fittes but with a continuall course and at one blowe as it were ruined the state Agricola liued not to see the Senate-house beset the Senate enuironed with souldiers and all in one fury the death of so many Consulare personages the banishments flights of so many great women Carus a Carus and Messalinus instruments of Domitians cruelty and so was Massa afterward Plin. l 1. ep 11. 4 ep 22. Juuenal Metius had obtayned as yet but one conquest and Messalinus bloudy sentences kept themselues within the manour of Alba and Massa Bebius himselfe was then b De repetundis the prouince of Baeticae being plaintife Senecio Plinie accusers as the same Plinie writeth lib. 7. ep 33. called in question Anone after our handes led Heluidius into prison the sight of c Exiled by Domitian and restored vnder Nerua Plin. li. 4. ep 22. Mauricus and Rusticus pierced our hartes Senecio besprinkled vs with his guiltles bloud Yet Nero withdrew his presence and commanded cruelties looked not on the principall part of our miseries vnder Domitian was to see and bee seene when our secrete sighes were registred when that cruell countenance and red visage with which hee armed himselfe against blushing and shame could endure to note and marke the feares and palenesse of so many persons Thrise happy then mayest thou Agricola be counted not onely for the renowne of thy life but also for the opportunity of thy decease Thou diddest as they doe affirme which were present at thy last speeches accept thy death most patiently and willingly as though for thy part thou wouldest haue cleared the Prince But I and thy daughter beside the losse of so deare a father we haue a further cause to bee grieued that it was not our chance to bee by in thy sicknesse to cherish thy weakenesse to satisfie and content our selues with seeing and embracing thee Some counsayle no doubt and some precepts wee should haue receaued in charge to print and engraue in our harts this is our grieffe this our speciall misfortune to vs in respect of our long absence fower yeares before thou wast lost And albeit thy most louing wife the best of all mothers sat by and furnished no doubt all things in most honourable sort yet wast thou layed vp with fewer teares and at thy last hower thine eyes missed somewhat If there bee any place for the ghosts of good men if as wise men define the soules of great persons die not with the body in peace mayest thou rest and recall vs thy posterity from impatient and womanish waylings to the contemplation of thy vertues which are in no sort to bee sorrowed for or bewayled but rather admired ******** This is true honor indeede this is the duety of nearest kinsfolkes So I would counsaile thy daughter and wife to reuerence the memory of their father and husbande with often remembring his doings and wordes recognizing the glory and image of his minde rather then of his body not that I dislike of images cut in marble or mettall but as mens faces so the images of faces are mortall and frayle the shape of the minde is eternall which wee may represent and expresse not by matter and arte borrowed abroade but by our owne maners within That of Agricola which wee did loue which wee admired remayneth and so will remaine in the mindes of men in the continual succession of ages in fame and renowne For manie of the ancients shall lie buried in obscure and inglorious obliuion but Agricola shall liue recommended to posteritie and continue for euer FINIS ANNOTATIONS VPON THE first booke of Tacitus WHEN SERVIVS GALBA was second time Consull Cornelius Tacitus whom Vopiscus calleth scriptorem historiae Augustae wrote two seuerall volumes of histories one from the death of Augustus as it may seeme to the Calends of Ianuary next after the death of Nero comprehending Tiberius Caius Claudius and Neroes time and the greater part of Galba another from the saide Calends to the death of Domitian Of this later volume in order of time howsoeuer it was in order of writing the first foure bookes comprize the history of one yeare and some moneths onely from the beginning of Ianuarie when Galba and Vinius entred their Consulships in the yeare ab vrbe condita 822. according to Tacitus or rather the consent of the Empire in that time Claudio Casare quartum Vitellio tertiùm coss saith he 11. a pag 405. Annalium iust two and twenty yeares before Galba and Vinius ludi seculares octingentesimo post Romam conditam anno spectati sunt which account exceedeth the Capitolin as they call it by one yeare and agreeth fully with b Censorinus c. 21. Varro c Bruto Cicero d lib. 8. cap. 7. Plinie and e lib. 40 pa. 77. li. 52. pa 314. li. â— 6. pa. 470. Dioes reckening Now although the Prince and an officer maie seeme in one person incompatible qualities yet the custome of that state beareth that the Emperour the first yeare of his Empire of order eftsoones vpon pleasure supplied the one Consuls place The reason is in Appian 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 200. 1 That is Sâ—lla albeit he was Dictator yet for a cool uâ— and shewe of popular gouernment was content to be made Consul againe with Metellus Pius and from hence it proceedeth peraduenture that euen at this day the Roman princes when they name Consuls for the state diuerse times pronounce themselues also not disdaining euen with their soueraigne autority to ioine also the title of Consul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now the first Consulat of Galba was f Tac. 6. Ann. p. 381. foure yeares before Tiberius death obtayned by fauour of Liuia Augusta saieth Plutarch in Galba 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which I thinke is an ouersight for shee was dead foure yeares before in small fauour with her sonne and they in smaller that sought by her meanes to rise in honours Tacit. 5. Annalium p. 369. Quin parte eiusdem epistolae increpuit Tiberius amicitias muliebres Fufium consulem obliquè perstringens is gratia Augustae floruerat apt us alliciendis foeminarum animis c. Neither was it Tiberius maner to bestowe offices so long before hande Tacit. 2. Annalium p. 271. 2. Manie excellent men principally ment as I take it of Liuy although his storie reach somewhat further of whose eloquence those workes are witnesse that remaine and of his liberty Tacitus 4. g pag. 347. Annal in the oration of Cremutius Cordus Titus Livius eloquentiae ac fidei praeclarus in primis Cn. Pompeium tantis laudibus tulit vt Pompeianum eum Augustus appellarit neque id amicitiae eorum offecit Scipionem Afranium hunc ipsum Cassium nusquam latrones parricidas quae nunc vocabula imponuntur saepe vt insignes viros nominat 3. Because hauing no part in the state they were ignorant Inscitia reip vt alienae Aliena
