on they must be acted There is more perill to resolve than execute a conspiracie They are not unlike certaine viands of which if we eat little they are poyson and nutriment if plentifully The resolution being made to put Andrew to death a silken cord was chosen to bee the instrument the time night Executioner Charles Artus whom the Catanian had created Lord Chamberlaine the place the Queenes withdrawing roome What monster of crueltie What monstrous crueltie A King unsafe in the company of his wife The house of a Prince is sacred everie one ought to be safe there as in a Temple and her Cabinet become a place of execution The Palace of Kings is holy the Mount Palatine was sacred and venerable onely because the Emperour there made his abode At the time of this hideous and damnable conspiracie Andrew is called from his chamber to come unto the Queenes lodging others say that being in bed with her hee was awakened as upon some matter of much importance but in one kinde or other putting his head out of the chamber doore either to goe in or out the murderers cast a cord about his necke strangled him and tied him to the barres of the window All the Citie was in an uprore at so execrable an act and so cruell a spectacle Could the people have had meanes to force the Castle they had not sought for the murderers any where but in the Queenes company They fell upon certaine Calabrian Groomes of the Chamber who died innocent The Actors saved themselves at Constantinople many were taken but the Catanian caused some to be strangled and others to have their tongues cut out who might discover her wickednesse the punishment whereof shee already felt in her soule by the torment of her conscience and imagination Thyestes after his inâ—est fled from the earth and hell and said his presence slackned the Sun not willing to pollute his rayes with so wicked a man that all aimed at her that her shadow accuseth her that Executioners torture her that the Sunne denyeth her his beames that her presence slackneth his rising that hee may not pollute his bright rayes with an object so detestable Fryar Robert after this miserable fact shut himselfe up An evill man feareth his owne shadow there was no way of safetie for him he beheld nothing round about him but precipices I know not what became of him The Historie speaking of his authoritie threatneth him with ruine but tels not how it happened A religious man from his rule and monasterie is out of his element Questionlesse it was not without repentance to have beene in the Court as out of his Element and led a life quite contrarie to his Profession Good religious men rest in the discipline of the Cloyster seldome stir abroad live strictly pray and meditate incessantly study when they can persever in all puritie and have more care to doe well than speake well For at the day of judgement good deeds shall bee weighed not smooth words Ioane was delivered on Christmas day of a Sonne Birth of Carobert Posthumus son of Andrew the five and twentieth of December 1346. and the joy of this birth was troubled with the newes that Lewis King of Hungarie came with an huge Armie to revenge his brothers death Her Councell besought her to marrie that she might have some one to entrust with the mannage of her Armes Shee matched with Lewis of Tarentum sonne of the brother of King Robert one of the goodliest Princse of that age The mariage consummate she theron askes counsell and dispensation of the Pope Youth and sollitude incompatible thorowout the world declaring unto him herage permitted not solitude nor could her Counsell endure to see her deprived the comfort of a husband that many Princes sued to her that the affection she bare to her owne house fixed her thoughts upon the Prince of Tarentum Scandalous marriage with adultery and the murder of a husband The Pope hereof advertised the King of Hungary brother of Andrew shewing it would be scandalous to Christianitie to see a wife marrie againe after she had killed her husband and match with him who was suspected to have beene both an adulterer and murderer So the condemned make sport whilst the Iudges give sentence for their condemnation In the meane time they lived contentedly regarded not rumors which sought to offend them nor resisted them but with stopping their eares and made faire weather not imagining what the eternall Iustice had ordained for them But the Queene understanding the King of Hungary marched with a huge armie to revenge the death of his brother sent a Gentleman to him with a letter to this effect Brother were I able to expresse my sorrow unto you I should not feele the violence thereof Great griefes are dumbe and little speake which exceedeth my force and your imagination This Gentleman will shew you it to be such that nothing can ease it but revenge upon that which is the cause thereof For which purpose and for the good of my kingdome I sought not out a second husband any where but in mine owne house and have freed my selfe from the solicitations of other Princes The inheritance is better loved than the heire who more loved my state than me With his valour and my courage I hope to derive light out of darknesse and to make truth triumph over calumnie Much may you fortifie my hope if you entertaine as much affection for the innocencie of the sonne and protection of the mother as I hdve to tell you that I am your deare sister IOANE The answer of Lewis was very rough and couched in few words The loose life you have lead heretofore the absolute power you have taken upon you the neglect of revenge your second marriage and the excuse you make to punish the fault are sufficient to convince you had a share or gave consent to the massacre of your husband for which cause you ought not to expect to have either friend or brother LEWIS The people is the Barbâ— is Pâ—annet which hearing a trumpet sound forgat all she had learned before This Letter ran every where up and downe was favourably read by turbulent calumnious spirits and the people who overprise bruits and who upon the first mention of evil against any forget all the good had bin done scandalized the life honour of the Queene But as truths commonly passe amongst impostures No man is so great a liar who speakes not some truth it was said thorowout the City of Naples the Catanian had perpetrated this horrible parricide and that the Count Ebule her sonne high Steward of Naples had hastned execution Exaltationes tam egregiae non absque macula pudicitiae labefactate concedemis in Aethiopas devenere Nam si fas credere non sit non defuere qui dicerent lenocinio Philippae Ioannam ad amplexus devenisse Roberti that he
Messalina wife of Claudius the sinke of all abominations Clytemnestra murdered Agameâ—non her husband to throw it on mine honour He makes me more wanton than Cleopatra more insatiable than Messalina more cruell than Clytemnestra Had he found me in those infamous houses where every one knowes why that place is frequented he could not use me more unworthily He sayes I have failed in loyalty to my Husband Fye upon treachery We cannot judge the inward man by the outward he sayes I did it because he thinkes I should have done it and that the harsh and barbarous conditions of his brother might dispence with a Queene They who deceive their husbands recompence with good words evill deeds who being in the flower of her age had no cause to complain that nature denied her its perfections or heauen fauours Is it not a silly tricke to derive the proofes of the heart from the forehead When he sayes I had nothing in store for Andrew but scorne and contempt and that I reserved my affections for others What he produceth to condemne mee justifies me who knoweth not that such as deceive their husbands flatter them whilst others whose consciences upbraid them not are more imperious satisfying themselves with the interiour approbation of their vertue He sayes I am guiltie of his death It is false If my sex permitted I would challenge him and make these words returne into his heart with the lye or his life issue forth with his shame I would quickly bee resolved upon it my courage should make difficulties abashed and shame valiant If I would have committed this wicked act Oftentimes great mischiefes are imputed to accident to excuse the plot I had meanes to performe it in a more secret manner and to impute that to accident which came by violence I could not doe it alone and if any one therein assisted me let him speake let him accuse me I promise him pardon The King of Hungarie assures him reward but Heaven threatneth both the one and the other with Hell What say I It is a jest Polyphemus