the heauen and all the sea gaue place to the southwind which more and more preuailing through the mountaines of Germanie deepe riuers and huge clouds and growing more violent and boisterous through the cold of the North neer which it is tossed and scattered the shipping into the wilde Ocean or rockie Ilands or dangerous and vnknowen quicksands Which being a little but with much a doe escaped by the changing of the sea they went whither the wind droue them They could neither cast anchor nor pumpe out the water which came in on them Horses of seruice and cariage bag and baggage yea their armour they threw into the sea that the ships might be lightened which leaked at the sides the billowes swelling more and more By how much the Ocean is more violent then any other sea and Germany exceedeth other countries in roughnes and sharpnes of aire by so much that misfortune exceeded others in strangenes and greatnes happening at the shores of the enimies land or in so deepe and wide a sea that it hath beene beleeued to be the last and beyond which there is no land Some of their ships were drowned many cast vpon Ilands far off the souldiers the countrey being vnhabited perished by famine vnlesse it were such as releeued themselues with the horses as were cast a land Germanicus gallie onely arriued at the Chauceans countrey who seeing himselfe all those daies and nights vpon rocks and points crying that he onely was guiltie of the casting away of so many persons could hardly be kept and staied by his friends from casting himselfe into the same sea At length the sea growing lower and the wind more fauourable the lame and vntackled shippes with a fewe oares or their garments spread in stead of sailes or drawen at the taile of stronger returned Which Germanicus mending in haste sent to search the Ilands by which care many of the soldiers were gathered togither and recouered The Angriuarians lately receiued into protection deliuered some which they had redeemed of such as dwelt further in the land some were cast into Britany and sent backe by the petie Kings As euerie man returned from far countries he reported strange woonders tempestuous stormes birdes neuer before heard of sea-monsters doubtfull shapes whether of men or beasts which they had either seene or imagined through feare VI. Germanicus being returned wasteth the countrey of the Chatti and recouereth an ensigne lost with Varus BVt the fame of the nauie lost as it did put the Germans in a hope of beginning a new warre so did it giue Germanicus stomack to curbe them Wherupon he comanded C. Silius to goe against the Chatti with thirtie thousand footemen and three thousand horsmen and himselfe inuaded the Marsi with stronger forces Their Captaine called Malouendus who not long before had yeelded himselfe gaue notice how that not far off an ensigne of Varus legion was buried and kept but with a slender guarde A band of men was sent thither out of hand with direction that some should toll them out and assaile them in the front and others by inuironing them behind to open the earth and take out the ensigne fortune shewing hir-selfe fauourable to both the companies This made Caesar more forward and entereth further into the land wasteth forrageth rifleth the countrey the enimie not daring to encounter him or if at any time he did resist he was straight driuen back neuer as they vnderstood by certaine captiues fearing more in their liues For they gaue out that the Romans were inuincible and not to be daunted with any misfortune seeing that hauing lost their nauie and armor and after that the shores were couered with the carcasses of their men and horses they inuaded them a fresh with the same courage and like fiercnes yea as if they had increased their number From thence the souldiers were brought backe to their winter standing camps glad that they had recompensed their misfortune by sea with so prosperous a victorie Caesar vsed great largesse recompensing euerie man to the value of the losse he had sustained Little doubt but the enimie grew faint harted and began to consult how he might intreat a peace and that if the next sommer the wars should haue beene continued there would be an ende of all But Germanicus was sollicited by often letters from Tiberius to returne and receiue the triumphe which was ordained for him that he had passed through many chaunces and accidents that he had had prosperous successe in many battels that he should remēber what grieuous and cruell losses he had sustained not by any ouersight of the Captaine but by the winds waues of the sea that he had bin sent nine times into Germanie by Augustus of famous memorie where he had atchieued more noble exploites by counsel then force So he had receiued the submission of the Sigambri so the Sueuians and the King of the Maroboduans were inforced to make peace that the Cherusci and other rebellious nations seeing the Romans had had a sufficient reuenge on them might be left to war one against another But Germanicus intreating for one yeere longer to finish the enterprises he had begun Tiberius assaulted his modestie more earnestly offering him the consulship once more which he should execute in person He added further that if there were any more wars to be enterprised he should reserue that subiect for the glorie of his brother Drusus who no other enimy being left could not but by warring against the Germans get the title of Emperor or win the crowne of laurell Germanicus made no longer stay although he knew well that those were but colours sought through enuie to draw him from the glorie he had alreadie purchased VII Libo accused of treason killeth himselfe ABout the same time Libo Drusus one of the Scribonian familie was accused for practizing against the state The beginning the order and the end of that busines I will set downe because those things came then first to light which for so many yeares had consumed and eaten the common-wealth Firmius Cato a Senator and one of Liboes inward friends induced this vncircumspect yong man and easily led to vanities to giue credit to the Chaldeans promises Magicians ceremonies and interpreters of dreames vainely and boastingly putting him in minde that Pompey was his great grandfather Scribonia who had been Augustus wife his aunt the Caesars his cosen germans and that his house was full of images and monuments of his predecessors He incited him further to licentious riot to take vp and borrow money making himselfe a companion of his want on lusts and familiarities the better to wrap and conuince him with many euidences When he had found witnesses sufficient and such also of his seruants which were priuie to the whole matter he desired he might be admitted to the speech of the Prince and by meanes of Flaccus Vescularius a Gentleman of Rome and one of Tiberius familiars discouered the matter and the man Caesar was
childe but in the face of the enimie and against armed men atchieued his enterprises And that the ensignes which he had taken from the Romans were to be seene in the woods of Germanie offered vp in honour of their countrey gods Let Segestes inhabite the conquered banks and restore his sonne to his priestlie dignitie that the Germans coulde neuer excuse it that the Romans haue beene seene to beare their roddes their axes and gownes betweene Abbis and Rhene Other nations being strangers to the Romane gouernment could speak nothing of their cruell punishments and grieuous tributes and seeing they had shaken off those burdens and that that Augustus whom they placed among the gods and Tiberius chosen after him lost their labour they shoulde not feare an vnexperienced yoong man nor his mutinous companie If they preferred their countrey their kindred their auncient life before newe lordes and newe colonies they should rather follow Arminius protector of their glory and libertie then Segestes the author of reprochfull seruitude These speeches incensed not only the Cheruscians but the neighbors adioyning also and drew Inguiomerus a man once in credit with the Romans and vncle to Arminius by the fathers side to their partie which increased Caesars feare the more And therefore least the whole waight of the warre should at once fall vpon him he sent Caecinna with fortie cohorts of Romanes to seauet the power of the enemie through the Bructeries countrey to the riuer of Amisia Pedo the Camp-maister had the conducting of the horsemen by Frisia himselfe embarqued foure legions and lead them through the lakes all the horsemen footemen and the whole nauie meeting together at the said riuer and receiued the Chauceans among them who had promised them ayde The Bructeri burning their owne countrey Stertinius ouerthrew with a companie of light harnessed souldiers sent against them by Germanicus and found betweene the slaughter and the bootie the banner of the nineteenth legion which was lost with Varus From thence the armie marched to the vtmost confines of the Bructeri all the countrey wasted betwixt the riuer Amisia and Luppia not farre from the forest Tentoburgh where the reliques of the legions which Varus lead were reported to lye vnburied Whereupon Caesar had a great desire to celebrate the captaines and souldiers funerals all the armie moued to compassion some calling to minde their kinsfolks some their friends and some in consideration of the hazards of warre and the slipperie estate of man subiect vnto fortunes change And hauing sent Caecina before to search out the secret places of the forest and cast bridges and causeyes ouer the moist and deceiptful passages of the bogs they marched those dolefull wayes yrksome to behold and dreadfull to remember Varus first encamping seate by the large circuit of ground it contained and dimensions of the Principia did shew that the inclosure was capable of three legions then by a rampire halfe broken downe and a shallow trench they perceiued where the ouertoyled remnant was retired In the middle of the field lay white bones either scattered or on a heape as they had eyther resisted or fled hard by trouncheons of weapons and horses ribs and before them mens heads fastened vpon the bodies of trees In the woods were their barbarous altars on which they sacrificed the Tribunes and chiefe Centurions Those which escaped aliue or broke prison after the butchery tould that here the Liutenants were slaine there the standards taken where Varus receiued his first wound where with his owne vnluckie hand he slew himselfe On what Tribunall Armin ius made his oration How many gibbets he had set vp for captiues and what ditches and with what prowde disdaine he skoffed at the ensignes and standarts The Romanes then which were present sixe yeares after the slaughter oppressed with griefe yet more then euer kindled with rage against the enemie couered with earth the bones of the three legions as if they had been all their friends or kindred howbeit it was vncertaine whether they buried the stranger or friend Caesar to shew a gratefull memory of the dead and himselfe to be partaker of their griefe with his owne hands put the first turfe on their tombes which Tiberius misliked either as construing all Germanicus actions to the worst or because the sight of the dead vnburied would make the souldiers more fearefull of the enemie and lesse forward to fight and because a Generall honored with the Augurall dignitie and deuoted to most ancient ceremonies ought not to meddle in mortuaries But Germanicus pursuing Arminius alreadie crept into inaccessible places as soone as he found conueniencie thrust his horsemen on him and recouered the field which the enemie occupied Arminius gathered his men together and commaunding them to draw neere the wood turned short on the sudden and gaue them the watch-word which he had hidden there before to breake out Whereat the horsemen amazed and the cohorts sent for a supplie borne backe with those which fled augmenting their feare were almost thrust into the bogs well knowne to the conquerors and dangerous to the Romanes had not Caesar come on with the legions in battell aray Which stroke a terror into the enemie and assured the courage of the souldier both the armies in the end parting on euen hand Anon after the armie being brought to the riuer Amisia he conducted the fleete and the legions back againe in the same manner they came thither Some of the horsemen were commaunded to returne to the riuer of Rhene still coasting the Ocean shore Caecina who conducted another companie although he was skilfull in the wayes yet was charged to returne with all diligence by the long bridges which was a narrow causey betwixt wide marishes throwne vp in times past by L. Domitius The rest of the countrey was miry and full of fast binding clay with some doubtfull brookes Round about were woods ascending little and little which Arminius had filled by a neerer way and light armie preuenting the Romans loden with armour and carriages Caecina doubting how he should at once repaire those bridges alreadie decayed with age and driue back the enemie thought it best to encamp in the same place that whilest some were fortifying others might skirmish with the enemie The barbarians vsed all force to breake the wardes and make way to the trench-makers set on them compassed them in ranne from place to place leauing nothing vndone to disturb them The laborers and the fighters made one confuse cry nothing prospering on the Romans side The place was nothing but a deepe mire not firme to tread on and slipperie to march the waight of their corselets an hinderance and they vnable to launce their iauelins in the waters Contrarily the Cheruscians being a great limmed people and accustomed to fight in bogs were with huge speares able to hurt a farre off To be briefe the night deliuered the legions from an vnluckie battell The Germaines through prosperous successe nothing wearied but