die ipso quo matreÌ„ occiderat Suet. i cap. 40. Neron Now Agrippina was slaine ipsis QuinquatruuÌ„ diebus Tac. 14. k pag. 479. Ann. Suet. l cap. 34. Nerone Quinquatrus begin the nineteenth day of March Ouid. Fast 3. so allowing some coÌ„peteÌ„t time froÌ„ VieÌ„na or LioÌ„s to Naples it wil appeare that Vindex rebellioÌ„ began about the tenth or twelfth of March. Againe Xiphilinus saieth that Galba reigned nine moneths and thirteene daies which is to be vnderstood from the time he tooke the Empire vpon him in Spaine as Xiphilinus himselfe noteth in the last words of Vespasians time so that Galba dying the fifteenth of a Tac. 1. Hist Ianuary beganne his raigne about the first or second of Aprill Nero began the 13 of October Tac. 12. b pag. 447. An. 1 That is And hee raigned thirteene yeares and eight moneths wanting two daies and died in the moneth of Iuly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saieth Zonaras tomo 2 which two sayings cannot both be true for if Nero deceased in Iuly then raigned he more then thirteene yeare eight moneths but if his raigne was no longer which Xiphilin also assureth vs of theÌ„ died he not in Iuly Againe the same Xiphilin writeth 2 That is That by iust computation from Neroes death till the beginning of Vespasians raigne there was one whole yeare and two and twenty daies pag. 225. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the first day of VespasiaÌ„s Empire was the first day of Iuly Tac. 2. Hist so that Neroes death was vpon the 8. of Iune so it should seeme by Tacitus in this very booke septeÌ„ à Neronis fine menses sunt Aurelius Victor saieth Menses septem diesque totidem imperauit Galba which vnderstoode from Neroes death agreeth iustly with the former account About the very same time with Nero dyed Vindex in France The word came first of his death to Galba in Spaine and certaine daies after of Neroes in post Plutar. Galba And certaine it is that Nero neuer had any newes of Vindex ouerthrowe for it could not haue beene otherwise but that beeing heard must needes haue wrought some notable alteration at Rome Philostratus l. 5. de vita Apollonij 3 That is It was reported at Messana where Apollonius then was that Nero was fled and Vindex deade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as though at Messana in Sicily the newes of Neroes destructioÌ„ had first bene reported Of Neroes death Icelus brought Galba the newes in seuen dayes from Rome Plut. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So allowing some time for prouision it may seeme that Galba set forward about the beginning of Iuly and entred the citty as it may be reasonably supposed about September follovving his iourney sayeth Tacitus vvas slowe the vvay long and his men heauy loaden 23. Galba brought in the Spanish Legion That is as I thinke Septima Galbiana gathered as it may seeme by Tacitus 3. c pag. 120. Hist Dio. d pag. 384. lib. 55. and e Galbâ cap. 10. Suetonius by Galba in Spaine which notwithstanding seemeth to haue bene sent away into Illyricum before his death vnder Antonius Primus Lieutenant therefore without cause remembred here in the tumult of Otho I finde no mention of any Hispana legio neither in Tacitus in this booke nor any writer beside vnlesse percase they alone were a sleepe when al the world beside was in armes 24. To the straits of the Caspian mountaines Suetonius f cap. 1â— Nerone Parabat Nero ad Caspias portas expeditionem conscriptâ ex Italicis senûm pedum tyronibus noua legione quam Magni Alexandri phalangem appellabat Xiphilinus addeth further that he had purposed a viage into Aethiopia 25. Lieutenants of legions Legati legionuÌ„ Legatus in this very booke hath 3. significations 1. Legatus for an Embassadour p. 24. CensueraÌ„t patres mitteÌ„dos ad GermanicuÌ„ exercituÌ„ legatos 2. Legatus or Legatus consularis or consularis for a LieutenaÌ„t deputy president or gouernour of a whole prouince or army p 21 Othonem in prouinciam Lusitaniam specie legationis seposuit p 42 Hordeonius Flaccus consularis legatus aderat p. 19 inferioris Germaniae legiones diutiùs sine consulari fuere 3. Legatus legionis or legatus Praetorius or legatus simply but by circumstaÌ„ce to be discerned for the LieutenaÌ„t of a LegioÌ„ whereof were in euery army as many as Legions p. 44 Coelius legatus vicesimae legionis p. 586 in vitâ Agricolae speaking of the same LegioÌ„ maÌ„ Quippe legatis coÌ„sularibê° nimia ac formidolosa erat Nec legatus Praetorius ad cohibeÌ„duÌ„ potens p. 42 Nullo legatoruÌ„ tribunoruÌ„ue pro Galba niteÌ„te p. 44 Foedis legatoruÌ„ certaminibus spoken equiuocally to the vaÌ„tage of the worde for the one of theÌ„ was legatus consularis the other legatus legionis 26. Prouinces abroad Eprouincijs Scilicet Caesaris onely ment as I take it here for Augustus after the warre at ActiuÌ„ enforced forsooth by the Senate to vndertake the Monarchy diuided the prouinces into two sorts The quiet peaceable cuntreyes he rendred into the Senate peoples hande the prouinces that limited bordered the Empire with the rest where any rebellion or warre might be feared he retained to himselfe his successours in shew to sustaine himselfe al danger alone and leaue to the Senate the sweete at their ease but in trueth to keepe himselfe alwayes armed and them without armes To the Senate and people as a lib. 17. Strabo and b lib 53. Dio vvrite belonged these prouinces follovving vvhich c 13. Ann p. 450. Tacitus if I be not deceiued calleth publicas prouincias Duae consulares Africke with Numidia and Asia so called because these tvvo prouinces vvere properly assigned to those vvho had beene Consuls vvhereas for the rest it suffized to haue borne inferiour office and decem praetoriae Boetica Narbonensis Sardinia vvith Corsica Sicilia Epirus Macedonia Achaia vvith Thessalia c. Creta vvith Cyrene Cyprus Pontus and Bithynia To himselfe he retained Hispania Tarraconensis Lusitania Gallia Lugdunensis Belgica Aquitania Syria c. Cilicia Egypt Dalmatia Moesia Pannonia and the tract of Rhene vpon the French side called by the name of d In Marcellinus li. 15. p. 1461. Germania prima wherein were Magontiacus Vangiones Nemites Argentoratus and Germania sâ—cunda Agrippina Tungris munita superior and inferior Germania as it is also at this day called Germanie but by Caesars description comprehended in Gallia and a verie part of Belgica vvho knevv no other Germania but that vvhich the later vvriters call for difference sake 1 Great Germanie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beyond the Rhene vvhereas Tacitus in this first booke naming often Germany meaneth alwaies the other two prouinces so called because the Germans continually passing the Rhene inhabited the cuntrey and so by little and little changed the name Caesar lib. 2. com Dio. lib.
