and desiring that they might renew right hands and that in honor of Germanicus he would come to the banke of Euphrates And requested in the meane time that Vonones might not remaine in Syria least he should by messengers draw the noble men of the countrey round about to ciuill dissentions Touching the alliance Germanicus answered magnificently but concerning the kings comming and the honor done to himselfe he answered ciuilly and with great modestie Vonones was remoued to Pompeiopolis a sea towne in Cilicia not so much at Artabanus request as to spite Piso vnto whom he was most acceptable for many benefits and gifts bestowed vpon Plancina XV. Germanicus voiage to Aegypt and Thebes Maroboduus and Catualda both expelled flee to the Romanes WHen M. Silanus and L. Norbanus were Consuls Germanicus went to Aegypt to see the antiquities of the countrey but pretended a care of the prouince where he opened their storehouses and brought downe the price of corne and did other things to win the fauour of the people as to go without souldiers weare open shoes apparell himselfe like the Grecians imitating P. Scipio whom we haue heard to haue done the like in Sicily when the war was hottest against the Affricans Tiberius hauing lightly blamed him for his behauior and apparell did most sharply rebuke him that contrary to Augustus order without the princes licence he had entered Alexandria For Augustus amongst other secrets of state had reserued Aegypt and forbidden all Senators Noblemen and Gentlemen to enter into it but with permission least Italy should be oppressed with famine who soeuer should be maister of that prouince being the key of the sea and land and easily defended with a small power against a strong host But Germanicus not knowing that his voiage was misliked went vp Nilus beginning at the towne Canopus which the Lacedemonians built because Canopus the gouernor of their ship was buried there when Meuelaus going backe to Greece was carried to a contrary sea and land of Libya The next mouth of the riuer from thence is dedicated to Hercules the first of which name was borne there as the inhabitants do report and of whom all which come after him of like valour and vertue tooke their surname After that he visited the great monuments of auncient Thebes where yet were to be seene Aegyptian letters in old buildings which contained their ancient wealth And one of their auncientest Priests being commaunded to interpret those letters in the countrey language related that in times past there had dwelt in that citie seauen hundred thousand persons of age fit to beare armes and that with that armie King Rhamses had conquered Libya Aethiopia Media and Persia Bactria and Scythia and the countries which the Syrians and the Armenians and the Cappadocians their next neighbours inhabited and that their dominion reached from the Bithynian to the Lycian sea There were also read the tributes imposed ouer nations the weight of siluer and gold the number and furniture of horses and armour the gifts giuen to the Temples the Iuory sweete sauours and what plentie of corne what vtensiles euerie nation was charged to furnish which were no lesse magnificall then are now commaunded by the forces of the Parthi or power of the Romans But Germanicus was yet tied to other miracles whereof the chiefest was the image of Memnon made of stone when it was stroken with the sunne beames yeelding a sound like a mans voice and the Pyramides as great as mountaines on the not passable sandes built a vie by Kings in times past to shew their riches and the ditches wrought by handie worke to receiue the ouerflowing of Nilus so narrow in some places and so deepe in others that the bottome cannot be found by any search From thence he came to Elephantines and Syenes in times past the bounds of the Roman Empire which now openeth to the red sea Whilest Germanicus spent that sommer in visiting many Prouinces Drusus gate no small honour by sowing sedition in Germanie and incensing them to pursue Maroboduus already weakened euen to his vtter ruine Among the Gotones there was a noble yoong man called Catualda who through Maroboduus violence hauing before fled his countrey things standing nowe in doubtfull termes ventured a reuenge And with a strong power entered the frontiers of the Marcomans and hauing corrupted the chiefe noble men to his confederacie forceth the Kings pallace and a castle hard by Where he found the olde spoiles of the Sueuians and the base rascals of our Prouince and certaine marchants whom intercourse of Marchandice and a desire of increasing their wealth or last of all a forgetfulnes of their countrey had drawen from their own dwellings to the enimies countrey Maroboduus being forsaken of all hands had no other refuge left but the mercie of the Romans And hauing passed the riuer of Danub where it coasteth the Prouince of Notica wrote vnto Tiberius not as a fugitiue and suppliant but putting him in minde of his former fortune and estate alleaging that when sundrie nations inuited him to their alliance being sometimes a renowned King he preferred the amity of the Romans before them al. Caesar answered him that he should haue a sure and honorable dwelling in Italie if he listed to remaine there but if any thing of greater aduauncement should happen vnto him that he should depart with the same safe conduct he came thither Afterward he declared in Senat that the Athenians had no such cause to feare Philip nor the people of Rome Pyrrhus and Antiochus as this man An oration of his is yet extant wherein he extolleth his power the strength of the nations he had vnder him and how neere an enimie he was to Italie and what plots he had deuised to roote him out Maroboduus was receiued at Rauenna that if at any time the Sueuian should waxe insolent he was in sight as it were alwaies readie to returne But he departed not Italie the space of eighteene yeeres and grew old with losse of reputation through ouer great desire of liuing The like hope had Catualda and no other refuge for not long after being driuen out by the Hermunduri vnder the conduct of Vibilius he was receiued and sent to Forum Iulij a colonie of Gallia Narbonensis The barbarous people which followed both these lest being mingled among others should disturbe the quiet Prouinces were placed beyond Danubium betwixt the riuers Marus and Cusus and a King giuen them of the Quadian nation XVI Wars betwixt Rhescuporis and Cotys Rhescuporis is sent to Rome NEwes being come that Artaxias was by Germanicus made King of Armenia the Lords of the Senat ordained that Germanicus and Drusus should enter into the citie ouant or with a small triumphe and that arches should be erected about the sides of the Temple of Mars the Reuenger with the images of the two Caesars Tiberius being more glad that he had established a peace by wisedome then if he should haue ended the war
if he had once set them abroch that his bad speeches were ioyned with cruell deeds The same time Iulia died whom Augustus hauing conuicted of adulterie had exiled into the Iland Trimerus not farre from the Apulian shores where she indured twentie yeers exile sustained by Augusta whose maner was by secret practises to subuert her sonnes in lawe when they were in prosperitie and openly shew them pitie when they were in miserie XVI The Frisians rebellagainst the Romans Agrippina Germanicus daughter is married to C. Domitius THe same yeere the Frisians beyond Rhene forsooke their obedience rather through our couetousnes then impatiencie of liuing vnder our subiection Drusus in regard of their small abilitie had imposed a small tribute on them which was a certaine of oxe hides for the war no man respecting what strength or largenes they were of vntill Olennius a Captaine of a principall ensigne and gouernor of the Frisians made choise of the skins of the beast called Vrus of that hignes As that had beene a heauie burden for other nations so the Germains could least of all others endure it whose woods although full of huge sauage beasts yet at their houses haue but small heards first therefore they deliuered these oxen then their possessions and lastly the bodies of their wiues and children into bondage From hence grew their griefe and complaints and seeing that no man relieued them they sought a redresse by warre laid hands on such souldiers as receiued the tribute and hanged them vp Olennius escaped the furie of the enimie by flying to a Castle called Fleuus strengthened with no smal power of citizens and consederats which held the coastes of the Ocean in subiection Which when L. Apronius Propretor of lowe Germanie vnderstood he sent for the chiefest ensignes of the legions of higher Germanie aides as wel of the horsmē as footmē broght both the armies ouer Rheine into the Frisian land the rebels forsaking the siege of the Castle to defend their owne Then Apronius maketh causeies and bankes and strong bridges ouer the next arme of the sea for the huge armie to passe ouer And in the meane time hauing found som foords commādeth the wing of the Caninefates such footmen as serued vnder vs to hem in the enemie behind Who raunged into battle aray to fight droue back the confederates legionarie horsmen sent as an aide After that were sent three cohorts lightly armed then two more a little after a strong companie of horsmen Strength sufficient if they had charged couragiously togither but comming some after some dropping in by companies they neither gaue courage to the fearfull but carried away themselues with like feare ran all away for company The residue of the aides he committed vnto Cethegus Labeo Lieutenant of the fift legion who perceiuing things to go doubtfull on his side sent to demaund more aide of the legions The fift legion couragiously issuing first out with a hot skirmish put the enimie to flight receiued into them the wounded and wearied cohorts The Roman Captaine sought neither to reuenge nor burie the dead bodies although there had been slaine manie Tribunes Prefects and diuers Centurions of marke fame It was after knowen by the fugitiues that the fight held on vntil the next day and that there were nine hundred Romans slaine in a wood called Baduhenna and that another power of 400. which had taken the village of Cruptorix which sometime had receiued pay of the Romains fearing treason slewe one another This got the Frisians great renowme among the Germains Tiberius dissembling his losses least hee should commit the charge to some other and the Senate beeing possessed with domesticall feare regarded not much whether the remote part of the Empire went dishonorably to wracke or not but stroken as I haue sayde into a feare sought a remedie by flatterie And albeit they had propounded many matters to deliberate on yet they decreed that all layde aside there should be two altars erected one vnto Clemencie and another vnto Friendship and that Caesars and Seianus images should be set about them and intreated most earnestly they would vouchsafe them so much fauour as that they might see him Neuerthelesse they went neither to Rome nor any place there about but thought it sufficient if they went out of the Iland and be seene in Campania next adioyning vnto it Thither resorted the Lords of the Senate Gentlemen and many of the common people heauie for Seianus vnto whom accesse was hardliest obtained and that with great crouching by approouing and participating his deseignments It well appeared his arrogancie grew greater seeing he blushed not to see such open base and filthie seruilitie vsed For at Rome it was a vsuall matter for men to walke the streetes and by reason the citie is great no man knew anothers busines but there some lying night and day in the field some on the sea shore without any difference endured either the pride of the porters or had fauour as pleased them vntill that that was also denied them Then they returned to the citie with discontented feare and Caesar not hauing vouchsafed either to looke or speake vnto them and some whose vnfortunate friendship with Seianus portended their imminent death were glad in an ill time Tiberius hauing publickly giuen his neece Agrippina Germanicus daughter vnto Gn. Domitius commaunded that the marriage should be solemnised in the citie He made choise of Domitius as well for the antiquitie of his stocke as neerenesse in bloud to the Caesars for Octauia was his grandmother and by her Augustus his vncle THE FIFT BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The death of Iulia. Tiberius crueltie increaseth His practises to make away Nero and Agrippina WHen Rubellius and Fusius both of them surnamed Geminus were Consuls Iulia Augusta died being very aged and of the noble familie of the Claudians and besides into the house of the Liuians and Iulians adopted She was first married vnto Tiberius Nero and had children by him who being driuen out of his countrey in the warre of Perusium and a peace after confirmed betwixt Sext. Pompeius the Triumuiri returned to the citie againe After that Augustus rauished with her beautie whether against her will or not it is vncertaine tooke her from her husband shewing himselfe so lustfull of her that not giuing her time to be deliuered of her first husbands childe brought her great as she was to his owne house After that she had no issue but being vnited to Augustus bloud by the mariage of Germanicus and Agrippina they had nephewes children common to them both Her behauior was according to the carriage of auncient times yet more courteous then women of former ages could well allow an vntollerable mother a tractable wife with the subtletie of her husband and dissimulation of her soone well medled and composed Her funerals were not sumptuous her testament long voide She was praised in a funerall oration before
with hope of this presage of good fortune he returneth to the citie and by the bountie of his friends and his owne wit and industrie obtaineth the Quaestorship and anon after the Praetorship among many men of note which sued for the same only by the suffrage and fauor of the Prince Tiberius hiding the basenes of his birth with these words Curtius Rufus seemeth to me to be borne of himselfe After this liuing vntill he was very aged â—n odious flatterer to his superiors arrogant to his inferiors crabbed among his equals he became Consull obtained the honor of triumph and in the end the gouernment of Affrike and there dying fulfilled his fatall destinie In the meane space for no cause then openly knowne nor afterward discouered Gn. Nouius a worthy gentleman of Rome was found with his sword by his side in the assemblie of those which came to salute the Prince for being broken on the torture he confessed nothing either of himselfe or others not knowen whether he purposed obstinately to conceale the matter or whether he were innocent The same men being Consuls P. Dolabella propounded in Senate that the shew of Fencers might be euery yeere set foorth at the charges of those which obtained the Questorship Which was a charge in our ancestors times giuen as a reward of vertue and was then lawfull for all citizens which trusted to their merites and vertues to sue for all kinde of offices without any regard had of their age being a thing lawfull for yong men to be Consuls or Dictators But the Quaestors were instituted when the Kings bare the sway as the law of the Curies declare renewed by L. Brutus and the power of choosing them continued in the Consuls vntill the people would also haue a share therein who first created Valerius Potus and Aemilius Mamercus threescore and three yeeres after the Tarquines were driuen out to the end they should follow the warres Then affaires multiplying more and more two were added for the busines of the citie Not long after the number was doubled when Italie and the prouinces were subiect to pay taske and tallage After that by Syllaes law twentie were created to furnish the Senate vnto whom he had giuen authoritie of iudgement And although the gentlemen of Rome had recouered their power of iudgement notwithstanding the Quaestorship was graunted according to the worth of the suters or courtesie of the giuers and that gratis vntill that by Dolabellaes aduise it was as it were put to sale VIII Certaine gentlemen of Gallia made Senators How the Senate was purged of naughtie men A. Vitellius and L. Vipsanius being Consuls when the matter was debated concerning the furnishing of the number of Senators and that the chiefe gentlemen of Gallia called Comata who long before were in league with the Romans and inioyed the priuileges of a citizen desired also the right of bearing offices in the citie great rumors were spread and the matter was debated before the Prince by men diuersly affected some affirming That Italie was not fallen to so low an ebbe that it could not furnish their citie of a Senate that the home-borne with their kinsemen did in times past supplie that want and no cause why they should be sory to imitate the custome of the auncient common wealth Yea there might examples be alleaged by which it might appeare that the vertuous inclination of the Romans at this day was not inferior to the vertue and glory of their ancestors Is it a small matter that the Venetians and Iusubrians haue thrust into the Curia vnlesse a companie of strangers be also put in as it were to keepe vs in captiuitie what other dignitie is there left for the residue of the nobles or if any of the Latian Senators fall to decay that those rich men would fill and possesse all whose grandfathers and great grandfathers being captaines of enemie nations haue slaine with the sword and violence our armies and besieged Iulius of famous memorie at Alesia These things are fresh in memorie What if we should call those to memorie which besieged the Capitoll and broke downe the altar of Rome with their owne hands That it was sufficient to inioy the name of a citizen and that the ornaments and marks of the Lords of the Senate the dignitie of Magistrates ought not to be made common But with these and the like speeches the Prince was nothing moued but immediatly spake against it and calling the Senate together began as followeth My auncestors among which the most auncient was Clausus taking his beginning of the Sabins and was at once made citizen of Rome and receiued into the familie of the Patricians gaue me counsell to gouerne the common wealth with such counsels and cares as they had done and transfer into it all that is good and commendable from whence soeuer it be brought Neither am I ignoraÌ„t that the Iulij came from Alba the Coruncani from Camerium the Porcians from Tusculum and that we may not search out farther antiquities there hath been men called into the Senate from Etruria Lucania and all Italie At last the citie was extended euen to the Alpes in so much that not only men seuerally but countries and nations vnited theÌ„selues to our name and grew as one whole bodie Then had we a sure and firme peace at home and flourished against forraine nations when the Transpadani receiued the freedome of the citie when vnder colour of leading our legions throughout the world and adding vnto them the strongest forces of the prouinces we eased the weake and wearied Empire Doth it repent vs that the Balbians came out of Spaine the worthiest men of Gallia Narbonensis to vs Their posteritie remaine with vs neither do they giue place vnto vs in loue towards this our countrie What other thing was the destruction and ouerthrow of the Lacedaemonians and Athenians although they were strong and puissant in armes but that they reiected those they conquered as strangers But our founder Romulus caried himselfe so discreetly that he had many which the same day were his enemies and citizens Strangers haue ruled ouer vs offices haue been giuen to the sonnes of such as haue bin freed froÌ„ bondage and not as some haue bin deceiued as a newe precident but it hath bin practised by our first people But we haue fought with the Senonians I pray you haue the Volci Aequi neuer prepared an army against vs we haue beene taken of the Galli and we haue giuen hostages likewise to the Tusci and passed vnder the yoke of the Samnites If thou wilt reckon vp all the warres none hath beene sooner ended than that against the Galli since that time we haue had a continuall and faithfull peace Now that in conformitie of manners artes and alliances they are mingled with our people let them rather bring to vs their gold and wealth then inioy it by themselues All things Lords of the Senate which are thought now to be
that it was not lawfull for Iupiters Priests to go out of Italie And that they had no other law then the Priests of Mars and Quirinus And if these had gouerned the Prouinces why was it vnlawfull for the Diales that there was no law of the people touching that matter found in the bookes of ceremonies The high Priest had often celebrated Iupiters sacrifices if the Flamen had beene hindered by sickenes or publicke affaires Seuentie and two yeeres after that Cornelius Merula was murdered no man was put to supplie the place and yet the ceremonies neuer ceased And if his creation could be omitted for so many yeeres without any hinderance to the sacrifices how much easlier might a man be absent with the Proconsularie dignitie for a yeere In times past they were forbidden to goe out of the Prouinces through the priuat grudges of the high Priest now through the fauour of the gods the high Priest was the soueraign aboue all men not subiect vnto emulation malice or priuat affection Against which when Lentulus the Augur and others had diuersly spoken in the ende they resolued to expect the censure of the high Priest Tiberius hauing deferred the hearing of the Flamins right moderated the ceremonies which were decreed in honor of Drusus Tribuniciall dignitie rebuking by name the insolencie of that sentence which would haue had the decree written in letters of gold against the custome of the countrey Drusus letters were also read which although they seemed to tend to modesty yet were reputed most proude They complained that things were growen to that passe that the yoong man hauing receiued so great honour yet vouchsafed not to visit the gods of the citie nor shew himselfe in Senat or begin at least his authoritie in his owne countrey But forsooth he is let by warre or hindered in some strange countrey when indeed he solaceth himselfe at his pleasure in the shores and lakes of Campania This lesson had the ruler of the world taught him this did he first learne of his fathers Counsels Although the olde Emperour should disdaine to come and shewe himselfe to the citizens and pretend his yeeres and trauell for an excuse yet what impediment hath Drusus but onely his arrogancie XIII A reformation of Sanctuaries BVt Tiberius strengthening in himselfe the soueraigntie left the Lords of the Senate a shadow of their auncient estate by sending the requests of the prouinces to their examination The licence and impunitie of ordaining Sanctuaries and priuiledged places increased throughout the cities of Greece The temples were filled with most lewd bondslaues in the same refuges were receiued debtors against their creditors and suspected of capitall crimes Neither was there any authoritie able to bridle the sedition of the people protecting all villanies no lesse then the ceremonies of the gods Whereupon it was concluded that the cities should send their Embassadors with their priuiledges which some left off of their owne accord as falsly vsurped many trusted to old superstitions or pleasures done to the people of Rome The pomp of that day was great in shew in which the Senators considered of the prerogatiues of their predecessors the agreements of confederates the decrees of kings which had bene before the Romans had gotten such great power and authoritie and the religions of the gods themselues being yet in the disposition of the Senate to confirme or alter all as in times past they could haue done The first which shewed themselues in Senate were the Ephesians declaring that Diana and Apollo were not borne in the Iland Delos as the common people did beleeue and there was in their countrey a riuer called Cenchrius and a wood called Ortygia where Latona being great with childe and leaning against an oliue tree which is yet in the place brought forth those two gods and that by the commaundement of the gods that wood was made sacred And that Apollo himselfe did in that place flee from Iupiters anger after he had slaine the Cyclopians After that Bacchus the conqueror in warre pardoned the Amazones which humbling themselues there caught hold of the altar And that the ceremonie of that temple increased by Hercules permission when he inioyed Lydia which was not diminished when the Persians had dominion ouer it After that the Macedonians then we had maintained the same priuiledges Next vnto those came in the Magnesians building their reasons on L. Scipio and L. Sullaes constitutions the one driuing out Antiochus and the other Mithridates and extolled the loyaltie and vertue of the Magnesians and commaunded that Diana Leucophrynes priuiledges should not be violated Then followed the Aphrodisienses Stratonicenses alleaging an order made by Caesar the Dictator and another later decree of Augustus of famous memory for the pleasures done them in taking part with their side during the time of their faction praysing them that they had sustained the assaults of the Parthians nothing at all changing their constancie towards the people of Rome But the Aphrodisienses maintained the priuiledges of Venus temple and the Stratonicenses Iupiter and Triuias ceremonies The Hierocaesarienses fetchte their matter from a farther beginning inducing their Dianapersica and a temple dedicated by king Cyrus and told a tale of Perperna of Isauricum and many other Emperours which graunted that holines not only to the temple but to two miles compas Then followed the Cyprians declaring that they had three temples whereof the most auncient was builded by Aerias and consecrated to Venus Paphia the second by his sonne Amathus and dedicated to Venus Amathusia the third to Iupiter Salaminius built by Teucer when hee fled from his father Telamon The Embassadors of other cities were heard likewise with whose multitude the Lords of the Senate being wearied some fauoring one side some another and because they contended which had merited most they referred the matter to the Consuls that looking into the right of the cause if they contained any secret abuse they should bring the whole cause againe to the Senate The Consuls besides those cities which I haue aboue named spake of another priuiledged place for malefactors dedicated to Aesculapius at Pergamum affirming that the rest were grounded vpon obscure beginnings in respect of their antiquitie The Smyrnaeans alleaged an oracle of Apollo by which they were commaunded to dedicate a temple to Venus Stratonicis the Tenians a verse of the same Apollo commaunding them to offer an image and temple to Neptune The Sardians brought in matters of later memory that to be Alexander the conquerors gift and the Milesians did the like vsing king Darius name for their franchise but both of these did worship Diana and Apollo The Cretensians made request that the image of Augustus might haue some priuiledge and decrees of Senate were made by which with great honor yet moderation was prescribed vnto all and commaundement giuen in those very temples to erect altars for a sacred memorie yet so that vnder colour of religion they should not fall into
hand with such as resisted contrarily the Romaine souldier beate them downe with speares thrust them back with the pikes of their bucklers lanced darts and rowled heapes of stones from the wall vpon them The hope of victory alreadie gotten and that if they should now faint and be ouercome shame and reproch put life and courage into our in them desperate hope of life many hauing their mothers and wiues bewailing and lamenting about them The night animated some to boldnes droue some into a feare blowes flew on all hands wounds giuen and taken vnlooked for no man knowing his fellow from the enemie and the found of the voices as if it were an eccho rebounding behinde them in the turning and winding of the mountaine brought such a confusion that the Romaines abandoned their standings and holds as though they had been battered and broken downe howbeit a small number of the enemies escaped aliue the residue the most couragious either slaine or wounded at the opening of the day were chased to their fortresses and at length forced to yeeld willing to accept the first conditions the winner would offer to the rest a cruell and timely winter by reason of the hill Haemus was a safegard that they could neither be subdued by force nor siege XII The sharpe vvords vvhich Agrippina vsed to Tiberius for accusing Claudia Pulchra her cosen vvhat good vvill vvas borne the Smyrnaeans aboue the other tovvnes of Asia and the cause BVt at Rome the Princes house being greatly troubled to begin the course of Agrippinaes future ruine Claudia Pulchra her cosen german was called into question by Domitius Aser who hauing beene lately Pretor of small reputation and eager by what meanes soeuer to winne credit laid to her charge that shee leade an vnhonest life with Furnius and practised to poison and vsed inchantments against the Prince Agrippina being of a fell and haughtie disposition and then more then euer kindled through the danger of her neere cosen hasteneth to Tiberius whom by chance she found sacrificing to his father and taking hold of that of occasion told him it was two mens office to offer sacrifice in memorie of Augustus and persecute his posteritie that the diuine spirite was not transfused into dumb statuaes images but the true image descended of celestiall blood felt the smart of his posteritie and therefore she would take vpon hir the person of the partie accused that it was in vaine to take exceptions against Pulchra whose onely ruine was that vnconsideratly she had loued and reuerenced Agrippina forgetting what had fallen to Sosia for the same cause Those words prouoked Tiberius although seldome vsing to open the secrets of his breast and rebuking her in a Greeke verse said that therefore she was displeased bicause she could not raigne Pulchra and Furnius are condemned and Afer the excellencie of his wit knowen and Caesar attributing vnto him praise of eloquence held among the chiefe orators After this practised in accusing and defending of parties he was better knowen for eloquence then honestie of life sauing that when his eloquence in his latter age decaied and his spirits failed yet was neuer quiet when if his toong walked not But Agrippina frowardly persisting in anger and incumbred with sicknes when Caesar went to visit her powring downe in a long silence manie teares at last burst into enuie and entreatie that he would redresse her solitarie life and being yet but a yoong woman prouide her a husband Marriage being the only comfort of minds honestly giuen that there were some in the citie which would vouchsafe to receiue Germanicus wife and his children But Caesar not ignorant of what importance this request was to the common-wealth yet least he should openly seeme to displease or feare her gaue her though most earnestly demaunding no answere at all That I finde not in the writers of Annales but in the Commentaries of Agrippina her daughter who being Neroes mother hath deliuered to posteritie her life and calamities which fell to her friends But Seianus in this dumpe sent her a message vnlooked for and vnder colour of friendship which was that there was poison prepared for her and that she should auoide to eate or drinke with her father in lawe But she not knowing how to dissemble sitting by him at table could not be woon to looke cheerefully or speake a word or touch any meate vntill at last Tiberius marked it either by chance or bicause he had had some inckling of it And to trie that more certainely praising certaine apples as they were serued in gaue of them with his owne hand to his daughter in law which augmented Agrippinaes suspition and not once tasting of them deliuered them to the waiters Yet openly Tiberius spake not one word but turning to his mother said that it was no maruell if he had proceeded seuerely against her seeing she had an opinion he went about to poison her Thereupon a rumor was spread that her destruction was sought for and that the Emperour durst not openly attempt it and therefore sought secret meanes to compasse it But Caesar to stop that rumor shewed himselfe often in Senat and gaue the Ambassadors of Asia audience manie daies togeither when they doubted in what citie they should erect a Temple in honor of him A eleauen cities of different power stroue with like ambition for that honour alleaging that there was not any great difference betwixt them in antiquitie of time loue and affection to the people of Rome in the warres against Persus and Aristonicus and other Kings The Hypaepeni Tralliani togeither with the Laodiceni Magnetiens were sent away as not sufficiently grounded No nor the Ilienses producing that Troy was the mother of Rome had any foundation of their reasonsauing onely antiquitie But some doubt was made of the Halicarnassi bicause that for the space of a thousand and two hundred yeeres their cities had neuer beene shaken with any earthquake and that the foundation of their Temple was built vpon liuely strong stone The Pergameni were answered that they had receiued honour enough in that they had Augustus Temple amongst them seeing that thereon they grounded their reason It seemeth that the Ephesians and Milesians had their cities occupied the one in the ceremonies of Apollo and the other of Diana In so much that all the contention rested betwixt the Sardinians and Smyrnaeans The Sardinians recited a decree of the Etrurians as being of their blood for Tyrrhenus and Lydus King Atyes sons diuided the land betwixt them by reason of the increase of the people And Lydus remained in his countrey and Tyrrhenus went to seeke newe countries to inhabit which were called by the names of their Captaines they in Asia and these in Italie and in progresse of time the Lydians growing to farther wealth sent people into Greece which were afterward called Peloponesians They told vs also of letters sent them by our Captaines of treatise made with vs in the warre of
Theleboians inhabited the Iland Capreas But at that time Tiberius occupied the place and seated himselfe in twelue countrey houses of pleasure and how much more in former times he was earnestly bent vpon the publick good so much the more now secretly he abādoned himself to loose life naughtie idlenes He was neuer more suspitious credulous then now a qualitie which Seianus whilest he was abiding in the citie whetted on and which did now more then euer disquiet him and no longer vsing secret treacherie to intrap Agrippina and Nero put ouer then souldiers as it were to record in Chronicles what messages they receiued who resorted to them what they did either secretly or openly Farther there were others suborned to counsell them to flie to the armie of Germanie or when the place of assemblies was best replenished with people catch hold of Augustus image and crie for fuccour of the people and Senat. And albeit they gaue no eare to those deuises yet they were layd to their charge as though they had intended them XV. A treacherous practise of three Senators to intrap Sabinus a gentleman of Rome and Agrippaes friend the death of Iulia Augustus neece IVnius Silanus and Silius Nerua being Consuls the yeere had a foule beginning by reason Titius Sabinus an honorable gentleman of Rome was drawn to prison onely because he was a friend to Germanicus neuer omitting to shew all tokens of dutie to his wife and his children and of all Germanicus followers the onely man which visited them at her house and accompanied them abroad and therfore commended by the good and disliked by the bad Against him Latinius Latiaris Porcius Cato Petitius Rufus and M. Opsius who had beene sometimes Consuls bent their malice through a greedines of the Consulship which they could not obtaine but by Seianus meanes and Seianus liking could not be purchased but by some notable peece of villanie They had so complotted betweene them that Latiaris who was somewhat allied to Sabinus should lay the snare and the rest be present as witnesses and then begin the accusation Hereupon Latiaris at the first began to cast out speeches at randon then to extoll his constancie that he did not as others did fawne in prosperitie and shrinke from a house in aduersitie with other honorable speech of Germanicus and bewayling and pitiyng Agrippinaes estate And seeing Sabinus as mens minds are soft and tender in calamitie to powre downe teares and complaints Latiaris began more boldly to touch Seianus crueltie pride the hope he gaped after not forbearing vnreuerent speeches against Tiberius These speeches as though they had beene sauced with somewhat which durst not be auouched made shew of streight friendship betweene them so far that Sabinus often times sought out Latiaris frequented his house vttered his griefes vnto him as to a must trustie faithful friend Those whom I spake of before consulted of some meanes how these speeches mightbe heard of manie for the place of their two meetings most be priuat and if they should stand behinde the doore they were afraide of being seene or of a noise or least some suspition should growe by some chance Betweene the roofe and the seeling the three Senators the place no lesse vnseemly then the treason detestable hid themselues and laid their eares close to holes and chinkes to listen what was saide In the meane space Latiaris hauing found Sabinus in the market place as if he had some new matter to tell him draweth him home and into his chamber beginneth to rip vp things past and present which yeelded store of matter and inforceth new occasions of feare Sabinus doth as much and more at large the nature of griefes being such that when we once enter into thē hardly can we finde an end This done they began immediately their accusatiō and sent letters vnto Caesar declaring the order of their owne lewde practise and shamefull act The citie was neuer in greater perplexitie and feare then at that time euery man estranging himself euen from his neerest kindred and acquaintance they auoided all meetings conferences eschuing as well knowen friends as strangers yea they haue an eie to mute and sencelesse things and searched the roofes and wals of their houses But Tiberius requesting by writing that the solemnities of the new yeere might be celebrated in the Kalends of Ianuarie turned his talke to Sabinus charging him that he had corrupted some of his freede men to attempt somewhat against his person and therefore boldly demaundeth a reuenge which without delay was graunted and being condemned he was drawne and haled with his garments turned ouer his head almost throtled cried alowd Is this the beginning of the new yeer be these the sacrifices which are slaine in Seianus honor which way soeuer he did cast his eies or vnto whō soeuer he directed his speech they al fled the place of assemblies the streets were emptie som came back shewed thēselues againe afeard for that they were seene to be afeard For what daie was past free from executions if betwixt the sacrifices and the vowes at what time the custom was to abstaine from prophane speeches fetters and cordes are spoken of And it was said that Tiberius could not through ignorance incur this hatred but contrarie that he sought to haue it knowen that without any let new magistrates might as well open the prisons as Temples and altars After that he sent letters of thanksgiuing that they had punished an enimie to the state adding withall that he stoode in feare of his life and was ielous of his enimies practises though naming none yet no man doubted but he aimed at Nero and Agrippina If I had not purposed to declare the occurrents of the yeeres as they fell out I could willingly in this place haue set downe before his time what ends Latinius and Opsius and the other contriuers of that lewd practise had com vnto not only after that C. Caesar was come to the Empire but whilest Tiberius was yet aliue who as he would not suffer the ministers of his wickednes to be punished by others so oftentimes hauing had of their seruice his fill and fresh offered to continue the trade he sought all meanes to extinguish the olde as persons odious vnto him But what punishment these and others of the like conditions endured shall be declared in his place and time Then Asinius Gallus whose children Agrippina was aunt vnto thought it conuenient that Tiberius should vtter vnto the Senators of whom he stoode in feare and suffer them to be remooued But as it was thought Tiberius of all his vertues was fond of none so much as of his dissimulation and therefore disliked much that he should be vrged to disclose that which he went about to conceale But Seianus tempered the matter not for any loue he bare Gallus but bicause he would haue the Princes lingring delaies come to light knowing well that he was slow in his deliberations but
