should be cut into manie branches and so all become a standing poole if the new chanels were not capable of so much water The Reatins did not in this case hold their peace no way yeelding that the mouth of the lake Velinus should be dammed vp where it discargeth it self into Nar for so it would ouerflow al about it And that nature had wel prouided for the necessitie of mans vse hauing giuen all riuers their course and mouth and as well their bounds as beginnings That the religion of their allies was to be considered who consecrated vnto the riuers of their countrey woods and altars Yea that Tiber would not be depriued of his neighbour-riuers and so run his course with lesser glory In the end either through the intreatie of the Colonies or difficultie of the worke or superstition Pisoes opinion was approued which was that there should be nothing changed Poppaeus Sabinus was continued in the gouernment of Maesia and Achaia and Macedonia added to his charge For it was Tiberius manner to continue men in their office and charge either of warre or iurisdiction sometimes during their life whereof there were diuers reasons giuen Some said he did it to auoid the tedious care of often prouiding and that he would haue that to continue which he had thought once well done some did interpret it to be done of enuie because many should not enioy them some that as he was of a subtile wit so of no resolute iudgement as not choosing men of excellent vertue and on the other side hating vices He feared least the best would attempt somewhat against him and the worst dishonor the state Which doubtfulnes brought him to that passe at last that he gaue the gouernment of prouinces to some which he would not suffer to depart the citie Concerning the election of Consuls which was first obserued vnder this Prince and afterward by others I dare assure nothing not only the authors but the Prince himselfe doth so much differ in his orations For sometimes not naming the suters he described euery mans beginning life and what pay he had receiued that a man might easily gesse who they were At another time not touching any of those particulars he perswaded the suters not to disturbe the elections by bribing and canuasing promising that himselfe would be a meane for them And oftentimes he sayd there were no more which pretended to be suters but such only whose names he had presented vnto the Consuls and that others might bring in their names likewise if they would trust either to their merit or fauor But all was but faire words and in deede deceiptfull and without effect and by how much the more they were masked with a colour of libertie by so much the heauier and greeuouser a seruitude they were like to bring after them THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The cause of the Parthian warres Vonones driuen out of his kingdome SIsenna Statilius Taurus and L. Libo being Consuls the kingdome of the East and the Romane prouinces rebelled the beginning thereof proceeding from the Parthians who hauing demaunded and receiued a King from Rome yet contemned him as a forrener although he were descended of the Arsacides Vonones was this King who had beene before giuen in hostage to Augustus by Phrahates For although Phrahates had repulsed the armie and the Romane captaines yet he shewed all duties and reuerence to Augustus And the better to confirme friendship sent some of his children to him not so much for feare of vs as distrust of disloyaltie in his owne subiects After the death of Phrahates and other succeeding Kings through murthers committed among themselues Embassadors came to the citie from the chiefe noble men of Parthia to demaunde Vonones the eldest sonne of Phrahates Caesar thinking that to be an honor to himselfe enduing him with great riches deliuered him and the barbarians as their maner is at the change of a new Prince receiued him with great ioy Not long after the Parthian grew to be ashamed that he had so much degenerated as to demaund a Prince from another countrey trained vp in the sleights of their enimies That now the royall seate of the Arsacides was giuen and accounted among the Romane prouinces Where is the glorie of those which murdered Crassus and chased away Antonie if Caesars bond slaue after so many yeeres seruitude should commaund and rule ouer the Parthians He himselfe kindled their difdainefull minds by swaruing from his predecessors manner of life as going seldome a hunting being carelesse of horses carried in a charriot in the streetes and loathing their countrey fare his Grecian followers were scorned and himselfe laughed at for keeping vnder his seale his basest vtensiles But the free accesse vnto him his courtesie towards all men vnknowen vertues to the Parthians were accounted new vices and bicause they were not vsed of their ancestors were odious alike to the good and bad Whereupon Artabanus one of the Arsacides blood brought vp with the Dahes was raised against him who in the first encounter ouerthrowen recouered newe forces and enioyed the kingdome When Vonones was ouercome hee fled to Armenia then without a King and betwixt the Parthian and the Romane wealth wauering through Antonies trecherie who hauing vnder colour of friendship tolled vnto him their King Artauasdes loaded him with chaines and in the end depriued him of his life Artaxias his sonne hating vs for the iniurie done to his father with the power of the Arsacides defended himselfe and the kingdome against vs. But when Artaxias was slaine by the treason of his neerest friends Tigranes was made King of the Armenians and brought by Tiberius Nero into the kingdom Yet Tigranes raigne dured but a short time nor his childrens although they were as the maner of strangers is linked in marriage with the Armenians Then by commaundement of Augustus Artauasdes was appointed their King and afterward driuen out not without a great slaughter of our men After that Caesar was chosen to settle the affaires of Armenia who with the good liking of the Armenians appointed Ariobarzanes descended from the Medes to be their King a man greatly reckoned of for the comelines of his personage and valiant courage Ariobarzanes dying by misfortune the Armenians would endure none of his race but tried the regiment of a woman called Eratus whom they expulsed in a short time and lead an vncertaine and loose kinde of life rather without a Lord then in libertie and in the ende receiued the fugitiue Vonones againe But when Artabanus began to vse threatning and that small aide was to be expected of the Armenians and yet if he should be defended by our forces it were to enter into war against the Parthians Creticus Silanus gouernour of Syria sent for Vonones and appointed him a guarde and suffered him to inioy all pompe and sumptuousnes and name of a King from which mockerie how he purposed to deliuer himselfe we will set
Munatius Plancus who had beene Consull and chiefe in the Embasie affirming him to be the author of that decree And in the dead of the night went to Germanicus importunately demanding an ensigne which was in his house and flocking togither brake downe the gates entered his house drew Germanicus out of his bed and threatening to kill him forced him to deliuer the ensigne Then running vp and downe they met with the embassadors hearing of the desperate tumult going to Germanicus the soldiers iniuring them and readie to kill them and aboue others Plancus who in regarde of his dignitie coulde not flee hauing no other refuge left in distresse and danger then to flie to the campe of the first legion where imbracing the standard and ensignes founde safetie as in a religious place And had not Calphurnius the standard bearer garded him from the furie of the soldiers a thing which seldome hapneth euen among the enimies an embassador of the people of Rome in the Romans campe had with his bloud polluted the altars of the gods Assoone as it was daie that the L. Generall the soldier and the attempts might be knowen Germanicus entered the campe and commanding Plancus to be brought to him placed him in the Tribunall by him Then sharpely rebuking their fatall rage stirred vp by the wrath of the gods and not the soldiers will he openeth vnto them the cause of the embassadors comming their priuiledges bewailing with great eloquence Plancus vndeserued hap and the discredit of the legions And hauing rather rauished then quieted the assemblie sent away the embassadors with a garde of auxiliarie horsemen During this feare euerie man blamed Germanicus that he went not to the vpper armie where he shoulde haue both obedience and aide against the rebels that his fault had beene great inough in dismissing the soldiers with money in their purses and vsing them so curteously And if he made no greater reckoning of his owne person yet he had no reason to leaue his yoong sonne and his wife great with childe as a praie to furious and mad men breakers of all humane lawes And that he should preserue them at the leastwise for their grandfather and the common-wealth He then weighing long what he were best to resolue his wife refusing to forsake him alleaging that she was descended from Augustus and protesting that she would neuer degenerate from hir bloud whatsoeuer danger might be presented at last embracing both hir and the child with manie teares constrained hir to depart Away then packt this lamentable companie of women and the Generals wife fleeing with his little sonne in hir lap with a heauie troupe of hir friends wiues about hir lead away with hir for companie those which remained behinde no lesse sorrowfull then they This resembled not a triumphing Caesar marching out of his campe but the bewailing and lamentation of a citie conquered and sackt of the enimie Which piercing the eares of the soldiers they went out of their cabbines enquiring what that dolorous tune was and from whence proceeded that lamentable noise And perceiuing those noble dames to go without any Centurion or soldier to garde them and their Emperours wife destitute of hir accustomed traine going towards Treuers to commit hirselfe to the mercie of strangers were stroken into shame and compassion when they called to minde Agrippa hir father Augustus hir grandfather and Drusus hir father in lawe and how she hir-selfe was for hir chastitie and childe bearing honored of al and how she had had a childe borne and brought vp in their campe whom by a militarie name they called Caligula bicause that to win the fauour of the common soldier he wore the same kinde of stocking or buskin as he did But nothing did mooue them more then the hatred to those of Treuers and therefore began to intreat and hinder their going praying hir that she would returne and remaine with them Some ran before Agrippina many turned backe to Germanicus who through the late occasions yet full of griefe and anger vttered to the multitudes about him this speech as followeth X. Germanicus Oration to the souldiers the feare the Citie vvas in NOt my wife or sonne are deerer vnto me then my father and the Common-wealth but him his owne Maiestie the Empire the other armies shall defend I do now remoue my wife and children which neuertheles I would willingly offer vnto death were it to your glory and honor from the sight of raging mad men that all your lewd actions be purged with my bloud only least if you should murder Augustus nephewes sonne and Tiberius daughter in law you should become guiltie of moe hainous crimes for what haue you not dared to attempt these daies past or what haue you left vnuiolated By what name shall I call this assembly Shall I call you souldiers who haue besieged your Emperors sonne euen within the trench or shall I call you citizens by whom the authoritie of the Senate is so little regarded You haue broken that law which one enemy obserueth to another violated the sacred freedome of Embassadors and the lawe of Nations Iulius of famous memory repressed a sedition in his army with one bare word calling such Quirites which drew back countrary to their oath of allegeance Augustus of sacred memory daunted the legions at Actium with his looke And as for vs although we be neither of them yet being extract from them we thinke it strange and vnmeete that the Spanish or Syrian souldier should contemne vs. Thou the first legion and thou the twentith the one hauing receiued ensignes of Tiberius and the other a companion in so many battels and enriched with so many recompences do you thus guerdon your Generall Is this the message I shall carry my father who receiueth but good tidings from all other Prouinces that neither the yong nor old souldier can be satisfied with licence to depart nor money in their purse And that heere only the Centurions are murdered the Tribunes driuen away the Embassadors shut vp that the tents and riuers are stained with bloud and that I my selfe hold my life but at the curtesie of such as hate me Why did you snatch out of my hands the sword which I meant to thrust through my breast the first day of our meeting O vnaduised friends yet he dealt better and more louingly with me which offered me his sword for by that meanes I should haue ended my life before I should haue seene so many outrages in my army You should haue made choise of a Generall which would haue left my death vnpunished yet haue reuenged the death of Varo and of the three legions The gods forbid that the Belgians though offering themselues should carry away the credit and the honor of succouring the Romanes and brideling the Germans Let thy soule Augustus of sacred memorie receiued into heauen thy image father Drusus and the remembrance of thee together with these souldiers whom shame and glory do enter
by a maine battell Now he determined by some subtiltie to set vpon Rhescuporis King of Thrace That countrey once hauing beene vnder Rhoemetalces after his death Augustus gaue part of it to his brother Rhescuporis part to his sonne Cotys In that partition the erable grounds the cities and places adioining to Greece fell to Cotys share That which was vnhabited wilde and lying neere the enimie to Rhescuporis The dispositions also of those Kings were such that the one was tractable and of a milde condition this stout coueteous and impatient of a companion and both at the first liuing in cunning and dissembled concord Then Rhescuporis began to exceed his bounds and draw that to himselfe which was giuen Cotys and vse violence if he resisted but not so hotly in Augustus time whom he feared being the author of both kingdomes would reuenge if he were despised But vnderstanding of a chaunge of the Prince he sent in troups of theeues beat downe his castles and sought occasions of warre Nothing did more trouble Tiberius then that those things which were once setled should now be disturbed and therefore making choise of a Centurion dispatcheth him away to signifie to the Kings that they should not in any case enter into armes and thereupon Cotys dismissed presently the aide he had prepared Rhescuporis with a fained modestie requesteth a place of meeting to ende their controuersie by conference neither did they long doubt of the time place and conditions the one yeelding to all with a facilitie of nature the other accepting all with a fraudulent meaning Rhescuporis as he pretended to conclude this agreement maketh a banket whē the night was far spent with great myrth much eating quaffing of wine he loaded vncircumspect Cotys with chaines who perceiuing the treason besought him by the sacred ceremonies of the kingdom the gods of the same familie by the entertainment of his table he would vse no such violence Hauing thus made himselfe maister of all Thrace he wrote to Tiberius that there were conspiracies wrought against him and the contriuer of them preuented And withall pretending warre against the Bastarnians and the Scythians maketh himselfe strong with a new power of footemen and horsemen Tiberius wrote to him coldly againe that if there were no fraude in his doing he might trust to his innocencie but neither he nor the Senate could discerne the right from wrong vnlesse they knew the cause therefore that he should deliuer vp Cotys and come to them and purge himselfe of the enuie of the crime Those letters Latinius Pandus Propraetor of Moesia sent with the souldiers vnto whom Cotys should be deliuered But Rhescuporis balancing betweene anger and feare and desirous to be guiltie rather of the fact committed then only attempted commandeth Cotys to be slaine and vntruly gaue it out that he had killed himselfe Yet for all this Caesar altered not his intended course but after Pandus decease whom Rhescuporis accused to haue beene his back friend made Pomponius Flaccus an old souldier and with whom the king was very inward and therefore a more fit instrument to deceiue for the same cause especiall gouernor of Moesia Flaccus being gone to Thrace by way of great promises perswaded him although doubtfull and calling to minde his owne wickednes to enter into the Romane garrison where he was garded with a strong companie vnder colour of honor He had Tribunes and Centurions at hand to counsell and perswade him and the further he went the greater gard and at last knowing in what termes of necessitie he stoode they brought him to the citie where being accused in Senate by Cotys wife he was condemned to be kept far from his countrey Thrace was afterward deuided betwixt Rhaemetalces his sonne who was knowne to be an enemie to his fathers proceedings and Cotys children which not being of full age Trebellienus Rufus who had beene Pretor in the meane season was made gouernor of the kingdome following the example of our predecessors who sent M. Lepidus into Aegypt to be gardian to Ptolemeus children Rhescuporis was caried to Alexandria and there going about to escape or because it was so fathered on him was killed At the same time Vonones who as we haue said was confined in Cilicia hauing corrupted his keepers vnder colour of going a hunting attempted all meanes to escape to the Armenians from thence to the Albanians and Heniochians and to his Cosen the king of Scythia And forsaking the sea coasts gote into bywayes and forrests and by the swiftnes of his horse posted with all speede to the riuer Pyramus The borderers vnderstanding the kings escape hauing broken down the bridges he not able to passe at any foord was taken by the riuers side and bound by Vibius Fronto captaine of the horsemen Anon after Remmius Euocatus vnto whose charge the king was first committed as it had bene in an anger thrust him through with his sword Wherupon it was the easlier beleeued that he had so slaine Vonones as one guiltie and consenting to his escape and therefore fearing he should be bewraied and accused XVII Germanicus sicknes and death The variance betwixt him and Piso BVt Germanicus returning from Aegypt and perceiuing that all which he had commaunded either in the legions or townes left vndone or changed cleane contrary began to vse grieuous and contumelious speeches against Piso and he to requite Caesar with no lesse dangerous attempts Whereupon Piso determined to depart Syria but staying a time by reason of Germanicus sicknes when he heard of his amendment and that the vowes were accomplished for his health he droue away by his sergeants the beast brought to the altar and disturbed the preparation made for the sacrifice and the solemne meeting of the people of Antioch Then he went to Seleucia expecting the euent of his sicknes which he fell againe into the rage thereof so much the more greeuous through an opinion that Piso had poisoned him for there were found pulled out of the ground and wals charmes verses and enchantmēts and Germanicus name engrauen in sheetes of lead ashes halfe burned and tempered with corrupt bloud and other sorceries by which it is thought that soules are dedicated to the infernall powers Some also were accused to haue bene sent from Piso to espie in what state he was in That droue Germanicus both into anger and feare considering with himselfe if his house should be besieged if he should lose his life in the sight of his enemies what should happen after to his wofull wife and his yong children he saw that the poison seemed slow in working but Piso hastened that he might alone haue the gouernment of the legions and the prouince But Germanicus was not so destitute of friends that the murderer should inioy the rewards of the murder And hereupon enditeth a letter to him in which he renounceth his friendship Some adde that he commaunded him to depart the prouince Piso made no longer delay but
and true The same solemnities which were ordained for Germanicus were appointed for Drusus and as the manner is of the last flattery somethings added His funerall in pomp of images was very magnificent hauing before him in a long procession Aeneas the beginning of the Iulian familie all the kings of the Albani and Romulus the founder of the citie After him followed the nobilitie of the Sabins Appius Clausus and the images of the rest of the Claudians In deliuering Drusus death I haue followed that which many true writers haue vttered but I will not omit a very strong report of those times yet currant in euery mans mouth which is that Liuia being alreadie corrupted to all dishonestie of bodie by Seianus he was sayd to haue abused Lygdus bodie likewise in age and beautie highly pleasing his maister and of all his seruitours of best credit who being made priuie to the practise the place and times agreed when the poison should be giuen grew to that audaciousnes that he turned all vpon Drusus head and by secret aduertisement accused him to haue gone about to poison his father and gaue Tiberius warning to take heede of the first drinke his sonne should offer him at the table Whereupon by that fraud the banket being begun the old man presented Drusus the cup which he had receiued who ignorant of the practise like a raw yong man dranke it vp increasing thereby the suspition as though for feare and shame he had swallowed that death which he had prepared for his father This was the common rumor which wanting a ground and certaine author thou mayest easily refute for who is he though but of meane wisedome much lesse Tiberius experienced and beaten in waightie affaires not hearing his defence would haue offered his sonne his death and that with his owne hands a thing remediles if he should repent it Why had he not rather tortured the minister of the poison sought out the author and vsed that delay which vsually he did euen against strangers towards his owne sonne neuer before detected of any lewd fact But because Seianus was thought to be the inuentor of all bad actions through the great good will Caesar bore him and the hate which the rest bare to both things were beleeued although fabulous and vncredible report speaking alwayes the worst of Princes deaths The order of this fact hath been otherwise discouered by Apicata Seianus wife and by torturing of Eudemus and Lygdus and no writer found so great an enimie to Tiberius although all hath beene sought that may be sayd and inforced against him that hath obiected any such matter The cause why I layd downe and blamed the common rumor was that vnder a manifest example I might discredit false reports and pray such into whose hands our labours shall come that they would not esteeme more of common vncredible tales greedily receiued then of truth not falsified into miracles IIII. Seianus practises to destroy Agrippina and Germanicus children stage-plaiers expulsed Italie BVt whilest Tiberius praised his sonne before the people assembled the Senat and the people rather for a shew then from the hart put on a mourning countenance yet in their mindes reioyced that Germanicus house began to flourish againe which beginning of fauour and Agrippina their mother not well dissembling her hope hastened their ouerthrow For when Seianus perceiued that Drusus empoisoners escaped vnpunished and no publicke mourning of the people for his death emboldned in wicked actions bicause his first attempts had good successe began to cast with himselfe by what meanes he might extinguish Germanicus children the vndoubted successors to the Empire For all three poison he could not by reason of their keepers faithfulnes and Agrippinas inuincible chastitie He began therefore to inueigh against her obstinacie and stirre Augusta hating her of olde against her and incensed Liuia with the memorie of her late fact suggesting that her pride bearing it selfe vppon her fruitfulnes in children by the fauour of the people gaped after the soueraigntie This plot of his he prosecuted by the helpe of craftie accusers amongst whom he had chosen Iulius Posthumus a man noted of infamous life with Mutilia Prisca a principall fauorite of the grandmother and fit instrument for his practises being highly in Augustas bookes an old woman of her owne disposition desirous of rule and therefore easily estranged from her daughter in law Agrippina He had likewise inueighled Agrippinas neere kinred to puffe vp her haughtie spirits and vse hard speeches of Augusta But Tiberius intermitting no care of publicke affaires and embracing busines for solace heard the causes of citizens and the suites of confederates and by his perswasion decrees of Senat were made that the citie of Cibyratica in Asia and Aegiris in Achaia damnified by an earth-quake might be relieued by remitting them three yeeres tributes And Vibius Serenus Proconsull of farther Spaine being condemned for publicke violence through the crueltie of the time was banished into the Iland Amorgus Carsius Sacerdos accused as though he had helped the enimie Tacfarinas with corne was quit and C. Gracchus for the same crime This Gracchus being verie yoong was carried by his father Sempronius to the Iland Cercina as a companion of his exile where growing to mans estate amongst banished men and ignorant of liberall artes by turning and winding base marchandise in Affrica and Sicilia he gayned his liuing and yet he escaped not the dangers of greater fortune And if AElius Lamia and L. Apronius which gouerned Affrica had not defended his innocencie through the noblenesse of his vnfortunate stocke he had tasted of his fathers calamities That yeere came Ambassadors from cities of Greece requesting that the auncient right of priuiledged places might be confirmed at Iunos Temple at Samium and AEsculapius Temple at Cois The Samians grounded themselues on a decree of the Amphictyons to whom belonged the principall examination of all matters when the Grecians building cities through Asia were Lords of the sea coasts The antiquitie of the Coi was not vnlike hauing withall the merite of the place for when by King Mithridates commaundement all the Romans were slaine throughout all the cities and Ilands of Asia they saued in the Temple of AEsculapius as many as they found After this the Pretors hauing made many complaints though in vaine against the stage-players at last Caesar spake of their vnrulines and immodest behauiour as hauing seditiously attempted many things in publicke and many vndecently in priuate houses And the Oscian play a light sport pleasing the peoples humor grew to such insolencie that the Lords of the Senate were faine to interpose their authoritie for the suppressing of it and then the stageplayers were expulsed Italy Caesar had further griefe the same yeere partly by the death of one of Drusus children and partly by the death of Lucillius Longus his friend and partaker of all his fortunes prosperous or aduerse and among the Senators his only companion when he