Aegypt and there to haue taken himselfe to his musicke to get him a liuing sottishlie supposing in Aegypt an imaginarie surety to himselfe by his musicke when he could not liue safelie Emperour at Rome To that purpose sounding the mindes of the Tribunes and Centurions of the Garde and finding them some to drawe backe some flattlie refuse to goe with him one among others directlie to tell him that sure his best waie were to make an ende of himselfe hee was distracted into diuerse opinions casting about what course he should follow flee to the Parthian whom of late hee had pleasured to Galba who peraduenture might pittie his estate or were it els better in lamentable sort and mourning weede to goe out abroad and in the Place of common assemblie most humblie for that which was past demande pardon or if he could not obtaine it that at least they would grant him the gouernement of Aegypt This liked him best and thereof he framed a speech which afterwards was founde in his papers but fearing the people would pull him in pieces before he came to the Place he differred the matter till the next morning Nymphidius Sabinus and Sophonius Tigellinus vvere captaines of the Garde preferred by Nero from nothing to that honourable place and now the first to forsake him But Tigellinus as a person infamous and generallie hated preuailed not much Sabinus had the credit vvith the souldier vvho affirming that Nero vvas alreadie fled into AEgypt and promising donatiue in Galbaes name * 234. lib 5s 6d of thirtie thousand sesterces a man and * 39. lib 1s 3.d. fiue thousand to the souldier abroad much more then vvould or could bee performed easilie wanne them to leaue him who had as they thought alreadie left them and so to pronounce Galba Emperour not vpon any especiall liking they had to the man aboue others but whilest some doubted some other denied Galba pretending directlie the suite and no countersuiter appearing they were content to accept him for Prince Their fellowes which warded that night foreseeing the issue and coueting in this creation of the new Prince a part with the rest left Nero a sleepe alone in the garden VVho being awaked about midnight vnderstanding his garde vvas departed leapt out of his bed and sent about for his frendes from vvhom receiuing no answere hee vvith a fewe vvent to their lodgings himselfe The great Monarch of the world adored erewhile as a god attended vpon and garded by thousands of frendes of souldiers of seruants now as a page knocking at dores findeth all shutte against his vnfortunate state Thus in aduersitie destitute of ayde of counsell or comforte of frendes he returneth home where finding his chamber rifled the chamberlaines fled his box of poyson remooued awaie he sought for Spicillus the “ Gladiator fencer or some of his sorte by vvhose handes hee might be dispatched and finding none vvanting alike both frendes and foes hee ranne desperatelie out as though hee would haue throwen himselfe headlong into the Tiber but his hart fayling hee repressed his pace and thereupon requiring some secrete place to recall his wittes and resume courage againe Phaon his freedman offered his house foure miles of in the cuntrey vvhich Nero accepted and so accompanied with foure men onelie Phaon Epaphroditus Sporus and Neophytus fleeth awaie badlie apparrailed and vvorse mounted couering his head and hiding his face with a handkercheffe As hee was in his waie out of the Cittie approching the campe of the Garde hee heard the souldiers showting and vvishing good lucke vnto Galba and ill to himselfe Jn riding along his horse starting aside his face was discouered and hee knowen and saluted by one of the Garde vvhich met him by chance Whereupon forsaking horse and high vvaie through bushes and breres he crept in at the last into a thicket of reedes on the backside of Phaons ferme-house who perswading Nero in the meane while to sit in a pitte out of the vvhich sande had beene digged hee refused the fauour denying to goe aliue vnder ground and so cast himselfe downe close in the reedes till they had beaten a hole in the wall through which Nero vpon all foure crept into the backside casting himselfe vpon a simple pallet in a backe roome VVhilest Nero thus lurcked the Senate assembled in counsaile declare him enemie of the state and punishable more maiorum sending out to seeke him and bring him aliue Concerning the choise of a new although in their secrete opinions Verginius deserued to resume the benefite which hee had put into their handes yet beeing not willing to enter into further troubles and raise vp a new ciuill warre vvithout vvhich Galba who had alreadie foreprized the place could not bee sette downe following the souldiers example they openlie agreed all vpon Galba By this time they about Nero were instant vpon him to rid himselfe quickelie out of the contumelies and indignities which anone he should be forced to endure To whom yeelding himselfe hee commandes to make readie for the funeralles vveeping and vvailing at euerie vvord vvhat great pitie it was that so good a minstrell should bee so cast awaie Jn the meane season certaine letters vvhich vvere brought to Phaon from Rome he snatched awaie and finding therein the Senates decree demaunded vvhat more maiorum ment for that peece of law hee had neuer perused vnderstanding it was that his necke should be locked in a forke and himselfe vvhipped naked to death hauing in horrour so shamefull an ende hee tooke vp two rapiers vvhich hee had brought with him and trying their pointes how sharpe they were put them vp againe desiring some of them to beginne and shewe him the vvaie to bee manfull but desiring a vertuous example out of so vicious a schoole a court so corrupt hee desired in vaine And now the horsemen sent by the Senate approched vvhich Nero perceiuing by feare encouraged ranne himselfe thorow Epaphroditus his Secretarie at his request helping to dispatch him the sooner for vvhich seruice he was afterward put to death by Domitian who thought it not meete to suffer anie to liue which had in anie sort lent his hand to the death of a Prince Thus Nero a Prince in life contemptible and hatefull in gouernement hauing thereby disarmed himselfe both of the loue and feare of his subiects ended his daies the eightth of Iune in the one and thirtieth yeare of his age and fourteenth of his Empire at the first hauing ruled the state with reasonable liking insomuch that Traian was wonted to saie that euen good Princes were short of Neroes fiue yeares but after breaking forth into all infamous behauiour and detestable oppressions and cruelties and beeing withall a Prince weake in action not of vertue sufficient to vpholde his vices by might he was at the length thus ouerthrowen Nero beeing slaine the people and Gentlemen but principallie the nobilitie the principall obiect of tyrannie sacrificed to the gods and feasted for ioie some also ware
