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
to bewaile and lament alike Neither couldest thou haue discerned the lamentation of kinsfolkes from the stanger nor the women from the men sauing that the fresh griefe of such as went to meete her exceeded the lamentation of her traine alreadie wearied with long continuance of sorrow Caesar had sent two companies of his guarde to meete them and gaue further charge that the magistrates of Calabria the Apuleians Campanians should solemnise the last obsequies in memorie of his sonne The ashes were carried on the Tribunes and Centurions shoulders the ensignes vntrimmed and the fasces or knitch of rods turned downewards went before and when they passed by any colonies the common people in mourning weede and gentlemen in their attire called Trabea according to the wealth of the place burnt garments sweete odors with other accustomed funerall solemnities Yea such whose townes were far off yet met them erected altars offered sacrifices to the infernall gods witnessing their dolour with teares and cries Drusus went to Terracina with his brother Claudius Germanicus children which had remained in the citie The Consuls M. Valerius M Aurelius who began then to enter into office the Senat and a great part of the people filled vp the way scattered hither thither weeping as euery mans affection was Flattery there was none all men knowing that the death of Germanicus ioyfull to Tiberius could badly be dissembled howsoeuer he counterfeited the contrary Tiberius and Augusta abstained from mourning in publicke iudging it a thing vnder their maiestie if they should be seene openly to lament or least the eies of all men obseruing their countenance should espie they did but counterfeit I finde not in any author or diurnall register that his mother Antonia did any thing woorthie memorie in that sole 〈…〉 when as besides Agrippina Drusus and Claudius the rest of his bloud are by name written of either hindered by sicknes or in minde ouercome with sorrow coulde not endure the sight of so heauie a griefe I should easlier haue beleeued that Tiberius and Augusta which kept within doores made hir do the like that their griefe might be iudged equall and that the grandmother and vncle should seeme to haue kept in by the example of the mother The day that the ashes were put in Augustus tombe was sometimes with silence desolate and still and on the sudden vnquiet with weeping all passages of the citie were full Campus Martius shined with burning torches There the soldier with his weapons the magistrates without the markes of their dignitie and calling and the people gathered into tribes and companies cried that the common-wealth was fallen to ground and no hope left and that so openly and boldly that thou wouldest haue beleeued they did not remember by whom they were gouerned Yet nothing went so neere Tiberius hart as the ardent affection men bare Agrippina calling hir the honour of their countrey the onely bloud of Augustus the patterne of antiquitie and turning towards the heauen and the gods praied that hir issue might long continue and ouerliue the wicked Some desired that the funerals might be celebrated with publike pompe comparing the magnificence and honors that Augustus had vsed for Drusus Germanicus father And that he in the hardest time of winter went as farre as Ticinum and how neuer once departing from the bodie accompanied it to the citie That about the coffin were the images of the Claudians and Iulians that he was bewailed in the place of publike assemblies praised with an oration before the people and all honors done him which either our auncestors or later times could inuent But Germanicus had not so much as the vsuall solemnities done for him his body through distance of place was in some sort burnt in strange lands but by so much the more honours shoulde nowe haue beene bestowed vpon him bicause fortune had denied him the first His brothers went to meete him but one daies iourney his vncle not so farre as to the gate Where are the auncient customes become why was not his image put before the Beere and verses sung in memorie of his vertues why was he not praised and bewailed with the vsuall representation of mourning All this was well known to Tiberius and to suppresse the speech of the common people he admonished them by edict That although many notable Romans had died for the common-wealth yet none had euer beene bewailed with such an ardent affection Which was to him and vnto others also honorable so as there were a meane vsed For the selfe same things are not seemly for noble men the Emperor and the common people It was conuenient that small houses or cities shoulde mourne and lament in fresh griefe and after their griefe take comfort againe but now it was time to confirme the minde as Iulius Caesar hauing lost his onely daughter and Augustus his nephewes did cast off all sorrow It was needlesse to alleage auncient examples to shew how oft the people of Rome had suffered constantly the losse of armies death of captaines and the vtter ouerthrow of noble families That princes are mortall and the common-wealth euerlasting Therefore that they should take their solemnities againe and bicause the shew of the Megalensian plaies was at hand returne to their pleasures II. Piso commeth to Rome vvhere he is accused and killeth himselfe THe vacation ended euery man returned to his busines and Drusus went to the armie of Illyricum the people bent to demaund a reuenge of Piso complained that he in the meane time now here now there in the pleasant countrey of Asia and Affrike with a prowd and subtill delay did shift off the proofes brought against his lewdnes For it was commonly rumored that Martina as I haue before said a woman infamous for poisoning was sent to Rome by C. Sentius and being suddenly dead at Brundisium had no token vpon her that she had taken her owne bane and that the poison was found hidden in a knarle of her haire But Piso hauing sent his sonne before him to the citie with lessons how to pacifie the Prince went towards Drusus not hoping to finde him cruell in his behalfe for the death of his brother but rather fauorable as being rid of such a concurrent Tiberius to make a shew of vpright dealing hauing entertained the yong man courteously vsed the like liberalitie towards him as he was accustomed to do to the noble mens children of such as he was familiar with Drusus answered him that if the accusations layd against him were true the greatest griefe should be his and for his owne part he could wish they should be false and vaine and that Germanicus death might be preiudiciall to none These words were openly vttered and not in secret neither was it doubted at all but that Tiberius had before hand taught him his lesson when as being plaine simple and yong yet shewed the cunning of the old man Piso hauing past ouer the Dalmatian sea and left his ships at
