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
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
woulde shew so much fauour to the Iunian familie and to one who had beene of the same colledge with them that he shoulde rather be sent to the Iland Cythera which was also the request of Torquata Silanus sister a virigin of good life vnto which censure they all condescended XV. More accusations prosecuted A decree touching Iupiters priests Tacfarinas driuen by Blaesus out of Affrike AFter this the Cyrenenses were heard and Caesius Cordus condemned of polling the prouinces at the sute of Ancharius Priscus L. Ennius a gentleman of Rome accused of treason bicause he had conuerted the image of the prince to common vses in plate Caesar forbad to be receiued amongst the criminall persons Ateius Capito openly complaining and by a kinde of libertie saieng That power of determining such a matter ought not to be taken frō the Senate nor so heinous a crime passe vnpunished That the Emperour might be as slowe as he lusted in punishing iniuries done to himselfe yet that he ought not to pardon such as were done to the common-wealth Tiberius vnderstood these things as they were indeed rather then as they were spoken and so persisted in opposing himselfe Capito was so much the more noted bicause that knowing what appertained to diuine and humane lawes discredited the common good and the commendable arts he had learned at home Then there grew a scruple in knowing in what temple the gift should be placed which the gentlemen of Rome had vowed to fortune Equestris for the health of Augusta For although there were many temples in the citie of that goddesse yet there was none which bare that surname In the ende there was one so called found at Antium and all the ceremonies in the townes of Italie and temples and images of gods to be vnder the right and empire of Rome and therupon the gift was placed at Antium And seeing the matter was debated touching the religions Caesar declared the answere which not long before he had deferred against Seruius Maluginensis and recited the decree of the chiefe priestes which was That as oft as the Flamen Dial or Iupiters priest fell into any sicknes he might be absent from the city with licence of the chiefe priest so as it were not aboue two nights or in daies of publike sacrifice nor oftner then twise in one yeere Which being ordained in Augustus time did manifestly shew that the absence for a yeere or administration of prouinces was not graunted to the Diales And the example of L. Metellus the high pontife was alleaged who in the like case had kept Aulus Posthumus the Flamen in the citie And thereupon the lot of Asia was bestowed vpon him who of the Consuls was next vnto Maluginensis At the same time Lepidus made request vnto the Lords of the Senate that he might at his owne charges reedifie and adorne Paulus Aemilius temple the ornament of his memorie for at that time publike munificence was in vse neither did Augustus blame Taurus Philippus Balbus for bestowing spoiles taken from enimies or the ouerplus of their wealth to the ornament of the citie and glorie of posteritie By which examples Lepidus although he had no great store of money did renewe the honor of his auncestors Pompeius theatre consumed by casuall fire bicause there was none left of the familie of abilitie to performe it Caesar promised to build at his own charges and leaue it stil the old name And withall he highly extolled Seianus as though through his labour and watchfulnes the violence of that fire had beene staied from hurting any more then that one thing and the Senate ordained an image to be erected in honour of Seianus in Pompeius theatre And not long after when Caesar had honored Iunius Blaesus proconsull of Affrike with the ornaments of triumph he said that he attributed that to Seianus honour whose vncle he was Yet Blaesus owne acts deserued that honour For although Tacfarinas had beene often put to the woorst yet renewing his aide in the middle of Affrike he grewe to that arrogancie as to send embassadors to Tiberius and require a place for himselfe and his armie to inhabite or else threatned an endles warre It was reported that Caesar neuer more grieued at any disgrace done vnto himselfe or the people of Rome then that a traitor and theefe should deale like an enimie There was neuer so much graunted Spartacus after he had defeated so many armies of Consuls and burnt Italie vnreuenged yea when the common-wealth was greatly weakned by Sertorius and Mithridates great warres that he shoulde be receiued by couenant into safe conduct therefore much lesse that Tacfarinas a theefe the Roman empire being in most flourishing state should be hired with a peace and lands to inhabite He committed the whole matter to Blaesus with charge that he shoulde induce the rest to lay down their armes with warrant that they should sustaine no hurt yet that he should lay holde on the captaine by all means possible through which pardon many came in Not long after they vsed the same maner of fight against Tacfarinas as he had vsed against others for bicause he inferior to the Romans in strength though better in theeuery made many inroades by scattered companies deceiued his enimie and laid many traines to intrap him Their companies were therefore set in order and marched against him of which the lieutenant Cornelius Scipio was the chiefe who lay in waite in that coast where Tacfarinas did waste and trouble the Leptins and the Garamantes places of refuge On another side Blaesus son lead his owne power least the Cirtensien villages shoulde be entised to take part with Tacfarinas In the middle placing fortresses and strong holdes in conuenient places with choise soldiers the captaine himselfe brought the enimie to a narrowe straight and disaduantage bicause that which way soeuer he should bend some of the Romane soldiers were in his face some in his sides and often some in his backe and so many slaine and intrapped Then diuideth the three armies againe into many other companies with centurions of knowen valour ouer them Neither did he as the custome was retire his forces in the ende of sommer or put them in standing campes of the old prouince but as it had been in the beginning of warre his fortresses well manned by light horsemen and skilfull in those deserts he gaue Tacfarinas often changing his cabbins small rest vntill his brother being taken he retired in the end with more speede then was for the allies profit such being left behinde by whom the warre might rise againe But Tiberius taking this to be an ende of this warre gaue Blaesus that honour that he should be saluted Emperour by the legions being an old custome towards such Captaines as had shewen valour for the common-wealth with ioy and acclamations to be saluted by that name by the conquering armies There were many Emperours at one time but none aboue an other Augustus had graunted that name to
