being then a Youth and of a private Fortune had corrupted the Veteran Troops with Bribes and Donatives had rais'd an Army and debauch'd the Legions of Decimus Brutus then Consul under colour of reconciliation with Pompey's party that after he had extorted from the Senate the Ornaments and Authority of a Praetor and seiz'd on the Troops which had been commanded by Hirtius and Pansa newly slain i In the War of Modena against Anthony Hirtius and Pansa were Consuls and Augustus commanded there in quality of Propraetor Anthony was forc'd to fly and leave Italy either by the Enemy or by the Treason of this young Caesar for Pansa was thought to have been brought to his end by an envenom'd Plaister apply'd to his wound and Hirtius was slain by the hands of his own Soldiers he caused himself to be created Consul in spight of the Senate and had turn'd those arms against the Common-Wealth which he had taken up against Anthony The Proscription of so many Citizens was charg'd on him and the division of the Lands k That is That these Lands belonging to the Community could not be given to private Persons much less to the Soldiers without wronging the Publick disapprov'd even by those to whom they fell The Death of Cassius and the two Bruti l Marcus and Decimus Brutus of whom the first kill'd himself as I have already said and the other was killed by the command of Anthony A punishment he justly deserved for his ingratitude towards Caesar whom he was so hardy as to Murther at the same time he received favours from him He envy'd says Paterculus the Fortune of him who had made his and after having taken away the Life of Caesar he thought it no injustice to keep the Estate he had received from him Hist. lib. 2. Chap. 64. 'T is fit to observe by the way that of all the Murtherers of Caesar who were sixty in number there was not one of them who did not die a Violent Death nor did any of them out-live him more than three years must indeed be own'd for a just Vengeance on the Murderers of his Father m Hoc opus haec pietas haec prima elementa fuerunt Caesaris ulcisci justa per arma patrem Ovid. l. 3. Fast. Cato the Censor meeting a Young Man who came for a Decree to disgrace one of his Father's greatest Enemies See there says he how a well-bred Child ought to offer sacrifice to the Memory of his Father though still it had been more glorious for him to have sacrific'd his private hatred to the Publick Interest But the younger Pompey had been unworthily betray'd under the shadow of a pretended Peace and Lepidus by a dissembled Friendship Anthony sooth'd and lull'd asleep by the Treaties of Tarentum and Brundusium and by his Marriage with the Sister of Augustus had paid with his Life the forfeit of that fraudulent Alliance After this a Peace was of necessity to ensue but it was a bloody Peace and infamous for the punishment of the Varro's the Egnatii n Rufus Egnatius who according to Paterculus was in every thing more like a Gladiator than a Senator having form'd a Cabal of Men like himself he resolved to kill Augustus but his design succeeded no better than Lucius Murena's and Fannius Caepio's He was punished with the Accomplices of his Treason by such a Death as his detestable Life deserved and the Iulii of Rome to which succeeded the Defeats of Lollius o Marcus Lollius according to Paterculus was more careful to enrich himself than to do his duty and Varus p Quintilius Varus a Peaceable Man but heavy and more fit to command an Army in time of Peace than to make War He was so imprudent says Florus Book 4. Chap 12. as to assemble the Germans in the midst of his Camp to do them justice as if he had been able to restrain the Violence of these barbarous People with a Serpent's Wand He imagined saith Paterculus that they were plain honest People who had little more than the Shape and voice of Men and whom he could civilize by mild Laws and tame by the Forms of Iustice those who could not be subdued by the force of Arms. Segestes gave him notice of the intended revolt of Arminius but he would not believe it thinking the Germans had as much good will for him as he had for them In the mean time his Army is Surpris'd and Massacred by people whom they butcher'd before like Sheep Poor Varus more couragious to die than fight stab'd himself in Germany Neither did they spare his private Life in their discourses They reproach'd him for having forcibly taken from her Husband a Woman then with Child and for having made a Scoff of Religion by demanding of the Priests if it were lawful for him to espouse her before she was deliver'd 7 Princes often make Religion yield to their Interests whereas their Interests ought to give place to Religion Dispensations for marriages within the Degrees forbidden are become so common that 't is not any longer a matter of scruple to marry two Sisters or two Brothers Philip II. who according to Historians had so nice a Conscience was very near Marrying Elizabeth the Queen of England and Isabel the Queen-Dowager of France both his Sisters-in-Law and the latter also the Daughter of the Empress Mary his Sister and matching his Son Don Carlos with his other Sister Ioan the Princess-Dowager of Portugal alledging for a President Moses and Aaron who were the Sons of Amram by his Father's Sister Henry the Cardinal King of Portugal as devout a Priest and Arch-Bishop as he was at the age of 67 years was very earnest to obtain a Dispensation to marry the Duke of Braganza's Daughter who was but 13 years old Upon which Cabrera tells an odd Story that Don Duarte de Castelblanco advised Henry to marry and advised the Iesuits who govern'd him absolutely to make him take a Wife that was already with Child there being no hopes by reason of his Age and Infirmities that he could otherwise have Children Lib. 12. Chap. 14. Paul Piasecki saith that the Poles abhor incestuous Marriages and the Dispensations that permit them and that the Famous Iohn Zamoyski Great Chancellor of Poland who to his Death opposed the Marriage of Sigismund III. with Constance of Austria Sister to his former Wife Ann remonstrating to Clement VIII that such a Marriage was repugnant to common honesty and that the Polish Nation would never suffer this Decency to be Violated by his breeding Mares Insomuch that Sigismund was not able to procure the Dispensation he demanded till after the Death both of the Pope and the Chancellor In his Latin Chronicle ad An. 1604. I tremble saith Commines speaking of the Marriage of Ferrand King of Naples with the Sister of his own Father King Alphonso to speak of such a Marriage of which Nature there have already been several in
the following Night without Fires without Provisions and without Tents the greatest part of them all bruis'd and naked and more miserable than those who are surrounded by their Enemies because their Death was without Honour whereas the others were in a capacity of selling their Lives at a dear Rate and dying not ingloriously The return of Day restor'd them to dry Land and afforded them the means of retiring to the Rhine b The Latin hath the Weser but it ought there to have the Rhine where was the Winter Quarters of the Legions For Vitellius carried the two Legions into the Gaules whereas to have gained the Weser which was beyond the Ems had been to have carried them into Germany There is more reason to conclude that the word Visurgim is slipt in for Vidrum called now the Wecht which is one of the Mouths of the Rhine than to attribute this Error to Tacitus who always places the Weser where it is at this Day whither Germanicus had already brought his Forces The two Legions reimbark'd with him while the Rumour yet continu'd that they were lost which was obstinately believ'd till all the World had seen the return of Germanicus with his Army LXV During this Interval Stertinius was gone to receive Segimer the Brother of Segestes and brought him together with his Son into the City of the Ubians A Pardon was granted to both of them to the Father without any difficulty because he had surrender'd himself of his own free motion but more hardly to his Son because he was accus'd to have insulted the dead Body of Varus As for the rest Spain Gaul and Italy seem'd to vye with each other in sending Horses Arms and Silver to Germanicus to repair the Losses which his Army had sustain'd But he with high Praises of their Zeal accepted only of the Arms and Horses which he wanted to carry on the War being resolved to supply the Soldiers with his own Money And to efface wholly from their Memory the Thoughts of their late Suffering by his Kindness he visited the Wounded desir'd to see their Hurts commended every one in particular according to the Merits of his Service 1 Caresses and Praises are in stead of all Rewards to brave Men. Cardinal de Richelieu saith That Henry the Fourth being under an extream Necessity paid his Servants with good Words and made them do Things with his Caresses upon which his Weakness permitted him not to put them by other ways Pol. Test. part 1. c. 6. some he inflam'd with desire of Honour others with the hopes of Riches In short whether by his Affability or the Care which he took of them he won them all to be at his Devotion and ready to follow him in any Danger LXVI In the same Year the Triumphal Ornaments were decreed to his Lieutenants Aulus Cecina Lucius Apronius and Caius Silius Tiberius reâ—us'd the Title of Father of his Country c Sueton saith That he resolutely refused the Title of Father of the Country and the Senates swearing to his Acts for fear lest one Day they should think him unworthy of two so great Honours Ne mox majore dedecore impar tantis honoribus inveniretur which the People were often desirous to have given him nor even would permit that they should take their Oaths upon his 1 There is no Prince so wise saith Commines who doth not sometimes fail and very often if he lives long and thus would it be found in their Actions if Truth had been always spoken of them Lib. 5. cap. 13. Acts d It was an Oath which the Magistrates took to hold for well done whatsoever the Prince should do during his Reign They renewed it every Year on the First of Ianuary It was by this Oath that the Romans open'd the Gap to Slavery for to ratifie and to hold for Authentick whatsoever the Prince should please to ordain was to put an Arbitrary Power into his Hands and to banish Liberty Lewis the Eleventh seemed to exact a like Oath when he said That none ought ever to withstand the Prince's Will no not when he was out of his Wits many times repeating these words That there was nothing stable in this Life and that the more he was exalted the more in danger of a Fall 2 This Doctrine can never be too much inculcated on Princes who for the most part presume much on their Power Would to God that each Prince in the course of his Reign might only meet with such a Minister or a Confident as he was who said to Philip the Second Sir Be moderate acknowledge God on Earth as well as in Heaven lest he grow weary of Monarchies and provoked by the Abuse which Kings make of their Power in usurping his he give another form of Government to the World Anthony Perez in one of his Spanish Letters It was very strange Discourse in the Mouth of a Pope Paul the Fourth who told the Cardinals That he would make his Memory immortal by the Dominions which he would give his Family according to the Grandeur of the Pontisicate by virtue of which he had Emperours and Kings at his Feet Cabrera's Hist. l. 2. c. 2. But this affected Modesty of his gain'd him not a better Opinion with the People for he had lately revived the Law of High-Treason for Offences committed against the Person or Dignity of the Prince which 't is granted had the same Name in the Times of our Fore-Fathers but was not of the same Extent 3 Bad Princes turn all Offences into new Articles of Treason to render them unpardonable under a pretence of not going against Reason of State If any one had betray'd his General in War or rais'd Sedition or dishonour'd the Majesty of the Roman People in the publick Exercises of his Function he was attainted for a Crime of State Actions were punishable but Words were free Augustus was the first who comprehended Libels within the Cognizance of the Law being provok'd by the Petulancy of Cassius Severus who had deâ—am'd in his Writing Men and Women of the highest Quality 4 A wise Prince ought not to suffer those Satyrical Writers to go unpunished who make a Trade to bespatter the Reputation of great Men of Magistrates and of private Persons The Prince who suffers them draws upon himself the Hatred of those who find themselves injured by these Verses Portraitures and secret Histories wherewith they feed or rather poison the Publick Iam saevus aportam In rabiem verti coepit jocus per honestas Ire domos impune minax Hor. Ep. l. 2. ep 1. It was perhaps none of the least of the good Actions of Pope Sixtus the Fifth in punishing that Poet whom he sent to the Galleys for a Sonnet which he made on an Advocate 's Wife wherein whose Name he made to rhime with the word Putana notwithstanding she was of an unblemished Life A Punishment to which this Pope condemned him
