would come and the olde not diminish To this b Lieutenant of the seuenth Legion surnamed Galbiana Antonius Primus who was the chiefest inciter of the warre replied That speede was the thing that might most helpe them most hinder Vitellius As for the victory they lately obtained they were growen more in careles slouth then courage thereby not keeping in campes as men of warre alwaies ready to fight but lying in the good townes of Italy loytering and disporting themselues feared of none saue only their hostes and the hardlier kept and fiercer they were before nowe giuing themselues the more greedily ouer to enioy their vnaccustomed pleasures Moreouer the * theatrum circus theatres places of sports other delights of the city had effeminated their mindes or diseases vtterly wasted their bodies but if respite were giuen through warlicke exercises they would recouer their strength besides Germanie was not farre of from whence they might be supplied with new forces and Britannie but a small steppe beyonde France and Spaine were harde at hand to furnish them of men horses and money beside Italy it selfe the wealth of the world in Rome all wholly at their disposition And if they list to begin assaile vs they haue quoth he at commandement two nauies the whole Illyrian sea free what wil it then profit vs to keep the straytes of the mountaines or what can it availe vs to differre the warre til another sommer wheÌ„ce shal we haue money and vittailes in the meane time nay rather why take we not this opportunity present since the Pannonian Legions thinking themselues rather beguiled then beaten are so instant earnest to haue their reuenge the armies of Moesia are yet entier vnfoiled if the nuÌ„ber of soldiers be reckened rather theÌ„ the names of Legions our side hath more strength much lesse disorder the very shame of the late ouerthrowe hath greatly amended our discipline yet our horsemen euen then were not defeated but contrarily scattered Vitellius troupes albeit the maine battaile went against vs. Two wings of Pannonia and Moesia were able at that time to breake thorow the enemy nowe the enseignes of sixteen wings vnited together with their staÌ„ping sound the very dust of their feete wil doubtles be able to couer and ouerwhelme both the horses and horsemen of our enemies who haue now almost forgotten to fight For my part if I may be permitted as I am the first to giue the aduise so I will be the first to execute the same You whose condition giues you free choice of either lye stil keepe your Legions at home some few * Expeditae coâ—ortes that is without cariages absque impedimentis light cohorts shal serue my turne assoone as the warre is begun you shall heare that Vitellius state will decline then you will take pleasure to follow and treade in the steppes of my victory This and more to the like purpose Antonius vttered with burning eies fierce shrill voice that he might be heard further for some of the Centurions and of the soldiers also had intruded theÌ„selues into the couÌ„cel the speech moued greatly euen the wariest amongst them doubtfullest to enter into danger But the common soldier and the rest magnified him as the only man of courage the only captain despising the colde and sluggish proceedings of the other This good opinion he first wan through a speech he made in the assembly when Vespasians letters were first openly red in the which he did not as the most of the rest deliuer his mind in doubtful ambiguous termes with a meaning to interprete them afterward as he should see best for his purpose but seemed directly resolutely to enter into the cause therefore was a great deale better liked of the soldiers as one that made his fortune common with theirs both in the danger honor of the attempt Next after him Cornelius Fuscus the Procurator was of chiefe autority amongst them For he likewise was wont to inuey bitterly against Vitellius thereby had left to himselfe no hope of pardon if the enterprise failed Titus a Lieutenant generall of Pannonia Ampius Flauianus both by nature and by reason of his age being slow in proceeding gaue occasion to the soldiers of suspicion as if he had respected his affinity with Vitellius and because he had withdrawen himselfe out of the campe when the Legions began first to reuolt afterward came again of his owne accord it was thought he did it to seeke some opportunity of treason For indeed Flauianus had once relinquished his prouince of Pannonia and retired himselfe out of danger into Italie and afterward by desire of noueltie was brought to take vpon him his gouernement againe and become a medler in ciuil warres through the perswasion principally of Cornelius Fuscus not that there was any great neede of Flauianus abilities but that the name and countenance of a Lieutenant general might giue reputation to the side that was then but in rising Then letters were written to Aponius Saturninus Lieutenant generall of Moesia to make haste and backe their passage into Italie with his army And lest the prouinces by this remouing away of the Legions might lie open to the spoile of the barbarous nations confining the principall men of the Sarmatae Iazyges and heades of the countrey were assumed into the seruice who made offer also of the common sort and great troupes of horsemen which is their sole strength but the offer was not accepted lest amidst our dissensions they should attempte anie thing preiudiciall to the state of the Empire or els vpon better wages without respect of honour or faith passe to the enemie Sido and Italicus anciently deuoted to the Romane name kinges of the Sueuians a nation both more faithfull and more obedient were drawen to the partie Garrisons also were laied on the side against Rhoetia which held for Vitellius being gouerned by Porcius Septinius the Procuratour a most faithfull seruant vnto him So Sextilius Felix was sent with the Aurian wing and eight cohortes and the youth of the countrey of Noricum to plant himselfe against him along the bancke of the riuer Enus which diuideth Rhoetia and Noricum asunder where they remained skirmishing one with another whilest in the meane time the maine matter was decided elsewhere II. Antonius Primus marcheth forwarde and hauing taken Aquileia Opitergium Altinum Padoua Este settleth his maine campe at Verona NOW Antonius taking with him certaine Vexillaries out of the cohorts and part of the horsemen marched on towarde Italie accompanied with Arrius Varus a valiant warrier rather then a vertuous man which glory hee gained by his seruice and good successe in Armenia vnder Corbulo whom notwithstanding hee was supposed secretly to haue discredited with Nero. Whereupon by such sinister meanes growing in fauour he attayned a principall Centurions place which though ill gotten was at the
THE ENDE OF NERO AND BEGINNING OF GALBA FOWER BOOKES OF THE HISTORIES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS THE LIFE OF AGRICOLA M. D.LXXXXI TO HER MOST SACRED MAIESTIE I Present here to your Maiesties view my imperfections in their owne colours and the excellencies of anothâ—r man with much losse of their lustie as being transported from their nâ—tural light of the Latin by an vnskilfull hande into a strange language perchance not so fit to set out a peece drawne with so curious a pensill The cause of vndertaking a worke of this kinde was a good will in this scribling age noâ— to doe nothing and a disproportion in the powers of my mind nothing of mine owne inuention beeing able to passe â—â—e censure of mine owne iudgement much lesse I presumed the iudgement of others The cause that J published it vnder your Maiesties name and protection beside thâ— testification of my bounden duetie was the great account your Highnesse most worthily holdeth this Histoâ—ie in hoping thereby that as some for the excellencie of thâ— wine haue liked also the lees so it might peraduenture please you to accept into some degree of fauour this worâ—e as it is though by change from vessell to vessell hauinâ— taken winde and lost his pleasing taste to the palate yet retaining somewhat of his former strength and much of his substance But the principal cause was to incite your Maiesty by this as by a foile to communicate to the world if not tâ—ose admirable coÌ„positions of your owne yet at the least thoâ— most rare and excellent translations of Histories if J â—ay call them translations which haue so infinitelie exceeâ—â—d the originals making euident demonstration to all who haue seene them that as the great actions of Princes are the subiect of stories so stories composed or amended by Princes are not onely the best patterne and rule of great actioÌ„s but also the most naturall Registers thereof the writers beâ—ng persons of like degree and of proportionable conceits wâ—th the doers And so wishing your Maiestie either so â—uch leasure your selfe or a Tacitus to describe your most glorious raigne J commit this worke whereof I caime nothing to my selfe but the faults to your most gracous patronage and the curtesie of the reader from whom â—t least from his handes that shall finish out the rest I hope o finde both pardon for my faultes and some pittie for my paines The Almighty blesse your most â—xcellent Maiestie with a long happie and prosperous raâ—gne and the onely true meanes thereof many vvatchfull ies to foresee many valiant handes to fight and many â—odly hartes to pray for the peace of your state Your sacred Maiesties most humble subiect and seruant HENRY SAVILE A. B. To the Reader THERE is no treasure so much enriches the minde of man as learning there is no learning so proper for the direction of the life of man as Histore there is no historie I speake onelie of profate so well worth the reading as Tacitus For learning nature acknowledgeth a reason by leauing industrie to finish her vnperfect worke for without learning the conceyte is like a fruitefull soyle without tilling the memorie like a storehouse without wares the will like a shippe without a rudder For Historie since we are eassier taught by example theÌ„ by precept what studie can profit vs so much as that which giues vs patternes either to follow or to flye of the best and worst men of all estates cuntries and times that euer were For Tacitus I may say without partiality that hee hath writen the most matter with best conceyt in fewest wordes of anie Historiographer ancient or moderne But he is harde Difficilia quae pulchra the second reading ouer will please thee more then the first and the third then the second And if thy stomacke be so tender as thou canst not disgest Tacitus in his owne stile thou art beholding to Sauile who giues thee the same foode but with a pleasant and easie taste In these fower bookes of the storie thou shalt see all the miseries of a torne and declining state The Empire vsurped the Princes murthered the people wauering the souldiers tumultuous nothing vnlawfull to him that hath power and nothing so vnsafe as to bee securely innocent In Galba thou maiest learne that a good Prince gouerned by euill ministers is as dangerous as if hee were euill himselfe By Otho that the fortune of a rash man is Torrenti similis which