vnpurueyde for the same, that you armed, may take them vnarmed and a slepe. Our enemies thinke no­thyng lesse, than to beinuaded of vs in their campe, whome they accompt as people besieged within our owne campe, let vs nowe therfore enterpryse that, whiche no man will thinke, that we dare enterpryse. And that shall be founde moste easy, that semed moste harde to be compassed: I my selfe wyll be your guide in the dead of the night, and leade you so secretly, and with suche silence, that we wyll be within theyr campe, er they shalbe ware of our comming. I am ascertained, that they kepe no watche nor order. Their campe shall we wyn at the fyrst brunt.: And than let me see you make the slaughter a­monge them, that you intended yesterday to haue made, whā against your wylles I called you back frō the pursuit of thē: wherwith ye were than very angry. This enterprise I know to be very great and hardy: but in suche necessitie suche coū ­sels are best. For whan occasion is offred, and oportunitie ser­ueth, it muste be taken: or els it wyll flee away without reco­uerie. One of theyr armies is here at hande, and two other [Page] are not farre hense. Nowe yf we assayle this one hoste, there may we fynde oportunitie and haue some equall matche. Ye haue alredy yesterday assayed bothe your owne strength and theyrs: but in case we delay it, beinge contented with yester­days honour, it is ieoperdy, lest all the capitayns, with their powers come togither: and than howe shall we be able to su­stein the power of thre armies with their gouernours, whom Cn. Scipio, with his army was not able to withstand? as by diuyding their hostes our two noble capitaynes were slayne: lykewyse our enemies beinge diuided & seuered, may by vs be oppressed. Other way is there none for vs to take nowe: but only to loke for the oportunitie of this next night. Wherfore in the name of the goddis go ye now to your restes, and che­rishe your bodies, that whan I call on you, you being strong and lusty, maye enter into the campe of your ennemies, with the same hertes and courage, that of late ye defended your owne Campe.

¶ This newe counsaile of the newe capitayn was wel heard, and so moche the more ioyfully receiued, by howe moche the acte semed to be more bolde and hardy. Wherfore they pre­pared all thynges in a redynesse for the departure, and rested them selues the rest of the day, and a good part of the night. Than Martius caused them to be called vp, and sette theym secretely on the way forwarde, aboute thre of the clocke af­ter mydnyght. Than was there an other armye of the Car­thaginenses seuen myles beyonde the campe of Hasdruball, the sonne of Gysgon, and in the myddes of that waye there was a holowe valeye, and therin a lyttell woode. Into this woode had Martius sent an embushement of Romaine horse­men, to receyue suche as fledde frome the fyrste campe, and wolde escape to the other. And whan he demed the said em­bushement to be come thither, he with the rest of his compa­ny, went to the next campe, where fynding no watche nor re­sistence, they entred the tentes as easily as they might haue done into theyr owne. Than sodainly they blew vp their trum pettes, and made great clamour and noyse: some slewe their ennemies slepyng, some set the tentes on fyre, many kept the entre or gates of the campe, that none shulde issue out. Thus with sodayne noyse, fyre, and slaughter, the other were so a­mased, that they wyst not what to do. They that fledde to the [Page] gates were there receiued of armed men and slaine, whan they perceiued the gates so hepte, many to saue their liues lep to­uer the dyches or closures of the campe, thynking to flee to the next campe of the Carthaginenses, and they were also re­ceiued of the Romayn embushement and slayne, so that none escaped. And if any had escaped, they could not haue brought word of the newes to the other campe, before the Romaines came theym selues: suche spede they made to go to the secōd campe, after they had so slaine and oppressed them of the first fielde. Thus in the breake of the day, they came to the second campe, where they found all thinges more vnready, then in the fyrste: some were gone forthe for woode, some on for ra­gynge, some for vytailes, many walked vp and downe before the gate of the campe vnarmed, many were layed downe to take theyr reste: the Romaynes, beynge yet fyers of theyr late victory, slewe fyrste suche as made resystence at the entre of the campe, and after they entred and made great slaugh­ter. With this great noyse, many arose and armed them, and came to the defence of their fyelde, and thereby the battayle for a season was cruel and stronge: but as sone as they per­ceyued the freshe blodde on the Romayns shyeldes, whyche was a sygne of the deathe of their companye, they were stry­ken with suche feare, that they fledde as many as myght sun­dry wayes, so that nyght and morninge Martius vanquyshed ii. of the hostes of the Carthaginenses, and flewe .xxxvii. M. men, and .i. M. and .viii. C. were taken. He wanne also their tentes, wherein was a ryche praye. Amonge other thynges there he founde a helmette of syluer, waying .C. xxxviii. vn­ces, and therevppon was grauen the Image of Hasdruball, the sonne of Amylcar: whiche helmet was sent to the senate of Rome, and kepte long after in the Capitolie, for an hono­rable monumēt or remembrance of the victory of Martius. And after his tyme it was called Martius helmet, vnto the tyme of the burning of the Capitolye. After these great har­mes and losses, bothe gyuen and taken on bothe partes, they ceassed warryng for a whyle in Spayne, neyther party beyng hastye to put al in ieopardye, tylle they were sure of more so­cours.

AFter the subduing of Capua, Appius Claudius Nero the consul, with an army of .xii. M. fotemen, and .xi. C. horsemen, was sent into Spayn: where receyuing also the host that was before with Martius & Fonteius, he toke the way toward Hasdrubal the son of Amilcar, that lay with his army at a place called the Blacke stone, betwe [...]e the town of Illiturgus and Mentissa, whiche was a place so enclosed, that there was no waye to issewe out, but at certayne strey­tes, whiche streites Claudius Nero at his fyrste comynge, caused to be wel and strongly kepte, that the other shoulde by no waye escape, but at his pleasure. Hasdruball perceiuing him selfe to be enclosed on all partes, fearyng his escape from thens, sent incontinente an harrold to the consull, with faith­full promesse, that in case he wolde suffre him and his compa­ny to departe out of that streytes, without further battell or trouble, he wolde be contented forthwith to departe oute of Spayne, with al the army of Carthage, and leaue the coun­trey holly to the Romayns. This his large offer Nero glad­ly receyued, and the next daie folowynge was appoynted for a communication to be had betwene them, of the condicions of delyuerynge of the castels and fortresses, whiche they had in possession, and what day should be appoynted for the Cartha­ginenses garrysons to departe with their baggage, withoute gile or fraude, from the said castels and townes, and the other to be receyued in their places. When they were agreed on this communication, al the same night Hasdruball caused ma­ny of his host, with all his grosse and heauy cariage, to be sent forth by the sayde streyghtes, beyng then not so streitly kept and watched. Euer forseyng, that there shoulde not ouer ma­ny departe at ones that nyght, to the intent the smallenes of the noumbre, by makynge smalle noyse, myght with their sy­lence deceiue his ennemies, and also the better to escape the narrowe and vncasy wayes of the streighte passages.

The day folowing the consul and he had long communication, and bokes were wrytten of thynges of smalle importaunce, [Page] tyll it drewe towarde nyght: and then they agreed to mete the nexte mornyng, to fynishe theyr deuyses. This nyght al­so Hasdruball bestowed, in sending furth many mo of his host, & more of his cariage then he dyd the nyght before. The next metyng also was in lyke maner in vayne, the tyme wasted and spente in deuises of couenauntes: and euer in the nyght he sent of his footemen and stuffe out of daunger.

¶ Thus in reasonyng and debatyng, dyuerse dayes were em­ployed, tyll all his footemen and cariage were escaped. And when a great parte of his host was by this illusion escaped, then began Hasdruball more to staye, and be styffe in the agre­ing of couenauntes, in so muche that he began to dissent from dyuers artycles, whervnto he had before assented. For as his feare was lessed, his faythe also decressed. The next mor­ning there appered a great and darke myste vpon the ground, as wel on the hilles as on the valeys, whiche serued wel Has­druball for his purpose. For he, thinking then his good houre to be come, sent to Nero the consull, aduertysing hym, that the same day was, and euer had ben kepte bye holy and sacred amonge the Carthaginenses: so that in the same it was not lawfull for hym, to trauayle about any busynesse. Wherfore he desyred the communication to be deferred tyll the daie fo­lowyng. The consull yet thynkyng no fraude or deceite to be in the message, agreed thervnto. And then Hasdruball with spede issued out of the strayte with the reste of his hoste, horsemen & Eliphantes, with as small noise as he could make, and was passed all daunger, before the daye waxed clere. But whē the son began to appere, thē Nero perceiuing the campe of the Carthaginenses to be voyde, and knowyng many fest­ly of theyr departure, with theyr vntrueth and his mocke and illusion, he made as muche spede as he coulde to folowe his ennemyes, with a feruent desyre to fyght, yf he myght ouer­take them. But they were in safegarde, er he myght atteine vnto theym, without any thyng doyng, onlesse it were small skirmisshes betwene the taile of the host of the Carthaginen­ses and the lyght foreryders of the Romayne armie.

¶ The ende of the yere drewe nere, and the tyme of chosyng of offycers began to approche: at whiche election Marcus Marcellus, and Marcus Valerius Leuinus were chosē con­sulles. Then the senate of Rome, with no lesse diligence de­libered [Page] of the affayres of Spayne, then they dyd of the estate of Italie, for the sauegarde wherof they determyned to aug­ment the armie, that was there with Nero the consull, and to sende also with the same a newe capitayne, whom they called a proconsull. But all theyr doubte was, whom they shulde as­sygne to that office, to succede in the place of two so noble ca­pitaynes, as were of late there slayne, in the space of .xxx. dayes. The daie was appoynted for the commune election of this capitayne, by voyce of the senatours and also of the com­munes. Some loked, when many valiant men woulde haue offered them selues therto for the wealth of their countrey: But none was founde amonge them, that wolde enterpryse to take on hande that great & perillous charge. The citezens by great assembles mette at the daye and place appoynted for the nomination. At whiche daye the noble men loked one vp­pon an other, as people amased and destitute of counsayle in suche perplexitie, lamenting the sore decaye of the state of the citie.

¶ When none coulde be found amonge them, worthy for that rome or office: then sodeinly yonge P. Cornelius Scipio, the sonne of him that was before slayne in Spaine, being then but xxiiii. yeres old, stode vp in an high place, where al mē myght well see and beholde hym, and desyred, that the same offyce myght be gyuen vnto hym. when he had declared his mynde, anon the hole multitude of all estates gaue to hym their con­sent, criyng: Luckie be his empire in Spayne.

¶ Soone after his hastie election a sodeyne sylence was a­monge the multitude, and then all men began secretly with them selues to consyder their haste in their nomination, mer­uaylyng, and also forthinkyng, that they had more fauoured the person through affection, then they did consider his youth by theyr reason, many mislyked the fortune that had happed to his stocke and familie in the same countrei before, and some were sorye to sende one of the same kyn and name, to gouerne the countreie, where his father and vncle were slayne and lay buryed.

¶ When yonge Scipio perceyued their silence, and repen­taunce of their hastie election, he desired them a lyttell to giue him audience. And there he made them such an oration, in the excuse of his age, and concerning the rule and affayres to him [Page] commytted, with such an herte and courage, that he not one­ly enflamed their hertes with more ardent desyre and loue to­warde hym, but also he fulfylled them with a certeyne hope of prosperous successe in his empyre. For the yonge man, be­syde many his marueylous vertues and good qualities, wher with he was naturally indewed, he had also from his infancie a wonderfull counning or gifte in the noble auauncing and set­tyng furth of the same. Somtime amonge the commune peo­ple he woulde shewe certayne dreames or visions, that he had in the nyght: sometime he woulde declare vnto them thinges that he was commanded inwardly by the goddes to execute. These and such lyke his straunge wordes, with the maner and facion of lyuing after he was fyrste put in auctoritie, shewed suche a magnificence in hym, that the commune people both had an opinion, and also publysshed the same, that Scipio was descended of the stocke or kynred of the goddes. Inuentyng a lyke fable of his conception to be by the seede of a serpent or snake, as heretofore hath ben fayned of great Alexander: af­fyrming, that the similitude of the same hath ben dyuers times seen in his mothers chamber: but so soone as any man entred her sayde chaumbre, it dyd sodaynly glide and vanyshe away.

¶ This fayned inuention of his conception, and the supersti­tious myndes of the people towarde hym, he woulde nother affyrme to be true, nother saye they were false and vntrewe: but couertly left them to dwell styll in theyr owne opinions: wherby all men had suche an admiration of hym, that they suf­fred hym to enioy that great roume, that els was full vnmete for that his yong age. The army, that shuld be vnder hym in Spayne, was increased tenne thousand fotemen, and one. M. horsemen: and M. Iulius Sullanus was appoynted to helpe hym in all his busy affayres of charge.

¶ With this newe army and a nauy of .xxx. shyppes, he de­parted out of Italy, makyng great spede, tylle he arryued in Spayne: where he gathered togither all the power that re­mained there before, and so sobrely handled him self to al men, that in his woordes they iudged to be bothe a royall maiestie, and a stedfast faythfulnes. He praysed moch the souldiours, whiche he founde there, fyrst for that not withstanding theyr ii. great losses of men & capitayns, yet they kept still that cun­trey, defendyng manfully their frendis, and many their cities [Page 80] of the same: and also that they suffred not theyr ennemies to enioy the prosperous fortune, whiche by the losse of the Ro­mayns was ones gyuen them: Thyrdly, for that they had dri­uen their ennemies to forsake theyr abode on this lide the wa­ter of Iberus. But aboue all other, he had Lucius Martius in great honour and veneration. And anon after his cōmyng, he bestowed his newe menne of warre, to places where they shuld remaine for the winter season, and he hym selfe, after all thinges were ordinately disposed, went to Tarracon.

¶ The fame of Scipio was no lesse among his ennemies, thā it was among his frendes. They also had a certaine feare of hym, coniecturyng, as it were by secrete diuination, the likely successe of thynges that were to ensue. They feared hym be­fore they hadde cause, and they feared hym the more, by how moche the cause or reason of theyr feare was hydde and vn­knowen. And in this perplexitie of mynde, they departed their armies, and went to dyuers partes for the wynter sea­son. Hasdruball the sonne of Gysgon, went to the sea, toward the pyllars of Hercules: Mago kept the myddell of the cuntrey, and Hasdruball the sonne of Amilcar, lay nigh the riuer of Iberus, not farre from Sagunt.

IN. the spryng of the yere P. Scipio cōmanded all his shyppes, furnished with men vitailes and munimentes of warre, to mete hym at the mouthe of the ryuer of Iberus: where he with the rest of his hoste, cominge by lande from Tarracon, mette them. And there thinkyng it necessa­ry to hym, to declare his mynde to the olde souldyours that were lefte in Spayne, after the laste great losse and slaughter of the Romaynes, he called them togyther, and made his ora­tion as hereafter foloweth.

¶ There was neuer newe capitayn before me, that had cause to gyue thankes vnto his souldyours, before he hadde tryed theyr hardines and diligence in bataile: but fortune hath boūd me vnto you (louinge souldiours) before I knewe this coun­treye, or sawe the place of our Campe. Fyrste for the loue and obedience that ye haue borne to my father and mine vncle [Page] bothe quycke and deade: secundarily for that, whan the hole countrey was as loste, by reason of the greate distruction of our people: yet you by your noble vertue and myghte, haue obteyned the possession of the same agayne, bothe to the Ro­maynes, and also to me theyr deputie here, and successour to my sayd father and vncle. But now, sens through the fauour of the goddis we intende to worke, not that we may dwell in Spayne styll our selues, but that the Carthaginenses shall haue no dwellyng here: Nother onely to restraine them, that they shall not come on this syde the bankes of the water of Iberus: but that we intend to passe the same floode with our army, to gyue them battayle. I feare, lest it shall be thoughte by you, that this my counsayle is more hardy (and spoken af­ter myne age) than wyse, consyderynge the late losse that we haue had here, wherby the tyme shuld not serue vs to vnder­take suche great enterpryses. There is noo manne hath more cause than I, to remembre our euyll fortune in batayle in Spayne, who haue had both my father and myne vncle slayne here, within the space of thyrty days, as ye wold say, to make here a heape of corps of our family one vpon an other. Neuerthelesse, as the losse and lacke of frendes is displeasant to the mynde of men, euen so doth fortune and noble vertuouse cou­rage forbyd a man, in suche case to dispayre, specially sens thorough fatall fortune our chaunce hath heretofore bene, that after we haue bene beaten and susteined great losses in the be­ginning: yet at the last we haue euer ouercome our ennemies, that before suppressed vs. I wyll not reherse the olde hysto­ries of our warres with Porsena, with the Frenchmen, and with the Samnites: I wyll onely remembre the warres with these our ennemies the Carthaginenses, how many nauies of shyppes, howe many capitaynes, and howe many armies lost we in the fyrst battayles, that we had with theym, before the tyme of this Anniball? And nowe in his tyme at Trebia, at Trasymenus, and at Cannas, what other thinges did appere, other than hole armyes with theyr capitaynes and Romayne Consuls slayne? Furthermore, howe great a parte of Italy, of Sardinia, and Sicilia haue forsaken the Romaynes, to fo­lowe the amitie of Anniball? and how nigh the citie of Rome pytched he his campe? ye he hym self was sene almost to ride hard to the gates of Rome. In all the tyme of this great ru­yne and hard fortune, the hertes, the vertue and courage of [Page 81] of the Romaynes remayned styl stedfast hole and vnmouable: wherby they haue ben euer susteyned and set vp agayne. Af­ter the cruell batayle of Cannas, Hasdruball, with a great ar­mye was goynge ouer the mountaynes into Italye, to helpe his brother Anniball, and to ioyne theyr powers together: whych if he had done, accordynge to his intent, there hadde by thys day ben almost no memorye or name of the Romayns left. But then ye hardy souldyours, by the gouernaunce of my father, withstode theim, and by your good fortune so wel sped there, that therby the euel chaunces, which before hap­ned vs, were wel releued, and nowe, through the goodnes of the goddes are dayly more ioyfull and prosperous. In Sici­lia the great cities of Syracusa and Agrigentum, be wonne agayn, and the hole Ile brought vnto the obedience of the Romaines, and our ennemies clene expulsed. In Italy Capua is taken, & the Arpines brought again vnder the subiection of Rome. And Anniball in gret feare fleing frō Rome, is nowe bryuen into an angle of the countrey of the Brutians, where the dayly prayer that he maketh to the goddes aboue al thin­ges is, that he may safe and sound escape without daunger out of the countrey of his ennemies. Wherfore frendes, there is nothyng more vnmete or more contrary to reason, then that you, who haue in al aduersitie and lowe ebbe, when the god­des were them selues almost on Annibals partie, & yet by the guyding of my father and frendes, haue susteyned and borne vp the estate of the Romaynes: that ye nowe, when al thyn­ges ar mery and prosperous, shoulde shrynke or suffre your hartes to fayle you. Nowe the immortall goddes, the gouer­nours of the Romayne Empyre, who wylled the people of Rome, by one assent to elect me vnto this gret offyce and di­gnitie, the same goddes by sundry presages signes and drea­mes in the nyght haue shewed me, that all thynges hereafter shal haue prosperous successe. ye and that I most at this time do regarde, my harte giueth me, that ere it be long, al Spaine shalbe ours, so that as many as beare the name of a Carthagi­nense, shall be gladde for feare to flee hens, both by lande and by sea. And reason also gyueth, that the same whiche in my herte is conceyued, must nedes be trewe. For dyuers of theyr frendes, whyche haue by theym ben euil intreted, haue of late sent embassadours to vs for socours. Agayne, there [Page] be of them thre captaines, whiche can not agree among them selues. For whiche cause they haue deuided theyr armye in three partes, and are departed farre a sundre. Wherfore the same, fortune that skourged and distroyed vs, doth nowe come on theim. For their felowes and friendes, in whom they trust be gone from theim, euen as the people called Celtiberi, de­parted and forsoke you, when y [...]hadde moste nede of theim. They also haue deuided and seuered theyr hostes, which was the cause of the destruction, bothe of my father & of myne vn­cle. This discorde wyll not suffer theim to ioyne to gether a­gaine. And be ye sure, no one armie of theim by it selfe is able to withstande you. Wherfore I moste hertely pray you good souldiours, loue and fauour nowe the name of the Scipions, whiche am I the sonne of your olde capitaine Scipio, an impe growen out (as ye woulde saye) of a stocke that is cut downe by the grounde. And ye olde knightes, so worke, that ye may brynge me a yonge capitaine, with my newe armie ouer Ibe­rus into the countrey, which ye haue passed, after many great actes and prowes shewed: and I doubte not shortly to bringe to passe, that as ye nowe knowe in me to be a similitude or re­semblaunce of my father and vncle, by my face, countenaunce, and features of my body, euen so shall ye see in me also an ex­aumple of theyr witte faith and vertue: in suche wyse, that e­uery one of you shall saye: Scipio our olde capitaine is alyue agayne.

VVhen he had by these exhortations kendeled the hertes of his men, he lefte behinde hym to kepe that countreye, M. Sillanus, with three thousande fotemen, and thre hundred horsemen: with the rest of his armye, which was .xxv. thousande fotemen, and .ii. thou­sande and .v. C. horsemen, he passed the ry­uer of Iberus. When he was passed ouer, many counsailed [Page 82] hym, seinge the army of the Carthaginenses was deuydedin­to thre partes, that he shulde assaile that host of theim, which was next vnto hym, sayenge, It was peryll, if they were ioy­ned together, lest he shulde not be able to resyste theim: but he had imagined in his mynde, that he woulde fyrste assaulte Carthago Noua, whiche was then not onely ryche of the ry­chesse of the inhabitantes of the same, but also riche by meanes of the Carthaginenses, who had leyde there theyr treasure, armour, with moche other apparayll for the warre. There remayned also in that Citie, all the pledges of noble men and citees of Spayne. Besyde this, the citie was situate vpon the sea, from whense it was easy to passe ouer into Affrica.

The hauen also therof was able to receyue easely the greatest nauye of any prynce.

¶ Of this his purpose no man was priuye, but onely T. Le­lius, gouernour of the shyppes and armye by the sea, to whome he commaunded, soo to tempre his course with his shyppes, that his armye by lande, and the other by sea, myghte bothe sodaynely appeere at Carthage in one tyme. Whyche his charge was dewely putte in execution. For the seuenthe daye after theyr departynge frome Iberus, they mette at newe Carthage: where incontynente the Campe was made, and tentes pytched on the Northe syde of the citie.

¶ Nowe is the syte or sytuation of Carthage on this ma­nier: In the myddell of Spayne, there is a greatte bo­some or goulfe, in to the whyche the sea hath his full course, within the lande the lengthe of fyue hundred passes, and the breadthe of the sea in the same place, is muche of the same quantitie. In the inner parte or furthest ende of this goulfe, is a hylle, on whyche the citie is buylded: and it is on two partes, that is to saye, on the easte syde, and on the southe syde, enclosed with the sea, whyche frome the sayde goulfe or bosome, rounneth in to the lande by the one syde of the citie. Vppon the weaste syde, it is defended with a greatte and brode poole, that rounneth vp also a good part of the Northe syde of the towne: The deepenesse of the poole is at noo certayntie: For as the sea dothe aryse on heyghte and ebbe lowe, soo is the water thereof deepe or shalowe. ¶ Thus is the Cytie on all partes enuyronned [Page] with water, as it were an ylande, oneles it be on a part of the northsyde: and the mayne lande there, passeth not .ii. hundred and fyfty paces in bredth. Wherfore sens the grounde there was no broder, Scipio intended not to make trenches on that part, for that he thought hym selfe stronge ynough to keepe that lyttell peece of grounde from his ennemies: and also to thintent he myght at all tymes haue recourse to view the wal­les and strength of the towne.

¶ Whan Scipio had ordered all thinges ordinately vpon the lande for the assaulte, he than went to the hauen, where he in lyke maner ordered his shippes and his men, that it might ap­pere to the citizens, that they shoulde be assaulted, as well by water, as by lande: he also commaunded watche to be kepte vpon the water in the night season in euery shyppe. And after all thynges were prudently appoynted, he retourned to his campe, wyllyng before he dyd any thing, touching the assault, to instruct and admonyshe his people of his mynd, concerning the same, and to comfort theym in that enterpryse, he called them togither and made his oration to them in this wyse.

¶ Who so euer beleueth (good souldiours) that ye are nowe brought hyther only to assault and wynne this one towne, he dothe more consyder your labour and peyne therin, than the profyte that shall ensue therof. Trewe it is, that ye shall as­sault and skale the walles but of one onely towne: but in the obteynyng of this one, ye also shall wynne the whole cuntrey of Spayne. For in this towne are the pledges of all the noble men, kynges and people of Spayne, who being ones taken, full shortly shall cause all that euer the Carthaginenses doo nowe possede, to be yelded vnto vs, and to be vnder our do­minon. Here also is al the money and tresure of our ennemies: whiche being taken from them, they shall be able no longer to maynteyne the warres, seinge they haue many hyred straun­gers in theyr army. And the same treasure shall meruaylously profyte vs, therby to wynne the hertes and loue of these bar­barous people. Besyde this, here remaineth theyr ordināce, their armour, and al abilimentes necessary for the warre: whi­che beynge ones wonne, shall serue well our pourpose, and therof make our ennemies bare, to theyr vtter distruction. Furthermore, we shall be lordes of a fayre and a ryche citie, whervnto lyeth a goodly hauen, whereby we shall be serued [Page 83] both by sea & by lande, of all thinges that we shall at any tyme lacke. The hauing of these thynges shal not only be plesant & profitable to vs, but also the lacke of the same, shal be a muche greatter hyndrance and losse to our ennemies. For this citie hath been and is theyr greattest strength. Here be theyr store houses for corn̄e, here is theyr treasaurye, here is theyr ar­mory, and theyr houses stuffed with all thynges necessarye for theyr shyppes of warre: generally this citie is the onely re­ceptacle of all that they haue. Hyther lyeth the ryght course by sea from Affrica to Spayn. And nowe, sens I perceyue ye be sufficiently instructed, and haue all thinges in good ordre, mete for the purpose, lette vs with good hertes, and all our strength, make haste to the assaultyng of this newe Carthage. ¶ Therwithall, euery man with loude voice assented therto. And he, not thinkyng to be slacke in his busynes, went furthe towarde Carthage, causing it to be assauted both by water and by lande. ¶ On the other syde, Mago capitain of the Cartha ginenses, perceiuing that the assault was ordeined to be giuen both by sea and land, he disposed his men within the towne on this maner: Two. M. of the townesmen he caused to be armed & put in aray on that part of the towne, that the Romain tētes or campe was, fiue .C. men he appoynted to kepe the castell: other .v. C. he assigned to remayne vppon a hylle, that was within the citie towarde the easte: The rest of the people he commanded to be redy to helpe and succour their companies, in what place of the towne so euer they sawe most nede to re­sist. And whan so euer they herde any crye made in any parte, through the violent force of the assauting: than sodainly the gate was open, wherat he caused the .ii. M. souldiours of the towne to issue vpon the Romains, at whose fyrst cōming, Sci­pio caused his men to recule backe, to thintent he might draw them further from the towne, and more nere the reste of the Romayne army. At the fyrst the battayle was styf [...]e, and well maynteined on both partes: but whan the Carthaginēses per ceiued so great a numbre cominge from the tentes of the Ro­mains, to the succour of their felowes, they fledde with greate feare towarde their citie, and were chased and slayne harde at theyr gates: which caused no lesse tremblyng to be in the citie, than was before in the battayle. In so moche that diuers pla­ces of the walles were lefte bare and naked, without men to [Page] defende the same: euery man lept from his appoynted place, so great and sodayne was theyr feare. This perceiued well Scipio, standyng on an hyll without the towne. Wherefore he commaunded his souldiours, to come out of their tentes spedyly, to the assaulte of the towne, and to bring with theim scalyng ladders. His commaundement was fulfylled. The fyght was strong on bothe partes. And to encourage the more his people, Scipio hym selfe came thyther, vnder the couert of shyldes and pauesses, to withstande the shotte that came from the walles, of arowes dartes and other ingynnes whiche was greate. There he somtyme exhorted and coum­forted his men: somtime he counsayled them, what was best for them to do, for the attayning of theyr purpose. This his presence was awytnesse, bothe ofmens valyant courage, and also of theyr cowardyse, wherby euery man enforced hym selfe to clymmevp, neyther regardynge the heyghte of the walles, nor fearyng the men of armes, that fiersely defended the walles. On the other syde of the towne lyke assault was gyuen from the shyppes, by that part that laye towarde the water: but all to small purpose. For Mago had so furnyshed the walles with armed men, euer bryngynge theym plenty of dartes and other ordinances, that the Romans lost more than they wāne. And aboue al thinges, the sauing of the town was the height of the walles, wherby fewe of their ladders were able to reche to the toppe of the same, and those ladders that wer longest, wer therto most weake: so that whan one was a­scended vp on any of them, other wolde also clyme after him theron, and so with heauy burden being loded, many of them brake, to the great hurt of the climers. whervpon Scipio, cō ­sidering his vaine labours, caused his wery company to with­draw them, and to rest them: wherby the Carthaginēses wer not only eased and releued of their present feare & danger, but also therby toke a hardy courage and opinion, that the citie was out of all danger of taking by any assault, & that they wer strong inough to defend it, tyll their other capitaines of the Carthaginenses armies might haue time inough to come to their rescous, and to reise their siege. It drewthen towarde the middel of the day, when certain fysshermen of Tarracon, that had ben fishing in their botes on the said great and large poole, that lay on the northwest part of the towne, certified [Page 84] Scipio, that the water therof was than at a very low ebbe, & also the northwind, being very quicke, and driuing the waues with the tide, caused a lower vale, than had lightly been seen: so that men might well wade ouer to the walles of the citie, the water being in most places not past the middell of a man, and in some partes not past the knees. This strange fortune of that vnseen lowe ebbe of the water, Scipio tourned to a myracle, sayinge: It was the wille and pleasure of the god­dis, to withdraw at that time the water from that great pole, to make for the Romains a passage, & to open them a way, by which neuer man before had passed. With these stronge per­suasions, he caused the rest of his army, which had rested thē in their tentes, during the time of the first assault, to take lad­ders and engines, and to gyue a newe assault in the same place, where they were before beaten back. There began a fierse & a cruel bickering. Neuerthelesse the height of the walles was so beneficiall to the citezens, that were they neuer so valiante and hardy, yet vp could they not get: but were ouerthrowen with small peyne to the townes men.

¶ While they were busy and attentife to defende the Citie, as well there as on the sea cost, Scipio, with a good numbre of stronge men, secretely withdrewe hym to the sayd ponde: where he bad his companye folowe the god Neptunus, that shulde be theyr guide on their way through that shalowe wa­ter. Whervpon they with small labour went ouer, and set vp ladders to the walles, which they found easy to be scaled, and not kept with any men of warre. For that they hauinge a sure hope in the naturall strengthe on that parte, by reason of the water, had made no munimentes or defence: nor yet lefte any watch there: euery man was gone to the defence of the other partes, in the which thassault semed most fierse & dangerouse: so that without any resistence they entred the towne, & incontinent made hast to come to the gate, where the battaile was most busy & strong. To which whā they wer com, they found al the townsmen so ernest in their defēce, or in cōforting their felowes, that they neither herd nor saw the Romans tyl they perceiued them at their backes, throwing of dartes, & sleynge them on all partes, nother tyl that time knewe they the town to be won. Thā anon wer the gates broken down, & a gret nū bre of armed mē entred at the gate, many had by that time go­ten in ouer the walles: som went incontinent about the towne, [Page] sleyng all that they met: an other company wente in araye to the market place, through the myddel of the Citie. Than perceyued they theyr ennemies fleyng, some to the hyl with­in the towne, that was kepte with .v. C. men of warre. Mago with a great numbre with him fledde to the castel. Then Sci­pio sent parte of his host to the sayd hyll, whiche anone was wonne, and the people slayne or els taken. The rest wente to assaulte the castel, whiche Mago a season valyantly defended: but seyng all the towne full of his ennemies, and that he was not lyke to haue any socours: he yelded vp him selfe with the castell to the Romaynes. Then ceassed they to make any fur­ther slaughter in the citie. Euery man wente to the spoile of the towne: the praye whereof was greate, as well of golde and syluer as of ordinaunce, artyllary, corne, shyppes, iron, laten and many other thinges mete for the apparel of shippes: the certayntie wherof I wyll not reherse, for that writars va­ry moch therin. There was also .x. M. prysoners taken, wherof as many as were citizens, Scipio let go at libertie, and suf­fered to dwel styl in the towne, and to enioy as moche of their goodes as was not before spoyled. Amonge other prisoners there were two. M. of craftes men, which he caused to be bōd men to worke for the common profytte of the citie of Rome, puttyng them in comfort, that they should within shorte space be made all free, if they wolde labour and worke earnestely a­bout suche necessaryes, as they shoulde haue nede of in the warre. A greate noumber of the rest, that were seruauntes and lusty yonge men, he sent to be rowers in his shyppes and galeys in the places of suche as lacked. And he also encreased his nauy of eyght shyppes wel furnished. Beside al these pri­soners he had also the pledges of noble men and cities, to a greate noumbre: whome he caused to be well kepte and gen­tly entreated. The rest of that daye Scipio gaue lycence to his wery men to rest theym selues. For there were fewe, but they had al the daye before ben sore trauayled with fyghtyng in one place or other. The custody of the towne he gaue to Cn. Lelius and his company of see men, and him selfe wente to his tentes.

ON the morowe he assembled all his hoste togy­ther, and fyrst he gaue humble thankes & praise to the goddis, that had gyuen into his handes in one day so great, so noble, and so riche a citie, the lyke wherof was not to be found in Spain. Into which his ennemies had gathered togi­ther the treasure bothe of Affrica and also of Spayne, in such abundance, that there was but lyttell or nothyng left for thē: the Romayns hauyng great plenty of all thinges. Nexte he muche praysed the noble courage and valyantnes of his men of warre, whom nother the sodayne excursation of theyr en­nemies out of the towne, nother the hygh walles or waters of the same, coulde make afrayde or let them of theyr enter­pryse: nother yet theyr castels and strong towres, coulde re­sist theyr powers. Aboue other he praised muche twayn, that first scaled the walles, and entred the towne, to eche of them he gaue a crowne of good value: his other souldiours he re­warded, euery man after his vertue and merites: but special­ly Cn. Lelius, the gouernour of the nauye, he praysed and muche loued, to whome he gaue, for a rewarde, a crowne of golde, and .xxx. oxen.