to be a good Horseman The Polanders who much resemble the Parthians could never endure a King that was not a good Horseman It is well known how much they contemn'd their King Michael Wisniovecki passing thro' the Cities in a Litter and contemning the Parthian Feasts They made a Iest of the Graecians which he had in his Train and at the â—ealing of the Meanest Utensils of his House But his easie access and his affable way being Virtues that the Parthians were unacquainted with passed for new Vices and they equally hated what was good as what was bad in him because it was contrary to their Customs 7 A Prince who comes to govern a Foreign Country will never be agreeable to his New Subjects if he doth not conform himself to their Manners at least in the beginning of his Reign Those Virtues with which they are unacquainted will appear Vices to them if he hath not the address to accommodate himself for a while to their Vices as if they were Virtues Italas King of the Cheraschi gain'd the Affection of his people in making a Debauch sometimes although he was born at Rome and had been trained up in Maxims directly opposite to those of the Barbarians Charles V. according to the report of Strada had such a Command of his temper that he changed his Manners as easily as his Residence living after the German fashion in Germany after the Italian in Italy after the Spanish in Spain and every where as much belov'd as he was in â—landers the Country where he was born On the contrary Philip II by so much affecting to be and appear Spanish to the whole World render'd himselâ— intolerable to the English and odious to the Netherlands who had been a long time accustomed to the Affable and Popular humour of Charles V. Commines saith that a Prince who goes into a strange Countrey had need be wise to guard every side ch 3. lib. 6. III. Wherefore they call in Artabanus one of the Blood of the Arsacidae educated amongst the Dahae who having been defeated in the first Battel raiseth new Forces and Dispossesseth Vonones who fled into Armenia where he found an empty Throne and a Nation fluctuating betwixt the Parthian and the Roman Power 1 A Prince whose Dominions are situated betwixt two Neighbours stronger than himself is always forc'd to side with the most Powerful or the most Successful of them Now as the Romans and the Parthians were almost equal in strength as I have before observ'd and because Fortune favoured sometimes one and sometimes the other multa Romanis secunda quaedam Parthis evenisse damnis mutuis Armenia which equally depended on each of them for the Romans had the Sovereignty of it in Right but the Parthians in possession espous'd the Interests of That of these two Empires which it feared most being perpetually divided betwixt Obedience and Revolt ever since the Perfidious Act of Anthony who after he had under colour of Friendship invited Artavasdes King of Armenia to come to him put him in Chains h But in chains of Gold saith Patercuius to do the greater Honour to the Royal Character Regeâ— Armeniae Arâ—avasden fraude deceptum catenis sed ne quid honori deesset aureis vinxit Hist. 2. Argenteis catenis vinxit saith Diâ— quia nimirum turpe erat Regem ferreis in catenis haberi Lib. 49. This King had contributed much to the ill success of Anthony's Expedition against the Parthians and at last to Death 2 It is saith Commines a great Folly in a Prince to put himself in the Power of another especially when they are in War or there is any quarrel betwixt them and it is a great Advantage to Princes to have read Histories where there are instances of such Interviews and of the great Treachery that some of the Ancients have used towards one another having seized and Assassinated those who have trusted to such a security The Example of one is sufficient to make many Wise by it and to take care of themselves Chap. 6. Lib. 2. of his Memoirs whose Son Artaxias resenting our base Usage of his Fatheâ— enter'd into an Alliance with the Arsacidae against us with whose assistance he defended himself and his Kingdom until he was assassinated by the Treachery of his own Kindred After which Augustus gave this Kingdom to Tigranes i Brother to Artaxias who was put in possession of it by Tiberius Nero. But he had no long reign nor his Children after him although they according to their Custom k In the East the Brother and Sister marry'd together and reign'd in common There are several Examples in the Families of the Pâ—olâ—my'â— of Aegypt Dio saith that Cleopatra was marry'd to her Eldest Brother Ptolâ—my and Arsinoe to another Ptolomy her Younger Brother were united by Enter-marriages and Partnership in Government Artavasdes succeeded next by the appointment of Augustus and was afterwards dispossess'd but it cost us dear IV. Hereupon the settling of the Affairs of Armenia was committed to Caius Caesar l The Son of Agrippa who plac'd on the Throne Ariobarzanes of Medish extraction the Armenians consenting to it he being a Person of a Majestick Presence 1 A good Meen and fine Shape are not always indications of the Merits of the Persons but they serve at least to impose on the People all whose Iudgment lies in their Eyes So that it is not without reason that Princes take so much care to have a good outside for every one sees their Bodies and very few their Minds Cabrera saith that the first time that the Queens Mary and Eleanor Sisters to Charles V. saw Philip Prince of Spain he appeared of small stature in their Eyes which had been accustomed to the sight of Germans As if Man's Body saith he were a Cage which by being too little or too strait could not lodge the Soul for which the whole Earth is not a Quarry large enough Ch. 3. Lib. 1. of his History Don Iohn Antonio de Vera mentions a Law of King Don Alonso el Sabio the same who compiled the Customary which they call las Partidas by which he recommended to the Kings of Castile to marry none but handsom well-shap'd Women that their Children might be handsome and well-shap'd which is of great importance to the Sons of Kings The same Author adds that the Ambassadors of Poland who brought to the Duke of Anâ—ou the Decree of his Election told him that he was obliged for it in part to his Good Presence and his Charming Meen In the second Discourse of his Ambassador His Sister Queen Margaret said that Beauty which gives a Grace to every action did shine in him to that Degree that it seemed to vie with his good Fortune which of the two should make him most glorious Lib. 1. of his Memoirs and of great Endowments of Mind but he dying suddenly they would not admit his Children to succeed him but were
O. Occâ—a the Superiour of the Vestals 284 Octavius Father of Augustus both die in the same City and in the same Chamber 27 Odrusians revolt 340 Oracles their Answers always doubtful 241 Otho Iun. from a Schoolmaster made Senator by Seiaâ—â—s 371 Ovation the Nature of it Vide Note 2. 311 P. Pacuvius P. Commander of a Legion 277 Peace amongst stubborn Nations those who advise Peace have never much Credit given to them 113 Under a Tyrant War to be preferred before it 345 Pâ—ndus Vice-Praetor of Maesia 260 Parsa Consul his Death 30 Pedo commands Germanicus his Cavalry against Arminius 119 Perceâ—â—ius a private Soldier causes the Legions of Paâ—â—onia to revolt 47 Killed by order of Drusus 68 Philadelphis overturned by an Earthquake 231 Philopator King of Cilicia 220 Phraatâ—s sends most of his Children to Augustus for a Pledge of his Faith 162 Piso Cn. offends Tiberius by his Liberty 145 Advises to leave Tiber in the condition it is in 154 Would have the Senate dispatch Business in the Prince's absence 20â— Is made Governor of Syria 222 So proud that he looked upon the two Sons of Tiberius as his Inferiors ib. Is put into the Government to break the Designs of Germanicus ib. Blames Germanicus 242 Inveighs against the Athenians why ib. Is assisted by Germanicus in a great Danger but makes no acknowledgment of it 243 Corrupts the Military Discipline ib. Disobeys Germanicus 245 Insults him at a Feast 246 And changes all his Orders in Syria 263 Stops the Rejoycings which the People of Antiâ—ch made for the recovery of Germanicus 264 Who suspect that he poison'd him ib. Retires from Syria 265 Rejoices insolently for the Death of Germanicus 273 Strives to regain the Government of Syria 276 Gives up his Arms to Sentius 279 Goes to seek Drusus 296 Comes to Rome 298 Accused before the Consuls 299 Consented that the Emperour should take cognizance of it himself and why 299 Iudged by the Senate ib. Abandoned by his Wife 304 His Death ib. Contents of his last Letter 306 Which clears his Son of Treason ib. Who hath all his Fathers Estate 308 Piso L. inveighs against the Advocates 204 Commences a Law Suit against the Empress's Favourite ib. Appointed Advocate for Cn. Piso 299 Is for banishing Silâ—nus 373 Plancina her Riches puff up Piso 222 The Empress orders her to teaze Agrippina the Wife of Germanicus 223 Her Exercises not suitable to her Sex 243 Her insolent Discourses ib. Her Ioy at Germanicus's Death 273 Pardoned by Augustâ—'s means 304 Tiberius speaks for her 307 The People complain of it ib. Planâ—us Mâ—nalus Consular departed from the Senate to Germanicus in danger of being killed 84 Pliny the Historian what he says of Agrippina 133. Pomponius Flaccus Vice-Praetor of Maesia deceives Rhescuporis King of Thrace 261 Poverty when it proceeds neither from Luxury nor Debauch it ought to be relieved by the Prince 146 232 Without Reproach a Credit rather than Disgrace 371 Praetors Tiberius will not augment the Number settled by Augustus 43 A Senator proposes to nominate 60 at a time for 5 years instead of 12 yearly 206 Tiberius perceives the cunning 207 Pretexta what it is Vide Note h. 9 Priest of Iupiter when sick officiated for by the High Priest 362 His Place vacant 62 years ib. Must be absent from Rome but two days c. 377 Priests The Priests of Augustus 106 281 369 The Solian Priests or Priests of Mars 281 The Titian Priests 106 Priscus Luterius accused for composing an Elegy for Drusus 350 Lepidus spoke for him ib. Only one of the Consuls agreed with Lepidus 351 Priscus carried back to Prison and suffered ib. Publicus a Temple of Flora built by the Aediles Publicus and Lucius 234 Pyrrhus King of Epirus formidable to the Romans 255 Is advertised by them that his Physician would poison him 286 Q. Quirinus Publ. accuses his Wife of a supposititious child c. 314 His Age and means of Birth made him not a fit Husband for her 316 His Employs Death and Funeral 348 349 His Memory not agreeable to the Senate ib. R. Religion The Mysteries of Religion ought not to be divulged 148 All the Rites of it in the Cities of Italy subject to the Roman Empire 377 Remius lets Vonones go and after kills him 263 Revolt of the Cities of Gallia 341 Revolt of Arminius 109 Revolt of the Legions of Pannonia 46 It s Beginning ib. It s Progress 48 c. And End 69 70 Rhoemetalces succceeds to part of his Father's Estate 262 Rhescuporis Augustus divides Thrace between Rhescuporis and Cotys his Nephew 258 After the Death of Augustus Rhescuporis ravages the Land of Cotys ib. Invites him to an Interview makes him Prisoner 258 259 After kills him 260 Flaccus seizes him sends him to Rome where he is degraded 261 262 Is carried to Alexandria where he is slain 262 Rhine separates in Batavia as into two Rivers 171 Rome its Kings Vid. Notes 1 It s Dictators Vid. Note c. 2 Its Decemvirates Vid. Note d. 3 It s Military Tribunes 3 4 Its Tyrants Cinna Sylla and Caesar 4 Beautified by Augustus 29 It s multitude of Laws 324 As fatal to them as their Crimes 320 Rubrius accused of Perjury 142 Tiberius causes him to be absolved from it ib. Ruâ—illa Anna imprisoned for reproaching a Senator 337 Rufus Aufidienus Mareschal de Camp a rigorous observer of Military Discipline 54 Ruâ—us Trebellianus Tutor of K. Cotys his Children 262 340 The Thracians complained of him ib. S. Sabinus â—ontinues in the Government of Mesia 154 Sallustius Minister of State to Tiberius sends the order to kill young Agrippa 19 Says that a Prince ought never to reveal the Counsels of his Ministers ib. Stops the counterfeit Agrippa 215 216 His Death and Commendation 327 Sardis a City of Asia overturned by an Earthquake and assisted by Tiberius who remitted all their Taxes 230 231 Sanctuaries their Abuse 364 Reasons for them 365 366 The Senates Order 367 Sacrovir Iul. incensed Gallia to rebel 341 Fights for the Romans to betray them 342 Made himself Master of Angiers 343 His short Harangue 345 Is beaten and kills himself 347 Scaurus Mamercus offends Tiberius by the hopes he gave that Tiberius would accept the Empire 41 c. 316 330 371 Salonius Asinius his Death 381 Scribonia Augustus his first Wife 196 Scribonius L. Consul 161 Segestes a German Lord discovers the Plot against the Romans to Farus 109 Demands Succour from Germanicus against Arminius 113 His Harangue to Germanicus 115 His Daughter Wife of Arminius Prisoner of War 114 Brought to Bed of a Son 117 Segimer Brother to Segestes surrenders himself voluntarily to the Romans 138 His Son with difficulty obtains his Favour and why ib. Segimond Son of Segestes scruples to go find Germanicus and why 113 His Father asks pardon for him 117 Sâ—janus goes into Pannonia with Drusus Son of Tiberius 58 Foments the Hatred of Tiberius and the Empress against Agrippina 135 Cheats Cneius