Theleboians inhabited the Iland Capreas But at that time Tiberius occupied the place and seated himselfe in twelue countrey houses of pleasure and how much more in former times he was earnestly bent vpon the publick good so much the more now secretly he abādoned himself to loose life naughtie idlenes He was neuer more suspitious credulous then now a qualitie which Seianus whilest he was abiding in the citie whetted on and which did now more then euer disquiet him and no longer vsing secret treacherie to intrap Agrippina and Nero put ouer then souldiers as it were to record in Chronicles what messages they receiued who resorted to them what they did either secretly or openly Farther there were others suborned to counsell them to flie to the armie of Germanie or when the place of assemblies was best replenished with people catch hold of Augustus image and crie for fuccour of the people and Senat. And albeit they gaue no eare to those deuises yet they were layd to their charge as though they had intended them XV. A treacherous practise of three Senators to intrap Sabinus a gentleman of Rome and Agrippaes friend the death of Iulia Augustus neece IVnius Silanus and Silius Nerua being Consuls the yeere had a foule beginning by reason Titius Sabinus an honorable gentleman of Rome was drawn to prison onely because he was a friend to Germanicus neuer omitting to shew all tokens of dutie to his wife and his children and of all Germanicus followers the onely man which visited them at her house and accompanied them abroad and therfore commended by the good and disliked by the bad Against him Latinius Latiaris Porcius Cato Petitius Rufus and M. Opsius who had beene sometimes Consuls bent their malice through a greedines of the Consulship which they could not obtaine but by Seianus meanes and Seianus liking could not be purchased but by some notable peece of villanie They had so complotted betweene them that Latiaris who was somewhat allied to Sabinus should lay the snare and the rest be present as witnesses and then begin the accusation Hereupon Latiaris at the first began to cast out speeches at randon then to extoll his constancie that he did not as others did fawne in prosperitie and shrinke from a house in aduersitie with other honorable speech of Germanicus and bewayling and pitiyng Agrippinaes estate And seeing Sabinus as mens minds are soft and tender in calamitie to powre downe teares and complaints Latiaris began more boldly to touch Seianus crueltie pride the hope he gaped after not forbearing vnreuerent speeches against Tiberius These speeches as though they had beene sauced with somewhat which durst not be auouched made shew of streight friendship betweene them so far that Sabinus often times sought out Latiaris frequented his house vttered his griefes vnto him as to a must trustie faithful friend Those whom I spake of before consulted of some meanes how these speeches mightbe heard of manie for the place of their two meetings most be priuat and if they should stand behinde the doore they were afraide of being seene or of a noise or least some suspition should growe by some chance Betweene the roofe and the seeling the three Senators the place no lesse vnseemly then the treason detestable hid themselues and laid their eares close to holes and chinkes to listen what was saide In the meane space Latiaris hauing found Sabinus in the market place as if he had some new matter to tell him draweth him home and into his chamber beginneth to rip vp things past and present which yeelded store of matter and inforceth new occasions of feare Sabinus doth as much and more at large the nature of griefes being such that when we once enter into thē hardly can we finde an end This done they began immediately their accusatiō and sent letters vnto Caesar declaring the order of their owne lewde practise and shamefull act The citie was neuer in greater perplexitie and feare then at that time euery man estranging himself euen from his neerest kindred and acquaintance they auoided all meetings conferences eschuing as well knowen friends as strangers yea they haue an eie to mute and sencelesse things and searched the roofes and wals of their houses But Tiberius requesting by writing that the solemnities of the new yeere might be celebrated in the Kalends of Ianuarie turned his talke to Sabinus charging him that he had corrupted some of his freede men to attempt somewhat against his person and therefore boldly demaundeth a reuenge which without delay was graunted and being condemned he was drawne and haled with his garments turned ouer his head almost throtled cried alowd Is this the beginning of the new yeer be these the sacrifices which are slaine in Seianus honor which way soeuer he did cast his eies or vnto whō soeuer he directed his speech they al fled the place of assemblies the streets were emptie som came back shewed thēselues againe afeard for that they were seene to be afeard For what daie was past free from executions if betwixt the sacrifices and the vowes at what time the custom was to abstaine from prophane speeches fetters and cordes are spoken of And it was said that Tiberius could not through ignorance incur this hatred but contrarie that he sought to haue it knowen that without any let new magistrates might as well open the prisons as Temples and altars After that he sent letters of thanksgiuing that they had punished an enimie to the state adding withall that he stoode in feare of his life and was ielous of his enimies practises though naming none yet no man doubted but he aimed at Nero and Agrippina If I had not purposed to declare the occurrents of the yeeres as they fell out I could willingly in this place haue set downe before his time what ends Latinius and Opsius and the other contriuers of that lewd practise had com vnto not only after that C. Caesar was come to the Empire but whilest Tiberius was yet aliue who as he would not suffer the ministers of his wickednes to be punished by others so oftentimes hauing had of their seruice his fill and fresh offered to continue the trade he sought all meanes to extinguish the olde as persons odious vnto him But what punishment these and others of the like conditions endured shall be declared in his place and time Then Asinius Gallus whose children Agrippina was aunt vnto thought it conuenient that Tiberius should vtter vnto the Senators of whom he stoode in feare and suffer them to be remooued But as it was thought Tiberius of all his vertues was fond of none so much as of his dissimulation and therefore disliked much that he should be vrged to disclose that which he went about to conceale But Seianus tempered the matter not for any loue he bare Gallus but bicause he would haue the Princes lingring delaies come to light knowing well that he was slow in his deliberations but
wounds and many of our men were slaine but after we had made our target fence thicke and broken downe those rude compacted heapes of stones and that the fronts of both the armies came close to handie strokes without ods the Barbarians fled to the hill tops But thither also as wel the light harnessed souldier as the corslets brake in after whom the one galding them with darts and Iauelins and the others marching thicke and close togither brake the ranks and disordered the Britaines hauing neither head-peece nor coate offence If they thought to resist our aid-souldiers they were beaten downe with swords and Iauelins by the legionaries if they turned to make head against them they were slaine with the pikes and two hāded swords of the auxiliaries That victory was famous Caractacus wife daughter were taken and his brothers yeelded themselues He himselfe as generally all succour failes in aduersitie crauing defence and protection of Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes was by her taken prisoner and deliuered to the conquerers nine yeeres after the warre was begun in Britannia Whereupon his fame being carried ouer the Ilands and spread abroade throughout the Prouinces adioyning was also renowmed in Italie and they desired to see who he was that so manie yeeres had contemned our forces Neither was his name meanely esteemed of at Rome And whilest Caesar extolled his owne woorth he made the conquered more glorious The people was assembled as to see a notable spectacle The Emperours guard was all in armes and good order in the field before their campe then Caractacus vassals and retinue going before the caparissons his chaines and all other things gotten in warre against strangers were brought after then his brothers his wife and daughter and last of all he himselfe was shewen to the people The prayers of the rest were base for feare but Caractacus neither hanging downe the head nor in words crauing mercie when he stoode before Caesars tribunal spake as followeth If my moderation in prosperitie had beene as great as my nobilitie and fortune I had come rather as a friend into this citie then a captiue neither wouldest thou haue disdained to haue receiued me with couenāts of peace being descended of ancient progenitors and commaunding ouer many nations My present lot as it is to me dishonorable so is it to thee magnificent I haue had horses men armes wealth What maruell is it if vnwillingly I haue lost them for if you will commaund all men it followeth that all men become bondmen If presently I had yeelded and beene deliuered into thy hands neither my fortune nor thy glorie had beene renowned and obliuion would haue followed my punishment But if thou keepe me aliue I shall be for euer an example of thy clemencie Hauing spoken these words Caesar pardoned him his wife and his brothers And being all vnbound they did their reuerence likewise vnto Agrippina who sate aloft in another high chaire and gaue her the like praises and thankes as they had giuen the Prince Surely a new and strange thing and of our ancestors neuer vsed that a woman should sit and commaund the Roman ensignes but she carried herselfe as a fellow and associate of the Empire gottē by hir ancestors After this the Lords of the Senat being called togither they made long and glorious discourses touching Caractacus captiuitie affirming it to be no lesse honorable then when P. Scipio shewed Siphaces vnto the