he for his owne part being lodged among sauage and barbarous people did from his cabine see the enemie euery howre The baser sort came murmuring about him and stirred vp others with diuers encouragements some reprochfully shewing the wales of their stipes some their gray haires some their ragged torne coates some their naked bodies At last they grew into such a fury and rage that they purposed of three legions shuffled together to make one but they changed that deuise very quickly euery one through emulation coueting that honor for his owne legion and pitched the three standarts and ensignes together withall they threw vp mounds of turfes and placed on it a Tribunall to the end the seate might be more conspicuous As they hastned to finish the worke Blaesus came in among them rebuking some and hindering now one now another and crying alowde In my bloud rather embrue your hands for it is a lesser offence to slay the Lieutenant then fall from the obedience of the Emperour I will either with my life keepe the legions in faithfull allegeance or being slaine by you hasten your repentance Neuertheles they held on their worke vntill they had brought it breast high when at last being ouercome with his importunacy they gaue ouer their enterprise then Blaesus did in good and eloquent manner shew vnto them that it was not conuenient that souldyers petitions should be caried to the Emperour by mutinie and rebellion Neyther did the old souldyers vnder Emperours in times past nor yet they themselues demaund of Augustus such vnlawfull and new requests and that in an vnseasonable time the new Prince was burdened with cares in the beginning of his Empire Notwithstanding if their purpose was to obtayne that in a time of peace which being conquerors in ciuill warres they neuer attempted yet why do they contrary to the dutie of allegeance and order of seruice vse force they should rather depute some Embassadors to Caesar with publicke commission to declare their requests They all cryed immediately that Blaesus sonne a Tribune might vndertake the Embassie and intreate that all such as had serued sixteene yeares should be dismissed and sent home which being graunted then they would enioyne him the rest of his charge The yong man being departed with this message they surceased their rebellion But the souldiers grew prowde that the Lieutenants sonne vndertooke to pleade the common cause as being an euident token that they had wrung out that by force which by modest demeanour they should neuer haue obtained VI. The rebellion continueth a practise of Vibulenus against Blaesus IN the meane season certaine bands of soldiers sent to Nauportum before the rebellion began to see the waies cleere the bridges safe other conueniences for the warre vnderstanding of the mutinie growen in the campe snatched vp their ensignes and sacking villages adioining Nauport it selfe which might haue passed for a reasonable free town iniuried reuiled the Centurions which went about to bridle them first with scoffes and reprochful termes then with blowes stripes But they had an especiall hart-burning against Aufidienus Rufus the campe-master whom they pulled out of his chariot and loaded with a fardell of stuffe made him march formost of all the companie now then asking him in a mockerie whether he bare so great a burden willingly or not or whether so long a iourney seemed not tedious vnto him This Rufus had long been a common soldier then a Centurion then the Camp-master and sought to renew the ancient rigor of seruice and being himselfe hardned to beare any labor and trauel was so much the more cruel bicause himselfe had endured the like These companies ioining with the other legions began to rebell afresh and stragling some one waie some another destroy and waste al about them Blaesus to terrifie the rest commanded some few and especially such as had the greatest pillage to be apprehended whipt and cast into prison for euen then the Centurions and the better sort of the soldiers were obedient to the Lieutenant But the prisoners drew backe and resisted such as led them catched holde and embraced the knees of the standers by calling euerieman by his name or by the name of the band he serued vnder or cohort or legion crieng that they shoulde drinke all of the same cup withall they heaped iniurie vpon iniurie against the Lieutenant called to witnes the heauens and the gods and left nothing vndone or vnsaide which might serue to stirre hatred mooue compassion breed feare or prouoke anger The soldiers clustered all togither brake open the prisons set at libertie the prisoners and shuffled in among themselues the fugitiues and condemned of capitall crimes This kindled the rage of the soldier and more ringleaders ioined with them Among whom one Vibulenus a common soldier lifted on the shoulders of the standers by before Blaesus Tribunall began to speake vnto the disordered and attentiue soldiers in this maner You haue giuen light and life to these innocent and miserable wretches but when will you restore life to my brother and my brother to me who being sent vnto you from the Germane campe to entreat of the common profit and good was this last night murdered by his Fencers which he hath alwaies readie armed to cut the soldiers throtes answere Blaesus where hast thou throwne his bodie for the enimies themselues enuie not that I should burie him And when I shall haue filled my griefe with kissing and weeping ouer him command me to be murdered also so as these our companions burie him and me slaine for no other offence but bicause we furthered the common good and profit of the Legions He inflamed his words with teares beating himselfe on the face and brest then thrusting them from him on whose shoulders he was caried and throwing himselfe at euery mans feete droue them all into such amaze and stirred such hatred that part of the souldiers laid hands on Blaesus Fencers and bound them part on the residue of his familie and part ran hither and thither to seeke for Vibulenus brothers body And if it had not appeared incontinently that there was no such body found if his slaues by torture had not denied any such pretended murder to haue beene committed and further that Vibulenus neuer had any such brother the soldiers would hardly haue spared the Lieutenants life Neuerthelesse they thrust out the Tribune and Camp-maister spoiled robbed such as fled slew Lucillius a Centurion whome the souldiers by a nickname called Cedo alteran giue me another because that when he had broken vpon a souldiers shoulders his vine wand his manner was to call alowde giue me another and when that was broken another The rest were saued by hiding themselues only Iulius Clemens they kept aliue because that hauing a readie and quicke wit they thought him a meete man to be employed as an Embassador in the souldiers behalfe Besides this the eight and the fifteenth legions were now ready
were not false which were not prooued true Yet the conspirators for feare of being betraied thought it conuenient to change the place of the murder and execute it at Baias in a house of Pisoes whither Caesar came oft as delighted with the pleasantnes of it and there vsed to bathe and to banket without any gard carelesse of the greatnes of his estate But Piso refused pretending it would breede him enuie if the solemnities of his table and gods of hospitalitie should be distained with the murder of any Prince whatsoeuer Therefore that it might be better performed in the citie in that hatefull house built with the spoiles of the citizens or in publick place seeing it is vndertaken for the publick weale Thus they debated the matter in common but yet with secret feare least L. Silanus a man of great nobilitie and by C. Cassius discipline vnder whome he was brought vp to all renowne should lay hold on the Empire all which were free from the conspiracie ioining to help him and such also as would pitie Nero as slaine by treacherie Some beleeued that Piso would not meddle with Vestinus the Consuls fierce courage least he should attempt the bringing in of libertie or if another Emperour should be chosen ascribe the bestowing of the state to himselfe for he was not priuie to the conspiracie although Nero to satiate his inueterate hatred layd it to his charge though guiltles At last they resolued to accomplish their deseignments on that day that the Circensian plaies were represented in honor of Ceres because Caesar shewing himselfe then little abroad or shut vp in his house or gardens came to the plaies at the Cirque and therefore might easilier be come vnto because he tooke delight in the pastime XIII The order of the conspiracie How it was discouered Epicharis constancie and cowardlines of some of the conspirators THey concluded the order of their conspiracie to be that Lateranus vnder colour of making request for some aide of maintenance of his estate should fall at the Princes knees and being of a stout courage and great stature ouerthrow him vnawares and keepe him downe Then as he lay along and hindered from rising that the Tribunes and Centurions according to each mans boldnes should run in and murder him Sceuinus requesting to be first who had taken a rapier out of the Temple of Health in Etruria or as others report of Fortune in Ferentanum and carried it about him as some sacred thing to do some notable act Piso in the meane time should stay in Ceres Temple from whence the Captaine Fenius and the rest should carrie him to the campe and Antonia Claudius Caesars daughter followed him to winne the peoples fauour as C. Plinius doth report Our meaning was not to conceale this howsoeuer it hath beene left vs although it should seeme absurd and friuolous vnlesse the desire of dominion surpasse all other passions and affections that Antonia should lend her name or endanger herselfe for him or that Piso the loue towards his wife so well knowen should binde himselfe in marriage to any other whatsoeuer But it was strange how all was kept close among so many of diuers callings degrees ages sexes rich and poore vntill the detection beganne in Sceuinus house who the day before the feate should be effected long conferring with Antonius Natalis then returning home sealed his testament hauing drawen the rapier of which I haue spoken out of the scabberd and angrie that it was dull with long keeping commaunded it to be sharpened at the point and scoured giuing the charge of that care to his freed man Milichus Withall he made a more sumptuous banket than his custome was and made some of his bondmen he best liked free and vnto others gaue money And he himselfe was sad and easily seene his head was fraighted with great imaginations although he dissembled mirth with impertinent talke In the ende warned the same Milichus to prepare rowles to binde vp wounds and things necessarie to stanch blood either as one knowing the conspiracie and vntill then trustie or ignorant of it and then first tooke hold of suspitions as some haue thought by the consequents For when this seruile minde waighed with himselfe the rewards of his falshood and represented to his owne imagination huge summes of money and great authority honestie gaue place and his masters safetie and the memorie of his receiued libertie He tooke also the counsell of his wife a womans counsell in deed and the woorser which droue him into a further feare affirming that manie freed men and slaues were by which sawe as much as he the silence of one auailed nothing but ones should be the recōpence if he preuented the rest in detecting it Whereupon as soone as it was daie Milichus goeth to the Seruilian gardens and being driuen from the doores sayed he brought heinous and great matters to discouer and thereupon lead by the porters to Epaphroditus Neroes freed man and anon from him to Nero declareth that there was imminent and dangerous strong conspiracies at hand and all the rest which he had either heard or coniectured He sheweth also the weapon prepared to kill him and commaunded the partie accused to be sent for who drawen by the souldiers and beginning his purgation answered That for the rapier he was accused of his father in times past made great reckoning of it therefore he had it in his chamber and that it was stolne away by the fraude of his freed man That his testament had beene often sealed by him not keeping the daies when in memorie Money liberties he had hereto fore giuen to his slaues but then more bountifully bicause his estate was decayed and his creditors being eager on him he distrusted his testament Indeed he was alwaies wont to make liberall bankets and lead a pleasant life not well liked of seuere and hard iudges He commaunded no medicaments for wounds but bicause the rest of his accusations were plainely vaine he thought good to adde this crime and make himselfe accuser and witnes He confirmed his speech with constancie and rebuked Milichus as one not to be admitted to beare witnes being a lewde and naughtie person and that with such a resolution in words and countenance that the accusation had come to nothing if his wife had not put him in minde that Antonius Natalis had had much secret conference with Sceuinus both of them being most inward familiars of Piso Natalis therefore was sent for and both of them seuerally examined what their speech was and touching what matter Then grewe a suspition bicause their answers agreed not And being put into irons they were not able to endure the sight and threatnings of the torture Yet Natalis as better acquainted with the whole conspiracie and withall skilfuller in accusing first confesseth of Piso then added Annaus Seneca either bicause he was a messenger betweene him and Piso or bicause he would purchase Neroes fauour who bearing deadly
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
tributes woulde be demaunded Manie societies of tributes and tallages were established by the Consuls and Tribunes of the people euen when the communaltie had greatest libertie Things afterwarde were so proportioned that the receits and reuenues shoulde be answerable to the layings out Indeede the couetousnes of the farmers was to be moderated least things tolerated so many yeeres without complaint should turne to further mischiefe and hatred by their strange greedines The prince therefore by edict commanded that the taxation of euerie custome which hitherto hath bin concealed should now be published and that the farmers should not after the yeere was expired demaund any thing let slip or forgottē during that time That in Rome the Pretor in the prouinces those which supplied the places of the pretors Consuls should extraordinarily determine against the farmers of common rents That souldiers shoulde keepe their immunitie those things excepted wherin they trafficked and many other iust things which obserued a short time afterward came to nothing Neuerthelesse the abolishing of one in fortie and one in fiftie continueth and what other names the farmers had inuented for their vnlawfull exactions The carriage of corne to partes beyond the seas was moderated And ordained that marchants ships should not be valued in the generall estimate of their goods nor tribute paied for them Caesar discharged Sulpitius Camerinus and Pomponius Siluanus who had beene Proconsuls in Affrike and accused by the prouince obiecting against Camerinus rather cruell dealing against a few priuat men then extortion in generall A great number of accusers came about Siluanus and required time to produce witnesses but the defendant desired his defences might presently be hearde which being rich childlesse and old he obtained and ouerliued those by whose suite he had escaped The estate of Germanie was quiet vntill then through the industrie of the captaines who seeing the honor of triumph common hoped for greater glory if they could continue peace Paullinus Pompeius and L. Vetus had charge of the armie at that time yet least they should keepe the souldier in idlenes Paullinus finished a banke begun threescore and three yeeres before by Drusus to keepe in the riuer of Rhene Vetus went about to ioyne Mosella and Araris by a ditch cast betweene them that the armies conueyed by sea then by Rhodanus and Araris by that ditch anon after by Mosa into Rhene in the end should fall into the Ocean that all difficulties of the passages taken away the west and north seas might be nauigable from the one to the other Aelius Gracilis Lieutenant of Belgia enuied the worke dehorting Vetus least he should bring the legions into anothers prouince seeke to win the harts of the Gallois affirming it to be dangerous to the Emperour a pretext which often hindereth honest indeuours Through the continuall rest of the armies a rumor was spred that the Lieutenants were forbidden to leade them against the enemie Whereupon the Frisians placed their youth in the woods and marishes sent their feeble old men to the banks of Rhene planting them in voide grounds appointed out for the vse of souldiers Verritus and Malorigis being the authors thereof who then gouerned the countrey which the Germains were Lords of Now they had built houses sowed the ground and tilled it as though it had been their natiue countrey when Dubius Auitus hauing receiued the prouince of Paullinus threatning to send the Roman forces vnlesse the Frisians would returne to their old homes or obtaine a new place of habitation of Caesar enforced Varritus and Malorigis to fall to intreatie And taking their iourney to Rome whilest they attended for Nero busied in other matters among other things woont to be shewen to barbarous people they went to Pompeius Theater to behold the multitude of people There at their leisure for being vnskilfull in those plaies tooke no great delight in them whilest they inquired of many things touching the assemblie skaffolds differences of degrees which were gentlemen where the Senators sate they perceiued some in a strange attire in the Senators roomes and asking who they were when they vnderstoode that that honour was done to the Embassadors of those countries which excelled in vertue and friendship with the Romans they cried that There were none in the world more valiant and faithfull than the Germans and so went and sate among the Lords of the Senate which was courteously taken of the beholders as a forwardnes of their old good nature and a commendable emulation of vertue Nero gaue them both the priuileges of a citizen of Rome and commaunded the Frisians to depart the countrey they had possessed who refusing to obeie a troupe of ayde horsemen sent on the sudden forced them to it and those taken and slaine which most obstinately resisted The Ansibariās entered the same territories a stronger nation then the other not onely by their owne strength but by the pitie their neighbours take on them bicause that being driuen out by the Chauci and wanting dwelling places they desired they might haue it as a sure place of exile They had for their conductor a man of great reputation in that countrey and vnto vs likewise trustie called Boiocalus who declared how by the commaundement of Arminius he had beene taken prisoner when the Cheruscirebelled then how he had serued the Romans fiftie yeeres vnder Tiberius and Germanicus He said further He would put his nation vnder our dominion What neede was there of such spatious waste grounds to put at sometimes onely the souldiers heards and cattell to feed That they might reserue those grounds they had receiued for their stocks albeit men died with famine so as they desired not rather a wildernes than an habitation of people their confederates In times past those fields belonged to the Chamauorians then to the Tubantians and in the ende to the Vsipians As the heauen was giuen the gods so the earth to makind and that which was not possessed was common Then beholding the sunne and calling vpon the rest of the stars he asked as it were in their presence whether they would see the land naked That they would rather ouerwhelme the takers away of the earth with the sea Auitus mooued with these speeches aunswered that the commaundement of their betters was to be obeied It was the will of the gods whom they called vpon that the arbitrement should belong to the Romans what they should giue and what take away neither would they suffer any iudges but themselues These things he aunswered the Ansibarians in publicke to Boiocalus he would giue grounds in memorie of his friendship Which he as if it had beene a reward of treason contemning added We may want land to liue in but to die in we cannot and so they parted both discontented They called the Bructeri and Tencteri and other nations further off their confederates to ioine in warre with them Auitus hauing written to Curtilius Mancia Lieutenant of the vpper armie that he should passe