mocked at Vlysses who spake to him of the feare of the Gods In many places second wedlocks have beene accused of incontinencie to speake to a Cyclope of the feare of Gods Hee affirmes I am married to the Prince of Tarentum but have I done it without the Churches dispensation without advice of my Councell without the necessitie of my Kingdome And where are the Lawes which forbid Princesses of eighteene a second wedlocke Must none but virgins marrie He addeth I loved him not one should have beene verie tender and compassionate of heart to affect his person King Robert made it appeare when he gave him to me that hee respected not so much my contentment as his owne The honour I did him to marrie him obliged him to retribution of honor but he on the contrarie sought to have all authoritie and I was enforced to take it from him that I might not submit the Lawes of my Kingdome to the discretion of strangers So soone as sovereigne authoritie is shaken it is lost and confounded I was jealous of mine authoritie as of the apple of mine eye of the heart of my State My Ancestors taught me that if this rock once totter it cannot be stayed the end of its motion is ruine Who is glad of his owne losse never loved the possession They say I bewailed him not Verily were I bound to deplore deliverance from an insupportable torment I confesse to have done amisse for my teares were quickly dryed up That I neglected the revenge of his death this concernes me not those whom I entrusted with the care of my Lawes and Iustice must answer for that But revenge not sorrow have brought me hither to tell you I am displeased with his death as your Queene who considereth the sequele of impunitie All Princes are brothers and resent the offence of Prinâ—es the scandall of other Princes the reproach of this Nation and who should account her selfe unworthy the Crowne God hath placed on her head if shee employed not it and her proper selfe in the punishment of this Parricide protesting there is not any person of what qualitie soever whom I abandon not without hope of grace or pardon I conjure you to serve me in this designe and to take away the maske of passion that the integritie of justice may appeare and the Sun dissolve the Ice which hath hitherto covered this wicked act The assembly thanked her for this declaration To despise the punishment of great crimes is to give way to much greater praised her justice and the magnanimous care she had of her reputation which could not any way bee more sensibly wounded than by deferring the enquirie and punishment of a crime so enormous and horrid the dissembling whereof were injustice and clemencie crueltie Hugo de Baux Prince of Orange Count of Avellina was appointed with absolute and sovereigne power voyd of limitation to punish the guiltie He laid not hold on wretched and miserable creatures which like little animals doe nothing To punish inferiours is but to crush little animals saith Seneca but foule the fingers of those who crush them he caused to be taken many Lords many Ladies of the Chamber and Cabinet then the Catanian the High Steward of Naples her sonne the Count Mursan her sonne in Law and Sancha her daughter Erecto immaniequuleo in conspectu Neopolitanae urbis medio maris in sinu ritu regionis specâ—ante populo in Philippam torsit Misâ—llam Sanctiam Robertum And that the Common-wealth might publikely receive the satisfaction he promised upon this proceeding the Processe being drawen he without the Towne erected a torture wherein he exposed to the eyes of all the Citie and Kingdome the Catanian and her children who suffered great torments as an Antipast of some farre more exquisite The most miserable thought themselves happie in comparison of such prosperitie Not to bee moved with these examples is as Pirrho's Pig to eat barley greedily in the greatest violence of torment Boccace tels us not what they confessed but by the subsequent punishment we may ghesse of the confession Certaine dayes after they are dragged naked thorow the Towne upon a hurdle then tyed to three ship-masts burning pinsers twitched them rasors flaied them and flames choaked them The Catanian old and weake died in the midst of the torments her heart and entrailes were torne out her head set upon one of the gates of Naples and the rest of her body turned into ashes Enraged hatred envieth the executioners commission Her daughter Sancha was burnt alive Robert her sonne halfe rosted in the fire was drawne thence alive and as if the punishment had beene too gentle for publike satisfaction the people haled him thorowout the City in the dirt and kennels Egineta counselled Pansanias after the victory of Platea to hang Mardonius his enemy on a gallowes then pulled his heart and bowels forth rent him in pieces and there were some who barbarously inhumane tare him with their nailes and fixed their teeth upon him not so much for revenge as through fury and brutishnesse This history is come to its period You counsell me not well said he it only is proper to Barbarians to be cruell to the dead it goes no further he that would know how Queene Ioane went out of this tragedy must travell farther therein than we have done It sufficeth to tell you the Catanian drew upon the Kings and Kingdome of Sicily a deluge of calamities fastning misery as with nails of Adamant to the Crowne of Naples never prosperous either for Ioane her foure husbands her sister or those of her race Lewis King of Hungary entred twice into Naples as into an enemies Countrey to revenge his brothers death he enforced the Queene to retire into Nice The King of Hungary had a blacke standard whereon is pourtrayed the strangling of his brother put the Duke of Durazzo to death at Aversa in the same place where his brother had beene strangled Mary his wife escaped into Provence with her two daughters in the habit of a Franciscan The Pope declareth the Queene innocent treateth peace with Lewis she adopts Lewis Duke of Anjou Queene Ioane strangled at Naples the 22. of May. 1382. son of K. Iohn Charles D. of Durazzo revolts against Ioane besiegeth her in the Castle Ovo makes her yeeld causeth her with her sister to be strangled and usurps the Crowne Lewis King of Hungary dies a Leaper Charles is slaine by Elizabeth She by the faction of Charles Ladisâ—aus her sonne died of poison in the imbracements of a Lady Ioane the second succeedeth marrieth Iaques de Bourbon Earle of March for her second husband Ioane had two favourites her husband cut off the head of one and she stabbed the other who unable to correct or tolerate her imperfections forsakes her and shuts himselfe up in a cloyster She adopteth Alfonsus and having nothing constant in her but her inconstancy revokes the adoption fought to kill him declareth Rene Duke of Anjou Earle of Provence her heire He did not long enjoy her Crowne In all this we must conclude that ill successe wâ—iteth on unjust prosperity that there is not any wickednesse which beareth not its paine and repentance that he who perpetrateth one expects the opportunity of another that whilst the worlds Theater lasteth Fortune thereon will play her Tragedies and will make it appeare she flatters those she meanes to stifle FINIS
provexit quam ut esset cujus ministerio ac fraudibus liberos Germanici circumveniret Suet. for he was desirous to make use of the wiles and policies of Sejanus to ruine the house of Germanicus and advance his owne and Sejanus purposed to climbe to the Imperiall throne by the fall of both His power was not so swift as his will which met with many maine obstacles For the stocke of Caesars was yet whole and entire the sonne young the nephewes men growne It was not in his power to ruine so many at once Dolus intervalla scelerum poscebat Tac. For mischiefe required there should be distance betweene such terrible counterbuffes and that he practise the death of Drusus the sonne of Tiberius at the same time that Tiberius meant to murther Germanicus For as the heart more apprehendeth perils farther off than the present Tiberius saw nothing which made him jealous but the brother nor any thing put feare vpon Sejanus ambition but the sonne The worst counsell he gave him It is ever perilous to change the ordinance of a predecessor was to alter what Augustus had decreed and hate what he loued For the extreme malice he bare against the house of Germanicus cooled the first affection he found when he came to the Empire in the hearts of the Citizens hastening as fast as he could wish Râ—mae ruunt in servâ—â—â—um Consules Patres Equites Tac. to the overthrow of their libertie and tumbling it by maine force as a rocke into the gulfe of