and desiring that they might renew right hands and that in honor of Germanicus he would come to the banke of Euphrates And requested in the meane time that Vonones might not remaine in Syria least he should by messengers draw the noble men of the countrey round about to ciuill dissentions Touching the alliance Germanicus answered magnificently but concerning the kings comming and the honor done to himselfe he answered ciuilly and with great modestie Vonones was remoued to Pompeiopolis a sea towne in Cilicia not so much at Artabanus request as to spite Piso vnto whom he was most acceptable for many benefits and gifts bestowed vpon Plancina XV. Germanicus voiage to Aegypt and Thebes Maroboduus and Catualda both expelled flee to the Romanes WHen M. Silanus and L. Norbanus were Consuls Germanicus went to Aegypt to see the antiquities of the countrey but pretended a care of the prouince where he opened their storehouses and brought downe the price of corne and did other things to win the fauour of the people as to go without souldiers weare open shoes apparell himselfe like the Grecians imitating P. Scipio whom we haue heard to haue done the like in Sicily when the war was hottest against the Affricans Tiberius hauing lightly blamed him for his behauior and apparell did most sharply rebuke him that contrary to Augustus order without the princes licence he had entered Alexandria For Augustus amongst other secrets of state had reserued Aegypt and forbidden all Senators Noblemen and Gentlemen to enter into it but with permission least Italy should be oppressed with famine who soeuer should be maister of that prouince being the key of the sea and land and easily defended with a small power against a strong host But Germanicus not knowing that his voiage was misliked went vp Nilus beginning at the towne Canopus which the Lacedemonians built because Canopus the gouernor of their ship was buried there when Meuelaus going backe to Greece was carried to a contrary sea and land of Libya The next mouth of the riuer from thence is dedicated to Hercules the first of which name was borne there as the inhabitants do report and of whom all which come after him of like valour and vertue tooke their surname After that he visited the great monuments of auncient Thebes where yet were to be seene Aegyptian letters in old buildings which contained their ancient wealth And one of their auncientest Priests being commaunded to interpret those letters in the countrey language related that in times past there had dwelt in that citie seauen hundred thousand persons of age fit to beare armes and that with that armie King Rhamses had conquered Libya Aethiopia Media and Persia Bactria and Scythia and the countries which the Syrians and the Armenians and the Cappadocians their next neighbours inhabited and that their dominion reached from the Bithynian to the Lycian sea There were also read the tributes imposed ouer nations the weight of siluer and gold the number and furniture of horses and armour the gifts giuen to the Temples the Iuory sweete sauours and what plentie of corne what vtensiles euerie nation was charged to furnish which were no lesse magnificall then are now commaunded by the forces of the Parthi or power of the Romans But Germanicus was yet tied to other miracles whereof the chiefest was the image of Memnon made of stone when it was stroken with the sunne beames yeelding a sound like a mans voice and the Pyramides as great as mountaines on the not passable sandes built a vie by Kings in times past to shew their riches and the ditches wrought by handie worke to receiue the ouerflowing of Nilus so narrow in some places and so deepe in others that the bottome cannot be found by any search From thence he came to Elephantines and Syenes in times past the bounds of the Roman Empire which now openeth to the red sea Whilest Germanicus spent that sommer in visiting many Prouinces Drusus gate no small honour by sowing sedition in Germanie and incensing them to pursue Maroboduus already weakened euen to his vtter ruine Among the Gotones there was a noble yoong man called Catualda who through Maroboduus violence hauing before fled his countrey things standing nowe in doubtfull termes ventured a reuenge And with a strong power entered the frontiers of the Marcomans and hauing corrupted the chiefe noble men to his confederacie forceth the Kings pallace and a castle hard by Where he found the olde spoiles of the Sueuians and the base rascals of our Prouince and certaine marchants whom intercourse of Marchandice and a desire of increasing their wealth or last of all a forgetfulnes of their countrey had drawen from their own dwellings to the enimies countrey Maroboduus being forsaken of all hands had no other refuge left but the mercie of the Romans And hauing passed the riuer of Danub where it coasteth the Prouince of Notica wrote vnto Tiberius not as a fugitiue and suppliant but putting him in minde of his former fortune and estate alleaging that when sundrie nations inuited him to their alliance being sometimes a renowned King he preferred the amity of the Romans before them al. Caesar answered him that he should haue a sure and honorable dwelling in Italie if he listed to remaine there but if any thing of greater aduauncement should happen vnto him that he should depart with the same safe conduct he came thither Afterward he declared in Senat that the Athenians had no such cause to feare Philip nor the people of Rome Pyrrhus and Antiochus as this man An oration of his is yet extant wherein he extolleth his power the strength of the nations he had vnder him and how neere an enimie he was to Italie and what plots he had deuised to roote him out Maroboduus was receiued at Rauenna that if at any time the Sueuian should waxe insolent he was in sight as it were alwaies readie to returne But he departed not Italie the space of eighteene yeeres and grew old with losse of reputation through ouer great desire of liuing The like hope had Catualda and no other refuge for not long after being driuen out by the Hermunduri vnder the conduct of Vibilius he was receiued and sent to Forum Iulij a colonie of Gallia Narbonensis The barbarous people which followed both these lest being mingled among others should disturbe the quiet Prouinces were placed beyond Danubium betwixt the riuers Marus and Cusus and a King giuen them of the Quadian nation XVI Wars betwixt Rhescuporis and Cotys Rhescuporis is sent to Rome NEwes being come that Artaxias was by Germanicus made King of Armenia the Lords of the Senat ordained that Germanicus and Drusus should enter into the citie ouant or with a small triumphe and that arches should be erected about the sides of the Temple of Mars the Reuenger with the images of the two Caesars Tiberius being more glad that he had established a peace by wisedome then if he should haue ended the war