lamentation yea priuat murmurings and scarce credible that the grandfather could indure to heare it reade it and publish it were it not that the letters of Actius the Centurion and Didymus his freed man did declare the names of such bondslaues which had either stroken Drusus or put him in a fright as he went out of his chamber Yea the Centurion added his owne words full of crueltie against Drusus as a matter worthy praise and Drusus answere againe as he fainted and drew towards his end in which faining as though he had been distracted of his wits wished Tiberius all ill luck and misfortune and then seeing himselfe past all hope of life cursed him most deadly praying the gods that as he had slaine his daughter in law his brothers sonne and his nephewes and filled all his house with bloud so they would reuenge and punish him for an example to his name his stock predecessors and posteritie The Lords of the Senate were troubled with these speeches making shew of detesting them but they were stricken into a feare and admiration that he who had been so cunning and craftie heretofore in cloking his lewdnes should now become so confident that as though the walles were throwne down he durst shew that his nephew beaten by his Centurion and strooken by his slaues should aske for meate in vaine to saue his life This griefe was scarse gone but the next newes were of Agrippina whom I thinke since Seianus death vntill now liued with hope and seeing that crueltie was no whit remitted willingly ended her life vnlesse that famished for want of sustenance it was falsely giuen out she died that death of her selfe For Tiberius layde grieuous crimes to her charge accusing her of vncleanes of life and that Asinius Gallus was the adulterer and that seeing him dead she loathed any longer to liue But in very deede Agrippina not contented with reason and greedy of rule taking vpon her cares fit rather for men then women had shaken off all vices incident to her owne sexe She died the selfe-same day that two yeeres before Seianus died which Caesar thought worthy of record and vaunted that she had neither been strangled nor throwne headlong from the Gemonies For this he had thanks giuen him by the Senate and order taken that the fifteenth Kalends of Nouember which was the day they both died some gift should be offered vp to Iupiter Not long after Cocceius Nerua who was continually at the Princes elbow a man very expert in diuine and humane lawes being in perfect disposition of body resolued with himselfe to die which when Tiberius vnderstood he went to visit him sate by him and inquired the causes of his intention and intreated him confessing at last that it would be a burden to his conscience and a discredit if the chiefest of his friends should without cause of death shew himselfe weary of life But Nerua disliking his speech would take no more sustenance Those which best knew his meaning gaue out that deepely seeing into what calamities the common wealth was like to fall into moued with anger and feare whilest his credit was vntouched and his person vnattempted would end his life with that honest death Agrippinaes ruine drew with it which is scarse credible Plancinaes destruction She had beene once wife vnto Gn. Piso and reioysed openly at Germanicus death and when Piso was slaine she was saued no lesse by Augustaes prayers then ill will she bare Agrippina As soone as hatred and fauour failed right tooke place and being accused of knowen crimes with her owne hand receiued rather late then vndeserued punishment Among other griefes in a dolefull and sad citie this was one that Iulia daughter vnto Drusus once Neroes wife married againe into Rubellius Blandus familie whose grandfather Tiburtes a gentleman of Rome most men knew In the end of this yeare the death of Aelius Lamia was celebrated with funerals proper to a Censor who at last being discharged of the gouernment of Syria which he had in shew only was made gouernor of the citie He was descended of a noble stock and was a strong liuely old man and the gouernment of the prouince denied him augmented his woorth Then Flaccus Pomponius Propretor of Syria being dead Caesars letters were recited in which he complained that if there were any notable man and fit to rule an armie he refused the charge and therefore he was forced through that necessitie to intreate such as had beene Consuls to take vpon them the rule of the prouinces forgetting that Arruntius had beene hindered ten yeeres from going into Spaine The same yeere died M. Lepidus of whose moderation and wisedome I haue spoken sufficiently in other bookes and his nobilitie needeth no farther proofe for the Aemilian family hath brought foorth many good citizens and although some of them haue beene of corrupt manners yet liued in good and honorable estate VII A Phoenix seene in AEgypt how Getulicus escaped Tiberius crueltie WHen Paullus Fabius and L. Vitellius were Consuls after manie ages were past the birde Phoenix came into AEgypt and ministred matter to the most learned of the countrey and also Greekes of disputing many things concerning that miracle Of which it seemeth good vnto me to laye downe such things as they agree of and manie which rest doubtfull yet notwithstanding worthie the knowledge That that birde is consecrated to the sunne and that it differeth in the beake and varietie of feathers from other birds all do accord which haue described her shape and forme but of the number of her yeeres there are diuers reports The common opinion is that she liueth fiue hundred yeeres some affirme that she liueth a thousand foure hundred threescore and one yeere And the first of these kindes of birdes flew to the citie called Heliopolis with a great multitude of other birdes with her woondering at her new shape in Sesostris time after that in Amasis and Ptolemaeus raigne which of the Macedonians was the third King of Aegypt But antiquitie is darke and obscure Betwixt Ptolemaeus raigne and Tiberius there were scarse two hundred and fiftie yeeres Whereupon some thought that this was no true Phoenix nor come from the land of Arabia and that it had nothing of that which antiquitie hath attributed and confirmed to be in that kind For when they haue ended the number of their yeeres and that their ende approcheth they build their nest in their countrey and in it cast seede of generation of which a yong one doth rise whose first care is being growen to ripenes to burie the olde And that not at all aduentures but hauing taken vp a certaine waight of the stone Murrha and tried the carrieng of it a long iourney when she perceiueth her selfe able to indure and carrie such a burthen and to accomplish the voiage she lifteth vp her fathers bodie and carrieth it to the altar of the sunne and there doth burne and sacrifice it These things are vncertaine and fabulously
most auncient haue beene new The Patricians had first all offices in their hands after them the people after the people the Latines after the Latines all the nations of Italie This will grow olde likewise although it seeme newe and that which to day we maintaine by example shall be reckoned amongst examples A decree of the Senate giuen according vnto the Princes oration the Eduans first of all receiued the rights and priuileges of Senators in the citie This was graunted them in consideration of their auncient alliance and because they onely among the Galli called themselues brothers of the people of Rome The same time Caesar made the auncientest of the Senators patriciens or such whose fathers were famous fewe of those families remaining which Romulus called of the greater and L. Brutus of the lesser familie those also being decayed extinguished which Caesar the Dictator substituted by the lawe Cassia and Prince Augustus by the lawe Senia All these things were gratefull vnto the people and done with the good liking of Caesar It troubled him very much howe he might remooue such from the Senate as were notoriously infamous and at last bethought himselfe of a newe and gentle course yet grounded on the rigour of auncient time which was to admonish euerie man to examine his owne conscience and craue licence to giue vp his roome if he thought himselfe touched which should easily be graunted and promised them to propound togither as well those as were remoued as those as resigned their roomes that the iudgement of the Censors and the moderation of those which willingly renounced interlaced togither might couer the discredit For this cause the Consull Vipsanius propounded that Claudius might be called the father of the Senate because that the title of father of the countrey being common newe merites towards the common-wealth should not be honoured with old titles But he himselfe brideled the Consull as ouer-much flattering and appointed a view to be taken of the citie which is called Lustrum and the number of the citizens to be inrolled which came to threescore eight hundred foure fortie thousand Then began he to haue better intelligence how matters went at home and not long after he was constrained to know and punish the dissolute and licentious life of his wife immediately after to burne in an vnlawfull desire of incestious matrimonie IX Messallinaes looseloues her marriage with Silius NOw Messallina through the easie inioying of her adulterers as it were loathing them grew more licentious in vnknowen and strange sensualitie when as Silius himselfe either by a fatale sottishnes or thinking dangers themselues to be the remedie against imminent dangers began earnestly to vrge her to breake off all dissimulation and make that knowen which vntill then he went about to keepe secret For the matter was not come to that that they should expect the princes death Harmelesse counsels were good for the innocent but in open and manifest villanies there was no hope of safetie but in audacious attempts There were others in the same fault feared the like punishmēt he was a single man without children readie to marrie her and adopt Britannicus Messallinaes authoritie would continue the same and with greater securitie if they could preuent Claudius as vncircumspect against snares and wiles so hastie soone mooued to anger These speeches she seemed not much to like of not for the loue of her husband but least Silius hauing gotten the soueraigntie would reiect her as an adulteresse and fall to a iust consideration of her lewd life which with his danger he had tried Neuerthelesse she desired the name of matrimonie because of the greatnes of the infamie which with prodigall and dissolute persons is the last contentment They expected no longer then Claudius went to Hostia to do sacrifice but she accomplished all the solemnities of marriage I am not ignorant but it will sound like a fable that there should be any man so blockish and carelesse much lesse that a Consull elect should in a citie where all thing is knowen and nothing kept secret a day appointed companie assembled to seale the agreement contract marriage as it were for issue and children with the Princes wife and that shee should heare the words of the Auspices or hand-fasters attire herselfe bride-like sacrifice vnto the gods sit downe amongst the guests kisse embrace and in the ende passe the night in all libertie of marriage But there is nothing fained to make the thing seeme miraculous but I will deliuer you that which hath been heard and written by auncient writers Then the Princes house began to quake for feare and especially those which were in highest credit and fauour and if there should fall an alteration more afeard they began now not in secret whisperings but openly to murmur saying That as long as the adulterers did vse the matter secretly true it was that the Prince was dishonored but yet he was in no danger of his estate where as now this yong man of a noble birth of a manly representation in the prime of his youth and shortly to be Consull aspired no doubt to greater hope For it was easilie knowen what was to be expected after such a marriage Doubtlesse a feare possessed them to thinke how blockish Claudius was how thrall vnto his wife and how many murders had beene committed by Messallinaes commaundement On the other side the facilitie of the Princes nature emboldned them and gaue them hope that if they could beate into his head the enormitie of the fact she might as one alreadie condemned be brought to confusion before she were arraigned But the danger was that if she should be admitted to her defence yet the Princes eares would be buttened and deafe although she should confesse And first of all Calistus of whom I haue spoken in the death of C. Caesar and Narcissus the contriuer of Appius death and Pallas the greatest fauor it at that time debated whether dissembling all other matters by secret threates they should disswade Messallina from Silius loue but they altered their mindes least they should draw on their owne ruine Pallas for want of courage Calistus as practised in the estate of the former court and knowing that credit and authoritie was safelier maintained with circumspect then rash counsell Narcissus persisted in his purpose altering that only point which was to take heede least by any word she should haue an inkling who was her accuser and of what X. Narcissus Claudius freed man aduertiseth him of the marriage The sottishnes of the Emperour NArcissus then earnestly watching all opportunities during Caesars long stay at Hostia induced two concubines with whom the Emperour licentiously conuersed by faire promises and gifts and especially shewing them to what greatnes and credit they might come vnto if his wife were put from him to vndertake the discouering of this crime Then Calphurnia for so one of them was called as soone as she found him alone falling at
woman they inuaded her kingdome with a strong power of armed and choise youth Which was foreseene by vs and the cohorts sent to second her fought a hote battell which at the beginning was doubtfull though the end more ioyfull A legion also which Cesius Nasica commaunded fought with the like successe for Didius being stroken in yeeres and hauing receiued many honors thought it sufficient to execute his charge and driue away the enemie by the help of others These exploites although they were atchieued by two Propretors Ostorius and Didius in many yeeres yet I thought good to ioyne together least being seuered they should not so well haue beene remembred IX Nero Agrippinaes sonne is preferred before Britannicus sonne to Claudius NOw I will returne to the order of times Ti. Claudius beeing the fift time Consull and Ser. Cornelius Orfitus great haste was made to make Nero of full yeeres that he might seeme more capable of the gouernment And Caesar willingly yeelding to the flattery of the Lords of the Senate consented that Nero should be Consull at twentie yeeres of age and being elect in the meane season haue the Proconsulary authoritie out of the citie and be called prince of youth There was also giuen in his name a donatiue to the souldiers and a liberalitie to the people The Circensian playes being exhibited to win the fauour of the people Britannicus in his pretext and Nero in triumphing attire because the people should see the one in the magnificence of an Emperour and the other in the habite of a child thereby to presume what fortune to either of them should hereafter fall Withall if any of the Centurions or Tribunes bewayled Britannicus hap they were remoued either by fained pretences or vnder colour of preferment yea of the freed men if any were faithfull he was not suffered about him As these two met vpon occasion Nero saluted Britannicus by his name and Britannicus rendred him the like by the name of Domitius Which Agrippina taking hold of as a beginning of a quarrel carieth to her husband with a grieuous complaint saying that the adoption was nought set by the decree of Senate the ordinance of the people broken and abrogated in his owne house and if such contemptuous frowardnes of Britannicus teachers were not seuerely looked vnto it would burst out into some publike mischiefe Claudius moued with these complaints as though they had beene faults indeede either banished or put to death the chiefest bringers vp of his sonne and placed such ouer him as his stepmother would appoint Neuerthelesse Agrippina durst not leuell at her chiefest marke which was that her sonne should succeede in state vnlesse Lusius Geta and Rufus Crispinus captaines of Caesars gard were first discharged whom she thought would be mindfull of Messallinaes fauours towards them and therefore bound vnto her children Agrippina therefore beareth the Emperour in hand that the gard was deuided into factions through ambition of the two captaines striuing for superioritie that the discipline of seruice would be better kept if the souldiers were commaunded by one alone The charge of the cohorts was transferred vnto Burrhus Afranius a man of great fame for matter of seruice yet knowing well by whose practise and fauour he came to the place Agrippina began also to raise her owne estate to a higher degree by entering into the Capitol in a chariot which in times past was a custome only lawfull for the Priests in sacred rites which augmented the more the state of this woman because she was the onely example vnto this day of any one who being daughter of an Emperour hath been also sister wife and mother of an Emperour In the meane season her chiefest buckler Vitellius being in highest fauour and very old so slipperie is the state of great personages was accused by Iunius Lupus Senator of treason and aspiring to the Empire and Caesar readie to giue eare to the accusation if he had not rather changed his opinion by Agrippinaes threates then intreaties and so to banish the accuser which was the punishment Vitellius best liked That yeere many prodigious sights hapned as that many birds portending euill luck lighted vpon the Capitol many houses ruined by often earthquakes and the feare spreading among the astonied people many in throngs were smothered The want of corne and the famine which insued thereof was also construed as a presage of euill luck Neither did they complaine in secret only but came about Claudius as he gaue audience with turbulent clamors and hauing thrust him to the end of the forum followed him vntill that with a band of souldiers he brake through the prease It was most certaine that the citie was not victualled for aboue fifteene dayes but by the great goodnes of the gods and mildnes of the winter the citie was relieued in necessitie But truly in times past prouision of corne hath beene transported out of Italie into other prouinces farre distant And at this present we stand not in want through the barrennes of the countrey but we do rather manure Afrike and Aegypt and hazard the life of the people of Rome by sea whereof depends want or abundance X. Warres betweene the Romans and the Parthians THe same yeere a warre begun betweene the Armenians and Hiberi was cause of great troubles betwixt the Romans and the Parthians Vologeses was King of the Parthians descended by his mothers side of a Greek concubine yet got the kingdome by consent of his brothers Pharasmanes hath a long time possessed the Hiberians countrey as a King and his brother Mithradates the Armenians through our forces Pharasmanes had a sonne called Rhadamistus of a comely tall stature and of a verie strong and able bodie trained vp in the qualities and practises his father before him had beene and greatly renowned among his neighbors He was woont to say that the kingdome of Hiberia was small and yet kept from him by his father who was verie olde and so oft he did cast foorth those speeches and so fiercely that it was easily seene how greedie a desire he had to raigne Pharasmanes then seeing this yoong man so desirous and readie to rule misdoubting the peoples affection bent towardes him by reason of his declining yeeres thought it best to feede him with some other hope and set Armenia before his eies telling him that he had giuen that kingdome to Mithradates hauing first expulsed the Parthians Yet that it was not his best course to set on it by force but vse policie against Mithradates and intrap him when he least looked for it Rhadamistus vnder colour of some discontent with his father through the insupportable dealing of his stepmother goeth to his vncle where being intreated with all courtesie as if he had been his owne childe solliciteth the chiefe noble men of Armenia to rebellion Mithradates knowing nothing but still entertaining him with all fauour and kindnes Rhadamistus vnder colour of reconciliation returned vnto his father and declared
letters were written to Caenina Tuschus to come and take charge of the guard but that Burrhus credit was saued and kept in his office by Senecaes meanes Plinie and Cluuius seeme there was no doubt made of Burrhus loyaltie and in verie deede Fabius inclineth much to the commendation of Seneca as one of his preferment But our meaning is to follow the consent of authors and if any affirme contrarie we will deliuer it vnder their names Nero trembling for feare and exceeding desirous of the death of his mother could not indure the delay vntill Burrhus had promised to performe it if she were conuicted of the crime But euerie man might alleage what he could for his defence much more a mother Neither were there any accusers present and nothing to ground on but one mans report out of an enimies house He was to cōsider that it was night and that spent in banqueting and therefore all would seeme to smell of rashnes and folly The Princes feare somewhat lightened by these speeches and the day come one went to Agrippina to let her vnderstand of the accusation to purge her selfe or looke to suffer Burrhus was to do the message in presence of Seneca with some freed men as witnes of the speeches Then Burrhus hauing declared the accusation and the authors of it vsed threatning termes and Agrippina not forgetting her old fiercenes returned him his answere saying I maruell not if Silana neuer hauing had childe know not what the affections of mothers are neither are children changed by their parents as adulterers by shamelesse women Neither if Iturius and Caluisius hauing wasted their substance bestow this their last labour in vndertaking this accusation therefore am I to sustaine the infamie of parricide or Caesar haue scruple of conscience that I would commit it as for Domitia I would thanke her for the hate she beareth me if she would likewise in good will and loue towards my Nero striue with me Now by her concubine Atimetus and Paris the stage player she doth as it were compose fables for the stage She was busie about her fish pooles of Baia when by my counsels Neroes adoption proconsularie authoritie election to be Consull and other steps to mount to the Empire were procured Or else let some one be brought foorth to make it appeere that I haue practised with the citie-cohorts corrupted the loyaltie of the Prouinces or sollicited bond-men or freedmen to rebellion I might haue liued if Britannicus had beene soueraigne but if Plautus or some other should get the rule of the common-wealth forsooth there should want accusers to laye to my charge not wordes sometimes vnaduisedly escaped thorough feruencie of loue but such crimes also from which I could not be acquited but as a mother by hir son The assistance moued with these speeches and endeuoring to appease her anger she requireth to speake with her sonne before whom she spake nothing in defence of her innocencie as if she had distrusted or of her benefits as to vpbrayd him but obteined reuenge of her accusers and rewards for hir friends The charge and office of prouision of corne was giuen to Senius Rufus the commission of plaies which Caesar was a preparing to Aruntius Stella Aegypt to C. Balbillus Syria was appointed to P. Anteius then abused with diuers deuises and in the ende detained in the citie But Silana was banished Caluisius also and Iturius Atimetus was executed Paris being in greater credit by reason of pleasures ministred to the Prince then that he should be put to death Plautus was sent away for the time with silence Pallas after this and Burrhus were accused to haue practised to call Cornelius Sylla for noblenes of birth and affinitie with Claudius whose sonne in lawe he was by marriage of Antonia to the Empire The author of that accusation was one Paetus a man infamous by causing debters to forfeit their goods and then manifestly conuicted of vanitie and falshoode Neither was Pallas innocencie so gratefull as his pride insupportable for when some of his freed men were saide to haue beene priuie to the practise he made answer that in his house he appointed nothing to be done but with a nod of his head or hand or by writing if he had much to say least if he shoulde haue spoken vnto them he should seeme to haue made them his fellowes Burrhus although accused yet gaue sentence among the iudges Paetus the accuser was banished and the writings burnt by which he went about to renewe the recordes of the treasurie alreadie cancelled In the end of the same yeere the gard of the soldiers which was woont to be at the plaies was taken away for a greater shew of libertie and bicause the souldier being absent from the disorder of the Theater shoulde be lesse corrupt and the people shewe by proofe whether they would vse modestie if the guarde were away The prince hallowed and purged the citie with sacrifices by aduise of the southsaiers bicause Iupiters and Mineruaes temples were set on fire with lightning VI. Neroes disorders the case of the franchised debated an order for certaine magistrates Q. Volusius and P. Scipio being Consuls there was peace abroad filthie lasciuiousnes at home during which Nero gadded vp down the streetes to infamous brothell houses by-corners in slaues attire to be vnknown accompanied with such as snatched away wares from mens stales wounded such as met them and with such small regard whome that Nero himselfe hath receiued and carried away blowes and marks on the face And when it was knowne to be Caesar which played those pranks the disorder grew greater against both men and women of accompt and with like licentiousnes abusing Caesars name many practised the same insolencies gathered together in particular companies and so spending the night as it had been in taking a towne and captiuitie One Iulius Montanus a Senator who had not yet taken vpon him the dignitie by chaunce coping with the Prince in the darke and rudely thrusting him backe as he offered him violence then knowing him and crauing pardō was inforced to die as though therby he had reproched him of folly Nero more wary and fearefull after that went not without a rabble of souldiers and fencers which medled not at the first and whilest the prince made his party good but after if he were ouermatched by such as he abused they layd hands immediately on their weapons He turned the disordered licence at plaies and part-taking in fauor of stage players almost to a mutinie by giuing impunitie and rewards himselfe priuily or for the most part openly looking on vntill the people growing to sedition and fearing greater stirres no other remedie was found then to expell the stage-players out of Italie and place a gard of souldiers againe on the theater At the same time the deceit and vngratefull behauior of freed men was debated in Senat and instant sute made that the patrons might haue authoritie to reuoke the
an enemie and therefore credited his counsell as faithfull Vologeses therefore was not implacablie head-strong * and demaunded truce vnto some gouerments Tiridates requireth place and day of parley A short time was assigned the place where of late the legions were besieged with Paetus seeing it was chosen by the Barbarians in remembraunce of their ioyfull hap was not refused by Corbulo that the diuersitie of fortune might augment his glorie Neither was Paetus infamie increased which appeered plainely in that he commaunded his sonne who was Tribune to appoint certaine bands to burie and couer the dead bodies of the vnfortunate conflict VII Tiridates speaketh with Corbulo and yeeldeth vp the crovvne of Armenia in the Roman campe THe day appointed Tiberius Alexander a noble gentleman of Rome giuen as an aide to the warre and Viuianus Annius Corbuloes sonne in lawe not yet of age to be Senator but assigned in the place of the Lieutenant of the fift legion came to Tiridates campe to do him honour and that hauing such pledges he should feare no treacherie And then were taken twentie horsemen on each side And the King seeing Corbulo lighted first from his horse and Corbulo did the like immediately and both of them on foote ioyned right hands Then the Roman praised the yoong Prince that leauing dangerous vncertainties he would imbrace sure and wholesome counsell Tiridates hauing spoken much of the noblenes of his stocke in the rest was temperate saying that he would goe to Rome and bring Caesar newe glorie Arsacides humblie intreating the Parthians being daunted with no aduerse encounter Then seemed it good that Tiridates should lay his royall crowne before Caesars image and not take it againe but at the hand of Nero and so the speech was ended with a short salutation A few dayes after with a great pomp on both parts they shewed themselues his horsemen ranged into troupes on one side with the ensignes of his countrey and on the other the armie of the legions marshalled in order with glittering standards and ensignes and images of the gods in manner of a temple In the middle was planted a tribunall and in it a chaire of estate with Neroes image vnto which Tiridates went and sacrifices offered according to the custome taketh the crowne from his head and laide it vnder the image which troubled the minds of such as had yet before their eyes the slaughter and besieging of the Romane armies But now fortune was changed and Tiridates a spectacle to the people how much better then a captiue Corbulo added to his glorie courtesie and feastings and as the King marked any strange thing and asked the cause as the beginnings of the watches brought by the Centurion the banket ended with a trumpet the pile of wood before the Augural altar lighted with a torch Corbulo made him answere extolling euery thing more then it was to draw the new Prince into an admiration of the old custome The last day when he was to take his iourney he desired time to visit his brothers and mother before his departure and left his daughter for an hostage in the meane space and letters of submission to be sent to Nero. And departed thence he found Pacorùs with the Medes and Vologeses at Ecbatanes not vnmindfull of his brother for he had requested of Corbulo by speciall messengers that Tiridates might not shew any token of seruitude or deliuer vp his weapons or be barred from imbracing the gouernors of prouinces or attend at their dores but haue the same honor at Rome that the Consuls had Being accustomed to forren pride he was vnacquainted with our manners with whom the lawe of rule and dominion beareth sway vanities being laid aside The same yeere Caesar honored the nations of the sea Alpes with the rights and priuiledges of the Latians and in the Cirque placed the Gentlemen of Rome before the people For vntill that day they sate indifferently because the lawe Roscian had taken no order but for foureteene orders A shew of Fencers was represented that yeere with like magnificence as others before but many noble women and Senators wiues were discredited in the Theater VIII Nero singeth on the stage The fall of the same stage Torquatus Silanus death Nero attired like a woman weddeth Pythagoras C. Lecanius and M. Licinius being Consuls Nero more and more desired to frequent the stage without any respect for as yet he had not song but in his house and gardens in plaies of youth which now he despised as not frequented and too meane for such a voice Yet he durst not begin at Rome but chose Naples as a Greeke citie thinking that that might serue for a commencement to goe to Achaia where hauing obtained the famous and in times past reputed sacred crownes by that meanes grown in credit he thought he should stur a great desire in the citizens of Rome to heare him The cōmón rabble flocked together or such as the fame of those plaies had drawne frō the next colonies townes and such as followed him either to do him honor or sundrie other occasions yea companies of souldiers filled the Theater of Naples There hapned as most men thought a dolefull chance but yet as he construed it foretokening good luck and sent by the fauorable prouidence of the gods For the people were no sooner gone and the Theater emptie but it fell downe without hurt done to any Therfore with songs composed for the purpose thanking the gods and celebrating the fortune of the late chance going to the Adriatike sea he stayed in the meane time at Beneuentum where by Vatinius was exhibited a notable play of Fencers Vatinius was one of the shamelest monsters of his court brought vp in a coblers shop mishapen of bodie and a scurrile iester and therefore first emploied in that practise then by pickthanking and informing against the better sort grew to such authoritie that in credit and wealth and power of doing hurt he was worse then the worst Nero then comming to the play he had set forth no not at their pastime did they abstaine from doing of mischiefe For the selfesame daye Torquatus Silanus was constrained to dye because that besides the noblenes of the Iunian familie he sayd that he was in the fourth degree lineally descended from Augustus of famous memorie The accusers were commaunded to lay to his charge that he was prodigall in gifts and that all his hope lay in the alteration of the state And that he had noble men about him which he called his Secretaries maisters of requests Auditors which were names of imperiall dignitie and deseignments of great attempts Then the chiefest of his freed men were bound and caried away And when Torquatus condemnation was at hand he cut the vaines of his armes and Nero as his manner was made an oration after that although he had beene culpable and worthily distrusted his purgation yet he should haue had his life graunted him if he would haue expected the
THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS THE DESCRIPTION OF GERMANIE M. D. XCVIII TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX AND EWE EARLE Marshal of England Viscount Hereford and Bourchier Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourchier and Louaine Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Master of the Queenes Maiesties horse and one of her Maiesties most honorable priuie Councell THE woorthines of this Author well knowen vnto your honor putteth me in some hope of pardon for my presumption in presenting vnto your Honors view and crauing a fauourable acceptance of my bold vnskilfulnes For if Historie be the treasure of times past and as well a guide as image of mans present estate a true and liuely pattern of things to come and as some terme it the work-mistresse of experience which is the mother of prudence Tacitus may by good right chalenge the first place among the best In iudgement there is none sounder for instruction of life for al times to those which oft read him iudiciously nothing yeelding to the best Philosophers no woord not loaden with matter and as himselfe speaketh of Galba he vseth Imperatoria breuitate which although it breed difficultie yet carrieth great grauitie I present him therfore to your Honors fauourable protection in regard of himselfe but yet no otherwise then as a glasse representing in liuely colours of prowesse magnanimitie and counsell not onely woorthie personages of ages past and gone but also your L. owne honorable vertues wherof the vvorld is both vvithes iudge If your L. vouchsafe to receiue him though greatly darkened of that he first was and verie much dimmed in respect of the Historie alreadie in our toong into any degree of fauour I little doubt but others will both looke on him and the better like and allow him for here belovve we receiue either light or darkenes from aboue Vespasians example wrought more than a lawe for obsequium in principes and aemulandi amor to speake with Tacitus maketh that to be in greatest request which perhaps in it selfe deserueth least VVhatsoeuer my vnskilfull paines hath beene my zeale and deuotion to your Honor I present vvith it vnto whom I wish al good hap and felicitie with the accomplishment of vertues and Honorable desires Your Honors most humbly deuoted RICHARD GRENEWEY TO THE READER THat which most men alleage courteous Reader as a cause of publishing vnto the world their commendable endeuours as commaundement of superiours intreatie of friends or such like causes yeelding some excuse if things well done by them needed any that can I no way pretend though no man hath iuster cause to inuent somewhat to excuse that which well knowing and confessing my owne insufficiencie I should by no inducements haue beene drawen vnto For I wanted not iudgement to know that to performe this I vndertooke as I ought was a matter beyond the compasse of my skill yet neuerthelesse my will ouercomming my owne iudgement and reason in vndertaking I haue ventured my credit to the wide sea of common opinion and dangerous censure and knowing the best haue followed the woorst A fault perhaps pardonlesse in the rigoroust censure and which bred in my selfe a long time distrust and feare yet at last incouraged by hope to find some milder iudges for my boldnes I ventured this labour and performed it thus meanely as thou seest trusting the courteous Reader if in ought I haue pleasured him will affoord me his good woord for my good will and in that I haue done amisse pardon and a fauourable construction for my paines And although in reason it seemeth I should most of all feare the censure of the learned if any such vouchsafe to read this translation in regard they best can and with quickest insight pearce into my want of skill iudgement and vnderstanding yet in those is my greatest hope because they be learned Cause sufficient to feare no captious or carping constructions as a propertie ill beseeming their good qualitie and education I was well assured that he who best might would take no further paines in this kind nor hearing of any other which would I thought some could be contented to haue it rather il done than not at all Friendly Reader I craue pardon for my faults and desire thou wouldest fauourably beare with my ouersights Farewell THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS The Proeme of Tacitus containing the forme of gouernment vntill Augustus time with the subiect of this worke THE citie of Rome was in the beginning gouerned by Kings Libertie and the Consulship L. Brutus brought in The Dictators were chosen but for a time the Decemuiri passed not two yeeres neither had the Consularie authoritie of the Tribunes of the soldiers any long continuance nor Cinna nor Sillaes dominion Pompey and Crassus quickly yeelded to Caesars forces Lepidus and Antonie to Augustus who entitling himselfe by the name of Prince brought vnder his obedience the whole Romane state wearied and weakened with ciuill disorders But as well the prosperous as vnprosperous successes of the ancient Common-wealth excellent writers haue recorded neither wanted there woorthie singular wits to deliuer Augustus exploits vntill they were by the ouerswarming of flatterers vtterly discouraged Tiberius Caius Claudius and Neroes actions they yet liuing and flourishing were falsly set downe for feare and after their death through fresh hatred as corruptly as before Whereupon I intend to deliuer some few things done in Augustus later times then Neroes raigne and other occurrents as they fell out without passion or partialitie as being free from motiues of both 1. The meanes by which Augustus came to the empire and whom he chose to succeed AFter that Brutus and Cassius were slaine and no armes now publikely borne Pompey defeated in Sicilie Lepidus disarmed Antonie killed and no chiefe leader of Iulius Caesars faction left but onely Augustus he would no longer be called Triumuir but in shew contented with the dignitie of a Tribune to defend the people bearing himselfe as Consul after he had wound into the fauour of the soldier by giftes of the people by prouision of sustenance and of all in generall with the sweetenes of ease and repose by little and little taking vpon him he drew to himselfe the affaires of Senate the dutie of magistrates and lawes without contradiction of any the stowtest by war or proscriptions alreadie spent and the rest of the nobilitie by how much the more seruiceable by so much the more bettered in wealth and aduanced in honors seeing their preferment to growe by new gouernment did rather choose the present estate with securitie than striue to recouer their olde with danger That forme of gouernment the prouinces disliked not as mistrusting the Senates and peoples regiment by reason of noble mens factions couetousnes of magistrates the lawes affoording no securitie being swaied hither and thither by might ambition and corruption Besides this Augustus labouring by some stay to settle the soueraigntie aduanced Claudius Marcellus
