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
afterward somewhat of their rigor was remitted and mitigated because it was then expedient It was in vaine to couer our cowardlines with new names for it was the husbands fault if the woman exceeded the meane In fine it were not well done for the weakenes of one or two to take from husbands their companion in prosperous and aduerse fortune and withall a sexe â—â—â—ake and fraile by nature to be left alone and exposed by her owne licentiousnes to the lust of others Matrimony could hardly be kept vndefiled their husbands being present what would become of them if they should be forgotten for many yeares as it were by diuorcement therefore they should so preuent faults committed abroad that they forget not the dishonors of the citie Drusus added somewhat of his owne matrimony and that Princes most often visit the remotest parts of their Empire How oft had Augustus of famous memory gone to the East and West accompanied with Liuia That himselfe had gone to Illyrium and if it were expedient was readie to go into other countries but yet not alwayes willingly if he should be drawne from his most deere wife and mother of so many children common betweene them both And so Caecinas sentence tooke no effect VIII What abuses were committed by running to the Princes images Warres in Thrace THe next day that the Senat met Tiberius hauing courtly rebuked the Lords of the Senate by letters because they did cast all the cares on the Princes neck nominated M. Lepidus and Iunius Blaesus one of them to be chosen Proconsull of Affrike And both of them being heard Lepidus very earnestly excused himselfe pretending the feeblenes of his bodie his childrens age and a daughter mariageable respecting also though thereof he made no mention that Blaesus was Seianus vncle and therefore sure to carry it away Blaesus answered as though he would haue refused but not with the like asseueration as the other yet had a fauourable hearing of flatterers Then many secret complaints were made knowne for euery lewd companion if he could catch hold on Caesars image might freely and without punishment iniury honest men with opprobrious speeches and rayse enuie against them yea freed men and bondslaues also were feared threatning with words and fists their patrons and maisters Whereupon C. Cestius a Senator vttered these speeches That in deed Princes were like vnto gods but yet the gods heard no supplications but iust neither had any refuge to the Capitol or other temples of the citie that they should vse that as a defence against all misdemeanor That the lawes were abolished and vtterly ouerthrowne seeing that Annia Rufilla whome he had condemned of fraude before the iudge did threaten and vse reprochfull speeches against him in the place of assemblies and before the Curia he not daring to trie the lawe with her because she had Caesars image ouer against her Others muttered the like or bitterer speeches then these and besought Drusus that he would shew exemplarie punishment vpon her and being called and conuicted was condemned to prison Likewise Considius AEquus and Coelius Cursor Gentlemen of Rome were by commaundement of the Prince and order of the Senate punished for forging crimes of treason against the Pretor Magius Caecilianus Both turned to Drusus commendation bicause that by him who conuersed in the citie with all companies in familiar communication the secret deseigments of his father were qualified Neither did the yoong mans riot greatly dislike them reputing it a lesser fault to employ the day in buildings and the night in banquetting then giuen to no pleasures alone heauily to passe the daie in lewde practises and deuises For Tiberius and the accusers were not yet wearied But Ancharius Priscus accused Caesius Cordus Proconsull of Creete of powling the countrey and added treason which was a supplie when all other accusations failed When Caesar perceiued that Antistius Vetus one of the chiefe noble men of Macedonia was acquited of adulterie laid to his charge hauing rebuked the iudges drew him in againe to purge himselfe of treason as being seditious and a confederate with Rhescuporis in his counsels when as hauing slaine his brother Cotys he intended warre against vs. Whereupon he was banished into an Iland neither commodius for Macedonia nor Thrace For Thrace the kingdome being diuided betwixt Rhoemetalces and Cotys children vnto whom by reason of their infancie Trebellienus Rufus was made Tutor through the strangenes of our manners fell to rebell afresh no lesse blaming Rhoemetalces then Trebellienus bicause they suffred the iniuries done to their people to escape vnpunished The Coelaletae and the Odrusetae all strong nations tooke armes vnder diuers Captaines for basenes of birth not vnlike and therfore could not grow to any cruel battel For some troubled the present state some passed the hill Haemus to draw such to them as dwelt a far off most of them and those of better gouernment