an enemie and therefore credited his counsell as faithfull Vologeses therefore was not implacablie head-strong * and demaunded truce vnto some gouerments Tiridates requireth place and day of parley A short time was assigned the place where of late the legions were besieged with Paetus seeing it was chosen by the Barbarians in remembraunce of their ioyfull hap was not refused by Corbulo that the diuersitie of fortune might augment his glorie Neither was Paetus infamie increased which appeered plainely in that he commaunded his sonne who was Tribune to appoint certaine bands to burie and couer the dead bodies of the vnfortunate conflict VII Tiridates speaketh with Corbulo and yeeldeth vp the crovvne of Armenia in the Roman campe THe day appointed Tiberius Alexander a noble gentleman of Rome giuen as an aide to the warre and Viuianus Annius Corbuloes sonne in lawe not yet of age to be Senator but assigned in the place of the Lieutenant of the fift legion came to Tiridates campe to do him honour and that hauing such pledges he should feare no treacherie And then were taken twentie horsemen on each side And the King seeing Corbulo lighted first from his horse and Corbulo did the like immediately and both of them on foote ioyned right hands Then the Roman praised the yoong Prince that leauing dangerous vncertainties he would imbrace sure and wholesome counsell Tiridates hauing spoken much of the noblenes of his stocke in the rest was temperate saying that he would goe to Rome and bring Caesar newe glorie Arsacides humblie intreating the Parthians being daunted with no aduerse encounter Then seemed it good that Tiridates should lay his royall crowne before Caesars image and not take it againe but at the hand of Nero and so the speech was ended with a short salutation A few dayes after with a great pomp on both parts they shewed themselues his horsemen ranged into troupes on one side with the ensignes of his countrey and on the other the armie of the legions marshalled in order with glittering standards and ensignes and images of the gods in manner of a temple In the middle was planted a tribunall and in it a chaire of estate with Neroes image vnto which Tiridates went and sacrifices offered according to the custome taketh the crowne from his head and laide it vnder the image which troubled the minds of such as had yet before their eyes the slaughter and besieging of the Romane armies But now fortune was changed and Tiridates a spectacle to the people how much better then a captiue Corbulo added to his glorie courtesie and feastings and as the King marked any strange thing and asked the cause as the beginnings of the watches brought by the Centurion the banket ended with a trumpet the pile of wood before the Augural altar lighted with a torch Corbulo made him answere extolling euery thing more then it was to draw the new Prince into an admiration of the old custome The last day when he was to take his iourney he desired time to visit his brothers and mother before his departure and left his daughter for an hostage in the meane space and letters of submission to be sent to Nero. And departed thence he found Pacorùs with the Medes and Vologeses at Ecbatanes not vnmindfull of his brother for he had requested of Corbulo by speciall messengers that Tiridates might not shew any token of seruitude or deliuer vp his weapons or be barred from imbracing the gouernors of prouinces or attend at their dores but haue the same honor at Rome that the Consuls had Being accustomed to forren pride he was vnacquainted with our manners with whom the lawe of rule and dominion beareth sway vanities being laid aside The same yeere Caesar honored the nations of the sea Alpes with the rights and priuiledges of the Latians and in the Cirque placed the Gentlemen of Rome before the people For vntill that day they sate indifferently because the lawe Roscian had taken no order but for foureteene orders A shew of Fencers was represented that yeere with like magnificence as others before but many noble women and Senators wiues were discredited in the Theater VIII Nero singeth on the stage The fall of the same stage Torquatus Silanus death Nero attired like a woman weddeth Pythagoras C. Lecanius and M. Licinius being Consuls Nero more and more desired to frequent the stage without any respect for as yet he had not song but in his house and gardens in plaies of youth which now he despised as not frequented and too meane for such a voice Yet he durst not begin at Rome but chose Naples as a Greeke citie thinking that that might serue for a commencement to goe to Achaia where hauing obtained the famous and in times past reputed sacred crownes by that meanes grown in credit he thought he should stur a great desire in the citizens of Rome to heare him The cōmón rabble flocked together or such as the fame of those plaies had drawne frō the next colonies townes and such as followed him either to do him honor or sundrie other occasions yea companies of souldiers filled the Theater of Naples There hapned as most men thought a dolefull chance but yet as he construed it foretokening good luck and sent by the fauorable prouidence of the gods For the people were