perceiued that he had a care of things to come for not going about the bush but in plaine termes he vpbraied Macro that he turned his backe to the West and looked alwaies toward the sun-rising And hapning by chāce that some speech was had of L. Sulla whom C. Caesar was wont to scoffe laugh at Tiberius foretold him that he should haue all his vices but not so much as one of his vertues And withall imbracing the yongest of his nephewes with weeping teares the other looking on with an enuious eye sayd vnto him thou shalt kill him and another shall kill thee Yet his sicknes growing more and more vpō him he omitted not any part of his wāton vncleane lusts counterfeiting and putting on a face of courage euen in his weaknes and infirmitie and was wont to mock at the Phisitiōs skill that after 30. yeers space they wanted other mens counsell to know what was good or hurtfull for their own bodies In the meane time at Rome there were certaine seedes of murders sowen to take effect after Tiberius death Laelius Balbus had accused Acutia somtimes the wife of P. Vitellius of treason who being cōdemned when a recompence was to be ordained for the accuser Iunius Otho Tribune of the people withstood it wherupon they two growing to a iarre Otho was sent into banishment Then Albucilla infamous for loose loue with many once wife to Satrius Secundus the detector of the conspiracie was accused of certaine impieties and inchantments against the Prince with her as confederats her adulterers Gn. Domitius Vibius Marsus L. Arruntius Of Domitius nobilitie I haue spoken before Marsus also was of an ancient stock and endued with many good vertues But the memoriall sent vnto the Senate doth testifie that Macro had charge of the examinatiō of the witnesses torture of the bondmen and the Emperours letters gaue no token of suspition against them either because he was weake feeble or bicause he knew nothing of it many crimes were forged by Macro knowen enimie to Arruntius Domitius therefore premeditating his defence Marsus as though he had purposed to pine away by famishing himselfe prolonged their liues Arruntius whilest his friends perswaded him not to be too hastie but linger on answereth them That the same things do not beseeme all men alike that for his own part he had liued long ynough and had no other thing to repent him of but that he had among so manie vaine mockeries perils prolonged his heauie and carefull old age hauing bin long hated of Seianus now of Macro alwais of som one of the mightiest not through any fault of his but bicause he could not endure wickednes True it is he might linger out during the short time the Prince hath to liue but how should he escape the yoong Prince which is to come If Tiberius after such long experience in affaires by the force of rule and dominion hath changed and altered is it to be hoped that C. Caesar who is yet scarse out of his childhood vnexpert and vnacquainted with al things or brought vp trained in the lewdest shuld follow a better course hauing Macro for his guide who being chosen to oppresse Seianus bicause he was woorse than he afflicted the common-wealth with greater calamitie I foresee said he a heauier seruitude and therfore I will flie as well from that which is alreadie past as that which is at hand Speaking these things as it had bin in maner of a Prophesie he cut his vaines It shal appeere by those things which insued that Arruntius died in good time Albucilla hauing wounded herselfe with a blow giuē without effect was carried to prison The ministers of her whoredom Grasidius Sacerdos who had been Pretor was banished into an Iland and Pontius Fregellanus condemned to be put from the Senate the saide punishments were decreed against Laelius Balbus by these themselues which were glad of it bicause Balbus was thought to vse his eloquēce cruelly as one alwais at hād ready against the innocēt XII Tiberius death ABout the same time Sext. Papinius descended of a Consularie familie chose a sudden euilfauoured death by casting himselfe headlong from a high place The cause was attributed to his mother who hauing bin long before put away from her husband by flattering speeches lasciuious wantōnes induced the yoong man vnto that villanie that to auoid the discredit with her he could finde no remedie but death She being accused in Senate albeit she prostrated hirselfe at the Lords feet long shewed her common griefe womens weaknes in such desires and other lamentable and pitifull monings witnessing hir dolour and griefe yet was banished the citie ten yeers vntil her yoongest son was past the vnconstant slipperines of his youth Now Tiberius bodie strength began to forsake him but not yet his dissimulation He had the same courage vigour of minde his countenance and voice was strong desiring somtimes to be pleasant cloked his manifest decay of strength And often changing at last setled himselfe in a promontorie of Misenum in a house which somtimes Lucullus had bin Lord of where it was known that his death was at hand by this means There was a Phisition verie skilfull in his arte called Charicles yet neuer accustomed to gouerne the Prince in his sicknes but to assist him with his counsell This Phisition departing from Tiberius as it had bin about some busines of his own vnder colour of dutie taking him by the hand felt the pulse of his vains but yet he could not vse the matter so cunningly but the emperor perceiued him Whether Tiberius were offended with him or not it was vncertaine if he were so much the more suppressing his anger caused meat to be made readie otherwise than his custome had bin sitteth downe as it had been in honor of his friends farewell Charicles neuerthelesse assured Macro that his spirits decayed and that he coulde not liue aboue two daies Whereupon great debating of matters passed among those which were present and messengers posted away to the lieutenants armies The 17. of the Kalends of April his breath being stopped he was thought to haue ended this mortall life Then C. Caesar with a great multitude flocking about him and congratulating his good fortune went forth to take vpō him the Empire when newes came on the sudden that Tiberius was come to his speech sight again that meate was called for to put him out of his swouning vpon this they were all stroken into a great feare and dispersed themselues some one way some another euerie man counterfeiting a sad cheere and ignorance of all this And C. Caesar stroken dumbe in the top of his hope expected his last doome Macro resolute and stout commanded the old man to be smoothered by casting many clothes on him and euerie man to depart from the doore And so Tiberius ended his life the 78. yeere of
withdrew himselfe to Rhodes In regard whereof the Senate ordained that although he were but of meane parentage yet that he should haue the funerals of a Censor and an image in Augustus forum at the charge of the common purse For at that time the Senat managed all the affaires in so much that Lucillius Capito Procurator of Asia the Prouince accusing him was forced to purge himselfe before them the Prince assuredlie auouching that he had giuen him no authoritie but ouer slaues and money matters between partie partie But if he had vsurped the authoritie of a Pretor or vsed the strength of souldiers he had therein contemned his cōmaundement therefore that they should heare the allies and so the matter being heard he was condemned For which cause and by reason that the yeere before C. Silanus was punished the cities of Asia decreed that a Temple should be built in honour of Tiberius his mother and the Senat which they perfourmed after they had licence And for the same cause Nero gaue thankes to the Lords of the Senat and to his grandfather with the ioyfull acceptance of the hearers as representing Germanicus yet fresh in memorie to their mindes thinking that him they had both heard and seene The yoong man was of great modestie and comelines woorthie of a Prince the more gratefull through the danger he was in by Seianus knowen hatred against him V. How Iupiters Priests were chosen Tiberius small affection to Germanicus children ABout the same time of chusing a Flamen Dial in Seruius Maluginensis place who was dead and of making a new law Caesar himselfe spake For the olde custome was that three patriciens should be named togither borne of parents which had been married with a solemnitie called confarreation of which one shoulde be chosen for the Priest And it fell out that that iust number coulde not bee founde the vse of confarrcation or marriage with a cake of Wheate either not vsed or only of a few whereof he alleaged many reasons though the chiefest was the carelesnes of men and women and withall the difficulties of the ceremonies which were willingly let slip And when should he go out of his fathers authoritie which should obtaine that Priesthood or she who was married vnto him therefore that was to be redressed by decree of Senate or by a law as Augustus himselfe had changed somewhat of that rude antiquitie and reduced it to the present vse Those things therefore being debated which touched the ceremonies it was determined that nothing should be altered in the makings of those Priests but a law was ordained that she who was married vnto a Flamen by reason of the sacrifices should be vnder the power of hir husband and that in other cases she should be as others were And Maluginensis sonne was chosen in his fathers place And that the priestly dignitie should better be regarded and they the readier to vndertake the ceremonies it was ordained that to Cornelia the virgin who was chosen in Scantias place shoulde bee giuen L L. S. xx sesterces and that as oft as Augusta entered the theatre she should sit among the Vestals Cornelius Cethegus and Visellius Varro being Consuls when the Pontifes and following their example the other Priests made certaine vowes for the health of the Prince they commended Nero and Drusus to the same goddes not so much for loue of the yong men as for flattery which in corrupt times is dangerous alike either not at all or too much For Tiberius neuer a friend to Germanicus house grieued impatiently that the yong men should then be equalled vnto him in his old age and sending for the chiefe Priests asked them whether they had done that at Agrippinas intreaties or threates and although they denied it yet were somewhat rebuked the greatest part being his neerest friends and kin or chiefe gentlemen of the citie Neuertheles in Senate he admonished them in an oration that none should hereafter puffe vp the fickle minds of the yong men to pride by vntimely and ouer-hastie dignities Seianus vrged eagerly that the citie was no lesse deuided into factions then in time of ciuill warres some terming themselues to be of Agrippinas side and more would if they were not preuented and no way to redresse a waxing diuision but by cutting off some one or two of the forwardest Hereupon he beginneth with C. Silius and Titius Sabinus Germanicus friendship being dangerous to both to Silius because that hauing had charge of a great armie seauen yeeres together and vanquished Sacrouir in Germanie and obtained the ornaments of triumph the higher his fall the greater the feare in others would be Many were of opinion that Tiberius was the more vehemently incensed by reason of his owne lauishing toong ouermuch vaunting that his souldiers had alwayes continued dutifull when as others had growne to mutinies and that Caesars state had bene shaken if those legions had bene desirous of innouation which Caesar construed as an embasing to his greatnes and disabling him of abilitie to requite for good turnes are no longer well taken then they may be recompensed when they grow greater then hope of requitall in stead of thankfulnes they breede hatred and ill will Sosia Galla was Silius wife badly thought of by the Prince because she loued Agrippina It was therefore thought conuenient to begin with these two and not meddle with Sabinus for a time The Consull Varro being thrust in to accuse them vnder colour of a quarrell betwixt his father and Silius became an instrument to gratifie Seianus with his owne discredit The defendants intreating some delay vntill the accusers Consulship were expired Caesar denied it affirming it to be a vsuall matter for magistrates to call priuate persons into question and that the authoritie of the Consull was not to be infringed through whose watchfulnes the common-wealth was kept without danger That was a common tricke with Tiberius alwaies to cloake new coyned mischiefe with old words Therefore with great protestation as though he had proceeded with Silius by order of law or the matter belonged to Varro as Consull or therein consisted the safetie of the common-wealth the Senate was called the partie accused not once opening his mouth or if he began to purge himselfe stuck not to vtter by whose malice he was oppressed He was accused to haue had intelligence with the beginners of the warre that he had discredited his victorie by his couetousnes and other things against Sosia his wife nothing a long time spoken of Sacrouir And doubtles the accusation of polling the prouince could not haue serued their turne had they not prosecuted all vnder treason but Silius preuented his imminent condemnation by his owne voluntarie death Neuerthelesse that contented not but were greedie his goods should be confiscate not to pay the stipendaries for none of them demaunded ought but because Augustus liberalitie was at an end he tooke a particular accompt of all that was due to the publick treasure
