to Mennius Regulus for of purpose he left out that she had beene married to C. Caesar added in the end that she had practised dangerous things against the state and that all occasion and matter of euill was to be taken away therefore he was of aduise that she should lose her goods and depart out of Italy leauing the banished woman of the infinite wealth which she was mistres of but fiftie hundred thousand sesterces And Calpurnia a woman of great birth was ouerthrowne only because the Prince had praised her beawtie not for any amorous affection but by chaunce yet Agrippina stretched not her malice to the vttermost against her but sent a Tribune to make away Lollia And Cadius Rufus was condemned for bribery and extorsion at the instance of the Bithynians And in consideration of the great reuerence the inhabitants of Gallia Narbonensis bare the Lords of the Senat it was graunted to the Senators of that prouince that without licence of the Prince they might go visit their houses dispose of their goods with the like priuiledge as they which were of the prouince of Sicilia The Ituraei and Iewes after their Kings Sohemus and Agrippa were dead were ioyned to the prouince of Syria It was ordained that the ceremonies of the auguration of health intermitted fiue and twenty yeeres should be renewed and continued from thenceforth Caesar inlarged the circuit of the citie according to the auncient custome by which licence was giuen them which had inlarged the bounds of the Empire to inlarge the bounds of the Citie Neuertheles none of the Roman captaines L. Sylla and Augustus excepted although they had subdued mightie nations had vndertaken to do it but whether the Kings which then ruled the citie did it for ambition or vaine-glory there run diuers reports But it shall not be impertinent as I thinke to lay downe the beginning of the foundation of Rome and what circuit Romulus first assigned He therefore began the circuit at the oxe market called forum boarium where we see set vp a picture of a brasen Bull because that kinde of beast is broken to the plough from thence drawing a furrow as a plat of the circuit of the citie which contained within it the great altar of Hercules From thence by certaine distances stones were put by the foote of the hill Palatine vnto the altar of Consus then to the old Curies then to the chappell of the houshold gods For some haue thought that the forum Romanum and the Capitoll were not added to the citie by Romulus but by T. Tatius After that the circuit or pomoerium was augmented according to the fortune and riches of the Kings And for the limits that Claudius then put they are easily knowne and are written in the publike actes VII Domitius sonne of Agrippina is adopted by Claudius The Catti send hostages to Rome Vannius driuen out of his countrey goeth to Rome CAntistius and M. Suilius being Consuls the adoption of Domitius was hastened through Pallas credit who being wholie at Agrippinaes deuotion as a principall meane of working the marriage betweene Claudius and her then bound vnto her for vnlawfull companie of her bodie vrged Claudius to prouide for the common wealth and strengthen Britannicus estate whilest he was yong So Augustus wiues children did flourish although he had nephewes of his owne for a stay to his house and Tiberius hauing issue of his owne adopted Germanicus therefore that he should also strengthen himselfe with this yong man who would take part of the care vpon him Claudius yeelding to this perswasion preferreth Domitius being but two yeeres elder before his owne sonne and maketh an oration before the Lords of the Senate which he receiued of his freed man Pallas The skilfull and wise did note that there had neuer beene any adoption before that time in the Patrician familie of the Claudians that the succession had neuer failed from Atta Clausus Neuertheles great thanks were rendred the Prince and exquisite flatterie vsed to Domitius and a decree set downe by which he should be accompted one of the Claudian familie and be called Nero. Agrippina also was magnified with the surname of Augusta Both which done there was no man so voide of pitie which was not grieued and sory for Britannicus fortune for by little and little he was abandoned and skorned of his basest seruants by shewing an vnseasonable dutie to his stepmother which he well perceiued as not dull witted but of good conceipt as it is reported either because he was so indeede or attributed to him in his distresse the same and opinion continued without triall Agrippina to make her credit and power knowen among the confederates also commaunded the old souldiers and a colonie to be brought to the citie of Vbiumw here she was borne which was afterward called of her name Agrippina It hapned by chaunce that when that nation passed the Rhene her grandfather Agrippa tooke them into his protection About the same time vpper Germanie quaked with feare through the comming of the Catti which robbed and spoiled all where they came Whereupon L. Pomponius Lieutenant gaue aduertisement to the aide Vangiones Nemetians adding vnto them a company of horsemen to get before those forragers or if they slipped away compasse and surprize them on a sudden The diligence of the souldiers followed the captaines counsell and diuiding themselues into two companies those which tooke the left hand came vpon them and slew them as they newly returned from pillage riotously abusing their bootie and heauie asleepe Their ioy was increased because they had deliuered from seruitude some of their fellowes which fortie yeeres before had beene taken when Varus was defeated But those which tooke the right hand and the neerest way meeting the enemie in the face and daring to encounter made a greater slaughter and loaden with bootie fame returned to the hill Taunus where Pomponius was expected with the legions if the Catti desiring a reuenge would offer occasion to sight But they fearing least the Romanes would set on them on one side and the Cherusci with whom they are alwayes at iarre on the other sent Embassadors and hostages to Rome where the honor of triumph was awarded Pomponius a small part of his fame with posteritie being more renowmed for skill in poetrie About the same time Vannius made King of the Sweuians by Drusus Caesar was driuen out of his kingdome in the beginning of his rule well liked and accepted of the people but in the end growing prowde partly by the hatred of the borderers and partly by ciuill discords was put to the worst The authors of this practise were Iubillius King of the Hermunduri and Vangio and Sido Vannius sisters children yet Claudius although often intreated whilest these barbarous people were together by the eares would no way intermeddle only he promised Vannius refuge if he were driuen out wrote vnto P. Attilius Histrus gouernor of Pannonie to lodge a
withdrew himselfe to Rhodes In regard whereof the Senate ordained that although he were but of meane parentage yet that he should haue the funerals of a Censor and an image in Augustus forum at the charge of the common purse For at that time the Senat managed all the affaires in so much that Lucillius Capito Procurator of Asia the Prouince accusing him was forced to purge himselfe before them the Prince assuredlie auouching that he had giuen him no authoritie but ouer slaues and money matters between partie partie But if he had vsurped the authoritie of a Pretor or vsed the strength of souldiers he had therein contemned his cōmaundement therefore that they should heare the allies and so the matter being heard he was condemned For which cause and by reason that the yeere before C. Silanus was punished the cities of Asia decreed that a Temple should be built in honour of Tiberius his mother and the Senat which they perfourmed after they had licence And for the same cause Nero gaue thankes to the Lords of the Senat and to his grandfather with the ioyfull acceptance of the hearers as representing Germanicus yet fresh in memorie to their mindes thinking that him they had both heard and seene The yoong man was of great modestie and comelines woorthie of a Prince the more gratefull through the danger he was in by Seianus knowen hatred against him V. How Iupiters Priests were chosen Tiberius small affection to Germanicus children ABout the same time of chusing a Flamen Dial in Seruius Maluginensis place who was dead and of making a new law Caesar himselfe spake For the olde custome was that three patriciens should be named togither borne of parents which had been married with a solemnitie called confarreation of which one shoulde be chosen for the Priest And it fell out that that iust number coulde not bee founde the vse of confarrcation or marriage with a cake of Wheate either not vsed or only of a few whereof he alleaged many reasons though the chiefest was the carelesnes of men and women and withall the difficulties of the ceremonies which were willingly let slip And when should he go out of his fathers authoritie which should obtaine that Priesthood or she who was married vnto him therefore that was to be redressed by decree of Senate or by a law as Augustus himselfe had changed somewhat of that rude antiquitie and reduced it to the present vse Those things therefore being debated which touched the ceremonies it was determined that nothing should be altered in the makings of those Priests but a law was ordained that she who was married vnto a Flamen by reason of the sacrifices should be vnder the power of hir husband and that in other cases she should be as others were And Maluginensis sonne was chosen in his fathers place And that the priestly dignitie should better be regarded and they the readier to vndertake the ceremonies it was ordained that to Cornelia the virgin who was chosen in Scantias place shoulde bee giuen L L. S. xx sesterces and that as oft as Augusta entered the theatre she should sit among the Vestals Cornelius Cethegus and Visellius Varro being Consuls when the Pontifes and following their example the other Priests made certaine vowes for the health of the Prince they commended Nero and Drusus to the same goddes not so much for loue of the yong men as for flattery which in corrupt times is dangerous alike either not at all or too much For Tiberius neuer a friend to Germanicus house grieued impatiently that the yong men should then be equalled vnto him in his old age and sending for the chiefe Priests asked them whether they had done that at Agrippinas intreaties or threates and although they denied it yet were somewhat rebuked the greatest part being his neerest friends and kin or chiefe gentlemen of the citie Neuertheles in Senate he admonished them in an oration that none should hereafter puffe vp the fickle minds of the yong men to pride by vntimely and ouer-hastie dignities Seianus vrged eagerly that the citie was no lesse deuided into factions then in time of ciuill warres some terming themselues to be of Agrippinas side and more would if they were not preuented and no way to redresse a waxing diuision but by cutting off some one or two of the forwardest Hereupon he beginneth with C. Silius and Titius Sabinus Germanicus friendship being dangerous to both to Silius because that hauing had charge of a great armie seauen yeeres together and vanquished Sacrouir in Germanie and obtained the ornaments of triumph the higher his fall the greater the feare in others would be Many were of opinion that Tiberius was the more vehemently incensed by reason of his owne lauishing toong ouermuch vaunting that his souldiers had alwayes continued dutifull when as others had growne to mutinies and that Caesars state had bene shaken if those legions had bene desirous of innouation which Caesar construed as an embasing to his greatnes and disabling him of abilitie to requite for good turnes are no longer well taken then they may be recompensed when they grow greater then hope of requitall in stead of thankfulnes they breede hatred and ill will Sosia Galla was Silius wife badly thought of by the Prince because she loued Agrippina It was therefore thought conuenient to begin with these two and not meddle with Sabinus for a time The Consull Varro being thrust in to accuse them vnder colour of a quarrell betwixt his father and Silius became an instrument to gratifie Seianus with his owne discredit The defendants intreating some delay vntill the accusers Consulship were expired Caesar denied it affirming it to be a vsuall matter for magistrates to call priuate persons into question and that the authoritie of the Consull was not to be infringed through whose watchfulnes the common-wealth was kept without danger That was a common tricke with Tiberius alwaies to cloake new coyned mischiefe with old words Therefore with great protestation as though he had proceeded with Silius by order of law or the matter belonged to Varro as Consull or therein consisted the safetie of the common-wealth the Senate was called the partie accused not once opening his mouth or if he began to purge himselfe stuck not to vtter by whose malice he was oppressed He was accused to haue had intelligence with the beginners of the warre that he had discredited his victorie by his couetousnes and other things against Sosia his wife nothing a long time spoken of Sacrouir And doubtles the accusation of polling the prouince could not haue serued their turne had they not prosecuted all vnder treason but Silius preuented his imminent condemnation by his owne voluntarie death Neuerthelesse that contented not but were greedie his goods should be confiscate not to pay the stipendaries for none of them demaunded ought but because Augustus liberalitie was at an end he tooke a particular accompt of all that was due to the publick treasure