whereof some hauing beene too forward in venturing and on the sudden surprised by the enemie enflamed the rest rather with anger than feare But the Parthian wanting courage to performe the assault at hand spent a fewe arrowes a loofe lost his labour and put the besieged into no feare at all The Adiabeni as they began to raise ladders and other engines were easily thrust backe and by a sallie made by our men hewd in peeces Yet Corbulo notwithstanding things prospered on his side thinking it his best to vse fortune moderately sent some to Vologeses finding himselfe greeued that violence should be offered the Prouince and that a King confederate and a friend should besiege the Roman cohorts therefore that he should giue vp the siege or else he would incampe in the enimies countrey Casperius a Centurion chosen for that Embassie went to the King at a towne called Nisibis seuen and thirtie miles distant from Tigranocerta and deliuered his message verie stoutly Vologeses had long resolued with himselfe to auoide warres with the Romans neither went things currantly with him for the present the siege tooke no effect Tigranes was strong in men and prouision the besiegers put to flight certaine legions were sent to Armenia and others in a readines for Syria to assaile him in his owne countrey That he had but a weake companie of horsesmen want of stower for a multitude of Locusts had eaten vp all grasse and leaues Therfore concealing his feare and making shew of more mildenes answereth that he would send Ambassadors to the Emperour of Rome to demaund Armenia and establish a peace And commaundeth Moneses to depart from Tigranocerta and himselfe turned backe These things many extolled as proceeding from the Kings feare and Corbuloes threatnings Some construed it that they had priuily agreed to forbeare warre on both sides and that Vologeses departing Tigranes should also depart from Armenia For why saide they went the Romans forces from Tigranocerta Why were those things abandoned in time of rest which they had defended in warre Could they haue wintered better in the remote parts of Cappadocia in cabbins erected on a sudden than in the chiefe seate of the kingdom lately possessed Doubtles the warres were put off that Vologeses might rather fight with some other then Corbulo Corbulo would not indanger his glorie so manie yeeres alreadie gotten For as I haue alreadie said he had demaunded a speciall Captaine to defende Armenia and notice came that Cesennius Paetus was at hand and by that time he was come Their forces were so diuided that the fourth and twelfth legions and withall the fift which was lately called from the Moesians and the aides of Pontus Gallatia and Cappadocia should obey Paetus the third sixt and tenth legions and the souldiers which before remained in Syria should continue with Corbulo The rest they would ioyne or diuide as occasion serued But neither Corbulo could endure a concurrent and Paetus vnto whom it was sufficient glorie if he were reckoned the second made small account of the seruice alreadie done saying that there hath beene no slaughter made no bootie gayned and that he had woon townes only with words and not with deedes He would impose tributes and lawes vpon them and instead of a shadow of a King he would force them to liue like conquered people vnder the Roman lawe About the same time Vologeses Ambassadors as before I haue rehearsed sent to the Prince returned and nothing done And the Parthians openly made warre neither did Paetus drawe backe but with two legions whereof the fourth Famisulanus Vectonianus conducted and the twelfth Calauius Sabinus he entered Armenia with an vnluckie presage For hauing made a bridge and passing ouer Euphrates without any manifest cause the horse which bare the consularie ornaments fled backeward and escaped And the beast readie for sacrifice neere to the winter campes which were a fortifiyng the worke halfe finished brake loose and leapt ouer the trench and the souldiers iauelins and darts were on a fire the woonder so much the more to be noted bicause the Parthians fight with weapons throwen with the hand II. Paetus goeth into Armenia and his vnskilfulnes in seruice BVt Paetus setting nought by ominous signes nor hauing sufficiently fortified his wintering campes nor prouision of corne made conducteth his armie in all hast ouer the hill Taurus to recouer as he saide the Tigranocertians and to forrage the countries which Corbulo had left vntouched And some castles he tooke and some glorie and some bootie he wanne if he had vsed his glorie with moderation and his bootie with circumspection Hauing by long iourneies ouerrun those places which he could not keepe and that the prouision of victuals was spoiled and corrupted which he had taken and the winter now at hand he brought his armie backe againe and sent letters to Caesar as though the warre had beene ended in wordes magnificent but voide of matter In the meane season Corbulo hauing had alwaies a speciall care of the bankes of Euphrates lodged on them now a greater strength of garrisons then before he had and least the enimie troupes should hinder the making a bridge for they braued it with a gallant shew in the champion which lay vnder them he brought vp the riuer vessels of huge bignes ioyned togither with timber worke and built towres on them beating off the Barbarians with stones and speares out of Balistas and other engines let flie farther than that the countrey shot of arrowes could match vs with the like againe The bridge continued and finished the opposite hils were seased by the cohorts of allies and afterward possessed by the campe of the legions with such great celeritie and shew of puissant forces that the Parthians all preparation of inuading Syria omitted turned all their hope against Armenia There Paetus ignorant what was at hand had the fift legion far from him in Pontus and had weakned the rest by inconsiderate licensing the soldiers to depart vntill newes was brought that Vologeses came with a great armie resolutely bent to do great mischiefe The twelfth legion was sent for hoping that thereby it would be noised that his forces were increased but indeed that bewrayed his weakenes with which neuer thelesse he might haue incamped and the Parthian deluded by drawing the warre in length if Pâ—ato had beene constant either to follow his owne or others counsels But he by men experienced in warre being counselled what was best against imminent casualties least he should seeme to haue neede of thers aduise would do quite contrarie and much woorse And then forsaking his standing campes crying that he had no trench and rampire giuen him against the enimie but bodies and weapons issued out with the legions as though he would fight a field And hauing lost a Centurion and a few souldiers sent before to view the enimies forces came backe againe greatly affrighted And bicause Vologeses came on but coldly resuming againe a vaine hope lodged three
qualitie of absolute rule being such that it could not stand but in one alone Now at Rome the Consuls the Senators and Gentlemen ranne headlong to seruitude and the more nobler the fairer shew and the more hastie but with a composed and setled countenance least they should seeme ouerglad of the death of the last or discontented with the new Prince they tempered their griefe with ioy and lamentation with flatterie The two Consuls Sext Pompeius and Sext. Apuleius did first sweare allegeance to Tiberius Caesar and after into their hands Seius Strabo and C. Turrianus the one Captaine of the Gard the other chiefe officer for prouision of corne After them the Lords of the Senate the souldiers and the people For Tiberius would haue all things begun by the Consuls as the manner was in the ancient free common wealth as though he had not resolued with himselfe whether it were best for him to accept of the Empire or not No not so much as the Edict to call the Lords of the Senate to counsell but was proclaimed in vertue and authoritie of a Tribune which dignitie he had receiued in Augustus time The words of the Edict were not many and deliuered in modest termes That he would only consult what pomp and honor were fit to be done for his father and that he would not depart from the body which should be the onely publike charge he would vndertake Neuerthelesse when Augustus was dead he gaue the watchword to the gard placed the watch disposed of the souldiers managed all the affaires of Court as if he had been Emperour The souldiers waited on him to the place of publike assemblies to the Senate house and dispatched letters to the Camp as though he had bene in full possession of the state irresolute in nothing but whē he should speake in the Senate The chiefest cause proceeded of feare least Germanicus who had so many legions at commaundement such strong aides of confederates and so exceedingly beloued of the people should rather hold then expect the possession of the Empire He stoode on his reputation likewise and seemed rather to be called and chosen by the Common-wealth then creepe in by the canuasing of a woman and adoption of an old man It was afterward further knowne that he vsed that lingering doubtfulnes the better to sound the affection of the Nobilitie for obseruing their countenance and wresting their words to the worst he bare them all in minde In the first meeting of the Senate he would haue nothing debated but Augustus last will and testament which being brought in by Vestaes Virgins declared Tiberius and Liuia to be his heires and that Liuia was adopted into the Iulian familie and entituled by the name of Augusta After them he substituted his nephews and nephews sonnes and in the third place the Peeres of the citie which in generall he hated yet he did it to win fame and glory with posteritie His legacies were moderate like vnto other citizens sauing that he gaue as well to the common sort as the rest of the people foure hundred and thirty fiue thousand nummos to euery souldier of the Pretorian band a thousand to euery one of the legionary cohorts which consisted of citizens of Rome three hundred III. The solemnities of Augustus funerals and the censure vvhich men gaue of him AFter that consultation was had concerning the pomp and solemnities of the funerals among which the most honorable and magnificent were iudged to be these Gallus Asinius thought it meete that the dead corps should be brought through the triumphall gate and L. Arruntius that the titles of the lawes by him ordained and the names of the nations by him vanquished should be caried before him Messalla Valerius added that it was conuenient the oath of allegeance should euery yeare be renewed in Tiberius name Who being demanded of Tiberius whether he had commaundement from him so to aduise answered that he did propound it of his owne free motion and that in matters concerning the common-wealth he would vse no mans aduise but his own although it should be with danger and offence so farre had flattery spread it selfe that that only kinde remayned vnpractised The Lords of the Senate after that cryed with one voyce that they themselues would carry the corps to the funerall fire on their shoulders which Caesar did yeeld vnto with a modesty yet sauoring of arrogancie And admonished the people by Proclamation that they would not as in times past they had disturbed the buriall of Iulius Caesar of famous memory carried away with ouergreat affection so desire now that Augustus body should rather be burnt in the place of publicke assemblies then in Campus Martius a place deputed to that vse The day of the funerals being come the soldiers were placed as it were a gard to the body when as such as had eyther seene or heard their fathers report of the fresh and late yoke of cruell seruitude vnluckely attempted to be shaken off and recouer their auncient libertie then I say when the murdering of Iulius Caesar the Dictator seemed vnto some a wicked and vnto others a worthy deede laughed to see that now an old Prince which had raigned so many yeares and prouided heires to succeede him in might and wealth should neede a gard of souldiers quietly to celebrate his funerals This bred sundry speeches of Augustus many maruelling at vaine and friuolous things as that his death fell on the same day he was made Emperour that he dyed at Nola in the same house and chamber that before him his father Octauius did they made it a great matter that he alone had been as oft Consull as Valerius Coruinus and C. Marius both together that he had continued Tribune seuen and thirtie yeares had beene honored with the name of Emperour one and twentie times with many other old and new dignities bestowed or inuented for him But among the better sort his life was diuersly commended or discommended Some sayd that the loue of his father and the care of the Common-wealth at that time when all lawes were dasht droue him to ciuill warres which can neuer be begun or prosecuted by any good meanes and that he had yeelded in many things to Antony and to Lepidus in like maner because he would reuenge his fathers death For seeing the one grew carelesse with age and the other wasted with lasciuiousnes there was no other meanes left to redresse all discords in the common-wealth then to bring her vnder the obedience of one alone who should gouerne neuerthelesse not as King or Dictator but as Prince The Empire he had bounded with the Ocean and other Riuers farre off the Legions Prouinces and Nauie were linked and knit in peace and vnitie iustice was ministred in the cities the allies intreated with modestie the citie beautified with sumptuous building and if any rigorous dealing had bene vsed against some few it was for setling of quietnes in the whole
their vsuall places the ensignes which in the beginning of their rebellion they had pitched together Drusus the next morning calling an assembly although he were no great Orator yet the worthines of his birth supplying that want he condemned their former and commended their present behauior Assured them that he was not to be ouercome with feare and threatning but if he perceiued in them a modest cariage intreatie of pardon with submission he would write vnto his father that forgetting that which was past he would giue eare to the legions suites At their intreatie Blaesus and L. Apronius a Gentleman of Rome and one of Drusus company and Iustus Catonius a chiefe Centurion were sent againe to Tiberius This done Drusus counsellers disagreed in opinions some holding it expedient that expecting the Embassadors returne the souldiers in the meane season should be gently intreated some that sharp remedies ought to be vsed affirming that there was no meane in the common people and vnlesse they were kept in awe they would keepe others vnder That they might easily be dealt withall whilest they stoode in feare and therefore it was needefull that they should be brideled by their Generals authoritie the ring-leaders of the reuolt executed whilest yet the superstition held them in astonishment Hereupon Drusus being naturally of a rough disposition caused Percennius and Vibulenus to be put to death Some say they were murdered in the Gouernors tent others that their bodies were throwne out of the rampire to the terror of the rest After this a search was made for the principall captaines of the conspiracie whereof some roming about the camp were slaine by the gard others the souldiers themselues deliuered as a testimonie of their allegeance into Drusus hands But there did nothing more augment the souldiers distressed case then an vntimely winter continuall and cruell raines that they could neyther put foote out of their tents nor meete together nor hardly keepe vp their standarts through boisterous windes and stormie showers tossing them hither and thither They were not yet rid of the feare the heauens ire stroke them into imagining that the starres grew not darke in vaine against their wickednes and that the tempests fell vpon them for their lewde and villanous demeanor There was no comfort left but to abandon those vnlucky and disloyall camps and being purged of their offence by some propitiatory sacrifice each legion to repaire to his standing camp The eight legion departed first then the fifteenth The ninth cried that they ought to tarry for Tiberius answere but being discomfited by the others departure preuenting imminent necessitie voluntarily went away Drusus not expecting the Embassadors returne seeing all quiet for the present went back to Rome VIII A mutinie in Gallia and many Centurions slaine Germanicus loyaltie to Tiberius ALmost at the same time and for the same causes the legions of Germanie rebelled so much the more violently by how much the more in number with great hope that Germanicus Caesar could neuer endure to be commanded by another and that by following the humor of the legions he would by main strength be master of all There lay by the riuer of Rhene two armies the one called the higher vnder the Lieutenant C. Silius the other the lower vnder A. Caecina But the Lord generall ouer them all was Germanicus then greatly busied in leuying of subsidies and taxations in Gallia Those which Silius commanded wauering and irresolute looked into the successe of others reuolt but the lower armie grewe into a rage and furie the conspiracie beginning by the one and twentith and fift legions which drew also to their side the first and the twelfth all of them being in the same sommer campes in the confines of Vbium idle or in very easie seruice Aduertisement being come of Augustus death a multitude of citie-borne bond-men and after made free newly mustered to be soldiers giuen to licentiousnes and impatient of labour began to fill the mindes of the ruder sort with these speeches That the time was now come that the olde soldier might demand a shorter time of seruice the new greater pay and all in generall an end of their miseries and opportunitie giuen to reuenge the crueltie of the Centurions This was not spoken by one alone as when Percennius incited the legions of Pannonie nor vnto dastards looking that men of better courage than they should begin but many seditious mouthes and voices were at once heard to say that the whole Romane state was in their hands that by their victories it was growen great and that of them the Emperors tooke their surname The Lieutenant the rage of the multitude hauing taken away his constancie durst not resist them when on the sudden like frantike men with their swords drawen a very olde subiect of quarrell and hatred in soldiers and a beginning of crueltie they fell on the Centurions threw them along laide them on with stripes three score to one to make euen number with the Centurions And hauing thus mangled and torne them and slaine some they threw them out of the trench or into the riuer of Rhene Among others Septimius fled to the Tribunall and cast himselfe at Caecinaes feete but was with such importunacie demanded that he could not but deliuer him to the butcherie Cassius Chaerea famous afterward to posteritie for murdering C. Caesar then a yoong man but of a stout and braue courage made way with his sword through such as armed went about to hinder his passage After that neither Tribune nor campe-master was obeied the watch and warde and whatsoeuer the present time required was ordered and distributed among themselues Those which deepely looked into the disposition of soldiers iudged it a strong argument of a great and implacable reuolt that they were not scattered and diuided nor any attempt giuen by a few but grew insolent altogither were quiet at once with such a moderation and constancie that thou wouldest haue thought they had been gouerned by one head In the meane season newes was brought to Germanicus who as I haue said was leuying of subsidies and tributes in Gallia that Augustus was departed Germanicus had married Augustus niece Agrippina and had by hir many children and was Drusus Tiberius brothers sonne and nephew to Augusta but greatly perplexed by reason of his vncles and grandmothers secret hatred towards him so much the more deepe and deadly bicause vniust This proceeded of the good will and remembrance which the people of Rome had of Drusus all of them certainly beleeuing that if he had gotten the soueraigntie he would haue sct libertie on foote againe and hoping the like of Germanicus bare him the like affection This yoong Prince was of a milde disposition very courteous nothing at all resembling Tiberius in countenance or couert and arrogant speech Besides this womens quarrels were mingled among Liuia as is the maner of all stepdames exasperating Tiberius against Agrippina a woman indeede easily mooued but through hir