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
guard about him seeing his sonne alreadie taken and the Romans on euerie side of him rushing in among their weapons with the losse of his life escaped captiuitie And that was the end of that warre Dolabella desiring the honour of triumphe Tiberius denied it him and gaue it Seianus least his vncle Blaesus commendation should be obscured But Blaesus was neuer the more esteemed and the denying of the honour to Dolabella augmented his honour bicause that with a lesser armie he had taken manie notable prisoners slaine the Captaine and caried away the fame of ending the warre The Ambassadors of the Garamantes a people seldome seene in the citie came after the death of Tacfarinas all astonied as being of the conspiracie to satisfie the people of Rome After this Tiberius vnderstanding of Ptolemaeus diligence in his warres renuing the old custome sent one of the Senators to him with an Iuorie staffe and embrodered or wrought gowne which were woont to be the auncient gifts of the Lords of the Senat and to giue him the greater honor called him King companion and friend of the people of Rome VII A rebellion of bond-slaues suppressed Serenus accused by his owne sonne THe same sommer beginnings of warre attempted in Italie by bond-men were suppressed by meere chaunce The beginner of this tumult was T. Curtisius sometimes a souldier of a Pretorian band who at the first in secret conuenticles in Brundisium and townes adioyning then by writings publikly spread abroad tolled to libertie the rude and fierce bond-slaues dispersed in the woods when by the fauour of the gods there arriued three Galleies for the vse of passengers in that sea And Curtius Lapius rent gatherer in those countries vnto whom by lot fell the Prouince Cales according to the auncient custome hauing in a readines a power of sea souldiers discomfited the conspirators who then did but begin their enterprise Caesar sent out of hand Staius a Tribune with a strong Power who brought the Captaine himselfe and the ringleaders of this bold attempt to the citie greatly afeard of the multitude of bond-men which increased to a huge number the free borne decreasing dayly more and more The same men being Consuls there happened a bloodie example of calamitie and crueltie the sonne accusing the father both called Q. Vibius Serenus both brought before the Lords of the Senat the father out of banishment deformed poore and vnhandsome bound in chaines and his sonne pleading against him who finely and featly attired with a cheerefull countenance affirmed that secret practises had beene wrought against the Prince and certaine firebrands of war sent into Gallia to raise a rebellion himselfe being both accuser and witnes He charged Caecilius Cornutus once Pretor to haue furnished them with money who through the wearisomnes of trouble accounting the danger his bane hastened his owne death But contrarily the defendant stoutly turning towards his sonne shaking his irons called the gods to reuenge praying that they would send him to exile againe to lead his life far from such customs and inflict condigne punishment vpon his son And affirmed constantly that Cornutus was innocent and frighted with a false accusation which should easily be perceiued if some others were appeached also for himselfe could not practise the death of the Prince and an innouation with one only companion Then the accuser named Gn. Lentulus and Seius Tubero Caesar himselfe being ashamed to heare the chiefe of the citie and his deerest friends Lentulus very aged and Tubero of a weake body accused of raising a rebellion and disturbing the common-wealth and therefore both were incontinently acquited The fathers bondmen were put to the racke which made against the accuser who through the wickednes of his fact growing halfe frantick and terrified with the speech of the people which threatned either to cast him headlong from the Robur or draw him in peeces or punish him as a parricide departed the citie but brought back from Rauenna was forced to end his accusation Tiberius nothing at all dissembling the old grudge he bare Serenus the banished For after Libos condemnation by letters he vpbraided Caesar that his seruice only was vnrecompensed with some other things more peremptorily then safely to prowd eares and readie to take offence Eight yeeres after Caesar cast this in his dish many waies carping his actions in the meane space although contrary to his expectation through the constancie of his bondmen the rack could extort nothing against him When all had giuen sentence that Serenus should be punished according to the auncient custome Tiberius to bleare their eyes and dissemble his grudge would not allow of the sentence Gallus Asinius was of opinion that he should be confined in Gyarum or Donusa which he misliked also saying that both those Ilands wanted water and that to whome life was graunted things necessary for life ought to be graunted whereupon Serenus was caried backe to Amorgum And because Cornutus had slaine himselfe it was propounded in Senat whether the informers should loose their rewards if any arraigned only of treason and not condemned slew himself Which they had all followed if Caesar had not sharply and openly contrary to his accustomed manner complained in defence of the informers saying that by that meanes the lawes would be brought to nothing and the common wealth run to ruine and that it were more tollerable to abolish the lawes themselues then take away the keepers of them By this meanes the promooters a race of men found out for a common ouerthrow and destruction and neuer duly punished were allured with rewards These continuall causes of sorrow were sauced with some small contentment for C. Cominius a gentleman of Rome conuicted of scandalous verses against Tiberius was pardoned at the intreatie of his brother a Senator A strange case that knowing what was best for sottish or senseles he was not and what fame followed clemencie yet he desired rather cause of heauines and sorrow Neither is it a matter of deepe insight to know the peoples affection when they extoll Princes actions from the hart and when from the teeth outward And Tiberius himselfe at other times cunningly premeditating his words and with staggering and stammering deliuering his minde yet when he meaneth good in deed vnto any findeth his toong readie and loose But when P. Suilius somtimes rent gatherer to Germanicus was conuict for taking of money for giuing iudgment therfore expulsed Italie his opinion was that he should be banished into some Iland and that with such vehemencie that he bound it with an oath to be profitable for th ecommon wealth Which for the present time was taken for a rigorous sentence but after Suilius returne turned to his commendation whome subsequent times sawe mightie but a slaue to money a long time as he lusted but neuer as he ought vsing Prince Claudius friendship The same punishment was ordained against Catus Firmius a Senator as falsly accusing his sister of treason Catus as I