rises at an instant and falles in a moment By Vitellius that he that hath no vertue can neuer bee happy for by his owne basenesse hee will loose all which eyther fortune or other mens labours haue cast vpon him By Vespasian that in ciuill tumults an aduised patience and opportunitie well taken are the onelie weapons of aduantage In them all and in the state of Rome vnder them thou mâ—iest see the calamities that follow ciuill warres where lawes lâ—e a sleepe and all things are iudged by the sworde If thou mislike their waires be thankfull for thine owne peace if thou doest abhorre their tyrannies loue and reuerence thine owne wise iust and excelent Prince If thou doest detest their Anarchie acknowledge our owne happie gouernement and thanke god for her vnder whom England enioyes as manie benefites as euer Rome did suffer miseries vnder the greatest Tyrant THE ENDE OF NERO AND BEGINNING OF GALBA GAlerius Trachilus The yeare of the Citty 821. and Silius Italicus being Consuls Caius Juius Vindex Lieutenant of Gallia Lugdunensis percâ—iuing that priuate conspiracies against the person of Nero had bene often intended and euer discouered determined to giue the first onset in armes and openlie goe to he field Vindex was by his father of a Senatours house by birth French and extract from the line of their ancient kings of bodie puissant quicke of câ—nceit of a readie dispatch skilful in armes and bolde to attempt his prouinc peaceable and therefore vtterlie disfurnisht of forces no Legion no garrson vnder his gouernement Notwithstanding as in a bodie corrupt fulâ—fill humors the first paine that appeareth bee it neuer so slender drawes oâ— the rest discloseth olde aches straines actuateth what els is vnsound in â—he bodie so in a state vniuersally disliked the first disorder dissolueth the whole yea oft so it happeneth in both the disease that grew first gaue câ—use to the other being recured the rest notwithstaÌ„ding worke out the final â—estruction Now Vindex before he declared himselfe wel weighing the weakâ—esse of his estate withal his owne person vncapable of the Empire as beâ—ng but a stranger without followers without frendes or allies among the â—obility deliberated to cast it on some other man of more reputation who aâ—â— by nearenesse strength might second his attempt Corbulo was lately muâ—dred by Nero Vespasian far of warring in Iewry Suetonius Paullinus at hâ—me without army the most famous men of that age for militar matters Of â—igh Germany Verginius Rufus was Lieutenant with
three Legions nexâ— neighbour to Vindex only of a meane geÌ„tlemans house In lowe Germany Fâ—eius Capito with fower Legions Clodius Macer in Africke with a compeâ—nt army neither of them likely to repaire that which Nero had ruined Thâ—re remained then in armes Seruius Sulpitius Galba a man of great wealtâ— ancient nobilitie who had beene eight yeares Lieutenant in nearer Spaâ—ne to the reasonable conteÌ„tment of the cuÌ„trey with an host of one LegioÌ„ â—e Aides belonging thereto Vpon him Vindex finally resoluing dispatcheth â—â—to Spaine other cuntreies adioining secrete letters declaring his purposâ—â—o the LieutenaÌ„ts Galba in whom age had abated the heate of ambition expâ—rience and dangerous times engendred a vvarie and fearefull proceeding â—ought as then vpon nothing lesse then diademes and kingdomes hauing gâ—â—en himselfe ouer for certaine yeares past to an idle and obscure kinde of â—ife sequestred as it were and retired from affaires for feare of Nerâ— vnder vvhom to doe ill vvas not alwaies safe alwaies vnsafe to doe â—ell and of doing nothing no man constrained to yeelde an account Whereupon the letters arriuing he stoode much amazed diuided in minde what course hâ—e should follow to trust them peraduenture it was but a traine to disclose â—hem and sende them to Nero that were indeede to put in his head an eternal ielosie himselfe into a needlesse peril perhaps also there might be good meaning VVhereupon in so doubtfull a case the extremes seeming dangerâ—us he tooke the meane way suppressing the letters and not entring into the â—ause any further reseruing to gouerne himselfe in the rest as euents and â—ccurrents should leade and direst him The other Lieutenants sent all their letters to Nero betraying Vindex betraying the cause whereof themselues none were partakers Now Vindex certaine daies after the â—alends of March though not fullie assured yet hoping well of Galbaes intâ—â—t and presuming good lucke to so good a meaning assembled them of his proâ—â—nce such chieflie as were chiefe in their cuntrey for credit and chiefly had bene touched in goods or in honour To whom recounting in order the tyrannis of Nero namelie his paring of “ Gallia France to the quicke to the vtter destrucâ—ion of so many men the vniuersal decay of so goodlie a cuntrey he exhorteth hem all to take armes to succour themselues to succour the Romans and to free the whole world from so heauie a yoke Or if which the gods forbid in so â—ood a cause yet let vs quoth he sell him our liues in the fielde with honour seeing vvee cannot possesse them with safetie For another Prince our brokâ—n state and age voide of vertue not bearing a free common wealth wee haâ—e here at hande a man of great birth great wealth and great forces one tâ—at hath made honourable proofe of himselfe at home and abroad in al respâ—cts worthy the place Galba Lieutenant of “ Hispania Tarâ—â—â—onensis Arragon Jf you like of the ma there remaineth then onely wee muster the cuntrey to the most that wee mâ—y vvithout vvhose swordes all talke of vvarre is but vaine and this perâ—icious His demands being all accorded by common consent he leuieth a â—ower many men fewe soldiers taken vp on the sodaine not disciplined â—ot trained to the order of seruice he publisheth edicts diffaming the person gouernment of Nero. Then causing Galba to be proclaimed he writes hâ—â— a letter now or els neuer to declare himselfe in fauour of mankind agaiâ—st that monster of nature to furnish the bodie of an hundreth thousand Frenâ—h men in armes and more if neede were of a head The Sequani Aedui Aruerni Remi and the flowre in a maner of France were all of the party conferring men horse armour money and what els was requisite for serâ—ice in fielde Rufâ—nus Flauius Asiaticus with others were appointed captâ—ines Vienna seate of the warre whose next neighbours ancient enemiâ—s the Lugdunenses banded themselues against them the cause or the caâ—se for their sakes Many conflicts betweene them skirmishes during the warre so thicke and so hoatly pursued that one might perceaue much priuate choler passe vnder the shadow of publicke pretences The Lingones likewise and Treueri and some other citties forsaking their fellowes lincked themselues with the Legions confining Three Legions as before it is saied vvith their Aides Verginius had in his charge who seeing all France on a fire and that now of force he must either rebell vvith the rest or warre vvith the rebels for so they vvere stiled till they preuailed in priuate beholder for publicke respects misliking of Nero no admirer of Galba vvith Vindex proceeding highly displeased the example beeing vnseene that a prouinâ—e should be a Princemaker thus vnresolued resoluing this onely that he would not be resolued by others determined to stande on his garde and gatherâ—d his men about him in hast valiant soldiers and expert in seruice and likely to sway vvhere they vvent Of the other side the Lieutenâ—nt of Aquitania against the troubles of France requested the assistance of Galba his neighbour who then at new Carthage kept a law day but amne hee perceiued how that hee had taken a wrong adresse For Galba receiuing the letters of Vindex and being aduertised that vvarrant vvas out fâ—r his death to the Procuratours had debated the matter afresh vvith his fâ—endes Some vnwilling to plaie their state at a cast wisht him to staie atâ—ende to vvhat head the humours in Rome new stirred vvould gather as for the Procuratours they might be preuented and vvarned is halfe armed To Titus Vinius then Lieutenant of the Legion and anone chiefe in fauour vvith Galba that course seemed vnsafe Armed indeede quoth heâ— for a vvhile against a Procuratour or two nay put case vvee could hang vp these few in our places shal vvee liue doe you thinke for lacke of a hangman giue vs armes against Nero then vvee are armed But perhaps sith nothing is past on our part he maie be perswaded to call in his sentencâ— againe Euen good Princes are ielous of soueraine points and that string being touched haue a quicke eare They haue bought it ful deere vvhich igâ—orantlie haue sat in their chaire of estate that haue worne their diademe to keepe it from wetting or vpon like occasion Germanicus as some here maâ— remember because one or two in the armie had onelie a purpose to salute hâ—m Prince was neuer well brooked till by his owne death he had paied the prâ—ce of other mens rashnesse Corbulo euen that Corbulo which had quieted â—ermanie subdued Armenia broken the ParthiaÌ„ spirits brought Arsaces â—ne on his knees before Nero after he had so highlie deserued at his handes iâ— cost him his life that some men in secrete thought him a man fit to succeede Wee are as they saie openly proclaimed we haue an armie in field shall he then repent it that neuer repented but when he did well Let him looke that list for
according to the Princes dispositions in like sort the souldier seuere or dissolute in Vitellius traine all was disorderly and full of drunkennesse more like to wakes and the feasts of Bacchus e Read Suet. Vitellio c. 10. then to a campe where discipline should be It happened that two souldiers one of the fift Legion another a French Auxiliary vpon a iolity challenged one another to wrestle and whenas the Legionary was throwen the French man insulting ouer him and they which lookt on diuiding themselues into sides the Legionary souldiers taking themselues to their weapons made hauocke of the Auxiliaries and slew two cohorts of them The remedy of this tumult was another tumult dust and glistering of armour was seene a farre off and sodainely it was noised in the army that the fourteenth Legion was returned with intention to fight but it was their own riereward which being perceiued that care was ended In the meane season as one of Verginius seruants by chaunce came by the souldiers charge and accuse him that he was set to kil Vitellius rush thereupon into the banquetting place requiring the death of Verginius No man doubted of Verginius innocēcy no not Vitellius himselfe although otherwise very suspicious and fearefull and notwithstanding they demaunded the death of so honourable a personage and one which had once beene their Generall yet were they hardly appeased Neither was there any man so oft shot at as Verginius in all seditions and mutinous assemblies the admiration and fame of the man remained amongst them but they hated him deadly because he had contemned their offer The day following Vitellius gaue audience to the Senates Embassage which hee willed there to attende him going from thence to the campe he spake to the soldiers commending their dutifull disposition and tender carefulnesse ouer his person but the Auxiliaries fretted and fumed to see the Legionaries growen to that height of insolency and no punishment inflicted vpon them Whereupon the cohorts of Batauians lest they should attempt some desperate act were sent backe againe into Germany the course of affaires fatally tending to minister matter as wel a Raised by Ciuilis the Batauians and continued by the rebellion of the French Tac. Hist 4. 