so forward to further the cause and some he dismantelleth certaine Procuratours and officers he putteth to death their vviues and their children a crueltie practised no not by Nero much lesse expected in Galbaes beginnings He directeth out warrant to Trebonius Garrucianus Procuratour of Africa to put Macer to death dismisse the Legion lately mustered and quiet the cuntrey and appointes in Verginius place Hordeonius Flaccus Lieutenant in Germanie Then without coat-armour on backe a sicklie olde man himselfe his men in warlike order march ouer the mountaines The citties of France that tooke part against Vindex he punisheth with losse of reuenew and cuntrey the rest were relieued their tributes a quarter abated themselues made cittizens of Rome by meanes of their money and Vinius vvho carying an ill minde and seruing in great place a weake master made open sale of his Princes free graces and fauours At Narbon the embassadours sent from the Senate met him in duetifull maner whom Galba receaued curteouslie with frendly and familiar speeches and feasted in sober sort all with his owne though otherwise hee had plentie there of Neroes vvaiters and seruice sent by Nymphidius But anone Vinius vvhich vvhollie possessed and gouerned the olde man counsailed him to put of popularity as not beseeming his place to accept of Neroes prouision to become royall in expense and seruice Verginius hauing deliuered the armie to his successour met Galba on the waie receiued of him not as in displeasure and yet vvith small honour so dangerous a point it is yea to haue but onelie refused the Empire At Gellianus returne Nymphidius hearing that Laco was captaine alreadie that Vinius had all the autoritie and credit that his messenger was suspected and watched of all not suffred to talke with the Prince in priuate not once to approch to his person was wonderfullie moued in minde Whereupon assembling the chiefe of the Garde he shewed them that Galba was for his owne part a good harmelesse olde mā but misse-led by two persons much of Tigellinus making Vinius and Laco and therefore it vvere not amisse to sende one or two in the name of the whole to make him remonstrance that remoouing awaie those two from about him hee should bee more welcome and better accepted This speech seeming strange and absurde to prescribe to a Prince of those yeares as it were to an infant his counsaile seruantes he taketh a contrarie course and writeth to Galba in terrifying maner That the matters at Rome were doubtfull and dangerous that Macer in Africke had staied the shippes the Legions of Germanie stirred a new the like was reported from Iewrie and Syria But perceiuing that Galba gaue to his tales small eare and lesse credit and hauing the souldiers all well affected he determined to preuent and giue the attempt notwithstanding that Clodius Celsus a sober wise man and one of his frendes plainelie protested that in his opinion scarce anie three persons in Rome would accept him for Emperour but the rest skoffed it out namelie one Mithridates of Pontus Perhaps quoth hee Galba seemes some bodie now to the Romans whilest he is absent but when they shall see that balde head and riueled face hee vvill seeme the verie reproch and disgrace of the daies in vvhich hee vvas Prince And so they concluded at midnight following to bring Nymphidius into the campe and proclaime him Emperour But vvhen the euening vvas come Antonius Honoratus a principall Tribune assembling the souldiers vnder his charge demanded vvhat euill spirit had bereaued them of vnderstanding moouing them so sodainlie and vvithout cause to change their allegeance If Nero deserued it vvhat mother vvhat vvife had Galba then killed or for what misdemeanour would they forsake Seruius Galba to preferre a curtizans sonne with whose bloud they shouldere it were long if they would bee directed by him both reuenge Neroes death whom hee first betraied and shewe themselues loyall to Galba against whom he intendeth willing them lastlie to recken in reason what successe might ten thousand attende against the consent of the Empire armed for Galba His souldiers thus being persuaded persuaded the rest all in a maner to remaine in Galbaes obedience VVhereupon a showte being made in the campe Nymphidius supposing the souldiers had called him or hasting to confirme the wauering and preuent the tumult went thither himselfe with torches and linckes hauing learned without booke an oration composed by Cingonius Varro to pronounce there amongst them But finding the gates of the campe made fast and souldiers in armes on the walles he seared the matter and drawing neare demanded what they ment and by whose warrant they had put themselues so in armes and vvhen it vvas answered by all agreeablie that they knew not nor would not accept other Prince beside Galba Nymphidius finding the perill ioyned vvith them and vvished also long life and prosperitie to Galba Augustus commanding his followers to doe all the like And so by the souldiers which garded the gates being admitted with a fewe of his traine he was at his entrie vvelcomed in with a dart hurled at him which one Septinius bare of vvith a buckler But seeing so manie at the receit vvith naked swordes prepared against him hee fled being pursued was slaine at the length in a souldiers cabin The daie following his bodie was layed out to view in an open place rayled about Galba being yet in his waie hearing of Nymphidius death commanded the rest of his fauourers and complices to be executed among which Mithridates of Pontus paied for his mirth and Cingonius Varro vvho penned the oration As Galba drew neare to the Cittie at the Miluian bridge the Mariners met him vvhom being by Nero taken from seruice by sea inrolled into a Legion Galba had commāded to returne to their former estate But they being many in number loth to goe backe to the galleyes againe beset the hye waie on both sides demanding their Eagle enseignes tumultuouslie and so without order that the Prince could neither bee heard nor seene of the people making his entrie neither could he appease thē by putting them ouer to another time of greater leisure and better audience but taking differring as a kinde of denying seditiously they murmured followed with outcries And some of them also drew out their swords as though they would obteine it by force which by faire meanes they could not Whereupon Galba commanding the horsemen to ride in amongst them slew of them being vnarmed seuen thousand and of the residue alotted euery tenth man to suffer putting the rest close vp in prison which neuerthesse hee after enlarged to his disaduantage Now Galba being vvith generall applause and great good liking of the Empire placed in state behaued himselfe vnder expectation And though in most points he shewed himselfe a vertuous Prince yet vvere not his vvell doings so vvell accepted as those disallowed vvhich vvere otherwise All persons vniustlie exiled by Nero as well of