people and L. Paullus Perses or if any other had exhibited to the view of the people Kings vanquished and ouercome Then publike honours of triumphe were ordained for Ostorius his fortunes vntill then prosperous but not long after doubtfull either bicause that Caractacus being remooued as though thereby all had beene vanquished and subdued seruice was carelesly intertained or els bicause that the enimies hauing compassion of so mightie a King were more feruently enflamed to reuenge For they inuironed the campe-master and the legionarie cohorts which were left behinde to build fortresses in the Silures countrie and if they had not been speedily rescued by the villages and fortes adioyning they had been put to the sword euerie man Neuerthelesse the campe-master and eight Centurions and the forwardest common soldiers were slaine and anon after they put to flight our forragers and the troupes of horsemen which were sent to rescue them Then Ostorius sendeth abroade certaine light harnessed companies which yet could not staie their flight if the legions had not vndertaken the battell By their strength they fought with small oddes on either hand till at length we had the better of it and the enemie betooke him to his heeles with small losse because the day beganne to faile After that time they had diuers skirmishes though for the most part in woods and marishes according as occasion was giuen in manner of roades either by chance or of valoure sometime rashly sometimes with foresight now for anger now for bootie sometimes by their captaines commaundement and sometime without warrant but principally by the obstinacie of the Siluri exasperated with a speech which the Roman Emperour should haue vsed which was that as the Sugambri were destroyed and transported into Gallia so the name of the Siluri should vtterly bee extinguished And in this heate they intercepted two aidebandes vncircumspectly wasting and spoiling through the auarice of the captaines and by distributing the spoiles and prisoners drew the residue of the nations to reuolt when as Ostorius wearied with care and trauell yeelded vp his ghost the enemie reioysing thereat as at the death of a captaine not to be despised though not in battell yet spent by reason of the warre But Caesar being aduertised of the death of his Lieutenant least the Prouince should be destitute of a gouernor sent A. Didius in his place He being gone thither with great speede yet found not all quiet Manlius Valens in the meane space hauing had with a legion committed to his charge an vnluckie fight The fame whereof the enemie made greater then it was to terrifie the captaine which was comming and he vsed the like pollicie and augmented the fame of that which he had heard to win more praise by appeasing the sturres or if he could not to purchase pardon more easily The Siluri did therein endomage vs and waste and spoile farre abroad vntill by Didius comming they were driuē back But after that Caractacus was taken Venutius a very expert man in militarie affaires borne at the citie of the Iugantes as I haue said before a long time trustie vnto vs and defended by the Roman power as long as the marriage betwixt him and Cartismandua continued rebelled against vs by reason of a diuorse and warre betweene them But at the first the strife was onely betweene them two vntill Cartismandua by pollicie had taken prisoner Venutius brother and neerest kinsmen Whereupon the enemies kindled with rage and ignominie pricking them forward least they should be brought vnder the yoke of a
vvith Acte CLaudius Nero and L. Antistius being Consuls when the magistrates tooke an oath of obseruing the ordinances of the princes he would not suffer Antistius his fellow officer to sweare to the obseruation of his which the LL. of the Senate did highly commende in him to the ende that the youthly minde of the prince being sturred vp with the glorie of small things shoulde continue in matters of greater moment After this followed his lenitie towards Plautius Lateranus who being remooued from the order of Senators for adulterie committed with Messallina was restored by him to his roome binding himselfe to continue this clemencie with many orations which Seneca to testifie in what honest precepts he instructed him or for a bragge of his owne wit published by the voice of the prince But Agrippinaes credit and authoritie by little and little began to waine and Nero cast a liking to a freed woman called Acte two comely youthes Otho descended from a Consularie house and Claudius Senecio son of one of Caesars freed men being partakers of his counsels his mother being at the first a stranger to the matter and in vaine at last striuing to the contrarie So far she had possessed him by dissolute behauiour and riot secret conuersation that his greatest friends seuerest seemed not to know it considering that this woman satisfied his lusts without the offence of any For Octauia his wife a womā of noble birth of approued good life either by some secret destinie or bicause things vnlawfull are most greedily desired he vtterly disliked And some feared also that if he were brideled of that loue he would lust after the defiling of noble women But Agrippina fretted and fumed that a freed woman should beard her a bond woman become her daughter in law with other such like womanish complaints not hauing patience to see whether her sonne woulde either repent or be filled and the more opprobriouslie she vpbraided him the more she inflamed him till at last ouercome with the rage of loue he shaked off all dutie reuerence towards his mother and committed himselfe wholy to Seneca Amongst his familiars was Annaeus Serenus who faining loue to the same freed woman couered cloked with his owne name the first heats of this yoong prince and such things as the prince had bestowed on hir by stealth he openly aduouched to be his gifts Then Agrippina changing her stile seeketh to win the yoong man by faire alluring speeches offereth rather hir own chamber and bosome to hide those things which his youth high fortune desired Yea she cōfessed her vntimely seuerity offered him the vse of al her wealth which was little inferior to the Emperors as before too seuere in correcting her sonne so now vnreasonably humbled and cast downe in courage The which change did neither deceiue Nero and gaue his neerest friends cause of feare and prayed him to beware of the trecherie of this woman alwaies fell and cruell and then false and dissembling Nero hauing by chaunce seene the wardrop where the apparell laye which Princes wiues and parents were wont to shine in made choise of a garment and iewels and sent them his mother most bountifully seeing he sent of his own the chiefest and which by others were most of all desired But Agrippina exclaimeth that these ornaments were not so much giuen her to adorne and trim her selfe as to exclude her from the rest and that her sonne would diuide those things with her which came wholly from her Neither wanted there some to carrie these speeches and make them woorse then they were Whereupon all such growing odious vnto Nero vpon whom this womans pride chiefly relied displaceth Pallas from the charge which Claudius had giuen him in which he carried himselfe as if he had beene chiefe Lord and master of all It is reported that when Pallas departed with a great retinue following him Nero verie aptly said that Pallas went to resigne his office True it is that Pallas had couenanted with the Prince not to be called in question for any act past and that he had made euen with all accounts of the common-wealth Agrippina after this more mad and wilfull then euer gaue out threatning and thundering speeches yea not forbearing the Princes eares but criyng that Britannicus was now growen to mans estate a true and woorthie plant to receiue his fathers Empire which a graffed sun by adoption now possessed by the iniury and trumperie of his mother There should be no let in her but that al the villanous practises of that infortunate house should be layde open and first of all her owne marriage and her impoisoning of Claudius That only thing was prouided by the gods to her good that her sonne in law was aliue She would goe with him to the campe where on one side Germanicus daughter should be heard on the other side that base companion Burrhus and Seneca the banished the one his hand cut off and the other with his professors eloquence quarelling and debating of the rule and gouernment of the whole world In vttering of this she bent her fist towards him heaped one iniurie vpon another called Claudius and the infernall ghosts of the Silaniens and so many fruitlesse wicked attempts which she had beene author of Nero troubled with these speeches and the day now at hand on which Britannicus had accomplished the full age of foureteen yeeres began to ponder with himselfe sometimes the violence of his mother somtimes the towardlines of Britannicus knowen of late by good proofe which hath won him great fauour and good will On a festiuall day dedicated to Saturne amongst other pastimes of his equals drawing lots who should be King the lot fell to Nero who commanding diuers things vnto others which could not turne to their shame commaunded Britannicus to rise vp and stand in the middle and begin a song hoping the childe should be laughed to skorn as one ignorant how to carrie himselfe in sober companie much lesse in drunken But he verie constantly began a verse which signified that Nero had thrust him from his fathers seate gouerment of the Empire which mooued them all to open compassion because the night and lasciuious wantonnes had taken away all dissimulation IIII. Britannicus empoisoned Agrippina chased from the Emperours house NEro feeling himselfe toucht augmented his hatred and incensed with Agrippinaes threats because he could lay no iust cause against him nor openly durst not commaund the murdering of his brother practiseth secret meanes and commaundeth poison to be prepared Pollio Iulius tribune of the Pretorian cohort being his minister in the action Vnder whose charge Locusta a woman infamous for lewd practises and before condemned for empoysoning was kept prisoner For it was long before prouided that such as were neerest about Britannicus should haue no regard either of honestie or faith He tooke the first poison of his bringers vp which not being strong enough he voided by