servitude that it might neuer rise vp againe Germanicus was both favoured and beloved of the people because he was the sonne of Drusus who formerly had vndertaken to reduce the ancient government of the Common-wealth and had imparted the project to Tiberius his brother but he betrayed him and discovered it to Augustus It was supposed the sonne would have pursued the fathers plot Credebatur si rerum potitus soret libertatem redditurus Tac. to set liberty againe on foot and that if he should attaine the soveraigne authority he would not exercise rigour like Tiberius but raigne sweetly as Augustus Augustus civile rebatur misceri voluptatibus populi Tac. who was Prince and seemed Citizen disdaining not to be present in their popular recreations For which cause Germanicus swaied in hearts and Tiberius only in provinces and being advertised he had pacified Germany and that his wife Agrippina had there done all which might be expected from the Generall of an army to shew her courage to the enemies her bounty to the souldiers her prudence in seditions he became jealous and jealousie degenerating into mortall hatred made him say vnto her Nihil relictum Imperatoribus ubi foemina manipulos intervisat signa adcat largitionem tentet What shall the Emperours haue hereafter to doe since a woman vndertaketh to command over men visit the Court of guards oblige the souldiers with good words and large donatiues Sejanus who loued not Agrippina and well knew the humour of Tiberius which brooked not any should trench vpon his soueraigne Authority a thing so delicate that how tenderly soeuer it be touched is alwayes wounded wanted not arguments and surmises to entertaine his jealousie O dia in longum jaciens quae reconderet auctaque promeret Suet. adding distrust to suspition to suspition feare and as it were a far off preparing the hatred of this Prince to worke her ruine in the end Germanicus returneth from Germany The whole City rejoyceth Tiberius commandeth that only two companies of the pretorian bands should march before him all the people ran thither Populus omnis usque aol vicesimum lapidem se effudit Sueâ— the sooner to giue themselues the contentment of beholding him whom they so long had desired and expected Tiberius grew so discontented hereupon that he resolved to cut off this brave Prince who was but now entring into the foure and thirtieth yeare of his age and had already gained as much reputation as another perhaps could acquire in an age Sceleratis ingeniis plusquam civilia cupientibus non dominari instar servitutis est Calp. This hindered Sejanus who transported with the desire of rule supposed this mighty power he possessed in the affaires of state was nought else but seruitude whilst he acknowledged a superior Tiberius by his advice sendeth Germanicus into Sclavonia under colour of honouring him with principall charges of the Empire giveth him for lieutenant Gneius Piso an euill man proud and violent with commission to observe his actions and discover all his designes It is said Sejanus gave him direction by writing to make away this poore Prince He puts this in execution Germanicus passeth into Aegypt and being there was desirous to see the Idoll Apis Apis manum Germanici Caesaris aversatus est haud multo post extincti Plin. to know what his fortune should be He presented it with meat to eat Apis would take nothing from his hand which was interpreted for a certaine signe of his death He was surprized with a long lingring and painfull sicknesse and his opinion of being poisoned augmented the violence thereof Fama ex long inquo aucta Tac. so that he held it incurable The rumour came to Rome much greater than the maladie for distance redoubled it The people ascribe to events all actions which went before Nothing was then heard but teares and lamentations And wherefore was it saith one that he was sent to the utmost limits of the world that Piso was made his Lieutenant These are the practices of the Emperesse with Plancina the wife of Piso Poore Rome we cannot affect those which love thee nor dare wee murmur against such as ruine thee adding thereunto vehement and mortall imprecations against Seianus It was reported by Merchants of Egypt Latiora statim credita statim vulgata Tac. that he began to recover This newes was as soone beleeved as published The streets were thronged with the presse of people that ran to the Temples to render thanks to the Gods Night favoured this rumour Pronior in tenebris affirmatio Tac. Beleefe seemes much more easie and is most confident in the darke Tiberius himselfe is wakened in the night with the acclamations of joy Nothing was every where heard but these words Salua Roma salua patria salvus est Germanicus Suet. Rome is delivered our Countrey is freed Germanicus is safe After this poison slowly-violent had wasted all the heat and moisture of this poore afflicted body Germanicus could not endure the crowing or sight of a cocke Plut. his Allies and friends wished it might not be irksome to him to have or see a cocke to sacrifice it to Esculapius and that the Gods would restore him life thereby to give libertie to the Roman Empire In this his extreme weaknesse he breathed forth these last words to impresse them in the hearts of his wife and friends whom sorrow dissolved into teares
heaven hath destroyed Germanicus The Eagle having taken away the young rabbits the dam undermineth the tree and throweth downe the neast of the Eagle and her young ones stand to her mercy and in dying made him know there is a supreme justice above which revengeth the violences of great ones over inferiours Are they permitted to spit in our faces or to set foot on our throats because they are above us Nay the least creatures have questioned the Eagle Nothing is so sweet as revenge at what price soever It is a viand that is swallowed without chewing But never hath Piso attempted on his life as desirous of his death and it being well knowne to have been naturall it is a great impiety to faine it was violent Mala impia consuetudo contra Deos disputandi sive ex animo id fiat sive simulate Cic. The Gods would have it so it is not lawfull either in earnest or by way of discourse to dispute of their power Prompta Pisoni legionum studia If he have endevoured to gaine some credit among Military men it was but to lessen the exorbitancy of Germanicus His ambition hastened to ruine Pisoes to conservation the one gave cause of jealousie to Tiberius the other of caution to Germanicus If hee have acquired good opinion in the provinces is he forbidden to cherish it Are not affections free Amor affectus liber qui vices exigit Plin. what hurt is it to make them mutuall But he rather chose to bow under Caesars goodnesse than stiffely dispose himselfe to the defence of his innocency With clasped hands therefore he imploreth this royall vertue which abhorreth the brutish thirst of bloud and humbly beseecheth you O great Prince to imitate heaven Ferina rabies sanguine gaudere Sen. which hath more thunder to affright than lightening to punish But if all prove inexorable Nihil tam periâ—ulesum fortunis innocentum quà m tâ— cere adversarios and that the accusers hasten to ravish and snatch away this soule which they so much have turmoiled and afflicted he will dye with this comfort that his innocency found no protection and had rather perish than offend those who might have saved him There resteth darknesse in the accusation of poison It is a Pyramis which doth not entirely discover it selfe for of three sides there is alwayes one which cannot be seene Piso and Plancina his wife appeared A Tribuno deauctus vario rumore custos salutis an mortis exactor Tac. but the third hid Tiberius and Tiberius Sejanus This first audience ended Piso went out but the people were so incensed against him that had he not beene conveyed away in a litter by the guard he never had returned to his house safe and alive That which the multitude could not do on his person they acted on his statues dragging them to the Gemonian staires Portia said she was not onely a partaker of the bed and table of her husband as a Concubine but was the Companion of his good and evill fortune as his wife Plut. Plancina his wife who had promised to undergoe his fortune wholly inclined to levity a naturall vice of that sex and being well assured of her owne life by the favour of the Emperesse neglected Piso and abandoned him as if she had beene married to participate with him only in prosperity The Iudges for many respects were implacable to the accused This opinion was common and Iosephus affirmes it Caesar was willing he should dye because he entred with