lamentation yea priuat murmurings and scarce credible that the grandfather could indure to heare it reade it and publish it were it not that the letters of Actius the Centurion and Didymus his freed man did declare the names of such bondslaues which had either stroken Drusus or put him in a fright as he went out of his chamber Yea the Centurion added his owne words full of crueltie against Drusus as a matter worthy praise and Drusus answere againe as he fainted and drew towards his end in which faining as though he had been distracted of his wits wished Tiberius all ill luck and misfortune and then seeing himselfe past all hope of life cursed him most deadly praying the gods that as he had slaine his daughter in law his brothers sonne and his nephewes and filled all his house with bloud so they would reuenge and punish him for an example to his name his stock predecessors and posteritie The Lords of the Senate were troubled with these speeches making shew of detesting them but they were stricken into a feare and admiration that he who had been so cunning and craftie heretofore in cloking his lewdnes should now become so confident that as though the walles were throwne down he durst shew that his nephew beaten by his Centurion and strooken by his slaues should aske for meate in vaine to saue his life This griefe was scarse gone but the next newes were of Agrippina whom I thinke since Seianus death vntill now liued with hope and seeing that crueltie was no whit remitted willingly ended her life vnlesse that famished for want of sustenance it was falsely giuen out she died that death of her selfe For Tiberius layde grieuous crimes to her charge accusing her of vncleanes of life and that Asinius Gallus was the adulterer and that seeing him dead she loathed any longer to liue But in very deede Agrippina not contented with reason and greedy of rule taking vpon her cares fit rather for men then women had shaken off all vices incident to her owne sexe She died the selfe-same day that two yeeres before Seianus died which Caesar thought worthy of record and vaunted that she had neither been strangled nor throwne headlong from the Gemonies For this he had thanks giuen him by the Senate and order taken that the fifteenth Kalends of Nouember which was the day they both died some gift should be offered vp to Iupiter Not long after Cocceius Nerua who was continually at the Princes elbow a man very expert in diuine and humane lawes being in perfect disposition of body resolued with himselfe to die which when Tiberius vnderstood he went to visit him sate by him and inquired the causes of his intention and intreated him confessing at last that it would be a burden to his conscience and a discredit if the chiefest of his friends should without cause of death shew himselfe weary of life But Nerua disliking his speech would take no more sustenance Those which best knew his meaning gaue out that deepely seeing into what calamities the common wealth was like to fall into moued with anger and feare whilest his credit was vntouched and his person vnattempted would end his life with that honest death Agrippinaes ruine drew with it which is scarse credible Plancinaes destruction She had beene once wife vnto Gn. Piso and reioysed openly at Germanicus death and when Piso was slaine she was saued no lesse by Augustaes prayers then ill will she bare Agrippina As soone as hatred and fauour failed right tooke place and being accused of knowen crimes with her owne hand receiued rather late then vndeserued punishment Among other griefes in a dolefull and sad citie this was one that Iulia daughter vnto Drusus once Neroes wife married againe into Rubellius Blandus familie whose grandfather Tiburtes a gentleman of Rome most men knew In the end of this yeare the death of Aelius Lamia was celebrated with funerals proper to a Censor who at last being discharged of the gouernment of Syria which he had in shew only was made gouernor of the citie He was descended of a noble stock and was a strong liuely old man and the gouernment of the prouince denied him augmented his woorth Then Flaccus Pomponius Propretor of Syria being dead Caesars letters were recited in which he complained that if there were any notable man and fit to rule an armie he refused the charge and therefore he was forced through that necessitie to intreate such as had beene Consuls to take vpon them the rule of the prouinces forgetting that Arruntius had beene hindered ten yeeres from going into Spaine The same yeere died M. Lepidus of whose moderation and wisedome I haue spoken sufficiently in other bookes and his nobilitie needeth no farther proofe for the Aemilian family hath brought foorth many good citizens and although some of them haue beene of corrupt manners yet liued in good and honorable estate VII A Phoenix seene in AEgypt how Getulicus escaped Tiberius crueltie WHen Paullus Fabius and L. Vitellius were Consuls after manie ages were past the birde Phoenix came into AEgypt and ministred matter to the most learned of the countrey and also Greekes of disputing many things concerning that miracle Of which it seemeth good vnto me to laye downe such things as they agree of and manie which rest doubtfull yet notwithstanding worthie the knowledge That that birde is consecrated to the sunne and that it differeth in the beake and varietie of feathers from other birds all do accord which haue described her shape and forme but of the number of her yeeres there are diuers reports The common opinion is that she liueth fiue hundred yeeres some affirme that she liueth a thousand foure hundred threescore and one yeere And the first of these kindes of birdes flew to the citie called Heliopolis with a great multitude of other birdes with her woondering at her new shape in Sesostris time after that in Amasis and Ptolemaeus raigne which of the Macedonians was the third King of Aegypt But antiquitie is darke and obscure Betwixt Ptolemaeus raigne and Tiberius there were scarse two hundred and fiftie yeeres Whereupon some thought that this was no true Phoenix nor come from the land of Arabia and that it had nothing of that which antiquitie hath attributed and confirmed to be in that kind For when they haue ended the number of their yeeres and that their ende approcheth they build their nest in their countrey and in it cast seede of generation of which a yong one doth rise whose first care is being growen to ripenes to burie the olde And that not at all aduentures but hauing taken vp a certaine waight of the stone Murrha and tried the carrieng of it a long iourney when she perceiueth her selfe able to indure and carrie such a burthen and to accomplish the voiage she lifteth vp her fathers bodie and carrieth it to the altar of the sunne and there doth burne and sacrifice it These things are vncertaine and fabulously
he for his owne part being lodged among sauage and barbarous people did from his cabine see the enemie euery howre The baser sort came murmuring about him and stirred vp others with diuers encouragements some reprochfully shewing the wales of their stipes some their gray haires some their ragged torne coates some their naked bodies At last they grew into such a fury and rage that they purposed of three legions shuffled together to make one but they changed that deuise very quickly euery one through emulation coueting that honor for his owne legion and pitched the three standarts and ensignes together withall they threw vp mounds of turfes and placed on it a Tribunall to the end the seate might be more conspicuous As they hastned to finish the worke Blaesus came in among them rebuking some and hindering now one now another and crying alowde In my bloud rather embrue your hands for it is a lesser offence to slay the Lieutenant then fall from the obedience of the Emperour I will either with my life keepe the legions in faithfull allegeance or being slaine by you hasten your repentance Neuertheles they held on their worke vntill they had brought it breast high when at last being ouercome with his importunacy they gaue ouer their enterprise then Blaesus did in good and eloquent manner shew vnto them that it was not conuenient that souldyers petitions should be caried to the Emperour by mutinie and rebellion Neyther did the old souldyers vnder Emperours in times past nor yet they themselues demaund of Augustus such vnlawfull and new requests and that in an vnseasonable time the new Prince was burdened with cares in the beginning of his Empire Notwithstanding if their purpose was to obtayne that in a time of peace which being conquerors in ciuill warres they neuer attempted yet why do they contrary to the dutie of allegeance and order of seruice vse force they should rather depute some Embassadors to Caesar with publicke commission to declare their requests They all cryed immediately that Blaesus sonne a Tribune might vndertake the Embassie and intreate that all such as had serued sixteene yeares should be dismissed and sent home which being graunted then they would enioyne him the rest of his charge The yong man being departed with this message they surceased their rebellion But the souldiers grew prowde that the Lieutenants sonne vndertooke to pleade the common cause as being an euident token that they had wrung out that by force which by modest demeanour they should neuer haue obtained VI. The rebellion continueth a practise of Vibulenus against Blaesus IN the meane season certaine bands of soldiers sent to Nauportum before the rebellion began to see the waies cleere the bridges safe other conueniences for the warre vnderstanding of the mutinie growen in the campe snatched vp their ensignes and sacking villages adioining Nauport it selfe which might haue passed for a reasonable free town iniuried reuiled the Centurions which went about to bridle them first with scoffes and reprochful termes then with blowes stripes But they had an especiall hart-burning against Aufidienus Rufus the campe-master whom they pulled out of his chariot and loaded with a fardell of stuffe made him march formost of all the companie now then asking him in a mockerie whether he bare so great a burden willingly or not or whether so long a iourney seemed not tedious vnto him This Rufus had long been a common soldier then a Centurion then the Camp-master and sought to renew the