no sooner gone and the Theater emptie but it fell downe without hurt done to any Therfore with songs composed for the purpose thanking the gods and celebrating the fortune of the late chance going to the Adriatike sea he stayed in the meane time at Beneuentum where by Vatinius was exhibited a notable play of Fencers Vatinius was one of the shamelest monsters of his court brought vp in a coblers shop mishapen of bodie and a scurrile iester and therefore first emploied in that practise then by pickthanking and informing against the better sort grew to such authoritie that in credit and wealth and power of doing hurt he was worse then the worst Nero then comming to the play he had set forth no not at their pastime did they abstaine from doing of mischiefe For the selfesame daye Torquatus Silanus was constrained to dye because that besides the noblenes of the Iunian familie he sayd that he was in the fourth degree lineally descended from Augustus of famous memorie The accusers were commaunded to lay to his charge that he was prodigall in gifts and that all his hope lay in the alteration of the state And that he had noble men about him which he called his Secretaries maisters of requests Auditors which were names of imperiall dignitie and deseignments of great attempts Then the chiefest of his freed men were bound and caried away And when Torquatus condemnation was at hand he cut the vaines of his armes and Nero as his manner was made an oration after that although he had beene culpable and worthily distrusted his purgation yet he should haue had his life graunted him if he would haue expected the
by a maine battell Now he determined by some subtiltie to set vpon Rhescuporis King of Thrace That countrey once hauing beene vnder Rhoemetalces after his death Augustus gaue part of it to his brother Rhescuporis part to his sonne Cotys In that partition the erable grounds the cities and places adioining to Greece fell to Cotys share That which was vnhabited wilde and lying neere the enimie to Rhescuporis The dispositions also of those Kings were such that the one was tractable and of a milde condition this stout coueteous and impatient of a companion and both at the first liuing in cunning and dissembled concord Then Rhescuporis began to exceed his bounds and draw that to himselfe which was giuen Cotys and vse violence if he resisted but not so hotly in Augustus time whom he feared being the author of both kingdomes would reuenge if he were despised But vnderstanding of a chaunge of the Prince he sent in troups of theeues beat downe his castles and sought occasions of warre Nothing did more trouble Tiberius then that those things which were once setled should now be disturbed and therefore making choise of a Centurion dispatcheth him away to signifie to the Kings that they should not in any case enter into armes and thereupon Cotys dismissed presently the aide he had prepared Rhescuporis with a fained modestie requesteth a place of meeting to ende their controuersie by conference neither did they long doubt of the time place and conditions the one yeelding to all with a facilitie of nature the other accepting all with a fraudulent meaning Rhescuporis as he pretended to conclude this agreement maketh a banket whē the night was far spent with great myrth much eating quaffing of wine he loaded vncircumspect Cotys with chaines who perceiuing the treason besought him by the sacred ceremonies of the kingdom the gods of the same familie by the entertainment of his table he would vse no such violence Hauing thus made himselfe maister of all Thrace he wrote to Tiberius that there were conspiracies wrought against him and the contriuer of them preuented And withall pretending warre against the Bastarnians and the Scythians maketh himselfe strong with a new power of footemen and horsemen Tiberius wrote to him coldly againe that if there were no fraude in his doing he might trust to his innocencie but neither he nor the Senate could discerne the right from wrong vnlesse they knew the cause therefore that he should deliuer vp Cotys and come to them and purge himselfe of the enuie of the crime Those letters Latinius Pandus Propraetor of Moesia sent with the souldiers vnto whom Cotys should be deliuered But Rhescuporis balancing betweene anger and feare and desirous to be guiltie rather of the fact committed then only attempted commandeth Cotys to be slaine and vntruly gaue it out that he had killed himselfe Yet for all this Caesar altered not his intended course but after Pandus decease whom Rhescuporis accused to haue beene his back friend made Pomponius Flaccus an old souldier and with whom the king was very inward and therefore a more fit instrument to deceiue for the same cause especiall gouernor of Moesia Flaccus being gone to Thrace by way of great promises perswaded him although doubtfull and calling to minde his owne wickednes to enter into the Romane garrison where he was garded with a strong companie vnder colour of honor He had Tribunes and Centurions at hand to counsell and perswade him and the further he went the greater gard and at last knowing in what termes of necessitie he stoode they brought him to the citie where being accused in Senate by Cotys wife he was condemned to be kept far from his countrey Thrace was afterward deuided betwixt Rhaemetalces his sonne who was knowne to be an enemie to his fathers proceedings and Cotys children which not being of full age Trebellienus Rufus who had beene Pretor in the meane season was made gouernor of the kingdome following the example of our predecessors who sent M. Lepidus into Aegypt to be gardian to Ptolemeus children Rhescuporis was caried to Alexandria and there going about to escape or because it was so fathered on him was killed At the same time Vonones who as we haue said was confined in Cilicia hauing corrupted his keepers vnder colour of going a hunting attempted all meanes to escape to the Armenians from thence to the Albanians and Heniochians and to his Cosen the king of Scythia And forsaking