into wipe away this blot and conuert this priuate rancor to the destruction of the enemie And you in whom I perceiue another countenance and another will if you purpose to restore the Embassadors to the Senate yeeld dutifull obedience to the Emperour and me my wife and sonne withdraw your selues from the contagion of the seditious and go from them which haue beene the authors of this rebellion that shall be a sure token of your repentance and a bond of fidelitie With these speeches the souldiers humbling themselues confessed all to be true which was vpbraided them and besought him that he would punish the faultie and pardon those which were seduced and bring them against the enemie recall his wife and the legions child and not deliuer him to the Gaules for an hostage Germanicus excused the returne of his wife by the neerenes of her time and winter yet that his sonne should returne againe and as for other things that they themselues should see them performed The souldiers then being better perswaded ran from place to place layd hands on the most disordered persons and brought them bound before C. Cetronius Colonel of the first legion who gaue iudgement and punishment on euery of them in this manner The legions called together stoode with their swords drawne before the Tribunal and the offender shewen by the Tribune out of a high seate and if the souldiers did cry that he was guiltie he was immediately throwne downe headlong and cut in peeces the souldier reioysing in these massacres as though himselfe thereby had bene acquited Germanicus did not hinder them at all seeing that being done without his commaundement as well the fact as the enuie of it should light vpon their owne necks The old souldiers following that president were anon after sent to Raetia vnder colour of defending the prouince from the inuasion of the Sweuians but in deede to draw them from those garrisons yet breathing of crueltie no lesse by that cruel meanes of redresse then memorie of their former outrages This done he tooke a suruey of the Centurions who being called by the Captaine told their names degrees and countrey what payes they had receiued and how many yeares what exploits they had done in seruice and with what donatiues rewarded If the Tribunes and legions approued their valour and integritie they kept their roomes if by common consent couetousnes or crueltie were laid to their charge they were cassirde Things thus setled for the present there arose immediately a matter of no lesser waight then the former through the headie insolencie of the fift and one and twentith legion lodged in winter standings threescore miles off at Vetera For they first led the daunce and with their owne hands committed the lewdest outrages Nothing terrified with their fellowes punishment continued impenitent and still harbored anger in their breasts Whereupon Caesar gathereth forces prepareth a Nauy with confederates and allies to send downe the Rhene purposing if they were obstinate to try it out in a maine battell No tidings being all this while brought to Rome of the successe in Illyricum and vnderstanding of the rising of the Germaine legions the citie trembling with feare began to blame Tiberius that counterfeiting a doubtfulnes of taking on him the Empire mocked the Lords of the Senate the weake vnfurnished common people and suffered the seditious in the meane time to rebell which by the weake authoritie of two yong men could not be suppressed That he should therefore haue gone himselfe in person and opposed his imperiall maiestie against them at whose sight they would presently haue yeelded being by long experience skilfull and carrying with him power to punish or reward If Augustus striken in yeares could make often iourneies into Germanie should Tiberius being of a strong and able bodie sit in the Senate carping the Senators words He had taken good order how to keepe the citie in seruitude and that it was now time to applie some medicine to the souldiers minde to induce them to a disposition of peace Notwithstanding Tiberius standing stiffe in his determination resolued not to forsake the head of the empire and hazard himselfe and the whole state Many things troubled his minde as that the Germane armie was the strongest and the Pannonian neere at hand the one leaning to the strength of the Gaules the other lying in the confines of Italie doubtfull himselfe which first to go to least the other being postposed should take it in disdaine But his sonnes might visit both as a thing standing well with imperiall maiestie bearing greater state farthest off The yoong men might be excused if they referred some things to their father and if they should resist Germanicus and Drusus he should be able to appease or ouerthrowe them But if they should set light by the Emperor what remedie could be then looked for Neuertheles as though he would depart out of hand he made choise of his followers prouided his carriages in a readines prepared shipping then excusing himselfe now with the hardnes of the winter now with this now with that he deceiued first the wise then the vulgar sort and the prouinces a very long time XI The first and the ninth legion kill many of the rebels Germanicus ouer commeth the Marseans beateth dovvne the temple of Tanfana The death of Iulia. BVt Germanicus although he had an armie in a readines to reuenge vpon the rebels thinking it conuenient neuertheles to giue them some respite to see whether they would be reclaimed by the example of the other legions sent letters before to aduertise Cecina that he was comming with a power and that if they would not punish the offenders before his comming he would without any respect make a generall slaughter of them all These letters Cecina secretly imparted to the standard and ensigne bearers and the better sort perswading them to deliuer all in generall from infamie and themselues from death For in time of peace each mans cause and merit was waighed but in warre the guiltie and guiltlesse perished alike They then sounding the mindes of those they thought fittest and finding the greater number of the legionarie soldiers to continue dutifull following the Lieutenants aduice set downe a time when to cut off the lewdest and most seditious among them Then the watch-word giuen they breake into their tents slue them none priuie to the cause but such as were of counsell in the enterprise neither imagining the beginning nor the ende of this butcherie The strangest manner of ciuill warre that euer happened was this for without order of battell not sallying out of diuers standings but out of the same beds in which they had eaten by day and slept by night they banded into factions lanced their dartes outcries were heard wounds giuen blood shed but the cause vnknowen fortune ruled the rest and some honest men were slaine among But it was no sooner knowne against whom this watch was intended but the worst persons snatched their
for in so dooing industrie would decay and idlenes increase if men had not a feare and a hope in them And if all men should careleslie expect reliefe from others they would be to themselues vnprofitable and to vs burdensome These the like speeches although they were heard with the approbation of such whose custome is to applaude all the Princes actions be they honest or dishonest yet manie held their toong or secretly muttered which Tiberius perceiued and hauing paused a little saide that he had answered Hortalus Neuerthelesse if it so seemed good vnto the Lords of the Senat he would giue euerie one of his male children * two hundred thousand sesterces The rest gaue him thankes Hortalus helde his toong either for feare or as retaining somewhat of the nobilitie of his auncestors euen in extremitie of fortune Yet Tiberius had no compassion afterward on him although the Hortensian familie fell into shamefull pouertie IX Clemens a bondslaue counterfeiteth himselfe to be Agrippa and his bold answere THe same yeere an audacious part of a bondslaue had shaken the whole state with ciuill wars and discord had it not beene preuented in good time A bondman of Agrippas called Clemens vnderstanding of Augustus death with a courage more then seruile purposed to go to the Iland Planasia and by fraud or force bring away Agrippa to the German campe But his enterprise was hindered by the slownes of a ship of burden and in the meane season Agrippa being murdered bending his mind to greater and dangerouser attempts stealeth away his ashes and being come to Coram a promontorie of Ethruria in vnknowen places hideth himselfe vntill his beard and haire were growen out being in fauour and yeeres not vnlike his Lord. This done he whispereth it abroad by fit companions of his secrets first as in things forbidden commonly it is wont to be by priuie rumors that Agrippa was yet aliue then openly in the credulous eares of the weaker sort or busie headed and turbulent and therefore most desirous of nouelties His manner was towards night to go to small townes shewing himselfe abroad but seldome nor stay long in a place And bicause time and the eie trie out truth and falshood winneth credit on a sudden and by vncertainties he either left some speech of him where he had beene or preuented it before any was begun In the mean time it was commonly reported throughout Italy and beleeued at Rome that Agrippa by the goodnes of the gods was preserued aliue In so much that being arriued at Hostia there great multitudes and in the citie secret assemblies shewed signes of ioy Tiberius being doubtfull and perplexed whether he should make away his bondman by souldiers or suffer that vaine credulousnes to vanish away with time Thus wauereing betwixt shame and feare sometimes thinking it no policie to make light of any thing and sometime lesse to feare all things in the end committed the matter to Sallustius Crispus He chuseth two of his followers or as some saie souldiers and perswadeth them as though they had fled for some offence to goe to him offer him money promise him loyaltie and that they would stand to him in all dangers They fulfilling his commaundement espieng a night when he had no guarde with aide sufficient bound him stopped his mouth and drew him to the pallace And when Caesar asked him How he was made Agrippa it is reported hee answered As thou wast made Caesar He could not bee brought by any meanes to disclose his confederates Neither durst Tiberius punish him openly but in a secret part of the pallace commaunded him to be murdered and his bodie priuily to be conueied away And although many of the Princes own house Senators and gentlemen were reported to haue sustained him with their goods aided him with their counsell yet there was no further enquirie made In the end of this yeere a triumphall arch was erected neere to Saturnus Temple for the recouerie of the ensignes lost with Varus vnder the conduct of Germanicus and Caesars good fortune And a Temple built also of strong fortune neere Tyber in the gardens which Caesar the Dictator had bequeathed to the people of Rome and a Chappell dedicated to the Iulian familie and an image to Augustus at Bouilles IX Germanicus triumpheth is sent to the East The death of Archelaus King of Cappadocia C. Coelius and L. Pomponius being Consuls the seuenth Kalends of Iune Germanicus Caesar triumphed for the victories gotten against the Cherusci Chatti and Angriuari and all other nations inhabiting to the riuer of Albis In which triumph were caried the spoiles and captiues and counterfeit of the mountaines riuers and battels and so the warre was taken as ended because he was forbidden to prosecute it any further The comlines of his person and triumphall chariot loaden with fiue of his children made the shew more gallant But when they thought with themselues how vnluckie the peoples fauour was in his father Drusus that his vncle Marcellus was taken from them in the flowre of his youth heate of the peoples loue that the affection of the people of Rome was vnfortunate and of small continuance they were all secretly striken into a feare And although Tiberius gaue in Germanicus name to euery one of the people * three hundred sesterces a man and made him his copartner in the Consulship yet could neuer be accompted a sincere friend but that he went about to remoue the yong man vnder colour of honor and forged pretences or greedily taking hold of such as were offered by chaunce King Archelaus had now fiftie yeares enioyed Cappadocia greatly disliked of Tiberius because that during his being at Rhodes he had vsed no shew of dutie towards him which Archelaus did not omit through pride but because he was so admonished by Augustus familiarest friends For whilest C. Caesar yet flourished and managed the affaires of the East Tiberius friendship was suspected as dangerous The house of the Caesars was no sooner extinguished and that himselfe was in possession of the Empire but he tolleth Archelaus by his mothers letters to Rome who not dissembling her sonnes displeasure offered him all gentle intreatie if he would come to him with submission He then ignorant of the trechery or misdoubting violence if he seemed to perceiue it maketh haste to the citie where being churlishly receiued and anon after accused in Senate not for the crimes which were pretended but by anguish of minde or feeblenes of age and because not only base but also things indifferent are strange and vnusuall to kings he either willingly or naturally ended his life The kingdome was afterward reduced into a prouince and Caesar declaring that with the reuenews thereof the tribute of one in the hundred might be eased made a decree that from thence forward one should be leuied in two hundred At the same time Antiochus king of the Comageni and Philopater king of the Cilicians being dead those nations
by a maine battell Now he determined by some subtiltie to set vpon Rhescuporis King of Thrace That countrey once hauing beene vnder Rhoemetalces after his death Augustus gaue part of it to his brother Rhescuporis part to his sonne Cotys In that partition the erable grounds the cities and places adioining to Greece fell to Cotys share That which was vnhabited wilde and lying neere the enimie to Rhescuporis The dispositions also of those Kings were such that the one was tractable and of a milde condition this stout coueteous and impatient of a companion and both at the first liuing in cunning and dissembled concord Then Rhescuporis began to exceed his bounds and draw that to himselfe which was giuen Cotys and vse violence if he resisted but not so hotly in Augustus time whom he feared being the author of both kingdomes would reuenge if he were despised But vnderstanding of a chaunge of the Prince he sent in troups of theeues beat downe his castles and sought occasions of warre Nothing did more trouble Tiberius then that those things which were once setled should now be disturbed and therefore making choise of a Centurion dispatcheth him away to signifie to the Kings that they should not in any case enter into armes and thereupon Cotys dismissed presently the aide he had prepared Rhescuporis with a fained modestie requesteth a place of meeting to ende their controuersie by conference neither did they long doubt of the time place and conditions the one yeelding to all with a facilitie of nature the other accepting all with a fraudulent meaning Rhescuporis as he pretended to conclude this agreement maketh a banket whē the night was far spent with great myrth much eating quaffing of wine he loaded vncircumspect Cotys with chaines who perceiuing the treason besought him by the sacred ceremonies of the kingdom the gods of the same familie by the entertainment of his table he would vse no such violence Hauing thus made himselfe maister of all Thrace he wrote to Tiberius that there were conspiracies wrought against him and the contriuer of them preuented And withall pretending warre against the Bastarnians and the Scythians maketh himselfe strong with a new power of footemen and horsemen Tiberius wrote to him coldly againe that if there were no fraude in his doing he might trust to his innocencie but neither he nor the Senate could discerne the right from wrong vnlesse they knew the cause therefore that he should deliuer vp Cotys and come to them and purge himselfe of the enuie of the crime Those letters Latinius Pandus Propraetor of Moesia sent with the souldiers vnto whom Cotys should be deliuered But Rhescuporis balancing betweene anger and feare and desirous to be guiltie rather of the fact committed then only attempted commandeth Cotys to be slaine and vntruly gaue it out that he had killed himselfe Yet for all this Caesar altered not his intended course but after Pandus decease whom Rhescuporis accused to haue beene his back friend made Pomponius Flaccus an old souldier and with whom the king was very inward and therefore a more fit instrument to deceiue for the same cause especiall gouernor of Moesia Flaccus being gone to Thrace by way of great promises perswaded him although doubtfull and calling to minde his owne wickednes to enter into the Romane garrison where he was garded with a strong companie vnder colour of honor He had Tribunes and Centurions at hand to counsell and perswade him and the further he went the greater gard and at last knowing in what termes of necessitie he stoode they brought him to the citie where being accused in Senate by Cotys wife he was condemned to be kept far from his countrey Thrace was afterward deuided betwixt Rhaemetalces his sonne who was knowne to be an enemie to his fathers proceedings and Cotys children which not being of full age Trebellienus Rufus who had beene Pretor in the meane season was made gouernor of the kingdome following the example of our predecessors who sent M. Lepidus into Aegypt to be gardian to Ptolemeus children Rhescuporis was caried to Alexandria and there going about to escape or because it was so fathered on him was killed At the same time Vonones who as we haue said was confined in Cilicia hauing corrupted his keepers vnder colour of going a hunting attempted all meanes to escape to the Armenians from thence to the Albanians and Heniochians and to his Cosen the king of Scythia And forsaking the sea coasts gote into bywayes and forrests and by the swiftnes of his horse posted with all speede to the riuer Pyramus The borderers vnderstanding the kings escape hauing broken down the bridges he not able to passe at any foord was taken by the riuers side and bound by Vibius Fronto captaine of the horsemen Anon after Remmius Euocatus vnto whose charge the king was first committed as it had bene in an anger thrust him through with his sword Wherupon it was the easlier beleeued that he had so slaine Vonones as one guiltie and consenting to his escape and therefore fearing he should be bewraied and accused XVII Germanicus sicknes and death The variance betwixt him and Piso BVt Germanicus returning from Aegypt and perceiuing that all which he had commaunded either in the legions or townes left vndone or changed cleane contrary began to vse grieuous and contumelious speeches against Piso and he to requite Caesar with no lesse dangerous attempts Whereupon Piso determined to depart Syria but staying a time by reason of Germanicus sicknes when he heard of his amendment and that the vowes were accomplished for his health he droue away by his sergeants the beast brought to the altar and disturbed the preparation made for the sacrifice and the solemne meeting of the people of Antioch Then he went to Seleucia expecting the euent of his sicknes which he fell againe into the rage thereof so much the more greeuous through an opinion that Piso had poisoned him for there were found pulled out of the ground and wals charmes verses and enchantmēts and Germanicus name engrauen in sheetes of lead ashes halfe burned and tempered with corrupt bloud and other sorceries by which it is thought that soules are dedicated to the infernall powers Some also were accused to haue bene sent from Piso to espie in what state he was in That droue Germanicus both into anger and feare considering with himselfe if his house should be besieged if he should lose his life in the sight of his enemies what should happen after to his wofull wife and his yong children he saw that the poison seemed slow in working but Piso hastened that he might alone haue the gouernment of the legions and the prouince But Germanicus was not so destitute of friends that the murderer should inioy the rewards of the murder And hereupon enditeth a letter to him in which he renounceth his friendship Some adde that he commaunded him to depart the prouince Piso made no longer delay but
we hasten to come to Rome with Germanicus ashes that Agrippinas lamentation and the vnskilfull multitude at the first rumor should laie hands on thee vnheard and vndefended Thou hast for thee Augustas conscience and Caesars fauour though in secret And none bewaile more braggingly Germanicus death in outward shew then such as in their harts are most glad Piso being forward enough of himself to haughtie attempts was with small adoe drawen to this opinion And sending letters to Tiberius accuseth Germanicus of riot and pride and that himselfe was driuen out of the prouince bicause there might be a way made open to innouation that he had againe taken charge of the armie with the same fidelitie as he had alreadie gouerned it Withall he commanded Domitius with a galley to saile into Syria and auoiding the coasting of the shoare and letting passe the Ilands take wide and open sea Then marshalling and arming runnagates and rascall base companions and sailing ouer to the continent he intercepted an ensigne of yoong and rawe souldiers which were going to Syria And writeth also to the Lords of Cilicia to send him aide the yoong man Piso being nothing slacke in the seruice although he was against the vndertaking of the warre Wherefore passing by the coast of Lycia Pamphylia meeting with the ships which had conueied Agrippina to Rome each side hating one another made themselues readie to fight yet both sides fearing the one the other they proceeded no further then to hard words Mirsus Vibius sommoned Piso to come to Rome to answere for himselfe who scoffingly answered him againe that he would come and appeere when the Pretor which was to inquire of poisonings would appoint a day as well for the plaintif as defendāt In the meane time Domitius being ariued at Laodicea a citie in Syria and going to the standing camp of the sixt legion as most fit for new enterprises was preuēted by the Lieutenāt Pacuuius Sentius openeth that by letters to Piso warning him not to go about to tempt the armie with corrupters nor raise any war in the Prouince And such as he knew to haue Germanicus in minde or were aduersaries to the enimies he assembled togither putting them oftē in mind of the greatnes of the Emperor and how the common-wealth was assailed and thereupon gathereth a strong power readie to fight Yet neither Piso nor his side although his enterprises fell out otherwise than he expected did let slip that which was of most safetie for the present but putteth himselfe in a verie strong castle in Cilicia called Celenderis For by sorting and medling togither the runnagates the new and raw soldier lately taken his owne and Plancinaes slaues and the aides which the Lords of Cilicia sent he marshalled them in forme of a legion And then affirmed that he was Caesars Lieutenant but drouen out of the Prouince committed to him not by the legions for they called him thither but by Sentius which cloaked his priuate malice with false crimes therfore that they should stād stoutly to the battel bicause the soldiers would not fight when they should see Piso whom heretofore they called their father If they would proceed by order of iustice the right was on his side if by armes he wanted not strength Then he displaied his companies in order of battell before the castle on a steepe craggie hils side the rest being inuironed with sea On the contrarie side the old soldiers with their supplies were marshalled into rankes On this side was the strength of souldiers one that of place In courage and hope there was great oddes also and on their side no weapons but rude and clownish prepared for a present shift And when they came to handie strokes there was no lōger doubt who should haue the vpper hand but til the Roman cohorts could win the plaine ground which done the Cilicians shewed their backs shut themselues in their fort In the meane space Piso went about but in vaine to assaile the nauie which waited not farre off Then returned to the castle againe now tormenting himselfe vpon the wals now calling to euerie souldier by his name and offering rewards assaied to raise a mutinie and did so much preuaile that the standard bearer of the sixt legion went with his ensigne to his side Then Sentius commaunded the cornets and trumpets to sounde gaue an assault to the rampiers caused laddres to be put vp and the ablest men to follow and the others out of engines to shoote dartes stones and fire brands In the end Pisoes obstinacie being ouercome entreateth that hauing yeelded vp his weapons he might remaine in the castle vntill Caesar were consulted who should be gouernor of Syria The conditions were not accepted nor any thing graunted him but onely that he should haue shipping and safe conduct to the citie XIX Great bewailing for Germanicus death strange religions suppressed loose life restrained in women of account BVt when Germanicus sicknes was noised at Rome and as in newes it falleth out the farther it goeth augmented to the worser all men burst out into anger griefe and complaints saying that therefore he was sent to forren countries that was the reason why Piso had the prouince committed to him this was the effect of Augustaes secret conference with Plancina that the auncient men said most truly of Drusus that the courteous and modest disposition of children doth dislike such as raigne Neither were they made away for any other reason but because libertie restored they had a meaning to reduce the people of Rome to a certain equalitie These speeches of the common people the newes of his death did so much kindle that before any edict of Magistrates before any decree of Senate was made vacation being taken of themselues the places of iudgement were abandoned houses shut vp silence and mourning euery where nothing of all this counterfeited or done for ostentation And although they did not abstaine from outward tokens of mourning yet in their harts they mourned much more Certaine Merchants returning by chaunce out of Syria Germanicus yet liuing bringing ioyfull tidings of his health were presently beleeued and spread abroad and as they met one another although they had scarse heard the tale to the end yet they reported it againe and they againe to others still making it more and increasing their ioy They ran vp and downe the citie went about to wrest open the gates of the temples the night furthered their credulousnes and in the darke euery man more readie to affirme Neither did Tiberius gainsay these false reports but let them vanish away with time But then the people as though he had beene a second time taken from them greeued more bitterly Such was his funerall pomp done in memory of him as either mens loue or pregnancie of conceipt could inuent as that his name should be sung in a Salarian verse which Mars priests were wont to sing that in the roomes of the Augustall priests chaires of estate
to bewaile and lament alike Neither couldest thou haue discerned the lamentation of kinsfolkes from the stanger nor the women from the men sauing that the fresh griefe of such as went to meete her exceeded the lamentation of her traine alreadie wearied with long continuance of sorrow Caesar had sent two companies of his guarde to meete them and gaue further charge that the magistrates of Calabria the Apuleians Campanians should solemnise the last obsequies in memorie of his sonne The ashes were carried on the Tribunes and Centurions shoulders the ensignes vntrimmed and the fasces or knitch of rods turned downewards went before and when they passed by any colonies the common people in mourning weede and gentlemen in their attire called Trabea according to the wealth of the place burnt garments sweete odors with other accustomed funerall solemnities Yea such whose townes were far off yet met them erected altars offered sacrifices to the infernall gods witnessing their dolour with teares and cries Drusus went to Terracina with his brother Claudius Germanicus children which had remained in the citie The Consuls M. Valerius M Aurelius who began then to enter into office the Senat and a great part of the people filled vp the way scattered hither thither weeping as euery mans affection was Flattery there was none all men knowing that the death of Germanicus ioyfull to Tiberius could badly be dissembled howsoeuer he counterfeited the contrary Tiberius and Augusta abstained from mourning in publicke iudging it a thing vnder their maiestie if they should be seene openly to lament or least the eies of all men obseruing their countenance should espie they did but counterfeit I finde not in any author or diurnall register that his mother Antonia did any thing woorthie memorie in that sole 〈…〉 when as besides Agrippina Drusus and Claudius the rest of his bloud are by name written of either hindered by sicknes or in minde ouercome with sorrow coulde not endure the sight of so heauie a griefe I should easlier haue beleeued that Tiberius and Augusta which kept within doores made hir do the like that their griefe might be iudged equall and that the grandmother and vncle should seeme to haue kept in by the example of the mother The day that the ashes were put in Augustus tombe was sometimes with silence desolate and still and on the sudden vnquiet with weeping all passages of the citie were full Campus Martius shined with burning torches There the soldier with his weapons the magistrates without the markes of their dignitie and calling and the people gathered into tribes and companies cried that the common-wealth was fallen to ground and no hope left and that so openly and boldly that thou wouldest haue beleeued they did not remember by whom they were gouerned Yet nothing went so neere Tiberius hart as the ardent affection men bare Agrippina calling hir the honour of their countrey the onely bloud of Augustus the patterne of antiquitie and turning towards the heauen and the gods praied that hir issue might long continue and ouerliue the wicked Some desired that the funerals might be celebrated with publike pompe comparing the magnificence and honors that Augustus had vsed for Drusus Germanicus father And that he in the hardest time of winter went as farre as Ticinum and how neuer once departing from the bodie accompanied it to the citie That about the coffin were the images of the Claudians and Iulians that he was bewailed in the place of publike assemblies praised with an oration before the people and all honors done him which either our auncestors or later times could inuent But Germanicus had not so much as the vsuall solemnities done for him his body through distance of place was in some sort burnt in strange lands but by so much the more honours shoulde nowe haue beene bestowed vpon him bicause fortune had denied him the first His brothers went to meete him but one daies iourney his vncle not so farre as to the gate Where are the auncient customes become why was not his image put before the Beere and verses sung in memorie of his vertues why was he not praised and bewailed with the vsuall representation of mourning All this was well known to Tiberius and to suppresse the speech of the common people he admonished them by edict That although many notable Romans had died for the common-wealth yet none had euer beene bewailed with such an ardent affection Which was to him and vnto others also honorable so as there were a meane vsed For the selfe same things are not seemly for noble men the Emperor and the common people It was conuenient that small houses or cities shoulde mourne and lament in fresh griefe and after their griefe take comfort againe but now it was time to confirme the minde as Iulius Caesar hauing lost his onely daughter and Augustus his nephewes did cast off all sorrow It was needlesse to alleage auncient examples to shew how oft the people of Rome had suffered constantly the losse of armies death of captaines and the vtter ouerthrow of noble families That princes are mortall and the common-wealth euerlasting Therefore that they should take their solemnities againe and bicause the shew of the Megalensian plaies was at hand returne to their pleasures II. Piso commeth to Rome vvhere he is accused and killeth himselfe THe vacation ended euery man returned to his busines and Drusus went to the armie of Illyricum the people bent to demaund a reuenge of Piso complained that he in the meane time now here now there in the pleasant countrey of Asia and Affrike with a prowd and subtill delay did shift off the proofes brought against his lewdnes For it was commonly rumored that Martina as I haue before said a woman infamous for poisoning was sent to Rome by C. Sentius and being suddenly dead at Brundisium had no token vpon her that she had taken her owne bane and that the poison was found hidden in a knarle of her haire But Piso hauing sent his sonne before him to the citie with lessons how to pacifie the Prince went towards Drusus not hoping to finde him cruell in his behalfe for the death of his brother but rather fauorable as being rid of such a concurrent Tiberius to make a shew of vpright dealing hauing entertained the yong man courteously vsed the like liberalitie towards him as he was accustomed to do to the noble mens children of such as he was familiar with Drusus answered him that if the accusations layd against him were true the greatest griefe should be his and for his owne part he could wish they should be false and vaine and that Germanicus death might be preiudiciall to none These words were openly vttered and not in secret neither was it doubted at all but that Tiberius had before hand taught him his lesson when as being plaine simple and yong yet shewed the cunning of the old man Piso hauing past ouer the Dalmatian sea and left his ships at
Ancona went by Picenum and after by the Flaminian way ouertooke the legion which was brought from Pannony to Rome to lye in garrison in Affricke being common in euery mans mouth how in the campe and in the way he did often shew himselfe to the souldiers From Narnia whether it were to auoide suspition or because such as stand in feare are irresolute in their determinations being conueyed by Nare and anon after by Tiber he increased the euill will of the people towards him because he landed neere the Caesars tombe on a day when the shore was full of people many followers after him and Plancina accompanied with a traine of women both pleasant and cheerefull in countenance Among other causes of enuie and hart-burning Pisoes house was one looking on the market place trimmed to feast and banket in where nothing could be hidden The next day Fulcinius Trio accused Piso before the Consuls Vitellius and Veranius and the rest which had followed Germanicus alleaged that that was their office and that Trio had no part therein and that as witnesses and openers of the cause and not as accusers they were to report that which Germanicus had giuen them in charge Trio relinquishing the accusation obtained licence to accuse his former life and the Prince intreated to receiue the hearing of the cause to himselfe which the defendant refused not as misdoubting the Senators and peoples good will and contrary being well assured that Tiberius regarded not rumors but would leane to his mothers conscience and that the truth or things beleeued and wrested to the worst might easilier be discerned by one iudge whereas hatred and enuie beare the sway where there are many Tiberius was not ignorant how waightie a cause he vndertooke and how diuersly he was censured and therefore calling some of his familiar friends about him hearing the menaces of the accusers then the request of the partie arraigned referred the whole cause to the Senate In the meane season Drusus returning from Illyrium although the Senators had decreed that for receiuing of Maroboduus and exploits done the sommer past he should enter the citie ouant or with a small triumph yet deferring that honor for the time he entered priuately After that Piso had demauded T. Arruntius Fulcinius Asinius Gallus Aeserninus Marcellus Sext. Pompeius for his aduocates and all of them alleaging diuers excuses M. Lepidus L. Piso and Liueneius Regulus vndertooke his defence the whole citie being attentiue to know how Germanicus friends would stick vnto him what hope the partie arraigned had whether Tiberius were able to maister his affections or would shew himselfe All these things were greedily expected of the people neuer shewing themselues more attentiue nor at any time licencing themselues a more secret speech of the Prince or suspicious silence The day that the Senat met Caesar made a premeditate oration tempered in this sort saying That Piso had beene his fathers Lieutenant and friend and giuen by him to Germanicus as a coadiutor by the authoritie of the Senate in the administration of the affaires of the East but whether he had there exasperated the yong Prince through disobedience and contention and whether he had shewed himselfe glad of his death or villanously had made him away that they should iudge of that with vpright consciences For if being Lieutenant he hath gone beyond the bounds of his office and shaken off his dutie to his lord generall and reioysed in his death and my griefe I will hate him and estrange him from my house and reuenge not the Princes but priuat grudges If any villanous deede be detected in him worthie of reuenge euen in the death of any priuat person affoord your selues and Germanicus children and vs his father reasonable and iust comfort And examine also whether seditiously and mutinously Piso hath stirred vp the armie whether by ambition he hath sought to win the fauour of the souldiers whether he returned into the prouince by force of armes or whether these things be false and made greater then they are by the accusers with whose ouergreat affection I haue iust cause to be offended For to what purpose should his body be shewen naked be handled of the common people and bruted abroade among strangers as though he had beene empoisoned if these things be yet vncertaine and are to be inquired of I lament truely and am greeued for my sonne and alwaies shall But I hinder not the defendant to alleage all he can for the purgation of his innocencie or if Germanicus had any fault woorthie of reprehension And I beseech you not to take the crimes as already prooued bicause the cause is ioined with my sorrow If either his neernes in bloud or his owne faithfulnes hath yeelded him anie to defende his cause helpe him as much as in you lieth either by your eloquence or care in this his extremitie To the same labour and constancie I exhort the accusers Germanicus this onely priuiledge we will affoord aboue the lawes that his death shall be rather inquired of in the Curia then in the Forum before the Senat then other Iudges Let all the rest be debated with like modestie nothing regarding Drusus teares or my griefe or if anie slaunders be forged against me After that the accusers had two daies giuen them to bring in their accusations after sixe daies were past the defandāt had three more to iustifie himselfe Then Fulcinius began with stale and friuolous matters as that he had gouerned Spaine ambitiously and couetously Whereof being conuicted he could not be interessed if he could purge himselfe of the later crimes nor if he could defend himselfe from that accusation yet was he not acquitted if greater matters were laide to his charge After him Seruaeus and Veranius and Vitellius with like affection but Vitellius with greater eloquence obiected that Piso for hatred to Germanicus and desire of innouation had so farre corrupted the common soldier with licentiousnes and iniuries towards the confederates that of the lewdest sort he was called the father of the legions Further that he had vsed crueltie against euery good man and especially against Germanicus followers friends in the end that he had killed him with poison and inchantments Then that he and Plancina vsed wicked ceremonies and sacrifices that he had borne armes against the common-wealth that he woulde neuer haue appeared in iudgement had he not been ouercome in battell In manie things his defence was weake for he coulde not denie but that he had woone the soldier by ambition or that he had not exposed the prouince as a praie to the lewdest sort nor the iniurious speeches against the generall Onely he seemed to haue purged himselfe of the empoisoning which indeed the accusers did not sufficiently prooue accusing him to haue empoisoned Germanicus meate with his hand which was infected as he sate aboue him at a banquet For it seemed absurd that he should dare so bold an attempt amongst other mens seruants
