perceiued that he had a care of things to come for not going about the bush but in plaine termes he vpbraied Macro that he turned his backe to the West and looked alwaies toward the sun-rising And hapning by chāce that some speech was had of L. Sulla whom C. Caesar was wont to scoffe laugh at Tiberius foretold him that he should haue all his vices but not so much as one of his vertues And withall imbracing the yongest of his nephewes with weeping teares the other looking on with an enuious eye sayd vnto him thou shalt kill him and another shall kill thee Yet his sicknes growing more and more vpō him he omitted not any part of his wāton vncleane lusts counterfeiting and putting on a face of courage euen in his weaknes and infirmitie and was wont to mock at the Phisitiōs skill that after 30. yeers space they wanted other mens counsell to know what was good or hurtfull for their own bodies In the meane time at Rome there were certaine seedes of murders sowen to take effect after Tiberius death Laelius Balbus had accused Acutia somtimes the wife of P. Vitellius of treason who being cōdemned when a recompence was to be ordained for the accuser Iunius Otho Tribune of the people withstood it wherupon they two growing to a iarre Otho was sent into banishment Then Albucilla infamous for loose loue with many once wife to Satrius Secundus the detector of the conspiracie was accused of certaine impieties and inchantments against the Prince with her as confederats her adulterers Gn. Domitius Vibius Marsus L. Arruntius Of Domitius nobilitie I haue spoken before Marsus also was of an ancient stock and endued with many good vertues But the memoriall sent vnto the Senate doth testifie that Macro had charge of the examinatiō of the witnesses torture of the bondmen and the Emperours letters gaue no token of suspition against them either because he was weake feeble or bicause he knew nothing of it many crimes were forged by Macro knowen enimie to Arruntius Domitius therefore premeditating his defence Marsus as though he had purposed to pine away by famishing himselfe prolonged their liues Arruntius whilest his friends perswaded him not to be too hastie but linger on answereth them That the same things do not beseeme all men alike that for his own part he had liued long ynough and had no other thing to repent him of but that he had among so manie vaine mockeries perils prolonged his heauie and carefull old age hauing bin long hated of Seianus now of Macro alwais of som one of the mightiest not through any fault of his but bicause he could not endure wickednes True it is he might linger out during the short time the Prince hath to liue but how should he escape the yoong Prince which is to come If Tiberius after such long experience in affaires by the force of rule and dominion hath changed and altered is it to be hoped that C. Caesar who is yet scarse out of his childhood vnexpert and vnacquainted with al things or brought vp trained in the lewdest shuld follow a better course hauing Macro for his guide who being chosen to oppresse Seianus bicause he was woorse than he afflicted the common-wealth with greater calamitie I foresee said he a heauier seruitude and therfore I will flie as well from that which is alreadie past as that which is at hand Speaking these things as it had bin in maner of a Prophesie he cut his vaines It shal appeere by those things which insued that Arruntius died in good time Albucilla hauing wounded herselfe with a blow giuē without effect was carried to prison The ministers of her whoredom Grasidius Sacerdos who had been Pretor was banished into an Iland and Pontius Fregellanus condemned to be put from the Senate the saide punishments were decreed against Laelius Balbus by these themselues which were glad of it bicause Balbus was thought to vse his eloquēce cruelly as one alwais at hād ready against the innocēt XII Tiberius death ABout the same time Sext. Papinius descended of a Consularie familie chose a sudden euilfauoured death by casting himselfe headlong from a high place The cause was attributed to his mother who hauing bin long before put away from her husband by flattering speeches lasciuious wantōnes induced the yoong man vnto that villanie that to auoid the discredit with her he could finde no remedie but death She being accused in Senate albeit she prostrated hirselfe at the Lords feet long shewed her common griefe womens weaknes in such desires and other lamentable and pitifull monings witnessing hir dolour and griefe yet was banished the citie ten yeers vntil her yoongest son was past the vnconstant slipperines of his youth Now Tiberius bodie strength began to forsake him but not yet his dissimulation He had the same courage vigour of minde his countenance and voice was strong desiring somtimes to be pleasant cloked his manifest decay of strength And often changing at last setled himselfe in a promontorie of Misenum in a house which somtimes Lucullus had bin Lord of where it was known that his death was at hand by this means There was a Phisition verie skilfull in his arte called Charicles yet neuer accustomed to gouerne the Prince in his sicknes but to assist him with his counsell This Phisition departing from Tiberius as it had bin about some busines of his own vnder colour of dutie taking him by the hand felt the pulse of his vains but yet he could not vse the matter so cunningly but the emperor perceiued him Whether Tiberius were offended with him or not it was vncertaine if he were so much the more suppressing his anger caused meat to be made readie otherwise than his custome had bin sitteth downe as it had been in honor of his friends farewell Charicles neuerthelesse assured Macro that his spirits decayed and that he coulde not liue aboue two daies Whereupon great debating of matters passed among those which were present and messengers posted away to the lieutenants armies The 17. of the Kalends of April his breath being stopped he was thought to haue ended this mortall life Then C. Caesar with a great multitude flocking about him and congratulating his good fortune went forth to take vpō him the Empire when newes came on the sudden that Tiberius was come to his speech sight again that meate was called for to put him out of his swouning vpon this they were all stroken into a great feare and dispersed themselues some one way some another euerie man counterfeiting a sad cheere and ignorance of all this And C. Caesar stroken dumbe in the top of his hope expected his last doome Macro resolute and stout commanded the old man to be smoothered by casting many clothes on him and euerie man to depart from the doore And so Tiberius ended his life the 78. yeere of
qualitie of absolute rule being such that it could not stand but in one alone Now at Rome the Consuls the Senators and Gentlemen ranne headlong to seruitude and the more nobler the fairer shew and the more hastie but with a composed and setled countenance least they should seeme ouerglad of the death of the last or discontented with the new Prince they tempered their griefe with ioy and lamentation with flatterie The two Consuls Sext Pompeius and Sext. Apuleius did first sweare allegeance to Tiberius Caesar and after into their hands Seius Strabo and C. Turrianus the one Captaine of the Gard the other chiefe officer for prouision of corne After them the Lords of the Senate the souldiers and the people For Tiberius would haue all things begun by the Consuls as the manner was in the ancient free common wealth as though he had not resolued with himselfe whether it were best for him to accept of the Empire or not No not so much as the Edict to call the Lords of the Senate to counsell but was proclaimed in vertue and authoritie of a Tribune which dignitie he had receiued in Augustus time The words of the Edict were not many and deliuered in modest termes That he would only consult what pomp and honor were fit to be done for his father and that he would not depart from the body which should be the onely publike charge he would vndertake Neuerthelesse when Augustus was dead he gaue the watchword to the gard placed the watch disposed of the souldiers managed all the affaires of Court as if he had been Emperour The souldiers waited on him to the place of publike assemblies to the Senate house and dispatched letters to the Camp as though he had bene in full possession of the state irresolute in nothing but whē he should speake in the Senate The chiefest cause proceeded of feare least Germanicus who had so many legions at commaundement such strong aides of confederates and so exceedingly beloued of the people should rather hold then expect the possession of the Empire He stoode on his reputation likewise and seemed rather to be called and chosen by the Common-wealth then creepe in by the canuasing of a woman and adoption of an old man It was afterward further knowne that he vsed that lingering doubtfulnes the better to sound the affection of the Nobilitie for obseruing their countenance and wresting their words to the worst he bare them all in minde In the first meeting of the Senate he would haue nothing debated but Augustus last will and testament which being brought in by Vestaes Virgins declared Tiberius and Liuia to be his heires and that Liuia was adopted into the Iulian familie and entituled by the name of Augusta After them he substituted his nephews and nephews sonnes and in the third place the Peeres of the