hand with such as resisted contrarily the Romaine souldier beate them downe with speares thrust them back with the pikes of their bucklers lanced darts and rowled heapes of stones from the wall vpon them The hope of victory alreadie gotten and that if they should now faint and be ouercome shame and reproch put life and courage into our in them desperate hope of life many hauing their mothers and wiues bewailing and lamenting about them The night animated some to boldnes droue some into a feare blowes flew on all hands wounds giuen and taken vnlooked for no man knowing his fellow from the enemie and the found of the voices as if it were an eccho rebounding behinde them in the turning and winding of the mountaine brought such a confusion that the Romaines abandoned their standings and holds as though they had been battered and broken downe howbeit a small number of the enemies escaped aliue the residue the most couragious either slaine or wounded at the opening of the day were chased to their fortresses and at length forced to yeeld willing to accept the first conditions the winner would offer to the rest a cruell and timely winter by reason of the hill Haemus was a safegard that they could neither be subdued by force nor siege XII The sharpe vvords vvhich Agrippina vsed to Tiberius for accusing Claudia Pulchra her cosen vvhat good vvill vvas borne the Smyrnaeans aboue the other tovvnes of Asia and the cause BVt at Rome the Princes house being greatly troubled to begin the course of Agrippinaes future ruine Claudia Pulchra her cosen german was called into question by Domitius Aser who hauing beene lately Pretor of small reputation and eager by what meanes soeuer to winne credit laid to her charge that shee leade an vnhonest life with Furnius and practised to poison and vsed inchantments against the Prince Agrippina being of a fell and haughtie disposition and then more then euer kindled through the danger of her neere cosen hasteneth to Tiberius whom by chance she found sacrificing to his father and taking hold of that of occasion told him it was two mens office to offer sacrifice in memorie of Augustus and persecute his posteritie that the diuine spirite was not transfused into dumb statuaes images but the true image descended of celestiall blood felt the smart of his posteritie and therefore she would take vpon hir the person of the partie accused that it was in vaine to take exceptions against Pulchra whose onely ruine was that vnconsideratly she had loued and reuerenced Agrippina forgetting what had fallen to Sosia for the same cause Those words prouoked Tiberius although seldome vsing to open the secrets of his breast and rebuking her in a Greeke verse said that therefore she was displeased bicause she could not raigne Pulchra and Furnius are condemned and Afer the excellencie of his wit knowen and Caesar attributing vnto him praise of eloquence held among the chiefe orators After this practised in accusing and defending of parties he was better knowen for eloquence then honestie of life sauing that when his eloquence in his latter age decaied and his spirits failed yet was neuer quiet when if his toong walked not But Agrippina frowardly persisting in anger and incumbred with sicknes when Caesar went to visit her powring downe in a long silence manie teares at last burst into enuie and entreatie that he would redresse her solitarie life and being yet but a yoong woman prouide her a husband Marriage being the only comfort of minds honestly giuen that there were some in the citie which would vouchsafe to receiue Germanicus wife and his children But Caesar not ignorant of what importance this request was to the common-wealth yet least he should openly seeme to displease or feare her gaue her though most earnestly demaunding no answere at all That I finde not in the writers of Annales but in the Commentaries of Agrippina her daughter who being Neroes mother hath deliuered to posteritie her life and calamities which fell to her friends But Seianus in this dumpe sent her a message vnlooked for and vnder colour of friendship which was that there was poison prepared for her and that she should auoide to eate or drinke with her father in lawe But she not knowing how to dissemble sitting by him at table could not be woon to looke cheerefully or speake a word or touch any meate vntill at last Tiberius marked it either by chance or bicause he had had some inckling of it And to trie that more certainely praising certaine apples as they were serued in gaue of them with his owne hand to his daughter in law which augmented Agrippinaes suspition and not once tasting of them deliuered them to the waiters Yet openly Tiberius spake not one word but turning to his mother said that it was no maruell if he had proceeded seuerely against her seeing she had an opinion he went about to poison her Thereupon a rumor was spread that her destruction was sought for and that the Emperour durst not openly attempt it and therefore sought secret meanes to compasse it But Caesar to stop that rumor shewed himselfe often in Senat and gaue the Ambassadors of Asia audience manie daies togeither when they doubted in what citie they should erect a Temple in honor of him A eleauen cities of different power stroue with like ambition for that honour alleaging that there was not any great difference betwixt them in antiquitie of time loue and affection to the people of Rome in the warres against Persus and Aristonicus and other Kings The Hypaepeni Tralliani togeither with the Laodiceni Magnetiens were sent away as not sufficiently grounded No nor the Ilienses producing that Troy was the mother of Rome had any foundation of their reasonsauing onely antiquitie But some doubt was made of the Halicarnassi bicause that for the space of a thousand and two hundred yeeres their cities had neuer beene shaken with any earthquake and that the foundation of their Temple was built vpon liuely strong stone The Pergameni were answered that they had receiued honour enough in that they had Augustus Temple amongst them seeing that thereon they grounded their reason It seemeth that the Ephesians and Milesians had their cities occupied the one in the ceremonies of Apollo and the other of Diana In so much that all the contention rested betwixt the Sardinians and Smyrnaeans The Sardinians recited a decree of the Etrurians as being of their blood for Tyrrhenus and Lydus King Atyes sons diuided the land betwixt them by reason of the increase of the people And Lydus remained in his countrey and Tyrrhenus went to seeke newe countries to inhabit which were called by the names of their Captaines they in Asia and these in Italie and in progresse of time the Lydians growing to farther wealth sent people into Greece which were afterward called Peloponesians They told vs also of letters sent them by our Captaines of treatise made with vs in the warre of
made famous and the spoiles dedicated by Augustus with the place where Antonie had camped by those meanes renewing the memorie of his auncestors for as I haue saide before Augustus was his vncle and Antonie his grandfather and therefore in that place he sawe represented things both ioifull and dolorous From thence he went to Athens which being an ancient citie and a confederate with the Romans he woulde haue but one Lictor before him The Graecians receiued him with most exquisite honors and represented the ancient exploites and saiengs of his predecessors that their flatterie might be so much the more gratefull and acceptable And going from thence to Euboea hepassed by Lesbos where Agrippina in hir last deliuerie had Iulia. Then desirous to visite places of antiquitie and fame he went to the confines of Asia Perinthum and Byzans cities of Thrace then he entered the straites of Propontis and the mouth of the Pontion sea Withall he releeued the prouinces which were wearied with ciuill discordes and oppressions of magistrates In his returne desirous to visite the sacrifices of the Samothracians and sundrie other things for change of fortune and our beginning from thence woorthie of honor The northren windes droue him backe againe Then he coasted Asia and came to Colophona to consult with the oracle of Clarius Apollo There is no woman as at Delphos but a priest vsually chosen out of certaine families and for the most part from Miletum doth heare onely the number and names of such as come to consult then going downe to a den and drinking a draught of the secret fountaine giueth answer being commonly ignorant in learning and verses in verses touching those things which a man hath fore-thought in his minde It is reported that by circumstances of darke speeches as the manner of the oracles is he prophecied that Germanicus death was not farre of But C. Piso to the ende he might more speedily begin to effectuate his determination sharpely rebuked the citie of Athens alreadie amazed with his turbulent behauiour indirectly carping at Germanicus that contrarie to the dignitie of the Roman name he had vsed too great curtesie not towards the Athenians which had beene wasted by so manie miseries but towards a rif-raffe of other nations and those which were Mithridates confederates against Sulla and Antonies against Augustus of famous memorie Other stale matters he obiected also against them as that they had not prosperous successe against the Macedonians and vsed violence against their owne citizens bearing them also a speciall grudge bicause that at his request they woulde not deliuer on Theophilus condemned of forgery by the counsel of the Areopagites From thence sailing with all celeritie by the Cyclades and seeking out the shortest cuts at the Iland of Rhodes he ouertooke Germanicus nothing ignorant how he had backbitten him yet neuerthelesse such was his milde disposition that when Piso was driuen through tempest against the rocks and that his miscarieng might haue beene imputed to chance he sent gallies to succour him and so deliuered him from danger But all this did not mollifie Pisoes hart but scarse enduring one daies staie forsaketh and preuenteth Germanicus For being come to the legions in Syria winning the basest of the common soldiers with gifts he began to displace the old Centurions and seuere Tribunes and bestowe their roomes on his followers or to the most lewdest suffered idlenes in the campes licentiousnes in the citie vagrant and riotous souldiers to range the countrey whereby they grew to such corruption that among the common sort he was called the father of the legions Neither did Plancina containe hir selfe within the bounds of womanly modestie but woulde be present at the horsemens exercise as the running of the cohorts and vse reprochfull speeches against Agrippina and Germanicus some of the better sort of soldiers readie to follow hir humour in bad actions bicause there was a secret rumour spred that those things were not done with dislike of the Emperour Germanicus knew all this but his greatest care was to preuent the Armenians That nation was in times past doubtfull and vncertaine to the Romans not onely through their disposition and affection but also through the situation of their countrey which stretching into our prouinces reacheth euen to the Medes And being seated betwixt great kingdomes are often in wars through hatred to the Romans and enuie to the Parthians King at that time they had none Vonones being expulsed But the nation fauoured Zeno Polemon king of Pontus sonne bicause that from his infancie he had imitated the customes and attire of the Armenians their hunting and banqueting and other exercises of the Barbarians greatly esteemed thereby winning the fauour as wel of the nobilitie as cōmon people Germanicus then in the city Artaxata the noble men approouing it in the presence of a multitude crowned him King the rest doing him honor as their King saluted him after the name of the city by the name of Artaxias The Cappadocians being reduced to the forme of a Prouince receiued Q Veranius for their Lieutenant and to giue them a good hope of the Roman gouernment some of the tributes vsually before paid to the Kings diminished ouer the Comageni then first reduced vnder the regiment of a Pretor Q. Seruaeus was made gouernor XIIII Germanicus and Pisoes iarring ALbeit all the affaires of the allies were setled in good order yet Germanicus was nothing the more at his ease by reason of Pisoes pride who being commanded either by himselfe or by his sonne to conduct part of the legions to Armenia neglected both At length they both met at Cyrrum where the tenth legion wintered Piso with a resolute countenance against feare and Germanicus as I haue said the milder of the two lest he should be thought to threaten But his friends their crafts master in prouoking hatred made the most of that which was true suggested much which was false laying diuers things to his own charge Plācinas his childrens In the end Caesar in the presence of a few of his familiars vttered som such speech to Piso as anger dissimulation doth suggest Piso answered with a proud submission so they departed open enemies After that time Piso was seldome seen at Caesars tribunal if he did assist at any time he shewed himselfe froward and alwayes dissented openly from him In a banket made by the king of the Nabateans when there were presented crownes of great waight to Caesar and Agrippina and light ones to Piso and the rest He was heard to say that that banket was made to the sonne of a Romane Prince and not to the sonne of a king of Parthia and withall threw away his crowne vttering many speeches against the superfluitie of the banket which although Germanicus could hardly digest yet indured all patiently Whilest these things were adoing Embassadors came from Artabanus king of the Parthians calling to minde their friendship and alliance with the Romans