principal Arguments sometimes directly and in form but always aptly and judiciously suitable to the Occasion the Place and the Party concern'd Though his Stile be extreamly concise and Brevity the thing he seems chiefly to affect yet does he frequently interweave with his main Business many entertaining Digressions such as that concerning the God Serapis in the Fourth Book of his History and that other strange one concerning the Iewish Religion and their Lawgiver Moses which we had occasion to pass our Censure on before He thought it seems very truly that as no Traveller would grudge sometimes to go a little out of his Way for the sight of a Place extreamly well worth his Pains or somewhat peculiar to the Country he is passing through so these little Excursions which please and refresh the Reader are no Transgressions of the Laws of History when seasonably indulged Even Thucydides and Salust are not more Sententious than he which yet is so artfully manag'd that there is no appearance of Ostentation but every Maxim he lays down â—lows naturally from the Subject he is treating of and resembles that Lustre and Beauty of the Stars which are said to be made out of the very Substance of that Firmament they adorn Here you see nothing foreign nothing affected nothing forc'd or far-fetch'd nothing superfluous but every Thought so pertinent so well fitted that no Man can dispute the Right it hath to that Place or think any other would better become it And which is still more here you do not learn barely the Events of Things but the very Reasons and Progress of those Events the secret Springs of each Action and all the Motives and Contrivances by which it was carry'd on And here a Man may say with great Reason with regard to History what the Poet does in the case of Husbandry Faelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas Virg. Georg. L. 2. Happy the Man who studying Nature's Laws Through known Effects can trace the secret Cause Mr. Dryden And if the Notion some Philosophers have advanc'd concerning the Sea be true That its Waters nearer the bottom are much fresher than those about the top it is undoubtedly a Truth of much greater evidence that a History which contents it self with an Account of Matter of Fact only and presents only with the Outâ—side and Sâ—â—face as 〈◊〉 were of Things cannot pretend to either the Pleasure or the Profit which arises from a Discovery of the mysterious Causes and the several Counsels and Debates upon which each Action mov'd This reaches the very bottom of the Matter and every Man can justifie the vulgar Proverb here That the deeper you go the sweeter and more delicious you find the Entertainment But one particular Character there is which raises the Merit and Reputation of Tacitus above other Writers that I mean of ordering Matters so that a Man may oftentimes receive as much Information from what he does not say as from what he does This instructive Silence is an Excellence which others have observ'd before me And a very peculiar one it is when to speak in Terms of Arithmetick his very Blanks are as considerable as his greatest Summs So that here you are directed to form a Notion of Men every way because whether he give Characters or whether he give none all is done with mature Consideration exact Iustice and accurate Iudgment 'T is thus that the Ancients exâ—ol the Skill of that Eminent Painter â—imanthes in whose Pieces there was a great deal more for the Thought to work upon than lay open to the Eye of the Beholder And this great Wisdom and Depth is indeed very agreeable to that ripeness of Age and Iudgment in which he apply'd himself to Writing For we arâ— assur'd from himself that this Work was begun after Nerva's and in Trajan's Reign at which time he must have been pretty far g See Note b advanc'd in Years The Reader who is desirous of a more particular Character of Tacitus his Writings may find it to good Advantage in the Second Volume of Muretus his XIII XIV and XV. Orations The Passages were thought too large to be inserted here A Chronological TABLE OF THE Annals and History OF Cornelius Tacitus The First Book of the Annals contains the History of almost two Years Consuls Sextus Pompeius and Sextus Apuleius C. Iulius Drusus Caesar and C. Norbanus THE Emperor Augustus died at Nola in The Years from the Incarnation of our Lord. 16 The Years from the Building of Rome 767 Campania the Nineteenth Day of August Claudius Tiberius Nero the Son-in-law of Augustus succeeded him who began his Reign with the Murder of Agrippa Posthumus The Consuls Sex Pompeius and Sex Apuleius are the first that took the Oaths of Fidelity to Tiberius Germanicus appeases a Sedition in the Army by pretending to send away his Wife Agrippina and his Son Caligula Iulia the Daughter of Augustus formerly banished by her Father for her Lewdness died through want of the Necessaries of Life Anno Ch. 17 An. U.C. 768 Germanicus defeated Arminius or Harman the General of the Cherusci and took his Wife Prisoner the sixth Year after the Defeat of Quintilius Varus A Temple built to Augustus in Spain The Tax of the Hundredth Penny upon Commerce imposed after the Civil Wars is confirmed The Second Book contains the History of four Years Consuls Sisenna Statilius Taurus and Lucius Scribonius Libo C. Coelius Rufus and L. Pomponius Flaccus Tib. Iul. Caes. Aug. 3 io and Germanicus Caesar M. Iunius Silanus and C. Norbanus Flaccus Anno Ch. 18 An. U.C. 769 THe Beginning of the Parthian War Germanicus brings his Fleet into the River Amisia or Ems and passing over the Weser defeats Arminius and the Germans Germanicus's Army sailing through the Amisia into the Ocean is shatter'd by a Storm and the greatest part of it lost The Accusation and Death of Libo Drusus The Astrologers and Magicians are banished Italy A Defence of Luxury The Counterfeit Agrippa is taken Anno Ch. 19 An. U.C. 770 Germanicus Triumphs for his Victories over the Cherusci Chatti and other Nations of Germany betwixt the Rhine and the Elb. The Tax of the Hundredth Penny is abated by Tiberius and made the Two Hundredth Twelve Cities of Asia perished by an Earthquake Tacfarinas the Numidian begins a War in Africk Germanicus goes into Asia Anno Ch. 20 An. U.C. 771 Germanicus visits Egypt as far as Syene and Anno Ch. 21 An. U.C. 772 Elephantina Maroboduus the King of the Marcomanni lives at Ravenna in Italy eighteen Years Germanicus is poysoned by Piso. Livia the Wife of Drusus Tiberius's Son and Sister of Germanicus is delivered of Twins Arminius the General of the Cherusci dies in the thirty seventh Year of his Age. The Third Book contains the Actions of three Years Consuls M. Valerius Missala and M. Aurelius Cotta Tiber. Iul. Caes. Augustus 4 o and C. Iul. Drusus Caesar 2 o C. Sulpicius Galba and D. Haterius Agrippa THe Grief and
People under Subjection who desire to live free Infine it is to preserve the shadow and appearance of Liberty to obey â—hose willingly who have the power to force us to it Libertatis servaveris â—mbram says Lucian si quicquid jubeare velis Neither were the Provinces any ways unwilling to admit these Alterations as being weary'd out with the continual dissentions of the Senators among themselves and the Covetousness of their Magistrates against whom it was in vain to seek the Protection of the Laws Which either through Force or Cabals or Bribery were become of no effect As for the rest Augustus to strengthen his Authority advanc'd Claudius Marcellus the Son of his Sister and yet very Young to the Dignity of the Pontificat and that of Edile g That is to say an Aedile for there were Aediles taken out of the Common People who were not permitted to ride in the City with a Chariot or to sit in an Ivory-Chair But this distinction which was odious to the People was afterwards abolished and all the Aediles were Curules They had the oversight of the Government of the City of Publick Games and of the Reparation of the Temples and of all things relating to the Worship of the Gods And also honour'd with two Successive Consulships Marcus Agrippa a Man of mean Parentage 2 The Prince who would be well served ought to honour Virtue wheresoever it is â—ound and to look upon him as the most Noble who is the best able to assist him to govern well A single Person saith Coâ—â—ines is sometimes the Cause of preventing great Inconveniencies to his Master although he be not of Noble Birth provided that he has only Sense and Virtue Ch. 5. Lib. 5. of his Mem. Cabrera says that Philip the II. in conferring Offices and Military Honours preferred Spill'd Blood to Hereditary Blood Ch. ult Lib. 2. of his History but an expert Soldier and the Companion of his Victories and not long after Marcellus being dead he Marry'd him to his Daughter Iulia. He also gave Tiberius Nero and Claudius Drusus the Command of Armies though but the Sons of his Wife Livia and that his own Family was yet flourishing with Heirs For he had already adopted into the Iulian Family Cajus and Lucius his Grandsons by Agrippa and his Daughter And had earnestly desir'd though with a seeming repugnance 1 It is enough to guess that a Prince does not Refuse a thing in good earnest because he makes no resistance to accept it when it is offered him again with greater importunity The more Popes affect to shew in the beginning of their Pontificate little inclination to call their Relations to the Administration of Affairs the more the Cardinals the Ambassadors and the Courtiers are importunate to persuade them to that which they knew they desire Vid. Reflection 6. of Ch. 7. that they should be made Princes of the Youth and design'd Consuls while yet they wore the Pretext Robe h Praetexta Robe edg'd with Scarlet which Children of Quality wore from the time of the Reign of Lucius Tarquinus Sirnamed Priscus or the Old they left it off at 17 years of Age. In a short time after Agrippa's Death his Sons follow'd him either through the Force of an immature destiny or through the Treachery of their Mother-in-Law Livia 2 The Death of Princes is frequently imputed to those who have the greatest Advantage by it As Livia desir'd to reign even after Augustus's death she was suspected to have poyson'd Lucius and Caius to make way for her Son Henry Duke of Orleance and Catherine de Medicis his Wife were supposed to be the true Authors of the Death of the Dauphine of France because his Death secured the Crown to them One of them as he was going into Spain to command the Armies there and the other as he was returning from Armenia and ill of a Wound which he had receiv'd And as Drusus was not long e'er this deceas'd Tiberius only was remaining Who from thence-forward was regarded as Successor to the Sovereignty Augustus adopted him i According to Paterculus Tiberius was adopted by Augustus in the Consulship of Aelius Catus and of Caus Sentius the 27th of Iune 〈◊〉 Rome 754. Hist 2. Ch. 103. and made him his Collegue in the Empire and the Tribunitial Power He sent him also to make his Publick Appearance in all the Armies that he might be known to the Soldiers and all this at the open Sollicitations of Livia who now no longer manag'd her affairs by Intrigues and secret Artifices as formerly she had done For she had gain'd so great an Ascendant over her Husband now in his declining Age 1 It is rarely seen that a Prince growing old maintains his Authority to the last Tacitus saith that the Power of an Old Man is precarious precarium seni imperium brevi transiturum Hist. 1. For under the colour of relieving his Old Age his Wife or his Son or his Minâ—â—ters assume the Government Duke Philip being grown Old Commines saith that his Affairs were so manag'd by the Lords of Crouy and of Chimay that he restor'd to the King the Cities upon the River of Some at which the Count his Son was much troubled for they were the Frontiers of their Lordships The Count call'd a great Council in the Bishop of Cambray's Palace and there declar'd the whole House of Crouy mortal Enemies to his Father and himself insomuch that they were all of them forc'd to fly These proceedings were very displeasing to Duke Philip but his great Age made him bear it with patience Ch. 1. 