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.

¶ The complaynt of the Lortenses to the senatours of the cruell gouernaunce of D. Pleminius. Cap. lxi. (Book 61)

MAssanissa hearynge of the arriuaile of a Ro∣mayne army in Affrica, with a small numbre of horsemen cam to Lelius, to whom he complay¦ned moche of the slowenes of Scipio, that he hadde not all that tyme ben in Affrica with his great power: consyderinge the lowe ebbe that the Carthaginenses were broughte vnto, and also seynge that Syphax was now busyed with warre with the prynces adioy∣nynge vnto hym. Whom (he sayde) he knew suerly, after that he had brought his owne purpose to good effecte, and had lei∣ser to settle all his owne busynes, that then he wolde obserue no promise or bonde, that he had before made to the Romains. So lyttle good faythe he knewe to be in hym. Wherfore he desyred Lelius, to moue and styrre Scipio, to make hast thy∣ther, and he wolde not fayle (although he were dryuen out of his owne realme) to mete with hym soone after his landinge, with a good numbre bothe of horsemen and of fotemen.

¶ On the morowe after Lelius departed, with his shippes lo¦ded with theyr pray & landed in Sicilia: where he found Sci∣pio, to whom he declared the mynde and message of Massanis∣sa. Wherupon he had shortly set forwardes into Affrica, had he not hearde comforte of the wynnynge of Locres, a citie in the vttermost parte of Italy, that then was holden by the Car¦thaginenses. Whiche citie in shorte tyme he obteyned, partly by treason of certayne carpenters, that wrought in the castell, partly by the fauour of the citezens therof. Who beinge gre∣uously opressed by Amylcar the capitayne, and other Cartha∣ginenses of the garrison, that ceassed not to vse all kyndes of oppression ouer them: at the last consented to receyue the Ro∣maynes into the towne. Whiche brought to passe, Scipio re∣turned to Sicilia, leauynge behynde hym Q. Pleminius capi∣tayne

of the towne, with a garryson sufficient for the kepinge of the same. After whose departynge, Pleminius with his souldyours, farre passed Amylcar and the Carthaginenses in pride auaryce and all other vyces. So that it seemed, they stroue not, who shuld ouercome other in feates of armes: but who shuld excede other in vice. They spared nother mens wi∣ues maidens nor doughters: they exercysed cruell rapine of mens goodes, and spoilyng of temples. Wherof the citizens beynge wery, sent message of complaint to Scipio the consul. whervpon he eftsones came to Locrus, where he had al their matters debated, and at length punyshed certayne of theim by emprysonmente: and after departed, leauynge styll Q. Ple∣minius capitayne there, with no lesse auctority then he had be fore. But after he departed, Pleminius wyllinge to execute his malice ouer his ennemies, put certayne of theym to cruell deathe: whiche before had complayned of him to the consull. His souldiours also were afterwarde more cruell and vnrulye then they were before. Therfore they sent legates to Rome, with greuous complaynte to the senate, of the manyfolde in∣iuries, hurtes, and cruell paynes, that they suffered: moche more by the Romaynes, then euer they hadde by the Car∣thaginenses. Whose complaynte beynge well and delybe∣rately herd in the senate, Quintus Fabius, replete with olde malyce agaynst Scipio, to set forthe his neglygence, inquired of the legates, whether they had neuer before that time she∣wed their cause to the consul Scipio. They aunswered, that at their first complaynt, he herd the matter, and then putting the tribunes in pryson, he let Pleminius go at libertie, and put him again in auctority: although he was worthy more punishe∣ment then the other. But at their second complaynt made to him by their legates, he was so busied aboute the setting fore∣wardes of his shippes & men into Affrica, that he could not at¦tend to here or examine their matter. Then was there gret re¦proch spoken of Scipio, by many of the princes of the senate, specially Q. Fabius alleged, that he was born to corrupt and distroy al warlike policy and lernyng, by his ouermoche suffe∣rāce and giuing of libertie. Some would haue had Pleminius brought to Rome bound, and Scipio called frō his prouince. At the laste the sentence of Q. Metellus toke place, whiche was, that it was good, to send for Pleminius, according to the