besieged the King and the citie Philippopolis built by Philip King of Macedon Which when P. Velleius vnderstood who was Captaine of the next armie he sent a certaine companie of horsemen and a band of footmen lightly appointed against those which romed about for pillage or to seeke more succour himselfe brought his strength of footmen to raise the siege all ending prosperously the forragers slaine and a dissention growing amongst the besiegers the King sallied out against these the legions arriued in seasonable time This deserued not the name of an armie or battell in which a few vnfurnished straglers were slaine without any blood-shed on our side IX The Galli vnable to pay their taxations rebell Iulius Florus and Iulius Sacrouir being their Captaines THe same yeere the cities of Gallia by reason they were greatly indebted began a rebellion the chiefest firebrand among the Treueri being Iulius Florus and with the Aedui Iulius Sacrouir both nobly descended and whose auncestors had atchieued valiant acts and therfore made citizens of Rome then a rare thing and a guerdon onely of vertue They by secret conferences hauing drawen to them the most audacious or such whose pouertie or feare of punishmeÌ„ts for their misdeeds were ready to plunge themselues into any enterprise resolued that Florus should stir vp the Belgi and Sacrouir the French neerer at hand In their conuenticles therfore meetings they began to cast out seditious speeches of their coÌ„tinual tributes the greatnes of vsury the cruelty arrogancy of gouernors that the soldiers fell togither by the eares when they heard of Germanicus death That that was a notable time offered of recouering their libertie if now in their flourishing estate they woulde weigh howe poore Italy was howe weake the citie souldier and no strength in the armies but what was in strangers There was almost no citie which was not infected with the seedes of that commotion The Andecauians and the Turonians were the first which burst out of which the Andecauians were subdued by the Lieutenant Acilius Auiola with a bande of men
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
some and Tiberius at that time to Blaesus That yeere died two notable men Asinius Salonius nephew to M. Agrippa and Pollio Asinius and brother to Drusus and destined to be Caesars neeces husband and Capito Ateius of whom we haue spoken before by the studies of the ciuill lawes risen to the highest dignitie in the citie but his grandfather Sullanus was but a Centurion and his father Pretor Augustus hastened the Consulship vpon him that by the dignitie of that office he might be preferred before Labeo Antistius skilfull in the same studie for that age had at once two ornaments of peace But Labeo was more desirous of incorrupted libertie and therefore held in greater estimation and Capitoes pleasing humor better accepted of Princes To him the iniurie of not being higher than a Pretor was a commendation to this because he gate the Consulship grew of enuie hatred And Iunia whose vncle was Cato and was C. Cassius wife and M. Brutus sister died threescore and fower yeeres after the Philippensen warre Her Testament was much talked of among the people bicause that being verie wealthie when she had named all the peeres and noblemen and bestowed some legacie vpon them she omitted Caesar which he tooke in good part not hindering but that her funerals should be solemnised with an oration before the people assembled with all other ceremonies The images of twentie noble houses were caried before her and the names of the Manlians the Quinctians and others of like nobilitie But Cassius and Brutus did shine aboue the rest bicause their images were not seene THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Of Seianus beginning his qualities and by what meanes he aspired to the Empire CAsinius and C. Antistius being Consuls Tiberius had nine yeeres managed the affaires and aduanced his house to a flourishing estate for the death of Germanicus he reckoned amongst his prosperities when as fortune began on a sudden to worke alteration in him waxing cruell or giuing authoritie to such as were The beginning proceeded from AElius Seianus Captaine of the guarde of whose power and authoritie I haue before spoken I will now lay downe his beginning and qualities and by what sinister meanes he went about to clime to the soueraignty He was borne at Vulsinium sonne of Seius Strabo gentleman of Rome and in his first youth followed C. Caesar Augustus nephew not without a rumor that for money he had suffered his bodie to be abused by Apicius a rich man and a prodigall Then by sundrie sleights he had so wrought Tiberius that being close and secret towards others yet to himselfe had made him open and vncircumspect Not so much by his cunning and fraude for such deuises were his owne ouerthrow as by the anger of the gods against the state of Rome by whose ruine and rising it fell alike He was of body able to endure labour of mind bold