¶ Than caused he the pledges to be brought before him, willyng them to be of good comforte, and that they shuld consi­der, that they wer now in the power of the Romayns, whose naturall propretie and desire is, to bynde men throughe theyr benefytes shewinge, to loue them, rather than by compulsion to kepe men in feare of them. And had leauer to ioyne strange nations in amitie with them by faithfull felowshyp, then so­rowfully to kepe them in myserable seruitude. Than he toke the names of the cities, that had their pledges there, and to the ambassadours that by chaunce were with hym present of any of the sayde cities, he, incontinent delyuered the pledges vnto theim: to the other cities he sent messangers, wyllynge theim to send vnto him for theim, and they shulde haue theyr pledges frely delyuered. There were also taken many noble matrones and honest maydens, whom he committed to sobre [Page] and honest men to be kept, without any force or dishonour to be done vnto them: among other captiues there was one vir­gin brought vnto hym, of so excellent beautie, that where so euer she went, all men delyted to beholde her. Scipio enqui­red of her, of what cuntrey she was, and of what kynred she was descended: & he perceyned by her, that she was betrou­thed or made sure to a yong prince of the Celtiberiās, whose name was Luceius. Wherevppon he incontinent sent for the said yonge man, and also for her parentes. At whose coming, knowyng that the yonge man was soore enamoured of her, he thus sayd vnto hym: I being a yonge man, haue sente for you, that are also a yong man, to come to me, the cause is, for that whan this yong maiden, being fianced or ensured to you, was brought to me, by my soldiors, I herd say, that you entierly loued her. And her beautie witnesseth, that you haue good cause so to do. If I might laufully enioy her pleasaunt loue, and were not otherwyse occupied in my mynde about the af­fayres of the commune welthe: I coulde perchaunce beare her my loue: and desyre to enioy the same: but nowe I wyll beare fauour to your loue, that of ryght ought to haue her. She hath bene here with me as well and honourably kept, & her virginite preserued, as though she had dwelled styl with her owne parentes, to thintent I might make of her a present to you most acceptable, & for the conseruation of mine honor. And for this my gift, I require of you, but one only reward, that is, that you from hēsforth becom a louing frēd to the Romās. And if ye esteme me to be a good or an honorable man, as my father and vncle before me were reputed for to be: thinke, that there are in the noble citie of Rome many like vnto vs. And trust me neuer, if any people can this daye be founde on the earth; that you wyll be gladder to haue the loue and frend shyppe of, or that ye wolde be more sory to haue the displea­sure of. The yong man, after gret thankes gyuen hym, praide the goddes to rewarde him for his goodnes, where his pow­er suffised not: Then were the parentes of the mayden called forthe, who had broughte with them a great summe of golde for the redemption of theyr chyld. But when they perceiued, that he had giuen her frely to her husband, they desired him to take a parte therof, as of theyr gyfte, for the declaration of theyr good hertes towardes hym: affirminge, that his recey­uinge [Page 85] therof shulde be as ioyfull vnto them, as the restitution of theyr dowghter vndefiled.

¶ Then Scipio, beinge ouercome with theyr longe and vehe­ment intercession, caused the sayde summe to be layde on the grounde before his fete, and callinge Luceius againe to hym, he sayde: Besyde the dowere that ye shal receyue of your fa­ther in lawe, for the mariage of his doughter, ye shall also take this gyfte of dower at my hande. With whiche his great gift, and also moch honour to hym done besyde, he retourned home to his house and countrey, declaring to euery man the honour and magnifycence of Scipio, sayinge, that there was a yonge man come most lyke vnto a god, who bothe with his power in warre, and also with his gentilnesse and liberalitie in peace, had ouercome all the countrey. This yonge gentilman leauing his house and familye in good ordre, shortely after retourned to Scipio, bringynge with hym a. M. CCCC. good horsemen, to the ayde and socour of the Romaynes.

¶ Then Scipio sent C. Lelius to Rome, to beare tidynges of his victory, and with hym he sent Mago, and .xv. other se­natours of newe Carthage, whiche wer, at the takynge of the same citie, taken also prisoners, & after he had repaired the bro­ken walles of the citie, & set therin a sufficient numbre of soul­diours, for the defence of the same: he remoued to Tarracon: whyther he had apoynted the legates of all his olde friendes, and also of his newe gotten acqueintaunce, to resorte for a fur­ther communication of theyr aliaunce, and for the further pro­cedynge in theyr affaires.

IN this estate were the warres in Spayne, du­rynge whiche tyme the consull Marcellus toke Salapia by treason, and .ii. other townes of the Samnites by force: where he slewe .iii. M. men of warre, whiche Anniball had lefte for the ke­pyng of the same townes. And Cn. Fuluius the proconsull, trusting to wynne Herdonea from Anniball, which [Page] was not very stronge of it selfe, neither had any garnyson left there, for the sufficient defence therof: he remoued thyther with his army, hauyng the more hope and comfort to atteyne the same, for that he knew wel, that Annibal, after the losse of Salapia, was departed into the cuntrey of the Brutians. But suche as were the sure frendes of Anniball in the towne of Herdonea, sent hym priuyly worde by messangers. And he desyrous to kepe styl his old frendes, hasted so with his horsemen and lyghtest footemen, makyng so great iourneys, that he was alredy com nere Herdonea, before the fame of his comīg wer well knowen. And to put the Romayns in more feare, he appered in good aray of battaile sodainly with baners displai­ed. Whiche Fuluius perceiuynge, with lyke hardynes made spede to put his folke in aray, and ioyned battayle with hym. Than Anniball cōmanded his horsemen, that after a signe or token to theim made, whiles the Romains were busy in battail against his footemen, and euery mans eye wer occupied busy­ly: that they shoulde secretelye cooste the fielde, and parte of them to set vpon the backes of his ennemies, one other parte of them to inuade their campe and tentes with greate noyse and slaughter, saying, that he trusted to vanquyshe this Ful­uius as he had .ii. yeres paste ouercome an other Fuluius of his name in the same cuntrey. And in his hope he was nothing deceyued. for so soone as the horsemen assailed the Romayns on theyr backes with great feare and slaughter, anon from the campe was hearde a great crye: wherby the Romayns, that before kept aray and fought boldly, were so disinayd, that some fledde, and many mo were slayne. Among which the said Ful­uius and .xii. tribunes, with .xiii. M. Romayns were slayne, and theyr campe and stuffe taken.

¶ Than Anniball, trustyng nothyng to the strengthe of that towne, remoued the inhabitantes therof to Metapontus, and to the Thurines. He slew the capitains therof, which had se­crete cōmunication with the Consull, and after he set the town on fyre.

¶ Marcellus the Consulle, baynge nothynge afrayde with the tydinges of this losse, sente letters to the senate of Ro­me, byddynge them to be no whytte discomforted therwith: for he doubted not, but he wolde cause Anniball to haue but very short ioy of his victory. Whervpō he immediately remoued [Page 87] toward Annibal, pitchyng his campe in the playne fieldes euen in the syght of his ennemies. And soone after valyantly came furthe in order of battayle, redy to fyght. On the other syde Anniball was no lesse quicke than he. The battayle be­twene them, bothe of the horsemen and of the footemen, was meruaylous fiers & cruell, neither ceassed it, tyll the nyght departed thē, with indifferēt losse of both parties. In the night Anniball secretly remoued and went into Apulia. Marcellus in the mornyng, perceyuynge the departure of his ennemies, folowed incontinent, and ouertoke theim nere vnto Venusia. Thus passed they all Apulia without any notable battaile, the one folowinge the other: And euer Anniball wolde remoue in the nyght, sekyng a place to deceiue his ennemies. But the consull always folowed in the day tyme, sendynge before hym espies, to be sure from the crafty trayne of Anniball.

¶ The summer was almost ended, and the tyme of chosynge consuls drewe nere, at the whiche chusyng Marcellus shulde haue been hym selfe: but he sent his letters to Rome, affyr­mynge, that it shulde be ryght hurtfull to the common welth, yf he dyd depart one foote from Anniball. For his absence, yea his onely ceassyng to assayle hym, shulde gyue hym moche courage. Whervpon he was cōmaunded to abyde stylle with his army. The other consul Liuius was sent for. Than were chosen consuls Q. Fabius Maximus, and Q. Fuluius Flac­cus. Besyde this it was determined, that M. Claudius Marcellus shulde kepe also his army and the warres agaynst An­niball one yere longar.

¶ As touchynge the warres in Spayne, it was ordeyned, that Publius Scipio and Sullanus shoulde be there gouer­nours, not onely for a yere, but vnto the tyme they were cal­led from the same by the senate.

¶ Aboute this tyme came the ambassadours of kynge Sy­phax from Affrica to Rome, shewynge the prosperous bat­tayles that he hadde fought with the Carthaginenses, desy­rynge to haue the amitie of the Romaynes agreed to hym by the whole senate, whyche before was moued betwene hym and the two bretherne Cneius, and P. Scipio in Spayne. To whose ambassadours the senatours not only gaue gentyl than­kes and louynge answeres, but also sent by them to the kyng, ryche presentes.

[Page] ¶ Not longe after tidinges wer brought to Rome out of Af­frica, that Massanissa, the sonne of kynge Gala, was come to Carthage with .v. M. Numidians, and that a great numbre of other Affricans wer hyred to go ouer into Spayne to Asdru­ball, to the intent that he, strongly accompanied, might depart shortly from thens into Italy to his brother Annibal, in whom they iudged the hope of theyr victory to rest.

¶ About the same time came Lelius out of Spayne to Rome bryngynge with hym a great numbre of prisoners, rehersynge in the senate house the happy wynnynge of newe Carthage in one daye, with the gettyng of many newe friendes in Spaine. These newes made theim not so mery, as the comming of As­druball into Italy made theim afrayde, consyderinge, that be­fore he was come, all theyr power was skant able to resiste the onely power of Anniball. Neuerthelesse, with as good chere as coulde be, they discharged Lelius, sendyng hym agayne in to Spayne with the shyppes that came with hym.

THe newe Consull, leauynge all thynges in good order at Rome, departed towardes the warres. Q. Fuluius Flaccus passed Capua, to whome Q. Fabius made instant requeste, before he de­parted, that he wolde kepe strayght and quicke warres with Anniball whyles that he dyd besiege the citie of Tarent: whiche citie, if he myghte ones take frome hym, he shulde haue no place sure to go to, neyther knowe to what cost he myght safely tourne hym: so that he shuld afterwarde haue small cause to abide in Italy. The same request he also made to Marcellus by his letters: who thynkynge no man in Italy so able to matche Anniball, as he was hym selfe, was so kendeled & stirred with Fabius letters, that so sone as the wynter was passed, and any fode was founde in the fieldes, able to susteyne his army and cattel, he went to Canusium, where Annibal then laye, and hadde moued the rulers of the towne to yelde vnto [Page 87] hym, leauyng the Romayne amitie. But so sone as he parcey­ued, that Marcellus was come, he remoued from thense, lea­uynge that playne countrey, and sought the hylly and woddy countrey, whiche myght be more apte for traynes of deceipte for his ennemies.

¶ Marcellus euer folowed him harde, ioyning almost campe to campe. Dyuers skyrmyshes were made betwene the horse men of bothe partes. But Anniball not mynding to ieoparde all at ones, fledde before hym in the nyghte. At the last the o­ther ouertoke hym in the playne fielde: And as Anniball cau­sed his campe to be trenched & fortified, Marcellus with his men let the workes therof: so that whether he wold or no, he was enforced to do batayl, which thyng he had most eschued. Wherefore they ordered theyr armies on bothe parties, and fought tyll the nyght departed them. On the morowe Mar­cellus early put his men in good aray, and Anniball dydde the same, exhortyng his men to remembre their noble conquestes at Trasymenus and at Cannas, and not to suffre theyr gredye and vnreasonable ennemy so to vexe them, that they might not haue tyme to incampe them selues, ye scarsely to loke aboute, or to take breathe. The sonne whan it ryseth, and the Romain army, do bothe at one tyme appere in the fieldes. But in case (saythe he) ye so handle hym, that he may ones departe with losse of his men out of the fielde, he wil herafter be more easy to intreate. With these exhortations, and also being euyl con­tented with the tedious continuall pursuing of theyr enemies: they fiersly went to battaile, where they fought cruelly by the space of .ii. longe houres. At the last the ryght wynge of the Romayns gaue backe, whose place to fulfyll, Marcellus ap­poynted an other legion of men of armes of his company. But as the fyrst reculed with feare, so the other came fayntly into their places. At the last the Romayn host being more feare­full than shamefast, began to flee. There was slayn that day of the Romains .ii. thousand and seuen hundred, wherof .iiii. wer capitaines hundreders, and two tribunes.

¶ Marcellus after that he was come into his campe, made to his souldiours so soore and cruell an oration, that the wordes of the angry capitayne semed to them more displeasaunt and peynefull, than the trauayle that they toke in the battaylle the daie before.

[Page] ¶ I am moche bounde (sayth he) to the immortall goddes, when ye so fearfully toumbled together into your tentes, that it chaunced not your ennemy, after his victory, to assayle your campe also. For no fayle, loke with what feare ye left the bat­tayle, with lyke feare also had ye forsaken your campe. What sodayne feare hath nowe inuaded you? What thynge hath caused you so sone to forget, bothe the estate of your selfe, and al­so of your ennemies? Do ye not remembre, that these be the same ennemies, whom ye ouercame and pursued the last sōmer? these be the same, whome fleinge before you bothe daye and night, ye chased through the cūtreis. Ye they be the same, that yesterday ye wold neither suffer to flee from you, nor yet gyue theim so moche time, as to fortifye theyr fielde. I wil no more reherse thynges, wherein ye may glory: but nowe wyll I de­clare thynges, whereof ye ought moche to be ashamed. Yester daye ye departed from the batayle with euen hande: and nowe what hath this daye or this nyghte ben so greate a lette vnto you, or taken from you? Was your army therby any whit les­sed, or theyr power any whyt encreased? Truely me thinketh nowe, that I speake not to mine owne company of souldiours, nor yet to Romains. I perceiue here nothing of theim, but bodies and armour. For if ye had had the same hertes and mīdes your ennemies shuld neuer haue loked you on the backes: nor you had loste none of your standardes. Before this time he could neuer glorie of the slaughter of any of our company, on­ly yesterdaie ye gaue him the honour by the death of your fe­lowes. ¶ Then euerie man cried out aloude to him, desirynge pardon of the daie past: and ones againe to trie the herte and courage of his men, when so euer it shulde please him. Nowe (saide he) truely and I wyl proue you againe. For I wil to mo­rowe in the morninge set you forthe in araie, to the intent that ye as vanquishers may aske forgiuenes, rather then as people vanquished.

¶ On the morrowe, after that his men had well eaten and dronken, and made theim stronge, when he should put his peo­ple in order, he set in the v [...]warde those that fled first the daye before, and those companies that loste their standardes: and then the other as him best lyked, comaundinge theim all, ear­nestely to fyghte and to ouercome theyr ennemies: so that the victorie of that present daie might fly and come to Rome, be­fore [Page 89] the sclaunder of yesterdaies flienge.

¶ Whan Anniball herd of the fierse courage of Marcellus, he sayd: We haue to do nowe with suche an ennemye, as can neyther suffre his good fortune nor badde. For yf he ouercom his ennemies, he gredily styl assaileth theim: And whan he is ouercome, he also fiersly renueth the warres vpon theim. Af­ter these wordes, he incontinent brought his hoste furthe in­to the fielde, where the battayle was more cruell than it was the daie before. The Carthaginenses euer stryuynge to kepe the honour, and the Romaynes to auenge the shame gotten the daie before. The aduauntage of the battayle betweene theim abode longe in suspence. Marcellus, as a present wit­nesse, was euer redye to comforte and exhorte his Romay­n [...]s. Anniball, seinge the doubtefulnesse of the fyght and vi­ctory, to putte his ennemies to sodayne feare, caused his E­lephantes to be sette agaynste the forewarde: whyche at the fyrste comynge, brought theim out of order, and didde theim muche trouble and hurte: wherby the one parte thereof was lefte bare and voyde of resystence, and the reste had fled also, hadde not Decius Flauius a Tribune taken the standerde of one of the bandes of horsemen, commaundynge the company belongynge to the same standerde, to folowe hym boldely, whom they obeyde: and he incontinent brought theim, where the company of elephantes dyd moste displeasure, causynge mooste trouble and rumour. Than badde he theim couragi­ousely to throwe theyr dartes and speares at those beastes: whyche they dyd, woundynge many of theim: who feelynge theim selues hurt, with greatte rage runne away, and coulde not be stayed by theim that rode on theim. The Romaynes folowed theim styll, and droue thiem vpon theyr owne com­pany of Spanyardes and Carthaginenses, makynge greatter slaughter amonge theim, than they hadde before done to the Romaynes. And whan they sawe the Carthaginenses by this meane brought out of array, the Romaine footemen in order entred and brake the aray cleane, puttynge theym to flyght: whō Marcellus caused his horsmen to folow. And the chase ceassed not, tyl they wer driuen into the yates of their campe, with great losse bothe of men and of elephantes. There were slayne that daye .viii. M. men, and fyue elephantes. Of the Romaines there were slayne thre thousande, and very many [Page] sore hurt. Whervpon Annibal, the next nyght folowinge, re­moued vnto the Brutians: and Marcellus abode there a sea­son, to cure his hurt souldiours.

IN this season Q. Fabius Max. the consul toke Man­duria with force, and from thens remoued to Tarent, pytchyng his tentes hardeby the mouth of the hauen, where he founde certayne shyppes, whyche Liuius the late consull hadde left there for the defence of other shyppes that brought vytayle and other necessary prouision for the castell. All these shyppes, and also all other that came with vitayles and prouision thyther, he charged some with gunnes and sto­nes, and all kynde of weapons inuasiue, somme he laded with scalyng ladders, and other engyns to assaulte the towne: soo that by the sea al thinges wer ready for the assaulte. And then he by land also ordered his cōpany for the same. Now to help his purpose to be acheued, ther chaunced a small thing in esti­mation: yet it proued meruailous happy for the successe of his great enterprise. Anniball had sent to Tarent a crue of men of warre of the countrey of the Brutians. The capytayne of this company was meruailously enamored on a yong womā in the citie, whose brother was then souldiour in the host of Fa­bius, to whom his sister sent worde by letters, of the familia­ritie and new acquaintaunce of her earnest louer, and of his greate ryches and honour. Whervpon this man imaginynge, and trustyng also, that the loue of his syster myght leade her louer to do what so euer she wolde diuise, conceyued an hope, to do good therby, touchynge the wynnynge of the towne. Whervpon he secretely opened his mynde to his capitayne Fabius, desyrynge hym, that he woulde ly [...]ence hym to de­parte frome the armye, and to goo in to the citie, whiche he woulde vndertake to dooe, by dissemblynge hym selfe to be stolen away from his company, for the loue of his sister, desy­rouse to be a cytezen there. The Consull thynkyng to proue the effecte of his opynyon, suffered hym to departe. Thus came he to his syster, and by her meanes felle in greate fami­liarite with her louer the capytayne of the Brutianes. And [Page 90] after longe acquayntaunce he beganne couertly to proue his mynde a lyttell and a lyttell. After, whan he founde some to­wardnesse in hym, he sette his syster in hande with hym, who with her fayre and flatterynge woordes soo compassed hym, that to haue her loue, he consented to the betraiynge of that parte of the Citie, wher of he was rular and Capytayne.

¶ Whan they were agreed on the tyme, maner, and circum­staunce of the purpose: the souldyour secretly in the nyghte, was lette furthe out of the towne, and came to his capitayn, declarynge vnto hym what he hadde doone, and what waye he shoulde take, to achieue his enterpryse. At the tyme and houre appoynted, whiche was the begynnynge of the nyght, the Consull hadde prepared, that on the sea syde in the ha­uen, his shyppes and menne of warre thereto appoynted, shoulde vyolentely assaulte the towne. And on an other parte the Romaynes in the castell, with all theyr force also, shulde assayle the citizens: and he with a good numbre with hym, pryuyly drewe hym to the easte parte of the towne, where he abode a longe season, withoute makynge any noyse.

There was greatte noyse and bruite made purposely on the hauen syde, and on the syde towardes the castelle, where leaste daungier was: Soo that Democrates the capytayne, whyche was than nyghe vnto the crew of Brutians, fea­rynge leste in his absence, the Romaynes myghte chaunce on the other syde to wynne the towne, whyche to feare he was moued by the greatte rumour and crye of the cytezens on that parte. Whan he hearde all thynges quiete and at reste on that parte of the towne, wherin he was: he with his people hasted towarde the castell syde, where he hearde the greattest noyse.

¶ Than the consull, heringe thenoyse ceassed of men of ar­mes, whiche before were very loude, iudging that the kepers of that warde were gone from thens: he commanded streight scalynge ladders to be sette to the walles on that syde where the Brutians kepte warde, whyche was done without any resystence. For the Brutians not onely made noo resystence, but alsoo holpe theym vp. Thus entred they the towne, and streyghte wente to the nexte gate, the whyche they brake, and caused moche of theyr companye to entre with theyr baners dysplayed. And by the breake of the day, they [Page] came into the markette place. The Tarentines parceyuinge theyr towne to be taken, came with all theyr power frome the castell side, and from the hauen, to the succour therof: but all to late. For after the battayle was a lyttell begonne, they felte them selues farre vnable to resist the Romaynes. Wherfore anon they fled euery man to his house, or to his friendes house. There wer Nico and Democrates slayne in battayle. Philo­menes, the chiefe autour of betraying the towne to Anniball, toke his horse and fledde: but whither he wente, or what be­came of hym, it was not after knowen. Great slaughter was made both of the Carthaginenses and of the Tarentines.

Many prisoners were taken, and a ryche spoyle. The wall, whiche Anniball made to deuyde the castell frome the towne, was throwen downe.

¶ Anniball when he fyrste hearde, that Tarent was besieged: he with all hast possible hyed thyther to the succour therof. But when he came nere thervnto, and hearde newes of the ta­kynge of the citie, and by what meanes, he sayde: I nowe do ryght well fynde, that the Romaynes haue also an other Anniball amonge theim. For euen by suche crafte as we wanne Ta­rent, by suche haue we lost it. Then for that it shulde not ap­peere, that he were reculed for feare, he pitched his campe fyue miles from the citie, where he taryed certayne dayes: and from thense went to Metapontus, where he caused letters to be written by two of the chiefe rulers of the citie to Fabius.

The contentes therof was, that if it woulde please the Ro­maynes and hym, to receyue theim into theyr grace, and to re­mitte all theyr olde iniuries and wronges to them doone: they woulde delyuer into his handes, bothe the towne, and also the garnison of the Carthaginenses, which wer within the same. Fabius nothynge mistrustinge, sent to them agayne, appoyn­tynge a tyme, when he wolde come to Metapontus to speake with them, whiche letters were streyght brough to Anniball. Who beinge very ioyouse, to trayne and deceyue the old wise Fabius, At the tyme appoynted layde a great embusshemente vpon the waye, where Fabius shulde passe to Metapontus.

¶ The same tyme when Fabius shulde departe, he sought by diuinations and auguries, howe he shulde spede in his voiage, as by the kyllyng of a beaste, and therwith to do sacrifyce: and by the lucke of byrdes, as the detestable vse was then, and [Page 91] longe before had ben amonge the Romaynes. Whiche augu­ries were so vnlucky and vntowarde, that they shewed to hym some euyll aduenture, if he wente forwarde in his appoynted iourney. Wherfore the deuynours or wyse men aduysed hym, to tary styll in his tentes, for feare of treason.

¶ The Metapontans, seing that Fabius came not at the day assigned, sent agayne to hym, requyring hym to come to their capitaynes. Whiche messangers were incontinente taken and examyned vpon the case. And they fearynge the tourmentes that wer prepared for theim, confessed all the deceyte and tre­son: wherby Fabius escaped his death, and the destruction of many of his armye.

IN the same summer tyme, whyles all these thynges were done in Italy, P. Scipio beinge in Spayne, had so gotten the loue of the spanyardes, that Edisco, In­dibilis, and Mandonius, thre great princes of Spayne, were come into his amitie and alliaunce. Indibilis desired, that their commynge myght not be dishonorable vnto them, and that no man shulde reproche theim after, that they were stolen awaye from theyr olde friendes of Carthage, and lyke lyght people were runne to the Romaynes: For he sayde, they had doone worthely at all tymes for them, whiche theyr kyndenesse was euer recompensed with pryde, auaryce, and many iniuries: so that onely theyr bodyes abode in the amitie of Carthage, but theyr hertes hadde longe beene towardes the Romaynes: whom they knewe euer to be kepers of theyr truse taken, and mainteinours of right and equitie. Wherfore he desyred Sci­pio, to receyue theyr friendely commynge vnto hym, accor­dynge to theyr meanynge and intente▪ and as he founde them dylygent in theyr seruyce doynge vnto him, so to esteme them. Scipio hertely thanked them, grauntynge theyr requestes in all thynges. Wheruppon theyr wyues and chyldren were re­stored vnto theim, whiche before were captyues with Scipio: and a stedfaste aliaunce of amitie was knytte betwene theim. [Page] And sone after theyr hole power of men of war came to these prynces, and ioyned in campe with the Romaynes, not depar­tinge from them, but guided them euer, tyl they brought them nere the campe of theyr ennemies.

¶ By this meane was the armye greatly increaced. Yet be­sydes this, by one other waye Scipio polytikely augmented his host. For when he sawe no nauy of Car [...]hage was on the sea, so that he neded not to haue any great noumbre of men in his shyppes: He broughte his hoole nauye to Tarracon, ta­kynge all the souldiours, whiche were in theim, and alsoo the more parte of his maryners, with hym in the warres by lande. With this great hooste he wente forwardes, and made suche spede, that secretly he came nere vnto the towne of Betula, where Hasdruball laye with his armye. At theyr fyrste com­mynge thyther, certeyne smalle skyrmysshes were made be­twene theim. But Hasdruball, seynge the Romaynes power dayly increased, and his to be made lesse, thoughte he woulde ieoparde to fyghte without lenger prolongynge of tyme. But he determyned to seeke a place of strengthe, where he myght fyghte to his aduauntage, and to the more hurte of his enne­myes. Wherfore in the nyghte he remoued his armye to an hyghe hyll, nere adioynynge. In the toppe wherof there was a fayre large playne: on the backe syde of this hyll, there ranne a ryuer, whiche compassed a good parte of the hyll.

Furthermore aboute the myddes of this hyll, was there another playne fyelde, moche lower than the other playne: vn­to the which nether playne, the ascendyng was hard and pein­full. Into this lower fyelde Asd [...]uball, the day folowyng, sent a great numbre of Numidian horsemen, and other light harnes­sed fotemen of Affrica, and of the iles called Baleares, nowe named Maiorque and Minorque.

¶ Scipio rydynge aboute his hoste, shewed theim theyr en­nemyes. Theyr hertes (saythe he) wyll not serue theym to fyghte with vs on euen grounde. Wherfore they seeke out hyghe mountaynes, trustynge more to the strengthe of the place, then to theyr owne strengthe or armour. Newe Car­thage hadde hye walles, whiche neuerthelesse was scaled by my Romayne souldyours. Neyther coulde the hyghehylles, nor the castell thereof, nor yet the sea withstande theyr po­wer. I knowe (saythe he) that these hye places, whiche our [Page 92] ennemyes haue chosen, they thynke shall serue theym, to flye from vs, by leapynge and runnyng downe the stiepenesse ther­of. But that wayes I wyll also stoppe frome theim. Where­vpon incontinente Scipio sente two companies of his menne of warre, commaundynge the one to kepe the mouthe of the valley, by whiche the ryuer ranne: and that the other shulde abyde secretely on the waye, that laye by the bowinge of the mountayne, betwene the towne of Betula and the fyeldes: And he hym selfe, with a good noumbre of nymble harnessed men, wente streyghte towardes these Numidians and Affri­canes, whiche were on the lower playne of the hyll: whoo suffered theim to come almooste vppe withoute let, saue one­ly of the styepenesse of the hylle, vntyll they came within the castynge of dartes. Thenne was the fyghte soore on bothe partes, but specially great plenty of stoones and o­ther inginnes was throwen from the hyll on the Romaines. Neuerthelesse althoughe the hylle was verye tediouse and harde to be wonne, and they also almooste ouerwhelmed with stones: yet they beinge nymble and well harted men, and moche vsed to the approchynge and scalynge of walles, ceassed not to goo styll vppewarde, tyll the formooste of theym hadde gotten the playne and euen grounde. They anone putte the Numidyans to flyghte, and with greatte slaughter droue theym vppe to theyr armye, that abode in the hygheste parte of the hyll. Thenne Scipio commaun­ded the same his companye to go streyghte vppe after to­warde the myddle of theyr ennemyes. The rest of his hoste he deuyded in two partes, wherof he caused Lelius to take the one halfe, and with them to go aboute on the ryght hande of the hyll, to espy where he myghte fynde a more easye place for them to ascende. He with the other parte kept on the lefte hande. And ere euer he had fette any farre compasse, clambe vp the sayde mountayne, and ran on his ennemyes, whose backes then wer toward him, wherwith the host of the Carthaginen­ses was sore troubled, and great clamour was made, inforcynge them to tourne them to resyst Scipio and his company, and to chaunge theyr ordre, whiche they were in before. In all this troublous bruite came Lelius on theym on the other side, whose coming caused the foreward to gyue backe, for feare to be inuaded behynde, by meane wherof, the myddell warde of [Page] Scipio gotte them the hylle, whyche before was not possible for theim to haue wonne, the army & elephantes kepyng their aray, the place was so stiepe to ascend. Then began the Car­thaginenses to flee for their sauegard. there was great slaugh­ter made among them that abode, by Scipio and his compa­ny: and of those that fledde, many were receyued by the .ii. companies, which were before layde in embusshement for the same purpose: so that there were slayne to the numbre of .viii. M. men. Asdruball seing the beginning of the battaile nothing prosperous after his intent, sent his money, and many of his elephantes away before him▪ and he folowed after with as ma­ny as coulde saue them selues with flieng: and passyng the ry­uer of Tagus, went streight toward the mountains of Pyre­neis. ¶ Scipio, comynge to the campe of the Carthaginen­ses, gaue all the pray therof to his souldiours, except the pri­soners, which wer in numbre .x. thousand fotemen, and .ii. M. horsemen: of whiche numbre, soo many as were Spanyardes, he let go at lybertie freely, without raunsome paying: the rest he caused to be sold by the Questor. Than gaue he large gyf­tes to the princis of Spayn, specially to Indibilis he gaue .iii. C. horses, the beste he coulde chuse of all that were taken. Through whiche his liberall distribution, the communes of Spayne called hym kyng: whyche name, Scipio declared to them, that it was very odious and detestable to the Romans. Wherfore he desyred them, to absteyne from callyng hym by that name. For with the name of gouernour or capitayne, he was well contented.

¶ Whan the Questor was about to sell the prysoners by the capitaynes commaundement, among other he found a goodly yonge chylde of .xv. yeres olde: whome he sente to Scipio, for that he herd of him, that he was descended of lignage roi­al. Of whom Scipio enquired, what he was, & of what coun­trey, and how he, being of no greatter age, happened to be in the campe amonge men of warre. He aunswered, that he was of Numidia, and was named Massus. His father (he sayd) was deade. Wherfore his mother sent him to her father Sa­la kinge of Numidia, and frome that time he had ben brought vp with his vncle Massanissa. And when his vncle came ouer into Spaine, to the socour of the Carthaginenses, he came al­so with him. But euer when he went to any batteil, his vncle [Page 93] wolde not suffer hym to go with him. So that before this time (he sayde) he neuer came in the fyelde. And nowe it was also vnware to his sayde vncle. But when euery man made hym redye, he pryuely also toke an horse and harneies, and entered the battayle with them. But his chaunce was so euyll, that he had nowe a faule from his horse, wherby he was taken of the Romaynes. Scipio demaunded of hym, whether he were not desyrous to retourne to Massanissa. To whom he aunswered, wepynge for ioye, that he wolde be verye glad, if his chaunce were so good. Then Scipio gaue him a ringe of golde, a cote, a senatours garmente, a spanysshe cloke, a goodly horse, well harneysed, and a buckle of golde, and suffered hym to de­parte to his vncle at his pleasure, appoyntynge him horse­menne to conducte hym on the waye, so farre as he woulde haue theim.

¶ After these thynges done, he bestowed the reste of the summer in receyuynge many people and Cities of Spayne in to the amitie of the Romaynes, and remayned at Tar­racon.

¶ Sone after the battayle foughte at Betula, the other As­druball, the sonne of Gysgon, and Mago with theyr armyes came frome the further parte of Spayne, to the helpe of the other Asdruball: but all to late. For the battayle was paste before theyr comynge. Wherfore they consulted, what was beste be doone. At the laste, consyderynge that Sci­pio, by gyftes and his lyberalytye, hadde won the hertes of the hyther partes of Spayne, and that onely the peo­ple of the furtheste parte of the co [...]ntreye towardes the Gades or pyllers of Hercules, knewe as yet nothynge of hym, nor of the Romaynes, wherfore they were sure fren­des to the Carthaginenses: they determyned, that of neces­sytie they muste remoue all theyr souldiours of Spayne, ey­ther to the furtheste partes of Spayne, or elles into Fraunce: or elles in shorte space they woulde all turne to the frendship of the Romaynes.

¶ They also agreed, that Asdruball, takynge with hym al the Spanyardes out of Spayne, and farre from the name of Sci­pio, shulde go ouer the mountaynes with them towardes An­niball into Italy, where the heade and chiefe grounde of the warres was.

[Page] ¶ Furthermore, that Mago, leauinge his host with Asdru­ball the sonne of Gysgon, shuld passe ouer the sea into the iles called Baleares, nowe called Maiorque and Minorque, with a great summe of money, where he shulde also hire many mo souldiours for theyr helpe in this purpose. After whose departyng, Asdruball, the sonne of Gysgon, with all his host, was appointed to depart into Portugall, and that he shoulde in no wyse fyght with the Romayns. Than had Massanissa .iii. M. of the best and lightest horses and men appoynted to be with hym: with whiche numbre he was assigned to pervse and ryde abrode the countreys, helping the cities, frendes of the Carthaginenses, and to spoile and distroy the townes and fiel­des of their ennemies. With these intentes and myndes eue­ry one of the capitaines departed from other, makyng greate spede to achieue their enterpryse.

THe fame of Scipio dayly encreased at Rome. Also Q. Fabius Maximus had gotten greate honour by wyn­nynge the towne of Tarent. But Marcellus by meane of ennemies was runne in great infamy. For it was reported, that Anniball rouyng abrode in the countrey, he kept his host in the sommer season in the towne of Venusia. Marcellus to purge hym of this sclaunderous name came to Rome, againste the tyme of chusynge of offycers. Thyther came alsoo Q. Fuluius Flaccus the consull. There was the cause of Mar­cellus openly debated. And C. Bibulus, one of the Tribu­nes, charged hym soore, sayeng, that the negligence of Mar­cellus, and other suche lyke, was the cause of Anniballes so longe abode in Italy, This is (sayd he) the tenthe yere, sens he came fyrst into this countrey. He hath lyued almost as long in Italy, as he hath done in Carthage. At the chosyng of offi­cers, ye wylled M. Claudius Marcellus to continue a yere longar in his office: and nowe if ye wyll knowe the fruite that he hath brought forth this yere, by the meane therof, ye shall vnderstande, that he hath his hooste two tymes beaten; and many of them slayne this yere. And in the chiefe of sommer, [Page 94] he hath kepte the resydue of his men at Venusia, within the sure walles of the same.