which laie in garrison at Lugdunum The Turonians were ouerthrowne by the legionarie souldier which Visellius Varro Lieutenant of lower Germanie sent vnder the same captaine Auiola and certaine of the chiefe gentlemen of Gallia which brought him aide the better thereby to cloake their reuolt and when occasion serued rebell with more assurance Sacrouir was seene to demaund battell of the Romans bare headed as he saide to shewe his valour but the captaines said he did it to make himselfe the better knowne thereby to be spared from their darts Tiberius being consulted vpon that point made no reckoning of the disclosing of it but nourished the warre by doubting Florus in the meane time helde on his purpose enticed a wing of horsemen enrowled at Treuers and trained vp in our seruice discipline that hauing slaine the Roman merchants which there vsed trafficke he might begin the warre fewe of the horsemen were corrupted but most continued in their alleageance Other rude indebted persons or followers tooke armes and went towarde the forrest called Arden but the legions from both armies which Visellius and C. Silius had set to crosse them droue them backe Iulius Indus being of the same citie and an enimie to Florus and therefore more foreward to shew his valour being sent before with a choise power scattered and defeated that disordered multitude Florus escaped the conquerours hands by vncertaine lurking holes and at last perceiuing the souldiers to set on his places of refuge slewe himselfe with his own hands And that was the end of the rebellion of those of Treueri It was a matter of great difficultie to suppresse the Aedui by reason their city was more wealthie and the aide which should haue subdued them farther off Sacrouir had with certaine armed cohorts gotten possession of Augustodunum the chiefe citie of the countrey and taken the noblest mens children of all Gallia which there followed their studies as a pledge to win and binde their parents and kindred and withal secretly distributed weapons which himselfe had caused to be made to al the youth They were in number forty thousand the fift part armed as the legions were the others with hunting staues hangers such other weapōs as hūters vse To these were added certaine slauish fencers couered according to the countrey fashion from top to toe in armour of iron vnapt and vneasie to strike but to withstand impenetrable whom they call Crupellarij These forces were augmented though not by any open cōsent of cities adioining yet with euery mans particular good wil the Roman captaines striuing doubting who should haue the conducting of the warre both desiring it But Varro being old and feeble yeelded to Silius who was in his prime It was currant in Rome that not onely the Treueri and the Aedui but also that threescore and fower cities of Gallia had reuolted and the Germans ioined with them that Spaine was wauering and all as the nature of a report is beleeued more then it was Euery good man with a care of the common-wealth was greatly grieued many disliking the present state and desirous of alteration reioysed euen in their owne harmes and blamed Tiberius that in so great a hurlyburly he woulde still spende his labour in hearing accusers libels What saide they shall Iulius Sacrouir bee condemned of treason in Senate at last some were founde which with armes woulde suppresse these bloudy libels of accusers that a miserable peace was well changed for warre Tiberius so much the more composed to a careles securitie changed neither place nor countenance passed ouer those dayes after his accustomed woont either through haughtines of courage or because he knewe the matter to be lighter then the report In the meane time Silius marching on with two legions hauing sent a power of allies before wasteth the villages of the Sequans which were borderers and confederates with the Aeduans Anon after he marcheth speedily with his armie towardes Augustodunum the standard-bearers striuing who shoulde make most haste and the common souldier fretting and chasing likewise least he should rest the night as he was wont only that they might see the enemie and be seene that would be enough for the victorie Twelue miles off Sacrouir appeared in the champian countrey In the front he had placed his men couered with iron his cohorts on the wings and those which were halfe armed in the rereward himselfe mounted on a goodly courser amongst the chiefest of the citie went to the souldiers and put them in minde of the ancient glory of the Galli and how oft they had defeated the Romans How honorable a thing libertie was to the conquerors and how intollerable seruitude would be if they should be vanquished againe This exhortation was not long nor pleasing for the legions drew neere in battell aray the townesmen wanting discipline and ignorant of seruice did neither see nor heare what was best for them Silius on the contrary side although his hope had taken away all occasions of encouraging them yet cried That it was a shame for them being conquerors ouer the Germans to be brought against the Galli as against enemies and that of late one cohort had vanquished the rebellious Toronians one wing the Treueri a few troupes of horsemen of this same armie had put to flight the Sequans By how much the richer the Aedui are in money and abounding in pleasures the lesser courage they had Breake then in vpon them and binde them and flee to those which run away At that all of them giuing an out-cry the horsemen compassed them in the footemen set on the point and the wings made small resistance Those in complet yron harnes stuck somewhat to it their plates resisting and beating back the darts and swords but the souldier snatching his hatchets and axes as though he were to breake through a wall hewed their couering and carcasses Some with poles or forks ouerthrew this sluggish lump leauing them for halfe dead lying on the ground not once going about to rise Sacrouir goeth first to Augustodunum then for feare least it should be yeelded to the next village with a few of his trustiest friends where he slew himselfe with his owne hands and the rest one another and the village being set on fire ouer them they were all burnt together Then at last Tiberius wrote to the Senate that the warre was begun and ended neither adding nor taking away from the truth And that the Lieutenants had behaued themselues faithfully and valorously and himselfe directed them with counsell And withall yeelded the reasons why neither he nor Drusus went to the war magnifying the greatnes of the Empire and that it was not meete that Princes if some one or other towne rebell should forsake Rome from whence all other gouernment was deriued Now bicause there was no cause of feare he would goe see and settle the present estate of things The Lords of the Senat derceed vowes and processions for his returne with other conuenient
ceremonies Dolabella Cornelius onely whilest he went about to exceed others falling into absurd flatterie thought it meete that he should from Campania enter into the citie ouant Wherupon Caesar wrote that he was not so needie of renowne that hauing vanquished most stout and prowde nations and receiued or refused in his youth so many triumphes he would in his old age hunt after a vaine reward of a voiage neere the citie X. Lepidus maketh an oration in defence of C. Lutorius accused of treason ABout the same time he made request vnto the Senat that Sulpitius Quirinius death might be solemnised with publicke funerals Quirinius was not of the auncient patritian familie of the Sulpitians but borne at Lanuuium a free towne a valiant warrior and forwards in all his charges was Consull vnder Augustus of famous memorie Then hauing won by assault the fortresse of the Homonadensians in Cilicia the markes of triumphe were awarded him then giuen as a guide to C. Caesar in the regiment of Armenia and when Tiberius was at Rhodes shewed him all duties of loue which Tiberius did open in Senat praising his dutifulnes towards him and accused M. Lollius to haue perswaded C. Caesar to seditions and lewdnes But vnto the rest the memorie of Quirinius was nothing pleasing by reason as I haue saide of the danger he brought Lepida into and miserable niggishnes and powerable old age In the end of the yeere a cari-tale accused C. Lutorius Priscus a gentleman of Rome who had composed notable funerall verses vpon Germanicus death and receiued money of Caesar for them obiecting that he had made them in honour of Drusus being sicke to the ende that if he had died they should haue beene published for greater reward Those verses Lutorius vpon vaine glorie had read in P. Petronius house in the presence of Vitellia his mother in lawe and many other noble women As soone as the pickthanke had shewed himselfe the rest forced by feare to giue witnes onely Vitellia stood to it that she had heard nothing But more credit being giuen to such as testified to his ouerthrow sentence of death was pronounced against him by Haterius Agrippa Consull elect Against whom M. Lepidus began to speake in this manner If we consider Lords of the Senat with what a wicked toong Lutorius Priscus hath polluted his minde and mens eares neither prison nor halter nor any seruile torments could suffice to punish him But if lewd and heinous facts be without meane yet the moderation of a Prince your own and your auncestors examples do mollifie the punishments and remedies of them vaine things do differ from wicked and words from villanous deedes And therefore iudgment may be giuen by which neither this mans offence goe scot-free we not repent vs either of our clemencie or seueritie I haue often heard our Prince complaine if any by killing himselfe hath preuented his clemēcy Lutorius life is yet in safety who being kept aliue will neither breed danger to the cōmon-wealth nor put to death serue for example to others As his studies were full of follie and without sence so they are likewise vaine and quickly at an end Neither is there any cause to feare any great or serious matter in him who bewraying his owne imperfections doth creepe not into mens but womens breasts Yet let him be expulsed the citie Which I iudge to be all one as if he had been conuicted of treason Among all the Consuls onely Rubellius Blandus agreed with Lepidus the rest following Agrippaes opinion Priscus was lead to prison and immediately depriued of his life The fact Tiberius with his accustomed ambiguitie of words blamed in Senate extolling the zealous affection of seuere punishments of princes iniuries though small yet entreated them that they woulde not so rashlie punish wordes praised Lepidus and rebuked not Agrippa Whereupon a decree of Senate was made that their orders shoulde not be caried to the treasurie before ten daies were expired and that so long the condemneds life should be prolonged But the Senators had no licence to repent and reuoke their sentence and Tiberius not to be pacified by tract of time XI Tiberius letter touching reformation of abuses THe yeere following C. Sulpitius and D. Haterius were created Consuls all being quiet from forrein troubles but seueritie against superfluities suspected at home which