5 to a forraine warre as to a ciuill The French Auxiliaries also were turned home to their countreys an excessiue number and straight at the first reuoult assumed by Vitellius into the cause for an idle complement of the warre Now to the end that the treasure and reuenues of the Empire though minished and wasted might suffice for his excessiue and prodigall donations he commandeth to lessen the number of souldiers in the Legions and Aydes forbidding supplies to be made and offering dismissions indifferently which action of his proued pernicious to the state and vnpleasant to the souldiers For fewer nowe bare the same burthens and perils and labors came thicker about and their strength was wasted with riotous life by reason of such abundance contrary to the ancient discipline and vsage of our forefathers vnder whom the Roman estate was gouerned and stood by vertue better then money From thence Vitellius turned to Cremona and when he had seene Caecinaes plaies he was desirous to go to Bebriacum and view the place with his eies of the late victory The spectacle was ougly and grisly to behold within forty daies after the battel bodies a Xiphilinus p. 205 writeth that in the battels about Cremona on both sides 40000. mē were slain Tacitus following the precept of Salust neuer ◠most seldome setteth downe the number torne a pieces mangled limmes figures of horses and men putrified the ground imbrued with corruption and bloud the countrey miserably wasted the trees and corne troden downe and spoiled that also was a point of inhumanity that they of Cremona had strowed the way with roses and bay erected altars and sacrificed thereon b And not new in the Roman Princes if Suetonius deceiue not in Galba c. 18. per omne iter dextrâ sinistrâque oppidatim victimae caedebantur as the maner is to kings passing by which thinges albeit they pleased them presentlie turned afterwardes to their ruine Caecina and Valens were by and shewed the places of the conflict from this place the Legions went out and charged from hence the horsemen arose from thence the Auxiliaries closed about Nowe the Tribunes and captaines extolling ech his owne prowesse with many a lye mingled some truethes or made of the trueth more then it was The common souldiers also with clamour and ioy step out of the way call to remembraunce the ground they had trauersed beholde and woonder at the heapes of armour and bodies and some there were whom the changeable fortune of humane affaires moued to pitty and teares But Vitellius as a man without all compassion turned not away his eies nor had c Suetonius Vitellio c. 10. addeth further vt campos in quib pugnatū est adijs abhorrentes quosdam cadaverum tabem detestabili voce confirmare cusus est optimèolere occisum hostem meliùs ciuem not in horror to see so many thousands of vnburied citizens but contrariwise iocunde and ignoraunt of his owne lot which followed so nearely he maketh a solemne sacrifice to the gods of the place After these things Fabius Valens at Bononia maketh a shew of fencers to the setting out whereof furniture was fetched from Rome and the nearer Vitellius came to the city the more dissolute corrupt was he his company stage plaiers associating themselues to the traine d 3. Hist. p. 727. of Fabius Valens multo ac molli concubinarum spadonumque agmine and droues of eunuches and the rest of the buffons of Neroes court For Vitellius was an admirer also of Nero himselfe and was wont to attend e Read Suet. c. 4 and follow him as he did sing not by compulsion as many a good man but selling his honour to nourish his riot and feed his belly to which he had wholly enthralled himselfe Now that Valens Caecina might obtaine some voide monethes that yeare to be Consuls in certaine others * coarctati aliarum consulatus some indeed were stricken out but euery one as it may seeme accomplished his ordinary time of two moneths see the annotation vpon the first book were abridged of their time M. Macer was passed ouer because he had beene a captaine of Othoes side Valerius Marinus whom Galba appointed was put ouer to another time not vpon any dislike but because he was of a soft nature and would gently put vp a wrong Pedanius Costa was omitted being dislikt of the Prince because he had attempted against Nero and pricked Verginius forward but Vitellius aledged other causes and according to the seruile custome of that time great thanks were giuen him beside XXII One Geta a bondman counterfaiting himselfe to be Scribonianus Camerinus and associating others vnto him was taken brought to Vitellius and hanged
present to his great contentation but afterward turned to his ruine Antonius and Varus in passing tooke Aquileia and the countrey thereabouts and proceeding forward were at Opitergium and Altinum ioyfully receiued At Altinum a garrison was left against the fleete of Rauenna of the reuolt whereof they had not as yet receiued any intelligence and marching forward they adioyned Padoua and Este to the side Where aduertisement was giuen that three Vitellian cohortes and the Scribonian wing lay at Forum Alieni hauing there made a bridge ouer the riuer It was concluded to take the occasion and to set vpon them as they lay negligently and carelesly for that circumstance also was certified and so accordingly they came vpon them at the dawning of the day and surprized them being for the most part vnarmed They were willed before hande that after some slaughter at the beginning they shoulde seeke to induce the rest with feare to chaunge their allegeance and some there were which yeelded themselues at the first but the greater part fled ouer the riuer and breaking the bridge cut off the passage from the enemy pursuing This victorie beeing divulged and the first attempts of the Flauianists hauing succeeded so prosperously two Legions the seuenth surnamed Galbiana and the thirteenth called Gemina a And Titus Ampius Flauianus Lieutenant generall of Pannonia with Vedius Aquila Lieutenaunt thereof came to Padoua cheerefully and ful of courage There some fewe daies were spent in reposing the army and Minucius Iustus campe-master of the seuenth Legion was saued from the fury of the soldier and sent to Vespasian because his gouernement was straiter and more seuere then the nature of a ciuill warre would support At what time also Antonius supposing it a plausible action and for the credit of the side if Galbaes gouernment should seeme to be liked gaue commandement thorow out all the free townes that the images of Galba which vpon change of times and dissension in state had beene broken downe should be restored a new a thing very long and greatlie desired and therefore interpreted gloriously in the highest degree Then was it proposed and disputed what place were best to be chosen for seate as it were of the warre Verona seemed fittest the countrey about it being champion and commodious for horsemen wherein consisted their principall strength and beside to dispossesse Vitellius of a towne of such wealth and importance would both be commodious and bring reputation to the cause In the passage thitherward they tooke Vicenza a thing of it selfe not greatly materiall as being a towne of smal forces howbeit because Caecina was borne there it seemed a matter of consequence when men beganne to recount how that the Generall of the contrary part had lost his owne countrey and home but the getting of Verona was worth the paines taking For both the side was relieued with their wealth and the example was a good precedent to others and the army lying there opportunely in the way betweene Germanie and Vitellius powers did shut vp the Rhoetian and Iulian Alpes and cut of all hope of passage for the Germanes that way All which proceeding was either vnknowen to Vespasian or expressely forbidden by him his commandement was to march no further then Aquileia and there to expect Mutianus adding also a reason thereof that seing Aegypt the garners of the citty the reuenues and tributes of the richest prouinces were in his hands Vitellius army might through lacke of pay and vittaile be constrained to yeelde To the same purpose also Mutianus aduised them often by letters alleadging what a glory it would bee to obtaine a victorie without bloud and whereof no mourning ensued with such other pretenses whereas hee did it indeede vpon ambition and coueting to reserue the whole renowne of the warre for himselfe but by reason of the greate distances counsailes came after the factes Antonius hauing thus seated himselfe in Verona issued foorth on the sodaine and gaue the alarme to the enemy where trying their manhoode together in a light skirmish they departed on euen hand Anone Caecina encamped himselfe between Hostilia a village of the territorie of Verona and the marishes of the riuer Tartarus in a safe and defensible place his backe being garded with the riuer and the flanckes with marishes who if hee had meant trueth hauing all his masters power vnder his hande might with great facilitie either haue surprized two simple Legions the army of Moesia as yet being not ioyned or at least beaten them backe and forced them to flee and with shame forsake Italie But Caecina omitted traiterously all aduantages which at the first were offered spending the time in trifling delaies and rebuking them by epistles whome with like facility hee might haue repulsed with armes vntill by messengers passing betweene the bargaine was driuen and the couenantes for his treason agreed vpon In the meane time Aponius Saturninus came with the seuenth Legion surnamed Claudiana the Legion was gouerned by Vipsanius Messalla a Tribune a man nobly descended and of noble qualities himselfe the only vertuous man and without note that entred into that action To this army nothing comparable to his owne for as yet there were but three Legions Caecina sent letters blaming their rashnes that being once ouercome they durst put themselues againe into armes and withall he extolled the valure of the German army of Vitellius making small mention and in common termes only without any reprochfull worde against Vespasian at all in summe writing nothing that might either corrupt the enemie or terrifie him The captaines of the Flauian armie omitting to speake of their former misfortune returned answere concerning Vespasian in hawtie and glorious termes shewing themselues verie confident in their cause and secure of the euent reuiling Vitellius as enemies and bragging of the Moesian armie as being hitherto neuer ouerthrowen seeking * Praesumpsere parteis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moreouer to weaken the faith and winne the good will of the contrary side by putting the Centurions and Tribunes in hope of retaining their places and fauours which Vitellius had bestowed vpon them and exhorting Caecina himselfe in plaine termes to reuolt Both the letters were solemnely readde to the Flauian souldiers which thing increased not a little their courage and confidence seeing Caecina to write humbly as fearing to offende Vespasian and their Generalles contemptuously as it were insulting ouer Vitellius III. Amutinee of the Pannonian souldier against Flauianus their Generall and another of the Moesian against Saturninus likewise theirs SHORTLY afterward the third and eighth Legion came the one commanded by Dillius Aponianus the other by Numisius Lupus whereupon they beganne to make shew of their forces determined to cast vp a * Vallum militare in oppositiō to vallū rusticum or fossa agrestis militare trench about the towne of Verona By chance it fell to the Galbian Legion to worke in the foreparte of the trench toward the enemy some of
