The Romane historie vvritten by T. Livius of Padua. Also, the Breviaries of L. Florus: with a chronologie to the whole historie: and the Topographie of Rome in old time. Translated out of Latine into English, by Philemon Holland, Doctor in Physicke

THE TEN BOOKES NEXT FOLLOWING OF T. LI∣VIVS, [unspec G] (VSVALLY CALLED THE SECOND DECADE) ARE lost: the arguments whereof remaine yet extant in the Abridge∣ments or Breviaries of L. Florus, which in steed of the Historie it selfe, are set downe in this place.

[unspec H]

The Breviarie of L. Florus to the eleventh Booke.

WHen Fabius Gurges the Consull, had fought an infortunate battaile against the Samnites, and the Senate were about to discharge and remoove him from his armie; Fabius Maximus his father, besought them for his sake, not to offer him that disgrace and dishonour. For rather than that should come to passe, he promised to serve in person under his sonne in qua∣litie of his Lieutenant. Which moved the Senat, and prevailed more than [unspec I] anything els. And hee was his words maister. For hee went to the field, and by his meanes and good advise, the Consull his sonne was so well assisted, that he defeited the Samnites, triumphed over them, led captive before his triumphant chariot C. Pontius Lord Generall of the Samnites, and afterwards strucke off his head. Whiles the cittie [of Rome] was pitteously visited and afflicted with the plague, there were certain Em∣bassadours addressed and sent to Epidaurus, for so translate the image of Aesculapius from thence to Rome. And in steed thereof they brought away a great snake or serpent, which of it selfe embarked in their ship, and wherein, they were verily persuaded, that the puissance and divine power of the said god was resident. And when they had conducted it with them by sea as farre as to Rome, it went forth of the owne accord, and swam to the Island within Tyberis, where it setled: and in that very place where it [unspec K] tooke land, they erected a temple to Aesculapius. L. Posthumius, a consular man [i. who had been Con∣sull] having the charge of an armie, was condemned, and had a round fine set upon his head for that he emploied his souldiours about some worke in one of his sermes. The league was now the fourth time renued with the Samnites, at their earnest suit and request. Curius Dentatus the Consull, after he bid defeited and slaine the Samnites, vanquished the Sabines, who were revolted and rebelled, and received them under his obeisance, triumphed twise during the time of one Consulship. Three Colonies were erec∣ted and peopled, to wit, Castrum, Sena, and Adria. The three Triumvirs to sit upon capitall crimes, were then first created. Asessing was holden, and a solemne Lustrum, wherein by iust account were num∣bred 273000 cittizens of Romanes. The Commons, because they were deepely engaged in debt, in re∣gard of greevous and long seditions and dissentions, retired in the end to Ianiculum, from whence they [unspec L] were reclaimed and brought againe into the citie, by the meanes of Q. Hortensius the Dictatour, who died in the very time of his Magistracie. This booke containeth moreover the exploits against the Vol∣sinians, and also the Lucanes, against whom it was thought good and ordained, to send aid and succours to the Tyrrhenians.

THe Breviarie of L. Florus to the twelfth Booke.

THe Romane Embassadours being murdred by the Senonois Gaule, and warre thereupon denounced and proclaimed against them, Lucius Caecilius the Pretour, fortuned with [unspec M] his whole armie to bee defeited by them, and put to the sword. When the Romane fleet was spoiled and ransacked by the Tarentines, and their Admirall besides slaine, the Senate dispatched their, Embassadours unto them to make complaint of these wrongs and outrages: but they

[unspec A] were evill intreated and sent away with great abuse. Wherupon, defiance was likewise given unto them, and warre proclamed. The Samnites revolted. Against whom together with the Lucanes, Brutians, and Tuscanes, sundrie battailes were fortunatly fought by divers Romane captaines. Pyrrhus the King of the Epirotes [or the Albanois] passed over into Italy, for to aid the Tarentines. When a Legion of the Campans was sent under the conduct of Decius Iubellius to Rhegium, there to lie in garison, they trea∣cherously flew the naturall inhabitants, and seized the cittie of Rhegium to their owne behoofe.

The Breviarie of L. Florus for the thirteenth Booke.