in his owne actions secret an informer against others as proud as flattering in shew modest but inwardly greedie of aspiring for which cause he vsed sometime largesse and lauishing but more oftner industrie and diligence meanes dangerous alike when they are dissemblingly vsed to win a kingdome His forces which at the first were small he augmented by reducing the cohorts into one campe which before were scattered abroade in the citie that they might receiue their charge togither and by their number strength and seeing one another breed a confidence to themselues and a feare to others He pretended that the souldier liuing scattered grew riotous and if any sudden attempt should be enterprised their strength would be greater vnited then separated and that they would liue more seuerely if their garrison were lodged far from the wanton allurements of the citie As soone as his trenches were finished he began to creepe into the souldiers mindes by going vnto them and calling them by their names withall made choise himselfe of Centurions the Tribunes Neither did he abstaine from ambitiously courting the Senators aduauncing his followers with honours and rule of Prouinces Tiberius being so facile and prone to allow of his dooings that not onely in priuat speeches but in Senat also and before the people extolled him as an associat of his labours and suffered his image to be set in the Theaters and publike places of assemblies and ensignes of the legions But Caesars house being full a yoong sonne nephewes of full age hindered his plots And bicause it was not safe making away of so many at once by violence his trecherie required time to accomplish his wickednes He resolued then to vse the couertest way and begin with Drusus against whom through fresh quarrels he was greatly incensed For Drusus being impatient of a concurrent and therefore easily mooued a contention rising by chance betweene them bent his fist to strike Seianus and he his to saue himselfe Drusus dasht him on the mouth Hereupon leauing nothing vntried he thought it the readiest way to addresse himselfe to Liuia Drusus wife She was Germanicus sister in her youth of a hard fauour but afterward excelled in beautie Her Seianus counterfeiting an ardent and burning loue enticed to adulterie and after he had obtained the first breach of honestie for a woman hauing once lost her chastitie what will she refuse to do put her in hope of mariage and fellowship in the Empire and perswadeth her to kill her husband Thus she who was Augustus neece and Tiberius daughter in law and had children by Drusus defiled herselfe her auncestors and posteritie with adulterie by a meane man leauing an honest and present estate for the hope of a wicked and vncertaine Eudemus a friend and Phisition of Liuias was made priuie to these plots who vnder colour of his arte was often vsed in secret conferences He putteth away Apicata his wife by whom he had three children least his lemmon should haue her in iealousie But the greatnes of the enterprise droue them into a feare bred prolongings and sometimes diuers sorts of counsels In the meane space in the beginning of the yeere Drusus one of Germanicus children was come to mans estate and those things renewed vpon him which the Senat had ordained for Nero his brother Tiberius made an oration tending to the great commendation of his sonne bicause he tendered his brothers children with a fatherly affection For Drusus although it be a hard matter for rule and concord to dwell together shewed himselfe indifferent to the yoong men or at the least was not an enimie to them II. A suruey of the legions and souldiers Drusus poisoned by Seianus TIberius old but fained determination of going to the Prouinces is put on foote againe pretending that there were a great number of old souldiers and that the armies were to be supplied with a new muster For voluntarie men now wanted or if there were anie they were not of so vertuous and modest a cariage bicause that for the most part they are needie and vagrant
withdrew himselfe to Rhodes In regard whereof the Senate ordained that although he were but of meane parentage yet that he should haue the funerals of a Censor and an image in Augustus forum at the charge of the common purse For at that time the Senat managed all the affaires in so much that Lucillius Capito Procurator of Asia the Prouince accusing him was forced to purge himselfe before them the Prince assuredlie auouching that he had giuen him no authoritie but ouer slaues and money matters between partie partie But if he had vsurped the authoritie of a Pretor or vsed the strength of souldiers he had therein contemned his cōmaundement therefore that they should heare the allies and so the matter being heard he was condemned For which cause and by reason that the yeere before C. Silanus was punished the cities of Asia decreed that a Temple should be built in honour of Tiberius his mother and the Senat which they perfourmed after they had licence And