armes into the Province the Senate constantly beleeved Germanicus was poisoned and among violent deaths poisoning is abhorred with the greatest execration The mad-love drinke is quaffed in silver in stead of Greeke wine because thereby persons most pretious and esteemed are torne from the Common wealth Life-killing Arsenick is tasted in a golden dish that poison more easily is mingled and compounded in golden than earthen vessels There is no Antidote hath more vertue or efficacy against poison than a private condition which neither feareth avarice may attempt on his state nor envy on his dignity yet is it most certaine Venenicviâ—â—en accusatores non satis firmabans Tac. this poisoning was never clearly proved nor confidently affirmed by the accusers There was no speech hereof either in Antioch or Rome but according to the affection men bare to the dead or hatred against the living Tacitus saith it is not certaine that the marks of poison appeared on the dead Praetuleritne venefâ—ii signa parum constitit Tac. Suetonius affirmes he was covered all over with purple spots that he foamed at the mouth Livores totocorpoâ—â— spumae per os fluebant cor inter essa incorruptum Suet. and that his heart was found whole among the ashes Pliny that Vitellius pressed this very hard that Piso retorted the arrow backe against those that shot it and as one affirmed that Germanicus being poisoned his heart resisted the fire so the other maintained that dying of the Cardiaque disease his heart could not be burnt Negatur corcremari posse in his qui Cardiaco morbo obierint veneno interemptis Plin. So the Hypothesis ever rested in the question and both the one and the other had truth on his side it being equally true according to Pliny that the hearts of those who dye by poison or the Cardiaque evill are not consumed by fire But the worst passage of Pisoes processe was the extreme boldnesse of the people who taking rumour for proofe cryed out at the Court gate that if justice were not executed on Piso they would doe it themselves All this much amazed Piso who on the second day appeared in Senate to see if any change were made in this first severitie But hee found the wind verie contrarie Tiberius so cold Nullo magis exterritus est quà m quod Tiberium sine miseratione sine ira obstinatum claufumque vidit Tac. that for feare of discovering himselfe hee inclined neither to anger to ruine him nor to pitie to afford him any hope He thereupon judged he was to have no recourse thither either for his innocencie or truth Yet notwithstanding Sejanus told him Tiberius would take his opportunitie when time required and not see him lost others terrified him saying He who is conâ—inced of one crime is punished for many Although he were declared innocent for the death of Germanicus hee would bee put to death for other crimes For Tiberius was so much exasperated with his taking armes in Syria In crimes against the State there is no compensation of merit for the fault that he resolved to make him an example not suffering his service to counterpoyse the crime Sejanus regarded not the losse of Piso so he concealed his secret commission but much he feared lest seeing himselfe condemned he might complaine in the Senate of judgement and at his execution of the Emperour and that he should speake if not
liberty for verily the feare of death excuseth not him who offēdeth truth to flatter fortune To publish lying histories or give false instructiōs to those that write them is to rob passengers on the high way in good earnest He retaining the same liberty in his discourses he had done in his writings contemned the pride of Sejanus and to free himselfe from the hands of a man so potent made it appeare he was reall and exempt from the number of the miserable This Calamity was not so frequent among the Romans when Germanicus lived these two Lions did as yet restraine their pawes feare tempered the actions of Tiberius and necessity with-held the insolence of Sejanus Dion saith that opinions often passed currant against his he not therewith offended Dion saith whilst Germanicus lived Tiberius did nothing at any time of his owne head He referred all manner of affaires to the Senate hee ministred justice by the advice of those who assisted him allowed every one should deliver his opinion endured contradiction and sometime suffered to be cut off in his opinions Tiberius said I am Lord of slaves Emperour of souldiers and over the rest a Prince He would not be called Lord but by slaves nor Emperour but of souldiers he absolutely refused the name of father of the Countrey he gave way in discourse and petitions to the title of Augustus used it in the dispatches he made to Kings and in all occasions else was contented with the name of Caesar and Prince of the Senate His ordinary wish was that heaven would grant him life so long as the common wealth should stand in need of his service Whilst Germanicus lived All that was done during the life of Germanicus but after his death all was changed the day of his birth was not solemnized no man sware by his fortune no statue nor Temple was erected to him When he went thorow the City he desired not to be attended either by Senator Patrician or Roman Knight or any man of quality in all things demeaning himselfe as if he lived under a popular government yea he descended even to the making of funerall orations for particular men If he exercised any violence Ambition for a long time makes it selfe little to become great it was cloaked and coloured with semblances of reason or necessity or if it were secret it appeared not at all The Emperour Augustus to please Livia banished him to the I le of Planasia Clemens a famous impostor had slaine his Master Agrippa Posthumus the grand-child of Augustus and because he was much of his age and stature Veritas visu morâ falsa festinatione incer t is volescunt Tac. he caused the bruit thereof privately to run as a thing dangerous and afterward publikely as a matter acceptable that Agrippa was alive for it was true the Mother of the Emperour had made him away presently after the death of Augustus whose memory was so precious and venerable that under this name he found friends in Gallia succours in Italy and credit in Rome the people proclaiming and beleeving the Gods had reserved him for the good of the Empire Tiberius considering that rumour and his levity gave countenance to this fiction and that it could not so slenderly be beleeved but it would prejudice his affaires commanded him to be attached by those who fained to be of his faction Percunctanti Tiberio quomodo Agrippa factus esset respondisse fertur Quo modo tu Caesar Tac. Being brought before him he wondred he so cunningly had managed this imposture demanding of him by what title art thou made Agrippa The gallant answereth by the same thou hast made thy selfe Caesar Torments could not evict from him the names of his complices Inanis credulitas tempore ipso vanescit Tac. and although Tiberius knew he had beene assisted both with mony and counsell by the greatest he enquired no further of them But caused him to be put to death without further noyce Tiberius then had reason to account the death of Germanicus amongst the best dayes of his owne life and Sejanus reckoned it one of the greatest steps to his fortune but the same malice they bare to the father continued against the children yet endevouring all they could possibly to dissemble it to the end it might seasonably appeare in the meane time covering it with large demonstrations of affection towards them Neronem e liberis Germanici jam ingressum juventam commendavit Patribus non sinc risu audientium Tac. Tiberius prayeth the Senate to give Nero a dispensation of age that he might enter into publike offices and be able at fifteene yeares to become Questor which is not granted but at two and twenty He was also created Pontifex and the day he entered into this dignity Congiarium pleb Tac. he made a donative of provisions to the people who much rejoyceth to behold the children of Germanicus in a flourishing state of youth For full accomplishment of alacrity he espouseth Iulia the daughter of Drusus ut illa secundis ita hoc adversis animis acceptum Tac. But she grew disdainfull when she heard the daughter of Sejanus was promised to Drusus the sonne of Claudius esteeming this noble family was dishonoured by such an alliance and that it gave but too much hope to a man who already had over-much power and who accounted himselfe unhappy if he commanded not impatient to live as a private person The heavens unwilling to derive fruit from so bad a tree disposed thereof otherwise