¶ To this accusation Marcellus so wysely and sobrely aun­swered, shewynge his policies and his actes doone agaynste Anniball, that his excuse was not onely welle taken, but also for his well dooinge, the daye folowynge he was, by the hole consent of the people, chosen consull: And Titus Quintus Crispinus was chosen to be his felowe. They both were ap­poynted to kepe Italy agaynste Anniball. Marcellus wente to his olde army to Venusia, takyng with hym dyuers other, to supplye the places of those that were before slayne. Cris­pinus seinge the honour that was growen to Fabius by wyn­nyng of Tarent, thoughte to besyege the citie of Locrus. Wherfore he sent for all maner of ordynances to Sicilia, with shyppes also to assault the same by sea as well as by land. But hearinge of the cominge of Anniball to Lacinium, he lefte his pourpose for a season, and ioyned his hoste with his fel­lowe Marcellus, who as than was come from Venusia into the countrey of Apulia, where they bothe incamped their ar­mies .iii. myles the one frome the other. Thyther came also Anniball soone after that he parceyued the consull Crispinus hadde lefte of his besiegynge of the Locrenses, and in the same cuntrey pytched his campe and tentes. He had the yere before assayed the power and herte of Marcellus, sometyme with wynnyng, sometyme with losse of men. Wherefore fea­rynge with the power of bothe the consulles to be ouermat­ched, he than diuysed, howe with policies and craft to deceiue them. The consulles made dyuers skyrmyshes with his men, thinkyng with suche tryflynge frayes to passe furthe the som­mer, and to kepe hym occupied: yet neuerthelesse, they tru­sted to be stronge ynough also for the besiegynge of Locrus. Wherfore they sent to Sicilia, causyng L. Cincius, with his nauy and army, to come to the besiegynge of Locrus by the sea. Furthermore to assayle it also by lande, they commaun­ded part of the army, whiche laye for the defence of Tarent, to be brought thyther. This appoyntement was not so pry­uyly done, but that Anniball hadde knowledge therof by cer­tayne of the Thurines. Whervppon agaynste the tyme ap­poynted of theyr comynge, he sent an embusshement of two thousande horsemen, and thre thousande footemen, to lye [Page] secretely vnder the hylle of Petillia, vppon the way, wher­by the Romayne Tarentines shoulde passe. The Romaynes vnaduysedly passyng by the waye, were amonge them to their great hurtes: for two thousande of theim were there slayne, and one. M. and two hundred taken prysoners, the rest that escaped, fledde by dyuers waies backe agayne to Tarent. The consulles laye in theyr seuerall campes, not farre frome the campe of Anniball. Nowe was there in the myddell waye be­twene the Romaynes campe and hym, a greatte hylle, full of woodde, not taken nor viewed by any of them both. The Ro­mayns feared for to viewe it, for that they doubted, what ma­ner of grounde the vttermooste parte thereof was towarde theyr enemies. Neither was it viewed of Anniball: for that he estemed the same to be a place more mete for to deceiue his ennemies, than for to pytche theron his campe. Wherefore he in the nyght sent thither a company of Numidian horsemen to lye pryuily in the myddell of the wood, without mouynge or makynge any noyse in the daie tyme, for feare to be espied. The Romaynes euer cryed to theyr capytaynes, that they shoulde take the sayde hylle, and pytche there, one of theyr campes, for feare leste Anniball shoulde take it before theim. Than said Marcellus to his felowe Crispinus, lette vs then, with a certaine horsemen with vs, go viewe the same hyll: by the [...]yghte whereof, we maye dispose all thynges accordyng­ly. Beynge thus agreed, they takyng with them .ii. hundred and .xx. horsemen, wente bothe to suruey the sayde hylle and wood. Whom yonge Marcellus, the consuls sonne, and Au­lus Manlius beinge bothe tribunes, folowed. So couetous was the mynde of Marcellus to ioyne battaile with Anniball, that he thoughte he coulde neuer ioyne his campe nyghe y­nough to the campe of his ennemye. Wherefore at his de­partynge, he caused his people to be in a redynesse: that in case the place lyked theim, that they myghte gather vp the vesselles, and all theyr stuffe, and folowe theim frome theyr campes.

¶ The capytaynes passed thorough a lyttell playne fielde, and frome thense they entred into a fayre brode waye or ry­dynge, whyche wente vp into the woodes. At the toppe of this rydynge, the Numidians hadde sette an espy to watche, not thynkynge of any soo greate a praye as happed theim to [Page 95] come: but onely to watche for forrageours or wood caryars, that shoulde happe to roue abrode for vytayles, wood, or su­che necessaries. This espye warned theym of the Romay­nes commynge, and of the numbre, and gaue theim a sygne, whan euery man of theim shoulde leape oute of his secrete denne: whyche he craftyly executed. For he gaue theym not the sygne to issue oute, tyll the Romaynes were soo farre passed in theyr wa [...]e, that the hyndermoste parte of the em­busshement myght inclose theim, and stoppe theyr waye be­hynde theim, by that tyme the formoste of the embushement assayled theim before. Than on all partes they issued out, and layde on the Romaynes. The consulles seynge theim selues stopped, bothe before and behynde, foughte manfullye theym selues, and comforted theyr fellowes, thynkynge to prolonge the battayle tylle succours myghte come to them. But the other were soo fierse, that parte of the Romay­nes fledde. Neuer the lesse the reste foughte for a season, tylle they sawe Crispinus soore wounded, and his felowe Marcellus, thruste thorough with a speare, falle deade to the grounde. Thanne the reste that were left on lyue fledde with Crispinus the Consull, who was soore hurte with two dartes, and yonge Marcellus, beynge also soore wounded. Aulus Manlius was there slayne, with Marcus Aulius, and foure and forty other horsemen. Arenius, with fyue ser­geantes of the consulles, and eyghtene other horsemen, were taken prisoners.

ANNIBALL knowynge that greatte feare woulde be in the Romayne hooste, by the deathe of the one Consulle, and also by the woundynge of the other: to putte theym to further feare, he incontynent remoued his hooste into the same hylle, where the battayle hadde beene before, where he pytched his Campe. There founde he the bodye of [Page] Marcellus, whiche he caused to be buryed. Crispinus beinge sore feared with the deathe of his fellowe, and also with his owne woundes: in the nyght folowynge remoued secretelye his armye into the highest and nexte hyll, that he for his suer­tie coulde fynde, there pitchinge his campe and tentes. Both the capitaines endeuoured them selues, to the vttermost, the one to deceyue, and the other to eschewe deceite.

¶ Anniball, with the bodye of Marcellus, founde alsoo his ringe, with his sygnet: wherby he trusted to worke deceyt­full conclusions. Crispinus mystrustinge also the same, sente with spede worde to all the cities of the Romaynes, nere ad­ioyninge, warnynge theim, that his felowe Marcellus was slayne, and that Anniball had gotten his signet. Wherfore he commanded theim, in no wyse to gyue credence to any letters that shulde be sente vnto them, sealed with the seale of Mar­cellus, or made in his name. Soone after a messanger came to Salapia from Anniball, with letters written and sealed in the name of Marcellus: shewynge vnto them, that the nyght fo­lowynge Marcellus wolde priuely come thyther. Wherfore he commaunded the capitaynes and garrison to be redy at his commynge, to knowe his further pleasure, what was to be done. The Salapiens fyndynge crafte in the wrytynge, sente backe the messangers to Anniball with gentyll answere. And they the nyghte prefyxed, sette sure watche and warde on the walles, specially on that parte of the towne, and at that gate, where they demed theyr ennemyes wolde come. A lyttell be­fore the daye came Anniball, with a great company with hym. The first company that cam to the yates, was of Romans, that wer departed from the cuntrey, & taken in wages by Anniball. They had all Romayne armour, and when they came to the gate, they spake laten, as dydde the Romaynes, wakynge the watchemen, and byddynge them to open the gate to the con­sull. The watche arose, and with great leuers lyft vp the port colyes soo hyghe, that men myghte entre vnder it. Then the sayde bande of Romaynes runawayes, entered so fast as they myght. But when they were entred, to the numbre of .vi. C. of them, the rope, whiche dyd holde vp the portcolyes, was let slyp, and fell downe with great noyse makynge. The Sala­piens, with smalle resystence, slewe them that were entred the towne. For that they, mystrustinge no suche thyng, bare their [Page 96] harneys hanginge on theyr shulders, thynkyng to haue entred with peace. Many of the towne with speares and dartes, cha­sed theyr ennemyes from the gate and walles.

¶ Thus Anniball, beinge taken in his owne trappe, was de­ceyued: and from thense departed, to rayse the syege of his friendes the Locrenūs, whom Cincius, with his souldiours and ordynaunce, that came from Sicilia, kept very harde and strayghte.

¶ Mago was in the citie, who herynge of the death of Mar­cellus, toke some comforte vnto hym. But when he harde ty­dynges, that Anniball had sente his Numidian horsemen be­fore him, and was coming hym selfe after with his fotemen, as spedely as he myght, he was then withoute feare. Wherfore when he espyed afarre of the Numidians approchyng, he cau­sed the gate to be opened, and in arraye with his folke issued out vpon the Romaynes. His sodeyne comyng on them, more then his strengthe, caused the battayle to endure for a season doubtefull. But when the Numidians were also come, the Ro­maynes were so stryken with feare, that withoute ordre they ranne towarde theyr shyppes, leauynge behynde theym all theyr ordynaunce, wherwith they had beaten the walles. And by this meane was the syege of the Locrensis raysed.

¶ Crispinus the consull sente letters to Rome, bothe of his felowes deathe, and also of his sore hurtes: which letted him so, that he could not come to Rome to the chosyng of the consuls. The senatours were very pensyfe, to se two consuls ar­mies destitute of capitaynes. Wherfore at the day of the ele­ction, they loked about, to fynd two wisd and circumspect per­sons for that offyce, who had ben acqueynted with the deceites of Anniball. Fyrste they aboue other lyked C. Claudius Ne­ro, whom they knewe to be a valyaunt man, and a good capy­tayne. But they estemed hym to be to quicke for that tyme of the warres, and to matche that soobre capytayne Anniball.

Wherfore they deuysed to match his quickenes, with a sobre felowe of great temperance. Then was there one M. Liui­us, a man of great sobrenesse, late come agayne into the citie. He had before ben consull about .viii. yeres passed, and in his consulshyppe was condempned by the comons, without fault: and put out of his offyce. Which shame to hym done, he toke so displeasauntly, that leauynge the citie, he wente forthe into [Page] the countrey, to dwell out of the company of men. And .viii. yeres after his condempnation, M. Marcellus, and M. Va­lerius Leuinus the consulles, brought hym home agayne into the citie: but they founde hym foule and euyll apparellyd, his heare and bearde longe, as a token of his shame receiued. But at this time the censors caused hym to rounde his heare, and puttynge on other cleane garmentes, to come in to the senate house. When he was brought thyther, and the fathers were examyned of theyr opinions of M. Liuius, touchyng the of­fyce of consull: They agreed all, both senatours and the com­mons, that it were a mete couple of hym and Claudius Nero. But he alone refused the office, accusyng the citezens of their vnkynde lyghtnesse, sayinge:

¶ I meruayle moche, ye laye nowe the burthen of this office on me, whom ye of late thruste oute of that same offyce, thyn­kyng me vnworthy therof. If ye accompt me to be a good and an honeste man, why then dyd ye condempne me as an euyll man, and as an offender? And syns ye iudged, that I euill go­uerned the consulshyp, wherin I laste was: why truste ye me nowe agayne with the same roume?

¶ With such wordes he accused the fathers and also the commons. But the senatours rebuked hym for his wordes, shew­inge him the example of M. Furius Camillus, which though he were banyshed the citie of Rome, yet was he after restored agayne: For (sayd they) lyke as the childe ought to suffer the sharpe punishement of his father: so ought euery man to suffer the punishement of his countrey, with pacience and gentilnes.

¶ With these wordes they appeased hym, and caused hym to take on hym the sayde office.

¶ The one consull was appoynted to kepe the warre againste Anniball in Italy, leste he shulde drawe nere to Asdruball, co­minge from the mountaynes to his succour: The other was assygned to mete Asdruball, the fame of whome was, that he beganne to approche the mountaynes, to thintent to come o­uer, to ioyne his power with his brother Anniball. The opy­nion of Anniball dyd also mo [...]he helpe the Romaynes in this purpose. For althoughe he knewe, that his brother woulde that sommer passe the mountaynes, to come ouer to hym: yet whan he remembred the manyfold lettes that he had him selfe, as in passynge the ryuer of Rhodanus, and then the dangerus [Page 97] mountaynes, stryuinge bothe with men and peryllous places, wherin he had spent fyue monethes, he loked not for so spedye and quicke coming of his brother. whiche caused hym to be so long, er euer he remoued frō the place, where he wintred with his army. But in this he was moche deceiued. For Asdruball had better spede in his passage, then he loked for him selfe. For the frenchemen, and also the mountaynoys, dyd not onely re­ceiue him, and suffered hym with his army to passe their coun­treys: but also they folowed him to the warres, leadinge him many sure wayes, whiche to Anniball his brother, were then vnable to be passed. Agayne, the wayes ouer the mountaynes, by the continuall vse of goinge ouer them, were made moche more easy then they were, and the people more gentyll to in­treate. For before Annibals comynge, they were not vsed to the company of straungers, neyther had sene any before in the countrey. wherfore they were wylde and sauage people. They thoughte also at the fyrste tyme, that the Carthaginenses had come to take theyr castelles and cattell from them. But nowe the fame of the warre holden in Italy, betwene the Romaynes and the Carthaginenses, taught them, and made them to know, that the hole contention betwen those noble head cities of the worlde, beinge so farre distant a sundre, was onely for the ho­nour and for riches: so that they wolde trye, whether of them shulde possede the dominion of the hole.

¶ These causes knowen, made the mountaynes open and easy for Asdruball to passe: but his speede was not so good in pas­synge the same, as his let was great in the besieginge of Pla­centia. Whan he was come ouer, he had thought the citie, be­inge in a faire plaine countrey, had ben easy to wynne: and by the fame of the wynnynge therof, he thoughte all other cities adioyninge, shulde haue trembled for feare. But the strength therof moche deceyued him, and that knewe Anniball full wel. For when he came ouer the riuer of Trebia, he in vayne had assayed the strength therof. So that Asdrubals assieginge of Placentia was not onely a lette of his owne iourneye: but al­so it stayed Anniball moche longer: after he harde therof, ere euer he sette forthe of the place, where he wyntered with his hoste.

¶ The consulles with theyr armyes went to their prouinces, M. Liuius towardes Placentia, whome ere he departed, [Page] Q. Fabius warned and exhorted, that he shulde not ouer ha­styly fyght with his ennemies, before he knewe the maners and conditions of theim. To whom Liuius, remaynynge yet in dyspleasure towarde his citezens for his banyshement, an­swered: that he wolde fyght with theim so soone as he might haue fyght of them. Whan the cause was demaunded of hym, why he wolde make therm suche haste: Truely (sayd he) ey­ther I wyll quyckely haue great honour, by subduinge myne ennemyes, or els greatte ioye, by the sleynge of myne owne vnkynde cytezens. Whyche ioye althoughe it be to me not honeste: yet shall it be accordyng to theyr deseruynges.

¶ Quintus Claudius Nero made haste, tyll he approched nere vnto Anniball: who as than was gone into the countrey of the Lucanes, and lay by the towne of Grument. Claudius hadde in his army forty thousande fotemen, and two thousand and fyue hundred horsemen: Anniball gatherynge togyther as moche power as he coulde amonge the Brutians, and from suche fortresses as he than helde: lay inc [...]mped nigh vnto the walles of Grument: and within halfe a myle of them was the campe of the Romaynes. Betwene bothe the campes there was a goodly playne valey, hauynge on the oone syde fayre playne hylles, without any wooddes or couerte, for to hyde any embusshement, or cause deceyte. Wherfore it was the lesse suspecte to bothe parties. These hylles laye adioynyng to the lefte syde of the Carthaginenses, and to the ryghte syde of the Romaynes. In the playne medowe were ma­ny lyght eskyrmysshes made betweene the hostes, and ma­ny excursyons the Romayne consull caused to be made one­ly to kepe his ennemyes there frome goynge towarde As­druball.

¶ On the other syde Anniball, desyrous to remoue out of that place with all his power intended to gyue hym battaile. Wherfore he putte his whole hoste in array. Claudius Ne­ro, perceyuynge his intent, caused secretely the nyght folo­wynge, Titus Assellus, and P. Claudius two tribunes, with a good noumbre of men with theim, to passe ouer the sayde hylle, adioynynge, and to abyde in the valeye behynde the hylles, appoyntynge theim a tyme, whan they shoulde de­scende from the mountayne on the backe of theyr ennemies. He hym selfe in the breake of the daye, with the reste of his [Page 98] footemen and horsemen, came into the fielde in good araye. Anniball lykewyse commaunded his men to arme theim, and greate noyse was made in the campe, euery man runnynge to harneys. And whan they were armed, they ranne oute of the campe yates, bothe horsemen and footemen, without ar­ray before Anniball had knowledge therof. And as soone as they were out of the Campe in the playne, they ranne to their ennemyes, fyghtynge bothe on horsebacke and on foote, as chaunce gaue theym to meete with theyr ennemies, kepynge none order.

¶ Whan the Consull sawe theym thus rounnynge abrode in the fyelde without order, he commaunded C. Arunculeus, with the horsemen of a legyon, to inuade the Carthaginenses, with as moche vyolence as he myght: wherby he myght slea theym, beinge without order lyke beastes, before they coulde be brought in array. Whyche he dydde dilygentely execute, makynge greate slaughter. The battayle was strong for a sea­son, by reason of contynuall resorte of freshe souldiours, run­nyng to the succours of theyr felowes.

¶ Anniball, being yet in his campe, hearyng the noyse of his men fyghtyng, came furthe with the reste of his power, and so dilygently applyed him selfe: that euen as his menne were fyghtynge, he put many of theym in araye. Whiche thynge hath not bene lyghtly seene, and therein he shewed hym selfe to be an experte capytayne, hauyng olde and well acquaynted warryours vnder hym. And thus had he brought his wholle hoste in order, as they were styll fyghtyng: had not C. Assel­lus, with his bandes of Romaynes, sodainely descended from the hylles, at the backe of the Carthaginenses, with greate clamour: By the meanes wherof, they beyng aferde lest they shuld be stopped from their campe, began to flee on all partes. The horsemen slewe many of them in the chase: and many mo had been slayne, had not the campe been so nere at hande. yet lost Anniball of his men at that battayle .viii. M. which were slayne, and vii. C. taken aliue. The next day, and diuers days after, the Romains in array kept the fielde, desyrous to fight, but the Carthaginenses abode styll in theyr tentes.

¶ Soone after in the nyght, Anniball, with his army, remo­ued towardes Apulia, makinge great fyres before the campe, towardes the Romaynes, and leauynge in the entree of his [Page] campe, certayne Numydian horsemen for a shewe, tyl he with his hooste myght be farre gone frome his ennemyes. Whan it was day lyght, the sayd Numidians shewed theim selues in the gate of the campe for a season, purposely to deceyue the Romaines: and whan they sawe theyr tyme, they spedily rode after theyr companie.

¶ Than the consull, hearynge noo noyse in the tentes of his ennemyes, sent two light horsmen to viewe theyr campe, who fyndynge it voyde of theyr ennemies, retourned to Claudius, certifiynge hym of theyr departyng. Whervpon he with his hoste wente thyther, and toke the spoyle of suche baggage as was there leste: and on the morowe early folowed the Car­thaginenses, by the fame that they hearde of their waie, by whiche they were gone. Anniball, no more willynge to fyght, toke his waie euer in the nyght, and ouer the mountaynes, tyl he came to Metapontus: where he toke of Hanno, the sou­diours, whyche were there lefte, and ioyned theim to his armye, sendynge hym with a smalle numbre with hym, into the countrey of the Brutians, there to assemble moo men of warre to his succour.

ASdruball, leauing his further assiegyng of Pla­centia, sent foure frenchemen, and two Numi­dians to his brother Anniball with letters: who passyng all Italy, heryng that Anniball shoulde then be at Metapontus, folowed him thither: But er they were ware, they lost their way, and came to the fieldes of Tarent, where they were taken, and sent to Claudius Nero with their letters. Who whan he had redde them, and knewe by the contentes therof, that Asdru­ball intended to mete his brother in Vmbria, thynkyng then to be no tyme mete for the common welth, to tary the determi­nation of the senate: he imagyned, that he would enterpryse some strange thing, wherby he shulde put both the citezens of Rome, and also his ennemies in great feare. But at lengthe, [Page 99] whan it was achieued, it shulde tourne the wholle citie from greate feare into meruailous gladnesse. Wherfore he sent the sayde letters to Rome, with other his owne letters of his in­tended enterpryse. And incontinent sente messangers before hym, to all the townes & countreys, by whych he with his ar­my shoulde passe: commaundyng theim to brynge furthe into the fieldes agaynst his commynge, vitayles, horses, and other necessaries for his souldyours. Than of his wholle armye he chose out .vi. thousande footemen, and one. M. horsmen: say­inge and publyshyng, that with them he intended to assault the next towne of the Lucans, & to take the Carthaginenses, whiche were there left for the keping therof. With this company in the nyght he departed, makyng as great haste as he myghte in his iourney, to come to the healpe of his felowe Liuius, before he shulde haue to do with Asdruball: leauynge Quin­tus Tatius in his campe, to rule and gouerne the rest of his hoste. At Rome the consulles letters made all men no lesse a­ferde, than they were two yeres past, whan the Carthaginen­ses hadde pytched theyr tentes before the walles of Rome. They doubted, whether they myght allowe or disallowe that bolde enterpryse of the consull, whyche dyd appere to hange all vpon chaunce. They knewe the campe was left very nere to Anniball, with an army dispurueyed of a capitayne: ye and the flowre and strengthe of the same armye was taken awaye with the Capytayne, leauynge his campe sure in nothynge, but onely by the ignoraunce of his ennemies, who were not priuy as then of the consulles absence. But what yf it hap­ped to be knowen, and that it chaunced Anniball with his wholle army to folowe Nero, hauyng with him but .vi. thou­sand fotemen armed, and one. M. horsemen: or that he wold as­saile the reste, which were left in the campe, without strength or good gouernance. The euil chances, which they had before susteined in the warres, with the late dethe of .ii. consuls in one yere, increased their feare, whyche all had happed to theim, whan there was but one capytayne and one army of their en­nemies in Italy. Nowe they knewe .ii. myghty armies .ii. va­lyant capitaines: ye almost .ii. Anniballes, to be in the coun­trey. For Asdruball the sonne also of Amilcar, hadde many yeres in Spayne, made warre agaynste the Romayns, where he had hadde two noble victories, sleynge two greate armies, [Page] and also .ii. Scipions, the noble capitayns of the same. Fur­thermore, that he myghte glory aboue Anniball, bothe of his spedy passage ouer the mountaynes, and also of drawyng with hym the frenchemen to battayle. For euen where the one had almoste loste the greatter parte of his menne, by hungre and colde (whiche two be the greattest myseries of warre): euen there had the other gathered together a gret puissance. They rekened also, that Claudius Nero shuld haue to do with a wit­ty capitayn, whom he knewe before had mocked & illuded hym in Spayne lyke a child, with deceiteful intretyng of conditions of peace: wherby he escaped out of the straytes, wherein he was indaungered. Thus throughe feare (whiche is thinter­pretour of all thynges to the worste) they estemed the power of theyr ennemyes to be great, and their owne to be small.

¶ In the meane tyme Nero the consull, after he had so farre traueyled frome the daunger of his ennemies, that he iudged he myght safely discouer his secrete enterprise: he then called together his souldiours, and spake vnto them sayinge:

There was neuer any enterpryse taken in hande by any capi­tayne, whiche was in apparence more bolde, and in effect more sure then this was. For I wyll nowe brynge you (sayde he) to a certayne and sure victorye. For we goo to a battayle, for the whiche my felowe Liuius had before as many fotemenne and horsemen appoynted hym of the senate, as he wolde desyre. Ye suche a numbre as he wolde not haue desyred a greatter, if he shulde haue ben appoynted to fyght with Anniball hym selfe: and nowe, by the fame of the comynge of the other consull, with his armye, beinge ioyned to the other: we shall not fayle to haue an vndoubted victory. For fame is the thynge that gy­ueth victory in battayle. Yea small thinges oft tymes driue the hertes and myndes of men, eyther in to feare or in to a good hope. And the hole glorye and honour of all the good spede shall be gyuen to vs. For euer that, whiche cometh last, draw­eth all the honour to it.

¶ With this comforte he led them forward on theyr way, pas­synge by a great multitude of men and women of the countrey, that came forth to mete them with great fauour and prayse gi­uynge: namynge them the patrons and defendours of the cō ­mon welthe, and of the hole empyre of Rome, in whose han­des then laye the helthe welth and lybertie, bothe of them and [Page 100] of theyr children. Wherfore they prayed vnto the goddes for theyr prosperous returne with victory and tryumphe. And in declarynge theyr loue towardes theyr souldiours, they offe­red them cattell, vitayles, and other necessarye thynges, whi­che they hertely desyred them to take at theyr pleasure. And they on the other syde, thankefully receiuing that they neded, went on theyr waye, eatynge whan they were hungry, and but seldome toke any reste, tyl they came nere to the campe of the other consull M. Liuius. Then sent Claudius messangers to his felowe, aduertysynge hym of his comynge, to knowe his mynd, whether it were best for hym and his company, to come to hym pryuely or openly, in the nyght tyme or in the day: and whether he shoulde entre in to his campe, or make an other campe for hym selfe and his army: Liuius answered, that best it was, he entered into his campe secretly in the nyght. For the more suertie wherof, he gaue a pryuy watche worde or token, wherby one tribune shulde receyue an other, one centurio or hundredour an other, one horseman an other, and one foteman shulde receyue an other. And it was thought, that there was space ynoughe in the fyrste campe, to receyue hym and his cō ­panye, sense those that came with Claudius Nero brought lyt­tle more with them, but onely theyr armour, for the spedinesse of theyr war. Liuius tentes were then pitched nere to Sena, and Asdruball rested not past halfe a myle thence. When Ne­ro approched, he couered hym with mountaynes and hylles, tyll it was nighte. Then kepynge greate sylence, they entred the campe of Liuius, and were euery man broughte into the tentes by his lyke officer, where they were friendly and gen­tylly receyued, with great ioye and gladnesse .L. Portius the pretor had his campe ioynynge to the campe of the consull. The daye folowynge they counsayled, what was best then to be done. Some gaue aduyse, that Nero with his company, be­inge wery, shulde reste them certayne dayes, and that the bat­tayle shulde be differred, tyll they were fully refreshed of their longe trauayle: and in the meane tyme to knowe the maner of theyr ennemyes. But Nero wolde in noo wyse agree therto, he instantly desyred them so to worke, that his secrete enter­pryse, whiche by his swyfte comynge thither was made sure, shulde not by theyr long tarying be made folyshe and voyde. For Annibal beinge deceyued, kepeth hym close in his tentes, [Page] [...] [Page 100] [...] [Page] [...] [Page 100] [...] [Page] not knowynge of my comyng hyther, nor of the vnsure leauing of myne armye in my campe: but this deceyte can not longe behyd. With spede makyng Asdruball and his host may be ouer­throwen, er euer I departe: and then may I with lyke speede returne to my company into Apulia. But whoo so by prolon­gynge of the tyme, gyueth space to his ennemies, he causeth my campe in Apulia to be delyuered to Anniball, and openeth the way for hym to come hither to be ioyned to his brother, As­drubal at his pleasure. Wherfore incontinent let vs go to bat­tayle: and therby bothe our ennemyes, that be absente in A­pulia, and also those that be here present at hand, shalbe decey­ued: the other by thynkynge our numbre there to be no lesse then it was, and these by thinking your numbre to be nothynge increased.

¶ After these earnest wordes of Claudius, they departed frō the counsaile, and euery man armed hym selfe, and were put in good order of battayle. The Carthaginenses also were alre­dy come out of theyr campe, and stode in array redy to fyght, and bothe the armies had without taryeng gone to gither, had not Asdrubal for a season caused his company to stay. He, with certayne other horsemen in his company, rode before his host: where he perceiued amonges the Romaynes, to be many olde shildes, whiche he had not seene before. Also he marked many carreine leane and ouer laboured horses. He thought also the numbre of his ennemies was greatter then it was wont to be. Wherfore hauyng a mistrust of that, whiche in dede was true: he blewe the retraite. And incontinent sent certayn of his men to the ryuer, where the Romayne horses were watered, to es­pye and marke, whether any of theyr horses were discoloured by dashinge with myre of the waye, or with dust: wherby they might appere to be of late iourneyed. He also caused some o­ther to ride a farre of aboute theyr campes, to se, whether the trenche that enuironed the campe, were enlarged any whyt or not. Furthermore to marke, whether the trumpet, did sounde ones or two tymes within the campe of the Romaynes. No­thinge deceiued him so moche, as when worde was broughte him, that the campes were nothynge enlarged: but that there were but twaine as was before, one of Liuius cōsull, the other of L. Portius: and neither of thē altered otherwise then they fyrste were. Neuerthelesse it troubled hym sore, beinge a wyse [Page 101] man and moche vsed to warres with the Romaynes, when it was shewed hym, that the trumpet blewe but ones in the pre­tors campe: but in the other it blewe two tymes: wherfore he iudged surely, that bothe the consuls were there. Whervp­pon he began to muse, howe the other consull shulde be departed from his brother Anniball. He could not deuyse the thing as it was, that his brother was so illuded by the departinge of the capitayne from his campe, whiche was not farre of, with part of his power. He iudged, that he had susteined some gret losse: wherby he durst not followe the consull. Wherfore he feared greatly, least whan all was lost before, he was come to late to his brother with socours. He also mistrusted, that his letters neuer came to Anniballes handes, but that they, with his messangers, were taken vp by the waye: vpon the syghte wherof the other consull was come with hast to vanquishe him also. Beinge in this great perplexitie, he caused all the fires to be put oute, and euery man to trusse vp his stuffe and baggage: and in the begynninge of the nyghte, he with his hole host de­parted secretely, folowinge two guides. Whoo had not farre gone with them, but partly for feare, and partely beinge trou­bled with the rumour of the armye, toke no good hede to their waye: wherfore they secretely slypped awaye, leauyng theim without a guide. Some wandered abrode in the fieldes, some beinge wery and ouerwatched, laide them bowne to slepe and to rest them, leauynge theyr standardes. When the daye ap­pered, Asdruball caused his standardes to go before the hoste alonge the syde of the ryuer of Metaurus, sekynge for fordes, where he myght passe ouer: but the further he went vp the ri­uer, the hyer were the bankes. Thus wanderynge styll after the crokes and tourninges of the banke, sekyng a place of pas­sage: he spente a great parte of the daye in waste: wherby the Romaynes had gotten tyme and space to followe them. Fyrst Nero with his horsemen ouer toke them: sone after came Lu­cius Portius with his light harnessed men. They slewe many of Asdruball his folke, that abode behynd in the fieldes to rest them. Asdruball seinge no remedy to escape, soughte for some hyll by the riuer syde, wheron he myghte lodge his host. By that tyme was Liuius also come with al his power of fotemen, armed and in good array. Then ioynynge theyr companies to gether, they put euery man in order. Claudius Nero led the [Page] ryght wynge. Liuius kept the lefte wyng. Portius the pre­tor came in the myddell warde.

¶Whan Asdruball sawe to remedy, but that he must needes fyght, he left the fortifiyng of his campe, and put his people in array. In the forefront he set his elephantes: about theim on the lefte hande agaynst Claudius Nero the consull, he set his frenchemen: not for that he trusted to theim moche hym selfe, but bicause he thought his ennemies feared theim most. The ryghte wynge he kepte hym selfe with his spanyardes, his olde meane of warre, in whom his moste truste was. The Liguriens, men of a countrey of Italy, were sette in the mid­dell behynde the elephantes. There was a greatte hylse be­twene the Frenchemen and Claudius Nero: so that he by no meanes with his host, might come to fight with theim. Wherfore they stode styll a good space without doing of any thing. But betweene Asdruball and Liuius fyers and mortall was the fyght. There were the greate numbre of Romayne fote­men agaynst the multitude of Spaniardes his expert warry­ours, and also agaynst the Liguriens, which wer very stronge and valiant men. The elephantes also dyd at the fyrste moche displeasure. Claudius seinge that he coulde not haue to doo with the Frenchemen, tourned aboute his company, and fet­chyng a compasse, came on the other syde of Asdruballes ar­mye. Than were the Spanyardes and the Liguriens slayne on all parties, and the fyght was alredy come to the french­men, who were able to make smal resistence: for many of their company were shronken away and feble for labour and ouer­watchynge, as they be a people that can not well away with peyne. Many of theim were there slayne. Many also of the elephantes were slayne by the Romaynes, but moo by theyr owne rulars that rode vppon theim. For after they were ones stryken and aferde, the beastes were so vnruly, and dyd soo moche hurte to theyr owne Carthaginenses hoste: that theyr owne kepers and ryders slewe theim.

¶Asdruball, lyke a full noble capitayne, handled hym selfe in that battayle, sometyme fyght [...]ng valiantly in his owne per­sone, sometyme exhortyng his men manfully to fight, some­tyme he desyred his werye souldiours to take some peyne for hym, and for theyr owne lyues, sometyme he rebuked theyr sluggyshnes. And yf any began to flee, he anon brought them [Page 102] backe to the battayle, and restored agayne the fielde, whyche in diuers places was slaked. At the last, whan he saw no helpe, but that withoute remedy he muste lose the fielde: not myn­dynge to lyue after so great a slaughter of his men and frien­des, whyche for his sake vndertooke that voyage: he ranne his horse with the spurres into the myddell of the Romayne hoste: where to declare the noble valour of his stomacke, of whome he was descended, lyke the sonne of Amilcar, and brother to Anniball, he valyantly fought, and fyghtyng was slayne. Greate was the slaughter of the Carthaginenses in that battayle: so that it was thought equall to the Romaynes losse at Cannas, as well for the numbre of menslayne, as for the losse of the capitaynes. There was of Asdrubals hoste in this battayle slayne syx and fyfty thousande men, and there were .v. thousande and foure hundred taken prysoners. The pray at the spoyle was great, bothe of golde and syluer, and also of the Romayne prisoners, whiche before Asdruball bad taken. Of whyche Romayne prysoners, there were founde a­boue .iiii. M. The Romayns lost in this battayle almoste .viii. M. men. On the morowe woorde was broughte to Liuius, that those frenchemen and Ligures, whiche were left on liue at the battayle the daye before, were nowe assembled togither agayne, and went away without any capitayn or kepyng good order, so that they myght soone be all slayne, yf he wolde send but one wynge of horsemen to pursue theim. Not so sayd Li­uius, we wyll suffre some of our ennemies to escape, whyche shal remayne and be messangers, both of the distruction of our ennemies, and also of our noble honour and prowesse.