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
hand with such as resisted contrarily the Romaine souldier beate them downe with speares thrust them back with the pikes of their bucklers lanced darts and rowled heapes of stones from the wall vpon them The hope of victory alreadie gotten and that if they should now faint and be ouercome shame and reproch put life and courage into our in them desperate hope of life many hauing their mothers and wiues bewailing and lamenting about them The night animated some to boldnes droue some into a feare blowes flew on all hands wounds giuen and taken vnlooked for no man knowing his fellow from the enemie and the found of the voices as if it were an eccho rebounding behinde them in the turning and winding of the mountaine brought such a confusion that the Romaines abandoned their standings and holds as though they had been battered and broken downe howbeit a small number of the enemies escaped aliue the residue the most couragious either slaine or wounded at the opening of the day were chased to their fortresses and at length forced to yeeld willing to accept the first conditions the winner would offer to the rest a cruell and timely winter by reason of the hill Haemus was a safegard that they could neither be subdued by force nor siege XII The sharpe vvords vvhich Agrippina vsed to Tiberius for accusing Claudia Pulchra her cosen vvhat good vvill vvas borne the Smyrnaeans aboue the other tovvnes of Asia and the cause BVt at Rome the Princes house being greatly troubled to begin the course of Agrippinaes future ruine Claudia Pulchra her cosen german was called into question by Domitius Aser who hauing beene lately Pretor of small reputation and eager by what meanes soeuer to winne credit laid to her charge that shee leade an vnhonest life with Furnius and practised to poison and vsed inchantments against the Prince Agrippina being of a fell and haughtie disposition and then more then euer kindled through the danger of her neere cosen hasteneth to Tiberius whom by chance she found sacrificing to his father and taking hold of that of occasion told him it was two mens office to offer sacrifice in memorie of Augustus and persecute his posteritie that the diuine spirite was not transfused into dumb statuaes images but the true image descended of celestiall blood felt the smart of his posteritie and therefore she would take vpon hir the person of the partie accused that it was in vaine to take exceptions against Pulchra whose onely ruine was that vnconsideratly she had loued and reuerenced Agrippina forgetting what had fallen to Sosia for the same cause Those words prouoked Tiberius although seldome vsing to open the secrets of his breast and rebuking her in a Greeke verse said that therefore she was displeased bicause she could not raigne Pulchra and Furnius are condemned and Afer the excellencie of his wit knowen and Caesar attributing vnto him praise of eloquence held among the chiefe orators After this practised in accusing and defending of parties he was better knowen for eloquence then honestie of life sauing that when his eloquence in his latter age decaied and his spirits failed yet was neuer quiet when if his toong walked not But Agrippina frowardly persisting in anger and incumbred with sicknes when Caesar went to visit her powring downe in a long silence manie teares at last burst into enuie and entreatie that he would redresse her solitarie life and being yet but a yoong woman prouide her a husband Marriage being the only comfort of minds honestly giuen that there were some in the citie which would vouchsafe to receiue Germanicus wife and his children But Caesar not ignorant of what importance this request was to the common-wealth yet least he should openly seeme to displease or feare her gaue her though most earnestly demaunding no answere at all That I finde not in the writers of Annales but in the Commentaries of Agrippina her daughter who being Neroes mother hath deliuered to posteritie her life and calamities which fell to her friends But Seianus in this dumpe sent her a message vnlooked for and vnder colour of friendship which was that there was poison prepared for her and that she should auoide to eate or drinke with her father in lawe But she not knowing how to dissemble sitting by him at table could not be woon to looke cheerefully or speake a word or touch any meate vntill at last Tiberius marked it either by chance or bicause he had had some inckling of it And to trie that more certainely praising certaine apples as they were serued in gaue of them with his owne hand to his daughter in law which augmented Agrippinaes suspition and not once tasting of them deliuered them to the waiters Yet openly Tiberius spake not one word but turning to his mother said that it was no maruell if he had proceeded seuerely against her seeing she had an opinion he went about to poison her Thereupon a rumor was spread that her destruction was sought for and that the Emperour durst not openly attempt it and therefore sought secret meanes to compasse it But Caesar to stop that rumor shewed himselfe often in Senat and gaue the Ambassadors of Asia