re of the Romains, that he died in bataile in
like wise.

Here folowithe the historie of the most noble recommendacion in
perpetuite of Marcus Actilius, a chief duke of the Romayne hostes, of
his gret providence using in hostes ayenst derthes and scarsetees[156]
of cornes, wines, [and] oilis; and how he of fortune of werre, being
prisoner in Cartage amongis his dedlie adversaries, albeit he was put
to raunson, suffred wilfullie for to die in prison, because he was so
gretly aged and wered in bataile, then to the Romains to pay so
infenite a somme for his finaunce and raunson.

[Sidenote: Autor rei publicae.]

Hit is historied also of worshipfulle remembraunce how that verray trew
lover of the comon wele of the Romains, Marcus Actilius, that first yave
hym to labouragis and approwementis of londes and {66} pastures, to
furnisshe and store the saide countre withe plente of corne and vitaile;
after, for his gret policie, wisdom, and manhod, was made consulle and
conestable of the Romayne batailes, and fulle often sithis discomfited
theire adversaries of Cartage. And he, at a tyme, by chaunge of fortune in
bataile, was take prisoner into Cartage, being of gret age than. And for
deliveraunce of whiche Actilius the governours of Cartage desired hym that
he shulde laboure and sende to Rome forto deliver out of prison a gret
nombre of yong men of werre of Cartage that were prisoneris in Rome, and he
shulde goo frank and quite. And the saide Actilius denyed and refused it
utterly, but that he wolde rather die in prison than to suffre the werrours
of Cartage to be delyverid for his sake, for he loved the comon wele and
proffit of Rome; and becaus that noble Actilius wolde not condescende to
deliver the prisoneris of Cartage, they turmentid hym in prison in the most
cruelle wise to dethe; that, and it were expressid here, it wolde make an
harde hert man to falle the teris of his yen. The voluntarie dethe of
whiche Marcus Actilius, for the welfare, prosperite, and comon profit of
Rome, causithe hym to be an example to alle othir, and to be put
perpetuelly in remembraunce for worship.

How the noble duke Scipion Affrican put hym in so gret aventure in his gret
age ayens the Cartages, that he died upon,[157] rathir than to life in
servage.

[Sidenote: Scypio Affricanus.]

[Sidenote: Scipio Asyanus.]

[Sidenote: Scipio Affricanus.]

Also to have in remembraunce to folow the steppis of the full