¶Claudius Nero, the night after the battayle foughten, de­parted with his company agayne toward his owne camp, ma­king so moche hast in his retourne, that the syxt day folowing he was come to his owne campe, and to the frontiers of his ennemy Annibal, he made suche spede, that no messenger was come thyther before him, whiche hadde broughte any newes of the victorie. Wherefore his personalle comynge, with the sodein declaration of their good spede, caused so greatte ioye and gladnes in the Romayne armie, as thoughe an hea­uenlie comforte had ben sent theym after an extreme doloure. At Rome also, when newes were brought of their prosperus successe, suche ioye was made, as canne not well be expressed. [Page] For after Claudius departynge towarde his selowe, frome the sonne rysynge to the some settynge, the senatours neuer departed frome the senate howse: neyther wente the cyte­zens out of the market place. The matrones of the citie were in contynuall prayers: soo that with theyr clamour, pylgre­mages, and vowes, theyr goddis were all weryed. But whame the certayntie of the vyctorye, the greatte occision of theyr ennemies, with the deathe of the Capytayne, was broughte the [...] by the legates of the consulles: theyr sus­pended hoope was sodaynely tourned into a perfecte ioye, whyche passed measure. Th [...]n beganne the marchauntes to bye, to sell, to paye, to receyue, and to make all maner of con­tractes, as they were wont to do intyme of peace.

¶ Claudius the cons [...]ll, retournynge frome the battayle, broughte with hym the heade of Asdruball: whyche at his fyrste comynge, he caused to be throwen before the entree of Anniballes campe. He alsoo caused the Affricans, why­che he hadde taken prysoners in the battaylle, bounden as they were, to be sette before his campe: to the intente his ennemyes myghte see theim. And for the more encrease of Anniballes sorowe, he loosed two of his sayde Affricanes prysoners, commaundynge theim to goo to Anniball, and to declare vnto hym, the ordre of all thynges as they hadde ben done in the battayl: wherwith he was so stryken with so­rowe, bothe for the losse of soo greate noumbee of menne of his brothers armye, as also for the losse of his friendes and famylyars, that he sayde, he knewe full well, what shoulde be the fortune and fatall chaunce of Carthage within shorte space. Whervppon he remoued into the fieldes of the Bru­tians. And for that he hadde no power lefte hym of men, to defende his fortresses, that yet helde, being so farre of: he gathered to gyther all the Metapontanes and the Lucanes, suche as were his fren­des: and brought them all into the coun­trey of the Brutians, where he re­mayned for a season, coun­sailing, what were beste for hym to doo.

IN Spayne betwene the Romayns and the Cartha­ginenses thus was the countrey diuyded. Asdruball, the sonne of Gysgon, was dryuen with his companye into the vttermoste parte of Spayne, and to the yles called the Gades. The rest of the countrey eastwardes, was vnder the dominion of the Romaynes, onelesse it were very fewe cities, whyche were kepte by the Affricanes: to whose suc­cours Hanno, a newe capitayne was sent from Affrica, with a newe armye, in steede of Asdruball, that was slayne. This Hanno had also hyred a great nomber of men of warre in Cel­tiberia. With this great hoste he ioyned to Mago. Agaynste whome Scipio sent M. Sillanus, with .x. M. footemen, and v .C. horsemen. And he passynge the hye hilles, and manifold daungerous passages and straites of Spayn, made such spede, that by the guyding of certayne runawayes of Celtiberia, he came within ten myles of his ennemies, before any knowledge was hadde, or any fame was bruted of his comynge. There he stode for a season, tyll he had by the sayde runawayes or es­pyes knowledge, that his ennemies were lodged in .ii. cam­pes: the Celtiberiens on the left hande of the hye waie, and were to the noumbre of .ix. M. souldyours, the Carthagi­nenses were on the ryghte hande. Sillanus fyrste assayled the Celtiberiens: who by the meanes of Mago, were soone put in order. The battaile endured soore for a season: and some­what the longer, by meanes of resorte of the Carthaginen­ses, whiche came frome the other campe to the healpe of the Celtiberiens. At the laste Mago, seinge his parte lyke to be putte to the worste, with two thousande footemen, and the wholle power of horsemenne, that were lefte on lyue, fledde vnto the Gades, and came to Asdruball. Hanno, the other capytayne, was taken on lyue: with many other noble prysoners.

¶ Soone after the battayle with Hanno, Cornelius Scipio departed to Tarracon, leauynge in that countrey L. Scipio his brother, with tenne thousande fotemen, and one thousand horsemen. who after his brothers departing with this power, [Page] assanted the town [...] of Qungin: not without peyne. For they scarsely were suffered to put theyr scalinge ladders to the wal­les: so great was the violence of the dartes and other ingins, whiche were throwen at them. And so sone as any were raised vp thervnto, and men theron, striuinge to ascende: anone they were eyther throwen downe, men and all, by the souldiours of the towne, hauinge forkes made for that purpose: orels they were in ieoperdy to be drawen vp ladders men and all, by rea­son of iron hokes that were throwen vpon the ladders, taking suche sure holde on them, that the clymbers were often times pulled vp farre frome the grounde, and hanged longe by the roundes of the ladders. Thus continued the assault very long, and was verye fyers and daungerous on bothe partes. Then had Scipio deuided his host in thre partes, to the intente one parte shulde euer assaulte the towne, while the other rested.

Wherfore he commaunded those, whiche were at the fyrst as­saulte, to withdrawe to their tentes, and rest them: and incon­tinent with other two partes of his freshe souldiours, he gaue a newe assaulte on two partes of the towne: so that the defon­dours, beinge wery with the longe susteinyng the furst assault, and also soore afraide, as desperate, leauinge the walles, with­drewe them: wherupon the towne was wonne, and great occi­sion made of people of all kyndes and ages.

¶ Whan tidinges of this noble acte was brought to P. Sci­pio the capitiane, he gretly praysed his brother, doing to hym as moche honour as he myght. And after sente hym to Rome, to beare newes to the senate of theyr spede. with hym also he sent Hanno the capitayn of the Carthaginenses, & diuers other noble prisoners, that were before by them taken.

¶ Asdruball the sonne of Gysgon: and Mago the son of Amilcar, desyrouse to redresse theyr harmes, and to recouer theyr losses, gathered together of theyr friendes in Spayne, and of hyred souldiours, an huge army, to the numbre of .l. M. fote­men, and .iiii. M. v. C. horsemen: and came to the towne of Silpia, where in the plaine fieldes they pitched theyr campes.

¶ P. Scipio, heringe of theyr great armye, assembled all his men lykewise: and to be more able to rencountre with his ennemies, he sente Sillanus to Colchas, the kynge and ruler ouer xxviii. cities and townes: of whom he had .iii. M. footemen, and .v. C. horsemen. He h [...]dde in his army, when he came to [Page 104] Betula .xlv. M. of horsemen and fotemen. Certaine daies af­ter theyr metynge there were shyrmisshes and iustes betwene the horsemen and the lighte fotemen of bothe the armies. At the last they bothe descended into the fieldes with al theyr po­wers in good order of battayle. The middell wardes kept the Romaynes on the one syde, and the Carthaginenses and the Affricanes on the other syde: the wynges of both the parties were of spaniardes and hyred souldiours. Thus stode they re­dye to do battayle, tyll it was night, without stroke strikinge: and euen so they dyd certayne dayes folowynge: So that euer it was bruted in bothe armies, that the myddle wardes shulde be still of the Romaynes and Carthaginenses, where the grea­test strength was, and where that most noble and experte men of warre were: betwene whom also rested the cause and chiefe grounde of the warre. Scipio beinge aduertised, that his en­nemies trusted and beleued, that this order shulde be kept still in the battayle: againste the daye, wherin he thought to fight, he chaunged all his order. Fyrst in the euenyng before, he commaunded all his horsemen, before the dawnynge of the day, to eate some meate, and then to be armed, and euery one of them to haue his horse also made redy for the battayle. Whiche his commaundement they diligently accomplished. Then Scipio, so sone as the day appered, caused al his horsemen, with lyght armour, to inuade the station or campe of the Carthaginenses: and he with the rest of his hole hoste folowed in good arraye, but otherwyse ordered, then eyther his ennemies or his owne company loked for. For he put his Romaynes in the wynges, and in the middle he put all straungers and hyred souldiours. Asdruball, heringe the greate noyse of the Romayne horse­men, with the sodayne rumour and feare of his owne menne, ranne out of his tente. And when he perceyued all the fieldes garnyshed with his ennemies, he sent forthe anone his horse­men against the Romayn horsemen: and sone after he hym selfe with all his fotemen came forth of his campe kepyng the same [...]rdre that he had doue certayne dayes before, without chaun­gynge any parte therof. The battayle betwene the horsemen endured longe, but whan the host of fotemen were within half a myle together: Scipio caused his horsemen to withdrawe them selues, whom he deuided then in two partes, and caused to stande behynde the two wynges, to be euer redy for theyr [Page] ayde and succour. Nowe was his myddle warde most of Spa­niardes: whom he commaunded to marche forwardes, not fast, but a softe pace. Then sente he a messanger to Sillanus and Martius, who gouerned the lefte wynge, chargyng them to make speede forwardes on theyr partes, in lyke maner as they sawe hym do with the ryght winge, whiche he ledde hym selfe: so that the wynges might be fyghtyng a good space before the myddle wardes shulde mete. In this ordre they wente for­wardes, spreadynge theyr wynges, and makynge a great bo­some in the myddell of theyr hoste. For the spanyardes in the middel went a moch softer pace then the wynges: wherby the winges were al redy come to strokes, and fought a long space, before that the Affricans and Carthaginenses (in whom rested the great strength of theyr ennemies) were come to any stroke strikinge. Agayne, to bende to any part of the winges to helpe theyr felowes that foughte, they durste not, leste they shulde open theyr battayle to theyr ennemies, whiche came directly vpon them. By this meanes the winges wer anone ouercome, and dryuen into the myddell warde: and no meruayle. For the yong and the hyred souldiours of Spayne were marched with the stronge and olde warriours of the Romaines and the La­tines, Agayne, Asdrubals men were so sodainely taken in the mornynge, that they had no tyme to receyue any sustenaunce before the battayle. Wherfore whan the daye was somewhat spent, they waxed feynte and feble. And for that intent Scipio purposely tracted and prolonged the tyme, before the myddell wardes shoulde mete: to the ende the heate of the sonne to­wardes the myddell of the daye, with the longe standynge in harneis, and lacke of meate and drynke, shulde take from them bothe theyr strength and corage. Thus they beinge wery, and assayled bothe before with the middell warde, and also on the sydes with the Romayne wynges, were constrained to recule. Whiche they dyd a great whyle, kepynge styll good ordre in theyr withdrawynge: for Asdruball continually cried to them, and therto exhorted them, sayinge: If they wolde by lyttell & lyttell withdrawe them, they shulde sone get the mountaines, whiche were at theyr backes: and then they shulde be sure out of the daunger of theyr ennemies. But at the last, seinge them selues ouercome, and so many of theyr companye slayne on all partes: theyr feare ouercame shame. Wherfore with greate [Page 105] slaughter they fledde to theyr campe. The Romaynes pursu­ed them faste, and had taken theyr campe and tentes, had not a vehement storme of rayne sodeynly come vppon them, with suche violence, that euery man was gladde to gette hym to his owne tent and pauilion.

¶ The Carthaginenses, althoughe the nighte drewe faste on them, being very sore woūded and wet with the rayne (wherby they had necessary occasions of slepe & rest) yet were they so a­fraide, that they ceassed not, stylle to strengthen and to fortifie their campe with dyches and stones, whiche they gathered in all partes about them: trustinge more to the strength thereof, then to theyr armour. Then many of the hyred souldiours of the hoste of the Carthaginenses lefte Asdruball, and came to Scipio. Dyuerse stronge townes also were delyuered vp to hym: with all the garrisons, whiche were left in them. Wher­fore Asdruball, thinkynge hym selfe more sure by fleinge, then by his abydinge, secretly departed from thense in the nyghte.

¶ Scipio in the mornynge, being aduertised of the departing of his ennemies, sent his horsemenne before: and he hym selfe with his army sodeynly folowed them: The horsemen at length ouertoke them, and made so many skyrmyshes with them, that therby they were stayed, tyll theyr hole armie of fotemen also ouer toke them. Then was there great occuion made of them with small resistence. And Asdruball with .vii. M. men with hym, was fayne to flee to the next hye mountayne, where they encamped them selues, and were safe frō any daunger or hurt, that coulde be done them. Sone after he slypped from thens, and stale to the sea, whiche was not farre of: where he toke shyppynge hym selfe, with Mago, and a fewe with hym, and went to the iles beyonde the furthest parte of Spayne, called Gades, leauynge the moste parte of his men behynde hym at theyr owne aduenture, to prouide for theim selues. Parte of them went to the Romaynes, parte to such cities as wer then remayninge in the dominion of the Carthaginenses.

¶ Scipio, after the dryuinge away of Asdruball and his com­pany, wyllyng vtterly to expell all the Carthaginenses out of Spayne: layde siege to Illiturgus: which after longe trauail he wan with force, and caused his men to slee al that euer they founde on lyue, man woman and childe. And after they sette the towne on fyre, and threwe downe the walles to the earth, [Page] that the place, whiche hadde ben the chiefe receptacle of theyr ennemies, myghte be clerely defaced, and the memorye therof abolysshed for euer. Frome thense he wente towarde Castulo, with his armie. The capytayne therof, fearynge the crueltie of the Romaynes: yelded the towne to them, with the Carthaginenses also that were therin. Ascapa also a strong towne was won by Martius, and brought in subiection, with all other townes cities and fortresses that the Carthaginen­ses before helde. Thus were they clerelye expelled oute of Spayne, the .xiiii. yere after the warres fyrste beganne, and the .v. yere after that Scipio was appoynted by the senate to be capitayne of the army, and was assigned to warre in Spayn as his prouince.

NOwe let vs retourne to M. Liuius the con­sull, that after the great victory had by hym and his felowe Claudius Nero, agaynste the other olde Asdruball, in the frontiers of Italy, as is before declared: He sente Q. Fabius Maxi­mus to Rome, to the senatours, aduertifynge them, that he thought the armye, whiche L. Portius the pretor had there, was sufficient inoughe for the kepynge of that prouince: So that (if they thought it beste) he and his armye might be well spared there. To whom the senatours aunswe­red, that they wylled him to come him selfe to Rome with his army, and that Claudius Nero his felowe shuld also mete him the same tyme at Rome, leauyng his host with good capitains to kepe the countrey styll against Anniball.

¶ Vpon this decree of the senate the consulles wrote letters eyther to other, and agreed, that lyke as they had with one good wyll and mind gouerned and defended the cuntreye, du­rynge the tyme of their offyce: euen soo nowe they shoulde bothe at one tyme come into the citie of Rome, althoughe they came frome diuers partes. Wherefore it was agreed, that who so euer of theim came fyrste to the citie of Preneste, shulde there tary the comynge of his felowe. Accordyng to [Page 106] the appoyntement, there they mette bothe in one baye: and frome thense they sent messangers to the citie, desyrynge the senatours to mete them in the house of Bellona the goddes of warre, the third day folowing. There wer they receiued with a great multitude both of senators and of citezins with goodly salutations and great thankes for theyr politike gouernance of their roumes: by whose helpe and dexteritie the cōmon welth was nobly preserued and aduaunced. Soone after they were brought into the senate: there accordinge to the olde custome of conquerours, they declared theyr noble actes, whiche they had achieued for the common welthe of the citie of Rome: and for the same desyred, fyrst that honour myghte be giuen to the immortall goddes: and then that they mighte with triumphe entre the citie. Whiche theyr request was graunted them. As touchinge the maner of theyr entringe in triumphe, it was ap­poynted, that they shuld not come in seuerally but together, as they vainquished theyr ennemies together. They agreed also betwene them selues, that bicause the victorye was had in the prouince of M. Liuius, & also bicause Liuius army was come to Rome with him, where Nero his host coulde in no wyse be brought thither: Therfore shuld Liuius ride in a charyot, and his souldiours in order followe hym. Nero shuld ryde by hym on horsebacke without any of his souldiours to folowe hym. Claudius was contented to gyue the honour to his felowe: by whiche his gentilnes he wan moche the more honour & praise. For euery man said of him, that he on horsebacke in .vi. dais had ridden the length of all Italy, and had fought with Asdruball in the borders of Fraunce, what time Anniball iudged hym to be in Apulia. So that his onely name was able to kepe Anni­ball lurkyng in his campe, and his onely comyng was the cause of the victory against Asdrubal. Wherfore (said they) ride the one consull neuer so highe in his charyot, yet the other consul, that rode but on horsebacke, was worthy of the very triumph. ye although Nero dyd go but on his fote: yet was he worthye of glory and fame perpetual. With these prayses they folowed Nero into the capitoly or palaice in Rome. Where they pre­sented moche money of theyr gayne, and that was put into the treasory. On the morowe both the consuls, and also the horse­men, praysed moche L. Veturius, and Q. Cecilius: desiring that they might, for the next yere folowing, be chosen consuls. [Page] Which at the next election was done, and bothe they appoyn­ted with .ii. consuls armies, to kepe warre agaynst Anniball.

¶ After all thynges were putte in good order, they depar­ted from the citie, and wente into the countrey of the Luca­nes, and in shorte tyme they had brought all that countrey in­to subiection. With Anniball there was lyttell doone. For he offered not hym selfe to gyue battayle, he was so discoura­ged with the losse of his brother, his frendes and his souldi­ours. On the other parte, the consulles thought it not best to prouoke hym to battayle: se [...]s they founde in hym noo stur­rynge. So moche they feared and estemed the valour of that noble capytayne: to whome this prayse is gyuen, That noo man coulde iudge in hym, whether he were more to be com­mended in tyme of prosperitie, or in tyme of aduersitie. For who woulde not wonder to se, that he maynteyned the warre so farre frome his countrey by the full space of thyrtene ye­res in the lande of his ennemies, hauynge his armye not of his owne citie or countreye, but gathered togyther of many nations, whyche lyued not vnder one maner of lawe, neyther hadde one custome or language, but moche different in appa­rayle, armour, customes, ceremonies, ye they hadde all seue­rall goddis. Yet dydde he so gouerne theim all, and knytte theim to gyther all in suche amitie, that no man coulde iudge or knowe of any dyssention betweene theym, or insurrecti­on agaynste theyr capytaynes, althoughe dyuerse tymes he lacked to paye them theyr wages, and also vitayles for their sustenaunce: by the lacke whereof, in other warres moche inconuenience hathe ensewed. Agayne, after the deathe of Asdruball, and his armye, in whome was all his trust, whan all Italy was taken frome hym, saue onely the countrey or corner of the Brutians: Who woulde not wonder to see noo rebellyon amongest his owne menne. Consyderynge that vyttayles hadde they not, but only from that lyttell an­gle of the Brutians, whyche yf it hadde beene wholly tyl­led and sowed, hadde not beene able to susteyne soo greate an armye. Neuer the lesse, a greatte parte therof was vn­tylled, parte for feare of the Romaynes, and theyr friendes, partely for that the mooste parte of the yonge menne of the countreye were taken to the warres, whyche were before wonte to tylle and man [...]re the grounde for husbandrye. [Page 107] These thinges (I say) conferred togither, it wyll make al men to muse, howe he coulde so quietly gouerne his greate hoost, and to prayse greatly his wyse conduict therin.

AFter the departynge of P. Scipio to Tarra­con, the Carthaginenses beinge dryuen out of Spayne, Massanissa, seinge the great falle of his frendes the Carthaginenses, secretely had communication with Sillanus, and was wōne to be a sure frende to the Romayns. Whervp­pon to haue his frendes in Affrica the more obedyent and redy to hym in all his necessities, he appoynted to sayle ouer in to his countrey, there to make hym selfe as stronge as myght be, for the ayde and succour of the Romay­nes whan neede requyred. And Sillanus soone after retour­ned to Scipio to Tarracon.

¶ Than P. Scipio, wylling to certifie the senate of his great victory and happie chaunces, sente his brother L. Scipio to Rome, as is before rehersed, who ledde with hym many no­ble men prisoners, whome he hadde before taken in the war­res: whervppon he was meruaylousely honoured and pray­sed of all men. Yet he alone, that hadde deserued all the sayde honour, estemed all his feates done in Spayne, to be nothyng in comparison of those thynges whyche he had conceyued in his mynde. He looked for the conqueste of greate Carthage and Affrica, as the ende of his warre, and the consummation of his honour and glory. Wherfore, to worke in tyme all thinges, that afterwardes shoulde serue for his pourpose, he de­termyned to wynne vnto hym the hartes of princis, whyche were borderars vnto that countrey. And fyrste he mynded to attempt kynge Syphax.

¶ This Syphax was kyng of a people in Affrica, called Ma­sesuli, adioynyng to the Moores, and lying on the other side of the sea Mediterrane, ouer against new Carthage in Spain, who at that tyme was a great friende to the Carthaginenses: To hym he sent C. Lelius, with a goodly present: wherwith [Page] the kynge was verye gladde and well pleased. And consyde­rynge in his mynde the good fortune, whyche the Romay­nes hadde in all partes, and seynge the power of his olde friendes the Carthaginenses to be soo greately decayed, that in Italy they hadde nowe lyttell to doo, and in Spayne no­thynge: He agreed with Lelius, to become a friende to the Romaynes. But he sayde, he woulde no further procede to the confirmation of the amitie betweene them, tyll he myghte personally speake with Scipio, the chief capitayn of the Ro­maynes. Whervppon Lelius takynge assuraunce of hym, for the safe goynge and commynge of his capitayne, retourned to Scipio. And declared vnto hym, howe he had spedde, as is before declared. Scipio indgynge his frendshyppe to be a great helpe and furtheraunce to his purpose, touchynge his desyrous affayres in Affrica, bothe for his greatte strengthe and rychesse, and also for that his countrey was adioynyng to Carthage, directly ouer agaynste Spayne, leauynge Lucius Martius at Tarracon, and Sillanus at newe Carthage, with a power sufficient for the defence of Spayne: he with Lelius in two galeys or rowbarges of fyue oores a piece, passed o­uer into Affrica.

¶ Nowe it happened, that euen the same tyme Asdruball, who of late had ben dryuen out of Spayne, was newely ar­ryued in the same hauen, with seuen galeys, and castyng their ankers, drewe as neere the shore as they coulde. Asdruball, perceyuinge the other two galeys or rowbarges of Scipios, comynge towardes the same hauen: knewe full welle, they were the vesselles of his ennemyes. Wherefore not doub­tynge, but that they beynge soo fewe in numbre, myght ea­syly be oppressed and vanquys [...]hed, before they shoulde gette the hauen: he commaunded his folkes to wey vp the ankers, and to make theim redy to sette furthe with all speede. But the other, hauynge good wynde to theyr furtherance, entred the hauen, before the galeys of Asdruball myght gette out, suche ruffelinge noise and littell shifte was made by his men. Wherefore when the Romaynes had ones gotten the kinges hauen: no man durste be so bolde to meddell with theym. Thus wente the two capyteynes on lande: fyrste Asdruball, and then Scipio with Lelius, and bothe wente to the kyn­ges palayes: whose comynge dydde vnto Syphax greatte [Page 108] honour. For it was neuer before seene, that the gouernoures of the .ii. most noble seignories, that were in those dayes in all the world, came euer to his palayce vpon one day, to desire his amitie and peace. The kynge ryght gentylly receyued theim bothe, and sens theyr chaunces were to mete both at one time in his howse: he dydde what he myght, to brynge them both to communication, trustynge therby to appease all stryfe and discorde for any mattier that hadde beene betweene theym. But that Scipio refused to doo, affyrmynge, that there was no pryuate matter of displeasure betweene hym and Asdru­ball, whyche by communication or hearynge of friendes, ne­ded to be determined. Neyther was there any thynge tou­chynge the common welthe of his countrey, wherin he might trauayle or intreate, onelesse it were by speciall auctoritie or commaundement of the wholle senate. Than the kynge made great instance to Scipio, seinge they were bothe his guestes at ones, that he wolde be contented to be so ordered, that he myghte not haue cause to expelle any of theim bothe frome his table. Scipio at the kynges requeste was not onely con­tented to sytte with Asdruball at oone table, but also, for the kynges pleasure, he laye in the same bedde that he dyd. For Scipio was naturally of suche dexteritie, and so confor­mable to reason, that thereby he not onely wanne the herte of Syphax: but alsoo he broughte his mooste mortall enne­mye Asdruball in more admyration of hym, after he hadde seene his conuersation, than euer he dydde before, for any acte that euer he dydde. Wherevppon he beganne than to coniecture and to iudge, that Syphax, with all his myghte was become friende to the Romaynes. Suche polycie he deemed Scipio to haue in wynnynge the hertes of men. And than he beganne to dyuise, that it was necessary for the Car­thaginenses, to consult among theim selues, not how Spayne was loste, and myghte be recouered: but rather howe they myghte keepe their domynion in Affrica. Specyally he was moued thus to be in doubte, for that he iudged, that soo greatte a capytayne of the Romaynes, woulde not leaue the countrey, that he lately hadde conquered, to wander a­brode in a straunge domynyon, onely with two galeys, lea­uynge behynde hym his greatte power, and committyng hym vnto the daungier of an vnknowen kynge: but onely vppon [Page] some truste that he had therby to wynne Affrica.

¶ Scipio concludinge a peace and amitie with the kynge, de­parted from hym, leauynge Asdruball wrapped in manyfolde troubles. And within foure dayes after, susteynynge many stormes on the seas, he arriued in safegard at newe Carthage.

IT is before declared, howe Sillanus had secrete com­munication with Massanissa, and had wonne hym to be friende to the Romaynes: but the conclusyon of this communication was deferred, tyll Massanissa myghte speake with Scipio personallye, for the more sure and faythfull assu­rance of theyr alliaunce. Whiche caused P. Scipio to enter­pryse that longe peynfull iourney, to come nere to the sea side, to mete hym. Of whose approchynge Massanissa, being in the yle called the Gades, was aduertised by L. Martius: He fai­ned to Mago, that his horses were lost and spylt, for that they were so longe kepte within the yle, without any exercise: and his men also were empayred throughe idlenes, not puttynge them selues in vre to do any feates of armes. Furthermore he saide, their longe lienge in that ilande caused derth and scarsi­tie of all thynges. Wherfore he desired licence of him, that he mighte, with his horsemen passe ouer in to Spayne, there to spoyle and wast the countrey nere to the sea syde.

¶ By this perswasyon he obteyned lycence, and came ouer in to Spayne. At his fyrste arryuaile, he sente thre noble men of Numidie to Scipio, wherof he wylled him to reteyne with hym two of them, as pledges: And to sende againe the third of theim, to acertayne hym of the tyme and place of theyr me­tynge: by whose conducte he myght be broughte to the place appoynted. When the daye came, they met to gether, with a smalle numbre in their companye: where Massanissa, at the fyrste syghte, althoughe before he had a greate admyration of Scipio, throughe the noble fame of his actes: yet vppon the syght of hym and his presence, he had hym in moche more ve­neration. For besydes that of nature he was indowed with goodlye and large stature: wherein he shewed a marueylouse [Page 109] magnifycence: yet the same was set forthe the more by reason of his goodly long heare, and his comly apparell, after a man­ly and warrelyke fashion. He was also of a myddle age, at his full strength, and was become so beautyfull after a sickenes, of whiche he was late recouered: that his lusty youthe semed re­newed: wherby he was more pleasaunt to beholde. At theyr first metyng, Massanissa half astonied, gaue hym humble than­kes for his goodnesse shewed, in sendynge home his brothers sonne: whom he before had as prisoner. From which tyme (he sayde) he ceassed not to seke occasion of his friendshyp and a­mitie, for the whiche, nowe that he had obteyned it, he gaue thankes to the goddes. Trustynge that he wold so apply himselfe in his affayres and the Romaynes causes, that theyr com­mon welthe was neuer more aduaunced by one man, beinge a straunger vnto them. Which his harty beneuolence and good wyll that he bare to them, he coulde neuer before (althoughe he wolde) haue shewed to hym and to them in Spayne, beinge to hym a straunge, and an vnknowen countrey. But in case the Romaynes wolde sende Scipio as theyr capitayne into Affri­ca, where he was bred and brought vp, he doubted not, there to do them such hie seruice, that the honour of Carthage shuld no longe while endure.

¶ Scipio gladly behelde hym, and also heard hym: knowinge surely, that he was the chiefe of al the horsemen in the army of his ennemies, and a lusty yonge man, of a nobleherte and cou­rage. Wherfore after they had entreated of theyr busines, gi­uynge faythe the one to the other, of faythfull loue and amity, they departed: Scipio to Tarracon, and Massanissa to the ile of Gades. but bycause it myghte appere to Mago, that he had done some feate in Spayne: Scipio suffered him to spoile certayne goodes and groundes on the sea cost, and to take the praye with hym.

¶ Mago beinge desperate of any good spede to be hadde in Spayne, was in mynde to sayle into Affrica, when sodeynlye letters came to hym from Carthage, commaundyng hym with his nauy of shyppes, that he had at the Gades, that he shulde sayle ouer into Italy. Where hyringe as moche people as he myghte, of frenchemen, and Liguriens, he shoulde with all spede ioyn him selfe with Annibal. And for that purpose great summes of money were sent him from Carthage. Besydes that [Page] he leuied and exacted as moch money as he coulde of the Ga­ditanes, compellinge euery man to brynge in his money. Be­sydes this he spoyled the temples. With all this riches he ar­ryued at the ile of Minorque, where he gathered together .ii. M. yonge men, whom in the beginnynge of sommer he toke with hym, and fayled ouer into Italy with .xxx. great shippes of warre, and many other shyppes loden with prouisyon. He had in his hoste at that tyme .xii. M. fotemen, and two. M. horsemen. With this numbre he sodeynlye arriued at Geene, whiche towne he toke with small resystence, beinge vnprouy­ded of men of warre. From thense he sayled alonge the costes of Liguria, nexte to the mountaynes called Alpes, and hering, that a people of that countreye, called Ingawni, helde warre with certayne mountanoys called Epanterii: he landed there, and makynge a leage or amitie with the Iagawnes, he graun­ted them to inuade the mountanoys with certayne of his peo­ple. The rest he sent to Carthage, to defende the costes of the sea there. For it was bruted abrode, that Scipio was mynded to lande his nauy in Affrica.

¶ He had no longe season taryed there, but his armye stil en­creased. For the frenchemen dayly resorted vnto hym, hering the fame and glory of his name. Of his arriuaile in Liguria a­bout Geene, Sp. Lucretius sent letters to Rome to the se­nate, aduertisynge them, that where Asdruball was about .ii. yeres paste slayne with his armye in the frontiers of Italy, to the great comfort of the citie, that great ioye was but in vaine, and passed lyke a shadowe, onlesse they prouyded nowe spedye remedy. For a newe armye was come with Mago from Car­thage, to begynne a newe warre lyke the other: onelye the capytayne therof was chaunged. These newes moued moch the senatours. Wherfore they sente letters to M. Liuius, then proconsull, commaundynge hym to brynge his host from Hetruria to Arminius. Cn. Seruilius the pretour hadde also commaundement, to bringe thyther from Rome two newe le­gions. Thus laye bothe the hostes of Romaynes, and the ar­my of the Carthaginenses, with theyr friendes, the oone not farre from the other, a longe season, without any thynge do­inge worthy of memory.

SOne after the departyng of Mago from the ile of Gades, the Gaditanes yelded them selues to the Romaynes. P. Scipio committing the rule and gouernaunce of his army to L. Lentulus, & L. Manlius, takyng with him .x. shippes, with men sufficient, went him selfe to Rome. Against whose coming the counsaile satte without the citie in the house of Bellona. There he soberly declared to the senatours, what thinges he had done in Spayne: Howe often he had foughte with banners displayed against his ennemies: howe many cy­ties he had taken from them by strength: what people he had brought into theyr obeysaunce: he shewed also that he hadde fought with .iiii. sundry capitaines noble men, and vanquished them and their armies, whiche before were neuer vanquished: So that nowe there was no Carthaginenses lefte in Spayne. But for al his noble actes, he was not admitted to entre the ci­tie with triumph, bicause he had neuer borne office in the citie. After the counsayle arose, he entred the citie, where he presented and brought into the tresory great plenty of money and ri­ches of his gaynes and prayes. Soone after the tyme came of chosyng of consuls, at whiche daye P. Cornelius Scipio was chosen consull, and P. Licinius Crassus his fellowe for that yere. Great was the resort that came to behold Scipio where so euer he went. The commons had conceiued in their mindes an opinion of hym, that he was the manne, appoynted by the goddes to finishe the warres in Italy, as he had before dely­uered Spayne from the Carthaginenses. Whiche warres in Italy ended, they appoynted in theyr owne hertes, and also they spake it openly, that he shulde haue Affrica, appoynted as his prouynce. When the prouynces were allotted, he was appoynted to Sicilia, and L. Crassus to the Brutians against Anniball. The fame amonge the commons ranne styll, that Scipio shoulde haue Affrica to his prouynce. And he euer desyrouse of great glory, sayde: that he was not onely chosen Consull, to meynteyne the warre, but to fynysshe and to make an ende therof. Whiche in no wise myght be achieued, oneles [Page] he myght passe with his army into Affrica. Which his desyre in case the senatours woulde not graunte, he wolde referre it to the voyce of the communes.

OF this purpose of Scipio the senatours consul­ted togyther, and amonge other, they desyred Q. Fabius Maximus to declare his opinyon. He aunswered, making an oration in maner and fourme folowynge.