Sal. Crispus two noble personages Volusius was descended of an auncient stocke but neuer higher then a Pretors roome himselfe obtained a Consuls roome was made Censor for the chusing of bands of horsmen the first gatherer of riches whereby that house rose to that greatnes Crispus was a gentleman borne and so called and adopted by that excellent writer of the Roman Historie C. Sallustius bicause he was his sisters nephew But he although he had a readie entrance for obtaining of dignities yet following the example of Maecenas neuer once being Senator had greater authoritie and power then many which had triumphed and beene Consuls Yet differed from his auncestors in manner of life as being neat fine and bountifull very neere riotousnes and was of a great capacitie and in courage able to performe great matters and so much the more liuely by how much in vtter shew he seemed drousie and heauie metled Therefore whilest Maecenas liued next vnto him his credit was best and after his death trusted with greatest secrets of state and priuie to the murdering of Posthumus Agrippa and growne into yeeres helde rather a shadowe of the Princes friendship then the substance Euen so fell it out with Maecenas either so by the course of the heauens decreed that Princes fauour is seldome euerlasting or bicause both haue their fill those when they haue giuen all they can these when there is nothing left to desire Now followeth the fourth time Tiberius and the second that Drusus was made Consull a thing woorthie of remembrance that the father and the son were fellow officers for two yeeres before Germanicus had the same dignitie with Tiberius but that was no ioie to the vncle neither he so neere in blood vnto him In the beginning of that yeere Tiberius went to Campania vnder colour of getting his health yet indeed by little and little to absent himselfe or else that the father being away Drusus might alone mannage the whole Consulship It fell out by meere chance that a matter of small moment growing to a waightie contention brought the yoong man to great credit Domitius Corbulo who had beene Pretor complained before the Lords of the Senat on L. Sulla a noble yoong man that he gaue him not the place at a play of fencers For Corbulo made his age the custome of the countrey and the fauour of the auncient men on the other side Mamercus Scaurus and L. Arruntius and other of his kinred stucke vnto Sulla Orations were made on both sides and examples of old times brought sharpely rebuking the irreuerence of youth vntill Drusus qualified the matter with a fit discourse and Corbulo satisfied by Mamercus the most excellent Orator of his time and vncle and father in law to Sulla The same Corbulo exclaiming that many high waies of Italie were broken and not passable by reason of the fraude of the vndertakers of the worke and negligence of magistrates in great accepteth willingly the finishing of that busines Which did not so much turne to à publick benefit as the destruction of many whose wealth and fame he tyrannised by condemning them and setting their goods to sale VII Whether Captaines and Gouernors of prouinces should haue their vviues vvith them NOt long after Tiberius sent letters to the Senate aduertising them that by Tacfarinas incursions Affrike was againe in armes and that with the aduise of the Lords it were needfull that a Preconsull were chosen skilfull in matters of warre of an able bodie and a sufficient man for this war Which entrance Sextus Pompeius hauing gotten of vttering his malice against M. Lepidus accused him to be a coward beggerly and a dishonour to his auncestors and therefore not to be admitted to lot for the gouernment of Asia The Senators were on his side who thought Lepidus rather meeke then a coward and the small wealth left him by his father and his nobilitie past without reproch rather they iudged a credit then an ignominie And therefore he was sent into Asia And touching Affrica it was decreed that Caesar shoulde chuse one himselfe for that charge Whilest these things were a dooing Seuerus Caecina was of opinion that no magistrate vnto whom should fall the gouernment of a Prouince shoulde haue his wife follow him hauing first often repeated the good agreement betwixt him and his wife that he had sixe children by hir and that he propounded nothing publikely to be executed which he had not obserued at home not suffering his to go out of Italie although he had had commanderie in wars fortie yeeres in many prouinces It was not in vaine said he ordained in times past that womē should not be drawen to cōfederates and forrein nations For it was incident where women followed that in peace they were a hinderance by riot and sumptousnes in warre by feare and made the Romane armie like the Barbarians going to warre That sexe was not onely weake and vnable to take paine but if it got the bridle cruell ambitious and greedy of rule To marche among the souldiers to haue the Centurions at command we haue seene a woman of late and to ouersee the cohorts exercise and the legions horseraces That they should consider that as oft as any were accused of extortion and polling more was obiected against their wiues then themselues That the lew dest persons of the prouinces did by and by cleaue vnto them They woulde intermeddle and conclude of all affaires by this meanes two were courted and two iudgement seats Women being wilfull commaund proudly and brideled by the Oppian and other lawes now hauing gotten the raines in their hands rule houses places of iudgements and armies This was heard but with the good likin of a fewe many interrupting him and saying that that was not the matter propounded nor Caecina a fit censurer to swaie a matter of so great importance Valerius Messallinus sonne vnto Messalla in whom appeared the image of his fathers eloquence answered immediately as followeth Many hard and irksome customes of our predecessors haue beene changed into the better and pleasanter Neither was the citie besieged as in times past or the prouinces at defiance with vs and some few things are graunted to womens necessities which are so farre from ouercharging the confederates that they are not burdensome to their husbands houses Other things were common as well to the husband as the wife and no hinderance at all therein to peace True it is that warres are to be vndertaken by armed men but vnto such as returne after their labours what more honester solace then a mans wife But some haue fallen into ambition and couetousnes What of magistrates themselues are not many of them subiect vnto sundry affections yet it cannot be that none should be sent into the prouince But oftentimes the husbands haue beene corrupted by the naughtines of their wiues are therefore all single men vncorrupt The Oppian lawes were once in vse the state of the common wealth so requiring but
which laie in garrison at Lugdunum The Turonians were ouerthrowne by the legionarie souldier which Visellius Varro Lieutenant of lower Germanie sent vnder the same captaine Auiola and certaine of the chiefe gentlemen of Gallia which brought him aide the better thereby to cloake their reuolt and when occasion serued rebell with more assurance Sacrouir was seene to demaund battell of the Romans bare headed as he saide to shewe his valour but the captaines said he did it to make himselfe the better knowne thereby to be spared from their darts Tiberius being consulted vpon that point made no reckoning of the disclosing of it but nourished the warre by doubting Florus in the meane time helde on his purpose enticed a wing of horsemen enrowled at Treuers and trained vp in our seruice discipline that hauing slaine the Roman merchants which there vsed trafficke he might begin the warre fewe of the horsemen were corrupted but most continued in their alleageance Other rude indebted persons or followers tooke armes and went towarde the forrest called Arden but the legions from both armies which Visellius and C. Silius had set to crosse them droue them backe Iulius Indus being of the same citie and an enimie to Florus and therefore more foreward to shew his valour being sent before with a choise power scattered and defeated that disordered multitude Florus escaped the conquerours hands by vncertaine lurking holes and at last perceiuing the souldiers to set on his places of refuge slewe himselfe with his own hands And that was the end of the rebellion of those of Treueri It was a matter of great difficultie to suppresse the Aedui by reason their city was more wealthie and the aide which should haue subdued them farther off Sacrouir had with certaine armed cohorts gotten possession of Augustodunum the chiefe citie of the countrey and taken the noblest mens children of all Gallia which there followed their studies as a pledge to win and binde their parents and kindred and withal secretly distributed weapons which himselfe had caused to be made to al the youth They were in number forty thousand the fift part armed as the legions were the others with hunting staues hangers such other weapōs as hūters vse To these were added certaine slauish fencers couered according to the countrey fashion from top to toe in armour of iron vnapt and vneasie to strike but to withstand impenetrable whom they call Crupellarij These forces were augmented though not by any open cōsent of cities adioining yet with euery mans particular good wil the Roman captaines striuing doubting who should haue the conducting of the warre both desiring it But Varro being old and feeble yeelded to Silius who was in his prime It was currant in Rome that not onely the Treueri and the Aedui but also that threescore and fower cities of Gallia had reuolted and the Germans ioined with them that Spaine was wauering and all as the nature of a report is beleeued more then it was Euery good man with a care of the common-wealth was greatly grieued many disliking the present state and desirous of alteration reioysed euen in their owne harmes and blamed Tiberius that in so great a hurlyburly he woulde still spende his labour in hearing accusers libels What saide they shall Iulius Sacrouir bee condemned of treason in Senate at last some were founde which with armes woulde suppresse these bloudy libels of accusers that a miserable peace was well changed for warre Tiberius so much the more composed to a careles securitie changed neither place nor countenance passed ouer those dayes after his accustomed woont either through haughtines of courage or because he knewe the matter to be lighter then the report In the meane time Silius marching on with two legions hauing sent a power of allies before wasteth the villages of the Sequans which were borderers and confederates with the Aeduans Anon after he marcheth speedily with his armie towardes Augustodunum the standard-bearers striuing who shoulde make most haste and the common souldier fretting and chasing likewise least he should rest the night as he was wont only that they might see the enemie and be seene that would be enough for the victorie Twelue miles off Sacrouir appeared in the champian countrey In the front he had placed his men couered with iron his cohorts on the wings and those which were halfe armed in the rereward himselfe mounted on a goodly courser amongst the chiefest of the citie went to the souldiers and put them in minde of the ancient glory of the Galli and how oft they had defeated the Romans How honorable a thing libertie was to the conquerors and how intollerable seruitude would be if they should be vanquished againe This exhortation was not long nor pleasing for the legions drew neere in battell aray the townesmen wanting discipline and ignorant of seruice did neither see nor heare what was best for them Silius on the contrary side although his hope had taken away all occasions of encouraging them yet cried That it was a shame for them being conquerors ouer the Germans to be brought against the Galli as against enemies and that of late one cohort had vanquished the rebellious Toronians one wing the Treueri a few troupes of horsemen of this same armie had put to flight the Sequans By how much the richer the Aedui are in money and abounding in pleasures the lesser courage they had Breake then in vpon them and binde them and flee to those which run away At that all of them giuing an out-cry the horsemen compassed them in the footemen set on the point and the wings made small resistance Those in complet yron harnes stuck somewhat to it their plates resisting and beating back the darts and swords but the souldier snatching his hatchets and axes as though he were to breake through a wall hewed their couering and carcasses Some with poles or forks ouerthrew this sluggish lump leauing them for halfe dead lying on the ground not once going about to rise Sacrouir goeth first to Augustodunum then for feare least it should be yeelded to the next village with a few of his trustiest friends where he slew himselfe with his owne hands and the rest one another and the village being set on fire ouer them they were all burnt together Then at last Tiberius wrote to the Senate that the warre was begun and ended neither adding nor taking away from the truth And that the Lieutenants had behaued themselues faithfully and valorously and himselfe directed them with counsell And withall yeelded the reasons why neither he nor Drusus went to the war magnifying the greatnes of the Empire and that it was not meete that Princes if some one or other towne rebell should forsake Rome from whence all other gouernment was deriued Now bicause there was no cause of feare he would goe see and settle the present estate of things The Lords of the Senat derceed vowes and processions for his returne with other conuenient
ceremonies Dolabella Cornelius onely whilest he went about to exceed others falling into absurd flatterie thought it meete that he should from Campania enter into the citie ouant Wherupon Caesar wrote that he was not so needie of renowne that hauing vanquished most stout and prowde nations and receiued or refused in his youth so many triumphes he would in his old age hunt after a vaine reward of a voiage neere the citie X. Lepidus maketh an oration in defence of C. Lutorius accused of treason ABout the same time he made request vnto the Senat that Sulpitius Quirinius death might be solemnised with publicke funerals Quirinius was not of the auncient patritian familie of the Sulpitians but borne at Lanuuium a free towne a valiant warrior and forwards in all his charges was Consull vnder Augustus of famous memorie Then hauing won by assault the fortresse of the Homonadensians in Cilicia the markes of triumphe were awarded him then giuen as a guide to C. Caesar in the regiment of Armenia and when Tiberius was at Rhodes shewed him all duties of loue which Tiberius did open in Senat praising his dutifulnes towards him and accused M. Lollius to haue perswaded C. Caesar to seditions and lewdnes But vnto the rest the memorie of Quirinius was nothing pleasing by reason as I haue saide of the danger he brought Lepida into and miserable niggishnes and powerable old age In the end of the yeere a cari-tale accused C. Lutorius Priscus a gentleman of Rome who had composed notable funerall verses vpon Germanicus death and receiued money of Caesar for them obiecting that he had made them in honour of Drusus being sicke to the ende that if he had died they should haue beene published for greater reward Those verses Lutorius vpon vaine glorie had read in P. Petronius house in the presence of Vitellia his mother in lawe and many other noble women As soone as the pickthanke had shewed himselfe the rest forced by feare to giue witnes onely Vitellia stood to it that she had heard nothing But more credit being giuen to such as testified to his ouerthrow sentence of death was pronounced against him by Haterius Agrippa Consull elect Against whom M. Lepidus began to speake in this manner If we consider Lords of the Senat with what a wicked toong Lutorius Priscus hath polluted his minde and mens eares neither prison nor halter nor any seruile torments could suffice to punish him But if lewd and heinous facts be without meane yet the moderation of a Prince your own and your auncestors examples do mollifie the punishments and remedies of them vaine things do differ from wicked and words from villanous deedes And therefore iudgment may be giuen by which neither this mans offence goe scot-free we not repent vs either of our clemencie or seueritie I haue often heard our Prince complaine if any by killing himselfe hath preuented his clemēcy Lutorius life is yet in safety who being kept aliue will neither breed danger to the cōmon-wealth nor put to death serue for example to others As his studies were full of follie and without sence so they are likewise vaine and quickly at an end Neither is there any cause to feare any great or serious matter in him who bewraying his owne imperfections doth creepe not into mens but womens breasts Yet let him be expulsed the citie Which I iudge to be all one as if he had been conuicted of treason Among all the Consuls onely Rubellius Blandus agreed with Lepidus the rest following Agrippaes opinion Priscus was lead to prison and immediately depriued of his life The fact Tiberius with his accustomed ambiguitie of words blamed in Senate extolling the zealous affection of seuere punishments of princes iniuries though small yet entreated them that they woulde not so rashlie punish wordes praised Lepidus and rebuked not Agrippa Whereupon a decree of Senate was made that their orders shoulde not be caried to the treasurie before ten daies were expired and that so long the condemneds life should be prolonged But the Senators had no licence to repent and reuoke their sentence and Tiberius not to be pacified by tract of time XI Tiberius letter touching reformation of abuses THe yeere following C. Sulpitius and D. Haterius were created Consuls all being quiet from forrein troubles but seueritie against superfluities suspected at home which was growen to exceeding excesse in all things wherein money is lauishly spent Some of their expences although more vnreasonable yet were cloaked by dissembling their prices but gluttonie and belly-cheere euerie man commonly speaking of put them in feare least the prince shoulde rigorouslie proceed according to the ancient prouident frugalitie For C. Bibulus beginning the other Aediles shewed also that the law cōcerning excesse of expences was nought set by and the sumptuousnes of moueables which was forbiddē daily increased and that it coulde not be redressed by any reasonable meanes And the Lordes of the Senate being demanded their aduise referred the whole matter to the prince But Tiberius often pondered with himselfe whether such exorbitant lustes coulde bebrideled or not whether the brideling of them would not bring more hurt then benefit to the common-wealth how vnseemely and dishonorable it would be to vndertake that which could not be effected or if it could with the ignominie or infamie of noble men and in the end he sent letters to the Senate to this purpose It would be peraduenture conuenient Lords of the Senate that in other matters I should be demaunded my opinion in your presence and speake what I thought to be behouefull for the common wealth but in this relation it was better to withdraw mine eyes least that you noting the countenāce and the feare of euery one of such which should be deprehended of this shamefull lauishing I should also see them and take them as it were in the fault If the Aediles vigilant and carefull men had before hand asked my aduise I know not whether I should rather haue perswaded them to let passe strong and rooted vices then go so far that it should be knowne how vnable we be to redresse some kinde of abuses But they truly haue done their dutie and I wish that other magistrates would also fulfill theirs To me it is neither honest to hold my tongue nor easie to speake because I haue neither the office of an Aedile Pretor nor Consull Some greater matter is required of a Prince and of greater importance and when as euery man attributeth to himselfe the prayse of things well done the faults of all men in generall redounde to the dislike of the Prince alone What shall I begin first to forbid and reduce to the auncient custome your huge and spacious countrey houses the number of your seruitours of diuers nations the quantitie of siluer and gold your painted tables and brasen images of maruellous and exquisite workemanship superfluousnes of apparell both in men and women and those things which are proper vnto women as pretious
woulde shew so much fauour to the Iunian familie and to one who had beene of the same colledge with them that he shoulde rather be sent to the Iland Cythera which was also the request of Torquata Silanus sister a virigin of good life vnto which censure they all condescended XV. More accusations prosecuted A decree touching Iupiters priests Tacfarinas driuen by Blaesus out of Affrike AFter this the Cyrenenses were heard and Caesius Cordus condemned of polling the prouinces at the sute of Ancharius Priscus L. Ennius a gentleman of Rome accused of treason bicause he had conuerted the image of the prince to common vses in plate Caesar forbad to be receiued amongst the criminall persons Ateius Capito openly complaining and by a kinde of libertie saieng That power of determining such a matter ought not to be taken frō the Senate nor so heinous a crime passe vnpunished That the Emperour might be as slowe as he lusted in punishing iniuries done to himselfe yet that he ought not to pardon such as were done to the common-wealth Tiberius vnderstood these things as they were indeed rather then as they were spoken and so persisted in opposing himselfe Capito was so much the more noted bicause that knowing what appertained to diuine and humane lawes discredited the common good and the commendable arts he had learned at home Then there grew a scruple in knowing in what temple the gift should be placed which the gentlemen of Rome had vowed to fortune Equestris for the health of Augusta For although there were many temples in the citie of that goddesse yet there was none which bare that surname In the ende there was one so called found at Antium and all the ceremonies in the townes of Italie and temples and images of gods to be vnder the right and empire of Rome and therupon the gift was placed at Antium And seeing the matter was debated touching the religions Caesar declared the answere which not long before he had deferred against Seruius Maluginensis and recited the decree of the chiefe priestes which was That as oft as the Flamen Dial or Iupiters priest fell into any sicknes he might be absent from the city with licence of the chiefe priest so as it were not aboue two nights or in daies of publike sacrifice nor oftner then twise in one yeere Which being ordained in Augustus time did manifestly shew that the absence for a yeere or administration of prouinces was not graunted to the Diales And the example of L. Metellus the high pontife was alleaged who in the like case had kept Aulus Posthumus the Flamen in the citie And thereupon the lot of Asia was bestowed vpon him who of the Consuls was next vnto Maluginensis At the same time Lepidus made request vnto the Lords of the Senate that he might at his owne charges reedifie and adorne Paulus Aemilius temple the ornament of his memorie for at that time publike munificence was in vse neither did Augustus blame Taurus Philippus Balbus for bestowing spoiles taken from enimies or the ouerplus of their wealth to the ornament of the citie and glorie of posteritie By which examples Lepidus although he had no great store of money did renewe the honor of his auncestors Pompeius theatre consumed by casuall fire bicause there was none left of the familie of abilitie to performe it Caesar promised to build at his own charges and leaue it stil the old name And withall he highly extolled Seianus as though through his labour and watchfulnes the violence of that fire had beene staied from hurting any more then that one thing and the Senate ordained an image to be erected in honour of Seianus in Pompeius theatre And not long after when Caesar had honored Iunius Blaesus proconsull of Affrike with the ornaments of triumph he said that he attributed that to Seianus honour whose vncle he was Yet Blaesus owne acts deserued that honour For although Tacfarinas had beene often put to the woorst yet renewing his aide in the middle of Affrike he grewe to that arrogancie as to send embassadors to Tiberius and require a place for himselfe and his armie to inhabite or else threatned an endles warre It was reported that Caesar neuer more grieued at any disgrace done vnto himselfe or the people of Rome then that a traitor and theefe should deale like an enimie There was neuer so much graunted Spartacus after he had defeated so many armies of Consuls and burnt Italie vnreuenged yea when the common-wealth was greatly weakned by Sertorius and Mithridates great warres that he shoulde be receiued by couenant into safe conduct therefore much lesse that Tacfarinas a theefe the Roman empire being in most flourishing state should be hired with a peace and lands to inhabite He committed the whole matter to Blaesus with charge that he shoulde induce the rest to lay down their armes with warrant that they should sustaine no hurt yet that he should lay holde on the captaine by all means possible through which pardon many came in Not long after they vsed the same maner of fight against Tacfarinas as he had vsed against others for bicause he inferior to the Romans in strength though better in theeuery made many inroades by scattered companies deceiued his enimie and laid many traines to intrap him Their companies were therefore set in order and marched against him of which the lieutenant Cornelius Scipio was the chiefe who lay in waite in that coast where Tacfarinas did waste and trouble the Leptins and the Garamantes places of refuge On another side Blaesus son lead his owne power least the Cirtensien villages shoulde be entised to take part with Tacfarinas In the middle placing fortresses and strong holdes in conuenient places with choise soldiers the captaine himselfe brought the enimie to a narrowe straight and disaduantage bicause that which way soeuer he should bend some of the Romane soldiers were in his face some in his sides and often some in his backe and so many slaine and intrapped Then diuideth the three armies againe into many other companies with centurions of knowen valour ouer them Neither did he as the custome was retire his forces in the ende of sommer or put them in standing campes of the old prouince but as it had been in the beginning of warre his fortresses well manned by light horsemen and skilfull in those deserts he gaue Tacfarinas often changing his cabbins small rest vntill his brother being taken he retired in the end with more speede then was for the allies profit such being left behinde by whom the warre might rise againe But Tiberius taking this to be an ende of this warre gaue Blaesus that honour that he should be saluted Emperour by the legions being an old custome towards such Captaines as had shewen valour for the common-wealth with ioy and acclamations to be saluted by that name by the conquering armies There were many Emperours at one time but none aboue an other Augustus had graunted that name to
persons which voluntarily follow the wars Withall he tooke a short viewe of the legions and what Prouinces they defended which giueth me occasion to declare what strength the Romans had then in armes what Kings their confederates and how much lesse the Empire then was Italie had in both seas two nauies the one at Misenum and the other at Rauenna certaine Galleies called rostratae to defend the coast adioining to Gallia which Augustus had taken in the victorie at Actium sent to Foroiuliense well appointed with sea men But the principall strength consisted of eight legions neere vnto Rhene a staie as well to the Germans as Galli Spaine newely subdued had three legions King Iuba had the Mauritanians as a gift giuen him by the people of Rome the rest of Affricke had two legions and Aegypt the like number Then all from the beginning of Suria vnto the riuer Euphrates which contayneth a great countrey receiueth fower legions Hybero and Albanus and other Kings being borderers which by our greatnes are protected against forrain Kings Thrace was vnder the gouernment of Rhoemetalces Cotys children and the banck of Danubium two legions garded in Pannonia and two in Maesia The like number was in Dalmatia which by the situation of the countrey lie behinde them that if on the sudden Italie should neede aide they were at hand Albeit the citie had her proper souldiers three citie cohorts and nine Pretorian almost all chosen out of Etruria Vmbria old Latium and old Romans sent thither to dwell The Galleies of confederats lay in the most commodious places of the Prouinces the companies of horsemen and aides of cohorts not much inferiour in strength though not easilie laide downe through their vncertaine flitting hither and thither sometimes moe sometimes lesse as time and necessitie required I thinke it also expedient to discribe the other partes of the common wealth and howe they had beene gouerned vntill that daie being the yeare in which the state beganne to decline by Tiberius growing woorse and woorse In the beginning publicke and priuat affaires of greatest importance were handled before the Lords of the Senate and the chiefest licenced to opine and debate matters Tiberius himselfe rebuking them if they fell to flattery In bestowing of offices he had regard to their auncestors merite in seruice abroad or lawdable acts at home such only preferred due authoritie reserued vnto the Consuls and to the Pretor the meaner officers each one exercising his owne function and the lawes matter of treason excepted duly executed But for prouision of corne and leuying of tributes and other publick commodities certaine societies of gentlemen of Rome had charge of Caesar committed his owne affaires to honest and tried persons and to some vnknowne if they were wel spoken of and such as were once chosen continued still and grew old in the same charge The people were distressed with a great dearth of corne yet no fault thereof in the Prince but with as great care and diligence as he could remedieth the sterilitie of the ground and rough passages of the sea and gaue order that the prouinces should not be oppressed with new taxations and the old be borne without couetousnes and crueltie of magistrates Caesar had small possessions in Italie and a reasonable number of seruitours and in his house a few freed men and if he had a sute against any priuate person he tried it by law in the place of iudgement all which he maintained not with any courteous and mild course but sternely and feared vntill by the death of Drusus all was turned vpside downe For whilest he liued there was no alteration because Seianus beginning to rise sought meanes to win credit and feared least Drusus would reuenge who neuer dissembled his hartburning but often complained That his sonne being aliue he had another coadiutor in the Empire and what wanteth that he is not his companion That the first steps to soueraigntie are hard but once entred into there will want no fauorers nor followers forts he had built as he liked best charge giuen him ouer souldiers his image was placed amongst C. Pompeius monuments and that he should haue his nephewes common to the Drusian familie that hereafter Modestie must be prayed vnto that he would be contented with his greatnes He did not vtter these speeches seldome or to a few and his wife being corrupted his secrets were bewrayed Seianus therefore thinking it time to make haste chooseth a slow working poison the better to father his sicknes vpon some casuall disease which was giuen Drusus by Lygdus an Eunuch as eight yeeres after it was knowne III. Germanicus children are in Senate recommended to the Lords by Tiberius Drusus funerals and how he vvas empoisoned BVt Tiberius all the time of Drusus sicknes shewed no signe of feare perhaps because he would shew his constancie yea being dead but not buried he entered into the Senate and put the Consuls which sate on a lowe seate as a token of their sorrow in minde of their honors and calling And hauing mastered his owne griefe comforted the Lords of the Senate which powred downe teares with a continuall speech saying That he knew well he might be blamed for shewing himselfe in Senate in so fresh a griefe when the communication of deerest friends and kinsfolks was scarse seene nor hardly the day by many which lamented and mourned Neither were they to be condemned of weakenes yet he for his part had sought for stronger comforts out of the bosome of the common wealth And hauing compassion on the Empresse old age and tender yeeres of her nephewes and of his owne decaying age intreated that Germanicus children the only comfort of present miseries might be brought before them The Consuls went out and emboldening the yong men in that which they should say brought them before Tiberius who taking hold of them said Lords of the Senate I deliuered these fatherles children to their vncle and besought him although he had issue of his owne that he would bring them vp and cherish them as if they were his owne bloud and make them worthy for himselfe and posteritie Drusus being taken from among vs I turne my prayers to you and beseech you in presence of the gods and our countrey that you would receiue and gouerne Augustus nephewes sonnes descended of worthie progenitors and accomplish therein my dutie and your owne These Nero and Drusus shall be in stead of fathers vnto you You are so borne that all your good and euill appertaine to the common wealth With great weeping were these words heard and prayers made that the yong men might prosper and if he had then ended his oration he had filled the harts of the hearers with compassion towards himselfe and glory But being fallen into vaine discourses as such as had beene often laughed at of yeelding vp the gouernment and that the Consuls or some other should take the care vpon him he discredited that which was both honest
and true The same solemnities which were ordained for Germanicus were appointed for Drusus and as the manner is of the last flattery somethings added His funerall in pomp of images was very magnificent hauing before him in a long procession Aeneas the beginning of the Iulian familie all the kings of the Albani and Romulus the founder of the citie After him followed the nobilitie of the Sabins Appius Clausus and the images of the rest of the Claudians In deliuering Drusus death I haue followed that which many true writers haue vttered but I will not omit a very strong report of those times yet currant in euery mans mouth which is that Liuia being alreadie corrupted to all dishonestie of bodie by Seianus he was sayd to haue abused Lygdus bodie likewise in age and beautie highly pleasing his maister and of all his seruitours of best credit who being made priuie to the practise the place and times agreed when the poison should be giuen grew to that audaciousnes that he turned all vpon Drusus head and by secret aduertisement accused him to haue gone about to poison his father and gaue Tiberius warning to take heede of the first drinke his sonne should offer him at the table Whereupon by that fraud the banket being begun the old man presented Drusus the cup which he had receiued who ignorant of the practise like a raw yong man dranke it vp increasing thereby the suspition as though for feare and shame he had swallowed that death which he had prepared for his father This was the common rumor which wanting a ground and certaine author thou mayest easily refute for who is he though but of meane wisedome much lesse Tiberius experienced and beaten in waightie affaires not hearing his defence would haue offered his sonne his death and that with his owne hands a thing remediles if he should repent it Why had he not rather tortured the minister of the poison sought out the author and vsed that delay which vsually he did euen against strangers towards his owne sonne neuer before detected of any lewd fact But because Seianus was thought to be the inuentor of all bad actions through the great good will Caesar bore him and the hate which the rest bare to both things were beleeued although fabulous and vncredible report speaking alwayes the worst of Princes deaths The order of this fact hath been otherwise discouered by Apicata Seianus wife and by torturing of Eudemus and Lygdus and no writer found so great an enimie to Tiberius although all hath beene sought that may be sayd and inforced against him that hath obiected any such matter The cause why I layd downe and blamed the common rumor was that vnder a manifest example I might discredit false reports and pray such into whose hands our labours shall come that they would not esteeme more of common vncredible tales greedily receiued then of truth not falsified into miracles IIII. Seianus practises to destroy Agrippina and Germanicus children stage-plaiers expulsed Italie BVt whilest Tiberius praised his sonne before the people assembled the Senat and the people rather for a shew then from the hart put on a mourning countenance yet in their mindes reioyced that Germanicus house began to flourish againe which beginning of fauour and Agrippina their mother not well dissembling her hope hastened their ouerthrow For when Seianus perceiued that Drusus empoisoners escaped vnpunished and no publicke mourning of the people for his death emboldned in wicked actions bicause his first attempts had good successe began to cast with himselfe by what meanes he might extinguish Germanicus children the vndoubted successors to the Empire For all three poison he could not by reason of their keepers faithfulnes and Agrippinas inuincible chastitie He began therefore to inueigh against her obstinacie and stirre Augusta hating her of olde against her and incensed Liuia with the memorie of her late fact suggesting that her pride bearing it selfe vppon her fruitfulnes in children by the fauour of the people gaped after the soueraigntie This plot of his he prosecuted by the helpe of craftie accusers amongst whom he had chosen Iulius Posthumus a man noted of infamous life with Mutilia Prisca a principall fauorite of the grandmother and fit instrument for his practises being highly in Augustas bookes an old woman of her owne disposition desirous of rule and therefore easily estranged from her daughter in law Agrippina He had likewise inueighled Agrippinas neere kinred to puffe vp her haughtie spirits and vse hard speeches of Augusta But Tiberius intermitting no care of publicke affaires and embracing busines for solace heard the causes of citizens and the suites of confederates and by his perswasion decrees of Senat were made that the citie of Cibyratica in Asia and Aegiris in Achaia damnified by an earth-quake might be relieued by remitting them three yeeres tributes And Vibius Serenus Proconsull of farther Spaine being condemned for publicke violence through the crueltie of the time was banished into the Iland Amorgus Carsius Sacerdos accused as though he had helped the enimie Tacfarinas with corne was quit and C. Gracchus for the same crime This Gracchus being verie yoong was carried by his father Sempronius to the Iland Cercina as a companion of his exile where growing to mans estate amongst banished men and ignorant of liberall artes by turning and winding base marchandise in Affrica and Sicilia he gayned his liuing and yet he escaped not the dangers of greater fortune And if AElius Lamia and L. Apronius which gouerned Affrica had not defended his innocencie through the noblenesse of his vnfortunate stocke he had tasted of his fathers calamities That yeere came Ambassadors from cities of Greece requesting that the auncient right of priuiledged places might be confirmed at Iunos Temple at Samium and AEsculapius Temple at Cois The Samians grounded themselues on a decree of the Amphictyons to whom belonged the principall examination of all matters when the Grecians building cities through Asia were Lords of the sea coasts The antiquitie of the Coi was not vnlike hauing withall the merite of the place for when by King Mithridates commaundement all the Romans were slaine throughout all the cities and Ilands of Asia they saued in the Temple of AEsculapius as many as they found After this the Pretors hauing made many complaints though in vaine against the stage-players at last Caesar spake of their vnrulines and immodest behauiour as hauing seditiously attempted many things in publicke and many vndecently in priuate houses And the Oscian play a light sport pleasing the peoples humor grew to such insolencie that the Lords of the Senate were faine to interpose their authoritie for the suppressing of it and then the stageplayers were expulsed Italy Caesar had further griefe the same yeere partly by the death of one of Drusus children and partly by the death of Lucillius Longus his friend and partaker of all his fortunes prosperous or aduerse and among the Senators his only companion when he
