gratefull spectacle vnto all Latiaris as I haue rehearsed before was the principall agent of circumuenting Titius Sabinus and then the first that receiued punishment for it Among these accusations Haterius Agrippa setteth vpon the Consuls of the last yeere asking them why they are now so still and cease from the accusations begun the one against the other it was feare and guilt of conscience which made them friends but the Lords of the Senate would not so put vp that which they had heard Regulus said he would stay for a time of reuenge and that he would prosecute the matter before the Prince Trio answered that emulation and enuie betwixt collegues were better forgotten and iniurious words if any had passed Agrippa vrging on still Sanquinius Maximus one of the Consuls desired the Senators that they would not increase the Emperours cares by hunting after matter of dislike and that he himselfe was able to redresse these things and so Regulus life was saued and Trioes ruine deferred Haterius was so much the more odious because that withered and vnlustie with sleepe or lasciuious watchings and through his dull drousie disposition nothing fearing the Prince though cruell euen in his brothell houses and loosest lasciuiousnes dreamt of nothing but how to subuert the nobilitie After that Cotta Messalinus the author of euery cruell sentence and hated of old as soone as occasion was offered was accused to haue vttered certaine things against Caesar and among others that he was in his secret parts both man and woman and after a banket on the birth day of Augusta among the Priests he tearmed that a Nouendinale supper or belonging to a mortuary that repining at M. Lepidus and L. Arruntius power and authoritie hauing a sute depending against them for a money matter he should say that them the Senate would defend but me my little Tiberius will support The chiefe of the citie conuicted him without any delay and pursuing him eagerly he appealed to the Emperour And not long after letters were brought from Tiberius in which in manner of a defence calling to minde the beginning of friendship betweene him and Cotta and his many good turnes and seruices requested that words might not be hardly wrested and that the simplicitie of table talk might not be imputed to him as a crime The beginning of these letters of Caesars was worth the noting which was this What I shall write vnto you Lords of the Senate or how I shall write and what I shall not write at all at this time the gods and the goddesses confound me worse then I feele and know my selfe daily to perish if I know So far his villanous demeanor turned to his own scourge punishment And therefore that most deepe wise man did not say without cause that if tyrants minds were laid open a man should see them torne rent in sunder for as the bodie is rent with stripes so the mind is tormēted with crueltie wanton affectiōs euil counsels For neither his great fortune nor solitarie places could defēd Tiberius but that himself confessed the torments punishmēt which lay hidden in his breast Then the Senators hauing receiued authoritie to determin of Caecilianus according to their wils who had vttered manie things against Cotta their iudgmēt was that he should receiue the same punishmēt that Aruseius Sanquinius had who were L. Arruntius accusers Then the which nothing euer hapned more honorable to Cotta who being indeed of noble birth but through riot needie and infamous for his vices in honorable punishmēt is made equall to Arruntius a man of sincere and honest life II. Terentius defences why he should not be punished like vnto other of Seianus friends QVintus Seruaeus after this and Minutius Thermus were brought in Seruaeus had beene Pretor and Gerusanicus companion Minutius a gentleman and who in Seianus friendship had carried himselfe modestly and therefore both the more pitied But Tiberius contrariwise blaming them as principall agents commaunded C. Caestius an old Senator to report vnto the Senators what he had written vnto him whereupon Caestius vndertooke the accusation a miserable calamitie of those times that the chiefest of the Senators some openly some secretly played the part of base promooters and further no man able to know the stranger from the kinsman nor friends from such as he neuer sawe before nor things lately committed from such as through continuance of time were almost forgotten They were accused of all they had spoken wheresoeuer either in the place of assemblies or at their table euerie man making haste to preuent and be before another in carriyng of tales some of them to saue themselues other some infected as it were with a disease gotten by conuersing with others But Minutius and Seruaeus were condemned and their goods giuen the accusers Iulius Africanus borne at Santon a towne in Gallia and Seius Quadratus were drawen into the like mishap but the occasion why I haue not found I am not ignorant that the dangers and punishment of many haue beene omitted by writers being ouer-wearied with multitude or fearing least those things should be tedious to the readers which seemed superfluous and lamentable to themselues in rehearsing There haue come many things to our eares woorthie the knowledge although other haue not once touched them For at the selfe same time that the rest colourablie seemed to shake off the amitie they had with Seianus M. Terentius a gentleman of Rome although arraigned for his labour durst auouch it beginning his speech for his defence before the Lords of the Senate in this maner It