to go together by the eates because the eight legion demaunded Sirpicus a Centurion to death whom the fifteenth defended if the ninth legion had not interposed her selfe first by way of intreatie then menacing such as made light of them VII Drusus is sent to appease the rebellion in Pannony and the ringleaders punished WHen Tiberius had intelligence of these mutinies although he were close and a great dissembler of bad tidings resolued to send his sonne Drusus vnto these legions with certaine of the principallest Gentlemen of the citie and two Pretorian bands without any limited commission but to determine there as occasion best required These bands were of extraordinary choise men and stronger then any other were vsed to be and a great part of his gard of horsemen and the ablest Germans of his owne gard Aelius Seianus also Captaine of the gard was sent with him once an associate and companion to Strabo his father and a man highly in credit with Tiberius as well to be a guide to the yong Prince as to shew vnto others the danger or reward of ill or well doing When Drusus was come neere vnto them the legions met him as it were to do their dutie but not as the manner was cheerefully with glittering ensignes but in base and abiect habit and in countenance although pretending sadnes yet in deede were neerer wilfull obstinacie After he was entered the trench of the camp they set a strong gard at the gates commanded some troupes to attend at certaine places of the camp and the rest came and enuironed the Tribunall in huge multitudes Drusus stoode vp and with his hand commaunded silence to be made When the souldiers beheld what a multitude they were they made a dreadfull noise with hideous tunes then anon turning their eyes towards Caesar they quaked for feare after that they made a confuse murmuring and buzzing then a cruell outcry and on a suddaine all was husht againe which bred as men were diuersly affected either a feare in themselues or in others At last the tumult ceasing he read his fathers letters which contained what a speciall care he had ouer those most valorous legions with whome he had sustained many battels and that as soone as his minde could be at rest and the mourning for his father past he would deale with the Lords of the Senate concerning their demaunds that in the meane space he had sent his sonne which should graunt without delay as much as for the present could conueniently be yeelded and that the rest should be reserued to the consideration of the Senate whom it was conuenient should iudge as well what deserued fauour as rigor and seueritie They answered all in generall that Clemens the Centurion had charge to propound their demaunds he began with licence to depart after sixteene yeares with recompence after the end of their seruice and that their wages might be a denarius a day that the old souldiers should not be constrained to continue vnder ensignes But when Drusus began to pretend that these were fit matters to be referred to the Lords of the Senate and his fathers consideration they cut off his speech with clamors expostulating That seeing he had no authority to augment their pay nor ease them of their labor nor benefit them any way to what purpose was he come thither But to beate and put them to death euery man had authoritie It was an old trick of Tiberius to frustrate the legions desires with the name of Augustus and Drusus doth now put the same in practice Shall they neuer haue any sent them but such as are vnder the power of another It was strange that the Emperour should referre only that to the knowledge of the Senate which concerned the souldiers commoditie It were as requisite the Senators aduise should be knowne when a souldier should be punished or brought to fight in battell Did it stand with reason there should be maisters appointed to dispose of their rewards and recompence and that without any iudge their punishments should be arbitrary At last they go from the Tribunal and threaten with their fists those they met of the gard or Caesars friends and familiars as desirous to pick quarrels and raise sedition But they bare a speciall grudge vnto Cn. Lentulus because that he for his yeares and experience in martiall feates in greater reputation then the rest was thought to animate Drusus against the souldiers and first of all reiect their licentious demaunds Whom not long after foreseeing the danger he was in going with Caesar to the standing camp they enuironed him asking whither he went towards the Emperour or towards the Senate whether there he would be also against the legions profit And withall comming fiercely vpon him and throwing stones at him all embrued in bloud and certaine of present death yet was succoured by such as came with Caesar That night which menaced great disorder and outragious behauiour was quieted by a meere chaunce For the Skie being cleere and bright yet the Moone seemed to be eclipsed on a sudden which the souldiers being ignorant of the cause construed as a presage of present ill lucke and comparing their attempts to the eclipse were of opinion that their successe should be prosperous if the goddesse should become cleere and bright againe Whereupon they began with Trompets Cornets and other brazen instruments to make a lowd noise now ioyfull now sad as the Moone appeared either cleere or darke But when the black clowdes rising tooke from them the sight of the Moone supposing she had bene hidden in darknes and vtterly lost her light as troubled minds fall easily into superstition they began to complaine and lament that that portended their labours should haue no end and that the gods turned their faces from their wickednes Caesar thinking it expedient to make his profit of their feare and gouerne that by wisedome which fortune had offered commaunded the Pauillions to be viewed Clemens the Centurion to be called and such others as for their laudable vertues were best liked of the common sort who thrusting themselues into the watch the wardes and gate-keepers increased sometimes their feare and sometimes promised hope saying How long shall we besiege the Emperors sonne what shall be the end of our reuolt shall we sweare allegeance to Percennius and Vibulenus shall we looke for our pay at their hands shall they reward the old souldiers with lands to be briefe shall they take vpon them the gouernment of the Romane Empire in Neroes and Drusus stead were it not better that as we were the last which offended so we should be the first to repent Demaunds in common are slowly graunted a priuat fauour is no sooner deserued then obtained These speeches troubled their mindes and bred a mistrust among themselues the yong souldiers forsooke the old and one legion parted from an other By little and little they returned to their allegeance went from the gates which before they possessed carried to
chastitie and loue towards hir husband though otherwise of an inuincible stomacke yet turned all to the best But the neerer Germanicus was to the highest hope the more he labored to settle Tiberius in the state compelling the Sequans adioining and the cities of Belgia to sweare their allegeance vnto him Then vnderstanding of the hurly burly of the legions departing in all speede met the soldiers out of their campe hanging downe the head repenting them of that they had done He was no sooner within the trench but there was heard a confuse lamentation and complaint among them some taking him by the hand as it were to kisse it thrust his fingers into their mouthes that he might feele they were toothlesse others shewed their crooked bodies with age Who perceiuing them confusely shuffled togither commanded to separate themselues into companies the easier to heare his answere and beare their ensignes before them the better to discerne their bands wherein they obeied slowly ynough Germanicus beginning with the reuerence of Augustus fell by little and little into the praise of the victories and triumphes and especially the famous exploites Tiberius had done in Germanie with those legions Then extolled the vnitie of Italie the loyaltie of Gallia and how all other partes of the empire were quiet The soldiers gaue eare vnto all this with silence or with a small murmuring but as soone as he began to touch their mutinies expostulating What was become of the modest behauiour of soldiers where was the honor of ancient discipline whither they had driuen their Tribunes and Centurions they all vnclothed themselues shewed him their wounds scars and marks of their stripes then with a confuse note how deerely they bought their ease and vacations found fault with their small pay the intolerable paines they were put to in working by name condemning the rampires trenches seeking of stower carrying of stones timber and all other prouisions either necessarie in the campe or to keepe the soldiers from idlenes But the greatest clamors were heard to proceede from the old soldiers whereof some hauing spent thirtie yeeres in seruice some more besought him to prouide for such ouer wearied poore soldiers and not suffer them to end the rest of their daies in miserie and paine but deliuered of such labor and toiles that they might at length enioie repose without penurie Some demanded the legacie bequeathed by Augustus wil and wished Germanicus all good fortune offering themselues to his deuotion if he would take vpon him the empire Whereat as though he had beene distained with some villanie he leapt from the Tribunall and as he would haue departed the soldiers turned their weapons towards him in menacing wise vnlesse he would go backe againe But crying that he would rather die than falsifie his faith drew his sword from his side bent the point of it towards his brest readie to haue thrust it in if some which were neere him by catching hold of his hand had not withheld him by maine strength That part of the throng which was farthest behinde and which is scarce credible some other getting neerer neerer encouraged him to strike boldly and one called Calusidius offered him his naked sword saying that it was better pointed than his But that euen to the most furious was thought a barbarous and sauage part and an euill president Caesars friends had time to conduct him to his pauilion there they consulted what was best to be done bicause newes came that the soldiers were in hande to dispatch embassadors to the higher armie to drawe them to the same attempt and that they had determined to sacke Colen and hauing imbrued their hands with that pray run on to pill and waste Gallia IX Order is taken against the disorder by yeelding to the soldiers requests Germanicus sendeth away his vvife and children GErmanicus feared so much the more bicause he knew the enimie woulde not faile to inuade as soone as he vnderstood of the dissension within Rome and that the riuers side was vndefended On the other side if the allies and confederates shoulde arme themselues against the legions it was to begin a new ciuill war And that it was to the state dangerous a like to vse either seueritie or liberalitie and no lesse to graunt the soldier all thing or nothing The matter being thus debated on both sides it was thought good that letters should be written in the princes name containing that such as had serued twentie yeeres should be fully dismissed and such as sixteene discharged also with condition onely to remaine vnder ensignes and repulse the enimie That their legacies left them by Augustus should be doubled and paied The soldier perceiued that those were sleights to win time and therefore vrged a present execution licence of departure was presently yeelded by the Tribunes but paiment deferred The fift and one and twentieth legion refused to go to any standing campe vntill they had their paie in the same camps they serued in Which they receiued of such prouision as Caesar could either make by his friends or had to serue his owne turne Caecina the Lieutenant brought backe to Vbium the first and the twentieth legion in base disorderly aray carying between the ensignes and standarts masses of money extorted from the Emperos treasure Germanicus went to the vpper armie and there without delaie tooke the oath of allegeance of the second thirteen and sixteenth legion the fowerteenth yet resting doubtfull what were best But they had all their discharge and money offered them vnasked At the same time certaine vexiliarie soldiers which continued vnder ensignes and were placed for a guarde to the countrey of two legions which before were at iarre began a tumult in the countrey of the Chauceans which was quickly suppressed by putting to death two of the soldiers Which Mennius the Camp-master commanded rather for example then right of his office But the tumult growing hot Mennius fled and being found out perceiuing that there was no safetie in lurking tried what boldnes coulde auaile saying That they bent not their forces against the Camp-master but against Germanicus their Generall and Tiberius the Emperor perceauing that those words daunted such as would haue hindered him snatching vp an ensigne went to the riuer side and denouncing him a fugitiue and traitor which refused to follow brought them to the winter standing campe astonied and not daring to attempt any thing In the meane season the embassadors sent from the Senate to Germanicus found him at Vbium at the place called the Altar Where two legions the first and the twentieth wintered with the old soldiers lately dismissed and kept vnder ensignes The timorous and troubled in conscience were surprised with a sudden feare least some were come by commandement of the Senate to make frustrate all they had wrung out by rebellion And as the manner of the people is alwaies falsely to accuse some one or other whom they suspect so now they laide all the blame on