for the same cause Nero gaue thankes to the Lords of the Senat and to his grandfather with the ioyfull acceptance of the hearers as representing Germanicus yet fresh in memorie to their mindes thinking that him they had both heard and seene The yoong man was of great modestie and comelines woorthie of a Prince the more gratefull through the danger he was in by Seianus knowen hatred against him V. How Iupiters Priests were chosen Tiberius small affection to Germanicus children ABout the same time of chusing a Flamen Dial in Seruius Maluginensis place who was dead and of making a new law Caesar himselfe spake For the olde custome was that three patriciens should be named togither borne of parents which had been married with a solemnitie called confarreation of which one shoulde be chosen for the Priest And it fell out that that iust number coulde not bee founde the vse of confarrcation or marriage with a cake of Wheate either not vsed or only of a few whereof he alleaged many reasons though the chiefest was the carelesnes of men and women and withall the difficulties of the ceremonies which were willingly let slip And when should he go out of his fathers authoritie which should obtaine that Priesthood or she who was married vnto him therefore that was to be redressed by decree of Senate or by a law as Augustus himselfe had changed somewhat of that rude antiquitie and reduced it to the present vse Those things therefore being debated which touched the ceremonies it was determined that nothing should be altered in the makings of those Priests but a law was ordained that she who was married vnto a Flamen by reason of the sacrifices should be vnder the power of hir husband and that in other cases she should be as others were And Maluginensis sonne was chosen in his fathers place And that the priestly dignitie should better be regarded and they the readier to vndertake the ceremonies it was ordained that to Cornelia the virgin who was chosen in Scantias place shoulde bee giuen L L. S. xx sesterces and that as oft as Augusta entered the theatre she should sit among the Vestals Cornelius Cethegus and Visellius Varro being Consuls when the Pontifes and following their example the other Priests made certaine vowes for the health of the Prince they commended Nero and Drusus to the same goddes not so much for loue of the yong men as for flattery which in corrupt times is dangerous alike either not at all or too much For Tiberius neuer a friend to Germanicus house grieued impatiently that the yong men should then be equalled vnto him in his old age and sending for the chiefe Priests asked them whether they had done that at Agrippinas intreaties or threates and although they denied it yet were somewhat rebuked the greatest part being his neerest friends and kin or chiefe gentlemen of the citie Neuertheles in Senate he admonished them in an oration that none should hereafter puffe vp the fickle minds of the yong men to pride by vntimely and ouer-hastie dignities Seianus vrged eagerly that the citie was no lesse deuided into factions then in time of ciuill warres some terming themselues to be of Agrippinas side and more would if they were not preuented and no way to redresse a waxing diuision but by cutting off some one or two of the forwardest Hereupon he beginneth with C. Silius and Titius Sabinus Germanicus friendship being dangerous to both to Silius because that hauing had charge of a great armie seauen yeeres together and vanquished Sacrouir in Germanie and obtained the ornaments of triumph the higher his fall the greater the feare in others would be Many were of opinion that Tiberius was the more vehemently incensed by reason of his owne lauishing toong ouermuch vaunting that his souldiers had alwayes continued dutifull when as others had growne to mutinies and that Caesars state had bene shaken if those legions had bene desirous of innouation which Caesar construed as an embasing to his greatnes and disabling him of abilitie to requite for good turnes are no longer well taken then they may be recompensed when they grow greater then hope of requitall in stead of thankfulnes they breede hatred and ill will Sosia Galla was Silius wife badly thought of by the Prince because she loued Agrippina It was therefore thought conuenient to begin with these two and not meddle with Sabinus for a time The Consull Varro being thrust in to accuse them vnder colour of a quarrell betwixt his father and Silius became an instrument to gratifie Seianus with his owne discredit The defendants intreating some delay vntill the accusers Consulship were expired Caesar denied it affirming it to be a vsuall matter for magistrates to call priuate persons into question and that the authoritie of the Consull was not to be infringed through whose watchfulnes the common-wealth was kept without danger That was a common tricke with Tiberius alwaies to cloake new coyned mischiefe with old words Therefore with great protestation as though he had proceeded