ancient rigor of seruice and being himselfe hardned to beare any labor and trauel was so much the more cruel bicause himselfe had endured the like These companies ioining with the other legions began to rebell afresh and stragling some one waie some another destroy and waste al about them Blaesus to terrifie the rest commanded some few and especially such as had the greatest pillage to be apprehended whipt and cast into prison for euen then the Centurions and the better sort of the soldiers were obedient to the Lieutenant But the prisoners drew backe and resisted such as led them catched holde and embraced the knees of the standers by calling euerieman by his name or by the name of the band he serued vnder or cohort or legion crieng that they shoulde drinke all of the same cup withall they heaped iniurie vpon iniurie against the Lieutenant called to witnes the heauens and the gods and left nothing vndone or vnsaide which might serue to stirre hatred mooue compassion breed feare or prouoke anger The soldiers clustered all togither brake open the prisons set at libertie the prisoners and shuffled in among themselues the fugitiues and condemned of capitall crimes This kindled the rage of the soldier and more ringleaders ioined with them Among whom one Vibulenus a common soldier lifted on the shoulders of the standers by before Blaesus Tribunall began to speake vnto the disordered and attentiue soldiers in this maner You haue giuen light and life to these innocent and miserable wretches but when will you restore life to my brother and my brother to me who being sent vnto you from the Germane campe to entreat of the common profit and good was this last night murdered by his Fencers which he hath alwaies readie armed to cut the soldiers throtes answere Blaesus where hast thou throwne his bodie for the enimies themselues enuie not that I should burie him And when I shall haue filled my griefe with kissing and weeping ouer him command me to be murdered also so as these our companions burie him and me slaine for no other offence but bicause we furthered the common good and profit of the Legions He inflamed his words with teares beating himselfe on the face and brest then thrusting them from him on whose shoulders he was caried and throwing himselfe at euery mans feete droue them all into such amaze and stirred such hatred that part of the souldiers laid hands on Blaesus Fencers and bound them part on the residue of his familie and part ran hither and thither to seeke for Vibulenus brothers body And if it had not appeared incontinently that there was no such body found if his slaues by torture had not denied any such pretended murder to haue beene committed and further that Vibulenus neuer had any such brother the soldiers would hardly haue spared the Lieutenants life Neuerthelesse they thrust out the Tribune and Camp-maister spoiled robbed such as fled slew Lucillius a Centurion whome the souldiers by a nickname called Cedo alteran giue me another because that when he had broken vpon a souldiers shoulders his vine wand his manner was to call alowde giue me another and when that was broken another The rest were saued by hiding themselues only Iulius Clemens they kept aliue because that hauing a readie and quicke wit they thought him a meete man to be employed as an Embassador in the souldiers behalfe Besides this the eight and the fifteenth legions were now ready
forbearing from rest turned all the waters which rose in the mountaines into the vnder grounds whereupon the plaine being drownd and so much of the worke ouerthrowne as they had cast vp the Romaine souldier was put to a double labour XIIII The Romans escape a great danger through the good conduct of Caecina CAEcina had then in qualitie of a soldier of commander fortie yeere receiued pay and therefore being acquainted as well with the changeable euents of fortune as prosperous successes fell nothing at all in courage but pondering in his minde what might follow found nothing more expedient then to inclose the enimie in the wood vntill the wounded and the cariages were gotten before For betwixt the hils and the marshes there stretched out a plaine capable of a small armie The legions were so placed that the fift shoulde be in the right flancke the one and twentieth in the left the first to lead and the twentieth to defende if they were pursued The night was vnquiet for diuers respects the barbarous enimie in feasting and banketting songs of ioie and hideous outcries filled the valleies and woods which redoubled the sounde againe The Romans had small fires broken voices laie neere the trenches went from tent to tent rather disquieted and not able to sleepe then watchfull The generall had that night a heauie dreame which droue him into a feare for he thought that he had seene Quinctilius Varus rising out of those bogs embrued all in bloud calling him by name and stretching out his hand towards him which he thrust backe refusing to follow At daie breaking the legions appointed for the flankes either for feare or contempt abandoned their standings and seased on the fielde adioining beyond the marshes Arminius although hee might safely haue assaulted them yet forbare a time But he no sooner perceiued their bag and baggage to sticke in the mire and ditches and the souldiers troubled about it disbanded and out of order and the ensignes confusedly disordered as it falleth out in such times euery man busie to helpe himselfe and deafe to harken what was commanded but he encharged the Germaines to breake in crieng aloud Behold Varus and the legions once againe vanquished by the same destinie Hauing thus saide accompanied with a choise band of horsemen breaketh the rankes of the Romans and especially woundeth their horses which slipping by reason of their owne bloud and moisture of the bogs ouerthrowing their masters either trode vnderfeete or scattered all they met Much a doo they had about the ensignes which they could neither beare vp the shot came so thicke nor pitch on the ground it was so mirie Whilest Caecina maintaineth battell his horse was killed vnder him from which being fallen he had been taken by the enimie if the first legion had not opposed herselfe The greedines of the enimie was some helpe vnto them being more thirstie of pillage then bloud whereby the legions had leisure towards the euening to win the open firme land And yet their miseries did not thus end They had defences to make and stuffe wherewithall to seeke their tooles to cast vp earth or cut turfes were almost all lost tentes they had none to couer them nor medicaments to heale the wounded and diuiding their meate partly stained with bloud or beraied with dirt they bewailed that vnfortunate darknes and that onely daie left for so many thousands to liue By meere chance a horse brake loose in the campe and praunsing vp and downe affrighted with noise ouerthrew all he met in his waie which stroake such a feare and terror in the souldiers harts that thinking the Germans had broken vpon them ran all to the gates of the campe and especially to the Decumana which was farthest from the enimie and safest to flee awaie Caecina being assured that it was but a vaine feare yet not being able either by his authoritie entreatie or forcible meanes to staie their fleeing cast himselfe a crosse the gate and so mooued them to pitie stopping the passage bicause they would not tread on their captaines bodie The Tribunes and Centurions shewed them withall that their seare was false and without cause Then assembling them in the Principia and commanding silence admonished them of the time and necessitie they stoode in That their safetie onely consisted in their weapons which yet they were to moderate by discretion keeping still within their trench vntill the enimie with hope to breake vpon them should drawe neere and that then they shoulde rush out on euerie side and so get to the riuer of Rhene Whereas if they should flie they should passe through more woods finde deeper bogs and the enimie more cruell then euer but by conquering they shoulde purchase glorie and renowme putting them in mind of those things which were esteemed deere at home and of credit in campe not once mentioning their disgraces and aduersities This done he assigned to the most couragious a horse beginning with his owne then with the Tribunes and Centurions not respecting calling or quality to the end that they should first inuade the enimie and the footemen follow The Germains what with hope what with greedines of praie what with disgreeing opinions of captaines were as much disquieted as the Romaines Arminius thought it best to suffer them come out of their fort and set on them in the bogs and marshes but Inguiomerus aduise though more cruell was most pleasing to the barbarians which was that they should besiege the campe perswading that by that means the assault would be easier more captiues taken and the bootie entire and vntouched Assoone then as it was day they beate down the trenches filled them vp with hurdles grappled vp to the toppe of the trench fewe souldiers resisting them and those all stocke still in amaze The cohorts within had the alarum giuen the cornets and trumpets sounded and with a great clamour sallied out couragiouslie and hemmed the enimie in casting in their teeth that heere there were neither woods nor quagmiers but the places and the gods indifferent to both The enimies imagining it but an easie conquest and that there were but a fewe to resist and those but halfe armed hearing the sound of the trumpets and seeing the glittering of the armour which seemed so much the greater by how much the lesse they were esteemed on a sudden were beaten downe and slaine as men in prosperitie greedy and in aduersitie vncircumspect Arminius and Inguiomerus fled th'one not hurt and the other greeuously wounded The common sort were slaine as long as the daie and anger lasted the legions returned at night to their forte And although there were more wounded then the day before and no lesse want of victuales yet with the victorie they thought they had recouered strength courage health and all other necessaries XV. The danger the legions vvere in vnder Vitellius Tiberius renevveth the lavv of treason IT was noised abroad in the meane season that the legions were besieged and that the