audience manie daies togeither when they doubted in what citie they should erect a Temple in honor of him A eleauen cities of different power stroue with like ambition for that honour alleaging that there was not any great difference betwixt them in antiquitie of time loue and affection to the people of Rome in the warres against Persus and Aristonicus and other Kings The Hypaepeni Tralliani togeither with the Laodiceni Magnetiens were sent away as not sufficiently grounded No nor the Ilienses producing that Troy was the mother of Rome had any foundation of their reasonsauing onely antiquitie But some doubt was made of the Halicarnassi bicause that for the space of a thousand and two hundred yeeres their cities had neuer beene shaken with any earthquake and that the foundation of their Temple was built vpon liuely strong stone The Pergameni were answered that they had receiued honour enough in that they had Augustus Temple amongst them seeing that thereon they grounded their reason It seemeth that the Ephesians and Milesians had their cities occupied the one in the ceremonies of Apollo and the other of Diana In so much that all the contention rested betwixt the Sardinians and Smyrnaeans The Sardinians recited a decree of the Etrurians as being of their blood for Tyrrhenus and Lydus King Atyes sons diuided the land betwixt them by reason of the increase of the people And Lydus remained in his countrey and Tyrrhenus went to seeke newe countries to inhabit which were called by the names of their Captaines they in Asia and these in Italie and in progresse of time the Lydians growing to farther wealth sent people into Greece which were afterward called Peloponesians They told vs also of letters sent them by our Captaines of treatise made with vs in the warre of
Caesars knees crieth out that Messallina had married Silius and withall asketh Cleopatra who was there present of purpose to be asked the question who nodding with her head in token that shee had commandeth Narcissus to be called for he crauing pardon of that which was past and that he had concealed the adulterie betweene Messallina and Vectius and betweene her and Plautius added further that the best way was not to reproch him of his adulteries nor demaund his house his seruants other princely ornaments embezeled away but let him said Narcissus inioy them so as he would restore thee thy wife and cancell the writings of marriage Doest thou know saith he further of thy diuorsement for Silius marriage the people saw the Lords of the Senate and the souldiers and if thou make not haste the new married man will be Lord of the citie Hereupon Claudius calleth for the chiefest of his friends and first of all for Turranius chiefe officer for prouision of corne then Lusius Geta captaine of the gard asking them what they knew of the matter who confessing it all the rest came cluttering about him crying that he should haste away to the camp strengthen his gard prouide first for his safetie then reuenge Sure it is that Claudius was so surprised with feare that he did eftsoones aske whether he were yet soueraigne of the Empire whether Silius were yet a priuat man without charge But Messallina neuer more loose and dissolute in lusts the Autumne being well spent celebrated in her house the feast of grape gathering the presses were wrung the vessels flowed with wine women danced about girt with skins like vnto mad women solemnizing the feasts of Bacchus she her selfe her haire hanging loose about her eares shaking a iauelin wrapped about with vine leaues Silius hard by her couered with Iuie with buskins on his legs casting the head hither and thither with a shamelesse companie of dancers shouting and singing about them It is reported that Vectius Valens toying and iesting climed vp a high tree and being demaunded what he saw there made answere a cruell tempest comming from Hostia Whether any such thing did appeare or whether it were a word slipt by chance it was turned to a presage of future danger Not a rumor any longer but messengers come from all parts bringing them tidings that Claudius knew all and was comming readie to reuenge Messallina then conueyeth her selfe into the gardens which sometimes belonged to Lucullus Silius dissembling his feare went to his busines in the Forum The rest some slipping one way some another the Centurions layd hold on and bound with yrons as they were found either abroad or in corners and lurking places Messallina albeit this sudden crossing had almost put her besides her selfe yet thought it best as a shift which neuer failed at a pinch to meete her husband and shew her selfe vnto him and commaunded Britannicus and Octauia to go before and cast themselues betwixt their fathers armes and prayed Vibidia the auncientest of the virgins Vestall to go to the high Priest and intreate him he would shew clemencie in her behalfe And in the meane time accompanied with three persons only so naked was she left on the sudden hauing gone afoote ouer all the citie at last in a tumbrell which caried away the riddings of gardens she taketh her way towards Hostia no one pitying her because the filthines of her wicked life swayed downe all compassion Neuerthelesse Caesar trembled because he distrusted Geta captaine of his gard a man as lightly carried to bad as to good Whereupon Narcissus hauing taken those with him which had the like feare assured Caesar he had no other hope of safetie left then to transferre the whole commaundery of the souldiers that one day vnto some one of his freed men and offereth himselfe to be the man And fearing least whilest he were brought vnto the citie he might be induced by L. Vitellius or P. Largus Caecina to repent him he desireth taketh a place in the same chariot with the Emperour The fame was common afterwards that among diuers of the princes speeches now blaming his wiues lightnes now calling to minde the band of matrimonie and infancie of his children Vitellius neuer vsed other speech then ô wickednes ô shame Narcissus vrged him to speake plainely and go no more about