the sea coasts gote into bywayes and forrests and by the swiftnes of his horse posted with all speede to the riuer Pyramus The borderers vnderstanding the kings escape hauing broken down the bridges he not able to passe at any foord was taken by the riuers side and bound by Vibius Fronto captaine of the horsemen Anon after Remmius Euocatus vnto whose charge the king was first committed as it had bene in an anger thrust him through with his sword Wherupon it was the easlier beleeued that he had so slaine Vonones as one guiltie and consenting to his escape and therefore fearing he should be bewraied and accused XVII Germanicus sicknes and death The variance betwixt him and Piso BVt Germanicus returning from Aegypt and perceiuing that all which he had commaunded either in the legions or townes left vndone or changed cleane contrary began to vse grieuous and contumelious speeches against Piso and he to requite Caesar with no lesse dangerous attempts Whereupon Piso determined to depart Syria but staying a time by reason of Germanicus sicknes when he heard of his amendment and that the vowes were accomplished for his health he droue away by his sergeants the beast brought to the altar and disturbed the preparation made for the sacrifice and the solemne meeting of the people of Antioch Then he went to Seleucia expecting the euent of his sicknes which he fell againe into the rage thereof so much the more greeuous through an opinion that Piso had poisoned him for there were found pulled out of the ground and wals charmes verses and enchantmēts and Germanicus name engrauen in sheetes of lead ashes halfe burned and tempered with corrupt bloud and other sorceries by which it is thought that soules are dedicated to the infernall powers Some also were accused to haue bene sent from Piso to espie in what state he was in That droue Germanicus both into anger and feare considering with himselfe if his house should be besieged if he should lose his life in the sight of his enemies what should happen after to his wofull wife and his yong children he saw that the poison seemed slow in working but Piso hastened that he might alone haue the gouernment of the legions and the prouince But Germanicus was not so destitute of friends that the murderer should inioy the rewards of the murder And hereupon enditeth a letter to him in which he renounceth his friendship Some adde that he commaunded him to depart the prouince Piso made no longer delay but
moued because Augustus did doubt only whether he should bestow her vpon a gentleman how much more ought we to consider that he gaue her to M. Agrippa and then after vnto me These things I would not hide from thee for the friendship which is betwixt vs but I will not be against thine nor Liuiaes deseignments and will forbeare at this time to speake what I had cast in minde and how neerely I purposed to linke thee vnto me I will only say that there is nothing so excellent but thy vertues and good will towardes me doth deserue it and when opportunitie shall serue I will vtter it either in Senate or before the people Seianus hearing this answere was nothing pleased not so much in regard of the marriage as because he feared Tiberius secret suspitions the rumor of the people and enuie which grew fast vpon him Yet fearing if he should cast off those great troupes which daily came to court him he should weaken his authoritie and by entertaining them minister matter of crime the marke he shot at was to perswade Tiberius to leade his life in some pleasant place far from Rome wherein he foresaw many things as that there could be no accesse to the Prince but by him that all letters being conueied by souldiers which were at his deuotion should passe through his hands that Caesar declining now to age and growen slothfull and effeminat through the quietnes of the place would disburden himselfe of cares of state and commit them to another and that the enuie borne to himselfe should be diminished accesse to the Prince being lesser and by that meanes all vaine shadowes remoued he should grow mightie in true power and authoritie Therefore by little and by little he findeth fault with the busines of the citie the concourse of people the flocking together of multitudes extolleth highly a quiet and solitarie life a life without anguish of minde and free from enuie most fit to thinke on important and waightie affaires And falling out by chance that Votienus Montanus cause was to be heard a man of a readie wit Seianus perceiuing Tiberius not resolued to leaue the citie perswaded him to be a very inconuenient matter to be present at the assemblies of the Senate least he should heare railing and reprochfull speeches but yet true vttered of himselfe in his owne hearing For Votienus being accused of contumelious words against Caesar whilest Aemylius a witnes and a souldier laboured earnestly to prooue his assertion rehearsed from point to point though the hearers buzzed and made a noise about him all Votienus words in which Tiberius heard many spitefull and reprochfull speeches backbitingly vttered in secret against himselfe which so moued him that he cried he would either presently or when the cause was heard purge himselfe and was hardly pacified either with intreatie of his neerest friends or flattery of all and so Votienus was punished as for treason Caesar persisting stifly vsing hard and rough dealing though that was one of the crimes obiected against him condemned to exile Aquilia for adulterie with Varius Ligur although Lentulus Getulicus Consull elect had alreadie condemned her by the Iulian law and put Apidius Merula from his Senators roome because he had not sworne to obserue Augustus actes X. Acontrouer sie betvvixt the Lacedaemonians and Messenians touching the rights of the Temple of Diana Piso Pretor of Spaine slaine by a villagois AFter that were heard the Embasies of the Lacedaemonians and Messenians concerning the right of the Temple of Diana Limenetidis which the Lacedaemonians auowed by the records of their Annales and profices