were deuided among themselues some desiring to be gouerned by the Romans and others by Kings And the prouinces of Syria and Iudaea ouercharged with taxes made supplication that their tributes might be diminished These things therefore with those which I haue rehearsed of Armenia Tiberius sheweth to the Lords of the Senat and that the tumults of the Orient could no way be pacified but by Germanicus wisedome As for himselfe he was striken in age and Drusus was not yet of ripe yeares And thereupon by decree of Senate Germanicus had the charge giuen him ouer all the prouinces deuided by sea and a greater commaunde whither soeuer he went then any which either by lot or Princes sending receiued gouernment Now Tiberius had before remoued from Syria Creticus Silanus who was by marriage allied to Germanicus his daughter being promised in marriage to Nero Germanicus eldest son in his roome had appointed Gn. Piso to be Lieutenant a man both rash and headstrong not knowing what it was to obey as hauing that fiercenes of courage naturally from Piso his father who during the ciuill warres ayded in most eager manner the sides which rose in Affrike against Caesar then following Brutus and Cassius faction and licence graunted him to returne forbare all dignities vntill he was wooed to accept the Consulship offered him by Augustus Caesars owne motion But besides the hereditary courage of his fathers the nobilitie and wealth of Plancina his wife made him grow so insolent that he would scarse yeeld to Tiberius and contemned his children as far inferior to himselfe not doubting at all but that he was chosen gouernor of Syria to bridle and keepe vnder Germanicus hopes And some beleeued that he had had secret commaundement by Tiberius so to do and without all peraduenture Augusta had put it into Plancinaes head emulation being a vsuall matter amongst women to contend and quarrell with Agrippina The court was deuided some secretly fauouring Drusus some Germanicus Tiberius did leane to Drusus as his owne and of his bloud but the small affection Germanicus vncle caried him was cause that others loued him the more and because that by the mothers side he was more nobly descended hauing M. Antonius for his grandfather and Augustus for his vncle whereas Pomponius Atticus a Gentleman of Rome great grandfather to Drusus did not answere the honorable memories of the Claudians And Germanicus wife Agrippina did go beyond Liuia Drusus wife in fruitfulnes fame and name Neuertheles the brothers did exceedingly well agree nothing at all moued with the emulation and contentions of their kindred X. The Germans are at variance betweene themselues an earth-quake in Asia NOt long after Drusus was sent to Illyrium to be trained vp in feates of warre and to win the souldiers harts And Tiberius thought it better that the yong man lustly giuen by the wanton lasciuiousnes of the citie should be better fashioned in the camp and himselfe in more securitie both his sonnes being commaunders ouer the legions But the colour was that the Sweuians did craue aide against the Cherusci for being rid of the Romans and voide of forren feare through emulation of glory a thing vsuall in that countrey they turned their armes against themselues Ods there was none in the strength of the nations or valour of Captaines but that the name of a king which Maroboduus tooke vpon him was odious to the common people and Arminius fauoured because he fought for libertie And therefore not only the Cherusci and their confederates Arminius olde souldiers tooke armes but the Sweuian nations also of Maroboduus kingdome The Semnones and the Longobards tooke part and ioyning with Arminius had preuailed if Inguiomerus with a strong companie of his vassalles had not fled to Maroboduus for no other cause but onely being old and vncle to Arminius disdained to obey him being but yoong and his brothers sonne They pitcht their battell with like hope on both sides not vsing rouing incursions or skirmishing in scattered troupes as the manner of the Germans in times past had beene but by long warring against vs they had accustomed themselues to follow their ensignes strengthen and aide one another and obey their Captaines Then Arminius viewing his armie on horsebacke vaunted to all he met that their libertie was recouered the legions slaine shewed in the hāds of many of the soldiers the spoiles and armour which by force they had taken from the Romans Contrarily he called Maroboduus a runnagate vnskilfull in warres that he had saued himselfe in the lurking holes of Hercynia and then by gifts and embassies entreated an agreement that he was a traitor to his countrey and one of Caesars followers therefore that they should thrust him out with no lesse hatred then they had slaine Varus Quinctilius that they should now call to minde so many battels by successe of which hauing in the ende driuen out the Romans it is easilie seene who should haue the vpper hand Neither did Maroboduus on his side forget to vaunt himselfe or inueigh against his enimie but taking hold of Inguiomerus told them that all the honours of the Cherusci consisted in that body and that all that fell out luckily was atchieued by his counsell That Arminius a sot vnexpert in matter of warre attributed others glorie to himselfe because he had entrapped by guile three vnfurnished legions with their Captaine nothing misdoubting their fraude to the great losse of Germanie his owne ignominie seeing his wife his son do yet endure seruitude But as for him he had maintained the honor of Germanie vnstained being assailed by twelue legions vnder the conduct of Tiberius and in the ende parted with reasonable conditions Neither did it repent him that it was yet in their choise either to make war against the Romans or accept of peace without bloudshed Both parts being incensed with these speeches yet other peculiar causes did more inflame them Considering that the Cherusci and the Longobardi did fight for their auncient honours or fresh libertie and contrarily the others to inlarge their dominions A fiercer encounter then this there was neuer seene nor a more doubtfull issue the right wings on both sides being slaine And a new fight was hoped for if Maroboduus an euident token of a faint hart had not retired to the hils and being somwhat weakned by the back sliding of Traitors withdrew himself to the Marcomans and sent Ambassadors to Tiberius to craue aide Vnto whom it was answered that he had no reason to craue the Romans aide against the Cherusci seeing he aided the Romans nothing at all when they fought against the same enimie Yet as we haue said Drusus was sent to make a peace The same yeere twelue famous cities of Asia were destroied by an earthquake in the night a calamitie so much the greater by how much the lesse looked for The vsuall meanes of sauing themselues in in like cases by fleeing to the open fields doing them no good at all
which laie in garrison at Lugdunum The Turonians were ouerthrowne by the legionarie souldier which Visellius Varro Lieutenant of lower Germanie sent vnder the same captaine Auiola and certaine of the chiefe gentlemen of Gallia which brought him aide the better thereby to cloake their reuolt and when occasion serued rebell with more assurance Sacrouir was seene to demaund battell of the Romans bare headed as he saide to shewe his valour but the captaines said he did it to make himselfe the better knowne thereby to be spared from their darts Tiberius being consulted vpon that point made no reckoning of the disclosing of it but nourished the warre by doubting Florus in the meane time helde on his purpose enticed a wing of horsemen enrowled at Treuers and trained vp in our seruice discipline that hauing slaine the Roman merchants which there vsed trafficke he might begin the warre fewe of the horsemen were corrupted but most continued in their alleageance Other rude indebted persons or followers tooke armes and went towarde the forrest called Arden but the legions from both armies which Visellius and C. Silius had set to crosse them droue them backe Iulius Indus being of the same citie and an enimie to Florus and therefore more foreward to shew his valour being sent before with a choise power scattered and defeated that disordered multitude Florus escaped the conquerours hands by vncertaine lurking holes and at last perceiuing the souldiers to set on his places of refuge slewe himselfe with his own hands And that was the end of the rebellion of those of Treueri It was a matter of great difficultie to suppresse the Aedui by reason their city was more wealthie and the aide which should haue subdued them farther off Sacrouir had with certaine armed cohorts gotten possession of Augustodunum the chiefe citie of the countrey and taken the noblest mens children of all Gallia which there followed their studies as a pledge to win and binde their parents and kindred and withal secretly distributed weapons which himselfe had caused to be made to al the youth They were in number forty thousand the fift part armed as the legions were the others with hunting staues hangers such other weapōs as hūters vse To these were added certaine slauish fencers couered according to the countrey fashion from top to toe in armour of iron vnapt and vneasie to strike but to withstand impenetrable whom they call Crupellarij These forces were augmented though not by any open cōsent of cities adioining yet with euery mans particular good wil the Roman captaines striuing doubting who should haue the conducting of the warre both desiring it But Varro being old and feeble yeelded to Silius who was in his prime It was currant in Rome that not onely the Treueri and the Aedui but also that threescore and fower cities of Gallia had reuolted and the Germans ioined with them that Spaine was wauering and all as the nature of a report is beleeued more then it was Euery good man with a care of the common-wealth was greatly grieued many disliking the present state and desirous of alteration reioysed euen in their owne harmes and blamed Tiberius that in so great a hurlyburly he woulde still spende his labour in hearing accusers libels What saide they shall Iulius Sacrouir bee condemned of treason in Senate at last some were founde which with armes woulde suppresse these bloudy libels of accusers that a miserable peace was well changed for warre