round about the campe to see and view the strength of their victorious army and so dismissing them backe to their master All which at their returne Vitellius after secrete examination had commanded to be made away But aboue all other the a Suetonius Othone c. 10. Xiphilinus p. 205. and after him Zonaras reporteth this in the story of Otho in the former warre with some smal differēce of circumstances constancy and resolutenes of the Centurion Iulius Agrestis was most notable who after much speech tending to incite Vitellius to vertue in vaine at the length obtained that himselfe might be sent to view the forces of the enemie and see what had passed at Cremona For the performing whereof he sought no corners but addressed himselfe directly to Antonius and openly professing what charge he had from his Prince and what was his intent he required hee might bee permitted to take a perfect suruey of all things so some were sent with him which shewed him the place where the battaile was fought the ruines of Cremona the conquered Legions Agrestis went home againe and making relation whenas Vitellius would not beleeue his report but charged him with vntrueth and further that he was hired thereto Seeing then quoth Agrestis no meane proofe will serue and neither my life nor my death can now stande you in any other steede I will giue you an assurance which you may beleeue and so departing from him he sealed his sayings voluntarily with his bloud Some write that he was slaine by Vitellius commaundement but of his fidelity and constancy they report the same Now Vitellius beeing as it were awaked out of sleepe commaunded Iulius Priscus and Alphenus Varus with fourteene Praetorian cohorts and all the wings of the horsemen to keepe the streits of the Apennine after them followed a Legion of Seamen a power both for number and goodnesse of men and horses sufficient if another had bene Generall to make warre offensiue not onely to stande vppon their defence The rest of the cohorts were committed to Lucius Vitellius his brother to garde the citty withall Himselfe abating nothing of his wonted ryot and hasty through distrust hudled vp the election of officers wherein he declared Consuls for a Suetonius Vitellio c. 11. comitia in decem annos ordina vit seque perpetuum consulem many yeares to come Moreouer newe treaties and more gracious were concluded with our allyes and the right of Latium conferred vppon strangers To some hee released their tributes to others he granted immunities without all care of posterity mangling and mayming the Empire But the common sort accepted these fauours that seemed so great and the foolishest bought them with money which wise men accounted but voyde beeing such as could neither bee giuen nor taken with the safety of the state At the last through the instant request of his armie lying in Meuania with a great trayne of Senatours assumed partly vpon suite and most vpon feare he repayred to the campe irresolute of himselfe and obnoxious to vnfaithfull counsailes As he was speaking to his souldiers in publike assembly it fell out so many vnlucky birdes to flye ouer his head a monstrous matter that the day was ouercast as it were with a blacke cloude and another no lesse ominous and of euill presage that a bull which was appointed to be sacrificed brake away from the altars ouerturned the furniture of the ceremonie and was knocked downe farre of from the accustomed place But the greatest monster was Vitellius himselfe a Prince without skill in the profession of armes and deuoyde of direction and counsell demanding eftsoones of others in what order to march what diligence was requisite in making discoueries what meane was to be obserued in vrging or delaying the warre and vpon euery flying report apparently fearefull in countenance and trembling in gate and beside all this most commonly druncken At the length growing weary of the campe and vnderstanding of the reuolt of the nauy at Misenum hee returned to Rome euer fearing most the blowe that came last and carelesse in the meane time of the mayne chance For whereas it had bene a course most cleare in reason and euident in sight to haue passed the Apennine with his army which then was in hart and strength and so to haue assayled the enemies almost consumed with hunger and colde he on the other side fell to a Taking some with him to Rome but principally in that he sent away with his brother as appeareth anone six cohorts fiue hundreth horse into Campania out of this army dispersing his forces and so abandoned his best and faithfullest soldiers whom he left thereby to the enemies mercy and deliuered them as it were into their handes contrary to the opinion of the most expert Centurions who disliked greatly the disuniting and if their aduise had beene asked would haue tolde plainly their minde but Vitellius inwardest frendes hindered them from accesse the Princes eares being so framed that he accounted all sharpe that was wholesome liked of nothing but that which was presently pleasant and afterwards hurtfull But the nauy at Misenum so much the audaciousnesse euen of one single man in ciuill dissensions may work was brought to reuolt by the meanes of Claudius Fauentinus a Centurion ignominiously cassed by Galba who counterfayting letters from Vespasian with hope of reward induced them to change their allegeance The Admirall thereof was Claudius Apollinaris a man that neither constantly kept his fidelity nor stoutly maintained his treason and Apinius Tiro who had bene Pretor and was then by chance at Minturnae offred himselfe for a head to them which reuolted by whose meanes the colonies and free townes were drawen to the side the Puteolani shewing themselues most forward that way But Capua on the other side persisted firme to Vitellius whereupon there passed vnder coulour of the publicke cause much priuate choler betweene the two townes To the pacification of these troubles Vitellius chose out Claudius Iulianus who had lately bene Admirall of the nauie at Misenum and gouerned himselfe in that charge with great mildnesse as the meetest man to appease the souldiers mindes assigning vnto him a power of one cittie-cohort and the “ Gladiatores fencers which were vnder his charge Assoone as the campes approched the one to the other Iulianus without any great stay turned to Vespasians side and so iointly they tooke Tarracian a place of great strength in regarde of the walles and situation if the men within had bene faithfull and good Vpon knowledge whereof Vitellius leauing part of his forces at Narnia with the captaines of his Garde sent his brother Lucius Vitellius away with six cohorts and fiue hundreth horse to manage the warre of Campania Himselfe beeing greatly perplexed in minde was yet somewhat reuiued with the earnest goodwill of the soldiers and clamours of the towne people requiring armour and weapons whom being nought els but a cowardly companie whose
in amongst them whom the Vitellianists also did kill without any difference Six shippes vppon the first notice of the surprise escaped and with them Apollinaris the Admirall of the nauy the rest were either taken vpon the shoare or els suncke in the sea being ouercharged with the company that leapt into them Iulianus was brought to Lucius Vitellius and scourged then slaine in his presence Diuerse haue accused Triaria Lucius Vitellius wife that girding hir selfe with a sworde like a souldier she should haue demeaned hir selfe cruelly and insolently amidst the pitifull cryes lamentable destruction of the poore towne Lucius himselfe sent a lawrell in token of victory to his brother requiring withall his further pleasure whether he should returne presently to Rome or stay subdue the rest of Campania the interposing of which litle time fell out greatly for the good both of Vespasians side and of the state For if the soldiers presently after their victory had directly repaired to Rome whiles they were in courage and hart by reason of their late good successe beside a naturall obstinatenesse in them the matter would not haue bene ended so quickly without much adoe and the euident destruction of the citty For Lucius Vitellius albeit he were infamous otherwise yet was he industrious and powerable not as good men by vertues but by vices as the worst sorte XV. The Flauian armie entreth the citty the Praetorian campe is taken by force Vitellius is slaine WHILES these things were a doing of Vitellius side Vespasians armie remooued from Narnia to Otriculum and at good leysure celebrated the a Saturnalia beginne the 17. of December and continue till the 24. of the same moneth Saturnalia there The cause of this harmefull delay was to stay for Mutianus some impute it to Antonius as done with a traiterous intent vpon letters receiued from Vitellius wherein he offred vnto him the Consulship and his daughter in mariage with a great dower if hee would reuolt in rewarde of treason others affirme that all this was falsely surmised and maliciously spred to please Mutianus withall Some are of opinion that it was the purpose of all the Commaunders rather to put the citty in feare then to seeke to take it by force seeing the most and principall cohortes had already relinquished Vitellius and now all his strength being cut off it was likely he would resigne the Empire without further coaction but all that course was crossed first by Sabinus hast and then through his cowardlinesse who rashly taking armes was not afterwarde able to keepe a fortresse of that strength and which euen great armies could not haue taken against three onely cohorts But the fault cannot well bee imputed to one which was common to all For both Mutianus was some occasion of stay by meanes of his doubtfull letters and Antonius by his preposterous obeying or in seeking to auoide enuy deserued great blame and the other Commaunders presuming the warre to bee finished made the ende of it more notorious Neither did Petilius Cerealis who was sent before with a thousand horse to coast through the cuntrey of the Sabins and so to enter the citty by Via Salaria make that hast as the matter required till in the ende the newes of the siege of the Capitoll made them stirre al at once Antonius came forward by the Flaminian way