¶ I am well assured, fathers conscript, that yf I dissent and agree not to this hasty passage into Affrica, two thynges wyll be iudged and spoken of me. One is, a slownes or a slacke tractynge of my mattier, whiche naturally is gyuen me, and that yongemen calle fearefulnes or slouthe. And it greueth me lyttell, thoughe they haue suche opinion in me, sens other mens councelles heretofore haue appered glory­ous at the fyrste face: but at lengthe my counsaile hath euer proued beste and moste for the common welthe. The seconde thynge is, that I shoulde for euyll wyl go aboute to hynder the glory of this valyaunt consull, that daily groweth and en­creaseth. Frome whyche suspition, yf neyther my fascion of lyuynge and maners, nor the offyce of Dictatour, whiche I haue borne, nor the roume of a consull, whiche I haue fyue ti­mes enioyed: neyther the greate glorye, that I haue wonne both in the tyme of peace and warre, wyl delyuer and pourge me: lette myne age at the least deliuer me therefro For what indifferent contention can be betwene me and hym that in ye­res may not matche my sonne? When I was dictatour, the mayster of the horses laboured so to the senate, that he was made equall with me in auctoritye and rule: whyche thynge neuer was seene before. yet neuer manne herde me, eyther priuyly or openly refuse theyr ordre therin. For I hadde lea­uer to gette by my deedes than by my woordes, that he why­che was by other mennes iudgement compared with me, shoulde shortely after by his owne confessyon gyue me the [Page 111] preferrement. Moche lesse nowe, whan I haue so oft borne these honourable offices, dooe I intende to stryue with this flourysshynge younge manne. I letted Anniball of his vy­ctory, to the intent he myghte nowe be vanquysshed of you that be lusty and stronge. Reason woulde, Pub. Cornelius, that ye shoulde be contented (sens I dy dde neuer sette more by myne owne fame & honour, or the fame of the people, than I dyd by the common welth) although I do not now preferre your honour and laudis before the common welth. Neuer the lesse in case there were no warre in Italy, or elles suche an en­nemy, by whose vanquyshing small honour were to be gotten: than he that would kepe the in Italy (although the commune welthe were therby somewhat anaunced) myght seeme to go aboute to take thy glory from the. But sens Anniball is our ennemy, who hath with his hooste these .xiiii. yeeres vexed Italy: shouldest thou P. Cornelius, thynke the to lose ho­nour, if by thy prowesse, beynge consull, thou canste expelle and driue hym out of this cuntrey, who hath been the cause of so many of our mens slaughter, and of our so great distruction? Wherby as Luctatius bare away the honourable title of fy­nyshyng the firste warre with the Carthaginenses: euen soo nowe thou mayste obteyne the prayse of fynyshing this warre. Onelesse thou doest thynke, that Amilcar than capitayn, was to be preferred before Anniball: or that warre before this: or that victory to be more noble and gloryous, than this shall be to the, if it be thy chaunce (being consull) to ouercome? Thin­kest thou it more honour, to deliuer Spayne frome our enne­mies than to delyuer Italy? Anniball is no suche man, but that who so euer wyll chose to warre in an other place, muste be reckened rather to feare hym, than to dispyse hym. Make the redy therfore, and thynke not to fetche a compasse aboute the busshe, to goo before in to Affrica, to the intente Anniball shoulde folowe the: but goo the nexte waye to woorke, and where so euer Anniball be, thyther dyrecte thy warre. Na­ture gyueth, that a manne should fyrst defend his owne coun­trey: or he inuade or assaile an other lande. Lette there firste be peace in Italy, before there be warre in Affrica. And lette feare be fyrste expelled from vs, or it be driuen vpon other. Yf thou canste by thy gouernaunce do bothe, fyrste ouercome Anniball here: and then after assayle Carthage. Our treaso­rye [Page] is not able to finde .ii. greate armyes: one here, and an o­ther in Affrica. And if it were sufficient to fynde P. Licinius one host in Italy, and P. Scipio an other also in Affrica: what yf it shuld chance (as god forbyd, yet suche happes haue hap­ped and maie dooe agayne) that Anniball dyd ouercome Li­cinius, and were comynge towardes Rome: Myght we call the frome Affrica, as we dydde call Quintus Fuluius frome Capua to our succours? Ye, and in Affrica also the fortune of warre is doubtfull and variable. Lette thyne owne howse or famylie be to the a warnyng. Were not thy father and thyn vncle slayne, with theyr hoostes, and all within thyrty dayes space? Yet hadde they before amonge straunge nations, both by sea and by lande, gotten greatte renoume to the cytie of Rome and all theyr posterytie. The daye woulde fayle me, or I made an ende, yf I shoulde reaken vp the names of kyn­ges and capyteynes, whyche rasshelye haue inuaded the landes of theyr ennemyes, to the vtter vndooynge of theym and theyr armyes. The Athenienses, leauynge warre at home, sente a noble yongeman capyteyne, with an huge na­uye into Sicilia, where beynge ouerthrowen in oone battaile, they hadde suche losse, that their common welthe was cleane subuerted for euer. This outwarde exaumple is to auncient. Let the same A [...]frica, and the losse of our owne consulle M. Attilius, there taken by the Carthaginenses, and their fren­des, be to vs a document. In comparyson of Affrica, Publi­us Scipio, the countreyes of Spayne be but a play or a game. The estates of theym be nothynge lyke. For at thy passynge into Spayne thou dyddeste sayle by the costes of Italye and Fraunce, and dyddest arryue with thy nauye in the citie of oure friendes. Where settynge thy men on lande, thou by sure wayes were conueyed to Tarracon, the friendes also of the Romaynes. Frome Tarracon, thou camest to the ryuer of Iberus, where thou foundeste that noble capytayne L. Martius, & many fyers Romain souldiours, left of the armies of thy father and thyne vncle. And sone after newe Carthage was wonne: bicause none of the .iii. hostes of the Carthagy­nenses, came to the succour and defence of the citie and their fellowes. These thynges I cannot so greatly praise: but tou­chynge the warres in Affrica, they shall be founde farre vn­lyke. For there shalte thou fynde no hauen open for our army [Page 112] and nauie, no grounde peasyble, no citye of oure fryende­shyppe, no kynge our frende. Also no place mete for vs, ey­ther to abyde vppon, or to goo forewardes on. Wherefore wheresoeuer thou looke, thou shalte see all full of thyne en­nemyes. Wylte thou beleeue Syphax and the Numidians? Lette it suffyse the, that thou dyddest ones beleue hym. Fo­lysshe hardynesse doothe neuer prospere: Deceyte doothe soo order it selfe in smalle thynges, that faythe may be geuen to it: to the intent in great thynges he may deceiue with gret aduauntage. Thy father and vncle were not oppressed by the armour of their ennemies: til they were first deceiued by their owne felowes and fals friendes the Celtiberiens. Ye thy selfe were neuer in so great ieopardy through Mago and Asdrubal capiteines of thyne ennemies, as thou were in by Indibilis and Mandonius, princis of Spaine: whome thou diddest take to be thy very frendes. Thyne owne Romain souldiors haue of late rebelled agaynst the: and wilt thou nowe trust the Numydians? Bothe Syphax and Massanissa, touchyng the do­minion or rule in Affrica, wil preferre theim selues before the Carthaginenses: yet wyl they gladlier suffer the Carthaginē ­ses to beare rule there, then any stranger. Nowe is there con­tention & debate betwene them: bicause they be not fraied with any forein power: but so sone as the Romain army shal appere before theim, they wil straight ioyne them selfes together. As in a towne where fier is in a house, people wyll assemble toge­ther to the quenchyng thereof, for feare of a common hurt or danger. ye shal see the Carthaginenses defend theyr walles of their town and cuntrey, their tēples, their owne houses, with their wiues and yong thildren, of an other sort then they defē ­ded Spayne. And what if the Carthaginenses, makyng peace with the kynges that be theyr neyghbours, trustynge to the strength of their townes, & perceyuing Italy to be made bare of men of warre by thy coming thither with such a power, wil sende a newe army from Affrica into Italy, or wyll commande Mago, who is already come to the costes of the Liguriens, to ioyne with Anniball with all his power: Then shall we be in the same case, wherein we were when Asdruball passed the mounteynes, and was descended into Italy. The more stron­ger and valyant Capytaine that thou arte, the moore oughte we and all Italy to reioyce, and to keepe the styll amonge vs. [Page] Thou canst not deny thy self, but that where Anniball is, there is the head and strength of all this warre. And thou sayst, that thy goinge into Affrica shall be to drawe Anniball thyther, soo that whether it be here or there, with Ann [...]bal thou must chef­ly haue to do. And then I praye the aunswere me, Shalt thou be more sure in Affrica, beinge there alone, or here in Italye, hauinge the other consull thy felowe and his host ioyned with the? And if thou wilte seke the experience therof, let Claudi­us and Liuius, the late consulles, be to the an exaumple and a lernynge. Agayne, whether shall Anniball be stronger in the lyttle angle of the Brutiens, wherunto he is dryuen with his hole hoste, or when he shall come to Carthago, hauynge al his friendes of Affrica about hym? What a deuise is this, to chose rather to fyghte and to trye with thyne ennemie, where thy power shall be smaller by the halfe, and thine ennemies power doubled: then to fyght in a place, where thou shalte haue two armies against his one? ye and that one worne and weried with longe and greuous warre. Consydre thy selfe, howe moche this thy counsayle varieth frome the mynde of thy father, he beinge fully appoynted to Spayne, as his prouynce, fearynge the comynge of Anniball into Italy, to the intent to mete hym at his descendinge from the mountaynes, lefte his owne pro­uynce, and came into Italy. But nowe thou, when Annibal is al redy in Italy, intendest to leaue Italy: Not for that it is for the common welthe so to do, but therby to purchase the a no­ble and glorious name. But O ye noble fathers conscripte, I do thinke, that P. Corn. Scipio was not made consull for his owne priuate welthe or pleasure, but for the common welthe, and the safegarde of all vs. Neyther were the armies of men of warre appoynted to hym, to thintent, be lyke a prynce mighte sayle with them into what part of the world he wyll. But they were assigned to him, and to all other his predecessours, for the safegarde and defence of this citie and of Italy.

¶ With this oration of Fabius, beinge a man of great autho­ritie wisedome experience and fame, the more part of the aun­cient senatours were perswaded: and mo men allowed the so­bre counsayle of the olde man, then the fyerse mynde of Sci­pio the yongemanne. Wherfore Scipio made vnto hym this aunswere.

QVintus Fabius in the beginning of his oratiō (fathers conscript) said, that in the declarati­on of his opinyon he mighte be suspected to speke of euill wylle and enuy: but it is not I that do accuse so great & so noble a man ther­of: Although I doo not perceyue the same suspition as yet to be by him sufficiētly auoy­ded, whether the defaulte therof be in the deformitie of his o­ration, or for lacke of good matter, I knowe not. But this I well perceiue, that to auoyde the crime or suspition of enuy, he hath so extolled his owne honour, with the fame of his noble actes, as though it shuld not becom him, or stand with his ho­nor, to contende with me, being my selfe but a childe, vnder the age of his sonne. Considerynge the great offices that he hath borne in the citie, wherby as it semeth, his meanynge is, that the desyre of glory shulde be measured onely, by the length of the lyfe of man, and not extende to be had in perpetuall memo­ry with our posteritie. But this I knowe well, that euery no­ble herte hathe a couetous desyre to be equiualent in famouse vertue, not only with the age present, but also with the people of al ages, both past and yet to come. And (onles I wold dissemble) truly Q. Fabius, my wyll is not only to be equall vnto the in renowme, but also to passe the in prayses, yf I may atteyne thervnto. Lette neyther of vs bothe thynke, that none that shall come after vs, shall be lyke vnto vs. For that were a de­syre of greate hurt and hynderaunce, bothe of our posteritie, and also of the common welth, and generally of all mankynde. Furthermore, Fabius hath remembred the ieoperdies and pe­ryls, that I shulde entre into, by my goynge into Affrica, as though he were carefull bothe for me and myne army. I mer­uaile greatly, from whens this louing care and thought for me is so sodeinly spronge. For whan my father and myn vncle wer bothe slayne, and bothe theyr armies almoste distroied, slayne, and cleane loste, the Affricanes ouerrounnynge the countrey with .iiii. seuerall hoostes and capytaines: than woulde no man offre hym selfe to be a capitayne of the Romaines in Spayne, [Page] but onely I. Atwhychetyme, whan the people of the citie made me gouernor, being thā but .xxiiii. yeres old, there was no man founde, whiche would remembre my tendre age: ney­ther the power of our ennemies, the daungerousnes of bat­tayle, nor yet the late death and destruction of my frendes in Spayne. Is there nowe in Affrica any greatter armies or bet­ter capitaines, than were than in Spayne? Was mine age at that tyme more mete for the warre, thanne it is nowe? or is it greater matter to fight with our enemies of Affrica in Spayn, than it is in Affrica? As it is nowe easy to auaunce my selfe of iiii. armies of Carthage, by me distroied: after so many cities taken by force, after so many princes and wylde nations sub­dued, and all Spaine won vnto the occean sea, so that none ap­parence is lefte there of any warre: Likewise after my victo­rious returne from Affrica, it shalbe as easie to set forthe the ouercominge of all thinges, whiche nowe be laide very terry­ble and dangerdus: only to the intent to kepe me stil at home. Fabius demeth, that I shal haue no hauens or portes open for me to enter. He also remembreth the taking of M. Attilius Regulus in Affrica: as though M. Attilius had his fall at his firste arriuall into that countreye. Where of trueth he hadde hauens open and entre at his pleasure, ye by the space of an hole yere he did many noble actes there: Whome the Carthaginenses were neuer able of their owne power to subdue, till the seconde yere after his coming, and many of his host slaine. They sent for Xantippus, capitayne of the Lacedemonians, with his power: by whome he was at lengthe ouercome and taken in battayle. This exaumple can nothing feare me. For why shoulde I more feare to sayle into Affrica bycause of the taking of M. Attilius, then I was afrayd to saile into Spaine after the deathe of bothe the Scipions? And I truste Xan­tippus the Lacedemonien was not born to be more fortunate to the Carthaginenses, then I shalbe to the Romayns and to mine owne countrey. The tale muste be recited of the Athe­nienses, howe fondely leauynge warre at home, they entred into Affrica: But why doest thou not reherse the historie of Agathocles, king of the Syracusanes? Who when his coun­trey of Sicilia had ben long troubled with warre by the Car­thaginenses, he with his host failed ouer into Affrica: where­by he delyuered his owne countrey from warre, and tourned [Page 114] all to the defence of him & his power in Affrica. But to shewe the commoditie of inuadinge of a foreyne countreye, thereby to auoyde ieopardyes at home: what better example can any man reherse, then of this Anniball? There is greate diffe­rence betwene the syght of bournynge and spoylyng of other mennes countreyes: and the syght of the destruction of thine owne cities and regyons. There is more courage in a manne, that offrethe battayle, then in him that defendethe. Lyttell thoughte Anniball at his fyrst comyng to Italye, that so many cities and people wolde haue yelded them vnto him as did af­ter the battail at Cannas: moch lesse cause shal the Carthagi­nenses haue of truste or hoope in Affrica, consideringe their vntruthes to their neyghbours, & their owne proud and cruel dominion ouer their subiectes. We beynge forsaken of our neyghbours, haue stil endured al dangers by our owne power and strength. The Carthaginenses haue no great strength of their owne. Their power is in hyred souldiours of Affrica and Numidia, whose lyghte wyttes cause lyghte faythe, when they se cause of chaunge. Yf ye suffer me to depart hence, with spede, ye shall shortely heare of my passage thither, and of the warre wherewith I shal vexe theim. And then shal ye see Anniball make spede to departe from this countreye: and ye shall heare shortely of the syege of Carthage: not doubtynge, but that ye shal receiue gladder tydynges from Affrica, then euer ye had fro me out of Spayne. These hopes I do conceyue. Fyrste of the fortune of this citie and people of Rome. Se­condely, throughe the truste of the goddes, whiche are wit­nesses of the truse broken by theim. Thyrdely, that occasyon offered by Syphax and Massanissa, to whose promyse and faythe I wyll soo truste, that I wyll also be well ware of theyr falsehode and dysceipte. And it is the parte of a manne and a good capyteyne, not to shrynke and forsake fortune, when it is offered. I knowe well Quintus Fabius, that I shall find Anniball my matche: but I wyll rather drawe hym, then he shall retire me. I wyll cause him to fyght with me in his owne cun­trey. And Carthage shall rather be a pray and a rewarde of our victory: then the countrey and castelles of the Brutians, whyche are almost dystroyed already. Nowe when ye say, I­talye shalbe in daungier by my departynge hens, I praye you, may not P. Licinius the consull (whyles I am say lynge thy­ther) [Page] staye with his hoste Anniball, that is nowe of small po­wer: aswell as thou Q. Fabius, dyddest slaye him, when he as a conquerour ouerranne all Italy? Yt shall be a greate ho­nour to the Romayns, and an eternal same among kinges and strange nations, that we haue the courage not only to defend Italy, but also to enter & make warre in Affrica. What shame shal it be when it shall be sayde, that Anniball enterprised an act, that no Romayne capiteyn euer durste enterprise? When contention was betwene vs and the Carthaginenses for Sici­lia, our nauies and armies oftentimes inuaded Affrica: Howe when contention is for Italy betwene vs, Affrica remaineth quiet and in peace. But nowe let Italy take rest, & be in peace, whiche of long tyme hath ben vexed, and let Affrica an other season suffer bournynge spoylynge and wastyng. And let the puissaunt Romayne army approche the walles of Carthage: rather then we should with bulwarkes and fortifycations de­fende our ennemies from our owne walles. Let Affrica be from henseforthe the place of warre. Let feare, flieng, sleing, wastynge of fyeldes and other dystructions, belongynge to warre, be nowe tourned thyther, whiche by the space of .xiiii. yeres hath inuaded our countrey.

¶ After this aunswere of Scipio, greate stryfe and altercaci­on was in the senate house. At the laste it was decreed, that Sicipo, with thyrty shyppes shulde go into Sicilia, and from thence at his pleasure, yf he thoughte it most conueniente for the common welthe, to sayle ouer into Affrica: the other cō ­sul to kepe warre in the countrey of the Brutians against An­niball. Besydes these shyppes, and the Romayne legyons, whiche were appoynted to Scipio, many cities and cuntreys adioyning to Rome, willingly ayded him with shyppes, with vii. thousande souldiours, and all thinges necessarye, of their owne costes and charges. With whiche noumbre he arriued in Sicilia, and there deuyded theim into companyes, appoin­tynge to euery company an hundred men. Amonge al whiche nomber, he chose oute thre hunderd of the moost valyant and actife yonge men, that were withoute armour: whom he kept euer aboute hym. But they knewe not to what pourpose he mente it. And on a daie he chose and named .iii. C of the most noble and rychest yonge gentylmen of all Sicilia, whome he sayde, should sayle with him into Affrica: assygninge theym a [Page 115] day, at whiche they shuld appere before him with theyr horse and armour. This commaundement troubled theim sore, and to be so farre frō home with the labours by land and by sea, se­med very painful, not onely to theim, but also to their frendes and kinsefolkes. At the daye appointed for their retorne, they came all before him, bringing with theim horses harneis and althinges necessary. Then said Scipio: It is shewed me, that certaine of you, men of armes of Sicilia, grudge sore to go in­this iourneye with me: Wherefore if there be anye of you here, of that mynd, I pray you speake nowe, and I wil gladly heare you. For I had moche leauer, that ye vttered it nowe betymes: then that ye shuld agaynst your hertes go forth, and become vnprofitable souldiors to me and to the cōmon welth. Wherevnto one of the .iii. C. answered: Truely syr, yf it were in my choyse and election, what I shulde do, I woulde not go forthe in the warres. Well, sayde Scipio: Sence ye haue playnely declared your mynde without dissimulation, I wyll appoynte one in your place, to whome ye shall delyuer youre horse, harneyes, and other necessarye instrumentes of warre, whome ye shall take home with you to youre howse, and there teache instruct and exercyse hym in feates of warre, tyll I sende for hym agayne. Of this bargaine the yong gen­tylman was verie ioyefull, and delyuerynge him all his appa­reyll for the warre, he toke him home with him. When the reste of the three hundred men of armes of Sicilia, perceiued their companion by this meane dismyssed from the warre, with the good loue and fauour of the Capytayne: euery one of theym also beganne to make his excuse, and desyred to haue Scipio to appoynte other in theyre roumes. Whyche he gladdelye dydde, and by this meane he horsed, harneysed, and instructed the three hundred wyllynge Romaynes, that were vnarmed, with the horses and harneys of the knyghtes of Sicilia, withoute anye charge of the stocke of the cytie of Rome: Whyche proued after valiaunte menne of armes, and dydde manye noble actes for the aduauncemente of the common welth. Than Scipio serched out suche souldiours as warred vnder Marcellus the consull, at the wynnyng of Sy­racusa, whom he chose chiefly: for that he iudged theim to be expert in assaultyng and scalyng of townes and castelles. For euen than he imagined the wynnyng of great Carthage. Sone [Page] after he sette menne a worke to make shyppes with speede, and to amende and to repayre his olde shyppes. Which done he sent C. Lelius, with a good numbre of men into Affrica, to spoyle robbe and wast the sea costes: where he landed in the nyghte. And in the dawnynge of the daye, settynge his men in good order, he spoyled the fieldes, distroyed and slewe manye of the Affricans: whiche loked lyttell for any suche sodeyn in­uasion, they had so longe continued in pleasure and ease. The fame of the destruction came anone to Carthage: the messan­gers noysed abrode, that Scipio was arriued. For they hadde herde before, that he was alredy come into Sicilia: and they were so sodeinly taken, that for feare they coulde tell the cer­tayntie of nothynge, neyther of the numbre of the Romaynes, nor of theyr shyppes: But feare caused theim to make moche more therof then it was in dede. The citezens of Carthage were then in a meruaylous feare and pensifenesse, beholdynge the sodeyne chaunge of fortune, that of late had so aduaunced them, that theyr army lay before the gates of Rome: and their capytaines had almost subdued al Italy: Nowe contrary wise, they loked for none other, but the spoyling of theyr countrey, and the besieginge of Carthage by the Romaynes. When they considered their helpe, they founde theyr citezens, and menne of theyr owne countrey about them, weake and nothyng mete for the warre. All theyr strength was in hyred souldiours frō other partes of Affrica: and they were wauerynge people, vntrewe and vnstedfast. They also rekened Syphax to be turned from them by the secrete cōmunication, that Scipio had with hym: and Massanissa was apparently become theyr ennemye. Of Mago they had no tidinges of his remouing from Gene, and goinge into Italy to ioyne his hoste with Annibals hoste: and the fame, and also the strengthe of Anniball was waxed faynte.

¶ When they had all hole consydered theyr wofull state and condition: then began the senatours to counsayle and prouide for helpe in theyr present necessitie. They mustered theyr men, both in the citie & without. They hyred many souldiours Af­fricans. They vytayled theyr citie: they amended theyr ship­pes, they prouided harnesse and all other thynges nedefull.

¶ When they were thus busy, true tidinges came, that it was not the capitayne Scipio, that was arryued: it was Lelius, [Page 116] that with certayne shyppes and menne was come to robbe and spoyle the countrey onely. And that the great rest of the army was yet in Sicilia. With these newes they were somewhat comforted: and then they deuysed to sende embassadours to Syphax, and to other princes aboute theim, for a sure aliance and frendshyp. They sent also to Phillip kyng of Macedonia, promysynge hym great summes of money, to inuade eyther I­taly or Sicilia with a great host. Into Italy also were messan­gers sent, to cause the capitayns Annibal & Mago to stay Sci­pio in Italy. To Mago was sente .xxv. longe shyppes .vi. M. fotemen .viii. C. horsemen, and .vii. elephantes, with greate plenty of money, to hyre mo men in those parties, willyng him with all his strengthe to remoue towardes the citie of Rome, and ioyne his host with Annibals. This preparation made the Carthaginenses.

¶ When the shippes of Carthage were arriued at Gene, they founde there Mago with his army and nauy of shyppes: who knowyng the mynde of the Carthaginenses, called before him a great numbre of frenchemen and Liguriens, vnto whome he shewed, that he was sent into those parties to purchase theim lybertie, and delyuer them from bondage, wherin they hadde longe ben holden. He declared also to them, how M. Liuius, and Sp. Lucretius laye with theyr two Romayne armies not farre from them. The one in Hetruria, the other in Fraunce. Whose powers to resyst, he neded to haue a great assemble of people. Then the frenchemen aunswered, that theyr hertes & myndes were holly to serue hym therin. But they sayd, there was an host of Romaynes all redy in theyr countrey: whiche if they dyd perceyue, that Mago were ayded by theym, they wolde incontinent wast and destroy theyr countrey. Wherfore they desyred, that the Liguriens might helpe hym: who were nothynge so nere daunger, and they wolde priuely helpe hym with vittayles and all thynges necessarye, to the beste of theyr power. Wherunto the Liguriens agreed, and desyred two monthes space, to assemble and take musters of theyr beste soudiours.

¶ Marcus Liuius, herynge that Mago gathered to gether so great a numbre of people: he remoued with his hoste in to Fraunce, and ioyned hym selfe to Sp. Lucretius, lyinge euer in awayte to mete with Mago, so sone as he remouynge from [Page] the Liguriens wolde offer to entre into Italye, and take his iourney towardes Rome. But in case Mago wolde rest in the angle of the mounteynes without further procedynge: then they lyke wyse wold abyde about Arminius, euer redy for the defence of Italy.

MAssanissa hearynge of the arriuaile of a Ro­mayne army in Affrica, with a small numbre of horsemen cam to Lelius, to whom he complayned moche of the slowenes of Scipio, that he hadde not all that tyme ben in Affrica with his great power: consyderinge the lowe ebbe that the Carthaginenses were broughte vnto, and also seynge that Syphax was now busyed with warre with the prynces adioy­nynge vnto hym. Whom (he sayde) he knew suerly, after that he had brought his owne purpose to good effecte, and had lei­ser to settle all his owne busynes, that then he wolde obserue no promise or bonde, that he had before made to the Romains. So lyttle good faythe he knewe to be in hym. Wherfore he desyred Lelius, to moue and styrre Scipio, to make hast thy­ther, and he wolde not fayle (although he were dryuen out of his owne realme) to mete with hym soone after his landinge, with a good numbre bothe of horsemen and of fotemen.

¶ On the morowe after Lelius departed, with his shippes loded with theyr pray & landed in Sicilia: where he found Sci­pio, to whom he declared the mynde and message of Massanis­sa. Wherupon he had shortly set forwardes into Affrica, had he not hearde comforte of the wynnynge of Locres, a citie in the vttermost parte of Italy, that then was holden by the Carthaginenses. Whiche citie in shorte tyme he obteyned, partly by treason of certayne carpenters, that wrought in the castell, partly by the fauour of the citezens therof. Who beinge gre­uously opressed by Amylcar the capitayne, and other Cartha­ginenses of the garrison, that ceassed not to vse all kyndes of oppression ouer them: at the last consented to receyue the Ro­maynes into the towne. Whiche brought to passe, Scipio re­turned to Sicilia, leauynge behynde hym Q. Pleminius capi­tayne [Page 117] of the towne, with a garryson sufficient for the kepinge of the same. After whose departynge, Pleminius with his souldyours, farre passed Amylcar and the Carthaginenses in pride auaryce and all other vyces. So that it seemed, they stroue not, who shuld ouercome other in feates of armes: but who shuld excede other in vice. They spared nother mens wi­ues maidens nor doughters: they exercysed cruell rapine of mens goodes, and spoilyng of temples. Wherof the citizens beynge wery, sent message of complaint to Scipio the consul. whervpon he eftsones came to Locrus, where he had al their matters debated, and at length punyshed certayne of theim by emprysonmente: and after departed, leauynge styll Q. Ple­minius capitayne there, with no lesse auctority then he had be fore. But after he departed, Pleminius wyllinge to execute his malice ouer his ennemies, put certayne of theym to cruell deathe: whiche before had complayned of him to the consull. His souldiours also were afterwarde more cruell and vnrulye then they were before. Therfore they sent legates to Rome, with greuous complaynte to the senate, of the manyfolde in­iuries, hurtes, and cruell paynes, that they suffered: moche more by the Romaynes, then euer they hadde by the Car­thaginenses. Whose complaynte beynge well and delybe­rately herd in the senate, Quintus Fabius, replete with olde malyce agaynst Scipio, to set forthe his neglygence, inquired of the legates, whether they had neuer before that time she­wed their cause to the consul Scipio. They aunswered, that at their first complaynt, he herd the matter, and then putting the tribunes in pryson, he let Pleminius go at libertie, and put him again in auctority: although he was worthy more punishe­ment then the other. But at their second complaynt made to him by their legates, he was so busied aboute the setting fore­wardes of his shippes & men into Affrica, that he could not attend to here or examine their matter. Then was there gret reproch spoken of Scipio, by many of the princes of the senate, specially Q. Fabius alleged, that he was born to corrupt and distroy al warlike policy and lernyng, by his ouermoche suffe­rāce and giuing of libertie. Some would haue had Pleminius brought to Rome bound, and Scipio called frō his prouince. At the laste the sentence of Q. Metellus toke place, whiche was, that it was good, to send for Pleminius, according to the [Page] mynde of Fabius. But as touching Scipio, whom the whole citie fyrste had chosen in his youth to be a capitaine in Spayn, and he according to theyr expectation had delyuered the hole countrey out of the handes of their ennemies: whervpon they also of late had chosen hym consull, to subdue Affrica, and to deliuer Italy of Anniball: He thought it not meete for suche a noble man to be sodainly condemned, his cause not being du­ly herd and debated, or to haue him called frome his iourney, without a greatter cause than this was. Consideringe that the Locrenses could lay no defaut to Scipio, but only ouermuch sufferance of Pleminius. Wherfore he thought it best, that M. Pomponius, with .ii. tribunes, shuld be sent to Locrus, & frō thens to Sicilia, to examyne & trie, whether the wronges done to the Locrēses, wer done by the cōmandement or assent of P. Scipio or not. And in case he were consentyng therto: then that they shuld cōmand him to returne to Rome: & other legates to occupy his place, or els that he shoulde continue in his purpose and iourney into Affrica, as he had appoynted.

¶ According to this sentence Pomponius, with .ii. tribunes & other legates, came to Locrus, makyng proclamation, that yf any man wold accuse Pleminius, Scipio, or any other mā, that they shulde come before theim, and they shuld be well herde. The Locrenses gyuyng great thankes to the Romaines, for the goodnes therin to them shewed, answered, that they wold accuse Pleminius, as chief doer of all the mischief, and certain other with him. But as touching Scipio, they had nothynge to charge hym withal: but that he eyther gaue ouermoch cre­dēce to Pleminius, or to litell faith to their wordes. But they sayd, they knewe wery well, that the wronges to theim done, were neither by the wyll nor commaundement of Scipio: but they thought hym to be of the nature of many men, which are sory, that any wronge or offence shulde be committed, and yet whan the iniuries be done, they haue not the hertes or willes to reuenge or punishe the offenders of the same.

¶ With this aunswere M. Pomponius, and the other, were moch eased of any further inquirie of Scipios matter. Wher fore they toke Pleminius, and .xxx. other of his complices, that were founde gyltie of dyuers greatte offences, and sente them bound to Rome: where Pleminius dyed in prison. Sone after the other wer put to condigne execution. Then thought [Page 118] they to go to Scipio, to see, whether the sclaunder spoken of his slouthe in gouernaunce, or of the mysorder of his hooste, were true or not: that they myght therof make true reporte, whan they were returned to Rome.

¶ Scipio hearyng of their coming, caused all his army to re­payre to Syracusa, where he than lay: and also caused his na­uy of shyppes, to be sette furthe and ordered in all poyntes, as though he shulde the same day haue fought with the Car­thaginenses, bothe by water and by lande. Whan Pomponi­us, and the other embassadours were come, he gentilly and louingly receiued them. he shewed them his army on the land in array redy to fight: his nauy also on the sea, he shewed them not onely redy to battaile, but makyng a shew of a fight in the hauen. Than ledde he them to his garners of corne: and into his armory and store houses of ordinance and artillary, and all instrumentes of warre. Who seing al his prouision and order, were striken with a great admiration of hym and his conduict: iudgyng that through his gouernance and his army, the Car­thaginenses shoulde be ouercome: or elles it were neuer pos­syble for theim to be subdewed. Wherfore desyrynge the goddis to prospere welle his iourneye, they departed frome hym, takynge theyr waye to Rome with greatte ioye, as though they were goinge to brynge tydynges to Rome of vi­ctory, rather than to report the meruaylouse preparation to­warde battayle, whiche they hadde seene in Sicilia. Whanne they came into the senate howse, they extolled the fame and actes of Scipio after suche sorte, that they sent hym worde in­continent, to departe towardes Carthage, takynge with him whom he wolde, leauynge behynd hym for the defence of Si­cilia certaine at his pleasure.

VVhyles the Romaynes made this great ordynance for the warre: the Carthaginenses, fearing greatly the co­ming of Scipio, prepared as moche as they coulde for [Page] theyr defence and strengthe. Wherfore to plucke Syphax from the amitie of the Romaynes, Asdrubal, the sonne of Gis­gon made hast to fynishe a maryage betwene Syphax and his daughter, that was a very fayre mayden. The kynge being in­flamed with loue, made hast also to be maried. Then Asdrubal, besides his particular aliance, made a newe general bonde of a­mitie betwene hym and the Carthaginenses, with greate so­lempnitie and othes takynge: promisynge faythfully, that the friendes and ennemies of the one, shulde also be the friendes or ennemies to the other. Neuer the lesse Asdruball remem­bringe the promyse of amytie, that the kynge had ones made with Scipio, when he was lodged with him in his palais: kno­wynge the mutabilitie and vnstedfastnes of those barbarous nations, and fearynge leste if that Scipio were ones arryued in Affrica, that the bande of mariage wolde be but lyttel worthe: Therfore whyles the loue was feruent betwene the kyng and his daughter, he by his greate desyre, and his daughter also with her fayre entreatynge, caused the kynge to sende his em­bassadours to Scipio into Sicilia, with letters, gyuynge hym warnynge, that he shulde not vpon the truste of any promise to hym before made by the kynge, sayle ouer into Affrica: aduer­tisynge hym, that he had maryed the daughter of one Asdru­ball of Carthage, whom Scipio mette in his palaice, when he arriued in Affrica. Furthermore he sayde, he was in a greate leage and amitie with the people of Carthage. Wherfore he desyred hym and the Romaynes, if they wolde warre with the Carthaginenses, that they do it farre from Carthage, as they haue done heretofore, that he shulde not nede to be present at theyr battailes. For in case Scipio wold not forbeare Affrica, but lay siege to Carthage, he coulde no lesse do, but fighte for the defence of his countrey of Affrica, in which he was gotten borne and brought vp: and for the defence of the countrey of his wyfe, for her father and family.

¶ With these letters came the messangers to the citie of Sy­racusa to Scipio, who parceiued by the contentes of the same, that he shuld haue great lacke of the kynges helpe, in his bu­sines of Affrica: yet he set forth a countenaunce, kepynge se­crete the cause of theyr coming, tyll he had sent them home a­gayne to the kynge with letters: wherin he moued him, neuer to breake the promise that he ones made him, nor swarue from [Page 119] the faith and amitie made with the Romains, wherof the god­des were witnesses. When the messangers wer departed with his letters, Scipio fearing, lest his soudiours wold muse moch and deuise also of the cause of the comynge of the sayd messan­gers, to hyde the sayd cause from them, and to put them in courage, he dissembled the matter, and callinge his men to gether sayde to them.

¶ Sirs nowe is the ful tyme for vs to depart hense into Affri­ca, without further tarieng. For the kinges our friendes haue sent vnto vs, instantly desiring vs, to make spede. Fyrst Massa­nissa came to Lelius, complaining greatly of our tractynge of tyme. And nowe Syphax hath also sent vnto vs, marueylynge why we tary so longe. Desiringe that we wyll eyther shortlye come ouer to him, or els in case we be otherwise minded, to certifie hym by writing: that therupon he maye prouyde for hymselfe and his countrey. Wherfore sens althinges is now redy, and the matter requireth hast, I intende to leade mine army & nauy to the partes of Lilibeus: & as soone as the wether, ser­ueth, to depart with the fauour of the gods towardes Affrica.