to reuenge this perfidious part so a In the fourth yeare of Tiberius Caesar Tac. 3. Ann. p. 314. long ago Sacrouir and the Aedui so of late Vindex and France were ouerthrowen ech at one blowe and now also the perfidious breakers of treaties so solemnely sworne were to looke for againe the same gods and the same fall Iulius and Augustus knew better their crooked inclinations b A plaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Tacitus for Galba did not diminish but rather increase the tributes of the Lingones and Treueri and diversely afflict them to some other citties of Frāce true it is that he abated a fourth part of their ordinary tribute but that was nothing to this audience Galba and the abatement of their tributes hath made them our enemies Now they are foes because their yoke is too gentle but when they shall bee ransackt and stript of their wealth they wil be our frendes and subiects againe When Vocula had thus spoken with great spirite and courage seeing Classicus and Tutor notwithstanding to continue in their traiterous purpose hee retired backe to Nouesium The Frenchmen sate downe two miles from the towne in the fieldes to which place the Centurions and souldiers resorting from Nouesium were bought and corrupted to a villany neuer heard of before that a Roman armie should sweare allegeance to strangers and for a pledge of so wicked a part eyther kill their Lieutenants or deliuer them prisoners Vocula albeit many counsailed him to withdrawe chusing rather to sticke to it manfully then cowardly to flee called an assembly and spake to them in this maner I neuer at any time spake vnto you either more carefull for you or carelesse for my selfe That my destruction is purposed I am well contented to heare and accept death in these troubles as an ende of my miseries Of you I am ashamed and you doe I pitty not because any martiall exploite or matter of armes is intended against you for that were agreeing to a souldiers profession and according to the lawe of the fielde at an enemies hande but because Classicus with your handes hopeth to fight with the Romans and abuseth your simplicity with the goodly oath and imaginary Empire of France * Adeò nos si fortuna in praesens virtusque deseruit etiam vetera exempla deficiunt Are we so farre now fallen not onely from our fortune courage but euen from our ancient precedents too For how oft did the Roman Legions chuse rather to dye then to yeelde one inche of grounde to the enemy Our allies haue many times suffred their citties to bee razed themselues their wiues and their children to bee consumed to ashes without gaining other rewarde saue onely to keepe their faith and their same The Legions at Vetera support with all patience hunger and siege and yeelde neither for feare nor faire wordes Wee besides men and armour and a campe strongly fortified haue prouision and vittailes sufficient for a long warre if neede were Money lately we had not onely for pay but also to serue for donatiue too which whether you list to accept as comming from Vespasian or from Vitellius sure both waies it came from a Roman Emperour If you doe it for feare of the battaile albeit it be no admittable reason in you who haue foyled so often at Gelduba at Vetera and so many times ouerthrowen the enemy we haue trenches and walles and waies to prolong till more strength and supply come from the cuntreyes about vs. If it be for displeasure at me you haue other Lieutenants and Tribunes nay Centurion or common souldier make your choise of any so he be a Roman to leade you Let neuer for shame so prodigious a thing be bruted throughout the whole world that Ciuilis and Classicus should inuade Italie hauing a gard of Romans attendant What if the Germans and Frenchmen should leade towarde the walles of the Citty will you fight against your owne natiue soyle and sharpen your spears against the wombe of your mother The onely conceite of so great an impiety striketh a horrour into my minde Shall Tutor of Triers haue watch and ward as a Prince shall a Batauian giue you the signe of the battell will you be caried about for supplements to the German regiments and what ende will you finde of your treason when the Roman Legions shall march out against you what shall become of you then but of fugitiues to be fugitiues againe and traitors of traitors betweene your olde oath and your newe an abomination to the gods and to men O thou most mighty and mercifull Iupiter whom with so many triumphes these eight hundreth and twenty yeares we haue adored and worshipped and thou Romulus the founder father of the Citty I pray most humbly beseech you that if it be not your heauenly pleasures that vnder my hand gouernement this campe should be kept vncorrupted cleane yet at least you will not permit it to be polluted and stained by Tutor and Classicus and that it would please you to inspire to the Roman souldier either a minde to follow honourable courses or els a speedy and harmelesse repentance The oration was diuersely taken as of men diuersely affected betweene feare hope and shame After the speech Vocula withdrewe himselfe and consulting vpon his end was by his freedmen and bondmen staied from voluntary preuenting of a most shamefull death for Classicus sent by and by AEmilius Longinus a fugitiue of the first Legion to dispatch that piece of seruice As for the Lieutenants a Herennius Lieutenant of the first Legion whole stāding campe was at Bonna and Numisius of the sixteēth at Nouesium Herennius and a Herennius Lieutenant of the first Legion whole stāding campe was at Bonna and Numisius of the sixteēth at Nouesium Numisius it seemed sufficient to put them in prison Then Classicus assuming the markes and ornamentes of the Roman gouernors came into the campe and albeit he were hardened to all kinde of desperate mischiefe yet would not his vtterance then serue him any further but barely to recite the wordes of the oath All that were present sware fidelity to the Empire of France Then hee aduauced the murtherer of Vocula to a higher place and the rest hee rewarded ech according to the lewde seruice they did XXIII Tutor bringeth Coleyn and all vpper Germanie to the oath of France The Legions of Vetera surrender the place to Ciuilis with condition onely of sauing their liues which notwithstanding is not performed AFTER these things Classicus and Tutor diuided charges Tutor with a strong power lay about Coleyn and brought both them and all the souldiers which lay vpon the vpper bancke of the Rhene to the same oath slaying the Tribunes at Magontiacum and driuing away the Campemaster which refused to sweare Classicus suborned certaine of the lewdest companions of those which had yeelded themselues commanding them to goe to Vetera and there to