the bush yet he could not winne so much of him but would still answere in doubtfull tearmes and such as might be construed as euery man listed to draw them and Largus Caecina did the like XI Silius and Messallina punished with others her adulterers NOw Messallina was in sight and cried that he would heare Octauia and Britannicus mother when as the accuser made a noise on the other side naming Silius and the marriage and withall presented vnto him certaine writings bewrayers of her lusts and lasciuiousnes to the ende he might turne Caesars sight from her And not long after the children had betweene them had beene presented vnto him as he entered the citie if Narcissus had not commaunded them to be conueied away But Vibidia could not be driuen away but requested importunately with nipping termes that his wife vnheard might not be put to death Hereupon Narcissus answered that the Prince should heare her and that she should haue libertie to purge herselfe In the meane space that she should depart and attende her sacrifices Claudius vsed a woonderfull silence whilest all those speeches past Vitellius was as one that knew little all obeied the freed man he commaunded the adulterers house to be opened and the Emperor to be brought thither And there first of all in the entrie he shewed the Emperor the image of Silius father defaced by decree of Senate Then told him that whatsoeuer the Neroes or Drusi had rich and Princely had beene giuen to Silius for a reward of his reptochfull adulterie then seeing Claudius inflamed and bursting into threats leades him to the soldiers camps verie readie to heare an oration vnto whom as Narcissus had before aduised him he vsed some fewe words For although he had iust cause of griefe yet shame hindered him Immediately all the bands cried togither continually demaunding the names and punishment of the offenders And Silius brought to the barre neither went about to iustifie himselfe nor craue respite but intreated that his death might be hastened The same constancie made other famous gentlemen of Rome desire the hastening of their death He commaunded Titius Proculus guard vnto Silius and Messallina and Vectius Valens offering to detect other crimes and confessing the same and Pompeius Vrbicus and Saufellus Trogus all of counsell to the fact to be brought to execution Decius Calphurnianus likewise Captaine of the watch Sulpicius Rufus ouerseer of the plaies Iuncus Virgilianus a Senator receiued the like punishment Onely Mnester delayed his punishment renting his clothes and crying that he would looke vpon the markes of the stripes and call to mind his own words which were that
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
letters were written to Caenina Tuschus to come and take charge of the guard but that Burrhus credit was saued and kept in his office by Senecaes meanes Plinie and Cluuius seeme there was no doubt made of Burrhus loyaltie and in verie deede Fabius inclineth much to the commendation of Seneca as one of his preferment But our meaning is to follow the consent of authors and if any affirme contrarie we will deliuer it vnder their names Nero trembling for feare and exceeding desirous of the death of his mother could not indure the delay vntill Burrhus had promised to performe it if she were conuicted of the crime But euerie man might alleage what he could for his defence much more a mother Neither were there any accusers present and nothing to ground on but one mans report out of an enimies house He was to cōsider that it was night and that spent in banqueting and therefore all would seeme to smell of rashnes and folly The Princes feare somewhat lightened by these speeches and the day come one went to Agrippina to let her vnderstand of the accusation to purge her selfe or looke to suffer Burrhus was to do the message in presence of Seneca with some freed men as witnes of the speeches Then Burrhus hauing declared the accusation and the authors of it vsed threatning termes and Agrippina not forgetting her old fiercenes returned him his answere saying I maruell not if Silana neuer hauing had childe know not what the affections of mothers are neither are children changed by their parents as adulterers by shamelesse women Neither if Iturius and Caluisius hauing wasted their substance bestow this their last labour in vndertaking this accusation therefore am I to sustaine the infamie of parricide or Caesar haue scruple of conscience that I would commit it as for Domitia I would thanke her for the hate she beareth me if she would likewise in good will and loue towards my Nero striue with me Now by her concubine Atimetus and Paris the stage player she doth as it were compose fables for the stage She was busie about her fish pooles of Baia when by my counsels Neroes adoption proconsularie authoritie election to be Consull and other steps to mount to the Empire were procured Or else let some one be brought foorth to make it appeere that I haue practised with the citie-cohorts corrupted the loyaltie of the Prouinces or sollicited bond-men or freedmen to rebellion I might haue liued if Britannicus had beene soueraigne but if Plautus or some other should get the rule of the common-wealth forsooth there should want accusers to laye to my charge not wordes sometimes vnaduisedly escaped thorough feruencie of loue but such crimes also from which I could not be acquited but as a mother by hir son The assistance moued with these speeches and endeuoring to appease her anger she requireth to speake with her sonne before whom she spake nothing in defence of her innocencie as if she had distrusted or of her benefits as to vpbrayd him but obteined reuenge of her accusers and rewards for hir friends The charge and office of prouision of corne was giuen to Senius Rufus the commission of plaies which Caesar was a preparing to Aruntius Stella Aegypt to C. Balbillus Syria was appointed to P. Anteius then abused with diuers deuises and in the ende detained in the citie But Silana was banished Caluisius also and Iturius Atimetus was executed