moued because Augustus did doubt only whether he should bestow her vpon a gentleman how much more ought we to consider that he gaue her to M. Agrippa and then after vnto me These things I would not hide from thee for the friendship which is betwixt vs but I will not be against thine nor Liuiaes deseignments and will forbeare at this time to speake what I had cast in minde and how neerely I purposed to linke thee vnto me I will only say that there is nothing so excellent but thy vertues and good will towardes me doth deserue it and when opportunitie shall serue I will vtter it either in Senate or before the people Seianus hearing this answere was nothing pleased not so much in regard of the marriage as because he feared Tiberius secret suspitions the rumor of the people and enuie which grew fast vpon him Yet fearing if he should cast off those great troupes which daily came to court him he should weaken his authoritie and by entertaining them minister matter of crime the marke he shot at was to perswade Tiberius to leade his life in some pleasant place far from Rome wherein he foresaw many things as that there could be no accesse to the Prince but by him that all letters being conueied by souldiers which were at his deuotion should passe through his hands that Caesar declining now to age and growen slothfull and effeminat through the quietnes of the place would disburden himselfe of cares of state and commit them to another and that the enuie borne to himselfe should be diminished accesse to the Prince being lesser and by that meanes all vaine shadowes remoued he should grow mightie in true power and authoritie Therefore by little and by little he findeth fault with the busines of the citie the concourse of people the flocking together of multitudes extolleth highly a quiet and solitarie life a life without anguish of minde and free from enuie most fit to thinke on important and waightie affaires And falling out by chance that Votienus Montanus cause was to be heard a man of a readie wit Seianus perceiuing Tiberius not resolued to leaue the citie perswaded him to be a very inconuenient matter to be present at the assemblies of the Senate least he should heare railing and reprochfull speeches but yet true vttered of himselfe in his owne hearing For Votienus being accused of contumelious words against Caesar whilest Aemylius a witnes and a souldier laboured earnestly to prooue his assertion rehearsed from point to point though the hearers buzzed and made a noise about him all Votienus words in which Tiberius heard many spitefull and reprochfull speeches backbitingly vttered in secret against himselfe which so moued him that he cried he would either presently or when the cause was heard purge himselfe and was hardly pacified either with intreatie of his neerest friends or flattery of all and so Votienus was punished as for treason Caesar persisting stifly vsing hard and rough dealing though that was one of the crimes obiected against him condemned to exile Aquilia for adulterie with Varius Ligur although Lentulus Getulicus Consull elect had alreadie condemned her by the Iulian law and put Apidius Merula from his Senators roome because he had not sworne to obserue Augustus actes X. Acontrouer sie betvvixt the Lacedaemonians and Messenians touching the rights of the Temple of Diana Piso Pretor of Spaine slaine by a villagois AFter that were heard the Embasies of the Lacedaemonians and Messenians concerning the right of the Temple of Diana Limenetidis which the Lacedaemonians auowed by the records of their Annales and profices to haue beene dedicated by their predecessors in their countrey but taken from them by Philip of Macedon with whom they warred and afterward restored vnto them by the sentence of C. Caesar and M. Antonius The Messenians on the contrarie side alleaged an old diuision of Peloponesus betweene Hercules successors and that that territorie Dentheliate wherein the Temple was fell to their King whereof there remained auncient monuments engrauen in stones and brasse And if it were necessarie to produce the testimonie of Poets and Chronicles they had more then they of good credit neither had Philip so done by force but according to equitie King Antigonus and the Captaine Mummius gaue the like iudgement So the Milesians being publikely made arbitrators of the cause and last of all Atidius Geminus Pretor of Achaia determined the same Whereupon iudgment was giuen on the Messenians side The Segestani likewise demaunded that Venus Temple built on the hill Eryce and fallen downe with age might be reedified calling to remembrance many things of her beginning pleasing vnto Tiberius eares which mooued him to vndertake willingly the charge as being of her blood After that the Massiliens requests were heard and the example of P. Rutilius allowed who hauing by law been expulsed Rome the Smyrnaeans receiued and made a citizen in their citie By which right also the Massiliens receiued Vulcatius Moschus a banished man who left all his goods to their common-wealth as to his countrey Two noble men Gn. Lentulus and L. Domitius died the same yeere It was to Lentulus a great honour ouer and besides that he was Consull and triumped ouer the Getuli that he endured his pouertie patiently then that hauing gotten great riches without iniuriyng of any he vsed them temperatly Domitius credit grew by his father who was lord of the sea in the ciuill wars vntill he thrust himself into Antonies faction and after that into Caesars His grandfather was slaine in the Pharsalian battell taking part with the nobilitie and himselfe chosen to marrie Antonia Octauius yoongest daughter After that he passed ouer the riuer Albis with his host and entered farther into Germanie than any other before him for which cause he obtained the honour of triumphe L. Antonius of great but vnfortunat nobilitie died likewise for his father Iulus Antonius being put to death for committing adulterie with Iulia Augustus sent him being verie yoong and his sisters nephewe to Marsilles where he cloked the name of banishment with the pretence of studie Notwithstanding he had great honor done him at his funerals and his bones buried in the tombe of the Octauians by decree of the Senat. The same men being Consuls a bloodie fact was committed in hither Spaine by a pesant of Termestine who assayling vpon the way L. Piso Pretor of the Prouince at vnawares and vnprouided as being careles by reason of peace killed him with one stroke then fled in post to the woods and forsaking his horse stealing by dangerous bie-waies beguiled his followers though not long for his horse being taken and brought to the next villages it was knowen whose he was And being found and put to the racke to bewraie his complices cried alowde in his countrey language that that was a vaine question to aske him and that his companions might boldly come and behold him on the torture for no torment or griefe should be
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
Contrarily some sayd that the loue of his father the corruption of times serued him but for a cloake and colour and that he had stirred vp the old souldyers by gifts and bribery through ambition and desire of rule that being yet but yong and a priuate person he had gathered a power corrupted the legions of the Consuls that he made a shewe only of fauouring Pompeius side but had no sooner gotten by order of the Senators the fasces or knitch of rods and the Pretorship after the death of Hircius and Pansa both slaine by the enemie or Pansaes wound poisoned and Hircius murdered by the souldyers or by Caesar the contriuer of the feate but he seased on both their forces extorted the Consulship mauger the Senators and the power assigned him to subdue Antony he conuerted against the Common-wealth He banished the citizens diuided their lands and gaue away their goods which were things by the doers themselues discommended In deede the reuenge and pursuing his fathers death vpon Cassius and Brutus maybe tolerated albeit it had bene conuenient for a publick benefit to haue layd aside priuate grudges but he deceiued Pompey vnder colour of peace and Lepidus vnder a shadow of friendship Afterward he tolled on Antony with the treatie of Tarentum and Brundusium and mariage of his sister which deceitfull alliance he payed with the losse of his life Doubtlesse a peace ensued this but a bloudie one as may witnes the death of Lollius and Varus and in Rome it selfe of Varro Egnatius and Iulus Neither did they forbeare to discourse of his domesticall affaires as that he tooke Neroes wife from him asked the opinion of the Pontife in a scoffe whether there might be a lawfull marriage betwixt them she being with childe by her other husband but not yet deliuered They forgat not L. Atedius and Vedius Pollios riot and lasciuiousnes Finally that Liuia was an intollerable and burdensome mother to the common wealth and to the house of the Caesars a dangerous stepdame There was no honor left for the gods seeing hee would himselfe by the Priests and Flamines be worshipped in the temples with all the ornaments belonging to the gods Neyther was Tiberius chosen successor to the State for loue of himselfe or care of the Common-wealth but deepely inseeing into his loftie and bloudie disposition he would by being so vnequally compared with so outragious a mate win glory afterward to himselfe And although Augustus had not many yeeres before vttered honorable speeches in Tiberius behalfe before the Lords of the Senate when he sued to make him once againe Tribune yet he interlaced some things among touching his attire and behauiour which in the excusing of him seemed to turne to his disgrace and reproch IIII. Tiberius dissembling colour in refusing the empire Augustus iudgement of three vvhich vvere desirous or vvoorthie of the Empire AVgustus funerals being ended according to the vsuall manner a temple and religious ceremonies were instituted in honor of him from that time forward all sutes and requests were made to Tiberius who discoursing diuersly of the greatnes of the empire and in modest termes of his owne insufficiencie thought Augustus wisedome onely capable of so weightie a charge that himselfe being assumed by Augustus as an associate and partner in the state had by good proofe learned how hard a matter and how subiect vnto fortunes change rule and soueraigntie was And seeing the citie was replenished with so many famous and woorthie personages better it were and more ease that manie ioining their studies and cares togither should vndertake the charge than cast all vpon one mans shoulders This speech carried greater maiestie than truth for Tiberius either by nature or by custome yea euen in those things which he would haue knowen spake alwaies darkly and doubtfully but then of set purpose endeuoring to hide his drifts wrapped himselfe more than euer in a darke cloud of vncertaintie and ambiguitie But the Lords of the Senate fearing all one thing which was least some perill might ensue if he should doubt that they perceiued his dissimulation began to lament complaine offer vp vowes and lift vp their hands to the gods to Augustus image and to his owne knees vntill he commanded the booke of remembrances to be brought foorth and read That booke contained the wealth of the publike treasure how many citizens and allies were in armes what strength there was by sea how manie kingdomes prouinces and countries yeelded obedience to the empire what tribute was leuied what customes what necessarie charges issued out what giftes and al written with Augustus owne hand Withal he gaue a politike instruction yet whether for feare or enuie vncertaine how to restraine the empire within bounds and limits Whilest these things were a handeling and the Senators in most lowe and humble maner intreating that he would accept the charge Tiberius letting slip a word by chaunce that as he was vnable to take charge of the whole so he would vndertake the protection of any one part they should assigne him Asinius Gallus asked him what part Caesar wouldest thou haue committed to thy charge Who being stroken into amaze with this vnlooked for demand stood mute a while then gathering his spirits to him answered That it ill befitted his modestie to choose or refuse any one part of that from all which he desired to be excused Gallus replied for by his countenance he coniectured he was offended that he did not therefore demand that question as thought he would seuer that which was inseparable but by his owne confession conuict him that the Common-wealth was but one bodie and therefore to be gouerned by ones onely wisedome And continuing his speech added many things in commendation of Augustus and called to remembrance Tiberius owne victories and diuers notable things done for many yeeres in time of peace But all this could not appease the Princes inueterate hatred against him as though by marrying Vipsana daughter to M. Agrippa once wife to Tiberius he had carried too lostie a courage and higher aspiring minde than the priuate calling of a citizen and sauoring of the headie and fierce humor of Asinius Pollio his father After that L. Aruntius vsing speeches not vnlike vnto Pollio offended alike And although he bore Aruntius no old grudge yet bicause he was wealthie bold learned and in reputation with all men he had him in iealousie When Augustus drew towards his later end discoursing who were likeliest to possesse the place after his death who would refuse it although they should be chosen as meete who being vnmeete and vnable yet would desire it who could discharge it and would vndertake it said that M. Lepidus was for his sufficiencie able but would refuse Gallus Asinius greedie to laie holde on it but was insufficient L. Aruntius was not vnwoorthie and if occasion were giuen would venter for it All men agree that the two first were so named but for Aruntius some put Cn. Piso and