citie which in generall he hated yet he did it to win fame and glory with posteritie His legacies were moderate like vnto other citizens sauing that he gaue as well to the common sort as the rest of the people foure hundred and thirty fiue thousand nummos to euery souldier of the Pretorian band a thousand to euery one of the legionary cohorts which consisted of citizens of Rome three hundred III. The solemnities of Augustus funerals and the censure vvhich men gaue of him AFter that consultation was had concerning the pomp and solemnities of the funerals among which the most honorable and magnificent were iudged to be these Gallus Asinius thought it meete that the dead corps should be brought through the triumphall gate and L. Arruntius that the titles of the lawes by him ordained and the names of the nations by him vanquished should be caried before him Messalla Valerius added that it was conuenient the oath of allegeance should euery yeare be renewed in Tiberius name Who being demanded of Tiberius whether he had commaundement from him so to aduise answered that he did propound it of his owne free motion and that in matters concerning the common-wealth he would vse no mans aduise but his own although it should be with danger and offence so farre had flattery spread it selfe that that only kinde remayned vnpractised The Lords of the Senate after that cryed with one voyce that they themselues would carry the corps to the funerall fire on their shoulders which Caesar did yeeld vnto with a modesty yet sauoring of arrogancie And admonished the people by Proclamation that they would not as in times past they had disturbed the buriall of Iulius Caesar of famous memory carried away with ouergreat affection so desire now that Augustus body should rather be burnt in the place of publicke assemblies then in Campus Martius a place deputed to that vse The day of the funerals being come the soldiers were placed as it were a gard to the body when as such as had eyther seene or heard their fathers report of the fresh and late yoke of cruell seruitude vnluckely attempted to be shaken off and recouer their auncient libertie then I say when the murdering of Iulius Caesar the Dictator seemed vnto some a wicked and vnto others a worthy deede laughed to see that now an old Prince which had raigned so many yeares and prouided heires to succeede him in might and wealth should neede a gard of souldiers quietly to celebrate his funerals This bred sundry speeches of Augustus many maruelling at vaine and friuolous things as that his death fell on the same day he was made Emperour that he dyed at Nola in the same house and chamber that before him his father Octauius did they made it a great matter that he alone had been as oft Consull as Valerius Coruinus and C. Marius both together that he had continued Tribune seuen and thirtie yeares had beene honored with the name of Emperour one and twentie times with many other old and new dignities bestowed or inuented for him But among the better sort his life was diuersly commended or discommended Some sayd that the loue of his father and the care of the Common-wealth at that time when all lawes were dasht droue him to ciuill warres which can neuer be begun or prosecuted by any good meanes and that he had yeelded in many things to Antony and to Lepidus in like maner because he would reuenge his fathers death For seeing the one grew carelesse with age and the other wasted with lasciuiousnes there was no other meanes left to redresse all discords in the common-wealth then to bring her vnder the obedience of one alone who should gouerne neuerthelesse not as King or Dictator but as Prince The Empire he had bounded with the Ocean and other Riuers farre off the Legions Prouinces and Nauie were linked and knit in peace and vnitie iustice was ministred in the cities the allies intreated with modestie the citie beautified with sumptuous building and if any rigorous dealing had bene vsed against some few it was for setling of quietnes in the whole
afterward somewhat of their rigor was remitted and mitigated because it was then expedient It was in vaine to couer our cowardlines with new names for it was the husbands fault if the woman exceeded the meane In fine it were not well done for the weakenes of one or two to take from husbands their companion in prosperous and aduerse fortune and withall a sexe â—â—â—ake and fraile by nature to be left alone and exposed by her owne licentiousnes to the lust of others Matrimony could hardly be kept vndefiled their husbands being present what would become of them if they should be forgotten for many yeares as it were by diuorcement therefore they should so preuent faults committed abroad that they forget not the dishonors of the citie Drusus added somewhat of his owne matrimony and that Princes most often visit the remotest parts of their Empire How oft had Augustus of famous memory gone to the East and West accompanied with Liuia That himselfe had gone to Illyrium and if it were expedient was readie to go into other countries but yet not alwayes willingly if he should be drawne from his most deere wife and mother of so many children common betweene them both And so Caecinas sentence tooke no effect VIII What abuses were committed by running to the Princes images Warres in Thrace THe next day that the Senat met Tiberius hauing courtly rebuked the Lords of the Senate by letters because they did cast all the cares on the Princes neck nominated M. Lepidus and Iunius Blaesus one of them to be chosen Proconsull of Affrike And both of them being heard Lepidus very earnestly excused himselfe pretending the feeblenes of his bodie his childrens age and a daughter mariageable respecting also though thereof he made no mention that Blaesus was Seianus vncle and therefore sure to carry it away Blaesus answered as though he would haue refused but not with the like asseueration as the other yet had a fauourable hearing of flatterers Then many secret complaints were made knowne for euery lewd companion if he could catch hold on Caesars image might freely and without punishment iniury honest men with opprobrious speeches and rayse enuie against them yea freed men and bondslaues also were feared threatning with words and fists their patrons and maisters Whereupon C. Cestius a Senator vttered these speeches That in deed Princes were like vnto gods but yet the gods heard no supplications but iust neither had any refuge to the Capitol or other temples of the citie that they should vse that as a defence against all misdemeanor That the lawes were abolished and vtterly ouerthrowne seeing that Annia Rufilla whome he had condemned of fraude before the iudge did threaten and vse reprochfull speeches against him in the place of assemblies and before the Curia he not daring to trie the lawe with her because she had Caesars image ouer against her Others muttered the like or bitterer speeches then these and besought Drusus that he would shew exemplarie punishment vpon her and being called and conuicted was condemned to prison Likewise Considius AEquus and Coelius Cursor Gentlemen of Rome were by commaundement of the Prince and order of the Senate punished for forging crimes of treason against the Pretor Magius Caecilianus Both turned to Drusus commendation bicause that by him who conuersed in the citie with all companies in familiar communication the secret deseigments of his father were qualified Neither did the yoong mans riot greatly dislike them reputing it a lesser fault to employ the day in buildings and the night in banquetting then giuen to no pleasures alone heauily to passe the daie in lewde practises and deuises For Tiberius and the accusers were not yet wearied But Ancharius Priscus accused Caesius Cordus Proconsull of Creete of powling the countrey and added treason which was a supplie when all other accusations failed When Caesar perceiued that Antistius Vetus one of the chiefe noble men of Macedonia was acquited of adulterie laid to his charge hauing rebuked the iudges drew him in againe to purge himselfe of treason as being seditious and a confederate with Rhescuporis in his counsels when as hauing slaine his brother Cotys he intended warre against vs. Whereupon he was banished into an Iland neither commodius for Macedonia nor Thrace For Thrace the kingdome being diuided betwixt Rhoemetalces and Cotys children vnto whom by reason of their infancie Trebellienus Rufus was made Tutor through the strangenes of our manners fell to rebell afresh no lesse blaming Rhoemetalces then Trebellienus bicause they suffred the iniuries done to their people to escape vnpunished The Coelaletae and the Odrusetae all strong nations tooke armes vnder diuers Captaines for basenes of birth not vnlike and therfore could not grow to any cruel battel For some troubled the present state some passed the hill Haemus to draw such to them as dwelt a far off most of them and those of better gouernment besieged the King and the citie Philippopolis built by Philip King of Macedon Which when P. Velleius vnderstood who was Captaine of the next armie he sent a certaine companie of horsemen and a band of footmen lightly appointed against those which romed about for pillage or to seeke more succour himselfe brought his strength of footmen to raise the siege all ending prosperously the forragers slaine and a dissention growing amongst the besiegers the King sallied out against these the legions