to Saxa rubra late in the night too late to succour For there he vnderstood that Sabinus was slaine the Capitol burned the city in great feare and al things went il it was also declared that the people and bondmen were arming for Vitellius And besides Petilius Cerealis had receiued a blowe in a skirmish of horsemen by running headlong and charging rashly vpon the enemy presuming them conquered persons but the Vitellianists with horsemen and footemen interlaced together valiantly receiued the charge This skirmish was not farre from the citty among the buildings and gardens and crosselanes wherewith the Vitellianists were well acquainted the other not which was an occasion to dismay them the more and besides all their horsemen were not of one minde and affection some being of those that hauing lately yeelded at Narnia kept aloofe meaning afterward to close with the winner Tullius Flauianus captaine of a wing was taken prisoner the rest ranne away dishonourably but the Vitellianists pursued no further then to Fidenae By this successe the affection of the people was greatly augmented immediately the townesmen tooke armes few had any militare targets but the most tooke vp whatsoeuer weapons came to their hands and forthwith required the signe of the battel Vitellius thanked them hartily willed them to issue out with al speed in defence of the citty Then he called a Senate wherein Embassadors were appointed to the armies which as in the name and vnder the colour of a common weale should persuade them to peace and agreement The hap of the Embassadors was not al alike For they which met with Petilius Cerealis incurred extreme dāger the soldiers refusing vtterly al conditions of peace and Arulenus Rusticus the Pretor was wounded which beside the enormity of the fact in the person of an Embassadour and a Pretor was also more hainous in regard of the worthinesse of the man His traine was dispersed and one of his sergeants next before him slaine for presuming among armed men to make way thorow the prease for his master and vnlesse they had beene defended by a bande that the captaine assigned to garde them the right priuiledge of Embassadors reputed sacred euen among strange nations had through ciuil fury bene violated by murder euen at the very gates wals of the citty But they which came to Antonius found more curteous entertainement not because those souldiers were ciuiller but because the General was of greater autority Into the company of these Embassadors Musonius Rufus inserted himselfe a gentlemā of Rome addicted to the study of philosophy after the way of the Stoicks who thrusting himselfe among the companies of the soldiers began to discourse of the good of peace danger of warre to schoole men in armes at which many scoffed more grew weary of it some forbare not to push spurne him away til in the end by the aduise of the discreeter sort and the threats of the other he was persuaded to desist from his vnseasonable wisedome The Vestall virgins also were sent with letters from Vitellius to Antonius requesting him to differre the battaile for one day by means of that little delay with more ease would all points be agreed vpon The virgins were sent home with honour answere was made to Vitellius that by the murder of Sabinus the burning of the Capitol al parle of peace was cut off and al extremity to be looked for notwithstanding Antonius calling his army together assaied to pacifie them thus farre that they would bee content to encampe themselues for that present at the Miluian bridge and not to
Priscus who had beene captaine of the garde vnder Vitellius killed himselfe rather for shame then vpon necessity His fellow Alphenus Varus ouerliued his honour and sawe himselfe counted a cowarde and a person infamed Asiaticus for his lewde credit vnder his master made satisfaction now as a freed-man with a seruile death VI. The rebellion of the Batauians and Caninefates through the instigation of Julius Ciuilis AT the same time the newes of the ouerthrow in Germanie was rife in the citty and the citty nothing troubled thereat Euery man talked how the armies were slaine the standing campes of the Legions taken by the enemy how France had reuolted as if it had beene newes of a strange cuntrey not a calamity that touched themselues That a This warre is shortly set downe by Josephus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. c 11. and touched by Frontinus Strateg l. 4. c. 3. and Sarisburiensis in Polycratico warre vpon what causes it arose and with how great banding it was maintained both of our allies and of forraine nations I will now declare from the beginning The Batauians whilest they dwelt beyond the Rhene were a part and member of the Catti and being throwen out by ciuill sedition they seated themselues in the vttermost limits of France which then lay voide of inhabitants and tooke in withall the ilande that is situate in the flattes and hath the Ocean before behinde and on either side the riuer of Rhene And albeit they were confederate with the Romans much mightier then themselues yee were they not as it happeneth in such ouermatches spoiled of their riches and welth but onely bound to minister men and armour to the behoofe of the Empire and so for a long time they were emploied in the German warres Afterward they became more famous by reason of certaine cohortes of them sent ouer into Britannie by the Romans vnder the leading of certaine noblemen of their owne nation according to their ancient order and beside there remained behinde in the cuntrey a company of chosen horsemen practised especially in swimming so that they would in whole troupes passe ouer the Rhene in harnish gouerning their horse in their handes The principall men among them and farre excelling all other by reason of their royall parentage were Iulius Paulus and a Tacitus himselfe 1. Hist p. 43 Plutarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Frontinus and Sarisburiensis call him Iulius Ciuilis but howsoeuer their names were it seemes by Tacitus pag. 169. 5. that Paulus Ciuilis were brethren Claudius Ciuilis whereof Paulus was lately put to death by Fonteius Capito vnder colour of a falsely surmised rebellion Ciuilis was sent in chaines vnto Nero and acquitted by Galba and againe vnder Vitellius b 1. Hist p. 43. 25. escaped narrowly the army instantly demanding his death Vpon these causes his anger was founded and vpon our troubles his hope But being of a crafty and suttle wit aboue the ordinary of those barbarous people and carying himselfe rather like a Sertorius or an Hannibal as indeed in the maime of his face he was not vnlike fearing lest if he should make open defection our armies would aduance themselues against him as an enemie he couered his dealing with loue to Vespasian fauour toward the side And in trueth c By this circumstance we may gather that the German rebellion beganne about the beginning of winter for Tacitus in noting both places and times is in my sense too negligent Antonius Primus had sent certaine letters vnto him wherein hee willed him to diuert awaie the Aides d Tac. 2 Hist p. 105. 22. sent for by Vitellius and vnder shew of trouble in Germanie to stay the Legions there The same aduise also Hordeonius Flaccus had giuen him by worde of mouth partlie vpon good will to Vespasian and partly vpon a care of the state which seemed to be in euident perill of vtter destruction if a new warre should beginne and so manie thousandes of armed men passe into Italie Thus Ciuilis being resolued to breake and yet concealing his purpose as meaning to gouerne himselfe in the action by the euent beganne after this maner to worke innouation At the commandement of Vitellius the able men of the Batauians were summoned to be pressed to the warre which being of it selfe a burdensome thing was made much more insupportable by the auarice and lewd disposition of the officers who billed chiefly such as were old or impotēt persons thē for money released thē againe such as were vnder age faire as many of their youths are of a comly tal stature thē they caried away to abuse their bodies At these dealings the cuntrey being highly offended certaine factious heads were suborned to persuade them to refuse to be pressed Whereupon Ciuilis assembling into a sacred wood vnder pretence of a banquet the nobility of the nation and the chiefe of the cōmunalty when he saw them at far in the night merry warmed with wine he beginneth a solēne oration recounting first the praises glorious acts of the nation then discourseth vnto them of the iniuries insolēcies other miseries whereūto they are subiect that are subiect vnto a strange nation for that now they were not with the Romans in state of frendes and allies as in former times but flat seruants and slaues and that not vnder a Lieutenant general which were more tolerable albeit they come with a chargeable traine and a proud and disdainful kinde of commanding but they were deliuered into the handes of petty captaines Centurions whom when they had filled with spoiles and bloud then were they remoued and straight waies fresh hungry masters set ouer them and new deuises of polling inuented that now the day of the muster approched when children should bee drawen from their parents brethren from brethren neuer to see one another againe that which might the rather encourage them the Romans were neuer in so poore a case hauing nothing in their standing campes but a rich spoile and olde men to garde it wherefore they should onely lift vp their eies and not be afraide at the naked and bare names of Legions that they had strēgth of their own both of footmen and horse the Germans were allied vnto them in bloud the French likewise affected that euen the Romans themselues would not greatly mislike of this warre the losses whereof if any were they might impute to Vespasian and if they went through and conquered they should not be called to their account Hauing ended his speech with great approbation of the audience hee bound them with barbarous ceremonies and adiurations vsed by them in like cases in a firme association together Straightwaies messengers were dispatched to the Cani◠fates to induce them also into the league The Caninefates inhabite a parte of the ilande of the same language and race in valure equall to the Batauians but inferiour in number Then Ciuilis sent secrete messages to solicite