to Mennius Regulus for of purpose he left out that she had beene married to C. Caesar added in the end that she had practised dangerous things against the state and that all occasion and matter of euill was to be taken away therefore he was of aduise that she should lose her goods and depart out of Italy leauing the banished woman of the infinite wealth which she was mistres of but fiftie hundred thousand sesterces And Calpurnia a woman of great birth was ouerthrowne only because the Prince had praised her beawtie not for any amorous affection but by chaunce yet Agrippina stretched not her malice to the vttermost against her but sent a Tribune to make away Lollia And Cadius Rufus was condemned for bribery and extorsion at the instance of the Bithynians And in consideration of the great reuerence the inhabitants of Gallia Narbonensis bare the Lords of the Senat it was graunted to the Senators of that prouince that without licence of the Prince they might go visit their houses dispose of their goods with the like priuiledge as they which were of the prouince of Sicilia The Ituraei and Iewes after their Kings Sohemus and Agrippa were dead were ioyned to the prouince of Syria It was ordained that the ceremonies of the auguration of health intermitted fiue and twenty yeeres should be renewed and continued from thenceforth Caesar inlarged the circuit of the citie according to the auncient custome by which licence was giuen them which had inlarged the bounds of the Empire to inlarge the bounds of the Citie Neuertheles none of the Roman captaines L. Sylla and Augustus excepted although they had subdued mightie nations had vndertaken to do it but whether the Kings which then ruled the citie did it for ambition or vaine-glory there run diuers reports But it shall not be impertinent as I thinke to lay downe the beginning of the foundation of Rome and what circuit Romulus first assigned He therefore began the circuit at the oxe market called forum boarium where we see set vp a picture of a brasen Bull because that kinde of beast is broken to the plough from thence drawing a furrow as a plat of the circuit of the citie which contained within it the great altar of Hercules From thence by certaine distances stones were put by the foote of the hill Palatine vnto the altar of Consus then to the old Curies then to the chappell of the houshold gods For some haue thought that the forum Romanum and the Capitoll were not added to the citie by Romulus but by T. Tatius After that the circuit or pomoerium was augmented according to the fortune and riches of the Kings And for the limits that Claudius then put they are easily knowne and are written in the publike actes VII Domitius sonne of Agrippina is adopted by Claudius The Catti send hostages to Rome Vannius driuen out of his countrey goeth to Rome CAntistius and M. Suilius being Consuls the adoption of Domitius was hastened through Pallas credit who being wholie at Agrippinaes deuotion as a principall meane of working the marriage betweene Claudius and her then bound vnto her for vnlawfull companie of her bodie vrged Claudius to prouide for the common wealth and strengthen Britannicus estate whilest he was yong So Augustus wiues children did flourish although he had nephewes of his owne for a stay to his house and Tiberius hauing issue of his owne adopted Germanicus therefore that he should also strengthen himselfe with this yong man who would take part of the care vpon him Claudius yeelding to this perswasion preferreth Domitius being but two yeeres elder before his owne sonne and maketh an oration before the Lords of the Senate which he receiued of his freed man Pallas The skilfull and wise did note that there had neuer beene any adoption before that time in the Patrician familie of the Claudians that the succession had neuer failed from Atta Clausus Neuertheles great thanks were rendred the Prince and exquisite flatterie vsed to Domitius and a decree set downe by which he should be accompted one of the Claudian familie and be called Nero. Agrippina also was magnified with the surname of Augusta Both which done there was no man so voide of pitie which was not grieued and sory for Britannicus fortune for by little and little he was abandoned and skorned of his basest seruants by shewing an vnseasonable dutie to his stepmother which he well perceiued as not dull witted but of good conceipt as it is reported either because he was so indeede or attributed to him in his distresse the same and opinion continued without triall Agrippina to make her credit and power knowen among the confederates also commaunded the old souldiers and a colonie to be brought to the citie of Vbiumw here she was borne which was afterward called of her name Agrippina It hapned by chaunce that when that nation passed the Rhene her grandfather Agrippa tooke them into his protection About the same time vpper Germanie quaked with feare through the comming of the Catti which robbed and spoiled all where they came Whereupon L. Pomponius Lieutenant gaue aduertisement to the aide Vangiones Nemetians adding vnto them a company of horsemen to get before those forragers or if they slipped away compasse and surprize them on a sudden The diligence of the souldiers followed the captaines counsell and diuiding themselues into two companies those which tooke the left hand came vpon them and slew them as they newly returned from pillage riotously abusing their bootie and heauie asleepe Their ioy was increased because they had deliuered from seruitude some of their fellowes which fortie yeeres before had beene taken when Varus was defeated But those which tooke the right hand and the neerest way meeting the enemie in the face and daring to encounter made a greater slaughter and loaden with bootie fame returned to the hill Taunus where Pomponius was expected with the legions if the Catti desiring a reuenge would offer occasion to sight But they fearing least the Romanes would set on them on one side and the Cherusci with whom they are alwayes at iarre on the other sent Embassadors and hostages to Rome where the honor of triumph was awarded Pomponius a small part of his fame with posteritie being more renowmed for skill in poetrie About the same time Vannius made King of the Sweuians by Drusus Caesar was driuen out of his kingdome in the beginning of his rule well liked and accepted of the people but in the end growing prowde partly by the hatred of the borderers and partly by ciuill discords was put to the worst The authors of this practise were Iubillius King of the Hermunduri and Vangio and Sido Vannius sisters children yet Claudius although often intreated whilest these barbarous people were together by the eares would no way intermeddle only he promised Vannius refuge if he were driuen out wrote vnto P. Attilius Histrus gouernor of Pannonie to lodge a