chastitie and loue towards hir husband though otherwise of an inuincible stomacke yet turned all to the best But the neerer Germanicus was to the highest hope the more he labored to settle Tiberius in the state compelling the Sequans adioining and the cities of Belgia to sweare their allegeance vnto him Then vnderstanding of the hurly burly of the legions departing in all speede met the soldiers out of their campe hanging downe the head repenting them of that they had done He was no sooner within the trench but there was heard a confuse lamentation and complaint among them some taking him by the hand as it were to kisse it thrust his fingers into their mouthes that he might feele they were toothlesse others shewed their crooked bodies with age Who perceiuing them confusely shuffled togither commanded to separate themselues into companies the easier to heare his answere and beare their ensignes before them the better to discerne their bands wherein they obeied slowly ynough Germanicus beginning with the reuerence of Augustus fell by little and little into the praise of the victories and triumphes and especially the famous exploites Tiberius had done in Germanie with those legions Then extolled the vnitie of Italie the loyaltie of Gallia and how all other partes of the empire were quiet The soldiers gaue eare vnto all this with silence or with a small murmuring but as soone as he began to touch their mutinies expostulating What was become of the modest behauiour of soldiers where was the honor of ancient discipline whither they had driuen their Tribunes and Centurions they all vnclothed themselues shewed him their wounds scars and marks of their stripes then with a confuse note how deerely they bought their ease and vacations found fault with their small pay the intolerable paines they were put to in working by name condemning the rampires trenches seeking of stower carrying of stones timber and all other prouisions either necessarie in the campe or to keepe the soldiers from idlenes But the greatest clamors were heard to proceede from the old soldiers whereof some hauing spent thirtie yeeres in seruice some more besought him to prouide for such ouer wearied poore soldiers and not suffer them to end the rest of their daies in miserie and paine but deliuered of such labor and toiles that they might at length enioie repose without penurie Some demanded the legacie bequeathed by Augustus wil and wished Germanicus all good fortune offering themselues to his deuotion if he would take vpon him the empire Whereat as though he had beene distained with some villanie he leapt from the Tribunall and as he would haue departed the soldiers turned their weapons towards him in menacing wise vnlesse he would go backe againe But crying that he would rather die than falsifie his faith drew his sword from his side bent the point of it towards his brest readie to haue thrust it in if some which were neere him by catching hold of his hand had not withheld him by maine strength That part of the throng which was farthest behinde and which is scarce credible some other getting neerer neerer encouraged him to strike boldly and one called Calusidius offered him his naked sword saying that it was better pointed than his But that euen to the most furious was thought a barbarous and sauage part and an euill president Caesars friends had time to conduct him to his pauilion there they consulted what was best to be done bicause newes came that the soldiers were in hande to dispatch embassadors to the higher armie to drawe them to the same attempt and that they had determined to sacke Colen and hauing imbrued their hands with that pray run on to pill and waste Gallia IX Order is taken against the disorder by yeelding to the soldiers requests Germanicus sendeth away his vvife and children GErmanicus feared so much the more bicause he knew the enimie woulde not faile to inuade as soone as he vnderstood of the dissension within Rome and that the riuers side was vndefended On the other side if the allies and confederates shoulde arme themselues against the legions it was to begin a new ciuill war And that it was to the state dangerous a like to vse either seueritie or liberalitie and no lesse to graunt the soldier all thing or nothing The matter being thus debated on both sides it was thought good that letters should be written in the princes name containing that such as had serued twentie yeeres should be fully dismissed and such as sixteene discharged also with condition onely to remaine vnder ensignes and repulse the enimie That their legacies left them by Augustus should be doubled and paied The soldier perceiued that those were sleights to win time and therefore vrged a present execution licence of departure was presently yeelded by the Tribunes but paiment deferred The fift and one and twentieth legion refused to go to any standing campe vntill they had their paie in the same camps they serued in Which they receiued of such prouision as Caesar could either make by his friends or had to serue his owne turne Caecina the Lieutenant brought backe to Vbium the first and the twentieth legion in base disorderly aray carying between the ensignes and standarts masses of money extorted from the Emperos treasure Germanicus went to the vpper armie and there without delaie tooke the oath of allegeance of the second thirteen and sixteenth legion the fowerteenth yet resting doubtfull what were best But they had all their discharge and money offered them vnasked At the same time certaine vexiliarie soldiers which continued vnder ensignes and were placed for a guarde to the countrey of two legions which before were at iarre began a tumult in the countrey of the Chauceans which was quickly suppressed by putting to death two of the soldiers Which Mennius the Camp-master commanded rather for example then right of his office But the tumult growing hot Mennius fled and being found out perceiuing that there was no safetie in lurking tried what boldnes coulde auaile saying That they bent not their forces against the Camp-master but against Germanicus their Generall and Tiberius the Emperor perceauing that those words daunted such as would haue hindered him snatching vp an ensigne went to the riuer side and denouncing him a fugitiue and traitor which refused to follow brought them to the winter standing campe astonied and not daring to attempt any thing In the meane season the embassadors sent from the Senate to Germanicus found him at Vbium at the place called the Altar Where two legions the first and the twentieth wintered with the old soldiers lately dismissed and kept vnder ensignes The timorous and troubled in conscience were surprised with a sudden feare least some were come by commandement of the Senate to make frustrate all they had wrung out by rebellion And as the manner of the people is alwaies falsely to accuse some one or other whom they suspect so now they laide all the blame on
forbearing from rest turned all the waters which rose in the mountaines into the vnder grounds whereupon the plaine being drownd and so much of the worke ouerthrowne as they had cast vp the Romaine souldier was put to a double labour XIIII The Romans escape a great danger through the good conduct of Caecina CAEcina had then in qualitie of a soldier of commander fortie yeere receiued pay and therefore being acquainted as well with the changeable euents of fortune as prosperous successes fell nothing at all in courage but pondering in his minde what might follow found nothing more expedient then to inclose the enimie in the wood vntill the wounded and the cariages were gotten before For betwixt the hils and the marshes there stretched out a plaine capable of a small armie The legions were so placed that the fift shoulde be in the right flancke the one and twentieth in the left the first to lead and the twentieth to defende if they were pursued The night was vnquiet for diuers respects the barbarous enimie in feasting and banketting songs of ioie and hideous outcries filled the valleies and woods which redoubled the sounde againe The Romans had small fires broken voices laie neere the trenches went from tent to tent rather disquieted and not able to sleepe then watchfull The generall had that night a heauie dreame which droue him into a feare for he thought that he had seene Quinctilius Varus rising out of those bogs embrued all in bloud calling him by name and stretching out his hand towards him which he thrust backe refusing to follow At daie breaking the legions appointed for the flankes either for feare or contempt abandoned their standings and seased on the fielde adioining beyond the marshes Arminius although hee might safely haue assaulted them yet forbare a time But he no sooner perceiued their bag and baggage to sticke in the mire and ditches and the souldiers troubled about it disbanded and out of order and the ensignes confusedly disordered as it falleth out in such times euery man busie to helpe himselfe and deafe to harken what was commanded but he encharged the Germaines to breake in crieng aloud Behold Varus and the legions once againe vanquished by the same destinie Hauing thus saide accompanied with a choise band of horsemen breaketh the rankes of the Romans and especially woundeth their horses which slipping by reason of their owne bloud and moisture of the bogs ouerthrowing their masters either trode vnderfeete or scattered all they met Much a doo they had about the ensignes which they could neither beare vp the shot came so thicke nor pitch on the ground it was so mirie Whilest Caecina maintaineth battell his horse was killed vnder him from which being fallen he had been taken by the enimie if the first legion had not opposed herselfe The greedines of the enimie was some helpe vnto them being more thirstie of pillage then bloud whereby the legions had leisure towards the euening to win the open firme land And yet their miseries did not thus end They had defences to make and stuffe wherewithall to seeke their tooles to cast vp earth or cut turfes were almost all lost tentes they had none to couer them nor medicaments to heale the wounded and diuiding their meate partly stained with bloud or beraied with dirt they bewailed that vnfortunate darknes and that onely daie left for so many thousands to liue By meere chance a horse brake loose in the campe and praunsing vp and downe affrighted with noise ouerthrew all he met in his waie which stroake such a feare and terror in the souldiers harts that thinking the Germans had broken vpon them ran all to the gates of the campe and especially to the Decumana which was farthest from the enimie and safest to flee awaie Caecina being assured that it was but a vaine feare yet not being able either by his authoritie entreatie or forcible meanes to staie their fleeing cast himselfe a crosse the gate and so mooued them to pitie stopping the passage bicause they would not tread on their captaines bodie The Tribunes and Centurions shewed them withall that their seare was false and without cause Then assembling them in the Principia and commanding silence admonished them of the time and necessitie they stoode in That their safetie onely consisted in their weapons which yet they were to moderate by discretion keeping still within their trench vntill the enimie with hope to breake vpon them should drawe neere and that then they shoulde rush out on euerie side and so get to the riuer of Rhene Whereas if they should flie they should passe through more woods finde deeper bogs and the enimie more cruell then euer but by conquering they shoulde purchase glorie and renowme putting them in mind of those things which were esteemed deere at home and of credit in campe not once mentioning their disgraces and aduersities This done he assigned to the most couragious a horse beginning with his owne then with the Tribunes and Centurions not respecting calling or quality to the end that they should first inuade the enimie and the footemen follow The Germains what with hope what with greedines of praie what with disgreeing opinions of captaines were as much disquieted as the Romaines Arminius thought it best to suffer them come out of their fort and set on them in the bogs and marshes but Inguiomerus aduise though more cruell was most pleasing to the barbarians which was that they should besiege the campe perswading that by that means the assault would be easier more captiues taken and the bootie entire and vntouched Assoone then as it was day they beate down the trenches filled them vp with hurdles grappled vp to the toppe of the trench fewe souldiers resisting them and those all stocke still in amaze The cohorts within had the alarum giuen the cornets and trumpets sounded and with a great clamour sallied out couragiouslie and hemmed the enimie in casting in their teeth that heere there were neither woods nor quagmiers but the places and the gods indifferent to both The enimies imagining it but an easie conquest and that there were but a fewe to resist and those but halfe armed hearing the sound of the trumpets and seeing the glittering of the armour which seemed so much the greater by how much the lesse they were esteemed on a sudden were beaten downe and slaine as men in prosperitie greedy and in aduersitie vncircumspect Arminius and Inguiomerus fled th'one not hurt and the other greeuously wounded The common sort were slaine as long as the daie and anger lasted the legions returned at night to their forte And although there were more wounded then the day before and no lesse want of victuales yet with the victorie they thought they had recouered strength courage health and all other necessaries XV. The danger the legions vvere in vnder Vitellius Tiberius renevveth the lavv of treason IT was noised abroad in the meane season that the legions were besieged and that the
made famous and the spoiles dedicated by Augustus with the place where Antonie had camped by those meanes renewing the memorie of his auncestors for as I haue saide before Augustus was his vncle and Antonie his grandfather and therefore in that place he sawe represented things both ioifull and dolorous From thence he went to Athens which being an ancient citie and a confederate with the Romans he woulde haue but one Lictor before him The Graecians receiued him with most exquisite honors and represented the ancient exploites and saiengs of his predecessors that their flatterie might be so much the more gratefull and acceptable And going from thence to Euboea hepassed by Lesbos where Agrippina in hir last deliuerie had Iulia. Then desirous to visite places of antiquitie and fame he went to the confines of Asia Perinthum and Byzans cities of Thrace then he entered the straites of Propontis and the mouth of the Pontion sea Withall he releeued the prouinces which were wearied with ciuill discordes and oppressions of magistrates In his returne desirous to visite the sacrifices of the Samothracians and sundrie other things for change of fortune and our beginning from thence woorthie of honor The northren windes droue him backe againe Then he coasted Asia and came to Colophona to consult with the oracle of Clarius Apollo There is no woman as at Delphos but a priest vsually chosen out of certaine families and for the most part from Miletum doth heare onely the number and names of such as come to consult then going downe to a den and drinking a draught of the secret fountaine giueth answer being commonly ignorant in learning and verses in verses touching those things which a man hath fore-thought in his minde It is reported that by circumstances of darke speeches as the manner of the oracles is he prophecied that Germanicus death was not farre of But C. Piso to the ende he might more speedily begin to effectuate his determination sharpely rebuked the citie of Athens alreadie amazed with his turbulent behauiour indirectly carping at Germanicus that contrarie to the dignitie of the Roman name he had vsed too great curtesie not towards the Athenians which had beene wasted by so manie miseries but towards a rif-raffe of other nations and those which were Mithridates confederates against Sulla and Antonies against Augustus of famous memorie Other stale matters he obiected also against them as that they had not prosperous successe against the Macedonians and vsed violence against their owne citizens bearing them also a speciall grudge bicause that at his request they woulde not deliuer on Theophilus condemned of forgery by the counsel of the Areopagites From thence sailing with all celeritie by the Cyclades and seeking out the shortest cuts at the Iland of Rhodes he ouertooke Germanicus nothing ignorant how he had backbitten him yet neuerthelesse such was his milde disposition that when Piso was driuen through tempest against the rocks and that his miscarieng might haue beene imputed to chance he sent gallies to succour him and so deliuered him from danger But all this did not mollifie Pisoes hart but scarse enduring one daies staie forsaketh and preuenteth Germanicus For being come to the legions in Syria winning the basest of the common soldiers with gifts he began to displace the old Centurions and seuere Tribunes and bestowe their roomes on his followers or to the most lewdest suffered idlenes in the campes licentiousnes in the citie vagrant and riotous souldiers to range the countrey whereby they grew to such corruption that among the common sort he was called the father of the legions Neither did Plancina containe hir selfe within the bounds of womanly modestie but woulde be present at the horsemens exercise as the running of the cohorts and vse reprochfull speeches against Agrippina and Germanicus some of the better sort of soldiers readie to follow hir humour in bad actions bicause there was a secret rumour spred that those things were not done with dislike of the Emperour Germanicus knew all this but his greatest care was to preuent the Armenians That nation was in times past doubtfull and vncertaine to the Romans not onely through their disposition and affection but also through the situation of their countrey which stretching into our prouinces reacheth euen to the Medes And being seated betwixt great kingdomes are often in wars through hatred to the Romans and enuie to the Parthians King at that time they had none Vonones being expulsed But the nation fauoured Zeno Polemon king of Pontus sonne bicause that from his infancie he had imitated the customes and attire of the Armenians their hunting and banqueting and other exercises of the Barbarians greatly esteemed thereby winning the fauour as wel of the nobilitie as cōmon people Germanicus then in the city Artaxata the noble men approouing it in the presence of a multitude crowned him King the rest doing him honor as their King saluted him after the name of the city by the name of Artaxias The Cappadocians being reduced to the forme of a Prouince receiued Q Veranius for their Lieutenant and to giue them a good hope of the Roman gouernment some of the tributes vsually before paid to the Kings diminished ouer the Comageni then first reduced vnder the regiment of a Pretor Q. Seruaeus was made gouernor XIIII Germanicus and Pisoes iarring ALbeit all the affaires of the allies were setled in good order yet Germanicus was nothing the more at his ease by reason of Pisoes pride who being commanded either by himselfe or by his sonne to conduct part of the legions to Armenia neglected both At length they both met at Cyrrum where the tenth legion wintered Piso with a resolute countenance against feare and Germanicus as I haue said the milder of the two lest he should be thought to threaten But his friends their crafts master in prouoking hatred made the most of that which was true suggested much which was false laying diuers things to his own charge Plācinas his childrens In the end Caesar in the presence of a few of his familiars vttered som such speech to Piso as anger dissimulation doth suggest Piso answered with a proud submission so they departed open enemies After that time Piso was seldome seen at Caesars tribunal if he did assist at any time he shewed himselfe froward and alwayes dissented openly from him In a banket made by the king of the Nabateans when there were presented crownes of great waight to Caesar and Agrippina and light ones to Piso and the rest He was heard to say that that banket was made to the sonne of a Romane Prince and not to the sonne of a king of Parthia and withall threw away his crowne vttering many speeches against the superfluitie of the banket which although Germanicus could hardly digest yet indured all patiently Whilest these things were adoing Embassadors came from Artabanus king of the Parthians calling to minde their friendship and alliance with the Romans