mindes and bewayling the hard happe euen of the army it selfe their dangers contumelies The matter thus growing toward a sedition Hordeonius Flaccus commandeth the messengers to get them away and that their departure might be the more secrete he commandes them to auoide the campe in the night season Thereupon a suspicion and grieuous rumour arose the most parte affirming they were made away and that without doubt vnlesse they prouide for themselues the more surely it woulde come to passe that those of the souldiers which were of most courage and most misliked the present estate shoulde likewise by night vnawares to the rest be secretely murdred Vpon this the Legions priuily conspire couenant together the Ayde-soldier was made also of the party whom at first they suspected as though with his cohortes wings enuironing them he ment them a mischiefe but a none he appeared more earned then any as the bad agree better to broach a newe warre then in peace to keepe concorde one with another Notwithstanding the Legions of lower Germanie the first day of Ianuarie sware their solemne alleageance to Galba with much adoe slowe comming forward some sew in the first ranckes yeelding a weak applause the rest stāding mute ech looking his neighbour should dare as it is the nature of men to follow with speede that which they are otherwise of themselues loath to begin but euen the Legions were diuersely minded the first and the fift rebelliously affected so that some cast stones at Galbaes images the fifteenth and sixteenth murmuring and threatening and daring no further stoode wayting for others to shew them the way In higher army the fourth Legion and the eighteenth wintering both in one * At Magnoiaown place the very first day of Ianuary brake the images of Galba in pieces the fourth very resolutely the eighteenth after some litle stay anone by common consent and lest they might seeme to haue shaken of the obedience of the Empire they sware a Statimque sayeth Suet. c. 16. legationem ad Praetorianos cum mandatis destinauerunt displicere imperatorem in Hispania factum eligerem ipsi quem cuncti ex ercitus comprobarent But the embassage as it may seeme vpō the revolt to Vitellius was revoked To the Senate and people of Rome a stile long ago ouerworne no Lieutenant no Tribune labouring for Galba yea some as in tumultes it happeneth troubling more neuertheles no mā presumed to make any solemne oration assembly-wise or out of Tribunal for as yet they had none to bestow their benefite vpon Hordeonius Flaccus Lieutenant generall stood by b Yet was hee left by Vitellius Lieutenant of both Germanies 2. Hist afterward hee fauoured Vespasians side and lastly was slaine by his owne soldiers 4. Tistoriarum and lookt on while this pageant was playing not daring nether to restraine the rebellious nor stay the doubtfull nor encourage the good a timorous slugge and innocēt as being a coward Fower Centurions of the eighteenth Legion Nonius Receptus Donatius Valens Romilius Marcellus and Calpurnius Repentinus endeuoring to saue and protect the images of Galba with the souldiers violence were caried away bound and layed vp neither did there romaine any more in any of them al any sparke of faith or allegeance no memory of the c Which they had sworne to Galba pressed thereto by Verginius after Neroes decease othe before giuen but as in seditions it happeneth as the most part went so did they all go The same day at night the * Aquilifer Standerd-bearer of the fourth Legion brings word to Vitellius as he sate at banquet in Coleyn that the fourth eighteenth Legion had broken downe the images of Galba sworne to the Senate and people of Rome That othe seemed friuolous and voide wherefore it was thought Good * occupare mutātem fortunam is peraduenture properlye to catch first hold or put you selfe in sure possession of fortune wauering and nowe standing in doubt where she might best bestow herselfe to vse the opportunity and profer them a Prince Thereupon Vitellius dispatcheth in post to the Legions Lieutenants of his owne prouince aduertising them that the higher army was reuolted from Galba wherefore either fight they must against the reuolters or if they liked better of peace and concorde set vp an Emperour and with lesse danger they might take a Prince then seeke one The first Legion lay nearest and Fabius Valens Lieutenant of al the rest the forwardest man who the very day after with the horse-men of his Legion and of the Aydes entring Coleyn a Sueron Vitel. c. 8. somewhat otherwise vix dum mense wis acto neque dici neque temporis habita ratione ac iam vispere subitò à militib è cubiculo raptus ita vs erat in veste domestica Imperator est consalulatus circumlatusque per celeberrimos vitos Plutarch saieth it was at mid-day p. 1506. solemnely saluted Vitellius Emperour The rest of the Legions of the same prouince stroue who should bee formost to follow the example and the higher army laying aside those glorious titles and goodly to shew of the Senate and people of Rome the third of Ianuary roundly come ouer to Vitellius side a man might easily perceaue that the other two daies they ment nothing lesse then a free commonwealth They of Coleyn the Treueri and Lingones were not inferiour to the souldiers in forwardnesse offering aydes horses armour money as they were able in body welth or wit and not only the principall men of the colonies and camps which presently had welth at will and vpon the victory hoped for great matters but also the * manipuli i. manipulares in opposition to primores castrorum bands and common souldier vpon an instinct and heat of affection and couetous humor gaue vp their money in steed of money their * balteos Varro lib. 4 de ling. Lat. Balteum cingulum è corio bullatum vsually trimmed with siluer or gold Spartianus Hadriano p. 804. vestem humillimam frequenter sine auro balteum sumebat belts their trappings the siluer trimming of their harnish Vitellius hauing greatly commended their cheerful willingnes cōmitteth the offices of court commonly supplied by freedmen to Gentlemen of Rome and paies the vacations to the Centuriōs out of his cofers The soldiers cruelty demanding many to death he doth oft cōde scend vnto sometimes he deceiues them with shew of emprisoning b He that wrot the first news to Galba of the German rebellion supra Pompeius Propinquus Procurator of Belgica was straight put to death Iulius Burdo admirall of the German nauy he saued by sleight the whole army was incensed against him as first an entiser of Fonteius Capito to rebell and then a great helper to make him away well beloued was Capito and gladly remembred and in that raging and bloud-thirsty company a man might openly kill whom he list mary pardon or saue but by
might of Titus Vinius did protect him who pretēded that Tigellinus before had saued his daughter as indeed he had done not vpon any merciful mind as hauing murdered so many but onely proiecting for time to come a plot to escape for the lewdest men misdoubting the present fearing a change prepare before hand priuat friends to set and oppose against publick hatred whereupon it groweth that no care is taken of innocent life but only a care to passe without punishmēt But now for Vinius sake he fared the worse to his owne ancient hatefulnes the others late enuy being adioyned insomuch that the people running by heapes to the Palace and Places of common assembly and where the commons are most in their kingdom to the Race Theatres ceased not seditiously to molest til such time as message of death a Plutarch Othone p. 1514. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was sent to Tigellinus being at the bathes of b A place of ordinary repaire for pleasure health Tac. 12. Ann. p. 446. Jn tanta mole curarum Claudius valetudine adversa corripitur refouendisque viribus mollitie coeli salubritate aquarum Sinuessam pergit Sinuessa where wallowing among his concubines dallying and kissing and vsing vnhonest delayes he cut his owne throate at length with a razour fouling his infamous life a slow and dishonest departing About the same time Galuia Crispinilla was likewise required to the slaughter but the Prince although with some obloquie shifting it off saued her life one which had bin in her time schoolemistresse of Neroes lusts and after his death had sayled into Africke to incite Clodius Macer to warre and euidently endeuoured to famish the citty of Rome afterward the maried a Consull and had the goodwill and good word of al the whole citty vnhurt and vntouched whilest Galba Otho and Vitellius liued and after their times mighty in money and because the was childlesse good helpes in all world 's both good and bad XIIII Of the letters messages and practises that passed betweene the sides IN the meane time Otho sent to Vitellius many c Suet Othone c 8. Otho per internuncios literas consortem imperij generumque se Vtellie obtulit letters spiced with womanish perswasions and d The like conditions