Tiberius so much the more composed to a careles securitie changed neither place nor countenance passed ouer those dayes after his accustomed woont either through haughtines of courage or because he knewe the matter to be lighter then the report In the meane time Silius marching on with two legions hauing sent a power of allies before wasteth the villages of the Sequans which were borderers and confederates with the Aeduans Anon after he marcheth speedily with his armie towardes Augustodunum the standard-bearers striuing who shoulde make most haste and the common souldier fretting and chasing likewise least he should rest the night as he was wont only that they might see the enemie and be seene that would be enough for the victorie Twelue miles off Sacrouir appeared in the champian countrey In the front he had placed his men couered with iron his cohorts on the wings and those which were halfe armed in the rereward himselfe mounted on a goodly courser amongst the chiefest of the citie went to the souldiers and put them in minde of the ancient glory of the Galli and how oft they had defeated the Romans How honorable a thing libertie was to the conquerors and how intollerable seruitude would be if they should be vanquished againe This exhortation was not long nor pleasing for the legions drew neere in battell aray the townesmen wanting discipline and ignorant of seruice did neither see nor heare what was best for them Silius on the contrary side although his hope had taken away all occasions of encouraging them yet cried That it was a shame for them being conquerors ouer the Germans to be brought against the Galli as against enemies and that of late one cohort had vanquished the rebellious Toronians one wing the Treueri a few troupes of horsemen of this same armie had put to flight the Sequans By how much the richer the Aedui are in money and abounding in pleasures the lesser courage they had Breake then in vpon them and binde them and flee to those which run away At that all of them giuing an out-cry the horsemen compassed them in the footemen set on the point and the wings made small resistance Those in complet yron harnes stuck somewhat to it their plates resisting and beating back the darts and swords but the souldier snatching his hatchets and axes as though he were to breake through a wall hewed their couering and carcasses Some with poles or forks ouerthrew this sluggish lump leauing them for halfe dead lying on the ground not once going about to rise Sacrouir goeth first to Augustodunum then for feare least it should be yeelded to the next village with a few of his trustiest friends where he slew himselfe with his owne hands and the rest one another and the village being set on fire ouer them they were all burnt together Then at last Tiberius wrote to the Senate that the warre was begun and ended neither adding nor taking away from the truth And that the Lieutenants had behaued themselues faithfully and valorously and himselfe directed them with counsell And withall yeelded the reasons why neither he nor Drusus went to the war magnifying the greatnes of the Empire and that it was not meete that Princes if some one or other towne rebell should forsake Rome from whence all other gouernment was deriued Now bicause there was no cause of feare he would goe see and settle the present estate of things The Lords of the Senat derceed vowes and processions for his returne with other conuenient
some and Tiberius at that time to Blaesus That yeere died two notable men Asinius Salonius nephew to M. Agrippa and Pollio Asinius and brother to Drusus and destined to be Caesars neeces husband and Capito Ateius of whom we haue spoken before by the studies of the ciuill lawes risen to the highest dignitie in the citie but his grandfather Sullanus was but a Centurion and his father Pretor Augustus hastened the Consulship vpon him that by the dignitie of that office he might be preferred before Labeo Antistius skilfull in the same studie for that age had at once two ornaments of peace But Labeo was more desirous of incorrupted libertie and therefore held in greater estimation and Capitoes pleasing humor better accepted of Princes To him the iniurie of not being higher than a Pretor was a commendation to this because he gate the Consulship grew of enuie hatred And Iunia whose vncle was Cato and was C. Cassius wife and M. Brutus sister died threescore and fower yeeres after the Philippensen warre Her Testament was much talked of among the people bicause that being verie wealthie when she had named all the peeres and noblemen and bestowed some legacie vpon them she omitted Caesar which he tooke in good part not hindering but that her funerals should be solemnised with an oration before the people assembled with all other ceremonies The images of twentie noble houses were caried before her and the names of the Manlians the Quinctians and others of like nobilitie But Cassius and Brutus did shine aboue the rest bicause their images were not seene THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Of Seianus beginning his qualities and by what meanes he aspired to the Empire CAsinius and C. Antistius being Consuls Tiberius had nine yeeres managed the affaires and aduanced his house to a flourishing estate for the death of Germanicus he reckoned amongst his prosperities when as fortune began on a sudden to worke alteration in him waxing cruell or giuing authoritie to such as were The beginning proceeded from AElius Seianus Captaine of the guarde of whose power and authoritie I haue before spoken I will now lay downe his beginning and qualities and by what sinister meanes he went about to clime to the soueraignty He was borne at Vulsinium sonne of Seius Strabo gentleman of Rome and in his first youth followed C. Caesar Augustus nephew not without a rumor that for money he had suffered his bodie to be abused by Apicius a rich man and a prodigall Then by sundrie sleights he had so wrought Tiberius that being close and secret towards others yet to himselfe had made him open and vncircumspect Not so much by his cunning and fraude for such deuises were his owne ouerthrow as by the anger of the gods against the state of Rome by whose ruine and rising it fell alike He was of body able to endure labour of mind bold in his owne actions secret an informer against others as proud as flattering in shew modest but inwardly greedie of aspiring for which cause he vsed sometime largesse and lauishing but more oftner industrie and diligence meanes dangerous alike when they are dissemblingly vsed to win a kingdome His forces which at the first were small he augmented by reducing the cohorts into one campe which before were scattered abroade in the citie that they might receiue their charge togither and by their number strength and seeing one another breed a confidence to themselues and a feare to others He pretended that the souldier liuing scattered grew riotous and if any sudden attempt should be enterprised their strength would be greater vnited then separated and that they would liue more seuerely if their garrison were lodged far from the wanton allurements of the citie As soone as his trenches were finished he began to creepe into the souldiers mindes by going vnto them and calling them by their names withall made choise himselfe of Centurions the Tribunes Neither did he abstaine from ambitiously courting the Senators aduauncing his followers with honours and rule of Prouinces Tiberius being so facile and prone to allow of his dooings that not onely in priuat speeches but in Senat also and before the people extolled him as an associat of his labours and suffered his image to be set in the Theaters and publike places of assemblies and ensignes of the legions But Caesars house being full a yoong sonne nephewes of full age hindered his plots And bicause it was not safe making away of so many at once by violence his trecherie required time to accomplish his wickednes He resolued then to vse the couertest way and begin with Drusus against whom through fresh quarrels he was greatly incensed For Drusus being impatient of a concurrent and therefore easily mooued a contention rising by chance betweene them bent his fist to strike Seianus and he his to saue himselfe Drusus dasht him on the mouth Hereupon leauing nothing vntried he thought it the readiest way to addresse himselfe to Liuia Drusus wife She was Germanicus sister in her youth of a hard fauour but afterward excelled in beautie Her Seianus counterfeiting an ardent and burning loue enticed to adulterie and after he had obtained the first breach of honestie for a woman hauing once lost her chastitie what will she refuse to do put her in hope of mariage and fellowship in the Empire and perswadeth her to kill her husband Thus she who was Augustus neece and Tiberius daughter in law and had children by Drusus defiled herselfe her auncestors and posteritie with adulterie by a meane man leauing an honest and present estate for the hope of a wicked and vncertaine Eudemus a friend and Phisition of Liuias was made priuie to these plots who vnder colour of his arte was often vsed in secret conferences He putteth away Apicata his wife by whom he had three children least his lemmon should haue her in iealousie But the greatnes of the enterprise droue them into a feare bred prolongings and sometimes diuers sorts of counsels In the meane space in the beginning of the yeere Drusus one of Germanicus children was come to mans estate and those things renewed vpon him which the Senat had ordained for Nero his brother Tiberius made an oration tending to the great commendation of his sonne bicause he tendered his brothers children with a fatherly affection For Drusus although it be a hard matter for rule and concord to dwell together shewed himselfe indifferent to the yoong men or at the least was not an enimie to them II. A suruey of the legions and souldiers Drusus poisoned by Seianus TIberius old but fained determination of going to the Prouinces is put on foote againe pretending that there were a great number of old souldiers and that the armies were to be supplied with a new muster For voluntarie men now wanted or if there were anie they were not of so vertuous and modest a cariage bicause that for the most part they are needie and vagrant