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
ouer Rhene and shew the forces behinde them conducted the legions himselfe into the Tencterans countrey threatning their destruction vnles they would breake with the Ansibarians These therefore desisting the Bructeri daunted with the like feare and the rest fleeing from others perils the Ansibarian nation alone retired back to the Vsipians and Tubantians from whose territories being expulsed as they went to the Catti then to the Cherusci by long wandering strangers poore enemies in a strange countrey that youth that was left was slaine those that for age were vnfit for warre diuided for a pray The same summer there was a great battell fought betweene the Hermunduri and Catti each side striuing by force to be maister of a riuer which yeelded aboundance of salt sited in the confines of both their countries And besides a desire of ending all strifes by warre they had a religion rooted in them that those places are aboue others neere heauen and the prayers of mortall men no where sooner heard then from thence For they were of opinion that by the goodnes of the gods in that riuer and in those woods came increase of salt not as in other countries of the wooes of the sea when the water is dried vp but by that water cast vpon a pile of wood set on fire by the vertue of two contrary elements fire and water which becommeth thick and congealed The warre was prosperous on the Hermundurians side but the vtter ruine of the Catteans because of a vow they made that if they were conquerors they would dedicate the contrary army to Mars and Mercury protesting horses men all things ouercome should be put to the sword and truly those deadly threats were turned against themselues But the citie of the Iuhonians confederate with vs was afflicted with a sudden disaster for fires issuing out of the earth burned townes fields villages euery where and spread euen vnto the walles of a Colonie newly built and could not be extinguished neither by raine nor riuer water nor any other liquor that could be employed vntill for want of remedie and anger of such a destruction certaine peasants cast stones a farre off into it then the flames somewhat slakning drawing neere they put it out with blowes of clubs and other like as if it had been a wilde beast Last of all they threw in clothes from their backs which the more worne and fouler the better they quenched the fires The same yeere the Fig tree called Ruminalis in the place of assemblies which aboue eight hundred and fortie yeeres before had couered Remus and Romulus infancie hauing his boughes dead and the bodie beginning to wither was held as a prodigious signe vntill it began to flourish againe and thrust out new shootes THE FOVR TEENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Nero abused by Poppaea determineth to put to death Agrippina his mother Agrippinaes vnchast life to maintaine her greatnes CVipsanius and Fonteius being Consuls Nero deferred no longer his long before intended wickednes his boldnes by long rule being increased and his lust to Poppaea more and more enflamed who casting off all hope of marrying Nero or seeing a diuorce betweene him and Octauia whilest Agrippina liued sometimes tauntingly and sometimes merily began to find her self grieued with the Prince and calling him a ward subiect vnto others controulement said he was so far from the gouerment of the Empire that he wanted his owne libertie For why was the marrying of her delayed forsooth her beautie did not please his eye nor the noblenes of her grand-fathers who had so oft triumphed Or did he misdoubt her childbearing and true affection or least being his wife she should discouer the iniuries done to the Senat and the anger of the people against the pride and couetousnes of his mother But if Agrippina could indure no daughter in lawe but such as her sonne can worst away withall let her be restored againe to Otho her husband She was content to go any whither where shee should rather heare of the contumelies done to the Prince then see them and take part of his dangers These and the like pearcing speeches with teares and cunning by the adulteresse vttered no man hindered all men desiring that the mothers authoritie were taken lower and no man beleeuing that the sonnes hate would extend to her death Cluuius doth report that Agrippina through a burning desire of continuing her authoritie and greatnes grew to that shamelesnes that in the midst of the day when Nero was well tippled and full of good cheere she offered herselfe to him drunke as he was trimly decked and readie to commit incest and the standers by noted her lasciuious kisses and other allurements messengers of her vnchast meaning And how Seneca hauing recourse to another woman for a remedie against these intisments sent Actes a freed woman priuilie to him who carefull as well of her owne danger as Neroes infamie gaue aduertisment that the incest was commonly spoken of by reason his mother bragged thereof and that the souldiers would not endure the gouerment of so profane a Prince Fabius Rusticus reported that not Agrippina but Nero lusted after that but was discouraged by the cunning of the same freed woman But what Cluuius had reported is confirmed by other authors and the fame inclineth that way either because Agrippina had conceiued indeede so heinous a fact in her minde or that an intention of strange lust seemed more credible in her who in her yongyeeres blinded with hope of rule forfeited her honestie with Lepidus and with the like lust abandoned her bodie euen to Pallas will as one hardned and shameles in all loosenes of life by marrying her owne vncle Therefore Nero eschued her secret companie And when she went to her gardens or to Tusculanum or Antiates he praised her that she droue away idlenes At last wheresoeuer she bestowed her selfe thinking her troublesome to him determined to make her away whether by poison or by the sword or any other violence that only was his doubt and first he resolued to do it by poison But if it should be giuen her at his table it could not be attributed to chance Britannicus alreadie dying the same death and to sound the minds of her seruants seemed dangerous and being a woman long practised in wickednes was alwayes armed against the like and by taking counterpoisons before hand it was to be feared it would take no effect To kill her with the sword there was no inuention how to conceale the murder and Nero feared least any chosen to so dangerous attempt should refuse to obey II. Anicetus worketh a meanes how to make away Agrippina Neroes mother ANicetus a freed man captaine of the nauie at Misenum one which had brought vp Nero in his childhood hating and hated of Agrippina found out an inuention for the purpose which was that there might a gallie be made loose by arte in the bottome that should let her fall into the