would be peraduenture lesse behoouefull for my estate to acknowledge then denie the crime I am charged with but hap what hap may I will confesse that I haue beene Seianus friend and that I desired so to be and that after I had obtained his friendship I was glad of it I had seene him ioynt officer with my father in the gouernment of the Pretorian cohort and not long after in managing of citie affaires and matters of warre His kinsmen and allies were aduaunced to honor as euerie man was inward with Seianus so was he grace by Caesar And contrariwise such as were not in his fauour liued in feare and distressed with pouertie Neither do I alleage any man for an example of this all of vs who were not priuie to his last attempts with the danger of my onely estate I will defend Not Seianus the Vulsiniensis but a part of the Claudian and Iulian familie which by alliance he had entered into thy sonne in law Caesar thy companion in the Consulship and him who tooke vpon him thy charge of administring the common-wealth we did reuerēce and honour It is not our parts to iudge of him whom thou dost exalt aboue the rest nor for what considerations To thee the highest iudgement of things the gods haue giuen and vnto vs the glorie of obedience is left We looke vnto those things which wee see before our
haue alreadie said had inueighled Libo then betrayed him and brought him to destruction Which seruice Tiberius not forgetting though pretending other causes intreated that he might not be banished but that he should be deposed from the Senate he hindered not I am not ignorant that many of those things which I haue rehearsed and which I shall rehearse hereafter will seeme of small moment and not worthy the writing But I wish not that any should compare our annales with the writings of the auncient historiographers of the people of Rome for they reported with a free discourse of mightie great warres winning of townes of Kings taken and slaine or if they came to domesticall affaires they recorded the discords betwixt the Consuls and the Tribunes lawes concerning distribution of lands among the common people and iarres betweene the communaltie and nobilitie But the scope of our discourse is streight and our labour inglorious the times I write of being peaceable and quiet or no great warres the state of the citie dolefull and the Prince carelesse in dilating the Empire Yet it shall not bee lost labour to looke into those things which at the first seeme light oft yeelding instruction of greater matters For all Nations and Cities are gouerned by the people or Peers or one alone A forme of common-wealth constituted of one of these may better be praised then found or if it chaunce to be found it cannot long continue Therefore as in times past the people bearing swaie or the Lords of the Senate the humor of the communaltie was to be knowen and the meanes how with greatest discretion they were to be dealt withall and they iudged most wise and experienced who had deepliest entered into the disposition of the Senators nobilitie so the state being now changed and the regiment consisting in one alone it shall be conuenient to note those things which vnto that forme of gouernment doth best appertaine For there are but few which by wisedome distinguish honest things from dishonest and profitable from hurtfull but most men are taught by others euents And my writings bring more profit then delight for situation of countries varietie of battels the death of famous Captaines do feede and recreat the readers mindes But we heape vp bloodie commaundements continuall accusations deceitfull friendships the ouerthrow of innocent persons and causes bringing the like end matters tedious for want of varietie The old writers had also this aduantage that they had no detractors of their writing or fewe not being materiall to any whether he had praised the Affrican or Roman armies But many are yet aliue whose predecessors suffered punishment or infamie vnder Tiberius gouernment And although their familie be extinguished yet thou shalt find many which for conformitie of manners thinke that others misdeedes are obiected against themselues Glorie and vertue haue enimies likewise according to the disposition of euerie mans minde framing reasons contrarie to that which his own inclination is neerest vnto But I will returne to my first purpose VIII An oration of Cremutius in defence of his Annales Tiberius would not suffer the Spaniards to build a Temple in his honour COrnelius Cossus Asinius Agrippa being Consuls Cremutius Cordus was accused of a new crime neuer before heard of that in certaine Annales by him published he had praised M. Brutus and said that C. Cassius was the last of the Romans His accusers were Satrius Secundus and Pinarius Natta Seianus clients which was his ouerthrow Caesar with a sterne looke hearing his purgation which Cremutius being assured to lose his life began in this manner I am accused for words Lords of the Senate bicause in deedes I am innocent But they were neither against the Prince nor his father whom the lawe of treason doth comprehend I am said to haue commended Brutus and Cassius whose acts manie haue written and all in honorable termes T. Liuius an excellent writer as well for eloquence as truth did so much extoll Gn. Pompeius that Augustus called him a Pompeian yet that no breach of friendship at all Scipio Afranius did neuer call this selfe same Cassius this Brutus theeues and parricides as now adaies they are termed but often worthie famous men Asinius Pollioes