the Rostra by C. Caesar her nephewes sonne who not long after succeeded in soueraigntie But Tiberius omitting no part of his pleasures excused by letters his absence from his mothers obsequies as though he had been hindered by important affaires and vnder colour of modestie cut off many honorable ceremonies which the Lords of the Senate had decreed should be done in memory of her and especially that no diuine ceremonie shuld be ordained for her because said he such was her will And in part of the same letters he found fault with such as went about to win womens fauor good will therein couertly carping the Consull Fusius a man highly in Augustus grace his crafts-master in winning of womens fauor a iesting mate oft accustomed bitterly to skoffe at Tiberius a thing which great potētates keepe long in memory But now Tiberius began to grow worse and worse his rule tyranous for whilest his mother liued there was some refuge left because he had a long time accustomed to shew himselfe dutifull vnto her and Seianus durst not crosse her but then hauing as it were the bridle in their owne hands they brake loose at once and letters were sent against Agrippina and Nero which the common people iudged to haue been sent before but kept back by Augusta for not long after her death they were read in Senate containing bitter and sharp words yet neuer obiected that he had borne armes or stirred any rebellion against him but only vnnatural loues to yong men and incontinēt life But against his daughter in law he durst not obiect so much but only her arrogant and prowd speeches and obstinate minde The Senators were stroken into a feare and silence vntill some few whose hopes depended not on honest meanes but made publick calamities occasion of priuat benefits demaunded that the matter might be referred to voices Cotta Messallinus shewing himselfe most forward with a cruell sentence But the other chiefe gentlemen and especially the magistrates were afraid for although Tiberius had angerly inueighed against them yet he left other things in doubt There was in the Senat one Iunius Rusticus chosen by Caesar to set downe the actes of the Senators and therefore was thought to know best his intent and purpose who either by fatall destinie for before he had giuen no token of his constancie or subtle deuise forgetting imminent perils whilest he feareth vncertainties thrusteth himselfe among the Consuls yet wauering and doubting what to do and aduiseth them not to put the matter to deliberation saying that greatest matters might be turned in a moment and that some space of time ought to be giuen the old man to repent himselfe and the people withall carying Agrippinaes and Neroes images with them enuiron the Senat house and wishing all prosperous fortune to Caesar crie that those letters were false and that the ouerthrow of the Princes house was intended against the Princes will and so there was nothing concluded that day in preiudice of the parties Certaine counterfeit iudgements were spread abroad against Seianus vnder the Consuls names Some men secretly and therefore the more saucily practising their wits as their fancie lead them which yeelded Seianus farther matter of calumniation and kindled his anger saying that the Princes displeasure was nothing regarded that the commons were at iarre with the Senate that new orations and new decrees of Senate were heard and read now adayes What remaineth but to take armes in hand and choose those for their Captaines and Emperours whose images they had followed for their ensignes Whereupon Caesar reiterating his iniurious speeches against his nephewe and daughter in lawe and rebuking the people by edict complained to the Senate that the imperiall maiestie had bene openly deluded and skorned through the fraude of one of the Senators and therefore required that the hearing of the cause might be reserued wholy vnto himselfe They consulted no farther on the matter but condemned the parties but not to death because they were forbidden and protested they were readie to execute reuenge if the Prince had not hindered them * * There wanteth very much of the story in this place which hath perished through time II. The death of Seianus of his friends and children One faineth himselfe to be Drusus Germanicus sonne WHether it be a more lamentable case to be accused for breach of friendship or to accuse his friend I can not well iudge * no mans crueltie or clemencie will I trie * but free and bearing my selfe on my owne conscience I will preuent danger I beseech you that you would not haue me in remembrance rather in mourning and sad then ioyfull manner and cherefull reckoning me in the number of those which haue escaped publick calamities by an honorable end Then talking now with one now another as by chance they were neere vnto him he spent a great part of the day either in entertaining or taking leaue of them And hauing many about him which noted how resolute assured he was in countenance no man dreaming any such matter with a sword which he had hidden vnder his garments slew himselfe and after he was dead Caesar vsed no such reprochfull and iniurious speeches nor obiected any such heinous matter against him as he did against Blaesus After this P. Vitellius and Pomponius Secundus cause was heard Vitellius they accused that he had offered the cofers of the publicke treasury whereof he had charge and the money which was in them for souldiers pay to stirrers vp of new broiles The other Considius who had been once Pretor accused for hauing had great friendship and amitie with Velius Gallus who after that Seianus was punished fled to Pomponius gardens as to a place of safe refuge both of them in their distresse hauing no other comfort left but the constancie of their brothers who became baile for their life Shortly after Vitellius through many delaies betwixt hope feare wearied out vnder colour of vsing it in his studie asking for a penknife lightly prickt a vaine and ended his life with griefe and anguish of minde But Pomponius being a Gentleman of a gallant carriage and excellent wit bearing aduerse fortune patiently ouerliued Tiberius Then was there order taken though the peoples anger were mitigated and many others pacified with the former punishment that the rest of Seianus children should be punished Whereupon they were carried to prison the sonne hauing some feeling of the danger which hung ouer his head but the daughter was so simple that she often asked whither they would leade her and for what that she would do no more so and that it was sufficient to chastice her with the rod like a childe The writers of that time affirme that because it was neuer heard of before that a virgin should be put to death according to the custome of the Triumuiri that she was deflowred by the executioner immediatly before the halter was put about her neck and both strangled The bodies
augmented But that that birde is seene sometimes in Aegypt is not doubted But murders continuing at Rome Pomponius Labeo whom as I haue said was gouernor of Moesia by cutting his vaines let out with his blood his life and Paxaea his wife followed his example The feare they had of dying by the hand of the hangman did cause them thus so readily to kill themselues bicause such as were condemned lost their goods and wanted buriall but their bodies which slew themselues were buried and their testaments stood good which was the gaine and reward of making haste But Caesar sent letters vnto the Senat declaring it to be a custome among the auncients that when they intended to breake off friendship with any they forbad them their house and that then the friendship ended which he had done to Labeo who blamed for euill gouernment in the Prouince and other matters couered his fault by accusing others vainely putting his wife in feare who was out of danger though not without fault After this Mamercus Scaurus was accused againe of a noble house and a great orator yet of reprochfull life His friendship had with Seianus did nothing hurt him but the hatred which Macro bare him was his ouerthrow who practised the same artes that Seianus had done but more couertly The accusation was an argument of a Tragedie written by Scaurus contayning verses which might be wrested against Tiberius But Seruilius and Cornelius his accusers obiected against him that he had abused his bodie with Liuia and offered magicall sacrifices Scaurus as a thing worthie of the auncient AEmilian familie preuenteth his condemnation by killing himselfe at the incouragement of his wife Sexitia who was both an encourager and partaker of his death Notwithstanding if occasion were giuen he punished the accusers likewise as Seruilius and Cornelius famous by the death of Scaurus bicause they had taken money of Varius Ligur to desist from the accusation were perpetually banished into certaine Ilands And Abudius Ruso once Acdile whilest he went about to procure danger vnto Lentulus Getulicus vnder whom he had charge of a legion bicause he had purposed to marrie his daughter to Seianus sonne was condemned without accusation and driuen out of the citie Getulicus at that time had charge ouer the legions of higher Germanie and had gotten exceeding loue for his clemencie and small seueritie and of the next army welbeloued by meanes of L. Apronius his father in law Whereupon the constant report was that he was so bould as to write vnto Caesar That the affinitie betwixt him and Seianus was begun not of his owne motion and desire but through Tiberius counsell and that as well he as Tiberius might be deceiued and that the selfe same errour could not be to him alone dangerlesse and to others vtter ruine for his part that his loyaltie was trustie and sure and so would continue if snares had not beene laide to intrap him that he would accept of a successor in his charge no otherwise than of a messenger of death and therefore that they should strike as it were an agreement by which the Prince should be master of the rest and that he would keepe and hold the Prouince Although these things seeme verie strange yet were they beleued bicause he alone of all Seianus liesmen escaped without danger and continued in great fauour and grace The reason why was bicause Tiberius thought with himselfe being now aged and hated of all men that his estate would rather continue by fame then force VIII The Parthians complained on Artabanus in whose roome Tiberius placeth Phrahates Pharasmanes gaineth a battell against Orodes King of Armenia WHen C. Cestius and M. Seruilius were Consuls certaine noble men of Parthia came to Rome without the priuitie of Artabanus their King He for feare of Germanicus was faithfull to the Romans and iust towards his subiects but after Germanicus death became proude towards vs and cruell towards his subiects confident by reason of prosperous successe in warres had against his borderers and despising Tiberius as weake old and vnfit for warres and greedy also of Armenia into which after the death of King Artaxia he put his eldest son Arsaces as gouernor iniuring them with contumelious speeches Then sent to redemaund the treasurie and riches left in Syria and Cilicia by Vonones and withall vaine-gloriously bragged and threatned that he would inuade and conquer the ancient bounds and limits of the Persians and Macedonians and recouer all that had beene possessed by Cyrus and Alexander But the principall author and perswader of sending secret messengers to Rome was Sinnaces a man both noble and wealthie and next vnto him Abdus an Eunuch a matter of no disgrace among the Barbarians nor barre to credit and authoritie These two drawing the principall noble men of the countrey to them because they could haue none of the blood of the Arsacides to be their King most of them being slaine by Artabanus or vnder yeeres demaunded Phrahates King Phrahates sonne which was at Rome for saide they there needed no more but the name and consent of Caesar and one of the blood of Arsacis to shew himselfe vpon the bankes of Euphrates That did Caesar desire and prouided for him accordingly with preparations and necessaries to seat him in his fathers kingdom holding still his secret drift by entertayning forraine countries by sleights and pollicie in warre to keepe all quiet at home In the meane space Artabanus vnderstanding what was wrought against him at the first was slow and lingered for feare then boyled with desire of reuenge For barbarous people count temporizing and delay as base and seruile and to goe through presently their deseignments a royall pointe Yet profit tooke place and thereupon sending for Abdus vnder colour of amitie to a banket gaue him a lingring poison and entertained Sinnaces with fained friendship and gifts and busied him in other imployments But Phrahates arriued in Syria and laying aside the Romans manner of liuing in which he had beene so manie yeeres nourished giuing himselfe to the Parthian vsage and vnable to brooke it fell sicke and died Yet Tiberius held on his determination and chose Tiridates one of the same stocke and an enimie to Artabanus and incited Mithradates Hiberus to recouer Armenia and reconciled him to his brother Pharasmanes which then possessed that Empire and maketh L. Vitellius general ouer all this preparation of the Orient I am not ignorant what a sinister report ranne of him in the citie with what infamous matters he was touched yet in gouerning of the Prouinces he demeaned himselfe according to the vertue of auncient times But returning frō thence through the feare of Caesar familiarity of Claudius being changed into a base abiect seruilitie became a patterne vnto posteritie of shamefull flatterie and so his first vertues gaue place to his latter vices and the vertuous acts of his youth his infamous old age defaced Of these pettie Kings Mithradates first induced
the auncient manner Nero was against it suffering them to make choise of their manner of death for such kinde of scoffes were vsed after the murders committed P. Gallus a gentleman of Rome because he was inward with Fenius and not an enemie to Vetus was banished the freed man and accuser rewarded for his paines and a place giuen him in the Theater among the beadles of the Tribunes And the month of May which followed Aprill and called Nero was changed into the name of Claudius and Iuly into Germanicus and Cornelius Ofitus whose censure that was saide that therefore the month of Iune was past ouer because two of the Torquatus alreadie executed for their misdemeanors had made the name of Iune vnluckie A yeere continued with so many lewd actions the gods haue marked and made notorious by tempests and diseases Campania was destroied with boisterous stormes of windes which did euerie where beat downe houses woods and graine and brought the violence of it to places adioyning to the citie Where the rage of the pestilence spared none although there was no manifest shew of corruption of the aire to be seene Yet the houses were filled with dead bodies and the waies with funerals no sexe no age free from danger as well bond as free borne indifferently perished amidst the lamentations of their wiues and children who whilest they sat by them and bewailed were often burnt in the same funerall fire The death of gentlemen and Senators although in different with others lesse lamented as though they had by a common mortalitie preuented the Princes crueltie The same yeere they mustered in Gallia Narbonensis Affrick and Asia to supplie the legions of Illyria which worne out either with yeeres or sickenes were freede from their oath The Prince relieued the oalamitie of Lugdunum with fortie hundred thousand sesterces to recouer the losses of their citie which summe of money the Lugdunenses had before bestowed in troubled times III. The death of certaine noble men for desire of their wealth or other iealousies C. Suetonius and L. Telesinus being Confuls Antistius Sosianus banished as I haue sayd before for making slanderous verses against Nero vnderstanding that pickthankes were so honored and the Prince so forward to murders busie minded and not slow in taking hold of occasions insinuateth himselfe through conformitie of fortune into the fauour of Pammenes a banished man of the same place and for his skill in the Chaldean arte supported by the friendship of many This Antistius supposing that messages and consultations came not to him in vaine vnderstandeth withall that he had money yeerely supplied him by P. Anteius Neither was he ignorant that Anteius through the loue he bare to Agrippina was hatefull to Nero that his wealth as it had beene of others might be a motiue to procure his destruction Whereupon hauing intercepted Anteius letters and stolne his writings wherin the day of his natiuitie and things to come were hidden among Pammenes secrets and withall found those things which had beene composed of the birth and life of Ostorius Scapula writeth to the Prince that he would bring him great newes touching his owne safetie if he might obtaine a short intermission of his banishment for Anteius and Ostorius watch for opportunitie to lay hold on the soueraigntie and searched out their owne and Caesars destinies Therupon swift vessels were sent Sosianus brought with all speed And his accusation diuulged Anteius and Ostorius were reckoned rather among the condemned than accused in so much that no man would haue sealed Anteius testament if Tigellinus had not beene their warrant Anteius was first admonished not to delay the making of his testament but he hauing drunken poison weary of the slow working of it by cutting his vaines hastened his death Ostorius at that time was farre off in the confines of Liguria whither a Centurion was sent to make him away with all speed The cause of the haste proceeded of that that Ostorius being for matter of warre of good reckoning and deserued in Britannie a ciuicall crowne of a mightie strength of bodie and skilfull in armes droue Nero into a feare least he should assaile him alwaies timorous fearfull but then more then euer through the conspiracie lately detected The Centurion therfore when he had beset al escaping places openeth to Ostorius the Emperours cōmandement He conuerted against himself his courage often tried against the enimy And bicause his vaines whē they were opened yeelded but little blood vsing the hand of his slaue only to take out a rapier hold it stedfast he drew his right hand to him and ranne himselfe through the necke If I should haue written of forrein wars and deaths sustained for the common-wealth with diuers other accidents chances yet I should not only haue seemed tedious to my selfe but to others also abhorring the deaths of citizens being dolefull and continuall although honorable But now a seruile patience and so much bloode lost at home doth trouble my minde and oppresse it with griefe Neither do I require any other defence or excuse of those who shall know these things but that they hate them not for dying so cowardly That was certainely the anger of the gods against the Roman state which ought not so easily be runne ouer with once writing as in the ouerthrow of armies or taking of townes Let this prerogatiue be giuen the posteritie of worthie personages that as how they are distinguished from the confuse multitude in the solemnitie of their funerals so in the deliuerie of their last ends that they may receiue and haue a proper and peculiar memorie For within a fewe daies by the same violent course Annaeus Mella Cerialis Anicius Rufus Crispinus and C. Petronius perished Mella and Crispinus were gentlemen of Rome and equall in dignitie with Senators Crispinus once Captaine of the guarde and honored with Consularie ornaments and of late through the conspiracie exiled into Sardinia hauing receiued tydings he should die slew himselfe Mella borne of the same parents as Gallius and Seneca forbare purchasing of dignities by a preposterous ambition to the end that a Roman gentleman might be equalled in authoritie to the Consuls Withall he thought it a shorter course of getting wealth to mannage the affaires of the prince in quality of a Procurator The same Mella was Annaeus Lucanus father which was a great credit to him but after his death seeking out too narrowly his goods stirred vp an accuser against him one Fabius Romanus one of Lucans familiar friends which falsly fathered vpō him the father the priuitie of the conspiracie by counterfeiting of Lucans letters which Nero hauing perused commanded to be caried him gaping after his wealth But Mella which was then the readiest way to death loosed his vaines hauing bestowed in his testament a huge summe of money vpon Tigellinus and on his sonne in law Cossutianus Capito that the rest might stand good He added to his will as it were a complaint