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
ceremonies Dolabella Cornelius onely whilest he went about to exceed others falling into absurd flatterie thought it meete that he should from Campania enter into the citie ouant Wherupon Caesar wrote that he was not so needie of renowne that hauing vanquished most stout and prowde nations and receiued or refused in his youth so many triumphes he would in his old age hunt after a vaine reward of a voiage neere the citie X. Lepidus maketh an oration in defence of C. Lutorius accused of treason ABout the same time he made request vnto the Senat that Sulpitius Quirinius death might be solemnised with publicke funerals Quirinius was not of the auncient patritian familie of the Sulpitians but borne at Lanuuium a free towne a valiant warrior and forwards in all his charges was Consull vnder Augustus of famous memorie Then hauing won by assault the fortresse of the Homonadensians in Cilicia the markes of triumphe were awarded him then giuen as a guide to C. Caesar in the regiment of Armenia and when Tiberius was at Rhodes shewed him all duties of loue which Tiberius did open in Senat praising his dutifulnes towards him and accused M. Lollius to haue perswaded C. Caesar to seditions and lewdnes But vnto the rest the memorie of Quirinius was nothing pleasing by reason as I haue saide of the danger he brought Lepida into and miserable niggishnes and powerable old age In the end of the yeere a cari-tale accused C. Lutorius Priscus a gentleman of Rome who had composed notable funerall verses vpon Germanicus death and receiued money of Caesar for them obiecting that he had made them in honour of Drusus being sicke to the ende that if he had died they should haue beene published for greater reward Those verses Lutorius vpon vaine glorie had read in P. Petronius house in the presence of Vitellia his mother in lawe and many other noble women As soone as the pickthanke had shewed himselfe the rest forced by feare to giue witnes onely Vitellia stood to it that she had heard nothing But more credit being giuen to such as testified to his ouerthrow sentence of death was pronounced against him by Haterius Agrippa Consull elect Against whom M. Lepidus began to speake in this manner If we consider Lords of the Senat with what a wicked toong Lutorius Priscus hath polluted his minde and mens eares neither prison nor halter nor any seruile torments could suffice to punish him But if lewd and heinous facts be without meane yet the moderation of a Prince your own and your auncestors examples do mollifie the punishments and remedies of them vaine things do differ from wicked and words from villanous deedes And therefore iudgment may be giuen by which neither this mans offence goe scot-free we not repent vs either of our clemencie or seueritie I haue often heard our Prince complaine if any by killing himselfe hath preuented his clemēcy Lutorius life is yet in safety who being kept aliue will neither breed danger to the cōmon-wealth nor put to death serue for example to others As his studies were full of follie and without sence so they are likewise vaine and quickly at an end Neither is there any cause to feare any great or serious matter in him who bewraying his owne imperfections doth creepe not into mens but womens breasts Yet let him be expulsed the citie Which I iudge to be all one as if he had been conuicted of treason Among all the Consuls onely Rubellius Blandus agreed with Lepidus the rest following Agrippaes opinion Priscus was lead to prison and immediately depriued of his life The fact Tiberius with his accustomed ambiguitie of words blamed in Senate extolling the zealous affection of seuere punishments of princes iniuries though small yet entreated them that they woulde not so rashlie punish wordes praised Lepidus and rebuked not Agrippa Whereupon a decree of Senate was made that their orders shoulde not be caried to the treasurie before ten daies were expired and that so long the condemneds life should be prolonged But the Senators had no licence to repent and reuoke their sentence and Tiberius not to be pacified by tract of time XI Tiberius letter touching reformation of abuses THe yeere following C. Sulpitius and D. Haterius were created Consuls all being quiet from forrein troubles but seueritie against superfluities suspected at home which was growen to exceeding excesse in all things wherein money is lauishly spent Some of their expences although more vnreasonable yet were cloaked by dissembling their prices but gluttonie and belly-cheere euerie man commonly speaking of put them in feare least the prince shoulde rigorouslie proceed according to the ancient prouident frugalitie For C. Bibulus beginning the other Aediles shewed also that the law cōcerning excesse of expences was nought set by and the sumptuousnes of moueables which was forbiddē daily increased and that it coulde not be redressed by any reasonable meanes And the Lordes of the Senate being demanded their aduise referred the whole matter to the prince But Tiberius often pondered with himselfe whether such exorbitant lustes coulde bebrideled or not whether the brideling of them would not bring more hurt then benefit to the common-wealth how vnseemely and dishonorable it would be to vndertake that which could not be effected or if it could with the ignominie or infamie of noble men and in the end he sent letters to the Senate to this purpose It would be peraduenture conuenient Lords of the Senate that in other matters I should be demaunded my opinion in your presence and speake what I thought to be behouefull for the common wealth but in this relation it was better to withdraw mine eyes least that you noting the countenāce and the feare of euery one of such which should be deprehended of this shamefull lauishing I should also see them and take them as it were in the fault If the Aediles vigilant and carefull men had before hand asked my aduise I know not whether I should rather haue perswaded them to let passe strong and rooted vices then go so far that it should be knowne how vnable we be to redresse some kinde of abuses But they truly haue done their dutie and I wish that other magistrates would also fulfill theirs To me it is neither honest to hold my tongue nor easie to speake because I haue neither the office of an Aedile Pretor nor Consull Some greater matter is required of a Prince and of greater importance and when as euery man attributeth to himselfe the prayse of things well done the faults of all men in generall redounde to the dislike of the Prince alone What shall I begin first to forbid and reduce to the auncient custome your huge and spacious countrey houses the number of your seruitours of diuers nations the quantitie of siluer and gold your painted tables and brasen images of maruellous and exquisite workemanship superfluousnes of apparell both in men and women and those things which are proper vnto women as pretious
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
woulde shew so much fauour to the Iunian familie and to one who had beene of the same colledge with them that he shoulde rather be sent to the Iland Cythera which was also the request of Torquata Silanus sister a virigin of good life vnto which censure they all condescended XV. More accusations prosecuted A decree touching Iupiters priests Tacfarinas driuen by Blaesus out of Affrike AFter this the Cyrenenses were heard and Caesius Cordus condemned of polling the prouinces at the sute of Ancharius Priscus L. Ennius a gentleman of Rome accused of treason bicause he had conuerted the image of the prince to common vses in plate Caesar forbad to be receiued amongst the criminall persons Ateius Capito openly complaining and by a kinde of libertie saieng That power of determining such a matter ought not to be taken frō the Senate nor so heinous a crime passe vnpunished That the Emperour might be as slowe as he lusted in punishing iniuries done to himselfe yet that he ought not to pardon such as were done to the common-wealth Tiberius vnderstood these things as they were indeed rather then as they were spoken and so persisted in opposing himselfe Capito was so much the more noted bicause that knowing what appertained to diuine and humane lawes discredited the common good and the commendable arts he had learned at home Then there grew a scruple in knowing in what temple the gift should be placed which the gentlemen of Rome had vowed to fortune Equestris for the health of Augusta For although there were many temples in the citie of that goddesse yet there was none which bare that surname In the ende there was one so called found at Antium and all the ceremonies in the townes of Italie and temples and images of gods to be vnder the right and empire of Rome and therupon the gift was placed at Antium And seeing the matter was debated touching the religions Caesar declared the answere which not long before he had deferred against Seruius Maluginensis and recited the decree of the chiefe priestes which was That as oft as the Flamen Dial or Iupiters priest fell into any sicknes he might be absent from the city with licence of the chiefe priest so as it were not aboue two nights or in daies of publike sacrifice nor oftner then twise in one yeere Which being ordained in Augustus time did manifestly shew that the absence for a yeere or administration of prouinces was not graunted to the Diales And the example of L. Metellus the high pontife was alleaged who in the like case had kept Aulus Posthumus the Flamen in the citie And thereupon the lot of Asia was bestowed vpon him who of the Consuls was next vnto Maluginensis At the same time Lepidus made request vnto the Lords of the Senate that he might at his owne charges reedifie and adorne Paulus Aemilius temple the ornament of his memorie for at that time publike munificence was in vse neither did Augustus blame Taurus Philippus Balbus for bestowing spoiles taken from enimies or the ouerplus of their wealth to the ornament of the citie and glorie of posteritie By which examples Lepidus although he had no great store of money did renewe the honor of his auncestors Pompeius theatre consumed by casuall fire bicause there was none left of the familie of abilitie to performe it Caesar promised to build at his own charges and leaue it stil the old name And withall he highly extolled Seianus as though through his labour and watchfulnes the violence of that fire had beene staied from hurting any more then that one thing and the Senate ordained an image to be erected in honour of Seianus in Pompeius theatre And not long after when Caesar had honored Iunius Blaesus proconsull of Affrike with the ornaments of triumph he said that he attributed that to Seianus honour whose vncle he was Yet Blaesus owne acts deserued that honour For although Tacfarinas had beene often put to the woorst yet renewing his aide in the middle of Affrike he grewe to that arrogancie as to send embassadors to Tiberius and require a place for himselfe and his armie to inhabite or else threatned an endles warre It was reported that Caesar neuer more grieued at any disgrace done vnto himselfe or the people of Rome then that a traitor and theefe should deale like an enimie There was neuer so much graunted Spartacus after he had defeated so many armies of Consuls and burnt Italie vnreuenged yea when the common-wealth was greatly weakned by Sertorius and Mithridates great warres that he shoulde be receiued by couenant into safe conduct therefore much lesse that Tacfarinas a theefe the Roman empire being in most flourishing state should be hired with a peace and lands to inhabite He committed the whole matter to Blaesus with charge that he shoulde induce the rest to lay down their armes with warrant that they should sustaine no hurt yet that he should lay holde on the captaine by all means possible through which pardon many came in Not long after they vsed the same maner of fight against Tacfarinas as he had vsed against others for bicause he inferior to the Romans in strength though better in theeuery made many inroades by scattered companies deceiued his enimie and laid many traines to intrap him Their companies were therefore set in order and marched against him of which the lieutenant Cornelius Scipio was the chiefe who lay in waite in that coast where Tacfarinas did waste and trouble the Leptins and the Garamantes places of refuge On another side Blaesus son lead his owne power least the Cirtensien villages shoulde be entised to take part with Tacfarinas In the middle placing fortresses and strong holdes in conuenient places with choise soldiers the captaine himselfe brought the enimie to a narrowe straight and disaduantage bicause that which way soeuer he should bend some of the Romane soldiers were in his face some in his sides and often some in his backe and so many slaine and intrapped Then diuideth the three armies againe into many other companies with centurions of knowen valour ouer them Neither did he as the custome was retire his forces in the ende of sommer or put them in standing campes of the old prouince but as it had been in the beginning of warre his fortresses well manned by light horsemen and skilfull in those deserts he gaue Tacfarinas often changing his cabbins small rest vntill his brother being taken he retired in the end with more speede then was for the allies profit such being left behinde by whom the warre might rise againe But Tiberius taking this to be an ende of this warre gaue Blaesus that honour that he should be saluted Emperour by the legions being an old custome towards such Captaines as had shewen valour for the common-wealth with ioy and acclamations to be saluted by that name by the conquering armies There were many Emperours at one time but none aboue an other Augustus had graunted that name to
and true The same solemnities which were ordained for Germanicus were appointed for Drusus and as the manner is of the last flattery somethings added His funerall in pomp of images was very magnificent hauing before him in a long procession Aeneas the beginning of the Iulian familie all the kings of the Albani and Romulus the founder of the citie After him followed the nobilitie of the Sabins Appius Clausus and the images of the rest of the Claudians In deliuering Drusus death I haue followed that which many true writers haue vttered but I will not omit a very strong report of those times yet currant in euery mans mouth which is that Liuia being alreadie corrupted to all dishonestie of bodie by Seianus he was sayd to haue abused Lygdus bodie likewise in age and beautie highly pleasing his maister and of all his seruitours of best credit who being made priuie to the practise the place and times agreed when the poison should be giuen grew to that audaciousnes that he turned all vpon Drusus head and by secret aduertisement accused him to haue gone about to poison his father and gaue Tiberius warning to take heede of the first drinke his sonne should offer him at the table Whereupon by that fraud the banket being begun the old man presented Drusus the cup which he had receiued who ignorant of the practise like a raw yong man dranke it vp increasing thereby the suspition as though for feare and shame he had swallowed that death which he had prepared for his father This was the common rumor which wanting a ground and certaine author thou mayest easily refute for who is he though but of meane wisedome much lesse Tiberius experienced and beaten in waightie affaires not hearing his defence would haue offered his sonne his death and that with his owne hands a thing remediles if he should repent it Why had he not rather tortured the minister of the poison sought out the author and vsed that delay which vsually he did euen against strangers towards his owne sonne neuer before detected of any lewd fact But because Seianus was thought to be the inuentor of all bad actions through the great good will Caesar bore him and the hate which the rest bare to both things were beleeued although fabulous and vncredible report speaking alwayes the worst of Princes deaths The order of this fact hath been otherwise discouered by Apicata Seianus wife and by torturing of Eudemus and Lygdus and no writer found so great an enimie to Tiberius although all hath beene sought that may be sayd and inforced against him that hath obiected any such matter The cause why I layd downe and blamed the common rumor was that vnder a manifest example I might discredit false reports and pray such into whose hands our labours shall come that they would not esteeme more of common vncredible tales greedily receiued then of truth not falsified into miracles IIII. Seianus practises to destroy Agrippina and Germanicus children stage-plaiers expulsed Italie BVt whilest Tiberius praised his sonne before the people assembled the Senat and the people rather for a shew then from the hart put on a mourning countenance yet in their mindes reioyced that Germanicus house began to flourish againe which beginning of fauour and Agrippina their mother not well dissembling her hope hastened their ouerthrow For when Seianus perceiued that Drusus empoisoners escaped vnpunished and no publicke mourning of the people for his death emboldned in wicked actions bicause his first attempts had good successe began to cast with himselfe by what meanes he might extinguish Germanicus children the vndoubted successors to the Empire For all three poison he could not by reason of their keepers faithfulnes and Agrippinas inuincible chastitie He began therefore to inueigh against her obstinacie and stirre Augusta hating her of olde against her and incensed Liuia with the memorie of her late fact suggesting that her pride bearing it selfe vppon her fruitfulnes in children by the fauour of the people gaped after the soueraigntie This plot of his he prosecuted by the helpe of craftie accusers amongst whom he had chosen Iulius Posthumus a man noted of infamous life with Mutilia Prisca a principall fauorite of the grandmother and fit instrument for his practises being highly in Augustas bookes an old woman of her owne disposition desirous of rule and therefore easily estranged from her daughter in law Agrippina He had likewise inueighled Agrippinas neere kinred to puffe vp her haughtie spirits and vse hard speeches of Augusta But Tiberius intermitting no care of publicke affaires and embracing busines for solace heard the causes of citizens and the suites of confederates and by his perswasion decrees of Senat were made that the citie of Cibyratica in Asia and Aegiris in Achaia damnified by an earth-quake might be relieued by remitting them three yeeres tributes And Vibius Serenus Proconsull of farther Spaine being condemned for publicke violence through the crueltie of the time was banished into the Iland Amorgus Carsius Sacerdos accused as though he had helped the enimie Tacfarinas with corne was quit and C. Gracchus for the same crime This Gracchus being verie yoong was carried by his father Sempronius to the Iland Cercina as a companion of his exile where growing to mans estate amongst banished men and ignorant of liberall artes by turning and winding base marchandise in Affrica and Sicilia he gayned his liuing and yet he escaped not the dangers of greater fortune And if AElius Lamia and L. Apronius which gouerned Affrica had not defended his innocencie through the noblenesse of his vnfortunate stocke he had tasted of his fathers calamities That yeere came Ambassadors from cities of Greece requesting that the auncient right of priuiledged places might be confirmed at Iunos Temple at Samium and AEsculapius Temple at Cois The Samians grounded themselues on a decree of the Amphictyons to whom belonged the principall examination of all matters when the Grecians building cities through Asia were Lords of the sea coasts The antiquitie of the Coi was not vnlike hauing withall the merite of the place for when by King Mithridates commaundement all the Romans were slaine throughout all the cities and Ilands of Asia they saued in the Temple of AEsculapius as many as they found After this the Pretors hauing made many complaints though in vaine against the stage-players at last Caesar spake of their vnrulines and immodest behauiour as hauing seditiously attempted many things in publicke and many vndecently in priuate houses And the Oscian play a light sport pleasing the peoples humor grew to such insolencie that the Lords of the Senate were faine to interpose their authoritie for the suppressing of it and then the stageplayers were expulsed Italy Caesar had further griefe the same yeere partly by the death of one of Drusus children and partly by the death of Lucillius Longus his friend and partaker of all his fortunes prosperous or aduerse and among the Senators his only companion when he