2. Lib. 1. of his Memoirs That which also adds much to the Diminution of the Authority of an old and infirm Prince is that there being no more to be hop'd for from him he is abandon'd by his Servants that to satisfie her desires he had banish'd Agrippa Posthumus his only remaining Grandson into the Island of Planasâ—a This Youth 't is to be confess'd had been ill Educated was of a rude Behaviour and valu'd himself too brutally on his strength of Body but otherwise was free from any apparent Vice The Emperor had also BRUTUS and CASSIUS Paterculus saith that never any Persons had so favourable a Fortune in the beginning as Brutus and Cassius nor so short liv'd a one Brutus was but 37 years old when he died Cassius was a better Captain Brutus a â—etter Friend the one had more Vigour the other more Honesty And as it was more advantageous to the Common-Wealth to have Augustus for its Master than Anthony it would likewise have been more agreeable to obey'd Brutus than Cassius They both kill'd themselves the latter frighted by a Company of People who came to bring him News of the Victory believing that they were Enemies the Former a few days after in despair plac'd Germanicus the Son of Drusus at the Head of Eight Legions which were quarter'd towards the Rhine 1 It
sometimes the Wisest Men make For if on the one side we consider that Augustus made himself to be lamented and esteem'd by an unparellel'd demonstration of Humanity yet without contributing any thing of his own his last Will will appear to be made with great Wisdom and Policy but if we examine more narrowly how he purchas'd the favour of the People we shall find that for a Prince of such Understanding he committed a great Fault because by the bait of an apparent intail he provoked the great Persons concerned in it to plot against his Posterity whom he had strengthen'd by many Adoptions For if these Noble Persons were Politick Men as 't is probable since Augustus mistrusted them 't is not likely that they would be contented with an hope which according to the ordinary course of Nature could not take effect in some hundreds of years Germanicus and Drusus with all their Children being to succeed before she Iâ— the thirty third of his Observations upon Tacitus His Legacies exceeded not the common Rules only he bequeath'd to the People four hundred Thousand great Sesterces to the most Inferior sort thirty five Thousand great Sesterces to each of the Praetorian Soldiers or Guards a Thousand small Sesterces and three hundred to every Legionary After this they spoke of the Honours which were to be render'd to the Dead and the Chief on which they insisted were that the Funeral State should pass through the Triumphal Gate which was first advis'd by Gallus Asinius That the Titles of the Laws which had been Instituted by him and the names of the Nations which he had vanquish'd should be carried before the Body which was propos'd by Lucius Arruntius But Messala Valerius adding that the Oath of Fidelity to Tiberius should be annually renew'd Tiberius interrupting him on the sudden ask'd if it were by his Order that he had thus spoken And Messala replying that it was of his own head adjoin'd farther that in all things which concern'd the Publick Good he would never take any Man's opinion but his own though in so doing he should make Caesar himself his Enemy This was the only remaining kind of Flattery The Senators with a General Cry demanded that the Imperial Corps should be carried to the Pile on their Shoulders only But Tiberius dispens'd with that Office rather out of Vanity and to do himself honour in the refusal than out of real Modesty After this he publish'd an Edict to the People warning them not to disturb these Funerals as they had done those of Iulius Caesar with their excess of Zeal and not obstinately to persist in their desire that the Body should be burn'd in the Market-place and not in the Field of Mars which was the place decreed for that Ceremony On the day of the Funeral Solemnity the Soldiers were order'd to be under Arms. Those who had either seen themselves or had heard from their Fathers of that day whereon Iulius Caesar the Dictator had been slain when the sharpness of their Slavery was yet 〈◊〉 upon them and their Liberty with an ill Omen just reâ—â—or'd much deriding the superfluous care now us'd by Tiberius on this occasion for even at that time as there were some who judg'd his Death an impious action so there were oâ—hers y Who call'd Caesar Tyrant to authorise this Murther as Lawful It a enim appellari Caesarem facto ejus expiedebat says Paterculus Book 1. Ch. 58. speaking of Brutus who extoll'd it as a glorious Iustice 3 The actions of great Men may be taken by two handles some commend others blame them They receive divers names according to the different inclinations of Persons who pass a Iudgment of ' em Cataline was blamed for what he would have done and Caesar was commended for what he did When there are Parties every one judges according to the Affection and Interest of that side he is of The Doctors of the League durst compare Câ—ement the Iacobin who assassinated Henry III. with Ehud who delivered the Children of Israel out of bondage by killing Eglon King of Moab The Spaniards put into their Martyrology Baltazar of Guerard who kill'd the Prince of Orange at Delf whereas the Hollanders and Protestants have made him a Devil incarnate In the 14 Book of the Second Part of the History of Anthony of Herrera there are two Chapters the 9. and the 10. which make 〈◊〉 Panegyrick upon this Guerard whose death he calls a Martyrdom I admire amongst others these words Considerando como avia de executar sâ— intento y estando firme con el exâ—mplo de nuestro Salvador Iesu-Christo y de sus Santos c. i. e. Guerard considering how he ought to proceed to the Execution of his design and continuing firm in his resolution after the Example of our Saviour Iesus Christ and his Saints went the 10th of Iuly to find the Rebel c. as if Iesus Christ and his Saints had given any example of murder The Inquisition of Spain let this pass as if they approved it Moreover this shews how much Men love their own Opinions and how rash they are to believe things holy or wicked in the sight of God as their passion moves them Upon this occasion I shall observe that the History of the Reformation of England by Dr. Burnet is â—ull of this partiality every where calling all those Rebels and Superstitious who would not acknowledge H. VIII to be head of the Church of England nor consent to the Laws which he made concerning Religion nor to those which were made in the Reign of his Son Edward VI. and on the other side giving the Glorious Title of Martyrs to the Protestants who suffered under the Reign of Q. Mary the Sister of Edward who restor'd the Catholick Religion in England But in the present case here was an old Emperor quietly gone out of the World who had been settled in a long course of Sovereignty of 44 years z Counting from the Death of Anthoâ—y the Triumvir and who had establish'd the Succession against the Common-Wealth by a large Provision of Heirs and those in power he it seems must have a Guard of Soldiers about his dead body to secure it from disturbance at his Funeral IV. This afforded no small occasion of discourse concerning Augustus himself The greater part of the Assistants vainly admiring that he should happen to die on the same day on which he first assum'd the Empire a The 21. of September compleat 20 years old except one day according to Paterculus Hist. 2. Chap. 65. that he died at Nola in the same House and Chamber wherein his Father Octavius b At the Death of Cardinal de Richelieu the Parisians observ'd almost the same that he was born and died in the same House that he received Baptism and Extreme Unction in the same Parish History of Cardinal de Richelieu Book 6. Chapter the Last Conestagio and Cabrera have likewise observ'd that
other Women And informing themselves that she was going for Treves there to seek a Sanctuary among Strangers they were equally mov'd with Shame and Pity by the dear Remembrance of her Father Agrippa of her Grand-father Augustus and of her Father-in-Law Drusus by the Honour of her Fruitfulness and her inviolable Chastity and more particularly by their Regret they had to see her carry away in a manner so unworthy of her her Infant Son who was born within their Camp nurs'd as it were in the Bosom of the Legions and call'd Caligula because he wore the common Boots u These Booâ—s were trimmed with Nails and were worn only by the â—â—â—mon Soldiers Wherefore in Latin Authors Miles Caligatus is 〈…〉 of Soldiers to gain their Affections in his very Childhood But nothing was more grievous to them than the Envy of that Honour which was done to those of Treves Some of them ran after her and besought her to stay among them others went to 〈◊〉 and importun'd him for her Return But as he was yet in the first Ferment of his Grief and Choler he answer'd them in this manner XXXVI Believe not that my Wife and Son are dearer to me than the Emperour and the Empire 1 They who have the Management of publick Affairs ought to prefer their Country to their Wives and Children Cari sunt parentes saith Cicero cari liberi propinqui familiares sed omnes omnium caritates Patria una complexa est Lib. 1. de Off. There is in Mariaâ—a's History a famous Example of what Governors and publick Ministers owe to their Country in preference to their own Children The Infant Don Iuan Brother of Sancho the Fourth King of Castille having besieged the Fortress of Tarifa in which Don Alonso Perez de Gusman commanded this General 's only Son fell into the Hands of the Infant the General of the Moors Army The Besieged making a vigorous Defence and the Infant beginning to lose all Hopes of taking the Place he thought fit to expose to their Sight the young Perez as a Victim to be slain if they did not surrender At this sad Spectacle saith Mariana the Father without any Discomposure protested That if he had a thousand Sons he would abandon them all rather than stain his Honour by surrendring the Place And to make good his Words he threw over the Battlements of the Walls a Cuttle-Ax to the Mâ—â—rs to make use of it against his Son if their Design was such and went away to Dinner A little while after hearing the Outcries of the Soldiers who saw their Master's Son executed before their Eyes he ran at the Noise and understanding what was the matter he said with a Majestick Air I thought that the Enemies had entred the Town and returned to â—at with his Wife without discovering so much as any Alteration in his Countenance So well did this Lord worthy to be compared with the greatest Men of Antiquity know how to master the impeâ—uous Motions of Paternal Tenderness From him are descended the Dukes of Medina Sidonia The History of Spain l. 14. c. 16. For my Father his own Fortune will defend him and the Empire 2 These Words seem to contain â— Sense from which we may infer that Germanâ—cus did not refuse the Empire but because it would have been dangerous to accept it the other Armies and the other Provinces being faithful to Tiberius wants not other Armies without this for its Support As I would freely sacrifice my Wife and Children for your Honour so I remove them not