to go together by the eates because the eight legion demaunded Sirpicus a Centurion to death whom the fifteenth defended if the ninth legion had not interposed her selfe first by way of intreatie then menacing such as made light of them VII Drusus is sent to appease the rebellion in Pannony and the ringleaders punished WHen Tiberius had intelligence of these mutinies although he were close and a great dissembler of bad tidings resolued to send his sonne Drusus vnto these legions with certaine of the principallest Gentlemen of the citie and two Pretorian bands without any limited commission but to determine there as occasion best required These bands were of extraordinary choise men and stronger then any other were vsed to be and a great part of his gard of horsemen and the ablest Germans of his owne gard Aelius Seianus also Captaine of the gard was sent with him once an associate and companion to Strabo his father and a man highly in credit with Tiberius as well to be a guide to the yong Prince as to shew vnto others the danger or reward of ill or well doing When Drusus was come neere vnto them the legions met him as it were to do their dutie but not as the manner was cheerefully with glittering ensignes but in base and abiect habit and in countenance although pretending sadnes yet in deede were neerer wilfull obstinacie After he was entered the trench of the camp they set a strong gard at the gates commanded some troupes to attend at certaine places of the camp and the rest came and enuironed the Tribunall in huge multitudes Drusus stoode vp and with his hand commaunded silence to be made When the souldiers beheld what a multitude they were they made a dreadfull noise with hideous tunes then anon turning their eyes towards Caesar they quaked for feare after that they made a confuse murmuring and buzzing then a cruell outcry and on a suddaine all was husht againe which bred as men were diuersly affected either a feare in themselues or in others At last the tumult ceasing he read his fathers letters which contained what a speciall care he had ouer those most valorous legions with whome he had sustained many battels and that as soone as his minde could be at rest and the mourning for his father past he would deale with the Lords of the Senate concerning their demaunds that in the meane space he had sent his sonne which should graunt without delay as much as for the present could conueniently be yeelded and that the rest should be reserued to the consideration of the Senate whom it was conuenient should iudge as well what deserued fauour as rigor and seueritie They answered all in generall that Clemens the Centurion had charge to propound their demaunds he began with licence to depart after sixteene yeares with recompence after the end of their seruice and that their wages might be a denarius a day that the old souldiers should not be constrained to continue vnder ensignes But when Drusus began to pretend that these were fit matters to be referred to the Lords of the Senate and his fathers consideration they cut off his speech with clamors expostulating That seeing he had no authority to augment their pay nor ease them of their labor nor benefit them any way to what purpose was he come thither But to beate and put them to death euery man had authoritie It was an old trick of Tiberius to frustrate the legions desires with the name of Augustus and Drusus doth now put the same in practice Shall they neuer haue any sent them but such as are vnder the power of another It was strange that the Emperour should referre only that to the knowledge of the Senate which concerned the souldiers commoditie It were as requisite the Senators aduise should be knowne when a souldier should be punished or brought to fight in battell Did it stand with reason there should be maisters appointed to dispose of their rewards and recompence and that without any iudge their punishments should be arbitrary At last they go from the Tribunal and threaten with their fists those they met of the gard or Caesars friends and familiars as desirous to pick quarrels and raise sedition But they bare a speciall grudge vnto Cn. Lentulus because that he for his yeares and experience in martiall feates in greater reputation then the rest was thought to animate Drusus against the souldiers and first of all reiect their licentious demaunds Whom not long after foreseeing the danger he was in going with Caesar to the standing camp they enuironed him asking whither he went towards the Emperour or towards the Senate whether there he would be also against the legions profit And withall comming fiercely vpon him and throwing stones at him all embrued in bloud and certaine of present death yet was succoured by such as came with Caesar That night which menaced great disorder and outragious behauiour was quieted by a meere chaunce For the Skie being cleere and bright yet the Moone seemed to be eclipsed on a sudden which the souldiers being ignorant of the cause construed as a presage of present ill lucke and comparing their attempts to the eclipse were of opinion that their successe should be prosperous if the goddesse should become cleere and bright againe Whereupon they began with Trompets Cornets and other brazen instruments to make a lowd noise now ioyfull now sad as the Moone appeared either cleere or darke But when the black clowdes rising tooke from them the sight of the Moone supposing she had bene hidden in darknes and vtterly lost her light as troubled minds fall easily into superstition they began to complaine and lament that that portended their labours should haue no end and that the gods turned their faces from their wickednes Caesar thinking it expedient to make his profit of their feare and gouerne that by wisedome which fortune had offered commaunded the Pauillions to be viewed Clemens the Centurion to be called and such others as for their laudable vertues were best liked of the common sort who thrusting themselues into the watch the wardes and gate-keepers increased sometimes their feare and sometimes promised hope saying How long shall we besiege the Emperors sonne what shall be the end of our reuolt shall we sweare allegeance to Percennius and Vibulenus shall we looke for our pay at their hands shall they reward the old souldiers with lands to be briefe shall they take vpon them the gouernment of the Romane Empire in Neroes and Drusus stead were it not better that as we were the last which offended so we should be the first to repent Demaunds in common are slowly graunted a priuat fauour is no sooner deserued then obtained These speeches troubled their mindes and bred a mistrust among themselues the yong souldiers forsooke the old and one legion parted from an other By little and little they returned to their allegeance went from the gates which before they possessed carried to
into wipe away this blot and conuert this priuate rancor to the destruction of the enemie And you in whom I perceiue another countenance and another will if you purpose to restore the Embassadors to the Senate yeeld dutifull obedience to the Emperour and me my wife and sonne withdraw your selues from the contagion of the seditious and go from them which haue beene the authors of this rebellion that shall be a sure token of your repentance and a bond of fidelitie With these speeches the souldiers humbling themselues confessed all to be true which was vpbraided them and besought him that he would punish the faultie and pardon those which were seduced and bring them against the enemie recall his wife and the legions child and not deliuer him to the Gaules for an hostage Germanicus excused the returne of his wife by the neerenes of her time and winter yet that his sonne should returne againe and as for other things that they themselues should see them performed The souldiers then being better perswaded ran from place to place layd hands on the most disordered persons and brought them bound before C. Cetronius Colonel of the first legion who gaue iudgement and punishment on euery of them in this manner The legions called together stoode with their swords drawne before the Tribunal and the offender shewen by the Tribune out of a high seate and if the souldiers did cry that he was guiltie he was immediately throwne downe headlong and cut in peeces the souldier reioysing in these massacres as though himselfe thereby had bene acquited Germanicus did not hinder them at all seeing that being done without his commaundement as well the fact as the enuie of it should light vpon their owne necks The old souldiers following that president were anon after sent to Raetia vnder colour of defending the prouince from the inuasion of the Sweuians but in deede to draw them from those garrisons yet breathing of crueltie no lesse by that cruel meanes of redresse then memorie of their former outrages This done he tooke a suruey of the Centurions who being called by the Captaine told their names degrees and countrey what payes they had receiued and how many yeares what exploits they had done in seruice and with what donatiues rewarded If the Tribunes and legions approued their valour and integritie they kept their roomes if by common consent couetousnes or crueltie were laid to their charge they were cassirde Things thus setled for the present there arose immediately a matter of no lesser waight then the former through the headie insolencie of the fift and one and twentith legion lodged in winter standings threescore miles off at Vetera For they first led the daunce and with their owne hands committed the lewdest outrages Nothing terrified with their fellowes punishment continued impenitent and still harbored anger in their breasts Whereupon Caesar gathereth forces prepareth a Nauy with confederates and allies to send downe the Rhene purposing if they were obstinate to try it out in a maine battell No tidings being all this while brought to Rome of the successe in Illyricum and vnderstanding of the rising of the Germaine legions the citie trembling with feare began to blame Tiberius that counterfeiting a doubtfulnes of taking on him the Empire mocked the Lords of the Senate the weake vnfurnished common people and suffered the seditious in the meane time to rebell which by the weake authoritie of two yong men could not be suppressed That he should therefore haue gone himselfe in person and opposed his imperiall maiestie against them at whose sight they would presently haue yeelded being by long experience skilfull and carrying with him power to punish or reward If Augustus striken in yeares could make often iourneies into Germanie should Tiberius being of a strong and able bodie sit in the Senate carping the Senators words He had taken good order how to keepe the citie in seruitude and that it was now time to applie some medicine to the souldiers minde to induce them to a disposition of peace Notwithstanding Tiberius standing stiffe in his determination resolued not to forsake the head of the empire and hazard himselfe and the whole state Many things troubled his minde as that the Germane armie was the strongest and the Pannonian neere at hand the one leaning to the strength of the Gaules the other lying in the confines of Italie doubtfull himselfe which first to go to least the other being postposed should take it in disdaine But his sonnes might visit both as a thing standing well with imperiall maiestie bearing greater state farthest off The yoong men might be excused if they referred some things to their father and if they should resist Germanicus and Drusus he should be able to appease or ouerthrowe them But if they should set light by the Emperor what remedie could be then looked for Neuertheles as though he would depart out of hand he made choise of his followers prouided his carriages in a readines prepared shipping then excusing himselfe now with the hardnes of the winter now with this now with that he deceiued first the wise then the vulgar sort and the prouinces a very long time XI The first and the ninth legion kill many of the rebels Germanicus ouer commeth the Marseans beateth dovvne the temple of Tanfana The death of Iulia. BVt Germanicus although he had an armie in a readines to reuenge vpon the rebels thinking it conuenient neuertheles to giue them some respite to see whether they would be reclaimed by the example of the other legions sent letters before to aduertise Cecina that he was comming with a power and that if they would not punish the offenders before his comming he would without any respect make a generall slaughter of them all These letters Cecina secretly imparted to the standard and ensigne bearers and the better sort perswading them to deliuer all in generall from infamie and themselues from death For in time of peace each mans cause and merit was waighed but in warre the guiltie and guiltlesse perished alike They then sounding the mindes of those they thought fittest and finding the greater number of the legionarie soldiers to continue dutifull following the Lieutenants aduice set downe a time when to cut off the lewdest and most seditious among them Then the watch-word giuen they breake into their tents slue them none priuie to the cause but such as were of counsell in the enterprise neither imagining the beginning nor the ende of this butcherie The strangest manner of ciuill warre that euer happened was this for without order of battell not sallying out of diuers standings but out of the same beds in which they had eaten by day and slept by night they banded into factions lanced their dartes outcries were heard wounds giuen blood shed but the cause vnknowen fortune ruled the rest and some honest men were slaine among But it was no sooner knowne against whom this watch was intended but the worst persons snatched their