withdrew himselfe to Rhodes In regard whereof the Senate ordained that although he were but of meane parentage yet that he should haue the funerals of a Censor and an image in Augustus forum at the charge of the common purse For at that time the Senat managed all the affaires in so much that Lucillius Capito Procurator of Asia the Prouince accusing him was forced to purge himselfe before them the Prince assuredlie auouching that he had giuen him no authoritie but ouer slaues and money matters between partie partie But if he had vsurped the authoritie of a Pretor or vsed the strength of souldiers he had therein contemned his cōmaundement therefore that they should heare the allies and so the matter being heard he was condemned For which cause and by reason that the yeere before C. Silanus was punished the cities of Asia decreed that a Temple should be built in honour of Tiberius his mother and the Senat which they perfourmed after they had licence And for the same cause Nero gaue thankes to the Lords of the Senat and to his grandfather with the ioyfull acceptance of the hearers as representing Germanicus yet fresh in memorie to their mindes thinking that him they had both heard and seene The yoong man was of great modestie and comelines woorthie of a Prince the more gratefull through the danger he was in by Seianus knowen hatred against him V. How Iupiters Priests were chosen Tiberius small affection to Germanicus children ABout the same time of chusing a Flamen Dial in Seruius Maluginensis place who was dead and of making a new law Caesar himselfe spake For the olde custome was that three patriciens should be named togither borne of parents which had been married with a solemnitie called confarreation of which one shoulde be chosen for the Priest And it fell out that that iust number coulde not bee founde the vse of confarrcation or marriage with a cake of Wheate either not vsed or only of a few whereof he alleaged many reasons though the chiefest was the carelesnes of men and women and withall the difficulties of the ceremonies which were willingly let slip And when should he go out of his fathers authoritie which should obtaine that Priesthood or she who was married vnto him therefore that was to be redressed by decree of Senate or by a law as Augustus himselfe had changed somewhat of that rude antiquitie and reduced it to the present vse Those things therefore being debated which touched the ceremonies it was determined that nothing should be altered in the makings of those Priests but a law was ordained that she who was married vnto a Flamen by reason of the sacrifices should be vnder the power of hir husband and that in other cases she should be as others were And Maluginensis sonne was chosen in his fathers place And that the priestly dignitie should better be regarded and they the readier to vndertake the ceremonies it was ordained that to Cornelia the virgin who was chosen in Scantias place shoulde bee giuen L L. S. xx sesterces and that as oft as Augusta entered the theatre she should sit among the Vestals Cornelius Cethegus and Visellius Varro being Consuls when the Pontifes and following their example the other Priests made certaine vowes for the health of the Prince they commended Nero and Drusus to the same goddes not so much for loue of the yong men as for flattery which in corrupt times is dangerous alike either not at all or too much For Tiberius neuer a friend to Germanicus house grieued impatiently that the yong men should then be equalled vnto him in his old age and sending for the chiefe Priests asked them whether they had done that at Agrippinas intreaties or threates and although they denied it yet were somewhat rebuked the greatest part being his neerest friends and kin or chiefe gentlemen of the citie Neuertheles in Senate he admonished them in an oration that none should hereafter puffe vp the fickle minds of the yong men to pride by vntimely and ouer-hastie dignities Seianus vrged eagerly that the citie was no lesse deuided into factions then in time of ciuill warres some terming themselues to be of Agrippinas side and more would if they were not preuented and no way to redresse a waxing diuision but by cutting off some one or two of the forwardest Hereupon he beginneth with C. Silius and Titius Sabinus Germanicus friendship being dangerous to both to Silius because that hauing had charge of a great armie seauen yeeres together and vanquished Sacrouir in Germanie and obtained the ornaments of triumph the higher his fall the greater the feare in others would be Many were of opinion that Tiberius was the more vehemently incensed by reason of his owne lauishing toong ouermuch vaunting that his souldiers had alwayes continued dutifull when as others had growne to mutinies and that Caesars state had bene shaken if those legions had bene desirous of innouation which Caesar construed as an embasing to his greatnes and disabling him of abilitie to requite for good turnes are no longer well taken then they may be recompensed when they grow greater then hope of requitall in stead of thankfulnes they breede hatred and ill will Sosia Galla was Silius wife badly thought of by the Prince because she loued Agrippina It was therefore thought conuenient to begin with these two and not meddle with Sabinus for a time The Consull Varro being thrust in to accuse them vnder colour of a quarrell betwixt his father and Silius became an instrument to gratifie Seianus with his owne discredit The defendants intreating some delay vntill the accusers Consulship were expired Caesar denied it affirming it to be a vsuall matter for magistrates to call priuate persons into question and that the authoritie of the Consull was not to be infringed through whose watchfulnes the common-wealth was kept without danger That was a common tricke with Tiberius alwaies to cloake new coyned mischiefe with old words Therefore with great protestation as though he had proceeded with Silius by order of law or the matter belonged to Varro as Consull or therein consisted the safetie of the common-wealth the Senate was called the partie accused not once opening his mouth or if he began to purge himselfe stuck not to vtter by whose malice he was oppressed He was accused to haue had intelligence with the beginners of the warre that he had discredited his victorie by his couetousnes and other things against Sosia his wife nothing a long time spoken of Sacrouir And doubtles the accusation of polling the prouince could not haue serued their turne had they not prosecuted all vnder treason but Silius preuented his imminent condemnation by his owne voluntarie death Neuerthelesse that contented not but were greedie his goods should be confiscate not to pay the stipendaries for none of them demaunded ought but because Augustus liberalitie was at an end he tooke a particular accompt of all that was due to the publick treasure
haue alreadie said had inueighled Libo then betrayed him and brought him to destruction Which seruice Tiberius not forgetting though pretending other causes intreated that he might not be banished but that he should be deposed from the Senate he hindered not I am not ignorant that many of those things which I haue rehearsed and which I shall rehearse hereafter will seeme of small moment and not worthy the writing But I wish not that any should compare our annales with the writings of the auncient historiographers of the people of Rome for they reported with a free discourse of mightie great warres winning of townes of Kings taken and slaine or if they came to domesticall affaires they recorded the discords betwixt the Consuls and the Tribunes lawes concerning distribution of lands among the common people and iarres betweene the communaltie and nobilitie But the scope of our discourse is streight and our labour inglorious the times I write of being peaceable and quiet or no great warres the state of the citie dolefull and the Prince carelesse in dilating the Empire Yet it shall not bee lost labour to looke into those things which at the first seeme light oft yeelding instruction of greater matters For all Nations and Cities are gouerned by the people or Peers or one alone A forme of common-wealth constituted of one of these may better be praised then found or if it chaunce to be found it cannot long continue Therefore as in times past the people bearing swaie or the Lords of the Senate the humor of the communaltie was to be knowen and the meanes how with greatest discretion they were to be dealt withall and they iudged most wise and experienced who had deepliest entered into the disposition of the Senators nobilitie so the state being now changed and the regiment consisting in one alone it shall be conuenient to note those things which vnto that forme of gouernment doth best appertaine For there are but few which by wisedome distinguish honest things from dishonest and profitable from hurtfull but most men are taught by others euents And my writings bring more profit then delight for situation of countries varietie of battels the death of famous Captaines do feede and recreat the readers mindes But we heape vp bloodie commaundements continuall accusations deceitfull friendships the ouerthrow of innocent persons and causes bringing the like end matters tedious for want of varietie The old writers had also this aduantage that they had no detractors of their writing or fewe not being materiall to any whether he had praised the Affrican or Roman armies But many are yet aliue whose predecessors suffered punishment or infamie vnder Tiberius gouernment And although their familie be extinguished yet thou shalt find many which for conformitie of manners thinke that others misdeedes are obiected against themselues Glorie and vertue haue enimies likewise according to the disposition of euerie mans minde framing reasons contrarie to that which his own inclination is neerest vnto But I will returne to my first purpose VIII An oration of Cremutius in defence of his Annales Tiberius would not suffer the Spaniards to build a Temple in his honour COrnelius Cossus Asinius Agrippa being Consuls Cremutius Cordus was accused of a new crime neuer before heard of that in certaine Annales by him published he had praised M. Brutus and said that C. Cassius was the last of the Romans His accusers were Satrius Secundus and Pinarius Natta Seianus clients which was his ouerthrow Caesar with a sterne looke hearing his purgation which Cremutius being assured to lose his life began in this manner I am accused for words Lords of the Senate bicause in deedes I am innocent But they were neither against the Prince nor his father whom the lawe of treason doth comprehend I am said to haue commended Brutus and Cassius whose acts manie haue written and all in honorable termes T. Liuius an excellent writer as well for eloquence as truth did so much extoll Gn. Pompeius that Augustus called him a Pompeian yet that no breach of friendship at all Scipio Afranius did neuer call this selfe same Cassius this Brutus theeues and parricides as now adaies they are termed but often worthie famous men Asinius Pollioes writings do deliuer an honorable memorie of them Messalla Coruinus extolleth Cassius as his Captaine and both flourished in wealth and honour When M. Cicero had in a booke extolled Cato to the heauens what did Caesar the Dictator but answere him in an oration as if he had beene before the iudges Antonies epistles Brutus orations haue I confesse many vntrue and bitter speeches against Augustus Men read Bibaculus and Catullus verses which are stuffed with reproches against the Caesars But yet Iulius and Augnstus of famous memorie winked thereat whether with greater moderation or wisedome I know not for things of that qualitie neglected vanish of themselues but repined and greeued at argue a guiltie conscience The Grecians whose not onely libertie but vnrestrained licence escaped vnpunished I speake not of or if any felt himselfe greeued he reuenged words with other words It hath bin alwaies a matter of free libertie and least subiect vnto detraction to speake of those whom death had exempted from hatred and fauor Do I incense the peope by orations to ciuill warre with Cassius and Brutus alreadie in armes and masters of the Philippian fields Do not they who ended their life aboue seauentie yeeres agone as they are knowen by their images which the Conqueror himselfe hath not pulled downe so retaine some remembrance of them by writings Posteritie doth render vnto euery man the commendation he hath deserued Neither will there want some if I be condemned which will make mention not onely of Cassius and Brutus but of me also Hauing thus saide he went out of the Senat ended his life by abstinence Order was giuen by the Senators that the Aediles should burne his bookes which notwithstanding were still extant some secretly some publickly which maketh me the willinglier to laugh at the witles vncircumpection of such as thinke with the power and authoritie they haue in their own time they can also extinguish the memory of future times But it falleth out contrary that when good wits are punished their credit groweth greater neither haue forraine Kings or such as haue vsed the like crueltie purchased any other thing then discredit to themselues and to such wits glorie This yeere accusations were so hotly pursued that euen on the festiuall daies of the Latines Calphurnius Saluianus went to accuse Marius before Drusus Prouest of the citie as he was entering into the Tribunall to begin his charge for which cause Saluianus being publikely blamed by Tiberius was sent into banishment Great negligence was openly layd to the Cyzicenians charge in not solemnising Augustus sacrifices and that they had vsed violence against the citizens of Rome For which cause they lost the freedome which they had gotten in the warre when they were besieged by
Macedon of the number of riuers the temperature of their countrey and what a rich territorie they had round about them But the Smyrnaeans fetching their antiquitie a farre off either that Tantalus from whence they came was descended from Iupiter or from Theseus issued also from the stocke of the gods or else that some one of the Amazons had founded them alleaged farther the seruice they had done to the people of Rome in which they most of all relied and that they had giuen them su cour by sea not only against forreine wars but also the wars of Italie And that they first of all had dedicated a Temple in honor of Rome M Porcius being Consull The people of Rome indeed then flourishing but yet not lifted vp to the height of their greatnes the citie of Carthage yet standing and many strong Kings liuing in Asia They brought in L. Sulla for a witnes whose armie being fallen into great danger through the roughnes of the winter and want of apparell when newes was brought thereof to the Smyrnaeans as they were assembled vpon occasion all which were present sent the apparell from their owne backes vnto our legions Thereupon the Lords of the Senats opinion being demaunded they preferred the Smyrnaeans And Vibius Marsus counselled farther that ouer and aboue his charge M Lepidus vnto whom the gouernment of that Prouince fell should haue a deputie appointed to take care of that Temple And bicause Lepidus through modestie refused to accept it Valerius Naso who had beene Pretor was by lot chosen and sent XIII Why Tiberius absented himselfe from the Citie WHilest these things thus passed Caesar hauing deepely thought vpon and after protracted his determination at last goeth into Campania vnder colour of dedicating a temple to Iupiter Capua and another to Augustus at Nola but indeede resolued to leade his life far from the citie The occasion of his departure although following some authors I haue attributed vnto Seianus wiles yet because that after Seianus death he continued sixe yeares in the like retired life I am often induced to doubt whether the cause be more truly to be referred to himselfe as going about to cloake by the place his crueltie and loose behauior Some were of opinion that being through age slender tall and crooked bald headed and his face spect with plaisters and ointments was therefore ashamed to shew himselfe in publick And at Rhodes he was wont to shun companie liue secretly and hide his lasciuious dissolute life Some gaue out that his mothers insupportable insolēcie droue him away whom as a companiō in state he could not indure nor yet be rid of her bicause the soueraigntie it self was her gift For Augustus was determined to leaue the Empire to Germanicus his sisters nephew who had a good report of all men but being ouercome by his wiues importunate intreatie he adopted Tiberius and Tiberius Germanicus which Augusta did vpbrayd vnto him and demanded the Empire againe which she had bestowed vpon him He departed with a small traine with him one Senator who had bene Consull which was Cocceius Nerua skilfull in the lawes one gentleman of Rome besides Seianus and of noble men only Curtius Atticus The rest were men indued with liberall sciences most of them Grecians with whose conference he purposed to passe the time Some Astrologers gaue out that Tiberius departed Rome vnder such a constellation that he should returne no more which was cause of manies ouerthrow which coniectured and diuulged that he had not long to liue for they could not foresee so incredible a matter as that he should want his countrey willingly eleuen yeeres together Wherein did appeare not long after how neere cosens their arte and falshood are and how truth is disguised and hidden vnder obscuritie For it was not spoken at aventure that he should not returne againe although they were ignorant of other things which should happen vnto him or whether he should quickly die or not which was not signified by those words of theirs because he ended his latter yeeres in some village not farre off or on the sea shore or neere vnto the wals of the citie At that time a doubtfull and dangerous perill which by meere chance Caesar fell into augmented the vaine rumor alreadie sowne and gaue him occasion to put more trust in Seianus friendship and constancie then euer he had done before For as they were eating in a countrey house called Spelunca betwene the sea Amuclanum and the hils of Fundani in a naturall grot or caue certaine stones falling suddenly from the mouth of it slew some of his seruitors which so affrighted the rest that they fled all away But Seianus with his knees his face and hands leaning and hanging ouer Caesar set himselfe against the other stones which were falling and in that plight was found by the souldiers which came to succour them This made him greater then he was and although he should haue giuen most pernitious counsell yet should haue had fauorable audience as one nothing caring for ought which might happen to himselfe He tooke vpon him the office of a iudge against Germanicus issue suborning some to play the parts of accusers and inueigh especially against Nero next in succession although a modest yong man yet oftentimes forgetfull of that which was requisit for the present time pricked forward by his freed men and followers which thought it long till he were Emperour to shew himselfe bold and stout of courage perswading him that that the people of Rome desired the armie couered and that Seianus durst do nothing to the contrarie though now he insulted alike ouer the patience of the old man and sloth and cowardlines of the yong Nero hearing these or the like speeches yet dreamt of no bad practise although some wilfull and vnconsiderate speeches slipt now and then from him which when the spies set ouer him had augmented carried to Caesar and Nero not suffered to purge himselfe droue manie into sundrie doubtes Some shunned to meete him some hauing saluted him turned presently from him many brake off abruptly their talke Seianus fauorers on the other side laughed in their sleeues to see it Tiberius whether the yoong man spake vnto him or held his toong cast a malicious eye or smiled dissemblingly vpon him and whether he spake or helde his toong it was alwaies a crime in him Neither was he secure from treason in the night his wife bewraying his watchings his dreames his sighes to Liuia her mother and she to Seianus who drew Drusus Neroes brother to his side with a hope of the Empire if he could remooue his elder brother which was alreadie downe and out of credit Drusus was of a cruell and fell disposition and besides the desire of rule and hatred which vsually raigneth betwixt brothers he was incensed with enuie to see Agrippina their mother readier bent to do Nero good then himselfe And yet Seianus did not so much tender Drusus but that he
eies whom thou dost inrich whom thou dost aduance to honours who haue greatest power of hurting or helping which Seianus to haue had no man will denie The Princes hidden thoughts or if he go about any secret drift it is not lawfull to sound and dangerous neither shalt thou in the end reach vnto them Thinke not onely Lords of the Senat of Seianus last day but of sixteene yeeres in which we did likewise fawne vpon and court Satrius and Pomponius and to be knowen to his freed men and partners was reckoned as a high fauour What then Shall this defence be generall and not distinguished but a confusion made of times past and his later actions No but let it by iust bounds and termes be diuided Let the treasons against the common-wealth the intentions of murdering the Emperour be punished but as for the friendship duties pleasures and good turnes the same ende shall discharge and quite thee O Caesar and vs. The constancie of his oration one being found to deliuer that which they all thought in their mindes preuailed so much that his accusers by ripping vp their old faults were punished either with exile or death III. The occasion of making a Prefect at Rome an examen of some of the Sibyls bookes AFter that Tiberius sent letters against Sext. Vestilius sometime Pretor and welbeloued of Drusus his brother chosen to be one of his garde The cause of displeasure against Vestilius was either bicause he had composed certaine writings against Caesars vncleane life or falsly fathered vpon him gaue credit to the reporters and therupon being banished the Princes court familiarity hauing first gone about with his owne olde feeble hand to slaie himselfe bound vp his vaines and in the meane space hauing entreated the Princes fauour and receiued arigorous answere did at last open them Then at once were accused of treason Annius Pollio Appius Silanus Scaurus Mamercus Sabinus Caluisius Vicinianus also brought in with his father for companie all of them well descended and some in authoritie The Lords of the Senat quaked for feare for how manie was there which was not either allied or a friend of one of those noble men But Celsus Tribune of the citie-cohort and then an informer deliuered Appius and Caluisius from danger Caesar deferred Pollioes Vicinianus Scaurus cause that himselfe might haue the hearing of it with the Senators hauing giuen out alreadie tokens of heauie displeasure against Scaurus Not so much as women but were partakers of danger and if not attainted for attempting to aspire to the Empire yet brought in question for their teares and Vitia an old woman Fusius Geminus mother was put to death bicause she bewailed the death of her sonne These things were done in Senat. And where the Prince was the like was practised Vescularius Atticus and Iulius Marinus two of his most familiar friends which accompanied him to Rhodes and at Capreas neuer departed from him were put to death Vescularius was the Messenger to and fro when the treacherie was wrought against Libo Marinus was of Seianus counsell when he put Curtius Atticus to death most men being glad to see them taken in the snare they laid for others About the same time L. Piso high Priest died a naturall death which was a rare matter in those times in a man of so great nobilitie He neuer of himselfe propounded any matter which smelled of flatterie or base minds if he were forced thereto he vsed great moderation in doing it His father as I haue alreadie saide had beene Censor he liued to the age of fowerscore hauing in Thrace deserued the triumphall ornaments But his greatest credit rose in that that being newly created Prouost of the citie he did gouerne exceeding moderately all the time of his continuall rule irkesome through vnwontednes of obedience For in times past when the Kings or Consuls went out of the citie least she should be left without gouernment there was one chosen for a time able to giue euery man right prouide for all sudden accidents And it is said that Dentres Romulius had the same charge giuen him by Romulus after that Numa Marcius by Tullus Hostilius and Spurius Lucretius by Tarquinius Superbus Then that the Consuls had the charge of committing this office and a shadow of it continueth vnto this day as oft as the Latine feasts are folemnised one is appointed ouer the rest to exercise the roome of a Consull But Augustus in the time of ciuill warres made Cilnius Maecenas a gentleman Prouost ouer Rome and all Italie Then being Lord and Master of the Empire by reason of the greatnes of the people and slow aide which the lawes affoorded he chose out one of such as had been Consuls to bridle the bondmen and such citizens as through audaciousnes would grow troublesome vnlesse they stood in awe The first that receiued that authoritie but kept it but awhile was Messalla Coruinus as vnable to discharge it Then Taurus Statilus although he were verie aged went through it with great commendation After that Piso was well liked for the space of twentie yeeres and by order of the Senat honoured with publick funerals It was afterward propounded before the Lords of the Senat by Quinctilianus Tribune of the people concerning the Sibyls booke which Caninius Gallus one of the fifteene requested might be receiued among other books of the same prophetesse and demanded it might be so established by decree of Senat which being giuen by common consent Caesar sent letters somewhat reprehending the Tribune as ignorant of the old custome by reason of his youth and vpbraided Gallus that being old and practised in the science and ceremonies neuertheles had demanded the opinion of the Senators not fully assembled the author being vncertain and before the colledge had yeelded their iudgment neither as the custome was the verses hauing been read and waighed by the maisters Withall he aduertised them because that many vaine things were published vnder the name of famous men that Augustus had vnder penaltie set downe a day within which such bookes should be brought to the citie-Pretor and that it was not lawfull for any to haue them in their priuat possession The like decree was established by our predecessors also and after that the Capitol was burnt in the ciuill war their verses were sought in Samum in Ilium Erythrum through Affrike also Sicily and the colonies of Italie whether they were one or many the busines being committed to the Priests to distinguish the true prophecies from the false as neere as might be by the iudgement of man And then also the booke was referred to the examination of the fifteene When the same men were Consuls through a dearth of corne and other prouisions they grew almost to a commotion and many things for many dayes together were in the Theater more licentiously demaunded with great eagernes then the manner had beene to demaund things of the Emperour Whereat being moued he
blamed the magistrates and Senators that they had not by publike authoritie brideled the insolencie of the people and added withall how farre greater quantitie of corne he had caused to be brought then Augustus and out of what prouinces Whereupon a decree of Senate was enacted to restraine the people according to the auncient seueritie the Consuls being no lesse forward to publish it his owne silence in the cause was not construed to be a point of ciuilitie as he looked it should be but was imputed to his pride In the end of that yeare Geminius Celsus Pompeius Gentlemen of Rome were put to death for conspiracies among which Geminius through prodigalitie and loosenes of life and a friend to Seianus was a man of nothing And Iulius Celsus a Tribune loosing the chaine he was bound with at large then winding it about and forcing himselfe a contrary way brake his owne neck But Rubrius Fabatus despairing of the Roman affaires and fleeing to the Parthians and brought back safe from the streights of Sicilie by a Centurion had keepers appointed him not able to alleage any probable causes of his long voiages yet he escaped vnpunished rather through forgetfulnes then clemencie IIII. Tiberius marrieth his neeces Vsurers accused and the inconuenience that ensued SEr. Galba and L. Sulla being Consuls Tiberius hauing a long time bethought himselfe what husbands he should prouide his neeces whose age now came on made choise of L. Cassius and M. Vinicius Vinicius kindred came out of a small towne himselfe borne at Calles but his father and grandfather were Consuls the rest of his kindred were Gentlemen he was of a milde disposition and very eloquent L. Cassius was descended of one of the common people at Rome but auncient and noble and brought vp vnder the seuere discipline of his father and oftner commended for his courtesie then industrie To him he giueth Drusilla to Vinicius Iulia both Germanicus children and writeth to the Senate touching that matter with a light commendation of the yong men Then hauing yeelded some causes of his absence but very extrauagant came to matters of greater moment and the displeasures and dislikes he had incurred for the common wealth and requested that Macro the Prouost and some few of the Tribunes and Centurions might as oft as he came to the Senate enter into the Curia with him And albeit the Senate made a decree very generall without prescribing any number or qualitie of persons he was so farre from comming to any publick counsell that he neuer came so much as to the citie coasting about it and for the most part in by-wayes and still auoiding his countrey as much as he could In the meane season a great rabble of informers rose vp against such vsurers as tooke more for consideration of their money then they might by the law made by Caesar the Dictator concerning the manner of lending and holding possession within Italie long neglected heretofore because the publicke good is lesse set by then priuate commoditie Vsury in very deede hath beene an old disease in the citie and often a cause of seditions and discords and for that cause hath been restrained in auncient and lesse corrupted times For first it was ordained by the law of the twelue tables that no man should take aboue one in the hundred when as before that time it was as pleased the monied men After that by a Tribunitian law it was brought vnto halfe one in the hundred and in the end vsury was wholy forbidden and many lawes made by the people to cut off all fraud which often repressed reuiued againe by strange sleights and deuises But then Gracchus being Pretor vnto whom the examining of that question fell constrained by the multitude of such as were indangered thereby propounded the matter before the Lords of the Senate who daunted thereat for there was not one of them free from that fault craued respite of the Prince he graunted them a yeere and sixe moneths within which time euery man according to the prescript of law should settle his estate and make vp his domesticall accompts Hereupon euery man calling in his debts on a sudden ensued a great want scarcitie of money and by reason so many were condemned and their goods sold all the money ready coined wēt either to the princes or publick treasury Besides this the Senat ordained that two parts of the vsurie money should be bestowed vpō lands in Italie but the creditors disliked that and vrged the paiment of the whole as a matter impayring the credit of the parties conuented to goe from their word So at the first there was great running hither and thither and entreaties then they flocked about the Pretors tribunall and those things which were founde for a remedie as selling and buying of such mens goods turned to a contrarie effect bicause the Vsurers had hoorded vp all their money to buie land And bicause the multitude of sellers was cause that the value of landes was rated at a verie lowe and vile price how much the more a man was indebted the loather he was to sell And manie were thrust out of all they had and the decaie of their wealth carried their credit and fame headlong after vntill Tiberius relieued them by putting a hundred million sesterces in bancke and lent it for three yeeres space without consideration or interest if the debtor could giue securitie to the people of Rome in landes double the value of the debt By that meanes their credit was restored and other particular creditors by little and little found neither was the buying of landes practised according to the forme of the decree of Senat hotly at the beginning pursued as almost all such things are but in the ende carelesly neglected V. C. Caesar marieth Claudia daughter vnto M. Silanus what proofe Tiberius made of Trasullus skill AFter that the olde feares returne againe Considius Proculus being accused of treason who celebrating his birth day not doubting any thing was drawen to the Curia and at the same time condemned and put to death and his sister Sancia banished Q. Pomponius being accuser who being of an vnquiet and busie disposition pretended he had done this and that and all to currie fauour with the Prince thereby to steed his brother Pomponius Secundus who was then in danger Banishment is likewise decreed against Pompeia Macrina whose husband and father in law the one of Argos and the other of Lacedaemon men of marke and reputation among the Achaeans Caesar had alreadie afflicted and brought to ruine Her father likewise a famous gentleman of Rome and her brother who had beene Pretor seeing that their condemnation was at hand slewe themselues It was imputed vnto them for a fault that Gn. Magnus made reckoning as of a speciall friend of Theophanes Mytilenaeus their great grandfather and that the Grecian flatterie after his death had giuen him diuine honour After these Sext. Marius the richest man of all Spaine was accused
augmented But that that birde is seene sometimes in Aegypt is not doubted But murders continuing at Rome Pomponius Labeo whom as I haue said was gouernor of Moesia by cutting his vaines let out with his blood his life and Paxaea his wife followed his example The feare they had of dying by the hand of the hangman did cause them thus so readily to kill themselues bicause such as were condemned lost their goods and wanted buriall but their bodies which slew themselues were buried and their testaments stood good which was the gaine and reward of making haste But Caesar sent letters vnto the Senat declaring it to be a custome among the auncients that when they intended to breake off friendship with any they forbad them their house and that then the friendship ended which he had done to Labeo who blamed for euill gouernment in the Prouince and other matters couered his fault by accusing others vainely putting his wife in feare who was out of danger though not without fault After this Mamercus Scaurus was accused againe of a noble house and a great orator yet of reprochfull life His friendship had with Seianus did nothing hurt him but the hatred which Macro bare him was his ouerthrow who practised the same artes that Seianus had done but more couertly The accusation was an argument of a Tragedie written by Scaurus contayning verses which might be wrested against Tiberius But Seruilius and Cornelius his accusers obiected against him that he had abused his bodie with Liuia and offered magicall sacrifices Scaurus as a thing worthie of the auncient AEmilian familie preuenteth his condemnation by killing himselfe at the incouragement of his wife Sexitia who was both an encourager and partaker of his death Notwithstanding if occasion were giuen he punished the accusers likewise as Seruilius and Cornelius famous by the death of Scaurus bicause they had taken money of Varius Ligur to desist from the accusation were perpetually banished into certaine Ilands And Abudius Ruso once Acdile whilest he went about to procure danger vnto Lentulus Getulicus vnder whom he had charge of a legion bicause he had purposed to marrie his daughter to Seianus sonne was condemned without accusation and driuen out of the citie Getulicus at that time had charge ouer the legions of higher Germanie and had gotten exceeding loue for his clemencie and small seueritie and of the next army welbeloued by meanes of L. Apronius his father in law Whereupon the constant report was that he was so bould as to write vnto Caesar That the affinitie betwixt him and Seianus was begun not of his owne motion and desire but through Tiberius counsell and that as well he as Tiberius might be deceiued and that the selfe same errour could not be to him alone dangerlesse and to others vtter ruine for his part that his loyaltie was trustie and sure and so would continue if snares had not beene laide to intrap him that he would accept of a successor in his charge no otherwise than of a messenger of death and therefore that they should strike as it were an agreement by which the Prince should be master of the rest and that he would keepe and hold the Prouince Although these things seeme verie strange yet were they beleued bicause he alone of all Seianus liesmen escaped without danger and continued in great fauour and grace The reason why was bicause Tiberius thought with himselfe being now aged and hated of all men that his estate would rather continue by fame then force VIII The Parthians complained on Artabanus in whose roome Tiberius placeth Phrahates Pharasmanes gaineth a battell against Orodes King of Armenia WHen C. Cestius and M. Seruilius were Consuls certaine noble men of Parthia came to Rome without the priuitie of Artabanus their King He for feare of Germanicus was faithfull to the Romans and iust towards his subiects but after Germanicus death became proude towards vs and cruell towards his subiects confident by reason of prosperous successe in warres had against his borderers and despising Tiberius as weake old and vnfit for warres and greedy also of Armenia into which after the death of King Artaxia he put his eldest son Arsaces as gouernor iniuring them with contumelious speeches Then sent to redemaund the treasurie and riches left in Syria and Cilicia by Vonones and withall vaine-gloriously bragged and threatned that he would inuade and conquer the ancient bounds and limits of the Persians and Macedonians and recouer all that had beene possessed by Cyrus and Alexander But the principall author and perswader of sending secret messengers to Rome was Sinnaces a man both noble and wealthie and next vnto him Abdus an Eunuch a matter of no disgrace among the Barbarians nor barre to credit and authoritie These two drawing the principall noble men of the countrey to them because they could haue none of the blood of the Arsacides to be their King most of them being slaine by Artabanus or vnder yeeres demaunded Phrahates King Phrahates sonne which was at Rome for saide they there needed no more but the name and consent of Caesar and one of the blood of Arsacis to shew himselfe vpon the bankes of Euphrates That did Caesar desire and prouided for him accordingly with preparations and necessaries to seat him in his fathers kingdom holding still his secret drift by entertayning forraine countries by sleights and pollicie in warre to keepe all quiet at home In the meane space Artabanus vnderstanding what was wrought against him at the first was slow and lingered for feare then boyled with desire of reuenge For barbarous people count temporizing and delay as base and seruile and to goe through presently their deseignments a royall pointe Yet profit tooke place and thereupon sending for Abdus vnder colour of amitie to a banket gaue him a lingring poison and entertained Sinnaces with fained friendship and gifts and busied him in other imployments But Phrahates arriued in Syria and laying aside the Romans manner of liuing in which he had beene so manie yeeres nourished giuing himselfe to the Parthian vsage and vnable to brooke it fell sicke and died Yet Tiberius held on his determination and chose Tiridates one of the same stocke and an enimie to Artabanus and incited Mithradates Hiberus to recouer Armenia and reconciled him to his brother Pharasmanes which then possessed that Empire and maketh L. Vitellius general ouer all this preparation of the Orient I am not ignorant what a sinister report ranne of him in the citie with what infamous matters he was touched yet in gouerning of the Prouinces he demeaned himselfe according to the vertue of auncient times But returning frō thence through the feare of Caesar familiarity of Claudius being changed into a base abiect seruilitie became a patterne vnto posteritie of shamefull flatterie and so his first vertues gaue place to his latter vices and the vertuous acts of his youth his infamous old age defaced Of these pettie Kings Mithradates first induced
his age He was Neroes sonne and on both sides extracted frō the Claudian familie although his mother went by adoption into the Liuian familie and after that into the Iulian. He had doubtfull fortunes from his first infancie for being a banished man he followed his father who was proscribed and being brought into Augustus house as his son in law was greatly maligned al the time that Marcellus and Agrippa and afterward Caius Lucius Caesar liued Yea his brother Drusus was better beloued then he of the citizens but after he had married Iulia his slipperie estate was tied to two great inconueniences which was either to indure the incontinencie of his wife or go from her After that returning from Rhodes he liued twelue yeeres in the Princes house which had no children then possessed the Empire almost 23. yeeres He changed his manners diuersly according to the times Whilest he was a priuat man he was of good life and credite and had commendations vnder Augustus He was close and craftie in counterfeiting vertues whilest Germanicus and Drusus liued and whilest his mother liued he kept a meane somtimes good and somtimes bad For crueltie he was infamous but in lasciuious lusts as long as he loued or feared Seianus secret In the end he burst into all wickednes dishonestie and reproch after that hauing cast away shame and feare he gouerned himselfe wholy according vnto his owne disposition and nature THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The death of Asiaticus and Poppaea * The beginning of this Booke is wanting FOr he beleeued that Valerius Asiaticus who had beene twise Consull had in times past committed adultery with Poppaea withall greedily gaped after those gardens which he bought of Lucullus and beawtified and trimmed most stately Suilius was suborned to accuse them both Sosibius Germanicus bringer vp was ioyned with him who vnder colour of friendship counselleth Claudius to beware of such as were strong and rich as men dangerous vnto the state and that Asiaticus the principall author of murdering Caesar feared not to auouch it in a full assemblie of the people of Rome and challenge the glory of the fact vnto himselfe He was famous in the citie for it and a rumor spread throughout the prouince that he prepared a voyage toward Germanicus armie because that being borne at Vienna and strengthened with strong and great kindred he thought it an easie matter to stirre vp his countrey men But Claudius making no farther enquirie sent Crispinus the captaine of the gard with a band of readie souldiers as though it had bene to suppresse a warre who finding him at Baias layd yrons vpon him and drew him to the citie where he was not licensed to be heard of the Senate but in the Emperours chamber in the presence of Messallina There Suilius accused him that he had corrupted the souldiers and wonne them by money and loose life to all wickednes Then charged him with adultery with Poppaea and vnnaturall dishonestie of bodie At that although he were commaunded to silence he burst forth and sayd O Suilius aske thy children and they will confesse me to be a man And entering into his defence Claudius being wonderfully moued drew teares likewise from Messallinaes eyes who going out of the chamber to wipe them giueth Vitellius warning not to suffer the partie arraigned to escape She maketh haste to ouerthrow Poppaea sending some through the terror of prison to perswade her to kill her selfe Caesar being so ignorant therof that a few dayes after he asked her husband Scipio as he sate at table with him why he had sate downe without his wife who made him answere that she was dead But whilest Claudius consulted of Asiaticus deliuerance Vitellius with teares declaring how long time their friendship had continued and how they two did reuerence honor Antonia the Princes mother then running ouer briefely his seruices towards the common wealth and that so lately done in Britannia and what else might seeme to moue compassion left it in the end to his owne choise what death he would choose Claudius yeelding him the like clemencie with like words After this some perswading him that to die with famine and abstinence was an easie death he answered that he reiected such fauour and therefore hauing done those exercises he was vsually wont to do washed his body and fed daintily saying that it had bene a more commendable death to haue died by Tiberius slienes and cunning or C. Caesars violence then now by the treachery of a woman and Vitellius vncleane mouth cut his vaines and hauing first seene the fire wherein his bodie was to be burned commaunded it to be remoued to another place least the thick tuffed trees should be marred with the smoke so small reckoning did he make of death II. Certaine Romaines accused for a dreame A treatise of aduocates AFter this the Lords of the Senate were called together and Suilius goeth on and accuseth certaine noble and renowned gentlemen of Rome surnamed Petra The cause of their death was because they had lent their house vnto Mnester and Poppaea when they had any cause of conference But there was a dreame also obiected against one of them which was that he dreamed he had seene Claudius crowned with a crowne of eares of corne and the eares turned backwards interpreting that vision to signifie a dearth of corne Some report it to haue beene a garlande of vine braunches with white leaues which he sawe in his dreame and interpreted it to foretell that the death of the Prince shoulde follow at the end of Autumne Whatsoeuer the dreame was it is not to be doubted but that he and his brother were both put to death Crispinus had giuen him by decree of Senate fifteen hundred thousand sesterces and ornaments of the Pretor Vitellius added ten hundred thousand sesterces to be giuen to Sosibius bicause he had beene Britannicus Schoole-master and Claudius Counseller Scipio being demanded his opinion said Seeing I do thinke of Popaeus faults that which all you do thinke perswade your selues that I do say that which all you do say which was an excellent moderation and mean shewing the loue he bare hir as his wife and necessitie of giuing sentence being a Senator Suilius neuer ceased from accusations but prosecuted them with al crueltie and many followed his audacity for the Prince drawing vnto himselfe all the duties of lawes and magistrates opened the way to robberie Neither was there any marchandise more publikely bought and solde then the perfidiousnes of aduocates insomuch that Samius a woorthy gentelman of Rome hauing giuen Suilius fowre hundred thousand sesterces to pleade his cause and after perceiuing his preuarication and collusion ran vpon his sword in Suilius owne house Then C. Silius Consull elect of whose authoritie and fall I will speake in conuenient time beginning to speake the rest of the Senators rose vp and demanded earnestly that the lawe Cincia might be set