writings do deliuer an honorable memorie of them Messalla Coruinus extolleth Cassius as his Captaine and both flourished in wealth and honour When M. Cicero had in a booke extolled Cato to the heauens what did Caesar the Dictator but answere him in an oration as if he had beene before the iudges Antonies epistles Brutus orations haue I confesse many vntrue and bitter speeches against Augustus Men read Bibaculus and Catullus verses which are stuffed with reproches against the Caesars But yet Iulius and Augnstus of famous memorie winked thereat whether with greater moderation or wisedome I know not for things of that qualitie neglected vanish of themselues but repined and greeued at argue a guiltie conscience The Grecians whose not onely libertie but vnrestrained licence escaped vnpunished I speake not of or if any felt himselfe greeued he reuenged words with other words It hath bin alwaies a matter of free libertie and least subiect vnto detraction to speake of those whom death had exempted from hatred and fauor Do I incense the peope by orations to ciuill warre with Cassius and Brutus alreadie in armes and masters of the Philippian fields Do not they who ended their life aboue seauentie yeeres agone as they are knowen by their images which the Conqueror himselfe hath not pulled downe so retaine some remembrance of them by writings Posteritie doth render vnto euery man the commendation he hath deserued Neither will there want some if I be condemned which will make mention not onely of Cassius and Brutus but of me also Hauing thus saide he went out of the Senat ended his life by abstinence Order was giuen by the Senators that the Aediles should burne his bookes which notwithstanding were still extant some secretly some publickly which maketh me the willinglier to laugh at the witles vncircumpection of such as thinke with the power and authoritie they haue in their own time they can also extinguish the memory of future times But it falleth out contrary that when good wits are punished their credit groweth greater neither haue forraine Kings or such as haue vsed the like crueltie purchased any other thing then discredit to themselues and to such wits glorie This yeere accusations were so hotly pursued that euen on the festiuall daies of the Latines Calphurnius Saluianus went to accuse Marius before Drusus Prouest of the citie as he was entering into the Tribunall to begin his charge for which cause Saluianus being publikely blamed by Tiberius was sent into banishment Great negligence was openly layd to the Cyzicenians charge in not solemnising Augustus sacrifices and that they had vsed violence against the citizens of Rome For which cause they lost the freedome which they had gotten in the warre when they were besieged by
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
which laie in garrison at Lugdunum The Turonians were ouerthrowne by the legionarie souldier which Visellius Varro Lieutenant of lower Germanie sent vnder the same captaine Auiola and certaine of the chiefe gentlemen of Gallia which brought him aide the better thereby to cloake their reuolt and when occasion serued rebell with more assurance Sacrouir was seene to demaund battell of the Romans bare headed as he saide to shewe his valour but the captaines said he did it to make himselfe the better knowne thereby to be spared from their darts Tiberius being consulted vpon that point made no reckoning of the disclosing of it but nourished the warre by doubting Florus in the meane time helde on his purpose enticed a wing of horsemen enrowled at Treuers and trained vp in our seruice discipline that hauing slaine the Roman merchants which there vsed trafficke he might begin the warre fewe of the horsemen were corrupted but most continued in their alleageance Other rude indebted persons or followers tooke armes and went towarde the forrest called Arden but the legions from both armies which Visellius and C. Silius had set to crosse them droue them backe Iulius Indus being of the same citie and an enimie to Florus and therefore more foreward to shew his valour being sent before with a choise power scattered and defeated that disordered multitude Florus escaped the conquerours hands by vncertaine lurking holes and at last perceiuing the souldiers to set on his places of refuge slewe himselfe with his own hands And that was the end of the rebellion of those of Treueri It was a matter of great difficultie to suppresse the Aedui by reason their city was more wealthie and the aide which should haue subdued them farther off Sacrouir had with certaine armed cohorts gotten possession of Augustodunum the chiefe citie of the countrey and taken the noblest mens children of all Gallia which there followed their studies as a pledge to win and binde their parents and kindred and withal secretly distributed weapons which himselfe had caused to be made to al the youth They were in number forty thousand the fift part armed as the legions were the others with hunting staues hangers such other weapōs as hūters vse To these were added certaine slauish fencers couered according to the countrey fashion from top to toe in armour of iron vnapt and vneasie to strike but to withstand impenetrable whom they call Crupellarij These forces were augmented though not by any open cōsent of cities adioining yet with euery mans particular good wil the Roman captaines striuing doubting who should haue the conducting of the warre both desiring it But Varro being old and feeble yeelded to Silius who was in his prime It was