his sisters sonne being very yoong to the pontificall dignitie and Aedilship and M. Agrippa meanly descended but in martiall exploites warlike and a companion in his victories to be twise Consul togither and after Marcellus death chose him to be his sonne in lawe And his owne house not failing he bestowed the title of Emperor vpon Tiberius Nero and Claudius Drusus his wiues children and adopted Caius and Lucius Agrippaes children and making shew to the contrarie yet his earnest desire was they should be called Princes of youth and chosen Consuls elect before they had cast off their praetext or infants garments But when Agrippa was dead and Lucius going into Spaine to take charge of the armie and Caius returning wounded out of Armenia by hastie fate or trecherie of their stepmother Liuia Drusus also dead long before onely Nero was left of all Augustus sonnes in lawe Vnto him all men now crowched and fawned being receiued the adopted sonne of Augustus copartner of the empire associate of the Tribunitian dignitie shewen to the campe as successor not as before by secret deuises and practises of his mother but openly perswading the Emperor thereto For she had so enthralled the sillie olde man that Agrippa Posthumus his onely nephew he had confined in the Iland Planasia in deede badly trained vp in liberall sciences and sottishly bragging of his strength and actiuitie of bodie but yet neuer detected of any notorious vice He gaue Germanicus sonne vnto Drusus charge ouer eight legions by the riuer of Rhene and commanded Tiberius albeit he had a sonne of his owne to adopt him the better to establish the succession with mo staies than one Wars there were none at that time but onely against the Germans not so much in regard of enlarging the empire hope of bootie or reward as to blot out the dishonor receiued when he lost his armie with Quinctilius Varo All was quiet in the citie the old names of the magistrates vnchanged the yoong men borne after the victorie at Actium and the greatest part of the old during the ciuill wars how many were there which had seene the ancient forme of gouernment of the free Common-wealth Thus then the state of the citie turned vpside downe there was no signe of the olde laudable customes to be seene but contrarie equalitie taken away euery man endeuored to obey the prince misdoubting nothing whilest Augustus yet strong in bodie was able to defend himselfe his house and peace But when he grew olde and feeble with sicknes and that the end of his gouernment and hope of a new was not far off some few but in vaine discourst of the commodities of libertie some feared war some desired it but the greatest part vsed lauish speeches and spred rumors against the next coniectured successor Agrippa they accounted by nature cruell and through the indignitie of his late disgrace easily kindled yoong and rawe in state matters vnable for so great a charge In deede Tiberius was of conuenient and ripe yeeres expert in feates of war but possest with the hereditarie pride of the Claudian familie yea manie apparent sparkles of crueltie did burst out in him howsoeuer he went about to suppresse them Besides he was brought vp in a house which knew how to raigne the Consulship was more than once cast vpon him with triumphes During the time that he was at Rhodes cloking his exile vnder colour of retiring himselfe he dreamte of nothing but reuenge dissimulation and secret meanes of licentious lusts withall he had his mother at hand vntolerable in all imperfections incident to the sexe and thereby they were to obey a woman and two yoong men which would in the meane space oppresse and in time rent in peeces the Common-wealth II. The death of Augustus and Tiberius Nero made Emperour WHilest they thus debated the matter Augustus maladie increased and as it was suspected by some through the lewde practise of his wife For not many months before a rumor was spread that Augustus with the priuitie of a few accompanied only with Fabius Maximus had conueyed himselfe to the Iland Planasia to visite his nephew Agrippa both weeping tenderly at their meeting with manifest tokens of loue and a hope conceiued that the yong man should be recalled and restored to his Grandfathers house Fabius disclosed this to Martia his wife and she to Liuia and C. Nauus to Caesar for not long after Fabius doubtfull whether by his owne procurement or not being deceased his wife Martia among other her lamentations at her husbands funerall was ouer-heard to accuse her selfe as the cause of her husbands death But howsoeuer the matter passed Tiberius had scarse put foote in Illyricum when by letters from his mother he was recalled in post haste not being well knowne when he arriued at Nola whether there were any breath yet left in Augustus or not For Liuia had beset the house with a watchfull and straight gard sometimes giuing out that Augustus was on the mending hand and so hauing made all sure on all hands as the time and occasion required the same rumor which not long before gaue ioyfull newes of Augustus amendment now published that he was dead and Nero in possession of the Empire The first exploit this new Prince did was the murdering of Posthumus Agrippa whom a Centurion resolute and appointed for the purpose and taking him vnarmed and misdoubting nothing yet could hardly dispatch Tiberius made no words of this to the Senate but pretended that it was done by his fathers appointment who as he said had giuen charge to the Centurion which had the garding of him to make him away incontinently after he had intelligence of his death Little doubt but Augustus complaining of the yong mans vntowardly behauior caused his exile to be confirmed by decree of the Senate but yet he neuer persisted long in desiring the death of any of his neither was it credible that to assure the estate to his wiues sonne he would seeke the bloud of his owne nephew But very likely it is that the yong mans death was hastened by Tiberius feare and Liuiaes hatred the one as iealous least he should bandie for the soueraigntie the other through the naturall hatred incident to all stepmothers When the Centurion brought him word as the manner of seruice was that he had fulfilled his commandement he answered presently that he commanded him no such matter and that he should answere it before the Senate When this newes came to Crispus Sallustius eares who being inward in greatest secrets with Tiberius had by letters giuen the Centurion order how to proceede fearing least his owne turne should be next dangerous to him alike to confesse the truth or to stand to a lye aduised Liuia that she should not in any wise diuulgate the secrets of her house the counsell of friends and seruices of souldyers and that Tiberius should beware of weakening the power of soueraigntie in referring all things to the Senate the
we hasten to come to Rome with Germanicus ashes that Agrippinas lamentation and the vnskilfull multitude at the first rumor should laie hands on thee vnheard and vndefended Thou hast for thee Augustas conscience and Caesars fauour though in secret And none bewaile more braggingly Germanicus death in outward shew then such as in their harts are most glad Piso being forward enough of himself to haughtie attempts was with small adoe drawen to this opinion And sending letters to Tiberius accuseth Germanicus of riot and pride and that himselfe was driuen out of the prouince bicause there might be a way made open to innouation that he had againe taken charge of the armie with the same fidelitie as he had alreadie gouerned it Withall he commanded Domitius with a galley to saile into Syria and auoiding the coasting of the shoare and letting passe the Ilands take wide and open sea Then marshalling and arming runnagates and rascall base companions and sailing ouer to the continent he intercepted an ensigne of yoong and rawe souldiers which were going to Syria And writeth also to the Lords of Cilicia to send him aide the yoong man Piso being nothing slacke in the seruice although he was against the vndertaking of the warre Wherefore passing by the coast of Lycia Pamphylia meeting with the ships which had conueied Agrippina to Rome each side hating one another made themselues readie to fight yet both sides fearing the one the other they proceeded no further then to hard words Mirsus Vibius sommoned Piso to come to Rome to answere for himselfe who scoffingly answered him againe that he would come and appeere when the Pretor which was to inquire of poisonings would appoint a day as well for the plaintif as defendāt In the meane time Domitius being ariued at Laodicea a citie in Syria and going to the standing camp of the sixt legion as most fit for new enterprises was preuēted by the Lieutenāt Pacuuius Sentius openeth that by letters to Piso warning him not to go about to tempt the armie with corrupters nor raise any war in the Prouince And such as he knew to haue Germanicus in minde or were aduersaries to the enimies he assembled togither putting them oftē in mind of the greatnes of the Emperor and how the common-wealth was assailed and thereupon gathereth a strong power readie to fight Yet neither Piso nor his side although his enterprises fell out otherwise than he expected did let slip that which was of most safetie for the present but putteth himselfe in a verie strong castle in Cilicia called Celenderis For by sorting and medling togither the runnagates the new and raw soldier lately taken his owne and Plancinaes slaues and the aides which the Lords of Cilicia sent he marshalled them in forme of a legion And then affirmed that he was Caesars Lieutenant but drouen out of the Prouince committed to him not by the legions for they called him thither but by Sentius which cloaked his priuate malice with false crimes therfore that they should stād stoutly to the battel bicause the soldiers would not fight when they should see Piso whom heretofore they called their father If they would proceed by order of iustice the right was on his side if by armes he wanted not strength Then he displaied his companies in order of battell before the castle on a steepe craggie hils side the rest being inuironed with sea On the contrarie side the old soldiers with their supplies were marshalled into rankes On this side was the strength of souldiers one that of place In courage and hope there was great oddes also and on their side no weapons but rude and clownish prepared for a present shift And when they came to handie strokes there was no lōger doubt who should haue the vpper hand but til the Roman cohorts could win the plaine ground which done the Cilicians shewed their backs shut themselues in their fort In the meane space Piso went about but in vaine to assaile the nauie which waited not farre off Then returned to the castle againe now tormenting himselfe vpon the wals now calling to euerie souldier by his name and offering rewards assaied to raise a mutinie and did so much preuaile that the standard bearer of the sixt legion went with his ensigne to his side Then Sentius commaunded the cornets and trumpets to sounde gaue an assault to the rampiers caused laddres to be put vp and the ablest men to follow and the others out of engines to shoote dartes stones and fire brands In the end Pisoes obstinacie being ouercome entreateth that hauing yeelded vp his weapons he might remaine in the castle vntill Caesar were consulted who should be gouernor of Syria The conditions were not accepted nor any thing graunted him but onely that he should haue shipping and safe conduct to the citie XIX Great bewailing for Germanicus death strange religions suppressed loose life restrained in women of account BVt when Germanicus sicknes was noised at Rome and as in newes it falleth out the farther it goeth augmented to the worser all men burst out into anger griefe and complaints saying that therefore he was sent to forren countries that was the reason why Piso had the prouince committed to him this was the effect of Augustaes secret conference with Plancina that the auncient men said most truly of Drusus that the courteous and modest disposition of children doth dislike such as raigne Neither were they made away for any other reason but because libertie restored they had a meaning to reduce the people of Rome to a certain equalitie These speeches of the common people the newes of his death did so much kindle that before any edict of Magistrates before any decree of Senate was made vacation being taken of themselues the places of iudgement were abandoned houses shut vp silence and mourning euery where nothing of all this counterfeited or done for ostentation And although they did not abstaine from outward tokens of mourning yet in their harts they mourned much more Certaine Merchants returning by chaunce out of Syria Germanicus yet liuing bringing ioyfull tidings of his health were presently beleeued and spread abroad and as they met one another although they had scarse heard the tale to the end yet they reported it againe and they againe to others still making it more and increasing their ioy They ran vp and downe the citie went about to wrest open the gates of the temples the night furthered their credulousnes and in the darke euery man more readie to affirme Neither did Tiberius gainsay these false reports but let them vanish away with time But then the people as though he had beene a second time taken from them greeued more bitterly Such was his funerall pomp done in memory of him as either mens loue or pregnancie of conceipt could inuent as that his name should be sung in a Salarian verse which Mars priests were wont to sing that in the roomes of the Augustall priests chaires of estate
to bewaile and lament alike Neither couldest thou haue discerned the lamentation of kinsfolkes from the stanger nor the women from the men sauing that the fresh griefe of such as went to meete her exceeded the lamentation of her traine alreadie wearied with long continuance of sorrow Caesar had sent two companies of his guarde to meete them and gaue further charge that the magistrates of Calabria the Apuleians Campanians should solemnise the last obsequies in memorie of his sonne The ashes were carried on the Tribunes and Centurions shoulders the ensignes vntrimmed and the fasces or knitch of rods turned downewards went before and when they passed by any colonies the common people in mourning weede and gentlemen in their attire called Trabea according to the wealth of the place burnt garments sweete odors with other accustomed funerall solemnities Yea such whose townes were far off yet met them erected altars offered sacrifices to the infernall gods witnessing their dolour with teares and cries Drusus went to Terracina with his brother Claudius Germanicus children which had remained in the citie The Consuls M. Valerius M Aurelius who began then to enter into office the Senat and a great part of the people filled vp the way scattered hither thither weeping as euery mans affection was Flattery there was none all men knowing that the death of Germanicus ioyfull to Tiberius could badly be dissembled howsoeuer he counterfeited the contrary Tiberius and Augusta abstained from mourning in publicke iudging it a thing vnder their maiestie if they should be seene openly to lament or least the eies of all men obseruing their countenance should espie they did but counterfeit I finde not in any author or diurnall register that his mother Antonia did any thing woorthie memorie in that sole 〈…〉 when as besides Agrippina Drusus and Claudius the rest of his bloud are by name written of either hindered by sicknes or in minde ouercome with sorrow coulde not endure the sight of so heauie a griefe I should easlier haue beleeued that Tiberius and Augusta which kept within doores made hir do the like that their griefe might be iudged equall and that the grandmother and vncle should seeme to haue kept in by the example of the mother The day that the ashes were put in Augustus tombe was sometimes with silence desolate and still and on the sudden vnquiet with weeping all passages of the citie were full Campus Martius shined with burning torches There the soldier with his weapons the magistrates without the markes of their dignitie and calling and the people gathered into tribes and companies cried that the common-wealth was fallen to ground and no hope left and that so openly and boldly that thou wouldest haue beleeued they did not remember by whom they were gouerned Yet nothing went so neere Tiberius hart as the ardent affection men bare Agrippina calling hir the honour of their countrey the onely bloud of Augustus the patterne of antiquitie and turning towards the heauen and the gods praied that hir issue might long continue and ouerliue the wicked Some desired that the funerals might be celebrated with publike pompe comparing the magnificence and honors that Augustus had vsed for Drusus Germanicus father And that he in the hardest time of winter went as farre as Ticinum and how neuer once departing from the bodie accompanied it to the citie That about the coffin were the images of the Claudians and Iulians that he was bewailed in the place of publike assemblies praised with an oration before the people and all honors done him which either our auncestors or later times could inuent But Germanicus had not so much as the vsuall solemnities done for him his body through distance of place was in some sort burnt in strange lands but by so much the more honours shoulde nowe haue beene bestowed vpon him bicause fortune had denied him the first His brothers went to meete him but one daies iourney his vncle not so farre as to the gate Where are the auncient customes become why was not his image put before the Beere and verses sung in memorie of his vertues why was he not praised and bewailed with the vsuall representation of mourning All this was well known to Tiberius and to suppresse the speech of the common people he admonished them by edict That although many notable Romans had died for the common-wealth yet none had euer beene bewailed with such an ardent affection Which was to him and vnto others also honorable so as there were a meane vsed For the selfe same things are not seemly for noble men the Emperor and the common people It was conuenient that small houses or cities shoulde mourne and lament in fresh griefe and after their griefe take comfort againe but now it was time to confirme the minde as Iulius Caesar hauing lost his onely daughter and Augustus his nephewes did cast off all sorrow It was needlesse to alleage auncient examples to shew how oft the people of Rome had suffered constantly the losse of armies death of captaines and the vtter ouerthrow of noble families That princes are mortall and the common-wealth euerlasting Therefore that they should take their solemnities againe and bicause the shew of the Megalensian plaies was at hand returne to their pleasures II. Piso commeth to Rome vvhere he is accused and killeth himselfe THe vacation ended euery man returned to his busines and Drusus went to the armie of Illyricum the people bent to demaund a reuenge of Piso complained that he in the meane time now here now there in the pleasant countrey of Asia and Affrike with a prowd and subtill delay did shift off the proofes brought against his lewdnes For it was commonly rumored that Martina as I haue before said a woman infamous for poisoning was sent to Rome by C. Sentius and being suddenly dead at Brundisium had no token vpon her that she had taken her owne bane and that the poison was found hidden in a knarle of her haire But Piso hauing sent his sonne before him to the citie with lessons how to pacifie the Prince went towards Drusus not hoping to finde him cruell in his behalfe for the death of his brother but rather fauorable as being rid of such a concurrent Tiberius to make a shew of vpright dealing hauing entertained the yong man courteously vsed the like liberalitie towards him as he was accustomed to do to the noble mens children of such as he was familiar with Drusus answered him that if the accusations layd against him were true the greatest griefe should be his and for his owne part he could wish they should be false and vaine and that Germanicus death might be preiudiciall to none These words were openly vttered and not in secret neither was it doubted at all but that Tiberius had before hand taught him his lesson when as being plaine simple and yong yet shewed the cunning of the old man Piso hauing past ouer the Dalmatian sea and left his ships at
in the sight of so many standers by and in Germanicus owne presence And thereupon he offered his familie and was verie earnest that his seruitors might be examined vpon the racke But the Iudges were implacable for diuers respects Caesar bicause he had made warre against the prouince the Senators bicause they could neuer beleeue but that Germanicus died by trechery and that they had expostulated the matter by letters the one to the other Which Tiberius did no lesse denie then Piso Withall the outcrie of the people was heard before the Senate house that they woulde not temper their hands if he escaped by sentence of the Senate And they had drawen Pisoes images to the Gemonies and broken them in peeces if they had not beene saued and put in their places againe by the princes commaundement Piso was caried backe in a chariot by a Tribune of the Pretorian band diuersly rumored whether he followed him as a garde for his safetie or executioner of his death The like hatred was toward Plancina but greater fauour and therefore it was doubted how farre Caesars authoritie woulde reach in hir behalfe As long as there was any hope left for Piso she promised to take part of whatsoeuer fortune with him and if it so fell out to be his companion in death But she was no sooner pardoned through Augustaes secret intreatie but she began by little and little to separate hir-selfe from hir husbande and bring hir defences apart The which when Piso perceiued to aboade his vtter destruction doubting whether he should make any further triall in iudgement his sons perswading him he hardneth himselfe and goeth once againe to the Senate Where his accusation being renewed and the Senators voices against him and hauing endured all things aduers and cruell he was amazed at nothing more then that he saw Tiberius without pitie without anger resolute and not swaied with any affection Being brought home from thence as though he had premeditated some iustification for the next day he writeth sealeth and deliuereth some fewe lines vnto a freed man This done he gaue himselfe to the accustomed care of his bodie Then the night being farre spent his wife going out of the chamber he commaundeth the doores to be shut and the next morning earely he was found with his throte cut the sword lying on the ground I remember I haue heard of auncient men that Piso was often seene to haue a little booke in his hands which he published not but as his friends said it contained Tiberius letters Commission against Germanicus and that he had purposed to disclose it to the Lords of the Senat and accuse the Prince had he not beene deluded by Seianus vaine promises and that he killed not himselfe but that some one was sent to murder him But I will not assure either of those things although I ought not to conceale it to haue been vttered by those which liued vntil I came to mans estate III. Pisoes letters to Tiberius Plancina is quit CAEsar hauing changed his countenance into sadnes perswading himselfe that that death of Pisoes would breede him enuie questioned oft in Senat how Piso had behaued himselfe the day before he died how he had passed the last night And he answering most things wisely and some inconsiderately reciteth the cōtents of the writing made by Piso almost as followeth Being oppressed by the conspiracies of my enimies enuie of a false crime so far that there is no place left to my innocencie and truth I call the immortall gods to witnes O Caesar that I haue liued with all loyaltie towards thee and no lesse dutie towards thy mother And I beseech you that you would be an aide and staie vnto my children Among which Cn. Piso is guiltles of my fortune whatsoeuer it be seeing he hath liued all this while in the citie M. Piso did alwaies disswade me from returning to Syria And I would to God I had rather yeelded to the counsell of my yoong sonne then hee to his olde father And therefore I beseech you most earnestlie that being innocent hee suffer not the punishment of my demerit By the seruice of fiue fortie yeares by the fellowship of the Consulship which we bore together once liked of Augustus the father and a friend to thee I recommend vnto thee as my last request my vnfortunate sonnes life Of Plancina he added no word After this Tiberius excused the yong man of the ciuill warres because the sonne could not disobey the fathers commaundement withall he had compassion on the noblenes of his house and his owne heauie fortune howsoeuer he had deserued Of Plancina he spake with shame and discredit pretending his mothers intreatie against whome euery good man was incensed and secretly complained saying Is it lawfull then for the grandmother to looke vpon the murderesse of her nephew talke with her and take her out of the hands of the Senat that iustice might not be executed Shall not that haue place in Germanicus which the law doth permit all other citizens Caesar was bewailed by Vitellius and Veranius Plancina defended by the Emperour and Augusta that now she might conuert her skill and poisons which she had so happely experimented against Agrippina and her children and satiat the good grandmother and vncle with the bloud of a most miserable house Two dayes were spent vnder colour of examining the cause Tiberius vrging Pisoes children to defend their mother and when the accusers and witnesses had spoken a vie against her and no man answered for her pitie increased more then enuie against her Aurelius Cotta being first demaunded his opinion for Caesar propounding the case the magistrates spake first gaue his censure that the memory of Piso should be blotted out of the Chronicles that part of his goods should be confiscated and part bestowed vpon Gn. Piso his sonne with condition that he should change his name that M. Piso being deposed from his dignitie and receiuing fiftie hundred thousand sesterces should be exiled for ten yeares and Plancinaes life pardoned at the suite of Augusta Diuers points of that sentence were mitigated by the Prince as that Pisoes name should not be wiped out of the Fasti seeing that M. Antonius who had made warre against his countrey and Iulius Antonius name who had violated Augustus house remained and M. Piso he deliuered from infamie and graunted him his fathers goodes neuer as I haue often sayd greedie of money and at that time more easilier pleased for shame that Plancina was quit And when Valerius Messallinus propounded that there should an image of gold be set vp in Mars their reuengers temple and Cecina Seuerus an altar erected to reuenge He hindered both alleaging that those things were to be dedicated and offered for forren victories and that domesticall aduersities ought to be buried in sorrow Messallinus added that thanks should be giuen to Tiberius and Augusta to Antonie and Agrippina and to Drusus for Germanicus reuenge