at present from you but to hinder you from becoming yet more guilty by the Murder of Augustus's Grand-daughter and the Grand-son of Tiberius and to expiate by my Blood alone the Crime which your Fury is about to perpetrate For what is it you have not dar'd to Enterprize of late What is there so Sacred which you have not presum'd to violate By what Name can I call you Soldiers You who have besieg'd the Son of your Emperour or Roman Citizens who have with so much Insolence contemn'd the Authority of the Senate You have profan'd even the sacred Laws of Nations even the inviolable Persons of Ambassadors 3 To aâ—â—ront Persons who represent Kings saith Cardinal d'Ossat is to offend against the first Principles of the Policy and Maintenance of Human Society Letter 283. even the common Rights observ'd by Enemies 4 A seasonable Reproach given by a Prince or a General of an Army to People who have some Sense of Honour or who begin to feel some Pricks of Repentance is sufficient quickly to reduce them to their Duty and to make them also more affectionate than ever to his Service The Prisoners of the Army of the League of Smalkald imploring the Mercy of Charles the Fifth by calling him their Father Such paâ—ltry Fellows as you said he are no Children of mine and added pointing to his Camp It is these of whom I am the true Father Words which equally augmented the Shame of the Rebels and the Love of the Soldiers of his Army and were the cause that most of the Cities which took part with the League returned to their Obedience and that a certain Count who thought his Repentance was not equivalent to his Fault kill'd himself with his Sword to give an undoubted Testimony of his Fidelity Epitome of the Life of Charles the Fifth by Don Iuan de Vera. The Divine Iulius stiâ—led a Sedition by one single Word when he call'd his Soldiers who were deserting his Service x Tradite nostra viris ignavi signa Quirites Whilst Caesar was preparing for the War of Africa whither Curio and Catâ— Sirnamed Uticensis were retired the Soldiers who saw he stood in need of them thought fit to demand their Dismission not with a design to obtain it but to oblige him for fear of being left without an Army to grant them whatsoever they pretended to But he without any Concern discharged them from their Oath and disbanded them with these Words of Contempt Etenim O Quiâ— rites laboribus vulneribus exhausti estis at which they were so surprized that they threw themselves at his Feâ—â— to beg him to continue them in his Service Dio l. 42. He did an Action of like Resolution at the Battel of Munda in the Kingdom of Granada where seeing the Victory inclining to the Enemy's side he alighted off his Horse and cried out to his Soldiers who gave Ground That as for himself â—e would not give Ground an Inch that they should consider well what they were about to do what a General they abanâ—â—â—'d and in what Necessity Insomuch that being spurr'd on by Shame rather than by Honour they rallied and gain'd the Battel Patercâ—l Hist. c. 55. It was in that Battel that he â—ought for his Life whereas in others he â—ought but for the Victory Rabble The Divine Augustus made his Actian-Legions y After the Battel of Actiuâ— Augustus having
imitation of the Titian Priests formerly instituted by Titus Tatius t These Priests or Knights were instituted in Romulus's Reign after thâ— Union of the Sabines with the Romans who received the Sabines as Fellow-Citizens and Companions whom the Day before they had Enemies as Tacitus saith Eodem die hostes dein cives habuerit Ann. 11. This Tatius was King of the Sabines and was admitted a Partner in the Sovereignty of Rome by Romulus who gave him the Capitol and the Quirinal-Hill for his Habitation But his Death which happen'd a little time after reunited the Regal Power in the Person of Romulus who thereby remained King of the Romans and of the Sabines to preserve the Religion of the Sabines Twenty one of the Principal Men among the Romans were drawn by Lot of which Number were Tiberius Drusus Claudius and Germanicus 1 The Orders of Knighthood are not esteemed otherwise than they are confined to a small Number of Knights This small Number ought also to consist of Persons illustrious for their Birth or for their Merit for otherwise the Great Men look on themselves to be disgraced in being associated with them and consequently the Prince deprives himself of an easie way of rewarding them Tacitus saith That the Generals of the Army perceiving that the Senate of Rome granted the Triumphal Ornaments for the least Exploits in War believed that it would be more Honourable for them to preserve the Peace than to renew the War which would equal to themselves all those to whom the Prince's Favour should procure a Triumph to be decreed Ann. 13. In Portugal it was pleasant to behold the Taylor and the Shoemaker of King Alphonso the Sixth to wear the Habit of Christ although in truth they were as worthy of it as most of those to whom the Count of Castelmelhor sold it Then it was that the Augustinian Games began to be disturb'd by the Contention of the Stage-Players and different Factions arose concerning the Preference of this or that Actor u Cabrera well observes that the Spectacles and the publick Games were the Cause that the People of Rome who were before contented to obey the Magistrates and the Laws thought fit to desire to have a Share in the Government For taking upon themselves licentiously to Applaud what gave them the greatest Pleasure as if they had been capable of Iudging prudently they began to perceive that the Players set a great Value on their Approbation and that their Favour gave them Reputation So that after they knew the Power which they had in the publick Feasts they came to slight the Nobles and the Magistrates and afterwards to create Tribunes Aediles and Quaestors At last they introduced the Plebeians into the Consulship and the Dictatorship and made them thereby equal to the Patricians L. 10. c. 22. of his History So that we have no Reason to wonder if Tiberius who was so well skilled in the Arts of Government had an Aversion to Spectacles and all popular Concourses Augustus himself had been much addicted to these Divertisements out of his Complaisance to Maecenas who was desperately in love with the Pantomine Bathyllus Besides that he was himself no Enemy to those Entertainments and knew it was becoming of a Gracious Prince to enter into the 2 As there are certain Days in the Year which the Fathers of Families spend in Rejoycings with their Children it is very reasonable that there should be also some on which the Prince should live as in a Family with his People Tacitus saith That Nero who was otherwise a very bad Prince made Feasts in the publick Places and shewed himself through the whole City as if all the City had been his Hoâ—se Ann. 15. Wise Princes saith Cabrera assist at the publick Plays to gain the Affection of their Subjects and these Plays or Spectacles are assigned to certain Days to mitigate the ordinary Discontents of the People by Diversions which deceive their Trouble Cap. 1. lib. 9. of his History Commines saith That Princes who divide their Time according to their Age sometimes in serious Matters and in Council at other times in Feasts and Pleasures are to be commended and the Subjects are happy who have such a Prince His Memoirs l. 6. c. 4. Pleasures of his People x Strada saith That Octavius Farnese Duke of Parma and Son-in-Law to Charles the Fiâ—th was a great Observer of this Maxim and thereby was as much beloved by the People as any Prince of his Time Laxamentis popularibus ipse se privato non absimilem immiscebat effecitque ut inter principes ea tempestate populorum studiis ac benevolentia claros meritò haberetur Lib. 9. dec 1. Burnet saith That Elizabeth Queen of England was a perfect Mistress of thâ— Art of insinuating herself into the Hearts of the People and although she was suspected of being too much a Comedian she succeeded notwithstanding in her Designs and made herself more beloved by her People by little Complaisances and Affectations to shew herself and to regard the People as she passed the Streets than many Princes have done by scattering Favours with both Hands History of the Reformatiâ—n p. 2. l. 3. Tiberius was of a Temper wholly different but he durst not yet subject a Multitude 3 A Prince upon his coming to the Throne ought to make no alteration in Things which he finds to have been of long Establishment the People parting with old Customs with great diffiâ—ulty If the Memory of his Predecessor is dear to the People he ought to conform himself to his manner of Government at least until his Authority be well established He must lead the People through long Turnings and do it so that they may go where he would have them without perceiving whither they are going Lewis the Eleventh had like to have lost all by desiring to undo all that his Father had done When he came to the Grown saith Commines he disappointed the best and most eminent Knights who had faithfully served his Father in the recovery and settling of the Kingdom But he oftentimes repented afterwards that he had treated them so by acknowledging his Error for thence sprang the War called The Publick Good which was like to have taken from him his Crown C. 3. of l. 1. and c. 11. of l. 6. of his Memoirs When he died he therefore advised his Son not to do as he had done Elizabeth Queen of England at her coming to the Crown acted directly contrary to Lewis the Eleventh for she employed most of the Ministers of her Sister Queen Mary by whom she had been ill Treated and although in her Heart she was already entirely a Protestant she was notwithstanding Crowned by a Bishop of the Church of Rome and ordered Karn who was Mary's Ambassador at Rome to make her Compliments to the Pope Burnet's History Part 2. l. 3. Mariana saith That Emanuel King of Portugal made some difficulty to recall the
not to regard Dreams too much so neither ought we wholly to slight them especially when they nearly relate to the present State of Affairs for the Contempt of them is the cause that we neglect to apply Remedies to those Evils whereof they are the Fore-runners There is a prudent Mean betwixt Superstition and Incredulity which commonly proceeds from Self Love which always flatters us rather than from a true Solidity of Spirit The Queen Margaret makes a Reflection which is of great weight Some saith she hold That God doth in an especial manner protect the Great and that to Minds in which there shines some uncommon Excellency he gives by good Genius's some secret Wâ—rnings of Accidents that are like to happen to them either of Good or Evil as to the Queen my Mother who the Night before the unfortunate Race dream'd That she saw the late King my Father wounded in the Eye as it happen'd and aâ—ter she awaked desired him several times not to run that Day ... Being dangerously sick at Metz and having about her Bed the King Charles my Brother my Sister and my Brother of Lorraine and many Ladies and Princesses she cried out as if she had seen the Battel of Iarnaâ— See how they 〈◊〉 away my Son hath the Victory behold in this Lane the Prince of Conde dead All that were there believed that she raved But the Night after Monsieur de Losses bringing her the News of it I knew it well enough said she did I not see it yesterday Then they perceived that it was not the raving of a Feaver but a particular Notice which God gives to illustrious and extraordinary Persons And for my self I own that I was never near any signal Accident either Unfortunate or Prosperous of which I had not some Advertisement either by Dream or otherwise and may well say this Versâ— Of my Good or my Evil My Mind is my Oracle L. 1. of her Memoirs implor'd his Assistance t Two or three Months before the Death of Henry the Fourth the Queen his Wife being in Bed with him saw in a Dream a Man who stabb'd him to Death with a Knife The News of his Death flew to Lisle in Flanders to Antwerp to Bois-le-Duc and to Mastriâ—h ten Days before it happen'd For it often comes to pass that the News precedes the Accident On the Eve of his Death as he aâ—â—isted at the Coronation of the Queen a Maid named Iane Arnaud seeing him said to her Sisters Behold a dead Man who resembles the King who are buried here The Day that he was stain several Billets were thrown into his Chamber which all gave him warning of his Fate But he neglected all this as Caesar did and perished like him Homer