The historie of tvvo the moste noble capitaines of the worlde, Anniball and Scipio of theyr dyuers battailes and victories, excedyng profitable to reade, gathered and translated into Englishe, out of Titus Liuius, and other authoures, by Antonye Cope esquier.

¶ Fuluius Flaccus the Romane consull, wynneth the campe of Hanno, sleeth and taketh a great number of men with a ryche pray. Mago sleeth Titus Gracchus and ma∣ny Romaynes, through the treason of Flauius a Lucan. Capitu. xxxvi. (Book 36)

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 be∣siege 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 plen∣tie 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 car∣tes that they coulde assemble in the countrey, resorte to the sayd places, for to fette away their said wheate. The Campa∣nes, 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 re∣tourne againe for a moche greatter quantitie.

¶ This appoyntment came to the eares of the Beneuenta∣nes.

Whervpon incontynent they sente tenne messangers to the Consulles, certifyenge theym of all the Campanes pur∣pose. And they furthwith agreed, that Fuluius, with his ar∣mye 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 Beneuen∣tum, it was shewed hym, that Hanno with a parte of his ar∣my 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 con∣sul cōmanded his men to be redy with theyr baners & armure: for the next night he wold assayle the Campanes, and the ten∣tes of the Carthaginenses. They executyng his commande∣ment made them redy, and about .iiii. of the clocke, they set furthe of the towne, and came to Hannos campe, a lyttell be∣fore 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 de∣fēses 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 re∣cours 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 ca∣pitain

of a cōpany of the Pelignes, who streight toke his ba∣ner 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 compa∣ny boldly folowed. While they thus fought within the cāpe of the Carthaginenses, on an other part cried Valerius Flac∣cus: what sluggishe cowardes are we nowe waxen? shall the Pelignes wynne the honour of taking the campe of our enne∣mies before vs Romans? Whervpon Titus Pedanius a capi∣tayn 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 per∣ceyuing their hardynes, changed his mynd of calling them a∣way, 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 ene∣mies, 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 Ro∣mans. 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 Be¦neuentū, 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.

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 spoi∣led 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 de∣fender 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 cer∣tain shippes, laden with wheate, came into the hauen of Ta∣rent, through the hole power of the Carthaginenses. He cau¦sed also suche souldiours as were at Metapontus in garrison, to come to the castell of Tarent, there to remaine for the de∣fence therof: by whose cōminge, they of the castell were than sure from any hurt of their ennemies. but so soone as the in∣habitantes of Metapontus were deliuered of the Romayne garrison, they incontinent fell in leage and amitie with Anni∣ball. Whervpon the Thurines, also hauynge a grudge to the Romans, for sleing diuers of their frendes, as is aforsaid, de∣uysed 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: wil∣ling 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 ar∣mes of the towne: whom before he had armed and instructed in the feates of warre, after the Roman facion. And they dou¦ted 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 Thu∣rines, diuydyng their company betwene theym. Hanno with the footemen, with baners displayed, in good aray, went to∣warde the towne: Mago with all the horsmen abode in a va∣ley 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

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 com∣myng backe of the Thurines that fledde, they kept open the gates, and receyued them into the towne: but whan the Ro∣manes came fleyng, also thinkyng to haue entred with the o∣ther, 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 with∣out 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 as∣saute Capua, thinkyng, that they shuld make their yere hap∣py 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 Beneuen∣tanes 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 ren∣dred 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

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 capi∣tayn of the Romain army, the Lucanes shulde be frendly re∣ceiued 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 thi∣ther the Romaine capitayne. After this appoyntment he de∣parted, 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 Lu∣cans, that were gone to the amitie of Anniball, nowe to re∣tourne 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 Car¦thaginenses. 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 vn∣armed, 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

the same, exhortynge them, syns they were but fewe in num∣ber, and vnarmed, in suche place, where they coulde by noo waye escape, that they wolde not dye lyke beastes vnreuen∣ged, 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 ho∣nour: But specially aboue all thyng (sayde he) lette euery of vs, seeke to slea that Lucane traytour Flauius, not doub∣tynge, but who so euer shall sende that traytours soule to helle, before he dye hym selfe, he shall fynd the oblation ther¦of, 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 per∣ceiued 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.