Paris being in greater credit by reason of pleasures ministred to the Prince then that he should be put to death Plautus was sent away for the time with silence Pallas after this and Burrhus were accused to haue practised to call Cornelius Sylla for noblenes of birth and affinitie with Claudius whose sonne in lawe he was by marriage of Antonia to the Empire The author of that accusation was one Paetus a man infamous by causing debters to forfeit their goods and then manifestly conuicted of vanitie and falshoode Neither was Pallas innocencie so gratefull as his pride insupportable for when some of his freed men were saide to haue beene priuie to the practise he made answer that in his house he appointed nothing to be done but with a nod of his head or hand or by writing if he had much to say least if he shoulde haue spoken vnto them he should seeme to haue made them his fellowes Burrhus although accused yet gaue sentence among the iudges Paetus the accuser was banished and the writings burnt by which he went about to renewe the recordes of the treasurie alreadie cancelled In the end of the same yeere the gard of the soldiers which was woont to be at the plaies was taken away for a greater shew of libertie and bicause the souldier being absent from the disorder of the Theater shoulde be lesse corrupt and the people shewe by proofe whether they would vse modestie if the guarde were away The prince hallowed and purged the citie with sacrifices by aduise of the southsaiers bicause Iupiters and Mineruaes temples were set on fire with lightning VI. Neroes disorders the case of the franchised debated an order for certaine magistrates Q. Volusius and P. Scipio being Consuls there was peace abroad filthie lasciuiousnes at home during which Nero gadded vp down the streetes to infamous brothell houses by-corners in slaues attire to be vnknown accompanied with such as snatched away wares from mens stales wounded such as met them and with such small regard whome that Nero himselfe hath receiued and carried away blowes and marks on the face And when it was knowne to be Caesar which played those pranks the disorder grew greater against both men and women of accompt and with like licentiousnes abusing Caesars name many practised the same insolencies gathered together in particular companies and so spending the night as it had been in taking a towne and captiuitie One Iulius Montanus a Senator who had not yet taken vpon him the dignitie by chaunce coping with the Prince in the darke and rudely thrusting him backe as he offered him violence then knowing him and crauing pardō was inforced to die as though therby he had reproched him of folly Nero more wary and fearefull after that went not without a rabble of souldiers and fencers which medled not at the first and whilest the prince made his party good but after if he were ouermatched by such as he abused they layd hands immediately on their weapons He turned the disordered licence at plaies and part-taking in fauor of stage players almost to a mutinie by giuing impunitie and rewards himselfe priuily or for the most part openly looking on vntill the people growing to sedition and fearing greater stirres no other remedie was found then to expell the stage-players out of Italie and place a gard of souldiers againe on the theater At the same time the deceit and vngratefull behauior of freed men was debated in Senat and instant sute made that the patrons might haue authoritie to reuoke the
freedome giuen to such as deserued it not for many there were of that opinion But the Consuls not daring to determine the matter without the priuitie of the Prince yet wrote the common consent vnto him And that he should be the author of the decree few being of a contrary opinion and some grudging that the irreuerence of their late bondmen by reason of libertie was growen to that that they cared not whether they carried themselues towards their patrons dutifully or not nothing at all waying what they sayd vnto them yea bende their fists towards them thrust and elbow such as would haue any lawe made to bridle them For what other redresse was there graunted vnto patrons offended but to banish his freed man aboue twentie miles off to the coast of Campania all other actions were indifferent and equall to both Some weapon therefore should be giuen the patron which the freed man should not despise Neither could it seeme hard if the manumised should with the same obedience keepe their liberty by which they got it And such as were openly conuicted of crimes were woorthily brought againe to seruitude that such might be brideled by feare whom benefits could not change Some spake to the contrarie saying That that fault of a fewe should be preiudiciall but to themselues and not derogate from the priuiledges common to them all bicause it was a bodie farre spred abroad From them were taken many Tribes and Decuries fit men for magistrates priests and citie cohorts and many gentlemen and Senators could deriue no beginning but from thence If the freed men should be seuered from the rest the number of the free borne woulde appeere very small Not without cause our auncestors when they diuided the citizens into degrees and callings left libertie in common Yea they had instituted two kindes of manumising their bondmen bicause it might be in their choise to repent or yeelde newe fauour Those whome the patron did not manumise Vindicta before the magistrate remained still as it were in the bonds of seruitude That euerie man should looke into the merits of his slaue and graunt that slowly which being once giuen coulde not be taken away This opinion caried it away And Caesar wrote to the Senate that they should priuately examine the cause of the freed men as oft as they were accused by their patrons and derogate nothing from the whole bodie of them Not long after Paris the late bondman was taken from Domitia Neroes aunte vnder colour of ciuill lawe not without a disgrace to the Prince by whose commandement iudgement of free condition was giuen him Neuerthelesse there