[unspec B] VAlerius Levinus the Consul, lost a field against Pyrrhus: by occasion principally that his soldiors were terrified and amazed at the uncouth sight of the Elephants. After that battaile, when Pyrrhus viewed and beheld the dead bodies of the Romanes, lying slaine on the ground; he observed & marked, that all their faces were turned toward the ene∣mie affront. From thence he went forward spoiling and wasting all the way to Rome. C. Fabricius was sent unto him for to treat about the redemption and ransome of the prisoners: and was sollicited by the King (but in vaine) to abandon the service of his owne countrie. The foresaid prisoners were enlarged and sent home without paying any ransome at all. Cyneas was sent as Embas∣sadour from the King unto the Senate; who required, that the K. his master, for to end and com∣pound all quarrels, might be received into the cittie and amitie of the people of Rome: but when it was [unspec C] thought meet to debate and consult of this important matter, in a more frequent assemblie of the Sena∣tours, Appius Claudius who many a day had not intermedled with the affaires of State and Counsell, presented himself in the court among the Senators: where his opinion caried the matter cleare away, and Pyrrhus his demaund was flatly denied. P. Domitius the first Censor of Commoners, held a Lustrum or survey of the citie, in which were found 278222 Roman citizens by the pol. A second field w••s fought against Pyrrhus, but with doubtfull event and yssue. With the Carthaginians, the alliance was re∣newed now the fourth time. When a certaine fugitive traitour that ran from Pyrrhus, offred to C. Fa∣bricius the Consul, for to poison the K. he was sent backe againe, and the treason was discovered to the king. Over & besides, this booke conteineth the prosperous affaires in warre against the Tuscans, Luce∣nians, [unspec D] Brutians, and Samnites.

The Breviarie of L. Florus, upon the fourteenth Booke.

PYrrhus passed the seas into Sicilie. When among other prodigies and fearefull tokens, the image of Iupiter in the Capitoll, was overt browne and smitten downe with lightning, the head therof was recovered & found again by the soothsaiers. Curius Dentatus, as he was taking musters, sold in port-sale the goods of one, that would not answere to his name when he was called. He defaited Pyrrhus, after his return again out of Sicily into Italy; & forced him to void & depart once for all. Fabricius a Censor, cassed and displaced out of his Senatours rowme, P. Cornelius Rufinus, one [unspec E] that had been Consul, for that he had in silver plate, to the waight of ten pounds. There was a Lustrum holden by the Censours, and therein were found 271224 citizens. A societie and alliance was contracted with Ptolomee K. of Aegypt. Sextilia a prosessed vestall Nun was convicted of uncleannesse and fornica∣tion, & buried quick. Two new Colonies were erected, to wit, Posidonia and Consa. A fleet of Carthagini∣ans arrived, to aid the Mamertines: by occasion whereof, the league was broken. This booke compriseth also, the happie exploits against the Lucanians, Samnites, and Brutians: together with the death of king Pyrrhus.

The Breviarie of L. Florus, to the fiveteenth Booke.

[unspec F] THe Tarentines being vanquished, had both peace graunted, & liberty also restored unto them. The souldiours of the Campaine legion aforesaid, which had possessed themselves of Rhegium, were besieged: and after they had absolutely yeelded, were every one made shorter by the head. Certain lustie youths of Rome, who had misused & beaten the embassadors of the Apollionats,

sent unto the Senat, were delivered unto their bands to be used according to their discretion. The [unspec G] Picentes were overcome in battaile, and obtained peace. Two Colonels were sent, the one to Artminu•• within the marches of Picenam, (i. Ancona) the other to Beneventum, in Samnium. Now and never before began the Romanes to use silver coine for their mo••ie. The V••brians and Sallen∣tines were vanguished, and their submission of obedience received. The number of the Questors was augmented [to be eight.]

The Breviarie of L. Florus, to the sixteenth Booke.