as the sacke or spoile of a citty or couetâ—ie donatiues or any other extraordinary librality rewardes and booties then ordinary pay they had passed before a long fruitles and hard seruice there partly through the * ingenio loci coeliq 2. Hist p. 97. Germanicae hiberna coelo ac laboribus â—dura qualitie of the soyle and clymate and partly through the straitnesse of discipline which in time of peace being rigorously obserued by ciuill warres is vtterly dissolued corrupters being ready at hande on both sides and fugitiues scaping as then without punishment Men armour horses they had sufficient for vse and ornament too but before the a Against Vindex warre they had no further acquaintaunce together but with the men of their owne troupes and companies the armies lay seuered b And so remained for ought I know in the warre against Vindex where onelie the vpper army was present by the testimonie of all writers and Tacitus himselfe in many places in seuerall prouinces then against Vindex the Legions being assembled in one and hauing proued themselues and the forces of Gallia sought nowe a fresh occasion of warres and new troubles not terming c To wit them of Gallia with whom they had sought them as they were wont friendes and allies but enemies and conquered persons The tract of Gallia which lyes vpon Rhene hauing followed before the souldiers side auanced them selues then with the foremost to instigate the armies against the Galbians for so now they called them disdayning the name of Vindex as stale Thus being incensed against the Sequani and Hedui and so further as the townes were in wealth they conceiued in hope sacking of citties wasting of countries rifling of houses irritated next after couetousnesse and presumption principall vices of them which be stronger by the peruersenesse of them of Gallia foolishly bragging that Galba had released a fourth part of their tribute and * publicè i. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the primores of Gallia had obtained the priueledge before Claudius time 1. Ann p. a 11. priuores Galliâ— faâ—dâ—ra 〈…〉 secuâ—â— generally made them cittizens of Rome in despite of the army Moreouer it was giuen out craftily and rashly beleeued that in the Legions euery tenth man was alotted to dye and the ablest men of the Centurions should be cassed from euery quarter hainous rumours sinister reports from Rome the colony of Lions discontented and as it were a nurcery of tales by reason of their constant affection to Nero but greatest matter to forge out a lye and winne it credit the camp it selfe did yeeld vpon hatred feare security also when they had measured their own ability Aulus Vitellius entering the yeare before about the first of December into lower Germany with great care and diligence had visited and surueyed the standing camps of the Legions many he restored to their roomes to their fame honor most part to winne fauour and some vpon iudgemeÌ„t vndoing that with integrity which Fonteius Capito vpon bribery lucre had done displacing or placing for money in degrees of seruice nether were his doings accepted after the measure of an ordinary Lieutenant general but in a far higher degree And as amoÌ„g the seuerer sort Vitellius was thought base demisse so his fauourers termed it curtesy and goodnesse because without measure or judgement he gaue out his own lasht out other mens construing vices for vertues * auiditate imperandi vpon an extreme desire of the Empire Many in both armies there were as modest and quiet men so likewise bad valiant by name among other Alienus Caecina and Fabius Valens a Valens in lower Germanie where Vitellius and Caecina in higher where Hordeonius Flaccus was Lieutenant generall Lieutenants of Legions in appetites immoderat singularly rash Valens offeÌ„ded with Galba as being not recoÌ„pensed according to his deserts for discouering Verginius doubtful proceeding the oppressing of Capitoes conspiracy ceased not to vrge incite Vitellius laying open before him the soldiers ferueÌ„t good wil the honorable report that weÌ„t euerywher of his doings as for Hordeonius Flaccus that seely man could hinder but little that Britanny would ioin the German Aids folow him that the prouinces were nor assured in fine that the old man was Emperour of curtesy and quickly would lose it let Vitellius only but opeÌ„ his bosome make towards receaue in good fortune as she offred her selfe that Verginius indeede had good cause to be doubtful being only of a Gentlemans house his father hauing not borne office the place was aboue his capacity if he had vndertaken it then refusing it he was out of danger that contrariwise Vitellius father had bin thrise Consull Censor * collegium Caesaris Suceon Vitellio c. 2. l. Vitellius imperatoris pater cum Claudio principe duos or dinarios consulatus censuramque gessis collegue with the Emperor that these qualities in the father took long ago from the son the security of a priuat person put vpoÌ„ him the dignity of a Prince His dul spirits were moued with these speeches rather to desire theÌ„ to hope But in vpper Germanie Caecina a comply young man of body big mind insatiable quicke of speech of gate stately had maruelously won the goodwill of the souldier This youngman Galba promoted to gouern a legion for that being Questor in Baetica he came with out stay to his side by and by being conuicted to haue dealt false with the common treasure he was by Galbaes commaundement endited of purloyning Caecina taking heauily the disgrace determined to trouble the state with the calamities of the common welth to couer and close vp his own priuate woundes Neither in the army wanted there seedes of sedition for they al had bene present in field against Vindex and could not be brought to swear vnto Galba before they did know that Nero was slaine were also in taking the othe preuented by the enseignes of lowe Germanie againe the Treueri Lingones and those other citties which Galba had pinched with heauy edicts or with losse of territorie lay neare to the standing campes of the Legions whereupon grewe seditious conferences and the souldier by conuersation with the countrey-man more corrupted and by a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xiphilinus 202. a reason of the good will borne to Verginius to be employed for any other man The Lingones according to their accustomed maner had sent giftes to the Legions b 2. Hist p. 63. Centurionem Sisennam dextras concodiae insignia Syriaci exercitus nomine ad Praetorianos ferentem varijs artibus aggressus est Right-hands in token of mutual loue and hospitality their messengers purposely with sad cheere and heauy countenance in the Principia in the souldiers cabins lament and bewayle sometime the wrong done to themselues sometime the honour done to their neighbours and perceiuing their talke had so ready an audience they passed on further incensing their