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
looseth anker and moderated his course to returne the sooner if Germanicus death should open him a way to Syria Germanicus being a little amended and in some hope then growing feeble againe when his end was at hand he spake to his friends about him in this manner If I should die a naturall death yet should I haue iust cause of griefe against the gods that by an vntimely death they shuold take me in my youth from my kinsfolks children and countrey But now being brought to this passe by the lewde practise of Piso and Plancina I leaue in your breasts for my last prayers that you signifie vnto my father and my brother with what crueltie torne with what fraude circumuented I haue ended my miserable life with a most naughtie death If the hopes conceiued of me haue moued any if neerenes in bloud any yea if enuie towards me when I liued they will weepe that he who hath sometimes flourished and escaped so many battels should now end his life by the guile and treachery of a woman you shall haue occasion to complaine to the Senate and demaund the execution of lawes This is not the chiefest dutie of friends to shew their affection towards the dead by a slow and dull complaint but remember and execute that which they commanded Yea such as knew not Germanicus wil weepe for him If you did rather loue me then my fortune you will reuenge my death Shew the people of Rome Augustus neece and the same my wife and my children which are sixe in number the accusers themselues will haue compassion and those which pretend wicked commaundements shall either not bee beleeued or not pardoned His friends taking him by the right hand swore they would rather lose their life then omit reuenge Then turning to his wife intreated hir by the memorie of him and by the children common betweene them that she would lay aside all haughtines and submit her courage to raging fortune lest returning to the citie she stirred not with emulation of greatnes more powerable then her selfe against her Thus much he vttered openly and other things in secret whereby it was coniectured he stoode in feare of Tiberius Not long after he yeelded vp the ghost with great lamentation of the Prouince and countries about forren nations and Kings lamented also so great was his courtesie to his allies and mildnes to his enimies He was no lesse venerable to those which sawe him than to those which heard of him and did so well temper the greatnes of high estate grauitie that he auoided both enuie arrogancie His funerals although he had neither images nor pompe yet by the commendation and memorie of his vertues were honoured of all men Some there were which compared his fauour his age and manner of death by reason of the vicinitie of the places wherein they died vnto Alexander the great For being both of a comely stature noble parentage not much aboue thirtie yeeres of age they died in strange countries by the trecherie of their owne people But this man was courteous towards his friends moderate in pleasures his children certaine begotten in marriage by one woman Neither was he to be counted a lesse warrior then the other although he were not rash hindered to reduce vnder the yoke of seruitude the Germans daunted with so many victories And if he alone had had the supreme managing of affaires and power a name of a King so much the sooner he would haue carried away the prise renowne of warfare by how much he did excel him in clemencie temperancie other good vertues His bodie before it should be burned was laid naked in the market place of Antioche which was the place appointed for his buriall Whether he shewed any tokens of being poisoned or not it is vnknowen for diuers did diuersly interpretit either as they were inclined to pitie Germanicus or suspected to fauour Piso This being done the Lieutenants the Senators which were present cōsulted amōg themselues whom they should make gouernor of Syria the rest not greatly contending it was long debated betwixt Marsus Gn. Sentius in the end Marsus yeelded to Sentius being his elder prosecuting the suite more eagerlie He sent to Rome one Martina a woman infamous in that Prouince for empoisoning but deerly beloued to Plancina at the suite of Vitellius Veranius others which framed their acusations as against one already guilty of the fact But Agrippina wasted with sorrow feeble of body yet impatient of delaying reuenge took shipping with Germanicus ashes with her and her children all men taking compassion that a woman so nobly descended and who not long since in regarde of her stately marriage was honored and reuerenced by all men should now carrie in her lap those lamentable relickes of her husband incertaine of reuenge doubtfull of herperson so oft exposed to fortunes mercy by her vnluckie fruitfulnes XVIII Piso is doubtfull vvhether he should returne to Syria or not And prepareth an armie against Sentius IN the meane season a messenger ouertaketh and aduertiseth Piso at the Iland Cous that Germanicus was departed Which tidings he receiued intemperately offered sacrifices visited the temples nothing moderating his ioy and Plancina growing more insolent then first changed the mourning weede she ware for the death of hir sister into a ioifull attire The Centurions flocking about him told him that he had the good will of the legions at his deuotion that it was his best to returne to the prouince wrongfully taken from him and now voide of a gouernour Whereupon taking aduise what was best to be done his sonne M. Piso was of opinion that he shoulde make all haste to the citie that there was nothing yet done which might not be answered and that weakesuspicions and vaine reports were not to be feared The variance betweene him and Germanicus was woorthie perhaps of some rebuke but not punishment and by taking the prouince from him his enimies were satisfied But if he should returne Sentius being against him a newe ciuill warre would begin Neither would the Centurions and souldiers continue on his side with whom the fresh memory of their captaine and the loue deepely printed in their harts towards the Caesars woulde preuaile Domitius Celer one of his inwardest friends perswaded the contrarie That he ought to take the time when it was offered that Piso and not Sentius was made gouernour of Syria vnto him were the fasces and dignitie of Pretor giuen to him the legions committed If any violence should be offered by the enimie who should more iustly oppose his armes against them then he who hath receiued the authoritie of a Lieutenant and speciall commission Rumors grow stale and vanish away with time and often the innocent are borne downe with fresh enuie but if he had a power at hand and his forces increased many things which could not be foreseene by meere chaunce might turne to the better Do
Ancona went by Picenum and after by the Flaminian way ouertooke the legion which was brought from Pannony to Rome to lye in garrison in Affricke being common in euery mans mouth how in the campe and in the way he did often shew himselfe to the souldiers From Narnia whether it were to auoide suspition or because such as stand in feare are irresolute in their determinations being conueyed by Nare and anon after by Tiber he increased the euill will of the people towards him because he landed neere the Caesars tombe on a day when the shore was full of people many followers after him and Plancina accompanied with a traine of women both pleasant and cheerefull in countenance Among other causes of enuie and hart-burning Pisoes house was one looking on the market place trimmed to feast and banket in where nothing could be hidden The next day Fulcinius Trio accused Piso before the Consuls Vitellius and Veranius and the rest which had followed Germanicus alleaged that that was their office and that Trio had no part therein and that as witnesses and openers of the cause and not as accusers they were to report that which Germanicus had giuen them in charge Trio relinquishing the accusation obtained licence to accuse his former life and the Prince intreated to receiue the hearing of the cause to himselfe which the defendant refused not as misdoubting the Senators and peoples good will and contrary being well assured that Tiberius regarded not rumors but would leane to his mothers conscience and that the truth or things beleeued and wrested to the worst might easilier be discerned by one iudge whereas hatred and enuie beare the sway where there are many Tiberius was not ignorant how waightie a cause he vndertooke and how diuersly he was censured and therefore calling some of his familiar friends about him hearing the menaces of the accusers then the request of the partie arraigned referred the whole cause to the Senate In the meane season Drusus returning from Illyrium although the Senators had decreed that for receiuing of Maroboduus and exploits done the sommer past he should enter the citie ouant or with a small triumph yet deferring that honor for the time he entered priuately After that Piso had demauded T. Arruntius Fulcinius Asinius Gallus Aeserninus Marcellus Sext. Pompeius for his aduocates and all of them alleaging diuers excuses M. Lepidus L. Piso and Liueneius Regulus vndertooke his defence the whole citie being attentiue to know how Germanicus friends would stick vnto him what hope the partie arraigned had whether Tiberius were able to maister his affections or would shew himselfe All these things were greedily expected of the people neuer shewing themselues more attentiue nor at any time licencing themselues a more secret speech of the Prince or suspicious silence The day that the Senat met Caesar made a premeditate oration tempered in this sort saying That Piso had beene his fathers Lieutenant and friend and giuen by him to Germanicus as a coadiutor by the authoritie of the Senate in the administration of the affaires of the East but whether he had there exasperated the yong Prince through disobedience and contention and whether he had shewed himselfe glad of his death or villanously had made him away that they should iudge of that with vpright consciences For if being Lieutenant he hath gone beyond the bounds of his office and shaken off his dutie to his lord generall and reioysed in his death and my griefe I will hate him and estrange him from my house and reuenge not the Princes but priuat grudges If any villanous deede be detected in him worthie of reuenge euen in the death of any priuat person affoord your selues and Germanicus children and vs his father reasonable and iust comfort And examine also whether seditiously and mutinously Piso hath stirred vp the armie whether by ambition he hath sought to win the fauour of the souldiers whether he returned into the prouince by force of armes or whether these things be false and made greater then they are by the accusers with whose ouergreat affection I haue iust cause to be offended For to what purpose should his body be shewen naked be handled of the common people and bruted abroade among strangers as though he had beene empoisoned if these things be yet vncertaine and are to be inquired of I lament truely and am greeued for my sonne and alwaies shall But I hinder not the defendant to alleage all he can for the purgation of his innocencie or if Germanicus had any fault woorthie of reprehension And I beseech you not to take the crimes as already prooued bicause the cause is ioined with my sorrow If either his neernes in bloud or his owne faithfulnes hath yeelded him anie to defende his cause helpe him as much as in you lieth either by your eloquence or care in this his extremitie To the same labour and constancie I exhort the accusers Germanicus this onely priuiledge we will affoord aboue the lawes that his death shall be rather inquired of in the Curia then in the Forum before the Senat then other Iudges Let all the rest be debated with like modestie nothing regarding Drusus teares or my griefe or if anie slaunders be forged against me After that the accusers had two daies giuen them to bring in their accusations after sixe daies were past the defandāt had three more to iustifie himselfe Then Fulcinius began with stale and friuolous matters as that he had gouerned Spaine ambitiously and couetously Whereof being conuicted he could not be interessed if he could purge himselfe of the later crimes nor if he could defend himselfe from that accusation yet was he not acquitted if greater matters were laide to his charge After him Seruaeus and Veranius and Vitellius with like affection but Vitellius with greater eloquence obiected that Piso for hatred to Germanicus and desire of innouation had so farre corrupted the common soldier with licentiousnes and iniuries towards the confederates that of the lewdest sort he was called the father of the legions Further that he had vsed crueltie against euery good man and especially against Germanicus followers friends in the end that he had killed him with poison and inchantments Then that he and Plancina vsed wicked ceremonies and sacrifices that he had borne armes against the common-wealth that he woulde neuer haue appeared in iudgement had he not been ouercome in battell In manie things his defence was weake for he coulde not denie but that he had woone the soldier by ambition or that he had not exposed the prouince as a praie to the lewdest sort nor the iniurious speeches against the generall Onely he seemed to haue purged himselfe of the empoisoning which indeed the accusers did not sufficiently prooue accusing him to haue empoisoned Germanicus meate with his hand which was infected as he sate aboue him at a banquet For it seemed absurd that he should dare so bold an attempt amongst other mens seruants