mynde of Fabius. But as touching Scipio, whom the whole citie fyrste had chosen in his youth to be a capitaine in Spayn, and he according to theyr expectation had delyuered the hole countrey out of the handes of their ennemies: whervpon they also of late had chosen hym consull, to subdue Affrica, and to deliuer Italy of Anniball: He thought it not meete for suche a noble man to be sodainly condemned, his cause not being du∣ly herd and debated, or to haue him called frome his iourney, without a greatter cause than this was. Consideringe that the Locrenses could lay no defaut to Scipio, but only ouermuch sufferance of Pleminius. Wherfore he thought it best, that M. Pomponius, with .ii. tribunes, shuld be sent to Locrus, & frō thens to Sicilia, to examyne & trie, whether the wronges done to the Locrēses, wer done by the cōmandement or assent of P. Scipio or not. And in case he were consentyng therto: then that they shuld cōmand him to returne to Rome: & other legates to occupy his place, or els that he shoulde continue in his purpose and iourney into Affrica, as he had appoynted.

¶ According to this sentence Pomponius, with .ii. tribunes & other legates, came to Locrus, makyng proclamation, that yf any man wold accuse Pleminius, Scipio, or any other mā, that they shulde come before theim, and they shuld be well herde. The Locrenses gyuyng great thankes to the Romaines, for the goodnes therin to them shewed, answered, that they wold accuse Pleminius, as chief doer of all the mischief, and certain other with him. But as touching Scipio, they had nothynge to charge hym withal: but that he eyther gaue ouermoch cre∣dēce to Pleminius, or to litell faith to their wordes. But they sayd, they knewe wery well, that the wronges to theim done, were neither by the wyll nor commaundement of Scipio: but they thought hym to be of the nature of many men, which are sory, that any wronge or offence shulde be committed, and yet whan the iniuries be done, they haue not the hertes or willes to reuenge or punishe the offenders of the same.

¶ With this aunswere M. Pomponius, and the other, were moch eased of any further inquirie of Scipios matter. Wher fore they toke Pleminius, and .xxx. other of his complices, that were founde gyltie of dyuers greatte offences, and sente them bound to Rome: where Pleminius dyed in prison. Sone after the other wer put to condigne execution. Then thought

they to go to Scipio, to see, whether the sclaunder spoken of his slouthe in gouernaunce, or of the mysorder of his hooste, were true or not: that they myght therof make true reporte, whan they were returned to Rome.

¶ Scipio hearyng of their coming, caused all his army to re∣payre to Syracusa, where he than lay: and also caused his na∣uy of shyppes, to be sette furthe and ordered in all poyntes, as though he shulde the same day haue fought with the Car∣thaginenses, bothe by water and by lande. Whan Pomponi∣us, and the other embassadours were come, he gentilly and louingly receiued them. he shewed them his army on the land in array redy to fight: his nauy also on the sea, he shewed them not onely redy to battaile, but makyng a shew of a fight in the hauen. Than ledde he them to his garners of corne: and into his armory and store houses of ordinance and artillary, and all instrumentes of warre. Who seing al his prouision and order, were striken with a great admiration of hym and his conduict: iudgyng that through his gouernance and his army, the Car∣thaginenses shoulde be ouercome: or elles it were neuer pos∣syble for theim to be subdewed. Wherfore desyrynge the goddis to prospere welle his iourneye, they departed frome hym, takynge theyr waye to Rome with greatte ioye, as though they were goinge to brynge tydynges to Rome of vi∣ctory, rather than to report the meruaylouse preparation to∣warde battayle, whiche they hadde seene in Sicilia. Whanne they came into the senate howse, they extolled the fame and actes of Scipio after suche sorte, that they sent hym worde in∣continent, to departe towardes Carthage, takynge with him whom he wolde, leauynge behynd hym for the defence of Si∣cilia certaine at his pleasure.