present to his great contentation but afterward turned to his ruine Antonius and Varus in passing tooke Aquileia and the countrey thereabouts and proceeding forward were at Opitergium and Altinum ioyfully receiued At Altinum a garrison was left against the fleete of Rauenna of the reuolt whereof they had not as yet receiued any intelligence and marching forward they adioyned Padoua and Este to the side Where aduertisement was giuen that three Vitellian cohortes and the Scribonian wing lay at Forum Alieni hauing there made a bridge ouer the riuer It was concluded to take the occasion and to set vpon them as they lay negligently and carelesly for that circumstance also was certified and so accordingly they came vpon them at the dawning of the day and surprized them being for the most part vnarmed They were willed before hande that after some slaughter at the beginning they shoulde seeke to induce the rest with feare to chaunge their allegeance and some there were which yeelded themselues at the first but the greater part fled ouer the riuer and breaking the bridge cut off the passage from the enemy pursuing This victorie beeing divulged and the first attempts of the Flauianists hauing succeeded so prosperously two Legions the seuenth surnamed Galbiana and the thirteenth called Gemina a And Titus Ampius Flauianus Lieutenant generall of Pannonia with Vedius Aquila Lieutenaunt thereof came to Padoua cheerefully and ful of courage There some fewe daies were spent in reposing the army and Minucius Iustus campe-master of the seuenth Legion was saued from the fury of the soldier and sent to Vespasian because his gouernement was straiter and more seuere then the nature of a ciuill warre would support At what time also Antonius supposing it a plausible action and for the credit of the side if Galbaes gouernment should seeme to be liked gaue commandement thorow out all the free townes that the images of Galba which vpon change of times and dissension in state had beene broken downe should be restored a new a thing very long and greatlie desired and therefore interpreted gloriously in the highest degree Then was it proposed and disputed what place were best to be chosen for seate as it were of the warre Verona seemed fittest the countrey about it being champion and commodious for horsemen wherein consisted their principall strength and beside to dispossesse Vitellius of a towne of such wealth and importance would both be commodious and bring reputation to the cause In the passage thitherward they tooke Vicenza a thing of it selfe not greatly materiall as being a towne of smal forces howbeit because Caecina was borne there it seemed a matter of consequence when men beganne to recount how that the Generall of the contrary part had lost his owne countrey and home but the getting of Verona was worth the paines taking For both the side was relieued with their wealth and the example was a good precedent to others and the army lying there opportunely in the way betweene Germanie and Vitellius powers did shut vp the Rhoetian and Iulian Alpes and cut of all hope of passage for the Germanes that way All which proceeding was either vnknowen to Vespasian or expressely forbidden by him his commandement was to march no further then Aquileia and there to expect Mutianus adding also a reason thereof that seing Aegypt the garners of the citty the reuenues and tributes of the richest prouinces were in his hands Vitellius army might through lacke of pay and vittaile be constrained to yeelde To the same purpose also Mutianus aduised them often by letters alleadging what a glory it would bee to obtaine a victorie without bloud and whereof no mourning ensued with such other pretenses whereas hee did it indeede vpon ambition and coueting to reserue the whole renowne of the warre for himselfe but by reason of the greate distances counsailes came after the factes Antonius hauing thus seated himselfe in Verona issued foorth on the sodaine and gaue the alarme to the enemy where trying their manhoode together in a light skirmish they departed on euen hand Anone Caecina encamped himselfe between Hostilia a village of the territorie of Verona and the marishes of the riuer Tartarus in a safe and defensible place his backe being garded with the riuer and the flanckes with marishes who if hee had meant trueth hauing all his masters power vnder his hande might with great facilitie either haue surprized two simple Legions the army of Moesia as yet being not ioyned or at least beaten them backe and forced them to flee and with shame forsake Italie But Caecina omitted traiterously all aduantages which at the first were offered spending the time in trifling delaies and rebuking them by epistles whome with like facility hee might haue repulsed with armes vntill by messengers passing betweene the bargaine was driuen and the couenantes for his treason agreed vpon In the meane time Aponius Saturninus came with the seuenth Legion surnamed Claudiana the Legion was gouerned by Vipsanius Messalla a Tribune a man nobly descended and of noble qualities himselfe the only vertuous man and without note that entred into that action To this army nothing comparable to his owne for as yet there were but three Legions Caecina sent letters blaming their rashnes that being once ouercome they durst put themselues againe into armes and withall he extolled the valure of the German army of Vitellius making small mention and in common termes only without any reprochfull worde against Vespasian at all in summe writing nothing that might either corrupt the enemie or terrifie him The captaines of the Flauian armie omitting to speake of their former misfortune returned answere concerning Vespasian in hawtie and glorious termes shewing themselues verie confident in their cause and secure of the euent reuiling Vitellius as enemies and bragging of the Moesian armie as being hitherto neuer ouerthrowen seeking * Praesumpsere parteis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moreouer to weaken the faith and winne the good will of the contrary side by putting the Centurions and Tribunes in hope of retaining their places and fauours which Vitellius had bestowed vpon them and exhorting Caecina himselfe in plaine termes to reuolt Both the letters were solemnely readde to the Flauian souldiers which thing increased not a little their courage and confidence seeing Caecina to write humbly as fearing to offende Vespasian and their Generalles contemptuously as it were insulting ouer Vitellius III. Amutinee of the Pannonian souldier against Flauianus their Generall and another of the Moesian against Saturninus likewise theirs SHORTLY afterward the third and eighth Legion came the one commanded by Dillius Aponianus the other by Numisius Lupus whereupon they beganne to make shew of their forces determined to cast vp a * Vallum militare in oppositiō to vallū rusticum or fossa agrestis militare trench about the towne of Verona By chance it fell to the Galbian Legion to worke in the foreparte of the trench toward the enemy some of