arriued in seasonable time This deserued not the name of an armie or battell in which a few vnfurnished straglers were slaine without any blood-shed on our side IX The Galli vnable to pay their taxations rebell Iulius Florus and Iulius Sacrouir being their Captaines THe same yeere the cities of Gallia by reason they were greatly indebted began a rebellion the chiefest firebrand among the Treueri being Iulius Florus and with the Aedui Iulius Sacrouir both nobly descended and whose auncestors had atchieued valiant acts and therfore made citizens of Rome then a rare thing and a guerdon onely of vertue They by secret conferences hauing drawen to them the most audacious or such whose pouertie or feare of punishmeÌ„ts for their misdeeds were ready to plunge themselues into any enterprise resolued that Florus should stir vp the Belgi and Sacrouir the French neerer at hand In their conuenticles therfore meetings they began to cast out seditious speeches of their coÌ„tinual tributes the greatnes of vsury the cruelty arrogancy of gouernors that the soldiers fell togither by the eares when they heard of Germanicus death That that was a notable time offered of recouering their libertie if now in their flourishing estate they woulde weigh howe poore Italy was howe weake the citie souldier and no strength in the armies but what was in strangers There was almost no citie which was not infected with the seedes of that commotion The Andecauians and the Turonians were the first which burst out of which the Andecauians were subdued by the Lieutenant Acilius Auiola with a bande of men
persons which voluntarily follow the wars Withall he tooke a short viewe of the legions and what Prouinces they defended which giueth me occasion to declare what strength the Romans had then in armes what Kings their confederates and how much lesse the Empire then was Italie had in both seas two nauies the one at Misenum and the other at Rauenna certaine Galleies called rostratae to defend the coast adioining to Gallia which Augustus had taken in the victorie at Actium sent to Foroiuliense well appointed with sea men But the principall strength consisted of eight legions neere vnto Rhene a staie as well to the Germans as Galli Spaine newely subdued had three legions King Iuba had the Mauritanians as a gift giuen him by the people of Rome the rest of Affricke had two legions and Aegypt the like number Then all from the beginning of Suria vnto the riuer Euphrates which contayneth a great countrey receiueth fower legions Hybero and Albanus and other Kings being borderers which by our greatnes are protected against forrain Kings Thrace was vnder the gouernment of Rhoemetalces Cotys children and the banck of Danubium two legions garded in Pannonia and two in Maesia The like number was in Dalmatia which by the situation of the countrey lie behinde them that if on the sudden Italie should neede aide they were at hand Albeit the citie had her proper souldiers three citie cohorts and nine Pretorian almost all chosen out of Etruria Vmbria old Latium and old Romans sent thither to dwell The Galleies of confederats lay in the most commodious places of the Prouinces the companies of horsemen and aides of cohorts not much inferiour in strength though not easilie laide downe through their vncertaine flitting hither and thither sometimes moe sometimes lesse as time and necessitie required I thinke it also expedient to discribe the other partes of the common wealth and howe they had beene gouerned vntill that daie being the yeare in which the state beganne to decline by Tiberius growing woorse and woorse In the beginning publicke and priuat affaires of greatest importance were handled before the Lords of the Senate and the chiefest licenced to opine and debate matters Tiberius himselfe rebuking them if they fell to flattery In bestowing of offices he had regard to their auncestors merite in seruice abroad or lawdable acts at home such only preferred due authoritie reserued vnto the Consuls and to the Pretor the meaner officers each one exercising his owne function and the lawes matter of treason excepted duly executed But for prouision of corne and leuying of tributes and other publick commodities certaine societies of gentlemen of Rome had charge of Caesar committed his owne affaires to honest and tried persons and to some vnknowne if they were wel spoken of and such as were once chosen continued still and grew old in the same charge The people were distressed with a great dearth of corne yet no fault thereof in the Prince but with as great care and diligence as he could remedieth the sterilitie of the ground and rough passages of the sea and gaue order that the prouinces should not be oppressed with new taxations and the old be borne without couetousnes and crueltie of magistrates Caesar had small possessions in Italie and a reasonable number of seruitours and in his house a few freed men and if he had a sute against any priuate person he tried it by law in the place of iudgement all which he maintained not with any courteous and mild course but sternely and feared vntill by the death of Drusus all was turned vpside downe For whilest he liued there was no alteration because Seianus beginning to rise sought meanes to win credit and feared least Drusus would reuenge who neuer dissembled his hartburning but often complained That his sonne being aliue he had another coadiutor in the Empire and what wanteth that he is not his companion That the first steps to soueraigntie are hard but once entred into there will want no fauorers nor followers forts he had built as he liked best charge giuen him ouer souldiers his image was placed amongst C. Pompeius monuments and that he should haue his nephewes common to the Drusian familie that hereafter Modestie must be prayed vnto that he would be contented with his greatnes He did not vtter these speeches seldome or to a few and his wife being corrupted his secrets were bewrayed Seianus therefore thinking it time to make haste chooseth a slow working poison the better to father his sicknes vpon some casuall disease which was giuen Drusus by Lygdus an Eunuch as eight yeeres after it was knowne III. Germanicus children are in Senate recommended to the Lords by Tiberius Drusus funerals and how he vvas empoisoned BVt Tiberius all the time of Drusus sicknes shewed no signe of feare perhaps because he would shew his constancie yea being dead but not buried he entered into the Senate and put the Consuls which sate on a lowe seate as a token of their sorrow in minde of their honors and calling And hauing mastered his owne griefe comforted the Lords of the Senate which powred downe teares with a continuall speech saying That he knew well he might be blamed for shewing himselfe in Senate in so fresh a griefe when the communication of deerest friends and kinsfolks was scarse seene nor hardly the day by many which lamented and mourned Neither were they to be condemned of weakenes yet he for his part had sought for stronger comforts out of the bosome of the common wealth And hauing compassion on the Empresse old age and tender yeeres of her nephewes and of his owne decaying age intreated that Germanicus children the only comfort of present miseries might be brought before them The Consuls went out and emboldening the yong men in that which they should say brought them before Tiberius who taking hold of them said Lords of the Senate I deliuered these fatherles children to their vncle and besought him although he had issue of his owne that he would bring them vp and cherish them as if they were his owne bloud and make them worthy for himselfe and posteritie Drusus being taken from among vs I turne my prayers to you and beseech you in presence of the gods and our countrey that you would receiue and gouerne Augustus nephewes sonnes descended of worthie progenitors and accomplish therein my dutie and your owne These Nero and Drusus shall be in stead of fathers vnto you You are so borne that all your good and euill appertaine to the common wealth With great weeping were these words heard and prayers made that the yong men might prosper and if he had then ended his oration he had filled the harts of the hearers with compassion towards himselfe and glory But being fallen into vaine discourses as such as had beene often laughed at of yeelding vp the gouernment and that the Consuls or some other should take the care vpon him he discredited that which was both honest
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