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
them But Corbulo sent an armie of Hiberians to waste them reuenging by that meanes with the blood of strangers the audaciousnes of the enemie Himselfe and his armie albeit he receiued no hurt by the battell yet began to faint for want of victuals and ouer great trauell hauing no meanes to driue away hunger but with the flesh of beasts All this with the want of water feruent heat long iournies was mitigated by the onely patience of the Captaine himselfe induring more than a common souldier Then we came into tilled groundes but where haruest was in and of two castles into which the Armenians had fled the one was taken by force and the other which had resisted the first assault was forced with siege From thence passing into the countrey of the Taurantians he escaped an vnlooked for danger for not farre from his pauilion there was found a Barbarian of no small reputation with a weapon which by torture discouered the order of a treason himselfe the inuentor of it and all his complices and they were conuicted and punished which vnder colour of friendship went about treason Not long after Embassadors sent frō Tigranocerta bring tidings that the gates are open and the inhabitāts willing to obey the Romans Withall they presented him a crowne of gold as a gift to honour a stranger which honorably he accepted and tooke away no priuilege from the towne bicause they should more faithfully retaine their obedience Neuerthelesse the Kings fortresse which the fierce youth had shut themselues in was not gotten but by fight for they came foorth skirmisht before the wals but driuē into their rampiers no lōger able to resist at the last yeeld to the forces of the assailers All which the Roman atchieued so much the easlier bicause the Parthians were hindered with warre against the Hyrcanians who had sent to the Romane Prince to craue their alliance declaring that for a pledge of their frindship they had stopped Vologeses Corbulo fearing least those Embassadors in returning backe hauing past Euphrates should be surprised by the ambushe of the enimie with a good guard conducted them to the red sea whereby hauing escaped the confines of the Parthians they retuned safe to their countrey Besides this Corbulo droue away Tiridates farre off and from all hope of warres entering the confines of Armenia by the Medes by sending before the Lieutenant Verulanus with the confederates himselfe following with vncombred legions and hauing wasted with fire sword those he knew to be our enimies adhere to the King put himselfe in possession of Armenia when as not long after came Tigranes chosen by Nero to take the kingdome one of the nobilitie of the Cappadocians and King Archelaus nephew but by being kept a long time an hostage in the citie was humble and lowly euen vnto seruile patience neither accepted by consent some still fauoring the Arsacides but the most part hating the pride of the Parthians desired rather the King giuen by the Romans He had also a garrison sent him by the Romans a thousand legionarie souldiers three bands of allies and two wings of horsemen And to the end he might the easlier defend the new kingdome part of Armenia as it adioyned to Nipolis * Aristobolus and part Antiochus had charge of Corbulo came into Syria which by the death of the Lieutenant Vinidius was without a gouernor and committed to his charge IX An earth-quake in Laodicea An order for appellations THe same yeere Laodicea one of the most famous cities of Asia destroied by an earth-quake without any helpe of ours by her owne wealth recouered her selfe againe But in Italie the auncient towne of Puteolum got of Nero the priuileges and surname of a colonie The old souldiers assigned to inhabite Tarentum and Antium did not furnish the lacke of people in those places many of them being sent into Prouinces where they ended their seruice And not accustomed to marrie nor bring vp children they left their houses without posteritie for whole legions were not brought as in times past with Tribunes and Centurions and souldiers of the same band that by consent and loue they should make a common-wealth but strangers the on to the other of diuers companies without a gouernour without mutuall loue as it were gathered on the sudden of another kinde of people rather a number than a colonie The election of Pretors wont to be chosen at the will of the Senat which was now done by suite and briberie the Prince assumed to himselfe and gaue the charge of a legion to each one of the three which sued extraordinarily And augmented the honour of the Senate by ordayning that such as from ordinarie iudges appealed to the Senators should incurre the same penaltie as they did which appealed to the Emperour for before that was free for euerie man and not punishable In the ende of the yeere Vibius Secundus a Roman gentleman at the suite of the Moores was condemned of extortion and banished Italie and supported by the fauour of his brother Vibius Crispus that he had no grieuouser a punishment X. Warre in England Suetonius Paullinus conquered the Ile of Anglesey The Queene Boudicea abused by the Romans WHen Cesonius Paetus and Petronius Turpilianus were Consuls there was a verie great ouerthrow receiued in Britannie where neither the Lieutenant Auitus as I haue alreadie saide could do no more but keepe that which was alreadie gotten and his successor Verannius with small inrodes hauing wasted the Siluri was hindered by death from making any long warre a man whilest he liued famous for seueritie but in his last will shewed himselfe openly ambitious For after much flattering of Nero added that he would haue subdued the Prouince to his obedience if he had liued the two next yeeres At that time Paulinus Suetonius gouerned Britannie in skill of seruice opinion of the people which suffereth no man without a concurrent comparable with Corbulo desiring to match his honour of recouering Armenia by subduing the enimie of this countrey He maketh all preparation to inuade the Ile of Mona strong with inhabitants and a receptacle of fugitiues and buildeth flat bottomde vessels because the sea is shallow and landing vncertaine So the footemen hauing passed ouer the horsemen followed by the foord or by swimming if the waters were high Against them the enemies armie stoode on the shore thicke in aray well appointed with men and weapons and women running among in mourning attire their haire about their eares with fire-brands in their hands like furies of hell and the Druides round about lifting vp their hands to heauen and powring out deadly curses with the newnes of the sight amazed the souldier and stood stocke still close togither not once moouing a foote as though they had presented themselues to the wounds Then by the encouragement of the Captaine and animating each the other that they should not feare a flocke of women and franticke people they displaied their