it grew for the soothsayers forewarned that the worke should not be defiled with stone or golde which had bene destinated to any other vse only the roofe was made hyer that alteration alone was not disallowed by the gods the former temple for want of proportion that way was thought to lacke statelinesse and maiesty conuenient for a building wherein such a masse of men should be holden XXI The Treueri and Lingones at the instigation of Classicus Tutor and Sabinus assembling secretely in counsell at Coleyn determine to reuolt from the Romans Vocula remooueth from Magontiacum to Coleyn Claudius Labeo maketh a roade against the Caninefates without great effect WHEN the death of Vitellius was heard of in France and Germanie it doubled the warre For Ciuilis now laying aside dissimulation declared himselfe and made open warre against the Roman Empire The Legions which had serued Vitellius wished rather forraine bondage then to haue Vespasian their Prince The Frenchmen conceiued courage and hope of freeing themselues from the yoke supposing that the same fortune was befallen to our armies in all places alike and indeede a rumour was noysed that our standing campes in Pannonia and Moesia were straitly besieged by the Sarmatians and Dacians the like was reported of Britannie But nothing perswaded them so much to beleeue that the Roman Empire was come to an ende as the burning of the Capitoll For the cittie had beene once before taken by the French but the seate of Iupiter then being vntaken the Empire stoode and remayned whereas nowe by this fatall fire a manifest signe of the gods heauy wrath and displeasure was giuen And the Druides out of their vayne superstitious learning did prophecie that the Empire of the worlde was to passe and bee seated beyonde the mountaines Moreouer a common fame went that the a Primores Galliarum ab Othone aduersus Vitellium missos who these primores Galiiarū were when and frō whēce sent by Otho against Vitellius I conceiue not vnlesse it be ment of the Roman Senatours whereof many were French by birth whom Otho assumed into his traine against Vitellius but men of their quality me thinke should haue no great cause to seeke so great an alteration noble men of France when they were sent by Otho against Vitellius did couenant togither before their departure that in case the Roman common wealth ceased not thus to be torne by multiplying of ciuill warres domesticall troubles one straight succeding another they would ioyntly attempt to recouer their ancient liberty againe But before the murther of Hordeonius Flaccus nothing brake out whereby the conspiracy might be perceyued after his death there passed messages betweene Ciuilis and Classicus captaine of the wing of the Treueri Classicus in birth and wealth farre exceeded the rest of that quarter he was extract from the line of their ancient kings his auncestours renowned in warre and in peace and himselfe boasted to be descended of enemies to the people of Rome rather then frendes Vnto him in this action adioyned themselues Iulius Tutor and Iulius Sabinus the one of Triers the other a Lingon Tutor was appointed by Vitellius ouerseer of the bancke of Rhene Sabinus besides a naturall vanity was pricked forward with the vaine glorie of a supposed kinred that his great grandmother for hir beauty had pleased Iulius Caesar when hee warred in France and was by him carnally knowen These three by secrete conferences searched the mindes and inclinations of the rest and when they had made acquainted and associated to them such as they supposed fit for the purpose they appointed a meeting in Coleyn in a priuate house for the publicke state of the citty vtterly abhorred all such attempts Notwithstanding certaine of the Vbij and Tungri were present at the consultation but the strongest part and that which caryed the matter was of the Treueri and Lingones Neither made they any long deliberation but all with one voyce cryed amaine that the Romans did nothing b Joseph lib. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 2. but rage in ciuill dissensions that the Legions were stayne Italie wasted and the cittie of Rome euen taken that all the armies were helde occupyed euery one with their seuerall warres and if the Alpes were fortifyed with good and sufficient garrison and so their liberty wunne and assured then might France determine at leysure what course to take of further proceeding and how farre they list to enlarge This was no sooner sayed then allowed a scruple remained concerning the remnant of the Roman soldiers Many were of minde that they were to be put to the sworde as mutinous and faithlesse persons and polluted with the bloud of their leaders but the opinion of sparing them preuailed lest hope of pardon being taken away they would become desperate So it was thought more conuenient by faire meanes to allure them to the party that the Lieutenants alone being made away the common soldiers would easily be wunne to the side vpon guiltinesse of their owne misdeeds and hope of impunity This was the forme of their first consultation and some were sent abroad into France to kindle and stirre vp the warre they themselues pretended all subiection and obedience to Vocula that they might oppresse him at the more vnawares Vocula had secrete intelligence hereof but hee had not forces to punish it his Legions being both thinne and vnstedfast So betweene vnsure souldiers and secret enemies supposing it the best way that now he could take to vse their owne artes against them he dissembled the matter went downe to Coleyn Thither Claudius Labeo was escaped hauing corrupted his keepers who as before we haue saide was taken and confined out of the way into Frisia and promising that if hee might haue men hee would goe into Batauia and reunite the greatest part of the cuntrey againe to the Roman Empire hauing a prety company of horsemen footemen assigned he durst not enterprise any thing amongst the Batauians but drew certaine of the Neruij and Bethasij after him into the fielde and rather by stealth then by way of open inuasion made some incursions vpon the Caninefates and Marsaci XXII Classicus and Tutor corrupt Voculaes souldiers Vocula at Nouesium is forsaken by his souldiers and slaine who immediately sweare fidelity to the Empire of France VOCVLA allured by the fraude of the Frenchmen remooueth towardes the enemye When they approched to Vetera Classicus and Tutor pricking before vnder colour of discouering met with the German captaines and concluded the bargaine and thereupon encamped their companies with a seuerall trench from the Legionarie souldiers At which signe of manifest contempt and reuolt Vocula conceiuing greate indignation cryed alowde that the Roman state was not by ciuill warres brought yet to so low an ebbe as that the Treueri also and Lingones neede to despise it so many cuntreies continuing faithfull our armies being victorious the fortune of the Empire standing entier and the gods ready
into thraldome How many battailes wee haue fought against the Cimbri and Teutones what paines our armies haue taken and with what successe wee haue handled our selues in the German warres for your sakes it is notoriously knowen neither doe we therefore with so much expense of money and men garde the Rhene for the safety of Italie but lest some other Ariouistus should passe and conquere the kingdome of France Or doe you thinke your selues better beloued of Ciuilis and the Batauians and the Germans ouer the Rhene then your fathers and grandfathers were of their predecessours the same causes still are remaining and so will be for euer to mooue the Germans to passe into France to wit satisfying of their pleasures and lusts auarice and desire of changing seate that leauing their mires and deserâ—es they may take possession of this fruitfull cuntrey and you the inhabitants thereof yea but liberty and glorious shewes are pretended Where was euer any I pray you that sought to enthrall or vsurpe ouer others but hee cloaked his purposes with such goodly titles France neuer was without petty tyrannes and warres till yee came vnder our iurisdiction Wee albeit we haue beene often prouoked haue put that onely as conquerours vpon you whereby peace might be maintained For neither peace can be maintayned without armes nor armes without wages nor wages without tribute all other things are alike to vs both you commonly gouerne our Legions you are the Presidents of these and other prouinces no prerogatiue is kept from you or reserued for vs. Againe they which dwell farre off feele the commoditie alike of a good Prince whereas tyrannes oppresse most the nearest As you endure and support with patience a barren yeare if it happen vnseasonable weather such other defects of nature euen so tolerate a little and beare with the riotous life or auarice of gouernours Faults will be so long as there be men but neither are they continuall and amends is commonly made by better which follow Vnlesse peraduenture you hope for a more moderate or easier gouernement vnder the raigne of Tutor and Classicus or that with lesse tribute then now is paied armies can be maintayned to holde out the Germans and Britans For if the Romans which the gods defende should be dispossessed what els can ensue but warres of nations against nations and the confusion of the whole worlde This frame is the workemanshippe of eight hundreth yeares good fortune and discipline which cannot bee dissolued without the destruction of the dissoluers but your danger which haue golde and riches the chiefest causes of warre of all is the greatest Therefore embrace you peace and loue that citty whereof both you and we are members alike You haue proued both fortunes let them be a warning vnto you to chuse rather subiection with safety then rebellion with ruine With this speech he settled their mindes and lightened their harts who feared a heauier doome XXXI Ciuilis and Classicus write to Cerealis AT the time that the Roman army was within Triers Ciuilis Classicus sent letters to Cerealis The contents were that Vespasian was dead although the Postes concealed the matter that Rome and Italie were consumed wasted with inward warre As for Mutianus and Domitian they were nothing els but vaine names without forces if Cerealis list vndertake the Empire of France it were his best course and they would not bee against it contenting themselues with their owne citties and confines or if battaile pleased him better euen that they would not refuse To these points Cerealis answered nothing to them but sent the messenger that brought the letters away to Domitian XXXII Ciuilis with his confederates ouerthrowen by Cerealis at Triers IN the meane season the enemies began to march approched on euery side in seueral coÌ„panies whom Cerealis permitting to ioine was blamed by many for suffring theÌ„ to vnite with whom he might haue fought single defeated them easily being diuided The Roman army cast a ditch and trench about their campe in the which they were before vnaduisedly lodged without any defence Among the captaines of the other side there was diuersity of opinions and the matter debated both waies Ciuilis thought it expedient to stay for the Germans comming which dwelt ouer the Rhene the terrour of which nations would treade vnderfoote the Roman powers as for the Frenchmen it mattered not much what way they went being nought els but a pray to the conquerours and yet the strength of France the Belgians had either openly declared for them or at least secretly wished them well Contrarily Tutor affirmed that by delay the Romans would growe and increase so many whole hostes comming in from euery side one Legion being already transported out of Britannie others sent for out of Spaine and many Legions at hande out of Italie not of raw souldiers but olde and well expert in warre as for the Germans they looked for what were they els but a kinde of vnprofitable troubles of a campe out of all awe