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
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
Mithridates chasing away the King no lesse by their owne manhood then Lucullus aide But Fonteius Capito who had beene Proconfull of Asia was quit of the accusation falsely forged against him by Vibius Serenus And yet Serenus escaped vnpunished being odious generally to all and therfore in greater safetie For the more bitter an accuser he was the lesse touched and as it were a sacred person but the light and base were punished At the same time farther Spaine sent Ambassadors to the Senat requesting that by the example of Asia they might build a Temple in honour of Tiberius and his mother Tiberius taking hold of this occasion though otherwise not greedie of honors thought it conuenient to answere those who had rumored abroad that he was carried away with ambition as followeth I know Lords of the Senat that many will accuse me of vnconstancie for not deniyng the same request vnto the cities of Asia I will therefore now declare vnto you the defence of my former silence and what I would haue done hereafter Seeing that Augustus of famous memorie did not hinder those of Pergamum to erect a Temple in honour of himselfe and the citie of Rome I who obserue all his deedes and wordes in steed of a law did the willinglier follow that approoued precident bicause the honor done vnto mee redounded likewise to the Senate But as it deserueth pardon once to haue accepted that honour so throughout all the Prouinces with images like vnto gods to be reuerenced sauoreth of ambition and pride and Augustus honor would come to naught if it should by flatterie vsed euerie where be made common I for my part Lords of the Senat protest before you all and desire that posteritie know that I am mortall and do like vnto men and take it for honour ynough to be Prince And they shall attribute enough to my memorie which will beleeue that I haue not degenerated from my ancestors that I haue beene carefull in your affaires constant in dangers not fearfull of displeasure for the profit of the common-wealth These things shall be for me temples in your mindes these beautifull and lasting images for those which are built of stone if in iudgment of posteritie they become odious are contemned for sepulchers Therefore I pray our allies citizens gods and goddesses these that they would giue me vntill the ende of my life a quiet minde with the vnderstanding of diuine and humane lawes those that whensoeuer I shall depart out of this life they would haue me in remembrance with an honorable memory of my deeds renown of my name And in priuate places afterward disliked such adoration which some interpreted to proceed of modestie many of distrust and some for basenes of mind and want of courage because of mortall men the best aspire highest so Hercules and Bacchus among the Grecians Quirinus among vs were added to the number of the gods Augustus had done better in hoping to be one Princes haue all other things at will one thing they should insatiably seeke for which is to leaue a happie memorie after them for by contemning of fame they contemne the vertues which engender it IX Seianus requesteth of Tiberius that he might marry Liuia Drusus vvidow And perswadeth Tiberius to vvithdraw himselfe from the Citie BVt Seianus sottishly mad with ouergreat fortune and enflamed with a burning desire of Liuia importunately demaunding a performance of a promised marriage inditeth and sendeth letters to Caesar because the custome was that although the Prince were present yet to present their petitions by writing the contents were as followeth That the good will of his father Augustus was such towards him and Tiberius also by diuers signes did shew him such fauour that he would not sooner offer his hopes and vowes vnto the gods then vnto the eares of Princes That he neuer thirsted after high and eminent dignities but chose rather to watch and trauell like a common souldier for the safetie of the Emperour notwithstanding that he had obtained that which seemed to be of all other the greatest honor that is that he should be thought worthy of Caesars alliance from whence sprang the beginning of his hope And because he had heard that when Augustus in the bestowing his daughter had thought euen of gentlemen of Rome so he besought him if a husband were thought vpon for Liuia that he would haue him as a friend in minde who would be content with the glory only to be allied to him neuer purposing thereby to giue vp the charge imposed vpon him nor relinquish his vsuall care but would hold himselfe satisfied if his house might be assured against Agrippinas wicked malice and that in regard of his children and as for himselfe he desired to liue no longer then he could employ himselfe in the seruice of his Prince Tiberius hauing praised Seianus great loue and zeale and chiefely run ouer the benefits he had receiued of him demaunding time as it had bene fully to deliberate on the matter added That other men consulted of that only which was for their profit but the conditions of Princes was of a different qualitie whose speciall drift was to direct their actions to fame and therefore would not fall into that which was easie for him to haue written That Liuia could determine with her selfe whether she would marry againe or not or remaine in the same familie that she had a mother and grandmother as neerer counsellers he therefore would deale more simply and speake first of Agrippinaes enmities which would be farre more incensed if Liuiaes marriage should deuide Caesars house as it were into parts and breede emulation betweene the women and consequently the ouerthrow of his nephewes What if any variance arise in that marriage Thou art deceiued Seianus if thou thinkest to continue in the state thou art now in if thou marry Liuia who hath beene wife vnto C. Caesar and afterward to Drusus and imagin that she beareth the minde to passe the rest of her life with a Gentleman of Rome And if I should agree vnto it doest thou thinke that they would suffer it who haue seene her brother her father our auncetors in greatest dignities Thou wilt continue in the calling thou art now in but those magistrates and noble men which maugre thy teeth mount to authoritie and determine of all matters do report it and that not in hugger mugger that a long time since thou hast climed higher then the degree of a gentleman and gone beyond my fathers friendship and for the hatred they beare vnto thee blame me But Augustus thought once to marry his daughter to a gentleman of Rome Truly it was to be maruelled that being distracted with so many cares and foreseeing that he who should match in that place should by that alliance rise to great aduancement he would in familiar conference thinke vpon Proculeius and some others which liued a notable quiet life not medling at all with matters of estate But if we be
proiected in his minde some meanes of his ruine knowing well that he was verie fierce and head-strong and therefore easilie intrapped In the ende of this yeere two famous men died Asinius Agrippa rather of a renowned then auncient stocke himselfe not degenerating from them and Q. Haterius descended from Senators whilest he liued greatly esteemed for eloquence but monuments of his wit there are none bicause he was esteemed rather for vehemencie and quicke deliuerie then diligence and premeditation And as others industries and labours are had in estimation after their daies so Haterius fluent vaine was extinguished with him XIIII The falling of an Amphitheater and the hurt which ensued Tiberius reedifieth certaine houses burnt in the hill Caelius WHen M. Licinius and L. Calphurnius were Consuls a sudden and vnlooked for mischance as soon ended as begun might haue been compared to the calamitie of mightie warres For an Amphitheater begun at Fidena one Atilius a freed man to set foorth a play offencers as one hauing neither abundance of wealth nor ambitious in winning fauour of the people but by niggardly sparing to make a base gaine in the workmens hire did neither laye a sounde foundation nor fasten the timber frame erected vppon the same Thither flocked many verie desirous of such shewes both men and women of all ages partly by reason it was so neere vnto them and partly because that during Tiberius empire they were barred from such pastimes whereby the mischiefe was the greater For the pile being great and filled full with a throng of people then falling asunder whether it fell inwards or spred outwards it carried downe headlong and ouerwhelmed a huge multitude of people intentiue on the shew within or gazing round about Those which at the beginning were crusht to death by that hap escaped languishing torment They most of all were to be pitied which being brused and broken yet liued and in the day knew their wiues children by sight and in the night by lamentable howling crying Those which were absent moued with this report one lamented his brother another his neere kinseman another his parents yea they were afraide if their friends and cosens were out of the way although for other occasion doubting still they had been there and because it was not certainely knowne whom that violent ruine had beaten downe the vncertaintie spread the feare the farther As soone as they began to remoue the frame they flocked about the dead bodies some kissing some imbracing them and fell often at debate in mistaking one for another by reason they were dissigured through some resemblance of countenance and likenes of yeeres Fiftie thousand persons were slaine or maimed by that mischance and a decree layd downe by the Senate that from thence forward no man should exhibit the play of Fencers who was lesse worth then foure hundred thousand sesterces nor that any amphitheater should be built but in a firme and sound place and Atilius was banished After that fresh calamitie the houses of the chiefe gentlemen were open medicines and phisitions appointed for the brused and mangled and the citizens although heauie and sad yet then were like their auncestors which after great battels did relieue and comfort the wounded with all care and liberalitie That misfortune was scarse past but the rage and violence of a fire consumed the citie more then euer and burnt the