¶ After these wordes to them spoken, he ordered al thynges for his departynge, and soone after came to the sayde porte, with all his host. All his shyppes also met him there. The nomber whereof was so greatte, that the hauen suffysed not to conteine theym, nor the citie coulde not receyue the men. Of the certainte of the nombre wrytars do not agre. Where­fore I wyll let it passe. But it semeth, the nomber of the men was greatte, that achyeued so greatte an enterpryse, and for whom so gret prouisiō was made. For there were .iiii. C. ship­pes charged with men vitailes ordinances and other necessa­ry cariage, besides .xx. great and long shippes: wherof Sci­pio him selfe, and L Scipio his brother, toke the gouernance. and other .xx. like shippes vnder the rule of C. Lelius his ad­myrall of the sea. Whiche .xl. great shippes thus deuided, sai­led euer on both sydes of the other .iiii. C. as wafters, for the defence of theyr vitayles and cariage. In euery shyppe also he caused to be vittailes and freshe water for .xlv. dayes: wherof the meate that wolde serue for .xv. dayes, was redye sodden: the other was rawe. Then gaue he commaundement to al his souldiours, to kepe peace and sylence in theyr shyps, for trou­blynge the shipmen: and that they shulde be redy to do al that [Page] the sayd shypmen desyred them to do, if nede requyred. With this great numbre of shippes and of mē, they departed the day folowyng: Euery one of the .xl. long shyppes beinge appoin­ted to haue in the nyght season one lyght, euery one of the .iiii. C. laden shyppes. u. lyghtes, and the capitaynes chiefe ships for a speciall marke or knowlege, had thre fayre lightes. In the mornynge at the soundinge of a trumpet the vesselles set forth in good order. And Scipio hym selfe at his departynge made his praier openly in the audience of many peple on this maner.

¶Oye goddes and goddesses, whiche inhabite rule and go­uerne both sea and lande, I humbly beseche you, that ye graūt all thynges that I haue done, do, or shall do, may turne to the honour and welthe of me and the citizens of Rome, and that ye wyll be aydynge and assistinge to me in my procedinges: So that our ennemies, beinge ouer come, we maye safe and sounde returne home to our houses, laden with the pray gotten by the spoyle of our ennemies. Graunt ye also, that I may haue pow­er, so to do vnto the people and citie of Carthage, as they haue intended to do to the citie of Rome.

¶After these wordes, doing sacrifice (after the custome that they vsed) he departed. The wynde was good, and in shorte space toke them from the fyght of the lande, and within foure dayes, they were brought vpon the cost of Affrica. Then Scipio seinge a great mounteyne or rocke, lienge out vpon the sea, inquired of the mayster of his shyppe, what was the name of that mountain. He answered, it is named the mount of Beaute. Then sayde Scipio, I lyke the name and the lucke therof ve­ry well: in the nexte hauen therto set vs on lande. When the armye was landed, they get them to the nexte hylles, wher­vpon they pitched theyr tentes, and encamped them selues. Then were the inhabitantes of the sea costes, and all the coū ­trey there about, in great feare and trouble, perceyuynge the arriuaile of so great a nauy, euery man fled from those parties, takynge with them theyr wynes theyr chyldren and substance: driuinge before them their cattell to the nexte strong townes, to the great feare of all the countrey, where the newes ther­of was brought. Specially in Carthage such feare sorowe and trouble inuaded the people, as though theyr citie had ben all redy taken by theyr ennemies. They were then vnprouyded bothe of men of warre, and also of a good capitayne to be their [Page 120] gouernour. The best capitayne that they then had, was As­drubal the sonne of Bysgon, whom Scipio at diuers battelles in Spayne, had before put to flyghte, and at the last droue him cleane oute of Spayne, with all his helpers: soo that they e­stemed the capitaynes to be as farre vnlyke, as the armye of Carthage was vnlyke to the Romayne hoste. In this greate feare the gates of the citie were shutte, the walles kepte with watche and warde, as thoughe theyr ennemies had ben already come before the walles of the towne. Fyue hundred horse­men were also sente forthe to espye the conduite of the Ro­maynes, who by chaunce mette with manye Romayne horse­men, that were sent out to robbe and spoyle the fieldes adioy­nynge, and were by them put to flyghte, to the greate losse of many of the Carthaginenses.

¶Sone after the arriuaile of the Romaynes, came Massanis­sa to Scipio, bryngynge with hym .ii. C. good men well hor­sed. His power was then not greate, for he had ben driuen and chased out of his owne realme, and was banished by strengthe out of his owne countrey. Whose comynge was verye ioyfull and comfortable to the Romaynes. The Carthaginenses after the losse of theyr horsemen, assembled againe a newe winge of horsmen, wherof they made gouernor Hanno, the son of Amil­car. Then sent they letters and legates to Asdruball, to come to the succour of the citie, that was at pointe to be besyeged. They sent also to kyng Syphax, desyring him to come to the socour & defence both of Carthage & also of all Affrica. Then lay the Romaines nere vnto the citie of Vtica. Hanno hauyng with him .iiii. M. horsemen, came to the towne of Salera, xv. miles from the Romain campe. When Scipio had knowlege therof, he sent Massanissa before, with certayn horsemen with hym to shirmishe with them at the gates. Commaunding him, that so sone as the multitude of his ennemies were ones come forth, and that he coulde no longer endure theyr strength, that then he shuld softly withdrawe him selfe towardes the hylles, where he shuld fynde hym with his host, redy to succour him. With this instructiō Massanissa departed & rode to the gates of the citie, skirmishing with such as were at the said gates. ma ny came forth to the battayl, without good order, & then Mas­sanissa faining him selfe to be afraide, somewhat reculed: some­time he turned again and fought, with them that folowed him. [Page] Thus he played at base with them, tyll the whole multitude of horsemenne were come furthe of the yates. Than sobrely he withdrewe him selfe tyll he came to the hylles: to which hil­les the Romayne horsemen were than couertely come. Than Massanissa fiersely retourned and assayled his ennemies, and the Romaines beinge fresshe them selues, and hauyng fresshe horses, compassed and assailed them that were before almoste weery with chasing Massanissa: so that at the fyrst brunt Han­no him selfe, and [...]. M. horsemen with hym were slayne. The rest fledde, wherof the Romaynes in the chase slewe and toke other .ii. M. amonge whom wer many noble men of the citie of Carthage. The pray after the victory was greatte. The towne was taken, and the capytains with other men of armes were welle rewarded by Scipio. But aboue other he gaue Massanissa great gyftes, and leauynge a sufficient garrison in the towne, he with his hoste remoued thense: sendynge mo­che of the pray, whiche he had taken, bothe men, beastes, and other rychesse, by certayne of his shippes into Sicilia: inten­dyng hym selfe to assayle the citie of Vtica, with all his power: whiche yf he myght ones wynne, he reckened to be a restyng place for him and his, tyl the rest of his voiage were acheued.

¶ Thus was the town of Vtica besieged round about, & their hope was to haue succours of Asdruball: who had assembled togyther .xxx. M. fotemen, and .iii. M. horsmen. Neuer the lesse for all that numbre, Asdruball durste not sette furthe of Carthage tyll kyng Syphax was also come to hym with fyfty thousande footemen, and .x. M. horsemen. Then set he fore­wardes, and came nere vnto Vtica, pytchinge his tentes and campe not farre from the Romayn army. There came aboute this tyme from Sicilia and Sardinia, great plenty of wheate, to vitaile the Romaines: so that they had therof great plenty. There was also brought thither .xii. C. gownes, and .xii. M. cotes for the souldiours, and prouision was made for all thyn­ges that they lacked. These were the actes of Scipio in Affrica this sommer.

¶ Duryng whych sommer P. Sempronius the consull in Italy fought with Anniball: where the Romayns had the worst, and loste .xii. C. of theyr men. But soone after Sempronius sent for P. Licinius the proconsull, to come to hym with his armye. After whose cōmyng, theyr powers beinge ioyned together [Page 121] they went towardes Anniball, and he beynge ioyefull of his laste victory, foughte with theim agayne, to his greate losse. For there were aboue .iiii. M. of his men slayne, and iii. C. taken. Then Anniball, beynge greately dyscomforted with this losse, retourned from thence to Croton. Sone after the tyme of the chosyng of consulles was come, at whiche Cn. Seruilius Cepio, and Cn. Seruilius Geminus were create consulles, & other officers were chosen, according to the olde custome, diuers cities also of the Brutiens, as Consentia, Pan­dosia, and other, submytted theym selues, and retourned a­gayne to the Romaynes.

THe winter drewe nere, and both the gret hostes lay encamped not farre from Vtica: Yet Scipio neuer ceassed from the besiegynge of the towne, and his campe was in syghte of his ennemyes. His mynd was styll vpon his busynes touching the warre. Amonge other his cares, he deuised greatly, by what meanes he myght wynne king Syphax from the Carthaginenses, iudgyng that the heate of loue, which he had to his yonge wyfe, was by that tyme somewhat asswaged, and that he was then werye of the pleasure in loue, beinge (as he thoughte) satisfyed therin to his contentation: When he had by legates assaied the mynde of the kynge, he made aun­swere, that he wolde intreate of peace betwene the Romains and the Carthaginenses, Vpon this condition, that the Ro­maynes shulde departe cleane out of Affrica, and the Cartha­ginenses lykewyse out of Italy, without further trouble: or­elles he wolde not fayle to pursue the warre on the partie of the Carthaginenses. With these conditions Scipio was no­thynge pleased: Neuerthelesse, trustinge by further commu­nication in the matter: to haue aduauntage, by the serche and trewe knowledge of the state of his ennemyes, throughe the common entercourse of eyther partie to the others campe: he [Page] fayntly refused those conditions, wherby his ennemies myght take some hope of the achieuinge of theyr purpose. Now were the wynter houses in the campes of the Carthaginenses made of wodde and bowes, suche as they coulde get together. The Numidiens lodginges were couered with flagges and redes, and they laye within theyr campe, without order. Many also chosynge theyr owne places without assignemente, laye with­oute the campe or dyches: whiche beinge shewed to Scipio, gaue hym a comfort and an hope, that the lodginges of his en­nemies by pollicie myghte be set on fyre. Wherfore at euerye tyme that he sente any embassadours to the kynge Syphax, to entreate of the peace, to be parfectly assured of the [...]rewe state of all thynges, he euer sent with them certayne witty fellowes of his army, disguysed in the habite and fourme of slaues, com­maundinge them, whiles the embassadours were busy in theyr communication, that they shulde straye abrode to all partes of the campe of his ennemies, and to marke well the entrees and issues of the campes, with the syte & fascion of the stacion or lodginges, as well of the Carthaginenses as of the Numidi­ens, and in what quarter they were sette, and howe farre the kynges campe was distante from the campe of Asdruball, with the maner of theyr watche and warde bothe by nyghte and by daye.

¶ When the matter was thus dyuerse tymes debated betwen the two counsayles: and that the Romaynes were parfecte of all the state of theyr ennemies, and theyr order: Then the le­gates of Scipio sayde vnto the kynge, that they were com­maunded neuer to returne, vntyll they had brought determy­nate aunswere, eyther of peace or of warre: Desyrynge hym, eyther to gyue aunswere therof hym selfe, or to take the coun­sayle and aduyse of Asdruball and the Carthaginenses, and therupon to make them theyr aunswere. For it was nowe hye tyme to knowe, eyther the oone or the other, withoute fur­ther tryfelynge forthe of tyme. Thus while Syphax toke the aduyse of Asdruball, and Asdruball of the noble menne of Carthage, the espyes had leysar to viewe and serche all thyn­ges that they were charged with: and Scipio hadde tyme to prepare all that was mete to serue his purpose. The Numi­diens also and the Carthaginenses, trustynge euer on peace, were neglygente in foreseinge and aduoydynge daungiers of [Page 122] warre, that were prepared for theyr myschiefe. At the laste aunswere was made, that the Romaynes woulde haue peace, but theyr conditions were not indifferente, whiche they desy­red. Wheruppon Scipio, hauynge a good occasion, honest­lye to breake the truse before betwene theim taken: On the morrowe he sente worde to the kynge, that syns he percey­ued no man wyllynge to haue peace but hym selfe: therefore the kynge from thens forthe shulde truste to haue noo peace with the Romaynes, onlesse he wolde leaue the amitie of the Carthaginenses. Then was the tyme of truse expyred, and the sprynge of the yere was come. Wherefore Scipio, to brynge his pourpose aboute, assembled to gether his shippes, and furnished theim with ordynaunce and artyllery, as though he woulde assayle Vtica on the sea coste. He also sente two thousande men of warre to kepe the hyll about Vtica, whiche before laye vnkepte: And that he dydde for two purposes.

Fyrste, to drawe the myndes of his ennemies from the suspe­ction of that whiche he had deuysed, and to occupy them with contrary worke. Secondly, with that power to defende his campe from the excursions of the citezens, in case they wolde issue out, whyles he with his power were gone to Syphax and Asdruball. Then dydde he open vnto Massanissa, and certayne other, what his mynde was to doo the nyghte fo­lowynge. And he commaunded the Tribunes, that in the euenynge folowynge, they shulde brynge forthe the hoste in­to the fyeldes. They accordynge to his commaundement, a­boute the sonne settynge, sette forthe the standardes and ban­ners, and in the begynnynge of the nyghte, the hoste set for­warde in arraye, so that by mydnyghte they hadde gone .vii. myles, and were come nere to the campe of theyr ennemyes. Then Scipio deuyded his army in .ii. partes. The one parte with the Numidiens, he appoynted to Lelius and Massanis­sa, wyllynge them to inuade the campe of kynge Syphax, and to set fire on the lodginges made of bowes and of flagges, har­tely prayinge them bothe, that nyght to apply theyr businesse with great dilygence. And he sayde, that so sone as he myghte perceyue the fyre to be in the kynges campe, then wolde he al­so assayle the campe of Asdruball.

¶ Accordyng to his commaundement the purpose was achie­ued. For incontinent after the fyre was put into the vttermost [Page] partes and houses, the fyre anon toke in the drye styckes and flagges, and ranne from one house to an other: so that in shorte space it was abrode in euery parte of the campe. The Numidi­ens of the kynges hoste, parceyuinge the fyre, were stryken with a sodeyne great feare, and the more bycause it chaunced in the nyght season. yet nothynge mistrustinge the cause ther­of to aryse throughe their ennemies, but iudginge it to come throughe some negligence or euyll fortune. They ranne on all partes to helpe to ceasse or quenche the fyre, without armour or weapons. Nowe Massanissa, whiche knewe the wayes and entrees about the kinges campe, had soo laide his Numidiens in embushmētes, that as the people ran abrode to quenche the fyre, they fel into the company of theyr ennemies er they knew where they were, and by that meanes many were slaine, many also wer burned in theyr beddes with fyre. The watche of the Carthaginenses, in the campe of Asdruball, parceyuinge the great fires in the kynges campe, awaked the rest of the hoste. Who being also deceyued, for that they thought the fyre was hapned by negligence, and not by the deuise of theyr ennemies, and herynge the greate crye of theyr companye in the kynges hoste, that were slayne, whiche they thought came but onely throughe the sodeyne feare of the fyre, that was happened in the nyghte: they ranne together in companyes vnarmed out of the gates of theyr campes, the next way, takyng onely with them suche thynges, wherwith they myght quenche the fyre. Whom the Romaynes receyued as they came, and flewe them euery one, that none escaped to beare tydynges therof. Then Scipio incontinent inuaded the campe. Where fyudynge the gates ther of vnwarded, he entred with his armye, and set fyre on the lodginges in diuerse partes, whiche spreadyng abrode, in short space burned all that was therin, bothe man beaste and stuffe. And suche as wold haue fledde from the daunger of the fyre, were slayne with the swerde of the Romaynes.

¶ Thus in one tyme were bothe the campes wonne. Neuer­thelesse bothe the capitaines escaped with .xx. M. fotemen, and v. C. horsemen: wherof manye were wounded and hurte with that fyre. There were slayn and burned that night .xl. M. besydes them that there were taken, aboue .vi. thousand, with many noble men of Carthage: whereof .xl. were senatours, with a greate and ryche praye, of horses armure and other [Page 123] thynges moche of valure, whiche were distributed amonges the souldiours. The kynge with certayne with hym, fledde to his owne countrey.

¶ Asdruball with as great speede as he mightcame to Car­thage, where he founde the citie soore troubled, and in greate feare. For they iudged, that Scipio, leauynge the further as­sault of Vtica, wolde incontinent after his victory come to as­sault and ouercome Carthage. Than they determined, in hast to assemble a newe host of the citie and countrey about theim. They also sent messangers to kynge Syphax, to require hym, that he would gather his power, and healpe to defende bothe his countrey and theyrs. Whervnto his yonge wyfe muche moued hym: who pyteously wepyng, desyred hym not to suf­fre his fathers and her countrey to be distroyed, and the citie of Carthage to be bourned by the Romaynes, as they of late bourned the kynges tentes and her fathers. The legates of Carthage also shewed hym, that good fortune was comminge towardes them. For that there were arryued of late .iiii. M. men of warre of Celtiberia, a countrey of Spayne, whyche were hyred to comme to their succours. And that Asdruball woulde not fayle to ioyne with hym with a full noble armye. To whome the kyng gaue gentyll aunswere, sayinge, that he woulde assemble and put in armour all the lusty yonge men of his realme. For he sayde, he knewe well, that he was before ouercome by fyre, and not by battayle. Wherefore he woulde neuer accompte hym selfe vanquyshed, oneles he were ouer­come and subdued in the fielde by strength and power. With this answere the messangers departed.

¶ And shortly after, accordyng to theyr appoyntement, As­druball and the kynge mette togyther, with their armies, and had betweene them bothe .xxx. M. men. Scipio herynge of theyr newe comming agayne on hym, with that power, lefte at the sayde Vtica, a smalle numbre of his people, bothe by sea and by lande: and hym selfe with his greatte power, went to mete his ennemies. He pitched his campe in the playn fielde, not farre from the kynges campe, where lyghte skyrmysshes were made betweene the horsemen of bothe partes, by the space of .iii. dayes. On the fourthe day, the capitaynes prepa­red theyr hostes to battayle.

¶ Scipio set his spearemen in the front of his battayle: be­hynde [Page] whome were his best assured souldiours footemen set to theyr ayde and succours. On the ryghte wynge were his horsemen of Italy. In the lefte wynge was Massanissa with his Numidian horsemen.

¶ On the other side, Asdruball against the wynge of Italyan horsmen, set his Numidians, and against Massanissa he set his Carthaginenses. In the middes were the newe souldiours of Celtiberia. Thus beinge ordered, the battailles ioyned. And at the fyrst encountre, both the winges of the Carthaginenses and of the Numidians were driuen backe. For the Numidians being now rude and vntaught men of armes, were noothinge able to resyste the Romain horsmen: neither the Carthaginen­ses (being also vnexpert in feates of warre) were able to with­stande Massanissa, that was fierse and terrible, through the ioy of his late victory. Wherfore the wynges beinge thus put to flight, the poore army of the Celtiberians remained alone, na­ked, destitute of helpe or refuge. Flie they durste not, for that beinge in an vnknowen cuntrey, they knewe no place whither to flie to be saued. Again, if they were taken, they looked for no grace at Scipios hand: seinge they came from their owne cuntrey into Affrica, to fight against hym that had before ofte tymes been their good frende. Wherfore, being compassed a­bout with their ennemies, they were slayne one vppon an o­ther without pitie. But whiles al men were busy about theim, Syphax and Asdrubal had tyme to escape, to whom the night beinge so nere, was moche their safegarde.

¶ What feare the Carthaginenses were in after this great o­uerthrowe of their friendes, and seing Scipio with his army, ouer ryding the countrey rounde aboute theim, and winning the cities and townes, which were vnder their subiection: no penne can write, nor tunge expresse. They loked euery houre whan theyr citie shoulde be enuyronned with their ennemies: they fortifyed their walles, they broughte in vytayles to en­dure a lenger space, and prepared all thynges necessarye. They consulted, what were best for theym to do. It was a­greed, that messangers shoulde be sent with letters to Anni­ball, commaundyng him to come to Carthage with his power to their socours.

¶ Certayn of the senatours gaue counsel, that a good nombre of shippes, furnyshed with men and ordenance, shuld sodeinly [Page 124] inuade the Romayne hoste and nauy, that lay in rest at Vtica: not mystrustynge, but they shulde fynde the shyppes negly­gently kept: wherby with small peyne they myghte oppresse theim. On these two pointes the senators agreed. The ship­pes were sette furthe, and letters were also sent to Anniball. Scipio retournynge from the battayle, leadynge and cariyng with hym the spoile or pray of many townes, which he wanne: sent his sayde praye with the prisoners to his campe at Vtica. He hym selfe came to Tunnes, whyche he found void of men of warre. They were fled after the battayle, and left the town without any garrison. Of the takyng of this towne Scipio was very gladde, as well for that it was naturally stronge by reason of the syte therof, besyde that it was surely fortifyed by the industry of man, as also for that the place was so com­modyouse for his pourpose. It was dystaunt from Carthage twelue myles. Yet frome thense he myghte welle see the ci­tie of Carthage, and also the sea that bette on the walles of the towne.

¶ Whyles the Romaynes were castynge a trenche and for­tifiynge this towne of Tunnes: they perceyued the nauy of the Carthaginenses saylynge towardes Vtica. Than Scipio leauyng his woorkes, made haste with his men towardes V­tica, to come to the healpe of his shippes, that lay at the siege therof, and came before the arryuing of the Carthaginenses: who trifled the tyme on the sea, beinge in feare to set on that enterpryse: so that Scipio had prouyded well for the defence of his shyppes before their coming. Neuer the lesse after mo­che trouble and fyght on the sea, they toke with them .vi. Ro­mayn shyppes, and returned to Carthage, where no small ioy was made of that very small gayne.

THe morowe after the battaile was fought, and the kyng Syphax escaped, as is before declared, Scipio sent Le­lius and Massanissa, with all the Romayn horsmen & the [Page] lyghtest harneissed footemen, and also the Numidians, to fo­lowe the kyng and Asdruball: whiles he went about to wynne the townes and countrey adiacent to Carthage. They within xv. dayes came into Numidia: at whose coming, a people therof called Masesuli, receiued gladly Massanissa, and deliuered hym the whole realme, as to theyr ryghtfull kynge, whose co­minge they had so longe desyred, expellynge cleane out of the cities and fortresses therof, all the garnysons of Syphax, soo that he was glad to kepe hym within the bondes of his owne realme. His harte swelled at this displeasure, wyllynge to be reuenged: whervnto his wyfe and her father moche intyced hym, and prycked hym forwardes. He hadde great plentie of men, and also of horses, whyche moche encouraged hym to make a newe fielde. Wherefore he assembled as many as he thoughtable, gyuyng theim horses and harneys: diuydynge his horsemen and footemenne into companyes, appoyntynge to theim capitaines, accordynge as he before had learned of the Romaynes. Thus hauyng all thinges in a redynesse, he marched towardes his ennemies, with as great an hooste as he had before: but they were almoste all newe souldiours, and yonge men of warre. Whan he came nere the host of the Ro­mains he there fortified his campe. And anone certayne of his horsemen issued and badde base to an nother numbre of the Romayne horsemen. And who soo was beaten, retourned a­gayne to his company, and was anon rescued of an other num­bre of his company. Thus by diuers issuynges and helpynge euery part theyr companies, beyng either ashamed or angrye of theyr driuynge backe, the battayle beganne to be quicke on bothe partes, so that at the last the hole companyes of horse­men on bothe partes were come to the fieldes. The noumbre of kynge Syphax hoste was come so thicke to the bataile, that the Romaynes were fayne to recule, and had been put to the worse, had not the Romain legyons of fotemen come to theyr succours. At whose comynge the kynges people musynge of theyr order and maner of fyghtyng, began to stay, and at the laste were dryuen backe, and began to flee. Syphax, wyllynge to withholde his people from flyght, beganne to exhort them to abyde, and manfully to fyght, shewynge vnto theim, bothe the shame and also the ieoperdye that woulde ensue through theyr flyinge.

[Page 125] ¶ And whyles he rode about the fielde, comfortyng his peo­ple, he hapned to come nere a company of Romaynes, where his horse was stryken downe and slayne vnder hym, and he ta­ken alyue, and brought to Lelius. His people fledde as faste as they myght, and came to the citie of Cirtha, whyche was the chiefe citie of all that realme. There were of his menne slayne in that battayle .v. M. and aboute .ii. M. v. C. taken. Than sayd Massanissa to Lelius: There were nothynge to me more pleasant, than hauyng nowe victory, to visite my fa­thers kyngdom, which after my long exyle, I haue now reco­uered. But the time will not suffre vs to cesse from our enter­prise. wherfore, if ye wil suffre me, to take with me all the hors men, and the kyng also nowe prisoner: I will goo before you to Cirtha, where I shall fynde euery man soo supprised with feare, that I shall soone wynne it with smal resistence: ye, with your fotemen may come after me small iourneys at your ease.

¶ To this his diuyse Lelius assented. And Massanissa with his horsemen hasted, tyll he came to the walles of the citie of Cirtha, where he called certaine of the towne to him, and de­sired to haue certain of the noble mē of the citie to come furth and speake with hym, which done, he moued them gentylly, to yelde vp their citie: But they, not knowing of the takinge of their king, in no wise wold be perswaded to submit them selfes to the Romains. Than caused Massanissa the king Syphax to be brought before them bound as a prisoner. After which pi­tifull syght, the citezens partly for feare, partly trustyng therby to obteine fauor of Massanissa and of the Romains, opened the yates of the citie. And Massanissa, leauyng fyrst the gates & wals furnished with his people, to thintent none of the citie shuld escape out: he with great spede rode to the kinges pa­laice. Where at his fyrst entre he found Sophonisba, the wife of Syphax, daughter to Asdruball of Carthage, who abode his coming at the gate of his palaice. whan she espied him co­ming amonge a great route of men of armes, she iudging part­ly by his goodly armure, partly by his riche apparaile, that he was the kyng: she fell on her knees before hym and sayd: The goddis, thy strength, and thy good fortune [...] the full power to do with vs what so euer shall be t [...]y pleasure. Neuer the lesse if the praier of a poore woman [...]y take place with her lord, that hath power both of lyfe and of deth: I humbly [Page] beseche the, by that royall maiestie, wherin of late also we wer, and for the loue of the name of the people and cuntrey of Nu­midia, which appertained both to Syphax and to you: for the loue also of the goddis of this place, whō I desire to send the better & more prosperus coming hither, thā they gaue to Sy­phax a departing hens, that thou wilt graunt me to be thy pri­soner. and what so euer thy plesure be to do with me, I shal not refuse it: so that thou suffre me not to come into the cruell and proude dominion of any Romayne. I had leauer auenture to yelde me into the power of a Numidian, and of one that is borne in myne owne countrey of Affrica, than to the handes of a stranger. For it is not vnknowen to you, howe moche the daughter of Asdruball and a Carthaginense borne, hath cause to feare the hande of a Romayne. And in case thou canste none otherwise helpe my desire, I mooste hartily require the, to steame: and thus by deathe delyuer me from the daunger of the Romaynes.

¶ This quene being of excellent beautie, and in her lusty flourishyng age, what with her humble behauiour, what with her fayre speche, so persuaded the king Massanissa, that he not on­ly toke her to mercy, but also hauyng the victory of her, & the hole citie, he becam so captiue to her by loue, that he takig her by the right hand, promised her, her request, and thervpon he mounted into the kinges palaice. Than he began to dyuise in his imagination, by what meanes he myght performe his pro­mise vnto the queene. And whan he coulde fynde noo way to bringe his purpose to passe, as one that was ouercome with blynd loue, he inuented a folishe and a shamefull diuise, whiche was, to be maried incontinent vnto her the same day: thynking by the mariage of her vnto him, he had taken away all occasion both from Lelius and also from Scipio, of doing her any hurt or displeasure. Whan the mariage was stnyshed, Lelius with his hoste of footemen came to the citie of Cyrtha. And kno­wing of the sodeine weddyng he was so displesed with the act, that he was mynded to take her from the plesant bedde of her new husband, and to send her to Scipio, with her husband Sy­phax and other [...]isoners. But at the last, he being ouercome by thintercessiō of Massanissa, who remitted the order of that matter to the iudgement of Scipio: he sent Syphax and other prisoners to the emperour Scipio. After whose departyng, [Page 126] he, by the helpe of Massanissa, receiued the other townes and cities of that countrey of Numidia into his handes: which be­fore were kept by the retinue of kyng Syphax.

VVhan tydinges came into the Romain campe, of the co­ming of Syphax, and the other noble captiues: greatte was the numbre of people that ranne to behold theim. The king being bounde, was caried formooste, and after hym folowed a great numbre of the nobilitie of Numidia. And as the opinion of men is dyuers, so diuerse were the tales of the people, extollynge the honour of the victorye by the myghty power of Syphax, and by the noble fame of the people that was ouercome. There was recounted the myghty power of the kyng, to whose maiestie in one day .ii. of the most noble sei­gnories of the worlde sued for his fauour and frendeship, that is to say the Romayns and the Carthaginenses. The Roma­nes sent theyr valyaunt emperour and capitaine Scipio, one­ly with .ii. galeys that bare fiue oores on euery syde, into Af­frica, to seke his amitie, leauyng in Spayn, than his prouince, all his hoste and great charge. Agayne Asdruball, the capy­tayne of the Carthaginenses, not onely came into his coun­trey for amitie, but also he gaue hym his daughter in mariage, for the more sure consyrmation of alyaunce betweene theim. Some rehersed the power and actes of Syphax to be suche, that he had driuen Massanissa out of his realme, brynging him to suche extreme calamitie, that his lyfe coulde none other­wyse be saued, but by the bruite and fame of his death: and he after gladde to hyde his head in dennes or caues, and to lyue in the forestes and woddes lyke a wylde beast.

¶ With these and suche lyke famous report of the beholders he was brought into the tent of Scipio: who was by his pre­sence and syght muche moued with pitie, consyderyng the ho­nour that he of olde tyme had knowen hym in, and conferryng the same to his present misery. Than Scipio after salutations made, & other cōmunicatiō betwene them had [...], what he wold haue him to do to him: seing he [...] onely refused the [Page] amitie of the Romaynes, but also wyllingely gauetheim bat­tayle. To whom the kinge aunswered, that he knewe wel, that he had offended, and he confessed, that he was not in his right mynde, whan he moued warre againste them. He was madde: when he dyd forget the comynge of Scipio into his realme, and the bonde of alliance that he then made with hym: but spe­cially whan he receiued into his house a matrone of Carthage, of whose hot loue and mariage the fyry brondes had alredy set fyre in his royall palaice. That madde and pestilente fury, by her intisement neuer ceassed, tyll she had turned his harte and mynde from his olde friendes the Romaynes: causynge hym to pursue the warre againste them. Neuer the lesse (sayde he) in all my mysery I haue nothynge that so moche doth comfort me, and reioyse my herte, as when I beholde the same pesti­lent madde fury nowe to be entred the house of my most enne­my. And when I consyder that Massanissa is noo more wyse then Syphar was: but that he more madly, and with lesse temperaunce hath receiued her, then euer I dyd.

¶ With these wordes of the kynge, Scipio was not a lyttell troubled, and then herynge the great offence layde to Massa­nissa, he sawe good cause, why he shuld gyue credence therto. Consydering the great hast made in the maryage, without the aduise of Lelius, and without abydinge his comynge. This acte also semed worse, and more to be abhorred, consyderyng, that he beinge a yonge man in Spayne, was neuer before ta­ken with the loue of any captiue or prisoner.

¶ As he was musynge hereon, anone Lelius and Massanissa came vnto hym, whom in open audience he meryly and ioyful­ly receyued, giuynge them great thankes and praises for their dilygence in that iourney shewed. But anone, takynge Mas­sanissa alone with hym in to a secrete place, he sayde thus vn­to hym.

¶ I knowe ryght well Massanissa, that you dydde perceyue some good qualities and vertues in me, whan you fyrste came into Spayne to me, defyrynge there my frendshyp and amitie: and afterwarde in Affrica, when ye holly cōmytted your selfe into my gouernaunce. But at that tyme ye thought your selfe, that there was no vertue in me, whiche ye soo moche estemed as temperaunce and continencie: of whiche also I truely dyd most glory of my selfe. And these vertues Massanissa I wolde [Page 127] ye shulde ioyne vnto other noble qualities and vertues, wher­with ye are indued. For beleue me, there is not so moche daun­ger to men of our yonge age by armed ennemies, as is by vo­luptuouse pleasure of our wanton desyres, whiche euer are re­dy to vainquishe vs. And who so euer throughe temperaunce can bridle and subdue those affecions, is worthy more honour, and hath achieued a greatter victory, then we haue nowe had by the takynge of kynge Syphax. The actes whiche ye haue so valyauntly and nobly done in myne absence, remayne daylye in my memory: the other your euill actes I had leuer ye dyd call to remembraunce your selfe, then that I shoulde declare theym to youre greatte shame. Syphax, by the good fortune of the Romaynes, is nowe ouercome and taken. Where­fore he, his wyfe, his kyngedome, his possessions, his townes and castelles, his people, inhabitauntes of the same, with all that euer to Syphax belonged, is nowe a praye due to the people of Rome. The king and his wife (although she had not bē a citezen of Carthage, and althoughe her father were not the capitain of our ennemies) ought to be sent to Rome, and there she ought to abide the iudgement of the senatours, and people of the citie, for that she turned the minde of the kyng her hus­bande from our friendshyp, perswadynge hym to take armour agaynste vs. Wherfore nowe ouercome your owne affectio­nate mynde, and beware, that with one vyce, ye dysgrace not so many your good vertues: and by one offence, lose the re­warde and the thankes, whiche by your merites ye haue here tofore worthely deserued.

¶ With these secrete rebukes Massanissa was not onely asha­med, but also constrayned to wepe, sayinge: that he wolde al­wayes be at his commaundemente. Neuer the lesse he desyred hym, as moche as myght be admitted, to regarde the faythful promesse that he had vnaduisedly made vnto her: whiche was, that he wolde delyuer her into none other mans handes. Af­ter these wordes, all abashed he departed to his owne tente, where remayninge alone, he sighed and sobbed a great season so vehemently, that suche as were without his tent myght ea­sely here hym. At the laste, makynge dolefull lamentation, he called to hym one of his faythfull and secrete seruauntes, who had the keping of his poyson, according to the [...]age [...] kinges and prynces: who vsed to haue the same euer kepte nere to [Page] them, therby to ouercome the incertayntie of fortune: parte of this poyson put into drynke, he sente by hym in a cuppe to Sophonisba, commaundynge hym to saye to her, that Mas­sanissa wolde (if he had coulde) gladly haue kepte his first pro­myse made vnto her, as becometh a man to do to his wife: but sens it lieth not in his power, to perfurme it, yet wyll he kepe his seconde promes made vnto her, whiche was that she shuld not, whiles she were on lyue, come into the daungier of any Romayne. Wherfore he wylleth her, to remembre the Emperour her father, and the .ii. kynges, to whom she hath ben ma­ried, and therafter regarde her owne honour.