withdrew himselfe to Rhodes In regard whereof the Senate ordained that although he were but of meane parentage yet that he should haue the funerals of a Censor and an image in Augustus forum at the charge of the common purse For at that time the Senat managed all the affaires in so much that Lucillius Capito Procurator of Asia the Prouince accusing him was forced to purge himselfe before them the Prince assuredlie auouching that he had giuen him no authoritie but ouer slaues and money matters between partie partie But if he had vsurped the authoritie of a Pretor or vsed the strength of souldiers he had therein contemned his cōmaundement therefore that they should heare the allies and so the matter being heard he was condemned For which cause and by reason that the yeere before C. Silanus was punished the cities of Asia decreed that a Temple should be built in honour of Tiberius his mother and the Senat which they perfourmed after they had licence And for the same cause Nero gaue thankes to the Lords of the Senat and to his grandfather with the ioyfull acceptance of the hearers as representing Germanicus yet fresh in memorie to their mindes thinking that him they had both heard and seene The yoong man was of great modestie and comelines woorthie of a Prince the more gratefull through the danger he was in by Seianus knowen hatred against him V. How Iupiters Priests were chosen Tiberius small affection to Germanicus children ABout the same time of chusing a Flamen Dial in Seruius Maluginensis place who was dead and of making a new law Caesar himselfe spake For the olde custome was that three patriciens should be named togither borne of parents which had been married with a solemnitie called confarreation of which one shoulde be chosen for the Priest And it fell out that that iust number coulde not bee founde the vse of confarrcation or marriage with a cake of Wheate either not vsed or only of a few whereof he alleaged many reasons though the chiefest was the carelesnes of men and women and withall the difficulties of the ceremonies which were willingly let slip And when should he go out of his fathers authoritie which should obtaine that Priesthood or she who was married vnto him therefore that was to be redressed by decree of Senate or by a law as Augustus himselfe had changed somewhat of that rude antiquitie and reduced it to the present vse Those things therefore being debated which touched the ceremonies it was determined that nothing should be altered in the makings of those Priests but a law was ordained that she who was married vnto a Flamen by reason of the sacrifices should be vnder the power of hir husband and that in other cases she should be as others were And Maluginensis sonne was chosen in his fathers place And that the priestly dignitie should better be regarded and they the readier to vndertake the ceremonies it was ordained that to Cornelia the virgin who was chosen in Scantias place shoulde bee giuen L L. S. xx sesterces and that as oft as Augusta entered the theatre she should sit among the Vestals Cornelius Cethegus and Visellius Varro being Consuls when the Pontifes and following their example the other Priests made certaine vowes for the health of the Prince they commended Nero and Drusus to the same goddes not so much for loue of the yong men as for flattery which in corrupt times is dangerous alike either not at all or too much For Tiberius neuer a friend to Germanicus house grieued impatiently that the yong men should then be equalled vnto him in his old age and sending for the chiefe Priests asked them whether they had done that at Agrippinas intreaties or threates and although they denied it yet were somewhat rebuked the greatest part being his neerest friends and kin or chiefe gentlemen of the citie Neuertheles in Senate he admonished them in an oration that none should hereafter puffe vp the fickle minds of the yong men to pride by vntimely and ouer-hastie dignities Seianus vrged eagerly that the citie was no lesse deuided into factions then in time of ciuill warres some terming themselues to be of Agrippinas side and more would if they were not preuented and no way to redresse a waxing diuision but by cutting off some one or two of the forwardest Hereupon he beginneth with C. Silius and Titius Sabinus Germanicus friendship being dangerous to both to Silius because that hauing had charge of a great armie seauen yeeres together and vanquished Sacrouir in Germanie and obtained the ornaments of triumph the higher his fall the greater the feare in others would be Many were of opinion that Tiberius was the more vehemently incensed by reason of his owne lauishing toong ouermuch vaunting that his souldiers had alwayes continued dutifull when as others had growne to mutinies and that Caesars state had bene shaken if those legions had bene desirous of innouation which Caesar construed as an embasing to his greatnes and disabling him of abilitie to requite for good turnes are no longer well taken then they may be recompensed when they grow greater then hope of requitall in stead of thankfulnes they breede hatred and ill will Sosia Galla was Silius wife badly thought of by the Prince because she loued Agrippina It was therefore thought conuenient to begin with these two and not meddle with Sabinus for a time The Consull Varro being thrust in to accuse them vnder colour of a quarrell betwixt his father and Silius became an instrument to gratifie Seianus with his owne discredit The defendants intreating some delay vntill the accusers Consulship were expired Caesar denied it affirming it to be a vsuall matter for magistrates to call priuate persons into question and that the authoritie of the Consull was not to be infringed through whose watchfulnes the common-wealth was kept without danger That was a common tricke with Tiberius alwaies to cloake new coyned mischiefe with old words Therefore with great protestation as though he had proceeded with Silius by order of law or the matter belonged to Varro as Consull or therein consisted the safetie of the common-wealth the Senate was called the partie accused not once opening his mouth or if he began to purge himselfe stuck not to vtter by whose malice he was oppressed He was accused to haue had intelligence with the beginners of the warre that he had discredited his victorie by his couetousnes and other things against Sosia his wife nothing a long time spoken of Sacrouir And doubtles the accusation of polling the prouince could not haue serued their turne had they not prosecuted all vnder treason but Silius preuented his imminent condemnation by his owne voluntarie death Neuerthelesse that contented not but were greedie his goods should be confiscate not to pay the stipendaries for none of them demaunded ought but because Augustus liberalitie was at an end he tooke a particular accompt of all that was due to the publick treasure
gratefull spectacle vnto all Latiaris as I haue rehearsed before was the principall agent of circumuenting Titius Sabinus and then the first that receiued punishment for it Among these accusations Haterius Agrippa setteth vpon the Consuls of the last yeere asking them why they are now so still and cease from the accusations begun the one against the other it was feare and guilt of conscience which made them friends but the Lords of the Senate would not so put vp that which they had heard Regulus said he would stay for a time of reuenge and that he would prosecute the matter before the Prince Trio answered that emulation and enuie betwixt collegues were better forgotten and iniurious words if any had passed Agrippa vrging on still Sanquinius Maximus one of the Consuls desired the Senators that they would not increase the Emperours cares by hunting after matter of dislike and that he himselfe was able to redresse these things and so Regulus life was saued and Trioes ruine deferred Haterius was so much the more odious because that withered and vnlustie with sleepe or lasciuious watchings and through his dull drousie disposition nothing fearing the Prince though cruell euen in his brothell houses and loosest lasciuiousnes dreamt of nothing but how to subuert the nobilitie After that Cotta Messalinus the author of euery cruell sentence and hated of old as soone as occasion was offered was accused to haue vttered certaine things against Caesar and among others that he was in his secret parts both man and woman and after a banket on the birth day of Augusta among the Priests he tearmed that a Nouendinale supper or belonging to a mortuary that repining at M. Lepidus and L. Arruntius power and authoritie hauing a sute depending against them for a money matter he should say that them the Senate would defend but me my little Tiberius will support The chiefe of the citie conuicted him without any delay and pursuing him eagerly he appealed to the Emperour And not long after letters were brought from Tiberius in which in manner of a defence calling to minde the beginning of friendship betweene him and Cotta and his many good turnes and seruices requested that words might not be hardly wrested and that the simplicitie of table talk might not be imputed to him as a crime The beginning of these letters of Caesars was worth the noting which was this What I shall write vnto you Lords of the Senate or how I shall write and what I shall not write at all at this time the gods and the goddesses confound me worse then I feele and know my selfe daily to perish if I know So far his villanous demeanor turned to his own scourge punishment And therefore that most deepe wise man did not say without cause that if tyrants minds were laid open a man should see them torne rent in sunder for as the bodie is rent with stripes so the mind is tormēted with crueltie wanton affectiōs euil counsels For neither his great fortune nor solitarie places could defēd Tiberius but that himself confessed the torments punishmēt which lay hidden in his breast Then the Senators hauing receiued authoritie to determin of Caecilianus according to their wils who had vttered manie things against Cotta their iudgmēt was that he should receiue the same punishmēt that Aruseius Sanquinius had who were L. Arruntius accusers Then the which nothing euer hapned more honorable to Cotta who being indeed of noble birth but through riot needie and infamous for his vices in honorable