Drusus sporting in the City of Pompey threw a peare up into the aire Iason the Tyrant of Pherez said he died for hunger if he arrived not at Tyranny for he could not live a foole that is to say a private man and receiving it againe with open mouth was strangled and this daughter participating in the disastrous end of her father made her wedding song at the foot of the gallowes as in his due place shall be seene The hatred was so enraged against Sejanus that some said he made this marriage to destroy his sonne in law Miror fuisse qui traderenta a Sejano necatum Suet. This opinion could have no other foundation but that this young Prince discovered too much contempt of this alliance or too much scorne to be the sonne in law of a man so odious who had no honour in him his ancestors or himselfe Vaine is the praise which comes not from a praise worthy man having acquired nothing he could leave nought to his children and received praise but only from those whom he himselfe durst not commend Drusus could not brooke this insolence nor that his father Tiberius should preferre Counsels and forraine affections before naturall Secreta viri corrupta uxore produntur Tac. He spared not to say to his wife who betrayed him and to his friends who deceived him that Sejanus was almost become a Colleague as he hath
hither to beene a Coadjutor of Tiberius and his children the allies of Drusus That his ambition hath deepe aimes that hee will not rest there For Prima dominandi spes in arduo ubi fis ingressus adsunt studia ministri Tac. The first hopes of predominance are difficult but when one is arrived thither meanes to maintaine it will never bee wanting He often spake this and unto many they were his ordinarie complaints A minde perplexed ceaseth not to expostulate and ever layes the hand upon the wound Hee conceived an extreme hatred against Sejanus Hee was so ready to strike that they surnamed him Castor Surnames are given according to natures for which cause Dion saith Drusus was surnamed Castor and keen swords were called Drusians and not being able any longer to endure this man who made himselfe his companion hee lifted up his hand with threats and the other disposing himselfe to defence presented his to stay the blow wherupon Drusus strucke him on the cheeke Dion and Zonaras write that Sejanus smote Drusus but there is no apparance he used this hardinesse against the sonne of the Emperour young couragious associated to the Empire and holding the Tribunitiall power Tribunitia potestas summi fastigii vocabatur Tac. the greatest next the Sovereigne A blow should be answered with a poynard but strokes which come from the hand of a Prince ought to be recived with patience and humilitie He that can kill obligeth when he only woundeth This disgust so fresh reneweth those which by processe of time were as I may say withered in the soule of Sejanus Yet the Historie relateth not hee made any complaint or that Tiberius reproved his sonne Tiberius Sâ—â—â—num singularem principalium onerum ad jutorem in omnia habuit Vell. so to have injured him whom he had selected above all for assistance to support the principall burthens of Empire For it is ever an ill way to seeke out occasions which may irritate the Emperour against the Prince Not daring to complaine hee resolved to be revenged and as revenge is ever wittie to lay hold of the meanes how to satisfie the offended hee could finde no fitter wedge to cleave this knot but to make it of the same wood and gaine the wife to ruine the husband Raâ—a est concordia formae atque pudicitiae Inven. Shee was faire but her beautie accorded not well with her honour Shee consenteth to the earnest solicitations of Sejanus to whom none denyed any thing because Tiberius gave him all Familiaritie drew on affection that which at first was nought else but love becomes adulterie and adulterie witchcraft A most strange blindnesse The neece of Augustus daughter in law of Tiberius daughter of Drusus sister of Germanicus wife of the Emperours sonne Se ac majores pasâ—cros municipali adultere foedabat Tac. mother of two Princes in possibilitie of Empire blemisheth her honour disgraceth her house to consent to the lusts of an ordinarie Citizen But glorious beauties will be admired and powerfull favours sought unto Sejanus could doe all by his favour Livia was beloved of all for her beautie Vpon the demand made unto Aristotle why we love that which is faire he answered It is a blinde mans question To aske why that which is beautifull is affected Is the question of a blinde man but it is to have eyes no where but in the head to wish great men may not do what they please Having then the body at his dispose hee managed the heart as he list The first crime made way for all the rest Foemina amissa pudicitia alia flagitia non abnuit Tac. When a woman hath forsaken her chastitie she hath nothing left either to lose or deny Love made her an adulteresse ambition a murderesse and the passage is confident from the one to the other Sejanus infuseth into her minde a desire to become the Emperours wife shee beleeves hee is able to make good what hee sayes for Tiberius reigned not but in his person and at his pleasure Shee heareth and tasteth it and the delight shee sheweth therein by her attention is not farre distant from her consent The Fort which parleyes is halfe renured Their likings concurring for loue unite for marriage and for that purpose they conspire to dissolve all obstacles Sejanus by the divorce of Apicata and Livia by the death of Drusus Magnitudo facinoâ—is metum prolatio interdum diversa consilia adfâ—rt Tac. But as Great mischiefes cannot so quickly bee hatched for feare draweth on irresolution affrightment invites slacknesse and distance of time augmenteth difficulties they had not so much trouble to resolve on the act as to finde out the meanes and manner Order and secrecie which ought to bee exactly observed in matters important were not omitted in this wicked plot They resolved to poyson him and weighing with themselves if the poyson were given in his meat some others perhaps might be surprized and deceived therewith they advised to give it in some medicine which he was to take and that it should have so slow operation that death would bee imputed to nature or accident and not to treason and violence Eudemus amicus ac medicus Liviae specie artis frequens secretis Tac. Livia therein employed Eudemus her Physitian who for his qualitie and by the favour of his profession had ordinarie accesse to her cabinet Adulteria etiam in principum domibus ut Eudemi in Liviae Drusi Caesaris Plin. Tacitus saith he was her friend Pliny her adulterer Sejanus gaineth Lygdus the Eunuch one of the chiefest and most trustie houshold servants of Drusus and to tie his heart more straightly to him Rumor Sejanum Lygdi spadonis animum stupro vicisse villanously abuseth his body hee being both young and handsome The wretches conspire in this execrable attempt The murdrous Sejanus plotteth it Livia the Adulteresse gives consent Eudemus the Ruffian compoundeth the drug and Lygdus the Catamite presenteth it Foure creatures Iupiter saith to Prometheus hee deserved to have his heart and liver devoured who deserve their hearts which formed and conceived this prodigious assassinate on the sole sonne of the Prince should everlastingly bee devoured by gnawing Vultures They all miserably perished and so may all those Furies who trayterously attempt on Princes Drusus without distrust takes this deadly poyson from the hand of Lygdus his Eunuch and that which he thought would have confirmed health hastens death but so slowly that the languishment and length tooke away the suspition of poyson Time Ordo sceleris per Apicatam Sejano proditus tormentis Eudemi as Lygdi patefactus est Tac. which in the end discovereth all things drew truth out of darknesse and Apicata the wife of Sejanus eight yeares after gave the first notice It is an admirable thing that a woman of a great spirit wounded in her honour and banished shed from the company of her husband by an