with Silius by order of law or the matter belonged to Varro as Consull or therein consisted the safetie of the common-wealth the Senate was called the partie accused not once opening his mouth or if he began to purge himselfe stuck not to vtter by whose malice he was oppressed He was accused to haue had intelligence with the beginners of the warre that he had discredited his victorie by his couetousnes and other things against Sosia his wife nothing a long time spoken of Sacrouir And doubtles the accusation of polling the prouince could not haue serued their turne had they not prosecuted all vnder treason but Silius preuented his imminent condemnation by his owne voluntarie death Neuerthelesse that contented not but were greedie his goods should be confiscate not to pay the stipendaries for none of them demaunded ought but because Augustus liberalitie was at an end he tooke a particular accompt of all that was due to the publick treasure
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
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
of courage was called the false Philip. How after that they had sent their power against Antiochus Perses Aristonicus and howe they succoured Antonie in the wars against the pyrats calling to minde likewise that which they offered Sylla or Lucullus or Pompey then the late good turnes seruices done to the Caesars when they came into those parts where there is a most conuenient passage both by land and by sea for the captaines and armies with al carriages of necessarie prouisiōs For the Greeks sited Byzance in the vtmost part of Europe in a very narrow streight which diuideth Europe from Asia for hauing consulted with Pythius Apollo in what territory they should build their citie the oracle answered them that they should seeke out a seate which was opposite to the lande of Blind-men By that darke speech the Chalcedonians were pointed at bicause that hauing first arriued in that place not iudging aright of the commodiousnes of it made choise of the woorst for Byzance is seated in a fertile soile and a plentifull sea bicause great abundance of fish going out of Pontus and frighted with the rockes and stones vnder the water forsaking the creekes of the other shore is brought all to these hauens Whereby first all the citie became rich and wealthie but then oppressed with charges and impositions and therefore intreated they might either haue an end or a meane of so heauie a burden The Prince was readie to do them good alleaging that they were to be helped as people wearied with late wars against the Thracians and Bosphorans and therupon they were exempted from tributes for fiue yeeres space 13. Why Agrippina seeketh Claudius death the Emperour dieth empoisoned by the Phisition Xenophon WHen M. Asinius and M. Acilius were Consuls a change of state to the woorse was portended and foreknowne by many prodigious signes For the ensignes and souldiers tents were burnt with fire from heauen A swarme of Bees lighted on the top of the Capitol monsters and children borne with two shapes and a Sowe brought foorth a Pigge with talons of a hauke It was accounted a prodigious matter that the number of magistrates was so small a Questor Aedill Tribune Pretor and Consull dying but a fewe monethes before But Agrippina of all others was most afeard by reason of a word which Claudius cast foorth being drunke which was that it was fatall vnto him first to beare the lewdnes of his wiues then to punish them Thereupon she bestirreth hir-selfe and that with all speed but first hauing made away Domitia for light cause and womens quarrels For Domitia Lepida being daughter to the yoonger Antonia and neece to Augustus cosen germane to Agrippina and sister to Gn. Agrippinaes first husband thought hir-selfe to be of as great nobilitie as Agrippina and as well descended neither was there any great difference betweene them in beautie age and wealth And being both vnchaste infamous peremptory proud they no lesse hated one the other for their vices then for the graces gifts of fortune The ground of this bitter and deadly hate was which should haue more credite and greater interest in Nero the aunt or the mother For Lepida had woone the yoong mans hart by gifts and faire words Agrippina contrariwise cruell and threatning coulde giue hir sonne the Empire but not indure that he shoulde rule The crimes imputed to hir were that she went about to destroy the princes wife by incantatious and deuilish inuocations and that by not brideling and punishng hir swarmes of slaues in Calabria she had disturbed the quietnes of Italie for these causes she was commanded to die Narcissus mightily repining and grudging at it who began more and more to suspect Agrippina and was said to haue vttered vnto his neerest friends that he was sure to die whether Britannicus or Nero came to be Emperour Yet he had receiued so much good at Caesars handes that he esteemed more of the princes safetie then his owne life Messallina and