punishmēt is made equall to Arruntius a man of sincere and honest life II. Terentius defences why he should not be punished like vnto other of Seianus friends QVintus Seruaeus after this and Minutius Thermus were brought in Seruaeus had beene Pretor and Gerusanicus companion Minutius a gentleman and who in Seianus friendship had carried himselfe modestly and therefore both the more pitied But Tiberius contrariwise blaming them as principall agents commaunded C. Caestius an old Senator to report vnto the Senators what he had written vnto him whereupon Caestius vndertooke the accusation a miserable calamitie of those times that the chiefest of the Senators some openly some secretly played the part of base promooters and further no man able to know the stranger from the kinsman nor friends from such as he neuer sawe before nor things lately committed from such as through continuance of time were almost forgotten They were accused of all they had spoken wheresoeuer either in the place of assemblies or at their table euerie man making haste to preuent and be before another in carriyng of tales some of them to saue themselues other some infected as it were with a disease gotten by conuersing with others But Minutius and Seruaeus were condemned and their goods giuen the accusers Iulius Africanus borne at Santon a towne in Gallia and Seius Quadratus were drawen into the like mishap but the occasion why I haue not found I am not ignorant that the dangers and punishment of many haue beene omitted by writers being ouer-wearied with multitude or fearing least those things should be tedious to the readers which seemed superfluous and lamentable to themselues in rehearsing There haue come many things to our eares woorthie the knowledge although other haue not once touched them For at the selfe same time that the rest colourablie seemed to shake off the amitie they had with Seianus M. Terentius a gentleman of Rome although arraigned for his labour durst auouch it beginning his speech for his defence before the Lords of the Senate in this maner It would be peraduenture lesse behoouefull for my estate to acknowledge then denie the crime I am charged with but hap what hap may I will confesse that I haue beene Seianus friend and that I desired so to be and that after I had obtained his friendship I was glad of it I had seene him ioynt officer with my father in the gouernment of the Pretorian cohort and not long after in managing of citie affaires and matters of warre His kinsmen and allies were aduaunced to honor as euerie man was inward with Seianus so was he grace by Caesar And contrariwise such as were not in his fauour liued in feare and distressed with pouertie Neither do I alleage any man for an example of this all of vs who were not priuie to his last attempts with the danger of my onely estate I will defend Not Seianus the Vulsiniensis but a part of the Claudian and Iulian familie which by alliance he had entered into thy sonne in law Caesar thy companion in the Consulship and him who tooke vpon him thy charge of administring the common-wealth we did reuerēce and honour It is not our parts to iudge of him whom thou dost exalt aboue the rest nor for what considerations To thee the highest iudgement of things the gods haue giuen and vnto vs the glorie of obedience is left We looke vnto those things which wee see before our
his age He was Neroes sonne and on both sides extracted frō the Claudian familie although his mother went by adoption into the Liuian familie and after that into the Iulian. He had doubtfull fortunes from his first infancie for being a banished man he followed his father who was proscribed and being brought into Augustus house as his son in law was greatly maligned al the time that Marcellus and Agrippa and afterward Caius Lucius Caesar liued Yea his brother Drusus was better beloued then he of the citizens but after he had married Iulia his slipperie estate was tied to two great inconueniences which was either to indure the incontinencie of his wife or go from her After that returning from Rhodes he liued twelue yeeres in the Princes house which had no children then possessed the Empire almost 23. yeeres He changed his manners diuersly according to the times Whilest he was a priuat man he was of good life and credite and had commendations vnder Augustus He was close and craftie in counterfeiting vertues whilest Germanicus and Drusus liued and whilest his mother liued he kept a meane somtimes good and somtimes bad For crueltie he was infamous but in lasciuious lusts as long as he loued or feared Seianus secret In the end he burst into all wickednes dishonestie and reproch after that hauing cast away shame and feare he gouerned himselfe wholy according vnto his owne disposition and nature THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The death of Asiaticus and Poppaea * The beginning of this Booke is wanting FOr he beleeued that Valerius Asiaticus who had beene twise Consull had in times past committed adultery with Poppaea withall greedily gaped after those gardens which he bought of Lucullus and beawtified and trimmed most stately Suilius was suborned to accuse them both Sosibius Germanicus bringer vp was ioyned with him who vnder colour of friendship counselleth Claudius to beware of such as were strong and rich as men dangerous vnto the state and that Asiaticus the principall author of murdering Caesar feared not to auouch it in a full assemblie of the people of Rome and challenge the glory of the fact vnto himselfe He was famous in the citie for it and a rumor spread throughout the prouince that he prepared a voyage toward Germanicus armie because that being borne at Vienna and strengthened with strong and great kindred he thought it an easie matter to stirre vp his countrey men But Claudius making no farther enquirie sent Crispinus the captaine of the gard with a band of readie souldiers as though it had bene to suppresse a warre who finding him at Baias layd yrons vpon him and drew him to the citie where he was not licensed to be heard of the Senate but in the Emperours chamber in the presence of Messallina There Suilius accused him that he had corrupted the souldiers and wonne them by money and loose life to all wickednes Then charged him with adultery with Poppaea and vnnaturall dishonestie of bodie At that although he were commaunded to silence he burst forth and sayd O Suilius aske thy children and they will confesse me to be a man And entering into his defence Claudius being wonderfully moued drew teares likewise from Messallinaes eyes who going out of the chamber to wipe them giueth Vitellius warning not to suffer the partie arraigned to escape She maketh haste to ouerthrow Poppaea sending some through the terror of prison to perswade her to kill her selfe Caesar being so ignorant therof that a few dayes after he asked her husband Scipio as he sate at table with him why he had sate downe without his wife who made him answere that she was dead But whilest Claudius consulted of Asiaticus deliuerance Vitellius with teares declaring how long time their friendship had continued and how they two did reuerence honor Antonia the Princes mother then running ouer briefely his seruices towards the common wealth and that so lately done in Britannia and what else might seeme to moue compassion left it in the end to his owne choise what death he would choose Claudius yeelding him the like clemencie with like words After this some perswading him that to die with famine and abstinence was an easie death he answered that he reiected such fauour and therefore hauing done those exercises he was vsually wont to do washed his body and fed daintily saying that it had bene a more commendable death to haue died by Tiberius slienes and cunning or C. Caesars violence then now by the treachery of a woman and Vitellius vncleane mouth cut his vaines and hauing first seene the fire wherein his bodie was to be burned commaunded it to be remoued to another place least the thick tuffed trees should be marred with the smoke so small reckoning did he make of death II. Certaine Romaines accused for a dreame A treatise of aduocates AFter this the Lords of the Senate were called together and Suilius goeth on and accuseth certaine noble and renowned gentlemen of Rome surnamed Petra The cause of their death was because they had lent their house vnto Mnester and Poppaea when they had any cause of conference But there was a dreame also obiected against one of them which was that he dreamed he had seene Claudius crowned with a crowne of eares of corne and the eares turned backwards interpreting that vision to signifie a dearth of corne Some report it to haue beene a garlande of vine braunches with white leaues which he sawe in his dreame and interpreted it to foretell that the death of the Prince shoulde follow at the end of Autumne Whatsoeuer the dreame was it is not to be doubted but that he and his brother were both put to death Crispinus had giuen him by decree of Senate fifteen hundred thousand sesterces and ornaments of the Pretor Vitellius added ten hundred thousand sesterces to be giuen to Sosibius bicause he had beene Britannicus Schoole-master and Claudius Counseller Scipio being demanded his opinion said Seeing I do thinke of Popaeus faults that which all you do thinke perswade your selues that I do say that which all you do say which was an excellent moderation and mean shewing the loue he bare hir as his wife and necessitie of giuing sentence being a Senator Suilius neuer ceased from accusations but prosecuted them with al crueltie and many followed his audacity for the Prince drawing vnto himselfe all the duties of lawes and magistrates opened the way to robberie Neither was there any marchandise more publikely bought and solde then the perfidiousnes of aduocates insomuch that Samius a woorthy gentelman of Rome hauing giuen Suilius fowre hundred thousand sesterces to pleade his cause and after perceiuing his preuarication and collusion ran vpon his sword in Suilius owne house Then C. Silius Consull elect of whose authoritie and fall I will speake in conuenient time beginning to speake the rest of the Senators rose vp and demanded earnestly that the lawe Cincia might be set