which was the first time that Tiberius shewed himselfe greedie of other mens money Sosia was driuen into banishment by Asinius Gallus Consull who also aduised that part of the goods should be confiscate part left vnto his children But Lepidus contrarily that the fourth part of the goods should be giuen to the informers according to the law and the residue to his children I finde that this Lepidus was in those dayes a graue and wise man who altered into the better many things which others by cruell flatterie had ordained which he did with such moderation that he kept in with Caesar in no lesse fauour then authoritie Which causeth me to doubt whether it happen as in other things by fatall destinie and natiuitie that Princes are fauorably enclined to some and to others hardly bent or whether anything consist in our counsels to single out a course free from ambition and danger betweene selfewill stubbornes and filthy flattery But Messallinus Cotta being no lesse nobly descended differing from Lepidus was of opinion that by decree of Senat it should be ordained that gouernors of prouinces though faultles themselues yet should be punished for their wiues crimes no lesse then for their owne VI. Calphurnius Piso accused and condemned The last vvarre vvith Tacfarinas and his death AFter this they debated Calphurnius Pisos case a noble man and of a fierce courage He as I haue said seeing what credit pickthanks were in openly protested in Senate that he woulde depart the citie and little regarding the authoritie of Augusta was so bolde as to sommon Vrgulania out of the princes house which Tiberius for the present seemed not to take in euill part But bearing it in minde although the heate of displeasure was cooled yet he forgat it not Granius also accused Piso of secret speeches vsed against the maiestie of the emperour adding that he had poison in his house and that he entered the Senate house with a weapon This of the weapon was past ouer as not credible but for other things aggreuated against him he was arrained but not conuicted bicause he was preuented by death Afterward Cassius Seuerus cause was handeled a banished man of base parentage and lewde life but a great Orator Who had raised so many enimies against him that by the iudgement of the Senate sworne he was confined to Creet where following the like practises drew on his head old and new hatred and at last being depriued of all his goods and banished spent the rest of his life in the Ilande Seriphium About the same time Plautius Siluanus Pretor the cause why not knowen threwe his wife Apronia downe headlong from a high place And being brought before Caesar by L. Apronius his father in lawe as a man troubled in minde answered as though she had killed hir-selfe when he was a sleepe and wholy ignorant of the matter Tiberius goeth foorthwith to his house and searcheth the chamber where he perceiued by the print of hir feete tokens of hir striuing against him and the thrusting of hir foreward which he reported to the Senate And Iudges appointed to examine the fact Vrgulania Siluanus grandmother sent hir nephewe a poniard to dispatch himselfe which some thought to haue beene done by the princes counsell by reason of the league of friendship betwixt Augusta and Vrgulania Siluanus hauing tried in vaine to kill himselfe with the poniard in the end caused his vaines to be cut Not long after Numantina his first wife accused by charms and witchcrafts to haue put hir husband out of his wits found innocent is quit by the prince That yeare the people of Rome was deliuered of a long warre against Tacfarinas the Numidian For the captaines which till then had beene sent against him hauing obtained the markes of triumph sought no further how to extinguish the enimie For there were now three images in the citie crowned with baies and Tacfarinas still continued spoiling and forraging Affrica and augmented his forces by the aide of the Moores which vnder Ptolemy Iubaes sonne a carelesse youth changed their seruile state and gouerment of freed men into warre The king of the Garamantes was a receiuer and partaker of his booties and pillages not that hee marched with an armie but onely by sending light horsemen which a farre off were thought to be more then indeed they were And in the prouince it selfe some for need and som of a turbulent humor ioined with him bicause Caesar considering how well Blaesus had bestirred himselfe called home the ninth legion as though there had beene no enimies left at all in Affrica And Dolabella Proconsull for that yeere durst not staie them fearing more the commandement of the prince then the incertaintie and danger of the warre Vpon this Tacfarinas gaue it out that the Romans had their hands full were distracted with other nations and therefore purposed by little and little to retire out of Affrike And then that the rest might easilie bee ouercome if all which preferred libertie before seruitude woulde ioine and couragiously bend their forces against them and gathering more strength encampeth before Thubuscum and laieth siege to it But Dolabella drawing all the forces hee could make into one partly the name of the Romans striking a terror into their harts partly bicause the Numidian is not able to indure the force of the footemen at the first encounter leuied the siege fortified the most conuenient places and withall beheaded the chiefest of the Musulani which began to reuolt In the end taught by experience of so many battels that this fleeting enimie was not to be pursued with a maine campe Dolabella sent for King Ptolemy with his countriemen and diuided his forces into fower companies vnder the charge of seuerall Lieutenants and Tribunes The out-riders and forragers were conducted by certaine chosen Moores himselfe at hand to giue direction to all Not long after tydings came that Tacfarinas had encamped and erected cabins at an old ruinous fort which himselfe had once burnt called Auzea trusting to the place being inuironed with mightie great woods Then the light horsemen and wings not knowing whither were lead away withall speed And at the dawning of the day with the sound of trumpets and a dreadfull noise set on the enimies halfe sleeping halfe waking their horses vnreadie or dispersed abroad at pasture The Romans footemen were close ranked the troupes of horsemen in good order all things in a readines for battell The enimie on the other side in all things vnprouided had neither weapons order nor counsell among them but were haled taken and slaine like beasts And euerie souldier irked with the remembrance of his labours and how oft desirous to cope with the enimie he had beene deluded fild himselfe with reuenge and blood Aduertisement was brought from one companie to another to pursue Tacfarinas well knowen to them all and that there would be no ende of that warre if the Captaine were not slaine But he with a chosen
Macedon of the number of riuers the temperature of their countrey and what a rich territorie they had round about them But the Smyrnaeans fetching their antiquitie a farre off either that Tantalus from whence they came was descended from Iupiter or from Theseus issued also from the stocke of the gods or else that some one of the Amazons had founded them alleaged farther the seruice they had done to the people of Rome in which they most of all relied and that they had giuen them su cour by sea not only against forreine wars but also the wars of Italie And that they first of all had dedicated a Temple in honor of Rome M Porcius being Consull The people of Rome indeed then flourishing but yet not lifted vp to the height of their greatnes the citie of Carthage yet standing and many strong Kings liuing in Asia They brought in L. Sulla for a witnes whose armie being fallen into great danger through the roughnes of the winter and want of apparell when newes was brought thereof to the Smyrnaeans as they were assembled vpon occasion all which were present sent the apparell from their owne backes vnto our legions Thereupon the Lords of the Senats opinion being demaunded they preferred the Smyrnaeans And Vibius Marsus counselled farther that ouer and aboue his charge M Lepidus vnto whom the gouernment of that Prouince fell should haue a deputie appointed to take care of that Temple And bicause Lepidus through modestie refused to accept it Valerius Naso who had beene Pretor was by lot chosen and sent XIII Why Tiberius absented himselfe from the Citie WHilest these things thus passed Caesar hauing deepely thought vpon and after protracted his determination at last goeth into Campania vnder colour of dedicating a temple to Iupiter Capua and another to Augustus at Nola but indeede resolued to leade his life far from the citie The occasion of his departure although following some authors I haue attributed vnto Seianus wiles yet because that after Seianus death he continued sixe yeares in the like retired life I am often induced to doubt whether the cause be more truly to be referred to himselfe as going about to cloake by the place his crueltie and loose behauior Some were of opinion that being through age slender tall and crooked bald headed and his face spect with plaisters and ointments was therefore ashamed to shew himselfe in publick And at Rhodes he was wont to shun companie liue secretly and hide his lasciuious dissolute life Some gaue out that his mothers insupportable insolēcie droue him away whom as a companiō in state he could not indure nor yet be rid of her bicause the soueraigntie it self was her gift For Augustus was determined to leaue the Empire to Germanicus his sisters nephew who had a good report of all men but being ouercome by his wiues importunate intreatie he adopted Tiberius and Tiberius Germanicus which Augusta did vpbrayd vnto him and demanded the Empire againe which she had bestowed vpon him He departed with a small traine with him one Senator who had bene Consull which was Cocceius Nerua skilfull in the lawes one gentleman of Rome besides Seianus and of noble men only Curtius Atticus The rest were men indued with liberall sciences most of them Grecians with whose conference he purposed to passe the time Some Astrologers gaue out that Tiberius departed Rome vnder such a constellation that he should returne no more which was cause of manies ouerthrow which coniectured and diuulged that he had not long to liue for they could not foresee so incredible a matter as that he should want his countrey willingly eleuen yeeres together Wherein did appeare not long after how neere cosens their arte and falshood are and how truth is disguised and hidden vnder obscuritie For it was not spoken at aventure that he should not returne againe although they were ignorant of other things which should happen vnto him or whether he should quickly die or not which was not signified by those words of theirs because he ended his latter yeeres in some village not farre off or on the sea shore or neere vnto the wals of the citie At that time a doubtfull and dangerous perill which by meere chance Caesar fell into augmented the vaine rumor alreadie sowne and gaue him occasion to put more trust in Seianus friendship and constancie then euer he had done before For as they were eating in a countrey house called Spelunca betwene the sea Amuclanum and the hils of Fundani in a naturall grot or caue certaine stones falling suddenly from the mouth of it slew some of his seruitors which so affrighted the rest that they fled all away But Seianus with his knees his face and hands leaning and hanging ouer Caesar set himselfe against the other stones which were falling and in that plight was found by the souldiers which came to succour them This made him greater then he was and although he should haue giuen most pernitious counsell yet should haue had fauorable audience as one nothing caring for ought which might happen to himselfe He tooke vpon him the office of a iudge against Germanicus issue suborning some to play the parts of accusers and inueigh especially against Nero next in succession although a modest yong man yet oftentimes forgetfull of that which was requisit for the present time pricked forward by his freed men and followers which thought it long till he were Emperour to shew himselfe bold and stout of courage perswading him that that the people of Rome desired the armie couered and that Seianus durst do nothing to the contrarie though now he insulted alike ouer the patience of the old man and sloth and cowardlines of the yong Nero hearing these or the like speeches yet dreamt of no bad practise although some wilfull and vnconsiderate speeches slipt now and then from him which when the spies set ouer him had augmented carried to Caesar and Nero not suffered to purge himselfe droue manie into sundrie doubtes Some shunned to meete him some hauing saluted him turned presently from him many brake off abruptly their talke Seianus fauorers on the other side laughed in their sleeues to see it Tiberius whether the yoong man spake vnto him or held his toong cast a malicious eye or smiled dissemblingly vpon him and whether he spake or helde his toong it was alwaies a crime in him Neither was he secure from treason in the night his wife bewraying his watchings his dreames his sighes to Liuia her mother and she to Seianus who drew Drusus Neroes brother to his side with a hope of the Empire if he could remooue his elder brother which was alreadie downe and out of credit Drusus was of a cruell and fell disposition and besides the desire of rule and hatred which vsually raigneth betwixt brothers he was incensed with enuie to see Agrippina their mother readier bent to do Nero good then himselfe And yet Seianus did not so much tender Drusus but that he
proiected in his minde some meanes of his ruine knowing well that he was verie fierce and head-strong and therefore easilie intrapped In the ende of this yeere two famous men died Asinius Agrippa rather of a renowned then auncient stocke himselfe not degenerating from them and Q. Haterius descended from Senators whilest he liued greatly esteemed for eloquence but monuments of his wit there are none bicause he was esteemed rather for vehemencie and quicke deliuerie then diligence and premeditation And as others industries and labours are had in estimation after their daies so Haterius fluent vaine was extinguished with him XIIII The falling of an Amphitheater and the hurt which ensued Tiberius reedifieth certaine houses burnt in the hill Caelius WHen M. Licinius and L. Calphurnius were Consuls a sudden and vnlooked for mischance as soon ended as begun might haue been compared to the calamitie of mightie warres For an Amphitheater begun at Fidena one Atilius a freed man to set foorth a play offencers as one hauing neither abundance of wealth nor ambitious in winning fauour of the people but by niggardly sparing to make a base gaine in the workmens hire did neither laye a sounde foundation nor fasten the timber frame erected vppon the same Thither flocked many verie desirous of such shewes both men and women of all ages partly by reason it was so neere vnto them and partly because that during Tiberius empire they were barred from such pastimes whereby the mischiefe was the greater For the pile being great and filled full with a throng of people then falling asunder whether it fell inwards or spred outwards it carried downe headlong and ouerwhelmed a huge multitude of people intentiue on the shew within or gazing round about Those which at the beginning were crusht to death by that hap escaped languishing torment They most of all were to be pitied which being brused and broken yet liued and in the day knew their wiues children by sight and in the night by lamentable howling crying Those which were absent moued with this report one lamented his brother another his neere kinseman another his parents yea they were afraide if their friends and cosens were out of the way although for other occasion doubting still they had been there and because it was not certainely knowne whom that violent ruine had beaten downe the vncertaintie spread the feare the farther As soone as they began to remoue the frame they flocked about the dead bodies some kissing some imbracing them and fell often at debate in mistaking one for another by reason they were dissigured through some resemblance of countenance and likenes of yeeres Fiftie thousand persons were slaine or maimed by that mischance and a decree layd downe by the Senate that from thence forward no man should exhibit the play of Fencers who was lesse worth then foure hundred thousand sesterces nor that any amphitheater should be built but in a firme and sound place and Atilius was banished After that fresh calamitie the houses of the chiefe gentlemen were open medicines and phisitions appointed for the brused and mangled and the citizens although heauie and sad yet then were like their auncestors which after great battels did relieue and comfort the wounded with all care and liberalitie That misfortune was scarse past but the rage and violence of a fire consumed the citie more then euer and burnt the hill Caelius That was reported to be an vnluckie yeere and that the princes absence was begun in a dismall houre as the manner of the people is to draw casuall mishaps to blame if Caesar had not preuented them by bestowing of money to euery man according to his losse For which liberalitie thanks in Senat were giuen him by the noble men and the people gaue him a good report because that without ambition or intreatie of friends he had of his owne motion helped and called strangers vnto him And diuers were of opinion that the mount Caelius should after that bee called mount Augustus because that when all was wasted with fire round about onely the image of Tiberius which was in Iunius a Senators house remained vntouched The same happened in times past to Claudia Quinctia and therefore her image twice escaping violent rage of fires our auncestors did consecrate in the Temple to the mother of the gods an argument that the Claudians are accounted sacred and receiued among the number of the gods and therefore the ceremonie ought to be augmented in the place where the gods haue shewen so great fauour towards so mightie a Prince It shall not be amisse to shew how that hill was in old time called Querquetulan bicause it was fertill and abundant with oakes then Caelius of Caele Vibenna who being Captaine of the Etrurian nation and succoured the Romans obtained that seat of Tarquinius Priscus or of some other King for in that point writers do varie As for the rest it is without controuersie that those great companies of souldiers did inhabit also the plaines and places adioyning to the place of assemblies and thereupon that was called the Thuscian street of the name of the strangers which came thither to inhabit But as the beneuolence of noble men and largesse of the Prince was a great comfort in their aduersitie so the credit and authoritie of informers more and more increasing wrought the ouerthrowe of manie Domitius Afer accused Varo Quinctilius a wealthie man and neere kinne to Caesar hauing before condemned Claudia Pulchra his mother no man maruelling that being long a needie companion hauing wastfully consumed his late recompence should arme himselfe to farther mischiefe But that P. Dolabella was his sellow picthanke issued of noble kinred and allied to Varus was a miracle ouerthowing by that action himselfe and distained his nobilitie and blood Yet the Lords of the Senat would not agree thereto but thought it conuenient to expect the Emperours comming which for the time was the onely shift against imminent mischiefes But Caesar hauing dedicated his temples in Campania albeit he had giuen warning by edict that no man shuld disturbe his quietnes hindered the concourse of townsmen by placing of souldiers in the way yet being awearie of townes and colonies and all places situated in the cōtinent withdrew himselfe to the Iland Capreas three miles distant by sea from the farthest part of the promontorie of Surrentum I easily beleeue that that Iland did fit his humor hauing neither hauen nor cōmodities those conueied in very little vessels no man landing but the watch was presently acquainted with it The temperature of the aire is in winter milde by reason that a hill opposite vnto it beateth back the force of the windes In the sommer season it is open to the Westernwinde and hath verie pleasantly the sea on euerie side and a goodly prospect towardes the hill Vesuuius vntill by fire the face of the place was changed The report goeth that the Greekes did possesse that place and that the
