The history of the world

§. VII. Diuers enterfeats of warre, betweene the Romans and Carthaginians, with va∣riable successe. The Romans prepare to inuade Africk: and obtaine a great victorie at Sea.

THe victorie of Duilius, as it was honoured at Rome, with the first Na∣uall triumph, that was euer seene in that Citie; so gaue it vnto the Romans a great incouragement, to proceede in their warres by Sea; whereby they hoped, not onely to get Sicil, but all the other Iles be∣tweene [unspec 50] Italie and Africk, beginning with Sardinia, whither soone after they sent a fleet for that purpose. On the contrary side, Amilcar the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, lying in Panormus, carefully waited for all occasions, that might helpe to recompence the late misfortune: and being aduertised, that some quarrell

was growne betweene the Roman Souldiers, and their Auxiliaries, being such as caused them to incampe a-part, he sent forth Hanno to set vpon them; who taking them vnawares, buried foure thousand of them in the place. Now during the con∣tinuance of the Land-warre in Sicil, Hannibal, who had lately beene beaten by Sea, but escaped vnto Carthage, meaning to make amends for his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 errour, obtay∣ned the trust of a new fleet, where with hee arriued at Sardinia: the conquest of which Iland, the Romans had entertayned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their next enterprise. Now it so sell out, that the Romans, crossing the Seas from Sicil, arriued in the Port where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with his new fleet anchored. They set vpon him vnawares, and tooke the better part of the fleet which he conducted; himselfe hardly escaping their danger. But [unspec 10] it little auailed him to haue escaped from the Romans. His good friends the Cartha∣ginians, were so ill pleased with this his second vnfortunate voiage, that they han∣ged him vp for his diligence: for (as it hath beene said of old) Non est bis in bellopec∣care; In warre it is too much to offend twice.

After this, it was long 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any thing of importance was done by the Consuls, till* 1.1 Panormus was besieged: where, when the Romans had sought in vaine to draw the Carthaginians into the field; being vnable to force that great Citie, because of the strong Garrison therein bestowed: they departed thence, and tooke certaine inland Townes, as Mytistratum, Enna, Camerina, Hippana, and o∣thers, [unspec 20] betweene Panormus and Messana. The yeare following, C. Atilius the Consul, who com∣manded the Roman fleet, disco∣uered a Company of the Car∣thaginian Gallies, ranging the coast: and, not staying for his whole number, pursued them with ten of his. But he was well beaten for the haste hee made, [unspec 30] and lost all, saue the Gallie which transported him: where∣in himselfe escaped with great labour. But ere all was done, the rest of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was gotten vp: who renewing the fight, recouered from the Car∣thaginians a double number of theirs; by which the victory remaining doubtful, both chal∣lenge [unspec 40] it. Now to try at once, which of these two Nations should command the Seas, they both prepare all they can. The Romans make a fleet of three hundred and thirty Gallies; the Carthaginians, of three hundred and fiftie,** 1.2 Triremes, Quadriremes, and Quinqueremes.

The Romans resolue to transport the warre into Africk; the Carthaginians, to ar∣rest them on the coast of Sicil. The numbers, with which each of them filled their fleet, was (perhaps) the greatest that euer fought on the waters. By Polybius his estimation, there were in the Romane Gallies an hundred and forty thousand men; and in those of Carthage, an hundred and fifty thousand: reckoning one hundred and twenty Souldiers, and three hundred Rowers, to euery Gallie, one with the [unspec 50] other. The Roman fleet was diuided into foure parts, of which the three first made the forme of a Wedge or Triangle; the two first squadrons making the Flancks,

and the third squadron, the Base: the point thereof (wherein were the two 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as Admirails) look ng toward the enemie and the middle space lying emptie. Their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of carriage were towed by the third squadron. After all came vp the fourth, in forme of a Crescent; very well manned, but exceeding thinne: so that the hornes of it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all the third squadron, together with the corners of the first and second. The order of the Carthaginian fleet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cannot 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the relation; but, by the manner of the fight afterwards, I coniecture, that the front of their fleet was thinne, and stretched in a great length, much like to that which the French call Combat en 〈◊〉〈◊〉; a long front of horse, and thinne: which forme, since the Pistoll 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ouer the Lance, they haue changed. Behind this first out-stretched front, [unspec 10] their Battalions were more solide: for Amilcar, Admirall of the Cathaginians, had thus ordered them, of purpose, (his Gallies hauing the speed of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉) that, when the first fleet of the Romans hasted to breake through the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gallies, they should all turne taile, and the Romans pursuing them (as after a victorie) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 themselues, and, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of taking the Runn awaies, leaue their other three squadrons farre behinde them. For so it must needes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the third squadron towed their horse boats, and victuallers; and the fourth had the Reare∣ward of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. According to Amilcars direction it succeeded. For when the Romans had charged, and broken, the thinne front of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 first 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which ran away they forthwith gaue after them with all speed possible, not so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 has loo∣king [unspec 20] behinde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the second squadron. Hereby the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were drawne neare vnto the bodie of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fleet, led by Amilcar, and by him (at the first) receiued great losse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their second squadron came vp, which so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Amilcar to betake him 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Oares. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also, who commanded the right wing of the Carthaginian fleet, inuaded the Roman Reareward, and preuailed against them. But 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being beaten 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 fell backe to their succour, and put the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to their heeles; as not able to sullaine both squadrons. The Reare 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 came to the aide of their third Battalion, which towed their victuaders, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also in great danger of being beaten by the Africans: but the Consulls, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their squadrons to it, but the Carthaginians on that part [unspec 30] also to running. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his victorie fell to the Romans, partly by the hardinesse of their Souldiers; but principally, for that Amilcar, being first beaten, could neuer after joyne himselfe to any of his other 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that remained as yet in faire likeli∣hood of preuailing, so long as they fought vpon euen termes, and but squadron to squadron. But Amilcar, forsaking the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thereby left a full fourth part of the Roman fleet vningaged, and readie to giue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the other parts that were opprest. So as in conclusion, the Romans got the honour of the day: for they lost but foure and twentie of theirs; whereas the Africans lost thirtie that were sunk, and threescore and three that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 taken.