was growen to exceeding excesse in all things wherein money is lauishly spent Some of their expences although more vnreasonable yet were cloaked by dissembling their prices but gluttonie and belly-cheere euerie man commonly speaking of put them in feare least the prince shoulde rigorouslie proceed according to the ancient prouident frugalitie For C. Bibulus beginning the other Aediles shewed also that the law cōcerning excesse of expences was nought set by and the sumptuousnes of moueables which was forbiddē daily increased and that it coulde not be redressed by any reasonable meanes And the Lordes of the Senate being demanded their aduise referred the whole matter to the prince But Tiberius often pondered with himselfe whether such exorbitant lustes coulde bebrideled or not whether the brideling of them would not bring more hurt then benefit to the common-wealth how vnseemely and dishonorable it would be to vndertake that which could not be effected or if it could with the ignominie or infamie of noble men and in the end he sent letters to the Senate to this purpose It would be peraduenture conuenient Lords of the Senate that in other matters I should be demaunded my opinion in your presence and speake what I thought to be behouefull for the common wealth but in this relation it was better to withdraw mine eyes least that you noting the countenāce and the feare of euery one of such which should be deprehended of this shamefull lauishing I should also see them and take them as it were in the fault If the Aediles vigilant and carefull men had before hand asked my aduise I know not whether I should rather haue perswaded them to let passe strong and rooted vices then go so far that it should be knowne how vnable we be to redresse some kinde of abuses But they truly haue done their dutie and I wish that other magistrates would also fulfill theirs To me it is neither honest to hold my tongue nor easie to speake because I haue neither the office of an Aedile Pretor nor Consull Some greater matter is required of a Prince and of greater importance and when as euery man attributeth to himselfe the prayse of things well done the faults of all men in generall redounde to the dislike of the Prince alone What shall I begin first to forbid and reduce to the auncient custome your huge and spacious countrey houses the number of your seruitours of diuers nations the quantitie of siluer and gold your painted tables and brasen images of maruellous and exquisite workemanship superfluousnes of apparell both in men and women and those things which are proper vnto women as pretious
which was the first time that Tiberius shewed himselfe greedie of other mens money Sosia was driuen into banishment by Asinius Gallus Consull who also aduised that part of the goods should be confiscate part left vnto his children But Lepidus contrarily that the fourth part of the goods should be giuen to the informers according to the law and the residue to his children I finde that this Lepidus was in those dayes a graue and wise man who altered into the better many things which others by cruell flatterie had ordained which he did with such moderation that he kept in with Caesar in no lesse fauour then authoritie Which causeth me to doubt whether it happen as in other things by fatall destinie and natiuitie that Princes are fauorably enclined to some and to others hardly bent or whether anything consist in our counsels to single out a course free from ambition and danger betweene selfewill stubbornes and filthy flattery But Messallinus Cotta being no lesse nobly descended differing from Lepidus was of opinion that by decree of Senat it should be ordained that gouernors of prouinces though faultles themselues yet should be punished for their wiues crimes no lesse then for their owne VI. Calphurnius Piso accused and condemned The last vvarre vvith Tacfarinas and his death AFter this they debated Calphurnius Pisos case a noble man and of a fierce courage He as I haue said seeing what credit pickthanks were in openly protested in Senate that he woulde depart the citie and little regarding the authoritie of Augusta was so bolde as to sommon Vrgulania out of the princes house which Tiberius for the present seemed not to take in euill part But bearing it in minde although the heate of displeasure was cooled yet he forgat it not Granius also accused Piso of secret speeches vsed against the maiestie of the emperour adding that he had poison in his house and that he entered the Senate house with a weapon This of the weapon was past ouer as not credible but for other things aggreuated against him he was arrained but not conuicted bicause he was preuented by death Afterward Cassius Seuerus cause was handeled a banished man of base parentage and lewde life but a great Orator Who had raised so many enimies against him that by the iudgement of the Senate sworne he was confined to Creet where following the like practises drew on his head old and new hatred and at last being depriued of all his goods and banished spent the rest of his life in the Ilande Seriphium About the same time Plautius Siluanus Pretor the cause why not knowen threwe his wife Apronia downe headlong from a high place And being brought before Caesar by L. Apronius his father in lawe as a man troubled in minde answered as though she had killed hir-selfe when he was a sleepe and wholy ignorant of the matter Tiberius goeth foorthwith to his house and searcheth the chamber where he perceiued by the print of hir feete tokens of hir striuing against him and the thrusting of hir foreward which he reported to the Senate And Iudges appointed to examine the fact Vrgulania Siluanus grandmother sent hir nephewe a poniard to dispatch himselfe which some thought to haue beene done by the princes counsell by reason of the league of friendship betwixt Augusta and Vrgulania Siluanus hauing tried in vaine to kill himselfe with the poniard in the end caused his vaines to be cut Not long after Numantina his first wife accused by charms and witchcrafts to haue put hir husband out of his wits found innocent is quit by the prince That yeare the people of Rome was deliuered of a long warre against Tacfarinas the Numidian For the captaines which till then had beene sent against him hauing obtained the markes of triumph sought no further how to extinguish the enimie For there were now three images in the citie crowned with baies and Tacfarinas still continued spoiling and forraging Affrica and augmented his forces by the aide of the Moores which vnder Ptolemy Iubaes sonne a carelesse youth changed their seruile state and gouerment of freed men into warre The king of the Garamantes was a receiuer and partaker of his booties and pillages not that hee marched with an armie but onely by sending light horsemen which a farre off were thought to be more then indeed they were And in the prouince it selfe some for need and som of a turbulent humor ioined with him bicause Caesar considering how well Blaesus had bestirred himselfe called home the ninth legion as though there had beene no enimies left at all in Affrica And Dolabella Proconsull for that yeere durst not staie them fearing more the commandement of the prince then the incertaintie and danger of the warre Vpon this Tacfarinas gaue it out that the Romans had their hands full were distracted with other nations and therefore purposed by little and little to retire out of Affrike And then that the rest might easilie bee ouercome if all which preferred libertie before seruitude woulde ioine and couragiously bend their forces against them and gathering more strength encampeth before Thubuscum and laieth siege to it But Dolabella drawing all the forces hee could make into one partly the name of the Romans striking a terror into their harts partly bicause the Numidian is not able to indure the force of the footemen at the first encounter leuied the siege fortified the most conuenient places and withall beheaded the chiefest of the Musulani which began to reuolt In the end taught by experience of so many battels that this fleeting enimie was not to be pursued with a maine campe Dolabella sent for King Ptolemy with his countriemen and diuided his forces into fower companies vnder the charge of seuerall Lieutenants and Tribunes The out-riders and forragers were conducted by certaine chosen Moores himselfe at hand to giue direction to all Not long after tydings came that Tacfarinas had encamped and erected cabins at an old ruinous fort which himselfe had once burnt called Auzea trusting to the place being inuironed with mightie great woods Then the light horsemen and wings not knowing whither were lead away withall speed And at the dawning of the day with the sound of trumpets and a dreadfull noise set on the enimies halfe sleeping halfe waking their horses vnreadie or dispersed abroad at pasture The Romans footemen were close ranked the troupes of horsemen in good order all things in a readines for battell The enimie on the other side in all things vnprouided had neither weapons order nor counsell among them but were haled taken and slaine like beasts And euerie souldier irked with the remembrance of his labours and how oft desirous to cope with the enimie he had beene deluded fild himselfe with reuenge and blood Aduertisement was brought from one companie to another to pursue Tacfarinas well knowen to them all and that there would be no ende of that warre if the Captaine were not slaine But he with a chosen
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
of these yong and tender children were cast into the Gemonies a place where condemned persons were throwne downe headlong About the same time Asia and Achaia were put into a very great fright though it continued not long with a rumor that Drusus Germanicus sonne had beene seene first in the Ilands Cyclades and afterward in the continent But it was a yong man of like age whome some of Caesars freed men by a subtile practise followed bearing men in hand they knew it to be him Such as knew him not were drawne by the fame of his name and the Greekes especially prone to all new and strange wonders It was reported he had escaped out of prison and fled to his fathers armie some both faining and beleeuing withall that he would inuade Aegypt or Syria Youth flocked alreadie to him very cheerefully many signes of loue publickly shewen him feeding themselues with the present vaine hope of what might happen When as Poppaeus Sabinus had tidings thereof who was then occupied in the affaires of Macedonia had charge also ouer Achaia he therefore were the report true or false to preuent all things hastning ouer the Toronaean and Thermaean cut and passing by Euboea an Iland of the Aegean sea and Piraeum a coast of Attique the Corinthian shore and the streights of Isthmum by another sea came to Nicopolis a colonie of the Romaines and there after a carefull examination vnderstandeth who he should be He said he was M. Silanus sonne and that many of his followers hauing forsaken him he embarked himselfe as though he meant to trauell into Italie These things he signified to Tiberius by writing neither haue we found any thing more of the beginning or end of this matter Towards the end of the yeere a quarrell of certaine Consuls burst forth which had beene a long time a breeding For Trio little regarding what enemies he procured and well practised at the barre vnderhand carped Regulus as being careles in oppressing Seianus ministers Regulus vnlesse greatly prouoked of a temperate and cold humor did not only answere and quaile his fellow Consull but brought him within the compasse of conspiracie and to be examined for it And although many of the Lords of the Senate intreated them that they woulde surcease their quarrell which would grow to their owne ouerthrow yet they continued their grudge and menaces one against the other vntill they went both out of office The end of the fift Booke THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Of Tiberius lasciuious life Pursuing of Liuia and Seianus Cotta accused CN Domitius and Camillus Scribonianus entered the Consulship when Caesar hauing passed the streight betwixt Capreas and Surrentum coasted Campania doubtfull whether he should enter into the citie or not perhaps because he had otherwise resolued in his minde though making shew he would come oftentimes approching neere the citie and to the gardens along Tiber and returning back againe to the rocks and deserts of the sea to couer the shame of his lasciuious life which so vnstayedly he wallowed in that as the manner of the kings was he defiled and abused noble mens sonnes vnder age and not only the welfauored and comelyest but the modest and well nurtured and whose modest behauiour shewed the stock from whence they grew serued him for prouocation of filth Then first of all were those vnknowen words