not once mentioning Claudius And L. Asprenas asking Messallinus before the Senate whether he had willingly omitted him Claudius name was then first added The more I meditate with my selfe of things done both in old and later times the more the vncertainties and vanities of fortune in mortall affaires come to my remembrance for in fame hope estimation all men were rather destined to the soueraigntie then he whom fortune had kept hidden for the future monarch A few dayes after Caesar perswaded the Lords of the Senate to bestow the dignitie of Priesthood vpon Vitellius Veranius and Seruaeus and hauing promised his voice to Fulcinius for the obtaining of any dignitie aduised him not to ouerthrow his eloquence with rashnes And that was the end of reuenging Germanicus death many things diuersly reported not only among such as then liued but in times consequent So doubtfull are all waightie matters whilest some take all as certaine howsoeuer they heare it others report a truth otherwise then it is posteritie adding to both IIII. Wars renewed in Affricke vnder Tacfarinas who is defeated by Apronius Lepida condemned for changing a childe BVt Drusus being gone out of the citie once more to learne future things by the flieng of birds entereth in againe with a small triumphe And a fewe daies after Vipsania his mother died onely of all Agrippas children of a naturall death because it was certainely beleeued that some died by the sword others by poison or famine The same yeere Tacfarinas who as I haue saide was the last sommer driuen out by Camillus renueth the warre in Affricke at the first by rouing pillages vnreuenged by reason of his sudden comming then by wasting of villages and carrieng away great booties and last of al not far from the riuer Pagyda he besieged a Roman cohort One Decrius was Captaine of the fort a lustie man and of good skill in matters of warre who taking that besieging as a disgrace to himselfe encourageth his souldiers to fight in open fielde and marshalled his armie in order of battell before the fortresse The cohort being beaten backe at the first brunt he runneth in among the weapons of such as fled rebuking the standard bearers that a Roman souldier would shew his back to a few vntrained raw traitors And hauing receiued wounds and an eie stroken out yet put himselfe in the face of the enimie neuer leauing of fighting vntill he was forsaken of his companie and slaine in the place Which when L. Apronius who suceeded Camillus vnderstood being more perplexed with the shame of his own people then glory of the enemie he draweth out by lot a rare matter in those daies though in old times practised euerie tenth person of the dishonorable band beateth him with cudgels to death Which seueritie wrought so great good that an ensigne of old souldiers in number not aboue fiue hundred defeated Tacfarinas armie going about to assault a fort called Thala In which battell Ruffus Heluius a common souldier got the credit of sauing a citizens life on whom L. Apronius bestowed chaines and a speare Caesar added a ciuicall crowne to them finding fault rather then offended that Apronius had not giuen it by his proconsularie authoritie But Tacfarinas perceiuing the Numidians to be daunted refusing to besiege any longer scattered his war giuing ground when he was pursued and following a fresh when their backes were turned Which maner of fight vsed by the Barbarian molested and kept the Roman plaie to no purpose But after that greedy of pray he drew to the sea coastes and there encamped Apronius Cesianus being sent thither by his fathers appointment with a troupe of horsmen and aid cohorts adding vnto them the rudest of the legions had a prosperous fight and droue the Numidian to the desarts Lepida who besides the honor of the Aemilian familie from which she was descended had L. Sulla and Cn. Pompeius for hir great grand-fathers was accused at Rome for faining hir selfe to haue had a childe by P. Quirinius a rich man and without children and also of adulteries and empoisonings and that she had consulted with the Chaldeans against the house of Caesar hir brother Manius Lepidus defending hir cause Quirinius being offended and separated from hir yet had commiseration on hir although she were both infamous and faultie In the hearing of that cause it was harde to gesse the princes minde he did so turne and winde himselfe and interlace tokens of anger with clemencie hauing first of all requested that matters of treason should not be debated at that time Then he drew M. Seruilius once Consull and other witnesses to broach such matter which he woulde seeme to haue suppressed and sent to the Consuls Lepidaes seruants whom he had garded before with a companie of soldiers would not suffer them to answer by torture to such interrogatories as did appertaine to his house Neither that Drusus Consull elect should first yeeld his opinion which some construed to be a point of ciuilitie that others shoulde not be forced to do the like others did wrest it to crueltie and that he should neuer haue giuen place but to condemne the partie called in question Lepida the day of hearing falling out when the plaies were to be shewen entering the Theater with a companie of noble women calling on hir auncestors with a dolefull lamentation and Pompey himselfe whose monuments and images were there in view mooued such great compassion that the people gushing out in teares began to curse Quirinius wishing him all crueltie and misfortune vpon whom being old and without children and of base parentage she was bestowed who had once beene destined a wife for L. Caesar and daughter in law to Augustus Not long after hir lewde behauiour was discouered by torturing hir slaues and all of them condescended vnto Rubellius Blandus opinion which was that she should be banished Drusus yeelded vnto his opinion although others were mildlier bent Then Scaurus who had had a daughter by hir obtained that hir goods should not be confiscate At last Tiberius declared that he was assured also by P. Quirinius slaues that she sought to poison him as being an enimie alwaies to noble houses And so in a short compasse of time the Calphurnians lost Piso and the Aemilians Lepida But D. Silanus being restored to the Iunian family was a comfort vnto it whose fortunes I will lay downe V. Decius Silanus touched vvith adulterie Papias Poppaeus lavve against single life AS fortune was fauourable to Augustus in gouernment of state so in household matters vnluckie and improsperous his daughter and Neece which he banished the citie being both of incontinent life and the adulterers punished with death or exile For perceiuing the offence to be common in the mouth both of man and woman and terming it by a rigorous name of religion violated or treason he passed the bondes of his auncestors clemencie and his owne lawes But I will lay downe the endes of others and what
persons which voluntarily follow the wars Withall he tooke a short viewe of the legions and what Prouinces they defended which giueth me occasion to declare what strength the Romans had then in armes what Kings their confederates and how much lesse the Empire then was Italie had in both seas two nauies the one at Misenum and the other at Rauenna certaine Galleies called rostratae to defend the coast adioining to Gallia which Augustus had taken in the victorie at Actium sent to Foroiuliense well appointed with sea men But the principall strength consisted of eight legions neere vnto Rhene a staie as well to the Germans as Galli Spaine newely subdued had three legions King Iuba had the Mauritanians as a gift giuen him by the people of Rome the rest of Affricke had two legions and Aegypt the like number Then all from the beginning of Suria vnto the riuer Euphrates which contayneth a great countrey receiueth fower legions Hybero and Albanus and other Kings being borderers which by our greatnes are protected against forrain Kings Thrace was vnder the gouernment of Rhoemetalces Cotys children and the banck of Danubium two legions garded in Pannonia and two in Maesia The like number was in Dalmatia which by the situation of the countrey lie behinde them that if on the sudden Italie should neede aide they were at hand Albeit the citie had her proper souldiers three citie cohorts and nine Pretorian almost all chosen out of Etruria Vmbria old Latium and old Romans sent thither to dwell The Galleies of confederats lay in the most commodious places of the Prouinces the companies of horsemen and aides of cohorts not much inferiour in strength though not easilie laide downe through their vncertaine flitting hither and thither sometimes moe sometimes lesse as time and necessitie required I thinke it also expedient to discribe the other partes of the common wealth and howe they had beene gouerned vntill that daie being the yeare in which the state beganne to decline by Tiberius growing woorse and woorse In the beginning publicke and priuat affaires of greatest importance were handled before the Lords of the Senate and the chiefest licenced to opine and debate matters Tiberius himselfe rebuking them if they fell to flattery In bestowing of offices he had regard to their auncestors merite in seruice abroad or lawdable acts at home such only preferred due authoritie reserued vnto the Consuls and to the Pretor the meaner officers each one exercising his owne function and the lawes matter of treason excepted duly executed But for prouision of corne and leuying of tributes and other publick commodities certaine societies of gentlemen of Rome had charge of Caesar committed his owne affaires to honest and tried persons and to some vnknowne if they were wel spoken of and such as were once chosen continued still and grew old in the same charge The people were distressed with a great dearth of corne yet no fault thereof in the Prince but with as great care and diligence as he could remedieth the sterilitie of the ground and rough passages of the sea and gaue order that the prouinces should not be oppressed with new taxations and the old be borne without couetousnes and crueltie of magistrates Caesar had small possessions in Italie and a reasonable number of seruitours and in his house a few freed men and if he had a sute against any priuate person he tried it by law in the place of iudgement all which he maintained not with any courteous and mild course but sternely and feared vntill by the death of Drusus all was turned vpside downe For whilest he liued there was no alteration because Seianus beginning to rise sought meanes to win credit and feared least Drusus would reuenge who neuer dissembled his hartburning but often complained That his sonne being aliue he had another coadiutor in the Empire and what wanteth that he is not his companion That the first steps to soueraigntie are hard but once entred into there will want no fauorers nor followers forts he had built as he liked best charge giuen him ouer souldiers his image was placed amongst C. Pompeius monuments and that he should haue his nephewes common to the Drusian familie that hereafter Modestie must be prayed vnto that he would be contented with his greatnes He did not vtter these speeches seldome or to a few and his wife being corrupted his secrets were bewrayed Seianus therefore thinking it time to make haste chooseth a slow working poison the better to father his sicknes vpon some casuall disease which was giuen Drusus by Lygdus an Eunuch as eight yeeres after it was knowne III. Germanicus children are in Senate recommended to the Lords by Tiberius Drusus funerals and how he vvas empoisoned BVt Tiberius all the time of Drusus sicknes shewed no signe of feare perhaps because he would shew his constancie yea being dead but not buried he entered into the Senate and put the Consuls which sate on a lowe seate as a token of their sorrow in minde of their honors and calling And hauing mastered his owne griefe comforted the Lords of the Senate which powred downe teares with a continuall speech saying That he knew well he might be blamed for shewing himselfe in Senate in so fresh a griefe when the communication of deerest friends and kinsfolks was scarse seene nor hardly the day by many which lamented and mourned Neither were they to be condemned of weakenes yet he for his part had sought for stronger comforts out of the bosome of the common wealth And hauing compassion on the Empresse old age and tender yeeres of her nephewes and of his owne decaying age intreated that Germanicus children the only comfort of present miseries might be brought before them The Consuls went out and emboldening the yong men in that which they should say brought them before Tiberius who taking hold of them said Lords of the Senate I deliuered these fatherles children to their vncle and besought him although he had issue of his owne that he would bring them vp and cherish them as if they were his owne bloud and make them worthy for himselfe and posteritie Drusus being taken from among vs I turne my prayers to you and beseech you in presence of the gods and our countrey that you would receiue and gouerne Augustus nephewes sonnes descended of worthie progenitors and accomplish therein my dutie and your owne These Nero and Drusus shall be in stead of fathers vnto you You are so borne that all your good and euill appertaine to the common wealth With great weeping were these words heard and prayers made that the yong men might prosper and if he had then ended his oration he had filled the harts of the hearers with compassion towards himselfe and glory But being fallen into vaine discourses as such as had beene often laughed at of yeelding vp the gouernment and that the Consuls or some other should take the care vpon him he discredited that which was both honest
guard about him seeing his sonne alreadie taken and the Romans on euerie side of him rushing in among their weapons with the losse of his life escaped captiuitie And that was the end of that warre Dolabella desiring the honour of triumphe Tiberius denied it him and gaue it Seianus least his vncle Blaesus commendation should be obscured But Blaesus was neuer the more esteemed and the denying of the honour to Dolabella augmented his honour bicause that with a lesser armie he had taken manie notable prisoners slaine the Captaine and caried away the fame of ending the warre The Ambassadors of the Garamantes a people seldome seene in the citie came after the death of Tacfarinas all astonied as being of the conspiracie to satisfie the people of Rome After this Tiberius vnderstanding of Ptolemaeus diligence in his warres renuing the old custome sent one of the Senators to him with an Iuorie staffe and embrodered or wrought gowne which were woont to be the auncient gifts of the Lords of the Senat and to giue him the greater honor called him King companion and friend of the people of Rome VII A rebellion of bond-slaues suppressed Serenus accused by his owne sonne THe same sommer beginnings of warre attempted in Italie by bond-men were suppressed by meere chaunce The beginner of this tumult was T. Curtisius sometimes a souldier of a Pretorian band who at the first in secret conuenticles in Brundisium and townes adioyning then by writings publikly spread abroad tolled to libertie the rude and fierce bond-slaues dispersed in the woods when by the fauour of the gods there arriued three Galleies for the vse of passengers in that sea And Curtius Lapius rent gatherer in those countries vnto whom by lot fell the Prouince Cales according to the auncient custome hauing in a readines a power of sea souldiers discomfited the conspirators who then did but begin their enterprise Caesar sent out of hand Staius a Tribune with a strong Power who brought the Captaine himselfe and the ringleaders of this bold attempt to the citie greatly afeard of the multitude of bond-men which increased to a huge number the free borne decreasing dayly more and more The same men being Consuls there happened a bloodie example of calamitie and crueltie the sonne accusing the father both called Q. Vibius Serenus both brought before the Lords of the Senat the father out of banishment deformed poore and vnhandsome bound in chaines and his sonne pleading against him who finely and featly attired with a cheerefull countenance affirmed that secret practises had beene wrought against the Prince and certaine firebrands of war sent into Gallia to raise a rebellion himselfe being both accuser and witnes He charged Caecilius Cornutus once Pretor to haue furnished them with money who through the wearisomnes of trouble accounting the danger his bane hastened his owne death But contrarily the defendant stoutly turning towards his sonne shaking his irons called the gods to reuenge praying that they would send him to exile againe to lead his life far from such customs and inflict condigne punishment vpon his son And affirmed constantly that Cornutus was innocent and frighted with a false accusation which should easily be perceiued if some others were appeached also for himselfe could not practise the death of the Prince and an innouation with one only companion Then the accuser named Gn. Lentulus and Seius Tubero Caesar himselfe being ashamed to heare the chiefe of the citie and his deerest friends Lentulus very aged and Tubero of a weake body accused of raising a rebellion and disturbing the common-wealth and therefore both were incontinently acquited The fathers bondmen were put to the racke which made against the accuser who through the wickednes of his fact growing halfe frantick and terrified with the speech of the people which threatned either to cast him headlong from the Robur or draw him in peeces or punish him as a parricide departed the citie but brought back from Rauenna was forced to end his accusation Tiberius nothing at all dissembling the old grudge he bare Serenus the banished For after Libos condemnation by letters he vpbraided Caesar that his seruice only was vnrecompensed with some other things more peremptorily then safely to prowd eares and readie to take offence Eight yeeres after Caesar cast this in his dish many waies carping his actions in the meane space although contrary to his expectation through the constancie of his bondmen the rack could extort nothing against him When all had giuen sentence that Serenus should be punished according to the auncient custome Tiberius to bleare their eyes and dissemble his grudge would not allow of the sentence Gallus Asinius was of opinion that he should be confined in Gyarum or Donusa which he misliked also saying that both those Ilands wanted water and that to whome life was graunted things necessary for life ought to be graunted whereupon Serenus was caried backe to Amorgum And because Cornutus had slaine himselfe it was propounded in Senat whether the informers should loose their rewards if any arraigned only of treason and not condemned slew himself Which they had all followed if Caesar had not sharply and openly contrary to his accustomed manner complained in defence of the informers saying that by that meanes the lawes would be brought to nothing and the common wealth run to ruine and that it were more tollerable to abolish the lawes themselues then take away the keepers of them By this meanes the promooters a race of men found out for a common ouerthrow and destruction and neuer duly punished were allured with rewards These continuall causes of sorrow were sauced with some small contentment for C. Cominius a gentleman of Rome conuicted of scandalous verses against Tiberius was pardoned at the intreatie of his brother a Senator A strange case that knowing what was best for sottish or senseles he was not and what fame followed clemencie yet he desired rather cause of heauines and sorrow Neither is it a matter of deepe insight to know the peoples affection when they extoll Princes actions from the hart and when from the teeth outward And Tiberius himselfe at other times cunningly premeditating his words and with staggering and stammering deliuering his minde yet when he meaneth good in deed vnto any findeth his toong readie and loose But when P. Suilius somtimes rent gatherer to Germanicus was conuict for taking of money for giuing iudgment therfore expulsed Italie his opinion was that he should be banished into some Iland and that with such vehemencie that he bound it with an oath to be profitable for th ecommon wealth Which for the present time was taken for a rigorous sentence but after Suilius returne turned to his commendation whome subsequent times sawe mightie but a slaue to money a long time as he lusted but neuer as he ought vsing Prince Claudius friendship The same punishment was ordained against Catus Firmius a Senator as falsly accusing his sister of treason Catus as I
able to draw the truth from him And being the next day brought againe to the torture by violent force breaking from his keepers so dasht his head against a stone that immediately he yeelded vp the ghost Some were of opinion that Piso was slaine by the treacherie of the Termestines by reason he exacted more of those barbarous people then they were able to beare XI Poppaeus Sabinus defeateth the Thracians and their obstinacie LEntulus Getulicus and C. Caluisius being Consuls triumphall ornaments were awarded Poppaeus Sabinus for defeating certaine Thracians which wildly liued in high mountaines therfore more sauage fierce The cause of their rebellion besides their naturall disposition was bicause they would not that any muster should be made of their strongest and ablest men for seruice neuer accustomed to obey their Kings farther then themselues listed or if they did send any aide they appointed the conductor of them and would make no warre but against the borderers There was also a rumor then spread that they should be dispersed and brought into other nations and mingled with them But before they began to beare armes they sent Ambassadors to Sabinus declaring their amitie and obedience to the people of Rome and that they would so continue if they were not oppressed with new taxations but if like vanquished men they should liue in seruitude they had both weapons and youth and a resolute courage ether to die or liue in libertie And therewithall shewed their fortresses built on rocks whither they had conueied their parents and wiues and threatened an intricat hard bloody war But Sabinus giuing milde answeres vntill he had gathered his forces together and when Pomponius Labeo was come with a legion out of Moesia king Rhoemetalces with the aid of his countreymen which continued still in their alleageance with the forces he had at hand he marched toward the enemie possessed of the streights of the woods some of the forwardest shewing themselues in open place which the Romane captaine hauing stole vpon were easily put to flight with small bloudshed of the barbarians by reason of their refuges at hand Then fortifying in the same place seaseth on the mountaine which was narrow and euen ridged vnto the next fort garded with great but vnorderly and confuse strength and immediatly sendeth before of his choise archers against the fiercest of them before the trench as the manner of the countrey is singing ditties and verses They wounded many with shot a far off and drawing neere by a suddaine irruption of the enemie had bene driuen to the worst if the Sugambrien cohort which lay not far off in dangers venturous no lesse fierce dreadfull in noise of songs clattering of armes had not receiued them at a pinch After this Sabinus encamped neerer the enemie leauing the Thracians which as I haue alreadie said came to our side at the first fort with warrant to wast burne carry away booties so as they tooke no longer time then the day and returne at night to set a sure watch and a vigilant ouer the camp Which at the first was obserued but afterward through riot wantonnes and desire of riches neglecting their wards hunting after belly cheere and ouertaken with wine fell heauily all to sleepe The enemie vnderstanding their retchles negligence deuided his men into two squadrons the one to set on the forragers and the other to assaile the Romain camp not with hope of any surprise but by their clamors and clashing of weapons euery man intentiue to his owne danger they should not heare the noise of the other skirmish choosing the night withall to make the fear the greater But those which assaied the trench of the legion were easily repulsed the aid of the Thracians in the other fort terrified with a suddaine assault part of them lying asleepe within the trenches and part seeking prouision and stouer abroade were so much the more cruelly slaine because they were reckoned to be as fugitiues and traitors which bare armes to bring themselues and their countrey into seruitude The next day Sabinus sheweth himselfe in a place without aduantage to either side to see whether the barbarians glad of the nights successe durst venter a battell But seeing they went not out of their fortresses or hils adioyning he began to lay siege to them with a strong companie casting a trench and a parapet foure miles compas about them after that by little and little to barre them of water and forrage streightened his enclosure the first enuironing the last and raised vp a bulwarke so neere the enemie that from thence they might throw stones darts and fires into the enemies camp But nothing annoyed the enemie more then thirst a huge multitude of rawe fighting souldiers hauing but one fountaine left them for their vse withall their cattell as the custome is among barbarous people shut vp with them died for want of stouer dead carcases of men lay along as well with wounds as thirst all corrupted with putrefaction stench and infection And to make their troubled estate more miserable they fell at discord among themselues of all calamities the full measure some readie to yeeld some to die some to strike and kill one another some perswading couragiously to sallie out and not perish without reuenge and these not of the basest alloy though deuided in opinions But among the captaines Dinis a man stroken in yeares and who by long experience had tried as well the strength as clemencie of the Romaines counselled them to lay downe their armes as the only remedie in their distresse and was the first which yeelded himselfe with his wife and children to the conquerors the rest which were weake either through age or sexe and desired rather life then renowme did the like But the youth betweene Tarsa and Turesis both resolued to die with libertie were doubtfully distracted but Tarsa crying that death was to be hastened and hope and feare to be cut off at once and giuing example vnto others thrust himselfe through the breast many following the same death Turesis with his companie expected the night our captaine not being ignorant thereof and thereupon reenforced the watch The night being stormie and tempestuous the enemie now making a fierce outcry and on the sudden vsing a maruellous silence droue the besiegers into vncertainties when as Sabinus went about from one place to another exhorting them not to lay chance open to such as by their doubtfull clamors and fained silence layde traines to intrap them but that euery man should keepe his standing and take heed he threw no dart in vaine In the meane space the barbarians clustering together by troups now threw hand-stones against the rampire iauelins burnt at the end and troncheons of oake now filled vp the ditches with shrubs hurdles and dead carcasses Some of them hauing before made bridges and ladders planted them before the bulwarks catched hold of them labored to pull downe the defence grapled fought hand to