saith That as the Dreams of common People are to be slighted because of the Weakness of their Brain on the contrary there ought to be a great Regard had to those of Persons who have the Management of State Affairs because they arise from their Experience and the continual Reflection which they make upon the great Events of Civil Life L. 2. of the Iliads Cabrera saith That Ioan of Austria Mother of Sebastian King of Portugal being with Child of him thought that one Night she saw enter into her Chamber a great many Moors clad in Habits of divers Colours The first Presage of what was to besal this Prince at the Battel of Alâ—asar in Aâ—rick His Philip II. l. 11. c. 10. but that he far from answering his Request had push'd him backward At break of Day the Legions plac'd on the Wings forsook their Post whether through Fear or Disobedience is uncertain and precipitately rang'd themselves in Battel beyond the Morats Arminius did not immediately charge them though nothing hinder'd but when he saw their Baggage fasten'd in the Mire and sticking in the Ditches the Soldiers out of their Ranks and only sollicitous how to save themselves as commonly it happens on such Occasions when the Commanders are ill obey'd he encourag'd the Germans to the Charge calling to them with repâ—ated Cries Behold Varus and his Legions who are offering themselves to be once more vanquishâ—d Having said this he forc'd through our Battalions with the flower of his Troops and charg'd impetuously on our Horse who sliding on their own Blood and floundring in the Mud of the Morats cast their Riders to the Ground and then running furiously through the Ranks crush'd those to Death who were already fallen and threw down others whom they met That which gave us the greatest Trouble was the defence of our Eagles which could not be carried into the Combat because of the multitude of Darts which were continually lanc'd against the Bearers nor yet fasten'd in the Ground by reason of the Marshes While Cecina with great Courage sustain'd this unequal Fight his Horse was kill'd under him and himself upon the point of being taken if the First Legion had not hasten'd to his Succour On the other side the Enemy was so greedy of the Spoil that they intermitted the Slaughter to seize the Prey This Covetousness of theirs was the safety of the Legions for it gave them the opportunity of making their Retreat 2 The greediness of Soldiers who are commonly more intent upon Enriching themselves than upon Fighting is the cause that there is scare ever a compleat Victory This is an Evil that seems to be without Remedy seeing that after so many Ages the Prudence and Severity of Princes and Generals have not been able to put a stop to it at the close of Day into a Plain where the Footing was â—irm and the Ground solid But the end of their Miseries was not yet come They were of necessity to make new Palisades and new Retrenchments though they had lost the greatest part of their Instruments which were to be employ'd in casting up the Earth and cutting of the Turfs They wanted Tents to receive the weary Soldiers and Salves to dress the Wounded Their Food which they divided into Portions was soak'd in Mire and Blood and they deplor'd that fatal Night which only hid them till the approach of Day which was to be the last to so many Thousands of valiant Men 3 Reflections of this kind do Soldiers no good because they serve only to abate their Courage witness the false Alarm spoken of in the following Chapter LX. By chance a Horse who was broken loose from his Standing and terrifi'd with the Cries of his Pursueâ—s bore down those whom he encounter'd in his way The whole Camp possess'd with a panick Fear took thâ— Alarm every one believing that the Germans 1 When an Army hath been beaten it is very subject to take false Alarms And it is on these Occasions saith Xenophon that a General is much perplex'd for the more he encourages his Soldiers the greater they imagin is the Danger Quanto magis jâ—beat illos bo no esse animo tanto existimabunt in majore se esse
with safety When Ferdinand the Catholick came to take possession of his Kingdom of Spain he said to Doâ— Antonio de la Cueva who notwithstanding he had receiv'd many favours from him preferr'd Philip I. King of Castile before him Whâ— could have thought Don Antonio that you would have abandon'd me on this Occasion But Sir reply'd La Câ—eva who could have thought that a very old King had longer to live than a Young one and that Philip fresh and blooming like a Rose was tâ— wither and die in three days â—Such is the Method of all Courtiers they adore the Rising and turn their backs on the Declining Prince Epitome of the Life of Charles V. and Lib. 3. of the Life of the Great Captain But when Tiberius came to the Empire upon the Extinction of the Family of the Caesars he wheedles Archelaus by his Mother's Letters to come to Rome who not dissembling her Son's displeasure assur'd him withal that he would pardon him upon his Submission 4 Princes who have been neglected despised or persecuted by the Favourites or Ministers of their Predecessors rarely forgive them when they come to reign As soon as the Cardinal Henry of Portugal came to the Throne he abandon'd all the Ministers of King Sebastian and all the Principal Officers of the Crown who little thinking that he who was so old would survive Sebastian who was Young and who had no great Esteen or Affection for him had not paid him that respect which was due to his Rank Hist. of thâ— Union of Protugal with Castile Lib. 3. He not suspecting Treachery or not daring to shew his suspicions if he did for fear of the Emperor's Power hastens to Rome when meeting with a rough Reception from Tiberius and an Accusation against him in the Senate he soon ended his Days whether by a Natural or a Voluntary Death is not certain not that he was believ'd to be conscious of those Crimes charg'd upon him which were meer â—ictions but because he was broken with Age and Grief and a Treatment that is unusual to Kings to whom a Moderate Fortune is unsupportable so little able are they to bear Contempt and Misery 5 Things that are tolerable appear insupportable to Kings and those which are really rough and hard to bear are almost always mortal to them Commines comparing the Evils which Lewis XI had made many persons suffer with those which he suffer'd himself before his Death saith that his were neither so great nor of so long continuance but besides that he was in a higher Station in the World than those he had treated ill the little that he suffer'd against his Nature and against what he was accustom'd to was harder for him to bear And four Pages after speaking of his Physician who handled him in the rudest manner This was saith he a great Purgatory to him in this World considering the Obâ—dience which he had had from so many good and great Men. His Memoirs lib. 6. cap. 12. His Kingdom was reduc'd into the Form of a Province and Tiberius declar'd that by the Addition of the Revenues of it Rome should be eas'd of one half of the Tax of the hundredth Penny e Establish'd by Augustus about the Year 760. 〈◊〉 is â—poken of at the â—nd of the first Book of the Annals impos'd on all Commodities that were sold and that for the future no more than the two Hundredth should be paid The Death of Antiochus King of Comagena and of philopator King of Cilicia which happen'd both about the same time produc'd great disorders in those Nations some desiring to be govern'd by Kings of their own others to be Subject to the Roman Empire The Provinces of Syria and Iudaea groaning under the Burden of Taâ—es petition'd to be discharg'd of part of them XLIV He acquainted the Senate with those Affairs and with the State of Armenia of which I have given an account before telling them withal that the Troubles of the East could not be compos'd without the Presence and Conduct of Germanicus 1 When a Great Man iâ— so belov'd of the People that the Prince is Iealous of him but dares not shew his resentment of it the most common expedient is to give him some remote Government or some splendid Embassy to with-draw him from the Eyes and the Applause of the People under a pretence that none but he is capable of that Employment For if the Prince hath â— Design to destory him he easily finds ways for it by the advantage of his distance which prevents the People from knowing the Orders that he sends who was the fittest Person for this Expedition Drusus being too young and himself in his declining years 2 There are some Employments for which a good Understanding with a long Experience is sufficient but there are others for which vigour of body is also necessary Philibert-Emanuel Duke of Savoy said that a General of an Army ought to be of a middle Age betwixt Manhood and Old Age that he might be capable of being sometimes Marcellus and sometimes Fabius That is to say to know how to wait for Opportunities as the Latter and to fight as the Former Charles V. said of a Count of Feria that by his Prudence 〈◊〉 commandâ—d as a Captain and that his Vigour made him sight as a Common Soldier Epitome of his Life Upon which the Senate decreed Germanicus all the Provinces beyond the Seas with a more absolute Power than those Governors who obtain'd them by Lot or by the Prince's Nomination But Tiberius had first recall'd Creticus Silanus from Syria because he was ally'd to Germanicus 3 There is nothing more dangerous than to give two Neighbouring Governments to two Men betwixt whom there is a Close tye of Kindred Friendship or Interests for it is to give them an opportunity to act by concert and to rebel against the Prince Lewis XI having agreed by the Treaty of 〈◊〉 to give for Appanage to his Brother Charles Champagne Brie and some neighbouring Places was careful enough not to accomplish this Treâ—ty which left him to the Discretion of Charles and of the Duke of Bâ—rgundy For the situation of Champague and Brie was convenient for them both and Charles might upon a Days notice have succours from 〈◊〉 the two Countreys joyning together So that Lewis chose rather to give him Guienâ—e with 〈◊〉 although this Partition was of much greater value than that of Brie and Champagne being resolv'd that his Brother and the Duke should not be so near Neighbours Comminâ—s lib. 2. cap. ult of his Memoirs by the Contract of the Daughter of the Former to Nero the Eldest Son of the Latter and had put Cneius Piso in his Place a Man of a Violent and Untractable temper that inherited all the Haughtiness of his Father Piso who had been so zealous and vigorous a Supporter of the Civil War against Caesar when it was reviv'd in Africk who follow'd the Party