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
which Arcas Euander consecrated to Hercules the Temple of Iupiter Stator vowed by Romulus Numaes pallace and the Temple of Vesta with the peculiar gods of the people of Rome were consumed and burnt to ashes Now wealth gotten in so many victories excellent workes of the Greekes inuentions then old and perfect monuments of rare wits which in so beautifull a citie and flourishing more and more with manie other notable antiquities auncient men haue obserued and spoken of which could not be recouered Some there were which noted that this fire beganne the fourteenth Kalends of Iulie on which the Senones burnt the citie after they had taken it Some were so diligent therein that they counted iust so many yeeres and moneths and daies betweene both the fires X. Nero buildeth a sumptuous house Order taken for the building of houses Nero punished the Christians as though they had set the citie a fire YEt Nero vsed the destruction of his countrey to his benefit and built a house in which precious stones and gold were not so much woondered at as a thing long vsed and by superfluous riot common as for the fields and pooles in manner of wildernesses on one side woods on the other spatious fields and prospects The masters and contriuers of the worke were Seuerus and Celeris men of wit and audacitie to enterprise that by arte which nature had denied and foolishly cast away the Princes wealth For they had vndertaken to make a nauigable ditch from the lake Auerne vnto the mouth of Tyber alōg the rough and hard shore or through the opposite mountaines Neither is there any other moisture to feede the waters but the marshes of Pomptina other places being vneuen craggie grounds or drie and if they could be wrought through it would be an intollerable labour and no cause why Nero notwithstanding desirous to bring incredible things to passe laboured to digge the hils adioyning to Auerne where remaine the markes of his vaine hope to this day But the houses which were ruined were not built without order here and there as when the Galli had fired them but the streetes drawen by measure and proportion with spatious and large waies the buildings restrained to a certaine height and the courts made wide and galleries added to defend the front of the houses called Iles which galleries Nero promised to builde at his owne charges and deliuer them to their masters the courts and floores made cleane And gaue rewardes according to euerie mans degree and wealth and prefixed a time within which the housings finished or Iles their masters should receiue them The marishes of Hostia were appointed to receiue the rubbish and that the vessels which brought corne vp the riuer Tibris should be loaden downe with rubbish and that some part of the buildings themselues without timber should be built with stone of Gabi and Albanum which cannot be damnified with fire Now that water intercepted by priuate men to their owne vse from the citie might more aboundantly flowe in manie publicke places there were watchmen appointed to ouersee it and that euerie man should haue some prouisions to quench fires and that euerie house should be inuironed with his owne wals and not common to his neighbour Which being ordained for the publicke commoditie brought ornament to the new citie Yet some were of opinion that the old fashion of building was more wholesome bicause the narrownes of the waies and height of the houses could not so easily be pearced with the heat of the sunne But now the streetes being open and wide and vndefended from shadow they are scorched with greater heat And these things were prouided by mans counsell Anone after purging sacrifices were sought for of the gods the Sibyls books perused by aduertisement of which praiers were offered to Vulcane and Ceres and Proserpina and Iuno made fauourable by the matrons first in the Capitoll then at the next sea From which hauing drawen water the Temple and the image of the goddesse was sprinkled and the married wiues prepared banqueting beds and watcht in the Temple in honour of the same goddesse But the infamie was not wiped away neither by mans helpe nor largesse of the Prince or pacifiyng of the gods but that it was thought the fire came by commandement Therefore to extinguish the rumour Nero falsly accused and punished most grieuously certaine people hated for their wickednes which the common sort called Christians The author of that name was Christ who in Tiberius raigne was put to death vnder Pontius Pilat Procurator of Iudaea And their dangerous superstition suppressed for the time burst foorth againe not onely thorough Iudaea where it first began but in the citie also whither all wicked and shamefull things runne from all parts and are solemnised and esteemed First they were apprehended which confessed that religion then by their detection an infinite multitude were conuicted not so much for setting the towne on fire as for the hate of all men against them Such as were condemned were skorned and mocked and couered in wilde beasts skins and torne in peeces with dogs or fastened on crosses or burnt in fire and when the day failed they were burnt in the night to giue light Nero had made the prospect of his gardens fit for that spectacle and caused shewes to be set foorth in the Cirque and himselfe either apparailed like a wagoner shuffeld among the people or ranne the race with them Whereupon pitie was taken on those persons though guiltie and deseruing exemplarie punishment seeing they suffered not for any publicke good but to satisfie one mans crueltie onely XI Nero raketh money on all hands and robbeth the Temples Prodigious sights and their meaning IN the meane time Italie was wasted by contributions and borrowing of money the Prouinces ruined and the confederats of the people of Rome empouerished and the cities which were called free Yea the gods themselues were not priuileged from being made a pray but the Temples in the citie were robbed and the gold carried away which the people of Rome in all ages either in triumphes or vowes in prosperitie or feare had dedicated to the gods Yea in Achaia and Asia not onely gifts but the images of the gods were taken away Acratus and Secundus Carinates being sent thither of purpose The one a freed man readie to all villanies the other exercised in the Greekish learning in words onely but his minde not seasoned with any good artes It was reported that Seneca because he would shake from himselfe the infamie of sacriledge desired licence to depart to some countrey house a far off which not being graunted he fained himselfe sicke of the gout and kept his chamber Some haue giuen out that poison was prepared him at Neroes commandement by a freed man of his owne called Cleonicus and auoided by Seneca as forewarned by the freed man or by his owne feare sustained his life with a simple diet Crabbes and if he were a thirst