offred by Flavius Sabinus in Vespasians name were accepted by Vitellius as much as in him lay had not his friends disturbed the bargaine 3. Hist p. 139. offring him money and countenance and what place of rest he would chuse to passe therein his prodigall life Vitellius quit him againe with the like at the first in mild termes with fonde and vncomely dissembling on both sides afterwarde in scolding maner obiecting ech to the other vicious life and villanous actes neither amisse Otho reuoking the Embassage which Galba had sent sendeth a new in the name of the Senate to both the German armies the Italian Legion and companies which remained at Lions The Embassadours that went staied with Vitellius being as it seemed quickly intreated and willingly with-holden Those of the Gard which Otho had assigned e For in truth they were sēt to practise the legians in shew to attend vpon the Embassadors were turned home again not suffered to haue conference with the Legions Fabius Valens sendeth withal a packet in the name of the German army to the Praetorian and Vrban cohorts extolling the strength of the side and offring amity blaming them beside in that they did conuert vpon Otho the title of the Empire whereof Vitellius had so f For Vitellius was greeted Emperour the second of Innuary and Othothe fifteenth long before the rightfull possession So were they with threats and promises doubly assayed as being in warre not able to stand in peace not likelie to loose notwithstanding the Praetorians persisted for Otho Plots also were laied for priuy attempts Otho sent some into Germanie to practise against Vitellius person and Vitellius to Rome against Othoes both missed of their purpose the Vitellianists missed the punishment scaping vnspyed as in so greate a multitude of men where no body knoweth nor marketh another but Othoes men among such as knew ech other were quickly bewrayed as straungers Moreouer Vitellius wrote letters to Titianus Othoes brother threatening the death of him and his sonne is his mother and children tooke any harme and so a To wit of Vitellius Titianus both the houses continued entier for feare peraduenture in Othoes time but Vitellius beeing conquerour and without such a bridle caried away the vndoubted commendation of clemency XV How the provinces declared themselues in fauour or disfavour of the sides THE first aduertisement which put Otho in courage was out of Illyricum that the Legions of Dalmatia Pannonia and Moesia had sworne vnto him the like was reported of Spaine and Cluuius Rufus by publicke edict solemnely praysed and by and by it was certified that Spaine had reuolted to Vitellius Aquitania likewise though hauing receyued the oth to Otho tendered by Iulius Cordus remained not long in obedience fidelity or loue bare no where sway by feare and force they changed to and fro The same feare brought to Vitellius the prouince of Narbō a gētle passage and easily made vnto the nearer stronger The prouinces which were far of al the armies seuered by sea remained at Othoes deuotion not for loue to the side but the name of the city shew of the Senate did greatly coūtenance credit the cause and he had first possessed their minder as being the former in speech In Iury Vespasian sware his army to Otho Mucianus the Legiōs in Syria Aegypt likewise and Eastward the prouinces were al possessed in his name Africke also in his obedience they of Carthage beeing most forward not expecting the Procōsul Vipsianius Apronianus authoritie Crescens a freedman of Nero for he was in those bad times become a part of publick affaires had feasted the people for ioy of the new Emperor and the people hastened many things disorderly The rest of the citties followed the example of Carthage XVI Otho bestoweth offices restoreth the banished relieveth the provinces and erecteth the images of Poppaea his olde loue THE armies and prouinces being thus distracted for Vitellius it was needful if he would be Prince to winne it in field Otho as in time of great peace disposed the affaires of the Empire some according to the dignity of the state most otherwise hasting and shuffling vp as present necessity forced And first hee declareth himselfe Titianus his brother Consuls til the kalends of March the next two monethes were assigned to Verginius to please in some part the German army with Verginius he ioyneth Poppaeus Vopiscus vnder the colour of old acquaintance most thought it was done to honor the Viennenses the rest of the Consuls as they were by Nero or Galba appointed remayned vnchanged Coelius Sabinus and Flauius Sabinus til Iuly Arius Antoninus and Marius Celsus til
being ioyned thereto the fortune of the sides was changed and the conquerours were ouerthrowen The cause of deuising the rumour was that the commissions of Otho for posts which beganne not to bee regarded might through so gladsome a message be reuiued againe And so Cenus passed indeede in post to the citie but within few daies after by Vitellius commandement was executed but the perill of the Senatours was augmented thereby for Othoes soldiers beleeued the newes to be true and that which made their cause worse was that they were departed from Mutina and so the side seemed discountenanced forsaken as it were by the councell of state Neither did they after that time consult any more in common euery man sought to prouide for himselfe vntill such time as letters sent from Fabius Valens and the death of Otho the more praise worthy the sooner heard of put them out of feare XIX The estate of affaires at Rome and the insolencies committed by the Vitellian souldiers after the victorie BVT at Rome all was quiet without any trouble or feare the a Cerealia beganne the 12. of April and ended the 19. so that after the death of Otho at Brixellum heard of at Rome Cereales ludi ex morespectabantur the day of his death albeit the newes came in post could hardlie be so late as the 18. of April not possibly so late as the 19. plaies of Ceres were solēnely kept according to the custome when certaine word was brought into the Theatre that Otho was dead and that Flauius Sabinus Prouost of the city had sworne all the soldiers in the citty to Vitellius in signe of ioy the people clapped their hands gaue applause vnto Vitellius Then they caried the images of Galba with boughes of lawrell flowers about the temples heaping vp together in maner of a tumbe garlands and coronets about Lacus Curtius which place Galba at his death had embrued with his bloud In the Senate al titles honours vsually conferred vpon other Princes by occasions after they had raigned many yeares were straightwaies decreed to Vitellius and withall praises concluded vpon for the German armies with solemne thankes for their good seruice and an Embassage sent to congratulate Letters also were read writen by Fabius Valens to the Consuls in a stile humble inough yet Caecinaes modesty was better accepted in that he wrote not at all But Italy was now more grieuously vexed and cruelly handled then during the warre The Vitellian soldiers dispersed in the free townes and colonies pilled and spoyled polluted rauished without any difference of right or wrong holy or profane but only following their rauenous and insolent humor or els by money bought out to forbeare some there were that counterfaiting themselues to be soldiers slew their particulare enemies The soldiers also themselues were skilled in the countrey and designed out the well stoared groundes well moneyed masters to pray vpon or if resistance were made to destroy them the Generals being obnoxious not daring to prohibit it Caecina was lesse couetous more possessed with vainglorie Valens was for bribery and polling infamous and therefore a winker also at other mens faultes so many footemen and horse so great violences dāmages and iniuries especially the state of Italy being already greatly empouerished before were hardly abiddē XX. Vitellius viage from Germanie