that with one Legion some fewe Aydes Irelande might be wunne possessed and that it were also a strength for our Brittish affaires if the Roman forces were planted ech-where and liberty as it were banisht out of sight Now in the sommer which beganne the sixt yeare of his office because a generall rising in armes of all the further nations beyonde Bodotria was feared and passages were all beset with the power of the enemies he manned a fleete to search the creekes and harboroughs of the ample region beyonde it backing then first of all with a nauy the rest of his strength and with a goodly braue shewe bringing warre both by lande and by sea And oft so it chanced that the horseman and footeman and the sea soldier met and made merry in the same campe extolling magnifying ech their owne prowesse and aduentures making their vaunts and comparisons soldierlike the one of the woods and high mountaines the other of dangers of tempests and waues the one of the lande and the enemie the other of the Ocean subdued The Britans as by the prisoners it was vnderstoode were amazed also at the sight of the nauy as though now the secrets of their sea were disclosed and no refuge remained if they were ouercome Whereupon the Caledonians arming with great preparation and greater fame as the maner is of matters vnknowen assayled our castels as challengers brauing and putting in feare insomuch that some of our side which would seeme to bee wise being dastards indeede counselled the Generall to retire on this side Bodotria and rather to depart of his owne accorde then to be repelled with shame In the meane season Agricola hath knowledge that the enemies ment to diuide themselues and to giue the onset in seuerall companies Whereupon lest he should be inclosed about intrapped by their multitude and skill in the cuntrey he marched also with his army diuided in three Which when it was knowen to the enemy changing aduise on the sodayne and vniting their forces togither they ioyntly assaulted by night the nienth Legion as being of weakest resistance and hauing slaine the watch partly asleepe partly amazed with feare brake into the campe And now were they fighting within the trenches when Agricola hauing vnderstoode by spyes what way the enemies had taken and following their footsteppes commandeth the lightest horsemen and footmen to play on their backes and maintayne the skirmish anone the whole army to showte And when it drew neare to be day the glittering of the enseignes was seene So the Britans being quayled with a double danger the Romans recouered courage againe and being out of perill of their persons fought now for their honour freshly assayling their late assaylers driuing them to the gates where in the strayts the conflict was sharpe cruell till in the end the enemies were forced to flee whilest both our armies contended the one to seeme to haue helped their fellowes the other to haue needed none other to helpe them and if the bogges and woods had not couered their flight that victory had ended the warre Vpon this battaile so manfully fought so famously wunne the army presuming that to their prowesse all things were easy and open cryed to leade into Caledonia and to finde out the limit of Britannie with a course of continuall conquests and those which erewhile were so wary and wise waxt forward enough after the euent and grew to speake bigly such is the hard condition of warres if ought fall out well all challenge a part misfortunes are onely imputed to one Contrariwise the Britans presupposing that not valure but the cunning of the Generall by vsing the occasion had caried it away abated no whit of their stomacke but armed their youth transported their children and wiues into places of safety and sought by assemblies and religious rites to establish an association of the citties togither And so for that yeare both parties departed incensed away The same sommer a cohort of Vsipians leuyed in Germanie and sent ouer into Britannie committed a haynous and memorable act For hauing slaine a Centurion and certaine souldiers set ouer them for direction in discipline they fled and embarcked themselues in three vessels compelling the Masters by force to execute their charge and onely one doing his office the other two being suspected and thereupon slaine this strange going out the fact being yet not noysed abroad was gazed and wondred at Afterward beeing driuen vncertainly hither and thither and assayling the Britans which stoode in defence of their owne often preuayling and sometimes repulsed they came at the last to that misery that they were enforced to eate one another first of the weakest then as the lot lighted And thus floating about Britannie and leesing their vessels for lacke of gouernement they were intercepted first by the Sueuians and then by the Frisians as pyrats and robbers and some of them being bought by merchants as slaues and by change of masters brought to our side of the riuer grew into a name by giuing first notice of so great and so rare an aduenture In the beginning of the sommer Agricola was deepely touched with a grieuous mischance which happened in his owne house for he lost his owne sonne being about a yeare olde Which infortunate happe he neyther bare out as some great men haue done in the like vaingloriously nor tooke it againe so impatiently as women are woont and amidst his mourning and sorrowes vsed the warre as one of his remedies Therefore sending his nauy before which by spoyling in sundry places should induce a greater and vncertainer terrour vpon them hee made readie and followed himselfe with his army ioyning thereto some of the valiantest Britans whom by long experience in peace hee had found most faithfull and so arriued at the mount a Now called Grantzbaine Grampius where the enemies were lodged before For the Britans not daunted with the euent of the former battaile and attending for nothing els but reuenge or seruitude and beeing taught at the length that common danger must bee repelled with concorde by leagues and embassages had assembled the power of all the citties togither aboue thirty thousand armed men the view being taken beside an endles number of youth which dayly flocked to them and lusty olde men renowned in warre and bearing the badges due to their honour at what time Galgacus for vertue and birth of all the leaders the principall man seeing the multitude hoatly demande the battaile is sayed to haue vsed this speech When I view and consider REND = margQuotes the cause of this warre and our present necessity I haue reason me seemes to presume that this day and this your agreeing consent will giue a happy beginning to the freedome of the whole ilande For both haue we all hitherto liued in liberty and beside no lande remayneth beyond no sea for our safety the Roman nauy thus as you see surueying our coasts so that combat and