or was cast under it among bruit beasts As often as the friendship of Asinius Gallus a kinsman of Agrippina's or the malice of Sejanus had ruined any the men of this age cryed lowdly our O Vacia solus scis vâ—vere Sen. O Vacia there is none but thou who knowes how to live The solitarie life was the most secure Vita ruftica parsimoniae jusâ—itiae ac diligentiae magistra-Cic the civill most perilous and the rustique most acceptable so is it likewise the mistresse of frugalitie diligence integritie and simplicitie It was not attended with so much honour nor gave such contentment as heretofore when the great Captaines went from Triumph to the Cart from Tillage to Armes Attilii manus rustico opere attritae salutem publicam stabilicrunt Vol. and from Harvest to the Senate The earth in those times tooke delight to yeeld fruits in abundance Gaudebattellus vomere laurea to Plin. and acknowledge the labour of those victorious hands which tilled her with a Coulter crowned with Lawrell Sejanus this torrent of pride and insolency overflowed all There was not a creature stayed him all bee encountred were utterly ruined It is not safe to commit so many and so great charges to the fortune of one Par. de Fab. Tiberius was blamed for submitting the fortune of the Empire to the discretion of one sole man and his will to the power of his servant Ambition is oft times put blinde Evill enterprises succeed against the undertakers when it should bee cleare sighted and thinking to walke the right way wanders It ruin'd Sejanus and caused his designes to succeed otherwise than he hoped Hee promised himselfe that Germanicus being dead nothing could hinder him but Drusus hee poysoneth him and behold the succession doubtlesse stands for Germanicus his children It is necessarie for establishment of his tyrannie that hee overthrow it which he undertakes and that the more boldly Ferox scelerum quia prima provenerant Tac. because his precedent outrages succeeded so prosperously that the father neglecteth to revenge the death of his sonne He makes him beleeve his enemies will derive profit from this losse that Agrippina is resolved to reigne He needeth no great art to perswade him Nun dubia Germanici liberorum successio Tac. for hee saw the succession open and this woman thorowly resolved to bite the apple He is determined to cause the mother and her children to perish Sejanus herein findes himselfe much perplexed For to thinke to corrupt Agrippina as he had done Livia there was no likelyhood she being of a chastitie invincible Sparga venenum in tres non poterat egregiâ custodum fide pudicitiâ Agrippinae impenetrabili Tac. and impenetrable To give poyson unto three at once was impossible and severally difficult so great was the fidelitie and vigilance of their servants Besides this Lady could not bee treated withall as other women All the Citie was for her the most confident and shamelesse calumny durst not seize on her shee walked firmely betweene the jealousie of Tiberius and ambition of Sejanus who found no shorter way to ruine her than to animate the Emperour against her by causing him to observe her courage and her hopes He lost no time herein but in a short space met with a fit occasion to make his wicked designe breake into action In the beginning of the yeare Solennia vota pro incolumitate tuâ quá salus publica continetur suscipimus solvimus Plin. they used to sacrifice to Iupiter an Oxe with gilded bornes for the Safetie of the Prince which is the weale of the State The Pontiffes and other Priests by their example recommended to the same Gods Nero and Drusus sonnes of Germanicus not so much for the love of them as to please Tiberius thereby to let him know how much they desired to perpetuate the Empire in his house Good manners were so much forgotten Adulatio moribus corruptis perinde ancepa si nulla ubi nimia est Tac. that it was not more dangerous to flatter too much than not at all Tiberius was perplexed to see their youth hold way with his age Primores modicè perstringendi Tac. for which cause hee asked the Pontiffes whether they had done it at the instant entreaties or threats of Agrippina and they answering no he rebuked them but temperately for they were for the most part either Allies of Agrippina or of the prime men of the Citie He hastens presently to the Senate on this occasion frames a large discourse to shew them that henceforward The mindes of weake and mutable young men should not be thrust into pride Mobiles adolescentium animi praematuris honoribus ad superbiam non extollendi Tac. by honours immaturely conferred upon them Yea Sejanus made more noyse hereupon than Tiberius saying All would run to ruine since no more difference was made betweene the Prince and his kinsmen That the Citie of Rome would fall into division as in the civill broyles Facta tribuâ— dominis communis Roma Lucan when it had three Lords Caesar Pompey and Crassus That the authoritie of the Emperour would be the least That the desire of ancient liberty was awakened That the faction of Agrippina would bee set up which not resisted their number would bee the greater Nullum aliud gliscentis discordiae remedium si unus alterve maximè prompti subvertantur Tac. That no other remedy could bee found for the discord which began to advance and multiply but by causing one or two of them presently to be put to death Amicitia Germanici pernitiosa utrique Tac. He threatned only two and aimed at many but he supposed that these two C. Silius and T. Sabinus should fall from so high an eminence that all the rest would be warned by their ruine Their noble affection to the house of Germanicus had in no degree degenerated from the nature of true friendship although it were not only barren but unfortunate to them Turpe aliis gratificari per dede cus proprium Tac. Varro the Consull wickedly accommodating his conscience and honour to the passion of Sejanus accuseth Caius Silius and Sosia Galla his wife T. Sabinus was reserved for another time and although they made it appeare this pursuit was violent and that Varro ought to stay till he were out of his Consulship yet processe was framed as in case of treason though they were accused for nothing but to have converted the moneys of the common wealth to their owne use and of which sums no man required restitution Proprium Tiberio scelera nuper reperta priscis verbis obtegere Tac. But Tiberius was so wary that he gave the titles of most odious crimes to the slightest faults Silius seeing that makes no defence and when â—e speakes it is but to shew the pursuit is too potent but foreseeing it was not in his power to save himselfe Immineus damnatio
thy selfe to live as thou art There is no desire so regular which stayes where it begins But the magistrates and prime men of state who visit thee to disease thee and aske counsell of thee upon all occasions know well thou wilt not rest there that thou hast raised thy selfe above the quality of a Knight and that I have much exceeded the limits of the love my Father bare thee In publique they dissemble it but in private blame my affection for their hatred of thee Excessit equestre fastigiam Sejanus Tac. You will say Augustus purposed to bestow his daughter upon a Romane Knight verily it is strange that he having a minde rectified to thinke of all and foreseeing even to what degree of power that man might climbe whom he by this alliance should preferre before others never spake of Caius Proculeius Augusti animus in omnes oras distrahitur Tac. and some others of remarkable tranquillity of life who never in any kinde intermedled in state affaires Insignis vitae tranquillitas nullis R. P. negotiis permixta Tac. But if wee bee amazed at his irresolution yea even in the advancement of these How much more may wee wonder that he married his daughter first to Agrippa and afterward to me This is it which my friendship will not suffer mee to conceale and as for the other faction I doe assure thee I will never preferre it before thy designes nor those of Livia I wil not at this present tell thee what I resolve to doe before the yeare be passed Nihil tam excelsum quod non mereantur virtutes Tac. nor by what alliance I desire to linke thee unto mee I will only give thee assurance there is nothing so eminent to which thy vertues and the affection thou bearest me may not arrive and when occasion of speech shall bee offered either to the Senate or people I will not therein be silent In the commerce of love and ambition reason is a coyne nothing currant But Sejanus more trusted his owne thoughts than Tiberius his words and his soule frantique with this ambition no longer was capable of reason Much adoe hath he had to come hither there is no way to passe any further The Ascent hath beene difficult slippery and craggy when he shall arrive on the top he shall finde nothing but danger and round about him a gaping precipice Tiberius not willing to ruine him made it appeare his course was dangerous which he would rectifie He that sheweth the place where one hath missed the ready way obligeth no lesse than he who directeth which way to goe He lets him know that this marriage will be a perpetuall source of discord in the house of the Caesars and that those