for in so dooing industrie would decay and idlenes increase if men had not a feare and a hope in them And if all men should careleslie expect reliefe from others they would be to themselues vnprofitable and to vs burdensome These the like speeches although they were heard with the approbation of such whose custome is to applaude all the Princes actions be they honest or dishonest yet manie held their toong or secretly muttered which Tiberius perceiued and hauing paused a little saide that he had answered Hortalus Neuerthelesse if it so seemed good vnto the Lords of the Senat he would giue euerie one of his male children * two hundred thousand sesterces The rest gaue him thankes Hortalus helde his toong either for feare or as retaining somewhat of the nobilitie of his auncestors euen in extremitie of fortune Yet Tiberius had no compassion afterward on him although the Hortensian familie fell into shamefull pouertie IX Clemens a bondslaue counterfeiteth himselfe to be Agrippa and his bold answere THe same yeere an audacious part of a bondslaue had shaken the whole state with ciuill wars and discord had it not beene preuented in good time A bondman of Agrippas called Clemens vnderstanding of Augustus death with a courage more then seruile purposed to go to the Iland Planasia and by fraud or force bring away Agrippa to the German campe But his enterprise was hindered by the slownes of a ship of burden and in the meane season Agrippa being murdered bending his mind to greater and dangerouser attempts stealeth away his ashes and being come to Coram a promontorie of Ethruria in vnknowen places hideth himselfe vntill his beard and haire were growen out being in fauour and yeeres not vnlike his Lord. This done he whispereth it abroad by fit companions of his secrets first as in things forbidden commonly it is wont to be by priuie rumors that Agrippa was yet aliue then openly in the credulous eares of the weaker sort or busie headed and turbulent and therefore most desirous of nouelties His manner was towards night to go to small townes shewing himselfe abroad but seldome nor stay long in a place And bicause time and the eie trie out truth and falshood winneth credit on a sudden and by vncertainties he either left some speech of him where he had beene or preuented it before any was begun In the mean time it was commonly reported throughout Italy and beleeued at Rome that Agrippa by the goodnes of the gods was preserued aliue In so much that being arriued at Hostia there great multitudes and in the citie secret assemblies shewed signes of ioy Tiberius being doubtfull and perplexed whether he should make away his bondman by souldiers or suffer that vaine credulousnes to vanish away with time Thus wauereing betwixt shame and feare sometimes thinking it no policie to make light of any thing and sometime lesse to feare all things in the end committed the matter to Sallustius Crispus He chuseth two of his followers or as some saie souldiers and perswadeth them as though they had fled for some offence to goe to him offer him money promise him loyaltie and that they would stand to him in all dangers They fulfilling his commaundement espieng a night when he had no guarde with aide sufficient bound him stopped his mouth and drew him to the pallace And when Caesar asked him How he was made Agrippa it is reported hee answered As thou wast made Caesar He could not bee brought by any meanes to disclose his confederates Neither durst Tiberius punish him openly but in a secret part of the pallace commaunded him to be murdered and his bodie priuily to be conueied away And although many of the Princes own house Senators and gentlemen were reported to haue sustained him with their goods aided him with their counsell yet there was no further enquirie made In the end of this yeere a triumphall arch was erected neere to Saturnus Temple for the recouerie of the ensignes lost with Varus vnder the conduct of Germanicus and Caesars good fortune And a Temple built also of strong fortune neere Tyber in the gardens which Caesar the Dictator had bequeathed to the people of Rome and a Chappell dedicated to the Iulian familie and an image to Augustus at Bouilles IX Germanicus triumpheth is sent to the East The death of Archelaus King of Cappadocia C. Coelius and L. Pomponius being Consuls the seuenth Kalends of Iune Germanicus Caesar triumphed for the victories gotten against the Cherusci Chatti and Angriuari and all other nations inhabiting to the riuer of Albis In which triumph were caried the spoiles and captiues and counterfeit of the mountaines riuers and battels and so the warre was taken as ended because he was forbidden to prosecute it any further The comlines of his person and triumphall chariot loaden with fiue of his children made the shew more gallant But when they thought with themselues how vnluckie the peoples fauour was in his father Drusus that his vncle Marcellus was taken from them in the flowre of his youth heate of the peoples loue that the affection of the people of Rome was vnfortunate and of small continuance they were all secretly striken into a feare And although Tiberius gaue in Germanicus name to euery one of the people * three hundred sesterces a man and made him his copartner in the Consulship yet could neuer be accompted a sincere friend but that he went about to remoue the yong man vnder colour of honor and forged pretences or greedily taking hold of such as were offered by chaunce King Archelaus had now fiftie yeares enioyed Cappadocia greatly disliked of Tiberius because that during his being at Rhodes he had vsed no shew of dutie towards him which Archelaus did not omit through pride but because he was so admonished by Augustus familiarest friends For whilest C. Caesar yet flourished and managed the affaires of the East Tiberius friendship was suspected as dangerous The house of the Caesars was no sooner extinguished and that himselfe was in possession of the Empire but he tolleth Archelaus by his mothers letters to Rome who not dissembling her sonnes displeasure offered him all gentle intreatie if he would come to him with submission He then ignorant of the trechery or misdoubting violence if he seemed to perceiue it maketh haste to the citie where being churlishly receiued and anon after accused in Senate not for the crimes which were pretended but by anguish of minde or feeblenes of age and because not only base but also things indifferent are strange and vnusuall to kings he either willingly or naturally ended his life The kingdome was afterward reduced into a prouince and Caesar declaring that with the reuenews thereof the tribute of one in the hundred might be eased made a decree that from thence forward one should be leuied in two hundred At the same time Antiochus king of the Comageni and Philopater king of the Cilicians being dead those nations
we hasten to come to Rome with Germanicus ashes that Agrippinas lamentation and the vnskilfull multitude at the first rumor should laie hands on thee vnheard and vndefended Thou hast for thee Augustas conscience and Caesars fauour though in secret And none bewaile more braggingly Germanicus death in outward shew then such as in their harts are most glad Piso being forward enough of himself to haughtie attempts was with small adoe drawen to this opinion And sending letters to Tiberius accuseth Germanicus of riot and pride and that himselfe was driuen out of the prouince bicause there might be a way made open to innouation that he had againe taken charge of the armie with the same fidelitie as he had alreadie gouerned it Withall he commanded Domitius with a galley to saile into Syria and auoiding the coasting of the shoare and letting passe the Ilands take wide and open sea Then marshalling and arming runnagates and rascall base companions and sailing ouer to the continent he intercepted an ensigne of yoong and rawe souldiers which were going to Syria And writeth also to the Lords of Cilicia to send him aide the yoong man Piso being nothing slacke in the seruice although he was against the vndertaking of the warre Wherefore passing by the coast of Lycia Pamphylia meeting with the ships which had conueied Agrippina to Rome each side hating one another made themselues readie to fight yet both sides fearing the one the other they proceeded no further then to hard words Mirsus Vibius sommoned Piso to come to Rome to answere for himselfe who scoffingly answered him againe that he would come and appeere when the Pretor which was to inquire of poisonings would appoint a day as well for the plaintif as defendāt In the meane time Domitius being ariued at Laodicea a citie in Syria and going to the standing camp of the sixt legion as most fit for new enterprises was preuēted by the Lieutenāt Pacuuius Sentius openeth that by letters to Piso warning him not to go about to tempt the armie with corrupters nor raise any war in the Prouince And such as he knew to haue Germanicus in minde or were aduersaries to the enimies he assembled togither putting them oftē in mind of the greatnes of the Emperor and how the common-wealth was assailed and thereupon gathereth a strong power readie to fight Yet neither Piso nor his side although his enterprises fell out otherwise than he expected did let slip that which was of most safetie for the present but putteth himselfe in a verie strong castle in Cilicia called Celenderis For by sorting and medling togither the runnagates the new and raw soldier lately taken his owne and Plancinaes slaues and the aides which the Lords of Cilicia sent he marshalled them in forme of a legion And then affirmed that he was Caesars Lieutenant but drouen out of the Prouince committed to him not by the legions for they called him thither but by Sentius which cloaked his priuate malice with false crimes therfore that they should stād stoutly to the battel bicause the soldiers would not fight when they should see Piso whom heretofore they called their father If they would proceed by order of iustice the right was on his side if by armes he wanted not strength Then he displaied his companies in order of battell before the castle on a steepe craggie hils side the rest being inuironed with sea On the contrarie side the old soldiers with their supplies were marshalled into rankes On this side was the strength of souldiers one that of place In courage and hope there was great oddes also and on their side no weapons but rude and clownish prepared for a present shift And when they came to handie strokes there was no lōger doubt who should haue the vpper hand but til the Roman cohorts could win the plaine ground which done the Cilicians shewed their backs shut themselues in their fort In the meane space Piso went about but in vaine to assaile the nauie which waited not farre off Then returned to the castle againe now tormenting himselfe vpon the wals now calling to euerie souldier by his name and offering rewards assaied to raise a mutinie and did so much preuaile that the standard bearer of the sixt legion went with his ensigne to his side Then Sentius commaunded the cornets and trumpets to sounde gaue an assault to the rampiers caused laddres to be put vp and the ablest men to follow and the others out of engines to shoote dartes stones and fire brands In the end Pisoes obstinacie being ouercome entreateth that hauing yeelded vp his weapons he might remaine in the castle vntill Caesar were consulted who should be gouernor of Syria The conditions were not accepted nor any thing graunted him but onely that he should haue shipping and safe conduct to the citie XIX Great bewailing for Germanicus death strange religions suppressed loose life restrained in women of account BVt when Germanicus sicknes was noised at Rome and as in newes it falleth out the farther it goeth augmented to the worser all men burst out into anger griefe and complaints saying that therefore he was sent to forren countries that was the reason why Piso had the prouince committed to him this was the effect of Augustaes secret conference with Plancina that the auncient men said most truly of Drusus that the courteous and modest disposition of children doth dislike such as raigne Neither were they made away for any other reason but because libertie restored they had a meaning to reduce the people of Rome to a certain equalitie These speeches of the common people the newes of his death did so much kindle that before any edict of Magistrates before any decree of Senate was made vacation being taken of themselues the places of iudgement were abandoned houses shut vp silence and mourning euery where nothing of all this counterfeited or done for ostentation And although they did not abstaine from outward tokens of mourning yet in their harts they mourned much more Certaine Merchants returning by chaunce out of Syria Germanicus yet liuing bringing ioyfull tidings of his health were presently beleeued and spread abroad and as they met one another although they had scarse heard the tale to the end yet they reported it againe and they againe to others still making it more and increasing their ioy They ran vp and downe the citie went about to wrest open the gates of the temples the night furthered their credulousnes and in the darke euery man more readie to affirme Neither did Tiberius gainsay these false reports but let them vanish away with time But then the people as though he had beene a second time taken from them greeued more bitterly Such was his funerall pomp done in memory of him as either mens loue or pregnancie of conceipt could inuent as that his name should be sung in a Salarian verse which Mars priests were wont to sing that in the roomes of the Augustall priests chaires of estate