affaires were in a hurly burly whilest they wauered whom they should receiue for their King Many inclined to Gotarzes sonne to Meherdates sonne to Phrahates who was giuen vs in hostage In the ende Gotarzes preuailed who inioying the Kings seate through crueltie and dissolute life forced the Parthians to send secretly to intreat the Roman Prince to release Meherdates and inuest him in his fathers kingdome IIII. Messalina falleth in loue with Silius THe same men being Consuls the plaies called Seculares were exhibited eight hundred yeeres after the foundation of Rome and threescore and foure yeeres after those which Augustus had caused then to be represented I omit the reasons which moued both these Princes as sufficiently declared in my bookes which I haue composed of the acts of Domitian the Emperour for he likewise did set forth the same plaies which I was present at so much the more carefully because I was then one of the fifteene Priests and Pretor Which I speake not to vaunt or brag thereof but because that charge in times past was committed to the colledge of the fifteene and magistrates did chiefly execute the office of ceremonies Claudius sitting to see the race when the noble mens children represented on horseback the play of Troy and among them Britannicus the Emperours sonne and L. Domitius anon after adopted to the Empire and surnamed Nero. The fauour of the people was more affectionat to him then Germanicus which was taken as a prefage of his future greatnes And it was rumored abroad that in his infancie dragons were found about him in manner of a gard which are fables not vnlike vnto strange miracles for he himselfe who neuer derogated from himselfe was wont to report but of one serpent which was seene in his chamber But that affection of the people was a relick of the memorie of Germanicus who left no other male behinde him but he and the commiseration towards Agrippina his mother was increased by reason of Messallinaes crueltie who alwaies hating her and now more then euer kindled against her was hindered no way from forging of crimes and suborning accusers against her sauing only by a new loue and next cosen vnto madnes For she did so burne in loue with C. Silius the fairest youth of all Rome that to content her lust she caused him to put from him his wife Iunia Syllana an honorable dame to enioy wholy to her selfe the adulterer now vntied from the bands of matrimonie Neither was Silius ignorant how lewd the practice was and what perill he might incurre but if he refused certaine of his destruction and hauing some hope to bleare the eyes of the world and enticed with great rewards he tooke it for the most expedient to expect what might fall and inioy the present She not by stealth but with a great retinue frequented his house was alwayes at his side bestowed wealth and honor bountifully vpon him and at last as though fortune had transferred the Empire slaues freed men and all princely ornamēts and preparations were seene at the adulterers house But Claudius not knowing what rule was at home vsurped the office of a Censor reprehended with seuere edicts the ouergreat licence the people vsed in the Theater vsing opprobrious speeches against P. Pomponius who had bin sometime Consull and gaue verses to the stage and other noble women He made a law to restraine the crueltie of creditors forbidding them to lend money to interest vnto mens sonnes subiect to the fathers power to be payed after their death He brought water to the citie from the Simbruan hils He added and published new letters and characters being a thing most certaine that the manner of the Greekes writing was not begun and perfected at once The Aegyptians first of all expressed the conceptions of their mind by the shape of beasts and the most auncient monuments of mans memory are seene grauen in stones they say that they are the first inuēters of letters Then the Phoenicians because they were strong by sea brought them into Greece and had the glory of inuenting that which they receiued of others For there goeth a report that Cadmus sailing thither in a Phoenicean ship was the inuentor of that arte among the Greekes when they were yet vnexpert and rude Some record that Cecrops the Athenian or Linus the Theban and Palamedes the Grecian at the time of the Troian warre inuented 16. characters then others and especially Simonides found out the rest But in Italie the Etrurians learned them of Corinthius Damaratus and the Aborigenes of Euander the Arcadian and the fashion of the latine letters are like vnto the old greeke letters but we had but a few at the beginning the rest were after added By which example Claudius added three letters which during the time of his raigne were in vse and afterward forgotten and are yet to be seene ingrauen in brasen tables hanged vp in temples and places of assembly to shew the peoples lawes Then he propounded in Senate touching the colledge of southsayers least that the most auncient discipline of Italie should come to naught by slothfulnes seeing that in the hard and aduerse times of the common wealth they haue been sent for and by their aduise the ceremonies haue been renewed and better afterward looked into And the chiefest noble men of Etruria either of their owne motion or at the perswasion of the Lords of the Senate haue continued their science and propagated it to their families which now is very carelesly accomplished by a sloth vsed towards commendable artes and because strange superstitions preuaile and take deeper roote All well for the present thanks were to be rendered to the goodnes of the gods therefore and heed taken that sacred rites in doubtfull times had in reuerence be not in prosperous forgotten Whereupon a decree of Senate was made and order taken that the high Priests should consider what was meete to be retained and established concerning the southsayers V. The Cherusci craue Italus for their King THe same yeere the Cherusci came to Rome to demaunde a King all their nobilitie being extinguished by ciuill warres and one onely left of the blood royall called Italus then being at Rome He was sonne vnto Flauius Arminius brother his mother was the daughter of Catumerus Prince of the Catti and was of a comely personage practised in armes and riding as well according to the maner of our countrey as his owne Caesar therefore hauing furnished him with money and appointed him a guarde encourageth him stoutely to take vpon him the honour of his house and auncestors putting him first in minde that he was borne at Rome where he remained not as an hostage but citizen and that now he was to goe to a strange Empire At the first the Germans were glad of his comming and so much the rather bicause he was not nusled in factions and discords and therefore would beare like affection vnto all He was reuerenced and honoured of all
time the Embassadors of the Parthians sent as I haue said before to demand Meherdates for their King entered into the Senat and began to vtter their charge as followeth They came thither not ignorant of the league betweene them and the Romans nor disloyall to the familie of the Arsacides but to aske for Vonones sonne Phrahates nephew against Gotarzes tyrannie alike intollerable to the nobilitie and communaltie Now that his brothers are extinguished by murder his neerest kinsemen and such as were farthese off he would do the like to women with child and small children thinking it a meanes being vnfortunate in warres abroad to couer with that cowardlines his crueltie at home That their amitie with vs was auncient and publickly confirmed and therefore reason we should ayd our allies which might in strength compare with the Romans but in deede yeeld for reuerence Therefore the Kings children were giuen for hostages that if they grew weary of their domesticall gouernment they might haue recourse to the Prince and Lords of the Senate vnder whose manner of liuing the King being brought vp should be presumed to be the better When they had vttered these and the like speeches Caesar began his oration with the greatnes of the Roman Empire and dutifulnes of the Parthians and maketh himselfe equall to Augustus declaring that a King had beene demaunded of him also not mentioning Tiberius at all notwithstanding he had sent ayd likewise He gaue certaine precepts to Meherdates who was there present aduertising him that he should not thinke himselfe a Lord and maister to commaund ouer his subiects as slaues but a guide and they citizens and that he should vse clemencie and iustice vertues so much the more gratefull vnto these barbarians by how much the lesse knowne among them Then turning himselfe to the Embassadors he highly commended the youth which had beene brought vp in the citie as one whose modestie had beene well tried that the dispositions of Kings were to be borne withal because often changes are not profitable That the Romane estate was growne vnto that height with fulnes of glory that it desired peace and quietnes euen to forren nations After he had thus sayd he commaunded C. Cassius gouernor of Syria to conduct the yong man to the riuer of Euphrates Cassius at that time did excell the rest in the knowledge of the lawes For militarie skill is vnknowne in time of rest and quietnes and peace esteemeth alike of the coward and couragious Neuertheles as much as those quiet times gaue him leaue he renewed the auncient discipline kept the legions in practise with care and foresight as if the enemie had beene at hand thinking it a thing worthy of his ancestors and Cassian familie renowned among those people Hauing therefore sent for them through whose consentment the King was demaunded and planted his camp at Zeugma where the riuer is most passable after that the noblemen of Parthia and the King of the Arabians called Abbarus was come he shewed vnto Meherdates that the first brunt of the barbarians was fierce and hote but by delay and lingering became cold or turned into treason and therefore he should couragiously go through his enterprise But his aduise was contemned through Abbarus fraude who detained him like an vnexperienced yong man in the towne of Edessa as though the highest degree of fortune and princely felicitie had consisted in riot and wantonnes And when Carrhenes called them in and assured them that all was in a good readines if they would make haste they