to haue beene dedicated by their predecessors in their countrey but taken from them by Philip of Macedon with whom they warred and afterward restored vnto them by the sentence of C. Caesar and M. Antonius The Messenians on the contrarie side alleaged an old diuision of Peloponesus betweene Hercules successors and that that territorie Dentheliate wherein the Temple was fell to their King whereof there remained auncient monuments engrauen in stones and brasse And if it were necessarie to produce the testimonie of Poets and Chronicles they had more then they of good credit neither had Philip so done by force but according to equitie King Antigonus and the Captaine Mummius gaue the like iudgement So the Milesians being publikely made arbitrators of the cause and last of all Atidius Geminus Pretor of Achaia determined the same Whereupon iudgment was giuen on the Messenians side The Segestani likewise demaunded that Venus Temple built on the hill Eryce and fallen downe with age might be reedified calling to remembrance many things of her beginning pleasing vnto Tiberius eares which mooued him to vndertake willingly the charge as being of her blood After that the Massiliens requests were heard and the example of P. Rutilius allowed who hauing by law been expulsed Rome the Smyrnaeans receiued and made a citizen in their citie By which right also the Massiliens receiued Vulcatius Moschus a banished man who left all his goods to their common-wealth as to his countrey Two noble men Gn. Lentulus and L. Domitius died the same yeere It was to Lentulus a great honour ouer and besides that he was Consull and triumped ouer the Getuli that he endured his pouertie patiently then that hauing gotten great riches without iniuriyng of any he vsed them temperatly Domitius credit grew by his father who was lord of the sea in the ciuill wars vntill he thrust himself into Antonies faction and after that into Caesars His grandfather was slaine in the Pharsalian battell taking part with the nobilitie and himselfe chosen to marrie Antonia Octauius yoongest daughter After that he passed ouer the riuer Albis with his host and entered farther into Germanie than any other before him for which cause he obtained the honour of triumphe L. Antonius of great but vnfortunat nobilitie died likewise for his father Iulus Antonius being put to death for committing adulterie with Iulia Augustus sent him being verie yoong and his sisters nephewe to Marsilles where he cloked the name of banishment with the pretence of studie Notwithstanding he had great honor done him at his funerals and his bones buried in the tombe of the Octauians by decree of the Senat. The same men being Consuls a bloodie fact was committed in hither Spaine by a pesant of Termestine who assayling vpon the way L. Piso Pretor of the Prouince at vnawares and vnprouided as being careles by reason of peace killed him with one stroke then fled in post to the woods and forsaking his horse stealing by dangerous bie-waies beguiled his followers though not long for his horse being taken and brought to the next villages it was knowen whose he was And being found and put to the racke to bewraie his complices cried alowde in his countrey language that that was a vaine question to aske him and that his companions might boldly come and behold him on the torture for no torment or griefe should be
on foote by which it is prouided of old that for pleading of causes no man should take either money or gift Then they whom that iniurie seemed to touch making a noise Silius was eager and earnest against Suilius and contradicted him alleaging the example of Orators in times past Which esteemed fame with posteritie to be the fairest rewarde of eloquence otherwise that the princesse of good arts should be distained with the seruitude of base lucre and that no faith could be sincere and inuiolate where excesse of gaine is regarded And if causes shoulde be defended without rewarde there would be fewer of them where as now enmities accusations hatred and iniuries are fostered and that as the multitude of diseases brought the Phisitions gaine so the pestilent infection of the bar serueth now to inrich the lawiers Let them call to minde C. Asinius and Messalla and of later memorie Arruntius and Eserninus which were lifted vp to the highest degree of dignitie by their vpright life and vncorrupted eloquence The Consull elect vttering these speeches the others approouing the same they went about to giue iudgement that such shoulde be condemned vnto the like punishment as they were who had by briberie and extortion polled and oppressed the commons When as Suilius and Cossutianus and others which perceiued that there should be no generall decree set downe but a punishment for those which had beene openly conuicted came about Caesar and besought him pardon of that which was past And after a little silence nodding with his head vnto them they began as followeth Who was he so puft vp with pride that would presume or hope for eternitie of fame that it was expedient men should prouide for necessarie maintenance least through the want of aduocates the poore be oppressed by the rich and mightie Neither did eloquence come by chance and gratis vnto any without paine and labor the care of a mans owne familie was neglected if he were occupied in another mans busines many maintained their life by warre some by tilling the earth no man laboured to attaine to any knowledge vnlesse he had seene some commoditie in it It was an easie matter for Asinius and Messalla which were inriched with great rewards betweene Antonies and Augustus wars to shew a gallant and braue minde and for Eserninus and Aruntius heires of rich houses to do the like Examples were as readie for them to shew for what great rewards P. Claudius and C. Curio were woont to plead As for themselues they were but meane Senators which expected no gaine of the common-wealth but such as grew of peace The meanest of the people endeuored what he could to better his estate the rewarde of studies being