of Sellaries and Spintries found out of the filthines of the place and sundrie sorts of sufferance of abuse Some of his slaues had charge to seeke them out and bring them to him alluring such by gifts as shewed themselues willing and readie and threatning such as refused and if either their neere friends or parents went about to detaine them they vsed violence and caried them away perforce and exercised their willes on them as if they had been captiues But at Rome in the beginning of the yeare seuere iudgements were giuen against Liuia and against her images and other memories consecrated in her honor as if her lewdnes had then first come to light and had not been alreadie punished The Scipioes gaue their opinion that Seianus goods should be taken from the publick treasury and put in the Princes priuat cofers The Silanians and Cassians were of the same opinion and vrged it with the same tearmes or not greatly changed when on the sudden and vnlooked for Togonius Gallus among those noble men thrusting himselfe forward being but of base and low calling had the hearing giuen him as a matter to laugh at for he desired the Prince to choose twentie by lot out of a certaine number of Senators to gard and defend his person with weapon as oft as he went to the Senate He beleeued peraduenture that Tiberius had meant good earnest when he required that one of the Consuls might conduct and aide him from Caprea to the citie Tiberius neuerthelesse accustomed sometimes to interlace serious matters with skoffes thanked the Lords for their good will yet demaunded whom he might omit or whom he might choose whether alwaies the same or sometimes others in their steede such as had borne office or yong men priuate persons or magistrates what a goodly sight it would be to see them take a sword in hand at the entrie of the councell house neither would he make such accompt of his life if he were to maintaine it by armes This he answered to Togonius tempering his words and perswaded no farther the disallowing of that opinion But he rebuked Iunius Gallio very bitterly who propounded that the souldiers of the gard after their seruice was ended might haue a roome in the fortieth ranke of seates and asked him as it had been in their presence what he had to do with souldiers for whom it was not lawfull either to receiue commaundement or gift but of the Emperour or whether he had found out that which Augustus of famous memory could not prouide for It was rather a matter of discord and sedition sought for by one of Seianus followers to stirre vp rude mindes vnder title of honor to corrupt the custome of seruice This was the reward which Gallio receiued for his artificiall flatterie and anon after was driuen out of the councell house and then out of Italy And because it was obiected that he could easily indure exile hauing made choise of the famous and noble Ile of Lesbos he was recalled to the citie and kept in the magistrates houses In the same letters to the great contentment of the Lords of the Senate Caesar touched Sestius Pagonianus who had been sometimes Pretor to the quick audacious malignant and prying into all mens secrets beloued of Seianus and by him employed to lay snares to intrap C. Caesar which being once layd open all the hatred a long time hatched against him burst foorth and sentence of death decreed against him if he had not promised to bewray the complices But when Acreus had accused Latinius Latiaris hated both alike it was a most
eies whom thou dost inrich whom thou dost aduance to honours who haue greatest power of hurting or helping which Seianus to haue had no man will denie The Princes hidden thoughts or if he go about any secret drift it is not lawfull to sound and dangerous neither shalt thou in the end reach vnto them Thinke not onely Lords of the Senat of Seianus last day but of sixteene yeeres in which we did likewise fawne vpon and court Satrius and Pomponius and to be knowen to his freed men and partners was reckoned as a high fauour What then Shall this defence be generall and not distinguished but a confusion made of times past and his later actions No but let it by iust bounds and termes be diuided Let the treasons against the common-wealth the intentions of murdering the Emperour be punished but as for the friendship duties pleasures and good turnes the same ende shall discharge and quite thee O Caesar and vs. The constancie of his oration one being found to deliuer that which they all thought in their mindes preuailed so much that his accusers by ripping vp their old faults were punished either with exile or death III. The occasion of making a Prefect at Rome an examen of some of the Sibyls bookes AFter that Tiberius sent letters against Sext. Vestilius sometime Pretor and welbeloued of Drusus his brother chosen to be one of his garde The cause of displeasure against Vestilius was either bicause he had composed certaine writings against Caesars vncleane life or falsly fathered vpon him gaue credit to the reporters and therupon being banished the Princes court familiarity hauing first gone about with his owne olde feeble hand to slaie himselfe bound vp his vaines and in the meane space hauing entreated the Princes fauour and receiued arigorous answere did at last open them Then at once were accused of treason Annius Pollio Appius Silanus Scaurus Mamercus Sabinus Caluisius Vicinianus also brought in with his father for companie all of them well descended and some in authoritie The Lords of the Senat quaked for feare for how manie was there which was not either allied or a friend of one of those noble men But Celsus Tribune of the citie-cohort and then an informer deliuered Appius and Caluisius from danger Caesar deferred Pollioes Vicinianus Scaurus cause that himselfe might haue the hearing of it with the Senators hauing giuen out alreadie tokens of heauie displeasure against Scaurus Not so much as women but were partakers of danger and if not attainted for attempting to aspire to the Empire yet brought in question for their teares and Vitia an old woman Fusius Geminus mother was put to death bicause she bewailed the death of her sonne These things were done in Senat. And where the Prince was the like was practised Vescularius Atticus and Iulius Marinus two of his most familiar friends which accompanied him to Rhodes and at Capreas neuer departed from him were put to death Vescularius was the Messenger to and fro when the treacherie was wrought against Libo Marinus was of Seianus counsell when he put Curtius Atticus to death most men being glad to see them taken in the snare they laid for others About the same time L. Piso high Priest died a naturall death which was a rare matter in those times in a man of so great nobilitie He neuer of himselfe propounded any matter which smelled of flatterie or base minds if he were forced thereto he vsed great moderation in doing it His father as I haue alreadie saide had beene Censor he liued to the age of fowerscore hauing in Thrace deserued the triumphall ornaments But his greatest credit rose in that that being newly created Prouost of the citie he did gouerne exceeding moderately all the time of his continuall rule irkesome through vnwontednes of obedience For in times past when the Kings or Consuls went out of the citie least she should be left without gouernment there was one chosen for a time able to giue euery man right prouide for all sudden accidents And it is said that Dentres Romulius had the same charge giuen him by Romulus after that Numa Marcius by Tullus Hostilius and Spurius Lucretius by Tarquinius Superbus Then that the Consuls had the charge of committing this office and a shadow of it continueth vnto this day as oft as the Latine feasts are folemnised one is appointed ouer the rest to exercise the roome of a Consull But Augustus in the time of ciuill warres made Cilnius Maecenas a gentleman Prouost ouer Rome and all Italie Then being Lord and Master of the Empire by reason of the greatnes of the people and slow aide which the lawes affoorded he chose out one of such as had been Consuls to bridle the bondmen and such citizens as through audaciousnes would grow troublesome vnlesse they stood in awe The first that receiued that authoritie but kept it but awhile was Messalla Coruinus as vnable to discharge it Then Taurus Statilus although he were verie aged went through it with great commendation After that Piso was well liked for the space of twentie yeeres and by order of the Senat honoured with publick funerals It was afterward propounded before the Lords of the Senat by Quinctilianus Tribune of the people concerning the Sibyls booke which Caninius Gallus one of the fifteene requested might be receiued among other books of the same prophetesse and demanded it might be so established by decree of Senat which being giuen by common consent Caesar sent letters somewhat reprehending the Tribune as ignorant of the old custome by reason of his youth and vpbraided Gallus that being old and practised in the science and ceremonies neuertheles had demanded the opinion of the Senators not fully assembled the author being vncertain and before the colledge had yeelded their iudgment neither as the custome was the verses hauing been read and waighed by the maisters Withall he aduertised them because that many vaine things were published vnder the name of famous men that Augustus had vnder penaltie set downe a day within which such bookes should be brought to the citie-Pretor and that it was not lawfull for any to haue them in their priuat possession The like decree was established by our predecessors also and after that the Capitol was burnt in the ciuill war their verses were sought in Samum in Ilium Erythrum through Affrike also Sicily and the colonies of Italie whether they were one or many the busines being committed to the Priests to distinguish the true prophecies from the false as neere as might be by the iudgement of man And then also the booke was referred to the examination of the fifteene When the same men were Consuls through a dearth of corne and other prouisions they grew almost to a commotion and many things for many dayes together were in the Theater more licentiously demaunded with great eagernes then the manner had beene to demaund things of the Emperour Whereat being moued he
woman they inuaded her kingdome with a strong power of armed and choise youth Which was foreseene by vs and the cohorts sent to second her fought a hote battell which at the beginning was doubtfull though the end more ioyfull A legion also which Cesius Nasica commaunded fought with the like successe for Didius being stroken in yeeres and hauing receiued many honors thought it sufficient to execute his charge and driue away the enemie by the help of others These exploites although they were atchieued by two Propretors Ostorius and Didius in many yeeres yet I thought good to ioyne together least being seuered they should not so well haue beene remembred IX Nero Agrippinaes sonne is preferred before Britannicus sonne to Claudius NOw I will returne to the order of times Ti. Claudius beeing the fift time Consull and Ser. Cornelius Orfitus great haste was made to make Nero of full yeeres that he might seeme more capable of the gouernment And Caesar willingly yeelding to the flattery of the Lords of the Senate consented that Nero should be Consull at twentie yeeres of age and being elect in the meane season haue the Proconsulary authoritie out of the citie and be called prince of youth There was also giuen in his name a donatiue to the souldiers and a liberalitie to the people The Circensian playes being exhibited to win the fauour of the people Britannicus in his pretext and Nero in triumphing attire because the people should see the one in the magnificence of an Emperour and the other in the habite of a child thereby to presume what fortune to either of them should hereafter fall Withall if any of the Centurions or Tribunes bewayled Britannicus hap they were remoued either by fained pretences or vnder colour of preferment yea of the freed men if any were faithfull he was not suffered about him As these two met vpon occasion Nero saluted Britannicus by his name and Britannicus rendred him the like by the name of Domitius Which Agrippina taking hold of as a beginning of a quarrel carieth to her husband with a grieuous complaint saying that the adoption was nought set by the decree of Senate the ordinance of the people broken and abrogated in his owne house and if such contemptuous frowardnes of Britannicus teachers were not seuerely looked vnto it would burst out into some publike mischiefe Claudius moued with these complaints as though they had beene faults indeede either banished or put to death the chiefest bringers vp of his sonne and placed such ouer him as his stepmother would appoint Neuerthelesse Agrippina durst not leuell