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

¶ How Metellus destroyed the towne of Vacca, & slew al the inhabytants in reuengyng theyr treason: and how Turpilius leuetenant or captayn of the towne was beheaded at commaundement of Metellus. The .xli. Chapter.

Whan Metellus vnderstode of this lamen∣table chance, and treasō doone at the towne of Vacca: his mind was meruaylously gre¦ued, abashed, and sadde withall. But to thin¦tent that none shulde parceyue his heuines he withdrue hymselfe frome company a litell tyme: but after whan he had satisfied his mynde with teares, and secrete lamentacion. And whan his dolour was myxed

wyth wrath and displeasure agaynste that cruell deede, then hasted he hym selfe with greate cure and diligence to go to reuenge thys iniurious and cruell treason. A∣none he called forthe a legyon of souldioures whyche passed forthe the wynter wyth hym, and wyth them also as many horsemen of the Numidians as he might assē¦ble whiche had forsaken Jugurthe and fledde to hym, whom he thoughte moste trusty. Hys legion he arayed in lyghte harnesse and easye armoure to the intente to speede the waye more redelye. And because he entended to go aboute thys matter secretely: therefore pryuely e∣uen wyth the sunne goynge downe, he tooke hys iour∣ney and proceded forw••rde towarde Vacca, and labo∣red so that on the nexte daye after aboute the third hour he came wyth hys company into a certayne playne a ly∣tle closed or compassed aboute wyth small downes not muche hygher then the extremities of the valey. There called he together his souldiours whyche were weary for the greate laboure of their iourney, and longe waye whyche they had gone. In so muche that they refused to procede any farther. But Metellus conforted them saying that the towne was but one myle thence. Wher∣fore he desired them to suffer and endure the remenante of theyr labour wyth paciente myndes, but onely to re∣uenge the death of the cityzens and theyr felowes whi∣che were stronge and worthy men: and very miserably murdred. Moreouer he shewed to them benynglye the greate praye whyche was ready for them, if they wold manly procede. Thus weere their myndes exalted, con∣forted, and enboldened wyth his wordes. Metellus se∣yng that, was glad, anone cōmaunded the horsemen to procede in the forward: these horsemen wer Numidiās.

And the fotemen he commaunded to kepe secrete their standerdes, conysances, and badges: and to go behynd vnder the shadowe of the horsmen as nere togyder as they might: and so proceded he towarde the towne.

¶ Whan the citezyns saw an army approche and moue towarde them: at the beginning they thought it had ben Metellus (as it was in deede) and anone shut the gates of the towne against him. But afterwarde whan they aduysed them well: and sawe that the company whiche approched made no deuastacion nor distruction by the feldes nor countrey as they went. And also whan they parceiued that the horsmen which wer in the forwarde were Numidiens: againe the thought that it was Ju∣gurth with his company. Wherfore with great ioy they issued forth of that towne to mete him. Metellus anone parceiued their ignorance & gaue a token to his people to assaile them. The horsmen and fotemen knowinge the wyll of their captayne by blaste of the trūpettes as∣sayled and ouerthrue the commentie which came out of the cite against them dispersed ouer the feldes. Some of the Romains ran to the gates of the towne & entred without resistence: and some toke & inuaded the towres of the walles maugre the kepars. Thus the dispeasure and yre whiche the Romains had for death of their fe∣lowes: and the hope of prayes of the towne ouercame & excluded their werines which they had in their iournay thyderwarde. Thus the inhabitantes of Vacca enioied treson but onely two daies. For onely the space of two daies cōtinued their falshode and crueltie vnreuenged. For that great and riche cite was all giuen to hauocke and murdre vtterlye distroied of the Romaines: so that no creature escaped a lyue to bost of their treason before

committed agaynste the Romains whome they had so traiterously slayn within their cite. Turpilius lieftenant or captayne of the towne whiche (as I haue said before escaped onely with his lyfe: was called before Metel∣lus and commaunded to answere for hymselfe by what way or meanes he escaped, whyther by treason done to the towne, or by any other policy. But bycause he coude but simply excuse nor pourge hymselfe of that whiche was layed against him, he first was scourged and beatē and after that his heed striken of from his shulders, for that it was thought that if he had not be••raied the cite he coude not haue escaped more than any other. Farther∣more that great dystruction of the Romains was ascri¦bed to his negligēce or treason. If this Turpilius had ben a Romain he shuld not haue bē put to deth. For the lawe of Porcius prohibyted any citezen of Rome to be slayn: but if they cōmitted any great offence, the extreme punyshement by the lawe was to commyt them to exyle But this Turpilius inioyed not the priuylege of this lawe: for asmuche as he was no citezyne of Rome but an Italyan of the towne of Collace.