¶ When the messanger hadde presented to Sophonisba the poyson, and done his message, she aunswered: I wyll receyue this mariage gyfte, and that gladly, if a husbande can gyue no better gyfte to his wyfe. But (sayde she) I praye the shewe Massanissa, that my deathe had not ben soo greuouse to me, if I had not maryed so nere the goinge to my graue. And with­out gyuinge other sharpe wordes to the messanger, she with­out feare or tremblynge, toke the drynke empoysoned, and dranke it of.

¶ Whan this was shewed vnto Scipio, lest Massanissa, being a fyerse yonge man, and takyng this displeasantly in his minde, myght do some hurt to him selfe: he called hym vnto him: som­tyme comfortynge hym, sometyme gentilly rebukinge him, for that he had corrected his fyrst foly with an other folyshe acte, makynge of the thynge more sorowe then neded. On the next daye, to the intent he wolde put all suche fantasies out of his mynde: he ascended to the place of iudgemente, whyther he caused all his hoste to assemble. There he fyrste gaue to Mas­sanissa the name of a kynge: and after great lawdes and pray­ses gyuen to hym, he also gaue hym many ryche gyftes, as a crowne of golde, with a great bolle of golde, a chaire of Iuo­rye, a walkynge staffe of Iuorye, a ryche gowne, with a cote of bawdekyn, vsed to be worne in [...]ygne of victory. And to set the matter forthe to his further honour, he declared, that in any tryumphe at Rome, after any victory hadde of theyr enne­mies, no man could weare any more noble apparaile then this, whiche he hadde [...]yuen hym. Sayinge also, that of al straun­gers the [...] of Rome iudged onely Massanissa worthye to be presented with th [...]se gyftes. Then called he forthe Le­lius, [Page 128] to whom he also gaue great prayses, and rewarded hym with a crowne of golde. And after he rewarded other his sol­diours, according to theyr desertes. By this gentel handeling and honour gyuen to the kyng Massanissa, his troubled minde was pacifyed: and he was put in hope after the deathe of Sy­phax, to be ruler of all Numidia. Then Scipio sent Lelius to Rome, with Syphax and other prysoners, with whome also wente the embassadours of Massanissa. And he after their de­partynge, wente agayne to Tunise, where he encamped his hoste, and fortifyed the place, makynge an ende of the workes, whiche he before had begunne.

THe Carthaginenses, hering of the takyng of Sy­phax, in whom they had as moche trust, as they had in Asdrubal, and his armye: began then to be faynt harted. Wherfore sens they knewe no fur­ther helpe in theyr warre, they sent .xxx. the most noble senatours of their citie to Scipio, to intreate of peace. These auncient noble men, so sone as they came into the paui­lion of the pretor before Scipio, of a flatteryng facion they fel prostrate to the grounde, and then made an humble and a flat­terynge oration, not pourgynge them selues and theyr citie of theyr offence, but layinge the begynnynge of all the defaulte in Anniball, and his adherentes. Desyrynge to haue the citie pardoned of this offence, synse they trusted, that the Romains wolde not desyre theyr destruction, but that they wold be con­tented with theyr humble submission, as of people ouercome, whiche wolde be glad to obey to any thynge that he shulde cō ­maunde them to do. To whom Scipio answered, that his co­mynge into Affrica was vpon trust, to returne home agayne to Rome with victory, not to conclude with peace, whiche his hope, fortune also fauouryng, had moche aduanced by prospe­rous successe. Neuerthelesse (saide he) now [...] victo­ry almost in my handes, yet wil I not refuse p [...]ace, to thintente al men may know, that the Romains do [...]stly both begin & end theyr warr [...] ▪ And these shalbe the conditions of your peace. [Page] ye shall restore vs all your prysoners, and our fugitiue runne aways. ye shal remoue your armies out of Italy and France. ye shall forbeare to meddle any more in Spayne. ye shall departe frome all the Iles, whyche be betweene Italy and Affrica. ye shall delyuer vs all youre longe shyppes, excepte onely .xx. ye shall gyue vs of wheate .v. C. M. busshelles, of barley .iii. C. M. bushels, of money .v. M. talentes. And thre dayes respite I do gyue you (said he) to take your aduise, whether these conditions of peace please you or not. And in case ye be contented with theim, ye shall haue truce of me, and send your embassadours to Rome to the senate, for a confyr­mation of the same.

¶ The Carthaginenses, myndynge onely to tracte the tyme tyl Anniball with his power might come into Affrica, thought they woulde refuse no conditions of peace, that were demaun­ded to be done for their partes. Wherfore they sent some le­gates vnto Scipio, to take truce, other they sent to Rome, to aske peace, leading with theim certain prisoners and fugitiues for a colour, to the intent they myghte therby the better ob­teygne peace.

¶ Whyles these thynges were woorkyng, Lelius with king Syphax, and other noblemen prisoners of Numidia, wer com to Rome. Where he declared to the senatours by ordre all thinges whiche had ben done in Affrica, to their greate com­fort and also hope of good ende of that voiage.

¶ Then were these newes publyshed abrode in the citie, whi­che caused great ioy and gladnes.

¶ Sone after were the ambassadours of Massanissa brought into the senate, where fyrst they said, They were glad and ioy­full, that Scipio had nobly and happily spedde in Affrica, to the no smalle comforte of the senate, and also of the citie of Rome: Than dyd they gyue thankes for that Scipio hadde not onely giuen to Massanissa the name of a kynge, but alsoo had made hym a kyng, restoring him to his fathers kyngdom, if it were the pleasure of the fathers of the senate. Thyrdly, that it pleased Scipio, not only to giue great prayses to Mas­sanissa openly, but also that he had gyuen hym greatte gyftes, whiche to deserue he hath and wyll dilygently indeuour hym selfe, desyryng that the sayd name of a king, with other the be­neficiall gyftes of Scipio, myght be confyrmed by the decree [Page 129] of the senate: And furthermore they sayde, that yf it myght stande with theyr pleasure, Massanissa desyred theim, to sende vnto hym certayne prisoners of Numidia, whiche were kepte in prison at Rome: by the restoring of whom, he shuld purchas moche honour and loue among the communes of the cuntrey. To these their sayinges and demaundes, it was then answered by the senate, that the prosperous actes of Scipio, doone in Affrica, were as moche to theyr comforte, as to the kynges. And that the honour and the giftes, which Scipio had gyuen to Massanissa, were well bestowed, and accordynge as he had well deserued: which his actes they al dyd ratifie and allowe: Besydes whyche his gyftes, they also sent vnto Massanissa the kyng, by theim, dyuers other presentes of apparaile, mete to be worne bothe in the tyme of peace and of warre. Fur­thermore, the embassadours of the king were honourably re­warded. The prisoners also of Numidia, at theyr delyuery & sendyng home, had certayn apparayle gyuen theim. And thus plentyfully enryched, they had all departed towardes Affri­ca, hadde not the newes of the coming of the legates of Car­thage caused the senatours to stay Lelius and theim all for a season, to tary their cominge, bycause the communication of the peace with theim, shulde be in the presence of Lelius.

IN the same Sommer, whyles these thynges were wrought and decreed in Affrica, and at Rome, Quin­tilius Varro, than beynge Pretor, and Marcus Cor­nelius, beynge Proconsull in the costes of Lumbardy, hadde battayle with Mago the brother of Anniball, whyche was earnestly foughte on bothe partes: and hadde not the Ro­mayne horsemenne sodeynely inuaded the footemen, soore fyghtynge, and broken theyr araye, it hadde bene lykely to haue tourned the Romaynes to the worse. But after the array was broken, they were fayne to recule: And Mago so well handled hym selfe in the reculynge, that soo longe as he abode vnhurt, he defended his company, and caused them to [Page] recule in good order and array. But at the laste he was soore wounded, and fell to the grounde, and with peyne was borne oute of the fielde alyne. After whose ouerthrowe his people fled on all partes, wherby many of theim were slayne. He lost at that battayle aboue .v. M. men. And the Romains escaped not free: for they also lost then aboue .ii. M. iii. C. men, with many capitaines that bare offices of honour. The nyght fo­lowynge Mago departed with great silence, and makynge as great hasty iourneys as his wounde wolde suffre hym, he cam to the sea costes of Liguria, where he founde the messangers of Carthage, that fewe dayes before were arriued, and there abode his cominge. Theyr message was, that with as moche spede as myght be, he shulde hye him to Affrica. and that his brother Anniball had also lyke commandement by other mes­sangers to do the same, certifiyng hym, that the state of Car­thage was not nowe suche, that they were able to kepe stylle bothe Italy and Fraunce by force of armes. Mago partely moued by the cōmandement of the senate of Carthage, part­ly fearyng left his ennemies, pursuing hym, might by his long carying do hym further displeasure. Agayne, trustynge on his way homewardes to be better releued and cured of his woun­des: he with spede put his company into shyppes, and depar­ted. But he had not passed the Ile of Sardinia: but he dyed of his maladye. After whose deathe, dyuers of his shyppes, beynge beaten with the stormes of the sea, were taken by the nauy of the Romaynes, that laye the same tyme aboute Sardinia.

All this yere Anniball, and Cn. Seruslius the consull, lay bothe with theyr hostes in the parties of the Brutians, with­out any memorable bataile betwene theim foughten. And than came the legates of Carthage vnto hym, callyng him home to Carthage to theyr succours, whose message he hearde roring and lamentynge, and with peyne coulde he forbeare wee­pynge. And after a pawse he sayde: Nowe they openly call me backe, that before couertly imagyned to fetche me frome hense, in that they denyed for to sende me money and menne of warre, to supplye the roumes of suche as lacked.

Wherefore I woulde all men dydde knowe, that the vanqui­shynge nowe of Anniball is not by the people of Rome: but by the senate of Carthage, throughe despyte and [...]. And [Page 130] of this my shamefull retourne, Scipio wyll no more reioyce, thanne wyll Hanno of Carthage, the olde ennemye of my whole famylie.

¶ After greatte doolefull mone made, he tooke the sea hym selfe, and his chiefe menne of warre, with shyppes there­fore prepared: leauynge certayne vnprouffytable sowldy­ours, as a defence of suche smalle fortresses as remayned than in his possession, more for feare than for any good wylle or faythe.

¶ It hath not lyghtly bene seene or hearde of, that euer man departed from his countrey (beyng exiled therfro) with more heuynesse, than Anniball departed frome the countrey of his ennemies. Full often, whan he was on the sea, he loked backe towardes the sea costes of Italy, accusyng bothe the goddis & also men, ye and cursyng hym selfe, for that he after his victo­rie at the battaile of Cannas, had not incontinent brought his fierse and bluddy knightes to the takyng of Rome. Thus be­waylyng his euyll fortune, he left the possession of Italy, whi­che he had kepte the space of .xvi. yeres after that he fyrst pas­sed the mountayns of the same.

NOwe was Q. Fuluius Sillo, the legate of Sci­pio com to Rome, with the embassadors of Car­thage, to require peace of the fathers of the se­nate. But the senatours wold not suffre theim to entre the citie, but apointed theim to abide with out the walles. The senatours soone after satte in the house of Bellona, whyther the Carthaginenses lega­tes were broughte, and there made an oration, moche lyke to the other, whych they before made vnto Scipio, laying all the blame from the common counsaile vnto Anniball: saying, that he, without the consent of the senate of Carthage, passed both the mountaynes and also the ryuer of Iberus, makyng warre not onely to the Romaynes, vppon his owne wylle and plea­sure, but also to the Saguntines. Where the mynde of the Senate of Carthage was euer, to kepe the leage and amitieinuiolate, [Page] whyche was taken before with the Romayns. In conclusyon they declared, that the summe of theyr charge gi­uen theym, to desyre of the senate of Rome, was, that they myght continue in the same leage and conditions of amitie and peace with the Romaines, as were before at the last truce ta­ken with them by Luctatius, than being consull.

¶ Then dyuers of the auncient Senatours of Rome, why­che were presente at the leage taken by Luctatius, demaun­ded sundrye questyons of the legates of Carthage, concer­nynge the sayde condition of peace, conteyned in that leage. Wherevnto they, beynge all younge menne, aunswered, that they were not of aege to remembre that treatie. This aunswere was greattely suspected of the fathers. Where­fore they said with one assent, that the Carthaginenses, accor­dyng to theyr olde accustomed crafte and falsehode, had cho­sen suche imbassadours, to requyre a peace to be renued, wherof they had no knowlege nor remembrance. Whervppon the legates were caused to auoide the place, whiles they counsay­led vppon the matter. And after longe deliberate discussynge therof, Lelius and Fuluius declared to theim the opinyon of Scipio, touchyng this peace, whiche was, that he dydde not myslyke the meanyng of the Carthaginenses, in case they dyd not sende to call home Anniball and Mago out of Italy: but if they so dyd, than he thought they wolde dissemble the matter vnto their capitains coming with succours, and afterward for­gettyng their promise, wolde renewe the warre. Vpon these wordes the whole counsayle agreed to the saying of M. Va­lerius Leuinus, who sayde, that they were to be taken as es­pies, and not as embassadours, and that they shuld be cōman­ded to auoyde Italy, hauyng guides sente with theim, to con­duct theim vnto their shyppes. And that word shulde be sente to Scipio, to procede in the warre as he had begunne.

¶ Nowe in the meane space, whiles the legates of Scipio and of Carthage, were at Rome, Cn. Octauius, with .ii. C. ship­pes of cariage, and .xxx. other longe shippes, to guyde theim, passed from Sicilia, to go into Affrica: but the windes were so vehement, & the stormes so importunate, that he with the long shyppes, with peyne saued hym selfe in a porte neere to the mountayn of Apollo. The other hulkes of cariage were dri­uen to diuers places on the coste of Affrica, in the sight of the [Page 131] men of Carthage. The Carthaginenses perceyuing this great praye easy to be taken, forgettynge theyr desyre of peace, and also the tyme of truse taken with Scipio (yet mention of them bothe was made to them by certayne of the citie) they by hole assente appoynted Asdruball, with fyfty shyppes to gather to­gither, and to bring home those seabeaten & disparpled shippes, with all that was in them. At whose comynge the shypmenne fled away, leauynge theyr vesselles: and he without any resy­stence drewe them with hym to Carthage. Scipio considering this theyr acte to be doone, before the legates were returned from Rome, or that they knewe what aunswere they shuld re­ceyue, eyther of warre or of peace. Also seinge the tyme of truse was not yet expyred, toke it to be moche more heynous and displeasaunt.

¶ Sone after this breake of truse on the parte of the Cartha­ginenses, arryued Lelius and Fuluius, with the legates of Carthage, to whom Scipio, declarynge theyr vntrewe dea­lynge, cōmaunded them to departe, and he with all spede pre­pared for the warre.

¶ This yere folowynge were chosen consulles, M. Seruili­us Geminus, and T. Claudius Nero. Seruilius was apoyn­ted to Hetruria, as his prouynce: and Claudius Nero to Af­frica. He had ordeyned fyfty good shyppes, wherwith he and his host shulde passe into Affrica, where he shulde be equal ru­ler with Scipio.

¶ NOVVE VVAS Anniball, with his armye, arriued safe in Affrica, and by land came to Zama, fyue days iourney from Carthage. From thens sente he espies before hym, to knowe the state of the Romayne campe and armye. These spyes by chaunce happed on the skoute watche of the Romaynes, and were taken and brought to Scipio. Who demaunded of them the cause why theyr capitayne sent them thyther. They aun­swered, to espye and to haue knowlege of his army and order. Then Scipio called certayn of his capitaines, called tribunes, commaundinge them to go with the espies of Anniball, and to conducte them throughe all his campe, not fearynge to shewe them, what so euer they desyred to see: Whan they had gone rounde about a longe season, and were brought agayne to him, he demaunded of them, whether they had well, accordinge to theyr myndes, viewed his campe and hoste. They sayde ye. [Page] Then said he: Go ye to Anniball, and make to hym relation of that ye haue seene. Thus let he them departe, sendynge with them guides to conduct them out of daunger.

¶ The spies, whan they came to Anniball, declared vnto him, how Scipio had intreated thē. Besides that they shewed him, that Massanissa the same day was come to Scipio, with .vi. M fotemen, and .iiii. M. horsemen. But there was nothyng, that euer they tolde him, so moch abated his courage, as the liber­tie that he gaue his espies, to viewe his order and power. For that great boldenes of his ennemye he iudged and knewe well proceded of some great assuraunce, that he had in his strength and good order. Wherfore although he him selfe was the first cause and occasion, bothe of the warre and also of the truse bre­kinge: yet he deuysed hym selfe, to speake with Scipio, thin­kinge before any battayle, whyles his power was not assayed, he shuld obteine peace with more easy conditiōs, then he shuld, in case it chaunced hym to be ouercome. Wherfore he sente a messanger to Scipio, desyringe that he myght haue lybertie to speake with him, and that he wolde apoynt a place, where they might come together. Scipio refused not to accomplysshe his desyre. The place was apoynted, voyde of al deceite and gile. Thyther came the .ii. most noble capitaines of the worlde, ha­uing onely eche of them one interpretour with him, to declare to eche other, what shulde be spoken by them. Theyr hostes abode a good space from them. When they were come toge­ther, either of them was astonied with the fyght of the other: So that as persons amased through admiration, they spake no worde of a good season. At the laste Anniball began to speake in maner folowynge.

IF it be gyuen me by the fatall fortune, that I whiche fyrst moued this warre against the people of Rome, & that so many tymes haue had the victorye ouer theim, shuld nowe of mine owne voluntary wyll come to be a suiter to haue peace: I am glad, that it is thy chance Scipio, to be the man appoynted of the goddes, of whom I shulde come to re­quire the same peace. And among many other prayses, that be [Page 132] gyuen vnto the, this maye be as one of the greatest: That Anniball, to whome the goddes haue gyuen so many victories of the Romaynes, shulde nowe gyue place and obey vnto the. So that thou mayst make an ende of this notable warre, that hath ben betwene vs, as yet more to your losse then to ours. Again, what worke is this of fortune, that I whiche fyrst fought with your father, beinge consull, in armes, with banners displayed, shulde nowe come to his sonne vnarmed, for to sue for peace? I woulde it had pleased the goddes, to haue gyuen suche ho­nest hertes to our fathers and predecessours, that they wolde haue ben contented with the dominion of Affrica, and to your fathers to haue ben contented with the empyre of Rome. For if we make a trewe rekenynge, neyther Sicilia, nor Sardinia, be a worthy recompence of the manyfolde nauyes, armies, and noble Capytaynes, that we haue loste, throughe our prowde contention. But it is easyer to fynde faulte with thynges that be passed: then it is to amende the same. And for our partes we haue so coueted others dominions, that at lengthe we haue ben fayne to fyghte for our owne. We haue for our parte not onelye warred in Italy, but also so farre aduaunced our hoste and power, that at the verye gates of Rome ye haue sene our standardes, and men of armes. And in lyke maner we of Car­thage haue ben within the herynge of the noyse of your Ro­mayne campes and armye. Nowe by your good fortune, communication of peace is hadde betweners, whiche we of rea­son shulde leaste care for: And ye for your partes shulde chief­lye desyre. And we nowe intreate thereof, whom it mooste behoueth to make peace. Consyderynge that what soo euer we two agree vpon, our cities wyll ratyfye and coufyrme. Wherfore there lacketh nothynge in vs, but quyet myndes and peasable hertes. And for my parte myne age vppon my returne into my cuntreye, frome whense I came forthe but yonge, with the tymes sometyme chaungynge to prosperitie, sometyme to aduersytie, haue so taught me, that I can be bet­ter contented, to followe reason then brittell fortune. But I feare greatly, leste thy youthe and thy perpetuall felicine, in­gender in the suche a fyersenesse, that thou wylte not re­garde quyete counsayle. No man shall soo aduysedlye con­syder the vncertayne chaunces of Fortune, as he that hath benne deceyned by Fortune: as I was at the battayle of [Page] Trasymenus and at Cannas, so art thou now being but a yong souldiour of age, made a capitayne the fyrste daye. Thou be­ganste all thynges with a bolde and a stout courage, and fortune neuer fayled the, throughethy desyre to reuenge thy fathers and thyne vncles deathe (wherby all your familye was almoste brought to extreme calamitie) thou hast purchased the a noble fame. Thou haste receyued Spayne, that was before lost, dri­uynge from that countrey .iiii. notable armies of the Cartha­ginenses, that before dyd possesse the same. Afterwarde being made consul, when other men lacked hertes to defende Italy, theyr owne countrey, thou tokest on the to sayle into Affrica: where sleinge two great hostes, and in one houre takynge and burninge two riche and stronge campes: And after the taking of the mighty kyng Syphax, with many cities and castelles of his realme, and of our empire of Carthage: at the laste thou haste nowe plucked me frome the possession of Italy: whiche these .xvi. yeres I haue with stronge hande kepte and enioy­ed. Nowe hauynge all these prosperous chaunces, it is lyke, that thy minde may be more desirous of victory, then of peace. And truely I haue knowen yours and suche lyke hertes and courages, to be euer more great and valyaunt, then wyse and profytable. The daies also haue ben, that fortune dyd in lyke maner shine bryghte and smyle vppon me. But if the goddes wolde gyue vs in prosperitie good and right mindes: we wold not onely consyder thynges that haue happed, but also what mighte happen vnto vs. And settynge all other exaumples a­parte, I my selfe maye be best a document of lernyng vnto the, for all kindes of fortune. I had not longe agone mine host en­camped betwene the riuer of Amenes and the citie of Rome, and displayed my banners before the walles of the citie: Nowe after the losse of my two bretherne, which were full good and noble capitaynes, I am here to succour myne owne troubled & sore vexed countrey, gladde and desyrous to praye, that myne owne citie maye be delyuered from the daungers, wherwith I assayled then your citie. Let no man put to moche confydence in hyghe and swellyng fortune. Better it is, and more certain, to be sure of peace, then to hope for victory. The one thou hast nowe in thine owne handes: the other is in the hande of the goddes. Put not the felicitie, whiche in many yeres thou hast [...]tteigned, into one houres ieoperdy. Call to thy mynde, both [Page 133] thyne owne power, and the power of fortune: which in warre is common. On bothe partes be men and weapons of warre. And consyder, that chaunces be varyable in all our affayres, specially in battayle. And in case thou vanquishe vs in battayle, thou shalte not wynne so moche glory and profyte, aboue that thou mayst haue of vs by peace: as thou shalte lose, in case for­tune turne agaynste the. For in one houre fortune maye ouer­throw, that in longe space hath ben gotten, and also that is lo­ked for, whiche ye truste to haue. Nowe it is in thy power, to ioyne all thynges to gether by peace P. Cornelius. But if it come to further tryall, we muste bothe take suche fortune as the goddes wyll sende. Amonge other exaumples of felicitie, Marcus Attilius may be well remembred for one, who arry­ued here in this same countrey of Affrica, and wynning the vi­ctorye vppon our forefathes the Carthaginenses, denyed to graunt them peace, which they instantly required of hym. But at the last, for that he coulde not measure his felicitie, nor mo­derate Fortune, that so hyghly aduaunced hym: therfore his fall was the fowler, by howe moch he was the more hygher e­leuate in prosperitie. It belōgeth not to him that asketh peace, but to hym that gyueth peace, to appoynte the conditions of peace: But we knowlegyng our defaulte, wyl appoynt to ourselues condigne punishemente for the same, not refusynge to leaue vnto you the possession of suche countreys, for whiche the warre beganne, as Sicilia, Sardinia, Spayne, and all the Iles within the sea, betwene Italye and Affrica. And we of Carthage, beinge contented with Affrica onelye (sense it hath soo pleased the goddes) wyll suffer you to enioye the Empyre of dyuerse straunge countreys and dominions, gotten bothe by sea and by lande. Paraduenture in the askynge of peace heretofore ye haue not bene playnelye and iustely delte withall, whiche causeth you to mystruste the faythe and promyse of the Carthaginenses. But therin, as touchyng the obseruynge of peace when it is taken, it is moche to be con­sydered, what the persons be, by whom the peace is required. For as I haue harde it tolde Scipio, your fathers heretofore denyed the Carthaginenses peace, for that the persones, that came to intreate therfore, were of small dignitie or estimation. But nowe doo I Anniball requyre peace, whiche I woulde not desyre, onlesse I thoughte it profytable, and for the same [Page] profyt that I do demande it, for the same wyll I also styll kepe and conserue it. And as I haue endeuoured my selfe, that no man shoulde forethynke hym of the warre begunne thorough mine occasion: in like maner shal I nowe enforce my selfe, that none shal repent of the peace, which I shall take. His oration finished, Scipio made him thervnto this aunswere.

I Knewe ryght well Anniball, that the truste of thy co­myng home, made the Carthaginenses to breake the truse betwene vs taken, and also to let all further hope of peace. And this thou doest not denye thy selfe: but thou nowe withdrawest from vs all thynges that we requyre, and were also graunted in that treatise of peace, saue onely those countreys, wherof we haue alredy the possession. Wherfore as thou doest labour, that thy citezens may feele of what bur­then they be discharged by the: so must I trauayle, that noo parte of that, whyche they haue promysed me, shall be nowe withdrawen, for to remayne vnto theim as a rewarde of their vntrouth, consyderyng the same theyr vntrouthe, hathe made theim vnwoorthye to haue the conditions of peace before to theim offered. Neyther dyd our father fyrste make warre for Sicilia, nor we nowe for Spayn: But than the dangier, wher­in the Mamertines our frendes and fellowes were put into: and nowe the distruction of Sagunt, caused vs iustly to make warre. That all hath bene by your prouocation, thou hast cō ­fessed thy selfe. The goddis also be witnesses, who gaue suche ende to the first warre, as of right it behoued to haue. And in this warre haue gyuen: and I doubt not, but wil giue like end. As for my part, I consyder well, bothe the infirmitie of man, and the power of fortune: and I know, that all our actes be subiect to a. M. chances. But as I do knowlage, that in case thou woldist haue come to desire peace of me, before I toke so grettrauaile, to come into Affrica, and that thou haddest with thy good wil departed with thine army out of Italy: if I had then denied thy requeste, I might well haue been iudged, to haue wrought proudely and stubburnely. Euen so now after that I [Page 134] haue drawē the and thy power home into Affrica, where thou arte redy to make vs resistence: And seinge that a peace and truce was ones taken, whiche ye haue broken, taking our ship­pes with force in tyme of truce, and violatinge our embassa­dours: I may ryghte well with honour, byd you prepare for the warre, sens you could not hold you contented with peace, whan ye had it.

Thus without any agrement of peace, the .ii. capytaines brake of their communication, and departed euery one to his company, determining to try the matter by battail, and to take suche fortune as the goddis wolde gyue theim.

¶ As soone as they were come into their campes, they open­ly on bothe partes gaue commaundement to their souldiours, to make them redy to fyght now theyr last battaile, wherby in cas they dyd ouercome, they shulde haue felicitie, not for one day, but for euer. For before the next nyght, they shuld know, whether Rome or Carthage shuld haue the superioritie. And that not onely of Italye or of Affrica: but of all the worlde, whiche shulde be a rewarde nowe to hym, that shuld haue the victory. On the contrary part, the peryll and ieoperdye was no lesse declared to that part, whiche shulde haue the worse in this battayle. For the Romaynes hadde no place, whether to flye, beinge in a straunge countrey. And to Carthage muste nedes come an vtter distruction, in case this their last army of refuge were vanquished or ouerthrowen.

¶ In this great ieopardy on the next day the .ii. valyant capi­taynes of the two most noble and rychest people, sette furthe with their .ii. myghty armies: intendynge that day, eyther to increase the honour, whiche before they had gotten, or els to be ouerthrowen and lose all. Hoope and feare were myngled bothe togyther in theyr myndes. And whan they sawe theyr owne battaile, and the battayle of their ennemies: they concei­ued in their myndes both ioye and sorowe. And that that the souldiours fayled to remembre, theyr capitaines declared vn­to theim, with greate warnynges and exhortations. Anniball rehersed to his people all theyr actes done in Italy: how ma­ny Romayne capytaynes, and howe many armyes they hadde slayne. Scipio shewed his conquestes in Spayne, and also of late in Affrica, with the confessyon of his ennemyes, that they for feare were constrayned to requyre peace: although [Page] theyr vntrouth wold not suffre theim to kepe the same, whan they had it. Wherfore he gessed, that the goddis had appoin­ted theim to fyght in this bataile, with lyke successe and lucke, as they had whā they fought at the yle of Egates. Now (sayd he) all warre & trauayle is at an end. The spoyle of Carthage is euen at hande, after whyche ye shall retourne home in to your countreye, to youre parentes, your wyues, your chyl­derne, and your owne goodes. These comfortable woordes he sette furthe, with suche gesture of his bodye, and merye countenaunce, as though he hadde al redy hadde the vyctory of his ennemies. Afterward he putte his men in order. First his spearemen, than his chiefe and mooste assured footemen, not in greate multitudes togyther before any standarde, but in smalle bandes, whyche shoulde be a certayne space distaunt the one from the other, to the intent the elephantes of theyr ennemyes myghte come betweene the sayde bandes, and be receyued of theim, without breakynge any arraye. In these voyde spaces betweene the sayde bandes, he appoynted dy­uers of his lyghtest harneysed souldiours to stande, to fulfyll the voyde places, commaundynge theim, that whan the ele­phantes pressed on theim, that they shuld recule behynde the sayd bandes, whyche were in array, or els to steppe in among those that went before the standerdes, on their right hande, or on their left hand, giuing way to the vnruly beastis to entre a­monge his men, where with weapons they myght be woun­ded and ouerthrowen. The lefte wynge ledde Lelius with the Italyan horsemen. The ryghte wynge ledde Massanissa with his Numidians.

¶ Anniball on the other part, in the forefront of his battaile, sette his elephantes, whyche were to the numbre of .lxxx. Af­ter whome he put in ordre all suche nations as were hyred, or came to his succour, as Liguriens, Frenchemen, and men of the Iles named Baleares, now called Maiorque and Minor­que, myngled amonge a great numbre of Moores. In the se­conde battaile he sette his Carthaginenses, with the Affrica­nes, and the legion of the Lacedemonians, sent thither to the succours of the Carthaginenses from Philip kyng of Mace­dome. And within a lyttell space of from theim, he placed the Italians, which cam with him, whan he left that cuntrey. The winges wer of horsemen. The left winge helde the Numidian [Page 135] horsemen. The right wynge was of the Carthaginenses. In this hoste of Annibal wer men of diuers nations & cuntreis, of diuers tunges and langages, they were also different in lawes, armour, and in aparaile. To euery one of these he gaue sundry and diuers exhortations, either of feare, or of comfort. To su­che as were come to his succours he promysed great rewarde of the pray, whiche shulde be wonne by their industry and tra­uaile. To the Liguriens he promised a plentiful reward of the fertile and pleasaunt fieldes in Italy. The Moores and Nu­midians he exhorted to do well, for feare leste they shulde els be in greuous seruitude of Massanissa. The Frenchemenne wer set on by the naturall hatred, which they bare to the Ro­maynes. The Carthaginenses he put in remembrance to fight for the walles of their naturall cuntrey, for their propre goo­des, for the sepulchres of their elders, for their children, their parentes and trembling wiues. There is no meane way (sayde he) now to be put betwene hope and feare. For either must we suffre miserable seruitude, after the distruction of our citie and cuntrey, orels obteine the empire of all the worlde.

¶ By that tyme this noble capitayn had finyshed his wordes: the Romaynes blewe vp theyr trumpettes and hornes, ma­kynge so terrible a noyse and clamour, that a greate numbre of the elephantes, beinge furyouse, tourned backe vppon theyr companye, specially vppon the lefte wynge of the Moores and Numidians. Whiche perceyued well Massanissa, where­fore he also inuaded the same wing with his horsemen, putting theim to suche feare, that they fledde, leauynge that syde of the hoste bare of succour. Dyuers of the elephantes by force wer constrained to entre the myddle battaile, to whome anone the lyght armed souldiours gaue place, suffryng theim to en­tre among theim, where they were thrust in with speares & in­nelyns, so that many were there slain. During this while, Le­lius with his horsmen assailed the right wing of the horsmē of Carthage, puttig thē also to slight: so that the body of the host was of both sides left without defence of horsmē, the winges being chased away: thā began the battel of fotemen to be strōg on both partes. Great wer the cries that wer there made: but the Romans wer of better corage, of stronger hope, & of more strēgth. wherfore in a short space, they caused their enmies to giue back a certain space of groūd. And whā thei had ons gotē [Page] some grounde, they with theyr shyeldes and targettes came still thrusting on theyr ennemies, bearing them backe, tyl some sone after the fyrste battayle, tourninge theyr backes, began to flie, and came to the second battayle of the Carthaginenses and Moores, who wolde not suffer them to entre, leste they shulde cause all theyr arraye to be broken. Wherfore betwene them and theyr owne fellowes began great debate and slaugh­ter: soo that the Carthaginenses were constrayned to fyghte, bothe with theyr owne vnruly felowes, and also with the Ro­maynes theyr ennemies. Neuerthelesse they wolde in no wyse receyue theyr felowes that fledde in amonge them, leste they shulde mengle that fearefull sorte, whiche in the flyghte were hurte and wounded, amonge them that were earnestly bent to fight: Whiche myght haue turned moche more to theyr dys­pleasure. But dryuing them away by heapes, compelled them to go to gether, some into the one side of theym, some abrode the fieldes. Great was the occision that was made of them, in so moche that the Romaynes coulde not come to fyghte with the Carthaginenses: but fyrste they muste with peyne go ouer the dead bodies of them that were slayne. Then Scipio cau­sed a troumpet to be blowen, to withdrawe his men of the first battayle, who had ben sore traueyled, and many of them were sore wounded. These caused he to stand behinde the rereward, and made the same rerewarde of his best men to auaunce fore­warde vpon the Carthaginenses. Then beganne the battayle newe agayne: whiche was very sore and fierse. For then came the Romaynes to the most assured and strongest men, and most expert in warres, who before beinge vanquished twyse, were nowe lothe and ashamed to be vanquished. But the Romaynes were farre moin noumbre, and had taken to them a great cou­rage, by dryuinge awaye bothe the wynges, and also the fore­warde of theyr ennemies.

¶ Whyles they thus foughte in the seconde battayle, Lelius and Massanissa returned with theyr horsemen from the chase of the wynges of the Carthaginenses: and with all their pow­er and violence came on the backes of the seconde battayle of the Carthaginenses, whiche were busy and valiauntly fought. Then were they not able to endure theyr violence, but were with force put to flyght and slayne on all partes. There were that day slayne and taken of the Carthaginenses aboute .xl. M [Page 136] men. Many elephantes, and many standardes of noble men were taken in that battayll. Great also was the praye of the spoyle founde in the Campe, which all the Romanes toke and brought to their shippes. The Romaynes also lost at this bat­tayle aboue .x. M. men. Anniball, with a fewe with him, fledde to Adrument: But he neuer departed from the field, til he had bothe in the battayle and before, assayed to do asmoche as was possyble for to be done, for the safegard of his people. Wher­in he that day had prayse bothe of Scipio, & of al other expert men of warre of the Romains: specially for the ordering of his battayl. For fyrst he set in the forefront his great nomber of e­lephantes, whose gret strength and intollerable violence shuld breke the arraye of the Romaines, putting them out of order, whyche is halfe the wynnynge of a battail. Then set he fore­most his hyred souldiours of diuers nations: to the intent such a confused nombre of strangers (who fought for no great faith or loue, but onely for money) sholde haue no place nor tyme to flee from the battayle. Also to the intent suche strangers shuld endure the fyrst violence of his ennemies, makyng them wery and weake, before his chiefe men of most trust should haue any thyng to do. Then after theim were his Carthaginenses and Affricans, his most trustie souldiours. Last of al a good space behinde theim, he placed his Italiens, as people whome he knew not wel, whether they shuld be his friendes or his foes. Thus when all his pollicie wolde not serue hym, nor yet his strengthe coulde helpe, he fledde (as I sayd before) to Adru­ment: and from thense he was sent for to come to Carthage.