at her chiefest marke which was that her sonne should succeede in state vnlesse Lusius Geta and Rufus Crispinus captaines of Caesars gard were first discharged whom she thought would be mindfull of Messallinaes fauours towards them and therefore bound vnto her children Agrippina therefore beareth the Emperour in hand that the gard was deuided into factions through ambition of the two captaines striuing for superioritie that the discipline of seruice would be better kept if the souldiers were commaunded by one alone The charge of the cohorts was transferred vnto Burrhus Afranius a man of great fame for matter of seruice yet knowing well by whose practise and fauour he came to the place Agrippina began also to raise her owne estate to a higher degree by entering into the Capitol in a chariot which in times past was a custome only lawfull for the Priests in sacred rites which augmented the more the state of this woman because she was the onely example vnto this day of any one who being daughter of an Emperour hath been also sister wife and mother of an Emperour In the meane season her chiefest buckler Vitellius being in highest fauour and very old so slipperie is the state of great personages was accused by Iunius Lupus Senator of treason and aspiring to the Empire and Caesar readie to giue eare to the accusation if he had not rather changed his opinion by Agrippinaes threates then intreaties and so to banish the accuser which was the punishment Vitellius best liked That yeere many prodigious sights hapned as that many birds portending euill luck lighted vpon the Capitol many houses ruined by often earthquakes and the feare spreading among the astonied people many in throngs were smothered The want of corne and the famine which insued thereof was also construed as a presage of euill luck Neither did they complaine in secret only but came about Claudius as he gaue audience with turbulent clamors and hauing thrust him to the end of the forum followed him vntill that with a band of souldiers he brake through the prease It was most certaine that the citie was not victualled for aboue fifteene dayes but by the great goodnes of the gods and mildnes of the winter the citie was relieued in necessitie But truly in times past prouision of corne hath beene transported out of Italie into other prouinces farre distant And at this present we stand not in want through the barrennes of the countrey but we do rather manure Afrike and Aegypt and hazard the life of the people of Rome by sea whereof depends want or abundance X. Warres betweene the Romans and the Parthians THe same yeere a warre begun betweene the Armenians and Hiberi was cause of great troubles betwixt the Romans and the Parthians Vologeses was King of the Parthians descended by his mothers side of a Greek concubine yet got the kingdome by consent of his brothers Pharasmanes hath a long time possessed the Hiberians countrey as a King and his brother Mithradates the Armenians through our forces Pharasmanes had a sonne called Rhadamistus of a comely tall stature and of a verie strong and able bodie trained vp in the qualities and practises his father before him had beene and greatly renowned among his neighbors He was woont to say that the kingdome of Hiberia was small and yet kept from him by his father who was verie olde and so oft he did cast foorth those speeches and so fiercely that it was easily seene how greedie a desire he had to raigne Pharasmanes then seeing this yoong man so desirous and readie to rule misdoubting the peoples affection bent towardes him by reason of his declining yeeres thought it best to feede him with some other hope and set Armenia before his eies telling him that he had giuen that kingdome to Mithradates hauing first expulsed the Parthians Yet that it was not his best course to set on it by force but vse policie against Mithradates and intrap him when he least looked for it Rhadamistus vnder colour of some discontent with his father through the insupportable dealing of his stepmother goeth to his vncle where being intreated with all courtesie as if he had been his owne childe solliciteth the chiefe noble men of Armenia to rebellion Mithradates knowing nothing but still entertaining him with all fauour and kindnes Rhadamistus vnder colour of reconciliation returned vnto his father and declared
different in conditions VI. Whether it be conuenient to haue often playes to entertaine the people NEro being the fourth time Consull and Cor. Cossus the play called Quinquennale was ordained to be played at Rome after the maner of the Greeke combate whereof there went diuers reports as almost it hapneth in all new things for some there were which said that Gn. Pompeius was blamed by the ancient men for building a permanent Theater For in times past the playes were wont to be set forth on a skaffold built for that time and seates to continue no longer then the play lasted Or if thou wilt looke into more ancient times the people beheld them standing least if they should sit they would continue in the Theater whole daies in idlenes Neither should the ancient fashion of playes be obserued whē * as oft as the Pretors shuld set them forth no necessity was laid vpō any of the citizens to fight or looke on But the customes of the countrey being by little and little abolished were now vtterly ouerthrowne by disorders set from strange countries that whatsoeuer elsewhere might corrupt or was corrupted was seene in the citie and the youth vnlike to that it hath beene through strange manners wrestling naked idlenes and licentious loue the Prince and the Senate being authors thereof who haue not only giuen licence to vices but also giuen them strength and force The noblemen of Rome vnder colour of making orations and verses are discredited by stage-playing What remaineth then but only to vncloath themselues starke naked and take the caesti in hand and practise that fight in stead of armes and exercises of warre Or do they thinke they shall better vnderstand the knowledge of southsaying be more skilfull in the decuries of gentlemen accomplish the honorable charge of Iudicature if they vnderstand cunningly broken tunes and sweerenes of voices whole nights also were added to those shames because no time should be left honest but in that confuse multitude what euery person most dissolute desired by day durst venter on by night That licence pleased many and yet they cloaked it with honest termes That the ancients likewise did not abhorre the delight of playes and shewes according to their calling at that time and that stage-players were sent for from Thuscia The horse-race was represented by the Thurians but since Achaia and Asia was possessed by vs playes haue beene more exactly set foorth Neither hath there beene any one in Rome nobly descended which by reason of stage-playes hath discredited the stocke from whom he came these two hundred yeeres since L. Mamius triumphed who first set forth that kinde of shew in the citie Farther there was a regard had vnto thrift in erecting a continuall standing Theater rather then with infinite charges euery yeere set vp and build a new Neither should the magistrates waste their goods as they haue done on the people haue cause to be importunate with them for the combates according to the Greekes manner seeing the common-wealth did defray the charge The victories of orators and poets would be an incouragement vnto wits neither could it be offensiue to any iudge to lend his eares to honest studies and allowable pastimes To mirth rather then lasciuiousnes a few nights in fiue yeeres were giuen in which there is such great light of fires that no vnlawfull acte can be hidden In very deede that shew past without any notable dishonest part committed neither did the people shew any great insolencie although the common vices were restored to the stage and forbidden to shew themselues in such playes as were represented in honor of the gods The praise of eloquence none caried away but Caesar was pronounced victor and the Greekish attire which many wore in those dayes was layd aside VII Nero falleth sicke DVring these things there appeared a blasing starre which in the opinion of the common people betokeneth the change of a Prince Therfore as though Nero had alreadie beene driuen out they were busie to knowe who should succeede him Rubellius Plautus being famous in euerie mans mouth by the mothers side descended from the Iulian familie He was an obseruer of the old manner of liuing vpright graue and seuere liuing with all honestie as one retired in his own house and the more secret he was for feare of being accounted of so much the more his reputation increased An interpretation of a lightning begun by the like vanitie augmented the rumor For Neroes meate being striken with lightning and the table throwen downe at the lakes of Simbruinum in a place called Sublaqueum in the confines of Tiburtum from whence Plautus had his beginning by his fathers side all men beleeued that he was destined by the prouidence of the gods to the Empire and thereupon many fawned and courted him which by a greedie and for the most part deceiptfull ambition admire new things doubtfull and vncertaine Nero moued with these rumors writeth to Plautus aduising him to looke to himself and his assemblies and rid his hands of those which lewdly defamed him and that in Asia he had possessions by descent from his auncestors in which he might passe his youth safely and without troubles Whereupon he went thither with Antistia his wife and a few of his familiars At the same time too greedy a desire of pleasing his will in all he liked bred Nero both infamie and danger for swimming in the fountaine of the Martian water which was brought to the citie it was construed that he had defiled the holy drinkes and ceremonie of the place with his whole bodie and falling dangerously sicke thereupon it was constantly beleeued that it proceeded as a punishment from the wrath of the gods VIII Corbulo conquereth all Armenia ouer which Nero sendeth Tigranes to be King BVt Corbulo after the rasing of Artaxata thinking it his best to make profit of the fresh terrour for the easilier forcing of Tigranocerta by destroying of which he should augment feare in the enimie or by sparing it purchase the reputation of clemencie marcheth thither vsing no hostilitie by the way least he should take from them all hope of pardon yet with no remisnes or carelesse proceeding as one knowing that that nation is easilie subiect to chaunge as slow to perill so faithles when occasion is offered The Barbarians euerie man according to his wit some entreated some forsooke their villages and conueighed themselues to inaccessible places some hid themselues and the things they made most reckoning of in caues The Roman Captaine therefore vsing diuers policies shewed mercie towards the humble vsed celeritie in pursuing those which ranne away and crueltie against those which fled to the dennes and caues stopping the mouthes of them with vine branches and small wood and after set them on fire And passing by the confines of the Mardians a people well practised in theeuing and robbing they set on him but fled to their mountaines for their defence when they saw he turned towards