Silius had beene conuicted the like occasions of accusations will be offered againe if Nero shoulde raigne If Britannicus should succeede he had deserued no fauour of him and the whole house woulde bee shaken and vtterlie ouerthrowne with the diuelish deuises of his stepmother and with more wicked practises then if he had concealed the impudicitie and vncleane life of his other wife although the house be as shamefully defiled by Pallas adulterie as then it was because no man should doubt what small accompt she made of her credit reputation shame bodie and all whatsoeuer so as she might rule and commaund After he had vttered these or the like speeches he embraced Britannicus wished he were come to ripe yeeres lifteth vp his hands sometimes to the gods sometimes to him praying that he might grow in yeeres driue out his fathers enemies reuenge on the murtherers of his mother Claudius in this great heape of cares was stroken with sicknes and to recouer his strength with the temperatenes of the citie wholesomnes of the waters went to Sinuessa Then Agrippina long before resolued in her villanous deseignments and desirous to hasten the occasion offered wanting no ministers began to thinke with her selfe what kinde of poison she were best to vse for by a speedie and quick working poison she feared least her wickednes should be discouered yet if she should choose a lingering slow working one least Claudius drawing by little and little to his end and vnderstanding the treacherie should turne his minde and shew loue and affection to his owne sonne in the end she resolued to thinke on some singular thing which should trouble his braines and not worke his death ouer-hastely A schoolemistris of such practises was chosen of purpose called Locusta of late condemned for empoisoning and long reserued among other instruments of state The poison was prepared by this womans skill and the minister to giue it was Halotus an Eunuch one accustomed to carrie in and taste his meate all came afterward so cleerely to light that the writers of those times haue affirmed that the poison was infused into a Mushrome which Claudius tooke pleasure to eate of which then he perceiued not either by reason of his blockishnes or ouer-much quaffing of wine and hauing a solublenes of bodie withall it was thought the receipt would not worke his effect Whereupon Agrippina greatly astonied and fearing her vtter destruction nothing regarding what enuie she might presently incurre conferreth with Xenophon the Phisition whose conscience before-hand she had wrought to serue her turne He as though he would help the Prince endeuoring to vomit was thought to haue put down his throte a feather dipped in a strong and speedie poison knowing well that foule attempts are begun with danger and accomplished with reward In the meane time the Senate was assembled and the Consuls and Priests made vowes for the health of the Prince and being alreadie dead he was couered and cherished with cloathes whilest things
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
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
their auncient renowne of warres excell the rest in seruice of horse and the Catteans deserue no greater commendation for footemen then the Tencterians for horsemen So did their predecessors ordaine it and successors follow it These are the childrens pastimes this the emulation betwixtyong men and old men continue the same and horses are deliuered as rights of inheritance among the familie and the sonnes receiue them though not the eldest but he who is most couragious and likeliest to make a marshall man Hard by the Tencteri in times past the Bructeri did inhabit but now it is reported that the Chamauians and Angriuarians are entred into that countrey and wholie rooted out and chased the Bructerians by agreement of nations adioyning either as hating them for their pride or for sweetnes of pray or some fauor of the gods towards vs as not denying vs the spectacle of the battel wherein there were slaine threescore thousand not by the Roman armes and weapons but which is more glorious to shew vs pastime and please our eye I wish that if those people cannot loue vs that they would hate one another seeing that the state of the Empire fatally declining fortune can do vs no greater fauor then sowe sedition among the enemies The Angriuarians and Chamauians haue behinde them the Dulgibini and Chasuari and other nations not greatly spoken of and before them the Frisians The Frisians are called great or small according to their strength the Rhene bordering both vnto the Ocean and besides that do comprehend huge and spacious lakes which the Roman nauie hath past yea and the Ocean itselfe we haue entred into and tried on that side And the fame goeth that Hercules pillers are yet there to be seene either because Hercules went so farre or else because by common consent all that is any where magnificall is attributed to his renowme Drusus Germanicus wanted not courage but