vvith Acte CLaudius Nero and L. Antistius being Consuls when the magistrates tooke an oath of obseruing the ordinances of the princes he would not suffer Antistius his fellow officer to sweare to the obseruation of his which the LL. of the Senate did highly commende in him to the ende that the youthly minde of the prince being sturred vp with the glorie of small things shoulde continue in matters of greater moment After this followed his lenitie towards Plautius Lateranus who being remooued from the order of Senators for adulterie committed with Messallina was restored by him to his roome binding himselfe to continue this clemencie with many orations which Seneca to testifie in what honest precepts he instructed him or for a bragge of his owne wit published by the voice of the prince But Agrippinaes credit and authoritie by little and little began to waine and Nero cast a liking to a freed woman called Acte two comely youthes Otho descended from a Consularie house and Claudius Senecio son of one of Caesars freed men being partakers of his counsels his mother being at the first a stranger to the matter and in vaine at last striuing to the contrarie So far she had possessed him by dissolute behauiour and riot secret conuersation that his greatest friends seuerest seemed not to know it considering that this woman satisfied his lusts without the offence of any For Octauia his wife a womā of noble birth of approued good life either by some secret destinie or bicause things vnlawfull are most greedily desired he vtterly disliked And some feared also that if he were brideled of that loue he would lust after the defiling of noble women But Agrippina fretted and fumed that a freed woman should beard her a bond woman become her daughter in law with other such like womanish complaints not hauing patience to see whether her sonne woulde either repent or be filled and the more opprobriouslie she vpbraided him the more she inflamed him till at last ouercome with the rage of loue he shaked off all dutie reuerence towards his mother and committed himselfe wholy to Seneca Amongst his familiars was Annaeus Serenus who faining loue to the same freed woman couered cloked with his owne name the first heats of this yoong prince and such things as the prince had bestowed on hir by stealth he openly aduouched to be his gifts Then Agrippina changing her stile seeketh to win the yoong man by faire alluring speeches offereth rather hir own chamber and bosome to hide those things which his youth high fortune desired Yea she cōfessed her vntimely seuerity offered him the vse of al her wealth which was little inferior to the Emperors as before too seuere in correcting her sonne so now vnreasonably humbled and cast downe in courage The which change did neither deceiue Nero and gaue his neerest friends cause of feare and prayed him to beware of the trecherie of this woman alwaies fell and cruell and then false and dissembling Nero hauing by chaunce seene the wardrop where the apparell laye which Princes wiues and parents were wont to shine in made choise of a garment and iewels and sent them his mother most bountifully seeing he sent of his own the chiefest and which by others were most of all desired But Agrippina exclaimeth that these ornaments were not so much giuen her to adorne and trim her selfe as to exclude her from the rest and that her sonne would diuide those things with her which came wholly from her Neither wanted there some to carrie these speeches and make them woorse then they were Whereupon all such growing odious vnto Nero vpon whom this womans pride chiefly relied displaceth Pallas from the charge which Claudius had giuen him in which he carried himselfe as if he had beene chiefe Lord and master of all It is reported that when Pallas departed with a great retinue following him Nero verie aptly said that Pallas went to resigne his office True it is that Pallas had couenanted with the Prince not to be called in question for any act past and that he had made euen with all accounts of the common-wealth Agrippina after this more mad and wilfull then euer gaue out threatning and thundering speeches yea not forbearing the Princes eares but criyng that Britannicus was now growen to mans estate a true and woorthie plant to receiue his fathers Empire which a graffed sun by adoption now possessed by the iniury and trumperie of his mother There should be no let in her but that al the villanous practises of that infortunate house should be layde open and first of all her owne marriage and her impoisoning of Claudius That only thing was prouided by the gods to her good that her sonne in law was aliue She would goe with him to the campe where on one side Germanicus daughter should be heard on the other side that base companion Burrhus and Seneca the banished the one his hand cut off and the other with his professors eloquence quarelling and debating of the rule and gouernment of the whole world In vttering of this she bent her fist towards him heaped one iniurie vpon another called Claudius and the infernall ghosts of the Silaniens and so many fruitlesse wicked attempts which she had beene author of Nero troubled with these speeches and the day now at hand on which Britannicus had accomplished the full age of foureteen yeeres began to ponder with himselfe sometimes the violence of his mother somtimes the towardlines of Britannicus knowen of late by good proofe which hath won him great fauour and good will On a festiuall day dedicated to Saturne amongst other pastimes of his equals drawing lots who should be King the lot fell to Nero who commanding diuers things vnto others which could not turne to their shame commaunded Britannicus to rise vp and stand in the middle and begin a song hoping the childe should be laughed to skorn as one ignorant how to carrie himselfe in sober companie much lesse in drunken But he verie constantly began a verse which signified that Nero had thrust him from his fathers seate gouerment of the Empire which mooued them all to open compassion because the night and lasciuious wantonnes had taken away all dissimulation IIII. Britannicus empoisoned Agrippina chased from the Emperours house NEro feeling himselfe toucht augmented his hatred and incensed with Agrippinaes threats because he could lay no iust cause against him nor openly durst not commaund the murdering of his brother practiseth secret meanes and commaundeth poison to be prepared Pollio Iulius tribune of the Pretorian cohort being his minister in the action Vnder whose charge Locusta a woman infamous for lewd practises and before condemned for empoysoning was kept prisoner For it was long before prouided that such as were neerest about Britannicus should haue no regard either of honestie or faith He tooke the first poison of his bringers vp which not being strong enough he voided by
bondmen L. Varius somtimes Consull was restored to his dignitie remoued before for couetous dealing and extortion And Pomponia Graecina a noble woman and wife to Plautius who returned with a small triumph out of Britannia and accused of strange superstition was remitted to the iudgement of her husband and he according to the auncient custome in the presence of her neerest kindred heard her cause of life and death and pronounced her innocent This Pomponia liued long and in continuall sorrow for after that Iulia Drusus daughter was murdered by Messallinaes trecherie she was not seene for forty yeers but in mourning apparel and very sad doleful Which she might lawfully do whilest Claudius raigned afterward turned to her glory Many citizens were accused that yeere of which number P Celer being one at the information of the inhabitants of Asia because Caesar could not acquit him he prolonged his cause till he died of age For Celer as I haue alreadie sayd hauing besturred himselfe in the murdering of Silanus the Proconsull cloaked all other villanies vnder the greatnes of that lewd action The Cilicians accused Cossutianus Capito criminally noted and discredited with many vices thinking he had had the same priuilege of vsing insolent behauiour in the prouince as he had done in the citie But turmoiled and molested with an ouerthwart accusation in the end letting fall his defence was condemned of extorsion Great suings preuailed so much for Eprius Marcellus of whom the Lycians demaunded restitution that some of the accusers were banished as though they had indangered an innocent man VIII A liberalitie of Nero towards certaine decaied gentlemen The warre of Armenia renewed Tiridates departeth the countrey WHen Nero was the third time Consull Valerius Messalla entered the same office whose great grandfather Coruinus an orator some old men remember to haue beene companion in office with Augustus of famous memorie Neroes great grandfathers father But the honor of this noble familie was bettered by giuing Messalla by yeare fiue hundred thousand sesterces to relieue his harmelesse pouertie To Aurelius Cotta likewise and Haterius Antoninus the Prince graunted that an annuall sum of money should be giuen although they had wasted riotously the wealth their ancestors had left them In the beginning of that yeere the warre which was drawne at length with soft and milde beginnings vntill then betweene the Parthians and the Romans for obtaining of Armenia was nowe hotly pursued because Vologeses would neither suffer his brother Tiridates to be depriued of the kingdome in which he had inuested him nor that he should enioy it as a gift from another Lord and Corbulo thought it woorthie of the greatnes of the people of Rome to recouer that which by Lucullus and Pompey had beene once gotten The Armenians being doubtfull and faithfull to neither side inuited both yet by the site of their countrey and conformitie of conditions being more neere vnto the Parthians and intermingled with them by mariages and not knowing what libertie was inclined rather to that seruitude But Corbulo had more adoe with the slothfulnes of the souldiers then perfidiousnes of the enimies for the legions remoued from Syria by a long peace grown lazie and idle could hardly endure the labor and paines of the Roman discipline Certaine it was there were old souldiers in that campe which had neuer kept watch nor ward a rampire or trench they gazed at as at a new and strange deuise without head-peeces without curasses neate and fine hunting after gaine hauing spent all their seruice in