on foote by which it is prouided of old that for pleading of causes no man should take either money or gift Then they whom that iniurie seemed to touch making a noise Silius was eager and earnest against Suilius and contradicted him alleaging the example of Orators in times past Which esteemed fame with posteritie to be the fairest rewarde of eloquence otherwise that the princesse of good arts should be distained with the seruitude of base lucre and that no faith could be sincere and inuiolate where excesse of gaine is regarded And if causes shoulde be defended without rewarde there would be fewer of them where as now enmities accusations hatred and iniuries are fostered and that as the multitude of diseases brought the Phisitions gaine so the pestilent infection of the bar serueth now to inrich the lawiers Let them call to minde C. Asinius and Messalla and of later memorie Arruntius and Eserninus which were lifted vp to the highest degree of dignitie by their vpright life and vncorrupted eloquence The Consull elect vttering these speeches the others approouing the same they went about to giue iudgement that such shoulde be condemned vnto the like punishment as they were who had by briberie and extortion polled and oppressed the commons When as Suilius and Cossutianus and others which perceiued that there should be no generall decree set downe but a punishment for those which had beene openly conuicted came about Caesar and besought him pardon of that which was past And after a little silence nodding with his head vnto them they began as followeth Who was he so puft vp with pride that would presume or hope for eternitie of fame that it was expedient men should prouide for necessarie maintenance least through the want of aduocates the poore be oppressed by the rich and mightie Neither did eloquence come by chance and gratis vnto any without paine and labor the care of a mans owne familie was neglected if he were occupied in another mans busines many maintained their life by warre some by tilling the earth no man laboured to attaine to any knowledge vnlesse he had seene some commoditie in it It was an easie matter for Asinius and Messalla which were inriched with great rewards betweene Antonies and Augustus wars to shew a gallant and braue minde and for Eserninus and Aruntius heires of rich houses to do the like Examples were as readie for them to shew for what great rewards P. Claudius and C. Curio were woont to plead As for themselues they were but meane Senators which expected no gaine of the common-wealth but such as grew of peace The meanest of the people endeuored what he could to better his estate the rewarde of studies being taken away studies do also decay as hauing neither glory nor honor The Prince thinking that this was not spoken without ground of reason moderated the sum which they should take vnto ten thousand sesterces and that they which passed this summe should be condemned of extorsion III. Mithradates recouereth his kingdome Warres betweene Gotarzes and Bardanes for the kingdome of Parthia ABout the same time Mithradates who as I haue shewed gouerned Armenia and was brought to Caesar returned into his kingdome at Claudius perswasion trusting in the power of Pharasmanes King of the Hiberi and Mithradates brother who told him that the Parthians were at variance among themselues doubtfull what would become of the Kingdome and matters of smaller importance vtterly neglected For whilest Gotarzes practised great cruelties going about to kill his brother Artabanus his wife and his sonne whereby the rest were afeard they called in Bardanes who being a man of action and able to go thorow great enterprises in two daies inuaded three thousand stadia and chased out Gotarzes all amazed and dismayed not once dreaming of his comming and without any lingring seased on the next gouernments the Seleucians onely refusing to obey him Whereupon inflamed with greater anger then the present occasion ministred cause bicause they had reuolted from his father he besieged their citie which was strong and well fortified with a wall inuironed with a riuer and furnished with victuals and munition In the meane time Gotarzes strengthened with the Daharian and Hyrcanian power renueth the war And Bardanes enforced to abandon Leleucia remooued his campe to the champion countrey of the Bracteri Then the forces of the Orient being deuided and vncertaine which way to leane Mithradates had oportunitie offered him by chance to sease vpon Armenia and with the force of the Roman souldier rase and beat downe the strong fortresses the Hiberian campe at once wasting and spoiling the champion Neither did the Armenians make heade at all against them Demonactes their gouernour being slaine who onely durst haue waged battell against them Cotys King of lesser Armenia did somewhat hinder them some of the nobles ioyning with him But afterward being rebuked by Caesars letters all turned vnto Mithradates side more cruell then was expedient in a kingdome newly gotten But the Parthian Emperours making preparation to fight suddenly conclude a peace hauing discouered the treacherie of their subiects which Gotarzes bewraied vnto his brother At the first meeting they had a ielous conceit the one of the other then taking one another by the right hand before the altars of the gods they promised and couenanted to reuenge the treason of their enimies and agree and helpe one another Bardanes seemed most meete to possesse the kingdome And Gotarzes because there should remaine no sparkle of emulation went to Hyrcania And Bardanes returning againe Seleucia yeeldeth the seuenth yeere after her reuolt not without discredit to the Parthians whom one bare citie had so long deluded Then he inuadeth the strongest Prouinces and began to recouer Armenia if Vibius Marsus Lieuetenant of Syria had not hindered him by threatning to warre against him In the meane time Gotarzes repenting that he had yeelded the kingdome and the nobilitie vnto whom obedience in peace seemeth hardest calling him backe againe assembleth his forces togither whom Bardanes met at the riuer Erindes where skirmishing long on both parts for the passages Bardanes had the vpper hand and with prosperous battels subdued all the middle countries vnto the riuer Gindes which diuideth the Dahas from the Arij There his fortunate successes had an end for the Parthians although they were conquerers yet liked not to make warre so far off Wherefore building monuments in token of his wealth and power and that none of the Arsacides had euer before leuied any tribute of those nations he returned with great glorie and therefore so much the more fierce and intollerable to his subiects who hauing long before laide a snare to intrap him killed him at vnawares as he was a hunting in the Prime of his youth fewe of the old Kings to be matched in renowne with him if he had as well sought the loue of his subiects as to be feared of his enimies By the death of Bardanes the Parthian
time the Embassadors of the Parthians sent as I haue said before to demand Meherdates for their King entered into the Senat and began to vtter their charge as followeth They came thither not ignorant of the league betweene them and the Romans nor disloyall to the familie of the Arsacides but to aske for Vonones sonne Phrahates nephew against Gotarzes tyrannie alike intollerable to the nobilitie and communaltie Now that his brothers are extinguished by murder his neerest kinsemen and such as were farthese off he would do the like to women with child and small children thinking it a meanes being vnfortunate in warres abroad to couer with that cowardlines his crueltie at home That their amitie with vs was auncient and publickly confirmed and therefore reason we should ayd our allies which might in strength compare with the Romans but in deede yeeld for reuerence Therefore the Kings children were giuen for hostages that if they grew weary of their domesticall gouernment they might haue recourse to the Prince and Lords of the Senate vnder whose manner of liuing the King being brought vp should be presumed to be the better When they had vttered these and the like speeches Caesar began his oration with the greatnes of the Roman Empire and dutifulnes of the Parthians and maketh himselfe equall to Augustus declaring that a King had beene demaunded of him also not mentioning Tiberius at all notwithstanding he had sent ayd likewise He gaue certaine precepts to Meherdates who was there present aduertising him that he should not thinke himselfe a Lord and maister to commaund ouer his subiects as slaues but a guide and they citizens and that he should vse clemencie and iustice vertues so much the more gratefull vnto these barbarians by how much the lesse knowne among them Then turning himselfe to the Embassadors he highly commended the youth which had beene brought vp in the citie as one whose modestie had beene well tried that the dispositions of Kings were to be borne withal because often changes are not profitable That the Romane estate was growne vnto that height with fulnes of glory that it desired peace and quietnes euen to forren nations After he had thus sayd he commaunded C. Cassius gouernor of Syria to conduct the yong man to the riuer of Euphrates Cassius at that time did excell the rest in the knowledge of the lawes For militarie skill is vnknowne in time of rest and quietnes and peace esteemeth alike of the coward and couragious Neuertheles as much as those quiet times gaue him leaue he renewed the auncient discipline kept the legions in practise with care and foresight as if the enemie had beene at hand thinking it a thing worthy of his ancestors and Cassian familie renowned among those people Hauing therefore sent for them through whose consentment the King was demaunded and planted his camp at Zeugma where the riuer is most passable after that the noblemen of Parthia and the King of the Arabians called Abbarus was come he shewed vnto Meherdates that the first brunt of the barbarians was fierce and hote but by delay and lingering became cold or turned into treason and therefore he should couragiously go through his enterprise But his aduise was contemned through Abbarus fraude who detained him like an vnexperienced yong man in the towne of Edessa as though the highest degree of fortune and princely felicitie had consisted in riot and wantonnes And when Carrhenes called them in and assured them that all was in a good readines if they would make haste they did not march straight to Mesopotamia but turned to Armenia in an vnseasonable time because the winter was begun Then wearied with snowes and mountaines comming neere to the plaine they ioyned with Carrhenes forces And hauing passed the riuer of Tigris they entered into the countrey of the Adiabeni whose King Iuliates in open shew professed himselfe a confederate of Meherdates but vnderhand was more faithfully bent to Gotarzes IIII. Gotarzes ouercommeth Meherdates and cutteth off his eares Mithradates vsurpeth the kingdome of the Dandarides and goeth about to driue out Cotys NEuerthelesse in passing by Meherdates tooke the citie of Ninos the most ancient seat of Assyria and a famous Castle because that in the last battell betwixt Darius and Alexander there the Persian power was brought to vtter ruine In the meane time Gotarzes at a hill called Sambulos offered vowes to the gods of the place among which Hercules was chiefly honoured who at a certaine time admonisheth his Priestes in a dreame that neere vnto the Temple they should haue horses readie prepared for hunting the horses loaden with quiuers full of arrowes prawnsing vp and downe the woods returne at night breathing and panting with their quiuers emptie The god again declareth to them in a dreame what woods they haue coursed vp and downe in whither they goe and finde wild beasts killed in many places But Gotarzes not hauing sufficiently strengthened his armie vseth the riuer Corma for a defēce And although he were summoned by diuers messēgers hard speeches to battel yet he sought delayes changed place and sent some to corrupt the enimie and draw them to forsake their obedience Among which Ezates Adiabenus and anon after Abbarus King of the Arabians with their armie began to shrinke through a certaine lightnes incident to that nation and bicause it is tried by experience that the Barbarians had rather come to Rome to demaund a King then when they haue him keepe him Now Meherdates seeing himselfe stripped of his strongest succour and suspecting least the others would betraye him determined for his last refuge to commit the matter to chaunce and hazard it in a maine battell Gotarzes being verie fierce that his enimies forces were diminished refused not to fight They met with great slaughter and a doubtfull issue vntill Carrhenes making cleare way before him and driuing and pursuing the enimies too farre was compassed behind with a fresh companie and slaine Then all hope being lost Meherdates trusting the promises of one Parrhacis a follower of his father by his falshood was taken prisoner and deliuered to the Conquerour Who intreated him not like a kinsman or one of the Arsacis stocke but reuiled him like a stranger and a Roman and hauing cut off his eares gaue him his life as a shew of his clemencie and dishonour and reproch vnto vs. Not long after Gotarzes died of a disease and Vonones then gouernour of the Medes was called to be King There happened nothing in his raigne either prosperous or vnprosperous worthie the telling he liued but a short and an inglorious time and the kingdome of the Parthians was translated to his sonne Vologeses But Mithradates the Bosphoran wandering vp and downe after he had lost his forces vnderstanding that Didius the Roman Captaine with the strength of his armie was departed and that onely Cotys a raw and rude youth was left in the new kingdome with some few bandes vnder the conduct of
to Mennius Regulus for of purpose he left out that she had beene married to C. Caesar added in the end that she had practised dangerous things against the state and that all occasion and matter of euill was to be taken away therefore he was of aduise that she should lose her goods and depart out of Italy leauing the banished woman of the infinite wealth which she was mistres of but fiftie hundred thousand sesterces And Calpurnia a woman of great birth was ouerthrowne only because the Prince had praised her beawtie not for any amorous affection but by chaunce yet Agrippina stretched not her malice to the vttermost against her but sent a Tribune to make away Lollia And Cadius Rufus was condemned for bribery and extorsion at the instance of the Bithynians And in consideration of the great reuerence the inhabitants of Gallia Narbonensis bare the Lords of the Senat it was graunted to the Senators of that prouince that without licence of the Prince they might go visit their houses dispose of their goods with the like priuiledge as they which were of the prouince of Sicilia The Ituraei and Iewes after their Kings Sohemus and Agrippa were dead were ioyned to the prouince of Syria It was ordained that the ceremonies of the auguration of health intermitted fiue and twenty yeeres should be renewed and continued from thenceforth Caesar inlarged the circuit of the citie according to the auncient custome by which licence was giuen them which had inlarged the bounds of the Empire to inlarge the bounds of the Citie Neuertheles none of the Roman captaines L. Sylla and Augustus excepted although they had subdued mightie nations had vndertaken to do it but whether the Kings which then ruled the citie did it for ambition or vaine-glory there run diuers reports But it shall not be impertinent as I thinke to lay downe the beginning of the foundation of Rome and what circuit Romulus first assigned He therefore began the circuit at the oxe market called forum boarium where we see set vp a picture of a brasen Bull because that kinde of beast is broken to the plough from thence drawing a furrow as a plat of the circuit of the citie which contained within it the great altar of Hercules From thence by certaine distances stones were put by the foote of the hill Palatine vnto the altar of Consus then to the old Curies then to the chappell of the houshold gods For some haue thought that the forum Romanum and the Capitoll were not added to the citie by Romulus but by T. Tatius After that the circuit or pomoerium was augmented according to the fortune and riches of the Kings And for the limits that Claudius then put they are easily knowne and are written in the publike actes VII Domitius sonne of Agrippina is adopted by Claudius The Catti send hostages to Rome Vannius driuen out of his countrey goeth to Rome CAntistius and M. Suilius being Consuls the adoption of Domitius was hastened through Pallas credit who being wholie at Agrippinaes deuotion as a principall meane of working the marriage betweene Claudius and her then bound vnto her for vnlawfull companie of her bodie vrged Claudius to prouide for the common wealth and strengthen Britannicus estate whilest he was yong So Augustus wiues children did flourish although he had nephewes of his owne for a stay to his house and Tiberius hauing issue of his owne adopted Germanicus therefore that he should also strengthen himselfe with this yong man who would take part of the care vpon him Claudius yeelding to this perswasion preferreth Domitius being but two yeeres elder before his owne sonne and maketh an oration before the Lords of the Senate which he receiued of his freed man Pallas The skilfull and wise did note that there had neuer beene any adoption before that time in the Patrician familie of the Claudians that the succession had neuer failed from Atta Clausus Neuertheles great thanks were rendred the Prince and exquisite flatterie vsed to Domitius and a decree set downe by which he should be accompted one of the Claudian familie and be called Nero. Agrippina also was magnified with the surname of Augusta Both which done there was no man so voide of pitie which was not grieued and sory for Britannicus fortune for by little and little he was abandoned and skorned of his basest seruants by shewing an vnseasonable dutie to his stepmother which he well perceiued as not dull witted but of good conceipt as it is reported either because he was so indeede or attributed to him in his distresse the same and opinion continued without triall Agrippina to make her credit and power knowen among the confederates also commaunded the old souldiers and a colonie to be brought to the citie of Vbiumw here she was borne which was afterward called of her name Agrippina It hapned by chaunce that when that nation passed the Rhene her grandfather Agrippa tooke them into his protection About the same time vpper Germanie quaked with feare through the comming of the Catti which robbed and spoiled all where they came Whereupon L. Pomponius Lieutenant gaue aduertisement to the aide Vangiones Nemetians adding vnto them a company of horsemen to get before those forragers or if they slipped away compasse and surprize them on a sudden The diligence of the souldiers followed the captaines counsell and diuiding themselues into two companies those which tooke the left hand came vpon them and slew them as they newly returned from pillage riotously abusing their bootie and heauie asleepe Their ioy was increased because they had deliuered from seruitude some of their fellowes which fortie yeeres before had beene taken when Varus was defeated But those which tooke the right hand and the neerest way meeting the enemie in the face and daring to encounter made a greater slaughter and loaden with bootie fame returned to the hill Taunus where Pomponius was expected with the legions if the Catti desiring a reuenge would offer occasion to sight But they fearing least the Romanes would set on them on one side and the Cherusci with whom they are alwayes at iarre on the other sent Embassadors and hostages to Rome where the honor of triumph was awarded Pomponius a small part of his fame with posteritie being more renowmed for skill in poetrie About the same time Vannius made King of the Sweuians by Drusus Caesar was driuen out of his kingdome in the beginning of his rule well liked and accepted of the people but in the end growing prowde partly by the hatred of the borderers and partly by ciuill discords was put to the worst The authors of this practise were Iubillius King of the Hermunduri and Vangio and Sido Vannius sisters children yet Claudius although often intreated whilest these barbarous people were together by the eares would no way intermeddle only he promised Vannius refuge if he were driuen out wrote vnto P. Attilius Histrus gouernor of Pannonie to lodge a
wounds and many of our men were slaine but after we had made our target fence thicke and broken downe those rude compacted heapes of stones and that the fronts of both the armies came close to handie strokes without ods the Barbarians fled to the hill tops But thither also as wel the light harnessed souldier as the corslets brake in after whom the one galding them with darts and Iauelins and the others marching thicke and close togither brake the ranks and disordered the Britaines hauing neither head-peece nor coate offence If they thought to resist our aid-souldiers they were beaten downe with swords and Iauelins by the legionaries if they turned to make head against them they were slaine with the pikes and two hāded swords of the auxiliaries That victory was famous Caractacus wife daughter were taken and his brothers yeelded themselues He himselfe as generally all succour failes in aduersitie crauing defence and protection of Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes was by her taken prisoner and deliuered to the conquerers nine yeeres after the warre was begun in Britannia Whereupon his fame being carried ouer the Ilands and spread abroade throughout the Prouinces adioyning was also renowmed in Italie and they desired to see who he was that so manie yeeres had contemned our forces Neither was his name meanely esteemed of at Rome And whilest Caesar extolled his owne woorth he made the conquered more glorious The people was assembled as to see a notable spectacle The Emperours guard was all in armes and good order in the field before their campe then Caractacus vassals and retinue going before the caparissons his chaines and all other things gotten in warre against strangers were brought after then his brothers his wife and daughter and last of all he himselfe was shewen to the people The prayers of the rest were base for feare but Caractacus neither hanging downe the head nor in words crauing mercie when he stoode before Caesars tribunal spake as followeth If my moderation in prosperitie had beene as great as my nobilitie and fortune I had come rather as a friend into this citie then a captiue neither wouldest thou haue disdained to haue receiued me with couenāts of peace being descended of ancient progenitors and commaunding ouer many nations My present lot as it is to me dishonorable so is it to thee magnificent I haue had horses men armes wealth What maruell is it if vnwillingly I haue lost them for if you will commaund all men it followeth that all men become bondmen If presently I had yeelded and beene deliuered into thy hands neither my fortune nor thy glorie had beene renowned and obliuion would haue followed my punishment But if thou keepe me aliue I shall be for euer an example of thy clemencie Hauing spoken these words Caesar pardoned him his wife and his brothers And being all vnbound they did their reuerence likewise vnto Agrippina who sate aloft in another high chaire and gaue her the like praises and thankes as they had giuen the Prince Surely a new and strange thing and of our ancestors neuer vsed that a woman should sit and commaund the Roman ensignes but she carried herselfe as a fellow and associate of the Empire gottē by hir ancestors After this the Lords of the Senat being called togither they made long and glorious discourses touching Caractacus captiuitie affirming it to be no lesse honorable then when P. Scipio shewed Siphaces vnto the people and L. Paullus Perses or if any other had exhibited to the view of the people Kings vanquished and ouercome Then publike honours of triumphe were ordained for Ostorius his fortunes vntill then prosperous but not long after doubtfull either bicause that Caractacus being remooued as though thereby all had beene vanquished and subdued seruice was carelesly intertained or els bicause that the enimies hauing compassion of so mightie a King were more feruently enflamed to reuenge For they inuironed the campe-master and the legionarie cohorts which were left behinde to build fortresses in the Silures countrie and if they had not been speedily rescued by the villages and fortes adioyning they had been put to the sword euerie man Neuerthelesse the campe-master and eight Centurions and the forwardest common soldiers were slaine and anon after they put to flight our forragers and the troupes of horsemen which were sent to rescue them Then Ostorius sendeth abroade certaine light harnessed companies which yet could not staie their flight if the legions had not vndertaken the battell By their strength they fought with small oddes on either hand till at length we had the better of it and the enemie betooke him to his heeles with small losse because the day beganne to faile After that time they had diuers skirmishes though for the most part in woods and marishes according as occasion was giuen in manner of roades either by chance or of valoure sometime rashly sometimes with foresight now for anger now for bootie sometimes by their captaines commaundement and sometime without warrant but principally by the obstinacie of the Siluri exasperated with a speech which the Roman Emperour should haue vsed which was that as the Sugambri were destroyed and transported into Gallia so the name of the Siluri should vtterly bee extinguished And in this heate they intercepted two aidebandes vncircumspectly wasting and spoiling through the auarice of the captaines and by distributing the spoiles and prisoners drew the residue of the nations to reuolt when as Ostorius wearied with care and trauell yeelded vp his ghost the enemie reioysing thereat as at the death of a captaine not to be despised though not in battell yet spent by reason of the warre But Caesar being aduertised of the death of his Lieutenant least the Prouince should be destitute of a gouernor sent A. Didius in his place He being gone thither with great speede yet found not all quiet Manlius Valens in the meane space hauing had with a legion committed to his charge an vnluckie fight The fame whereof the enemie made greater then it was to terrifie the captaine which was comming and he vsed the like pollicie and augmented the fame of that which he had heard to win more praise by appeasing the sturres or if he could not to purchase pardon more easily The Siluri did therein endomage vs and waste and spoile farre abroad vntill by Didius comming they were driuē back But after that Caractacus was taken Venutius a very expert man in militarie affaires borne at the citie of the Iugantes as I haue said before a long time trustie vnto vs and defended by the Roman power as long as the marriage betwixt him and Cartismandua continued rebelled against vs by reason of a diuorse and warre betweene them But at the first the strife was onely betweene them two vntill Cartismandua by pollicie had taken prisoner Venutius brother and neerest kinsmen Whereupon the enemies kindled with rage and ignominie pricking them forward least they should be brought vnder the yoke of a
Vologeses thinking there had fell out iust occasion of inuading Armenia which possessed of his ancestors a forraine King now occupied by a lewde practise assembleth his power and because none of his house should liue without rule and soueraigntie goeth about to inuest his brother Tiridates in the kingdome By the comming of the Parthians the Hiberi were driuen out without stroke striking and the cities of the Armenians Artaxata Tigranocerta submitted themselues to the yoke But the sharpe and hard winter or else scarsitie of victuals other prouision the sicknes proceeding of both cōstrained Vologeses to forsake his pretended enterprise and Rhadamistus inuadeth Armenia a fresh hauing none to resist him more cruell then before as against rebels readie at all times to rebell if occasion were offered In so much that they though accustomed to bondage yet breake all patience and besiege the Kings house Rhadamistus hauing no other refuge then the swiftnes of his horses saued both himselfe and his wife But his wife being great with childe endured the first flight so so for feare of the enimie and loue of her husband afterward by continuall haste and ouer-much iogging and shaking she began to pray her husband that with an honest death she might be deliuered from the reproch of captiuitie He at the first embraced her comforted her encouraged her then admiring her stoutnes then sicke with griefe least leauing her behinde him any should enioy her at last ouercome with loue and being no babe in wicked atrempts draweth his cymetter and hauing giuen her a wound drew her to the banke of Araxis and committed her to the riuer least her bodie should bee carried away and posteth himselfe to Hyberia his fathers kingdome In the meane time the shepheards espied Zenobia for so was Rhadamistus wife called drawing breath and aliue vpon the quiet shore of the riuer and iudging her by the comelines of hir person of some noble race bound vp hir wound applied such medicaments as the countrie affoordeth Then vnderstanding her name chaunce carried her into the citie Artaxata from whence at the charge of the common purse she was conducted to Tiridates who entertained her with such curtesie as beseemed a Kings wife XI A decree against the Mathematicians Cumanus and Felix gouernours of Iudaea be at variance War against the Clītes WHen Faustus Sylla and Saluius Otho were Consuls Furius Scribonianus was banished as searching out by the Chaldeans the time when the Prince should die And Iunia his mother who before exiled was touched with the same crime as bearing impatiently her former fortune Camillus Scribonianus father had heeretofore stirred vp warres in Dalmatia and therefore Caesar thought it a point of clemencie to keepe aliue the progenie of his enimie Neuerthelesse the banished man enioyed not any long life after this but ended his daies either by naturall death or by poison euery man giuing out as he beleeued Ofbanishing the Astrologers out of Italie there was a straight decree of Senat made but tooke no effect After this the Prince cōmended such in an oratiō who knowing their own estate decaied gaue vp their Senators roome of their own accord those put from it which continuing in it ioyned impudencie to their pouertie Among other things the matter was debated in Senat touching the punishmēt of such womē as married with slaues and an order set down that she who without the priuity of his Lord had fallen into that folly should as if she had consented therto become herselfe a bond-slaue and the children borne of them be taken as Libertini And Pallas whom Caesar publickely confessed to haue beene author of this relation was by the aduise of Barea Soranus Consull elect honored with the Pretorian ornaments receiued further a hundred fiftie hundred thousand sesterces and it was added by Scipio Cornelius that thankes should be publickly giuen him that being descended from the Kings of Armenia he would prefer the publike good before his auncient familie and vouchsafe to be accounted one of the Princes officers Claudius affirmed that Pallas was contented with the Pretorian dignitie onely and would continue in his former pouertie Whereupon a decree of Senate was publikely engrauen in brasse in commendation of this freed man who being possessor of three hundred millions of sesterces was content to liue according to the prouident maner of sparing of our ancestors But his brother surnamed Felix of late made gouernour of Iudaea vsed not the same moderation but bare himselfe vpon his authoritie as a sufficient warrant for all lewdnes whatsoeuer The Iewes made shew of a rebellion through a sedition * after they vnderstood of the death of Caius they were still afearde least some other Prince should commaund them the like things In the meane season Felix going about to redresse all by vnseasonable punishments exasperated them the more And Ventidius Cumanus vnto whom part of the Prouince was committed and was his secret enimie egged him forward For the countrey was so diuided that the Galileans were gouerned by Cumanus and the Samaritans by Felix enemies of olde and now more then euer shewing themselues through the contempt of the gouernors And therefore made inroades one against the other set in companies to rob and spoile laide ambushes and sometimes they met in battell and carried the booties and spoiles to their gouernours Who at the first were glad of it but in the end perceiuing the mischiefe to grow greater they sent in souldiers to quiet them which were all slaine And the whole Prouince had been in an vprore if Quadratus the gouernor of Syria had not found meanes of redresse who stayed not long vntill he had reuenged the death of the Roman souldiers which the Iewes had slaine Cumanus Felix drew the matter at length because Claudius hauing vnderstoode the occasions of the rebellion had giuen authoritie to the Gouernor to determine punish the Procurators Cumanus and Felix if their demerit had so required But Quadratus caused Felix to sit among the iudges and receiued him into the tribunall to him to the end the heate of the accusers should therby be cooled and condemned Cumanus for all the misdemeanor which both of them had committed and by that meanes he set the Prouince at quietnes Not long after the peasants of the Cilician nation surnamed Clites which at diuers other times had rebelled hauing Trosobor for their Captaine encamped on a rough and high hill And frō thence running downe to the sea shores cities ventured on the husbandmen and citizens and often set on marchants and sea men And then hauing besieged the citie of the Anemurienses the horsemen sent out of Syria to ayde them were put to flight with Curtius Seuerus their Prefect by reason the difficulties and vncleannes of the place round about fit for footemen was most incommodious for horsmen to fight Then Antiochus King of that quarter vsing faire words to the countrey people craft
subtiltie towards the Captaine when he had seuered the forces of the Barbariās hauing slaine Trosobor a few of the ring-leaders appeased the residue by clemēcy The same time between the lake Fucinus the riuer Lyris the better to behold the sight magnificence of the spectacle a mountaine was cut thorough in the verie lake a sea fight was represented Augustus in times past had done the like by making a standing poole on this side Tibris but with light boates fewer in number Claudius armed galleies with three and foure oares on a seat and nineteen thousand men enuironed the lake with frames of timber work bicause they should not runne out at randome yet left space enough for the rowers and pilotes to shew skill and such encounters as had beene accustomed in a sea fight On the buildings about the lake stood certaine companies of footemen and troupes of horsemen of the Emperours guard with fences before them to shoote with warlike instruments engines The rest of the lake sea souldiers occupied with couered ships the shore and small hill tops as it had beene a Theater an infinite number of people filled as well out of the townes adioyning as the citie through desire of seeing the pastime or to please the Prince He himselfe in a rich and princely cote armour and Agrippina not farre off sate aloft in a garment wrought with gold They fought although they were malefactors and condemned persons with great courage and valour and after many wounds were parted hindered from killing one another But after that the shew was ended the water let out the insufficiēcie of the work which was not thrust down nor digged deepe ynough to the bottome was discouered Whereupō not lōg after the ditches were digged deeper to draw the people againe togither a shew offencers was made on bridges built ouer the lake to represent a land-fight And at the mouth of the lake a banket prepared droue them all into a great feare through the violent gushing out of the water which carried with it all that was by and things farther off breaking downe with the crash and noise stroke them all into amaze Whereupon Agrippina taking aduantage of the Princes feare rebuked Narcissus who had charge of the worke of couetuousnes and theft And he for his part helde not his toong but cast in her teeth her intollerable pride and ouer haughtie hopes XII Nero marrieth with Octauia the inhabitants of Cous exempted from subsidies the like is graunted to Bysance WHen D. Iunius and Q. Haterius were Consuls Nero at the age of sixteene married Caesars daughter Octauia And to winne credit and reputation by honorable studies and glorie of eloquence vndertaking the Ilienses cause declared that the Romans were descended from Troy and that AEneas was the roote of the Iulian familie and many other matters not farre vnlike olde fables which being deliuered with a good grace and fit words obtained that the Ilienses should be released from all publicke duties and charges He pleaded also for the Bononian colonie which was wasted with fire and obtained for their reliefe ten millions of sesterces The inhabitants of Rhodes are restored to their libertie often taken from them or confirmed according as they had merited by seruice abroade or demerited by sedition at home The Apameans ruined by an earth-quake were discharged of tribute for fiue yeeres Claudius was incensed to much crueltie by Agrippinaes practises who gaping after Statilius Taurus gardens esteemed verie rich neuer ceased vntill she had ouerthrowen him Tarquitius Priscus being his accuser This Priscus had beene Taurus Lieutenant when he was Proconsull in Affricke and when they returned obiected that in some things he had vsed extorsion and bribery and withall that he consulted with Magicians But he not able to endure such an indignitie by a false accuser slewe himselfe before the Senators had giuen sentence yet notwithstanding all the sute Agrippina could make this Tarquitius was expulsed the Curia so odious he was to the rest of the Lords of the Senate The same yeere the Prince was often heard to say that the causes adiudged by his Procurator should be of the same validitie as if himselfe had giuen sentence And least those words might seeme to haue escaped him by chaunce a decree of Senate was inacted thereon fuller and amplier then before any had beene conceiued And Augustus of famous memorie had graunted that all causes might be heard before the gentlemen which gouerned Egypt and commaunded that the sentences set down by them should be kept as if they had bin giuen by a magistrate of Rome After that in other Prouinces and in the citie many things were graunted which in times past belonged to the hearing onely of the Pretor Claudius yeelded them all the right and iurisdiction for which there had beene such wars and sedition as when the order of gentlemen by the Sempronian lawes were established in the possession of Iudicature or when the Seruilian lawes on the other side had giuen the Senate power iudicially to determine causes and for which Marius and Sylla in times past more then all the rest made warres the one against the other But in those daies factions raigned among the citizens and the conquerers bare publicke sway hauing all power in their hands C. Oppius and Cornelius Balbus were the first which with authoritie from Caesar could handle conditions as well of peace as of ware It were to small purpose to speake of the Matians and Vedians after these which were gentlemen of marke and of noble families seeing that Claudius hath made freed men vnto whom he had committed the charge of his housholde affaires equall to himselfe and to the lawes After that Caesar propounded whether those of Cous should be released of tributes alleaging manie things concerning their antiquitie as that the Argiui and Ceus Latonaes father were the old inhabitants of the Ile and that after by Aesculapius arriuing there the Arte of Phisicke was brought in a man highly esteemed of posteritie naming them by their names and in what age euery one of them flourished Further hee affirmed that Xenophon whose skill himselfe vsed in Phisicke descended from the same familie and that in regarde of his desire the Ile of Cous deuoted to the seruice of so great a god shoulde be discharged of all tributes Neither was it to be doubted but there might be alleaged many merits of theirs towards the people of Rome and many victories obtained by their alliance But Claudius according to his accustomed facilitie and simplicitie went not about to shadowe that with external helpes which he had bestowed in fauour of one alone The Byzantines hauing obtained audience deliuered how greeuous their impositions and tributes were and desired they might be released and ripped vp all reasons they coulde euen from the first alliance which they made with vs when we warred against the king of Macedonia who for basenes of minde and want