currant in Rome that not onely the Treueri and the Aedui but also that threescore and fower cities of Gallia had reuolted and the Germans ioined with them that Spaine was wauering and all as the nature of a report is beleeued more then it was Euery good man with a care of the common-wealth was greatly grieued many disliking the present state and desirous of alteration reioysed euen in their owne harmes and blamed Tiberius that in so great a hurlyburly he woulde still spende his labour in hearing accusers libels What saide they shall Iulius Sacrouir bee condemned of treason in Senate at last some were founde which with armes woulde suppresse these bloudy libels of accusers that a miserable peace was well changed for warre Tiberius so much the more composed to a careles securitie changed neither place nor countenance passed ouer those dayes after his accustomed woont either through haughtines of courage or because he knewe the matter to be lighter then the report In the meane time Silius marching on with two legions hauing sent a power of allies before wasteth the villages of the Sequans which were borderers and confederates with the Aeduans Anon after he marcheth speedily with his armie towardes Augustodunum the standard-bearers striuing who shoulde make most haste and the common souldier fretting and chasing likewise least he should rest the night as he was wont only that they might see the enemie and be seene that would be enough for the victorie Twelue miles off Sacrouir appeared in the champian countrey In the front he had placed his men couered with iron his cohorts on the wings and those which were halfe armed in the rereward himselfe mounted on a goodly courser amongst the chiefest of the citie went to the souldiers and put them in minde of the ancient glory of the Galli and how oft they had defeated the Romans How honorable a thing libertie was to the conquerors and how intollerable seruitude would be if they should be vanquished againe This exhortation was not long nor pleasing for the legions drew neere in battell aray the townesmen wanting discipline and ignorant of seruice did neither see nor heare what was best for them Silius on the contrary side although his hope had taken away all occasions of encouraging them yet cried That it was a shame for them being conquerors ouer the Germans to be brought against the Galli as against enemies and that of late one cohort had vanquished the rebellious Toronians one wing the Treueri a few troupes of horsemen of this same armie had put to flight the Sequans By how much the richer the Aedui are in money and abounding in pleasures the lesser courage they had Breake then in vpon them and binde them and flee to those which run away At that all of them giuing an out-cry the horsemen compassed them in the footemen set on the point and the wings made small resistance Those in complet yron harnes stuck somewhat to it their plates resisting and beating back the darts and swords but the souldier snatching his hatchets and axes as though he were to breake through a wall hewed their couering and carcasses Some with poles or forks ouerthrew this sluggish lump leauing them for halfe dead lying on the ground not once going about to rise Sacrouir goeth first to Augustodunum then for feare least it should be yeelded to the next village with a few of his trustiest friends where he slew himselfe with his owne hands and the rest one another and the village being set on fire ouer them they were all burnt together Then at last Tiberius wrote to the Senate that the warre was begun and ended neither adding nor taking away from the truth And that the Lieutenants had behaued themselues faithfully and valorously and himselfe directed them with counsell And withall yeelded the reasons why neither he nor Drusus went to the war magnifying the greatnes of the Empire and that it was not meete that Princes if some one or other towne rebell should forsake Rome from whence all other gouernment was deriued Now bicause there was no cause of feare he would goe see and settle the present estate of things The Lords of the Senat derceed vowes and processions for his returne with other conuenient
ceremonies Dolabella Cornelius onely whilest he went about to exceed others falling into absurd flatterie thought it meete that he should from Campania enter into the citie ouant Wherupon Caesar wrote that he was not so needie of renowne that hauing vanquished most stout and prowde nations and receiued or refused in his youth so many triumphes he would in his old age hunt after a vaine reward of a voiage neere the citie X. Lepidus maketh an oration in defence of C. Lutorius accused of treason ABout the same time he made request vnto the Senat that Sulpitius Quirinius death might be solemnised with publicke funerals Quirinius was not of the auncient patritian familie of the Sulpitians but borne at Lanuuium a free towne a valiant warrior and forwards in all his charges was Consull vnder Augustus of famous memorie Then hauing won by assault the fortresse of the Homonadensians in Cilicia the markes of triumphe were awarded him then giuen as a guide to C. Caesar in the regiment of Armenia and when Tiberius was at Rhodes shewed him all duties of loue which Tiberius did open in Senat praising his dutifulnes towards him and accused M. Lollius to haue perswaded C. Caesar to seditions and lewdnes But vnto the rest the memorie of Quirinius was nothing pleasing by reason as I haue saide of the danger he brought Lepida into and miserable niggishnes and