things which serve for Ciment Vincula charitatis apud concordes sunt incitamenta irarum apud infensos Tac. among such as well accord cause hatred in the minds of those who are already moved But Sejanus is not so much troubled with the successe of his marriage as with suspitions which began to be hatched in Tiberius his braine against this mighty and puissant authority he usurped over affaires which in short time make confidence degenerate into feare affection into jealousie and liberty into necessity Praecipuum indiciuÌ„ magni principis magni liberti. When servants are too great it is no good signe of the greatnesse of a Prince yet is it a thing proper to great Princes to raise merits and recompence services for Incujusâ—unque animo virtus sit ei plurimum tribuâ—ndum Vell. Wheresoever vertue is found it will be honoured More it considereth the person than nation industrie than birth In all times Rome hath beheld new men raised to mightie honours T. Coruncanus chiefe Pontifex Sp. Carvillius Consull M. Cato Censor Mummius triumphant and Marius six times Consull It is a madnesse to oppose the pleasure of a Prince when he saith I will hee gives an account what he doth Conseâ—ratus est vivens sentiâ—nsque Euthymus nihilque adeo mirum aliud quam hoc placuisse Diis Plin. We wonder that Euthymus was put into the number of Gods before his death and that in his life he received sacrifices but we are payed with this onely reason Iupiter will have it so To take the power from a Prince to raise inferiours and to humble the greatest is to snatch the scepter out of his hand to make his authoritie a scar-crow and extinguish the radiant light of Majestie It concerneth the State Interest reipubliâ—ae quod usu necessarium dignitate eminere utilitatemque authoritate munir Vâ—ll Dub uâ— an fato principum inclinatio in hos offensio in illos an sit aliquid in nostris consiliis Tac. that liberalitie acknowledge desert and affection support service The condition of a Prince would bee verie hard if he might not chuse amongst the infinite number of his servants some one worthy of a nearer trust according to the happinesse of election or strength of merit It importeth not whether favour cause jealousie in great ones envie in equalls hatred in inferiours so it disturbe not the course of affaires and that particular interest swallow not up the publique Vt pauci illustrentur mundus evertitur unius honor orbis excidium est Sal. for when this happeneth and that to enrich a few Favourites the State must be empoverished all runs to confusion the Prince so ill disposing of his favours is despised as having neither judgement nor justice in his election and the Favourite findeth Nullum gravius suppliâ—ium odio pullico Sen. Fluxa fama potentiae non suis viribus nixa Tac. there is no heavier punishment than publique hate If the Prince please he casteth him as low as he raised him high and there needeth but a blast to overthrow a power which cannot subsist by its owne forces Tiberius truly hath some cause of suspition upon this excessive power of Sejanus but the affection the people beare to the house of Germanicus vexeth him more and Sejanus who saw his imagination wounded upon this point representeth the perill greater than it is awakeneth in the heart of the Empresse the old rancors she had conceived against Agrippina Choler is appointed as a companion for reason and S. Basil calleth it The sinnew of the soule this remembrance moves choler in her and anger which is the sinnew that giveth the sprightliest motions to the soule makes her consider shee shall bee nothing if her enemie bee ought To cause this apprehension to penetrate more sensibly into her minde hee employeth Mutilia Prisca her trustie friend and more to gaine her practiseth upon Iulius Posthumus who made love to her Regibus aequa nedum infirma insolita sunt Tac. The Empresse instantly was stirred with hopes to supplant Agrippina and the feare not onely to goe below but equall with her furnished her with sufficient cunning to make her more odious to Tiberius than
Qualem quisque sortem statumque habeat in mea manu positum est quod cuique mortalium fortuna datum velit meo ore pronunciat Sen. This satisfied him his friends were quickly made acquainted with it and much rejoyced saying to themselves hereafter all which fortune would grant to the Romans should passe thorow their hands or be pronounced by the mouth of their Master Macro presenteth his letters and retireth causeth the souldiers to assemble under colour he was to give them notice of the Emperours commands and by this meanes left those of the watch for the guard of the Temple and the other who followed Sejanus repaired to the field and ensigne Being there he assured them the Emperours favour to acknowledge their services and gratifie them with a donative There was not a man Those presents were armours pikes ensignes scarfes chaines and Crownes who lent not an open eare to this speech and promised not to be ready He chose a good number to guard the passages and the Temple of Apollo That done he presenteth his letters to the Senate opens his Commission retireth leaves Laco there and hasteneth to give direction in the other parts of the City The authority of a Prince cannot descend more low than when he dare not speake plainly to his subjects uâ—on any thing which displeaseth him These letters are read which expressed an afflicted and trembling spirit that durst not unfold but in broken words what he had upon his heart against the ingratitude and treachery of his servant they were confused by divers affaires and out of order the beginning upon things indifferent the sequele of other matters more important Pursued with many complaints of the immeasurable power of Sejanus The tragicall end of Sejanus is well expressed in the french Tiberius of M. le Mastre the chiefe Physitian of Mounsier Afterward he fell upon other occurrents intreating the Senate to grant out processe against two Senators familiar friends of Sejanus and lastly commanded but as betweene both that they should vigilantly observe the actions of Sejanus There was not a word of putting him to death so much did he feare lest the great reputation he had in every place might oppose him that in case matters succeeded not acording to his desire he might ever reserve a liberty to declare himselfe Aliquisque pavendo Dat vires fama nullo que antore malorum Quoe finxere timent Lucan But as feare beleeves all it imagineth so the friends of Sejanus finding not in this letter what they expected shrunk from him as from a place threatned with thunder When the favour of a Prince forsaketh one it is dangerous to come neare him disfavour is infectious Here Dion observeth how variable the minds of men are saying before the Emperors letters were read there was not a Senator Cicero chargeth Catiline with the like who offered not his service to Sejanus and asked not how he pleased to employ him Adventu tuo ista subsellia vacua facta sunt Cic. But perceiving the mind of Tiberius altered they changed in an instant Those which stood farre from him looked scornfully on him such as were neare removed farther off they who before accounted it an honour to wait on him Every one avoided a traitor now held themselves disgraced to sit neare him And where are men to be found who in adversity remember benefits Quis in adversis beneficiorum servat memoriam aut quis ullam calami tosis deberi putat gratiam quando fortuna non mutet fidem Vell. or think themselves bound to the miserable Great amities are not to be sought in Court nor are pety enmities there to be found and that is the cause why wise men breake with none Ill will and hatred are harsh plants the fruits they beare are alwayes foure there is no sweetnesse nor profit but in amendment of manners Vsque quaque sapere oportet id erit telum acerrimum Cic. that the enemy may not lay hold on the life or fortune of him whose fall or ruine he thirsteth Sejanus did ill to come into the Senate when he saw Macro brought him no letters Providence which turneth her eye on every side and is a strong buckler against fortune failed him Nay he should have gone out when he understood the jealousies which Tiberius let fall in this letter and had he beene followed by those of his faction the rest would have censured his power by his courage Presumption contemneth safety But seeing nothing very expresse against himselfe he thought they were vapors of his melancholy and certaine inequalities and that there was not any so hardy as to disgust him Words of command are harsh to those who have never obeyed The Consull Regulus called him he sitteth stil