his own Words Commines utterly blames the Iourney which Alphonso V. King of Portugal made into France to procure assistance against Isabella Queen of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon her Husband who had usurp'd this Crown from his Niece For during his long stay in France which was above a Year his affairs in Castille were chang'd where the Lords of the Kingdom who were almost all of his Party before his absence made their terms with Ferdinand and Isabella being weary of expecting succours from France and his return But that which he adds shews to what Princes expose themselves who go into another's Dominions The King of Portugal 's End saith he was that he suspected that the King Lewis XI had a design to seize him and deliver him up to his Enemy the King of Castile For this reason he disguised himself a third time being resolved to go away to Rome and to retire into a Monastery For he was asham'd to return into Castille or Portugal without having done any thing in France whither he went against the Opinion of many of his Council In this Habit he was taken by one Robinet le Beuf And half a Page after This King endeavour'd to marry his Niece to the Dauphine now Charles VIII in which he could not succeed Insomuch that his coming into France was to his great Prejudice and Trouble and was the Cause that he died soon after his return into Portugal His Memoris Lib. 5. Cap. 7. Paul Piasecki speaking of the Death of Cardinal Iohn Albert Brother to Uladisâ—aus King of Poland who travelâ—'d into Italy saith That the wisest Lords of the Kingdom condemn'd this Passion for travell as a thing unbecoming and alway fatal to great Princes and especially to the Sons of Kings Proceres prudentiores talem peregrinationem Princibus majoris nominis praecipue Regum filiis indignam improbabant And in the Margent Peregrinatio filiis Regum indecora periculosa In Chronico ad annum 1634. Add hereto That for the most part Princes return dissatisfy'd with those whose Countreys they have visited because almost always part of the Honours which they pretend to are contested with them For which reason most have had recourse to the Expedient of being Incognito during their stay in Foreign Countreys or their passage through them By opening the Publick Granaries he brought down the Price of Corn did many Popular things went abroad without Guards 2 Persons placed in high stations ought never to appear in publick without the Exterior Marks of their Power for although Authority is not in the Ensigns yet they are the Ensigns which attract the Veneration of the People to the Magistrates And it was partly for this Reason that they call'd the Duties which they render'd to the Emperors at Rome purpuram adorare And Mamertinus saith That the Guards which environ good Princes are not for the Defence of their Bodies but only to give some lustre to Majesty Non custodiae corporis sunt sed quidam imperatoriae majestatis solemnis ornatus Paneg. Iuliaâ—â— It is therefore becoming Princes and Great Magistrates to support Majesty by Exteriour Splendor which makes Admiration and Respect enter by the Eyes Commines speaking of the Interview of our Lewis XI and Henry IV. King of Castile saith That the Castilians made a Iest of Lewis because he was in a mean Habit and wore a Pitiful Hat with a Leaden Image on the top of it saying That it was for Covetousness And some lines after he saith That the Burgundians contemned the little train of the Emperor Frederick III. and the sorry Cloaths of the Germans His Meâ—oirs l. 2. c. 8. An instance that Princes and consequently Magistrates also have need to go with an Equipage suitable to their Grandeur if they will be respected Pagliari saith That that which obliged Pope Gregory XIV to give the red Cap to Cardinal Monks was that during his Cardinalship he had often observed the little respect that was given and even the Indignities which were sometimes offer'd to these venerable Prelates in the throng of great Ceremonies because having black Caps they were not sufficiently distinguish'd Observation 213. And it was for the same Reason that the late King gave the Pectoral Cross to the Bishops of France who it is said are beholding to the rudeness of the Swiss for it in Sandals b The Romans wore Buskins which reach'd up to the Calf of the Leg but the Graecians wore Shoes made almost like Slippers which left the upper part of the Foot uncover'd and in a Graecian Habit in imitation of Scipio who is said to have done the same in Sicily in the heat of the Carthaginian War Tiberius made some gentle Reflections on his Habit but severely reprimanded him for entring Alexandria without the Prince's Permission which was contrary to the Order of Augustus For Augustus amongst other Secrets of State had prohibited any Senators or Roman Knights that were of the Illustrious Rank to go into Aegypt without a Pass from the Emperor 3 Germanicus's intentions were good but his Imprudence brought them under suspicion His going into Aegypt without leave from Tiberius taught the Great Men of Rome to contemn the Prohibition of Augustus The opening of the Publick Granaries the affecting to go abroad without the Rods might very well appear criminal to Tiberius there being no vertues more dangerous than those which may create a Desire in an Unsteady and Changeable People to receive for their Master him who hath them for fear lest any one by making himself Master of that Province which having the Keys both of the Sea and Land c Aegypt is environ'd on the South with steep Mountains which serve for Walls and Bulwarks to it On the West and the East with Mountains and Desarts and on the North with a Sea that hath no Road nor Harbours Which makes it Inaccessible on all sides and consequently easie to defend Augustus who knew all the Conveniencies of this Province which was a Granary to Rome and all Italy would debar all the Great Men from acquaintance with it for fear lest any of them should take a Resolution to make himself Master thereof And this Vespasian did when he rebell'd against Vitellius Sciens Aegyptum plurimam esse partem imperii saith Iosephus eaque si potitus soret Vitellium dejiciendum sperabat Cogitabat etiam propugnacula sibi fore illam regionem adversus incerta fortunae nam terra difficilis accessu marique importuosa est Belli Iudaici l. 5. might be easily defended by a small Force against Numerous Armies should starve Italy 4 The Knowledge of the Situation and the Commodities of his Provinces and of the Manners of their Inhabitants is very necessary for a Prince for without this he will often be deceiv'd in the Choice of his Governors and send into a Province a Person who will raise nothing but Troubles there whereas if he had been sent into another he might
serve our Country And some lines after he concludes with these words Therefore our Author unjustly blames Maroboduus since in my Opinion there is no less glory for a Man to be a Good Husband of his Life to serve God his Country and his Friends and to reserve himself for a better Fortune than to run into Battels and throw it away to acquire Glory which like smoke is carried away by a Blast of Wind. But this Consideration which is the 145. of the Second Part is fitter for Monks and Tradesmen than for Princes and Noblemen to whom War is the most Natural Employment Catualda had the same Fate and no other refuge for being expell'd not long after by the Hermunduri under their General Vibilius he was received by the Romans who sent him to Forum Iulii a Colony of Gallia Narbonensis And lest the Barbarous People who came with these two Princes might raise any Disturbances in these Provinces which were in perfect quiet they were transplanted beyond the Danube betwixt the River Marus and Cusus and Vannius of the Nation of the Quadi was set over them as King LXV The Senate having at the same time receiv'd the News that Germanicus had made Artaxias King of Armenia they decreed that he and Drusus should enter the City in Ovation and that Arches with their Statues should be built on both sides of the Temple of Mars the Avenger And Tiberius being better pleas'd that he had made Peace by his Prudence 1 A Prince who understands Negotiations as Tiberius did ought always to prefer the way of Treaties to that of Aâ—ms It is certainly more honour for him to overcome his Enemies by Skill than by Force A Gascon Gentleman who was in the Service of Edward King of England on occasion of the Peace of Pâ—quigny said That his Master had gain'd Nine Battels in Person but that what we made him lose by this Peace which drove the English out of France brought him greater Shame and Loss than the other Nine which hâ— had gain'd had acquir'd him Honour and Advantage Commines l. 4. c. 10. of his Memoirs Queen Margaret speaking of the Peace which the Duke of Alensoâ— made at Neraâ— with the King of Navarre and the Huguenots on his Party My Brother said she having made a Peace to the Satisfaction of the King and all the Catholicks and not less to the Contentment of the Huguenots return'd thence into France with as much Honour and Glory for having compos'd so great Troubles as from all the Victories which he had obtain'd by Arms. Memoirs l. 3. than if he had ended the War with the Sword employs the same Artifices against Rhescuporis King of Thrace After the Death of Rhoemetalces who was in possession of the whole Countrey Augustus had divided it betwixt his Brother Rhescuporis and his Son Cotys In which division thâ— Arrable-Land the Cities and the Parts adjoyning to Greece fell to Cotys's share the Wild uncultivated Parts and which border'd on Enemies to Rhescuporis The tempers of these two Kings were as different the Former being Mild and Complaisant the Latter Covetous Ambitious and Cruel However they liv'd at first in an appearance of Friendship But in a while Rhescuporis pass'd his Bounds usurp'd upon Cotys and stuck not sometimes to use Force where he found Resistance but this he did by wary and slow Methods in the Reign of Augustus who he feared would revenge the Injustice as he was the Founder of these two Kingdoms But when he heard of his Death he sent Troops of Robbers and demolished some of his Castles to give an occasion for War LXVI Tiberius who feared nothing more than new Troubles dispatches away a Centurion with a Message to the two Kings enjoyning them not to decide their Quarrel by the Sword 1 Divisions never began in a Country saith Commines but they have proved destructive in the end and very difficult to extinguish Lib. 4. Cap. 9. For a King to nourish Divisions betwixt Princes and Persons of Virtue and Courage is to kindle a Fire in his House for sometimes one or the other will say The King is against us and under this Pretence will think of fortifying themselves and making Alliances with his Enemies l. 6. c. ult And whilst one of the Parties takes Arms against the Prince he is always ill obey'd by the other who thinking that he stands in great need of them sets their Services at the higher price Thus a Powerâ—ul King ought never to suffer the Princes who are his Vassals or Neighbours to go to War for the Fire comes to spread it self thence into his Dominions On the contrary he ought to assume the Office or an Arbitrator or a Mediator betwixt the Parties and threaten to declare against him who will not hearken to Peace Cotys immediately disbands the Army he had raised and Rhescuporis with a feign'd Submission desir'd that they might have an Enterview and terminate their Differences by Treaty and what with the Easie Compliance of the one and the Fraudulent Compliance of the other they soon adjusted not only the Time and Place of their Treaty but also the Conditions of their Agreement Rhescuporis under colour of ratifying the Agreement with greater Ceremony makes a Feast which he protracts till Midnight and then puts Cotys in Chains 2 A wise Prince ought never to put himself into the hands of another with whom he hath great Interests depending He that goes to meet another can't be reasonably secur'd by any Promises Oaths or Passports Safe Conducts are as feeble Arms against Force as Paper is against Iron And Iulius II. before he was Pope said often That they were great Fools who exchanged Liberty and Life for a Dead Beast's Skin * Apology for the Council of Pisa. The Duke of Bâ—rgundy wrote to Lewis XI a large Letter with his own hand giving him security to come and to return and the King took no guaâ—d with him but would rely entirely upon the security given by the Duke Commines l. 2. c. 5. Notwithstanding the Duke order'd the Gates of the City and of the Castle of Peronne to be shut saying That the King was come thither to betray him and these Gates were shut three days during which time the Duke did not see the King nor did any of the King's Servants enter into the Castle but through the Wicket of the Gate Chap. 7. and 9. of the same Book This Duke when he was only Count de Charolois committed the â—ame Error by suffering himself to be insensibly led on by the King with whom he walked to a Place call'd the Boulevart or Bulwark through which People enter into Paris for which he was much blamed by the Count de S. Pol and by the Mareschal de Burgundy who put him in mind of the Misfortune that happen'd to his Grandfather King Charles the Seventh at Montereau-faut-Yonne To which Reprimand the Duke return'd this Answer Don't rebuke me for I know very