on foote by which it is prouided of old that for pleading of causes no man should take either money or gift Then they whom that iniurie seemed to touch making a noise Silius was eager and earnest against Suilius and contradicted him alleaging the example of Orators in times past Which esteemed fame with posteritie to be the fairest rewarde of eloquence otherwise that the princesse of good arts should be distained with the seruitude of base lucre and that no faith could be sincere and inuiolate where excesse of gaine is regarded And if causes shoulde be defended without rewarde there would be fewer of them where as now enmities accusations hatred and iniuries are fostered and that as the multitude of diseases brought the Phisitions gaine so the pestilent infection of the bar serueth now to inrich the lawiers Let them call to minde C. Asinius and Messalla and of later memorie Arruntius and Eserninus which were lifted vp to the highest degree of dignitie by their vpright life and vncorrupted eloquence The Consull elect vttering these speeches the others approouing the same they went about to giue iudgement that such shoulde be condemned vnto the like punishment as they were who had by briberie and extortion polled and oppressed the commons When as Suilius and Cossutianus and others which perceiued that there should be no generall decree set downe but a punishment for those which had beene openly conuicted came about Caesar and besought him pardon of that which was past And after a little silence nodding with his head vnto them they began as followeth Who was he so puft vp with pride that would presume or hope for eternitie of fame that it was expedient men should prouide for necessarie maintenance least through the want of aduocates the poore be oppressed by the rich and mightie Neither did eloquence come by chance and gratis vnto any without paine and labor the care of a mans owne familie was neglected if he were occupied in another mans busines many maintained their life by warre some by tilling the earth no man laboured to attaine to any knowledge vnlesse he had seene some commoditie in it It was an easie matter for Asinius and Messalla which were inriched with great rewards betweene Antonies and Augustus wars to shew a gallant and braue minde and for Eserninus and Aruntius heires of rich houses to do the like Examples were as readie for them to shew for what great rewards P. Claudius and C. Curio were woont to plead As for themselues they were but meane Senators which expected no gaine of the common-wealth but such as grew of peace The meanest of the people endeuored what he could to better his estate the rewarde of studies being taken away studies do also decay as hauing neither glory nor honor The Prince thinking that this was not spoken without ground of reason moderated the sum which they should take vnto ten thousand sesterces and that they which passed this summe should be condemned of extorsion III. Mithradates recouereth his kingdome Warres betweene Gotarzes and Bardanes for the kingdome of Parthia ABout the same time Mithradates who as I haue shewed gouerned Armenia and was brought to Caesar returned into his kingdome at Claudius perswasion trusting in the power of Pharasmanes King of the Hiberi and Mithradates brother who told him that the Parthians were at variance among themselues doubtfull what would become of the Kingdome and matters of smaller importance vtterly neglected For whilest Gotarzes practised great cruelties going about to kill his brother Artabanus his wife and his sonne whereby the rest were afeard they called in Bardanes who being a man of action and able to go thorow great enterprises in two daies inuaded three thousand stadia and chased out Gotarzes all amazed and dismayed not once dreaming of his comming and without any lingring seased on the next gouernments the Seleucians onely refusing to obey him Whereupon inflamed with greater anger then the present occasion ministred cause bicause they had reuolted from his father he besieged their citie which was strong and well fortified with a wall inuironed with a riuer and furnished with victuals and munition In the meane time Gotarzes strengthened with the Daharian and Hyrcanian power renueth the war And Bardanes enforced to abandon Leleucia remooued his campe to the champion countrey of the Bracteri Then the forces of the Orient being deuided and vncertaine which way to leane Mithradates had oportunitie offered him by chance to sease vpon Armenia and with the force of the Roman souldier rase and beat downe the strong fortresses the Hiberian campe at once wasting and spoiling the champion Neither did the Armenians make heade at all against them Demonactes their gouernour being slaine who onely durst haue waged battell against them Cotys King of lesser Armenia did somewhat hinder them some of the nobles ioyning with him But afterward being rebuked by Caesars letters all turned vnto Mithradates side more cruell then was expedient in a kingdome newly gotten But the Parthian Emperours making preparation to fight suddenly conclude a peace hauing discouered the treacherie of their subiects which Gotarzes bewraied vnto his brother At the first meeting they had a ielous conceit the one of the other then taking one another by the right hand before the altars of the gods they promised and couenanted to reuenge the treason of their enimies and agree and helpe one another Bardanes seemed most meete to possesse the kingdome And Gotarzes because there should remaine no sparkle of emulation went to Hyrcania And Bardanes returning againe Seleucia yeeldeth the seuenth yeere after her reuolt not without discredit to the Parthians whom one bare citie had so long deluded Then he inuadeth the strongest Prouinces and began to recouer Armenia if Vibius Marsus Lieuetenant of Syria had not hindered him by threatning to warre against him In the meane time Gotarzes repenting that he had yeelded the kingdome and the nobilitie vnto whom obedience in peace seemeth hardest calling him backe againe assembleth his forces togither whom Bardanes met at the riuer Erindes where skirmishing long on both parts for the passages Bardanes had the vpper hand and with prosperous battels subdued all the middle countries vnto the riuer Gindes which diuideth the Dahas from the Arij There his fortunate successes had an end for the Parthians although they were conquerers yet liked not to make warre so far off Wherefore building monuments in token of his wealth and power and that none of the Arsacides had euer before leuied any tribute of those nations he returned with great glorie and therefore so much the more fierce and intollerable to his subiects who hauing long before laide a snare to intrap him killed him at vnawares as he was a hunting in the Prime of his youth fewe of the old Kings to be matched in renowne with him if he had as well sought the loue of his subiects as to be feared of his enimies By the death of Bardanes the Parthian
men sometimes vsing curtesie and moderation misliked of none and oftentimes quaffing and drunkennes with other wanton behauiour which well pleased these barbarous people Now he had gotten reputation with his neighbours and began to be famous among strangers when as such as bare greatest swaie in time of factions suspecting his power and greatnes goe from him to the borderers of the kingdome openly declaring that the auncient libertie of Germanie was taken from them and that the Roman strength mastered al. Was their countrey so barren that they could finde none borne among them to fill the place of the Prince but that Flauius the spies broode must be lifted vp aboue them all It was in vaine to make Arminius the pretence whose sonne being brought vp in the enimies land might well be feared if he came to be King as depraued and infected with education seruilitie attire and all other strange vsages And if Italus bare the minde his father had done no man euer hath borne armes more ragingly against his countrey and houshold gods than his parents By such and the like speeches they gathered great forces togither and there did no fewer follow Italus All of them affirming that he had not thrust himselfe among them against their wils but that he was sent for by them and seeing he was more noble than the rest they should make a triall of his vertue and whether he would shewe himselfe woorthie of Arminius his vncle and Catumerus his grandfather Neither could his father be a shame and reproche vnto him because he would neuer violate his faith which by consent of the Germans he had promised the Romans That the name of libertie was falsly pretended by them who being base and degenerate of themselues and dangerous to the whole state haue no hope but in time of trouble and garboile The common sort came cheerefully about him and the King became victorious in a great battell against the Barbarians then through this prosperous fortune falling into pride he was chased out of his countrey and againe reenforcing his armie with the aide of the Lombards now with luckie now with vnluckie successe molested and annoyed the Cherusci VI. The Chauceans are ariuen backe out of Germanie by Corbulo a Roman Captaine his seuere discipline ABout the same time the Chauci liuing in peace at home and incouraged by the death of Sanquinius whilest Corbuloes cōming was expected made some incursions vpon lower Germanie vnder Gannascus who being a Caninefian by birth an aide-souldier and long receiuing pay vnder the Romans and afterward become a fugitiue with light vessels robbing and piracing especially wasteth the coast of Gallia because he knew them wealthie and cowards But Corbulo entering into the Prouince first with great care then credit especially gotten by that seruice thrust into the riuer of Rhene certain Galleies and other shipping as they were fit into other armes and ditches of the sea And hauing with them suncke the small vessels of the enimie and driuen out Gannascus after he had setled the present estate of things he reduced the legions which knew not what worke and labour meant but desirous to hunt after pillage and forreies to the auncient discipline of seruice commaunding that none should depart from the campe nor enter battell without commaundement that the watch and warde all charges both by day and night should be executed in armes And it is reported that one souldier was put to death bicause he digged at a trench without his sword by his side and another bicause he had nothing else but his dagger which beeing ouer-hard and rigorous and vncertaine whether falsly spread abroad yet had their beginning of the Captaines seueritie Whereby thou maist know that he was inexorable in great faults seeing it was thought he vsed such rigour in small But that terrour wrought different effects in the souldiers and enimies we thereby increased our valour the Barbarians abated their courage The Frisian nation which rebelled after the ouerthrow of L. Apronius and euer after shewed themselues enimies vnto vs or nothing faithfull hauing giuen hostages inhabited the countrey alotted and appointed them by Corbulo He gaue them also a Senate magistrates and lawes And bicause they should not fall from their obedience left them a strong garrison and sent some to draw the chiefest of the Chauci to yeeld and withall by a wile to surprise Gannascus Neither were those wiles imployed in vaine or thought cowardly and il-beseeming vs against a fugitiue and faith-breaker But the Chauci were much troubled with his death and Corbulo sowed some seedes of rebellion among them which as some construed to the best so others reported badly of it for why should he prouoke an enimie If the successe were bad the hurt would redownd to the common-wealth if fortune went on his side he was a man to be feared in time of peace and being valiant and couragious and vnder a cowardly Prince not to be suffered Whereupon Claudius was so farre from forcing Germanie anew that he commanded the garisons to be brought backe on the hither side the Rhene And whilest Corbulo went about to encampe in the enimie land these letters were deliuered him He vnderstanding of so sudden a countermaunde although many things at once troubled his braines feare of the Emperour the contempt the Barbarians would haue him in the iest his confederats would make at it yet making no more wordes but saying only O how happie some Roman Captaines were sownded a retraite Neuerthelesse least the souldiers should grow lazie he cast a ditch betweene Mosa and Rhene three twentie miles long to beare off the vncertain inundations of the Ocean Yet Caesar graunted him the honour of triumph although he denied him licence to make war VII How souldiers were employed out of warre NOt long after Curtius Rufus had the same honor giuen him who in the countrey of Mattiacum had found a siluer mine of small profit and short continuance but to the legions besides the losse it was great labour to dig the riuers and mine vnder the earth and draine waters which in plaine grounds was laborious The souldiers wearied with these toyles and because they had indured the like in many prouinces sent letters secretly to the Emperour in the name of the whole armie and besought him that from thence forward he would bestow the marks of triumph before hand on such as he purposed to make commaunders of the armie As for Curtius Rufus birth whom some haue reported to be a fencers sonne I will neyther vtter any thing falsely and am ashamed to tell the truth After he was come to mans estate he was a follower of the Quaestor of Affrica and in a towne called Adrumetum as he walked secretly about midday in a gallery where were no people there appeared vnto him the likenes of a woman greater then the stature of any other and a voice was heard saying Thou art he Rufus which shalt come Proconsul into this prouince Puffed vp
subtiltie towards the Captaine when he had seuered the forces of the Barbariās hauing slaine Trosobor a few of the ring-leaders appeased the residue by clemēcy The same time between the lake Fucinus the riuer Lyris the better to behold the sight magnificence of the spectacle a mountaine was cut thorough in the verie lake a sea fight was represented Augustus in times past had done the like by making a standing poole on this side Tibris but with light boates fewer in number Claudius armed galleies with three and foure oares on a seat and nineteen thousand men enuironed the lake with frames of timber work bicause they should not runne out at randome yet left space enough for the rowers and pilotes to shew skill and such encounters as had beene accustomed in a sea fight On the buildings about the lake stood certaine companies of footemen and troupes of horsemen of the Emperours guard with fences before them to shoote with warlike instruments engines The rest of the lake sea souldiers occupied with couered ships the shore and small hill tops as it had beene a Theater an infinite number of people filled as well out of the townes adioyning as the citie through desire of seeing the pastime or to please the Prince He himselfe in a rich and princely cote armour and Agrippina not farre off sate aloft in a garment wrought with gold They fought although they were malefactors and condemned persons with great courage and valour and after many wounds were parted hindered from killing one another But after that the shew was ended the water let out the insufficiēcie of the work which was not thrust down nor digged deepe ynough to the bottome was discouered Whereupō not lōg after the ditches were digged deeper to draw the people againe togither a shew offencers was made on bridges built ouer the lake to represent a land-fight And at the mouth of the lake a banket prepared droue them all into a great feare through the violent gushing out of the water which carried with it all that was by and things farther off breaking downe with the crash and noise stroke them all into amaze Whereupon Agrippina taking aduantage of the Princes feare rebuked Narcissus who had charge of the worke of couetuousnes and theft And he for his part helde not his toong but cast in her teeth her intollerable pride and ouer haughtie hopes XII Nero marrieth with Octauia the inhabitants of Cous exempted from subsidies the like is graunted to Bysance WHen D. Iunius and Q. Haterius were Consuls Nero at the age of sixteene married Caesars daughter Octauia And to winne credit and reputation by honorable studies and glorie of eloquence vndertaking the Ilienses cause declared that the Romans were descended from Troy and that AEneas was the roote of the Iulian familie and many other matters not farre vnlike olde fables which being deliuered with a good grace and fit words obtained that the Ilienses should be released from all publicke duties and charges He pleaded also for the Bononian colonie which was wasted with fire and obtained for their reliefe ten millions of sesterces The inhabitants of Rhodes are restored to their libertie often taken from them or confirmed according as they had merited by seruice abroade or demerited by sedition at home The Apameans ruined by an earth-quake were discharged of tribute for fiue yeeres Claudius was incensed to much crueltie by Agrippinaes practises who gaping after Statilius Taurus gardens esteemed verie rich neuer ceased vntill she had ouerthrowen him Tarquitius Priscus being his accuser This Priscus had beene Taurus Lieutenant when he was Proconsull in Affricke and when they returned obiected that in some things he had vsed extorsion and bribery and withall that he consulted with Magicians But he not able to endure such an indignitie by a false accuser slewe himselfe before the Senators had giuen sentence yet notwithstanding all the sute Agrippina could make this Tarquitius was expulsed the Curia so odious he was to the rest of the Lords of the Senate The same yeere the Prince was often heard to say that the causes adiudged by his Procurator should be of the same validitie as if himselfe had giuen sentence And least those words might seeme to haue escaped him by chaunce a decree of Senate was inacted thereon fuller and amplier then before any had beene conceiued And Augustus of famous memorie had graunted that all causes might be heard before the gentlemen which gouerned Egypt and commaunded that the sentences set down by them should be kept as if they had bin giuen by a magistrate of Rome After that in other Prouinces and in the citie many things were graunted which in times past belonged to the hearing onely of the Pretor Claudius yeelded them all the right and iurisdiction for which there had beene such wars and sedition as when the order of gentlemen by the Sempronian lawes were established in the possession of Iudicature or when the Seruilian lawes on the other side had giuen the Senate power iudicially to determine causes and for which Marius and Sylla in times past more then all the rest made warres the one against the other But in those daies factions raigned among the citizens and the conquerers bare publicke sway hauing all power in their hands C. Oppius and Cornelius Balbus were the first which with authoritie from Caesar could handle conditions as well of peace as of ware It were to small purpose to speake of the Matians and Vedians after these which were gentlemen of marke and of noble families seeing that Claudius hath made freed men vnto whom he had committed the charge of his housholde affaires equall to himselfe and to the lawes After that Caesar propounded whether those of Cous should be released of tributes alleaging manie things concerning their antiquitie as that the Argiui and Ceus Latonaes father were the old inhabitants of the Ile and that after by Aesculapius arriuing there the Arte of Phisicke was brought in a man highly esteemed of posteritie naming them by their names and in what age euery one of them flourished Further hee affirmed that Xenophon whose skill himselfe vsed in Phisicke descended from the same familie and that in regarde of his desire the Ile of Cous deuoted to the seruice of so great a god shoulde be discharged of all tributes Neither was it to be doubted but there might be alleaged many merits of theirs towards the people of Rome and many victories obtained by their alliance But Claudius according to his accustomed facilitie and simplicitie went not about to shadowe that with external helpes which he had bestowed in fauour of one alone The Byzantines hauing obtained audience deliuered how greeuous their impositions and tributes were and desired they might be released and ripped vp all reasons they coulde euen from the first alliance which they made with vs when we warred against the king of Macedonia who for basenes of minde and want