taken away studies do also decay as hauing neither glory nor honor The Prince thinking that this was not spoken without ground of reason moderated the sum which they should take vnto ten thousand sesterces and that they which passed this summe should be condemned of extorsion III. Mithradates recouereth his kingdome Warres betweene Gotarzes and Bardanes for the kingdome of Parthia ABout the same time Mithradates who as I haue shewed gouerned Armenia and was brought to Caesar returned into his kingdome at Claudius perswasion trusting in the power of Pharasmanes King of the Hiberi and Mithradates brother who told him that the Parthians were at variance among themselues doubtfull what would become of the Kingdome and matters of smaller importance vtterly neglected For whilest Gotarzes practised great cruelties going about to kill his brother Artabanus his wife and his sonne whereby the rest were afeard they called in Bardanes who being a man of action and able to go thorow great enterprises in two daies inuaded three thousand stadia and chased out Gotarzes all amazed and dismayed not once dreaming of his comming and without any lingring seased on the next gouernments the Seleucians onely refusing to obey him Whereupon inflamed with greater anger then the present occasion ministred cause bicause they had reuolted from his father he besieged their citie which was strong and well fortified with a wall inuironed with a riuer and furnished with victuals and munition In the meane time Gotarzes strengthened with the Daharian and Hyrcanian power renueth the war And Bardanes enforced to abandon Leleucia remooued his campe to the champion countrey of the Bracteri Then the forces of the Orient being deuided and vncertaine which way to leane Mithradates had oportunitie offered him by chance to sease vpon Armenia and with the force of the Roman souldier rase and beat downe the strong fortresses the Hiberian campe at once wasting and spoiling the champion Neither did the Armenians make heade at all against them Demonactes their gouernour being slaine who onely durst haue waged battell against them Cotys King of lesser Armenia did somewhat hinder them some of the nobles ioyning with him But afterward being rebuked by Caesars letters all turned vnto Mithradates side more cruell then was expedient in a kingdome newly gotten But the Parthian Emperours making preparation to fight suddenly conclude a peace hauing discouered the treacherie of their subiects which Gotarzes bewraied vnto his brother At the first meeting they had a ielous conceit the one of the other then taking one another by the right hand before the altars of the gods they promised and couenanted to reuenge the treason of their enimies and agree and helpe one another Bardanes seemed most meete to possesse the kingdome And Gotarzes because there should remaine no sparkle of emulation went to Hyrcania And Bardanes returning againe Seleucia yeeldeth the seuenth yeere after her reuolt not without discredit to the Parthians whom one bare citie had so long deluded Then he inuadeth the strongest Prouinces and began to recouer Armenia if Vibius Marsus Lieuetenant of Syria had not hindered him by threatning to warre against him In the meane time Gotarzes repenting that he had yeelded the kingdome and the nobilitie vnto whom obedience in peace seemeth hardest calling him backe againe assembleth his forces togither whom Bardanes met at the riuer Erindes where skirmishing long on both parts for the passages Bardanes had the vpper hand and with prosperous battels subdued all the middle countries vnto the riuer Gindes which diuideth the Dahas from the Arij There his fortunate successes had an end for the Parthians although they were conquerers yet liked not to make warre so far off Wherefore building monuments in token of his wealth and power and that none of the Arsacides had euer before leuied any tribute of those nations he returned with great glorie and therefore so much the more fierce and intollerable to his subiects who hauing long before laide a snare to intrap him killed him at vnawares as he was a hunting in the Prime of his youth fewe of the old Kings to be matched in renowne with him if he had as well sought the loue of his subiects as to be feared of his enimies By the death of Bardanes the Parthian
subtiltie towards the Captaine when he had seuered the forces of the Barbariās hauing slaine Trosobor a few of the ring-leaders appeased the residue by clemēcy The same time between the lake Fucinus the riuer Lyris the better to behold the sight magnificence of the spectacle a mountaine was cut thorough in the verie lake a sea fight was represented Augustus in times past had done the like by making a standing poole on this side Tibris but with light boates fewer in number Claudius armed galleies with three and foure oares on a seat and nineteen thousand men enuironed the lake with frames of timber work bicause they should not runne out at randome yet left space enough for the rowers and pilotes to shew skill and such encounters as had beene accustomed in a sea fight On the buildings about the lake stood certaine companies of footemen and troupes of horsemen of the Emperours guard with fences before them to shoote with warlike instruments engines The rest of the lake sea souldiers occupied with couered ships the shore and small hill tops as it had beene a Theater an infinite number of people filled as well out of the townes adioyning as the citie through desire of seeing the pastime or to please the Prince He himselfe in a rich and princely cote armour and Agrippina not farre off sate aloft in a garment wrought with gold They fought although they were malefactors and condemned persons with great courage and valour and after many wounds were parted hindered from killing one another But after that the shew was ended the water let out the insufficiēcie of the work which was not thrust down nor digged deepe ynough to the bottome was discouered Whereupō not lōg after the ditches were digged deeper to draw