eies whom thou dost inrich whom thou dost aduance to honours who haue greatest power of hurting or helping which Seianus to haue had no man will denie The Princes hidden thoughts or if he go about any secret drift it is not lawfull to sound and dangerous neither shalt thou in the end reach vnto them Thinke not onely Lords of the Senat of Seianus last day but of sixteene yeeres in which we did likewise fawne vpon and court Satrius and Pomponius and to be knowen to his freed men and partners was reckoned as a high fauour What then Shall this defence be generall and not distinguished but a confusion made of times past and his later actions No but let it by iust bounds and termes be diuided Let the treasons against the common-wealth the intentions of murdering the Emperour be punished but as for the friendship duties pleasures and good turnes the same ende shall discharge and quite thee O Caesar and vs. The constancie of his oration one being found to deliuer that which they all thought in their mindes preuailed so much that his accusers by ripping vp their old faults were punished either with exile or death III. The occasion of making a Prefect at Rome an examen of some of the Sibyls bookes AFter that Tiberius sent letters against Sext. Vestilius sometime Pretor and welbeloued of Drusus his brother chosen to be one of his garde The cause of displeasure against Vestilius was either bicause he had composed certaine writings against Caesars vncleane life or falsly fathered vpon him gaue credit to the reporters and therupon being banished the Princes court familiarity hauing first gone about with his owne olde feeble hand to slaie himselfe bound vp his vaines and in the meane space hauing entreated the Princes fauour and receiued arigorous answere did at last open them Then at once were accused of treason Annius Pollio Appius Silanus Scaurus Mamercus Sabinus Caluisius Vicinianus also brought in with his father for companie all of them well descended and some in authoritie The Lords of the Senat quaked for feare for how manie was there which was not either allied or a friend of one of those noble men But Celsus Tribune of the citie-cohort and then an informer deliuered Appius and Caluisius from danger Caesar deferred Pollioes Vicinianus Scaurus cause that himselfe might haue the hearing of it with the Senators hauing giuen out alreadie tokens of heauie displeasure against Scaurus Not so much as women but were partakers of danger and if not attainted for attempting to aspire to the Empire yet brought in question for their teares and Vitia an old woman Fusius Geminus mother was put to death bicause she bewailed the death of her sonne These things were done in Senat. And where the Prince was the like was practised Vescularius Atticus and Iulius Marinus two of his most familiar friends which accompanied him to Rhodes and at Capreas neuer departed from him were put to death Vescularius was the Messenger to and fro when the treacherie was wrought against Libo Marinus was of Seianus counsell when he put Curtius Atticus to death most men being glad to see them taken in the snare they laid for others About the same time L. Piso high Priest died a naturall death which was a rare matter in those times in a man of so great nobilitie He neuer of himselfe propounded any matter which smelled of flatterie or base minds if he were forced thereto he vsed great moderation in doing it His father as I haue alreadie saide had beene Censor he liued to the age of fowerscore hauing in Thrace deserued the triumphall ornaments But his greatest credit rose in that that being newly created Prouost of the citie he did gouerne exceeding moderately all the time of his continuall rule irkesome through vnwontednes of obedience For in times past when the Kings or Consuls went out of the citie least she should be left without gouernment there was one chosen for a time able to giue euery man right prouide for all sudden accidents And it is said that Dentres Romulius had the same charge giuen him by Romulus after that Numa Marcius by Tullus Hostilius and Spurius Lucretius by Tarquinius Superbus Then that the Consuls had the charge of committing this office and a shadow of it continueth vnto this day as oft as the Latine feasts are folemnised one is appointed ouer the rest to exercise the roome of a Consull But Augustus in the time of ciuill warres made Cilnius Maecenas a gentleman Prouost ouer Rome and all Italie Then being Lord and Master of the Empire by reason of the greatnes of the people and slow aide which the lawes affoorded he chose out one of such as had been Consuls to bridle the bondmen and such citizens as through audaciousnes would grow troublesome vnlesse they stood in awe The first that receiued that authoritie but kept it but awhile was Messalla Coruinus as vnable to discharge it Then Taurus Statilus although he were verie aged went through it with great commendation After that Piso was well liked for the space of twentie yeeres and by order of the Senat honoured with publick funerals It was afterward propounded before the Lords of the Senat by Quinctilianus Tribune of the people concerning the Sibyls booke which Caninius Gallus one of the fifteene requested might be receiued among other books of the same prophetesse and demanded it might be so established by decree of Senat which being giuen by common consent Caesar sent letters somewhat reprehending the Tribune as ignorant of the old custome by reason of his youth and vpbraided Gallus that being old and practised in the science and ceremonies neuertheles had demanded the opinion of the Senators not fully assembled the author being vncertain and before the colledge had yeelded their iudgment neither as the custome was the verses hauing been read and waighed by the maisters Withall he aduertised them because that many vaine things were published vnder the name of famous men that Augustus had vnder penaltie set downe a day within which such bookes should be brought to the citie-Pretor and that it was not lawfull for any to haue them in their priuat possession The like decree was established by our predecessors also and after that the Capitol was burnt in the ciuill war their verses were sought in Samum in Ilium Erythrum through Affrike also Sicily and the colonies of Italie whether they were one or many the busines being committed to the Priests to distinguish the true prophecies from the false as neere as might be by the iudgement of man And then also the booke was referred to the examination of the fifteene When the same men were Consuls through a dearth of corne and other prouisions they grew almost to a commotion and many things for many dayes together were in the Theater more licentiously demaunded with great eagernes then the manner had beene to demaund things of the Emperour Whereat being moued he
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
affaires were in a hurly burly whilest they wauered whom they should receiue for their King Many inclined to Gotarzes sonne to Meherdates sonne to Phrahates who was giuen vs in hostage In the ende Gotarzes preuailed who inioying the Kings seate through crueltie and dissolute life forced the Parthians to send secretly to intreat the Roman Prince to release Meherdates and inuest him in his fathers kingdome IIII. Messalina falleth in loue with Silius THe same men being Consuls the plaies called Seculares were exhibited eight hundred yeeres after the foundation of Rome and threescore and foure yeeres after those which Augustus had caused then to be represented I omit the reasons which moued both these Princes as sufficiently declared in my bookes which I haue composed of the acts of Domitian the Emperour for he likewise did set forth the same plaies which I was present at so much the more carefully because I was then one of the fifteene Priests and Pretor Which I speake not to vaunt or brag thereof but because that charge in times past was committed to the colledge of the fifteene and magistrates did chiefly execute the office of ceremonies Claudius sitting to see the race when the noble mens children represented on horseback the play of Troy and among them Britannicus the Emperours sonne and L. Domitius anon after adopted to the Empire and surnamed Nero. The fauour of the people was more affectionat to him then Germanicus which was taken as a prefage of his future greatnes And it was rumored abroad that in his infancie dragons were found about him in manner of a gard which are fables not vnlike vnto strange miracles for he himselfe who neuer derogated from himselfe was wont to report but of one serpent which was seene in his chamber But that affection of the people was a relick of the memorie of Germanicus who left no other male behinde him but he and the commiseration towards Agrippina his mother was increased by reason of Messallinaes crueltie who alwaies hating her and now more then euer kindled against her was hindered no way from forging of crimes and suborning accusers against her sauing only by a new loue and next cosen vnto madnes For she did so burne in loue with C. Silius the fairest youth of all Rome that to content her lust she caused him to put from him his wife Iunia Syllana an honorable dame to enioy wholy to her selfe the adulterer now vntied from the bands of matrimonie Neither was Silius ignorant how lewd the practice was and what perill he might incurre but if he refused certaine of his destruction and hauing some hope to bleare the eyes of the world and enticed with great rewards he tooke it for the most expedient to expect what might fall and inioy the present She not by stealth but with a great retinue frequented his house was alwayes at his side bestowed wealth and honor bountifully vpon him and at last as though fortune had transferred the Empire slaues freed men and all princely ornamēts and preparations were seene at the adulterers house But Claudius not knowing what rule was at home vsurped the office of a Censor reprehended with seuere edicts the ouergreat licence the people vsed in the Theater vsing opprobrious speeches against P. Pomponius who had bin sometime Consull and gaue verses to the stage and other noble women He made a law to restraine the crueltie of creditors forbidding them to lend money to interest vnto mens sonnes subiect to the fathers power to be payed after their death He brought water to the citie from the Simbruan hils He added and published new letters and characters being a thing most certaine that the manner of the Greekes writing was not begun and perfected at once The Aegyptians first of all expressed the conceptions of their mind by the shape of beasts and the most auncient monuments of mans memory are seene grauen in stones they say that they are the first inuēters of letters Then the Phoenicians because they were strong by sea brought them into Greece and had the glory of inuenting that which they receiued of others For there goeth a report that Cadmus sailing thither in a Phoenicean ship was the inuentor of that arte among the Greekes when they were yet vnexpert and rude Some record that Cecrops the Athenian or Linus the Theban and Palamedes the Grecian at the time of the Troian warre inuented 16. characters then others and especially Simonides found out the rest But in Italie the Etrurians learned them of Corinthius Damaratus and the Aborigenes of Euander the Arcadian and the fashion of the latine letters are like vnto the old greeke letters but we had but a few at the beginning the rest were after added By which example Claudius added three letters which during the time of his raigne were in vse and afterward forgotten and are yet to be seene ingrauen in brasen tables hanged vp in temples and places of assembly to shew the peoples lawes Then he propounded in Senate touching the colledge of southsayers least that the most auncient discipline of Italie should come to naught by slothfulnes seeing that in the hard and aduerse times of the common wealth they haue been sent for and by their aduise the ceremonies haue been renewed and better afterward looked into And the chiefest noble men of Etruria either of their owne motion or at the perswasion of the Lords of the Senate haue continued their science and propagated it to their families which now is very carelesly accomplished by a sloth vsed towards commendable artes and because strange superstitions preuaile and take deeper roote All well for the present thanks were to be rendered to the goodnes of the gods therefore and heed taken that sacred rites in doubtfull times had in reuerence be not in prosperous forgotten Whereupon a decree of Senate was made and order taken that the high Priests should consider what was meete to be retained and established concerning the southsayers V. The Cherusci craue Italus for their King THe same yeere the Cherusci came to Rome to demaunde a King all their nobilitie being extinguished by ciuill warres and one onely left of the blood royall called Italus then being at Rome He was sonne vnto Flauius Arminius brother his mother was the daughter of Catumerus Prince of the Catti and was of a comely personage practised in armes and riding as well according to the maner of our countrey as his owne Caesar therefore hauing furnished him with money and appointed him a guarde encourageth him stoutely to take vpon him the honour of his house and auncestors putting him first in minde that he was borne at Rome where he remained not as an hostage but citizen and that now he was to goe to a strange Empire At the first the Germans were glad of his comming and so much the rather bicause he was not nusled in factions and discords and therefore would beare like affection vnto all He was reuerenced and honoured of all
Caesars knees crieth out that Messallina had married Silius and withall asketh Cleopatra who was there present of purpose to be asked the question who nodding with her head in token that shee had commandeth Narcissus to be called for he crauing pardon of that which was past and that he had concealed the adulterie betweene Messallina and Vectius and betweene her and Plautius added further that the best way was not to reproch him of his adulteries nor demaund his house his seruants other princely ornaments embezeled away but let him said Narcissus inioy them so as he would restore thee thy wife and cancell the writings of marriage Doest thou know saith he further of thy diuorsement for Silius marriage the people saw the Lords of the Senate and the souldiers and if thou make not haste the new married man will be Lord of the citie Hereupon Claudius calleth for the chiefest of his friends and first of all for Turranius chiefe officer for prouision of corne then Lusius Geta captaine of the gard asking them what they knew of the matter who confessing it all the rest came cluttering about him crying that he should haste away to the camp strengthen his gard prouide first for his safetie then reuenge Sure it is that Claudius was so surprised with feare that he did eftsoones aske whether he were yet soueraigne of the Empire whether Silius were yet a priuat man without charge But Messallina neuer more loose and dissolute in lusts the Autumne being well spent celebrated in her house the feast of grape gathering the presses were wrung the vessels flowed with wine women danced about girt with skins like vnto mad women solemnizing the feasts of Bacchus she her selfe her haire hanging loose about her eares shaking a iauelin wrapped about with vine leaues Silius hard by her couered with Iuie with buskins on his legs casting the head hither and thither with a shamelesse companie of dancers shouting and singing about them It is reported that Vectius Valens toying and iesting climed vp a high tree and being demaunded what he saw there made answere a cruell tempest comming from Hostia Whether any such thing did appeare or whether it were a word slipt by chance it was turned to a presage of future danger Not a rumor any longer but messengers come from all parts bringing them tidings that Claudius knew all and was comming readie to reuenge Messallina then conueyeth her selfe into the gardens which sometimes belonged to Lucullus Silius dissembling his feare went to his busines in the Forum The rest some slipping one way some another the Centurions layd hold on and bound with yrons as they were found either abroad or in corners and lurking places Messallina albeit this sudden crossing had almost put her besides her selfe yet thought it best as a shift which neuer failed at a pinch to meete her husband and shew her selfe vnto him and commaunded Britannicus and Octauia to go before and cast themselues betwixt their fathers armes and prayed Vibidia the auncientest of the virgins Vestall to go to the high Priest and intreate him he would shew clemencie in her behalfe And in the meane time accompanied with three persons only so naked was she left on the sudden hauing gone afoote ouer all the citie at last in a tumbrell which caried away the riddings of gardens she taketh her way towards Hostia no one pitying her because the filthines of her wicked life swayed downe all compassion Neuerthelesse Caesar trembled because he distrusted Geta captaine of his gard a man as lightly carried to bad as to good Whereupon Narcissus hauing taken those with him which had the like feare assured Caesar he had no other hope of safetie left then to transferre the whole commaundery of the souldiers that one day vnto some one of his freed men and offereth himselfe to be the man And fearing least whilest he were brought vnto the citie he might be induced by L. Vitellius or P. Largus Caecina to repent him he desireth taketh a place in the same chariot with the Emperour The fame was common afterwards that among diuers of the princes speeches now blaming his wiues lightnes now calling to minde the band of matrimonie and infancie of his children Vitellius neuer vsed other speech then ô wickednes ô shame Narcissus vrged him to speake plainely and go no more about the bush yet he could not winne so much of him but would still answere in doubtfull tearmes and such as might be construed as euery man listed to draw them and Largus Caecina did the like XI Silius and Messallina punished with others her adulterers NOw Messallina was in sight and cried that he would heare Octauia and Britannicus mother when as the accuser made a noise on the other side naming Silius and the marriage and withall presented vnto him certaine writings bewrayers of her lusts and lasciuiousnes to the ende he might turne Caesars sight from her And not long after the children had betweene them had beene presented vnto him as he entered the citie if Narcissus had not commaunded them to be conueied away But Vibidia could not be driuen away but requested importunately with nipping termes that his wife vnheard might not be put to death Hereupon Narcissus answered that the Prince should heare her and that she should haue libertie to purge herselfe In the meane space that she should depart and attende her sacrifices Claudius vsed a woonderfull silence whilest all those speeches past Vitellius was as one that knew little all obeied the freed man he commaunded the adulterers house to be opened and the Emperor to be brought thither And there first of all in the entrie he shewed the Emperor the image of Silius father defaced by decree of Senate Then told him that whatsoeuer the Neroes or Drusi had rich and Princely had beene giuen to Silius for a reward of his reptochfull adulterie then seeing Claudius inflamed and bursting into threats leades him to the soldiers camps verie readie to heare an oration vnto whom as Narcissus had before aduised him he vsed some fewe words For although he had iust cause of griefe yet shame hindered him Immediately all the bands cried togither continually demaunding the names and punishment of the offenders And Silius brought to the barre neither went about to iustifie himselfe nor craue respite but intreated that his death might be hastened The same constancie made other famous gentlemen of Rome desire the hastening of their death He commaunded Titius Proculus guard vnto Silius and Messallina and Vectius Valens offering to detect other crimes and confessing the same and Pompeius Vrbicus and Saufellus Trogus all of counsell to the fact to be brought to execution Decius Calphurnianus likewise Captaine of the watch Sulpicius Rufus ouerseer of the plaies Iuncus Virgilianus a Senator receiued the like punishment Onely Mnester delayed his punishment renting his clothes and crying that he would looke vpon the markes of the stripes and call to mind his own words which were that