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
sea when she suspected least There is nothing more subiect to chance then the sea and if she should perish by shipwrack who is so vnreasonable as to ascribe that to any vngracious inuention which was the fault of the windes and waues And to colour the matter withall the Prince should build a temple in honor of the dead erect altars and institute other ceremonies to shew a loue and reuerence towards her This subtile inuention pleased the Princes humor and fell out at a fit time because Nero then celebrated the feast of Minerua fiue dayes together at Baias Thither by faire words he brought his mother affirming that the displeasure of parents was to be borne with and meanes to be sought to pacifie their anger which hee did to giue out a reconciliation betweene them and so receiue Agrippina as women by kinde are of easie beliefe willing enough to see the sport Then going to meete her on the shore of Antium tooke her by the hand and embraced her and lead her to Baulos which was a countrey house betwixt the promontorie of Misenum and the Baian lake hard by the sea side where a gallie trimmer than the rest was readie prepared as a thing among others to honour his mother for she had beene accustomed to the gallie and to be carried by force of rowers After that she was inuited to a banket bicause the night might the better cloke the deuice But sure it was some one or other had bewraied the plot and Agrippina vnderstanding the practise and doubtfull whether she should beleeue it caused herselfe to be carried to Baias in a bearing-chaire there Neroes caresses lessened her feare being courteously entertained and placed aboue him entertayning her with much communication somtimes with a youthfull familiaritie againe as it were recalling himselfe and interlacing it with serious talke made the banket holde a long time and his eies fixed on her as she departed embraced her more streightly then he was accustomed either because he would omit no complement of dissimulation or else because the last sight of his mother euen readie to perish did mollifie his hart though fell and cruell A bright star-light night and quiet with a calme sea as it were to manifest the wicked practise the gods themselues did yeeld The gallie not farre gone and Agrippina hauing onely two of her owne persons with her the one Crepereius Gallus which stood not far from the sterne Aceronia lying at Agrippinaes feete with great ioy discoursed of her sonnes repentance and the fauour she had recouered But the watch-woord being giuen the couering of the place heauily loaden with lead fell downe vpon Crepereius and prest him to death immediately Agrippina and Aceronia the vppermost bearing of the couering by fortune being stronger then the rest though it shrunke with the waight were saued the vessel not loosed asunder all being amazed and some which were ignorant of the practise hindered others which were priuie to it Then the rowers thought best to way the gallie on one side and so to sincke her Yet they could not agree vpon so sudden an aduise but some swaying to the contrary way caused the vessell not to sinke on the sudden but by little and little But Aceronia vnaduisedly crying that she was Agrippina and that they should helpe the Princes mother with poles and oares and such implements in the gallie as came first to hand was slaine Agrippina not speaking a word therefore not knowen receiued onely one wound in the shoulder then swimming towards the banke was succoured by small barkes and carried by the lake Lucrinus to her owne house There casting in her mind how she had beene sent for by craft and false letters entertained with especiall honour how the vessell neither tossed by winds nor carried vpon rockes the vpper part fell as it had beene a land-frame noting Accroniaes death and beholding hir own wound thought it the only remedy against the treachery to make as though she perceiued it not And thereupon sent Agerinus a freed man to tell her sonne how by the goodnes of the gods and his good fortune she had escaped a great danger and prayed him that although he were affrighted with his mothers daunger yet that he would forbeare a time from visiting her bicause that for the present she had need of rest And in the meane while making shewe of securitie healeth her wound and chearisheth hir bodie And commaunded Aceroniaes testament to be sought for and her goodes to be sealed vp which was the onely thing wherein she shewed no dissimulation But whilest Nero expected messengers to certifie him that his plot had taken effect tidings cam that she had escaped lightly wounded but passed through great dāger the author therof not once doubted Nero stroken dead with feare and crying she would reuenge out of hand either by arming her slaues or sturring vp the soldiers or run to the Lords of the Senat or people there cōplaine of the shipwrack her wound the murder of her friends knew no shift vnles Burrhus Seneca would bestur themselues whom immediatly he sent for doubtful whether they had vnderstoode the matter before or not They stoode mute a long time fearing least their perswasions should take no effect in the end concluded that vnlesse Agrippina were preuented Nero should perish Then Seneca hitherto forwarder of the two looked vpon Burrhus as though he should haue asked whether the souldier should be commaunded to execute the murder but he answered that the gard being bound to all Caesars house and so mindfull of Germanicus would not vndertake so cruell an enterprise against his progenie and that Anicetus should accomplish his promise He nothing at all staggering demandeth the whole charge of the execution At which speech Nero professed openly that that day the Empire was bestowed vpon him and that the author of so great a gift was his freed man and therefore that he should make speede and take with him such as were readiest to fulfill his commaundement He hearing that Agerinus Agrippinaes messenger was come maketh a colour of his enterprise in this sort Whilest Agerinus deliuered his message Anicetus let fall a sword betweene his legs and as it were taking him in the manner as though he had come to kill the Prince commaundeth him to be cast in prison that he might make the world beleeue that the mother had pretended her sonnes death and killed her selfe for shame that the plot was discouered In the meane season Agrippinaes danger being spread abroad as though it had hapned by chance euery man as he vnderstoode it ranne to the sea shore some clammered vp the sea dammes some gate into the next boates some waded as farre as they could into the sea some stretched out their hands to her The coast was filled with complaints vowes and cries of such as either asked diuers questions or answered doubtfully And a great multitude flocked thither with torches who vnderstanding that she was
ensignes and marched on ouerthrew such as encountered them and thrust them among their owne fires Which being done they placed garrisons in their townes and cut down their woods which through their execrable superstitions among them were reckoned holie For they accounted it lawfull to offer sacrifice at their altars with the blood of captiues and aske counsell of their gods by the aspect of mans intrailes and fibres Newes came to Suetonius as he atchieued this enterprise of a sudden rebellion of the Prouince Prasutagus King of the Icenians verie famous for his riches a long time gotten made Caesar with two of his daughters his heire by will thinking that by that flatterie his kingdome and house should haue beene warranted from iniurie which fell out otherwise for his kingdome by Centurions his house by slaues was wasted spoiled as lawfull booties And to begin withall his wife Boudicea was whipped his daughters defloured And the chiefest of the Icenians as though they had receiued the whole nation for a pray were dispossessed of al their ancient inheritance the Kings kindred reputed as slaues By reason of which contumely feare of worse after that they were reduced into a forme of a prouince they take armes againe the Trinobantes being sturred to rebellion also others not yet broken to the yoke of seruitude by secret conspiracies had vowed to recouer their libertie bearing a bitter hatred against the old souldiers For those which were lately brought into the colonie of Camalodunum thrust out of their houses the auncient inhabitants tooke their liuings from them calling them captiues and slaues the new soldiers fauouring the insolent fiercenes of the old as well for likenesse and conformitie of life as hope of like licence Besides a temple erected in honor of Claudius of famous memory was an eye sore and an altar of perpetuall dominion ouer them and the Priests which were chosen vnder colour of religion wasted all the wealth of the inhabitants Neither did it seeme any hard matter to extirpate that colonie vndefensed and vnfortified which was not circumspectly foreseene by our captaines whilest they had a greater care of pleasure then good gouernment Amongst these things the image of Victorie set vp in Camalodunum fell downe without any apparant cause why and turned back as though it would giue place to the enemie And the women distempered with furie went singing that destruction was at hand And strange noises were heard in their court and the Theater gaue a sound like to a howling and a strange apparition in an arme of the sea was a foretelling of the subuersion of the colonie Further the Ocean bloudie in shew and dead mens bodies left after an ebbe as they brought hope to the Britaines so they droue the old soldiers into a feare who because Suetonius was farre off craued aide of Catus Decianus procurator He sent not aboue two hundred men and those badly armed and the number not great which was there before trusted to the franchise of the temple And those hindering which were confederates of the secret conspiracie troubled their deseignments for they neither made trench nor ditch nor sending away the old men and women and keeping the yong men only being as secure as it had beene in a full peace they were surprised with a multitude of barbarous people and all ouerthrowne and wasted with violence or consumed with fire the temple only excepted into which the souldiers had fled which also within two dayes was besieged and taken And the Britaine being thus conqueror and meeting with Paetus Cerealis Lieutenant of the ninth legion which came to succour them put to flight the legion and slew all the footemen Cerealis with the horsemen escaped to the campe and defended himselfe in the fortresses Through which ouerthrow and hate of the prouince driuen to take armes through the auarice of the Romaines Catus the procurator being afraid sailed to Gallia But Suetonius with wonderfull constancie passing euen among the enemies went on to London not greatly famous by the name of a colonie but for concourse of Merchants and prouision of all things necessary of great fame and renowme and being come thither stoode doubtfull whether he should choose that for the seate of warre or not and considering the small store of souldiers he had and how Petilius had well payed for his rashnes he determined with the losse of one towne to preserue the rest whole Neither was he won by weeping and teares to giue aide to such as demaunded it but gaue signe of remouing and receiued such as followed as part of his armie If imbecillitie of sexe or wearisomnes of age or pleasantnes of the place kept any back they were all put to the sword by the enemie The free towne of Verulamium receiued the like ouerthrow because the barbarians forsaking their Castels and forts and being well manned spoiled the richest and fattest and carrying it to a sure place glad of the bootie went on to places more notable It is certaine there were slaine in those places I haue spoken of to the number of seuentie thousand citizens and confederates Neither did they sell or take any one prisoner or vse any entercourse of traffick of warre but kill hang burne crucifie as though they would requite the measure they had suffered and as it were in the meane time hasten to anticipate reuenge XI Suetonius vanquished the Britaines vvhich Boudicea conducted her stoutnes and death NOw Suetonius hauing with him the foureteenth legion with the Standard bearers of the twentith and the aides from places adioyning which came all to the number almost of ten thousand armed men resolued to lay aside all delay and trie the chaunce of a maine battell And chooseth a place with a narrow entrance and inclosed behinde with a wood being well assured that he had no enimies but before him and that the plaine was wide without feare of ambush The legionarie souldier then marshalled togither in thicke and close rankes and the light harnessed closely about them the horsemen made the wings But the Britaines forces triumphed abroade in troupes and companies by such multitudes that the like had not beene seene and of such fiercenes of courage that they brought their wiues with them and placed them in carts in the vtmost parts of the plaine as witnesses of the victorie Boudicea hauing her daughters by her in a chariot now going to one now to another Told them that the Britaines were woont to make warre vnder the conduct of women But at that time not as though she had descended of such noble auncestors she sought neither for kingdome nor wealth but a reuenge as one of the common people of their lost libertie of her bodie beaten with stripes and the chastitie of her daughters violated That the desire of the Romaines was growen to that passe that they left none of what age soeuer nor any virgin vndefiled Neuertheles that the gods fauored iust reuenge
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
yet remember Agrippina exiled by Tiberius and Iulia banished by Claudius was fresher in memorie but both besides the strength of age had tasted of some pleasure and comforted their present cruell hap with the remembrance of a better estate Vnto this woman her first day of marriage was in stead of a graue being brought into a house in which she could finde nothing but what was dolefull and lamentable her father poisoned and her brother anon after Then the maid greater then the mistres and Poppaea married for no other end but to ruine her and last of all a crime obiected more grieuous then any death But this yong princesse of the age of twentie yeeres being betweene the Centurions and souldiers as it were alreadie depriued of life with the presage of so many miseries yet could not yeeld to death A few daies after she was commanded to be put to death although she protested she was no wife but a widow only and a sister of the Emperours calling to Germanicus ghost to aid her and Agrippinaes likewise in whose lifetime she should indeede haue indured an vnhappie marriage but without danger of death Notwithstanding she was shut vp in prison and all the vaines of her bodie opened but because the bloud stopped with feare issued forth slowly she was killed with the vapor of a very hot bath And a deadlier crueltie also added that Poppaea saw her head cut off and brought to the city for all which it was decreed that gifts should be offered in the temples Which we haue vttered that who soeuer shall either by vs or other writers vnderstand the euents of those times may be assured that as oft as the Prince commaunded either banishment or murder so oft thanks were giuen to the gods and those things which in times past were marks of prosperitie were then badges of publick calamitie Yet neuertheles we will not hold our toong if any decree of Senat hath beene ordained new and strange by flattery or by base and abiect sufferance The same yeere it was thought he empoisoned his chiefest freed men Doryphorus as being against Poppaeas marriage and Pallas because he kept from him infinite wealth by liuing too long Romanus by secret informations accused Seneca as a confederate of Pisoes but he was touched more neere the quick by Seneca for the same fault which droue Piso into a feare and that commencement of great but vnprosperous treasons against Nero. THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Vologeses King of Parthia crovvned King of Armenia by his brother Tiridates is hindered by Corbulo to enioye it and expulsed by Tigranes WHilest these things thus passed Vologeses King of the Parthians vnderstanding what successe Corbulo had in his affaires and how Tiridates his brother being expulsed and Tigranes a stranger made King of Armenia resolued to reuenge the contempt offered the greatnes of the Arsacides yet considering the great power of the Romans and alliance a long time continued was diuersly perplexed as one of his owne disposition slow and lingering and then intangled with many warres by the reuolt of the Hyrcanians a strong and mightie nation And as he thus wauered he was further exasperated by the newes of fresh iniurie for Tigranes gone out of Armenia had wasted and spoiled the Adiabenians a nation bordering farther and longer than any rodes of enemies heretofore Which grieued not a little the chiefe noble men of that nation that they were growen to that contempt that they should be forraged and robbed not of a Roman Captaine but by the rashnes of an hostage so manie yeeres held and esteemed no better than a bond-slaue Monobazus gouernour of the Adiabenians augmented their griefe asking them what remedie or from whence Armenia was alreadie gone and the countrey adioyning would goe shortly after and vnlesse the Parthians would defend them those which yeelded to the Romans should find an easier seruitude then those which were taken Tiridates chased out of the kingdome by silence complayning not a little was no small griefe telling them that great Empires were not maintained by cowardlines but they must trie the valour both of men and armes For among great Princes he seemed to haue most reason and right who had most strength And it was the praise of priuate houses to keepe their owne but the glorie of a King to warre for other nations Vologeses being mooued with these speeches calleth a Councell and placed Tiridates hard by him and thus began This man borne of the same father that I am hauing yeelded vnto me the name of the King in regard I am his elder I did put in possession of Armenia which is reckoned the third part of my kingdome For the Medes Pacorus had before possessed making account that in so doing I had taken away the inueterate hatred which raigneth between brothers and fully setled the state of our familie The Romans hinder this and now breake the peace also to their owne ruine which they neuer yet disturbed but to their owne destruction I will not deny but I had rather hold things gotten by my ancestors by equitie then blood by reason then armes If I haue offended by lingering I will amend it with valour Your strength and glorie is intire with fame of modestie which neither ought to be contemned of the highest and is esteemed of the gods Hauing thus said he put the Diademe on Tiridates head and gaue Moneses a noble gentleman a gallant companie of horsemen which vsually followed the King and withall the aide of the Adiabenians and commaunded Tigranes to be chased out of Armenia Whilest he pacifiying the sedition of the Hyrcanians draweth his whole forces togither and vtmost power of warre threatning the Roman Prouinces Whereof Corbulo being aduertised by certaine messengers sendeth two legions with Verulanus Seuerus and Vectius Bolanus to aide Tigranes with a secret charge they should proceed rather orderly and aduisedly then hastily for he had rather entertaine than make warre And wrote to Caesar that it was needfull to haue a Captaine of purpose to defende Armenia and that Syria by Vologeses approach was in greater danger And in the meane time he lodgeth the rest of the legions by the banke Euphrates leuieth and armeth in haste a power of the countrey people and intercepteth the enimies passages with a garrison And bicause the countrey is scarce of water he fortified hard by the fountaines couered certain small brookes with mounds of sand Whilest Corbulo vsed this preparatiō for the defence of Syria Moneses because he would preuent the rumour of his comming marched with all speed but yet found not Tigranes vnaduertised or vnprouided who had put himselfe into Tigranocerta a verie strong towne well manned and walled Besides this the riuer Nicephorius of a reasonable breadth enuironeth part of the wals and a huge ditch cast in length where the riuer was distrusted as not sufficient There were souldiers within to man it and prouision of necessaries for conueiyng