Sal. Crispus two noble personages Volusius was descended of an auncient stocke but neuer higher then a Pretors roome himselfe obtained a Consuls roome was made Censor for the chusing of bands of horsmen the first gatherer of riches whereby that house rose to that greatnes Crispus was a gentleman borne and so called and adopted by that excellent writer of the Roman Historie C. Sallustius bicause he was his sisters nephew But he although he had a readie entrance for obtaining of dignities yet following the example of Maecenas neuer once being Senator had greater authoritie and power then many which had triumphed and beene Consuls Yet differed from his auncestors in manner of life as being neat fine and bountifull very neere riotousnes and was of a great capacitie and in courage able to performe great matters and so much the more liuely by how much in vtter shew he seemed drousie and heauie metled Therefore whilest Maecenas liued next vnto him his credit was best and after his death trusted with greatest secrets of state and priuie to the murdering of Posthumus Agrippa and growne into yeeres helde rather a shadowe of the Princes friendship then the substance Euen so fell it out with Maecenas either so by the course of the heauens decreed that Princes fauour is seldome euerlasting or bicause both haue their fill those when they haue giuen all they can these when there is nothing left to desire Now followeth the fourth time Tiberius and the second that Drusus was made Consull a thing woorthie of remembrance that the father and the son were fellow officers for two yeeres before Germanicus had the same dignitie with Tiberius but that was no ioie to the vncle neither he so neere in blood vnto him In the beginning of that yeere Tiberius went to Campania vnder colour of getting his health yet indeed by little and little to absent himselfe or else that the father being away Drusus might alone mannage the whole Consulship It fell out by meere chance that a matter of small moment growing to a waightie contention brought the yoong man to great credit Domitius Corbulo who had beene Pretor complained before the Lords of the Senat on L. Sulla a noble yoong man that he gaue him not the place at a play of fencers For Corbulo made his age the custome of the countrey and the fauour of the auncient men on the other side Mamercus Scaurus and L. Arruntius and other of his kinred stucke vnto Sulla Orations were made on both sides and examples of old times brought sharpely rebuking the irreuerence of youth vntill Drusus qualified the matter with a fit discourse and Corbulo satisfied by Mamercus the most excellent Orator of his time and vncle and father in law to Sulla The same Corbulo exclaiming that many high waies of Italie were broken and not passable by reason of the fraude of the vndertakers of the worke and negligence of magistrates in great accepteth willingly the finishing of that busines Which did not so much turne to à publick benefit as the destruction of many whose wealth and fame he tyrannised by condemning them and setting their goods to sale VII Whether Captaines and Gouernors of prouinces should haue their vviues vvith them NOt long after Tiberius sent letters to the Senate aduertising them that by Tacfarinas incursions Affrike was againe in armes and that with the aduise of the Lords it were needfull that a Preconsull were chosen skilfull in matters of warre of an able bodie and a sufficient man for this war Which entrance Sextus Pompeius hauing gotten of vttering his malice against M. Lepidus accused him to be a coward beggerly and a dishonour to his auncestors and therefore not to be admitted to lot for the gouernment of Asia The Senators were on his side who thought Lepidus rather meeke then a coward and the small wealth left him by his father and his nobilitie past without reproch rather they iudged a credit then an ignominie And therefore he was sent into Asia And touching Affrica it was decreed that Caesar shoulde chuse one himselfe for that charge Whilest these things were a dooing Seuerus Caecina was of opinion that no magistrate vnto whom should fall the gouernment of a Prouince shoulde haue his wife follow him hauing first often repeated the good agreement betwixt him and his wife that he had sixe children by hir and that he propounded nothing publikely to be executed which he had not obserued at home not suffering his to go out of Italie although he had had commanderie in wars fortie yeeres in many prouinces It was not in vaine said he ordained in times past that womē should not be drawen to cōfederates and forrein nations For it was incident where women followed that in peace they were a hinderance by riot and sumptousnes in warre by feare and made the Romane armie like the Barbarians going to warre That sexe was not onely weake and vnable to take paine but if it got the bridle cruell ambitious and greedy of rule To marche among the souldiers to haue the Centurions at command we haue seene a woman of late and to ouersee the cohorts exercise and the legions horseraces That they should consider that as oft as any were accused of extortion and polling more was obiected against their wiues then themselues That the lew dest persons of the prouinces did by and by cleaue vnto them They woulde intermeddle and conclude of all affaires by this meanes two were courted and two iudgement seats Women being wilfull commaund proudly and brideled by the Oppian and other lawes now hauing gotten the raines in their hands rule houses places of iudgements and armies This was heard but with the good likin of a fewe many interrupting him and saying that that was not the matter propounded nor Caecina a fit censurer to swaie a matter of so great importance Valerius Messallinus sonne vnto Messalla in whom appeared the image of his fathers eloquence answered immediately as followeth Many hard and irksome customes of our predecessors haue beene changed into the better and pleasanter Neither was the citie besieged as in times past or the prouinces at defiance with vs and some few things are graunted to womens necessities which are so farre from ouercharging the confederates that they are not burdensome to their husbands houses Other things were common as well to the husband as the wife and no hinderance at all therein to peace True it is that warres are to be vndertaken by armed men but vnto such as returne after their labours what more honester solace then a mans wife But some haue fallen into ambition and couetousnes What of magistrates themselues are not many of them subiect vnto sundry affections yet it cannot be that none should be sent into the prouince But oftentimes the husbands haue beene corrupted by the naughtines of their wiues are therefore all single men vncorrupt The Oppian lawes were once in vse the state of the common wealth so requiring but
stones for which our money is transported to forren nations or enemies I am not ignorant that these things are blamed in bankets and meetings and a meane wished for But if any would make a lawe or lay downe a punishment for them those themselues which complaine will exclaime that the citie is ouerthrowne that the ruine of the nobilitie is sought for and that there is none free from this crime But we see that old inueterate diseases of the body cannot be cured but by sharp and rough remedies the corruptor and the corrupted the weake and burning desire is to be quenched with no lighter remedies then the disordinate appetites were which kindled the minde So many lawes inuented by our auncestors so many made by Augustus those by obliuion these which is a greater offence abolished by contempt haue caused all superfluities to be more bold and practised For if thou wouldest do that which is not yet forbidden feare least thou be forbidden it But if thou hast without punishment transgressed things forbidden there is neither further shame nor feare left Why then in times past was prouident sparing vsed because euery man did moderate himselfe because we were citizens of one citie and our dominions not reaching out of Italy we had not the same prouocations by victories had against strangers we haue learned to consume other mens goods by ciuill wars our owne How small a matter is that whereof the Aediles do admonish vs how little to be reckoned of if we regard other things But truly no man doth put vs in minde that Italy doth want the ayde of forren nations that the life of the people of Rome is tossed with the incertaintie of sea and tempest and if the strength of the prouinces should not aide and succour the Lords slaues and possessions our woods forsooth and our farmes would they maintaine vs This burden Lords of the Senate the Prince doth sustaine which being omitted the common-wealth would fall to the ground In other things euery man must giue himselfe a lawe let shame amend vs necessitie the poore sacietie the rich Or if there be any of the magistrates which doth promise vs so much industrie and seueritie that he can preuent and redresse these things I do both praise him and confesse that I shall be vnburdened in part of my labour But if they will accuse faults and hauing gotten glory thereby raise priuie hatred and leaue it on me beleeue me Lords of the Senate I am not desirous of displeasures which although I run into and that very greatly and for the most part vniustly for the common wealth yet by good reason I refuse them and intreate that those be not thrust on me which will be neither profitable for me nor you XII Examples do more then lawes in reformation of abuses the Flamines are hindered for being gouernors of Prouinces CAEsars letters being heard the Aediles were discharged of that care and the sumptuousnes of their tables which from the end of the war at Actium vntill the wars in which S. Galba got the soueraigntie for an hundred yeeres lauishingly vsed began by little and little to be left off The causes of this chang it shall not be amisse to seeke out In times past rich and great houses of noble men fell to decay through their magnificence being then lawfull to winne the fauour of the people of confederates and Kings to court and be courted And as euerie man was most sumptuous in his house furniture and prouision so he was accounted most honorable and followed with a greater traine But after they began to murder one another for priuat quarrels proceeding of this pompe and that their greatnes was their ruine the rest tooke a wiser course And withall new men which were often taken out of free townes colonies and Prouinces and chosen to be Senators brought in with them the frugalitie which they had vsed before in their owne houses And albeit many of them either by fortune or their owne industrie grew to wealth in their age yet they kept the same minde and custome they brought with them But Vespasian was the chiefest author of this strict kinde of life himselfe obseruing the auncient manner of liuing for then a desire of pleasing and imitating the Prince wrought more then either punishment of lawes or feare Vnlesse peraduenture we thinke that there is in all things a certaine change and as there is an intercourse and change of time so also an alteration of customes and manners Neither were all things in auncient times better then ours but our age hath left vnto posteritie manie things worthie of praise and imitation But let such honest contentions between vs and our predecessors stil continue amongst vs. Tiberius hauing gotten the fame of moderation by repressing the accusers sent letters to the Senat requesting the Tribuniciall authoritie for Drusus That terme of highest dignitie Augustus inuented to auoide the name of King or Dictator and yet vnder another title signified a soueraigntie aboue other magistrates After this he chose M. Agrippa as an associat of that dignitie and after his death Tiberius Nero lest the successor should be vnknowen thinking thereby to cut off others vnlawfull hopes trusting to Neroes modestie and his owne greatnes By which example Tiberius did then assure the soueraigntie to Drusus when as whilest Germanicus liued he held his iudgment indifferent betweene them both not preferring the one before the other But in the beginning of his letters hauing humbly prayed vnto the gods that they would prosper his counsels to the good of the common-wealth he spake some few words and those truly of the yoong mans behauiour as that he had a wife and three children and was of the age that he himselfe was called by Augustus of famous memorie to vndertake the same charge Neither could it be saide that hastily but after eight yeeres triall hauing suppressed seditions and setled the wars and triumphed and beene twise Consull he was taken to be an associat of a knowen labour The Lords of the Senat conceiued the drift of his oration whereby their flatterie towards him was the more artificiall Yet notwithstanding there was nothing newly inuented but ordained onely that the images of the Princes the altars of the gods Temples and arches and such vsuall honours should be erected for him Sauing that M. Silanus demaunded and opined that in publicke and priuate monuments the Consuls names should not be prefixed but theirs who had Tribuniciall authoritie a thing greatly dishonoring and debasing the Consulary dignitie Q. Haterius who had counselled that the decrees made that day in Senat should be written in letters of gold was mocked for his labour that an olde man should vse to his infamie such filthie flatterie Whilest these things were a doing the gouernment of Affrica was continued in Iunius Blaesus Seruius Maluginesis a Flamen Dial or Iupiters Priest sued that he might draw lots for the gouernment of Asia saying That it was vainely spread abroad