powerable old age In the end of the yeere a cari-tale accused C. Lutorius Priscus a gentleman of Rome who had composed notable funerall verses vpon Germanicus death and receiued money of Caesar for them obiecting that he had made them in honour of Drusus being sicke to the ende that if he had died they should haue beene published for greater reward Those verses Lutorius vpon vaine glorie had read in P. Petronius house in the presence of Vitellia his mother in lawe and many other noble women As soone as the pickthanke had shewed himselfe the rest forced by feare to giue witnes onely Vitellia stood to it that she had heard nothing But more credit being giuen to such as testified to his ouerthrow sentence of death was pronounced against him by Haterius Agrippa Consull elect Against whom M. Lepidus began to speake in this manner If we consider Lords of the Senat with what a wicked toong Lutorius Priscus hath polluted his minde and mens eares neither prison nor halter nor any seruile torments could suffice to punish him But if lewd and heinous facts be without meane yet the moderation of a Prince your own and your auncestors examples do mollifie the punishments and remedies of them vaine things do differ from wicked and words from villanous deedes And therefore iudgment may be giuen by which neither this mans offence goe scot-free we not repent vs either of our clemencie or seueritie I haue often heard our Prince complaine if any by killing himselfe hath preuented his clemēcy Lutorius life is yet in safety who being kept aliue will neither breed danger to the cōmon-wealth nor put to death serue for example to others As his studies were full of follie and without sence so they are likewise vaine and quickly at an end Neither is there any cause to feare any great or serious matter in him who bewraying his owne imperfections doth creepe not into mens but womens breasts Yet let him be expulsed the citie Which I iudge to be all one as if he had been conuicted of treason Among all the Consuls onely Rubellius Blandus agreed with Lepidus the rest following Agrippaes opinion Priscus was lead to prison and immediately depriued of his life The fact Tiberius with his accustomed ambiguitie of words blamed in Senate extolling the zealous affection of seuere punishments of princes iniuries though small yet entreated them that they woulde not so rashlie punish wordes praised Lepidus and rebuked not Agrippa Whereupon a decree of Senate was made that their orders shoulde not be caried to the treasurie before ten daies were expired and that so long the condemneds life should be prolonged But the Senators had no licence to repent and reuoke their sentence and Tiberius not to be pacified by tract of time XI Tiberius letter touching reformation of abuses THe yeere following C. Sulpitius and D. Haterius were created Consuls all being quiet from forrein troubles but seueritie against superfluities suspected at home which was growen to exceeding excesse in all things wherein money is lauishly spent Some of their expences although more vnreasonable yet were cloaked by dissembling their prices but gluttonie and belly-cheere euerie man commonly speaking of put them in feare least the prince shoulde rigorouslie proceed according to the ancient prouident frugalitie For C. Bibulus beginning the other Aediles shewed also that the law cōcerning excesse of expences was nought set by and the sumptuousnes of moueables which was forbiddē daily increased and that it coulde not be redressed by any reasonable meanes And the Lordes of the Senate being demanded their aduise referred the whole matter to the prince But Tiberius often pondered with himselfe whether such exorbitant lustes coulde bebrideled or not whether the brideling of them would not bring more hurt then benefit to the common-wealth how vnseemely and dishonorable it would be to vndertake that which could not be effected or if it could with the ignominie or infamie of noble men and in the end he sent letters to the Senate to this purpose It would be peraduenture conuenient Lords of the Senate that in other matters I should be demaunded my opinion in your presence and speake what I thought to be behouefull for the common wealth but in this relation it was better to withdraw mine eyes least that you noting the countenāce and the feare of euery one of such which should be deprehended of this shamefull lauishing I should also see them and take them as it were in the fault If the Aediles vigilant and carefull men had before hand asked my aduise I know not whether I should rather haue perswaded them to let passe strong and rooted vices then go so far that it should be knowne how vnable we be to redresse some kinde of abuses But they truly haue done their dutie and I wish that other magistrates would also fulfill theirs To me it is neither honest to hold my tongue nor easie to speake because I haue neither the office of an Aedile Pretor nor Consull Some greater matter is required of a Prince and of greater importance and when as euery man attributeth to himselfe the prayse of things well done the faults of all men in generall redounde to the dislike of the Prince alone What shall I begin first to forbid and reduce to the auncient custome your huge and spacious countrey houses the number of your seruitours of diuers nations the quantitie of siluer and gold your painted tables and brasen images of maruellous and exquisite workemanship superfluousnes of apparell both in men and women and those things which are proper vnto women as pretious