the people againe togither a shew offencers was made on bridges built ouer the lake to represent a land-fight And at the mouth of the lake a banket prepared droue them all into a great feare through the violent gushing out of the water which carried with it all that was by and things farther off breaking downe with the crash and noise stroke them all into amaze Whereupon Agrippina taking aduantage of the Princes feare rebuked Narcissus who had charge of the worke of couetuousnes and theft And he for his part helde not his toong but cast in her teeth her intollerable pride and ouer haughtie hopes XII Nero marrieth with Octauia the inhabitants of Cous exempted from subsidies the like is graunted to Bysance WHen D. Iunius and Q. Haterius were Consuls Nero at the age of sixteene married Caesars daughter Octauia And to winne credit and reputation by honorable studies and glorie of eloquence vndertaking the Ilienses cause declared that the Romans were descended from Troy and that AEneas was the roote of the Iulian familie and many other matters not farre vnlike olde fables which being deliuered with a good grace and fit words obtained that the Ilienses should be released from all publicke duties and charges He pleaded also for the Bononian colonie which was wasted with fire and obtained for their reliefe ten millions of sesterces The inhabitants of Rhodes are restored to their libertie often taken from them or confirmed according as they had merited by seruice abroade or demerited by sedition at home The Apameans ruined by an earth-quake were discharged of tribute for fiue yeeres Claudius was incensed to much crueltie by Agrippinaes practises who gaping after Statilius Taurus gardens esteemed verie rich neuer ceased vntill she had ouerthrowen him Tarquitius Priscus being his accuser This Priscus had beene Taurus Lieutenant when he was Proconsull in Affricke and when they returned obiected that in some things he had vsed extorsion and bribery and withall that he consulted with Magicians But he not able to endure such an indignitie by a false accuser slewe himselfe before the Senators had giuen sentence yet notwithstanding all the sute Agrippina could make this Tarquitius was expulsed the Curia so odious he was to the rest of the Lords of the Senate The same yeere the Prince was often heard to say that the causes adiudged by his Procurator should be of the same validitie as if himselfe had giuen sentence And least those words might seeme to haue escaped him by chaunce a decree of Senate was inacted thereon fuller and amplier then before any had beene conceiued And Augustus of famous memorie had graunted that all causes might be heard before the gentlemen which gouerned Egypt and commaunded that the sentences set down by them should be kept as if they had bin giuen by a magistrate of Rome After that in other Prouinces and in the citie many things were graunted which in times past belonged to the hearing onely of the Pretor Claudius yeelded them all the right and iurisdiction for which there had beene such wars and sedition as when the order of gentlemen by the Sempronian lawes were established in the possession of Iudicature or when the Seruilian lawes on the other side had giuen the Senate power iudicially to determine causes and for which Marius and Sylla in times past more then all the rest made warres the one against the other But in those daies factions raigned among the citizens and the conquerers bare publicke sway hauing all power in their hands C. Oppius and Cornelius Balbus were the first which with authoritie from Caesar could handle conditions as well of peace as of ware It were to small purpose to speake of the Matians and Vedians after these which were gentlemen of marke and of noble families seeing that Claudius hath made freed men vnto whom he had committed the charge of his housholde affaires equall to himselfe and to the lawes After that Caesar propounded whether those of Cous should be released of tributes alleaging manie things concerning their antiquitie as that the Argiui and Ceus Latonaes father were the old inhabitants of the Ile and that after by Aesculapius arriuing there the Arte of Phisicke was brought in a man highly esteemed of posteritie naming them by their names and in what age euery one of them flourished Further hee affirmed that Xenophon whose skill himselfe vsed in Phisicke descended from the same familie and that in regarde of his desire the Ile of Cous deuoted to the seruice of so great a god shoulde be discharged of all tributes Neither was it to be doubted but there might be alleaged many merits of theirs towards the people of Rome and many victories obtained by their alliance But Claudius according to his accustomed facilitie and simplicitie went not about to shadowe that with external helpes which he had bestowed in fauour of one alone The Byzantines hauing obtained audience deliuered how greeuous their impositions and tributes were and desired they might be released and ripped vp all reasons they coulde euen from the first alliance which they made with vs when we warred against the king of Macedonia who for basenes of minde and want