woman they inuaded her kingdome with a strong power of armed and choise youth Which was foreseene by vs and the cohorts sent to second her fought a hote battell which at the beginning was doubtfull though the end more ioyfull A legion also which Cesius Nasica commaunded fought with the like successe for Didius being stroken in yeeres and hauing receiued many honors thought it sufficient to execute his charge and driue away the enemie by the help of others These exploites although they were atchieued by two Propretors Ostorius and Didius in many yeeres yet I thought good to ioyne together least being seuered they should not so well haue beene remembred IX Nero Agrippinaes sonne is preferred before Britannicus sonne to Claudius NOw I will returne to the order of times Ti. Claudius beeing the fift time Consull and Ser. Cornelius Orfitus great haste was made to make Nero of full yeeres that he might seeme more capable of the gouernment And Caesar willingly yeelding to the flattery of the Lords of the Senate consented that Nero should be Consull at twentie yeeres of age and being elect in the meane season haue the Proconsulary authoritie out of the citie and be called prince of youth There was also giuen in his name a donatiue to the souldiers and a liberalitie to the people The Circensian playes being exhibited to win the fauour of the people Britannicus in his pretext and Nero in triumphing attire because the people should see the one in the magnificence of an Emperour and the other in the habite of a child thereby to presume what fortune to either of them should hereafter fall Withall if any of the Centurions or Tribunes bewayled Britannicus hap they were remoued either by fained pretences or vnder colour of preferment yea of the freed men if any were faithfull he was not suffered about him As these two met vpon occasion Nero saluted Britannicus by his name and Britannicus rendred him the like by the name of Domitius Which Agrippina taking hold of as a beginning of a quarrel carieth to her husband with a grieuous complaint saying that the adoption was nought set by the decree of Senate the ordinance of the people broken and abrogated in his owne house and if such contemptuous frowardnes of Britannicus teachers were not seuerely looked vnto it would burst out into some publike mischiefe Claudius moued with these complaints as though they had beene faults indeede either banished or put to death the chiefest bringers vp of his sonne and placed such ouer him as his stepmother would appoint Neuerthelesse Agrippina durst not leuell at her chiefest marke which was that her sonne should succeede in state vnlesse Lusius Geta and Rufus Crispinus captaines of Caesars gard were first discharged whom she thought would be mindfull of Messallinaes fauours towards them and therefore bound vnto her children Agrippina therefore beareth the Emperour in hand that the gard was deuided into factions through ambition of the two captaines striuing for superioritie that the discipline of seruice would be better kept if the souldiers were commaunded by one alone The charge of the cohorts was transferred vnto Burrhus Afranius a man of great fame for matter of seruice yet knowing well by whose practise and fauour he came to the place Agrippina began also to raise her owne estate to a higher degree by entering into the Capitol in a chariot which in times past was a custome only lawfull for the Priests in sacred rites which augmented the more the state of this woman because she was the onely example vnto this day of any one who being daughter of an Emperour hath been also sister wife and mother of an Emperour In the meane season her chiefest buckler Vitellius being in highest fauour and very old so slipperie is the state of great personages was accused by Iunius Lupus Senator of treason and aspiring to the Empire and Caesar readie to giue eare to the accusation if he had not rather changed his opinion by Agrippinaes threates then intreaties and so to banish the accuser which was the punishment Vitellius best liked That yeere many prodigious sights hapned as that many birds portending euill luck lighted vpon the Capitol many houses ruined by often earthquakes and the feare spreading among the astonied people many in throngs were smothered The want of corne and the famine which insued thereof was also construed as a presage of euill luck Neither did they complaine in secret only but came about Claudius as he gaue audience with turbulent clamors and hauing thrust him to the end of the forum followed him vntill that with a band of souldiers he brake through the prease It was most certaine that the citie was not victualled for aboue fifteene dayes but by the great goodnes of the gods and mildnes of the winter the citie was relieued in necessitie But truly in times past prouision of corne hath beene transported out of Italie into other prouinces farre distant And at this present we stand not in want through the barrennes of the countrey but we do rather manure Afrike and Aegypt and hazard the life of the people of Rome by sea whereof depends want or abundance X. Warres betweene the Romans and the Parthians THe same yeere a warre begun betweene the Armenians and Hiberi was cause of great troubles betwixt the Romans and the Parthians Vologeses was King of the Parthians descended by his mothers side of a Greek concubine yet got the kingdome by consent of his brothers Pharasmanes hath a long time possessed the Hiberians countrey as a King and his brother Mithradates the Armenians through our forces Pharasmanes had a sonne called Rhadamistus of a comely tall stature and of a verie strong and able bodie trained vp in the qualities and practises his father before him had beene and greatly renowned among his neighbors He was woont to say that the kingdome of Hiberia was small and yet kept from him by his father who was verie olde and so oft he did cast foorth those speeches and so fiercely that it was easily seene how greedie a desire he had to raigne Pharasmanes then seeing this yoong man so desirous and readie to rule misdoubting the peoples affection bent towardes him by reason of his declining yeeres thought it best to feede him with some other hope and set Armenia before his eies telling him that he had giuen that kingdome to Mithradates hauing first expulsed the Parthians Yet that it was not his best course to set on it by force but vse policie against Mithradates and intrap him when he least looked for it Rhadamistus vnder colour of some discontent with his father through the insupportable dealing of his stepmother goeth to his vncle where being intreated with all courtesie as if he had been his owne childe solliciteth the chiefe noble men of Armenia to rebellion Mithradates knowing nothing but still entertaining him with all fauour and kindnes Rhadamistus vnder colour of reconciliation returned vnto his father and declared
Vologeses thinking there had fell out iust occasion of inuading Armenia which possessed of his ancestors a forraine King now occupied by a lewde practise assembleth his power and because none of his house should liue without rule and soueraigntie goeth about to inuest his brother Tiridates in the kingdome By the comming of the Parthians the Hiberi were driuen out without stroke striking and the cities of the Armenians Artaxata Tigranocerta submitted themselues to the yoke But the sharpe and hard winter or else scarsitie of victuals other prouision the sicknes proceeding of both cōstrained Vologeses to forsake his pretended enterprise and Rhadamistus inuadeth Armenia a fresh hauing none to resist him more cruell then before as against rebels readie at all times to rebell if occasion were offered In so much that they though accustomed to bondage yet breake all patience and besiege the Kings house Rhadamistus hauing no other refuge then the swiftnes of his horses saued both himselfe and his wife But his wife being great with childe endured the first flight so so for feare of the enimie and loue of her husband afterward by continuall haste and ouer-much iogging and shaking she began to pray her husband that with an honest death she might be deliuered from the reproch of captiuitie He at the first embraced her comforted her encouraged her then admiring her stoutnes then sicke with griefe least leauing her behinde him any should enioy her at last ouercome with loue and being no babe in wicked atrempts draweth his cymetter and hauing giuen her a wound drew her to the banke of Araxis and committed her to the riuer least her bodie should bee carried away and posteth himselfe to Hyberia his fathers kingdome In the meane time the shepheards espied Zenobia for so was Rhadamistus wife called drawing breath and aliue vpon the quiet shore of the riuer and iudging her by the comelines of hir person of some noble race bound vp hir wound applied such medicaments as the countrie affoordeth Then vnderstanding her name chaunce carried her into the citie Artaxata from whence at the charge of the common purse she was conducted to Tiridates who entertained her with such curtesie as beseemed a Kings wife XI A decree against the Mathematicians Cumanus and Felix gouernours of Iudaea be at variance War against the Clītes WHen Faustus Sylla and Saluius Otho were Consuls Furius Scribonianus was banished as searching out by the Chaldeans the time when the Prince should die And Iunia his mother who before exiled was touched with the same crime as bearing impatiently her former fortune Camillus Scribonianus father had heeretofore stirred vp warres in Dalmatia and therefore Caesar thought it a point of clemencie to keepe aliue the progenie of his enimie Neuerthelesse the banished man enioyed not any long life after this but ended his daies either by naturall death or by poison euery man giuing out as he beleeued Ofbanishing the Astrologers out of Italie there was a straight decree of Senat made but tooke no effect After this the Prince cōmended such in an oratiō who knowing their own estate decaied gaue vp their Senators roome of their own accord those put from it which continuing in it ioyned impudencie to their pouertie Among other things the matter was debated in Senat touching the punishmēt of such womē as married with slaues and an order set down that she who without the priuity of his Lord had fallen into that folly should as if she had consented therto become herselfe a bond-slaue and the children borne of them be taken as Libertini And Pallas whom Caesar publickely confessed to haue beene author of this relation was by the aduise of Barea Soranus Consull elect honored with the Pretorian ornaments receiued further a hundred fiftie hundred thousand sesterces and it was added by Scipio Cornelius that thankes should be publickly giuen him that being descended from the Kings of Armenia he would prefer the publike good before his auncient familie and vouchsafe to be accounted one of the Princes officers Claudius affirmed that Pallas was contented with the Pretorian dignitie onely and would continue in his former pouertie Whereupon a decree of Senate was publikely engrauen in brasse in commendation of this freed man who being possessor of three hundred millions of sesterces was content to liue according to the prouident maner of sparing of our ancestors But his brother surnamed Felix of late made gouernour of Iudaea vsed not the same moderation but bare himselfe vpon his authoritie as a sufficient warrant for all lewdnes whatsoeuer The Iewes made shew of a rebellion through a sedition * after they vnderstood of the death of Caius they were still afearde least some other Prince should commaund them the like things In the meane season Felix going about to redresse all by vnseasonable punishments exasperated them the more And Ventidius Cumanus vnto whom part of the Prouince was committed and was his secret enimie egged him forward For the countrey was so diuided that the Galileans were gouerned by Cumanus and the Samaritans by Felix enemies of olde and now more then euer shewing themselues through the contempt of the gouernors And therefore made inroades one against the other set in companies to rob and spoile laide ambushes and sometimes they met in battell and carried the booties and spoiles to their gouernours Who at the first were glad of it but in the end perceiuing the mischiefe to grow greater they sent in souldiers to quiet them which were all slaine And the whole Prouince had been in an vprore if Quadratus the gouernor of Syria had not found meanes of redresse who stayed not long vntill he had reuenged the death of the Roman souldiers which the Iewes had slaine Cumanus Felix drew the matter at length because Claudius hauing vnderstoode the occasions of the rebellion had giuen authoritie to the Gouernor to determine punish the Procurators Cumanus and Felix if their demerit had so required But Quadratus caused Felix to sit among the iudges and receiued him into the tribunall to him to the end the heate of the accusers should therby be cooled and condemned Cumanus for all the misdemeanor which both of them had committed and by that meanes he set the Prouince at quietnes Not long after the peasants of the Cilician nation surnamed Clites which at diuers other times had rebelled hauing Trosobor for their Captaine encamped on a rough and high hill And frō thence running downe to the sea shores cities ventured on the husbandmen and citizens and often set on marchants and sea men And then hauing besieged the citie of the Anemurienses the horsemen sent out of Syria to ayde them were put to flight with Curtius Seuerus their Prefect by reason the difficulties and vncleannes of the place round about fit for footemen was most incommodious for horsmen to fight Then Antiochus King of that quarter vsing faire words to the countrey people craft
letters were written to Caenina Tuschus to come and take charge of the guard but that Burrhus credit was saued and kept in his office by Senecaes meanes Plinie and Cluuius seeme there was no doubt made of Burrhus loyaltie and in verie deede Fabius inclineth much to the commendation of Seneca as one of his preferment But our meaning is to follow the consent of authors and if any affirme contrarie we will deliuer it vnder their names Nero trembling for feare and exceeding desirous of the death of his mother could not indure the delay vntill Burrhus had promised to performe it if she were conuicted of the crime But euerie man might alleage what he could for his defence much more a mother Neither were there any accusers present and nothing to ground on but one mans report out of an enimies house He was to cōsider that it was night and that spent in banqueting and therefore all would seeme to smell of rashnes and folly The Princes feare somewhat lightened by these speeches and the day come one went to Agrippina to let her vnderstand of the accusation to purge her selfe or looke to suffer Burrhus was to do the message in presence of Seneca with some freed men as witnes of the speeches Then Burrhus hauing declared the accusation and the authors of it vsed threatning termes and Agrippina not forgetting her old fiercenes returned him his answere saying I maruell not if Silana neuer hauing had childe know not what the affections of mothers are neither are children changed by their parents as adulterers by shamelesse women Neither if Iturius and Caluisius hauing wasted their substance bestow this their last labour in vndertaking this accusation therefore am I to sustaine the infamie of parricide or Caesar haue scruple of conscience that I would commit it as for Domitia I would thanke her for the hate she beareth me if she would likewise in good will and loue towards my Nero striue with me Now by her concubine Atimetus and Paris the stage player she doth as it were compose fables for the stage She was busie about her fish pooles of Baia when by my counsels Neroes adoption proconsularie authoritie election to be Consull and other steps to mount to the Empire were procured Or else let some one be brought foorth to make it appeere that I haue practised with the citie-cohorts corrupted the loyaltie of the Prouinces or sollicited bond-men or freedmen to rebellion I might haue liued if Britannicus had beene soueraigne but if Plautus or some other should get the rule of the common-wealth forsooth there should want accusers to laye to my charge not wordes sometimes vnaduisedly escaped thorough feruencie of loue but such crimes also from which I could not be acquited but as a mother by hir son The assistance moued with these speeches and endeuoring to appease her anger she requireth to speake with her sonne before whom she spake nothing in defence of her innocencie as if she had distrusted or of her benefits as to vpbrayd him but obteined reuenge of her accusers and rewards for hir friends The charge and office of prouision of corne was giuen to Senius Rufus the commission of plaies which Caesar was a preparing to Aruntius Stella Aegypt to C. Balbillus Syria was appointed to P. Anteius then abused with diuers deuises and in the ende detained in the citie But Silana was banished Caluisius also and Iturius Atimetus was executed Paris being in greater credit by reason of pleasures ministred to the Prince then that he should be put to death Plautus was sent away for the time with silence Pallas after this and Burrhus were accused to haue practised to call Cornelius Sylla for noblenes of birth and affinitie with Claudius whose sonne in lawe he was by marriage of Antonia to the Empire The author of that accusation was one Paetus a man infamous by causing debters to forfeit their goods and then manifestly conuicted of vanitie and falshoode Neither was Pallas innocencie so gratefull as his pride insupportable for when some of his freed men were saide to haue beene priuie to the practise he made answer that in his house he appointed nothing to be done but with a nod of his head or hand or by writing if he had much to say least if he shoulde haue spoken vnto them he should seeme to haue made them his fellowes Burrhus although accused yet gaue sentence among the iudges Paetus the accuser was banished and the writings burnt by which he went about to renewe the recordes of the treasurie alreadie cancelled In the end of the same yeere the gard of the soldiers which was woont to be at the plaies was taken away for a greater shew of libertie and bicause the souldier being absent from the disorder of the Theater shoulde be lesse corrupt and the people shewe by proofe whether they would vse modestie if the guarde were away The prince hallowed and purged the citie with sacrifices by aduise of the southsaiers bicause Iupiters and Mineruaes temples were set on fire with lightning VI. Neroes disorders the case of the franchised debated an order for certaine magistrates Q. Volusius and P. Scipio being Consuls there was peace abroad filthie lasciuiousnes at home during which Nero gadded vp down the streetes to infamous brothell houses by-corners in slaues attire to be vnknown accompanied with such as snatched away wares from mens stales wounded such as met them and with such small regard whome that Nero himselfe hath receiued and carried away blowes and marks on the face And when it was knowne to be Caesar which played those pranks the disorder grew greater against both men and women of accompt and with like licentiousnes abusing Caesars name many practised the same insolencies gathered together in particular companies and so spending the night as it had been in taking a towne and captiuitie One Iulius Montanus a Senator who had not yet taken vpon him the dignitie by chaunce coping with the Prince in the darke and rudely thrusting him backe as he offered him violence then knowing him and crauing pardō was inforced to die as though therby he had reproched him of folly Nero more wary and fearefull after that went not without a rabble of souldiers and fencers which medled not at the first and whilest the prince made his party good but after if he were ouermatched by such as he abused they layd hands immediately on their weapons He turned the disordered licence at plaies and part-taking in fauor of stage players almost to a mutinie by giuing impunitie and rewards himselfe priuily or for the most part openly looking on vntill the people growing to sedition and fearing greater stirres no other remedie was found then to expell the stage-players out of Italie and place a gard of souldiers againe on the theater At the same time the deceit and vngratefull behauior of freed men was debated in Senat and instant sute made that the patrons might haue authoritie to reuoke the
sea when she suspected least There is nothing more subiect to chance then the sea and if she should perish by shipwrack who is so vnreasonable as to ascribe that to any vngracious inuention which was the fault of the windes and waues And to colour the matter withall the Prince should build a temple in honor of the dead erect altars and institute other ceremonies to shew a loue and reuerence towards her This subtile inuention pleased the Princes humor and fell out at a fit time because Nero then celebrated the feast of Minerua fiue dayes together at Baias Thither by faire words he brought his mother affirming that the displeasure of parents was to be borne with and meanes to be sought to pacifie their anger which hee did to giue out a reconciliation betweene them and so receiue Agrippina as women by kinde are of easie beliefe willing enough to see the sport Then going to meete her on the shore of Antium tooke her by the hand and embraced her and lead her to Baulos which was a countrey house betwixt the promontorie of Misenum and the Baian lake hard by the sea side where a gallie trimmer than the rest was readie prepared as a thing among others to honour his mother for she had beene accustomed to the gallie and to be carried by force of rowers After that she was inuited to a banket bicause the night might the better cloke the deuice But sure it was some one or other had bewraied the plot and Agrippina vnderstanding the practise and doubtfull whether she should beleeue it caused herselfe to be carried to Baias in a bearing-chaire there Neroes caresses lessened her feare being courteously entertained and placed aboue him entertayning her with much communication somtimes with a youthfull familiaritie againe as it were recalling himselfe and interlacing it with serious talke made the banket holde a long time and his eies fixed on her as she departed embraced her more streightly then he was accustomed either because he would omit no complement of dissimulation or else because the last sight of his mother euen readie to perish did mollifie his hart though fell and cruell A bright star-light night and quiet with a calme sea as it were to manifest the wicked practise the gods themselues did yeeld The gallie not farre gone and Agrippina hauing onely two of her owne persons with her the one Crepereius Gallus which stood not far from the sterne Aceronia lying at Agrippinaes feete with great ioy discoursed of her sonnes repentance and the fauour she had recouered But the watch-woord being giuen the couering of the place heauily loaden with lead fell downe vpon Crepereius and prest him to death immediately Agrippina and Aceronia the vppermost bearing of the couering by fortune being stronger then the rest though it shrunke with the waight were saued the vessel not loosed asunder all being amazed and some which were ignorant of the practise hindered others which were priuie to it Then the rowers thought best to way the gallie on one side and so to sincke her Yet they could not agree vpon so sudden an aduise but some swaying to the contrary way caused the vessell not to sinke on the sudden but by little and little But Aceronia vnaduisedly crying that she was Agrippina and that they should helpe the Princes mother with poles and oares and such implements in the gallie as came first to hand was slaine Agrippina not speaking a word therefore not knowen receiued onely one wound in the shoulder then swimming towards the banke was succoured by small barkes and carried by the lake Lucrinus to her owne house There casting in her mind how she had beene sent for by craft and false letters entertained with especiall honour how the vessell neither tossed by winds nor carried vpon rockes the vpper part fell as it had beene a land-frame noting Accroniaes death and beholding hir own wound thought it the only remedy against the treachery to make as though she perceiued it not And thereupon sent Agerinus a freed man to tell her sonne how by the goodnes of the gods and his good fortune she had escaped a great danger and prayed him that although he were affrighted with his mothers daunger yet that he would forbeare a time from visiting her bicause that for the present she had need of rest And in the meane while making shewe of securitie healeth her wound and chearisheth hir bodie And commaunded Aceroniaes testament to be sought for and her goodes to be sealed vp which was the onely thing wherein she shewed no dissimulation But whilest Nero expected messengers to certifie him that his plot had taken effect tidings cam that she had escaped lightly wounded but passed through great dāger the author therof not once doubted Nero stroken dead with feare and crying she would reuenge out of hand either by arming her slaues or sturring vp the soldiers or run to the Lords of the Senat or people there cōplaine of the shipwrack her wound the murder of her friends knew no shift vnles Burrhus Seneca would bestur themselues whom immediatly he sent for doubtful whether they had vnderstoode the matter before or not They stoode mute a long time fearing least their perswasions should take no effect in the end concluded that vnlesse Agrippina were preuented Nero should perish Then Seneca hitherto forwarder of the two looked vpon Burrhus as though he should haue asked whether the souldier should be commaunded to execute the murder but he answered that the gard being bound to all Caesars house and so mindfull of Germanicus would not vndertake so cruell an enterprise against his progenie and that Anicetus should accomplish his promise He nothing at all staggering demandeth the whole charge of the execution At which speech Nero professed openly that that day the Empire was bestowed vpon him and that the author of so great a gift was his freed man and therefore that he should make speede and take with him such as were readiest to fulfill his commaundement He hearing that Agerinus Agrippinaes messenger was come maketh a colour of his enterprise in this sort Whilest Agerinus deliuered his message Anicetus let fall a sword betweene his legs and as it were taking him in the manner as though he had come to kill the Prince commaundeth him to be cast in prison that he might make the world beleeue that the mother had pretended her sonnes death and killed her selfe for shame that the plot was discouered In the meane season Agrippinaes danger being spread abroad as though it had hapned by chance euery man as he vnderstoode it ranne to the sea shore some clammered vp the sea dammes some gate into the next boates some waded as farre as they could into the sea some stretched out their hands to her The coast was filled with complaints vowes and cries of such as either asked diuers questions or answered doubtfully And a great multitude flocked thither with torches who vnderstanding that she was