remained a certaine shew of a free common-wealth For a contention being growen betweene Vibullius the Pretor and Antistius tribune of the people for releasing out of prison certaine vnruly fauourers of the Stage-plaiers committed by the Pretor the Lords of the Senate approoued the Pretors fact and blamed Antistius boldnesse Withall the Tribunes were forbidden to vsurpe any thing belonging to the Pretors or Consuls authoritie or call such before them out of Italie whose right was to be determined by law L. Piso Consull elect added further that they should not exercise their authoritie in punishing of any in their own houses that the Quaestors of the treasury should not enter into record before foure months were past the mercements adiudged by them and that in the mean time it might be lawfull to speake against them and the Consuls determine the matter The authoritie of the Aediles is also restrained and order set down how much the Curules and the people might take to pawne and how farre they might punish Thereupon Heluidius Priscus Tribune of the people shewed his priuate grudge against Obultronius Sabinus Quaestor of the treasury as though he had too seuerely enforced the execution of open sales of goods against the poore Then the Prince transferred the records of publicke debts from the Quaestors to the Prouosts of the citie albeit the forme of that office hath beene diuersly vsed and often chaunged For Augustus gaue the Senate licence to choose the Prouostes then canuasing of voices being suspected they were drawne by lot out of the number of the Pretors Neither did that long continue because the lot fell oft vpon the vnmeetest Then Claudius restored againe the Quaestors to the office and bestowed extraordinarie promotion vpon them least for feare of offence they should be slacke in their dutie But bicause there wanted authoritie of age in manie which were in that office as being the first they were possessed of Nero chose such as had beene Prouostes and tried by long experience Vipsanius Lenas was condemned vnder the same Consuls for behauing himselfe too rauenously in the Prouince of Sardinia Cestius Proculus was acquited of extorsion his accusers letting fall the sute Clodius Quirinalis Captaine of the galli-slaues at Rauenna accused for molesting Italie with riot and crueltie as the least of all nations preuented his condemnation by poisoning himselfe Aminius Rebius a principall man for the skill of the lawes and of great wealth escaped the griefes of sickely olde age by letting himselfe blood in the vaines although he was thought to be too cowardly to kill himself by reason he was giuen too effeminately to lustes But L. Volusius died with great fame hauing liued ninetie three yeeres verie rich by good meanes and neuer once hurt by any of those vniust Emperors vnder whom he liued VII What Annales ought to intreate of plaies forbidden NEro being the second time Consull and L. Piso few things happened worthy of memorie vnlesse some would thinke it well done to fill vp volumes in praising the foundations and timber imployed by Caesar in the huge building of the Amphitheater in Campus Martius seeing it is meet for the dignitie and honor of the people of Rome to commit famous actes to their annales and such as those to the diurnall of the citie Capua and Nuceria both colonies were reenforced with a supplie of old souldiers There was bestowed a gift of fortie sesterces by powle to the people and foure hundred thousand sesterces to the publike treasurie to maintain the people faithful vnto him The tribute of the fift of the twentieth for the sale of slaues was released in shew rather then in deed for when the seller was commaunded to pay it he enhansed the price still to the buiers losse Caesar commaunded by an edict that no magistrate procurator of any prouince should set foorth a shew of fencers or wilde beasts or any other pastime For heretofore the subiects were no lesse endomaged by such-liberalities then by taking their money from them whilest they cloaked with fauor gotten by such spectacles their faults committed by robbing the people A decree of Senate was made as well for reuenge as securitie that if any man had been slaine by his bondmen those also who being manumised by testament continued in the same house should be punished as the other
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
giuing as much as a Prince could bestow vpon a friend and I in taking as much as a friend could take of a Prince That which is aboue this augmenteth enuie the which no doubt as all mortall things doth lye vnder thy greatnes but lye heauily on my shoulders therefore I neede help and as wearie in seruice of warre or on the way I would craue succour so in this iourney of my life old and vnable to wade through the smallest cares seeing I cannot sustaine the burden of my riches any longer I craue thy aide and helping hand commaund them to be mannaged by thy procurators and be receiued as thy owne goods Neither will I thrust my selfe into pouertie but giue vp those things whose brightnes dimmed and dazeled me that time which I was wont to bestow in my gardens and houses of pleasure I will imploy in recreation of minde Thou art in the floure of thy age and the regiment of thy Empire established and setled many yeeres and we thy old friends may betake our selues to rest This also shall redound to thy glorie that thou hast raised such to great honors as could haue contented themselues with a meane estate Vnto which Nero answered almost as followeth That I am able extempore to answere thy premeditated oratiō I am principally indebted to thee who hath instructed me how not onely to acquit discharge my selfe of things premeditat but also of such as happen on the sudden My great great grandfathers father Augustus suffered Agrippa and Mecenas after great labour to take their ease but in such an age that his authoritie might maintaine whatsoeuer had been bestowed yet he neuer tooke those rewards from them he had once giuen them In warre and dangers they had deserued them