that it was not lawfull for Iupiters Priests to go out of Italie And that they had no other law then the Priests of Mars and Quirinus And if these had gouerned the Prouinces why was it vnlawfull for the Diales that there was no law of the people touching that matter found in the bookes of ceremonies The high Priest had often celebrated Iupiters sacrifices if the Flamen had beene hindered by sickenes or publicke affaires Seuentie and two yeeres after that Cornelius Merula was murdered no man was put to supplie the place and yet the ceremonies neuer ceased And if his creation could be omitted for so many yeeres without any hinderance to the sacrifices how much easlier might a man be absent with the Proconsularie dignitie for a yeere In times past they were forbidden to goe out of the Prouinces through the priuat grudges of the high Priest now through the fauour of the gods the high Priest was the soueraign aboue all men not subiect vnto emulation malice or priuat affection Against which when Lentulus the Augur and others had diuersly spoken in the ende they resolued to expect the censure of the high Priest Tiberius hauing deferred the hearing of the Flamins right moderated the ceremonies which were decreed in honor of Drusus Tribuniciall dignitie rebuking by name the insolencie of that sentence which would haue had the decree written in letters of gold against the custome of the countrey Drusus letters were also read which although they seemed to tend to modesty yet were reputed most proude They complained that things were growen to that passe that the yoong man hauing receiued so great honour yet vouchsafed not to visit the gods of the citie nor shew himselfe in Senat or begin at least his authoritie in his owne countrey But forsooth he is let by warre or hindered in some strange countrey when indeed he solaceth himselfe at his pleasure in the shores and lakes of Campania This lesson had the ruler of the world taught him this did he first learne of his fathers Counsels Although the olde Emperour should disdaine to come and shewe himselfe to the citizens and pretend his yeeres and trauell for an excuse yet what impediment hath Drusus but onely his arrogancie XIII A reformation of Sanctuaries BVt Tiberius strengthening in himselfe the soueraigntie left the Lords of the Senate a shadow of their auncient estate by sending the requests of the prouinces to their examination The licence and impunitie of ordaining Sanctuaries and priuiledged places increased throughout the cities of Greece The temples were filled with most lewd bondslaues in the same refuges were receiued debtors against their creditors and suspected of capitall crimes Neither was there any authoritie able to bridle the sedition of the people protecting all villanies no lesse then the ceremonies of the gods Whereupon it was concluded that the cities should send their Embassadors with their priuiledges which some left off of their owne accord as falsly vsurped many trusted to old superstitions or pleasures done to the people of Rome The pomp of that day was great in shew in which the Senators considered of the prerogatiues of their predecessors the agreements of confederates the decrees of kings which had bene before the Romans had gotten such great power and authoritie and the religions of the gods themselues being yet in the disposition of the Senate to confirme or alter all as in times past they could haue done The first which shewed themselues in Senate were the Ephesians declaring that Diana and Apollo were not borne in the Iland Delos as the common people did beleeue and there was in their countrey a riuer called Cenchrius and a wood called Ortygia where Latona being great with childe and leaning against an oliue tree which is yet in the place brought forth those two gods and that by the commaundement of the gods that wood was made sacred And that Apollo himselfe did in that place flee from Iupiters anger after he had slaine the Cyclopians After that Bacchus the conqueror in warre pardoned the Amazones which humbling themselues there caught hold of the altar And that the ceremonie of that temple increased by Hercules permission when he inioyed Lydia which was not diminished when the Persians had dominion ouer it After that the Macedonians then we had maintained the same priuiledges Next vnto those came in the Magnesians building their reasons on L. Scipio and L. Sullaes constitutions the one driuing out Antiochus and the other Mithridates and extolled the loyaltie and vertue of the Magnesians and commaunded that Diana Leucophrynes priuiledges should not be violated Then followed the Aphrodisienses Stratonicenses alleaging an order made by Caesar the Dictator and another later decree of Augustus of famous memory for the pleasures done them in taking part with their side during the time of their faction praysing them that they had sustained the assaults of the Parthians nothing at all changing their constancie towards the people of Rome But the Aphrodisienses maintained the priuiledges of Venus temple and the Stratonicenses Iupiter and Triuias ceremonies The Hierocaesarienses fetchte their matter from a farther beginning inducing their Dianapersica and a temple dedicated by king Cyrus and told a tale of Perperna of Isauricum and many other Emperours which graunted that holines not only to the temple but to two miles compas Then followed the Cyprians declaring that they had three temples whereof the most auncient was builded by Aerias and consecrated to Venus Paphia the second by his sonne Amathus and dedicated to Venus Amathusia the third to Iupiter Salaminius built by Teucer when hee fled from his father Telamon The Embassadors of other cities were heard likewise with whose multitude the Lords of the Senate being wearied some fauoring one side some another and because they contended which had merited most they referred the matter to the Consuls that looking into the right of the cause if they contained any secret abuse they should bring the whole cause againe to the Senate The Consuls besides those cities which I haue aboue named spake of another priuiledged place for malefactors dedicated to Aesculapius at Pergamum affirming that the rest were grounded vpon obscure beginnings in respect of their antiquitie The Smyrnaeans alleaged an oracle of Apollo by which they were commaunded to dedicate a temple to Venus Stratonicis the Tenians a verse of the same Apollo commaunding them to offer an image and temple to Neptune The Sardians brought in matters of later memory that to be Alexander the conquerors gift and the Milesians did the like vsing king Darius name for their franchise but both of these did worship Diana and Apollo The Cretensians made request that the image of Augustus might haue some priuiledge and decrees of Senate were made by which with great honor yet moderation was prescribed vnto all and commaundement giuen in those very temples to erect altars for a sacred memorie yet so that vnder colour of religion they should not fall into
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
of these yong and tender children were cast into the Gemonies a place where condemned persons were throwne downe headlong About the same time Asia and Achaia were put into a very great fright though it continued not long with a rumor that Drusus Germanicus sonne had beene seene first in the Ilands Cyclades and afterward in the continent But it was a yong man of like age whome some of Caesars freed men by a subtile practise followed bearing men in hand they knew it to be him Such as knew him not were drawne by the fame of his name and the Greekes especially prone to all new and strange wonders It was reported he had escaped out of prison and fled to his fathers armie some both faining and beleeuing withall that he would inuade Aegypt or Syria Youth flocked alreadie to him very cheerefully many signes of loue publickly shewen him feeding themselues with the present vaine hope of what might happen When as Poppaeus Sabinus had tidings thereof who was then occupied in the affaires of Macedonia had charge also ouer Achaia he therefore were the report true or false to preuent all things hastning ouer the Toronaean and Thermaean cut and passing by Euboea an Iland of the Aegean sea and Piraeum a coast of Attique the Corinthian shore and the streights of Isthmum by another sea came to Nicopolis a colonie of the Romaines and there after a carefull examination vnderstandeth who he should be He said he was M. Silanus sonne and that many of his followers hauing forsaken him he embarked himselfe as though he meant to trauell into Italie These things he signified to Tiberius by writing neither haue we found any thing more of the beginning or end of this matter Towards the end of the yeere a quarrell of certaine Consuls burst forth which had beene a long time a breeding For Trio little regarding what enemies he procured and well practised at the barre vnderhand carped Regulus as being careles in oppressing Seianus ministers Regulus vnlesse greatly prouoked of a temperate and cold humor did not only answere and quaile his fellow Consull but brought him within the compasse of conspiracie and to be examined for it And although many of the Lords of the Senate intreated them that they woulde surcease their quarrell which would grow to their owne ouerthrow yet they continued their grudge and menaces one against the other vntill they went both out of office The end of the fift Booke THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Of Tiberius lasciuious life Pursuing of Liuia and Seianus Cotta accused CN Domitius and Camillus Scribonianus entered the Consulship when Caesar hauing passed the streight betwixt Capreas and Surrentum coasted Campania doubtfull whether he should enter into the citie or not perhaps because he had otherwise resolued in his minde though making shew he would come oftentimes approching neere the citie and to the gardens along Tiber and returning back againe to the rocks and deserts of the sea to couer the shame of his lasciuious life which so vnstayedly he wallowed in that as the manner of the kings was he defiled and abused noble mens sonnes vnder age and not only the welfauored and comelyest but the modest and well nurtured and whose modest behauiour shewed the stock from whence they grew serued him for prouocation of filth Then first of all were those vnknowen words of Sellaries and Spintries found out of the filthines of the place and sundrie sorts of sufferance of abuse Some of his slaues had charge to seeke them out and bring them to him alluring such by gifts as shewed themselues willing and readie and threatning such as refused and if either their neere friends or parents went about to detaine them they vsed violence and caried them away perforce and exercised their willes on them as if they had been captiues But at Rome in the beginning of the yeare seuere iudgements were giuen against Liuia and against her images and other memories consecrated in her honor as if her lewdnes had then first come to light and had not been alreadie punished The Scipioes gaue their opinion that Seianus goods should be taken from the publick treasury and put in the Princes priuat cofers The Silanians and Cassians were of the same opinion and vrged it with the same tearmes or not greatly changed when on the sudden and vnlooked for Togonius Gallus among those noble men thrusting himselfe forward being but of base and low calling had the hearing giuen him as a matter to laugh at for he desired the Prince to choose twentie by lot out of a certaine number of Senators to gard and defend his person with weapon as oft as he went to the Senate He beleeued peraduenture that Tiberius had meant good earnest when he required that one of the Consuls might conduct and aide him from Caprea to the citie Tiberius neuerthelesse accustomed sometimes to interlace serious matters with skoffes thanked the Lords for their good will yet demaunded whom he might omit or whom he might choose whether alwaies the same or sometimes others in their steede such as had borne office or yong men priuate persons or magistrates what a goodly sight it would be to see them take a sword in hand at the entrie of the councell house neither would he make such accompt of his life if he were to maintaine it by armes This he answered to Togonius tempering his words and perswaded no farther the disallowing of that opinion But he rebuked Iunius Gallio very bitterly who propounded that the souldiers of the gard after their seruice was ended might haue a roome in the fortieth ranke of seates and asked him as it had been in their presence what he had to do with souldiers for whom it was not lawfull either to receiue commaundement or gift but of the Emperour or whether he had found out that which Augustus of famous memory could not prouide for It was rather a matter of discord and sedition sought for by one of Seianus followers to stirre vp rude mindes vnder title of honor to corrupt the custome of seruice This was the reward which Gallio receiued for his artificiall flatterie and anon after was driuen out of the councell house and then out of Italy And because it was obiected that he could easily indure exile hauing made choise of the famous and noble Ile of Lesbos he was recalled to the citie and kept in the magistrates houses In the same letters to the great contentment of the Lords of the Senate Caesar touched Sestius Pagonianus who had been sometimes Pretor to the quick audacious malignant and prying into all mens secrets beloued of Seianus and by him employed to lay snares to intrap C. Caesar which being once layd open all the hatred a long time hatched against him burst foorth and sentence of death decreed against him if he had not promised to bewray the complices But when Acreus had accused Latinius Latiaris hated both alike it was a most