did not march straight to Mesopotamia but turned to Armenia in an vnseasonable time because the winter was begun Then wearied with snowes and mountaines comming neere to the plaine they ioyned with Carrhenes forces And hauing passed the riuer of Tigris they entered into the countrey of the Adiabeni whose King Iuliates in open shew professed himselfe a confederate of Meherdates but vnderhand was more faithfully bent to Gotarzes IIII. Gotarzes ouercommeth Meherdates and cutteth off his eares Mithradates vsurpeth the kingdome of the Dandarides and goeth about to driue out Cotys NEuerthelesse in passing by Meherdates tooke the citie of Ninos the most ancient seat of Assyria and a famous Castle because that in the last battell betwixt Darius and Alexander there the Persian power was brought to vtter ruine In the meane time Gotarzes at a hill called Sambulos offered vowes to the gods of the place among which Hercules was chiefly honoured who at a certaine time admonisheth his Priestes in a dreame that neere vnto the Temple they should haue horses readie prepared for hunting the horses loaden with quiuers full of arrowes prawnsing vp and downe the woods returne at night breathing and panting with their quiuers emptie The god again declareth to them in a dreame what woods they haue coursed vp and downe in whither they goe and finde wild beasts killed in many places But Gotarzes not hauing sufficiently strengthened his armie vseth the riuer Corma for a defēce And although he were summoned by diuers messēgers hard speeches to battel yet he sought delayes changed place and sent some to corrupt the enimie and draw them to forsake their obedience Among which Ezates Adiabenus and anon after Abbarus King of the Arabians with their armie began to shrinke through a certaine lightnes incident to that nation and bicause it is tried by experience that the Barbarians had rather come to Rome to demaund a King then when they haue him keepe him Now Meherdates seeing himselfe stripped of his strongest succour and suspecting least the others would betraye him determined for his last refuge to commit the matter to chaunce and hazard it in a maine battell Gotarzes being verie fierce that his enimies forces were diminished refused not to fight They met with great slaughter and a doubtfull issue vntill Carrhenes making cleare way before him and driuing and pursuing the enimies too farre was compassed behind with a fresh companie and slaine Then all hope being lost Meherdates trusting the promises of one Parrhacis a follower of his father by his falshood was taken prisoner and deliuered to the Conquerour Who intreated him not like a kinsman or one of the Arsacis stocke but reuiled him like a stranger and a Roman and hauing cut off his eares gaue him his life as a shew of his clemencie and dishonour and reproch vnto vs. Not long after Gotarzes died of a disease and Vonones then gouernour of the Medes was called to be King There happened nothing in his raigne either prosperous or vnprosperous worthie the telling he liued but a short and an inglorious time and the kingdome of the Parthians was translated to his sonne Vologeses But Mithradates the Bosphoran wandering vp and downe after he had lost his forces vnderstanding that Didius the Roman Captaine with the strength of his armie was departed and that onely Cotys a raw and rude youth was left in the new kingdome with some few bandes vnder the conduct of
woman they inuaded her kingdome with a strong power of armed and choise youth Which was foreseene by vs and the cohorts sent to second her fought a hote battell which at the beginning was doubtfull though the end more ioyfull A legion also which Cesius Nasica commaunded fought with the like successe for Didius being stroken in yeeres and hauing receiued many honors thought it sufficient to execute his charge and driue away the enemie by the help of others These exploites although they were atchieued by two Propretors Ostorius and Didius in many yeeres yet I thought good to ioyne together least being seuered they should not so well haue beene remembred IX Nero Agrippinaes sonne is preferred before Britannicus sonne to Claudius NOw I will returne to the order of times Ti. Claudius beeing the fift time Consull and Ser. Cornelius Orfitus great haste was made to make Nero of full yeeres that he might seeme more capable of the gouernment And Caesar willingly yeelding to the flattery of the Lords of the Senate consented that Nero should be Consull at twentie yeeres of age and being elect in the meane season haue the Proconsulary authoritie out of the citie and be called prince of youth There was also giuen in his name a donatiue to the souldiers and a liberalitie to the people The Circensian playes being exhibited to win the fauour of the people Britannicus in his pretext and Nero in triumphing attire because the people should see the one in the magnificence of an Emperour and the other in the habite of a child thereby to presume what fortune to either of them should hereafter fall Withall if any of the Centurions or Tribunes bewayled Britannicus hap they were remoued either by fained pretences or vnder colour of preferment yea of the freed men if any were faithfull he was not suffered about him As these two met vpon occasion Nero saluted Britannicus by his name and Britannicus rendred him the like by the name of Domitius Which Agrippina taking hold of as a beginning of a quarrel carieth to her husband with a grieuous complaint saying that the adoption was nought set by the decree of Senate the ordinance of the people broken and abrogated in his owne house and if such contemptuous frowardnes of Britannicus teachers were not seuerely looked vnto it would burst out into some publike mischiefe Claudius moued with these complaints as though they had beene faults indeede either banished or put to death the chiefest bringers vp of his sonne and placed such ouer him as his stepmother would appoint Neuerthelesse Agrippina durst not leuell at her chiefest marke which was that her sonne should succeede in state vnlesse Lusius Geta and Rufus Crispinus captaines of Caesars gard were first discharged whom she thought would be mindfull of Messallinaes fauours towards them and therefore bound vnto her children Agrippina therefore beareth the Emperour in hand that the gard was deuided into factions through ambition of the two captaines striuing for superioritie that the discipline of seruice would be better kept if the souldiers were commaunded by one alone The charge of the cohorts was transferred vnto Burrhus Afranius a man of great fame for matter of seruice yet knowing well by whose practise and fauour he came to the place Agrippina began also to raise her owne estate to a higher degree by entering into the Capitol in a chariot which in times past was a custome only lawfull for the Priests in sacred rites which augmented the more the state of this woman because she was the onely example vnto this day of any one who being daughter of an Emperour hath been also sister wife and mother of an Emperour In the meane season her chiefest buckler Vitellius being in highest fauour and very old so slipperie is the state of great personages was accused by Iunius Lupus Senator of treason and aspiring to the Empire and Caesar readie to giue eare to the accusation if he had not rather changed his opinion by Agrippinaes threates then intreaties and so to banish the accuser which was the punishment Vitellius best liked That yeere many prodigious sights hapned as that many birds portending euill luck lighted vpon the Capitol many houses ruined by often earthquakes and the feare spreading among the astonied people many in throngs were smothered The want of corne and the famine which insued thereof was also construed as a presage of euill luck Neither did they complaine in secret only but came about Claudius as he gaue audience with turbulent clamors and hauing thrust him to the end of the forum followed him vntill that with a band of souldiers he brake through the prease It was most certaine that the citie was not victualled for aboue fifteene dayes but by the great goodnes of the gods and mildnes of the winter the citie was relieued in necessitie But truly in times past prouision of corne hath beene transported out of Italie into other prouinces farre distant And at this present we stand not in want through the barrennes of the countrey but we do rather manure Afrike and Aegypt and hazard the life of the people of Rome by sea whereof depends want or abundance X. Warres betweene the Romans and the Parthians THe same yeere a warre begun betweene the Armenians and Hiberi was cause of great troubles betwixt the Romans and the Parthians Vologeses was King of the Parthians descended by his mothers side of a Greek concubine yet got the kingdome by consent of his brothers Pharasmanes hath a long time possessed the Hiberians countrey as a King and his brother Mithradates the Armenians through our forces Pharasmanes had a sonne called Rhadamistus of a comely tall stature and of a verie strong and able bodie trained vp in the qualities and practises his father before him had beene and greatly renowned among his neighbors He was woont to say that the kingdome of Hiberia was small and yet kept from him by his father who was verie olde and so oft he did cast foorth those speeches and so fiercely that it was easily seene how greedie a desire he had to raigne Pharasmanes then seeing this yoong man so desirous and readie to rule misdoubting the peoples affection bent towardes him by reason of his declining yeeres thought it best to feede him with some other hope and set Armenia before his eies telling him that he had giuen that kingdome to Mithradates hauing first expulsed the Parthians Yet that it was not his best course to set on it by force but vse policie against Mithradates and intrap him when he least looked for it Rhadamistus vnder colour of some discontent with his father through the insupportable dealing of his stepmother goeth to his vncle where being intreated with all courtesie as if he had been his owne childe solliciteth the chiefe noble men of Armenia to rebellion Mithradates knowing nothing but still entertaining him with all fauour and kindnes Rhadamistus vnder colour of reconciliation returned vnto his father and declared