and obedience to superiours that would not be commanded nor ruled but doe all as they listed themselues Now for money and gifts the onely meanes to corrupt the Germans the Romans had more abundancee and no man was so hasty to fight but would rather chuse quietnesse then danger with the same hire Whereas if they would presently fight Cerealis had no other Legions as yet but onely the remnants of the German army entaÌ„gled with an oath to the Empire of France And moreouer this their late vnlooked for successe against Valentinus and his rude vntrained company would be a bait vnto them and their General to further rashnesse and therefore they would without doubt venture againe and so fall into the handes not of an vnskilful youth better seene in words and babble then armes and militare feates but of Ciuilis and Classicus at the very sight of whom the enemies would tremble calling to remembrance their former feares and flightes and famines and how oft they had beene taken and pardoned their liues Neither doe the Treueri and Lingones keepe in with the Romans now vpon loue and goodwill but for feare which take ye away and they will resume their weapons againe Classicus approuing rhe opinion of Tutor decided the controuersie and forthwith they proceede to execution The middle battell was assigned to the Vbij and Lingones on the right side stoode the Batauian cohorts on the lefte the Bructeri and Tencteri in this array partly from the mountaines and part betweene the way and the riuer Mosella they assayled our army so sodainly that Cerealis lying abroad that night out of the campe had worde brought to his chamber and bed all at one instant that the battaile was begunne and his men ouerthrowen rating at the first their dastardlinesse that brought in the newes vntill with his owne eyes hee sawe the whole message clearely confirmed the campe of the Legions broken vp and entred into the horsemen
common knowledge of whole mankinde expelling withall the professours of wisedome and banishing all good learning and artes lest any sparckle of honesty should by mischance remaine within view For certaine we gaue great proofe of our patience and as our ancestours attained and sawe the highest pitch and perfection of liberty so we of seruility being depriued by intelligencers and spies of the commerce of hearing and speaking togither yea memory also as well as toung we had lost had it lyen in our power aswell to forget as it did to keepe silence Now at the length our former spirits beginne to reuiue howbeit although Prince Nerua straight at the first entry of this most happy age hath wisely matched and mixed together two things heretofore insociable the souerayntie of one with the libertie of all and Traian his sonne proceeding in the same traine maketh the Empire dayly more supportable and easie so that not onely wee may hope and conceaue prayers for the publicke security but see and touch the effect of our prayers assured and confirmed vnto vs yet notwithstanding by proofe it is found such is the nature of mans imbecillity the remedies to bee of slower operation then were the diseases And as our bodies waxe and gather strength by leysure perish in a moment so good wittes and good learning are sooner cut downe then raysed againe For the sweetenesse and pleasing of idlenesse and of doing nothing creepeth into our senses and slouthfulnesse which at the first wee detest by custome obtayneth our fauour and loue to omit that in a For so long Domitian was Emperour fifteene yeares a great part of mans age many haue beene wasted by casuall chances the most sufficient and forwarde by the cruelty of the Prince a fewe of vs onely remaining that haue ouerliued as I may say not onely others but also our selues hauing so many yeares subducted out of the midst of our life in which wee proceeded in silence from youngmen to aged from aged almost to the graue And yet peraduenture it shall not repent me to compose though in rude and vnframed speech a b By a memory of their thraldome he meaneth as I suppose his bookes of Hist by a testimonie of their present felicity a volume intended by him of Nerua and Traians time as it appeares in the preface of the history but neuer I thinke performed memory of our late thraldome and a testimony of our present felicities In the meane while this treatise I haue specially vowed to the honour of Agricola my father in law and therefore as being in discharge of duety and carying profession of kindenesse it shall either abroade purchase prayse or be couered at least with some curteous excuse CNEVS IVLIVS AGRICOLA was borne in the ancient and noble colony of Forum Iulium both his grandfathers had bene the Princes Procuratours an honorable gentlemans place His father c Seneca de benefic lib. 2. Si exemplo magni a nimi opus est vtemur Groecini Julij viâ—i egregij quem C. Caesar occidit ob hoc vnum quod melior vir esset quam esse quenquam tyranno expediret Iulius Groecinus was by calling a Senatour for eloquence and wisedome famous by reason of which qualities hee incurred the displeasure of Caius the Emperour being willed by him to preferre accusation against Marcus Silanus which because he refused hee was put to death His mother Iulia Procilla a mirrour of rare chastity vnder whose wing and motherly care Agricola being brought vp passed ouer his infancy and youth in the exercise of all good qualities and artes And beside his owne disposition clearely and wholly giuen to good it was a good meanes to withholde him from the allurements of vice that hee happened to haue the towne of a Strabo lib. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in another place he attributeth to the Massilians the commendation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Massilia for the place of his first aboade and study in youth a citty compounded of Greeke ciuility and prouinciall frugality well sorted togither I haue hearde him say I remember that being young hee had addicted himselfe to the study of philosophy in earnester sorte and beyonde the measure of a Roman and Senatour had not the wisedome of his mother corrected and cooled the heate of that humour That noble and hawtie minde of his was caried to embrace with more feruency then discretion the bewty and gay shewe of that high and glorious profession but reason anone and riper yeares reformed his iudgement and so hee retayned a point most harde to bee kept of wisedome a meane His first seruice in warre was in Britanny vnder Suetonius Paullinus into whose trayne being assumed hee was of that diligent and discrete leader well liked not spending the time in riot after the maner of youthes which conuert warfare into wantonnesse nor accepting the title of Tribuneshippe without skill in the seruice as a calling of ease for pleasure and gadding abroade but wholly directing his minde to knowe the prouince to bee knowen of the army to learne of the skilfull to follow the best to desire no imployment vpon vaine glory to refuse none for feare ioyntly to shewe himselfe both carefull and earnest in action Neuer did our affaires in Britannie stande at anie time in the like termes of doubt and distresse our olde souldiers were slaine our b CamalodunuÌ„ and Verulanium but this later was municipium not colonia in the straitnesse of termes colonies burned our armies entrapped then we fought for to liue afterwarde for to winne All which exploites though performed by the counsaile conduict of another and consequently the credit of the cause glory of recouering the cuntrey appertaining to the Lieutenant yet were they occasions to increase in the young man skill experience and desire of militare renowne a quality not so acceptable in those seasons wherein great vertues were greatly suspected and a great fame endangered more then a bad From Britanny departing to Rome to beare offices he ioyned himselfe in matrimony with Domitia Decidiana a woman of honourable birth which mariage was a countenance and a strength to his further purposes and they liued together in marueilous vnity with mutuall loue and “ Or following another sence of the latine word which may seeme doubtfull and ech preferring the other both vertuous alike sauing that the commendation is so much the greater in a good wife as the reproch is the more in a bad yeelding preeminence the one to the other a point otherwise not greatly materiall sauing that a good wife is a great commendation aswell as an ill a reproch Being Questor his lot fell in Asia with Saluius Titianus the Proconsul Neither was he withdrawen by that meanes from his wonted integrity although both the prouince was rich and readily ministred matter to offende and his Proconsull a man of insatiable greedinesse would with any remisnesse willingly haue redeemed at his handes mutuall
238. 2 That is In reading of stories he principal profit consisteth not in knowing onely the ende of things and euents but euery man desireth to vnderstand the causes of that which passed the maner of doing the drift and deuises of the doers the occurrences of fortune to be ignorâ—nt of nothing which belonged any way to the action 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the like lib. 11. p. 505. For this vertue TheopoÌ„pus is by the same f In fragmentis Dionysius extolled and praised in most exquisite maner 3 That is Thâ— last of his vertues and most peculiar and proper as being by no other historie writer old not new so exactly performed is this in euerie action not onely to see and declare what was apparent to the view of the worlde but also to search out the secretâ— causes of actions and to see into the affections of their minds who were agenâ—s things not easily seene of the common sort and finally to discouer all the misteries both of pretended vertue and cloked vice the examination and triall by Theopompus writings being no lesse exact then the arraigment of soules fabulously deuised before the infernall iudges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saieth he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now Tacitus in this place setting vs downe a theoreme of history wherein without controuersie he excelled that an historiographer is to giue knowledge of counsailes and causes another naturall wherein he had no great grace that euentus plerumque suat fortuiti that is either had no causes or no causes that could be discouered may seeme in 4 In diuision of notions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to haue seene very nearely but yet in 5 In composition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to haue looked not so well about him ioyning somewhat strangely two contrary notions togither 19. Citty-souldier The soldiers that were resiant at Rome were of two sortes Praetoriani and Vrbani propriè dicti both of them by Tacitus here and elswhere comprehended by the name of Miles vrbanus Miles vrbanus longo Caesarum sacramento imbutus and againe ne vrbano quidem militi satis confisus meaning onely or principally of the Praetorians In his proper signification and standing in opposition to Praetoriani Tacit. pag. 58. addidit classi Vrbanas cohortes plerosque è Praetorianis againe quod rarò aliâs Praetorianus Vrbanusque miles in aciem deducti now when it doeth stande for the one or for both onely circumstance must helpe to discerne 20. That secrete of state disclosed Euulgato imperij arcano Euulgare arcana imperij may seeme to be that which Dionysius in the place before alleadged calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in affaires of estate to reueale the good openly pretended and the ill secretely intended Notwithstanding arcana imperij being in mine opinion so sundry in nature can hardly bee bounded with one definition Tacitus a pag. 2â—1 Annal. 