armes which men of vertue desire for honour the dastard must also vse for his security The former battayles which haue with diuerse euent beene fought with the Romans had their refuge and hope resting in our handes For wee the flowre of the Brittish nobility and seated therefore the furthermost in sawe neuer the coasts of the cuntreyes which serued in slauery euen our eyes are kept vnpolluted and free from all contagion of tyrannie Beyonde vs is no lande beside vs none are free vs hitherto this corner and secrete recesse hath defended Now the vttermost point of the lande is layed open and things the lesse they haue beene within knowledge the greater the glory is to atchieue them But what nation now is there beyonde vs what els but water and rockes and the Romans Lordes of all within lande whose intollerable pride in vayne shall you seeke to auoyde by seruice and humble behauiour robbers of the world that hauing now left no lande to bee spoyled search also the sea If the enemy bee rich they seeke to winne wealth if poore they are content to gaine glorie whom not the east not the west hath satisfyed the onely men of all memory that seeke out all places be they wealthy or poore with like ardent affection To take away by maine force to kill and to spoile falsely they terme Empire and gouernment when all is waste as a wildernesse that they call peace His children and bloud ech man by nature holdeth most deare those are pressed for souldiers and caryed away to bee slaues otherwhere Our sisters and wiues though they be not violently forced as in open hostility are in the meane while vnder the coulour and title of frendes and guests often abused Our goods and substance they drawe for tribute our corne for prouision our bodies and handes they weare and consume in pauing of bogges and of woods with a thousand stripes and indignities Slaues which are borne to bondage are solde but once and after are fed at their owners expenses but Britannie dayly byeth dayly feedeth and is at charges with her owne bondage And as in a priuate retinue the freshman and last commer is laughed and scoffed at by his very fellow-seruants so in this olde seruitude of the whole world our destructiō onely is sought as being the latest and most vile in account We haue no fieldes to manure no mines to be digged no portes to trade in to what purpose then should they reserue vs aliue Moreouer the manhood and fierce courage of the subiect pleaseth not much the ielous Souerayne and this corner being so secrete and out of the way the more security it yeeldeth to vs in them it workes the greater suspicion So seeing all hope of pardon is past at the length take courage to defend maintaine your safety as well as your honour The Brigantes led by a a Voadica whō Tacitus himselfe maketh wife to the king of Jceni people of Norfolke c and not of the Brigantes 14. Ann. p. 492. woman fired the colonie forced the castels and if such a lucky beginning had not ended in slouth and security they might haue with ease shakt of the yoke We as yet neuer touched neuer subdued and borne to be free not to be slaues of the Romans let vs shewe straight in the first ioyning what maner of men Caledonia reserued in store for hir selfe Or doe you thinke the Romans to be as valiant in warre as they are wanton in peace No not by their vertue but by our iarrings and discordes they are growen into fame and the faults of their enemies they abuse to the glory of their owne army composed of most diuerse nations and therefore as by present prosperity holden togither so if fortune doe frowne it doubtlesse dissolueth vnlesse you suppose the Frenchmen and Germans and to our shame bee it spoken many of our owne nation which now lende their liues to establish a forreyne vsurper and yet haue bene enemies longer then seruants to be led and induced with any true harted faithfull affection No it is terrour and feare weake workers of loue which if you remooue those which shall haue ceased to feare will straight beginne for to hate All things to incite to the victorie are on our side No wife to encourage the Romans no parents to vpbrayde them if they flee most haue eyther no cuntrey at all or some other a fewe fearefull persons trembling and gazing at the strangenesse of the heauen it selfe the sea and the woods whom the gods haue deliuered mewed vp as it were and fettered into our handes Let not the vaine shewe and glittering of golde and siluer terrifie vs which neither defends nor offendeth Amongst the enemies we shall finde of our side the Britans will agnize their owne cause the French will remember their freedome and former estate the rest of the Germans will leaue and forsake them as of late the Vsipians did And what els then haue we to feare the castels are empty the colonies peopled with aged and impotent persons the free citties discontent and in factions whilest those which are vnder obey with ill will and they which doe gouerne rule against right Here is the Generall and here the army there tributes and mines and other miseries inseparably following them which liue vnder subiection of others which whether wee are to continue for euer or straight to reuenge it lyeth this day in this field Wherefore going to battell beare in your mindes I beseech you both your a Your ancestours which liued in the happy estate of liberty and your successours which vnlesse we shewe valure this day shall liue for euer in most miserable seruitude ancestours and your posterity This speech was cheerefully receiued with a song after their barbarous fashion with confused acclamations and noyses And as the companies clustered togither and glistering of armour appeared whilest some of the boldest auanced forward and withall the ranckes were putting themselues in array Agricola albeit his souldier was glad of that day and scarce could with wordes bee withholden supposing yet best to say somewhat encouraged them in this wise Fellow-souldiers and companions in armes your faithfull seruice and diligence these b And yet this was but the seuenth yeare of his office as appeareth before eight yeares so painfully shewed by the vertue and fortune of the Roman Empire hath conquered Britannie In so many iourneyes in so many battels wee had of necessity to shewe our selues eyther valiant against the enemie or patient and laborious aboue and against nature it selfe In which exploytes we haue borne vs both hitherto so that neyther did I desire better souldiers nor you other captayne We haue exceeded the limits I of my predecessours and you likewise of yours The ende of Britannie is found not by fame and report but we are with our armes and pauilions really inuested thereof Britannie is found and subdued In marching when the passing of bogges or
