The conspiracie of Catiline, written by Constancius, Felicius, Durantinus, and translated bi Thomas Paynell: with the historye of Iugurth, writen by the famous Romaine Salust, and translated into Englyshe by Alexander Barcklaye

¶What waste and destruccion Metellus made in the lande of Numidye after this fyrst batayle and flyght of Iugurth: and of the gyle of Iugurth agaynste Metellus. The .xxvi. Chapter.

WHan Metellus vnderstode by his espyes that the mynd of Iugurth cōtinued yet styl in his olde fiersenes & crueltie, thoughe he was lately ouercome in bataile. And whan Metellus sawe that Iugurth renewed the warre againe, and prepared a new bataile: which could not be done but at the pleasure of Iugurthe, bicause he had taken suche a place to abyde in that no man coulde conueniently contende with hym for difficultie thereof. Metellus this knowing aduised himselfe of many thin¦ges. Namely he considred that they were not indifferēt and egall on both parties in executyng therof. For al if that he had the vpper hand ouer Iugurth, and had put him to flight, yet lost he mo men, and had more damage in ouercomyng hym, then Iugurth had which was o∣uercome. For this cōsideracion Metellus purposed no more to contend with him in plaine fildes nor in ordred bataile, but by an other maner to execute war with him from thence forthe. This determined: Metellus with his hole host and ordinaunce went forth into the moste ryche and plentefull places of all Numidye, and there wasted and destroied the fieldes and contrey on euerye side. He toke without any resistence castles and townes not strongly defended with walles, dyches, nor garny∣son. And brente and beate them downe to the grounde. All suche as came in his waye and were able to beare harnesse, full growen to age and apte to batayle he slew and rydde out of hand. Thinkyng that the mo he slew, the fewer aduersaries and ennemies shulde he haue to contende againste hym. He commaunded his souldiors to spare no robbery nor prayes, but gaue all thynge ha∣uocke amonge his souldiours.

¶For feare of this crueltie many of the Numidyens yelded themselfe to the Romains: and gaue vnto them hostages, vytaile, soldyours, and all other thinges ne∣cessary abundauntly. In some townes whiche were taken: Metellus sette defence and garnison where nede requyred and fortified them sufficiently. This besinesse troubled the mind of Iugurth muche more than the bataile that was foughten before to his great damage and disconfort of his men. For he lost more people by this way than by any other meane before. Thus Iu∣gurth whiche before put all his hope and trust in his flyght: was nowe of necessite compelled to folowe and pursue his ennemies: and he whiche could not defende his owne places whiche styll remianed in his possession was constrained nowe to warre in those coostes, which Metellus had wonne of him to recouer them if fortune wolde suffre him. Neuertheles of suche poore shyft and counsel as he had he toke the best which could be taken by his aduyse in such extreme necessite. He commaūded his army for the most part to remayne styll in the same place where they were. And he himselfe with a cōpany of horsemen whiche wer bolde and chosen men ensued Metellus priuely, making his iourneis by night tyme by biwaies & secrete valeys. And at last sodeinly of vn∣wares he fel vpon a part of the Romaines which were dispersed abrode frō the host in foraging and spoyling. Many of thē without armour wer slaine, & many takē. None of thē al scaped clen nor fre without dāmage, but ether wer slaine or els sore woūded. Whē Iugurth had done this skirmy she anone he withdrue him selfe & his cōpany into the hyls & mountaines next to thē: before a¦nye socours or rescous myght come from Metellus to

reuenge their treason and deathe of the Romaynes.