for in these things Augustus youth was employed neyther would thy weapons and hands haue been wanting if I had been in armes But as the present state of times required thou diddest with reason and counsell traine vp first my childhood then my youth and therefore the gifts which thou bestowedst vpon me whilest life lasteth shall remaine with me Those things which thou hast receiued of me thy orchyards vsury countrey houses are subiect to casualtie and although they seeme much yet many not equall with thee in knowledge haue possessed more I am ashamed to speake of such as haue been slaues which seeme richer then thou And therefore I blush that thou who in affection art deerest vnto me doest not surpasse all men in wealth and fortune And thou art of thy age a lustie man and able to inioy thy wealth and commoditie thereof and we enter into the first steps of the Empire vnlesse pardie thou doest preferre thy selfe before Vitellius thrise Consull or me before Claudius But how much Volusius scraped by long sparing so much my liberalitie cannot fulfill towards thee If the slipperines of our youth be ouerprone to that it should not thou drawest it back and temperest carefully with aduise our vnseemely and vnruly courage Not thy moderation if thou shouldest restore thy wealth not thy ease if thou shouldest forsake the Prince but my couetousnes and the feare of my crueltie shall be in euery mans mouth And although thy continencie should be highlie commended yet were it not seemely for a wise man from whence he procureth infamie to his friend from thence to seeke glorie to himselfe To these his speeches he ioyned embracements and kisses framed by nature and practised by custome to cloake hatred with false flattering speeches Seneca which is the conclusion of all speeches had with Princes gaue him thanks but changed the course and manner of life which he vsed in authoritie forbidding the multitudes which came to salute him and auoiding such as would follow him shewing himselfe seldome in the citie as though he had kept home either through sicknes or busie at his studie XV. Tigellinus credit Plautus and Syllaes death SEneca being thus puld downe it was an easie matter to abate Rufus Fenius credit by accusing him of the friendship he had with Agrippina but Tigellinus credit daily grew greater and thinking that his lewde practises wherein onely he was his craftsmaister should be more acceptable if he could oblige the Prince by a league of naughtie dealing he began diligentlie to search out all his feares and perceiuing that Plautus and Sylla were suspected aboue others Plautus being banished of late into Asia and Sylla into Gallia Narbonensis he entereth into the consideration of their nobilitie and how the one was too neere the armie of the East and the other that of Germanie That he for his owne part had not in his head as Burrhus had contrarie hopes to the Emperours but regarded only his safetie which in some sort might be secured by his presence from citie practises but by what meanes could tumults far off be redressed The Galli became prechant at the name of a Dictator and the people of Asia no lesse to be suspected through the renowme of Drusus Plautus grandfather Sylla was poore and needie and therefore bold and venturous and counterfeiting a lazines vntill he found a fit oportunitie to shew his rashnes Plautus abounding in wealth did not so much as pretend a desire of a quiet life but made open shew of imitating the old Romanes hauing taken vpon him the arrogancie and sect of the Stoicks which maketh men busie headed and desirous to be set aworke Neither was there any further delay vsed but Sylla those which were to do the feate arriuing at Marsils the sixt day before feare or rumor was slaine being set at table and Nero skoffed when his head was brought him as euilfauored by vntimely hoarines But it was not so secretly kept that Plautus death was intended because many had a care of his safetie and the distance of the iourney and sea and the time betweene had spread it abroad and giuen out among the common sort that he went about to sturre vp Corbulo then lord generall ouer great armies saying that if noble and innocent personages were thus murdered he was most likelie to come into danger Further Asia had taken armes in fauour of this yong man and the souldiers sent to go forward with the enterprises being neither strong in number nor in courage stout seeing they could not performe that which they were enioyned turned altogether to new hopes These speeches were common in idle persons mouths But Plautus freed man hauing a prosperous winde preuented the Centurion and deliuered him a message from L. Antistius his father in lawe which was That he should auoide a cowardly death and not trust a lazie life nor seeke starting holes as to thinke that he should be pitied for his nobilitie he should finde good men and of courage readie to take his part in the meane time that no aide was to be reiected If he had driuen backe threescore souldiers for so many came whilest the messenger could returne to Nero and another power be sent back many
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