minor the direct way from Lions to Milan Out of Suisserland where Caecina vvas bee the Peninae by mount S. Bernardo maior The Cottiae are out of Daulphiney into Italy by mount Gineura In the VaticaÌ„ copy of Tacitus it is cum alpe tarma which with lesse mutation of lettres and more possibility of circumstance wee may rather imagine should haue bene cum ala Petrina then cum ala Taurina which passed the other way with Valens and Tacitus himselfe 4. Hist pag. 178. maketh mention of one Claudius Sagitta vvhich vvas è Vitellianis and Praefectus alae Petrinae 73. His heauy Legionary Subsignanum militem graue legionum agmen Subsignanus miles graue legionum agmen and yet there was here but one vvhole Legion the One and tvventieth may seeme to signifie both one thing as beeing contradiuided both to Auxiliaries 2. Hist pag. 91. Erupere legionarij in perniciem auxiliorum 4. Hist Id solum vt in tumultu monuit subsignano milite media firmare Auxilia passim circumfusa sunt and yet in another place we haue Quicquid sub signis sociorum 74. Were not to mislike such examples Exemplum vltro imputauit Imputare in Tacitus is a worde of a middle signification indifferent to the good part and bad yet 〈…〉 standing for beneficij loco numerare or some such like thing Examples p. 42. Neque enim erat adhuc cui imputaretur that is for as yet there was none whom they might account benefited by the reuolt In this place exemplum vltrò imputauit hee accounted this fact of his standing sure to his olde master beneficiall to Otho also and the example not to be disliked of any prince whatsoeuer Plutarch I knowe in the beginning of Otho seemeth to take it otherwise p. 1513. 1 That is Otho commanded Marius Celsus to be brought before him whoÌ„ he embraced intreated verie kindly desiring him rather to forget that euer hee was in fault then to remember that he was forgiuen to whoÌ„ Celsus made answeare both couragious and pertinent saying that the accuâ—ation it selfe gaue sufficient proofe of his honesty for what els was he charged withall but that he had beenâ— faithfull to Galba to whom hee was nothing beholden whereupon they that were present much admired them both and the souldiers did not dislike it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But wee may giue him good leaue to erre in construing one hard place of Tacitus that in so many easy in Caesar mistaketh But to proceede in examples 2. Hist p. 87. ProditioneÌ„ vltrò imputabaÌ„t spatiuÌ„ longi ante praelium itineris fatigationeÌ„ OthontanoruÌ„ permixtuÌ„ vehiculis agmeÌ„ ac pleraque fortuita fraudi suae assignantes 5. Hist pag. 213. in the like sense Potuisse tunc opprimi legiones voluisse Germanos sed dolo a se flexos imputauit Ciuilis in both places the meaning of Tacitus is that in benefite of their aduersarye they had preuaricated with their ovvne side pag. 99 Vnde metus ex metu consilium posse imputari Vespasiano quae apud Vitellium excusanda erant that is that they might recken and score it vp as a benefite to Vespasian vvhich vvith Vitellius needed excuse 4. Hist pag. 159 Ambiguam fortunam belli Vespasiano imputaturos victoriae rationem non reddi that is if the warre fell out ill or hard of their side then forsooth they tooke armes in Vespasians behalfe if vvell they should neuer bee brought to the reckening 3. Hist pag. 151. Reip. haud dubie intererat Vitellium vinci Sed imputare perfidiam non possunt qui Vitellium Vespasiano prodidere cum a Galba desciuissent id est qui Vitellium Vespasiano prodidere perfidiam suam reip beneficij loco numerare non possunt as though they had done it for the good of their cuntrey vvho before had reuolted from Galba a good Emperour to cleaue to Vitellius or Otho In the booke de moribus Germanorum pag. 571. Gaudent muneribus sed nec data imputant nec acceptis obligantur that is neyther in bestowing doe they account it as though they had done you a benefite nor in receiuing as though they were bound or beholden This strange vse of the worde imputare as Latin goes novv a dayes and therefore by me confirmed by many examples in Tacitus time vvas not so strange Suetonius Tiberio cap. 53. Imputauit etiam quòd non laqueo strangulatam in Gemonias abiecerit proque tali clementiâ interponi decretum passus est quo sibi gratiae agerentur Plinius lib. 8. ep 21. Recitauibiduo hoc assensus andientium exegit tamen vt alij transeunt quaedam imputantque quod transeant sic ego nihil praetereo atque etiam non praeterire me testor in both places imputare for benesicij loco numerare But further I say it standeth also for maleficij loco numerare and vitio vertere Tac. 2. Hist Vitellio initium belli nemo imputabat that is no body charged him with that fault 3. Hist Casum Cremonae bello imputandum In vita Agric. Approbate reip nunquam exercitui imputari potuisse aut moras belli aut causas debellandi 75. Sophonius Tigellinus Of Tigellinus all the stories are full After the death of Burrhus Nero sayeth a 14. Annal. Tacitus duos Praeterijs cohortibus imposuerat Fenium Rufum ex vulgi fauore Sophonium Tigellinum ex intimis libidinibus assumptum 2 That is In luxuriousnes and cruelty exceeding all the men of his time Xiph. pag. 177. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for those were indeede the two vertues by which Tigellinus wanne credit with Nero. Tacitus 15. Ann. p. 351. Fenium vita famaque laudatum per saeuitiaÌ„ impudicitiamque Tigellinus in animo principis anteibat pag. 537. Poppaea Tigellino coram quod erat saeuienti principii â—timum consiliorum interrogat c. 14. An. pag. 504. he is described as the onely autour of all the miseries of that time Validior indies Tigellinus malas artes quibus solis pollebat gratiores ratus si principem societate sceleris obstringeret metus eius rimatur c. pag. 501 Tacitus bestoweth as fauours vpon him these frendly tearmes flagrantissima flagitia adulteria vetus impudicitia infamia p. 536. Tigellino scilicet comitante eum pellicibus pag. 526 he notes him as autour or priuy at least to the burning of Rome Plusque infamiae id incendium habuit quia praedijs Tigellini Aemylianis proruperat A fit man man in all respects for such a bad master and vnfit to haue bene by Galba protected 76. To famish the citty of Rome Tac. 3. Hist p. 131. Africam eodeÌ„ latere sitam terra marique inuadere parabat clausis annonae subsidijs inopiam ac discordiam hosti facturus for so was it that Egypt and Africke furnished the citty of Rome for corne Egypt for foure moneths the yeare and Africke for eight Iosephus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. cap. 28. 1 That is They
