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.

¶ M. Liuius, and C. Nero the consulles, entre the citie of Rome, in triumphe. A prayse of Anniballes gouer∣nynge his armye. Capi. lv. (Book 55)

NOwe let vs retourne to M. Liuius the con∣sull, that after the great victory had by hym and his felowe Claudius Nero, agaynste the other olde Asdruball, in the frontiers of Italy, as is before declared: He sente Q. Fabius Maxi∣mus to Rome, to the senatours, aduertifynge them, that he thought the armye, whiche L. Portius the pre¦tor had there, was sufficient inoughe for the kepynge of that prouince: So that (if they thought it beste) he and his armye might be well spared there. To whom the senatours aunswe∣red, that they wylled him to come him selfe to Rome with his army, and that Claudius Nero his felowe shuld also mete him the same tyme at Rome, leauyng his host with good capitains to kepe the countrey styll against Anniball.

¶ Vpon this decree of the senate the consulles wrote letters eyther to other, and agreed, that lyke as they had with one good wyll and mind gouerned and defended the cuntreye, du∣rynge the tyme of their offyce: euen soo nowe they shoulde bothe at one tyme come into the citie of Rome, althoughe they came frome diuers partes. Wherefore it was agreed, that who so euer of theim came fyrste to the citie of Preneste, shulde there tary the comynge of his felowe. Accordyng to

the appoyntement, there they mette bothe in one baye: and frome thense they sent messangers to the citie, desyrynge the senatours to mete them in the house of Bellona the goddes of warre, the third day folowing. There wer they receiued with a great multitude both of senators and of citezins with goodly salutations and great thankes for theyr politike gouernance of their roumes: by whose helpe and dexteritie the cōmon welth was nobly preserued and aduaunced. Soone after they were brought into the senate: there accordinge to the olde custome of conquerours, they declared theyr noble actes, whiche they had achieued for the common welthe of the citie of Rome: and for the same desyred, fyrst that honour myghte be giuen to the immortall goddes: and then that they mighte with triumphe entre the citie. Whiche theyr request was graunted them. As touchinge the maner of theyr entringe in triumphe, it was ap∣poynted, that they shuld not come in seuerally but together, as they vainquished theyr ennemies together. They agreed also betwene them selues, that bicause the victorye was had in the prouince of M. Liuius, & also bicause Liuius army was come to Rome with him, where Nero his host coulde in no wyse be brought thither: Therfore shuld Liuius ride in a charyot, and his souldiours in order followe hym. Nero shuld ryde by hym on horsebacke without any of his souldiours to folowe hym. Claudius was contented to gyue the honour to his felowe: by whiche his gentilnes he wan moche the more honour & praise. For euery man said of him, that he on horsebacke in .vi. dais had ridden the length of all Italy, and had fought with Asdruball in the borders of Fraunce, what time Anniball iudged hym to be in Apulia. So that his onely name was able to kepe Anni∣ball lurkyng in his campe, and his onely comyng was the cause of the victory against Asdrubal. Wherfore (said they) ride the one consull neuer so highe in his charyot, yet the other consul, that rode but on horsebacke, was worthy of the very triumph. ye although Nero dyd go but on his fote: yet was he worthye of glory and fame perpetual. With these prayses they folowed Nero into the capitoly or palaice in Rome. Where they pre∣sented moche money of theyr gayne, and that was put into the treasory. On the morowe both the consuls, and also the horse∣men, praysed moche L. Veturius, and Q. Cecilius: desiring that they might, for the next yere folowing, be chosen consuls.

Which at the next election was done, and bothe they appoyn∣ted with .ii. consuls armies, to kepe warre agaynst Anniball.

¶ After all thynges were putte in good order, they depar∣ted from the citie, and wente into the countrey of the Luca∣nes, and in shorte tyme they had brought all that countrey in∣to subiection. With Anniball there was lyttell doone. For he offered not hym selfe to gyue battayle, he was so discoura∣ged with the losse of his brother, his frendes and his souldi∣ours. On the other parte, the consulles thought it not best to prouoke hym to battayle: se••s they founde in hym noo stur∣rynge. So moche they feared and estemed the valour of that noble capytayne: to whome this prayse is gyuen, That noo man coulde iudge in hym, whether he were more to be com∣mended in tyme of prosperitie, or in tyme of aduersitie. For who woulde not wonder to se, that he maynteyned the warre so farre frome his countrey by the full space of thyrtene ye∣res in the lande of his ennemies, hauynge his armye not of his owne citie or countreye, but gathered togyther of many nations, whyche lyued not vnder one maner of lawe, neyther hadde one custome or language, but moche different in appa∣rayle, armour, customes, ceremonies, ye they hadde all seue∣rall goddis. Yet dydde he so gouerne theim all, and knytte theim to gyther all in suche amitie, that no man coulde iudge or knowe of any dyssention betweene theym, or insurrecti∣on agaynste theyr capytaynes, althoughe dyuerse tymes he lacked to paye them theyr wages, and also vitayles for their sustenaunce: by the lacke whereof, in other warres moche inconuenience hathe ensewed. Agayne, after the deathe of Asdruball, and his armye, in whome was all his trust, whan all Italy was taken frome hym, saue onely the countrey or corner of the Brutians: Who woulde not wonder to see noo rebellyon amongest his owne menne. Consyderynge that vyttayles hadde they not, but only from that lyttell an∣gle of the Brutians, whyche yf it hadde beene wholly tyl∣led and sowed, hadde not beene able to susteyne soo greate an armye. Neuer the lesse, a greatte parte therof was vn∣tylled, parte for feare of the Romaynes, and theyr friendes, partely for that the mooste parte of the yonge menne of the countreye were taken to the warres, whyche were before wonte to tylle and man••re the grounde for husbandrye.

These thinges (I say) conferred togither, it wyll make al men to muse, howe he coulde so quietly gouerne his greate hoost, and to prayse greatly his wyse conduict therin.