2. Censuit Gallus in quinquennium magistratuum comitia habenda haud dubium erat eam sententiam altiùs penetrare arcana imperij tentari the secrete of state herein was that whereas hope of honour or gaine is the onely soueraine meane in court to retaine suiters and seruants in diligence and due deuotion to speede so manie at once were to make so manie slacke wayters and for so manie yeares before hande to driue the rest to despaire In the same b pag. 283. booke Augustus inter alia dominationis arcana vetitis nisi permissu ingredi senatoribus aut equitibus Romanis illustribus seposuit Aegyptum ne fame vrgeret Italiam quisquis eam prouinciam claustraque terrae ac maris quamuis leui praesidio aduersus ingentes exercitus insedisset the secrete is into a cuntrey which rebelling might endanger the state neuer to suffer men of great houses or great credit among the common people to haue accesse In this place as it may seeme are meÌ„t the secrete trueths of apparences in affaires of estate for the masse of the people is guided and gouerned more by ceremonies and shewes then matter in substance The example is of an act done in vndue place whereof there had beene no precedent before In coÌ„gruity a Prince of Rome were to be created at Rome an Emperour in the seate-towne of the Empire and so it had beene alwaies obserued but the trueth was and so much the secrete imported that in substance it mattered not much where he were made that afterward could maintaine it with armes and with the good liking of the subiects of the Empire This secrete of state Galba disclosed and making his profit thereof against Nero gaue occasion to other to practise the like against him The souldiers of Germany in the choise of Vitellius as Plutarch reporteth 1 That is Goe too now by chusing Vitellius let vs shewe to the worlde that wee are able to make an Emperour better theÌ„ those of Spaine and Portugall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vitellius likewise passed out the same way he came in Nam posse ab exercitu principem fieri sibi ipsi Vitellius documento est sayeth Mutianus in Tacitus lib. 2. c pag. 95. Hist And generally after this secrete was by Galba once disclosed moe Emperours were made abroad then at Rome Beside these imperij or dominationis arcana d Ann. 1. pag. 218. Tacitus maketh mention of arcana domus Augustae that is secretes of court or of Palace and 3 e pag. 309. Ann. of secreta imperatorum 21. Making indeede very bolde with their Prince as being new in state Tacitus 2. Hist Recens Galbae principatu censuerant patres vt accusatorum causae noscerentur and 4. Hist in the oration of Curtius Montanus Elanguimus P.C. nec iam ille senatus sumus qui occiso Nerone delatores ministros more maiorum puniendos flagitabat Optimus est post malum principem dies primus Now accusatores promoters or enformers are reckened inter instrumenta imperij with as good reason as one Locusta in Claudius and Neroes time nuper veneficij damnata diu inter instrumenta regnihabita saieth Tacitus 12. f pag. 446. Annal. For accusers certaine it is that many good Princes or not verie bad haue beene content to mainetaine them Mutianus the mouth of Vespasian censuit prolixè pro accusatoribus Tacitus 4. g pag. 176. Hist Heluidius Priscus suing Eprius Marcellus vpon the decree Dubiâ voluntate Galbae became sodainly non-suite ibidem 22. His iourney to Rome was slow At what day Galba begaÌ„ his iourney froÌ„ Spaine to Rome wheÌ„ he entred the citty the stories being lost it is hard precisely to determin NotwithstaÌ„ding to giue some light to this place withall to yeeld a reasoÌ„ of the times set downe by me h In the ende of Nero and beginning of Galba elswhere I thinke good to note the reasoÌ„s which moued me thereto First Galerio Trachalo Silio Italico Coss Neapoli de motu GalliaruÌ„ cognouit Nero
vniones nasci certuÌ„ est whereas the coÌ„mendation of pearle coÌ„sisteth in caÌ„dore magnitudine or be leuore poÌ„dere But in hope of the Brittish such as they were Iulius Caesar saieth b cap. 47. Suetonius first went into Britanny ex tis contextum thoracem Veneri genitrici consecrauit Plinie 14. p. 245. Pollicy CoÌ„siliuÌ„ As in a natural body too litle is vnperfect too great vnwealdy so in a politicke both the extremities are weake not defeÌ„sible although peradueÌ„ture aswell in the one body as in the other 1 Fulnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 induceth lesse daÌ„ger generally theÌ„ 2 â—mâ—tinesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth This incoÌ„uenience Augustus wisely foreseeing in his time wheÌ„as the RomaÌ„ empire was groweÌ„ to that greatnes vt iaÌ„ mole laboraret sua saith Liuy restrained first of al that infinite desire of enlarging of which act as a thing most aduisedly done Iulianê° Caesaribê° bringeth Augustus himselfe discoursing in these words 3 That â— The assures of the 〈◊〉 I settled sâ— that â—t was â—ecome as strong and as hard to make a breach inâ—o at a dia â—at 〈◊〉 I yeelded not to s â—nmeasurable desires of conquering 〈◊〉 more more b â—â—ontented my seâ—fe with thâ—â— two limits â—iâ— were appointed bâ— natu e of Danubius and â—u phriteâ— afterwardeth Gods sparing me longer life I vndâ—rtooke â—ome nec ssary matters and those dispatcheâ— sought not occasion to make still warre vpon warre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. After the death of Augustus a booke was produced writeÌ„ with his owne hand in the which saith Tac. 1. Ann. opes publicae coÌ„tinebaÌ„tur quaÌ„tuÌ„ ciuiuÌ„ socioâ—uÌ„que in armis quoâ— classes regna prouinciae tributa aut vectigalia et necessitates aclargitiones addider atque in super CoÌ„siliuÌ„ saieth he vsing the saÌ„e word in both places speaking of the saÌ„e matter coerteÌ„di intra terminos imperij incertuÌ„ metu an ê‘ inuidiaÌ„ Dio. l. 56. 4 He gauâ— theÌ„ adu se to content themselues w th â—â—eir present estate and in no case to seeke to enlarge the â—â—â—tes of the Empire for it wouâ—d be both hard to be kept and â—â—danger he saâ—d eâ—en that which they had and thiâ— precept he alwaies obserued him selfe not onely in worde but in deede and effect 〈◊〉 using â—h naâ— with great facility he might to conquere any more of the barbarous natâ—â—â—s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. p. 250. To buy corne The RomaÌ„s beside tribute imposed vpoÌ„ the cuÌ„treies subdued such at least as yeelded coÌ„modity therof a proportioÌ„ in corne coÌ„moÌ„ly the teÌ„th part beside for the prouision of the LieutenaÌ„t soldiers maintained there other like purposes at a reasonable price In gathering whereof the purueiours takers sometime the head officers vsed many coÌ„cussions vnlawful exactioÌ„s as appeareth at large in Tullies fifth oratioÌ„ against Verres In Britanny it seemed the RomaÌ„s had ingrossed all the corne of the cuntrey and instituting a monopoly thereof compelled the poore Britans to buy at their handes and their price and by and by laying a new charge vpon theÌ„ as to vittaile the army or such like to sell it againe vnder foote Moreouer the carttakers for cariage of prouision froÌ„ Canterbury for example to London would take vp carts at Câ—erlil or make them pay well to be spared wheras the same thing might haue bene done without any molestation at all of the subiect but not with like gaine to the officers These abuses or other of this kinde are ment in this place as I vnderstand it submitting my iudgement herein to men of better experience that way 16. p. 263. The most capitall kinde of enemies coÌ„meÌ„ders To hurt or disgrace by way of coÌ„mendatioÌ„ albeit it seemeth a straÌ„ge positioÌ„ at the first sight yet may be daily is both easily diuersly performed For exaÌ„ple To coÌ„mende a maÌ„ to his Prince for those qualities wherein the Prince himselfe either by his place ought to excell or otherwise vpoÌ„ some speciall fancy affecteth to excell principally if he finde any weaknes that way in himselfe is one of the most suttle ready pernicios means to worke a great maÌ„ in disgrace with his Prince Whether that humor were with the rest infused into vs at our beginning I know not but I surely beleeue that no maÌ„ liueth so vtterly voide of good parts but that he supposeth he hath some special gift aboue most meÌ„ some way or other the nature motioÌ„s of which humor who so can marke obserue in his Prince to take where aduaÌ„tage is offred worke as the matter doth yeeld shall seldome waÌ„t meanes to doe harme to note wherein they delight and please themselues beeing as ready a meanes to doe hurt eueÌ„ with the good Princes as to c Metus principis rimâ—r as Tig Ilinus d d with Nero. sâ—e â—acitus 14. An p. 504. feele search out what they feared hath beene with the bad For if all kinde of riuality breede in priuate men causes of grudge and dislike what may the subiect attende from his Prince whose minde as his body is more tender more apt to receiue offensiue impressions in so great means to offend but assured destruction be the concurrency founded vpon neuer so small trifling a point a Diodorus li. 15 p. 461. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dionysius the elder vpoÌ„ some gentle phrenesy hauing a desire to become in his olde daies a writer of Tragedies hated imprisoned tortured Philoxenus the poet who seemed to stand in his light b Obiiciebant etiaÌ„ eloquentiae laudeÌ„ vni sibi asciscere carmina crebrius fictitare postquam Neroni amor eorum venisset Tacit. The first disgrace of Seneca with Nero was grounded vpon a suppose that Seneca sought to excell him in eloquence and making of verses vnto which studies the Prince in those daies had wholy betaken himselfe and in his later times setling his fancy and loue vpon singing and playing in stages qualities vnseemely for his estate c Sueton. Nerone cap 54. he cast out of fauour then made away Paris the stageplaier as his concurrent in that profession Now by way of commendation Poppaea Sabina commending the gentlemanly qualities of Otho albeit she did it to another intent yet wrought she vnawares his d Tac. 13. Ann. p. 471. deticitur familiaritate sueta post congressu comitatis Otho postremo ne in vrbe aemulatus ageret prouinciae Lusitaniae praeficitur discredit with the same Nero. And for my part I am not resolued how an excelleÌ„t poet of our time obserued coÌ„gruity which before a Prince that esteemed it more then his crowne to be accounted the most beautifull personage in the world maketh one extoll his owne brother so highly yea and preferre him also before the king himselfe in that point being a point so prone to engender emulation emulatioÌ„ in that kinde dangerous effects