Now, if Amilcar, who had more Gallies than the Romans, had also diuided his [unspec 40] fleet into foure squadrons, (besides those that he ranged in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to draw on the enemies, and to ingage them) and that, while hee himselfe fought with one squa∣dron that charged him, all the rest of the enemies fleet had beene at the same time entertained, he had preuailed: But the second squadron, being free, came to the rescue of the first, by which Amilcar was opprest: and Amilcar, being opprest and scattered, the Consuls had good leisure to relieue both their third and fourth squa∣dron and got the victorie.

Charles the fift, among other his Precepts to Philip the second his sonne, where he aduiseth him concerning Warre against the Turkes, tells him, that in all battailes betweene them and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he should neuer faile to charge the Ianisars in the [unspec 50] beginning of the fight, and to ingage them at once with the rest. For (saith he) the Ianisars, who are alwaies reserued intire in the Reare of the battaile, and in whom the Turke reposeth his greatest confidence; come vp in a grosse body, when all the troups, on both sides are disbanded and in confusion; whereby they carie the

victorie before them without 〈◊〉〈◊〉. By the same order of fight, and reseruati∣on, did the Romans also 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against other Nations. For they kept their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in store (who were the choice of their Armie) for the vp-shot and last blow. A great and a victorious aduantage it hath euer beene found, to keepe some one or two good troupes to looke on, when all else are disbanded and ingaged.

Notes

• * 1.1

  If wee may giue credit to Antiquities which Fazellus, a diligent wri∣ter, hath left vs in his Historie of Sicil; 〈◊〉〈◊〉, now called Palermo, is one of the first Cities that hath beene built in all Europe. For whereas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seemes to make it a Colonie of the Phoenicians; Ranzanus, in libello de Panormo, lib. 6. affirmes that it was first, and long before the time which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sets downe, founded by the Chaldaeans, and Damascenes. To proue which, he tells vs of two inscriptions vpon marble in the Hebrew Character, found at Panormus in the time of William the se∣cond, King of Sicil, that were then beheld of all the Citizens, and other strangers; which, being translated into Latine, say as followeth: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Isaac filio Abrahae, & regnante in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, atq, in Valle Damascena, Esau filio Isaac; ingens Hebraeorum manus, quibus adiuncti sunt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Damasceni, at{que}, Phoenices, profecti inhanc 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Insulam, sedes perpetuas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in hoc 〈◊〉〈◊〉 loco, quem Panormum 〈◊〉〈◊〉. In the other marble table are found these words: Non est alius Deus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnum Deum; non est alius Potens, praeter eundem Deum, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Turris Praefectus est Saphu, filius Eliphar filij Esau, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iacob filij Isaac, filij Abrahami: & Turriqui∣dem ipsi nomen est Baych; sed Turrihuic proximae nomen est Pharah. And this inscripti∣on (saith Fazellus) was found intire in the Castle Baych, in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred, thirtie and foure. Now whether these inscriptions were truely as ancient, as these men beleeue they were, I leaue euery man to his owne faith. But that the Citie was of aged times, it appeares by Thucydides, who affirmeth; when the Greekes past first into Sicil, that then the Phoenicians inhabited Panormus: which certaine it is that they did in the first Punik warre; to wit, the Carthaginians, who were Pboenicians, from whom the Romans (A. Aquilius, and C. Corneliu, commanding this Armie) tooke it. And when Marcellus besieged Syracuse, it sent him in ayde three thousand Souldiers. But it was rather confederate, than subiect to the Ro∣mans. For Ciccro against Verres, names it among the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cities of Sicil. After Si∣racuse destroied, it became the first Citie and Regall seat, as well of the Goths and Saracens in that Iland, as of the Emperours of Constantinople; of the Normans, French, and Arragonians: which honour it holds to this day, and is much frequen∣ted, for the excellent wine which growes about it.
• ** 1.2

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are Gallies, wher∣in euerie Oare hath fiue men to draw it: the Quadriremes had foure to an Oare: and the Triremes, three. Some haue thought, that the Quin∣queremes had fiue ranks of Oares, one ouer another; and the other Gallies (rateably) fewer. But had this been so, they must then haue had fiue decks each ouer other: which hath seldome been seen in ships of a thousand Tonnes, neither could the third, fourth, and fift rankes, haue reached vnto the water with the Oares.