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
eies whom thou dost inrich whom thou dost aduance to honours who haue greatest power of hurting or helping which Seianus to haue had no man will denie The Princes hidden thoughts or if he go about any secret drift it is not lawfull to sound and dangerous neither shalt thou in the end reach vnto them Thinke not onely Lords of the Senat of Seianus last day but of sixteene yeeres in which we did likewise fawne vpon and court Satrius and Pomponius and to be knowen to his freed men and partners was reckoned as a high fauour What then Shall this defence be generall and not distinguished but a confusion made of times past and his later actions No but let it by iust bounds and termes be diuided Let the treasons against the common-wealth the intentions of murdering the Emperour be punished but as for the friendship duties pleasures and good turnes the same ende shall discharge and quite thee O Caesar and vs. The constancie of his oration one being found to deliuer that which they all thought in their mindes preuailed so much that his accusers by ripping vp their old faults were punished either with exile or death III. The occasion of making a Prefect at Rome an examen of some of the Sibyls bookes AFter that Tiberius sent letters against Sext. Vestilius sometime Pretor and welbeloued of Drusus his brother chosen to be one of his garde The cause of displeasure against Vestilius was either bicause he had composed certaine writings against Caesars vncleane life or falsly fathered vpon him gaue credit to the reporters and therupon being banished the Princes court familiarity hauing first gone about with his owne olde feeble hand to slaie himselfe bound vp his vaines and in the meane space hauing entreated the Princes fauour and receiued arigorous answere did at last open them Then at once were accused of treason Annius Pollio Appius Silanus Scaurus Mamercus Sabinus Caluisius Vicinianus also brought in with his father for companie all of them well descended and some in authoritie The Lords of the Senat quaked for feare for how manie was there which was not either allied or a friend of one of those noble men But Celsus Tribune of the citie-cohort and then an informer deliuered Appius and Caluisius from danger Caesar deferred Pollioes Vicinianus Scaurus cause that himselfe might haue the hearing of it with the Senators hauing giuen out alreadie tokens of heauie displeasure against Scaurus Not so much as women but were partakers of danger and if not attainted for attempting to aspire to the Empire yet brought in question for their teares and Vitia an old woman Fusius Geminus mother was put to death bicause she bewailed the death of her sonne These things were done in Senat. And where the Prince was the like was practised Vescularius Atticus and Iulius Marinus two of his most familiar friends which accompanied him to Rhodes and at Capreas neuer departed from him were put to death Vescularius was the Messenger to and fro when the treacherie was wrought against Libo Marinus was of Seianus counsell when he put Curtius Atticus to death most men being glad to see them taken in the snare they laid for others About the same time L. Piso high Priest died a naturall death which was a rare matter in those times in a man of so great nobilitie He neuer of himselfe propounded any matter which smelled of flatterie or base minds if he were forced thereto he vsed great moderation in doing it His father as I haue alreadie saide had beene Censor he liued to the age of fowerscore hauing in Thrace deserued the triumphall ornaments But his greatest credit rose in that that being newly created Prouost of the citie he did gouerne exceeding moderately all the time of his continuall rule irkesome through vnwontednes of obedience For in times past when the Kings or Consuls went out of the citie least she should be left without gouernment there was one chosen for a time able to giue euery man right prouide for all sudden accidents And it is said that Dentres Romulius had the same charge giuen him by Romulus after that Numa Marcius by Tullus Hostilius and Spurius Lucretius by Tarquinius Superbus Then that the Consuls had the charge of committing this office and a shadow of it continueth vnto this day as oft as the Latine feasts are folemnised one is appointed ouer the rest to exercise the roome of a Consull But Augustus in the time of ciuill warres made Cilnius Maecenas a gentleman Prouost ouer Rome and all Italie Then being Lord and Master of the Empire by reason of the greatnes of the people and slow aide which the lawes affoorded he chose out one of such as had been Consuls to bridle the bondmen and such citizens as through audaciousnes would grow troublesome vnlesse they stood in awe The first that receiued that authoritie but kept it but awhile was Messalla Coruinus as vnable to discharge it Then Taurus Statilus although he were verie aged went through it with great commendation After that Piso was well liked for the space of twentie yeeres and by order of the Senat honoured with publick funerals It was afterward propounded before the Lords of the Senat by Quinctilianus Tribune of the people concerning the Sibyls booke which Caninius Gallus one of the fifteene requested might be receiued among other books of the same prophetesse and demanded it might be so established by decree of Senat which being giuen by common consent Caesar sent letters somewhat reprehending the Tribune as ignorant of the old custome by reason of his youth and vpbraided Gallus that being old and practised in the science and ceremonies neuertheles had demanded the opinion of the Senators not fully assembled the author being vncertain and before the colledge had yeelded their iudgment neither as the custome was the verses hauing been read and waighed by the maisters Withall he aduertised them because that many vaine things were published vnder the name of famous men that Augustus had vnder penaltie set downe a day within which such bookes should be brought to the citie-Pretor and that it was not lawfull for any to haue them in their priuat possession The like decree was established by our predecessors also and after that the Capitol was burnt in the ciuill war their verses were sought in Samum in Ilium Erythrum through Affrike also Sicily and the colonies of Italie whether they were one or many the busines being committed to the Priests to distinguish the true prophecies from the false as neere as might be by the iudgement of man And then also the booke was referred to the examination of the fifteene When the same men were Consuls through a dearth of corne and other prouisions they grew almost to a commotion and many things for many dayes together were in the Theater more licentiously demaunded with great eagernes then the manner had beene to demaund things of the Emperour Whereat being moued he
perceiued that he had a care of things to come for not going about the bush but in plaine termes he vpbraied Macro that he turned his backe to the West and looked alwaies toward the sun-rising And hapning by chāce that some speech was had of L. Sulla whom C. Caesar was wont to scoffe laugh at Tiberius foretold him that he should haue all his vices but not so much as one of his vertues And withall imbracing the yongest of his nephewes with weeping teares the other looking on with an enuious eye sayd vnto him thou shalt kill him and another shall kill thee Yet his sicknes growing more and more vpō him he omitted not any part of his wāton vncleane lusts counterfeiting and putting on a face of courage euen in his weaknes and infirmitie and was wont to mock at the Phisitiōs skill that after 30. yeers space they wanted other mens counsell to know what was good or hurtfull for their own bodies In the meane time at Rome there were certaine seedes of murders sowen to take effect after Tiberius death Laelius Balbus had accused Acutia somtimes the wife of P. Vitellius of treason who being cōdemned when a recompence was to be ordained for the accuser Iunius Otho Tribune of the people withstood it wherupon they two growing to a iarre Otho was sent into banishment Then Albucilla infamous for loose loue with many once wife to Satrius Secundus the detector of the conspiracie was accused of certaine impieties and inchantments against the Prince with her as confederats her adulterers Gn. Domitius Vibius Marsus L. Arruntius Of Domitius nobilitie I haue spoken before Marsus also was of an ancient stock and endued with many good vertues But the memoriall sent vnto the Senate doth testifie that Macro had charge of the examinatiō of the witnesses torture of the bondmen and the Emperours letters gaue no token of suspition against them either because he was weake feeble or bicause he knew nothing of it many crimes were forged by Macro knowen enimie to Arruntius Domitius therefore premeditating his defence Marsus as though he had purposed to pine away by famishing himselfe prolonged their liues Arruntius whilest his friends perswaded him not to be too hastie but linger on answereth them That the same things do not beseeme all men alike that for his own part he had liued long ynough and had no other thing to repent him of but that he had among so manie vaine mockeries perils prolonged his heauie and carefull old age hauing bin long hated of Seianus now of Macro alwais of som one of the mightiest not through any fault of his but bicause he could not endure wickednes True it is he might linger out during the short time the Prince hath to liue but how should he escape the yoong Prince which is to come If Tiberius after such long experience in affaires by the force of rule and dominion hath changed and altered is it to be hoped that C. Caesar who is yet scarse out of his childhood vnexpert and vnacquainted with al things or brought vp trained in the lewdest shuld follow a better course hauing Macro for his guide who being chosen to oppresse Seianus bicause he was woorse than he afflicted the common-wealth with greater calamitie I foresee said he a heauier seruitude and therfore I will flie as well from that which is alreadie past as that which is at hand Speaking these things as it had bin in maner of a Prophesie he cut his vaines It shal appeere by those things which insued that Arruntius died in good time Albucilla hauing wounded herselfe with a blow giuē without effect was carried to prison The ministers of her whoredom Grasidius Sacerdos who had been Pretor was banished into an Iland and Pontius Fregellanus condemned to be put from the Senate the saide punishments were decreed against Laelius Balbus by these themselues which were glad of it bicause Balbus was thought to vse his eloquēce cruelly as one alwais at hād ready against the innocēt XII Tiberius death ABout the same time Sext. Papinius descended of a Consularie familie chose a sudden euilfauoured death by casting himselfe headlong from a high place The cause was attributed to his mother who hauing bin long before put away from her husband by flattering speeches lasciuious wantōnes induced the yoong man vnto that villanie that to auoid the discredit with her he could finde no remedie but death She being accused in Senate albeit she prostrated hirselfe at the Lords feet long shewed her common griefe womens weaknes in such desires and other lamentable and pitifull monings witnessing hir dolour and griefe yet was banished the citie ten yeers vntil her yoongest son was past the vnconstant slipperines of his youth Now Tiberius bodie strength began to forsake him but not yet his dissimulation He had the same courage vigour of minde his countenance and voice was strong desiring somtimes to be pleasant cloked his manifest decay of strength And often changing at last setled himselfe in a promontorie of Misenum in a house which somtimes Lucullus had bin Lord of where it was known that his death was at hand by this means There was a Phisition verie skilfull in his arte called Charicles yet neuer accustomed to gouerne the Prince in his sicknes but to assist him with his counsell This Phisition departing from Tiberius as it had bin about some busines of his own vnder colour of dutie taking him by the hand felt the pulse of his vains but yet he could not vse the matter so cunningly but the emperor perceiued him Whether Tiberius were offended with him or not it was vncertaine if he were so much the more suppressing his anger caused meat to be made readie otherwise than his custome had bin sitteth downe as it had been in honor of his friends farewell Charicles neuerthelesse assured Macro that his spirits decayed and that he coulde not liue aboue two daies Whereupon great debating of matters passed among those which were present and messengers posted away to the lieutenants armies The 17. of the Kalends of April his breath being stopped he was thought to haue ended this mortall life Then C. Caesar with a great multitude flocking about him and congratulating his good fortune went forth to take vpō him the Empire when newes came on the sudden that Tiberius was come to his speech sight again that meate was called for to put him out of his swouning vpon this they were all stroken into a great feare and dispersed themselues some one way some another euerie man counterfeiting a sad cheere and ignorance of all this And C. Caesar stroken dumbe in the top of his hope expected his last doome Macro resolute and stout commanded the old man to be smoothered by casting many clothes on him and euerie man to depart from the doore And so Tiberius ended his life the 78. yeere of