to Lions and his actions there IN the meane season Vitellius ignoraunt of his owne victorie made preparation as for a warre new to begin and caried with him beside eight thousand soldiers of Britanny the strength which remained of the German army fewe olde soldiers were left in the standing campes but new men leuyed in hast out of France to vpholde the names of the Legions remayning behinde and the charge of the militare affaires there was committed to Hordeonius Flaccus Whē Vitellius had marched some few daies iourney he vnderstood of the good successe at Bebriacum then that Otho was dead the warre finished whereupon calling an assembly he highly extolleth the valiantnesse of the soldiers a Primo imperij die saieth Suetonius c. 12. cōtrary to the circumstances of this place After the speech his army instantly requested him to create Asiaticus his freedman a Gentleman of Rome which shamefull flatterie he then rebuked and soone after vpon a ficklenesse of wit that which he had openly refused he priuily bestowed in banquet and honoured with rings Asiaticus a base abiect slaue and one seeking to rise by ill meanes About the same time message was brought that Albinus Procuratour of both Mauretanies was slaine and the countreyes had sided themselues with Vitellius Lucceius Albinus was by Nero set ouer Mauretania Caesariensis and Galba annexed the administration of Tingitana so that he had forces of good moment vnder his charge 18. cohorts fiue wings and an infinite number of Moores not vnfit for the warre as men that vsually liued of stealing harrowing their neighbours When Galba was slaine he followed the party of Otho and not contenting himselfe with Africke had a purpose for Spaine being disioyned from it by a narrow strayte Hereupon Cluvius Rufus was afraide and cōmanded the tenth Legion to aproach to the shoare as if he ment to haue shipped ouer sending before certaine Centurions to induce the mindes of the Moores to fauour Vitellius neither was it harde to effect For the fame of the German army was great throughout all the prouinces and beside a reporte was spredde that Albinus contemning the name of a Procurator had vsurped a royal diademe the name of b The last king of Mauretania subdued by Caesar anno vrb cond 708. Iuba So their mindes being changed thereupon they went and slewe Asinius Pollio captaine of a wing one of Albinus faithfullest friends Festus and Scipio two captaines of cohorts Albinus himselfe as he went by sea from Tingitana to Mauretania Caesariensis was slaine as he landed and his wife withal who voluntarily offred hir selfe to the slaughter These thinges and all els that was done Vitellius passed ouer without due examination as his maner was with a short audience to turne ech striuing to excell other induced some vnthrifty young men to the like dishonour Nowe Vitellius vpon the comming of his brother certaine schoolemasters of tyranny creeping into the court waxing prowder fiercer commanded Dolabella whom as before we remembred Otho had confined to Aquinum vpon this occasion to be slaine Dolabella hearing that Otho was dead was returned to Rome whereof Plautius Varus once Praetor one of Dolabellaes most inward friendes accused him before Flauius Sabinus the Prouost of the city as if he had brokē prison to the end to make offer of himselfe for a head to the conquered faction adding moreouer that to that purpose he had felt the cohort which was in garrison at Ostia but hauing no one proofe of any of these so great crimes he began to repent of his wicked deede sought pardon but
of Africa beside eight moneths prouision of corne yearely for the people of Rome pay all maner of tributes and willingly support all other charges of the Empire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 paulo post 2 That is Aegypt paies more tribute in one moneth theÌ„ the Iewes doe in a whole yeare and beside this great summe of money they yeelde prouision of corne for Rome for the space of foure moneths 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 77. Mighty in money and because she was childeles Rich childeles two good helpes to get many frendes euery man contending to please them of whose wealth he may hope to be heire Siluanus being in Neroes time accused repetundarum valuit saieth a 13. Anual Tacitus pecuniosa orbitate sancta and yet in the ende he deceiued them all ouerliuing those quorum ambitu euaserat Contrarily in Germany nulla orbitatis pretia sedquanto plus propinquorum quo maior affinium numerus tanto gratiosior senectus De moribus Germanorum p. 571. 78. Himselfe and Titianus his brother Consuls till the kalends of March In the free state the two Consuls entring the first of Ianuary remayned in office the vvhole yeare out vnlesse they chanced to die or vpon speciall and rare occasions resigne Afterward cum belli ciuilis praemia festinari coeperunt as Tacitus speaketh when many mo for their good seruice to the side had deserued to bee pleasured then there were places to pleasure them in a shift vvas found to abridge the time and so to speede manie in one yeare The authour of this disorder was C. Caesar An. vrbis conditae 709. whenas being Consul sine collega hee resigned to Fabius and Trebonius Dio. lib. 43. pag. 155. 3 That is Then first of all contrary to the ancient custome a precedent was giuen that a maÌ„ should beare the office of Consulship neither for the tearme of a whole yeare nor for the remainder of the yeare if happely vpon another mans death or resignation he was chosen to the place but that one during his life time not compelled by lawe in whose creation no error was committed in matter of Auspicia should resigne the place and cause another man to be chosen in his roome and from this time forward very fewe enioyed the Consulship a complete yeare but as it chanced some more some fewer either moneths or daies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b As the Princes oftentimes did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the yeare ab vrbe condita 715. it altered from a voluntary resignation to a matter of necessity and order Dio. lib. 48. pag. 253. 4 That is They chose not two CoÌ„suls for the whole yeare according to the ancient custome but euen at that time of election they nominated more for six yeares before this some had succeeded others in the same yeare though the former neither by death nor misdemeanour nor other causes were depriued Howbeit then they were made as it pleased them who were chosen for the whole yeare but now euen at the first creation no man was nominated for the whole yeare but some for one part of the yeare and some for another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit from the 709 yeare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Augustus time specially toward the later ende as it may appeare by the Capitolin tables foure CoÌ„suls were yearely created two to beare office froÌ„ the Kalends of Ianuary to the KaleÌ„ds of Iuly two more ex Kal. Iul. to the ende of the yeare After his daies although I cannot precisely define when it beganne the ordinary time was no more but two moneths and the ordinary number of Consuls twelue In our present yeare Ex Kal. Ianuar. c Tac. pag. 15. Seruius Galba 2. Titus Vinus which two being slayne in their office M. Otho L. Titianus supplyed their roomes in Kal. Mar. Ex Kal. Martij d Tac. pag. 51. 52. L. Verginius Rufus Poppaeus Vopiscus Ex Kal. Maij. Coelius Sabinus Flauius Sabinus Ex Kal. Iulij Arius Antoninus Marius Celsus Ex Kal. SepteÌ„bris e Tac. 2. Hist pag. 93. Fabius Valens Alienus Caecina adiudged enemy of the state in his place for one day that remained Roscius Regulus Tac. 3. Hist p. 126. Ex Kal. Nouembris a Tac. 3. Hist p 143 144 X◠〈…〉 Cn. Coecilius Simplex C. Quintius Atticus This number and this time continued euen to Dioes age 1 That is For in our time no man be â—â—eth the office for a whole yeare noe most commodite for more then two moneths 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saieth he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 li. 43. p. 155. Now of these CoÌ„suls the two which eÌ„tred the first of Ianuary were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 named the yeare were called ordinarij the rest minores as being obscure not heard of abroad so that with great reason a maÌ„ might demaÌ„d in whose CoÌ„sulships they were CoÌ„suls otherwise in autority c. not differing any thing the one from the other Dio. l. 48. p. 253. 