punishmēts inflicted without note of the seuerity of the iudges infamy of times With the losse of his goods he should be confined in some Iland where by how much the longer he drew his guiltie life by so much the more miserable it should be to himselfe in particular and in time to come a notable example of publicke clemencie Thraseas libertie of speech broke the silence of the rest And after that the Consull had permitted the going aside to agree in their opinions all of them a fewe excepted condescended to Thrafeas opinion amongst whom the forwardest in flatterie was A. Vitellius brauling and contending with euerie one of the better sort but neuer replying to an answere a certaine note to know a timorous and faint hart But the Consuls not daring to put the decree in execution with common consent wrote to Caesar who wauering betwixt shame and anger in the end wrote againe That Antistius no iniurie before offered him had vsed most contumelious speeches against the Prince whereof a reuenge was demaunded of the Senat. And it was conuenient that a punishment should be ordayned answerable to the greatnes of the offence As for himselfe as he would haue hindered the seueritie of their resolution so he would not be against the moderation of the punishment therefore they might determine as they thought good giuing them power if they lusted to acquite him These or the like speeches recited and his dislike manifestly perceiued yet for all that neither did the Consuls alter their relation or Thrasea shrinke from his opinion or the rest goe from that which they had once allowed part of them least they should seeme to haue exposed the Prince to enuie many shrowding themselues vnder the number of voices Thrasea by his accustomed stoutnes of courage and because he would not fall from his glorie alreadie gotten Fabricius Veiento was accused of the like crime for vttering many slanderous speeches against the Lords of the Senate and Priests in those bookes which he called Codicillos Talius Geminus his accuser added further of him that he had sold offices and fauours of the Prince and the right of obtaining honours which was the cause why Nero vndertooke the hearing of that iudgement Who after conuiction banished Veiento out of Italie and commaunded his bookes to be burnt which as long as the reading and getting of them was dangerous were much sought for then libertie of hauing them graunted they were forgotten XIIII The death of Burrhus and who Tigellinus and Rufus his successours were The decay of Senecaes credit with an oration of his to Nero with Neroes answere AS publicke calamities daily increased so the remedies against them grewe scarse And Burrhus ended his life but whether by sicknes or poison vncertain It was coniectured by sickenesse because that his winde-pipe within swelling by little and little and in the end stopped he yeelded vp the ghost Most men affirme that by Neroes commaundement making as though he would haue applied a remedie to the palate of his mouth annointed it with poison and that Burrhus vnderstanding the practise when Caesar came to visite him turned his face from him and asking him how he did answered onely I am well He was much lamented in the citie for the memorie of his vertue and harmlesse sloth of one of his successors and enormous wickednes and adulteries of the other For Caesar had made two Captaines of the garde Fenius Rufus through the fauour of the people because he dealt in corne matters without gaine and Sofonius Tigellinus who helde on his old course of vncleane and infamous life which by custome was another nature in him Tigellinus was more inward with the Prince chosen as one priuie to his secret pleasures Rufus was of good reputation and fame with the people and accepted of the souldiers which he found by experience to breed Neroes mislike The death of Burrhus weakened Senecaes authoritie bicause his good artes wanted the strength they had hauing lost one as it were of their guides Nero inclined to the worser sort Which with sundrie sorts of calumniations set vpon Seneca saying That he continually heaped vp wealth aboue the calling of a priuate man and sought to win the peoples harts that in pleasant gardings and stately buildings he did almost exceede the Prince They obiected also that he attributed to himselfe onely the praise of eloquence and made verses often after he saw that Nero tooke a liking to them For shewing openly a dislike of the princes pleasures he detracted from his skil in riding and scoffed at his voice when he sang to what other purpose but that nothing should seeme excellent in the common-wealth which was not thought to be his inuention Nero was now out of his childhood and in the strength of his youth he should shake off his master being alreadie instructed with sufficient teachers to wit his ancestors But Seneca knowing of these accusations by some which had a care of honestie and Caesar more and more estranging himselfe from his familiaritie desireth a time to be heard and hauing obtained it beginneth thus It is foureteene yeeres Caesar since I haue beene put to thee as a guide to thy hope and eight since thou hast gouerned the Empire From that time vntill this thou hast heaped on me so many dignities and so much wealth that there wanteth nothing to my felicitie but the moderation of them I will alleage great examples not of mine owne calling but of thine Augustus thy great great grandfathers father licensed M. Agrippa to withdraw himselfe to Mitylenum to liue a priuate life and C. Maecenas to abide in the citie yet at ease as if he had beene in a forraine countrey Whereof the one a companion of his warres the other tossed and wearied with many trauels at Rome had receiued large rewards but answerable to their manifold deserts As for my selfe what was there in me for the requitall of thy munificencie saue onely my stuas I may say nourished in the shadow By which I haue gotten credit and reputation because I seemd to haue beene at hand and directed thy youth with instructions a great recompence in very deed of my trauell But thou hast done me besides this great fauours and inriched me with infinite wealth in so much that I do oft debate the matter with my selfe saying Am I being but a gentleman onely and borne out of the citie reckoned among the chiefest peeres of the citie Can it be that my new rising can shine among noble men honored with the marks of ancient antiquity Where is that minde of mine which once was contented with a little What doth he make such goodly gardens walke in such manner houses neer the wals of the citie doth he abound in such scope of grounds and vsury in so many places One defence commeth to minde for all that is that it was not my part to striue against thy gifts but both of vs haue filled our measure thou by
Iudges clemencie Not long after forsaking Achaia for the present the causes were vncertaine he came againe to Rome hammering greatly with himselfe of going to the prouinces of the East and especially Aegypt Then by an edict witnessing his absence should not be long and that all should go well with the common wealth he went to the Capitol to worship the gods And as he entered the temple of Vesta taken suddenly with a shaking ouer all his bodie either the goddesse of the place terrifying him or the remembrance of his villanies alwaies accompanying him with feare he changed his determination affirming that all cares were nothing to him in regard of the loue of his countrey that he had seene the sad countenances of the citizens heard their secret complaints why he should go about so great a iourney whose short and reasonable absence they could not indure as men wont to be comforted with the sight of the Prince against all crosses and aduersities Therefore as in priuat friendships the neerest pledges and kindred are most deerest so the people of Rome had great power ouer him and that he must obey them seeing they kept him from going These and the like speeches were pleasing to the people desirous of pastimes and which was their chiefest care fearing want of corne if he should be absent The Lords of the Senate and the nobilitie knew not whether he were more cruell farre off or neere then as the nature of all great feare is they beleeued that which hapned to be worst He to win an opinion that he was no where so merrie as in the citie made bankets in publick places and vsed the whole citie as it had beene his owne house Those bankets were most spoken of for riot and fame which Tigellinus prepared which I will lay downe as a parerne of all least the same wastfulnes should be often repeated In Agrippaes lake therefore he built a boate whereon the banket was drawne with other boates The boates were beset with gold and Iuory The rowers were stale Catamites placed according to their age and skill of vnnaturall vncleannes He had prepared Fowle and wilde beasts out of diuers countries and out of the Ocean On the brinke of the poole were brothell houses filled with noble women and ouer against them were common strumpets naked vsing filthie gestures and behauiour And when the night was come all the wood and houses about rang with singing and shined with lightes Nero himselfe defiled with lawfull and vnnaturall lusts left no wickednes vndone because he would be most corrupt And a few dayes after he was wedded as it had been solemnely to one of that polluted crew called Pythagoras The Emperour was couered with a yellow vaile There went before him those which gaue him in marriage the wedding bed was prepared and wedding torches all was seene which euen the night doth hide in a married woman IX Diuers parts of Rome burnt by chaunce or by the malice of Nero. THere followed a great misfortune but whether by chaunce or deuise of the Prince vncertaine for authors haue affirmed both but of all the greatest and most grieuous that euer chanced to this citie by violence of fire It began in that part of the Cirque that ioyneth to the hils Palatine Caelian then taking in the ware-houses wherein was marchandise which nourished the fire increasing more and more by the blowing of the winde burnt all the length of the Cirque Neither were the houses compassed with any defences or temples walled or any thing else to stay the furie of it But spreading with violence consumed first the plaine then rising to the hils againe wasting the low places by swiftnes of hurt preuented the remedies the citie being subiect to it by reason of the narrownes of the streetes turning and winding lanes on euery hand and vnorderly as it was in old Rome Therewithall the lamentations of fearefull women of aged men and vnskilfull youth helping themselues and succouring and leading the weake and impotent or tarrying for them some hastning some abiding encombred and hindered all the rest and often whilest they looked behinde them the fire had hold on them either on the side or before them or if they had escaped to the next places there was all on a light fire likewise yea those places which were thought farre from danger were found to be in the same case In the end doubtfull what to eschue or whither to flee they filled the streetes and lay in the fieldes some all their goodes lost and wanting dayly foode other for loue of some which they could not saue cast themselues away although they had easie meanes to escape Neither was there any man which durst to quench it through the often threatning of many which hindered them yea some openly threw burning fire-brands into it and cryed alowd that they had a warrant for it either because they might rob and steale more licentiously or because they were so commaunded Nero being then at Antium came not to the citie vntill the fire was come neere his owne house on that side that it ioyned with the pallace and Maecenas orchardes Yet it could not be hindered from burning his house and pallace and all else round about But to giue some cōfort to the chased fugitiue people he opened Campus Martius and the monumēts of Agrippa and his own gardens and erected buildings in haste to receiue the needie multitude Vtensiles were brought from Hostia and other neere townes and the price of corne brought downe vnto three nummos All which although done in fauour of the people yet was not accepted bicause a rumor was spread that at the verie time that the citie was on fire he went to the stage in his house and sang the destruction of Troy comparing present calamities with old disasters At last on the sixt day the fire ended at the bottom of the Esquilin hill by beating downe a huge number of buildings that the fielde and as it were the open heauen might withstand and encounter the continuall rage And before the feare was past it began afresh but not so terriblie in open places of the citie and therfore the hurt of people the lesse but the Temples of the gods and galleries deuoted to pleasure were almost all ruined The obloquie of that fire was the greater bicause it burst out to Tigellinus houses of pleasure sometimes belonging to the Aemylians And it seemed that Nero sought the glorie of building a new citie and calling it by his name For Rome was diuided into fourteene wardes whereof fower were vntouched three consumed to the ground of the other seauen some markes of buildings remained but rent and halfe burnt It were no easie matter to reckon the number of houses and buildings standing by themselues called Iles and Temples which were consumed but the auncientest in regard of religion as the Temple which Seruius Tullius built in honour of the Moone and the great altar and Temple