the Ocean hindered vs for being ouer inquisitiue of him or Hercules After that no man assayed to do it as being an act of greater deuotion and reuerence to beleeue the actions of the gods rather then know them Hitherto we haue seene the West part of Germanie towards the North it goeth bowing with a great compas And first of all the people of the Chauceans although they begin at the Frisians and possesse part of the shore coast all those nations I haue made mention of vntill they wind into the Catti and so spacious and huge countrey the Chauci do not only hold but fill likewise of all the German nation the noblest and desirous to maintaine their greatnes by iustice without couetousnes or vnbrideled lust quiet and retired stirre vp no warres neuer waste spoile nor rob And which is a speciall marke of their valour and strength they got not their superioritie ouer others by any wrongs offered Yet they are all readie for warre and if occasion require to make an armie wanting neither horse nor men and although they lie quiet yet their reputation is neuer the lesser On the side of the Chauci and Catti the Cherusci haue nourished long beeing neuer prouoked an idle and lazie peace which was more sweet than safe vnto them bicause there is no sure peace betweene stirring and strong people For when the matter is come to hand-strokes modestie and good dealing be termes which belong to superiors So the Cherusci in times past good and iust are now called cowards and fooles and the fortune of the Catti being fauourable is cause that they are counted wise The Fosi a people bordering vpon the Cherusci are touched with their ruine companions in their aduersitie though in prosperitie they were inferiour vnto them Neere vnto the same coast of the Ocean the Cimbrians inhabite now a small people but highly renowned hauing yet remaining certaine markes of their old glotie to wit on both the bankes trenches and lodges by the circuit of which thou maist yet measure the greatnes and strength of that nation and beleeue the number of so great an armie It was sixe hundred and fortie yeeres after the foundation of our citie before the Cimbrians armes were heard of when Caecilius Metellus and Papirius Carbo were Consuls From that time vnto the second time that the Emperor Traian was Consull by iust account are two hundred and ten yeeres and so many yeeres we were a conquering Germanie In the middle time there were many losses on both parts Not the Samnites not the Carthagineans not the Spaniards or the Gallois no not the Parthian haue so often troubled vs the libertie of the Germans being more earnest than the kingdome of the Arsacides For what can the East obiect against vs sauing the death of Crassus when he had defeated Pacorus before troden downe by Ventidius But the Germans hauing either slaine or taken Carbo and Cassius and Scaurus Aurelius and Seruilius Cepio and M. Manlius haue defeated also fiue Consularie armies and Varus with three legions in Caesars time neither haue C. Marius in Italie or Iulius in Gallia Drusus and Nero and Germanicus molested them in their houses without blowes After that C. Caesars great threatnings were turned to a iest Then there was quietnes vntill our ciuill warres gaue them occasion when they had taken the standing campes of the legions to haue a desire to enter Gallia from whence being againe driuen out in late times they haue beene rather triumphed ouer then vanquished VI. The Sueuians and other people NOw we will speake of the Sueui which are not one nation as the Catti and Tencteri and possessing the greater part of Germanie and seuered by peculiar names and countries although by one generall name they be called Sueui whose marke is to curle their haire and tie it on knots By that the Sueuian is distinguished from the other Germans and the free borne Sueuian from the bond man That in other countries is vsed also but seldome times either for affinitie with the Sueuians or as it often happeneth by imitation and whilest they be yoong but the Sueuians euen vntill they be old and gray haue their haire standing an end and often tie it on the crown only princes weare it after a finer fashion That is the harmelesse care they haue of their beautie For they vse it not either to winne loue or be beloued but turne it vp to a certaine height to seeme to the enimie more terrible when they go thus trimmed to the warre The Semnones say they are the most auncient of the Sueuians and the most noble The credit of their antiquitie they confirme with this ceremonie At certaine times all of one blood meet by their deputies in a wood reputed holy by the auguration of their forefathers and auncient reuerence where publickly killing a man they celebrate the barbarous beginnings of their ceremonie Yet there is another reason why the wood is had in reuerence No man entereth into it but bound with somewhat as an inferiour person and acknowledging the power of the god
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