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
that the legion which durst vndertake the battell was slaine the rest had either hid themselues in their camp or fought meanes by flight to saue themselues that they could not indure the noise and cry of so many souldiers much lesse their furie and strength If they would waigh with themselues the strength of the souldiers if the cause of the warre they should resolue either to vanquish in that battell or die That for her owne part being a woman was her resolution the men might liue if they pleased and serue Suetonius held not his toong in so great danger who although he trusted in the valour of his souldiers yet enterlaced exhortations and prayers That they should contemne the lowde and vaine threates of the barbarians that there were more women seene in their armie then yong men that being vnwarlike and vnarmed they would presently yeeld when they should once come to feele the weapons and valour of the conquerors who had so oft ouerthrowne them yea where many legions haue beene a few haue caried away the glory of the battell and it should be an augmenting to their glory if with a small power they could win the praise of a whole armie that they should only continue the slaughter and butcherie close together by throwing of darts then with their swords and pikes of their bucklers not thinking on bootie for the victorie once gotten all should fall to their share Such a feruencie and edge followed the captaines words the old souldier experienced in many battels so besturred himselfe and shewed such forwardnes in lancing his darts that Suetonius assured of the euent gaue the signe of battell And first of all the legion not stirring afoote but keeping within the streight as in a place of defence after that the enemie was come neerer and had spent his darts to good purpose the legion in the end sallied out in a pointed battell The auxiliarie souldier was of the like courage and the horsemen with long lances breaking before them all they met or made head against them The residue shewed their backs hardly fleeing away by reason the carts placed about the plaine had hedged in the passages on euery side And the souldiers spared not from killing so much as the women and their horses and beasts thrust through increased the heape of bodies That was a day of great renowme and comparable to the victories of old times for some there are which report that there were slaine fewe lesse in number then fourscore thousand Britaines of our souldiers fower hundred slaine and not many moe hurt Boudicea ended her life with poison And Poenius Posthumus Campe-maister of the second legion vnderstanding of the prosperous successe of the foureteenth and twentith legions because hee had defrauded his legion of the like glorie and contrarie to the order of seruice refused to obey the Captaines commaundement slewe himselfe After this gathering the armie togither they encamped againe readie to end the residue of the warre And Caesar augmented his forces by sending out of Germanie two thousand legion aries eight cohorts of auxiliaries and a thousand horse by whose comming the ninth legion was supplied The cohorts and wings were lodged in newe winter garrisons and all those which were either openly against vs or doubtfull were wasted with fire and sword But nothing so much distressed that nation as famine being negligent in sowing of corne and of all ages giuen to warre and assuring themselues to liue on our prouision being a fierce nation slowly gaue eare to any peace For Iulius Classicianus sent to succeed Catus and at variance with Suetonius hindered the common good with pruate grudges and had bruted abroad that the new Lieutenant was to be expected who without any hostile rancor pride of a conqueror would entreat such as would yeelde with all clemencie He sent worde likewise to Rome that they should looke for no ende of the warres vnlesse some other should succeed Suetonius attributing his aduerse lucke to his own ouerthwartnes and the prosperous to the good lucke of the common-wealth Whereupon to see what state Britannie stood in Polycletus a freed man was sent Nero greatly hoping that by his authoritie there should not onely an agreement be made betweene the Lieutenant and Procurator but also the rebellious mindes of the Barbarians be won to a peace Neither failed Polycletus with his great hoast to seeme burdesome to Italie and Gallia and after he had passed the Ocean sea shew himselfe terrible euen to our souldiers But to the enimies he was but a laughing stocke who being in ful possession of libertie knew not what the power of freed men was and began to maruell that a Captaine and an armie which had atchieued so many great exploits could yeeld to obey a bond-slaue all things neuerthelesse were made the best to the Emperour And Suetonius being occupied in dispatching of busines after he had lost a fewe galleies on the shore and the gallie-slaues in them as though the warre did continue was commaunded to deliuer the armie to Petronius Turpilianus who had lately giuen vp his Consulship who neither prouoking the enimie nor egged by him gaue his lasie and idle life the honorable name of peace XII Balbus a Senators testament forged and Pedanius Rufus killed by his bondmen THe same yeere two notable lewd parts were committed at Rome the one by a Senator the other by an audacious bondman Domitius Balbus sometime Pretor being aged without children and of great wealth lay open to much treacherie One of his neerest kinsmen Valerius Fabianus and Consull elect forged a false testament in his name hauing called thereunto Vicius Rufinus and Terentius Lentinus gentlemen of Rome and they associated vnto them Antonius Primus and Asinius Marcellus Antonie was readie and bold Marcellus nobly descended and nephewe to Asinius Pollio of a good cariage and behauiour sauing that he thought pouertie the woorst of all things Fabianus then sealed the testament with those which I haue named and others of lesser calling whereof he was conuicted before the Lords of the Senat with Antonius Rufinus Terentius and condemned by the law Cornelia against forgerie But Marcellus the memorie of his auncestors and Caesars entreatie acquited rather from punishment than infamie The same day ouerthrew Pompeianus Aelianus a yoong man who had been Quaestor and priuie to Fabianus practise and was banished Italy and Spaine his natiue countrey Valerius Ponticus sustained the like ignominie because that eschuing the iudgement of the Prouost of the citie he had informed against some before the Pretor first vnder colour of som lawes then by preuarication to escape punishment Wherupon a decree of Senate was ordained that he who should either buy or sell any such actions should sustaine the same punishment as he who was publickly condemned for forging of crimes in false accusations Not long after Pedanius Secundus Prouost of the citie was slaine by his bondman either because he had denied him his
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
cities that only virgins do marrie and that only once and the man the like contracting with the hope and desire of one wife As they haue but one bodie one life so they take but one husband that they might haue no other thoughts no farther desires nor loue him as so deseruing it but because of matrimonie To prescribe a certaine number of children or kill any of their neere kindred they compt it a heinous crime Good manners are of greater authoritie and force among them then elsewhere good lawes They grow to haue these great lims and bodies which we maruell at naked and slouenly in euery house Euery mother nurseth her owne children with her owne breasts and send them not to nurses or other women Thou shalt not know the Lord from the slaue by any note of deintie and nice education for they liue amongst the same cattell and on the same ground vntill age doth distinguish the 〈…〉 his valour make him knowne Yong men giue not themselues too 〈…〉 e with women and therefore decay not so soone neither are 〈…〉 ed to marrie they are of the same yeeres of like growth they are 〈…〉 with such as are of like strength and the children expresse and shew the strength of their parents Sisters children are as much set by in their vnckles house as in their fathers Some are of opinion that this bond of bloud is the straitest and holiest and most of all required in taking of hostages as those which are of a more constant minde and in the familie the greatest part yet euery mans children succeede as heires and testament they make none at all If there be no children to succeede the next in degree are brothers vnckles by the fathers side and by the mothers The more kindred the greater affinitie the more an old man is honored and to be without children is of no reputation They must as well become enemie to their fathers enemies or kinsmens as friend to their friends Their hatred is not implacable for mans slaughter it selfe is satisfied and redeemed with a certaine number of beasts which contenteth the whole familie and is profitable for the common good for where libertie is there priuate enmities are dangerous III. Their domesticall life and behauiour GReater hospitality and entertainment is no where more bountiful than there being a cursed deed to barre any man his house and not giue him meate and drinke according to his abilitie When all is spent the last hoste will be a guide and companion vnto him to the next house vninuited for that skilleth not but are receiued with like curtesie in respect of hospitalitie making no difference whether he be of acquaintance or not If any thing be demaunded of him which is going away the manner is to graunt it and he may with like facilitie aske againe Gifts are things which please them well but those which giue them do not thinke they do you a benefit therein and those which receiue them not bound or beholden for them They entertaine their guests courteously immediatly after they rise which for the most part is verie late and the day well spent they wash and most commonly in warme water as hauing long winters and when they haue washed they fall to eate eurie man his stoole and his messe to himselfe then they fall to their busines and as oft to banket and make good cheere all armed To sit a tipling a day and a night is no disgrace to any There arise many quarrels as commonly it happeneth where drunkards meete which seldome end with brawling and iniurious termes but oftner with murder and hurt In their bankets they consult of peace and warre make attonements betwixt such as are at debate make marriages and choose their Princes as a time when the mind is neuer more open to plaine dealing or more sturred vp to great attempts The people being neither craftie nor subtle through the libertie of the place doth thē most discouer the secrets of his breast Euerie mans minde then being open and discouered the next day they waigh and examine it with a regard had to both the times They deliberate when they cannot dissemble and resolue when they cannot erre Their drinke is a liquor made of barley and corne corrupted into the likenes of wine But those which dwell neere the banke of Rhene buie wine their meats are simple wilde Apples fresh venison or curds or creame they driue away hunger without any solemne seruice ordainties but against thirst they vse not the like temperance If thou wilt please their humour in drunkennes in giuing them what they aske they will be as easilie ouercome with vices as armes They haue but one and the same kinde of pastime in euerie assemblie Yoong men which know the sport cast themselues naked and leape betweene swords and launces Practise bred the arte of doing it and arte the grace yet neither for gaine nor recompence albeit the reward of bolde and rash toies is the delight of the beholder And which thou wouldest maruell at fresh and fasting they play at dice as a matter of serious and earnest busines with such a rash desire of winning and losing that whē all else is lost they lay their libertie and bodie vpon the last throw and he who is ouercome entereth a voluntarie seruitude and although he be yoonger and stronger yet suffereth himselfe to be bound and sold Such is their obstinacie in a bad matter which they call faith but slaues of this condition they make away by marchandise to rid themselues of the shame of such a victorie Their other slaues they employ not in certaine affaires of house as we do ours but euerie one gouerneth his own house and houshold The Lord inioyneth him to pay a certaine of corne or cattell or apparell as he doth his tenant which the bondslaue performeth no more other duties of house belōg to the wife children It is a rare matter to beat their slaues or ouer-labour or emprison them yet they are woont to kill them not by discipline and seueritie but carried away with sudden anger as against an enimie sauing that it is vnpunished The freed men are not much aboue the slaue they seldome beare any sway in the house or city sauing in those countries which haue a King For there they are in greater authoritie then ether free borne or noblemen in other countries freed men being of vnequall condition make libertie better knowen To practise vsurie and in rich themselues with it they know not what it meaneth which is better kept then if it were forbidden All the ground the inhabitants about do possesse according to their number which they diuide among themselues according to their calling which is easily done by reason the fields are so spatious Their earable land they change by yeeres and let onelie not labouring to ouercome the fertilnes and largenes of it by industrie by planting of orchardes inclosing their medowes and watering their gardens onely