2 That is They which were first tâ— enter had the naÌ„e of Consuâ—s as euen yet it is vsed during the whole yeare as for the rest they which liued in Rome and other parts of Italy called them so during the â—ame of their office But al that liued abroade eyther know 〈◊〉 or b◠〈…〉 theÌ„ whe 〈◊〉 they were cal ed. Cosulâ—s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and againe l. 43. p. 155. 3 That is In a◠〈…〉 the name to the eare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nos Consules lest we might haue bene ignoraÌ„t of his prefermeÌ„t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notwithstaÌ„ding this minor CoÌ„sulship serued wel enough to make vp a nuÌ„ber exaÌ„ple in Vespasian who bearing the office of CoÌ„sul in Claudius time c Suâ—t Vespas c. 4. per duos nouissimos anni meÌ„ses of ordinary neuer before an 823. is stiled Vespasianus iteruÌ„ Tac. 4. Hist p. 172. 79. For polling the prouinces RepetudaruÌ„ criminibê° The actioÌ„ of RepetuÌ„dae lay against the gouernors of prouinces for money vnduely extorted or cruelty exercised in their iurisdictioÌ„ so called of the more principal part because by that action pecunias iniussè ablatas vel si quid aliud ablatuÌ„ captuÌ„ conciliatuÌ„ auersumue siet prouincialibus repetere ius fasque esset and not onely the suÌ„me extorted but an arbitrary mulct was imposed beside double or treble nomine poenae This law was induced by L. Calpurnius Piso Anno primo tertij belli Punici afterward reuiued by other with many new clauses straight sanctioÌ„s Tac. 15. An. p. 518 MagistratuuÌ„ auaritia Calpurnia scita peperit And yet notwithstaÌ„ding al the good lawes in that case enacted the Proconsuls Propraetors both before vnder the Emperours ceased not ro racke pol the poore cuÌ„treyes Nay the more lawes there were greater penalties established the more they robbed and spoyled the prouinces to make
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 41. saieth that Antonius loosed Caecina after his entry into the towne By Tacitus here it should seeme he went not to Antonius till after the soldiers had yeelded 9. This ende had Cremona In this battaile faieth Iosephus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. cap. 41. were slaine of Vitellius side thirty thousand and two hundreth of Antonius soldiers sower thousand and fiue hundreth Xiphilinus saieth that in Cremona with those which were slaine in the field dyed fifty thousand persons The time was about the later ende of October about which time also as it appeareth by Tacitus the newes were brought to Rome of Caecinaes reuolt 10. A middle course It may seeme that Valens for his part resolued vpon the first opinion that was accitis ex vrbe cohortibus valida manu perrumpere but the fault was in Vitellius who sent no more 11. Men greedy of danger Apud auidos periculorum So be the wordes in our copies the meaning I knowe not the narration following I finde in my conceit to be somewhat vnperfect as wherefore Valens did sende the power rather to Ariminium into the enemies mouth then backe to Vitellius if he ment not to followe them himselfe vpon what intent purpose he went into Vmbria and Etruria and what hee would haue done if hee had not had aduertisement of the battaile at Cremona vnlesse it were to take the secret way now which before hee refused toward Hostilia and Cremona Which circumstance surely would not haue bene omitted 12. pag. 142. Barbarous people also of the cuntrey Others as I thinke beside those which associated themselues with Anicetus namely the Achaei Heniochi and Cercaei dwelling of the other side of Pontus Euxinus and according to Strabo a lib. 11. liuing as they are here described by pyracie 13. pag. 147. New treaties Foedera socijs Latium externis that is to our socij their foedera were renewed with a further increase of exemptions and priuiledges and to forrainers that priuiledge was granted that those which had borne annuall office with theÌ„ should by that meanes become ciues Romani for that is the maine point of ius Latij App. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 216. 1 That is Caesar had fomented the â—o l â—in of 〈◊〉 Common in the Ape 〈…〉 it with his 〈…〉 had 〈◊〉 annuall office thereby e taâ— thereof 〈◊〉 citizeÌ„s of â—â—me fâ—r son 〈◊〉 Iuâ—â—tj in porteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 14. pag. 148. No lesse ominous The breaking away of the beast at sacrifice was amoÌ„g the Romans an ominous matter Titus a litle before his death Sabinos petit saieth b cap. 10. Suetonius aliquanto tristior ê™ sacrificaÌ„ti hostia aufugerat IdeÌ„ c cap. 5â— Iulio CuÌ„ immolanti aufugisset hostia tamen profectioneÌ„ non distulit and d cap 18. Galba Taurus securis ictu consternatus rupto vinculo esseduÌ„ eius inuasit Festus Ptacularia vocabant ê™ sacrificantibus tristia portendebant cum aut hostia ab ara profugisset aut percussa mugitum dedisset aut in aliam partem corporis quam oporteret decidisset Plin. li. e cap 45. 8. Notatum est vitulos ad aras humeris hominum allatos non litare sicut nec claudicante nec aliena hostia deos placari nec trahente sâ— ab arts 15 p. 159. As a pledge of the Empire Liuius l. 1. fol. 12. secutuÌ„ aliud magnitudineÌ„ imperij porteÌ„dens prodigium est caput humanuÌ„ integrâ facie aperientibus fundamenta templi dicitur apparuisse quae visa species haud per ambages arcem eam imperij caputque reruÌ„ fore portendebatadque ita cecinere vates quique in vrbe erant quosque ad eam rem consultandaoâ— ex Hetruria acciuerat Dionysius l. 4. p. 191. reporteth the wordes of the answere made to certaine messengers sent froÌ„ Rome purposely into Etruria 2 That is Men of Rome goe tell your citizeÌ„s that the Gods haue decreed t at where his 〈◊〉 was found that place 〈…〉 the head of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Varro l. 4. de lin Latina Capitolium dictum quod hic cum fundamenta foderentur aedis Iouâ—â— caput humanuÌ„ inuentuÌ„ dicitur hic mons ante Tarpeius dictus a virgine Vestali Tarpeta quae ibtab Sabinis necata armis sepultateius nominis monumentum relictum quod etiam nunc eius rupes Tarpeium appellatur saxum And this head so sound I take to bee that pignus imperij here in Tacitus 16. pag. 159. Porsenna wheÌ„ the citty was yeelded It must be that either Tacitus followed some other traditioÌ„ in this story theÌ„ we haue as indeede by Liuy it appeareth there were other or els had forgotten himselfe in reporting it Of hostages giuen to Porsenna Dionysius lib. 5. and Liuy lib. 2. make mention of surrendring the citty I finde no worde spoken by any other we haue extant saue Tacitus to my remembrance 17. pag. 159. Who laid also According to Dionysius f l. 3 p. 149. Halic Tarquinius Priscus did but only leuel the grouÌ„d Tarquinius Superbus laied the fouÌ„datioÌ„s builded most of it vp but did not coÌ„suÌ„mate the worke 3 That is But the Temple was finished under the annual magistrates the third yeare after the Câ—nsuls come in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read the same Dionysius l. 4. p. 190. l. 5. p. 224. But it may seeme that Tacitus tooke hold of these words in Liuy l. 1. f. 9. Tarquinius Priscus areaÌ„ ad aedeÌ„ in Capitolio Iouis occup it fundameÌ„tis which notwithstaÌ„ding is not otherwise â—ment but of leuelling the ground making it ready for the laying of the foundation for Superbus as it appeareth by the same Liuy s 12. was the maÌ„ that laied the foundatioÌ„ Of Seruius