but not out of arrogance for he was much humbled rather indeed because he was not accustomed to obey or be commanded He called him the first and second time and stretching out his hand saith Sejanus come hither Sejanus answereth Doe you call mee Sr. Yea saith the Consull Sejanus steps forward and in an instant Laco captaine of the watch stood before him and all the Tribunes round about that he might not goe out Dacretum ut â—v Cal. utriusque necis dies per omnes unnos donum Iovi sacraretur The day of this memorable act was the 18th of October which is knowne because Tiberius ordained the 15th of the Calends of November should be solemnised at Rome both for the death of Sejanus and of Agrippina And if the yeare likewise be observed it was of Romes foundation the 785. and of the raigne of Tiberius the 18th and from the birth of Christ the 34. There was no danger of hastening his judgement or of commencing processe for his execution S.C. actum ut paena damnatorum in decimum semper diem deferreretur Suet. The law of ten dayes was not as yet made All his life was a streame of insolence pride violence and fury Dion affirmes that in one day he was arrested condemned and executed and by the shortnesse of time we may guesse at the facility of proceedings which were arbitrary wherin such retardation or expedition might be used as they listed Processe against Lentulus one of Catilines confederates was made in two dayes That of Clentius continued long This of Sejanus was dispatched in a morning The taske of things serious ending at noone Aristotle gave the morning to Phylosophie it was Ergon afternoone to eloquence Parergon that which is done after dinner was as it were out of time as well in matters most pleasing and facile as important and painfull and now the Trumpet which served as a clocke among the Romans having sounded the houre of ten no man expected any new relation Memmius did not put the Emperours letters into consultation and that deceived Sejanus who trusted to his friends had he so done the diversity of opinions would
and the obserevances we afforded him one and the same reason ought oh Caesar to discharge both you and us The boldnesse and constancy of his speech which contained the thoughts of others was of so great force that such as were accused as friends to Sejanus were distinguished from his Confederates and Caesar applauded to have confirmed the decree of the Senate for the innocency of Terentius Scipio said the worst word might be encountred in friendship was that which would have a friend love as if he should hate Cic. who loved not his friend to hate or disavow him Lentulus Getulicus tooke a cleane contrary course from Varro Abudius Rufus accused him to have treated the marriage of his daughter with the sonne of Sejanus this man was in Germany in great esteeme and authority for his mildnesse and modesty He spake a far off on horse-backe and in armes for which cause Tiberius condemned and exiled his accuser an act of the wisdome of a Prince never to threaten him who is out of his danger Getulicus was hereof advertised Getulicus effusae clementia modicus severitate mâ—rum amorem adsecutus Tac. and knowing the humour of Tiberius who when he fell upon a resolution seldome flew from it but according to the temper of his anger pressed or retarded his revenge let him know he was in such a state Confidence doth not alwayes proceed from courage but from place and caution he would not forget his owne safety for anothers and so sent him this letter as insolent as confident Caesar the alliance I contracted with Sejanus Idem error principis sine fraude aliâ—s exitio non est habendus Tac. hath not beene upon my owne motion but your advice It may be I am deceived as well as you but one and the same fault ought not to discharge one and ruine another My loyalty hath hitherto beene untainted Successorem non aliter quam indicium mortis acceptum Tac. nor ever shall change if some faction be not prepared against me and whosoever shall succeed me in my charge I will receive him as one who attempteth on my life Let us accord as by way of treaty Princeps caeterarum reruÌ„ potiatur ipse provinciam retineam Tac. Take you the rest of the Empire I my government Nothing but distance excused the incivility of this letter He was the only man among the friends of Sejanus that escaped Tiberius cast his eyes downward Publico odio extrema aetate res principis stant magis fama quam vi Tac. and shrugged his shoulder for his affaires were more maintained by reputation than power His fraile decrepit age cut off his hopes and publike hatred augmented his jealousies Haud minus validum ad exitia Macronis odium qui easdem artes occultius exercebat Mamercus Scaurus was likewise one of Sejanus his friends but this amity had not so much power to ruine him as the malice of Macro who was no lesse violent than the other to rid himselfe of his enemies but he therein proceeded with more cunning and secrecy He was worthy of the friendship of Sejanus Mamercus Scaurus ancillarum menstruamore hianta exceptabat Sen. for the conformity of his humours to the others lusts which Seneca representeth to be so brutish that the only thought of them polluteth the mind he staid not till condemnation but followed the advice of Sextia his wife who perswaded him to kill himselfe P. Vitellius P. Vitellius aerarii praefectus militarem pecuniam rebus novis obtulerat Tac. who stoutly had supported the cause of Germanicus against Piso was accused to have delivered to Sejanus the treasure of the common wealth for he was one of the overseers of the Eschequer His brothers answered for him Crebris prolationibus speâ— metum juxta gravatus Tac. but seeing his processe continued long he was much perplexed to languish betweene hope and feare and so opened a veine with a bodkin His friends stanched the bloud and staied the spirits in their passage much troubled to remaine in a body which pleasing it selfe in turmoiles was resigned to sorrow and heavinesse Pomponius was sicke In custodia mortâ— periit Sâ—et Vitam aegritudine animi finivit Tac. in the same hospitall with the rest but his patience made him survive Tiberius who would have put him to death because Velius Gallus had retired into his garden when they dragged Sejanus Tiberius bewailed Sejanus Honoribus functus es Numquid aut tam magnis aut tam universis quam Sejanus Sen. not for the losse of him but his owne interest for whilest he lived all the blame was laid on him whatsoever he did either of injustice or cruelty and after his death no man shared with him in the generall hatred As much as the prosperity of Sejanus was admired so much his fall bred terrour and amazement Never any man before him received greater Honours more universall more unexpected and all the favours and dignities which the Kings of Europe could heape together to raise a man might not be compared with these Diu multumque singulis qâ—id posset ostendit Sen. He made all men know farre and neare what he was able to doe He sixteene yeares possessed the Soveraigne power of an Empire that commanded the whole world and which had the rising and setting Sun for limit Clausum mari aut fluminibus longinquis imperiâ—m Euphrates confined its frontier towards the East Mount Atlas the Cataracts of Nilus the Desarts of Africa towards the South the Ocean in the West Danubius in the North so that as far as the Sun progressed his commands went What glory ever mounted so high or fell so low He that should see a lofty mountaine commanding over a goodly plaine to be swallowed up to sink and be ingulfed in a moment would bee amazed yet were not that more strange than to behold these great Colossuses To see great men fall is to behold mountains made levell overthrown in an instant This breedeth astonishment yet is the example neglected Every one trusteth his owne judgement thinking to walke the same way but with another pace and more securely than others One ship alone which shall happily returne from a long navigation Everie one thinkes to doe the best and to carrie himselfe more wisely than they who are undone is able to encourage an hundred men to attempt the like voyage and the shipwracke of an hundred vessels is not of power to divert one alone For no man beleeves ill lucke is ordained for him Macro Captaine of the Guard and Laco Master of the watch were much better advised the Senate decreed large honours to them for this their good service Great services for the State ought to be paid with honour not money To the first the office of Pretor with power to sit in the ranke of Senators with a purple robe in sports and publique assemblies and to the