siege or els because it was tempered least it should worke immediatly But Nero impatient of lingring long working wickednes threatned the Tribune cōmanded the poisoneresse to be put to death bicause that whilest they respect the rumor and forge excuses for their owne safty they droue off his security They then promising as spedy a death as if he shold be slaine with a sword neere vnto Caesars chamber a poison was sod strong and violent by proofe of poisoning The custome was for Princes children to sit with other noble mens of the same age in presence of their neere kindred with a spare diet at a table by themselues Britannicus there taking his repast because one of the seruitours did taste his meates and drinkes least the custome should be omitted or the villanie disclosed by both their deaths this pollicie was deuised A drinke yet not hurtfull but very hote and tasted of was presented to Britannicus then that being refused by reason of the heate the poison was powred into cold water which so spread throughout all the parts of his bodie that his speech and spirits were at once taken from him Those which sate about him were in a maze the other which knew nothing ran away but they which were of deeper iudgement stirred not but looked Nero in the face he leaning on the table like one that knew nothing of the practise sayd he was often wont to fall into such fits through the falling sicknes which Britannicus had been greeuously afflicted with from his infancie and that his sight and speech by little and little would come to him againe But Agrippina was possessed with such a great feare an astonishment of senses although she indeuored to hide it in countenance that she was easily iudged to be as ignorant of the fact as Britannicus sister Octauia for she saw that she was bereaued of her greatest stay perceiued well that it was a beginning of parricide Octauia also although of yong yeeres yet had learned to hide her griefe her loue and all affections and so after a little silence the mirth of the banquet began againe Britannicus bodie was burnt the same night he died all funerall preparation hauing beene prouided before hand which was but small neuertheles he was buried in Campus Martius in such stormes showres that the people beleeued they portended the wrath of the gods against so heinous a fact which yet many excused in Nero calling to minde the auncient discord of brothers in termes of soueraigntie and how Kings admit no companions Many writers of that time do deliuer that Nero many dayes before had abused Britanicus bodie and therefore that now his death could not seeme either vntimely or cruell although it happened in the sacred libertie of his table his sister not hauing so much as time to imbrace him hastned before his enemies face against the last of Claudius bloud and his bodie defiled before he was poisoned Caesar excused the hastines of the obsequies by an edict saying that the custome of auncient times was to celebrate in secret manner and not openly dolefull and bitter funerals without either solemnities or praises As for himselfe hauing lost the ayde and comfort of his brother the rest of his hopes were anchored wholy in the common wealth and that the Lords of the Senat people should so much the more fauour maintaine that Prince which was only left of the familie borne to rule and absolute dominion Then he enriched with gifts the chiefest of his friends Neither wanted there some which blamed men pretending grauitie that they deuided houses and possessions as though they had beene booties Some thought the Prince forced them thereto as guiltie of his fact and hoping for pardon if he could bind vnto him the mightiest and strongest in power But his mothers wrath could by no munificence be appeased but she embraced Octauia and had often secret conference with her friends and besides her naturall couetousnes scraping money together of all hands as it were for some purpose on a pinch she entertained the Centurions and Tribunes with all courtesie she honored the names and vertues of the nobilitie which then were in towne as though she had sought for a head to make a faction Nero perceiuing that commaundeth the gard of souldiers which heretofore was appointed to gard the Emperors wife and now her as his mother to be taken from her and certaine Germans which she had besides the former appointed to gard her to depart and be gone And least she should be frequented with multitudes of saluters he deuideth his house sendeth his mother to that which was Antoniaes and as oft as himselfe came thither garded with a companie of Centurions after a short salutation departed againe V. Agrippina accused for conspiring against Nero. Silana punished Pallas and Burrhus accused THere is no mortall thing more mutable and flitting then the fame of greatnes not sustained by his owne force and strength Agrippinaes house was now vtterly forsaken no man went to comfort her no man to visite her sauing a few women and vncertaine of them whether for loue or hatred Among which Iunia Silana was one who as I haue alreadie declared at Messallinaes instigations was separated from hir husband C. Silius a woman of great parentage of alluring and wanton beautie and a long time welbeloued of Agrippina Yet afterwards there was a priuie grudge betweene them two bicause Agrippina had dehorted Sext. Africanus a noble yoong gentleman from marriyng of Silana saying shee was vnchast and growne into yeeres not because she meant to reserue him for hir selfe but fearing least he should enioy Silanaes goods if she died without issue Silana hauing a hope of reuenge offered sollicited Iturius and Caluisius followers of her owne to accuse Agrippina yet not for any old and stale matter as that she bewailed the death of Britannicus or published the iniuries done to Octauia but that she intended to stir vp Rubellius Plautus by the mothers side as neere to Augustus as Nero was to new enterprises against the state by marriyng of him Empire gotten by her meanes afflict inuade the common-wealth afresh These things Iturius and Caluisius discouered to Atimetus a freed man of Domitia aunt vnto Nero. Who glad of the occasion offered for betweene Domitia and Agrippina there was deadly hatred vrged the stage player Paris a freed man likewise of Domitia to goe withall speed to Nero and enforme most bitterly against her The night was well spent and Nero well tippled when Paris entereth as one accustomed at other times to entertaine the Prince with sports and iestes but then his countenance setled to sadnes and declaring the whole order of Atimetus tale did so terrifie and daunt the Prince that he determined to kill not onely his mother and Plautus but discharge Burrhus of his office as aduaunced by Agrippinaes fauour and readie therefore to requite her with as good a turne Fabius Rusticus reporteth that
giuing as much as a Prince could bestow vpon a friend and I in taking as much as a friend could take of a Prince That which is aboue this augmenteth enuie the which no doubt as all mortall things doth lye vnder thy greatnes but lye heauily on my shoulders therefore I neede help and as wearie in seruice of warre or on the way I would craue succour so in this iourney of my life old and vnable to wade through the smallest cares seeing I cannot sustaine the burden of my riches any longer I craue thy aide and helping hand commaund them to be mannaged by thy procurators and be receiued as thy owne goods Neither will I thrust my selfe into pouertie but giue vp those things whose brightnes dimmed and dazeled me that time which I was wont to bestow in my gardens and houses of pleasure I will imploy in recreation of minde Thou art in the floure of thy age and the regiment of thy Empire established and setled many yeeres and we thy old friends may betake our selues to rest This also shall redound to thy glorie that thou hast raised such to great honors as could haue contented themselues with a meane estate Vnto which Nero answered almost as followeth That I am able extempore to answere thy premeditated oratiō I am principally indebted to thee who hath instructed me how not onely to acquit discharge my selfe of things premeditat but also of such as happen on the sudden My great great grandfathers father Augustus suffered Agrippa and Mecenas after great labour to take their ease but in such an age that his authoritie might maintaine whatsoeuer had been bestowed yet he neuer tooke those rewards from them he had once giuen them In warre and dangers they had deserued them for in these