that the legion which durst vndertake the battell was slaine the rest had either hid themselues in their camp or fought meanes by flight to saue themselues that they could not indure the noise and cry of so many souldiers much lesse their furie and strength If they would waigh with themselues the strength of the souldiers if the cause of the warre they should resolue either to vanquish in that battell or die That for her owne part being a woman was her resolution the men might liue if they pleased and serue Suetonius held not his toong in so great danger who although he trusted in the valour of his souldiers yet enterlaced exhortations and prayers That they should contemne the lowde and vaine threates of the barbarians that there were more women seene in their armie then yong men that being vnwarlike and vnarmed they would presently yeeld when they should once come to feele the weapons and valour of the conquerors who had so oft ouerthrowne them yea where many legions haue beene a few haue caried away the glory of the battell and it should be an augmenting to their glory if with a small power they could win the praise of a whole armie that they should only continue the slaughter and butcherie close together by throwing of darts then with their swords and pikes of their bucklers not thinking on bootie for the victorie once gotten all should fall to their share Such a feruencie and edge followed the captaines words the old souldier experienced in many battels so besturred himselfe and shewed such forwardnes in lancing his darts that Suetonius assured of the euent gaue the signe of battell And first of all the legion not stirring afoote but keeping within the streight as in a place of defence after that the enemie was come neerer and had spent his darts to good purpose the legion in the end sallied out in a pointed battell The auxiliarie souldier was of the like courage and the horsemen with long lances breaking before them all they met or made head against them The residue shewed their backs hardly fleeing away by reason the carts placed about the plaine had hedged in the passages on euery side And the souldiers spared not from killing so much as the women and their horses and beasts thrust through increased the heape of bodies That was a day of great renowme and comparable to the victories of old times for some there are which report that there were slaine fewe lesse in number then fourscore thousand Britaines of our souldiers fower hundred slaine and not many moe hurt Boudicea ended her life with poison And Poenius Posthumus Campe-maister of the second legion vnderstanding of the prosperous successe of the foureteenth and twentith legions because hee had defrauded his legion of the like glorie and contrarie to the order of seruice refused to obey the Captaines commaundement slewe himselfe After this gathering the armie togither they encamped againe readie to end the residue of the warre And Caesar augmented his forces by sending out of Germanie two thousand legion aries eight cohorts of auxiliaries and a thousand horse by whose comming the ninth legion was supplied The cohorts and wings were lodged in newe winter garrisons and all those which were either openly against vs or doubtfull were wasted with fire and sword But nothing so much distressed that nation as famine being negligent in sowing of corne and of all ages giuen to warre and assuring themselues to liue on our prouision being a fierce nation slowly gaue eare to any peace For Iulius Classicianus sent to succeed Catus and at variance with Suetonius hindered the common good with pruate grudges and had bruted abroad that the new Lieutenant was to be expected who without any hostile rancor pride of a conqueror would entreat such as would yeelde with all clemencie He sent worde likewise to Rome that they should looke for no ende of the warres vnlesse some other should succeed Suetonius attributing his aduerse lucke to his own ouerthwartnes and the prosperous to the good lucke of the common-wealth Whereupon to see what state Britannie stood in Polycletus a freed man was sent Nero greatly hoping that by his authoritie there should not onely an agreement be made betweene the Lieutenant and Procurator but also the rebellious mindes of the Barbarians be won to a peace Neither failed Polycletus with his great hoast to seeme burdesome to Italie and Gallia and after he had passed the Ocean sea shew himselfe terrible euen to our souldiers But to the enimies he was but a laughing stocke who being in ful possession of libertie knew not what the power of freed men was and began to maruell that a Captaine and an armie which had atchieued so many great exploits could yeeld to obey a bond-slaue all things neuerthelesse were made the best to the Emperour And Suetonius being occupied in dispatching of busines after he had lost a fewe galleies on the shore and the gallie-slaues in them as though the warre did continue was commaunded to deliuer the armie to Petronius Turpilianus who had lately giuen vp his Consulship who neither prouoking the enimie nor egged by him gaue his lasie and idle life the honorable name of peace XII Balbus a Senators testament forged and Pedanius Rufus killed by his bondmen THe same yeere two notable lewd parts were committed at Rome the one by a Senator the other by an audacious bondman Domitius Balbus sometime Pretor being aged without children and of great wealth lay open to much treacherie One of his neerest kinsmen Valerius Fabianus and Consull elect forged a false testament in his name hauing called thereunto Vicius Rufinus and Terentius Lentinus gentlemen of Rome and they associated vnto them Antonius Primus and Asinius Marcellus Antonie was readie and bold Marcellus nobly descended and nephewe to Asinius Pollio of a good cariage and behauiour sauing that he thought pouertie the woorst of all things Fabianus then sealed the testament with those which I haue named and others of lesser calling whereof he was conuicted before the Lords of the Senat with Antonius Rufinus Terentius and condemned by the law Cornelia against forgerie But Marcellus the memorie of his auncestors and Caesars entreatie acquited rather from punishment than infamie The same day ouerthrew Pompeianus Aelianus a yoong man who had been Quaestor and priuie to Fabianus practise and was banished Italy and Spaine his natiue countrey Valerius Ponticus sustained the like ignominie because that eschuing the iudgement of the Prouost of the citie he had informed against some before the Pretor first vnder colour of som lawes then by preuarication to escape punishment Wherupon a decree of Senate was ordained that he who should either buy or sell any such actions should sustaine the same punishment as he who was publickly condemned for forging of crimes in false accusations Not long after Pedanius Secundus Prouost of the citie was slaine by his bondman either because he had denied him his
libertie which for woney he had couenāted or hating him for the vnnatural lust of a youth as not induring his lord to be his riuall But when all the bondslaues of the house according to the old custom should haue bin condemned for that fact through the flocking thither of people which defended so many innocent persons they grew almost to a mutinie and euen in the Senate it selfe among which there was a faction some contemning that ouergreat seueritie and many on the contrary side holding it necessary that nothing should be changed Among which C. Cassius vttered his opinion as followeth I haue oftentimes been present in this aslemblie Lords of the Senate when new decrees haue beene demaunded contrary to the lawes and ordinances of our auncestors neither haue I euer gainesaide them not that I doubted but that in times past they foresaw and tooke better and more vpright order for all affaires then now and that those things which were altered were changed into the worse but least I should seeme by sticking too much to old customes to extoll the thing I affected with all I thought it not conuenient with often contradiction to ouerthrow this our authoritie whatsoeuer it be to the end it might remaine strong and entire if at any time the common wealth should neede of counsell Which this day hath appeered a Consull being murdered in his owne house by treason of his slaues which none either hindered or bewraied although the decree of Senate be yet in force which in this case threatned punishment to the whole familie Decree in good truth impunitie But whom shall any mans dignitie warrant seeing the Prouostship of the citie auailed not whom shall a multitude of slaues defend seeing foure hundred haue not protected Pedanius Secundus Whom shall any ones familie help if standing in feare of lawes our seruants care not what danger we fall into Shall we say as some are not ashamed to inuent that this murderer reuenged his owne priuat iniurie because he had compounded for his fathers inheritance or that some old slaue had beene taken from him Let vs pronounce sentence without any further adoe that Pedianus seemeth to vs to haue bin iustly slaine Giue me leaue to reason of that point that hath been determined by wiser men If we were now first of all to consider of the matter do you thinke that a slaue had had the hart to murder his Lord if no threatning word had before escaped him if he had vttered nothing rashly forsooth he concealed his intention he prepared a weapon amongst such as knew nothing of it Could he passe the watch open the chamber dores bring in light commit the murder all of his fellowes ignorant of it If slaues would bewraye such attempts they can giue many signes which if they discouer we alone may be safe among many lewde persons in the end if we must needes dye yet not vnreuenged of the wicked The disposition of slaues hath alwayes beene feared by our auncestors yea although they were borne in the same countrey and houses and haue iust occasion presently to loue their lords But seeing we haue nations of them in our families vsing diuers rites and customes strange or no ceremonies of religions at all this rascalitie thou shalt not be able to bridle but by feare But some innocents shall be cast away When an armie is discomfited and euery tenth souldier is culled out and beaten with a cudgell the lot falleth also vpon the valiant Euery exemplarie punishment hath somewhat in it which is vniust which being in particular to the preiudice of some yet is recompensed by the generall good of the whole As no one man durst gainsay Cassius opinion so many confusedly answered together that there should commiseration be taken of the number age sexe and vndoubted innocencie of many Yet that opinion preuailed which cōcluded they should be punished but it could not be executed a multitude being flocked together threatning with stones and fire Then Caesar rebuked the people by an edict beset al the way by which the condemned parties were lead to punishment with a gard of souldiers Cingonius Varro aduised that the freed men which liued vnder the same roofe with their maister slaine should be banished Italie But that was withstoode by the Prince least the auncient custome which clemencie had not diminished should by crueltie be made worse The same men being Consuls Tarquitius Priscus was condemned for extortion at the suite of the Bithynians the Senators greatly reioysing thereat who bare in minde that Statilius Taurus their Proconsull had beene accused by him The people were numbred and valued in Gallia by Q. Volusius and Sext. Africanus and Trebellius Maximus and whilest Volusius and Africanus contended for woorth and nobilitie and both disdaining Trebellius they preferred him before themselues That yeere died Memmius Regulus in authoritie constancie fame as much as might be the imperiall highnes shadowing him greatly renowmed in so much that Nero being sicke and such as were about him flattering him and saying that the Empire was at an end if he should miscary made answere that the common wealth had a support and stay Then they demaunding him in whom especially he added in Memmius Regulus Neuertheles Regulus liued after this shrowded by his quiet life and because he was of new nobilitie and not enuied for his wealth The same yeere a place of all kinde of exercise called Gymnasium was dedicated by Nero and oyle giuen when they wrestled naked to the gentlemen and Senate according to the courtesie of the Greekes XIII Libellers punished of Veiento which sold Neroes fauour P. Marius and L. Asinius being Consuls Antistius the Pretor who as I haue said before behaued himselfe licentiously when he was Tribune of the people made opprobrious verses against the Prince and published them in a solemne banket at Ostorius Scapulaes house Whereupon he was accused of treason by Cossutianus Capito not long before receiued into the number of Senators at the request of his father in law Tigellinus It was thought that then first of all that law was put on foote which wrought not so great an ouerthrow to Antistius as glorie to the Emperour by which the condemned partie by the Senate was deliuered from death by the negatiue voice of the Tribune And albeit Ostorius protested he had heard nothing to beare witnes off credit was giuē to the testimonie of his aduersaries and Iunius Marullus Consull elect gaue his censure that he should be depriued of the Pretorship and put to death according to the auncient custome The rest after that yeelding their assent Paetus Thrasea hauing said somewhat in the commendation of Caesar sharpely rebuked Antistius and declared That it was not expedient that the extremitie of punishment should be vsed vnder a good Prince and when the Senat was by no necessity bound to ordaine it that there was no vse now of an executioner and halter and that there were penalties ordained by lawes and