different in conditions VI. Whether it be conuenient to haue often playes to entertaine the people NEro being the fourth time Consull and Cor. Cossus the play called Quinquennale was ordained to be played at Rome after the maner of the Greeke combate whereof there went diuers reports as almost it hapneth in all new things for some there were which said that Gn. Pompeius was blamed by the ancient men for building a permanent Theater For in times past the playes were wont to be set forth on a skaffold built for that time and seates to continue no longer then the play lasted Or if thou wilt looke into more ancient times the people beheld them standing least if they should sit they would continue in the Theater whole daies in idlenes Neither should the ancient fashion of playes be obserued whē * as oft as the Pretors shuld set them forth no necessity was laid vpō any of the citizens to fight or looke on But the customes of the countrey being by little and little abolished were now vtterly ouerthrowne by disorders set from strange countries that whatsoeuer elsewhere might corrupt or was corrupted was seene in the citie and the youth vnlike to that it hath beene through strange manners wrestling naked idlenes and licentious loue the Prince and the Senate being authors thereof who haue not only giuen licence to vices but also giuen them strength and force The noblemen of Rome vnder colour of making orations and verses are discredited by stage-playing What remaineth then but only to vncloath themselues starke naked and take the caesti in hand and practise that fight in stead of armes and exercises of warre Or do they thinke they shall better vnderstand the knowledge of southsaying be more skilfull in the decuries of gentlemen accomplish the honorable charge of Iudicature if they vnderstand cunningly broken tunes and sweerenes of voices whole nights also were added to those shames because no time should be left honest but in that confuse multitude what euery person most dissolute desired by day durst venter on by night That licence pleased many and yet they cloaked it with honest termes That the ancients likewise did not abhorre the delight of playes and shewes according to their calling at that time and that stage-players were sent for from Thuscia The horse-race was represented by the Thurians but since Achaia and Asia was possessed by vs playes haue beene more exactly set foorth Neither hath there beene any one in Rome nobly descended which by reason of stage-playes hath discredited the stocke from whom he came these two hundred yeeres since L. Mamius triumphed who first set forth that kinde of shew in the citie Farther there was a regard had vnto thrift in erecting a continuall standing Theater rather then with infinite charges euery yeere set vp and build a new Neither should the magistrates waste their goods as they haue done on the people haue cause to be importunate with them for the combates according to the Greekes manner seeing the common-wealth did defray the charge The victories of orators and poets would be an incouragement vnto wits neither could it be offensiue to any iudge to lend his eares to honest studies and allowable pastimes To mirth rather then lasciuiousnes a few nights in fiue yeeres were giuen in which there is such great light of fires that no vnlawfull acte can be hidden In very deede that shew past without any notable dishonest part committed neither did the people shew any great insolencie although the common vices were restored to the stage and forbidden to shew themselues in such playes as were represented in honor of the gods The praise of eloquence none caried away but Caesar was pronounced victor and the Greekish attire which many wore in those dayes was layd aside VII Nero falleth sicke DVring these things there appeared a blasing starre which in the opinion of the common people betokeneth the change of a Prince Therfore as though Nero had alreadie beene driuen out they were busie to knowe who should succeede him Rubellius Plautus being famous in euerie mans mouth by the mothers side descended from the Iulian familie He was an obseruer of the old manner of liuing vpright graue and seuere liuing with all honestie as one retired in his own house and the more secret he was for feare of being accounted of so much the more his reputation increased An interpretation of a lightning begun by the like vanitie augmented the rumor For Neroes meate being striken with lightning and the table throwen downe at the lakes of Simbruinum in a place called Sublaqueum in the confines of Tiburtum from whence Plautus had his beginning by his fathers side all men beleeued that he was destined by the prouidence of the gods to the Empire and thereupon many fawned and courted him which by a greedie and for the most part deceiptfull ambition admire new things doubtfull and vncertaine Nero moued with these rumors writeth to Plautus aduising him to looke to himself and his assemblies and rid his hands of those which lewdly defamed him and that in Asia he had possessions by descent from his auncestors in which he might passe his youth safely and without troubles Whereupon he went thither with Antistia his wife and a few of his familiars At the same time too greedy a desire of pleasing his will in all he liked bred Nero both infamie and danger for swimming in the fountaine of the Martian water which was brought to the citie it was construed that he had defiled the holy drinkes and ceremonie of the place with his whole bodie and falling dangerously sicke thereupon it was constantly beleeued that it proceeded as a punishment from the wrath of the gods VIII Corbulo conquereth all Armenia ouer which Nero sendeth Tigranes to be King BVt Corbulo after the rasing of Artaxata thinking it his best to make profit of the fresh terrour for the easilier forcing of Tigranocerta by destroying of which he should augment feare in the enimie or by sparing it purchase the reputation of clemencie marcheth thither vsing no hostilitie by the way least he should take from them all hope of pardon yet with no remisnes or carelesse proceeding as one knowing that that nation is easilie subiect to chaunge as slow to perill so faithles when occasion is offered The Barbarians euerie man according to his wit some entreated some forsooke their villages and conueighed themselues to inaccessible places some hid themselues and the things they made most reckoning of in caues The Roman Captaine therefore vsing diuers policies shewed mercie towards the humble vsed celeritie in pursuing those which ranne away and crueltie against those which fled to the dennes and caues stopping the mouthes of them with vine branches and small wood and after set them on fire And passing by the confines of the Mardians a people well practised in theeuing and robbing they set on him but fled to their mountaines for their defence when they saw he turned towards
that the legion which durst vndertake the battell was slaine the rest had either hid themselues in their camp or fought meanes by flight to saue themselues that they could not indure the noise and cry of so many souldiers much lesse their furie and strength If they would waigh with themselues the strength of the souldiers if the cause of the warre they should resolue either to vanquish in that battell or die That for her owne part being a woman was her resolution the men might liue if they pleased and serue Suetonius held not his toong in so great danger who although he trusted in the valour of his souldiers yet enterlaced exhortations and prayers That they should contemne the lowde and vaine threates of the barbarians that there were more women seene in their armie then yong men that being vnwarlike and vnarmed they would presently yeeld when they should once come to feele the weapons and valour of the conquerors who had so oft ouerthrowne them yea where many legions haue beene a few haue caried away the glory of the battell and it should be an augmenting to their glory if with a small power they could win the praise of a whole armie that they should only continue the slaughter and butcherie close together by throwing of darts then with their swords and pikes of their bucklers not thinking on bootie for the victorie once gotten all should fall to their share Such a feruencie and edge followed the captaines words the old souldier experienced in many battels so besturred himselfe and shewed such forwardnes in lancing his darts that Suetonius assured of the euent gaue the signe of battell And first of all the legion not stirring afoote but keeping within the streight as in a place of defence after that the enemie was come neerer and had spent his darts to good purpose the legion in the end sallied out in a pointed battell The auxiliarie souldier was of the like courage and the horsemen with long lances breaking before them all they met or made head against them The residue shewed their backs hardly fleeing away by reason the carts placed about the plaine had hedged in the passages on euery side And the souldiers spared not from killing so much as the women and their horses and beasts thrust through increased the heape of bodies That was a day of great renowme and comparable to the victories of old times for some there are which report that there were slaine fewe lesse in number then fourscore thousand Britaines of our souldiers fower hundred slaine and not many moe hurt Boudicea ended her life with poison And Poenius Posthumus Campe-maister of the second legion vnderstanding of the prosperous successe of the foureteenth and twentith legions because hee had defrauded his legion of the like glorie and contrarie to the order of seruice refused to obey the Captaines commaundement slewe himselfe After this gathering the armie togither they encamped againe readie to end the residue of the warre And Caesar augmented his forces by sending out of Germanie two thousand legion aries eight cohorts of auxiliaries and a thousand horse by whose comming the ninth legion was supplied The cohorts and wings were lodged in newe winter garrisons and all those which were either openly against vs or doubtfull were wasted with fire and sword But nothing so much distressed that nation as famine being negligent in sowing of corne and of all ages giuen to warre and assuring themselues to liue on our prouision being a fierce nation slowly gaue eare to any peace For Iulius Classicianus sent to succeed Catus and at variance with Suetonius hindered the common good with pruate grudges and had bruted abroad that the new Lieutenant was to be expected who without any hostile rancor pride of a conqueror would entreat such as would yeelde with all clemencie He sent worde likewise to Rome that they should looke for no ende of the warres vnlesse some other should succeed Suetonius attributing his aduerse lucke to his own ouerthwartnes and the prosperous to the good lucke of the common-wealth Whereupon to see what state Britannie stood in Polycletus a freed man was sent Nero greatly hoping that by his authoritie there should not onely an agreement be made betweene the Lieutenant and Procurator but also the rebellious mindes of the Barbarians be won to a peace Neither failed Polycletus with his great hoast to seeme burdesome to Italie and Gallia and after he had passed the Ocean sea shew himselfe terrible euen to our souldiers But to the enimies he was but a laughing stocke who being in ful possession of libertie knew not what the power of freed men was and began to maruell that a Captaine and an armie which had atchieued so many great exploits could yeeld to obey a bond-slaue all things neuerthelesse were made the best to the Emperour And Suetonius being occupied in dispatching of busines after he had lost a fewe galleies on the shore and the gallie-slaues in them as though the warre did continue was commaunded to deliuer the armie to Petronius Turpilianus who had lately giuen vp his Consulship who neither prouoking the enimie nor egged by him gaue his lasie and idle life the honorable name of peace XII Balbus a Senators testament forged and Pedanius Rufus killed by his bondmen THe same yeere two notable lewd parts were committed at Rome the one by a Senator the other by an audacious bondman Domitius Balbus sometime Pretor being aged without children and of great wealth lay open to much treacherie One of his neerest kinsmen Valerius Fabianus and Consull elect forged a false testament in his name hauing called thereunto Vicius Rufinus and Terentius Lentinus gentlemen of Rome and they associated vnto them Antonius Primus and Asinius Marcellus Antonie was readie and bold Marcellus nobly descended and nephewe to Asinius Pollio of a good cariage and behauiour sauing that he thought pouertie the woorst of all things Fabianus then sealed the testament with those which I haue named and others of lesser calling whereof he was conuicted before the Lords of the Senat with Antonius Rufinus Terentius and condemned by the law Cornelia against forgerie But Marcellus the memorie of his auncestors and Caesars entreatie acquited rather from punishment than infamie The same day ouerthrew Pompeianus Aelianus a yoong man who had been Quaestor and priuie to Fabianus practise and was banished Italy and Spaine his natiue countrey Valerius Ponticus sustained the like ignominie because that eschuing the iudgement of the Prouost of the citie he had informed against some before the Pretor first vnder colour of som lawes then by preuarication to escape punishment Wherupon a decree of Senate was ordained that he who should either buy or sell any such actions should sustaine the same punishment as he who was publickly condemned for forging of crimes in false accusations Not long after Pedanius Secundus Prouost of the citie was slaine by his bondman either because he had denied him his
yet remember Agrippina exiled by Tiberius and Iulia banished by Claudius was fresher in memorie but both besides the strength of age had tasted of some pleasure and comforted their present cruell hap with the remembrance of a better estate Vnto this woman her first day of marriage was in stead of a graue being brought into a house in which she could finde nothing but what was dolefull and lamentable her father poisoned and her brother anon after Then the maid greater then the mistres and Poppaea married for no other end but to ruine her and last of all a crime obiected more grieuous then any death But this yong princesse of the age of twentie yeeres being betweene the Centurions and souldiers as it were alreadie depriued of life with the presage of so many miseries yet could not yeeld to death A few daies after she was commanded to be put to death although she protested she was no wife but a widow only and a sister of the Emperours calling to Germanicus ghost to aid her and Agrippinaes likewise in whose lifetime she should indeede haue indured an vnhappie marriage but without danger of death Notwithstanding she was shut vp in prison and all the vaines of her bodie opened but because the bloud stopped with feare issued forth slowly she was killed with the vapor of a very hot bath And a deadlier crueltie also added that Poppaea saw her head cut off and brought to the city for all which it was decreed that gifts should be offered in the temples Which we haue vttered that who soeuer shall either by vs or other writers vnderstand the euents of those times may be assured that as oft as the Prince commaunded either banishment or murder so oft thanks were giuen to the gods and those things which in times past were marks of prosperitie were then badges of publick calamitie Yet neuertheles we will not hold our toong if any decree of Senat hath beene ordained new and strange by flattery or by base and abiect sufferance The same yeere it was thought he empoisoned his chiefest freed men Doryphorus as being against Poppaeas marriage and Pallas because he kept from him infinite wealth by liuing too long Romanus by secret informations accused Seneca as a confederate of Pisoes but he was touched more neere the quick by Seneca for the same fault which droue Piso into a feare and that commencement of great but vnprosperous treasons against Nero. THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Vologeses King of Parthia crovvned King of Armenia by his brother Tiridates is hindered by Corbulo to enioye it and expulsed by Tigranes WHilest these things thus passed Vologeses King of the Parthians vnderstanding what successe Corbulo had in his affaires and how Tiridates his brother being expulsed and Tigranes a stranger made King of Armenia resolued to reuenge the contempt offered the greatnes of the Arsacides yet considering the great power of the Romans and alliance a long time continued was diuersly perplexed as one of his owne disposition slow and lingering and then intangled with many warres by the reuolt of the Hyrcanians a strong and mightie nation And as he thus wauered he was further exasperated by the newes of fresh iniurie for Tigranes gone out of Armenia had wasted and spoiled the Adiabenians a nation bordering farther and longer than any rodes of enemies heretofore Which grieued not a little the chiefe noble men of that nation that they were growen to that contempt that they should be forraged and robbed not of a Roman Captaine but by the rashnes of an hostage so manie yeeres held and esteemed no better than a bond-slaue Monobazus gouernour of the Adiabenians augmented their griefe asking them what remedie or from whence Armenia was alreadie gone and the countrey adioyning would goe shortly after and vnlesse the Parthians would defend them those which yeelded to the Romans should find an easier seruitude then those which were taken Tiridates chased out of the kingdome by silence complayning not a little was no small griefe telling them that great Empires were not maintained by cowardlines but they must trie the valour both of men and armes For among great Princes he seemed to haue most reason and right who had most strength And it was the praise of priuate houses to keepe their owne but the glorie of a King to warre for other nations Vologeses being mooued with these speeches calleth a Councell and placed Tiridates hard by him and thus began This man borne of the same father that I am hauing yeelded vnto me the name of the King in regard I am his elder I did put in possession of Armenia which is reckoned the third part of my kingdome For the Medes Pacorus had before possessed making account that in so doing I had taken away the inueterate hatred which raigneth between brothers and fully setled the state of our familie The Romans hinder this and now breake the peace also to their owne ruine which they neuer yet disturbed but to their owne destruction I will not deny but I had rather hold things gotten by my ancestors by equitie then blood by reason then armes If I haue offended by lingering I will amend it with valour Your strength and glorie is intire with fame of modestie which neither ought to be contemned of the highest and is esteemed of the gods Hauing thus said he put the Diademe on Tiridates head and gaue Moneses a noble gentleman a gallant companie of horsemen which vsually followed the King and withall the aide of the Adiabenians and commaunded Tigranes to be chased out of Armenia Whilest he pacifiying the sedition of the Hyrcanians draweth his whole forces togither and vtmost power of warre threatning the Roman Prouinces Whereof Corbulo being aduertised by certaine messengers sendeth two legions with Verulanus Seuerus and Vectius Bolanus to aide Tigranes with a secret charge they should proceed rather orderly and aduisedly then hastily for he had rather entertaine than make warre And wrote to Caesar that it was needfull to haue a Captaine of purpose to defende Armenia and that Syria by Vologeses approach was in greater danger And in the meane time he lodgeth the rest of the legions by the banke Euphrates leuieth and armeth in haste a power of the countrey people and intercepteth the enimies passages with a garrison And bicause the countrey is scarce of water he fortified hard by the fountaines couered certain small brookes with mounds of sand Whilest Corbulo vsed this preparatiō for the defence of Syria Moneses because he would preuent the rumour of his comming marched with all speed but yet found not Tigranes vnaduertised or vnprouided who had put himselfe into Tigranocerta a verie strong towne well manned and walled Besides this the riuer Nicephorius of a reasonable breadth enuironeth part of the wals and a huge ditch cast in length where the riuer was distrusted as not sufficient There were souldiers within to man it and prouision of necessaries for conueiyng
hatred to Seneca practised all inuentions to bring him to destruction Natalis confession knowen Sceuinus with the like imbecillitie or beleeuing that all had beene discouered and that no profit could rise by keeping counsell appeached the rest Among which Lucanus and Quinctianus and Senecio long denied the matter And afterward corrupted by promise of impunitie to excuse their backwardnes Lucanus named Atilla his mother Quinctianus Glicius Gallus Senecio Annius Pollio their chiefest friendes And Nero calling to minde in the meane while that Epicharis was in indurance through Volusius Proculus information thinking that a womans bodie was not able to endure much griefe commaundeth her to be rent with tortures but her neither stripes nor fires nor the rage of the tortures which so much the more cruelly racked her least they should be contemned by a woman could ouercome but she denied the crimes obiected and so the first day of torture was contemned The next daie when she was brought to the same tortures in a bearing-chaire for her members out of ioint and broken she could not put foot to ground fastning a lace which she drew from her breast to the bow of the chaire in manner of a sliding knot put her necke into it and weighing downe with the heft of her bodie stopped that little breath she had left A notable example that a freed woman should defend in such great crueltie of torture strangers and almost vnknowen to her when as men and free-borne and gentlemen of Rome and Senators not touched with tortures detected the deerest of their kindred For Lucanus Senecius and Quinctianus stucke not indifferently to bewray their confederates Nero growing more and more fearefull although he had doubled his guard Further he filled the citie and the wals with bands of souldiers and beset both sea and riuer with watch and wards And to and fro by the Forum the houses the fields and townes adioyning footmen and horsmen scoured vp and downe intermingled with Germans whom he best trusted bicause they were strangers XIIII Accusations continued Piso would not take armes his death with Lateranus and Seneca AFter that continuall troupes one after another were drawen to their answere which lay before the gates of the gardens And when they had entered in to defend themselues euerie man triumphed ouer the conspirators If they had spoken togither by chance if met on another on the sudden if at a shew or banket they had beene seene togither it was accounted a crime and besides Neroes and Tigellinus bloodie interrogatories Fenius Rufus not yet detected vrged also vehemently and to winne an opinion that he had not beene consenting to the attempt was cruell against his confederates The same Fenius held backe Subrius Flauius then present and nodding with the head whether in the verie hearing of the matter he should draw his sword and execute the murder and brake his heate euen then putting his hand to his weapon Some there were which seeing the conspiracie detected whilest Milichus was examining and Sceuinus doubteth whether he should confesse or not perswaded Piso to goe to the fort of the guarde or goe vp to the Rostra and found the affection of the souldiers and people saying That if the confederates would ioyne togither the rest which were not priuie would follow them that the fame of an attempt was a great matter and could do much in new enterprises That Nero had made no prouision to withstand him stoutmen were daunted with sudden enterprises much lesse would that stage-player accompanied with Tigellinus and his concubines take armes against him Manie things are done by venturing which to the faint harted seeme hard It was a folly to hope for silence and fidelitie in so many mindes and bodies of partakers by torment or reward all things are made easie And some would come to clap irons on him and put him to a shamefull death How much more commendable were it for him to die embracing the common-wealth and seeking aide for libertie Although the souldier should saile him and the people shrinke frō him if it should cost him his life his death would be glorious as well to his auncestors as his posteritie But nothing mooued with these speeches shewing himself little abroad then keeping within doores confirmeth his minde against death vntill a band of souldiers came which Nero had chosen among the yoong souldiers and such as lately were receiued into seruice suspecting that the old were made on Pisoes side And cutting his vaines yeelded vp the ghost His testament was full of filthie flatteries toward Nero through the loue of his wife whom commendable only for her beautie and nothing sutable to his calling he took from a friend vnto whom she was married Her name was Arria Galla her first husband Domitius Silius he by patience she by vnchastnes spread abroade Pisoes infamie Next followed the death of Plautus Lateranus Consull elect and that with such haste that he suffered him not to imbrace his children nor haue so much as that short time of chosing his death but lead away to a place where slaues were executed was killed by the hand of Statius the Tribune full of constant silence neuer once reproching the guilt of the same fact to the Tribune Then followed the death of Annaeus Seneca most ioiful to the Prince not bicause he had found him manifestly priuie to the conspiracie but bicause he would shew crueltie with the sword seeing poison tooke no effect Onely Natalis this farre did vtter that he was sent to Seneca being sicke to visite him and complaine whie he barred Piso from hauing accesse to him and that it would be better to entertaine their friendship by familiar conuersation And Seneca to haue answered that their interchaung of speech and often communication was profitable for neither of them yet that his safetie did depend on Pisoes welfare These things Granius Siluaenus Captaine of the guarde was commaunded to carrie to Seneca and aske him whether he acknowledged Natalis speeches and bring Senecaes answere Seneca by chaunce or of purpose returned that day from Campania and remained in a countrey house fower miles from the citie Thither came the Tribune the next euening and besetteth the house with a companie of souldiers then openeth vnto him the Emperours charge as he sate at meate with Pompeia Paullina his wife and two other friends Seneca answered that Natalis had been indeede sent to him and complained in Pisoes behalfe that he was forbidden to visit him and that he excused himselfe with sickenes as being desirous of quietnes Why he should preferre the welfare of a priuat man before his owne safetie he had no cause Neither was his inclination much giuen to flatterie as Nero best knew who had oftner tried Senecaes libertie of speech then seruile pleasing When these speeches were brought back by the Tribune in presence of Poppaea and Tigellinus who was of the cruell Princes inward counsell he asketh whether Seneca prepared himselfe any voluntarie death The Tribune
the auncient manner Nero was against it suffering them to make choise of their manner of death for such kinde of scoffes were vsed after the murders committed P. Gallus a gentleman of Rome because he was inward with Fenius and not an enemie to Vetus was banished the freed man and accuser rewarded for his paines and a place giuen him in the Theater among the beadles of the Tribunes And the month of May which followed Aprill and called Nero was changed into the name of Claudius and Iuly into Germanicus and Cornelius Ofitus whose censure that was saide that therefore the month of Iune was past ouer because two of the Torquatus alreadie executed for their misdemeanors had made the name of Iune vnluckie A yeere continued with so many lewd actions the gods haue marked and made notorious by tempests and diseases Campania was destroied with boisterous stormes of windes which did euerie where beat downe houses woods and graine and brought the violence of it to places adioyning to the citie Where the rage of the pestilence spared none although there was no manifest shew of corruption of the aire to be seene Yet the houses were filled with dead bodies and the waies with funerals no sexe no age free from danger as well bond as free borne indifferently perished amidst the lamentations of their wiues and children who whilest they sat by them and bewailed were often burnt in the same funerall fire The death of gentlemen and Senators although in different with others lesse lamented as though they had by a common mortalitie preuented the Princes crueltie The same yeere they mustered in Gallia Narbonensis Affrick and Asia to supplie the legions of Illyria which worne out either with yeeres or sickenes were freede from their oath The Prince relieued the oalamitie of Lugdunum with fortie hundred thousand sesterces to recouer the losses of their citie which summe of money the Lugdunenses had before bestowed in troubled times III. The death of certaine noble men for desire of their wealth or other iealousies C. Suetonius and L. Telesinus being Confuls Antistius Sosianus banished as I haue sayd before for making slanderous verses against Nero vnderstanding that pickthankes were so honored and the Prince so forward to murders busie minded and not slow in taking hold of occasions insinuateth himselfe through conformitie of fortune into the fauour of Pammenes a banished man of the same place and for his skill in the Chaldean arte supported by the friendship of many This Antistius supposing that messages and consultations came not to him in vaine vnderstandeth withall that he had money yeerely supplied him by P. Anteius Neither was he ignorant that Anteius through the loue he bare to Agrippina was hatefull to Nero that his wealth as it had beene of others might be a motiue to procure his destruction Whereupon hauing intercepted Anteius letters and stolne his writings wherin the day of his natiuitie and things to come were hidden among Pammenes secrets and withall found those things which had beene composed of the birth and life of Ostorius Scapula writeth to the Prince that he would bring him great newes touching his owne safetie if he might obtaine a short intermission of his banishment for Anteius and Ostorius watch for opportunitie to lay hold on the soueraigntie and searched out their owne and Caesars destinies Therupon swift vessels were sent Sosianus brought with all speed And his accusation diuulged Anteius and Ostorius were reckoned rather among the condemned than accused in so much that no man would haue sealed Anteius testament if Tigellinus had not beene their warrant Anteius was first admonished not to delay the making of his testament but he hauing drunken poison weary of the slow working of it by cutting his vaines hastened his death Ostorius at that time was farre off in the confines of Liguria whither a Centurion was sent to make him away with all speed The cause of the haste proceeded of that that Ostorius being for matter of warre of good reckoning and deserued in Britannie a ciuicall crowne of a mightie strength of bodie and skilfull in armes droue Nero into a feare least he should assaile him alwaies timorous fearfull but then more then euer through the conspiracie lately detected The Centurion therfore when he had beset al escaping places openeth to Ostorius the Emperours cōmandement He conuerted against himself his courage often tried against the enimy And bicause his vaines whē they were opened yeelded but little blood vsing the hand of his slaue only to take out a rapier hold it stedfast he drew his right hand to him and ranne himselfe through the necke If I should haue written of forrein wars and deaths sustained for the common-wealth with diuers other accidents chances yet I should not only haue seemed tedious to my selfe but to others also abhorring the deaths of citizens being dolefull and continuall although honorable But now a seruile patience and so much bloode lost at home doth trouble my minde and oppresse it with griefe Neither do I require any other defence or excuse of those who shall know these things but that they hate them not for dying so cowardly That was certainely the anger of the gods against the Roman state which ought not so easily be runne ouer with once writing as in the ouerthrow of armies or taking of townes Let this prerogatiue be giuen the posteritie of worthie personages that as how they are distinguished from the confuse multitude in the solemnitie of their funerals so in the deliuerie of their last ends that they may receiue and haue a proper and peculiar memorie For within a fewe daies by the same violent course Annaeus Mella Cerialis Anicius Rufus Crispinus and C. Petronius perished Mella and Crispinus were gentlemen of Rome and equall in dignitie with Senators Crispinus once Captaine of the guarde and honored with Consularie ornaments and of late through the conspiracie exiled into Sardinia hauing receiued tydings he should die slew himselfe Mella borne of the same parents as Gallius and Seneca forbare purchasing of dignities by a preposterous ambition to the end that a Roman gentleman might be equalled in authoritie to the Consuls Withall he thought it a shorter course of getting wealth to mannage the affaires of the prince in quality of a Procurator The same Mella was Annaeus Lucanus father which was a great credit to him but after his death seeking out too narrowly his goods stirred vp an accuser against him one Fabius Romanus one of Lucans familiar friends which falsly fathered vpō him the father the priuitie of the conspiracie by counterfeiting of Lucans letters which Nero hauing perused commanded to be caried him gaping after his wealth But Mella which was then the readiest way to death loosed his vaines hauing bestowed in his testament a huge summe of money vpon Tigellinus and on his sonne in law Cossutianus Capito that the rest might stand good He added to his will as it were a complaint
for matter committed in the Proconsulship of Asia in which he augmented the displeasure the Prince bare him for iustice and industrie and because he had beene very carefull in opening the hauen of the Ephesians and had left vnpunished the violence of the citie Pergamena which hindring Acratus Caesars freed man to carry away their images and pictures But the fault indeede laid to his charge was his friendship with Plautus and ambition in alluring the prouince to new hopes The time chosen to condemne him was when Tiridates came to take the kingdome of Armenia that domesticall wickednes might be obscured and hidden with the rumors of the strangers arriuing or else that he might shew the greatnes of an Emperour by the death of worthie men as a royall act Whereupon all the citie being run out to receiue the Prince and behold the King Thrasea forbidden to go to meete him lost not courage therefore but wrote to Nero demaunding his accusations boldly affirming that he would purge himselfe if he might haue knowledge of the crimes and licence to cleere them These writings Nero receiued very greedily in hope that Thrasea being terrified and deiected would haue written somewhat sounding to the magnificencie and excellencie of the Prince and discredit of his owne reputation which falling out otherwise fearing the countenance and courage and libertie of the innocent commaunded the Lords of the Senate to be assembled Then Thrasea consulted with his friends whether he should aduenture his purgation or let it passe Those which thought it best he should enter into the Senat house said they were assured of his constancie and that he would say nothing but what should augment his glory Cowardly and timorous men did shut themselues in secret places at the time of their death The people should see a man offering himselfe to death the Senate should heare words more then humane as it were of some diuine power that Nero himselfe might also be moued with the miracle but if his crueltie should continue certes the memorie of an honorable death should be distinguished with posteritie from the cowardlines of such as perished with silence Contrarywise such as thought it conuenient to expect within dores what might happen said the same of Thrasea But yet that skoffes and iniuries were at hand he should therefore withdraw his eares from checks and reprochfull speeches not only Cossutianus and Eprius are prompt to naughtines some there are which peraduenture would let their hand walke and strike through the crueltie * of Augustus yea the good do the like for feare That he would rather deliuer the Senat whom he had alwaies honored of the infamie of so great a villanie and leaue it doubtfull what hauing seene Thrasea the Lordes of the Senate would determine That Nero should be ashamed of his wickednes was to trouble himselfe with a vaine hope and that it was much more to be feared least he should grow cruell against his wife his familie and the rest of his children Therefore that vndefiled and vncorrupted whose steps and studies he had imitated in his life theirs also he should follow in the honor of his death There was present at this consultation Rusticus Arulenus Tribune of the people a hot yongman who for desire of praise offered to oppose himselfe to the decree of Senate Thrasea coold his courage Least he should begin a vaine enterprise vnprofitable to the criminall and dangerous to the opposer As for himselfe he had ended his yeeres and that he ought not forsake the manner of his life so many yeeres continued but he entred now into offices and was in his choise to accept or refuse such as are behind That he should waigh well and ponder with himselfe what course of gouerning he should enter into of taking charge in the common wealth in such a time as this Whether it were fit for him to come into the Senate or not he would haue it rest in his owne consideration VI. Thraseas accusation and death THe next day two armed Pretorian cohorts beset the Temple of Venus the mother the waies to the Senate a companie of gownd-men had filled not hiding their weapons and a thicke aray of souldiers dispersed in the place of assemblies and Temples amidst whose lookes and threats the Senators went into the court where the Princes oration was heard by his Quaestors mouth None noted by name he blamed the Senators That they neglected publicke duties and that by their example the gentlemen of Rome were become lazie For what maruell was it if from Prouinces farre off they came not to Rome when as the most part hauing obtained the Consulship and priestly dignities gaue themselues rather to passe the time withall pleasures in their gardens Which the accusers tooke hold of as it were of a weapon And Cossutianus leading the daunce and Marcellus with greater vehemencie Cried that this touched the whole state that through the disobedience of the inferiours the lenitie of the commaunder was made lesser The Lords of the Senate vntill that day had beene too milde in suffering Thrasea to forsake their side his sonne in law Heluidius Priscus in the same madnes Paconius Agrippinus heire of his fathers hatred against Princes and Curtius Montanus composing destable verses to scoffe and abuse men without punishment He found a lacke of a Consull in the Senate of a priest in vowes in an oath a citizen but against the ordinances and ceremonies of our auncestors Thrasea had openly put on the person of a traitour and an enemie Finally that he should come and play the Senator and as he was wont protect the backbiters of the Prince and giue his censure what he would haue amended or chaunged for they could more easilie endure one finding fault with all things then endure his silence now condemning all things Doth peace throughout the world displease him or victories without losse of the armies That they would not suffer him haue the desire of his ouerthwart ambition who grieued at the common prosperitie thought the place of assemblies the Theater and Temples solitarie places and threatned his owne banishment These things vnto him seemed not decrees not magistrates nor this the citie of Rome that he would abandon and separate his life from that citie whose loue in time past and now whose sight he had cast off When with these and the like speeches Marcellus had inueighed grim and threatning in voice countenance and eies kindled with rage not that knowen and by often vse of daungers vsuall heauines but a new and a deeper feare seased the Lords of the Senate beholding the hands and weapons of the souldiers Besides that the reuerent representation of Thrasea came to their imagination and some there were which had compassion that Heluidius should suffer punishment in regard of harmelesse affinitie What was obiected against Agrippinus but the lamentable fortune of his father When as he innocent also was ruined by Tiberius crueltie Montanus a vertuous yoong man was