things Augustus youth was employed neyther would thy weapons and hands haue been wanting if I had been in armes But as the present state of times required thou diddest with reason and counsell traine vp first my childhood then my youth and therefore the gifts which thou bestowedst vpon me whilest life lasteth shall remaine with me Those things which thou hast receiued of me thy orchyards vsury countrey houses are subiect to casualtie and although they seeme much yet many not equall with thee in knowledge haue possessed more I am ashamed to speake of such as haue been slaues which seeme richer then thou And therefore I blush that thou who in affection art deerest vnto me doest not surpasse all men in wealth and fortune And thou art of thy age a lustie man and able to inioy thy wealth and commoditie thereof and we enter into the first steps of the Empire vnlesse pardie thou doest preferre thy selfe before Vitellius thrise Consull or me before Claudius But how much Volusius scraped by long sparing so much my liberalitie cannot fulfill towards thee If the slipperines of our youth be ouerprone to that it should not thou drawest it back and temperest carefully with aduise our vnseemely and vnruly courage Not thy moderation if thou shouldest restore thy wealth not thy ease if thou shouldest forsake the Prince but my couetousnes and the feare of my crueltie shall be in euery mans mouth And although thy continencie should be highlie commended yet were it not seemely for a wise man from whence he procureth infamie to his friend from thence to seeke glorie to himselfe To these his speeches he ioyned embracements and kisses framed by nature and practised by custome to cloake hatred with false flattering speeches Seneca which is the conclusion of all speeches had with Princes gaue him thanks but changed the course and manner of life which he vsed in authoritie forbidding the multitudes which came to salute him and auoiding such as would follow him shewing himselfe seldome in the citie as though he had kept home either through sicknes or busie at his studie XV. Tigellinus credit Plautus and Syllaes death SEneca being thus puld downe it was an easie matter to abate Rufus Fenius credit by accusing him of the friendship he had with Agrippina but Tigellinus credit daily grew greater and thinking that his lewde practises wherein onely he was his craftsmaister should be more acceptable if he could oblige the Prince by a league of naughtie dealing he began diligentlie to search out all his feares and perceiuing that Plautus and Sylla were suspected aboue others Plautus being banished of late into Asia and Sylla into Gallia Narbonensis he entereth into the consideration of their nobilitie and how the one was too neere the armie of the East and the other that of Germanie That he for his owne part had not in his head as Burrhus had contrarie hopes to the Emperours but regarded only his safetie which in some sort might be secured by his presence from citie practises but by what meanes could tumults far off be redressed The Galli became prechant at the name of a Dictator and the people of Asia no lesse to be suspected through the renowme of Drusus Plautus grandfather Sylla was poore and needie and therefore bold and venturous and counterfeiting a lazines vntill he found a fit oportunitie to shew his rashnes Plautus abounding in wealth did not so much as pretend a desire of a quiet life but made open shew of imitating the old Romanes hauing taken vpon him the arrogancie and sect of the Stoicks which maketh men busie headed and desirous to be set aworke Neither was there any further delay vsed but Sylla those which were to do the feate arriuing at Marsils the sixt day before feare or rumor was slaine being set at table and Nero skoffed when his head was brought him as euilfauored by vntimely hoarines But it was not so secretly kept that Plautus death was intended because many had a care of his safetie and the distance of the iourney and sea and the time betweene had spread it abroad and giuen out among the common sort that he went about to sturre vp Corbulo then lord generall ouer great armies saying that if noble and innocent personages were thus murdered he was most likelie to come into danger Further Asia had taken armes in fauour of this yong man and the souldiers sent to go forward with the enterprises being neither strong in number nor in courage stout seeing they could not performe that which they were enioyned turned altogether to new hopes These speeches were common in idle persons mouths But Plautus freed man hauing a prosperous winde preuented the Centurion and deliuered him a message from L. Antistius his father in lawe which was That he should auoide a cowardly death and not trust a lazie life nor seeke starting holes as to thinke that he should be pitied for his nobilitie he should finde good men and of courage readie to take his part in the meane time that no aide was to be reiected If he had driuen backe threescore souldiers for so many came whilest the messenger could returne to Nero and another power be sent back many
spread that the bridge would fall vnder the burden by the deceit of the makers But such as ventured to go ouer it found it strong and sure IIII. Paetus cowardlines Corbuloes diligence to succour him An agreement with the King of the Parthians MOst certaine it was the besieged had such store of corne left that they fired their storehouses and on the other side Corbulo declared that the Parthians were in want of all necessarie prouision and their stouer all consumed ready to haue forsaken the siege and himselfe but three dayes iourney off He added farther that Paetus had promised by oath before the ensignes in the presence of such as the King had sent to beare witnes that no Romane should enter into Armenia vntill it appeared by Neroes letters whether he agreed to the peace or not Which things as they haue beene inuented to increase infamie so the rest is not vnknowne that Paetus went in one day fortie miles leauing the wounded scattered behind him which fear of the fleers away was no lesse ignominious then if in fight they had turned their backs to the enemie Corbulo meeting him at the banke of Euphrates with his forces made no such shew of his ensignes and armes that he should seeme to vpbraide him of his cowardlines For his common souldiers sad and bewailing the case of their fellowes could not forbeare weeping They scarse saluted the one the other for teares Strife of valour there was none no ambition of glorie the only desire of men in prosperitie Pitie only bare sway and most of all with the meaner sort The captaines vsed few words and those complaining that their labour was lost that the warre might haue beene ended with the flight of the enemie Paetus answered that all was whole and in good state to them both that they should turne their ensignes and iointly inuade Armenia weakened by Vologeses absence Corbulo answered he had no such commission from the Emperour that he had gone out of the prouince moued with the danger of the legions and seeing that the Parthians attempts were vncertaine he would returne to Syria And that he was to pray for good fortune that his footemen wearied with trauelling so farre afoote might ouertake the Kings horsemen going before cheerefully hauing the aduantage of the countrey From thence departed Paetus to winter in Cappadocia But Vologeses Embassadors sent to Corbulo warned him to pull downe his forts beyond Euphrates and leaue the riuer indifferent to both Corbulo demaunded on the other side that the garrisons should depart out of diuers parts of Armenia And in the end the King yeelded to it and the fortresses which Corbulo had made beyond Euphrates were pulled downe and the Armenians left to their will But at Rome trophees and triumphant arches were erected in signe of victorie ouer the Parthians in the middle of the Capitol by order of Senate the warre yet fresh and not finished only for a faire shew no conscience made whether by desert or not Yea Nero to dissemble the cares of forren affaires did cast corne into Tyber corrupted by the peoples ouer-long keeping it to shew thereby a securitie and plentie of victuals the price nothing enhanced although almost two hundred ships were cast away by tempest in the very hauen and a hundred brought vp Tyber consumed by casuall fire After that he appointed three Consuls L. Piso Ducennius Geminus Pompeius Paullinus to take charge of the tribute with an inuectiue against other Princes which by excesse of expenses spent more then the reuenewes came to and he would bestow yeerely on the common wealth * threescore millions of sesterces There was a very bad custome commonly practised at that time when the choosing of officers was at hand or casting lots for gouerment of prouinces which was that many which were without children colourably adopted some and being thereby admitted amongst the Lords to draw lots for Pretorships and Prouinces immediately after manumised those they had adopted Whereupon those which had children went to the Senat with a great complaint declaring the law of nature the labour in bringing vp of children against the fraud and deceit and short time of adoption That it was a sufficient recompense to the childelesse that with great securitie without charge they had credit honors and all things else offered them That to them the promises of lawes long expected were turned into a iest when