their Condition sets them at a greater Distance from it Commines speaking of the Vow which Lewis XI made never to touch any Woman but his Wife saith that Although the King ought to have done it according to the Ordinance of the Church it was nevertheless a great Thing for him who had so many Women at his command to persevere in this Promise considering also that the Queen was not a Woman in whom he could take much Pleasure Memiors lib. 6. cap. 9. It is a great Miracle saith a Famous Panegyrist that he for whom the Church hath so often prayed that he might not fall into extraordinary Crimes did not so much as fall into the Common Faults which we call Humane Frailties But let us call them as we will they are no other than Mortal Sins which cannot be excused â—either by the Vigour of our Age and heat of our Blood seeing Lewis was Chast in his blooming Youth nor by the Opportunities of Sin seeing he was Chast in the midst of the Court nor by the Violence of Temptations seeing the finest Eyes of the World lay in wait in vain for him nor by the Difficulty of the Precept seeing neither Age nor Blood nor Opportunity nor the Charms of Beauty hindred him from preserving an inviolable Chastity The Funeral Oration of Lewis XIII by Franc. Ogier and a sure Issue As great a Captain as Alexander if you 'l not reckon the Successes of the other's Rashness and who after he had broken the Germans by so many Victories would have entirely reduc'd Germany under the Obedience of the Romans had he not been recall'd when he was upon the Point of finishing his Conquests But had he been invested with the Title and Power of King 4 Independance is a mighty advantage in a General of an Aâ—my for the Execution of Enterprizes Germanicus would have compleated the Conquest of all Germany if Tiberius had not been Iealous of his Glory The Duke of Alva would have taken Rome and Pope Paul IV. if Philip II. his Master had been of the humour of Charles V. The Count de Rantzau who was afterwards Mareschal of France would inâ—allibly have surpriz'd the Citadel of Ghant wherein there were at that time many French Portugâ—ese and Catalans Prisoners if Monsiâ—ur dâ— Noyers who govern'd all under Cardinal Richelieu had been willing to have seconded this Enterprize whereas he disappointed it to hinder the Count whose Person he hated from growing more considerable at Court by so great a Service The Mareschal de la Mothe Houdancourt would have carried the King of Spain Prisoner to Paris if the Regency had not been in the Hands of his Sister who on this Occasion preferr'd her Brother's Interests to her Sons he would as easily have Equall'd Alexander in Military Glory as he Excell'd him in Clemency Temperance and other Virtues His Body before it was burnt was exposed naked to be viewed in the Market-place of Antioch where his Funeral Pile was Erected It is very uncertain whether or no there appeared on it any signs of Poison for People as they were influenc'd with Compassion for Germanicus and with the common Prejudice against Piso on the one hand or as they were inclin'd to â—avour him on the other spake differently of it LXXV The Lieutenant-Generals and some Senators who were in those Parts immediately held a Consultation about the Choice of a Person to Administer the Government of Syria All the Competitors that appear'd for it soon quitted their Pretensions except Vibius Marsus and Cneius Sentius betwixt whom there was a warm Competition until Marsus at last gave it up to Sentius as being the Elder Person and the more eager Competitor 1 A good Minister ought to sacrifice his Private Interests to the Publick Service without being obstinately bent to carry it from his Rivals There is nothing more pernicious than the Dissentions which happen betwixt the Great Officers of a Province whilst there is a Powerful Rebel who endeavours to make himself Master of it On such occasions it is a Victory to yield to an Ambitious Competitor who is of a Humour obstinately to support his Pretensions Don Iohn de Cerda Duke de Medina Caeli being come to Brussels to succeed the Duke d'Alva in his Government of the Low-Countries chose rather to return into Spain than to enter into a Contest with Alva who refus'd to put these Provinces into his hands under colour that they had yet need of his Presence and that Medina was too gentle to govern so rough a People Cabrera's History Lib. 10. Cap. 2. As soon as he was in the Government at the request of Vitâ—llius Veranius and some others who proceeded against Piso and Plancina as if they had been already convicted he sent to Rome one Martina a Woman who had been infamous in that Province for poysoning and Plancina's great Favourite 2 Persons who have a Friendship with Poysoners that are known to be such are easily believed to be Guilty if they are once accus'd of Poysoning The Acquaintance of la Voisin and the Lady de Brinvilliers was unfortunate to several People and many more would have felt the Rigour of Iustice if the King's Clemency had not removed the Ballance LXXVI But Agrippina notwithstanding she was almost sinking under Grief and Indisposition of Body yet impatient of any thing that might retard her revenge 1 A Wife can't do any thing more worthy of conjugal Love than to prosecute the Murthereâ—s of her Husband took Ship with her Children and her Husband's Ashes which was a Spectacle that drew Compassion from all to see so great a Princess who in regard of her happy Marriage was lately Applauded and Ador'd by all People 2 Past Prosperity draws greater compassion on the present Adversity Especially when they are Persons who have behaved themselves well in their good Fortune now carry in her arms her Husband 's mournful Urn full of anxious Thoughts whether she should find at Rome any Iustice for him or Safety for her self and who by her unhappy Fruitfulness was obnoxious to so many more strokes of Fortune 3 According to the Proverb which saith That He is a Fool that lets the Children live whose Father he hath kill'd Agrippina who looked on Tiberius as the Principal Author of her Husband's Death had just cause to fear lest he should also destroy her Children And as she had six Tacitus who never saith any thing in vain expresses by these three Words toties fortunae obnoxia that she foresaw that they would be so many Victims which Tiberius would sacrifice to his Iealousie And this Presage was in part accomplish'd by the Death of Nero and Drusus her two Eldest Sons In the mean time 〈◊〉 Messenger overtakes Piso at the Isle of Coos with the News of Germanicus's Death which he receiv'd with such extravagant Ioy that he ran to the Temples and offer'd Sacrifices 4 He is very rash who exposeâ— himself
extraordinary Example of Modesty that is followed by few or no Princes oâ— great Men who often take the Honor of that to themselves that has cost them nothing In Innocent X's time S. Peter's Church in Rome was called S. Peter's Dove-Coat to expose the ridiculous vanity of this Pope that set up his Arms there in a thousand Places Eutropius said Constantine called the Emperor Hadrian The Pellitory of the Wall because his Name was writ every where This Vanity is now very common 'T is seen upon the Walls upon the Glass upon the Hangings and even upon the Altars I speak not of Kings Princes or other great Men but Upstarts and Citizens whose Arms we meet with every where On this Occasion he much commended Sejanus to whose Vigilance he imputed it that the Fire did no more mischief and the Senate Decred Sejanus's Statue should be erected in the Theatre LXXIV A little after when Tiberius honoured Iunius Bloesus Proconsul of Africa with a Triumph he said he did it in regard to Sejanus whose Uncle he was yet Blaesus had deserved those Honours For Tacfarinas thoâ— routed several times rallied his Troops together in the middle of Africk and had the Insolence to send Ambassadors to Tiberius to require a Country for himself and his Army or else threatned perpetual War 'T is said Tiberius was never in greater Passion for any Affront to him or People of Rome than to have a Traitor and Robber deal with him like a just Enemy 1 A Prince should never admit his Rebel Subject to treat with him for besides that it is an Example of dangerous consequence 't is iâ— some measure making a Subject his equal or independent Robert de la Marck says Don Iuan Antonio de Vera came a third time into Germany from whence he was driven by the Emperor's Captains for Charles V. would never march in Person against this Rebel who deserved only Contempt remembring what Herodotus writ of the Slaves of Scythia that had taken Arms against their Masters and made Head against them in the Field being proud of the regard had to them in going against them as just Enemies but when their Masters laid down their Arms and took Scourges and Rods to meet them these Wretches submitted when they saw the Contempt their Masters had for them Dans l'Epitome de la Vie de Charles Quint. Spartacus after he had with Impunity harrassed Italy defeated so many Consular Armies and burnt so many Towns was never Capitulated with tho' the Commonwealth was then weakned with the Wars of Sertorius and Mithidrates and when the City is in a flourishing Condition shall she make Peace with Tacfarinas a Robber and give him Lands He committed this matter to Blaesus with order to promise Pardon to those would lay down their Arms and to take their Captain what Rate soever he cost him LXXV Most of his Men accepted Pardon and made War upon him in the like manner as he had done upon others For as he wanted strength and understood pillaging better than they he commonly divided his Army into several Parts would fly when attacked and draw the Romans into Ambuscades if they pursued Their Army was divided into three Parts one of which was commanded by Cornelius Scipio Blaesus's Lieutenant who was to march where Tacfarinas wasted the Leptins and the Retreats of the Garamantes Blaesus's Son led another Body to keep the Cirtensians from joyning him The General marched in the middle erecting Castles and Fortresses in â—itting Places which brought the Enemy into great Streights For which way soever he went he found the Roman Forces in his Front on his Flanks or his Rear and so had many killed or taken Afterwards Blaesus divided these three Bodies into several Parties the Command of which he gave to Captains of Experienced Courage And when Summer was over he drew not his Men out of the Field and sent them into Winter-quarters in Old Africa a So they called at Rome that part of the Province the Romans gained from the Carthaginians as was usual but as if it had been the beginning of War having built new Forts he followed Tacfarinas with light Horsemen that were well acquainted with those Desarts who daily changed his Quarters b The Latin calls them Mapâ—lia poor little Hutts till his Brother was taken then retired with more speed than was for the quiet of the Country leaving those behind him might revive the War But Tiberius concluding it ended allowed Blaesus the Honour to be saluted Emperor by the Legions An ancient Honour victorious Armies formerly gave their Generals upon the first transports of their Ioy. And had sometimes several Emperors together all of equal Dignity Augustus granted some of his Captains this Honour and Tiberius at last to Blaesus LXXVI This year two great Men died Asinius Saloninus Nephew to M. Agrippa and Pollio Asinius and Brother to Drusus c He was the Son of Vipsania Agrippa's Daughter Tibâ—rius's first Wife and Drusiâ—'s's Mother designed to have been Married to one of Germanicus's Daughters and Capito Ateius who was mentioned before and had raised himself by his Studies to the highest Dignity in the City but his Grandfather Sullanus was only a Centurion and his Father Pretor Augustus hastened him the Consulship that by the Dignity of that Office he might be preferr'd before Labeo Antistius 1 'T is very usual for Princes to advance one Man thereby to lessen another of greater Merit they hate For this Reason Philip II. of Spain preferr'd almost in every thing the Prince d'Eboli before the Duke d'Alva At the beginning of the Regency of the late Queen Mother of France Cardinal Mazarine continued thâ— Seals to the Chancellor Segnier who was hated both by him and the Regent that he might have a Man of Wit and Quickness to oppose to M. de Chasteauneuf that pretended to them and to the Dutchess of Chevrâ—use who laboured all she could to have brought her Adorer and Martyr into the Ministry So the Regent called M. de Chasteauneuf Memoires de M. de Chasâ—re who was not inferiour to him For that Age had these two great Ornaments of Peace together but Labeo was most esteemed by reason of his Freedom 2 How good soever Princes are they never love those who want Complaisance Majesty is so used to Respect that whatever savours of Freedom is insupportable There are few Princes like Stephen de Battor King of Poland who gave the rich Palatinate of Sandomir to Staniâ—â—as Pekoslawski who when he was Deputy from that Province to the Diet always opposed him Pekoslawski said Stephen when he named him to the Palatinate Is a very bad Deputy but very good Soldier A memorable Example says the Bishop of Preâ—â—ilz of Generosity and Moderation and the more Commendable because this Prince valued his Merit when he had cause to hate his Person Piajecki dans sa Cronique What Pope Iulius III. did in savour