of Africa beside eight moneths prouision of corne yearely for the people of Rome pay all maner of tributes and willingly support all other charges of the Empire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 paulo post 2 That is Aegypt paies more tribute in one moneth theÌ„ the Iewes doe in a whole yeare and beside this great summe of money they yeelde prouision of corne for Rome for the space of foure moneths 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 77. Mighty in money and because she was childeles Rich childeles two good helpes to get many frendes euery man contending to please them of whose wealth he may hope to be heire Siluanus being in Neroes time accused repetundarum valuit saieth a 13. Anual Tacitus pecuniosa orbitate sancta and yet in the ende he deceiued them all ouerliuing those quorum ambitu euaserat Contrarily in Germany nulla orbitatis pretia sedquanto plus propinquorum quo maior affinium numerus tanto gratiosior senectus De moribus Germanorum p. 571. 78. Himselfe and Titianus his brother Consuls till the kalends of March In the free state the two Consuls entring the first of Ianuary remayned in office the vvhole yeare out vnlesse they chanced to die or vpon speciall and rare occasions resigne Afterward cum belli ciuilis praemia festinari coeperunt as Tacitus speaketh when many mo for their good seruice to the side had deserued to bee pleasured then there were places to pleasure them in a shift vvas found to abridge the time and so to speede manie in one yeare The authour of this disorder was C. Caesar An. vrbis conditae 709. whenas being Consul sine collega hee resigned to Fabius and Trebonius Dio. lib. 43. pag. 155. 3 That is Then first of all contrary to the ancient custome a precedent was giuen that a maÌ„ should beare the office of Consulship neither for the tearme of a whole yeare nor for the remainder of the yeare if happely vpon another mans death or resignation he was chosen to the place but that one during his life time not compelled by lawe in whose creation no error was committed in matter of Auspicia should resigne the place and cause another man to be chosen in his roome and from this time forward very fewe enioyed the Consulship a complete yeare but as it chanced some more some fewer either moneths or daies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b As the Princes oftentimes did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the yeare ab vrbe condita 715. it altered from a voluntary resignation to a matter of necessity and order Dio. lib. 48. pag. 253. 4 That is They chose not two CoÌ„suls for the whole yeare according to the ancient custome but euen at that time of election they nominated more for six yeares before this some had succeeded others in the same yeare though the former neither by death nor misdemeanour nor other causes were depriued Howbeit then they were made as it pleased them who were chosen for the whole yeare but now euen at the first creation no man was nominated for the whole yeare but some for one part of the yeare and some for another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit from the 709 yeare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Augustus time specially toward the later ende as it may appeare by the Capitolin tables foure CoÌ„suls were yearely created two to beare office froÌ„ the Kalends of Ianuary to the KaleÌ„ds of Iuly two more ex Kal. Iul. to the ende of the yeare After his daies although I cannot precisely define when it beganne the ordinary time was no more but two moneths and the ordinary number of Consuls twelue In our present yeare Ex Kal. Ianuar. c Tac. pag. 15. Seruius Galba 2. Titus Vinus which two being slayne in their office M. Otho L. Titianus supplyed their roomes in Kal. Mar. Ex Kal. Martij d Tac. pag. 51. 52. L. Verginius Rufus Poppaeus Vopiscus Ex Kal. Maij. Coelius Sabinus Flauius Sabinus Ex Kal. Iulij Arius Antoninus Marius Celsus Ex Kal. SepteÌ„bris e Tac. 2. Hist pag. 93. Fabius Valens Alienus Caecina adiudged enemy of the state in his place for one day that remained Roscius Regulus Tac. 3. Hist p. 126. Ex Kal. Nouembris a Tac. 3. Hist p 143 144 X◠〈…〉 Cn. Coecilius Simplex C. Quintius Atticus This number and this time continued euen to Dioes age 1 That is For in our time no man be â—â—eth the office for a whole yeare noe most commodite for more then two moneths 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saieth he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 li. 43. p. 155. Now of these CoÌ„suls the two which eÌ„tred the first of Ianuary were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 named the yeare were called ordinarij the rest minores as being obscure not heard of abroad so that with great reason a maÌ„ might demaÌ„d in whose CoÌ„sulships they were CoÌ„suls otherwise in autority c. not differing any thing the one from the other Dio. l. 48. p. 253. 2 That is They which were first tâ— enter had the naÌ„e of Consuâ—s as euen yet it is vsed during the whole yeare as for the rest they which liued in Rome and other parts of Italy called them so during the â—ame of their office But al that liued abroade eyther know 〈◊〉 or b◠〈…〉 theÌ„ whe 〈◊〉 they were cal ed. Cosulâ—s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and againe l. 43. p. 155. 3 That is In a◠〈…〉 the name to the eare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nos Consules lest we might haue bene ignoraÌ„t of his prefermeÌ„t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notwithstaÌ„ding this minor CoÌ„sulship serued wel enough to make vp a nuÌ„ber exaÌ„ple in Vespasian who bearing the office of CoÌ„sul in Claudius time c Suâ—t Vespas c. 4. per duos nouissimos anni meÌ„ses of ordinary neuer before an 823. is stiled Vespasianus iteruÌ„ Tac. 4. Hist p. 172. 79. For polling the prouinces RepetudaruÌ„ criminibê° The actioÌ„ of RepetuÌ„dae lay against the gouernors of prouinces for money vnduely extorted or cruelty exercised in their iurisdictioÌ„ so called of the more principal part because by that action pecunias iniussè ablatas vel si quid aliud ablatuÌ„ captuÌ„ conciliatuÌ„ auersumue siet prouincialibus repetere ius fasque esset and not onely the suÌ„me extorted but an arbitrary mulct was imposed beside double or treble nomine poenae This law was induced by L. Calpurnius Piso Anno primo tertij belli Punici afterward reuiued by other with many new clauses straight sanctioÌ„s Tac. 15. An. p. 518 MagistratuuÌ„ auaritia Calpurnia scita peperit And yet notwithstaÌ„ding al the good lawes in that case enacted the Proconsuls Propraetors both before vnder the Emperours ceased not ro racke pol the poore cuÌ„treyes Nay the more lawes there were greater penalties established the more they robbed and spoyled the prouinces to make