conspiracie more grieuous to Neroes eares who as readie and prompt to all mischiefes so vnaccustomed to heare of that he had done The punishment of Flauius was committed to Veianus Niger Tribune He in the next field commaunded a pit to be digged which Flauius finding fault with as not deepe inough sayd to the souldiers standing by This is not according to the order of seruice And being willed to stretch out his neck stoutly I would to God said he thou wouldest strike so stoutly Who quaking very much when he had scarse cut off his head at two blowes bragged to Nero of his crueltie saying that he was killed with halfe a blow The next example of constancie the Centurion Sulpitius Asper did shew for Caesar asking him why he had conspired his death answered briefely That so many his villanies could not otherwise be redressed Then he sustained the punishment commanded Neither did the rest of the Centurions degenerate in bearing their punishments But Fenius Rufus had not the like courage but set downe his griefes and lamentations in his testament Nero expected that Vestinus the Consull should also be drawen into the action iudging him violent and an enemie to him but the conspirators would not communicate their deseignments with him some by reason of old grudges but more because they thought him rash headie and insociable Furthermore Neroes hatred against Vestinus proceeded of their inward familiaritie the one contemning the Princes knowne cowardlines and the other fearing the fell courage of his friend often iesting at him with bitter skoffes which when they carry much truth with them leaue behinde them a biting memorie Besides there was a fresh cause of malice betweene them because Vestinus had married Statilia Messallina not ignorant that Caesar kept vnlawfull companie with her Therefore no crime no accuser appearing because he could put on no shew of accusation he fled to his absolute power sendeth Gerelanus the Tribune with a band of souldiers inchargeth him to preuēt the Consuls deseignmēts seise vpō his house which was as it were his fortresse and slew his chosen cōpanie of youth because Vestinus had his house looking ouer the market place and handsome slaues all of one age He had fulfilled that day all the duties of a Consull and making a banquet fearing nothing or else dissembling his feare the souldiers entred in and when word was brought him that he was called by the Tribune he rose without any delay had all things prepared him in a trice shut himself vp in his chamber had his Phisition at hand which cut his vaines and being yet lustie was caried to a bath put in hot water not once vttering a word which could argue either griefe or compassion on himselfe Those which were at table with him were in the meane time beset with a gard and not dismissed till the night was farre spent and then Nero imagining and laughing at the feare they were in as looking for their imminent ruine sayd they had paied enough for the Consuls good cheere XVI Lucanus and Quinctianus death Neroes liberalitie to the souldiers Who Nymphidius was The Senators flattery toward Nero. AFter that he commanded the death of M. Annaeus Lucanus who perceiuing as his bloud went out his feete and hands to waxe cold and his spirites by little and little to forsake the exterior parts of his bodie his hart yet strong his wit fresh remembring verses made by himselfe in which he represented a souldier wounded and dead with the like kinde of death rehearsed the verses themselues which were the last words he spake After that Senecio and Quinctianus not according to their former effeminat life and the residue of the conspirators were put to death neither speaking nor doing any thing worthie memorie But in the meane time the citie was filled with funerals the Capitoll with sacrifices one hauing his brother another his sonne put to death or friend or neere kindred gaue thanks to the gods deckt his house with Bayes fell downe at the Emperors knees and wearied his right hand with kisses And he thinking it to be done for ioy rewardeth with impunitie Antonius Natalis and Ceruarius Proculus speedie detection and Milichus enriched with recompences tooke vnto him a name which in the Greeke signifieth a sauiour And Granius Siluanus the Tribune although quit yet slew himselfe Statius Proximus frustrated the pardon which he had receiued of the Emperour by the vanitie of his death After this Pompey Cornelius Martialis Flauius Nepos and Statius Domitius were depriued of the Tribuneship not because they hated the Prince but yet supposed so to do Nouius Priscus for the friendship he had with Seneca and Glitius Gallus and Annius Pollio diffamed rather then conuicted were sent into banishment Antonia Flacilla Priscus wife followed him Egnatia Maximilla did the like with Gallus at the first all their wealth which was great left them then taken away both which increased their glorie Rufus Crispinus was banished also vnder colour of the conspiracie but hated of Nero because he had beene Poppaeas husband Verginius Rufus great reputation was cause of his exile for Verginius furthered the studies of youth with eloquence and Musonius with precepts of Philosophie Cluuidienus Quietus Iulius Agrippa Blitius Catulinus Petronius Priscus Iulius Altinus as it were an armie to make vp a number were banished to the Iles of the Aegaean sea But Cadicia Sceuinus wife and Cesenius Maximus were banished Italie knowing by the punishment only that they were called in question Annaeus Lucanus mother Atilla though not acquited yet was let go without punishment These things done by Nero calling the soldiers together to an oration he bestowed by pole vpon euery souldier vnder bands two thousand Nummi and corne without any price which they had before according to the rate it was sould Then as though he would declare some exploit done in war assembled the Lords of the Senate bestowed the ornament of triumphe vpon Petronius Turpilianus Consull Cocceius Nerua Pretor elect Tigellinus captaine of the gard and so extolling Tigellinus and Nerua besides their triumphall images in the Forum he placed their images also in the Pallace He gaue Nymphidius also the ornaments of a Consull of whome I will speake a little because now is the first occasion offered for he also was part of the Roman miseries He therefore sonne of a freed woman which had abandoned and made common her comely bodie to Princes bonde and freede men affirmed he was begotten by C. Caesar because by some chance he was tall of personage and of a sterne grim countenance or else C. Caesar being desirous of light-women had abused his mother also But Nero the Senators assembled and an oration made among them published an Edict to the people and added the informations and confessions of the condemned because he was often diffamed in the peoples mouth as though he had executed innocent persons for enuie or feare Neuerthelesse those which had a care