things will follow which may prosper and grow euen to a warre To be short either he must prouide for his safetie by such counsell or at all aduenture there can come no worse to him by stoutnes then cowardise But those perswasions did nothing moue Plautus either foreseeing he wanted sufficient meanes as being vnarmed and a banisht man or for the irkesomnes of doubtfull hope or for the loue of his wife and children to whom he thought the Prince would be more milde if he troubled him not with care Some report that other messengers came to aduertise him that there was no cruell matter intended and that two Philosophers Coeranus a Greeke and Musonius a Tuscane borne perswaded him to abide a constant death for an vncertaine and fearefull life True it is as he was found naked in the middle of the day exercising his bodie the Centuturion killed him in the presence of Pelago an Eunuch whome Nero had made ouerseer of the Centurion and of a band of men which serued for the retinue of him which executed the Kings commaundement His head being brought to Nero at the sight thereof he vttered these very words Why doest thou not Nero quoth he hasten the marriage of Poppaea hitherto deferred by such feares and put from thee thy wife Octauia although of good and modest behauior yet for the memorie of her father and affection of the people disliked and ill thought of Neuertheles he wrote letters to the Senate not confessing the murdering of Sylla and Plautus but that both of them were of a busie and turbulent humor and that he had a care of the safetie of the common wealth Thereupon Processions were ordained and that Sylla and Plautus should be put from the Senate a matter of greater skorne and mockery then hurt XVI Nero putteth away Octauia and marrieth Poppaea and her complaints against Octauia and her death HAuing thus receiued a decree of Senate and perceiuing that all his vngracious actes were taken for worthie exploites he putteth away Octauia saying she was barren and marrieth Poppaea She long a concubine and hauing power ouer him as an adulterer then as her husband procureth one of Octauiaes seruitors to accuse her that she was in loue with one Eucerus a bondman a minstrell borne at Alexandria Thereupon many bondwomen were tortured some of them ouercome by extremitie of torment yeelded to falshood and many stood stoutly in defence of their mistres innocencie Amongst whom one of them Tigellinus earnestly vrging hir answered that Octauiaes secret parts were chaster then his mouth yet at the first she was put from him vnder colour of a lawfull diuorse and Burrhus house and Plautus possessions assigned her both presages of ill luck Then she was driuen into Campania with a gard of souldiers whereof grew many complaints and lamentations and those not in secret among the people as hauing small wisedome and little to lose so subiect to fewer dangers by reason whereof though no whit sory of that he had done Nero recalleth his wife Octauia and the people very ioyfully went vp to the Capitoll and worshipped and thanked the gods threw downe Poppaeas images and bare Octauiaes on their shoulders strawed flomes on them and placed them in the Forum and Temples praysed and honored the Prince for taking her againe And now they had filled the pallace with multitudes and cries when as companies of souldiers sent with blowes and threates thrustand scattered them some one way some another and changed all that the people had done by sedition and restored Poppaeas images to their places againe Who alwayes fell and cruell with hatred towards Octauia and then with feare least a more forcible violēce of the people should fall vpō her or Nero be changed seeing how the people were affected casting herselfe at his knees sayd That she stoode not now on those termes that she might reason of her marriage although she esteemed it more then her safty but that she was brought into dāger of her life by Octauias cliēts slaues which shadowing themselues vnder the name of the people durst venter that in peace which could hardly haue hapned in warre Those armes were taken against the Prince there wanted only a Captaine which in a tumult would easily be found Octauia might now leaue Campania and go to the citie seeing that at a beck in her absence such tumults were raised What fault had she committed whom had she offended Whether is it because she was likely to bring forth a true and lawfull progenie to the house of the Caesars would the people of Rome there should be rather brought into the imperiall highnes the issue of a minstrell of Aegypt To be short if that be conuenient for the state he should rather willingly then constrainedly call his mistres or looke to his safetie with iust reuenge The first tumults are appeased by easie meanes but if they did despaire of hauing Octauia for Neroes wife they would prouide her a husband This doubtfull speech appliable to feare and anger did both terrifie Nero and incense him But the suspition of the slaue was of small credit and the torture of the bondwomen had made the matter cleere therefore it was thought conuenient to haue the confession of some one which might be charged with some practise against the state Anicetus the executioner of his mothers death seemed to be a fit instrument for the purpose as I haue already sayd Captaine of the nauie at Misenum in some small fauour after the villanie committed but anon after most odious because the ministers of great villanies are looked on as vpbraiders of the same Caesar then causing him to be sent for putteth him in mind of the former seruice and telleth him that he only had been the safegard of his estate against his mothers treason and that there was now an opportunitie of no lesse fauor if he could rid him of his wife which greatly disliked him Neither should he neede hand or weapon but only confesse he had committed adultery with Octauia and promiseth him great rewards though for the present the world should not know them and pleasant dwellings or if he should denie it threatned him death He like a blockhead as he was his first villanie making an easie way to this inuenteth more then was commanded and confesseth it vnto such of the Emperors friends whose counsell as it were he had vsed in the plot Then he was banished into Sardinia where he indured no poore exile and died naturally But Nero accused her that she had corrupted the captaine of the gallies in hope of winning him to her deuotion and forgetting that not long before he had accused her of barrennes publisheth by edict that to hide her licentious life she had destroyed the children she had had by others then by him and that thereof he was assured and therefore banished Octauia to the Iland Pandateria No banished woman did euer moue the beholders to greater pitie then she Some did
Prouinces would be gouerned more iustly and constantly For as couetuousnes is brideled through feare of being accused of briberie and extortion so thankes giuing being forbidden ambition would be restrained This opinion was appooued with great consent of all yet a decree of Senate could not be established the Consuls denying the matter to haue beene propounded Anon after by authoritie of the Prince they ordayned that none should propound it in the councell of the allies that thankes should be giuen before the Senate the Propretors or Proconsuls and that no man should do that message Vnder the same Consuls the place of exercise called Gymnasium was burnt with a flash of lightning and Neroes image melted to a shapelesse lumpe of brasse And by an earth-quake the famous towne of Pompey in Campania was ruined in a great part And Laelia a virgin Vestall died in whose place was chosen Cornelia of the Cossian familie VI. The birth of Nero and Poppaeas childe The death of the same daughter The Parthian Ambassadors receiue no answere and Corbulo made Lieutenant generall of the war MEmmius Regulus and Verginius Rufus being Consuls Nero had a daughter by Poppaea which he tooke as a matter aboue all mortall ioy and called her Augusta and gaue the same surname to Poppaea The place where she was brought to bed was Antium a colonie where he himselfe was borne The Senate had alreadie commended Poppaeas wombe to the gods and had made publick vowes which were multiplied and performed And there were added processions and a Temple to the goddesses Fecunditati combate ordained to the imitation of the Athenians And that the golden images of Fortunes should be placed in the throne of Iupiter Capitoline that as the Circensian play should be exhibited in the honor of the Iulian familie at Bouillas so at Antium of the Claudian and Domitian all which were vaine and fleeting things the girle dying within fower moneths Which gaue occasion of new flatterings some being of aduise that she should be honored like a goddesse with a bed a Temple and a Priest And Nero himself as before he was without measure glad so now most sorrowfull It was noted that when all the Senate ranne to Antium at the new birth of the childe and Thraseas forbidden he tooke the contumelious repulse with a stout courage as a presage of his imminent ouerthrow It was reported that Caesar bragged to Seneca that he was reconciled to Thrasea and that Seneca was glad thereof From whence grew at once glorie and danger to woorthie men In the meane time in the beginning of the spring the Ambassadors of the Parthians brought King Vologeses message and letters to the same effect That he would now forgoe all the former challenges so oft debated for obtayning of Armenia bicause the gods although arbitraters of puissant nations had deliuered the possession to the Parthians not without the ignominie of the Romans that hauing of late besieged Tigranes then Paetus the legions when he could haue ruined them yet suffered them to depart in saftie His force was sufficiently tried a proofe giuen of his lenity Neither would Tiridates refuse to come to the city to receiue the Diademe if he were not hindered by a religion of priesthood he would go to the insignes images of the prince where in presence of the legions he would luckily begin his gouerment Vologeses letters being of this effect because Paetus had written the contrarie as though al had bin wel the Centurion which came with the Ambassadors was demanded in what state Armenia stood He answered that al the Romans were departed from thence Then the Barbarians scoffe beingvnderstood who demanded that which they had alreadie taken by force Nero consulted with the chiefest of the citie whether it were best to make a doubtfull war with the enemie or peace It was not doubted but warre And Corbulo so many yeeres practised in warres knowing the souldiers and the enimies had the generall charge giuen him least there should be a new errour committed by some others vnskilfulnes for of Paetus bad gouerment they were sorrie and repented Whereupon they were sent backe without any conclusion yet with gifts whereby it might be hoped that Tiridates should not aske in vaine if he came by way of intreatie The gouerment of Syria was committed to Cintius the strength of warre to Corbulo and the fifteenth legion vnder the conduct of Marius Celsus was brought out of Pannonia Letters were sent to the Tetrarches Kings Prefects and Procurators and Pretors which ruled Prouinces adioyning that they should obey Corbulo augmented almost like vnto that that the people of Rome gaue Pompey when he was to war against the Pirates When Paetus at his returne feared greater matters Caesar thought it inough to scoffe and iest at him almost with these words That he would pardon him presently least being so easily brought into a feare he should be sicke with longer pensiuenes But Corbulo sent the fourth and twelfth legion which seemed vnable for warre because they had lost the valiantest among them and the rest affrighted into Syria and conducteth the sixt and third from thence into Armenia all entire and whole and accustomed to often and prosperous successe and added the fift legion which was in Pontus not daunted with the ouerthrow of the others Withall the fifteenth newely arriued and some chosen in Illyricum and Aegypt and all horsmen and footemen with aides of Kings allies drawen togither to Melitenes where he purposed to passe the riuer Euphrates Then hauing taken a suruey of the armie making an oration vnto them beginneth with many stately magnificall discourses of the Emperours gouerment and his owne exploits auoiding the memorie of Paetus vnluckie vnskilfulnes which he vttered with great authoritie that it serued a warlike man in steed of eloquence Then taketh his iourney that way which Lucullus had once passed opening the passages which long continuance of time had shut vp And not disdayning Tiridates and Vologeses Ambassadors comming to intreat of peace sent Centurions to accompanie them with no rough charge For matters were not yet growne to that head that they should neede a maine battell That to the Romans many things had sorted luckily and some to the Parthians a lesson against pride Therefore it behooued Tiridates to accept as a gift the kingdome vnwasted and that Vologeses should better further the Parthians being confederate with the people of Rome than mutually endomaging the one the other He knew what discord they had within themselues and what a fierce and vnruly nation he had to rule contrariwise that his Emperour had euerie where a firme peace and no warre but that Besides his counsell he stroke them into a feare droue the Megistanas Armenians which first reuolted out of their houses battered downe their castles filled with like feare the plaines the hils the strong and weake Corbuloes name was not yet hatefull vnto the Barbarians much lesse did they pursue him like
hatred to Seneca practised all inuentions to bring him to destruction Natalis confession knowen Sceuinus with the like imbecillitie or beleeuing that all had beene discouered and that no profit could rise by keeping counsell appeached the rest Among which Lucanus and Quinctianus and Senecio long denied the matter And afterward corrupted by promise of impunitie to excuse their backwardnes Lucanus named Atilla his mother Quinctianus Glicius Gallus Senecio Annius Pollio their chiefest friendes And Nero calling to minde in the meane while that Epicharis was in indurance through Volusius Proculus information thinking that a womans bodie was not able to endure much griefe commaundeth her to be rent with tortures but her neither stripes nor fires nor the rage of the tortures which so much the more cruelly racked her least they should be contemned by a woman could ouercome but she denied the crimes obiected and so the first day of torture was contemned The next daie when she was brought to the same tortures in a bearing-chaire for her members out of ioint and broken she could not put foot to ground fastning a lace which she drew from her breast to the bow of the chaire in manner of a sliding knot put her necke into it and weighing downe with the heft of her bodie stopped that little breath she had left A notable example that a freed woman should defend in such great crueltie of torture strangers and almost vnknowen to her when as men and free-borne and gentlemen of Rome and Senators not touched with tortures detected the deerest of their kindred For Lucanus Senecius and Quinctianus stucke not indifferently to bewray their confederates Nero growing more and more fearefull although he had doubled his guard Further he filled the citie and the wals with bands of souldiers and beset both sea and riuer with watch and wards And to and fro by the Forum the houses the fields and townes adioyning footmen and horsmen scoured vp and downe intermingled with Germans whom he best trusted bicause they were strangers XIIII Accusations continued Piso would not take armes his death with Lateranus and Seneca AFter that continuall troupes one after another were drawen to their answere which lay before the gates of the gardens And when they had entered in to defend themselues euerie man triumphed ouer the conspirators If they had spoken togither by chance if met on another on the sudden if at a shew or banket they had beene seene togither it was accounted a crime and besides Neroes and Tigellinus bloodie interrogatories Fenius Rufus not yet detected vrged also vehemently and to winne an opinion that he had not beene consenting to the attempt was cruell against his confederates The same Fenius held backe Subrius Flauius then present and nodding with the head whether in the verie hearing of the matter he should draw his sword and execute the murder and brake his heate euen then putting his hand to his weapon Some there were which seeing the conspiracie detected whilest Milichus was examining and Sceuinus doubteth whether he should confesse or not perswaded Piso to goe to the fort of the guarde or goe vp to the Rostra and found the affection of the souldiers and people saying That if the confederates would ioyne togither the rest which were not priuie would follow them that the fame of an attempt was a great matter and could do much in new enterprises That Nero had made no prouision to withstand him stoutmen were daunted with sudden enterprises much lesse would that stage-player accompanied with Tigellinus and his concubines take armes against him Manie things are done by venturing which to the faint harted seeme hard It was a folly to hope for silence and fidelitie in so many mindes and bodies of partakers by torment or reward all things are made easie And some would come to clap irons on him and put him to a shamefull death How much more commendable were it for him to die embracing the common-wealth and seeking aide for libertie Although the souldier should saile him and the people shrinke frō him if it should cost him his life his death would be glorious as well to his auncestors as his posteritie But nothing mooued with these speeches shewing himself little abroad then keeping within doores confirmeth his minde against death vntill a band of souldiers came which Nero had chosen among the yoong souldiers and such as lately were receiued into seruice suspecting that the old were made on Pisoes side And cutting his vaines yeelded vp the ghost His testament was full of filthie flatteries toward Nero through the loue of his wife whom commendable only for her beautie and nothing sutable to his calling he took from a friend vnto whom she was married Her name was Arria Galla her first husband Domitius Silius he by patience she by vnchastnes spread abroade Pisoes infamie Next followed the death of Plautus Lateranus Consull elect and that with such haste that he suffered him not to imbrace his children nor haue so much as that short time of chosing his death but lead away to a place where slaues were executed was killed by the hand of Statius the Tribune full of constant silence neuer once reproching the guilt of the same fact to the Tribune Then followed the death of Annaeus Seneca most ioiful to the Prince not bicause he had found him manifestly priuie to the conspiracie but bicause he would shew crueltie with the sword seeing poison tooke no effect Onely Natalis this farre did vtter that he was sent to Seneca being sicke to visite him and complaine whie he barred Piso from hauing accesse to him and that it would be better to entertaine their friendship by familiar conuersation And Seneca to haue answered that their interchaung of speech and often communication was profitable for neither of them yet that his safetie did depend on Pisoes welfare These things Granius Siluaenus Captaine of the guarde was commaunded to carrie to Seneca and aske him whether he acknowledged Natalis speeches and bring Senecaes answere Seneca by chaunce or of purpose returned that day from Campania and remained in a countrey house fower miles from the citie Thither came the Tribune the next euening and besetteth the house with a companie of souldiers then openeth vnto him the Emperours charge as he sate at meate with Pompeia Paullina his wife and two other friends Seneca answered that Natalis had been indeede sent to him and complained in Pisoes behalfe that he was forbidden to visit him and that he excused himselfe with sickenes as being desirous of quietnes Why he should preferre the welfare of a priuat man before his owne safetie he had no cause Neither was his inclination much giuen to flatterie as Nero best knew who had oftner tried Senecaes libertie of speech then seruile pleasing When these speeches were brought back by the Tribune in presence of Poppaea and Tigellinus who was of the cruell Princes inward counsell he asketh whether Seneca prepared himselfe any voluntarie death The Tribune