THE first rising of the Carthaginians, with the beginning of their citie, are in this booke rela∣ted: [unspec H] Against whom together with Hiero King of the Syracusians, the Senat of Rome ord••∣ned to send aid unto the * 1.1 Mamertines: and after much arguing and debate about this point, whiles some persuaded, & others againe dissuaded; the gentlemen of Rome, who served on borsebacke, then first crossed the seas, and bare themselves bravely in many battailes & to good purpose, against Hiero: who at length craved peace, and bad it graunted. The Censors held a Lustrum and numbred the people: and enrolled * 1.2 372224 citizens of Rome, into the subsidie booke. D. Iunius Brutus, was the first that ever represented combates of swordsensors at the sharpe to the ••tterance, in the ho∣nour of his father late deceased. One Colonie was planted at Aesernia. This booke comprehendeth be∣sides, the good successe of the affaires against the Carthaginians and the Vulscinians.

[unspec I]

The Breviarie of L. Florus, for the seventeenth Booke.

CNeus Cornelius the consul, being surprised & environed with a fleet of Carthaginians, and under colour of a parle, trained forth and called unto them; was villanously taken prisoner and kept still with them. Cn. Duillius the Consull, fought with happie successe against this their foresaid flees: and was the first Romane captaine that rode in triumph, for a navale vi∣ctorie at sea. In regard wherof, this honour for ever after was done unto him, That when he supped forth in any place of the cittie, as he returned home to his owne house, the waits should found, the ha••boies all the way, and a man go before him with a burning torch. L. Cornelius the Consullwoon a field in [unspec K] Sardinia against the Ilanders, together with the Corsians, & Hanno the General of the Carthaginians. Attilius Calatinus the Consull, having unadvisedly engaged his armie within a place of great disad∣vantage, whereas the Carthaginians lay round about in ambush, retired and escaped by the valour and industrious meanes of M. Calpurnius, a Colonell: who with aregiment of 300 foot venterously salted out, and turned all the forces of the enemies upon himselfe. One Anniball a Carthaginian Commann∣der, upon the deseature of the Armads whereof he was Admirall, was by his owne soldiors trussed up, and crucified. Attilius Regulus the Consull, having in battaile at sea vanquished the Carthaginians, sailed over into Affricke

The Breviarie of L. Florus upon the eighteenth Booke. [unspec L]

ATtilius Regulus the Consul, slew [in Affricke] a serpent of a mightie and wonderfull bignesse, but with the exceeding losse of his soldiors. And after many encounters and battailes with the Carthaginians, when the Senat by reason of his so happy conduct & management of the wars, sent no other to succeed him, he dispatched his letters unto them and complained therof: and among other pregnant reasons that he alleadged for to have a successor to come unto him, this was one; That the little inheritance and living which he had suffred wast, by the default or leaudnesse of his bailisses of husbandrie. Meanewhiles, as if fortune had beene disposed and sought meanes to shew a notable example in the person of this one man Regulus, as well of adversitie as prosperitie, bec was [unspec M] overthrown in plaine field, & taken prisoner by Xanthippus, a renowmed captain of the Lace••••mon∣ans, whom the Carthaginians had waged, & sent for to aid the. After this, the sundrie shipwracks of the Romane Navie, eclipsed, obscured, and disfigured all the other noble exploits that the Romane Chief∣taines had fortunately atchi••ved before, as well by land as sea. T. Coruncanius was the first high Priest

[unspec A] or Archp••••las, created out of the bodie of the Commons. M. Sempronius Sophus & M. Valerius Ma∣ximus the Censors, when they made a review of the Senate, cassed thirteene, and tooke their embrodred purple clokes from them. They held a survey also of the whole cittie, and entred into their subsidie booke 317217 Romane citizens. Regulus, being sent from the Carthaginians to the Senate of Some, to treat a peaceable accord, or if he could not obteine so much to deale about the exchange of prisoners one for another, bound himselfe by an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to returne againe to Carthage, if he sped not, for the exchange afore said. And being come to Rome, himselfe dissuaded both the one and the other: howbeit, to accomplish and performe his promise by oth given, he made returne accordingly, and by the Carthaginians was despiteously put to cruell torture, and so died.

[unspec B] The Breviarie of L. Florus to the nineteenth Booke.