hap hazard of all persons as they come but of their familie and friends and kinsfolke with their children not farre of from whence they may heare the howling of their wiues and crying of their children which are to all sacred witnesses of their valour and best commenders They goe when they are hurt to their mothers and wiues which are not afeard to number or sucke their wounds and carrie the souldiers meate and incourage them to stand to it It is reported that some battels euen readie as it were to be lost and discomfited haue beene by the womens earnest prayers exposing their bodies to the daunger and by shewing how neere at hand their captiuitie was recouered againe which in regard of their wiues is a greater griefe and hart-breake vnto them in so much that those cities are more straightly bound which amongst other hostages haue deliuered also noblemens daughters for they dreame that they haue in them I know not what holines foresight of things which maketh them regard their counsell giue credit to their oracle Vnder Vespasian of famous memorie we haue seene Velleda a long time and with many nations counted as some diuine thing and in times past did adore Aurinia and many others not of flatterie or as though they would haue made them goddesses II. Their religion and policie OF all the gods they adore especially Mercurie vnto whom they thinke it lawfull certaine daies to offer men in sacrifice but Hercules and Mars they pacifie with beasts lawfully killed to that vse som of the Sueuians sacrifice to Isis What reason they haue to vse that strange sacrifice I know not vnlesse it be that the image of that goddesse being fashioned in forme of that kinde of boat doth declare that their religion hath beene brought them from a strange countrey They thinke it a matter il beseeming the greatnes of the gods to inclose them within wals or paint them in mans shape They consecrate woods and forrestes which secret places they call by the names of gods which they see onely by apprehension and reuerence Soothsaying and lots they obserue aboue all others Their custome in casting of lots is without fraude for they cut a branche from a fruit-bearing-tree into many peeces and distinguished with seuerall markes cast them vpon a white garment at auenture then if the matter belong to a communaltie the Priest if to a priuate person the master of the house hauing prayed the gods and looking vp to the heauen taketh vp euerie of them three times and interpreteth them according to their markes If the lots fall contrarie to their mindes they consult no more that day the same matter But if they do yet they will trie what further credit there is in Soothsaying for they are not ignorant in this countrey of obseruing the singing of birdes and their flying consulting with their gods of both And it is a thing peculiar vnto that countrey to trie the presages and warnings of horses which are bred and maintained in those woods and forrests white vnbacked or vnlaboured which harnessed and put to a sacred chariot the Priest King or Prince of the citie do follow obseruing their noise and neying Of all presages this is of greatest credit with the Priestes noblemen and common people thinking themselues ministers of the gods and the horses priuie to their secrets They haue another obseruation among them by which they search out the euent of great and weightie battels which is this They get some one how they can of that nation with whom the warre shall be and take another choise man of their owne and arme them each according to his fashion and so trie their valour and by that preiudice coniecture on whose side the victorie shall fall In small matters the Princes themselues determine of them but if they be of importance they all in generall consult but yet so that those things whose determination belong to the people are concluded before the Prince And vnlesse some casuall or sudden accident fall out they make their assemblies certaine daies either in the first quarter or full moone thinking that to be the luckiest time to begin their workes The number of daies they recken not as we do but of nights and in them make their appointmēts and sommonces to appeere thinking that the day is gouerned by the night Their libertie is cause that they meet not togeither nor as they are commaunded but spende two or three daies in expecting one another They sit armed as they come and the Priest who hath authoritie to punish commaundeth silence Then the King or Prince or euerie man according to his age nobilitie and renowne of warre or as he is eloquent beginneth to speake Vsing rather perswasion then authoritie of commaunding If their opinion mislike them they reiect it with a murmuring noise if it liked they shake their iauelins but the most honorable manner of liking is to approoue it by their weapons It is lawfull in their councell to accuse and arraigne in criminall causes Punishments are distinguished by the offence traitors and fugitiues they hang on trees the cowardly and vnwarlike and such as were vnnaturally lewd of their bodies they did drown in mud and marrishes and couer them with hurdles The drift of that diuersitie of punishments was to declare that it was expedient to shewe offences as they were in punishing but hide heinous crimes But in lesser trespasses according to the qualitie of the punishmēts the parties conuicted are fined in some number of horses or other cattell whereof part goeth to the King or citie part to the partie damnified or to his kindred In the same councels they choose rulers to administer iustice in townes and villages which haue an hundred chosen out of the people to accompanie them which are as their counsell and authoritie They consult neither of publicke nor priuate affaires but armed but yet it is not the maner for any to take weapons vnlesse he haue beene iudged before by the citie able to vse them and then in the councell either one of the gouernours or his father or some one of his kindred doth honour the yoong man with a shield and a Framea This is with them a gowne this is the first honor giuen to yoong men before reputed a part of their particular house but from thence forward of the common wealth High nobilitie or merit of predecessors maketh their children although they be but yoong woorthie of dignitie which associat themselues to the stronger and long tried and take it for no disgrace to be seene among their followers among which there be likewise degrees according to his discretion of whose traine they be And there is a great emulation among the followers who should be in greatest fauour with his Prince and amongst the Princes who should haue the greatest number following him and most couragious This is their honour this their strength to be garded alwaies with a company of choise youth which is
they vse much tillage Hereupon they diuide not the yeere into so many seasons as we do the winter spring time and sommer they vnderstand and haue names for but as for the autumne as well the name as the commodities it bringeth are vnknowen Ambition they vse none in their funerals onely that one thing is obserued that the bodies of noblemen are burned with a certaine kinde of wood The pile of the funerall fire they do neither fill vp with apparell nor sweete odors euerie mans armes and somes horse was burnt likwise The toombe is raised vp with turnes of earth great workes and laborious monuments they despise as heauie for the dead lamentation and teares they quickly forbeare but griefe and sorrow slowly It is seemely enough for the women to mourne and for men to remember the dead This is it which we haue learned in generall of the beginning and customes of the Germans Now I will lay downe the ordinances and customes of euerie people in particular and how they differ and what nations haue gone out of Germanie to the Gallois IIII. What Gallois haue passed into Germanie IVlius of famous memorie the chiefest of all authors doth deliuer that the state of the Gallois hath in times past beene of greater force and power then now it is and therefore not vnlike but the Gallois went into Germanie For what great hinderance could the riuer be that euerie nation as he was strong should not set himselfe in possession and chaunge seats yet vnoccupied and not diuided by any power of kingdomes Therefore the Heluetians held that which lyeth betweene the Hercynian forrest and the two riuers Rhene and Moene and the Boij that which is beyond both nations of Gallia The name of the Boiemi doth yet continue and doth signifie the old memorie of theplace although the inhabitants be changed But whether the Arauisci from the Osi a people of Germanie came into Pannonia or the Osi from the Auarisci into Germanie is yet vncertaine considering they vse the same language lawes and customes for being equall in times past in pouertie and libertie the commodities and discommodities of both the banks were common to them alike The Treueri and the Neruij ambitiously seeme to haue their beginning frō the Germans as though by this glorie of blood they should be vnlike and differ in cowardlines from the Gallois Without all doubt the banke of Rhene is inhabited with the people of Germanie the Vangiones Treboci Nemetes The Vbij albeit they haue deserued to be a Roman colonie and desire to be called rather Agrippinians by the name of their foundresse though not ashamed of their beginning haue heretofore past ouer and for good proofe of their fidelitie haue beene planted vpon the banke of Rhene to keepe off others and not for any safetie of their owne Of all these nations the chiefest in valour are the Batauians which inioye small parte of the banke of Rhene but inhabit an Ilande of the riuer ofRhene in times past a people of the Catti and went by reason of ciuill sedition into those countries to be a part of the Roman Empire The honour and marks of auncient alliance do yet continue for they are neither contemned by paying tributes nor oppressed by the farmer of publick reuenues They are exempted from charges and contributions as reserued for vse of warre as it were armes and weapons The Mattiaci do the like allegeance for the greatnes of the people of Rome hath been inlarged further then the old bounds of the Empire did extend and beyond the Rhene Therefore in regard of their habitation and bounds they inhabit the banke but in hart and minde dwell with vs in other things like the Batauians sauing that by reason of their soile and aire they are more forward and stout I will not accompt them among the people of Germanie albeit they are planted beyond Rhene and the Danube of whose land the tenth is raised The lewdest of all the Gallois and whom neede hath driuen to venture haue possessed that countrey as doubtfully holden Not long after hauing inlarged their bounds and placed fortresses farther they are within the compasse of the Empire and are a part of the prouince Beyond these the Cattians begin from the Hercynian forrest but haue not so wide marish a countrey as the other cities in which Germanie doth open and spread itselfe for the hils are one by another and continue a certaine space and then by little and little waxe thinner and the Hercynian forrest doth containe the Catti and is the bounds of their territorie They are a people hardned to labour well set sterne countenanced and of greater courage As Germans go they are sensible wise men and considerate they preferre choise men harken to their leaders know their ranks know where aduantages are bridle their heate dispose of the day to their benefit intrench in the night hold fortune among things doubtfull and esteeme of valour as of certaintie and which is most rare and vnderstood only by discipline they repose more assurance in their leader then in the armie All their strength consisteth in footemen whom besides their armes they loade with yron tooles and prouision Thou maist see others go to skirmish but the Catti march to warre They seldome skirmish or fight at aduenture Their horsemen are of this propertie that they either quickly win the victorie or yeeld Suddennes is neere vnto feare lingering draweth neerer constancie And that which is seldome vsed among other people of Germanie through their boldnes and hardines it is growen to a cōmon consent among the Catteans that is when they come to ripe yeeres they suffer their haire and beard to grow at length and neuer put off that vowed ornament of the face and as it were a bond of vertue vntill they haue killed an enemie Vpon bloud and spoile they vncouer their forehead and say they haue paied back the price of their birth and thinke themselues worthie of their countrey and parents the cowardly and vnwarlike remaine in their ilfauourednes Besides this euery man as he is most valiant weareth an yron ring an ignominious thing to that people as it were a bond vntill they rid themselues of it by killing an enemie This qualitie pleaseth many of the Catteans And then they grow graye respected of their owne people and enemies these begin euery battell these make alwayes the first ranke strange to behold for in time of peace they are altogether as fierce in countenance There is not one of them that hath a house or liuing or care of any thing As they come to euery mans house they are maintained prodigall of other mens and contemners of their owne vntill through feeble old age they are no longer able to indure so hard a labour V. Of the Tencterians Chamauians and Frisians NExt vnto the Catti the Vsipij and Tencteri do inhabit the Rhene running in a certaine channell and which may suffice for a bound The Tencteri besides
their auncient renowne of warres excell the rest in seruice of horse and the Catteans deserue no greater commendation for footemen then the Tencterians for horsemen So did their predecessors ordaine it and successors follow it These are the childrens pastimes this the emulation betwixtyong men and old men continue the same and horses are deliuered as rights of inheritance among the familie and the sonnes receiue them though not the eldest but he who is most couragious and likeliest to make a marshall man Hard by the Tencteri in times past the Bructeri did inhabit but now it is reported that the Chamauians and Angriuarians are entred into that countrey and wholie rooted out and chased the Bructerians by agreement of nations adioyning either as hating them for their pride or for sweetnes of pray or some fauor of the gods towards vs as not denying vs the spectacle of the battel wherein there were slaine threescore thousand not by the Roman armes and weapons but which is more glorious to shew vs pastime and please our eye I wish that if those people cannot loue vs that they would hate one another seeing that the state of the Empire fatally declining fortune can do vs no greater fauor then sowe sedition among the enemies The Angriuarians and Chamauians haue behinde them the Dulgibini and Chasuari and other nations not greatly spoken of and before them the Frisians The Frisians are called great or small according to their strength the Rhene bordering both vnto the Ocean and besides that do comprehend huge and spacious lakes which the Roman nauie hath past yea and the Ocean itselfe we haue entred into and tried on that side And the fame goeth that Hercules pillers are yet there to be seene either because Hercules went so farre or else because by common consent all that is any where magnificall is attributed to his renowme Drusus Germanicus wanted not courage but the Ocean hindered vs for being ouer inquisitiue of him or Hercules After that no man assayed to do it as being an act of greater deuotion and reuerence to beleeue the actions of the gods rather then know them Hitherto we haue seene the West part of Germanie towards the North it goeth bowing with a great compas And first of all the people of the Chauceans although they begin at the Frisians and possesse part of the shore coast all those nations I haue made mention of vntill they wind into the Catti and so spacious and huge countrey the Chauci do not only hold but fill likewise of all the German nation the noblest and desirous to maintaine their greatnes by iustice without couetousnes or vnbrideled lust quiet and retired stirre vp no warres neuer waste spoile nor rob And which is a speciall marke of their valour and strength they got not their superioritie ouer others by any wrongs offered Yet they are all readie for warre and if occasion require to make an armie wanting neither horse nor men and although they lie quiet yet their reputation is neuer the lesser On the side of the Chauci and Catti the Cherusci haue nourished long beeing neuer prouoked an idle and lazie peace which was more sweet than safe vnto them bicause there is no sure peace betweene stirring and strong people For when the matter is come to hand-strokes modestie and good dealing be termes which belong to superiors So the Cherusci in times past good and iust are now called cowards and fooles and the fortune of the Catti being fauourable is cause that they are counted wise The Fosi a people bordering vpon the Cherusci are touched with their ruine companions in their aduersitie though in prosperitie they were inferiour vnto them Neere vnto the same coast of the Ocean the Cimbrians inhabite now a small people but highly renowned hauing yet remaining certaine markes of their old glotie to wit on both the bankes trenches and lodges by the circuit of which thou maist yet measure the greatnes and strength of that nation and beleeue the number of so great an armie It was sixe hundred and fortie yeeres after the foundation of our citie before the Cimbrians armes were heard of when Caecilius Metellus and Papirius Carbo were Consuls From that time vnto the second time that the Emperor Traian was Consull by iust account are two hundred and ten yeeres and so many yeeres we were a conquering Germanie In the middle time there were many losses on both parts Not the Samnites not the Carthagineans not the Spaniards or the Gallois no not the Parthian haue so often troubled vs the libertie of the Germans being more earnest than the kingdome of the Arsacides For what can the East obiect against vs sauing the death of Crassus when he had defeated Pacorus before troden downe by Ventidius But the Germans hauing either slaine or taken Carbo and Cassius and Scaurus Aurelius and Seruilius Cepio and M. Manlius haue defeated also fiue Consularie armies and Varus with three legions in Caesars time neither haue C. Marius in Italie or Iulius in Gallia Drusus and Nero and Germanicus molested them in their houses without blowes After that C. Caesars great threatnings were turned to a iest Then there was quietnes vntill our ciuill warres gaue them occasion when they had taken the standing campes of the legions to haue a desire to enter Gallia from whence being againe driuen out in late times they haue beene rather triumphed ouer then vanquished VI. The Sueuians and other people NOw we will speake of the Sueui which are not one nation as the Catti and Tencteri and possessing the greater part of Germanie and seuered by peculiar names and countries although by one generall name they be called Sueui whose marke is to curle their haire and tie it on knots By that the Sueuian is distinguished from the other Germans and the free borne Sueuian from the bond man That in other countries is vsed also but seldome times either for affinitie with the Sueuians or as it often happeneth by imitation and whilest they be yoong but the Sueuians euen vntill they be old and gray haue their haire standing an end and often tie it on the crown only princes weare it after a finer fashion That is the harmelesse care they haue of their beautie For they vse it not either to winne loue or be beloued but turne it vp to a certaine height to seeme to the enimie more terrible when they go thus trimmed to the warre The Semnones say they are the most auncient of the Sueuians and the most noble The credit of their antiquitie they confirme with this ceremonie At certaine times all of one blood meet by their deputies in a wood reputed holy by the auguration of their forefathers and auncient reuerence where publickly killing a man they celebrate the barbarous beginnings of their ceremonie Yet there is another reason why the wood is had in reuerence No man entereth into it but bound with somewhat as an inferiour person and acknowledging the power of the god
If he fall by chaunce it is not lawfull for him to rise or get vp but is rowled out all their superstition tending to this that from thence the nation had his beginning that there dwelleth the God ruler of all others and vnto whom all other things are subiect and obedient The fortune of the Semnones giueth this authoritie their countrey is inhabited by an hundred villages and by their great bodie they take themselues to be the head of the Sueuians Contrarily the Longobards are renowned by reason their number is so small that being hemmed in with many verie puissant nations yet maintaine themselues not by doing any dutie to any but by warres and dangers After them the Reudigni and Auiones and Angli and Varini and Eudoses and Suardones and Nuithones are defended by riuers or woods hauing no notable thing particular in any sauing that generally they adore Herthum that is the mother-earth whom they beleeue to be present at mens affaires There is a wood called Castum in an Iland of the Ocean and a chariot dedicated in it couered with apparell which one Priest onely may lawfully touch He knoweth that the goddesse is in some secret part of the house and followeth her with great reuerence as she is lead by Kowes and make those holy daies places of ioy which she vouchsafeth to honor with hir presence Warre they make none nor put on any armour nor shew any weapon but peace and quietnes is onely knowen and loued vntill the same priest bring backe the goddesse to her Temple filled with the conuersation of mortall men Then the chariot and the apparell if you will beleeue it the diuinitie itselfe is washed in some secret lake bond men minister vnto her which the same lake doth incontinently swallow vp Whereof ariseth a secret terror and an holy ignorance what that should be which they onely see which are a perishing And this part of Sueuia reacheth far within the country of Germanie the neerer that I may describe that part which lyeth by Danub as I haue done that which lyeth along the Rhene is the citie of the Hermunduri faithfull to the Romans and therefore of all the Germans trafficke not onely vpon the banke of Rhene but euen within the hart of the countrey and in the most famous colonie of the Prouince Rhaetia These goe all ouer without a guard and whereas we shew other nations somtimes our armes sometimes our campe to these we lay open our houses and villages as people not desiring them In the countrey of the Hermunduri the riuer Albis hath his beginning in times past a famous riuer and well knowen but now onely heard of Neere vnto the Hermundurians dwell the Narisci the Marcomani and Quadi The greatest renowne and strength that the Marcomans haue is in that they got their dwellings by valour and driuing out in times past the Boiens Neither do the Narisci and the Quadi degenerate And that is as it were the frontier of Germanie on that side which the Danube borders The Marcomani and the Quadi had euen vntill times of our memorie Kings of their owne nation of the noble stocke of the Marobodui and Tudri but now they suffer strangers which haue their strength and power by the authoritie of the Romans and seldome vse our armes but are often helpt with our money Neither are the Marsigni Gothini Osi Burij which are behinde the Marcomani and Quadi of lesser valour among which the Marsigni and Burij resemble the Sueuians in speech and attire The Gallican toong doth conuince the Gothinos and the Pannonicall the Osos not to be Germans and that they endure to paie tribute part of the tribute the Sarmates part the Quadi charge them with as strangers The Gothini the more to their shame dig for mines of iron and all these people inhabite small store of plaine ground but wood-landes and hill tops Sueuia is deuided by a continuall ridge of hils beyond which dwell many nations amongst which the name of the Lygians is farthest spread into many cities It will suffice to reckon the strongest as the Arios Helueconas Maninos Elysios Naharualos Among the Naharualians there is a wood long agone consecrated to religion ouer which a Priest apparelled in womans attire is superintendent but the Romans interpret them to be the goddes Castor and Pollux The name of the god is Alcis Images there are none nor signe of strange superstition yet they are reuerenced as brothers and two yong men But the Arij besides their strength wherein they go beyond the other people I haue made mention of fell and cruell do set forth their naturall fiercenes with arte time for they vse black targets and die their bodies with the same colour and choose the darkest nights to fight in striking a terror with the shadow of so deadly an armie into the enemies none of them able to indure so strange and as it were hellish sight the eyes being first ouercome in all battels Beyond the Lygians the Gothones liue vnder Kings in a more seuere gouernment then the other people of Germanie and not in full libertie Then from the Ocean follow the Rugij Lemouij all of them bearing for their marke round bucklers and short swords and liuing vnder the subiection of Kings After those are the cities of the Suionians scituated in the Ocean besides men and armor strong in shipping which in making differ from other vessels in that both ends are fore-parts readie to land at each end without saile or oares in a ranke in the sides but the mariners are at libertie readie to change hither and thither as occasion serueth as in some other riuers Those people esteeme of riches and therefore one hath amongst them absolute rule and gouernmēt and not at the will of the subiect They are not all licensed to weare weapons as in other parts of Germanie but their weapons are shut vp vnder a keeper and that a slaue because the enemie can make no sudden incursion against them by reason of the Ocean If the souldiers be idle and at rest they easily grow insolent and in deede it is not for the Kings profit to commit the charge of armor to noblemen or free borne or freed men Beyond the Suionas there is another sea so slow and almost immoueable that many thinke it to be the bounds which compasse in the whole worlde because that the Sunne continueth so cleare and bright from his setting till the rising that it darkneth the starres And some are further perswaded that the sound of him is hard as he riseth out of the sea and many shapes of gods seene and the beames of his head So farre the fame is true and that there was the end of nature and the world Now on the right shore of the Sweuian sea the Aestyans inhabit whose maner of life is like the Sweuians but their language more like the Britains language They adore the mother of the goddes for a skutchion of
qualitie of absolute rule being such that it could not stand but in one alone Now at Rome the Consuls the Senators and Gentlemen ranne headlong to seruitude and the more nobler the fairer shew and the more hastie but with a composed and setled countenance least they should seeme ouerglad of the death of the last or discontented with the new Prince they tempered their griefe with ioy and lamentation with flatterie The two Consuls Sext Pompeius and Sext. Apuleius did first sweare allegeance to Tiberius Caesar and after into their hands Seius Strabo and C. Turrianus the one Captaine of the Gard the other chiefe officer for prouision of corne After them the Lords of the Senate the souldiers and the people For Tiberius would haue all things begun by the Consuls as the manner was in the ancient free common wealth as though he had not resolued with himselfe whether it were best for him to accept of the Empire or not No not so much as the Edict to call the Lords of the Senate to counsell but was proclaimed in vertue and authoritie of a Tribune which dignitie he had receiued in Augustus time The words of the Edict were not many and deliuered in modest termes That he would only consult what pomp and honor were fit to be done for his father and that he would not depart from the body which should be the onely publike charge he would vndertake Neuerthelesse when Augustus was dead he gaue the watchword to the gard placed the watch disposed of the souldiers managed all the affaires of Court as if he had been Emperour The souldiers waited on him to the place of publike assemblies to the Senate house and dispatched letters to the Camp as though he had bene in full possession of the state irresolute in nothing but whē he should speake in the Senate The chiefest cause proceeded of feare least Germanicus who had so many legions at commaundement such strong aides of confederates and so exceedingly beloued of the people should rather hold then expect the possession of the Empire He stoode on his reputation likewise and seemed rather to be called and chosen by the Common-wealth then creepe in by the canuasing of a woman and adoption of an old man It was afterward further knowne that he vsed that lingering doubtfulnes the better to sound the affection of the Nobilitie for obseruing their countenance and wresting their words to the worst he bare them all in minde In the first meeting of the Senate he would haue nothing debated but Augustus last will and testament which being brought in by Vestaes Virgins declared Tiberius and Liuia to be his heires and that Liuia was adopted into the Iulian familie and entituled by the name of Augusta After them he substituted his nephews and nephews sonnes and in the third place the Peeres of the citie which in generall he hated yet he did it to win fame and glory with posteritie His legacies were moderate like vnto other citizens sauing that he gaue as well to the common sort as the rest of the people foure hundred and thirty fiue thousand nummos to euery souldier of the Pretorian band a thousand to euery one of the legionary cohorts which consisted of citizens of Rome three hundred III. The solemnities of Augustus funerals and the censure vvhich men gaue of him AFter that consultation was had concerning the pomp and solemnities of the funerals among which the most honorable and magnificent were iudged to be these Gallus Asinius thought it meete that the dead corps should be brought through the triumphall gate and L. Arruntius that the titles of the lawes by him ordained and the names of the nations by him vanquished should be caried before him Messalla Valerius added that it was conuenient the oath of allegeance should euery yeare be renewed in Tiberius name Who being demanded of Tiberius whether he had commaundement from him so to aduise answered that he did propound it of his owne free motion and that in matters concerning the common-wealth he would vse no mans aduise but his own although it should be with danger and offence so farre had flattery spread it selfe that that only kinde remayned vnpractised The Lords of the Senate after that cryed with one voyce that they themselues would carry the corps to the funerall fire on their shoulders which Caesar did yeeld vnto with a modesty yet sauoring of arrogancie And admonished the people by Proclamation that they would not as in times past they had disturbed the buriall of Iulius Caesar of famous memory carried away with ouergreat affection so desire now that Augustus body should rather be burnt in the place of publicke assemblies then in Campus Martius a place deputed to that vse The day of the funerals being come the soldiers were placed as it were a gard to the body when as such as had eyther seene or heard their fathers report of the fresh and late yoke of cruell seruitude vnluckely attempted to be shaken off and recouer their auncient libertie then I say when the murdering of Iulius Caesar the Dictator seemed vnto some a wicked and vnto others a worthy deede laughed to see that now an old Prince which had raigned so many yeares and prouided heires to succeede him in might and wealth should neede a gard of souldiers quietly to celebrate his funerals This bred sundry speeches of Augustus many maruelling at vaine and friuolous things as that his death fell on the same day he was made Emperour that he dyed at Nola in the same house and chamber that before him his father Octauius did they made it a great matter that he alone had been as oft Consull as Valerius Coruinus and C. Marius both together that he had continued Tribune seuen and thirtie yeares had beene honored with the name of Emperour one and twentie times with many other old and new dignities bestowed or inuented for him But among the better sort his life was diuersly commended or discommended Some sayd that the loue of his father and the care of the Common-wealth at that time when all lawes were dasht droue him to ciuill warres which can neuer be begun or prosecuted by any good meanes and that he had yeelded in many things to Antony and to Lepidus in like maner because he would reuenge his fathers death For seeing the one grew carelesse with age and the other wasted with lasciuiousnes there was no other meanes left to redresse all discords in the common-wealth then to bring her vnder the obedience of one alone who should gouerne neuerthelesse not as King or Dictator but as Prince The Empire he had bounded with the Ocean and other Riuers farre off the Legions Prouinces and Nauie were linked and knit in peace and vnitie iustice was ministred in the cities the allies intreated with modestie the citie beautified with sumptuous building and if any rigorous dealing had bene vsed against some few it was for setling of quietnes in the whole
Contrarily some sayd that the loue of his father the corruption of times serued him but for a cloake and colour and that he had stirred vp the old souldyers by gifts and bribery through ambition and desire of rule that being yet but yong and a priuate person he had gathered a power corrupted the legions of the Consuls that he made a shewe only of fauouring Pompeius side but had no sooner gotten by order of the Senators the fasces or knitch of rods and the Pretorship after the death of Hircius and Pansa both slaine by the enemie or Pansaes wound poisoned and Hircius murdered by the souldyers or by Caesar the contriuer of the feate but he seased on both their forces extorted the Consulship mauger the Senators and the power assigned him to subdue Antony he conuerted against the Common-wealth He banished the citizens diuided their lands and gaue away their goods which were things by the doers themselues discommended In deede the reuenge and pursuing his fathers death vpon Cassius and Brutus maybe tolerated albeit it had bene conuenient for a publick benefit to haue layd aside priuate grudges but he deceiued Pompey vnder colour of peace and Lepidus vnder a shadow of friendship Afterward he tolled on Antony with the treatie of Tarentum and Brundusium and mariage of his sister which deceitfull alliance he payed with the losse of his life Doubtlesse a peace ensued this but a bloudie one as may witnes the death of Lollius and Varus and in Rome it selfe of Varro Egnatius and Iulus Neither did they forbeare to discourse of his domesticall affaires as that he tooke Neroes wife from him asked the opinion of the Pontife in a scoffe whether there might be a lawfull marriage betwixt them she being with childe by her other husband but not yet deliuered They forgat not L. Atedius and Vedius Pollios riot and lasciuiousnes Finally that Liuia was an intollerable and burdensome mother to the common wealth and to the house of the Caesars a dangerous stepdame There was no honor left for the gods seeing hee would himselfe by the Priests and Flamines be worshipped in the temples with all the ornaments belonging to the gods Neyther was Tiberius chosen successor to the State for loue of himselfe or care of the Common-wealth but deepely inseeing into his loftie and bloudie disposition he would by being so vnequally compared with so outragious a mate win glory afterward to himselfe And although Augustus had not many yeeres before vttered honorable speeches in Tiberius behalfe before the Lords of the Senate when he sued to make him once againe Tribune yet he interlaced some things among touching his attire and behauiour which in the excusing of him seemed to turne to his disgrace and reproch IIII. Tiberius dissembling colour in refusing the empire Augustus iudgement of three vvhich vvere desirous or vvoorthie of the Empire AVgustus funerals being ended according to the vsuall manner a temple and religious ceremonies were instituted in honor of him from that time forward all sutes and requests were made to Tiberius who discoursing diuersly of the greatnes of the empire and in modest termes of his owne insufficiencie thought Augustus wisedome onely capable of so weightie a charge that himselfe being assumed by Augustus as an associate and partner in the state had by good proofe learned how hard a matter and how subiect vnto fortunes change rule and soueraigntie was And seeing the citie was replenished with so many famous and woorthie personages better it were and more ease that manie ioining their studies and cares togither should vndertake the charge than cast all vpon one mans shoulders This speech carried greater maiestie than truth for Tiberius either by nature or by custome yea euen in those things which he would haue knowen spake alwaies darkly and doubtfully but then of set purpose endeuoring to hide his drifts wrapped himselfe more than euer in a darke cloud of vncertaintie and ambiguitie But the Lords of the Senate fearing all one thing which was least some perill might ensue if he should doubt that they perceiued his dissimulation began to lament complaine offer vp vowes and lift vp their hands to the gods to Augustus image and to his owne knees vntill he commanded the booke of remembrances to be brought foorth and read That booke contained the wealth of the publike treasure how many citizens and allies were in armes what strength there was by sea how manie kingdomes prouinces and countries yeelded obedience to the empire what tribute was leuied what customes what necessarie charges issued out what giftes and al written with Augustus owne hand Withal he gaue a politike instruction yet whether for feare or enuie vncertaine how to restraine the empire within bounds and limits Whilest these things were a handeling and the Senators in most lowe and humble maner intreating that he would accept the charge Tiberius letting slip a word by chaunce that as he was vnable to take charge of the whole so he would vndertake the protection of any one part they should assigne him Asinius Gallus asked him what part Caesar wouldest thou haue committed to thy charge Who being stroken into amaze with this vnlooked for demand stood mute a while then gathering his spirits to him answered That it ill befitted his modestie to choose or refuse any one part of that from all which he desired to be excused Gallus replied for by his countenance he coniectured he was offended that he did not therefore demand that question as thought he would seuer that which was inseparable but by his owne confession conuict him that the Common-wealth was but one bodie and therefore to be gouerned by ones onely wisedome And continuing his speech added many things in commendation of Augustus and called to remembrance Tiberius owne victories and diuers notable things done for many yeeres in time of peace But all this could not appease the Princes inueterate hatred against him as though by marrying Vipsana daughter to M. Agrippa once wife to Tiberius he had carried too lostie a courage and higher aspiring minde than the priuate calling of a citizen and sauoring of the headie and fierce humor of Asinius Pollio his father After that L. Aruntius vsing speeches not vnlike vnto Pollio offended alike And although he bore Aruntius no old grudge yet bicause he was wealthie bold learned and in reputation with all men he had him in iealousie When Augustus drew towards his later end discoursing who were likeliest to possesse the place after his death who would refuse it although they should be chosen as meete who being vnmeete and vnable yet would desire it who could discharge it and would vndertake it said that M. Lepidus was for his sufficiencie able but would refuse Gallus Asinius greedie to laie holde on it but was insufficient L. Aruntius was not vnwoorthie and if occasion were giuen would venter for it All men agree that the two first were so named but for Aruntius some put Cn. Piso and