townes Whereupon the olde and feeble being dismissed he desired a supplie which was had out of Galatia and Cappadocia And to them was added a legion out of Germanie with wings of horsemen and all the armie kept in campe although the winter were so hard and the earth so couered with yce that they could not pitch their tents vnlesse they had first digged the ground Manie of their limmes grew starcke with extremitie of cold and many died in keeping the watch And there was a souldier noted carriyng a faggot whose hands were so stiffe frozen that sticking to his burden they fell from him as though they had beene cut from his armes Corbulo slightly apparailed bare headed was with them when they marched when they laboured praised the stout comforted the feeble and gaue example vnto them all Then bicause many refusing to endure the hardnes of the season such rigor of discipline forsooke him he sought a redresse by seueritie for he did not pardon the first and second fault as in other armies but he suffered death presently who forsooke his ensigne which by experience proued more profitable then clemencie For fewer forsooke that campe then where there was much mercie shewen In the meane season Corbulo hauing kept the legions in campe vntill the spring and disposed the aydcohorts in conuenient places charged them not to giue the onset The charge of the garrisons he committed to Pactius Ophitus once Captaine of the first ensigne who although he wrote to Corbulo that the Barbarians were carelesse and disordered and a fit occasion offered of atchieuing some exploite yet he was commaunded to keepe within his garrison and expect greater power But breaking his commandement when he saw a few troupes of horsemen issue out of a castle hard by and vnskilfully demaund battell he encountered the enimie and went away with the losse And those which should haue seconded them terrified with that discomfiture fled as fast as they could euerie man to his hold which to Corbulo was an exceeding griefe Who rebuking Pactius and the Captaines and the souldiers commaunded them all to pitch their tents out of the campe and there kept them in that disgrace vntil they were deliuered by the intercession sute of the whole armie But Tiridates besides his own followers succoured by his brother Vologeses not now by stelth but with open warre molesteth Armenia spoiling all such he thought faithfull to vs and if any forces were brought against him he deluded them by flying hither and thither terrifiyng more by fame then fight Corbulo therefore seeking occasion to ioyne battell but in vaine and constrained to make war now in one place now in another as the enimy did seuered his forces to the end that the Lieutenants Captaines might inuade diuers places at once Withall he aduertised King Antiochus to set on the gouernment next adioyning to him For Pharasmanes his sonne Rhadamistus being slaine as a traitor towardes him to testifie his loyaltie towards vs shewed more willingly his inueterate hatred against the Armenians Then the Isichians a nation neuer before confederate with vs being nowe brought to our side inuaded the hardest passages of Armenia whereby all Tiridates deseignments were crossed He sent Embassadors to expostulate in his owne and the Parthians name Why hauing of late giuen hostages and renewed amitie which opened the way to new benefites he should be driuen from the auncient possession of Armenia therefore
different in conditions VI. Whether it be conuenient to haue often playes to entertaine the people NEro being the fourth time Consull and Cor. Cossus the play called Quinquennale was ordained to be played at Rome after the maner of the Greeke combate whereof there went diuers reports as almost it hapneth in all new things for some there were which said that Gn. Pompeius was blamed by the ancient men for building a permanent Theater For in times past the playes were wont to be set forth on a skaffold built for that time and seates to continue no longer then the play lasted Or if thou wilt looke into more ancient times the people beheld them standing least if they should sit they would continue in the Theater whole daies in idlenes Neither should the ancient fashion of playes be obserued whē * as oft as the Pretors shuld set them forth no necessity was laid vpō any of the citizens to fight or looke on But the customes of the countrey being by little and little abolished were now vtterly ouerthrowne by disorders set from strange countries that whatsoeuer elsewhere might corrupt or was corrupted was seene in the citie and the youth vnlike to that it hath beene through strange manners wrestling naked idlenes and licentious loue the Prince and the Senate being authors thereof who haue not only giuen licence to vices but also giuen them strength and force The noblemen of Rome vnder colour of making orations and verses are discredited by stage-playing What remaineth then but only to vncloath themselues starke naked and take the caesti in hand and practise that fight in stead of armes and exercises of warre Or do they thinke they shall better vnderstand the knowledge of southsaying be more skilfull in the decuries of gentlemen accomplish the honorable charge of Iudicature if they vnderstand cunningly broken tunes and sweerenes of voices whole nights also were added to those shames because no time should be left honest but in that confuse multitude what euery person most dissolute desired by day durst venter on by night That licence pleased many and yet they cloaked it with honest termes That the ancients likewise did not abhorre the delight of playes and shewes according to their calling at that time and that stage-players were sent for from Thuscia The horse-race was represented by the Thurians but since Achaia and Asia was possessed by vs playes haue beene more exactly set foorth Neither hath there beene any one in Rome nobly descended which by reason of stage-playes hath discredited the stocke from whom he came these two hundred yeeres since L. Mamius triumphed who first set forth that kinde of shew in the citie Farther there was a regard had vnto thrift in erecting a continuall standing Theater rather then with infinite charges euery yeere set vp and build a new Neither should the magistrates waste their goods as they haue done on the people haue cause to be importunate with them for the combates according to the Greekes manner seeing the common-wealth did defray the charge The victories of orators and poets would be an incouragement vnto wits neither could it be offensiue to any iudge to lend his eares to honest studies and allowable pastimes To mirth rather then lasciuiousnes a few nights in fiue yeeres were giuen in which there is such great light of fires that no vnlawfull acte can be hidden In very deede that shew past without any notable dishonest part committed neither did the people shew any great insolencie although the common vices were restored to the stage and forbidden to shew themselues in such playes as were represented in honor of the gods The praise of eloquence none caried away but Caesar was pronounced victor and the Greekish attire which many wore in those dayes was layd aside VII Nero falleth sicke DVring these things there appeared a blasing starre which in the opinion of the common people betokeneth the change of a Prince Therfore as though Nero had alreadie beene driuen out they were busie to knowe who should succeede him Rubellius Plautus being famous in euerie mans mouth by the mothers side descended from the Iulian familie He was an obseruer of the old manner of liuing vpright graue and seuere liuing with all honestie as one retired in his own house and the more secret he was for feare of being accounted of so much the more his reputation increased An interpretation of a lightning begun by the like vanitie augmented the rumor For Neroes meate being striken with lightning and the table throwen downe at the lakes of Simbruinum in a place called Sublaqueum in the confines of Tiburtum from whence Plautus had his beginning by his fathers side all men beleeued that he was destined by the prouidence of the gods to the Empire and thereupon many fawned and courted him which by a greedie and for the most part deceiptfull ambition admire new things doubtfull and vncertaine Nero moued with these rumors writeth to Plautus aduising him to looke to himself and his assemblies and rid his hands of those which lewdly defamed him and that in Asia he had possessions by descent from his auncestors in which he might passe his youth safely and without troubles Whereupon he went thither with Antistia his wife and a few of his familiars At the same time too greedy a desire of pleasing his will in all he liked bred Nero both infamie and danger for swimming in the fountaine of the Martian water which was brought to the citie it was construed that he had defiled the holy drinkes and ceremonie of the place with his whole bodie and falling dangerously sicke thereupon it was constantly beleeued that it proceeded as a punishment from the wrath of the gods VIII Corbulo conquereth all Armenia ouer which Nero sendeth Tigranes to be King BVt Corbulo after the rasing of Artaxata thinking it his best to make profit of the fresh terrour for the easilier forcing of Tigranocerta by destroying of which he should augment feare in the enimie or by sparing it purchase the reputation of clemencie marcheth thither vsing no hostilitie by the way least he should take from them all hope of pardon yet with no remisnes or carelesse proceeding as one knowing that that nation is easilie subiect to chaunge as slow to perill so faithles when occasion is offered The Barbarians euerie man according to his wit some entreated some forsooke their villages and conueighed themselues to inaccessible places some hid themselues and the things they made most reckoning of in caues The Roman Captaine therefore vsing diuers policies shewed mercie towards the humble vsed celeritie in pursuing those which ranne away and crueltie against those which fled to the dennes and caues stopping the mouthes of them with vine branches and small wood and after set them on fire And passing by the confines of the Mardians a people well practised in theeuing and robbing they set on him but fled to their mountaines for their defence when they saw he turned towards