affirmed he found no signes of feare in him nor token of sadnes in words or countenance and thereupon he was cōmanded to go back giue him warning he should die Fabius Rusticus doth report that he returned not the same way he came but turned aside to Fenius the captaine and hauing imparted vnto him Caesars commandement asked him whether he should obey it or not who aduised him to do his commandement which was a cowardlines fatall vnto them all for Siluanus was one of the conspirators and was now a furtherer of the crueltie to whose reuenge he had before consented yet he spared both his toong and presence and sent to Seneca one of the Centurions to denounce him the last necessitie He nothing amazed called for his testament and the Centurion denying it turned to his friends and said That seeing he was not suffered to requite their merites he protested he left them yet one thing which of all other he held most precious which was the patterne of his life of which if they were mindfull they should carry away the fame of good learning and of so constant friendship Withall hindereth their teares now with speech now more earnestly as it were rebuking them and calling them back to constancie Asking where were the precepts of wisedome where the resolution so many yeares premeditated against imminent dangers vnto whome was Neroes crueltie vnknowne neither did there remaine any thing to be done after he had murdered his mother and his brother but that he should adde the death of his bringer vp and maister When he had discoursed this or the like as it were in generall he imbraced his wife and hauing somwhat confirmed her against present feare prayeth intreateth her to temper her griefe lament no longer but in the contemplation of her former life spent in vertue beare the lack of her husband with honest comforts She on the contrary side assured him that she was resolued to dye and demaundeth the hand of the executioner Then Seneca loth to hinder her glory and deerely louing her least he should leaue her whome so tenderly he affectioned to the iniuries of others sayd I had taught the comforts of life but thou haddest rather the glory of death I will not enuie thy example let there be of this so short a death an equall constancie in both but thy renowme will be farre greater After which words they both cut the vaines of their armes at one time Seneca because his old bodie and leane with a slender diet gaue the bloud slow passage cut also the vaines of his legs and hams and being wearied with cruell torments least he should discourage his wife with his griefe and himselfe descend to impatiencie by seeing the torment she indured perswadeth her to go into another chamber And in the very last moment his eloquence not failing him calling some to dictat his speech deliuered many things which published in his owne words I purpose not to alter or change with other termes But Nero hauing no peculiar hatred against Paullina least the odiousnes of his crueltie should grow greater commaundeth her death to be hindered Whereupon her bonde and freede men at the souldiers commaundement bound her armes and stopt the bloud But whether she knew it or not is vncertaine for the common people being alwaies readie to speake the worst there wanted not some which beleeued that as long as she feared Nero to be implacable she sought to haue the glory of accompanying her husbands death then a milder hope offered that she was ouercome with the sweetenes of life vnto which she added a few yeeres after with a lawdable memorie towards her husband but her face and other parts of her bodie were growne so pale and wan that it easily appeared her vitall spirits were much diminished Seneca the meane time perceiuing himselfe to linger and pine away with a long death intreateth Statius Annaeus his knowne friend and expert Phisition to giue him of that poison with which the condemned by publick iudgement at Athens are put to death whereof long before he had made prouision which being brought him he dranke in vaine the parts of his bodie alreadie cold the conduits stopped against the force of poison In the end he went into a bath of hot water and sprinkling his slaues next about him saying That he offered vp that liquor to Iupiter the deliuerer Then put into the bath and with the vapour of it hauing yeelded vp the ghost was burnt without any funerall solemnitie as he had commaunded in his last will when very rich and in authoritie he disposed of his minde The report was that Subrius Flauius with the Centurions in secret counsell yet not without Senecaes priuitie had determined that after Nero should haue been slaine by the help of Piso Piso should also haue been slaine and the Empire deliuered Seneca as one iust and vpright chosen to that high authoritie only for the excellencies of his vertues yea and Flauius owne words were published to be these It skilleth not for the shame of the matter if a minstrell be remoued and an actor in a tragedie succeede him for as Nero had sung with the instrument so Piso in tragicall attire XV. Many souldiers punished Fenius death Flauius Subrius and Sulpitius Afers answere to Nero. THe conspiracie of the souldiers could be no longer kept close the detecters being very eager to bewray Fenius Rufus whom they could not indure should both be of counsell to the plot and an examiner of others Therefore vrging and threatning * Sceuinus shewing himselfe obstinate told him that no man knew more then himselfe and exhorted him that he would shew himselfe willing to requite so good a Prince Fenius could neither answere this nor hold his toong but entangling himselfe in his owne words shewed a manifest feare and the rest but especially Ceruarius Proculus a gentleman laboring all they could to conuict him by commandement of the Emperour Cassius a souldier which stoode by and was of exceeding strength of bodie laid hold on him and bound him Not long after by their appeaching Subrius Flauius Tribune was ouerthrowne first alleaging the dissimilitude of his maners and life for his defence and that he being a man of armes would neuer in so dangerous an enterprise associate himselfe with vnarmed effeminate persons after that farther prest imbracing the glory of confession and demaunded of Nero for what reasons he had proceeded so farre as to forget his oath I hated thee quoth he neither was there any of the souldiers more faithfull vnto thee then I whilest thou deseruedst to be loued I began to hate thee after thou becamest a parricide of thy mother and wife a wagoner a stage-player and a setter of houses a fire I haue reported his very words because they were not published as Senecaes were neither was it lesse conuenient to know the vnpolished but waightie words of this souldier It is certaine there hapned nothing in all that
for matter committed in the Proconsulship of Asia in which he augmented the displeasure the Prince bare him for iustice and industrie and because he had beene very carefull in opening the hauen of the Ephesians and had left vnpunished the violence of the citie Pergamena which hindring Acratus Caesars freed man to carry away their images and pictures But the fault indeede laid to his charge was his friendship with Plautus and ambition in alluring the prouince to new hopes The time chosen to condemne him was when Tiridates came to take the kingdome of Armenia that domesticall wickednes might be obscured and hidden with the rumors of the strangers arriuing or else that he might shew the greatnes of an Emperour by the death of worthie men as a royall act Whereupon all the citie being run out to receiue the Prince and behold the King Thrasea forbidden to go to meete him lost not courage therefore but wrote to Nero demaunding his accusations boldly affirming that he would purge himselfe if he might haue knowledge of the crimes and licence to cleere them These writings Nero receiued very greedily in hope that Thrasea being terrified and deiected would haue written somewhat sounding to the magnificencie and excellencie of the Prince and discredit of his owne reputation which falling out otherwise fearing the countenance and courage and libertie of the innocent commaunded the Lords of the Senate to be assembled Then Thrasea consulted with his friends whether he should aduenture his purgation or let it passe Those which thought it best he should enter into the Senat house said they were assured of his constancie and that he would say nothing but what should augment his glory Cowardly and timorous men did shut themselues in secret places at the time of their death The people should see a man offering himselfe to death the Senate should heare words more then humane as it were of some diuine power that Nero himselfe might also be moued with the miracle but if his crueltie should continue certes the memorie of an honorable death should be distinguished with posteritie from the cowardlines of such as perished with silence Contrarywise such as thought it conuenient to expect within dores what might happen said the same of Thrasea But yet that skoffes and iniuries were at hand he should therefore withdraw his eares from checks and reprochfull speeches not only Cossutianus and Eprius are prompt to naughtines some there are which peraduenture would let their hand walke and strike through the crueltie * of Augustus yea the good do the like for feare That he would rather deliuer the Senat whom he had alwaies honored of the infamie of so great a villanie and leaue it doubtfull what hauing seene Thrasea the Lordes of the Senate would determine That Nero should be ashamed of his wickednes was to trouble himselfe with a vaine hope and that it was much more to be feared least he should grow cruell against his wife his familie and the rest of his children Therefore that vndefiled and vncorrupted whose steps and studies he had imitated in his life theirs also he should follow in the honor of his death There was present at this consultation Rusticus Arulenus Tribune of the people a hot yongman who for desire of praise offered to oppose himselfe to the decree of Senate Thrasea coold his courage Least he should begin a vaine enterprise vnprofitable to the criminall and dangerous to the opposer As for himselfe he had ended his yeeres and that he ought not forsake the manner of his life so many yeeres continued but he entred now into offices and was in his choise to accept or refuse such as are behind That he should waigh well and ponder with himselfe what course of gouerning he should enter into of taking charge in the common wealth in such a time as this Whether it were fit for him to come into the Senate or not he would haue it rest in his owne consideration VI. Thraseas accusation and death THe next day two armed Pretorian cohorts beset the Temple of Venus the mother the waies to the Senate a companie of gownd-men had filled not hiding their weapons and a thicke aray of souldiers dispersed in the place of assemblies and Temples amidst whose lookes and threats the Senators went into the court where the Princes oration was heard by his Quaestors mouth None noted by name he blamed the Senators That they neglected publicke duties and that by their example the gentlemen of Rome were become lazie For what maruell was it if from Prouinces farre off they came not to Rome when as the most part hauing obtained the Consulship and priestly dignities gaue themselues rather to passe the time withall pleasures in their gardens Which the accusers tooke hold of as it were of a weapon And Cossutianus leading the daunce and Marcellus with greater vehemencie Cried that this touched the whole state that through the disobedience of the inferiours the lenitie of the commaunder was made lesser The Lords of the Senate vntill that day had beene too milde in suffering Thrasea to forsake their side his sonne in law Heluidius Priscus in the same madnes Paconius Agrippinus heire of his fathers hatred against Princes and Curtius Montanus composing destable verses to scoffe and abuse men without punishment He found a lacke of a Consull in the Senate of a priest in vowes in an oath a citizen but against the ordinances and ceremonies of our auncestors Thrasea had openly put on the person of a traitour and an enemie Finally that he should come and play the Senator and as he was wont protect the backbiters of the Prince and giue his censure what he would haue amended or chaunged for they could more easilie endure one finding fault with all things then endure his silence now condemning all things Doth peace throughout the world displease him or victories without losse of the armies That they would not suffer him haue the desire of his ouerthwart ambition who grieued at the common prosperitie thought the place of assemblies the Theater and Temples solitarie places and threatned his owne banishment These things vnto him seemed not decrees not magistrates nor this the citie of Rome that he would abandon and separate his life from that citie whose loue in time past and now whose sight he had cast off When with these and the like speeches Marcellus had inueighed grim and threatning in voice countenance and eies kindled with rage not that knowen and by often vse of daungers vsuall heauines but a new and a deeper feare seased the Lords of the Senate beholding the hands and weapons of the souldiers Besides that the reuerent representation of Thrasea came to their imagination and some there were which had compassion that Heluidius should suffer punishment in regard of harmelesse affinitie What was obiected against Agrippinus but the lamentable fortune of his father When as he innocent also was ruined by Tiberius crueltie Montanus a vertuous yoong man was
childe but in the face of the enimie and against armed men atchieued his enterprises And that the ensignes which he had taken from the Romans were to be seene in the woods of Germanie offered vp in honour of their countrey gods Let Segestes inhabite the conquered banks and restore his sonne to his priestlie dignitie that the Germans coulde neuer excuse it that the Romans haue beene seene to beare their roddes their axes and gownes betweene Abbis and Rhene Other nations being strangers to the Romane gouernment could speak nothing of their cruell punishments and grieuous tributes and seeing they had shaken off those burdens and that that Augustus whom they placed among the gods and Tiberius chosen after him lost their labour they shoulde not feare an vnexperienced yoong man nor his mutinous companie If they preferred their countrey their kindred their auncient life before newe lordes and newe colonies they should rather follow Arminius protector of their glory and libertie then Segestes the author of reprochfull seruitude These speeches incensed not only the Cheruscians but the neighbors adioyning also and drew Inguiomerus a man once in credit with the Romans and vncle to Arminius by the fathers side to their partie which increased Caesars feare the more And therefore least the whole waight of the warre should at once fall vpon him he sent Caecinna with fortie cohorts of Romanes to seauet the power of the enemie through the Bructeries countrey to the riuer of Amisia Pedo the Camp-maister had the conducting of the horsemen by Frisia himselfe embarqued foure legions and lead them through the lakes all the horsemen footemen and the whole nauie meeting together at the said riuer and receiued the Chauceans among them who had promised them ayde The Bructeri burning their owne countrey Stertinius ouerthrew with a companie of light harnessed souldiers sent against them by Germanicus and found betweene the slaughter and the bootie the banner of the nineteenth legion which was lost with Varus From thence the armie marched to the vtmost confines of the Bructeri all the countrey wasted betwixt the riuer Amisia and Luppia not farre from the forest Tentoburgh where the reliques of the legions which Varus lead were reported to lye vnburied Whereupon Caesar had a great desire to celebrate the captaines and souldiers funerals all the armie moued to compassion some calling to minde their kinsfolks some their friends and some in consideration of the hazards of warre and the slipperie estate of man subiect vnto fortunes change And hauing sent Caecina before to search out the secret places of the forest and cast bridges and causeyes ouer the moist and deceiptful passages of the bogs they marched those dolefull wayes yrksome to behold and dreadfull to remember Varus first encamping seate by the large circuit of ground it contained and dimensions of the Principia did shew that the inclosure was capable of three legions then by a rampire halfe broken downe and a shallow trench they perceiued where the ouertoyled remnant was retired In the middle of the field lay white bones either scattered or on a heape as they had eyther resisted or fled hard by trouncheons of weapons and horses ribs and before them mens heads fastened vpon the bodies of trees In the woods were their barbarous altars on which they sacrificed the Tribunes and chiefe Centurions Those which escaped aliue or broke prison after the butchery tould that here the Liutenants were slaine there the standards taken where Varus receiued his first wound where with his owne vnluckie hand he slew himselfe On what Tribunall Armin ius made his oration How many gibbets he had set vp for captiues and what ditches and with what prowde disdaine he skoffed at the ensignes and standarts The Romanes then which were present sixe yeares after the slaughter oppressed with griefe yet more then euer kindled with rage against the enemie couered with earth the bones of the three legions as if they had been all their friends or kindred howbeit it was vncertaine whether they buried the stranger or friend Caesar to shew a gratefull memory of the dead and himselfe to be partaker of their griefe with his owne hands put the first turfe on their tombes which Tiberius misliked either as construing all Germanicus actions to the worst or because the sight of the dead vnburied would make the souldiers more fearefull of the enemie and lesse forward to fight and because a Generall honored with the Augurall dignitie and deuoted to most ancient ceremonies ought not to meddle in mortuaries But Germanicus pursuing Arminius alreadie crept into inaccessible places as soone as he found conueniencie thrust his horsemen on him and recouered the field which the enemie occupied Arminius gathered his men together and commaunding them to draw neere the wood turned short on the sudden and gaue them the watch-word which he had hidden there before to breake out Whereat the horsemen amazed and the cohorts sent for a supplie borne backe with those which fled augmenting their feare were almost thrust into the bogs well knowne to the conquerors and dangerous to the Romanes had not Caesar come on with the legions in battell aray Which stroke a terror into the enemie and assured the courage of the souldier both the armies in the end parting on euen hand Anon after the armie being brought to the riuer Amisia he conducted the fleete and the legions back againe in the same manner they came thither Some of the horsemen were commaunded to returne to the riuer of Rhene still coasting the Ocean shore Caecina who conducted another companie although he was skilfull in the wayes yet was charged to returne with all diligence by the long bridges which was a narrow causey betwixt wide marishes throwne vp in times past by L. Domitius The rest of the countrey was miry and full of fast binding clay with some doubtfull brookes Round about were woods ascending little and little which Arminius had filled by a neerer way and light armie preuenting the Romans loden with armour and carriages Caecina doubting how he should at once repaire those bridges alreadie decayed with age and driue back the enemie thought it best to encamp in the same place that whilest some were fortifying others might skirmish with the enemie The barbarians vsed all force to breake the wardes and make way to the trench-makers set on them compassed them in ranne from place to place leauing nothing vndone to disturb them The laborers and the fighters made one confuse cry nothing prospering on the Romans side The place was nothing but a deepe mire not firme to tread on and slipperie to march the waight of their corselets an hinderance and they vnable to launce their iauelins in the waters Contrarily the Cheruscians being a great limmed people and accustomed to fight in bogs were with huge speares able to hurt a farre off To be briefe the night deliuered the legions from an vnluckie battell The Germaines through prosperous successe nothing wearied but