for matter committed in the Proconsulship of Asia in which he augmented the displeasure the Prince bare him for iustice and industrie and because he had beene very carefull in opening the hauen of the Ephesians and had left vnpunished the violence of the citie Pergamena which hindring Acratus Caesars freed man to carry away their images and pictures But the fault indeede laid to his charge was his friendship with Plautus and ambition in alluring the prouince to new hopes The time chosen to condemne him was when Tiridates came to take the kingdome of Armenia that domesticall wickednes might be obscured and hidden with the rumors of the strangers arriuing or else that he might shew the greatnes of an Emperour by the death of worthie men as a royall act Whereupon all the citie being run out to receiue the Prince and behold the King Thrasea forbidden to go to meete him lost not courage therefore but wrote to Nero demaunding his accusations boldly affirming that he would purge himselfe if he might haue knowledge of the crimes and licence to cleere them These writings Nero receiued very greedily in hope that Thrasea being terrified and deiected would haue written somewhat sounding to the magnificencie and excellencie of the Prince and discredit of his owne reputation which falling out otherwise fearing the countenance and courage and libertie of the innocent commaunded the Lords of the Senate to be assembled Then Thrasea consulted with his friends whether he should aduenture his purgation or let it passe Those which thought it best he should enter into the Senat house said they were assured of his constancie and that he would say nothing but what should augment his glory Cowardly and timorous men did shut themselues in secret places at the time of their death The people should see a man offering himselfe to death the Senate should heare words more then humane as it were of some diuine power that Nero himselfe might also be moued with the miracle but if his crueltie should continue certes the memorie of an honorable death should be distinguished with posteritie from the cowardlines of such as perished with silence Contrarywise such as thought it conuenient to expect within dores what might happen said the same of Thrasea But yet that skoffes and iniuries were at hand he should therefore withdraw his eares from checks and reprochfull speeches not only Cossutianus and Eprius are prompt to naughtines some there are which peraduenture would let their hand walke and strike through the crueltie * of Augustus yea the good do the like for feare That he would rather deliuer the Senat whom he had alwaies honored of the infamie of so great a villanie and leaue it doubtfull what hauing seene Thrasea the Lordes of the Senate would determine That Nero should be ashamed of his wickednes was to trouble himselfe with a vaine hope and that it was much more to be feared least he should grow cruell against his wife his familie and the rest of his children Therefore that vndefiled and vncorrupted whose steps and studies he had imitated in his life theirs also he should follow in the honor of his death There was present at this consultation Rusticus Arulenus Tribune of the people a hot yongman who for desire of praise offered to oppose himselfe to the decree of Senate Thrasea coold his courage Least he should begin a vaine enterprise vnprofitable to the criminall and dangerous to the opposer As for himselfe he had ended his yeeres and that he ought not forsake the manner of his life so many yeeres continued but he entred now into offices and was in his choise to accept or refuse such as are behind That he should waigh well and ponder with himselfe what course of gouerning he should enter into of taking charge in the common wealth in such a time as this Whether it were fit for him to come into the Senate or not he would haue it rest in his owne consideration VI. Thraseas accusation and death THe next day two armed Pretorian cohorts beset the Temple of Venus the mother the waies to the Senate a companie of gownd-men had filled not hiding their weapons and a thicke aray of souldiers dispersed in the place of assemblies and Temples amidst whose lookes and threats the Senators went into the court where the Princes oration was heard by his Quaestors mouth None noted by name he blamed the Senators That they neglected publicke duties and that by their example the gentlemen of Rome were become lazie For what maruell was it if from Prouinces farre off they came not to Rome when as the most part hauing obtained the Consulship and priestly dignities gaue themselues rather to passe the time withall pleasures in their gardens Which the accusers tooke hold of as it were of a weapon And Cossutianus leading the daunce and Marcellus with greater vehemencie Cried that this touched the whole state that through the disobedience of the inferiours the lenitie of the commaunder was made lesser The Lords of the Senate vntill that day had beene too milde in suffering Thrasea to forsake their side his sonne in law Heluidius Priscus in the same madnes Paconius Agrippinus heire of his fathers hatred against Princes and Curtius Montanus composing destable verses to scoffe and abuse men without punishment He found a lacke of a Consull in the Senate of a priest in vowes in an oath a citizen but against the ordinances and ceremonies of our auncestors Thrasea had openly put on the person of a traitour and an enemie Finally that he should come and play the Senator and as he was wont protect the backbiters of the Prince and giue his censure what he would haue amended or chaunged for they could more easilie endure one finding fault with all things then endure his silence now condemning all things Doth peace throughout the world displease him or victories without losse of the armies That they would not suffer him haue the desire of his ouerthwart ambition who grieued at the common prosperitie thought the place of assemblies the Theater and Temples solitarie places and threatned his owne banishment These things vnto him seemed not decrees not magistrates nor this the citie of Rome that he would abandon and separate his life from that citie whose loue in time past and now whose sight he had cast off When with these and the like speeches Marcellus had inueighed grim and threatning in voice countenance and eies kindled with rage not that knowen and by often vse of daungers vsuall heauines but a new and a deeper feare seased the Lords of the Senate beholding the hands and weapons of the souldiers Besides that the reuerent representation of Thrasea came to their imagination and some there were which had compassion that Heluidius should suffer punishment in regard of harmelesse affinitie What was obiected against Agrippinus but the lamentable fortune of his father When as he innocent also was ruined by Tiberius crueltie Montanus a vertuous yoong man was
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