a man without care a father without mourning childlesse would on the sudden be equall with the long desires of fathers Whereupon a decree of Senate was made that fained adoption should not benefit in any part to any publicke charge nor yet to succeede in others inheritances V. Magistrates sent into Prouinces no more rewarded The Gymnase burnt Pompeius towne suncke with an earthquake AFter this Claudius Timarchus of Candie was accused of all the crimes that rich gouernours of Prouinces are woont to be touched with and growne insolent with ouer great wealth to the oppression of the meaner sort One speech of his reached to the disgrace of the Senate which was that it laye in him whether the Proconsuls of Candie should haue thankes giuen them or not Which occasion Paetus Thrasea turning to the common good after he had giuen his opinion that the accused should be banished Candie added these words It is prooued by experience Lords of the Senate that most excellent lawes and honest examples haue their beginning by good men from others offences So the licence of orators was cause of the lawe Cincia the suing of competitors of the Iulian lawes the couetuousnes of magistrates of the Calpurnian decrees For the fault goeth before the punishment and the remedie commeth after the offence Therefore against the new pride of Prouinces let vs take some aduise woorthie of the Roman integritie and constancie that nothing may be derogated from the protection of the allies or the opinion conceiued of vs weakened or a citizen be else where iudged than before vs or reputed other than he is esteemed by vs. In times past not onely a Pretor or Consull but priuate men also were sent to visite the Prouinces which should report what was thought of euery ones dutie and loyaltie and the people were afraid of a particular mans estimation and iudgement But now we adore strangers and flatter them and as at the pleasure of one thankes are now a dayes giuen so the accusation of one more redily receiued Let the decree contiuue and let the Prouinces haue power to shew their authoritie by such meanes but let false praise and wroong out by praiers be restrained no lesse than malice and crueltie For there are more offences committed whilest we goe about to win fauour than whilest we do offend yea some vertues are odious obstinate seueritie and an inuincible minde against fauour Hereupon the beginnings of our magistrates are for the most part better and the end declineth whilest we hunt after suffrages which if they were forbidden the
necessarie to assure the Empire vpon Nero were a preparing And first of all Agrippina as one ouercome with griefe and seeking comfort helde Britannitus betweene her armes calling him the very image of his fathers face and by diuers policies entertained him for feare he should go out of the chamber and with like practises helde Antonia and Octauia his sisters and at euery dore and passage placed a strong gard and often gaue out that the Prince waxed better and better to the end the soldier should liue in good hope and she enterprise her attempt at such a time as the Magicians should thinke luckie and prosperous Then about the middest of the day the third before the Ides of October the Pallace gates being suddenly layd open Nero accompanied with Burrhus goeth forth to the cohort who kept warde according to custome where at the commaundement of the captaine of the gard he was receiued with shoutes and acclamations of ioy and put into a Chariot It is reported that some were in a doubt looking about them and asking where Britannicus was then seeing no beginner of any attempt to the contrary they followed that which was offered and so Nero being brought to the rest of the gard and hauing made a speech fit for the time and promised a donatiue according to the example of his fathers largesse was saluted Emperour A decree of Senate confirmed the sentence of the souldiers neither was there any doubtmade of it in the prouinces After that honor due to the gods was ordained for Claudius and the funerals as solemnely celebrated as when Augustus of famous memorie was buried Agrippina imitating the magnificence of her Grandmother Liuia Claudius testament was not publickly read least the people shoulde bee incensed to disdaine and enuie against Nero by seeing him who was onely a sonne in lawe to be preferred before the Emperours naturall sonne THE THIR TEENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Silanus is put to death and Narcissus Neroes good beginning THe first whose death was contriued in this new gouernment was Iunius Silanus Proconsull of Asia and that without the priuitie of Nero by Agrippinaes treachery and malice not because he had by any seditious demeanor procured his owne ruine for he was so heauie and dull spirited and the other Emperours did so smally regard him that C. Caesar was wont to call him a golden sheepe But Agrippina hauing wrought the ruine of his brother L. Silanus feared reuenge being a common speech among the people that this man deserued to be preferred to the Empire before Nero yet scarse out of his childhood and hauing gotten it by wicked meanes for he was a man of a setled age sincere and iust in his dealing noble of birth and which at that time was greatly esteemed descended of the Caesars being in the fourth degree to Augustus This was the cause of his death the ministers being P. Celer a gentleman of Rome Aelius a freed man both hauing charge of the Princes peculiar reuenues in Asia By them the poison was giuen the Proconsull in his meate and that so openly that it could not be denied With no lesse speede Claudius freed man Narcissus of whose iarring with Agrippina I haue alreadie spoken was brought to his end by hard imprisonment and extreame necessitie against the Princes will whose vicious humors yet vnknowne he did exceedingly well fit in couetousnes and prodigalitie and had gone forward in murders if Afranius Burrhus and Annaeus Seneca had not stayed them These two were the yong Emperors guides and gouernors and in equall authoritie well agreeing bare equall stroke in diuers faculties Burrhus in militarie discipline and grauitie of manners Seneca in precepts of eloquence and courteous carriage helping one the other in their charge the easier to bridle the youths slipperie age with honest and lawfull pleasures if he contemned vertue Their care was both alike in keeping vnder Agrippinaes fierce humor who boyling with all desires of wicked rule and dominion had Pallas for her counseller by whose aduise Claudius through his incestuous marriage pernicious adoption wrought his own ruine But Neroes disposition was not to be ruled by a slaue and Pallas with an odious arrogancie exceeding the moderation of a freed man bred his owne dislike Neuerthelesse all honors were openly heaped vpon Agrippina and the Tribune according to the order of seruice asking the watch-word had this giuen him by Nero Of the verie goodmother The Senate decreed she should haue two sergeants Claudius a colledge of Priests called Claudians withall that he should haue the funerals of a Cēsor be after deified put amōg the gods The day of his funerals Nero made the oration in his praise as long as he spake of the antiquitie of his stock of the Consulships triumphs of his ancestors he the rest were attentiue and likewise whilest he spake of the loue he bare to liberall sciences and that during the time of his gouernment the common wealth was not molested by forren powers all men gaue good eare but after he descended to his prouidence and wisedome no man could forbeare laughing although the oration composed by Seneca shewed the exquisite skill of that mans pleasant vaine fitted and applied to the eares of that time The old men which were at leasure to compare things past with the present noted that Nero was the first Emperour that needed another mans eloquence For Caesar the Dictator was equall with the famous orators and Augustus had a readie fluent and eloquent speech such as well becommed a Prince Tiberius had great skill in waighing his words vttered much in few words but was obscure of set purpose Yea C. Caesars troubled minde hindered not his eloquence neither wanted Claudius elegancie when he had premeditated Nero in the beginning of his childish yeeres bent his liuely spirit to other matters as to ingraue to paint to sing to mannage horses and sometimes in composing a verse he shewed some smattering of learning When the funerals were ended he entered the Curia and hauing first spoken of the authoritie of the Lords of the Senate loue and concord of the souldiers he reckoned vp certaine deseignments and precidents he intended to follow in the gouerning of the Empire adding that not hauing beene nusled vp in ciuill warres nor domesticall discords he would bring with him neither hatred nor grudge nor desire of reuenge Then he layd downe a platforme of his future regiment especially auoiding those things the hate whereof did yet freshly boile in mens hearts that he would not be the iudge of all matters least the accusers and defendants being as it were shut vp in one house the power of a few might haue full sway to worke their will there should nothing be set at sale in his court or exposed to ambition his house should be deuided from the common wealth the Senate should retaine his old preheminence Italie and publicke prouinces should make
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