conspiracie more grieuous to Neroes eares who as readie and prompt to all mischiefes so vnaccustomed to heare of that he had done The punishment of Flauius was committed to Veianus Niger Tribune He in the next field commaunded a pit to be digged which Flauius finding fault with as not deepe inough sayd to the souldiers standing by This is not according to the order of seruice And being willed to stretch out his neck stoutly I would to God said he thou wouldest strike so stoutly Who quaking very much when he had scarse cut off his head at two blowes bragged to Nero of his crueltie saying that he was killed with halfe a blow The next example of constancie the Centurion Sulpitius Asper did shew for Caesar asking him why he had conspired his death answered briefely That so many his villanies could not otherwise be redressed Then he sustained the punishment commanded Neither did the rest of the Centurions degenerate in bearing their punishments But Fenius Rufus had not the like courage but set downe his griefes and lamentations in his testament Nero expected that Vestinus the Consull should also be drawen into the action iudging him violent and an enemie to him but the conspirators would not communicate their deseignments with him some by reason of old grudges but more because they thought him rash headie and insociable Furthermore Neroes hatred against Vestinus proceeded of their inward familiaritie the one contemning the Princes knowne cowardlines and the other fearing the fell courage of his friend often iesting at him with bitter skoffes which when they carry much truth with them leaue behinde them a biting memorie Besides there was a fresh cause of malice betweene them because Vestinus had married Statilia Messallina not ignorant that Caesar kept vnlawfull companie with her Therefore no crime no accuser appearing because he could put on no shew of accusation he fled to his absolute power sendeth Gerelanus the Tribune with a band of souldiers inchargeth him to preuēt the Consuls deseignmēts seise vpō his house which was as it were his fortresse and slew his chosen cōpanie of youth because Vestinus had his house looking ouer the market place and handsome slaues all of one age He had fulfilled that day all the duties of a Consull and making a banquet fearing nothing or else dissembling his feare the souldiers entred in and when word was brought him that he was called by the Tribune he rose without any delay had all things prepared him in a trice shut himself vp in his chamber had his Phisition at hand which cut his vaines and being yet lustie was caried to a bath put in hot water not once vttering a word which could argue either griefe or compassion on himselfe Those which were at table with him were in the meane time beset with a gard and not dismissed till the night was farre spent and then Nero imagining and laughing at the feare they were in as looking for their imminent ruine sayd they had paied enough for the Consuls good cheere XVI Lucanus and Quinctianus death Neroes liberalitie to the souldiers Who Nymphidius was The Senators flattery toward Nero. AFter that he commanded the death of M. Annaeus Lucanus who perceiuing as his bloud went out his feete and hands to waxe cold and his spirites by little and little to forsake the exterior parts of his bodie his hart yet strong his wit fresh remembring verses made by himselfe in which he represented a souldier wounded and dead with the like kinde of death rehearsed the verses themselues which were the last words he spake After that Senecio and Quinctianus not according to their former effeminat life and the residue of the conspirators were put to death neither speaking nor doing any thing worthie memorie But in the meane time the citie was filled with funerals the Capitoll with sacrifices one hauing his brother another his sonne put to death or friend or neere kindred gaue thanks to the gods deckt his house with Bayes fell downe at the Emperors knees and wearied his right hand with kisses And he thinking it to be done for ioy rewardeth with impunitie Antonius Natalis and Ceruarius Proculus speedie detection and Milichus enriched with recompences tooke vnto him a name which in the Greeke signifieth a sauiour And Granius Siluanus the Tribune although quit yet slew himselfe Statius Proximus frustrated the pardon which he had receiued of the Emperour by the vanitie of his death After this Pompey Cornelius Martialis Flauius Nepos and Statius Domitius were depriued of the Tribuneship not because they hated the Prince but yet supposed so to do Nouius Priscus for the friendship he had with Seneca and Glitius Gallus and Annius Pollio diffamed rather then conuicted were sent into banishment Antonia Flacilla Priscus wife followed him Egnatia Maximilla did the like with Gallus at the first all their wealth which was great left them then taken away both which increased their glorie Rufus Crispinus was banished also vnder colour of the conspiracie but hated of Nero because he had beene Poppaeas husband Verginius Rufus great reputation was cause of his exile for Verginius furthered the studies of youth with eloquence and Musonius with precepts of Philosophie Cluuidienus Quietus Iulius Agrippa Blitius Catulinus Petronius Priscus Iulius Altinus as it were an armie to make vp a number were banished to the Iles of the Aegaean sea But Cadicia Sceuinus wife and Cesenius Maximus were banished Italie knowing by the punishment only that they were called in question Annaeus Lucanus mother Atilla though not acquited yet was let go without punishment These things done by Nero calling the soldiers together to an oration he bestowed by pole vpon euery souldier vnder bands two thousand Nummi and corne without any price which they had before according to the rate it was sould Then as though he would declare some exploit done in war assembled the Lords of the Senate bestowed the ornament of triumphe vpon Petronius Turpilianus Consull Cocceius Nerua Pretor elect Tigellinus captaine of the gard and so extolling Tigellinus and Nerua besides their triumphall images in the Forum he placed their images also in the Pallace He gaue Nymphidius also the ornaments of a Consull of whome I will speake a little because now is the first occasion offered for he also was part of the Roman miseries He therefore sonne of a freed woman which had abandoned and made common her comely bodie to Princes bonde and freede men affirmed he was begotten by C. Caesar because by some chance he was tall of personage and of a sterne grim countenance or else C. Caesar being desirous of light-women had abused his mother also But Nero the Senators assembled and an oration made among them published an Edict to the people and added the informations and confessions of the condemned because he was often diffamed in the peoples mouth as though he had executed innocent persons for enuie or feare Neuerthelesse those which had a care
absent their feare was greater many openly and more priuily obseruing the names and countenances cheerefulnes and heauines of the lookers on Whereupon punishments were inflicted vpon the poorer sort foorthwith the hatred against noble men dissembled for the time shewed it selfe within a short space after And it is reported that Vespasian was rebuked by Phoebus a freede man as though he had beene somewhat drousie with sleepe and was hardly defended by the intreatie of the better sort and afterward escaped imminent ruine by a greater chance II. The death of Poppaea Banishment and death of others AFter the pastime was ended Poppaea died by a sudden anger of her husbands striking her with his foote being with childe Neither do I beleeue that she was poisoned although some writers do so report of hatred rather than truth for he was desirous of children and blinded with the loue of his wife Her bodie was not burnt as the Roman manner was but embalmed according to the custome of forreine Kings stuffed with sweete odors and buried in the tombe of the Iulians Yet publicke funerals were solemnised and he himselfe praised her beautie before the people assembled that she had beene the mother of a diuine daughter and other gifts of fortune he commended in steed of vertues The death of Poppaea as in shew sorrowfull so to the remembrers of her loose life and crueltie ioyfull Nero made more odious by giuing new matter of hatred by hindering C. Cassius from being present at her exequies which was the first token of his ruine not long deferred And Silanus bare him companie for no crime committed but because Cassius for his auncient riches and grauitie of manners Silanus for noblenes of birth and modest youth were woorthie praise aboue the rest Hauing therefore sent an oration to the Senate declared that they were both to be remooued from the common-wealth And layd to Cassius charge that among the images of his auncestors he had done honour also to the image of C. Cassius which had this written vnder it To the Captaine of the parts For seedes of ciuill warre and a reuolt from the house of Caesars might haue beene intended by those words And least he should vse the memorie only of a hatefull name to ground a quarrell on he ioyned L. Silanus a yoong man of a noble stocke rash and headie vnder a pretence and colour of mouing newe broiles Further he rebuked Silanus for the same matters as before he had done his vncle Torquatus as though he did alreadie dispose of the cares of the Empire and giue his freed men charge of the accounts requests and secretariships things both vaine false For Silanus was warie fearfull and by the death of his vncle circumspect in his actions After this he induced some vnder the name of accusers which falsly charged Lepida Cassius wife Silanus aunt of incest with her brothers sonne and with certaine execrable rites of sacrifices There were drawen in as priuie thereto Vulcatius Tullinus and Marcellus Cornelius Senators and Calpurnius Fabatus a gentleman of Rome who appealing to the Prince and disappointing the present condemnation anon after Nero being busied about some great mischiefes were forgotten as men of small reckoning Then banishment was decreed against Cassius and Silanus by order of Senate and that Caesar himselfe should dispose of Lepida Cassius was exiled to the Iland Sardinia * exspecting their further order from the Lords of the Senate Silanus conueighed to Hostia as though he should be carried to Naxus was after shut vp in a towne of Apulia called Barium And there wiselie bearing his most vnwoorthie aduersitie a Centurion sent to kill him laying hands on him perswaded him to cut his vaines who answered that he had a minde resolute readie to die but he would not permit an executioner to haue the glorie of the seruice But the Centurion although seeing him vnarmed yet strong and more inclining to anger than feare commaunded his souldiers to dispatch him Neither did Silanus omit to resist and lay on blowes as well as he was able with naked hands vntill he fell downe ouermatched with the Centurions wounds on his face as it had beene in a skirmish With no lesse courage died L. Vetus and Sexia his mother in law and his daughter Pollutia hatefull to the Prince as though by liuing they should vpbraid him with the murder of Rubellius Plautus L. Vetus sonne in law But the first discouerer of his crueltie towards them was one Fortunatus a freed man of Vetus who hauing pilfred away his masters goods and fearing an enquirie began to accuse him associating Claudius Demianus with him who emprisoned by Vetus Proconsull of Asia for his misdeeds Nero deliuered in recompence of the accusation Which being vnderstood by the partie accused and that there was no difference made betwixt him and his freed man hedeparteth to Eormianum where a secrete guarde of souldiers watched him His daughter was with him who besides the imminent danger through long griefe fell and cruell as soone as she had seen the murderers of her husband Plautus grew to further extremitie and hauing cast herselfe about his necke embrued with blood kept still the blood and her apparell besprinkled with it remaining a widow drownd in continuall griefe vsing no other foode than was necessarie to keepe off death Then her father exhorting her she goeth to Naples And because she was kept from the speech of Nero lying in waite for his going abroad she cried alowde that it would please him to heare the innocent and not commit one who had beene his companion in the Consulship to the disposition of a freed man sometime with a womanish lamentation sometimes going beyond her sexe with angrie and bitter termes vntill the Prince shewed himselfe inflexible and no way mooued either with praiers or hatred he might incurre And warneth her father to cast away hope and resolue himselfe to the present necessitie Withall newes came that the matter should be heard before the Lords of the Senate and a cruell sentence intended Thereupon some aduised him to pronounce 〈…〉 ar his heire for the most part of his goods and so helpe his nephewes with the rest which he refused least he should dishonour with this last seruile acte his life past almost in libertie and gaue all his money among his bondmen and if any thing could be carried away that euerie one might serue himselfe three beds onely reserued for his funerall obsequies Then in the same chamber with the same knife they cut their vaines and with speed each one couered with a simple garment for modestie sake they were put into bathes The father looking on the daughter the grandmother on her neece she on both praying a-uie for a speedie end to leaue the others aliue though to follow incontinently after And fortune herein kept the order the eldest dying first then the next in age And being accused after their buriall and ordayned they should be punished according to
for matter committed in the Proconsulship of Asia in which he augmented the displeasure the Prince bare him for iustice and industrie and because he had beene very carefull in opening the hauen of the Ephesians and had left vnpunished the violence of the citie Pergamena which hindring Acratus Caesars freed man to carry away their images and pictures But the fault indeede laid to his charge was his friendship with Plautus and ambition in alluring the prouince to new hopes The time chosen to condemne him was when Tiridates came to take the kingdome of Armenia that domesticall wickednes might be obscured and hidden with the rumors of the strangers arriuing or else that he might shew the greatnes of an Emperour by the death of worthie men as a royall act Whereupon all the citie being run out to receiue the Prince and behold the King Thrasea forbidden to go to meete him lost not courage therefore but wrote to Nero demaunding his accusations boldly affirming that he would purge himselfe if he might haue knowledge of the crimes and licence to cleere them These writings Nero receiued very greedily in hope that Thrasea being terrified and deiected would haue written somewhat sounding to the magnificencie and excellencie of the Prince and discredit of his owne reputation which falling out otherwise fearing the countenance and courage and libertie of the innocent commaunded the Lords of the Senate to be assembled Then Thrasea consulted with his friends whether he should aduenture his purgation or let it passe Those which thought it best he should enter into the Senat house said they were assured of his constancie and that he would say nothing but what should augment his glory Cowardly and timorous men did shut themselues in secret places at the time of their death The people should see a man offering himselfe to death the Senate should heare words more then humane as it were of some diuine power that Nero himselfe might also be moued with the miracle but if his crueltie should continue certes the memorie of an honorable death should be distinguished with posteritie from the cowardlines of such as perished with silence Contrarywise such as thought it conuenient to expect within dores what might happen said the same of Thrasea But yet that skoffes and iniuries were at hand he should therefore withdraw his eares from checks and reprochfull speeches not only Cossutianus and Eprius are prompt to naughtines some there are which peraduenture would let their hand walke and strike through the crueltie * of Augustus yea the good do the like for feare That he would rather deliuer the Senat whom he had alwaies honored of the infamie of so great a villanie and leaue it doubtfull what hauing seene Thrasea the Lordes of the Senate would determine That Nero should be ashamed of his wickednes was to trouble himselfe with a vaine hope and that it was much more to be feared least he should grow cruell against his wife his familie and the rest of his children Therefore that vndefiled and vncorrupted whose steps and studies he had imitated in his life theirs also he should follow in the honor of his death There was present at this consultation Rusticus Arulenus Tribune of the people a hot yongman who for desire of praise offered to oppose himselfe to the decree of Senate Thrasea coold his courage Least he should begin a vaine enterprise vnprofitable to the criminall and dangerous to the opposer As for himselfe he had ended his yeeres and that he ought not forsake the manner of his life so many yeeres continued but he entred now into offices and was in his choise to accept or refuse such as are behind That he should waigh well and ponder with himselfe what course of gouerning he should enter into of taking charge in the common wealth in such a time as this Whether it were fit for him to come into the Senate or not he would haue it rest in his owne consideration VI. Thraseas accusation and death THe next day two armed Pretorian cohorts beset the Temple of Venus the mother the waies to the Senate a companie of gownd-men had filled not hiding their weapons and a thicke aray of souldiers dispersed in the place of assemblies and Temples amidst whose lookes and threats the Senators went into the court where the Princes oration was heard by his Quaestors mouth None noted by name he blamed the Senators That they neglected publicke duties and that by their example the gentlemen of Rome were become lazie For what maruell was it if from Prouinces farre off they came not to Rome when as the most part hauing obtained the Consulship and priestly dignities gaue themselues rather to passe the time withall pleasures in their gardens Which the accusers tooke hold of as it were of a weapon And Cossutianus leading the daunce and Marcellus with greater vehemencie Cried that this touched the whole state that through the disobedience of the inferiours the lenitie of the commaunder was made lesser The Lords of the Senate vntill that day had beene too milde in suffering Thrasea to forsake their side his sonne in law Heluidius Priscus in the same madnes Paconius Agrippinus heire of his fathers hatred against Princes and Curtius Montanus composing destable verses to scoffe and abuse men without punishment He found a lacke of a Consull in the Senate of a priest in vowes in an oath a citizen but against the ordinances and ceremonies of our auncestors Thrasea had openly put on the person of a traitour and an enemie Finally that he should come and play the Senator and as he was wont protect the backbiters of the Prince and giue his censure what he would haue amended or chaunged for they could more easilie endure one finding fault with all things then endure his silence now condemning all things Doth peace throughout the world displease him or victories without losse of the armies That they would not suffer him haue the desire of his ouerthwart ambition who grieued at the common prosperitie thought the place of assemblies the Theater and Temples solitarie places and threatned his owne banishment These things vnto him seemed not decrees not magistrates nor this the citie of Rome that he would abandon and separate his life from that citie whose loue in time past and now whose sight he had cast off When with these and the like speeches Marcellus had inueighed grim and threatning in voice countenance and eies kindled with rage not that knowen and by often vse of daungers vsuall heauines but a new and a deeper feare seased the Lords of the Senate beholding the hands and weapons of the souldiers Besides that the reuerent representation of Thrasea came to their imagination and some there were which had compassion that Heluidius should suffer punishment in regard of harmelesse affinitie What was obiected against Agrippinus but the lamentable fortune of his father When as he innocent also was ruined by Tiberius crueltie Montanus a vertuous yoong man was
on foote by which it is prouided of old that for pleading of causes no man should take either money or gift Then they whom that iniurie seemed to touch making a noise Silius was eager and earnest against Suilius and contradicted him alleaging the example of Orators in times past Which esteemed fame with posteritie to be the fairest rewarde of eloquence otherwise that the princesse of good arts should be distained with the seruitude of base lucre and that no faith could be sincere and inuiolate where excesse of gaine is regarded And if causes shoulde be defended without rewarde there would be fewer of them where as now enmities accusations hatred and iniuries are fostered and that as the multitude of diseases brought the Phisitions gaine so the pestilent infection of the bar serueth now to inrich the lawiers Let them call to minde C. Asinius and Messalla and of later memorie Arruntius and Eserninus which were lifted vp to the highest degree of dignitie by their vpright life and vncorrupted eloquence The Consull elect vttering these speeches the others approouing the same they went about to giue iudgement that such shoulde be condemned vnto the like punishment as they were who had by briberie and extortion polled and oppressed the commons When as Suilius and Cossutianus and others which perceiued that there should be no generall decree set downe but a punishment for those which had beene openly conuicted came about Caesar and besought him pardon of that which was past And after a little silence nodding with his head vnto them they began as followeth Who was he so puft vp with pride that would presume or hope for eternitie of fame that it was expedient men should prouide for necessarie maintenance least through the want of aduocates the poore be oppressed by the rich and mightie Neither did eloquence come by chance and gratis vnto any without paine and labor the care of a mans owne familie was neglected if he were occupied in another mans busines many maintained their life by warre some by tilling the earth no man laboured to attaine to any knowledge vnlesse he had seene some commoditie in it It was an easie matter for Asinius and Messalla which were inriched with great rewards betweene Antonies and Augustus wars to shew a gallant and braue minde and for Eserninus and Aruntius heires of rich houses to do the like Examples were as readie for them to shew for what great rewards P. Claudius and C. Curio were woont to plead As for themselues they were but meane Senators which expected no gaine of the common-wealth but such as grew of peace The meanest of the people endeuored what he could to better his estate the rewarde of studies being taken away studies do also decay as hauing neither glory nor honor The Prince thinking that this was not spoken without ground of reason moderated the sum which they should take vnto ten thousand sesterces and that they which passed this summe should be condemned of extorsion III. Mithradates recouereth his kingdome Warres betweene Gotarzes and Bardanes for the kingdome of Parthia ABout the same time Mithradates who as I haue shewed gouerned Armenia and was brought to Caesar returned into his kingdome at Claudius perswasion trusting in the power of Pharasmanes King of the Hiberi and Mithradates brother who told him that the Parthians were at variance among themselues doubtfull what would become of the Kingdome and matters of smaller importance vtterly neglected For whilest Gotarzes practised great cruelties going about to kill his brother Artabanus his wife and his sonne whereby the rest were afeard they called in Bardanes who being a man of action and able to go thorow great enterprises in two daies inuaded three thousand stadia and chased out Gotarzes all amazed and dismayed not once dreaming of his comming and without any lingring seased on the next gouernments the Seleucians onely refusing to obey him Whereupon inflamed with greater anger then the present occasion ministred cause bicause they had reuolted from his father he besieged their citie which was strong and well fortified with a wall inuironed with a riuer and furnished with victuals and munition In the meane time Gotarzes strengthened with the Daharian and Hyrcanian power renueth the war And Bardanes enforced to abandon Leleucia remooued his campe to the champion countrey of the Bracteri Then the forces of the Orient being deuided and vncertaine which way to leane Mithradates had oportunitie offered him by chance to sease vpon Armenia and with the force of the Roman souldier rase and beat downe the strong fortresses the Hiberian campe at once wasting and spoiling the champion Neither did the Armenians make heade at all against them Demonactes their gouernour being slaine who onely durst haue waged battell against them Cotys King of lesser Armenia did somewhat hinder them some of the nobles ioyning with him But afterward being rebuked by Caesars letters all turned vnto Mithradates side more cruell then was expedient in a kingdome newly gotten But the Parthian Emperours making preparation to fight suddenly conclude a peace hauing discouered the treacherie of their subiects which Gotarzes bewraied vnto his brother At the first meeting they had a ielous conceit the one of the other then taking one another by the right hand before the altars of the gods they promised and couenanted to reuenge the treason of their enimies and agree and helpe one another Bardanes seemed most meete to possesse the kingdome And Gotarzes because there should remaine no sparkle of emulation went to Hyrcania And Bardanes returning againe Seleucia yeeldeth the seuenth yeere after her reuolt not without discredit to the Parthians whom one bare citie had so long deluded Then he inuadeth the strongest Prouinces and began to recouer Armenia if Vibius Marsus Lieuetenant of Syria had not hindered him by threatning to warre against him In the meane time Gotarzes repenting that he had yeelded the kingdome and the nobilitie vnto whom obedience in peace seemeth hardest calling him backe againe assembleth his forces togither whom Bardanes met at the riuer Erindes where skirmishing long on both parts for the passages Bardanes had the vpper hand and with prosperous battels subdued all the middle countries vnto the riuer Gindes which diuideth the Dahas from the Arij There his fortunate successes had an end for the Parthians although they were conquerers yet liked not to make warre so far off Wherefore building monuments in token of his wealth and power and that none of the Arsacides had euer before leuied any tribute of those nations he returned with great glorie and therefore so much the more fierce and intollerable to his subiects who hauing long before laide a snare to intrap him killed him at vnawares as he was a hunting in the Prime of his youth fewe of the old Kings to be matched in renowne with him if he had as well sought the loue of his subiects as to be feared of his enimies By the death of Bardanes the Parthian