hill Caelius That was reported to be an vnluckie yeere and that the princes absence was begun in a dismall houre as the manner of the people is to draw casuall mishaps to blame if Caesar had not preuented them by bestowing of money to euery man according to his losse For which liberalitie thanks in Senat were giuen him by the noble men and the people gaue him a good report because that without ambition or intreatie of friends he had of his owne motion helped and called strangers vnto him And diuers were of opinion that the mount Caelius should after that bee called mount Augustus because that when all was wasted with fire round about onely the image of Tiberius which was in Iunius a Senators house remained vntouched The same happened in times past to Claudia Quinctia and therefore her image twice escaping violent rage of fires our auncestors did consecrate in the Temple to the mother of the gods an argument that the Claudians are accounted sacred and receiued among the number of the gods and therefore the ceremonie ought to be augmented in the place where the gods haue shewen so great fauour towards so mightie a Prince It shall not be amisse to shew how that hill was in old time called Querquetulan bicause it was fertill and abundant with oakes then Caelius of Caele Vibenna who being Captaine of the Etrurian nation and succoured the Romans obtained that seat of Tarquinius Priscus or of some other King for in that point writers do varie As for the rest it is without controuersie that those great companies of souldiers did inhabit also the plaines and places adioyning to the place of assemblies and thereupon that was called the Thuscian street of the name of the strangers which came thither to inhabit But as the beneuolence of noble men and largesse of the Prince was a great comfort in their aduersitie so the credit and authoritie of informers more and more increasing wrought the ouerthrowe of manie Domitius Afer accused Varo Quinctilius a wealthie man and neere kinne to Caesar hauing before condemned Claudia Pulchra his mother no man maruelling that being long a needie companion hauing wastfully consumed his late recompence should arme himselfe to farther mischiefe But that P. Dolabella was his sellow picthanke issued of noble kinred and allied to Varus was a miracle ouerthowing by that action himselfe and distained his nobilitie and blood Yet the Lords of the Senat would not agree thereto but thought it conuenient to expect the Emperours comming which for the time was the onely shift against imminent mischiefes But Caesar hauing dedicated his temples in Campania albeit he had giuen warning by edict that no man shuld disturbe his quietnes hindered the concourse of townsmen by placing of souldiers in the way yet being awearie of townes and colonies and all places situated in the cōtinent withdrew himselfe to the Iland Capreas three miles distant by sea from the farthest part of the promontorie of Surrentum I easily beleeue that that Iland did fit his humor hauing neither hauen nor cōmodities those conueied in very little vessels no man landing but the watch was presently acquainted with it The temperature of the aire is in winter milde by reason that a hill opposite vnto it beateth back the force of the windes In the sommer season it is open to the Westernwinde and hath verie pleasantly the sea on euerie side and a goodly prospect towardes the hill Vesuuius vntill by fire the face of the place was changed The report goeth that the Greekes did possesse that place and that the
blamed the magistrates and Senators that they had not by publike authoritie brideled the insolencie of the people and added withall how farre greater quantitie of corne he had caused to be brought then Augustus and out of what prouinces Whereupon a decree of Senate was enacted to restraine the people according to the auncient seueritie the Consuls being no lesse forward to publish it his owne silence in the cause was not construed to be a point of ciuilitie as he looked it should be but was imputed to his pride In the end of that yeare Geminius Celsus Pompeius Gentlemen of Rome were put to death for conspiracies among which Geminius through prodigalitie and loosenes of life and a friend to Seianus was a man of nothing And Iulius Celsus a Tribune loosing the chaine he was bound with at large then winding it about and forcing himselfe a contrary way brake his owne neck But Rubrius Fabatus despairing of the Roman affaires and fleeing to the Parthians and brought back safe from the streights of Sicilie by a Centurion had keepers appointed him not able to alleage any probable causes of his long voiages yet he escaped vnpunished rather through forgetfulnes then clemencie IIII. Tiberius marrieth his neeces Vsurers accused and the inconuenience that ensued SEr. Galba and L. Sulla being Consuls Tiberius hauing a long time bethought himselfe what husbands he should prouide his neeces whose age now came on made choise of L. Cassius and M. Vinicius Vinicius kindred came out of a small towne himselfe borne at Calles but his father and grandfather were Consuls the rest of his kindred were Gentlemen he was of a milde disposition and very eloquent L. Cassius was descended of one of the common people at Rome but auncient and noble and brought vp vnder the seuere discipline of his father and oftner commended for his courtesie then industrie To him he giueth Drusilla to Vinicius Iulia both Germanicus children and writeth to the Senate touching that matter with a light commendation of the yong men Then hauing yeelded some causes of his absence but very extrauagant came to matters of greater moment and the displeasures and dislikes he had incurred for the common wealth and requested that Macro the Prouost and some few of the Tribunes and Centurions might as oft as he came to the Senate enter into the Curia with him And albeit the Senate made a decree very generall without prescribing any number or qualitie of persons he was so farre from comming to any publick counsell that he neuer came so much as to the citie coasting about it and for the most part in by-wayes and still auoiding his countrey as much as he could In the meane season a great rabble of informers rose vp against such vsurers as tooke more for consideration of their money then they might by the law made by Caesar the Dictator concerning the manner of lending and holding possession within Italie long neglected heretofore because the publicke good is lesse set by then priuate commoditie Vsury in very deede hath beene an old disease in the citie and often a cause of seditions and discords and for that cause hath been restrained in auncient and lesse corrupted times For first it was ordained by the law of the twelue tables that no man should take aboue one in the hundred when as before that time it was as pleased the monied men After that by a Tribunitian law it was brought vnto halfe one in the hundred and in the end vsury was wholy forbidden and many lawes made by the people to cut off all fraud which often repressed reuiued againe by strange sleights and deuises But then Gracchus being Pretor vnto whom the examining of that question fell constrained by the multitude of such as were indangered thereby propounded the matter before the Lords of the Senate who daunted thereat for there was not one of them free from that fault craued respite of the Prince he graunted them a yeere and sixe moneths within which time euery man according to the prescript of law should settle his estate and make vp his domesticall accompts Hereupon euery man calling in his debts on a sudden ensued a great want scarcitie of money and by reason so many were condemned and their goods sold all the money ready coined wēt either to the princes or publick treasury Besides this the Senat ordained that two parts of the vsurie money should be bestowed vpō lands in Italie but the creditors disliked that and vrged the paiment of the whole as a matter impayring the credit of the parties conuented to goe from their word So at the first there was great running hither and thither and entreaties then they flocked about the Pretors tribunall and those things which were founde for a remedie as selling and buying of such mens goods turned to a contrarie effect bicause the Vsurers had hoorded vp all their money to buie land And bicause the multitude of sellers was cause that the value of landes was rated at a verie lowe and vile price how much the more a man was indebted the loather he was to sell And manie were thrust out of all they had and the decaie of their wealth carried their credit and fame headlong after vntill Tiberius relieued them by putting a hundred million sesterces in bancke and lent it for three yeeres space without consideration or interest if the debtor could giue securitie to the people of Rome in landes double the value of the debt By that meanes their credit was restored and other particular creditors by little and little found neither was the buying of landes practised according to the forme of the decree of Senat hotly at the beginning pursued as almost all such things are but in the ende carelesly neglected V. C. Caesar marieth Claudia daughter vnto M. Silanus what proofe Tiberius made of Trasullus skill AFter that the olde feares returne againe Considius Proculus being accused of treason who celebrating his birth day not doubting any thing was drawen to the Curia and at the same time condemned and put to death and his sister Sancia banished Q. Pomponius being accuser who being of an vnquiet and busie disposition pretended he had done this and that and all to currie fauour with the Prince thereby to steed his brother Pomponius Secundus who was then in danger Banishment is likewise decreed against Pompeia Macrina whose husband and father in law the one of Argos and the other of Lacedaemon men of marke and reputation among the Achaeans Caesar had alreadie afflicted and brought to ruine Her father likewise a famous gentleman of Rome and her brother who had beene Pretor seeing that their condemnation was at hand slewe themselues It was imputed vnto them for a fault that Gn. Magnus made reckoning as of a speciall friend of Theophanes Mytilenaeus their great grandfather and that the Grecian flatterie after his death had giuen him diuine honour After these Sext. Marius the richest man of all Spaine was accused