CAius Cecilius Metellus, in consideration of his fortunate conduct of the warres against the Carthaginians, rode in a most stately & magnificent triumph: wherin were shewed and led cap∣tine 13 chiefe Captaines of the enemies, and 120 Elephants. Claudius Pulcher the Consull, who maugre the adverse presages of the Auspices, would needes bazard a battaile, commaunded the sa∣cred Pullets to be doussed and drenched over the head in the water, to see if they would drinke, since they resused to eate their meate; and received an overthrow at sea, in a conflict with the Carthaginians. For which, he was called home by the Senate, and commaunded to nominate a Dictator: whereupon he [unspec C] declared C. Glaucia, a base companion, and a person of the meanest degree and qualitie: who being con∣strained to resigne his Magistracie, yet notwithstanding afterwards beheld the games and plaies in his mantle of estate. Attilius Calatinus was the first Romane Dictatour, that led an armie out of Italie. An exchange was made of Romane captives for Carthaginians. Two Colonies were transported, namely to Fregelle, and to Brandusium, in the territorie of the Solentines. Another Lustrum was taken by the Censors: wherein were reckoned of Rom. citizens 251222. Claudia, the sister of that P. Clau∣dius, who in contempt and despite of the Auspices, fought a battaile to great losse, fortuned upon a time as shee came from the great Plates, to be crouded in the thrust and preasse of people; where∣upon she cryed out with a lowd voyce, Would God my brother were alive againe, and had the charge of another Armado: for which words, she had a good fine set on her head, and paid it. Two Pretors [unspec D] were now created, the first that ever were at Rome. Cacilius Metellus the high priest, kept perforce within the citie, A. Posthumius the Consull, because he was besides, the Flamin unto Mars; and would not suffer him to be Non-resident, and absent himselfe from his charge. After sundry battailes and con∣flicts that many Romane Captaines had against the Carthaginians, C. Luctatius the Consull obtei∣ned the honour of the finall victorie, when he had desaited their Fleete; and so made a full end of the first Punickwarre. The Carthagintans therefore sued for peace, and had it granted. At what time as the Temple of Vesta was on a light fire, Caecilius the high priest, recovered and saved out of the flame the holie reliques. Two tribes were added to the rest, Velina and Quirina. The Falisci rebelled, and within sixe daies were subdued, and brought under subiection.

[unspec E] The Breviarie of L. Florus to the twentith Booke.

AColonie was planted at Spoletum, An armie was led against the Ligurians [i. Genowaies,] which was the first time that they were warred upon. The Sardinians and the Corsians, who revolted & tooke armes, were subdued. Tuccia a Vestal virgin & a Votarie, was condemned and executed for her incest or whoredome. Warre was proclaimed against the Illyrians, for that they killed one of the embassadors which were sent unto them, and being defeited, confessed them∣selves subiects to the Romans. The number of the Pretors was increased from two to foure. The Gaules inhabiting beyond the Alps (toward France) who came downe and entred into Italy, were overthrowne [unspec F] and put to the sword. In which warre, the Romanes had by report of the Latines and other confederates and allies, to the number of 300000 fighting men, that served under them. The Romain forces passed then first, over the river Padus [i.Po,] where the french Insubrians [i. Lombards] after certaine dis∣comfitures, were glad to be ruled by reason, and rendred themselves. Mar. Claudius Marcellus the Consull, having slaine Virdumarus the Generall of the Lumbards with his own hand, went away with

the honor of the third rich and royall spoyles gotten from the enemie. The Istrians were subdued: so [unspec G] were the Illyrians also, after they had revolted and put themselves in armes •• and were so tamed, that they came under obedience. The Censors held a Lustr••m, and tooke account of the number of the Romane citizens, and found in all 270000. The Libertines (or slaves enfranchised) were re∣duced into foure tribes by them selves, to wit, Esquilina, Palatina, Suburrana, and Collina: where as before time, they had bene dispersed indifferently, and mingled among the rest. C. Flaminius the Censor, saved the high way called Flaminia, and built the great Cirque or Theater named Flaminius Circus. And two Colonies were established within those territories, that were con∣quered [unspec H] from the Gaules, to wit, * 1.3 Placentia, and Cremona. [unspec I] [unspec K] [unspec L] ∴

Notes

• * 1.1

  The inhabitants of Messina
• * 1.2

  Eutropius saith 292000.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.