Tullius in this building I haue not sound mentioÌ„ elswhere to my remeÌ„braÌ„ce 18. pa. 167. SeueÌ„ fifty yeare old Vitellius was borne saieth Suetonius g Vit cap. 3. Druso Caesare Norbano Flacco Coss which was ab vrbe condita the 768 yeare the 24. of SepteÌ„ber or as some say the seuenth of the same moneth The day in which he went out of the Palace with intention to resigne the Empire was according to Tacitus the 18. of December in anno 822. the day following being the 19. of DeceÌ„ber the Capitol was burned the h Beside the circumstances in Tacitus Iosephus 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 42 expresâ—ely saieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the burning of the Capitoll 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. pag. 172. tweÌ„tieth of December Antonius entred into the towne the death of Vitellius ensued Al which doth appeare plainly by the course of the story of Tacitus So that from his birth to his death we haue no more by iust account but fifty foure yeares and as much as is betwene the seuenth or foure and twentieth of September and the 20. of December ANNOTATIONS VPON THE FOVRTH BOOKE WAS PRETENDED Triumphes and Triumphalia
importance which he must first learne out of him 27. Galbaes body Heluidius Priscus tooke vp by Othoes permission Argius his freedman buried it by night 28. This yeare Sulpicius Galba conquered the Chatti 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vniuersally one and other 31. Missing of their desire in Verginius they sought to fulfil it in some other 41. Otho dispatched towards Tigellinus lying at Sinuessa for there he soiourned hauing ships attēding in the roade as though he would haue fled further first he attēpted to corrupt him who was sent offering him store of golde to let him escape then not obtaining his purpose hee gaue him notwithstanding the golde praying him that he would yet haue patience a litle til his beard might be shauen and himselfe taking the razour cut his owne throate 45. a Least being in wine you fal to quarrelling amongst your selues wound one another so dishonour the banquet for the sight of armes draweth men often to handling of them Telemachus excuse why he remooued his fathers armour weapons out of the place where the wooers vsed to eat b 2. Centurions d 80 Senatours e Sending thē out by a backe gate 49. a And the common people accounted the rising of Tiber as an euill signe b The riuer did most harme in the corne market wherevpon followed a great dearth for many daies 53. To doe his reuerēce to the Prince receiue cōmissiō frō him cōcerning the affaires of Iewry 54. c Some say that the Iland was called Cyprus of Cyprus the sonne of Cinyrus e The said altar was placed in the open ayre without any couert as others also in Homer seeme to haue beene on which those that trauailed by the way did offer f It is reported and beleeued amongst the Bargylietae that the image of Diana named Kindyas though lying open to all weather is yet neither touched with snowe nor raine at all 78. Slaying all those of the vantgard 81. One of the commō souldiers stretching out his sworde and crying We are thus resolued for thee all ô Caesar slew himselfe 84. Supposing it madnesse to receiue the Empire at the cōquered handes hauing refused it before at the conquerours and fearing to goe in Embassie to those of Germanie whom hee had forced to many things against their owne will 100. Nothing amazed at the change determined to goe on his iourney to Rome 142. Small vessels straite and light of some 25 men a peece seldome and at the vttermost not aboue 30. the Grecians call them Camarae 159. a The tēple of Iupiter Iuno Minerua b At what time also the Capitol was burnt which foule act some imputed to Carbo some to the Consuls others saide it was done by Syllaes cōmādement The certainty was not knowen neither can I coniecture the cause why it was done f Appian for his felicity against his enemies his flaterers named him the Happy which name proceeding first of flattery was afterward confirmed to him by common consent Plut. Lastly vpon these accidents hee commanded himselfe to bee called The happy for so much doeth the worde Felix signifie 165. And fighting in 3. seuerall places in the citty they were al made an ende of 171. To haue 12. fasces alwaies and in euery place borne before him and to sit betweene the present Consuls in a chaire of estate 185. An escape of memory 200. a Beeing brethren and in a maner of the same yeares and neuer doing any thing the one without the other but beeing alwaies vnited and communicating as in bloud so in their coūsels wealth they gouerned a great while the 2. Germanies togither afterward being sent for by Nero into Greece as though he had stood in neede of their sufficiēcy they were according to the nature of those times accused and both of them let themselues bloud to death 207. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 archiers on horsebacke 220. a He hid himselfe in a caue vnder ground and there lay secret the space of 9. yeares with his wife on whom he begat 2. sonnes b As it were by diuine prouidence 234. Dionysius in his periegesis speaking of Alexandria where is sayeth he the tēple of the great god Iupiter Sinopita beautified with much golde then the which there is no one temple in the world more goodly and glorious 235. For he brought not with him that name from Sinope but after his cōming to Alexandria the name of Sarapis was giuen him which in the Egyptian language signifieth Pluto 239. In these times the noblemē of Rome such as be desirous of good learning in steed of trauailing to Athens goe to Massilia and in another place he attributeth to thē the commendation of warinesse in dispence and modesty 243. Xiph. Agricola the first Roman that we haue memory of discouered Britanny to be an Ilād Dio. In processe of time first vnder Agricola Propraetor now vnder Seuerus the Emperour it was euidently knowne to be an Iland 250. For as the prouerbe saieth venture must be made in the Carian that is the commō mercenary soldier not in the Generals person 262. Making an expedition into Germany he returned not hauing so much as once seene the enemy now it is needlesse to report what great honours therefore were then bestowed vpon him and alwaies after vpon other Emperours his matches least that suspecting by the smalnesse of the honours their actions to be checked they should wreake their anger vpon the Senatours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy to be led in triumph or triumphed ouer FINIS In the margin of the Annotations Pag. 2.f. Dio. Wherfore it becōmeth vs not to mourne for him but to magnify alwaies his spirit as a god h Afterward the Centurions with torches put fire to the pile which was soone consumed and out of it an eagle let loose flew vp as carying forsooth his soule into heauen p. 16. Appian To be sacred and not to be touched himselfe and whosoeuer els should fly vnto him Dio. The prerogatiues granted to the Tribunes were conferred vpon him so that if any man should iniury him in worde or deede hee was to be reputed as a sacrilegious detestable person p. 18ª Antony allotted soldiers to death not those who had stirred mutinees forsakē their place in watch or standing in battel vpon which crimes onely the law of armes hath layed so rigorous and terrible a punishment but c. b Called then Lugudunum now Lugdunum p. 36. a Northerly windes blowing yearely after the summer solstitiū some xx dayes about the rising of the Dogstarre b Being mixed of the northerly and westerne windes p. 39. h One day after Antonius entred the city being the third of the moneth Apellaeus p. 40. a Of the Romā wars he spared to triumph as being ciuill and neither much beseeming himselfe and much misliked and abhorred of the people yet did he notwithstanding cary in triumph all the accidents of those warres in diuerse pictures and the images of the captaines and principall