hap hazard of all persons as they come but of their familie and friends and kinsfolke with their children not farre of from whence they may heare the howling of their wiues and crying of their children which are to all sacred witnesses of their valour and best commenders They goe when they are hurt to their mothers and wiues which are not afeard to number or sucke their wounds and carrie the souldiers meate and incourage them to stand to it It is reported that some battels euen readie as it were to be lost and discomfited haue beene by the womens earnest prayers exposing their bodies to the daunger and by shewing how neere at hand their captiuitie was recouered againe which in regard of their wiues is a greater griefe and hart-breake vnto them in so much that those cities are more straightly bound which amongst other hostages haue deliuered also noblemens daughters for they dreame that they haue in them I know not what holines foresight of things which maketh them regard their counsell giue credit to their oracle Vnder Vespasian of famous memorie we haue seene Velleda a long time and with many nations counted as some diuine thing and in times past did adore Aurinia and many others not of flatterie or as though they would haue made them goddesses II. Their religion and policie OF all the gods they adore especially Mercurie vnto whom they thinke it lawfull certaine daies to offer men in sacrifice but Hercules and Mars they pacifie with beasts lawfully killed to that vse som of the Sueuians sacrifice to Isis What reason they haue to vse that strange sacrifice I know not vnlesse it be that the image of that goddesse being fashioned in forme of that kinde of boat doth declare that their religion hath beene brought them from a strange countrey They thinke it a matter il beseeming the greatnes of the gods to inclose them within wals or paint them in mans shape They consecrate woods and forrestes which secret places they call by the names of gods which they see onely by apprehension and reuerence Soothsaying and lots they obserue aboue all others Their custome in casting of lots is without fraude for they cut a branche from a fruit-bearing-tree into many peeces and distinguished with seuerall markes cast them vpon a white garment at auenture then if the matter belong to a communaltie the Priest if to a priuate person the master of the house hauing prayed the gods and looking vp to the heauen taketh vp euerie of them three times and interpreteth them according to their markes If the lots fall contrarie to their mindes they consult no more that day the same matter But if they do yet they will trie what further credit there is in Soothsaying for they are not ignorant in this countrey of obseruing the singing of birdes and their flying consulting with their gods of both And it is a thing peculiar vnto that countrey to trie the presages and warnings of horses which are bred and maintained in those woods and forrests white vnbacked or vnlaboured which harnessed and put to a sacred chariot the Priest King or Prince of the citie do follow obseruing their noise and neying Of all presages this is of greatest credit with the Priestes noblemen and common people thinking themselues ministers of the gods and the horses priuie to their secrets They haue another obseruation among them by which they search out the euent of great and weightie battels which is this They get some one how they can of that nation with whom the warre shall be and take another choise man of their owne and arme them each according to his fashion and so trie their valour and by that preiudice coniecture on whose side the victorie shall fall In small matters the Princes themselues determine of them but if they be of importance they all in generall consult but yet so that those things whose determination belong to the people are concluded before the Prince And vnlesse some casuall or sudden accident fall out they make their assemblies certaine daies either in the first quarter or full moone thinking that to be the luckiest time to begin their workes The number of daies they recken not as we do but of nights and in them make their appointmēts and sommonces to appeere thinking that the day is gouerned by the night Their libertie is cause that they meet not togeither nor as they are commaunded but spende two or three daies in expecting one another They sit armed as they come and the Priest who hath authoritie to punish commaundeth silence Then the King or Prince or euerie man according to his age nobilitie and renowne of warre or as he is eloquent beginneth to speake Vsing rather perswasion then authoritie of commaunding If their opinion mislike them they reiect it with a murmuring noise if it liked they shake their iauelins but the most honorable manner of liking is to approoue it by their weapons It is lawfull in their councell to accuse and arraigne in criminall causes Punishments are distinguished by the offence traitors and fugitiues they hang on trees the cowardly and vnwarlike and such as were vnnaturally lewd of their bodies they did drown in mud and marrishes and couer them with hurdles The drift of that diuersitie of punishments was to declare that it was expedient to shewe offences as they were in punishing but hide heinous crimes But in lesser trespasses according to the qualitie of the punishmēts the parties conuicted are fined in some number of horses or other cattell whereof part goeth to the King or citie part to the partie damnified or to his kindred In the same councels they choose rulers to administer iustice in townes and villages which haue an hundred chosen out of the people to accompanie them which are as their counsell and authoritie They consult neither of publicke nor priuate affaires but armed but yet it is not the maner for any to take weapons vnlesse he haue beene iudged before by the citie able to vse them and then in the councell either one of the gouernours or his father or some one of his kindred doth honour the yoong man with a shield and a Framea This is with them a gowne this is the first honor giuen to yoong men before reputed a part of their particular house but from thence forward of the common wealth High nobilitie or merit of predecessors maketh their children although they be but yoong woorthie of dignitie which associat themselues to the stronger and long tried and take it for no disgrace to be seene among their followers among which there be likewise degrees according to his discretion of whose traine they be And there is a great emulation among the followers who should be in greatest fauour with his Prince and amongst the Princes who should haue the greatest number following him and most couragious This is their honour this their strength to be garded alwaies with a company of choise youth which is
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