Whyther he came the .xxxvi. yere after his departynge from thense, beinge but a chylde. There in the open assemble of the noble men of the citie he confessed hym selfe to be vanquished; and that there was none other hope of safegarde for them, but by obteyninge of peace.

AS Scipio and his hoste were comynge to his shippes, laden with a ryche praie, worde was brought hym, that P. Lentulus was arriued at Vtica, with .l. shippes of warre, and an .C. hulkes laden with all maner of prouision.

[Page] Wherfore Scipio, thynkinge to put the citie of Carthage in feare on al partes: Fyrst sent Lelius to Rome, to beare newes of his victory. And then sent Cn. Octauius by lande towarde Carthage, with his army of horsemen and fotemen. Whiles he, takyng with hym bothe the newe nauy of shyppes, brought hym by Lentulus, and also his olde nauye, wente by sea from Vtica towardes the hauen of Carthage. He had but a whyle sailed on the sea, when a shippe of Carthage met hym, couered all with white lynnen clothe, and full of bowes of Oliue, in to­ken of peace. In whiche shippe were .x. embassadours of the prynces of Carthage, sente by the mynde of Anniball to de­syre peace. When this shyppe was come to the fore parte of Scipiosship, the coueringe was taken awaye, and the legates ryght humbly required hym to extende his mercy and pitie v­pon them. But other aunswere had they none giuen them, but that they shoulde come to hym to Tunes, for to that place he sayde he wolde remoue his campe. With this aunswere they departed: and he wente with his nauy of shippes before Car­thage, partely to viewe the situation of the towne, partely to make the inhabitantes ther of the more afraide. But after smal soiourninge there, he departed frome thense, and returned to Vtica: And from thense was goinge to Tunes, when sodeine newes wer brought him, that Vermina, the sonne of Syphax, with a great numbre of horsemen and fotemen, was comyng to the succours of the Carthaginenses. To encountre with these people, Scipio incontinent sente a good parte of the fotemen of his host, and all his horsemen, who metynge with theim, at theyr fyrste reencountre put them to flyght, and stoppinge the passages, wherby they myght by fleinge escape, they slewe of the Numidiens .xv. M. and toke aboue .xii. C. with many hor­ses of that countrey, to the numbre of xv. C. and with peyne the capitayne hym selfe escaped, hauynge a small numbre with hym. From thense the campe was pytched at Tunes, in the olde place, where they before had set it. Thyther came .xxx. noble men of Carthage embassadours, sent vnto Scipio, who with moche more lamentation then the other had done before, required peace of Scipio, constrained more therunto through the contrarietie of Fortune, and by the late ouerthrow of their friende Vermina: And they were lykewise herde with lesse pitie, bicause of theyr late vntruthe and rebellion. In so moche [Page 137] that it was thought by moste men, that the citie of Carthage myghte then iustely and worthely be destroyed by theim. And so had it ben in dede, had not one thynge specially moued Sci­pio to the contrarye. Whiche was, that the newe consull was comynge thyther, whose desyre was, to haue the honour and fame of that victory, and of fynishinge that warre, whiche was before achieued by Scipios traueile, to his great daungier. And for this cause Scipio and his counsaylours wer fully min­ded to take peace with the Carthaginenses. Wherefore the nexte day he called the legates of Carthage before him, great­ly rebukinge them of the vntrewth to him diuers times shew­ed: Wyllynge theim nowe at the last, beinge taughte by good experience, to regarde bothe theyr goddes and theyr othes, and shewinge them, that he, hauing pitie of the destruction of theim and of theyr soo noble a citie, was contented to graunte them peace vpon these conditions. Fyrste, that they shoulde lyue free after theyr owne lawes and customes, enioyinge all suche cities and townes in Affrica, as they hadde in possession before the warre betwene theim taken. And that frome that daye forthe, the Romaynes shulde no more destroye or spoyle any parte therof. Agayne, the Carthaginenses shulde restore to the Romaynes all suche persons as were fled and runne a­way from the Romayns, and all the prisoners of the Romains, and theyr friendes, whom they had in captiuite. Also that they shoulde delyuer theim all theyr shyppes of warre, and other shyppes, excepte onely galeys, hauynge thre orders of oores in a piece. And that they shoulde also delyuer vp all theyr ele­phantes, whiche were alredye tamed and made apte for the warre: neyther shulde they after tame any moo. Agayne, that they shoulde moue no warre in Affrica, nor withoute Affrica, but by the lycence or commaundemente of the Romaynes. Furthermore, that they shulde restore vnto Massanissa all su­che thynges as they hadde taken of his, makynge a peace and agrement with hym. And also yelde vnto the Romayne hoste wheate and wages vnto the return of the legates from Rome. Besydes all this, they shulde paye .x. M. talentes of syluer in fyftye yeres: durynge whiche tyme, they shulde yerely paye that summe, deuyded in euen portions. For the paymente wherof, and perfourmaunce of these condytions, they shoulde delyuer hym an .C. pledges of his owne election. Wherof [Page] none shuld be vnder thage of .xiiii. yeres, neither aboue thage of .xxx. Vpon these conditions, he agreed to giue them truce: so that they wolde delyuer to him out of hand all suche hulkes or shyppes of burthen, with their fraught and implementes, which the Carthaginenses toke from theim, duringe the laste tyme of truse, that he had before graunted theim: Or elles they shulde neither loke for truse nor for peace.

¶ Whan the legates were come to Carthage, they were cō ­maunded to declare the same conditions of peace openly be­fore the congregation of the people therevnto assembled. A­gainst which conditions one Gysgo, a noble man of Carthage, spake very sore, and wold haue dissuaded the people from the taking of peace. To whose sayinges many of the vnruly multi­tude gaue good audience. But Annibal, being therwith greatly moued, went to him, and with force drewe him downe from his place. Which his violent facion had not bene vsed before in that citie, and was thought of dyuers to be contrary to the libertie of their citie: where before all people had free liber­tie to speake their opinions: Annibal being vsed to the facion of the warres, more than to the peasible vse of the citie: re­membrynge the liberties therof, excused his rudenesse in this maner. Whan I departed from this citie, I was but .ix. yeres olde, whiche is nowe .xxxvi. yeres agone: during which time I haue sufficiently knowen and been instructed in all feates of warre, beinge taught by the chaunces of fortune, euen frome my chyldehoode. Wherfore beynge disvsed soo longe space frome the lawes, maners, and customes of the citie, although I doo forgette the liberties and vses therof, I am the lesse to be blamed. Thus after he hadde excused his folye, he per­swaded the people to the takynge of peace, and howe neces­sary it was nowe for theim, and also howe reasonable the con­ditions were, consyderynge theyr presente estate. To whiche his perswasions the greattest parte of the multiude agreed, and the resisters agaynste it, were greately blamed. The grea­test doubte was, howe they myghte make restitution of that that was taken frome the Romaynes in the tyme of truce. For all was spoyled and goone, neyther knewe they, who badde theym, onely the shyppes and hulkes remaygned. But in conclusyon, worde was sent agayne to Scipio, by the same legates, that they wold receyue his conditions of peace. [Page 138] And where they coulde not knowe, who had the goodes that wer in the hulkes: they wold pay therfore at his owne iudge­ment. The vessels and men shulde be restored.

¶ Thus was the truce gyuen to the citie of Carthage for thre monethes, with a commaundement, that duryng the time of truce, they shulde sende embassadours to no place, but only to Rome. And in case that any embassadours were sent frome any place to Carthage, that they shuld in no wyse depart from thens, vntyll the Romayne capitayne were ascertayned what they were, and what was the cause of theyr comming.

¶ Soone after went the legates of Carthage to Rome: with whom were sent C. Veturius Philo, M. Martius Valla, and Lucius Scipio, brother to P. Scipio the Romayn capytayn.

¶ When they were come thyther, L. Veturius Philo decla­red, howe Scipio hadde foughten with Anniball, and ouer­come the Carthaginenses, to theyr vtter confusyon, makynge nowe an ende of the dolefull longe warre, that had been be­twene the Romaynes and theim. And that also Vermina, the sonne of Syphax, with his power, was beaten and ouercome. Of whyche newes the senatours beinge meruaylous ioyfull, commaunded hym to publysshe the same gladde tydynges, to the whole multitude of the citezens. Who makynge greatte ioye, gaue thankes for the vyctory to the goddis. Than wer the legates of Carthage broughte into the senate. And whan the senatours behelde the age, the dignitie, and the grauitie of the ambassadours (who were of the mooste noble menne of the citie of Carthage) than they iudged, that they inten­ded playnely and syncerely to intreate of peace. Amonge o­ther of these nobles of Carthage, there was one Asdruball, called Hedus, one of the chiefe of theim, bothe in auctori­tie and in nobilitie: who was euer desyrous of peace, and held moche agaynste Anniball and his affinitie. This Asdruball sayde, that a fewe couetous personnes of the citie were cul­pable for this warre, and not the comminaltie. Some faul­tes, whyche were layde to theym, he excused: some other he confessed, leste by the denying of all, he myght be the worse hearde of the senate. Than he perswaded the Senatours to vse theyr prosperous fortune gentylly, and in due temperance, professynge euer, that in case the Carthaginenses would haue folowed the myndes of hym, and of Hanno, takynge the [Page] tyme whan it was offered: that they had beene the gyuers to other of peace, vppon suche conditions as they were nowe gladde to take at others handes. But (sayde he) it is but sel­dome sene, that good fortune and a good mynd be gyuen both at ones to men. The cause of the conquestes of you Romains euer chiefly hath been, for that in prosperitie ye haue had the remembrance to consulte of thynges to come. And your em­pyre hath bene more encreased by gentylnes and fauour she­wed to nations, whom ye haue vanquyshed, than it hath bene by the victories gotten on theim.

¶ After that Asdruball had finysshed his oration, the other ambassadours made moche more lamentable propositions, be­wayling the miserable fall of the state of the Carthaginenses, who being the greattest lordes in honour of the worlde, were nowe constrayned to abyde enclosed within the walles of the citie, hauyng nothing els, that they myghte clayme propretie of. ye and that same only citie they helde, but vpon the good­nes and forbearyng of the Romaynes, whiles theyr pleasure was, to forbere the vtter distruction therof. With these hum­ble and gentyll woordes, the senatours vniuersally were fully inclyned to peace. Than one of the senatours spake out with loude voyce: If peace be graunted to the Carthaginenses, by what goddis shall they sweare, and make peace, whan they haue broken promise, and deceiued the goddis, by whom they sware, whan they laste toke peace with vs: To whom the sayd Asdruball answered, euen by the same goddis wyll we sweare, who be so angry, and are reuenged on vs, that brake oure laste truse and leage. Herevpon all the senatours and the comons, being inclyned to peace, determined, that by thaduise of .x. le­gates of Rome, P. Scipio shulde make with theim the peace, vpon suche conditions as to him semed best. The legates wer named, and made theim redy to depart with the Carthaginen­ses. For the whiche the ambassadours gaue greate thankes to the senate, of theyr goodnes to theim shewed: desyryng them before their departyng, to licence theim to entre the citie, and to visite certayne of their frendes and kynnesmen, that were kepte in the citie, as prisoners. whiche requeste was graunted theim. And they desyred also, that they myght redeme diuers of theim vpon reasonable raunsom. They were cōmaunded to write the names of suche as they wolde haue redeemed. And [Page 139] they named .ii. C. of theim, who incontinent were delyuered to the x. legates, to take with theim into Affrica to Scipio, wyllyng him, in case the peace went forwardes with the Car­thaginenses: that then he shoulde rendre these .ii. C. pryso­ners to the Carthaginenses, free without payinge any raun­some. These thynges beynge so concluded, the Carthaginen­ses, with the Romayne legates, departed towardes Affrica. And whan they cam to Scipio they concluded the peace with hym vppon the conditions before specified. The shyppes of Carthage, the elephantes, the fugitiues and prisoners, to the numbre of .iiii. M. were delyuered to Scipio: among whome was one Terentius Culleo, a notable senator of Rome. The shyppes, vpon the deliuerie of theim, were had furth into the sea, to the numbre of .v. C. of al sortes: and there by the com­maundement of Scipio were set all on fyre. Which bourninge was as sorowfull a syght to the Carthaginenses, as if they had sene the whole citie of Carthage on fyre.

THus ended the warres betwene the Romaynes and the Carthaginenses, more gentylly than it was thoughte it shulde haue done. For Scipio dyuers tymes after re­ported, that the conctouse and hyghe mynde, fyrst of Clau­dius Nero, and after of Cu. Cornelius, desyrynge both the honoure of the vyctorye of Carthage, was the cause, that the citie of Carthage was not vtterly distroyed and wasted. After the sayde peace thus taken, the money, whyche shulde be presently payde to the Romaynes, was very greuous to the Carthaginenses. Whose stocke and common substaunce was before greatly wasted, by reason of the longe contynu­all warres. Wherefore at the leuyinge of the sayde summe of theyr pryuate substaunce, greate lamentation and wepinge was made in the citie. Whiche Anniball beholdynge, coulde not forbeare to laugh. Wherat Asdruball Hedus toke great indignation, rebukynge hym, for that he (beynge the verye origynall cause of al theyr sorowe) in the common mournyng of the citie, shulde so laugh. Thervnto Anniball aunswered: If ye myghte beholde the inwarde thoughte of my mynde, [Page] as ye maye the outwarde apparent countenaunce of my face, ye shulde parceiue this laughter not to come of any ioy of the herte, but of a madnesse and a frenesie. Neuer the lesse this my laughter is not so inordinate, nor cometh not so out of time, as your teares do. For you shuld haue wept, when your armour was taken frō you, and your shippes burned before your eies: and when your libertie of makinge of warres with any straun­ger (but onely by lycence of the Romaynes) was taken frome you. wherin rested your chiefe vndoinge and greattest falle. But ye fele no hurte, onelesse it touche your priuate welthe. The great hurte of the common welthe ye neyther fele nor re­garde. When your ennemies had the greate spoyle, after the vyctorie had, and when Carthage remayned alone, and naked without armour or defence, among so many armed men of Af­frica: Then no man wepte nor mourned. But nowe, when ye must pay the tribute of your owne priuate goodes: euery man wepeth, as ye wolde do at the burienge of all your friendes. I feare it sore, that ye shall shortly perceyue, that ye wepte now in your leaste harmes, and the worst to be behinde.

¶ When the peace was thus cōcluded, betwen the Romains and the Carthaginenses, Scipio, calling his people together, besides that he restored vnto Massanissa his fathers kynge­dome: He also gaue him the citie of Cyrtha, and other townes and groundes that he had wonne of Syphax. Afterwarde he caused Cn. Octauius, to delyuer to Cn. Cornelius, the newe consull, his nauy that he brought into Sicilia. Then caused he the embassadours of Carthage to go towardes Rome, there to haue all thinges confirmed by the auctoritie of the Senate, whiche he by the auctoritie of the Romayne legates had be­fore concluded with them.

¶ Thus all thynges beinge at peace, both by sea and by lande, he with his army toke shippynge, and sayled ouer into Sicilia, and from thense into Italye: where he was met by the men of the countrey with great honour and ioye: so gladde was eue­ry man bothe of peace and of victorye. The poore men of the townes and cities by the waye, as he went towarde Rome, ran forthe to se hym, and to prayse hym. Thus in greate honour came be into Rome, where he was receiued into the citie with mooste noble triumphe. After that he enryched the citie with greate s [...]mmes of golde and syluer, of the prayes that he had [Page 140] taken, besyde that he distributed amonge his souldiours .xl. M. li. And of the conquest, whiche he had made in Affrica, he was called Scipio Affricanus euer after, to the great honour of all his familie and succession.

AFter the warres thus ended in Affrica, the Carthagi­nenses continued in peace a certayne season. At the last the ennemies of Annibal, to worke him displeasure, sent worde to Rome to the senate, that Anniball had pryuely sente messangers and letters to Antiochus the kynge of Siria, mo­uynge hym, to warre with the Romaynes. And also that mes­sangers were sente with letters secretely from Antiochus to Anniball. Certifieng them further, that the mynde of Annibal was suche, that he coulde neuer be contented, till he harde the sounde of harneis vpon mennes backes. The Romaynes be­inge angry therat, sent legates thither, C. Seruilius, Claudi­us Marcellus, and Terentius Culleo, to try, whether the in­formation to them made, were true or no: Commanding them, to publishe abrode, that the cause of theyr coming was, to here and determine certaine matters in controuersie, which wer be­twene the Carthaginēses & the king Massanissa, & none other.

¶ This tale published by them, was beleued to be true of the common people. But Anniball therwith could not be blinded. He knewe full well, that he onely was the cause of theyr com­minge. Wherfore thynkinge for a season to gyue place, till the time might better serue hym. He with .ii. other departed oute of the citie in the begynninge of the night, in a straungers ap­paraile, and came to a place: where he before had apointed his horses to mete him, and from thense with spede he wente to a castell of his owne by the sea syde, where a ship of Italy awai­ted for hym, apoynted for the same purpose. In whiche shyp he sayled from Affrica, and arriued the same day in the Ile of Circyna, makynge more dole all the way for the harde chaun­ces that were happed to his countreye, then he dydde for his [Page] owne euyll fortune. In the hauen of Circyna he founde many shyppes laden with marchaundyse, and at his landinge, greate resorte of people of the ile came vnto hym, salutynge hym, and makynge of his comynge great ioye. Anniball fearynge, leste some of those shippes in the nyght shuld departe from the ha­uen, and shewe in Affrica, that they had sene hym in Circyna: He deuised to make a solemne sacrifice, and a great feast, to the which he badde al the maisters of the shyppes that were in the hauen, and all the marchauntes that were in the same. And for that the wether was very hot (being about the middes of som­mer) he caused al the sailes of the ships, with the crosse mastes, wherunto the sayles be fastened, to be all broughte on lande. W [...]erwith he made pauilions and bowres, to defende theym from the vehement heate of the sonne, whyle they souped on the shore. The feast was sumptuous, as the tyme might serue therto, and was kept very solempnely. There was wine great plenty, wherwith many were drunken and heuy headed. The bankette was also purposely prolonged, tyll it was farre in the nyght. Then fell the marchauntes a slepe, with the maryners also. Whiche Anniball espienge, thoughte he had then good tyme to mocke them, and takynge his shyppe, secretly depar­ted, leauynge them faste on slepe. On the morowe, when the maryners arose with heuy heades, they caryed theyr sayles and other tackelinges agayne to the shyppes, preparynge all thynges redy. But or they myght bryng al to passe, they spent a good parte of the nexte daye.

¶ On the morowe after the departyng of Anniball from Car­thage, his friendes, that vsually resorted to his company, after that they coulde not fynde hym, nor here of hym, they gathe­red a great multitude of the citie together in the market place, inquiringe, if any newes coulde be shewed of the chiefe ruler of theyr citie. Some coniectured, that he was fledde away for feare of his conspiracie againste the Romaynes. Some other sayde, that the Romaynes had by some crafty traine conspired his deathe. Thus dyuerse were the tales, accordynge to the diuersitie of sectes that were in the citie. Tydynges sone after was brought thyther, that he was sene at Circyna. Than the Romayne legates openly in the senate of Carthage, founde greate lacke, and blamed greately the citezens and rulers, for suffryng hym to departe, consyderynge the priuie letters and [Page 141] messages that were sente betwene him and Antiochus, saying. That he wolde neuer be satisfyed, tyll he hadde moued warre throughe all the worlde. The Carthaginenses excused theym selues, affyrmynge, that they were nothyng priuie nor consen­tynge to his departynge.

¶ Now was Annibal arriued at Tyrus, where he was recey­ued honorably, and with great ioy: and there he soiourned cer­taine daies. From thense he sayled to Antioche, and after that to Ephesus, where he founde the king Antiochus: who was in great doubte before his comynge, in what maner he shulde mainteygne his warres against the Romayns. The kyng was greatly comforted by the meane of his coming, and also by the beinge there of the embassadours of the Etholiens: whoo the same tyme wer departed from the amitie of the Romaines. He was determined to moue warre: for agree wolde he not to certaine conditions of peace, that the Romaines prescribed vnto him. Whiche he thought shuld be greatly to the losse both of his honour and also of his dominions. For they wold haue caused hym to leaue the possession of certayne cities, that he had. And also that he shuld not medle in Grece: but how and where he shulde moue this warre, he was not determyned. Anniball was greatly in his fauour, and chieifly for that he thought him an expert man & a mete counsaylour in his affayres agaynst the Romaynes. Anniball euer was of the opinion, that he shulde make warre in Italy, for that the countrey of Italy is able to furnyshe an army of vitayles and all thynges necessary, and al­so of souldiours, if he shulde haue nede of men of armes at any tyme. But (sayde he) if no warre be moued in Italy, soo that the Romaynes maye haue all the hole power therof, to make warre in other regions out of Italy: then is there no prynce nor nation of the worlde able to withstande the Romaynes.

Wherfore if ye wyll delyuer vnto me one .C. of shyppes of warre, and .xvi. thousande fotemenne, with one thousande of horsemen: I wyll with that power sayle into Affrica, trusting to cause the Carthaginenses to rebel agaynste the Romaynes. Or in case they wyll not folowe my request: yet wyll I inuade some part of Italy, and moue warre to the Romaynes. Then maye you (sayde he to the kyng) with all the rest of your pow­er, sayle into Europe, kepynge your armye in Grece, redy to set forwardes as ye se cause.

[Page] ¶ This his counseyle was well allowed of the kinge: where­vppon one Ariston, an Ephesien, a wyse and a trustie manne, was chosen to sayle to Carthage, to the friendes of Anni­ball, with priuie and speciall tokens by mouthe, whiche they knewe wer true and not feyned, to shewe vnto theim his pur­pose. For writinge durste he sende none, for feare of takynge of the messangers. His message onely was to be declared vp­pon credence.

¶ But whyle Aryston went on his message, and therin hadde no good spede: the ambassadours of Rome were come to E­phesus, to knowe of Antiochus, the cause why he intended suche warre agaynst the Romaynes, among whiche ambassa­dours it was sayd that P. Scipio, called Affricanus was one. Whiche ambassadours hauyng knowledge, that the kyng An­tiochus was a lyttell before gone agaynste the Pisidians, and fyndyng Annibal there: they diuers times resorted vnto him, and had familyar communication with him: onely to the intent to make him haue a good opinion of the Romaynes, and not to mystruste, that any thyng was intended by theym agaynste him. Among other communication betwen the ambassadours and Annibal, it is remembred, that Scipio demaunded of him, whome he iudged to be the most noble capitayne, that euer he knewe or hearde of. To whome Anniball aunswered, that it was Alexander of Macedony: for that he with a smal power ouercame so many nations, and vanquished so many greate ar­mies in battayle, traueylynge so many straunge and farre cun­treis, whiche passed the power and witte of mannes cumpasse. Then Scipio demaunded of hym, whom he iudged to be the seconde most noble capytayn. He aunswered, Pyrrbus, which was the most wyse and expert man in placinge his campes, in fortifieng his fortresses with watche and ward, and in getting the hertes of men vnto his obeysaunce. In soo muche, that when he warred in Italye, the Italyens were gladder to be vnder his gouernaunce, beynge but a straungyer, then vnder the dominion and power of the Romaynes. Then demaun­ded Scipio, whome he thoughte to be the thyrde: With­oute fayle (sayde he) it is my selfe. At whych aunswere Sci­pio laughed, and sayde: What wouldest thou then haue sayd, in case thou haddest ouercome me in battayle, as I haue done the? Treuly (sayde Anniball) then woulde I haue putte myselfe before bothe Alexander and Pyrrhus also. This aun­swere [Page 142] seemed to Scipio very straunge and proude, whereby he mynded to take from Scipio al his glory.

¶ Durynge this longe taryenge of the Romayne legates at Ephesus, nothynge els was wrought, but that the often me­tynge and communication of theym with Anniball, made the kynge more to suspecte and mystrust him. Whervpon he was no more called to his councel.

¶ Agayn, one Thoas an Etholien, desirous to haue the kyng, with all his power, to arryue in Grece, withoute partynge of the same his strengthe, sayde vnto hym: Syr, the greatte citie Demetrias, and the more part of all the cities in Grece, loke daylye for your commynge thyther. And agaynste your arryuayle, ye shall see all the countreye assemble on the seasyde, so sone as they may by watches perceyue your nauy co­mynge on the sea. And as touchyng the parting of your shyp­pes and power: that I can in no wyse allowe. And in case ye were mynded so to do, Anniball of all men is most vnmete, to haue the rule and gouernance therof.

¶ Fyrst ye must consyder (said this Thoas) that Annibal is a Carthaginens, and an outlaw or banished man frō his cuntrey: Whose crafty witte wyl imagyne dayly a. M. newe deuyses, euen as fortune dothe varye, or as it shall fall into his brayne. Agayne yf it shoulde chaunce, that Annibal loose his nauie, or his men to be vanquyshed: the losse wil be no lesse, then if any other capitayne had loste theym. But in case it shoulde hap­pen hym to haue the vyctorye, the honour therof shall whol­ly abyde with Anniball, and not with Antiochus. Further­more, if fortune so well serue, that Anniball vtterly subdue the Romaynes: what will ye then thynke, that he will continue in your subiection, whiche in his cuntrey culd not suffre him self to be in any obedience? Nay (said he) he that in his youth hath euer coueted in his minde, to be Emperour of the hole world, will now in age neuer be contented, to be vnder the rule of any other, if he may chose. Wherfore my coūsayl is, that ye haue no nede to make Annibal your capitain: But if it please you, ye may vse his cōpany as your frēd in your iourney, takīg his ad­uise in your affayrs, as a prudēt counsailour, & none otherwise.

¶ This crafty and vntrew coūsail of Thoas, turned the kīges mynde cleane frome sendynge of Anniball with any army into Affrica: which before was thoughte most mete and necessary. [Page] Wherfore he prepared to sayl in to Grece, where by the help of the Etholiens he wanne certayn citi [...]s. At the last the con­sul M. Atulius, with an army of Romains, came to the socors of their frendes, and at the great mounteyne, whiche passethe throughe the myddle of Grece, fought with Antiochus, and put him to flyght, sleyngal his host, except onely .v. C. which fled with the kyng.

¶ After whiche discomfiture, Antiochus, with Annibal, and his smalle nomber of men, that were lefte hym at the battaylle, cam to the see, and toke shipping, and came to Ephesus, where he remayned, thynkyng him selfe there to be sure oute of the daunger of the Romayns. And that he was perswaded to be­leue, by many that were about him, gladde to please his mynd: as many suche dissemblers haue beene and shall be dayly about greatte prynces. But onely Anniball aduysed the kynge, to prepare for the commynge of the Romaynes, sayenge, that he meruayled more, that they were not already arryued, ra­ther then their commynge myghte be loked for. Shewynge him also, that the Romayns were as stronge and valiant vpon the see, as on the land: Not doubtyng, but shortely they wold striue for the dominion of Asia, and that eyther he muste take from theim their Empire, or els he shuld be in dangier to lose his kyngdome. For he knewe, their desire was to be rulers ouer all the worlde, Counselynge him to loke for none other thyng at their handes. For in case he did, he shuld deceiue him self with his vayne and false hope.

¶ Not long after this beginnynge of the warres in Grece, L. Cornelius Scipio, and C. Lelius, were choosen consulles. After whiche election, P. Scipio Affricanus offered the se­nate, that in case they would grant his brother, L. Scipio the countrey of Grece for his prouynce: he would gladly take the payne to go with him in his iourney. Wherunto the senate a­greed, geuynge him also further auctoritie, to go into Asia, if he thought it expedient. Sayenge, they woulde nowe proue, whether Antio [...]hus should be more holpen by the counsayl of Anniball, which was before vanquyshed: or the Romain con­sull and his army by the help of Scipio, that had before made the great conquest in Affrica. The armies and shippes were made ready, and the consull arriued in Grece, where sone re­ceyuing many the rebell cities into his handes, he from thense [Page 143] sayled into Asia: where, by the licence of the kynge Philyp, he had passage throughe Macedony and Trace, to the kyng­dome of Antiochus.

¶ Dyuers battaylles were foughte vppon the sea, betweene the Romayne nauy and Polixenidas, capitayne of the kynges shyppes: but euer the Romaynes had the victory, by the help of the kyng Eumenes, and also of the Rhodiens. At the laste it chaunced, that the soonne of Scipio Affricanus was taken prisoner, and brought to Antiochus: who kepte him honora­bly and gentelly. And afterward, trustyng to haue the frend­shyp of P. Scipio, and his healpe, for a peace to be made be­twene the Romaynes and him: he sente him home his sonne, withoute payeng any raunsome for him. For when he percey­ued the Romaynes to approche so nere vnto him, he thought it better to common of peace before the battayle, then after, trustyng to haue more easy conditions of peace, if it were mo­ued in tyme. But when the matter came in communication, betwene the consulle and the kynges embassadours, the con­ditions of the peace were so sore, that Antiochus refused to take theim, althoughe he were thervnto perswaded by the letters of P. Scipio the Affricane. Wherevpon bothe partyes prepared theim to fyghte. The battayle was cruel, but at the last the kyng Antiochus was put to fiyght, and .liiii. M. of his footemen slayne, and of horsemen .iiii. M. besydes .i. M. and iiii. C. that were taken prysoners, with small losse of the Ro­mayns. Then sent Antiochus eftsones his embassadours to the consull for peace: which at lengthe, by meanes of P. Sci­pio Affricanus, was graunted him, vpon these conditions.

¶ Fyrste that he shoulde frome thense foorthe no more make warre in Europe. Alsoo that he shoulde leaue the possessy­ons of all the cities landes and countreyes, whyche were on that syde the greatte mountayne, called Taurus. Agayne, he shoulde paye the Romaynes fyftene thousande talentes in xii. yeres, and to pay vnto king Eumenes .iii. hundred talen­tes, and a great quantitie of wheate. Vpon these condytions he shoulde haue peace. Prouyded that Anniball, the authour of this warre, with Thoas, and dyuerse other capytaynes and counsaylloures, myghte bee delyuered vnto hym. The kynge, beynge at this extreeme myschyeffe, receyued the peace vppon the sayde condytyons: and putte in for the [Page] perfourmance ther of pledges. The same peace also was after that confirmed by the senate of Rome.

¶ And so all thynges thus prosperously brought to passe, L. Scipio the consull returned to Rome, who was receyued in­to the citie with great honour and triumphe. And as his bro­ther, of his victory in Affrica was named Affricanus: so was he of his conquestes in Asia, called Asiaticus, to the honour of his succession euer after.

ANniball, after the battayle begon betwene the Romains and Antiochus, wherin he was vanquished and fledde, mistrustinge (as it folowed after) that the kynge of ne­cessitie must be dryuen to take peace, in whiche he feared, leste the Romaynes, bearyng to hym mortall malyce, wold require his delyuerie: thoughte to prouyde for hym selfe in tyme. Wherfore he incontinent fledde to Prusias, then kyng of Bi­thynia. He had not longe taryed there, but that T. Quintius Flaminius was sent from Rome to the kynge, shewinge hym, that the senatours thought, he delte not friendly with them, to kepe in his realme theyr great and capitall ennemy Annibal: a man that made fyrste his owne countrey to make warre with them, to the vtter vndoinge of the same, and from thense came to Antiochus, and was autour also of his warre with the Ro­maynes, and nowe was repayred vnto hym, which he thought woulde tourne to his vndoinge. Prusias, wyllynge to gratyfy the Romaynes: deuysed, eyther to slee hym, or els to take and delyuer hym to Flaminius. Wheruppon incontinente the ser­uauntes of the kynge, and also of Flaminius, besette the house of Anniball rounde about, so that he coulde no waye issue out. Anniball, foreseinge the hatred that the Romaynes bare hym, and the small fayth of prynces: specially the lyghtnes of Pru­sias: He therfore, thynkynge to haue some waye to flie daun­gier, if nede required, had deuysed .vii. wayes and entrees in­to his house. Wherof certayne were very secrete and priuie. But the numbre was so great of men of armes, whiche were about his house: and the watche so straightly kept by the kyn­ges commaundement, that where so euer he offered to issue, [Page] he espyed embushementes of harney [...] men. [...] his tyme of death to drawe nere, he called for poyson, whiche he longe tyme had [...]! hym, and had euer redy for suche chaunces, and sayde: Nowe wyll I delyuer the Romaynes of great thought, that they haue longe tyme taken, to bringe me to confusion. For althoughe I be nowe olde, yet they thynke it longe before I dye. But of this deathe, bothe they and Fla­minius theyr legate shal haue small victory. Then blaming the detestable falshede of Prusias, that so cruelly wolde suffer the murther of his friend, whom he had receyued into his keping: He drunke the empoysoned drinke, and sone after dyed.

¶ This was the lamentable ende of the ryght wyse noble and valyaunte capytayne Anniball, in a straunge region, exiled and banyshed from his owne natiue countrey. Aboute which time, or not longe before, the worthye Romayne Scipio Affricanus also dyed: whom the Romaynes, after his manyfold benefites to them shewed, recompenced with detestable ingratitude, cer­tayne of the citie beinge his ennemies (as no man in authoritie can escape enuye) charged hym with the olde matier, betwene Pleminius and the Locrenses. Wherin (they sayde) he being consul was corrupted with money. And therfore ministred not iustice. Agayne, they layde agaynst hym, the delyuerye of his sonne, beinge prisoner with Antiochus, withoute raunsome: whiche they thoughte was very suspecious. For these smalle causes was he called before the Senate, and as though he had ben a meane persone, put to aunswere with extremitie: with­out fauour, or hauynge any respecte to his noble actes, done for the common weale. Whiche ingratitude he toke so disple­santly, that departynge out of the court, he went into the countreye, to the towne of Lytarne, where he dwelled as long as he lyued, exilynge hym selfe from Rome for euer. And at his deathe, he commaunded his body to be buried there also: that his bones myght not rest in an vnkynde countrey.

¶ Thus were .ii. of the worthyest cities of the worlde found vnkynde to theyr noble rulers and capytaynes, and both about one tyme. Carthage banyshed Anniball, after that he was van­quished. Rome exiled Scipio, that had vanquished all her en­nemies. Wherin she was of the twayne more to be blamed of ingratitude.