conspiracie more grieuous to Neroes eares who as readie and prompt to all mischiefes so vnaccustomed to heare of that he had done The punishment of Flauius was committed to Veianus Niger Tribune He in the next field commaunded a pit to be digged which Flauius finding fault with as not deepe inough sayd to the souldiers standing by This is not according to the order of seruice And being willed to stretch out his neck stoutly I would to God said he thou wouldest strike so stoutly Who quaking very much when he had scarse cut off his head at two blowes bragged to Nero of his crueltie saying that he was killed with halfe a blow The next example of constancie the Centurion Sulpitius Asper did shew for Caesar asking him why he had conspired his death answered briefely That so many his villanies could not otherwise be redressed Then he sustained the punishment commanded Neither did the rest of the Centurions degenerate in bearing their punishments But Fenius Rufus had not the like courage but set downe his griefes and lamentations in his testament Nero expected that Vestinus the Consull should also be drawen into the action iudging him violent and an enemie to him but the conspirators would not communicate their deseignments with him some by reason of old grudges but more because they thought him rash headie and insociable Furthermore Neroes hatred against Vestinus proceeded of their inward familiaritie the one contemning the Princes knowne cowardlines and the other fearing the fell courage of his friend often iesting at him with bitter skoffes which when they carry much truth with them leaue behinde them a biting memorie Besides there was a fresh cause of malice betweene them because Vestinus had married Statilia Messallina not ignorant that Caesar kept vnlawfull companie with her Therefore no crime no accuser appearing because he could put on no shew of accusation he fled to his absolute power sendeth Gerelanus the Tribune with a band of souldiers inchargeth him to preuēt the Consuls deseignmēts seise vpō his house which was as it were his fortresse and slew his chosen cōpanie of youth because Vestinus had his house looking ouer the market place and handsome slaues all of one age He had fulfilled that day all the duties of a Consull and making a banquet fearing nothing or else dissembling his feare the souldiers entred in and when word was brought him that he was called by the Tribune he rose without any delay had all things prepared him in a trice shut himself vp in his chamber had his Phisition at hand which cut his vaines and being yet lustie was caried to a bath put in hot water not once vttering a word which could argue either griefe or compassion on himselfe Those which were at table with him were in the meane time beset with a gard and not dismissed till the night was farre spent and then Nero imagining and laughing at the feare they were in as looking for their imminent ruine sayd they had paied enough for the Consuls good cheere XVI Lucanus and Quinctianus death Neroes liberalitie to the souldiers Who Nymphidius was The Senators flattery toward Nero. AFter that he commanded the death of M. Annaeus Lucanus who perceiuing as his bloud went out his feete and hands to waxe cold and his spirites by little and little to forsake the exterior parts of his bodie his hart yet strong his wit fresh remembring verses made by himselfe in which he represented a souldier wounded and dead with the like kinde of death rehearsed the verses themselues which were the last words he spake After that Senecio and Quinctianus not according to their former effeminat life and the residue of the conspirators were put to death neither speaking nor doing any thing worthie memorie But in the meane time the citie was filled with funerals the Capitoll with sacrifices one hauing his brother another his sonne put to death or friend or neere kindred gaue thanks to the gods deckt his house with Bayes fell downe at the Emperors knees and wearied his right hand with kisses And he thinking it to be done for ioy rewardeth with impunitie Antonius Natalis and Ceruarius Proculus speedie detection and Milichus enriched with recompences tooke vnto him a name which in the Greeke signifieth a sauiour And Granius Siluanus the Tribune although quit yet slew himselfe Statius Proximus frustrated the pardon which he had receiued of the Emperour by the vanitie of his death After this Pompey Cornelius Martialis Flauius Nepos and Statius Domitius were depriued of the Tribuneship not because they hated the Prince but yet supposed so to do Nouius Priscus for the friendship he had with Seneca and Glitius Gallus and Annius Pollio diffamed rather then conuicted were sent into banishment Antonia Flacilla Priscus wife followed him Egnatia Maximilla did the like with Gallus at the first all their wealth which was great left them then taken away both which increased their glorie Rufus Crispinus was banished also vnder colour of the conspiracie but hated of Nero because he had beene Poppaeas husband Verginius Rufus great reputation was cause of his exile for Verginius furthered the studies of youth with eloquence and Musonius with precepts of Philosophie Cluuidienus Quietus Iulius Agrippa Blitius Catulinus Petronius Priscus Iulius Altinus as it were an armie to make vp a number were banished to the Iles of the Aegaean sea But Cadicia Sceuinus wife and Cesenius Maximus were banished Italie knowing by the punishment only that they were called in question Annaeus Lucanus mother Atilla though not acquited yet was let go without punishment These things done by Nero calling the soldiers together to an oration he bestowed by pole vpon euery souldier vnder bands two thousand Nummi and corne without any price which they had before according to the rate it was sould Then as though he would declare some exploit done in war assembled the Lords of the Senate bestowed the ornament of triumphe vpon Petronius Turpilianus Consull Cocceius Nerua Pretor elect Tigellinus captaine of the gard and so extolling Tigellinus and Nerua besides their triumphall images in the Forum he placed their images also in the Pallace He gaue Nymphidius also the ornaments of a Consull of whome I will speake a little because now is the first occasion offered for he also was part of the Roman miseries He therefore sonne of a freed woman which had abandoned and made common her comely bodie to Princes bonde and freede men affirmed he was begotten by C. Caesar because by some chance he was tall of personage and of a sterne grim countenance or else C. Caesar being desirous of light-women had abused his mother also But Nero the Senators assembled and an oration made among them published an Edict to the people and added the informations and confessions of the condemned because he was often diffamed in the peoples mouth as though he had executed innocent persons for enuie or feare Neuerthelesse those which had a care