their appearance before the Consuls tribunall and they giue audience like Lords of the Senate and he himselfe would looke to the armie committed to his charge Neither did he faile in his promise For many things were ordained by the arbitrement of the Senate As that no man should be bought for reward or gift to pleade a cause That the Questor elected should not be constrained to set forth the shew of Fencers which was a matter the Senators obtained contrary to Agrippinaes will vnder colour that Claudius acts were thereby infringed And thereupon she caused the Senate to be called to the Pallace to the end that she might stand in a secret place separated from the Lords by some vaile which might not hinder the hearing of them and yet not be seene Yea when the Embassadors of Armenia came to pleade the cause of their nation before Nero she was readie to pearch vp to the chaire of audience and by his side to giue answere with him if the rest surprised with a great feare Seneca had not aduised him to meete his mother as she came and so vnder colour of doing his dutie preuented the discredit II. Neroes preparatiues to defend Armenia IN the end of the yeere it was a common rumor that the Parthians had burst out againe and wasted Armenia driuen out Rhadamistus who hauing beene first King and after a fugitiue had then giuen vp this warre Whereupon in the citie greedie of talke they began to enquire how the Prince which was yet scarse past seuenteene yeeres of age could either vndertake or acquit himselfe of so great a burden what helpe could be expected at his hands who was led by a woman whether battels and warres also and besieging of townes and other duties of seruice could be accomplished by his maisters Contrarywise others said it had fallen out better then if Claudius a weake and cowardly old man should haue beene called to the labors of warre readie to obey the commandements of his slaues Yet Burrhus and Seneca had beene proued by experience of many matters and what wanted to the Emperors full strength seeing that Cn. Pompeius at eighteene yeeres of age and Caesar Octauianus at nineteene sustained ciuil warres Most things in high fortune are atchieued rather by good luck conduct and counsell then weapons and hands That he should giue an euident proofe whether he vsed honest friends or not if he would rather make choise of a notable and valiant captaine enuie layd aside then a rich graced and fauored by ambitious sute Whilest the people thus discoursed Nero commaunded a muster to be made of the youth in the prouinces bordering vpon the Parthians to supplie the legions of the East and the legions themselues to be planted neere vnto Armenia and withall wrote to the two old Kings Agrippa and Iocchus to prepare their forces and enter the bounds of Parthia and make bridges ouer the riuer Euphrates and gaue charge of lesser Armenia to Aristobulus and the Sophenian nation to Sohemus honoring them both with royall marks and ornaments And in very good time it fell out that Vardanes sonne began to rebell and beard Vologeses which caused the Parthians to depart Armenia as though they woulde deferre the warre But all things were made more then they were to the Senate amplified by those who gaue aduise that Processions should be made in honor of the Prince and that that day he should weare a triumphall garment and enter into the citie ouant and that his image of the same greatnes that Mars the reuengers was should be placed in the same temple being besides their ordinarie flatterie ioyfull and glad that he had made Domitius Corbulo gouernor of Armenia perswading themselues that the way was now made open to vertue The forces of the East were so deuided that part of the aid-souldiers with two legions should remaine in the prouince of Syria with the Lieutenant Quadratus Vinidius and that the like number of citizens and allies should be vnder Corbuloes charge with other cohorts and cornets of horsemen which wintered in Cappadocia The Kings which were confederate with the Romans were warned to be in a readines as occasion of warre should require But their affections were bent more vpon Corbulo who to purchase fame which in new enterprises is of great importāce making a way with all speede at Agas a citie of Cilicia met Quadratus who was come so farre least if Corbulo should haue entered into Syria to receiue the forces all mens eyes would haue been cast vpon him being of a comely and tall stature magnificall in words and besides his experience and wisedome in shew of vaine hope and promises woon the people to what he lusted In fine both of them by messengers admonished King Vologeses to desire rather peace then warre and giuing hostages continue the like reuerence to the people of Rome as his predecessors had done And Vologeses to make preparations of warre with more aduantage and such as might match the Romans or to remoue those he suspected as concurrents vnder the name of hostages deliuereth the noblest of the Arsacides familie whom Hostorius the Centurion sent before by Vinidius for other occasions receiued Corbulo vnderstanding this commaundeth Arrius Varus captaine of a companie of footemen to goe and receiue them from whence grew a quarrell betweene the Captaine and Centurion which because they would no longer be a iesting stock to the strangers they referred to the arbitrement of the pledges themselues and Lieutenants which conducted them who preferred Corbulo before the other partlie through the fresh renowne which was yet in euery mans mouth and partly through a certaine inclination which the enemies themselues bare him Hereupon grew a iarre betweene the captaines Vinidius complaining that that was taken from him which was compassed by his aduise Corbulo protesting on the contrarie part that the king was neuer drawen to offer pledges vntill that he being chosen captain of the warre had turned his hopes into feare Nero to set them at one caused it to be published that Quadratus Corbulo for their prosperous successes shoulde haue baies added to the bundle of rods which was carried before great captaines of warre I haue ioined these things togither although they were done vnder other Consuls The same yeere Caesar demaunded of the Senate that there might be an image dedicated to his father and the Consularie ornaments giuen Asconius Labeo who had beene his tutor and forbad that any image of massiue gold or siluer should be offered in honor of himselfe And although the LL. of the Senate had decreed that the yeer should begin on that day of December that Nero was borne yet he retained the olde ceremonie of beginning the yeere the Kalends of Ianuarie Neither were Carinas Celer a Senator accused by a slaue or Iultus Densus gentlemen called into question although it was laide to their charge that they fauoured Britannicus III. Nero beginneth to hate his mother and falleth in loue
of the iniustice of his death That he died for no causes deseruing punishment but Rufus Crispinus and Anicius Cerialis enioyed their life being the Princes enimies Which words were thought to haue bin forged of Crispinus because he was alreadie slaine of Cerialis because he should be slaine Who not long after killed himselfe lesse pitied than the rest as bearing in minde that he had discouered a conspiracie to C. Caesar IIII. The constant death of C. Petronius and what life he led OF C. Petronius a few things aboue recited are heere againe to be repeated He passed the day in sleepe and the night in delightfull sports or other affaires of life And as others industrie so this man slouth had raised to fame a riotous and wastfull spender he was not accompted like many which run through all but vsing riot to his credit And his words and deedes how much the freer and shewing a certaine carelesnes so much the more gratefully receiued as sauoring somewhat of simplicitie Notwithstanding being Proconsull of Bithynia and anon after Consull he shewed himself quick stout and able to wade through great matters Then falling againe to his vices or else shew of vices was receiued amongst Neroes familiar friends as a iudge and arbitrator of his daintiest delights esteeming nothing pleasant or delightfull vnlesse Petronius had approued it Thereupon grew Tigellinus malice against him as against a concurrent or one more skilfull in pleasures then himselfe whetting Neroes crueltie vnto which all other lusts gaue place against him obiecting the friendship he had with Sceuinus corrupting a slaue to be his accuser taking from him all meanes of defence and the greatest part of his familie drawne into prison By chance about that time Caesar went to Campania and Petronius gone as farre as Cumas was there stayed and not able any longer to indure the lingering betweene hope or feare yet did not rashly kill himselfe but cutting his vaines and binding them vp as pleased him opened them againe and talked with his friends though not of any serious matter or worthie to purchase the glorie of constancie but gaue eare to those which discoursed with him yet nothing of the immortalitie of the soule or opinions of wise men but of light verses and easie songs On some of his slaues he bestowed gifts and on some stripes He went sometimes abroade and gaue himselfe to sleepe that although his death was constrained yet it should be like a casuall death Neither in his testament as most men were wont to do did he flatter Nero or Tigellinus or any other fauorite but wrote down the vncleane life of the Prince vnder fained names of stale catamites abused against nature and of women with the strangenes of the abuse of either of them and sealed vp sent it to Nero and brake his seale least afterward it might serue to breede danger to others And Nero doubting how the inuention of his night pleasures should come to light Silia by being the wife of a Senator not vnknowne and abused in all his licentious lusts and very familiar with Petronius came to his minde whom he thrust into banishment as not hauing kept secret those things she had seene and suffered moued thereto by his owne particular hatred rather then rest occasion He deliuered Numicius Thermus once Pretor to Tigellinus priuie hatred because Thermus freed man had layd some criminall matter to Tigellinus charge which he should pay for by torment of torture and his maister by vndeserued death V. Neroes hatred against Thraseas Paetus and Bareas Soranus SO many worthie men being murdered in the end Nero coueted to destroy vertue it selfe by killing Bareas Soranus and Thraseas Paetus of old enemie to both and new occasions rising against Thraseas because he went out of the Senat as I haue alreadie said when Agrippinaes cause was debated because that in the pastime of youth called Inuenales he shewed not so acceptable indeuor as was expected which grudge pearsed the deeplier because the same Thrasea at Padua where he was borne in the Cestian playes instituted by Antenor the Troian sang in tragicall attire The day also that Antistius the Pretor was condemned for outrages against Nero he gaue a milder sentence and obtained it and when the honor of the goddes was ordained for Poppaea absent of set purpose was not at the conuoy of the funerall Which things Capito Cossutianus did not suffer to be forgotten besides his ouer-readie inclination to naughtines enemie to Thrasea because that by his authoritie countenancing the deputies of Cilicia he lost his cause when they pursued Capito for vsing iniustice and extortion in his office He obiected farther That in the beginning of the yeere Thrasea did auoide the oath was not present with the rest at the offering vp of vowes although he were one of the fifteene Priests yet he neuer offered sacrifice for the health of the Prince or heauenly voice that heretofore he hath beene often present and diligent shewing himselfe a fauorer or an aduersarie to the ordinarie consultations of the Lords of the Senate but hath not once entered the Curia this three yeeres and very lately when euery man ran who first might to punish Silanus and Vetus he attended rather on his clients priuat busines that was now a reuolting and a faction and if many durst do the like it would breede to a warre As in times past sayd he the citie desirous of garboile spake of C. Caesar and M. Cato so now of thee ô Nero and Thrasea and hath his adherents or rather followers which imitating though not his obstinacie of opinions yet his behauior and countenance seuere and sterne do cast thy lasciuiousnes in thy teeth This man only is carelesse of thy health no way procuring thy honor he little regardeth the Princes prosperous successes What is he not filled with thy griefes and sorrowes It proceedeth from the selfesame minde not to beleeue Poppaea to be agoddesse and not sweare to obserue the ordinances of Augustus and Iulius of famous memorie He despiseth holie things abrogateth lawes The diurnals of the people of Rome are curiously read in the prouinces and campe that it might be knowen what Thrasea hath not done Either let vs condiscend to his ordinances if they be better or let the captaine and author be taken away from desires of nouelties This sect brought forth the Tuberones Fauonians vnpleasing names to the auncient common wealth That they may ouerthrow the state they pretend libertie but if they should ouerthrow it they will giue an assault to ouerthrow libertis likewise Invaine thou hast extinguished Cassius if thou wilt suffer the followers of Brutus to grow and take head In fine write thou nothing of Thrasea leaue vs the Senate arbitrator of the cause Nero extolleth Cossutianus stoutnes whet on with choler and ioyneth with him Marcellus Eprius of a quick and liuely eloquēce As for Barea Soranus Ostorius Sabinus a Romaine gendeman had required he might accuse him